Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2015 Building Safety Month

 

2015 Building Safety Month

Building Safety Month, founded by the International Code Council (ICC), is celebrated worldwide during the month of May.  The annual campaign reinforces the need for modern building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.  The focus on the fourth week of Building Safety Month is building green.  By investing in the efficiency of buildings and appliances, making smart energy choices and improving energy-saving efforts, we can save money and reduce our carbon footprint, while maintaining the comfort and productivity of our homes and businesses.  Green homes are also healthier homes, reducing mold, mildew and other allergens that contribute to asthma and other significant health issues.  Below are tips from the ICC for keeping your home dry and mold-free:

• Keep it dry:  install a drain pan under the water heater; place dehumidifiers in basements and other damp areas; position downspouts away from the house; repair any water damage.
• Keep it clean:  use track-off mats at all doorways; clean up dust to eliminate contaminants such as lead dust and allergens.
• Keep it ventilated:  install or replace exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens (make sure they vent to the outside).
• Keep it contaminant-free:  use wire shelving that doesn't collect dust; have your home tested for radon and lead-based paint.

I encourage you to learn more about the steps you can take to improve sustainability in your home and in the community.  For more tips, visit the U.S. Department of Energy website at http://www.eere.energy.gov/.

Upcoming Events

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.

May 29 – We Heart STL Best of the City Celebration, Old Post Office Plaza, 11^th and Locust Street, 7 to 11 p.m.

ALIVE Magazine's We Heart STL Best of the City Celebration will take place this Friday in Old Post Office Plaza.  The annual Awards program will highlight everything we love about St. Louis in the categories of dining, nightlife, shopping, culture and more.  Guests will enjoy live music, great food, shopping, photo booth and an array of surprises.  Cost is $15 per person.  To learn more about the award winners, visit the alivemag.com 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.

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.

May 30 – Neighborhood Clean Up -- Hyde Park, start at Sun Café, 1435 Salisbury, 9 a.m.

Everyone is invited to join along with the Urban League, Alpha Phi Alpha, City Boi, Kaleidsoscope Network, and many other others to spruce up the Hyde Park neighborhood.  Volunteers will meet at Sun Café at 9 a.m. and should wear work clothes, work boots and gloves.  Questions?  Call (314) 899-0330.

May 30 –31 – Central West End Association House &Garden Tour, entrance of Pershing Place, east side of Euclid, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Central West End Association will once again showcase some of the neighborhood's most gracious historic homes during its annual house and garden tour this weekend.  Advance tickets are $22 per person and $25 day of the event.  Seven homes and one stand-alone garden will be featured.  For all the details, visit the thecwe.org web site.

May 30 – Bocce Ball Tournament, Fox Park, Shenandoah at California, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Fox Park Bocce Tournament will be held this Saturday.  Please arrive at the Fox Park Pavilion between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. to sign in.  Teams of two may register ahead of time for $20 a team or $25 day of the event.  The event will benefit beautification/clean up projects in the neighborhood, as well as events such as National Night Out and the Off-Russell Art Fair.  For more details, visit the foxparkstl.org web site.

May 30 – 2015 Concert Series, Benton Park, Arsenal & S. Jefferson, 4 to 9 p.m.

Invite your family and friends and join you for a free concert in Benton Park this Saturday.  Performers will include The Shakes, Naked Rock Fight, and Unifyah.Food and beverages will be available for sale.  Visit the Benton Park Neighborhood Association Facebook page for more information.

May 30 – Relay For Life of St. Louis, Soldiers' Memorial, 1315 Chestnut Street, 6 p.m. to Midnight

It's not too late to sign up for Relay For Life of St. Louis.  The American Cancer Society wants to see you at 5 p.m. this Saturday for the Relay For Life of St. Louis.  Grab a few friends, form a team and head over to Soldiers' Memorial.  No team?  Just come down and check it out.  More than one million people in the United States are touched by cancer each year.  How would you like to be a part of a world with no cancer?  By joining the fight, you are one step closer to making this happen.  For more details, visit the relayforlife.org/stlmo web site.

May 30 – IndiHop 2015, Cherokee Street and The Grove, 1 to 7 p.m.

Fifty beers + two neighborhoods = one good time.  That sums up IndiHop 2015.  The Grove and Cherokee Street will join forces this Saturday to present this year's celebration of independent breweries.  Participants will be able to taste up to 50 beers, receive an IndiHop glass, printed guide, and access shuttles traveling between the neighborhoods.  For tickets, go to http://www.indihopstl.com/ .

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.

May 31 – Friends of Tower Grove Picnic in the Park, Music Stand and Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park, 4 to 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the Friends of Tower Grove Park Picnic in the Park this Sunday.  Enjoy live music by Acoustics Anonymous, children's crafts, a petting zoo, food trucks, an art exhibit and more!  For more information, visit the towergrovepark.org web site.

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 2 – Circus Flora Appearance, Citygarden, 10^th & Market Street, 12:15 to 1 p.m.

Want a preview of Circus Flora?  Stop by Citygarden on Tuesday, June 2 and catch the Circus Flora performers' annual appearance there.  The adroit jugglers, clowns and other performers usually entertain about 30 minutes.  For more information, visit the circusflora.org web site.

June 2 – Twilight Tuesdays, Missouri History Museum in Forest Park, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Twilight Tuesdays Spring 2015 Concert Series will conclude this Tuesday, June 2.  The fabulous free concert on the History Museum's front lawn will feature Honey Vox with an Old School Funk Tribute.  Pre-concert activities will begin at 4:30 p.m. and in the event of a weather cancellation, these activities are rain or shine and will resume as normal each Tuesday.  For all the details, visit the mohistory.org web site.

June 3 – Wednesday Lunch Free Concert Series, Citygarden, 10^th & Market, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

The Wednesday Lunch bands at Citygarden will return on June 3 and perform every Wednesday through Aug. 26.  Stop by the garden next Wednesday and catch the free concert by DJ Nune.  Visit the citygardenstl.org web site for more details.

June 4 – Whitaker Urban Evening Series, St. Louis Place Park, Rauschenbach & St. Louis Avenue, 7 to 9 p.m.

The Whitaker Urban Evening Concert Series will begin Thursday, June 4 and take place every Thursday night 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 5 & 6 – STL Uncorked, Soldiers' Memorial, 1315 Chestnut, 5 to 11 p.m.

June 5, 6 & 7 – Traveling Vietnam Wall, Eternal Flame Park, 14^th & Chestnut Street, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

June 6 – 2015 St. Louis Urban Gardening Symposium, Brightside St. Louis' Demonstration Garden, 4646 Shenandoah Avenue, 9 a.m. to Noon

June 6 – Family Fun Day – Biking the Katy Trail, start at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar, 6:30 a.m.

June 6 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 to 9 p.m.

June 6 & 7 – Lafayette Square House & Garden Tour, start in Lafayette Park, Mississippi & Parks Streets, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 7 – Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 6 to 8 p.m.

June 9 – Free Landlord Training, Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 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.

Shaw Helping Hands Grant Proposals Due

In keeping with Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association's (SNIA) mission to "improve and maintain the quality of life of all Shaw residents," the SNIA is offering the Shaw Helping Hands Grant program to assist those who share that vision and are taking an active part in making it a reality.  Helping Hands grants are made possible by proceeds from the Historic Shaw Art Fair. SNIA invites proposals to benefit the quality of life of Shaw residents.  Funding is available for not-for-profit entities or a group of individual residents.  Past recipients of the grant have addressed artistic, educational, environmental, youth, and social needs in the neighborhood.  Depending on requests, funding will be available for three to four proposals.  Proposals are due to SNIA by 5 p.m. June 10, 2015.  For additional details and instructions, visit http://shawstlouis.org/2015-helping-hands-grants-call/ .

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis