East St. Louis – To encourage summer reading, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is launching a Summer Reading Club for children and young people who live in the 57th State Senate District.

Belt is launching the club to counteract summer learning loss, which occurs when students “turn off their brains” during the summer months.

“It’s important for kids to become stronger readers to succeed in school and life,” Belt said. “I hope this book club encourages healthy brain development and lifelong learning.”

Studies indicate that 2 months of reading skills and 2 ½ months of math skills are lost over a single summer.

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books and return the form to Belt’s office by Aug. 11. Senator Belt will host a pizza party for everyone who finishes reading their books. 

“Youth activities have always been one of my top priorities,” Belt said. “This program will keep the students’ minds alert during the summer months.”

To receive a book club form, visit SenatorBelt.com to download and print the form. Parents can also contact the district office at 618-875-1212.

Belt urges interested residents to call his office with any additional questions.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the success of a law to provide more efficient ways for people to cast their ballot from home during the peak of the pandemic, a new proposal to make voting by mail permanently more accessible was signed into law.

“This keeps in place a number of voter conveniences that have proven popular,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “It’s a great example of lawmakers listening to the diverse voices of voters and taking steps to maintain and encourage voter participation.”

ROCKFORD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal announced the recipients of the 2021 Small Equipment Grant Program, and State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased to share $26,000 in grant money is going to the Blackhawk Fire Protection District.

“I am happy to see additional funding go toward our fire departments,” Stadelman said. “The men and women that work hard to protect us from fires and other emergencies deserve to have the right tools for the job.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. Their purpose is to allow eligible applicants to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to afford.

Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply. All fire departments, fire protections districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for a minimum of two years prior to applying.

The full list of grants can be found here. 

JOLIET – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) attended a meet and greet luncheon on Wednesday afternoon with the Joliet Chamber and Joliet’s fire chief and chief of police.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to thank and listen to the Joliet fire and police leaders to hear their concerns and priorities moving forward,” Connor said. “Chiefs Blaskey and Malec have shown their readiness for and dedication to protecting Joliet families, and I look forward to the positive changes they will make.”

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey discussed COVID-19 response in the community and vaccination efforts by the fire department, as well as its work to increase survival rates for local victims of cardiac arrest. Chief of Police Dawn Malec discussed the upcoming implementation of body cameras for the Joliet Police Department in order to maintain transparency and keep families safe, along with upcoming job opportunities with the department.

“When we all work together, we can make our community a better and safer place to live,” Connor said. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside Chiefs Blaskey and Malec to meet that shared goal.”

SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2017, the FY22 Budget Implementation Act, as well as Senate Bill 2800, the state’s spending plan, a package of legislation that puts Illinois back on the path toward fiscal stability. 

"We have approved a budget plan that I believe is balanced, responsible and puts us on a path toward a brighter future,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “Not only is this budget balanced, it provides stability by making our full required pension payment, paying down the borrowing we needed last year and funding many of our priorities to put our state on the right path."

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) was awarded the first-ever Des Plaines Chamber Community Partnership Excellence Award on Thursday in recognition of her service and dedication to the community and its businesses.

“It is the greatest pleasure and honor to continue to serve this community,” Murphy said at the ceremony. “The people in Des Plaines make this community the fabulous place it is. None of us do this work alone—it’s only because of the support of the residents that we’re able to do it.”

The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry selected Murphy to receive the award because of her longtime efforts to improve pedestrian safety in the community, particularly along Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines.

MARYVILLE – To ensure local emergency services are prepared to protect Metro East communities, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) announced four local fire departments will receive funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

“Fire departments and protection districts in downstate oftentimes have difficulty purchasing equipment due to budget constraints,” Crowe said. “With these investments in public safety, our state can help ensure our firefighters have adequate equipment, and are ready to serve and protect our families and communities.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established by OSFM to provide grants of up to $26,000 to support small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments and EMS providers across the state through the program.

Four grant recipients are located within the 56th Senate District:

• Collinsville Fire Department – $20,000
• Edwardsville Fire Department – $9,554
• South Roxana Fire Protection District- $26,000
• Village of East Alton Fire Department – $25,367.25

A complete list of recipients and awards can be found on the OSFM website.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) announced that local communities will be receiving more than $4.5 million in funding to improve local walking and bicycle paths.

“With the state opening back up and the weather getting warmer, more people will be spending their time outside enjoying recreational areas across our communities,” Castro said. “This funding will allow people to enjoy our bike and pedestrian paths safely and easily.”

Projects receiving funding through these awards are:

• Irving Park Road at Bartlett Road intersection,
• County Farm Road multi-use path,
• Streamwood IL 59 bicycle and pedestrian overpass, and
• Hassell Road Corridor pedestrian and bicycle facility enhancements

These projects are part of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, for which the Illinois Department of Transportation has selected 99 projects totaling $105.7 million.  Projects receiving funding in this round of investment include biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification, and other projects designed to encourage safe travel across the various modes of transportation at the local level.

“From commuting to recreation, walking and bike paths play an important role in our communities,” Castro said. “I look forward to seeing the improvements this funding will bring.”