After connecting with Maggie Orlando, one of the owners, I realized it must’ve been in Batavia. Most likely at Sturdy Shelter Brewing.

In chatting with her at the brewery one day, I learned that because of the significant time and effort that goes into preparing their food on-site (much of it slow-cooked) at their headquarters inside Fernando’s Street Kitchen in Batavia, DAMO is unable to venture too far from their home base for extended periods.

This eliminates the option of setting up shop for hours outside breweries in Geneva or St. Charles — a source of business that many other local food trucks rely on each week.

Not that you’ll hear Maggie or Dan (her husband and business partner) complain — they’re no strangers to overcoming setbacks.

The resilient duo has overcome a ton of challenges to get where they are — and they’ve got big plans for 2024. Read on for the full story.

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☑️ IDNR investment: A $2.8M grant awarded to the Batavia Park District will be used to transform a commercial office building into a community center for recreation and local events.

☑️ Support & treatment: Nearly $10M in pandemic recovery funding will go toward a Kane County Health Department effort to enhance mental health initiatives for residents of all ages.

🔒 Revitalized vision: With a new leader and fresh office space in Batavia, SciTech is pivoting from museum to mobile STEM education provider — and they’ve got ambitious plans for 2024.

☑️ Not up to snuff: Utility companies ComEd and Ameren Illinois likely won’t get the electric rate hikes they were seeking after regulators rejected their proposed climate plans.

☑️ Proof of protection: The cost to get a rabies tag for pets in Kane County is going up in 2024.

☑️ Rail project continues: The Fox River Trail will be closed intermittently on the east side of Geneva to allow trucks to access the railroad construction site until Friday (tentatively).

🔒 Crystal fixer: It seems like magic to her customers, but there’s plenty of art and science to the repair work Mary Lou Gates performs on delicate broken items at The Little Traveler in Geneva.

🔒 St. Charles facelift: A project reimagining First Street Plaza as a walkable public oasis connecting the riverwalk to local businesses is near completion ahead of an expected late January opening.

*️⃣ An inside look: Batavia Alderman Dustin Pieper offered an informative recap of recent city meetings, addressing topics like pedestrian improvements, electrical infrastructure and the fire department’s new strategic plan.

🔒 Pre-holiday surprise: A gold coin thought to be valued at more than $2K was dropped into a Salvation Army bucket outside Starbucks in downtown Geneva.

☑️ Snow Angels: Batavia United Way’s volunteer snow shoveling program in Batavia is back. They’re seeking locals to pair with a mobility-challenged neighbor who needs help now through March.

☑️ Help for heroes: Support Over Stigma, a St. Charles non-profit that helps military veterans and first responders, will be celebrating a ribbon cutting in early January.

☑️ Downtown dining: Thorabellas, a new Italian restaurant, is expected to open in the old Gaetano’s space on River Street in Batavia as soon as this week. We’ll share updates as they materialize!

🔒 New year, new approach: Beginning in 2024, Eden Restaurant & Events in St. Charles will rebrand as Eden Events, shifting its focus to live music performances and accommodating an array of event types.

☑️ Taking the reins: The Fox Valley Park District has tapped in-house candidate Jennifer Paprocki to become its new Executive Director starting on Jan. 1.

This week’s live music lineup covers performances from today (12/18) through Thursday (12/21).

On tap for this week:

All three City Councils will be holding meetings tonight:

☑️ Batavia: Agenda includes the adoption of the fire department’s 2024 strategic plan (and recognition for the “firefighter of the year”).

☑️ Geneva: Agenda includes recognition for DEI Task Force members and the presentation of various resolutions.

☑️ St. Charles: Agenda includes a discussion on the proposed 2023 property tax levy.

🎟️ 8PM | Chicago Theatre Sings - A Theatrical Revue: See exceptional local artists perform a symphony of sound and spirit in a special holiday gala concert at the Arcada Theatre.

🎟️ 7PM | Classic Film - It’s a Wonderful Life: Break up the week and enjoy a Christmas classic within the cozy confines of the Arcada Theare in St. Charles.

☑️ 7-8:30PM | Freya's Farewell & Winter Solstice Celebration: Celebrate the Geneva History Museum’s successful “Viking's Voyage” exhibition in true Viking fashion with reenactors, Viking shields, food/drink and more.

🌥️ Today: High 32F | Low 16F | Flurry or two possible

🌤️ Tuesday: High 35F | Low 25F | Nice + crisp

🌤️ Wednesday: High 43F | Low 32F | Mid-week warmup

🌥️ Thursday: High 45F | Low 37F | Cloudy + mild

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