Thank You for signing up to receive the Darien Direct Connect.  You are receiving valuable and timely city news and events.  If you know of anyone who would benefit from receiving this email as well, please have them sign up at darien.il.us, or call Mary at city hall (630-353-8115) to have their email address added to our list.
  
CITY NEWS
City of Darien Goal Setting Session
The City of Darien will hold it's Goal Setting Session on October 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Darien Police Department, 1710 Plainfield Rd.  This meeting is open to the public. You can view the agenda and information packet on our website.
GO CUBS GO! 
Good Luck in the remaining playoff games!
Nothing Bundt Cakes coming to Darien Pointe
The Darien Pointe Development at Cass & Plainfield is proud to announce that they have secured a new anchor tenant, Nothing Bundt Cakes, which hopes to open in time for the Holidays. They will join Starbucks and Sprint, already open, and Pro-Nails and Lady Janes Haircuts, both planning to open soon.
Last Branch Begins Monday!  
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 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 Positions 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.
Voter Information  
Early Voting will begin on October 24 and run thru November 7.  The closest location to Darien to vote early is Downers Grove Village Hall at 801 Burlington.  Hours to early vote will be Mon. - Fri. from 8:30am to 7:30pm, and Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. 

For more locations to early vote and information on registering to vote visit the DuPage County Election Commission website.
Trick-or-Treat Hours 
The City of Darien does not regulate Trick-or-Treat hours.  We recommend you Trick-or-Treat during daylight hours, and enjoy the Lions Club Halloween party at night.  
Daylight Savings Time    
Daylight savings time begins Sunday, November 7 at 2:00am.  Remember to "Fall Behind" by turning your clocks back one hour.
  
Our Fire Districts also remind people to make another change that could save their lives - change your smoke alarm and CO Detector batteries. Changing these batteries twice a year is the simplest and most effective way to reduce tragic deaths and injuries. After you change the battery, make sure you test it to ensure the alarm is working properly.  
Free Fall Leaf Pickup Under Way 
The City of Darien is again providing fall leaf pick-up FREE OF CHARGE to residents. The program began October 3 and will run thru  November 26 of this year, and takes 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.
 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, November 7
 7:30 p.m.

Monday, November 21
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
Help Keep Leaves out of Storm Sewers  
The City of Darien ask for residents help in keeping street flooding down.  City crews go out and clean catch basins and storm drains in the streets, but they fill up quickly again at this time of year with the falling leaves, which can cause road flooding during storms.  Residents can help keep flooding down by clearing out leaves and debris blocking the storm sewers in front of their homes.
Refuse Can Storage   
The City of Darien code on refuse storage and disposal is as follows:
  • Any refuse, recyclables, or compostable materials placed on the parkway shall be stored in containers or otherwise appropriately secured to ensure that debris or refuse is not scattered by weather, animals, or other causes.
  • Refuse, recyclables or compostable materials stored in approved containers such as kraft bags, may be placed on the parkway 24 hours before the scheduled scavenger service and containers used to store these items shall be removed from the parkway 24 hours after said scavenger service.
  • Containers may not be placed anywhere between the front of the main building, or the side when facing the street, and the street, except during the times specified above
Coyotes In DuPage County    
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. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County reminds DuPage County residents that coyote sightings may increase between now and February as young leave their parents in search of mates and territories to call their own.
 
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
Fireplace Safety Tips 
The City of Darien offers the following fireplace safety guidelines:
  • Clean your chimney once a year
  • Clear away any debris, such as bird nests at the top of the chimney
  • Check the chimney flue for blockages
  • It is recommended that spark arresters be installed on wood burning fireplaces. If you already have spark arresters, be sure they have been installed correctly
  • Be sure all dampers are operational and open and close properly.
  • Keep the screen closed at all times when using the fireplace.
  • Keep the area in front of the fireplace clear of all flammable materials, including paper, wood, or furniture.
  • Never use charcoal lighter fluid or similar liquids to start a fire in the fireplace. These are extremely flammable and quickly become dangerous.
  • Should be Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved

Be sure to contact the Community Development Department at (630) 353-8115 for building permit and inspection requirements for the installation of a new fireplace.

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
Center Cass School District 66 Facilities Plan
The Center Cass School District 66 Board of Education invites residents to learn more about the current Facilities Plan on Monday, Oct. 24 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Elizabeth Ide School, 2000 Manning Rd., Darien, IL 60561.
 
Our schools need repairs and improvements, so the Board of Education is considering a plan to significantly renovate and expand Ide School, as well as Lakeview Jr. High.  The current projected cost of repairs and improvements for each of our three schools is approximately $23.1 million and will require the passage of a referendum in April, 2017.
 
District #61 Regular Board of Education Meeting
Darien Public Schools, District #61 Regular Board of Education Meeting and Closed Session during the Regular Meeting, Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 7:00 P.M at Lace School, 7414 S. Cass Avenue Darien, IL 60561
Mobile Food Pantry coming to Darien Saturday, Oct. 29
Are you or someone you know in need of food assistance? HCS Family Services is hosting a Mobile Pantry on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Darien Village Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road, Darien. The Mobile Pantry, offered in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank, provides nutritious food at no cost to low-income individuals and families in need. Participants are asked to bring bags or boxes in which to pack their food. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Food distribution will begin at 10 a.m.
Founded in 1937, HCS Family Services is a nonprofit organization based in Hinsdale, Illinois that is dedicated to strengthening our community by reducing hunger and promoting self-sufficiency. HCS Family Services provides assistance for hungry neighbors from Downers Grove to Countryside, from Oak Brook to Willowbrook. For more information, log onto www.HCSFamilyServices.org.
Looking for Crafters and Vendors!
The 2016 EJH Craft and Vendor Fair Applications are available! It's that time to plan for the Eisenhower Choir & Sports boosters CRAFT SHOW fundraiser in Darien. If you or someone you know would like to participate please take the time or pass it on! Please note the date of the actual fair is November 12 this year. $35-45.00 for 10x10ft spot depending on your needs and deadline. Payment due at the time of the application. We are asking, if at all possible to for donations to make raffle baskets from each crafter/vendor ahead of time, a description of the item and your business card or contact info. We make great raffle baskets with several items and information for marketing!

Should you have any questions or in need of an application form email: choirboosters61@gmail.com

Please support the Arts & Sports by participating in the Eisenhower Junior High Craft Fair Fundraiser this year!
Indian Prairie Library News & Events
Research Your Roots
October is Family History Month, and IPPL is offering several Genealogy programs throughout the month. 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.

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.
 
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.
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,
Christ the Servant Electronic Recycling & Coat Drive
Christ the Servant will be hosting an electronic recycling event and coat drive  on Saturday, November 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30am, located at 8700 Havens Drive in Woodridge.

They will be taking computers, printers, fax machines, medical equipment, copy machines, hard drives, extension cords, and more. Please note: there will be a charge of $25.00 for TV's under 21", and $35.00 for TV's 21" and over

Gently used coats will be collected for those in need and donated to the Woodridge Food Pantry.

For more information visit their website. 
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! 

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.