Do you have Christmas lihgts that are tangled and broken?  Don't throw them in the garbage - recycle them!  The City of Darien has again partnered with Elgin Recycling to offer our residents free recycling of holiday lights!  Last year Darien residents recycled 1873 pounds of Holiday Lights.  Not only did this keep them from ending up in the landfill, the city made a profit of $280.95. 

All light colors and strand lengths will be accepted. Items include mini-lights (Italian lights), C7 lights, C9 lights, rope lights, LED lights, and extension cords.   (Please - no CFLs).  Now through February 7th you may bring your lights to the Darien Police Department lobby at 1710 Plainfield Road Monday thru Friday from 7am to 7pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 7am to 3pm.  For more information please call 630-353-8115 or visit www.elginrecycling.com

Vehicle stickers are not required in the City of Darien, but are available for your convenience.  The donation is $3.00 per sticker, and this year all proceeds benefit the Darien Chamber of Commerce.  Stickers are currently available at City Hall and the Police Department.  For more information please call 630-852-5000.

The first 100 residents to purchase the sticker from City Hall will receive at FREE Shop Local Shop Darien Preferred Card! 

Coyotes are a permanent fixture in DuPage County's rural, suburban and urban areas. Seeing a coyote cross a field, backyard, road or golf course does not necessarily constitute a problem or dangerous situation, either for humans or domestic animals. Coyotes will be more active and more visible in late-winter/early spring during their breeding seasons. Most coyotes are harmless; their goal is to eat more natural foods such as mice and rabbits. However, coyotes are opportunistic. If coyotes see easy food - such as open garbage- and aren't afraid, they may take advantage. That puts them in direct line for a confrontation with pets. Coyotes are not interested in eating pets, these are territorial disputes. There have been recent reports of small family dogs that were killed by coyotes in neighboring towns. Studies have shown that attempts at eliminating all coyotes are not practical, economical or workable. When coyotes are removed others quickly move in.

For more information on Coyotes you can visit the DuPage County Forest Preserve District at www.dupageforest.com or the City of Darien website. 

A new Illinois law bans the use of any electronic device held in the driver's hand while driving. This includes, but is not limited to, hand-held wireless telephones, hand-held personal digital assistants, portable or mobile computers and hand held GPS systems. In addition, drivers may not read or scroll through an iPod, other mobile music device or use a Kindle or other e-reader while driving. Global positioning or other navigational systems or devices that are physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle may be utilized while driving. Cell phones must be in "hands free" mode to be legally used by a driver operating a motor vehicle on any highway in Illinois.