Classic Rock Band with Darien Ties Named 'Best of the Burbs'

ARRA bassist and Darien resident Steve Latka chats with Patch.

For more than two decades, ARRA has been rolling through the Chicago area, pumping up crowds with covers of classic rock favorites from the likes of Aerosmith, Journey and Styx. Last week, fans voted ARRA their favorite classic rock band in SuburbaNites magazine's annual "Best of the Burbs" poll. Patch chatted with ARRA bassist and Darien resident Steve Latka about feeling the fan love, balancing a day job with his music career, and saying goodbye to ZZ Top-style beards.  Patch: How does it make you feel that fans recognized ARRA as their favorite classic rock cover band?  Latka: I feel honored that so many people appreciate our perfomances enough to give us this award. ARRA always gives our audience everything we've got, every show, and …

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Darien VFW Tornado Relief Drive a Massive Success

The post ended the drive early because it has run out of storage space for donated items — even after making a delivery to Harrisburg, IL.

Darien VFW Post 2838 is officially calling its donation drive to help victims of the Harrisburg, IL, tornadoes a success — such a success that Matt Goodwin said they’re ending the effort a week early.  “We have run out of storage space for all of the donations that we’ve received in the last two to three weeks,” he said. “And we’ve already made a trip down to Harrisburg to drop off some items.”  The VFW set up collection sites around Darien for items such as clothes, toys and nonperishable food products to help families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a tornado that hit Harrisburg Feb. 29. Seven people were killed during the storm. A waist-high pile of donations stretched across a wall outside the main office more than a week ago …

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Local Volunteers Shave Their Heads to Support Childhood Cancer Research

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation will be holding a fundraiser at Cass Jr. High to raise money for life-saving research.

The following was submitted by Cass Junior High: It takes a community to cure childhood cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, will host one of its signature head-shaving events at Cass Junior High on March 23, 2012, where students, teachers, local police and firefighters will shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer and raise money for life-saving children’s cancer research. Why all the shaved heads? Worldwide, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it remains the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. With only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric…

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City Council Honors Citizens of the Year Robert and Charleen Vuillaume

The community recognized the Darien couple with cake and coffee at Monday's City Council meeting.

It's been just about six weeks since Robert and Charleen Vuillaume were named Darien's 2012 Citizens of the Year, but the couple is still astonished at the outpouring of admiration they've gotten from the community. "From when first heard about the award, we were nonbelieving, shocked, surprised, very humbled and somewhat embarrassed," Robert said with a smile at Monday's City Council Meeting.  The Vuillaume's modesty, however, is just one aspect of why the Darien Citizens of the Year committee chose to recognize the couple. Darien's City Council and members of the community gathered Monday to honor the Vuillaumes with a resolution and a reception at City Hall. "Robert and Charleen Vuillaume have selflessly given their time, talents and …

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Visions for Vacancies

What Should Fill the Old Hollywood Video Store?

The first in a new weekly series where Patch asks readers how they would fill empty storefronts around Darien.

As Redbox and Netflix pushed into the movie rental business on a wave of value and convenience, they left behind in their wake hundreds of empty storefronts as old stalwarts Hollywood Video and Blockbuster Video closed up shop. Both stores have left Darien — Hollywood Video years ago when the chain closed all its brick and mortar locations, and Blockbuster more recently during a national downsizing. While Back to Bed has shown interest in the old Blockbuster site, Hollywood Video’s former home at Cass and 75th Street still sits vacant. It’s a huge corner space lined with windows on both sides that conceivably could be divided into several smaller stores. So Patch asks you, what would you like to see in the old Hollywood Video storefront? …

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Business Spotlight

Darien Builder Makes Everything Old New Again

Bayern Builders brings homes up-to-date

Joe Wasler always knew he wanted to work with his hands. He planned to be a machinist as his dad had been. After graduating from Hinsdale South High School, Wasler enrolled at College of DuPage. He studied the trades, including drafting and welding, learning to run lathes. While at COD, Wasler worked for two different fuel-injection pump companies. He thought his career was set and left school. But several years of that type of work showed him that it was not what he wanted to do with his life. “I’m not the type of person who likes to stand around and watch metal being cut,” he explained. “I’m not the type of person who likes to sit at a desk and build pumps.” A friend asked Wasler to help him construct a kitchen. Wasler did, and he was …

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Darien VFW Collecting Donations for Downstate Tornado Victims

The group will be accepting clothing, non-perishable items, toiletries, children’s games and toys, and cleaning supplies over the next few weeks.

Darien VFW Post 2838 is collecting donations to help victims of a tornado that devastated the southern Illinois town Harrisburg early Wednesday morning.  The category F4 tornado killed six and injured more than 100 people, according to the Chicago Tribune. Over the next few weeks, Matt Goodwin said the Darien VFW will be accepting clothing, non-perishable items, toiletries, children’s games and toys, and cleaning supplies — especially laundry detergent. The group will use cash or gift card donations to buy items from those categories. “If anyone wishes to donate we would greatly appreciate everything we can help provide,” Goodwin said. Items will be collected at Indian Prairie Public Library, the Darien Police Department and Lace School. …

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Darien Woman's Club Art Fair Celebrates Kids' Creativity

The art fair took place Sunday at Eisenhower Junior High.

The following was submitted by Nicki Belczak:  The Creative Youth Art Fair is staged by the Darien Woman's Club as part of its commitment to contributing to the good of the community. Event Chairwomen Marie Anderson, Gerrie Larson and Gayle Szpytek noted, "In recognizing their artistic efforts, we hope to foster a positive attitude toward creativity and artistic expression in Darien youth, as well as give area children a chance to show their talents to the community at large." This year’s event drew one of our biggest entries ever: 677 pieces of original artwork—paintings, drawings, sculptures and photography—in six media categories, plus poetry, were on display Sunday, Feb. 26, from 2:00–3:30 p.m. at Eisenhower Junior High School. An …

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Business Spotlight

Darien Chiropractor Brings Health into Alignment

Anna Martusciello brings patients 'Higher Health.'

While studying health care at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Anna Martusciello found her calling by accident — literally. One day, a CTA bus slammed into her Volkswagen Super Beetle. Martusciello woke up in the hospital with broken ribs along with cuts, bruises and other injuries. Her 18-year-old body healed quickly. But one year later, she developed stomach ulcers. The medication prescribed by her doctor caused her other problems, including trouble in her digestive tract. And they interfered with her ability to concentrate on her studies. Someone suggested that she see a chiropractor. At first, Martusciello resisted, saying. “That’s for old people with back pain.” But she went to the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, …

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