Happy Labor Day!

Fest season continues this coming weekend when Festival of the Vine takes over downtown Geneva, bringing local vendors, wine, food, beer, and live music (Friday through Sunday). Here’s where you can find all the details and schedule of festivities.

Scheduling note: I’ll be taking this week off due to travel, so the next edition of the newsletter won’t hit your inbox until Thursday, September 11. In the meantime, Go Bears.

📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.

After closing its doors in 2023, The Patten House is open once again.

Incidentally, I reported the restaurant’s closure in the very first issue of Tri-Cities Central (you can judge me, it was bad — luckily, there were only 15 subscribers at the time).

If the community reaction to its closing nearly two years ago is any indication, locals are going to be pretty excited about this news.

For the first weekend back, they served a special shortened menu. Starting Wednesday (9/3), they plan to return to their full menu of Cajun- and Creole-influenced cuisine.

From the start, Patten House has been a story of history, family, and community.

When it first opened in 2014, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns toured the property with Annette Luyten (whose family owns the restaurant) to talk about the massive effort it took them to bring the long-neglected property back to life.

That tour revealed an interesting story — read on for details.

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What’s life really about? Where do we find meaning and purpose? At St. Mark’s Church in Geneva, the Alpha program creates a welcoming place to share a meal, connect with others, and talk about life’s biggest questions — no pressure, no lectures, no judgment.

Attend for connection and open conversation. Head back if it feels right. Everyone’s invited, whether you’re curious, questioning, or just looking to connect with people in the community.

The next session is Wednesday, September 17, 6:30-8:30PM — and it’s completely free. Check out the list of upcoming dates and topics for each.

☑️ Fatal crash: The Campton Hills man who died Tuesday morning after his pickup truck rolled over in St. Charles Township has been identified as Francesco Sarnelli.

☑️ Blacksmith shop video: Local real estate expert Chris Wallace visited the historic site to shed light on the past and make sense of where we’re at now.

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.

☑️ Annexation vote: Campton Hills will hold a September 4 public hearing and vote on annexing land in La Fox for Shodeen’s proposed 900-home development, which includes large open space areas and a $6.1M school contribution.

☑️ Power balance: Batavia is poised to adopt a new energy policy that sets goals for cutting emissions and reaching carbon neutrality, while also guiding how the city will power future growth while managing a massive new data center.

☑️ Recovery in action: Illinois has become the first state in the nation to make “rewilding” an official conservation strategy, supporting efforts to restore native species like bison and beavers to help ecosystems recover.

☑️ Timing tweaks: Metra will update its UP-West Line schedule on September 8, adding new stops closer to the city with minor adjustments to train arrival and departure times.

☑️ Detours ahead: Kane County will begin road work on Tuesday (9/2) on Keslinger Road in Elburn and Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, with lane closures and delays expected through the fall. Get the details here.

☑️ Historic discovery: A St. Charles resident pulled up an old glass bottle while fishing that turned out to be a relic from Major James Spence Van Patten, a 19th-century pharmacist, Civil War veteran, banker, and civic leader in the city.

☑️ Ashton Ridge arrives: Batavia officials held a ribbon cutting on August 27 to celebrate the opening of Pulte Homes’ new Ashton Ridge subdivision, a development of single-family houses and townhomes.

☑️ Batavia buzz: Batavia members of the Fox Valley Beekeepers Association recently spoke at the Illinois State Beekeepers conference, highlighting beekeeping’s role in sustainability, healing, and preparing hives for winter.

☑️ Tootsie drive: Keep your eyes peeled for folks in yellow vests around town from Thursday (9/4) through Sunday (9/7), as those will be Knights of Columbus volunteers who’ll give you a Tootsie Roll if you’re willing to donate to help local people with disabilities.

☑️ Safety starts here: The St. Charles Fire Department will host a Fire Prevention Week Open House on September 6, featuring live demonstrations and safety tips focused on lithium-ion battery use.

☑️ Impactful community support: The Batavia Rotary’s annual raffle has pumped over a million dollars back into local charities — and you can help keep that impact going. Grab your ticket and support the organizations that make a difference right here in the Tri-Cities.

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We checked out the new Fox Social spot (in the old Crazy Fox Bar and Grille space) in St. Charles this weekend — nice low-key vibe and excellent live music from Jim DiDomenico.

Shout out to TCC readers Dave and Kellie, great to meet you!

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Knees bark on the stairs? Back tight after sitting all day?

You’re not broken.

At Strongoo, small-group coaching and guided recovery help you reduce pain, rebuild strength, and move like yourself again — so walks, chores, and even playing with the kids stop feeling like work.

If you want to recover from nagging aches and old injuries, you’ve got a local resource ready to help.

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall. The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Uncertain future: American Science & Surplus will close its mail-order business and Park Ridge store this September after 88 years, but the Geneva shop may stay open under employee ownership. See a message from the owners.

🔒 “Not enough people bought stuff”: St. Charles Hardware closed its East Main Street store on August 31 after four years in business. The general manager thanked the community for its support and urged residents to keep shopping local.

☑️ Fresh facility: Atlanta-based Noble Storage has opened a 968-unit Space Shop Self Storage at the former Sam’s Club location on Mill Street in Batavia, where it will offer 24/7 access and a covered drive-through bay.

🔒 Mexican restaurant: A new Campton Hills restaurant, Ikal Y Sanse, has replaced Lupita’s Cucina at 40W222 LaFox Road, offering a menu of traditional, handmade Mexican dishes under new owners.

✳️ Home goods hub: How would a framed 1860 map of Batavia look on your wall? Or a “Geneva” throw pillow on your living room couch? What about a Chicago flag for the garden? Urban Artisan’s got plenty of stylish items that’ll add local flair to your home. View their Home Goods catalog here.

🎯 Seeking new customers? A whopping 98% of Tri-Cities Central subscribers in our 2025 Reader Survey said “buying local is important to me.” Check out our sponsorship program and reach out if you want to talk advertising.

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $1.3M house on Ford Street near downtown Geneva that was once the home of former Geneva Mayor William C. Wood.

☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.

☑️ City meetings:

☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.

☑️ Movie in the Park(ing lot) | Fri 9/5, 6:30PM | Goldfish Swim School, STC | A viewing of Moana 2 with treats, activities, and more.

☑️ Wildlife Under the Night Sky | Fri 9/5, 7-8:30PM | Creek Bend Nature Center, STC | Spot owls, bats, and other nocturnal creatures on a night hike — plus a campfire.

☑️ All Wheels Show | Sat 9/6, 10AM | Riverside Community Church, STC | A family fest with food, music, and all kinds of vehicles to be voted on.

🎟️ Wine 101 | Sat 9/6, 12:30-3:30PM | Up North Wine, Geneva | A winery owner will guide you on specially selected wine, cheese, and chocolate pairings.

🎟️ Pirate’s Booty Race | Sun 9/7, 7:30AM | Geneva | A swashbuckling 5K and 10K race at Old Mill Park benefitting runners with disabilities.

☑️ Clip Cancer for Cal’s Angels | Sun 9/7 - Sat 9/13 | Sport Clips Batavia | Support local families in need and enjoy daily raffles all week.

🎟️ Fall Wine Walk | Sat, 9/13 | Eagle Brook Country Club, Geneva | Curated wine and food pairings plus live entertainment.

🎟️ Walk to End Alzheimer’s | Sat 9/27, 8:30AM | Pottawatomie Park, STC | Have fun while raising awareness and funds for families dealing with Alzheimer’s.

🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work [this]

😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it [this]

🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back [this]

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