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Of the many aspects I love about writing this newsletter, historical deep dives are among my favorite. If they weren’t prohibitively time-consuming, I’d publish more of them.

Having grown up in Batavia attending the event every summer, digging into the history of the Windmill City Festival was a treat — plenty of rich anecdotes, fun stories, and compelling photos were waiting to be uncovered, mostly in old newspaper archives.

I even stumbled across a photo of my buddy Zack winning the kids’ slam dunk contest in this 1998 edition of the Batavia Republican (he got the best of me on that occasion, per usual).

With the 2026 version of the event coming up this weekend, hope you enjoy this little history of the festival originally known as Boo Boo Days. Feel free to respond to this email with memories of your own; I may compile some for a future issue.

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When Tri-Cities homeowners need a dumpster, they call Midwest Waste — not a national chain, not a call center, and not a company that buries fees in the fine print.

Midwest Waste is locally owned, locally staffed, and known for helping local residents and businesses choose exactly what they need — whether that’s a quick garage clean-out or a full-scale remodel.

Clear pricing. Real answers. Reliable service. If you’re planning a project this spring or summer, you already know who to call.

☑️ Storm tragedy: Batavia and Wheaton residents were part of the group on the boat that capsized during Friday's violent storm in Lake Geneva, killing three children — here’s a detailed story about what happened.

☑️ New neighborhood proposed: St. Charles officials recommended hiring a consultant to explore setting up a new TIF district to help fund a Pulte Homes project that would add 105 homes to a vacant 28-acre industrial site on the west side.

☑️ Local crash: An Aurora man is facing reckless homicide and DUI charges after police say he crossed into oncoming traffic on Randall Road Saturday night, killing a 71-year-old Geneva woman and critically injuring her son.

☑️ Water monitoring: Elburn just finished its latest round of required PFAS testing with a clean result, and the village's 2025 water quality report is now live for residents to review.

☑️ Aftermath report: Kane County wants residents and businesses affected by uninsured damage from the storms and floods last weekend to fill out a self-assessment survey, which will help determine whether the region qualifies for disaster aid.

☑️ News notes:

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☑️ Geneva on display: Geneva recently got the WGN Daytime Chicago treatment as the show highlighted downtown’s historic charm and The Little Traveler's 104th year in its latest Main Street USA feature. Watch the full segment here.

☑️ Charitable shopping spree: The 5th annual Passport to Batavia event returns on July 25, sending shoppers on a self-guided tour of east-side stores and Boardwalk shops to raise money for local food assistance programs.

☑️ A lifeline to safety: Anderson Humane made a nearly 7-hour round trip on a rescue mission to Springfield, bringing back six dogs displaced when a tornado destroyed the Animal Protective League's shelter and clinic there.

☑️ Shared roadways: Geneva is adding eight new “sharrows” (road bike markings) across the west side starting this week, covering streets like Fargo Boulevard, Kaneville Road, and Williamsburg Avenue.

✳️ Summer fellowship series: Sunday services at St. Mark’s Church in Geneva now include a casual 10:30AM study series on Revelation (coffee, snacks, and big questions welcome) plus a Wednesday morning prayer service to help you stay grounded throughout the week. See the full summer schedule.

With Windmill City Fest happening in downtown Batavia this weekend, the Thursday-to-Sunday music lineup comes in just two shy of 100 performances.

Hopefully a couple more shows materialize soon so we can hit the century mark.

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Going out for coffee, breakfast, or lunch is fun. But it’s even more enjoyable when you score a great deal.

Maple Leaf Coffee House in downtown St. Charles offers a full slate of weekday specials — making it a no-brainer addition to your weekly routine:

And no matter what day you stop in, you get that incredible river view from the patio as a bonus.

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✳️ Recover in bliss: Power Moves Yoga's float tanks are giving Tri-Cities exercisers and runners a new way to recover during training season, and they’re offering $39 intro sessions — plus a "Mom Reboot retreat" event coming up in August.

☑️ New local spots: St. Charles has welcomed Soksay Kitchen, Smoothie King, and Perspire Sauna Studio to the city, giving residents new spots for Asian street food, smoothies, and infrared sauna sessions. Learn more about the new businesses.

☑️ East-side support: Geneva launched a special campaign urging residents to keep supporting the 65+ small businesses along East State Street during the ongoing multi-year construction project. Get all the info including a list of businesses.

☑️ Fox Valley expansion: Geneva’s American Science & Surplus is opening a satellite store at the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora with a celebration planned for Thursday (6/9) featuring demonstrations, games, and fun for youngsters.

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☑️ Open House with John Searles | Fri 7/10, 5PM–7PM | Town House Books, STC | Author John Searles signing his new book “Single Girls” with wine and appetizers. 

☑️ Late Night Vibes | Fri 7/10, 6PM–10PM | Urban Apothecary, Batavia | Evening of wellness services, local vendors, self-care, and free bath soak blending. 

🎟️ Peach Festival | Fri 7/10–Sun 7/12 & Fri 7/17–Sun 7/19 | Windy Acres Farm, Geneva | Fresh peaches, cobbler, funnel cakes, live entertainment, and family farm fun.

☑️ Unplug Batavia Scavenger Hunt | Sat Jul 11, All Day | Downtown Batavia | Solve six riddles to find scenic local spots while enjoying screen-free family fun.

✳️ Special Edition Puppy Yoga | 7/11 & 7/12, Various Times | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Absolutely adorable beginner yoga with adoptable puppies in support of a great cause.

☑️ Open House at Norris Recreation Center | Sat 7/11, 9AM–11AM | Norris Recreation Center, STC | Free open house with fitness demos, raffles, and refreshments. 

☑️ Chat & Caff | Sat 7/11, 10AM–12PM | Brown Butter Baked Goods, STC | All-ages community coffee hangout with folks from Elgin Pride.

☑️ Fútbol para Siempre: The Beautiful Game Art Installation | Sat 7/11, 10AM–4PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Batavia artist Richard Romero displays 19 jumbo soccer art pieces. 

☑️ Bubble Bash | Sat 7/11, 11AM–1PM | Geneva Commons | Free family celebration with foam zone, bubble crafts, water activities, and raffle prizes. 

🎟️ Lightning Bug Glow Party | Sat 7/11, 6PM–9PM | Red Oak Nature Center, N. Aurora | Pizza, nature exploration, kids activities, and bug nets for catching critters.

☑️ Obscurity Brewing Community Garage Sale & Flea Market | Sun 7/12, 11AM–4PM | Warehouse on North, Elburn | Find hidden treasures and great deals with a beverage.

Dinner Club reminder: the next Dinner Club event is quickly approaching on Wednesday, July 22. Join us for a fun evening in Geneva’s downtown restaurant scene — and register with a plus-one if you’d like!

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