Tri-Cities briefs

Radiant Road workResurfacing work starts today on Raddant Road in Batavia, from Wilson to Pine streets. It is part of the street improvement program. Pavement patching on other roads will take place throughout August. A list of streets is available on the city's website, cityofbatavia.net. There is also a street program hotline at (630) 454-2770.Forest preserve closes trailsThe Kane County Forest Preserve District has closed trails at Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Plato Township and the Fox River Trail in South Elgin. At Fitchie Creek, the multipurpose limestone trail along the perimeter of the preserve is closed due to major damage from the recent flooding. This trail is closed indefinitely. The Fox River Trail is temporarily closed between the State Street bridge north to Robertson Road, due to the nearby Stearns Road bridge construction project. This closure is expected to last for a minimum of 10 weeks. Updates will be posted at kaneforest.com. Call (630) 232-5980.Batavia Chili Cook-offsIt will be a chili cook-off weekend in Batavia. The Illinois State Championship Chili Cook-off will be from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and the Windmill City Chili Cook-off will be from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both events are part of the 18th Illinois State Championship Chili Cook-off and will be held at the Riverwalk in downtown Batavia. Chili Appreciation Society International Cook-off rules apply. Tasting starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, with a donation of $5 to taste 35 to 40 chilis. Spectators purchasing tasting cups on Saturday vote for the Red Chili they like the best. Saturday's proceeds will benefit the Batavia Teen Center and Sunday's proceeds will benefit the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. For details, call Bill or Cheryl Pierson at (630) 879-7934 or e-mail wccco@comcast.net.Donors get ice creamBlood donors who support Heartland Blood Centers through Saturday will be given a coupon for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream. It's part of a Pint-for-a-Quart campaign which rewards blood donors who take time out of their schedules to donate blood at any Heartland location or mobile blood drive. For the few communities not located near an Oberweis Retail Store, Ben Jerry's ice-cream certificates will be substituted. Heartland Blood Centers is an independent nonprofit blood center serving 35 hospitals in a 12-county region in Illinois and Indiana. Call (800) 7-TO GIVE or visitheartlandbc.org.