I celebrated a birthday last Thursday – I won’t say which one, but it wasn’t a “milestone.” It was on March 14, one day shy of the dreaded “Ides of March.” I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that several famous people share my birthday, including: Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, prolific movie actor Michael Caine, […]
“In January 2024, the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent for the third month in a row. The rate has been within the range of 3.4 percent and 3.8 percent since February 2022.” – Bureau of Labor Statistics website “Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it.” – Stephen Hawking “Ultimately your […]
“United we stand. Divided we fall.” – Winston Churchill, among others Welcome to the final days of December 2023. For many of us, it’s a time when we look ahead to 2024 with optimism, trepidation, or both. After all, it’ll be a year to cheer on Olympic hopefuls competing in Paris (optimism), but it’ll also […]
The last quarter is one of my favorite times of the year. With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year’s Eve all occurring within the span of those three months – or actually two (Oct. 31 – Dec. 31) – you get to celebrate a variety of holidays. We dress up in costumes, give thanks […]
“To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.” – Humorist/poet Ogden Nash When I was 16, after taking a driver’s education course and intensely studying the Rules of the Road booklet from the Secretary of State’s office, I got the wallet-sized card […]
“I will not be right back after this message.” – Merv Griffin’s epitaph This etching on Merv’s tombstone has always struck me as the kind of “last laugh” I would love to provide at my own gravesite. My grave marker isn’t big enough to make that happen, and neither is my bank account for that […]
“If you have to have a job in this world, a high-priced movie star is a pretty good gig.” – Tom Hanks You know those hypothetical questions about which three people – living or dead – you’d want to share a dinner or an evening with? In Toastmasters, the international organization that helps people with […]
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with [fill in the blank].” My late father was a minister. My oldest brother is a retired minister. I know about the power of prayer. But the “thoughts and prayers” phrase is one that I’ve come to at least dislike, if not hate, […]
Columnist Paul Lockwood bought a police ride-along in a silent auction. This is the second part of his report on the experience with Officer Lucas Schmidt. With the COVID lockdown occurring only six months after officer Lucas Schmidt started at the Woodstock Police Department, the inability to do much hands-on training was a challenge. In […]
By Paul Lockwood He didn’t have an “extreme burning passion” to get into law enforcement. He’s been with the Woodstock Police Department only since September 2019. He’s the second youngest officer on the force, but still gets called “Junior” by his colleagues. He’s Lucas Schmidt, he’s the school resource officer (SRO) at Woodstock North High […]
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.
