Though jump roping may seem like a fad of the ’40s, The Jump Rope Girls have been bringing back the old toy for fitness, fun and fundraising since 2010. Started by close friends and neighbors, Cheryl Cox and Emilee Bozic, The Jump Rope Girls Inc. is a Woodstock-based business that creates handcrafted, acrylic-yarn jump ropes. […]
The landlord at the center of a controversy over alleged health and safety violations is facing multiple lawsuits from tenants. Woodstock-based Advantage Plus Property Management is named in three separate suits that allege the company improperly withheld security deposits, breached its contracts and committed consumer fraud, among other accusations. A fourth lawsuit was dismissed April […]
As avid garage-salers, Judie Kunzie and Addie Burns always have enjoyed finding vintage and recycled treasures to add charm to their homes, but they were also skilled and artistic craftswomen. While the crafting trades were booming and seemed like the industry to invest in, the pair decided to break from the trend and open an […]
As winter finally melts away, motorcyclists in the Woodstock STAR Touring and Riding Association are gearing up for ride season. Shari Wendt, Woodstock chapter 193 president of the Yamaha-based international motorcycle association, said she hopes the group can gain a few new riders this season as it promotes the sport and encourages people to learn […]
After two episodes of “Hell’s Kitchen,” season 12, Woodstock’s Scott Commings has managed to avoid elimination and survive the wrath of the Fox TV show’s chef Gordon Ramsay. Viewers can tune in at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, to see if Commings makes it through to another round. “Seeing yourself on TV, it’s really crazy. […]
After losing her 15-year-old poodle, Phoebe, in 2007, Carolyn LeMay-Strass had been praying for the right dog to fill the hole in her heart and in her home. “A piece of the puzzle was missing,” she said. “I was just simply lost without her. Every Friday, when I’d go in to St. Mary’s I would […]
Centegra Hospital-Woodstock is moving its maternity ward and some orthopedic services to its McHenry facility this summer, something hospital officials said will allow for the expansion of mental health facilities in Woodstock. Maternity and elective total hip and knee surgery services, currently offered at Centegra’s Woodstock location on Doty Road, will move to Centegra Hospital-McHenry […]
With a vintage style, ’60s vibe and Beatles cover band, 20-year-old Collin Berg grew up in the wrong generation. But the aspiring musician has blended his beloved sounds of the ’60s with modern touches to create his take on the genre. He debuted his first solo album March 1. “Stripped Down” is a 10-track album […]
The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Industry honored Family Alliance executive director Kim Larson with the Harold Buschkopf Award at its annual dinner in late February. The award is presented for distinguished community service and love of Woodstock. “Kim Larson is certainly a worthy recipient,” said Shari Gray, the chamber’s executive director. “She’s very involved, […]
An advocate for the environment, a watchdog for residents and a protector of the county’s water and other natural resources, Woodstock’s Jane Collins left a legacy in the community and with local government. Though she lost her fight with pancreatic cancer March 1, at age 73, she won important crusades that led to conservation in […]
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.
