Dear Terra,

Congratulations to the College of DuPage football team on their historic fourth straight national championship! The Chaparrals beat Louisburg 31-14 in the Red Grange Bowl last Saturday, making COD only the sixth program at any level to achieve this historic feat.

COD Coach Matt Rahn earned his fourth straight NJCAA Coach of the Year award.

We are so proud of this team! Congrats again to all the players and coaches on their amazing season.

IL ABLE Accounts can help people with disabilities save money, preserve benefits

When people with disabilities hold down jobs, they deserve to keep the money they earn to pay for the necessities they need to thrive.

So 10 years ago this month, Congress passed the ABLE Act, a law to enable people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 of their own money in a special account without losing their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Here in Illinois, these IL ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts offer people with disabilities and their families greater financial independence while preserving benefits.

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts, which means that interest on the deposits is tax-free. The money in the accounts must be spent on qualified disability expenses, such as assistive technologies, therapies, specialized equipment, transportation, job coaching, health care, and education, as well as basic living expense.

If you know someone who would benefit from an Illinois ABLE account, you can click here to find more information.

Thanks so much for your kind donations

to the Lombard Fire Department Toy Drive!

A big "thank you" to everyone who dropped off toys at our office for the Lombard Fire Department's 23rd Annual Toy Drive!

We brought them to the Fire Department today, so they'll be ready in time for their Toy Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14. The parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street, from St. Charles Road to Wilson Avenue.

That's me with Fire Chief Rick Sander and Rob Blockinger, a firefighter and paramedic who organized the toy drive and parade. 

Donations will benefit Toy Express and Teen Parent Connection. For more information on the parade, you can click here.

Celebrate the season (and reading!) at Lisle Library's Winter Fest TOMORROW

When the temperature dips close to zero, it may be hard to feel excited about the coming of winter.

But tomorrow (Friday), the Lisle Library District will add some extra fun to the frosty weather with its Winter Fest.

From 5 to 7 p.m., you're invited to head over to the library, at 777 Front St. You can grab a churro to keep you warm, participate in a scavenger hunt, and take a photo in the seasonal photo booth. You can also meet real reindeer!

Story time begins at 5 p.m., followed by all-ages bingo from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (with fabulous prizes). To learn more, you can click here.

Have a cup of cocoa, do a craft project, and enjoy a movie with Santa TOMORROW

There's something special about sipping hot chocolate, snuggling under a blanket and watching a holiday movie on a chilly evening – especially if Santa shows up for a visit.

Tomorrow (Friday), the Glen Ellyn Park District will present a special screening of the holiday season classic, The Santa Clause, at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road.

Starting at 6 p.m., you can enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, and even do a holiday-themed craft project to take home.

The Santa Clause will begin promptly at 6:20 p.m., and families should bring a blanket or lawn chair for the movie. The event will include a surprise visit from Santa, with time for photos after the movie. 



This event is for children ages 2-17, accompanied by an adult. Registration is required for children only. The fee is $30 for residents and $45 for nonresidents. To register, you can click here.

Golly! It's time for a day of holiday fun on Lombard's Holly Jolly Trolley on SATURDAY

Let the (holiday) good times roll! The Lombard Park District will run the Holly Jolly Trolley on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The trip starts with crafting, coloring, and storytelling with Ms. Claus at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided while you wait for your Winter Wonderland ride. The Trolley will whisk you along to the Log Cabin, where Santa will greet each child with a special holiday gift.

Tickets are $25 a person for Lombard residents, $35 a person for non-residents. Anyone riding the trolley must buy an advance ticket. The trolley will operate every 45 minutes, with timed-entry tickets. To buy tickets, you can click here. Don't delay – seats on the trolley are limited, and some timeslots are already sold out.

Run, run, as fast as you can! Go find the Downtown Downers Grove Gingerbread Men!

Downtown Downers Grove has been overrun by Gingerbread Men! From now through Dec. 31, downtown businesses will be displaying uniquely accessorized Gingerbread Men.

To join the Gingerbread Man hunt, just print out this form and make a note of where you saw each G-Man and what he was wearing.

Kids who find at least 25 of the Gingerbread Men can bring the form to the Downers Grove Library to claim a prize. Adults can take a photo of their completed forms and email it to info@downtowndg.org. Entries must be submitted by Dec. 31. There will be a drawing for $50 in Downtown DG Gift Cards. You can click here for more information.

Anima – Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus presents its Winter Concert SATURDAY

Enjoy a holiday musical experience you won’t forget as Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus presents its Winter Concert on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, 424 Forest Ave.

The concert, part of the chorus' 60th anniversary season, will include Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata, performed by Anima's Internationally acclaimed Touring Chorus and a fully choreographed Muppet Christmas Carol medley. The chorus' former artistic director, Emily Ellsworth, will return for the evening to lead choristers, alumni, and audience members in a holiday sing-along. To purchase tickets, you can click here.

Make cookies with Mrs. Claus at Lisle's Winter Wonderment event SATURDAY

Don't worry, Rudolph! Everybody gets to join in the reindeer games at the Lisle Park District's Winter Wonderment on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lisle Recreation Center, 1925 Ohio St.

You can make cookies with Mrs. Claus, then enjoy a special visit and photo-op with Santa. You'll also make crafts with the elves, hunt for candy canes, and play reindeer games! For more information, and to register, you can click here.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus head over to Downtown Wheaton SATURDAY afternoon

If Santa Claus spends any more time in the 42nd District this week, we're going to register him to vote.

Santa and Mrs. Claus visit downtown Wheaton this Saturday, Dec. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. They'll be at the "W" Tent on Front Street, west of Main Street.

You can take a picture with Santa and even check if you made the "nice" list this year. For more information, visit here.

Over 55? You're invited to Glen Ellyn's Holiday Senior Social WEDNESDAY

If you're over 55, you are invited to gather for a merry time at the Holiday Senior Social, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn.

There will be delicious seasonal refreshments and classic holiday music in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

The fee is $10 for residents, $15 for nonresidents. You can click here to register.

Something for your 'honey-do' list: Vote

now to name the District 42 beehive

It's hard to bee-lieve, but it's finally time to pick the winners.

As you know, we've received some amazing suggestions over the last few weeks for our District 42 beehive and its queen. We've narrowed it down to our top five, and now we need your votes to decide the winners.

Hive:

1. Infinit-bee and bee-yond
2. Stayin-a-hive
3. Maybeery
4. Sweet Survivor
5. Comb 42

Queen

1. Gertrude
2. Royal Hiveness
3. Queen Beelizabeth
4. Aunt Bee
5. Beeyonce

We are sponsoring this hive through the City Bee Savers Bee Buddy program. City Bee Savers, based here in DuPage County, is a member of the Illinois Queen Initiative (IQI), which is working to raise healthy honey bees from colonies that are well-suited to Illinois' rigorous climate.

Throughout the summer, the City Bee Savers safely retrieve honey bees from trees, chimneys, and buildings around Illinois and place them in hive boxes. Those bees are then bred to help produce bees that are Illinois-hardy.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their creative name ideas. To vote for your favorite, you can click here. But don't wait – we're announcing the winner next week!

Do you have a great idea to make Illinois even better? Let's talk about it (virtually) TUESDAY

The best – and most important – part of my job is meeting with the great people who live in our district and talking with them about the issues that matter most to our communities. 

That's why I hold regular "Tuesdays with Terra" constituent meetings throughout our district. This month, I'll be talking one-on-one with constituents virtually from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17. 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 connect 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.

Our winter gear drive ends on Monday, so please donate warm coats and gloves

With the temperatures dropping, it's a good time to think of all the people in our community who are vulnerable to the cold. By giving them warm coats and gloves, we can make all the difference in the world to them this winter.

To help keep our neighbors warm, my office is hosting a Winter Gear Drive now through Monday, Dec.16, for students in need and their families. We'll be collecting winter coats, gloves, boots, snow pants and hats to donate to local school districts. Children's winter boots sizes 1 to 7, women's 2XL coats, men's small coats, and hats and gloves of all sizes are particularly needed.

To schedule a time to drop off donations or schedule a porch pick-up, please email reptch42@gmail.com or call 630-812-9292. You can also donate through our Amazon Wishlist and through Target.

Upcoming Events

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

Dec. 20: Winter Solstice Walk from Go Green and the Glen Ellyn Park District, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road

Dec. 20-22: Illinois Libraries Present: Little Women: The Musical, a virtual screening of the 2022 stage recording at the Park Theatre in London

Dec. 31: Glen Ellyn Park District’s Last Chance Burn, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Jan. 1-7: Glen Ellyn Park District’s Fitness Free Week, at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Jan. 4: Naperville Community Job Fair, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive

Jan 11: Frozen Fest, from 10 a.m. to noon at Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn

Jan. 14: Rep. Costa Howard's Mobile DMV, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Jan 17: Arcade Night, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

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