Dave Heun
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How repurposing historic buildings breathes new life into the Tri-CitiesFeb 12, 2026 3:30 am - Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles have joined the trend of repurposing old buildings for new uses, with historic structures renovated into apartments, restaurants, businesses and community spaces.
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How Kane County historian verifies Underground Railroad safe housesFeb 04, 2026 11:41 am - Eric Krupa, the collections and exhibitions manager at the St. Charles History Museum, has worked to verify local sites that were part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.
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When the millennium was new: What Tri-Cities officials predicted, and what actually happenedJan 28, 2026 11:14 am - Daily Herald columnist Dave Heun takes a look back at what some Tri-Cities’ officials predicted for the first quarter of the millennium, and how those statements or predictions have played out.
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‘You find your niche’: How service clubs like Kiwanis, Rotary attract new membersJan 21, 2026 4:40 pm - During my years as a service club member from 1987 to 2010, something bothered me. How would the club move into the future without younger members?
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Painting brick buildings a popular trend, but not with preservationistsJan 14, 2026 4:00 am - Painting over brick is way to bring older buildings “back to life” and give a downtown streetscape a new look, but historic preservationists advise against it.
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‘We will have an awesome sandwich’: Riganato owners to open HoneyBird chicken restaurant in GenevaJan 07, 2026 11:36 am - The owners of Geneva’s Riganato Old World Grille are planning to open a second restaurant -- HoneyBird, on East State Street, focusing on chicken.
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New businesses, fond farewells and historic preservation: A look back at the top stories of 2025 in Talk of the TownDec 29, 2025 9:57 am - New businesses and developments, historic preservation, museums and a fairy garden were among the top stories in Dave Heun’s Talk of the Town column in 2025.
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How Christmas traditions help spark holiday spiritDec 17, 2025 12:39 pm - It has seemed a little tougher to muster up the holiday spirit this year. Reflecting on Christmas traditions and seasonal events may help to get us in the right frame of mind.
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Geneva’s Christmas Walk, Aurora Christkindlmarket among local holiday traditionsDec 03, 2025 1:15 pm - Tradition fuels the joy of the holiday season, whether it is within our homes, churches, or community festivals and holiday parades.
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A map of the past: Geneva history buff relishes portraying land surveyor from 1770sNov 21, 2025 3:30 am - As a history buff who enjoys re-enactments but isn’t drawn to battles or military uniforms, portraying an 18th century land surveyor is the perfect fit for John Schubert of Geneva.