Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Fraudulent Online Accounts

 

Fraudulent Online Accounts

I want to begin this week's Spotlight by passing along some information from the Circuit Attorney's Office.  Last week the Social Security Administration reported that possibly hundreds of thousands of Social Security Accounts might have been compromised nationwide.  Dozens of people reported to the Fenton, Missouri Office that they had received letters from the Social Security Administration verifying they had recently established online accounts.  The recipients of the letters, however, had not established online accounts.  If you have received a letter from the Social Security Administration verifying the establishment of an online account and have never opened one yourself, you should immediately contact the Social Security Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Upcoming Events

May 3 – Reflections on the Civil War in Missouri, Missouri History Museum, 9:30 a.m.

A day-long symposium on the Civil War will be presented Friday at the Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The symposium will feature several authors and experts speaking on a wide range of Civil War topics.  For the complete schedule, visit the mohistory.org web site.

May 3 –First Friday, Contemporary Art Center, 5 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of art, music, and culture the first Friday of every month from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Boulevard, in Grand Center.  In partnership with KDHX, DJs and musicians will present a variety of music responding to the exhibitions, museum staff will lead tours, and the bar and café will be open.  To learn more, call (314) 535-0770 ext. 311.

May 3 – Makerbot Open House, Craft Alliance, 6 p.m.

The Makerbot Open House is your chance to see these 3D printers in action, talk with a tech and watch studio demonstrations.  Come explore the intersection of craft and design using 3D printers.  The free Open House will run from 6 – 9 p.m. at Craft Alliance, located at 501 N. Grand Boulevard in Grand Center.  For more details, call (314) 534-7528.

May 3 through May 13 – 2013 U.S. Chess Championships, Chess Club & Scholastic Center of St. Louis, 11 a.m.

The 2013 U.S. Chess Championship and the 2013 U.S. Women's Championship will take place at the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, the country's top chess facility, from Friday, May 3 through Monday, May 13. Access to the tournament costs just $10/day (free to annual members) and includes free food and drink, access to the playing hall and a streaming broadcast of grandmaster play-by-play of the event.  The Club is located at 4657 Maryland Avenue in the trendy Central West End neighborhood. For more information, call (314) 361-2437 or visit the saintlouischessclub.org web site.

May 4 – Mount Pleasant Park Clean-up, Dakota & Michigan, 10 a.m.

Friends and neighbors in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday in Mount Pleasant Park to clean up the park. Volunteers will also lay mulch at the Osceola/Broadway triangle and the triangle at Osceola and Virginia.  For more details, visit the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association Facebook page.

May 4 –Yoga Sessions Under the Arch, Gateway Arch, 9 a.m.

Relax with free Yoga Sessions every Saturday beginning May 4 through Saturday, Sept. 28.  Those interested in participating should meet on the Arch grounds at 9 a.m. for a one-hour session.  No reservations are needed.  Please note that free parking will be available in the Arch garage if you reserve a spot on-line at the gatewayarch.com web site.  Need more information?  Call (314) 655-1614.

May 4 – Grand Opening of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Traveling Exhibition, Central Library, 11 a.m.

"Follow the yellow brick road" to the Central Library this Saturday for the Grand Opening of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Traveling Exhibition.  The festivities will begin with opening remarks at 10:30 a.m.  The Radio Disney AM 12-60 van will arrive at the 1301 Olive Street entrance at 11 a.m. and the fun will begin.  The 2,000 square-foot, interactive, 3-D exhibit includes Dorothy's House, Land of Munchkins, Emerald City, Wicked Witch's Castle and more.  Can't make it Saturday?  The exhibition will run through July 31 and will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call (314) 206-6779.

May 4 – 7^thAnnual Cinco de Mayo Festival, Cherokee Street, 11 a.m.

Come celebrate the rich Hispanic culture within the Cherokee Street neighborhood and surrounding South St. Louis area by stopping by the 7^th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The festival will feature live music on three separate stages, an assortment of authentic Mexican refreshments and other ethnic food and drinks.  There also will be live art demonstrations, street performers, and a People's Joy Parade.  The parade will step off at 1:11 p.m. from Minnesota & Cherokee, wind through the Benton Park West neighborhood and end at Texas & Cherokee.  For all the particulars, visit the cincodemayostl.com web site or call (314) 632-6498.

May 4 & 5 – Last weekend for Blitz 2013, Region 1 North and South, 6 a.m.

This is the last weekend for Brightside St. Louis' Project Blitz 2013 and it will be held in Region 1 North and South.  The boundaries for Region 1 North are:  Natural Bridge on the north, Taylor on the east, MetroLink & Lindell on the south, & the city limits on the west.  The boundaries for Region 1 South are:  Meramec & Chippewa on the north, Mississippi River on the east, city limits on the south, & Gravois & Kingshighway on the west.  For more information and to learn how you can join your neighbors to clean up the streets, alleys and vacant lots in your neighborhood, visit the brightsidestlouis.org web site or call (314) 772-4646.

 

May 5 – La Festa, St. Ambrose Church, Noon

St. Ambrose Catholic Church will hold its annual La Festa in the church parking lot and parish grounds from Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.  Visitors will enjoy Italian food, games, music, raffles and more!  The church is located at 5130 Wilson Avenue on The Hill.  Questions?  Call (314) 771-1228.

 

Save the Date

May 10 – Wake Up to a Sweeter Commute, MetroLink Stations, 7 a.m.

May 10 – Midtown Grand Prix, Grand Center/Locust Business District, various times

May 10 – Reggae Summer Splash, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, 6 p.m.

May 10 & 11 – ArtCrank St. Louis 2013, Atomic Cowboy, 5 p.m.

May 10 & 11 – Flowers for Downtown, 13^th & Market, 9 a.m.

May 11 – Plant Sale, St. Louis City Greenhouse, 8 a.m.

May 11 – Free Health Fair, International Institute of St. Louis, 9:30 a.m.

May 11 – Bell Demonstration Garden Volunteer Orientation, 3871 Bell Ave., 10 a.m.

May 11 – Tour de Grove Bicycle Ride, Commerce Bank, 7:30 a.m.

May 11 – Tour de Grove, Forest Park Southeast neighborhood, various times

May 11, The Hill Wine Walk, The Hill neighborhood, 1 p.m.

May 11 – Planetarium Public Camp-in, St. Louis Science Center, 5 p.m.

May 12 – South Grand Mother's Day Bicycle Ride, Commerce Bank, 8 a.m.

May 12 – Dutchtown Classic, South St. Louis, various times

 

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight? If so, you may email the information about it to me at deekenc@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration. You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

 

50,000 Penny Challenge

The Boathouse in Forest Park is collecting pennies for Forest Park to help maintain the Park now and forever.  Forest Park will be celebrating 50,000 days in the Park on Thursday, May 16.  The Boathouse is inviting everyone to help them collect 50,000 pennies for the Park.  Bring your pennies by the Boathouse now through May 16.  Of course, nickels, dimes and quarters are welcome, too.  Call (314) 367-2224 to learn more.

 

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis