🏛️ Meet your candidates: Upcoming forums for local races

Ever wish you’d had an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates before casting your votes in a local election?

Now’s your chance.

Through a series of in-person and live-streamed candidate forums, the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County is allowing residents to connect with contenders for Mayor, City Council, Library Board and School Board in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.

Each forum allows candidates to share their priorities, answer audience questions and outline their plans for the future of our communities as we approach the April 1, 2025, Illinois Consolidated Election.

Upcoming forums:

• St. Charles Mayor & City Council: January 29, 6PM, St. Charles Public Library

• Batavia Library & School Boards: January 30, 6:30PM, Batavia City Hall

• St. Charles Library & School Boards: February 3, 6PM, St. Charles Public Library

• Batavia Mayor & City Council: February 4, 6:30PM, Batavia City Hall

• Geneva Mayor & City Council: February 9, 12PM, Geneva Public Library

Forums will also be live-streamed and available later online at lwvckcil.com and illinoisvoterguide.org. Attendees and viewers can expect to learn how the candidates aim to shape local policies, schools, services and allocation of city resources.

Get more details about the LWVCK forums (including candidates invited to participate) and/or visit IllinoisVoterGuide.org for additional non-partisan voting information.

Save the date: In addition to the League of Women Voters forums, the local grassroots activism group We Can Lead Change Fox Valley will host a “Meet the Local Candidates” meet n’ greet event at the Baker Community Center in St. Charles on February 12 at 6:30PM.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a bit more involved in the community but aren’t sure where to start — any of the above events are an ideal first step.

📰 News to use

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.

☑️ Batavia abuzz: During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Batavia officials approved a new cannabis dispensary for the former Arby’s space on Randall Road as well as streamlined liquor license regulations. Get more details.

☑️ Ballot backtrack: Geneva City Council voted to withdraw a $68M referendum from the April ballot due to a property tax miscalculation, aiming to revisit it later with accurate figures.

☑️ Historic building: Batavia officials approved the demolition of the 135-year-old “Tin Shop” building on River Street downtown. The site is being considered for new public restrooms. Read the original ordinance and a Daily Herald article (🔒).

☑️ Armed robbery: Police are looking for a woman accused of pulling a handgun and demanding money at Mini Mart on 3rd Street in St. Charles on Sunday night.

🔒 Deportation concerns: Kane County law enforcement and local school district officials said they plan to adhere to Illinois' TRUST Act, which prevents local police from assisting with federal immigration raids.

☑️ Establishing protections: At the urging of advocacy groups, new legislation introduced by lawmakers could make Illinois the first state to fully decriminalize sex work.

☑️ Leaky pipes: Crews in downtown Geneva dealt with back-to-back water main issues this week, including a breakage that caused street closures on Tuesday.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ A storied tradition: We had to endure a subzero Arctic deep freeze, but in the end it was worth it — ice skating is now open at Batavia’s Depot Pond. Get rules and updates here.

☑️ Tri-Cities represent: West Suburban Living’s annual “Best of the West” competition allows you to vote for your favorite local businesses, from restaurants to home services. Submit your 2025 choices here.

☑️ Going global: The Kane County Cougars will represent the American Association in the 2025 Baseball Champions League in Mexico City in April, competing against five other elite international teams.

☑️ Pushing positivity: St. Charles nonprofit Random Acts Matter is bringing back its annual Random Acts of Kindness Week from February 17-23. See a list of events and volunteer opportunities.

☑️ Facility’s future: Batavia is exploring options for upgrading its outdated police station, with a recent study identifying the need for expanded and better-configured spaces to improve operations, accessibility and community services. View the full report.

☑️ Free kids’ books: Thanks to a $100K donation from the Follett Educational Foundation, Fox Valley United Way is bringing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to Aurora — which will provide free monthly books to over 20K children in Kane County.

🎸 Live music

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As we slog through a cold, gray January, there’s something exhilarating about the warm, lively energy of a piano bar experience. We’ve got several opportunities for that in this weekend’s lineup, plus performances at a couple of under-the-radar venues.

🛍️ Local biz

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.

☑️ Spicy support: Gindo’s in St. Charles has launched a “Fight Fire with Fire” hot sauce with proceeds benefitting victims of the LA wildfires. The company started in California in 2011.

☑️ Beyond golf: Just down the road in West Chicago, Prairie Landing Golf Club is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a variety of events and activities beginning this weekend.

☑️ Dinner do-over: The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles is conducting a Valentine-themed Instagram giveaway where they’ll recreate a wedding dinner for one lucky couple with an exclusive four-course feast. Learn how to enter.

🔒 Healthy + ugly: The Daily Herald published a nice feature on Ugly Noodle, a gluten-free restaurant and deli offering celiac-safe pasta that recently relocated to downtown Geneva. Get the backstory of the business.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.

🎟️ Improv Night w/ Nightmoose | Thurs 1/23, 8-10PM | Studio 64, STC | Made-up hilarity with musical elements and light bites.

🎟️ White Party | Fri 1/24, 7-9PM | Vargo’s Dance, Geneva | Dance, drink, socialize and have a blast.

☑️ SAYv Adoption Event | Sat 1/25, 11AM-3PM | CaDo & Company, Batavia | Meet adoptable pets and support a good cause.

🎟️ Seed Swap | Sat 1/25, 10AM-12PM | Kane County Extension Office, STC | Get seeds, supplies and expert advice from master gardeners.

☑️ Board Game Night | Sat 1/25, 3-8PM | New Moon Vegan, Batavia | Bring your own game board and get ready to play.

🎟️ Frosty Fest | Sat 1/25, 4:30-7:30PM | Red Oak Nature Center, N. Aurora | A magical winter event for kids with good ol’ Frosty the Snowman.

🎟️ Chicago Steel: Military Appreciation Night | Sat 1/25, 5PM | Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva | Celebrate our heroes and enjoy a great hockey game.

☑️ Kane County Home Show | Sat 1/25 & Sun 1/26, 10AM-5PM | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | The ultimate experience for those interested in home improvements.

🎟️ Bogart’s Chili Cookoff | Sun 1/26, 1PM | Bogart’s, STC | Compete for “best chili” or just show up for a taste.

🌖 Weather snapshot

☁️ Today: High 18F | Low 0F | A flurry or two

⛅️ Friday: High 25F | Low 18F | Warmup begins

⛅️ Saturday: High 37F | Low 16F | Quite breezy

🌤️ Sunday: High 29F | Low 16F | Brisk but nice

📖 Thanks for reading

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