McHenry County News FRE
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Volume 5 Issue 38
September 17, 2015
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A Dozen Years of Farmer’s Markets By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Farmer’s Market is bursting with every color in nature on Saturday, September 5. Booths surround the Square, filled with fruits, vegetables, flowers and greenery, meats and sausages, and kettle corn. Jan and Len Sosinski have been a part of this market for 12 years now. Their land spans acres in both McHenry and Lake Counties. They grow sweet corn, rhubarb, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, mulberries, beans, popcorn, pumpkins and more. “It’s been a hard year with the weather. A lot of our stuff is late this year,” Jan tells me. “We don’t have any greenhouses so we are totally dependent on the weather. We had to put a lot of our crops in late.” They still have a variety of fruits and vegetables in their booth. They also have an extensive display of jam, jellies and vinegars. Jan says, “I wanted to come to the market earlier and I didn’t have anything else. I got a grant through the Woodstock Farmer’s Market and my husband and I took advantage of it. We took the course [Food Preparation License], took the test and passed it. I was able to get the licensing. I make all the jams and jellies.” One of them is ’Carrot Cake Jam’. “I always tell people to get a graham cracker, spread a little jam on it and instant dessert.”
Jan, Len and Chris Sosinski manning their booth at the Woodstock Farmer’s Market.
Jan and Len are assisted at their booth by their daughter, Chris. “She’s a big help to me when we set up,” Jan says. Chris has organized a portion of the booth to display her hand-crafted macramé jewelry.
The Woodstock Farmer’s Market runs from May through October. During this time, musical artists perform in the historic Woodstock Square’s Gazebo from 9am until 12 pm. At the end of October, on October 31 this year, the
photo by Anne Eickstadt
Winter Farmer’s Market begins. This winter, the farmer’s market has a new location in Building D of the McHenry County Fairgrounds at 11900 Country
See FARMER’S, Page 3
Party in the Arts Park By Anne Eickstadt Correspondent
CRYSTAL LAKE — The clouds are drifting and the sun is playing hideand-seek over the lake as art lovers wander through the grounds of the
Dole Mansion on Saturday and Sunday, September 5-6. People are moving in and out of the artists’ booths that are covering the lawn of the mansion. The 1st Annual Art Fair at the Dole is underway.
“This mission focused fund-raising event will truly reflect what the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park is all about. You will be wowed by the simple, intimate, elegant and inspiring experience,” says Executive Director Siobhan Cottone.
phots by Anne Eickstadt
Karyl Shields displays this landscape in her booth at the 1st Annual Art Fair at the Dole. www.Karylshields.net
“We are excited about our first art fair. It is a fundraiser for the Lakeside Legacy Foundation to preserve the Dole Mansion.” “This event showcases all mediums of art – visual arts, performance arts, culinary arts. That’s what Lakeside is all about. We are thrilled to have over 50 fine artists participating. They were all juried in. We already have a lot of response from artists who want to come back next year.” The fair features art mediums spanning a wide range. The artists are displaying digital art, paintings, photography, wood, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, furniture, metal work, glass and leather/fiber arts. “We also have a market inside,” Cottone tells me, “with wine, cheese and chocolate. We hope next year to have more vendors.” Continuing through the Dole Mansion, one comes to the elegant Listening Room where musicians are skilled in performance arts. “The Listening Room is only 2 ½ years old. It’s one of the best music rooms within 50 miles,” says Roger Reupert, Program Manager. Dedicated on September 13, 2012, the Listening Room was made possible by the generosity of a special group of individuals from Beach Cite, Inc. “The chairs, sound system and [initial] monetary donation came from Orange Beach, Alabama,” Reupert continues.
See PARTY, Page 4