The last time cicada Broods XIX and XIII emerged in the same season, Illinois wasn’t yet a state, Thomas Jefferson was President and we were still a few years away from enjoying the first electric light. 

Guess what? They’re baaack.

In an incredibly rare event, scientists expect trillions of cicadas to swarm 16 US states this year for the first time since 1803. In Illinois, the invasion could begin as early as April — and northern Illinois is predicted to be a hot spot. 

Thanks to its plentiful fertile prairie, cicadas have burrowed in our area for centuries. And since they’re only able to fly a short distance, they tend not to get very far when they do emerge.

Though the insects spend the vast majority of their lives underground feeding on organic materials, they head aboveground to mate. Some types emerge annually, while others (like these Broods) do so in 13- and 17-year intervals, depending on the species.

The next time these cicada types (the Northern Illinois Brood and the Great Southern Brood) emerge simultaneously will be in 2245.

If you’re already worried about the cacophony of screeching mating calls, we’ve got good news. These Broods’ ranges don’t significantly overlap, so the swarms likely won’t get too out of control.

They’re not harmful to people, gardens or pets, so there’s no reason to needlessly kill them. If anything, think about protecting any young, immature trees in your yard against potential damage with some mesh netting. 

Though notorious for their noisemaking, cicada swarms can have an arguably greater impact on your day-to-day life through a different sensory phenomenon: The stench of dead, decomposing insects.

While unseemly, you can interpret the sight and stench of the dead insects as a sign of good things to come. Not only are they a quality food source for wildlife and birds, but they improve groundwater filtration, aerate lawns and add valuable nutrients to the soil.

And if you ask me, it’s just fun to experience a once-in-a-lifetime natural event like this.

According to the Daily Herald, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is already preparing educational programs to build on the excitement around the emergence. We’ll be on the lookout for similar content and events in Kane County.

In the meantime, bring on the summer of the cicadas.

The 🔒 icon indicates a potential paywall. The *️⃣ icon indicates that an account/login may be needed.

☑️ Special delivery: A Kane County deputy provided a local woman with a surprise — the Chipotle dinner she ordered — after arresting the original delivery driver.

*️⃣ Hot issues: Councilman Pieper of Batavia offered insights into City Council discussions about the Tesla/self-storage facility development on Randall Road and the spirited debate about the pros and cons of video gaming at local businesses.

☑️ Back in action: Following years of COVID-era restrictions, Fermilab's iconic Wilson Hall is once again open to the public on weekdays.

🔒 No easy answer: The potential removal of Fox River dams in local communities is a controversial topic — and the response from those who attended a recent dam meeting in St. Charles reflected that.

🔒 Priest passing: The Geneva faith community is mourning the loss of Rev. Jonathan Bakkelund of St. Peter Catholic Church, who passed away Thursday morning while in hospice care.

☑️ Green on the horizon: The 2024 St. Charles St. Patrick’s Parade will be held on 3/9 at 2PM. The entry deadline for businesses and groups interested in participating is 2/9.

☑️ Prom charity: Nonprofit Chip In Batavia will host its annual prom dress giveaway on 3/9 at the Batavia Public Library — donations open on Thursday, so start gathering those dresses and accessories!

☑️ Riverfront oasis: If you’ve never gotten a look at the unique, whimsical structures of Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles, you should schedule a leisurely stroll. Starting in May, they’ll be on display year-round.

☑️ Non-human hitchhikers: From non-native snails and zebra mussels to an array of trees and plants, there are more invasive species potentially threatening our area than you may think.

🔒 Exploring passions: Whatever your kids might be interested in, there’s a good chance the St. Charles Park District has a program that will allow them to get hands-on and creative.

☑️ Meaningless but fun: Community-focused website HomeSnacks recently ranked Campton Hills at #2 in a list of the top ten safest and happiest cities in America.

🔒 Viking Leaders Award: After adopting and cleaning up a local highway, students from Heartland Elementary School in Geneva received recognition for their efforts.

☑️ Early learning: In Geneva, kindergarten enrollment runs from 2/6 to 3/5, plus a preschool Open House is set for tonight as enrollment for the 2024-25 school year begins. The preschool lottery for St. Charles runs until 2/1.

☑️ Happy hours: Did you know that “happy hours” are currently prohibited in Batavia? A proposed change to the city code would bring them back in alignment with state regulations.

☑️ Coffee shop rebrand: Under new ownership since September, the Kava Diem riverfront cafe in St. Charles officially became Maple Leaf Coffee House Roastery and Organic Cafe on Saturday.

🔒 Tool time: Tool and equipment retailer Harbor Freight plans to open a Batavia location this spring, bringing 25-30 jobs to the community.

☑️ Eager entrepreneurs: This week is the last chance for interested businesses to apply for a coveted spot in the Batavia Boardwalk Shops 2024 season.

*Below are “listed” start/end times — actual play times tend to vary. The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. Links to band/event info are provided where available.

Live music announcement: Firewater BBQ in Geneva is launching a weekly music series featuring Ryan Worthy every Monday and Pete Jive every Thursday — providing a much-needed shot of musical energy to our winter weekdays.

Seeing as it’s a five-minute walk from us, we’ll have to check it out and report back soon.

✔️ Ryan Worthy: Firewater BBQ | Geneva | 5-7PM | Musician info

✔️ Matt Keen: D and G Brewing | St. Charles | 6PM | Musician info

🎟️ Relic - Enchanted Forest: Baker Memorial United Methodist Church | St. Charles | 7PM | Event info

✔️ Dan Asio: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Musician info

🎟️ Dave Sills: Moonlight Theatre | St. Charles | 7-8:30PM | Event info

✔️ Pete Jive: Firewater BBQ | Geneva | 5-7PM | Musician info

✔️ Riley Bros Duo: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 5-8PM | Musician info

🎟️ John 5 w/ Liliac: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 7:30PM | Event info

✔️ Live Band Karaoke w/ The Backdrop Band: EvenFlow | Geneva | 9PM

✔️ Christian Alen Hansen: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9PM-12AM | Musician info

☑️ Fox Valley Business Network ‘Hoppy Hour’ | 5:30-8PM | Riverlands Brewing | Beer, pizza and networking with local business owners in a friendly, relaxed environment. Need I say more?

☑️ NIMPA 101 | 7PM | Batavia Government Center | The Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency — which serves Batavia and Geneva — will educate residents about its role in serving our communities.

☑️ Community Blood Drive | 2-6:20PM | Geneva Public Library | Versiti Blood Center of Illinois and Geneva Public Library are teaming up to save lives with a Mobile Coach Blood Drive in the library’s parking lot.

☑️ Decarbonize Your Home | 7-8PM | Batavia Public Library | Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will share insights into ways renters and homeowners can access energy efficiency and cost-saving programs while making their homes more sustainable.

☑️ Veteran Resource Fair & Town Hall | 10AM-6PM | VFW Post 1197 | A wide variety of support-oriented vendors will come together with 18 veteran-owned businesses to connect veterans and their families with benefits in the community.

🎟️ Parents Night Out | 6:30PM | St. Charles Park District | Drop the kiddos off for organized games, sports and activities so you can enjoy some relaxation or a night out on the town.

⛅ Today: High 44F | Low 34F | Cloudy but nice

🌧️ Tuesday: High 37F | Low 33F | Wet n’ sloppy

🌤️ Wednesday: High 44F | Low 31F | Zero chance of rain

🌤️ Thursday: High 46F | Low 31F | Beautiful for January

Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with:

I respond to all replies — let’s work together.

If you enjoy Tri-Cities Central, please SPREAD THE WORD and/or leave a review! We grow primarily through word of mouth.

We’re also on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us for updates about what’s happening in the area throughout the week. Mon