Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting the area’s top stories, local happenings, live music performances and essential community updates in an entertaining, digestible format.
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📜 From the archives: A larger-than-life presence in the Tri-Cities
Don’t ask me how, but I recently came across an old issue of The Batavia Herald (RIP) that was published 68 years ago this week.
The front page photo immediately seized my focus for reasons that are probably obvious — that dude is ENORMOUS.
It turns out that not only was Don Koehler considered the world’s tallest living man (8 feet 2 inches) from 1969 until he passed away in 1981, but he was one of only 24 people in history known to have exceeded eight feet in height.
Must’ve been pretty cool to see him at a Rotary Club meeting in a town of just over 6,000 residents (judging by Batavia’s 1950 census data). Also pictured is former Rotary president “Tony” Donat, the patriarch of current Batavia law firm Donat & Donat.
A little slice of local history to carry you into the weekend.
📰 News to use
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Key dates for brush/leaf collection
And just like that, we’ve replaced incessant watering with raking. Which means leaf pickup programs are starting to roll out:
Batavia: Leaf collection begins Monday on the east side. Here’s the seasonal schedule covering both sides of town. Brush pickup also runs Monday through Friday for the east side with the west side kicking off the following week.
Geneva: The curbside leaf program doesn’t begin until 10/30. Ya’ll got time.
St. Charles: Brush pickup is Monday for the east side and the following Monday (10/23) for the west side. Leaf collection starts 10/25.
☑️ Pedestrian friendly: Starting today, IDOT is embarking on several ADA improvement projects at Route 31 intersections in Geneva. They’ll likely last through the fall.
☑️ Community well-being: Concerned about public health and wellness initiatives? Share feedback in the Kane County Health Survey to help prioritize health concerns and identify gaps in services.
🎸 Live music
*Below I’ve included “listed” start/end times — actual play times tend to vary. The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. Links to band/event info are provided where available.
Thursday (10/12) ⬇️
✔️ Riley Bros Duo: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 4-7PM | Band info
🎟️ Nick @ Knight: Club Arcada | St. Charles | 5PM | Event info
✔️ Tom Holland: Preservation | Geneva | 6-9PM | Musician info
✔️ Sean Gaskell: St. Charles Public Library | 6:30-7:30PM | Event info
✔️ Stan Karcz: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM | Musician info
✔️ PBJ: EvenFlow | Geneva | 8PM
Friday (10/13) ⬇️
✔️ The Beaux: Tanna Tap | Geneva | 6-9:30PM | Musician info
✔️ Matt Keen: D and G Brewing | Geneva | 6PM | Musician info
✔️ Afternoon Logic: The Wine Exchange | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Band info
✔️ The Desert Strangers: Brother Chimp Brewing | Batavia | 6-9PM | Band info
✔️ Stephen Bores: Preservation | Geneva | 6:30-10PM | Event info + video
✔️ David Fraccaro: Sturdy Shelter Brewing | Batavia | 7-9PM | Musician info
✔️ DJ CK: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM
🎟️ Pink Floyd Night w/ Echoes of Pompeii: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 8PM | Event info
✔️ Karla & The Phat Cats: Pollyanna Brewing | St. Charles | 8-11PM | Band info
✔️ Pete Jive: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 8-11:30PM | Musician info
🎟️ Rick Lindy & The Wild Ones: Club Arcada | St. Charles | 8:30PM | Event info
✔️ Tyler Krienitz: Bar Evolution | Batavia | 8:30-11:30PM | Musician info
🎟️ Too Hype Crew: EvenFlow | Geneva | 9PM | Band info
✔️ Noah Gabriel: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9:30PM-1AM | Musician info
Saturday (10/14) ⬇️
✔️ Joe Nanzer: 93 Octane Brewing | St. Charles |1-4PM | Musician info
✔️ Billy Denton: Pollyanna Brewing | St. Charles | 2-5PM | Musician info (+ Hat Trick BBQ food truck)
✔️ Matt Keen: Art History Brewing | Geneva | 4-7PM | Musician info
✔️ Tin Fiddle Band: Tanna Tap | Geneva | 6-9:30PM | Band info
✔️ Noah Gabriel: D and G Brewing | St. Charles | 6PM | Musician info
✔️ Demi Proutsos: The Wine Exchange | St. Charles | 6-9PM
✔️ Pleasant Panic: Brother Chimp Brewing | Batavia | 6-9PM | Band info
✔️ Brother John Kattke: Preservation | Geneva | 6:30-10PM | Event info + video
🎟️ Interstate 90s w/ Side Piece Band: EvenFlow | Geneva | 7PM | Band info
✔️ Junkyard Groove: Sturdy Shelter Brewing | Batavia | 7-10PM | Band info
✔️ Johnny Burnett: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM | Musician info
🎟️ Elton Dan & The Rocket Band: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 8:30PM | Event info
✔️ Kevin Spica: Bar Evolution | Batavia | 8:30-11:30PM | Musician info
✔️ Warren Douglas Band: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 8-11PM | Musician info
✔️ Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9:30PM-2AM | Band info
Sunday (10/15) ⬇️
✔️ New Vintage Strings Live: Art History Brewing | Geneva | 2-5PM | Musician info
✔️ Henry JBC: Preservation | Geneva | 1-4PM | Musician info
✔️ Paul and Jay Music: Sturdy Shelter Brewing | Batavia | 3-6PM | Band info
✔️ Blue Grass Sunday: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 4-7PM | Event info
🎟️ Micky Dolenz: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 5PM | Event info
🏘️ In the community
🔒 Local literature: The Daily Herald spoke with the owner of Salerno's on the Fox about the St. Charles restaurant’s secret sauce for success, including a family approach and dedicated staff.
☑️ Safe havens: A new ranked list of Illinois’ safest cities placed Elburn in the coveted #1 spot, followed closely by neighboring Campton Hills.
☑️ Worthy of accolades: If you know any local artists or performers with a laundry list of accomplishments, now’s the time to nominate them for the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame.
☑️ Skeleton hoops: The Geneva Park District is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Sunday, open to players ranging from 10-year-olds to full-blown grown-ups.
☑️ Dinks n’ drop shots: Local pickleballers should note that the Batavia Park District is offering Fall Open Gym at the Civic Center through December 22.
🏬 Local biz
☑️ Old favorite, new look: Now open in St. Charles is 3rd Street Pub (formerly known as Billy Brick’s). Head over this weekend — all those pool tables and dartboards aren’t going to play themselves.
🎈 Special events
☑️ Celebrate local history: Head to Geneva’s Henry L. Bennett House today from 4-7PM to learn about the historic home’s significance (while enjoying apps and beverages).
☑️ Fighting complacency: Rep. Bill Foster is hosting a series of local town halls to discuss Congress' latest work to tackle the climate crisis starting tomorrow at the St. Charles Library.
☑️ Trunk or Treat: Let the kids wet their Halloween whistles with animal-themed trunks, music, games and candy at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles from 6:30-8PM tomorrow.
☑️ Nightmare at West Main: Go on a haunted hike and spot ghouls in the forest at West Main Community Park in Batavia from 7-9PM tomorrow night.
☑️ The art of flame taming: An open house at the St. Charles Fire Department from 12-3PM on Saturday will include a live fire demonstration, rescue operations and combat challenges for kids.
🎟️ The St. Charles Singers: The acclaimed chamber choir kicks off its 40th season with concerts featuring choral masterworks of Johann Sebastian Bach on Saturday and Sunday in St. Charles.
☀️ Weather snapshot
Today: High 61F | Low 54F | Rain
Friday: High 61F | Low 52F | Getting sick of the rain
Saturday: High 54F | Low 46F | Rain and now COLD!?
Sunday: High 54F | Low 43F | If there’s no sun, I give up
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Cheers,
Sam
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