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 Message from Mayor Goczkowski
I hope you all had as wonderful a time as I did at last week’s Harvest Hoot at Oakton College. We were treated to beautiful weather, and I thoroughly enjoyed the food trucks, live entertainment, artisan market, and costume contest. It’s always a joy to see residents come together and celebrate the season in Des Plaines.
Speaking of costumes, Halloween is right around the corner. As you head out for trick-or-treating, remember to keep safety in mind. You’ll find tips below to help make the evening enjoyable for everyone.
Thinking about safety also means being prepared for the unexpected. The Des Plaines Police Department is now offering Smart911, a free service that lets residents share important household information with first responders to help them better prepare for emergencies. You can create your profile at desplainesil.gov/Smart911.
After Halloween, residents can help give their pumpkins a second life at the City’s annual Pumpkin Smash composting event on Saturday, November 7. Held in partnership with the Des Plaines Park District, the event provides an opportunity to keep pumpkins out of landfills and support the City’s sustainability efforts.
In the meantime, please share this e-news with your family, friends, and neighbors, and encourage them to subscribe. If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me at 847-391-5301 or agoczkowski@desplainesil.gov.
Yours in service,
Andrew Goczkowski
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Shred Event and DEA Take Back Day Both Set for Tomorrow (October 24)
On Saturday, October 24, take advantage of two important community events focused on responsible disposal. Help protect your privacy and keep harmful substances out of our environment.
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Community Paper Shredding Event
Join us for the City’s Fall Shred Event on Saturday, October 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Public Works facility (1111 Joseph J. Schwab Road). Safely dispose of sensitive documents and help reduce landfill waste.
Visit desplainesil.gov/sustainability to learn more.
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DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Des Plaines Police Department is hosting a free prescription drug take back event on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the link between City Hall and the Police Department as part of DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Visit dea.gov/takebackday to learn more.
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Halloween in Des Plaines
The City of Des Plaines does not set designated hours for trick-or-treating on October 31. Parents are encouraged to stay alert after sunset and take steps to help ensure an enjoyable evening for everyone. A full list of safety tips is available at desplainesil.gov/halloween. Residents can also find printable flyers on the site to indicate whether their house is participating in trick-or-treating.
As families head out for Halloween, the Des Plaines Fire Department reminds residents to be careful with open flames and decorations. Using electric candles or glow sticks and keeping decorations away from heat sources helps everyone in the community enjoy a fun and safe holiday.
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Squash Halloween Waste At Pumpkin Smash
Don’t be scared by Halloween cleanup! In partnership with the Des Plaines Park District, we’re hosting the Pumpkin Smash composting event on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the north parking lot of Prairie Lakes Community Center (515 E Thacker Street). Just toss your pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, and gourds into the designated dumpster, and WasteNot Compost will do the rest.
The City is also collecting plastic and foil candy wrappers for recycling both at the Pumpkin Smash event and in a special drop-off bin in the City Hall lobby throughout November. It’s a simple way to keep those wrappers where they belong and avoid post-Halloween mess.
Visit desplainesil.gov/sustainability to learn more.
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New Service from Des Plaines Police: Create Your Smart911 Safety Profile
The Des Plaines Police Department, in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Emergency Communications Center, is now offering residents the opportunity to create a Smart911 Safety Profile. This free, voluntary service lets you securely share important information that emergency personnel can access when you call 911 in Des Plaines, helping first responders better understand your needs and respond more effectively.
Your Smart911 profile can include information that may be helpful during an emergency, such as medical conditions, at-risk household members, emergency contacts, home access challenges, and pets.
For more information or to create your profile, visit desplainesil.gov/Smart911.
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Reminder: Curbside Leaf Collection Service
The City of Des Plaines’ bulk curbside leaf collection program is now underway and will continue through December 2, weather permitting. Please note that this program is separate from LRS’s weekly pickup.
Residents should rake leaves into a neat, continuous row in the street by 6 a.m. on their scheduled collection day, about one foot from the curb and away from storm drains. Residents along major streets should place leaves in the parkway instead. (View the list of streets requiring parkway placement).
Bagged leaves may also be dropped off at the Public Works facility at 1111 Joseph J. Schwab (Campground) Road from October 19 through December 18, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Collection schedules vary by zone. For pickup dates, drop-off information, maps and complete leaf-collection guidelines, visit desplainesil.gov/leafcollection.
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Chamber of Commerce Hosting Fall Career Fair on November 4
The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry is hosting a fall career fair at the Des Plaines Public Library from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4. Employers with job opportunities in fields including administration. customer service, manufacturing, and more will be in attendance. Attendees who pre-register will be entered in a drawing for gift cards and other prizes.
Visit the Chamber of Commerce website for more information or to register.
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In Case You Missed It: Des Plaines History Center Flora, Fauna, and Us Exhibit
From April through August, the Des Plaines History Center’s Flora, Fauna, and Us exhibit explored how nature and human activity have shaped our local landscape, from Ice Age megafauna to the effects of urbanization and modern conservation efforts.
Missed the exhibit or want to take another look? Watch our video recap below! The exhibit also featured unique specimens on loan from the Field Museum and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Hours for the History Center are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and to learn about their current exhibits, visit desplaineshistory.org.
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Upcoming Meetings and Reminders
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10/24 - Community Paper Shredding Event | 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Public Works
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10/24 - DEA Community Take Back Day | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Police Department
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10/31 - Halloween | The City does not have designated hours for trick-or-treating
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11/2 - Regular City Council Meeting | 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
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11/7 - Pumpkin Smash | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prairie Lakes Community Center
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11/11 - Veterans Day | City offices closed; no impact on refuse collection
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11/16 - Regular City Council Meeting | 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
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City of Des Plaines
Phone 847.391.5300 |
1420 Miner Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016 |
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