Woodstock Independent 11/25/2020 by Woodstock Independent

The

Woodstock

I NDEPENDENT

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.50

Debt plan involves tax cut

D-200 looks to extend payoff, avoid expense reductions in first year By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

No cuts in personnel or programs – and no tax increase – are involved with the plan to tackle the $160 million bond debt of Woodstock School District 200. There is even a tax cut for 2021 in the plan adopted last week by the Board of

SCHOOLS

G.R.E.A.T. students collect goods for local food pantry PAGE 9

A&E

Education. Board members agreed to pursue an approach based roughly on one presented last month by Jennifer Currier of bond adviser PMA Securities of Chicago. Generally, that plan calls for the use of $25 million of the district’s available $27 million reserve fund – $5 million

a year for five years – and extending the final debt payment by five years, to 2037. To make that plan work without a tax increase in 2021, the district will also use $700,000 from an expected surplus in this year’s budget rather than cut into expenses, which would affect See DEBT, Page 3

TIME TO REAP

Holiday events this weekend to be festive ... but different

MARKETPLACE

PAGE 11

Jewelry store back on Square where many once were found

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INDEX Obituaries

Opinion

Schools

A&E

Marketplace

Community

Calendar

Classified

Puzzles

Public Notices 29 Sports

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671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

On the second-to-last day of picking, Sass Family Farms west of Woodstock works late to harvest the last of the 2020 corn crop. The USDA reported corn harvest was 95 percent complete in Illinois on Nov. 8, well ahead of the 67 percent on the same date during the soggy fall of 2019. More photos on Page 19.

Election results official – almost By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Vote-by-mail ballots swelled the McHenry County turnout this month to record numbers, but Illinois might not want to follow a handful of other states that vote exclusively by mail, according to County Clerk Joe Tirio. More than 165,000 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3 election, Tirio’s office

reported last week when official results were released. That’s 20,000 more than in the presidential election in 2016. “I like the idea of Illinoisans having the option to vote by mail, if they wish,” Tirio said in an email interview. “But, I think people have more faith in an inperson vote, whether early or on Election Day. So, I’m not in support of going to all vote by mail, but would like to see more emphasis on early voting.”

Pending recounts, a few things are certain from the local vote totals. n McHenry County was the only county in the 14th Congressional District that Republican Jim Oberweis won, and he did that convincingly with 53 percent of the vote, a margin of more than 7,000 votes over Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood. Oberweis announced he would seek a “discovery See ELECTION, Page 2

NEWS

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

WFRD will look internally for new deputy chief By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Searching for a deputy chief will be done internally at the Woodstock Fire/ Rescue District, but an outside firm will be hired to assess the applicants. The WFRD Board of Trustee last

week decided it could spend $1,200 to $1,700 to have each candidate evaluated for the new position. “That takes the subjectivity out of it,” Chief Mike Hill told the board. He said only “a handful” of WFRD employees met the requirements of 10 years of professional firefighting

“There was so much that was different, so much thrown at us last-minute, and hopefully, much that will never need to be repeated. Even the post-mortem will be more complicated for this election. ...” -McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio

ELECTION

Continued from page 1

recount” to determine whether a full recount was warranted. n Democrats picked up three district seats on the McHenry County Board, cutting the Republican majority to 16-8, with two of those victories by fewer than 200 votes. But Republicans won the top position when Mike Buehler captured almost 53 percent of the vote in unseating County Board Chairman Jack Franks by more than 9,000 votes. n Although the county saw a record number of ballots – thanks in part to 53,769 votes by mail and 67,313 early voters, numbers apparently driven by coronavirus concerns – the 69.64 percent turnout of registered voters fell short of the 2008 total of 70.22 percent.

Examining the process

Tirio reported “nothing of consequence” hampered the voting process or the count. “Any time you put up a couple thousand pieces of equipment, you are going to have some that just don’t land on their feet,” he said in an email. “We had people strategically placed around the county, in vehicles loaded with equipment and supplies waiting for the polls to open and waiting for the calls for help. When the calls came, we fixed or replaced what was needed.” The clerk said he wasn’t sure yet what adjustments needed to be made for future elections. “I think we need a little time to wrap this one up and give it some thought,” he wrote two days after the official results were released Nov. 17. “There was so much that was different, so much thrown at us last-minute, and hopefully, much that will never need to be repeated. Even the post-mortem

will be more complicated for this election as compared to others.”

‘We owe it’ to the voters

Apparently, however, the race in the 14th Congressional District isn’t quite finished. First-term Rep. Underwood released a statement last week to thank voters after official totals indicated she had won 50.67 percent of the vote in the seven-county district in far-west suburban Chicago, long a Republican stronghold. Then Oberweis announced a limited recount to test the accuracy of the vote. “Mr. Oberweis falsely declared victory with more than 20,000 votes outstanding,” Underwood said in a followup statement. “Now that he’s officially lost, he wants a recount. Regardless of Mr. Oberweis’ bluster, the results in this race will remain the same: this community voted in historic numbers to re-elect Congresswoman Lauren Underwood.” The day after the Nov. 3 election, Oberweis declared victory based on early returns showing him with a lead of a few thousand votes. Underwood appears to have won by more than 5,000 votes among the nearly 401,000 ballots cast. Oberweis was not ready to concede. “With more than more than 400,000 votes cast in the race, the difference between my vote total and her vote total is just over 1 percent or roughly 12 votes per precinct,” he said in a statement. “... In a race this close, we need to be certain the final vote count is correct. “A discovery recount does not change a single vote, but it does allow us to see if the outcome might change with a full recount. … We owe it to the 400,000 people who voted in this election to do all we can to ensure that the final outcome is the right outcome.”

experience and five years at the rank of lieutenant or higher. Trustee Kenneth Marunde thought the board and administration knew the present employees well enough to do the assessment in-house, but Trustee Scott Sankey urged an external review. “They need to assess them for the

new job,” he said, “not for the job they’ve been doing.” The deputy chief position was eliminated a few years ago because of financial problems, but filling that post was part of the WFRD strategic plan developed after voters approved a tax increase referendum in April 2019.

McHENRY COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS (Official results for selected races in the Nov. 3, 2020, General Election) Voter Turnout – 69.64 percent Ballots cast – 165,481 Registered voters – 237,640 President/Vice President Donald Trump/Michael Pence (R) – 82,241 Joseph Biden/Kamala Harris (D) – 78,138 Jo Jorgensen/Jeremy Cohen (L) – 2,176 Howie Hawkins/Angela Walker (G) – 781 Brian Carroll/Amar Patel (ASP) – 298 Gloria La Riva/Leonard Peltier (PSL) – 205 U.S. Senator Mark Curran Jr. (R) – 80,422 Richard J. Durbin (D) – 73,788 Danny Malouf (L) – 3,549 Willie L. Wilson (WWP) – 3,542 David Black (G) – 1,393 Congress District 6 Sean Casten (D) – 23,770 Jeanne Ives (R) – 22,437 Bill Redpath (L) – 1,197 Congress District 14 Jim Oberweis (R) – 60,636 Lauren Underwood (D) – 53,611 Illinois House District 63 Steven Reick (R) – 28,320 Brian Sager (D) – 23,390 Circuit Clerk Katherine M. Keefe (R) – 94,664 Renee M. Overlee (D) – 64,969 State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally (R) – 130,989 No candidate (D) Auditor Shanon L. Teresi (R) – 106,262 James “Jim” Young (L) – 37,457 No candidate (D) Coroner Michael R. Rein (R) – 101,074 Kelly Liebmann (L) – 42,766 No candidate (D) County Board Chairman Mike Buehler (R) – 84,532 Jack D. Franks (D) – 75,420

County Board District 5 (Elect two) Michael Skala (R) – 12,728 Paula Yensen (D) – 11,545 Damon Hill (R) – 9,457 Lynn M. Gray (D) – 9,243 County Board District 6 (Elect two) James A. Kearns (R) – 14,665 Tracie Von Bergen (R) – 13,138 Nancy Glissman (D) – 10,202 Larry Spaeth (D) – 7,872 22nd Judicial Circuit Circuit Court Judge David Gervais (R) – 88,033 Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Voneau (D) – 70,341 Judge, 3rd Subcircuit Justin Hansen (R) – 19,813 Jeannie Ridings (D) – 16,184 Judge, 4th Subcircuit Mark Gerhardt (R) – 20,364 Kimberley Crum Klein (D) – 17,875 Judge retention to 22nd Circuit Michael W. Feetterer (Yes/No) Yes – 112,864 No – 34,001 Judge Retention State Appellate Ann B. Jorgensen (Yes/No) Yes – 118,364 No – 30,159 Mary S. Schostok (Yes/No) Yes – 115,530 No – 30,645 Binding referendum Shall the coroner of McHenry County be eliminated as an elected office and be replaced by an appointed coroner, appointed by a McHenry County Board Committee, to be effective Nov. 30? No – 97,717 Yes – 58,514 Proposed amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution Shall the state have the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels? No – 99,742 Yes – 60,336

Staff Report

NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Staff Report

NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

As COVID-19 cases hit new highs in McHenry County, the Department of Health is urging people to avoid nonessential trips and social gatherings. With increases in positive coronavirus tests statewide and a rise in COVIDlike Illness hospital admissions, Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week announced that Tier 3 COVID-19 resurgence mitigations would be implemented in Illinois effective last Friday. McHenry County was placed under Tier 1 mitigation by the state on Oct. 31, with a seven-day rolling average testing positivity rates that exceeded 8 percent for three consecutive days. Testing positivity has continued to climb since late October, local health officials reported, and medical and surgical bed availability in the county dropped to 27.3 percent, the lowest it’s been since spring. “We were able to prevent the overburdening of hospitals in our region during the pandemic’s first peak, and we can do it again,” Public Health Administrator Melissa Adamson said in a news release. “Let’s not throw away all the gains we made because we’re fatigued by this virus. “We do not know the long-term effects of the virus, but the immediate danger is further spread that risks overloading our hospitals. Changing our behaviors will limit the spread. ...” The city of Woodstock instituted its own restrictions recently, setting closing time for bars and restaurants at

WEEKLY COVID-19 CASES FOR McHENRY COUNTY Report Infections 03/29 04/05 04/12 04/19 04/26 05/03 05/10 05/17 05/24 05/31 06/07 06/14 06/21 06/28 07/05 07/12 07/19 07/26 08/02 08/09 08/16 08/23 08/30 09/04 09/11 09/18 09/25 10/02 10/09 10/16 10/25 11/01 11/08 11/15 11/22

52 133 (+81) 234 (+101) 348 (+114) 503 (+155) 703 (+200) 953 (+250) 1,175 (+223) 1,407 (+232) 1,584 (+177) 1,733 (+149) 1,849 (+116) 1,911 (+62) 2,002 (+91) 2,119 (+117) 2,268 (+149) 2,470 (+202) 2,703 (+233) 2,946 (+243) 3,210 (+264) 3,396 (+186) 3.598 (+202) 3,828 (+230) 4,002 (+174) 4,199 (+197) 4,343 (+144) 4,527 (+184) 4,705 (+178) 4,992 (+288) 5,298 (+306) *6,035 (+737) *6,906 (+871) *8,170 (+1,264) *10,301 (+2,131) *11,602 (+1.301)

* Change to state metrics

Deaths

2 3 (+1) 7 (+4) 16 (+9) 28 (+12) 39 (+11) 50 (+11) 61 (+11) 69 (+8) 73 (+4) 83 (+10) 87 (+4) 90 (+3) 96 (+6) 97 (+1) 101 (+4) 106 (+5) 108 (+2) 112 (+4) 113 (+1) 113 (+0) 113 (+0) 115 (+2) 116 (+1) 116 (+0) 118 (+2) 118 (+0) 119 (+1) 119 (+0) 120 (+1) 120 (+0) 120 (+0) 120 (+0) 120 (+0) 136 (+16)

10 p.m., rather than the state’s 11 p.m. curfew. And while the state order bans indoor service at bars and restaurants, Woodstock is enforcing its own rules on masks for employees and customers as well as social distancing of tables. The city is expected to update its mitigation plan this week.

DEBT

Continued from Page 1

personnel and programs. “I feel comfortable,” Superintendent Mike Moan said, “that at the end of the [fiscal] year, we’re going to have $700,000 left.” The district typically has a surplus of $1 million or more at the end of the budget year, which is how it built a $27 million reserve fund in anticipation of facing the backloaded school construction debt dating to 2006. Moan said expenses this year also were down because of the pandemic, which has closed school buildings and required students to use remote learning since the school year started Aug. 17. “This is a one-year commitment,” Moan told the board about the plan to use the surplus to avoid expense cuts. “If you don’t want to do it next year, you don’t have to.”

Tax levy up, rate down

The board preliminarily approved an estimated property tax levy of $61.16 million, which is 2.68 percent higher than this year, district CFO Risa Hanson explained. But the tax rate will drop because of an expected 3.5 percent increase in the taxable value of property in the district, which extends beyond Woodstock’s city limits. Based on the the county’s estimate for property values in the district, the D-200 tax rate is expected to drop to $6.55 per $100 of taxable value, down from $6.61 this year. That means the owner of a home with a $200,000 market value will pay about $39 less in 2021 than the $4,011 bill for this year. Tax bills soared after the housing recession a decade ago dramatically decreased property values. Since bottoming out in 2014, however, assessed

A Belvidere man has been sentenced to five years in prison for the theft of $2,700 in property from a Woodstock home where he was staying in September 2018. Trevor A. Hasselmann, 24, Trevor A. accepted a negoHasselmann tiated plea of guilty. Under state law, Hasselmann must serve at least 50 percent of the sentence.

values of property have increased steadily, allowing the district to cut the tax rate every year since. The board also has used reserve funds in recent years to keep a lid on the debt levy. Final approval of the levy is expected at the board’s meeting Dec. 8.

‘Not doing anything drastic’

Refunding up to $48 million of the debt this year is also part of the plan approved last week by the board. PMA’s Currier explained that is part of Phase 1, a three-year approach that will use $5 million a year from the reserve fund to help keep the tax levy from exploding. Without board action by March 1 to address the debt, tax bills could increase by more than 150 percent next spring. Extending the debt by five years also helps in avoiding a tax increase, but it will add more than $19.5 million to the overall payoff. The board will reassess its approach after the three years of Phase 1. “Hopefully,” board member Bruce Farris said, “We’ll have $10 million left [in the reserve fund], ...” “And then we can recalibrate at that point,” Moan added. Because of the pandemic, the district is not guaranteed to have a budget surplus to avoid expense cuts in future years. The district gets about two-thirds of its revenue for a $100 million annual budget from property taxes, considered to be a stable source. But D-200 also gets millions in state aid, which could be vulnerable to the economic downturn. Moan noted that the board’s actions were consistent with a public survey in which respondents preferred that the district use a combination of options to address the debt, including some expense cuts, “... while not doing anything drastic.”

NEWS

Virus surge puts squeeze on hospitals

Flores Banquets, $2,225. Grants were funded by $300,000 from the Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Support program distributed through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, using funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, a federal law designed to mitigate economic losses because of COVID-19. An additional $200,000 was provided from city funds. According to a news release, all applications were reviewed by the city’s grant review team and Mayor Brian Sager. Checks will be mailed or picked up by grantees this week.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

Twenty-seven Woodstock bars and restaurants will share in $500,000 the city has awarded this week through its Restaurant Relief Grant Program. Seven drinking, dining, and entertainment establishments each received the maximum $35,000 grant. Awards ranged from a low of about $2,200. Each grant was based on the percentage of documented losses from March to September this year as a result of the coronavirus. Receiving the maximum $35,000 award are Public House, BBQ King,

Classic Cinemas, 3 Brothers, Mixteca, Offsides, and Double Yolk Café. Other awards went to: Ortmann’s Red Iron tavern, $26,200; Kingston Lanes, $23,800; Rosati’s Pizza, $21,200; Napoli’s Pizza, $21,000; Quizno’s, $21,000; Antioch Pizza, $16,600; La Placita Taqueria, $13,900; Your Sister’s Tomato, $13,800; Holzlager Brewing, $13,700; Ethereal Confections, $13,100; Sophie’s Whiskey & Wine, $10,000; The Sugar Circle, $8,800; Beef Village, $8,770; ShadowView Brewing, $8,500; Oliver’s Bar & Grill, $8,200; Isabel’s Restaurant, $7,700; Main Street PourHouse, $6,900; Scoops Dairy & Dogs, $5,450; D.C. Cobb’s, $4,100;

Five-year prison term for $2,700 property theft

3 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Restaurants get COVID relief grants

IN BRIEF

NEWS

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

OBITUARIES Ann Kohl, 85

Ann (Spuehler) Kohl, 85, passed away on Nov 9, 2020, in Schaumburg, Ill. Ann was born Oct. 13, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Ernst Spuehler and Elizabeth Walser. She was married to Lou Kohl in 1954 and lived in Palatine, Ill., where they raised their family. Ann was a manager at the Mount Prospect Bank as well as being a homemaker. Ann and Lou moved to Woodstock, Ann Ill., in the 1980s and Kohl enjoyed their longtime home together until Lou passed away in 2007. Ann was an avid gardener, artist, competitive tennis player, and an excellent cook. Her cookie-baking skills will be sorely missed. She was a caring friend with a kind word for all. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Ernst Spuehler and stepmother Ruth Spuehler, and brothers and sisters, Henry, Marion, Phyllis, and Rose. She is survived by her children, Dr. Jan (Ron) Kirschbaum of Raleigh, N.C., and Kenneth (Ellen) Kohl of Denver, Colo., and her brother, Donald Spuehler, of Los Angeles. A celebration of life will be scheduled in 2021 in the Chicago area. Donations may be made to the Friends of the Woodstock Opera House or The Food Bank of Northern Illinois.

IN BRIEF

Dianne R. Reeves, 73 Dianne R. (Church) Reeves, age 73, passed away Nov. 20, 2020, in Woodstock with her family by her side. She was born in Woodstock, Illl., on Dec. 23, 1946, to Robert and Hazel (Sweet) Church. Dianne graduated from Woodstock High School in 1965. She worked as a 911 McHenry County dispatcher for 18 years for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. She Dianne R. was an artist and loved Reeves to draw, write and had perfect handwriting. She enjoyed love stories, scary movies, music and margaritas. She was loved by many, was a dear mother, friend and will be deeply missed. She is survived by her children, Michael (Lois) Casper, Andrea (David) Jones and David “Eli” Reeves; seven grandchildren, Trey (Brittany) Casper, Shea Jones, Kalei Jones, Patrick Casper, Gretchen Casper, Natalia and Hunter Reeves; three great-grandchildren, Beckam, Kaden and Blakely Casper; sister, Demaris (Paul) McNabb; brother, Alan (Mary) Church; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Hazel Church. Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, from 10 a.m. until the noon service at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home 1211 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098. For information, call the funeral home at 815-338-1710 or see the website at slmcfh. com.

Will April 6 city election have contested offices? Each of the four offices on Woodstock’s city election next spring has a candidate. But as of 1:30 p.m. Monday, there were no contests on the April 6 ballot. Deputy Mayor Mike Turner had filed last week for mayor. Four-term Mayor Brian Sager chose not to seek re-election. Three seats on the seven-member council (the mayor is a voting member) will be on the ballot. Incumbent Gordie Tebo filed for re-election to a second term, and Thomas Nierman and Robert Seegers Jr. also filed. The deadline was 5 p.m. Monday. Two-term Councilman Jim Prindiville is not seeking re-election. Check The Independent’s website, woodstockindependent.com, for updates.

County agency dissolved after inactivity since ’05

McHenry County’s Public Building Commission, which was created 56 years ago to help county and local governments build facilities to meet the needs of a growing population, was dissolved last week by the McHenry County Board. County government has not used the commission since 2005. According to a news release, the

County Board created the commission in 1964 to build a new county government center to replace the 1857 courthouse building on the Woodstock Square. The commission played a role in expanding the government center and county jail, building the center’s Annex A, and renovating the previous Valley Hi Nursing Home building. But the commission’s usefulness diminished with changes to debt reform law and the creation of the tax cap, which imposed limits on borrowing. The commission’s five unpaid members will have a final meeting Dec. 3, with the dissolution to take effect the next day. The $146,300 remaining in its budget will be transferred to the county general fund.

McHenry County jury trials delayed by COVID

Effective Monday, Nov. 30, all cases scheduled for jury trial in McHenry County have been postponed by order of Chief Judge James S. Cowlin. According to a news release, trials will be rescheduled by the assigned judges. Cowlin said the action was necessary to protect potential jurors, case parties, members of the public, other judicial partners, court employees, and judges from the spread of COVID-19. Emergency orders of protection and no-contact and no-contact orders may be filed with the court from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on days the Judicial Center is open for business. People seeking such orders may contact Turning Point of McHenry County, 815-334-4624.

PUBLIC SAFETY LOG Woodstock Police Department

■ Rebeca M. Brown, 33, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 6 in the 500 block of Raffel Road on charges of speeding and driving while license suspended. Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Dec. 18. ■ Tanis J. Kahabka, 56, transient, was arrested Nov. 8 in the 800 block of Prairie View Lane on a warrant charging failure to appear and driving while license suspend. Released on personal recognizance with notice to appear. Court date Nov. 20 ■ Francisco J. Olvera, 26, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 9 at Jefferson and Judd streets on charges of failure to signal when required and no valid driver’s license. Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Dec. 17. ■ Jimmy D. Phillips, 57, transient, was arrested Nov. 10 in the 100 block of South Eastwood Drive on a McHenry County warrant charging failure to appear. Bond $6,000. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Dec. 18.

■ Gary L. Donahue, 56, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 11 at Hoy Avenue and Dean Street on charges of possession of a controlled substance, driving while license suspended, possession of cannabis in motor vehicle by driver, and failure to signal when required. Taken to jail. Bond and court date to be set.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office ■ Jacob A. Spletter, 19, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 10 on charges of possession of meth less than 5 grams and delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 30 grams. ■ Jennifer A. Lamb, 36, Wonder Lake, was arrested Nov. 14 on causing child to be endangered (eight counts) and reckless conduct (four counts).

Charges are only accusations of crimes, and defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District EMS calls for Nov. 12-18: 73

Fire Runs Nov. 12

6:29 p.m. – U.S. 14 and Sunset Ridge Road, traffic accident with no injuries; engine, ambulance, shift commander 3:13 p.m. – Lake Avenue and Kilkenny Court, motor vehicle/pedestrian accident; engine, shift commander, ambulance 3:55 p.m. – 400 block of Ridgeland Avenue, power line down; truck Nov. 13

5:26 a.m. – 11000 block of North U.S. 14, traffic accident with no injuries; shift commander, engine 1:39 p.m. – 8400 block of Coral Road, Wonder Lake, EMS call, excluding traffic accident with injury; ambulance 3:04 p.m. – 15900 block of Nelson Road, chemical spill/leak; engine 5:40 p.m. – 2100 block of Serenity Lane, gas leak (natural or LP); truck 9:52 p.m. – 2500 block of Verdi Street, carbon monoxide incident; truck, ambulance, shift commander Nov. 14

1:40 p.m. – 2200 block of Commons Drive, water problem/other; shift commander, engine, ambulance, truck

6:57 p.m. – 1000 block of Greenwood Circle, lockout; truck 7:02 p.m. – 100 block of Lawrence Street, lockout; engine Nov. 15

8:20 a.m. – 200 block of Main Street, malfunctioning alarm system sounded; truck 11:11 a.m. – Lucas and Mount Thabor roads, power line down; engine 12:45 p.m. – 800 block of Washington Street, carbon monoxide detector activation, no CO; truck 1:01 p.m. - Mount Thabor and Lucas Roads, traffic accident with injuries; engine, ambulance, shift commander Nov. 16

8:09 a.m. – 500 block of Clay Street, unintentional alarm system activation, no fire; truck 10:52 a.m. – 100 block of Johnson Street, unintentional sprinkler activation, no fire; shift commander, truck, ambulance, engine Nov. 17

3:12 p.m. – 100 block of Queen Anne Road, unintentional smoke detector activation, no fire; engine

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OPINION

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

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Opinion Turkey Day trivia we all can con-Zoom

It’s the day before Thanksgiving 2020. You may not have as many people around your dinner table as usual tomorrow, and you won’t be at a holiday buffet or a new movie. To say it’s been a rough year is the ultimate understatement. We need to socially distance, wash our hands, and wear masks just like every other day. But if you’re trying to gather the family together on Zoom, what do you say to each other besides “Missed your mashed potatoes, Mom” or “Joey’s grown so much in eight months – he’s now TWO inches high on my computer screen?” The answer? Thanksgiving Trivia! Last December, this sometimes Paul serious, sometimes not column Lockwood provided readers with a “Quotes Quiz for Qwistmas” that could be A Musing used by as a solo or entire-family activity to test your knowledge of holiday-themed quotations. So why not do the same for Turkey Day? Here are the suggested rules: 1) Designate one person – patriarch, matriarch, even Noah’s Ark for all I care – to ask the questions. 2) Have every family member jot down the letter of their answer, showing it on camera (or in person) at the same time. 3) Only then have the “emcee” say the answer. 4) Keep track of the score for each contestant. 5) No Googling is allowed; anyone caught using their smartphone or typing on their computer keyboard must concede (yes, sorry for using the seven-letter word that isn’t in the vocabulary of some politicians). Answers are at the end of the quiz (don’t look ahead!). Let’s talk turkey! 1. “An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.” A. Phil Donahue B. Woody Allen C. Irv Kupcinet D. Lori Lightfoot 2. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” A. Oprah Winfrey B. Franklin D. Roosevelt C. Michael Jordan D. Paul Newman 3. “Thanksgiving just gets me all warm and tingly and all kinds of wonderful inside.” A. Donald Trump B. Jim Henson

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Cheryl Wormley Publisher, Co-Owner

Paul Wormley Co-Owner

Woodstock, IL • 1987

Pass the sweet potatoes! I’m open!

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Cheryl Wormley Larry Lough Sandy Kucharski Ken Farver

GO LONG!

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY LUKE GOINS

C. Fred Rogers D. Willard Scott 4. “Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants.” A. Louie Anderson B. Kevin James C. Cher D. George Carlin 5. “Most turkeys taste better the day after; my mother’s tasted better the day before.” A. Rita Rudner B. Johnny Carson C. Robin Williams D. Oscar the Grouch 6. “At Thanksgiving, I always start at the top of my list and say I’m grateful for friends, family, and good health. Then I get more superficial… like being thankful for my Louboutins.” A. Britney Spears B. Dolly Parton C. Christie Brinkley D. Melania Trump 7. “My parents came from little, so they made a choice to give a lot: buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to people in hospices, giving spare change to those asking for it.” A. Meghan Markle B. Michelle Obama C. Jimmy Fallon D. Jane Lynch 8. “I must say that I think this holiday is beautiful. All about gratefulness and togetherness. We should make it an international holiday.” A. Margaret Thatcher B. Celine Dion C. Gal Gadot D. Selena Gomez 9. “Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Half-times take 12 minutes. This is not coincidence.”

A. Carol Burnett B. Erma Bombeck C. Joan Rivers D. Julia Child 10. “My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor.” A. Phyllis Diller B. Roseanne C. Whoopi Goldberg D. Kamala Harris 11. “There is no Thanksgiving back in the old country where I come from. You know why? Because being thankful is a sin.” A. Bono B. George Bernard Shaw C. Martin Sheen D. Craig Ferguson 12. “I love Thanksgiving traditions: watching football, making pumpkin pie, and saying the magic phrase that sends your aunt storming out of the dining room to sit in her car.” A. Bob Hope B. Billy Crystal C. Stephen Colbert D. Paula Poundstone 13. “I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual.” A. Robert Frost B. Henry David Thoreau C. James Patterson D. Mariah Carey Happy Thanksgiving, everybody – here are the answers! 1. C; 2. A; 3. D; 4. B; 5. A; 6. C; 7. A; 8. C; 9. B; 10. A; 11. D; 12. C; 13. B. Paul Lockwood has been a Woodstock resident since January 2001. He has much to be thankful for: his health, job, home, friends, relatives, opportunities God has given him over the years, and beloved wife of almost 35 years, Diane.

Making better world starts with saying ‘Take my hand’

It was last year, the day before Thanksgiving, and we were in town and, of course, had to stop at the grocery for just a few more things. It was crowded, but people were in a good mood for the holidays, and no COVID yet. I called my husband to pick me up at the door, and when I lifted the bag of groceries out of the cart and turned toward the door, the next thing I knew I had hit the concrete – somehow my shoe must’ve caught? My head was spinning as I tried to sit up – people came from all directions to help me. One woman gave me Kleenex, and she said my forehead was bleeding. You can imagine how my husband felt, because he was stopped across from the door in the parking lane waiting for people/traffic to get out of the way so he could pick me up. He saw me go down and not come up. He turned on his flashers and just left the truck in the lane and

ran over to the door. My one knee doesn’t bend, and I had fallen on the good knee with groceries in my arms and no way to catch myself, so there was no way to get up like my physical therapist had taught me. My husband got behind me to do a lift, and I will never forget the young woman who came directly in front of me, looked me in the eye and loudly said, “Take my hand!” and the next thing I knew I was on my feet. I will never forget all the kind, concerned people who came to my aid that day instead of turning away. The reason I am telling you this story is I want you to “Take My Hand!” and together we can make this a better, more compassionate country to live in. In 2019 more than 35 million people in the United States struggled with hunger. According to the USDA’s report, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, more then 50 million people will experience food insecurity in 2020, including a potential 17 million children. Every community in this great country is home to families who

am grateful to have had been reined in by COVID. Instead of scurrying about, I have had more time to appreciate nature; focus on faith, family, and friends; and find relief, comfort, and joy in cooking and baking. I’m especially grateful to The Independent staff. They are a wonderful and essential team. They have planned, interviewed, reported, and published every week and posted on thewoodstockindependent.com and on Facebook nearly every day. They have kept the office open and provided the news, information, and advertising you, our readers, want and need. Even as we are thankful, we know the pandemic is still with us, and we need to be vigilant. I’m going to close with a quote from remarks Chancellor Robert J. Jones made to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni, faculty, and students last week. “I know this is hard. I know we are all tired. In part because it’s hard to see when this will end. But we must continue to take care of one another. “We must find ways to put our hand out to help lift up our friends, family, and community members when we see them in need. And we cannot be ashamed to reach out for help when we need it ourselves.” And please, stay home as much as possible, and when you are out, wear a mask and social distance. Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent. Her email address is c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com. struggle with food insecurity, including rural and suburban areas. My husband and I volunteer at a food pantry in a small rural town, and every week now we have new families coming in for aid. Many say they never would’ve thought that they would have to come for help, but so many have lost jobs, and often both parents have lost their only source of income. So, I’m asking you to “Take my hand” and help out any way possible -- the thought of children, families, and seniors going to bed hungry should never happen in this great country! Even the smallest amount of cash or groceries donated will be greatly appreciated at your neighborhood food pantry or soup kitchen. If you have some spare time, food pantries, soup kitchens, and many other organizations could use your help. Let’s start today and give others a “Hand Up.” Nancy Shevel Marengo

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enough for the entire group. Then Thanksgiving morning, the cooks will divide what they have prepared into portions to be delivered to the others. The need to con- Cheryl Wormley nect with family Declarations and friends will be partly satisfied with phone calls, Zoom events, or other virtual meeting mediums. Though not as intimate, hearing the voices of loved ones and friends and, better yet, seeing their faces will be a blessing. More than ever, my heart goes out to people at their posts in hospitals, nursing and group homes, fire/rescue and police stations, and pharmacies every day – including Thanksgiving. I’m a list maker. For years, I made my thankful list on Thanksgiving Day as Jim and I drove back home from the Budd Thanksgiving gathering. This year, I plan to start it earlier in the day. Some of you may already have a 2020 list – one you have added to throughout the year. Or maybe you have a “thankful jar” on your table or bureau where you’ve been putting thankfulness notes since the start of the pandemic or since last Thanksgiving. I’ll start my list with gratitude for all who have been caring for the sick during the pandemic and for first responders. COVID is dreadful, but I

671 E. Calhoun St. • Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 www.thewoodstockindependent.com

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

Yes, tomorrow is Thanksgiving – a day to pause and be grateful. This year, Thanksgiving has the potential to stand out in our memories because, because of COVID-19, it will be different. Thanksgiving traditions that have been in place for decades are on pause. For nearly 80 years, my husband Jim’s extended family has gathered for Thanksgiving. That’s not happening. Jim may have been the first to opt out, knowing seven or eight households from different parts of Illinois and Iowa would be eating and socializing inside. Though the Budd crew isn’t meeting this year, the focus is on “all” being present next year. In my conversations with friends and from posts on Facebook, I don’t know of anyone who is planning “Thanksgiving as usual.” Most plan to be with the people they live with every day or with the small group of people who make up their bubbles, pods, or quaranteams – small groups, usually fewer than 10 people, who have agreed to limit their contacts and follow their agreed-upon COVID-safe rules. Some people have chosen to quarantine for the recommended 14 days so they can be with family or friends. Those of us who like to cook and enjoy leftovers plan to roast a turkey and prepare the “essential” and traditional side dishes. Others will order from one of our fine Woodstock restaurants. Some folks plan to experiment with a round-robin type of meal. The menu items will be divvied up among the participants who will prepare

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Meet Brooklyn! Brooklyn is a Lab/retriever mix available for adoption at Helping Paws Animal Shelter. She came in along with her nine brothers and sisters! If you’re looking for a fun, playful, sweet pup, then Brooklyn is your girl! She loves running around and playing with her toys, as well as, hanging around her human friends. If you would like to come visit this sweet face or one of her siblings, contact the shelter to set up an appointment.

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SAVING JUST ONE PET WON’T CHANGE THE WORLD BUT, SURELY, THE WORLD WILL CHANGE FOR THAT ONE PET.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

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The gang at Apple Creek Flowers is “masked up” to help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Pictured are (front) Wendy Legare and Maurern Zurek, (back) Danielle Gross, Lynn Nattress, Cheryl Gallo, and Kelly Afeld. The Independent wants you to join your neighbors by sending in a photo of members of your family, club, office, or other group in your masks. Please email it to woodstock4all@ thewoodstockindependent.com. We’re all in this together, Woodstock.

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Schools

Northwood Middle School program helps keep community fed By Janet Dovidio

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Woodstock Police Department officer Bill Lintner devoted many hours to G.R.E.A.T. training before teaching the program at Northwood Middle School. The acronym stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training. Thirteen 30 to 45 minute classes are part of the G.R.E.A.T. middle school curriculum. The classes were interrupted by the onset of COVID-19 last spring. They have now continued to completion during the past two months. Among the 13 lessons taught in the

program’s curriculum, the final task is called a Community Project. This class chose to host a food drive at the Woodstock Police Department from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 7, when 865 pounds of goods were collected. The food was donated to the Woodstock Food Pantry. “The Community Project helps students to understand what it means to be a part of something positive,” Lintner said. “It gives them a sense of belonging outside of the home.” Lintner taught the curriculum to the eighth-grade history class of teacher Matthew Wesley. Students chose from a list of tasks to help promote the food drive. Some printed fliers and distributed them; others blasted information on social media; and still others made signs or donated food items. “The majority of donations came

A Northwood Middle School student shows some of the donations received during the school’s collection drive in the parking lot of the Woodstock Police Department.

SCHOOLS

Woodstock police officer Bill Lintner poses with the food collected by Northwood Middle School students for the Woodstock Food Pantry. Lintner helped to organize the food drive as part of the Gang Resistance Education and Training program he taught at the school.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

COURTESY PHOTOS

from members of the Woodstock community,“ Lintner said, “which I attribute to the students for doing an excellent job of promoting this event.” Because of the pandemic, students were not asked to be present during the actual collection, but they could drop off food with an adult. In addition to Lintner and Wesley, the student project was assisted by Principal Bethany Hall, Assistant Principal Tony Baier, and secretary Christine Maldonado. “I want to recognize all the eighthgrade students who worked on this project and thank them for a job well done,” Lintner said. “My hope is that every single one of these students achieves their goals and aspires to be a positive role model in the future. “Without the amazing relationship between the city of Woodstock, the police department and School District 200, none of this would have been possible.” Since its inception in 1992, the G.R.E.A.T. program nationwide has promoted more positive attitudes toward police, more resistance to peer pressure, fewer associations with delinquent peers, less anger, and lower rates of gang membership.

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Students collect 865 pounds of food for pantry

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Jennifer Tapia is a sophomore at Woodstock High School. She is the daughter of Fernando Tapia and Sandra Tapia, Woodstock. “Jenni completed all seven of Chapter 3, Accounting 1 problems without a single error. She scored 245 points out of 245 possible points. Jenni shows attention to detail and dedication in her work, and this will help make her an excellent accountant in the future.” said her teacher. Jennifer was WHS student of the month for September. Outside of school, she has helped out at Christmas Clearing House. When asked who inspires her, Jennifer said, “One person who inspires me would be Mr.Thompson, my business teacher. He was my business teacher during my freshman year and now my accounting teacher. I have gotten to know him well not only through the classes but also through the class council. He is not only a great teacher but an amazing person outside of school. He inspires me in a way to become financially stable when I’m older. He has mentioned how he started investing at a young age. It makes me want to invest in many things like stocks and real estate once I’m able to.” When asked what makes her feel successful, Jennifer said, “I feel like I have accomplished many things in my life because not only have I worked hard for it but also have been responsible. Responsibility is the main key in life in my point of view. If you aren’t responsible it’s hard to keep up with things.” SPONSORED BY

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Students at Marian Central Catholic High School gather on the football field in the shape of a heart to show support for 2009 alumnus Cody O’Neill, who received a heart transplant last week. Marian faculty members and students are raising funds to support O’Neill, his wife, Kelsey Harding O’Neill, and their 2-yearold daughter, Emersyn. A second child is expected in January. O’Neill was a football coach at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology when he first fell ill in March. He was moved to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago before the transplant. Donations may be made to an account at American Community Bank in Woodstock or through GoFundMe, gofundme.com/f/ jp76y-the-o039neillfamily.

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Different, but still festive

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

Woodstock traditions (with a twist) kick off this weekend at park By Tricia Carzoli

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

You’re invited to join

The city is asking residents to join in the festivities. “We want everyone who can to wait to turn on their lights until 7 p.m. on Nov. 27,” Campbell said. “And if you want to know when to

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Traditions are made to be broken – at least in 2020. As Woodstock prepares for the holiday season during a global pandemic, traditions will look a little different, but the Woodstock spirit will remain high. “We are wanting to encourage residents to stay home and stay safe,” Woodstock Opera House Manager Daniel Campbell said. “And we have an exciting virtual event planned.” Holiday events will begin this weekend, starting between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. Friday, ahead of the virtual lighting of the Square at 7 p.m. Residents are encouraged to visit the city website (woodstockil. gov) to link to the event, which will include a message from Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager, an appearance by Santa Claus, performances from local musical groups, including the Dickens Carolers, and in-person interviews with members of the Chamber of Commerce, local business owners, and residents. The presentation will culminate with a pre-recorded lighting of the Square. “This is clearly an unusual set of circumstances,” Campbell said, “we are trying our best to create continuity and launch the holiday season in Woodstock. Of course, in Woodstock we keep the lights on through Groundhog Day, so residents have plenty of opportunity to drive through and see the lights. They don’t even need to get out of their cars.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Woodstock’s annual Christmas Parade will begin at 2 p.m. this coming Sunday, debuting a new route. turn on your lights, tune in, and we will give you the cue. Then everyone can look outside their neighborhood and see the lights on their own street.” People planning their holiday season should consult the city

website for the most up-to-date holiday information. “Plans are constantly changing,” Campbell said. “We really are trying to keep the community aware.” Among the recent changes are that the Christmas Tree Walk will

be postponed until the staff can figure out how to work within state COVID-19 mitigation orders, according to Campbell. Other events will remain on the schedule for now but will look slightly different.

Some other events Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 28. Annual Christmas Parade will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, debuting a new route – traveling from Woodstock Water Works and moving through the park, to South Street before ending on Dean Street.

Ladies Nite Out will be on three consecutive Thursdays in December – 3, 10, 17 – from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Gingerbread House Walk will be virtual, and voting will take place on the Facebook page of Friends of the Old

Courthouse.

Santa will be at Stage Left Café this year from Dec. 2 to 23. See the city website for hours. The Santa Hut will be in the park for photos.

Legend of the Pickle Contest, new this year, with the city partnering with the Claussen Pickle team from Kraft Heinz to bring the holiday tradition to Woodstock. Pickle ornaments will be given to participating businesses to place on an inside branch of their trees for residents to find and receive a pickle craft ornament for their own tree. For current information: woodstockil.gov/citymanager/page/2020-woodstock-holiday-events

‘We will sing again’

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Despite shutdown, choir director vows to be heard next year

the pandemic,” she said.

A very different holiday

By Sandy Kucharski

SANDY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

As the community faces its first pandemic holiday season, we become more aware of things that will be missing from this year’s celebration. Cancellations of shows, concerts, and events have become the norm, including one of the sources of the local soundtrack for the holidays, the Woodstock Community Choir. Shut down since March, the choir tried to continue with some Zoom sessions online in hopes of keeping a connection with choir members, according to artistic director Cassandra Vohs-Demann. Those sessions continued through September. “During the summer months, we considered a lot of options,

including doing virtual choir videos as well as trying to meet outside,” Vohs-Demann said. “After surveying the choir and discussions between myself and the WCC board, we decided to go on hiatus until we could gather together again safely.” The Woodstock Community Choir is looking ahead and hoping to start up again in the fall of 2021. On top of the loss of the choir community, Vohs-Demann said, the artistic staff and musicians also lost substantial contract income as a result of the shutdowns. “This is the story for many in the arts, entertainment, and events businesses that have been devastated by

Typically this would be a very busy time of year for the choir, with rehearsals for the tree lighting and preparation for the winter concert. None of those things are happening because of the pandemic. “We certainly miss singing together, and even more so we miss the sense of community and togetherness we experienced in our weekly rehearsals,” Vohs-Demann said. “It is heartbreaking that we are unable to convene at this time, but we are hoping to start where we left off when it is safe to do so and we can all gather again.” Attending regular rehearsals and being part of a choir that performs holiday music is as integral a part of the joy of the season for the participants as the performance is for those who attend. That void can be felt by all involved. “The holiday season definitely feels different for all of us since we are not in the middle of

preparations for holiday concerts or holiday presentations of any kind,” Vohs-Demann said. “Our hope is sometime before we reconvene, we may be able to do a virtual choir video to give members of the choir something to focus on and to get them excited about the choir again when we finally gather sometime in 2021-22.” She suggested that friends and fans of the Woodstock Community Choir visit the website, woodstockcommunitychoir.org, for updates on what’s happening with the choir or gift the group with a donation. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the choir’s mission is “Building community through singing.” “We appreciate all the support we have always received from the community and the city of Woodstock. We will sing again.” The Woodstock Community Choir is open to anyone age 16 or older who has a desire to sing, have fun, and meet new people. No audition is necessary, and all levels of singers are welcome.

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REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Sept. 22 to 25.. ■ Residence at 2350 Vivaldi St., Woodstock, was sold by Patrick M. and Paola G. Spanbauer, Warner Robins, Ga., to Rony Lopez, Woodstock, for $270,000. ■ Residence at 8410 Elm St., Wonder Lake, was sold by Amanda Young, Woodstock, to Neil A. Speiss, Wonder Lake, for $181,000. ■ Residence at 1652 Ash Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Thomas Mattingly and Matilda Hudson, Chelsea, Mich., to Margaret R. Gomberg, Woodstock, for $179,900. ■ Residence at 9109 Pine Ave., Wonder Lake, was sold by 9109 Pine LLC, Wonder Lake, to Peter Tzimpas, Wonder Lake, for $146,500. ■ Residence at 181 Clover Chase Circle, Woodstock, was sold by The Dorothe G. Von Bergen Revocable Trust, Woodstock, to David R. Dorn, Woodstock, for $215,000. ■ Vacant land, approximately 17,000 sq. feet, at 725-731 Carlisle Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Carrie Fischer, Woodstock, to Megan Liebetrau, Woodstock, for $17,500. ■ Residence at 100 Prairie Ridge Drive, Woodstock, was sold by James R. Hanson, Belvidere, to David T. Kranenburg, Woodstock, for $245,000. ■ Residence at 749 Sharon Drive, Woodstock, was sold by The Delores Hartlieb Trust and The Lou Hartlieb Trust, Woodstock, to Joseph E. Blahut, Woodstock, for $316,000. ■ Residence at 1717 Sebastian Road, Woodstock, was sold by Heather M. Zenaty, Crystal Lake, to Michael J. Schutten, Woodstock, for $240,000. ■ Residence at 2417 Fairview Circle, Woodstock, was sold by D. R. Horton, Inc. - Midwest, Vernon Hills, to Stephen R. Ehren, Woodstock, for $365,690.

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INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Second-generation owner Bret Dougherty (left) and Dougherty Enterprises president Wayne Read stand in what will be Studio D Jewelers at 118 N. Benton St. The store, opening this week, is a rebranding of Studio 2015, marking a return to the Woodstock Square.

Jeweler goes full circle on Square Studio 2015 moves back downtown as Studio D Jewelers By Susan W. Murray

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

In a hopeful development for a tooquiet segment of North Benton Street, Studio 2015 returns to the Woodstock Square this week under the new name of Studio D Jewelers. The longtime Woodstock jewelry store will occupy the retail space at 118 N. Benton St., last home to the Revolution Youth Center, a ministry of the Woodstock Bible Church. Studio D Jewelers brings life to a row of four storefronts that have emptied since February 2019, when Swiss Maid Bakery closed. Besides the Revolution Youth Center, Uptown Salon concluded its 22-year run at the end of May, and Soul Focus will shut its doors

at the end of this year. The move is also notable because it brings a dedicated jewelry store back to the downtown. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Woodstock boasted four downtown jewelry stores: Studio 2015 at 110 N. Benton St., Woodstock Jewelers at 124 N. Benton St., Standley Jewelers in the Woodstock Square Mall, and Ray Wolf Jewelers at 216 Main St. Studio 2015 moved to 11701 Catalpa Lane in 2008, and the owners’ retirements led to the shuttering of the three others between 2002 and 2008. Once again, residents can have a watch battery changed while in town or take the romantic stroll to the Square to pick out an engagement ring.

Looking to the future

Dougherty Enterprises President Wayne Read said the COVID-19 pandemic offered the opportunity to take time to think through the future of Studio 2015’s business to make it

“nimble and stronger.” The Catalpa location, he said, had “too much overhead and square footage.” “We made the decision three years ago to go back to our roots – custom jewelry designing,” said second-generation owner Bret Dougherty. The move comes with a reduction in the number of lines to “laser focus on what our customers are looking for.” With the return to the Square, the store will regain the foot traffic it lacked on Catalpa Lane, Dougherty said. He recalled the years between 1992 and 2008 as a time when “some of our brides got married right in front of the store” – in the gazebo in the park inside the Square. “The Square has always been a passion project for the family,” Dougherty said. “The Square is magical; we’re excited to be part of that again.” Custom jewelry design represents 30 percent of the company’s business, Continued on NEXT page

Continued from PREVIOUS page

“The Square has always been a passion project for the family. The Square is magical; we’re excited to be part of that again.”

The store’s basement may be utilized as event space in the future. Through the end of the year, Studio 2015 will continue to operate on Catalpa Lane as Studio D settles into its home on the Square. After that, Dougherty Enterprises’ 42 employees

The next chapter in its history What has now evolved into Studio D Jewelers got its start when Tom Dougherty crafted jewelry in

his garage under the name Goldn-Wood Studio, beginning in 1971, with the business largely built on word-of-mouth. In 1992, “we moved into the Square with three gold pieces of jewelry and one diamond,” Bret Dougherty said. “The rest was silver and brass.” The business’ growth to two locations and 50 employees is due to its “customer service,” Dougherty said. “We work hard to make the jewelry as unique and special as our customers are,” he said. From its home in Woodstock, the shop does business across the country. “When people move away from Woodstock,” Dougherty said, “they still want to deal with us.” The new store will celebrate the opening on Small Business Saturday this coming weekend. “This store has the pedigree of an anchor,” Read said. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

- Bret Dougherty, owner Studio D Jewelers

who are involved in manufacturing, marketing, finance, and customer support will work in the Catalpa Lane location, while eight retail employees, including an on-site jeweler, staff Benton Street. Plans for Catalpa Lane include spaces for Bret’s father, Tom, to sell his craft meats and an incubator space for engineering. A large part of Dougherty Enterprises’ business is the creation of between 1,500 and 1,800 Thumbies each week, a jewelry collection that incorporates the fingerprint of a deceased loved one, sold through funeral homes and directly to consumers. The company also makes a line known as Buddies, which commemorates family pets.

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Read said, and it is expected to grow. Studio D Jewelers will continue to carry its most popular lines: engagement and wedding rings from Silvie, Peter Storm, and Simon G; handcrafted UNODE50 pieces; Carla Corporation earrings; and KIR’s sterling silver and 18K gold designs. Added to the store’s inventory will be lines of sterling silver products that will not be confined to cases. The new store’s “Play Area” provides a place where customers can handle jewelry. Having more “hands-on, accessible” merchandise will widen the customer base, Read said. In addition, a Studio D-designed and -manufactured engagement line will be coming “shortly,” Dougherty said. Work inside the Benton Street site highlights the store’s rich past as a series of dry goods stores and then the A&P Tea Co. in 1938. Ripping down drywall on the north

interior wall revealed the building’s original brick. Buffing the floors let the terrazzo marble shine. The back area has a new office space, while new doors and windows will provide some needed refreshing.

MARKETPLACE nicorgas.com/safety

Smell Gas? Act Fast! Natural gas is a colorless and odorless fuel. For safety reasons, a chemical odorant called mercaptan is added for easy detection of a suspected natural gas leak. This odorant has a distinctive “rotten egg” type odor. Natural gas odors should be reported immediately. ¿Hay olor a gas? ¡Actué rápido! El gas natural es un combustible incoloro e inodoro. Por razones de seguridad, se le agrega un aromatizante químico llamado mercaptano para que se pueda detectar fácilmente. Este aromatizante tiene un olor característico a “huevo podrido.” Los olores a gas natural deben informarse de inmediato.

If you detect even a small amount of this odor in the air: Si detecta este olor en el aire, por mínimo que sea: • Do not try to locate the source of the smell.

· No intente localizar la fuente del olor.

• Leave the area immediately and alert others.

· Abandone el área inmediatamente y alerte a los demás.

• Avoid using any sources of ignition, such as cell phones, cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized vehicles, light switches or landlines. • Call Nicor Gas at 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) or 911 once you are out of the area and in a safe place.

· Evite usar cualquier fuente de ignición, por ejemplo, teléfonos celulares, cigarrillos, fósforos, linternas, aparatos electrónicos, vehículos a motor, interruptores de luz o teléfonos fijos. · Llame a Nicor Gas at 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) o al 911 una vez que esté fuera del área y en un lugar seguro.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Community Thanksgiving meal offered to those in need By Tricia Carzoli

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

It might go without notice, but, as more people become affected by shutdowns, there is increased need in Woodstock. Families and individuals are struggling this Thanksgiving. “We see them,” said Mary Witt, owner of Isabel’s Family Restaurant. “And we give back every Thanksgiving Day. We have helped the community for 16 years, and we will do it again.” For a decade-and-a-half, Witt and her husband, co-owner Antonio Delgado, have provided vouchers to area churches and organizations, such as Turning Point and Thresholds, as well as food pantries for a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings – on the house. “We have given out 200 vouchers,” Witt reported. “They can be brought in for dine-in or carry out this year from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.” The meal will consist of a beverage, roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, a vegetable, cranberries, soup or salad, a roll and butter, and pumpkin pie. Over the past 16 years, Witt said, she has witnessed the gratefulness of those who have used the vouchers. “I enjoy feeding people and taking care of people,” she said. “I want them to be happy and comfortable.” Her staff feels the same. She said she had never had a problem securing wait staff or culinary staff. Her regular customers support Witt and Delgado’s generosity. “Woodstock is a very giving community,” she said. “They are generous financially. I’ve had customers donate money or offer to help with our Thanksgiving meal vouchers. … I always say that you have to give in order to receive. And I am so thankful for the Woodstock community and their support.” Due to their freezer and cooler space, Isabel’s also was a distribution hub for the library Thanksgiving meal program.

Share the Love

Acts of kindness will honor Zach Brokaw on Valentine’s Day weekend

Zach created a fun fair for the children. “He always felt everyone should be treated equally and kindly, despite their differences,” Brokaw said. Since Zach’s death, Brokaw has made it a practice to give out Random Acts of Kindness cards. Each card urges the recipient to do something nice for another person in Zach’s memory. What if, Brokaw’s cousin asked, the money raised could be used to do something kind and generous for people in the community? And so, the two settled upon the idea of performing random acts of kindness. The event, known as Share the Love, will take place over Valentine Day’s weekend, Feb. 12-14.

By Susan W. Murray

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Over the past four Christmas seasons, Woodstock residents have contributed generously to Stuff the Stocking for Zach. This year, because of the pandemic, the fundraiser is taking a different name – Share the Love – and a different direction – to shower acts of kindness on the community. Diane Brokaw created Stuff the Stocking in 2016 in memory of her son Zach, who died in a car accident as a result of drowsy driving in 2015. Zach, the salutatorian of his 2013 graduating class at Woodstock North High School, was a Boy Scout with a great love for the outdoors. The annual fundraiser underwrote the purchase of nature-related children’s books that were distributed through the food pantry and at Greenwood School in 2016. The next year, Brokaw put together 150 backpacks, each containing a pair of binoculars and a field guide to birds that were distributed to 4- to 16-yearolds who visited the Volo Bog during International Migratory Bird Days. And for the past two years, Brokaw has raised enough money to send all fourth graders in Woodstock School District 200 on a field trip to the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford. The field trip, Brokaw decided, was the perfect way to honor Zach’s interest in nature. And then COVID hit. The Burpee Museum could do a virtual field trip, but Brokaw’s sense was that students were spending “too much time in front of computer screens already.”

Honoring who Zach was

In addition, the gatherings that have sustained Brokaw since Zach’s death have slipped away as well – a planned vacation, the family Mother’s Day party, and then Thanksgiving. “I didn’t have anything to look forward to,” Brokaw said.

Endless possibilities COURTESY PHOTO

At the age of 20, Zach Brokaw was working as nature director for Camp Lowden in Oregon, Ill. In June 2015, he and a coworker were running an errand when, exhausted from work, they fell asleep. Their car veered into the path of another vehicle, killing Zach and inflicting serious injuries on his passenger and the driver of the other car. His mother has created the Share the Love fundraiser to finance random acts of kindness in Zach’s memory.

A conversation with her cousin about her son gave Brokaw something to be excited about. Zach was “very much about helping others,” Brokaw said. A regular volunteer at soup kitchens and Christmas Clearing House, Zach’s concern for others produced extraordinary results. While in eighth grade, Zach learned that a classmate’s family could not afford to send their son on the class trip to Washington, D.C. Zach and a friend raised $1,200 so their classmate could go on the trip. The leftover money was set aside as a nest egg for the classmate’s sister, who made the trip the next year. For his Eagle Scout project, 16-yearold Zach organized a “Youth Disabilities Awareness Fair & Expo” for mentally and physically disabled children. Thirty organizations participated, and

By reaching out to past donors, Brokaw hopes to raise funds that could buy flowers for shut-ins and toys for hospitalized children, or pay a family’s veterinary bill. “The possibilities are endless,” Brokaw said. She will also purchase gift cards to local restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations. Those will be distributed to individuals and families in need, with some earmarked as surprises for random beneficiaries. For Brokaw, the added benefit is the boost that gift card purchases will give to local businesses. “I do want to support them,” she said. Already, Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern has donated half the proceeds – $600 – of a recent Lightning game, an electronic version of Bingo, on its patio. Brokaw plans to hold a 50/50 raffle at Ortmann’s, with Share the Love as the beneficiary.. “It would be great to raise $10,000,” Brokaw said. Beyond the money, she believes there’s a greater purpose to what she’s doing. “People need to see that there’s still kindness in this world,” Brokaw said. With questions or to suggest the name of a family or person in need, call Diane Brokaw at 815-276-4194. To donate, make out a check to Diane Brokaw and send it to her, 8912 IL Route 120, Woodstock 60098. Donors also may use Zelle or Paypal at Brokaw’s email address, dianebrokaw@juno.com.

19 Harvest 2020 was wrapped up recently on Sass Family Farms west of Woodstock. Headlights on the equipment lighted the way as the last of the corn was picked in the mid-November sunset.

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

TWILIGHT HARVEST

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

COMMUNITY

INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY TRICIA CARZOLI

100 N Benton Street Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 566-7065

Do You Think Woodstock Is Age Friendly?

Make Hattie & Myrt your happy place for the holidays! Christmas Wish List

Ladies come in anytime and make a list of items you would love to see under the tree! We make it easy for your loved ones to pick up the wrapped gifts.

Did you know that soon older people will outnumber younger people for the first time in history? Woodstock wants to be a great place for people of all ages, and often older people and younger people want the same things like great parks, safe streets and a wide choice of housing. The Community Foundation for McHenry County awarded Woodstock a Transformational Grant to develop an Action Plan to become the most age friendly livable community in McHenry County. NIUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Governmental Studies is helping us complete the plan and your input is needed! You can help decide what improvements are most important by completing the survey at the link below or scanning the QR code. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WoodstockResidents

Prefer a paper copy? Pick one up at the Woodstock Public Library or City Hall. Input is needed from residents of all ages!

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Private shopping appointments available Nov. 22nd & 29th and before and after business hours through December 24th. Call, email or message us on Facebook for more information. BRING THIS AD IN FOR A FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE!

In appreciation for your time, after completing the survey, you can enter a drawing for one of several Chamber Bucks Gift cards.

Questions? Contact Terry at twillcockson@woodstockil.gov

PHOTO DETECTIVE

The ladies in this 1958 photo, taken by Don Peasley, are gearing up for Grace Lutheran’s annual turkey dinner. Pie pans at the ready, they are posing inside Grace Lutheran’s former location at 311 Washington St., now the home of Dramatic Publishing. With the help of current Grace Lutheran members, about half of those pictured have been identified. Standing fifth from right is Frances Kuhn, who would serve as mayor of Woodstock from 1965 to 1969 and from 1977 to 1985. Those seated include Alice Philips, Martha Hansen, Bertha Ohlrich, Lillie Aavang, Clara Nusbaum, and Esther Reed. Those standing include Ida Steinwehe, Lillie Beard, Alice Asmus, Helen Miller Baccus, Dorothy Mortinson, Lila Dilleveg, June Peterson, Doris Schroeder, Agnes Lidell, Daisy Hansen, Mabel Larsen, Sophie Larsen, Mina Jepson, Elsie Larson, Lillian Reese, Emma Meyer, Evelyn Reese Schuring, and Anna Stone. Pending positive identification are Clare Erkfitz, Fredrica Abraham, and Mrs. Moritz. If you can help identify anyone in this photo, please contact Maggie Crane at MaggieC@woodstockil.info – Susan W. Murray

COMMUNITY

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

COURTESY PHOTO

June 10-16, 2020

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Santa’s Hut has arrived for photo ops and Santa will be meeting with his friends in Stage Left Cafe’ this year. Sign up on the Opera House website starting November 27th for a time slot, sponsored by the Woodstock Rotary Club.

See beautifully decorated trees for the annual Christmas Tree Walk on display at the Opera House Friday November 27th through December 23rd, Monday through Thursday 4-8 PM and Friday through Sunday 1-5 PM and at other local business locations. Masks are required and social distancing will be respected. Kick off your holiday shopping on Small Business Saturday November 28th by joining Real Woodstock and Studio D Jewelers, formerly Studio 2015, for a live Star 105.5 radio broadcast from 10 AM to 12 PM for a celebration of the many shops that call Woodstock home and chances to win great prizes. Tune into the Woodstock Square Facebook page immediately after to shop virtually.

REAL TRADITION. REAL FESTIVE.

On Sunday, November 29th, join the tradition of the annual Christmas Parade as Woodstock welcomes Santa. There is a new route this year to allow for more social distancing and to spread good cheer throughout the community. The parade kicks off at 2 PM. Visit the City of Woodstock website for route information

COMMUNITY

You can enjoy the annual ceremony we’ve come to love, virtually this year, by tuning into the Woodstock Opera House Facebook page starting at 6:30 PM on Friday November 27th. Everyone can join in the fun by ﬂipping on their own holiday lights at 7 PM to light up Woodstock and spread holiday cheer.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

The charm and magical wonder of the holidays will still shine bright in Woodstock throughout the holiday season. Starting Friday November 27, 2020 through Groundhog Day, the Lights on the Square will be lit at dusk for all to enjoy. Take a stroll through the Square while doing your holiday shopping.

COMMUNITY

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Help available for troubled first responders How do we save the lives of Illinoisans who save others? By Danielle Mains First responders, the people we count on in an emergency, experience much higher rates of mental health crises. Tragically, 130 firefighter-paramedics across the country died by suicide last year. My husband, Ryan Mains, could have easily been one of those statistics. As a firefighter and paramedic for Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, every day he threw himself into his work and loved knowing he was making a difference in people’s lives – but who was he supposed to turn to when he was the one who needed help? On April 5, 2019, my husband had a mental health crisis and was having suicidal thoughts. Each traumatic call was like a drop in the bucket. Ryan seemed fine, but as the drops Continued on NEXT page

COURTESY PHOTO

Danielle Mains credits Illinois Firefighter Peer Support with saving the life of her husband, Ryan, when he suffered a mental health crisis last year. At the time, Ryan, who is a former Army combat medic, was a firefighter/paramedic for the Woodstock Fire Rescue District.

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2020 Yearbook DECEMBER’S SPECIAL EDITION A CHRONOLOGY OF ALL THE NEWS FROM 2020 The

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First responders experience several barriers to seeking help – and the leading barrier is the stigma around mental health. There are generational differences in perceptions of mental health, and many firefighters were taught that although this is a tough job, they need to be resilient. That is why it is so important to normalize first responders having conversations about their trauma at work, and that’s why programs like ILFFPS are such great resources. ILFFPS is a trusted place for first responders to get help from someone who’s been in their shoes, from a 450-firefighter-strong network of trained, peer supporters providing career and volunteer first responders with a safe, nonjudgmental and confidential environment where they can engage in a healing conversation. Confidentiality is key, and

firefighters don’t need to worry about their careers or getting in trouble with their department for making the call to ILFFPS. In addition to matching first responders to peer supporters, ILFFPS connects those suffering from emotional trauma with mental health professionals specialized in the needs of first responders. I’m so grateful for what ILFFPS has done for my husband that I’ve decided to go back to school to become a licensed mental health counselor. I’m inspired to help make conversations about mental health easier for first responders like Ryan and their families. If you or a first responder you know needs help, call the ILFFPS Peer Support Hotline at 855-90-SUPPORT or email ILFFPS at Ilffps1@ gmail.com. The hotline is available to any volunteer or full-time first responder, and their family. Take it from someone who’s been there – make that call and get the help you need, before it’s too late. Danielle Mains is married to Ryan Mains, Army combat medic veteran and former firefighter and paramedic for Woodstock Fire/Rescue District. Visit Ilffps.org for more information and selfhelp resources.

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I want to make sure other first responders know those resources are out there – and that they don’t need to feel ashamed for asking for help. The most important step to helping a first responder having a mental health crisis is educating yourself on the warning signs. In Ryan’s case there were several red flags. He became: n Lethargic – Ryan would have days when all he wanted to do was lie in bed. n Irritable – Ryan lost his patience much quicker. n Hypervigilant – Ryan became intensely fixated on things. n Withdrawn – Ryan was reserved and exhausted. n Impulsive – Ryan had always been even-keeled, but this changed. Substance abuse is another common warning sign of mental health problems that a lot of firefighters suffer from. Thankfully, Ryan never dealt with that. It took a long time to recognize

those red flags when my husband was living through them, and that’s why we need to normalize talking about this kind of pain and suffering. Over time, the trauma affected Ryan so much that he couldn’t bring himself to go to work without experiencing the most crippling, intense anxiety.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

accumulated, they started to overflow, and it was almost too late. That morning, Ryan had called in sick for the third shift in a row. I dropped off my 8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter at school before heading into work, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ryan had barely slept the past few nights and was always on edge, and I didn’t know what to do or who to talk to. In that moment, I did a quick search online and stumbled on Illinois Firefighter Peer Support. After leaving a message, I got a call from Jack Berry, a retired firefighter. I broke down, and Jack listened intently about our situation and how scared I was to leave Ryan alone. Jack immediately called Ryan and did everything he could to keep him on the phone and safe until I got back home. Shortly after, we persuaded Ryan to enter a month-long program in Maryland focused on firefighter mental health. Our situation wasn’t an emergency until it was – and at the time I had no idea what Ryan was keeping bottled up inside. Illinois Firefighter Peer Support quite literally saved my husband’s

life. They were able to provide us immediate assistance and the resources we needed for him on his darkest day after a career of helping the community in the same way.

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COMMUNITY

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Happenings

•••PLEASE CHECK WITH SPONSORS OR VENUES ABOUT CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS OF EVENTS•••

calendar 26 THURSDAY THANKSGIVING DAY

27 FRIDAY

VIRTUAL LIGHTING OF THE SQUARE 7 p.m. See https://www.woodstockil.gov/community/page/ lighting-square-virtual-2020

28 SATURDAY

WINTER MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Shop at local small businesses. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

29 SUNDAY

WOODSTOCK’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE

Emricson Park to Dean Street 2 p.m. Call 815-338-4212 to participate.

DECEMBER

1 TUESDAY WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING Woodstock City Hall 121 W. Calhoun St. 7 p.m.

CAREER PATHWAYS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP McHenry Co. Workforce Center 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.

3 THURSDAY

LADIES NIGHT OUT ON THE SQUARE Woodstock Square 5 p.m. https://woodstockilchamber.wellattended.com/events/ ladies-nite-out

4 FRIDAY

STANDARD JAZZ PROJECT Stage Left Café 124 Van Buren St. 8 p.m. Tune in on Facebook at Woodstock Opera House.

5 SATURDAY

WINTER MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

7 MONDAY

DIY HOLIDAY GIFTS AND TREATS FROM THE KITCHEN-Sugared Cardamon Bread

Woodstock Public Library virtual event 7 to 8 p.m. Email katieb@woodstockil.info for the link

8 TUESDAY

RESUME AND COVER LETTER VIRTUAL WORKSHOP McHenry Co. Workforce Center 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.

D-200 BOARD OF

EDUCATION MEETING

7 p.m. Livestream at woodstockil.org

9 WEDNESDAY DIY HOLIDAY GIFTS AND TREATS FROM THE KITCHEN-Holiday Jam

Woodstock Public Library virtual event 7 to 8 p.m. Email katieb@woodstockil.info for the link

10 THURSDAY STATE OF THE CITY LUNCHEON 2020

Offsides Bar and Grill 11 a.m. woodstockilchamber.com

STATE OF THE CITY LUNCHEON 2020

Woodstock Country Club 1 p.m. woodstockilchamber.com

LADIES NIGHT OUT ON THE SQUARE Woodstock Square 5 p.m. https://woodstockilchamber.wellattended.com/events/ ladies-nite-out

11 FRIDAY

CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. 7 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com

12 SATURDAY

WINTER MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

To submit calendar items, email pr@thewoodstockindependent.com McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. 2 and 5 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com

13 SUNDAY

CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. 2 and 5 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com

14 MONDAY PRIDE MEETING

Woodstock Chamber of Commerce 6 p.m. 127 E. Calhoun St.

COFFEE WITH THE CHIEF Woodstock Police Department 656 Lake Ave. 7 p.m.

15 WEDNESDAY

INTERVIEW VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

McHenry Co. Workforce Center 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.

17 TUESDAY WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING Woodstock City Hall 121 W. Calhoun St. 7 p.m.

Resurrection Catholic Church

HISPANIC CONNECTIONS MEETING Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Noon 127 E. Calhoun St.

STRESS MANAGEMENT VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

McHenry Co. Workforce Center 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.

LADIES NIGHT OUT ON THE SQUARE Woodstock Square 5 p.m. https://woodstockilchamber.wellattended.com/events/ladies-niteout

18 FRIDAY JAZZ NIGHT

Stage Left Café 124 Van Buren St. 8 p.m. Tune in on Facebook at Woodstock Opera House.

CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. 7 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com

19 SATURDAY

WINTER MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

2918 South Country Club Road Woodstock, IL 60098

We welcome all to join us at our Mass times: Saturday at 5:00 pm & Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am.

We, the members of the Resurrection Catholic Church, are a prayerful, loving community formed by the Holy Spirit, striving to be a sign of the Gospel values of Jesus Christ: justice, truth and love.

Worship: 1 p.m. Sunday ■ JEWISH REFORMED CONGREGATION TIKKUN OLAM 503 W. Jackson St. (St. Ann’s Episcopal Church building) Call 815-455-9236 or email tikkunolam@ hotmail.com for service information. n McHENRY COUNTY JEWISH CONGREGATION 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake 815-455-1810 Worship: 7 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday n NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER 5115 Dean St. • 815-337-4673 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ RESURRECTION CATHOLIC 2918 S. Country Club Road 815-338-7330 Worship: 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday; 5 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 a.m. weekdays ■ ST. ANN’S EPISCOPAL 503 W. Jackson St. • 815-338-0950 Worship: 10 a.m. (indoors); noon (outdoors) ■ ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN 401 St. John’s Road • 815-338-5159 Worship: 5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. Sunday ■ ST. MARY CATHOLIC 313 N. Tryon St. • 815-338-3377 Worship: 7:30 a.m. Monday - Saturday; 12:15 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5 and 6:30 p.m. (Spanish) Saturday; 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon (Spanish), 5 p.m. Sunday ■ THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN 2620 Bridge Lane • 815-496-0548 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 2016 Hartland Road • 815-334-1703 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ THE VINE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1132 N. Madison St. • 815-338-3380 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER 225 W. Calhoun St. • 815-337-3534 unitywoodstock.org Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ UPPER FOX VALLEY QUAKER MEETING 4614 Pioneer Road, McHenry 815-385-8512 Discussion and singing, 9 a.m. Sunday Worship, 10 a.m., fellowship, 11 a.m. Sunday ■ WOODSTOCK ASSEMBLY OF GOD 1201 Dean St.• 815-338-1316 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ WOODSTOCK BIBLE CHURCH 118 Benton St. Worship: 10:30 a..m. Sunday

30 years ago – 1990

■ “I always wanted to go the White House, but I didn’t think this is the way I’d get there,” said Frank Sanchez, Woodstock, after learning his family had been chosen Illinois Hispanic Family of the Year. The honor included a visit with First Lady Barbara Bush. ■ McHenry County Conservation District acquired an additional 94 acres of land adjacent to Glacial Park, bringing the total acreage to 2,541.

25 years ago – 1995

■ The Woodstock City Council approved an agreement to hire a company to prepare two Emricson Park ball fields for lights. ■ Heading into the Hurricanes’ Class 3A semifinal football game, Marian Central Catholic High School’s Jason Liska became the all-time leading rusher in Illinois High School Association history with 5,193 yards.

20 years ago – 2000

■ Eos, Greek goddess of the dawn, a 400-pound bronze statue, took up residence at the corner of Jackson and Tryon streets on the lawn of McClain Corp. ■ The remaining businesses on Main Street continued as usual even though five restaurants on the block had moved out of Woodstock or closed in just six months – Joey T’s, Café Romana, La Tavola, Main Street Pub, and Waverly House.

15 years ago – 2005

■ More than 40 community leaders gathered for six hours to begin a longterm planning process for the city’s future. Their vision was for Woodstock to be known worldwide as a premier community with a vibrant economic base, hallmark educational opportunities, and innovative community services.

10 years ago – 2010

■ The Woodstock Independent published “Up All Night,” a special section featuring visits to nine spots in and near Woodstock that were open between the hours of 9:30 p.m. Oct. 16 and 6:30 a.m. Oct. 17. Mike Neumann and Leland Humbertson, armed with a camera, notebook, and voice recorder, were the brains, writers, and photographers for the section.

25 ■ Woodstock Musical Theatre Company was in rehearsals for “A Christmas Story,” co-directed by Kathie Comella and Kevin Goss. The 17-member cast included 12 children. Marcus Cramer, who played classmate Grover Dill said: “They really try to find good parts for everyone. I feel like I’m a big part of the show, even if I’m in the ensemble.”

5 years ago – 2015

■ A pavement management report compiled by Crystal Lake-based Baxter & Woodman showed Woodstock’s 125 miles of centerline road were in generally poor condition and would need $69 million in repairs and maintenance to restore. “We are behind the 8-ball in terms of this portion of our infrastructure,” Mayor Brian Sager said. At the time, the city was spending about $1 million a year on road maintenance. ■ According to the National Weather Service 13.5 inches of snow fell on Woodstock in two days, Nov. 20-21. Coming when it did, closures were limited to the Woodstock Farmers Market and the Woodstock Public Library.

1 year ago – 2019

■ The City Council voted 6-1 to approve a video gambling license for BBQ King, 125 E. Calhoun St. With the approval, the gambling permit maximum written into city ordinance of one license per 1,000 in population was filled. ■ In 2016, Woodstock High School was the first Woodstock School District 200 school to offer a Kindness Closet, a place for students to find winter clothing, food items, a toothbrush, deodorant, and other things they might not have at home. Three years later, Kindness Closets had opened at four other schools. ■ Women’s clothing shopping received a boost on the Woodstock Square with the opening of Hattie & Myrt, 100 N. Benton St. The store, owned by Nancy Leonard, her daughter Shannon Bailey, and daughter-inlaw Maureen Leonard was carrying slacks, tops, blouses, sweaters, jeans and dresses. “Retail is in our blood,” Nancy Leonard said. Her mother and aunt opened Lenhart’s in Harvard in the 1960s and a second location in the Woodstock Galleria in 1986.

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COMMUNITY

■ BAHA’I COMMUNITY OF WOODSTOCK Gatherings are open to the public the second Saturday of each month. For information: 815-337-0126 woodstock.bahais@gmail.com ■ BLUE LOTUS TEMPLE & MEDITATION CENTER 221 Dean St. • 815-337-7378 Meditation: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Saturday; 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday ■ CASA DE BENDICION 8015 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake (Crystal Lake Christian Church) Worship: 1 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday ■ CHRIST LIFE 13614 W. Jackson St. • 815-338-4934 Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday ■ COVENANT REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH 4609 Greenwood Road P.O. Box 463 • 815-575-9612 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ EDEN BAPTIST 1903 N. Seminary Ave. • 815-814-7847 Worship: 3 p.m. Sunday (Spanish) ■ FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST 111 W. South St. • 815-338-2731 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 2018 N. Route 47 • 815-338-2627 Virtual worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday ■ FIRST UNITED METHODIST 201 W. South St. • 815-338-3310 fumcwoodstock.org Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Sunday school for children 9:45 a.m. ■ FREE METHODIST 934 N. Seminary Ave. • 815-338-3180 Worship: 10:30 a.m. ■ GOOD NEWS CHURCH Meeting at Dorr Township Community Room, 1039 Lake Ave. 815-575-9224 goodnewswoodstock.org Worship: 10:15 a.m. Sunday ■ GRACE FELLOWSHIP 200 Cairns Court • gfchurch.org Worship: 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday ■ GRACE LUTHERAN 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road 815-338-0554 Worship: Videos on website each weekend; parking lot services at 9 a.m., listen on 89.3 FM ■ HOUSE OF BLESSING 2018 N. Route 47 (First Presbyterian Church building) cbhbfil413.com

FLASHBACKS

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

CALL ABOUT CANCELLATIONS AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES SCHEDULED

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

RELIGION

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Deadline: NOON Thursday for next week’s issue

Woodstock

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WANTED

GUN SHOW - December 4-5-6, Fountain Hall, 8505 Durand Ave. Sturtevant/Racine, WI Friday 3pm-8pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Large selection of guns & Ammo More info: 563-608-4401 www.marvkrauspromotions.net

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FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-598-1758 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

ESTATE SALE - LOG HOMES PAY THE BALANCE OWED ONLY!!!

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Northern ICANS - Run Date Week of 11/22/2020

AMERICAN LOG HOMES IS ASSISTING JUST RELEASED OF ESTATE & ACCOUNT SETTLEMENT ON HOUSES.

4 Log Home kits selling for BALANCE OWED, FREE DELIVERY 1) Model # 101 Carolina 2) Model # 203 Georgia 3) Model # 305 Biloxi 4) Model # 403 Augusta

$40,840…BALANCE OWED $17,000 $49,500...BALANCE OWED $19,950 $36,825...BALANCE OWED $14,500 $42,450...BALANCE OWED $16,500

BEFORE CALLING: VIEW at www.loghomedream.com Click on House Plans

NEW - HOMES HAVE NOT BEEN MANUFACTURED

SERIOUS ONLY REPLY. Call (704) 602-3035 ask for Accounting Dept.

Social distancing is the most effective tool we have for slowing the spread of the coronavirus. And that means staying home, if you can. Work from home. Play at home. Stay at home. If you must go out, keep your social distance—six feet, or two arm-lengths apart. Young. Elderly. In between. It’s going to take every one of us. If home really is where the heart is, listen to yours and do the life-saving thing.

Visit coronavirus.gov for the latest tips and information from the CDC.

#AloneTogether TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD.

SERVICE DIRECTORY Small Blocks are $40 and Large Blocks are $80 for 4 weeks Call 815.338.8040 for details.

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

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27 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Deadline: NOON Thursday for next week’s issue

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TECHNOLOGY

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1110 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock • 815-337-8230 Mon-Sun 8 AM - 8 PM • Thanksgiving 6 AM - 2 PM

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Independent November 11, 2020, November 18, 2020, November 25, 2020)L11111

PUBLIC NOTICE

Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, Illinois, 60098, or with the representative, or both. Copies of claims filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to his attorney within ten days after it has been filed. /s/KATHERINE M KEEFE (Clerk of the Circuit Court) (Published in The Woodstock Independent November 18, 2020, November 25, 2020)L11112

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF CHANGE TO DBA CHANGE OF BUSINESS/OWNER(S) ADDRESS File # 17911B Public Notice is hereby given that on NOVEMBER 16, A.D. 2020, a

Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of McHenry County IL concerning the business known as JON PAGLES DESIGN located at 650 CHIPPEWA RD. UNIT 1 HARVARD IL 60033 which certificate sets forth the following BUSINESS/OWNER ADDRESS change in the DBA thereof: BUSINESS MOVING TO: 900 W. DIGGINS ST., HARVARD IL 60033. Dated this 16th day of NOVEMBER, A.D., 2020 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent November 25, 2020) L11113

GIVE THE HOLIDAY GIFT OF PATRIOTISM

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY-IN PROBATE Case No. 20PR000319 In the Matter of the Estate of WARREN P. WHITING Deceased CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of WARREN P. WHITING Of: WOODSTOCK, IL Letters of office were issued on: 11/9/2020

to: Representative: RANDALL WHITING 925 SUNSET RIDGE RD. WOODSTOCK, IL 60098 whose attorney is: KRAFT, PATRICIA C. 131 E. CALHOUN ST. WOODSTOCK, IL 60098 Claims against the estate may be filed within six months from the date of first publication. Any claim not filed within six months from the date of first publication or claims not filed within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to Creditor, whichever is later, shall be barred. Claims may be filed in the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court at the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 North

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on OCTOBER 26, 2020 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 MINUTE LANDSCAPING located at 1954 TAPPAN ST, WOODSTOCK IL 60098. Owner Name & Address: JAVIER PEREZ CARBAJAL JR. 1954 TAPPAN ST, WOODSTOCK IL 60098. Dated: OCTOBER 26, 2020 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock

“unwrapping the past”

Volunteer genealogists for Kishwaukee Trail National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will assist you in discovering your Patriot. Call Registrar Marcia Flanagan at 815-527-5049 or email us at KishwaukeeTrail1961@gmail.com.

PICTURE THIS

The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce hosts a late November Christmas promotion on the Square in 1948.

Give the gift of history! Half off new individual and family gift memberships to the McHenry County Historical Society between now and December 22. Visit gothistory.org or call 815-923-2267 for more information.

Don Peasley Photo Collection, McHenry County Historical Society

Kitchens • Baths • Windows • Millwork • Lumber • Doors 815-338-0075 • 1101 Lake Ave., Woodstock • www.woodstocklumber.com

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Do you have an American Revolutionary Patriot in your family tree?

SPORTS

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Sports

Woodstock graduate to play basketball in England Former Blue Streak to study law, play ball By Dan Chamness

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Jeni Crain has suited up for a college in the United States of America, namely Augustana College in Rock Island. Because of the Woodstock graduate’s prowess at the collegiate level, she will get the chance to pull on the uniform and play in Great Britain. Not only will she get the opportunity to play in England, she will do so while going to law school at Newcastle University in England. It is not professional in the traditional sense, or like America’s perception of professional, but she is getting her law degree paid for while she plays for Newcastle, which is more like a scholarship in America. “I have always wanted to travel to England since I was a little girl,” Crain said. “I never really thought of playing women’s basketball professionally there and never knew

NN SCOREBOARD NN THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETING. IF YOU HAVE A RECREATIONAL SPORT OR TEAM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LISTED IN THE INDEPENDENT SCOREBOARD, PLEASE EMAIL SANDY@THEWOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT.COM

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there was an opportunity like that, until agents representing those teams approached me. I have always been fascinated with the country and how different it was. When I got the opportunity to play there, I was very excited!” In addition to Newcastle, there was one other school in England hoping to get Crain’s services. “Newcastle was the right fit for me,” Crain said. “It was more qualified in basketball and academics, so for me, it just made sense. This has been one of my biggest dream jobs and I never really thought I would ever reach it. It is very surreal to be here. Holy cow, I made it!”

“I have always wanted to travel to England since I was a little girl. ... When I got the opportunity to play there, I was very excited!” - Jeni Crain At the present time, her basketball season is scheduled to start in January. She is currently still in the U.S. taking classes. As soon as she gets her passport/visa and the COVID-19 travel ban is lifted, the former Blue Streak turned Augustana Viking is en route to England. “As soon as those two things happen, I am packing my bags and getting on that airplane. I have already been doing Zoom classes and homework here,” the 2020 Augustana graduate said. “There is not any practice going on there, so thankfully, I am not missing anything for basketball. I am training here and doing things on my own to stay in shape and ready.” Crain took part in some showcase tryouts, but ultimately, those did not lead to her being getting the spot with Newcastle. Initially, she was contacted by an agent through social media. The agent explained to her some teams that would love to have her. That led to her being signed to the British University-Based Basketball Club Team, which currently competes in the BUCS Northern Premier Division and National

COURTESY PHOTO

Jeni Crain goes up for a layout during her U.S. college career at Augustana. She plans to continue her career in England in Janary 2021. Basketball League Division 2. “Other than getting my degree, I want to play in an efficient manner,” Crain said. “The showcase was beneficial because it informed me of some of the rules and the things that are different. The basketball is very different, so I got a Euro Basketball to use here at home. This will be a much different experience for me, but an exciting experience. I am looking forward to it. “The level of commitment is different, but it’s balanced well and I believe this will be much more competitive, just because everyone we are playing is recruiting like they did me, so I will be playing against very high level talent. I

believe I will be in much more control of my game and how I want to play. “I will have a bit more ability to test some of the new things I have been working on during COVID.” The Great Britain-based team will be coached by a Spanish coach, which is a language that Crain is fluent in. “I can’t even believe how this is coming together,” the law school student said. “My coach has discussed the possibility of playing in Spain. That would be another country I would love to play in and travel to. I have already been there, and I love the country. I would love to live there.”

Fire ignites Thunder pride

31 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Annual bonfire inspires, builds tradition at WNHS By Sandy Kucharski

SANDY@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY VICKY LONG

Patrick Banach and Jacob McConnell watch the bonfire at Woodstock North High School from their trucks. The Thunder football spirit video (upper right) was projected on the side of the school. goals,” Thunder head coach Jeff Schroeder said. The video also included current players during their fall contact

The video is available to view on the Facebook pages of Woodstock North High School and the Woodstock North Thunder Football.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Woodstock High School senior Jack Hansen has been a valuable member of the WHS cross-country program for four years. During his junior and senior seasons, he was instrumental in the program capturing conference championships. He saved his best for the last race of the season where at the Lakes Sectional he earned an individual spot at the state meet. Thanks Jack for four great years!

Woodstock Independent 11/25/2020

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