When I heard the news that American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter, I took notice of it, but I continued what I was doing. Early the next morning – very early – I saw a skating friend had posted on social media that she and her daughters had just seen some of […]
Looking back, in the ’60s, Woodstock was named an All-America City because of the efforts of a dozen or so volunteers. The Opera House was renovated in the ’70s thanks to volunteer leadership. In the ’80s, students and adults volunteered and raised funds for co-curricular activities in the public schools, and in the ’90s, local […]
Groundhog Day in Woodstock rolls around every Feb. 2, but while Woodstock remains relatively the same, new people roll in every year. That gives Woodstock the perfect opportunity to put its best foot forward. For 11.5 months out of the year, The Woodstock Independent is laser-focused on City Council meetings, programming, business plans, school board […]
It’s New Year’s Day! I’m in Steamboat, Colo., with 11 and, at times, 12 other Wormleys. Matt’s and Paul’s families are here, and Cameron joins us on her days off from the guest ranch where she works. It’s cold – 2 below zero this morning. The skiing is quite good, though I chose to stay […]
I like lists. Grocery lists, to-do lists – give me a list and I’ll endeavor to get things done for the greater good. In fact, writing this article was on my to-do list for today – I can cross that one off. But there’s something special about New Year’s resolutions. They carry more weight. They […]
Are you wondering how to make a difference this season? What if I told you that there was a way to impact untold numbers of people – and it didn’t cost a thing? We all have had moments when we feel defeated and someone affirms that negativity. It doesn’t feel good. In fact, we might […]
Giving has many facets. A gift can be wrapped with a bow. It can be a financial contribution – say to a nonprofit, church, college, or university. It can also be a giving of time, talent, or kindness. And a gift can be …. (yours to finish.) There’s a tremendous focus on gifts and giving […]
Do you consider trash and garbage to be the same thing? They seem to have been used interchangeably during the recent public debate on Woodstock’s new 10-year agreement with refuse hauler MDC Environmental Services. Personally, I’ve tried to keep them separate, as we did in my household while growing up in the 1950s (pre-garbage disposal […]
I came across the term “Third Place” recently and looked up the reference: “American sociologist Ray Oldenburg developed the notion of a ‘Third Place’ as ‘a space for informal, free social interaction.’” It’s called “Third Place” because it’s outside of the two main “places” most people have – home and work. Basically, it’s a place […]
Recent travels brought my husband, Tom, and me closer to devastation than we expected. Tom and I planned a motorcoach guided tour from Oct. 13 to 25 that would visit major tourist spots in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The final stop scheduled for Oct. 23-24 was Asheville, NC. When we saw news reports of […]
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.
