Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and surrounding communities.
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LEAD STORY
Local election recap
Election Day has passed, and the dust has begun to settle.
Locally, St. Charles School District 303 voters rejected the district’s $282.5 million school facilities referendum. Most state and Kane County races resulted in clear projected winners, though the County Board District 15 race between Democrat Kate Monteleone and Republican incumbent David Young remained extremely close on Wednesday.
Keep reading to see what else happened with the key races and questions on Tri-Cities ballots.
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Worried about AI? Let’s talk about it.
Maybe it’s the layoff headlines, the relentless spread of data centers, or the nagging sense that this is all moving faster than any of us can keep up with. Is AI the best invention since the printing press, or the beginning of the end?
If you’re not sure, you’re in good company.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Geneva is hosting Thrive Together: Faithful in the Age of AI, a conversation led by tech, business, and theology expert David Kim — who happens to be writing a book on AI from a Christian perspective.
Head over to St. Mark’s for an honest look at how AI works, which dangers are worth taking seriously, reasons for hope, and practical ways to engage with the technology.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Blacksmith shop: A new citizens’ group wants to restore Geneva’s historic blacksmith shop as a riverfront park and Fox River Trail stop — though the building’s owner is still pursuing plans for housing on the site.
☑️ Holiday wonderland: An immersive Christmas pop-up bar is taking over Pollyanna St. Charles on Nov. 20 and running through the end of the year with over-the-top Christmas decor, specialty cocktails, fresh beer, and festive fondue.
☑️ Neighborhood green-lit: St. Charles officials gave final approval to Pulte’s 105-home Seventh Street Commons residential development, and work at the former factory site could start as soon as April.
☑️ Coming soon: The group behind Match Haus — a planned three-story facility with pickleball and padel courts, duckpin bowling, and a restaurant/cafe — is targeting an early 2027 opening date at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles.
☑️ The big stage: Chicago’s official Millennium Park Christmas tree is coming from Campton Hills this year, thanks to a donation from a local family who planted the 50-foot Norway Spruce as a sapling more than 20 years ago. Read more and see photos.
☑️ I-88 crash: A 26-year-old Montgomery man died and another person was seriously injured after a multi-vehicle crash on Sunday on westbound I-88 near Route 31 in North Aurora.
☑️ Traffic warning: Crews started work this week on the Hughes Road bridge over Blackberry Creek near Pouley Road in the Elburn area, which will require lane closures and cause traffic delays through the end of November.
☑️ News notes:
Several downtown Geneva streets will close from 4AM to about 11AM on Sunday (11/8) for the Graham’s Chocolate half marathon, 10K, and 5K races.
St. Charles will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 10:30AM on Wednesday (11/11) at Fire Station No. 1, with the national anthem, a gun salute, and Taps. The free indoor event is open to the public.
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A mural created by inmates at Kane County Jail.
☑️ Local artist profile: Tia Holinger says she never thought of herself as an artist, but between teaching middle school art, leading a mural project for Kane County Jail inmates, and producing impressive paintings and sculptures, her work tells a different story.
☑️ Industry advocate: Batavia’s Cheryl Cryer, owner of Urban Apothecary, is headed to Capitol Hill this month to meet with lawmakers about new hemp rules that take effect in Illinois on Nov. 12 — read more from MDW Cares about how the regulations could impact small business owners and consumers.
☑️ Charity + creativity: Although Tri-Cities Canstruction will feature eight local teams competing to build creative sculptures solely out of canned food, the real winners will be local food pantries — and Giving Tuesday donations can make a huge difference.
☑️ Solar + stewardship: The 191-year-old Congregational Church of Batavia is celebrating its new rooftop solar panels after a two-year journey to modernize and upgrade the historic building.
☑️ Showtimes for vets: Veterans and active military members can see any movie for free at Emagine in Batavia on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) by showing a service ID or discharge papers at the box office.
✳️ Sounds of relaxation: Close out your week on Friday (11/6) at Batavia’s Zen Loft Collective with a guided evening of deep relaxation with resonant gongs, Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, and Reiki energy work. Get details and sign up.
Saturday evening presents a dilemma (for me at least) — 90s and 00s alternative rock covers in Geneva or dueling pianos in St. Charles? We’ll see how it shakes out.
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Ready, Set, Mahj!
New to Mahjong?
You're in good company, and you've come to the right place. The Little Traveler has everything you need to make game night a hit, from the tiles to the mats, plus all the fun extras that make hosting a joy.
Not sure how to play yet? Join one of our beginner lessons and we'll have you calling "Mahjong!" in no time. Click below to reserve your seat.
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✳️ Need a pre-holiday cleaning? Matt at LemonTidy House Cleaning will set you up with a local team to make sure your home is immaculate for the holiday season — and get you on a cost-effective schedule. Mention Tri-Cities Central for a free oven cleaning when you book recurring service. Learn more & book here (or call 630-492-1315).
☑️ All-day affair: Swank Coffee & Wine Lounge, a new spot offering everything from coffee and breakfast to wine and apps, opened Wednesday at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles with a seven-day introductory menu ahead of its full launch.
☑️ Pastries, please: DéCari Pastry Café, a new shop featuring fresh International pastries plus popular items from the operators’ previous DeCari ToGo venture in Aurora, is planning to open in mid-November next door to The GOAT in downtown Batavia.
☑️ Giant warehouse: Construction is about to start on Venture Park Geneva, a 719,200-square-foot industrial building on roughly 54 acres at the northeast corner of Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
🎟️ The Journey Home Diwali Buffet | Thu 11/5 - Sun 11/8 | VATAN Progressive Indian, STC | Celebrate Diwali with a 28-dish buffet spanning 11 regions of India.
☑️ The Rustic Fox Holiday Weekend | Fri 11/6 - Sun 11/8 | The Rustic Fox, N. Aurora | Holiday shopping weekend with festive items, pop-up vendors, and Santa visits.
☑️ Bethany Craft Fair | Sat 11/7, 9AM-3PM | Bethany Lutheran Church, Batavia | Annual craft fair with handmade gifts and home decor.
☑️ Empty Bowls for Food | Sat 11/7, 9AM-4PM | Batavia Boardwalk Shops | Woodturners sell handmade wooden bowls to benefit three local food pantries.
☑️ Jingle While You Mingle Holiday Open House | Sat 11/7 - Sun 11/8, 10AM-5PM | trend + relic, STC | Enjoy sips, holiday treats, shopping, and a visit from Santa.
☑️ Books & Brew | Sat 11/7, 12PM-5PM | Brother Chimp Brewing, STC | Whimsical popup bookstore for book lovers and wandering souls, specializing in fantasy.
☑️ The Art of Weaving | Sat 11/7, 1PM-4PM | St. Charles Public Library | Try hand-weaving with Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild members and see several looms.
🎟️ Putting Fore A Purpose | Sat 11/7, 1PM-6PM | Downtown STC | Golf-themed bar crawl with costumes encouraged, a 50/50 drawing, and raffle prizes.
☑️ Holiday Open House Sip & Shop | Sat 11/7, 5PM-8PM | Farmdog Flowers, Batavia | Kick off the holiday season with curated gifts, homewares, and décor.
☑️ Happy Semiquincentennial, America! | Sun 11/8, 1-3PM | Geneva Public Library | Author Jay Payleitner shares 250 reasons to celebrate the United States.
Looking ahead
🎟️ Not Your Ordinary Whiskey Dinner | Thu 11/12, 6PM | The Graceful Ordinary, STC | Five-course dinner paired with Circle City Bourbon and Rye.
Pets of the week
Introducing this week’s featured pets from Anderson Humane:
Bronx is a sweet, energetic four-month-old boy who’s ready to make someone’s life a whole lot more fun. Bronx gets along well with other dogs, loves staying active, and loves playing in the water even more.
Orangutan is a handsome one-year-old domestic shorthair with a gorgeous tabby coat and a heart full of love. He's an affectionate little sweetheart who absolutely adores pets, attention, and being close to his people.
Ready to add a loyal new friend to your family? Visit andersonhumane.org or reach out to [email protected] or 847-697-2880.
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