“Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us – a time when we can look back on the year that has passed and prepare for the year ahead.” - David Cameron

If you are like me, you probably spend time during this period of the year to reflect not only on the previous eleven months, but on your life in general. We will measure the good and bad that occurred during the year and assess how those events impacted our lives, and if those events will have a significant impact on our future. We will look at the people who came into our lives as well as those who left us during the previous year. There are those who have left us and we breathe a sigh of relief, while there are others who leave us and we breathe a sigh of remorse, wondering why they had to go away.

As we look back on our past year, we also need to look at our community, how we interacted with others, and what contributions we made, if any to enhancing that community. We call Darien a “nice place to live,” and when we do that, we hopefully reflect on why we chose this community as our home. When I ask myself this question, I can honestly say that it is the people who live in this city that make it a nice place to live; it is our volunteer spirit, our need to assist others who need our help, our schools, our city services, our appreciation for our heritage. These things and so much more are what makes this a nice place to live; people like YOU make this city a nice place to live.

As I reflect on my past year, on the highs and lows that occur to all of us, I am grateful for my opportunity to live and work with the wonderful people of this city who truly are the bedrock of this community. My hope for all of you this holiday season is that in assessing your year, the beautiful moments outweigh the low points in your life, and that those who have come into your life add joy and happiness to your day to day life, and that we will continue to feel the love of those we have lost. May all of you find some time this holiday season to sit and reflect on the past year, and may all of you see how you, our Darien residents, make this truly, a nice place to live. Happy Holidays to all of you!

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Holiday Service Update

City Hall will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. It will also be closed on Wednesday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day.

Refuse/recycling collection services will not be postponed on Monday or Tuesday during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s. The holidays will be observed by LRS on Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday collection services will be postponed by one day for the following two weeks. Check the LRS Holiday Schedule for more information here.

Overnight Parking Suspended for Holiday

The City's overnight parking ban will be suspended from Saturday, December 21st at 2:00 a.m. through Thursday, January 2nd at 6:00 a.m. All other parking restrictions will remain in effect.

*NOTE - There is no parking on City streets during a winter weather event - where snow or ice are in excess of 1 inch.

City of Darien – Holiday Lights Contest Winners

We always love seeing the beautiful decorations Darien Residents put up during our Holiday Season! Thank you so much to everyone who decorated their homes and to those who submitted nominations!

Our winners this year are:

1st Place: 8361 Parkview Drive

2nd Place: 621 Honey Locust Lane

3rd Place: 1614 Darien Club Drive

4th Place: 1609 Gordon Court

5th Place: 7718 Sawyer Road*

*Also received an Honorary Lifetime Award!

Honorable Mentions:

1903 Darien Club Drive

1914 McAdam Road

905 Cherokee Drive

7809 Farmingdale Drive

7210 Whittier Drive

Block - 7600-7800 blocks of Sawyer

Be sure to include the winners and honorable mentions above when planning your family's self-led light tour of Darien! And, because we love lights, here are some more locations with decorations you won't want to miss:

1222 Iroquois Ln

1301 Iroquois Ln

7921 Pine Ct

1637 Holly Ave

1800 Darien Club Dr

1800 Limerick Ct

2510 Abbey Dr

621 Glen Ln

621 Maple Ln

• 7109 Summit Rd
• 7301 Bunker Rd
• 7302 Bunker Rd
• 7342 Bunker Rd
• 818 Belair Dr
• 825 Belair Dr
• 6916 Richmond Ave
• 7406 Richmond Ave
• 7409 Richmond Ave

• 7510 Cambridge Rd
• 7702 Florence Ave
• 7609 Sawyer Rd
• 7706 Sawyer Rd
• 7714 Stratford Pl
• 7921 Farmingdale Dr
• 7930 Farmingdale Dr
• 901 Cherokee Dr
• 925 Cherokee Dr
• 1906 Gordon Ct

NEW! Darien Business Alliance

The City of Darien has established a new business development group, Darien Business Alliance. It is our hope that by creating this new business group, it will open the door to our business community, allowing for more meaningful business-oriented seminars, luncheons, and activities, offering a coordinated voice for local businesses, while also focusing on tourism, and community events. Please see this letter from Mayor Marchese for more information.

Advertise on the City's Digital Marquee Sign

The City of Darien is offering advertising space on its digital marquee sign (southwest corner of Plainfield and Cass). The cost for businesses is $550 per 30-day period; non-profits can have a 30-day advertising period at no charge. More Information.

Employment Opportunity - Part-Time Accounting Clerk

The City is seeking a part-time Accounting Clerk to report to the Director of Finance. The individual in this position will be responsible for processing the bi-weekly, monthly and special payrolls, maintaining employee personnel payroll files, preparing state and federal filings and year-end processing, and more. View the job description here.

Keep Your Holidays Safe - Drive Sober

During this busy winter holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Local law enforcement are teaming up to remind drivers: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Alcohol-impaired driving is deadly and continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes in the United States, especially during the holidays. During the 2018-2022 December months, there were 4,759 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

Drivers should be safe during the holidays by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement. Learn more here.

Shop Local and Shop Small

Celebrate the businesses that call The City of Darien and DuPage County home by shopping Local and Small this holiday season! Click here to find local businesses.

Donate Toys for Children in Need

Darien Police Department, 1710 Plainfield Road – main lobby - is a collection site for Toy Express Charities. Residents can drop off unwrapped toys from ages infant to 12 years old until January 5, 2025.

Darien Lions Holiday Food Basket Program

Spread the joy this season by supporting the Darien Lions' 2024 Holiday Food Basket Program. This program provides food to over 300 area families and will also provide gifts for families with children under the age of 12. Donations can be made using the PayPal information or QR code in the flyer below or by mail to:

Darien Lions Club Foundation

1702 Plainfield Rd

Darien, IL 60561

Christmas Tree Collection

LRS collects live Christmas trees during the first two FULL weeks of January at no charge. Trees placed out after that time will require prepayment and prescheduling.

• Remove all materials from the tree prior to disposal, including ornaments, tinsel, lights etc.
• Christmas trees cannot be in plastic bags or wrapped in plastic – will not be collected
• All wreaths and roping must be included with normal trash on residents’ normal collection day
• Any trees that are over 7ft tall would need to be cut in half to have it removed

Parkway Tree Trimming Program

The City of Darien will be conducting their annual Parkway Tree Trimming Program beginning this month, December 2024. This year’s tree trimming program consists of trimming approximately 3,500 parkway trees. This year’s program also includes contract pricing for the Private Property Tree Trimming Program available to all residents. Visit the website for more details.

Citizen of the Year Nominations are Open

The Citizen of the Year Committee is searching for a very special person who has given of themselves to make Darien a "Nice Place to Live"! If you know of a person who goes "above and beyond the call of duty" ... is always there when someone needs a hand ... and who has contributed to make Darien a special place, please nominate them for this honor!

Nominees must be residents of Darien and not currently serving as an elected official. The deadline for nominations to be considered for the current year is Monday, January 6, 2025. Learn more and make your nominations here.

Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays

Feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression can affect anyone at anytime, including during the holidays. Be kind to yourself, stay hydrated, take breaks when you need to, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Call NAMI to talk at 1-800-950-6264 or text "helpline" to 62640. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call or text 988. You are not alone, there is support.

DYC Volleyball Registration is OPEN for 2024/25 (view flyer): link

DYC Soccer Registration is OPEN for 2024/25: link

Darien Garden Club Meeting - January 6: link

Darien Police Weekly Press Release

The Darien Police Department issues a press release each week.