In 1979, a wall split the 900-seat auditorium of the Woodstock Theatre to offer two screens for its moviegoers, and a dropped ceiling hid the theater’s ornamental red and gold dome. On Aug. 5, 2013, Classic Cinemas closed the two main auditoriums, and construction workers began tearing the wall down and removing the ceiling to […]
With school starting Aug. 15, Woodstock School District 200 is adjusting to its crew of new teachers, while children and parents scramble to prepare for the “first day.” Parent Katie Warmbier said she is doing her best to adapt to the schedules, the enrollment processes and the fees with her first freshman in high school, […]
The city of Woodstock is set to hire a part-time grant writer whose job will entail applying for funding for various municipal projects. The creation of the new position, approved by the Woodstock City Council at its Aug. 6 meeting, is an attempt to streamline the city’s approach to applying for grant funding, according to […]
A passion for bringing attention to the plight of America’s wild mustangs led Woodstock veterinarian Patti Klein Manke to make the 2,000-mile round trip drive to Ft. Worth, Texas, and back in May in order to bring back four young mustangs for training and, hopefully, a chance at adoption. A lifelong horse enthusiast, Klein Manke […]
Other World Computing, a Woodstock technology company that enhances products for computer systems, with headquarters at 2650 Bridge Lane, was awarded gold in Best in Biz 2013 International for Product Line of the Year. “It’s always cool to see an award like this in a national competition,” said OWC founder and CEO Larry O’Connor. “It’s […]
More than 100 people lost their jobs Aug. 2 when commercial printer D.B. Hess closed its nearly 200,000-square-foot factory on McConnell Road. Executives at the Woodstock plant, which produced catalogues, textbooks and other materials, informed employees early last week they would be out of jobs within several days, ending months of speculation about the company’s […]
Drivers in Woodstock should expect delays this month as city, county and state road construction projects take place simultaneously. Construction projects include repairs to be completed as part of Woodstock’s street resurfacing program, the resurfacing of Kishwaukee Valley Road as part of the McHenry County Preservation Program and touch-ups along Route 120 from Charles Road […]
By mid-August, Paul Ruscko will take over responsibilities as the new public works director for the city of Woodstock. Ruscko, the former public works director for the village of Lakewood, will be assuming the role left by former public works director John Isbell, who retired in November 2012, and by interim public works director Jeff […]
A proposal by the Illinois State Fire Marshal that would mandate sprinkler systems be installed in newly constructed homes recently received support from the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, but some observers are skeptical of the proposed regulation. The WFRD Board of Trustees passed a nonbinding resolution endorsing state fire marshal Larry Matkaitis’ efforts to update the […]
When biotech veteran Scott Brix attended a food science convention in Chicago several weeks ago, he received a stark reminder of why he’s volunteering with a group of people committed to bringing a food cooperative to the area. “Walking through the floor of this huge convention, which is all about commercial food, was like the […]
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.
