OpiniOn

Football fans in northeastern Illinois must have noticed how similar the year 2020 was to the Chicago Bears’ season.

The year started with the economy continuing to gain strength, shaking off the remnants of the Great Recession as the unemployment rate kept declining and the stock market kept climbing. It was the promising beginning of a great year.

Likewise, the Bears started their season winning five of their first six games, prompting dreams of a Central Division title and a deep run in the NFL playoffs.

But it was all too good to last.

When the novel coronavirus arrived in our lives as winter turned to spring, we experienced anything but seasonal renewal. State leaders developed a mitigation plan, including the wearing of masks and an introduction to social distancing, while we had the cleanest hands of our lives, all to prevent the spread of the virus. A shelter-in-place order by the governor causes restaurants and retailers to shut their doors and try to survive on carry-out and

» GUEST COLUMN

Hope to see you again. Hope you’re feeling better. Hope you find your lost dog. Hope you pass your final exam. And on and on, the expressions of hope continue.

But, why do we hope?

In our endeavors, in our dreams, and in many of life’s twists and turns, we look for hope. Some people describe hope as the “confident expectation of a positive outcome of unseen future events.” Perhaps a positive mindset, as we humans journey through daily tasks: some mundane, some enlightening, some tearful, and some joyful.

But alas, there are those among us that may struggle with finding hope. A void that disables one’s ability to grabhold of something better, brighter, less severe, less despairing. delivery business

As the numbers of new cases eased by late June, restrictions were eased and the weather allowed ever-wary diners to enjoy a restaurant meal outdoors.

That was before the climbing rate of infections and deaths from COVID19 led to orders that returned us to limited store capacity and a ban on indoor dining at restaurants. It turned life upside down – again.

Same thing happened to the Bears. Their promising start was followed by a six-game losing streak, concluding with a late-game loss to the lowly Detroit Lions, that dashed those dreams of postseason play.

But then things changed again – in regard to the virus and the Bears. We found we had gone from happy to hapless to hopeful.

Late in the year, development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines – months earlier than expected – offered hope that returning to a semi-normal life was not only possible, but probable in the not-to-distant future. 2021 was looking better.

You may have come across some people who have little or even no hope at all. We need not look far throughout this vast world, but merely within our own communities, Ken neighborhoods, or Stoklosa even our homes. Guest Columnist

So, what does one do? What does one say, if anything?

My years have taught me to take the initiative in those fleeting moments, perhaps to start with a smile, or a simple greeting. Maybe, even going to the aid of a person in peril, or visiting a nursing home or perhaps even a We don’t have ‘341 Mike formation on two.’ This is a breakfast restaurant, Coach Nagy.

And late in the season, the Bears found ... whatever it was that had been missing, leading to three consecutive victories that put them back into the playoffs conversation. All they had to do this past Sunday was to beat their primary rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in the final game of the regular season. prison. A moment in time to step out of your comfort-zone and help another human being.

Your action may be just what that person needed at that appointed time in history.

On a more personal level, a recent experience will underscore this reality. One day, a mother of three children came into the food pantry seeking food for her family. Having traveled quite far, she was unaware the food pantry was closed that day.

So, with a sad but composed look, she turned to leave with nothing but an updated food pantry schedule. Suddenly, as if on cue, there arose a spontaneous reaction from volunteers present to gather her food before she left that day.

How about I get you some waffles with whipped cream and strawberries?

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY JIM MANSFIELD

That’s all.

Well, as Bears fans know, they lost. 35-16.

Yet, still they made the playoffs when the Arizona Cardinals lost their final game of the season.

Let’s hope 2021 holds such good for-

tune for the rest of us.

After we helped her load the food into her car, she turned to me and said, “God bless you all.”

For us volunteers, we were simply answering a request for help. But then again, I would rather like to think we enabled that “hoped-for positive outcome” to be fulfilled.

So, the next time fate places you into that one special moment in time where you see someone in need, for whatever reason, offer to help and give that person a reason to hold on to their hope. After all, looking back on 2020, we Americans could all use a little hope for 2021.

This column is all about keeping my word. Back on Dec. 9, I shared The Rev. Howard Thurman’s poem “I will light candles this Christmas.” That went well, because several of you wrote, texted, or emailed that you included it in your Christmas cards, had it printed in your church bulletin, or shared it with friends and family.

The candles that were lit this Christmas at the Wormley house are now mere wax blobs of their original selves. But, oh, how they brightened our home and reminded us of the need for joy, hope, courage, peace, grace, and love in our lives and in the world.

I promised in that second column in December to share with you another of Rev. Thurman’s poems, “The work of Christmas begins” sometime “later in the month.” Well, that month is now gone, and I apologize for the delay in sharing the poem as I had promised.

That said, the poem is especially relevant today, the 12th day of Christmas – Epiphany. In fact, its message is good all year long.

The Work of Christmas Begins ...

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks …

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, Cheryl Wormley

To bring peace Declarations among the people,

To make music in the heart.

Finding the lost, healing the broken, feeding the hungry, releasing the prisoner, rebuilding the nations, and bringing peace among the people. Oh, my, where to begin? I believe it all starts with making music in our hearts.

A music-filled heart is a happy heart. When is your heart happy? Mine is happy when I am being kind to other people. Is the same true for you?

It’s easy to be kind. And kindness begets kindness.

I’m reminded of a commercial a few years ago of one act of kindness resulting in another, and another, and another. There was music in the heart of everyone who took a few seconds to open the door for another person, pick up a dropped item, offer a smile, let someone in line … and on and on.

One night, some years ago, while eating at a restaurant with our son Paul and daughter-in-law Rose, I noticed she took special note of our server’s name. Every time Rose spoke to the server, she used the person’s name. As the server handed us the check, Rose thanked her by name. There was music in Rose’s heart, then in the heart of the server, and in our hearts, too.

Our granddaughter Cameron likes to create art with words. Several years ago, she made a sign with the words “Stay Humble, Work Hard, Be Kind.” Cameron exudes kindness, and there is music in her heart. The sign hangs in our dining room, and each time I look at it, my heart sings and I am reminded of the power of kindness.

With kindness making music in our hearts, we can and we must commit ourselves to the work of Christmas: to find the lost, heal the broken, feed the hungry, release the prisoner, rebuild the nations, and bring peace among the people. The work of Christmas begins.

Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent. Her email address is c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com.

I enjoyed reading [Cheryl Wormley’s] weekly column [Declarations, Dec. 30]. I am surprised that she did not mention the U.S. military in her expressions of gratitude for all who put their lives on the line to help others.

Our military not only provided doctors and nurses, but built field hospitals on short notice in several cities and supplied two medical ships completely staffed to help during this pandemic.

Glynn Bradley Woodstock

Woodstock District Office 666 Russel Court, Suite 309 Woodstock, IL 60098 Woodstock office: 815-527-9533

District Office 5400 W. Elm St., Suite 103 McHenry, IL 60050 815-455-6330

Chairman Michael Buehler 1630 Quail Way Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-334-4224 mjbuehler@co.mchenry.il.us

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

$75 in Woodstock, Bull Valley and Wonder Lake. $77 in McHenry County. $82 for snowbirds and $90 outside McHenry County.

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

PUBLISHER Cheryl Wormley c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com EDITOR Larry Lough larry@thewoodstockindependent.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sandy Kucharski sandy@thewoodstockindependent.com PHOTOGRAPHER Ken Farver ken@thewoodstockindependent.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dianne Mitchell dianne@thewoodstockindependent.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Jen Wilson jen@thewoodstockindependent.com ADVERTISING Katy O’Brien katy@thewoodstockindependent.com ADMINISTRATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Rebecca McDaniel subs@thewoodstockindependent.com

Paul Lockwood, Lisa Haderlein, Dan Chamness, Patricia Kraft, Jeff Cook, Cynthia Kanner, Nancy Shevel

Vicky Long, Margie Paffrath, Alex Vucha

Tricia Carzoli, Janet Dovidio, Susan W. Murray, Megan Ivers, Lydia LaGue

Jim Mansfield, Luke Goins

Don Humbertson

Press releases and photos pr@thewoodstockindependent.com

news@thewoodstockindependent.com

Display advertising ads@thewoodstockindependent.com

Legal notices subs@thewoodstockindependent.com Classified Ads classifieds@thewoodstockindependent.com

Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock June 10-16, 2020 A&E Fireworks at Emricson Park will be different – still a blastPAGE 11 SCHOOLS Retirees in District 200 recall their careers with fondness PAGE 8 See DEBT, Page 2 Which bad option is best? BUSY MORNING D-200 wants your thoughts on tax hikes, program cuts By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM How would you prefer Woodstock School District 200 manage its $161 million bond debt?Would you mind much if the school property tax went up, say, $120 a year – or more?How about combining the athletic programs at the two high schools, eliminating middle schools sports, and maybe cutting into co-curricular activities such as music and art? Or maybe stretching out payments on the debt three or four years, adding millions to the payback? And how much of the district’s $25 million surplus should be spent as part of whatever solution the Board of Education eventually approves? You are apparently going to have the opportunity to share your opinion in a survey that will ask about budget cuts, tax increases, and other options no one likes.“Eventually, if you want to save money,” Superintendent Mike Moan told the board last week, “you’re going Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock June 17-23, 2020 SCHOOLS Local INCubatoredu program has national ‘pitch’ competitor PAGE 9 See PHASE 3, Page 2 Phase 3 opens up a little PRIDE PROUD Moving too fast puts local liquor license in jeopardy By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Lines extended more than 200 feet for much of last week at the state license branch in Woodstock, spilling out of the office and wrapping around the laundromat at the south end of the building along Eastwood Drive. People waited an hour or more even though license branches statewide are open to serve only new drivers, customers with expired driver’s licenses/ ID cards, and vehicle transactions. People didn’t seem to know or care the state had extended the expiration date until Oct. 1 for licenses, vehicle registration, and other permits that have expired or will by July 31. The weather cooperated last week with the reopening of some social and business activities that had been limited by the coronavirus. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s and 80s called people to take advantage of outside dining at restaurants throughout the city. Lots of activity was observed on the patio at Public House restaurant; at tables in the street along the Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00 INDEPENDENT TheWoodstock June 24-30, 2020 COMMUNITY Crafts for kids a big part of library’s summer reading plan See PHASE 4, Page 2 Are we ready to open? Woodstock prepares for more activity under Phase 4 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Woodstock seems ready for Phase 4. Summer concerts by the City Band – in its 136th season – will begin July 1 on the Square. We will have fireworks on the fourth in Emricson Park. And city of Woodstock offices and facilities plan to reopen next week, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday released guidelines for the state to move to the next level of his Restore Illinois plan. Phase 4 will allow gatherings of up to 50 people and permit restaurants, bars, and theaters to invite customers inside for the first time in three months since the state issued a shelter-in-place order to prevent spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Specific crowd and capacity limits are included in guidelines. Although “normalcy” will return, guidelines continue to encourage face masks, social distancing, and hand washing as the norm. If you want to visit City Hall, masks are mandatory – and available there.SUBSCRIBE As a small business we need you more than ever! Please consider supporting your local newspaper.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER Downtown Woodstock, as evidenced by this photo of Cass Street, was as busy Saturday as it had been for a while when the Farmers Market returned to the Square for the first time this season. Because of coronavirus concerns, the producers market had stayed at its winter home at the McHenry County Fairgrounds. It will now resume the normal summer schedule of being open each Tuesday and Saturday. The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com COMMUNITY Neighborhood flower walk honors Woodstock couplePAGE 14 Obituaries 4 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 8 a&e 11 Marketplace 12 cOMMunity 14 calendar 18 classified 20 puzzles 22 public nOtices 23 spOrts 25 INDEX City adds space to grow downtown See DOWNTOWN, Page 2 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM When the time is right for development of the downtown area, Woodstock will have a big place to develop. The City Council last week approved the purchase of the vacated grain silo site at 313 Short St. for $200,000. Under the sale agreement, the seller, DeLong Co., will demolish all structures on the site.According to Garrett Anderson, the city director of Economic Development, that 1.02 acres means the city will will have 16.5 acres north of the Square “which could potentially be developed” among more than 17 acres the city will own in that area.City Manager Roscoe Stelford said the site of the former grain elevator was a “key piece” of the city’s long-term plan for downtown development. “This puts the city in a much better position of having control of the parcel,” he said of the area north of INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVERMelissa McMahon and daughter Charlotte McMahon Thomas stand outside their home Sunday on the Woodstock Pride Pomenade route of more than 30 decorated homes and businesses throughout the city. The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com MARKETPLACE Finch Farm revived with sweet scent of lavender PAGE 13 COMMUNITY Project Front Line linked restaurants with workersPAGE 19 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 9 a&e 11 Marketplace 13 cOMMunity 19 calendar 24 classified 26 puzzles 28 public nOtices 29 spOrts 30 INDEX MCAT expands police resources See MCAT, Page 3 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM When a traffic accident is serious, a call goes out to MCAT.“It has to be a serious injury or death,” said Sgt. Rob Pritchard of the Woodstock Police Department. Since May 2019, Pritchard, 50, has been commander of the McHenry County Regional Major Traffic Crash Assistance Team.That’s what kept him on the scene of a fatal accident June 4 for more than eight hours, leading a team of nine police officers from five city police departments who investigated the collision at U.S. 14 and Route 120 (Washington Street).Pritchard said “serious injury” meant broken bones, loss of limbs, and similar critical injuries. Just days before the wreck in Woodstock, MCAT investigated a Spring Grove accident involving a motorcyclist who survived hitting a tree.Based on information he received June 4 from the Woodstock Fire/ Rescue District, Pritchard activated INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI On the first day of summer 2020, umbrellas protected diners at The Double Yolk Café from sun early in the morning and from raindrops later as the Woodstock Farmers Market finished its third week on the Square. The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com PAGE 16 SCHOOLS 20 students in District 200 receive 2020 PRIDE awards PAGE 8 MARKETPLACE Local food trucks find hungry customers during shutdown PAGE 13 Obituaries 4 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 8 a&e 11 Marketplace 13 cOMMunity 16 calendar 20 classified 22 puzzles 24 public nOtices 25 spOrts 26 INDEX Virus sparks restaurant competition See FOOD TRUCKS, Page 2 SUMMER’S START By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Deputy Mayor Mike Turner urged the Woodstock City Council to “be creative” in considering changes to the city’s food truck regulations to address complaints from brick-andmortar restaurants about their mobile competitors. “It’s kind of a blank canvas as to whether to do anything different,” he said. After discussing the issue for more than an hour, council members agreed to do nothing – for now. The issue was a discussion-only item on the agenda for last week’s council meeting. Changes to the city’s 2012 ordinance could be made at the council’s meeting July 21, depending on what members hear from the public – including restaurants – between now and then. Turner said the issue was raised by Benton Street bars about the Que Pasta truck being parked on the street outside Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern at Church and Clay streets.We Are Woodstock! 3 MONTHS FREE Call or email for details FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS TODAY! Your news, your business, your community

TO SUBSCRIBE: 815.338.8040 • thewoodstockindependent.com rebecca@thewoodstockindependent.com

thewoodstockindependent.com Offer good for addresses in 60097 & 60098

STUDENT WEEK OF THE SULEMA

RUIZ

Sulema Ruiz is a sophomore at Woodstock High School. She is the daughter of Alejandra Hernandez and Hector Ruiz, Woodstock. “Sulema always reaches out when needed, actively participates in class, is kind to her teacher and peers, puts in 100% effort and in turn yields impressive results academically, and is a great leader,”said one of her teachers. Sulema has been on honor roll during her freshman and sophomore years. She is a member of LUCHA and head of community service. When asked who inspires her, Sulema said, “My best friend of seven years, Melany Cervantes, is someone who inspires me because she has been there for me through my worst times and my best times. Melany has always kept me motivated to do my best in school and in life.” When asked what makes her feel successful, Sulema said, “I feel as if I am successful because I have maintained a 4.0 GPA for most of my academic years. I sometimes help my parents out in their local/family restaurant Fastacos, and I am head of community service as a sophomore. Last but not least, I also try to clean my house while my family is at work.”

SPONSORED BY

111 E. Van Buren Street Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 206-5967 readbetweenthelynes.com

The Boppart family goes sledding in Hartland Township in 1954. From left: Eugene (age 13), Marilyn (age 12), Phyllis (age 9), and Betty Lou (age 7). Their oldest brother, Loren, not pictured, is pulling his siblings on the sled he built.

The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum is offering free activity kits for third- through fifth-graders. The range of topics include pioneer, trains, and quilts. To get your kit, email Karolina Kowalczyk, MCHS volunteer and outreach coordinator, at karolina@mchenrycountyhistory.org.