☀️ Summer starts here: Local June events

Like I mentioned, we won’t send the next edition of this newsletter until June 19. But there’s a lot happening between now and then, and I didn’t want to leave you hanging.

From Geneva’s 75th Swedish Days celebration to art walks, outdoor concerts, quirky fundraisers, garden parties and a strawberry festival, June’s calendar (even just the first half) is stacked.

Read on for the full rundown of what’s happening around the Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles area over the next couple of weeks.

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🎶 A hub of creativity in downtown St. Charles

Local real estate pro and Tri-Cities scene-setter Chris Wallace visits Hunt House Creative Arts Center in St. Charles for a tour of the dynamic space — and a quick piano lesson from founder (and American Idol top 20 finalist!) Leslie Hunt.

Watch the full video for an inside look at the arts center, a great interview and Chris’s bold attempt at tickling the ivories.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Transit turmoil: Local leaders from Batavia, Geneva and across the suburbs had sounded the alarm over a proposed overhaul of the Chicago-area transit system, which ended up stalling in the spring session. See what the officials said.

☑️ Homeless prevention: Kane County is offering help with rent and utility bills through July 31 for residents struggling to pay who may be at risk of eviction. Get more details on the program.

☑️ Deepfake crime: A Batavia High School graduate and current NIU student was charged with using AI to create and sell fake child sexual abuse images, following a police search that uncovered more than 20K files.

🔒 Restrictions pass: Batavia has approved new rules limiting the sale of kratom and hemp products to adults 21 and over, aiming to keep the items away from kids while balancing concerns from local businesses.

☑️ Sayonara season: The Chicago Steel are leaving the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva after the 2025–26 season, with plans to relocate to the Blackhawks’ expanded Fifth Third Arena in Chicago starting in the 2026-2027 season.

☑️ Protest planned: Local organizations, including We Can Lead Change, are sponsoring a “No Kings” rally on Saturday, June 14, on S. Randall Road and Gleneagle Drive in Geneva as part of national series of similar rallies on the same day.

☑️ Shovels in the dirt: The Village of Elburn has kicked off construction on a major expansion of its Village Hall and Police Department, aiming to improve services and provide a more modern space for staff and residents by spring 2026.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ Market moves: The St. Charles Farmers Market (open Fridays from 8AM-1PM) has relocated from Baker Memorial Church to the old police station area at Riverview and Cedar Avenue. Also, the Campton Square Farmers Market is now open (same time on Wednesdays).

☑️ Artistry on display: The 2025 St. Charles Fine Arts Show was a true celebration of creativity in the downtown area over Memorial Day weekend. See who won awards and view photos from the two-day event.

☑️ Gate-gate: Curious about what happened to the Fabyan Gate in the beloved Geneva forest preserve? It was removed due to safety concerns, but officials say it will return once repairs to its aging concrete supports are complete.

☑️ Joy in motion: Fred Astaire Dance Studios of St. Charles recently hosted a group from Rising Lights Project (a local nonprofit for adults with disabilities) for an inclusive and delightful dance lesson. See video from the session.

☑️ Summer vacation: If you haven’t planned a summer getaway yet, this roundup of wonderfully weird, off-the-beaten-path Airbnbs in Illinois should give you fun trip ideas that’ll keep you close to home.

☑️ Financial focus: Ever wonder exactly where your St. Charles tax dollars go? Check out this simple breakdown illustrating how 2025 property tax dollars will be spent and how much is allocated to each taxing body.

🎸 Live music

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Decision paralysis is a real thing. Summer music season has picked up steam to the point where we’re absolutely spoiled for choices each weekend (and this one is no exception).

Also, Batavia’s River Rhapsody summer concert series begins next week on Wednesday (6/11).

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💬 Is it time to talk memory care?

If you’ve been reading Tri-Cities Central for a while, you’ve likely encountered some of LaVon Lenaway’s personal stories about navigating the challenging (and often scary) world of dementia care.

For example, these real-life signs to watch for that may indicate it’s time for memory care.

Fortunately, LaVon is here to help — reach out if you’d like to hear from her.

🤝 Local biz

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🔒 Relic revival: St. Charles’ historic Arcada Theatre pipe organ (originally installed in 1926 and known as “Cassandra”) has undergone major restoration work and is being readied for a dramatic return ahead of the theater’s 100th anniversary next year.

☑️ Grocery grievance: Food giant Mondelez International is suing Batavia-headquartered Aldi, claiming the grocery chain’s store-brand packaging too closely resembles popular snacks like Oreos and Wheat Thins.

✳️ Got plans on Sunday? At Zen Loft Collective in Batavia, you can hit up “Pilates and Pints” (a workout session and a Sturdy Shelter beer) or “Yoga with Puppies” (as amazing as it sounds). Check out their classes to learn more and sign up.

💥 Looking to advertise? Partnering with Tri-Cities Central gets your message to real, local people who want to support local businesses. Check out our easy sponsorship program.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

Since Tri-Cities Central is taking a break until June 19, we’re featuring events covering the next two weeks instead of the next few days.

It’s a longer list than usual and wouldn’t fit in this space — hence the separate dedicated post. Apologies for the extra click it requires!

📖 Thanks for reading

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