Dear Terra,

There are quite a few busy bees in the district!

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 Bee:

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.

Do you have a great idea to make Illinois even better? Let's talk about it (virtually) on Dec. 17

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.

Get in a holiday mood (and watch ice carving!) at Lights of Lisle SATURDAY

Create some lasting memories with family and friends at the Lights of Lisle on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Downtown Lisle.

Lights of Lisle will feature a tree lighting ceremony, a Santa parade, food and beverage vendors, live ice carving, and more. Luminaria will be lit and on display throughout Downtown Lisle, beginning at 3 p.m. For more information and a list of events, you can click here.

While you're downtown, you can also stop by Once Upon a Christmas, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St. Once Upon a Christmas is hosted by the Lisle Heritage Society and the Lisle Park District.

Lombard Chamber of Commerce launches the first-ever Candy Cane Lane Market SATURDAY

You're invited to join the Lombard Chamber of Commerce for their first-ever Candy Cane Lane Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at South Park Avenue in Downtown Lombard, between St. Charles Road and the Lombard train station.

There will be lots of holiday-themed items for sale, as well as a live Nutcracker performance, festive music, and special appearances by holiday characters.

Admission is free. To learn more, you can click here.

Kids can stroll through Candy Cane Lane in Downers Grove's Lincoln Center SATURDAY

Children aged 3 to 9 are invited to Candy Cane Lane in Downers Grove, on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave. This family-friendly event will include holiday crafts and activities, pictures with Santa, festive snacks, story time with Mrs. Claus, and a special appearance by the Grinch himself!

The event will be an open house, so you can drop in any time from 9 a.m. to noon. Adults must stay to supervise their children, and only two adults per family may attend. To register, you can click here. Please note that children with food allergies may be exposed to allergens.

Meet Jingles the Reindeer and enjoy the Jingle Bell Jubilee in Lombard SATURDAY

Jingles the Reindeer is returning to Lombard! You're invited to meet Jingles and enjoy the sights and sound of the holidays on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Starting at 2 p.m., the Jingle Bell Jubilee will celebrate organizations throughout Lombard. You can take your picture in a wintry photo booth or pick up Holiday Lights glasses (while supplies last) at the Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St.

From 3 to 8 p.m., you can shop and warm up with some hot drinks at Gingerbread Way, a holiday market at the Lombard Historical Society, 23 W. Maple St. Starting at 5:45 pm, you can take a tour of the Victorian Cottage and learn about historic Christmas traditions.

A free trolley will run from from 4:30 to 8:30, with the ceremonial Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave. To learn more and see a schedule of events, you can click here.

Toys for Tots Drive with superheroes, princesses, and more SUNDAY

You can help support the Glen Ellyn Park District Toys for Tots Toy Drive on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road.

The event will include a magical meet-and-greet with superheroes, princesses, and other special characters. Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to brighten the holidays for children in need.

This event is open to all ages; no registration is required. You can click here for more information.

Can't make it to the tree lighting? You can enjoy Lilacia Park's holiday lights until Jan. 1

Even if you can't make it to the tree lighting ceremony, you can still enjoy Lombard Park District’s annual holiday lights display in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave., from Sunday, Dec. 8 through Jan. 1.

Charming holiday displays will illuminate the park from 4:30 to 10 p.m. daily, with magical light shows, tree decorations, a gingerbread house, and more. To see a full schedule of events, you can click here.

Music, books, and gingerbread at Winter Open House at the Wheaton Library SUNDAY

Everyone is welcome to join the Wheaton Public Library as they celebrate the upcoming winter season, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 225 N. Cross St.

The event will include a gingerbread house contest. You can submit your own candy-bedecked creation or just vote on your favorites. (Just make sure you pick up your entry by Dec. 9.)

The Festive Singers will perform classic holiday carols from 2 to 3 p.m. The open house also will feature a model train display and a special Student Craft Holiday Sale. To learn more, you can click here.

Take a few minutes to give to the Glen Ellyn Community Blood and Food Drive TUESDAY

Your donations make a difference! So please take time on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to participate in our Blood and Food Drive with the Kiwanis Club of Central DuPage and the Glen Ellyn Park District. 

We'll be collecting donations of blood and food from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road.

Food items will be donated to the Glen House Food Pantry. Appointments are recommended for blood donations, but walk-ups are welcome.

If you can, please pick up a few extra grocery items this week to donate as well. Your donation can make a real difference in the life of a family struggling to keep food on the table. For more information, you can click here.

Celebrate with our seniors at a special holiday Lunch in Lombard THURSDAY

Local seniors (and their friends and families) are invited to the Lombard Park District's Senior Holiday Lunch, on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road.

There will be a full holiday buffet featuring sliced turkey and glazed baked ham. Holiday music will be provided by the Chorus of DuPage. The luncheon is $10 per person for Lombard residents and $20 per person for others. To register, you can click here.

It's cold and snowy, so please help keep a child warm by donating winter gear

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 through 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.

It's time to go nuts with the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn's Holiday Nut Sale

The Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn's annual Holiday Nut sale is happening now through Dec. 16.

The Kiwanis Club uses all profits from the sale to sponsor and support community organizations, including Glen House Food Pantry, the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center, Glen Ellyn Historical Society, WDSRA (Western DuPage Special Recreation Association), SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education), and ESSE Adult Day Care Services.

You can get an order form and learn more by contacting Penny at plinneweh@comcast.net or visiting the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn website.

Drop off your donations for the Lombard Fire Department's Toy Drive by WEDNESDAY

The Lombard Fire Department is hosting its 23rd Annual Toy Drive, and my office is helping collect donations through Wednesday, Dec. 11. We're collecting new toys (unwrapped), sports equipment, formula, wipes, and diapers to donate to the drive.

The drive will end with the Toy Parade on Main Street, from St. Charles Road to Wilson Avenue, on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Donations will benefit Toy Express and Teen Parent Connection. To schedule a time to drop off donations or a porch pick-up, you can email reptch42@gmail.com or call 630-812-9292. You can also donate through our Amazon Wishlist here. For more information, you can click here.

Upcoming Events

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

Dec. 13: Movie with Santa, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Dec. 14: Holly Jolly Trolley, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road

Dec. 14: Anima - Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus Winter Concert, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, 424 Forest Ave.

Dec. 14: Sports and Fun with Santa, from 10 a.m. to noon at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Dec. 14: Whoville Holiday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Maryknoll Clubhouse, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn

Dec. 14: Winter Wonderment, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lisle Recreation Center, 1925 Ohio Street.

Dec. 18: Glen Ellyn Park District’s Holiday Senior Social, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road

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. 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

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