Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Good morning!
It was a busy playoff weekend for our local high school football teams. To recap:
7A: Batavia smoked Lincoln-Way Central to advance to the second round, where they would’ve faced St. Charles North (had they won). Alas, the North Stars fell to Brother Rice, and the latter will clash with the Bulldogs on Saturday.
6A: Geneva topped Carmel and will face Wheaton North this Saturday. St. Charles East couldn’t get past Harlem, so their season has unfortunately wrapped up.
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LEAD STORY
Park or housing at the old blacksmith shop?
One possible future for the blacksmith shop, according to the Friends group. (Rendering courtesy of Friends of the Alexander Brothers’ Blacksmith Shop and the Geneva Riverfront)
Few, if any, local topics have been as consistently debated over the past several years as the fate of the 1840s blacksmith shop on the Geneva riverfront.
In September, a developer filed plans for a residential project that would add 84 units across three five-story buildings on the site (that proposal is still under review).
Now, a new citizens’ group wants to restore the historic blacksmith shop as a public riverfront park and Fox River Trail stop for bikers, hikers, and pedestrians. That plan plan, the group says, could include public restrooms, concessions, picnic tables, and a launch for canoes and kayaks.
And so the saga continues. Keep reading for more details.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Don’t wait to find out at 2AM that your heat’s not working
Most of us don't give the furnace a second thought until that first cold snap hits.
Before that moment arrives, a few things are worth knowing. Batavia-based State Automatic Heating & Cooling shared eight fall maintenance tips that most homeowners never think about, including:
Why some furnace warranties require proof of professional maintenance
How a clogged filter can cause your furnace to overheat
The one safety check a tune-up should never skip
Winter is coming. You should give this a quick read before then.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Halloween hijinx: A St. Charles native turned the Munger Road ghost story into a hit horror movie 15 years ago. Here’s the story behind the film, the legend, and what happened to the promised sequel.
☑️ Roundabout ready: After 35 years of planning, Kane County’s $11.5M Bunker Road extension project is nearly completed, with a new roundabout at Keslinger Road expected to open by the end of November. Learn more and see a drone video.
☑️ Budget breakdown: Batavia’s proposed $173.36 million budget for 2027 — which focuses on funding upgrades for aging streets, pipes, and electric systems — would raise the city’s property tax and increase water, sewer, and electric rates.
☑️ Riverside revamp: St. Charles officials are evaluating five design options for remaking Riverside Avenue near the Arcada downtown, including new crosswalks, a wider sidewalk, and a possible one-way conversion.
☑️ Downtown dollars: Batavia is resurfacing plans for a new downtown TIF district to help fund redevelopment west of the Fox River, including the new QT9 headquarters, with a council vote on Nov. 2 to schedule a public hearing for January.
☑️ Filmed in Batavia: Two Batavia filmmakers just premiered “MR CON,” a true crime documentary about a notorious Chicago-area lawyer that used local homes, businesses, and a Geneva resident’s vintage car to recreate scenes from the 1970s.
☑️ Kirk closures: Crews are expected to begin work to remove the Kirk Road median north of State Street in Geneva this week, kicking off roughly four weeks of daytime lane closures ahead of a 2027 railroad bridge replacement project.
☑️ Sign disposal: If you need to get rid of plastic political campaign signs and metal stands, Kane County will collect them for recycling Nov. 4–15 — including at a 24-hour drop-off at the Kane County Government Center in Geneva.
SPONSORED CONTENT
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☑️ Holiday wonderland: Christmas on the Fox, an immersive Christmas pop-up bar, is taking over Pollyanna St. Charles on Nov. 20 and running through the end of the year with over-the-top Christmas decor, specialty cocktails, fresh beer, and festive fondue.
☑️ Wild playtime: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles will officially open its new Nature Play Space on Nov. 9, where kids can dig for bones, build stick shelters, and connect with nature across five themed outdoor “rooms.”
☑️ Making an impact: The latest episode of “Area Code: Batavia” features Joe Erbentraut, who discusses his local newsletter and print zine, Queering the Burbs, as well as the discovery that his home was a local stop on the Underground Railroad.
☑️ Snag a spot: Local businesses, nonprofits, and community groups have until Nov. 6 to apply for a spot in St. Charles’ Electric Christmas Parade, which will light up downtown Main Street at 5:30PM on Nov. 28.
☑️ Line up that gig: Teen Job Help is hosting free Summer Job Boot Camp classes for ages 14–18 this November and December, featuring sessions on job readiness and resume writing in Geneva and North Aurora (plus live Zoom sessions).
✳️ Rebuilding after divorce: A free Nov. 5 workshop in St. Charles will bring together local financial and mortgage pros to help you get a handle on debt, housing, and long-term stability during and after a divorce. See what the session covers.
PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION
It’ll be getting dark by 5PM this week, but that’s all the more reason to venture out for some live entertainment on a weekday evening.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Ready to fall in love with your kitchen again?
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☑️ Spa’s debut: Belvoir Wellness & MedSpa just opened on the corner of Fabyan Parkway and Kirk Road in Geneva, offering massages, facials, body contouring, contrast therapy, and recovery treatments. See video from the grand opening.
☑️ New chiropractor: Tailored Health, a new chiropractic practice that emphasizes one-on-one treatments, celebrated its grand opening in downtown Geneva with contributions from other local businesses. See photos from the event.
☑️ Made in STC: Aquascape’s Pond Shop and Heinz Brothers Greenhouse earned this year’s Made in St. Charles Awards for developing their products and growing their businesses right here in town.
✳️ One-of-a-kind gifts: With the holidays approaching, now’s the time to have Urban Artisan in Geneva turn a vintage hometown photo, local landmark, or some other personal design into a custom gift to surprise that special someone. Stop by at 27 S. 3rd Street to get started.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including “The 724 House” near downtown Geneva that sold for about $1M.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
☑️ Scam & Fraud Awareness for Seniors | Wed 11/4, 11AM-12:30PM | Pottawatomie Community Center, STC | Seminar where police cover common scams.
🎟️ Wheel of Fortune LIVE! | Wed 11/4, 7:30PM | Arcada Theatre, STC | Contestants can win vacations to Paris and Hawaii or cash prizes up to $10K.
☑️ Beauty Bash | Thu 11/5, 5PM-7PM | DB Aesthetics, Geneva | Enjoy drinks, delicious bites, raffles, giveaways, and more at this sports-themed night.
☑️ Author Visit with Matthew Cordell | Fri 11/6, 4PM-5:30PM | Geneva Public Library | Award-winning author Matthew Cordell celebrates his new books, 102 and Starman.
🎟️ Michigan Wine & Cheese Experience | Fri 11/6 & Sat 11/7 | Up North Wine Tasting Room, Geneva | Taste northern Michigan wines paired with raclette and fromage blanc.
🎟️ Hadestown Teen Edition | Fri 11/6, Sat 11/7, Sun 11/8 | Batavia Fine Arts Centre | BHS brings the Orpheus and Eurydice myth to life in this performance.
Looking ahead
🎟️ St. Charles Comedy Posse at Villa Verone | Sun 11/15, 7PM | Villa Verone, Geneva | Standup comedy night with talented performers.
What’d you think of this issue?
🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work
😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it
🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back
Thanks for reading
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