September 2023

Hello Neighbor!

With kids back in school and Fall in the air, it’s hard not to think about the upcoming holidays and all the activities that come with it. It’s that time of year when schedules seem to be even busier, and the frenzy of activity mirrors mother nature: squirrels storing away food for the winter and bees buzzing furiously to get the last drops of nectar before they go into a long slumber. The same is true for our office. Even though I no longer have school-age kids, I am proud of my four staff members who returned to school for their fall semesters. Emily is at Crystal Lake South High School for her senior year. Alexis started her freshman year at Elgin Community College. Ozzy and John are both political science majors at Northern Illinois University. I feel the same excitement for them as I did for my kids when they were younger.

I also ended the summer with a few to-do items that were important to me. Two weeks ago, I hosted a roundtable discussion on Independent Contractors vs. W-2 Employees. The goal was to have a conversation highlighting the many ways people work. There is no one-size-fits-all all. It is an important topic, especially for smaller businesses that often get their start as independent contractors. We had local entrepreneurs present, the chair of the labor committee, my colleague, Leader Marcus Evans, and representatives from the Department of Labor, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the statewide union organization. There were even a few members from National freelance advocacy groups. The conversation was enlightening and informative, especially as I look into fall legislation. If you are interested in this topic, please reach out to me to be included in the discussion.

I am also excited to introduce my new District Director, Denise W. Haugk. Denise lives in Lake in the Hills and has served in many positions that make her a perfect fit for the job. As a working parent, she understands many of the issues that affect families in our district, and her organizing skills will help us continue to deliver for our district!

Look for more programming in the fall and winter as we seek to provide more educational opportunities for our communities to not just survive but thrive. Stop by and say hello when you get the chance. I’ve enjoyed walking through the district and saying hello to my neighbors. I hope to meet you soon, either at your door or at an event in our wonderful district!

Sincerely,  Suzanne

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

The General Assembly was in recess, so there was not much activity in Springfield, but District 66 had various events and opportunities connecting constituents and myself with the legislative process! From Legislative Tours to Policy-related discussions, we were active in discussing issues that affect our district, our families, and our students. To begin this section, we will start with one of my favorite parts of my position: constituent walking!

Constituent Walking

In the past weeks, I’ve been spending time walking in neighborhoods and knocking on doors to talk with constituents about issues they care the most about. I hope to meet more of you in the near future. We will be providing information on my upcoming events and resources that are available for you.

Suzanne’s Town Hall

I hosted my town hall in Algonquin! It was an incredible opportunity to connect and hear from my constituents. Kane County Chairwoman Corinne Michelle Pierog also joined me in my legislative update, providing useful information about Kane County. It was a great informative session, and I thank everyone who joined in.

Legislative Tour at Maryville

A group of legislators and myself were provided an informative legislative tour at Maryville. It was inspiring to see how this organization positively affects the lives of adolescents.

Fox Valley Credit Unions Annual Legislative Breakfast

I attended the Legislative Breakfast at Sherman Hospital and I appreciated seeing other elected officials at the event, State Senator Don DeWitte, State Senator Karina Villa, and Tish Powell, Elgin City Councilwoman.

Things I did not know about Sherman Hospital: Most socially responsible hospital in Illinois, master gardener and composter status, and the lowest vacancy rate of nurses in the Advocacy health system.

Well done, Advocate Sherman Hospital!

Fox Valley Credit Unions Annual Legislative Breakfast

I spoke at the Fox Valley Credit Union’s annual Legislative breakfast alongside my colleagues, State Representative Dan Ugaste, State Representative Anna Moeller, State Senator Don DeWitte, and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Thank you for having us!

NCSL Legislative Conference

I had my first conference with state legislators in Indianapolis. I attended sessions about the different ways to encourage economic development, the role that A.I. is going to play, ways to get more recycling to the people that can turn it into usable material, and most importantly, I participated in a vote to elect my colleague, State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. as the Vice President of NCSL for next year. We represented well on the executive board, which includes Senator Cristina Castro. It was time well spent.

Independent Contracting Roundtable

I hosted a roundtable discussion with independent workers in my district.

Thank you to everyone who attended; it was a productive discussion, and I’m looking forward to more! Thank you to all who participated, especially my colleagues, Leader Representative Marcus C. Evans and Tom Weber.

SUZANNE’S COMMUNITY EVENTS

Please take a moment to look at my upcoming events for the year!

This allows the community to connect with our office. We encourage constituents to stop by and say hello, share ideas, or speak with me on topics that interest you.

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

Thank you for being part of our team, Shyler!

It was truly a pleasure to have Shyler from Crystal Lake South High School shadow me in our office. Shyler participated in Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton’s Girls Lead pilot program. Shyler joined our team meetings, and our Youth Advisory Council and volunteered at the D300 food pantry and the Crystal Lake concert series. She researched environmental issues to present to our Youth Advisory Meeting, and provided great ideas to solve plastic bag waste. I fully supported this pilot program, and we truly enjoyed having Shyler in our office.

Back to School

Now that my kids are grown, I don’t get to post the first day of school photos. Instead, I proudly share the four of my staff, Ozzy, John, Alexis, and Emily, who went back to school! We know you are going to have a great year!

D300 Food Pantry ‘Back to School’ Supply Drive Volunteering

My office and I had a fun time volunteering at the D300 Food Pantries “Back to School” Drive. We helped students pick supplies for their upcoming 2023-2024 school year. We also donated backpacks and school supplies for the event.

What a great event to help set students up for success in their academic year!

Carpentersville National Night Out

My staff and I had a great evening at National Night Out!

What an exciting way to engage the community in law enforcement. We handed out free popsicles and a chance to win museum passes for the city of Chicago! Congratulations to Maria Avina and her family for winning the museum passes; they visited the Botanical Garden, Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, and Brookfield Zoo.

Crystal Lake Concert

We enjoyed being out in the community at the Crystal Lake concert handing out popsicles and meeting our constituents. Always a fun time!

AgeGuide Fitness Program for Senior Service Associates

I had a great time participating in an AgeGuide fitness program at a Senior Services Associates office in Crystal Lake. I would like to thank AgeGuide for inviting me to experience one of their programs in action. Thank you to US Rep. Jan Schakowsky, State Rep. Steve Reick, and Carolyn Shofield from State Senator Don Dewitte’s office for joining me.

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE MONTH

Meet Karma and August

Karma and August are a pair of adorable bonded male tuxedo kittens who are seeking their forever home. These playful and affectionate kittens are the best of friends and are looking for a loving family who can provide them with a lifetime of love and care. August and Karma are full of energy and love to chase toys, explore their surroundings, and snuggle up together for cat naps. They have been raised in a nurturing environment and are well-socialized with both humans of all ages and other cats. Slow introductions to dogs would most likely be successful while they are still young. Their sweet and gentle personalities, August and Karma are sure to bring joy and laughter to any household. If you are ready to open your heart and home to these delightful kittens, they are eagerly awaiting you. A $50 discount is given when 2 kittens are adopted together. Click the link provided to adopt: https://hoofwoofmeow.org/adoption/

Meet Smitty

Meet Smitty. Smitty is most likely a “Scott American Bulldog” and is approximately 3-4 years old and about 80lbs. He is extremely social with new people. He will lick your hand, lean into your leg, and then onto his back for a belly rub. He is full of energy and requires daily exercise via treadmill, fetch, and or tug. Smitty is not recommended for a first-time dog owner and previous bulldog experience is highly preferred. He has been working with a dog trainer as of 6/11/23 and is progressing more each day. He has a case of “happy tail” that comes along with the excitement of people. Smitty has not been tested directly with kids, but he has walked past parks and trails with no issues. He is not recommended for a home with kids due to his size/energy and his potential to knock someone over through passing. Smitty does have reactivity towards other dogs so he has a strict protocol in place to keep him and everyone safe. Potential adopters MUST be willing to follow this protocol. Smitty has not been cat-tested, but he does have a prey drive that can be potential trouble for smaller animals. It is recommended by his trainer that he be the only dog in the home, but he can be in a multiple-dog home as long as the owner follows the management guidelines of the trainer. He is crate trained, potty trained, and knows basic obedience. Part of Smitty’s obedience training requires the use of an electric remote collar. Click the link provided to volunteer: https://hoofwoofmeow.org/adoption/

RESOURCES

Parent Training and Information Center

This training is intended for families who have a child with a disability ages 3, 4, or 5. Professionals are welcome to attend in order to support the families they work with.

Feel free to join so you can also learn about these great resources and share with the families that you support. Click on the link to register for this free event!

https://starnetiv.org/event/resources-for-familiesthe-more-you-know-webinar/

Never Walk Alone – McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force

Registration is now open for the Never Walk Alone event!

Your participation to Never Walk Alone directly benefits our community and supports the Mission of the MCSPTF so that they can continue to expand their efforts to provide education, spread awareness of mental health and suicide, and to support those who have been impacted by suicide.

Scan the QR code below to get registered now!

Well Child Center
Pediatric Dental Appointments

Well Child Center is offering a limited number of complimentary initial pediatric dental patient appointments? To obtain this service you must live in Elgin, South Elgin, or St. Charles. If you or someone you know is interested, call 847-930-6721 to find out more. Make sure to mention the HFF or SKF “coupon” when you call! Well Child Center acknowledges the Hoffer Family Foundation and St Charles Kiwanis Foundation for generously supporting these opportunities.

Free Guitars and Guitar Lessons

Free Guitars For Future Stars provide free guitars and guitar lessons to students from low-income families in McHenry County, Illinois.

For more information click the link below: http://fg4fs.org/