It might’ve flown by, but 2024 was quite a year for the Tri-Cities. Which made scanning a year’s worth of newsletters surprisingly entertaining.

Remember the Mahoney Creek foam saga in Batavia? And solar eclipse mania?

Or that time I documented all the spots along the Fox River Trail where I’ve been violently attacked by red-winged blackbirds?

Good times, indeed. Let’s look back at some of the other popular newsletter issues from the past year:

☑️ Murder charges: Geneva officials said a suspect is in custody after two people, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed in a domestic violence incident on Thursday night in the Emma's Landing subdivision.

☑️ New IL laws: On Wednesday, 293 new laws will take effect in Illinois. Capitol News Illinois offers a concise and informative overview of some of the most impactful ones. Here’s a longer but less detailed list of some more notable new laws, and here’s the full list of every law going into effect on January 1.

☑️ Border upgrades: Batavia is set to install three new city signs by March 2025, enhancing entrances on both sides of town and on the property of a Public Works facility on Raddant Road.

☑️ Crime prevention: The Kane County Sheriff’s Office responded to 45 vehicle burglary reports in 2024. They shared preventative tips for keeping your car safe along with advice for disposing of holiday gift boxes without tipping off potential thieves.

☑️ Post-holiday cleanup: Here’s what you should know about Christmas tree disposal and holiday lights recycling in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles — plus a map of locations for disposing of holiday electronics.

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☑️ The Elms: Growing up nearby in Batavia, I must’ve visited The Elms restaurant on Main Street for ice cream and curly fries hundreds of times. The property is now for sale for $290K.

☑️ Happy holiday fun: See photos from Chip In Batavia’s recent “Shop With a Cop” event, which delighted 40 children from 18 local families.

☑️ Ed’s studio: A nearly 300-piece art collection by the late Edward Dlugopolski will be exhibited and sold in a special January show at Water Street Studios in Batavia. Learn about the beloved artist and the upcoming special event.

☑️ Braving the cold: Primrose Farm in St. Charles has lined up several winter farm camp sessions that allow kids to get hands-on experience working with animals (and staying warm with hot cocoa).

🔒 Football accolades: Geneva wideout Talyn Taylor (who is committed to Georgia) was named the 2024 Kane County Chronicle player of the year. Here’s who made the all-area football team.

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Several Tri-Cities spots will feature special performances on New Year’s Eve (Tuesday). Things will quiet down on Wednesday before picking up again for a semi-normal live music schedule on Thursday evening.

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☑️ New Geneva restaurant: Mosaic Kitchen & Cocktail plans to open on 3rd Street in late March or early April in what appears to be the space recently vacated by Pho Xich Lo. They say they’ll double as a cozy coffee shop in the mornings.

☑️ Pickled! now open: We’ve got more indoor pickleball options this winter thanks to the new recreational facility next to Kohl’s in Batavia. Plans also call for golf simulators and a bar.

🔒 Garlic Goddess: Gindo’s of St. Charles collaborated with Garlic Breath Farm of Elburn to produce a special hot sauce for the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s 2024 Illinois Product Holiday Box — but the partnership runs much deeper than that.

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $1.2M mansion on Dunham Road in Wayne.

☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.

☑️ Get connected: Recently relocated to Batavia or North Aurora? Check out Welcome Home Batavia, a free service that will provide you the info, resources, gifts and gift certificates you need to feel connected to your community.

☑️ Police reports: Batavia police report summaries | Geneva police reports

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NYE note: Most local restaurants and bars are either hosting New Year’s Eve parties or offering special menus — too many to include here. Many require reservations, so check with your favorite spots ahead of time.

🎟️ NYE Family Skate Party | Tues 12/31, 5:30-9PM | Funway, Batavia | Skating plus music, games, raffles and more.

🎟️ NYE Extravaganza | Tues 12/31, 6PM-12:30AM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | Celebrate with dinner, drinks, comedy, live music and dancing.

🎟️ New Year’s Eve @ STC Bowl | Tues 12/31, 10PM | St. Charles Bowl | Food, drink and late-night bowling with a champagne toast at midnight.

☑️ New Year’s Day Run | Wed 1/1, 10AM | Fabyan Windmill, Geneva | Kick off 2025 with some outdoor exercise plus coffee, hot cocoa and donuts.

☑️ PJ Onesie Party | Wed 1/1, 11AM and on | Flagship on the Fox, STC | Roll out of bed and start celebrating the new year!

☑️ Travelogue: Backpacking the Sierra Nevada | Thurs 1/2, 10AM-12PM | Brewster Creek Forest Preserve, STC | A chance for seniors to learn about cultural history and travel adventures.

🎟️ World Movie Premiere - Where is Zola Moon? | Thurs 1/2, 2:30PM | Arcada Theatre, STC | Get a first look at the independent film based in the Tri-Cities.

💥 NYE in STC: See more New Year’s Eve happenings in St. Charles.

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