As I watched events unfold in Woodstock last week, I was filled with awe, pride, gratitude, and a tremendous sense of community. While wearing masks and social distancing, the people of Woodstock enjoyed a band concert and the farmers market on the Square and Fourth of July fireworks at Emricson Park. All three events required […]
Who should we blame for racism in America? To continue the discussion of Superintendent Moan (guest column, The Independent, June 17) with his history background and to provoke discussion in our community and the home. When and how did racism start? Well, from observation, young kids are not born racist; they will play with anyone. So, […]
Maybe “everything is on the table” when it comes to options for addressing the $161 million bond debt in Woodstock School District 200. That’s what one board member said in May as the Board of Education faced the prospect of a huge property tax increase if nothing was done about the back-loaded debt bomb set […]
By Cheryl Wormley When I was a kid growing up on a farm near Oswego, my family took few trips that were more than 15 or 20 miles. A big trip for us was to visit Grandpa and Grandma Schultz, who lived in Pontiac, or to drive to Woodstock to visit my Uncle Virgil Smith […]
By Jacob Homuth In 2006, the voters of Woodstock School District 200 authorized the Board of Education to borrow money to build three new schools to address anticipated student growth based on housing proposals within District 200 boundaries. Then in 2008, the housing market crashed and we were dealing with a devastating recession. This had […]
Black Lives Matter. “I can’t breathe.”It doesn’t matter which of those three-word phrases causes the most vivid images to come to mind. The first sentence should be a given. And yet, in the 57 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., there are still many people who […]
In early 2006, Woodstock appeared to be “all in” with the idea of taking on a big debt to build new schools.More than 100 residents were reported to be involved in a door-to-door campaign in the weeks before a March 21 referendum on a $105 million bond to build an elementary school, a middle school, […]
By Cheryl WormleyI’ve been thinking about all of you the past few days. Actually, I think of you quite often. You have just been on my mind more this week. I was on a bit of a guilt trip. I couldn’t remember the last time I bragged on you and thanked you.From the early days […]
McHenry County generosity appreciated at family clinicMasks, meals, personal protective equipment, snacks, thermometers, inhalers, gift cards, balloons, cards and letters, and of course, many donations of money critical to the operation of the Family Health Partnership Clinic.There aren’t enough ways for our board of directors and staff to say thank you for all of these […]
Who doesn’t love a little al fresco dining under an umbrella outside your favorite restaurant on a warm and sunny spring day? And what’s not to like about a relaxing (or brisk) June walk through beautiful Emricson Park, a treat for the body and soul? These are good times. We are entitled to a little […]
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.
