Woodstockindependent 1 13 16

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

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Jan. 13-19, 2016

Woodstock

Jan. 13-19, 2016

I NDEPENDENT The

Published every Wednesday

Est. 1987

Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill.

www.thewoodstockindependent.com

$1.00

NEWS

EDUCATION

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Police respond to complaint, arrest teens for breaking into cars

Aurora, Challenger Center repurpose building spaces

Jan. 30 lecture to personalize fates of children during the Holocaust

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Legal battle brews between BV chief, LITH man Man seeks compensation after battery charges were dropped, chief responds with lawsuit alleging defamation

By STEPHANIE PRICE The Independent

A dispute that started over a traffic ticket in Bull Valley last summer has grown into a legal battle between a Lake in the Hills man and the village’s

police chief.

Charles Casamento filed a $2.1 million lawsuit Dec. 18 against the village of Bull Valley, Police Chief James Page and Officer Al Antonio. e suit was in response to battery charges police filed against Casamento Nov. 24. e

McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office motioned to drop the charges during a Dec. 18 arraignment court appearance, which was granted.

Casamento, a Lake in the Hills painter, is seeking a total of $2 million in punitive damages from the village and another

$100,000 in compensatory damages to cover his attorney fees and court expenses, according to the lawsuit filed in McHenry County Court.

Casamento started a Facebook page Please see Bull Valley, Page 3

Humane society rescues 14 mini horses

BRICK BY BRICK

HAHS is searching for homes for ‘minis’

By SANDY KUCHARSKI The Independent

e Hooved Animal Humane Society has rescued 14 miniature horses after one of their owners and primary caretaker died. e horses were brought from Central Illinois to the HAHS farm in Woodstock at 10804 McConnell Road last month.

One of the horses’ owners died suddenly, and the other had serious health problems that prevented him from being able to care for them, according to HAHS executive director Tracy McGonigle. e minis, which are 10 to 15 years old, appear to have been well-fed, suffer mostly from lack of farrier Mark Alcazar, Woodstock, helps his 3-year-old son, Kyle Alcazar, build with blocks during the Woodstock Public Library’s Lego Night Jan. 6. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY WHITNEY RUPP

Please see Mini horses, Page 3

Local enterprise zone goes into effect

By KATELYN STANEK The Independent

INDEX

State and local incentives can start flowing to businesses looking to locate or expand within the Harvard-Woodstock enterprise zone after it received certification from the state of Illinois. e 7.7-square mile territory was approved for an enter-

prise zone in August, but the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said at the time it could not certify any of the 49 approved zones due to “fiscal uncertainty” stemming from the ongoing budget impasse in Springfield. e department officially signed off on the zones in December, a move which will

allow state and local governments to grant tax breaks and reduced regulations to businesses within the geographically defined zones.

“We’re excited that we’re really the first one in McHenry County to have this designation,” said Woodstock Councilman Mark Saladin, one of five members of the HarvardWoodstock enterprise zone

oversight board. “We’re excited to get going.”

Enterprise zones are intended to spur development in depressed or economically stagnant areas by offering sweeteners to attract business and industry. e zone could be in effect for as long as 25 years, pending approval of an Please see Enterprise, Page 3

OBITUARIES

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COMMUNITY

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OBITUARIES

OPINION

5

CALENDAR

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END QUOTE

EDUCATION

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Benjamin Rigby, Woodstock Donald R. Steffen, Rockford

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PUBLIC NOTICES

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“I was doing a happy dance.”

SPORTS

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A&E MARKETPLACE

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— Patrice Braun, page 11

Miniature horses stand in a barn Jan. 5 at the Hooved Animal Humane Society, 10804 McConnell Road. HAHS recently rescued the horses.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY STEPHANIE PRICE

The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 www.thewoodstockindependent.com

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Jan. 13-19, 2016

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

NEWS

ComEd: System upgrade caused recent outages Digital upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of January

By STEPHANIE PRICE The Independent Recent modernization work at an electrical substation in the Woodstock area is to blame for some recent power outages, but system upgrades are scheduled to be completed this month.

ComEd spokesperson John Schoen said the company has been working to add digital upgrades to the substation to provide businesses and residents with improved reliability. e results will be a “smart substation,” which uses state-of-the-art technology to help prevent power outages, Schoen said. e digital upgrades on the Woodstock substation are expected to be completed by the end of January, according to a letter ComEd mailed Dec. 18 to about 8,000 area customers. “ e work is part of a $2.6 billion Smart Grid modernization upgrade ComEd has been doing in the whole (Chicago) area,” Schoen said.

Ironically, the recent work ComEd has been performing on the substation – aimed at preventing and/ or shortening power outages – may have contributed to several outages in Woodstock over the past year. While upgrades were being made, the system experienced events, such as the

Nov. 13 wind storm, that resulted in a total of 70,000 customers without power throughout the Chicago market, Schoen said.

“While under construction, ComEd operates its system differently to ensure the safety of its employees,” the letter from ComEd read. “Under normal system conditions, these events would most likely not have resulted in outages.”

As ComEd continues to make improvements to the system, the company strives to ensure the work is being completed in a manner which keeps the electric system reliable while under construction, the letter stated. Most customers, about 90 percent, had power restored within five hours, Schoen said. e outages didn’t impact all of Woodstock, he said.

“Part of the reason we were able to have the power restored so fast is because of the Smart Grid upgrades we’ve been doing,” Schoen said.

ComEd customers who experience an outage should call 1-800-Edison-1 immediately. e company has a number of tools available that customers can use to obtain information about the status and cause of their outages.

Customers can sign up for ComEd’s outage alerts text messaging online at ComEd.com/text or by texting ADD OUTAGE to COMED (26633). Customers can also download the ComEd mobile app, available for Apple and Android devices, or visit ComEd.com/ report for ways to manage outage information.

NEWS

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Jan. 13-19, 2016

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Two teens arrested for car break-ins Police say minors are responsible for multiple burglaries in Woodstock since last month

By STEPHANIE PRICE The Independent Woodstock Police arrested two teenage boys Jan. 6 who they said are connected to numerous car break-ins in Woodstock since last month.

At 3:40 a.m. Jan. 6, the Woodstock Police Department received a complaint that two males were attempting to enter a car parked in a driveway in the 500 block of Blakely Street, Police Chief Robert Lowen said in a news release.

Upon arriving on the scene, patrol officers saw two teens who matched the description given by the caller. e teens were running in the rear parking lot area

Mini horses

Continued from Page 1

care, as their hooves are overgrown and, in some cases, double curled, McGonigle said. McGonigle and her HAHS team estimated some hooves hadn’t been trimmed for four to five years. e overgrown hooves impact a horse’s gait, leg muscles, bones and ability to walk.

“We were very concerned about the bones in their legs,” McGonigle said.

HAHS staff and investigators traveled several hours south with a large trailer and found the 14 miniature horses, including one stallion, in need of immediate farrier care. e owner was receptive to the HAHS’ offer to help, McGonigle said.

HAHS staff took eight of the most critical cases and, immediately, brought them back to Woodstock to begin rehabilitation. e following week, HAHS workers returned to rescue the remaining six miniature horses. All the horses received farrier care, a veterinarian exam, blood work and much-needed dental care.

Staffers said all the horses are making great progress and seem to be walking – and galloping – more comfortably, as displayed when the horses were released into the arena Jan. 5 and broke into a joyful run.

Most of the minis will undergo several more treatments by the farrier before their hooves, leg muscles and bones have healed and returned to normal.

Enterprise

behind Woodstock High School, 501 W. South St., Lowen said. e officers identified themselves to the teens, who then fled. A brief foot chase ensued. Despite officers ordering the boys “numerous times” to stop running, they continued to flee, according to the statement. Eventually, the officers caught a 15-year-old boy and took him into custody. e second teen, a 16-yearold boy, was not apprehended at the time.

During an interview with Woodstock detectives, the 15-year-old revealed the identity of his 16-year-old accomplice, police said. Detectives went to the 16-year-old's home, located just outside

Each new arrival has been given a name. e first group of horses rescued were named after characters from the 1983 movie “ e Outsiders,” such as Pony Boy and Soda Pop. e second group received names relating to the Harry Potter book series, including Gilderoy and Hermione.

McGonigle estimates the horses will be available for adoption in about two months.

“Our goal is to make sure everyone is OK and find loving, fun homes for each of them,” she said.

She encouraged potential adopters to send in applications now. Adoption fees start at approximately $500. Anyone interested in learning more about the miniature horses or adopting one should call HAHS at 815-337-5563.

HAHS has started a fundraising page to help pay for the costs associated with caring for the minis. Individuals wishing to contribute can visit the Generosity.com by Indiegogo page. As of Jan. 6, HAHS had collected $1,305 of its $4,000 goal.

HAHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue and protection of hooved animals. Currently, the farm is caring for 62 horses, 24 potbelly pigs, 20 goats and five sheep. e Independent’s Stephanie Price contributed to this article.

Continued from Page 1

extension at the 15-year mark.

Saladin said some business owners have inquired about incentives since the enterprise zone was approved. e contiguous enterprise zone connected by Highway 14 covers the industrial and commercial zones of Woodstock and Harvard, including a defunct Motorola plant in Harvard that has sat empty since 2003.

Although the 1.5-million-square-foot plant is on the radar of the enterprise zone board, zone administrator Charles Eldredge said he believes empty industrial buildings along McConnell Road in Woodstock have a better shot at redevelopment in the near-term.

“Frankly, I don’t think anything we do in McHenry County [for the Motorola plant] is going to be decisive,” Eldredge said. “… e city of Woodstock has had a number of businesses closing and leaving over the last couple of years, which has left a number of very attractive commercial and industrial buildings behind. I think filling those buildings in Woodstock is likely to be high on the list.”

Among the local incentives being offered within the Harvard-Woodstock enterprise zone are property tax breaks from the cities of Harvard and Wood-

stock and Harvard School District 50 and reduced building-permit fees. e state offers a 0.5 percent income-tax credit for qualifying construction or expansion projects and the elimination of state sales tax for building materials, according to Eldredge.

Eldredge said local incentives could change over time, adding the board will likely approach other units of government about providing additional property tax breaks. “ is is a work in progress,” Eldredge said. “As we go forward, we expect to talk to other taxing bodies and invite them to participate as well.”

In addition to Saladin, the board is made up of Woodstock’s Larry O’Connor Jr., CEO of Other World Computing; Harvard City Administrator Dave Nelson; Harvard real estate developer Mark Stricker; and McHenry County Board Member Larry Smith, who represents District 6.

Saladin said he believes the incentives could be the “tipping point” for businesses looking to locate or expand in the area.

“I want it to be an impetus for business owners to site or expand in Woodstock or Harvard, so we can see some positive economic impacts of commercial and industrial businesses,” Saladin said.

of the city limits of Woodstock in unincorporated Woodstock, and met with his guardian. Although the boy was not home at the time, he returned a short time later. e teen was immediately taken into custody by police and transported to the Woodstock Police Department, Lowen said.

“After completing interviews with both juveniles, it was determined they were connected to numerous recently reported burglaries to motor vehicles that have occurred in Woodstock since December of 2015,” Lowen said.

After conferring with the McHenry County States Attorney’s Office, the following charges were filed against both

Bull Valley

juveniles: two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony; one count of attempted burglary, a Class 3 felony; two counts of theft under $500, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. e teens were transported to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center in St. Charles, pending an upcoming court proceeding, Lowen said. e Woodstock Police Department encourages anyone who may have been a victim of an unreported burglary to motor vehicle within the city limits of Woodstock to report it by calling 815-338-2131 or by visiting the Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Ave.

Continued from Page 1

last summer that is critical of the Bull Valley police force. He attended a village board meeting Nov. 24, and upon leaving the meeting, police allege he slammed the Village Hall door shut, thereby hitting Page with the door. Casamento posted surveillance video of the alleged incident online, in which the door does not appear to hit the officer. e Lake in the Hills man was arrested, charged with battery and forced to pay 10 percent of a $1,500 bond to be released.

In his lawsuit, Casamento claims he was wrongfully arrested and handcuffed to a wall fixture at the police department/Village Hall at 1904 Cherry Valley Road. e case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning charges can’t be refiled in the matter.

Casamento’s lawsuit states his arrest was retaliation for his vocal criticism of the village and, more specifically, its police practices. e suit claims Casamento suffered “physical pain and mental anguish, was subject to public ridicule, was humiliated and grossly inconvenienced.” e arrest also damaged his reputation and business, according to the complaint.

Bull Valley village officials referred inquiries about the suit to the village’s attorney, Dominick Lanzito. Lanzito said the village received the lawsuit but would not comment publicly on any litigation.

Page has since filed his own lawsuit Dec. 23 against Casamento, accusing the Lake in the Hills business owner of libel and defamation. Page is seeking $150,000 in punitive damages. His lawsuit accuses Casamento of making multiple “false and malicious” statements about the chief on social media. e suit says Casamento publicly stated several times that Page lied and committed perjury on the stand, which Page contends was false. e painter also allegedly stated Page was never formerly

employed by the Dallas Police Department, which was a false statement as well, the lawsuit alleges.

Page also is accusing Casamento of purporting to be a female to connect with Page’s daughter on social media in order to obtain private photographs of Page and his family members. e photographs – which included Page’s wife, son and daughter – also were allegedly posted on Casamento’s Facebook page, “Justice from Bull Valley Police Department.” ey appear to have since been deleted from the page.

According to Page, Casamento’s “false” statements have caused the chief sleep deprivation, created tensions with his employer, subjected him to public ridicule, had Page fear for his safety and caused him emotional distress.

Robert Hanlon, Page’s attorney, said he plans to legally exercise Page’s rights, but would not comment further on the pending litigation. e dispute between Casamento and Bull Valley Police started last summer when one of Casamento’s subcontractors was ticketed for driving an unmarked commercial vehicle in the village. e village has been enforcing a little-known Illinois law enacted in 1996 requiring business names to be posted on commercial vehicles used by contractors and subcontractors.

Casamento was outraged by the fine and contacted NBC 5 Chicago News, which aired a news report on the rural village’s ticketing practices. Bull Valley began enforcing the law after a string of burglaries in the area involving offenders driving unmarked contractors’ vehicles, Page told e Independent last summer.

Since then, Casamento has been posting critical remarks on social media regarding the police issuing tickets for overweight trucks and other offenses.

The Woodstock Independent ÈÇ£Ê °Ê > Õ Ê-Ì°ÊUÊ7 `ÃÌ V ]Ê Ê 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 The Woodstock Independent (USPS #001287) is published weekly at 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098-3213.

Periodicals postage paid at Woodstock, Illinois.

POSTMASTERS: Forward address changes to The Woodstock Independent, 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098-3213.

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Jan. 13-19, 2016

NEWS

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

OBITUARIES

Benjamin Rigby Benjamin Rigby, 88, Woodstock, died peacefully Jan. 5, 2016, at his home surrounded by family.

He was born Feb. 2, 1927, to Benjamin and Anna (Wilson) Rigby in Crystal Lake.

On May 7, 1949, he married Joyce Eckert in Crystal Lake.

He graduated in 1945 from Crystal Lake High School.

He served in the U.S. Army in Italy from 1947 to 1948, and he was awarded the Purple Heart for combat duty from 1950 to 1951, during the KoBenjamin rean War. Rigby He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, and held various roles. He loved others and served God in all he did. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts for 13 years and managed and coached various Little League teams. He served on the city of Woodstock Police and Fire Commission during the terms of Mayors Cooney and Kuhn, and after 36 years of employment with Illinois Bell Telephone Company, he retired in 1983. He then worked with his sons at Rigby Brothers

Lawn Service.

He spent the winters in Bonita Springs, Fla., with his wife and volunteered at the Timber-Lee Christian Camp in East Troy, Wis., during the summer months.

Above all, he enjoyed being with his family. He spent countless hours cheating at cards, swinging on the porch and having fun with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who dearly loved him.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, David (Kathie), Johnsburg, Paul (Carol), Glenview, John (Marla), Woodstock, and Mark (Jennifer), Woodstock; 11 grandchildren, Benjamin Rigby, Kristin (Jesse) Messerli, David (Lauren) Rigby, Michael (Elizabeth) Rigby, Elizabeth (Greg) Masching, Stephen (Karis) Rigby, Ryan (Jeff) Mousty, Nicole (Nathan) Huiras, Jessie (Jeremiah) Justice, Amy Rigby and Christopher Rigby; 13 great-grandchildren, Jaiden, Tyler, Nathan and Dillan Mousty, Jovi, Indiana, and Jacob Messerli, Grey and Eli Rigby, Caleb, Annabelle and Eleanor Masching and Caroline Rigby.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Annabel Rigby and Pearl (Wesley) Judson; and a grandson, Jacob Matthew Rigby.

Memorials can be made in his name to Timber-Lee Christian Center, 2381 Scout Road, East Troy, WI 53120 or First Presbyterian Church, 2018 N. Route 47, Wood-

stock, IL 60098.

The visitation and memorial service were held Jan. 9 at First Presbyterian Church. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery.

Donald R. ‘Don’ Steffen Donald R. “Don” Steffen, 67, Rockford, formerly of Woodstock, died Jan. 3, 2016, in Alpine Fireside Health Center.

He was born Sept. 9, 1948, to Walter and Bertha (Wienke) Steffen in Woodstock.

On July 8, 1972, he married Ruth Mahnke at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rockford.

He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1966. He then attended the University of Houston. His education was interrupted by U.S. Army service. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a radio operator and was awarded the Purple Heart and other medals. After his discharge, he attended Herzing Institute in Rockford where he met his future wife.

He completed his education at Northern Illinois University. His entire career was in the computer field. The last 20 years he was employed at UDL Labs in Rockford. He worked his way to IT manager, and in 1996 he was named Manager of the Year.

He was an avid golfer and very proud of the hole-in-one he made at Sandy Hollow Golf Course, Rockford. Photography

was his hobby and his pictures of flowers are majestic. He had many memories of his days of travel in the U.S. and overseas.

His photography skills were tested during his travels to Germany and its cathedrals and to Holland during the tulip season. His last river cruise was to Russia, where he toured Red Square and the Kremlin, followed by the majestic structures in St. Petersburg. His travels offered unimaginable photographic opportunities.

The photographs are forever reminders of happy times for his family.

He was a very active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rockford, where he served as a trustee and usher for many years.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tim (Nicole), Hartland, Wis., and Erich, Rockford; a brother, David (Connie); three grandchildren, Megan, Max and Hannah; and four nephews, Randy (Liz) Steffen and Ken, Ron (Debbie), Don (Valerie) and Jerry Mahnke.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bill; and an infant sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave. , Rockford, and from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 827 16th St., Rockford, prior to the funeral at noon. The Rev. Paul Krause will officiate.

Memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church.

POLICE BLOTTER Q Kevin J. Ruiz, 35, 306 Grant St., Harvard, was arrested Jan. 1 at Seminary Avenue and Locust Street on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a charge of driving with license suspended.

Ruiz posted $150 bond. Court date was set for Feb. 10.

Q Paul A. Woltman, 48, 475 Park Drive, Unit C, Marengo, was charged Jan. 2 with failure to yield and driving with license revoked at Madison Street and McHenry Avenue. Woltman posted $150. Court date was set for Feb. 25.

Q Joann Mendez-Gonzales, 40, 1117 N. Madison St., Woodstock, was charged Jan. 3 at his home with domestic battery, aggravated battery against a police officer and aggravated assault.

Mendez-Gonzales was turned over to the

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Bond and court date are to be set.

Q Matthew Reuter, 34, 304 Joshua Tree, Harvard, was charged Jan. 7 with reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with damage and resisting a peace officer in the 1200 block of South Eastwood Drive. Reuter posted $200 bond. Court date was set for Feb. 25.

Q Chase Carter, 36, 515 W. Jackson St., Woodstock, was charged Jan. 7 with driving while license revoked, leaving the scene of an accident with damage and no insurance. Carter posted $150 bond.

Court date was set for Feb. 25.

Any charges are merely accusations, and defendants or suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

STREET SMARTS The Woodstock Police Department’s special traffic enforcement initiative for January will target stop-sign violators, including vehicles improperly entering a stop crosswalk, vehicles improperly entering a stop or yield intersection and ignoring stop and yield signs. As always, the ultimate goal is to prevent traffic crashes.

Average gas price

$1.84

/GAL.

.13

Reflects average price of regular unleaded gasoline at Woodstock gas stations the morning of Jan. 4.

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Jan. 13-19, 2016

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Opinion THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT Woodstock, IL 1987

CHERYL WORMLEY

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Publisher, Co-Owner

Cheryl Wormley Katelyn Stanek Sandy Kucharski Stephanie Price

PAUL WORMLEY Co-Owner

KATELYN STANEK Managing Editor

» OUR VIEW

Make Woodstock walking less risky Life is tough, and sometimes dangerous, for pedestrians in Woodstock. at’s the message a number of you have expressed recently in letters, Web comments and messages, primarily regarding Route 47.

It’s not the first time area residents have said as much. In 2013, a survey from the city of Woodstock’s Transportation Commission found nearly 70 percent of respondents felt Woodstock’s sidewalk system doesn’t meet their needs. Most people answering the survey ranked “construct new walks where none exist” as extremely important, while “improve existing walks” ranked just behind it.

As the city considers how it will approach much-needed road repairs, we hope more sidewalks and pedestrian crossings will be factored into those plans. So, too, with the state of Illinois, which has its eyes on redesigning Route 47.

With so many of our city’s businesses located along the busy Route 47 corridor, it’s imperative more sidewalks and signaled pedestrian crossings be installed. e sight of pedestrians standing in the center lane nervously awaiting a break in traffic, or dodging cars even at lighted intersections because they don’t provide a walk button, is far too familiar to local drivers. is time of year, however, a dearth of crosswalks isn’t the only risk for walkers.

Even in areas with sidewalks, pedestrians often are forced into the roadways due to unshoveled walks. Remember, it’s the responsibility of property owners to keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice. is is especially important in areas where children walk to and from school.

Last year, important steps were made to improve bicycle transportation in Woodstock when the city signed on with a project that will link an existing path on Lake Avenue to a new multi-use trail that eventually will run alongside Highway 14 into Crystal Lake. We hope additional pedestrian safety, particularly when it comes to crossings, is next on the list.

weigh in Email letters to the editor to letters@thewoodstockindependent.com or mail them to 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

» YOUR VIEW

Hill’s skills make her suited for recorder I have known Tina Hill for many years and wanted voters to know her public service record.

During her tenure on the McHenry County Board and as County Board Chairwoman, Tina has advocated for improved infrastructure projects in Johnsburg and all over the county. I admire her dedication to seeing through the roundabout project in Johnsburg and the Algonquin bypass, among others.

She also has helped negotiate difficult decisions between municipalities with integrity and transparency. She is committed to finding ways to streamline government services through shared services, mutual aid and consolidation. Her administrative skills will be best utilized in her new role as county

recorder, and we can ensure that employees work as a team and service delivery will be at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.

Please join me in supporting Tina Hill for McHenry County Recorder on March 15, 2016, at the polls.

Ed Hetterman, Johnsburg

A Gov. Franks wouldn’t have us in this mess Kudos to State Rep. Jack Franks for having the courage to call out the governor and legislative leaders for their inaction and inability to solve the budget crisis. Jack criticized not only the governor, but also the speaker of the house.

No one in Illinois politics stands up to power and fights for the taxpayers like Jack Franks.

Jack didn’t just criticize the leaders, he also proposed concrete solutions to solve the fiscal problems facing Illinois. He asked the governor to call back to Springfield both the Senate and House of Representatives so the legislature can discuss the budget, instead of simply allowing the leaders to play politics while our state crumbles.

He presented a common-sense solution to the budget which will cut state spending while updating our tax code and balancing our budget without any tax increases. at is the kind of leadership Illinois needs, someone who cares about the citizens and who doesn’t play political games. If Jack Franks were governor, Illinois would be moving forward instead of its citizens leaving in record numbers.

Illinois needs leaders who will do the right thing and not play petty political games.

Kathy Surges, Crystal Lake

QUOTABLE

“The truth is, of course, that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”

— David Bowie

INDE THOUGHT

What are the odds?

“A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you’re talking real money,” wasn’t really a statement by senior Illinois Sena-

tor Everett Dirksen in the 1960s. Dirksen said, “Oh, I never said that. A newspaper fella misquoted me once, and I thought it sounded so good that I never bothered to deny it.”

Still, there’s no denying the billion-dollar

PowerBall lottery frenzy has Woodstock residents buying the $2 tickets individually and in groups, for a shot at “real money.”

As of Jan. 11, the lottery had reached $1.4 billion. Maybe the state of Illinois should consider buying a ticket.

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Jan. 13-19, 2016

OPINION

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Âť COLUMN

More than numbers, it’s a treasure is week marks a celebration of sorts. Twenty-eight years ago to the day – Jan. 13, 1988, I wrote Declarations for the ďŹ rst time. In the ďŹ rst paragraph, I explained: “Some words of encouragement have prompted me to decide to write in this space weekly, and in a moment of inspiration or exasperation, I’m not sure which, I decided to use the above title.â€? e above title was Declarations of e Independent. at title stuck until Dec. 12, 1990.

My husband, Jim, remembers there being some confusion among readers as to whether what I was writing was the newspaper’s editorial or my personal column. For clarity, my column became just Declarations.

My high school English teachers and my rhetoric instructors at the University of Illinois would be, well, quite surprised to know I have been a weekly columnist for nearly three decades. I wasn’t eager to write weekly essays in high school, and I received an F on the ďŹ rst one I wrote at the University of Illinois – and so did nearly everyone else in the class.

Positive comments from readers and winning ďŹ rst in original column in a Northern Illinois Newspaper

Association annual competition early on gave me much appreciated encouragement.

Unfortunately, I fell into the habit of making Declarations the last Cheryl thing I wrote each Wormley week. Sometimes, that meant writDeclarations ing very late at night or rising at 5 a.m. to write and paste in Declarations just before e Independent went to press. Even, now, when Declarations is the only thing I write each week, I seem to do best when I ďŹ nish writing it right on deadline.

I’m not alone. Other newspaper editors and publishers have lastminute columnitis, a term coined by Brad Martin, editor of the Hickman County Times, Centerville, Tenn.

Others don’t take the plunge into writing weekly columns. It is a commitment, and many fear it will be one more thing to write on or after their newspaper’s deadline. But I dove right in and am glad I did.

So let’s do the math. ough Declarations runs every week, others have shared in the writing when I’ve been on vacation or up-to-my-neck in responsibilities. Most of the time the guest writers were members of the staff. ough, I know Jim wrote at least once and so did our son Paul.

I believe it is accurate to say I wrote 50 columns a year. Fifty times 28 equals 1,400. e column that generated the most feedback was not one of the ones I wrote hoping to stir things up, plant a seed or provoke debate.

It was titled “Free at last� and was a eulogy for our much loved mostly golden retriever, Colby.

Many of my columns have uplifted the youth in our community and the volunteers, coaches and teachers who instruct and mentor them.

I have a passion for truth, and, yes, I’ve used Declarations as a platform for upholding it. I’ve written about Independent staffers and our commitment to be our community’s go-to-source for news, information and advertising, and I’ve written about the awards e Independent has won in newspaper competitions.

And, I unashamedly wrote about my

beloved community projects, Challenger Learning Center for Science & Technology, Fourth of July Fireworks, Groundhog Days, 4-H and Boy Scouts. ose of you who have read this column through the years know I also shared the joys and pride of being ďŹ rst a mother and now a grandmother. Tales of my grandchildren’s antics have made very good copy.

Writing 1,400 columns in 28 years has been a blessing and a wonderful opportunity. And, besides, if I ever decide to write my memoirs, I have a record of what I was thinking every week for 28 years.

I’ll never come close to Herb Caen’s years of writing columns – 60 years for the San Francisco Chronicle.

And, I’ll never reach the number of columns written by Mike Royko – 7,500 in his 30-year career with three Chicago newspapers, the Daily News, Sun-Time and Tribune. I’m not in their league.

I am a proud weekly columnist who treasures the opportunity to inform, challenge, entertain, prod or uplift.

I glanced at items that each of my three children had used, and I drove away disappointed.

Like many parents, we had monitored safety recalls over the years and Scott knew our items Reeder were safe. And they The Reeder certainly were well Report cared for.

I’d envisioned a single mom, who was struggling to make ends meet, taking our donation home from the thrift store and providing for her baby. But a pernicious legal environment stood in the way of that happening.

Increasingly, businesses, doctors, charities and others limit what services they offer because they fear being sued.

Situations like these don’t just

happen in Illinois, but the Land of Lincoln is a worse litigation environment than most.

Don’t just take my word for it.

In 2015, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform ranked Illinois 48th of the 50 states for legal fairness.

A ranking like that from the nation’s top business group would give any ďŹ rm pause when considering whether to expand in or relocate to Illinois.

Trial lawyers remain one of the most inuential groups in SpringďŹ eld and are among House Speaker Mike Madigan’s biggest supporters.

Perhaps not surprisingly, efforts to reform the Illinois legal system have gone nowhere in SpringďŹ eld.

Unlike its Midwest neighbors, Illinois continues with business-hostile practices and policies that send employers and jobs out of state and leave the rest of us to cope with the tax burden.

Gov. Bruce Rauner is calling for

setting geographic limits on where lawsuits can be ďŹ led to keep attorneys from shopping for venues, restricting medical expense calculations to include amounts paid rather than billed, and holding defendants responsible for paying only a proportion equal to their responsibility. e idea behind these reforms is to cut down on the number of multimillion-dollar legal judgments, reduce insurance costs and make the state more business friendly.

And in a state that struggles to attract jobs and businesses, reforming Illinois’ legal system would be a good step toward turning the Land of Lincoln around.

Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent.

Âť COLUMN

State’s legal climate is tough on business I pulled up to Goodwill Industries recently with a pickup truck loaded full of baby items: a high chair, a portable crib, a walker and a potty seat.

An employee peered into the bed of the truck and just shook her head. “We can’t take baby stuff – there is too great a legal liability for us to sell that stuff,� she said with a shrug.

Woodstock

I NDEPENDENT The

& $BMIPVO 4U t 8PPETUPDL *- 1IPOF 'BY XXX UIFXPPETUPDLJOEFQFOEFOU DPN

Subscription rates/year: $35 in Woodstock and Wonder Lake, $37 in McHenry County, $42 for snowbirds and $50 outside McHenry County.

Letters to the editor: We welcome letters of general interest to the community and reserve the right to edit for clarity or length. Letters should be fewer than 400 words, and writers are limited to one letter per month. Letters are due at noon Wednesday and must be signed and include the writer’s address and a telephone number for veriďŹ cation purposes only.

Corrections: The Woodstock Independent strives for accuracy. To suggest corrections or clariďŹ cations, email news@thewoodstockindependent.com.

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse reporter and a journalist with Illinois News Network, a project of the Illinois Policy Institute. He can be reached at sreeder@ilnews.org. Readers can subscribe to his free political newsletter by going to IlNews.org or follow his work on Twitter at @scottreeder.

st a f f Cheryl Wormley PUBLISHER c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com Katelyn Stanek M ANAGING EDITOR katelyn@thewoodstockindependent.com Stephanie Price ASSOCIATE EDITOR stephanie@thewoodstockindependent.com Sandy Kucharski ASSOCIATE EDITOR sandy@thewoodstockindependent.com

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THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Jan. 13-19, 2016

7

Education

Aurora adds new classrooms, star lab for center

By STEPHANIE PRICE The Independent New classrooms and a giant inflatable star lab are among the new amenities at Aurora University Woodstock Center and Challenger Learning Center for Science & Technology in Woodstock. e building at 222 Church St. has undergone several changes since last April when ownership of the Challenger Learning Center was transferred to Aurora University to ensure the longevity of the Challenger program and expand the university’s course offerings in McHenry County.

For starters, the space previously occupied by Challenger’s EdVenture Center has been divided. In its place are a new multipurpose room and three new state-of-theart classrooms for AU’s students. Recently completed in November, the multipurpose room is brightly colored and equipped with new tables, chairs and a copy machine. Photographs of AU Woodstock students adorn the walls. e university’s mission statement is posted on the wall along with other words of encouragement.

“We used photographs of our students because we wanted this space to be authentic,” said Marcia Koenen, dean of AU-

“Getting the public in here is a goal. We’re really trying to be so respectful of how we use this space.”

— Marcia Koenen, Aurora University dean

Woodstock. “ is room is a step. We don’t know if we’ll keep it this way. It depends on what our needs are in the future.” e spacious room provides a comfortable meeting area for students who want to gather to work together prior to classes. Instructors and Challenger Center staff also can take advantage of the space, which has several laptops for course work and Challenger programs. e three new classrooms accommodate up to 35 students and are equipped with white boards and electronic screens. e rooms replace former warehouse space.

“We can use these rooms for other purposes,” Koenen said. “Getting the public in here is a goal. We’re really trying to be so respectful of how we use this space. We want to make sure whatever we bring in matches what we’re all about here.”

Dividing the facility has helped separate

the university programs from the Challenger side, thereby allowing the “kids to be kids and have fun and not worry about being quiet or disrupting the adults,” Koenen said.

On the Challenger side of the facility, another large room provides ample gathering space for the center’s program and its newly acquired $42,000 inflatable star lab. e lab was purchased using $22,500 in Challenger grant dollars and $19,500 from Aurora University’s Capital Fund, Koenen said. e inflatable dome allows approximately 35 students to sit inside, while images of the sky are projected onto the ceiling and sides. e dome comes with a sophisticated software program that is updated weekly, said Rebecca Dolmon, Challenger lead flight director.

“What’s nice about the Star Lab is its modern information, and it is continually being updated,” Dolmon said. “It’s really a powerful tool. It simulates the night sky as it looks right at this moment in time. And I can move back and forth in time to, say, an eclipse or such.” e Challenger’s Boeing 73T flight simulator, which could only “fly” one child at a time and was rarely used for Challenger programs because of time constraints,

Rebecca Dolmon projects images inside a new star lab at the Challenger Center.

INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY STEPHANIE PRICE

will soon be donated to Jefferson High School in Rockford, Dolmon said. Several other former EdVenture Center exhibits have been donated to other museums or schools, making room for AU and Challenger additions. e space mission simulators remain and will be visited by 300 classes of elementary students this school year, Dolmon said.

» COLUMN

Lights, camera, learning at Olson Remember the beginning of the film “Groundhog Day,” when Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is doing the weather report in front of a green chroma key backdrop? e chroma keying effect allows a computer to fill the green background with another image with a person or people in front of the image. e effect is often used in video production to create exciting settings for performers.

Maggie Jensen, media director at Olson Elementary School, designed a project she calls “Lights, Camera, Learn!” which was funded by the District 200 Education Foundation this year to give upper-elementary students the opportunity to work with this chroma key technology and create exciting videos that will be seen by students throughout the school.

“When the equipment is used with the software, it enhances the visual experience for the viewer,” Mrs. Jensen told us. “It can also be used by learners to explain an idea, present a concept map, convey living history, tell a story or even create step-by-step tutorials.” e equipment arrived at the school in November, including a huge green backdrop, the frame to hold it, a tripod with a connection that holds an iPad that works as the camera and the computer software that allows it all to work. Mrs. Jensen and her SWAT (Students Willing to Assist in Technology) team have been working ever since (mostly after school) to learn

how it all works. e fifth-grade SWAT team will lead the way and eventually teach other students how to work with the equipment.

Mrs. Jensen attended a weekend workshop presented Erich by the Illinois Thurow School Library Media AssociaEducation tion where projects Foundation aimed at 21st-century learning included a demonstration of young students using similar equipment.

“I observed students collaborating on a project and utilizing the technology to create an informative video,” she said. One of the first projects the Olson students are working on is a set of videos on the Boston Tea Party.

Instead of just reading about it, the students are “reporting” on the events “as they are happening.”

“Fifth-grade teachers are preparing assignments where groups of students will use the video studio to create a video document as part of their classwork,” said Mrs. Jensen. Most of the videos will be between a minute and a half and three minutes, but some may be as long as five minutes.

Once again I am amazed at what a fairly small grant from us (under $300) along with the district repurposing an underutilized space can do.

We have turned a former computer lab into a remarkable learning studio, and I’m delighted that we can tie into the “Groundhog Day” film which provided us with the start-up funds to establish the foundation As we prepare for our Saturday, Feb. 6, Foundation “Groundhog Day” fundraising event, I encourage parents and community members to attend our dinner and auction. A generous grant from Wells Fargo Advisors has our board really excited at the opportunity to raise even more money for more grants next year. Please visit

our website for more information on the foundation and to purchase tickets for the fundraiser. For questions or details about the event, please email me at

ekthurow@owc.net.

Erich Thurow is chairman of the District 200 Education Foundation.

8

Jan. 13-19, 2016

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

A&E

Jewish refugee, author to speak at Opera House Walter Reed is the author of ‘The Children of La Hille: Eluding Nazi Capture During World War II’

By SANDY KUCHARSKI The Independent As a Jewish teenager living in Wurzburg, Germany, in 1939, Walter Reed survived the Holocaust by escaping to Belgium and on to southern France as part of a Jewish children’s refugee colony known as the Children of La Hille.

Last year he had a book published detailing the story of his fellow refugees.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, he will tell his story to youth of the same age when

he speaks to Woodstock Rotary’s Interact Club at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St. e lecture is open to the public as well.

In the fall of 1941, Reed was able to Walter emigrate to the Reed United States while his parents and two younger brothers were deported to Poland and murdered in 1942. Arriving 90 days before Pearl Harbor, Reed was drafted in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army, landing in Normandy in June 1944. He was assigned to military intelligence, interrogating German prisoners at the front with the 95th Infantry Division.

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“I wanted to personalize what happened to children during the Holocaust.

People never knew so many children – teenagers through babies – were killed.�

WALTER REED PRESENTATION When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 Where: Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. Cost: Suggested donation of nonperishable food or a cash donation to the Rotary’s End Polio now campaign

— Walter Reed, author

“After [serving in the military], I totally abandoned who I was and made no more contact with acquaintances from my past,� said Reed.

He changed his name from Werner Rindsberg to Walter Reed, citing the overwhelming presence of antisemitism in the U.S. as his reason for camouaging his past until 1997, when he and his wife attended a wedding in Southern France. ere he learned the survivors of the Children of La Hille had been actively looking for him.

In 1998 he organized an emotional reunion in Chicago that was ďŹ lmed by the Discovery Channel and then another reunion in France about two years later. “It was so signiďŹ cant. I was the guru, the convener of the group,â€? he said.

By coincidence, he found a Swiss pastor who was researching the story of the Children of La Hille for a book.

Reed assisted him with research, and after the pastor’s unexpected death in 2004, he continued the research and wrote the book, “ e Children of La Hille: Eluding Nazi Capture During World War II.� He discovered that memories were not accurate, so he based his book on documentation and not survivor stories. “I share my experiences as a persecuted young Jewish kid,� said Reed, who resides in Wilmette.

Reed primarily speaks to Jewish organizations in the Chicago area, and as a 25-year member of the Wilmette Rotary club, he also speaks to community leaders through the many Rotary clubs he addresses. “I wanted to personalize what happened to children during the Holocaust. People never knew so many children – teenagers through babies – were killed,� Reed said. “ at’s the whole purpose of writing the book.�

A&E

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

The Entertainer WOODSTOCK’S ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

» MUSIC STAGE LEFTOVERS Jan. 13, 20, 7:30 p.m.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. Free The Stage Leftovers, consisting of Rich Prezioso, Joe Pesz, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, Pete Jonsson and Les Urban, will perform.

LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’S Jan. 15, 22, 29, 6 p.m.

Woodstock Square Mall 110 Johnson St. Free Jan. 15: Pam Kaye and Merv Collins will perform Jan 22: Guyz with Bad Eyez will perform.

Jan. 29: Kishwaukee Ramblers will perform.

JAZZ JAM Jan. 15, Feb. 5, 8 p.m.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 815-337-1395 $5 donation Jazz Jam is sponsored by Jazz on the Square.

Artists will perform jazz music.

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D Free woodstockfarmersmarket.org.

Performers 9 a.m. to noon: Briar Road.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Jan. 22, 7 p.m.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. $3 donation offsquaremusic.org 815-338-5164 Open Mic is sponsored by Off Square Music.

Various artists will perform in 15-minute slots.

SWITCHBACK Jan. 30, 8 p.m.

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $25 815-338-5300 The duo of Brian FitzGerald and hometown boy Martin McCormack will perform traditional Celtic music and original Americana songs that reflect their Irish heritage and Midwestern roots.

WOODSTOCK COMMUNITY CHOIR Jan. 31, 3 p.m.

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. Free 815-338-5300 The Woodstock Community Choir, sponsored

by A Place to Shine Music, will perform a winter concert featuring music from around the world.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RADIO SHOW Feb. 6, 20, 7 p.m.

Feb. 14, 3 p.m.

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $38 The Legendaires Show Band will present a live musical performance based on a radio broadcast station, performing hits of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

» THEATER ‘TREASURE ISLAND’ Jan. 16, 23, 1 p.m.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 815-338-5300 $5 adults, children 11 and younger free Friends of the Woodstock Opera House will present a one hour participation play for children ages 5 to 11.

‘GOONEY BIRD GREENE’ Jan. 22, 23, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23, 2 p.m.

Woodstock High School Auditorium 501 W. South St. 815-338-4370 $10 adult, $5 students Woodstock High School drama students present “Gooney Bird Green,” the story of a unique student that helps her classmates realize that they can be heroes in their own true tales of discovery and adventure.

‘MY PERSONAL ANGEL’ Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 6, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 2 p.m.

Tony Casalino Black Box Theatre 501 W. South St. $10 adult, $5 students 815-338-4370 A student-written work, “My Personal Angel” is the story of a young man who finds an unconventional ally along his path of growing up.

» LECTURE CREATIVE LIVING SERIES Jan. 21, 10 a.m.

Jan. 13-19, 2016

9

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $24 815-338-5300 Candice Millard, author of “Destiny of the Republic,” will talk about her research into the life and demise of President James Garfield.

‘THE FOREST’ A young woman searches for her twin sister in a Japanese forest only to find herself surrounded by paranormal forces. “The Forest” is directed by Jason Zada (“The House October Built”) and stars Natalie Dormer (“Rush”) and Eoin Macken (“The Night Shift”).

RATED PG-13, 95 MINUTES

» DINNER SHOW

‘THE BIG SHORT’ A group of high-finance experts predict the credit- and housing-bubble collapse of the mid-2000s and take on the big banks in their midst. “The Big Short” is directed by Adam McKay (“Step Brothers”) and stars Christian Bale (“The Dark Knight”), Brad Pitt (“Inglorious Basterds”) and Steve Carrell (“Foxcatcher”) RATED R, 130 MINUTES

‘THAT’S AMORE’ OPERA HOUSE FUNDRAISER Feb. 13, 6 p.m.

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. $35 815-338-5300 Friends of the Opera House will host a unique evening featuring an Italian buffet and entertainment featuring The Jerry Armstrong Show.

» MOVIES Previews of films currently playing at the Woodstock Theatre unless otherwise noted.

‘NORM OF THE NORTH’ Polar bear Norm and his three lemming friends wind up in New York City after being displaced from their homes. “Norm of the North” is directed by Trevor Wall (“Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch”) and stars Rob Schneider (“Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo”) and Heather Graham (“The Hangover”).

RATED PG, 86 MINUTES ‘RIDE ALONG 2’ With his wedding looming, a groom heads to Miami with a future in-law to face off against a drug dealer. “Ride Along 2” is directed by Tim Story (“Think Like a Man”) and stars Ice Cube (“22 Jump Street”) and Kevin Hart (“The Wedding Ringer”).

PG-13, 101 MINUTES ‘SPOTLIGHT’ Based on a true story, “Spotlight” shows how the Boston Globe uncovered a massive child molestation scandal and subsequent cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese. “Spotlight” was directed by Tom McCarthy (“Up”) and stars Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) and Michael Keaton (“Birdman”).

RATED R, 128 MINUTES ‘THE REVENANT’ A frontiersman in the 1820s fights for survival after being brutally mauled by a bear. “The Revenant” is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Birdman”) and stars Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and Tom Hardy (“Inception”).

RATED R, 156 MINUTES

‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ Set 30 years after “Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi,” this film continues the famed “Star Wars” saga. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is directed by J.J. Abrams and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher (all of whom starred in “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope”).

RATED PG-13, 135 MINUTES ‘DADDY’S HOME’ The arrival of his stepchildren’s biological father forces a stepdad to take drastic measures to compete for the kids’ afffection. “Daddy’s Home” is directed by Sean Anders (“We’re the Millers”) and stars Will Ferrell (“Step Brothers”) and Mark Wahlberg (“Ted”).

PG-13, 96 MINUTES

10

Jan. 13-19, 2016

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Marketplace

New biz moving into former Two Tails location

By STEPHANIE PRICE The Independent e retail space formerly occupied by Two Tails Market and Eatery and Java Planet Internet Cafe will soon have a new occupant.

New marquee signs for Coleman’s Rendezvous coffee house and wine bar have been erected at the space at 2400 Lake Shore Drive. Contractors were busy at work inside the building Jan. 8.

Owner Brett Coleman said the new business is a work in progress, and he was not yet ready to divulge information about it Jan. 11. He is still working

on creating menus, finalizing details and could not announce an opening date for the business. e Woodstock City Council granted Brett Coleman Catering Inc. a Class A-6 liquor license for the 2400 Lake Shore Drive location at its Oct. 6, 2015, meeting. e liquor license applies to restaurant/catering businesses and permits the retail sale of “alcoholic liquor” for consumption at the restaurant. It also allows the retail sale of beer and wine by the package and permits the restaurant to serve “alcoholic liquors” as an incidental part of food service – or catering

– that serves prepared meals either on or off the licensed premises, according to City Council documents.

To qualify for the license, a restaurant must derive more than 40 percent of its annual gross revenue from the sale of food, the city documents state.

In applying for the license, Coleman submitted a lease for the site, articles of incorporation, a diagram of the premises and letter of intent from his insurance company for liquor liability insurance. e space, which overlooks Highway 14 near the intersection of Lake Shore Drive, has been empty since Two Tails

Market and Eatery and Java Planet Internet Cafe closed in September 2014 due to a decline in business. Two Tails sold seafood and prime meats. Java Planet sold coffee drinks, bagels and sandwiches. e retail space is owned by Larry O’Connor, who is also the founder and chief executive officer of Other World Computing, located nearby at 8 Galaxy Way. Coleman’s family members operate several small restaurants/ bars and catering services in McHenry including establishments in Cary, Crystal Lake and Woodstock.

stock, was sold by 642 Handel Lane LLC, to Arthur and Janice Meenk, Woodstock, for $163,900.

Q Residence at 3003 Cherry Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by Timothy Nellessen, Wonder Lake, to Patrick Douglas, Wonder Lake, for $130,000.

Q Residence at 2914 S. Country Club Road, Woodstock, was sold by James and Kimberly Ratway, Woodstock, to Hendrik and Andrea Reynders, Woodstock, for $287,000.

Q Residence at 1522 Scarlett Way, Woodstock, was sold by Dennis Leard, Woodstock, to Susan Roth, Woodstock, for $95,000.

Q Residence at 620 Highland Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Joe and Cheryl Haelka, Greenwood, to Michael Masopust, Woodstock, for $128,000.

Q Residence at 840 Park Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Robert Sedlack and Rita Pucci, Vero Beach, Fla., to Jeannette Srivastava, Woodstock, for $450,000.

Q Vacant lot at 726 Olson St., Woodstock, was sold by Charles and Cheryl Scordato, Genoa, to George and Marisa Burk-

hart, Woodstock, for $2,000.

Q Residence at 551 Leah Lane, #1F, Woodstock, was sold by CitiMortgage Inc., O’Fallon, Mo., to G and S Properties LLP, Belvidere, for $31,000.

Q Residence at 3903 N. Route 47, Woodstock, was sold by Devan and Susan Moser, Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Brian and Cindy Guiney, Woodstock, for $255,000.

Q Residence at 1205 Thomas Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Sheryl EngstromSomerville and Janice Cornforth, Lake Geneva, Wis., to Carol Sedlak, McHenry, for $91,000.

Q Residence at 701 Lawndale Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Deborah Miller, Tomahawk, Wis., to Sierra Investments LLC, Woodstock, for $60,000.

Q Residence at 351 S. Madison St., Woodstock, was sold by Deborah Miller, Tomahawk, Wis., to Sierra Investments, Woodstock, for $75,000.

Q Residence at 621 Washington St., Woodstock, was sold by the estate of Stanley Danielson, Woodstock, to James and Margaret Frederick, Bartlett, for $77,000.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS Filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office Dec. 21 to 30: Q Residence at 2325 Applewood Lane, Woodstock, was sold by Tara Arient, Huntley, to Kevin Witz, Woodstock, for $163,000.

Q Residence at 791 Regina Court, Woodstock, was sold by Bayview Loan Servicing LLC, Coral Gables, Fla., to Svetiana Zablotzka and Vladimir Struk, Woodstock, for $79,900.

Q Commercial building and parking lot at 240 Throop St., Woodstock, was sold by Woodstock Post 5040 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.A. Inc., Woodstock, to Flores Banquets Inc., Woodstock, for $295,000.

Q Residence at 5111 Nimitz Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by Joseph and Shannon Walker, Oceanside, Calif, to Superior CML LLC, McHenry, for $74,000.

Q Vacant Lots 2 and 3, Rosemarie Road and Lot 12, Hickory Drive, Wonder Lake, were sold by Home State Bank N.A., Crystal Lake, to Jerald Milligan, Palatine, for $10,000.

Q Residence at 3208 W. Meadow Lane, Wonder Lake, was sold by Charles Spoto and Becky Fleissner, Johnnsburg, to Daniel and Kayleigh Singer, Wonder Lake, for $137,000.

Q Residence at 2316 Aspen Drive, Woodstock, was sold by Barbara Fredericks, Woodstock, to William Bartlett, Woodstock, for $102,000.

Q Residence at 528 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, was sold by Donald Mast, New

Holland, Penn., to Colleen Mast, Fallbrook, Calif., for $162,314.

Q Residence at 613 Lawndale Ave., Woodstock, was sold by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Carrollton, Texas, to Spencer Kibbler, Woodstock, for $116,000.

Q Residence at 4215 Union Road, Woodstock, was sold by Alice Haywood, Union, to Grath Simmons and Destiny Martinez, Woodstock, for $287,000.

Q Residence at 3111 Alden Road, Woodstock, was sold by The Bank of New York Mellon, Fort Worth, Texas, to Jonathan and Anne Dove, Woodstock, for $400,000.

Q Residence at 2918 E. Hickory Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation, Chicago, to Senseless LLC, Woodstock, for $80,799.

Q Residence at 3607 E. Wonder Lake Road, Wonder Lake, was sold by Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation, Chicago, to Senseless LLC, Woodstock, for $41,000.

Q Residence at 330 Leah Lane, Unit F, Woodstock, was sold by The Judicial Sales Corporation, Woodstock, to Gary Lechner, Woodstock, for $29,000.

Q Residence at 9003 Pine Ave., Wonder Lake, was sold by AMG Rockford LLC, Skokie, to Rich Durante, Lisle, for $460,000.

Q Vacant lot, Cold Springs Road, Bull Valley, was sold by American Community Bank & Trust, Woodstock, to Jeff and Katarina Maiers, Chicago, for $112,000.

Q Residence at 642 Handel Lane, Wood-

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Community

WACM receives assistance from grant Ministry organization awarded $1,500 from Walmart

By SANDY KUCHARSKI The Independent In a season when funding has been down, Woodstock Area Community Ministries was thankful to be a recent recipient of a $1,500 community grant, courtesy of Walmart.

This was the first year the organization became aware of the grant program, according to Patrice Braun, di-

rector of the WACM direct assistance program. She said she promptly applied and was thrilled to learn WACM had been selected to receive a cash award.

Donations to the direct assistance program are used to help applicants in need pay for items such as utilities, food, clothing, gas vouchers and bus passes. Braun converted the Walmart award into $10 gift cards which will be given out to individuals in need, specifying that they be used for necessities such as underwear and socks. Applicants can apply for assistance twice per month.

“I was doing a happy dance,” said

Braun about receiving the grant. “This is a huge deal for us.”

Braun has seen an increase in requests for assistance in 2015, including more new applicants and more children in need. The combination of greater demand and decreased funding makes her tasks associated with the direct assistance program and fundraising a challenge. She said the grant would help the organization continue its mission.

“Every year I’m more and more grateful,” she said.

For information about WACM or to make a donation, visit wacmgroup. org.

tions from Walmart and Meijer, make this all happen.”

Lanz added, “ e sheer happiness on both the children’s and officers’ faces is genuine. Having participated in this program for the past 14 years, those expressions are what make this event memorable for me.”

Donations can be mailed to McHenry County Police Charities, P.O. Box 981, Crystal Lake, IL 60039.

McHenry County Police Charities founded the Shop With a Cop program in 1994. It has taken place every year since its inception.

who will receive it.We know we are making a difference in the lives of children.”

“Internationally over 11.2 million shoebox gifts were collected in 2015,” said Serena Butler of Samaritan’s Purse, the evangelical organization that oversees OCC. “Every shoebox gift is important and valued. Whether a person packs one shoebox or two thousand, every box represents a child who will be blessed.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Woodstock cops bring Christmas to kids

By JAN DOVIDIO The Independent Members of the Woodstock Police Department volunteered for the annual Shop With a Cop event in December, pairing police officers with needy children to provide them with a chance to choose Christmas gifts.

“Many civic organizations assist us with volunteering, including many teachers from school districts,” said Deputy Aimee Knop, public information officer for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. “ e Shop With a Cop day has a total of 200 children participating, almost 200 officers and over 200 volunteers.”

Alan Dunker, program coordinator for the Woodstock Recreation Department, always has the Woodstock Recreation bus ready to pick up and drop off children paired with Woodstock officers. Sgt. Ray Lanz is the liaison for the Woodstock Police Department.

A volunteer assists each child to purchase gifts with the $150 allotment.

Coats, boots, hats and gloves are purchased for them by McHenry County Police Charities, the organization that works throughout the year to obtain donations..

Children and officers shop at three locations.

Woodstock participants shopped at Walmart in Crystal Lake, followed by breakfast at D’Andrea Banquet Hall. ey met with Santa after breakfast. Volunteers wrapped the presents the children purchased.

McHenry County Police Charities’ annual fundraising goal is $45,000. One supporting event is the annual Shop With a Cop Donut Run, which is a motorcycle ride throughout McHenry County. is year’s event will take place in July. “ e sole purpose of the McHenry County Police Charities is to provide the Shop With a Cop program to provide a Christmas to deserving children and to give a positive bonding experience with law enforcement,” said Knop.”Donations from McHenry County businesses and private parties, combined with dona-

ĐĐĐ ĐĐĐ

Westwood packs Church provides ‘train’ with food thousands of donations gift boxes ĐĐĐ ĐĐĐ

e congregation of First Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, recently completed its 16th year of participation in the Operation Christmas Child program. Over those 16 years, church members have packed 8,510 gift-filled shoeboxes for children around the world.

Lisa Given and Marla Rigby are the church’s OCC coordinators. e support of the Rev. Paul Nelson and the church’s Missions Commission help finance OCC through many fundraising projects throughout the year. ese included bake sales, rummage sales, Touch-aTruck events and dinners. In addition, countless people who perform tasks like knitting hats, sewing dresses and shopping for items.

A group of women works 10 to 12 hours each month to inventory donations. It takes three days to set up for the church’s packing party. On the day of the party, 200 volunteers pack all of the gifts in five hours. is year, the boxes went to children in Malawi, Togo, Dominican Republic and Honduras. e area collection site at Assembly of God Church, Woodstock, collected more than 4,000 shoeboxes. 2,633 of these were filled by the First Presbyterian congregation. A total of 11,970 were collected in McHenry and northern Kane counties.

“We would never have been able to pack all these boxes without the love and support of this congregation,” said Given. “Each shoebox gift represents a child

Westwood Elementary School once again held its annual Food Train project for charity. e Food Train began 18 years ago, when then-Principal Richard McDowell asked each Westwood class to decorate a box as a train car and fill it with food for the Christmas Clearing House charity program. is year, students, teachers and school families filled more than 30 boxes, with at least two for each of the school’s 16 classrooms. e colorful train cars lined the school hallways, so every student saw them while walking to the library, computer lab or nurse’s office.

“Every year, the CCH drivers can’t believe our quantity of food,” said school secretary Rita Caywood.

Westwood offers a prize each year for the class that has the most creative train car decorations along with collecting the most food. Last year, the Woodstock police canine unit came to school. is year, school custodian Robert Welzen will treat the winning class to a pizza party. “ is project strongly supports the Westwood values of ownership of our own choices and of being kind and respectful of other people,” said Principal Jason Eggert. “I am very proud of the kids for wanting to give to people in need, especially here in our own community. It is always impressive to see the generosity of our school families.”

News of recognitions, milestones and other community events can be sent to Janet Dovidio at fetjetjd@aol.com.

Jan. 13-19, 2016

11

IN BRIEF

Sign up for Groundhog Days cook-off Entries are being accepted for the annual Groundhog Days Festival Chili Cook-Off. Contestants will meet the morning of Saturday, Jan. 30, to prepare their unique recipes. A panel of judges will taste the different concoctions to determine a champion. The public also is invited to sample the chili and vote for the People’s Choice award. Tasting is at noon at the Woodstock Moose.

The cooks will be using the culinary classroom at Woodstock North High School. Following preparation, the chili will be transported to the Woodstock Moose for official judging. Following the Chili Cook-off Saturday, there will be a guided walking-tour of the film site around town. The main event is the Groundhog Prognostication at 7a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2, on the Woodstock Square.

Meats will be donated by Jewel Foods.

The competition is open to anyone.

For rules and entry forms, call event chair Rick Bellairs at 815-334-2618 or e-mail Rick@RickBellairs.com.

The cook-off is part of Woodstock’s Groundhog Days festivities.

Main Stay in search of volunteers Main Stay Therapeutic Farm is in need of volunteers for the 2016 season to assist with therapeutic riding and animal-assisted learning programs.

Trainings will introduce volunteers to the ongoing volunteer opportunities and job responsibilities.

Volunteers must be at least 13 years old, and experience is not necessary.

Training will be held at noon Saturdays, Jan. 16 and March 19 and at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17. Only one session is required.

Main Stay Therapeutic Farm is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a mission to encourage, enrich and empower individuals through the therapeutic benefits of horses, animals and nature in an uplifting and nurturing setting.

To attend training or to volunteer, call Danielle McKenna or Ellie Hardnack at 815-382-9374 or email vc@mainstayfarm.org.

Spay Illinois seeks support Spay Illinois is seeking donations to help end the suffering and euthanasia of companion animals in Illinois.

Spay Illinois, a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization, has launched the “Driven to Save Lives” campaign to help raise $25,000 to purchase a transport van for spay and neuter care.

Spay Illinois reported 127,000 cats and dogs lose their lives in shelters across the state each year. With thousands of unwanted pets entering shelters, the best way to put an end to pet overpopulation is spaying and neutering.

The van will give the organization access to thousands of pets and owners in need. For information visit, www.spayillinois.org/savelives.

12

Jan. 13-19, 2016

COMMUNITY

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

CELEBRATIONS Ben is a 2003 graduate of Lockport Township High School and a 2010 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in geography. He is a restoration technician with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The couple lives in Rolling Meadows.

Katherine and Benjamin Keller

DeVogelaere, Keller wed in Buffalo Grove Katherine DeVogelaere and Benjamin Keller were married Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove.

The Rev. Dan Whiteside officiated. The bride is the daughter of Ken and Jeanette DeVogelaere, Woodstock. The groom is the son of Dr. Scott and Mrs. Barb Keller, Homer Glen.

The maid of honor was Sarah Kaminski, Woodstock. Bridesmaids were Alicia Finzel, McHenry, Ogemdi (Aghadi) Adeboje, Chicago, Anna Lightcap, Wonder Lake, and Jamie (Grasser) Fox, Bloomington.

The best man was Brian Keller, Homer Glen, brother of the groom. Groomsmen were Brett Keller, Homer Glen, Kris DeVogelaere, Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Jeff Fox, Bloomington. Ushers were Kevin and Alex McKenna, cousins of the groom.

Katie is a 2004 graduate of Woodstock High School, a 2006 Associate Degree graduate of McHenry County College,and a 2008 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in computer science. She is a senior programmer at Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods.

Matt and Pat Stahl

Stahls celebrate 55 years of marriage Matt and Pat Stahl recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. The couple married Nov. 26, 1960, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Kenosha, Wis. They lived in Kenosha for three years before moving to Woodstock in 1963, where Matt was employed as the city engineer for five years. For the next 35 years he worked as the head of naval construction for the Ninth Naval District at the Great Lakes Naval Base. Pat worked from home, running their engineering company and caring for their family.

The couple have 14 children, 29 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, so far.

They are members of St. Mary Catholic Church, Woodstock, and are avid fans of Pat’s alma mater, Notre Dame. They enjoy traveling, playing cards, peaceful car rides in the country and time spent with their family.

IN BRIEF

MCCD to host winter trail running workshop Learn how to get started with winter trail running at McHenry County Conservation District’s Winter Trail Running Workshop, 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. The workshop will run until 10 a.m., followed by an optional trail run at Silver Creek Conservation Area.

Participants interested in participating in the run should wear proper clothing and footwear for the weather and trail conditions The program is for adults 14 years and older. The workshop is free to residents of McHenry County; $6 to non-residents. Registration and fee are required by Jan. 19.

Registration is accepted online at MCCDistrict.org, or 815- 479-5779.

COMMUNITY

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

20 years ago Q The Woodstock High School additions committee proposed a plan for $19.8 million in additions and renovations at the school.

Q Bib Sophie opened the Longneck Ranch, 10625 Route 14, the largest ostrich farm in the Midwest and one of the largest in the country, with approximately 650 ostriches.

Q Nine members of the Woodstock Panthers Wrestling Club won medals at the Bison’s New Year’s Eve Classic Tournament in Buffalo Grove.

15 years ago Q Local artist and Independent cartoonist Jim Pearson unveiled his new Groundhog Days banners which ďŹ lled the Square thanks to a donation from Amcore Bank.

Q The three-year renovation process of

13

RELIGION NOTES

FLASHBACKS 25 years ago Q The Hooved Animal Society impounded 23 starving and dehydrated ponies from a farm in New Lenox, near Joliet, and transported them to the organization’s Woodstock facility, which opened on McConnell Road in 1989.

Q Woodstock native Lucille Blaine was honored by North Shore Magazine as one of the top 10 volunteers in the north and northwestern suburban areas.

Jan. 13-19, 2016

Woodstock High School neared completion, bringing the school a new science wing, Learning Resource Center, two new parking lots, new gym, new boys and girls locker rooms and a refurbished commons area, cafeteria and kitchen.

Q The Woodstock City Council was expected to vote on a recommendation to modify an agreement between the city and Merryman Aggregate for a special-use permit allowing mining and extraction of gravel on land off Highway 14.

10 years ago Q Clay Elementary School teacher Moses Perkins took the oath of allegiance to the United States and received his naturalization certiďŹ cate, ofďŹ cially becoming a U.S. Citizen.

Q The Jailhouse Restaurant, 101 N. Johnson St., served dinner for the last time on New Year’s Eve before closing its doors after a decade of business.

Q The fourth annual Woodstock International Film Festival screened “Downfall,� “The Motorcycle Diaries,� “Howl’s Moving Castle,� “The Sea Inside� and “The Chorus.�

One year ago Q Woodstock was spending considerably more money to clear snow and ice from city streets as the cost of road salt soared from $57 per ton the previous year to $140 per ton. City ofďŹ cials expected to spend $560,000 on road salt, compared to $203,000 the previous winter.

Q The Groundhog Days Committee, in cooperation with Woodstock Theatre owners Willis and Shirley Johnson, announced plans to rename the main dome theater at 209 Main St. as the Harold Ramis Auditorium to honor the director of the “Groundhog Day� movie.

Q The number of reported area u cases were ďŹ nally on the decline after an early-season u outbreak hit Woodstock particularly hard the previous month just as students were released for the holiday break.

Q Temperatures plunged to below zero for several days, forcing the cancellation of two days of school for Woodstock School District 200. Several local businesses closed because of the weather, as well.

Five years ago Q The Woodstock Farmers Market wrapped up its inaugural year of the winter market, an experiment market manager Keith Johnson said was a success.

Q Movie enthusiasts from throughout northern Illinois were expected to attend the ninth annual Woodstock International Film Festival. The Woodstock Theatre scheduled some of the most acclaimed foreign ďŹ lms of recent years for the festival.

BLUE LOTUS TEMPLE & MEDITATION CENTER Ă“Ă“ÂŁĂŠ i>Â˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎLJÇÎÇn Meditation: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Saturday; 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday CHRIST LIFE ÂŁĂŽĂˆÂŁ{ĂŠ7°Ê >VÂŽĂƒÂœÂ˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡{™Î{ĂŠ Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ-iÂ˜ÂˆÂœĂ€ĂŠ9ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ…ĂŠ Ă€ÂœĂ•ÂŤ]ĂŠĂˆ\Îäʍ°“°Ê/Â…Ă•Ă€Ăƒ`>Ăž EDEN BAPTIST £™äÎÊ °Ê-i“ˆ˜>ÀÞÊ Ă›i°ÊUĂŠnÂŁx‡nÂŁ{‡Çn{Ç Worship: 3 p.m. Sunday (Spanish) FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST ÂŁÂŁÂŁĂŠ7°Ê-ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ…ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡ÓÇΣ Worship: 10;00 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ `Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂ…ÂœĂ•Ă€]Ê£äÊ>°“° FIRST PRESBYTERIAN nĂŠ °Ê,ÂœĂ•ĂŒiĂŠ{ÇÊUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎnÂ‡Ă“ĂˆĂ“Ă‡ĂŠ Worship: 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ `Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂ…ÂœĂ•Ă€]ʙ\ÂŁxĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠÂŁĂ¤\ÂŁxĂŠ>°“° FIRST UNITED METHODIST Óä£Ê7°Ê-ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ…ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡ÎΣäÊ Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ-Ă•Â˜`>ĂžĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?]ʙ\{xĂŠ>°“°Ê FREE METHODIST ™Î{ĂŠ °Ê-i“ˆ˜>ÀÞÊ Ă›i°ÊUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡Î£näÊ Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ Â…Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŒÂˆ>Â˜ĂŠi`Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜]ʙ\ÂŁxĂŠ>°“°Ê-Ă•Â˜`>Ăž GRACE FELLOWSHIP ÓääÊ >ÂˆĂ€Â˜ĂƒĂŠ ÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŒĂŠUĂŠnÂŁxÂ‡ĂŽĂŽĂ‡Â‡Ăˆx£ä Worship: 10:15 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ Ăœ>˜>ĂŠ Â?Ă•LĂƒ]ĂŠĂˆ\Ă“xĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠn\ÂŁxʍ°“°Ê Wednesday GRACE LUTHERAN 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road 815-338-0554 Worship: 5 p.m. Saturday (casual); 8:30 a.m. (traditional), 10:45 a.m. (contemporary) HERITAGE BAPTIST 4609 Greenwood Road *°"°Ê ÂœĂ?ĂŠ{ĂˆĂŽĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡xÇxÂ‡Â™ĂˆÂŁĂ“ Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ-Ă•Â˜`>ĂžĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?]ʙÊ>°“° MCHENRY COUNTY JEWISH CONGREGATION 8617 RidgeďŹ eld Road, Crystal Lake 815-455-1810 Worship: 6:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m.

Saturday REDEEMER LUTHERAN £ÎÓäÊ i>Â˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡™ÎÇä Worship: 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ Â…Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŒÂˆ>Â˜ĂŠi`Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜]ʙÊ>°“°Ê-Ă•Â˜`>Ăž UĂŠ*Ă€>ĂžiĂ€]ÊÇʍ°“°Ê/Ă•iĂƒ`>ÞÊ>˜`ĂŠ/Â…Ă•Ă€Ăƒ`>Ăž RESURRECTION CATHOLIC 2918 S. Country Club Road 815-338-7330 Worship: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday; 5 p.m.

Saturday; 8 a.m. weekdays ST. ANN’S EPISCOPAL xäÎÊ7°Ê >VÂŽĂƒÂœÂ˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡ä™xäÊ Worship: 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN {ä£Ê-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠ ÂœÂ…Â˜Â˝ĂƒĂŠ,Âœ>`ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡xÂŁx™Ê Worship: 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ-Ă•Â˜`>ĂžĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?]棊\ÎäÊ>°“° ST. MARY CATHOLIC ĂŽÂŁĂŽĂŠ °Ê/Ă€ĂžÂœÂ˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡ÎÎÇÇÊ Worship: 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 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 Ă“ĂˆĂ“Ă¤ĂŠ Ă€Âˆ`}iĂŠ >˜iĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡{Â™ĂˆÂ‡Ă¤x{n Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Ă“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠ >Ă€ĂŒÂ?>˜`ĂŠ,Âœ>`ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎ{‡£ÇäÎ Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday THE VINE ÂŁÂŁĂŽĂ“ĂŠ °Ê >`ÂˆĂƒÂœÂ˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎn‡ÎÎnä Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER Ă“Ă“xĂŠ7°Ê >Â?Â…ÂœĂ•Â˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°ĂŠUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎLJÎxĂŽ{ Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ9ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂ…ĂŠ `Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜\Ê£äÊ>°“°Ê-Ă•Â˜`>Ăž UĂŠ ˆ˜`ĂƒÂ…ÂˆvĂŒiĂ€Ăƒ]ĂŠĂˆ\Îäʍ°“°Ê/Ă•iĂƒ`>Ăž WOODSTOCK ASSEMBLY OF GOD £Óä£Ê i>Â˜ĂŠ-ĂŒÂ°UĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎnÂ‡ÂŁĂŽÂŁĂˆ Worship: 9 a.m. Sunday prayer service, 10 a.m. worship service UĂŠ Ăœ>˜>ĂŠ Â?Ă•LĂƒĂŠĂˆ\ĂŽĂ¤ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠĂ‡\Îäʍ°“°Ê Wednesday WOODSTOCK BIBLE ÇÇäÊ °Ê ˆ“L>Â?Â?ĂŠ Ă›i°ÊUĂŠnÂŁx‡ÎÎnÂ‡ĂŽĂ¤Ă¤ĂˆĂŠ Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday UĂŠ-Ă•Â˜`>ĂžĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?\ʙ\ÎäÊ>°“°Ê­ÎÊÞi>Ă€ĂƒĂŠ through ďŹ fth grade) UĂŠ °,° ° ° Â°ĂŠÂ“ÂˆÂ˜ÂˆĂƒĂŒĂ€Ăž]ĂŠÂŁÂŁ\ÂŁxĂŠ>Â°Â“Â°ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠÂŁ\ÂŁxĂŠ p.m. Sunday

Note to churches: Please notify The Woodstock Independent with any changes in service times, programs, etc.

14

Jan. 13-19, 2016

PHOTO: MORGUEFILE

13 | WEDNESDAY HENNEN CONSERVATION WORK DAY

Hennen Conservation Area 4622 Dean St. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. conserveMC.org The Land Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help clear invasive plants at the site.

MORNING MOVIE

Woodstock Public Library 414 W. Judd St. 11 a.m.

815-338-0542 The movie “The Martian” will be shown.

STAGE LEFTOVERS

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 7:30 p.m.

Free See The Entertainer, page 9.

14 | THURSDAY SENIOR EXERCISE CLASS

Dorr Township 1039 Lake Ave. 9 a.m. $10 monthly exercise class fee, $2 lunch 815-344-3555 Senior citizens are invited to exercise, followed by coffee, program, lunch and bingo.

15 | FRIDAY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP

Family Alliance 2028 N. Seminary Ave. 1 to 2:30 p.m.

815-338-3590 An open support group meeting will be offered for anyone giving care to an older person.

MARIAN CARES

Marian Central Catholic High School 1001 McHenry Ave. Noon 815-338-4220 A community outreach event will distribute mobile food pantry tickets to the first 200 families in attendance at noon. Food distribution will begin at 1 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’S

Woodstock Square Mall 110 Johnson St. 6 p.m. expresslyleslie.com See The Entertainer, page 9.

JAZZ JAM

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 8 p.m.

815-337-1395 $5 donation See The Entertainer, page 9.

16 | SATURDAY WOODSTOCK FARMERS

COMMUNITY

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

CALENDAR Upcoming events in the Woodstock area U Events are free unless otherwise noted For ongoing events, visit www.thewoodstockindependent.com

MARKET

McHenry County Fairgrounds Building D 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market will feature a variety of food and craft items produced directly by the vendors.

See The Entertainer, page 9.

FOX VALLEY ROCKETEERS BUILDING SESSION

Woodstock North High School 3000 Raffel Road, Room D187 9 a.m.

815-337-9068 foxvalleyrocketeers.org Model rocket enthusiasts will host a workshop.

WINTER TREE ID CLASS

Hennen Conservation Area 4622 Dean St. $5 815-337-9502 TLC’s ecologist will teach participants how to recognize native trees and shrubs by looking at their bark and twigs.

BARK FOR BOOKS

Woodstock Public Library 414 W. Judd St. 10 a.m.

Children can practice reading to Kalani, the therapy dog.

TREASURE ISLAND

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 1 p.m.

815-338-5300 $5 adults, children 11 and younger free See The Entertainer, page 9.

17 | SUNDAY HELPING PAWS NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Helping Paws Shelter 2500 Harding Lane 1 p.m.

815-338-4400 helpingpaws.net Helping Paws will offer a monthly orientation to new volunteers.

19 | TUESDAY WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL MEETING

City Hall 121 W. Calhoun St. 7 p.m.

20 | WEDNESDAY HENNEN CONSERVATION WORK DAY

Hennen Conservation Area 4622 Dean St. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. conserveMC.org The Land Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help clear invasive plants at the site.

WOODSTOCK LIONS CLUB MEETING

Main Street PourHouse 214 Main St. 6:30 p.m.

815-236-4759

The meeting is open to the public.

Prospective members are welcome.

Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. Free See The Entertainer, page 9.

Boger Bog 2100 Cherry Valley Road 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

815-455-1537 Individuals, students, small groups and families with children older than age 6 can participate in restoring habitat for this McHenry County Conservation site.

21 | THURSDAY

“TREASURE ISLAND”

STAGE LEFTOVERS

SENIOR EXERCISE CLASS

Dorr Township 1039 Lake Ave. 9 a.m. $10 monthly exercise class fee, $2 lunch 815-344-3555 Senior citizens are invited to exercise, followed by coffee, program, lunch and bingo.

KIWANIS WOODSTOCK MEETING

Golden Eagle Bank 975 Country Club Road Noon to 1 p.m.

An open meeting of the Kiwanis Club will be held.

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 1 p.m.

815-338-5300 $5 adults, children 11 and younger free See The Entertainer, page 9.

“GOONEY BIRD GREENE”

Woodstock High School Auditorium 501 W. South St. 2 and 7 p.m.

815-338-4370 $10 adult, $5 students See The Entertainer, page 9.

28 | THURSDAY SENIOR EXERCISE CLASS

CREATIVE LIVING SERIES

Jan. 13 to 30 GROUNDHOG DAYS DINNER DANCE

Woodstock Moose Lodge 406 Clay St. Dinner 6 to 7:30 Live Music 8 p.m. to midnight $15 The event benefiting Moose Charities and Pioneer Center will include dinner, musical entertainment, raffles, prize drawings and more.

“MY PERSONAL ANGEL”

Tony Casalino Black Box Theatre 501 W. South St. 7 p.m.

815-338-4370 $10 adult, $5 students See The Entertainer, page 9.

30 | SATURDAY GROUNDHOG BOWLING

Wayne’s Lanes 109 E. Church St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $15 Admission will cover two games and shoe rental and a slice of pizza. Proceeds will benefit Woodstock High School bowling teams.

22 | FRIDAY

Dorr Township 1039 Lake Ave. 9 a.m. $10 monthly exercise class fee, $2 lunch 815-344-3555 Senior citizens are invited to exercise, followed by coffee, program, lunch and bingo.

LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’S

AWAKENING OF THE GROUNDHOG

JIM MAY’S GROUNDHOG TALES

Woodstock Opera House 121 W. Van Buren 6 p.m. woodstockgroundhog.org Groundhog Days 2016 will officially kick off with Woodstock Willie making an appearance on the balcony of the Opera House.

Home State Bank 124 Johnson St. 10 a.m.

Master storyteller Jim May shares the secrets of the winter prognosticators.

Woodstock Opera House 121 W. Van Buren 10 a.m. $24 815-338-5300 See The Entertainer, page 9.

Woodstock Square Mall 110 Johnson St. 6 p.m. expresslyleslie.com See The Entertainer, page 9.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren St. 7 p.m. $3 donation 815-338-5164 See The Entertainer, page 9.

“GOONEY BIRD GREENE”

Woodstock High School Auditorium 501 W. South St. 7 p.m.

815-338-4370 $10 adult, $5 students See The Entertainer, page 9.

23 | SATURDAY PRACTICAL MATTERS CAREGIVER CONFERENCE

JourneyCare-Woodstock 2028 N. Seminary 9 a.m. to noon Family Alliance is hosting an informational session focused on caregiver wellness and support. Topics include driving safety, understanding Medicare and five myths of estate planning. Call 815-338-3590 to register.

HABITAT RESTORATION

GROUNDHOG TRIVIA

Stage Left Café 125 Van Buren 6:30 p.m. woodstockgroundhog.org Attendees will discuss trivia and share knowledge of the movie.

WOODSTOCK WILLIE WINE PARTY

Facets Event Center 11701 Catalpa Lane forwinelovers.com 7 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door 815-334-9597 The event will feature wine and craft-beer tasting paired with appetizers. A silent auction will benefit Child Advocacy Center.

29 | FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’S

Woodstock Square Mall 110 Johnson St. 6 p.m. expresslyleslie.com See The Entertainer, page 9.

GROUNDHOG DAY MOVIE SHOWING

Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theater 209 Main St. 10 a.m.

Free See the Entertainer, page 9.

CHILI COOK-OFF

Woodstock Opera House 121 Van Buren St. noon to 1:15 p.m.

Donation Held in conjunction with Woodstock’s Groundhog Day festivities, competitors will cook their chili at Woodstock North High School in the morning and bring it to the Opera House for public tasting and judging at noon.

WOODSTOCK BAGS TOURNAMENT

Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern 101 E. Church St. 1 p.m. $30 per 2-man team, preregistration; $40 registration, day of tournament 815-245-4954 Sponsored by the Woodstock Rotary, the outside bags tournament will raise funds for the Woodstock Food Pantry.

BEST BET SELECTION To submit calendar items, e-mail pr@thewoodstockindependent.com or visit thewoodstockindependent.com

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 22ND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS Case No. 15 PR 369 In the Matter of the Estate of JOHN R. BERG, Deceased.

PUBLIC NOTICE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION TO: CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS, AND ESTATE OF VIOLA G. FLORES, AND HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF VIOLA G. FLORES 1. Notice is given of the death of John R. Berg who died on October 18, 2015, a resident of Lake in the Hills, Illinois.

2. The Representative for the estate is: Marcella Wright, 217 Oakley, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156.

3. The Attorney for the estate is: Peter Vucha, 920 Davis Road, Elgin, IL 60123 (847) 888-1820 4.

Claims against the estate may be ÀOHG RQ RU EHIRUH -XQH &ODLPV DJDLQVW WKH HVWDWH PD\ EH ÀOHG ZLWK WKH Clerk of the Circuit Court, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098, or with the 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH RU ERWK $Q\ FODLP QRW ÀOHG within that period is barred. Copies of a FODLP ÀOHG ZLWK WKH FOHUN PXVW EH PDLOHG RU delivered to the Representative and to the $WWRUQH\ ZLWKLQ GD\V DIWHU LW KDV EHHQ ÀOHG 5. The estate will be administrated without Court supervision unless an interested party terminates independent supervision DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ E\ ÀOLQJ D SHWLWLRQ WR WHUPLQDWH under Article XXVIII 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4). /s/Marcella Wright, Executor (Published in The Woodstock Independent December 30, 2015, January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9744

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on 'HFHPEHU D FHUWLÀFDWH ZDV ÀOHG LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI WKH &RXQW\ &OHUN RI 0F+HQU\ County, Illinois, setting forth the names and SRVW RIÀFH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV owning, conducting and transacting the business known as E & E SERVICES located at 4717 WINNEBAGO DR WONDER LAKE

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT IL 60097.

Dated DECEMBER 28, 2015 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent December 30, 2015, January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9745

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on 'HFHPEHU D FHUWLÀFDWH ZDV ÀOHG LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI WKH &RXQW\ &OHUN RI 0F+HQU\ County, Illinois, setting forth the names DQG SRVW RIÀFH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH persons owning, conducting and transacting WKH EXVLQHVV NQRZQ DV '$9,'·6 $872 REPAIR located at 401 EASTWOOD DR WOODSTOCK IL 60098.

Dated DECEMBER 30, 2015 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9746

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on 'HFHPEHU D FHUWLÀFDWH ZDV ÀOHG LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI WKH &RXQW\ &OHUN RI 0F+HQU\ County, Illinois, setting forth the names and SRVW RIÀFH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV owning, conducting and transacting the EXVLQHVV NQRZQ DV 0$5,$·6 &/($1,1* SERVICE located at 884 ZIMMERMAN RD., WOODSTOCK IL 60098.

Dated DECEMBER 30, 2015 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9747

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on 'HFHPEHU D FHUWLÀFDWH ZDV ÀOHG LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI WKH &RXQW\ &OHUN RI 0F+HQU\ County, Illinois, setting forth the names and SRVW RIÀFH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV owning, conducting and transacting the business known as The Irish Roost Farm located at 5610 IRISH LN, HARVARD, IL, 60033.

Dated DECEMBER 31, 2015

/s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9748

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on 'HFHPEHU D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH RI WKH &RXQW\ &OHUN RI 0F+HQU\ County, Illinois, setting forth the names and SRVW RIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV owning, conducting and transacting the EXVLQHVV NQRZQ DV 6$8&< -())·6 ORFDWHG at 1124 BURR ST., LAKE IN THE HILLS IL 60156.

Dated DECEMBER 31, 2015 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 6, 2016, January 13, 2016) L9749

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as SCOTT BROWN SEALCOATING located at 5306 NIPPERSINK DR., RICHMOND IL 60071.

Dated JANUARY 4, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9750

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as BUSINESS OWNERS OFFICE TECH SUPPORT located at 8506 RILEY RD WONDER LAKE IL 60097.

Dated JANUARY 5, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9751

Jan. 13-19, 2016

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as IMAGES 4 KIDS PLUS located at 1317 PALAMINO DR., MCHENRY IL 60051.

Dated JANUARY 6, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9752

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as LAKE ELECTRIC located at 206 ISLAND DR ISLAND LAKE IL 60042.

Dated JANUARY 6, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9753

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as WOODSTOCK EQUESTRIAN II located at 688 W SOUTH STREET WOODSTOCK IL 60098.

Dated JANUARY 7, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9754

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSUMED NAME Public Notice is hereby given that on January D FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWH ZDV Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH 2IÃ&#x20AC;FH

17

of the County Clerk of McHenry County, Illinois, setting forth the names and postRIÃ&#x20AC;FH DGGUHVVHV RI DOO RI WKH SHUVRQV RZQLQJ conducting and transacting the business known as SOUL FOCUS located at 120 N BENTON ST WOODSTOCK IL 60098.

Dated JANUARY 6, 2016 /s/ MARY E MCCLELLAN (County Clerk) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9755

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MCHENRY COUNTYIN PROBATE Case No. 15PR000326 In the Matter of the Estate of RETA M HILL Deceased CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of:: RETA M HILL Of: WOODSTOCK, IL /HWWHUV RI RIÃ&#x20AC;FH ZHUH LVVXHG RQ to: Representative: BARBARA GROSKINSKY 1805 WILDFLOWER LN HARVARD, IL 60033 whose attorney is: KRAFT, PATRICIA C 131 E CALHOUN ST WOODSTOCK, IL 60098 &ODLPV DJDLQVW WKH HVWDWH PD\ EH Ã&#x20AC;OHG ZLWKLQ VL[ PRQWKV IURP WKH GDWH RI Ã&#x20AC;UVW SXEOLFDWLRQ $Q\ FODLP QRW Ã&#x20AC;OHG ZLWKLQ VL[ PRQWKV IURP WKH GDWH RI Ã&#x20AC;UVW SXEOLFDWLRQ RU FODLPV QRW Ã&#x20AC;OHG within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to Creditor, whichever is later, shall be barred. &ODLPV PD\ EH Ã&#x20AC;OHG LQ WKH RIÃ&#x20AC;FH RI WKH &OHUN of Circuit Court at the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, Illinois, 60098, or with the representative, or both. &RSLHV RI FODLPV Ã&#x20AC;OHG ZLWK WKH &OHUN PXVW be mailed or delivered to the representative and to his attorney within ten days after it has EHHQ Ã&#x20AC;OHG /s/KATHERINE M KEEFE (Clerk of the Circuit Court) (Published in The Woodstock Independent January 13, 2016) L9756

18

Jan. 13-19, 2016

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

THUNDER FALL TO WOLVES

» COLUMN

Walsh wins pole vault competition It did not take Jon Walsh, a Southern Illinois University-Carbondale senior, very long to win the first pole vault competition of his senior year.

Try one meet. e Woodstock North graduate competed unattached and won the SIUC hosted Saluki Fast Start. He vaulted a height of 16 feet, 3.25 inches. He won easily, beating another unattached competitor, namely Chad Weaver, who finished second in 15-7.25.

Dan Team scores were not kept at Chamness the Saluki Fast The College Start.

Report Basketball

Woodstock North’s Brandon Langreck takes the ball to the net against Prairie Ridge Jan. 9. The Wolves beat the Thunder 59-24. INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY MICHELLE KRENGER

SPORTS

Cody Brand (Woodstock) emerged off the bench and poured in 14 points for the University of St. Francis, downing Calumet College of St. Joseph 86-39. Brand, who hit 6-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, also had seven rebounds and six assists. She played 27 minutes. In USF’s 76-60 win over Purdue UniversityCalumet, Brand had two points in six minutes of play. At the time of the contest with PU-Calumet, USF was ranked seventh among NAIA teams, while Purdue-Calumet was ranked 16th. USF is 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Rhetta Bates (Woodstock North) scored nine points as her college team, Dominican University, lost an 87-54 battle to Lakeland College. Bates also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots. She started and played 25 minutes. In Dominican’s 69-64 loss to Benedictine University, Bates scored six points, grabbed three rebounds and doled out two assists in 16 minutes of play. Dominican is 2-11 overall and 1-7 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Selena Juarez (Woodstock) scored six points in each of North Central College’s games this week. In the 91-81 win over Millikin University, she also had five rebounds and two steals in 15 minutes of play. In the 78-67 loss to Wheaton College, she had two rebounds in 16 minutes of play. North Central is 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the College Confer-

ence of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Mitch Kohley (Woodstock), who has played in 11 games and averaged 9.6 minutes per game, has scored 52 points and pulled down 25 rebounds thus far. e McHenry County College freshman forward is averaging 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He also has three assists and three steals. He has scored his points by hitting 22-of-50 from the floor and 5-of-11 from the charity stripe. Of his field goals, three were from beyond the arc. Fellow McHenry County player Tom Sciluffo (Woodstock North) has played sparingly. He has played in seven games and averaged 1.4 minutes per game. He has two points this year. MCC is 7-6.

Damian Stoneking (Woodstock) scored four points and grabbed six rebounds, but it was not enough to power Cardinal Stritch University beyond Trinity International University, losing 75-74. Stoneking, who started and played 14 minutes, also had six rebounds. Stoneking also had two points and two assists in Cardinal Stritch’s 79-70 win over Purdue University-Calumet. Cardinal Stritch is 8-10 overall and 5-3 in the CCAC. Ashley Jones (Woodstock North), Sara Crain (Woodstock North) and Kristy Darling (Woodstock North) have helped McHenry County College post a 7-9 mark through the first 16 women’s basketball games. Jones, who has played in 12 games, has 83 points and 39 rebounds. In addition to her 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, she also has eight steals, seven blocked shots and three assists. She has scored her points by hitting 30-of-91 field goals, which includes 16-of-49 from beyond the arc, and seven free throws.

Crain, who has played in all 16 games and made 13 starts, has scored 60 points and pulled down 55 rebounds, respective averages of 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She also has 10 assists, nine steals and two blocked shots. She has hit 23-of-62 from the floor and is 12-of-24 from the free throw line. She has two treys.

Darling also has played in all 16 games. She has 62 points and 23 rebounds. e 5-foot-7 freshman forward, who is averaging 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, also has five assists and four steals. She has scored her points by hitting 19 field goals, 15 of which were treys, and nine free throws.

MCC is 7-9 overall.

Ross Langlois (Marian Central) scored two points to help Monmouth College down Illinois College 8947. In his 13 minutes of play, he also had three assists and two rebounds.

Monmouth is 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Midwest Conference

Dan Chamness follows the college athletic careers of Woodstock-area athletes.

SPORTS

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

MARIAN DEFEATS WAUCONDA

Jan. 13-19, 2016

19

» GIRLS BASKETBALL

Thunder drop game to G’lake Central

By SARAH KUSZ The Independent

Marian Central’s Hannah Gillespie passes the ball in the Lady ’Canes’ game against Wauconda Jan. 7. Marian Central won 56-44. INDEPENDENT PHOTOS BY WHITNEY RUPP

Wrestling

Continued from Page 20

On Jan. 6, despite a close 37-30 loss to Prairie Ridge, the ’Canes found opportunity among the younger wrestlers in the lineup. Junior Adam Konopka (10-2), sophomore Zach Gustafson and Randazzo all won their weight classes. “ e thing I’m most proud of is the way the kids embody the sport,” said

Swimming

Taylor, adding that what’s most important on the mat is for each wrestler to know that he’s done everything he can to be in a position to win.

“We’re getting the weight classes filled with guys that know how to compete and want to compete. ey [the younger wrestlers] are learning from older guys

and attacking it like veterans, which is what you want them to do at this point in the season,” Taylor said.

Marian will compete in the Batavia Invite Saturday, Jan. 16. ey will host a quadrangular at Marian at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 20, with Belvidere North, Wauconda and North Chicago.

Continued from Page 20

ing with a time of 5 minutes, 39 seconds. “ ere was a guy in front the whole time, and I really wanted to beat him,” Wolf said.

Wolf took second in the 400 freestyle at 4:12.

Shanahan said he feels his challenge as coach is handling his swimmers’ vast array of abilities. e team has three swimmers who compete for the Woodstock Dolphins in the offseason — Jake Maher, Ben uma and Jeremy Wolf —

but most of the team’s swimmers use the sport as off-season conditioning for other sports. at, Shanahan said, can make it difficult to compete against teams comprised mostly of club-based swimmers, but he said he appreciates the team’s hard work. “ ey are all really good kids that work really hard, and I enjoy being around their positive attitudes,” Shanahan said.

Mark Harter, a WHS senior and co-

captain, said his team is looking forward to sectional competition, an occasion which prompts the team’s annual “head-shaving party” and a traditional, carb-heavy pasta dinner. Harter credits Shanahan with creating a tight sense of community on the two-school team.

“Coach Shanahan encourages teamwork and emphasizes fun, which has rekindled my love of the sport,” Harter said.

Q Marian Central fell to Marist 84-42 Jan. 9.

Girls bowling

Wrestling

Q Woodstock High School beat St. Edward 2,452-1,870 Jan. 7. Earlier in the week, they fell to Jacobs 2,5672,408 Jan. 5.

SPORTS NOTES

Boys basketball Q Woodstock High School pulled off a last-second victory over Grayslake Central Jan. 6, coming out on top 53-52. The Streaks' record moved to 9-3.

Q Woodstock North fell to Grayslake North Knights 76-44 Jan. 6.

Girls basketball Q Woodstock High School lost to Prairie Ridge 47-28 Jan. 5.

Q The Blue Streaks JV team took third place at the McHenry Invite Jan. 9.

Q Thunder wrestlers finished 3-0 Jan. 6 with wins over North Boone 66-10, West Carroll 48-30, and Rockford Lutheran, 719.

Q Woodstock High School lost to Hampshire 48-27 Jan. 7.

Haley Ahr put up 19 points for the under, but the Woodstock North girls basketball team fell just a bit short against Grayslake Central Jan. 8, losing 38-32.

WNHS coach Mike Lewis said he was pleased with his team’s effort on the night, crediting his defense, led by Maddie Busch, for a strong showing. “ [ O u r ] strength lies within defense,” Lewis said.

“We held a good team to 38 points.

I was proud of the over— Mike Lewis, all effort the WNHS coach girls put out there.”

Grayslake Central has been a dominant team this season. Lewis said he hopes more focus from his team can help overcome similar competition in the future.

“We were only a play or two away from beating a top team in our conference,” Lewis said. “We are right there when we play hard for four quarters.

Once we put our effort together with four quarters of focus, we will have a great chance to beat the good teams.” e loss moved the under to 6-10 overall.

Lewis said the game was an improvement over a game at Hampshire earlier in the week, which the under dropped 48-24.

“Defensively, it was one of the better games we have played together this year. Progress is exactly what we’re looking for. Wins and losses are the most important thing for us right now,” Lewis said. “We will continue to work hard and put ourselves in a good position to be successful on a nightly basis.”

“We held a good team to 38 points. I was proud of the overall effort the girls put out there.”

Boys bowling Q Woodstock High School defeated St. Edward 2,562-2,354 Jan. 7. The team lost Jan. 5 to Grayslake Central 2,639-2,601.

STOP THE AD TAX

20

Jan. 13-19, 2016

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Sports » GIRLS BASKETBALL

Overly ties 3-point record in win over Tigers

By LIZ STROH The Independent

Tom Welch, Marian Central’s 170-pounder, wrestles against Prairie Ridge Jan. 6, winning by decision. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY WHITNEY RUPP

» WRESTLING

MC wrestlers prep for ‘crunch time’ Soph Randazzo is at 15-0, team stands at 7-6 heading into home stretch

“For him to be 15-0 with really no matches that he wasn’t in control of is pretty impressive.”

— Chris Taylor, Marian Central coach

By MEGAN IVERS The Independent e Marian Central Catholic High School wrestling team stands at 7-6 on the season heading into the final stretch of competition. e Batavia Invite and a couple of quads are all that stands before the team and the state finals, a trip to which is slated to begin at the IHSA Class 2A Harvard Regional in early February. “ e trick at this point is to stay healthy and fix the little things you can fix,” said head coach Chris Taylor. “We do a lot of talking with the athletes to

find out what puts them at ease, so when it’s crunch time, we [coaches] know what to rely on.”

Crunch time is where Marian’s wrestlers have learned to become comfortable thanks to the keen approach of Taylor and his staff.

Last season, then-freshman Anthony Randazzo became the first freshman wrestler in the history of any Woodstock high school to qualify for the state finals. Experiencing state competition at that age has meant that Randazzo,

who is at 15-0 heading into the Batavia Invite, will be that much more prepared heading into the regional and sectional.

“He’s not leaving any questions,” said Taylor. “For him to be 15-0 with really no matches that he wasn’t in control of is pretty impressive.”

What the Hurricanes refer to as “Murderers’ Row” in seniors Tom Welch (171) and Joe Herff (12-4) and junior Elias Edmondson (15-4) has also been key to Marian’s lineup.

On Jan. 7, Herff wrestled a state champion in the Hurricanes’ 58-21 loss to No. 6-ranked Geneseo. e same evening, the ’Canes lost 46-28 to Sterling.

At the Geneva Newbill Invite on Jan. 9, Welch (170) scored a first-place finish en route to helping the team place 11th. Randazzo, Herff and junior Conor Smith placed second, fourth and six, respectively.

Please see Wrestling, Page 19

» BOYS SWIMMING

Boys swim team in training mode as sectionals approach

By LIZ STROH The Independent Six days a week, the Woodstock coop boys swim team is at it, practicing constant repetition, laps and strokes, breathing and rhythm. e 16-member team, made up of swimmers from Woodstock and Woodstock North high schools, practices all winter in the warmth and humidity of WNHS’ pool facilities, where the athletes

work on endurance and improving their personal best times. e team currently holds a 1-3 conference record, but coach Ian Shanahan — in his 14th year coaching swimming — said he typically starts seeing progress and improvement around now, in the middle of the season. WHS junior Jeremy Wolf placed first in the 500-meter relay in a competition against Byron Jan. 7, finishPlease see Swimming, Page 19

Junior Spencer Hanson competes in the 100-yard breaststroke for the Woodstock co-op swim team Jan. 7 at Byron High School. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY SANDY KUCHARSKI

Brecken Overly must have threes on her mind. e Woodstock High School senior tied the girls 3-point school record Jan. 8, scoring seven from behind the 3-point line in a single game to lead the Blue Streaks to a 56-40 win over Crystal Lake Central.

When Overly reached five 3-pointers, she said varsity coach Jen Nichols told her, “We’re gonna make this happen!” e Streaks, reigning regional champions for the past two seasons, may be 1-4 in the Fox Valley Conference, but they’re still thinking in terms of threepeats.

“My team is so great, so close, and the girls are all there to lift each other up,” Overly said.

“Out of respect for one another, [Hogle] will make players run laps for not — Brecken Overly, clapping or WHS basketball supporting other players on the team. … [Hogle’s] passion rubs off,” Overly said.

WHS won consecutive regional titles in 2014 and 2015. e big question for the team, then, is how to maintain focus on their play without letting the regional loom overhead.

“Each girl on the team has been very capable of being a standout player, and it depends on the day which girl will step up and help the team win,” Hogle said.

Overly scored a 25 points against CLC, while senior Jenny Crain and junior Gabriella Scolio often lead the points on the board for the team. “ is year has been about continuing to play a fun, up-tempo game, work on consistency in offense, maintain a positive attitude and become leaders on and off the court,” Hogle said.

WHS will host crosstown rival Woodstock North at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, in the Shipley Gymnasium. Students, as well as adults who donate new socks, hats or gloves, will receive free admission to the game.

“My team is so great, so close, and the girls are all there to lift each other up.”