Happy Thursday!

Now that Tri-Cities Central just surpassed the 13,000-subscriber mark, I wanted to take another opportunity to say THANK YOU to everyone who regularly reads, offers feedback, refers friends, and helps make this such a fun publication to run.

To celebrate, I’ve added a new reward to the referral program: If you refer 5 people who subscribe to TCC, you’ll get a $5 gift card to a local establishment.

Just make sure to share this link (pro tip: share in a group chat or post it on social to easily get more referrals).

For those who’ve already crossed the five-referral threshold, you should have received an email with details on how to claim your gift card. Give me a shout with any questions.

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

Unofficial election results are in, and Geneva voters had something to say.

About two-thirds of residents rejected a $59.4 million bond referendum to fund a new police station, delivering a clear message despite an extensive public education campaign from the city.

Outreach included facility tours, community meetings, and a podcast aimed at showing residents the cramped conditions, flooding, sewer backups, and partial roof collapse at the current Police Plaza building.

Read on for full primary results — including Kane County Board races, the county sheriff and treasurer primaries, and congressional contests affecting the Tri-Cities.

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Warm weather is closer than it feels, so take my advice: Don’t do what I do (which is ignore my air conditioner until it’s 95 and humid and inevitably breaks).

If your AC hasn't been serviced recently, now is the time to find out whether it's up for the job.

Batavia’s State Automatic Heating & Cooling recommends twice-yearly maintenance for a reason: customers who keep up with it almost never deal with surprise breakdowns.

💥 Get $500 off: If your system is due for a replacement, State Automatic is currently offering $500 off a new HVAC system. Just mention that you saw this in Tri-Cities Central.

Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.

☑️ Cost of living: Nearly three in four Tri-Cities residents who responded to our affordability poll say the area is getting out of reach for people who aren't already established here. See some of their comments.

☑️ Downtown digs: Check out this recently sold $2M penthouse condo on the downtown St. Charles riverfront (it has a cocktail bar and a private theatre room). I do note the irony of these two links being lumped together here.

☑️ Water bill warning: St. Charles officials signaled support for a utility rate hike that would push a typical resident's combined bill nearly 50% higher by 2029, with further discussion and a public hearing coming on April 6.

☑️ Modernized regulations: Batavia officials approved the city's first e-mobility ordinance, which sets fines, age rules, and clear definitions for e-bikes, scooters, and motorized bikes. The city is planning a public education campaign before enforcement begins.

☑️ Energy plan pivot: Batavia paid a consultant $385K to draft a long-term energy plan, but council members and residents say the first attempt fell short — and now they're sending it back for a rewrite while exploring a task force.

☑️ Easter event hub: The next couple of weeks are packed with local egg hunts, bunny photos, and brunch options across Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles — here's the full rundown of Easter events (I’ll keep adding to this list).

☑️ Above and beyond: A St. Charles police officer received a Kane County lifesaving award after applying tourniquets to two critically injured motorcycle crash victims before paramedics arrived.

☑️ Pet preparedness: Kane County Animal Control is running low-cost drive-through rabies vaccine and microchip clinics at its Geneva facility on six dates between April and October, with discounted rates for senior residents.

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☑️ Local artist spotlight: A St. Charles basketweaver who got her start at a park district class in 1984 has spent the last four decades teaching her craft at Fine Line Creative Arts Center and weaving herself into the fabric of the local arts community.

☑️ Polar plunge: About 175 people jumped into the Fox River for the St. Charles Polar Plunge, raising nearly $83K for Special Olympics Illinois — including $15K+ from the St. Charles team alone. See photos and video from the event.

☑️ St. Paddy’s recap: The 2026 St. Charles St. Patrick's Day Parade wrapped with Jeeps4Vets taking Best of Show — plus winners crowned across nonprofit, business, and children's/schools categories. See photos and learn who else won.

☑️ Civic voices: This week’s episode of “Area Code: Batavia” features a conversation about democracy and local government with Patti Lackman and Tammy Caltagirone of the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County.

☑️ Older adult activities: Primrose Farm in St. Charles is running a spring series of hands-on classes for adults 50+ covering cast iron cooking, soapmaking, and butter and biscuits — all centered around farm-grown ingredients.

✳️ Holy Week: St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Geneva has services for the whole family across Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter — including a special Sunday School program for K-5th graders during the 7PM Good Friday service.

From Brother Chimp’s six-year anniversary celebration to Uncle Kracker performing at the Arcada Theatre on Sunday, we’re in for a lively musical weekend here in the Tri-Cities.

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Yes! Batavia’s Bocaditos Cafe offers coffee, tea, mocha, lattes — and much more. Check out the drink menu.

After recently earning a $10K national small business grant, the downtown Batavia cafe upgraded its espresso setup and expanded its breakfast menu to feature bagels, croissants, fresh pastries, and other new mouthwatering options.

So stop in for a latte, cortado, cappuccino, or mocha (made with Belgian Callebaut chocolate), pair it with an empanada or your favorite breakfast item, and stay awhile.

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☑️ Final curtain call: Steel Beam Theatre has closed after 24 years, and the downtown St. Charles venue is reopening as The Fox Youth Stage with a focus on youth theater programming moving forward.

☑️ Extending local roots: A Rooted Home, a fan favorite from last year's Batavia Boardwalk Shops, is opening a permanent downtown storefront with a "first look" event this Saturday (3/21) and a Grand Opening on March 28.

✳️ Spring Break camp: If your 6–10 year old could use some fun, healthy activities over break, Zen Loft Collective’s Spring Break Movement & Mindfulness Camp in Batavia runs March 31–April 2 and mixes active play, yoga-inspired activities, and teamwork in a small, intentional setting.

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☑️ Four Star Anniversary Celebration | Thu 3/19 - Sat 3/22 | Urban Artisan, Geneva | 4-day event with buy-3-get-1-free promos, local maker highlights, and daily giveaways.

☑️ Nostalgialand Show & Sale | Sat 3/21 & Sun 3/22 | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | Two-day antique/collectibles show featuring jukeboxes, vintage signs, toys + memorabilia.

☑️ Conserve Water for Kane: Saving Water Indoors Workshop | Sat 3/21, 9AM | Kane County Extension, STC | Free interactive workshop on reducing home water use.

🎟️ Sushi & Yoga | Sat 3/21, 11AM-1PM | BASH, Geneva | One-hour yoga class with Spenga followed by a delicious sushi lunch.

☑️ Lucky Year Seven: Anniversary Party | Sat 3/21, 12PM | Riverlands Brewing, STC | 7-year anniversary celebration with food, live music, and a special beer release.

☑️ Micro Habits Workshop | Sat 3/21, 2PM | St. Charles Public Library, STC | Two-hour interactive workshop on building small, repeatable habits that lead to big results.

☑️ Underground Railroad Quilt Presentation | Sat 3/21, 7PM | UUSG, Geneva | An IL Humanities scholar will present hidden quilt codes used by freedom-seekers.

🎟️ Art Yoga in the ARC Gallery | Sun 3/22, 10AM | St. Charles Arts Council, STC | Yoga session surrounded by artwork from the upcoming Spring Exhibit.

🎟️ Mimosa Flight Brunch | Sun 3/22, 11AM & 1:30PM | Coffee, Cones, & Cabernet, Geneva | All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet with mimosas and signature purées.

☑️ "Pickle for Partnership" Pickleball Tournament | Sun 3/22, 12PM | Pickled! Batavia | Charity pickleball tournament for Tri-City Health Partnership, all skill levels welcome.

☑️ The Feud Trivia: Battle Royale | Sun 3/22, 6PM | EvenFlow, Geneva | Free Family Feud-style trivia tourney with cash prizes up to $1K and a Vegas hotel stay on the line.

🎟️ Wine & Watercolor: Houseplant Edition | Thu 3/26, 5:30PM | Chi-Cuterie, Geneva | Watercolor class with wine and charcuterie — leave with a framed painting.

🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work

😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it

🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back

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