Dear Terra,

If you're having trouble getting a professional license from the State of Illinois, help is on the way. We're bringing the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to Lombard!

From 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, we'll be at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St., to provide on-the-spot assistance with your professional license application. IDFPR staff will be on hand to help with new applications and renewals and to untangle delays with existing applications.

To sign up for the event, you can click here. For more information, please reach out to my office at 630-812-9292 or Reptch42@gmail.com.

We passed some new laws to protect your rights and improve life in DuPage County

It's always exciting when the Governor signs one of my bills into law. Even though some new laws may seem rather technical or narrowly focused, each one represents an idea that will help make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

To keep you up to date, here are some of the bills I passed in the last session that have recently been signed by the Governor:

HB5574: Directs funds from repealed road improvement fees in DuPage County into an account dedicated to projects that increase the capacity of the county's transportation system. Effective Jan. 1, 2025.

SB3284: Makes some commonsense changes to the laws regarding child support and parenting plans after divorce. Effective Jan. 1, 2025.

SB3367: Require the Department of Children and Family Services to adopt rules to prevent creating new financial burdens for parents seeking reunification with children in foster care, while setting up stronger systems for child support enforcement for parents who have permanently lost custody. Effective immediately.

SB3420: Creates the Prohibition of Unfair Service Agreements Act, defining and banning misleading and overly burdensome contracts. This law targets real estate brokerage firms that have paid a property owner a few hundred dollars for exclusive rights to list the property for several decades. Effective immediately.

SB3460: Requires self-storage facilities to accept e-mailed and online rental agreements, and bars renters from using a storage unit if the owner has delivered written notice of termination or non-renewal in person or via verified mail. Effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Taste of Glen Ellyn starts TODAY

The three-day Taste of Glen Ellyn kicks off at 5 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd.

In addition to festive foods from local eateries, the Taste will feature live entertainment, cold beverages, a business expo, and carnival rides.

Taste of Glen Ellyn Hours:

Thursday, Aug. 15, 5 to 10 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 16, 5 to 10 p.m
Saturday, Aug. 17, noon to 10 p.m.

A portion of carnival proceeds will fund scholarships for local high school students. For more information about Taste of Glen Ellyn, you can click here.

Enjoy Trolls Band Together at York Center's Movie in the Park TOMORROW

Everyone is invited to come out and join the York Center Park District for a summer showing of “Trolls Band Together” tomorrow (Friday) at 8:15 p.m. at Villa Roosevelt Park, 14th and Luther Ave. in Lombard.

For those of you who missed this movie when it came out last year, it's the third entry in the Trolls franchise, which follows the adventures of a pair of trolls named Poppy and Branch.

Concessions will be available before the movie. Admission is free but registration is required. You can click here to register.

Calling all thunder lizards! It's Dinosaur Day at Helen Plum Library TOMORROW

The dinosaurs did not go to libraries. The dinosaurs became extinct. You may draw your own conclusions...

If you know a child who loves dinosaurs (or libraries), you can stomp on down to the Helen Plum Library tomorrow (Friday) for some dinosaur-themed games and activities.

You can drop in from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This drop-in event, at 411 S. Main St. in Lombard, is for families with children of all ages. For more information, you can click here.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Cosley Zoo in Wheaton SATURDAY

For half a century, the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton has been offering visitors up-close interactions with farm animals and native wildlife.

This Saturday, the zoo is celebrating its 50th anniversary with special events from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day's events will include history chats at a historical panel display, educational "critter carts," duck and chicken feedings, junior zookeeper crafts, and cupcakes and other refreshments.

The five-acre zoo, at 1356 N. Gary Ave. in Wheaton, includes natural habitats for white-tailed deer, red fox, Blanding’s turtles, and even a coyote. For more information, you can click here.

Downers Grove Fire Department presents Kids' Muster at Fishel Park on SATURDAY

Is there a child in your household who wants to become a firefighter someday? Was that your childhood dream as well?

The Downers Grove Firefighters will make some of those dreams come true with fun and games from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Fishel Park, at 1036 Grove St.

You can enjoy a water ball fight, join a bucket brigade, and slide down a firepole. You can also use a real fire hose to spray a small house! At the end of the event, the kids will challenge the firefighters to a game of tug of war.

The event is free, with registration on-site. For more information, you can call 630-434-5990.

Go take a (family) hike! Join a naturalist at Naperville's Knock Knolls Park SATURDAY

You can get your weekend off to a nature-filled start at 10 a.m. this Saturday, at Knoch Knolls Park, 336 Knoch Knolls Road in Naperville.

Your hike through the park will begin at the nature center deck, where you'll meet up with your naturalist guide.

Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather, as there may be over uneven and muddy terrain. You can register up to four family members, with at least one adult per family. You can click here to register today.

Find out about services for Vets at the DuPage County Veterans Resource Fair WEDNESDAY

If you are a Veteran, or if you have a close friend or family member who served in our nation's uniform, I hope you'll take time to attend DuPage County's 6th annual Veterans Resource Fair, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, in the JTK Administration Building, 421. N County Farm Road, Wheaton.

More than 80 service agencies and community organizations will be on hand to offer information and assistance to Veterans. There will be refreshments and door prizes for those who attend.

For more information, please contact Steve Fixler of the Veterans Assistance Commission at 630-407-5655 or steven.fixler@dupagecounty.gov, or visit www.dupagecounty.gov/vac or www.dupagecounty.gov/recorder.

Learn about firefighters' work and training at Lombard’s Citizen’s Fire Academy

If you'd like to learn more about the great work done by our brave firefighters, the Lombard Fire Department invites people living or working in Lombard to participate in the Citizen’s Fire Academy, beginning Sept. 11.

The academy, which is led by Lombard firefighters, is a free, five-week program held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lombard Fire Station #45, 50 E. St. Charles Road. There also will be hands-on practical exercises on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Fire Station 44, 2020 S. Highland Ave. You can find the application here.

DuPage County will hold its first Mental Health Summit and Expo on Sept. 7

The DuPage Council on Strengthening the System for Mental Health and Substance Use Care will host its inaugural Mental Health Summit and Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the DuPage County Administration Building, 421 County Farm Road in Wheaton.

At the expo, you can talk with representatives of local mental health and substance use treatment organizations and hear from a panel of mental health experts, practitioners, and policymakers.

The event will feature former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy. During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy led passage of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires insurers to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorders. For more information and to register for the event, you can click here.

Do you know an amazing senior? Nominate them for Lombard Senior Man & Woman of the Year

The Village of Lombard is seeking nominations for the 19th Annual Senior of the Year Awards, which honor people over 65 who go above and beyond to make Lombard a better place.

Residents are encouraged to nominate seniors who live in Lombard and who have demonstrated a commitment to serving others. Nominations should include a short biography of the nominee and a brief statement (50 words or less) highlighting why that person deserves recognition.

The deadline for nominations is 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. The Community Relations Committee will vote for the winner on Monday, Sept. 9. Nominees and winners will be notified and announced publicly.

Nominations can be submitted via email at communications@villageoflombard.org or by mail to Village of Lombard, Attention: “Senior of the Year,” 255 E. Wilson Ave., Lombard, IL, 60148. You can click here to learn more.

Upcoming Events

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

Aug. 20: Blood and Food Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn

Aug. 22: Summer Wine Walk, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in Downtown Wheaton

Aug. 22: Glenbard Parent Series presents Start the Year off Strong, at noon and 7 p.m.

Aug. 23: Family Bingo Night, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn

Aug. 23: WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Mobile Clinic, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St. in Lombard

Aug. 24-25: 55th Annual Festival of the Arts, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Rd. in Glen Ellyn

Aug. 26: Nature Walk, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St.

Aug. 28: Impact DuPage, Virtual Learning Collaborative Session on Harm Reduction and Substance Use Disorder, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., via Zoom

Aug. 28: Tailgating Party Food with Chef Sue Maddox, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St. in Lombard.

Aug. 29: Active Adult Summer Social, at noon at Downers Grove Township Center, 4341 Saratoga Ave.

Sept. 9: B.R. Ryall YMCA’s 25th Annual Golf Classic, at 11:30 a.m. at the Prairie Landing Golf Club, 2325 Longest Drive, in West Chicago

Sept. 15: Wheaton Festival of Cultures, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave.

Sept. 28: Shred Event and Paper Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lombard Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson 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