Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Now Accepting Applications for Probationary Fire Private Position

 

Now Accepting Applications for Probationary Fire Private Position

Are you interested in an exciting career in the fire service?  If so, then apply for a Probationary Fire Private position with the City of St. Louis.  Applicants must be age 18 to 32, have graduated from high school or earned a G.E.D., and have a valid driver license.  To learn more about the minimum qualifications, visit the City web site at stlouis-mo.gov and click on the Work For the City link in the Most Active Pages column.  The work is demanding, but extremely rewarding.

Tip of the Helmet

Congratulations to St. Louis Fire Captain Gregg Favre, who was recognized this week as a member of St. Louis Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Class of 2015.  Captain Favre has been with the department since 2005 and became captain in 2013.  He is a member of Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson's command staff and in that capacity he acts as homeland security officer, coordinates department planning and oversight of major events, interfaces with other command staff and is one of the lead department strategic planners.

Upcoming Events (weather permitting)

Feb. 21 – Family Days, World Chess Hall of Fame, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday Family Days at the World Chess Hall of Fame are designed for families with children ages 5-12 and feature a kid-friendly tour of the current exhibits and related art or movement activity.  Sessions begin at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last approximately one hour.  All children must be accompanied by an adult and registration is limited to 24 children per session.  Make your reservations now to stop by the World Chess Hall of Fame, 4652 Maryland Avenue, in the trendy Central West End neighborhood to enjoy one of the upcoming Saturday Family Days.  For more information, call (314) 367-9243 or visit www.worldchesshof.org/ .

Feb. 21 – Sixth Annual African American Genealogy Conference, CentralBaptistChurch, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned researcher, the Sixth Annual African American Genealogy Conference this Satruday has something for everyone.  The keynote speaker will be Sharon Gillins, Genealogist, whose work includes researching the Freedman Bureau Records.  There will be four breakout sessions in the morning and four in the afternoon.  The cost will be $50 at the door.  The conference will take place at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Avenue, in Midtown from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Need more information?  Call (314) 484-9462.

Feb. 21 – Book Signing: Famous-Barr, St. Louis Shopping at Its Finest, Walgreens, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Many St. Louisans enjoyed shopping at the Famous-Barr store at Chippewa and South Kingshighway in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.  Author Edna Campos Gravenhorst has written a book entitled, "Famous-Barr, St. Louis Shopping at Its Finest."She and Dianne Rademacher, author of "Famous Firsts of St. Louis" will be discussing and signing their respective books this Saturday at the Walgreens located at 2933 S. Kingshighway (at Arsenal) in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.  For more information, call (812) 774-5556.

Feb. 21 –  Wall Ball, Third Degree Glass Factory, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The annual art sensation, the Wall Ball, will take place this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Third Degree Glass Factory located at 5200 Delmar Boulevard.  Wall Ball is your opportunity to see artwork created live by St. Louis' finest artists, and it is the biggest fundraiser for Artscope  .General admission is $35.  Help support creative programs for St. Louis area children.  For all the particulars, visit the artscopestl.org/wallball/ web site.

Feb. 21 – SixthAnnualCommunityGardenSummit, St. LouisUniversityHigh School, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gateway Greening's Sixth Annual Community Garden Summit will be held this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Louis University High School, 4970 Oakland Avenue in the Kings Oak neighborhood.  Attendees will have the chance to participate in networking with other gardeners and people working in sustainable practices across the region.  The "at the door" registration fee will be $20 for community gardeners and $40 for members of the general public.  For more details, visit the gatewaygreening.org web site.

Feb. 21 – Community Poetry Gathering, Regional Arts Commission, 7:30 p.m.

St. Louis Poet Laureate Dr. Michael Castro will present Unity Community, a community poetry gathering, this Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission located at 6128 Delmar in the Skinker / DeBaliviere neighborhood.  The free event will feature East St. Louis Poet Laureate Dr. Eugene B. Redmond, Shirley LeFlore, Cheeraz Gormon and Urb Arts Teen Poetry among others.  For more details, visit the art-stl.com web site.

Feb. 22 – Black History Month Program, St. Louis Public Library, 2 p.m.

Attention Scandal fans!  The St. Louis Public Library's Black History Month Keynote Address will be presented this Sunday by none other than crisis management expert and co-executive producer of ABC's hit television program, Scandal, Judy A. Smith.  The program will take place at 2 p.m. at Central Library, 1301 Olive Street in exciting Downtown St. Louis.  Smith, the founder and president of Smith & Company, a leading strategic and crisis communications firm in Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, will discuss surviving and thriving in an era of perpetual crisis and how it relates to African-American history and culture.  The event is free.  Seating is first-come, first served.  Smith's books will be available for purchase courtesy of Amber Books.  For more details, call (314) 880-8759.

Save the Date

Feb. 23 – March 1 – Stadium District Restaurant Week, Ballpark Village, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Feb. 26 – March 1 – Builders Home and Garden Show, America's Center, 10 a.m.

Feb. 27 – Fish Fry, Loyola Academy, 4 to 8 p.m.

Feb. 28 – American Heart Association Heart Ball, Chase Park Plaza, 6 p.m. to Midnight

Feb. 28 – South City Family YMCA Annual Trivia Night, Carpenters' Hall, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Feb. 28 – St. Wenceslaus Trivia Night, Parish Hall, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

March 1 – Off White Indie Wedding Show, The Luminary, 11 a.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.

Dig It STL!

Gateway Greening is launching a new pilot summer youth employment program entitled, "Dig It STL!"  Through a partnership with STL Youth Jobs, Gateway Greening will be employing youth ages 16 –23 this June and July to work alongside staff at community food projects.  These young St. Louisans will be building gardens, learning to grow food, and gaining public speaking and leadership skills by leading field trips and volunteer groups.  Youth will be paid $7.65/hr. for 20 hrs./week.  They'll also be able to bring home fresh fruits and vegetables from the gardens.  Applications are currently being accepted.  To apply, contact Carolyn at (314) 588-9600 (dial extension 100, and make sure to leave a message if no answer), or email Carolyn@gatewaygreening.org.

Citizens Academy

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is now accepting applications through Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 for its Citizens Academy class that will begin on March 4.  The Citizens Academy meets one night per week for 12 weeks.  Actual police officers teach nearly all of the classes which include sessions on the department's history and structure, crime patterns, gang intelligence, homicide investigations and community policing techniques among other things.  For all the details, visit the slmpd.org web site.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis