Dear Terra,

Veterans Day gives us a special opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of the many Veterans who have defended our country.


This weekend and on Monday, you are invited to join your neighbors at these Veterans Day events and ceremonies throughout our communities:

Celebrate Veterans Day by learning about DuPage's "Hometown Heroes of the 745th"


Celebrate Veterans Day with U.S. Army Armor Officer (retired) Steve Fixler as he shares the history of the 745th independent tank battalion, which supported the First Infantry Division during World War II.


Fixler will highlight the heroic stories of the 745th's "Hometown Heroes" on Monday, Nov. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the DuPage County Historical Museum & Wheaton Park District Administration Building, 102 East Wesley St.


Fixler, a volunteer at the First Division Museum in Wheaton's Cantigny Park, will bring along a WWII tanker uniform as well as historic photographs and maps. You can learn more here.

Give to honor those who served as Lombard hosts its annual fall blood drive TUESDAY


The Village of Lombard will host its annual fall blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in honor of Veterans Day.


The event also recognizes former Village President Bill Mueller, who passed away in 2012.


The blood drive will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in a special van parked on the lower level of Yorktown Center outside Von Maur, and from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at First Church of Lombard, 220 S. Main St.



For more information, you can visit here or contact Executive Coordinator Carol Bauer at (630) 620-5712.

Start celebrating the season at the Holiday Book and Art Sale at the Wheaton library


Start your holiday shopping early! The Friends Holiday Book & Art Sale is open today through Sunday, Nov. 10, in the Arts & Culture Center on the main floor of the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St.


This sale features like-new books, as well autographed editions, collectibles, Christmas items, art prints, and gifts. The sale will be open today until 9 p.m., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow (Friday), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10.


Cash, checks, credit and debit cards are accepted. All money raised directly benefits the library. To learn more, you can click here.

B-I-N-G-O in Glen Ellyn TOMORROW night


Enjoy an evening of bingo, pizza, and prizes tomorrow (Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. at 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.


There will be several bingo rounds, with prizes including gift cards and candy awarded at the end of each round.


Bingo is open to all ages; children ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required. Bingo cards are $1 each. To learn more, you can click here.

Sorry, squirrels! There are four more pumpkin smash events SATURDAY


Do you still have a rather sad-looking pumpkin or two on your front porch?


Don't trash your squishy pumpkins – smash them instead at one of these pumpkin smash events this Saturday, Nov. 9:

Recycle electronics, reusable medical equipment in Wheaton SATURDAY


The City of Wheaton will offer its monthly recycling event on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Public Works Storage Yard, 820 W. Liberty Drive.


The event will include a special collection for reusable medical equipment, such as canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs, as well as eyeglasses and hearing aids.


Items accepted for recycling include electronics (fee charged for TVs and monitors), scrap metal, clothing and shoes, cooking oil, and fluorescent tube bulbs. To find out more about accepted items, please visit here.

Yard sign recycling in DuPage County


The DuPage County Environmental Committee is accepting corrugated plastic and cardboard signs for recycling at no cost.


You can drop off signs on Friday, Nov. 15, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the DuPage County campus, 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton.


Please note that only corrugated plastic and cardboard signs will be accepted. Metal stands must be separated from signs prior to drop off.


If you have questions, you can contact the County at 630-407-6700 or email recycle@dupagecounty.gov. For more information on DuPage County recycling events, you can click here.

Don't sit home in the cold this winter! Utility assistance applications open now


The State of Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers financial assistance for utility bills to low-income families.


All households with incomes lower than double the federal poverty level are eligible for the program. Households with higher family incomes may also be eligible; you can find more information at the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.


Community action agencies – the local organizations that administer LIHEAP – accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis, now through the middle of August. Applications will close earlier if funds run out, so don't delay!


For more information and details on how to apply, you can click here.

Need a little Christmas? Downers Grove is looking for your handmade ornaments


Feeling crafty? You're invited to take part in Downers Grove's beloved tradition by creating a handmade ornament for the holiday tree at the Main Street Train Station.


Ornaments representing various community groups, businesses and individuals make the Village's tree uniquely charming.


Please submit your ornament by Nov. 22. For more information, you can click here.

BEE creative – but don't BEE late! It's time to help us name the District 42 Bee Hive


To bee, or not to bee? That one's easy!


We're official Super Sweet Bee Buddy Members! That means we're sponsoring a City Bee Savers beehive, on behalf of District 42. Now we need to pick a great name for our hive and its queen bee.


City Bee Savers 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.


If you have some creative ideas to name our hive and its queen, you can click here. (Puns are DEFINITELY encouraged.) We'll select the top five and then let you vote to pick the name. (Just BEE polite with your suggestions, please!)

We're collecting donations for the Lombard Fire Department's Toy Drive and Parade


The Lombard Fire Department is hosting its 23rd Annual Toy Drive from now through Dec. 13, and my office is helping collect new toys (unwrapped), sports equipment, formula, wipes, and diapers to donate to the drive.


The drive will end with a Toy Parade on Main Street, from St. Charles Road to Wilson Avenue, on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. Residents are invited to participate and help spread holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys and baby supplies to help local families in need.


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.

Don't delay! Get your tickets for the Morton Arboretum's amazing Illumination today!


If you haven't seen the Morton Arboretum's winter light show, Illumination, you're missing something special.


The event, which runs from Nov. 16 to Jan 4, features dazzling displays of lights and music that highlight the beauty of trees in winter.


This year's show includes a new light display, Celebration Circle, in the Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden. It features four illuminated installations that move in sync with different instruments, to create a symphony of moving light. Special events also include IllumiBrew, Electric Illumination, and Illumination Sensory Evening. You can get tickets here.

Upcoming Events


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


Nov. 19: Glen Ellyn Blood and Food Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road


Nov. 22: Kids Night Out in Lisle, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gentle Learning Preschool, 1925 Ohio St.


Nov. 27: Wing It Turkey Shootout Free Throw Challenge, from 10 a.m. to noon at Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave.


Nov. 28: Glen Ellyn Park District's Turkey Burn, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road


Nov. 28: Turkey Trot 4-Mile Run, at 8 a.m. at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road in Glen Ellyn


Nov. 29-Dec. 25: Starry Night Windows in Downtown Glen Ellyn.


Nov. 30-Dec. 22: Santa is Coming to Downtown Glen Ellyn, on Saturdays and Sundays at his Glen Ellyn weekend house off Main Street


Dec. 7: Candy Cane Lane Market from 4 to 8 p.m. at South Park Ave in Downtown Lombard, between St. Charles Road and the Lombard Train Station


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
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IL State Representative | 913 S Main | Lombard, IL 60148 US

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