This is My Wish for You – “Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

As my grandchildren grow to adulthood my hope is that they will find a path in life that leads to their happiness and personal fulfillment. I see each of them having tremendous potential; they are attractive, intelligent, athletic, outgoing, family-oriented and committed to do their best in whatever activity they are engaged in at any given time. I realize that I view them through “grandfather eyes,” and as such, I will always support them publicly, while offering any critique privately.

I know that I will only be here for a small portion of their lives; while my hope is that I am here to see college graduations, their flirtations with love and if they choose their commitment to another though marriage, and their choice of a career, I know that life does not make us any promises. Cathy and I have attempted to be active in their lives since the day they were born. We attend all the events in their lives, vacation with them, and do things for them that we did not do for our three sons during their childhood and early adulthood. Yes, we have spoiled them, as grandparents are wont to do, but as I tell Cathy, life is all about creating beautiful memories, and I want each of them, when my wife and I are gone, to share stories about Grandma and Papa that are filled with love and laughter.

I want them to experience the happiness and joy of a beautiful life, and hope that, while life will throw them for a loss from time to time, that those moments are brief and easily overcome. I love them more than words could ever express, and as Emerson so beautifully states, This is my wish for you, “Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life.”

Jake and Ella – have a beautiful life!

We have a great lineup for our summer concert series this year at Westwood Park! Mark your calendar for these dates for a great summer activity that the whole family can enjoy.

Come out tonight for the first concert featuring The Mix!

The Darien Police Department will suspend the Overnight Parking Ban (from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.) for the 4th of July holiday. Effective Thursday, July 4th, at 2 a.m. to Monday, July 8th, at 6 a.m., overnight parking restrictions will be suspended, and parking will be allowed on streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. All other parking restrictions will be in effect during these dates.

City Hall will be closed at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, and all day on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

The 2024 road resurfacing program has been completed. This included 5.2 miles of road resurfacing and your Public Works Department met its goal of finishing prior to the 4th of July holiday. The road program was timed perfectly to allow the concrete company to finish the curb and gutter repair work prior to the road crews starting. Great job to the Public Works Department!

During the week of July 1, refuse collection services on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will NOT be impacted; Thursday - Friday collection service will be postponed by one day. Learn more about LRS holidays here.

The Darien Lions are pleased to invite you to participate in the 53rd Annual Independence Day Parade. Come out and join the community in this celebration of our nation's independence.

The parade route is the same as last year. The parade participants will line up in the Jewel parking lot at 75th and Cass Ave. The parade will begin promptly at 9:30am and will proceed north on Cass Avenue to 71st St. At 71st St, the parade will head east until Clarendon Hills Rd where it will go south toward the end point at Hinsdale South High School. The pick-up of participants after the parade will be at Hinsdale South High School. Learn more here.

Independence Day has finally arrived! We hope you enjoy the celebration, but remember to leave the fireworks to the professionals. Fireworks start an average of 19,000 fires each year and injure thousands of people. Learn more here.

Fortunately, Discover DuPage has compiled all the upcoming firework displays in DuPage County here. Happy Independence Day, Darien!

The DuPage Senior Citizens Council, in partnership with Hinsdale Humane Society, is hosting a clinic for seniors’ pets on Saturday, June 29. The first 200 pets to arrive will be offered rabies vaccines, microchips, pet food, and more! The event will be in the DSCC parking lot at 1990 Springer Drive Lombard, IL 60148. Learn more here or by calling 630-620-0804.

Independence Day is a great time to get outside with your family and friends, but don't forget your sunscreen. Skin cancer is on the rise, but there are lots of ways to protect yourself and have fun in the sun!

The Illinois Department of Transportation has contracted Martam Construction for the curve correction on the I-55 North Frontage Road at Cass Avenue within the City of Darien in DuPage County. The project is underway and is expected to continue through August 30, 2024. The existing informational signs will be revised. Learn more about the road closures and detours here.

The City Council Meeting scheduled for July 1 has been cancelled. Check the community calendar for future meetings.

Residents can now submit their property maintenance concerns on the City’s new online site, OpenGov. This streamlined site allows users a way to submit their property maintenance concerns, commonly referred to as property maintenance violations. In order to access the portal, please visit the City’s website.

In our continuing effort to keep Darien residents informed, the Darien Police Department is introducing Emergency Notifications via text. Please visit our Direct Connect Signup page and provide your cell phone number to receive text notifications in case of an emergency. These texts will be sent at any time (day and night) when an incident within the City may impact the community (e.g. police activity, accidents where there are road closures, etc.). There is no cost to sign up for this service. The Police Department will continue to use X/Twitter for non-urgent notifications.

Darien’s Direct Connect E-Newsletter (DC) is the City’s primary source of information for residents and businesses. Please tell your friends and neighbors about DC, forward this email to them, and ask them to sign up. Signing up is simple and can be done here.

Click on the links below for more information on these upcoming community events!

Darien Garden Club Pollinator Party - June 30: link

Youth Basketball Workouts - July 7, 14, & 21; August 3: link

Darien Stars Program Tryouts - July 8 & 15, July 9 & 16: link

Knights 3 on 3 Tournament - July 28: link

Lacrosse Clinic - July 28: link

Mayor Joe Marchese, (630) 200-2390

Bryon Vana, City Administrator,

City Hall (630) 852-5000

Police Department (630) 971-3999

Public Works Streets & Water (630) 353-8105

Community Development (630) 353-8115

Visit the City of Darien's website for information on City services.

Follow us on Facebook at @CityofDarien.

Follow us on X at @CityofDarien.

Follow the Darien Police Department on X at @DarienPolice.

Join your Darien neighbors on Nextdoor.