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!
First, a quick shout out to Josef's Elegante Meat & Deli in Geneva (we’ve been there three times in the past week). Just a fantastic shop with excellent meat and a lunch sandwich menu that’s one of the sneakiest best values around.
Also: I’m teaming up with Chris Wallace to host a virtual “Tri-Cities Live” special event on April 8 at 7PM — essentially a panel discussion with a few local business and civic leaders. We’ll be chatting with:
Pat Greco | President of GSI, the developer behind the Fox Haven Square development on the east side of St. Charles
Chris & Megan Curren | Owners of The Graceful Ordinary and O&D Hospitality (they’re planning to open two new concepts in St. Charles)
Mayor Kevin Burns | Mayor of Geneva
Leah Leman | Co-Owner of Limestone Coffee and Batavia alderperson
Should be an interesting conversation about timely happenings in the Tri-Cities. If you’re interested in attending live, make sure to register here. I’ll share the video recording in the newsletter after the event.
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
Local folks are feeling the financial pinch
Last Thursday, we asked you — the esteemed readers of Tri-Cities Central — to share your thoughts on the local cost of living.
More than 300 of you responded, and the results offered a clear point of view. Roughly three in four respondents said the Tri-Cities are getting out of reach for people who aren't already established here.
The remaining responses were split, with only about 10% saying the area is "still affordable compared to the broader Chicago suburbs." Taken in full, the comments tell a more nuanced story, touching on rental costs, property taxes, and a recurring worry about whether the next generation can afford to stay here.
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If your siding is faded, cracked, warping at the seams, or simply looking tired, you should talk to the experts at 212° Construction Group. They’re local, trusted, and use the toughest materials, including James Hardie® fiber cement (the #1 siding brand used on over 10 million homes).
Want to see what I’m talking about? Check out these before/after photos from a recent local job.
💥 Brian is offering free estimates right now — call (630) 777-0688 or visit their site to get on the schedule before the spring rush.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Maple Leaf Coffee House: If you haven't been to Maple Leaf Coffee House along the Fox River in downtown St. Charles, you're missing a delightful café with house-roasted coffee and a delicious breakfast and lunch menu. They’re ready to welcome TCC readers.
☑️ Clutter meets its match: A Geneva woman has turned a lifelong obsession with organization and modern decor into The Polished Nest, a new home organizing and decorating business serving the Tri-Cities area. Meet the local entrepreneur.
☑️ West Main vision: Batavia officials voted to recommend letting the school district purchase 812 Main Street for storage purposes — despite some objections that the move will harm the city's redevelopment vision in the West Town area.
☑️ Development debate: The Campton Hills Joint Review Board backed a $90M TIF district for the 900-home LaFox of Campton Hills development — but park, library, and county officials warned the tax freeze could cost their districts significantly.
☑️ Voting resources: With Election Day (Tuesday 3/17) nearly upon us, here’s one last reminder to check out the Kane County Clerk’s elections hub for candidate info, voting locations, sample ballots, and even results once they start rolling in.
☑️ Passing the test: Elburn retested its drinking water after a PFAS compound showed up in a December sample — and both follow-up tests came back clean. Get the details.
☑️ Intersection incident: A driver was hospitalized and cited after failing to yield on a left turn caused a two-car crash late last week at Randall Road and Wilson Street in Batavia.
☑️ Prepare for delays: Work is about to ramp up on East State Street in Geneva as IDOT kicks off a multi-year reconstruction project next week that will bring substantial lane closures and congestion through late 2027.
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Free event on Tuesday (3/17) at Fox Valley Ophthalmology | 40W330 LaFox Rd, St. Charles
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☑️ Windmill legacy: WBEZ's Curious City podcast recently dug into the history of how Batavia became the center of the global windmill industry in an episode featuring Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke and Depot Museum Director Kate Garrett.
☑️ Kitchen camaraderie: Rosewood Farm & Market in downtown Batavia has a couple of fun-looking cooking classes coming up (one focused on pasta, another on Spanish tapas) — plus some kids activities over the spring break period. Get the details.
☑️ Viking spotlight: A Geneva Middle School South language arts teacher who's been helping 6th graders learn (and laugh) since 2014 also moonlights as a published author inspired by her childhood dog. Meet the local educator.
☑️ Emergency prep: The Kane County Sheriff's Office is offering a one-day active shooter safety trainings on March 21 and 28 for just $10, led by instructors with more than 60 years of combined law enforcement experience.
☑️ Gallery celebration: The Geneva Public Library is hosting a free reception on March 19 to celebrate the local artists behind the Dear Geneva community art exhibit, with light refreshments and a chance to meet the creators in person.
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Thanks to St. Patrick’s Day, it’s a busier midweek lineup than normal for this time of year. I could be convinced to go out for a pint and some tunes on Tuesday…
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✨ There's always a reason to visit The Little Traveler (including an incredible brunch deal for $12.95)
Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $12.95, you get a full spread of house-made favorites: fluffy omelets, crispy bacon, Swedish pancakes, Crab Cakes Benedict.
Plus, it’s routinely named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living's Best of the West awards (trust me, it’s well-deserved).
💥 Your guide to spring discovery: Browse the 2026 Spring Almanack for upcoming events and fresh new products — there's always something new to discover beyond the cafe at The Little Traveler.
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☑️ Best of the West: West Suburban Living Magazine’s annual “Best of the West” competition is officially underway — here’s where you can vote for your favorite local restaurants, shops, things to do, and more.
☑️ New appliance store: Grand Appliance and TV, which opened late last year on Fabyan Parkway in Batavia, is hosting a grand opening event on Thursday (3/19) in its new showroom with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, and raffles.
☑️ Boon for business: Thanks to an Illinois Main Street grant, Batavia MainStreet was selected to participate in the Recast Leaders 2026 program to help continue boosting entrepreneurship and small-scale manufacturing in downtown Batavia.
✳️ Four epic years: Urban Artisan in Geneva is marking its four-year anniversary with a four-day celebration March 19–22, including buy-3-get-one-free deals, local maker spotlights, special anniversary bundles, and daily giveaways all week long.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $2M penthouse condo on the downtown St. Charles riverfront (it has a cocktail bar and a private theatre room).
✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.
☑️ 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.
This section is brought to you by Brother Chimp Brewing — which is celebrating its six-year anniversary as the go-to local brewery today (March 16)! Check out some photos from the day their journey started and make sure to look at the exciting events coming up for the week ahead.
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☑️ From Soil to Songbirds | Tue 3/17, 6:45PM | Batavia Public Library | Learn the ecology behind successful native plant landscapes from a restoration biologist.
🎟️ Paint n Sip | Wed 3/18, 6-8PM | Vatan Indian Progressive Kitchen, STC | Half-off wines, painting, and conversation — all materials provided.
☑️ Portfolio Tasting & Sale | Wed 3/18, 6-8PM | Le Cochon Wine Bar & Bistro, Geneva | Sample and buy Boisset Collection wines at retail prices over dinner.
☑️ Quiet Wings of the Watershed | Wed 3/18, 7-8PM | Baker Community Center, STC | Local naturalist Pam Otto talks local butterflies, moths, and how to help them thrive.
🎟️ Jim Breuer: Find the Funny | Thu 3/19, 7:30PM | Arcada Theatre, STC | SNL veteran Jim Breuer brings his stand-up tour to the Tri-Cities!
🎟️ Step Into Spring Wine Walk | Sat 3/21, 1-5PM | Downtown Batavia | Enjoy wine at 14 downtown businesses while supporting Batavia MainStreet.
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
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