I’m not prone to writer's block, like some journalists are. The words typically flow easily, sometimes too easily, and I end up with a story I have to chop to a manageable size. It’s Thursday night as I write this, though, and for the first time in my 21 months with Darien Patch, I’m at a loss for words. Friday is my last day with Darien Patch. This column is difficult to write because I’ve fallen so deeply in love with this community. I feel different about Darien every day, just as a relationship with a husband or child evolves over time. Some days, I can’t stop giggling, like the time …
Darien didn’t even crack the top 20 in West Suburban Living’s list of “Top Towns in which to Live.” The top spot went to our neighbors to the north in Hinsdale. Good for them. But you know what? I, and a lot of you I bet, have a quibble with the magazine’s rankings. They’re based on statistics, such as home values, high school ACT scores and how many people have library cards. While there’s some inherent value to data, we know there’s so much more to what makes a community wonderful. A couple of numbers just can’t encapsulate the character of Darien. So, I present to you, my top five …
During the last period on the first day of seventh grade, the teacher assigned me a seat behind Brian. He turned around and smiled at me. My heart was his. Every day I looked forward to taking my seat. He usually got to class before me. I worried if he didn’t. The smiles turned to conversations, and he became my friend. I patiently harbored a crush for months, memorizing the line of his short-cropped hair as I stared at the back of his head instead of the chalkboard. At age 12, I didn’t really think about what would happen if he did return my feelings. That wasn’t important. What was …
As I write this on Friday night, I’ve just gotten home from Eisenhower Junior High’s annual Pop Show, where students get the chance to sing solo versions of popular songs. I can’t think of a better way to have spent the eve of the first anniversary of Darien Patch. The Pop Show exemplifies the spirit of Darien: people coming together to support each other and celebrate their passions. There was so much energy and excitement in that room. You could just tell this was one of those special nights those kids will always remember. They sang their hearts out. I often think I have the best job in …
We're excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses, and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors …
For most Americans — at least those of us old enough to remember — it seems like it was yesterday. And it’s a date that will forever be etched into our memories: Sept. 11, 2001. The deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil divided our history into pre- and post-9/11. From the war on terror and the thousands of brave servicemen and women who have given their lives to keep America safe, to a shifting political landscape, the events of that day have forever changed our country. The attacks touched all Americans, not just the ones who were in New York or Washington or a field in Pennsylvania …
Whenever I see more than a couple of police cars gathered in one place, I know it's something big. When those police cars surround an abandoned van on the side of the road? I know it's something really big. I saw just such a scene as I left a restaurant Wednesday after dining outside on an unseasonably cool August evening. On Wooster Road in Rocky River, OH, just past its intersection with Detroit Road, a collection of police cars gathered around a cream colored, full-sized van. I instinctively grabbed for my BlackBerry and snapped the best picture I could from my dad's moving car. When I got…
As the summer rolls along, we wanted to take the time to remind you why Patch is here and what this site is all about. Simply put, it's about you. We've built Patch so that you have plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share your opinions, post photos and announcements, and add events to the community calendar. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So get to it! 1. Comment on an Article We believe that "news is a conversation." Often a deeper story emerges after readers begin commenting on published articles. Your comments let us …
It's June, which means most of us have made a dent in our spring cleaning -- which also means garage and yard sale season is in full swing. Here at Darien Patch we pride ourselves on local, useful information. That includes who has books for a bargain, a dresser in their driveway or some clothes laid out on the lawn. Posting your garage sale on Darien Patch is easy ... and even better yet, it's free. You must be registered on Patch and logged in to enter an event, so do that first at darien-il.patch.com/login. (If you're signing up for a new account, remember that our Terms of Use do not …
Chief Bob Pavelchik has been at the helm of the Darien Police Department for nine years, and with the city’s force for 33. Having just met him in October, I haven’t had much time to get to know him. But I feel very lucky that I’ve worked with him even that short time. I knew I could always count on Pavelchik to tell me things straight. He was patient with me in a way many officers from other departments aren’t with reporters. At the city council meeting where I learned of Pavelchik’s retirement, I asked him to share the most memorable moment from his tenure with the Darien police force. He …
Somewhere, Pomp and Circumstance is playing, and someone is struggling to keep that mortarboard in place. It's graduation season, and whether it's your preschooler moving on to the big K, or your college senior heading out into the real world, you can brag about it on Darien Patch. First, make sure you are a registered user of your Patch (if you aren't, click on Sign Up in the top right corner of the home page). Once you are logged in, scroll to the bottom of the home page and under Contribute on the right side, click "Announce something to everyone." In the announcement template, fill out …
Luckily, at my prom, I didn’t have plans to save the last dance for anyone in particular. Throughout the night, the DJ played late-90s prom staples from Whitney Houston, Chumbawamba and Celine Dion. Then came the kicker: C’mon ‘N Ride It (The Train)—the song that demands you “come on ride the train, it’s the choo choo!” Choo choo, indeed. Something mid-song made the DJ mad, so he got on the mic, told us that was it and hustled the crowd out of the banquet hall. Prom! Bigger and better memories are yet to be made in the years after prom, but there are few as-universal rites of passage for …
Patch at its best is an open forum for Darien residents to read about and discuss the news most important to them—the news about their hometown. It’s fantastic that so many people have commented on the election information that’s been posted within the past week on Patch. For all the talk of voter apathy in this day and age, it’s great to see an engaged public that cares about their town. However, in order to ensure that Patch is a place for open and valuable dialogue, I have a few reminders: Commenters must post under their real names. It’s in the Patch Terms of Use, to which users must …
Big Patch news today: Patch’s parent company, AOL, announced Monday morning its agreement to acquire news website The Huffington Post for $315 million. The deal is scheduled to go through within the next few months. At a 22 percent growth rate last year, The Huffington Post was one of the fastest growing websites on the Internet. To put that in perspective, Twitter grew 18 percent in 2010. HuffPost founder Arianna Huffington will lead a new division at AOL called The Huffington Post Media Group, which will include Huffington Post, PopEater, Moviefone, MapQuest, TechCrunch, Black Voices, …
Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Darien Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to lauren.williamson@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information Nominator's Name Nominator's E-Mail …
Moms, we want to talk to you. And we want you to talk to us. Often. We know you've got wisdom to share—not just with your children, but with other moms facing the same challenges, dilemmas, joys and opportunities you've encountered. Although it seems like you can do everything (it really, really seems that way—we never stop being amazed by it), it wouldn't hurt to have some fellow moms around to share ideas and advice. Here's the deal: Starting very soon, we're going to be offering a lot of information we hope you'll find useful. Tips and stories on everything from finding the best …
With less than 48 hours until Christmas, Darien Patch is ready to spread some holiday cheer. I'll be popping up around town today handing out Patch treats as a special holiday gift to the wonderful people in Darien. Keep an eye out for me with a big Patch tote bag. If you don't see me around town, stop by Harry's Sweat Shop in Chestnut Court. Not only is the store offering free gift wrapping for any purchases bought at the mall, you'll also get a Patch goodie. (The Frugal Muse also has some Patch treats to give away.) Patch can't wait to make your day a little bit merrier.
Darien's stepping up to honor our Veteran's today with a number of events. I just got back from Lace School, where 10 members of VFW Post 2838 participated in an assembly that taught students first hand what it's like on the front lines. The school arranged a satellite chat with an active serviceman in Afghanistan whose family lives in Darien (more on that later today). But recognition of our troops shouldn't be just a once yearly event. Patch is proud today to announce a partnership with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a charity that provides financial, rehabilitation and transitional …
Here at Patch, community comes first. We strive to be the best resource we can for the information you want about the people and places you care about most. We also know no one knows Darien better than the people who live here, so to tap into that collective community knowledge, we're starting a new feature called Q&A. Q&A allows Darien Patch readers to post their queries and get responses from other local readers. You'll get the answer you need from the people who know Darien best -- your friends and neighbors. The Q&A tab sits in the navigation bar near the top of each Patch page, between …
Just a little more than six weeks ago, I set foot in Darien as its Patch editor for the first time. I've been to Darien many times in the past—shopping at Brookhaven Market, taking advantage of the Tuesday night pizza special at Home Run Inn. But now that I am tasked with more than passing through for a deal on pizza, I've begun to really see what the City of Darien is all about. Rarely have I encountered a town with such a strong sense of community. The people I've met over the past few weeks have welcomed me to town with open arms. Already, I see people I know each time I go to an event. It…
