February Is Heart Health Month
Dear Friends,
February is American Heart Month, and a particular focus of American Heart Month is National Wear Red Day, when people are encouraged to wear red to increase awareness about heart disease in women. According to the American Heart Association, more women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. And yet, 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented by improving diet, adding exercise, and abstaining from smoking. Awareness is the first step in the fight against heart disease.
National Wear Red Day is the perfect opportunity to spark an urgent wake-up call about the risks of heart disease. That’s exactly what state Rep. Jakobsson, Willis, Manley, Conroy, state Senator Bush, and I were doing at the Capitol on Wear Red Day:
Doodle for Google
Google has announced the “Doodle 4 Google” scholarship contest where students have the opportunity to win a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school. Google doodles are the fun versions of the Google logo that appear on the Google homepage throughout the year in celebration of special events and people. This year’s theme is “My Best Day Ever.” Students can submit doodles until March 22, 2013. Winners from each state will be selected by Google users and a panel of celebrity judges. On May 1, 2013, the 50 state winning designs will be opened up for a public vote. State winners will be flown to New York City for a national awards ceremony on May 22, where the National Winner will be announced.
The winning artist’s work will be displayed on the Google homepage for a day and the student will win a $30,000 college scholarship, along with a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school. All of the State Winners will have their artwork on display at the American Museum of Natural History from May 22 to July 14. I strongly encourage interested students to participate in this contest. We have so many talented students in our community who have the opportunity to make us proud and help fund their college education, as well as their current school. Please visit google.com/doodle4google for more information.
Depke Juvenile Justice Center Tour
I spent the afternoon Thursday touring Lake County’s Depke Center with Associate Judge Sarah Lessman, Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski, Director Robert Cesar, Detention Center Superintendent Susan Korpai, Stevenson H.S. Business Manager Mark Michelini, and Stevenson Foundation Director Greg Dietrich. I was very impressed with the attention these folks devote to youth and correcting their behavior. We toured through the court, detention facility and Face-It operation where 12 young men live, go to school, receive treatment and work while learning skills to lead successful lives.
In the News
House Bill 1205, which I recently introduced, has been receiving a lot of media attention, generating more awareness on the serious subject of concussions and brain injuries suffered by student athletes. I am hosting a community meeting on February 25 to hear your thoughts.
Reminder: February 25th Public Meeting on House Bill 1205
You’re invited to my community meeting discussion how we can prevent brain injuries in student-athletes.
Monday, February 25
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Vernon Hills High School - 145 Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
If you would like to testify, please call my office at (847) 478-9909.
Coffee Shop Stop
Thanks to everyone who attend my coffee last weekend and engaged in conversation on school safety and guns, toll ways, business growth and pensions.
In an effort to accommodate some requests for alternate dates/times, my next coffee will take place on Sunday February 24 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Starbucks located at 1665 N Buffalo Road in Buffalo Grove. Please participate in the solution to our state’s challenges by sharing your thoughts with me.
President’s Day
My office will be closed on Monday, February 18 in observance of President’s Day.
As always, if you have thoughts you’d like to share with me, or if I can be of assistance in another way, please contact my full time constituent service office located at 430 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 8 in Lincolnshire, by phone at (847) 478-9909 or by e-mail at RepSente@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you soon. And if you think someone else would like to receive my E-News regularly, feel free to forward this email to them.
Sincerely,
Carol