Park Ridge eighth grader Will Fehrman joined Senator Laura Murphy at the Capitol in Springfield as her page for the day.

Fehrman visited the Capitol on Feb. 28. He attended committee hearings and joined Murphy on the Senate floor for voting.

Fehrman attends St. Paul of the Cross School in Park Ridge, where he is an active member of the student council and academic team. He also plays on St. Paul’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer teams.

People 60 years of age and older are invited to participate in a daily lunch program at the Des Plaines Public Library, located at 1501 Ellinwood Ave. This is an opportunity to enjoy a healthy meal and educational programs.

Lunch is provided Monday through Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m.

The meal is available to anyone over the age of 60 and their spouse, regardless of age. There is a $2 suggested donation.

To RSVP, please call Tom at 224-585-0406 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations are required by 9 a.m. the business day before you plan to attend.

Please complete the new participant information sheet if it is your first time attending. It is also available at the door.

For more information, click here.

Through Illinois ABLE, individuals and families can save up to $14,000 each year in a federally tax-advantaged savings program and invest those funds for disability-related expenses. Illinois ABLE works like the 529 College Savings program – using the program does not put federal means tested benefits at risk.

To qualify for the program, individuals must have been disabled before the age of 26. They must be entitled to benefits based on disability or blindness under Title II or XVI of the Social Security Act or have a disability certification on file with the Treasury Secretary.

This program is part of the National ABLE Alliance, which includes 14 states and is administered by the State Treasurer.

ABLE funds can be used for expenses related to disability or blindness. This includes expenses for housing, transportation, education, health, prevention and wellness, assistive technology and personal support services, employment training and support, financial management and administrative services , oversight and monitoring, legal fees, and funeral and burial.

Money that is deposited into an ABLE account remains under the account owner’s control. State agencies and the treasurer’s office are not able to apply the funds for their own use.

For more information about the program, click here. To sign up for an ABLE account, click here.

On Tuesday, State Senator Laura Murphy presented officials from the Village of Schaumburg with a Senate recognition for being named the ninth best place to live by Money Magazine.

“I know that our district is one of the best places to live. I’m glad that places like Schaumburg and Des Plaines are getting the recognition they deserve,” Murphy said.

Murphy thanked the elected officials for their work along with community and economic development organizations, schools, the art community, and public safety officers to make Schaumburg a great place to live and work.

Money Magazine highlighted Schaumburg’s economic and manufacturing prowess. The article also noted the amenities that Schaumburg offers, such as theater performances, one of the largest shopping centers in the country, and a Town Square that hosts farmers’ markets, concerts and other events. Schaumburg is also home one of the largest public libraries in the State of Illinois.

The City of Des Plaines was also recognized in Money Magazine as the 35th best place to live.

The rankings were based on quality of life, affordable homes, the health of the economy, public education, crime and amenities in places with a population between 10,000 and 100,000.

You can read the magazine’s full report here.

The photo is courtesy of the Village of Schaumburg.