My wife and I love to hike with the dogs, and fall is our favorite time to do it.

The local landscape isn’t exactly the Pacific Northwest, but there are still plenty of great spots for a quiet wooded walk or even a challenging trek if you know where to find it. The Fox River Trail can get pretty busy, but most of the forest preserves and under-the-radar parks tend to give you a bit more breathing room.

Johnson’s Mound in Elburn is a good place to start — a glacial rise that’s close to home but feels more adventurous than the flatlander stuff we’re used to. Add in familiar spots across Kane County and you’ve got a short list of trails that’ll give you something to look forward to when the foliage starts doing its autumn dance.

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Take a walk through St. Charles history with Tri-Cities real estate expert Chris Wallace as he spotlights the 181-year-old Barry House on Cedar Avenue.

Once home to Judge William Barry and later owned by Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, the property has recently been at the center of ongoing preservation debates. Chris breaks down the back-and-forth about the historic property in this video.

☑️ Renewable project pitch: A developer has proposed a 13-acre solar farm along Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, with city officials set to review the plan during a planning commission meeting on Thursday (9/25).

☑️ Local aquifer alert: An ongoing Illinois State Water Survey study shows that Kane County’s shallow aquifers are stressed in some areas and face rising chloride levels, even as overall water use has dropped in recent years.

☑️ Enforcement clarification: Batavia officials approved new rates and rules for city-owned EV charging stations, including lower fees for Level 2 charging, new fast chargers, and a $1 per-minute penalty for cars left plugged in for too long.

☑️ Getting around: Updated 2025 bike maps and highway maps for Kane and Northern Kendall Counties have been released. You can access them here and residents can order physical copies free of charge.

☑️ Smoke shop burglary: Batavia police arrested a 23-year-old from South Jackson Street and charged him with burglary and criminal damage in connection with a recent break-in at All Da Smokes on Wilson Street.

☑️ Road construction: Crews have started utility and storm sewer work at Bunker and Keslinger roads, causing temporary lane closures and traffic delays for 3-4 weeks in preparation for a future roundabout.

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☑️ Downtown parades: Geneva High School will celebrate homecoming with its annual parade on Friday (9/26) down State Street at 2PM. If you’re unable to attend, you can stream it on the GTV YouTube channel. The St. Charles East Homecoming Parade will take place at 1PM on Main Street the same day.

☑️ From Batavia to beyond: Three Illinois photographers won Fermilab’s 2025 Photowalk contest, earning a spot in the upcoming global competition where their images will compete against entries from labs across the world. See the winning photos.

☑️ Exhibit now open: The Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles just celebrated the opening of its latest exhibit “Vicinity 2025.” It will be available to view in the gallery through November 2 — and you can get a sneak peak here.

☑️ Waterway warriors: The local “Friends of the Fox River” education and advocacy group is a finalist for a World Rivers Day Impact Award for its work in the community to restore and protect the Fox River. You can vote for them here.

☑️ Access to treatment: MDW Cares, a local women’s advocacy group, is highlighting the importance of HB1085, a bill in Springfield that aims to improve insurance coverage and access to mental health care across Illinois.

✳️ Community event: Have you ever wondered about the ways faith and science intersect? Join St. Mark’s Church in Geneva on Sunday (9/28) for a thoughtful, welcoming discussion about how the natural world and questions of belief can inform one another.

Anyone else planning to hit up the big Open Jam Festival in Elburn on Saturday? Fingers crossed that the weather forecast remains flawless.

And that’s just one of over 70 performances to choose from this weekend.

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Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Autumn Almanack is out! Check out The Little Traveler’s Autumn 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

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☑️ A local mainstay: The Batavia Popcorn Depot, which has been around since 1929, is one of those uniquely Batavia establishments that helps give the town its quirky cultural charm. The latest episode of “Area Code: Batavia” features a conversation with its current owner.

☑️ Wellness wave: Geneva officials and community members recently celebrated the grand opening Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, a new Third Street business offering IV vitamin therapy and other energy- and immunity-boosting treatments.

🔒 Music milestone: Cordogan’s Pianoland in Geneva is celebrating 75 years as a family-run piano store, with siblings John and Dianthe carrying on their father’s legacy of sharing music and friendly, personal service.

🎯 Want to advertise? A whopping 98% of Tri-Cities Central subscribers in our 2025 Reader Survey said “buying local is important to me.” Check out our sponsorship options and reach out if you want to explore marketing opportunities.

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☑️ Passport to France | Fri 9/26, 4-7PM | Geneva Wine Cellars | Sample a hand-picked selection of delicious French wines.

☑️ Kane County Fall Shred | Sat 9/27, 8AM-12PM | 540 S. Randall Road, STC | Specialty recycling stations, document shredding, and other services.

🎟️ Card-Making Workshop | Sat 9/27, 9-10:30AM | The Little Traveler, Geneva | Get expert guidance in making beautiful handmade cards with stamping techniques.

☑️ Oktoberfest | Sat 9/27, 2-10PM | River Street, Batavia | Join Sidecar Supper Club and Geneva Winery for a day of family fun, beer, music, food, and more.

☑️ All Wheel Show | Sun 9/28, 9AM-3PM | Poynor Park, Campton Hills | Fun for the whole family with remote-controlled cars, food, vendors, music, prizes, and more.

✳️ Pilates & Pints | Sun 9/28, 11AM-12PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | After an invigorating session of stretching and strengthening, reward yourself with a refreshing local brew.

☑️ Fire Dept. Open House | Sun 9/28, 11AM-2PM | Batavia High School | See live demos, tour the station, meet the department dog, do obstacle courses, and more.

☑️ Covenant Preschool Fall FUNdraiser | Sun 9/28, 11:30AM-3PM | Batavia Covenant Preschool | Enjoy food, music, kids activities, petting zoo, auctions, and more.

☑️ Fall Craft Show | Sun 9/28, 12-4PM | Acquaviva Winery, Maple Park | Sip and shop handmade items, then stay to dine!

☑️ Kane County Record Show | Sun 9/28, 12-4PM | Moose Lodge, STC | A one day, pop-up record store with an assortment of LP's, CD’s, DVD’s, and more.

🎟️ Autumn Cookie Decorating Class | Sun 9/28, 1PM | Gather Bakery, Geneva | Decorate festive cookies while enjoying donuts and cider.

🎟️ CUREage Ride & Welcome Home Party | Sat 10/4, 3-6PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Celebrate 22 amazing cyclists after their journey to Wisconsin and back, raising money for pediatric cancer awareness and research.

🎟️ Bourbon Social | Sat 10/4, 4-8PM | Liquor ‘n’ Wine, STC | Casa Kane County’s bourbon tasting fundraiser event with rare samples and live music.

This week’s featured pets from Anderson Humane are Harvard and Orzo — two sweet companions ready for forever homes.

Harvard is a scruffy, two-year-old Schnauzer mix who loves snuggles, playtime, and long walks. Orzo is a gentle two-year-old cat who starts out shy but quickly warms up into a lap-loving cuddler.

If you’re ready to add a loyal new friend to your family, check out their profiles and reach out to Anderson Humane!

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