Thursday, December 29, 2011
Relax and let the holiday spirit linger a little longer with this awesome version of the classic holiday song.
Even though Christmas happened almost a week ago, we here at Darien Patch are still in the holiday spirit thanks to this awesome video by a group of Hinsdale South students and alumni. Jon Weller, Ryan Jarvis and Jake Novak, who sang together while all three were students at the school, recorded a cover inspired by Rascal Flatts' version of "I'll be Home for Christmas." The beautiful harmonies will put you right back in the mood to cozy up by the tree with your loved ones. Rumor has it they're working on a New Year's song, too. Stay tuned.
Take a peek back at 2011 in Darien through some of the most memorable images of the year.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sometimes the stories that have the most impact are different than the ones that generate the most interest.
Who would have guess that the second most popular story on Darien Patch this year would be about a man who briefly stopped his car on the Interstate 55 ramp before continuing on his way? I wouldn't have. And yep, that's pretty much all there is to that story. Usually the stories that shape our lives are also the ones that keep us riveted to the TV or, in this case, the computer, eager to devour any new tidbit we can find. But sometimes, there's a disconnect. While Darien Patch has also published a comprehensive review of the major events that happened in Darien during 2011, I also thought it would be fun to run a list of the most popular stories this year. Some of them seem like obvious contenders — a couple of them, though, might make you…
Friday, December 23, 2011
For more than 55 years, NORAD has been helping kids follow Santa as he travels the globe.
In just a few hours, Santa Claus will begin his trek around the globe to deliver presents to all the kids who’ve been nice this year. (And let’s face it, the naughty ones will probably wake up to something under the tree, too.) If you want to prepare for when Santa will arrive in Darien, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will again be tracking Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve. NORAD, which normally follows things such as airplanes, missiles and space launches as they fly above North America, got into the Santa-tracking business by accident, according to its website. In 1955, a Sears’ ad printed the phone number of a NORAD (then CONAD) hotline and mistakenly said it was Santa’s number. Children flooded the phone line …
Monday, December 19, 2011
Cats and dogs are part of the family, too.
Holidays are family events, and you may want to include your pets in the gift exchange. If you have small children, they’ll want to know what their pets are getting for Christmas or Hanukkah. So what are some great gift ideas for your four-legged family members? For cats, consider the following: For dogs, here are some of my favorites: These are some of my favorite holiday pet gift ideas. What are you getting your pet for the holiday? 4 Legs and a Leash is a dog walking/running and pet-sitting service. Call 630-915-6912 or email sharon@4legsandaleash.com.
Get ready for the final countdown to the holidays.
Darien City Hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 & Monday, Dec. 26. Trash pickup will happen on Friday but not on Monday, Dec. 26. If you’re scheduled to have your garbage hauled away then, it will be pushed back one day. Indian Prairie Public Library will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24 through Monday, Dec. 26. Brighten your week on the Darien Holiday Lights Tour Tuesday through Thursday. School buses leave from City Hall at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Reservations required, but the tour is free and includes refreshments. Your school district could win big because of your holiday decorations. Enter the Patch Deck the House contest for a chance to win $100,000 for Darien schools.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Get out the lights and holly. Your decorating could net $100,000 to our schools.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Patch.com is launching a nationwide contest to find the best dressed home in its Patch communities, and the winner’s school district will receive $100,000, no strings attached. Here’s how the contest works. Beginning on Dec. 8 and continuing through Dec. 26, you can nominate your home by uploading a photo to the contest entry form on the site. During that same time period you and your neighbors will also be able to vote for your favorite festive home. The winning entry will be forwarded to a national Patch judge that will select 24 finalists. Each finalist will receive $500 that they can apply to their December electric bill. From Dec. 30 through Jan. 8 you will be able to vote for the Best Decked House in all of Patch. The grand prize …
Patch chatted with the singers Sunday after the Darien Tree Lighting.
The mood was merry Sunday at the Darien Tree Lighting at Old Lace School. We caught up with the afternoon's entertainment, the Eisenhower Junior High choir, to find out their favorite things about the holidays.
41.753303
-87.97388
Darien Historical Society
7422 S Cass Ave, Darien, IL
/articles/video-ejh-choir-members-share-their-favorite-things-about-the-holidays
1351761
/locations/5968530
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Students made cards and wrote letters to Illinois men and women who will be serving at Landstuhl Medical Center over the holidays.
A little bit of holiday cheer will soon make the long journey from Darien to Germany. Cass Junior High students made holiday cards this week that Gov. Pat Quinn will hand deliver to service men and women from Illinois who are spending the holiday season working as medical personnel at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The school decided to participate in the project after receiving a letter from the governor’s office, said fifth-grade science teacher Theresa West. “So how can you turn that down?” she said. All four fifth-grade classes wrote letters and crafted cards for the service members, as did many students in other grades. The project is a great way to give the students a more personal understanding of military service, West said…
41.733202
-87.977555
Cass Junior High School
8502 Bailey Rd, Darien, IL
/articles/gov-quinn-taking-special-delivery-from-cass-to-servicemen-overseas
1708559
/locations/5962332
With more people on vacation, burglars have more opportunities to cause trouble. But the department has tips to keep your home safe.
It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Most people you ask would agree — kids get presents, parents get lots of family time and criminals get lots of homes whose owners are out of town. Wait. Yep. It can be a boon time for bad guys, too. Early sunsets and holiday vacations make homes potentially more vulnerable to burglars during the holiday season. But following a few tips from the Darien Police Department can help prevent your home from becoming a veritable holiday stocking for criminals looking for trouble. “I hate to say be on your toes during the holidays, but when more people are traveling and more people are coming and going, it opens the door,” Officer Nick Skweres said. It seems obvious, but a surprising number …
41.766785
-87.953114
Darien Police Department
1702 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL
/articles/darien-police-department-urges-vigilance-during-the-holidays
1352117
/locations/5937418
JGMB
5:58 pm on Thursday, December 29, 2011
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