St. Louis Metro Community News and Information

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Spotlight on St. Louis Area Neighborhood Activities - Updated June 28, 2009

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (left) and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley (right) presented U.S. Senator Kit Bond with special Proclamations declaring June 26 - 28 as 'Christopher "Kit" Bond Good Neighbor Weekend'. Bond also was presented with Heat-Up St. Louis' highest honor, The Founder's Award at the Jewel Box in Forest Park.

Senator Bond Receives Heat-Up St. Louis Founder's Award
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), June 28, 2009 - On behalf of Heat-Up St. Louis, John Beck, Senior Vice President & General Manaer, Emmis Radio Group and Heat-Up STL Board Vice President, was joined by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley in presenting U.S. Senator Kit Bond with its highest honor, The Founder's Award, during a special presentation at its annual business meeting at the Jewel Box.

"I am so pleased to play a role in this region-wide effort," said Senator Kit Bond. "No one should have to choose between buying food, or medicine and paying the electric bill."

Bond has a long record of support for helping families in need pay high energy bills. Every year, Bond presses for more federal funds to help families through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is the federal government's energy assistance program. Just last month, he joined his Senate colleagues in requesting $5.1 billion for LIHEAP funding in this year's federal budget. Last year, Bond cosponsored the Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act, which permanently authorizes higher LIHEAP spending levels. His efforts last year succeeded in providing an additional $121 million in LIHEAP funding in September nationwide. As a result, Missouri received about $45 million in federal funds for LIHEAP programs each of the last three years.

As Bond accepted the award, he emphasized that the U.S. is in the midst of a recession, many companies both large and small are failing, unemployment is 9.4 percent nationally, and many people who are already vulnerable are losing their homes, jobs and ability to pay bills. He stressed that food, shelter, and energy are basic needs for every family. Bond pointed out that when a family's bills are greater than a family's income, the energy bill might be the one they can't pay. He noted that the federal government created LIHEAP during the 1973 OPEC oil embargo to help provide energy assistance for families, but there are not enough government funds to meet all needs.

Bond praised Heat-Up St. Louis for taking the initiative - apart from the federal government - to help people pay their energy bills. Founded in June 2000, Heat-Up St. Louis is the only all-volunteer, independent regional energy assistance and advocacy charity group of its kind. The advocacy and charity group is a partnership between local government, social service agencies and corporations. The group provides the elderly, disabled and low-income families with small children in 16 Missouri and Illinois counties including the City of St. Louis with one-time supplemental or primary grants for energy bills through small and large public, private and government contributions. Since its inception, Heat-Up St. Louis raised $5 million for heating and cooling assistance and provided assistance to more than 120,000 individuals and families.

In closing Bond said, "Now more than ever, we need to work together whether we are in the public sector, the private sector or the non-profit sector, regardless of political party or any other difference we might have. I hope to continue our good work together on energy assistance, on housing and community development and on improving the economic prospects of all Americans."

For volunteer and donation information about Heat-Up St. Louis, Bond urged everyone to visit www.heatupstlouis.org or call (314) 369-7407.

Cool Down St. Louis Launches 'Check On Your Neighbors - Turn On The Air!' Initiative
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), June 23, 2009 - Cool Down St. Louis has partnered with the City of St. Louis to help provide one-time cooling grants this summer for needy residents, who can't afford to pay their electric bills in order to avoid disconnections. The "Check On Your Neighbors - Turn On The Air!", summer project is made possible through a special grant from AmerenUE.

For the next four months it is also partnering with Vatterott Colleges with an "S.O.S" (Saving Our Seniors) project where the public can drop off donated working units, or call 314-241-7668. Cool Down St. Louis has also distributed more than $600,000 in summer electric utility assistance throughout the St. Louis region in partnership with various socials service agencies. 100% of all public donations are used strictly for servicing the area needy. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188 or with credit cards through cooldownstlouis.org.

Tips to Help Boomers Prevent Exercise-Related Injuries
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), June 23, 2009 - As the weather gets warmer, people often get motivated to spend more time outdoors. Whether it's working on projects around the house, playing with the grandkids at the park or out exercising, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) stresses important that baby boomers remember their bodies are not as young as they used to be and not overdo it. See Community Health News

Archived St. Louis Community News and Information:

St. Louis to Host American International Choral Festival

11th Annual Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure® Draws Record Crowd Downtown

Public Forum for Chesterfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan

Missouri's Optometrists to Provide Free Professional Eye care for Infants

Early Childhood Educators Are Making the Grade

Civil Rights Pioneers Honored on Stamps

Opera Legend Grace Bumbry Receives Key to the City

Barack Obama Boulevard sign at Delmar Boulevard and Kingshighway Boulevard

Post Offices hold Passport Fairs February 21

Children's Health Advocacy Project Receives Funding

City of Kirksville Awarded $250,000 Community Development Block Grant

Prostate Cancer Awareness Coalition Brings Attention to Importance of Early Detection

Freddie Mac Extends Eviction Suspension Until March 1, 2009

Contrary to Earlier Predictions, Older Driver Fatal Crashes Trend Down

Washington University to Receive McDonnell Foundation Science Initiative Award

Roosevelt High School Color Guard and Drill Team to Participate in Inaugural Parade

Plans for Neighborhood Stabilization Program Announced

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