By Lisa Haderlein The Land Conservancy of McHenry County For thousands of years, wildfires roared across the prairies that covered most of Illinois. Plant species that thrived in such a dynamic system dominated the landscape. Those included deep rooted perennial grasses and wildflowers as well as trees with thick bark like the oaks that are […]
Scenic, rolling terrain northeast of Woodstock will be maintained as an open space forever – and the village of Bull Valley will develop a new public park – on nearly 275 acres of ecologically important land that is part of an acquisition being closed this week. The purchase from a trust is being made by […]
This column was adapted from one Lisa Haderlein wrote in 2013. I heard them before I saw them, hundreds of Canada geese. A raucous honking as the birds circled a pond, vying for a spot to spend the night. The sun was near the horizon, and as I drove home, I noticed ribbons of the […]
The Winter Solstice was Dec. 21 this year. Believe it or not, there are about 2 minutes more daylight each day between now and the Summer Solstice on June 20, 2021, but the nights still seem awfully long (and the days far too short). While driving late one night between Woodstock and Harvard, it struck […]
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.
