The Woodstock City Council is extending a lease agreement with Stan’s Office Technologies, Woodstock, that will give the city free access to Stan’s professional services in exchange for allowing Stan’s to use the Emricson Park tower. The agreement is for city government services only. According to the agreement, the city will receive free Internet access, […]
The ramshackle building barely is noticed by people driving on Alden Road, just north of Route 173 near the Nippersink Creek. Faded red, rotting and sinking into the earth, the old board-and-batten siding has lost its luster. The trim boards hang precariously. The roof is worn and battered by the elements. But people with an […]
The Woodstock City Council approved a contract to retrofit the Woodstock Recreation Center’s indoor lighting fixtures with more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly fixtures. “The fixtures in the original building are now close to 30 years old, inefficient and difficult to maintain and/or replace,” stated a staff document. “The lights in the gym and multipurpose room, […]
The Woodstock Morning Rotary Club hopes to bring more than 5,000 people to its fifth annual Great Outdoor Expo this weekend at Woodstock North High School. The two-day event will feature a variety of demonstrations, seminars and speakers. Additionally, exhibitors will be selling hunting and fishing gear, camping supplies, boats, ATVs and a wide variety […]
McHenry County’s consolidated election will be help April 9. Unregistered McHenry County residents hoping to vote in the election need to register or transfer voter registration before the end of the day Tuesday, March 12. In Woodstock, Woodstock City Council and Woodstock School District 200 Board of Education seats are on the ballot. In the […]
Despite decreased housing values, tax bills, on average, should continue to rise again this year. According to a McHenry County Clerk’s report, the total equalized assessed value in the county dropped from about $9.69 billion in 2010 to $8.82 billion in 2011, a drop of about 9 percent in one year. Since its peak of […]
Costs to complete public improvements along Main Street in conjunction with the Woodstock Theatre expansion project have exceeded the contracted amount by more than $8,000. The city of Woodstock, which agreed to complete the work, approved a $48,210 contract with Gavers Asphalt Paving and Excavating to complete the work. It is now expected to cost […]
Expressly Leslie Vegetarian Specialties, 110 S. Johnson St., was awarded a growth grant from the National Association for the Self-Employed, something restaurant owner Leslie Cook hopes will increase efficiency at the restaurant. Although Cook said the grant “is not enough to build the Taj Mahal,” it will allow the business to make some much-needed improvements. […]
After hoping to be open by fall of last year, the McHenry County Habitat for Humanity is now expecting to open its ReStore sometime in mid-February. ReStores are operated by Habitat for Humanities affiliates with 750 ReStores in the U.S. They accept donations of new and gently-used home improvement goods, furniture, home accessories, building materials […]
The Woodstock City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement for the McHenry County Gang Task Force at its Jan. 15 meeting. “[The agreement] for the McHenry County Gang Task Force allows the city of Woodstock Police Department to join with most other McHenry County communities to provide law enforcement services at events and law enforcement operations […]
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.
