National
Red Ribbon Week
National
Red Ribbon Week will
be observed Oct. 23 – 31. The Red Ribbon
campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City kidnapped and murdered U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985. By wearing a red ribbon during the last week
of October Americans can demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs and pay
homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have
made the ultimate sacrifice in support of our nation's struggle against drug
trafficking and abuse. I encourage you
to join the effort to help keep children, families and neighborhoods safe,
healthy and drug-free.To learn more,
visit the getsmartaboutdrugs.com web site.
Upcoming
Events
Oct.
19 & 20 – Thurman Loop OktoberFest, Thurman & Shenandoah, 5 p.m.
Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Historic Shaw neighborhood this Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Thurman and Shenandoah. Enjoy artists, crafters, storytelling,
puppet shows, music, fine food, great beers and more. Admission is free. To learn more, visit the web site atthurmanloopoktoberfest.com.
Oct.
20 – Opening of New Great Rivers Greenway Trail, Porter Park, 10 a.m.
Everyone is invited to commemorate the
newest Great Rivers Greenway trail extension in St. LouisCity with the St. Vincent Celebration. The
all-day neighborhood event will include opening of the trail which runs north
from Delmar and DeBaliviere through Porter Park and then west to Skinker and
Etzel, as well as a groundbreaking for a new extension. Other neighborhood events will include
a farmer's market, a neighborhood yard sale, a jazz festival and dedications of
public art work. The
festivities will begin at 10 a.m. at the south end of Porter Park on
Delmar. For more
information, visit grgstl.org or call (314) 436-7009.
Oct.
20 – Harvest Fair, Bell Demonstration Garden,
10 a.m.
Gateway Greening is inviting everyone
to stop by the Bell Demonstration Garden on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate the harvest season with fellow community gardeners and
volunteers. Enjoy live
music, sweet potato harvesting, stamp making, food presentations, a raffle and
more. The event is free and
open to the public. The
Garden is located at 3871 Bell Avenue in the Covenant Blu / GrandCenter neighborhood. For more information, call (314) 588-9600 ext. 104.
Oct.
20 – 2nd Annual
Soulard Chili Festival, Lift for LifeAcademy,
11 a.m.
The 2nd Annual
Soulard Chili Festival will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lift for LifeAcademy, 1731 S. Broadway. This one-day, outdoor, rain or shine,
festival will feature music and entertainment, chili vendors, chili judging, a
Kid-Zone, beer and wine garden, and fun for the whole family. Taste of
Chili passes will be $12 at the event. Taste
of Beer/Wine and Chili passes will be $20 at the event. Proceeds will benefit the
Academy. For more details,
visit the liftforlifeacademy.org website.
Oct.
21 – Pets in the Neighborhood, Charlotte's Hall, 11 a.m.
Alderwoman Dionne Flowers and Operation
SPOT are hosting the Pets in the Neighborhood event this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Charlotte's Hall, 8709 Riverview Blvd. in the North Point neighborhood. OpSPOT's Spay/Neuter Waggin' will be
on site. Sign your pet up
for a low-cost spay/neuter appointment. Other
activities will include $15 Microchips, dog house raffle, pet treats, pet
grooming, pet training, pet care information and more. Questions? Call (314) 657-1486.
Oct.
21 – 2nd Annual TASK Rock 'n' Roll St.
Louis Marathon
& ½ Marathon,
Downtown, 7 a.m.
The 2nd Annual TASK Rock 'n' Roll St.
Louis Marathon
& ½ Marathon will step off this Sunday at 7 a.m. from Tucker & Market in beautiful
Downtown St. Louis. The 13.1 mile and
26.2 mile courses will highlight many of St. Louis' scenic neighborhoods, historic areas,
and beautiful parks and tree-lined streets.
Be sure to stop by the Health & Fitness Expo that will be held in conjunction with
the Marathon. More than 60 exhibitors will offer free samples, showcase the latest in
running gear, sports apparel, health & nutritional information and more at
America's Center, Halls 4 & 5, from Noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct, 19 and
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Expo is free and open to the public.
Oct.
21 - How St.
Louis Got its Start, Old Courthouse, 1:30
p.m.
As St. Louis nears its 250th birthday, how much do you know about
our city's founding? Local
historian J. Frederick Fausz, author of "Founding St. Louis: First City of the New West," will give
a free lecture beginning at 1:30
p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Historic Old Courthouse, 11 N. Fourth Street in
Downtown St. Louis. Hear
fascinating stories about early St. Louis and learn about the critical
importance of the French influence in the development of our great City. To learn more, call (314) 678-1511.
Now
– Oct. 21, American Arts Experience, various venues
For 17 days and nights, beginning Oct.
5, the American Arts Experience – St.
Louis has filled concert halls, museums, theaters, universities and outdoor
spaces in the St. Louis area with dozens of performances and shows by renowned
American artists and companies in disciplines ranging from symphonic music to
jazz and singer-songwriters, theater by American playwrights and dance by
American companies to major American visual artists.Visit the web site at americanartsstl.com for
the schedule of remaining events and make plans now to be part of the American
Arts Experience – St. Louis.
Oct.
26 – 2012 Livable St. Louis
Conference, Newman Education Center,
8 a.m.
Trailnet will hold its 2012 Livable St.
Louis Conference on
Friday, Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Eric P. Newman Education Center on the campus of Washington University Medical School, 320 S. Euclid Avenue in the Central West End neighborhood. The conference agenda will
include an impressive line-up of national and regional speakers. Sessions will focus on a diversity of
community development livability topics including: how walkable, diverse neighborhoods
bounce back from decline; setting a bold vision for biking in St. Louis; best practices for greening public
spaces; neighborhood greenways and bus rapid transit; walk-bike-transit links;
and participatory budgeting and planning for strong communities. For registration information, visit
the trailnet.org web site.
Oct.
27 – SLACO's 17th Annual Neighborhoods Conference, Harris-Stowe
State University, 8:30
a.m.
The St. Louis Association of Community
Organizations is sponsoring its annual St.
Louis Neighborhood Conference from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Givens Administration Building on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Avenue in Midtown. The conference will consist of
workshops and seminars that touch on neighborhood issues such as community development,
crime prevention, healthy communities, housing, neighborhood organization,
safety and more. Registration cost is $25. Visit http://stlneighborhoodsconference.com/ for details. Or you may call (314) 516-6590.
Oct.
27 – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Upper
Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park,
9 a.m.
The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
walk is a powerful and inspiring event that unites communities to celebrate
people who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about ways to help
prevent breast cancer, and raise money to find cures and support programs and
services for those facing the disease. To
register for the walk beginning at 9 a.m. in Forest Park on Saturday, Oct. 27, call (314) 286-8159 or visit the American Cancer Society
website at www.makingstrideswalk.org.
Save the Date
Now – Nov. 3 – The Haunting of Lemp
Brewery, 8 p.m.
Oct. 27 – Tricks & Treats on Park, Lafayette Square, 11 a.m.
Oct. 27 – Halloween in the Central West End, 11 a.m.
Oct. 27 – 4th Annual Great
Pumpkin Carve & Glow, Moonrise Hotel, 3 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Texas Hold'em, FiveStarSeniorCenter, Noon
Oct. 31 – Community Trunk or Treat, TowerGroveBaptistChurch Parking Lot, 6 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
rothe@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 on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take
advantage of this free way to promote your event.
StartUp
Connection
Thinking about starting a business or
want some help to grow the one you have? StartUp
Connection, the Venture Showcase and Entrepreneur Resource Fair, will be
held Thursday, Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue in the Kings Oak neighborhood. Come see what is in our great city's future
– today's startups are tomorrow's employers. For all the particulars, visit startupconnection.org.
Eddie Roth
Director of PublicSafety
City of St. Louis