Woodstock Independent 12/11/24

BUSINESS

Dr. Danielle Rahe takes over Woodstock Animal

Council eyes restaurant ‘insulation’

City mulls changes to mobile truck regs, sets property tax levy

By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

How, when, and where food trucks can operate in Woodstock will get a thorough review by the city staff before the City Council revises regulations, probably in February, to provide more “insulation” for competing brickand-mortar restaurants, Mayor Mike

Turner said during an hour-long discussion by council members last week.

Danielle Gulli, the city’s executive director of business development, said her talks with restaurant owners indicated a need to update city regulations.

A peek in the window of the newly opened Squire on the Square Dec. 5 reveals participants of the Annual Ladies Night Out enjoying time together at the bar.

It’s Christmastime in Woodstock

By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

This holiday season, history will be made at the Woodstock Opera House. Judith Svalander Dance Theatre –the resident dance company of the Woodstock Opera House – will present “The Nutcracker” on the newly refinished sprung floor stage, with

new lights and a new sound system. Svalander has produced the Woodstock Opera House’s “Nutcracker’ for 32 years.

“We are really excited,” Judith Svalander, owner and artistic director of JSDT, said. “The Opera House is so historic and beautiful, and we cannot wait to see how the new floor and new lights impact our performance.”

A sprung floor absorbs shock to minimize dancers’ injuries.

“People don’t think about the importance of the floor,” Svalander said. “The floor is a dancer’s instrument. Dancers push off the floor. They land on it. It is the determining factor. It gets them into the air, and it helps them land.”

See NUTCRACKER Page 4

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Roderick Neil Tinkler, 90

Roderick (Rod) Neil Tinkler, born Sep. 26, 1934, in Redcar, Yorkshire, England, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness on Oct. 24, 2024, soon after his 90th birthday. He was surrounded by family, including his wife of 62 years, Joan Cockcroft Tinkler, who was holding his hand.

Roderick Neil Tinkler

Rod’s life was marked by an adventurous spirit and entrepreneurial drive. Before attending St. John’s College, Oxford University, Rod completed his military service (which was compulsory in Britain at the time) which included a tour of service in Egypt. In January 1961, drawn by a job opportunity at French’s, he moved to Rochester, NY, where he met his future wife, Joan. Their marriage, on May 19, 1962, marked the beginning of a loving partnership that would last over six decades. After working for various food companies for a little over a decade, Rod and Joan founded The Silver Vault in 1974, a business that allowed them to enjoy their appreciation for antiques. The couple’s journey took them from Joan’s childhood hometown of Rochester, N.Y., to Montreal, Quebec, to Barrington, Ill., where they raised their family and resided until 2023, when they moved to Woodstock.

Even with knee and shoulder replacements which he had later in life, Rod remained active as a gardener, traveler, and lover of the outdoors. Just two months before his death, Rod and Joan vacationed with family in Algonquin Provincial Park, a place that holds special memories for Rod and Joan since it is home of Northway Lodge, a wilderness camp that Joan

first attended as a camper in 1949, and a place they have returned to for years. Rod will be missed by his family and friends and his legacy will live on through memories and the impact he made on those who knew him. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his enthusiastic laugh, and his love of life.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four sons and their wives, Bruce and Rosanne. who live in Lexington, Mass, Philip and Becky, who live in Geneva, Ill., Alan and Barri, who live in Springfield, Mo., and Peter and Kathy, who live in Woodstock. He leaves behind five grandchildren—Jon, Emmerson, Chris, Jeremy, and Ellen— and one great-grandson—Jon’s son, Theo.

He was predeceased by his brother, Ian; his brother-in-law, David; and his sister-in-law, Elizabeth. He is survived by her son, Andrew, and his family. Rod is also survived by his sister, Pen; her husband, Richard; and their sons, Christopher and Stephen, and their families.

Karen Lee (Benscoter) Kinney, 81

Karen Lee (Benscoter) Kinney, 81, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024, after a heartbreaking struggle with primary progressive aphasia. A beloved wife, mother, Nana, friend, and “library lady,” Karen was a cherished member of her family and the Harvard community.

She was born on Dec. 11, 1942, in Kankakee Ill., to Francis Avery and Anna May Benscoter. As an only child, Karen cherished her friends, who affectionately called her “Benny.”

She developed a love for music, including voice and piano, and performed as a part of the Division of Fine Arts at Olivet Nazarene College as a child and young adult. As a student, she believed in the importance of actively participating in her school community. She was a member of the KHS Latin Club, National Honor Society, and The “Kankakeean” school yearbook committee, of which she served as editor-in-chief. She was

a member of Beta Phi sorority and the International Order of Job’s Daughters (Bethel No. 89).

Karen married Orrin Kinney of Momence, Ill., on March 10, 1962, at the Asbury United Methodist Church, Kankakee. They shared 62 loving years as husband and wife. They were blessed with three children, Steven, Eric, and Melinda (Alistair) Schuldt, and two grandchildren, Ian and Nina Schuldt, whom she loved immensely. In all that she did as a wife, mother, and Nana, Karen demonstrated the importance of supporting those you love. She was a tremendous listener who showed that you must first care about what others have to say. Throughout her life, she modeled how to love with words and actions. She eagerly planned the annual family Milk Days reunion, and along with her husband built countless memories that will forever be cherished by the Kinney, Schuldt, Shourd, Wieckowski, Schaafsma, and James families.

Karen was known for her unwavering kindness, patience, and unconditional love. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, she was actively involved in the Chancel Choir and served for many years as secretary of the Staff Parish committee. She was part of the Harvard Diggins family of “library ladies,” where for 24 years she touched countless lives with her warmth, welcoming smile, and voracious love of reading. Even after her retirement, she continued to be a part of the library community as a volunteer gardener in the wildflower garden, patron, and supporter of children’s library programming. She leaves behind many dear and forever friends whom she met as a part of the library family. Karen worked tirelessly alongside her husband to restore and repurpose the Starline Factory. She, similar to her husband, saw the possibilities instead of the impossibilities, and her positive spirit served as a source of inspiration and support.

A celebration of life will be held on Dec. 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Starline Factory in Harvard to honor Karen’s final “chapter.” Memorials in tribute to Karen’s beautiful life may be made to Harvard Diggins Library, 900 E. McKinley St., Harvard, IL 60033. Karen’s memory will forever be cherished.

Family and friends may sign the

online guestbook at saundersmcfarlin. net

For more information, call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home at 815-943-5400.

Barbara J. Readel, 79

Barbara J. Readel, 79, of Woodstock, passed away on Dec. 6, 2024, at JourneyCare in Barrington, Ill.

Barbara was born in Woodstock on Sept. 16, 1945, to Walter and Dorothy (Kollenkark) Readel. She was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock, where she was baptized and confirmed. After graduating from Swedish American Nursing School in 1967, she began her nursing career at Woodstock Memorial Hospital. After 25 years of nursing, she transitioned into the business office, where she stayed until she retired in 2008. Barb liked to travel and was fortunate enough to visit Australia, Denmark, and Sweden, as well as several states in the U.S., including Hawaii.

Barb is survived by her nephews Robert (Colleen) of Concho, Ariz., and Ronald (Nancy) of Richardson, Texas; a niece, Lisa (Michael) of Woodstock; great-niece and -nephews, Amanda (Steven), Joshua (Jackie), Alexander, Anthony, and Ryan (Haley); as well as her great-great nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law, Sheila Readel. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Roger. Services will be private.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at saundersfhc.com For more information, call Saunders Funeral Home & Crematory at 815-943-5400.

Where to send obituaries

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.

Karen Lee Kinney

FOOD TRUCKS

Continued from Page 1

“They do have concerns” about competing with the mobile kitchens, which don’t have the same overhead expenses as sit-down restaurants, Gulli said. “They feel we’re not putting them first.”

The food trucks do fill a need, Turner said, especially when special events draw huge crowds that restaurants cannot handle. But he said the interests of restaurants would be “paramount” in any revisions of the city’s year-old regulations.

director of strategy and planning, the McHenry County Assessor’s Office has estimated new construction to be $1,676,553 and equalized assessed valuation at $751,906,839. The estimated EAV amount is a 10.1% increase from the prior year. Exact figures won’t be known until late March or April, when the council will abate any excess levy amount to reflect true figures.

Those regulations require a $25 license and separate $25-per-event fee, with a maximum of $300 a year. Food trucks are invited for neighborhood events, as well as by bars that don’t have their own kitchens. The city also invites them in for city-sponsored events: 29 times in 2024. No license is required for those events.

business in Woodstock (one-time, five times, annually, etc.).

According to the report, the $10 million levy is needed “to address unavoidable increases to fund the Police Pension Fund along with other inflationary increases in other government funds,”

No financial emergency

In a staff memo, Gulli suggested the council might consider:

• A separate license/process for business establishments that hire or support mobile food trucks as part of their business.

Turner said regulations should protect established restaurants.

“We may be hurting them more than we think we are,” he said.

The council last week also set a property tax levy of more than $10 million to support the city’s 2025-26 budget. Because no financial emergency has been declared, the increase is limited to a state-imposed inflationary cap of 3.4 percent, plus revenue from new construction, annexation, and property coming off TIF rolls.

Turner said the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $120 a month for city services. He admitted, however, that the property tax system in Illinois was “convoluted – state-driven.”

“It’s not an easy item to understand,” he said.

But bookstore owner Arlene Lynes was not complaining.

• An annual fee inclusive of license and yearly events.

• Fees based on the number of times a food truck will be conducting

Gulli said it wasn’t an easy issue to put into city code in a challenging environment for restaurants.

“It’s more challenging than we realize,” she added.

As a “home rule” community, Woodstock does not have to comply with the state tax cap but does as policy.

According to a staff report from Paul Christensen, the city’s executive

“I do think we get a lot of services,” she said, mentioning the Woodstock Public Library in particular.

The library and parks system are part of the city budget in Woodstock, unlike some communities where those are separate taxing units.

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

Food truck workers prepare meals in low-overhead mobile kitchens.

The JSDT will be the first dance company to utilize the new floor after the original floor was removed as part of ongoing renovations.

“We didn’t know what the floor looked like underneath,” Opera House director Daniel Campbell said. “We had to make sure that it was structurally sound. We made the difficult decision to take it out, but we were able to put in the sprung floor – which our dancers will love.”

Matilda Durcan who plays many roles in the show, including the Christmas Fairy, said she is excited for “better jumps. I think, being a fairy, it really helps with the magic – softer landings, higher jumps.”

The Christmas Fairy is a tradition that came from the original “Nutcracker.”

“When we began ‘The Nutcracker,’ I included the Christmas Fairy,” said Svalander, whose show uses 85% of her own original choreography. “As far as I could tell, we were the only ballet company including the role. And I still don’t think anyone else includes this role.”

Woodstock native Nicole Weber will be designing the lights for the show.

“Nicole is homegrown,” Svalander said. “Everything she learned was through the Opera House. We are excited to see what she does with the new equipment.”

PUBLIC SAFETY LOG

Woodstock Police Department

■ Martin E. Cervantes Ortiz, 32, Harvard, was arrested Nov. 26 at Lake Avenue and American Way on charges of speeding and no valid driver’s license. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 19.

■ Nicole A. Hall, 64, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 22 at Walden Oaks Drive on charges of domestic battery. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Dec. 19.

■ Kevin F. Eltvedt, 54, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 23 at Gerry Street on a charge of violation of stalking/no contact order. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Dec. 23.

■ Kenneth R. Canody, 44, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 23 at Church Street on charges of driving under the influence, driving while license suspended, illegal transport of liquor by driver,

Frances Carrick playing the role of Fritz, stealing the Nutcracker doll while Laura Bobowski (red) and Peter Heinz (Drosselmeyer) look on.

Svalander’s “Nutcracker” is part of the holiday tradition in Woodstock.

“I always tell people that they can come to see ‘The Nutcracker’ in Woodstock,” Svalander said, “but there is so much here … you can make a day of it!”

The JSDT “Nutcracker” performances will be Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 6 p.m., from Dec. 13 to 22. For tickets, call the box office at 815-338-5300 or purchase online at woodstockoperahouse.com

Other happenings about town

The Woodstock Opera House is showcasing local organizations,

businesses, and churches with decorated Christmas trees in the new lobby. The viewing is free and offers a peek into the new renovations.

The Friends of the Old Courthouse Gingerbread House Display is on the first floor of the Old Courthouse Center.

The Rotary Club of Woodstock offers an opportunity to visit with Santa. Sign-up can be found on its Facebook page or website.

The Woodstock Public Library is offering Christmas Movies Trivia Nights and bingo on Dec. 15, makeand-take crafts, and Christmas cards for the taking.

Judith Svalander School of Ballet Assistant Director Julie FioreHirsch instructs Emme Wille, 4, as she rehearses for the Judith Svalander Ballet Theatre production of “The Nutcracker” at the Woodstock Opera House.

Photo opportunities abound “throughout the Square with reindeer, presents, and a host of holiday cutouts. The Woodstock Dance Academy is producing its version of “The Nutcracker” at Woodstock High School. Performances run on Dec. 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit the Woodstock Dance Academy Facebook page. With restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and the bandstand all under the glow of Christmas lights, Woodstock certainly is the place to be this holiday season.

operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage, and improper turn signal. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 26.

■ Alexis G. Hernandez Santos, 19, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 24 on North Madison Street on a charge of no valid driver’s license. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Jan. 2, 2025.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District

■ Patrick D. Mertz, 32, Savannah, Tenn., was arrested on Nov. 24 at Wheeler and Third streets on charges of aggravated battery of a peace officer and resisting arrest. Transported to McHenry County Jail. Court date Dec. 23.

■ Jose M. Barquin Hernandez, 42, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 25 at Eastwood Drive and Lake Avenue on

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 Nov. 28 to Dec. 4: 76

Structure fire: 1

Natural vegetation fire: 1

Excessive heat, scorch burns with no ignition: 1

Combustible/fire spills & leaks: 1

a charge of no valid driver’s license. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 19.

■ Tammy R. Popaeko, 51, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 25 on Route 120 on charges of disorderly conduct, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest. Released with notice to appear in court. Court date Dec. 2.

Elecltrical wiring/equipment problem: 4

Person in distress: 1

Public service assistance: 6

Cover assignment, standby at fire station, move-up: 4

Dispatched and canceled en route: 3

Wrong location, no emergency found: 1

Steam, other gas mistaken for smoke: 1

System or detector malfunction: 3

Unintentional system/detector operation (no fire): 1

Total: 104

INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY TRICIA CARZOLI

Woodstock, IL • 1987

Woodstock’s season of light shines bright

This is the season when Woodstock shines – literally.

With the Lighting of the Square on the day after Thanksgiving, we officially launch the holiday season in spectacular fashion.

In addition to the thousands who attend the event in the downtown, countless hundreds more come to Woodstock during the following weeks, the Square becoming a beacon calling people throughout northern Illinois to behold the display of more than 87,000 bulbs inside the Park in the Square alone – 1,050 strands of lights` that would stretch 8.35 miles if placed end to end, according to Real Woodstock’s Facebook page.

Many evenings, after dark, a seemingly endless stream of cars circles the Square as passengers gawk at the impressive display.

Of course, the Square is a magical place anyway. So much so that many residents have objected to ideas about changes to the park, perhaps moving the bandstand or war memorial, that were included in preliminary discussions about developing a city parks master plan. “The Square is perfect just the way it is,” one reader wrote in a letter to The Woodstock Independent.

The public outcry was so great that the city rolled out the master plan without including the

For Christmas this year, give your planet a gift it needs

As we enter the holiday season, you’ll see some commonalities among a lot of your kids’ toys: plastic. That new Transformer, Barbie, board game – it all comes either sheathed in plastic, or made of it.

Plastic is not necessarily a villain. Plastics are incorporated into lifesaving medical equipment, structural and functional components of the homes that keep us safe and warm, and automobile parts that give us the freedom we so desire; plastics clearly have an important use in our lives.

Dig deeper. The world produces 413 million metric tons of plastic, up from 50 million metric tons

in 1976 (Statista report 2024). It’s estimated all plastic ever produced is still in existence today, because plastic’s helpful qualities are also its most harmful - it takes an outrageously long time to break down into constituent parts. Even when it does break down, those tiny molecules are finding their way more and more into our environment, our foods, our bodies, with evidence demonstrating damaging health effects.

A worldwide plastic conference disbanded on 12/1/24 without reaching an agreement on how to curb plastic production. We don’t even know how to slow down production, much less what to do with it once we’ve made it. Resolve to be mindful this

Park in the Square, delaying that element until 2025 to give the public more time to comment.

During the holidays, the Square is the center of many events and activities, especially the iconic (and recently restored) 1889 Opera House. At this time of year, you can usually find a dozen or more such events in Happenings, The Independent’s local calendar. (See Page 18).

As Woodstock residents know, however, these holidays are just a warm-up for what the Square promises for the coming year.

In early February, the Square is a focus for our Groundhog Days festival, which revolves around an observance of that quasi-holiday and celebrates Woodstock as the principal filming location for the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day.” That event, too, brings thousands of people to town, including visitors from around the world who want to experience the familiar scenes of a film that inspired them with its timeless message.

Later in the year, the Square will host myriad observations and celebrations that will bring thousands more people to town, from the colorful Mexican Independence Day to the inclusive Pridefest to the magical Witches & Wizards festival.

But for now, let’s appreciate our downtown season of tens of thousands of lights.

holiday season: of purchases for yourself; purchases for others; the materials and packaging that go into your presents. The planet could use that gift as well.

Nathan Dombeck

Janesville, Wis.

Plan for bridge replacement in 2027 seems ‘outrageous’

In last week’s Independent , in the In Brief section, The Independent reports that the IDOT and MCDT deemed the Paulsen Road bridge unsafe and closed it indefinitely. This little bit of news doesn’t effect the majority of your readers, but it affects the people who live on

Paulson Road, including me.

The 10-minute detour is more than an inconvenience; tacking on 10 minutes for an ambulance, fire truck, or police to reach our house could be the difference between life and death.

The fact that the bridge is “ tentatively scheduled to be replaced in 2027“ seems outrageous. Imagine waking up one morning with your road closed for the next two plus years. I have reached out to state Rep. [Joe] Sosnowski, House District 69, and MCDT, waiting to hear back. Thanks for the outlet.

Larry Sheetz Harvard

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY Shoppers walk around the festive Square during Ladies Nite Out Dec. 5.

Giving is joy shared

Giving has many facets. A gift can be wrapped with a bow. It can be a financial contribution – say to a nonprofit, church, college, or university. It can also be a giving of time, talent, or kindness. And a gift can be …. (yours to finish.)

There’s a tremendous focus on gifts and giving this time of year –think Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Giving Tuesday, and year-end. Realizing the joy shared by givers and recipients, think of the impact if we all would choose to give something every month – better yet, every week – or best, every day.

Let’s brainstorm some gifts/giving possibilities.

• Saturday, Dec. 14, is Woodstock’s Christmas Clearing House delivery day. No need to sign up. Just have your vehicle empty and ready to be filled with boxes of food and gifts when you pull into 1191 Lake Ave. (just west of Walmart). Deliveries will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue through the morning, until all 1,300 deliveries are completed.

• If you’d like to give to others through this Woodstock tradition in another way, you can donate by sending a check to Christmas Clearing House, P.O. Box 53, Woodstock, IL 60098 or by texting CCH2024 to 44321.

• Many store clerks wear name tags, making it very easy to say, “Hello,” “Thank you for your help,” and/or “Have a wonderful day.”

• The Woodstock Food Pantry provides food twice a month to any Woodstock School District 200 resident. Currently, there’s a need for volunteers for the front desk

on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There are two shifts – morning or afternoon. Call Carolyn at 815-338-0897. In addition to giving of time and talent, consider donating. For more information, go to woodstockfoodpantry.org or call 815-337-0375.

• When going through a driveup, gift your change or more to the customer behind you.

Cheryl Wormley Declarations

• Add to the Woodstock Public Library’s community-supported food pantry. Think nonperishable food, such as breakfast bars, canned soup, canned meat (Spam, chicken, tuna), rice, pasta, beans, and gluten-free items.

• Call neighbors and friends who are homebound this time of year. Maybe they need a few things you can pick up at the grocery store. They will rejoice at having the opportunity to talk with someone.

• Woodstock Area Community Ministries (WACM), a lay-led nonprofit, provides emergency financial support to District 200 residents through its Direct Assistance Program. DAP provides $4,500 a month in assistance to people in financial crisis. Donate at wacmgroups.org or through a Woodstock church or faith center.

• Warp Corps is a charitable organization at 114 N. Benton St. that works to prevent suicide, substance

» HOW TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster 11th Disrict Office

2000 W. Galena Blvd., Suite 303 Aurora, IL 60506

630-585-7672

State Rep. Steve Reick

District Office 1072 Lake Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098 815-880-5340

State Sen. Craig Wilcox District Office 209 N. Benton St. Woodstock, IL 600098

McHenry County Board Chairman Michael Buehler 1630 Quail Way Crystal Lake, IL 60014

815-334-4224 (work) mjbuehler@co.mchenry.il.us

use disorder, and homelessness by engaging people in action sports. Max Happy Coffee is one of Warp Corps main fundraisers. Stop in and buy a pound or two for yourself –and others – and learn more.

• Shop in Woodstock and say thank you for being a Woodstock business.

• If one of your interests is the environment and open space, consider sharing your gifts with The Land Conservancy of McHenry County by signing up as a volunteer or making a donation. TLC is conveniently located at 4622 Dean St. Visit conserve.org for information.

• When you receive a gift of kindness, celebrate the moment and then come up with a way to pass it on. Maybe up the tip for the waitstaff when you eat out, or write a thank-you note, or give up your place in line for a tired-looking shopper, or smile and say hello as you meet someone on the street or in a store.

I’m out of space, and there are so many more nonprofits I could have uplifted and other ways of offering kindness. Choose whatever warms your heart.

We can do this. We can share joy by giving of our time, talents –financial or expertise – and kindness every month – or better, every week – or best, every day.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cheryl Wormley is publisher emerita of The Woodstock Independent.

Woodstock

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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 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

CIRCULATION

Beverly Meuch, Dennis Micheletti, Bill Schwerdtfeger, John Wickham

Deadlines & contacts

NOON WEDNESDAY Press releases and photos pr@thewoodstockindependent com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR pr@thewoodstockindependent com

NOON THURSDAY Display advertising ads@thewoodstockindependent com

Woodstock Mayor Mike Turner 121 W. Calhoun St. Woodstock, IL 60098

815-338-4302 mturner@woodstockil.gov

Dorr Township

Supervisor Susan Brokaw 1039 Lake Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098 815-338-0125 supervisor@dorrtownship.com

NOON FRIDAY Legal notices subs@thewoodstockindependent.com

Classified Ads classifieds@thewoodstockindependent.com

Financial Support

1 Send a check to: Christmas Clearing House PO Box 53 Woodstock, IL 60098

2. Text CCH2024 to 44321

3. Scan the QR code below

We need y r help

SANTA needs many, many elves to deliver on SATURDAY,

DEC 14

8:30 am to Noon | 1191 Lake Ave (Next to Walmart) to make 1300 deliveries to our neighbors in need. No need to sign up. Just have your vehicle empty and ready to ll with holiday cheer.

Product Partners

Many community businesses have special ways to give. Great gift giving ideas and helping CCH all at the same time. Check often for updates.

Apple Creek Flowers

Specialty oral arrangement and the one-of-a-kind Christmas Clearing House tea towel.

Casting Whimsy

Donating $1 from the sale of every tin of Avalon (apple pie spice rooibos) from Nov 15 - Dec 25.

Cesaroni's

10% of sales on Satruday, Dec 7 & Saturday, Dec 14.

Chop Suey Hut

Donating $1 from each Pina Colada, Mango Colada and Strawberry Colada purchased from now until Dec 23.

D&A Salon/Curated by D &A

50% of the proceeds from the sales of Christmas Eve Candle and Home for the Holidays Candle.

The Market by D&A

100% of the sales of Do You Believe - an exquisite 1.5" high-quality sleigh bell ornament.

Kingston Lanes

Donating the sales of the specialty drink "The Grinch".

Kishwaukee Brewing

Donating $1 from every pint of Woodpecker Red.

Ortmann's Red Iron Tavern

Donating $1 for every ice cream shot sold from Dec 1 - Dec 15.

Read Between the Lynes

All proceeds of the single holiday hot chocolate packets will be donated to the Christmas Clearing House, Dec 2 - Dec 14th

So e's Whiskey and Wine

Donating from the sales of the CCH exclusive Hot Toddy.

Woodstock Country Club

Donating the sales of a special Christmas Clearing House cocktail.

Schools

Taking lessons from nature

By Janet Dovidio NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Funded by an Impact Grant from the District 200 Education Foundation, Dean Street Elementary School teachers Scott Becker, Ralph Webster, and Caitlyn Lukaszewski hosted a student field trip to Green Meadows Petting Farm in East Troy, Wisconsin. In his grant application, Becker wrote that “studies have shown that spending time with animals promotes happiness, reduces stress, elevates mood, decreases loneliness, and increases feelings of social support.”

While on the field trip, the school’s 21 first- through fifthgraders with social and emotional needs had the opportunity to experience all of those benefits.

“Bringing the students to the petting zoo was an incredible way to combine hands-on learning with emotional growth,” Webster said. “It’s an experience that enhances classroom learning and leaves lasting memories.”

Not only did they have the opportunity to pet many farm animals, the students also enjoyed a hayride, took pony rides, and chose a pumpkin to take home.

“Our students are not from farm families, so this was a new experience to enjoy nature,” Becker said.

In the weeks preceding the field trip, the students worked on ageappropriate activities in which they studied and

listed animals in a countdown to the big day. Afterward, the teachers asked the students to write about the experience by naming their favorite animal, the activity they enjoyed the most, and what was new for them.

Several parents accompanied the group, allowing them to view the teachers’ interactions with their students. The teachers agreed that the students had fun as a community and created memories with one another.

“The Green Meadows Petting Farm field trip was a great bonding, memorable experience that fits with how we want our students to feel about school,” Becker said.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Bradley Clinge, Gavin Kucharski, and Iker Alvarez Zarinana lean into the

Levi Gentile and Beatrix Landbeck-Menke handle kittens while Noah Hogan waits his turn.

Prince Johnson’s smile communicates his joy while petting a kitten. Chase Hutchinson smiles astride a pony at the Green Meadows Petting Farm.

Lyndra Bastian, orchestra director at Woodstock High School and Creekside Middle School, was recently named one of 50 music educators who make a transformative impact on their students’ lives.

Magazine names District 200 orchestra director among nation’s top 50 music directors

By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200

Lindra Bastian, orchestra director at Woodstock High School and Creekside Middle School, was named in a national publication recognizing music educators who make a transformative impact on students’ lives.

Bastian represented Illinois in “50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference” in the School Band and Orchestra + magazine’s annual feature, which was published in December.

“When I was informed that I had been selected for this,” Bastian said, “I was both shocked and deeply grateful to those who felt I was worthy of being nominated.”

Bastian, who has taught in Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 since 2013, was honored for her innovative approach to music education and her commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive musical experiences for her students.

“My proudest moments come from the opportunities I’ve been able to create for my students,”

Bastian said in the article.

From creating student opportunities to perform with renowned professional string groups to establishing the special education orchestra, United Sound, Bastian has consistently sought to expand her students’ horizons and build their confidence.

Bastian’s teaching philosophy centers on using music as a powerful tool for connection and understanding.

“Music transcends barriers and fosters connection,” she said.

Her classroom, which she affectionately describes as “a large, odd family,” prioritizes respect, inclusivity, and personal growth.

Throughout her career, Bastian has focused on creating a supportive environment in which students feel valued and heard. Many of her former students maintain connections with her, a testament to the lasting impact of her approach to music education.

Art Vallicelli, principal at Woodstock High School, said he and his colleagues are proud to work with Bastian and were not surprised at the recognition.

“Ms. Bastian brings such a passion to our growing orchestra program, leading students to pursue their dreams and enriching their middle and high school experiences,” he said.

44 District 200 seniors named Illinois State Scholars

By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200

Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 announced that 44 students from Woodstock and Woodstock North high schools’ Class of 2025 were designated as Illinois State Scholars.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s college access and financial aid agency, confers this important recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 16,500 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958.

The State Scholar formula calculation uses a combination of the ACT/SAT test scores, class rank or the unweighted GPA, and class size.

WOODSTOCK HIGH SCHOOL

Tyler Beckman

Erin Canaday

Owen Cunningham

Ian Hansen

Joseph Hernandez

Ryan Hughes

Denzel Juarez

Jax Kozlak

Julia Laidig

Sophia Mendoz

Isaac Murungi

Trey Neuhart

Lillian Novelle

Cassandra Olivas Gutierrez

Abigail Pagnotta

Anne Victoria Perez

Itzel Ramos Carbajal

Reese Rentin

Juanjose Rodriguez

Lucas Rubio

Simon Shaffer

Hunter Vassar

Annalise Wickersheim

Ineta Wilson

Madelynne Zarnstorff

Luke Zimmerman

Illinois State Scholars generally rank among the top 10 percent of the state’s graduating seniors.

“These students should be very proud of the hard work they’ve put in throughout their academic careers in District 200. The knowledge they’ve gained and the habits they’ve developed will serve them well in the future, “ District 200

Superintendent Mike Moan said.

Each State Scholar designee receives a congratulatory letter from ISAC and can download an official Illinois State Scholar badge to display on their online profiles and social media platforms, as well as share with their high school counselors and prospective colleges.

The following students earned the Illinois State Scholars designation:

WOODSTOCK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Anthony Bigler

Gianna Boege

Elizabeth Carbajal

Meadow Dodge

Angel Duron

Rebekah Forester

Jack Freeman

Kaylee Garrett

Cloe Hacker

Parker Hayes

Samantha Hill

Luke Ingram

Liberty Johnson

Jessica Mrowicki

Ivan Negron

Ryan Nolan

Kylee Rigsby

Lillyann Slick

Lyndra Bastian

A & E It’s like a house party, only bigger

By Eileen Millard NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Think of a really cool New Year’s Eve house party. Throughout the evening, guests wander from room to room. A little dancing here; a little catching up with friends there; good music everywhere; appetizers and desserts to nosh on; and a champagne toast at midnight.

That’s what the first Woodstock Opera House New Year’s party will be like, only in a historic locale with a slightly larger guest list.

The Felix and Fingers dueling piano duo will perform live in the auditorium throughout the night.

The newly renovated Library and Community Room will be open for guests to use throughout the evening. The Christmas tree display will be cleared by New Year’s Eve to allow plenty of room for the party.

Ring in the New Year at the Opera House

Opera House Director Daniel Campbell and his crew will be on hand for the evening to help usher in the new year. Opera House renovations in the public areas are, for the most part, done, said Campbell. The auditorium is finished. The open areas in the Library, Community Room, and VIP lounge might be missing a few final touches, he added, but the city didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ring in the new year with a party.

“This is our first New Year’s Eve party,” Campbell said. “We’ve been talking about it for years, and we finally said, ‘Let’s give it a try this year.’”

Guests will be able to check out the building’s new open-flow traffic design while enjoying food, drinks, and music with friends.

Game plan for the evening

The event is scheduled from 8 p.m. to midnight, with Opera House doors opening at 7:30 p.m. A check-in coatroom will be available.

Stage Left will be cleared to open it up for drinks, music, and dancing.

The music starts at 9 p.m. in the auditorium with the dueling piano duo of Felix and Fingers onstage. Guests can feel free to wander back and forth between the auditorium, Stage Left, the Library, and the Community Room.

“Pop in and out, the doors will be open,” said Campbell. “Enjoy the evening. The intent is to create an open flow experience.”

The auditorium will be general admission seating, so attendees can sit wherever they want throughout the evening (a small number of main floor seats will be reserved for attendees at the VIP ticket level).

Appetizer service will be from 8 to 9:30 p.m., and dessert service will be from 10:30 pm. to

midnight. Starting at 11:45 p.m., the music will stop as guests get ready for a countdown to midnight with a champagne toast. The Opera House will close around 12:30 a.m. to allow time for guests to leave.

Party areas

Three bars will be available during the event: one in the Community Room; one in Stage Left; and one in the VIP lounge.

“We have a full selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,” said Campbell. Opera House staff are working on some specialty drink combos for the evening.

Stage Left will have its own music throughout the night, either recorded or with a DJ. Seating will be informal, with room to dance for anyone who is in the mood to show off their dance floor moves. “Or,” Campbell added, “you can have that slow dance with your sweetheart.”

There will also be a selfie station available for guests to take photos with an assortment of backdrops, Campbell said.

Individual tickets are $60; tickets sold in pairs are $50 each. Opera House membership tickets are $45, and VIP tickets are $100. VIP level includes reserved seating in the auditorium, the private VIP lounge, gift bags, and souvenir cups. Opera House fees apply.

For ticketing questions, contact the Opera House Box Office at (815) 338-5300, or go to tickets@woodstockil.gov.

COURTESY PHOTO (ABOVE); INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY EILEEN MILLARD (RIGHT AND BELOW)

Vets to retire, but ‘feel’ will remain

Dr. Danielle Rahe will take over Woodstock Animal Hospital practice

By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

For the past 42 years, husband and wife veterinarians Dr. Dave Etheridge and Dr. Cathy Sinnott have cared for generations of Woodstock’s pets at the Woodstock Animal Hospital just east of town on Route 120. The couple have been familiar faces in town as they raised their four children here and involved themselves in community activities.

Now in their 70s, the two are ready to retire, a decision made considerably easier as Woodstock native Dr. Danielle Rahe will helm the practice going forward.

“We’re really happy she’s taking over,” Sinnott said. “We felt we were ready.”

Settling in Woodstock

Etheridge, who grew up in Evanston, met Sinnott, a native of Canada, in 1977 when the two were both studying at the University of Illinois Veterinary College in Urbana.

A year later, they were married. The best man at their wedding was fellow student Jack Hansen, who had grown up on a dairy farm in Woodstock and would go on to become a large-animal vet. Through visiting Hansen, the couple were introduced to Woodstock.

The Woodstock Animal Hospital was already in existence, founded and built by Dr. John Palenske. But when Palenske was injured by a horse, he needed help with the practice.

Etheridge and Sinnott were

interested in purchasing the practice, and Palenske agreed. The couple owned a house in Arlington Heights, and with mortgage interest rates at 16%, few homes were selling.

What saved them, Etheridge said, was that when Palenske had built the animal hospital, he had included a two-bedroom apartment upstairs.

With a 2-year-old and expecting their second child, Etheridge and Sinnott moved into the apartment. Fortunately, the building sat on four acres. As their family grew, the land first served as a giant back yard.

“We’d take the children outside at night and just let them run,” Sinnott said.

Over the years, the acreage turned from back yard to the Etheridge

See VET HOSPITAL, Page 14

Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Nov. 12 .

■ Residence at 991 Carol Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Jeffrey J. Kiefer, Woodstock, to Michele Johnson, Woodstock, for $360,000.

■ Residence at 2505 Fairview Circle, Woodstock, was sold by The 2505 Fairview Trust, Clearwater, Fla., to Mario Ferrario, Woodstock, for $470,000.

■ Vacant land, approximately 29 acres, on Lucas Road, Woodstock, was sold by Diversified Sales LLC, Lakewood, to Freedom Lane LLC, Marengo, for $600,000.

■ Residence at 912 N. Madison St., Woodstock, was sold by Donald M. Burger Jr., Harvard, to Martin Garcia Recillas, Woodstock, for $255,000.

■ Residence at 517 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, was sold by Kathleen Marx, Brownstown, to Jeffrey Brumm, Woodstock, for $40,000.

■ Residence at 616-618 Saint Johns Road, Woodstock, was sold by Phillip J. Castagna, Woodstock, to Adam Kern, Woodstock, for $320,000.

■ Residence at 2870 Boerderij Way, Woodstock, was sold by Thomas W. Huffman II, Crystal Lake, to William K. Eigenfeld, Woodstock, for $435,000.

■ Residence at 241 Burbank Ave., Woodstock, was sold by David L. Etheridge, Janesville, Wis., to Mark W. Schwanke, Woodstock, for $355.000.

■ Residence at 902 S. Sharon Drive, Woodstock, was sold by David R. Blumhorst, Woodstock, to Santo Voiculescu, Woodstock, for $375,000.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Retiring veterinarians Cathy Sinnott and Dave Etheridge meet a patient with Dr. Danielle Rahe, who is taking over the Woodstock Animal Hospital from the couple.

VET HOSPITAL

soccer field where boys and girls teams would practice, was the site for many family parties and gatherings, and eventually became a pasture for horses and goats.

The use of the land as a soccer field coincided with Etheridge’s coaching soccer, as well as softball and basketball. Sinnott helped with 4-H judging for posters and dog showing and served as an animal control administrator.

‘Nice people and animals’

Over the decades, Sinnott said, “We’ve met a lot of nice people and animals.”

The couple jokes that they were able to live and work so closely together because they maintained separate offices and each had a car.

The nature of their profession and the responsibility of owning a business have meant that they’ve been “very committed” to their work.

Sinnott believes that their four children absorbed a lot from visits to the practice and from the

emergencies their parents handled on weekends.

“It helped them learn a work ethic and responsibility,” she said.

Mostly ‘happy visits’

While “it’s always hard to lose a patient,” Sinnott said, “most of our visits are happy visits.”

There have been a couple of exceptions.

Sinnott recalled the year that as she was finishing her oldest daughter’s Halloween costume, her husband was bitten in the face by a German shepherd. Sinnott took the children trick-or-treating, while Etheridge went to the emergency room.

The couple laughingly recalled a dachshund that so terrified the office staff that everyone jumped up on the x-ray table to get out of the pooch’s range.

And during the COVID-19 pandemic, only pets could come inside the building; consultations with owners were done in the parking lot.

Changes in the practice

Over 42 years, Sinnott and

Etheridge’s practice has benefited from advances in veterinary medicine.

Disease prevention is better, specialists - for cancer treatment, for example - have come into the field, and the arsenal of drugs has grown, both in a bigger range of anesthetics and in an increase in medications for behavior modification, the couple said.

One growing area in veterinary care is in rehabilitation, a specialty that Rahe brings to the practice.

“Animals are living longer,” Sinnott said. “They need help with mobility and comfort.”

Rahe has a physical rehabilitation certificate and has installed her equipment to help furry patients who need those services, due to age or to recover from an injury or surgery.

Shifting the practice over

Rahe grew up on a farm near IL Route 176 and IL Route 47 and graduated from Woodstock High School. After finishing her studies at the U of I Veterinary College, she spent the last 10 years living and practicing in central Illinois. With an eight-yearold son, she felt it was time to move back near family and found an old Facebook post from Etheridge and Sinnott saying that they were getting ready to retire. Rahe had graduated from WHS with the couple’s daughter Amy and reached out to ask if the practice was for sale. It was, and with an agreement made, Rahe began working at the Woodstock Animal Hospital in August.

“I want to keep a family-oriented feel,” Rahe said. “I enjoy that a lot.”

She was firm that the Woodstock Animal Hospital would remain an independent practice, rather than join the corporate trend that has run through veterinary medicine.

As Rahe has learned the business and become familiar with what goes on behind-the-scenes, the practice has gradually shifted over to her, with Etheridge and Sinnott cutting down on their hours. Because the practice will be going from two vets to one, though, the couple have told Rahe that they will be available to help out when she needs a hand.

The support team at the Woodstock Animal Hospital will remain the same, including veterinary assistant Robyn Bates, who went to work at the practice in the 1980s.

Rahe pronounced the veterinary practice as up-to-date, but Etheridge demurred.

“We’ve learned a lot from her already,” he said.

Besides taking over the practice, Rahe has adopted Etheridge and Sinnott’s two elderly goats, growing the herd with five Nigerian dwarf goats, and the chickens that the couple kept on the property.

“We’ll miss the eggs!” Sinnott said.

Retirement plans

In retirement, Etheridge and Sinnott will live in Janesville, Wis., near one of their daughters. With four children and 10 grandchildren, the couple plan to do lots of visiting, including to Nevada, Utah, and Minnesota, as well as to Canada, where Sinnott is from.

“We really, really enjoy our kids and our grandkids,” Sinnott said.

She has one other wish, having missed one of the U.S.’s natural treasures.

“I’d like to see national parks,” Sinnott said. “I’ve never been to one.”

They will cherish the close relationships they’ve nourished over the years.

“I like to think that we know our clients very well,” Sinnott said.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

The Woodstock Animal Hospital sits on four acres on IL Route 120, just east of town.

Community

‘If you’re doing the right thing, good things happen’

Community Foundation for McHenry County awards four grants to Woodstock organizations

By Lydia LaGue Lopez NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Helping your community comes in many forms, and when someone helps the helpers, greater things can happen.

The Community Foundation for McHenry County recently awarded grants in the amount of $7,000 each to four local organizations. The grant was not applied for; instead, each recipient was recommended anonymously to receive the grant.

Woodstock Fine Arts Association

One organization is the Woodstock Fine Arts Association, whose mission is to support various art initiatives in the community. Founded in 1961, a group of mostly farming community members got together because they “wanted to help sustain the arts.” Ever since, the WFAA has hosted the Creative Living series, run children’s programs, and were “integral” in fundraising to support the restoration and maintenance of the Opera House in the mid-1970s.

Recently, the WFAA donated to add a light wall to the back of the Opera House stage for heightened video effects in stage productions. The organization also donated to replace the tin ceiling in the community room, allowing for more sound absorption.

Since 1992, WFAA has also awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to McHenry County graduating high school seniors who excel in the arts. This year’s application is now available on the WFAA website.

Mary Ellen Prindiville, the treasurer of WFAA and chairperson of Creative Living, said the grant was “a drop from heaven.”

The Creative Living series is in its

61st season. Past speakers include Maya Angelou, Miguel Cervantes of “Hamilton” fame, and Dr. Temple Grandin.

“The series gives people throughout northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin close-to-home access to national-, regional-, and sometimes international-caliber speakers right here in Woodstock,” Prindiville said.

Six speakers comprise each season, and the lectures are held at the Opera House on the third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in October, November, February, March, and April, and on the second Thursday of the month in December. Stage Left provides coffee at 9 a.m. as a

gathering space before the lecture. The next speaker will be Flower Magazine publisher Margot Shaw, who will appear Dec. 12.

“Our tagline is ‘always more than you expect.’ It’s just so true. Often you might hear, ‘I wasn’t that keen on coming, but wow, it was so good,’” Prindiville said.

The WFAA was surprised and gracious in receiving the grant.

“Of course the funds are appreciated, and the recognition is meaningful,” Prindiville said.

The organization plans to use the funds for program operations and looks forward to the future.

“We hope that Creative Living continues; we’re now planning

our 62nd season. We’re super excited about giving out scholarships. When the scholarships are awarded, we also do a talent showcase for the students to have the opportunity to perform on the Opera House stage. It’s mind-boggling, the talent of our students in the county. It just makes you happy,” Prindiville said.

Melissa O’Leary Splash Pad

The city of Woodstock Recreation Department was another grant recipient, with the funds to be used in support of the Melissa O’Leary Splash Pad. Mark Pentecost, director of Parks & Recreation, explained that the Splash Pad has been an ongoing project, with the purpose of providing additional services and amenities to Woodstock Waterworks, especially for families. Before she passed away, Melissa O’Leary was a lifeguard, swim instructor, and pool supervisor. The splash pad is named in tribute to her 20 years of service to the community.

When the idea was conceived, it was anticipated to be about a $300,000 project. After discussions with the city regarding water conservation, the price increased. However, the Parks and Recreation department has had many successful fundraising events, including the annual Splash Bash, which kicks off the pool season on Memorial Day weekend. The city has applied for an additional grant, but with this surprise grant from the Community Foundation, $97,000 has been collected so far.

WACM, St. Vincent de Paul

The Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Woodstock Area Community Ministry, a nonprofit run by individuals from

COURTESY PHOTO

Will Steger, a legendary polar explorer and international authority on polar environmental concerns, spoke at the Creative Living Series last season. He is joined in the Opera House Community Room by Mary Ellen Prindiville, Creative Living chairperson and WFAA treasurer, and Kristi Moynihan, WFAA president.

GRANTS

Continued from Page 15

eight local churches, that provides assistance to those in need of emergency help. This includes gas vouchers, assistance with utility shut-off notices, rental assistance, and donations to the Sparrow’s Nest and the Salvation Army.

WACM President Renee Witt said, “We’re appreciative to the community for their support.”

WACM plans to use the grant funds for its direct assistance program.

The remaining grant went to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary Church. Their mission is to help those in need, emulating how St. Vincent de Paul helped the poor. This comes in the form of assistance with rent and utility payments, food, medical bills, and other necessities.

“We bring some hope to people,” SVdP president Bob Hahn said. “In the people we serve, we see the face of Christ. They’re seeing his face in us.”

The conference works with various social service agencies in the area and is part of the 211 system – a number that anyone can call looking for assistance and be directed to who can help in that person’s area. Those in need can also call the assistance hotline at 815-334-7711.

“What’s different about us is we try to meet with people in their homes, or if they’re homeless, at another spot. We go to them, rather than they come to us. We assign members, investigate, and do whatever we can to help,” Hahn said.

He also noted that the needs have gone up since the pandemic, with over 800 calls in Woodstock alone in the last year. As a nonprofit, SVdP relies on donations in order to assist others.

“The grant was exactly what we needed,” Hahn said. “If I look at last year’s data, we spent approximately $148,000. It’s unprecedented; the average is $65,000, so it’s more than doubled. Anything like this grant [fulfills] a need. We do the best we can.”

“If you’re doing the right thing, good things happen,” Hahn said.

Awards presented for Woodstock’s sweet tradition

Staff Report

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

As part of Woodstock’s holiday celebration, the Friends of the Old Courthouse are presenting the 8th Annual Gingerbread House Walk through Dec. 22 at the Old Courthouse Center on the Woodstock Square.

Each year, prizes are awarded

in several categories to outstanding gingerbread houses. This year’s judges were the newest tenants of the Old Courthouse Center – William, Sophia, and Bill Linardos of the Squire on the Square restaurant – who awarded five prizes:

■ Most Beautiful: “It’s a Beaut’ Clark” by Allison Steiger

■ Most Creative: “Two Turtle Doves and a Groundhog Under a

Tree” by Danille Tegtman

■ Most Delicious: “Christmas Markets on the Rhine River” by Cary Travel Express

■ Funniest: “The Gingerzilla” by Kiera Merrell and Reagan Zuwisza

■ Best in Show: “The Kringle Market” by Susan Roderick Seibel Viewing of the houses is free of charge during open hours for the Old Courthouse Center.

Best in Show: “The Kringle Market” by Susan Roderick Seibel

Most Delicious: “Christmas Markets on the Rhine River” by Cary Travel Express

Most Creative: “Two Turtle Doves and a Groundhog Under a Tree” by Danille Tegtman

COURTESY PHOTOS

Most Beautiful: “It’s a Beaut’ Clark” by Allison Steiger

Funniest: “The Gingerzilla” by Kiera Merrell and Reagan Zuwisza

A peek through the window at Apple Creek Flowers finds Ladies Night Out shoppers immersed in holiday splendor. The popular event drew hundreds to the Square and surrounding stores and restaurants.

FESTIVE SHOPPING

INDEPENDENT

Student of the Week

Gianna Stahl

Marian Central Catholic High School senior Gianna Stahl is the daughter of Jim and Kristi Stahl.

Her counselor commented, “Gianna is one of the most selfless and pure-hearted students I’ve met in my career. She is a helper at heart and goes above and beyond to make our transfer students feel welcome at Marian. Gianna is well-deserving of this recognition as she embodies what it means to be an incredible Marian student!”

Gianna is a Marian Central transfer student mentor. She is a member of the cross-country and track teams. She also participates in the incubator entrepreneurship program where her team’s product idea took first place.

Outside of school, Gianna volunteers at Helping Paws and has helped organize a winter donation event for Head Start of McHenry County.

Tracie Muehler Team

815-482-4909

tmuehler starckre com

n In the Nov. 27 edition of The Woodstock Independent, the article “Christmas on the Ranch” misidentified the production company. The movie was produced by Very Merry Entertainment. Also, all references to the movie title should read “Christmas on the Ranch,” and all references to the lead should read Jade Harlow. We regret the errors.

ELEMENTARY STUDENT OF THE WEEK

PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Happenings

WOODSTOCK INDOOR FARMERS MARKET

12 THURSDAY

CREATIVE LIVING SERIES: MARGOT SHAW

Woodstock

Stage Left Café 125 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

woodstockoperahouse.com

13 FRIDAY

OPEN MIC NIGHT

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

To sign up, email Keith@offsquare music.com

‘THE NUTCRACKER’ BALLET

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees) 14 SATURDAY

All Seasons Orchard 14510 Rt. 176

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

MERRY LITTLE MARKET & BAKE SHOP

St. Mary School gym

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. merrylittlemarket@gmail.com

ANNUAL COOKIE WALK

Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church

8505 Church St., Ridgefield www.rclpc.org

‘THE NUTCRACKER BALLET’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

2 and 7 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees)

15 SUNDAY

‘JOLLY JINGLES’ SANTA HOLIDAY SING-ALONG

Unity Spiritual Church

225 W. Calhoun St. Noon-3 p.m. Free family activities 815-337-3534

‘THE NUTCRACKER’ BALLET

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

2 and 6 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees)

OPEN MIC STORYTELLING

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

2 to 4 p.m.

Hosted by Jim May

17 TUESDAY

WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL

Council Chambers, City Hall

121 W. Calhoun St.

7 p.m.

woodstockil.gov

‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ SING-ALONG

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

$10

18 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

‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ SING-ALONG

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

$10

19 THURSDAY

WOODSTOCK FIRE/RESCUE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2900 Raffel Road

7 p.m.

SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB TRIVIA USA

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

7 p.m.

woodstockoperahouse.com

20 FRIDAY

‘THE NUTCRACKER BALLET’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

2 and 6 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees)

JAZZ NIGHT

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

8 p.m.

woodstockoperahouse.com

21 SATURDAY

WOODSTOCK INDOOR FARMERS MARKET

All Seasons Orchard 14510 Rt. 176

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

woodstockfarmersmarket.org

‘THE NUTCRACKER BALLET’

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St. 2 and 7 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees)

A VERY MERRY COOK ’N KELLS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St. 3 and 7:30 p.m. $15 woodstockoperahouse.com

Catholic Church

22 SUNDAY

‘THE NUTCRACKER’ BALLET

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

2 and 6 p.m.

$51 front row balcony; $31 standard seating (including fees)

THE 40TH ANNUAL TRISHMAS CONCERT

Stage Left Café

125 W. Van Buren St.

2 p.m.

$17

woodstockoperahouse.com

23 MONDAY

ED HALL’S WOODSTOCK CHRISTMAS GUITAR NIGHT

Woodstock Opera House

121 W. Van Buren St.

7:30 p.m.

$40 A seating; $35 B seating (including fees) woodstockoperahouse.com

24 TUESDAY CHRISTMAS EVE

25 WEDNESDAY

CHRISTMAS DAY

26 THURSDAY

SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB TRIVIA USA

Stage Left Café

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

woodstockoperahouse.com

FLASHBACKS

35 years ago – 1989

■ The price of trash bags in Woodstock increased to $1.35 per bag.

■ The Woodstock Plan Commission recommended the partial annexation of the planned Dakota Ridge subdivision.

30 years ago – 1994

■ Brian Sager and Barry Frame filed for seats on the City Council.

■ Students at Olson Middle School pledged $2,000 to Memorial Medical Center for the purchase of a heart monitor.

25 years ago – 1999

■ The Woodstock City Council rejected Broadacre Management’s concept for the redevelopment of the former Die Cast site on Clay Street. The plan included 50 townhomes, 18 duplexes, and 24,000 square feet of commercial space.

■ The Woodstock High School Theatre Arts Boosters was raising funds by selling naming plaques on the seats of the soon-to-be remodeled WHS auditorium.

20 years ago – 2004

■ The Plan Commission voted to recommend approval of the Hummel Group design for Woodstock Station, a development slated for the former Die Cast site. The projected 10.5-acre development would have included a seven-story 70-unit condominium, 37 row houses in five structures, a four-story 42-unit condominium, a 10 row-house building, a three-story 35,800-square-foot retail building, and a five-story structure that would have 25,000 square feet of retail on the first floor with 76 condominium dwellings on the top four floors.

■ WHS swimmer Brian Spittler set a Northbrook Spartan Spring Classic record in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 24.55 seconds.

15 years ago – 2009

■ Copy Express announced the publication of its 2010 wall calendar. It featured photographs of the Horses of a

5 years ago – 2019

■ Turkey Tag Team, a collaboration among Woodstock High School, Rotary Club of Woodstock, and Northern Illinois Food Bank, gathered Thanksgiving fresh food items to deliver to 21 deserving Woodstock families. Turkey Tag Team was in conjunction with the yearlong WHS Blessings in a Backpack program, coordinated by the same three sponsoring groups, which provided shelf-stable food each weekend for families at risk of chronic hunger.

■ D-200 earned a solid B+ from parents who answered a 22-statement survey during fall parent-teacher conferences. That was consistent with the grade parents handed out the previous year. The top-scoring statement both years – 96 percent in 2019 and 95.36 percent in 2018 – was “I feel my child is treated with dignity and respect by the school staff.”

Different Color that had been on display on the Woodstock Square and at nearby locations during the summer. The horses were part of a fundraiser for Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program, Richmond. Copy Express had published a calendar annually for 28 years.

■ Woodstock Independent columnist John Daab was lamenting having already eaten his “yearly allotment of fruitcake.” He wrote, “Real fruitcake is heavenly. The flavor rich and complex, the fragrance a head-spinning blend of candied fruits, spices and booze.”

10 years ago – 2014

■ The Woodstock Public House completed a move from one side of the Square to another – from its longtime Main Street location to the Old

Courthouse building. Co-owner Kathryn Loprino said she was thrilled to be in the new larger location. The Loprinos were renting the space from the city of Woodstock.

■ Woodstock was one of 11 places in Illinois to be named a Preserve America Community by first lady Michelle Obama. The designation was expected to help Woodstock qualify for grants to restore the Old Courthouse.

■ Mary Endres Elementary School was recognized as an International Spanish Academy by the Spanish Ministry of Education for its excellence in language education. The school was one of 14 in the U.S. and Canada recognized in 2014. The recognition was expected to result in access to expanded dual-language programming and resources.

■ Jeff Van Landuyt announced he would retire as director of Public Works in March. As director, Van Landuyt was managing the largest city department,s with a staff of 62 authorized positions in six divisions and a $6.6-million budget. He had held a variety of roles in municipal public works over nearly four decades, beginning in Woodstock’s Waste Water Treatment division in 1981.

1 year ago – 2023

■ Woodstock Rotary Club debuted its new portable Santa Hut on a trailer at Benton and Van Buren streets, larger and with a ramp to make it available to kids of all ages and abilities.

■ After an aging and faded life-sized nativity scene returned for public display in 2022 following a twoyear absence during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of First United Methodist Church had the 50-yearold figures restored in Wisconsin and re-installed in front of the church. With some tree-lot money earmarked to buy additional figures, the church added an angel and a donkey to the scene.

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY DENNIS MATHES

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT MCHENRY COUNTY

PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT)

Request of JILL DIANE MEYER

Case No. 2024MR000233

There will be a court hearing on my Request to change my name from: JILL DIANE MEYER

To the new name of: JULIAN AVERY MEYER

The court date will be held on January 13, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at 2200 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, McHenry County in Courtroom 201.

Dated at Woodstock, IL November 18, 2024

/s/ Jill Diane Meyer

(Published in The Woodstock Independent November 27, 2024, December 4, 2024, December 11, 2024) L11873

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS-IN PROBATE Case No. 2024PR000302

In the Matter of the Estate of ANN M. REESE

Deceased

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of ANN M. REESE Of: CRYSTAL LAKE, IL Letters of office were issued on: 11/13/2024

To Representative: ROBERT YAZEL

31 JOHN ST. CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014 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 November 27, 2024, December 4, 2024, December 11, 2024) L11875

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS-IN PROBATE

Case No. 2024PR000302

In the Matter of the Estate of JAMES A. FORBES

Deceased CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of JAMES A. FORBES

Of: CRYSTAL LAKE, IL

Letters of office were issued on: 11/12/2024

To Representative: LINDA FORBES

1317 BEHAN ROAD

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014

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 November 27, 2024, December 4, 2024, December 11, 2024) L11876

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSUMED NAME

Public Notice is hereby given that on NOVEMBER 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 STERILEXCELLENCE located at 5002 CASSANDRA CT. RINGWOOD, IL 60072. Owner Name & Address: MICHAEL J. SADOWSKI 5002 CASSANDRA CT. RINGWOOD, IL 60072.

Dated: NOVEMBER 25, 2024

/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)

(Published in The Woodstock Independent December 4, 2024, December 11, 2024)L11877

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT

MCHENRY COUNTY

PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT)

Request of COLLEEN JENNIFER ANN CINCINNATI

Case No. 2024MR000243

There will be a court hearing on my Request to change my name from:

COLLEEN JENNIFER ANN CINCINNATI

To the new name of: COCO JENNIFER ANN CINCINNATI

The court date will be held on January 16, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at 2200 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, McHenry County in Courtroom 201.

Dated at Woodstock, IL November 26, 2024

/s/ Colleen Jennifer Ann Cincinnati (Published in The Woodstock Independent December 4, 2024, December 11, 2024)L11878

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT

COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS-IN PROBATE

Case No. 2024PR000339

In the Matter of the Estate of JOYCE A. PAYNE

Deceased

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of JOYCE A. PAYNE

Of: WOODSTOCK, IL

Letters of office were issued on: 12/3/2024

To Representative:

CURTIS L. PAYNE

1721 WALNUT DR. WOODSTOCK, IL 60098

whose attorney is: KNAPP, PETER G. 244 N. THROOP ST. SUITE 110

WOODSTOCK, IL 60098

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 December 11, 2024)L11880

Leigh Rubin HEATHCLIFF

By Peter Gallagher

Rules: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as 9x9 grids, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. SOLUTION

BANANAGRAMS BINGO BRAIN TEASER CHECKERS CHESS COMPUTERS CROSSWORD CRYPTOGRAM

DEXTERITY HIDDEN PICTURE JIGSAW LOGIC MATHEMATICAL MAZE PLAYING CARDS PUZZLE

SUDOKU SUMS TETRIS UNO VIDEO GAMES WORD SEARCH WORDLE

Elon Rodriguez and UW-Parkside teammate go 1 and 2 COLLEGE REPORT

Elon Rodriguez, a Marian Central Catholic graduate and Woodstock resident, started the year showing just how close he is to the 10th ranked wrestler at 133 pounds in NCAA Division II.

Rodriguez took second in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointer Open. His lone loss in the tournament, by a 3-2 score, was to Matthew Chi. Chi and Rodriguez are teammates at the University of WisconsinParkside. Chi is currently ranked 10th in the country among NCAA Division II Wrestlers at 133 pounds.

Rodriguez earned his way to the title match with two decisions, a 6-1 victory and a 5-1 triumph, and an opening round pinfall victory at 6:09.

Rodriguez is 3-1 on the young season.

Dylan Connell (Marian Central Catholic) won his first match of the year at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic Tournament, which was part of WrangleMania, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The University of Illinois 184-pound grappler posted an 8-0 win over Harvard University’s Matt Walsh. The major decision victory earned the Marengo resident fifth place in that weight class.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Ryan Jones (Marian Central Catholic) took 59th in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship. The Marengo resident, who spent most of the year running 8,000 meters, ran 10,000 meters in the regional. The University of Illinois-Springfield runner finished the race in 32 minutes,

See COLLEGE REPORT, Page 27

The Woodstock Lightning eighth-graders sport first-place medals after the Huntley Tip Off Classic. Players pictured from left (back row) are Aiyana Fourdyce, Rylee Zawisza, Lexi Roush, Audrey Wedoff, Jade Slinko, Cece Debolt, Lili Debolt, and Noelle Gay. (Front row): Reese Zawisza, Evie Rick, Emalyn Blue, Ellody Jackson, Lexi Richardson, and Olivia Wilhelmi.

The coaching staff consists of Josh Fourdyce, Jamie Lynn Wedoff, Nate Richardson, and Juel Mecklenburg.

Bringing light(ning) to youth basketball

Woodstock Lightning girls feeder basketball program sparks love for the game

By Juel Mecklenburg NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

The Woodstock Lightning girls feeder basketball program has hit the courts like a storm this fall. The feeder program for girls was brought back to life in 2021 by Josh Fourdyce and Jamie Lynn Wedoff.

The program offers fall and spring seasons for fifth- through eighthgrade girls in the Woodstock area, regardless of which high school they will be attending. The mission for this program is to develop strong young women who will be confident and competent in basketball, having built relationships before entering high school. With those relationships being built at an early age, there is a great transitional feed into high school competition.

Growing strong

This season, the eighth grade A-team is reaping what they have sowed for the past three years of work. The team is playing in the SouthEastern Wisconsin Developmental League and the Fox Valley Feeder League. They have consistently defeated 3A and 4A schools that have almost double the enrollment of Woodstock schools.

As of the end of last week, the record for the team was 17-4 playing throughout McHenry County.

In November, the program played in the annual Huntley Tip Off Classic. The sixth- and seventh-grade teams placed first in their brackets. The eighth-grade team placed second in the top bracket, defeating Burlington Central and Palatine, and losing by 7 points in the championship game to Fremd.

Last weekend the eighth-graders won the Round Lake Tournament,

defeating Round Lake and Huntley, to top Lake Zurich in the championship game. Dec. 8, the girls finished the Burlington Blast tournament in second place.

Next year, these players will be assets to the Blue Streaks and Thunder, as half will be going to Woodstock High School and half will attend Woodstock North.

Get involved

The program consists of all volunteers who are dedicated to the love for the game and seeing youth basketball become resurrected in Woodstock. Each year the program looks for coaches and players to join.

For more information, email woodstocklightning2@gmail.com or follow the club on Facebook at Woodstock Girls Feeder Basketball Club.

COURTESY PHOTO

Dan Chamness The College Report

Berkley has been at Helping Paws since the end of June. She is midnight black with a white spot on her chest, and her eyes shine like the brightest tourmaline. She started out shy but after free-roaming in the kitty room, she has blossomed. This girl loves to cuddle with her kitty friends. She does great with all the felines in the room and will approach

Juliette Huff is a senior at Marian Central Catholic High School.

As a leader on the varsity basketball team, she inspires her teammates with her hard work, dedication, and passion for the game. Whether she’s driving to the basket, setting up key plays, or encouraging her team, Juliette exemplifies what it means to be a Hurricane on and off the court. She is averaging: 17.6 points per game

6.4 rebounds per game

2.6 steals per game 1.2 blocks per game She leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks.

what appears to be a sidewalk sale. Store names visible include, from left: Woolworth’s, Bob Schultz’s Meat Market, The Pub Tavern, National Food Store, Bowman’s Shoe Store (east of Main Street), Wein’s, B & R (5 cents to $1.00) and Ernie Bohn’s Hardware and Toy Store.

PICTURE THIS

The McHenry County Historical Society’s Museum, located at 6422 Main St. in Union, is open year-round. Current museum hours are TuesdayFriday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning January 6, the museum hours will expand to Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visit mchenrycountyhistory.org and plan your visit today.

Juliette Huff - Girls Basketball

Girls on the court

BLUE STREAKS

THUNDER

The Woodstock High School girls basketball team hosted AldenHebron Dec. 4. The Streaks defeated the Giants 52 - 26.

Woodstock North takes on Marengo Dec. 3. WNHS fell 67-32. Junior Adelyn Crabill (left) drives past a Marengo defender. Sophomore Madalynn Nordahl (above) drives to the basket.

Junior Victoria Cygan (left) takes one to the basket.

INDEPENDENT

PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY

Blue Streak junior Patricia Cygan takes the ball in for the layup over an Alden-Hebron defender.

COLLEGE

Continued from Page 24

22.8 seconds.

As a team, UIS took ninth in the 27-team field, scoring 281 points. Grand Valley State University won the regional, which was hosted by Lewis University and held on its cross-country course.

VOLLEYBALL

Maddie Moan (Woodstock) recently finished her junior season of volleyball at Valparaiso University. The 6-foot-1 middle hitter/right side hitter finished the year with 46 kills, 44 blocks, six of which were solos, along with, 22 digs and five service aces.

Valparaiso was 18-14 overall and 9-9 in the MVC.

Ella Wicker (Woodstock) had 36 digs, 14 service aces, and two assists for Flagler College this year. The 5-5 sophomore libero/defensive specialist helped Flagler advance to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Semifinal. They were 15-11 overall and 5-3 in the Peach Belt Conference.

Dan Chamness writes The College Report for The Independent.

BOYS BASKETBALL

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock (1-3) fell to Grant (2-4) 56-49.

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock North (0-3) lost to Belvidere (3-1) 55-29.

■ Dec. 3 - Marian (1-4) fell to North Chicago (1-2) 77-63.

■ Dec. 4 - Marian (1-5) lost to Lutheran (1-4) 74-30.

■ Dec. 7 - Woodstock (1-4) fell to Belvidere North (3-4) 55-52.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock (2-3) defeated Harvard (0-3) 41-30.

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock North (0-5) fell to Marengo (3-2) 67-32.

■ Dec. 4 - Woodstock (3-3) defeated Alden-Hebron (1-3) 52-26.

■ Dec. 4 - Marian (4-1) beat Wauconda (3-1) in a close game 51-50.

■ Dec. 5 - Marian (4-2) fell to Stillman Valley (8-0) 42-36.

■ Dec. 6 - Woodstock (3-4) lost to Marengo (4-2) 55-40.

■ Dec. 6 - Woodstock North (0-6) fell to Plano (7-2) 57-40.

BOYS WRESTLING

■ Dec. 2 - Woodstock (0-1) fell to Johnsburg 45-35.

NN SCOREBOARD NN

BOYS BOWLING

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock co-op (7-0) defeated Marengo 7-2. Woodstock senior Noah Rodriguez rolled a 691 series with a 246 in game two. Woodstock junior Max Haggerty rolled a 676 series with a 237 in game two.

■ Dec. 4 - Woodstock co-op (7-1) fell to Huntley 2-7. Woodstock junior Max Haggerty rolled a 259 in game one and a 246 in game two. Fellow Woodstock junior Sonny Marsalla rolled a 243 in game one and a 256 in game two.

■ Dec. 5 - Woodstock co-op (8-1) defeated Plano 9-0. Woodstock junior Max Haggerty rolled a 699 series with games of 243 and 254. Woodstock senior Noah Rodriguez rolled a 640, with fellow senior Will Resse shooting a 636 series. Woodstock junior Sonny Marsalla rolled a 629 series.

GIRLS BOWLING

■ Dec. 2 - Woodstock co-op (1-0) defeated Plano 9-0. Woodstock North junior Ava Caldwell rolled a 515 series. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon rolled a 466 series. Woodstock High School junior DJ Lebron rolled a 402 series.

■ Dec. 3 - Woodstock co-op (2-0) defeated McHenry 9-0. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon and North junior Ava Caldwell both rolled 158 games in game one. Caldwell rolled a 199 in game two, with Woodstock junior DJ Lebron rolling a 178 in game two.

■ Dec. 5 - Woodstock co-op (2-1) fell to Marengo 4-5. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon rolled a 215 in game two.

■ Dec. 7 - Woodstock co-op finished 11th at the J-Hawk Invite. Woodstock North senior Torin Deacon rolled a 247 in game three.