Dear Terra,

From now through April 30, my office is collecting essential items for Teen Parent Connection in Glen Ellyn. We're collecting diapers (especially in need of size 4), baby wipes, adult body wash, sunscreen and toothbrushes for kids, and toothpaste.

Teen Parent Connection is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young families and creating the best possible start for young mothers, young fathers, and their babies.

Serving families throughout DuPage County, Teen Parent Connection offers an array of 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, a Parent's Pantry and more. 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.

Calling all lifeguards! Come to the Glen Ellyn Park District Aquatics Job Fair TUESDAY

If you're looking for a summer job, you love to swim, and you're at least 15 years old, you should check out the Glen Ellyn Park District's Aquatics Job Fair, on Tuesday, April 8 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road.

Applicants ranging from high schoolers to senior adults can learn about the District’s open summer positions at Sunset Pool and interview on the spot with hiring managers. No registration is required for this free event. To learn more, you can click here.

'Engines Off!' Clean Air Initiative in Glen Ellyn seeks to reduce engine idling near schools

Those long lines of cars waiting to pick up children after school may be putting kids' health at risk. When you sit in your parked car with the engine running, your vehicle emits exhaust fumes that have been linked to increases in asthma, allergies, heart and lung disease, and cancer. 

Air monitoring tests have shown that level of pollutants increase significantly during afternoon pick-up.

You can help to keep the air cleaner (and save gas) by joining the “Engines Off for Kids’ Health” campaign, led by the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn (LWVGE). They're teaming with local schools and community groups this spring to reduce the amount of air pollution produced by idling car engines in school car lines.

The campaign asks parents or other caregivers in the car line to turn their vehicles off if they need to wait more than 10 seconds to pick up children. Better yet, you and your children can walk or bike to schools. You also can cut down on car exhausts by carpooling or using buses as much as possible.

For more information on the campaign, you can click here.

Naperville invites local teens to submit original work for display near high schools

The City of Naperville is asking for submissions to turn streetlight controller boxes into display spaces for original works by local teen artists.

Naperville high school students are invited to submit digital versions of their work, which will be wrapped around six utility boxes near Naperville North and Naperville Central high schools.

Any type of artwork may be submitted (such as painting, mixed media, digital illustration); designs should flow visually across all four sides of the box. There is no cost to submit a design, and the City will handle printing and installation.

Submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, April 30. Artwork should be emailed to City Clerk Dawn Portner at portnerd@naperville.il.us, along with the artist’s name, age, school, and contact information. For more information, you can click here.

Does your small business need more capital funds? Apply by MONDAY for a DCEO grant

If you're a small business owner in need of capital funds, you have until 5 p.m. Monday, April 7, to apply for a Small Business and Infrastructure Grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Grants are intended to provide small business with capital resources that can be used for infrastructure improvements, acquisition of essential equipment, or purchase of new property.

Eligible applicants include businesses owned by Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) with a maximum of 25 full-time permanent employees OR Very Small Businesses (VSB) with less than 10 employees. To apply, you can click here.

Young photographers can compete for scholarships with snapshots of Illinois ag

The Illinois State Treasurer's office has launched its 13th annual Cream of the Crop photo contest, offering students aged 8 to 18 an opportunity to share their visions of Illinois agriculture.

Students are invited to submit their best scenic snapshots that express their vision of agriculture in our state through every season. Top winners in each of the contest’s three age groups will receive Bright Start scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000. To submit a photo and learn more, you can click here.

See the work of our amazing young artists in Downtown Glen Ellyn this month

One Community, a Glen Ellyn-based initiative to promote diversity and inclusion, is partnering with Glenbard West High School and downtown Glen Ellyn businesses to showcase student artwork through the Diversity Arts Project.

These works by 21 student artists will be on display in the Glen Ellyn Central Business District throughout April. To learn more about this project, you can click here.

Catch the wave! Bring your creativity to Lisle to support COD's Hokusai exhibit

This summer, the College of DuPage will present "Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World," an exhibit of works by some of the great masters of Japanese art.

To celebrate the exhibit and the creativity of our own local artists, the Lisle Library District is joining forces with the Village and local businesses to create a Hokusai event that will include public art on throughout the village.

Right now, the Library is seeking volunteers to paint Hokusai-themed banners for Downtown Lisle. They're hosting a community art project program at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, in the main meeting rooms of the Library, at 777 Front St. Art supplies and refreshments will be provided. You can register here – but don't delay, as space is limited.

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.

Upcoming Events

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

Apr. 10: Adult Easter Egg Hunt, at 7 p.m. at Lisle Community Park South Shelter, 1800 Short St.

Apr. 10: Bubbly Bunny Egg Hunt, (age 21 and up) from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn

Apr. 11: EGGciting Family Night, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave. in Wheaton.

Apr. 11: Talent and Opportunity Expo, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Physical Education Center (PEC) at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn

Apr. 12: Superhero 3K Fun Run, at 8:30 a.m. at Sensory Garden Playground, 2751 Navistar Drive in Lisle

Apr. 12: Hopper Cottontail and Friends Hoppy Party, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn

Apr. 12: Wheaton Recycling Extravaganza, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. All vehicles entering this event must enter from County Farm Road (505 N. County Farm Road) using the main DuPage County Government Center entrance

Apr. 12: Easter Egg Hunt (ages 10 and under), at 9:30 a.m. at Lisle Community Park Bandshell,1825 Short St.

Apr. 15: Glen Ellyn Park District's Blood Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Apr. 15: Grandparents and Me Day of Bingo, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road

Apr. 15: Lombard's Spring Blood Drive, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the lower level of Yorktown Shopping Center, outside of Von Maur, and then from 1:30 to 7:00 p.m. at First Church of Lombard Fellowship Hall, 220 S. Main Street

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 Rd 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

May 7: B.R. Ryall YMCA Annual Meeting and Champions Dinner, at 5:30 p.m. at Abbington Distinctive Banquets, S002 Route 53 Corner of 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,

Terra Costa Howard

State Representative 

42nd District

913 S. Main St.

Lombard, IL 60148

(630) 812-9292