News
Batavia Woman’s Club Announces 2026 STEAM Summer Camp Scholarship Awards
The Batavia Woman’s Club (BWC) announced the awarding of 13 summer STEAM scholarships to Batavia middle school students pursuing summer STEAM camps. Britta McKenna, BWC Scholarship Chair reports that 13 middle school students were awarded a total of $3,118 in full- and partial-scholarship awards for the following 2026 summer STEAM camp experiences. Camps being attended by the students include: Augustana Show Choir CampBatavia Park District RoboticsBPS101 iFashion Middle School Fashion CampBPS101 Encore
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Free Senior Expo Provides a Wealth of Resources
BATAVIA, IL – Discover ways to stay active, healthy and engaged at age 50 and beyond at Super Savvy Senior Expo June 12 in Batavia.Batavia’s annual free resource event, hosted by Batavia Park District, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren St. Adults ages 50 and older and their families and caregivers can browse a wealth of information to improve their quality of life.Now in its 19th year, the expo showcases more than 30 vendors offering information on active
Artist Submissions Are Now Open for Inaugural Windmill City (Fine Art) Fest
BATAVIA, IL – A new opportunity for local artists and enthusiasts is blowing into town this summer at Batavia's inaugural Windmill City (Fine Art) Fest. The Fine Art Fest, presented by the Batavia Depot Museum and the Batavia Park District, will take place indoors at the new Callahan Community Center Sky Loft during the annual Windmill City Festival on Saturday, July 11 from noon to 8 p.m. It's an unconventional indoor evening art show where artists can trade crack-of-dawn set up, heat stroke and
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Wednesday Evening Batavia Farmers’ Market Returns to Downtown Batavia June 10
Batavia MainStreet is thrilled to announce the return of the Wednesday Evening Batavia Farmers’ Market, beginning June 10, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its new location at The South Riverwalk Plaza (N. Island Ave. and Houston St.) in front of City Hall, alongside the Batavia Park District’s River Rhapsody Concert Series. Now in its third season, this curated market offers a relaxed midweek shopping experience featuring approximately 20 vendors each week- many returning favorites alongside exciting new
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New Plaques Added to Discover Historic Batavia Walk
BATAVIA, IL, June 3,2026) – If you've noticed new Discover Historic Batavia signs appearing throughout the community, there is now even more local history to explore.The Batavia Historical Society has expanded its Discover Historic Batavia program with the addition of 10 new historic plaques, bringing the total number of markers throughout the city to 20. The program highlights significant people, places, businesses, and events that have helped shape Batavia's history and identity.The original 10 plaques
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Sip, Savor, Support: Cocktails in the Park Marks 15 Years in Downtown Batavia
Raise a glass and support your local downtown—Cocktails in the Park, Batavia MainStreet’s largest annual fundraiser, returns on Saturday, July 25 from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at scenic Appleton Park, located behind City Hall at 100 N. Island Ave. in downtown Batavia.Hosted by Batavia MainStreet, this signature summer event brings together great food, live music, craft cocktails, and community spirit—all under the stars along the beautiful Fox River. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit organization’s year-round efforts
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Batavia Public School District 101 Invites Community Members to Apply for Board of Education Vacancies
Batavia, IL — Batavia Public School District 101 is inviting community members interested in public service and public education to apply for two vacancies on the Board of Education. “We encourage community members who are passionate about public education, thoughtful collaboration, and student success to consider applying for these vacancies as we continue working together to serve our students, families, staff, and community,” said Board of Education President Craig Meadows. Applications must be
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT TO OPEN ARROWWOOD POINT ARCHERY COMPLEX, JUNE 6
Public invited to ribbon cutting, archery demonstration and free “Try Archery” GENEVA, IL — Take aim at a new outdoor adventure this summer, as the Forest Preserve District of Kane County invites the public to the grand opening of the new Arrowwood Point Archery Complex at Mill Creek Greenway Forest Preserve in Elburn, on Saturday, June 6, at 11 a.m. This family-friendly event will give visitors of all-ages the chance to try archery for free, with no experience necessary. Participants can learn the
New Activities Added to Batavia Flag Day Celebration
BATAVIA, Ill. — The community is invited to attend the annual Batavia Flag Day Celebration on Sunday, June 14. This year’s event commemorates America 250, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.The celebration includes the following activities scheduled throughout the afternoon:From 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at the Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center in downtown Batavia, representative flags of the Revolutionary War through today with several historic flags will be on
Celebrate at the first Batavia Community Pride worship service
Local congregations will be gathering together to celebrate Batavia Community Pride during Pride Month on Sunday, June 14 with “A Church for All” at the Congregational Church of Batavia. The participating churches are all different in worship style, denomination and theological nuance. But they all affirm that all people are made in the image of the Divine, and that definitely includes members of the LGBTQ community. The service is open to all, including anyone who may be looking for a safe, affirming
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Batavia Public School District 101 Announces Upcoming Board of Education Vacancies
Batavia Public School District 101 announces that two members of the Board of Education have submitted their resignations, effective immediately: Katy Swiecicki and Danielle Sligar. On behalf of the Board of Education, we extend our sincere appreciation for their service, leadership, and commitment to the students, staff, families, and community of Batavia. Serving on a Board of Education requires personal time dedicated to thoughtful discussion, preparation, decision-making, and community engagement.
Batavia Public School District 101 Welcomes Two New Administrators
Batavia Public School District 101 is pleased to announce the hiring of two new administrators who will join the District’s leadership team beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Lissette Jacobson has been named the District’s next Director of Curriculum and Multilingual Learning, and Joshua Louis has been named the next Principal of Rotolo Middle School. Both administrators bring extensive educational leadership experience and a strong commitment to student-centered learning, relationship-building, and
Batavia Public School District 101’s Music Education Program Receives National Recognition for the Twelfth Time
Batavia, IL—Batavia Public School District 101 (BPS101) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. BPS101 has received this award 12 times in the last 13 years, and it is one of only 31 districts in Illinois to receive the designation this year. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing
Tri-Cities Chambers Launch “Tri-Cities Canstruction”
A Large-Scale Design Competition Using Canned Food to Fight Hunger Open to the public, this event takes place at Waubonsee Community College’s Academic and Professional Center in Sugar Grove February 2027 BATAVIA, IL, GENEVA, IL, and ST. CHARLES, IL — The Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles Chambers of Commerce are proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Tri-Cities Canstruction, a large-scale community design competition that combines creativity, engineering, architecture, and philanthropy to fight
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City of Batavia Launches Roll Smart: Know the Code. Ride the Road.
Education campaign explains new e-mobility ordinances, emphasizes summer safety BATAVIA, IL (May 14, 2026) — The City of Batavia and the Batavia Police Department are launching a communitywide summer education campaign to help residents better understand Batavia’s new e-mobility ordinances and promote safe riding practices for all bicyclists and riders.The “Roll Smart: Know the Code. Ride the Road.” campaign will focus on educating the public about the safe and legal use of electric bicycles, e-scooters,
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The Batavia Farmers' Market Celebrates 32 Years Downtown
BATAVIA, IL- The Saturday Morning Batavia Farmers’ Market returns May 16, 2026, for its milestone 32nd outdoor season, running every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM through October 24 on North River Street. With nearly 60 vendors each week, the Saturday Market offers an expansive selection of locally grown produce, farm-raised meats and eggs, fresh baked goods, honey, and more. Vendors are required to grow, harvest, or produce at least 75% of the products they sell.Returning favorites include Flat Tire
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New Hollywood Casino Aurora Adds Two Renowned Chicago Restaurants to its Boulevard Food & Drink Hall that will Debut this Summer
The dynamic dining experience at the new land-based casino and hotel will now also include Urbanbelly and Tabo Sushi in its star-studded lineup CHICAGO (April 21, 2026) -- Hollywood Casino Aurora today announced, in partnership with McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), that the Boulevard Food & Drink Hall at its soon-to-open new location will feature two additional restaurants: Urbanbelly and Tabo Sushi. The two restaurants join the previously announced line-up that includes celebrity chef Stephanie
PENN Entertainment Sets June 24 as Grand Opening Date for New Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois
New Land-Based Entertainment Destination Includes Four-Star Hotel, Event Center and World-Class Dining Experiences WYOMISSING, PA and AURORA, Ill. (March 19, 2026) -- PENN Entertainment, Inc. (“PENN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PENN) announced today that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora to the public on Wednesday, June 24, pending customary regulatory approvals. This will be the second all-new PENN property to open in the Chicagoland region following the grand opening of the
Batavia Students Join Global Scientists for Great Backyard Bird Count
BATAVIA, IL — While many students were looking forward to the weekend, students at Vanguard Gifted Academy were busy contributing to global science. Armed with tablets and binoculars, students spent Friday, Feb. 13, participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a real-world community science initiative that helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology track bird populations worldwide. “At Vanguard, we believe that education should be authentic,” says Amy Trujillo, Head of School. “Participating
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
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
