Darien Direct Connect E-Newsletter: February 22, 2024

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Weekly eNews - February 22, 2024

Mayor's Message

“Community is much more than belonging to something, it is about doing something together that makes belonging matter." - Brian Solis

I have often said that one of Darien’s riches is its spirit of volunteerism. Our city is home to civic, social and service groups that work to enhance our community through the services and financial support they offer to our residents. Each of these groups are composed of volunteers who give of their time in planning and implementing community activities, conducting fundraisers that support those activities, and providing financial support for those in need. Over the years, many of these groups acted independently of one another, and while their efforts accomplished great things for our Darien community, it became apparent to me that if we could bring these groups together, working together, we could accomplish so much more for our residents. As Idowu Koyenikan states, “there is immense power when a group of people with similar interests get together to work toward the same goal.”

In January 2022, we invited the leaders of each of these groups to come together and discuss the types of services and activities we could provide, if we shared resources and worked together to enhance each group’s activities. We didn’t ask groups to stop conducting their regular yearly activities, we simply asked the question, what more could we do if we worked together, where possible, on each of these activities. From that discussion we developed our Darien Community Action Committee, and over the last two years we have tried to meet one Saturday each month planning activities that brought individual groups together in support of one another. Our Darien Community Calendar, the Darien Historical Society Tree Lighting event, the development of the Darien Arts Council into a more prominent group and our Oktoberfest Celebration were each outgrowths of this movement to work together in order to enhance our Darien living experience. This spring, we will be mailing home a City of Darien “postcard” that will contain the dates of all of our city activities over a three month period, and we will be mailing one of these home to our residents every three months, so that you will have an idea as to what and when a specific event is occurring.

As Henry Ford stated, “coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Our Darien Community Action Committee is dedicated to working together; while we have been together over two years, we have so much more to accomplish on behalf of our residents. We will continue to look for ways to share ideas among our community groups that we feel serve the best interest of our residents and work to make Darien a nice place to live. As Margaret J. Wheatley states, “there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” The Darien Community Action Committee definitely cares about providing our community with an enriching living experience.

Food Pantry Collection

In celebration of our 2024 Citizen of the Year, Valerie Kazich, items will be collected for a food drive at the Citizen of the Year event (see below). Items collected will be donated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel food pantry in Darien. If you are unable to attend the dinner, donations can be dropped off at Darien City Hall. Find out what items the pantry is collecting here.

Congratulations to Valerie Kazich, Darien's 2024 Citizen of the Year! Please join us in celebrating Val's accomplishments at our annual recognition event on Friday, March 8, at Alpine Banquets, 8230 S. Cass Avenue, Darien. Cocktails – 6 p.m. / Dinner – 7 p.m. Registration Deadline is February 28. Register here.

Vehicle Stickers Now Available

Rotary Club of Darien 2024 vehicle stickers are available at both City Hall and the Police Department for a $3 donation. Vehicle stickers are not required by the City, they are offered each year by community service organizations as a fundraiser for the organization.

ATM Safety

The American Bankers Association reminds us to use the following safety tips when using ATMs.

Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. If you observe or sense suspicious persons or circumstances, do not use the machine at that time.
Have your ATM card ready and in your hand as you approach the ATM. Don't wait to get to the ATM and then take your card out of your wallet or purse.
Visually inspect the ATM for possible skimming devices. Potential indicators can include sticky residue or evidence of an adhesive used by criminals to affix the device, scratches, damaged or crooked pieces, loose or extra attachments on the card slot, or noticeable resistance when pressing the keypad.
Be careful that no one can see you enter your PIN at the ATM. Use your other hand or body to shield the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN into the ATM.
To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts or transaction records with you.
Do not count or visually display any money you received from the ATM. Immediately put your money into your pocket or purse and count it later.
If you are using a drive-up ATM, be sure passenger windows are rolled up and all doors are locked. If you leave your car and walk to the ATM, lock your car.

Municipal Services Meeting - February 26

Municipal Services will meet on Monday, February 26 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall at 1702 Plainfield Road.

The agenda will be posted here.

Budget Meeting

The Administrative / Finance Committee-of-the-Whole will be holding a budget meeting on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall at 1702 Plainfield Road. View the agenda here.

General Primary Election - March 19

The General Primary Election is coming up on March 19 - are you ready to vote? Check here to see if you are registered, find your polling place, and view a sample ballot. Vote early at locations across the county - find one near you here.

There are also employment opportunities available for Election Judge and Election Worker positions. Find more information here on these openings.

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