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- November 25 Newsletter: A local group with a simple goal — making friends
November 25 Newsletter: A local group with a simple goal — making friends
Plus St. Charles using AI to track downtown activity and energy savings resources for Kane County residents
Sam Kraft
November 25, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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👫 Finding friendship in the Fox Valley
A Fox Valley Newcomers chili cook-off social event (winners seated in front).
Fox Valley Newcomers and Neighbors isn't your typical social organization. Spanning 23 communities across Kane and DuPage counties, the group has transformed from a newcomers' club into a vibrant community network that welcomes anyone seeking connection.
The club attracts a diverse membership — retirees, working professionals, singles, couples — united by a simple goal: making friends and enjoying life.
While activities center in the Tri-Cities (Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles), members also come from surrounding towns such as Huntley, Elburn, Sugar Grove and more.
📰 News to use
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🏈 Heading downstate
High school football: Both Geneva and Batavia won thrillers on Saturday, advancing to play in their respective State Championship games this coming Saturday (11/30) in Normal. Geneva will play East St. Louis at 1PM and Batavia will face Mount Carmel at 4PM.
Interestingly, Batavia faces Mount Carmel after losing to them in the 2022 State Championship game and then again in last year’s state semifinal. The last time Geneva played in the State Championship game (2008), they lost to East St. Louis.
☑️ Data deep dive: The City of St. Charles is using an AI technology platform to track and evaluate downtown foot traffic, event participation and consumer behavior activity for use in making informed decisions about city initiatives.
☑️ No-refusal operation: Local law enforcement will make a concerted effort to tackle impaired driving the night before Thanksgiving (i.e. “Blackout Wednesday”) on 11/27.
🔒 Seller’s squeeze: According to local real estate professionals, Kane County's housing market continues to favor sellers as low inventory, high interest rates and rising costs create challenges for buyers.
☑️ Fatal incidents: A person was killed in a house fire in unincorporated St. Charles last Thursday. Earlier in the week, an Elgin man died after crashing his vehicle into a tree off of Kirk Road in St. Charles.
☑️ Welcome reopening: Kane County announced that the Fabyan Parkway at Western Avenue intersection reconstruction project has been substantially completed.
☑️ Decision looming: A public hearing on the proposed tax levy increase featured in Batavia’s proposed $164M budget is scheduled for Tuesday (11/26) at 7:05PM at the City Council Chambers.
🏘️ In the community
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Did you know that John F. Kennedy (then a U.S. senator) stopped in Batavia on October 25, 1960 during his presidential campaign? 📸 Credit: Batavia Park District
☑️ History on display: Several plaques recently installed at historic buildings and landmarks throughout downtown Batavia provide a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past. This self-guided walking tour is a great way to check them out.
☑️ Sorting simplified: Fox 32 Chicago interviewed Kane County’s Recycling Coordinator for a story about a grant-funded project to promote recycling in the Chicagoland area. Here are more details on that program.
☑️ Accessible entertainment: Emagine Batavia is hosting dementia-friendly movie screenings on the second Wednesday of each month to create a welcoming environment for people with dementia and memory challenges.
🔒 Addressing a need: Members of the Batavia Rotary and the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary have been busy this season collecting and organizing winter coats for donation to local charitable groups.
☑️ Energy resources: Kane County's sustainability team assembled a list of rebates, discounts and incentives that can help you save money on home improvements and become more energy-efficient.
✳️ Pajama Drive: Give a foster child the gift of coziness by donating new pajamas for infants, children and teens (all sizes). Drop donations at Alphagraphics St. Charles or call 630-513-7711 to arrange pickup. Donations will be given to CASA Kane County. Deadline is 12/2.
🎸 Live music
💥 See all of Preservation’s upcoming events
The holiday week features a special Monday concert at Baker Memorial Church in St. Charles and more than a dozen performances at local venues on Black Wednesday.
🛍️ Local biz
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🔒 Anticipation mounts: Signs for Whole Foods Market have appeared on the former Blue Goose property in St. Charles as city officials indicate that renovations have gone smoothly and remain on schedule for a spring 2025 opening.
☑️ Shop small: Batavia MainStreet released its 2024 Holiday Gift Guide, which features a diverse range of local gift ideas from over 35 downtown merchants.
☑️ Growing footprint: Blue Peak Tents — a Batavia party equipment rental service — just purchased a 118K-square-foot industrial building on Olympic Drive as it looks to expand operations.
☑️ Fresh start: Ugly Noodle, a local gluten-free pasta deli and shop, has wrapped up operations at its Keslinger Road location with plans to open in a new space at 303 Franklin Street in downtown Geneva on 12/4.
🗞️ Un-classifieds
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles — including this $1.3M estate on Route 31 and this $1.1M mansion in Silver Glen Estates (both in St. Charles).
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
☑️ “Best of” lists: Check out National Geographic’s pictures of the year, Apple’s most popular podcasts of 2024, and Slate’s 25 most important recipes of the past 100 years.
☑️ Get connected: Recently relocated to Batavia or North Aurora? Check out Welcome Home Batavia, a free service that will provide you the info, resources, gifts and gift certificates you need to feel connected to your community.
☑️ City meetings:
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🗓️ Events & Things to Do
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☑️ Grainology 1-Year Anniversary Party | Wed 11/27, 12-11PM | Grainology, Batavia | Celebrate your favorite Brewstillery with live music, food vendors, beer releases and more.
☑️ St. Charles’ Lost Railroad: The Chicago Great Western | Wed 11/27, 1-2:30PM | Baker Community Center, STC | Learn about the historic railroad from local historians.
☑️ Holiday Homecoming | Fri 11/29 - Sat 11/30 | Downtown STC | A magical holiday bash with a tree lighting, parade, shop crawl and more.
🎟️ Hop Into The Holidays | Fri 11/29, 5PM | Obscurity Brewing, Elburn | Enjoy a beer fest featuring local breweries and shop the Kringle Market (open various dates through December).
🎟️ The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year | Fri 11/29, 6PM | Copper Fox, Geneva | A murder mystery to remember, complete with dinner and drinks.
🎟️ Back to the Eighties! History Museum Holiday Gala Fundraiser | Fri 12/13 | Hotel Baker, STC | The STC History Museum is throwing a classic 80s dance party in December.
🌖 Weather snapshot
🌨️ Today: High 49F | Low 24F | Raw + rainy
🌤️ Tuesday: High 38F | Low 28F | Getting colder
☁️ Wednesday: High 39F | Low 30F | Dreary
☁️ Thursday: High 34F | Low 21F | Cloudy + chilly
📖 Thanks for reading
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