McHenry County News FRE
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11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com
Volume 6 Issue 19
WOODSTOCK CAR WASH N O W O P E N
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218 Fair Street, Woodstock, IL (Behind McDonalds)
May 5, 2016
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Summer Market is open By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
T
he Farmers’ Market has returned from its winter home at the McHenry County Fairgrounds to the historic Woodstock Square. Tasty, colorful fruits and vegetables have been carefully cultivated throughout the winter months and are ready for your dining and snacking pleasure. The shop vendors on the Square love May through October when they can dash across the street for fresh food for lunch and fresh groceries. The market supplies organic and home grown fruits and vegetable in season, delectable baked goods, honey, cheeses and tender, natural beef, pork, poultry and eggs. The farmers offer perennials, bedding, heirloom and ornamental plants, fresh flowers and hanging baskets. You can also find organic soaps and body products, knife sharpening, crafts, sheep and alpaca fiber products and yarn. The kettle corn vendor wagon is parked right in the middle of the action also. Established in 1982, the Woodstock Farmer’s Market set up in various locations until 2007 when the farmers approached the City Board to allow the market more room and visibility. In 2008, the market gained access to the Park itself and music became an established part of the farmers’ market. The Winter Market from November through April began in 2010 to create a continuous supply of local produce throughout the year. This award-winning Farmers’ Market is known as a ‘producers’ market, which only allows products that are grown, produced or made by the local Farmer or Artisan. Each vendor space is inspected by a member of the Farmers’ market Board of Directors. “That means that you will only find the freshest, tastiest, in-season produce and healthy locally-grown plants. Of course, our other products; beef, eggs, pork, honey, wine, cheeses, etc. are all grown or produced locally by the vendors you’ll meet at the market.” You can try new and different farm-fresh vegetables each time you visit or you can opt for the Community Supported Agriculture option and purchase a share/subscription to receive an agreed upon amount of fresh produce, meats or eggs on a
Live music has become a wellloved part of the Woodstock farmers’ Market on the Square. photos by Anne Eickstadt
Colorful canopies shelter the produce, crafts, plants and farmers at the Woodstock Farmers’ Market.
See MARKET, Page 8
Motorola building in Harvard sold at auction By Samantha Fetzner Reporter
HARVARD — The auction for the former Motorola building began at just $2.7 million on April 18. The auction ended in the winning bidder spending $9.3 million on the property three days later. Motorola had built the property in 1997, and the space has been vacant since Motorola ceased operation in 2003. The projected cost to replace the structure as it sits exceeds $250 million. As of the end of the month, the property was still in escrow, meaning funds were being held and had not been transferred to complete the sale at that point. A final closing date has not been released.
The auction company, Ten-X.com, has the. The name of the winning bidder has not yet been released. Once the property closes, the owner’s name will become public knowledge in tax records. The auction occurred after most recent owner, Optima International. Defaulted on the property taxes at the site. The company spent under $17 million to purchase the site in 2008. The property was never inhabited after their purchase. In fact, Optima has not heated the property in several years which has been a cause for concern. They originally listed the space for sale shortly after closing in 2008. What the building will become under the hands of a new owner remains to be
seen. Accounting for 1.52 million square feet and including outdoor amenities such as two helipads, walking trails, and ponds, the space could be used for a number of things. At the peak of Motorola’s operation, daily foot traffic exceeded 5,000 people. If the site becomes operational
again, the economic impact and number of jobs created would be substantial in the Harvard community. The property includes a cafeteria, daycare facilities, fitness center, auditorium, and spans across four buildings, several of which are multiple stories in height. The prop-
erty is the largest commercial space in McHenry County. Since the identity of the bidder has not been released, there has been no indication what the purpose for the property may be. The City of Harvard will ultimately be able to approve or deny its use once the new owner takes over.
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