Dear Terra,

Now that the new fiscal year has begun, I wanted to take a couple minutes and explain my votes on the state budget bills. As you may already know, I voted against the revenue bill and in favor of the other bills in the package – the $53 billion budget itself and the budget implementation bill (“BIMP”), which gives the State the power to actually spend the money in the budget.

My “No” vote on the revenue bill was really an expression of my opposition to the way our state budget is developed and passed each year. As legislators, we have a responsibility to our constituents to make sure their tax dollars are being spent wisely and well. The current process simply doesn’t give us a real opportunity to raise our concerns about budget specifics and offer alternatives for both revenues and spending.

This year, we wound up passing the budget at 4:30 in the morning, after a long and often confusing night of parliamentary maneuvers. That’s just no way to make serious fiscal decisions that affect every person who lives in our state.

Despite my misgivings, I chose to vote in favor of the budget itself because it reflects so many of my own priorities and the priorities of the people I serve – investments in public education, in public safety, in mental health services, in childcare, in community colleges, in care for our seniors, and in economic development throughout Illinois. I was especially pleased that this budget continues the great progress that we have made in putting our state on a solid fiscal foundation, as proven by our nine credit upgrades over the past five years. I also voted for the budget implementation bill because I still remember the devastating impacts of then-Governor Rauner’s refusal to implement a full state budget for 793 excruciating days.

I knew when I voted against the revenue bill that the budget package was going to pass, with or without a green “Y” next to my name on the board. But I believe that your vote is your voice, whether you’re at the ballot box or on the House floor. By voting “No” on that bill, I was making a statement that we need to change the way we pass our state budget. The people of Illinois deserve better.

Scholarships for women students over 25

Do you know a woman who wants to go back to school to get her bachelor's degree? The Conference of Women Legislators (COWL) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the the Women Influencing Second Encore (W.I.S.E.) scholarship, for women aged 25 or older who are pursuing their bachelor’s degrees.

This scholarship is available to support women at all income levels and provides up to $2,500 for tuition, books, and fees for the coming academic year. Up to 10 recipients will be chosen.

To access the application, please visit here. The deadline for application is midnight on August 31, 2024. COWL will send a notification to all scholarship awardees by Nov. 1, 2024. You can email any questions to Cowlillinois@gmail.com.

Put down your phone, close your laptop, and take part in Unplug Illinois SATURDAY

I admit it – sometimes I feel like my cellphone is glued to my hand. Even though I know that it's not good for my mental (or physical) health to keep scrolling through the news and checking texts and emails, it can be really hard to unplug.

That's why I'm such a big supporter of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's annual Unplug Illinois, which is coming up this Saturday, July 13. Unplug Illinois encourages all of us to unplug from our many devices, get outside, and "plug into" some of our wonderful local recreational opportunities.

If you can, I hope you'll participate in some of our communities' many free Unplug Illinois events:

The Downers Grove Park District will offer fitness classes for teens 15+ and adults from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Road. You can learn more here.

The Glen Ellyn Park District will offer fitness, sports, and nature activities from 10 a.m. to noon at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road. For more information, you can click here.

The Lombard Park District will offer Nature Bingo from noon to 3 p.m. at Four Seasons Park, at 16th Street and Finley Road. For more information, you can click here.

If you can't fit any of those into your Saturday plans, don't worry! You can celebrate Unplug Illinois on your own throughout our District by getting outside and enjoying our beautiful parks. Have a picnic at Lilacia Park in Lombard, play a game of tennis at Lisle's Community Park, enjoy the playground at Doerhoefer Park in Downers Grove, or visit Naper Commons in Naperville. (Take a look at my Summer Parks Passport if you need extra inspiration.) Whatever you do, get outside and have fun!

Looking for a healthier school lunch option? Sign up for plant-based options today!

Thanks to a law we passed last year, all public schools in Illinois now must offer nutritious plant-based meals for students, at no additional cost.

These lunches meet the national school lunch meal requirements, so your child will get enough protein. These meals are also richer in fiber, which can help to reduce their future risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

You can opt in for as many days as you like. Plant-based breakfasts are also available. It's easy to sign up online; just click here.

Recycle your old electronics (and much more) in Wheaton on SATURDAY

Do you still have an old DVD player sitting in a basement cupboard? Are there sweaters in your closet that are older than Taylor Swift?

You can drop off outdated electronics and other items at Wheaton's Electronic Recycling monthly event this Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at Wheaton's Public Works Storage Yard, 820 W. Liberty Drive.

Acceptable recylables include scrap metal, cooking oil (for recycling into biofuel),

computers, cell phones, fans, stereos, toasters, players and almost anything with a cord. (Please note that there is a modest fee to recycle TVs and monitors).

For more information and a full list of accepted items, you can click here.

Save money (and the environment) at Glen Ellyn's Sportswap SUNDAY

You can gear up for the coming season and ease the burden on our landfills at the Glen Ellyn Park District’s Sportswap, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road.

To swap your gently used equipment, you can drop it off now through Saturday and get a voucher for use on Sunday. If you don't have equipment to swap, you can pay cash. Prices range from $1 to $10, so you should be able to find some bargains!

Sportswap is co-sponsored by Go Green Glen Ellyn. Admission is free, and no registration is required. To learn more, you can click here.

Stand up against gun violence with Moms Demand Action in Wheaton TUESDAY

You can learn about gun violence – and what you can do to prevent it – at the Moms Demand Action meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at the Wheaton Public Library.

Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. They work to help pass stronger gun laws and to close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. The group also works in our communities and with business leaders to encourage a culture of responsible gun ownership.

To register for the meeting, you can click here.

Don't miss the Lombard Farmer's Market on TUESDAYS through October

The Lombard Chamber of Commerce invites you to get your farm-fresh goods, meet local vendors, and enjoy live entertainment, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in Downtown Lombard, at South Park Avenue and West St. Charles Road.

The market runs through October, so mark your calendars today. For more information, you can click here.

Teens can create emotional support rocks TUESDAY with Reality Illinois

Reality Illinois, the Teen Advisory Board to the DuPage County Health Department, invites local teens to show their creativity – and kind hearts – by decorating rocks with encouraging words from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at the Glenbard District Office, 596 Crescent Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.

All supplies (including rocks) will be provided, and art therapist Jacquie Stone will be on hand to offer guidance and support.

You're welcome to bring a friend. Because we should never take kindness for granite. (I'll see myself out.)

For further information, please contact Student and Community Projects Coordinator Gilda Ross at gilda_ross@glenbard.org or 630 267-2975.

Play in the Park in Lombard WEDNESDAY

Enjoy some time playing in the park with the Lombard Park District on Wednesday, July 17 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Sunset Knoll Park, 820 Finley Rd.

Come and meet Kiddie Campus Preschool Tot and Parent/Tot instructors. Play in the splash pad, jump in a bounce house, make a craft, play a game and enjoy a snack. You can learn more here.

Enjoy warm weather and music with Lisle's Summer Concert WEDNESDAY

Mark your calendar and join the Lisle Park District for free live music this summer at Van Kampen Stage in Lisle Community Park, 1800 Short Street. These free concerts will feature everything from rock and roll, country-rock, classic rock, retro rock, country, and pop. Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets!

The next concert will be Wednesday, July 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., featuring Thirsty Boots Band, who will be playing country music hits. Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets! You can click here to learn more.

Learn more about Illinois Arts Council Creative Catalyst Grant THURSDAY

The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) is accepting applications for the Creative Catalyst Grant, to support arts-related projects, events and/or professional development.

Creative Catalyst replaces IAC’s previous grant programs: Artstour & Live Music, Short-term Teaching Artist Residencies, Individual Artist Support, and Special Project Grants, and is available to individuals, 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and units of government.

The Creative Catalyst Grant can range up to $12,000 per recipient. Applications will be accepted until the funds have been expended. Each IAC region has its own allocation so regions may close at different times. Applications must be submitted to the IAC’s grant portal at least eight weeks before the project start date.

IAC staff will conduct a Creative Catalyst Grant webinar on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 10:00am to discuss the application process. Participation requires advance registration. A recorded version of the webinar with transcripts will be made available on the Creative Catalyst Grant webpage.

For more information, you can contact your Regional Program Director.

Keep your home safe while you're away with the Lisle Police Vacation Program

Do you have a vacation planned this summer? Would you get some extra peace of mind knowing the Lisle Police Department can monitor your house while away? No problem – they've got it covered!

If you're a Lisle resident and you're planning to be away from your home for an extended period of time, the Lisle Police Department offers a convenient vacation watch service to help monitor your home. You can sign up for this free service here (click the Submit Now button in the Vacation Watch portion of the webpage).

For more information, contact the Lisle Police Department at (630) 271-4200.

Tuesday with Terra at the Lisle Library on July 23

We're off to a great start for Tuesdays with Terra, my monthly one-on-one constituent meetings. We're starting out from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 23, at the Lisle Library, 777 Front Street.

So if you have an issue you'd like to discuss or an idea you want to share - or even if you just want to talk about our state government and the work we do, I'd love to meet with you.

As always, registration is required. To make your appointment, please reach out to my office at 630-812-9292 or email reptch42@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

We have lots of events coming up, so please take a look and mark your calendars today!

July 17: Jazz in the Park, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Newton Park, 707 Fairview Ave. in Glen Ellyn.

July 17: Santa at Sunset, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Sunset Pool, 483 Fairview Ave. in Glen Ellyn.

July 19-20: Family Campout at Maryknoll Park, from 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 19, through 8 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn.

July 20: Wheaton Summer Entertainment Series, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Bandshell, 225 Karlskoga Ave.

July 20: Downtown Lisle Car Show, from 6 to 9 p.m. along Main Street, Burlington Avenue, and a portion of the Commuter Parking Lots.

July 20: Tour of Lake Ellyn, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn.

July 20: Tour of Lake Ellyn Family Fun Ride, from 2:20 to 2:50 p.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn.

July 21: DuPage Symphony Orchestra, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Bandshell, 225 Karlskoga Ave. in Wheaton.

July 23: Lombard Cycling Classi c, in Downtown Lombard.

July 24: Concert in Lilacia Park, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave. in Lombard

July 26: York Center Park District's Family Fun Fest, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Knolls Park, 1502 S. Meyers Rd. in Lombard.

July 27: Glen Ellyn Park District’s Family Luau, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Sunset Pool, 483 Fairview Ave.

August 2: Summer Pop-Up Party, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Four Seasons, Finley Road & 16th Street in Lombard.

August 3: Glen Ellyn Park District’s Back to School Splash Bash, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Sunset Pool, 483 Fairview Ave.

If you have any questions about pending legislation or other issues related to your state government, please don't hesitate to contact my office at 630-812-9292 or RepTCH42@gmail.com.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong,

Terra Costa Howard

State Representative

42nd District

913 S. Main St.

Lombard, IL 60148

(630) 812-9292