Amboy’s own little Cookie Jar blends creativity, comfort and a sense of fun in every batch its owner bakes, proving dessert can be playful and welcoming, with just the right amount of over-the-top.

At Nomia Meadows Farm in Franklin Grove, John and Lisa Ayers tend to bees, apples and 110 acres of native ground, welcoming visitors into the full-circle quiet of their prairie sanctuary.

150 years on, a small Lee County village still finds its strength in the neighbors who never stopped looking out for one another. As Compton celebrates its sesquicentennial, its people remind each other what truly endures in their small town.

A Freeport music shop is a go-to spot for instruments and inspiration. Whether you’re plucking your first pick or cutting a record, the store keeps the music playing.

The couple caring for a Stillman Valley farm that’s been in the family for more than 100 years decided to say ‘no’ to chemicals and ‘yes’ to an approach they believe will keep their land healthy until the cows come home.

From Civil War roots to seventh-generation hands, the Chapman family’s Ashton sesquicentennial farm carries a legacy of hard work and humility.

In the course of playing a game they love, the members of Timber Creek’s Lincoln Highway golf team do more than just become champions – they become friends.

Coloma Township Park District has a lot to celebrate this year: A century of history in its green spaces and places, people passionate about supporting parks, a Village with lots of stories to tell, and much more … including a big fiberglass chicken.

The owners of a Sterling business have spent decades not only providing people with a cool place to kick back and relax, but helping them expand their pool of knowledge when they’re just starting to get their feet wet.