Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public another opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions by participating in National Prescription Drug Tack-Back Day on Saturday, April 26.  Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. you will be able to bring your unwanted prescription drugs to a collection site near you.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  Properly disposing of medicines is important to human health and the environment.  Collections sites in the City include:

* Walgreens, 1530 Lafayette

* Walgreens, 4218 Lindell

* Walgreens, 3720 N. Kingshighway

* YMCA, 4343 W. Florissant

* Walgreens, 3822 S. Kingshighway

I encourage you to take advantage of this safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of your unwanted prescription drugs.

Upcoming Events

Now through April 26 – 2014 FIRST Robotics Championship, America's Center & Edward Jones Dome, 7 a.m.

More than 12,000 students from 38 countries are gathered in St. Louis for the 2014 FIRST Robotics Championship being held at America's Center & the Edward Jones Dome.  Spectators can enjoy three simultaneous robotic competitions and explore the Expo.  FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology, and over the years it has proven that science, technology, and problem-solving are not only fun and rewarding, but are proven paths to successful careers for students.  For the complete schedule of qualification and competition matches, visit the usfirst.org web site.

April 25 – Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series, Gateway Greening, Noon

Join the food policy conversation by participating in this month's informal Food Policy "Brown Bag" Lunch this Friday at Noon at Gateway Greening, 2211 Washington Avenue, Ste. 202 in the Downtown West neighborhood.  The featured speaker will be Michelle Erhard, Program Coordinator at City Greens, a community market started in 2009 to provide access to fresh, quality and affordable produce to neighbors.  The event is free and open to the public.  Questions?  Call Hannah at (314) 588-9600 ext. 104.

April 25 -- Fridays on Clark, Ballpark Village, 5 p.m.

Every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Ballpark Village hosts the biggest Friday Happy Hour event in St. Louis on Clark Avenue.  Happy Hour starts with the delivery of a special featured beer for the evening, the first keg is tapped, a toast is made and free samples are distributed.  After the opening festivities, a live band performs for free for the public.  Invite your co-workers and friends to join you Downtown at Ballpark Village after work for Fridays on Clark. Visit the stlballparkvillage.com web site for more information.

April 26 – First Annual Financial Empowerment Fair, Harris-StoweStateUniversity, 11 a.m.

The City of St. Louis Treasurer's Office is partnering with several community organizations to host the First Annual Financial Empowerment Fair at Harris-Stowe State University this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Several banks and credit unions, as well as state and federal agencies, will be on hand to provide important information about bank accounts, credit counseling, identify theft and more.  For more information, contact Lisa at (314) 622-5669.

April 26 – Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Brightside Clean Up, meet at Mount Pleasant Park, 10 a.m.

The annual Brightside Neighborhood Clean Up for the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood will begin at 10 a.m. this Saturday.  All volunteers should meet at Mount Pleasant Park by the sign. Water will be available.  Bring rakes, brooms, and shovels.

Volunteers will be cleaning and preparing flower beds at Mount Pleasant Park, the space at VAL, the Triangle at Osceola and Virginia, and the Triangle at Broadway and Osceola.  Volunteers will also be planting Cedars in the public space at Minnesota and Delor and by the Dutchtown Sign at VAL.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.  Visit the MPNASTL Facebook page for more information.

April 26 – 2014 My Sister's Closet, Cardinal Ritter College Prep Gym, 10 a.m.

Raid your closet, then come to the 2014 My Sister's Closet event this Saturday to sell your items, shop or trade.  Donations will benefit Urban League Guild of Metropolitan St. Louis events and projects.  The bazaar will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cardinal Ritter College Prep Gym, 701 N. Spring Avenue in the Covenant Blu / Grand Center neighborhood.  For additional information, call (314) 615-3604.

April 26 – The Color Run 5K, Downtown, 6 a.m.

The craziest, most colorful 5K run in the country – The Color Run -- will return to Downtown St. Louis this Saturday.  Race it solo or invite your family and friends to join you to form a "color team" of 4+ members.  The race will begin and end near Soldiers' Memorial, 1315 Chestnut Street.  To sign up and review the route, go to the thecolorrun.com web site.

April 26 – March of Dimes St. Louis March for Babies, Forest Park, 9 a.m.

The March of Dimes St. Louis March for Babies will take place this Saturday in beautiful Forest Park.  Invite your friends, family and co-workers to join you for the only walk that celebrates, remembers, and saves babies.  The money raised funds important research and programs to help babies begin healthy lives.  Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the Upper Muny Parking Lot.  The walk will step off at 9 a.m.  To register, log on to the marchforbabies.org web site.

April 26 – St. Louis ArtWorks Spring Sale, 2707 N. 14^th Street, 11 a.m.

The St. Louis ArtWorks Spring Sale will take place this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2707 N. 14^th Street in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.  Shoppers will be able to purchase artwork created by the St. Louis ArtWorks apprentices.  Items will include screen printed textiles, painted rain barrels, bike and garden art, and more.  Attendees will also be able to view the video premieres of:  On Whose Shoulders We Stand:  The Historic Ville & The FishWrapper.  Go to www.stlartworks.org for more information.

April 26 – Grand Reopening Fest, Pets in the City, 11 a.m.

Calling all pet owners!  Pets in the City is cordially inviting you to its Grand Reopening Fest this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Visitors and their four-legged friends will be able to enjoy a free photo booth, contests, people/pet massage, meet local celebrities and more.  Pets in the City is located at 1919 S. Grand Boulevard in the Shaw neighborhood.  For more details, call (314) 772-7387.

April 26 – National Dance Week Celebration, St. Louis Union Station, Noon

Invite your family and friends to join you at St. Louis Union Station this Saturday beginning at Noon for the National Dance Week Celebration.  Fifty dance companies will give free performances, with a special guest performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. All are welcome to join in and have fun on stage for the Flash Mob at 2 p.m.  For the complete performance schedule and Flash Mob steps, visit the nationaldanceweekstl.com web site.

April 27 – St. Louis Earth Day Festival, The Muny Grounds of Forest Park, 11 a.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by our nation's second largest Earth Day celebration this weekend in lovely Forest Park.  Festivities will begin on Saturday on the eve of the St. Louis Earth Day Festival.  Enjoy food, music and more from 4 – 7 p.m. at The Muny.  Suggested donation is $5.

The 2014 St. Louis Earth Day Festival will open at 11 a.m. on Sunday on The Muny grounds of Forest Park and will run to 6 p.m.  Visitors will learn about sustainable products and services offered by local businesses and organizations, meet area non-profits that share the mission of Earth Day, catch local musical acts and performance art, participate in a number of hands-on educational activities, and enjoy diverse cuisine featuring local, organic and vegetarian options.  The Festival is family and dog friendly and will take place rain or shine.  For all the particulars, visit stlouisearthday.com.

April 27 – Party for the Planet, Saint Louis Zoo, 11 a.m.

The Saint Louis Zoo will be holding Earth Day-related activities this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Visitors to the Zoo for the Party for the Planet event will be able to enjoy live entertainment, Keeper Chats and more.  Visit stlzoo.org for more information.

April 27 – Lecture by Dr. Peter Raven, FirstUnitarianChurch of St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Dr. Peter Raven will present the 2014 Clark Memorial Lecture for Earth Day this Sunday, at 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, located at 5007 Waterman Boulevard in the trendy Central West End neighborhood.  Dr. Raven is a leading advocate for conservation and a sustainable environment, and his lecture will address the topic of saving our planet.  To learn more, call (314) 361-0595.

Now through April 27 -- Shake 38, various locations, various times

The Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Shake 38 initiative is going on now through April 27.  All of Shakespeare's 38 plays will be performed by 38 different groups in a variety of neighborhoods and locations during this time. You're invited to come see the Education Tour perform Family of Kings, a 50-minute adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 and Henry V this Sunday at Noon at Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum, 1315 Chestnut Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  It is recommended that you bring your own seating.  For the complete schedule of performances, visit the sfstl.com web site.

April 29 – Twilight Tuesdays Spring 2014 Concert Series, MissouriHistoryMuseum, 6 p.m.

The Missouri History Museum's Twilight Tuesdays Concert Series will continue on Tuesday, April 29 with a free concert by the group FatPocket.  Festivities will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Museum's front lawn on Lindell Boulevard at DeBaliviere in Forest Park.  For the complete schedule of concert performers, log on to the mohistory.org/twilight-Tuesdays web site.

April 30 – Blitz Blooms Deadline, Brightside St. Louis, 5 p.m.

Brightside St. Louis is offering free flower seedlings to community groups for planting in public spaces to help beautify their neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis.  The deadline to apply for free flowers is Wednesday, April 30.  To be eligible, for free flowers, groups must register a Blitz clean-up with Brightside by April 30.  By registering a Blitz clean up, groups can borrow tools from Brightside and/or request trash bags to use during their clean up.  Register your Blitz project online at brightsidestl.org or through the Brightside St. Louis office located at 4646 Shenandoah Avenue.  Don't miss out on this great opportunity to clean up the streets, alleys, and vacant lots on your block, while energizing your neighbors and enhancing your neighborhood.  Flowers will be available for pick up in May.  This year, in honor of St. Louis' 250^th birthday, Brightside has set a goal to plant 250,000 flowers in public spaces throughout the City.  You can help Brightside reach its goal while also making St. Louis a cleaner and greener place to live.  Need more information?  Call (314) 772-4646.

May 1 – Starting a Business Workshop, SLATE, 9 a.m.

Have you dreamed of starting your own business but are not sure where to begin?  If so, you should consider attending the Starting a Business in Missouri Workshop that will be offered by the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) on Thursday, May 1 at 1520 Market Street in Downtown St.Louis.  The free three-hour workshop is for entrepreneurs of all ages, backgrounds, education and experience.  The program will help you discover what it takes to be a business owner, how to identify funding sources, investors and lenders, how to assess the market and industry competition and more.  To register, contact Stacy Fowler at (314) 657-3547.

May 1 – Fifth Annual Jammin' for Justice, Plush St. Louis, 6:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) is inviting everyone to attend the Fifth Annual Jammin' for Justice event on Thursday, May 1 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Plush St. Louis, 3224 Locust Street, in the Covenant Blu / Grand Center neighborhood.  The fun evening will include live music, light appetizers, cash bar, silent auction, raffles and door prizes.  Live entertainment will be provided by Mystic Voyage.  For tickets and further information, contact MCU at (314) 367-3484.

Save the Date

May 2 – First Friday, International Photography Hall of Fame, 11 a.m.

May 3 – Downtown Living Tour 2014, register at 314 N. Broadway, Noon

May 3 – Cinco De Mayo on Cherokee Street, 11 a.m.

May 3 – Yoga, Gateway Arch grounds, 9 a.m.

May 3 – STL Outsider Art Fair 2014, Koken Art Factory's Pingle Building, Noon

May 3 – Plant Flowers, Benton Park, 9 a.m.

May 4 – Run for Sight, St. Louis Union Station, 8:30 a.m.

May 4 – Polish Constitution Day Celebration, PNA Sports Club, 11:30 a.m.

May 4 – 2014 Lecture Series, Tower Grove Park, 3 p.m.

May 4 – Taste of Serbfest, Holy Trinity Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church, Noon

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.

Community Emergency Response Training

Would you like to be better prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster situation?Through Community Emergency Response Training (CERT), citizens can learn what actions they can take that can make a difference before first responders are able to reach them.  CERT is a positive and realistic approach to help citizens manage when they are initially on their own immediately following a catastrophic event.  Those attending the classes will learn how to provide basic medical aid, how to search for and rescue victims safely, and how to organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective, as well as other helpful topics.  f you are interested in signing up for a future session, contact Sarah Gamblin-Luig via email at:  gamblin-luigs@stlouis-mo.gov.

Col. Richard Gray
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis