cOmmunity

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY

By Tricia Carzoli

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

With Groundhog Days 2021 having come to an end, and Willie bringing good news in anticipation of an early spring, the city of Woodstock and the festival committee are able to put their booties away and reflect on the many successes of the season.

Despite Mayor Brian Sager’s musing that Woodstock Willie emerged, “a bit grumpily” at the Feb. 2 prognostication, Groundhog Days chairman Rick Bellairs felt the event was a success.

“Overall, I think it went very well,” Bellairs said of this year’s scaled-back celebrations because of COVID-19. “People seemed to do a really good job respecting distance, and I’m really happy with the crowd size.”

An estimated 200 to 300 people gathered with bated breath, awaiting the news that would come at 7:07 a.m. on Groundhog Day – Woodstock Willie did not see his shadow, symbolically ringing in an early spring.

That was good news for Bradley Blucher and Heather Sutton, formerly of Hawaii, who had come up from Kentucky to enjoy Groundhog Days.

“We are the world’s biggest ‘Groundhog Day’ fans,” Blucher said. “And I mean that. There are no bigger fans out there.”

Though that statement might be contested, their excitement as they got engaged on the bandstand just after the prognostication would not be.

“We didn’t want to take anything away from Willie,” Blucher explained, “but to be up there next to Willie and Rick and the mayor – it was perfect.”

Blucher and Sutton stayed in the Magnolia Suite at Cherry Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast and had a “spectacular view of the street, just like [Bill] Murray did,” he said.

Sutton said yes, witnessed by their two dogs, who they brought to the prognostication. The couple said the dogs watch the movie on repeat all day See GROUNDHOG, page 16

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

By Tricia Carzoli

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

For 16 years, Mayor Brian Sager has presided over the pinnacle event of the Groundhog Days celebrations – the weather prognostication. This year, he took some time to reflect on what will be his last time as mayor knocking on the door of Woodstock’s favorite rodent.

“Every year, we welcome ‘friends and neighbors from near and far’ – and it is so true,” Sager said as he reflected on those many years of prognostications. “It is at the very heart of our celebration.

He recalled how many people have come from miles away to attend the festivities.

“I think Groundhog Day is a strong tradition – and a unique tradition,” he said. “I am surprised – as I think many are – that the movie has been a cult classic, not only here in the United States, but also around the world.”

Sager said that when he had the opportunity to travel, “Groundhog Day” was a great ice-breaker. “People really have the ability to visualize our city because of this movie,” he explained.

Sager served on the City Council in the early 1990s and was heavily involved as the liaison for the city and local businesses with the movie production company. As a supporter of the filming, he put his money where his vote was and attended early-morning meetings between the producers and business owners to ensure problems were addressed and filming ran See MAYOR, page 17

long when the couple are at work.

“Everything about this exceeded our expectations,” Blucher said. “Sometimes you set yourself up for disappointment, but this didn’t disappoint. Rick and the mayor were wonderful to us, and George and Laurie [Miarecki, owners of the Cherry Tree] went above and beyond.

“We ate at what was the Tip Top Café – now La Placita – where Phil Connors sat. It has been fantastic. We are looking forward to coming again.”

Bellairs said he had heard of visitors form Detroit, Duluth, Milwaukee, and Nashville, and Casting Whimsy owner Paula Aitken reported she heard many out-of-towners heading to local restaurants after the prognostication.

While Casting Whimsy did not see but a few extra customers, some local businesses experienced an uptick in sales – which was good.

“We had [souvenir] T-shirts, hats and mugs,” Read Between the Lynes manager Sophie Juhlin said, “and we sold through a lot.. … We did really well.”

Illinois State Sen. Craig Wilcox, owner of The Thoughtfulness Shop and Little Bow Peeps Shop with his wife, opened early at 6 a.m., closed for the prognostication, then quickly reopened.

“We sold a lot of special Groundhog Day shirts,” Wilcox said. “We did most of our business between 6:30 and 8:30 that morning. We sold a lot of groundhog stuffed animals, buttons, and shirts.”

One customer even ordered a shirt from the United Kingdom, he said.

Groundhog Day was watched internationally, too, thanks to Real Woodstock’s livestream of the ceremonies.

Michael Kuehn and Silke Goessling of Berlin, Germany spent their wedding anniversary in Woodstock last year, and were thankful to be able to watch the prognostication live last week.

“It was nice to see the now very familiar square [via live stream], however, live is the best,” Kuehn said in a text. “We were so lucky to be able to do it before corona[virus]. Nevertheless, the advantage of the streaming of the event was that due to the time shift, we could do Punxatawney and Woodstock. ... Cool joining again.”

The Real Woodstock livestream was also viewed by Chris Clemente in New York. Clemente was a repeat visitor Continued on NEXT page

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

Fulfilling the commitment to remember hospitalized veterans, these Woodstock VFW Auxiliary members are ready for their monthly trip to Downey Veteran Administration Hospital in Lake County, Illinois in 1966. Pictured, from left: Yvonne Wolff, Auxiliary President Helen Kyle, and Marge Thiede.

The McHenry County Historical Society is working with Visit McHenry County to update its digital, interactive barn quilt map and to create a printed brochure to accompany it. If you wish to participate or know a barn owner who might, please call the McHenry County Historical Society at 815-923-2267 or email us at info@mchenrycountyhistory.org.

to the Groundhog Days festivities before COVID-19. He and his family watched the livestream as an alternative to making the trip this year.

“I loved it,” he said. “It was definitely like I was part of the crowd. And it was great remembering the speeches and music. The crowd was eager and happy.”

Bellairs said he was thankful for the volunteers who came together to make this year’s festival happen. He noted two committee members – Pam Moorhouse and Maggie Crane – celebrated 25 years of service to the event.

Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee is a nonprofit, and most events are free or low-cost, thanks to several business sponsors, along with Real Woodstock, the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the city staff.

Bellairs said that if it weren’t for all of the organizations pitching in, Groundhog Days wouldn’t have been as successful as it has been over the years.

“Next year,” he said, “we hope to be bigger and better than ever.” smoothly, but also so that the businesses were able to conduct business and generate income.

That boots-on-the-ground experience would eventually come full circle as he watched the Groundhog Days festival grow over the past 27 years.

“The mayor traditionally presides over the prognostication on behalf of the ‘Inner Square,’” Sager explained. “And this has been a real pleasure and a joy to be a part of – it is something I look forward to every year.”

He credits three elements as being essential to the success of the longstanding tradition.

First, he said, many people are homebound after the holidays, and there is nothing else to do, which makes the winter festival the perfect outing.

Second, he believes the event has been family friendly, noting the prognostication, the chili cook-off, the trivia night, and the walking tour of movie filming sites around town.

And third, he said he felt that the community had embraced the tradition – crazy, though it might be.

“It is just a great time to have fun with this, and reflect on the best lessons from the movie,” he said. “It is a time to just plain have fun.”

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“And sometimes the groundhog was in an ill mood. Well, you saw him this year. And there have been times when the groundhog was downright grouchy – like this year.” Groundhogs are notoriously moody, Szafran observed. “They are not nice,” he said. “The crowd is always full of energy, and it is always great to be here, but when people come up in line and ask me if they can pet him – I look at them and say, no! You do not want to pet a groundhog – THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT Mark Szafran of Animal Rentals, who handles the groundhog for the Feb. 2 you don’t even want to get near it out in the wild.” This year Szafran brought a 3-year-old animal who was fairly reluctant to come out of his stump – something Sager has grown accustomed to. Feb. 10-16, 2021 ceremony, has been as much of a fixture “This is why we need Mark,” the at the prognostication as the mayor. He mayor said. said one memory that wouldn’t escape Sager also recalled a mild day when his memory was when the groundhog he had leaned in to listen to the groundnearly got away. hog, and Willie began pawing at the “Just before the Prognostication, the mayor’s face and ear. groundhog escaped,” Szafran said. Sager recalled the incident clearly. “The groundhog almost got to the edge of the gazebo,” the mayor said, ‘but Mark grabbed him in time.” The two men also had similar memo“I was surprised and taken aback,” he said, “but he was surprisingly gentle.” Perhaps the fondest memories the mayor will take with him are of the crowds that come, year after year, hoisting the celebration into the annals of COMMUNITY ries of the sometimes less-than-conge- Feel good about looking great.Woodstock history on the shoulders of a Tue. - 01/19/2021 - 1:14:45 PM 3159138207Masks required Contactless check-in Feel good about looking great. Masks required BUFFALO GROVE DEER PARK 20530 N. Rand Rd. (Next to Starbucks) GRAYSLAKE 823 Center St. (Near Butera) GURNEE 6695 Grand Ave. (Near Mariano’s) Now Open! NEW Feel good about looking great. Masks required nial rodents. “I can remember when it was cold – very cold outside,” Sager reminisced. movie that has surpassed all odds and become a classic that has forever captured the heart of the city. Contactless check-in Rigorous sanitization ISLAND LAKE 510 C. Auburn Dr. (Next to Subway & Near McDonald’s and Walgreens) LAKE ZURICH 716 S. Rand Rd. (Near Oberweis Dairy and Walmart) Contactless check-in Kid/Senior Haircut Adult Haircut OFFER EXPIRES: 3/31/21 $799 Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer. No copies. Taxes may apply. Valid at locations listed on side 2. Gurnee Salon by Mariano's on Grand Ave. is Under New Management! Tue. - 01/19/2021 - 1:14:45 PM 3159138207 Kid/Senior Haircut OFFER EXPIRES: 3/31/21 $799 Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer. No copies. Taxes may apply. 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Masks required Contactless check-in Rigorous sanitization Frequent hand-washing Temperature Checks on Employees Disinfect Surfaces Sneeze Guard greatclips.com | jobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com BUFFALO GROVE 1543 Deerfield Parkway (Near Woodman’s & Panera Bread) DEER PARK 20530 N. Rand Rd. (Next to Starbucks) GRAYSLAKE 823 Center St. (Near Butera) GURNEE 6695 Grand Ave. (Near Mariano’s) ISLAND LAKE 510 C. Auburn Dr. (Next to Subway & Near McDonald’s and Walgreens) LAKE ZURICH 716 S. Rand Rd. (Near Oberweis Dairy and Walmart) LAKE ZURICH 719 W. Main St. (Rt. 12 & 22, Near TJ Maxx) McHENRY 1778 N. Richmond Rd. (Near Stock & Field) McHENRY 3822 Charles J. Miller Rd. (Near BP Gas) PALATINE 109 N. Northwest Hwy. (Near Popeyes and Athletico) RIVER GROVE 8251 W. Belmont Ave. (Near Goody’s and Dunkin Donuts) ROSEMONT/DES PLAINES Touhy & Mannheim Rds. (Next to Target) ROUND LAKE 736 N. Fairfield Rd. (Next to CVS) WAUCONDA 563 W. Liberty (Rt. 12 & 176, Near McDonald’s & Jewel) WOODSTOCK 11607 Catalpa Lane (Across Street From Walmart & Menards) WHEELING 263 E. Dundee Rd. (Near Fresh Farms) WISCONSIN LOCATION LAKE GENEVA 654 N. Edwards Blvd. (Located in front of Target and by Home Depot) All Great Clips Now Open! NEW CP SIDE 2 Frequent hand-washing Temperature Checks on Employees Disinfect Surfaces Sneeze Guard greatclips.com | jobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.comCP SIDE 2 Rigorous sanitization Frequent hand-washing Temperature Checks on Employees Disinfect Surfaces Sneeze Guard greatclips.com | jobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com LAKE ZURICH 719 W. Main St. (Rt. 12 & 22, Near TJ Maxx) McHENRY 1778 N. Richmond Rd. (Near Stock & Field) McHENRY 3822 Charles J. Miller Rd. (Near BP Gas) PALATINE 109 N. Northwest Hwy. (Near Popeyes and Athletico) RIVER GROVE 8251 W. Belmont Ave. (Near Goody’s and Dunkin Donuts) ROSEMONT/DES PLAINES ROUND LAKE 736 N. Fairfield Rd. (Next to CVS) WAUCONDA 563 W. Liberty (Rt. 12 & 176, Near McDonald’s & Jewel) WOODSTOCK 11607 Catalpa Lane (Across Street From Walmart & Menards) WHEELING 263 E. Dundee Rd. (Near Fresh Farms) WISCONSIN LOCATION LAKE GENEVA 654 N. Edwards Blvd. (Located in front of Target and by Home Depot) CP SIDE 2 Rigorous sanitization Frequent hand-washing Temperature Checks on Employees Disinfect Surfaces Sneeze Guard greatclips.com | jobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com

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Elizabeth Kessler, executive director of the McHenry County Conservation District since 2006, has received the Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

According to a news release, the award honors people whose service has created awareness of the importance of parks and recreation among peers and in the Elizabeth community they Kessler serve.

The district now protects more than 25,600 acres and preserves the water, wildlife, and way of life in McHenry County. During her tenure, she has overseen a successful $73 million voter-approved referendum, the opening of 14 sites with public access and outdoor amenities, the addition of 12 miles of regional trails, the welcoming of more than a million annual site visitors, and the opening of the Lost Valley Visitor Center.

She currently is an adviser to the McHenry County Conservation Foundation, sits on the board of Visit McHenry County, and serves as chairwoman of Chicago Wilderness, a regional alliance of more than 250 federal, state, and local organizations and businesses.

Free tax assistance and e-filing of federal and state returns for qualified individuals is being offered through April 14 with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic at McHenry County College.

People may meet with tax preparers in person at the college, 8900 U.S. 14, Crystal Lake, or drop off their returns to get them back later.

Walk-in hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Room B166/167. People should use the south entrance. Masks must be worn.

To use the remote drop-off, email vita@mchenry.edu to receive tax intake sheets. Taxpayers may mail information back to MCC via USPS or deposit information in a locked drop box inside the vestibule marked “VITA.”

The VITA clinic prepares tax returns for individuals or households with incomes less than $65,000.

COME SEE OUR LARGE INVENTORY OF STOCK CARPET ROLLS READY FOR IMMEDIATE INSTALL!

Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4 Sundays by appointment only Contractors Welcome! 2020 S. Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47) Woodstock, IL 815-334-5985

Fact-paced winter hikes in Woodstock and Marengo are among a series of outdoor activities in February and March at various sites of the McHenry County Conservation District.

Brookdale in Woodstock will be the site of a hike from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 2.

The series will kick off with a hike from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at Coral Woods in Marengo and end with a hike from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, as Marengo Ridge.

Registration is required and is free for McHenry County residents.

The route will include breaks that will include information about the hiking site.

A February diaper drive to support The Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois is being sponsored for the fourth year by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate.

Starck has two offices in Woodstock where people can drop off donations: 112 Cass St. or 1710 S. Eastwood Drive. Pickup service also is available by calling 815-338-7111 or 815-338-3850.

According to a news release, previous diaper drives have delivered more than 20,000 diapers plus cash donations to support the cause. More than 5 million low-income families with babies and toddlers – plus the disabled and elderly – count on diaper banks across the U.S. for help in obtaining a regular supply of diapers.

A virtual town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, for McHenry County citizens to get questions answered about the county’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The town hall meeting, which will feature officials from the health department and county government, will be streamed on the Facebook pages of county government (facebook. com/McHenryCountyGov) and the health department (facebook.com/ McHenryCoHealth).

McHenry County recently entered Phase 1B of the state vaccination plan, which includes seniors age 65 and older, teachers, and other school personnel.

Inoculations depend on availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.50 IN THE BAG The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com A&E Festival won’t be the same, but Groundhog Days comingPAGE 11 BUSINESS ‘Family feel’ to businesses sharing building on SquarePAGE 13 COMMUNITY New retreat serving ‘pretty large community of addiction’ PAGE 17 Obituaries 4 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 9 a&e 11 business 13 cOmmunity 17 calendar 24 classified 26 puzzles 28 public nOtices 29 spOrts 30 INDEX ‘Time to try something new’ Employment scam ‘significant’ See SCHOOLS, Page 2 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Months after a hybrid learning plan was adopted – but never implemented – to get students back into the classrooms of Woodstock School District 200, that proposal is being dusted off for use starting Feb. 1.Some small changes are being made to the plan, but the idea is the same to require masks and social distancing to make school buildings as safe as possible for those students who want to return to in-class instruction. Board of Education members last week heard from several parents who were concerned that remote learning was ineffective and damaging to students’ mental health. “They’re regressing significantly,” one parent wrote in an email that was read at the board meeting. “Their mental health is in need of intervention,” wrote another. Board member Michelle Bidwell, a psychologist, agreed.“I’ve become increasing concerned with what I’m seeing,” she said. D-200 prepares for in-class instruction for first time this school year By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM “Here is your new Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) prepaid debit card issued by Key Bank,” says the letter attached to the plastic card.“Convenient access to your funds.” Scores of people in the Woodstock area have received those debt cards since summer as part of a massive unemployment scam that has involved at least 350,000 residents of Illinois, state officials say.Woodstock police have received a “significant” number of reports on employment fraud, Police Chief John Lieb said. In the two weeks he was gone over the holidays, 18 reports came in. “We go ahead and take the report and give them a report number.,” Lieb said last week. “We can’t take it any further.”That’s because IDES has denied local police access to information on the state’s action on fraud complaints. “They want to conduct their own investigations,” Lieb said. “We as the Woodstock Police Department are hampered for the most part.” After taking the complaint, local INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVERMaija Steele of Maija’s Family Foods makes a sale Saturday during the Farmers Market at the McHenry County Fairgrounds. The winter market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month, but will be open Jan. 30. See FRAUD, Page 2 INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock Jan. 20-26, 2021 Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.50 DOG WITH EVERYTHING The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com COMMUNITY Woodstock was extra special for ‘Groundhog Day’ filmingPAGE 17 A&E Local watercolor artist will exhibit work in CaliforniaPAGE 11 BUSINESS Home sales up, prices rise as market defies virus concernsPAGE 13 Obituaries 4 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 9 a&e 11 business 13 cOmmunity 17 calendar 20 classified 22 puzzles 24 public nOtices 25 spOrts 26 INDEX Luxury ride, or economy? Business loans taken for grants See ROUTE 47, Page 2 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Members of the Woodstock City Council hope to give motorists a Cadillac experience when they travel what could be a well-lighted, nicely landscaped boulevard that is now Route 47 through the city.But unless they come up with an additional $3 million, they might have to settle for a fully loaded Chevy. The state’s $58 million project to widen and improve the highway from U.S. 14 to Route 120 will be given the Illinois Department of Transportation’s bare-bones treatment unless the city pitches in to upgrade lighting, landscaping, and signage. The city had planned to spend about $3 million for the work, but City Manager Roscoe Stelford told the council last week that the desired enhancements could cost as much as $6.4 million.“We all know the cost question is out there,” Mayor Brian Sager said. “There are times we have to take risks, and there are times we don’t want to take risks. … [But] this is a once-in-a-lifetime Council considers Route 47 project enhancements – and their costs By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Converting 56 loans to grants for small businesses in Woodstock will cost the city $280,000.That was the decision of the City Council last week, ending more than a month of discussion about the emergency loan program that was created last spring to help local businesses cope with the effects of COVID-19. More than a quarter of the $5,000 loans went to bars and restaurants to help with payroll, rent, and other expenses at a time when a statewide “shelter in place” order significantly reduced their revenue.Council members discussed setting conditions for forgiving the loans over time – such as a guarantee to remain in the community for a year or two. “I trust and believe the majority of them will do just that,” Mayor Brian Sager said.But the council chose not to complicate the transaction.“I’m looking for something really simple,” said Councilman Darren Flynn, himself a downtown business owner, but one who did not obtain a loan. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER“Ketchup Katie” Ferguson of Woodstock and fellow hotdogger Zach “N Cheese” Chatham show off the 27-foot Oscar Mayer Wienermobile vehicle while in town last week. Another photo on Page 19. See LOANS, Page 3 INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2021 Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.50 GROUNDHOG GROUPIES The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 Thewoodstock independent.com SCHOOLS Honor Society students do ‘amazing things’ as projects PAGE 9 A&E Clayworkers Guild extends annual sale in Old Courthouse PAGE 11 BUSINESS Downtown boutique closes its storefront on the Square PAGE 13 Obituaries 3-4 OpiniOn 6 schOOls 9 a&e 11 business 13 cOmmunity 15 calendar 20 classified 22 puzzles 24 public nOtices 25 spOrts 26 INDEX Want vaccine? Get in line Not all return to D-200 classrooms See VACCINE, Page 2 By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Woodstock North High School will be one of two primary points of distribution for vaccinating McHenry County educators against COVID-19. But the sluggish rate of local vaccinations means it will be at least the third or fourth week of February – depending on availability – before teachers and many others in Phase 1B begin to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. More than 25,000 people 65 and older had registered for the vaccine by the middle of last week, the McHenry County Department of Health reported, and that number was expected to grow substantially before they actually get the first of two shots in the inoculation. The county has more than 44,000 residents in that age group, health officials said. The county department was using Jewel/Osco pharmacies in Huntley to schedule 1B vaccinations, and both Mercy and Northwestern hospital systems have begun to vaccinate seniors. Seniors can enroll, but county still vaccinating priority 1A group By Larry Lough LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM About 40 percent of students in Woodstock School District 200 were expected to continue remote learning from home as in-class instruction resumed this week for the first time since March. Superintendent Mike Moan said 60 percent would have their children in the hybrid learning program that divides their days or weeks between inschool classes and remote learning. Moan said the faculty and staff had worked hard to prepare for in-school classes, which the Board of Education decided in mid-January would begin Feb. 1 after guidance by local health officials had “evolved.” going to happen Monday,” Moan told the board at its meeting last week. “... I feel incredibly confident in the staff and the job they’re going to do on Monday; I really do.” D-200 students have not been in school buildings since COVID-19 concerns surfaced in March. They continued remote learning from home when this school year started Aug. 17. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI Huntley residents Niki White and Paige Schlotman pose for a selfie with Woodstock WIllie during Friday’s Awakening of the Groundhog to kick off the Groundhog Days festival. Stories and photos start on Page 15. INDEPENDENT TheWoodstock Feb. 3-9, 2021 We Are Woodstock! 3 MONTHS FREE Call or email for details FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS SUBSCRIBE TODAY! As a small business we need you more than ever! Please consider supporting your local newspaper. a survey of parents indicated about “I feel incredibly good about what’s See SCHOOLS, Page 3 Your news, your business, your community

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

By Cynthia Kanner

We hope the following helps to answer questions you may have or consider things you haven’t thought of before! Recycling can be confusing … so please enjoy these recycling and other green tips.

n Don’t plastic bag your recycling. Use a paper bag or leave it loose n Earth911. com is a great resource to find responsible disposal options, i.e., earth911.com/ home-garden/ recycling-plastic-utensils/ n Cut back on meat or buy locally – reduces methane and C02 emissions n Keep black plastics out of your recycling bin n Download Ecosia Google extension to use as a search engine; every 47 searches funds the planting of one tree n Attach caps back to bottles when recycling; the caps are too small to otherwise be sorted n Keep soft plastics out of your recycling bin n Keep shredded paper out of your recycling bin; most animal shelters accept it n Keep pizza boxes out of the recycling bin; recycle the top, if clean, and compost or throw away the greasy bottom n Compost: 24 percent of waste in landfills is food, and food can’t break down properly in a landfill because of the lack of oxygen, which results in methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more harmful than CO2 n Skip the glitter – glitter is tiny bits of microplastic n Make a rain barrel n Replace sponges with washable dish rags n Properly storing produce

Store like fresh flowers (cut bottom and keep in water): asparagus, celery, carrots, most herbs

Store at room temp: tomatoes, onions, unripe avocados, fresh basil, apples

Limp celery can be rejuvenated by cutting off the bottom and keeping it in water for a few hours n Amazon packaging

Send a chat to customer service saying you would like all future shipments to be plastic free and minimally packaged; they make a note on your account for future shipments.

Select the “frustration free” packaging.

Avoid boxes that are three times the size of your item, stuffed with too much filler, by selecting no-rush shipping; when it’s rushed, packers grab the next box available that the item fits in instead of sizing it out

Consolidate your orders instead of placing multiple separate orders throughout the week n Check the Green Drinks Facebook page for a great talk by Jennifer Jarland from Kane County recycling!

If you’re interested in waste reduction and/or recycling, join one or both of our Action Teams! mcdef.org/ about-us/committees.

The Green Scene

Cynthia Kanner is executive director of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and a columnist for The Independent.

Hi, I’m Bennet! I am a hound mix available for adoption at Helping Paws Animal Shelter. I’m a very attentive and smart boy, but most of all I’m just a big loveable goofball. My fun personality would fit perfectly in an active household for I love to run around and play. I’m a big people person, so I enjoy hanging around my human friends and giving them lots of kisses! I also seem to do well with other dogs! If I sound like a good fit for your family, contact the shelter to set up an appointment to visit me. I cannot wait to light up a home with my big heart and silly personality!