Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Good morning!
I’ve been waiting for the forecast to cooperate before publishing today’s top story, and upon examining the remainder of May, it appears now is the right time.
Patio season is back. Get excited.
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
Dog-friendly patios near you
📸 Credit: Pollyanna Brewing Company
Right around this time every year, I republish this article with new and updated info on local patios that offer a four-legged plus-one policy.
Some fun additions in 2026: Windmill Grille & Pizzeria just opened a new dog-friendly patio this weekend, Pollyanna Brewing in St. Charles is constructing a new permanent patio as we speak, and Sturdy Shelter’s new deck in Batavia should be opening up at some point in the coming weeks.
And if you’re a long-time reader, you’ll find a few other new spots on this year’s list.
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💨 Before you call the AC guy, read this.
Your AC stops working on the first sweltering day of the season, and your first instinct is to call for help. That’s fair.
But there's a good chance you can fix it yourself in under 10 minutes. State Automatic, a Batavia-based HVAC company serving the Tri-Cities area, coaches customers through this stuff for free every summer.
They shared some of the most common summer AC problems and what to check before you pick up the phone — it’s a worth a quick read before the serious heat sets in.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Downtown dealing: St. Charles officials are considering whether to hand a developer a $340K city-owned downtown lot for free to complete the First Street Redevelopment project, but questions remain before a final decision.
☑️ Surplus land strips: The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is considering auctioning five small parcels along the Fox River in St. Charles after the properties were left stranded when the Fox River Trail was built decades ago.
The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.
☑️ Car wash debated: The St. Charles Plan Commission voted against recommending a Club Car Wash on East Main Street, citing noise and traffic concerns near the Hilton Garden Inn — but the application will head back to committee for another review soon.
☑️ Under investigation: Campton Hills police are investigating a death after officers responding to a disturbance call Friday night found a woman dead on the 4N600 block of Brookside West Drive.
☑️ Not so cold case: A forensic excavation at a South Elgin home connected to the disappearance of 17-year-old Kianna Galvin in 2016 turned up no human remains or new leads, though investigators say the case remains active.
☑️ Kane by the numbers: New data from the Kane County Clerk's Office shows births have fallen by about a third since 2010, deaths remain slightly elevated from pre-pandemic levels, and marriage licenses hit a record high in 2025.
☑️ Solar savings: Kane County's Switch Together group-buying program is back, giving homeowners access to discounted solar panels, battery storage, and EV chargers — with average savings of around $6,300 per installation.
☑️ Traffic updates:
Starting this week, Kirk Road between Geneva and St. Charles will narrow to one lane in each direction as crews shift to inside lane repairs (the project is expected to wrap up by July).
Lane reductions are coming to Route 31 between Cedar and Illinois streets in St. Charles this week as the city makes water main repairs through Thursday.
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☑️ Educator honors: Congratulations are in order for St. Charles North principal Shanna Lewis and St. Charles East counselor Katie Perkins after they were recognized at the 50th Annual Kane County Educator of the Year Awards. Get details and see photos.
☑️ A supportive network: More than 40 organizations turned out for Kane County's Veterans Resource Fair in Batavia, connecting local vets with free services ranging from health and transportation to tax assistance. Learn more and see photos.
☑️ Modern Domestic Woman: The May issue of MDW includes a feature on how Batavia's Kelly Vida is redefining strength and wellness, plus articles from local health experts, homemade recipes, and a packed calendar of local events.
☑️ Getting outdoorsy: The Forest Preserve District of Kane County has a full summer lineup of outdoor programs running through August for all ages, including nature camps, kayaking, fishing clinics, bison walks, and more.
☑️ Parade planning: The Geneva Chamber is accepting parade entry applications through May 15 for the June 28 Swedish Days Parade, which is back on after a group of local businesses stepped up to organize and sponsor a smaller version of the event.
☑️ A smashing good time: The inaugural Pickleball Smash event in North Aurora drew 160+ players and raised $2K for local senior programs — and organizers are already planning the next one.
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The mid-week list is getting longer and longer by the week. Love to see Aurelio’s and Whiskey Bend back in the weekly mix.
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🍳 A mouthwatering breakfast or lunch is even better with a view
You may already love them for the tasty coffee and cozy community vibes, but that’s only half the story.
The kitchen team at Maple Leaf Coffee House on the downtown St. Charles riverfront makes everything from scratch with locally-sourced, organic ingredients — and you can taste the difference. Try something off their breakfast and lunch menu and you’ll wonder why it took you so long to grab a bite.
Bonus: Maple Leaf owner Alex Behrens is hosting a special “Intro to the World of Coffee Roasting” event this Thursday (May 14) — a fascinating opportunity to learn about the art and science that goes into your daily cup of joe. Plus, TCC readers get discount code TCCNL automatically applied for $5 off!
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Anniversary party: Generations Chiropractic in Batavia is celebrating five years in business by hosting a free community Ice Cream Social on Saturday (5/16) with free scoops, face painting for the kids, and raffle prizes.
☑️ Sweet n’ stylish: A new boutique called Sweetness Clothing specializing in trendy Y2K women’s pieces just celebrated a ribbon cutting on 3rd Street in Geneva — here’s a recent interview with owner Marta McFadden.
✳️ Grad gifts you won’t find anywhere else: Urban Artisan in downtown Geneva has an eye-opening selection of graduation gifts — from Chicago art prints and leather journals to those Pope Leo Chicago shirts everyone's been talking about.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $6M commercial/industrial space on Gary Lane in Geneva.
✳️ 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.
☑️ For local business owners: New technology and AI tools are making it easier than ever for small businesses to offload tedious, repetitive tasks. Wonder what that looks like for your business? Get a free audit + recommendations.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
☑️ Thompson Middle School 100th Anniversary Celebration | Wed 5/13, 5:30-7:30PM | Thompson Middle School, STC | Community event with food trucks, obstacle courses, and live performances.
☑️ Bet-a-Million Gates: Free Talk & Book Signing | Wed 5/13, 6:30PM | West Chicago City Museum | Archie Bentz Jr. talks and signs copies of "Bet-a-Million Gates, The Man History Forgot."
🎟️ Live Music & Yoga Flow | Thu 5/14, 7-8:30PM | Power Moves Yoga, STC | A magical yoga experience with live music from talented musician and former monk Girish.
☑️ Volunteer Fair | Fri 5/15, 10AM-1PM | St. Charles Library | Give back to your community, meet new people, and learn how to make a difference.
🎟️ B.A.S.H. x Penrose Beer Dinner | Fri 5/15, 6PM | Burger and Sushi House, Geneva | Four-course dinner with each dish paired to a Penrose Brewing standout brew.
🎟️ Swing into Summer Barn Dance | Sat 5/16, 6-10PM | Primrose Farm, STC | Shout Section Big Band, swing lessons from Vargos Dance, food, and wagon rides.
🎟️ Singles Social Mixer | Sat 5/16, 6:30-11:30PM | Club Arcada Speakeasy, STC | Fun and relaxed singles event featuring live entertainment and dancing.
🎟️ Tri-Cities Dinner Club | Thu 5/21, 6:15PM | Downtown Geneva | Meet new people in a friendly, no-pressure atmosphere with an amazing dinner and optional afterparty.
What’d you think of this issue?
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