Dear Stephanie,

I hope this message finds you well. Today, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as we will gather to honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Herschel Luckinbill, a remarkable US Navy Veteran and beloved resident of Montgomery, IL. Herschel's unwavering dedication to his country, his fellow veterans, and our community has left an indelible mark on so many of us.

I am honored to invite you all to join us at the road dedication ceremony today, where Route 30 from Douglas Road to River Road will officially bear the name "Herschel Luckinbill Road." This dedication is a lasting tribute to Herschel's selfless service and his commitment to improving the lives of others. Rain or shine, we will come together at 2 p.m. in the Jewel parking lot at the intersection of Route 30 and Douglas Road in Oswego to celebrate Herschel's remarkable journey.

Your presence at this meaningful event will not only pay homage to Herschel's extraordinary contributions but also demonstrate our community's unity and strength. I extend my heartfelt invitation to each one of you, as we join together to celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. I look forward to seeing you there.

I hope you are able to get out this weekend and enjoy autumn in Illinois, one of my favorite seasons. Did you know that Illinois farmers grow more pumpkins than anywhere else in the world? Over 85% of the world's canned pumpkin is processed in Morton, Illinois! I know I spend all year looking forward to apple picking, corn maizes, and pumpkin patches, and there is no better place to enjoy those activities than right here in our great state!

Take Care and Be Well,

P.S. Please reach out to our office if you need assistance at (630) 585-1308 or send me an email.

TODAY: If you are in the area, please consider joining us this afternoon as we honor our dear friend and community leader, US Navy Veteran Herschel Luckinbill.

This week I visited the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago, an urban, open-concept home offering person centered care delivered by medical professionals and staff dedicated to enhancing the lives of veterans. It was a pleasure to meet the staff and residents there, and to take a tour of the facilities! Residents have access to so may great amenities like a library, barber shop, bank, an IDVA Veterans Service Officer and beautiful outdoor and indoor gathering spaces.

I also joined the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) as they celebrated Manufacturing Month at the Aurora stop of their 8-day "Makers on the Move" bus tour. We rode the bus to the Freudenberg Household Products manufacturing facility and together recognized the importance of the manufacturing industry to our community and state!

Did you know that traffickers use social media, video games, virtual chatrooms, and other digital platforms to target potential victims? Even seemingly harmless online interactions can be weaponized for exploitation. Staying cyber aware is the best line of defense you have against exploitative situations online, including those that can lead to human trafficking.

4 Things You Can Do To Keep Yourself Cyber Safe

1. Use strong passwords: Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.

2. Turn on Multifactor Identification: You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling Multifactor Identification makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable Multifactor Identification on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.

3. Recognize & Report Phishing: Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.

4. Update Software: Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.

the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is launching a paid trainee program to build a pipeline of tech talent to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals and diversify the agency’s workforce.

City Colleges of Chicago and Lincoln Land Community College will host training sites while participants earn $54k salaries

Trainees will receive a minimum yearly salary of $54,000 from DoIT while pursuing tracks in one of five high-need concentration areas: cybersecurity, networking, coding and database, end user computing and enterprise infrastructure. Additional tracks will be added as the program grows.

Applicants should apply online at DoIT.illinois.gov. There will be two recruitment events:

• Friday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City College’s Harold Washington campus in Chicago OR
• Tuesday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kreher Building at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.

Prospective applicants can email DoIT.Recruitment@illinois.gov with application questions.

This Year's CUPS Bra Drive was a Success!

Thank you to everyone who donated your new and gently used bras for the annual CUPS (A Commitment to Uplift with Purpose and Service) Bra Drive!

Our office collected a total of 76 bras that will be donated to Hesed House, Mutual Ground, and other organizations where they will be used by women in need.

To learn how to get involved, or to make additional donations, visit CupsBraDrive.com

Watch the most recent Coffee Chat on Facebook!

Or, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts 🎧!

I continue to host Monday Morning Coffee live via Facebook at 9:00am-10:00am where you can post your comments and questions.

I realize not everyone has Facebook. The good news is that you can still participate. If you would like to join us on Monday mornings, you can join in via ZOOM! Once connected via ZOOM, you'll be able to interact just as if you were on Facebook. Don't worry you will not be on live - your video feed and mic will be muted.

The ZOOM link will be emailed to everyone separately for Monday morning participation.

If you would like to join us, please email Michelle@ILDistrict84.com or call the

office at 630.585.1308.