A fire in a high rise building is a rare occurrence, but area firefighters spent last week training for just such an occasion. The Clayton Fire Department hosted a high angle rope rescue class for firefighters from Clayton, Brentwood, Crestwood, Frontenac, Kirkwood, Maplewood, University City and St. Louis City. The firefighters learned how to rescue people from high places using rescue ropes. The training included mock drills on how to get people up and down narrow spaces, like elevator shafts Join University City Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Crowds packed Heman Community Center Thursday for the second Taste Of U City. This year’s event supported Operation Food Search.  Participating restaurants included Al-Tarboush Deli, Anheuser-Busch, Bob’s Seafood, Brentmoor, Cheese-ology Macaroni and Cheese, De Palm Tree, Fitz’s Root Beer, Fortel’s Pizza, Frank and Helen's Pizzeria, Fro-Yo Frozen Yogurt, House of India, Jimmy Johns, La Monarca, LuLu’s Seafood Restaurant, Major Brands, Market Pub House, The Melting Pot, Meshuggah Cafe, Momo's Pizzeria and Tavern, Nicos, Noodles and Co., Olive Supermarket, Papa John's Pizza, Pasta House, Qdoba…

Wednesday was the annual family walk to school day at Flynn Park Elementary School. Students and their parents walked or biked to school. The walkers were greeted by breakfast and other goodies from Trailnet. See our coverage of previous Walk Safe to School Days: Flynn Park Holds Safe Walk to School Day Readers' Gallery: Flynn Park Walk to School Event

Washington University's $80 million student apartment and retail project in University City and the city of St. Louis is moving ahead. Buildings in the Delmar Loop have been knocked down and crews are excavating the area. The new buildings will feature underground parking. The 4.4-acre residential and retail development project will incorporate a number of “green” features. Excavation for the underground garage will follow demolition work, and construction of the buildings in Phase 1 of the project is expected to begin in the spring. Phase 1 plans call for students and businesses to move in …

Construction on the new University City Fire Department continues at 863 Westgate Avenue. The City of University City held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 20. The new engine house, which has a construction schedule of 300 days, is estimated to cost $3.3 million. The department received a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Assistance to Firefighters Station Construction Grants. University City Breaks Ground on New Firehouse Groundbreaking Today for New U City Firehouse Council Approves Updating Fire, EMS System City Accepting Bids for Project Management of New Fire …

Just weeks after breaking ground, Washington University's $80 million student apartment and retail project in University City and the city of St. Louis is moving ahead.  Crews have begun demolishing buildings in the Delmar Loop. The building which housed Hiro Sushi has been knocked down.   The 4.4-acre residential and retail development project will incorporate a number of “green” features. Excavation for the underground garage will follow demolition work, and construction of the buildings in Phase 1 of the project is expected to begin in the spring. Phase 1 plans call for students and …

The 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. community-wide celebration was held Saturday. It began on the front lawn of Jackson Park School with a “Positive Protest March” led by University City High School’s drum line. The program immediately followed in the UCHS auditorium. This year’s theme was “What’s YOUR Dream?” See more photos on University City Patch's Facebook page. The 2013 MLK Spirit award winner was the late Agnes Clarice Taylor Gladney. The School District of University City released the following biography of Gladney: Agnes Clarice Taylor Gladney was fondly known as simply …

The eighth annual Delmar Loop Ice Carnival was Saturday, Jan. 19, on Delmar Blvd. and judging by the packed sidewalks, it was a success. There were several events run throughout the day, including the Frozen Buns Run, temporary tattoo scavenger hunt, ice slides, human dog sled races and the putt-putt pub crawl.  See more photos of the day on University City Patch's Facebook page. See our coverage of previous Ice Carnivals: Ice Sculptures Adorn the Loop for Ice Carnival Frozen Fun for Everyone at Loop Ice Carnival Ice Carnival Recap Hundreds Pack University City Loop for Ice Carnival

New bike rack sculptures are lining the sidewalks of the Delmar Loop. Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill, headed the committee that helped design and install 14 new colorful bicycle racks.  Engraphix, a local St. Louis firm, fabricated and installed the painted steel stands. “With the creation of new bicycle and pedestrian paths by Great Rivers Greenway, more people are riding their bikes to The Loop," Edwards said. "It just made good sense to provide additional racks and have them be colorful and artistically fun. They add a whimsical 'Loopish' touch to the area. It’s like having 14 new …

The Delmar Loop businesses and restaurants lit up for the holiday season Saturday night. Light Up the Loop started off the season with a blast of color and fun, featuring vintage Christmas lights decorating streetlamps and store rooftops, holiday-themed window displays in storefronts, and special deals from the Loop's shops and eateries. Craft Alliance is celebrating the season with its famous annual display of floating cascades of hand-blown glass ornaments by local and national artists, and restaurants and bars, including Fitz's and Market Pub House, will offer happy hour specials in the …

The University City Chamber of Commerce held "A Night at the Casino" at the Heman Park Community Center on Saturday. Guests received a pile of chips to play poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and slot machines. The chips won at the gaming tables became chances to win prizes throughout the evening. To see more photos of the evening check out the photo gallery on University City Patch's Facebook page.

Brenda Warner showered University City students with affection and new coats Monday as she showed up at Operation Food Search to help with the 12th annual Warners’ Warm-up Coat Drive. Students from Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Center walked over to OFS to meet Warner Monday morning. Each of the children received a new coat to take home with them. One generous preschooler told Warner she had a coat at home, but would take her new coat to school for someone else who might need it.            Warners’ Warm-up is a two-week coat drive from Nov. 1-14 encouraging Metro St. Louisans to donate new…

It takes a village to raise a child and it took a community to build a playground.  An official celebration to dedicate the new playground at University City’s Flynn Park was held Sunday. The new playground, which adjoins Flynn Park Elementary School, is the result of a planning and funding effort involving the University City community from school children and parents to the School District of University City and City of University City staff.  To help offset a $230,000 grant from the St. Louis County Municipal League, the Flynn Park community raised over $39,000 in funds for the equipment. …

The cast of Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove aims to help kids in the cities they visit. The cast stuffed backpacks for Operation Food Search’s Operation Backpack program. The cast, including The Incredibles, stuffed backpacks with a little help from preschoolers from Julia Goldstein Early Childhood Center.  Operation Backpack provides food for the 85 percent of children enrolled in St. Louis public schools who rely on free or reduced-cost meal programs. For those children, weekends can be filled with hunger, as they often go home to houses with little or no food. To see additional …

Eleven years ago, the University City High School students who now make up the classes of 2013 through 2016 were just infants or toddlers. This year, these young people are part of the University City High School’s Community Service Team known as “Serve U.” The group sponsored a book drive as part of a larger effort inspired by United We Serve, a nationwide service initiative that aims to inspire volunteers to develop charitable “do it yourself” projects. On Tuesday, Sept. 11, Serve U volunteers met to sort and deliver donated books. The books benefit the “Take It Libraries” that are …

Writer Ntozake Shange received her star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame Friday. Shange's star is located at 6160 Delmar Blvd. in the Delmar Loop, across from the Moonrise Hotel.  Born Paulette Williams, writer Ntozake Shange lived in St. Louis from age 8 to 13 on Windemere Place in The Ville. Her experiences in St. Louis infuse her work, especially the novels Betsey Brown (1985) and Liliane: Resurrection of the Daughter (1994).  She won an Obie award for her stage play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf. Now a standard of the American stage, the 1976-77 …

Dogs and their owners can hit the water at the Heman Park Pool today for the final day of the 10th annual end of season University City Puppy Pool Party. The party will be held from noon-4 p.m.  The dog splash, which is the primary fundraiser for the University City Dog Park each year, brings dogs to the Heman Park Pool to splash and play.  This year the Dog Park also is selling $65 plaques at the event. Purchasers can choose the inscription for the plaque, which will be hung at the dog park. Organizers are trying to raise funds for lights at the park, to keep it open past 4 p.m. Those that …

Jackson Park Elementary held its second 'sweet and greet' on Thursday for parents and students to get to know each other and Principal Elliott Shostak. Parents and students were treated to popsicles in front of the school with the building's administration. They also were allowed to check out the building Classes in the School District of University City start Wednesday, Aug. 22. 

The annual University City alumni picnic in Heman Park always draws a crowd and this year was no exception.  Thanks to Ken Rice for uploading his shots of the event to our Pics & Clips gallery. Were you there? Add your favorite shots to this article. Also be sure to check out our gallery of the 2011 picnic. 

Oscar-winning actor and O'Fallon, IL. native William Holden joined a prestigious group of celebrities Thursday when his star was added to the St. Louis Walk of Fame.  The St. Louis Walk of Fame is located on Delmar sidewalks in the Loop. Plaques of famous St. Louisians in politics, entertainment, science and sports are displayed. Holden was an Oscar winning actor, known for his roles in Sunset Blvd, Sabrina, Stalag 17 and Network. A complete filmography can be found here. Brian Keller, president of the O’Fallon Historical Society, accepted the award. Holden moved to Hollywood at age 3, but …