Keaveny: Fraud Prevention Taskforce, Focus on St. Louis' Children's Hospital, Libraries, and Language Immerson Schools

The Fraud Prevention Taskforce

In an era when technology runs much of our lives, Missourians have to worry about issues that were not a problem before. A prime example is when a person's identity is stolen. Last year, nearly 10 million Americans had their identities stolen, and up to $40 billion was lost due to fraudulent telemarketing.

These statistics are staggering, and it's a priority to protect Missouri citizens from these deceitful crimes. The Fraud Prevention Taskforce, a branch of the Circuit Attorney of St. Louis, offers some tips on how to stay safe and keep your identity protected:

• Join the Fraud E-Mail Alerts: When there is suspicious activity or a possible business scam occurring in St. Louis, a warning e-mail will be sent out to all registered members. Please e-mail Dan Rechtien to register for e-mail alerts.
• Call the Fraud Assistance Line with questions: This 24-hour line, at (314) 612-1412, is provided to citizens of St. Louis who have questions or concerns regarding any wary behavior they have noticed.
• Attend Fraud Prevention Seminars: These seminars are free to anyone living or working in St. Louis. All who attend will receive a booklet of information, and can learn about a variety of topics, including prevention of senior fraud, identity theft, mail and Internet fraud, home-improvement fraud, employment fraud, and investment fraud.

Knowledge is the best way to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud, so please use these services to become as prepared and informed as possible.

Visit a Local Library

Books provide us with more than just information to learn or a story to read — literature shapes who we are and opens our minds to new ideas. That being said, I encourage all St. Louis citizens to visit one of the outstanding branches of our St. Louis Public Library.

These libraries offer a variety of services, from book and DVD rentals, to providing Internet access. In the 4th Senatorial District, there are nine branches of the St. Louis Public Library:

• Buder - 4401 Hampton Avenue
• Cabanne - 1106 Union Boulevard
• Carpenter - 3309 South Grand Boulevard
• Charing Cross - 356 North Skinker Boulevard
• Julia Davis - 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue
• Kingshighway - 2260 South Vandeventer Avenue
• Machacek - 6424 Scanlan Avenue
• Marketplace - 6548 Manchester Avenue
• Walnut Park - 5760 West Florissant Avenue

These libraries have events year-round that pertain to a wide range of age groups, including ladies' events, story time for children, and online classes for adults wanting to earn a GED.

In this digital age, many turn to electronics to get their information or entertainment, but reading provides many benefits that electronics may not. Studies show that it takes more energy for the brain to read a book than to watch a movie, which gives your mind a healthy workout. It's also proven that reading helps people improve their memorization, concentration, and vocabulary skills.

I encourage all people to use the services that public libraries offer. Visiting a library and owning a library card is a great way to explore new ventures and ideas. Please visit the branches of the St. Louis Public Library at www.slpl.org, or call
(314) 241-2288. Click on the following links to find out how to apply for library cards and to view employment opportunities.

St. Louis Children's Hospital

At right: During my tour of St. Louis Children's Hospital, Karlene Bessler, RN, let me have a glimpse of the newborn intensive care unit.

Serving as senator, I have the privilege of touring facilities that serve the district. St. Louis Children's Hospital has been serving the needs of children — from newborns all the way up to adolescents — since 1879.

It is remarkable to have such a prestigious health care facility in our district that also serves as the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine and offers nationally recognized programs for physician training and research.

The hospital has also been ranked the fifth Best Children's Hospital in the country by Parents magazine (2009), named on the U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll of America's Best Children's Hospitals (2010), and recognized as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program (2010) — only two percent of hospitals nationally have achieved this recognition.

The hard working and dedicated staff of St. Louis Children's Hospital continues to make this health care facility a shining example of the wonderful organizations found within the 4th Senatorial District.

To learn more about the St. Louis Children's Hospital, visit www.stlouischildrens.org or call (314) 454-6000.

Online Tool to Prevent Foreclosure

A major issue in this difficult recession has been the real estate collapse. According to an article published by Time magazine, the nation's home-ownership rate is the lowest it's been in more than a decade, at 66.9 percent. Stress on Missouri homeowners has only intensified in realizing that the banks that provide home loans may have falsified the documents needed to start foreclosure proceedings.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster received more than 100 complaints from foreclosed homeowners in October and has added a page to his website that will help homeowners understand their rights regarding foreclosure. The website has answers to questions most often asked, a list of documents that are needed to receive loan services, and explains the definitions of real estate terms.

The information on the website is not intended to provide legal counsel, but is a handy tool for homeowners facing difficult times and decisions. To view this website, visit www.ago.mo.gov/mortgage_foreclosure or call (314) 340-7544.

Pierre Laclede Elementary School

I had the recent privilege to visit Pierre Laclede Elementary School located in the St. Louis Public School district. It makes me very happy to see our St. Louis Public Schools succeed in giving our students a proper education, and I would like to share some of that success with you.

Pierre Laclede Elementary School has achieved the following:

• A high attendance rate, with an average of 94 percent
• A 2002 "Gold Star School Award"
• A 2003 "Blue Ribbon School Award"
• Home to the 2002-2003 Missouri State Teacher of the Year
• The 2004 "Salute to Excellence Stella Award"
• Was recognized as a model "School of Excellence" by former President Bush

For more information about Pierre Laclede Elementary School, call (314) 385-0546.

Learning New Languages and Cultures at St. Louis Language Immersion Schools

For our children, learning a second language can be a valuable tool to succeed in the workplace and in life. St. Louis Language Immersion Schools, or SLLIS, provides K-12 students with an education in English, and either Spanish or French. By the time the student is finished with his or her studies, that student will have the capability to be fluent in two languages.

The school has a strong belief that learning a new language early in life has many beneficial factors for students, including increased brain function, improved memory skills, clearer pronunciation, and a better appreciation for culture.

Students at SLLIS learn a broad curriculum by studying literature, math and science, and participating in writing workshops. Throughout the curriculum, both English and a second language of the student's choice are instructed:

• K-2: English is only spoken during before- and after-school programs, and lessons are taught entirely in French or Spanish.
• Grades 3-5: French or Spanish are spoken and taught throughout 80 percent of the day, with formal English classes incorporated throughout the day. Latin studies are also offered.
• Grades 6-8: French or Spanish are taught and spoken 50 percent of the day, with both English, and Spanish or French literature classes taught.
• Grades 9-12: English is taught 80 percent of the day, with the option of taking French or Spanish electives. French or Spanish literature classes are still offered.

To learn more about SLLIS, please visit www.sllis.org or call (314) 533-0975.

Operation Brightside

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of attending a ground-breaking ceremony at Hilltop Child Development Center for Operation Brightside, a non-profit organization that works dutifully to keep St. Louis clean and "green."

The oldest cleaning program in St. Louis, Operation Brightside engages in many projects to keep neighborhoods spotless and sparkling:

• Project Bliss, which takes place April and May, supports volunteers to remove litter and clean downtown neighborhoods.
• Graffiti Eradication, where volunteers remove graffiti from vandalized St. Louis buildings. In the past 18 years, volunteers have removed graffiti from more than 115,000 defaced buildings.
• Litter Bugs Me! Stop it! Don't Drop It!, a program that promotes the reduction of litter.
• Lend Me a Hand Tool, which lends tools and trash bags to aid volunteers' cleanup endeavors.

Operation Brightside, with the help of more than 20,000 annual volunteers, has helped improve more than 600 neighborhoods in St. Louis, and partners with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Botanical Garden, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis Master Gardeners.

To learn more about Operation Brightside, visit www.stlouis.missouri.org/brightside or call (314) 772-4646.

Holiday Season with the St. Louis Symphony

One of the most comforting sounds of the season is the classical music provided by the St. Louis Symphony. During the holidays, thousands of people arrive at Powell Symphony Hall bundled in coats, and once inside, they enter a warm world of crystal chandeliers and luxurious marble floors. When guests walk in to the concert hall, they are awed by the ornate architecture that surrounds the stage.

For 120 years, the St. Louis Symphony has provided the gift of music to the public, enchanting listeners with traditional and contemporary music. The symphony has traveled as far as Europe to perform, and has received six Grammy Awards for recordings they have produced.

This holiday season, I encourage you to attend a St. Louis Symphony concert and witness the talent and artistry demonstrated by Missouri's fine musicians and conductors. Some concerts that will be performed this December:

• Brahms 1 - Dec. 3 and 4
• Gospel Christmas - Dec. 16
• Holiday Celebration - Dec. 17-19
• Bach Society - Dec. 21
• City Lights - Dec. 29 and 30

For more information about the St. Louis Symphony, please visit www.stlsymphony.org or call (314) 533-2500.

Volunteer this Holiday Season

This holiday season, please volunteer some of your time to a local organization. Just a few hours of your time can make a difference in someone's life.

Here are two great organizations in St. Louis to visit and volunteer:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis

Many families with seriously ill and injured children cannot afford a place to stay while their children are receiving treatment in the hospital. Ronald McDonald House provides a "home-away-from-home" atmosphere for families with a child in the hospital. There is little or no charge for the visiting families, and they are able to find encouragement and support from other families and volunteers.

As a volunteer, you can provide a variety of services, including:

• Transporting families to the hospital
• Preparing meals
• Providing maintenance repairs to facilities
• Completing service projects

The Ronald McDonald House provides holiday opportunities for volunteers as well, including the Sponsor-A-Family program. Please visit www.rmhcstl.com or call (314) 773-1100 for more information about volunteer opportunities.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank

For the past 35 years, the St. Louis Area Foodbank has been serving thousands of hungry St. Louis citizens. Many people suffer from hunger and lack nutritious foods in their diets. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is the largest non-profit food distributor in the bi-state region, and in 2009, provided more than 22 million pounds of food throughout the year to thousands of people — an estimated 57,100 people every week.

There are many volunteer opportunities at the St. Louis Area Foodbank, including spending time at the Packaging Center and hosting your own food drive (1.6 million pounds of food were collected last year in food drives alone). Please call
(314) 292-5760 or visit www.stlfoodbank.orgto inquire about volunteering in the Packaging Center, or call (314) 292-5761 for more information about hosting food drives.

Be Thankful this Holiday Season

Remember this holiday season: It's not about the gifts you may receive or how much money you spend — it's about the joy and memories you make with loved ones.

Think about how much of a difference you can make to someone by sending a simple holiday card, making a kind phone call, or simply smiling. Volunteer some of your time this season to help others — just a few hours can make a huge difference in our community.

I wish you and your family a very merry holiday season!