Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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A first look at the 2026 Boardwalk Shops
📸 Credit: April Duda Photography
The Batavia Boardwalk Shops are pretty cool.
For those who aren’t familiar: run by Batavia MainStreet, the incubator program allows early-stage entrepreneurs, small independent businesses, and (occasionally) established local businesses to rent space in a cluster of miniature shops at the corner of Wilson and River streets.
In my opinion, even among the many attributes that set the Tri-Cities area apart from mass Americana, the Boardwalk Shops are exceptional. The program is more than just a nice opportunity for local startups or a fun shopping activity for residents and visitors — it actually works as a business accelerator program.
We see it year in and year out. Several Boardwalk Shop “graduates” open up brick-and-mortar spaces in the Tri-Cities and beyond (I’ll do a deep dive on that topic one of these days).
And now, Batavia MainStreet has announced the Boardwalk Shops are returning for their 2026 season on Friday, May 8 — with 10 new vendors set to make up this year’s lineup. You may recognize a few of them.
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If you’ve been putting off redoing your bathrooms, you’re not alone (my wife and I have been for years).
But if you’re getting tired of the worn-out shower, the layout that never made sense, or the vanity with chipping paint and zero storage, 212° Construction can help you turn that everyday space into something that feels clean and calm — not cringeworthy.
Their 30+ years of Tri-Cities experience and excellent reputation speaks for itself, but it’s also worth checking out these before-and-after bathroom job photos to get a sense of their craftsmanship.
Want to see what a better bathroom could look like? Call Brian at (630) 777-0688 for a free estimate or visit their website.
☑️ Prairie Centre school: St. Charles officials are expected to approve plans for The Gardner School, a new 12K-square-foot childcare facility proposed along Route 38 in the Prairie Centre development.
☑️ Water quality alert: An Illinois EPA news release says PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”) were detected above state standards in the Elburn Community Water System, triggering a legal requirement to notify residents.
☑️ Meet the candidates: During a recent League of Women Voters forum in Batavia, Kane County candidates for sheriff and county board shared how they would approach staffing, budgets, public trust, mental health services, and the county’s long-term priorities if elected.
☑️ Major redevelopment discussion: St. Charles officials are hosting a drop-in public open house on Thursday (2/19) to gather feedback on redevelopment options for the former Police Department site along the downtown riverfront.
☑️ News notes:
Geneva aldermen Rich Marks and Brad Kosirog will host a 2nd Ward community meeting and open house on Wednesday (2/18) at Eaglebrook Country Club from 6-8PM, including a presentation on the city’s public safety referendum.
Geneva officials will also be at Stockholms on Thursday (2/19) from 2:30-4PM for a similar Q&A-style meeting about the referendum. All are welcome at both events.
The deadline to submit an entry form to participate in the STC St. Patrick’s Parade on March 14 has been extended to Friday (12/20).
Congrats to the Geneva High School Varsity Dance Team for placing 5th at the IHSA State Finals.
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☑️ STC radio rivalry: St. Charles North High School recently welcomed US 99.5 Chicago radio personalities for a fun, spirited visit after a producer jokingly said he “hates” the school on air due to a 2008 soccer championship loss.
☑️ Birding season begins: The Forest Preserve District of Kane County announced a slate of spring birding programs running March through May at forest preserves across the area.
☑️ Essence of the Fox: The Friends of the Fox River group has launched its annual Fox River photo contest with a new theme — “Flowing Waters: A River & Its Tributaries.” Here’s what to know before you head out to capture the waterway in all its glory.
☑️ Artistry on display: A group of Batavia-area artists who formed the Batavia Art League (BAL) is getting ready to host its first art exhibition, with their work on display throughout the month of March at Gallery 200 in West Chicago.
☑️ Canopy collab: Thinking about buying a new home this year? A Kane County partnership with The Conservation Foundation can help you get free native trees and shrubs for your new property once you make a move.
✳️ Preschool planning: Considering local preschool options for your 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old? Learn about a typical day at Batavia Covenant Preschool, where kids build confidence through hands-on learning, playground time, music, field trips, and gentle faith-based lessons.
Did I see that temps might reach 60 degrees on Wednesday? Not live-music-on-the-patio weather quite yet, but getting dangerously close…
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A message from Joe Donar, founder of Strongoo
Strongoo is a place of love.
We help people heal pain here. Physical pain. Emotional stress. The quiet pressure that builds from modern life.
We believe pain is like your check-engine light. It’s not something to ignore. It’s something to understand.
At Strongoo, we teach you how to turn that light off yourself.
Through movement. Breath. Community. Recovery. Conversation.
Strongoo is the physical practice for mental health.
It’s where you learn to gently work into the places that hurt to touch. And with enough patience and support, those places soften. Release. Change.
We believe peace isn’t found by pushing through pain. It’s found by learning how to move through it with love.
If you’ve been curious, this is your invitation.
Come feel it for yourself.
We’ll see you soon!
-Joe Donar, founder of Strongoo in Geneva
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☑️ Creative escape: A new St. Charles studio called Art as Alchemy is now open, offering guided art classes designed around reflection, relaxation, and creative growth.
☑️ Shop local for prizes: Downtown Geneva’s Lucky Charms business promo event is back through March 23, encouraging locals to visit local businesses, collect gold coins, and enter raffles for prizes — including Ed Sheeran tickets.
☑️ Pours for a purpose: Geneva's Penrose Brewing and the Illinois PGA Foundation launched a three-year partnership that will rebrand three Penrose drinks and donate a portion of sales to support the Foundation’s programs.
✳️ Spring refresh — local style: Have you seen Urban Artisan’s “Tri-Cities Love” collection? I doubt you’ll find a better spot to discover local-themed decor, gifts, and apparel. Check out their online shop or pop into their Third Street store in Geneva.
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☑️ Looking for new customers? Reach out to explore partnering up with Tri-Cities Central this spring to market your business to nearly 20K local readers and social media followers.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this 151-acre horse farm in Elburn that sold for $5.75 million.
✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
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This section is brought to you by Brother Chimp Brewing — your welcoming, neighborhood taproom with convenient locations in St. Charles and North Aurora. See all of their upcoming events.
☑️ Great Winter Mixer | Wed 2/18, 4:30-6PM | Revelry 675, Batavia | Tri-City Chamber networking with appetizers and a cash bar.
☑️ The Roaring 20’s Talk | Wed 2/18, 7-8PM | Baker Community Center, STC | Enjoy Prohibition-era crime stories from the Fox River Valley.
☑️ Making Music Together | Thu 2/19, 10-11AM | Callahan Community Center, Batavia | Share band and choir memories with local history lovers at this monthly series.
☑️ Special Education Resource Fair | Thu 2/19, 6-7:30PM | Batavia High School | Community resources for parents and students through age 22.
☑️ Strong Towns February Meet and Greet | Thurs 2/19, 7-9PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Meet local folks interested in urbanism, walkability, and city resilience.
🎟️ Love Is In The Air Cabaret | Fri 2/20, 7PM | Playhouse 38, Geneva | Adult cabaret show with live piano (tickets required).
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