Featured Article
More Than Training
Helping families build safer, stronger relationships with their dogs
Featured Article
Learning to Truly Listen
District 47 Hope Squad members learn crisis negotiation listening skills to better support classmates
Featured Article
Changing the Story
How practical therapy helps people challenge fear, build resilience, and claim victories.
Most Recent Articles
see them allLife + Culture
More Than Training
Helping families build safer, stronger relationships with their dogs Article by Katie Bobrow | Photography by Alex Larracus On January 15, 2026, after months of renovations, Mystic Paws Academy opened the doors to its new training facility with a clear purpose: helping people better understand their dogs. For owner Heather Pohlman, the academy is the realization of a lifelong passion that began decades before she ever considered opening a business. Pohlman has been training professionally for...
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Learning to Truly Listen
District 47 Hope Squad members learn crisis negotiation listening skills to better support classmates Article by Katie Bobrow | Photography by Provided Many students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the number of adolescents struggling with their mental health continues to rise. The same organization points to one of the most effective protective factors: peer connection. Building strong relationships and...
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Changing the Story
How practical therapy helps people challenge fear, build resilience, and claim victories. Article by Patti Noble | Photography by Sharmila Taylor Blue streaks highlight her dark hair. Harry Potter memorabilia shares shelf space with quirky collectibles, colorful knickknacks, and a few unexpected conversation pieces. It isn't exactly what you might expect when you walk into the office of a therapist who specializes in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression. Then again...
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Home Services
Rooted in Relationships
The family values behind one local company's lasting success Article by Patti Noble | Photography by Sharmila Taylor A Family Business. We all know one. Maybe it’s the ice cream shop where kids scooped and swirled cones all summer. The neighborhood diner where generations work side by side. The business where customers become regulars, and regulars eventually become friends. Family businesses carry their own kind of personality. They are often built on trust, loyalty and long hours shared...
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Tracey Joyce
Our publication is a community-focused magazine that aims to connect the residents to the people, places and things that make Crystal Lake and our surrounding communities special. We are inspired by the unique atmosphere Crystal Lake has, and we highlight the most positive aspects of living here. From locally owned businesses to inspirational residents, these pages will be your guide.
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