Above / Autumn colors along the Riverwalk will be changing to their natural brilliance soon. (PN File Photo)
Cheers to autumn!
Discover many golden opportunities for shopping, dining, fundraising and sporting events from all points N.E.W.S. Enjoy the ever-changing colors everywhere in the great outdoors.
Downtown Naperville is always a happening place, chock full of reasons to window shop and go inside, too. From the Main Street Promenade to Washington Corners to Water Street and all points in between, find plenty of reasons to shop, dine, check out books and be entertained by all the new arrivals in the city’s central business district.
Note Halloween Hop!, the upcoming trick or treat fun planned for young goblins and other costumed Halloweeners from 10AM to Noon on Sun., Oct. 29, in downtown Naperville.
Or venture north or south along Washington Street or Route 59 to find one shopping destination after another. And in the spirit of public safety, always pay attention! Drive carefully. Remember the speed limit is 25 mph in all Naperville neighborhoods unless otherwise posted.
When headed to CityGate Centre on the City’s northwest side to enjoy its array of restaurant choices, we’re accustomed to taking the “back way” along Raymond Drive to Ferry Road, a more direct way for us.
The other day, however, we took Route 59 to Top Golf and WhirlyBall near I-88 and were reminded of the traffic configuration known as “Diverging Diamond Interchange” that may create a little confusion for first-time users. We found we drove with extra caution.
Curious just now for this commentary, we checked and discovered the innovative diverging diamond interchange (DDI) was installed in 2015 to enhance safe traffic flow on and off I-88. The DDI in Naperville was the first of four in Illinois and among the first 50 installed in 19 states throughout the nation between 2009 and 2015.
Furthermore, 168 DDIs are now operational throughout the U.S., with most states across the nation having at least one. (FYI: Missouri was the first state to finish a DDI in 2009. To date, Missouri has completed 18, more than any other state.) Another 41 DDIs are in progress, with three more planned in Illinois.
This talk of road designs to help prevent crashes also brings to mind a chance to remind readers to drive sober, to never text and drive and to always buckle up for safety. Kindly talk to teens in your life about public safety, too.
Safety tips also apply for the home. Woven throughout this issue are many ways to take precautions, mindful that accidents and threats—either manmade or from Mother Nature—to our safety can and do happen here.
To keep safe in our city where we’re blessed with accredited public safety departments, staffed by professionals and volunteers, all of us residents need to pay attention and be prudent, too.
The annual Public Safety Open House (ICYMI: Click here for an overview with photos of the 2023 family-friendly event held at the Public Safety Campus on Sept. 23.) also is a good time every autumn to meet up with local first responders and volunteers who are dedicated to keep this community safe.
For starters, memorize the Crime Stoppers phone number (630) 420-6006. And consider sound advice from McGruff and Sparky.
Note also the annual Citizens Appreciate Public Safety (CAPS) Awards Dinner for the Naperville Fire Department is slated for 6PM on Thurs., Oct. 5, in the Pavilion at Mesón Sabika.
As always, thanks for reading. Be safe and healthful. Enjoy the changing season.
– Stephanie Penick
PN Publisher
