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Weekly eNews - November 21, 2023
Mayor's Message
(A Reprint Updated from Thanksgiving 2022)

"Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have."
- Catherine Pulsifier

Today and Every day I am Thankful…

I am thankful for the wonderful woman who has been my partner for the last 50 years.

I am thankful for my three sons, their wives and my two beautiful grandchildren.

I am thankful for the wonderful staff of the University of Chicago Hospitals and their wonderful treatment and care of my son

I am thankful for my good health

I am thankful for my two sisters who still love me even though I was mom’s favorite.

I am thankful for our great Darien Schools, the Indian Prairie Library and the Darien Park District for their dedication to the education and recreational health of our community

I am thankful for the Darien Lions, Darien Rotary, Darien Woman’s Club and all the service, civic and social groups that volunteer to meet the needs of our Darien residents

I am thankful for the people in my life who I call friends, and how they are always there for me and my family

I am thankful for the staff and administration of the City of Darien and how each one of them works so diligently on behalf of our city

I am thankful for the men and women of the Darien Police Department, and the Darien Woodridge and Tri-State Fire Departments who put their lives on the line each day in order to provide us with the safe community we all enjoy

I am thankful for the staff of our Public Works Department who work diligently to keep our community in great working order

I am thankful for our business community and our business owners who run their businesses in the best interest of our residents.

I am thankful for having the trust and confidence of the residents of the city in my role as Mayor of Darien

I am thankful for the contributions of all of our Darien residents who by their devotion to our community have demonstrated why Darien is “A Nice Place to Live.”
Holiday Service Update

City Hall will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

LRS Refuse/Recycling Collection services on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will NOT be postponed. Thursday and Friday collection service will be postponed by one day, so Thursday pick up will happen on Friday and Friday pick up will be on Saturday.
Overnight Parking Ban Suspended for Holiday

The City's overnight parking ban will be suspended from Wednesday, November 22 at 2:00 a.m. to Monday, November 27 at 6:00 a.m. All other parking restrictions will remain in effect.
Thanksgiving - Reduce Food Waste and Compost Food Scraps

Reducing waste over the holidays can be easy! Start by planning to prepare the appropriate amount of food for the number of people you are expecting with portion calculators like the one here. Not only will this reduce wasted, but it can also save you money.

When dinner is over, be sure to store leftovers safely following these tips from foodsafety.gov:

  • Remember the Two-Hour Rule: All perishable items should be refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the oven or refrigerator.
  • Use Small and Shallow Containers: Store leftover food in small, shallow containers in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
  • Freeze or Consume Within Four Days: Use the Monday after Thanksgiving as a reminder that it is the last day you can safely eat leftovers. If you want to keep leftovers longer, freeze them within that four-day period to enjoy later.
  • Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  • Microwave Food Safely: When reheating in the microwave, cover and rotate the food for even heating.

Finally, compost any remaining food waste through the LRS Yard Waste Collection. The following food scraps can be mixed into your yard waste for pick-up: bread, cereal, coffee grounds, dairy, eggshells, eggs, fruits, grains, pasta shells, and vegetables. Yard waste is collected the same day as garbage and recycling and you can learn more about it here.
Small Business Saturday

Plan to shop small this weekend on Small Business Saturday, November 25. Let's celebrate the businesses that call The City of Darien and DuPage County home! Click here to find local businesses.

Shopping small is an opportunity to find unique gifts for the special people in your life while investing in your community. This holiday season, shop small every day to support your community.
Darien Lions Holiday Food
Basket Program

Each year the Darien Lions provide over 300 area families in need with a holiday gift basket filled with perishable and non-perishable goods to make their holiday celebrations special.
Families with children under the age of 12 will also receive gifts for the holiday season!
YOUR DONATIONS MATTER!

Donations can be made by mail to Darien Lions Club Foundation 1702 Plainfield Rd.,
Darien, IL 60561 or via Paypal at @DLCFoundation. View Flyer.
Darien Community Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration

Join Mayor Marchese for the Darien Community Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration on Sunday, December 3 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Darien Historical Society, NW Corner of 76th St. and Cass Ave. There will be lots of family fun for all, topped off with caroling and the tree lighting at 4 p.m.
Nominations Now Open for Darien
Citizen of the Year

The Citizen of the Year Committee is searching for a very special man or woman who has given of themselves to make Darien a "Nice Place to Live"! 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 making Darien a special place, please nominate them for this honor!

This year, we will not only be honoring our Citizen of the Year, we will also be paying tribute to individuals, selected by their organizations as their “member of the year.”

Nominees must be residents of Darien and not currently serving as an elected official. The deadline for nominations to be considered for the current year is Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. Learn More.
Recycle Holiday Lights

Pulling out the Christmas decorations? Don't throw out those old lights! Christmas light recycling through Elgin Recycling will be available outside the Darien Police Department, starting Friday, November 10th through mid-February.
Holiday Lights Decorating Contest

The City of Darien and the Holiday Home Decorating Committee are proud to sponsor the Holiday Lights Decorating Contest. Make this a festive holiday season by brightening our homes and blocks with lots of lights and qualify to win cash prizes!

Residents can nominate neighbors, friends, and even themselves for putting extra effort into decorating their homes for the holiday season.

To nominate a home or block call Diane at 630-353-8102 or email dnoverini@darienil.gov. Nominations must be received by Monday, December 4. View Flyer.
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.
Community News & Events
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Click on the links below for more information on these upcoming community events!
November 18 - Winter Craft Show: link

November 24 - December 20 - Darien Woman's Club Holiday Soap Collection: link

November 29 - Darien Garden Club Sprouts Meeting: link
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Darien Police Weekly Press Release
The Darien Police Department issues a press release each week.
Darien Events and Happenings
Check out the City Calendar for information on upcoming meetings and events
Check out the Community Calendar for the news on events from Darien community organizations!
Connect with us!

Mayor Joe Marchese, (630) 200-2390

Bryon Vana, City Administrator,
(630) 353-8114

City Hall (630) 852-5000

Police Department (630) 971-3999


Community Development (630) 353-8115
Visit the City of Darien's website for information on City services.
Follow us on Facebook at @CityofDarien.
Follow us on Twitter at @CityofDarien.
Follow the Darien Police Department on Twitter at @DarienPolice.
Join your Darien neighbors on Nextdoor.