FEATURED NEWS

City of Wheaton Leaf Collection Reminders

This fall, the City of Wheaton reminds you of the ways you can properly dispose of leaves.

Curbside Collection: Place leaves in containers 35 gallons in size or smaller, or in biodegradable bags. Containers or bags must weigh less than 50 pounds when filled. Each container or bag requires an LRS yard waste/organics/excess garbage sticker, available at City Hall and at many local grocery and hardware stores. LRS collects yard waste, food scraps and organic materials on your garbage day through the second full week of December.
Leaf Cleanup: When you’re cleaning up leaves, please be careful not to blow or rake them into the streets. Doing so can prevent storm sewers from functioning properly and can lead to flooding. If your house is located near a storm sewer catch basin, please help keep it clear by sweeping away leaves and debris from the sewer grate. Burning leaves is not allowed.
Leaf Mulching: An environmentally friendly alternative to bagging leaves is to mulch them into your lawn and/or garden beds. Using a lawnmower with a mulching function can break down leaves into small pieces, allowing them to be either collected and spread into garden beds or finely shredded into lawns to break down.

Latest Gary Avenue Improvement Project Update: Crews Complete Culvert; Work Begins on Bridge Deck

Crews recently finished pouring the remaining sections of the culvert (the structure that allows water to flow under the roadway) and have poured the bridge deck on Gary Avenue over the creek near Prairie Avenue. Work to reconstruct the roadway over the bridge will begin soon. Work has also progressed on the roadway on the north end of the project site with curb being poured. Paving the roadway base for the north part of the project is underway.

The City anticipates this project will be completed in November, with some landscape restoration work to follow in the spring. To view all Gary Avenue Improvement Project updates, please visit www.wheaton.il.us/GaryAvenue.

Stay Safe This Halloween: Trick-or-Treating Hours & Safety Tips

As children throughout our community start getting their costumes ready for Halloween, the City reminds you that the trick-or-treating hours in Wheaton will be 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. Drivers should use extra caution on Halloween to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters.

To promote safety and protect children, the Wheaton Police Department offers the following tips:

Trick-or-treat on one side of the street at a time. Refrain from crossing the street in the middle of the block or between parked cars.
Trick-or-treat while it is light outside. If you must be out after dark, wear light-colored clothing, put reflective tape on your costume and treat bag, and carry a flashlight.
Dress children in non-flammable costumes that fit properly. Avoid wearing facial masks, which obstruct vision. Use face paint and makeup instead.
Trick-or-treat with friends and stay in a group.
An adult or responsible teen should accompany younger children at all times.
Advise children not to enter any residence or vehicle for the promise of anything.
Plan your trick-or-treat routes ahead of time, staying in your immediate neighborhood. Parents, take notice of whom your children are with and the routes they are taking.
Always walk on the sidewalk while trick-or-treating. If there is no sidewalk, keep to the left, next to the curb, and walk single file facing (against) traffic.
Be courteous and respectful of others’ property.
Homeowners should leave outside porch lights on. If you do not want trick-or-treaters to visit your home, turn off your exterior lights, and/or place a “no trick-or-treating here” sign on your door.

The City encourages all residents to celebrate safely and wishes everyone a happy Halloween.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Stay Safe Online

October marks National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an initiative dedicated to educating individuals and organizations about the importance of protecting their digital lives. In today’s world, nearly every aspect of daily life is connected to the internet — whether through computers at work and school, smartphones, or smart devices at home. The following best practices can help you reduce your risk of cybercrime:

Secure Your Devices: Enable privacy and security settings on all devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Keep antivirus software up to date.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid predictable passwords such as “123456” or “password.” Instead, create long, complex combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Be Cautious with Links and Attachments: Phishing attempts often arrive disguised as messages from friends, family, or businesses. Do not click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments. When in doubt, delete the message.
Protect Personal Information: Limit what you share online, and review privacy settings on your social media accounts. Details such as your mother’s maiden name or your car model can be used to answer security questions and gain access to sensitive information.
Review Financial Statements Regularly: Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and report concerns to your financial institution immediately.

For additional tips, visit the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s website.

Apply today - board & commission openings

Get Involved: City of Wheaton Board & Commission Openings

Do you want to make a difference in the Wheaton community? Get involved by applying for an open position on one of the Boards or Commissions. Interested? Apply using the City's online Boards & Commissions Application Form. You can also find out more about the Boards & Commissions, and view current openings, by visiting the City's website.

OTHER NEWS

Water Division Exterior Renovation Project Affecting Traffic Surrounding Building

Now through November, drivers can expect periodic lane closures and traffic pattern changes surrounding the City’s Water Division Building, located on the block bordered by Liberty Drive, Reber Street, Willow Avenue and Cross Street. Crews have started work on an exterior renovation project to replace elements of the Water Division building that have exceeded their expected lifespan and exhibit structural deficiencies. Water service will not be affected, and Public Works Water Division staff will continue providing uninterrupted service throughout this project. For more information, visit the City’s website.

Employment Opportunities

The City of Wheaton has the following employment opportunities available:

Emergency Management Coordinator
Wheaton Police Officers - Lateral

To apply, visit www.wheaton.il.us/Jobs.

Wheaton Public Library’s West Plaza Renovation

An exciting project is underway at the Wheaton Public Library: the renovation of the West Plaza. Welcoming an average of 35,813 visitors each month in 2025, the library is a vibrant community destination, highlighting the importance of creating an even more inviting outdoor space for residents and visitors alike. The West Plaza, long enjoyed for reading, socializing, and attending events, is currently closed for construction as part of an important improvement project supported by a $750,000 federal grant secured by U.S. Congressman Sean Casten from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

When complete, the reimagined West Plaza will provide expanded space for outdoor library programs and community events, a welcoming extension of the library café, and a comfortable place for residents to read, connect, and take part in programs. New features will include an expanded bike rack area with a repair station, a canopy to provide shade for outdoor activities, and other improvements that will make the plaza both functional and inviting.

During construction, the West Plaza and all west-side entrances to the library will remain closed through late fall 2025. Visitors can continue to access the library and café through the main entrance on the east side of the building. I encourage you to check the library’s website or social media for the latest updates. You can also watch this video to hear directly from library staff about the project.

The West Plaza renovation is a lasting investment in our community — one that will bring people together, expand opportunities for programming, and reflect Wheaton’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and creating welcoming public spaces for all.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Community Calendar

Wheaton French Market, Oct. 4, 11, 18, and 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Pavilion near Liberty Drive and Main Street
Downtown Wheaton Chili Cookoff, Saturday, Oct. 4, 1-5 p.m., Downtown Wheaton
Electronic, Scrap Metal, Textile & More Recycling Event, Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-Noon, Public Works Storage Yard, 820 W. Liberty Drive
Touch-A-Truck, Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Downtown Wheaton
Downtown Wheaton Trick-or-Treating, Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Downtown Wheaton

Wheaton Public Library

Register for these events at www.wheatonlibrary.org/calendar. Note: In-person events take place at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St.

Parenting: Being Your Child’s Academic Advocate, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7-8 p.m., Virtual
Concert: Terry Bartolotta Trio, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2-3 p.m., In-Person
Artemis: Returning to the Moon, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7-8 p.m., In-Person & Virtual
Chicagoland Ghosts and Hauntings, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7-8:15 p.m., Virtual
History of Wheaton’s Fairgrounds, Thursday, Oct. 23, 7-8 p.m., In-Person

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

Coffee with Council, Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.
City Council Meeting, Monday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
City Council Planning Session, Monday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
City Council Meeting, Monday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
City Council Planning Session, Monday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

City Council Meetings and Planning Sessions are held in the Council Chambers at Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St. Coffee with Council takes place in the City Hall Gamon Room. Visit www.wheaton.il.us for a complete list of meetings and events.