The following email provides timely information on news and services
from the City of Darien.
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Weekly eNews - October 12, 2023 |
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Mayor's Message
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
- Winston Churchill
The City of Darien conducts a search every year for an individual who has dedicated themselves to enriching our Darien Community through their participation in a social, service, educational or religious organization. The Citizen of the Year Committee asks that you nominate an individual whose service in one or more of these groups goes “above and beyond the call of duty,” and demonstrates through their work a true love for the City of Darien. While the committee will be looking for an individual with a lengthy history of service, this is not a “legacy” award; and individuals of all ages can be nominated for this honor. Nominations will be accepted up to Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Citizen of the Year nominees must be Darien residents and cannot currently be an elected official.
This year, the individual selected by the committee will be honored at our “Darien Honors Celebration,” which will take place on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Alpine Banquet Hall. This year, we will not only be honoring our Citizen of the Year, we will be paying tribute to individuals, selected by their organizations as their “member of the year.” Organizations such as the Darien Lions, Darien Woman’s Club, Rotary and Chamber of Commerce will each be presenting an individual selected by their organization for their outstanding service to their club and the City of Darien. Our city has as its motto, "Darien, A nice place to live,” due to the efforts of many of our wonderful volunteers, and this year we want to acknowledge their efforts at our “new” honors celebration. Our City website will detail the application process in the coming weeks, so please take some time to review this application and give thought to nominating someone who, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, makes a life by what they give.
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UPDATE: Road Work at 67th Street and Clarendon Hills Road
Last month, we announced work at the intersection of 67th Street and Clarendon Hills Road would be taking place. The long-awaited stoplight at 67th Street and Clarendon Hills Road was activated this morning.
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence is more than physical violence. It can include threats, harassment, putting someone down, pressuring someone around sex, controlling finances, and other tactics to gain power and control.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 4 men in the United States report having experienced severe physical violence from a partner in their lifetime. Everyone knows someone harmed by domestic violence, and it’s up to all of us to create a better, safer world. Learn how to get started here.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 to provide free, confidential help. Call the hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text " START" to 88788 to get connected. |
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Branch Pickup: October 23 - 27
The City of Darien is pleased to be able to offer FREE BRANCH PICKUP for all residents within our boundaries. To help keep the streets clean and our crews on schedule, please stack the branches neatly by the curb on the Sunday before the pickup week. The chipper can accept branches up to 6” in diameter. This month is the final pickup scheduled in 2023 and it will occur during the week of October 23 - 27. Learn More.
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Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips
Free candy? Count us in! But first, let's talk about how to trick-or-treat safely on Halloween. Whether you are dressing up and knocking on doors or you'll be out driving on Halloween, you can take the following steps from the National Safety Council to ensure everyone's safety:
If you're trick-or-treating...
- If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
- Opt for nontoxic Halloween makeup over masks, which can obscure vision; always test makeup in a small area first to see if any irritation develops
- A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
If you're out driving...
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
- Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
Find more tips here and stay safe and spooky! |
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Halloween Fun with the Park District
Join the Darien Park District for their spooky celebration, Halloween for Ghouls & Goblins, on Thursday, October 26, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This party is for little ones, 2 - 5 year olds. There will be activities, pizza, trick-or-treating, and more! Registration is required. Learn more here. |
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Darien Lions Club/Darien Park District
Halloween Event
The Darien Lions Club and Darien Park District will host a Halloween Party on Halloween Night, Tuesday, October 31 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Darien Sportsplex, 451 Plainfield Road. There will be games with prizes, ice skating and an ice cream social. Admission is free, courtesy of the Lions Club. View Flyer
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Eco-Friendly Halloween Decoration Ideas
Have an environmentally-friendly Halloween this year with these eco-friendly Halloween decoration Ideas. Instead of buying materials for decorations, reuse or repurpose items you have around the house. Here are some examples:
- Turn stockings with runs into spider-webbing
- Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
- Clean Styrofoam and make Halloween masks
- Turn cardboard boxes into tombstones
- Make other creative decorations from netting from bags of oranges, cotton balls, leaves and branches from the yard, etc
- Reuse your decorations from the previous year
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Darien Garden Club's NexTrex
Community Challenge
Plastic bags and plastic films are not acceptable in our curbside recycling, but many are indeed recyclable. The Darien Garden Club is participating in the NexTrex Community Challenge to spread the word and keep these plastic items out of our landfills. The challenge is to recycle five hundred pounds of plastic (per NexTrex guidelines) during a six-month period. If we achieve this goal, we will be rewarded with a sturdy bench from the Trex corporation made from recycled plastic. We intend to place the bench at our Sprouts Learning Garden on the Grounds of St. John Lutheran Church where our newly formed children’s garden club meets. If successful we can repeat the program and earn additional benches for the community.
A collection bin is now located on the front porch of the Darien Police Department. There is also a “drive-thru” drop-off located near the exit of the St. John Lutheran Church parking lot, 7214 S. Cass Avenue, Darien IL. Instructions for acceptable items are posted on the collection bins and complete information can be found at nextrex.com. Thank you for helping us and our environment. |
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Seasonal Flu Vaccine
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. Learn more. Check with your local pharmacy for flu vaccine availability. |
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Fall Home Maintenance - Replacing Filters
When the season changes, change your filters! The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors recommends changing your Heating Ventilation and Cooling System (HVAC) filters every three months. Keeping the filters clean and replacing them regularly can ensure that your home will stay warm and cozy throughout the colder months.
It is important to use the correct type of filter for your system, so be sure to check and pick one that fits your unit. If you aren’t sure what type of filter you need, check to see if there is a label on your unit with instructions about filter replacement or contact a professional. Learn more about filter replacement here. |
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City Council - October 16
City Council will meet on Monday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall at 1702 Plainfield Road.
The agenda will be posted here.
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Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing - October 18
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Darien will hold a public hearing on October 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road.
The hearing involves a petition from Woodland Glen Development, LLC to request approval of a rezone. Read the full notice here. |
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
Click on the links below for more information on these upcoming community events! |
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October 13, 14, & 15 - Darien Lions Club Candy Day: link
October 14 & 15 - Angela's Crafts & Pumpkin Patch!: link
October 15 - Oaktober Celebration: link
October 21 - Rotary Club Recycling Event: link
October 25 - DGC Sprouts Gardening with Three Sisters Gardening: link
November 6 - Darien Garden Club Meeting: 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 |
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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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