It looks like the search is over for a new restaurant in the Old Courthouse Center
The Opera House is offering a peek at their progress
The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com
New election center to open in September
Facility will handle early and election day voting
By Eileen Millard NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The McHenry County Clerk’s elections office is finishing the process of moving into the new McHenry County Election Center at 410 S. Eastwood Drive in Woodstock. The building,
once home to an Aldi grocery store, was renovated to consolidate voting operations that were spread throughout the county’s Administration Building on Ware Road, next to the McHenry County Government Center. McHenry County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio, whose office
SCHOOL-DAY SMILES
oversees elections, said that the building’s 16,500 square feet had many advantages that made it a good choice to fill the needs of an election center. These include: easy access off Route 47; ample parking; a structure that was already ADA-compliant; and a loading
See CENTER, Page 2
Students stream out of Dean Street Elementary School on the first day of classes Aug. 14, psyched for the year ahead.
Mail-in ballot apps in your mailbox
As Nov. 5 election day approaches, early voting begins Sept. 26
By Eileen Millard NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The voting season starts soon, as early voting will begin on September 26 at the new McHenry County Election Center at 410 S. Eastwood Drive, in the former Aldi building.
Early voting schedule
Early voting at the election center will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday. The facility will be closed on October 14 for Columbus Day.
On October 21, 11 other locations will also be open, in addition to the election center, for early voting:
• Lake in the Hills Village Hall
• Algonquin Township Office
• McHenry City Hall
• Crystal Lake Public Library
• Nunda Township Office
• McHenry Township Office
• Huntley Park District
• Cary Area Library
• Algonquin Library
• Dunham Township Office
• Marengo City Hall
Voting times and days will vary by location. For full details on dates, times, and polling place locations, go to www.mchenrycountyil.gov, click on the “Voting” tab, go to the sidebar,
INDEPENDENT
PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
dock for trucks that is off the main road.
Election activities
The center will process mail-in ballots as soon as they begin to arrive. One of the main pieces of equipment, informally called, “Big Al,” has the technology to sort all incoming ballots, identifying real ballots by dimension and thickness. The machine can also read the unique bar code on the front of each mail-in ballot that identifies the voter.
Election judges will then verify the signatures on the front of mail-in ballots by hand. Any ballots with potential issues are pulled aside to resolve. The ballots are then stored in bins, where they will remain until Election Day, when they are tabulated along with inperson ballots.
Voting devices, supplies, and ballots will also be stored in the center’s warehouse space, where loading docks can accommodate the 12 to 16 moving trucks used to haul equipment and supplies to and from polling sites during elections.
The center will be the first location open for early voting, which starts September 26 and goes through November 4. On Election Day - Tuesday, November 5 - the center will become a “universal” voting center.
EARLY VOTING
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The new McHenry County Election Center is in the old Aldi building on Route 47.
This means that for any election, all McHenry County residents will have the option of voting at the election center or going to their local polling place.
On October 21, other locations throughout the county will start to be open for early voting. To find dates and times for all early voting sites, go to www.mchenrycountyil.gov, click on the “Voting” tab, go to the sidebar, and under “Elections,” scroll down to “Voter Information.”
Other activities at the center
Outside of election season, the center will also handle training for election judges, who number between 700
and under “Elections,” scroll down to “Voter Information.”
Vote by mail applications
Applications to request to vote by mail are currently going out to McHenry County residents. Paper forms can be returned by mail or dropped off in person at the McHenry County Clerk’s office, 2200 N. Seminary Road, Woodstock.
Applications will ask for date of birth, phone number, email address, and precinct. A signature is also required for verification purposes.
Applications can also be downloaded off the voting site and sent in by email to votebymail@ mchenrycountyil.gov.
Vote-by-mail ballot requests must be received in time for the request to be processed, the paper mail-in ballot to be mailed to the voter, and for the voter to fill in the ballot and have it postmarked by election day, November 5. It is suggested that ample time is allowed for processing and mailing turnaround time.
and 1,200 in an election cycle. The training classroom can hold up to 75 people for training, whereas class sizes used to be limited to 15 to 30 people at a time in the old election facility. Tirio said that small group tours can be arranged in the election center in the off-season, such as student groups coming in to see how the voting process works.
Real transparency
Tirio pointed out that the center was designed with literal transparency in mind. People can see most of the facility through large glass windows built into the walls throughout the building. It’s possible to stand in the front
McHenry County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio stands in the new election center, next to some wise words from Thomas Jefferson.
entryway and see all the way to the back of the building, including ballot sorting machines and sorting areas.
Some activities still at Ware Road building
The County Administration building at 667 Ware Road will continue to take care of the following voter activities:
• Voter registration
• Change of address for voter cards
• Signing up for the mail-in ballot voting option
• Drop Box for all elections
COURTESY PHOTOS
TRUMP SUPPORTERS RALLY AT FAIRGROUNDS
Scheduled for the day prior to the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a Trump Now: Save the American Dream Rally drew supporters of former president Donald Trump to the McHenry County Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 18.
The event included live music, food, and speeches, including remarks by MyPillow CEO Mike Lendell, pictured at right.
Sheriff’s deputies estimated the crowd at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
OBITUARIES
Sondra Emma (Wilke) Flood
Sharon Barger, who loved these words, passed away on July 22, 2024, following complications from surgery.
were beneficiaries of the same care and guidance.
Sondra Emma (Wilke) Flood, age 86, died peacefully in her home on August 10, 2024. Sondra was born on December 31, 1937, in Blue Earth, MN. She grew up in Chicago, was an alumnus of Luther North High School, and married the love of her life, James (Jim) Flood in 1963.
Born Sharon Elaine Heuerman on Jan. 3, 1946, in Oregon, Ill., she spent her childhood under the loving guidance of her parents, Ailt and Lila. She was the middle of five siblings, all of whom remember a life where a good work ethic and compassion for others were important.
Sondra Emma (Wilke) Flood
Sondra was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who loved gardening, travelling, and hosting friends and family. She also participated in numerous local organization and charities including: president of Woodstock Welcome Wagon; Woodstock Garden Club; Woodstock Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary, co-managing their local gift shop; and president of Woodstock Fine Arts Association.
Sondra was proceeded in death by her husband James Francis Flood; parents, Arthur and Bernice (Anderson) Wilke; brothers Harold Wilke (Kay), Wallace Wilke (Georgia), Bruce Wilke (Arlene); sister Doris Mae Wilke.
She is survived by her children, Kimberly Boyles (Kevin), Joann Crawford, James Flood, Jr., and Cynthia Taber (David); eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and her sister Shirley DeMarchi (nee Wilke).
Visitation and services were held Thursday and Friday, August 15-16th. Please see Schneider Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home’s website for more information: www.slmcfh.com
Sharon Barger
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one sees rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Sharon attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and later transferred to Northern Illinois University, where she earned her degree in English and French. She began her lifelong passion, teaching, at Woodstock High School in the spring of 1968. Through her 40 years there she taught French and English, was scheduling coordinator, and spent many years as advisor of the high school yearbook. Her rigorous standards were legendary, and many students still remember her love of language, insistence on the importance of clear, grammatically correct writing, and the joy of good literature.
Her colleagues respected her “tough love” and knew that she always had the best interest of the students in mind.
It was at Woodstock High School that Sharon met fellow teacher Billy Barger. They married on Sept. 12, 1970 and soon moved to a house on Stieg Road. It was this home where many people enjoyed the Barger hospitality: afternoons on the screened porch, end-of-the-year staff parties, birthday gatherings, English Department “meetings,” family occasions, and countless summer days by the pool, where Sharon taught many children how to swim.
But most of all this home meant family. Here Sharon and BilI lived their life together, building the shop, tending (Bill) and enjoying (Sharon) the garden, planning their many camping trips and various trips to Europe, and enjoying each other’s company in their own special way. Here they welcomed Bill’s daughter Betsy into their home and hearts when she moved to Woodstock, and here they grieved together when she died in 1996.
Here Sharon was grandma to Betsy’s children, Jennifer and Kate. Winter fires, party packs of Taco Bell, sleepovers, watching scary movies, splashing in the pool, and sitting on the porch watching “Survivor” all made this a special place filled with love.This grandmotherly love extended to her great-grandchildren, who
Sharon touched the lives of many, some of whom preceded her in death: husband Billy, daughter Betsy Ciskowski, and sister Anne Jones; and some who carry on her legacy: granddaughters, Jennifer Prichard (Zachary) Miller of Crystal Lake and Kate Prichard (Jake) Homuth of Woodstock; great-grandchildren , Finn Rypkema and Kinzie, Palmer, and Nyxon Miller; sisters, Wyonne (James) Hegland of St. Charles, Christine (Bob) Johnson of Brooklyn, Wis., and Sheila (Tom) Humble of Deland, Florida; brother Richard (Phyllis) Heuerman of Stillman Valley, several nieces and nephews, and many who knew her as Grandma Barger, teacher, and friend.
Sharon’s life will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, September 7, at Oakland Cemetery in Woodstock. There will be additional information provided for a gathering following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the French Honor Society scholarship in Sharon Barger’s name. Please send donations to Woodstock High School, c/o Morayma Zerla, 501 W South St, Woodstock, IL 60098.
Arrangements entrusted to Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com.
John Alton Kise, Jr.
and began work at Paragon Industries in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. At Paragon, he was instrumental in designing and patenting parts for a large steel pipe mill. In 1995, he moved back to Woodstock and began work at Switzer Products in Richmond where he led the engineering, manufacturing, and installation of fiberglass buildings for use in the utility industry. During this time, he also celebrated the birth of his two children, Julia R. Kise and Jonathan E. Kise, who were the joy of his life.
He put his engineering skills to work for his children, designing and building their baby crib and creating elaborate Halloween costumes for them every year. A brilliant engineer with a passion for handson applications of his skills, he bought R & B Metal Products in 2001 where he did stainless steel fabrication in Woodstock for many years. In 2023, he became the director of engineering at A & A Magnetics in Woodstock.
He had multiple hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed fishing, four-wheel riding, and listening to live music. He also enjoyed playing pool with his friends and was nicknamed ‘Ice’ for being very calm while playing. He loved seeing 80’s rock bands in person and would always try to attend the concerts when they came to the area. A fan of former President Ronald Reagan, he collected Reagan memorabilia. He loved wearing colorful clothing, always making sure that his shirts, ties, and socks were matching. And he was known for his kindness, always lending a helping hand to family, friends, and strangers in need.
He was beloved as a father, son, brother, nephew, and friend to many. He is survived by his parents, Jack and Karen, children, Julia and Jonathan, sisters, Elizabeth Kise and Mearl (Keith) A. Kise-Halsall, nieces, Isabelle and Haley Halsall, his aunt, Susan (Sue) and uncle, Robert (Bob) E. Freese, his aunt, Monica Kise and cherished pug Georgia.
John Alton Kise, Jr. passed away on Aug 10, 2024. He was born on April 2, 1969, in Hinsdale, Illinois, to John (Jack) A. Kise, Sr. and Karen A. Kise and was the youngest of three children, with two older sisters Elizabeth and Mearl. He was raised in Woodstock where he resided most of his life. He was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Blue Island, Illinois. He was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock. As a child he liked to ride his motorcycle around the old farm fields near the Todd Woods area of Woodstock. He was also active in Boy Scouts and loved camping. He learned to play the guitar with Eunice Mast. He attended Woodstock Schools and graduated from Elgin Academy in 1988.
He attended the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma where he graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. Soon after college, he married his now former spouse
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Mearl A. and Julia B. Kise, maternal grandmother Ruth C. Freese, his Uncle Peter E. Kise, and beloved cat Brenda.
A Memorial Gathering was held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Schneider Leucht Merwin Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock from 10:00 am until the 12:00 pm Memorial Service. Interment was private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 401 St. John’s Road, Woodstock, IL, 60098, or Helping Paws Animal Shelter, 2500 Harding Lane Woodstock, IL 60098.
Sharon Barger
John Alton Kise, Jr.
Thanks for the memories
New City Hall spruce tree will be
By Eileen Millard NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The stately blue spruce in front of Woodstock’s City Hall will soon be part of history. Estimated to be 50 years old, the evergreen has recently been affected by needle blight and a fungal infection, and the city arborist determined that it needed to come down. The tree was removed on August 18.
The tree, which has long been decorated with colored Christmas lights for the holidays, is already being missed by residents who have posted comments on the city’s Facebook page, with many questions about a replacement.
“We will be planting a new tree in the fall, prior to the holidays,” said Woodstock City Manager Roscoe Stelford. “It is likely going to be a Norway spruce, 10 to 12 feet tall.”
planted
in time for the holidays
The large evergreen tree in front of City Hall, a favorite of residents, especially at the holidays, has been removed.
Stelford said that the city received a generous offer of a donated tree, which would be the replacement if the Public Works Department assesses that the chances of survival after transportation and replanting are good. If that is not the case, a Norway spruce will be purchased.
Either way, Stelford said, a new tree will be planted before the holidays. If the newly planted tree receives a good evaluation and approval from the city arborist, it will be decorated with Christmas lights this year.
“There is no doubt, the tree in front of City Hall will be missed by myself and the rest of the team here,” he said. “This new tree will undoubtedly have ‘big roots to fill,’ but it, too, will eventually grow on us here at City Hall, as well as in the broader community.”
Woodstock Farmers Market relocating to MCC September 21 only
To accommodate the Woodstock Art Fair, scheduled for September 21 and 22 on the Woodstock Square, the Woodstock Farmers’ Market will move to the McHenry County College campus for one Saturday only, on September 21. MCC is located at 8900 Northwest Hwy 14, in Crystal Lake.
The temporary location allows all of the vendors to participate and provides customer parking, facilities, and shaded areas.
The market is grateful for MCC’s support that will allow “vendors to present their products to the consumer in one location during the most bountiful time of the year,” Woodstock Farmers’ Market board president Delicia Brown said in a press release.
The market will remain in place on the Woodstock Square from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on all Tuesdays through the end of September, and for the remainder of the Saturdays through the end of October.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Woodstock, IL • 1987
A little more time to think about it
Woodstock updated its underage smoking ordinance at the August 6 City Council meeting to bring it into line with a 2019 Illinois state law that raised the legal age to smoke from 18 to 21. The Woodstock ordinance includes tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products.
It was just an administrative detail to get everything aligned.
But it was also a good reminder that you cannot legally buy, possess, or use those products until you are age 21.
There was some surprise at the meeting that the age had been raised to 21 in 2019, at both a state and federal level. But for many, 2019 and 2020 were kind of a blur, with the COVID outbreak occupying most of our attention as a country.
There was also some discussion at the meeting about the irony that people can enlist in
the armed services as early as 17, but can’t buy cigarettes until they are 21. Then again, the CDC reported in 2023 that nearly nine out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily had tried smoking for the first time by age 18.
For electronic cigarettes, the same report showed that about one out of every 22 middle school students, and one of every 10 high school students, had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.
For cigarettes in 2023, one of every 100 middle school students, and 2 of every 100 high school students reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days.
The question of penalties was also raised at the council meeting. Woodstock City Manager Roscoe Stelford said the new city ordinance is less punitive, and less expensive, than fines at the state level. Yes, there is a citation involved, but it’s a municipal code citation and will not go
onto any kind of criminal record. Its sole purpose is to have a more direct, concrete, (and expensive) effect than, say, listening to a public service announcement.
According to city staff, the initial fine is $25, which goes up to $50 for each instance afterward. Paying the fine eliminates having to go before a judge at a City Hall adjudication session and the possibility of paying court costs, in addition to the fine, if the person is found liable for underage smoking.
There are many things young people might consider doing at 18, 19 or even 20, that they would probably have serious second thoughts about past their 21st birthday. Changing the smoking age to 21 is just helping to stack the deck, to give young people a little extra time to make a more informed decision about a habit that will be extremely hard to kick down the road.
A man after my own (New)Hart
“Comedians – we tend to talk about our failures and not about our successes.”
– Bob Newhart, “Pioneers of Television”
“Hi Abe, sweetheart. How are you, kid?...You’re thinking of shaving it off? Abe, don’t you see that’s part of the image? Right, with the shawl and the stovepipe hat, the string tie.” – Bob Newhart, the “Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue” routine from “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart”
“Mrs. Harlick, we’ve been over this before. As you said yourself, you overeat because having a beautiful body threatens you, and for some reason, having a fat body doesn’t threaten you….I’m happy to hear you’ve been able to control it. Mrs. Harlick, I can’t understand you with your mouth full.” – psychologist Dr. Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) in a phone
conversation with a patient on “The Bob Newhart Show”
Paul Lockwood A Musing
On July 18, one of my favorite comedic actors – a true legend –passed away. Bob Newhart was 94. While comedians don’t talk about their successes, according to the first quote above, I want to talk about Newhart’s successes. His dry wit and varied/lengthy career are well worth this belated column tribute.
In the early 1960s, Newhart was achieving the kind of success with a debut comedy record (a.k.a. “vinyl”) that comedians can only dream of. “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” – which included
one-sided conversations/routines about the Wright Brothers, a driving instructor, and Abner Doubleday “pitching” (pun intended) the game of baseball to a game manufacturer – was an instant classic. It reached #1 on the Billboard charts in August of that year and stayed there for 14 weeks. A second album, “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back,” released the same year (!) was also a big hit –to the point where the two records were #1 and #2 on the charts at the same time. In 1961, the Grammy Awards chose “Strikes Back” for “Best Comedy Performance – Spoken Word,” beating out records by Shelley Berman, Jonathan Winters, and the powerhouse duo of Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks. But more impressively, the Album of the Year went to Newhart’s first record – and it had been up against stiff competition from singers that included Nat “King” Cole and
Frank Sinatra. Some of us of a certain age remember the popular CBS Saturday night line-up from the 1970s in which “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” led into “The Bob Newhart Show,” a six-season comedy hit. In the show, Newhart played a Chicago psychologist surrounded by a sarcastic, loving wife (Suzanne Pleshette), a pest of a neighbor (Bill Daily), colleagues at work - orthodontist Jerry (Peter Bonerz) and receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) - and, of course some regular patients, such as Mr. Carlin (Jack Riley), a cynic/neurotic. Sandwiched between Moore’s sitcom and the amazing “Carol Burnett Show,” it was must-see TV before NBC used the phrase. As I told Carol Burnett at the Chicago Theatre once when I got to ask her a question from the audience, she was my frequent Saturday night “date” when I was a teen. But as I
Continued on Next page
Finding a slice of home in the Fringe
It’s August, which in Edinburgh means that the city’s population doubles. The streets overflow with locals and tourists from all over the world. The racket of loud crowds, bagpipes, and the shouts of a street magician on every corner is the soundtrack for the entire month. Locals and tourists flock to colorful circus tents scattered across town to watch acrobats, sword swallowers, and cabaret shows, all part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a more than three-week celebration of arts and culture.
Every bar opens up its dark and damp cellar to be the temporary residence of comedians eager to become one of the greats. Indeed, Fringe is where stars are born; Robin Williams, Viola Davis, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson all found themselves at this performance art festival during the beginnings of their careers. The entire month of August, then, is buzzing with potential, uncertainty, and creativity.
Of course, this great gathering of artists is irresistible to even the most jaded Scotsman. Despite the added time in traffic and impossible crowds that descend on beloved and secret pubs and restaurants,
Continued from Previous page think back, I would have thought of Bob Newhart as my good friend on those evenings – a kindred spirit in subtle, often deadpan, humor.
Newhart would go on to more success with the sitcom “Newhart” (1982-1990) as a married Vermont innkeeper whose colleagues included one workman who invariably introduced himself with “I’m Larry. This is my brother Darryl. This is my other brother Darryl.” That series had one of the best final episodes ever. Spoiler alert (34 years after it aired): Newhart’s character wakes up and jostles his wife to say he’d had the strangest dream in which “the maid was an heiress, her husband talked in alliteration, the handyman kept missing the point of things. And there were these three woodsmen. But only one of them talked.” The live
locals sidle up with the tourists to take in everything from “Austentacious,” a comedy improv inspired by the works of Jane Austen, to “Shreklesque,” a burlesque parody of the hit movie “Shrek.”
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Subscription rates/year
$80 in Woodstock, Bull Valley and Wonder Lake. $82 in McHenry County. $87 for snowbirds and $95 outside McHenry County.
Trying to soak up as much of the Fringe as possible, I schedule at least four shows per week on my calendar. As is expected during the month of August, I work through my lunch break to knock off a little early to catch a show. Although it may seem careless to call it early so many days of the week, it aligns well with the rest of Europe’s unspoken rule to take it easy during August. The campy and garish cacophony of the Fringe and the August heat seem to grant everyone permission to slow down and appreciate life in summer.
Midwesterners looking to share in the excitement of the festival are part of the great migration of artists, magicians, clowns, actors,
audience roared when the lights came up on the set: the bedroom of the Hartleys – and it was Emily (Pleshette, in a surprise cameo) telling him to go back to sleep!
Newhart’s film roles were diverse: “Catch 22,” “Elf,” and even the president of the United States in “First Family.” Memorable TV parts came on “ER” and “Desperate Housewives.” Newhart finally won his first Emmy – at the age of 84 –playing Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory.” In a CNN story after the win, he said he wanted to reprise the role and do more acting: “I’m trying to drop dead on a soundstage. That’s really my ultimate goal – to just keel over in the middle of a show.” Newhart didn’t achieve that goal, dying at his Los Angeles home last month.
But this one-time accountant’s ability to entertain us with audio
and comedians who flock to Edinburgh. As my friends and I wandered amongst the circus tents and posters, we stumbled across a comedy hour put on by Maggie Winters, a Chicagoan comedian. During her set, she reminisced about her hometown of Chicago and her love of the Midwest. She recounted some particularly raucous St. Patrick’s Day parties on the South Side. While Woodstock is a separate entity from Chicago, hearing stories about the Windy City made me feel once again connected to a place so many miles away.
While Edinbrugh feels so very far away from Woodstock, the Fringe festival makes it feel even more removed. As the population doubles in size, Edinburgh feels less and less like the familiar place I have learned to call home for two years. How lucky, that amidst all the chaos, noise, and hustle of one of the biggest art festivals in the world, I was able to find a connection to a place so close to home.
Brigid McCormack is a former resident of Woodstock who is living and studying in Scotland. She is a regular contributor to Declarations. Her email is brigidcatherine98@gmail.com
and video recordings – and the written word – are a lasting treat for all his fans. A few final words from Newhart in his 2006 memoir, “I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!”: “Comedy can help us make it past something very painful, like death. Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event over which we have no control, deal with it, and then move on with our lives.”
We’re moving on, Bob. Thanks.
Paul Lockwood is a Communications Consultant at Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) in Chicago, an enthusiastic storyteller, singer, constant punster, occasional local theater actor, active Grace Lutheran Church and Toastmasters member, theater reviewer, and more. Paul has lived in Woodstock for over 23 years with his wife, Diane.
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WEB programs provides peer connections for 6th-graders
Where Everybody Belongs programs help transistion to middle school
By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200
Everyone knows middle school to high school is a leap, but the move from elementary school to middle school in a big building with busy schedules and several teachers can be intimidating.
Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could tap the shoulder of a friendly, veteran eighth-grader who could show you the ropes?
That’s the idea of the new WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) program implemented this school year at Creekside and Northwood Middle Schools. WEB leaders spent two days training before they met their mentees on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 6thgrade orientation.
The program is similar to the Link Crews that began last year and continue this school year at Woodstock and Woodstock North high schools, where freshmen are connected with upperclassmen leaders who help them navigate high school life.
“The goal of WEB is to ensure that every incoming 6th-grader has a real connection before the first day of school. This will allow for a smooth transition to middle school. This is the same philosophy as LINK for incoming freshmen at the high schools,” Creekside Principal Ryan Doyle explained.
The leaders were selected by staff and encouraged to complete an application process.
“We were looking for a diverse representation of Creekside when selecting students. The most important trait a WEB leader must have is kindness. We want every 6th-grader to see themselves and feel like they belong as they walk through the doors of Creekside for orientation,” Doyle said.
On Aug. 7, 6th-graders gathered in the cafeteria before marching
Middle School during 6th-grade orientation Aug. 7.
through a line of staff and WEB leaders holding signs of encouragement and exchanging smiles and high-fives.
A similar scene played out at Northwood Middle School, where students gathered in the gym to play games, sing songs, and build connections that prove to the newest Warhawks that Northwood is a fun and safe place to be.
Northwood Principal Bethany Hall said it was amazing to watch WEB leaders call their new mentees inviting them to Wednesday’s event.
“As beneficial as this is to our 6thgraders, it has a wonderful impact on our 8th-graders who are developing their sense of leadership and taking ownership of what kind of school community they want to be,” Hall said. Doyle concurred. “These peer-topeer connections will continue to help us foster an inclusive and strong school community,” he said.
D-200 PHOTO
Creekside teacher Jason Laidig welcomes new 6th-graders at Creekside
D-200 PHOTO
Northwood principal Bethany Hall (upper right) promotes the WEB program.
D-200 board places new tentative budget on public display
By Caryl DIerksen NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
As people arrived for the August 13 District 200 school board meeting, they found a pleasant surprise. There was a student art show going on. The display featured an award-winning piece from each of the district’s schools. The district’s art teachers selected each school’s winner at last spring’s show. One additional student was honored with the Superintendent’s Award.
The student artists were present to receive special recognition and a certificate of achievement from the board. In addition, each piece of art will be purchased from the artist and displayed at the artist’s school.
The board also recognized a group of nine student-athletes who participated in the 2024 Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games
OUTSTANDING ARTIST
held in June in Bloomington-Normal. They were part of a group of more than 3,400 competitors. In addition, the board congratulated the coaching team and a volunteer, all of whom have devoted much time to the program.
Superintendent Mike Moan then introduced four recently hired administrators to the board. The group included Paul Guza, buildings and grounds director; Sarah Llamas, assistant building and grounds director; Derek Crabill, Woodstock North High School athletic director; and Jennifer Malecke, Olson Elementary School principal.
In the business part of the meeting, Moan and Chief Financial Officer Julie Dillon presented information about the district’s tentative budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. Moan described it as a zero-sum budget. He said, “Our spending will be covered
by what we take in, except for repaying the debt.” The debt he referred to is the money borrowed to build the district’s three newest schools.
“Our goal is to deal with our debt without a substantial increase in taxes,” Board President Carl Gilmore added.
The board unanimously approved a resolution to put the tentative budget on public display. It is now available to be viewed at the Board of Education Office, 2990 Raffel Road, until September 24. At that time, the board will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7:00 p.m. at Woodstock High School. After the hearing, the board will vote on approving the budget.
In other business, the board approved replacing Northwood Middle School’s gymnasium floor, which was damaged beyond repair by a water leak last winter. The board accepted the lowest bid of $149,840
District 200 student Charlotte Braun poses with her award-winning artwork at the Woodstock District 200 board meeting August 13. Charlotte was one of 12 District 200 students (one student from each school) whose work was chosen by District 200 art teachers at the Spring 2024 Art Show at the Woodstock Public Library to receive an award.
All the students whose work was chosen will have their artwork permanently displayed at their respective schools, and one was chosen by the superintendent to be displayed at the administrative services center.
from Floors, Incorporated. Insurance will cover all of the cost, except for the $2,500 deductible. Work is expected to begin in December and to be completed by the end of winter break.
The board also approved a total of $135,106 to enter into an agreement with Tyler Technologies for system upgrades and for the addition of GPS monitoring equipment on the district’s school buses. The GPS system will make it possible for parents to download an app that provides live monitoring of the locations of the buses. In addition, it will supply engine diagnostic information and will help make the routing process more efficient.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, in the Woodstock High School Learning Resources Center.
COLLEGE CURRENTS
Austin
Zieman
named to Michigan State dean’s list
Austin J. Zieman, an Evans Scholar at Michigan State University, finished his senior spring semester of the 2023-24 academic year on the dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA. He graduated from the Eli Broad College of Business, receiving a bachelor’s degree with a major in management and a minor in sports business management. Austin will be pursuing post-graduate studies to earn a dual MBA/MSA degree. He is a 2020 graduate of Woodstock North High School and is the son of Melanie and Ron Zieman of Woodstock.
Hannah Paulson graduates from St. Olaf College
Hannah Paulson has been named a 2024 graduate from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a bachelor’s in music education.
Paulson is a 2020 graduate of Marian Central Catholic High School and the daughter of Terese and Peter Paulson of Woodstock.
ROUSEY
To graduate, students must have completed the equivalent of 35 St. Olaf credits through a combination of full-credit and fractional-credit courses.
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW
A & E
‘Every day there is something different’
Midway through construction, Opera House offers unprecedented peek
By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The historic Woodstock Opera House has been under construction for two months now.
Since the building closed to the public July 1, the community has not seen any of the work in progress –until now.
“We wanted to give the community an opportunity to see what is being done during the process,” Opera House Director Daniel Campbell said. “Most people see the before and after, but so rarely do you get to see what happens in between.”
On August 24, the community is invited to a “Dusty Boots Tour,” Campbell said.
The tour requires online sign-up and will run for 20 to 30 minutes.
“We won’t know exactly what will be seen on the tour,” Campbell said last week, “because we will be showing the community where the work left off.”
Grant makes it possible
The much-needed major renovation has been made possible through a Rebuild Illinois Grant, totaling $2,964,553.00 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
“When you have a building this old, with this much history,” Campbell explained in a prior interview, “it requires periodic restoration for it to remain current and to retain its historic quality.”
He emphasized that the last time the building underwent a major renovation was two decades ago and that the improvements would allow the building to continue to serve the needs of the community, as well as improve the experiences for both the patrons and the performers.
In May, community members were invited to a backstage tour of the building and were given the
(Above) A view from the back of the stage shows scaffolding and protective covering over the seats. Debris in the hallway that leads to backstage. The wall will be removed to allow for further expansion of the community room.
opportunity to listen to and view architectural plans for the upcoming renovation. This month, they will be given unprecedented access to the process.
Work in progress
Renovations that will likely be visible on the tour include the scaffolding in the auditorium, the windows that are in the process of being re-installed, and the ground-floor demolition.
“We are a little behind schedule due to unforeseen circumstances,” Campbell explained. “It took time for the permits to clear, so the demo phase was pushed back. We also discovered asbestos and lead paint in the demolition areas that had to be remediated.”
Small amounts of lead paint were found in the metalwork in the
workshop, and asbestos was found in the dressing room ceiling that has been covered by a dropped ceiling for many years. For that reason, Campbell said, there was no danger to those in the dressing rooms.
Still, the asbestos required remediation and safe removal procedures before demolition could continue.
Also impeding work were ductwork issues.
The architects were consulted weekly, and plans were revised frequently.
“It is nothing unusual,” Campbell said. “This is a part of the
construction process, and the architects are used to adjusting plans as situations like this occur.”
Overall, he said, the renovation is going fine. “We are a little behind, but I have confidence that the time can be made up during the construction.”
Enjoying the process
For Campbell, watching the process has been exciting.
“Every day there is something different,” he said, “and we get to see and document every step of the way.”
The windows that had been removed by Heritage Restoration in the spring are being re-installed on the east side of the building. The ground floor is in the middle of demolition where the box office has been gutted. The dividing wall between the community room and the offices has been cut through to allow for the expansion of the larger community room. Scaffolding has been set up to work on the ceiling and the light and sound system. The preparation for installation of micro-pile foundation support ahead of the third floor annex buildout is underway. The demolition of the south annex roof has begun, and the HVAC units are being removed from the roof. Several layers of the stage floor also have been removed in preparation for the installation of a new sprung floor that has a soft feel and can absorb shock.
“We anticipate the community being able to view the stage and as many areas of the demolition that are safe and appropriate,” Campbell said.
Preregistration is required for the tours that will be offered from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 24. Space is limited, and closed-toe shoes are required for the tour.
Registration can be found online at: https://signup.com/go/fXPmoJA
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY TRICIA CARZOLI
PAULIE'S ITALIAN BAKERY AND DELI
Puccia
This Apulian classic is made of pizza dough stuffed with meats and cheeses
Paninos
Italy is one of the great sandwich nations of the world the classic panino remains the most popular
Gelato Social
Everynoon-4pmMonday
10% off entire purchase (both Locations)
CROISSANT SANDWICHES
Sandwiches
Puccia
Paninos
L amppredotto
Italian Sub
Chicken Parmesan
Meatball
Italian Beef
Calzones
Italian Style
Breakfast
Make your own Italian Sub Choose from our selection of meats and cheeses L ampredotto Classic Florentine sandwich of roasted cow stomach the city's quintessential street food
OPEN HOUSESATURDAYS 4-6pm “Free mini pastries” (both locations)
SAVORY PASTRIES PASTRIES/CAKES
Caprese
Cordon Blue
L obster Roll
Business
Square, meet Squire
The Village Squire to be new restaurant tenant in Old Courthouse Center
By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
A familiar McHenry County restaurant hopes to winCity Council approval at the August 20 meeting to become the new tenant on the ground floor of the Old Courthouse Center.
The Village Squire, with restaurants in Crystal Lake, McHenry, West Dundee, and South Elgin, will operate in the former Woodstock Public House space as The Squire on the Square, described as “a modern offshoot of the Village Squire.”
The venture represents a new partnership between longtime friends and restaurateurs Bob Karas and Bill and Tammy Linardos, according to information in the council’s packet for the August 20 meeting.
The Karas Restaurant Group now
contains 16 restaurants, including the four Village Squires, three Rookies Sports Bar and Grill locations, and two Alexander’s Cafes.
Bill and Tammy Linardos have a combined 75 years of experience in restaurants. Two of their children, William and Sophia, will be the managing partners of The Squire on the Square.
The casual, full-service restaurant will be open six days a week, featuring a combination of classic items from the Village Squire menu and items from the Linardos-owned restaurants in Spring Grove and Antioch.
The extensive menu will likely include saganaki, barbecue ribs, broasted chicken, steaks, Asian nachos, smoked brisket, and unique tacos.
The ground floor of the Old
Courthouse Center has been vacant since the end of March when Woodstock Public House owners Kathryn and Brian Loprino closed the doors after being open in the remodeled building for just seven months. Since then, the city has been looking for a new tenant to anchor the building.
The Squire on the Square will begin paying a $5,000 monthly rent on October 1, and an additional Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charge of approximately $2700 a month to cover property taxes, utilities, and removal of snow and garbage.
In the City Council packet, Karas and the Linardoses are described as “highly experienced, successful multi-unit operators, with an impeccable financial track record and proven sustainable restaurant concepts.”
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office July 16 to 18.
■ Residence at 1916 N. Illinois Route 47, Woodstock, was sold by Cartus Financial Corporation, Danbury, Conn., to Leonard J. LaPaglia, Woodstock, for $415,000.
■ Residence at 2545 Applewood Lane, Woodstock, was sold by Hometown Ltd., Woodstock, to Alondra Citlali Barrera, Woodstock, for $229,000.
■ Residence at 503 Dean St., Woodstock, was sold by Home State Bank N.A., Crystal Lake, to Heather’s Homes LLC, Series 503 Dean St., Huntley, for $240,000.
■ Farm at U.S. Highway 14 west of Park Lane Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Lechner Family LLC, Woodstock, to Wayne and Terri Manke LLC, Woodstock, for $600,000.
■ Residence at 3812 Woodstock St., Wonder Lake, was sold by Charles Trusty, Island Lake, to Charlie Carbajal, Wonder Lake, for $200,000.
■ Residence at 275 Ridgewood Drive, Woodstock, was sold by The Estate of Marjorie Emricson, McHenry, to Jacob Adams, Woodstock, for $200,000.
■ Residence at 1403 N. Madison St., Woodstock, was sold by Robert Ortiz, Woodstock, to Elfego Alejandro Cruz Esquivel, Woodstock, for $233,000.
■ Residence at 501 S. Rose Farm Road, Woodstock, was sold by The Anne M. Miller Trust, Woodstock, to Arthur L. Budelier and Dolores A. Budelier, Woodstock, for $750,000.
COURTESY PHOTO
New owners of Squire on the Square are (from left) Bill Linardos, Tammy Linardos, William Linardos, Sophia Linardos, and Bob Karas.
Pawstock brings passion for pet nutrition to Woodstock
By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Pawstock owner Don Buss calls the decades he spent working in the pet nutrition industry “the best part of my life.”
His career began locally when he signed on as a sales manager for the now-shuttered Jones Country Meats for the butcher’s dog treat portion of the business.
In the following years, his stints with various pet nutrition companies made him “discerning about where the product is made, who makes it, and where the ingredients are sourced.”
Buss opened Pawstock at 665 S. Eastwood Dr. on August 2. The store is entirely focused on dogs and cats.
“Dog and cat nutrition is a fulltime thing,” Buss said.
Filling a pet nutrition hole
For 41 years, Woodstock Farm & Lawn carried pet food and treats not available in local grocery stores, along with its supply of livestock feed, lawn and garden supplies, and Western wear. The store closed in 2020 when owner Patrick Haverty retired.
A year later, Baxter’s Pet Depot opened on Eastwood Dr., selling allnatural and holistic pet food and treats; pet accessories; and even betta fish, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice.
Unfortunately, the business failed and locked its doors in late 2022, prompting Buss to consider opening his own store.
“I’ve been thinking about this for two years,” he said.
Buss, who describes himself as “passionate about our animals and passionate about Woodstock,” wanted to give local customers more nutritious food for their cats and dogs “for the same price or less than what people pay in big-box stores.”
Pawstock carries natural dog and cat diets, treats, wellness products, toys, and some accessories, such as collars. The store’s Butcher Block is a natural parts bar featuring turkey necks, bully sticks, and elk and deer antlers.
Eighty percent of what the store
including a beloved Great DaneLabrador mix named Jordi.
Today, Buss helps care for Finnegan, a 14-year-old Field Spaniel and “tennis ball freak.”
From left to right, family members and employees Logan Schwoch and Kelly Herden stand with Pawstock owner Don Buss. Pawstock, at 665 S. Eastwood Dr., opened on Aug. 2. Buss plans to have the store open seven days a week.
treats, including beef tendons, hairy pig ear chews, and duck head chews.
carries, Buss said, is made in the Midwest.
Sprucing the space
The store’s 1700-square-foot space needed some “dolling up,” Buss said.
The carpeting was ripped out, and
the walls received a fresh coat of paint.
To decorate, Buss turned to his family’s animals.
Growing up, “we always had a family dog,” Buss said.
As an adult living in Woodstock, his family had a succession of dogs,
Finnegan is part of the store’s decor. Buss’s son Graham, a photographer, took photos of Woodstock’s landmarks and then superimposed a picture of one of the family pets, including Buss’s “grandpets,” over each to decorate one wall of the store.
Finnegan displays his openmouthed, tongue-lolling grin in front of the stone railroad bridge at the end of South Street.
Grand opening in September
Given that Pawstock’s consumers are of the four-legged variety, leashed pets are always welcome in the store. Pet owners may make purchases online to pick up at the store. For a nominal fee, Pawstock delivers to customers in Woodstock and Wonder Lake.
The store offers a rewards program for its loyal customers and has committed to feeding the four dogs in the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office K-9 units.
While the store’s grand opening will occur on September 28, the soft opening has given Buss an indication of what local dog and cat owners are looking for.
“They’re happy to see all of the raw frozen and raw freeze-dried food,” he said.
Buss said that the customers who found Pawstock in its first week were grateful to have a local store offering pet nutrition products not commonly found in the grocery store.
“Their reaction has been very humbling,” he said.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
The store’s Butcher Block is a pet smorgasbord of
Community
‘The kids did excellent this year’
4-H Woodstock Wannabes advance to State
By Janet Dovidio NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
The Woodstock Wannabes, a general projects 4-H club with a 26-year history, has nine regular members and one “Cloverbud” who all meet regularly at Casting Whimsy. Cloverbud is an exploratory level of 4-H for youth ages 5 to 7.
“The kids did excellent this year at the McHenry County Fair,” leader Chris Stebbins said. “Eight members qualified to take their projects to the State Fair.”
Amelia Barth is a homeschooled ninth-grader who won in the visual arts-paper 2D category. She submitted a pop-up garden greeting card of cardstock decorated with pen and colored pencils. Her sister Penny, a fourth-grader at Crystal Lake Montessori School, earned a top award for dog obedience. She demonstrated her dog following
basic commands: heel, sit, stay, and recall, along with walking around the ring and performing a figure eight.
Gia Galli, a seventh-grader at Northwood Middle School, entered an embellished scrapbook in the visual arts category that captured the experience of her recent crowning as Little Miss Woodstock.
Maddy Kamp, a fifth-grader at Montini Middle School in McHenry, won in the computer science category. Her entry titled “A Night Hike” was an interactive computer animation game with several characters. This was Kamp’s first year in Woodstock Wannabes.
Grace Mitchell, who is entering eighth grade at Northwood Middle School, entered a two-sided mural in the visual arts-plastic block art category. With 2,304 LEGO blocks in a four-foot-by-four-foot frame, she depicted a pink flower on one side and a blue flower on the other.
Five members of the Woodstock Wannabes pause for a photo at the McHenry County Fair. From left, Maddy Kamp, Grace Mitchell, Gia Galli, Amelia Barth, and Penny Barth.
Gia Galli, Grace Mitchell, and Aidan Puccetti display some of their awards in front of the 4-H logo at the Illinois State Fair.
Additional State Fair qualifiers from the Woodstock Wannabees included Cody Aiken in the aerospace category, Aidan Puccetti for foods (biscuits), and Everett Fritch for geology.
Mitchell had a second qualifier in the tractor category, as did Fritch in electricity, but they did not submit those qualifiers to State, as each entrant can only bring one project.
“4-H is the largest youth group in the country,” Stebbins said. “It gives kids an opportunity to learn about different subjects and life careers, many of which began with 4-H projects. Several of our former members have earned PhDs in science and work in biotech for the Food and Drug Administration and the environmental industry. Another runs her own social media company.”
Update: At the Illinois State Fair, Gia Galli and Everett Fritch each earned Reserve Champion awards for their submissions.
COURTESY PHOTO
Everett Fritch displays his Reserve Champion award for geology at the Illinois State Fair.
City hosts Family Fun Day at the Park on the Square
Family Fun Day, put on by the City of Woodstock, will take place from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25, at the Park on the Square. The free event promises an enter tainment-packed day for the entire family.
Activities include live entertainment, a trackless kiddie train, balloon animals, a petting zoo, inflatables, bingo, crafts, and more. All activities are free of charge.
Local nonprofit organizations will be in attendance, offering games, crafts, and small giveaways.
$5,000,000 $5,000,000
Meal deals featuring a burger or hot dog, chips, and a drink will be available for purchase, along with Kona ICE for a cool treat.
Visitors to the annual Woodstock on the Square Benefit Car Show Aug. 17 enjoyed the ultimate cruise night with classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, and entertainment. All proceeds benefited the Woodstock Thunder Youth Football and Cheer program.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY ANDREW ROUSEY
August Dos and Don’ts
Is August too late for planting ? No, you “do” have time to plant leafy greens like lettuce, spinach , kale, and mustard for a fall harvest. Turnips, carrots , beets, and radishes can all be started from seed in August . Do “not” plant veggies that need a longer growing season such as corn , tomatoes , peppers and onions.
Surprisingly mid-to late August is a good time to give your lawns attention. If you have bare spots or thinning grass get seed suitable to the area ( full sun -part sun - part shade) and start by breaking up the soil a few inches down, scatter the seed and cover with loose straw to keep pesky birds from feasting. You “do” need to keep the area moist until you see the seeds germinating. Do “not” fertilize at this time. Fertilizing provides nitrogen which helps the lawn in extreme heat and cold and also helps to make it pest resistant. In our area, fertilizing is only recommended once in late spring and again in early fall (third or fourth week in Sept.) .
Nancy Shevel Guest Column
“Do” deadhead annuals and perennial flowering plants. Most people do this to encourage a second bloom; however, there are other reasons for this procedure. Obviously it gives the garden a cleaner and more professional look. Also, by removing the withered blossoms, the flower will “not” develop seeds and that stimulates plants to direct more energy to root and shoot development. You can just “pinch off the spent flower,” but it is preferred to cut the spent flower back to a lateral leaf or the next bud. Some plants will rebloom after deadheading and others not , but all will have better plant health by doing it.
Continued on NEXT page
Earn a bachelor’s or advanced degree close to home (in downtown Woodstock) from one of our educational partners:
Scan the QR code to check out the University Center’s full list of partnerships and opportunities, or visit www.mchenry.edu/ucenter.
Bachelor’s and advanced degree programs within reach. Live Here. Learn Here.
Pruning shrubs - do and do not We prune for aesthetics - shape , size, and to improve flowering displays. Pruning for flowering shrubs should be done immediately after blooming , so unless your shrub just flowered in August, do “not” prune. Most spring bloomers – lilac, forsythia , crab apple – form the buds for the next year in the fall and remain on the plant all winter. If you prune these in winter or spring, you would in effect be cutting off next years’ flowers. From the U. Of I. Master Gardener manual : “ Spring bloomers- prune after blooming , Summer bloomers - prune in early spring, and Fall bloomers – prune in early summer .”
“Do” take this opportunity to walk around your landscapes and perhaps start planning for next years gardens. Now you can see your summer blooming flowers- are there perhaps a few spaces to plant spring and fall bloomers? This is a concept we’ve been working on for years called “Continuous Bloom” - keeping your gardens in bloom from April to October and fun to use as many colors as possible. There is a wonderful book out (2000) to help guide you
thru this - surprisingly called “Continuous Bloom “ by Pam Duthie.
For a challenge after we put our 12 acre oak woodland into a Conservation Easement 10 years ago, we decided to try and accomplish continuous bloom using all native woodland and prairie plants. Around a 100 species later we’ve finally accomplished that.
I may have a few non-natives I couldn’t part with. For the best selection of native plants, the WPPC ( 501c native plant group in McHenry Cty. ) has a huge native plant sale at MCC the first weekend in May. For info visit thewppc.org
Do “not” go out exploring/planning at this time of year without a hat and adequate sun screen protection .
Finally, “do” take time to sit in your landscapes and relax- maybe in the shade with a cool refreshing drinkand admire the beauty that is nature.
Wherever life plants you bloom with grace.
Nancy Shevel of Marengo writes a garden column for The Independent. She has completed the Master Gardeners course.
ON YOUR
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Nearly solid black with green eyes, Flint has a white spot between his front legs and one between his back legs. He’s long, lanky, and a little awkward, but it just adds to his personality! He came to Helping Paws from Tennessee in June. Flint is fully vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. He’s very outgoing and loves to explore. His favorite toys are balls that jingle when they roll. He doesn’t mind being held, but after a minute he prefers to get back to playing. If you are looking for a silly boy to bring joy, excitement, and entertainment to your life, call Helping Paws.
Hebron-Alden Fire District Chief Tom Linneman is inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. He stands with his family (wife Eugenia and children Caleb, Kyle, Caden, Cora, and Kane )
Linneman named to Hall of Fame
By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Tom Linneman, Harvard, was inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame representing McHenry County at the Illinois State Fair. The award recognized his outstanding service and dedication to the 4-H program.
As a third-generation McHenry County 4-H member, Linneman’s journey began as an 11-year
member of the Hebron Helping Hands 4-H Club which was founded by his grandfather in 1959. For 22 years, Linneman has served as a McHenry County Fair Director and 4-H Sheep Superintendent. He continues his family’s legacy through supporting the success and growth of 4-H members and fair exhibitors. In addition to his commitment to 4-H and the McHenry County Fair, Linneman is the Hebron-Alden Fire District Chief.
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI
John and Gail Dughi took The Independent to Salem, Oregon, where they watched daughter Meghan Dughi and Steven McCarthy run the Oregon Ironman 70.3. The couple is pictured in front of the Willamette Queen Riverboat.
The Independent on your next vacation, take a photo, and send it to pr@thewoodstockindependent.com to be featured.
COURTESY PHOTO
Even if this photo did not have a 1986 date on it, the mullets and tube socks scream, “1986!” Don Peasley tucked this picture away in a file marked “Woodstock Day Care.” Beyond that, we have no information.
Photo Detectives, this is a tough one. Can you identify anyone in the photo, the event or the location? If you can be of assistance, please contact our intrepid Photo Detective, Maggie Crane, at MaggieC@woodstockil. info .
PICTURE THIS
The McHenry County Historical Society presents “The Correspondence of Harley Wayne” on Saturday, August 24, at 6422 Main St. in Union. This program will be presented by author and MCHS Board member Bob Frenz as he takes you through his first “meeting” as a young college student with Union, Illinois’, most notable resident, and how this interest blossomed into finding Harley Wayne’s beautiful home and the then-current owners Constance and Leo Parenti. He will recount how he spent a couple of lovely afternoons with the Parentis, learning about the house and the man who built it in 1858. This house still stands in Union today. Now, over a half-century later, Bob Frenz is still fascinated by a man who, at age 20, left his parents to embark on a harrowing journey to Illinois and then, at age 38, left his wife and child to begin an even more perilous campaign to help save the Union. The cost is $10 for the public and $5 for members. Register for the program at gothistory.org.
Farmers inspect a specific variety of hybrid seed corn at the Earl M. Hughes farm, northwest of Woodstock, in 1969.
Don Peasley Photo Collection, McHenry County Historical Society
COURTESY PHOTO
Happenings
offsquaremusic.org
24 SATURDAY
21 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
‘COME OUT SINGING’ KARAOKE COMPETITION
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m. theatre121.org
22 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
23 FRIDAY
WONDER LAKE WATER SKI SHOW TEAM HOME SHOW Wonder Center Beach Wonder Lake 7 p.m.
ORIGINAL OPEN MIC NIGHT Stage Left Café 125 W. Van Buren St. 7 p.m.
WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET
Woodstock Square
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
woodstockfarmersmarket.org
Music: Karen Shook
FOOD ‘N TRUCK SHOW FAIRGROUND FUNDRAISER
McHenry County Fairgrounds 11900 Country Club Road
$10 admission, $40 truck registration Noon
STAGE LEFT PRESENTS
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
8 p.m.
$10 in advance, $15 at the door
27 TUESDAY
WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET
Woodstock Square
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
woodstockfarmersmarket.org
Music: Jim Green Guitar
DUNGEONS AND DRAFTS
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m. Free
28 WEDNESDAY
‘COME OUT SINGING’ KARAOKE COMPETITION
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m. theatre121.org
29 THURSDAY
SLC TRIVIA NIGHT - PUB
TRIVIA USA
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
7 p.m.
woodstockoperahouse.com
30 FRIDAY
CINEMA SIPS - ‘THE BREAKFAST CLUB’
Stage Left Café
125 W. Van Buren St.
8 p.m.
$10 includes movie and 1 bag of popcorn
$20 VIP includes premium seating, unlimited popcorn.
31 SATURDAY
WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET
Woodstock Square
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
woodstockfarmersmarket.org
Music: Pierce Krask
THE PRINCESS STRIKES BACK - ONE WOMAN’S SEARCH FOR THE SPACE COWBOY OF HER DREAMS
■ Recycling was up in Woodstock with Waste Management reporting a one-year increase of 9.7 percent in the number of pounds of recyclables collected curbside.
■ Organizers estimated more than 100,000 people attended the McHenry County Fair.
30 years ago – 1994
■ A special census ordered by the city recorded an increase of 1,800 residents in Woodstock compared with the census taken four years earlier. The census total was 16,179.
■ Woodstock wrestler Luke Kyle took fourth at the Cadet National Wrestling Tournament in Columbia
25 years ago – 1999
■ Woodstock watercolorist Donna Jill Witty was named winner of the Best of Show award at the 24th annual Woodstock Fine Arts Fair.
20 years ago –2004
■ Jeremy Tessler, a 1990 graduate of Woodstock High School, was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism for tackling an armed fugitive in a crowded California casino.
■ After a long delay, social service agency Turning Point received a $250,000 grant from the state of Illinois.
15 years ago – 2009
■ Woodstock North High School was heading into its first season of varsity sports. Jeff Schroeder, who grew up in Crystal Lake, was the Thunder’s new head football coach. “I have been hoping for an opening in this areas for some time,” he said. “So when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it.”
■ Marian Central Catholic High School was preparing to welcome its new freshman class of between 170 and 180 students. Superintendent Tom Landers said the students had previously attended 30 area junior high and middle schools.
SEPT. 1, 1993 – One down, 179 to go …. That was the count for students the afternoon of Aug. 23 as they poured out of the doors – the first day of school behind them. For these students at Dean Street School, the thought of a whole year was cause for some support among friends.
■ The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team was celebrating its 50th anniversary and had placed second in the 2009 National Championship. Fourteen teams competed. Jarret Graff was show director.
10 years ago – 2014
■ Stan Friedel and Derric Ungaro had been training together since Ungaro married Friedel’s daughter in 2000. At the 2014 Duathlon (National) Championships in St. Paul, they finished ninth in their age brackets and qualified for the 2015
World Duathlon Championships that would be held in Adelaide, Australia. The national duathlon started with a 4.6K run, then a 31.2K bicycle ride, and finished with a 4.4K run.
■ Plote Construction Inc. was the lowest bidder for the proposed IDOT widening of Highway 14. The estimated cost of the roadway from West Lake Shore Drive to Lucas Road was $25 million. The cost from Lucas Road to Crystal Lake Avenue was an additional $23 million. The project had been in the works for 12 years.
■ La Percolateur was set to perform
at the seventh annual Woodstock Jazz Festival sponsored by Jazz on the Square.
5 years ago – 2019
■ Ken Rawson, developer of the proposed Founder’s Crossing, a 92 small-lot, single-family development, met with Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Industry members. Rawson presented his latest proposal for the housing development north of the Metra Station. The following day, the chamber board of directors voted not to take a formal position on the development.
■ Laughstock Comedy Festival was back in town for a second year. Tim Walkoe from Chicago headlined the main show. Returning performers were Patti Vasquez and veteran actor/comic Carl Wolfson. Two of the performers conducted a workshop on stand-up comedy for aspiring comedians.
1 year ago – 2023
■ With an invitation-only ribbon cutting, city officials opened the Old Courthouse Center, a modern complex created with a $22 million restoration and renovation of the historic Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House. Most tenants used the occasion for a “soft opening” of business. The Independent recognized the event with a special report on the project and the tenants of the 19th century buildings.
■ Oney’s Christmas tree farm, just west of Woodstock, was put up for sale by Dawn Peterson. The farm had been selling trees since Oney and Ella Nienhuiss harvested their first crop of pines in 1967, launching a holiday tradition for many families.
■ VFW Post 5040 in Woodstock closed its bar and cantina at 240 N. Throop St., having ended its lease on the lover level of Flores Banquets. Prior to being Flores Banquets, the building was 5040’s post home. The post resumed its meetings at the Dorr Township building at 1939 Lake Ave.
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY DENNIS MATHES
HARVARD MAIN LINE —
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on JULY 26, 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 BLOOMING STITCH CO. located at 326 S. HUBBARD ST. ALGONQUIN, IL 60102. Owner Name & Address: KATHLEEN HARRIS 326 S. HUBBARD ST. ALGONQUIN, IL 60102.
Dated: JULY 26, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 7, 2024, August 14, 2024, August 21, 2024)L11827
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on JULY 29, 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 BERNAL LANDSCAPING located at 1645 CLAY COURT WOODSTOCK, IL 60098, Owner Name & Address: ERIC BERNAL 1645 CLAY COURT WOODSTOCK, IL 60098.
Dated: JULY 29, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 7, 2024, August 14, 2024, August 21. 2024)L11829
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on AUGUST 5, 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 FOTO Y VIDEO PREMIUM4K located at 461 W. VIRGINIA ST. CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014. Owner Name & Address: VICTOR MARTINEZ 4 PERSHING AVE. LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL 60156 and ELIZABETH ORTIZ 744 LEAH LN. APT. 2 WOODSTOCK, IL 60098.
Dated: AUGUST 5, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 14, 2024, August 21, 2024)L11831
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on AUGUST 6, 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 J L JONES INSURANCE & RETIREMENT located at 11503 MAIN ST,. HUNTLEY, IL 60142. Owner Name & Address: JOANN L. JONES 11503 MAIN ST., PO BOX 956 HUNTLEY, IL. 60142
Dated: AUGUST 6, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 14, 2024, August 21, 2024)L11832
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on MAY 2, 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 DataViewz located at 1345 S. Shore Dr. Village of Lakewood, IL 60014. Owner Name & Address: Derek Rauchenberger 1345 S. Shore Dr. Village of Lakewood, IL 60014.
Dated: MAY 2, 2024 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 14, 2024, August 21, 2024)L11834
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
Public Notice is hereby given that on AUGUST 12, 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 HEUSER FARMS located at 11911 MORRIS DR. MARENGO, IL 60152. Owner Name &
Address: RYAN HEUSER 11911 MORRIS DR. MARENGO, IL 60152.
Dated: AUGUST 12, 2024
/s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk)
(Published in The Woodstock Independent August 21, 2024)L11835
PUBLIC NOTICE
IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT
MCHENRY COUNTY
PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT
DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT)
Request of KATHRYN ANNE HALMA Case No. 2024MR000140
There will be a court hearing on my Request to change my name from: KATHRYN ANNE HALMA
To the new name of: KATHRYN ANNE MURAUSKAS
The court date will be held on October 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at 2200 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, McHenry County in Courtroom TBD.
Dated at Woodstock, IL August 13, 2024 /s/ Kathryn Anne Halma (Published in The Woodstock Independent August 21, 2024)L11836
PUBLIC NOTICE
IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT
MCHENRY COUNTY
PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT
DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT)
Request of JAYNE CHRISTINE STRANG Case No. 2024MR000129
There will be a court hearing on my Request to change my name from: JAYNE CHRISTINE STRANG
To the new name of: CHASE MICHAEL STRANG
The court date will be held on January 2, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at 2200 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, McHenry County in Courtroom 204.
Dated at Woodstock, IL August 13, 2024 /s/ Jayne Christine Strang (Published in The Woodstock Independent August 21, 2024)L11837
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of Public Hearing BE IT RESOLVED that notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of School District No. 200, in the County of McHenry, State of Illinois, that the budget for said school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the Board of Education Office, 2990 Raffel Road, Woodstock, Illinois, in the school district from and after 8:00 A.M. on the 14th day of August, 2024. Notice is further hereby given that a public hearing on said budget will be held at 7:00 P.M., on the 24th day of September 2024 at Woodstock High School, 501 West South Street, Woodstock, Illinois in this School District No. 200. By order of the Board of Education of School District No. 200 in the County of McHenry, State of Illinois.
/s/John D. Parisi, Secretary, Board of Education (Published in The Woodstock Independent August 21, 2024)L11838
By Leigh Rubin
Also pictured are:
Girls golf tees off to start fall season
Woodstock
co-op team to play a full schedule
Staff Report NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
It’s only fitting that District 200’s newest team would be the first sporting event on the calendar for the 2024 fall season. The weather was questionable, but the new Woodstock co-op girls golf team teed off on schedule.
This is the inaugural year for co-op girls golf.
The team is coached by Casey Rhode, a special education teacher at Woodstock High School. Made up of seven girls, all students at Woodstock North High School, the team includes four freshmen, two sophomores, and one junior. Sophomore Angela Pecoraro was first in the lineup, so technically she can say she is the first girl to tee off in the first game for the first-ever girls team.
Woodstock squared off against Antioch on Aug. 18 at their home course, Woodstock Country Club. The girls lost the match 272-227.
They will play a full schedule this season, facing local Kishwaukee Valley Conference teams and several larger invites. Their next home game will be Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. against Harvard.
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY Angela Pacoraro (far left), takes the first tee shot for the Woodstock co-op girls golf teams’ inaugural season.
Giamy Tran (upper center), Mary Spinelli, and Lily Levato (right).
SPECIAL OLYMPIANS
2024 Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games competitors were honored by District 200 Aug. 13. Front row, from left: Katie Thomas, Aubrey Zientek, Madison Kniola. Middle: Alex Colin-Estrada, Blake Svitak. Back: David Gruett. More than 3,400 athletes, 1,300 coaches and 50 unified partners representing 444 teams and agencies throughout Illinois participated in the games.
SCRUBBING STREAKS
Members of the Woodstock High School Blue Streaks cross-country team host a car wash at Kingston Lanes Aug. 17, raising funds to support the team during the upcoming season.
If you are on a youth or adult fall league, designate someone to send your scores in each week, and share your season with the readers of The Woodstock Independent
High school sports teams can also ensure that their scores are listed each week by sending results to sports@thewoodstockindependent.com
BOYS GOLF
■ Aug. 17 – Woodstock co-op finished second in the small schools division at the Rockford Jefferson Invite. Brady Yergens and Brett Neuhart teamed up for a 7th place while Jack Wollpert and Colin Karner teamed up for a 10th..
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY ANDREW ROUSEY
Thank you to our
&
This self-guided tour, which is free to the public, will showcase the exceptional art and fine craftsmanship produced by Regional Artists.
The tour will highlight pottery, stonework, jewelry, paintings, art glass, photography, and much much more!
Fri, Sept 6th 1-7
Sat, Sept 7th 10-5
Save the Dates!
Woodstock Professional & Business Women (WPBW) presents Autumn Art Tour 2024
Friday Sept 6th 1-7 and Saturday Sept 7th 10- 5
Shop for a variety of unique artwork while meeting regional artists at nine area businesses and homes located in and around the historic Woodstock Square.
STEWART’S CLEANERS
This event is free to the public!
To learn more about the Tour and the important work WPBW does, visit our website: www.wpbw.art
Come for the Art and Stay to experience the charm of Woodstock, IL
Thank you to our sponsors:
Please visit www.ReAlwoods for more information on this and all other great woodstock events and attractions!
CRYSTAL ICE HOUSE
Figure Skating Lessons
Public Skate Rat Ice / Stick & Puck Birthday Parties & more!
Tracie Muehler TeamBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate
craftsmanship produced by Regional Artists.
The tour will highlight pottery, stonework, jewelry, paintings, art glass, photography, and much much more!
Emtech Machining and Grinding Inc. Doreen T. Paluch, P.C.
STEWART’S CLEANERS
Illinois
This self-guided tour, which is free to the public, craftsmanship produced by Regional Artists.
We personalize each event from start to finish, We offer customized menus with our Executive Chef. We provide memorable events for members and non-members
During February, March and April our
Mason Hege hits .326 in final season
Mason Hege, a Marian Central Catholic graduate and McHenry resident, started his senior season on a tear.
Through the first nine games of his final season, the Carroll University utility player was hitting over .500. In five of those nine games, he had multiple hits.
While he did not continue at that pace, he did hit over .300, .326 to be exact, for the 2024 campaign, for the first time in his collegiate career. In 92 trips to the plate, he had 30 hits. Exactly half of those hits, 15, were for extra bases. The former Hurricane player doubled 10 times, tripled once and homered four times. He was second on the team in doubles and homers.
Other stats for his final season included 25 RBIs, 19 runs scored, five walks, and three stolen bases. Defensively, he finished with 128 putouts, six assisted putouts and one error, for a .993 fielding percentage.
His .326 batting average as a senior was largely responsible for him raising his four-year career batting average to .297. He finished with a career slugging percentage of .552 and an on-base percentage of .420.
Like his entire career, the utility player had more than his fair share of extra base hits. Of his 51 hits, 14 were doubles, three were triples and eight were homers. He drove home 43 RBIs, 39 runs scored, 16 walks and three stolen bases. He made 261 putouts, 14 assisted putouts and six errors, for a .979 fielding percentage.
MESSAGE FROM CHAMNESS
Obviously, the summer is quickly ending. We are still looking into several athletes that may have finished their careers and we are looking into if their careers are over. We have made every attempt to reach out to everyone we are aware of. If you have not seen a career completition article on your son/daughter, and they finished their athletic career during the 20232024 school year, please contact me as soon as possible. I can be reached by
e-mail (Dan62801@aol.com).
In addition, for any athlete from Woodstock, Woodstock North or Marian Central Catholic that spent two years at a junior college and are either finished or will be competing at a fouryear school, I will do a two-year wrap up on their junior college career or in the case of moving on, a two-year summary and a signing.
Finally, we need names for the 20242025 school year. Obviously, athletes competing in the fall months are the most urgent priority.
If you want to submit a name for any reason, please e-mail me and put “Woodstock Independent” in the subject line of the e-mail. There are two hard and fast rules to be included in this column. They will not change and they are of equal importance. One is the athlete must be either a graduate of one of the three aforementioned high schools or be a resident of a town normally covered by the Woodstock Independent. Also, the athlete must be involved in intercollegiate athletics, meaning their chosen college/university suits up and competes against other schools.
If you want to submit a name, I will need the name of the athlete, the former high school or the town they hail from, the college they are attending and of course, the sport they are involved in.
Calling all dancers! WHS to host fall camp
Woodstock High School invites students in grades kindergarten through eight to its fall dance camp.
Dance camp participants will perform at the Blue Streaks’ varsity home game against Richmond-Burton on Sept. 27.
The camp will take place in WHS’s main gym from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., on Tuesday, September 17, and Thursday, September 19. The third and final session will be held on the football field from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26.
A $60 fee per dancer covers instruction, along with a camp T-shirt and hairbow.
Online registration on Snap! Manage is now open.
Contact Coach Michelle Dobler at Mdobler@wcusd200.org with any questions.
Dan Chamness writes The College Report for The Independent.,
Dan Chamness The College Report
Mason Hege in action for Carroll University
FUN family
SUNDAY,
NOON - 4:00 PM
Join us at the Park on the Square for an afternoon of FREE family fun!
