🏡 Campton Hills housing project

After last year’s heated debate over the massive proposed Charles Farm development in St. Charles, a new plan for the LaFox area is gaining traction with much less friction.

Local real estate developer Shodeen Group is seeking to annex nearly 1,000 acres into Campton Hills, where it would build 900 homes and preserve nearly half of the acreage for open space.

Unlike previous efforts, this proposal has been met with a bit more optimism.

Key things to know:

• The proposed annexation (details beginning on page 5 of this document) includes 962 acres with 900 housing units and 440 acres reserved for open space.

• The land in the proposed plan falls within Geneva School District 304. The boundaries would be Route 38, Keslinger Road, Harley Road and Brundige Road.

• A public hearing on the topic is scheduled for 7PM on Thursday, June 26 at Campton Hills Village Hall.

• Some community leaders who opposed last year’s larger plan now say this one better reflects shared priorities around smart growth and land preservation.

Watch a presentation detailing the proposed development plan (26-minute mark).

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☀️ Need to upgrade your summer plans?

Not only is Chris Wallace the top local real estate expert, he’s always out and about in the Tri-Cities. So he knows a thing or two about the best spots to have a good time during the summer.

From outdoor activities to shopping, history and dining, he’s got several solid tips on how to get out of the house and make the most of the season.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Captured abroad: A St. Charles driving instructor convicted of sexually assaulting a student is being held in Hungary after missing his trial. Local officials are working to bring him back to face sentencing.

☑️ Hometown storyteller: Geneva author and longtime educator Ellen Jo Ljung will debut her first novel, “Caught in the Crossfire,” a story inspired by real-life political pressures facing teachers, during a book signing event at Harvey’s Tales on June 28.

☑️ Rally on Randall: Thousands gathered in Geneva on Saturday for a peaceful “No Kings” protest, one of several across the country where participants voiced their concerns about American democracy.

🔒 Rental rules: St. Charles officials are considering new rules, fees and a tax on short-term rental properties like Airbnbs after residents voiced concerns about noise, safety and the potential impact on neighborhoods.

☑️ Behind the bureaucracy: The City of St. Charles is launching a new podcast called City Insider on June 20, sharing real conversations with staff and elected officials about what it’s like to work behind the scenes and keep the city running.

☑️ Street safety: After considerable debate, Batavia officials narrowly approved bringing back a summer crossing guard at Route 31 and Union Avenue, near the Quarry pool.

🏘️ In the community

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☑️ Patriotic party: Batavia’s annual Flag Day celebration drew crowds to the city’s monument plaza last weekend for music, tributes, activities and the sealing of time capsules to preserve today’s community spirit for future generations.

☑️ Parks’ past: From rocket slides to gazebo concerts, St. Charles is marking 50 years of neighborhood parks with a look back at the quirky stories and pieces of history that have helped shape local life over the years.

☑️ A hero’s medal: A Geneva family was reunited with a long-lost Purple Heart earned by WWII veteran Edward Gorski Jr., returned through a state program and presented to his grandson at American Legion Post 75.

☑️ Outdoor fun: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles is offering kids and adults alike a lineup of free and low-cost nature programs this summer, from turtle sundaes to stroller strolls and snake-themed activities.

☑️ Family flicks: Emagine Batavia will soon kick off a summer promo featuring a different family-friendly animated movie each week from June 20 through August 22, with tickets priced at $3 and a popcorn-and-drink combo for $5.

✳️ Events for seniors: Join local groups like Dragonfly Senior Navigation Services at a variety of fun and educational events this summer, including local dementia caregiver support groups and other programs for families affected by dementia or memory impairment.

🎸 Live music

Thanks to Swedish Days, STC Live, Rock Da Fox and a couple of other special concerts, we’ve got another jam-packed weekend of summer music coming up.

If you’re planning to head out to catch some outdoor tunes, make sure to stay hydrated. Those temps in the forecast are no joke.

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🇸🇪 Bargains inside, bargains outside!

Did you realize you can save up to 50% during The Little Traveler’s GIGANTIC Swedish Days Sale?

And not just throughout the store — you’ll find huge savings on items like rugs, placemats, kitchenware, summer fashion and much more within the open-air tents currently lining their front lawn on beautiful Third Street.

Rare bargains, Swedish Days festivities: Don’t miss summer at its best.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Viva Cafe: The new pop-up cafe — a collaboration between Bien Trucha and Five and Hoek Coffee — is now open in downtown Geneva Friday through Sunday each weekend throughout summer. See what they’ll be serving.

☑️ STC Six: A group of St. Charles breweries just launched the 2025 STC Six, an annual collaborative beer that will be served in local taprooms. This year’s release is a West Coast Pilsner.

☑️ Building challenges: Based on a recent committee discussion, it appears that a project to develop a board game-themed restaurant in downtown Batavia will not be moving forward for the time being.

💥 Want to promote your business? Partnering with Tri-Cities Central gets your message to real people in our community who want to support local businesses. Check out our easy sponsorship program.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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☑️ Swedish Days | Wed 6/18 - Sun 6/22 | Downtown Geneva | Get the rundown on all the events and entertainment — plus road closures, parking info and more.

🎟️ Summer Luau Party | Fri 6/20, 11:30AM-7:30PM | Swanson Pool, STC | Beat the heat with a Hawaiian-themed tropical pool party.

🎟️ Oneness Fest | Fri 6/20 - Sun 6/22 | Good Templar Park, Geneva | A three-day festival for the mind, body and spirit with exhibitors, activities, music and more.

🎟️ Pickle Paradise | Fri 6/20, 5:30-7:30PM | Pottawatomie Park, STC | Pickle-themed activities for all ages plus refreshments.

☑️ H&H Garage Sale | Sat 6/21, 8AM-3PM | Hearth & Hammer | Hearth & Hammer will sell off what’s left in the store before they close for good.

☑️ Solstice Goddesses Midsummer Fair | Sat 6/21, 9AM-9:30PM | Downtown Batavia | A magical day of intuition, healing, movement, and solstice-inspired shopping.

☑️ Depot Day Celebration | Sat 6/21, 10AM-12PM | Batavia Depot Museum | Celebrate 50 years of Batavia history with family-friendly festivities.

✳️ Circus Family Fun Day | Sat 6/21, 11AM-2PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | A magical kids’ carnival with bounce houses, exciting games, face painting, a balloon artist and aerial demos for kids and adults.

☑️ Summer Assembly | Sun 6/22, 11AM-4PM | Grainology, Batavia | Celebrate local with 35+ shopping vendors, tasty food/drink, live music and more.

☑️ Textile Day | Sun 6/22, 1-4PM | Durant-Peterson House, STC | The whole family can learn the arts of textile-making and paper-weaving.

📖 Thanks for reading

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