Woodstock
Sobering news for the Square
MobCraft says Nov. 30 is last day of serving in Woodstock, new owners possible
By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
In what can only be viewed as a setback for the city’s Old Courthouse Center and Sheriff’s House, MobCraft made a Halloween announcement on its Woodstock Facebook page that the taproom’s last day of serving
Woodstock customers will be Nov. 30.
That followed an Oct. 30 message on the company website that “MobCraft Beer is selling its [Walker’s Point in Milwaukee] brewery, taproom, and Intellectual Property.”
Whether this is a temporary setback for the city or becomes a longer-term headache is unknown at this point.
TREAT BEAT
Biz Buzz talks about what’s happening
A new owner?
In the post on the Woodstock Facebook page, Woodstock general manager Jimmy Geallis and MobCraft owner Henry Schwartz mentioned “heartbreak and financial struggles” and said that the company is “in negotiations to be acquired by another
See MOBCRAFT Page 5
Crash victims remembered with flowers, donations
By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Four days after a head-on collision killed three people on Davis Road, west of Dean Street on the south edge of Woodstock, a makeshift roadside memorial of flowers, candles, balloons, and memorabilia still marked the site of the crash.
On that day. a GoFundMe social media campaign had raised nearly $74,000 from more than 800 donors for the family of one of the victims, Amy Roeder, 47, a reading aide at Westwood Elementary School, whose seventh-grade daughter was hospitalized with serious injuries suffered in the Sunday afternoon wreck.
And after he received medical and dental records, County Coroner Michael Rein finally publicly identified two young men from Harvard who died in the crash. They were Alex Gonzalez, 18, and MiguelMartinez-Santiago, 17, who were trapped in their burning car after the
See CRASH Page 3
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb greets trick-or-treaters with candy and smiles on the Square Oct. 31 for the annual Halloween celebration.
OBITUARIES
Joseph (Joe) Russell White, 79
Joseph (Joe) Russell White, 79, of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away suddenly on Sept. 27, 2024.
He was born June 28, 1945, in New Orleans, La., the son of Russell and Marian White.
Joseph (Joe) Russell White
Joe was a beloved father, devoted patriot, adored his Lhasa Apso pet companions, ate lemons down to the rind, a frequent listener to 97.1 The Drive, always searched for the perfect hue of brown-colored socks and held the nickname “The Bakery Fairy,” sharing carbs to all those he appreciated.
Joe was a graduate of the 1963 Class of Roachdale High School in Roachdale, Ind. After attending Purdue University for only a semester, he enlisted with the Navy in 1965, serving in the Vietnam conflict. He served on the USS Wasp (CVS-18), USS Sproston DD577, and USS Claud Jones DE 1033, where he was honorably discharged in 1969 as a radioman petty officer 2nd Class.
The man with the hammer. Joe was known for being a highly recognized Master Carpenter throughout the Chicagoland area. He began building custom homes in the early 1980s throughout McHenry County. His craft advanced to notable commercial construction
Where to send obituaries
Email obituaries to pr@thewoodstockindependent.com. You may also mail them or drop them off at 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098.
projects such as the original Ditka’s Restaurant located within The Tremont Hotel in Chicago. By the early 2000s, he opened Joe White Millwork & Trim, serving customers in the North Shore, South Barrington, Hinsdale, and other affluent areas of Chicago with a design style of Old World French Country offering high-end luxury architectural millwork. A true artisan! When he relocated to Fort Myers, Fla., in 2018, he focused his craftsmanship solely on CAD design, working for Art Staircase & Woodwork LLC in Cape Coral, Fla.
While Joe was not a practicing man of faith, it’s ironic his birth first name followed the footsteps of St. Joseph, who was a skilled carpenter. The carpenter square is a symbol representing trade and the concept of truth – the perfect representation for both St. Joseph and Joe White. He made deals over handshakes and instilled a strong work ethic to his children, often using the phrase “Don’t tell them how good you are. Show them!”
He is survived by his daughter, Jolene White; his son, Jeffrey White; his granddaughter, Nicole Scott; his sister, Judy Hall; along with family & friends. He is preceded by his parents, Russell and Marian White; half-brothers, Jack Greve and Kenneth Greve; and half-sister,
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Woodstock Police Department
n Jesus R. Escareno Torres, 26, Harvard, was arrested Oct. 20 at Lake Avenue on a charge of retail theft. Cited and released with notice to appear in court. Court date Nov. 7.
n Diego Arizmendi Nava, 29, Harvard, was arrested Oct. 20 on Lake Avenue on a charge of retail theft. Cited and released with notice to appear in court. Court date Nov. 7.
n Taylor E. A. Bain. 18, Woodstock, was arrested Oct. 19 on Cass Street on charges of retail theft and battery. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Nov. 21.
n Jovany Flores Gaytan, 23, Huntley, was arrested Oct. 20 at Church and Madison streets on charges of driving under the influence, illegal transport of alcohol by driver, and improper lighting. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Nov. 15.
n Carla M. Larson, 43, Woodstock, was arrested Oct. 20 at Madison and South streets on charges of leaving the scene of an accident with damage, failure to yield, and failure to give information/render aid. Released with notice to appear in court.
Ruth (Greve) Delihant.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery, Vattman Road, Fort Sheridan, IL 60037. At the family’s request, please no floral arrangements. Instead, memorials in Joe’s name can be made to an Educational Fund for his granddaughter, Nicole. Please make checks payable to Nicole Scott. All funds collected will be placed into an educational fund that has been created for Nicole. Mail to P.O. Box 95, Huntley, IL 60142.
Becky Kent Medins, 73
Becky Kent Medins, a long-time executive with several Chicago-based insurance brokers, died on Oct. 29, 2024, after a decadelong battle with cancer. She was just shy of her 73rd birthday.
Born Becky Sue Kent, to Carl and Virginia Kent, she grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, went to Guilford High School in Rockford, Ill., graduated from the University of South Dakota (where
she was president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority) and earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
In 1987 she married Peter Medins, and they moved to Woodstock, where they had a home until her death. She was active in community organizations, including the Woodstock Fine Arts Association, for which she volunteered 10 years as its treasurer, and the PEO, for which she was past-president of Chapter MC.
She is survived by her husband, Peter Medins; siblings Tim Kent of Moreno Valley, Calif., Linda Boyer of DePere, Wis., and Chuck Kent of Laguna Niguel, Calif. She was also the loving aunt of five nieces, and devoted sister to countless Thetas.
A memorial service will be held on Nov. 7, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church of Woodstock, with visitation at 1 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to the Woodstock Fine Arts Association, woodstockfinearts.org/donate.
The James A. O’Connor Funeral Home in Huntley is assisting the family. For more information, call 847-6695111 or visit jamesaoconnorfuneralhome.com
Court date Nov. 7.
n Uzayr P. Khan, 29, Schaumburg, was arrested Oct. 21 in Woodstock on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Nov. 19.
n Naula T. Francis, 21, Chicago, was arrested Oct. 22 at Route 47 and Lucas Road on charges of no valid driver’s license and improper lane usage. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Nov. 21.
n Alexavier C. Griffin, 20, Woodstock, was arrested Oct. 22 at Prairie Ridge Drive and Dean Street on charges of unlawful possession of cannabis by person under 21 years of age. Cited and released. Court date Nov. 14.
n Cesar A. Ortiz, 23, Woodstock, was arrested Oct. 23 on South Eastwood Drive on charges of driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Nov. 21.
n Peter B. Lundborg, 59, Woodstock, was cited Oct. 23 at Regina Court on a charge of ordinance violation. Cited and released. Court date Nov.14.
n Karl-Thomas L. Bromm, 37, Barrington, was arrested Oct. 24 on Doty Road on a charge of contempt of court arrest warrant. Bond posted and relased with notice to appear in court. Court date Oct. 30.
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 Oct. 24-30: 88
Fire Runs
Extrication, rescue: 1
Electrical wiring/equipment problem: 2
Person in distress: 2
Smoke, odor problem: 1
Public service assistance: 6
Cover assignment, standby at fire station: 2
Dispatched and canceled en route: 3
Wrong location, no emergency found: 2
Steam, other gas mistaken for smoke: 1
HazMat release investigation w/no HazMat: 1
Unintentional system/detector (no fire): 2
Total: 111
Becky Kent Medins
CRASH
Continued from Page 1 collision.
Police were not sure who was driving.
Speeding and reckless driving are believed to be factors in the crash, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office reported, and alcoholic beverage containers were found at the site.
The sheriff’s office and Woodstock Fire/Rescue were called to the scene shortly after noon Oct. 27 for a threevehicle traffic crash in the 13400 block of Davis Road.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, a 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat carrying the two men was westbound on Davis Road when it tried to pass a 2021 Jeep Wrangler in a posted no-passing zone. The Hellcat, a high-performance car with a supercharged engine, hit head-on with an eastbound 2022 Volvo XC 90, driven by Roeder, at the top of a hillcrest, causing the Volvo to go off the road to the south. The Hellcat spun while continuing westbound and then went off the road to the north and caught fire. The Jeep was hit by debris from the
Mourners tend to a roadside memorial along Davis Road, where three people died Oct. 27 in a head-on collision in a no-ypassing zone. Police say speeding and reckless driving were believed to be contributing factors in the crash just west of Dean Street.
crash but managed to pass without direct impact from the other vehicles.
The two occupants of the Hellcat died at the scene, as did Roeder. Her daughter was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital before later being airlifted by LifeNet helicopter to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in serious condition. The driver and passenger of the Jeep were not injured and required no medical treatment, according to the news release from the sheriff’s office.
The passengers of the Volvo were both wearing seatbelts and their airbags did deploy, police aid. The investigation was conducted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.
Kevin Lyons, communications director for School District 200, said the district was providing social/emotional support for students at the elementary school where Roeder worked.
“She was a huge asset to the Westwood school community,” Lyons said in a statement,” and besides being an employee, she was a very involved parent.”
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INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
It’s that time of year, when fall describes the season, the temperature, and what leaves have done in the brisk winds of autumn. Weekend rain also contributed to the baring of tree limbs around northern Illinois. Here, a city crew picks up leaves on Vine Street.
Veterans to be honored in Woodstock Nov. 11
By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
A Veterans Day ceremony will be held at the McHenry County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, at 11 a.m. Nov. 11.
Woodstock VFW Post 5040, Woodstock American Legion Post 412, and the McHenry County Detachment Marine Corps League No. 1009 will participate in the ceremony.
“It is a joint collaboration,” VFW Post 5040 Honor Guard Capt. and Vietnam Air Force veteran Greg Walkington said. “We are all doing our part to honor those who served.”
Walkington explained that the Honor Guard is important to him because all veterans deserve to be honored.
“It is something that past Honor Guard member and World War II veteran Bill Lyford taught me,” he said, “and I have taken that to heart.”
Walkington and the Honor Guard will provide the flags for the ceremony, as well as the rifle salute and the playing of taps.
McHenry County Board Chairman Mike Buehler will speak, along with a representative from each of the organizations, including Lou Ness, a McHenry County Board member and Commander of the American Legion post; VFW Post 5040 Commander, Ed Chambers; and McHenry County Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1009 Commandant, Wayne Koster.
Members of the VFW Post 5040 will also welcome District 200 students outside schools on Nov. 8.
“We want to have a presence among our young people,” Walkington said. “We want to support and encourage them. We offer scholarships to high school and junior high school students. It is important to us to make an impact on others.”
The VFW no longer has a brick-andmortar building; instead, the members use the Dorr Township building for meetings. The organization provides assistance to veterans in need and is able to guide veterans to supportive organizations, such as the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission and others.
Mayor ‘surprised’ he’s unopposed for re-election
Six candidates will vie for three City Council seats; school board filing starts next week
By Larry Lough NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Woodstock Mayor Mike Turner will win a second term next year without opposition, the same way he won his first term in 2021.
But city voters will have decisions to make in the April 1 municipal election, as six candidates are running for three seats on the City Council. Turner was the only candidate to file for mayor.
“I’m as surprised by it as anyone,” Turner said, describing Woodstock as a “very engaged” community. “I don’t think it’s a lack of interest.”
The filing period ended Oct. 28 for city races.
Local voters might also have other
contests on the ballot for the District 200 Board of Education, McHenry County College Board of Trustees, and Dorr Township and village of Bull Valley offices. The filing period for the D-200 and MCC board is Nov. 12-18.
Turner served 16 years as a city councilman before he succeeded four-term Mayor Brian Sager.
He said the part-time job of mayor could take as little as 6 to 8 hours in a week to 25 or more.
But he said he had a good job with United Health with “some amount of flexibility” that accommodated his role as mayor.
“You’re always mayor,” he said. “It’s always there, and I like it,”
Three City Council seats on the
ballot will be contested by first-term incumbents Tom Nierman and Bob Seegers Jr. and challengers Theo Dice, store manager at Extra Space Storage; former Woodstock Police officer Joshua Fourdyce, now police chief of East Dundee; Gregory Hanson, of The Backdrop Art Gallery; and John Puzzo, principal officer of Friends of the Opera House. Councilman Gordie Tebo did not file for re-election.
Because the mayor is a voting member of the City Council, a majority of the seven council votes will be up for election, All are at-large seats.
As for the next four years, Turner noted several “carryover” issues, including the Route 47 improvements and challenges with lead water
pipes and sewage treatment plants that are being monitored by state and federal environmental regulators. He also said he was “frustrated” but “optimistic” about development of senior housing at the former Die Cast factory site.
Four of seven seats on the Board of Education of Woodstock School District 200 will also be on the 2025 ballot. Those seats are now held by board President Carl Gilmore, Vice President Jacob Homuth, Secretary John Parisi, and Bruce Farris.
On the MCC board, the six-year terms of Tom Allen, Lakewood, and Tess Reinhard and Molly Walsh, both of Crystal Lake, expire this year, as does that of non-voting student trustee Adonia Fulk.
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
MOBCRAFT
brewery.”
The statement also professed “excitement and optimism” in leaving open the possibility that Woodstock “may continue to operate as MobCraft and be run by our current leadership or may transition as well [in any sale involving the Walker’s Point location].”
Geallis and Schwartz said they will know the future of the Woodstock location “in the coming days.”
As news that MobCraft was negotiating with a possible partner or buyer leaked out early last week, MobCraft had to make the announcement of its last day of serving customers “earlier than we wanted.”
The hope, the two said, was that a sale to a new owner would happen “shortly after” Nov. 30.
In the Facebook post, the two said that “patience and positive vibes” are needed. The post included a schedule of special events in the coming month, promising that until Dec. 1, “It’s a party every day!”
Lease signed in 2022
After The Milk House, a super-premium ice-cream store in Pingree Grove, bowed out of taking the first floor of the Sheriff’s House, MobCraft signed a five-year lease with the city in October 2022, renewable for two fiveyear terms. The taproom opened its doors in November 2023.
According to the terms of the lease, MobCraft’s rent is $2,361.54, plus $1,235.46 a month for common area
maintenance items, including property taxes, snow and garbage removal, as well as electric, gas, sewer, and water in the Old Courthouse’s common areas.
The lease can be reassigned with the landlord’s (city’s) approval.
“Still early”
Mayor Mike Turner said that MobCraft has “been great to work with.”
The city, he said, has been in touch with Schwartz, and Turner had a call
with city staff on Thursday to discuss the news.
As to what might happen next, “It’s still early,” Turner said.
Half-empty or half-full?
Regarding occupancy in the Old Courthouse Center and Sheriff’s House, one could say that the square footage is either half-empty or half-full.
The news that MobCraft would serve its last Woodstock customers on Nov. 30 came two months after the welcome announcement that Squire on the Square would open in the groundfloor restaurant space vacated by the Public House in March.
The city has not yet filled the two retail spaces that Makity Make vacated in May or the incubator space that The Records Department left soon after for a larger location on Main Street.
The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Seleta Scents on the first floor and Ethereal’s Courthouse Square event space on the top floor have been the complex’s constants.
Seleta Scents’ incubator space lease ends after the four-day Groundhog Days festival in February.
PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Woodstock, IL • 1987
How many choices will you have in 2025?
If being an elected public official were easy, we would know it.
Ballots in local elections would be full of candidates in contested races vying for the right to represent us and our neighbors in making policy decisions that most affect our daily lives.
Alas, it’s not that way. Local elections tend to have few – if any – contests. In 2021, for example, Woodstock had only one candidate for mayor and just three candidates for three City Council seats. That same year nobody filed to challenge four incumbents who ran for re-election on the District 200 Board of Education.
At this point, the comparable 2025 election is only slightly more promising, No one filed to challenge Mayor Mike Turner, who will win a second four-year term the same way he won the first – by default, But six citizens (all of them men) have filed to run for those three seats on the seven-member council (the mayor is a voting member), which are elected at-large, without regard to where any of them live So, unlike 2021, voters will have some choices on the April 1 (no joke!) ballot. Two
Voting is no guarantee you will get to choose your elected leaders, especially in local elections when there are no contests for voters to decide
of the six are incumbents, so voters will elect at least one new face to the council, which does include two women.
As for those four seats on the school board, the filing period begins next week. The seats of four men will be on the ballot. The
» YOUR VIEW
Make Woodstock a safer community for walking
Pedestrians are at risk at the intersection of Washington (Route 120) and Throop (Business U.S. 14) streets. With six lanes of car traffic, walkers are not being seen. Components of the risk include: sloping sidewalks and streets, cement barriers, and hurried drivers. Cars turning right off Throop are looking left to the Route 120 traffic for right-of-way access, failing to see the pedestrian hidden by the sloping street and sidewalk, and
cement embankment of Napoli’s Pizza.
Left turn drivers off Washington are focused on on-coming traffic, not people on a long crosswalk. There are no pedestrian lights to be utilized for mothers pushing baby carriages and tending to small children, while navigaging their way to events on the Square.
Studies show many benefits to encourage walking over driving. Let’s make Woodstock a safe walking community.
Barbara Stoddard Woodstock
seven-member board does include one female.
But holding a seat on the council or board is not easy – if you want to do it right.
Although usually each body regularly meets no more than twice a month, preparing to intelligently
» OUR POLICY
n The Woodstock Independent welcomes letters of general interest to the community.
n We reserve the right to edit for clarity, content, and length.
n Please limit letters to 400 words. Longer submissions may be considered for use as a guest column.
» FIRST AMENDMENT
discuss and vote on agenda items can be time-consuming. The meeting packet of staff reports for council meetings can run hundreds of pages This week’s meeting packet was 382 pages, including a 75-page proposed contract, and one council meeting last month lasted more than four hours.
But you can get involved in the community discussion without running for public office.
Write a letter to the editor to join an ongoing debate on a topic of interest to you. You might be surprised by the number of people who agree with you.
Or show up at a meeting of the council or school board and talk directly to the people who can do something about an issue that concerns you. State law says you have a right to speak at public meetings. And if you get no satisfactory answer, consider putting your name on the ballot, or recruit and support someone else to run.
That’s how a democracy works. Do your part to keep democracy, and your community, strong. Participate – even in a small way.
n Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address and a telephone number, which will be used for verification purposes only. n Email letters to pr@thewoodstock independent.com or mail or drop them off at our office, 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
COURTESY PHOTO
My one-room school experience
I am the product of a rural, oneroom school. And I’m happy that I am. My education began in Sheridan No. 9 School, on the corner of my family’s farm outside Davenport, Iowa, in 1952. I spent five years in the same school that my mother and her mother had attended. Two of my classmates, John and Lance, were also the third generation of their families to go to the school.
Caryl Dierksen Declarations
We were not, though, in the same building that our families had attended. That earlier school, built in the 1870s, had burned to the ground in 1941. The school that replaced it was luxurious by comparison. We had running water, electricity, two indoor bathrooms, and a furnace.
I adored my first teacher, Miss Lucille Rochau, who was young, blond, kind, and oh-so-patient. She probably was teaching with only two years of college education, which was the minimum requirement at the time. But no one ever questioned her qualifications. She got married when I was in second grade. By that time, a teacher was allowed to remain working after she married. We kids were all, along with our families, invited to the wedding. Later, she gave each student a wedding photo. In it, she was seated in a chair with the flouncy, ruffled skirt of her gown spread out on the floor, and we were sitting around it. That photo is still in one of my old scrapbooks.
My class was the largest in the
school. There were four or five of us, depending on whether the current hired man down the road had a child our age. One of the classes ahead of us had just two students, and another class, only one. But each group got the same amount of the teacher’s time. She arranged our desks with the smallest ones in front of her and each successive row of desks getting larger. She would call one grade at a time up to the chairs around her desk for our lessons. The others at their desks were doing seatwork. This turned out to be an advantage. Anything we overheard and remembered from the older kids’ lessons helped us the next year.
There was another benefit too. We helped the younger kids practice skills that we had already mastered. They would read to us for practice, and we would read to the older kids. It’s not surprising that a number of us went on to become teachers.
Much later, when I had my own classes, I wondered how Miss Rochau and her successor, Mrs. Carlin, had managed to keep an eye on the students at their desks while they were working with another group. I don’t remember them having much discipline trouble. Well, except for Lance. He once was suspended three days for hitting Mrs. Carlin in the leg with a spitwad. When I told Mom about it, she said that naughtiness ran in their family. Lance’s father had gotten in trouble for bringing a dead skunk into the classroom.
One of the highlights of the year was the Christmas program that we put on for our families. We sang holiday songs, recited poems, and squaredanced. By the time I was in fourth grade, I had advanced far enough in
my piano lessons to accompany the others as they sang “Away in a Manger.” There was even a short piano introduction that I played solo. And I was wearing a fancy red-and-white ruffled dress that Mom had made for the occasion.
In the 1950s, planning began in Iowa to consolidate the rural schools. The 1956-57 school year was the last one that Sheridan No. 9 operated as an eight-grade school. For their final few years, the one-room schools were used as single-grade classrooms while new, centralized schools were being built.
When the old schools were no longer needed, the building and its property were deeded to the current owners of the adjacent farm. That is how my parents became the owners of a school. They sold it for $6,000 to a young couple with a small child. The former school is still a home today after several updates over the years.
My one-room school education was a different way of learning, very unlike today’s education. But it worked for me and for many others too. John, Lance, and I all went on to earn bachelor’s degrees, as did my brother and many of our classmates. It was my great good fortune to begin my formal education in a one-room country school and to finish it at Duke University.
Memories of Sheridan No. 9 have kept me company while I wrote a three-part series of articles about the one-room schools in rural Woodstock. The series ends in today’s paper.
Caryl Dierksen is a writer for The Independent.
Woodstock
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PUBLISHER EMERITA Cheryl Wormley c wormley@thewoodstockindependent com
PUBLISHER Rebecca McDaniel rebecca@thewoodstockindependent com
EDITOR Larry Lough larry@thewoodstockindependent com
ADVERTISING Jill Flores jill@thewoodstockindependent com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sandy Kucharski 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
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Schools
Félicitations to Andrea Isabelli
WHS, WNHS instructor named Illinois’ French Teacher of the Year
By Janet Dovidio NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
District 200 teacher Andrea Isabelli has been honored by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) as the Illinois Teacher of the Year. Sharing the honor with Isabelli was Lisa Shamrock of Naperville School District 203.
Isabelli teaches French at both Woodstock High School (WHS) and Woodstock North High School (WNHS). Per the schools’ websites, her colleagues applaud her “unmatched dedication, passion, and excellence in teaching.”
After joining D-200 as a Spanish teacher at WHS in 2001, Isabelli taught both Spanish and French for many years. She was a member of the Transition Committee for WNHS and has taught there since the school opened. Her current schedule has her teaching French at WNHS in the morning and at WHS for the afternoon class periods. She also sponsors the French Club and the French Honor Society at each school.
Isabelli’s newest recognition was a natural one after many years of involvement with AATF, serving on the Executive Council of the Chicago/Northern Illinois chapter since 2014. She was a teacher representative on the national level for the Société Honoraire de Français from 2015-2018. She has co-chaired the Culture Commission for the National AATF and has presented at local workshops and the AATF National Convention.
“I was nominated for this recognition by Martha Behlow, a retired French teacher from Geneva High School and an active officeholder at several AATF levels,” Isabelli said.
Isabelli was notified of her nomination by an email from Kristina Beck of the Chicago AATF chapter. She had to submit her resume,
PHOTO
Andrea Isabelli displays her award after the ceremony with (rom left) Sylvie Goutas, co-president of AATF Chicago/Northern Illinois; Isabelli; Lisa Shamrock, co-French Teacher of the Year for Illinois; and Kristina Beck, co-president of AATF Chicago/Northern Illinois.
a professional letter, and a letter of recognition, which was written by Thomas Donar, Assistant Department Chair of World Languages at WNHS.
“Andrea has been an advocate for her students for many years and has taken numerous groups of students to France, offering them invaluable cultural and linguistic experiences,” Donar said. “Her dedication to keeping the French program going in our district is a testament to her passion for the language and her students’ success.”
Isabelli’s past recognitions include the Prix d’Excellence from the Chicago/Northern Illinois AATF chapter and the Award for Distinguished Service to Foreign Language Learning from the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL).
Her students carry out her love of
French culture. On Nov. 6 at WNHS and on Nov. 7 at WHS, French Club members will host a fundraiser for National French Week. Members will make and serve crepes to students and staff, thanks to the generosity of foods teachers Mary Peete and Tami Robinette.
In November, the French Club members will visit Chicago’s Art Institute to view Impressionist art, followed by tasting French delicacies such as macarons, raclette, pastries, and croissants at the Christkindlmarket.
“Teaching has been one of the most challenging and gratifying undertakings upon which I have ever embarked,” Isabelli said. “I love sharing my passion for the French language and culture and hope it sparks in [my students] an openness to other cultures.”
D-200 school board honors student, teacher, and associate
By Caryl Dierksen LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The Woodstock District 200 school board began its Oct. 22 meeting by recognizing the accomplishments of a student, a teacher, and an associate.
Woodstock High School senior Ian Hansen was recognized for his selection as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. He was chosen based on his standardized test scores, academic performance, community service, and leadership skills.
In addition, two Westwood Elementary School employees were honored for outstanding service. STEM teacher Marcy Buchanan and Response to Intervention associate Hayley Welch were chosen for recognition by their principal, Ryan Hart. Several Westwood students spoke in their honor.
In other agenda items , the board took the following action:
• The board received an update on the implementation of the W.E.B. (Where We Belong) Program for sixth-grade orientation. Creekside Principal Ryan Doyle and Northwood Principal Bethany Hall, along with Creekside sixth-grade teacher Morgan Pigott and Northwood sixth-grader Magdalena Myshkowec, explained how the peermentoring program had eased the transition to middle school for sixth graders. The ongoing program continues to benefit the eighth-grade mentors as well as the newcomers.
• The board accepted the district’s 2023-2024 school-year Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, prepared by Chief Financial Officer Julie Dillon. An accountant from
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COURTESY
BOARD OF ED
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the auditing firm of Evans, Marshall & Pease, P.C. was present to review the report with the board. This year’s report will be submitted for the ASBO Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting award, which it has received for the past 24 years.
• The board conducted a firstquarter review of the 202425 budget based on a progress report prepared by Dillon. The board found no problems or concerns.
• The board approved the 2024-25 Strategic Plan action plans. At its Sept. 24 meeting, the board had approved the Strategic Plan goals. At this meeting, they approved the action plans that administrators had developed to track progress in implementing the goals.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the Woodstock High School Learning Resources Center.
DUAL DONATION
Members of Hispanic Connections donated $1,000 on Oct. 25 for Woodstock School District 200’s 20th Anniversary Dual Language Family Night on Nov. 7 at Woodstock North High School. Hispanic Connections is a group of leaders and business owners who promote cultural diversity and community engagement. Picture from left to right are: Michelle Stilling, D-200 bilingual assessment specialist ; Gabi Ordonez, D 200 secretary to bilingual coordinator and Hispanic Connections member; Teresa Flores, Hispanic Connections; Olga Ortiz, Hispanic Connections, and Keely Krueger, D 200 assistant superintendent for early childhood and elementary education. COURTESY PHOTO
A & E
Woodstock High School orchestra students rehearse in the school auditorium on Oct. 25 for their Nov. 7 performance with The Piano Guys at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. Students are (front row, from left) Yaxiri Ramos, Brisa Choco, Julia Morrow; and (back row) Lucas Balgeman, Grace Sebastian, Landon Thompson, and Julia Laidig. Not pictured is Aya Mosley.
‘On stage with this cool group’
Woodstock High School violinists to perform with The Piano Guys
By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200
Eight Woodstock High School orchestra students will perform Nov. 7 with an international touring act at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.
The Piano Guys, pianist John Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharpo, began as YouTube sensations in 2011 when their classical and pop performances eventually drew more than 7 million subscribers and hundreds of millions of video views.
They’ve since recorded several albums and have performed live in Germany, Japan, Russia, and Australia, among other locations. The Piano Guys’ current national tour includes venues in Seattle, Portland, Columbus, and Scottsdale, Az.
Woodstock High School orchestra director Lyndra Bastian said the students will accompany The Piano
Guys on violin for a performance of Beethoven’s “5 Secrets.”
“The students are extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Bastian said. “All have learned the piece to their highest potential and now are working on memorizing it. We’re so grateful to The Piano Guys and their amazing team for this opportunity!”
One of the students, senior Julia Laidig, said the concert is a great way to spread word about Woodstock School District 200’s outstanding orchestra program.
‘I feel like now the whole state will know about our program because we’re going out on stage with this cool group of musicians,” Laidig said.
Bastian said 13 WHS orchestra students auditioned for the concert. The eight performing are Brisa Choco, Julia Laidig, Aya Mosley,
Landon Thompson, Grace Sebastian, Yaxiri Ramos, Lucas Balgeman, and Julia Morrow. Because of their busy schedules – including normal orchestra, sports, and other activities – they’ve been rehearsing at 7 a.m. on Fridays.
Sophomore Julia Morrow said she was excited about the performance and the opportunity to try something new.
“I thought it was cool how we had to memorize. It gives us a sense of what true orchestra performers do because a lot of people can play by memory, so I feel like it’s a step up from normal orchestra,” she said.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 performance at Genesee Theatre are available at ticketmaster.com. To learn more about The Piano Guys, visit thepianoguys.com.
Kevin Lyons is communications director for District 200.
IN BRIEF
Nonprofit organization seeks reps for high school exchange students
ASSE, a nonprofit organization, is seeking area representatives for high school exchange students. ASSE area representatives will be that all-important point person for students placed locally during their year abroad.
Counselor, advocate, and friend are just some of the roles representatives will play overseeing the local ASSE program, helping an international student get the most out of their year in the USA. In addition, reps will help teenagers in their own community become ASSE exchange students abroad.
Opening up the world of international, experiential learning to students is an important role of being an ASSE area representative. As a trained ASSE area representative, participants will receive on-going support from the local ASSE area coordinator and regional director while taking on a variety of challenging roles.
Representatives will help local youths as well as those from around the world, and meet similar host families in their own area. Hosts expand their circle of community contacts and establish relationships with local schools, civic groups, clubs, and religious organizations.
The area representative is a parttime, stipend-paid position, and many representatives work other full-time jobs.
Compensation is $750-$1,000 per student placed, and additional bonuses and incentives are available.
For more information, complete the online area rep application at asse. com.
ASSE International is a non-profit, tax-exempt public benefit organization. ASSE is officially designated as an exchange visitor program by the United States Department of State and is fully listed with CSIET.
Business
Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Sept. 13 to 19 .
■ Residence at 3525 Castle Road, Woodstock, was sold by Michael W. Ortmann, Woodstock, to Ryan M. Ortmann, Woodstock, for $525,000.
■ Residence at 910 Locust Lane, Woodstock, was sold by Michael F. Hill, South Elgin, to Jacob P. Romme, Woodstock, for $499,000.
■ Residence at 721 Suzanne St., Woodstock, was sold by The Michelle A. Hedlin Trust, Woodstock, to Thomas D. Mason, Woodstock, for $440,000.
■ Residence at 290 Wild Meadow Lane Unit 35-1, Woodstock, was sold by Elston Townhomes LLC, Chicago, to Silvia Verastegui, Woodstock, for $240,000.
■ Residence at 664 N. Sharon Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Steven E. Aavang, Woodstock, to B&R Capital Investments LLC, Maple Park, for $200,000.
■ Residence at 4112 W. Lake Shore Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by The Derro Family Trust, Wonder Lake, to Rhonda Benn, McHenry, for $907,500.
■ Vacant land at White Oaks Court, Wonder Lake, was sold by Linda DiJoseph, Wonder Lake, to Thomas Lee Cooper, Wonder Lake, for $15,000.
■ Vacant land, approximately .40 acres, at 910 Lorr Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Ronald Hanzel, Roscoe, to Dayan Hancock, Joliet, for $13,000.
■ Residence at 724 N. Valley Hill Road, Bull Valley, was sold by The Boll Family Revocable Trust, Village of Lakewood, to Nathan Thomas, Bull Valley, for $850,000.
Business Buzz
’Tis the season for moving and settling in
By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
As soon as the news broke in August that the Squire on the Square would take over the groundfloor restaurant space in the Old Courthouse Center, the burning question has been what would be opening day for the close relative of the Village Squire restaurants in Crystal Lake, McHenry, West Dundee, and South Elgin.
Last week, William Linardos – the Squire’s co-managing partner with his sister, Sophia Linardos – told The Woodstock Independent that the grand opening would take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
As the Squire on the Square prepares to open, the Dairy Queen is winding down for the season. Owner Rafael Castaneda said that with the “gorgeous weather,” the ice cream eatery will remain open until the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 24.
Before that, though, Castaneda
said, the new pavilion should be finished by mid-November, ready to shield patrons from rain or intense sun for the 2025 season.
Settling into new digs
Gene and Deanna Highley have moved their “fandom store,” Needful Things, from 114 W. Calhoun St. to 110 S. Benton St.
“We had to expand,” Deanna said.
The couple’s merchandise – collectibles, gifts, horror, Anime, and enamel pins – simply could not all be on the floor in the previous location.
The Highleys closed the Calhoun Street store on Oct. 5 and reopened on the second floor of the old Harris Bank building, above Rocket Fizz, on Oct. 13.
On Aug. 6, Dan Hart’s Jiu Jitsu opened at 1108 N. Seminary Ave. after moving out of its location at Judd and Benton streets. Having more square footage allows for an expanded range of class offerings.
PARADOXsquared ran its first
Squire on the Square has announced a Nov. 12 grand opening date.
escape room on Nov. 1 after moving to 118 E. Calhoun St. from 231 Main St. Owner Jim Hurless said that the Mad Scientist escape room is up and running, with Houdini’s Revenge still to come.
Banking on Woodstock
PARADOXsquared’s move was necessitated when the building at 231 Main St. was sold on July 12. Prairie Community Bank, headquartered in Marengo with branches in Union and Elgin, will open a new branch at the corner of Main and Washington Streets.
Establishing a new branch requires regulatory approval, President and CEO Steve Finzel said.
The space’s 3,600 square feet will be remodeled to accommodate five employees, including managers and universal bankers/tellers.
The new branch will include an ATM and a night depository and is scheduled to open at the end of
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INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
March 2025.
Jessica Ditore Photography will remain in its location in the same building as a tenant.
Prairie Community Bank already has “significant deposit and loan relationships in Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and McHenry,” Finzel said. “We are looking forward to opening.”
Building for sale
The building next to Cesaroni’s, at 234 Main St., is for sale.
The unique structure has retail space on two streets. On Main Street, Corporate Services Inc. is a staffing and employment agency for industrial clients. At 235 N. Benton St., The Computer Guy C.R.C. offers computer and electronic repairs.
The long, narrow building has an apartment above each retail space. All four tenants are on month-tomonth leases.
Premier Commercial Realty agent Mike Deacon said that the building’s owner has been selling his properties to create more family time. This is the final property for sale.
In the past two months, Deacon said, he has shown the building to seven prospective buyers.
Under a new name
Prairie View apartments on Leah Lane are operating as Patriot Prairie of Woodstock. This represents a change of name, rather than a change in owner. In addition to the Woodstock apartments, Patriot Prairie’s parent company, Integrity Rise, owns apartment buildings in Kentucky, Texas, and Florida.
So long to an old friend
After 82 years in Woodstock, Jensen’s Plumbing & Heating will be moving out of town as soon as a suitable location can be found closer to I-90, president Jeff Jehlicka said.
Forrest “Rusty” Jensen started the business in 1942, working out of his garage until 1961, when Jensen’s moved to 670 E. Calhoun St.
Over the years, the business passed through three more generations. Son Vern took over from Rusty and helped start the Building Trades program at Woodstock High School. Next came Vern’s sons, Allan and Craig. Matt Jensen, Rusty’s greatgrandson, now serves as the company’s vice president.
Over the decades, the business also
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Needful Things has taken over the second floor above Rocket Fizz in the former Harris Bank building after outgrowing its space on Calhoun Street. Customers can either take the stairs or an elevator up to the second floor.
grew through additions and a second building that was purchased five or six years ago.
“We’re busting our seams again,” Jehlicka said.
Jensen’s has 80 trucks in the field, many of which are parked in employees’ driveways when not in use.
Once residentially based, “our mainstay is commercial and industrial work,” Jehlicka said.
That business takes Jensen’s employees all over the Chicago suburbs.
A new location in Huntley or Elgin would enable the company’s plumbers and heating technicians to reach their customers more quickly, while allowing Jensen’s to continue to serve its Woodstock customers.
Wish them ‘Happy Anniversary!’
Businesses celebrating significant anniversaries this year include Casting Whimsy, five years; Down 2 Earth, 10 years; and Family Dentistry of Woodstock, 20 years.
The gray building at the corner of Main and Washington Streets will become a branch of Prairie Community Bank, slated to open at the end of the first quarter of 2025. Jessica Ditore Photography will continue operating out of its current location in the west end of the building.
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Community Focus on veterans: Tim Carner, U.S. Army
Local organization makes a difference in local veteran’s life
By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
When U.S. Army veteran Tim Carner realized he wanted to become less reclusive and find a space he felt he belonged, he ended up at Operation Wild Horse in Bull Valley.
“I drove past the sign every time I went to the [Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic],” Carner said. “And one day I decided to go in.”
For nearly four years, Carner has spent time at Operation Wild Horse working with wild mustangs and learning more about the horses – and himself.
“I think that as you spend time with these horses and as you learn more about what scares them,” he explained, “you become more patient with them, and you become more patient with yourself.”
Military life experiences
Carner joined the U.S. Army in 2010 at age 25. He underwent basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia before being stationed in the Arctic Circle of Fairbanks, Alaska.
“They didn’t say how long we would be there,” he said, “so my wife and son stayed in Illinois. I didn’t think it would be fair for her to come be with me when I would leave, and she would be away from her family and her support system.”
Eventually Carner deployed to the Southern Horn of the Panjwai District of Afghanistan in a stabilization mission.
“We were shot at almost every day,” Carner said. “It was routine.”
Carner described difficult living situations where food was limited and weather conditions extreme.
“It could be 120 degrees outside,” he said. “There were helicopter firefights, bombs on the roads...” Still, he continued to serve and protect for a year before he was patrolling a civilian area in Kandahar in 2011, when enemies detonated an improvised explosive device, causing Carner to lose his left leg.
He was transported to Germany for treatment and then moved to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for a year of rehabilitation.
His wife met him in Texas, but she and their son continued to reside in Illinois during that year
until Carner was able to return home.
“All of their doctors were there,” he explained. “My son has autism, and we really wanted him to have stability.”
Carner was honorably discharged in 2013, after a year of hard work and determination. He said he endured difficult times when he felt angry about what the attack had taken from him, but he embraces a positive attitude today.
“You can either dig yourself deeper into a hole,” he said, “or you can dig yourself out. You can’t do both.”
Carner dug himself out – and helped others as well.
“Helping others by donating to those in need and talking with other veterans who are struggling makes me feel like I’m doing something,” he explained. “We all should try to do the right thing whenever we can. If everyone did that, think about how much better our world would be, you know?”
Part of that shift in attitude was getting out of the house.
“I wanted to get out more,” he said, “but I didn’t
like being around crowds. Operation Wild Horse allowed me to do that.”
Making positive connections
Carner quickly became a regular, enjoying the camaraderie, but more important, learning how horses behave and react.
“After I learned more about their behavior,” he said, “I started to groom them, clean their hooves, and do groundwork.”
Eventually, he began to correlate his own posttraumatic stress disorder to the wild mustangs, explaining that they learned to help each other.
According to OWH program manager Patti Gruber, military veterans and active-duty military members form a special bond with wild mustangs because of their often-similar experiences.
Wild mustangs have had to struggle for survival in desolate and overpopulated western plains. They have been rounded up by helicopters and have been held captive in Bureau of Land Management holding pens. When organizations like Operation Wild Horse adopt them, they escape hardship for an unknown future, requiring gentleness as they attempt to learn to trust humans and to overcome the reminders of past trauma.
“Everything that I was teaching the horse,” Carner said, “I was teaching myself.”
As he grew more patient with himself, he became increasingly more patient with his family.
Last month, he was invited to attend a fourday hunting and fishing trip with Veterans R&R, a nonprofit that, according to its mission statement, “works to engage veterans and active-duty military in an active community where trust and relationships are built, and to be a bridge that helps connect those we serve with other great organizations.”
“It was like [summer] camp,” he said, “but with veterans.”
“The outdoor programs give veterans an opportunity to engage in a different type of activity,” Gruber said. “They provide a different environment.”
The group of nearly a dozen veterans and active-duty military represented three branches of the military but were bonded through their service.
“We were able to spend concentrated time with one another and talk about things that you can’t
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INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI
US Army veteran Tim Carner spends time with Operation Wild Horse mustang Pearly.
POINSETTIA FUNDRAISER
F R I E N D S O F T H E O P E R A H O U S E
Support the Friends of the Opera House this holiday season by purchasing a beautiful poinsettia!
Place orders at Opera House Box Office, 815-338-5300.
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501(c)(3) Organization
Tim Carner and one of the barn cats enjoy a fall day at Operation Wild Horse in Bull Valley.
problem-solving skills which moved linearly from “point A to point B in a straight line,” Carner said he looked at relationships and his own recovery in the same way.
“But life is more like a Rube-Goldberg machine,” Carner explained. “There are more gray lines. So, experiences like these [at OWH and Veterans R&R Outdoors] help me to adapt and understand verbal cues –to navigate the gray areas.”
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PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI
Changes for life
OWH and Veterans R&R, through the building of camaraderie through shared experiences and through working with wild mustangs, gave Carner the opportunity to develop skills that allowed him to interact better with his family.
“Working with the horses,” he said, “you learn to be patient with them … and, in turn, you become more patient with yourself. It allowed me to reflect on some of my own
Explaining that in both life and in the military, he was focused on
One area that has never been gray is his devotion to his wife, Brittani.
“She is the rock of our home,” Carner said. “I have a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. She takes care of my medications and my schedule. She is my caretaker, but she is so much more than that. She is the manager of our home. Without her, I’d be a mess.”
Today, Carner continues to make strides in his own recovery – with friends made through both Operation Wild Horse and Veterans R&R.
To connect with Operation Wild Horse or Veterans R&R or to make a donation to help keep these programs free for veterans and activeduty military members, visit veteransrandr.org.
King School, in rural Harvard, succumbs to neglect in photos from 2009, 2012, 2013.
SOME THRIVE, SOME DISAPPEAR
Historical one-room schools - Part 3 of 3
By Caryl Dierksen NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Many of the one-room schools were hardy, like the people who taught and learned in them. Today, more than 75 years after they closed, 20 former schools still exist within the boundaries of School District 200.
Where are they? They are hiding in plain sight, for a logical reason. A one-room school was not large enough to comfortably fit a family. Therefore, the buyer often added on square footage. You have to look closely to spot the original school that was integrated into the new home.
Our surviving schools fall into two categories—the majority that have been remodeled into homes; and the handful that are under the care of an institution like the McHenry County Historical Society.
McConnell School becomes a private home
Woodstock native Peggy Hart never attended or taught in a one-room school, but she has enjoyed many hours in one.
Her paternal grandmother, Nellie Newman,
spent the 1908-09 school year teaching in the oneroom Sherman Hills School in McHenry Township. But Newman’s career lasted only one year. She had to resign when she married Lewis McDonald. The couple, however, remained in the area and over the years had six children.
Much later, after the children were grown, the McDonalds bought the former one-room McConnell School, which is on McConnell Road outside Woodstock. They were the second owners of the former school that had been built around 1859 and closed in 1933. The first owners had converted it into a home.
The McDonalds moved the house to a nearby location and did more renovation. Hart has fond memories of her extended family spending holidays in her grandparents’ home.
Later, the home was sold to someone outside the family. A few years ago, Hart and a cousin went back to see the house, and the current owners invited them in for a tour. As they walked through the home, the owners asked questions about each room, how it had been used, furnished, decorated.
As of today, the building that spent 74 years as a school is now in its 77th year as a home.
Cold Spring School survives
“It’s a charming piece of history,” said the owner of Cold Spring School. “I grew up in a house built in the 1850s, so I felt at home immediately.” She
and her husband purchased the former school in 2022.
According to local historian Robert Frenz, the school on Bull Valley Road was built around 1870. Over the years, its enrollment ranged from 12 to 23, but it was down to five by the 1942-43 school year. In 1946, the school closed during consolidation of the rural schools.
In the late 1940s, Kenneth M. Fiske bought the school for $2,500 at an auction. In 1954 his son, Kenneth V. Fiske, hired an architect and began a major remodeling that transformed it into his family’s home.
The original school room, with its pine floors, became the living room. Then came a series of renovations. A kitchen wing was added, and above it, two bedrooms and a bath. The school’s indoor bathroom was transformed into a modern powder room. A den was added to the first floor with a master bedroom above it. Finally, the wood and coal storage area, which had occasionally been used as a student discipline area, became an enclosed back porch.
With renovations complete, the original school of about 450 square feet had grown into a home of 2,100 square feet.
Today’s owner couldn’t be happier with the result. “It’s our home, but It’s also an important
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INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
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Cold Spring School, built about 1870, is beautifully preserved and renovated as a private home. Even its original bell still rings. The home is listed on the McHenry County Register of Historic Places.
Continued from PREVIOUS page part of the history of the county,” she said. “It’s a privilege to live here.”
One school continues to educate
In 1895, the one-room West Harmony School opened its doors at 19114 Harmony Road in Marengo. Today, teachers still teach their pupils in the restored school at its new home at the McHenry Historical Society in Union.
The school closed in 1955 because of consolidation. Later, a church bought it and used it for storage. Then in 1988, the historical society obtained the school, moved it to their property, restored it, and in 1990 opened it to the public.
Today, McHenry County thirdthrough fifth-grade teachers can schedule two-hour visits for their classes. Students experience a condensed 1900 school day, including lessons in arithmetic, reading, penmanship, grammar, and history. They even play the same games at recess that their great-grandparents might have played.
In 2002, MCHS took possession of the Pringle School, another historic school in rural Marengo. Volunteers are currently restoring the school. While detailed plans for its use are not yet in place, it also will be used in some way to educate the public. For information about these historic schools or its programs, visit MCHS at: https://
Alex Guzman, a senior at Woodstock High School, is the son of Gregg and Amy Guzman.
The teacher that nominated him said, “Alex is such a thoughtful young man in his academics and to his friends. He loves to do goofy things to make people smile and makes my class a better place.”
Alex is a member of Spanish Club, FBLA, Link Crew, and National Spanish Honor Society. He also plays basketball. Outside of school he stays busy working at his job.
mchenrycountyhistory.org
A school that did not survive
Three miles southeast of Harvard, in Hartland Township, we find a cautionary tale. The one-room King School was built in the early 1860s. According to Frenz, it was tiny, only 18 feet by 36 feet.
By the 1943-44 school year, King’s average daily attendance was down to 10, and its per-pupil operating costs were well above average for the area. The situation continued to worsen until the school was closed in 1948.
Tom King, Sr., owner of the farm where it was located, bought the school. He used it occasionally to house farm workers, but mostly it sat unused.
By 2012, the school was in a desperate condition. Kurt Begalka, former administrator of the McHenry County Historical Society, described King School this way: “The roof has holes in it, as does the floor. A pile of old desks rots in a corner. Plaster has chipped away exposing bare lathe. New joists, added some time later to create a lower ceiling, seem to be the only things holding the abandoned, shattered building together.”
The following year King School was demolished.
For our historic schools to survive, they need someone maintaining them, watching over them. Once abandoned, they do not survive for long.
PHOTO BY ANDREW
Happenings
9 SATURDAY
6 WEDNESDAY
KARAOKE NIGHT
Woodstock
7 THURSDAY
SLC
8 FRIDAY
‘YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU’
Woodstock North High School
3000 Raffel Road
7 p.m. wnhs7470.booktix.com
OPEN MIC NIGHT
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m.
To sign up, email Keith@offsquare music.com
YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
7:30 p.m.
$45 - A seats; $40 B seats woodstockoperahouse.com
WOODSTOCK INDOOR FARMERS MARKET
All Seasons Orchard 14510 Rt. 176
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org
‘YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU’
Woodstock North High School 3000 Raffel Road 7 p.m. wnhs7470.booktix.com
AN EVENING WITH HENRY WINKLER
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
8 p.m.
$155 premium seating, includes VIP reception
$105 preferred seating Gallery sold out woodstockoperahouse.com
10 SUNDAY
SPORT MODEL ROCKETRY LAUNCH
Hughes Farm Field Dimmel Road, west of town
10 a.m. to noon foxvalleyrocketeers.org
‘YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU’
Woodstock North High School 3000 Raffel Road
2 and 7 p.m. wnhs7470.booktix.com
11 MONDAY
COFFEE WITH THE CHIEF
Woodstock Police Department
656 Lake Ave.
7 p.m.
815-338-6787
12 TUESDAY
D-200 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Woodstock High School
501 W. South
7 p.m.
13 WEDNESDAY
KARAOKE NIGHT
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m. Free woodstockoperahouse.com
14 THURSDAY
SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB TRIVIA USA
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m. woodstockoperahouse.com
15 FRIDAY
THEATRE 121’S ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
7:30 p.m.
$28 - Adult A seats; $20 Adult B seats; $26 senior A seats; $18 senior B seats; $18 student A seats; $10 student B seats woodstockoperahouse.com
JAZZ NIGHT
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
8 p.m.
woodstockoperahouse.com
16 SATURDAY
WOODSTOCK INDOOR FARMERS MARKET
All Seasons Orchard
14510 Rt. 176
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
woodstockfarmersmarket.org
FALL PAINT & SIP
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
11 a.m.
$30
THEATRE 121’S ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
7:30 p.m.
$28 - Adult A seats; $20 Adult B seats; $26 senior A seats; $18 senior B seats; $18 student A seats; $10 student B seats woodstockoperahouse.com
STAGE LEFT SESSIONSANDREW D. HUBER
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St. 8 p.m.
$12
woodstockoperahouse.com
17 SUNDAY
OPEN MIC STORYTELLING
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St. 2 to 4 p.m. Hosted by Jim May
THEATRE 121’S ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’
Catholic Church
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
2 p.m.
$28 - Adult A seats; $20 Adult B seats; $26 senior A seats; $18 senior B seats; $18 student A seats; $10 student B seats woodstockoperahouse.com
19 TUESDAY
WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL
Council Chambers, City Hall
121 W. Calhoun St.
7 p.m. woodstockil.gov
20 WEDNESDAY
MEMORY MAKERS STORYTELLING GROUP
Woodstock Public Library
414 W. Judd St. (in person) 9:30 a.m. to noon 815-338-0542, ext. 14125
KARAOKE NIGHT
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m.
21 THURSDAY
CREATIVE LIVING SERIES: JONATHAN EIG
Woodstock Opera House
121 W. Van Buren St.
10 a.m.
$27
woodstockoperahouse.com
SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB TRIVIA USA
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St. 7 p.m.
woodstockoperahouse.com
FLASHBACKS
35 years ago – 1989
■ Pat Biestek, Sally Burmeister, Pam Moorhouse, and Judy Johnsos were elected to the Woodstock School District 200 Board of Education.
■ The proposed Castleshire housing development on Borden Street was set to go before the Woodstock City Council without a recommendation from the Plan Commission.
30 years ago – 1994
■ The City Council approved a renewal of the city’s garbage and recycling contract with Marengo Disposal. The per-bag charge would increase 6 cents to $1.62 for 1995. Pickup would be provided on all holidays except Christmas and New Year’s Day.
■ In her monthly column in The Independent, “Help … Help …,”retired University of Illinois Extension Home Economist Nancy Moore extolled the virtues of cranberries, including their low caloric count – until sweetened with sugar.
25 years ago – 1999
■ Woodstock High School senior Katie Hartmann won the IHSA Class AA girls cross-country championship. Hartmann smashed the state record by eight seconds, finishing the 2.5-mile course in 13 minutes, 55 seconds.
■ Grace and Luke Beattie, 2, were chosen to appear on the annual poster for the Adult & Child Rehab Center. It was the first time twins were chosen in the 25 years of the center’s poster campaign. Featuring Grace and Luke allowed the center to highlight different types of services offered, such as speech therapy.
■ Sharon Levadnuk and Linda McNally, both of Woodstock were starring in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” at the Opera House.
20 years ago – 2004
■ Barak Obama carried McHenry County in the election for U.S. Senator with 76,610 votes, beating runner-up Alan Keyes by almost 34,000
votes.
■ Nearly 70 percent of McHenry County registered voters turned out for the November general election.
■ A new citizens group, Homeowners Environment & Land Partnership, formed to petition the city to slow its plans to develop 30 acres of public land across from the South Street entrance to Emricson Park. Cofounders of H.E.L.P. were Maureen Larson and Mike Turner.
15 years ago – 2009
■ Kathy Schultz was honored for her 50 years in the McHenry County Clerk’s Office. She had been county clerk since 1991.
■ The Woodstock Moose Lodge recognized community leaders at its third annual Community Hero Awards program. Pat Burke, assistant fire chief, was named Firefighter of the Year; Ken West, 21-year Woodstock resident, was recognized as Adult Youth Leadership Person of the Year, and Kim Beystehner, a District 200 special education teacher for 20 years, was Teacher of the Year.
■ Kayla and Elise Beattie finished first and third, respectively, in the IHSA state cross-country finals.
Kayla, a junior, finished the 3.0-mile course in 17 minutes, 14 seconds. Elise finished in 17:35. A week earlier, their coach, Marty Sobczak, had predicted they would finish in the top three in the state.
10 years ago – 2014
■ With major area employers, including D.B. Hess, Quad Graphics, and Silgan, having closed, Woodstock’s Economic Development staff was looking into qualifying for enterprise zone status in an attempt to revitalize sluggish business and industry growth. The city was in the process of developing an intergovernmental agreement with Harvard and McHenry County. Under the program, companies within the enterprise zone would be able to obtain tax breaks, sales tax exemptions, and other incentives based on the number of jobs created.
5 years ago – 2019
■ Wet weather delayed planting in the spring, and fall had failed to provide the usually dry skies needed for farmers to harvest crops. “2018 was no picnic, but I’ve never seen anything like this in the fall,” said Chris McKee, a member of the McHenry County
– Cub Scouts from Bear Den of Pack 350, Dean Street School , watch and listen as Cheryl Wormley, managing editor of The Woodstock Independent, explains how the newspaper staff uses computers to put the newspaper together
Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
■ Northwood Middle School students donated and collected personal-care items and sent them to Woodstockbased Illinois Army National Guard Delta Co., 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment stationed in Afghanistan.
■ The Woodstock co-op girls swim team broke two school records at the Fox Valley Conference swim meet. Angelina Scolio, Lucia Alcazar, Haley Halsall, and Autumn Zimmerman swam the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 55.08 seconds to break that record, and Halsall broke the 500 freestyle record with a time of 5:16.14.
1 year ago – 2023
■ For the third year in a row, the boys cross-country team at Woodstock High School qualified for the IHSA 2A state tournament, where the Streaks finished 10th. Ishan Patel placed 12th individually.
■ Doherty Construction of Woodstock was hired to convert Aurora University’s Woodstock Center building at 222 E. Church St. to McHenry County College’s University Center. MCC’s Board of Trustees approved a $3.5 million contract. It was the lowest of 10 bids for the project.
PHOTO BY DON PEASLEY
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF CHANGE TO DBA CHANGE OF BUSINESS/OWNER ADDRESS
Public Notice is hereby given that on OCTOBER 15, A.D. 2024, a Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of McHenry County IL concerning the business known as CK LESSONS located at 3102 KILLARNEY DR. CARY, IL 60013 which certificate sets forth the following BUSINESS/OWNER ADDRESS change in the DBA thereof: CK LESSONS IS MOVING FROM 3102 KILLARNEY DR. CARY, IL 60013 TO 9325 RYAN CT. WONDER LAKE, IL 60097 and CHRIS KALKBRENNER IS MOVING FROM 3102 KILLARNEY DR. CARY, IL 60013 TO 9325 RYAN CT. WONDER LAKE, IL 60097. Dated this 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, A.D., 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024)L11859
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE BY PUBLICATION
In the Interest of: KYA TURANA MARTINEZ, A Minor CASE NO: 2024 GR 171 TO BILLY CRIDDLE:
Take notice that on the 17th day of October, 2024, a Petition to Appoint
Guardian of the Person of the Minor was filed in the Circuit Court of McHenry County, Illinois, 22nd Judicial Circuit, and that in room 357 of the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center, on the 27th day of November, 2024 at the hour of 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, a hearing will be held upon the Petition to Appoint Guardian of the Person of the Minor. Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the Petition, the Petition may be taken for confessed as against you and an Order, Judgment or Decree entered. Dated at Rockford, Illinois this 17th day of October, 2024.
/s/ Katherine M. Keefe Clerk of the Circuit Court
ERIN L. NASH #6304953 Nash Law Office, P.C. 4615 East State Street, Suite 201 Rockford, IL 61108 (815) 397-7500
(Published in The Woodstock Independent October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024)L11860
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF CHANGE TO DBA CLOSING THE BUSINESS
Public Notice is hereby given that on OCTOBER 10, A.D. 2024, a Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of McHenry County IL concerning the business known as JILLS ORGANIZING
BUSINESS located at 1615 RIVERSIDE DR. MCHENRY, IL 60050 which certificate sets forth the following change: CLOSING THE BUSINESS in the DBA thereof: JILL K. BRAUN CLOSING BUSINESS JILLS ORGANIZING BUSINESS LOCATED AT 1615 RIVERSIDE DR. MCHENRY, IL 60050.. Dated this 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER, A.D., 2024 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024)L11861
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on OCTOBER 21, 2024 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 HARVESTER OF YARROW located at 161 REDWING DRIVE WOODSTOCK, IL 60098. Owner Name & Address: APRIL RAMONI 161 REDWING DRIVE WOODSTOCK, IL 60098.
Dated: OCTOBER 21, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
Veterans Day is observed at Northwood School in 1968. Five generations of war veterans are shown. Seated from left: Jim Shoemaker, Korean War; Marcellus Senne, World War II; Ray Bielski, Vietnam War; Lester “Doc” Edinger, World War I; and Paul Smith, Spanish-American War in 1898. Standing from left: Tony Shoemaker, Northwood student and son of Jim Shoemaker, May Chesak, teacher, and Barbara Bielski, Northwood student and sister of Ray Bielski.
(Published in The Woodstock Independent October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024)L11862
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY
COUNTY, ILLINOIS-IN PROBATE
Case No. 2024PR000284
In the Matter of the Estate of STEVEN R. GILFETHER
Deceased
CLAIM NOTICE
Notice is given of the death of STEVEN R. GILFETHER
Of: CARY, IL
Letters of office were issued on: 10/18/2024
To Representative: ERIKA GILFETHER 100 FIRST AVE. HIGHTSTOWN, NJ 08520 whose attorney is: WILBRANDT LEGAL 65 S. VIRGINIA ST. 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 October 30, 2024, November 6, 2024)L11863
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on OCTOBER 25, 2024 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 Home Style with Kerri located at 17115 Fieldstone Drive Marengo, IL 60152. Owner Name & Address: Karen Metelski 17115 Fieldstone Dr. Marengo, IL 60152
Dated: OCTOBER 25, 2024 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent November 6, 2024)L11865
PICTURE THIS
The McHenry County Historical Society’s Museum, located at 6422 Main St. in Union, is open through December 7. Featured exhibits include, “It Would be a Wonder: The Story of Wonder Lake.” Discover how Wonder Lake was created, view photographs of the lake as it was formed and learn how residents celebrated the official opening day in 1930. Museum hours are Tuesday- Friday from 1 – 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Please visit mchenrycountyhistory.org for more information.
By Leigh Rubin HEATHCLIFF
Peter Gallagher
Sports
COLLEGE REPORT
Maddie Moan helps Valparaiso to fivegame winning streak
Five and counting.
Maddie Moan, a Woodstock graduate, has helped Valparaiso University win their last five matches in a row, four of which have been in the last two weeks. Moan has contributed in three of those matches. The victories have pushed Valparaiso’s overall record to 14-9. It has also pushed them one game over the .500 mark at 6-5.
Moan’s most recent contributions were in the 3-1 triumph over Bradley University. She finished with six block assists and four digs. She also contributed in the triumph over Murray State University, also decided by a 3-1 decision, and Belmont University, which took five games to decide.
In the triumph over Murray State, she had four digs, four blocks, one of which was a solo, and three kills. Moan had five block assists against Belmont.
Ella Wicker (Woodstock) had seven digs for Flagler College as they defeated Georgia College 3-1. She also had five digs and three service aces in a 3-0 blanking of Edward Waters University. Flagler is 10-9 overall and 4-2 in the Peach Belt Conference.
Brooke Amann (Woodstock North) had three kills for the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles as they lost 3-2 to Southeast Missouri State University. She hit .750 in the contest. In the 3-1 win over Southeast Missouri State, the 6-foot-0 player had two digs. The Golden Eagles are 17-7 overall and 6-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
FOOTBALL
Jack Hayden (Marian Central Catholic), a Benedictine University football player, had seven tackles in Benedictine’s 14-0 loss to St. Norbert College. One of his tackles was a solo. He finished with 1.5 tackles for five yards of
See COLLEGE REPORT, Page 27
Thunder junior fullback David Randecker drives for the end zone for one of three touchdowns to help the Woodstock North Thunder to a 34-24 victory over the Freeport Pretzels at home Nov. 2.
Thunder win first playoff game
Woodstock North’s running game leaves the Pretzels in knots
By Andrew Rousey NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Woodstock North defeated the Freeport Pretzels 34-24 in a class 5A IHSA football first round playoff matchup Saturday night at Woodstock North High School.
On their opening possession the Thunder did what they do best, running the ball right at the Pretzel defense. No secret plan, just straight up smash-mouth football. As the Thunder neared the end zone, it was quarterback Parker Halihan that got the scoring started with a short QB run to the end zone.
In the second quarter it was fullback David Randecker’s turn. Randecker, the driving force behind the Thunder offense, scored his first touchdown of the night and started tallying yards on the way to a 220 yard rushing night.
Freeport, who initially seemed to be overmatched, fought back and put the Thunder defense on its heals. Scoring just before the half but missing on the
2-point conversion, the score was 14-6 as the clock ran down.
The Pretzels came back on the field for the third quarter and struck again to cut the lead to 2, missing once again on another 2-point conversion but pulling close, 14 -12.
North rallied with Halihan and Randecker leading the Thunder back down the field to finish the drive with another QB run to go back up by 9.
The Pretzels came right back and hit the Thunder with a long scoring play that got them back to within 3 points (21-18) going virtually untouched to the end zone after a short pass.
After that score by Freeport, it was all North and David Randecker. The fullback put the Thunder on his back and plowed through and over the Pretzel defenders, scoring twice in the fourth quarter, giving North a 34-18 lead. While Freeport would score once more with about 2:30 left, it was too little too late. Freeport recovered an onside kick with 30 seconds remaining, but just couldn’t move the ball. The final score was 34-24.
The Thunder move on to face Nazarene Academy in Lagrange Park. As of press time, the date and time are to be determined.
Thunder senior Maxwell Dennison (left) flanks junior Parker Halihan as he runs the ball in for the first score of the game.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
State-bound Blue Streaks – again
Woodstock boys crosscountry team qualifies to run in state meet again
By Sandy Kucharski SANDY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
A late fall team trip to Peoria is getting to be par for the course for the Woodstock High School boys crosscountry team. The Streaks qualified at the IHSA Class 2A Sectional at Kaneland Nov. 2.
A sixth-place team finish (184 points) at the sectionals earned WHS its fourth consecutive bid to the state meet in recent history. This comes on the heels of their sixth consecutive Kishwaukee River Conference championship title in mid-October.
The team’s No. 1 runner, junior Ellery Shutt, has finished every race this season in first or second, and the sectional race was no exception. Shutt crossed the finish line of the three-mile course in a blistering 14 minutes, 56.98 seconds, just 4 seconds behind the winner.
Lily Novelle
There were 139 boys in the race.
“Ellery has been having a great year,” said head coach Jay Fuller.
Every runner counts
A team consists of seven runners. Cross-country is scored by adding together the placings of the five top fininshers of the day on each team; the lower the score, the higher the placing.
The remaining four scoring Blue Streak runners in the Kaneland sectional were: Junior Jason Trojan-40th (16:17.84); sophomore Josh Roth48th (16:25.56); senior Milo McLeer53rd (16:30.00); and sophomore Elija Hedges- 59th (16:33.90).
“It was a really good race,” Fuller said.
While he was pleased that everyone ran very well, he was especially impressed by Trojan, who normally finishes in the No. 5 position, but he worked his way up to the No. 2 position for the sectional race.
Fuller noted that something clicked in the athlete this year and he’s dropped three minutes off his time
this season.
A bit of a dark horse this fall, the Blue Streaks were not expected to have more than an average season. However, they are finishing strong.
Secret to their success?
“They show up every day, work
Cross-country • Lily Novelle, Ellery Shutt
Lily Novelle, a senior, finished third at the Kishwaukee Valley Conference meet in Harvard October 19. A week later, she finished 18th at the IHSA Lakes Regional, helping the girls team advance to the Kaneland Sectional. She is a team captain, and her leadership this season has been outstanding.
Ellery Shutt
Ellery Shutt, a junior, won three consecutive meets: Oct. 11 (Lakes Sunset Invitational), Oct. 19 (KRC conference meet), and Oct. 26 (IHSA Lakes Regional). He has consistently been the top runner on the boys team this season, and he is one of the best runners in our area.
hard, and get after it,” Fuller said. “They don’t complain and they get it done.”
With only one senior leaving the team at the end of this season, expectations are growing for the fall 2025 team.
Helping Paws since June 28. At first he was a since loves all the attention, and sometimes he gives people love bites if they
COURTESY PHOTO
The seven-member Woodstock High School cross-country team is pictured after qualifying for the IHSA Class 2A state meet. Members are (from left) Milo McLeer, Josh Roth, Adam Baily, Ellery Shutt, Will Kashmier, Jason Trojan, and Elijah Hedges.
Tricks yield treats – and a regional title –
By Andrew Rousey NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The Woodstock North girls volleyball team went up against the girls from Boylan Rockford for a Halloween night match. The Thunder came out strong against the Titans, establishing a big lead straightaway in the first set. The team from Rockford was
no pushover though, and they fought back, getting to within 3 points before
Thunder volleyball
the Thunder put the first set away 25-21.
In the second set, it was Boylan that set the pace with an early lead, and it looked like they were forcing a third set. But the Thunder would not go easily, and they began clawing back, eventually tying the game at 20-20.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Girls co-op swimmers 5th in FVC
Seven
athletes will represent Woodstock in sectionals this week
By Sandy Kucharski SANDY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The Woodstock co-op girls swim team placed fifth in the Fox Valley Conference swim meet Nov. 9 at Woodstock North High School. Swimming competes in the FVC since Woodstock is the only school in the Kishwaukee River Conference to have swimming.
“The team was ready and they performed their best,” head coach Renee Walker said. “We had 98 percent best times for all swimmers.”
Medaling in the meet and receiving all-conference honors were:
The 200 medley relay (Jaydyn Grismer, Bella Ivers, Rylie Grismer, and Torunn Mick) 3rd; 50-yard freestyle, J. Grismer, 2nd; 100 free, R. Grismer, 6th; 100-yard backstroke, J. Grismer, 3rd.
The following athletes will participate in sectionals: J. Grismer, R. Grismer, Torrun Mick, Belle Ivers, Tori Quick, Ryann Cunningham, and Chloe Albrecht.
The IHSA sectionals will be held at noon Saturday, Nov. 9, at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.
COLLEGE
Continued from Page 36
loss, which included a quarterback sack for four yards of loss. In Benedictine’s 10-7 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran College, he finished with three assisted tackles. He was in on a quarterback sack for one yard of loss. Benedictine is 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. ...
Marlon Pomili (Marian Central Catholic) kicked off five times for 278 yards, an average of 55.0 yards per kickoff. The Marian University kicker was credited with two touchbacks. Unfortunately, it did not lead to a Marian victory as they lost to the University of Saint Francis of Indiana 31-28. Marian is 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-States Football Association-Midwest.
Dan Chamness writes The College Report for The Independent.
Woodstock co-op girls varsity swimmers took third place in the women’s 200-yard medley relay at the Fox Valley Conference meet Nov. 2. Relay members included: Jayden Grismer, backstroke; Bella Ivers, butterfly; Rylie Grismer, breaststroke; and Torunn Mick, freestyle.
VOLLEYBALL
■ Oct. 28 - Marian (19-17) defeated Marengo (13-20) 2-1 (25-20, 26-28, 25-14).
■ Oct. 29 - Marian (19-18) fell to GenoaKingston in the regional quarterfinals (23-14) (18-25, 25-20, 24-26). The Lady ’Canes end their season with the most wins since the state runner-up team of 2016. Alex Rewiako had 25 assists, 2 kills, 12 digs; Hadley Rogge tallied 16 kills, 4 blocks, 16 digs, and 5 aces; Jilly Winkelman totalled 13 digs
■ Oct. 29 - Woodstock (12-23) fell to Boylan Catholic (22-8) 2-0 (21-25, 23-25) to end their season. (See photo above)
■ Oct. 29 - Woodstock North (21-14) defeated Freeport (4-26) 2-0 (25-8, 25-19).
■ Oct. 31 - Woodstock North (22-14) defeated Boylan Catholic (22-9) 2-0 (2521, 25-23). (See photos, page 26)
FIGHT TO THE FINISH
NN SCOREBOARD NN
FOOTBALL
■ Nov. 1 - Woodstock North (8-2) defeated Freeport (5-5) 34-24. (See story page 24)
BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY
■ Nov. 2 - Woodstock finished sixth at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional scoring 184 points. (See story page 25)
■ Nov. 2 - Woodstock North freshman Geo Kopulos (17:03) finished 86th at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional.
■ Nov. 2 - Marian freshman Oliver Ebel (18:04) finished 42nd at the 2024 IHSA Class 1A XC Sectional.
GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY
■ Nov. 2 - Woodstock finished 11th at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional, scoring 269 points. Senior Lily Novelle (19:24) finished 38th. Junior Sophie Sarabia (19:44.06) finished 49th, with freshman
Susana Marti (19:44.89) finishing in 51st.
■ Nov. 2 - Woodstock North senior Maddie Mock (20:23) finished 74th at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional.
GIRLS SWIMMING
■ Nov. 2 - Woodstock co-op swim team hosted the Fox Valley Conference swim meet, finishing in 5th (See story above)
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY Woodstock High School volleyball ended their season Oct. 29 in regional play, falling to Boylan Catholic, 2-0. Blue Streak senior Julia Laidig (center) goes up for the ball.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
