Dear Terra,

Most of you probably don’t know it, but I worked for Addison Park District when I was a teenager, as a lifeguard at the district pool. 

I have to tell you – just about everything I ever needed to know as a state legislator, I learned as a lifeguard.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that you need to show up when people are counting on you. If the lifeguard isn’t there, they can’t open the pool. 

In Springfield, you have to show up physically. But you also have to show up in a more fundamental way – standing up for the people you represent and the things that are most important to them, that make their lives better. For my constituents, that means making sure our parks and programs get the support they need from the State of Illinois.

Honestly, it's a joy to work with our park districts. Every day, they make our District a better place by making sure that our beautiful parks and our great recreation programs are available and accessible to everyone.

So I'm very proud to have been honored as an Illinois Association of Park Districts’ Legislator of the Year! The award was announced at a luncheon last Friday, where I got to spend time with a number of wonderful park district leaders, including Lombard Parks' recently retired Executive Director, Paul Friedrich, Lisle's Director of Parks & Recreation, Dan Garvy, and Wheaton Parks' Executive Director, Mike Benard (as shown in the photo above.)



Many thanks to our great park districts and their wonderful staffs!

Celebrate National Unclaimed Property Day by checking your name on I-Cash

Feb. 1 is National Unclaimed Property Day, which reminds everyone to check state databases for unclaimed or forgotten assets. Here in Illinois, we're highlighting the I-Cash program, where you can search for unclaimed cash or other property.

You can celebrate National Unclaimed Property Day by checking for yourself and your loved ones here. It is as simple as filling in a few boxes, and you may be pleasantly surprised by what you find!

Get ready for Valentine's Day with Tri-Town YMCA's Share your Heart

Want to support a great organization and give your sweetie (or yourself) a Valentine's Day treat? Tri-Town YMCA is offering heart-shaped pizzas and chocolate bear piñatas – and two lucky piñatas will include a $100 cash prize!

But don't delay. Orders must be placed by midnight tomorrow (Friday.)

Proceeds from the Share Your Heart with Tri-Town YMCA fundraiser will support their scholarship program for local children and other important programs. You can pick up your order on Friday, Feb. 9 at 136 S Cornell Ave. in Villa Park. To learn more and place your order, please click here.

It may be above freezing, but Downtown Downers Grove's Ice Fest starts TOMORROW

Looking for somewhere to chill out after a long workweek? Downtown Downers Grove's annual Ice Festival will kick off tomorrow (Friday) with an ice carving demonstration from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the corner of Main and Curtiss.

This weekend, you can enjoy ice carving demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Main Street Train Station. While you're there, make sure to stop in at your favorite boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. 

You can click here to learn more. The Ice Festival flyer and map of ice sculptures can be found here.

Enjoy Winter Fest in Lombard SATURDAY

Don’t let cabin fever give your family the winter blues. Enjoy a FREE afternoon of frozen winter fun from 1:30 to 4 p.m. this Saturday (Feb. 3) at the Lombard Park District's Winter Fest at Sunset Knoll Recreation Center, 820 S. Finley Road.

This indoor/outdoor event will offer hot chocolate, games, crafts, and demonstrations of dog sledding and ice carving. For more information, you can click here.

State grants are available to help make our communities healthier and safer

If you or your organization are working to help make our communities healthier and safer, you may qualify for one of these grants available through the State of Illinois:

• 24-1503-13 Illinois Cycle Rider Safety Training Program (Regions A & B): Responsible for the development and implementation of motorcycle safety training programs and associated projects designed to reduce the frequency and severity of motorcycle crashes in the State.
• Sickle Cell Prevention, Care and Treatment: Providing the prevention, care and treatment of sickle cell disease and for educational programs concerning the disease.
• Planning Phase: Increasing School Health Centers: The goal of this opportunity is to increase the number of certified, operational school health centers across Illinois. This grant is designed to provide interested agencies a mechanism to gage the interest of the community for establishing a local school health center, and to research and obtain all necessary project planning components.
• Charitable Trust Grant: Created in 2007 to help small non-profits across Illinois. Charitable Trust is intended to help small non-profits with annual budgets of $1 million or less. Grant applicants located in an area where pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress exist will be given special attention

If you ever have a question about state grants, please contact my office at reptch42@gmail.com or 630-812-9292.

DuPage Care Center fundraiser to send Valentine wishes to Center residents

Would you like to make Valentine's Day a little sweeter for a local senior or someone with a disability? For a $5 donation, you can send a bright, cheerful helium balloon to a DuPage Care Center resident.

Volunteers and staff will deliver the balloons to Center residents on Feb. 14, brightening their day and bringing lots of smiles along the way.

Donation for balloons will be accepted through Feb. 10. You may send a check to DuPage Care Center, attn: Valentine Balloons, 400 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, or order online at dpccfoundation.org.

Balloon sales will support the Resident Recreation Fund, which provides programs and activities to improve the quality of life for Center residents. For more information, you can click here or contact Linda Gray at (630) 784-4303 or linda.gray@dupagecounty.gov.

Valentine's Day Pop-Up Market in Lisle SATURDAY

Looking for a special gift for a loved one this Valentine’s Day? The Lisle Indoor Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market has you covered! Just stop by on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Park District Recreation Center, at 1925 Ohio St.

This pop-up market showcases local artisans, delectable treats, and thoughtful gifts that are perfect for that special someone.

For more information, contact Paula_Gleason@Yahoo.com.

Slide on down to Ice-A-Palooza in Wheaton SATURDAY

You're invited to join the Wheaton Park District for skating, entertainment, a food truck, character visits on Saturday, Feb. 3. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Athletic Complex, 500 S. Naperville Road.

The event will include a hockey game pitting the Wheaton Police Department against the Wheaton Fire Department. To learn more and see a full schedule of events, you can click here.

Public stargazing in Naperville SATURDAY

You're invited to view the wonders of the heavens through the Naperville Astronomical Association's observatory telescopes and through members' personal scopes, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Association's Astronomy Education Center, 3712 Plainfield-Naperville Road in Naperville.

These events, which are free to the public, are only held on clear nights. The go-or-cancel notice should be displayed on the calendar and on the NAA homepage by 2 p.m. the day of the event. You can click here for more information.

Have a heart and donate to the Lombard Community Blood Drive on TUESDAY

The Lombard Park District will host a blood drive from 2:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Lombard Community Building Commons, 433 E. St. Charles Road.

Please make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.

To make an appointment, you can click here. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Join my (virtual) Town Hall TUESDAY

To let you know what we're working on, and to get your input on your top legislative priorities for our communities, I'll be hosting a virtual Town Hall from Springfield at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Throughout my years as your State Representative, I've made it a priority to listen to my constituents and advocate for the issues that matter most to you. So I hope you'll take time to join us on Feb. 6, share your ideas, and ask questions about state and local issues.

You can register for my town hall here. If you'd like to submit a question in advance, please send it to reptch42@gmail.com. I look forward to (virtually) seeing you there!

Learn 'Silver CPR' in Naperville on Feb. 8

When someone has a heart attack, seconds count – and it's never to late to learn how to save a life.

The Naperville Senior Task Force is inviting seniors to take the Silver CPR class, designed to teach basic CPR, proper use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED), and choking intervention. 

Silver CPR classes are free to participants and are taught in a relaxed setting by Naperville Fire Department paramedics. The classes follow newer guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, using compression-only CPR with no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 

The next Silver CPR classes are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the A. George and Patricia Pradel Safety Town of Naperville, 1320 Aurora Ave. Click here to register for the 10 a.m. class or here to register for 12:30 p.m.

Donate new or gently used winter wear to Lisle's Hat, Glove, Scarf, and Socks Drive

From now through Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Lisle Police Department and organizations throughout the Village are partnering with the Rotary Club of Lisle by collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for the homeless.

There is a collection box in the vestibule area near the Police Department lobby that's open 24/7. You can also drop off donations at any of the locations listed in the graphic at right.

Please only donate the specified items in new or gently used condition.

High School Seniors are encouraged to apply for the Township Officials of IL Scholarship

Do you know a promising high school senior who's planning to attend college here in Illinois? Make sure they know about the Township Officials of Illinois Scholarship Fund, which offers scholarships of up to $2,000.

Applications are due March 1, 2024. To apply, students must provide a high school transcript, two letters of recommendation, and a cover letter. Students also must write a 500-word essay on "The Role of Township Government in Today’s Society and in the Future", based on a personal interview with an elected township official.

You can download the application here. If you have any questions, you can contact the TOI at 217-744-2212 or kayla@toi.org. Don't delay, as the application must be complete and turned in on March 1.

Upcoming Events

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

Feb. 9: Getting Started on Medicare, a free class from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove

Feb. 9-11: Glen Ellyn Park District's Hunt for the Hearts from 5 to 8 p.m. Solve clues to find hearts hidden throughout our parks that can be traded in for prizes at Spring Avenue Recreation Center.

Feb. 10: &Rise's 5th Annual Galentine's Brunch: Loving your Authentic Self from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 837 S. Westmore Ave., Lombard

Feb. 11: Downers Grove Park District's Arctic Adventures from 10 to 11 a.m. at Lyman Woods, 901 31st St.

Feb. 19: Glen Ellyn Park District's Magic Show from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave.

Feb. 21; Blood and Food Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ackerman SFC, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn

Feb. 23: Bags and Brews Tournament from 6 to 10 p.m. at Ackerman SFC, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn

Mar. 1: Glen Ellyn Park District's Job Fair from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave.

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