Darien Native Wins Metropolitan Opera CompetitionA Q&A with Janai Brugger, winner of the 2012 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Darien Playground Gets Second Life in HaitiThe group Kids Around the World dismantled a playground from Darien Community Park and reassembled it at an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Darien Man Threatens Neighbor with KnifeThis is the second time Darien police said they have intervened in a fight between Anthony LaMontagna and neighbors in the past 10 months. City Council to Reconsider Ditch Repairs Along Poplar and BentleyTwo of the five ditch …

1. 75th Street Construction to Begin in March 2012 It’s been in the works for a long time, but the first phase of the 75th Street widening project to hit Darien is scheduled to begin in March.   2. Borizov Attorneys Restart Push for Nodarse Records Johnny Borizov’s defense team made a renewed push for Jacob Nodarse’s mental health records during a Wednesday hearing. The plea deal Nodarse reached in September for his role in the murders of three members of the Kramer family requires him to testify during Borizov’s trial.   3. Power Aggregation Referendum Could Get Second Chance Residents voted…

1. City Expects Tax Rate Increase, But Amount Residents Pay to Hold Steady The city tax rate is expected to go up, but the amount residents pay will stay the same because of falling property values, the city said Monday. The Administrative and Finance Committee voted to recommend a tax levy for fiscal year 2012 equal to this year’s levy. 2. Chicago Marathon: 34 Darien Residents Cross the Finish Line Thirty-four Darien residents exhibited super-human strength by finishing the Chicago Marathon. Moderate temperatures made for a pleasant race day. 3. Eisenhower Students Unite Against Bullying …

1. Citing Mental Illness, Nodarse Pleads Guilty to Role in Triple Murder Just a little more than a year and a half since the murders of Michael, Jeffrey and Lori Kramer, Jacob Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill to gunning down the three family members in their Darien home. Nodarse now faces a minimum of 45 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. Sentencing has been delayed until the trial of codefendant Johnny Borizov. 2. City Council Approves Police Chief Appointment by 4-3 Vote The city council voted to confirm Chicago police veteran Ernest Brown as Darien’s new …

1. Remembering 9/11 Throughout Darien, residents honored the memory of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Tom Jones, a long time Darien resident, told the story of how he escaped from the south tower of the World Trade Center at the Darien-Woodridge and Tri-State fire protection districts’ ceremonies. DarienFest shut down the rides and games for a 20-minute tribute to the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Lace Elementary School students and staff planted nearly 600 flags in front of the school. A local Muslim-American woman whose brother is on the landscape team for the Sept. 11 …

1. New Argonne Research Facility Could Bring 1,000 Jobs to Area Argonne National Laboratory broke ground Tuesday on a new protein crystallization facility that, between construction and research positions, could bring more than 1,000 jobs to the Darien area. 2. Local World Trade Center Survivor to Address 9/11 Observation The Darien-Woodridge Fire District announced they received a steel I-beam from one of the Twin Towers, which they will display in a memorial to be dedicated on Sept. 11. A Darien man who escaped from the second tower will speak at the event. 3. Darien Man Is a No-show in …

1. Plea Anticipated in Nodarse Murder Case Lawyers for Jacob Nodarse, accused of gunning down three members of a Darien family, said at a hearing Wednesday they’re working on a plea deal. The details, however, are still under wraps. 2. District 68, 99 Bus Issues Continue for Second Day All was not smooth as classes started for District 99 students. Buses failed to pick up and drop off students in a timely manner both Wednesday and Thursday. 3. Committee Proposes Driving Street Repairs With Ditch Priority List Flood-prone streets might be getting a reprieve sooner rather than later. The …

1. District 86 Schools Fail to Meet Federal Standards Both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South fell below the 85 percent threshold mandated by No Child Left Behind. 2. Angelman Syndrome Group Nears Finish Line in Vivint Gives Back Project With less than a week left to vote, Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics holds on to the lead in its quest for $250,000 in funding. 3. Darien City Council Moves Forward with High Road Ditch Repairs Though ditch projects were nixed this year at a city council meeting in early August, last Monday the board reconsidered—and approved—repairs along High …

1. Darien Resident, World War II Vet Takes Honor Flight to D.C. World War II veteran and Darien resident Bob Delaney joined more than 90 area veterans on a one-day trip to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. 2. Administrative-Finance Committee Reviews Audit Report Draft The city’s long-term debt plan came up for discussion as the Administrative and Finance Committee reviewed a draft of the fiscal year 2011 audit report. 3. Judge Requests Written Briefs From Both Sides In Barrett Case Judge Thomas Dudgeon says he won’t make a decision in the records dispute between District 86 …

1. Investigation Continues into Tuesday's Fatal Motorcycle Crash A 51-year-old Woodridge man died after his motorcycle collided with an SUV near Plainfield and Lemont Roads, police said. It could be up to two weeks, however, before reconstruction crews can determine the cause of the crash, police said. 2. Warrant Issued for Darien Man Charged with Hate Crime A warrant was issued for the arrest of Ali Akel, the Darien man police charged with a hate crime for an incident at a Woodridge gas station, after he failed to appear at a hearing July 25. 3. Loyola's Darien Health Center Moves to Burr …

1. D86 Board President: Skoda 'Ringmaster' of Monday's 'Political Circus' To say sparks flew at last Monday’s District 86 School Board Meeting is an understatement. The drama continued throughout the week as accusations flew. 2. Citizen Committee Begins Reviewing Police Chief Applications The city has received about 140 applications for police chief. About 100 candidates who live in state are getting a closer look from the citizen search committee. 3. Coyote Sightings Suggest Increased Aggression, Risk Posed for Small Pets City officials said a number of residents have reported coyote …

1. Updated: 3 Seriously Injured in Accident at Plainfield Road and Route 83 Two cars were involved in what fire personnel are calling an “apparent head-on collision” Wednesday morning. The investigation into the accident’s cause is ongoing, and Patch will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.   2. Updated: Lots of Limbs Reported Down in Darien, Cleanup Begins A quick but powerful storm pushed through Darien Monday morning with winds in excess of 65 mph, according to National Weather Service reports. Electricity was out for days in some parts of Darien.   3. Cass…

1. Deaf Man Rescued from Sewer Near Bruce Lake The Darien-Woodridge Fire District orchestrated a dramatic Fourth of July rescue after a 20-year-old deaf man, who also has autism, climbed into a sewer along Plainfield Road.  2. Darien Police Encounter Staffing Challenges During Second Quarter The active summer season, compounded by an unusually high number of officers on leave, is putting stress on the Darien Police Department. 3. West Nile Found in Mosquitoes in Lemont OK, it’s not Darien, but bugs don’t exactly respect city boundaries. DuPage County health officials found West Nile positive …

1. Police Chief Pavelchik Announces Retirement After 33 years on the Darien force, Police Chief Robert Pavelchik announced his retirement, effective May 31. Mayor Kathleen Weaver said she has not yet made a decision as to who will fill Pavelchik’s role.  2. Quinn: Energy Efficiency, Independence the ‘Challenge of Our Lifetime’ As part of his Earth Week tour of sites in Illinois that promote sustainability, Gov. Pat Quinn visited labs at Argonne Wednesday. Quinn emphasized alternative fuel research as a key to securing Illinois’ position as a leader in industry. 3. Darien Musician Andrew …

1. District 86 Grapples With Millions in Projected Repairs A debate over air conditioning got heated Monday during the District 86 School Board meeting. The estimated cost of anticipated infrastructure improvements at Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central is about $40 million, which includes the price of AC.  2. City Approves New Garbage Pickup Service City Council voted Monday to approve Veolia Environmental as Darien’s new waste removal service. Veolia will take over for Allied Waste April 1. 3. Blizzard Cleanup Costs Come in Under Budget Though snow removal efforts continued throughout the …

1. Snowmageddon 2011 It probably goes without saying that the biggest story of the week was the massive blizzard that dumped more than 16 inches of snow on the area, according to the National Weather Service in Romeoville. A Darien-Woodridge fire truck got stuck in a subdivision, while plows had to lead the way for Tri-State’s ambulances. Between 1,100 and 1,300 people were without power for two to four hours, according to Public Works and the Darien police. But neither the police nor any of the fire districts reported any major injuries or accidents. 2. Darien Digs Out Once the snow stopped…

1. Mayor Weaver Places Bet with Wisconsin Mayor on Outcome of Bears/Packers Matchup Bears fever swept Darien last week. But sadly it looks like Mayor Kathleen Weaver will be sporting a Packers jersey on an upcoming afternoon. The Darien mayor placed a wager with Oak Creek, WI, Mayor Dick Bolender on the outcome of Sunday's big game. Unfortunately, the Bears lost to the Packers 21-14. 2. SmashBurger Sets its Sights on Darien A new hamburger chain will likely open its doors in Darien this spring. SmashBurger has selected a site on 75th Street as its second Illinois location. 3. Robert Klein …

1. Darien Soldier Returns from Second Tour in Afghanistan Students from District 61 greeted Maj. Marc Provenzano last Monday as he returned from his second tour in Afghanistan. The father of four children who attend District 61 schools served as commander of the U.S. Army 909th Forward Surgical Team during his 10-month deployment. 2. Illinois' Income Tax Hike and You Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly voted to approve a 67 percent increase in the state income tax. Patch broke down what the hike will mean for Darien residents. 3. With Love and Determination, Kids4Good Helps Support…

1. $5.75M Winning Lottery Ticket Sold in Darien Someone is $5.75 million richer after buying a winning lottery ticket at the Minuteman Citgo in Darien—but we don’t know who yet. Once a winner comes forward, lottery officials have to verify all the information before releasing the name. 2. Firefighter Injured Battling Woodmere Garage Fire A firefighter slipped and fell on ice, injuring his shoulder while combating a blaze in a Woodmere townhouse in Darien, fire officials from the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District said. No one was injured by the fire, however, including one person who …

1. New Year, New Laws: Nearly 200 Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 Trying to score K2, the so-called "legal marijuana"? Well, it's not legal anymore in Illinois. The new drug law was just one of 200 laws that went into effect in Illinois on New Year's Day. Also on the books: pension reform and tougher penalties for DUIs. 2. Two Charged in Christmas Eve Home Break-in A Darien family came home Christmas Eve to find one basement window broken, the garage door open and two men driving away from the scene, police said. The family recognized one of the men, a minor, and according to the report, Woodridge …