ELGIN – February is Heart Health Month, and what better way to bring awareness than by providing free heart health screenings?

Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is partnering with Hanover Township and AMITA Health to provide heart health screenings at an event in Hanover Park. The Hanover Township Office of Community Health will be providing screenings to check blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and anemia. AMITA Health will be providing stroke risk assessments.

The event will be held Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Astor Avenue Community Center (7431 Astor Ave. Hanover Park, Illinois 60133). No appointment is required. Any questions can be directed to the township at (630)-540-9085.

AMITA Health is the third-largest health system in Illinois and delivers care to Chicago’s northwestern, west and southwestern suburbs.

Hanover Township provides a variety of services to its community. The location of the event is home to Hanover Township’s Department of Welfare Services. This department offers programs and services to improve the quality of life of Hanover Township residents experiencing hardships.

ELGIN – Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) announced today that Elgin Area School District U46 will receive more than $28,000 through the Secretary of State’s School Library Grant program.

The School District Library Grant Program is designed to provide new and updated books and materials for public schools in Illinois.

“I am happy that Elgin’s school library will benefit from the library grant,” said Castro. “The grant will guarantee that the children will have updated materials at their fingertips.”

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) attended the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Joint Committee Hearing regarding the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy. There have been over a dozen deaths caused by this disease in the past three years.

“Governor Rauner’s administration should have taken immediate action three years ago,” said Castro. “His administration not being here today for this hearing shows me they aren’t taking this seriously. If they knew this was happening, why did they just sit on the CDC’s recommendations? Why did it take so long?”

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria found in plumbing systems. Thirteen residents at the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy have died due to this disease over the past three years.

“Pro-action, pro-action,” said Castro. “I’m tired of excuses. These are our veterans and they deserve dignity. A permanent solution needs to be found.”

ELGIN – Veterans will be able to avoid the financial inconvenience of a cell phone or cable contract cancellation under a law sponsored by state Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

The Elgin Democrat sponsored and passed House Bill 2449, allowing those in the armed forces to cancel or suspend certain contracts when they receive orders to relocate or are deployed. Businesses who don’t comply would be breaking the law under this act.

“The brave men and women serving our country shouldn’t be penalized when they have to relocate or are deployed,” Castro said. “They are putting their lives on hold to protect and defend our country. The least we can do is make sure they have an easy way out of a binding contract when circumstances arise.”