Happy Thursday!

If you’re big on Halloween season, don’t skip past today’s event section. From two “witches night out” events to ghoulish home tours and family pumpkin carving, there’s a ton of spooky stuff going on this weekend.

Speaking of spooky: “A Tri-Cities Murder Mystery” is coming up quick Oct. 28 at 25N Coworking in Geneva. Should be a hoot — and a great chance to meet new people. Learn more and sign up.

Another heads up: Former Chicago Bears Pat Mannelly and Olin Kreutz will be broadcasting live from Flagship on the Fox in St. Charles for 670 The Score’s pre and postgame shows before and after the Bears-Falcons game on Sunday (noon kickoff).

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

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You’re probably familiar with local “best of” contests, and perhaps you’ve noticed that many of the same names win year after year.

That’s not to say those contests aren’t fun, valuable initiatives that provide nice visibility for local businesses. They’re great. But we want to try something different.

The inaugural Tri-Cities Central Awards will feature categories picked by readers, with a focus on the fun and unexpected over the usual ‘best pizza’ and ‘best coffee.’ We’ll select finalists based only on reader nominations. When it’s time to vote, only Tri-Cities Central subscribers can cast a ballot, one vote per person.

The goal is to highlight some lesser-known aspects of the area, based on input from the people who know this place best.

But first, let’s hear from you: what categories would you like to see? Some potential ideas include “best Fox River view,” “best place to take out-of-towners,” or “best dog-friendly patio.”

Plus a bunch more. You decide.

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Since 1948, the Rotary Club of Batavia has turned community spirit into meaningful impact — reinvesting more than $1 million into the community through its annual raffle.

Now it’s your shot to win the $50,000 grand prize.

And if you buy a ticket before the $2,000 early bird drawing on Oct. 21, you get two chances to win, because that winner stays in the running for the grand prize drawing on Nov. 21. Three $1,000 runner-up prizes will be drawn too.

Every ticket helps Rotary support important local causes. Only 1,200 tickets will be sold. Put yourself in the mix today.

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

☑️ Stay weird, Batavia: A driver in Batavia captured footage of a sloth hanging upside down in the backseat of a minivan on Kirk Road this week, and her TikTok video of the encounter has since gone viral.

☑️ Riverfront redevelopment: St. Charles officials weighed in on three early park designs for the former riverfront police station site, including which amenities to keep and how much of the old building should stay.

☑️ Downtown dwellings: A developer has proposed six townhomes for a vacant lot on North Fifth Street near Marberry Cleaners in downtown Geneva, but the plan would require zoning changes and still needs city review.

☑️ Fatal incident: Kane County authorities are investigating after a woman was found dead in a garage after a reported house fire near Lily Lake — officials say no conclusions have been reached and nothing has been ruled out.

☑️ Budding business: Elburn’s planning commission voted to recommend letting cannabis growers, cultivation centers, and related businesses set up shop in town — the village board is expected to take up the proposal at its Oct. 19 meeting.

☑️ District 11 decision: Voters in parts of Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles will choose between Democrat Julie Forbes and Republican William Collins for Kane County Board District 11 in the Nov. 3 election. Here’s where each candidate stands.

☑️ Power play: La Fox-based Richardson Electronics is ramping up production of large batteries that store power for the grid as part of its plans to build what it says will be the state’s largest commercial battery storage system.

☑️ Recycling shakeup: Kane County’s recycling center on Fabyan Pkwy in Geneva will close for about a month starting Oct. 19 for repaving and site improvements, but alternative sites will be available.

☑️ Parking notes: Geneva will close the west stairwell on the second and third floors of the downtown parking deck from 6PM Thursday (10/15) until Friday morning for repairs.

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☑️ Scarecrow stars: The St. Charles Business Alliance announced the winners of its 41st annual Scarecrow Contest, including first-place finishes for Twisted Gypsy, Munhall PTO, Luna the Chi, and a local special education program. See full results and photos.

☑️ Generational investment: The Batavia Chamber increased the amount its four Inspire Scholarships to $1,500 each, and applications are now open for Batavia seniors across four career categories.

☑️ Cycling success: The St. Charles Park District and the City of St. Charles won a statewide award for their decades-long partnership and ongoing efforts to make the city more bike-friendly.

☑️ Haunted hijinks: The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles is going all out for Halloween this year, hosting a Halloween high tea on Oct. 24 and turning the restaurant into a vintage circus for a Halloween night dinner and late-night party.

✳️ Puppy glowga: Zen Loft Collective in Batavia is kicking off BatFest weekend with glow-in-the-dark puppy yoga on Oct. 23, which includes 20 minutes of yoga under black lights while costumed rescue puppies roam the room. Learn more and sign up.

☑️ Homecoming detours: Main Street in downtown St. Charles will close between 5th Ave. and 7th St. from about 12:45-1:30PM on Friday (10/16) for the St. Charles East homecoming parade.

Lincoln Park in downtown St. Charles will play host to one final outdoor concert around dusk on Friday — and that’s just the start of a dynamic weekend lineup.

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If you're still filling your mug with grocery store grounds, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Black Dragon Blend from Dragon Fire Coffee has been the local roaster's top seller for five years running (all 28 of its reviews are five stars). The medium-dark roast features notes of chocolate, ripe plum, and brown sugar that make a rich, bold cup.

Brew it in your drip machine, make espresso with it, or turn it into a latte. There’s a reason the regulars keep re-ordering this coffee time and again.

The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

✳️ A yoga destination: Power Moves Yoga of St. Charles has become a local mainstay for yoga enthusiasts with 30-plus weekly classes, recovery therapies, and a two-week "unlimited classes" intro offer for anyone ready to get into a routine this fall.

☑️ Another chicken spot: A West Coast chicken tender chain called Starbird will make its Midwest debut on Randall Road in St. Charles on Monday when it holds a grand opening celebration — including a friendly local competition.

☑️ Stylish new spot: Rochelle-based Audyn Boutique is opening a second shop on Third Street in downtown Geneva, where visitors can browse women’s clothing, bags, and jewelry once the location opens “very soon.”

☑️ New hub for hobbyists: Breakpoint Cards is opening its second location at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles, a larger space that will carry sports cards, Pokémon cards, signed jerseys, and more. This video offers an inside look.

☑️ Teeing off: Back Nine, a new indoor golf simulator facility in North Aurora's Clock Tower Plaza, will celebrate its grand opening on Friday (10/16) with contests and prizes.

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.

🎟️ Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Funeral Customs | Thu 10/15, 6PM | Baker Community Center, STC | See history come alive (with drinks and biscuits).

☑️ Witches Night Out | Fri 10/16, 6PM-9PM | trend + relic, STC | Enjoy vintage finds, tarot readings, giveaways, and spooky fun. 

☑️ Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour | Fri 10/16, 6PM-10PM | Various Homes, STC | 25th anniversary tour of ghoulish home displays, viewable through October.

🎟️ The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney | Fri 10/16, 7:30PM | Playhouse 38, Geneva | Hilarious and touching adult production running through Oct. 25. 

☑️ Fall Fest 2026 | Sat 10/17, 9AM-4PM | Wasco Nursery, STC | Free plant bingo, hayrides, bounce house, touch-a-truck, face painting, and food trucks. 

☑️ Annual Prairie Seed Harvest | Sat 10/17, 10AM-2PM | Fermilab, Batavia | Help collect native prairie seed; lunch provided and registration required. 

☑️ Spooky Halloween Mercadito | Sat 10/17, 10AM-3PM | Café del Sol, North Aurora | Local vendors, raffle, live DJ G-CEE, tacos, burritos, Halloween drink, costumes. 

☑️ Geneva Commons Boo Bash | Sat 10/17, 11AM-1PM | Geneva Commons | Pumpkin painting, petting zoo, costume parade, treats, raffle prizes, music, and crafts. 

🎟️ Endeavor: The Light We Carry | Sat 10/17, 5PM-7:30PM | Grief Hope Center, Geneva | Benefit art exhibition and auction supporting Fox Valley Hands of Hope. 

☑️ Spooky Science Party | Sat 10/17, 5PM-8PM | American Science & Surplus, Geneva | Watch live experiments, play games, win prizes, and dress up for Halloween. 

☑️ Witches Night Out | Sat 10/17, 5PM-8:30PM | Batavia Boardwalk Shops | Candle workshop, readings, vendors, costume contest, and magic bag trick-or-treat. 

🎟️ Paint Your Partner | Sat 10/17, 7PM | Coffee, Cones, & Cabernet; Geneva | Celebrate Sweetest Day by painting a canvas portrait of your partner. 

🎟️ Festival of Arts & Crafts | Sat 10/17 & Sun 10/18, 10AM-4PM | Northwestern Medicine Field, Geneva | Handmade crafts and live music benefiting Living Well Cancer Resources. 

🎟️ Pumpkin Carving Family Celebration | Tue 10/20, 4-6PM | Simple EJ’s Kitchen & Tap, STC | Family pumpkin carving with kids meals, games, candy prizes, and photos.

🔥 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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