HARWOOD HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, partnered on a Capitol on Your Corner event to meet residents, discuss legislative priorities and help address state and local issues.

“I appreciate Senator Martwick allowing me to join him at the event so constituents know our offices are striving to be accessible, which is why we chose to go out into the community to meet with residents where they live” said LaPointe. “So much has happened in Springfield this year, and I want residents to be aware of the new changes coming out of the Capitol. I am committed to building a stronger Illinois and middle class, and I look forward to supporting policies that make health care more affordable and provide tax relief for hard-working families.”

At their joint event, both legislators spoke to residents about Illinois’ new balanced budget, property tax reform, the Fair Tax proposal that would provide income tax relief for 99.4% of local taxpayers, the Clean Energy Jobs Act, and their efforts to protect emergency first responders.

LaPointe and Martwick will be hosting an upcoming Environmental Town Hall meeting at the Austin-Irving Library located on 6100 W. Irving Park from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. This event is free and open to the public. 

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, hosted a panel discussion with experts on environmental issues Thursday night to give local residents a chance to ask questions and talk about their environmental concerns.

“Many people want to recycle, but have questions about what objects are and are not recyclable,” Mussman said. “I felt that by having a wide range of experts, we could not only form better recycling habits among residents, but start to tackle some of the more common misconceptions people may have about the recycling process.”

Representative Mussman invited speakers from various environmental organizations to come speak, including the Sierra Club, the Illinois Environmental Council, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, as well as a representative from the Shedd Aquarium. Together, the panel was able to give unique, informed perspectives on good recycling habits, as well as the steps that individuals can take in the community to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize their negative effect on the environment.

“I am grateful for the residents who took time out of their evening to come and listen, as well as the environmental advocates who wanted to share their expertise with the community,” Mussman said. “Environmental issues are very important to me as our planet faces the effects of climate change. I will always put the well-being of my community first, which includes looking out for the environment we all live in.”

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HILLSIDE, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, will host a free Senior and Veteran Resource Fair on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy, located at 8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park.

“It’s critical that lawmakers assist area seniors and veterans in connecting with programs and benefits that are available to them,” Welch said. “There are a lot of programs out there that are meant to give seniors and veterans a helping hand, but not everyone is aware of them. I encourage folks to come by and see what resources they’re eligible for.”

Welch’s free Senior and Veteran Resource Fair will feature two timeslots of activity. From 10 a.m. until noon, residents will be able to meet with various vendors and service providers to answer questions about programs. Additionally, free health screenings and other resources, including free help with drafting wills and estate plans will be available to attendees. The second part of the fair, from noon until 2 p.m. will feature free lunch, bingo and other prizes.

“It’s a top priority of mine to advocate for seniors and veterans,” Welch said. “In addition to supporting policies that protect funding critical programs seniors and veterans rely on, it’s important to me that I connect folks in the area to resources that are available to them. I encourage local seniors and veterans to come by, learn about assistance they are eligible for, and participate in some of the fun activities we have planned.”

CHICAGO – To help local residents find job opportunities, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, recently partnered with Washington Heights Workforce Center to host a hiring fair at his district office in Chicago.

“In our community, there are far too many people who have the skills and ability to be hired but don’t have a job,” said Slaughter. “By partnering with local organizations to host hiring fairs, we can help  residents find  good jobs that will lead to a steady and stable future.”

Slaughter’s event helped connect community members with  job opportunities at agencies such as United Parcel Services (UPS) and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). This hiring event is part of Slaughter’s ongoing Community Careers Initiative, which seeks to address unemployment in the community. For more information on Slaughter’s upcoming events, please call 773-445-9700 or email Justin@RepSlaughter.com.  

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – With the insurance marketplace open enrollment period starting Nov. 1, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is welcoming the Illinois Department of Insurance to present a Get Covered seminar to provide valuable information on how to enroll for health care coverage. The seminar will take place on Oct. 30 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Round Lake Park District Building, located at 814 Hart Rd. in Round Lake.

 “Having quality health insurance is essential to having a healthy life,” said Yingling. “I encourage anyone, even those who currently have health insurance, to attend this seminar and learn what they can do to get the best coverage possible.”

During this past legislative session, Yingling was a supporter of bipartisan legislation that contained many reforms to Medicaid in Illinois, including increasing cost efficiency while still maintaining a high quality of coverage, increasing transparency in claims, and reducing patient barriers to healthcare. In addition, Yingling has taken a stand on recent health issues in the state, including calling for the closing of two facilities in Lake County that emit ethylene oxide, a chemical known to cause cancer in the communities where it is emitted.

“Learning about the different options you may have on the health insurance marketplace can save you time and money, and lead to better coverage,” said Yingling. “I would like to thank the Illinois Department of Insurance for presenting this vital information to my constituents.”

For more information on this event, please call Yingling’s District Office at 847-231-6262 or email repsamyingling@gmail.com.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Committed to meeting with residents of his district, state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is inviting the public to a Coffee and Conversation event on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Panera Bread located at 5 W. Rand Rd. in Arlington Heights.

“With the General Assembly meeting for our fall veto session at the end of the month, my Coffee and Conversation event is an excellent opportunity to meet with me to share your concerns as we take on more legislation,” Walker said. “While the veto session is much shorter than spring session, there are many critical issues that may be addressed, such as climate change, gun control and gambling regulations.”

The Coffee and Conversation event is an informal opportunity for residents to meet with Walker to discuss the issues that matter most to them and any concerns they may have. Additionally, Walker’s office will also be hosting a number of Satellite Office Hours through the rest of the year. Representatives from Walker’s office will be at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, and at the Mount Prospect Public Library Nov. 21 and Dec. 19. All Satellite Office Hours are from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Satellite Office Hours are another opportunity for constituents to express their thoughts about state issues or to receive help with state services.

“Whether it’s a coffee event or our Satellite Office Hours, I’m committed to hosting opportunities to meet with residents,” Walker said. “With a busy spring session and many issues left to address in upcoming sessions, it’s important for everyone to stay involved and informed in the process.”

CASEYVILLE, Ill. – To promote healthy living and increase awareness for public health, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, will be collaborating with local service providers to offer a number of free health services to community members. The event will be Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Caseyville Public Library, located at 419 S. 2nd Street.

“As we head into cooler weather, it is important to keep tabs on our health and wellness,” Stuart said. “This event will provide a multitude of health screenings and consultations that will give attendees a better vision of their health before cold and flu season begins.”

The Springfield Urban league will be at Stuart’s event with a mobile unit outside the library to provide Hepatitis C and HIV screenings. There will also be representatives from SIHF Healthcare to provide blood pressure and glucose screenings, along with diabetes consultations.  The Caseyville Public Library will have free feminine hygiene products available for women and girls that attend Wellness on Wheels. This event is free and open to the public. 

“It is incredible to see our community health service providers step up and offer these screenings for no cost to attendees,” continued Stuart. “I encourage everyone to come and take advantage of these free health services.”

For more information, contact Rep. Stuart’s Constituent Services Office at 618-365-6650 or at RepKatieStuart@gmail.com. 

OTTAWA, Ill. – Working to improve the health and wellbeing of area residents, State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, recently hosted the first of his free Community Health Fairs with OSF Healthcare St. Elizabeth to provide various services and screenings to local residents and families.

“I am working hard to ensure that health care is more affordable and accessible for my community, and I was honored to work with local leaders to offer vital services,” Yednock said. “More than ever, it seems as if most Americans just cannot afford ever-rising health care costs, so I want to support initiatives like these to make health resources more widely available. Even services as simple as screenings and insight into healthy living can help community members better prepare for their short and long-term health care needs.”

AURORA, Ill. – To help residents securely dispose of old documents containing private information, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is co-hosting a free Community Shred Day with KTC Credit Union on Saturday, Oct. 5th from 9 a.m. to noon at the KTC Aurora Branch parking lot, located at 320 E. Indian Trail in Aurora.

“It is extremely important to properly and securely get rid of any documents with personal information on them to protect yourself from identity theft,” said Hernandez. “Confidential information should never just be thrown away in the trash, and I encourage residents to take advantage of this convenient and free method of disposal.” 

Residents can bring any type of document for secure shredding, including outdated financial information, medical and utility bills, receipts, and more. The event will happen in the parking lot of the KTC Credit Union building, where residents can pull up in their cars and documents will be shredded securely on-site. The first 50 cars will receive a free gift. Hernandez and KTC are also encouraging attendees to bring donations for the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry in Aurora. Items needed include canned foods, home cleaning supplies and kitchen garbage bags. Monetary checks are also accepted.

“I am excited to be working with KTC to offer this event for the community,” said Hernandez. “I hope to see residents of my district come and consider donating food to the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, while simultaneously ensuring that their private and sensitive information is protected and properly disposed.”

For more information about this event, please call Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or email RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com. 

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