Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Halloween Safety

 

Halloween Safety

Many families have begun shopping for the perfect costumes for upcoming Halloween events.  The National Fire Protection Association offers the following Halloween safety tips:

• When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric.  Choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame.  If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
• Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern.  If you use a real candle, use extreme caution.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames.  Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• If your children are going to Halloween parties at others' homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

Using common sense and following safety tips can help you and your family make the most of your Halloween celebration.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 17 – Teen Poetry Night, The Creative Arts Building, 7 p.m.

The YWCA of Greater St. Louis in partnership with SistaKeeper Empowerment Center with hold Teen Poetry Night: Teen Voices Against Violence this Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Creative Arts Building, 3617 Grandel Square in Grand Center.  Participants are invited to raise their voice against violence during this evening of art, recitation and healing.  Refreshments will be provided  .For more information, call (314) 224-5377.

Oct. 17 – Oktoberfest, St. Pius V Catholic Church, 4 p.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by Oktoberfest at St. Pius V Catholic Church this Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Enjoy live music from 6 – 9 p.m., full and half meals will be available for dine in or take out and the BierGartent will be serving a variety of craft beers.  The church is located at 3310 S. Grand Boulevard in the Tower Grove East neighborhood.

Oct. 17 through Oct. 30 – Boo at the Zoo, Forest Park, 5:30 p.m.

Get into the Halloween spirit by stopping by Boo at the Zoo this Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Kids are encouraged to dress in costume, and visitors 12 and younger will receive a treat bag on the way out.  Activities include straw mazes, ghostly photo ops, listening to stories around the campfire, making crafts and more.  Admission is $6 to $7.  For more information, call (314) 646-4771 or visit www.stlzoo.org.

Oct. 17 & 18 – Rock 'n' Roll Saint LouisExpo, America's Center, 1 p.m.

For two days, more than 60 exhibitors will offer free samples, showcase the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health & nutritional information and much more at the Rock 'n' Roll Saint Louis Expo at America's Center, 701 Convention Plaza in Downtown St. Louis.  Participants in this weekend's Rock 'n' Roll running events can pick up some last minute race essentials at the Expo before race day.  Hours will be 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.  For more information, visit http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/st-louis/expo .

Oct. 18 – Neighborhood Greenways Dutchtown Walk, ThomasDunnLearningCenter, 10 a.m.

Trailnet will be leading walks of potential neighborhood greenway routes for three areas in the City of St. Louis this month.  The first will be in Dutchtown on Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon at Thomas Dunn Learning Center, 3113 Gasconade.  For more information, visit the trailnet.org web site or call (314) 296-0281.

Oct. 18 –  River des Peres Trash Bash, Fultz Field on the River des Peres Greenway, 8 a.m.

Join Great Rivers Greenway, the River des Peres Watershed Coalition, Missouri Stream Team, MSD, and Saint Louis Forward this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fultz Field on the River des Peres Greenway for the sixth annual River des Peres Trash Bash to help clean up the rivers and creeks within the River des Peres watershed.  There are many areas from which to choose, including sites in Maplewood/Ladue, Crestwood/Green Park, University City, South St. Louis and near UMSL  .After the clean up, a celebratory lunch will take place, and prizes for the best trash finds will be awarded. Fultz Field is located on River des Peres Parkway between Gravois Avenue and Morganford Road.  For more information, visit the riverdesperes.org web site.

Oct. 18 – St. Stephen Protomartyr PTO Trivia Night, St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish Center, 6:30 p.m.

Calling all trivia buffs!  St. Stephen Protomartyr PTO will be holding a Trivia Night this Saturday at the Parish Center, 3929 Wilmington Avenue in the Holly Hills neighborhood.  Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the game will begin at 7 p.m.  Cost is $20 per person, table of eight.  To reserve your table, call (314) 776-4268 or email PTOSSP@gmail.com.

Oct. 18 & 19 – Rungevity Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon & ½ Marathon, Downtown St. Louis, 8 a.m.

Nearly 12,000 runners will take to the streets on Sunday for the Rock 'n' Roll St. Louis Marathon, ½ Marathon, 2-Person ½ Marathon Relay and 5K respectively.  The various routes will take the runners on a tour of St. Louis' most exciting views and venues.  Along the way neighborhoods will be showing their support from the cheer areas they have created for the occasion.  Start time is 7 a.m. from Tucker and Market and all routes will circle back to the finish line of 15^th and Chestnut.  Afterwards, runners and their guests will be able to enjoy a concert by Big Data from 10:45 a.m. to Noon.

New for 2014 is the addition of a 5K race on Saturday.  The race will take place Downtown at 8 a.m. beginning at Tucker and Market and ending at 15^th and Chestnut.  For more information, visit http://runrocknrull.competitor.com/st-louis/rock-n-roll-running-festival-st-louis .

Oct. 19 – Anniversary Screening of 'The World's Greatest Fair," MissouriHistoryMuseum, 1 p.m.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the world premiere of the Civil Pictures documentary "The World's Greatest Fair."  To commemorate the occasion, the documentary will be screened at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 in the auditorium at the Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard in beautiful Forest Park  .For more information, visit the civilpirctures.org web site.

Oct. 19 – Orphan Car Display, MissouriHistoryMuseum, 10 a.m.

Cruise on by the Missouri History Museum this Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. for the Orphan Car Display.  An orphan car is a vehicle that is no longer in production, most notably the Hudson, Packard, and Studebaker.  Car buffs will be able to see orphan cars made prior to 1965.  The museum is located at 5700 Lindell Boulevard in Forest Park.  For more information, call (314) 746-4599.

Save the Date

Oct. 24 – Gardens to Tables Food Day, Compton & Rutger, 11 a.m.

Oct. 24 – Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series, Gateway Greening Office, Noon

Oct. 24 – Last day to vote for the Stan Span at http://AmericasTransportationAwards.org

Oct. 25 – Harvest Fair 2014, Bell Community Garden, 10 a.m.

Oct. 25 – Fall Community Yard Sale, Clifton Heights Neighborhood, 8 a.m.

Oct. 25 – 2014 Financial Planning Day, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, 9 a.m.

Oct. 25 – Meet the Builders of the Gateway Arch, Gateway Arch Visitors Center, 10 a.m.

Oct. 25 – Halloween in the Central West End, Maryland/Euclid intersection, 11 a.m.

Oct. 25 – Tricks &Treats on Park, Plaza Fountain, 11 a.m.

Oct. 28 – National Fair Housing Webinar, Visitors Center in Forest Park, Noon

Oct. 31 – "Fright Night" Halloween Party, Ballpark Village, 8 p.m.

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight?  If so, you may email the information about it to me at GrayR@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration.  You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is at the very bottom of the home page.  The listing is free.  I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

Volunteers Sought

Community Mediation Services is accepting applicants for its 40-hour volunteer conflict resolution class to begin late this fall.  Interested persons will be offered the opportunity to attend a three-hour introduction session to learn more.  Visit www.mediationstl.org to sign up or call (314) 533-3550.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis