🚨🌿 CICADA EMERGENCE 2024 COMING SOON TO ELMHURST 🚨🌿

Get ready, Elmhurst… the much-anticipated emergence of periodical cicadas will be here soon. Brood XIII, also known as the Northern Illinois Brood, will surface after 17 years, last seen in 2007, captivating us with one of the largest cicada emergences worldwide. Cicadas emerge annually in various parts of the eastern United States, with cycles repeating every 13 to 17 years. This year holds special significance as two broods are emerging simultaneously, a phenomenon not witnessed in 221 years.

🔍 Here’s the Buzz: Northern Illinois hosts both annual and periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas, aka “dog day cicadas,” show up every year from July to September. Periodical cicadas have longer lifespans, spending 13 or 17 years underground before a brief 20-25 days as adults. They’re smaller than annual cicadas, maturing at 1.5” in length.

👀 What to Expect: Chicago might see up to 1.3 million cicadas per acre in floodplains and 133,000 per acre in upload areas. Late summer may reveal some tree damage from egg-laying, but it’s natural pruning and won’t harm the tree’s health.

🛡️Recommendations: While the City of Elmhurst will not be covering trees due to the large number of small trees on the parkways, residents may do so if they would like. Avoid insecticides on parkway trees as they’re generally ineffective and harmful to beneficial insects. Don’t fret, cicadas don’t bite or harm humans or pets.

🌟 Final Thoughts: Appreciate this rare and natural spectacle—it only lasts a few weeks and occurs sparingly in our lifetime. Though they may be loud, take a moment to observe this extraordinary emergence.

More information....

Bike Ride & Safety Day - Sunday May 5th 

Join the Elmhurst Walk & Rollers for Bike Safety Day and Rodeo on Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Elmhurst Depot on York Road next to the Prairie Path.  Learn about bike safety, practice your biking skills, and participate in an escorted bike ride.  Registration link

Electric Avenue/Vallette Street Closure

for Central Tri-State Tollway Project

The Illinois Tollway has informed the City of the ongoing construction activities as part of the Illinois Tollway’s Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project. This project aims to reconstruct and widen the roadway from Balmoral Avenue to 95^th Street, replacing old infrastructure and providing congestion relief to meet future transportation demands.

As part of this project, Electric Avenue/Vallette Street will be closed to traffic for approximately 9 days, weather dependent. The closure will be in effect between 7 a.m. on Monday, May 6, and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Electric Avenue/Vallette Street will be closed to traffic west of Coolidge Avenue in the Village of Berkeley and east of Edgewood Avenue in the City of Elmhurst.

Drivers will be advised to utilize St. Charles Road as an alternate to Electric Avenue/Vallette Street. While the local roadway is closed, the Illinois Prairie Path will remain open. Flaggers may be utilized at times to assist trail users while the work takes place. Intermittent lane closures will continue to occur throughout the year, with coordination from flaggers to maintain access for traffic.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this roadway improvement project. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Illinois Tollway’s construction communications team via email at 294tristate@getipass.com or their 24/7 construction hotline at 630-246-2930.

Use Rain as a Resource with Rain Barrels!

Rain barrels are a great way to capture water and put it to good use. The Conservation Foundation sells rain barrels year round. There will be a local pickup the first Saturday of each month from April - September from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Water Reclamation Facility (625 S. Rte. 83 Elmhurst). Barrels can also be purchased in person at The Conservation Foundation’s headquarters at McDonald Farm (10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville). Visit elmhurst.org/rainbarrels for more information.

First Responders Memorial Brick Pavers for Sale

We invite you to honor a loved one or commemorate a special occasion with a permanent engraved brick paver that will be placed in the First Responders Memorial Plaza at Fire Station #2. The bricks are $300 and will be engraved with up to three lines of type. Please visit elmhurst.org/firstrespondersmemorial for more information and to order and pay for your brick!

Citizen Self-Service Portal

The City has launched its new Citizen Self-Service Portal, which is required for all residents, businesses, and contractors to utilize through the permitting and licensing process, as well as zoning entitlements/applications. 

The Citizen Self-Serve Portal is an EnerGov system and was soft launched on March 15th. The full launch is complete, and all users are now required to create a login for their user portal to begin the permit process.

The portal provides users with a robust user interface and helpful tools including a user profile that will allow submitters to track their permit process in real time, upload documents, schedule inspections, and communicate with staff.

By signing up for the City's new Self Service Portal, users can:

• Apply for building permits (fencing, decks, driveways, pools, etc.), upload documents, schedule inspections, communicate with staff, and track your permitting process
• Experience a better user experience on desktop and mobile
• Schedule a building permit inspection
• Special Event Permits
• Liquor Licenses
• Business Licenses
• Zoning Entitlements and Applications

Sign up or access the Citizen Self-Service Portal here. 

Instructions on how to create a Citizen Self-Service account.

View step-by-step directions on how to Apply for a Permit online here.

If you have any questions, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-530-3030.

Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade

The Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in cooperation with the City of Elmhurst and Elmhurst veterans organizations, will host the 106th Elmhurst Memorial Day on Monday, May 27, 2024. This annual event will begin at 9:30 a.m. starting at York & Third St., and will make its way to Wilder Park. Starting from Third Street, the parade will head south on York Street to Second Street, veer east along Robert Palmer Drive through the underpass and west back to York Street, south on York Street to Church Street, west on Church Street to Prospect Avenue and north on Prospect Avenue past the Veterans Memorial. If you have any questions or want an application, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (630) 834-6060, or you can visit their website at elmhurstchamber.org.

Upcoming Meetings at City Hall

City of Elmhurst

630-530-3000 

Weekdays: 8:30am - 5pm

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