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Spotlight on St. Louis Area Neighborhood Activities - Updated August 30, 2010

(L - R) - John Gamache, Mid-East Area Agency on Aging; Zip Rzeppa, Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Major Lonneal Richardson, Salvation Army; Gary Dollar, United Way of Greater St. Louis; and Warner Baxter, AmerenUE President & CEO with a check for $1 million for AmerenUE's Dollar More program.

AmerenUE Commits $5 Million to Energy Assistance Programs
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 30, 2010 - AmerenUE has committed $5 million in corporate contributions to energy assistance programs that will benefit its Missouri customers.

The commitment will start with a $1 million matching program for Dollar More, UE's voluntary customer assistance fund. The company will match-dollar-for-dollar-contributions to Dollar More through 2011.

In a statement, AmerenUE President and CEO Warner Baxter, said, "This summer's extreme heat and higher energy usage, when combined with the difficult economic conditions we are currently experiencing, have been very hard on many in the communities we serve. These programs will provide meaningful energy assistance to those who most need it."

Other components of the $5 million commitment will be announced in the coming months. Corporate contributions are from shareholder funds and are not recovered through UE's electric or natural gas rates.

To participate in the Dollar More match, customers can simply check the Dollar More box on their utility bills. One dollar will then be added each month to the bill. Customers already contributing to Dollar More are encouraged to increase their giving by accessing their account at www.AmerenUE.com. UE will also match increases in contributions.

Since 1982, the AmerenUE Dollar More program has given more than $30 million to help more than 135,000 families with their energy bills. Historically, customers have given about $700,000 a year to Dollar More.

An eligible family may receive up to $600 per calendar year in assistance. Customers needing energy assistance can use the online Agency Assistance Finder at www.AmerenUE.com to find a list of agencies in their ZIP Code. Customers in need can also call 1-800-552-7583, or the United Way at 2-1-1 or 1-800-427-4626.

Third Annual "Food for Fines" Program Tops Last Year
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 25, 2010 - The St. Louis Public Library and the St. Louis Area Foodbank have announced that their partnership in the third annual "Food for Fines" program was another huge success.

Throughout July, adult readers brought in canned goods of all kinds from baby formula to beef stew to St. Louis Public Library locations throughout the city. For every item brought in, up to $1 was subtracted from overdue fines. Although some patrons owed as little as 10 cents, they still made donations. As has been the case in previous years, even some who did not owe fines but wanted to contribute to the cause donated items.

Food barrels were filled up several times at many locations. Overall, Library patrons turned in an amazing 14,726 pounds of food - an increase of nearly three-quarters of a ton over last year's record total.

According to St. Louis Area Foodbank officials, the food will provide 11,781 meals (over 1,100 more than last year) for those in need throughout the area - meals that are especially beneficial in today's difficult economic times.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank is a nonprofit food distribution center for organizations that feed hungry people in 14 eastern Missouri and 12 southwestern Illinois counties. For more information, call the Library's Customer Service Department at 314-539-0342.

93rd Annual St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Festival
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 24, 2010 - The "Greekfest" will be held over Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 4th, through Monday, September 6th on the church grounds at Forest Park and Kingshighway. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Monday).

The festival that St. Louisans look forward to every year will once again offer the wonderfully popular and enlarged "Taverna on the Park," an outdoor café featuring authentic Greek food, wine, live Greek and contemporary music, and entertainment. In short, it will be resemble the nightspots in Greece.

Come and relax in a covered outdoor setting where two Greek dance troupes will entertain. Guests cap their feet to the live music featuring the twin strings of local personality Bouzouki Pete and Nikko, both gifted musicians who have captured the soul of Mediterranean rhythm. While enjoying the music and dancing, sample the authentic gyro sandwiches, saganaki (flaming cheese), fried calimari, and complete dinners, all made more easily accessible to our patrons. Or, get up and try your hand at Greek dancing!

The event will still feature dining in an air-conditioned setting in the church community center. There, dinner favorites featuring lamb shanks, roasted chicken, and a variety of pita-based dishes will be served. Or, try the outdoor deli under the main tent where both chicken and shish-ke-bab gyros, chicken wings, and Greek salads are available. And, oh yes, while under the main tent, don't forget those two fabulous crowd pleasers: loukoumathes (deep fried dough covered with honey and nuts) and the best combination of Greek and American desserts, the baklava sundae, Greek pastry crumbles sprinkled over frozen custard.

There is also the wickedly delightful 100-foot long pastry table. It has enough of those famous Greek pastries to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth - baklava (layers of nuts, honey, and philo), kourambiethes (powdered sugar cookies - the best ones stick to the roof of your mouth), and galatoboureko (custard baked in philo dough). In all, over 300 dining tables will allow guests to enjoy their meals in comfort.

The Festival will once again feature unusual Mediterranean gifts, imported jewelry, packaged deli items, and tours of the beautiful St. Nicholas Church sanctuary.

Admission is free and plenty of free parking is available in the BJC Hospital garage on Forest Park adjacent to the church. Additional information is available by calling the church office at 314-361-6924.

The 9th Annual TOCO Family Music Festival at Six Flags
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 18, 2010 - For the 9th consecutive year, the TOCO (Tapestry of Community Offerings) Family Music Festival will take place at scenic Jellystone Park Resort® at Six Flags St. Louis, Friday September 10 and Saturday September 11.

The festival will offer an array of activities including music & camping, art, food, & beverage vendors, plus a campsite decorating contest, collective arts project, kids' concerts & party zone, playground, mini golf, game room, swimming, hiking, and floating.

The gates of fun open at 3pm on Friday and close at 3pm on Sunday. Over 35 local and regional musical acts including Vitamen A, Spoonfed Tribe, Aaron Kamm & the One Drops, Bottoms Up Blues Gang, EarthSol, Fattback, Following the Water, East End Girls, Auset Music Project, The Sparrows, Pepperland, Sully, Red Headed Strangers, Rodney Branigan, and many more, will perform on multiple stages throughout Jellystone Park®. In addition to the great kid friendly attributes the venue already has to offer, TOCO Family Festival also features a Kid's Play Party Zone offering kids of all ages the opportunity to participate in hands-on creative activities.

To purchase tickets or to find out more information call 618-257-TOCO (8626). This year, proceeds from the TOCO Festival benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and TOCO nfp. To purchase tickets or to find out more information call 618-257-TOCO (8626).

Archived St. Louis Community News and Information:

St. Louis Officials Break Ground for O'Fallon Park Recreation Complex in North City

Crown Square Opens with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club to Unveil 'In the Footprints of Jack Buck Walk of Fame'

Missouri to Become Fifth State to Criminalize Possession of K2

Postal Service Proposes Price Changes

Missouri First Lady Tours City Seeds Urban Farm

"Cool Down St. Louis" Distributes New Air Conditioners to Needy St. Louis Families

St. Louis is Tenth in Nation in Volunteering

The School's Out Café Opens for the Summer

Gov. Nixon Signs Bill Reforming Missouri's DWI Laws

Gov. Nixon Signs Bills to Benefit Missouri Veterans and Families

Grace Hill Celebrates the Historic Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

Kingdom House Receives Funding for Youth Programs

Home Farming Movement Creates Community Farm in St. Louis Neighborhood

Arson Can Threaten Health and Vitality of Neighborhoods and Communities

St. Louis Cardinals to Host Green Week

St. Louis City Partners with Boeing for 2010 Open Streets

Walk Run 'n Roll for People of All Abilities

Missouri's Second Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday

It's Not too Late to Fill Out and Turn in Your 2010 Census Form

Walmart Foundation Funds Meals On Wheels

Foreclosure-Relief Business Finally Shut Down

Hibernian Parade Puts Spotlight on St. Louis' Irish American Community

Aldermen to Hold Final Public Hearing for Input on Potential Elimination of Earnings Tax

St. Louis City Announces New Procedure to Protect Unattended Property, Keep Parks Clean

Hardee's 10th Annual Rise and Shine for Heat Raises More Than $85,000

Life Skills Receives $20,000 Grant from Verizon

Gateway to College National Network Expands Programs

41st St. Louis Observation Honors Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

City of St. Louis and County Donors Give Big Boost to Heat-Up St. Louis

Anheuser-Busch Employees Donate $225,000 to Three Local Charities

St. Louis Receives Award for Municipal Excellence from the National League of Cities

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