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Owen Fiorina (above) stains a deck for House of the Sparrow as part of the annual service day program of Woodstock’s Grace Lutheran Church. (Courtesy photo)

‘Living out our faith’: Local Lutherans involved with ‘God’s Work. Our Hands’ day of service

More than 90 members of Woodstock’s Grace Lutheran Church participated in this year’s service day that Evangelical Lutheran Church in America observes every September. The work day began Sunday, Sept.…

September 19, 2023

Caregiving crisis needs more people with ‘servant’s hearts’

By Julie Peters “My daughter and I are basically alone,” the woman wrote in a recent post to a special needs Facebook group. “She lives with me and as of […] Subscribe or Login to co…

September 19, 2023

Community Briefs

Coroner’s office achieves national accreditation The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has been accredited by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, an honor that only three Il…

September 19, 2023

‘I knew I wanted to fly’: Retired airline pilot having fun doing big loops with ‘Big Red’

For a girl who grew up watching planes take off just outside her window, Susan Dacy is living her dream and sharing her love of aviation with others with the […] Subscribe or Login t…

September 12, 2023

Arts & Entertainment

Howl at the Wolf Oak attendees Sept. 22 will have the opportunity to experience nature as well as learn about the 300-plus-year-old oak tree and the diverse habitats at Wolf Oak Woods. (Courtesy photo)

Arts Briefs: Howl at the Wolf Oak, Free Guitars for Future Stars, MCC planetarium shows

Howl at the Wolf Oak in Woodstock this week The Land Conservancy of McHenry County will host a free “Howl at the Wolf Oak” family event to celebrate t…

September 19, 2023

Winter Doss has her faces consumed by a dinosaur painting during Woodstock's annual Mexican Independence Day festival Sunday at the Park in the Square. (Independent photo by Ken Farver)

Festival of fun: Mexican Independence Day celebration draws thousands to Woodstock Square

Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Woodstock’s gray, rainy Sunday morning gave way to afternoon sunshine to show off the colorful costumes,…

September 19, 2023

State News

As SAFE-T Act goes live, murder suspects previously eligible to post bond are held in jail

A statue is pictured outside of the Illinois Supreme Court building in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)

Hearings have been longer, more deliberative – resembling federal detention proceedings By BETH HUNDSDORFERand HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com In courtrooms around the state early this week, judges conducted the first […] Subscribe or Login to continue reading this quality article by The Woodstock I…

September 19, 2023

Battery manufacturing plant coming to Illinois – with $530 million state incentive deal: Lithium-ion plant in Manteno part of state’s ongoing effort to court electric vehicle manufacturing

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at an event Friday to announce a new investment in a lithium ion battery plant in Manteno by the Chinese company Gotion. (Photo by Illinois.gov)

By ANDREW ADAMSCapitol News Illinoisaadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A new battery manufacturing plant is set to open in northern Illinois next year after the state offered more than $330 million in tax incentives to make it happen. Gotion, a Chinese battery manufacturing and development company, announced on Friday that it would build a lithium-ion…

September 8, 2023

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Business

A group waits for a table at The Double Yolk Café (Corner Square Café´) on Saturday morning. The Woodstock Independent’s informal restaurant survey of readers produced a large response. The one area of disagreement was between those who want to go to their favorite fast-casual restaurants without leaving Woodstock and those who hold a firm “no chain restaurants” position. (Independnent photo by Ken Farver)

Hungry yet, Woodstock? You told us what restaurants you want – from fine dining to White Castle

Three weeks ago, The Woodstock Independent asked you, our readers, what cuisine you’d like to add to the city’s thriving restaurant scene. We did not set limits. You could tell […] S…

September 19, 2023

“We’ve kept up with the changes in the cars,” Bob Kristensen says after 50 years of owning the station on Washington Street. While he applauds some improvements to cars, including cruise control and the blind spot warning systems and diagnostic tools, there are so many sensors – just in the steering wheel. “When you can’t figure out how to work your radio ...” (Independent photo by Ken Farver)

‘Take it to Bob’: Bob Kristensen marks 50 years of ownership of Kristensen’s Service Center

The car won’t start? It’s “making a funny noise”? Many Woodstock residents would give you the same advice. “Take it to Bob.” Bob is Bob Kristensen, owner of the Mobil […] Subscribe o…

September 12, 2023

Jessee and Clint Robinson were in town from Shelby, Iowa, to possibly buy a car. Jessee’s sister, Jamie Ramsey of Crystal Lake, suggested they accompany her to the Farmers Market. Regrettably, we neglected to get the name of the Robinsons’ canine companion. (Independent photo by Ken Farver)

Where do they come from? Saturday’s Farmers Market attendees travel from far and wide

If you’ve read Dr. Seuss’ “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” to a child or grandchild, you’ll remember the rhyme: “Where do they come from? I can’t say. […] Subscribe or Login…

September 5, 2023