Woodstock Independent 5/6/2020 by Woodstock Independent

The

Woodstock

I NDEPENDENT

May 6-12, 2020

Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00

Fire district moves cautiously Funds from 2019 referendum coming for financial rescue By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

At the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year next spring, the budget for the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District projects a surplus of $455,000. And with any luck, the $600,000 line-of-credit loan the WFRD Board of

A&E

Movie theater still closed, but you can get your popcorn fix PAGE 10

SCHOOLS

Trustees approved this spring will be the last time the district has to borrow money to meet the payroll. “That’s the first sign we’re on the way to financial health,” Chief Mike Hill said last week. For that, the district can thank voters who last year passed a referendum, with nearly 65 percent approval,

to increase the WFRD tax rate by 20 percent. While that seems like a lot, Hill is eager to point out that the WFRD rate is only a small part – about 1.5 percent – of the property tax bill for local homeowners and businesses. The increase means that the 2020

See WFRD, Page 2

THIS IS NOT A STICK-UP

Private schools adapting with technology while school’s out PAGE 8

MARKETPLACE

Small businesses relying on government payroll program

PAGE 12

INDEX Obituaries

Opinion

Schools

A&E

Marketplace

Community

Calendar

Classified

Puzzles

Public Notices

Sports

The Woodstock Independent

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

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Put the fruit in the bag and nobody gets hurt – especially since you’re wearing a mask. That’s the dress code these days at the Woodstock Farmers Market, which began its summer season Saturday at the McHenry County Fairgrounds. Rachel Van Laar (left) of Van Laar Fruit Farm in Capron is a regular vendor.

Police find few stay-home violators By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Woodstock Police have handled “just a few” violations of the statewide “shelter in place” order since Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued it in late March. “We have handled a couple of business issues,” Chief John Lieb said, “and a couple of civilian issues.”

Both kinds have been resolved with a simple conversation, the chief said. “We respond to certain complaints that come in from various sources,” he said, “from individuals and from entities. We try to encourage [violators] to understand the spirit of the [governor’s] executive order.” Starting May 1, the number of businesses allowed to open their stores

increased for carry-out business, as restaurants have been doing since the stay-home order was imposed March 20. And the governor’s latest directive emphasized the need for people to wear masks in public where social distancing would be difficult. Based on his observations, reports

See POLICE, Page 2

Continued from Page 1

Following a plan

NEWS

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

WFRD

May 6-12, 2020

will be pay increases for about three dozen firefighter/paramedics, who agreed in 2018 to forgo 2.5 percent raises for the first two years of a new three-year contract that summer. Although they will not receive back pay for the two years of raises they agreed to waive, they will get an increase of more than 8 percent, which will place them at the pay level required in the third year of the contract.

property tax bill will increase by about $150 a year for the owner of a home with a market value of $250,000. With an extra $1.3 million a year coming in from the tax increase, the district has big plans to add personnel and upgrade equipment. But as was evident at the board meeting April 23, trustees don’t plan a spending spree anytime soon. Although the tax increase was approved 13 months ago, it won’t be until later this month or early June that the district sees any new money. Because of that, Hill and the board plan to take it slowly as the district implements a new four-year strategic plan to upgrade the fire and ambulance service. “Everything is flexible at this point,” Hill said when the budget proposal was presented at the April meeting. “Nothing on the table can’t be changed, added, or subtracted.” The 35-page strategic plan for 202024 was adopted by the board in August. The comprehensive report is a roadmap for upgrading personnel, equipment, and buildings for the district, which covers 90 square miles around Woodstock. Among the personnel moves planned is the hiring of a deputy chief, a No. 2 for Hill, which is a position that was eliminated years ago to save money as district finances got tight. Before last year, voters had not approved a tax increase since 2005. Trustee Noel Baldwin suggested that the deputy chief’s job should be a priority. Other trustees indicated they were in no rush to make such a move. “We’re just getting into referendum monies,” board President Fred Spitzer said. “It might be a little early on that.” “Let’s pump the brakes on that,” trustee Scott Stankey agreed, “and see where it goes.”

POLICE Continued from Page 1

he has read, and conversations with officers, the chief said local residents were following the statewide “shelter in place” rules. ”We’re seeing a generally high level of compliance in the city of Woodstock,” Lieb said. “... I’m extremely proud of the Woodstock community.” Lieb said his department had seen a decreased number of calls for service and traffic accidents, indicating people are staying home.

The cost of COVID-19

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

John Leu, a firefighter/EMT with the Woodstock Fire Rescue District, demonstrates some of the personal protective equipment that is now standard for first responders. During the COVID-19 crisis, time off for all personnel was canceled to prepare for a “worst case scenario.”

‘Wiggle room’ included Trustees are scheduled to have a public hearing on the 2020-21 budget at their meeting May 28. It’s likely they will adopt the budget then. The proposal anticipates $9.7 million in revenue, 80 percent of it from

response times. A $130,000 federal grant in 2018 equipped each of the district’s three ambulances with a power cot to lift patients and a power load system to move the cot into the ambulance. Capital expenses in the new bud-

“Everything is flexible at this point. Nothing on the table can’t be changed, added, or subtracted.” Mike Hill, chief, Woodstock Fire Rescue District property taxes. The budget includes $9.3 million in expenses, but would appropriate $11.2 million, giving the district some spending “wiggle room,” Hill said, in case additional income is received from grants or other sources. This past fiscal year, grant money included $87,000 from the state for a new station alerting system to improve

New reporting process While the lobby at the police station, 656 Lake Ave., remains open 24/7, the records office works only limited hours during the week. People who need to see an officer may use the phone in the lobby to reach the regional dispatch center in McHenry, where dispatchers decide how the matter should be handled, which might include summoning an officer. The lobby window of the former dispatch center at the station, which used to handle local police and fire calls, now allows residents to speak directly

get plan include $300,000 for a new ambulance to replace a unit that now is “down for maintenance quite a bit,” Hill said. “It definitely needs to be replaced.” But, like the new position of deputy chief, no decision on new vehicles will be made until later when officials are convinced the budget is under control. Among new expenses in the budget

to an officer through a window at a safe distance. The police department recently established an online system for reporting most crimes or other incidents, a system Chief Lieb said had been discussed but never enacted. That process can keep residents from waiting to talk with an officer, although “only a few” people have taken advantage of online reporting since it went into effect in mid-April. “That’s something that had been on my to-do list for years,” he said. “The old system worked, but we always want

Coronavirus concerns have been costly for the district. “We planned for the absolutely worst case scenario,” Hill said, explaining the fear of constant ambulance runs with WFRD personnel down with the illness. As a result, the district suspended the 2018 collective bargaining agreement, which included cancellation of time off for all personnel. That has cost the district about $45,000 in overtime so far, Hill said. The firefighters union agreed to the move at the time “because it was unknown” what the effect of COVID19 would be, Scott Wessell, union president, told the trustees last month. He asked that the contract be re-instated now that the worst fears had not be realized. But the board declined, promising an ongoing review of the situation and an easing back into full terms of the agreement as circumstances allow. “I’m not quite ready to open the floodgates right now,” Hill explained this week. One recent casualty of the situation, the chief said, is the suspension of having fire trucks visit the homes of children whose birthday parties were canceled because of the pandemic. Hill told the board trucks were making five or six visits a day. “We had seven at the most,” he said last week. While it was good public relations, it was beginning to interfere with the district’s “operational readiness,” Hill said. “When this is all over,” Hill said, “we’ll open up and the kids can come in and climb all over the equipment.”

to make things better. It helps officers and citizens stay safe.”

Uniform wear altered

In face-to-face meetings with residents, officers are now directed to wear protective eyewear, an N95 mask, and gloves, unless an officer “needs to act and act now” on an urgent matter, Lieb said. “We do what we have to do to keep people safe,” he said. Some police department services, such as fingerprinting for job See POLICE, Page 3

Coroner seeking to ID body found near Harvard

Continued from Page 2

People visiting the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center in Woodstock are urged by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office to “in good faith wear a face covering or mask” in accordance with the governor’s latest order, which extended the “shelter in place order” through May. According to a news release, the courthouse remains open only for people with court-related business, but

Wearing masks will be required of visitors to the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center in Woodstock, as this sign in the door indicates. keys, a wallet, court papers, and an ID will be the only items allowed to be carried into the building. “Public coming to the courthouse need to don their own face covering prior to entering the building and continue to wear [the mask] the entire time while inside,” the news release said. “Please plan to bring your own face covering or mask with you. ... The safety of our community, employees

and the building is important to us while we continue to provide services.” Courts in the 22nd Judicial District are hearing only emergency and essential matters, according to a news release. Under an order from Chief Judge James S. Cowlin, all cases scheduled for trial through May 29 have been postponed to a date that will be assigned by the judge presiding over each case.

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NEWS

Bring your own mask

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY LARRY LOUGH

Authorities are trying to identify an adult male whose body was found last week at the Rush Creek Conservation Area in Harvard. The McHenry County Coroner’s Office released a sketch of what the man might have looked like. His death was Composite determined not to sketch of man be suspicious. According to a news release, the remains were that of a white male between 50 and 70 years old with short, gray hair on his face and head. He was about 5-foot-10 and weighed nearly 225 pounds. The coroner’s office reported the man could not be identified using fingerprints, dental records, and DNA analysis People with information about identification should email Chief Deputy Coroner Olivia Zednick at OAZednick@mchenrycountyil.gov or call 815-334-3347.

May 6-12, 2020

applications and background checks, have been suspended for now, Lieb reported. Reporting of incidents to police may be done at frontlinepss.com/woodstock. The system is intended for non-emergency crimes and non-urgent issues. An officer will contact the caller within a few hours to explain what actions police will take. Online reports that will be accepted include credit card fraud; criminal damage or trespass to property or vehicle; identity theft; harassment by phone or other electronic device; and theft. Residents will be provided with an official incident report number to track progress of the investigation.

3 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

IN BRIEF

POLICE

NEWS

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

IN BRIEF

OBITUARIES Steven Fish, 60

It is with profound sadness that the family of Steven Fish announces his passing on April 26, 2020. Steven did not go gentle into the good night, but waged a hardfought battle against cancer; he was courageous throughout it all. Steven was born Dec. 24, 1959, the son of John and Barbara Fish. He attended Woodstock public schools and was a graduate of the University of Illinois. His initial career was in advertising, and he was a partner in the Chicago firm of Grey Directory Marketing. Steven’s interest in horses and the horse world was long standing. Upon his marriage to Heidi Austin, a professional and nationally known equestrian and trainer of the hunter/jumper class, the horse world became his world and his joy. He leaves his beloved wife, Heidi; his mother, Barbara; his brother, Andrew; sister-in-law, Kathleen; and nephews Jack and Adam. Steven was a wonderful lad and an outstanding man. The world is a better place for having known him. All services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be

given in his name to the Hooved Animal Humane Society, or to JourneyCare Hospice. The Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home assisted the family. You can leave condolences for the family at slmcfh.com.

Gene W. Zimmerman, 73

Gene W. Zimmerman of Woodstock passed away on Monday, April 27, 2020, at the Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. He was born in Florence, Ala., on Sept. 12, 1946, to Donald and Mona Jeanne (Dittman) Zimmerman. He married Gene W. Nancy Schiller on Zimmerman May 6, 1972, in Woodstock. Gene went to Woodstock Community High School, a graduate from the class of 1964. He went on to serve his country after graduation. With his father and a brother,

he owned and operated Zimmerman Construction for many years. His hobbies included fishing, biking and hiking. He made beautiful bird houses using natural materials, giving them to many friends and relatives. He took great pride in his yard at home planting many flowers that were enjoyed by all his neighbors. His favorite role was that of being “Papa” to his grandchildren. He was loved and will be missed. He is survived by his wife of 48 wonderful years, Nancy Zimmerman; a daughter, Kelly (Ron) Vohs; three grandchildren, Abbey, Bradley and Matthew; a brother, Terry (Betty) Zimmerman; as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would also like to thank Jim and Mary Andreas for being the best neighbors anyone could have. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Gail; and a brother, Donnie. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. For information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 815- 338-1710, or visit slmcfh.com.

Council scheduled to review Old Courhouse design plan Staff Report

NEW@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Revised design plans for interior space of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House were scheduled to be reviewed this week by the Woodstock

City Council. Architect Gary Anderson has made some changes to the floor plans to satisfy concerns expressed by council members at their April 21 meeting. Those mostly involve the need for more restrooms and storage space as

the historic buildings are redeveloped for civic and commercial use. The council was scheduled to conduct the virtual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Information about public participation is on the meeting agenda found on the city’s website, woodstockil.gov.

recognizance. Court date June 12.

3:59 p.m. – 1400 block of Wheeler Street, unintentional smoke detection activation, no fire; shift commander, truck, engine, ambulance 6:18 p.m. – 500 block of West South Street, malfunctioning smoke detector activation; shift commander, engine, ambulance, truck 10:18 p.m. – 500 block of West South Street, system malfunction/other; engine

PUBLIC SAFETY LOG Woodstock Police Department

■ Derrick L. Hardison Sr., 35, Woodstock, was arrested April 24 in the 500 block of North Madison Street on a McHenry County warrant charging failure to appear. Held on $30,000 bond. Court date to be set. ■ Carlos Orozco, 22, Hebron, was arrested April 27 at Seminary and Irving avenues on charges of headlight violation and driving while license suspended. Released with notice to appear. Court date June 18. ■ Steven J. McMillan, 56, transient, was arrested April 29 in the 300 block of South Eastwood Drive on a charge of criminal trespass to property. Released on personal recognizance. Court date June 4. ■ Jamaine Craft Jr., 36, Chicago, was arrested April 30 on a charge of aggravated battery to a peace officer. Taken to jail. Bond and court date to be set. ■ David L. Gehrke, 43, transient, was arrested May 1 on a charge of theft and a McHenry County warrant charging failure to appear. Released on personal

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office

■ Jamie L. Logan, 40, Woodstock, was arrested April 22 on a charge of theft of $500 to $1,000.

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

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District EMS calls for April 23-29: 58 Fire Runs April 23

10:13 a.m. – 2000 block of North Seminary Avenue, unintentional smoke detector activation, no fire; engine 12:21 p.m. – 700 block of South Eastwood Drive, traffic accident with no injuries; ambulance, shift commander, truck 2:20 p.m. – Raffel and Charles roads, authorized controlled burning; engine 3:02 p.m. – 900 block of North Seminary Avenue, unintentional alarm system activation, no fire; truck

April 24

8:14 a.m. – 1100 block of McConnell Road, gas leak (natural or LP); truck 1:21 p.m. – 18100 block of Garden Valley Road, Marengo, cover assignment/ stand by; engine April 25

10:12 a.m. – W3200 block of of South Lakeshore, Lake Geneva, cover assignment/stand by; ambulance April 26

4:52 p.m. – Charles and Nelson roads, grass fire; engine, shift commander, brush truck 5:26 p.m. – 15200 block of Shamrock Lane; natural vegetation fire/other; shift commander, engine

Local businesses to share in $14 million state grant Two Woodstock business in the hospitality industry are among 10 in McHenry County that will share in emergency grants awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Officials at Visit McHenry County announced that Best Western and Flores Banquets were chosen to receive part of $14.45 million that was granted statewide to help businesses with working capital, such as payroll and rent, job training, and technology to support shifts in operations, including increased use of carryout and delivery for food businesses.

Gilmore chosen to join Lawyers of distinction

Carl W. Gilmore of Metz, Gilmore & Vaclavek, Crystal Lake, has been selected for membership in Lawyers of Distinction, a community of distinguished lawyers in the U.S. Gilmore, president of the Woodstock District 200 Board of Education, Carl practices famGilmore ily law, adoption, parentage, probate, and general civil litigation. He has been licensed for 25 years in Illinois and Wisconsin and was a three-time chairman of the American Bar Association adoption committee, was president of the McHenry County Bar Association, and was honored as 2000-01 Illinois Young Lawyer of the Year. Gilmore received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1994. Membership in Lawyers of Distinction is based on evaluation of an attorney’s qualifications, license, reputation, experience, and disciplinary history.

Corrections/Update

In the April 29 edition of The Independent, the editorial on the Opinion page reported the wrong number of deaths from COVID-19 in McHenry County as of April 26. The correct number was 28, an increase of 12 over the previous week. As of this past Sunday, May 3, the death toll for the week was 11, raising the total to 39. The number of confirmed cases in the county was 703, an increase of about 200 for the week. We regret the error.

By Larry Lough

LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Woodstock

Moan said the district staff’s embracing of technology in recent years “has really paid off in the last five weeks.”

“We want to make this feel somewhat normal. We know it’s not, but we want to make it feel like it. ....” Art Vallicelli, principal, Woodstock High School That covered the period after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “shelter in place” order closed schools statewide through April 30. A later order called off in-school classes for the rest of the school year, which Moan said would end May 21, with seniors’ last day being May 11. Board members complimented the job everyone had done. “I’ve been nothing but impressed,” board President Carl Gilmore said, “with the way our administration and school district have handled all the vast changes and the disruption that occurred the last several weeks.”

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this a successful transition for D-200.”

Something for seniors

Gilmore asked about consequences for the district and students when some students don’t “adequately participate” in the virtual instruction. “There are no consequences for the district,” Moan said. “[Students] have to do the work to get credit for the class. ... Teachers reach out to make sure [students do the coursework by May 21].” Even then, he said, students who don’t complete the work will have an additional eight weeks over the

summer “so they can get a pass for that time period.” Moan said administrators also were working to ensure “some sort of senior recognition,” including commencement, for seniors. “We’re trying to push it back to try to capture something live,” Moan said, even if events are held virtually.

Converting to gasoline

In other business, the board bought six camera-equipped buses from Midwest Transit Equipment of Kankakee for $486,000. The used 2020 model vehicles are gasoline powered as the district begins to transition from its diesel fleet of 100 buses, as recommended by the bus industry. Risa Hanson, the district’s chief financial officer, said the new buses would save money on fuel as well as repair costs. They also have a longer engine life. Diesel buses are not efficient for the kind of stop-and-go driving school buses experience, she said. It will be a slow, conversion, Moan said. D-200 buys only a few buses each year and keeps them for about 18 years.

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Four Woodstock and Wonder Lake friends met for lunch in Siesta Key, Florida, in March. Laverne Foerster of Woodstock, second from the left, was visiting Wonder Lake resident Joyce Brinkman, holding The Independent, at her condo in Sarasota. Bill and Martha Fleck, left and right, respectively, who used to call Woodstock home, now live in Ruskin. Laverne timed her winter-weather-break perfectly.

Email pics to jen@thewoodstockindependent.com or bring it to 671 E. Calhoun St.

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NEWS

The

‘Quality experience”

Board member John Parisi had praise for teachers “who really stepped up to make this a quality experience for our students.” With one exception, he said, the positive responses he had heard from parents were “amazing.” Moan called teachers, staff, and administrators “our heroes.” “Thank you all,” he said, “for making

May 6-12, 2020

Don’t think students in Woodstock School District 200 are slacking off just because they’re not in a physical classroom as they finish this academic year. During the first virtual meeting of the Board of Education, administrators reported student participation in online learning has been high. “One-hundred percent are doing something,” Superintendent Mike Moan said of students in the elementary grades. “Ninety-one percent are engaged in live discussions ... a live activity every day.” Participation is “a little higher” at the middle school level, he said.. High school students’ involvement is “a little bit lower,” Woodstock High School Principal Art Vallicelli told the board. But the school staff has been in contact with 100 percent of families. Appropriately, the meeting agenda’s monitoring report for the April 21 meeting was on eLearning, connecting teachers with students electronically. Vallicelli said the staff also was providing “social/emotional support” for students, “because that is really

important.” “We want to make this feel somewhat normal,” he said. “We know it’s not, but we want to make it feel like it. ...”

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

D-200 gets high marks for virtual learning

OPINION

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

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

Woodstock has some choices to make

Most folks in Woodstock won’t even notice the city is embarking on a “different approach” to street repair and maintenance this year. Instead of fixing the worst streets – those deemed to be “failed” – which require expensive rebuilding, the plan this year is to resurface about 175 of the “poor” street segments to prevent them from failing, a much cheaper proposition. After all, as contract engineer Ryan Livingston told the City Council, “Failed streets are not going to get any worse – they’ve already failed.” This year’s extensive “mill-and-pave” approach, Livingston said, saves something like $73,000 per lane mile in maintenance over 25 years. No, that tacit acknowledgment that we’ve historically done street maintenance wrong will hardly get the public’s attention. That’s because taxpayers will be too upset over being told that local taxes will be raised for the third time in three years to try to get a handle on maintenance of our generally poor-rated streets. The problem started around the turn of the past century, when Woodstock was experiencing an unprecedented boom in growth. Along with home construction came new streets. “A lot was built fast,” Livingston told the council, “that could not be maintained.” So in the fall of 2017, after constant complaints about the condition of streets, the council increased the local sales tax by 1 cent, dedicating $100,000 a year or so to street maintenance. In December 2019, the council created the local fuel tax of 3 cents a gallon, effective this past April 1, to help pay for a $9+ million bond to finance this year’s aggressive project – the first in a multiyear effort to try to stay a block ahead of our crumbling streets.

Yeah, about the new guy ... I don’t think this is gonna work!

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY LUKE GOINS

Now the city’s approach to getting streets in an acceptable condition is to “get it done quickly and done right,” as one council member suggested. So, how do you feel about another increase in the sales tax? How about hiking our brand new fuel tax? Those are two options. Or maybe an annual property tax increase to the state-allowed maximum – something Woodstock has not done for nine years. Then there is the possibility of new taxes – on your

electricity and/or natural gas bill, maybe on food-andbeverage purchases at restaurants and taverns, or perhaps on “sin” (taxes on cigarettes and packaged alcohol sales). All of those options are on the table. Because Woodstock is a “home rule” city, the City Council will make that decision without a voter referendum. If you don’t like the decision, you do get to vote – when four council seats, including mayor, are up for election next spring.

» GUEST COLUMN

What newspapers do has value ... for all of us Columnist Jim Nowlan and I go back a long way, and I can’t think of anyone I know who I respect more. That being said, I have a much less dystopian view of the future of newspapers, and particularly community journalism, than the one Jim recently shared in a piece, “Stop the handwringing over decline of newspaper.” We are a much better product than we give ourselves credit for, and for those committed to community journalism, I believe we have a much brighter future than what some might think. Despite the constant drumbeat that newspapers are dead, we need to

recognize we have strengths that are critical to the quality of life in the communities we serve and we can continue to be a foundational part of those communities. Wendy My vision for the Martin future of local community newspapers Guest Columnist looks a lot like this publication that you will find on this newspaper’s local website (thewoodstockindependent.com). Our readers are loyal subscribers.

True, they love their hold-it-in-theirhands newspapers, but we all know someday that to keep publishing, the cost we need to cut is the printing and mailing – not reporting. My vision is to produce exactly the same product as we do today. Just deliver it differently. We already notify readers by text or email that the electronic version of their paper (which is free with their subscription) has been delivered. One problem with many of the other models is they either cut out the advertisers or they rely on them to pay all the freight. Our efforts to get people in our

advertisers’ doors keeps their doors open, and having those businesses serving our readership area adds immeasurably to the quality of life our communities can offer. As Mr. Nowlan said, our local newspapers are more affordable than television or radio, and frankly, we target potential customers much better. Mr. Nowlan suggests it is Facebook and Google that have stolen our advertisers. That is not what we have found. The combination of a poor economy and online shopping have been the biggest threats to our advertisers. American Express promotes

Continued on Next page

Continued from Previous page

Shop Small once a year. We promote it 52 weeks a year. If you subscribe to our online edition you can flip through the PDF pages of our newspaper. But there is a paywall (temporarily suspended), so don’t plan on reading the stories forever without ponying up for a subscription. What we do has value. Local community newspapers provide their readers with news about their schools, government, and neighbors that is not available anywhere else. Real news. We have a unique, valuable product. Our service to the business community is every bit as valuable. Our circulation in their direct service area means we get their message to more people who are likely to visit their stores than any other medium. And there are plenty of ways to monetize the website.

A Facebook page is not a substitute. Nor is a podcast, or alternative paper you have to go out and find. I know a number of publishers with the free paper/shopper distribution model, and I know they fear no one will pay for their paper. If your product is worth reading and contains relevant, local content, people will pay. In fact, we had to be free for about 10 years back in our past, and we successfully transitioned back to paid. Again, what we do has value. The days are numbered for printing presses and mailing. But that doesn’t mean newspapers are going away. We can be our best selves – electronically. Wendy Martin is editor of the Mason County Democrat in Havana and the Fulton Democrat in Lewistown. This was adapted from the column she wrote for her newspapers.

Dictionary as “when you hug someone but don’t actually touch.”) Some Mother’s Day traditions – breakfast in bed, dishes washed, meals prepared, movies watched, etc. – can continue for children who live in the same house as their mothers. And for that we can be grateful. One thing for sure: We’ll all remember Mother’s Day 2020 because, whatever we do, it will be a change from the routines of our COVID-19 lives. The Independent staff is continuing to build community through #Woodstock4all. In celebration of Mother’s Day, we are inviting children of all ages to take photos of their mom’s day celebrations and post the photos with hashtags on Instagram, and when they do, also tag The Woodstock Independent We’re hoping to have The Independent’s Instagram site flooded with photos that document how Woodstock folks honored their moms in 2020. The high school seniors really made that happen, so we know it can be done. By the way, if you are new to Instagram, as some of us on the staff are, you can still view the seniors’ posts by touching the INDE torch at the top of our Instagram page and then touching the Seniors 2020 circle. (All of this is being done, of course, on a smart phone.) It’s May, and soon it will be Mother’s Day. We will celebrate! Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent. Her email address is c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com

» YOUR VIEW

Be sure you recognize your next-door heroes

So much as been written about the heroic people who work on the front lines these days: medical staff, police, firefighters, and EMTs, and in all the industries that keep us and our community going, farms, grocery stores, trash collection, etc. I would like to give a special shout-out to some unsung heroes, our neighbors! Those special people who check on us older folks, run errands, and do the important job of grocery shopping. You can’t imagine what a gift it is to those of us who feel helpless, fearful, and anxious. Our heartfelt thanks. Marian Weiss Woodstock

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OPINION

COVID-19 has altered celebrations. Some are being postponed. Others might not happen at all. Drive-by birthday parties seem the norm at the present time. Friends Cheryl and families of the Wormley celebrant form Declarations a parade of cars, often appropriately decorated, and drive by the honoree’s home, tooting horns, singing “Happy Birthday,” waving, and shouting well wishes. The birthday girl or boy, woman or man stands in the yard, waves backs, and shouts appreciations in return. Many families have Mother’s Day traditions, some of which will need to be altered this year. If getting dressed up and going to church together and then to a restaurant for brunch has been your thing, it’s not going to happen exactly that way this year. Just getting together really isn’t an option during stay-at-home. Going to church together might mean everyone watching worship on Facebook or YouTube. The elaborate brunch could be food ordered and picked up from a local restaurant and delivered to Mom. When she opens the door, you can chat through your masks and give air hugs. (Grandkids John, Charles and Mary Elizabeth taught me about air hugs, which are defined by the Urban

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May 6-12, 2020

Sunday will be Mother’s Day. Just thinking about it elicits joy. My mom, Anna Mae Smith, was down-to-earth, organized, thoughtful, hard-working, intelligent, caring, supportive, humble, honest, beautiful, and oh, so much more. I’m thankful she was my mom. I’m thankful to another Anna, too, the one who doggedly campaigned to the states and Congress for more than nine years to set aside a day to honor mothers. Anna Jarvis began her crusade in 1905, the year her mother died, because, she said, a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.” Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day be held annually on the second Sunday in May. I’m a little late to the Mother’s Day game this year. I really hadn’t thought about it until it dawned on me it would be a good topic for this week’s Declarations. I’m thinking Anna Jarvis would welcome the creative thinking that will go into honoring mothers during COVID-19. It is said she became resentful of the commercialization that escalated around Mother’s Day. The founder had envisioned children showing their appreciation for their mothers with handwritten letters expressing their love and gratitude instead of buying gifts and cards. Late in her life, she even organized boycotts and threatened to sue companies that were making profits from the honoring of mothers.

Woodstock

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

We will celebrate our mothers

The

I NDEPENDENT

SCHOOLS

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Schools

‘Our kids are flourishing’

Private schools in Woodstock take on new challenges during pandemic By Tricia Carzoli

being encouraged to go outside and find flowers to examine the flower on their own. Teachers present in nature and encourage students to join outside in their own backyards. Unique to Montessori is the ability that students have to work on their own areas of interest and at their own pace. “We are still facilitating that through one-on-one conversations,” Bauerband said. “Our kids are flourishing – and during a time of such heartache, we are committed to giving them a sense of normalcy and joy. We are incorporating art, music and gym – we are taking them outside to see the rewards of the bulbs we planted last fall.”

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As public schools have had to turn to eLearning with their buildings closed, private schools in Woodstock also have been creative with distance learning. St. Mary Catholic Grade School, Crystal Lake Montessori, and Marian Central Catholic High School have been adapting curriculum to fit their students’ needs, staying focused on the well-being of their students, and helping students to finish the year strong. Assistant Principal Hillary Russell said the transition was going well at St. Mary. “While we hadn’t relied on this before, we are excited to try new technology and meet as a staff weekly to support one another.,” Russell said. “So far, we have had positive feedback from our families.” Nancy Bauerband, director at Montessori, said the technology didn’t interfere with the school’s approach to learning. “I am so proud of our school and staff,” Bauerband said. “Everyone has a device, and they are making this work, ... all while staying true to the Montessori methods.” At Marian, principal Debra Novy said students had adapted quickly since each was provided with a laptop computer last year. “We provided all four classes these convertible touchscreens at once,” Novy said. “It was a big undertaking, and we are so proud to have been able to do that, particularly with what we are experiencing now.”

St. Mary

The transition to distance learning was eased by ensuring all students had the right equipment. “Before we left, our teachers took the opportunity to take the students through what they might be looking at at home,” assistant principal Russell said. “They spent a lot of time with the younger students who might not have had quite as much exposure to Google Classrooms, and we wanted them to be prepared.”

Marian Central

COURTESY PHOTO

Montessori student Florence Cuellar misses being with her friends at school. The 4-year-old made a drawing of herself and her family to show them on a Zoom morning meeting. She is the daughter of Domanique and Joel Cuellar of Woodstock. The school had some Chromebooks, and the students were able to check those out as needed. “Each morning, our principal goes live on Facebook with prayer and school goals,” she explained, “and that has kept some normalcy in our students’ lives as well.” Kindergarten students have been experiencing video teaching; links for activities, hands-on learning, and art; and book reading. Elementary level students have used FlipGrid, video teaching, and printable work, while the older students are using Google Suites for meetings, hangouts, and check-ins with teachers. “The junior high has more set times for logging in and participating in Google Classes,” Russell said. “They might have their log-in in the morning, a reading check in the morning, a math check at lunchtime, and a reading check in the afternoon. There are live chats and individual check-ins, too.”

Montessori

When the governor announced the closing of schools, Bauerband was at national conference in Dallas with other Montessori educators. “One of the best things was that we were together for a time, bouncing ideas off of one another, and talking about what we wanted for our students,” she said. The Montessori method is rooted in self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. Bauerband is ensuring that her students are continuing to learn that way. Every day the entire school comes together – from K to eighth grade – to set the tone for the day and to present a topic. The rest of the day belongs to the students. Most students have a Zoom meeting every day, delivering age-appropriate lessons on a broader school topic. For example, the topic has been plants and flowers, so the younger students are learning parts of the flowers and are

Marian is using technology such as Google Classrooms and One Note. “We are different than the public schools in that our families pay a tuition,” Principal Novy said. “We have an obligation to their education and continuing to teach to the curriculum.” Over spring break, Novy arranged training for her teachers through Elevated Learning, a company that trains Fortune 500 companies and saw a need to prepare teachers. Novy created a pilot group on April 3 and broke her teachers into groups. Eventually, she had very skilled teachers who were willing to help not-so-skilled teachers, and online teaching was in full swing. The week after spring break, a new system was in place, including alternating block scheduling that includes GoToMeeting lectures and classroom time as well as work time. “We also have to respect that many of our students have jobs and some are essential workers with more hours now,” Novy said. “We have opened our submission deadlines from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. to reflect that.” The transition to distance learning has been easy academically, but difficult emotionally. “We are a close school,” Novy said. “We are a family. We are missing our family.”

Creative efforts required to honor graduating seniors

invited to drive past staff members, who cheered them on from inside their vehicles.

Commencement on hold

By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200

High school administrators, teachers, and coaches have created videos honoring the Class of 2020, including athletes whose spring sports seasons were snuffed out to orchestra

Decorated cars with horns honking circled Woodstock High School in a school-organized parade to honor the Class of 2020. Seniors and their families were invited to drive past school staff members, who cheered them on from inside their vehicles. and drama students who were practicing for their final high school performances. “Every senior class has carried a special place in the history of Woodstock High School for one reason or another,” WHS Principal Art Vallicelli said. “The Class of ’20 will carry this burden now, but the memory of persevering and making the most of this is what will define them. The seniors that I have spoken to have communicated that they are determined to make the most of the situation, and our staff is dedicated to that, too.” High school staff members and parent volunteers recently put yard signs on all seniors’ lawns. At Woodstock North, photo banners of senior athletes were hung outside the football stadium. Individual tributes with photos and personalized staff comments

INDEPENENT PHOTO BY VICKY LONG

Senior Areli Ortiz records the greetings by faculty members when Woodstock North High School organized a parade around the parking lot to honor the senior class. “Light It Up for Seniors” recognized the Class of 2020 as staff members waved pom-pons and signs throughout the procession.

about each senior were featured on Woodstock High School’s Facebook pages. On the night of April 24, social-distance drive-through parades were held. Seniors and their families were

Kevin Lyons is communications director for Woodstock School District 200.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK RYAN JONES

Ryan Jones is a senior at Marian Central Catholic High School. He is the son of Ray and Laura Jones, Marengo. “Ryan excels both academically and athletically at Marian. He is a true gentleman and leads by quiet example. He has been a wonderful role model to our students,” said one of his teachers. Ryan has been on high honor roll and the Principal’s List. He earned the Academic Excellence Honors award and the IHSA Scholastic Achievement award. Ryan is the captain of the cross-country and track teams. He is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the Marian Central Mentor program. Outside of school, he has volunteered with Animal House shelter, and he has fostered puppies. Ryan assists in Mass at Sacred Heart, Marengo, as an altar server or usher. He was also a religious education aide at Sacred Heart his junior year. Ryan has prepared and served meals for McHenry County PADS. When asked who inspires him, Ryan said, “My grandma inspires me because she cares for others and has an amazing work ethic. She has a very successful career in accounting, the major I plan on pursuing. I hope to be as accomplished as she.” When asked what makes him feel successful, Ryan said, “I feel that I am successful because I am dedicated to what I do, and I work hard. Improvement is important to me. I want to learn more and get better every day.”

Discover what matters. And build your life around it. 222 Church St., Woodstock, IL 815-337-6051 aurora.edu/woodstock

SCHOOLS

‘Making the most’ of situation

PHOTO BY KEVIN LYONS

May 6-12, 2020

Far from being forgotten, the Class of 2020 is on the hearts and minds of even those who don’t have schoolaged children. Traditional proms, awards assemblies, athletic banquets and graduations are rites of spring for seniors. But with schools shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Woodstock School District 200 staff members have been working hard to give its seniors the recognition they deserve. For hundreds of Woodstock-area seniors and millions around the globe, they’re missing chances at that last concert, lap around the track, recognition at an academic awards assembly, or jog around the bases. Superintendent Mike Moan said concerns about this year’s senior classes at Woodstock and Woodstock North high schools were considered even before the decision was made to close schools on March 16. “Especially as a unit district, many of these students have been with us since they were 5 or 6 years old,” Moan said. “They’ve left a great impact on our staff and on each other, so celebrating their final year has always been important to us.”

District 200 has not committed to a commencement ceremony date, Moan said, while the district waits to see whether something close to a traditional graduation event might be held later in the summer. But a virtual celebration will take place if conditions demand that instead. WNHS Principal Darlea Livengood said the Thunder Class of 2020 was a big priority for her entire staff. “They are a great group of kids, and they seem to be bearing the hardest part of our current situation in schools,” she said. “We are committed to doing as much for them as we can to help ease that loss. Teachers, associates, custodians, and secretaries are all looking for ways to give them a quality senior year experience. While it may be different, it is still very important to help these kids celebrate their accomplishments.”

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Easing Loss of Senior Year

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

May 6-12, 2020

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A&E

THE INDEPENDENT READING LIST THIS WEEK: BOOKS FOR THE YOUNGER SET By Susan W. Murray

Let’s all go to the lobby! Popcorn, candy, and drinks to go at Classic Cinemas starting this week By Susan W. Murray

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Note to readers: This list was published in the online edition only of The Woodstock Independent on April 15. We will provide two weeks of children’s book recommendations for our print readers.

You’ll have to forgo the butter, but beginning Friday, people with a hankering for some real movie theater popcorn will be able to stop by Classic Cinemas Woodstock for a treat fix. And if a big box of Junior Mints or an Icee is what you crave, the theater can help with that as well. With the stay-at-home order extended through May 30, selling concessions for pickup is one way for the shuttered movie house, part of the 15-theater Classic Cinemas chain, to generate some revenue and give employees something to do. “We’ve had a lot of people reaching out, saying ‘We want to buy your popcorn,’” said Chris Johnson, CEO of Classic Cinemas. Johnson said the gimmick had worked well in other theaters, especially community-based, downtown theaters, such as the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, which offers popcorn pickup for several hours each Wednesday and Saturday. Theater owners who have opened their concession stands while no movies are showing told Johnson they couldn’t believe how many people showed up. “Some sales are better than no sales,” Johnson said.

As we continue to stay at home, The Woodstock Independent is providing a weekly list of recommended books to keep us engaged and enthralled with the world beyond our front doors. This week, we provide suggestions for our preschool through 8-year-old readers and their parents, provided by staff from the Woodstock Public Library, as well as teachers from Mary Endres Elementary School and St. Mary School. Each recommendation includes the nominator’s name and information about where the book is available.

Open daily

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willerns is a favorite.

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems

A bus driver on a break leaves one instruction with the children – not to let the pigeon drive

Continued on Next page

Roughly a year ago, the muchanticipated “Avengers: Endgame” premiered on April 26. The first week the movie was released, 150,000 customers saw it at some theater in the Classic Cinemas group. For the same week this year, Classic Cinemas had zero customers. The May 8 start date for concessions gave Johnson’s staff time to figure out the logistics. The same items will be available at all Classic Cinemas sites, with the exception of Oak Park. Included are all sizes of popcorn, nachos, candy, fountain drinks, and Icees. The theater will also offer a popcorn party bag – equivalent to more than eight buckets.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Melissa Monterroso is ready to ring up sales of popcorn and other concessions that will be sold starting Thursday at Classic Cinemas in Woodstock. The 15-theater chain hopes to generate some revenue during the state’s “shelter in place” order that has closed movie houses. When sales begin Friday, patrons may preorder by calling the theater at 815-338-8556 or by ordering on the Classic Cinemas website: classiccinemas.com. With the exception of closing for Memorial Day, May 25, the theater will be open every day: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 3 to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The theater will also serve walkup customers while enforcing social distancing. Staff members will wear masks and gloves. “We’re not going to have the guests touching anything,” Johnson said.

Time for maintenance

Having the movie theaters closed has allowed for completion of a few projects. “We’ve been able to do some deepcleaning,” Johnson said, “including the offices and the projection booths.”

While several other theaters had projects that needed attention, such as screen repair or replacement, Johnson said the Woodstock theater “is in really good shape.” And with no customers coming in, nothing’s getting dirty. “There’s nothing to clean,” Johnson said, “but we’ve cleaned it multiple times.” Classic Cinemas obtained a federal paycheck protection loan, for an amount Johnson declined to specify, that will pay his employees for eight weeks. Additionally, he said, the chain will tap its reserves to stay afloat. He hopes the theaters can reopen on the first of June, but new releases will not appear until mid-July. Until then, the theaters will show throwback movies. “We are so anxious to start back up,” Johnson said. “Summer is our biggest time.”

Continued from Previous Page

by Eric Carle

“A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon

“This story follows the predicament of Camilla Cream as she deals with an unusual illness and taunts from her classmates. Camilla finally realizes she should be herself and overcomes her odd condition. I’ve noticed it’s a favorite book of many kindergarten students. They like to hear it read to them over and over!” Recommended for ages 4 to 8. From Chris Wilke, kindergarten teacher at

SERVING MCHENRY COUNTY FOR OVER 77 YEARS

“Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall

In this book about being true to oneself, a blue crayon has mistakenly received a red wrapper and label. His friends and family try to help him be red, until a new friend points out that he’s really blue. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. A Final Four contender in Mary Endres School’s March Madness Tournament of Books and recommended by Jenn Tufte, third-grade teacher. Available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch

“This is a story about a mother’s continuous love for her son as he goes through the stages of childhood to adolescence to manhood. Every night his mother sings to him, ‘I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you

Enjoy your special day!

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by B.J. Novak

Indeed, the book has no pictures, only silly words and nonsense phrases to get parents loosened up and children giggling. Recommended for ages 5 to 8. A Final Four contender in Mary Endres School’s March Madness Tournament of Books and recommended by Marti Frisbie, instructional coach. Available as an ebook or audiobook from the Woodstock Public Library; available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Call 815-338-1936 to schedule and/or get more details

“The Book with No Pictures”

For inspiration, go to #woodstock4all at thewoodstockindependent.com Send your photos and stories of Woodstock’s togetherness to #woodstock4all@ thewoodstockindependent.com The

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“At this time of year, my students and I love to read this book. Along with being a fun story, the book is great for learning days of the week, counting, recognizing colors, and learning about the life cycle of a butterfly. Eric Carle has a large selection of books that children enjoy reading.” Recommended for ages 3 and up. From Bridget Wand, preschool teacher of 3-year-olds, St. Mary School. Available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

“This book is perfect during rainy spring days. Watch as the rain triggers a humorous chain reaction of grouchiness and bickering in a small downtown. Once the rain stops and the sun breaks through the clouds, a rainbow appears. All is well and the merchants are helpful and neighborly again. The illustrations are large, colorful, and comical!” Recommended for ages 4 to 7. From Cindy Russell, Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool. Available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be,’ while rocking him as he sleeps. My mother read this book to me as a girl and then gave it to me to read to my boys. It’s become a sweet and, at times, tearfully happy time spent together.” Recommended for ages 4 and up. From Allissa DeLozier, art teacher at St. Mary School Available to order in print from Read Between the Lynes.

May 6-12, 2020

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

by David Shannon

St. Mary School. Available as an audiobook from the Woodstock Public Library; available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

the bus! The pigeon proceeds to try every trick in the book to get its way. Recommended for ages 2 to 6. Mary Endres School’s championship winner in the March Madness Tournament of Books, and recommended by Maggie Gomberg, third-grade dual-language teacher. Available as an audiobook from the Woodstock Public Library; available to order in print or as an audiobook from Read Between the Lynes.

“The Rain Came Down”

MARKETPLACE

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Marketplace

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Transactions filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office from April 9 to 14 ■ Residence at 8404 Richmond Road, Wonder Lake, was sold by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Carrollton, Texas, to Jade M. Glover, Wonder Lake, for $104,900. ■ Residence at 2445 Fairview Circle, Woodstock, was sold by D.R. Horton, Inc.-Midwest, Vernon Hills, to Kent Richard Huggins, Woodstock, for $305,000. ■ Residence at 1749 Woodside Drive, Woodstock, was sold by The Judicial Sales Corp., Chicago, to North Shore Holdings Ltd., Chicago, for $100,100. ■ Residence at 804 Dean St., Woodstock, was sold by Samantha Davenport, Crystal Lake, to Keil Mitchell, Woodstock, for $153,000. ■ Residence at 435 W. Laurel Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Rusell Evertsen, Woodstock, to Kristina J. Diana, Woodstock, for $189,000. ■ Residence at 8520 Coral Road, Wonder Lake, was sold by Shirl Bunzol, Arlington Heights, to Anthony Vicicondi, Wonder Lake, for $199,988. ■ Residence at 1410 Sandpiper Lane, Woodstock, was sold by The Thomas L. Labelle Trust No. 1, Marengo, to Tyler Parquette, Woodstock, for $239,900. ■ Residence at 1420 W. Longwood Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Michael J. Krol, Crystal Lake, to James Jeon, Bull Valley, for $575,000. ■ Residence at 318 Schryver Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Federal National Mortgage, Dallas, Texas, to Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County, McHenry, for $112,500.

Presented by: Kim Keefe REALTOR® 110 1/2 N Benton St, Woodstock, IL 60098 815-333-0014 • 815.790.4852 (call or text) Kim@TeamOpenDoors.com

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Workers clear invasive plants around trees at Wolf Oaks Woods, east of Woodstock, a property of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. The nonprofit conservancy obtained federal money for payroll costs.

‘Slipping through their hands’ Small businesses desperate for feds’ payroll funds By Susan W. Murray

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

When the bell sounded for round two of the Paycheck Protection Program on April 27, local businesses that failed to obtain a loan in the first round were hoping the second time would be the charm. Tom Grieco, owner of eight Tommy’s Red Hots – including the one in Woodstock – saw first-round funds run out before he received approval. “We’re in the line with everybody else,” Grieco said. “I couldn’t begin to tell you WHERE we are in line.” The Paycheck Protection Plan’s initial $349 billion was exhausted in 13 days. Despite the government’s $310 billion infusion of cash, Michelle

Toll, president and CEO of the State Bank Group, predicted “a big rush” to obtain funds. Being in line, as Grieco is, might be the key for eligible small businesses, nonprofits, contractors, and the self-employed to get loan approval.

‘Temporary patch’

The PPP is part of the $2 trillion dollar CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) that President Trump signed March 27. Designed to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll, loans cover eight weeks of payroll costs, including health benefits, contributions to pension and 401(k) programs, insurance, and state and local taxes. The program’s most attractive

provision is loan forgiveness. Provided that 75 percent of funds are used to keep employees on the payroll for eight weeks and that the remaining 25 percent goes to rent, mortgage interest, or utilities, the loan will be forgiven – in effect, becoming a grant. “The real benefit,” Toll said, “is to provide that temporary patch that’s needed for this time when the small businesses suffered some hardship.”

Nonprofits included

In late March, Lisa Haderlein, executive director of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County, heard from friends in her nonprofit network that PPP loan eligibility included nonprofits. When Haderlein discovered that Continued on Next page

Continued from Previous Page

Thank you to our Pet of the Week sponsor! Singleton Family McDonald’s

Hitting close to home

One of the local businesses that secured PPP funds in the first round was The Woodstock Independent. The paper’s revenue comes from three sources – 12 percent from legal notices and obituaries; 24 percent from subscriptions; and the remaining 64 percent from advertising. “We’re living hand-to-mouth,” coowner Paul Wormley said. Advertising has taken a gut punch while local businesses are closed – down by more than half – and payment for ads that have been published has slowed to a trickle as businesses struggle. “A 25 to 30 percent revenue decline usually means cutting staff,” Wormley said. Woodstock’s American Community Bank processed The Independent’s application for PPP funds on the Friday the program opened; by Sunday night, the paper had been approved for a its loan. “We’re going to use the funds to retain our staff,” Wormley said. “We can hold on as normal until July. We’ll have to get skinny in other areas.”

Critical for small business

Rick Francois, president and chief credit officer of American Community Bank, said that for many of the PPP-eligible small businesses in McHenry County, access to funds to cover payroll is “critical.” “We’ve received many notes of gratitude about what it means for those businesses to get access to those funds,” Francois said. Applicants shut out in the first round have a heightened sense of anxiety going into round two. “It’s very sad as you talk with customers who didn’t get a loan number,” said the State Bank Group’s Toll. “Their business is slipping through their hands.” And Tom Grieco? On April 29, his lender, Cornerstone National Bank, told him that he would receive approval this week “for sure.” “Thank God,” Grieco said.

MARKETPLACE

In business for 36 years, Obenauf Auction Service of Round Lake handles six live and 1,100 online auctions in a typical year for private individuals, municipal governments, and businesses that are liquidating. “When things are bad, we get busier,” said Linda Obenauf, who owns the business with her husband, Jim. While it remains to be seen whether the hit to the economy results in more auctions, the stayat-home order has complicated transactions for the auction service. “We pushed a lot of April auctions to May,” Obenauf said. “We know that people aren’t going to be able to come pick up [items].” Successful online bidders can retrieve their items only if the seller is an essential business that remains open.

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

May 6-12, 2020

Busier in bad times

Pet Week of the

13 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

the bank where the Land Conservancy has its funds would not process paycheck protection loans, she turned to her personal bank, the Harvard Savings Bank, part of the State Bank Group. Working with the lender, Haderlein submitted an application on April 7 or 8, just a few days after the program opened. Within five days, she received notice that the Land Conservancy had been approved for a loan of $55,000 to cover two months of payroll costs. “I’m relieved,” Haderlein said. With a mission to preserve and restore scenic and agricultural land in McHenry County, the Land Conservancy employs six full-time and three part-time staffers. The office staff has worked from home on bookkeeping, accounting, and acknowledging gifts. At the same time, the conservancy’s five preserves “are all getting visitors,” Haderlein said. The field staff has continued to work, driving to sites separately and maintaining social distance while working on projects. “They get a lot done,” Haderlein said. “They don’t have to deal with meetings; they’re very pleased.” Haderlein had drawn up a worstcase scenario budget, anticipating fewer donations, no fundraising events, and a 75 percent cut in workshop fees. Fortunately, she said, the nonprofit had set aside money over the past eight years to build up a three-month reserve. With the loan, the conservancy should not have to go deep into its reserves. “The loan does allow us to get through this and not eliminate staff,” Haderlein said.

The company employs 20 people, 10 of whom are full time. Three of the 10 full-time employees had to go on unemployment, while the remaining seven have continued to work behind the scenes from home. On April 12, the auction service learned that it had been approved for a paycheck protection loan for “right around $100,000,” Obenauf said. “The PPP is going to be advantageous for a lot of businesses, just to keep the doors open,” Obenauf said.

Woodstock • Marengo • Algonquin/Randall Rd. Huntley North & South • Hampshire • Genoa Carpentersville/Randall Rd. Helping Paws Animal Shelter is temporarily closed. March 4-10, 2020

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developMach, community McHenry to Hansevery | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00 Wednesday Grant Published with the opment Block administrator Community Devel on Low- and Mod- ment of Planning and y Department work program to do an iden- Count nt. opme households in e Devel Incom n HOME eratelizatio is to get the comborhood Revita “The whole idea and hear what we a tified Neigh FARM munity to come out to apply for Area. last a handful of Woodstock plans LMI homes in a Strategy week, say,” Mach told ation sessions the have called [the more. on to parents last nts, have to Public inform officials – at ts ... GARDEN CDBG to do work rd, too. In a notice sent – mostly city“[S]ome paren only a few reside School e ted peopl attrac Harva T, Pageis2 where they state . tant rs of Woodstock uni- week specific NRSA Please see GRAN input is impor By Larry Lough , those comm ions administrato announced the cancellaschool] and that ENT.COM although public In other words ss, according TOCKINDEPEND with similar situat District 200 y for $805,000 to the granting proce LARRY@THE WOODS they have dealt ational school-spon winners on continuing a could each qualif intern plan gh Show ties all and Art of throu er tion issue Lough By Larry Wint assuring will be available online in 13 languages. andconfive years “be counted” to break over stu- without spring the parent wrote sored residents t of over the next gardens your a • Preparing farming Aquaponics District 200 trips over paren planned,” the WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM LARRY@THE a . and secure.” Paper forms will be sent to houseis “safe the process them Straw bale gardening • State ag policies announced for l the trip as In late February, coronavirus just seems like about the North High Schoo high you holds that might not have internet PAGE 9 email. “[T]o me thatweek, of this endwas by the to take this cerns And trips dent at Woodstock ndent about the in an 3 U.S. access, which the Census Bureau estiAmong those have a notice le with this group Indepe Page the from contacted The to Italy big gambTime to stand up and be counted, should also Please see VIRUS trip nt stude a for Census Bureau with information about mates to be about 20 percent of the a- trip.” Woodstock.to be concerned no school’s plans despite intern need – ts population. your (including online respond to how sitit do break you if easier be might it But Paren with Future’ over spring avirus. & GARDEN FARM HOME,over the coron What does the census form want to unique 12-digit household ID). While ‘Experience the ting down in front of a computer. out section tional concern onald’s look Eight-page pullYou probably already have received the postcard was printed in English know? Number, names, sex, race, and 16-page pull-out section can Woodstock McD candidates Please see CENSUS Page 2 PAGE 15 a postcard urging McHenry County and Spanish, the census questionnaire profiles contested help you prepare for spring PAGE 15 By Larry Lough

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e temperatures 35 cOMMunity s, told the city son Park, wher s. or of Public Work this l court at Emric offi- cdirect etbal t some hoop baskthat 40 alendar on theittee ionrs Comm ts, which city portat playe ace sleeves to shoo Trans the year’s 30 projec resurf s and pro- gets and short ear mill in t time INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER classifiedThis h a five-y amen together swould work42 Tourn lassified cyear’s will launc By Larry Lough ht friend fair- to pooray broug ENT.COM uzzlescials hope32 s throu Sundghout to preveAntshopper street on p TOCKINDEPEND ents 44 de 60s stops would to get a photo of depleted supplies of toilet paper at Jewel-Osco in Woodstock. The uzzles which with ppavem , LARRY@THE WOODS gram to upgra s failing street on 33 will focus pandemic has caused local schools to close and events to be canceled. Story on Page 4. streets from coronavirus nOticesstock, rated public Wood 45 cantly more to fix. nOticessignifi $10 tion index” rating public cost d this week for ment 34 condi for our buck ined to then Bids will be opene to improve more spOrtsa “pave get more bang spOrts Streets determ can46 Wood Van “We poor. cts of s,” to fair but street contra Reick of ed failed ghout million in will be patch don’t pay for Republican Steve the seat since segments throu be “less than poor” rebuilding another if we legislative held than 200 street a stock-centered wait for stock, who has Landuyt said. year. Wood theSTRE hopes to win ETS, Page 3 ” will have to Woodstock this See The stepped aside, The By Larry sLough to live on a “failed was Franks M district. be year. stock If you happen DEPENDENT.CO won’tWood yt, Woodstock’ in November. crat because it TOCKIN Woodstock DemoLough third chances are it al ofleanto go over well with [taxpayers],” board of the Board Jeff tVan Landu “I ran asBya Larry the decision intoterm LARRY@THE WOODS s said. “Iplay street, however, the district’s politic RepubIndependen Independent district,” Frank Despite WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM LARRY@THE 2020 plan. last members Republican artyEducation, them,were member Bruce Farris said. a St., n two-p favorweek lia to included in the Calhou d E. Repub have a 671 St., seeme 671 E. orCalhoun crat ing thatwith to show we r to put School officials do have other neither two paths 60098 didn’t –bothe Will it be a Demo Woodstock, Dis- wanted Democratic dis-presented a times Woodstock, IL House IL s been some had Illinoi it licans such as the options, including some reduction of “hit” ins, the a two-year without Taxpayers lican.”desirable: Takedate system. If won’t escape 8-8040 against Frank can who wins as a Repub Phone: 815-33 60098 have run a candi nged up year? the debt by spending down the dishomea would raise would that levy I bond mil$161 challe the with this dealing in pain some and trict, seat for, When Reick trict 63 Fax: 815-338-8177 Phone: seat to run s of Marengo lion bond and 2012. 2 reserve fund, which Chief FinanFrank 2008property Pagetrict’s as much as taxes by owner’s School Woodstocknry debtupofthe He gave County Democrat Jack 815-338-8040 See ELECTION, McHe Thewoodstock in the Illinois HouseDistrict $700 each year, or spread the debt out cial Officer Risa Hanson told the board the office of win, 200. om won his first term Fax: 815-338-8177 independent.c and went on It comeschairm an in 2016. more than $25 million. 138 votes of Board down to a matter of, “You and add up to eight years to the payoff was now in 1998 by only representative can pay now, or you can pay later.” D-200 has used that surplus and asThewoodstock schedule. years 18 to serve independent.com See DEBT, Page 3 “I don’t think either of these is going And while a number of factors will

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BLUE RIBBON MILLWORK Visit blueribbonmillwork.com BULL VALLEY FORD Visit online at bullvalleyford.com CLASSIC CINEMAS curbside pickup, gift cards Order online at classiccinemas.com/ woodstock/program CLEARCHOICE SERVICES, INC. Visit online at clearchoiceillinois.com COPY EXPRESS curbside pickup, delivery Order online at copyexpressyes.com CRICKET WIRELESS Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. CRISISWEAR CLOTHING curbside pickup Order online at crisiswear.com D&A SALON AND APOTHECARY curbside pickup, delivery, gift cards Call to order 815-527-7559 DOLLAR GENERAL Open Monday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. DOLLAR TREE Open Monday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. DOWN 2 EARTH curbside pickup, gift cards facebook.com/down2earth107

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JIMMY’S MUSIC curbside pickup, e-lessons facebook.com/ jimmysmusiconthesquare KUNES Open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Order online at kuneswoodstock.com LINDAGEEZ CARDS AND GIFTS delivery Order online at lindageez.com LADY LUCK TATOO Open Monday-Saturday Noon to 7 p.m. M.D. TRAINS curbside pickup Order online at mdtrains.com MANY CLOUDS SMOKE SHOP curbside pickup Order online at manycloudssmokeshop.com MARY KAY delivery Call 847-494-9710

MURPHY’S FLOORING Visit murphysflooring.com NICA SHOOTING ACCESSORIES curbside pickup Order online at nicashooting.com O’REILLY AUTO PARTS curbside pickup Order online at locations.oreillyauto. com/il/woodstock/autoparts-3436. html Open Monday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. PARADOX SQUARED ESCAPE ROOM gift cards Visit paradoxsquared.com PET CARE IN MOTION Visit petcarinmotion.com R&S SCREEN PRINTING curbside pickup, delivery Order online at Randsonline.com RALPH’S GENERAL RENTAL curbside pickup, delivery Order online at ralphsrentall.com READ BETWEEN THE LYNES curbside pickup, gift cards Order online at facebook.com/

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Community

His travels a travail during pandemic By Janet Dovidio

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

COMMUNITY

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY TRICIA CARZOLI

Rev. Burt Absalon waves to passersby during a parade organized in honor of the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church.

‘Peeps’ plan parade for pastor Families at St. Mary show appreciation for Father Burt

By Janet Dovidio

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Many St. Mary Catholic Church parishioners recently honored their pastor, the Rev. Burt Absalon, in a special way. The idea grew out of a project that 20 church families have carried out for the past month. St. Mary School parent Erin Zecchin noticed that her children and their friends were especially lonely on the days of their birthdays. There could be no school recognition or a party with friends. She organized an online group she called “Parade Peeps” to gather their close friends to drive by a family’s house to honor the birthday person. They celebrated birthdays for all ages.

Sarah Pivnicka and her family are among the “Parade Peeps.” She and others appreciate how much outreach effort the pastor is making, with online prayer services, Masses, and conversations with the help of his deacons. He does not have associate pastors living with him at this time, so Pivnicka thought a parade would bring him joy and allow parishioners to express their gratitude. “I felt the parade would be a great way to show Father Burt how much we care about him and truly appreciate what he does for St. Mary parish,” she said. On Sunday, April 19, some 80 vehicles lined up on adjacent streets. At 3 p.m. the parade began to wind in front of Father Burt’s home. He was very surprised and enjoyed waving to each

vehicle. “I am overwhelmed with deep gratitude for the show of care for their pastor and St. Mary Church,” Father Burt said. “It goes to show that even in the midst of a call to stay apart, we can still be together. The church is very much alive!” Some families decorated their cars with signs and banners. Those in convertibles stood up and waved vigorously. “The parade not only brought joy to Father,” Pivnicka added, “but it also provided a positive opportunity for the parishioners to come together as a community during a time when we are unable to attend Mass or any other parish functions. It was a beautiful way for all of us to spend Divine Mercy Sunday together.”

Woodstock resident Vic Chudoba was in Japan on a business trip when the U.S. State Department sent a bulletin on March 18 urging all Americans to stay in place or return immediately. He returned to Woodstock on March 31 and placed himself in a two-week self-isolation, even though he did not have any coronavirus infection. “Since I do not have health care protection outside of the U.S., staying in place was not an acceptable option,” Chudoba said. His job is to provide sales, service, and technical support to customers in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, and Korea. His upcoming trips to Shanghai and Seoul Vic Chudoba were canceled. When he left Japan, its schools were closed but students still congregated in malls and game shops. Just as here, there were no masks, hand sanitizer, or toilet paper rolls in stores. Even with distancing restrictions, crowds of people were out on March 21 and 22 for the annual cherry blossoms time of viewing and partying. Even when stronger restrictions were in place, restaurants could still be open until 8 p.m. Chudoba made his own travel arrangements. His work in sales since 1984 has shown that government assistance with travel is poor, so he feels more comfortable with reserving his own flights.. His return ticket was non-refundable and non-changeable. This original ticket cost $885. On United.com, the cost of a new one-way coach ticket was $4,995. He managed to find help on a United phone number in Japan. After explaining his circumstances, the airline made the necessary changes without an additional charge. “I have now completed my 14-days of self-isolation,” he said. “The strange part is that after seeing that airports were checking travelers’ temperatures, and that this was a requirement before boarding at any foreign airport, I was not checked even once in my journey home. I was only asked if I had been to China, Korea, or Europe in the last two weeks.” He thanked people at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church “for their wonderful support,”

to find their botanical or Latin name in order to buy the correct plant. For example, many types of iris are on the market, but only one is native to Illinois. To find the native plant name, just do a simple internet search – iris native to Illinois. This often takes you to the following website – Illinoiswildflowers.info – which will have everything you need to know about growing that plant, and it includes photos. Some examples of attractive native flowers and shrubs for your landscape are show in the accompanying photos.

Anyone can join a birthday drive-by party By Lydia LaGue

NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

The world might be paused right now, but birthdays still happen every day. Nicole Jensen is aiming to make sure people can still have a happy birthday. When Jensen, 31, saw a post on the Pingree Grove community site showing a party parade, she knew it was something she wanted to do locally. Jensen focuses her parades in Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Huntley and Crystal Lake, but will also go further if it’s within a 40-minute radius. “I started a group on Facebook,” Jensen said. “People can join the group and if they’re interested; they can message me the dates of birthdays. Then I coordinate a route for when the birthdays are. She usually organizes five to nine birthdays, two days a week. “I rarely say no,” she said with a laugh. After people send her their information, she posts details of the party parade and lets people know the route so they can join, using Google Maps to figure out the route. “I also opened it up to local businesses and tow companies,” she said. “Star 105.5 has shown up. There have been some home improvement trucks and auto body shop trucks.” Jensen wants everyone to know they don’t have to be on Facebook to join the parade; it is a voluntary group effort for anyone who wants to bring a smile to others’ faces. “We all decorate our cars with happy birthday signs, balloons and streamers,” she said. “We have tow trucks that flash their lights. When we have Street Legal Auto Body come, they use their intercom and shout, ‘Happy Birthday’” The out-of-work restaurant manager and bartender has

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

In the age of COVID-19, drive-by birthday parades is the social-distancing alternative to parties. Max Oswald, Woodstock, waves to cars from his yard during a parade to celebrate his sixth birthday.

done party parades for people from 1 to 66 years old. “It’s fun; I enjoy it,” she said. “My husband has been in a couple parades with me, and he loves it. I’m out of work, so it’s just nice to do something that not only gets people out of the house, but it makes them forget about the hard times. It brings a smile to kids that don’t understand what’s going on.” The celebration is contagious. “Our first house yesterday – they must have told all their neighbors,” Jensen said. “The whole block was nothing but kids and parents celebrating a little girl’s birthday. It’s happy and nice to see. “I’ve lived out here for my whole life,” the Lake in the Hills resident said. “We know everyone, and it’s nice to see the same people connect and do such nice things in our towns. With all the things going on, a lot of people are so down. It’s nice to do something so simple and make everybody’s day.”

Mothers may pick up some free flowers for Mother Day’s this weekend in a “touchless delivery” at Bull Valley Ford, 1460 S. Eastwood Drive. Company President Jack Cronan said he had bought 200 pots to give out to mothers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, the day before Mother’s Day. Cronan said mothers may drive onto

COURTESY PHOTO

Here are some of the flowers Bull Valley Ford will offer to mother’s this weekend for Mother’s Day.

the lot, open the trunk or hatch, and have an employee of the dealership place the flower into the vehicle –“No charge; no strings attached,” Cronan said.

Food Shed Co-op connects local residents, local farms

The Food Shed Co-op has added resource pages to its website in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four new dedicated pages include links to local farms, local businesses, local nonprofit organizations, and local chambers of commerce. According to a news release, the goal of the added content is to help the community get through the pandemic by making it easy to identify sources of local food, local merchants who are still selling online, and local nonprofit organizations that desperately need donations. “We are fortunate in McHenry County to have access to local food and be at the interface where the big city meets rural agriculture,” according to the release. “Many local farmers have food available now that our community can utilize during the pandemic and help keep our farmers and local economy as healthy as possible at the same time.” On the local business page of the coop’s upgraded website, a few farm-totable restaurants are flagged that have safe pickup available for their menu items. The Food Shed Co-op has about 700 owners, local households that have invested in shares of stock to make the co-op happen. Information about the Food Shed Co-op is at foodshed.coop, or send email to info@foodshed.coop.

COMMUNITY

Parades of Joy

When the flowers of the native blue flag iris (Iris Virginia shrevei) are spent, they are replaced by oblong seed capsules. When the seed capsules and stems are dried out, they were used as rattles by Native American children and medicine men. Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum commutatum) has many light green flowers on the stem below the leaves, and each flower will be replaced by a darkblue berry that birds enjoy. You can also use native shrubs for color in the landscape. Wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis) has showy violet blue flowers and remains attractive throughout the growing season with bluish green leaves. The ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is recognized by its peculiar shredded bark and has attractive clusters of white blossoms that turn into red drooping fruit that holds the seeds. “To the attentive eye each moment of the year has it’s own beauty, and in the same field it beholds a picture that was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Nancy Shevel writes a gardening column for The Independent.

May 6-12, 2020

One of my goals in landscaping with flowers is to have something in bloom every month – if possible, more than one type of plant and in different colors. This is referred to as “continuous bloom” and Nancy can easily be Shevel done using native plants. Gardening Start by choosing perennials, preferably natives, that have the longest bloom time. Next, try to imagine the many colors you can choose from and how they will complement each other. The height of the plant when mature is a very big consideration in relation to the other plants planted in front or behind it. Besides perennial flowering plants, you can include ferns, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and even herbs to fill in between the flowers or as a background in the garden. If you wish to start using native plants in your landscape, you will need

Dealership giving away flowers for Mother’s Day

17 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Keep the blooms continuous

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Woodstock copes with coronavirus restrictions. Do you have photos? We would love to see them and publish some in print or online. Send them to woodstock4all@thewoodstockindependent.com. For more photos and information, visit Woodstock4All at thewoodstockindependent.com homepage.

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INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Woodstock North High School students Angelina Smith (left) and Samantha Keyzer pose with signs as they are photobombed by Maggie Thomas. They helped to deliver yard signs to 13 seniors in Woodstock and Wonder Lake who would have performed in the spring production of “The Wizard of Oz” before school events were canceled during the coronavirus pandemic.

Happenings

BY SUSAN W . MURRAY If you don’t ha ve th e p er sonal protective equip m a home on So ent – PPE – you need, Woodstock cauth Jefferson Street in of that. You w n help you with some ill for gowns an need another source d gloves.

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calendar

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

SENIOR LUNCH PICKUP

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK MOBILE PANTRY

6 WEDNESDAY Dorr Township offices 1039 Lake Ave. 11:30 - 12:15 Available to seniors, 60 and older $5 Call to reserve, 815-338-0125

9 SATURDAY

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET McHenry County Fairgrounds outside 11900 Country Club Road

11 MONDAY

Wonder Lake Neighbors Food Pantry 3506 E. Wonder Lake Road 12:30 p.m.

13 WEDNESDAY SENIOR LUNCH PICKUP

Dorr Township offices 1039 Lake Ave. 11:30 - 12:15 Available to seniors, 60 and older $5

Call to reserve, 815-338-0125

14 TUESDAY

D-200 BOARD MEETING Woodstock High School Learning Resource Center Meeting details to be announced 815-338-8200

16 SATURDAY

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET McHenry County Fairgrounds outside 11900 Country Club Road 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

To submit calendar items, email pr@thewoodstockindependent.com

19 TUESDAY

23 SATURDAY

By Zoom or conference call 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 420860115 7 p.m.

McHenry County Fairgrounds outside 11900 Country Club Road 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. woodstockfarmersmarket.org

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET

WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING

20 WEDNESDAY SENIOR LUNCH PICKUP

Dorr Township offices 1039 Lake Ave. 11:30 - 12:15 Available to seniors, 60 and older $5 Call to reserve, 815-338-0125

Resurrection Catholic Church

25 MONDAY MEMORIAL DAY

28 THURSDAY

WOODSTOCK FIRE RESCUE DIST. BOARD OF TRUSTEES 7 p.m. Zoom meeting

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.

FLASHBACKS

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 NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER 5115 Dean St. • 815-337-4673 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

30 years ago – 1990

25 years ago – 1995

■ Olson Middle School seventhgrader Billy Douglas, Woodstock, was collecting aluminum cans to recycle to raise money to help pay for a threeweek People to People experience in Australia. ■ Woodstock’s newly formed Fourth of July Committee, co-chaired by Dean Paulcheck and Dan Cooney, was raising funds to pay for fireworks that the committee decided would be on July 4 in Emricson Park. “We considered July 2 and July 3,” Paulcheck said, “but we were unanimous that it should be on the fourth.”

20 years ago – 2000

■ According to its owner, an empty lot on Eastwood Drive, south of East South Street, was being considered by Dominick’s Finer Foods as a possible location for one of its grocery stores. ■ Woodstock Musical Theatre Company presented “The Mikado” at the Opera House.

15 years ago – 2005

■ Woodstock Mayor Alan Cornue gave the annual “State of the City” address to members of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He said the city was in “excellent” condition. ■ Girl Scout Troop 309 and Brownie Troop 556 donated 103 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Woodstock Food Pantry. The Scouts and Brownies bought the cookies with donations they collected.

10 years ago – 2010

■ Cost-cutting measures continued in District 200 as the Board of Education approved honorably discharging 97 education support employees. Risa Hanson, chief financial officer, said the cuts would save the district $767,000. ■ About 400 Woodstock High School seniors participated in the 16th annual

Senior Service Day. Projects included roadside pickup, painting, and spring cleanup for the city of Woodstock and the school district, and providing assistance at day care centers and district elementary schools. Senior Casey Clemmons served as head crew chief.

5 years ago – 2015

■ A panel of architects, economists, developers, and other real estate industry experts from Chicago’s Urban Land Institute advised the city of Woodstock that a university or other institution of higher learning should be the primary tenant of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House. ■ Michele Aavang and Derik Morefield were recipients of McHenry County College’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognized alumni who demonstrated exceptional achievement in their chosen professions and who had made an impact on their communities. Aavang stood out as an agricultural industry leader and public official. Morefield, the chief administrative officer for the city of McHenry, was active in several organizations, including Rotary.

1 year ago – 2019

■ Lisa Lohmeyer, Wendy Piersall, and Darren Flynn were sworn in as new Woodstock City Council members. They succeeded incumbents who chose not to seek re-election. Maureen Larson bowed out after 12 years on the council; Mark Saladin had served a little more than eight years; and Dan Hart had served one four-year term. ■ John Headley, a retired teacher, was sworn in as a District 200 Board of Education member, having been elected April 2. He succeeded Russell Goerlitz, who did not seek re-election after serving on the board for 11 years. ■ The Independent won 24 awards in 14 categories in the Illinois Press Association’s annual Best of the Press competition. Reporting projects on the opioid crisis and homelessness in Woodstock earned eight awards. The opioid series, written by Susan W. Murray won three firsts and a third. The homeless series, reported by Murray and Tricia Carzoli, won four seconds. The Independent also won the coveted General Excellence award for its circulation category.

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COMMUNITY

■ REDEEMER LUTHERAN 1320 Dean St. • 815-338-9370 Worship: 8:45 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 a.m. weekdays ■ ST. ANN’S EPISCOPAL 503 W. Jackson St. • 815-338-0950 Worship: 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday ■ 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

■ Woodstock School District 200 increased its student lunch prices by 25 cents to $1.25 for elementary students and $1.35 for middle and high school students. ■ Experts said the proposed Windy Knoll Farm subdivision in Bull Valley could double the population of the village.

May 6-12, 2020

■ BAHA’I COMMUNITY OF WOODSTOCK Gatherings are open to the public the second Saturday of each month. For information: 815-337-0126 woodstock.bahais@gmail.com ■ BLUE LOTUS TEMPLE & MEDITATION CENTER 221 Dean St. • 815-337-7378 Meditation: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Saturday; 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday ■ CASA DE BENDICION 8015 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake (Crystal Lake Christian Church) Worship: 1 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday ■ CHRIST LIFE 13614 W. Jackson St. • 815-338-4934 Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday ■ COVENANT REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH 4609 Greenwood Road P.O. Box 463 • 815-575-9612 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ EDEN BAPTIST 1903 N. Seminary Ave. • 815-814-7847 Worship: 3 p.m. Sunday (Spanish) ■ FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST 111 W. South St. • 815-338-2731 Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday ■ FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 2018 N. Route 47 • 815-338-2627 Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Facebook and YouTube ■ FIRST UNITED METHODIST 201 W. South St. • 815-338-3310 fumcwoodstock.org Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Sunday school for children 9:45 a.m. ■ FREE METHODIST 934 N. Seminary Ave. • 815-338-3180 Worship: 10:30 a.m. ■ GOOD NEWS CHURCH Meeting at Dorr Township Community Room, 1039 Lake Ave. 815-575-9224 goodnewswoodstock.org Worship: 10:15 a.m. Sunday ■ GRACE FELLOWSHIP 200 Cairns Court • gfchurch.org Worship: 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday ■ GRACE LUTHERAN 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road 815-338-0554 Worship: 5 p.m. Saturday (informal traditional); Sunday 8:30 a.m. (traditional), 10:45 a.m. (contemporary) ■ HOUSE OF BLESSING 2018 N. Route 47 (First Presbyterian Church building) cbhbfil413.com Worship: 1 p.m. Sunday

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May 6-12, 2020

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ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on APRIL 23, 2020 An Assumed Name Business Certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk in McHenry County, IL under the following business name and address, and setting forth the names and addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting business known as: LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL BARRETT located at 530 ROCKLAND ROAD CRYSTAL LAKE IL 60014. Owner Name & Address: MICHAEL T. BARRETT SR. 530 ROCKLAND ROAD CRYSTAL LAKE IL 60014. Dated: APRIL 23, 2020 /s/ JOSEPH J. TIRIO (McHenry County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent May 6, 2020)L11029

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SPORTS

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Sports

Spring Senior Salute

Two-sport college athlete headed High school athletes recognized for the season that never was for law school Life for Woodstock North graduate Isabella Mazzanti at University of Dubuque was about challenges. Both athletically and academically. The former track athlete, who competed in cross country in the fall, not only passed the challenges of track and field, but she might have even passed the chal- Dan Chamness lenges of the The College classroom even Report more successfully. It would be hard to argue with a 3.9 gradepoint average, seven semesters on the Dubuque dean’s list, and graduating magna cum laude. Not to mention, the seven-time college letter-winner – four in cross-country and three in track – is headed to University of Illinois-Chicago’s John Marshall Law School in the fall. “When I graduated early in December and decided to forgo my final season of track and field, Isabella I had no Mazzanti idea the coronavirus was going to cancel the season for the entire spring,” Mazzanti said. “Both track and cross-country gave me great opportunities to succeed. They have equipped me with lifelong skills I will carry with me as I further my academic career and one day begin my career as an attorney.”

See COLLEGE, Page 27

Local high schools’ spring athletes had just begun to practice when the season was halted and eventually ended before it ever really began. During the school year, our sports section in The Independent is typically packed with photos and coverage of high school sports. This spring, however, has been different. We’ve featured stories on how athletes are coping with the shelter-in-place order and how some sports are still managing to take place, but we miss sharing the efforts and accomplishments of our spring season teams, including

softball, baseball, girls soccer, boys tennis, lacrosse, and boys and girls track and field. Senior year is often when these athletes really shine, excelling in both skills and leadership. Even though they never had a chance to represent their schools in conference play or make a bid for sectional and state competition, each athlete who came out for a sport this spring made a commitment and deserves recognition. We feel the loss for the underclassmen who missed out on a chance to

grow and learn, and we look forward to following them next year. We want to recognize the seniors who missed their year to shine. Over the next few weeks, we will pay tribute to the senior athletes from each sport at each school, recognizing them by name and offering memories and comments provided by their coaches, accompanied by highlight photos from Woodstock Independent photographers from last season. -Sandy Kucharski Woodstock Independent Sports Editor

Marian Girls Soccer

Tributes provided by head coach Brittany Solomon “I wish all the seniors the best of luck. I was really looking forward to seeing you all accomplish so much this season. I know it would have been our best season yet, but we do go out on a high note: In the 2020 season, you will always be undefeated! Undefeated on the field and undefeated in spirit!”

Mackenzie Goad

Mackenzie is a strong outside defender who helped keep our back four solid, has a strong foot, and could always be relied on to put in the effort. Mackenzie will be attending the University of Arkansas in the fall and is currently undecided on her major.

Emma Balduf

Emma has played several

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

Marian Central Catholic High School defender Zoe Villont clears the ball May 1, 2019, when the Lady ’Canes hosted Carmel. positions for us, from stopper and center mid to forward. She has great ball control and is able to help us control the middle of the field. She has really stepped up in the leadership role for the team

and is one of our captains this year. Emma will be attending the University of Wisconsin Platteville in the fall to study forensic investigation. Continued on NEXT Page

Continued from previous page

Ellie Fortin

Ellie has really stepped up over the past couple of years, and her ball control and strength on the field were vital in helping us control the ball through the middle of the field. She played stopper, mid-field, and forward at different points for us and is a captain for the year. Ellie will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall and is currently undecided on her major.

Zoe Villont

Hailea Sacco-Nicketta

INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

Marianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ellie Fortin kicks the ball May 11, 2019, in the regional against Woodstock North.

Hailea is an outside mid, using her strong legs to help move the ball up and down the field. She has improved a lot over the course of the past seasons and has been able to add power and distance to her crosses. Hailea will be attending Auburn University in the fall to study biomedical science.

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Zoe, a captain for the team, is an amazing player with leadership skills both on and off the field. She puts her heart into everything she does and really made our team stronger because of it. She has the strength and tenacity to play any position you ask her to, but we really relied on her to lead the team as a center defender. Zoe will be attending and playing soccer in the fall at Trinity International University and studying criminal justice.

May 6-12, 2020

Megan has improved so much over the course of her time on the team. She has played as a forward for us and has really begun to be dynamic working with the other forwards moving the ball and making opportunities for us at the net. Megan will be attending Clemson University in the fall to study business.

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Megan Dowling

SPORTS

May 6-12, 2020

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

4x200m relay; 2019, triple jump, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles). He placed fifth in the IHSA state finals in triple jump in 2019.

Dakota Sandberg

Dakota is a four-year member of the track and field team. He was the Most Improved Participant in 2019. He blossomed junior year in high jump and triple jump.

Woodstock North High School Boys Track& Field

Jameson Teuber

Tributes provided by head coach John Fredericks “This was supposed to be a big season for us. Our seniors have performed at a high level from sophomore year to now. Expectations were so extremely high for us. The plan over the years for this class was to culminate at the IHSA sectional meet. We won it last year and intended to take it again this year. It’s disappointing that these seniors did not get the opportunity to defend the IHSA sectional title.”

LaJuahn Bryant

Jameson is a 4-year member of the track and field team, where he has been a consistent team contributor in distance races since freshman year. INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTOS

Left: Elijah Pena jumps to a win in the triple jump at the Kishwaukee River Conference May 9, 2019. Right: Aidan Filetti prepares to hand off to Keith Webb in the 4x100 relay. captain, and two-time state qualiLaJuahn just transferred in Janfier (2018, 4 x 400 meter relay; uary and would have been in 2019, 4 x 100 relay and open sprints and horizontal jumps. 400m). Aidan also was a high jumper, and I planned to give him Aidan Filetti a look at long jump this season. Aidan is a four-year member of the track and field team, two-year

Sean Jaco

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

THANK YOU TO OUR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSOR!

This was Sean’s first season. He would have been a thrower. He came out for track in an effort to salvage his senior athletic season after being injured in the first football game of the season. Due to the football injury, Sean also missed wrestling season.

Dane Williams

Dane is a two-year team member and was a key contributor in sprints and sprint relays.

Austin Zieman

Austin is a three-year team member, two time state qualifier (2018, 4x400m relay; 2019, long jump). He made the finals in long jump in 2019, finishing 12th in the state.

Colin Zinn

Colin is a four-year member of the track and field team, twoyear captain, and two-time state qualifier (2018, 4x200 relay; 2019, 4x100 and 4x200 relays).

Ruben Martinez

Ruben is a four-year member of the track and field team, participating as a thrower. Rueben also ran in “weightmen relays” (4x100 relays for throwers) in the nonpoint-scoring events at some invitational meets. Woodstock North weightmen earned many first place finishes and medals.

Mason Mathews

Mason is a four-year member of the track and field team and a thrower. Like Rueben, Mason also ran in “weightmen relays.”

We look forward to sponsoring future athletes! 815-355-0661 • SportsCityAcademy.com SportsCity Academy is temporarily closed

Elijah Pena

Elijah is a four-year member of the track and field team, twoyear captain, and two-time state qualifier (2018, triple jump and

Austin Zieman wins the long jump at the IHSA sectionals May 15, 2019.

Continued from Page 24

COIURTESY PHOTO

with a 1,500-meter best time of 5 minutes, 5 seconds and an 800 time of 2:24. In the 1,600 relay, she posted a split time of 63 seconds in her leg

Dan Chamness writes The College Report for The Independent.

NN SCOREBOARD NN NO SCORES TO REPORT ALL SCHOOL SPORTS CANCELED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

SCOREBOARD PRESENTED BY

SPORTS

Isabella Mazzanti runs her leg of a relay for the University of Dubuque.

communication degree. During her athletic career, she was named to the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as well as the American Rivers Conference All-Academic Teams. During the summer months of 2019, she was an intern at the office of the McHenry County state’s attorney.

May 6-12, 2020

After setting three school track records at Woodstock North, she exploded onto the scene as a Dubuque freshman. In high school, she set the record for the 1,600- and 800-meter runs. She was also part of the record setting 1,600 relay team. In college, she would participate in the 1,500 and 800 individually. She was also one of the members of the 1,600 relay and the 3,200 relay. “The 1,500-meter was my main focus in college, and the 1,600meter was my main focus in high school,” Mazzanti said. “Individually, I liked the 1,500-meter best, and the 1,600-,meter is my favorite relay to run. I love the 1,500 because each race is different based on competition in the race. I enjoyed the challenge of it. “I enjoyed the 1,600-meter relay because it was the last event of the meet and the intensity of it. You can feel the energy from your teammates while running it, and that is tremendous. Each race is rewarding in its own way, and I will miss running those two events in a competitive environment.” She finished her collegiate career

of the relay. “When entering college and becoming a member of the track team, I was surprised by how many new events that were added for college competition,” Mazzanti said. “Events like the heptathlon, javelin, and steeple-chase were all new events to me. I really liked watching those events. One of the highest points was also one of the final moments of my track career. I was able to run the 3,200-meter relay at the outdoor conference track meet with my best friends. We got to run that last relay race together, and it was a very special feeling.” The daughter of Cristina Mazzanti of Woodstock graduated from Dubuque in December 2019 with a degree in communication. She was a member of Alphi Chi, Iowa National Honor Society, and Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication National Honor Society, serving as president of the Dubuque Chapter. In addition, she earned the Stanley E. Schwartz Communication Scholarship, which is awarded for her academic achievements, level of participation in the communication department, and mentoring students, who were also involved in getting a communication degree or were considering getting a

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Woodstock Little League opening day in 1963 is shown. Pictured from left: Lester Richards, Orlow Davis, Bill Watermann, Miss Woodstock Judy Conway, Illinois Dairy Princess Patricia Hogan, Little League President Dwayne Raney, and Marvin Krause.

All of the McHenry County Historical Society programs have been canceled until further notice.

Don Peasley Photo Collection, McHenry County Historical Society

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Order for Pickup or Delivery Your favorite restaurants and stores have gotten creative and are offering meals, products, specials and even cocktails to go. Call or order online for curbside pickup and delivery.

Buy a Gift Card Shop online and purchase gift cards from local retailers and restaurants, and you are helping Woodstock businesses keep the doors open and lights on.

In these difficult times, the Woodstock community continues to come together. While non-essential businesses are closed, you can support your community in a number of ways.

Donate to an Area Non-Profit We are living through a public health, economic and mental health crisis. Your support now will help an organization, its clients—and your community.

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JOSE RE JY OSE RE

Keefe is thrilled to welcome Jose Rey, who has joined our team of Keefe is thrilled to welcome Jose Rey, who has joined our agents at our Woodstock office. Jose brings over 35 years of real ourWisconsin Woodstock office. Jose STREET brings over 35 year 402 BLAKELY estate experience, is dual licensed Dinagents Illinois at and and is fluent LD L estate experience, dual licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin and of our otheris expert agentsa today! O one first time home buyer, SOin Spanish. Stop by to see himinSor Spanish. Stop by to see him As or one of our other expert agent I definitely appreciated

Keefe Real Estate has been servicing residential, commercial and land all his help. Keefe Real Estate has been servicing residential, commercial a Jake customers throughout Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin for customers throughout Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisco over 75 years. over 7

KEEFE REAL ESTATE WELCOMES

JOSE REY

Visit our Woodstock office!

JOSE REY, CRS e-PRO Visit our Woodstock office! Keefe Woodstock Office 11705 Catalpa Lane Keefe Woodstock Office BROKER Woodstock, IL 60098 11705 Catalpa Lane Keefe RealLICENSED Estate has been servicing commercial & and WISCONSIN land INresidential, ILLINOIS (815) 900-2474 customers throughout Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin for Woodstock, IL 60098 75 years. CELL: 815.861-2757 over EMAIL: jose@joserey.com (815) 900-2474 Visit our Woodstock office! WEBSITE: www.joserey.com K E E F E R E A L E S TAT E . C O M Keefe Woodstock Office 11705 Catalpa Lane K E E F E R E A L E S TAT E . C O M Woodstock, IL 60098 2019 Heartland Realtor of the Year (815) 900-2474

Keefe is thrilled to welcome Jose Rey, who has joined our team of agents at our Woodstock office. Jose brings over 35 years of real estate experience, is dual licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin and is fluent in Spanish. Stop by to see him or one of our other expert agents today!