The
Woodstock
I NDEPENDENT
Dec. 2-8, 2020
Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.50
City election over already? Only four candidates file for mayor, three council seats on 2021 ballot By Larry Lough
LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Unless someone mounts an impressive write-in campaign, winners will be declared early in the 2021 city election in Woodstock. And the campaign will have to be that of someone who didn’t bother
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to file papers for mayor or three City Council seats by last week’s deadline. When the filing period ended at 5 p.m. Nov. 23, only one candidate had filed for mayor and three for the council. In 2017, Woodstock had three candidates for mayor and six for the three council seats.
But this time, Deputy Mayor Mike Turner was the only person to file for mayor. Current Mayor Brian Sager is not seeking re-election after 16 years in that position. Candidates for the three council seats on the ballot are incumbent Gordie Tebo, along with Thomas Nierman See CITY ELECTION, Page 2
PARADE IN A PANDEMIC
Bakery coming to the Square where Swiss Maid store was
PAGE 13
SPORTS
In retirement, educator finds time to lose 50 pounds, get fit
PAGE 26
INDEX
Obituaries
4
Opinion
6
Schools
9
A&E
11
Marketplace
13
Community
15
Calendar
20
Classified
22
Puzzles
24
Public Notices
25
Sports
26
The Woodstock Independent
671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY VICKY LONG
Santa and Mrs. Claus are appropriately masked as they wave to people who are tailgating in Emricson Park during the annual Woodstock Christmas Parade on Sunday. More photos on Pages 11 and 18.
Grants seek to help save restaurants By Larry Lough
LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Despite appearances, Quizno’s sandwich shop in Woodstock, which last week received a $21,000 grant through the city’s Restaurant Relief Grant Program, has not gone out of business. The sign has been taken off the building and it’s dark inside, acknowledged Garrett Anderson, the city’s director of
Economic Development. “He’s temporarily closed,” Anderson said of the local franchisee of the national chain. “He intends to reopen as soon as conditions allow.” It’s the “conditions” restaurants have faced the past eight months that made the grant program necessary. The city announced last week that 26 local bars and restaurants – and one movie theater – would receive a
total of $500,000 in grants to offset some losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Grants ranged from $2,225 to a maximum of $35,000, which seven restaurants received. The awards were based on documented revenue losses from March to September this year, compared to that period in 2019. Anderson said the 27 businesses that See RESTAURANTS, Page 3
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
2
GAS PIPELINE REPLACEMENT
Report Infections
Yellow pipes indicate a new natural gas pipeline is being installed along newly resurfaced Lake Avenue west of Route 47 in Woodstock. The work is part of a multiyear effort by Nicor Gas to modernize and improve its infrastructure in Illinois. Aging pipelines are being replaced as part of the project.
CITY ELECTION
Continued from Page 1
NEWS
WEEKLY COVID-19 CASES FOR McHENRY COUNTY
and Robert Seegers Jr. Two-term incumbent Jim Prindiville is not running for re-election.
Maybe a reason to vote
That does not necessarily mean local voters won’t have some choices on the ballot next spring. Contests could occur during the filing period of Dec. 14 to 21 for: n Dorr Township offices (supervisor, clerk assessor, highway commissioners, and four members of the township board, four-year terms) n Four seats on the seven-member Board of Education of Woodstock School District 200 (four-year terms) n Two seats on the five-member Board of Trustees of Woodstock Fire/ Rescue District (six-year terms) n Five trustees on the board of the Rural Woodstock Public Library District (three six-year terms and two twoyear terms) n Two seats on the seven-member McHenry County College Board of Trustees (six-year terms) Elections also are scheduled for township offices in Greenwood, Hartland, Seneca, and all other townships in McHenry County. In 2017, 10 candidates filed for the four Board of Education seats in D-200; four people sought the two WFRD board seats; and Dorr Township had a contest for road commissioner.
Emphasis on development
Turner, 55, said the part-time mayor’s job was attractive to him because it “helps guide the future of Woodstock.” “Woodstock has been my home, my family’s home since ’96,” he said, “and I want to see the community, grow, prosper, and succeed.” In that regard, he said, he planned to continue the recent work of the council (the mayor is a voting member).
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOL
“The importance of economic growth cannot be overstated. Economic development is huge. I see that even increasing.”
- Mike Turner, deputy mayor, city of Woodstock
“The priorities I see as mayor are similar to those on the council,” he said, “similar to what we’ve been doing.” The city recently completed an $8.3 million resurfacing of city streets in 2020, the first of what was planned as a multiyear project to upgrade street conditions throughout the city, which Sager has identified as the city’s No. 1 priority. Because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the council has put that program on pause for up to a year The council also is guiding the remodeling of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House, two linked historic buildings whose new civic and commercial uses are considered a key to downtown revitalization. Turner acknowledged the pandemic’s effect on the city – and the city’s finances – would make the council’s job more of a challenge, but he said growth was essential to the city’s success. “The importance of economic growth cannot be overstated,” Turner said. “Economic development is huge. I see that even increasing.” In a phone interview, the senior account executive for United Healthcare said he was “excited about the new council.” Tebo, a retired teacher, is completing his first term on the council. Turner said he also knew business owners Nierman and Seegers, whom he had spoken with – among others – “conceptually” about serving on the council. Turner said he had “favorable views of all three” – and that they shared “the same end goals” to improve Woodstock. They will join three council members who were elected in 2019 – Darrin
Flynn, Lisa Lohmeyer, and Wendy Piersall. Turner said he had a good role model in Sager, whom he called a “great ambassador for the city” and someone who was effective in handling problems “and dealing with things as they arose.” “The role Brian played for Woodstock was more than most people realize,” Turner said. “I’m not Brian 2.0, but the outcomes and goals are much the same. I was fortunate to work closely with him and learn from him.”
Passion for sports
Turner and his family ended up in Woodstock when they were returning to Illinois from Michigan and looking for a place to live. “We were driving through Square,” he said, “and I was very charmed by it. It had a great sense of place, a great sense of community, … and still has access to [Chicago].” He has by his own description been “heavily involved in sports,” having coached Little League baseball and the Woodstock Lightning travel team. He and his wife, Kim, also founded SportsCity Academy, a 12-year-old indoor sports training facility, which Kim operates. He describes it as “a passion and a business.” Turner’s full-time job is with United Healthcare, with Wisconsin as his territory and an office in Wauwatosa. He doesn’t see a conflict in continuing to juggle his business and civic responsibilities as he completes his fourth term as a councilman. “Being mayor,” he said, “I’m prepared for that.”
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 11/29
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) *12,432 (+830)
* 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) 147 (+11)
State’s attorney won’t enforce order on dining Staff Report
NEWS@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Restaurants that violate the state’s COVID-19 mitigation orders won’t have to worry about enforcement by McHenry County State’s Attorney Stephen Kenneally, who announced in a news release last week he would not enforce a ban on indoor dining. Kenneally questioned whether emergency powers exercised by Gov. J.B. Pritzker were legal or constitutional. Violators could, Kenneally conceded, “face consequences from other, independent government agencies.” Those could include the Illinois State Police, the Illinois attorney general, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, and the Illinois Gaming Board. Kenneally said his office would, however, enforce related administrative health rules on business occupancy and mask wearing.
Continued from Page 1
Movie house qualifies
Federal funds involved
Woodstock’s program was funded by $300,000 from the Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Support program, which uses federal COVID-19 relief funds distributed through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. 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
INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The Quizno’s sign has been removed from the sandwich shop façade and stored inside the restaurant on South Eastwood Drive while the store is “temporarily closed,” city officials said. The restaurant last week received $21,000 from the city’s Restaurant Relief Grant Program.
Brian Sager. Checks were to be mailed or picked up by grantees last week. For more information, call Economic Development Director Garrett Anderson at 815-338-3176 or email ganderson@woodstockil.gov.
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n In the Nov. 25 edition of The Independent, a list of restaurants that received funds from the Woodstock’s Restaurant Relief Grant Program contained two errors and an omission. Napoli’s pizza was left off that list; the grant amount for Holzlager Brewing was incorrect; and Ethereal was misspelled. A corrected list appears elsewhere on this page. n Last week’s story about the Share the Love fundraiser contained two errors. The Stuff-the Stocking-forZach fundraiser has been held for five years, rather than four. The number of birdwatching backpacks distributed from the proceeds of the 2017 fundraiser was 170, not 150. To clarify, this year’s Share the Love fundraiser received $600 in proceeds from a Lightning game that a friend of Diane Brokaw’s held at Ortmann’s Tavern. The upcoming 50/50 raffle will be held online through Ortmann’s; the tavern is currently closed per COVID-19 restrictions. We regret the errors.
Please call factual errors to our attention by calling 815-338-8040 or sending an email to news@thewoodstockindependent.com.
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NEWS
Four grant applications were rejected, Anderson said. One business did not open until September this year, and another actually had higher revenue in 2020 than last year for those eight months. Other applicants were denied or saw their awards diminished because they had already received money this year through the state’s $636 million Business Interruption Grant program. Anderson said Classic Cinemas theater qualified because it is licensed by the McHenry County Department of Health to prepare and sell food. The movie house received a maximum $35,000 grant. Other maximum awards went to
Corrections and Clarifications
Dec. 2-8, 2020
received grants showed their income was down $4.3 million from last year. Each award was mostly based on the percentage of that $4.3 million a grant applicant could document, with a “somewhat arbitrary” maximum of $35,000, Anderson explained. “It helps to spread it around a little to have a maximum,” he said, noting it allowed the smaller applicants to receive a little more than their percentage would have warranted.
BBQ King, 3 Brothers, Double Yolk Café, Mixteca, Offsides, and Public House. A report in last week’s edition of The Independent contained two errors and an omission in the list of other awards. Those awards (rounded off) went to Ortmann’s Red Iron tavern, $26,200; Kingston Lanes, $23,800; Rosati’s Pizza, $21,200; Quizno’s, $21,000; Napoli Pizza, $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; and Flores Banquets, $2,225.
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
RESTAURANTS
NEWS
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
4
OBITUARIES
Jane Ann Kennedy Dahm, 89
Jane Ann Kennedy Dahm, age 89, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away on Nov. 24, 2020, at Northwestern Hospital McHenry due to complications from COVID. She was born on Aug. 1, 1931, in Woodstock, the daughter of Charles and Leonie Kennedy. She married George A. Dahm on Aug. 5, 1951. Jane was a devoted wife, mother, grand- Jane Ann mother, and Kennedy Dahm great-grandmother. She was very involved in her children’s school activities and enjoyed participating and watching their events. She served as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader and was a strong supporter of the McHenry County Fair. She served as a superintendent of the antique show for many years. Jane was a docent and avid supporter of the McHenry County Historical Society. She loved antiques and enjoyed collecting tea leaf china. Jane was a local historian in her own right, having been born and mainly raised in Woodstock. She and her longtime friend Joan Mansfield co-wrote articles for The Woodstock Independent regarding Woodstock’s history. She worked as an usher at the Woodstock Opera House and supported its endeavors as a Friend of the Opera House. Jane was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodstock
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Woodstock Police Department
■ Gretchen A. Wielontek, 54, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 18 in the 700 block of North Madison Street on a charge of theft. Bond $3,000. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Dec. 3. ■ Lorachioe S. Sockwell, 52, Crystal Lake, was arrested Nov. 12 in the 600 block of Lake Avenue on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond $100. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Dec. 17. ■ Laura M. Echeverria, 27, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 12 in the 1300 block of South Eastwood Drive on charges of driving while license suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Dec. 17. ■ Omar Manriquez-Cazares, 31, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 13 in the 700 block of McHenry Avenue on a charge of disorderly conduct. Released after posting $100 bond. Court date Dec. 17.
and faithfully served in many capacities. She was a member of Friends of the Woodstock Public Library and a member of P.E.O. Jane was a graduate of Woodstock High School and attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She was employed by District 200 for a number of years in various associate positions and was a class adviser for several years. She is survived by her children, Angela (Charles) Boe, Pamela (John) Moorhouse, Christopher (Ellen) Dahm, and Melinda (Thomas) Zingrone. Jane was proud of her 10 grandchildren, Erin (Steve) Kaye, Ben (Katie) Moorhouse, Patrick (Sara) Moorhouse, Jackie (Mike) Lawler, Jennifer (Kyle) Oliver, Philip (Kristen) Dahm, Bryan (Cindy) Dahm, Adam (Dana) Zingrone, Tobia (Laura) Zingrone, and Joseph (Allie) Zingrone. She also had 15 great-grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews. Jane was proceeded in death by George in 2005; her parents, Leonie and Charles Kennedy; her brothers, Frank and John Kennedy; and her sister, Patricia Gaylord. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Woodstock; McHenry County 4-H Foundation; McHenry County Historical Society; or Friends of the Woodstock Opera House. A celebration of her life will be held at a future date. For information, call the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710, or visit slmcfh.com. Send obituaries to pr@thewoodstockindependent.com. You may also mail them or drop them off at 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098. ■ Estefanie Ortiz, 18, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 16 in the 200 block of Main Street on charges of failure to signal when required and possession of cannabis in a vehicle by driver. Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Jan. 22. ■ J. Concepcion Aviles-Sanchez, 22, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 19 at Tappan Street and Willow Avenue on charges of failure to signal when required and no valid driver’s license. Bond $2,500. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Jan. 7.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
■ Amanda M. Knutson, 36, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 20 on a charge of domestic battery/physical contact. ■ Ryan M. Rapp, 39, Woodstock, was arrested Nov. 23 on a charge of violating an order of protection. Charges are only accusations of crimes, and defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Donna Faye Ward, 89 Donna Faye Ward (Hollenbeck), 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Woodstock on Nov. 23, 2020, of natural causes. She was born on the family farm on Christmas Eve 1930 and was the oldest of the four Hollenbeck girls. Her parents were Luella (Schmidt) and George W. Hollenbeck who had a fruit and vegetable stand on Route 173 outside of Hebron during the Great Depression. She attended grade and high Donna Faye school in Hebron, Ward Ill., and graduated from Hebron High School in 1948. In 1950 she married her high school sweetheart, James Clement Ward, who was drafted and served in Korea for the next two years. After discharge, they moved to Woodstock and started careers and a family. Donna was a presence on the Square for over 30 years. She worked at Wien’s and managed Bate’s Smartwear, both tailored dress shops on the Square. She was an assistant to both pharmacists on the Square (Bob Gibson and Bruce Kelly) and managed The Habersham Plantation in Crystal Lake. Later, she worked for Follett Industries in McHenry and ended her career delivering the Northwest Herald paper to many people here in Woodstock. She also volunteered her time at the McHenry County Defenders, Home of the Sparrow, and anywhere else she could find something to keep her busy. Vacations were spent in our youth at Devils Lake.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District EMS calls for Nov. 19-25: 80 Fire Runs Nov. 19
12:55 a.m. – 2200 block of North Seminary Avenue, malfunctioning alarm system sounded; engine 1:40 a.m. – 400 block of Leah Lane, malfunctioning alarm system sounded; truck 2:58 p.m. – 1100 block of North Seminary Avenue, power line down; engine 4:06 p.m. – 900 block of North Seminary Avenue, unintentional detector activation, no fire; shift commander 7:05 p.m. – 100 block of Lawrence Avenue, lockout; truck Nov. 20
1:37 p.m. – Charles and Raffel roads, traffic accident with no injuries; truck 3:11 p.m. – 900 block of West South Street, dispatched and canceled en route; shift commander 6:11 p.m. – Route 120 and Thompson Road, Wonder Lake; engine Nov. 21
2:46 p.m. – 1800 block of South Rose
She and our Dad enjoyed Biloxi and South Padre Island, and after he was gone (’78), she would go to Cocoa Beach annually with Kelly and Randy and her grandkids for “Grandma’s Vacation.” She was an avid reader of crime mysteries by several different authors. She loved her cats and feeding the squirrels at home and the geese at the city park. Her neighbors will remember her by the corn growing in their yards. She is survived by her children, Michael Curtis Ward and Kelly (Randy) Redemske; her sisters, Maxine Hollenbeck and Jorga (James) Stewart. She was so proud of her four grandchildren, Jenna and Ryan Redemske and Chloe and Leah Ward, as well as many nieces and nephews, Kitty, Shawn (Jolyn), Scott (Gail) and Mike (Teresa) LeBaron, Teresa (Marty) Shaw, Carrie Harper, and Penny (Lee) Bowser. She is preceded in death by her husband; her younger sister, Cody LeBaron; and her 3-year-old granddaughter, Molly Anne Redemske, who is now again on her Grandma’s lap; along with many, many cats. Services will be held at the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock. A limited visitation service will be held there on Dec. 5, 2020. from 10 a.m. to noon. A family service will be held at noon. Interment will be private. The family understands any reservations about coming out and wishes everyone peace and good health in trying times. Please consider making a memorial donation in lieu of flowers to Helping Paws in Woodstock or McHenry County Defenders as she loved all animals and books. For more information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710, or visit slmcfh.com. Farm Road, brush or brush/grass mixture fire; engine, shift commander, truck, utility pickup Nov. 22
1:06 p.m. – 3200 block of North Route 47, traffic accident with injuries; truck, ambulance, engine, shift commander Nov. 23
11:05 a.m. – 400 block of North Madison Street, hazmat release investigation, no hazmat; truck Nov. 24
1:16 p.m. – 1500 block of Yellowhead Court, cooking fire confined to container; shift commander, truck, ambulance Nov. 25
3:48 p.m. – 1100 block of Walden Oaks Drive, carbon monoxide incident; engine, ambulance, shift commander 4:36 p.m. – 1100 block of Walden Oaks Drive, no incident found on arrival at dispatch address; engine 9:01 p.m. – 300 block of South Hayward Street, carbon monoxide detector activation, no CO; engine 9:19 p.m. – 6300 block of McCue Road, Union, assist police or other agency; tender, engine
5
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OPINION
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
6
Opinion
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
Cheryl Wormley Publisher, Co-Owner
Paul Wormley Co-Owner
Woodstock, IL • 1987
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Cheryl Wormley Larry Lough Sandy Kucharski Ken Farver
Street work schedule must balance interests
Taking a “pause” is how city officials have described the interruption in their ambitious plan to upgrade the condition of virtually every street in Woodstock over the next few years. Before calling a timeout for up to a year because of the uncertainties involved with the coronavirus pandemic, the City Council had certainly been aggressive in pursing the plan. Mayor Brian Sager first hinted publicly about the multiyear project in his State of the City address just 13 months ago, calling street improvements the city’s No. 1 priority. Within weeks, the council had approved a new city fuel tax of 3-cents-a-gallon, effective April 1, to help pay off what turned out to be a $9.3 million bond to resurface more than 19 lane miles of streets in 2020 that were graded at “poor” to “fair,” a preemptive move to improve them before they failed. Streets that have already failed will have to settle for occasional patching until the expensive rebuilding they need comes in the later years of the program. Before the contractor finished the 2020 job early this month, the council had already decided that now was not the time to leap into more years of work at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. “I’m a little nervous not knowing the long-term impact of COVID-19,” Councilwoman Wendy Piersall said in voicing the concern of other council members, who voted 7-0 for a one-year delay – an action that could be reversed by another vote if economic conditions improve. After all, the engineering work for the second year of work has already been authorized, maybe even completed by now. In discussions since spring, the council had yet to decide the biggest question involved in years two through five of the streets program: How are we going to pay for it? “We” being the taxpayers of Woodstock. Perhaps it’s for the best that the city will scale
INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY KEN FARVER
Workers from Plote Construction of Hoffman Estates resurface a section of Lake Avenue west of Route 47, the last project in the more than 19 lane miles of local streets resurfaced in 2020. back street work in 2021 to the normal $2 million to $2.5 million from present revenues, mostly the local share of the state fuel tax and the home-rule sales tax the council enacted effective Jan. 1, 2018. Several options exist for additional revenue – an increase in the property tax or the city’s 2020 fuel tax, or a new tax on utility bills or food and drink sales at restaurants, or maybe a combination of those. We suspect that with street improvements having been the justification for two new local taxes in the span of less than three years, local taxpayers might
not have an appetite for further taxes so soon. And it can’t hurt to have the streets program scrutinized by another set of eyes, which the council will have in April with the election of two new members to fill vacancies. As a council member suggested, good streets is an economic development issue and a quality of life issue for Woodstock and its residents. But as this is also a personal finance issue for taxpayers, it’s not a bad thing to take a little extra time to make sure we’ve properly balanced all of those interests.
» YOUR VIEW
Let’s survive the holidays: wear a mask, shop local
For 8+ months we have been collectively suffering through this pandemic. Whether you’re a small business, someone (like me) who’s lost their livelihood, the loneliness, uprooting of lifestyles – you name it, we all can empathize with one another, regardless of political affiliation. Which is why it is so incredibly enraging to once again see a Woodstock Police officer this week not wear his mask while patrolling the Square. I’ve seen him over the months either at the Farmers Market or on his daily route where he consistently shows outright refusal to model the simplest form of public safety:
Wearing. A. Mask. All of us need to do our part, and wearing a badge does not put you above CDC guidelines. In fact, by wearing a mask, a police officer could inspire others to wear one as well. (I won’t bore everyone with stating once again the benefits and mitigation of wearing masks.) The point is, we are now seeing a huge surge across the country and here in McHenry County. Please, act carefully as we head into the winter months, because our own personal actions inevitably affect the overall health of this nation – even if it’s just businesses. Some ideas? Order takeout, leave a
large tip where you would normally spend on drinks, shop local for gifts this holiday season. Because the sooner we take this seriously, the sooner we can all go back to some semblance of normal. And if someone reading this thinks I’m being righteous by “telling you what to do,” I’m not. In fact, I’m being incredibly selfish because I work in live-entertainment and filmmaking. My job cannot work from home, so I and millions of artists are dependent on the personal actions of you. Wear a mask. Buy local. Happy Holidays. Anne Stebbins Woodstock
Meaningful honor for our military service veterans
On Saturday, 7 November, City Square Dental hosted their second annual Veterans Day celebration. Dr. Whitney Behm and all of the excellent staff provided free dental care for local veterans. It was a wonderful experience, with a warm and caring atmosphere, lots of laughter, and good music to accompany the event. I would like to thank Dr. Behm and “family” for honoring veterans in this meaningful way. Vic Chudoba, veteran Woodstock
Books + Zoom = book club
For about 10 years, I have thought I would enjoy being in a book club. The opportunity never presented itself, nor did I commit myself to starting one. Then, about four weeks ago, grandson Charles, 10, called and asked whether Jim and I would like to participate in a book club on Zoom. He said he also planned to invite “Sito” and “Papa,” his maternal grandparents; Thea Becky, a family friend; and his cousin Joseph, 8, all of whom live in Michigan. Charles asked whether we knew how to use Zoom, since we would be
using it for our meetings. We assured him we had been using Zoom for church committee and The Independent’s staff meetings for several months. “Good,” he said. Then, he added he would “be the leader,” and “we’re going to read ‘Wonder.’” I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our weekly meetings. It’s good to check in with others once a week, and the discussions have been rich and meaningful. Charles and Joseph offer insights about what it’s like to be a fifth-grader, like Auggie, the principal character in the book. Thea Becky, Sito, and Papa are retired educators, so they bring their experiences to the discussion. Jim and I share our thoughts, too. Word got out about the fun we were having. Now, Charles’ mother, Alexis, is in the group, and so is his brother, John. “Wonder” has parts instead of chapters. We’ve read two each week. It has been hard not to read ahead, because it is so well written. Next week, we will finish “Wonder.” Already, I am eager to know what our next book will be. I know other book clubs have been meeting via Zoom or some other video conferencing service since the pandemic began, but I think Charles’ multigenerational, geographically separated concept is worth replicating. It’s perfect not only during a pandemic, but anytime. Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent. Her email address is c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com.
CONTACT INFO FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin Chicago office 230 S. Dearborn St. Suite 3892 Chicago, IL 60604 312-353-4952
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Chicago office James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph St., 16-100 Chicago, IL 60601 312-814-2121
McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks 6903 S. Grant Hwy. Marengo, IL 60152 815-334-4224 (work) jdfranks@co.mchenry.il.us
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth Chicago office 230 S. Dearborn St. Suite 3900 Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 886-3506
State Rep. Steve Reick District Office 1072 Lake Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098 815-880-5340
Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager 121 W. Calhoun St. Woodstock, IL 60098 815-338-4302 mayor@woodstockil.gov
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OPINION
Svalander and her ballet students for performing “The Nutcracker” at the Opera House, especially given the pandemic and audience-size restrictions. Christmas Clear- Cheryl ing House, Wood- Wormley stock’s annual dis- Declarations tribution of food and gifts to families in need, is a go! This year’s distribution will be Saturday, Dec. 19. Donations can be made at woodstockcares.com or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 53. The Independent will publish plans for packing food and gifts when they are finalized. All of us at The Independent are watching for information about other holiday events and opportunities. Please help us by emailing press releases to news@thewoodstockindependent.com or calling 815-338-8040.
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Dec. 2-8, 2020
This is switchover week. The annual Lighting of the Square Friday and Christmas parade Sunday left no doubt Thanksgiving was behind us and we were ready for Christmas. Fall and Thanksgiving decorations are stored away, and winter and Christmas decorations are being hauled out and put about. I remain an advocate for fresh trees, so ours was purchased Saturday from the lot at First Methodist Church. I hope to have my collection of Nativities displayed around our house in the next few days. Looking back at columns I wrote the first week of December in years past, I often went on at length about all that would be happening in Woodstock leading up to Christmas. I told about our high schools’ choir and madrigal concerts, productions at the Opera House like “A Christmas Carol” or “A Christmas Story,” and the much-anticipated presence of Santa in his hut in the Park in the Square. I shared my appreciation for the carriage rides, Tuba Christmas, and “The Nutcracker.” Woodstock is switching over to Christmas this week. Hats off to everyone who has been reimaging holiday traditions in Woodstock to comply with COVID-19 mandates and to slow the spread. The Friends of the Old Court House moved the annual Gingerbread House Walk to Facebook; Santa will listen to children’s wishes at Stage Left Café; and his hut is in the Park in the Square for photo ops. The Chamber of Commerce and Claussen Pickle have teamed up to offer, for the first time, a Legend of the Pickle Contest. I am grateful to Judith
Woodstock
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By Kevin Lyons
Staff Report
DISTRICT 200
DISTRICT 200 PHOTO
The Heiders, (from left) Logan, Andy, and Landon, play a game with straws and M&Ms during a virtual Family Night of Dean Street Elementary School on Nov. 18. More than 70 families participated in activities as D-200 schools try new techniques to keep families connected to schools during remote learning. their kids,” Doyle said. “There was a lot of laughter and a lot of excitement.” At Westwood Elementary School, teachers have also committed to connecting virtually with each family in their homeroom on asynchronous Fridays, which Principal Ryan Hart said had been extremely valuable in identifying what students’ needs are. Hart said one thing they learned was that even though some students were doing well academically, they had some social needs that weren’t being met as they would be in an in-person setting, so they allowed students to talk to each other in Google groups. “Teachers said they learned it’s important to create time to get out of the way and let the students interact with each other,” Hart said. At elementary schools, the One Book One School events are still being held virtually. All families are encouraged to read the same book and participate in activities surrounding the story and characters. Drive-by parades are being held; virtual painting nights and reading by the fire events are planned, among others. The high schools have held virtual college nights, open houses, and Facebook Live chats about various subjects. Woodstock North High School hosted a drive-in bonfire Nov. 20 with
a highlight video from former Thunder football players. Middle schools have held drive-by honor roll recognition events, food drives, and virtual open houses. Julie Smith, principal of Greenwood Elementary School, said the Family Game Week her staff held in November was a big hit with families. “There was a lot of excitement,” she said. “It was really neat because it involved the whole family. It wasn’t just the parents. Some of the older siblings were also participating.” Smith said she and her colleagues realized how important it is to maintain this sense of school community between staff and families, which will likely need to continue even when students are allowed to return to school. To maintain safety, visitors might still not be allowed inside buildings. The virtual components of some of these popular events are things Smith said principals might consider even after the pandemic, since parents aren’t always able to attend the events in person. “These connections are important because we want families to know that we’re here for them and we want their children to do their very best,” Smith said. “We believe in them and we support them.”
With COVID-19 metrics showing no improvement locally or nationwide, Woodstock School District 200 is remaining noncommittal about the return to school. Superintendent Mike Moan sent an email to parents last week to confirm the district would remain with remote learning through Dec. 18, the end of the first semester. Despite a plan to return D-200 students to classrooms in October, they have remained in remote learning since March as the McHenry County Health Department’s school metrics “remain far out of reach,” Moan wrote. The Board of Education decided in September that the return to school would be determined by those metrics. “COVID-19 test positivity has been at or near 20 percent,” he reported, “while the county metric goal is under 8 percent; the incidence rate is at 80 per 100,000, while the goal is 14; and the weekly count of new cases has risen by hundreds of cases each week.” Moan noted that scientists had accurately predicted this “difficult phase of the pandemic.” “We’d hoped for better news that the metrics might allow students to return to classrooms before the year ended,” he said, “but that isn’t the case. “We know remote learning isn’t ideal, but we are extremely proud of the way our students and staff have responded to this temporary reality. ... Students and teachers will eventually return to classrooms – a celebration we eagerly anticipate.” Administrators hope students will be able to return to school early in 2021, Moan said. “In the meantime, we’d urge everyone to continue to wear face coverings in public, avoid gatherings, remain socially distant, and follow other health professional recommendations to help slow the spread of COVID-19.”
SCHOOLS
The importance of family engagement has never eluded administrators and teachers in Woodstock School District 200, nor has the challenge of maintaining those connections over several months of remote learning. Scores of university studies show that students whose parents are engaged participants with their schools attend school more frequently, get better grades, have more confidence, and experience fewer behavioral issues. District 200 schools have been fortunate to enjoy a positive relationship with its families, but officials say that’s something they’ve never taken for granted. Particularly at the elementary school level, families have been urged to attend themed science and literacy nights among other events, which hundreds of parents have routinely attended. Other events such as honor roll recognition ceremonies, college nights, and open houses take place in middle and high schools. “Whether the school doors are open or closed, we’re staying connected with our students,” D-200 Superintendent Mike Moan said. “A big part of that connection is maintaining the strong ties we have with our families. Education is a partnership, and we’re very appreciative of our families’ commitment to that partnership despite the physical limitations.” Ryan Doyle, principal of Dean Street Elementary School, had more than 70 families participate in a virtual Family Night on Nov. 18. Families were sent Google links to 18 different activities, from yoga and story time to online board games and Mad Libs. Participants who completed activities were entered into a raffle for prizes, including gift cards and baskets with complete Thanksgiving dinners. Doyle said a committee of teachers worked hard on the program, which he said received great feedback from parents who participated. “They really appreciated the games and the ideas to be able to engage with
NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Dec. 2-8, 2020
Creativity connects D-200 families during remote learning
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
Not just playing games
D-200 waiting on county’s health metrics to improve
Marian inducts 23 in National Honor Society By Janet Dovidio
Jenna Knapp, secretary. Additional board members are Brian Hopp and Joseph Walsdorf, directors of tutoring; Nicole Santopadre, public affairs; Jeremy Kleberg, service project coordinator; and Katherine Strode, recycling coordinator. “It is so comforting to know that these new NHS inductees continue to show their character and leadership through these most challenging times,” Marian Principal Debra Novy said. “The resilience we see in these students provides hope for the future of Marian Central and our community as a whole.”
NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Marian Central Catholic High School inducted 23 students into the National Honor Society during an in-person ceremony last month. To allow for the in-person induction, 10 seniors and 13 juniors were divided into two groups during the event Oct. 21, when each students was allowed to bring two guests. A 6:30 p.m. ceremony inducted the juniors, followed by an 8 p.m. event for seniors. The ceremony was held before new state limits on the size of gatherings. “Inductees must possess the NHS core principles of character, service, scholarship, and leadership,” NHS adviser Glenn Pinnau said. “They must demonstrate academic achievement, show outstanding character, uphold Christian values, and serve as leaders in their community.” Current distancing limitations have not allowed the group to meet in person, but they have continued with several outreach projects. Some members tutor fellow students in various subjects, and the society is currently organizing a book drive to collect new and gently used books to donate in this area. Current officers are Gretchen Gilmore, president; Alyssa Graff, vice president; and
New inductees are:
COURTESY PHOTO
Gretchen Gilmore, president of the National Honor Society at Marian Central Catholic High School, speaks during an induction ceremony Oct. 21 for 23 new members.
Seniors – Isabella Maureen Antonetti, Madison Elizabeth Baird, Alexandra Joelle Delacruz, Ellice Agnes Fernandez, Carlo Johann Fragante, Christopher Alexandre Ghita, Phillip Joseph Konicek, Grace Isabelle Kramer, Aron Sait Olivares, and Courtney Christine Sensabaugh Juniors – Christopher Thomas Atadero, Matthew Carl Cotting, Emma Elizabeth Dalton, Nandana Devarajan, Amanda Rose Hintz, Patrick Matthew Kumm, Matthew Thomas Martin, Graciella Lyn Miroballi, Stella Adeline Ross, Maddison Paije Shepard, Abigail Renee Todd, Julia Francis Widhalm, and Jodie Lynn Winkelman
June 10-16, 2020
Woodstock Woodstock Woodstock
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had been for a Saturday as it 6 t, was as busy OpiniOn use of coronavirus of Cass Stree time this season. Beca 4 Obituaries 9 by this photo rounds. It will nced the first schOOls nry County 6Fairg stock, as evide return the Square for OpiniOn et a&e ed to at11its winter home at the McHe Downtown Wood Farmers Mark et had d ay and Saturday. the staye Tuesd when each while 8 schOOls open 13 producers mark uleaceof being Marketpl concerns, the normal summer sched 11 a&e 19 cOMMunity now resume the
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thewoodstockindependent.com Offer good for addresses in 60097 & 60098
Jack Granat is a senior at Woodstock North High School. He is the son of Evelyn Hunter and Cary Granat, Woodstock. Teachers from the English department unanimously agreed that “Jack has always been a role-model for success in the classroom. His commitment to top-quality work is unparalleled. In addition to his test scores, Jack is a gentleman and leader among his peers, and we look forward to seeing his many future accomplishments beyond high school.” Jack has achieved high honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. He is a National Merit Commended Student and a College Board Rural and Small Town Scholar. Jack is the marching band drum captain, student council president, NHS vice president, and a member of math team and ACES. When asked who inspires him, Jack said, “Someone who inspires me is my grandpa, as he was a hard worker who did everything to the best of his ability and constantly strived to do what was right.” When asked what makes him feel successful, Jack said, “ I feel that I am successful because of the work ethic and determination that was instilled in me by my parents and grandparents. I’ve had to deal with numerous challenges in life and have applied the determination and perseverance learned to overcome them, growing in the process and becoming able to deal with whatever challenge I am faced with in life.” SPONSORED BY
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Dec. 2-8, 2020
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The annual Woodstock Christmas Parade stepped off on Nov. 29, bringing holiday cheer to the community. Spectator Sydney Brodell (above) enjoys the parade with her mom, Sam Kruger. The gang from Napolis Pizza (below) waves to the crowd, while riders from the Eden Healing Center, Walworth, Wis., show off their fuzzy mounts. The Grinch even made an appearance, but didn’t crack a smile.
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Swiss Maid reincarnated
By the Dozen to open in former bakery, incorporate favorite recipes By Susan W. Murray
NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
Good news for Woodstock residents who have mourned the loss of the Swiss Maid Bakery, lo, these past 21 months. Brett Nelson, the owner of By the Dozen Bakery in Machesney Park, told The Woodstock Independent that he planned to open at the former Swiss Maid’s Woodstock location, 212 N. Benton St., in February or March. “Before Paczki Day,” Nelson said optimistically. That’s a tight calendar with an early Easter in 2021. Paczkis are a traditional indulgence on Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday. In 2021, Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 17.
Harvard store reopens
In a Nov. 23 post on By the Dozen’s Facebook page, Nelson announced
the Dec.1 opening of a second location of his bakery in the former Swiss Maid at 104 E. Brainard St. in Harvard. That was Swiss Maid’s primary location with all its baking equipment and a retail outlet. Nelson said that bakery would offer By the Dozen products as well as “all of the former Swiss Maid recipes.” Nelson’s request that Facebook users tag and share the post with family and friends received what Nelson called an “overwhelming” response – more than 1,000 likes, 1,000 shares, and 300 comments on By the Dozen’s Facebook page within 24 hours. The comments were punctuated with questions about favorite doughnuts and pastries, with many asking, “What about Woodstock?” Nelson said the first order of business would be to get the Harvard location up and running just ahead of the busy Christmas season. Once
that is in place, attention will turn to Woodstock.
Year and a half project
Kevin Olesen bought the Woodstock Swiss Maid with financing from owner Paul Stricker in 2018. A little over a year later, Olesen handed Stricker the keys and walked out. At that point, bankruptcy proceedings had to play out, but Nelson and Stricker were already talking about the possibility of By the Dozen taking over the business. The bankruptcy case was resolved by March of this year, Nelson said, with Stricker regaining the buildings and equipment. Stricker is working with Nelson to restart the business. “He’s in the kitchen as we speak,” Nelson said by phone from the Harvard location on Tuesday morning.
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MARKETPLACE
Brett Nelson, owner of By the Dozen bakery in Machesney Park, works in the kitchen at the former Swiss Maid Bakery in Harvard. Nelson plans to reopen Swiss Maid stores in Harvard and Woodstock.
Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Sept. 25 to 30.. ■ Residence at 8612 W. Sunset, Wonder Lake, was sold by Jolayne Hall, Richmond, to Jonah D. Fischer, Wonder Lake, for $130,000. ■ Residence at 3880 Crabapple Lane, Wonder Lake, was sold by Sean Schultz, Wonder Lake, to Laszlo Anthony Szalay, Wonder Lake, for $270,000. ■ Residence at 10814 Bull Valley Road, Bull Valley, was sold by Mary Cadieux, Woodstock, to Nicholas M. and Britnie M. Sheridan, Bull Valley, for $349,900. ■ Residence at 1500 Wicker St., Woodstock, was sold by Stephen Edwin Davis, Box Elder, S.D., to Rosy Hernandez, Woodstock, for $202,500. ■ Residence at 235 Wildmeadow Lane, Woodstock, was sold by Amanda Baunach, Crystal Lake, to Brianna DeCicco, Woodstock, for $154,000. ■ Residence at 9103 Pine Ave., Wonder Lake, was sold by Midway Mechanical Hvac, Inc., Ringwood, to Michael J. Gubitose, Wonder Lake, for $205,000. ■ Residence at 12312 Roger Road, Woodstock, was sold by Knapp Leasing LLC, Woodstock, to Kody J. Mooneyham, Woodstock, for $150,000. ■ Residence at 701 St. John’s Road, Woodstock, was sold by Jesus Arellano, Washington Court, Ohio, to Thomas G. Rogers, Woodstock, for $196,000. ■ Vacant land, approximately 17,000 square feet, at Lot 45 Prairie Terrace, 717-723 Carlisle Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Darrin Fischer, Woodstock, to Miguel Fajardo, Wonder Lake, for $17,750. ■ Equestrian Facility, at 1310 Lamb Road, Woodstock, was sold by Richard S. Vlahos and Beverly Vlahos, McHenry, to Pedro Dominguez, Carpentersville, for $480,000.
Dec. 2-8, 2020
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
Marketplace
13
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
14
GROUND BROKEN
Heavy equipment has been on the site west of Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Woodstock for weeks to break ground for a one-story, 83-unit senior living complex, Cedarhurst of Woodstock. It is one of two projects underway in McHenry County, the other in McHenry, by St. Louis-based Dover Companies, which plans to have the assisted-living and memory-care facilities open in early 2022. Each complex will include a movie theater, salon and spa, and physical therapy and rehab clinics. A news release said the facilities could bring “upward of 100 jobs to the area.” The City Council approved the $8 million project in February.
BAKERY
MARKETPLACE
Continued from Page 13
“He’s teaching us how to execute that quality product that everyone loved here.” Paul’s brother John Stricker, owner of Practical Baker Inc. and Arrow Aluminum Manufacturing, is partnering with Nelson in the new venture. Nelson said he has been doing business for bakery equipment with John Stricker for 15 years.
“John couldn’t see the bakery die,” Nelson said. Because of the bankruptcy proceedings, the Swiss Maid name can no longer be used. The Harvard and Woodstock locations will be known as By the Dozen Bakery.
Favorites from the bakeries
Like the Strickers, Nelson comes from a long line of bakers. His grandfather opened Donutland, with locations all over Illinois, in 1954. Brett Nelson’s By the Dozen in
'TIS THE SEASON TO
Shop, Save & Win WOODSTOCK,
ILLINOIS
November 27, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Earn $20 cash back Enter to win & share cash prizes Support small independent retailers in Woodstock Submit qualifying reciepts, dated 11/27 through 12/31 totalling $200, to the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and receive $20 cash back plus a raffle entry for cash prizes to share 50/50 with your favorite Woodstock retailer.*
Prizes: $2,000, $1,000 and $500 *Restrictions apply. See rules & eligibility at www.woodstockilchamber.com.
RENDERING BY DOVER COMPANIES
Machesney Park celebrated 25 years in business in 2019. By the Dozen is known for its large variety of doughnuts – 36 to 48 in the case at any one time – and its highquality cakes, Nelson said. “We make a lot of wedding cakes,” he added. By the Dozen also services 90 wholesale stores, primarily in doughnut sales. Before COVID, Nelson said, By the Dozen employed 36 people; currently, he has 16 employees. He expects to
put 16 to 20 people to work in Harvard where the breads and some other bakery items will be produced. While Nelson plans to slowly roll out Swiss Maid recipes into the bakery’s regular selection, he pleaded for patience from customers. “It’s been hard to get specialty ingredients during the pandemic,” he said. The Harvard location, beginning Dec. 1, will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Customers may now place orders by calling 815-943-7282.
Community
15
By Lydia LaGue
NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
A lover of New Orleans, Craig Hallenstein is bringing a bit of it to Woodstock. On one of his trips to The Big Easy nearly 20 years ago, Hallenstein was struck by a Mardi Gras mask in a museum and asked the curator who the artist was. Upon learning the name, Hallenstein met Luis Colmenares, a New Orleans artist who uses his talent in street art, store interiors, and restaurants. “We became good friends,” Hallenstein said. “He made a Mardi Gras mask for [my] house. We had so much fun with that.” Three years ago, Hallenstein – a psychologist, writer, and published author – bought the house on Judd Street next door to his home and redecorated it with traditional New Orleans gas lights. Then he got even more creative. “I went back to Luis and said, ‘Let’s have you make an alligator for the house next door,’ which lights up at night,” he said. “I went down and watched him make the alligator, and it’s made out of 100 Mardi Gras masks that are welded together.” The alligator is multicolored, Hallenstein noted, and the masks are visible when walking by. “It’s really beautiful,” he said.
‘Smile on both sides’
When a power company topped a tree in Hallenstein’s front yard, he had an idea to turn it into something spectacular. He planned to cut the tree straight across at nine feet and regrouped with Luis. “I said I wanted to put something together on top of it … a Cheshire Cat, where the smile lights up at night. Luis said, ‘Absolutely, when
COURTESY PHOTOS
Craig Hallenstein has made sure this house on West Judd Street property is easy to spot. do you want it?’ I said, ‘Next week,’” Hallenstein said with a chuckle. “Luis said, ‘Well, come on down; it will take me three or four days to make it.” Hallenstein drove down in August with his partners, Debbie and Kendri. “We spent four days watching Luis make the cat,” Hallenstein said. “He formed it out of metal, painted it multiple colors, put solar panels into it and a variety of colored lights. When you walk by, you see the smile on both sides. ... It has Mardi Gras beads hanging off of it and off the branches of the tree.” The attraction causes cars to slow down as people get out and take pictures. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. Hallenstein calls the Cheshire Cat “Cat Menares” in honor of the artist. “It’s been great to work with a really good artist,” he said. “He’s limited only by my imagination.”
Old is new again
Another touch of New Orleans are the gas lights adorning his house. “I love gas lights,” Hallenstein said. “Twenty years ago, I bought two original gas lights from New Orleans, made by the same company – Jack’s Metal Arts – that made the four made-to-look-like gas lights on the portico of the Woodstock Opera House. Those have been in front of [my] house for years.” He also has added two in his kitchen. “The funny story about that was, when I got back home after buying them, I panicked and thought, ‘Will building and zoning let me have these in the house?’” he recalled. “... When I explained what I wanted to do, they said, ‘Craig, the last time we got this call was 100 years ago; do what you want.’ We’ve had them in the kitchen for over a decade.”
New Orleans artist Luis Colmenares works on a piece for the Woodstock home of Craig Hallenstein, whose love of New Orleans led to Mardi Gras decorations and gas lights on the unique home on Judd Street.
for the prize “best lit neighborhood” in the city for December. If you’ve ever wanted to see some New Orleans gas lights, a Cheshire Cat, or a block of homes lit up beyond the holidays, look no further than West Judd Street.
COMMUNITY
Once Hallenstein put gas lights next door, it started to garner more interest from his neighbors. They might not have gas lights yet, but neighbors have added lights to their homes along Judd Street. “Starting from Tryon to Pleasant, many people have added strings of lights to their front porches,” Hallenstein said. “That looks great when you drive up and down Judd at night. We leave them on all year.” The community is even competing
Dec. 2-8, 2020
Decorations inspired by French Quarter create unique look for Woodstock home
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
Lighting up the neighborhood
COMMUNITY
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
16
‘Shop, Save, Win’ looks to boost retail Chamber promotion promising prizes for shopping local stores Staff Report
NEWS@THEINDEPENDENT.COM
Shop, Save & Win Holiday Retail Program is a project of the city of Woodstock and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry to stimulate local retail
sales during the holidays. According to a news release, the city has provided $10,000 for the program to help local retailers who have faced an ongoing decrease in foot traffic and sales since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A successful holiday season is critical for them to continue operating through the winter months when traffic and sales typically wane, even in a strong economy. Shop, Save & Win Holiday stresses the importance of shopping small local retailers for the holidays. The program offers residents (and
Agency that helps others needs help
visitors) the opportunity to receive $20 cash back for shopping small independent retailers in Woodstock when they submit receipts to the chamber office of at least $200 in qualified retail purchases from two to five eligible Woodstock retailers. A list of eligible retailers can be found on the Chamber website. Receipts must be dated between Black Friday, Nov. 27, and Dec. 31, 2020. Consumers submitting qualifying receipts will receive $20 cash back for supporting local businesses and will be entered into a drawing
for cash prizes to split with local retailers. Three winners will be selected. First-place receives $2,000, second- place $1,000, and third-place $500. Prizes will be split 50/50. The remaining funds will pay $20 cashback awards to the first 325 participants who turn in qualified receipts. This program is for receipts from small independent brick and mortar retail businesses only. Gift cards and online purchases from local stores are eligible. Winners will be drawn, and prizes awarded on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
VETERANS APPRECIATION
By Janet Dovidio
NEWS@THEINDEPENDENT.COM
Woodstock Area Community Ministries is facing the same challenges as are other outreach programs in this area. “The pandemic has hit us hard,” said Renee Witt, WACM president. “Most of our member churches have been closed since early March. We are not generating much revenue.” The ministry’s major outreaches include a direct assistance program and major support of Public Action to Deliver Shelter. Funding comes from congregations at the member churches and fundraisers, such as an annual chicken dinner at Crandall’s Restaurant in Hebron. Because of the pandemic, the organization’s board of directors made the difficult decision to suspend face-to-face interaction between volunteers and clients. Assistance can be requested by phone. The direct assistant effort distributes money to people living within the boundaries of Woodstock School District 200 who need emergency aid. Because of lower contributions, the ministry had to cut some services, such as rent assistance, and lower the amount allotted for other services. WACM partners with St. Vincent de Paul and Dorr Township to help people in need. Together they try to assist with utility shut-off notices,
clothing and gas vouchers and emergency pharmacy expenses. “Since we are an organization that gets most of our contributions from local church congregations, our funds are depleting quickly,” Witt said. “Most of our member congregations are not conducting services or have limited capacity.” The board has met three times this year in church parking lots with social distancing. Members had to cancel the two biggest fundraisers, a dinner at Crandall’s and “The Making of the Sound of Music” by Charles Troy. “As you know, the need is great right now,” Witt said, “and we are doing our best to help.” Donations can be made on the website (WACMgroups.org) or by checks mailed to Grace Lutheran Church, 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock. People who need assistance can call 815-529-4370. Current member churches are First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, McHenry County Jewish Congregation, St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. Mary Catholic Church, and Woodstock Free Methodist Church.
COURTESY PHOTO
To honor Veterans Day, Kishwaukee Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated two children’s books to the Woodstock Public Library – “What Is a Veteran, Anyway” and “Why Did Daddy Have to Leave?” – written by army veteran Robert C. Snyder to help children understand the dedication and sacrifices of military veterans. Kishwaukee Trail members shown at the library are (from left) Claudia Edwards, Pamela Franklin, Kathy Hartke, and Beth Hoover. For more information, email Kishwaukeetrail1961@gmail.com.
IN BRIEF
Coalition urges holiday shopping done locally
Government and business leaders in McHenry County encourage residents to give the gift of local this holiday season to help stores suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resume McHenry County last week launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses to the local economy and the benefits of shopping local. The partnership includes McHenry County, the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, and Visit McHenry County, in collaboration with
municipalities. The release reported small businesses account for 99.6 percent of the businesses in Illinois, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In McHenry County, 96 percent of all businesses are small businesses (employing 50 or fewer people). Studies indicate that for every $100 spent at an independent local store, $68 stays local, compared to $1 at a remote online store. People can visit visitmchenrycounty. com/Shop for a comprehensive directory of brick and mortar retail stores across the county. A directory of restaurants can be found at visitmchenrycounty.com/Eat-and-Drink.
PHOTO DETECTIVE FOLLOW-UP
17 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT Dec. 2-8, 2020
COMMUNITY
COURTESY PHOTO
Thanks to our generous and sharp-eyed readers, we have identified some of the smiling faces in the 1968 pumpkin photo from the Oct. 21 issue of The Woodstock Independent. Have your pencils and scorecards ready! Eileen Burg Powers wrote in to say that she is the girl with the short blond hair wearing a Marian sweatshirt. Her brother David is standing to the left behind her wearing a jacket with two white stripes on the sleeve. Eileen said that she and David grew pumpkins for many years for this contest, with seeds provided by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. Sheila and Larry Hansen contacted Maggie Crane at the library with word that the boy standing on the far right is Woodstock’s own retiring director of Public Works, Jeff Van Landuyt. Jeff himself verified that and said that the boy on his right is Bobby Hess. The Hansens believe the woman behind Bobby is Geraldine Rowlett. Jeff added an identification for the young man on the right wearing a knit cap with a pom-pom and kneeling behind a pumpkin as Gary or Greg Zanhle. Diane Fisk Wilson said that even though she lives in Texas, she still keeps up with The Independent. She picked out the boy on the right side of the photo in a white jacket and plaid shirt as Ricky Rowlett. Diane believes that the tallest boy with dark hair in the back row is Doug Thompson. She thought that the blond boy in front of Doug is Chris Dahm. Chris confirmed that when his sister Pam Moorhouse reached out to him. Chris agreed with the identification of Doug Thompson and thinks that the tall boy with dark hair who stands to Chris’ right and forward a bit is Brian Thompson. Thanks to Eileen, Sheila and Larry, Jeff, Diane, Chris, and Pam for your help! Maggie Crane is happy to receive additional identifications for this photo at her email address: MaggieC@ woodstockil.info. – Susan W. Murray
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
COMMUNITY
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
18
INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY VICKY LONG
Parade staples Santa and Mrs. Claus and Woodstock Willie greet spectators at the Woodstock Christmas Parade Nov. 29.
IN BRIEF
Girl Scouts recruiting ahead of cookie sales
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is conducting a recruitment drive right ahead of the annual cookie sales program, which will begin Dec. 14. Promoted as “the largest girl-led business in the world,” the cookie program teaches girls goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics, and people skills. During the coronavirus pandemic, the organization is using technology to introduce girls and their families to Girl Scout SnapShots, 20-minute virtual activities in English and Spanish for girls in kindergarten and first through third grades. Girls meet new friends online in real time while choosing between activities like building an edible campfire, making a robot friend, crafting a bird’s nest, or designing a fairy house. After participating in a SnapShot event,
interested families are invited to an online family meeting where they can choose to register their girl as a Girl Scout. Families can sign up for a SnapShot that fits their schedule at girlscoutsni.org/snapshot.
McHenry County courts changing procedures Some changes in operation of local courts have been made as safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release, effective Dec. 1: n All appearances in Traffic Court will be held remotely using Zoom, except for bench trials. Remote Traffic Court opens at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. The Zoom link is zoom.us/my/ mchenrycourtroom102. n Family Division matters will be heard remotely via Zoom. Additional information can be found at mchenrycountyil.
gov/county-government/departments-a-i/ circuit-clerk/virtual-courtroom-information. n Orders of protection may be addressed in person or remotely via Zoom. Information about obtaining an order are available at mchenrycountyil.gov/county-government/departments-a-i/circuit-clerk/civil-information/ orders-of-protection. Through Dec. 31, all cases assigned to Courtrooms 104, 301 and 303 set for status, plea, or hearing on a petition to revoke, are postponed to a new date that will be set by the court. Court dates may be accessed at the clerk’s website, caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov/pca.
County’s planning office changes work process A resurgence in COVID-19 cases has caused the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development to change
some procedures. According to a news release, staff will rotate shifts in the office and from home and are available for video meetings and will respond to phone messages and emails. Property owners and contractors should call before visiting the office, at 815-334-4560, extension 1. Most permit applications can be submitted online using application forms on the department’s website, mchenrycountyil.gov/county-government/ departments-j-z/planning-development/ applications-checklists. Applications can also be printed and left in the drop box in the lobby of the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. Persons preferring to submit their applications in person are encouraged to call the department to schedule an appointment.
GIVE THE HOLIDAY GIFT OF PATRIOTISM
left behind when the Wisconsinan Glacier retreated 12,000 years ago. Large oaks grow within a few feet of the pavement. An original settler’s cabin is still part of a modern home. Nearly 10 years ago, 21 residents along this road came together with The Land Conservancy and the village of Bull Valley to prevent everything precious about the road from being destroyed. The road would have been widened, straightened and flattened – all trees removed from within 15 feet of the pavement. Instead, the residents placed permanent restrictions on their properties – Natural Heritage Corridor Easements – that the village and TLC hold jointly, and together these landowners prevented the destruction of this unique corridor through history. Thank you, local food farmers! The food we buy at the store often travels hundreds or thousands of miles to get there. Lettuce may have been shipped from California, bananas from Central America, apple juice from China. In McHenry County, we are fortunate to have a large number of farmers markets and farm stands. When I see productive
farmland in McHenry County raising crops and livestock, I am thankful to live in an area with ideal soils and climate where we could be “food independent” if we needed to be. We are also fortunate that the Woodstock Farmers Market is held every Saturday through Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 12015 Country Club Road, Woodstock, and every-other Saturday through March. Check the website, woodstockfarmersmarket.org for specific dates. There is so much to be thankful for. A crunchy pile of leaves. The first snowflake on your tongue. Bears chasing each other across the crisp, clear night sky. Anne Frank said it well: “I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy.” Lisa Haderlein is executive director of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County and a regular columnist for The Independent.
MASKS ON, WOODSTOCK!
SEND YOUR PHOTO TO THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
“unwrapping the past” Do you have an American Revolutionary Patriot in your family tree? 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.
When we stopped by Cesaroni’s Café and Deli, we found (from left) Brad Cesaroni, Everley Simon, and Rainey Lesser “masked up” to help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. The Independent wants you to join your neighbors by sending in a photo of members of your family, club, office, or other group wearing your masks. Please email it to woodstock4all@thewoodstockindependent.com. We’re all in this together, Woodstock.
SHOW OFF YOUR MASKS! The
Woodstock
I NDEPENDENT
#woodstock4all
thewoodstockindependent.com
COMMUNITY
butterflies depend on oaks. Oaks are long-lived – many oaks will live 200 to 300 years if they are growing in a healthy habitat with minimal invasive species to compete for light and nutrients. Those old-growth trees provide more than beauty and habitat; they also absorb and store impressive amounts of carbon each year, helping to mitigate climate change. Thank you, city trees! These workhorses are busy all day long filtering pollution from the air, slowing stormwater run-off, reducing noise, and providing shade and shelter for birds and people alike. Trees reduce stress – something we all seem to need – and help improve our health (physical and mental). A mature tree will increase the market value of your home by up to $2,000. Thank you, Fleming Road residents! A drive along Fleming Road is a trip through the region’s cultural and geological history. The rise and fall, twists and turns of the road trace the route that Native Americans and early European colonists followed through the area of kettles and hills
Dec. 2-8, 2020
The winter holiday season is a natural time to reflect on those things for which we are thankful. At the top of most people’s list are family, friends, and health. Those are quickly followed on my list by a deep appreciation of all that the land provides every day. Thank you, McHenry County’s oaks and hickories! Two-hundred years ago, oaks Lisa covered 40 perHaderlein cent of the local The Nature of landscape. While Things their numbers are reduced to just 4 percent of the land, oaks still define the character and beauty of much of the county. Oaks serve as keystone species for the local ecosystem. A wide diversity of birds, mammals, insects, and native plants need what only oaks and hickories can provide. Species like the red-headed woodpecker, great-horned owl, flying squirrels and hundreds of species of moths and
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
Giving thanks for the people, trees, and land
19
Dec. 2-8, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
20
Happenings
•••PLEASE CHECK WITH SPONSORS OR VENUES ABOUT CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS OF EVENTS•••
calendar
ONGOING
CHRISTMAS TREE WALK
Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. Dec. 4 through 23 Friday - Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday 5 to 8 p.m.
3 THURSDAY COMMUNITY
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 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.
CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER
Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Noon 127 E. Calhoun St.
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 TUESDAY
INTERVIEW VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
McHenry Co. Workforce Center
WINTER MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
Woodstock City Hall 121 W. Calhoun St. 7 p.m.
17 THURSDAY
13 SUNDAY
19 SATURDAY
WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING
McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org
Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. 2 and 5 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com
woodstockoperahouse.com
McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 11900 Country Club Road 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org
HISPANIC CONNECTIONS MEETING
YONDER PRAIRIE WORKDAY 1150 S. Rose Farm Road 9 a.m. to noon conservemc.org
STRESS MANAGEMENT VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
CLARA’S DREAM - A ONE HOUR NUTCRACKER
McHenry Co. Workforce Center 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit Mchenrycountyworkforce. com to register.
Woodstock Opera House
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
Resurrection Catholic Church
121 Van Buren St. 2 and 5 p.m. Limited tickets, $27 woodstockoperahouse.com
20 SUNDAY YONDER PRAIRIE WORKDAY 1150 S. Rose Farm Road 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. conservemc.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
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. online ■ 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
■ The Woodstock High School athletic department invited all former wrestlers to an upcoming wrestling meet to honor coach Jim Patton on his 300th team victory. ■ The McHenry County Sheriff’s Police arrested numerous county residents on drug-related charges after a yearlong undercover operation.
25 years ago – 1995
■ Ground was broken for a medical office building on Memorial Medical Center’s Doty Road campus. ■ The WHS varsity girls basketball team enjoyed a 5-0 record. Leading scorers were Lisa Strout and Stephanie Fox.
20 years ago – 2000
■ The Woodstock City Council voted unanimously to assemble a volunteer task force to aid in the redevelopment of the Die Cast site. ■ Five WHS students – Missy Dreffin, Michael Etheridge, Paul Kulisek, Todd McDowell, and Benjamin Phillips – received the Youth Excellence Award for Community Leadership from Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood.
15 years ago – 2005
■ Woodstock Musical Theatre Company was presenting “A Christmas Story,” starring Ryan Lammers as Ralphie Parker. Rachel Shinabarger played Esther Jane. The production was directed by Timothy Curtis and produced by Kathie Comella. ■ The city of Woodstock’s Environmental Commission met for the first time. “The main thing from a goal standpoint is to develop an environmental plan,” said commission member Lenore Beyer Clow, who represented The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Marlene Frisbie represented the McHenry County Defenders. Other members on the seven-member commission were Scott Hopkins, Scott Kuykendall, Bill Jordan, John Nelson, and Barbara Tipton, all of Woodstock.
10 years ago – 2010
■ Longtime Woodstock resident Charie Zanck, chief executive officer of American Community Bank, was named a Champion of Youth for her service to the community’s children through the Challenger Learning Center for Science & Technology. The Blackhawk Council
21 of Boys Scouts of America made the award. ■ Ryder’s Woods, a city-owned nature preserve, underwent a restoration during which volunteers removed invasive brush such as honeysuckle and buckthorn.
5 years ago – 2015
■ Joann and Jason Randall, owners of Animal Hospital of Woodstock, were providing free veterinary medical care for seven K-9 dogs from local police departments. “We wanted to give back to the community, and this was an opportunity for us to do something for the police department,” Joann Randall said. ■ Second- through fifth-grade students at Olson Elementary School took a virtual field trip to see national monuments, historical sites, and Mars with the help of the pioneer Expedition program created and offered by Google. Olson was one of a few schools in the Rockford-Elgin area chosen to participate. ■ The annual Lighting of the Square brought about 2,000 people to the Square. Santa Claus and Miss Woodstock 2015 Nora Brown flipped an oversized switch made to appear to activate lights throughout the Square. A community choir directed by WHS choral teacher Paul Rausch led the public singalong of holiday songs.
1 year ago – 2019
■ The city of Woodstock created a new website (Woodstockcourthouse. org) and a four-page brochure to market the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House to prospective tenants and operators. “We’ll move forward whether or not we fill it to capacity,” said Darrell Moore, city planner. ■ The annual Woodstock Lighting of the Square attracted a very large crowd the night after Thanksgiving. For the second consecutive year, the lights were colorful, a departure from the white lights that had been the tradition for decades. Some folks preferred the colored lights; others would have chosen white. ■ Your Sister’s Tomato, operator of two successful food trucks in Woodstock for four years, was set to open a sit-down restaurant on Irving Avenue. Linda Foss and Tammie Hinchee, owners, had built their business on homemade, wood-fired pizza.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
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 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, December 2, 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, December 2, 2020)L11113
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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:
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Sports
‘Every new day you have the opportunity to change’
Educator Rausch achieves fitness goals in his retirement
maintained for about five months now. “That’s almost a block of salt or six gallons of milk that I’m not schlepping around,” said Rausch.
By Sandy Kucharski
SPORTS
NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
A common stereotype is for retirees to seek leisure and relaxation, but the sedentary lifestyle was not on Paul Rausch’s radar when he stepped down from his 33-year career as the choral director at Woodstock High School in 2017. Instead, he got right to work getting in shape. After losing nearly 50 pounds and rebuilding muscle through disciplined weightlifting, he has rediscovered his love of running and said, “I’m in better shape now then when I was in my 20s.”
Cameras don’t lie
Always an active person, Rausch said energy was never a problem. But something was holding him back. A sobering look at his image in current photos revealed the truth. “I was overweight,” he said. “It was not the mental image I had of myself.” Accepting that realization, Rausch committed to getting back in shape, starting by attacking weight loss. He reached out to an acquaintance who he recalled had achieved significant weight loss. He learned it involved the Optavia Diet, a plan that combines prepackaged food, meal logs, recipes, and coaching to target and reduce fat. He chose Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, as his start date, and by June he had achieved his weight loss goals. Weighing 208 at his heaviest, he dropped to 161, a weight he has
COURTESY PHOTOS
Former Woodstock High School choral director Paul Rausch (above) pictured before he embarked on his fitness journey. Rausch (right) sports a Superman physique while holding his grandson, Callihan.
He’s seen direct health benefits, including improved cholesterol numbers, reduction in blood pressure, and elimination of reliance on a sleep apnea machine. Finding the positive in a negative situation, he said the limitations of the pandemic were actually beneficial by eliminating the temptation of dining out. See FITNESS GOALS Next Page
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Rausch’s affinity for running began back in high school. An accomplished track and field athlete, he was the first in his school to qualify for state in all three relay events (100-, 400- and 800-yard relays) as well as the 300-yard hurdles.
- Paul Rausch
The power within
Always a very positive person, Rausch has a mantra for success, something he often told his students, advice that was pertinent whether they had a bad semester grade or found themselves going
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He continued with rigorous workouts into his 20s and, in retrospect, he realized that soldiering through calf pain caused by jumping rope created a long-term problem. Scar tissue caused his calves to seize up with vigorous work such as running. The weight he’d added over the years caused additional stress and pain, so he gave up his first love.
down the wrong path in life. “Every day you can start again,” he said. “You do not have to be defined by what you did in the past. Every new day you have the opportunity to change.” The attitude lends itself well to health and fitness goals. “Bit by bit, start the journey,” he said. “When there’s a time you stop, tomorrow get back on. It’s never too late to make a change.” He also found inspiration in a book, “Younger Next Year,” by Chris Crowley which talks about healthy habits. “I plan to be active into my 80s,” said Rausch, who admits that retirement has afforded him more time to pursue his goals. Good health is paramount to his retirement goals as he said there are a lot of things he wants to do that require activity from ambitious hikes to enjoying his grandchildren. Referring to the photo of him holding grandson Callihan, he said: “That little sweetheart is a big reason I want to be around for a long time.”
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‘Every day you can start again. You do not have to be defined by what you did in the past.”
His recent weight loss, as well as learning to listen to his body and not push through pain, has allowed him to successfully add running back into his fitness regime. On Nov. 21, he posted his accomplishment to Facebook: “Excited to hit a milestone today that I never thought I’d be able to get to. I ran 5K in under 30 minutes, actually 29:35, then continued and ran a total of 5 miles in 49:47.” Driven by his recent success, Rausch has committed to do the Lands End to John O’Groats Virtual Run/Walk, which entails logging 874 miles of running/walking in a year. With the support and encouragement from a couple of friends who joined him to participate as a team, he has already logged more than 50 miles since the Nov. 24 start date.
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If you’re looking for the purrfect pair of kittens, siblings Pinto and Lima are for you! These adorable brothers and their three siblings were born in foster care. When they were old enough, they came to Helping Paws Animal Shelter. This bonded pair is looking to stick together while finding their forever home. Pinto and Lima are two peas in a pod; they enjoy exploring, playing, and napping together. If you are interested in adding a sweet, fun, and lively pair to your home, contact the shelter and set up a visit with Pinto and Lima!
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