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The Belmont railroad crossing closed to traffic today at 5 a.m. and will remain closed until August 12. The closure is due to work on the Belmont underpass, which was postponed last month due to a strike by Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Expect traffic snarls in central Downers Grove to [...]

The Village of Downers Grove is reporting on its website that Laborers’ District Council of Chicago, Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers and a consortium of local contractors have reached a tentative agreement. Local 150 workers went on strike July 1, days before the scheduled closure of the Belmont crossing. That project [...]

Many residents — especially those with small children — practically live at the pool during the hot summer months. So when I stumbled upon this post by Mario Vittone, a marine safety specialist for the Coast Guard, I knew I had to share it with DGreport readers. My kids have taken swim lessons and we’ve [...]

The village has been working non-stop with Com Ed to address the remaining residences without power and hopes to see them restored later today. Bryan Place residents can look to regain power later today, once Com Ed has finished installing a new transformer, said Communications Director Doug Kozlowski, who with Village Manager Dave Fieldman, has [...]

Updated:  11:25 a.m. with new information from Metra The Fairview Avenue grade crossing will be closed through June 5 for emergency repairs, according to the Metra website. A Metra spokesman told the DGreport the Illinois Commerce Commission ordered the Burlington Northern to make the repairs after being alerted to the site’s rough crossing. “The train [...]

Editor’s note: Guest blogger Meat was a witness to the suicide of  a 36-year-old man who jumped in front of the 8:08 a.m. Metra train on May 4, 2006. Like many brushed by a tragedy, his memories of the event are clear, confused and troubled. I have the fortune of being able to walk to [...]

The Downers Grove Rotary Club’s  GroveFest proposal was approved by the village council Tuesday night, ensuring a privately operated alternative to Heritage Fest, which the council suspended last year citing budget issues. The club, which has hosted annual Oktoberfest celebrations and also operated the Heritage Fest Beer Garden for the past five  years, is confident [...]

Updated: 9 a.m. April 9 with bank account information. Aid efforts are underway for displaced residents Fire Chief Jim Jackson told a breath-taking story of courage and cooperation as he recounted for the village council April 6 the department’s mammoth effort against the three-alarm fire that devastated a west-side apartment building in the early morning [...]

Jim Jackson was named chief of the Downers Grove Fire Department today, after serving as acting chief following the August 2009 retirement of Chief Phil Ruscetti. Jackson was one of five finalists chosen to interview for the position following a competitive search.  “Jim Jackson’s outstanding leadership qualities, organizational knowledge and demonstrated commitment to efficiency and [...]

FYI. These talks, presented by the League of Women Voters, are golden opportunities to hear and learn direct from department heads about where they are and what challenges and opportunities they see coming that will effect us all. Wednesday, February 17, 2010 – State of the Downers Grove Fire Department – Speaker: either the new [...]