Darien Direct Connect E-Newsletter: October 30, 2025

The following email provides timely information on news and services

from the City of Darien.

City of Darien Website

Weekly eNews - October 30, 2025

Mayor's Message

My Son

“When you lose your son, you lose more than a child,

You lose a piece of your heart and your joy.

Life is forever altered, and nothing can fill that space.

Yet in my soul, he remains my precious boy, forever loved.

His laughter, his smile, and his love are woven into who I am.

Though heaven separates us, my love for him will never fade.

Until we meet again, he is my pride and my forever joy!”

- Author Unknown

October 29 marked the one-year anniversary of the loss of our son Jon. Not a day has gone by that we haven’t thought about him, missed his laugh, the sound of his voice, the way he used to hug us, his funny stories and most of all, the love he gave to all of us. They say it gets easier, but the truth is, the reality of knowing that I will never see him again in this life causes an insurmountable grief.

I am fortunate to be surrounded by so many people who I love and who love me; I have a wonderful partner in my wife, two loving sons, two beautiful and loving grandchildren, two loving daughters-in-law, one who loved him dearly, wonderful co-workers and countless friends who have been a source of support for me over the last year. The love I receive from each of them helps pull me through each day, and reminds me that his love still exists in my soul and in my heart, never to diminish.

As the quote above states, “though heaven separates us, my love for him will never fade. Until we meet again, he is my pride and my forever joy.” Thank you to all of you who have been there for me, and my love goes out to all of you who have experienced the loss of a loved one over this last year, remember, they are now our angels looking out for us.

Scroll to the bottom to view Community Events

Happy Halloween!

The City does not have established trick-or-treating hours but recommends trick-or-treating during daylight hours. We suggest residents turn off their outdoor house light when they are finished giving out candy for the night. That will help the trick-of-treaters know to skip your house. Follow these tips from the National Safety Council for a safe Halloween:

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.
Agree on a specific time children should return home.
Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car.
Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.
Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home, and take care to avoid any food allergies.

Darien Lions Club Annual Halloween Party

The Darien Lions Club invites the Darien area youths to attend their annual Halloween Party, to be held at the Darien Sportsplex on Halloween night, October 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Each year more than 1,300 children and 500 ice skaters come out and enjoy a safe and fun-filled Halloween evening, complete with our famous "graveyard," games, a magician, and entertainment galore. And, as in the past, there is no charge to attend this event. Learn more here.

Food Pantry Resources

Local Food Pantries are available to help with the potential interruption in SNAP benefits. If you are able, please consider donating or volunteering during these difficult times.

Our Lady of Peace Food Pantry

701 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL 60561

Sun 8:30 am, per website calendar

(630) 323-4333

Serves Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Food Pantry

8404 S Cass Ave, Darien, IL 60561

Tue & Fri 1–3 PM, per website calendar

(630) 852-3303

Open to anyone in need; perishable donations only during pantry hours.

More resources

Pumpkin Smash at Hinsdale South - November 8

7401 Clarendon Hill Rd

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Don't toss your pumpkins in the landfill, compost them at the Pumpkin Smash event next Saturday at the Hinsdale South High School Stadium Parking Lot right here in the City of Darien! Find more pumpkin composting events on the DuPage County and Scarce websites.

Holiday Artisan Fair this Weekend!

The Hinsdale South Booster Club Holiday Artisan Fair is back this Saturday, and you won’t want to miss it!

Enjoy a festive day of holiday shopping, unique gifts, and handcrafted treasures from local makers at Hinsdale South High School on November 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! Come shop alongside your friends and neighbors and get into the holiday spirit!

Veterans Day Celebration

Join Darien Post 2838 at a celebration honoring ALL Veterans that have served on Tuesday, November 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Darien Community Park.

Originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of WWI, the day was renamed, in 1954, to Veterans Day, to honor all U.S. military veterans. This special holiday celebrates the patriotism, love of country and freedom, and the willingness to serve and sacrifice demonstrated by all veterans. Ceremonies honoring all who served the U.S. Armed Forces are held throughout the U.S. View the event flyer here.

Coyote Awareness

The City of Darien along with the Darien Police Department have been receiving calls about coyote sightings in and around the parks and residential neighborhoods. As a reminder, coyotes are a part of our natural environment, and while they try to avoid human contact, they are more visible this time of year. Learn more.

Ask the Mayor

Do you have a question about City services? Want to better understand a City Council decision? Heard a rumor around town? Send your questions right to Mayor Joseph Marchese!

The City and Mayor Marchese are excited to remind residents about "Ask the Mayor," which promotes transparency and provides residents with facts to encourage understanding and awareness about important issues in our City. We will compile resident questions and share insights every few weeks.

Please send your questions to communications@darienil.gov and stay tuned for answers in the coming weeks! We appreciate and welcome your feedback.

Citizen of the Year

We are gearing up to start the search for the next Citizen of the Year! 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 consider nominating them for this honor.

Like last 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.” Add the following dates to your calendars and check the city's website for the nomination link for your submission.

Saturday, November 1st: Nomination Applications Open

Tuesday, January 6th: Deadline for Submitting Nominations for Citizen of the Year

Friday, March 6th: Celebratory Dinner and Dance at Alpine Banquets in Darien

Now Accepting Applications

For Lateral Entry Police Officers

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Darien is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer (lateral entry). Applicants must have been employed as a full-time law enforcement officer in good standing in another law enforcement agency.

View Application Packet

Fall Yard Waste Reminders

Yard waste (leaf and brush) pick-up is included free with our LRS residential garbage service. Yard waste collection begins April 1 and continues through the second full week of December. It’s collected the same day as garbage and recyclables. Organic food scraps may be mixed into yard waste.

Follow these Yard Waste Guidelines from LRS:

Accepted food scraps include: bread, cereal, coffee grounds, dairy, eggshells, eggs, fruits, grains, pasta shells, and vegetables.
Yard waste bags are to be a minimum of 2-ply, biodegradable paper, not to exceed 30-gallons or 50 pounds when full.
Any non-LRS containers may be used so long as they do not exceed 33 gallons in size or 50 pounds in weight when full. Containers must clearly indicate YARD WASTE.
Yard waste container labels are available at City Hall.
Non-LRS containers must have two handles for lifting. LRS does not recommend using your own container as drivers may use the automated lifting mechanism which may damage your container.
LRS will not repair or replace non-LRS containers used for yard waste.

Head over to the LRS website for more information on Yard Waste, Garbage Collection, Recycling, and more!

CodeRED Emergency Notification System Coming to Darien

In our continuing effort to keep Darien residents informed, the Darien Police Department is changing the company used to provide Emergency Notifications via texts. These texts will be sent by the the company CodeRED when an incident within the City may impact the community. CodeRED will ensure rapid and reliable emergency notifications no matter the time of day (or night). There is no cost to sign up for this service.

The Police Department will continue to use X/Twitter for non-urgent notifications. Stay tuned for more information in coming weeks.

Illinois' Electric Vehicle Rebate

The Illinois EPA opened the current rebate application cycle on October 28, 2025. This rebate application cycle will close on January 31, 2026.

Eligible Illinois residents that meet income thresholds established in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act (EV Rebate Act) and that purchase a new or used all-electric vehicle whose base purchase or selling price does not exceed $80,000 from an Illinois licensed dealer may be eligible for an Illinois' Electric Vehicle Rebate. The Illinois EPA has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document to answer questions about the program.

Learn more and apply here.

Darien Youth Club Celebrates 65 Years!

Darien Youth Club is celebrating 65 years with an anniversary party on Saturday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m.! See the full flyer here and RSVP here.

Holiday Light Recycling

If you come across broken holiday lights while decorating your home for Halloween, hold on to them! In just a couple weeks, the Holiday Light Recycling Program will kick-off.

You can start dropping off your lights on Monday, November 10, at the Darien Police Department at 1710 Plainfield Rd. Please do not use plastic bags, just place your holiday lights directly in the bins. Holiday Light recycling will go until February, 2026.

Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting

Mark your calendars for the Darien Community Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting on November 16 at the Darien Historical Society! This event starts at 1:00 p.m. with fun activites, followed by the arrival of Santa, story time, caroling, and more. Finally, you won't want to miss the magic of the Tree Lighting at 4:00 pm!

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.