Mike and Connie Casey spent months traveling the country study-ing olives. The couple was about to embark on a new agricultural adventure: olive production.

Kelsey Harrison unites the community with her Celebration of Abilities campaign.

Baking is all about trial and error. Testing recipes, making tweeks and trying to find the right combination of ingredients to make the fluffiest cupcake or smoothest buttercream is all part of the job. Holly Garner, the owner of Sugar Cakery in Lake City, spends countless hours researching and experimenting to get her recipes just right.

Fall is in the air, and with the cooler weather comes one of the most exciting times of year. With hay rides, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, the fun you can have in the fall is limitless, especially here in North Central Florida. Whether you’re looking for something to do on your own, with your friends, your kids or the whole family, these are just a few of the main events taking place this fall.

When Leela and Michael Robinson bought the land for their farm three years ago, they didn’t just want to grow crops. They wanted to create a peaceful place, somewhere where people from the community could come and enjoy the land too. From fishing to yoga classes to learning about agriculture, the options of activities are endless at Deep Spring Farm.

A boy traveling north from Naples with his family in order to escape Hurricane Irma lays down with his dogs in a Walmart parking lot in Lake City. Lake City was a safe haven for many evacuees fleeing from the hurricane, hosting hundreds of people at hotels and shelters.

With Hurricane Irma rapidly approaching Florida, it was all hands on deck at the Lake City Public Works headquarters on Friday as local residents rushed to fill sandbags in preparation for the storm. As people shoveled sand into burlap sacks and loaded their cars, it wasn’t just adults jumping into action. Several Lake City children showed up with their parents, ready to pick up a shovel and help get ready for the hurricane.

Amelia Island is full of amazing restaurants and bars serving up fresh, local cuisine. Cafes, bistros, beer gardens, pizzerias, seafood joints, brewpubs, the list goes on and on. All this and more is packed onto the 13-mile long island. So where do you start? How can you possibly experience all the best food and drinks that the island has to offer? Amelia Island Downtown Tasting Tours takes you on a culinary journey around the island, giving you the chance to sample the best that its restaurants have to offer. Whether you’re looking to experience the food, the drinks or a little bit of both, these tours make it easy for visitors to get a true taste of the island.

Tucked away on a quiet street in historic High Springs sits the holy grail of coffee shops. From the outside, The Talented Cookie Company looks like an everyday small-town bakery/coffeeshop combo, complete with rustic charm and a homey feel. However, after taking one look at the menu and the endless array of sweets lining the counter, visitors will realize that this is no ordinary eatery, but a destination for caffeine and sweets fanatics.

Starting your own business is no easy task, especially when you’re already working a full time job and raising a family. However, this did not stop Lake City resident Angie DePratter from starting her own side hustle. With a desire to do something creative combined with a deep love for coffee, Angie created SimplyJLynn, an online store where she sells her customized creations.

Billy Aldrich got his first motorcycle when he was 20 years old while stationed in Japan and serving in the United States Air Force. To others, it was just a three-year-old used motorcycle, a 1958 Honda Dream. But to him, it was everything.

From chunky stones to delicate beading, the possibilities with bracelets are endless. They are the perfect accent to any outfit, and can easily transform what you’re wearing. With the right accessories, you can go straight from the office to a night out on the town. With all the different choices out on the market, it’s hard to decide which bracelets are right for you. Are you looking for something to make a statement? Or do you need something to add a subtle hint of style to an everyday outfit? If you’re asking yourself these questions, the answers can easily be found on a rack of jewelry.

Our little corner of the country is made up of some of the best restaurants in North Central Florida. From gastro pubs to mom-and-pop shops, the area has something for everyone. But where can you find food that you won’t be able to get anywhere else? Not just something tasty, but something distinctly different from chain joints. Well, tucked away on back roads and in small shopping plazas are some of the most distinct flavors in the Suwannee River Valley. These restaurants are offering some unique eats that you need to try.

While walking through the fields of strawberries at Rogers Farm, the air is filled with their sweetness. Rows and rows of berries line the ground, as pickers bend over each plant, searching for the reddest, most perfect strawberry. At Rogers, there’s no need for grocery carts or roaming the store isles; all you need is a bucket.

Although their songs are vintage, the way they play them is anything but. With a youthful energy and undeniable chemistry, Lake City's own Vintage Band performs some of the biggest rock hits from the past with an unprecedented amount of talent.

A leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. For Brad Wheeler and his son Bradley “B.J.” Wheeler, this is not just an expression, but a way of life. These two members of the Wheeler family share more than just their name; they both have a desire to lead and make a positive impact on their community. Together, they are showing the way to the people of Lake City.

The Olustee Festival held every year in Columbia County is one of the area’s most beloved traditions. The three-day event transports visitors back to the time of the Civil War, right up until the Battle of Olustee Re-enactment, by far the most exciting part of the festival. One of the men among the troops is Lake City’s own Bud Thayer. The 79-year-old Navy veteran has been participating in Civil War re-enactments for over 30 years and is a member of the 2nd Florida Cavalry.

Lake City artist Ann Opgenorth ignites her torch and begins welding a sculpture. Opgenorth is a sculptor, welder and painter living in High Springs, and he works of art are displayed throughout Lake City.

Tucked in the corner of his garage filled with tools and scraps of wood, Del Porter hunches over his workspace, turns on his overhead lamp and begins to thread his saw blade.

Monday marked the first day of school in Columbia County, and as students walked through the halls, some for the very first time, it was clear they could hardly wait to get started.