A proposal from Gov. JB Pritzker aims to change who controls what gets built in Illinois neighborhoods — and some local mayors aren't happy about it.

In fact, during Monday’s City Council meeting, Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Schielke said he’s “never seen in my years here anything that drew as much concern and interest as this thing has.”

Pritzker’s BUILD plan, unveiled last month, would override local zoning laws to allow multi-unit housing and backyard "granny flats" on residential lots across the state. In response, Schielke suggested that a local delegation will head to Springfield with other suburban mayors to push back.

Read on to learn what the plan would actually do — and why local municipalities are fired up.

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There aren’t many truly local garbage companies left. This is one of them.

When Tri-Cities homeowners need a dumpster, they call Midwest Waste — not a large national company, 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.

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☑️ Freedom trails: A statewide group is documenting local Illinois Underground Railroad sites — with collaboration from the St. Charles History Museum — to preserve and teach the stories of past freedom seekers in the area.

☑️ Cameras likely coming: Geneva officials recommended installing security cameras at city hall, the police station, and the public works facility, closing coverage gaps that staff say have caused issues in the past.

☑️ “Forever” chemicals: Elburn officials are retesting the village's drinking water after notifying residents that the state detected a PFAS compound above recommended reporting levels in a village well.

☑️ Treasurer race: Get details on the three candidates vying for the Democratic Kane County treasurer nomination — Connie Cain, Scott Johansen, and Penny Wegman — with the winner moving on to face Republican incumbent Chris Lauzen.

🔒 Park in jeopardy: Some Geneva neighbors are pushing back against plans to replace Sam Hill Park with a new police station if voters approve the March 17 referendum, while city and park district officials said they would relocate the park’s ballfields.

☑️ Heads up: A controlled burn of a Geneva Business Park wetlands area is scheduled for Monday (3/9) between Route 38 and Fabyan Parkway along Kautz Road.

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☑️ Artist profile: Longtime Tri-Cities creative Ellen Ljung continues to shape the local arts and nonprofit community through her award-winning glasswork, published books, wearable art, and decades of volunteer service around the Tri-Cities.

☑️ Get your pickle on: Organized by local advocates, a grassroots pickleball and blues night on March 13 in North Aurora will raise money for local senior programs while bringing the community together for an evening of connection and fun.

☑️ Local glacial tour: Curious about the hills and ridges you’ve driven past for years? The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is hosting an April 18 bus tour that dives into the Ice Age stories behind local glacial features like kames and eskers.

☑️ Prom assistance: Friendly reminder that local nonprofit CHIP IN Batavia will give away up to 1,000 free prom dresses — along with shoes, accessories and some suit rentals — during its annual March 14–15 event at the Batavia Public Library.

☑️ STC garage sale weekend: The St. Charles Community Garage Sale will take place on May 1 and 2 and is open to all park district residents and households with a St. Charles address. Participants keep all of the profits. Learn more here.

✳️ Holy Week services: Whether you're a member or just looking for a meaningful place to mark the season, St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Geneva has Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services across multiple times — so there's almost certainly a spot that works for you.

In another sign of the changing seasons, this is the most jam-packed live music schedule thus far in 2026.

It’s been a minute since I made it out for a local show, so you can bet your sweet bippy we’ll be out there this weekend.

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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.

☑️ 2026 restaurant guide: Batavia MainStreet has released its 2026 Downtown Batavia Restaurant Guide, spotlighting 35 local bars, cafés, and restaurants to help residents and visitors plan their next meal out.

☑️ Brick + mortar closing: After more than 10 years as a gathering spot for tea and connection in downtown Batavia, the owner of The Tea Tree announced that the storefront will close on March 26 — though online sales will remain. See the full message.

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☑️ Tropical Madness | Sat 3/7 - Sun 3/8 | Heinz Brothers Greenhouse, STC | Houseplant clinics, prizes, build-your-own terrarium workshops, and tropical fun.

☑️ 5-Year MERC-iversary Celebration | Sat 3/7, 10AM-5PM | Wilson Street Mercantile, Batavia | Enjoy treats, raffles, scavenger hunt and local shopping.

🎟️ Tacos & Mocktails Class | Sat 3/7, 12-2PM | Eastside Community Center, Batavia | Cook mushroom tacos and mix refreshing lychee mocktails with a friendly group.

☑️ Seed Swap | Sat 3/7, 1-2:30PM | St. Charles Public Library | Swap seeds, visit the heirloom seed library, and get answers to gardening questions.

🎟️ Annual I90s Batavia Beer Walk | Sat 3/7, 1:30-9PM | Downtown Batavia | Crawl the downtown bar scene with drinks, costumes, and friends.

🎟️ Swedish Meatball Dinner Benefit | Sat 3/7, 4:30-6:30PM | Bethany Lutheran Church, Batavia | Enjoy a delicious Swedish feast that supports a children’s choir.

☑️ Polar Plunge | Sun 3/8, 10AM | Ferson Creek Park, STC | Police and fire community plunge to support Special Olympics Illinois.

☑️ State Street Artisan Market | Sun 3/8, 11AM-5PM | Art History Brewing, Geneva | Shop local artists and makers with beer at this family-friendly brewery market.

✳️ The Ultimate Puzzle Throwdown | Sun 3/8, 3:30PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Grab some friends and compete to win prizes by solving a 500-piece puzzle the fastest.

🎟️ Kevin James Thornton Book Reading Show | Sun 3/8, 7:30PM | The Comedy Vault, Batavia | Popular comic storytelling show for his Big Baby book debut.

🎟️ Shamrock Paint & Sip | Mon 3/9, 6:30-8:30PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | Create a unique wooden shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day.

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