The Woodstock Noon Rotary and Woodstock Mozart Festival have joined forces to host the inaugural Woodstock Oktoberfest fundraiser. “It is envisioned that Oktoberfest-type beers and German wines will be offered along with German food catered by the [Woodstock] Public House,” said Thomas McGrath, Woodstock Noon Rotary Club secretary, in a letter to the Woodstock City […]
A long-range McHenry County Division of Transportation plan is beginning to take shape to address future needs in the county. As the population has grown over the past few decades, the numbers of people using the county’s roads, trains, buses and bike paths have increased. In Woodstock, some larger transportation projects have been on the […]
The Woodstock City Council voted Aug. 21 in favor of designating existing on-street parking spaces to accommodate expanded leased office space for an Illinois Department of Human Services office. Currently, the building at 113 Newell St. is leased by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The state wants to lease additional office space, […]
On Tuesday, nominating petitions for the Feb. 26, 2013, consolidated primary election became available at the Woodstock City Hall in the office of the City Manager, 121 W. Calhoun St. Nominating petitions can be picked up from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. […]
After many years of planning and discussion, the Hackmatack Wildlife Refuge was announced as the 557th refuge in the nation. The area won’t officially become a refuge until the federal government acquires some land within the designated area. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the designation Aug. 15 at the Lost Valley Visitor Center […]
The McHenry County Farm Bureau has seen its share of change over its 100-year life-span, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the organization’s commitment to representing farm families on local, state and national issues. Originally called the Soil Improvement Association in 1912, the name changed to the McHenry County Farm Bureau just 10 years […]
The Gavers Community Cancer Foundation Barndance brought in slightly more money than last year’s event. The event raised $440,000 in gross revenue and $310,000 in revenue after expenses. This surpasses the foundation’s total collections from 2011 by $1,000 and $6,000, respectively. “People were very, very generous,” said Andy Hartlieb, vice president of the foundation. About […]
Mary Petro will step down as director of the Woodstock Public Library at the end of the month to become director at the North Suburban Library District. Despite the prospect of being closer to her family — that lives in the Rockford area — and near the two branches of the NSLD, Petro said the […]
The state of Illinois wants to lease additional space at 113 Newell St. to house an office of the Illinois Department of Human Services, but a parking issue is keeping the project from moving forward. Currently, the space is leased by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The state wants to lease additional […]
The Woodstock Police Department recently started a Police Explorer Post, administered under the Boy Scouts of America’s Learning Through Life program. According to the BSA, the Learning Through Life program’s mission is to enable young men and women — in the case of the Police Explorer Post, 14- to 20-year olds — “to become responsible […]
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.
