Just call us Hollywood East. With a reputation as a friendly and accommodating place for shooting movies, TV series, and even commercials, Woodstock continually finds itself in the eye of the camera. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the release of the iconic movie “Groundhog Day,” filmed mostly in and around our town, we […]
Jim and I and our sons and their families love Steamboat Springs, Colo. For 24 years, some or all of us have made annual or more frequent treks to what continues to be a ranching community that offers world-class skiing, has trained 100 winter Olympians (more than any other North American town), and abounds in […]
As we head into the new year, I am excited for efforts to make 2023 the “Year of the Farmer.” Illinois Farm Families, a coalition composed of the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Beef, Corn, Pork, Soybean and Midwest Dairy Associations, is also launching a major campaign to build trust in family farmers. One major […]
House legislation an attack on Second Amendment As the Democratic Party apparatchiks in Springfield prepare to pass the anti-Second Amendment HB 5855, let’s consider the following: • The proposed law will do nothing to stem the tide of violence as criminals, by definition, do not follow laws and most firearm crimes are committed by known […]
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? No rush. There are no rules, no deadlines. Jan. 1 isn’t magical. If it’s a day or a week or a month later, you decide. Your resolution, your rules. You simply have to make progress over the next year. “Resolutions” implies change, and change is seldom easy. So, […]
With readers of The Woodstock Independent as our witness, we hereby resolve, in the year 2023, to … Because journalists believe in transparency, this editor invited each contributor and staff member of The Independent to make one resolution we could share with readers. It might be a fun way to tell the public a little […]
By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois p.hancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Jan. 1 marked the beginning of a significant change in the state’s criminal justice system – the elimination of cash bail. It essentially means the decision as to whether a criminal suspect should be held in jail while awaiting trial is to be based on public […]
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz “The true Christmas spirit is putting others’ happiness before our own, and finding you’ve never known such happiness.” – Toni Sorenson At 8:15 a.m. on a mid-December Saturday, I was in a drive-thru lane I’d never been in before. I was listening […]
What a great time to live in Woodstock. Don’t you agree? We have a positive, progressive, safe community with many creative, imaginative people working to move Woodstock forward. In the final days of December, we are completing a holiday season with many special events that are reminders of what a special community this is. If […]
By Cheryl Wormley The week between Christmas and the New Year is unlike any other. It’s the “Monopoly free-parking space” of my life – a pause between what’s happened and what’s to come. I enjoy the pace of the last week of the year. In the past when happenings were recorded on film and printed […]
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.
