If you're doing your taxes and feeling like you need to get a better handle on your personal finances, there's help available from the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Financial Wellness Hub is an online resource for adults and teens, with useful information on purchasing a home, planning for retirement, understanding Social Security benefits, and building an emergency fund.
The hub also offers free access to Certified Personal Finance Coaches. You can create a secure and free account, complete a financial checkup, and get personalized, expert recommendations.
If you have questions about the Financial Wellness Hub, please contact Maggie Owen with the Illinois State Treasurer’s office at mowen@illinoistreasurer.gov or (217) 720-0677.
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It's been a busy week in Springfield!
We are rocketing through session this week. From Monday through Wednesday, we voted on more than 200 bills in the House, and the fast pace continues today. So far, I've passed two of my own bills out of the House:
HB42: This bill will allow library districts to charge out-of-district/non-resident library card holders on a quarterly or biannual basis instead of annually. The cost of these non-resident cards can be hefty -- up to $282! So enabling families to spread out that cost will make these libraries more financially accessible.
HB1168: This bill, which passed unanimously out of the House, will amend the definition of "day care center" under the Child Care Act of 1969 to exclude programs offered by arboretums, nature centers, and botanic gardens. This change will make it possible for these wonderful outdoor facilities to provide safe, educational programs for young children.
You can help to pass these bills by contacting our State Senator, Laura Ellman. You can find information on other bills in both the House and Senate, as well as live feeds of committee hearings and legislative sessions and employment opportunities, on the General Assembly's website here.
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Display your talents and discover new opportunity at COD TOMORROW
Are you looking for a new job that's a better fit for your talents? College of DuPage, in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, will host the Talent and Opportunity Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) in the Physical Education Center (PEC) on the Glen Ellyn campus, at 425 Fawell Blvd.
The Expo, co-hosted by COD’s Career Services, Continuing Education, Organizational Development, and Institutional Advancement departments, offers a chance to connect with local businesses from various industries, explore career paths, and showcase your skills to potential employers.
The event is free and open to students, alumni, and community members. To learn more, you can click here.
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Break out your Wonder Woman costume for the Superhero Fun Run SATURDAY
Calling all community superheroes! Grab your cape and costume and head over to the Superhero 3K Fun Run, at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, at Sensory Garden Playground, 2751 Navistar Drive in Lisle. Some of your favorite superheroes will be on hand to cheer you on, and there will be music, character meet and greets, and more fun for everyone after the race.
All registrants will receive a commemorative hat, keychain, and post-race refreshments.
Superhero Fun Run is an untimed run/walk and is open to all ages and abilities. Fun Run is presented by the Wheaton Park District and the Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Play for All Playground & Garden Foundation.
Registration costs $40 in advance and $45 on Race Day. To register and find more information, you can click here.
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Find butterflies, bunnies, and more at the Spring Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Downers Grove
Bunnies, butterflies, eggs and flowers are hidden in nearly 40 windows throughout Downtown Downers Grove, and you can win prizes by finding them and recording your sightings on this sheet.
Kids who find at least 15 of the hidden items can bring the form to the Downers Grove Public Library to claim a prize, now through April 27. Adults can take a picture of the form and email it to info@downtowndg.org for a chance to win $50 in Downtown Downers Grove Gift Cards. Entries must be received by April 27. For more information, you can click here.
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How many cookies can a (library) mouse eat? Find out this week at the Lisle Library District
The Lisle Library District is celebrating National Library week with book-themed fun and games.
From now through Saturday, April 12, you can guess the number of "cookies" in a jar; the closest guess will win a prize basket. You can also fill out a library-themed crossword puzzle and enter it into a prize drawing.
Kids can make a cookie-themed button to wear at the Library's Give a Mouse a Cookie story time, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 12. There will be sweet treats available after the event. (I bet everyone guess what the treats are likely to be...) To learn more, you can click here.
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Join Hopper Cottontail for an egg-citing party in Glen Ellyn on SATURDAY
Hopper Cottontail (Glen Ellyn’s own Easter bunny) and friends are coming to Ackerman SFC for some egg-citing activities and games on Saturday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 800 St. Charles Road.
This event, which includes a pizza lunch, is for children ages 2 to 8, accompanied by an adult. Registration is $25 per child for residents and $40 for nonresidents. To register and learn more, you can click here.
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Kids 10 and under can hunt for eggs, meet rodents of unusual size (i.e., bunnies) in Lisle SATURDAY
Everyone's invited to hop on over to the Lisle Park District's annual Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, starting at 9:30 a.m. at Lisle Community Park Bandshell, 1825 Short St.
Children ages 10 and under will be divided into age groups to search for eggs. To learn more and register, you can click here.
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Wheaton Recycling Extravaganza SATURDAY
The City’s Environmental Improvement Commission invites the community to its annual Recycling Extravaganza & Paper Shredding Event with SCARCE on Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
Please note that all vehicles must enter from County Farm Road (505 N. County Farm Road) using the main DuPage County Government Center entrance. The entrance from Manchester Road to the DuPage County Fairgrounds will be closed during this event. For more information and a full list of accepted items, you can click here.
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Donate Blood in Lombard or Glen Ellyn TUESDAY
Get ready to roll up your sleeves. There will be multiple opportunities to donate blood in Lombard and Glen Ellyn this Tuesday, April 15.
In Lombard, there will be a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the lower level of Yorktown Shopping Center, outside of Von Maur. The drive will continue from 1:30 to 7:00 p.m. at First Church of Lombard, 220 S. Main Street. To schedule an appointment, you can click here.
The Glen Ellyn Park District will host a blood drive on Tuesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road. Appointments are recommended for blood donations, but walk-ups are welcome. To sign up for an appointment, you can click here.
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Questions about Alzheimer's or dementia? Learn more in Lombard on WEDNESDAY
Do you have questions about Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia? You can drop in and talk with a trained advisor on Wednesday, April 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St. in Lombard.
You can learn more about communicating with doctors, finding caregiver resources, and improving overall health from Leann Donovan, Community Engagement Coordinator at Rush University's Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
For more information, you can click here.
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Help young parents and their babies by stocking Teen Parent Connection's Pantry
It's astounding how expensive it can be to care for an infant. To help young parents provide for their children, my office is collecting essential items for the Teen Parent Connection Parents' Pantry.
From now through April 30, we're collecting diapers, baby wipes, adult body wash, sunscreen and toothbrushes for kids, and toothpaste. (They especially need size 4 diapers!)
Teen Parent Connection is a nonprofit serving families throughout DuPage County. They offer programs that serve the community through education, empowerment, and support for young parents – including school-based pregnancy prevention education programs, pregnancy and parenting support groups, and the Parents' Pantry.
To learn more about Teen Parent Connection, you can click here. To schedule a drop-off time or porch pick-up, please contact us at reptch42@gmail.com or 630-812-9292. You can also donate through our Amazon Wishlist here.
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There's still time to order hanging baskets and Vidalia Onions from Glen Ellyn Kiwanis Club
The Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn is hosting its annual sale of hanging flower baskets and Vidalia onions, to raise money for children in our community.
You can order hanging baskets by clicking here. You also can order a bag (or more!) of Vidalia onions by clicking here. The sale lasts until April 29.
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Upcoming Events
We have lots of events coming up, so please take a look and mark your calendars today!
Apr. 15: Grandparents and Me Day of Bingo, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road
Apr. 19: Document Shredding Event, at the Downers Grove Fleet Services Garage,
700 Curtiss St.
Apr. 19: DuPage River Sweep: Lake Ellyn Clean-Up, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road
Apr. 21-26: Lisle Restaurant Week, throughout the Village of Lisle
Apr. 24: Grow Where You Are, from 10 a.m. to noon at the DuPage County Fair Grounds-Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton. Join the DuPage County Farm Bureau for a FREE adult education event focused on urban gardening and soil health.
Apr. 26: Healthy Kids Day, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the B.R. Ryall YMCA, 49 Deicke Drive in Glen Ellyn
Apr. 27: Taylor Swift’s Literary Lyrics, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St. in Lombard.
Apr. 29: East Branch DuPage River Trail (EBDRT) Open House, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Butterfield Park District, 21W730 Butterfield Rd in Lombard
May 7: B.R. Ryall YMCA Annual Meeting and Champions Dinner, at 5:30 p.m. at Abbington Distinctive Banquets, S002 Route 53, at Route 53 and Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn
May 16-18: Battle of the Paddles Pickleball Tournament, at 8 a.m. at McCollum Park, 6801 Main St. in Downers Grove
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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