🌺 Your guide to peak bloom season

Following five years of dedicated planting efforts, more than 25K daffodils are set to bloom in St. Charles’ Mt. St. Mary Park this month — all thanks to volunteers with the River Corridor Foundation and the St. Charles Park District.

The groups have invited locals to stop by the park on April 23 for a stroll through the blooms and to see RCF’s annual Golden Turtle Award ceremony (the celebration continues afterward at Alter Brewing).

That’s just one of many flower-filled happenings around the area this spring. From Kuiper’s Farm in Maple Park to the Morton Arboretum and Geneva’s beloved Fargo Boulevard tulip showcase, there will be no shortage of blooming spots to visit.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

🦅 Spring is in the air — literally

As we shake off a dreary Midwest winter, it’s the ideal time for new beginnings — and what better way to embrace something new than by taking to the skies? At Freedom Flying Company in Sugar Grove, you can experience the season’s transformation firsthand with a 30- or 60-minute discovery flight, watching the Fox Valley bloom beneath you.

Who knows, maybe that first flight will blossom into a long-term passion? Freedom Flying Company also offers expert flight training to help folks earn their FAA Sport or Private Pilot License.

It’s time to swap those winter blues for blue skies — your spring adventure starts here.

📰 News to use

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.

☑️ Officers cleared: Kane County officials announced that no charges will be filed against deputies involved in the fatal 2023 shooting of a carjacking suspect near Batavia and Geneva — and revealed new details on the incident.

☑️ Road rules: Illinois lawmakers voted to raise the age for mandatory driving tests from 79 to 87, making it a little easier for seniors to renew their licenses while still keeping safety checks in place.

🔒 Council clash: Tensions ran high at a recent St. Charles City Council meeting as one outgoing alderman publicly called for a fellow council member to resign, sparking a heated exchange between officials.

☑️ Safety advice: The Batavia Police Department is the latest to comment on the "senior assassin" game, urging caution about how the playful tradition can be mistaken for something more dangerous and lead to unintended consequences.

☑️ Facility switch: The DMV on Indian Trail Road in Aurora closed on Friday (4/11) and will reopen at 2PM Monday (4/14) as a new DMV+ facility at 970 N. Lake St., Suite B.

☑️ Plan accordingly: Water main work on Anderson Boulevard will block northbound access from State Street in Geneva on Monday (4/14) with detours in place during the day. Get the details.

🏘️ In the community

The 🔒 symbol indicates a potential paywall.

☑️ Safe havens: Campton Hills was named the safest city in Illinois for the second year in a row, topping SafeWise’s 2025 list (with nearby Pingree Grove coming in at #2).

☑️ Youth advocacy: CASA Kane County hosted its annual “Hands Around the Courthouse” event in Geneva on April 10 to raise awareness of child abuse and highlight the ongoing need for volunteers to support children in the foster care system.

🔒 Ship site: Plans to bring a permanent Viking ship museum to downtown Geneva are moving forward, but officials say the future of the historic 1831 house on the site is still under discussion.

☑️ Dress success: CHIP IN Batavia’s 2025 Prom Dress Giveaway outfitted more than 300 students from 47 high schools with free dresses and accessories, thanks to hundreds of donors, volunteers and the Batavia Public Library’s support.

☑️ History preserved: Echo Valley Farm in Campton Hills has been granted historic landmark status by Kane County, recognizing its nearly 200-year agricultural legacy and its uniquely historic buildings. Learn about the property.

🎸 Live music

_{PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION}

Here’s hoping some of you got to enjoy some long-awaited outdoor live music at some point this weekend. Check out what’s in store for this week.

_{LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT}

✨ Award-winning brunch at an unbeatable price

Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Spring 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

🤝 Local biz

The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Double duty: Mosaic Kitchen & Cocktails — a new local spot that will offer coffee and espresso by morning and dinner and cocktails by evening — is gearing up to open on 3rd Street in Geneva. See photos of their progress.

☑️ Move-in ready: BEI is looking for a business to take over the bar space above Thorabella’s in downtown Batavia — see what the unit looks like.

✳️ Java journey: Ready for the Geneva Coffee Crawl on April 19? Once you get your caffeine fix, make sure to swing by Urban Artisan to try some Cowboy Coffee Street Taco Bites and sample some mouthwatering coffee-flavored hot sauces.

🎯 Are you still advertising like it’s 2010? Print is pricey. Social is saturated. Big tech doesn’t care about you. Hyperlocal email newsletter is THE place where local businesses stand out. Check out Tri-Cities Central’s super-easy advertising program.

🗞️ Un-classifieds

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $700K townhome near downtown Geneva.

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

☑️ City meetings:

• Tuesday (4/15): Batavia Committee of the Whole (agenda)

• Wednesday (4/16): Public Hearing during Batavia Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to review a zoning map amendment.

☑️ Police reports: Batavia police report summaries | Geneva police reports | St. Charles daily arrest log

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.

☑️ Local Easter events: Egg hunts, Easter brunches, Easter bunny photo ops and much more.

☑️ Trivia Night | Tues 4/15, 10AM-7:30PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Exciting trivia with proceeds benefitting Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley.

🎟️ Collaborative Wine Dinner | Thurs 4/17, 6-8PM | Preservation, Geneva | BBQ, California wines and unbeatable company.

🎟️ Campana’s First Nighter | Thurs 4/17, 7PM | Geneva Winery, Batavia | A live, local comedy performance in a vibrant setting.

🎟️ Spring Fling Fashion Show | Thurs 4/17, 7PM | Rock N Ravioli, STC | Browse a trendy spring collection while you sip and snack.

🎟️ Laugh | Thurs 4/17 - Sun 4/20 | Playhouse 38, Geneva | This exciting play is a story of mishaps, moxie and Hollywood-caliber romance.

📖 Thanks for reading

If you enjoy Tri-Cities Central, please spread the word!

_{Subscribe to Tri-Cities Central}