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CITY NEWS
GO CUBS GO! 
Good Luck to our Chicago Cubs in the Playoffs!
City of Darien 2016 Citizen Survey -
Survey Closes Sunday, October 9. 
The City is in the process of surveying residents about city services and future priorities. Please take the time to complete this brief survey as your feedback is critical in continuing to move the City forward.

Please take the survey by clicking here. 

The last day to take the survey will be Sunday,
October 9, so that the city may tally the results.
City of Darien Election Packets
Packets for the April 4, 2017 Consolidated Election may be picked up at Darien City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road, beginning September 20, 2016.

Available Elected Psitions include:
ALDERMAN for Ward 1, 3, 5, and 7 (4 year term)
ALDERMAN for Ward 4 (unexpired 2 year term)

Candidates are encouraged to seek advice of legal counsel before filing nomination papers, which must be in apparent conformity with the Election Code.  The first day to file is December 12, 2016 at 8:30 A.M. and the last day to file is December 19, 2016 at 5:00 P.M.

Regular business hours at City Hall are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

For more information please call 630-852-5000.
Free Fall Leaf Pickup 
The City of Darien will again be providing fall leaf pick-up FREE OF CHARGE to residents. The program will run thru  November 26 of this year, and will take place weekly on your normal garbage day.

Leaves should be placed in brown kraft yard waste bags or in plastic garbage cans. If garbage cans are used they must have a permanent "YARD WASTE ONLY" label attached to the front of the can so the driver can identify it as leaf pickup. These labels are available free of charge at city hall.

Residents are not permitted to rake leaves into the street. Raking leaves into the street can cause serious local flooding for you and your neighbors. For more information please call 630-852-5000.
2017 Tree Trimming Program  
The City of Darien will be conducting their annual Parkway Tree Trimming Program beginning in December, 2016 in the following areas:
 
This year's tree trimming program consists of trimming approximately 1,750 parkway trees, including Ash trees with dead limbs, approximately 68 tree removals and stump grinding. Below are the subdivisions to be trimmed:

Farmingdale Ridge
Norman Court
Farmingdale South
Brookhaven Manor
Carriage Greens
Pine Parkway
Brookridge Creek
Knottingham Circle Condos
Rosewood
Regency Grove South
Sawmill Creek
Pinehurst
Bailey Park
Smart Oaks Glen
Marco Court
Westminster Circle
Villas of Carriage Greens
Carriage Way West
Lake in the Woods Townhomes
 
 
This year's program also includes contract pricing for the Private Property Tree Trimming Program to all residents. The price for the private property program is $70.00 per tree in the front yard, and $135.00 per tree in the back yard.

Residents may contact Ryan P. Countryman, Homer Tree Care Inc. for private property work at 815-838-0320 or via email at Ryan@homertree.com  beginning Monday, December 2, 2016 through Friday, February 17, 2017.
(Private property tree trimming will not commence until the City's program is complete).
 
For additional information regarding the Tree Trimming Program please contact us at 630-353-8105.
Last Branch Pickup is in October 
2016 BRANCH PICK-UP SCHEDULE
 
October 24th through 28th
 
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. Please do not tie the branches or put in garbage cans. All other yard waste such as grass clippings and flowers should be disposed of through our yard waste program with Advanced Disposal.
 
All branches need to be out by no later than the Sunday night prior to the designated pick up week. The chipping crew can make only one pass and may complete your street as soon as Monday morning.
Residents who are unable to put their branches out prior to the scheduled week can take them to the Municipal Services Facility, located at 1041 S. Frontage Road, and place them in the designated branch location. Branches will be accepted Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.   Landscape companies hired to help with your branches may also take them to Municipal Services.
 
If you have any questions regarding branch pick up, please contact Municipal Services at 630-353-8105.
 
 City Administrator
(630) 353-8114
(630) 852-5000
(630) 971-3999
(630) 852-5000
Mayor
City Clerk
Treasurer
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Thomas Chlystek
Ward 5
Joseph Marchese
Ward 6
Ward 7

City Council Meetings 

Monday, October 17
 7:30 p.m.

Monday, November 7
7:30 p.m.

Official Social Media Links

FACEBOOK: There are several Facebook pages that come up when doing a search for our City page.  Please use this link to "Like" us for city contact information and current city news on the City of Darien Official Facebook Page

TWITTER: The City of Darien Now "Tweets"!  Please follow us on twitter  at  Cityofdarien. 
 
NIXLE: The Nixle  text alert system provides for the City to send out urgent and emergency alerts via text messages.  This a FREE service.  To sign up for Nixle, visit our website and click on the nixle icon.

SMART PHONE APP: The City of Darien smart phone app is now available!  The app will allow easy, mobile access to city information, services and request.  There is also a direct link on this app to Commonwealth Edison website, which is a great source of information during power outages. This FREE app is called Darien Connect, and is available in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store.

Agendas for City and Committee Meetings

The following links will direct you to the City Meeting and Committee agendas and packet information on our website.  Stay informed on City issues and upcoming projects!    

All Agendas

City Meeting info / Minutes on website 
As a reminder to residents, the City's website includes City Council, and various other city committee, meeting agendas, background materials, staff memos/reports, city expenses, monthly financial and meeting minutes. This allows residents to closely follow all of the business conducted by the City.

If you wish to review the Council and committee meeting information simply use the following link:

View Darien Meetings on YouTube!

You may now view city meetings on YouTube by clickng here.

 

Our user name is DarienCableChannel.  You may still access meetings from the links on  our website.

Meet & Greet Mayor Weaver! The third Monday of every month at Darien City Hall from 6 - 7pm
 Find out the latest city updates - Share your thoughts and suggestions. Get involved - Meet  other residents!
View Darien Police Department Weekly Incident Report
You may view the Darien Police Department weekly incident report by  clicking here

View Police Chief   

Monthly Police Report 

You may view the Police Chief's monthly press release by  
 clicking here 

Submit an article for Direct Connect 

You may submit an article for Direct Connect by emailing  mwintermute@darienil.gov
Voter Registration Information   
One of the most convenient ways to register to vote is to download an application and send it in to the DuPage County Election Commission. Simply visit their Website, http://www.dupageco.org/Election/Voters/37059/ download the pdf file, and follow the instructions on filling out and sending the form! The Election Commission's website also allows individuals to check their voter status, check provisional ballots, browse frequently asked questions, check their eligibility to vote, find a registration location, and more.

The City of Darien also offers voter registration services.  To register at City Hall you must have two forms of identification with you - one of which must be photo identification, and one must show your current address such as utility bill.

The last day to register to vote at City Hall will be Tuesday, October 11.  After that time you will have to contact the DuPage County Election Commission. 
Commercial Airlines Fly Quiet Test Program  
Many residents have noticed over the last several weeks that commercial aircraft seem to be flying over our area more frequently and at times at lower altitudes. The change appears to be related to the Fly Quiet Program and the Runway Rotation Test. As part of this program, airlines operating at O'Hare voluntarily agreed to use designated noise abatement flight procedures in an effort to reduce the impacts of aircraft noise on neighborhoods surrounding O'Hare. These changes in flight paths also affect flights out of Midway.

The following link to the Chicago Department of Aviation website will give additional information and details about the program. Individuals are encouraged to provide their feedback by participating in the on-line survey that can be found on the website. The Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test will run through the week of December 18th and the survey will be open during that time.
Squash Bugs     

The squash bug, Anasa tristis, is common throughout the United States. It primarily attacks squash and pumpkins but can also attack other cucurbits, such as cucumbers. Squash bugs overwinter as adults in sheltered places, such as under plant debris, around buildings, or under rocks. When adults emerge in the spring, they fly to growing cucurbit plants to feed and mate.

The most important times to control squash bugs are when the plants are young seedlings and when they are flowering. Squash bugs are less important to control later in the growing season. Late season or fall feeding is not considered serious.
Fall Maintenance Tips 
Fall is the perfect time to take care of the little things that can make a big difference for you and your home. Most of the items listed below are well with-in the average person's ability. But even if you choose to have a professional handle them, it's worth the expense. You'll save money -- and maybe even your life.
  • Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating. This is especially important during the fall season to keep leaves from building up in gutters.
  • Keep flammable materials, including all lawn and power equipment, away from water heaters and wiring in the basement.
  • Insulate water pipes in areas exposed to cold temperatures, and turn up the thermostat during extra cold periods.
  • Check and repair caulking around doors and windows that show signs of deterioration.
  • Have your furnace cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician.
  • Check caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilet bases; and make repairs as needed.
  • Have your chimney cleaned and maintained annually by a professional.
  • Clean and/or replace your furnace filter.
  • Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material.
  • Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible, filled and ready for operation.
  • Store firewood away from home to prevent infestations by termites and other insects 
Argonne Outloud Series    
"Argonne OutLoud" - the lab's public lecture series - highlights the cutting-edge research taking place at Argonne and topics of interest to the community at large. Lectures are free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.
 
Television Recycling thru Advanced Disposal  
With free electronic recycling becoming harder to find, the City of Darien refuse hauler, Advanced Disposal, will be accepting televisions for recycling. 

You must place 5 refuse stickers on each, and call Advanced to let them know you will be placing the TV at the curb on your normal refuse collection day.  If you would like the TV collected outside of your normal refuse day, you can schedule
a special pickup for an additional $25.00 trip charge.

All televisions will be properly disposed of by Advanced Disposal.  Advanced can be reached at 708-409-9700. 
Spread the Word About Direct Connect! 
Providing important city information to Darien residents has been a priority of the Elected Officials and city staff for many years. Our most important resource to distribute information is Darien's weekly E-newsletter, Direct Connect. This provides residents with important community information that is emailed on Fridays. Direct Connect is also sent out periodically when there is important information to provide to residents.

There are approximately 3000 subscribers to Direct Connect. The City's goal is to have 5000 subscribers by the end of 2016. We ask that you please spread the word about Direct Connect and encourage your friends, neighbors, and local groups to sign up. Signing up is simple, just provide any Elected Official or staff member with your email address and we will have you registered. If you prefer to register yourself, you may use the following link: http://www.darien.il.us/Reference-Desk/DirectConnect.aspx.

Please help the City reach our goal!  
COUNTY/STATE/FEDERAL NEWS
Burr Ridge Electronics Recycling Center  
Burr Ride is now a designated Electronics Recycling Collection center.  This collection center is located at the Public Works building at 451 Commerce Street and is sponsored by eWorks ESI, the Village of Burr Ridge, and DuPage County. 

The center is staffed daily from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. There is a fee for all televisions and monitors, which can be paid in advance at http://recycle.eworksesi.org or you may pay the fee onsite.

For a complete list of acceptable items, click here.  "Fly dumping" is NOT permitted.
Lisle Electronic Recycling    
In order to assist DuPage County residents with collecting unwanted electronics and to ensure environmentally-responsible recycling of these devices, DuPage County and the Village of Lisle have partnered with eWorks Electronics Recycling Services, Inc.  to develop an electronics recycling drop-off program to collect electronics on a regular basis.

The Village of Lisle offers a site for electronic recycling the third Saturday of every month, from 8am to 12pm at 925 Burlington Avenue.  Televisions will be collected for a fee that ranges from $25 to $35..  For a complete list of accepted items visit  here. 
DuPage County encourages residents to sign up for Smart911
As the new year draws near, DuPage County officials are asking residents to "resolve to be safe" and sign up for Smart911. Smart911 is a free, confidential service that allows users to create a profile that is activated in participating dispatch centers when a person dials 911. The electronic safety profile provides essential household information about family members, your home, pets and vehicles. This information will display automatically on the 911 call taker's screen when users make an emergency call. It's private and secure, and users control what information is in their profile.
 
Smart 911 is a valuable tool when searching for missing children, assisting unresponsive callers who are unable to speak due to a medical condition, or in a house fire when first responders need to locate and account for family members, pets and essential documents.

Learn more on the DuPage ETSB webpage at www.dupageco.org/smart911 and register at www.smart911.com.
Electronic Recycling Information 
The State of Illinois has banned computers, monitors, printers, televisions, and other electronics from landfills. If any of these items are left curbside, they will not be picked up.  There are many options to responsibly recycle your electronics throughout DuPage County. Residents are encouraged to visit the DuPage County  website or SCARCE for information on how to recycle electronics.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Lions Club Candy Days
Darien Lions Club members and friends will be out in the community, in an effort to raise funds for the vision and hearing impaired on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. People can show their support by giving generously during the 14th and 15th weekend by writing a check, underwriting the cost of a box of candy, or volunteering during the Candy Day weekend! Darien Lions, Thank You in advance for your Support! 
Darien Woman's Club Fall Clothing Resale
The Darien Woman's Club Fall Clothing Resale is coming up!

SHOP THE RESALE on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Lace School, 7414 South Cass Ave
Indian Prairie Library News & Events
Minecraft Mini-Con
Kids and teens in grades 1 and up are invited to join IPPL for their first-ever Minecraft Mini-Con to learn about servers, mods, and more on Monday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
 
Write-On Teen Literary Festival 
Teen writers can submit their poetry, short stories, and/or song lyrics for IPPL's Cool Compositions Contest. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each category. Entry forms are available at www.writeon.ippl.info and at the library's Kids & Teens Ask Us Desk. Entry deadline is Oct. 22. Winners will be announced Nov. 2 during An Evening with Jason Reynolds. Write-on is sponsored by The Gift of Carl Foundation. 
 
Research Your Roots
October is Family History Month, and IPPL is offering several Genealogy programs throughout the month. Learn how to record a personal history and create a keepsake book at Writing Your Family History on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. Learn about FamilySearch.org's online records, learning and help resources, memories gallery, family trees, and genealogies on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. Register for both programs at www.calendar.ippl.info.

Cool Compositions Jr. 
Kids in grades 5 and 6 can submit poetry and short stories for a chance to win a gift card to Barbara's Bookstore. There will be one winner in each category. Entries are due by Oct. 31. Winning entries will be contacted by Nov. 11. Application forms are available online at www.ippl.info > Calendar > Mid-Kids.
Darien Youth Club Basketball & Volleyball Registration
Darien Youth Club Basketball and Vollyball Restration is Now Open!

Basketball is offered for K - through High School - Volleyball is offered for 3rd to 8th grade.  Registration closes October 22.
 
For full information please visit www.darienyouthclub.org  
VFW Nationwide Student Essay COMPETITIONS
Patriot's Pen (Middle School) - "THE AMERICA I BELIEVE IN"

Voice of Democracy (High School) - "MY RESPONSIBILITY TO AMERICA"

Patriot's Pen Essay Competition (6th through 8th grade) Grand Prize $5,000
The Patriot's Pen is open to 6th through 8th grade students. See entry form details. Students submit a self-written essay of 300 - 400 typewritten words in English and based on this year's theme: "THE AMERICA I BELIEVE IN." Deadline is November 1st for submittal to the Darien VFW. Monetary awards are provided. The first-place national award is $5,000 plus an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Competition (high school)
Grand Prize $30,000 Scholarship
The program is open to high school students in grades 9 through 12. See entry form details. Students submit a self-written and recorded three to five minute audio essay, in English, expressing their views on this year's theme: "MY RESPONSIBILITY TO AMERICA." Deadline is November 1 to submit your recorded essay on CD or thumb drive to the Darien VFW. Monetary awards are provided. Qualifying winners receive expense-paid trips to State and National selection banquets.

Entry forms for Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy are available at Darien City Hall, at your school, or by email by contacting the appropriate chairperson listed below.
Entry deadline is November 1.

Patriot's Pen Chair: John at  630-910-3177, email: trvlfshman@sbcglobal.net
Voice of Democracy Chair: Nick at 630-910-8552, email: ndarien@comcast.net,
Shop Local - Shop Darien
The Darien Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce their Shop Local Shop Darien Campaign. We encourage residents to support Darien Chamber businesses that display the Shop Local Shop Darien decal posted in their window. Shop Darien Shop Local Preferred Cards are now on sale for $5 at the Darien Chamber of Commerce office in City Hall or at local Darien Chamber member businesses.  Visit the Chamber at www.darienchamber.com  for all the Shop Local Shop Darien Preferred Offers and Discounts! 

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