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 Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Clayton resident Ron Rubin completed the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile race Sunday in Minnesota. Medtronic recently recognized him as one of 25 Global Heroes, people who have done extraordinary things with the help of medical technology. Rubin finished with a time of 1:46:24.

A total of 24 Richmond Heights neighborhoods hosted block parties Tuesday night as part of the National Night Out campaign, Officer Lyndsy Harrison of the Richmond Heights Police Department stated in an email. The event, which emphasizes the connections between residents and police in preventing crime, got pushed back earlier this year in an effort to avoid the excessive heat of summer. Residents of Moorlands Drive and of the 7500 block of Warner Avenue hosted such parties. Here's a look at the festivities. Did your neighborhood host a National Night Out event? Send photos to nate.birt@patch.…

Shaw Park Aquatic Center in Clayton hosted a Fourth of July bash on Monday that featured games for young people. Here's a look at the event.

A 7-on-7 football tournament is the perfect opportunity to showcase the quarterbacks. It can also be a good testing ground for new coaches. There was plenty of each on display Saturday at De Smet Jesuit High School during a tournament that featured Maplewood Richmond Heights (MRH). The St. Louis Metropolitan Football Coaches Association held its inaugural 7-on-7 tournament at De Smet with 23 teams from Missouri and Illinois participating. The tournament featured two-hand touch “tackling” and was played without pads, and had no rushing attempts. MRH suffered a close loss to eventual runner-up …

It's a world record. Teachers and students ages 3-14 at Shaw Park on Tuesday helped set a Guinness Book World Record for the world's largest swim lesson. The organized event was spread across many sites on two continents. The old record was 5,000 swimmers at pools spread across several continents.  Before the event, organizers estimated that 25,000 youngsters would gather this time, easily shattering the record. On Wednesday, organizers were still working on getting a final count. But the main thing is that several children learned some swimming skills and had some fun. That's worth the …

A total of 196 Clayton High School (CHS) seniors earned their high school diplomas Thursday evening and became the 101st graduating class of the School District of Clayton. The seniors, dressed in blue robes, slowly filed into the Washington University Field House at the start of the ceremony. Family and friends filled the Field House, and the excitement was palpable. The evening’s program began with the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance followed by several speeches. CHS faculty chose three seniors to address the graduating class. Phoebe Raileanu spoke first. “The class of 2011 is simply …

Step inside the wooden entryway at the new Shaw Park sensory garden in Clayton and you'll find winding stone paths, brightly colored flowers and desert plants near a waterfall. On Tuesday, guests marked the opening of the garden and also honored the Clayton High School Green Club and Clayton Century Foundation with checks symbolizing the money they raised at the first-ever Go Green Clayton 5K on May 1. You can go here to learn more about the Shaw Park sensory garden and the 5K fundraiser.

Motorcycle riders participating in Run for the Wall came through Wentzville on Monday and Tuesday. A large contingent of law enforcement officers, including motorcycle officers from Richmond Heights, O'Fallon, the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department and Jackson County, MO, led the riders in and out of town. Run for the Wall participants travel across the U.S., taking a 10-day route to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The riders arrive in Washington each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. Along the way, the riders stop at memorials and veterans' organizations on their…

Here's a look at what happened Saturday at the Clayton Farmer's Market, located near Straub's. The market will again take place this week. More information about the event and plans for this year is available here.

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday along a block of Meramec Avenue in Clayton as Parties in the Park kicked off with live music, games, special appearances, food and drinks from street-side restaurants and booths. Parties in the Park, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors, is held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month from May through September. The event—now in its 28th year—has moved from Shaw Park to North Meramec Avenue between Forsyth Boulevard and Maryland Avenue. “There's lots of new things,” said Ellen Gale, executive director of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, …

A dozen people gathered Thursday in Clayton to pray about institutions such as government, church, military and family.They met across from the St. Louis County Courts Building downtown in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer. While most stayed for a portion of the prayer gathering held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., some stayed for an hour or more. Pastor Rick Jones of Faith Community Church in St. Ann was among those who participated by leading a prayer."More of you, Lord, less of us, this is our prayer," Jones said.David Fondren, a Clayton attorney, started organizing a yearly event for…

YogaSource in Richmond Heights hosted a fundraiser Saturday to help families participate in a new community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that will provide them with fresh vegetables from May through September.Thirty-five people attended the event, which raised more than $700, stated Cheryl Robinson, president of the board of the Friends of the City of Richmond Heights Foundation, in an email. The nonprofit organized the CSA with the Illinois-based Community Supported Garden at La Vista. The donations will allow the Friends to sponsor two family memberships in the CSA. Three additional …

On Tuesday, St. Louis County voters elected a new assessor and numerous local representatives. Here's a look back at the election cycle in pictures.

St. Louis-based Jon Thomas and Friends performed Saturday at Schnucks in Richmond Heights. Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch published a video excerpt from the event earlier this week. Here are more images from the concert.

Clayton is hosting nine colorful butterflies through mid-May as part of a fundraiser to benefit children with serious illnesses.Fifty-five butterflies have been placed throughout St. Louis county and city as part of the Wings in the City project to provide help for the BJC Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care program, Clayton communications coordinator Judy Kekich stated in an e-mail. Funds will go toward the expressive therapy program, which "provides clinical, emotional and spiritual support for children who have life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses, even if families cannot pay for …