Overwintering monarch butterfly populations have been steadily declining for years, with a 90 percent decrease in eastern populations and a 99 percent decrease in western populations in recent years. Thankfully, a recent analysis of citizen science observations, conducted by the North American Butterfly Association, shows that successful summer breeding could be making up for the […]
By Destiny Seaton With the recent passage of The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, many of us are wondering how we can utilize the new laws to make our homes and businesses more sustainable. While the state statute is a broad, 900-plus-page bill with many different incentives for various climate actions, solar energy is one […]
The Environmental Defenders’ green bookstores sold more than 21,000 books in 2021! That’s 21,000 books that were kept out of landfills, thanks to gently used books that were donated to The Green Spot in Woodstock and The Green Read in Crystal Lake, and thanks to the wonderful volunteers who staff both stores. The Green Read […]
Every year it seems the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County grows a bit more and is able to make a bigger contribution to the environmental health of McHenry County. In 2021, we took on a few new projects, such as Paddle the Kish in Marengo, and are excited to grow with them and support the […]
Gift-giving season is here, and that means everyone will have an excess of waste come the new year. Make sure you know how to dispose of materials correctly; always call your waste hauler to check what they will and will not recycle and compost. If your waste hauler will not accept a particular item and […]
First, I hope this Green Scene column finds this readership well and well-adjusted to this stay-at-home reality. While my office is in the Woodstock Square Mall, I, like many others, have been working from home, which is in the southeast corner of McHenry County in Algonquin. While the Environmental Defenders’ in-person events remain canceled or […]
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.
