The following email provides timely information on news and services
from the City of Darien.
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Weekly eNews - November 14, 2024 | |
Darien is … A Nice Place to Live
Someone once said that they thought our motto, “Darien, A Nice Place to Live,” was rather corny; they felt that compared to other towns and cities it did nothing to really identify the qualities of life within our city. My answer to that characterization is that individual grossly underestimates how well that saying actually describes every element of our city.
Our city epitomizes a volunteer spirit not found in every municipality; we have a community where our service and social groups, whether individually or together provide programs and activities that work to enhance the lives of all of our residents. Our July 4 th Parade, Halloween Party, Food Basket Program, Tree Lighting among other activities are each organized and run by various community groups, and this does not include what is done by the city, the chamber, businesses, our park district and our local churches. If there is a need in our community, there is a group that will work to fill that need.
Let’s talk about our public safety and our municipal services. Find a community where the public demonstrates the respect shown to our police officers, who put themselves in harm’s way in order to provide Darien residents with a safe living environment. Find a community where you can go out and feel as safe as you do in Darien. What about our public works staff; drive through various communities during the winter, and tell me if you can find one with better snow plowing services than Darien. During the spring and summer months, examine our medians along 75th and observe the beautiful plantings that add color and beauty to our streetscape, along with the visual improvements at the intersection of Cass and Plainfield Roads, that is the work of our Public Works Department.
I can go on; our churches, aforementioned park district, business community, access to major highways, along with a city government that is transparent and works to serve the residents in Darien within a well-developed city budget, all work to serve our community. Our city’s focus is on you, our residents, and in turn you add, through your dedication to our city, to making Darien a nice place to live.
Through my most recent family loss, your phone calls, emails, sympathy cards and your presence worked to lessen an unbearable grief. The love expressed by this community to my family spoke volumes as to what a quality living environment really is; it is a community of people who look out for one another and go to the aid of their neighbor when there is a need. You, our residents provide the best rationale for our motto; “Darien…A Nice Place to Live.”
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Scroll to the bottom to view Community Events | |
Darien's Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration
Mayor Marchese and the Darien City Council invite you to attend the Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration at the Darien Historical Society. The ceremony will begin on Sunday, November 17, at 1:00 p.m. and will include the tree lighting, face painting, hot chocolate, Santa, and more! A big thanks to the Darien Lions Club, the Darien Historical Society, the Darien Garden Club, and the Indian Prairie Library for working together with the City to offer this event to the community!
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Veterans Day Ceremony
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Veterans Day Ceremony this past Monday, to honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served our country. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.
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Thanksgiving Cooking Safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. Follow these tips to make sure your home is safe and fun this holiday season!
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
- The NFPA also discourages the use of turkey fryers that use oil as they can cause devastating burns. If you want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, NFPA recommends using a fryer that does not use oil or purchasing a fried turkey from a store.
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Avoid Holiday Scams this Winter
With the holiday season fast approaching, here are some tips so you can avoid getting scammed this winter. Scammers see this time of year as the perfect time to take advantage of shoppers. Here are some tips to help you outsmart those bah-humbug scammers and donate safely.
- Use credit cards when purchasing gifts online. Credit cards offer more protection than debit cards when purchasing items online. Many credit cards offer benefits, like protection for returns and purchases. If unauthorized charges pop up on your statement, you’ll be able to dispute those charges just like you would if you had a charge you didn't recognize on your Medicare Summary Notice.
- Buy Gift Cards directly from the retailer. Be careful where you purchase your gift cards. Fraudsters have been known to tamper with the gift cards displayed in grocery stores. Your best bet is to buy gift cards directly from the retailer at their register or on their website.
- Research charities before you donate. During the holidays there is always the generous spirit of donating to a charity. Make sure your donation goes where you want it to, not into the hands of a scammer. If someone calls, asking you to give to a charity, don’t let them rush you into making a donation. Instead, research the charity to make sure your donation counts.
As always, never give out your personal information over the phone or on the internet if you do not know the person you are speaking with. Learn more holiday shopping tips from the Federal Trade Commission.
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Congratulations to The Darien Swarm
Earlier this month, the 10U & 12U Darien Swarm football teams both won the Illinois 2024 Pop Warner State championships. Then, this past weekend they competed in the Midwest regionals. Now, they are just one step away from going to the Nationals in Orlando, Florida December 11-14th! The Darien Swarm cheerleaders are state champions as well. Congrats to all our young athletes and good luck to the 12U team against Ohio this weekend! Follow their progress here.
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Open Enrollment for Medicare
Choose your 2025 Medicare Plan by December 7 when the open enrollment plan ends. Don't wait until the last minute, find all the options at medicare.gov.
Find additional information and assistance at the DuPage County Health Department website or by calling (630) 682-7400. Or, get help comparing plans from the Senior Health Insurance Program counselors through DuPage County Community Services. Call (630) 407-6500 between 8:30am and 4:30pm on weekdays to schedule an appointment.
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America Recycles Day - November 15
We all want a beautiful community, and we can each do our part to help by reducing, reusing, and recycling as much as possible. But what can be recycled and what can't? It can be confusing! Keep America Beautiful can help you test your recycling smarts with their quiz. Who knows, you might learn something new! Take the Quiz Here.
By choosing to purchase items packaged in aluminum or glass, you are helping to support a clean environment when you recycle them. Learn more about how and what to recycle in our community from LRS, our Waste Management Service Provider, on their website and get recycling today!
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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.
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Recycle Holiday Lights
Pulling out the Christmas decorations? Don't throw out those old lights! Christmas light recycling through Elgin Recycling will be available outside the Darien Police Department, starting Friday, November 10th through mid-February.
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Community Food Resources
Food is a huge focus during holiday celebrations, but many families have difficulty accessing healthy, affordable food. Community organizations, such as West Suburban Community Pantry, offer help and hope throughout the year. DuPage County offers a full list of food pantries and additional resources at 211dupage.gov.
Whether you are looking to make a donation or you could use some help this season, please reach out to an organization near you. Everyone deserves access to food and everyone needs help sometimes.
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November is Pancreatic Cancer
Awareness Month
More than 66,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024 and it is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. That breaks down to 180 people diagnosed every day. That is why it is so important to know your risk and talk to your doctor when you have any concerns about your health. Learn more about the disease here.
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City Council Meeting - November 18
City Council will be meeting on Monday November 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road. The agenda will be posted here.
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Planning and Zoning Meeting - Canceled
The Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting scheduled for November 20 has been canceled. See all future meetings on the Community Calendar.
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Be in the Know - Help Spread the Word
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.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
Click on the links below for more information on these upcoming community events!
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DYC Volleyball Registration is OPEN for 2024/25 (view flyer): link
DYC Soccer Registration is OPEN for 2024/25: link
Darien Woman’s Club Fall Member Registration is now OPEN: link
Tree Lighting Ceremony - November 17: (view flyer): link
DGC Sprouts: A Creative Eventing - November 20: link
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Darien Police Weekly Press Release
The Darien Police Department issues a press release each week.
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Darien Events and Happenings | |
Check out the City Calendar for information on upcoming meetings and events
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Check out the Community Calendar for the news on events from Darien community organizations!
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(630) 353-8114
City Hall (630) 852-5000
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Visit the City of Darien's website for information on City services.
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