Good Morning, Neighbors!
Just like that, September is coming to an end and October is right around the corner! I don't know about you, but we've been enjoying the weather lately. 😊
As always, we've got a packed newsletter for you this week, with some interesting local news, community updates and plenty of things to do. Let's get into it!
In this week’s issue:
- How safe is your town?
- Top high schools
- 20 festivals, fairs & expos this week
- Top headlines
- Neighbor notes
- New openings
- Top things to do this week!
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Northwest Nuggets - Did You Know? 💡
How Safe Is Your Suburb?
How did your hometown do? Niche has released its 2026 Crime & Safety grades, using crime statistics and resident feedback to assess communities across Illinois. Several Northwest Suburbs earned high marks, including Tower Lakes (A+), Hawthorn Woods (A), South Barrington (A) and Kildeer (A−). How did your suburb compare? (View Full Grades)
NW Suburban High Schools Among Illinois’ Best 🏫
Several of our local high schools made the top 25 in Niche’s newly released 2027 Best Public High Schools in Illinois rankings! The rankings consider academic performance, school statistics and feedback from students, parents and teachers.
Here’s how some of our Northwest-area schools ranked statewide:
#6: Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
#13: Vernon Hills High School, Vernon Hills
#14: William Fremd High School, Palatine
#18: John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights
#20: Barrington High School, Barrington
#21: James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates
It's great to see so many familiar schools represented! These rankings cover public schools, with private schools ranked separately. (View Full Rankings)
20 Festivals, Fairs & Expos Happening This Week 🎪
Top Headlines 👀
Local
U.S. & World
Neighbor Notes 📝
• Arlington Heights: The village is leading a regional homeless outreach initiative, with several Northwest suburbs sharing the cost of a full-time case manager starting in January.
• Buffalo Grove: The village approved a banquet facility for the former Outback Steakhouse off Lake Cook Road, filling a building that has sat dormant for more than a decade.
• Des Plaines: The city is considering 96 new security cameras for the downtown Metropolitan Square garage, with equipment and installation estimated at about $258,000.
• Elgin: Elgin Community College celebrated the opening of its new $88 million Manufacturing and Technology Center, featuring a 19,000-square-foot welding and fabrication lab.
• Elk Grove Village: Mayor Craig Johnson confirmed that GI Partners bought the existing data center property at 800 E. Devon Ave. for $750 million.
• Palatine: The village approved a 38-unit townhouse development at Dundee and Quentin roads, with construction expected to take 18–24 months.
• Park Ridge: The city council voted unanimously on Monday (Sept. 21) to approve a six-month moratorium on establishing historic districts in the city.
• Rolling Meadows: The city will spend $850,000 to turn part of a strip mall into an expanded human services center, moving the department out of a cramped 750-square-foot apartment and city hall offices.
• Schaumburg: Local businesses and community volunteers partnered to fund and unveil a dedicated officer wellness room at the Schaumburg Police Department headquarters to support public safety personnel wellbeing.
• Wheeling: The village approved special uses for four new businesses, including a restaurant, skin care training facility, dance school and truck repair shop.
New Openings 🎉
Mundelein: Golf Haus | Indoor golf simulator lounge & self-pour tap wall (Link)
Crystal Lake: Batch | Small batch ice cream & gelato shop | (Link)
Long Grove: Calm Grounding Psychological Services | Therapy & psychological support practice | (Link)
Lake Zurich: Northwest Eye Center | Sept. 30th | Comprehensive optometry & eye care (Link)
Crystal Lake: Vulcan Room | Oct. 1st | Infrared sauna, cold plunge & wellness recovery studio (Link)
Elk Grove Village: Wintrust | Oct. 1st | Community bank (Link)
This Week's Top Things to Do 🎟️
🧑🚒 Fire Department Open Houses | Northwest Suburbs (Link)
Bartlett: Friends of the Bartlett Library Fall Book Sale | Oct. 2nd - 3rd | Bartlett Public Library District (Link)
Vernon Hills: Hispanic Heritage Event with E&E Events | Oct. 2nd | 11 AM | Hawthorn Mall (Link)
Algonquin: Harvest Market | Oct. 3rd | 10 AM - 4 PM | Free | Downtown Algonquin (Link)
Barrington: Paint the Town Barrington: Public Art Exhibition, Awards & Sale | Oct. 3rd | 2 PM - 5 PM | Barrington's White House (Link)
Skokie: Old Orchard Vintage & Artisan Market | Oct. 3rd - 4th | 10 AM - 5 PM | Westfield Old Orchard (Link)
Hoffman Estates: Corgi vs. Dachshund Grand Prix: The Ultimate Four-Legged Showdown | Oct. 4th | 11 AM - 2 PM | Hideaway Brew Garden (Link)
Elk Grove Village: Dancing with the Band | Oct. 1st | 7 PM - 9 PM | $5 R / $7 NR | Garden Terrace at the Pavilion (Link)
Hoffman Estates: Libido Funk Circus | Oct. 2nd | 7 PM (Link), 7th Heaven | Oct. 3rd | 7:30 PM (Link), Bonfires & Boots featuring Tributes to Chris Stapleton & Eric Church | Oct. 4th | 12:30 PM (Link) Hideaway Brew Garden
Farmers Market Guide | Northwest Suburbs (Link)
Car Shows & Cruise Nights This Week | Northwest Suburbs (Link)
Kids & Family Fun This Week | Northwest Suburbs (Link)
Quote of the week ✨
“My mind’s my kingdom” - Francis Quarles
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We’ll see you next Tuesday!
