Yard Waste Pickup Ends Next Week

The final week for yard waste and leaf pickup will be the week of Dec. 13. Your final pickup for 2021 will be on your pickup day of the week.

“Light Up Wheaton” Decorating Contest Registration Ends Friday

The “Light Up Wheaton” decorating contest registration ends Friday, Dec. 10. All are welcome to be added to a special tour map of decorated places around the community. Entries will be voted upon through the Wheaton Park District and the City of Wheaton Facebook platforms. Award winners will receive $100 in local gift cards.

Visit the Wheaton Park District’s website for more information on how to register for the decorating contest.

“Christmas Sharing Weekend” is December 10-11

At a recent Wheaton City Council meeting, Mayor Suess presented a proclamation making Dec. 10-11 "Christmas Sharing Weekend" in Wheaton to recognize the efforts of the Christmas Sharing organization. Since 1969, this volunteer organization has assisted families in need within Community Unit School District 200. The organization is partnering with District 200 and Northern Illinois Food Bank for food distribution and gift cards for local families. You can learn more about the organization and how you can help at https://www.christmas-sharing.org.

Electronic Recycling Offered on Saturday

The City of Wheaton in association with e-Works will offer its monthly electronic recycling drop-off event this Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Public Works Storage Yard, 820 W. Liberty (near the Wheaton Police Department). Accepted items include electronics, scrap metals, textiles (shoes, purses, belts, clothes, towels, and sheets) placed in bags, fluorescent tube bulbs and cooking oil. All volunteers, staff, and participants are asked to follow the CDC Covid-19 guidelines.
 
Please see the City's website for full instructions and for how to pre-pay for recycling TVs and monitors.

City Parkway Tree Pruning Program Underway for 2021-2022 Season

The City’s Parkway Tree Pruning Program is underway for the 2021-2022 season as City crews and the City’s contractor, Winkler’s Tree Service, have started pruning parkway trees in Zone 6 of the Parkway Tree Pruning Program Zone Map. Zone 6 is primarily located south of Roosevelt Road and east of Naperville Road and Blanchard Street and consists of 3,141 parkway trees with trees ranging from 2-inch diameter to 66-inch diameter.
 
Residents will be notified periodically about pruning in their area and can expect to see City owned and contractor owned bucket trucks and chippers in work areas. Signage will be present to notify residents they are entering an active tree pruning work zone.
 
Visit the City’s website for more information about the Parkway Tree Pruning Program.

Wheaton Police Department Provides Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

If you are planning on shopping in-person this season, please remember that there are still those who wish to ruin your holiday season by stealing from you. The Wheaton Police Department recommends you minimize your chances of being victimized by:

• Never leaving your purse or wallet unattended in a shopping cart, even when you're only a few feet away browsing. Thieves can be swift and only need a brief moment while you're distracted.
• Never leaving your gifts or purchases visible in your car. It is safer to lock the items in the trunk. Otherwise place the items in the footwell area and cover with something to hide them.
• Keeping an eye on your credit card. Store employees rarely need to leave the register or point of sale with your credit card. Even when a waiter or waitress takes your credit card the register is typically in public view. It only takes seconds to copy the credit card information or use a card reader to quickly swipe the card's magnetic strip.

• Tracking your packages and having neighbors or relatives move your delivered packages indoors as soon as possible when not at home.
• Leaving special delivery instructions to have packages placed out of sight of potential thieves.
• Having a video doorbell to deter potential thieves.
• If you experience a theft or suspect a theft has occurred, then you should:
  • Confirm with the carrier that a package was delivered.
  • Check video surveillance (doorbell or other) and confirm a package was delivered and stolen. Video evidence is always helpful, especially when it has the suspect, a vehicle, or a license plate to provide investigative leads.
  • Call 9-1-1 to make a theft report.

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Increasing in DuPage County

As of Tuesday, Dec. 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that DuPage County has seen a 126% increase in COVID-19 cases and a 52% increase in hospitalizations (65 additional patients) related to COVID-19 illness in the past week, and the positivity rates are now at 6.26%.
 
Visit the DuPage County Health Department’s website for information on how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including getting vaccinated and receiving a booster, masking, distancing, and getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19.