Dear Terra,

We're buzzing with excitement!

We have selected the winning names for our beehive and queen bee! Stayin' A-Hive won with 28.6% of the vote, and Queen Beelizabeth received 38.1%.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your creative name ideas and vote for your favorites. We'll be sure to keep you updated on the District 42 bee hive!

We are sponsoring our 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.

Renew your driver's license at my Mobile DMV in Glen Ellyn on Jan. 14

I'm bringing the mobile driver services unit to our community on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.

Employees from the Secretary of State's Office will be there to renew your driver's license or state ID, issue your vehicle license plate sticker, and register you as an organ donor. (Please note that mobile license renewals are available only for drivers aged 74 and under.)

These services are available by appointment. To sign up for your time slot, or if you have any questions, please reach out to my office at reptch42@gmail.com or 630-812-9292.

Celebrate the winter solstice with a walk around Lake Glen Ellyn TOMORROW

Give yourself a break from the busy holiday season and take a peaceful walk around Lake Ellyn to celebrate the longest night of the year tomorrow (Friday), from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road.

Step inside the Boathouse for a warm drink and hear about the science behind the winter solstice. The solstice walk is co-hosted by Glen Ellyn Park District and Go Green Glen Ellyn. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. You can click here to register and learn more.

Stroll down the Peppermint Path in Lisle, now through New Year's Eve

From now through Dec. 31, you can take a walk through the sparkling lights on the Peppermint Path, near Van Kampen Stage in Lisle Community Park, 1800 Short St.

The path, which includes a self-guided "Snow Stroll" through festive photo ops and lighted displays, is open from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information, you can click here.

Enjoy a special Children's Christmas Tour of Lombard's Historical Society SATURDAY

Children are invited to help the Lombard Historical Society solve the caper of the missing Christmas Crackers from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 23 W. Maple St.

The young holiday detectives will help solve clues about where the Christmas Crackers have been hidden, and they'll get to take home their very own crackers!

The tour of the Victorian Cottage is designed for children ages 4 to 12. The cost is $5 per child; adults are free. Adults are required to stay during the tour.

Please note that space is limited. Children and adults are required to reserve a space as well. You can click here to get tickets and learn more.

Meet the Grinch in Lisle SUNDAY

The Lisle Lions Club and BaseCamp are hosting a meet-and-greet with the green man himself – the Grinch!

Everyone is invited to stop by to snap a photo with with the Grinch on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BaseCamp Pub and Eatery, 5750 Lakeside Drive.

There is no charge to meet the Grinch. (Apparently his heart remains three sizes bigger.) Food and drinks will be available for purchase. To learn more, you can click here.

Get presents wrapped by talented teens – free! – at Wheaton's Holiday Wrap-a-thon SUNDAY

Are you all thumbs when it comes to wrapping gifts? The Wheaton Public Library and its Teen Volunteers are ready to help, with their first-ever Holiday Wrap-a-thon on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the Arts & Culture Center at the Library, 225 N. Cross Street.

No registration is required. Just stop by with your gifts (please limit to 10 large or 15 small gifts), and volunteers will wrap, trim, and decorate your presents. To learn more, you can click here.

Watch Little Women: The Musical at home TOMORROW through SUNDAY

Illinois Libraries Present is offering free, at-home virtual screenings of Little Women: The Musical, starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) through midnight Sunday, Dec. 22.

Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of four sisters growing up in 19th-century Massachusetts was recorded in 2022 during the London run of this acclaimed production. To register, you can click here. You will receive an email with a special link to the recording, which you can watch at any time over the weekend.

Illinois Libraries Present is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to sharing resources to produce events for its 200-plus member libraries, which include Glen Ellyn, Helen M. Plum, and Lisle public libraries.

Need someone to talk to? Stay connected through AgeGuide's Friendly Phone calls

The holidays can be hard for people who feel lonely or isolated. If you just want someone to talk to, AgeGuide's Friendly Phone calls program can help.

Participants will be connected with someone with similar interests to talk on the phone, and maybe even make new friends. For more information, you can call AgeGuide at 800-528-2000

D-26! D-26! You can play family Bingo at Helen Plum Library in Lombard on Dec. 26

Everyone's invited to drop by the Helen Plum Library on Thursday, Dec. 26, for Family Bingo, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 411 S. Main St. in Lombard.

This is a drop-in event for families with children of all ages. For more information, you can click here.

End the year on a healthy note with Last-Chance Burn in Glen Ellyn on Dec. 31

Jumpstart your New Year's resolutions and help make hunger history on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.

Head to Ackerman SFC for a morning of group fitness classes. The only “fee” to participate is a donation of a non-perishable food item or toiletry. Donations will benefit the Glen House Food Pantry. No registration required. To learn more, you can click here.

Upcoming Events

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

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. 16: League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn's State of the Village, at 7 p.m. at the Glen Ellyn Police Station, 65 S. Park Blvd. Doors open at 6:45 pm.

Jan. 17: Mad Fore Plaid Mini Golf, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N Cross St.

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

Jan. 18: Snowball Slam 3v3 Basketball Tournament, at 8 a.m. at the Downers Grove Park District Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Road

Jan. 18: Glen Ellyn Preschool Open House, from 9 a.m. to noon at Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave.

Jan. 21: Glen Ellyn Community Blood and Food Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road

Jan. 25: Family Building Day, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lisle Recreation Center (MP Room 1 & 2), 1925 Ohio St.

Jan. 25: Grandparent and Me Winter Tea, from 10 to 11:15 a.m at Maryknoll Clubhouse, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn

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