By Larry Lough larry@thewoodstockindependent.com ”We’re open during construction.” “Detours lead to local shops – support Route 47.” “Pardon our dust – open during construction.” You soon will see temporary blue-and-yellow signs long Route 47 to help businesses whose normal operations are being disrupted by work to widen the state highway through much of Woodstock. The […]
Water, sewer rates increased; AFA redevelopment agreement to increase investment By Larry LoughLarry@thewoodstockindependent.com The city of Woodstock has a new budget, and, perhsps for the first time ever, the City Council vote to approve it was not unanimous. Council members voted 5-1 last week for the 2026-27 fiscal year budget, including about $35 million to […]
We applaud the decision of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry to make the annual “State of the City” address available for public viewing online this year for the first time since the event started, around the early 2000s. The luncheon event, now held in the second-floor banquet room of the Old Courthouse […]
Company based in the Netherlands buying former M4 Factory building on Judd Street By Larry Loughnews@thewoodstockindependent.com Woodstock has attracted another new manufacturer, this one with an international flair. The City Council last week approved a redevelopment agreement with AFA Manufacturing North America, a “dispensing technologies” business whose parent company, AFA Dispensing, is based in the […]
Hearthstone nearly empty; residents of independent living on uncertain ground By Susan W. Murray NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM Since Aug. 5, Hearthstone’s independent living residents have known that the 135-year-old retirement community’s days were numbered. A letter to the Prairie Home and Garden Home residents from Cynthia Palao Suarez, the campus administrator, announced that “due to their […]
By Larry Loughlarry@thewoodstockindependent.com Two attempts were needed, but owners of the BratHaus last week won a recommendation for a certificate of appropriateness they needed to make exterior modifications to the historic Sheriff’s House and Jail at Johnson and Cass streets in the city’s Downtown Historic District. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission endorsed the project on […]
By Eileen MillardNEWS@thewoodstockindependent.com Marengo Disposal Systems, the city’s waste hauler, has been delivering toters to meet the July 1 deadline for changes to the current system. Recycling toters being delivered According to Marengo Disposal, deliveries of new toters began during the week of June 9 to 13 for: • 95-gallon garbage toter for anyone who […]
By Larry Loughlarry@thewoodstockindepenDEnt.com City government will take a “cautious approach” as its Revolving Loan Fund “evolves” into a new program that has yet to be developed, Mayor Mike Turner said last week during the Woodstock City Council meeting. Discussion about, but no action on, the program was on the June 17 meeting agenda after some […]
A look at Woodstock’s enforcement of often violated city ordinances By Eileen Millardnews@thewoodstockindepenDEnt.com The topic of code enforcement came up at both City Council public forums held before this year’s election in April. After the election, returning council member Tom Nierman talked about why he mentioned the need for better code enforcement at the forums. […]
City Council OKs new liquor licenses; one business wants video gambling, too By Larry Loughlarry@the woodstockindependent.com Woodstock now offers two more places to get a drink of alcohol along Eastwood Drive, and soon might have a couple of more places for video gambling. The City Council last week approved new liquor licenses for Antioch Pizza, […]
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.
