Five Things to Know Today: July 19

1. State Rep. Emily McAsey to Hold Town Hall Meeting Tonight

State Rep. Emily McAsey, D-Lockport, will hold a town hall meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Bolingbrook Town Center.

McAsey represents portions of Lemont, Crest Hill, Romeoville, Lisle, Joliet as well as Bolingbrook.

Residents will be able to ask McAsey questions about state legislation that pertains to the area. For more information, call McAsey's office at 815-372-0085.

2. You've Seen the Harry Potter Movies — Now Learn the Secrets

From the : 

Enter the magical world of Harry Potter with this thrilling insider’s peek at one of the most treasured film series of all time. We’ll hear hilarious inside jokes and uncover behind-the-scenes tidbits and other fascinating facts sure to delight film buffs and Potter fans alike as we enjoy a collection of the most exciting scenes from the first seven films.

The event runs from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the library. For more info, contact Randi Carreno at 630-685-4176.

3. Facebook Fan Poll

Bolingbrook Patch's daily "Facebook Fan Poll" now appears in our daily "Five Things to Know Today" feature.

Today's question: Are you OK with the village trying to create its own water agency in efforts to lower costs for residents?

Chime in below by leaving a comment!

Or, to participate in the poll and become a fan of Bolingbrook Patch via Facebook, click HERE. 

4. Yesterday's Headlines

5. ComEd Shares Tips to Keep Your Home Cool When the Weather is Hot

ComEd's Facebook page offered it readers the following tips to keep your home cool during times of extreme heat. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s for the rest of the week and could get as high as 96 degrees on Thursday. Heat indices, meanwhile, are expected to get as high as 110 degrees.

• Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level (75 to 78 degrees) when at home. Lowering the thermostat setting below the desired temperature will not cool the home faster.
• To reduce heat and moisture during the warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it’s generally cooler outside. Also, use a microwave to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible.
• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply drawing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat gain to your home. Awnings are even better, and can reduce heat gain by up to 75 percent. Window coatings and window film can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct rays from the sun.
• Keep doors to the outside, garage or attic firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out.
• Use fans to evenly distribute cool air and reduce the air conditioner’s “on” time.
• Place window air conditioners on the north or shady side of the house to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun.