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We're delighted to welcome Kate Kissane as our office’s new Outreach Coordinator!
Kate is a District 42 native and a former intern at our office, and she is really excited to be back working with the community she loves.
After graduating from Glenbard West, Kate went to the University of Nebraska, where she graduated in 2022 with high distinction. (She probably is too modest to mention that she was a Phi Beta Kappa....) She also was the 2021 Hartsell Scholar, an honor awarded by the Department of Political Science to a student interning in government, legislative, lobbying, or nonprofit experiences who wants to pursue a career in government or public policy.
With her degree in hand, Kate spent a couple of years working for the Nebraska Legislature before heading back home.
Now she'll be planning events, handling constituent services, and generally working with Joe Giatras, my Chief of Staff, to make our office work even better for the people we serve. (That's Kate in the photo, taken during our visit to the Morton Arboretum.)
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Family Camp Out in Lombard TOMORROW
Dust off that camping gear and get ready for a fun-filled evening at Lombard's Family Camp Out, from 5 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Log Cabin at Four Seasons Park, at Main and 16th streets.
The event will include crafts inside the Log Cabin, outdoor games, a flashlight hunt, late-night s’mores, and a continental breakfast in the morning.
Families must provide their own tents, sleeping bags, and food and drinks for dinner. Charcoal grills will be set up by staff and available for families to use for cooking. Additional information will be sent out prior to the event.
The per-person fee is $10 for Lombard residents and $15 for out-of-district. Please note the fee is per person; everyone attending must register. To register, you can click here.
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Enjoy one last Downtown Glen Ellyn Friday Summer Concert TOMORROW
Everyone is invited to enjoy the final Summer Concert, on Main and Duane in Downtown Glen Ellyn tomorrow (Friday) evening.
Chair set-up begins at 5 p.m., and the event starts at 6. This last concert will feature Semple, one of the Chicago area's most popular rock bands.
You can savor delicious food and drinks from local restaurants, which will be offering special deals for the evening. Please note that outside food and drink are not permitted.
This end-of-summer evening is a lovely opportunity to connect with your neighbors and enjoy Glen Ellyn's charming Main Street. To learn more, you can click here.
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Don't miss the Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival SATURDAY and SUNDAY
The Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival will celebrate 47 years of art and fun on Saturday, Sept. 7, and Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Downers Grove.
The festival will include boutiques, cafes and a children’s art area, as well as works by a long list of distinguished artists.
There will be special games, face painting, balloons, and more fun for kids from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Smile Downers Grove, at 5149 Main St. For more information, you can click here.
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DuPage County will hold its first Mental Health Summit and Expo on SATURDAY
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 Saturday, 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.
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Star Wars Day in Wheaton SATURDAY
Dress in your Star Wars Best and join the Wheaton Public Library for their first-ever Star Wars Day on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 225 N. Cross St.
The day will feature "Jedi training", live music, DIY crafts, Star Wars trivia, and prizes. You're invited to bring your own lunch to the “Cantina” in the café area, enjoy some Star Wars-themed snacks, and stick around for a Light Saber Glow Stick Dance Party.
For more information and a schedule of events, you can click here.
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Grandparents and Me Bingo at Lincoln Center in Downers Grove SATURDAY
Grandparents and their grandkid(s) are invited to Downers Grove Park District's Grandparents and Me Bingo event on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 9:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave.
Prizes will be awarded for each round of bingo. Snacks and refreshments will be available. Everyone attending must have a ticket. You can buy tickets here.
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Want to be a volunteer firefighter? Come to Glen Ellyn's informational session MONDAY
The Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company is recruiting its next class of volunteer firefighters.
If you're looking for a chance to give back to our community and help keep our neighbors safe, you're invited to attend the fire company's informational session at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, at Station 61, 524 Pennsylvania Ave. in downtown Glen Ellyn.
Volunteers must be licensed drivers who are at least 21 years old and who live within one mile of Glen Ellyn. You can learn more and register to attend here.
Spouses and significant others of would-be firefighters are welcome to attend as well.
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'We will never forget.' Our communities will commemorate 9/11 this WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, as we commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on our nation, communities throughout our district will hold remembrance ceremonies to honor those we lost on that tragic day:
Everyone is welcome to attend these solemn ceremonies.
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Donate to our Birthday Bag Food Drive to help make a family's special day happier
Food does so much more than nourish our bodies. Special foods are at the center of so many of our celebrations – and to me, there's nothing more special than a birthday cake to help celebrate another year with someone we love.
To help make sure that people who are food-insecure can celebrate with their families, my office is hosting a Birthday Bag Food Drive throughout the month of September to benefit the Glen House Food Pantry.
The Pantry has welcomed more than 300 new families in 2024, and they're on pace to present almost 2,000 birthday bags this year to our neighbors in need. But they can't do it without our help. So I'm hoping that you'll be able to donate to this special drive. Birthday Bag donations can include:
- Gift bags
- Boxed cake mixes
- Canned frosting
- PRE-PACKAGED 6-inch party plates
- PRE-PACKAGED 6-inch party napkins
- Boxed birthday candles
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Birthday cards (Create your own or use the template on the Glen House website.)
To arrange a time to drop off donations, please email reptch42@gmail.com or call 630-812-9292. And check out the Pantry’s website for all the Hunger Action Month activities happening in September. You can also donate through our Amazon Wishlist here.
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Need assistance with a professional license? We're offering on-the-spot help on Sept. 17
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.
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Upcoming Events
We have lots of events coming up, so please take a look and mark your calendars today!
Sept. 13: Family Bingo Night, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn
Sept. 13-14: Downers Grove Oktober Fest, from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, at the Forest and Library parking Lots on Burlington Ave. between Main St. & Forest Ave.
Sept. 13-14: Family Campout, from 6:30 p.m. on Friday to 8 a.m. on Saturday, at Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn
Sept. 14: NAMI DuPage's Run for the Mind, at 8 a.m. at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton
Sept. 14-15: 40th Annual Lisle Depot Days, from noon to 5 p.m. at The Museum at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St.
Sept. 15: Wheaton Festival of Cultures, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave.
Sept. 15: Lake Ellyn 1-Mile Classic and Kids Dash, with 8 to 9 a.m. start times at Lake Ellyn, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn
Sept: 17: Virtual Tuesday with Terra, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please email our office at reptch42@gmail.com or call 630-812-9292.
Sept. 20: Kids Night Out in Lisle, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gentle Learning Preschool, 1925 Ohio St.
Sept. 21: York Center Park District Fishing Derby, 7:45 to 10:15 a.m. (Fishing begins at 8 a.m.), at Knolls Park, 1502 S. Meyers Road
Sept. 28: Shred Event and Paper Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lombard Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave.
Sept. 28: HOPtober Fest, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave. in Wheaton
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,
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Terra Costa Howard
State Representative
42nd District
913 S. Main St.
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 812-9292
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