Take a look at state office hopefuls
What effect do elections have on your life?
It depends on who you talk to.
Personally, I think your local county assessor has a huge impact at least your wallet. The assessor determines how much your house is worth and you are taxed accordingly in June and September each year.
The chairman of the Federal Reserve although not elected also has a large influence. Years ago, it seemed like if former Chairman Alan Greenspan smiled or laughed, the stock market would go up along with your retirement funds and stocks.
So it can be difficult for some to break through the cynical wall that encases state elections.
Will things change? Can one person make a difference?
I don't the answers to these questions, but you can get an up close look at four candidates for state office that will have a say in your income taxes and state funding for schools, construction projects and social services.
The Near West Neighbors Association will hold a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 at First Presbyterian Church, 240 Standish St., Elgin.
The forum will feature 43rd State Rep. Keith Farnham, an Elgin Democrat defending his seat from Republican Ruth Munson, whom he defeated two years ago.
After an hour, the forum will shift to the 22nd State Senator race between incumbent Mike Noland, also an Elgin Democrat, and former senator and Republican Steve Rauschenberger.
All questions will be taken in writing from the audience, and will be read by the moderator. Answers will be timed and response times will be adjusted for each question.
For more information, call (847) 622-1835.
Job well done: Elgin firefighters helped raise $23,800 during their Fill-the-Book fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, shattered the $13,000 goal they set for this year and dwarfing the $4,500 raised in 2009.
Firefighters volunteered their time to take collections at several Elgin area intersections in August and were recognized at a recent Elgin City Council meeting.
Raise a glass, raise some money: Raffle ticket and T-shirt sales for the 2010 Elgin Pub Crawl on Sept. 25 raised nearly $3,000 for Senior Services Associates, The John E. McCue Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin.
Free health seminars: In coordination with Breast Cancer Awareness month, Sherman Hospital in Elgin will host a series of free seminars, "Learn, Fight, Win Lakeside Seminars for Ladies."
They are designed to empower and educate women on a variety of women's health issues, ranging from breast health to heart health. Women are encouraged to bring their daughters, mothers, sisters and friends to one or more of these seminars.
With views of Sherman's geothermal lake, each seminar be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the waiting area of the Center for Breast Care at Sherman Health, located on the first floor of the hospital, 1425 Randall Road.
Attendees will receive the latest information from experts in women's health, treats, "mocktails," and buttons and T-shirts with the proclamation, "Learn, Fight, Win."
Seminars today and Tuesday, Oct. 5 cover breast cancer treatments, ranging from minimally invasive biopsies to breast reconstruction.
The focus on Wednesday, Oct. 6 is about prevention, detection and treatment and the talk on Thursday, Oct. 7 is about minimally invasive surgery with the daVinci Surgical System used at Sherman.
For information, visit shermanbreastcare.com or call (800) 397-9000 to register.