NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman kicked off Parks and Recreation Month by announcing more than $700,000 in funding for local parks in DuPage County.

“Spending time outside is great for not only our physical health, but for our mental health as well,” said Ellman. “We have so many fantastic outdoor spaces here in our community, I’m so glad to see them get the investment they deserve.”

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and support local park projects. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.

Local projects receiving funds include:

• DuPage County Forest Preserve District, Willowbrook Forest Preserve – $400,000
• Wheaton Park District, Briar Patch Park improvements – $317,500

In celebration of Parks and Recreation Month, Ellman is also holding a “Tennis Shoe Town Hall,” and invites community members to join her at the Herrick Lake Forest Preserve to walk the trails and discuss issues that matter to them. The town hall will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, and community members are asked to meet at the Herrick Lake West Shelter to begin the walk.

“Parks and Recreation Month is a great time to get outside and really appreciate everything nature has to offer right here in our backyards,” Ellman said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to enjoy our local parks and preserves with members of our community.”

Learn more about OSLAD grants and see a full list of projects on the Illinois DNR website.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman and State Representative Janet Yang Rohr are partnering with the Secretary of State’s office to host a free mobile unit event for motorists who have been unable to visit a driver services facility.

“The goal of the mobile unit is to make these services more accessible to members of our community who may have a hard time getting to the DMV,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “An expired license or out-of-date plates can cause a lot of unnecessary hassle if they go unaddressed—people can avoid the trouble by taking advantage of this great one-stop shop opportunity.”

The event will be held Friday, July 8 at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Motorists are welcome to stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to take advantage of the wide array of services the mobile unit offers.

Through the mobile unit, community members will have the opportunity to renew or correct licenses and state IDs, update license plate stickers, and register to vote or to be an organ donor. Real IDs will not be processed at this event, and those age 75 and up need to visit the DMV to renew a license.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Ellman’s office at 630-601-9961 or Yang Rohr’s office at 630-296-4157.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman is hosting two local town halls to offer community members an opportunity to ask questions about the spring legislative session and raise concerns of their own.

“I always enjoy sitting down with members of the community and getting to the heart of what matters most to them,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Their concerns drive the work we do in Springfield.”

The first of the two town halls will be held in Room B of the 95th Street Library in Naperville, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr., on June 15 at 6:30 p.m. The second will be held in Warrenville at the Warrenville Library, 28W751 Stafford Pl., on June 16 at 7 p.m.

Ellman encourages residents to take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns.

“These conversations help me bring our community’s needs to the table,” Ellman said.

More information about the Naperville and Warrenville town halls is available online, and questions can be directed to Ellman’s office at 630-601-9961.

NAPERVILLE – To celebrate the first Women Veterans Day in Illinois, State Senator Laura Ellman is hosting a donation drive to benefit women serving overseas.

“Women who serve our county have shattered glass ceilings and blazed trails for generations of women to come,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “I can’t think of a better way to thank them for the sacrifices they’ve made and celebrate Women Veterans Day than by giving back to them when they’ve given so much for us.”

Community members wishing to participate can bring items for donation to the parking lot at the former Butera Grocery, 1270 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, from 10 a.m. until noon on June 12.

Requested items for donation are:

• Menstrual products
• Lip balm
• Lotion
• Sunscreen
• Hair brushes & ties
• Nail clippers & files
• Toothbrushes & paste
• Disposable razors
• Hand warmers
• Sewing kits

In honor of Flag Day on June 14, community members can also drop off old or damaged American flags at this event to be disposed of properly.

“I’m always overwhelmed by the generosity of our community when they’re offered an opportunity to give,” Ellman said. “This is a fantastic cause and I’m looking forward to partnering with our community to lift up the women who protect us all.”

Questions or concerns about the event can be directed to Ellman’s office at 630-601-9961.