Farmers markets set to open for the season

Farmers markets will open throughout the area in the coming days. The markets offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, dairy products, crafts and other attractions. 

Here’s information about some of the area’s markets.

Aurora

Aurora’s farmers market celebrates its 101st year in 2013. The city offers markets that are open on three different days, at three different locations. The downtown market will open at 8 a.m. June 1 and operate 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday through Oct. 19. The market is located at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway Ave. (Route 25). 

Aurora also offers its West and East markets. The West market will be open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays from July 10 to Sept. 11. The East market will be open 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays from July 11 to Aug. 29 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 701 S. Eola Road. For more information, 630-256-5370.

Batavia

The city's 18th annual farmers market will open for the season at 8 a.m. June 8 on North River Street, on the east side of the Fox River. The market is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 12. On Oct. 19, the market will open for one day at the Batavia River Walk, in conjunction with Batfest, the city’s Halloween festival. For more information, call 630-761-3528.

DeKalb

The DeKalb farmers market will be open noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays, from June 6 to Sept. 26 at Van Buer Plaza, near Second and Locust streets. 

Geneva 

The Green Market is scheduled to open on June 27 in the parking lot of the Ace Hardware, 617 W. State St., The market will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the season. For more information, call 630-377-0373.

The Geneva French Market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through October. The market operates in the Metra parking lot at South and Fourth streets in downtown Geneva. For more information, call 630-232-7494. 

St. Charles

The farmers market will open at 7 a.m. June 7 at Main and Fourth streets, near Baker Memorial United Methodist Church. The market will be open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 25. For more information, call 630-584-6680.

Sugar Grove

The farmers market will open at 8 a.m. June 1 and will operate 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays through September. The market will be located in the parking lot of the Sugar Grove Municipal Building, 10 Municipal Drive. 

Sycamore

The farmers market will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from June 2 to Sept. 29. The market will operate at the corner of Somonauk and Elm streets in downtown Sycamore. The market is presented by KishHealth System and Castle Bank. For more information, call 815-895-3456. 

The Kane County Farm Bureau offers The Bounty of Kane, a directory of information about farmers markets in Kane County and farms that sell directly to the public.

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Batavia businesses support city's fireworks show

Batavia's annual fireworks show is set for July 4th.

Several Batavia businesses are offering consumers a way to satisfy an appetite and help the community celebrate Independence Day. The businesses are partnering with the Batavia 4th of July Fireworks Fund to help raise money for the city’s annual 4th of July Sky Concert on Independence Day. The participating businesses will make donations to the fireworks fund for every purchase made on specific dates through the end of June. Participating businesses include Aliano’s Ristorante, Bulldogs Red Hots, Chick-Fil-A,  East China Inn, Gibby’s Wine Den, Limestone Coffee and Tea and the Open Range American Grill. A promotional certificate must be presented at time of purchase and other restrictions apply.

Lending a helping hand

Our friends at Engineering Enterprises, Inc., 52 Wheeler Road in Sugar Grove, started the Memorial Day with a clean-up along Bliss Road. The “work crew” filled several large bags with trash collected from along the road. 

Retail expert offers loss prevention tips 

Nicole Reyhle at Retail Minded recently published loss prevention tips for independent retailers. Retail Minded offers news, eduction and support for boutique businesses. 

Hampshire Chamber set to Cruise into Summer

The Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Cruising into Summer Fun Fair and Car Show from 4 to 8 p.m. June 1 in downtown Hampshire. The event will include entertainment, food and a variety of activities for children.

Garden center plans workshop 

Wasco Nursery & Garden Center’s Lunch and Learn series will feature drought tolerant perennials June 4. The session will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Marlene Frisbee of Hoffie Perennial Nursery will be the guest speaker. The garden center is located at 41W781Route 64, St. Charles. For more information, call 630-584-4424.

Batavia Chamber to host golf outing

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will host its annual golf outing from 1 to 8 p.m. June 3 at the Eagle Brook Golf Club 2280 Fargo Blvd., Geneva. For more information about the event, call the Chamber at 630-879-7134.

Kudos for STC business report

Kudos to St. Charles Patch Editor Ted Schnell for his report about changes to the retail landscape in downtown St. Charles and what might be an emerging trend there.

Schnell’s report stated the downtown district recently saw a new sports store open for business, but it noted that three other downtown shops either have closed or will cease operations by the end of May.

Schnell’s article reported that Sportivia opened at 113 E. Main St., St. Charles and plans to offer apparel, equipment and shoes for sports and soccer. That’s good news.

Schnell also reported that The Vertical Drop Ski & Patio Shop, 116 W. Main St., has closed and that Donna’s Jewelry Box, 111 E. Main St. and The $assy Fox, 323 Walnut St. expect to close May 31.

The owners of Donna’s Jewelry Box and The $assy Fox both cited the challenges of conducting business in a weak economy as a key factor in their decisions to close. However they also told Schnell that foot traffic through the downtown district dropped off in recent years as St. Charles saw an increase in the number of bars and restaurants as other businesses left the city.

Marge DeLand, who operates The $assy Fox with Pat Bailey, told Schnell downtown St. Charles has so many bars and restaurants it now is a destination point for drinkers and diners.

Schnell’s report indicates how diversity and balance contribute to the success of a vibrant downtown business district. The right balance is difficult to identify and challenging to achieve. However, it is important for local government officials, consumers and leaders in the business community to work together to establish an attractive mix of businesses that will draw a wide variety of consumers to our downtown districts. 

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Time again for the St. Charles Fine Arts Show

The St. Charles Fine Art Show is May 25-26.

Courtesy photo

The Downtown St. Charles Partnership will present the 15th annual St. Charles Fine Art Show May 25 and May 26 on Riverside Avenue, between Route 64 and Illinois Avenue. The show will include 100 juried artists, demonstrations, live music and other attractions. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available at several nearby city lots. For more information about the event, call 630-443-3967.

History center looks at bygone occupations

The Geneva History Center continues its wonderful tradition of engaging presentations with Cobbler, Tailor and Trunkmaker: How My Grandpappies Made a Living at 7:30 p.m. May 23. Ginger Frere of the Newberry Library will discuss how some of our ancestors earned a living. The center is located at 113 S. Third St. in downtown Geneva. For more information, call 630-232-4951. 

Sugar Grove American Legion plans fundraiser

Our friends at the Sugar Grove American Legion Post 1211, 65 First St., Sugar Grove, will host a fundraiser starting at 6:30 p.m. June 1. Pulled pork sandwiches will be available for purchase for $5. Each sandwich will come with coleslaw and chips. The Duke Band will perform from 8 to 11 p.m. For more information about the event, call 630-466-9700.

You're correct — 2013 is wetter than usual

Gilbert Sebenste, the staff meteorologist at Northern Illinois University, reports our area has received 1.59 inches of rainfall equivalent as of May 22. On average, the area should receive 4.55 inches of rainfall equivalent by May 31. So far this year, the area has recorded 17.86 inches of rainfall equivalent. Our average annual liquid total should be 13.09 inches by May 31, according to Sebenste. For more of Sebenste's fine reporting about area weather and discussions about our climate, go to www.weather.admin.niu.edu.

Park district launches paddle boat season

The Batavia Park District will launch the paddle boat season May 25 near the Peg Bond Center at 151 Island Ave. in downtown Batavia. The paddle boats are available for rent from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Boats are available from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the park district at 630-879-5235. 

Visit Geneva's French Market

The Geneva French Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 26 in the commuter Metra parking lot near Fourth and South streets in downtown Geneva. Visitors will find fresh produce, tasty treats, crafts and other products at the market. The market is open Sundays through Nov. 10. For more information, call 312-575-0286. 

STC East junior named Athlete of the Week

Congrats to St. Charles East High School junior Jasper Koenen on being named the Kane County Chronicle's Athlete of the Week on May 22. Koenen won the singles title May 18 at the Geneva Boys Tennis Sectional. The Chronicle features Koenen in an interview here.

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Local communities plan Memorial Day events

Memorial Day is May 27.

Kevin Botterman photo

    Local communities will observe Memorial Day on May 27 with a variety of ceremonies. Here’s a summary of some of the planned activities. All the ceremonies are open to the public.

Aurora

The City of Aurora’s Memorial Day observation will begin with a patriotic ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl. The city’s annual parade will begin at noon at Benton and River streets. Broadway Avenue will be closed at noon for the parade. For more information about the parade, call the City of Aurora at 630-256-3370 or go to www.aurora-il.org.

Batavia

Batavia VFW Post 1197 will conduct its annual Memorial Day observation at 10 a.m. at the Hangar, 645 S. River St., Batavia. Army Chief Warrant Officer Ty Simmons will be the guest speaker at the ceremony. For more information about ceremony, call the VFW at 630-879-9630, or visit www.bataviavfw.org.

Geneva

The Color Guard from American Legion Fox River-Geneva Post 75 will present rifle salutes starting at 6 a.m. at the city’s East Side Cemetery before moving to the State Street bridge, the Kane County Veterans Memorial, and the Geneva Township Building. The post also will conduct a parade at 10 a.m. that will start near the train station in downtown Geneva and march north on Third Street to the city’s West Side Cemetery on Stevens Street. A service will be conducted at the cemetery. For more information, call the American Legion post at 630-232-2171.

Also in Geneva, the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission will conduct a ceremony at 3 p.m. at the Kane County Veterans Memorial, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva. Doc Sheehan, an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam, will be the guest speaker at the event.

Maple Park

Members of Maple Park American Legion Post 312 will observe Memorial Day with ceremonies at six local cemeteries. During the ceremonies, post members will place American flags on the graves of service members at each of the cemeteries, the post chaplain will offer a prayer and the post rifle squad will fire three volleys before the playing of taps. 

The day’s ceremonies will begin at 9:15 a.m. at Pierce Cemetery, Pritchard and Owens roads in Troxel. Ceremonies also will be conducted at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Gardner Methodist Cemetery, the Van Vlak Cemetery, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, and South Burlington Cemetery. 

Observations also will include a flag ceremony at 10:50 a.m. at the American Legion Post, 203 Main St., Maple Park. The ceremony will include the Kaneland Middle School Band and comments from State Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley). For more information, call the post at 815-827-3536, or visit www.mapleparklegion.org.

St. Charles

The City’s Memorial Day observation will begin with a flag raising ceremony at 6 a.m. at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. Cemetery ceremonies will be conducted beginning at 6:30 a.m. at South Cemetery on Seventh Street and will continue at North Cemetery, before concluding at Union Cemetery. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Sixth and Main streets. A memorial service will be conducted immediately after the parade at Freedom Shrine, located near the St. Charles Police Department, 211 N. Riverside Ave. For more information about the City’s Memorial Day plans, go to www.stcharlesil.gov/news/2013/05/10/st-charles-memorial-day-services.

    We hope you will enjoy a safe Memorial Day holiday, and we hope you will make time on May 27 to pause and remember those veterans who lost their lives in the service of our great nation.

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Arcada Theatre to welcome Gretchen Wilson

Country singer Gretchen Wilson 

Submitted photo

The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles will welcome award-winning country rocker Gretchen Wilson for an 8 p.m. performance May 24. Tickets for the show start at $39. The Arcada is located at 105 E. Main St. in downtown St. Charles. For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, call 630-962-7000.

Library event features ecology at Fermilab

The Batavia Public Library’s New Lyceum Lecture series will host a presentation by restoration ecologist Ryan E. Campbell at 7 p.m. May 20. Campbell will present More Than Physics: The Ecology of Fermilab. Campbell will share details about the restoration projects at Fermilab. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged and can be completed by calling the library at 630-879-1393, ext. 200. The library is located at 10 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia.

Rotary club plans car show

The Wilmington Rotary Club will host a Car Show and Cruise from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 at North Island Park on historic Route 66 in Wilmington. The event will include a raffle, children’s activities and food. The registration fee to display a vehicle is $10 per car. Proceeds will benefit local charities. Spectators are admitted free.

Star gazing at Peck Farm Park

The Fox Valley Astronomical Society will host a Public Star Party at 7:30 p.m. May 18 at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road, Geneva. The event will begin with a short presentation in the orientation barn. The program will then move outside, where participants can view the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and the Whirlpool Galaxy through a telescope provided by members of the society. Guests may also bring their own telescopes. 

Sugar Grove American Legion plans fundraiser

The Sugar Grove American Legion Post 1211, 65 First St., Sugar Grove, will host a fundraiser starting at 6:30 p.m. June 1. Pulled pork sandwiches will be available for purchase for $5. The sandwich will come with coleslaw and chips. The Duke Band will perform from 8 to 11 p.m. For more information about the event, call 630-466-9700.

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Buddy Guy to play Aurora's Blues on the Fox

Buddy Guy will at Blues on the Fox in June.

Sony Music Entertainment photo

Blues legend Buddy Guy will close out Aurora's annual Blues on the Fox festival on June 14 and June 15. The fest will take place at the new RiverEdge Park Music Garden, 360 N. Broadway St. The festival will feature a variety of entertainers, including Dr. John, the Stone Foxes, and Tony Castro and the Painkillers. 

Hospice to host garden party

The Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice will host its annual Garden Party beginning at noon at the Q Center in St. Charles. The event will include a luncheon, a fashion show, a raffle and a silent auction. For more information about the event, call 630-232-2233. The hospice is located at 200 Whitfield Drive, Geneva. 

Garden group to conduct plant sale

The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will conduct a plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon May 11 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia. Shoppers will find native wildflowers, perennials, ferns and a wide variety of other plans. For more information about the event, call 630-857-6582.

Garage sale to benefit lost pets

Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets will host the group’s annual garage and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 at 39 Walnut Circle, Sugar Grove. For more information about the event or to donate items for the sale, call Cheryl after 6 p.m. at 630-466-7958.

Bella Olivia closes its doors

It's with disappointment that we report that Bella Olivia Pizza & Grill in Batavia recently closed its doors. Signs posted at the shop state the business is closed for remodeling, but telephone service to the shop appears to be disconnected. Bella Olivia is located at 2014 W. Wilson St., Batavia. We will share new information as it becomes available. Bella Olivia opened in 2012. 

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Batavia VFW to lead Loyalty Day parade May 5

Batavia VFW Post 1197 will host its annual Loyalty Day parade at 1:30 p.m. May 5 on Batavia’s east side. The theme for this year’s parade is the VFW Tree of Life, dedicated to all the branches of the U.S. military. The parade will begin on Raddant Road in the Batavia industrial park and will conclude at the VFW post, 645 S. River St. The parade frequently consists of more than 100 units, including marching bands and floats. The parade is one of our favorite events and offers something for all ages. For more information about the event, call 630-879-9630.

Boy Scouts to conduct annual plant sale
Boy Scout Troop 6 in Batavia will conduct its annual perennial plant sale from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 2 through May 5 at the Moose Family Center parking lot, 1535 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31), Batavia. Quantity pricing will be offered.

Batavia to host city-wide garage sale

Batavia will host its 20th annual city-wide garage sale May 3 and May 4. The sale typically includes sites throughout the city. Maps of the sale locations are available at City Hall, the Batavia Park District, the Batavia Public Library,  7-Eleven and McDonald's. 

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