👋 10,000 Neighbors! 25 Festivals, Fairs & Expos + Twinkie Origins

Did you know one of America’s most famous snack cakes was invented right here in the Northwest Suburbs?

The Twinkie was created in Schiller Park in 1930 by James “Jimmy” Dewar, a manager for the Continental Baking Company. Dewar noticed that equipment used to make strawberry shortcakes sat idle when strawberries were out of season, so he came up with a new way to keep it running year-round.

His solution was a small sponge cake filled with banana cream, and the Twinkie was born. Dewar reportedly came up with the name after seeing an advertisement for Twinkle Toe Shoes while traveling in St. Louis.

During World War II, banana shortages led the company to switch the filling to vanilla, which became the version most people know today.

Nearly a century later, Twinkies are still one of the most recognizable snack cakes in America.

Pretty cool to think that something found in grocery stores and lunchboxes across the country got its start right here in Schiller Park. 🍰

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U.S. & World

• Arlington Heights: The Arlington Heights Park Foundation received the village’s inaugural Disability Inclusion Award for its efforts to expand accessible recreation, including an all-inclusive playground at Recreation Park.

• Barrington: UrbanStreet Group presented a revised 106-unit residential proposal for the “Golden Triangle” at Liberty and Hough streets, including 91 apartments and 15 row homes.

• Buffalo Grove: The village celebrated the grand opening of the rebuilt Fire Station 25 on Dundee Road, designed to improve emergency response and firefighter safety.

• Des Plaines: The city announced $94,000 in roof repairs for the city-owned Des Plaines Theatre to help preserve the historic downtown building.

• Hoffman Estates: The village opened its new 12,000-square-foot Fire Station 21 on Flagstaff Lane, part of a $25 million two-station replacement project.

• Mount Prospect: The Village Board began discussing a possible salary increase for the mayor and trustees, which would be the first adjustment since 2001.

• Niles: The Leaning Tower was illuminated purple for National Recovery Month to raise awareness and reduce stigma around substance-use disorders.

• Palatine: The Fire Department will host its annual open house Oct. 3 from 10:30 AM to 1 PM at Fire Station 84, with demonstrations, fire equipment and family activities.

• Park Ridge: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is planning a roughly $99 million cancer care expansion, along with a larger parking garage and campus entrance improvements.

• Schaumburg: The village will host its annual Fall Recycling Event Oct. 3 from 9 AM to 1 PM at Wintrust Field, with document shredding, electronics recycling and paint recycling.

• Skokie: Fairbourne Properties acquired the 69-tenant Village Crossing Shopping Center for $122 million, the region’s largest retail property deal in a decade.

• Wheeling: The Fire Department will host an open house Sept. 26 from 10 AM to 2 PM at Fire Station 44, with station tours, sprinkler and extrication demonstrations, and CPR demos.

Lake Zurich: Commonplace Books | Independent bookstore (Link)

Niles: Glo Up | Sept. 23rd | Spray tanning & beauty salon (Link)

Elgin: Manufacturing and Technology Center | Sept. 24th | Career-training center for advanced manufacturing & technology (Link)

Algonquin: Alloy Personal Training | Sept. 26th | Personal training & fitness studio (Link)

Buffalo Grove: Tangled Roots | Sept. 26th | Therapy practice (Link)

Vernon Hills: RC RaceZone | Sept. 27 | Indoor RC racing & rentals at Hawthorn Mall (Link)

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