Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Halloween Safety Tips

It's trick or treating time this weekend. Many of our neighborhoods will be hosting Halloween events from pumpkin carving, to haunted houses, to trunk or treat parties. In the spirit of the season I want to pass along Halloween safety tips from the American Red Cross:

Costumes: add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags; use flame-resistant costumes; use face makeup instead of masks, which can cover your eyes and make it hard to see

Navigating the Neighborhood: plan a route ahead of time; have a flashlight; visit only the homes that have a porch light on; walk on the sidewalks, not in the street; cross streets at the corner, not from between parked cars

Welcoming trick or treaters: have your outdoor lights on; clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over; restrain pets; use glow sticks instead of candles to avoid a fire hazard.

For more ideas, visit http://american.redcross.org/site/DocServer/Holiday1206.swf?docID=959

 

I also want to take a moment to give a "tip of the hat" to Volpi Salami in the 24^th Ward. According to Alderman Scott Ogilvie, the company will be investing $8.8 million in a new production facility and equipment. Thank you for your commitment to the City of St. Louis.

 

Finally, I want to let you know that the Church of God in Christ 104^th Holy Convocation will convene in St. Louis Oct. 31 – Nov. 9. The Holy Convocation is expected to be the biggest convention of 2011 in St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Convention. Delegates to the convocation will hear some great speakers and some of the greatest gospel music singers in the nation. If you meet some of these visitors, be sure to share with them your favorite places to eat and have fun in St. Louis. If you want to learn more, visit http://www.cogic.org/ and click on the Holy Convocation banner. 

 

Listed below are just a few of the great events that are coming up in St. Louis. I encourage you to take advantage of all that our great City neighborhoods have to offer. Also, if you haven't visited the City's new website stlouis-mo.gov (http://stlouis-mo.gov/ ), I encourage you to do so. On our home page you will find a link to the Calendar of Events. Please feel free to see what activities are coming up and to submit an event that your organization will be holding. The listing is free. See you in the neighborhood!

 

Ghosts of the Arch Grounds

Explore the Arch grounds at night by participating in a ranger-led twilight walk that explores the various "incarnations" of buildings, people and boats that once inhabited the area where the Gateway Arch stands today. Participants should meet at the north leg of the Gateway Arch on Friday, Oct. 28 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. The event is free. Learn more at http://www.corediscovery.com/ .

 

MAKE Skateboards

White Flags Projects' new exhibition is an art-shop experience. MAKE Skateboards includes one-of-a-kind skateboard decks with unique artwork by 26 contemporary artists; work by LAND Studio & Gallery, which provides art resources for adults with developmental disabilities and vintage clothing by Portia & Manny. The show will open with a free public reception from 8 – 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, and then will be open from Noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 29 and 30). White Flags Projects is located at 4568 Manchester Avenue in The Grove neighborhood. For more details, visit http://www.whiteflagprojects.org/ .

 

Open Streets

The second Open Streets event will be Saturday, Oct. 29 and will take place in The Grove neighborhood. In addition to the usual Healthy Living activities and entertainment, this Open Streets will also feature Halloween-themed activities for children in the afternoon. There will be trick or treating at the businesses along Manchester, costume contests, and other fun activities for both children and the young at heart. A more adult-oriented party on Manchester will continue into the evening. The event will run from 3 – 9 p.m. To learn more visit http://stlouis-mo.gov/OpenStreets .

 

Halloween Fun

Trailnet's Tour de Plants Remix Ride in Your Halloween Costume – Saturday, Oct. 29, at Gateway Greening Carriage House, 3815 Bell Avenue. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the group ride will depart at 8:30 a.m. Don your Halloween best and hop on your bike for a casual group ride through Gateway Greening supported community gardens. The 7-miles ride is on-street, mostly flat, and makes frequent stops. Please wear a helmet. For more details, call Chris at (314) 458-3698.

4^th Annual Boo-wood! – Saturday, Oct. 29, 3 - 6 p.m. Bring the whole family to Bowood Farms to enjoy pumpkin painting, a scavenger hunt and free snacks. Costumes encouraged. Bowood Farms is located at 4605 Olive Street.

Pumpkin Carving Contest – Saturday, Oct. 29, at The Sanctuary, 4449 Red Bud Avenue. For more information, call (314) 769-9000.

Halloween Free Family Day – Saturday, Oct. 29 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Museum, 3450 Washington Blvd. Spend the afternoon exploring the exhibitions, participating in artist-led workshops, face painting, storytelling, and more. Children are encouraged to dress in costume. The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. Want more information? Call (314) 535-4660.

3^rd Annual Great Pumpkin Carve & Glow in The Loop – Saturday, Oct. 29, 3 – 6:30 p.m. at the Moonrise Hotel courtyard, 6177 Delmar. For more information, call (314) 721-1111.

Halloween Party 2011 in the Central West End – Saturday, Oct. 29 starting at 11 a.m. at Maryland and Euclid Avenues. The day will start off with a Children's Parade followed by trick or treating, pet parade and an adult costume contest and party. Costumes are encouraged. Questions? Call (314) 367-2220.

Trek or Treat – Saturday Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue. Celebrate the opening of Star Trek: The Exhibition with a number of free out-of-this-world activities. Guests who visit the Science Center in Star Trek-related costumes will receive a discount off the full-priced Star Trek: The Exhibition admission.

Howl-O-Ween at the Boathouse in Forest Park - Sunday, Oct. 30 from 3 – 7 p.m. The outside party will include a dog costume contest, as well as food and drink specials. A $10 donation at the door will benefit Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Need more info? Call (314) 367-2224.

Trunk or Treat! – Monday, Oct. 31, 4:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church parking lot, 6199 Waterman Avenue. Safe, kid and family-friendly trick or treat environment. Free photo staging area where pictures can be taken to commemorate the event for you and your children. The event is free. For more information, call (314) 863-1992.

 

Community Shred It Event Partnered with Drug Take Back Day

Do you have old documents that you would like to shred but don't have the time or equipment? Do you have personal prescription medications that you no longer need but can't dispose of properly? Stop by the Wells Fargo Parking Lot at Jefferson and Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 and watch as your old personal documents are instantly destroyed by a Shred-It^® high-speed, mobile, cross-cut shredder. All shredded material is recycled so you're helping protect our environment. A $5.00 per Box Donation is requested, the proceeds benefiting the St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers.

Law enforcement officers will be on site to collect any of your unwanted personal prescription medications as part of National Drug Take Back Day. No syringes, no drug reps, no drug companies surplus, no pharmacy surplus accepted.

 

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Run/Walk

The American Cancer Society will hold its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Forest Park. The 5K run and 1.3 mile walk both step off at 9 a.m. from the Upper Muny Parking Lot. The event is free and non-competitive, but participants are encouraged to collect donations and pledges. For more details, visit http://www.makingstridesstlouis.org/.

 

Save the Date

Nov. 4 – Free Public Telescope Viewing – St. Louis Science Center

Nov. 5 – 6 – Change your clock; change your battery

Nov. 5 – Veterans' Day Parade, Soldiers' Memorial

Nov. 5 – Craft OutLoud – New City School

 

NIXLE

The Department of Public Safety's City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) provides free emergency alert service through Nixle (http://www.Nixle.com/  ). When you register for the service, you will receive our informative and timely text messages on your cell phone and/or as emails on your computer. Visit the Nixle website and sign up for the free service today. If you have any comments about the service, please let me know.

Will you be having an event in your neighborhood that we can support? If so, you may email the information about it to me at brysonc@stlouiscity.com  or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouiscity.com   for consideration of noting it in the Spotlight or you may post it on the City's Calendar of Events.

And remember, if you see something in the neighborhood that just doesn't look right, REPORT IT!

 

Charles Bryson

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis