For 51 years, a group of “extraordinary ‘ordinary’ volunteer women” have been bringing a variety of unique and successful individuals to the Woodstock Opera House to share their stories and entertain. The Woodstock Fine Arts Association’s Creative Living Series is one of the oldest lecture series in the country that is not university-based and has […]
Woodstock is teeming with artists of all varieties, some working with clay, some with oil paint, and one with pumpkins. Most visitors to the Square this time of year likely will be drawn by flickering candlelight to the eerie images portrayed in pieces of John Scharres’ artwork. His carved jack-o’-lanterns can be found adorning the […]
While collecting seeds with the McHenry County Conservation District at Glacial Park in early September, Kathleen Sexton came across a striking caterpillar. After photographing it, she submitted her find to a national database and discovered the species had not been documented since the 1950s. Though the find – a Pandora Sphinx moth caterpillar – was […]
When purchasing an old farm in upstate New York in 2007 as a weekend getaway from the busy city, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner, Brent Ridge, did not expect it to become a flourishing business. Now, with “one of the fastest growing lifestyle brands in the country,” the duo has created a multimillion dollar company. […]
When Woodstock High School dance teacher Kathy Peiffer had a lung collapse a week after the start of school in 2007, she knew her condition was much more serious than being “out of shape.” For four years prior to the incident, doctors told Peiffer her shortness of breath was probably due to deconditioning and age. […]
The Special Education District of McHenry County has announced plans to close its center in Woodstock, but some families of current and former students say they’ll fight to keep it open. SEDOM officials have cited declining enrollment as the primary reason to close SEDOM Center, 1200 Claussen Drive, at the end of the school year. […]
Sample a slice of Americana just to the west of downtown Woodstock Friday to Sunday, Oct. 17 to 20, at the 27th annual Autumn Drive. Deemed one of the county’s premiere fall festivals, the event is unique in the variety of activities it offers visitors. “This is not your typical agritourism-type of thing,” said Jaki […]
Zoia wins first Tommy Lane scholarship, named in honor of 1957 graduate With a compelling essay about the importance of music education in school, 2014 Woodstock High School graduate Natalie Zoia was awarded the first Tommy Lane music scholarship this May. Friends of the late musician and performer Tommy Lane Moricoli, a 1957 WHS graduate, […]
Police arrested a Woodstock woman whom investigators accused of intentionally setting a fire at a home on Dean Street. Angela M. Hacker, 33, was charged with arson and criminal damage to property Oct. 3 following a garage fire at 641 Dean St. that investigators said was set with gasoline. According to a statement from police, […]
A traffic stop at 1:35 a.m. Oct. 2 ended with a Woodstock teen being charged with driving under the influence and seven auto burglaries after he allegedly was found in possession of a stolen vehicle, police said. The 17-year-old male, who is not being identified due to his age, was pulled over by a Woodstock […]
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.
