Good morning!

My first instinct was to begin this issue with “happy first day of fall.”

But then I remembered that this year’s first day of autumn falls on Tuesday, September 22 — the autumnal equinox occurs at 7:04PM locally to be specific. Hopefully this rain has abated by then, my goodness.

Last call for Dinner Club: If you want to join the crew for a delectable dinner and a post-meal gathering at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles on Thursday night (9/24), make sure to sign up now — registration closes about an hour before the autumnal equinox. Plus-ones welcome!

📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.

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Here in the Tri-Cities area, we’ve reached peak bird migration season.

Which makes it a great time to check in on the Kane County BirdCast dashboard. It’s a fascinating online tool that not only tells you how many birds flew over your home in a given night, but also displays real-time estimates of how many birds are currently airborne and details about their direction, speed, altitude, and even their species.

Some fun facts:

If you’re a bit of a bird nerd, it’s an interesting page to keep an eye on this season.

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Maybe you meant to do a full house cleaning in May. Or redo your deck in June.

Whatever the project, fall’s actually a good time to finally knock it out — cooler weather, not as busy, you’ll get it done before winter. And Midwest Waste has a dumpster ready whenever you are.

Based right here in Batavia, they’re locally owned and locally staffed. Not a national chain, not a call center, not a company that buries fees in fine print. Clear pricing, real answers, and reliable service. Give them a call today.

Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.

☑️ Legacy Lofts in STC: St. Charles officials recommended approval of a redevelopment agreement for a 12-unit apartment building to go up on a prominent downtown lot that's been sitting empty for 20 years.

☑️ Financial crimes: A Batavia woman faces felony charges after being accused of stealing more than $1.5M from two local construction companies over six years.

☑️ Riverside reroute: U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi recently presented $250K in federal funding for a construction project that would add a new section of the Fox River Trail near Batavia's wastewater treatment plant, improving safety and connectivity.

☑️ Local tourism growth: Geneva and Elburn are now part of a regional tourism push that officials say helped drive a record $288M in visitor spending across the Aurora area last year.

☑️ Crash investigation: After child in a bike trailer got trapped under a pickup truck during a collision last week in downtown Batavia, police released their investigation findings on Friday, citing the cyclist for failure to yield. The cyclist and child sustained minor injuries.

☑️ County’s financial outlook: Kane County passed a balanced 2027 budget that includes a $2.3M property tax levy hike, but officials are still grappling with how to manage finances after voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax hike last year.

☑️ Trial in progress: After being charged in 2023, a former youth pastor from Campton Hills is now on trial before a Kane County judge on felony counts of possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material.

☑️ Election prep: The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County will host two candidate forums at Batavia City Hall this week, giving voters a chance to hear directly from candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Get details and dates.

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☑️ View from above: The sewer replacement construction project that has closed a section of the Fox River Trail in Geneva near the Kane County Government Center in recent weeks is an impressive feat of engineering — check out this drone video of the progress.

☑️ Batavia’s artsy side: In the latest episode of “Area Code: Batavia,” the hosts sit down with the founders of ArtBar Batavia to talk about the monthly pop-up art show and its impact on the downtown's creative scene — and discuss the closing of Daddio's.

☑️ Autumn adventures: The St. Charles Park District's Adult Activity Center is planning a variety of fall programs for the local 50+ crowd, from pie-making at Primrose Farm to a full-day mystery bus trip in November.

☑️ Referendum info: St. Charles District 303 is holding a series of information nights and webinars through October so residents can learn about the facility projects tied to the November 3 referendum. Get more info and dates.

☑️ Buried treasure: Kane County Connects recently revisited a time capsule that had been sealed inside the Geneva courthouse from 1891 to 1994, which included newspapers, schoolwork, coins, and about 150 other items now on display at the Geneva History Museum.

☑️ STC performances: The Norris Cultural Arts Center is bringing back its free “Wednesdays @ One” series at the Baker Community Center this fall, with programs on the St. Charles Singers, a Ben Franklin portrayal, and holiday music history.

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This week’s lineup features a Kiss tribute band, folk, blues, and rock n’ roll — and that’s just Thursday night at the Arcada.

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☑️ Landmark’s next chapter: Keller Williams Inspire is holding a grand opening celebration on Thursday (9/24) at Geneva's historic Fieldstone home on S. Second St., which was built in 1892 and served as the Community Hospital from 1925 to 1991.

☑️ New Lou’s update: Lou Malnati's says it’s targeting a late October opening for its new St. Charles restaurant on E. Main Street, which will be the first location to debut the chain's brand refresh.

☑️ Holiday shopping begins: Specialty retailer Spirit Halloween, a chain specializing in costumes and spooky decor, has already opened at the former XSport Fitness on North Randall Road in Batavia.

☑️ Health & guidance: Now open on Hamilton St., new Geneva practice Lighthouse Longevity is offering personalized hormone and wellness care for men and women across the Tri-Cities area.

✳️ Bear down in style: With football season in full swing, Urban Artisan's Chicago Bears collection has something for every fan in the house — unique apparel, toddler gear, fun decor, and even a framed 1924 World Champs team photo.

The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $1.3M home on S. 5th St. near downtown St. Charles with a sauna, hot tub, and home gym.

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

✳️ Need a local Realtor? Get in touch with the Tri-Cities’ trustworthy expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or sign up for his newsletter.

☑️ Project update: The St. Charles Committee of the Whole will discuss a modified version of The Shops at Pheasant Run project during its Monday meeting (9/21).

☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.

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☑️ Kane County Flood Resilience Workshop | Thu 9/24, 5:30PM-7:45PM | Kane Co. Government Center, Geneva | Educational session on local flood risks with experts. 

🎟️ Drink & Draw | Fri 9/25, 6PM-8PM | Water Street Studios, Batavia | Draw or paint and sip alongside artists with instructor guidance. 

🎟️ Fall Paint & Sip Event | Fri 9/25, 7PM | Coffee, Cones, & Cabernet, Geneva | Create art while you enjoy mocktails/cocktails.

🎟️ Under the Stars Riverboat Cruise | Fri 9/25, 8PM-9:15PM | Paddlewheel Riverboats, STC | Nighttime cruise on the Fox River as the fall colors begin.

🎟️ Pints by the Pond | Sat 9/26, 1-5PM | Peg Bond Center, Batavia | Sample craft beer from a dozen breweries with food trucks and music.

🎟️ Tacos & Tequila Festival | Sat 9/26, 2PM | Northwestern Medicine Field, Geneva | Throwback hip-hop performances, tacos, margaritas, and games all day.

🎟️ Illusionist Rick Thomas: Nothing Happens Until You Dream | Sat 9/26, 7:30PM | Batavia Fine Arts Centre | Grand illusions, quick-witted comedy, and spectacle for the whole family.

🎟️ Hops for Hope 5K & BrewFest | Sat 10/3, 10AM-4PM | Mount Saint Mary Park, STC | A 5K race with a BrewFest after, benefiting adaptive cycling nonprofit Project Mobility.

🎟️ A Tri-Cities Murder Mystery | Wed 10/28, 6PM | 25N Coworking, Geneva | Embrace Halloween season with a Wild West-themed interactive whodunit event, plus beer/seltzers from Pollyanna Brewing and light bites from Entree Kitchen. Register now for early bird pricing — $10 off!

🔥 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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