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🌸 Spring has OFFICIALLY sprung at Wasco Nursery

Wasco Nursery is celebrating its 100th anniversary as the Tri-Cities’ go-to garden experts — and Tuesday night (4/29) offers a unique opportunity to celebrate.

✨ Glow in the Garden: Your chance to explore, learn, sip and shop Wasco Nursery’s best under the magic of the moonlight…plus meet local naturalists and bring home ideas for your own backyard. Get event details here.

If you can’t make it on Tuesday, make sure to check out their online garden center — it’s got everything from beautiful seasonal plants and shrubs to mulch, fertilizers and supplies.

📰 News to use

☑️ No joyride for now: After months of discussion, Elburn trustees declined to approve a proposal that would have allowed golf carts on village streets, citing major safety concerns. The issue may resurface later this year.

☑️ Swift response: Batavia police safely rescued two women and several children held hostage in an apartment early Friday morning, arresting a man wanted on multiple warrants after a SWAT-assisted operation.

☑️ Outdoor upgrade: Batavia will begin construction today (4/28) on a $3M+ ramp project connecting the Riverwalk to the Peace Bridge, improving accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians by spring 2026. Get more details and detours info.

☑️ Campaign launch: Retired detective and Elburn trustee Lou Santoyo announced his candidacy for Kane County Sheriff in the 2026 election, with a focus on restoring public trust and expanding community policing.

☑️ Batavia school updates: BPS 101 reached a new agreement with its teachers' union to provide significant wage increases, celebrated new and departing board members, and announced that Bulldog Stadium will get a new scoreboard. Oh, and “Area Code: Batavia” released a podcast episode with BPS Superintendent Tom Kim.

☑️ Deadline memo: While some Illinois residents will need a Real ID by May 7, state officials say many can wait — and are urging people to avoid unnecessary last-minute rushes at DMVs.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ Recreation station: Work is coming along nicely on the new Callahan Community Center in downtown Batavia, which will open later this summer with plenty of space for expanded programs. See pictures of the progress.

☑️ Heartwarming custom: St. Charles VFW Post 5036 delivered 750 donated boxes of Girl Scout cookies to veterans in nursing and retirement homes from Batavia to South Elgin as part of an annual tradition.

☑️ Scholarly achievement: A Geneva High School student was selected out of 16,000 students nationwide as a 2025 National Merit Scholar. He plans to study applied mathematics in college.

☑️ Beyond bikes: The “What’s Up St. Charles” podcast takes a cruise through motorcycle history and discusses a new local attraction in this episode with Andy Koczwara, the owner of the new St. Charles Motorcycle Museum & Art Gallery.

☑️ Landscape freebie: The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will offer free wood chips to the public on Sunday, May 4, at Burnidge and Big Rock Forest Preserves while supplies last.

🎸 Live music

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It’s like clockwork — as the weather warms, the mid-week music lineup gradually expands. Definitely the busiest Thursday of the year so far.

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✨ Award-winning brunch at an unbeatable price

Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Spring 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

🤝 Local biz

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☑️ Unique opportunity: Geneva Winery is seeking 10 local partners to help fund a major expansion — including a new vineyard and production facility — with investment opportunities starting at $50K.

☑️ Closing chapter: Hearth & Hammer general store in Batavia shared that the business will be closing on May 31. In a heartfelt message, they reflected on the decision and thanked their customers, partners and the Batavia community.

☑️ Bird buzz: Long-time Batavia shop Bird Is The Word celebrated a grand re-opening on Friday (4/25), now under the new ownership of Christine Weihofen. See photos from the event.

✳️ Gifts galore: From St. Charles and Geneva-themed wall art to Chicago-inspired home goods and quirky finds for old-school sports and movie lovers, there’s no such thing as boring at Urban Artisan in Geneva. Check out their online shop.

🗞️ Un-classifieds

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $1.1M equestrian-friendly estate in Campton Hills.

☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.

☑️ City meetings:

• Monday (4/28): Special Geneva City Council (agenda)

• Tuesday (4/29): Batavia Committee of the Whole (agenda)

• Tuesday (4/29): Geneva Street Program Information Meeting (details)

☑️ Police reports: Batavia police report summaries | Geneva police reports | St. Charles daily arrest log

☑️ Get connected: Recently relocated to Batavia or North Aurora? Check out Welcome Home Batavia, a free service that will provide you the info, resources, gifts and gift certificates you need to feel connected to your community.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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☑️ Studio on the Fox Grand Opening | Thurs 5/1, 4:30PM | Downtown Batavia | Celebrate a new business with a photo booth, photo sessions, raffles and more.

🎟️ Grotto Penelope Whiskey Dinner | Thurs 5/1, 6-10PM | The Graceful Ordinary, STC | An exclusive evening of exceptional whiskey and gourmet cuisine.

☑️ Jewelry Sip N Paint | Thurs 5/1, 6PM | Brother Chimp Brewing, N. Aurora | A Mother’s Day-themed night of creativity and brews.

☑️ Thick Skin - Open Ears | Thurs 5/1, 7PM | STC Library | A panel exploring how to make real, respectful connections with people of different views.

🎟️ Cheers Through The Years | Fri 5/2, 7-9PM | Downtown Batavia | A historic trolley tour and pub crawl.

🌖 Weather snapshot

🌤️ Monday: High 82F | Low 65F | Summer-like

🌥️ Tuesday: High 71F | Low 45F | Windy

☁️ Wednesday: High 60F | Low 54F | Dreary

🌧️ Thursday: High 61F | Low 47F | Rainy

📖 Thanks for reading

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