Rosa Balli remembers her mother, Beatriz Balli, as “very loving, warm and caring, not only about her own family, but also those in the community.” Beatriz and her husband, Luis Balli, established the DeKalb-based Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant in 1972. Beatriz Balli, 89, died Sept. 13 at her home surrounded by family.

Blain’s Farm & Fleet is celebrating its 65th anniversary in DeKalb County. Farm & Fleet built its third store in DeKalb: its first two were in Janesville and Rice Lake, Wisconsin. “If the DeKalb customers weren’t so loyal at the beginning, I don’t know if we would have had the opportunity to grow. If the early stores didn’t go well, we wouldn’t be around today," said Jane Blain Gilbertson, the store's CEO, president and owner.

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Blain’s Farm & Fleet is celebrating its 65th anniversary in DeKalb County. Farm & Fleet built its third store in DeKalb: its first two were in Janesville and Rice Lake, Wisconsin. A ceremony was held Monday to mark the day.

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Paint -n- Create, at 132 N. Third St. in DeKalb, is a new business that opens Friday, Sep. 17, 2021, offers painting projects to people of all ages. There are dozens of shapes and items available in the store to add your personal artistic vision to.

DeKalb will soon have a late-night way to satisfy their sweet tooth: the national cookie chain Insomnia Cookies is coming to town.

"There’s not a lot of businesses here [in Cortland], and I thought it was a good place to start a business,” said Ruben Armas, who along with his wife, Imelda Espinoza, recently opened Twins Ice Cream in Cortland. “So far, business has been very good. People are learning we are here."

The T.J. Maxx store in DeKalb is making some moves across the street from its current Oakland Place Shopping Center location and will have a bigger sign to boot after a recent DeKalb City Council vote.

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The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce held its Family Fun Fest Tuesday afternoon at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. The free event, sponsored by sponsored by Clean USA, Illinois Community Credit Union and T-Mobile, featured more than 25 booths with local businesses offering activities, games, giveaways, raffles and more.

“I’m so grateful for everyone’s patience and encouragement,” Jeff Foster said. Common Grounds, previously located in downtown DeKalb, will be reopening Friday in its new home in Sycamore under a new name: Common Grounds Coffee, Tea, and Smoothies.