Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Happy Thursday!
January is typically a slower time for a lot of small businesses, and this year has been no different — especially with the frigid weather.
In talking with people across the Tri-Cities and observing social media chatter, I get the sense that it’s been a tough month for some of our wonderful local business. So, just a friendly reminder to get out and support small, independent businesses when you can — especially over the next few weeks. I’m sure the folks who run them would appreciate it.
Plus, it’s supposed to reach a balmy 35 degrees next week: a perfect excuse to get out of the house.
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
St. Charles Restaurant Week starts Monday
From Monday, February 2 through Friday, February 6, more than 40 local restaurants will be offering special discounts as part of the 2026 St. Charles Restaurant Week.
It’s pretty simple: in-person diners get a 20% discount on a total bill of $35 or more (excluding alcohol, tax, gratuity, and any pre-existing discounts). Folks will just have to mention that they are dining for Restaurant Week when they order.
If you eat out at a local spot during Restaurant Week, you’ll also have a chance to win a $50 gift card to a participating restaurant if you check in using the Travel St. Charles App.
SPONSORED CONTENT
♨️ A local, family-owned HVAC company you can trust
When your heat goes out on a cold winter night, you don’t want to scour the Internet and scroll reviews — you want to call someone you know you can trust.
That’s where State Automatic Heating & Cooling comes in. Family-owned since 1929 and based in Batavia, they’ve spent nearly a century helping Tri-Cities homes and businesses stay comfortable through every Midwest winter.
From furnace repairs and system replacements to indoor air quality and radiant heat, State Automatic’s long-tenured technicians focus on doing the job right — and helping homeowners understand their options before making big decisions. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, all their work is guaranteed.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Tin shop update: Batavia demolished the historic 1890 Tin Shop building downtown last week, clearing the way for a new public plaza with restrooms and seating.
☑️ Lake jumper: The 'Great Lake Jumper' keeps jumping into Lake Michigan every day despite extreme cold after several years of his well-documented daily ritual.
The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.
☑️ Proposed solar: Kane County is advancing a community solar project on the Tri-County Landfill site near Route 25, but construction will depend on finalizing an agreement that spells out responsibility for protecting the landfill cap.
☑️ Fire response: Fire crews rescued a resident from a late-night St. Charles house fire that was quickly contained to the second-floor, with non-life-threatening injuries reported.
☑️ SNAP disruption: Officials say that hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents could lose SNAP benefits when new work requirements go into effect for the program on February 1. Here’s a list of local food pantries and nonprofits that can help.
🔒 Protesters turn out: Hundreds rallied in South Elgin last weekend after a second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, and some local elected officials vowed to block Homeland Security funding until they see accountability.
☑️ Plug-in place: Batavia opened four new fast-charging EV stations at the public library, giving drivers another quick spot to recharge vehicles along with the chargers already running at Batavia High School.
☑️ Meet the candidates: The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County will host two candidate forums in Batavia in early February, giving voters a chance to hear directly from candidates in several contested races ahead of the March 17 primary.
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☑️ Spreading kindness: Local nonprofit Random Acts Matter will host its ninth Random Acts of Kindness Week from February 16–22, inviting Tri-Cities residents to take part in simple, community-wide acts of giving.
☑️ STC spirit: A local dry cleaner, a Lazarus House volunteer, and a Thompson Middle School student won “Spirit of St. Charles” awards last week for their contributions to the community. Learn about the winners.
☑️ Free tax help: The Geneva Library is offering free tax preparation and e-filing assistance provided by AARP-certified volunteers every Monday through April 13. Make sure to sign up ahead of time. The St. Charles Library offers similar appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays.
☑️ Jobs well done: Two St. Charles construction projects — the 1st Street Plaza and the Kautz Road reconstruction — earned regional Public Works Project of the Year awards for their design and infrastructure improvements.
✳️ Thrive Together: You’re invited to a thought-provoking January 31 event at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Geneva that will feature an honest community conversation with an expert anthropology professor about serving others well. Get all the details here.
You don’t see dueling pianos on the schedule very often — but this weekend you’ll have a chance to see a classic piano showdown on both Friday and Saturday evenings.
Plenty of good stuff over the next few days.
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🏔️ Built for the outdoors: AWD Camo Utility Cart
If your ideal weekends involve trails, woods, and water — or just getting work done on your property — this one’s worth a look.
Valor Carts just brought in their new AWD Camo Utility Cart, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite in the showroom.
Why it stands out:
All-wheel drive: Handles snow, mud, trails, and uneven ground with ease
Lithium battery: Long range, zero maintenance, and no gas hassles
Whisper-quiet ride: Perfect for hunting, fishing, and early mornings outdoors
Stop by Valor Carts’ Batavia showroom to see it in person, or reach out to [email protected] or (708) 934-9349 and tell ’em Sam sent you.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Haylie B’s closing: The owner of Haylie B’s Bakery announced that she will close its downtown Batavia storefront in early April, shifting to home-based baking and limited custom orders after rising costs and slower sales made the physical shop unsustainable. Read the full message.
☑️ Ownership change: The Leone family, which owns Cotto A Legna in Geneva, announced on social media that they will sell the Third Street restaurant after 15 years to focus on health and family.
☑️ Geneva gem: The City of Geneva recently published a spotlight on Inglenook Pantry, a local family-run favorite since 1973 that continues serving homemade meals, soups, and local market goods from its quiet Stevens Street corner.
☑️ Tesla dealership: The new Tesla store, delivery center, service center, and showroom in Batavia at 501 N. Randall Road is now open.
✳️ Community shopping event: Have bins of kids’ clothes or outgrown toys? Get ready for Zen Loft Collective’s “Old Things. New Stories.” community drop, swap, and shop event in Batavia that lets families donate gently used items throughout February, then browse free or low-cost finds on Friday, February 28 for just $5.
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This section is sponsored by Up North Wine Tasting Room — an inviting, mother-daughter-owned Northern Michigan wine and cocktail bar located at 9 N. 2nd St. in downtown Geneva. Stop by for a special Valentine’s Day live music show from 6-9PM on February 14!
☑️ Rosewood Farm & Market Grand Opening | Thu 1/29, 11AM-5PM | Rosewood Farm & Market, Batavia | Shop, sample local goods, and get a 10% discount.
🎟️ The Government Inspector | Thurs 1/29 - Sat 1/31 | Batavia Fine Arts Centre | A witty play that skewers small-town corruption with sharp comedy.
☑️ Phony Fish Fry & Board Game Night | Fri 1/30, 4-8PM | New Moon Vegan, Batavia | Vegan fish fry and casual BYOB (bring your own board games) night.
🎟️ Fill-a-Bag Sale | Fri 1/30 - Sat 1/31, 10AM-6PM | Double Take Consignment, STC | Fill a bag with clearance clothes and accessories for $20.
🎟️ Puzzle Palooza – Adult Edition | Sun 2/1, 1-4PM | St. Charles Park District, STC | Team puzzle race with prizes and the crowning of a puzzle champion.
🎟️ Soup Cook-Off | Sun 2/1, 2-4PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Sample homemade soups and vote for your favorites.
☑️ Water Street Writers Reading Series | Sun 2/1, 5PM | Water Street Studios, Batavia | Local authors read their works, followed by an open mic session.
☑️ Alice’s Ordinary People | Tue 2/3, 1-2:30PM | STC Public Library | Powerful civil rights documentary screening followed by director Q&A.
Looking ahead:
🎟️ Famous First Ladies | Tue 2/17, 10-11AM | Geneva History Museum | Live dramatization of iconic First Ladies with performer Jenny Riddle.
🎟️ The Geneva Wedding Hunt | Sun 3/15, 1-4PM | Riverside Receptions, Geneva | Get ready for a big scavenger hunt and wedding vendor showcase with prizes.
🐶 Pets of the week
Introducing this week’s featured pets from Anderson Humane:
Diesel is an adorable Schnauzer mix with a charming gray and white coat and the cutest white sock feet. This sweet, playful boy loves attention and pets, and he’s always eager to soak up affection from his people.
Moon is a two-year-old sweet and curious kitty with a lot of charm. He can be a bit reserved at first, but once he feels comfortable, he shows his affectionate side — especially if you give him the space he needs.
Ready to add a loyal new friend to your family? Visit Anderson Humane’s Adoptables page or reach out to [email protected] or 847-697-2880.
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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