What some call junk, Melissa Hull calls possibility. Inside her downtown Morrison studio, discarded items become art, and the creative itch in others is inspired.

From sandwich sales to scholarships, Morrison High School’s Key Club is showing how student volunteers are shaping leadership, community and opportunity.

A wrapper or cigarette butt might seem small, but multiplied across blocks of sidewalks, it reshapes how a downtown feels. Once a month from March to October, volunteers step up to change that in Sterling, cleaning it up and building friendships in the process.

Nicole Olinger didn’t plan to build a photography business, but she held on to moments. The Prophetstown photographer found purpose in preserving senior years, sports milestones and memories families don’t want to forget.

Once an aging farm, an Oregon wedding venue is now a lovingly restored getaway where a mother-and-daughter team shape wedding weekends through antiques, photo nooks, heartfelt management and a devotion to making magic happen.

Campus life reborn: A long-quiet part of Mount Carroll is filling with life again. Shimer Square blends housing, jobs and services into the town’s former campus.

Once a month, a Savanna museum comes alive after going dark. Candlelight, live music, poetry and neighbors share the room for a small-town concert series, turning the museum into one of Savanna’s most anticipated nights.

From breezy afternoon games to tournament wins and travel-ready paddles, more people are embracing the growing sport of pickleball – whose quick learning curve and social energy keep drawing more players to the net. There are many places to play throughout northwest Illinois.

Roller skating rinks are places where people of all ages can enjoy camaraderie, competition and creation of memories for years to come – and for more than 75 years, a classic Mount Morris rink has been a spot for fresh moves and retro fun.