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🕰️ Bocaditos Café and the Newton House: A new chapter for a Batavia landmark

Some buildings hold history within their walls — echoes of the past blending organically with the present. In downtown Batavia, the Newton House on the corner of Wilson Street and Route 31 is one of those places.

For nearly 150 years, the iconic structure has been a home, a library, a local business hub and a community gathering space. Today, it’s home to Bocaditos Argentine Café, a local restaurant perfectly positioned to carry on the building’s legacy of hospitality and bringing Batavians together.

Interestingly enough, the building was recently listed for sale. But before considering the future, let’s dig into its fascinating past.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Elgin mystery: Authorities confirmed that remains found in the Fox River are those of Karen Schepers, the Elgin woman missing since 1983 — along with a revelation that her car was actually spotted three years ago but mistakenly identified as an ATV.

🔒 Watching closely: Batavia is adding 55 new surveillance cameras to key city locations by summer, though questions remain about who will have access to the footage and under what circumstances. Watch a recent committee discussion on the topic (10-minute mark).

☑️ Court costs: Kane County officials say the SAFE-T Act’s court reforms — especially the end of cash bail — have been driving up staffing and overtime costs, which is one reason behind the push for a new sales tax.

☑️ Home stretch: Tens of thousands of local voters have already cast ballots in the April 1 election. If you haven’t voted yet, here’s where you can access key election info like candidate lists, voting locations and more.

🔒 Trafficking case: A fourth defendant has pleaded guilty in the St. Charles sex trafficking ring that operated out of local apartments and hotels, with new details revealing some of the horrors the victims experienced.

☑️ Local detours: Van Nortwick Ave. between Illinois and McKee streets in Batavia will be closed from 7AM to 7PM on Monday (3/31) through Friday (4/4) for electric line work. In St. Charles, Oak Street will be closed between 19th Street and Fairview Drive during the same period.

🏘️ In the community

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☑️ Legit progress: Construction is underway for St. Charles’ Fox Haven Square development on the corner of Route 64 and Kirk Road — which will become a blend of retail and dining with an outdoor plaza and a pickleball complex.

☑️ Taste & tell: Based in Geneva, McCormick FONA is a global “flavor manufacturer” — and they’re looking to pay local taste testers to sample their delicious new products. Here’s how it works.

☑️ Popular pair: Campton Hills and St. Charles tied for the #3 spot on Redfin’s list of the “nation’s hottest neighborhoods for 2025” — which cites their natural beauty, river recreation and competitive housing market.

☑️ Hard-to-recycle stuff: Kane County announced its 2025 schedule of local recycling events — including campaign sign recycling through 4/13 (thank goodness).

☑️ State champion: St. Charles Park District officials recognized Thomas McMillan from STC North High School for his recent first place win at the IHSA Boys’ Varsity Swim and Dive Championship, where he broke a 13-year-old state record.

☑️ Anglers almanack: As of Tuesday (4/1), Illinois’ 2025 fishing regulations will take effect. Here’s the new comprehensive guide for fishing in Illinois, including hot spots, state records and more.

🎸 Live music

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Preservation is back to hosting regular live music performances on Wednesdays and Sundays. Peeking ahead at April, it looks like we can expect a similar schedule shift from several other local venues. Exciting stuff!

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✨ 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

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☑️ East-side dining: HoneyBird, the planned broasted chicken restaurant from the owners of Riganato, is making progress toward opening on E. State Street in Geneva with indoor and outdoor seating.

☑️ Goodbye STC: Shakou, a Japanese restaurant in downtown St. Charles, has closed up shop for good — though it still has other suburban locations.

☑️ Rebellious bites: A South Elgin couple has revived their original food truck concept with the punk rock-inspired Legit Dogs & Ice — now open as a full-blown restaurant with creative street food, retro games and music. Check out the Daily Herald feature (🔒).

💥 Tell your story: Want to showcase your business to thousands of local readers? Our branded stories — like the Bocaditos / Newton House feature above — offer a fun, easy way to show the community what makes you special. Learn more here.

🗞️ Un-classifieds

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $2.5M house (castle?) and this $1.7M estate, both in St. Charles.

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

☑️ 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.

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

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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☑️ Does It Fit? Exhibit | Now through 4/24 | Fine Line Creative Arts Center, STC | The latest Kavanagh Gallery exhibit is open for viewing.

🎟️ Youth Talent Show | Tues 4/1, 7PM | Playhouse 38, Geneva | Youngsters aged 6-18 will display their skills on stage.

🎟️ Magic Hunks | Wed 4/2, 8-10:30PM | EvenFlow, Geneva | Direct from Vegas, an entertaining show for a ladies’ night out.

🎟️ Wine & Food Pairing | Sun 4/6, 7PM | Up North Wine Tasting, Geneva | A special collab with the talented chefs from Le Cochon.

📖 Thanks for reading

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