I haven’t experienced a first day of school since I retired 23 years ago. A lot has changed since then—a different calendar, new teaching methods, the integration of technology into the classroom, and more. As I remember it, the lead-up to a new school year was always the same. Around July 4th, thoughts of going […]
Come next July, we’ll all be rolling our trash to the curb. The current system that allows residents an option to pay as you go, bag by bag, will be a thing of the past. We will become one of the last municipalities in our area to convert to a totes-only program, using a mechanized […]
Woodstock’s Annual Resident Survey is here, for a limited time only, as the saying goes. It’s a painless way to weigh in on your priorities for the next year and your views on how we are doing as a city right now. Woodstock’s City Council has stated that they refer to survey results when making […]
It’s always fun to add someone new to The Woodstock Independent team. New faces come with new ideas, new perspectives, and new enthusiasm and this helps keep us current and moving forward. For most of the summer, we have had the pleasure of working with Amanda Burr. A 2024 graduate of Marian Central High School, […]
Here’s to all the behind-the-scenes work done by fellow Woodstock residents who serve on boards and commissions. You might not have heard of them, but they are the folks who have stepped up to help keep Woodstock running and thriving. Why do we need boards and commissions? Residents being involved in oversight means better, more […]
As summer ushers in the season of county fairs, fundraisers, and fun, The Woodstock Independent is there. As a photographer, I love being out and in the middle of these events. I love meeting people, hearing their stories, and capturing moments. Years from now, it will be a documented record of history. During the past […]
If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know that my subjects range from the deeply personal and serious (e.g., suicide, gun control) to the more light-hearted (e.g., quotation quizzes, my love for “The Muppet Show”) to informational (e.g., a ride-along interview with a Woodstock police officer). Today, I seek to educate and motivate. […]
Declarations: Brigid McCormack Keeping secrets is easier said than done. Starting a new job mid-July, I had a couple weeks free to visit back home. Living in Scotland, it is not often that I am able to return home. Coming back twice a year, I treasure each trip and make sure to alert friends and […]
By Lou Ness — Guest Columnist On June 28th, 1969, the New York City gay community said, “Enough.” A routine raid on the gay bar called the Stonewall Inn triggered a riot that lasted days leaving behind significant damage. For the first time, ever, gay men fought back against the police. For Five days the […]
Carlos Acosta has now been sentenced, having been found guilty of child endangerment in the death of AJ Freund in 2019. There are some who’ve criticized the sentence, as well as the fact that he came to trial at all, saying that it was DCFS itself that bore responsibility for the tragedy. What happened to […]
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.
