By Janet Dovidio news@thewoodstockindependent.com The Woodstock North High School Thunder Service Club is now chartered by the Woodstock Rotary Club as of Jan. 1. The group’s new name is the Thunder Interact Service Club. An Interact Club is the high school branch of Rotary. WNHS Social Emotional counselor Kristy Hinz is the club adviser. She […]
“It is something we dreamed of, planned for, and willed into reality.” That’s how Chris Cantwell, Woodstock Rotary Club’s past youth adviser, explained the new Santa Hut at Van Buren and Benton streets. “The original hut was held together with love for more than 60 years,” he said. “… In this new iteration, we sought […]
Arianna Rogganbuck, a 2023 graduate of Woodstock North High School, has received the William “Bill” Frejd High School Senior Vocational Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Woodstock. She plans to use the $2,500 award to pursue baking and party arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College. “My passion for baking started when I was in elementary […]
The recipient of the 2022 Rotary Club Adult Vocational Scholarship says she is massaging her desired vocation. “My future plan is to own a small massage business,” Woodstock resident Samantha Mineau said after the $2,500 scholarship was announced at a Rotary Club meeting. This scholarship funds educational opportunities for men and women who are preparing […]
MCC student wins vocational scholarship from Rotary McHenry County College student Christina Murphy is getting some help from Woodstock Rotary Club for her studies in the school’s occupational therapy assistant program. In January, Murphy was named winner of Rotary’s 2021 Adult Vocational Scholarship of $2,000 toward her tuition. “The Rotary Club of Woodstock is dedicated […]
A Woodstock North High School class is doing its part to bring some holiday joy to the residents of Sheltered Village by shopping for gifts and wrapping them in cooperation with the Woodstock Rotary Club’s Christmas Clearing House project. Students in the AVID class were tasked with finding a worthy service endeavor. After considering a […]
The Rotary Club of Woodstock has again brought Santa to the center of town. People who have secured a coveted time slot at the newly refurbished Santa Hut this year have enjoyed the experience of visiting with Santa on the Square. But slots have been hard to come by for families who were unaware of […]
When Santa’s Hut, located in the Park in the Square every Christmas season, was in disrepair, the Rotary Club of Woodstock stepped up to carry out needed renovations. And the club added a new feature this year: an “Elf Hut” for Santa’s helpers. The former Woodstock Lions Club originally provided the Santa Hut, which has […]
By Cheryl Wormley I’m pumped. I found out about Christmas Clearing House’s product partners last week. For those of you who knew all about the effort, you are probably wondering what planet I’ve been on. If you didn’t know about it, I will share what I’ve learned. First of all, product partners, Rotary, and Christmas […]
One local man celebrates 40 years of volunteering as Santa’s helper on the Woodstock Square. “Well, it’s actually 41 since I started in 1980,” John Cole said, “but I don’t count last year since we had to go inside in the Stage Left Café due to pandemic restrictions and not use the Santa Hut.” Cole […]
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.
