Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Pool Safety

Pool Safety

One way to escape the hot weather is to spend some time at a pool.  However, parents and families need to keep in mind basic water safety tips to assure a safe and fun experience.  You never know which tip might save a child’s life – until it does.  Following are a few simple steps recently sent to me by the team at USA.gov:

·  Teach children basic water safety tips and how to swim

·  Never leave a child unattended in a pool and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water.

·  Keep children away from pool drains, pipes or other openings to avoid entrapments.

·  If your child is missing, look for him or her in the pool first.

·  If you own a pool, consider installing pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water.

Happy 40^th Anniversary

 The Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers will be celebrating 40 years of serving the community’s health by holding a 40^th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 21 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 5701 Delmar  Boulevard.  You are invited to bring your lawn chairs, family and friends and enjoy live entertainment, food, snacks, drinks, games and more.  Many thanks to everyone at the Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers for their commitment to providing compassionate, affordable, quality health services to the St. Louis community.

 

Upcoming Events

July 19 – Yappy Hour, Sonny’s

Join Frenchtown Dog Park patrons and friends for a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month from now until October for Yappy Hour at Pooches on the Patio at Sonny’s in Soulard, located at Menard & Geyer.  Friendly, vaccinated and leashed dogs are welcome!  Proceeds from raffle will go to Frenchtown Dog Park Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3).  For information, visit the frenchtowndogpark.com web site.

July 19 – Sounds at the Station Free Concert Series, St. Louis Union Station

Everyone is invited to attend the performance by Retro Nerds at the Sounds at the St. Louis Union Station Free Concert Series.  The series takes place at the LakeStage from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month through September.  In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held inside the Station, located at 1820 Market Street in Downtown St . Louis.

July 20 & 21 – Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concerts, Soldiers’ Memorial

The 2012 Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concert Series, presented by the Fair Saint Louis Foundation, will continue this weekend.  Festivities at Soldiers’ Memorial, 13^th and Chestnut, will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday when the group Fivefold opens the show.  They will be followed by Building Rome at 7:30 p.m. and headliner The Offspring will take the Main Stage at 9 p.m.  Saturday’s lineup will begin with Brown Bottle Fever at 6 p.m., followed by Matt Hill and the Deep Fryed Two at 6:45 p.m., then headliner Nelly at 8 p.m.

July 20 – South Grand Movie Night

South Grand will offer free movie nights this summer at the South Grand Parking Lot at 3500 Hartford.  The season will kick off this Friday with a twilight showing of Disney’s Bridge to Terabithia. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, or pillow and sit back and enjoy the film!  Tower Grove Creamery will be on site, offering delicious ice cream, drinks, and popcorn.  Representatives from the Carpenter Branch Library will also be on site to sign up visitors for a library card.

July 20 – Third Friday Free Party, Third Degree Glass

Looking for a cool place to get relief from these hot July days?  Third Degree Glass Factory at 5200 Delmar will hold its Third Friday Free Party on Friday, July 20.  The party offers to provide attendees with chills and thrills.  First, celebrate National Ice Cream Month with tastes of Frostbite Gourmet Ice Cream.  Then for thrills, watch artists turn fiery glass into magnificent art work.  Visitors also will be able to enjoy the Union Avenue Opera performers as well as high-energy bluegrass funk by The Dusty Brothers.  For more information, visit the Third Degree Glass Factory web site.

July 20 – Outdoor Film Series, St. Louis Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum will present another movie in its free Outdoor Film Series this Friday in Forest Park.  Before the film, grab a bite from one (or more) of the food trucks at the Food Court Fest outside the Museum, at 7 p.m. listen to live music, then at 9 p.m. settle in for “A Hard Day’s Night.”  Questions?  Call (314) 721-0072.

July 21 – Arts & Crafts Fair, Soulard Market Park

The third annual Soulard Market Park Arts and Crafts Fair will feature wares handmade by local artists.  The Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.  The park is located at 9^th & Lafayette in the Soulard neighborhood.

July 21 – Central West End Literary Ride

In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, St. Louis’ Central West End and a few blocks to the north was home to a surprisingly large number of writers who became part of the American literary tradition.  This group ride on Saturday, July 21 will include visits to select writers’ former homes for short readings of their work, and stops for historic interpretation on a route through some of the most architecturally fascinating neighborhoods in the region.  Registration will take place starting at 9:30 a.m. on the Blockbuster Video parking lot, 4177 Lindell Blvd. and the group ride will depart at 10 a.m.  Cost is $5, $3 for children 10 and under.

July 21, Free Movie Event, Lafayette Park

The Arts Council of Lafayette Square, partnering with Lafayette Park Conservancy, will present a free screening of The Sound of Music on Saturday, July 21 in Lafayette Park, Lafayette and Mississippi, near the Gazebo.  Activities will begin at 7 p.m. and include Juggling Jeff, games, arts & crafts and more.  The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m.  For more information, visit the lafayettesquare.org web site.

July 21 – Summer Concert Series, Soulard Market on the Plaza

Pack a picnic, bring chairs or a blanket and come enjoy a night of music at the next performance in the free Soulard Summer Concert Series.  Patti & the Hitmen will take the stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beverages may be purchased on-site or bring your own.  For more details, visit the soulard.org web site.

July 22 – Concert Series, Ivory Perry Park

Union Communion Ministries will present the next free concert in the series at Ivory Perry Park on Sunday, July 22, beginning at 6 p.m.  Invite your family and friends to join you for the performance by Stan Coleman’s STL Metro Youth Jazz Band.  The park is located at 800 N. Belt (3 blocks north of ConnectCare).  For more details, visit the ivoryperrypark.com web site.

July 22 - Free Summer Concert, Carondelet Park

The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation will present Mystic Voyage from 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 in Carondelet Park as part of its Summer Concert Series.  The concert will take place at the Music Stand at Loughborough and Field.  Pack a picnic basket, bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy the sights and sounds of this free outdoor concert in the park.

July 23 – Free Concert, Bellerive Park

The Carondelet Community Betterment Federation will present the Chris Talley Trio from 7 – 9 p.m. on Monday, July 23 at Bellerive Park, S. Broadway and Bates, as part of its Summer Concert Series.  Invite your friends to join you as you enjoy the postcard perfect view of the mighty Mississippi River while listening to live music in this scenic city park.

Wednesday nights – O’Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series

The 4^th Annual O’Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series has begun and will take place every Wednesday night through Aug. 1.  The performances begin at 6 p.m. in O’Fallon Park, located at West Florissant and Interstate 70 in north St. Louis.  Invite your family and friends to join you for the sweet sounds of jazz and soul music in this beautiful neighborhood park.

Thursday nights - Thursdays @ The Intersection, Grand Center

Enjoy the free outdoor concert series, Thursdays @ The Intersection, at 5 p.m. every Thursday at Strauss Park, located at Grand and Washington in Grand Center, now through Oct. 4. For a complete schedule of performers, visit http://www.grandcenter.org/ .

Thursday nights – 2012 Whitaker Urban Evening Series, St. Louis Place Park

The Whitaker Urban Evening Series at St. Louis Place Park, Rauschenbach and St. Louis Ave., on Thursday nights will continue through July 19.    Children’s activities will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and the concert will run from 7 to 9 p.m.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you for a fun evening in the park.

Sunday Serenades by Compton Heights Concert Band, Francis Park

Everyone is invited to come to Francis Park, Donovan and Eichelberger, in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood for the free Sunday Serenades Summer Concert Series by the Compton Heights Concert Band.  The concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. each Sunday from now through Aug. 5.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you for these lively concerts.

Musical Mondays Concert Series

The Compton Heights Concert Band will present its free Musical Mondays Summer Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays in Tower Grove Park (Magnolia and Tower Grove) at the Henry Shaw Bandstand.  Pack a picnic basket, bring a blanket and join your neighbors for a great evening in the park.  The series will run from now through Aug. 6th.

Save the Date

July 28 – 3^rd Annual Wings of Hope Cardboard Boat Race, Grand Basin in Forest Park, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

July 28 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 – 9 p.m.

July 29 – 7^th Annual City-Wide Open Studios BBQ, Contemporary Art Museum, 4 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.

Visitors Commission Seeking Greeters

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission is looking for St. Louisans to help showcase the region during the Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress.  Volunteers will serve as greeters, way finders and general good will ambassadors when this influential group meets here from July 27 – Aug. 1.  To sign up, visit http://explorestlouis.com/st-louis-cvc/about-us/mpi-volunteer/.

Eddie Roth
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis