As the Woodstock High School physical education department strengthened its programs, so many students and athletes had poured into the weight room it was bursting at the seams. Though administration and staff were excited to see such a surge of interest, they needed to find a way to expand the facilities. With generous funding from […]
Although Bill Murray played the lead in the movie Groundhog Day, one actor in particular had a crucial role. Billed as Punxsutawney Phil, Scooter stole the show. Trained by Chicago-native Bill Hoffmann (who will once again provide Woodstock Willie for Groundhog Days), Scooter played the primary groundhog for the 1993 film with five groundhog understudies. […]
For three weekends in February, the Woodstock Opera House will be alive with music from the grooviest era with tribute performances to the Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and John Denver. The fifth annual Opera House Tribute Series will kick off Saturday, Feb. 8, with The Glimmer Twins, a tribute to the Rolling Stones, with Mick […]
Groundhog Days events Sunday, Jan. 26 Lions Club Pancake Breakfast 8 to 11:30 a.m., Woodstock Moose Lodge, 406 Clay St. An annual breakfast hosted by the Lions Club. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 10, and free for children 5 and younger. Tickets are available at the door. Thursday, Jan. […]
Click here for a list of Groundhog Days Events! “OK campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties cause it’s cold out there! … It’s cold out there every day,” … and every year. For the past 20 years, hundreds and thousands of spectators have come out to Woodstock, where much of the […]
Athletico Physical Therapy, a Chicago-based company affiliated with area high schools, organizations and many of the major Chicago sports teams, expanded its reach in McHenry County by opening a new location in Woodstock Dec. 16. “Physical therapy is a profession that’s growing substantially,” said Lisa Shaffer, Woodstock Athletico’s facility manager and physical therapist. “We’re in […]
Some area residents say they want to keep the city of Woodstock’s response to allegations surrounding a police sergeant in the spotlight. Using social media and informal meetings, a loosely organized group is mounting a campaign to push for further sanctions against Woodstock Police Sgt. Charles “Chip” Amati, a veteran officer who was the subject […]
The auxiliaries for Centegra’s hospitals in Woodstock and McHenry will merge within the next year, a response to what hospital and auxiliary representatives described as a changing landscape for health care providers and volunteer organizations. Boards for the Auxiliaries to Centegra Hospitals — McHenry and Woodstock – voted to join together to create a single […]
A couple leading the charge for stronger tenant protections in Woodstock is in a legal dispute with their landlord, who they say is evicting them in retaliation for bringing the company’s alleged health and safety violations to light. In a countersuit filed Jan. 3 against Woodstock-based Advantage Plus Inc., spouses Bill Zieske and Denise Halverson […]
After several moves during the past 11 years of business, Jeff and Jody Minear’s Woodstock home may be the perfect place for their feline-focused business, Cat Tree Kingdom. The Minears recently moved to 517 Magnet Way, Woodstock, from Harvard, where they had sold custom cat trees for the past three years. A key factor 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.
