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Something incredible is happening in Rockford. The historic home of the Rockford Peaches, Beyer Stadium, is getting a new life and a new name. The International Women’s Baseball Center, better known as IWBC, is leading the charge to transform this iconic field into Maybelle Blair Park, a global home for women’s and girls’ baseball.The Legacy of IWBC and Beyer StadiumThe IWBC is the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting all aspects of women’s and girls’ baseball. Based right here in Rockford, the organization keeps the spirit of the game alive by honoring its history and inspiring new generations of players, coaches, and fans.Beyer Stadium once hosted the legendary Rockford Peaches, the all-female professional team made famous by A League of Their Own. For decades, this field stood as a symbol of courage, equality, and opportunity. Now, through IWBC’s ambitious redevelopment plan, it is being reborn as Maybelle Blair Park, named for one of women’s baseball’s most passionate voices.A Global Vision Rooted in RockfordThe IWBC is dreaming bigger than a simple field restoration. Their vision is to create a full six-acre campus that celebrates the past and builds the future of the sport. Located beside Beyer Stadium, the new complex will include educational spaces, competition fields, and areas for the community to gather and celebrate the game.Through partnerships with schools, Major League Baseball programs, and international organizations, the IWBC is bringing together athletes, historians, and fans from across the world. Rockford is already known as the international home of women’s baseball, and this campus will make that title official for generations to come.IWBC’s Lasting ImpactSince its founding, IWBC has connected thousands of people through community and educational programs that go far beyond the field. From youth camps and tournaments to traveling exhibits and film screenings, the organization continues to spread the story of women’s baseball and those who shaped it.Their events include MLB Pitch, Hit & Run clinics, academic workshops, and local celebrations that blend sport, history, and empowerment. And with the upcoming WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in 2026, Rockford’s name will once again be heard on an international stage.Building the Future: IWBC’s Three-Phase Master PlanIWBC’s development plan will unfold through three major phases, transforming both Beyer Stadium and the surrounding neighborhood by 2030.Phase One: Restoring Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair ParkEstimated Cost: $5 millionTarget Completion: Summer 2026This first step focuses on bringing back the stadium’s full playing field, seating, and historic charm. The field will once again host tournaments, youth camps, and global competitions, continuing the legacy of the Rockford Peaches.Phase Two: Building the Activity Center and MuseumEstimated Cost: $22.8 millionThis modern facility will overlook the stadium and include classrooms, event space, and an immersive museum dedicated entirely to women’s baseball. It will be a place for learning, storytelling, and celebration.Phase Three: Exhibits and Historical ArtifactsEstimated Cost: $3 millionThe final phase will complete the museum’s exhibits, including restored artifacts such as a World War II-era Rockford Peaches team bus. Visitors will experience the history of women in baseball through real stories, voices, and memorabilia.The Spirit of Maybelle BlairMaybelle Blair, who inspired the park’s name, is a living legend from the A League of Their Own era and one of the sport’s loudest advocates. A former player for the Peoria Redwings, Blair has dedicated her life to empowering women and girls through baseball. Her message remains simple but powerful: “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t play ball.”Through Maybelle Blair Park, that message will live on for generations, echoing across the same Rockford soil where history was made.Education, Empowerment, and EquityThis project is not just about baseball. It is about building opportunity. The IWBC plans to include programs that teach STEM concepts through sports, leadership development for young women, and career paths in coaching, management, and sports media.They will also host community outreach events that foster teamwork, confidence, and pride, reinforcing IWBC’s mission to protect the past, empower the present, and promote the future of women’s baseball worldwide.Looking Ahead to 2030By the end of the decade, Rockford will stand as the global home of women’s baseball. The fully restored stadium, vibrant museum, and educational campus will bridge generations and cultures.For Rockford, this is about more than honoring history. It is about creating opportunity, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses, and inspiring pride in a community that has always stepped up to the plate.How You Can Get InvolvedYou can be part of this story by donating, volunteering, or sponsoring parts of the project. Every contribution helps bring Maybelle Blair Park closer to becoming a reality.Learn more or request an informational packet at iwbc.org/campaign.More Than a Stadium, It Is a MovementThe International Women’s Baseball Center’s restoration of Beyer Stadium and creation of Maybelle Blair Park is about far more than construction. It is a movement. It honors trailblazers, uplifts future generations, and ensures that women’s baseball finally has the platform it has always deserved.Rockford’s legacy is once again at the center of the baseball world — a place where history, heart, and hope come together, one inning at a time.Remember, it is a good day to go local.

When you meet Mercedes Joyner, the first thing you notice is her energy. The second is her purpose. She is not someone who started a business just to say she owns one. For her, this is personal. It is something she feels called to do.“I grew up watching my dad build things,” she said. “He has always had a business, and he always told us to get our education but also to create something of our own.” That message stuck. What started as a little girl watching her dad make shirts and asking questions about how it all worked slowly turned into a lifelong passion.Years later, while in grad school and on the verge of quitting, Mercedes started a blog called Join Her. What she did not realize at the time was that it would become the foundation for JMC Strategic Consulting, a marketing and communications agency that helps people tell their stories with confidence. “I was completely over it,” she laughed, remembering the day she told her dad she was not going back to grad school. “But instead of quitting altogether, I turned it into something that could help people.” That spark became something much bigger. Today, her work centers on helping others define and embrace their stories, not hide from them.When Mercedes talks about branding, she is not thinking about logos or colors. She is thinking about people. “So many of us carry guilt, trauma, or hesitancy in our stories,” she said. “Before we even get to the marketing part, I have to understand who you are. Sometimes it feels like being a therapist first.”Mercedes believes that storytelling can heal, and that belief comes from experience. When she was just fourteen, two of her friends told her that seeing her every day had kept them from ending their lives. “That changed everything for me,” she said softly. “It made me realize how powerful our words are. They can literally save lives.”Being young, Black, and female in business has come with challenges, and Mercedes is honest about the microaggressions and the doubt she has faced along the way. “There were so many times people did not believe I knew what I knew because of my age,” she said. “I got the most pushback from older women. That is why I started my own company. I wanted to control my own story.”Her strength comes from her network of mentors, family, and community. Her father, a lifelong entrepreneur and a mentor who built his own business from the ground up, both gave her what she calls “the blueprint.” “They taught me what to do, how to do it, and when to listen,” she said. “I did not make a lot of the same mistakes because I had people around me who kept me accountable.”Mercedes’s journey has not been a straight line. When she was younger, she was misdiagnosed with ADHD and other conditions before doctors discovered she had hyperthyroidism, a medical issue that had been mistaken for behavioral problems. “When you tell a kid something is wrong with them, they start to believe it,” she said. “Even after the diagnosis was corrected, I had to unlearn those habits.”Today, that same energy that once felt overwhelming now fuels her creativity and drive. She admits she is still learning to slow down. “I am always thinking two steps ahead,” she laughed. “Okay, probably ten. But I am learning to live in the moment and to remember my story.”That story recently took the stage when she shared it publicly for the first time at a YMCA fundraiser in Rockford. Hundreds of people listened as she talked about her journey from misdiagnosis to entrepreneurship to empowerment. “I was terrified,” she said. “But I knew it was not about me. Our stories are not meant for us. They are meant for someone else.”For Mercedes, storytelling is both strategy and service. “I take an authentic, holistic approach,” she said. “It is not just about telling the story in the best way. It is about helping people understand who they are and who they want to be.” She believes everyone has the power to change and the responsibility to share the journey. “Our stories are like a chain,” she said. “Each one connects to another. When you share yours, it gives someone else permission to do the same.”Now in her thirties and for the sake of me still living twenties, Mercedes has become a mentor to younger entrepreneurs. “It is funny,” she smiled. “I used to be the one looking up to everyone else. Now people come to me for advice. It feels strange, but it is also one of the best parts.” Through JMC Strategic Consulting, Mercedes continues to help people and businesses find the courage to tell their stories with confidence and heart. Because once you understand your story, you can tell it with purpose. And when you tell it with purpose, it can change everything.Go Local and Stay in the Buzz.

Fall in Rockford is something special. The air turns crisp, the leaves start showing off their colors, and suddenly a simple weekend feels like a getaway. Whether you’re here to pick apples, sip cider, or just slow down with a walk through the park, Rockford has plenty of ways to make the most of the season.🍏 Apple Orchards to Visit Near RockfordStart with a trip to one of our local orchards. Curran’s Orchard is the cozy choice, known for warm cider donuts and caramel apples that taste like fall itself. If you want the full family outing with pumpkin patch, play area, and bakery included, head to Edwards Apple Orchard West, where there is as much to do as there is to eat. And if picking your own apples sounds like the perfect afternoon, Valley Orchard’s 35 acres will not disappoint. Do not skip the cider slushies, they are a local favorite.🍲 Cozy Restaurants & Fall MenusFall is all about comfort food, and Rockford has no shortage of cozy spots to enjoy. Kick off your Saturday morning with brunch at Fresco at the Gardens, where fresh, farm-to-table dishes pair beautifully with the changing colors at Anderson Japanese Gardens. For a hearty Sunday brunch, Bourbon Street Lounge is a laid-back favorite that never leaves you hungry. And if you are looking for dinner with a little flair, Lucha Cantina brings bold Tex-Mex flavors and a fun atmosphere that is perfect for a Saturday night. Other local gems worth mentioning include Alpine View for soups, La Croute Bakery for pastries, and Ambiance Cuisine for farm-to-table dining.🍂 Parks & Walks for Fall FoliageNo fall weekend is complete without a walk under the trees. Anderson Japanese Gardens is breathtaking this time of year, especially if you pair your visit with breakfast at Fresco. For open-air strolls by the river, Sinnissippi Park & Gardens is always a good idea. And if you are up for a longer adventure, Rock Cut State Park offers hiking trails, kayaking, and plenty of leaf-peeping opportunities just a short drive from town.🎯 How to Spend a Perfect Fall Weekend in RockfordIf you are planning a fall getaway, here is a weekend itinerary that blends the best of Rockford. Friday evening: Arrive in Rockford, grab dinner downtown at Ambiance or Culinary Underground, and stroll along the Rock River. Saturday morning: Breakfast at Fresco at the Gardens, followed by a walk through Anderson Japanese Gardens. Saturday afternoon: Pick apples at Curran’s or Valley Orchard, then head to Rock Cut for a crisp fall hike. Saturday evening: Dinner at Lucha Cantina, and maybe catch a concert or show at Coronado Theatre. Sunday morning: Brunch at Bourbon Street Lounge before heading out. Sunday afternoon: Stop at Edwards Orchard for cider and pumpkin treats, then wind down with a quiet walk through Sinnissippi Gardens.Fall only lasts so long, so grab your flannel, call your friends, and make this one to remember that it's a good day to go local!🍁

Fresco at the Gardens, located within Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, is one of the city’s most peaceful and picturesque spots to enjoy breakfast, brunch, or coffee.Overlooking the gardens, Fresco offers a bright, relaxing atmosphere with locally roasted coffee and fresh, seasonal dishes made with care. Whether you’re meeting a friend, working from a cozy corner, or simply enjoying a quiet morning, this café delivers both comfort and calm.It’s more than just a place to eat — it’s a space to unwind, recharge, and take in the beauty of Rockford’s most serene garden setting.

Queen of Swords Divination & More LLC in Rockford, Illinois, is led by Kaiserin Kali, a psychic and tarot reader with over a decade of experience and two master’s degrees — one in Leadership and Management and one in Psychology.The name comes from the Queen of Swords tarot card — a symbol of truth, clarity, and wisdom — combined with the art of divination, meaning to seek insight from the divine.At Queen of Swords, clients experience accurate tarot readings, personalized spellwork, and emotional clarity during life’s toughest moments. Kaiserin’s mission is to help people find hope, healing, and empowerment while building lasting relationships based on care and trust.Remember, it is a good day to go local.

The International Women’s Baseball Center is transforming Beyer Stadium and the surrounding area into Maybelle Blair Park — creating a world-class home for women’s and girls’ baseball.This project will honor Rockford’s history while building a future full of opportunity, education, and empowerment. From the legacy of the Rockford Peaches to the next generation of athletes, it’s all happening here.

CRE8IV: Transformational Art is a community-building public art program created by GoRockford to bring color, creativity, and connection to the Rockford region.What began with just a handful of sculptures has grown into a citywide collection of more than 30 unique installations, featuring work from both local and national artists. These sculptures celebrate imagination, community pride, and the power of art to transform public spaces.From downtown Rockford to neighborhood streets, GoRockford’s CRE8IV Sculpture Program continues to enrich the city — turning everyday spaces into open-air galleries for everyone to enjoy.Remember, it is a good day to go local.