Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2014 Winter Weather Awareness

 

Winter Weather Awareness

I want to begin this two-week edition of the Spotlight by joining with our Interim Director of Health Pamela Rice Walker, MPA, CPHA to encourage all St. Louisans to begin preparing for exposure to the cold temperatures that winter will bring and to begin preparing to prevent conditions that can cause serious illnesses.  Over the past four years, there have been more than 120 cold weather illnesses reported by hospitals and EMS officials in the City of St. Louis.  There have been eight cold weather fatalities in the past four years in the City of St. Louis.  To reduce your risk from cold weather, here are a few tips:

• Cover your skin if you must go outdoors.  Wear a hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth; mittens are warmer than gloves; water resistant coat and boots and several layers of loose-fitting clothing.
• If working or exercising outdoors, allow your body to get acclimated to the cold.
• Know the signs and symptoms of frostbite, hypertension and exertion.
• Be particularly cautious to avoid walking on ice.
• Never use a gas range or grill to heat your home.
• Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch on fire.
• Make sure your smoke and CO detectors are working properly.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 20 – Anheuser-Busch Holiday Lights 2014, Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center, 6 to 10 p.m.

The Anheuser-Busch holiday lights display will offer more than half a million lights and a variety of new experiences for guests of all ages to enjoy.  This family-friendly event will offer free self-guided walking tours, warm and cozy fire pits for making s'mores, complimentary beer samples for adults 21 and older, dinner at the Biergarten and more!  Guests can enter through the Tour Center, located at 1200 Lynch Street, and park for free in designated Tour Center parking lots.  The season-long activities will begin on Thursday, Nov. 20 and continue every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2015.  For all the details, visit www.budweisertours.com.

Nov. 21 – Third Friday Party, Third Degree Glass Factory, 6 p.m.

Stop by the Third Friday Party at Third Degree Glass Factory for the unveiling of limited edition signature glass ornaments by Third Degree Glass Factory artists.  The ornaments will be signed, numbered and dated.  Several artists will demonstrate how they make their unusual ornaments.  Guests will also be able to enjoy live music, fire spinning, and view artwork by SIU-Carbondale's School of Art and Design.  Third Degree is located at 5200 Delmar Boulevard in the trendy Central West End neighborhood.  To learn more, visit the thirddegreeglassfactory.com website.

Nov. 22 – Amtrak Exhibit Train, St. Louis Union Station, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Amtrak Exhibit Train will be coming to Holiday Magic at St. Louis Union Station this Saturday and Sunday.  Everyone is invited to climb aboard, take a self-guided tour to learn about Amtrak's history, and catch a glimpse into the company's future.  Displays will include vintage advertising, past menus and dinnerware, period uniforms, photographs, and other items of memorabilia from Amtrak's creation in 1971.  Union Station is located at 1820 Market Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  Need more details?  Visit the Amtrak.com web site.

Nov. 22 – The Polar Express^TM Train Ride, St. Louis Union Station, 4:30 p.m.

All aboard for The Polar Express Train Ride departing St. Louis Union Station with service to the North Pole on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season!  The magical story of the classic children's book, The Polar Express, is told during this ride on real trains.  Families will drink hot chocolate, enjoy cookies, sing Christmas carols, play with elves and meet Santa Claus, who will give them the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell.  Trains depart at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. for an hour-long journey.  For ticket information and more details, visit the stlpolarexpressride.com web site.

Nov. 22 – Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights, St. Louis Union Station, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This year's Festival of Lights event, kicking off the holiday season in St. Louis, will take place at St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market Street.  Festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. inside Union Station and then move outside at 4 p.m. to across the street in Aloe Plaza where it will conclude at 6:30 p.m. with the lighting of the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights, followed by a dramatic fireworks display. For all the particulars, visit the christmasinstlouis.org web site.

Nov. 22 – Garden Glow Holiday Light Exhibit, Missouri Botanical Garden, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Beginning this Saturday, Garden Glow Light Exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden will provide visitors a spectacle of unique light displays, with hundreds of thousands of lights adorning some of the Garden's most widely recognized locations including the Climatron.  The Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard.  To learn more, visit the missouribotanicalgarden.org web site.

Nov. 22 – Better Family Life's 28^th Unity Gala, BFL Cultural, Educational and Business Center, 7 p.m. to Midnight

Better Family Life will hold its 28^th Annual Unity Gala this Saturday from 7 p.m. to Midnight.  The entire community is invited to what will be an enchanting evening of entertainment, delectable international cuisine, dancing, fun and fellowship as local leaders, educators and business experts are honored for their tireless and heroic contributions and commitment to the greater St. Louis Metropolitan region.  The Center is located at 5415 Page Boulevard in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood.  For more information, call (314) 367-3440 ext. 9602.

Nov. 22 — Shaw Community Thanksgiving Potluck, 2149 S. Grand Blvd., 4 p.m.

Compton Heights Christian Church and Isaiah 58 Ministries will be hosting a community-wide Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner this Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. at 2149 S. Grand Boulevard (on the corner of Grand and Flora).  Celebrate the beautiful diversity of the Shaw community.  Meat and drinks will be provided.  Bring a side dish or dessert to share.  Please call (314) 776-1410 with any questions and to let the congregation know you plan to attend.

Now through Nov. 23 – 23^rd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival, various venues and times

The annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is one of the largest international film festivals in the Midwest, and it is taking place now through Nov. 23.  Venues include the Tivoli Theatre, Stage at KDHX, Centene Center for A&E, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Missouri History Museum, Nine Network, Saint Louis Art Museum, and Saint Louis University, to name but a few.  For ticket information and the day-by-day schedule of screenings and events, visit http://www.cinemastlouis.org/ .

Nov. 27 – Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade, Downtown, 8:45 a.m.

The Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade will take to the streets of Downtown St. Louis on Thursday, Nov. 27 beginning at 8:45 a.m.  The parade will feature more than 130 units including musical floats, giant helium balloon figures, animal units and marching bands from across the St. Louis area.  The parade will step off from 7^th and Market Street, proceed west on Market Street to Union Station and end at 20^th Street.  Go to the christmasinstlouis.org web site to learn more.

Nov. 28 – Holiday Tree Lighting, Lafayette Square Plaza Fountain, 5 to 7 p.m.

The Lafayette Square neighborhood's annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at the Plaza Fountain, 18^th and Park.  Invite your family and friends to join you for this fun event.  Questions?  Visit the LafayetteSquare.org web site.

Nov. 28 & 29 – Holiday Kick Off Performances, Old Courthouse, Noon to 1 p.m.

The National Park Service will kick off the holiday season at the Old Courthouse on the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 28 & 29 with a performance from the St. Louis Irish Arts, and a concert by the St. Louis Confluence Chamber Orchestra.  Guests may enjoy cookies, hot cider and beautiful music under the rotunda festively adorned with authentic Victorian decorations.  For the complete schedule of Historic Holiday Traditions at the Old Courthouse, visit thegatewayarch.com web site.

Nov. 28 - 30 – Rock N Roll Craft Show, The Luminary, 10 a.m.

Since 2005, the organizers of Rock N Roll Craft Show (RRCS) have been gathering the craftiest artists and most rockin' musicians for this great weekend-long event.  RRCS will showcase unique, usable items handcrafted from new and recycled materials. These items, including furniture, clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, glassware, magnets, knitware, fine art, and more are the original creations of local and national crafters. The Luminary is located at 2701 Cherokee Street in the Benton Park West neighborhood.  For more information, visit the rocknrollcraftshow.com web site.

Save the Date

Nov. 28 – City and State Offices will be closed the day after Thanksgiving.

Dec. 6 – Skinker DeBaliviere Wintermarkt, Greg Freeman Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 6 – 5^th Annual Window Walk, Central West End, 1 to 6 p.m.

Dec. 6 – Grinchmas, MoKaBe's Coffeehouse, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dec. 6 – St. Louis Children's Choirs – Holiday Concert 2014, Powell Symphony Hall, 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 – ALIVE Magazine's Holiday Hop &Shop, Mad Art Gallery, 7:30 p.m. to 11 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.

Brightside St. Louis Volunteer Opportunity

Have you seen the thousands of daffodils that blanket the landscape along St. Louis highways and thoroughfares each spring?  This year, Brightside St. Louis needs your help to reach its goal of planting 25,000 daffodil bulbs.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to Noon for a fun morning of planting.  You may learn more about this opportunity by visiting the brightsidestl.org web site.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis