Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Good morning!
That brief taste of spring on Friday was pretty fun, eh? I love how Midwesterners — the moment it cracks 60 degrees in late winter or early spring — just flood outdoors whether they have a plan or not. Just to bask in it for a little while.
Heads up: If you’re willing to wake up super early on Tuesday (March 3) you’ll have a chance to witness a total lunar eclipse turn the full “worm moon” a deep red before sunrise (weather/clouds permitting).
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
Vintage Shop Hop returns to the Tri-Cities this weekend
More than 400 vintage shops across the region — including 23 in the Fox Valley — will take part in the Vintage Shop Hop March 6 and 7, inviting shoppers to plan their own self-guided weekend road trip.
Now in its 13th year, the semi-annual event bills itself as one big, interactive shopping adventure. If past newsletter interactions are any indication, there’s a robust enthusiasm for antique and vintage shops around here.
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🎨 Camp for the kids — and a nice break for parents
Some summer camps entertain kids. This one feeds them, too — which gives you a built-in “parents night out.”
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Geneva is hosting a weeklong Creative Arts Camp June 8-12 from 5-7:45PM nightly — and yes, dinner is included.
Open to everyone (you don’t need to be a church member), the camp is designed for pre-K through rising 6th graders and features a skit-based program with art, creativity, play, and even a theater component. Kids will build confidence and create plenty of summer memories — while you enjoy five well-deserved free nights.
Cost is $50 for one child, $75 for two, with a $100 family max — plus complimentary childcare is available for younger siblings of registered campers. Know a local parent who might be interested? Share this with them!
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ New cafe: Savia Cafe recently opened at Geneva’s Metra station, bringing a cozy new grab-and-go coffee and baked goods spot — with Mexican-inspired drinks and plans to expand — to the growing local cafe scene.
☑️ Wine spot closes: Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room announced that it will close its Third Street location after more than 12 years.
☑️ New downtown plaza: Batavia officials are progressing plans for the new River Street Plaza downtown — complete with seating, landscaping, art, and a self-cleaning public restroom — with construction expected to kick off in March or April.
☑️ Tax calculator: The City of Geneva created a referendum tax impact calculator to help residents determine how much estimated additional property tax they’d pay if the measure passes based on the fair market value of their home.
☑️ Election research: Still undecided on local races? Here’s an overview of the Democratic primary race for the Kane County Board seat in District 11 between Leslie Juby and Julie Forbes, plus an analysis of the Republican primary race for the Kane County Board seat in District 13 between Ryan Deniz and Anthony Catella.
☑️ STC rally: Local organizers are planing a “Stand Up for Science & Vote” rally at 10AM on March 7 outside the Kane County Courthouse in St. Charles to promote science-based policy, research funding, and voter engagement.
☑️ Mobile medics: Kane County emergency officials have rolled out a new mobile medical shelter system that allows responders to provide on-site care during emergencies and large community events. Learn more and see photos.
☑️ Traffic notes:
Geneva: Utility work on East State Street in Geneva from Kane to Nebraska streets will require an eastbound lane to shut down this week.
La Fox: Bunker Road between Keslinger Road and Hughes Road will close beginning March 2 for a bridge replacement project, with detours posted and delays expected for those heading to the LaFox train station. This phase of work is expected to be completed in May.
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☑️ Local vet recognition: Geneva High School teacher Lucas Rojas received a $5K education grant to create a Wall of Honor recognizing GHS alumni who served in the military — and he’s asking local veterans and community members to help spread the word.
☑️ Courthouse mystery: Local historians identified a mysterious headstone stored in the basement of the Third Street Courthouse in Geneva as belonging to a 5-year-old who died in 1884 — but how the grave marker ended up there remains unknown.
☑️ Future plant experts: The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners group is offering a $2K scholarship to Batavia seniors planning to study horticulture-related fields — applications are due March 27.
☑️ Governor candidate event: A local nonprofit is hosting a speaking event featuring Ted Dabrowski, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, at the Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles on Wednesday (3/4).
✳️ Preschool planning: Considering local preschool options for your 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old? Learn about a typical day at Batavia Covenant Preschool, where kids build confidence through hands-on learning, playground time, music, field trips, and gentle faith-based lessons.
PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION
It was great to see Preservation’s patio getting into its warm-weather live music groove on Friday night.
This week: In addition to the usual spots, the lineup features performances at Portofino in Campton HIills and Rec Haus in St. Charles.
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🏠 Start planning now for a strong, stunning roof.
After a few Midwest winters (and a couple of strong storms), your roof can start telling a story — and it’s not always a good one.
If you’ve noticed missing shingles, faded color, or signs of storm damage, 212° Construction Group is your trusted, local go-to for roofing repairs, full replacements, and proactive maintenance.
Want visual evidence? Check out these before/after photos from a recent roofing project.
Call Brian at (630) 777-0688 for a free estimate or visit their website to learn more.
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☑️ Meet the farmers: Lenkaitis Dairy in St. Charles is using a county grant to invest in robotic milking, herd health, and energy upgrades as the family-owned farm works to stay viable amid suburban growth and ongoing dairy market challenges.
☑️ Retail refresh: Ollie’s has opened a new discount retail store on East Main Street in St. Charles, bringing its closeout and bargain merchandise offerings to the former St. Charles Hardware space.
☑️ A decade of delights: The City of Geneva congratulated The Gathering shop on Third Street and owner Carrie Tatone for 10 years of bringing vintage finds, antiques, and seasonal décor to downtown shoppers.
🍀 Get your lucky charms: Urban Artisan is part of downtown Geneva’s Lucky Charms promo through March 23! Stop into the Third Street store to earn gold coins and boost your chances to win big prizes — including Ed Sheeran tickets — just by shopping local. See what’s in stock before you visit.
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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $900K home on Pauley Square in Mill Creek.
✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
This section is brought to you by Brother Chimp Brewing — your welcoming, neighborhood taproom with convenient locations in St. Charles and North Aurora. See all of their upcoming events.
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🎟️ Basketball reunion: I saw that a group of former Fox Valley high school basketball players and coaches are planning a get-together at 1PM on Friday (3/6) at Pal Joey’s in Batavia. Reach out to former Batavia coach Jim Roberts for details if interested at (630) 484-5113 or [email protected].
🎟️ St. Patrick’s Day Paint Workshop | Wed 3/4, 6:15-8:15PM | Geneva Winery, Batavia Location | Guided shamrock painting with festive wine — supplies included.
🎟️ Soup’s On! 2026 | Thu 3/5, 6-8PM | Pal Joey’s, Batavia | Sample local soups and vote for your favorites while supporting Batavia United Way.
🎟️ Singles Social Mixer | Fri 3/6, 6:30-11:30PM | Club Arcada Speakeasy, STC | Meet new local people and enjoy some live music in a relaxed vibe.
☑️ Maple Sugaring Days | Sat 3/7–Sun 3/8, 12-3PM | Creek Bend Nature Center, STC | Learn maple tapping, syrup making, and enjoy sweet treats and custom beers.
Looking ahead:
🎟️ A Night at the Oscars | Wed 3/11, 10AM | Geneva History Museum | A film historian shares Academy Awards history with photos and clips.
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
Thanks for reading
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