Darien Direct Connect E-Newsletter: August 10, 2023

The following email provides timely information on news and services

from the City of Darien.

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Weekly eNews - August 10, 2023

Mayor's Message

“An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you.”

- Goi Nasu

The Chamber of Commerce will be holding our annual Darienfest celebration August 10-13 at the Darien Plaza (QBar) Parking lot, and my hope is for great weather, good music and an enjoyable and safe weekend for all attendees.

This will be our 35th Darienfest celebration, and having attended each of these events, I always try to find something different, something unique to each of these fest weekends. Maybe it’s the food, a musical group or some happening that reminds me of that specific fest. If I go back 35 years, I can fill a journal with all the memories I have of Darienfest weekends. Were they all perfect, no, but rather than complain, I prefer to adopt a positive attitude, and to always find a way to enjoy each fest weekend.

There will be some who will look at this event and this weekend through a negative “lens;” maybe they don’t like the location, the food or maybe they just don’t care for the large crowd or gathering of people that takes place with each Darienfest. Rather than looking for a positive and taking some time to possibly enjoy one or more aspects of the fest, they will allow a negative attitude to keep them from enjoying this event.

As the saying goes, “An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you.” As with so many things in life, we often waylay our potential to see the goodness surrounding us due to our inability to rid ourselves of the negativity in our lives. As I stated earlier, Darienfest is not a perfect event, but if we look at it in a new light; as a way of getting out of the house, spending time with friends and family, we will find that we have given ourselves a chance to have a wonderful weekend.

I hope to see you there!

Road Work - 67th St. & Clarendon Hills Rd.

There will be limited ongoing road delays at 67th St. & Clarendon Hills Rd. due to Com Ed utility work.

The Traffic Signals will not be activated for several weeks, due to Com Ed, AT&T and Comcast.
Sod will begin to be placed after September 1.
Pedestrian Signals- Further safety enhancements include a pedestrian crosswalk on Clarendon Hills Road south of Roger Road.
The crosswalks fronting Hinsdale South High School are being modified and will also include pedestrian signals.

Planning and Zoning Commission

Public Hearing - August 16

The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on August 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1702 Plainfield Road, Darien, IL 60561.

The purpose of the public hearing will be to hear testimony from interested persons and make a recommendation on CASE NO. PZC2023-05 and CASE NO. PZC2023-06. View details of both cases here.

In-person attendance at Planning and Zoning Commission meetings is allowed and you are encouraged to participate by submitting questions and comments via email to the City Planner Jordan Yanke.

Darien Connections - The Fall Edition

The Fall edition of Darien Connections, the City’s print newsletter, should be arriving in your mailboxes if it hasn't already! When it arrives, be sure to check it out for helpful tips, fun events, important community updates, and more. You can also check it out online here.

Thank you for Supporting National Night Out

Thanks to all who attended National Night Out! It was a great night to support our Darien Police Department.

Darien Rocks the Greens Summer Concerts at Carriage Greens

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy some music and fun at Carriage Greens last week! Mark your calendars for the next show on August 31 with Reckless!

COVID-19 Test Scams

The Department of Health and Human Services ended the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, 2023. At home COVID-19 tests will no longer covered by Medicare as of that date.

As the Public Health Emergency came to an end, we have seen an increased number of calls this summer regarding beneficiaries being sent and billed for at home COVID-19 tests that they did not order. These at home COVID-19 test kits are sometimes back dated to be billed before the Public Health Emergency ended.

Scammers will sometimes call beneficiaries over the phone to confirm their Medicare number and personal information under the guise of sending "free" at home COVID-19 tests. Fraudsters are also stealing Medicare numbers and beneficiary information without talking to them and billing Medicare for these fraudulent tests.

We recommend reading your last four (4) Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) and look for any charges that look suspicious from companies or doctors you do not know. If you have received any at home COVID-19 tests that you did not order, please call the Illinois SMP and report those charges.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

Back to School - Bus Safety

School is starting soon and that means you are going to start seeing more school buses on the roads. Be prepared to share the roads by reviewing the tips below:

Yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean slow down — don’t speed up — because the bus is preparing to stop.
Red flashing lights mean stop — and wait at least 20 feet behind the bus — because children are getting on or off the school bus.
Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children and be alert as you back out of a driveway and as you drive around the community.
Learn more here.

You should also talk to your children about bus safety if they will be riding the bus to school this year. Teach them to play it SAFE:

S: Stay five steps away from the curb.

A: Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop.

F: Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.

E: Exit the bus after it stops and look before crossing a street.

DuPage County's Veteran Resource Fair

The DuPage County Recorder and Veterans Assistance Commission of DuPage County are hosting a Veteran's Resource Fair on August 29, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at 421 N County Farm Road; Wheaton, IL.

The event will have refreshments and door prizes as well as over 50 agencies sharing information and resources for veterans in DuPage. See more information here.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

As we enter peak West Nile Virus (WNV) season, it is important to protect yourself against mosquitos! There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people, but you can reduce your risk by preventing mosquito bites. Methods to prevent bites include using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

You can also reduce your risk by reducing mosquito populations in your yard and neighborhood. Here are some steps you can take:

Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
Get rid of old tires, buckets, bottles or any items in your yard that may hold water.
Change the water in bird baths, watering cans, plant pots and drip trays at least once a week.
Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed around your house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
Learn more about preventing West Nile Virus here.

The City of Darien is Hiring

The City is now hiring for the position of Business Liaison and Recruitment Coordinator. This position is responsible for implementation of economic development goals for the city including planning, coordinating and monitoring programs and projects that are designed to retain existing businesses, attract new businesses and secure new economic investment. Learn more about this opening here.