News
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Find Calm and Renewal at “Winter Solstice Mindful Movement,'' Dec. 20
GENEVA, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Kane County invites community members to pause, breathe and restore at the “Winter Solstice Mindful Movement” program on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Barbara Belding Lodge. The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, and many cultures consider it to be a day of hope for the new year. This reflective session offers participants an opportunity to end 2025 on a calming, restorative note. Led by local wellness instructor Jennifer
Linda Schielke Named 2025 Batavia Citizen of the Year
Batavia Woman’s Club is this year’s Spirit of Batavia honoree. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Linda Schielke as the 2025 Citizen of the Year (COTY), honoring her decades of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the Batavia community. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will honor Linda on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Chamber’s Inspire 2026: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! annual awards event. Additionally, the Batavia Woman’s Club is the Spirit of Batavia
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Batavia High School Announces 2026-27 Illinois State Scholars
Illinois Student Assistance Commission Congratulates 83 Batavia High School Students for Their Outstanding Academic Performance BATAVIA, IL – Batavia High School Principal Dr. JoAnne Smith is pleased to announce that 83 students from the Batavia High School graduating class of 2026 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. A List of the BHS Scholars can be found at bhs.bps101.net/news. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency,
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FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT INTRODUCES NEW NATURE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS
GENEVA, IL – Building on the popularity of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County’s, “Little Saplings” preschool series, the District is excited to introduce, “Twigs to Trees,” a new nature program designed specifically for school-age children in kindergarten through second grade. Each session of “Twigs to Trees” invites young explorers to investigate a seasonal nature theme through hands-on discovery, guided exploration and nature-based play. Led by District naturalists, participants will spend
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Discover Unique Gifts for Every Budget with Batavia MainStreet's Holiday Gift Guide
This holiday season, make your gift shopping meaningful by choosing local! Batavia MainStreet’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide features 25 pages of curated gift ideas from 35 downtown merchants, including Stocking Stuffers, Gifts for Classroom Heroes, Playful Picks for Little Ones, Gifts for the Hard-to-Please Teen, Quick Picks, and little Luxuries under $25. Find handmade, unique, and high-quality gifts right in Downtown Batavia. "Shopping local this holiday not only brings joy to your friends and family, it
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Learn About Winter Wildlife During a Free Nature Program Series
GENEVA, IL – Learn about local, winter wildlife during a new nature program series by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The lineup of free programs is designed to showcase the fascinating creatures that stay active throughout Illinois’ colder months, such as Chickadees, owls, eagles, woodchucks, beavers and more. District naturalists will lead these educational adventures throughout Kane County. The Winter Wildlife Series includes: Chipper Chickadees: These little birds are easy to spot
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CITY OF BATAVIA INVITES PUBLIC INPUT ON LONG-TERM ELECTRIC RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY PLAN
BATAVIA, IL, (Oct. 31, 2025) -- The City of Batavia is taking a strategic step to safeguard reliable and affordable electricity for residents and businesses by developing its first preliminary Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP. The IRP, prepared by the Brattle Group, an energy and economic consulting firm, evaluates future market conditions, customer needs, and available technologies to guide how the City will power the community over the next 20 years. An IRP is a planning roadmap that identifies
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City of Batavia Seeks Developer for Downtown River Street Redevelopment Project
(BATAVIA IL, Oct. 15, 2025) – The City of Batavia is seeking qualified developers to partner in the redevelopment of a key downtown property as part of its long-range vision for a more vibrant and connected city center. The City’s Community and Economic Development Department is now accepting Requests for Proposals, or RFPs, for the acquisition and redevelopment of approximately 0.68 acres of City-owned property located on North River Street in the heart of downtown Batavia. Proposals will be accepted
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Batavia Boardwalk Shops 2026 Applications Open October 1
Batavia MainStreet is now accepting applications for the 2026 season of the popular and well-established Batavia Boardwalk Shops, a unique small business incubator in Downtown Batavia. Applications are due January 15, 2026.Now entering its seventh season, the program continues to be admired for fostering small business growth and drawing visitors to downtown Batavia. The 2026 season aims to elevate offerings even further, seeking businesses that will attract shoppers and enhance the downtown
Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners Awards $2,000 Scholarship to Graduating High School Senior, Abigail Ingersoll
The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners congratulate Abigail Ingersoll, a graduating Batavia High School senior, for being selected for the scholarship, valued at $2000, which will support her further education and personal growth as she embarks on her college journey at Iowa State University. Abigail is planning to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Research or Horticulture.Ms. Ingersoll, a graduating senior at Batavia High School, was highly recommended by several of her teachers because of her
Your Brand Is What It Appears to Be
Every small business is selling two things: the actual product or service, and the way people feel about it. Trust doesn’t bloom in a vacuum—it grows out of consistency, personality, and attention to visual cues. Whether it’s a logo, color scheme, font choice, or even the texture of packaging, visual branding has a way of speaking long before words ever do. For small business owners, getting this right isn’t about copying the look of larger brands—it’s about creating something that feels like it could
Batavia Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off Chamber Eats
The ongoing program will feature a different Batavia Chamber restaurant member each month. Batavia, IL – The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to launch Chamber Eats, a new program designed to highlight our local restaurant members and encourage the community to support them. Each month, the Batavia Chamber will feature a different Chamber-member restaurant. Diners can enter a drawing for $25 in Chamber Bucks and a $25 restaurant gift card by dropping a business card or contact information card
Boss Moves: How Adobe Acrobat Helps Women Entrepreneurs Get It Done
Being an entrepreneur is all about juggling, innovating, and growing—but what if you had a secret weapon to make it easier? Enter Adobe Acrobat, a powerful ally that streamlines your day-to-day, helping you work smarter while leaving more room for what truly drives your business forward. This Women’s Small Business Month, we’re celebrating the ways Adobe Acrobat is empowering women entrepreneurs to elevate their hustle, simplify workflows, and realize bigger dreams. Acrobat AI Assistant: Check out
