Woodstock
I NDEPENDENT The
May 24-30, 2017
Published every Wednesday | Est. 1987 | Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. | www.thewoodstockindependent.com | $1.00
NEWS
Benton Street could host outoor dining PAGE 3
SCHOOLS
WNHS dedicates a memorial to a beloved school administrator PAGE 8
END QUOTE “To parse Debs down to the inability to raise funds, I think, is rather shortsighted.” — ALLEN STEBBINS, PAGE 3
OBITUARIES
PAGE 7
INDEX 5 6 8 10 12 14
CALENDAR CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES PUZZLES SPORTS
Woodstock North graduating senior Riley Kotyza gives a thumbs-up during commencement May 20.
GRADUATION 2017
Luigi Pietro Mariutto, Woodstock Margaret J. Ritzert, Woodstock James E. ‘Jim’ Pearson, Ringwood 9 )HYY` )VSSLUZLU :WYPUNÄLSK
OBITUARIES OPINION SCHOOLS A&E MARKETPLACE COMMUNITY
INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY MICHELLE KRENGER
20 22 24 25 26
The Woodstock Independent
671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 www.thewoodstockindependent.com
WHS says North seniors, families celebrate commencement goodbye to By Katelyn Stanek THE INDEPENDENT
Just before Woodstock North High School’s class of 2017 walked across the stage to accept their diplomas, Edwin Mercado marvelled that his stepdaughter was already graduating. “It’s so fast,” Mercado said. “I’m very emotional.” Mercado and his wife, Jennifer
Garcia, moved from Puerto Rico to Woodstock about four years ago, just as their daughter, Amanda Eaton Garcia, was starting high school. It was a big adjustment for the family, Garcia said, but their daughter grew to love WNHS. “It was hard,” Jennifer Garcia said, but she believes her daughter received a better education than she would have without the move. “In Puerto Rico, it was tough. Not like here.” eir daughter was one of 228 seniors to graduate May 20 — a remarkable number, Principal Darlea Livengood said, because that means, for the first time in the school’s history, every senior who started school in August received a diploma at the Please see WNHS, Page 4
class of 2017 By Whitney Rupp THE INDEPENDENT
Above all of the emotions in Woodstock High School’s Shipley Gymnasium during graduation ceremonies May 21, Richard Blasinski said the feeling of thankfulness reigned for him. Blasinski and his wife of 57 years, Marylou, of Lake in the Hills, have 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. ey watched proudly as granddaughter, Kaylee, accepted her diploma. “I’m thankful I’m here for her. I’ve gone through cancer, heart attacks, and other heart problems, but God is Please see WHS, Page 4