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Good morning!
It was a gorgeous weekend in the Tri-Cities, and locals certainly took advantage.
After experiencing the peaceful solitude of Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles (a hidden gem, don’t tell anyone) with the dogs on Saturday, we discovered the opposite in downtown Geneva and St. Charles — folks were everywhere.
Fall festivals, 5K races, themed bar crawls, Homecoming dinners…it was a vibe. And a reminder that we’re pretty spoiled for things to do around here.
One more note: I’d also like to welcome Uncharted as a new Tri-Cities Central sponsor. The trendy, experiential retailer in Geneva’s Randall Square Shopping Center is offering 30% off one item to TCC readers. Check ‘em out!
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
LEAD STORY
Most locals have only glimpsed them from the bike path, but a nearly century-old community of tiny Swedish cottages on Geneva's east side has an interesting history.
During a recent tour, several of the residents provided an inside look at the remarkable grounds at Good Templar Park. At the time of the tour, they were just beginning to prepare for Cottages in the Woods, an annual public event (Oct. 17 and 18 this year) featuring more than 30 artisans and vendors at 20 of the historic cottages on the property.
I learned a lot during the visit. For example, the park opened in 1925, but its story stems back to a 1911 Swedish Midsummer celebration in Evanston.
Since the park’s opening, members have built 58 cottages over the years, and during the community’s peak, up to 400 kids (not including adults) would spend their summers on the grounds.
Keep reading to see what it's like inside — and what's changed since those busy summers of past decades.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Meet the man behind the music at St. Mark’s
Vibrant music plays a key role in the St. Mark's experience, and the Geneva church is opening its doors this fall to showcase its professional-level music and growing, multigenerational choir — all led by the prestigious organist Dr. Lance Peeler.
The centerpiece is a 1949 Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. But the real surprise is the makeup of the choir itself: everyone from 8th graders and hobbyists to retirees and trained singers, all rehearsing side by side every week to become one of the most dynamic groups in the western suburbs.
How has it all come together? Get the story of the man behind the organ.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Haines on Main: As a historic 1866 home on Main Street in St. Charles prepares to open as an event venue and gathering space later this year, its owners are also focused on supporting local nonprofits and addiction support groups.
☑️ Chair censured: The Kane County Board voted to publicly censure Chair Corinne Pierog for sharing confidential details of an investigation about another board member.
☑️ Burgers and bowls? Proposed plans for a new building on the vacant former Red Lobster site at the Geneva Commons show Shake Shack and CAVA as tenants. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission will review the plans on Thursday (10/8).
☑️ A new sheriff: Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, who hasn't appeared in public for several months, announced he'll retire Nov. 1 to focus on his health — though the reason for his absence remains unclear. Read more about what’s next.
☑️ Proposed path: St. Charles committed about $590K to a state grant bid for a new bike and pedestrian path along Campton Hills Road that would connect Breen Community Park and Otter Cove — a stretch that officials say is “very unsafe.”
☑️ The great gate debate: A traffic dispute dating back to 2008 is back on the table as Batavia is pushing Aurora to remove a gate on Wagner Road near the city’s border that officials say is funneling extra vehicles onto Batavia streets.
☑️ League leaping: The Kane County Cougars are leaving the American Association to join the National Association of Professional Baseball starting in 2027, but the team says the game day experience won't change.
☑️ Traffic lasers: Kane County is testing a laser-based traffic detection system at the Kirk Road and Ohio Street intersection in St. Charles (possibly the first in Chicagoland) that’s expected to be more reliable than cameras in outdoor conditions.
SPONSORED CONTENT
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☑️ Pumpkin hunting: Still need some pumpkins for the front stoop? Here’s a useful list of local farms and farm stands where you can stock up for fall decorations.
☑️ Scarecrow takeover: St. Charles' 41st annual Scarecrow Weekend returns in a few days (Oct. 9-11) with more than 120 scarecrows to vote on, free live music, family activities, and a Saturday visit from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
☑️ Batavia unplugged: The latest episode of Area Code: Batavia features Megan McDermott, co-founder of the parent advocacy group Distraction-Free Batavia, who talks about reducing screen time in schools and speaking up in a tight-knit community.
☑️ Prepared for disaster: Kane County launched a free online Emergency Preparedness Toolkit that walks residents through planning for storms, flooding, extreme heat, power outages, and other potential local hazards.
☑️ Two ways to give back: State Sen. Don DeWitte is running a coat drive with two St. Charles drop-off locations through Oct. 12. Big Hearts Fox Valley is running a Holiday Toy Drive for local students through Nov. 11.
✳️ The next chapter: If you're going through a divorce or rebuilding after one, a free Oct. 8 workshop in St. Charles will bring together experts in finance, law, and therapy to answer your questions about money, co-parenting, housing, and what comes next. Learn more and sign up.
PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION
This publication is focused on the Tri-Cities area, but if you’ve never been to a show at The Venue Aurora — it’s worth checking out. They line up an interesting variety of performances and events each week.
SPONSORED CONTENT
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☑️ Boardwalk ready? Applications for the 2027 class of the Batavia Boardwalk Shops are now open, offering a nice opportunity for local entrepreneurs and established small business owners to take over a space in one of the popular downtown storefronts.
☑️ Brunch spot closed: The Facebook and Google Maps profiles for Brunch Cafe in downtown St. Charles show the restaurant as permanently closed. Additional details weren’t immediately available.
✳️ Bear down in style: With football season in full swing, Urban Artisan's Chicago Bears collection has something for every fan in the house — unique apparel, toddler gear, fun decor, and even a framed 1924 World Champs team photo.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $900K Mill Creek home with a saltwater pool, spa, and outdoor putting green.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
✳️ Need a local Realtor? Get in touch with the Tri-Cities’ trustworthy expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or sign up for his newsletter.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
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☑️ A magical retreat: The two-acre woodland Healing Gardens off Dean Street in St. Charles opens to the public October 11, with yoga in the gardens, a special book signing, and a choir performance.
☑️ Grand Re-Opening Celebration | Tue 10/6, 4:30PM-6:30PM | River Glen of St. Charles, STC | Celebrate the senior center with music, apps, cocktails, and desserts.
☑️ An Evening of Style | Wed 10/7, 6PM-8PM | Geneva Wine Cellar and Tasting Room | Enjoy wine, jewelry, and fashion — 10% benefits Fox Valley Food for Health.
☑️ Sedona Silhouette Cookies | Thu 10/8, 10:30AM-12PM | St. Charles Public Library | Grab your cowboy hat and learn Sedona Silhouette Edible Art at this workshop.
🎟️ GROW's 8 Year Anniversary Party | Thu 10/8, 5PM-7PM | GROW Geneva | Celebrate 8 years of GROW with plants, snacks, and a raffle.
🎟️ Mysterious Batavia Walking Tour | Thu 10/8, 6PM | Batavia Riverwalk | Spooky PG-13 tour with eerie historical stories about Batavia.
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