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Residents pack St. Charles meeting to oppose proposed Claibourne Farm housing development

Local news

Apr 21, 2026

Residents pack St. Charles meeting to oppose proposed Claibourne Farm housing development

Residents from several subdivisions packed a St. Charles committee meeting to oppose a proposed 76-home development on 38 acres of the historic Red Gate Farm property, citing traffic safety, density, water pressure, and other concerns.

Sam Kraft

Apr 20, 2026

Saturday is a big day for local bookstores

Tri-Cities bookstores are celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on April 25 with author signings, raffles, golden tickets, and a Chicagoland store-hopping challenge.

Sam Kraft

Local news for Batavia, Geneva, & St. Charles

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Newsletter

Apr 20, 2026

April 20 Newsletter: First Fox Haven Square restaurant sets opening date

Plus Batavia wants to build a new police station on Mooseheart land, a Geneva architect is documenting the Fox Valley in watercolor, and a film festival coming up in St. Charles.

Sam Kraft

Live music

Apr 21, 2026

Tri-Cities Live Music Events: April 23-26

Performances in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles on Thursday through Sunday.

Sam Kraft

Live music

Apr 18, 2026

Tri-Cities Live Music Events: April 20-23

Performances in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles from Monday to Thursday.

Sam Kraft

Featured

Local news

Drug take-back day: Local spots to drop off unused medications on April 25

Apr 20, 2026

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1 min read

Drug take-back day: Local spots to drop off unused medications on April 25

Several Tri-Cities area police departments and collection sites will accept unused medications on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (Saturday 4/25), offering a safe and convenient way to clean out your medicine cabinet.

Sam Kraft

Local news

Geneva may remove parking minimums for developments across downtown

Apr 18, 2026

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1 min read

Geneva may remove parking minimums for developments across downtown

A Geneva committee will consider a proposal to eliminate off-street parking requirements for new developments across its entire downtown area, expanding beyond what a new state law will require.

Sam Kraft

Local news

Batavia eyes Mooseheart land for new police station — but park district is hesitant

Apr 17, 2026

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1 min read

Batavia eyes Mooseheart land for new police station — but park district is hesitant

Batavia wants to use part of a 20-acre Mooseheart land parcel that's scheduled to go to the park district to build a new $50 million police station, but park officials want to finish their own planning before making a decision.

Sam Kraft

Artist profile

Charles Cassell's retirement project: documenting Fox Valley history in watercolor

Apr 17, 2026

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4 min read

Charles Cassell's retirement project: documenting Fox Valley history in watercolor

Geneva architect Charles Cassell has spent his retirement turning a lifelong love of watercolor into a one-man documentation project of Fox Valley history — partnering with local museums to preserve it, one painting at a time.

Ellen Jo Ljung

Local news

St. Charles approves supportive housing program in partnership with Lazarus House

Apr 16, 2026

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2 min read

St. Charles approves supportive housing program in partnership with Lazarus House

The City Council approved a 10-year, $224,515 grant from its Housing Trust Fund to partner with Lazarus House on a permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless and disabled residents.

Sam Kraft

Local news

Four city-wide garage sales coming up across the Tri-Cities area

Apr 15, 2026

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3 min read

Four city-wide garage sales coming up across the Tri-Cities area

Geneva is gearing up for its City-Wide Garage Sale on April 24-25 with similar community garage sale weekends soon to follow in Batavia, St. Charles, and North Aurora in May.

Sam Kraft

Local news

Early St. Charles benefactor 'Bet-a-Million' Gates finally gets his due

Apr 15, 2026

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4 min read

Early St. Charles benefactor 'Bet-a-Million' Gates finally gets his due

St. Charles will dedicate a bronze bust of John Warne "Bet-a-Million" Gates at the History Museum on May 17, honoring an early industrialist who local author Archie Bentz says helped bankroll much of the early Baker and Norris philanthropy that built the city.

Sam Kraft

Local news

"Free little art gallery" makes its St. Charles debut

Apr 14, 2026

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2 min read

"Free little art gallery" makes its St. Charles debut

The St. Charles Arts Council has opened the city's first Free Little Art Gallery outside the ARC Gallery downtown — a year-round, self-service container where neighbors can view, take, or leave original artwork.

Sam Kraft

Local news

St. Charles committee recommends $295.6 million school facilities referendum

Apr 14, 2026

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1 min read

St. Charles committee recommends $295.6 million school facilities referendum

A St. Charles D303 committee recommended a $295 million facilities referendum to address needed building repairs, accessibility problems, and classroom capacity gaps across district schools after years of deferred maintenance.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter Archive

Newsletter

Apr 16, 2026

April 16 Newsletter: Four community garage sales are coming up soon

Plus the Swedish Days parade is back on, what's next after Geneva's failed public safety referendum, and a potential school facilities referendum in St. Charles.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Apr 13, 2026

April 13 Newsletter: Restaurants to open soon at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles

Plus a Geneva author is launching a new book, a possible historic building redevelopment project, and a parade for the Arcada Theatre's 100th year.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Apr 9, 2026

April 9 Newsletter: Swedish Days Parade hits the pause button

Plus a steep water/sewer rate hike in St. Charles, a potential new residential development in Geneva, and a soon-to-open tea and pottery shop.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Apr 6, 2026

April 6 Newsletter: Tulip festivals near the Tri-Cities area

Plus Tri-Cities is in the midst of an e-bike boom, a very rare gown goes on display in Geneva, and two local institutions celebrating major milestones.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Apr 2, 2026

April 2 Newsletter: Introducing the Tri-Cities Dinner Club

Plus a housing debate in Batavia, a historic building to be revived in downtown St. Charles, and native plant sales coming up.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Mar 30, 2026

March 30 Newsletter: A spring planting and gardening guide for the Tri-Cities

Plus the Batavia community rallies behind a local family after tragedy, a major housing project proposed in St. Charles, and a day dedicated to all things Geneva.

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Mar 23, 2026

March 23 Newsletter: Flea markets near the Tri-Cities

Plus St. Charles residents make their voices heard about the future of a downtown riverfront property and Batavia hosts its first-ever "Wine Walk."

Sam Kraft

Newsletter

Mar 19, 2026

March 19 Newsletter: Local election and referendum results

Plus a potential water and sewer rate hike in St. Charles, new e-bike and e-moto regulations in Batavia, and a smorgasbord of Easter events coming up across the Tri-Cities.

Sam Kraft