Darien Direct Connect E-Newsletter: February 27, 2025

The following email provides timely information on news and services

from the City of Darien.

Weekly eNews - February 27, 2025

Mayor's Message

“You know that you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little like you have lost a good friend.” - Paul Sweeney

There is a question I would like to ask all of you; are you a reader? Do you find comfort in finding a quiet spot, be it a library or a comfortable room in your home, opening a book and getting lost in a good story? I have always loved to read, and whenever I get a chance, I go into our living room, away from the noise of the television, and get lost in a new adventure. As Neil Garman states, “a book is a dream that you hold in your hand,” and I find myself getting so engrossed in a good novel, that I put aside all my worries of the day, and join some of my favorite characters as they take off visiting new countries, engage in perilous exploits, and work to resolve serious issues. As you might guess, while I enjoy non- fiction, my love is for fiction, and I have certain “heroes” that I follow every time one of their new adventures is published.

Some of you may ask where this love for reading originated, so I will share with you a brief story. Imagine a four-year-old boy, his eight-year-old sister and their father going out every Wednesday evening to a Chicago Public Library to select two books each for their weekly reading. At age four, I did not have a library card, so I was fortunate that my sister Janet would always sign out my two selections for that week. My father was a firm believer in the power of reading; he served as a great motivator and role model as a nightly reader of the Bible. Dad not only required us to take out two books each week, we had to provide a report on the content of each book before we ventured back to the library for two new readings. My father viewed reading as an opportunity to expose us to the wonders of the world, things we could not explore from our home in Norridge. While he probably never heard the statement, my father would have been a firm supporter of Kate DiCamilo when she said, “reading should not be a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.” My father’s promotion of reading was truly a gift he gave to all his children.

Even if you are not an avid reader, when you get a chance, take some time to visit our Indian Prairie Library, and take a look at all the great resources they offer to our residents. Staff will assist you in finding a way to explore our world through reading, and as Dr. Seuss says, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” I hope that all of you will have a chance to get lost and explore our world in a great book. Happy reading!

Scroll to the bottom to view Community Events

Black History Month Spotlight - Carter G. Woodson

The origin of Black History Month starts with Carter G. Woodson. Born in 1875 in Virginia, Woodson completed high school in two years and went on to earn degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard. He believed that African American students should be taught more about their heritage and worked throughout his life to make it happen.

In 1915, Woodson helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which later became known as The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In February 1926, Carter G. Woodson announced the first Negro History Week to recognize and celebrate Black history and heritage.

Woodson continued to educate our nation and the world, founding the Associated Publishers Press, authoring over 20 books, and working in education as a principal and dean.

Shortly after Woodson's death and exactly 50 years after the first Negro History Week, the ASALH made the change to Black History Month. Learn more about Carter G. Woodson and his tireless efforts here.

Works Cited: Sarah Pruitt. "Carter G. Woodson: The Man Behind Black History Month." HISTORY. 2017. https://www.history.com/news/the-man-behind-black-history-month

Beware of Springtime Scams

Con artists rarely take a vacation, and springtime is when many scammers become more aggressive at trying to rip off residents. In warmer weather, homeowners are more likely to be targeted by landscaping and home-improvement scammers. Tax season also brings out the scams, with many consumers falling victim to bogus emails claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service and requesting sensitive personal and financial information.

Spring is also the traditional start of home-shopping season and new homeowners are targeted by fraudsters who use this information to create official-looking documents to try to obtain more sensitive financial information.

For more information on consumer scams you may follow this link to A Message From ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL on how to avoid consumer scams.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week - March 3 - 7, 2025

Spring can bring severe weather along with those warmer temps. While we can't stop severe weather, we can be prepared! Follow these tips from the National Weather Service (NWS) to ensure you are prepared for anything:

STAY INFORMED - Monitor a weather alert radio, local radio & TV broadcasts, NWS web pages, or various news apps. Don't rely on just one method - especially storm sirens - which are NOT designed to be heard indoors by everyone.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN - Designate places to go to seek safe shelter from a tornado or severe thunderstorm. Pick two places to meet in case you are separated from your family or co-workers. While traveling or when away from home, know the names of the locations you are visiting - especially county and city names.

PREPARE YOURSELF & YOUR HOME FOR AN EMERGENCY - Learn how to use a fire extinguisher, how to administer CPR, and how to turn off the electricity, gas and water supplies in your home. Inspect your home for potential hazards such as weakened trees or limbs, cracked windows or worn roofing.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT - Some storms produce power outages that will last for several days. Having the following items will help you cope with the disaster:

Bottled water
Non-perishable food
Flashlights & extra batteries
Extra clothing & blankets
An extra set of keys & cash
Medications & a first aid kit
Personal hygiene items
Pet supplies
A weather alert radio or portable AM/FM radio

**Annual Tornado Drill Notice**

The NWS and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will run the annual tornado drill on Tuesday March 4th at 10am CST. Residents should treat the drill as if it were an actual Tornado Warning. The purpose of the drill is to test everyone's readiness for life-threatening severe weather events such as tornadoes, flash floods, and damaging winds.

The National Weather Service will issue a Routine Weekly Test (RWT) to NOAA Weather Radios to initiate the drill and alert those radios.

Free Dental Screenings - February 28

The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is excited to celebrate ‘Give Kids A Smile Day’ by offering FREE dental screenings for kids on Friday, February 28, 2025.

DCHD dentists will be on-site by appointment only to provide free dental check-ups, oral health education, and a take-home oral care kit to help keep those little smiles shining. Spots are limited, so parents and guardians should call (630) 221-7776 to schedule an appointment today.

Beyond this special event, the DCHD Dental Clinic offers ongoing dental care for eligible school-aged children. To learn more or schedule a regular appointment, call (630) 682-7776.

See the full press release here.

Creative Youth Art Fair

Sunday, March 2, 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Cass Junior High School

The Darien Woman’s Club CREATIVE YOUTH ART FAIR celebrates the young creative energy in our community and the importance of art in our lives.

This free event exhibits various types of art media created by youth, Pre-K through 12th Grade, in the Darien area. Awards will be presented at 3:15 p.m.

The public is encouraged to visit the fair this Sunday for a warm activity that will energize you for Spring.

The winning artwork will be featured at Indian Prairie Public Library throughout the month of March.

Darien Lions Club Pancake Breakfast

Join the Darien Lions Club on March 9, for their annual Pancake Breakfast and enjoy all you can eat pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, coffee, juice and milk! Pancakes will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the free blood pressure, vision, and hearing screenings will start at 9:00 a.m. Learn how to get tickets and more here!

Darien Woman's Club Scholarships

The Darien Woman's Club (DWC) has offered Community Service and Fine Arts scholarships annually since the 1970's. Awarding over $127,000 since the scholarships were initiated.

There are two (2) Community Service Scholarships, available to high school seniors that have contributed considerable time in the area of community service and plan to attend college in the Fall of 2025. High school social or athletic involvement is not considered volunteer work for the purpose of this scholarship. The focus of the volunteer work should show integrity, leadership, responsibility and commitment to community service.

There are also two (2) Fine Art Scholarships, that help subsidize further studies in the Fine Arts. These are available to students in either Junior High School or High School. The scholarships' purpose is to encourage young students’ participation in the fine arts and to assist their enrollment in a camp or class to expand their knowledge and enhance their talent in their area of interest. The scholarships are awarded and must be used during the Summer of 2025. The scholarship award will be made payable to the camp or school.

The applications are available to download on the DWC's website and are due in hand by March 12th, 2025.

City Council Meeting - March 3

City Council will meet on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road. The agenda will be posted here. View meetings live on the City of Darien YouTube Channel.

Planning and Zoning Meeting - March 5

City Council will meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road. The agenda will be posted here.

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