Woodstock Independent 1-22-25

The Woodstock

I NDEPENDENT

COMMUNITY

Find local eating options for Groundhog Day breakfast

PAGE 16 BUSINESS

Hopes for a good start to the year in Woodstock real estate

PAGE 12

Next step for WNHS solar: 590 kWh system

Board action leaves the door open for larger farm in the future

By Eileen Millard NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

After a lively debate and votes on two different options, the D-200 School Board committed to building a 590kWh ground-mounted

photovoltaic system, also known as a solar field, on district land near Woodstock North High School. The plan has an estimated cost of $1.4 million.

The 590kWh farm size is a compromise after the board learned

WINTER LIGHT SHOW

at the Dec. 10, 2024, meeting that ComEd had denied permission for the 2050kWh system originally proposed by the board. That system carried a $4.5 million price tag.

At the December meeting, the board directed school district staff

Winter sunshine and clouds create a colorful glow over the Woodstock Square, which has been routinely vacant during January cold that has consistently seen daily high temperaures in the teens and, this week, in single digits.

The Woodstock Independent

671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone:

815-338-8040

Fax: 815-338-8177

Thewoodstock independent.com

City backs off Prairie View purchase

Search back on for space to house Rec Center programs and offices during renovation

By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

After doing its due diligence, city staff will recommend to City Council that the city not go forward with the purchase of the Prairie View recreational facility at 411 Leah Lane.

The City Council had entertained the idea of acquiring the building, which includes a gymnasium and a swimming pool, as a possible location for Recreation Department programming

while the Rec Center at 820 Lake Ave. undergoes extensive renovation, tentatively scheduled to begin this year.

At its Nov. 19, 2024, meeting, the council approved a purchase and sale agreement that gave the city staff up to six months to investigate buying the Prairie View recreational facility.

The city consulted Nurture

See REC CENTER, Page 3

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

PUBLIC SAFETY LOG

Woodstock Police Department

■ Nicholas A. Mallow, 33, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 20 at Judd and Benton streets on charges of obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 27.

■ Miguel A. Escorza. 34, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 21 on North Seminary Avenue on a charge of driving while license suspended. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 23.

■ Ronald A. Nanstiel, 37, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 22 on Putnam Avenue on a charge of driving while license suspended. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 16.

■ Leonard A. Kreger, 44, Fernandina Beach, Fla., was arrested Dec. 22 on Dean Street on charges of driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing and eluding, disregarding a stop sign, driving wrong way around traffic island, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and speeding. Arrested and released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 30.

■ Rie M. Stone, 29, Woodstock, was arrested on Commons Drive Dec. 22 on charges of aggravated domestic battery/ victim 60+, and two counts of domestic battery. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Jan. 21.

■ Jason A. Lobue, 43, Woodstock, was arrested on Walden Oaks Drive Dec. 23 on two counts of child endangerment. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Feb. 10.

■ Emma V. Hagen, 26, Woodstock, was arrested on Commons Drive on two charges domestic battery. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Jan. 17.

■ Edmund Moi, 65, transient, was arrested Dec. 25 on Main Street on a charge of criminal trespass to property. Transported to McHenry County Jail.

Court date Jan. 17.

■ Christopher C. Taylor, 50, Crystal Lake, was arrested Dec. 25 on Lake Avenue on charges of driving under the influence, improper lane usage, and failure to signal. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 16.

■ Juan C. Alvarez, 46, Chicago, was arrested Dec. 25 on South Eastwood Drive on charges of possession of firearm/revoked FOID,two counts, driving under the influence, reckless driving, leaving scene of motor vehicle accident, expired driver’s license, failure to reduce speed, driving wrong way on divided highway, improper lane usage, and illegal transport of alcohol by driver. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Jan. 23.

■ Male juvenile, 15, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 27 on three counts of domestic battery and two counts of unlawful usee of a weapon. Transported to Kane County juvenile detention center. Court date to be determined.

■ Jack L. Smith, 86, transient, was arrested Dec. 29 on Doty Road on a charge of criminal trespass to property. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 23.

■ Katerine J. Zelaya, 19, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 29 on Lake Avenue on charges of no valid drivers license and improper merging into traffic. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 23.

■ Gabriel Bernal, 56, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 29 on Washington Street on a charge of aggravated battery to a peace officer. Released on notice to appear. Court date Jan. 6.

■ Bladimir Bautista Maya, 30, Wonder Lake, was arrested Dec. 29 at Seminary Avenue and South Street on charges of driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid a motor vehicle accident, and leaving the scene of an accident. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Feb. 6.

■ Gary C. Cotshott, 69, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 30 on Tara Drive on a charge of criminal trespass to property. Released with notice to appear in

Where to send obituaries

court. Court date Jan. 16.

■ Brandon Barrera Cazares, 20, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 30 on West South Street on a charge of criminal trespass to building. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 6.

■ Alexavier C. Griffin, 20, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 30 on West South Street on a charge of criminal trespass to building. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 6.

■ Jamie L. Frederick, 38, Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 31 on Washington Street on two counts of domestic battery. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Jan. 2.

■ Serafin Cruz Ortiz, 29, Woodstock, was arrested Jan. 2 on South Eastwood Drive on charges of driving under the influence. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 23.

■ Joseph W. Stoneburner, 34, tansient, was arrested Jan. 2 on Lake Avenue on a charge of disorderly conduct. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 21.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District

Fire Runs indicates units dispatched and what was found at the scene. Ambulance calls of Woodstock Fire/Rescue District are reported here in number only.

EMS calls for Jan 9-15: 79

Fire Runs

Structure Fire: 1

Combustible/Fire, spills & leaks: 1

Electrical wiring/equipment problem: 2

Person in distress: 2

Water problem: 1

Smoke, odor problem: 1

Public service assistance: 7

Cover assignment, standby fire station, move-up: 2

Dispatched and cancelled en route: 4

Wrong location no emergency found: 1

Controlled burning: 1

Unintentional system/detector operation (no fire): 2

Citizen complaint: 1

Total: 105

IN BRIEF

Police chief will host clerk for coffee at public program

McHenry County Clerk Joseph Tirio, will be the guest for “Getting to Know Your County Clerk” during the next Coffee With the Chief program hosted by Police Chief John Lieb at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb 10, at the Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Ave. The public is invited for coffee, conversation and the program. For more information, call Beckie Cox at 815-338-6787.

MCC offering free tax preparation assistance

McHenry County College is hosting free tax assistance and e-filing of federal and state returns for qualified individuals through April 12 with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic. Walk-in hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in Room A102 at the college, 8900 U.S. 14 in Crystal Lake. The clinic is closed March 26 and 29.

Attendees should use the south entrance, park in lower level parking Lot B, and enter Building A through door A6 (the entrance closest to U.S. 14).

The VITA Clinic prepares tax returns for individuals or households with annual incomes less than $64,000. All tax forms will be provided. Participants should bring a valid photo ID for main taxpayers on tax return; Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letters for all family members reported on the tax return (mandatory); all 2024 earnings statements (W2s), and other income/expense documents; a copy of last year’s return, if available; and bank account information for direct deposits.

There are also free tax return selfpreparation stations in Co/Lab B (B166) and Co/Lab E (E108) that allow taxpayers to file for free if income is less than $79,000. The stations are available anytime MCC is open.

You may email obituary information to pr@thewoodstockindependent.com, or mail to or drop it off at our office, 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock IL 60098. Obituaries are published online immediately and in the next print edition.

There is a charge for the publication of obituaries and accompanying photographs. For more information, call The Independent at 815-338-8040.

For more information, visit mchenry. edu/vita or email Ann Esarco at vita@ mchenry.edu.

After Nurture Architects presented city staff with the probable costs for getting the Prairie View recreational facility up and running as a public operation, the staff is recommending to City Council that the purchase not go forward.

REC CENTER

Continued from Page 1 Woodstock

Architects, the company working on the redesign of the Rec Center, to give cost estimates to make Prairie View operational as a public facility.

“The repairs and improvements necessary to transition it to a public space were too high to make it feasible,” said Danielle Gulli, the city’s executive director of Business Development.

Other opportunities?

That leaves the city looking for other possible locations to run programs and provide office space during the renovation of the Rec Center, which will likely make half of the building off-limits to members at any one time, if staggered construction on the space is workable.

The city will continue to partner with School District 200, Gulli said, so Rec Center members can use the pool at Woodstock High School for lap swimming.

Also in November, the city bought, for $300,000, the building at the northwest corner of Calhoun and

Madison Streets for future city development. A dry cleaners, dance studio, and nail salon occupy the building, but two storefronts are empty. It’s conceivable, Gulli said, that those vacant spaces could be utilized for programs and/or offices.

The vision for the Rec Center is to gut the building, opening the space up and eliminating the dropped ceilings to give the structure “a more modern and industrial feel,” Gulli said. Another goal of the renovation is to isolate the pool area so that humidity does not creep into the rest of the building. The entrance is slated to be moved from the right side to the center of the building.

“It’s still a wishlist at this point,” Gulli said.

She noted that the building will have to meet energy efficiency codes, work that she described as “extremely costly.”

Because of the projected cost of the project, city staff will recommend to council members that the designated nearly $3 million purchase price for Prairie View be added to the $5.725 already earmarked for the Rec Center renovation.

Groundhog Silent Auction/ Reverse Raffle

The Woodstock District 200 Education Foundation proudly presents the 2025 Annual Groundhog Day Silent Auction / Reverse Raffle online fundraiser.

A variety of local business and restaurant certificates, novelty baskets, sports and cultural event tickets, and many unique items will be available for online viewing and bidding. Participants are encouraged to preregister for the event. Instructions below.

There are NO registration fees required to participate.

SILENT AUCTION

Silent Auction Website Access URL: http://groundhogday25.givesmart.com

Keyword Access: groundhog2025

Campaign Text Number: 76278

Silent Auction Bidding Access Begins: Saturday, January 25, 2025 @ 6 p.m.

Silent Auction Bidding Closes: Sunday, February 2, 2025 @ 3 p.m.

To register for Silent Auction Bidding and Donations by desktop, tablet, or smartphone:

1. Visit our D200 Education FoundationSilent Auction Website at: http://groundhogday25.givesmart.com

2. Click Register to participate.

3. Enter the required information to become a Silent Auction participant.

4. Click on Create My GiveSmart Account to finalize the process.

To register for Silent Auction Bidding and Donations by text:

1. Text our campaign “key word” groundhog2025 to 76278

2. Follow the prompts from the texts received.

Successful bidders will be notified by email regarding the procedures for accessing items won after the bidding closes on Feb. 2.

REVERSE RAFFLE

Reverse Raffle tickets will be available for purchase from any Foundation Board member or at the District 200 Administrative office, 2990 Raffel Road, Woodstock. Reverse Raffle Tickets are $100 with only 100 tickets being sold.

Grand Prize: $2,500 2nd Prize: $250 3rd Prize: $200 4 Prize winners: $150

The Reverse Raffle drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Silent Auction on Feb. 2. Prize winners will receive payment within 7-10 business days of the drawing.

Please join us from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern for refreshments immediately following the Groundhog Day Prognostication on the Woodstock Square.

We greatly appreciate your support to raise funds to support unique projects and activities to enhance the education of Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 students.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

SOLAR

Continued from Page 1

to present a plan to ComEd for a midsized 953kWh solar project, costing $2.5 million, in hopes of that being approved. The district is still waiting to hear from ComEd whether that size solar project will receive the utility’s blessing.

At the January meeting, school staff informed the board that when ComEd denied the original 2050kWh project, it had actually approved a smaller project of a 590kWh solar field. The cost for that field would be $1.4 million. Staff told the board that committing to the smaller 590kWh field did not rule out expanding the field to reach a total of 953kWh capacity at a later date, if and when ComEd were to approve the 953kWh midsized field.

Rebates and credits available

According to district staff, both the 590kWh field and the 953kWh field have a very good chance of rebates and credits paying for all construction costs. The same three

This farm field north of Woodstock North High School would be the site of a proposed solar installation.

funding sources identified for the 2050kWh system at the beginning of the project can also pay for either a midsized or smaller system:

• SMART Inverter Rebate through ComEd (funds to be received shortly after project completion)

• Illinois Shines Incentive – SREC credits (received over 20 years)

• Federal Direct Pay Tax Credit (expected 18-24 months after the system activation)

Four

Options to choose from

School district staff presented four options for the board to consider and vote on:

Option One: Terminate the project

Option Two: Terminate the original project and open up a new project for bids

Option Three: Take no action and wait to see whether the 953kWh project is approved

Option Four: Approve and commit to building the 590kWh system now

As board members indicated they still wished to proceed with some kind of solar field, they considered only Options Three and Four. Both options could be done with the project’s original contractor of choice, Althoff Industries.

Risks and guarantees

D-200 Superintendent Michael Moan noted that the district has spent about $200,000 to date on planning and engineering for the project, which would be lost if the project was never built.

Board member John Headley agreed, saying, “If we do nothing, we will get absolutely nothing in the future. It would be foolish on our part. Why would we not want to do this … for the future of our generation?”

Board member Bruce Farris asked: “What are the guarantees that we are going to get any funds in the future? If we spend this money on that project, we’re expecting to get all this return back to us, to break even.”

to pay for the 590kWh Option 4 if the board wants to commit now to building it.

She added that time was a factor with ComEd since approved projects that are not started within a year of approval will lose their place in line to get on the grid.

Farris asked Dillon, “So, Option Four, that is ready to go, approved, we think we could recoup every penny … as far as rebates?” Dillon answered yes.

School Board President Carl Gilmore said that approving the 590kWh would not rule out the possibility of going to the larger system, if ComEd approved the capacity. “The issue is risk,” he said. “The 953 [option] carries a little more risk than the 590 which we know … is approved. Are we willing to take the risk, or are we not willing to take the risk?”

First vote

The first vote was on Option Three, to hold off on any actions until the district heard back on approval for the 953kWh choice. The vote failed, 4-3.

Voting against the motion were board members Farris, Michelle Bidwell, Jacob Homuth, and Gilmore.

Voting for the measure were board members John Parisi, Headley, and Jerry Miceli.

Second vote

Option Four, to commit to building the 590kWh field already approved by ComEd, passed with a 5-2 vote. Voting for the option were Bidwell, Parisi, Farris, Miceli and Gilmore. Voting against were Headley and Homuth.

After the vote, the board discussed the next steps in the process. Gilmore suggested waiting a bit before beginning construction of the 590kWh field to see whether ComEd would approve the higher capacity 953kWh field request. The board agreed.

Farris then referred to a comment Headley made earlier in the meeting, that federal tax credits might disappear when the new administration is seated in Washington, D.C., since campaigning mentioned eliminating solar incentives for schools. “Where is this money going to come from, besides us?” Farris asked.

District Chief Financial Officer Julie Dillon said it was the strong opinion of staff that all three funding sources will still be available

At the end of the discussion, Moan said, “I congratulate you because, after about two years, we have a solar project that is approved, paid for, and ready to go.”

Woodstock, IL • 1987

Time to let folks know you’re from Woodstock

How do people know you’re from Woodstock?

Well, for one thing, you and your neighbors celebrate/observe Groundhog Day for the better part of a month around a four-day festival (Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 this year) packed with activities, not the least of which is the 7 a.m. Feb. 2 Prognostication, when Woodstock Willie gives us the best forecast possible as to the arrival of spring – early or late?

And how do strangers know you’re celebrating/observing Groundhog Day(s)? Easy. You’re laden with Groundhog Day(s) swag, clothing and accessories that scream “rodent ritual!”

If you read writer Tricia Carzoli’s report in last week’s edition of The Woodstock Independent, you know local stores are already well-stocked with merchandise that lets people you meet know this is no ordinary quasi-holiday. You have the perfect opportunity to explain this celebration commemorates the 1992 arrival of director Harold Ramis, actors Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Stephen Tobolowsky, and crew to film the movie

» GUEST COLUMN

“Groundhog Day,” which was released in 1993 and became an instant classic – putting Woodstock “on the map,” as they say.

If nothing else, it has made our community a destination for people around the world who want to visit the filming sites of a movie whose timeless

message of personal redemption has resonated with them.

But enough about them. What about you? Are you properly prepared for Woodstock’s signature event, which begins barely a week from now?

As Carzoli reported, you can buy apparel (sweat shirts, short- and long-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, hats,

knit caps, etc.), buttons, pennants, mugs and tumblers, coasters, magnets, enamel pins, barware (whisky glasses, stemware, pint glasses), postcards, leather goods (key fobs, cuff bracelets, belts, belt buckles), puzzles, Woodstock Willie Hot Sauce, “Rise and Shine” coffee mugs, dish towels, pillows, pillow cases, coloring bags with color-safe markers, and – of course –plush groundhog toys.

Who is selling all this stuff? Who isn’t? Downtown you can check out The Backdrop (which even has strips of the original film negatives of “Groundhog Day”), Artisans on Main (where local artists will produce oneof-a-kind ceramics), Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern, Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Down 2 Earth, Read Between the Lynes bookstore, Blue Thistle, and The Thoughtfulness Shop.

And if you’re the kind of shopper who doesn’t have to touch the merchandise before you buy it, The Thoughtfulness Shop is selling online, at rwgraphix.com/ thoughtfulnessshop.

Got the spirit yet? Let’s show it!

When opinion on state, national issues hits home

By Richard Ryan

Response to Paul

Lockwood’s “Legacy of Jan. 6 and the Freedom of Speech,” in The Independent, Jan. 15. First of all, I would like to compliment the current Independent staff for bringing about change and publishing controversial articles. Hopefully this will be the harbinger that develops more public interest in the community to the point we may even have elections that matter with some opposition running against the incumbents. My reason for volunteering to write this response was to acknowledge the

positive changes in the paper and to encourage everyone to keep pushing and dare to step out of your comfort zone.That being said I guess it would be inappropriate to be too critical of Paul Lockwood’s comments in your Opinion section; however, I just couldn’t let this go without some rebuttal.

The week prior, I read the Resolutions for 2025 of leaders in our community, and the resolutions by Paul Lockwood struck me as being wellthought-out and sound advice for elected officials to think about when

trying to improve Woodstock’s progress. At that point I wanted to commit to learning more about Paul and following his articles.

However, lo and behold, the following week Paul’s writing on “The Legacy of Jan. 6th and the Freedom of Speech “ shows up. I was so confused by the article , I asked my wife, who is far more literate than myself, to please read this article and give me her opinion. We both shared the opinion of being confused.

If you condense Paul’s points to just free speech, my takeaway is, dare to

speak out, it is our responsibility, and our right to voice our opinion. It is not those words I take umbrage to, but the incredible left one-sided opinion disparaging pretty much everything Trump to make his points.

At first my inclination was to jump in and start pointing out all the reasons Paul’s comments using Trump as his example were not only inaccurate but inappropriate and displayed Paul’s one-sided leftist views. However, as I got into writing my rebuttal, I quickly realized that my contribution would be

Continued on NEXT page

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI Owner Craig Wilcox poses among items at The Thoughtfulness Shop.

Slow down, buckle up, no problem

Everyone has harrowing stories about close encounters with bad drivers.

We had a good discussion about that at last week’s meeting of The Independent’s news/editorial team. It’s a topic any driver can relate to with an anecdote or two from personal experience.

What I don’t get is that even when police publicly announce they’re going to increase traffic patrols around the holidays, they still write dozens of tickets for easily avoidable offenses.

Both the Woodstock Police Department and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office participate in the enhanced “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt enforcement and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization that are conducted by state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois to reduce highway fatalities around the holidays.

The recent Christmas and New Year’s Eve enforcement effort, like those around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving, was made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and was part of statewide enforcement campaigns.

The news media, including this newspaper, cooperate by publishing warnings to drivers about the steppedup enforcement.

If you read The Independent last

Continued from Previous page

extremely lengthy and just be rehashing what the citizens of Woodstock have already heard from all walks of life in terms of different media. It then dawned on me to ask the question, Why as a boutique local paper are we bothering with coverage of national and global events when all we would be doing is pulling the same information from various syndications and repeating what is being said on various media? This can’t be a totally hard and fast rule as [editor] Larry Lough’s [Declarations] article [Jan. 15] points out we are impacted by questions of a free and fair election in our own community. So we need to cover issues of

week, you learned that our Sheriff’s Office deputies alone reported more than 165 arrests and citations during the traffic safety campaign Dec. 13 to Jan. 2, when motorists were reminded (again!) to buckle up and drive sober.

And 74 of those were speeding tickets. Of course, speeding laws are probably the most violated offense in this and every other state. Every driver is a potential offender, but most of the traffic cops I’ve ever known are pretty forgiving within a few mph of the legal limit.

During the recent campaign, sheriff’s deputies made one DUI arrest (that’s all?), wrote 16 tickets to uninsured motorists, and issued 13 seatbelt citations. Most people wear seat belts, the state tells us, but obviously not everyone. After all these years of seat-belt laws and reminders about how belts, harnesses, and child car seats greatly reduce injuries and fatalities, everybody should be in the habit of “clicking” it before turning the ignition.

In that almost three-week period,

national importance when it impacts our state and local governments. Woodstock needs The Independent to keep us informed of state and local issues that will impact the community. We need an unbiased, truthful, and centrist point of view when reporting news of town council meetings.To Paul’s credit, in his Resolutions he was recommending the town council to be more diligent and thorough with the timing of information released to the citizens. I would add that more comprehensive detail of information be attached to the timing so our citizens are better informed about the impact to the community.

In closing, let’s keep the focus on Woodstock and its citizens. We are

deputies also wrote 11 tickets to people who couldn’t put down their cellphones while driving; 11 suspended/ revoked license citations; seven to drivers whose vehicles’ registrations had expired or been suspended; one to a driver with no valid driver’s license; one for a Scott’s Law violation; and 38 “other various citations.”

Scott’s Law in Illinois mandates that when a vehicle is approaching any police or other emergency vehicle stopped along the road, the driver must change lanes if possible; always reduce speed, but reduce greatly if unable to change lanes; and proceed with increased caution. That’s intended to protect police, firefighters, or other first-responders working the scene of an accident – or even just writing an easily avoidable traffic ticket.

Our group got on the topic because writer Eileen Millard is working on a report about pedestrian safety, with a special emphasis on traffic roundabouts.

If you have a funny – or scary –experience with Woodstock’s only circular intersection (so far, though more are planned) send us an email describing the ordeal.

Larry Lough is editor of The Woodstock Independent. His email is larry@ thewoodstockindependent.com.

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Corrections

We strive for accuracy. To suggest corrections or clarifications, email news@ thewoodstockindependent.com.

Staff

PUBLISHER EMERITA Cheryl Wormley C.WORMLEY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

PUBLISHER Rebecca McDaniel REBECCA@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COMrebecca@thewoodstockindependentcom

EDITOR Larry Lough LARRY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

ADVERTISING Jill Flores JILL@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

jill@thewoodstockindependent com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sandy Kucharsk i SANDY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

COLUMNISTS

Paul Lockwood, Lisa Haderlein, Dan Chamness, Patricia Kraft, Nancy Shevel, Julie Peters

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andrew Rousey, Vicky Long

CORRESPONDENTS

Tricia Carzoli, Janet Dovidio, Susan W. Murray, Megan Ivers, Lydia LaGue, Eileen Millard, Ruth Raubertas, Caryl Dierksen, Juel Mecklenburg, Seth Rowe, Lisa Kunzie, Jen Nichols

EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS Jim Mansfield, Chip Humbertson

PROOFREADER Don Humbertson CIRCULATION

Beverly Meuch, Dennis Micheletti, Bill Schwerdtfeger, John Wickham

Deadlines & contacts

unique compared to surrounding towns, but are we capitalizing on that uniqueness to ensure Woodstock for the long term? Paul’s Resolution suggests there are other opportunities outside the town center. I would like to suggest the town center should remain the focus, but we lack a clear vision on what it should be; therefore, we have a scattered approach that ends up in many conflicting directions. If we establish a vision, we can clearly define goals and better channel the energies of our city officials to accomplish the goals.

Just a concerned citizen’s input.

Richard Ryan is a resident of Woodstock.

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Student of the Week

Colin Zecchin

Marian Central Catholic High School senior Colin Zecchin is the son of Joe and Erin Zecchin.

His teacher said, “Colin’s passion for music and theatre is evident in everything he does. His determination and optimistic attitude allow him to constantly improve and inspire others to follow his lead. He is alway eager to learn, constantly asking insightful questions to not only better himself but also to help his peers grow.”

Colin is involved in theater, playing Jack Kelly in “Newsies” in March. He is the social media chair for Key Club, the manager for the girls varsity volleyball team, a member of the mentor program and the French, Science and Green clubs. Colin qualified for the all-state choir through ILMEA and will be going to Peoria for the IMEC conference.

Away from school, Colin is a member of the Encore Youth Choir in Crystal Lake and is a cantor at St. Patrick’s Church in Hartland.

Tracie Muehler Team

815-482-4909

tmuehler starckre com

Sebastian Garcia

Olson Elementary School 2nd grade

PICTURE

The McHenry County Historical Society’s Museum is located at 6422 Main St. in Union. Stop by and stir up your passion for history during the “Hot Chocolate and History” event at the museum Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and attendees can warm up to history with a hot chocolate bar, mini tours, a scavenger hunt, and activities for kids. Visit mchenrycountyhistory.org for more information.

Schools Esports at Woodstock North receives funding boost from Impact Grant

By Janet Dovidio NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Competitive video gaming, known as “esports,” is exploding in high schools and colleges across the country, including here in McHenry County. The Esports Club at Woodstock North High School has been growing rapidly since it began almost two years ago. An Impact Grant from the District 200 Education Foundation has aided that growth.

“Thanks to the District 200 Foundation and their support, we received an $840 grant, which we used to give our students supplies and other equipment that they might not otherwise be able to afford,” said Justin Triplett, head custodian at WNHS.

Triplett started the club at the request of his son Gabe, who is currently a WNHS sophomore.

Esports are recognized as an IHSA sport and includes a state tournament. A team typically starts as a club. Triplett himself played as a kid and young adult but said he no longer has the skills to keep up with the team members’ abilities.

The club meets every Wednesday after school for about 90 minutes. There are no fees and no commitments. Any student can join, even if the student participates in other activities in or out of school. Before the grant award, members had to bring their own gaming consoles and games. The team now has a couple of consoles, extra controllers, and software.

“This is a big step for us,” Triplett said. “The club worked together to decide the best way to spend this money, and they have done a great job.”

The WNHS team does not yet compete, but it does hold a

Esports players and Woodstock North students (from left) are Isaac Crittenden, Heinrich Schumacher, Johnathan Crossman, and Keenan Wimms, who are heavy into their game. COURTESY

IN BRIEF

Groundhog Day Education Foundation fundraiser begins Jan. 25

The 2025 Groundhog Day Silent Auction and Reverse Raffle, the primary fundraiser for the Woodstock District 200 Education Foundation, is underway with raffle ticket sales open and auction bidding set to begin on Jan. 25.

Money raised from the Groundhog Day activities is used for Impact Grants awarded to District 200 staff members each fall to fund unique educational opportunities for students, such as field trips, guest authors and performers, and many other activities.

The District 200 Education Foundation has awarded more than $750,000 in Impact Grants over the past three decades, including more than $28,000 in the fall of 2024.

“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, local businesses that donate auction items, and our supporters, we’ve been able to provide our students with amazing experiences,” said Jaci Krandel, co-chair of the foundation.

crosstown gaming tournament for students from Woodstock High School to play for a chance to win a trophy.

According to Triplett, a local school with a strong esports team is McHenry High School. He also indicated that almost every major university has an esports team and offers grants and scholarships to team members. The University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, and Northwestern University all offer competitive teams.

“We have extremely talented kids in our club,” Triplett said. “The Esports Club provides a space for students to come together, socialize, have fun, and support each other. They learn to work together through complicated tasks and communicate with one another. We also have a lot of kids who might not otherwise be involved in any other activities.”

“We also have many great items, from professional sports tickets and restaurant gift certificates to unique crafts and experiences that you can’t find anywhere else.”

The Silent Auction will be held from Jan. 25 to 3 p.m. Feb. 2. Participants are encouraged to preregister on a smartphone by texting keyword “groundhog2025” to 76278 or on the web at groundhogday2025.givesmart.com.

The foundation is also selling reverse raffle tickets for $100. Only 100 tickets will be sold and are available from any foundation board member or at the Woodstock School District 200 administration office, 2990 Raffel Road. The top prize is $2,500, with seven other prizes ranging from $250 to $150.

For the first time in several years, the foundation will also host a live event from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern, 101 E. Church St. Warm beverages and breakfast items will be available for purchase.

For more information about the foundation, visit its website at d200edfoundation.org.

Haley Chellberg performs in Augustana holiday program

Haley Chellberg, a vocal music education major from Woodstock, performed in the choir and orchestra when the Augustana College Department of Music presented Christmas at Augustana on Dec. 7 and 8.

More than 200 student musicians took the stage to share their talents in what has become a highlight of the Augustana and Quad-Cities holiday season.

Three locals on dean’s list at Marquette University

Three local students have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

They are Samantha Miderski of Bull Valley, who is studying for a Bachelor of Arts in psychology; Nick Schiavone of Wonder Lake, who is seeking a Bachelor of Science in finance; and Claire Miranda of Woodstock, Bachelor of Science in chemistry.

Two locals on fall president’s list at Southern New Hampshire U.

Two local students have been named to the president’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Southern New Hampshire University University at Manchester, N.H..

They are Malgorzata Debska of Woodstock and Sarah Krizsanitz of Wonder Lake.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the president’s list.

Alex Davis of Woodstock was named to the SNHU dean’s list, which requires a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Frank Frantz on dean’s list at Wisconsin Lutheran

Frank Frantz of Wonder Lake, a sophomore, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee.

To be eligible for dean’s list, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Select D-200 high school band members will perform in countywide concert

By Janet Dovidio NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Eight District 200 high school band members qualified to perform in a countywide concert at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Marengo High School auditorium, 110 Franks Road, in Marengo.

They are Teagan Harvey, Kendra Heidtke, and Simon Shaffer of Woodstock High School and, from Woodstock North High School, Emiliano Lintner, Aarene Resultay, Jovan Suay, Abigail Sarelas, and Stefani Vanderstappen.

“These students had to go through a rigorous audition process in November and will represent D-200 among the 14 schools in the county that all participate in this event,” WNHS band director Bill Kraemer-Simpson said.

This is the 50th annual festival. College professor, conductor, and

composer Erika Svanoe will direct the ensemble. Her works have been performed internationally by school, university, community, and professional bands.

Included in the selections for this year’s concert is the world premiere of a work by Svanoe that she specifically wrote for the high school ensemble.

“We are incredibly proud of our students who qualified for the McHenry Honors Band,” WHS band director Kevin Fredrick said. “This achievement highlights their dedication to musical excellence. It is also a wonderful opportunity for them to collaborate with talented peers and represent our schools in such a prestigious event.”

D-200 orchestra students have also earned a prestigious honor. Under the leadership of orchestra directors Lyndra Bastian (WHS) and Brandon Rittenour (WNHS), 40 WHS orchestra students and 22 WNHS musicians have been accepted into the Northern Illinois Honors String Orchestra. This organization was created in 2019 by Bastian and Deerfield Community High School District 117 music teacher Elliott Hile to fill a void. At that time, no honors string ensemble experiences existed for high school musicians in Illinois.

The orchestra students performed on Jan. 15 at Huntley High School with guest conductors Ray Oswald, renowned music educator, and Philip Rudd, professor of orchestra at Denison University.

COURTESY PHOTOS

WHS band members Simon Shaffer, Kendra Heidtke, and Teagan Harvey will lend their musical talents to a countywide concert on Saturday.

WNHS band members who will perform Saturday are (from left) Aarene Resultay, trombone; Abigail Sarelas, flute; Stefani Vanderstappen, trumpet; Jovan Stay, baritone; and Emiliano Lintner, alto sax.

A & E A colorful start to art in the new year

By Lydia LaGue-Lopez NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

As 2025 begins, so does the work of the Arts Commission.

One of the commission members recently sent a letter to some of the local knitting guilds, highlighting Woodstock’s art scene and small businesses to encourage the guilds’ participation in the potential yarn bombing project. In yarn bombing, knitters create pieces to adorn public objects or spaces. The commission is hoping to do a mini-yarn bombing in April, with small pieces on local businesses’ ‘Open’ flags. The project is yet to be approved, but the commission is enthusiastic about bringing pops of color to the community.

Artist Bobby Joe Scribner is underway in creating the sculpture for the Lake Avenue/ Madison and South streets roundabout, with completion anticipated for this year. Recently,

MOVIES IN THE MIST

the Woodstock Rotary agreed to be the fiscal sponsor and will work alongside Art4Woodstock as the group continues its fundraising efforts.

Commissioner Bethany Fritz is leading the charge on creating sidewalk art for Groundhog Day. The project will be comprised of eight memorable quotes from the movie, one per block around the Square. At their Jan. 13 meeting, the commission discussed using selfadhesive vinyl stencils and semi-temporary paint, which should last through the celebratory weekend and stand up to foot traffic and weather. Fritz and volunteers will be completing the project themselves. The Groundhog Days Committee gave its approval; now, the idea awaits city approval. If all goes well with this project, the commission hopes to do a bigger sidewalk art project in the summer. An optimistic start to the new year, with much more to come.

During a recent warm-up, fog filled the Square, setting up this scene for our photographer Andrew Rousey.

IN BRIEF

Food Pantry will benefit from Feb. 1 magic show

Crystal Lake magician Kevin Sarnwick will perform a freeadmission, midwinter magic show for families with young children at 10 a.m. Saturday Feb. 1, at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, in McHenry.

Each family attending the show is encouraged to bring a nonperishable food or personal care item in support of the FISH McHenry Food Pantry. Reservations are required and can be made using the link forms.gle/ LSD6paxesA4hAvK88 or by calling 815-322-2464.

This program is a community service outreach project sponsored by the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation on behalf of the FISH McHenry Food Pantry.

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO Fundraising is ongoing to cover the final cost of the sculpture destined for the Lake Avenue roundabout.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Business Agents optimistic for spring

Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Dec. 18 to 19.

■ Residence at 1224 Bull Valley Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Gregory T. Davis and Wendy L. Davis, Crystal Lake, to Megan Brandt, Woodstock, for $630,000.

■ Residence at 9212 Pine Ave., Wonder Lake, was sold by Heidi Jorudd, Wonder Lake, to Evan Alex Michael Creeden, McHenry, for $225,000.

■ Vacant land, approximately 11 acres, on McConnell Road, Woodstock, was sold by Home State Bank NA, Harvard, to The Patricia K. Beauvais Declaration of Trust, Harvard, for $317,000.

■ Residence at 810 Bach Court, Woodstock, was sold by Danielle T. Warren, Crystal Lake, to Timothy Daniel Lopez, Woodstock, for $382,000.

■ Vacant land, 60 acres, at Pleasant Valley Road Lot 1, Woodstock, was sold by Elaine G. Warren, Lake Barrington, to KAL Development Group LLC, South Barrington, for $660,000.

■ Farm, approximately 34 acres, at 110 N. Fleming Road, Bull Valley, was sold by Nicholas Hall, Barrington, to Kinderland Farm LLC, Chicago, for $775,000.

■ Residence at 1851 Havens Drive, Woodstock, was sold by HKDT LLC, Zenda, Wis., to Veronica Marie Bazan, Woodstock, for $239,900.

■ Residence at 1321 Boulder Court, Woodstock, was sold by Scott Berry, Bull Valley, to Kevin Doberstein, Woodstock, for $449,900.

Local real estate market gathering strength for a busy spring?

By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

We’re still 10 days away from knowing whether Woodstock Willie is going to predict an early spring, but some local real estate agents are emerging from the holiday season with the sense that spring will arrive early this year for the 60098 housing market.

Kim Keefe of Team Open Doors/ Compass Realty said that the spring market began “sluggishly” in 2024, but her team had already listed - and sold - two homes not yet 10 days into the new year.

“I’m super busy,” said broker Tracie Muehler, who heads The Tracie Muehler Team at Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate.

Muehler said that in one 48-hour period, she fielded calls from five potential buyers. Many, she said, are people moving out from Chicago or a closer-in suburb who are targeting Woodstock, rather than saying they’re interested in moving to McHenry County.

If there’s a statistic from Midwest Real Estate Data to support their view, it’s that the average market time in the first six months of 2024 for single-family, detached homes in Woodstock, Greenwood, and Bull Valley was 55 days. That dropped to 32 days in the second half of the year. Even a home that sold for more than $3 million in the second half of 2024 spent only 127 days on the market.

“I think it’s going to be a dynamic spring,” Keefe said.

Prices in high altitudes

In the first half of 2019, the average sold price for a singlefamily detached home in 60098 was $237,587. Six years later,

mom and aunt.

thatnumber has jumped 72% - to $408,728. In the last six months of 2024, only five single-family, detached homes sold for under $200,000.

Interest rates were largely unchanged in 2024, despite three Federal Reserve rate cuts. After dropping to a low of 6.125% in October, the rate to end the year was 6.875%, slightly up from 6.75% in January 2024, said Rick Bellairs, of Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate.

That can seem astronomically high to those who have to think back only a few years to remember when interest rates were under 3%. That has kept some potential buyers on the sidelines and many more potential sellers reluctant to shop for a new home and pay double their current interest rate.

So, with higher prices and

higher interest rates, why are agents’ phones ringing?

“People are tired of waiting,” Keefe said. “The longer they wait, the higher the prices go.”

That holds true for sellers, too, she said. They will pay more than they would have several years ago for what they buy, but they will do well on the sale of their current home.

Buying from afar

Katelynn Jackson and Matt Fisher had been living in Denver for a number of years. With two children, ages 7 and 2, they wanted to move near family in Woodstock. Their house-hunting was done electronically, with Jackson’s mom and aunt touring houses with Bellairs and agent Tessa Jania while Facetiming with Jackson and Fisher. With their

Continued on NEXT page

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY SUSAN W. MURRAY

Matt Fisher, Katelynn Jackson, and their children Olive, 7, and Graham, 2, moved back to Woodstock from Denver this summer to be closer to family. Because of the frantic real estate market, they did their househunting on Facetime with the help of Katelynn’s

home in Denver not yet under contract, the couple feared that their offer on a home on Dacy Street, west of the Square, might not be accepted. Their offer was successful, but Jackson did not see their new house in person until they were under contract. Fisher was able to walk through it only when the couple came into town for the closing.

The home is within walking distance of Olson Elementary and the Woodstock Square, and the family lives two blocks away from Jackson’s sister and a cousin.

“It was everything we were looking for,” she said.

Lure of the Square

After living in Bull Valley for almost 30 years, Rhett and Alma Meal wanted a home within walking distance of the Square. Their list of minimum requirements included “garage space, a little bit of a yard, storage space, at least two bathrooms, and a functional basement,” Rhett said.

They spent six months looking before buying a house on Jefferson Street, south of Square.

“It’s challenging with lower inventory,” Rhett said. “It was a matter of looking and a matter of patience on our part and on Rick [Bellairs] and Tessa’s [Jania] parts.”

The couple are taking time to do some overall updating to the 124-year-old home before they will likely sell the Bull Valley house. They’re already looking forward to walking to the Square for the Farmers Market, concerts on the Square, and dinners at restaurants.

‘Pretty smooth transaction

During the summer, Katie Homuth and her sister Jennifer Miller needed to sell their grandparents’ house after their grandmother passed away. Their grandfather, Billy Barger, taught shop at Woodstock High School; their grandmother, Sharon, had taught English and French at the high school. In 1972, the couple built a Sears Catalog split-level home on an acre just west of town. Over the years, they added a one-car garage, a workshop, a swimming pool, and a pole barn.

While the house did not need any repairs, Homuth said, she and her sister had to clear out

Wait until the price goes up?

07/01/23 - 12/31/23

07/01/24 - 12/31/24 Difference

Those waiting to buy a home, hoping that prices would go down as interest rates stabilized or dropped, were disappointed by the double-digit percentage increase in prices for single-family, detached homes in the 60098 zip code.

Numbers for sales of single-family, detached homes in the 60098 zip code were compiled by Midwest Real Estate Data, provided by Tessa Jania, real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate.

50 years of accumulation, a process that filled three dumpsters. And the property had a quirk - a shared well with four other houses - necessitating drawing up a contract with the other homeowners about how the well would be maintained going forward. Despite what would have once slowed down a sale, if not snarled it for a long time, the property sold in a month.

“I was surprised about the number of showings and how quickly the offers came in,” Homuth said. The sisters received three offers, and the house sold above asking price. Homuth was especially grateful that the home sold to a veteran, as her grandfather had also served in the military.

“It was a pretty smooth transaction,” she said.

Advice for sellers, buyers

Bellairs, Keefe, and Muehler offered advice to sellers and buyers in a market with rising prices and potential increased activity.

Sellers should take care of deferred maintenance or at least offer buyers a credit for what a repair will cost, Keefe said. Muehler particularly recommended offering buyers a credit to replace flooring because of the difficulty of matching buyers’ tastes. “Gray is out” as a color for walls, she said. If sellers need to paint, she advises them to go with white. In the hot market, Bellairs said, a home will likely receive offersand maybe multiple offers - seven days after being put up for sale.

“We will know within the first week or so whether the home is priced right and is in demand,” he said.

For buyers, all three counseled preparation - eliminating debt, getting pre-approved for a mortgage, and researching whether any grants or programs might help with buying a home. A house that

has been on the market - whether because of location, price, or condition - might offer some negotiating room, Muehler said. Bellairs advised buyers to be flexible on terms, such as the closing date or allowing the seller to remain in the house for a period after closing.

“Be ready to jump in with both feet,” he said.

Kevin Sarnwi Magic Show

10:00 a.m. Sat., February 1, 2

Kevin Sarnwick is a Crystal Lake magician extraordinaire who performs fun-filled, mind-boggling children's magic shows using sleight of hand, psychology, and misdirection. The children who attend his shows are thoroughly amazed by his magic tricks and leave his shows with big smiles on their faces

Reservations

Please

Community From the anchor desk to participant

News anchor is off duty, but still plans to take in Groundhog fun

By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Marcus Leshock, news anchor at WGN, will be experiencing Groundhog Day in a different way on Feb 2.

While Leshock usually spends the morning of Groundhog Day in front of the camera sharing the joy of the morning with the Chicagoland area, this year Leshock has the day off.

“I don’t work on the weekends,” he explained. “So, this year, I can just experience Groundhog Day like everyone else.”

Longstanding Passion

Leshock has been reporting live from Woodstock each Feb. 2 since 2010, but his appreciation of the screenplay began when the movie was released in 1993.

“I’ve always loved the movie,” he said. “It’s one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.”

Leshock recalled that he had taken a film course at Northern Illinois University in which the class studied the movie “Groundhog Day.”

“The professor had us study the script by Danny Rubin,” Leshock said, “and we talked about the remarkable storyline and happy accidents, and he pointed out elements of the film in discussion.”

While he said he didn’t choose the class based on the material on the syllabus, he did say was both incredulous and excited when he saw the script listed.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Leshock said. “[NIU professor Dr. Robert Self] really took time to discuss the movie and the writing and how it really qualifies as a classic.”

Years later, Leschock found himself in the middle of the movie – or at least the re-enactment of the prognostication here in Woodstock – in front of his own camera.

“And it has been incredible,” he said.

Keeping tradition

Leshock said that he hopes to pass the tradition and the joy of “Groundhog Day” on to his children by bringing them to Woodstock – where it all happens – this year.

“I’m excited for them to experience the spectacle of the groundhog,” he said. “It is something

you can’t explain unless you are here.”

His children, Ruby, 14, and Oliver, 12, have watched the movie and share their father’s love of the classic.

“They’ve really enjoyed it,” Leshock said. “My son is a thinker, and he really contemplates the time element and what he would do if he were in that situation. We do watch it a lot, so I think they are really going to enjoy seeing the sites and the events that go on here.”

While the family has stopped at the Square at other times of the year, neither his wife nor children have ever been to the GHD festivities, but he believes they will appreciate the energy that Woodstock exudes every Feb. 2.

Though he couldn’t get tickets to the Moose Lodge breakfast to show his children the hall and the original floor, he said he planned to take in as many activities and sites as he could.

“We may come out on another day, too,” he said. “We will just have to see.”

Memories abound

For the more than a decade that Leshock has been delivering live news coverage for WGN, he

said that, in between the segments, he was able to walk around, but he’s always been working. Nonetheless, he’s savored each of the February experiences deep in the far Northwest suburbs. Those experiences included accompanying former WGN chief meteorologist Tom Skilling last year.

“That was probably my favorite experience,” he said. “It was great to see how much Woodstock loved and welcomed Tom. … And Tom truly, truly loved being there and seeing everyone. It was great to see the positivity and joy of the morning.”

That positivity is something Leshock said shows up in the community every year on Feb. 2.

He said the morning reminds him to appreciate the happy accidents and to appreciate the things that are right in front of you.

“Every time I’m done broadcasting,” he said, “I am happy. It is exciting to just see how much fun people have. There is such a real charm in Woodstock. … It may be dark and early and cold, but the morning is so overwhelmingly fun and positive. I end up saying I can’t wait until next year.”

The Prognostication begins with a polka band playing at 6:45 a.m. before the groundhog’s appearance at 7 a.m. on the bandstand.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

WGN news anchor Marcus Leshock (right) interviews co-worker former WGN chief meteorologist Tom Skilling in the Moose Lodge Feb 2, 2024.

‘It was hard to have just one’ Woodstock

breakfast options multiply for post-Prognostication

By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

After many years, the Groundhog Days Committee decided to do away with the “official” pancake breakfast following this year’s Prognostication on Feb. 2.

“It was hard to have just one official breakfast after the Prognostication,” Groundhog Days Committee Chairman Rick Bellairs said. “And that is hard when people come from all over, and the breakfast is sold out. We don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

Instead, the committee is not sponsoring a breakfast: rather, it is encouraging local restaurants to offer their own breakfasts to welcome visitors and locals alike.

A few changes in the program

The presentation of the art contest winner will be moved from the Moose Lodge on Groundhog Day to the Welcoming of the Groundhog on Thursday night at Courthouse Square in the Old Courthouse Center. In addition, the official trivia event will be held immediately following the welcoming.

“The polka band [Die Musikmeisters Band] will move to the Kegs ‘n Eggs at Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern, [101 E. Church St.],” Bellairs said. The breakfast will support the D200 Education Foundation.

While not an “official” event, the Woodstock Moose Lodge still will

IN BRIEF

Great Seed Event set for 10 a.m.

Feb. 1 at MCC

The McHenry County College Center for Agrarian Learning and University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will bring another Great Seed Event to McHenry County from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, in the MCC Café/Commons.

host a pancake breakfast. Those who have tickets can enjoy breakfast in the room where the bachelor auction scene in the movie was filmed.

The Drink to World Peace will take place on the Squire on the Square patio, complete with a souvenir shot glass at 7:30 a.m., immediately following the Prognostication.

It might not be the TipTop, but...

While the Tip Top Cafe was the choice for breakfast in “Groundhog Day,” those looking for breakfast on the Woodstock Square will find plenty of restaurants ready to feed hungry crowds.

The Corner Square Café, 117 E. Van Buren St., has American fare with traditional breakfast options.

Cesaroni’s Café & Deli, 236 Main St., offers coffee and tea, baked

goods, and breakfast sandwiches. Ethereal, 140 Cass St., serves coffee and tea, gluten-free and dairyfree baked goods and breakfast foods, including vegetarian, vegan, and meat options, and specialty chocolate products.

Starbucks, 129 W. Van Buren St., has convenient breakfast foods, coffee, tea, and specialty drinks.

Groundhog Days highlights

The weekend kicks off with Children’s Groundhog Storytime, Welcoming of the Groundhog, Groundhog Trivia, and Groundhog Paint-along on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The Movie Memorabilia Open House, Groundhog Day Dinner Dance, “Groundhog Day” the Movie, “Groundhog Day” the Musical, and Willie’s Cocktail Party take place on

Die Musikmeisters Band will perform at the Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern breakfast on Feb. 2 this year after the Prognostication.

Friday, Jan. 31.

The Groundhog Day 5K, Groundhog Tales: storytelling with Jim May, Theatre 121’s Storybook Players children’s program, Groundhog Day Bags Tournament, Stephen Tobolowsky Meet & Greet, Walking Tour of Filming Sites, Puzzle Palooza, and the Groundhog Day Pub Crawl highlight Saturday, Feb 1.

The Prognostication, Drink to World Peace, Kegs ‘n Eggs, Breakfast at the Moose, the movie, the musical, Groundhog Wood Carving, Theatre 121’s Storybook Players children’s program, and Walking Tour of the Filming Sites wrap up the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 2.

For updated information, visit woodstockgroundhog.org or find Woodstock Groundhog Days on social media.

Community partners, vendors, raffles, kids activities, demonstrations, and speakers are planned throughout the event. Park in the B lot by the flagpoles and enter in the B doors. Doors open at 10 a.m.. Participants are asked to be respectful and take only the seeds they will use. Speakers this year will be in the auditorium to allow plenty of room.

Jason Jurey from CropKing Inc. will speak on “Basics of Home Hydroponics and Seed Starting” at 10:30; Nic Fuller from Natural Communities LLC will speak on “Restoring Illinois Native Landscapes” at 11:30; Scott Hucker from Great Lakes Staple Seeds will speak on “Growing Grains: From the Garden to the Table” at 12:30; and Eleanor Schumacher from Project

Wingspan will speak on “Project Wingspan: An Update on this Pollinator Partnership” at 1:30. Attendees do not need to bring seeds to attend this free event. To register for reminders and more information, go to eventbrite. com/e/the-great-seed-event-tickets-1002343054057?aff=oddtdtcrea tor.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

Inde Photo Detectives, we do believe that you are vying for that title of “Intrepid,” like our own Maggie Crane. This week, we heard from Doug Mather, Larry Hansen, Edgar Ideler, and Ray Beth. Doug was our first responder and nailed every question.

The church was St. John’s Evangelical Church at 131 E. Calhoun St.. (We are deeming Larry’s answer of 126 S. Jefferson St. as acceptable, since the current building houses both addresses.) During part of the time when Bohn Hardware occupied the spot where Read Between the Lynes is today, the store used the vacated church as storage, roughly from the early 1960s until the New Year’s Eve fire destroyed the church in 1989. Several years later, the vacant lot was used for the crash scene in “Groundhog Day.” Doug even provided Phil Conners’ (Bill Murray) line to the police officer who has been chasing the speeding car: “Three cheeseburgers, two large fries, two chocolate shakes, and a large Coke . . . and some flapjacks.”

Larry responded to Doug’s email question about what exactly was stored in the building: “bicycles, pipe, and other hardware supplies they didn’t have room for.”

Ray added that the church was built in 1898 by the congregation founded in 1865. Services, Ray said, were held in German up to the 1920s (after World War I, when large vestiges of German culture were erased from American life). Ray’s dad grew up in the church and remembers the German services. To our great amusement, Ray referred to the “Groundhog Day” scene as when “the lot went Hollywood.”

Today, the building constructed on the site houses offices and condo suites.

– Susan W. Murray

IN BRIEF

Health screenings coming to

Woodstock

next month

Residents living in and around Woodstock can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. A screening, open to the public, wil be held at the Woodstock Moose Lodge, 406 Clay St., Feb. 6.

Screenings can check for:

· The level of plaque buildup in arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health.

· HDL and LDL cholesterol levels

· Diabetes risk

· Kidney and thyroid function, and more

Screenings are affordable and convenient. Free parking is available.

Special package pricing starts at $159, but consultants are available to create a package based on your age and risk factors. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Preregistration is required.

Radio Club field day Jan. 25 to test local communications

The 415 Amateur Radio Club of Crystal Lake will participate in the Winter Field Day Association 2025 Winter Field Day exercise that will run continuously from 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, through 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3208 Bay Road in Crystal Lake.

A link to the national event is winterfieldday.org/

The public is invited to attend the local event. Winter Field Day activities serve to test the ability to communicate under emergency conditions using temporary facilities and off-grid power to provide emergency communications within local communities as well as in disaster relief situations. Noting the ongoing wildfires in California that are affecting power and communications, this information will be relevant to anyone who may wonder how emergency communications could occur if a disaster occurred here.

S TA R T YO U R

W I T H

N E W F LO O R S

Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4

Sundays by appointment only Contractors Welcome!

2020 S. Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47) Woodstock, IL 815-334-5985 N E W Y E A R

PHOTO BY JIM KEEFE

Happenings

28 TUESDAY

22 WEDNESDAY

THE A, B, C & D’S OF MEDICARE

Woodstock Public Library

23 THURSDAY SLC

D-200 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

Woodstock High School

501 W. South

7 p.m.

30 THURSDAY

CHILDREN’S GROUNDHOG STORYTIME

Old Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

5 p.m.

SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB TRIVIA USA

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

Road 7 p.m.

24 FRIDAY

EXTREME STORM CHASING

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7:30 p.m.

$35 woodstockoperahouse.com

ALL-ORIGINAL OPEN MIC NIGHT

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St. 7 p.m. offsquaremusic.org

25 SATURDAY

PRESCHOOL FAIR

Woodstock Public Library

414 W. Judd St. 10 a.m. to noon

woodstockpubliclibrary.org

woodstockoperahouse.com

WELCOMING OF THE GROUNDHOG

Old Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

6 p.m.

Free

GROUNDHOG TRIVIA

Old Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Free

woodstockgroundhog.org

GROUNDHOG PAINT ALONG

Old Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

6:30 p.m.

$45

Woodstockgroundhog.org/event/ groundhog-paint-n-sip/

31 FRIDAY

‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ MOVIE ARCHIVE OPEN HOUSE

Woodstock Public Library

414 W. Judd St.

2 to 4 p.m.

woodstockpubliclibrary.org

GROUNDHOG DAY DINNER DANCE

Woodstock Moose Lodge

406 Clay St.

5 p.m.

$25

‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ THE MOVIE

Classic Cinemas

209 Main St.

7 p.m.

$9

THEATRE 121’S ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7:30 p.m.

$28 A seats; $20 B seats; $26 seniors A seats, $18 B seats; $18 student A seats, $10 B seats

woodstockoperahouse.com

WILLIE’S COCKTAIL PARTY

Stage Left

125 Van Buren St.

7:30 p.m.

$40

woodstockoperahouse.com

FEBRUARY

1 SATURDAY

GROUNDHOG DAY 5K

Metra station lot, 90 Church St.

90 Church St.

8 a.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

WOODSTOCK INDOOR FARMERS MARKET

All Seasons Orchard 14510 Rt. 176

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

woodstockfarmersmarket.org

‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ THE MOVIE

Classic Cinemas

209 Main St.

10 a.m.

$9

woodstockgroundhog.org

GROUNDHOG TALES: STORYTELLING WITH JIM MAY

Home State Bank

124 S. Johnson St. 10 a.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

THEATRE 121’S STORYBOOK PLAYERS CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren

10 a.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

GROUNDHOG DAY BAGS TOURNAMENT

Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern

101 E. Church St. $42 per team 11:30 a.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKI MEET & GREET

Read Between the Lynes 111 E. Van Buren St. Noon

woodstockgroundhog.org

WALKING TOUR OF FILMING SITES

Woodstock Opera House

Resurrection Catholic Church

121 W. Van Buren

Noon

woodstockgroundhog.org

PUZZLE PALOOZA

Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

1 p.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ MOVIE

ARCHIVE OPEN HOUSE

Woodstock Public Library

414 W. Judd St.

2 to 4 p.m.

woodstockpubliclibrary.org

GROUNDHOG DAY PUB CRAWL

Courthouse Center on the Square

101 N. Johnson St.

6 to 10 p.m.

woodstockgroundhog.org

THEATRE 121’S ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7:30 p.m.

$28 A seats; $20 B seats; $26 seniors A seats, $18 B seats; $18 student A seats, $10 B seats woodstockoperahouse.com

2 SUNDAY

GROUNDHOG DAY PROGNOSTICATION

Woodstock Square 6:30 a.m.

THEATRE 121’S ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

1 and 6 p.m.

$28 A seats; $20 B seats; $26 seniors A seats, $18 B seats; $18 student A seats, $10 B seats woodstockoperahouse.com

FLASHBACKS

35 years ago – 1990

■ A group of parents approached the Woodstock School District 200 Board of Education to request that sixth-graders be allowed to participate in interscholastic and intramural sports.

■ Although the number of people sick with the flu was above average in McHenry County, Department of Health officials said it was well below what would be considered epidemic level.

30 years ago – 1995

■ Woodstock’s second major snowstorm of the season totaled about 8 inches.

■ Wonder Lake Chamber of Commerce director Anne Sowers announced her retirement.

25 years ago – 2000

■ An apartment fire at 103 E. Judd St. injured no one but left seven families homeless.

■ Idea Adventures Children’s Museum approached the city of Woodstock, asking city officials to present a proposal to site the museum and a Challenger Learning Center in Woodstock.

20 years ago – 2005

■ Three separate fires broke out at Lakewood Apartments, 2121 Stonelake Rd., in one night, prompting arson investigations.

■ The Illinois Association for Agricultural Affairs honored Margaret Szlachta for 35 years of actively supporting the McHenry County Fair. Szlachta had been a board member for 22 years. She was the fair secretary for 20 years and had served as secretary/treasurer of the state association’s northern zone. While secretary, she served with seven presidents: Charles Weingart, Pete Reiland, Ron Hansen, Dick Menzel, Chris Dahm, Larry Eddy, and Dick Crone.

15 years ago – 2010

■ Tom Nierman received the Harold Buschkopf Community Service Award presented annually by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In Denise Graff Ponstein’s letter

nominating Nierman, she wrote, “If Harold were alive today, he and Tom would be buddies, working side-by-side with their sleeves rolled up and making Woodstock an even better place to live.”

■ Anneliese McGregor, Dana Emery, and Allie Aydin, Northwood Middle School seventh-graders, were winners in the Patriot Pen contest sponsored by the Illinois VFW.

■ The Woodstock High School varsity girls basketball team upset highly ranked Johnsburg High School 51-48. The Streaks outscored the Skyhawks 18-9 in the fourth quarter. Chrissy Velasquez led with 19 points; Abby

Haubold and Sharon Mwale each chipped in 10.

10 years ago – 2015

■ When village of Lakewood leaders held a public informational meeting regarding a proposed tax increment financing district and coinciding plans for the multiuse sports complex in the district, Mike Turner, a Woodstock city councilman, did most of the talking on behalf of the developer, Chicagoland Sportsplex Inc. NFP.

■ The number of homes sold in 2014 dropped slightly, but there was encouraging news – the average sale price was

up 17 percent. In total, 301 single-family homes were sold with an average sale price of $199,597. “The average home sale price dropped 40 percent from 2006 to 2012, so we’re finally starting to trend upwards,” said Rick Bellairs, realtor for Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate.

■ After more than 65 years in one location, Woodstock’s Adult & Child Therapy Center, 708 Washington St., cut the ribbon on a second location – at 12189 Regency Parkway, Huntley. Eighty additional hours of therapy could be provided at the new center.

5 years ago – 2020

■ “Groundhog Day” stars Bill Murray and Stephen Tobolowsky were back in Woodstock to film a Jeep commercial that would air during the Super Bowl on Feb. 2. Mother Nature provided softly falling snow as a pleasant and appropriate added effect.

■ Members of the D-200 Board of Education voted 6-1 to approve the agreement proposed by the city of Woodstock to provide the district with more funding than state law required when new housing developments supported by city tax incentives caused local school enrollments to swell. Board member John Headley said, “This is a good compromise, and it’s good for the city. I want the city to do well, too.”

1 year ago – 2024

■ Two mid-January storms dumped at least 15 inches of snow on the Woodstock area before sub-zero cold moved in to firmly establish the arrival of winter. The city’s effort to clear streets won praise from City Council members. Mayor Mike Turner said the work was especially commendable given the “‘concrete snow followed by incredibly intense cold.”

■ Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Chief Brendan Parker was featured in The Independent’s popular Getting to Know column. Parker, who has lived in Woodstock his “entire life,” said his favorite Woodstock area event was making Christmas Clearing House deliveries.

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY DENNIS MATHES

JAN. 25, 1995 – Cole Cooney, of the St. Mary’s fifth-grade basketball team, dribbles against an opponent.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSUMED NAME

Public Notice is hereby given that on JANUARY 3, 2025 An Assumed Name Business Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk in McHenry County, IL under the following business name and address, and setting forth the names and addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting business known as RODS JUNK REMOVAL located at 4615 BARHARBOR DR LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL 60156. Owner Name & Address: FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ 4615 BAARHARBOR DR LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL 60156.

Dated: JANUARY 3, 2025

/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County

Clerk)

(Published in The Woodstock Independent January 15, 2025, January 22, 2025)L11897

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND

JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS-IN PROBATE Case No. 2024PR000325

In the Matter of the Estate of MARILYN L. REITER

Deceased

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of MARILYN L. REITER

Of: MCHENRY, IL

Letters of office were issued on:

12/23/2024

To Representative: RICHARD W. MOODY

1230 NEWCASTLE LN.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169

whose attorney is:

WAGGONER LAW FIRM

4 N. WALKUP AVE.

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014

Claims against the estate may be filed within six months from the date of the first publication. Any claim not filed within six months from the date of first publication or claims not filed within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to Creditor, whichever is later, shall be barred.

Claims may be filed in the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court at the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 North

Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, Illinois, 60098, or with the representative, or both. Copies of claims filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to his attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

/s/KATHERINE M KEEFE (Clerk of the Circuit Court)

(Published in The Woodstock Independent January 15, 2025, January 22, 2025) L11898

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSUMED NAME

Public Notice is hereby given that on JANUARY 16, 2025 An Assumed Name Business Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk in McHenry County, IL under the following business

name and address, and setting forth the names and addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting business known as Eve Taxes located at 3613 W. Drake Ct. McHenry, IL 60050. Owner Name & Address: Evelyn Camacho 3613 W. Drake Ct. McHenry, IL 60050.

Dated: JANUARY 16, 2025 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)

(Published in The Woodstock Independent January 22, 2025)L11899

Peter Gallagher

GARAGE GROUPING LABELS MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZING PACKRAT PERFECTIONIST

PROCRASTINATION PURGING REPURPOSE SEQUENCING SORTING SYSTEM TIDYING VERTICAL SPACE

Sports

COLLEGE REPORT

Jenna Golembiewski gets recognition in NCAA D-1 softball

By Dan Chamness

For Marian Central Catholic graduate Jenna Golembiewski, being named a NCAA Division I Pre-Season AllAmerican is just the natural progression of her softball growth and success.

Softball America selected the Miami University Redhawk outfielder as one of the top 10 softball players in NCAA Division I and more likely than not to be named a first-teamer.

Softball America selected 100 players in America, and Golembiewski checked in at No. 10.

“This is a huge honor for me,” the Woodstock resident said. “I have worked very hard to get to this point. But, I did not get here alone. I look at this honor as a reflection of the people around me. If it was not for my teammates and my coaches pushing me to be my best, I would not have made it to this point.”

The Redhawk outfielder has already been named to the Mid-American AllConference first team. Twice. In addition, she has also achieved secondteam NCAA Division I All-American status posted by National Fastpitch Coaches Association and third team status by Softball America.

Being named to the All-American first team would just be a natural progression for the senior outfielder. She started her career with a .240 batting average as a freshman. Not shockingly, she aspired to do more. By the end of her sophomore year, she had raised her batting average 66 points to .306.

See COLLEGE REPORT, Page 27

Woodstock High School athlete

Oscar Rubio is on the soccer field with the academy 16U Honor Division for UD-Montijo, a professional club.

‘I need to bet on myself’ WHS teen soccer star shines on international stage

By Jen Nichols NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Many young athletes only dream of competing at the highest level of their sport. Woodstock High School soccer stand-out Oscar Rubio is making that dream a reality.

This past summer Rubio took the first step toward developing upperlevel soccer skills, but also to compete with and against some of the best talent for his age group. His journey has just begun.

Immediately after his freshman year ended, Oscar and his family traveled to Spain to visit family. While in Spain he took a leap of faith and signed a onemonth contract with a professional club. During that time he was able to compete with the prestigious pro club. As the season was ending, he had a very important conversation with his parents, Jackie and Santiago Rubio, the coach of the Woodstock boys soccer team.

“As much as we knew we would miss [Oscar], we understand that allowing him this experience would only benefit his overall life goals,” Santiago Rubio said. Jackie and Santiago agreed to allow their son to stay in

Spain for the academic year and play for the academy of a professional soccer club.

Rubio signed with the academy 16U Honor Division for UD-Montijo. The team began its season in September, and Rubio has made and continues to make honorable memories.

“I have two favorite moments that I still look back on and feel proud,” Oscar Rubio said.

One of his favorite moments was during his debut. During the second game of the season, Rubio’s team had tied the best team in the division. He was playing as midfielder and scored his first goal against CP Flecha Negra club.

“I knew I needed to earn the respect of my teammates,” Oscar Rubio said, “so when I scored, my team rallied around me, and I knew I had done just that.”

Rubio had quick success with the club, but naturally he needed to learn

to adapt to the new environment and culture in Badajoz, Spain.

Lifestyle adjustments

“We are more of a brotherhood than we are teammates,” Oscar Rubio said. “I suddenly had to become very independent and responsible.”

In order for Rubio to attend school, practices, or games, he had to plan ahead. His trip included walking to the bus routes, taking the bus to a train, and the train to the location.

“In the USA I would get a car ride from Mom or Dad, so this was a huge wake-up call,” he said.

In addition to transportation, Rubio had to quickly pick up Spanish so he could communicate efficiently with his teammates.

“Anytime I hear the word “dale” (pronounced: doll-aye) it means to “go ahead, be more aggressive.”

Rubio adapted to soccer life and the culture fairly quickly, but his educational career was a much different story.

He explained that students are in school from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. each weekday with no lunch, but they do get recess and snack time. The teachers

Continued on NEXT page

Jenna Golembiewski

COURTESY PHOTO

Oscar Rubio

rotate (instead of the students).

Rubio also explained that they do not use the 1:1 device system. “Everything we do is on paper with a pencil.”

Oscar has made the necessary adjustments, and school and soccer have been going well. He is staying with the Bajos family, and he is thankful for their generosity as he looks toward the future.

“I am grateful to be here,” he said. “Recently, I looked back and realized I needed to bet on myself. My parents’ support and love have allowed me tremendous opportunity.”

Describing his dad as his role model and mentor, Oscar said, “I know he is proud of me.”

Santiago Rubio echoed the sentiments, saying, “Oscar is playing at the highest level a player of his age could compete within his age group. The division he plays in is the Division de Honor, in the region of Extremadura by Portugal. Teams in Division de Honor qualify only by promotion. If they don’t perform, they are relegated and drop a level.”

Oscar encouraged all youth soccer players to work hard, learn the pathways, and bet on themselves.

ROLLING INTO HISTORY

Pictured earlier this season, Woodstock co-op bowler Woodstock North High School junior Levi Perrotta was the high individual at the Marengo Regional with 1406. The boys bowling team made program history Saturday, winning the IHSA Marengo Boys Regional Championship, the first in the history of boys bowling. The team moves on to sectional competition Jan. 25 at Plum Hollow Family Center, Dixon.

Pet Week of the

Dalia is a cute brown tabby, with a thick, compact body, and beautiful greenish-yellow eyes. She and her siblings arrived as strays back in July. She can be a bit bashful when first meeting new humans but she warms up quickly. Once she knows you, she loves you. Though quiet, she still likes to play and be silly. She also likes to play with the other kitties. If you are looking for a compact best friend, look no further! Call Helping Paws to meet Dalia! Thank you to El Vado Mexican Restaurant for sponsoring!

Abbey Miner is a senior captain with Marian Central Catholic High School girls basketball team. Abbey is a three-year varsity starter in the program.

She recently scored a career-high 21 points in a game against Chicago Hope Academy.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

BOYS SWIMMING

Landon Beltran wins the men’s 200-yard freestyle.

WHS dance looks to finish strong

Future dancers can learn some moves at WHS winter dance clinic

By Juel Mecklenberg NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

The winter season has been exciting for the Woodstock girls dance team. The season kicked off in December with a strong start at Crystal Lake Central High School, where the team earned an impressive third-place finish. At the next competition in Huntley, the team showcased consistent effort, securing fourth place.

After winter break, the most recent performance at South Elgin High School marked a major highlight of the season. Head Coach Michelle Dobler proudly boasted the team’s delivery of its best routine yet, achieving the goal of raising the score while going headto-head with some of the toughest competition they’ve faced this year.

The team consists of six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The captains for the Streaks are Emilee Devinger and Kaghan True. Dobler has seen the team work hard on growing as individual dancers and as a team.

“It has been truly amazing to watch them all transform!” Dobler said.

End-of-season outlook

As the season nears its conclusion, the girls are setting their sights on IHSA Sectionals, which take place Jan. 25. The team is ready to bring their best and finish the season strong.

The Woodstock Dance Team is excited to host the WHS Winter Dance Clinic, dedicated to the memory of Sarah McCullagh. Open to students in grades K-8, this special event offers an opportunity to learn dance skills, connect with the team, and perform at a boys varsity basketball game. Event details are as follows:

Who: Dancers in grades K-8

When and where: Clinic Day 1: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:45 p.m. - 7 p.m., main gym

Clinic Day 2: Thursday, Feb. 13, 5:45 to 7 p.m., Main Gym

Performance Day: Friday, Feb. 14, 6:45 p.m. at the boys varsity basketball game vs. Johnsburg High School

Location: Woodstock High School, 501 W. South St.

Cost: $60 a dancer, which includes dance instruction, a performance, a Tshirt, and a bow.

Registration deadline: Feb. 1. Register early to ensure dancers receive a Tshirt, bow, and a set of poms to use at the performance

How to register: Sign up online via Snap!Manage.

For questions, contact Coach Michelle Dobler at MDobler@ wcusd200.org.

’CANES ON THE MAT

Sophomore Vance Williams wrestles at 150 pounds.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Nationally ranked sophomore Jimmy Mastny, 190lb. 2024 1A state champion at 157 lbs.

Junior Dan French, 198-lb. wrestler.

INDEPENDENT

Marian Central sophomore Lissandro Gomez competes in men’s foil Jan. 18 at the JV Championships hosted by Marian. The Hurricanes have 14 rostered athletes competing in fencing this season.

COLLEGE

Continued from Page 24

“When I am playing, I do not pay attention to the numbers, as softball is a game of failure,” Golembiewski said. “Every season that I have played presents a different dynamic. As I enter my final season, my main goals are to be present and experience every moment of every game, as I am thankful for the opportunity to play for this team and at this level.”

She continued on that path, raising her batting average an additional 88 points over what she had done as a sophomore, and, for a junior year batting average, an eye-popping .394. While she was able to do that, she also increased her power, smacking 28 homers, as opposed to 17 as a sophomore. She also doubled up on her doubles, hitting 13, compared to six as a sophomore. She finished her junior year with 71 total hits in 180 trips to the plate.

TRACK AND FIELD

Peter Walsdorf (Marian Central Catholic) won two events for the University of Kansas at the Jayhawks’ opening indoor meet of the year, the Bob Timmons Challenge, which was held at the Anshutz Pavilion in Lawrence, Kan The Woodstock resident won the 3,000-meter run in 8 minutes,

10.12 seconds. The redshirt junior also won the mile run in 4:13.27. In both cases he topped Oral Roberts University runner Artwell Magake, who recorded respective times of 8:31.23 and 4:15.59. Team scores were not kept.

Dominique Thomas (Marian Central Catholic) finished second in the 60-meter dash at the University of Wisconsin-hosted Badgers Midwest Invite held at Gately Stadium in Chicago. The University of WisconsinMilwaukee senior dashed to the finish line in :07.46, which is currently the 48th fastest time in the country. Team scores were not kept.

Tim Maidment (Woodstock) recorded a third-place finish in the men’s long jump at the Badgers Midwest Invite. The Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior recorded a leap of 21 feet, 4.75 inches. Team scores were not kept on the men’s level, either.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lacey Schaffter (Woodstock North) scored six points as her college team, Dominican University, downed Alverno College 74-53 for their first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win. She emerged off the bench and played 14 minutes. Dominican is 5-9 overall and 1-3 in the league. .

Dan Chamness writes The College Report for The Independent.

NN SCOREBOARD NN

BOYS BASKETBALL

■ Jan. 13 - Marian (6-12) beat Durand (6-11) 74-39.

■ Jan. 14 - Woodstock (12-7) defeated Plano (9-8) 48-44.

■ Jan. 14 - Woodstock North (2-11) beat Harvard (2-10) 54-34.

■ Jan. 17 - Woodstock North (3-11) fell to Lakes (6-10) 47-37.

■ Jan. 17 - Woodstock (13-7) lost to Sandwich (10-8) in a close game 52-50.

■ Jan. 17 - Marian (7-12) fell to St. Edward (9-11) 71-59.

■ Jan. 18 - Marian (7-13) defeated IMSA (4-10) in a close match 85-82.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

■ Jan. 13 - Marian (8-10) fell to Grayslake Central (15-4) 53-45.

■Jan. 13 - Woodstock (8-9) fell to Prairie Ridge (7-9) 56-40.

■ Jan. 15 - Woodstock (8-10) lost to Johnsburg (11-7) 53-42.

■ Jan. 15 - Marian (8-11) lost to Crystal Lake Central (11-6) 53-39.

■ Jan. 16 - Marian (8 12) beat Chicago Hope Academy (11-6) 56-23.

■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock (8-11) defeated Round Lake (6-14) at the MLK Invite 53-26.

■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock (10-10) beat Maine East (9-13) at the MLK Invite 35-29.

■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock North (3-13) fell to Lakes (9-9) 44-27.

BOYS WRESTLING

■ Jan. 16 - Woodstock defeated Sandwich 40-27.

GIRLS WRESTLING

■ Jan. 14 - Woodstock defeated Grant 54-30.

■ Jan. 16 - Woodstock beat Sandwich 66-6.

■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock finished eighth at the Hoffman Estates Invite, scoring 42 points.

BOYS CO-OP BOWLING

■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock co-op (6,184 pins) won the IHSA Regional tournament, advancing to the IHSA sectionals. Woodstock North junior Levi Perrotta won the individual series, with a 1,406 six-game series and a 279 in game five. Woodstock junior Max Haggerty shot a 1,275 six-game series, securing fifth place for individual series with a 234 in game two.

GIRLS CO-OP BOWLING

■ Jan. 13 - Woodstock co-op (8-3) lost to Marengo 2,818-2,543. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon shot a 597 series with a 248 in game three. Woodstock North junior Ava Caldwell rolled a 498 series with a 200 game in game one.

■ Jan. 14 - Woodstock co-op (9-3) defeated Harvard 2,732-2,332. Woodstock North junior Ava Caldwell rolled a 609 series with a 218 in game one and a 201 in game two. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon shot a 558 series with a 240 in game two.

■ Jan. 16 - Woodstock co-op (9-4) fell to Huntley 2,953-2,733. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon bowled a 672 series with a 243 in game two and a 233 in game three. Woodstock North junior Ava Caldwell shot a 534 series with a 221 in game two. ■ Jan. 18 - Woodstock finished eighth at the Guilford Invite. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon bowled a 1,075 series with a 213 in game five. North junior Brianna McNamara rolled a 206 in game two.

BOYS SWIMMING

■ Jan. 16 - The Woodstock boys co-op varsity swim team finished second to McHenry in a dual meet 97-71. Landan Beltran won the 200-yard freestyle.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Elijah Hedges swims the butterfly leg of the 200 IM Jan. 16.