Stories

Visit Forest Preserves of Winnebago County for Fall Colors

By Jamie Johannsen on Oct. 23, 2018

When people talk about the spectacular fall colors in the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, many times they are referring to our maple forests. The maple trees’ yellow, orange and red leaves create swaths of blazing color among the oaks’ subtler browns in our woodlands. Prior to settlement in the early 1800s, maple trees, which are fire intolerant, grew only in areas protected from natural fires, such as river corridors. As a result, maples were relatively scarce. In the last 200 years of human fire suppression, maples have become much more abundant throughout our wooded lands…

Get the Most Out of Your Halloween Costume

By Elizabeth Miller on Oct. 15, 2018

Halloween is the one night a year where kids (and even adults!) can dress up to be anything they way to be. I fondly remember my Halloween costumes as a kid including Snow White, Princess Jasmine, and a '50s girl in a poodle skirt. Usually after Halloween, our costumes would end up in my parents' basement closet, ready for whenever my sisters and I wanted to play dress up. But what if I told you that kids in the Rockford region can wear their costumes for more events than just Halloween…

Our Beautiful Forest City

By Mary French on Oct. 04, 2018

Forest City and Forest City Beautiful…Most likely you’ve heard these terms, but what do they mean? Both serve as great compliments to our beautiful city. Simply put, Forest City is a nickname that stems from the many trees and forests that beautify our region. In my opinion, one of the area’s finest attributes. After all, a beautiful city is one that residents are proud to call home. An initiative powering that pride is Forest City Beautiful…