Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Safety Outreach Summer Camp for Kids

 

Safety Outreach Summer Camp for Kids

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is now accepting applications for the exciting five-day Safety Outreach Summer Camp for Kids which will begin July 13, 2015.  Children must be between the ages of six years to nine years of age.  Camp will meet Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to Noon at the St. Louis Police Academy, 315 S. Tucker Boulevard.  Your child will learn or enhance their skills in the following areas:

• How and when to call 911
• How to use public transportation
• How to escape a fire in the house
• What Police Officers do
• How to properly cross the street
• Gun safety
• Bullying
• Poison control and more!

Applications are available online at www.slmpd.org or via e-mail at SOS@slmpd.org or call (314) 444-5638 for an application by mail.  Registration will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Metro High School, 4015 McPherson.  Please bring your completed application with you when you register.

Upcoming Events

June 12 – Local Social, Central West End, 6 to 9 p.m.

Local Social is a celebration of all things local in the Central West End.  Enjoy entertainment throughout the neighborhood including live music, street performers and more. Participating shops and restaurants stay open late, offering discounts and specials.  Discover the galleries, boutiques, nightlife, fine dining and sidewalk cafes of the Central West End this Friday.  For more details, please visit the cwescene.com web site.

June 12 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, Arsenal & S. Kingshighway, 4 to 8 p.m.

Mark your calendar for every second Friday from now through October for Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park.  A different local band will play live music at each event and a variety of vendors will be on hand for your dining and drinking pleasure.  For all the details, visit http://foodtruckfriday.saucemagazine.com.

Every Friday, May – September – Lunchtime Live, Old Post Office Plaza, 801 Locust, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lunchtime Live is Downtown's premier outdoor lunchtime party that features live bands, food trucks and great networking opportunities.  Invite your co-workers to join you at this fun way to spend your lunch hour.  For more information, visit the downtownstl.org web site.

Every Friday – STLive on Washington Avenue, participating venues on Washington Avenue in Downtown St. Louis, 5 p.m.

Washington Avenue is alive with the sound of music every Friday night all year 'round at various Washington Avenue restaurants such as Tigin, Pi, Robust, Takaya, Dubliner, Copia, Flamingo Bowl, Hair of the Dog, Blondie's, Lucas Park Grille, Rosalita's, Wash Ave Post, Hiro Asian Kitchen, Sen Thai and many more.  Restaurants offer drink and dinner specials in addition to the live music.  All genres of music – from pop to jazz to country to rock -- are represented.  There is something for everyone to enjoy.  For more information, visit the STLiveMusic page on Facebook.

Now through June 14 – Antony and Cleopatra – Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Forest Park, 8 p.m.

Enjoy a lovely night of Shakespeare under the stars in beautiful Forest Park.  Antony and Cleopatra tells the epic, intriguing, and enchanting tale of a Roman general caught under the spell of history's most stunning and powerful queen.  Bring blankets or chairs for lawn seating or rent a chair.  Bring your own picnic or enjoy a box dinner from the on-site caterer.  Come early (6:30 p.m.) for the traditional Green Show where dancers, musicians, jugglers and other entertainers interact with the audience.  Thursday performances are signed for the hearing impaired.  The site is wheelchair accessible.  For more information, visit the sfstl.com web site or call (314) 531-9800.

June 13 – Dutchtown Bazaar, The Feasting Fox Parking Lot, 4200 South Grand Boulevard, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Looking for vintage, handmade or flea market treasures?  Then stop by the Second Annual Dutchtown Bazaar.  Vendors will be outside on the parking lot of The Feasting Fox and inside the Gretchen Inn.  Proceeds will benefit the Neighborhood Ownership Model.  Questions?  Call Diana at (314) 832-1740.

June 13 – Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, Downtown St. Louis, 6:30 a.m.

Give strength to the local fight against breast cancer by registering for or donating to the 17^th Annual Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure.  The funds raised by this event will directly impact the breast health needs of local women, men and families.  Seventy-five percent of the net funds raised by Komen St. Louis stay in the local community to fund life-saving breast cancer screening, breast health education and more. The remaining 25 percent funds cutting-edge breast cancer research in St. Louis and beyond.  Registration price ranges from $20 to $35.  Need more information?  Call (314) 569-3900 or visit the komenstlouis.org web site.

June 13 – Youth Garden Tour, begins and ends at Clay Elementary School, 3824 N. 14^th Street, 9 a.m. to Noon

Are you interested in gardening, looking to start a community garden or just looking for new ideas for your existing community Garden?  Are you an educator looking to start a garden at your school?  Then this tour is for you!  Join other like-minded individuals along with Gateway Greening to see examples of youth gardens, learn about best practices and hear from teachers on their experience with children in the garden.  Gateway Greening will provide bus transportation for this open to the public tour.  The tour fee is $5 and registration is required.  The tour will begin and end at Clay Elementary School and will be followed by a picnic lunch at the school.  Boxed lunches will be available from Sun Café for an additional $5 or you are free to bring your own lunch.  To register, go to the gatewaygreening.org web site.

June 13 – The Ville Neighborhood Garden Walk, 4300 Maffitt Avenue, 9 a.m.

Everyone is invited to join The Ville Neighborhood Walking Group for a tour of neighborhood gardens and historic sites this Saturday.  Celebrate the addition of the The Ville Family Gardens to the gardening scene in The Ville.  This is a great opportunity to connect with other members of the community and those from the Ville Collaborative who are working on this project.  For more information, visit the thevillefamilygarden.wordpress.com web site.

June 13 – Grand Re-Opening of Marquette Park Swimming Pool, Osage & Compton, 1 to 6 p.m.

Come celebrate the grand re-opening of the free Marquette Park Swimming Pool this Saturday.  Visitors will enjoy free food and good times plus live music as you splash around.  Questions?  Call (314) 289-5300.

Now through June 28 – Circus Flora, 3511 Samuel Shepard Drive in Grand Center, performance times vary

Travel back to The Jazz Age – to a time when American cities grew rapidly, becoming home to families from all walks of life and corners of the map – when you attend Circus Flora's "One Summer on 2^nd Street."  Invite your friends and family to journey with you to a typical block in a typical city on a typical day – and meet a very atypical set of families – all under the Big Top this summer.  For ticket information, visit the circusflora.org web site.

Now through July 31 – Nanjing Style:  Photographs from our Sister City, The Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Boulevard, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One year ago, the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum (IPHF) sent eight St. Louis based photographers to Nanjing, China as part of their Sister City collaboration with the Nanjing Federation of the Arts.  Last month, 16 Chinese photographers spent a week visiting St. Louis and photographing our great city.  IPHF is presenting the work of the guest photographers at the Center.  The photographic works featured in this exhibit include everything from landscape panoramas to sports, social commentary, photojournalism and more.  Don't miss this powerful cultural exhibit.  Questions?  Call (314) 533-0367.

Now through August 23 – Lantern Festival:  Magic Reimagined, Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, times vary

This year's Lantern Festival:  Magic Reimagined has brought all-new lighted works of art to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the summer.  The all-new sets crafted from silk and steel are once again offering visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience an event rarely staged outside of Asia.  For ticket information, visit the missouribotanicalgarden.org web site or call (314) 678-7442.

Every Saturday, now through June 27 – Grand Center Architecture and History Tours, KDHX, 3524 Washington Boulevard, 10 a.m.

The Grand Center Architecture and History Walking Tour, sponsored by Enterprise Bank and Trust, provides a fascinating look into the District's magnificent buildings, rich history, dynamic neighborhood, and vibrant arts culture.  The free 1.5 mile tour starts from the Magnolia Café at KDHX.  Tours run every Saturday, now through June 27, 2015.  Visit www.grandcenter.org/gctourssignup to RSVP for a tour.  For more information, you may call (314) 289-1500.

June 14 – Temporal Cities Art Fort Festival, Benton Park, Arsenal & S. Jefferson, 2 to 7 p.m.

Join your neighbors this Sunday for the Temporal Cities Art Fort Festival in Benton Park.  The event will feature The Jamily Fam, Pacia, Jack Grille, and others.  For all the details, visit the bentonpark.org web site.

June 14 – Self-guided Sustainable Backyard Tour, various locations, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The self-guided Sustainable Backyard Tour will take place this Sunday.  There are 36 properties on the Tour, which extends into both St. Louis City and County.  This year, there are 20 properties in the City and there are two themed mini-routes for those who are interested in a focused approach.  Themed Route 1 is Specialized Gardening, featuring properties that practice an unconventional gardening technique in an effort to be more sustainable.  All of the properties are within a close enough proximity to walk or cycle between them.  Theme Route 2 is Rainscaping, showcasing properties that use a landscaping practice or element that manages stormwater as close as possible to where it falls, to prevent it from becoming runoff.  Examples include rain gardens, bioswales, permeable surfaces, and rain barrels.  Register for the tour at the sustainablebackyardtour.com web site.

June 14 – Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 6 to 8 p.m.

The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation will present its 27^th Annual Concerts in the Park Series beginning June 7^th through Aug. 23^rd.  Each concert is free to the public.  Bring your blanket and friends and join the fun at the performance by Power Play this Sunday in Carondelet Park.  For details about the concerts at Carondelet Park and others that will be held in South St. Louis Square Park, Fanetti Park and Bellerive Park throughout the summer, visit www.carondeletliving.com.

Every Sunday – St. Louis Swap Meet, located at the historic Lemp Brewery, Cherokee and Lemp Streets, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The St. Louis Swap Meet, the new outdoor marketplace for local vendors, is open every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Visitors will be able to buy everything from furniture, delicious food, and unique toys to posters and pottery all while enjoying live music and more. For more information, visit the stlswapmeet.com web site.

June 15 – Free First Robotic Lego League Summer Camp, Youth and Family Center, 818 Cass Avenue, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Youth and Family Center will be holding a free First Robotic Lego League Summer Camp beginning Monday, June 15 through Friday, July 31.  The camp will be geared for middle school boys and girls ages 12 to 15.  Qualified First Robotics Instructors have a number of exciting projects planned.  Free breakfast, snacks and lunch will be provided.  Limited space is available so register today by calling (314) 231-1147.  For more information, visit the theyfc.org web site.

June 15 – Free Concert, South St. Louis Square Park, 7700 Pennsylvania Avenue, 7 to 9 p.m.

Bring your chairs, blankets and friends to South St. Louis Square Park on Monday, June 15 for a free concert by the Steamrollers.  The Carondelet Summer Concerts in the Park Series is a longstanding annual celebration of diverse music, hosting local musicians at various parks in the Carondelet neighborhood each week.  For more information, visit the carondeletliving.com web site.

Every Wednesday – Wednesday Lunch Free Concert Series, Citygarden, 10^th & Market, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

The Wednesday Lunch bands at Citygarden have returned and perform every Wednesday through Aug. 26.  Stop by the garden next Wednesday and catch the free concert by Electro Funk Assembly.  Visit the citygardenstl.org web site for more details.

June 17 – June 27 – St. Lou Fringe Festival, Grand Center venues, times vary

The Fourth Annual St. Lou Fringe Festival is bringing two weeks of Fringetastic programming in five of the stellar venues in Grand Center:  Kranzberg Studio/Black Box, Duet Gallery, CEL, and The Stage at KDHX.  Tickle your fancy with theater, dance, comedy, musicians, spoken word and one-of-a-kind artistic expression.  Both a badge and a ticket are required to enter any show at the Festival.  The badge is a one-time purchase and is required for entry into festival events.  It's like the State Fair:  a nominal entry gets you in, then you get to pick your rides (shows) and get those tickets individually.  One hundred percent of ticket sales go to the performers and technical artists.  For a detailed schedule, tickets and more information, visit www.stlfringe.com.

Every Thursday – Whitaker Urban Evening Series, St. Louis Place Park, Rauschenbach & St. Louis Avenue, 7 to 9 p.m.

The Whitaker Urban Evening Concert Series will take place every Thursday night now through July 16 in historic St. Louis Place Park.  The evening will feature live music by established artists, children's activities, and food trucks.  Invite your family and friends to join you for an unforgettable evening in the park.  For more information, visit the gracehillsettlement.org web site.

Save the Date

June 19 – Breakfast for Bikers, The Downtown Bicycle Station, 1011 Locust Street, 7 to 9 a.m.

June 19 – Jurassic Park Movie Night, Ritz Park, 3147 S. Grand, dusk

June 20 – Plaquey Wacky 5K and Obstacle Relay Race, Willmore Park, 6499 Jamieson Avenue, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

June 20 – 19^th Annual Fatherhood Walk/5K Run and Rally, Tower Grove Park at Grand Avenue Entrance, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 20 – Barbecue, Watson Terrace Christian Church, 4205 Watson Road at Winnebago Street, Noon to 7 p.m.

June 20 – Father's Day Mug Making Class, Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar Boulevard, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 20 – Dano Festival Celebrating Korean Culture, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 20 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park (SE corner), 6 to 9 p.m.

June 21 – Organ Recital, Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 Soulard Street, 7 p.m.

June 21 – Ranger-Led Walking Tour, Old Courthouse, 11 North Fourth Street, 10:30 a.m. to 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.

$10 Million Loan Fund Aims to Boost Minority, Women Contractors with Flexible Financing

Minority and women contractors who can't get traditional loans to expand their business in St. Louis have a new resource at their disposal:  the Contractor's Loan Fund (CLF).  The new fund is a potential game-changer for diversity in St. Louis construction  .Certified minority and women-owned business enterprises will be able to apply for a loan of up to $1 million from the fund, which has a pool of $10 million.  If you are a City of St. Louis certified M/WBE, consider whether a CLF loan is right for you.  Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for a CLF loan.  To determine whether you meet the requirements, you must complete a pre-application form for review by CLF representatives.  If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be contacted directly by one of the Loan service providers to complete a full application.  To learn more about the service providers and to download a pre-application form, visit the clfstl.org web site.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis