Last month, Michael Stanard emailed his clients to let them know that One Zero Charlie would soon close its doors. After 43 years of providing a full gamut of marketing design services to local and national businesses and nonprofits, Stanard cited his age (76) and the loss of vision in his left eye four years […]
Celebrating its 80th birthday this year, Wayne’s Lanes has a dual identity. On one hand, the bowling alley is known around the world as the setting for the pivotal scene in the 1993 film “Groundhog Day.” On the other, it is a still largely 1950s-era bowling alley and bar in a time when fewer and […]
As any old house owner knows, remodeling can entail unpleasant surprises, delays, cost overruns, frustration, or headaches – and sometimes all of them. But remodeling also sends a signal of hope – that those undertaking the makeover have resolved to go on in a new and better way. After more than a year of discouraging […]
You might say that Kent Frisbie and Luke Lohmeyer have a thing for gas stations. For nearly 50 years, what is now Frisbie and Lohmeyer Insurance occupied a former Shell gas station at 301 N. Madison St. Kent’s dad, Dave, and his then-business partner Bob Overly bought the vacant building in 1971, turned the interior […]
It’s been 11 months since the Christmas decorations in Greenwood, S.C., inspired Gordy and Anita Tebo to dream up some new wonder for the Woodstock Square. In the meantime, local elves have been busy creating a stack of decorations that the city’s public works department will install on Tuesday, Nov. 30. “The majority of the […]
The continuing popularity of the Woodstock Square as a filming site is good news and bad news for downtown businesses. On the one hand, filming crews mean more traffic and potential diners and shoppers. On the other hand, accommodating equipment and setting up camera angles can disrupt or block off traffic. And often, schedule changes […]
Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Two Woodstock-based manufacturers – Enviro Sip Straw and MAC Automation – have received the Business Champion Award from the McHenry County Economic Development Council. They were among five Woodstock businesses nominated for awards presented Nov. 10 at the MCEDC’s 30th annual dinner in Crystal Lake. Enviro Sip, which makes Boss Straw, a […]
Over the past five years, the Woodstock train station has hopefully welcomed a series of tenants that sadly did not result in “happily ever after.” Coffee and sandwich shop Centerville Station, operated by D.C. Cobb’s owner Dan Hart, closed in early 2016 after a short run with UP’s strict limitations on alcohol sales and denial […]
Anyone who has gone through the heartrending experience of having to give up a dog knows how important it is to find that “good home” where the cherished furry companion will be loved and cared for. Likewise, when Amanda Herrera knew that for health reasons she needed to sell her dog grooming business, Fur Elegance, […]
While sales at Ehrke’s Appliance undeniably grew in nine years at its location at 144 Washington St., across from Napoli Pizza, the one-story brick building itself was not conducive to moving appliances in or out. The back door led to a spiral staircase, said Nancy Ehrke, who owns the business with her husband, Bob. And […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
