have both parents working,” Mayor Shimer says. Multiple childcare centers operate in town, both of which perform well, according to city officials. Karnell Fiscus, executive assistant at Robinson City Hall, compiled a comprehensive information booklet available free to residents covering everything from sewer hookups to trash collection and recreation center locations. Lincoln Trail College, founded in 1969 and currently expanding, serves approximately 717 full-time students. Schaefer emphasizes its importance: “It’s always been one of my philosophies, the larger your college system is, the more the community can continue to grow.” Additionally, the Robinson Community Unit School District is dedicated to fostering a supportive and enriching environment for students. “We are fortunate to have a robust healthcare system in Robinson”, says Schaefer. Crawford Memorial Hospital is a fully licensed and accredited 25-bed critical-access acute care facility with an extensive range of services. CELEBRATING COMMUNITY Robinson’s festival calendar has grown substantially, with the spring Daffodil Festival expanding from 40 vendor units to over 150. The event takes its name from thousands of daffodil bulbs the city has planted throughout community corridors, creating waves of yellow blooms each spring. “Not only is it just a one-day festival with lots of vendors and food and family-friendly activities, but the city also has an initiative where they have planted thousands of daffodil bulbs all around the community,” Schaefer explains. The perennial flowers multiply year over year, expanding the visual impact without additional planting costs. Home for the Holidays Festival in December offers ice skating, train rides, and activities that draw families from across Crawford County. Local merchants participate alongside food and craft vendors, turning the Robinson Civic Center into a winter gathering place. The city also hosts a trick-or-treat night that attracts over a thousand children annually, plus a summer concert series at Cross Street Station. The Heath Toffee Festival celebrates Robinson’s most famous export. The Heath candy bar was created in 1914 when brothers Bayard and Everett Heath opened their confectionery shop on the square.Their father, schoolteacher L.S. Heath, had purchased the business as an opportunity for his sons. By 1928, they were marketing “Heath English Toffee” that would become nationally known.“It’s the only place where the Heath Candy Bar is produced,” Schaefer says, emphasizing the manufacturing distinction. The Hershey Company, which acquired the brand in 1996, still produces Heath bars at the Robinson plant 86 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02
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