If you’ve put off getting an Illinois REAL ID, who can blame you? I certainly haven’t made the switch yet.

The original deadline — April 27, 2020 — has been extended multiple times over the past four years due to the pandemic. But there’s a final deadline date now: May 7, 2025.

After that date, your old ID can’t be used to fly domestically or visit a federal office — you’ll need a REAL ID or a US passport. Given that the deadline is less than a year away, it’s probably worth getting around to it at some point soon.

Where to go: I’d recommend the Secretary of State Facility in St. Charles — whether it’s for REAL ID or a routine DMV appointment.

I’ve been twice, and both visits have been far and away the best of all my DMV experiences to date (not to hate on Aurora or Elgin).

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Even if you’ve got no idea what to get for the dad in your life, there’s no place better suited for sparking inspiration than The Little Traveler.

You might think he’s not paying attention, but Dad will notice if you opt for the same old cliché gifts from the big box stores. C’mon, he deserves better than that.

The Little Traveler is a magical labyrinth with one-of-a-kind items around every corner — from rugged scents and grooming gear to golf accessories and grilling tools you won’t find anywhere else.

🏆 Congrats are in order: Did you see that West Suburban Living recognized The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café as the BEST Brunch in the western burbs? That’s in addition to a 2nd place finish for Best Tea Room and 3rd place for Best Children’s Clothing Shop.

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☑️ Warehouse boom: A new report from the Environmental Defense Fund traces the rapid growth of mega-warehouses and the health impact for Illinois communities.

☑️ River obstacle: If you’re planning to view or participate in the annual Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race next Saturday (6/1), know that the launch location and route have changed due to bridge construction in Geneva.

☑️ Grant money at work: Batavia City Council voted on Monday to buy a First St. building for $2M to serve as the new home of the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet.

☑️ Road work: The Kautz Road reconstruction project affecting both Geneva and St. Charles will kick off before the end of the month and is expected to be substantially completed by year’s end.

☑️ Cited, not charged: Police identified a Batavia woman as the driver in a deadly Wheaton hit-and-run crash from 2023. The victim’s family is now seeking justice.

🔒 Redevelopment ignited: St. Charles has hired consultants to execute a feasibility study for the former police station site on the riverfront that has been vacant since 2019.

☑️ Constructive feedback: Community members, teachers and staff packed the Batavia school board meeting on Tuesday to address concerns about trust issues, inadequate collaboration and a lack of progress. View footage of the meeting.

☑️ Swim seekers: Check out this list of park district pools that will be opening between May 25 and June 1 across Kane County.

☑️ Life-saving vending machine: The Kane County Sheriff’s Office at 37W755 Route 38 in St. Charles now offers free Narcan (the opioid overdose reversal drug) — 24/7, no questions asked.

☑️ History podcast: Urban historian Shermann Dilla Thomas delves into the story of Pvt. John Maxon, a formerly enslaved St. Charles resident who survived injury while fighting in the Civil War.

☑️ Local leader: Longtime St. Charles resident Mark Koenen won the prestigious Charlemagne Award for lifetime achievement last week.

🔒 Free parking: The public may gain access to the St. Charles Library parking lot during off hours on Friday and Saturday under a new proposed agreement.

With performances at unusual times and new venues, Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be one big live music festival.

The Popcorn Depot in downtown Batavia will feature live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings — and performances will begin as early as 11AM on Saturday and Sunday at various venues.

☑️ Wieners + axes: Nothing goes together like hot dogs, beer and axe throwing, right? That’s exactly what you’ll get with Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ when it opens in North Aurora.

☑️ Storefront revamp: Signed by Crystal, Simply Kirious Soaps & Gather Bakery are rebranding their Batavia shop as Fox River Boutique — with a grand opening tonight at 4:30PM.

☑️ Podcast ep: The latest “What’s Up St. Charles” episode features Drew Pertl, a talented local photographer who’s been kind enough to let us feature his stunning photos in past issues of this very newsletter.

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🎟️ Memorial Day Weekend Carnival | Fri 5/24 - Mon 5/27 | Charlestowne Mall, STC | A family-friendly fest with rides, games, food and outdoor activities for all.

☑️ STC Fine Arts Show | Sat 5/25 - Sun 5/26 | Downtown STC | Head to Riverside Avenue to see exceptional works of clay, painting, glass, jewelry, sculpture and much more.

🎟️ Planet of the Rocks | Sat 5/25 - Sun 5/26 | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | An interactive showcase of fossils, precious stones and geode splitting plus prizes, auctions, kids’ activities and more.

🎟️ Historic Sunday Cruise | Sunday 5/26 | St. Charles | Enjoy a history-filled riverboat cruise on the last Sunday of each month through October.

☑️ Buildapalooza | Sunday 5/26, 1-4PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | An afternoon of unlimited Lego play for the kids with delicious beer for the adults.

☑️ Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies | Monday 5/27, 6-11AM | Downtown STC | A flag-raising event and fundraiser breakfast precede the parade and a memorial service follows it.

🎟️ Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast | Monday 5/27, 7AM | United Methodist Church, Geneva | A celebratory feast with proceeds going to charity.

🎟️ Herring Breakfast | Monday 5/27, 7-11AM | Batavia VFW | Indulge in a fun Scandinavian tradition and support a variety of local causes.

🎟️ American Legion Memorial Day Parade | Monday 5/27, 10AM | Downtown Geneva | The holiday parade will travel down 3rd Street and end at Wheeler Park.

☀️ Today: High 81F | Low 56F | Perfection

🌩️ Friday: High 78F | Low 52F | Storms likely

🌤️ Saturday: High 76F | Low 55F | Patchy clouds

🌩️ Sunday: High 70F | Low 56F | Sun + T-storm

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