the woodstock independent, august 27th, 2014

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1 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT I NDEPENDENT The Woodstock Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. $1.00 www.thewoodstockindependent.com Published every Wednesday Est. 1987 EDUCATION PAGE 10 District 200’s budget will be voted on at a Sept. 23 meeting ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT e Georgia Rae Family Band returns to Stage Left Aug. 29 MARKETPLACE PAGE 12 Extreme Edge sharpens nearly anything with an edge PAGE 14 OBITUARIES 6 OPINION 8 EDUCATION 10 A & E 12 MARKETPLACE 14 INDEX The Woodstock Independent 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098 Phone: 815-338-8040 Fax: 815-338-8177 www.thewoodstockindependent.com COMMUNITY 16 CALENDAR 21 CLASSIFIEDS 22 PUBLIC NOTICES 24 SPORTS 28 ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER UP TO THE CHALLENGE Offsides Sports Bar & Grill employees are soaked with ice-cold water from the bucket of a front loader Aug. 19, par- ticipating in the nationwide, social media-spread ice bucket challenge for ALS. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER Residents and businesses take part in an internet phenomenon for ALS » CITY COUNCIL Council nixes Courthouse rental agreement with Public House e Ice Bucket Challenge, a campaign for ALS donations, hits Woodstock By LISA KUCHARSKI The Independent Responding to a call Aug. 19, a Wood- stock Fire/Rescue District crew arrived on scene carrying buckets of ice water. With no fire to put out, the crew, instead, doused themselves and Star 105.5 hosts Joe Cicero and Tina Bree with the icy wa- ter, participating in the viral Ice Bucket Challenge campaign effort to ignite con- versation and raise awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A social-media-spurred effort that began July 29 and quickly gained ground, the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS has raised more than $79.7 mil- lion in donations as of Aug. 25. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a degenerative, neuro- muscular disease affecting as many as 30,000 Americans at any given time. e aggressive disease usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, giving only about two to five Please see Ice bucket, Page 5 » CITY COUNCIL City OKs permit for medical marijuana dispensary Company is seeking a spot on Eastwood Drive, will need state approval By KATELYN STANEK The Independent e Woodstock City Council helped clear the way for a medical marijuana dispensary to open at 2300-2312 S. Eastwood Drive by approving a spe- cial-use permit and zoning variance for the facility. e 4-2 vote Aug. 19 came after more than 90 minutes of discussion during which council members raised ques- tions about how the dispensary would impact Woodstock’s image and dis- cussed the role of the city in helping the sick. e city’s Plan Commission recom- mended approval of both measures by a 7-0 vote July 24. Please see Marijuana, Page 3 By KATELYN STANEK The Independent A rental agreement between the city of Woodstock and the owner of a local restaurant failed to pass through the City Council Aug. 19, but officials say the deal isn’t dead yet. A 4-2 vote in favor of the lease, which would have seen the Woodstock Public House move into restaurant space in the city-owned Courthouse on the Square, wasn’t enough to ap- prove the measure, which needed a three-fourths majority to pass. Public House owner Kathryn Loprino hoped to move her Main Street restaurant to the lower level of the Courthouse on John- son Street. She told the council she would invest about $200,000 to move to the new space and would hire more employees in the process. “Looking at the Courthouse and what it has to offer … it would allow us to expand our business as far as catering and maybe Sunday brunch goes,” Loprino said. “… at being such a huge, vacant building on the Square, it’s sad to see.” Councilwoman Maureen Lar- son, who with Councilman Mike Please see Rental, Page 5 HOW THEY VOTED To approve a special-use permit and zoning change for a medical marijuana dispensary: Yes Brian Sager Joe Starzynski RB Thompson Mike Turner No Julie Dillon Maureen Larson Absent Mark Saladin

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1Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

Serving Woodstock, Wonder Lake and Bull Valley, Ill. $1.00www.thewoodstockindependent.comPublished every Wednesday Est. 1987

EDUCATION

PAGE 10

District 200’s budget will be voted

on at a Sept. 23 meeting

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Georgia Rae Family Band

returns to Stage Left Aug. 29

MARKETPLACE

PAGE 12

Extreme Edge sharpens nearly

anything with an edgePAGE 14

OBITUARIES 6OPINION 8EDUCATION 10A & E 12MARKETPLACE 14IN

DE

X

The Woodstock Independent671 E. Calhoun St.,

Woodstock, IL 60098Phone: 815-338-8040Fax: 815-338-8177

www.thewoodstockindependent.com

COMMUNITY 16CALENDAR 21CLASSIFIEDS 22PUBLIC NOTICES 24SPORTS 28

ECRWSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER

UP TO THE CHALLENGE

Offsides Sports Bar & Grill employees are soaked with ice-cold water from the bucket of a front loader Aug. 19, par-ticipating in the nationwide, social media-spread ice bucket challenge for ALS. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Residents and businesses take part in an internet phenomenon for ALS

» CITY COUNCIL

Council nixes Courthouse rental agreement with Public House

The Ice Bucket Challenge, a campaign

for ALS donations, hits WoodstockBy LISA KUCHARSKI

The Independent

Responding to a call Aug. 19, a Wood-

stock Fire/Rescue District crew arrived

on scene carrying buckets of ice water.

With no fire to put out, the crew, instead,

doused themselves and Star 105.5 hosts

Joe Cicero and Tina Bree with the icy wa-

ter, participating in the viral Ice Bucket

Challenge campaign effort to ignite con-

versation and raise awareness and funds

for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A social-media-spurred effort that

began July 29 and quickly gained

ground, the Ice Bucket Challenge for

ALS has raised more than $79.7 mil-

lion in donations as of Aug. 25.

Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s

disease, ALS is a degenerative, neuro-

muscular disease affecting as many

as 30,000 Americans at any given

time. �e aggressive disease usually

strikes people between the ages of 40

and 70, giving only about two to five

Please see Ice bucket, Page 5

» CITY COUNCIL

City OKs permit for medicalmarijuanadispensaryCompany is seeking a spot on Eastwood Drive, will need state approval

By KATELYN STANEKThe Independent

�e Woodstock City Council helped

clear the way for a medical marijuana

dispensary to open at 2300-2312 S.

Eastwood Drive by approving a spe-

cial-use permit and zoning variance

for the facility.

�e 4-2 vote Aug. 19 came after more

than 90 minutes of discussion during

which council members raised ques-

tions about how the dispensary would

impact Woodstock’s image and dis-

cussed the role of the city in helping

the sick.

�e city’s Plan Commission recom-

mended approval of both measures by

a 7-0 vote July 24.

Please see Marijuana, Page 3

By KATELYN STANEKThe Independent

A rental agreement between

the city of Woodstock and the

owner of a local restaurant failed

to pass through the City Council

Aug. 19, but officials say the deal

isn’t dead yet.

A 4-2 vote in favor of the

lease, which would have seen

the Woodstock Public House

move into restaurant space in

the city-owned Courthouse on

the Square, wasn’t enough to ap-

prove the measure, which needed

a three-fourths majority to pass.

Public House owner Kathryn

Loprino hoped to move her Main

Street restaurant to the lower

level of the Courthouse on John-

son Street. She told the council

she would invest about $200,000

to move to the new space and

would hire more employees in

the process.

“Looking at the Courthouse

and what it has to offer … it would

allow us to expand our business

as far as catering and maybe

Sunday brunch goes,” Loprino

said. “… �at being such a huge,

vacant building on the Square,

it’s sad to see.”

Councilwoman Maureen Lar-

son, who with Councilman Mike

Please see Rental, Page 5

HOW THEY VOTEDTo approve a special-use permit and zoning change for a medical marijuana dispensary:YesBrian SagerJoe StarzynskiRB ThompsonMike Turner

NoJulie DillonMaureen LarsonAbsentMark Saladin

2 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 NEWS

Labor Day Sale

Sale ends September 1st

Money back warrantyAppliances and Other Neat Schtufffffff!!!

815-568-8848

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Labor Day Special Hours: 11-3

Welcome back to the Blue Streaks and Thunder

Napoli PizzaDine-In-Carry-Out-Hot FAST Delivery

2 large 14” thin crust pizzas w/ one topping each

$17.95$1.50 per additional topping

Tray of Mostaccoli or Spaghetti w/Bread................$55.00

Lasagna Tray..........................................................$65.00

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Beef by the Pound w/Bread & Peppers...........$11.00 per lb.

Tray of Italian Salad..............................................$25.00

Please give us 24-Hour noticefor Catering Orders. Tax Included

815-338-2430

Good luck!

3Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTNEWS

The Woodstock Independent (USPS #001287) is published weekly at 671 E. Calhoun St., Wood-stock, IL 60098-3213. Periodicals postage paid at Woodstock, Illinois.POSTMASTERS: Forward address changes to The Woodstock Independent, 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098-3213.

The Woodstock Independent

Phone: 815-338-8040

Batesville, Ark., cowboy Tye Sturgeon and his horse, Edward, prepare to leave Diamond Acres in Woodstock to continue their ride for charity across 48 states for Western Wishes. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

The cowboy wayBy LISA KUCHARSKI

The Independent

Seeing someone ride a horse down the

road is not an unusual sight … unless it’s

along Route 47 through Woodstock. A

highway packed with traffic and sparse

areas of grass, 47 is not a typical choice for

most horsemen. But for Arkansas cowboy

Tye Sturgeon, it was the perfect path.

Sturgeon, 20, and his 12-year-old horse,

Edward, are trekking through 48 states

to increase visibility and raise funds for

Western Wishes, a nonprofit organiza-

tion that has worked since 1994 to turn

dreams into lasting memories for chil-

dren faced with adversity, who love the

Western way of life.

Starting out in Batesville, Ark., March

15, Sturgeon and Ed have covered about

600 miles, passing through the eastern

corner of Missouri and enduring almost

the entire length of the state of Illinois, ar-

riving in Woodstock Aug. 19.

“Everybody is called to do something,

and I feel like this is what I was called to

do,” Sturgeon said. “Western Wishes hits

it from so many different angles. �at’s

the reason why I chose this charity to

do this ride for. It connects with so many

families. �ere was no way I was going to

say no to it.”

With help from sponsors and strang-

ers funding his mission and donating to

Western Wishes, Sturgeon and Ed travel

about 10 to 15 miles each day. Living on

three shirts, two pairs of jeans, four pairs

of socks, undergarments and a jacket, and

braving the wind, rain and fluctuating

temperatures, the former bull and bronc

rider often camps. Every week, he takes a

day or two off to rest his horse.

“�is is a real cowboy ride, and that’s

what separates it from others,” he said. “I

could have gotten eight or nine states by

now, but to me, it’s not about getting the

states, it’s about playing it smart and go-

ing as far north as possible to spread the

word about Western Wishes.”

Along the way, the two have been able

to meet up with other horsemen and

women who offer a stall for Ed and a

place for Sturgeon to stay the night. He

also hooks up with local farriers to be sure

his steed has a fresh set of shoes. �e duo

turn heads in towns when riding through

restaurant drive-throughs and browsing

menus on the lawn at diners.

“It is rough at times, but, for the most

part, I have a lot of fun,” Sturgeon said. “I

get to ride my horse everyday. I camp a

little bit; I stay in barns a little bit. Some-

times, people give me a place to stay in

the house.”

Woodstock horse trainer Jodi Funk

and her family hosted Sturgeon and Ed

for two nights. She had met the young

cowboy at the Festival of the Horse and

Drum Aug. 16 and 17, an annual multicul-

tural, multimedia equine festival in St.

Charles, where Funk served as a horse

clinician and Sturgeon a featured guest.

“I think it’s a great cause,” Funk said. “I

think it kind of reminds people that there

is a bigger picture out there. For such a

young guy to give up his career and ev-

erything to do this selflessly, to help for

a good cause, I think it’s really important

because I don’t think enough people slow

down to help other people. How many

20-year-olds do you know that would

drop everything to help out sick kids?”

Funk saddled up her horse, Sam, and

rode along the busy Route 47 with Stur-

geon. �e riders made their way through

Woodstock, passing traffic lights, taking

on the train bridge by McConnell Road,

riding through the on-and-off rain and

stopping off at the McHenry County fair-

grounds for a break. Funk accompanied

the cowboy to his next stop in Harvard at

Allegiant Farm. From Harvard, Sturgeon

headed to Walworth, Wis., and is making

his way to Minnesota.

For more information about Western

Wishes or to make a donation, visit west-

ernwishes.org. Follow Sturgeon on Face-

book and check on his route at ameri-

canwishride.com.

MarijuanaContinued from Page 1

Tye Sturgeon rides with Woodstock horse trainer Jodi Funk Aug. 21 from her farm on Lucas Road along Route 47 to Harvard. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

�e council’s vote does not guaran-

tee the dispensary will open. Instead,

it allows the petitioner, Crystal Lake-

based 4500 NW Highway LLC, to sub-

mit an application for approval from

the state of Illinois, which is granting

licenses to 60 dispensaries to be scat-

tered throughout the state.

Julie Dillon and Maureen Larson

voted against the measures. Vot-

ing in favor were Mayor Brian Sager,

Joe Starzynski, Mike Turner and RB

�ompson. Mark Saladin was absent.

All council members expressed their

support for the legalization of medi-

cal marijuana, but Dillon and Larson

said they believed Woodstock was the

wrong fit for a dispensary. Dillon said

she was especially bothered by the

amount of security the facility would

need to comply with state regulations.

“When I look out on the horizon, I

don’t want to see the glow of security

lights,” Dillon said.

Larson questioned whether resi-

dents would support Woodstock pos-

sibly being among the first places in

the state to host a medical marijuana

dispensary.

“�is is sort of a front-edge deci-

sion,” Larson said. “... My belief is that

the residents would probably rather us

be pushing the front edge of technolo-

gy, manufacturing, education, fiber op-

tics, bike paths. �ere are just so many

things I’m willing to be out in front of,

and this doesn’t rise to that level.”

One resident, Alyssa Gail Martin,

spoke in support of the dispensary,

citing the example of a cancer pa-

tient whose suffering had been eased

through the use of medical marijua-

na. No one spoke in direct opposition

to the facility, although representa-

tives from the McHenry County Sub-

stance Abuse Coalition presented a

list of standards they asked the city

to implement before granting its ap-

proval, including limiting signage and

having the dispensary’s security plan

approved by the Woodstock Police

Department. �ose recommendations

were agreed upon by the city and the

petitioner.

�e dispensary would be operated

by employees of Family Guidance Cen-

ters, a not-for-profit behavioral health

organization based in Chicago. Family

Guidance Centers attorney Sam Borek

told the council the state’s restrictive

laws mean medical marijuana will be

sold only to those who qualify. He said

the organization also would provide

counseling and other services to peo-

ple in the area.

Councilman Joe Starzynski said he

believed approving the measures would

be in line with the city’s character.

“What makes Woodstock special is

that we take care of each other,” Starzyn-

ski said. “We’re compassionate. I don’t

think what we’re doing here is taking

care of a bunch of stoners hanging out

in front of a dispensary. ... We’re taking

care of people who really need it.”

�e state of Illinois approved the use

of medical marijuana last year as part

of a pilot program that expires in 2018.

�e law covers more than 30 illnesses

and conditions, including cancer, glau-

coma, HIV, muscular dystrophy and

multiple sclerosis. Patients must re-

ceive a prescription and a state ID card

in order to obtain medical marijuana.

Arkansas man, riding his horse through 48 states, stops in Woodstock

“Everybody is called to do something, and I feel like this is what I was called to do.”

— Tye Sturgeon, cowboy

4 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 NEWS

THANK YOU!

District 200 wishes to thank the community members, area businesses

and organizations, churches, staff members and students who donated, collected, sorted and

distributed school supplies so that all our students couldstart the year with the tools

they need to be successful in school.

Your generosity isgreatly appreciated!

woodstockrecreationdepartment.com

Receive a

10% discount and pay NO initiation fee if you prepay for a 1-year membership

PLAY ROOM HOURS (Children 6 mos. and older)Monday-Saturday mornings 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.Monday-Thursday evenings 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.Friday evening 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday mornings 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Monday-Friday 5:00 am to 9:00 pmSaturday & Sunday7:00 am to 5:00 pm

50 Floor & Water Group Fitness Classes Offered Per Week Including Boot Camps

19 Cardiovascular Machines (Treadmills, Ellipticals, 2 NuSteps, Bikes,Steppers, Rower, Treadclimber)

16 Magnum Circuit Weight Lifting Machines

17 Free Weight Stations

Fitness Ropes & Kettle Bells

Indoor Pool/Whirlpool/Sauna

Unlimited Tanning Available

2 Racquetball Courts

Full Size Gymnasium/Track

Supervised Play Room

Personal Trainers

Free Towel Service

Facility Rentals

Fun Fitness ContestsWoodstock Fall City Scene was mailed out August 26th

5Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Turner voted against the lease, said she

admired Loprino and her restaurant

but believed the terms of the agreement

would complicate the future sale of the

building. �e 10-year lease included two

renewable 5-year options and had no

buyout clause.

“I think saying yes to a 10-year lease

with these terms truly narrows the pool

of people who might come forward [to

purchase the property],” said Larson,

who also heads the committee in charge

of reviewing bids on the Courthouse.

Turner concurred and raised con-

cerns about

undercutt ing

other property

owners on the

Square. �e

city would have

charged the

Public House

$1,000 per

month — about

$2 per square

foot — plus

property taxes

for the first five

years of the

lease, a rate a

memo from city

staff called “well

below current

market rates.”

�e rent would

rise to $6,000

per month plus property taxes in the

lease’s 10th year.

“We open ourselves to the criticism

that if it’s a city building, we’re subsidiz-

ing a private business,” Turner said.

He also objected to the timing of the

item’s appearance on the agenda, which

he called “out of sequence.” �e city cur-

rently is considering two formal bids for

the property.

“I support the concept, the Loprinos

and the Public House, but where we

are in fully considering a very momen-

tous decision, I felt like we needed to go

through the process before we go ahead

with separate consideration,” Turner

said. He added he would be amenable to

voting in favor of a lease agreement with

different terms.

Mayor Brian Sager said he was “disap-

pointed” in the result of the vote. He had

argued the presence of a restaurant in

the Courthouse would make the build-

ing more appealing to investors and said

it would have provided a boost to the

Square.

“We speak about economic growth

and try to promote that, and in my opin-

ion, the most important thing is to work

with and retain current businesses that

have already invested in the community,”

Sager said. “�is was a perfect example.”

But the mayor said an altered lease

agreement addressing some of the con-

cerns raised at the council meeting could

appear on an agenda soon.

“We’ve been back and forth with dif-

ferent parties and attorneys, and the at-

torneys have assured us if there’s a sub-

stantial change in the agreement, the

petitioners could bring it forward again,”

Sager said.

In addition to Sager, Julie Dillon, Joe

Starzynski and RB �ompson voted in

favor of the agreement. Councilman

Mark Saladin was absent.

In January, the city of Woodstock is-

sued a Request for Proposals to pur-

chase the historic Courthouse and Sher-

iff’s House on the Square, which it has

owned since 2011. �e RFP garnered two

bids — one from a Texas investor looking

to turn the property into residential and

commercial space, and one from inves-

tors at La Petite Creperie that covered

only the Sheriff’s House, where the Cre-

perie is located. Other plans also have

been floated for the property, including a

private school, a business incubator, and

retaining the building for use as City Hall.

NEWS

years longer to live after diagnosis.

“Every 90 seconds someone is diag-

nosed,” said Julie Sharpe, executive di-

rector of the ALS Association Greater

Chicago Chapter. “Every 90 minutes

someone loses their fight. �ey lose the

ability of everything we take for grant-

ed, the ability to walk, to talk, to breathe

eventually, to swallow.”

Started by friends of former Boston

College baseball captain Pete Frates,

a 29-year-old living with ALS, the ice

bucket challenge has gained national

attention from individuals, families,

professional athletes, businesses and

celebrities alike. �e challenge is simple:

pour a bucket of ice water on yourself

and/or donate money to ALS within 24

hours of being challenged. People who

accept their challenges then nominate

others to complete the challenge. You-

Tube is flooded with videos of unique

challenge variations from participants

who have taken the challenge to a new

level, like Charlie Sheen, who poured

$10,000 cash over himself designated

for donation, and Canadian Paul Bisson-

nette, a professional ice hockey player

who stood in a Speedo on a mountain-

top while a helicopter dropped gallons

of ice-cold glacial water on him.

From restaurant and retail staff to

families, friends and neighbors, Wood-

stock also has been infected by the viral

nationwide effort.

In honor of longtime Blue Streak

men’s basketball supporter and parent

Don Gaspar, who had ALS and lost his

life to the disease Feb. 29, 2008, Wood-

stock High School administration ac-

cepted the ice bucket challenge Aug. 19.

Nominated by District 200 police liaison

officer Jeremy Mortimer, who accepted

the challenge from students, wrestling

coach Jon Grell, assistant principal Art

Vallicelli, principal Justin Smith, assis-

tant principal Matt Boland and athletic

director Glen Wilson sat on the bleach-

ers at Larry Dale Field as Gatorade con-

tainers full of ice water were poured

over their heads by the school’s secre-

taries and faculty members.

“It strikes home to everybody, but it

has obviously impacted the Blue Streak

nation, and we wanted to do something

good for [Gaspar] and for all the others

that are afflicted with this terrible dis-

ease,” Wilson said.

Ice bucket Continued from Page 1

Coolers of ice water are dumped onto Woodstock High School administration Aug. 19 as part of the ice bucket challenge for ALS. From left, assistant principal Matt Boland, principal Justin Smith and assistant principal Art Vallicelli experi-ence the chill. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY LISA KUCHARSKI

He said the faculty each made per-

sonal donations to the cause and the

collective group nominated Wood-

stock North High School administra-

tion to complete the challenge. WNHS

principal Brian McAdow, assistant

principals Jeremy Schaaf and Steven

Rick, dean of students Jeff Schroeder

and athletic director Nick Kearfott ac-

cepted the challenge.

Bar manager Robin Calderon of Off-

sides Bar and Grill brought in a front-

loader to dump water over staff in the

parking lot after being challenged by

Kingston Lanes and BBQ King. �e res-

taurant made a donation to ALS, and

several staff made personal contribu-

tions.

“It’s just a great experience,” Calde-

ron said. “We’re happy to try to bring

awareness to ALS and try to bring in

the community and challenge some

great people out here.”

“ALS has never before experienced

this level of visibility across the nation,

and we are so thankful to the thou-

sands of people who have been doused

with ice water and/or who have do-

nated to fight this disease,” Sharpe said.

“�is is truly a grassroots, viral, social-

media phenomenon. … It’s just fun, and

the families of those living with ALS are

deriving so much joy from watching

all the dialogue and awareness taking

place.”

Sharpe said the association is “soak-

ing” in donations and attention for the

disease. During the same time period

last year, she said the ALS Association

raised about $2.5 million. In a little un-

der a month, the ice bucket challenge

has generated more than the associa-

tion raised throughout 2013 – $64 mil-

lion. Aug. 20 and 21, Sharpe said the

donations topped $10 million per day.

With the influx of donations, Sharpe

said the association will be able to fo-

cus the funds toward the three pillars

of its mission – care, advocacy and re-

search.

“It’s really allowed for there to be a

voice for this community,” said Sharpe,

“which is something a person living

with ALS loses.”

For more information or to donate,

visit alsa.org or alsachicago.org.

HOW THEY VOTEDTo approve a lease with the Public House for space in the Courthouse:*

YesJulie DillonBrian SagerJoe StarzynskiRB ThompsonNoMaureen LarsonMike TurnerAbsentMark Saladin

* Required 3/4 majority to pass

RentalContinued from Page 1

A rescuer works to pull an SUV from a pond at 1220 S. Eastwood Drive near Three Brothers Restaurant Aug. 23. The vehicle, which was accidentally driven into the pond during heavy rains, was fully submerged by the time crews arrived on the scene. The driver was the vehicle’s only occupant and managed to crawl out a window with-out sustaining any injuries. It took about an hour to remove the SUV from the pond. PHOTO BY ALEX VUCHA

SUV SUBMERGED IN POND

“It’s really allowed for there to be a voice for this community, which is something a person living with ALS loses.”

— Julie Sharpe, ALS Association Greater Chicago executive director

6 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 NEWS

OBITUARIES

Leah Emma MacDonaldLeah Emma MacDonald, 104, died

Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at home in Woodstock, surrounded by her family.

She was born Dec. 21, 1909, to Wil-liam and Hildegard (Jurries) Haffron in Hinckley .

On May 2, 1941, she married Raymond W. MacDonald.

She graduated from West Chicago Com-munity High School in 1928. As a young woman, she worked as a nurse for Dr. Har-ry W. Kinnie for many years, helping deliver babies. Except for a stint living at Fort Ben-ning, Ga., while her husband served in the Army during World War II, she lived in West Chicago for much of her life, en-joying her many friends and charitable endeavors.

She also took great pride in being the “First Lady of DuPage County” during the sixteen years her husband served as county clerk.

She was a gifted baker, turning out several loaves of homemade bread every week well into her 90s. Her homemade doughnuts, especially the holes, were legendary and much loved by all of the children in her family. Although Leah was never blessed with children of her own, she was a loving and supportive presence

in her family, helping to raise three gen-erations of children. Not long after her husband’s death in 1980, she moved to Woodstock to be closer to her niece and her family.

Survivors include a niece, Nancy Moore; three great-nieces, Tamara Reed, Jo (John) Williams and Stacy (Joe) Kotyza; a great-great-nephew, Casey Reed; and a great-great-niece, Riley Kotyza.

She was preceded in death by her hus-band; her parents; two sisters, Evelyn Lyon and Mildred Lyon; two brothers-in-law, Forrest Lyon and Charles Lyon; and a great-great-nephew, Parker Lyon Wil-liams.

Visitation was held Aug. 21 at the Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Fu-neral Home, Woodstock. Interment and a private graveside service were at Glen Oak Cemetery, West Chicago.

Donations can be made to the Parker Lyon Williams Foundation, JourneyCare Hospice & Palliative Care or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Bessie Jean HamesBessie Jean Hames, 72, Wonder Lake,

formerly of Crystal Lake, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at Kindred Hospital, Syc-amore.

She was born Oct. 12, 1941, to John and Addy (Reeves) Morton in Petersburg, Tenn.

On Dec. 24, 1957, she married Jerold G. Hames in Petersburg.

She worked at home raising children and running the household. She also en-joyed volunteering with the Crystal Lake Little League. She was loved and will be missed.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Douglas Hames; two daughters, Rhon-da (Gary) Hall and Carolyn (Robert) Montgomery; five grandchildren, Zak (Amanda) McManaman, Rebecca (Adam) Watkins, Katelin Hall, Jacob Hames and Andrew Hames; a brother, Jerry Morton; and two sisters, Louise Titsworth and John-nysue Scurloc.

She was preceded in death by her par-ents; a sister, Mary Elizabeth Allen; and a brother, Richard Morton.

A visitation was held Aug. 22 at the Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Fu-neral Home with the funeral Aug. 23. Burial was at Windridge Memorial Park, Cary.

Memorials can be made to the Ameri-can Lung Association.

Edwin Charles CorraEdwin Charles Corra, 91, McHenry,

formerly of Wonder Lake, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014.

He was born Sept. 29, 1922, to Fred-erick and Stephanie (Jondura) Corra in Ogden, Utah, shortly before his parents returned to their home in Chicago.

On Oct. 30, 1943, he married Jean (Genevieve Szulczynski) at St. Mary Cath-olic Church, Des Plaines.

He was a faithful member of St. Mary for the first 50 years of his life. He con-tinued his faithfulness as he and his wife, Jean, relocated to Buffalo Grove, Sara-sota, Fla., Venice, Fla., Wonder Lake and McHenry.

He served stateside in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 as an aviation machin-ist Mate 3/C. Following World War II, he became a plumber and then a plumbing contractor. He started Corra Plumbing in Des Plaines in the 1960s, relocating the business to Rolling Meadows in the early 1970s.

Survivors include many nieces and nephews, Vivian (Robert) Heinrich, Won-der Lake, Teresa (Michael) Mahoney, Kankakee, and Joseph (Georgia) Dob-belaere, Algonquin; many extended fam-ily members residing in various states both near and distant; and many grand-nieces and -nephews and great-grand-nieces and -nephews.

Preceding him in death were his wife of 70 years who died Nov. 21, 2013; his parents; brothers, Clarence and Frederick Jr.; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Vivian and William Dobbelaere.

He was cremated and private services were held. Memorials may be made to Christ The King Parish, 5006 E. Wonder Lake Road, Wonder Lake, IL 60097; Jour-ney Care Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL 60010; or Veterans of For-eign Wars, 3002 W. Route 120 McHen-ry, IL 60051.

Arrangements were made by Justen’s Wonder Lake Funeral Home.

Leah EmmaMacDonald

POLICE BLOTTER

Any charges are merely accusations, and de-fendants or suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Luke Gregory Norys, 20, 3113 Shenandoah Lane, Woodstock, was charged Aug. 7 with speeding, expired registration and no driver’s license at Highway 14 and Dean streets. Norys posted $150 bond. Court date was set for Sept. 25.

Oscar Arreola, 18, 526 Birch Road, Woodstock, was charged Aug. 8 with driv-ing while license suspended, uninsured mo-tor vehicle , no seatbelt and possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia at 107 E.

Melody Lane. Arreola posted $150 bond. Court date was set for Sept. 18.

Bradley S. Cantilena, 27, 933 N. Madison St., Woodstock, was arrested at his home Aug. 8 on an outstanding warrant from Kane County for possession of canna-bis. Cantilena posted $307.50 bond. Court date was set for Sept. 17.

Anthony L. Taylor, 35, 3008 Roberts Drive, Woodridge, was arrested Aug. 9 at 1007 Tappan St. on an outstanding war-

rant from DuPage County for failure to ap-pear. Taylor was turned over to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Bond was set at $10,075. Court date is to be set.

Jerrod Delonce Brown, 25, 614 E. Cal-houn St., Woodstock, was arrested Aug. 12 at 1662 S. Eastwood Drive on an outstand-ing warrant from the McHenry County Sher-iff’s Office for failure to appear on a pos-session of cannabis charge. Brown posted $300 bond. Court date was set for Sept. 26.

Gema Barrera Degarcia, 35, 1224 Walden Oaks Drive, Woodstock, was charged Aug. 12 with no driver’s license and tinted windows at 1200 Walden Oaks. Barrera posted $150 bond. Court date was set for Sept. 4.

7Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTNEWS

8 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

My daughter tugged on my hand and said, “Come on Dad, let’s see the Butter Cow.”

So we walked over to the Dairy Building at the Illinois State Fair and gawked at 500 pounds of butter sculpted into the shape of a life-size cow.

�e bovine is encased in glass and refrigerated to preserve it during sweltering August days. I couldn’t help but think what a perfect illustration this is of Illinois state government.

Where else but Springfield would a shrine be generated out of fat?

Just about everyone – except the bureaucrats — sees fat in Illinois government. But little of the fat ever gets trimmed.

At a time when the state is paying its bills months late, when our credit rating is the worst in the nation, the Land of Lincoln provides free cable TV to its prison inmates.

Yep, you read that right.We are spending more than

$2 million a year so rapists and murderers can lounge around and watch ESPN?

Absolutely unreal.When I first mentioned this

incarceration perk a couple of years ago, a Rock Island woman wrote me and said “God has hardened your heart” toward inmates.

Sorry, I think inmates should be treated humanely. But cable TV? No way.

My tax bill hardened my heart, not

God.While the money

for the cable TV comes from funds raised from inmate commissaries, the legislature could divert it to pay for more worthwhile endeavors.

�e legislature also is to blame for those lavish doors on the Illinois Capitol. It spent $669,608 for a set of six on the west side of the statehouse.

�e bureaucrats jumped to the defense saying you can’t just go to Menards and buy doors for a building as ornate as the statehouse.

No, but there are plenty of carpenters out there who could make respectable doors for less than 100 grand a pop.

When I hear politicians say they don’t see much waste in the budget, I have to roll my eyes. It’s not like there is a line item in the budget labeled “waste” that can just be cut.

Budgets need careful deliberation and debate. But our legislature often votes on the budget within hours of actually seeing the document.

Most folks give their household spending more thought than lawmakers give our state’s multi-billion dollar budget. How else can we account for programs like “urban fishing”?

�e state and federal government

fund a program that teaches city kids how to fish.

Is that really a core state service?At a time when the state pays its

bills late, can we really justify this program?

My dad and grandpa taught me how to fish. And they added a dollop of something the state just can’t provide: love.

Unfortunately, the state increasingly views itself as a surrogate for family. And it does a pretty lousy job at it. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the appalling high school graduation rate of state foster children — 54 percent nationally.

Or one need look no further than the Illinois Medicaid system for more evidence of our bloated bureaucracy. Recent state-funded audits have found 60 percent of enrollees in the program do not meet income guidelines or other eligibility rules.

And yet these people were able to collect benefits. �at’s government waste at its worst. A push is now afoot to make the temporary 67 percent income tax increase permanent.

How can lawmakers even consider raising taxes when so much waste goes unaddressed?

CHERYL WORMLEYPublisher, Co-OwnerPAUL WORMLEY

Co-OwnerKATELYN STANEKManaging Editor

THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Woodstock, IL 1987

THE EDITORIAL BOARDCheryl Wormley Katelyn Stanek Jay SchulzLisa KucharskiSandy Kucharski

Reflections on Labor Day

Don’t let the weather fool you. �e unofficial end to summer is upon us, as evidenced by the arrival of Labor Day.

For many of us, Labor Day signals barbecues, final trips to the beach and deep discounts on mattresses and electronics. But Labor Day has its roots in the early labor movement of the 19th century.

Accounts vary as to who was the first to call upon the country to set aside a day to honor the American worker. Was it Peter McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor? Or was it a New England machinist, Matthew Maguire, who first raised the idea?

In any event, the first Monday in September has been recognized as Labor Day for more than 10 decades. But in recent years, Labor Day editorials everywhere, including in this newspaper, have focused on the dual issues of celebrating the work of our nation’s laborers while also lamenting high unemployment and stagnant wages.

In McHenry County, the unemployment rate stands at about 6.9 percent, an uneasy figure that nevertheless sits lower than in 2010, when the rate hit about 12 percent. But in the past year or so, Woodstock has seen its fair share of traumatic job losses. Two commercial printers — D.B. Hess and Brown Printing Company — have either closed their doors or announced plans to do so soon. �ese former stalwarts of the local economy employed thousands at their peaks and made Woodstock one of the most important commercial printing hubs in the Midwest. But several factors — the economy and the decline in print among them — contrived to cause both to be shut down.

So today, while we call on everyone to take a moment to appreciate the American worker this Labor Day, we also pause to reflect on the lost jobs that have put some of our city’s talented workers out of work entirely.

Woodstock has seen its share of economic upheaval at the hands of progress and economics. �is place, once called Typewriter City, transitioned to car parts and printing and any number of other industries over the years. We hope — and believe — the city’s printing business will be supplanted by new and vital industries soon. After all, our workers deserve it.

weigh inEmail letters to the editor to [email protected] or mail them to 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

Opinion

» OUR VIEW

» COLUMN

Plenty of fat to trim in Springfield

Reeder Report

ScottReeder

No football scores for week oneDue to the Labor Day holiday, The

Woodstock Independent will not cover football games in week one. Please check for updates on our Facebook Page.

AARP Driver Safety ProgramAARP Driver Safety Program will be

held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 15 and 16, at the Woodstock Police Department. Participants must attend both days to

receive credit for the class. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members.

For more information call WPD administrative office manager Tamara Reed at 815-338-6787.

FYI

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse re-porter and a journalist with Illinois News Network, a project of the Illinois Policy Institute. He can be reached at [email protected].

9Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

The 10th leading cause of death

“You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” – Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), “Good Will Hunting”

A lot has been written in the past couple of weeks about the suicide of quick-witted comedian/actor Robin Williams. When someone who seems so full of life and humor passes away from anything other than old age, it shocks us. When someone takes his own life, it saddens us. I was both shocked and saddened. But I also found myself recalling my own suicidal thoughts from more than 30 years ago.

The tears of a clownAnybody who knows me knows

that I love making people laugh, or at least groan, with my jokes and puns. Humor is my M.O. and has been for many years. My parents appreciated my wit, and I consciously tried to make them proud of me throughout my elementary and high school years, getting involved in extracurricular activities like chorus and speech team and bringing home report cards good

enough to bring a smile to Mom and Dad’s faces.

But the pressure to keep those grades up and to also fit in once I went away to college, combined with the irrational fear that no woman other than Mom could find it in her heart to love me, led me to some dark places in my head. I was never diagnosed with clinical depression, but I’d look out my dorm window and wonder whether walking out the window would be a way I could be out of my misery.

What kept me from acting on my thoughts? Several things: (1) My love for my parents – I couldn’t imagine putting them through the agony of losing their youngest son. (2) My faith – “�ou shalt not kill” didn’t just apply to what I might do to other people; it applied to me, too. (3) My ability to see that there were a number of good things in my life, not just bad.

So I put my feelings on paper, writing a short fiction story for a dorm literary magazine, a story I later acted out in an Interpretation of Literature �rough Media class. �e

story dealt with a college student with suicidal thoughts who remembers all the negative things said to him over the years by a variety of relatives, employers, friends and others. At the end of the story, he stands up on his desk and walks out the window … but with the O. Henry twist that his dorm room is on the first floor so his life will continue and, hopefully, improve, but with no guarantees. Fictionalizing my internal struggles and including a “life goes on” ending was how I worked through my depression.

Where are we in 2014?I, for one, am grateful for every day

that I can still have: a good job, a roof over my head, people who love me, and places (e.g., church, community theater, library board, this newspaper) where I do fit in.

But for many, suicide is a serious consideration. A recently published report showed that in McHenry County, more than a dozen suicides took place in the first seven months of this year. According to the American Association of Suicidology, an average of 108 people commit suicide every day in this country. And while the AAS says suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, I pray that the spotlight given to Robin Williams does not inspire others to

take such a drastic step. �e McHenry County Crisis

Program is an excellent resource for those in our county who are facing depression, major life changes, anxiety, mental illness or thoughts of suicide. Trained counselors answer the toll-free crisis line at 800-892-8900 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If needed, targeted referrals can be made to link the caller to appropriate services. And for those who’ve lost a loved one to suicide, a Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group that meets monthly in McHenry may also help.

A final thought�e Roman philosopher Seneca

said, “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.” While we mourn the loss of an Academy Award-winning actor, may we also pay close attention to our loved ones and make them feel wanted, loved, and even graciously courageous.

OPINION

Subscription rates/year: $35 in Woodstock and Wonder Lake, $37 in McHenry County, $42 for snowbirds and $50 out-side McHenry County.Letters to the editor: We welcome letters of general inter-est to the community and reserve the right to edit for clarity or length. Letters should be fewer than 400 words, and writers are limited to one letter per month. Letters are due at noon Wednes-day and must be signed and include the writer’s address and a telephone number for verification purposes only.Corrections: The Woodstock Independent strives for ac-curacy. To suggest corrections or clarifications, email [email protected].

INDEPENDENTTheWoodstock

Noon WednesdayPRESS RELEASES AND [email protected]

LETTERS TO THE [email protected]

Noon ThursdayDISPLAY ADVERTISING [email protected]

Noon Friday LEGAL [email protected]

CLASSIFIED [email protected]

Cheryl Wormley [email protected]

Katelyn Stanek MANAGING [email protected]

Jay Schulz SPORTS [email protected]

Lisa Kucharski ASSOCIATE [email protected]

Sandy Kucharski ASSOCIATE [email protected]

Jason Reinhardt GRAPHIC [email protected]

Advertising Melissa Knight, [email protected]; Jen Wilson,

[email protected]; Barb Gessert,[email protected]

Columnists John Daab, Lisa Haderlein, Dan Chamness, Debbie Skozek, Tony Casalino, Laura Witlox Middaugh, Paul Lockwood

Editorial Cartoonist Jim Pearson

Photographers Michelle Krenger, Ken Farver, Alisa Ellegood

Proofreaders Tricia Carzoli, Don Humbertson

Reporters Tricia Carzoli, Elizabeth Harmon, Megan Ivers

Administration Rebecca McDaniel

s ta f f dead l ines

contact

» COLUMN

For more than 15,000 of you who are reading this week’s Woodstock Independent, the month of August in the year 2014 is providing a unique opportunity. You are receiving The Independent free twice in the same month. For only the second time in the 27-year history of this newspaper, Woodstock’s weekly newspaper is being sent twice within a 14-day period to everyone who lives within the boundaries of Woodstock School District 200. �e other time was during the paper’s start-up when we were seeking subscribers.

So what motivated the staff and me to go to mail the paper to every household and business again?

If you said to attract more subscribers, you are correct.

We are proud of The Independent. It’s an award-winning paper and has been for more than 20 years. What you are holding in your hands or

have laying on the table in front of you is what our subscribers look forward to every week. We didn’t fancy up this paper or the one you received two weeks ago. To the staff, this paper is the result of focusing our attention on what matters in our community – just as every other week’s Independent is.

Our focus is hyperlocal. We’re out and about, and we attend and report on Woodstock City Council and D-200 School Board meetings. We attend and report on Woodstock, Woodstock North and Marian Central Catholic high school varsity sports contests, and

we cover the high schools’ theater performances and concerts. We publish free announcements of births, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and milestone birthdays. We also don’t charge for obituaries. Columns, as you can see in this week’s paper, offer a variety of voices and opinions. Each Independent includes an editorial – the editorial staff’s opinion on a given topic. Reader’s opinions in letters to the editor are given equal billing next to the editorial.

To further encourage you to subscribe, the staff is partnering with the backers clubs at WHS and WNHS. New subscribers can mention either the �under or Streaks, and $5 of the $35 subscription cost will be donated to the subscriber’s team of choice. See the ad on page 10 for more information.

Since, I still have some space left, I’ll tell you about other ways we

help people stay informed about what’s happening in our community. In addition to publishing �e Independent every week, we also publish �e Torch – so named because a torch, a symbol of truth and enlightenment, has been part of our logo since the beginning. Issues of �e Torch are mailed to every residence and business with a 60098 zip code and the west side of 60097. Each of the seven Torches we publish each year is filled with features related to a specific theme or topic.

The Independent also has a web page, thewoodstockindependent.com, and a Facebook page. Check them out, too. And if you want to know more about what we do, call us at 815-338-8040. Or, our email addresses are in the staff box at the bottom of this page.

Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Wood-stock Independent.

We’re all about keeping you informed

Declarations

CherylWormley

» COLUMN

A Musing

PaulLockwood

Paul Lockwood is president of TownSquare Players, vice president of the Woodstock Public Library Board of Trustees, a frequent community theater actor and an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. He works in Chicago as RFP Manager for The Vitality Group. He and his wife, Diane, have lived in Woodstock since 2001.

10 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

By LISA KUCHARSKIThe Independent

Instead of constantly refreshing a web

page to find out about school closings this

year, students and parents in Woodstock

School District 200 can simply check their

phones for a text message.

For the first time, District 200 is offering

text alerts to families of students that sign

up for the service.

Carol Smith, director of community

services for District 200, said the dis-

trict will provide families with a text

alert option for emergencies this year.

While emails and phone calls still will be

used for all emergencies and general an-

nouncements, the texts only will be sent

for alerts like snow days, school closings

and other emergencies.

“�ere’s that fine line with a system like

this,” Smith said. “We want to make sure

parents are informed, but we don’t want

to be inundating them with messages, so

when they do get a text message from us,

they know that it’s something important.”

Woodstock North High School Princi-

pal Brian McAdow called the service “a

sign of the times.”

“I think we’re finding more and more

EducationD-200 tentative budget is up for reviewBudget calls for spending, income increases of about 5 to 6 percent

By ELIZABETH HARMONThe Independent

�e tentative 2014-15 budget for Wood-

stock School District 200 is now available

for public viewing.

At the Board of Education’s meeting

Aug. 19, District 200 Chief Financial Offi-

cer Risa Hanson presented an overview of

the new budget, which calls for increases

of about 5 to 6 percent in both income and

spending.

“Overall, we’re in a good financial posi-

tion going into the new school year and

will continue to look at the budget month-

ly and make adjustments as needed,” Han-

son said.

Expenditures across all of the district’s

funds total $93,026,868, a 5.1 percent in-

crease over last year. Within the three

main operating funds — education, opera-

tions and maintenance, and transporta-

tion — expenditures total $67,399,347.

Revenues across all of the district’s funds

total $91,266,384, an increase of 5.84 per-

cent over last year. Within the three main

operating funds, revenues from local, state

and federal sources total $66,822,803.

�e difference between expenditures

and incoming revenue is $1,760,484 and

is covered by the district’s fund balances,

which currently total $20,919,810.

Within the education fund, the district

will see an increase in General State Aid.

Hanson said early GSA calculations

assumed the district would receive 82

percent of the funds to which it was en-

titled, but the amount actually turned out

to be 89 percent, boosting GSA by about

$900,000.

“At the April workshop, we thought it

would be a bigger deficit, so it was a bonus

when we found this out,” Hanson said.

However, GSA still falls about $1.3 mil-

lion short of what the district is supposed

to receive, based on enrollment and other

factors.

To balance the education fund, the dis-

trict will spend $576,000 of its reserve

funds, which also increased, due to high-

er-than-expected tuition payments during

the 2013-14 school year, as well as an ad-

ditional payment from the state at the end

of the previous fiscal year.

“Even with spending $576,000, we still

have an education fund balance of $15.7

million,” Hanson said.

Other funds where fund balances make

up the difference between revenue and ex-

penditures are debt service, tort immunity

and developer impact fees.

�e district’s debt service fund shows

expenditures exceed revenues by $771,521,

which is due to bond refinancing last year.

“We set money aside to help lower our

payment this year,” Hanson said.�e developer impact fee fund shows

income of $180,000, which Hanson said

is generated by a small number of new

homes being built within the district’s

boundaries. A projected expenditure of

$500,000 was included to allow flexibility,

should a need arise, but Hanson said that

no spending is planned.

Tort immunity spending also is higher

this year, due to higher-than-expected

workers compensation costs, Hanson said.

Revenue and expenditures are equal for

operations and maintenance, transporta-

tion, food service and Kids Club. Funds

with small surpluses include the Illinois

Municipal Retirement Fund, working cash

and Social Security/Medicare funds.

�e budget is available for review at

the district’s administrative offices, 227 W.

Judd St., and will be voted on by the school

board at its Tuesday, Sept. 23, meeting.

Text message alerts from schools available people don’t have landlines in the house,”

McAdow said. “�e cell device is going

to surpass the landline, so our system is

changing with the times.”

To enroll in the service, administered by

One Call Now, parents and students need

to have their cell phone number registered

with the student’s school. Once registered,

applicants can text “Alert” to 22300 to be

included in the alert system.

For more information, call District 200

at 815-338-8200.

11Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTEDUCATION

12 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

Teen fiddling phenom to return to Stage LeftBy JAY SCHULZThe Independent

Georgia Rae Mussared loves music. �e

Richmond native has played the fiddle for

11 years and has become really good at it.

So good, in fact, that the frequent Stage

Left Café performer reigns over two

states.

Georgia Rae, 15, placed first in the Wis-

consin State Fair Fiddlers Contest Aug. 2

in West Allis, Wis. She is now a two-state

champion as she is the current grand

champion Old Time Fiddler of Illinois.

“It was really fun to be there among the

little kids who were there competing in

their divisions,” Georgia Rae said. “It was

a really good competition.”

“She was up against a few fiddlers who

were very good,” her mother, Ronilyn

Mussared, said and noted she competed

against the girl who beat her the year be-

fore. “It was a good, friendly competition.”

Georgia Rae is the featured performer

in the Georgia Rae Family Band, which

includes her 18-year-old sister, Kelly Jo,

who sings; her mom on guitar; and her

14-year-old sister, Quintessa, who plays

mandolin, banjo and sings harmony. �e

band began performing together on Val-

entine’s Day 2011 and has made multiple

appearances at Woodstock’s Stage Left

Café.

Ronilyn Mussared started playing the

guitar in eighth grade. She heard blue-

grass music for the first time in college

and really enjoyed it.

“I always wanted to have a bluegrass

band,” Mussared said. “Here comes little

Georgia Rae who’s always happy, listens

to directions and has a great, patient dis-

position. She was always happy and ea-

ger to please, so I thought why not [form

a bluegrass band].”

“I am so blessed,” Mussared said. “I am

the luckiest mom in the world that my

kids want to do this, that they let me play

with them.”

�e girls practice together all the time.

�eir mother wakes them up at 5 a.m. on

school days to practice, and, sometimes

late at night, they may break out their in-

struments.

“Most people go for a midnight snack,”

Georgia Rae said. “We go for a mid-

night practice.”

Ronilyn Mussared said the experi-

ence has been extremely beneficial to

their family.

“�e kids grew close together,”

Mussared said. “�ey are the best of

friends. Our family is happier. We

have a common goal. It’s fun.”

Mussared is the band’s manager but

said she lets the girls set the band’s di-

rection.

“�ey pay for their own studio,”

Mussared said. “�ey make their own

decisions. I just guide them and lead

and try to give them the opportunity.

It’s up to them to take [the opportu-

nity]. �ey’re the boss.”

Georgia Rae said she isn’t sure what

she wants to do when she graduates

from high school. She is considering

being a studio musician or teaching.

Currently, she is teaching and has four

students.

“All I know is I just want to play mu-

sic for the rest of my life,” Georgia Rae

said. “�ere are days when you are re-

ally tired and you don’t want to prac-

tice, but then we start practicing and

it really cheers up your whole mood.

GEORGIA RAE FAMILY BAND

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29Where: Stage Left Café, 125 E. Van Buren St.Suggested donation: $15

Georgia Rae Mussared won the Wis-consin State Fair Fiddlers Contest Aug. 2. She also is the current grand cham-pion Old Time Fiddler of Illinois. COUR-TESY PHOTO

It just makes your whole day better.”

�e Georgia Rae Family Band will

perform at Stage Left Café at 7 p.m. Fri-

day, Aug. 29, to raise prize money for the

Woodstock Harvest Fest fiddle, guitar,

banjo and mandolin contests. Georgia Rae

won the fiddle contest in 2011 and 2013.

Fingerstyle-guitar champion Ed Hall will

open the show, and folksinger-songwriter

Chris Strong will also perform.

For information, visit georgiaraefami-

lyband.com.

“Most people go for a midnight snack. We go for a midnight practice.”

— Georgia Rae Mussared, fiddler

Producers marks 30 years of

Opera House shows�ere are only a handful of people

who are independent producers for shows at the Woodstock Opera House. �ese are people who put up their own money to book an act to perform, pay the Opera House for space and staff, advertise and market the performance and hope that enough people buy tickets to the show that they at least get their money back! I’ve featured Ed Hall (William Tell Productions) and Michael Stanard in this column in the last year. Today, I’d like to introduce you to the longest-running independent producer at the Opera House, Deno Buralli Jr.

�is month, Deno celebrates his 30-year anniversary of producing at the Opera House. Born in Chicago and raised in McHenry County, Deno went back to the city to see legendary guitarist Doc Watson in the summer of 1984. So wowed was he with the performance, Deno went to the Opera House to encourage the management to bring Doc here. He was told he could produce the event himself, and, in August, Doc Watson played to a

packed house.Since then, Deno, who has retired

from the family’s manufacturing business and who still maintains a farm with 25 head of Angus cattle, has continued to bring country, bluegrass and jazz performers to the stage for the enjoyment of the community. He has presented well over 100 performances and still sponsors two shows a year. He presented Doc Watson many times, along with Red Rose Ragtime Band, Max Morath and the always-popular Riders in the Sky group 17 times.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, Deno will present �e Fat Babies on the Orson Welles stage. �e seven-piece jazz group from Chicago’s South Side features classic styles of the 1920s and ’30s. Led by string bass player Beau Sample, Fat Babies will perform tunes from their “Chicago Hot” recording including songs of King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton. With tickets at $19, this is a bargain you shouldn’t miss. As of this writing, tickets were still available for the 8 p.m. performance.

Over the years, Deno has produced in other venues, including Schaumburg’s Prairie Center for the Arts, Rockford’s Midway and Coronado �eatres and the Pabst �eatre in Milwaukee, but his home is the Woodstock Opera House. Woodstock and McHenry County are lucky to have people like him who regularly put their name (and money) on the line to bring performances to the Square. �anks, Deno!

» COLUMN

p

Now Playing

TonyCasalino

A & E

Tony Casalino is chairman of the Woodstock Opera House Advisory Commission.

13Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WOODSTOCK’S ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTSThe Entertainer

Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. 11621 Catalpa Lane, Woodstock, IL 60098Phone: 815-337-4485 Toll Free: 855-337-4485

2014-1221 Exp. 7/31/2016 Member SIPC benjaminfedwards.com

Proudly serving all investors in the McHenry County area. Stop by or give us a call .

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE’S MILESTONESCollege. A first car, or home. A new baby. Retirement. These are the milestones that help us measure life’s progress.

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» MUSICAUGUST CONCERT SERIESAug. 27, 7 p.m.Woodstock SquareFreeGuitarist Michael Charles will perform blues and high energy rock.

LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’SAug. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.Woodstock Square Mall110 Johnson St.Country singer Kent Rose will perform.

HARVEST FEST FUNDRAISERAug. 29, 7 p.m.Stage Left Café125 Van Buren St. $15 donation offsquaremusic.orgFingerstyle guitar champion Ed Hall, singer-songwriter Christopher Strong and blue-grass band The Georgia Rae Family Band will perform. All proceeds will go toward music contest prizes for Harvest Fest, to be held Sept. 21 on the Square.

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKETAug. 30 and Sept. 2, 9 a.m. to noonWoodstock SquareAug. 30: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Big Fish; 10:30 to noon The BeaumontsSept. 2: 9 a.m. Suzy Schwartz; 10 a.m. The Dreadnaughts; 11 a.m. Mark Hobbs

JAZZ JAMSept. 5, 19, 8 p.m.Stage Left Café125 Van Buren St.815-337-1395$5 donationJazz Jam is sponsored by Jazz on the Square. Artists will perform jazz music.

FIRST SATURDAY MUSICSept. 6, 7 p.m.Unity Spiritual Center of Woodstock225 W. Calhoun St. $3 donation815-337-3534Visitors can participate in the open mic night or enjoy the show. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

THE FAT BABIESSept. 6, 8 p.m.Woodstock Opera House121 Van Buren St.815-338-5300$19 all seatsThe Fat Babies is a seven-piece jazz band interpreting classic styles of the 1920s and ’30s.

STAGE LEFTOVERSSept. 10, 24 7:30 p.m.Stage Left Café125 Van Buren St. The Stage Leftovers, consisting of Rich Prezioso, Joe Pesz, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, George Koester, Pete Jonsson and Les Urban will perform.

WOODSTOCK OKTOBERFEST/ROCKTOBERFESTSept. 12, 6 to 10 p.m.Sept. 13, 2 to 10 p.m.Woodstock Water Works1313 Kishwaukee Valley RoadAdults $8 or $6 with a donation of canned food; children accompanied by an adult are freeThe event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Woodstock and the Woodstock Mozart Festival. Sept. 12: 6 p.m. Back in the Daze; 8 p.m. Hans & the HormonesSept. 13: 2 p.m. Dave Herzog’s Mari-onettes; 3 p.m. Let’s Dance Swing Band; 5 p.m. Die Musikmeisters German Band; 8

p.m. Jimmy Nick and Don’t Tell Mama.

OPEN MIC NIGHTSept. 12, 7 p.m.Stage Left Café125 Van Buren St.$3 donationoffsquaremusic.orgOpen Mic is sponsored by Off Square Music. Various artists will perform in 15-minute slots.

SONGWRITER SHOWCASESept. 19, 7:30 p.m.Mixin Mingle124 Cass St.$7, includes light beverages847-507-1352aplacetoshinemusic.comLocal and regional songwriters will share their music and the inspiration behind it. The evening will be hosted by Cassandra Vohs-Demann.

» DANCEHOPE THROUGH DANCESept. 5, 8 p.m.Woodstock Opera House121 Van Buren St.$28 Adult, $18 Student815-338-5300A festival of performance companies and danc-ers will benefit the Laura Twirls Suicide Aware-ness Foundation.

» MOVIESPreviews by Jay Schulz of films currently play-ing at the Woodstock Theatre unless otherwise noted.

‘IF I STAY’A young woman who is in a coma after an auto accident has an out-of-body experience and must decide if she wants to wake up. “If I Stay” is directed by R.J. Cutler (“The World Accord-ing to Dick Cheney”) and stars Chloe Grace Moretz (“Let Me In”), Mireille Enos (“World War Z”) and Jamie Blackley (“The Fifth Estate”). RATED PG-13, 106 MINUTES

‘THE NOVEMBER MAN’

An ex-CIA agent is brought back to duty and finds himself pitted against a former pupil. “The November Man” is directed by Roger Donaldson (“The Recruit”) and stars Pierce Brosnan (“Die Another Day”), Luke Bracey (“Home and Away”) and Olga Kurylenko (“Hitman”). RATED R, 109 MINUTES

‘WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL’The story of football coach Bob Ladouceur, who led the DeLaSalle High School football team to a 151-game winning streak. “When the Game Stands Tall” is directed by Thomas Carter (“Coach Carter”) and stars Jim Ca-viezel (“Frequency”), Alexander Ludwig (“The Hunger Games”) and Michael Chiklis (“The Shield”). RATED PG, 115 MINUTES

‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY’A misfit band led by Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt (“Moneyball”), find themselves as unlikely heroes trying to save the galaxy. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is directed by James Gunn (“Slither”) and also stars Zoe Saldena (“Avatar”) and Dave Bautista (“Rid-dick”) and the voices of Bradley Cooper (“Silver Linings Playbook”) and Vin Diesel (“Saving Private Ryan”). RATED PG-13, 121 MINUTES

‘TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES’ The turtles are back to save New York City from the Shredder and his evil Foot Clan. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle Los Ange-

les”) and stars Megan Fox (“Transformers”), Will Arnett (“The LEGO Movie”) and the voices of Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”) and John-ny Knoxville (“The Ringer”). RATED PG-13, 101 MINUTES

‘THE GIVER’In a future world where there is no pain, suf-fering or choice, a young man is selected to be the keeper of the memories of the past. “The Giver” is directed by Phillip Noyce (“Salt”) and stars Brenton Thwaites (“Malifi-cent”), Jeff Bridges (“The Big Lebowski”) and Meryl Streep (“Silkwood”). RATED PG-13, 94 MINUTES

‘AS ABOVE, SO BELOW’A team of explorers ventures into the cata-combs below Paris and discover a dark se-cret. “As Above, So Below” is directed by John Eric Dowdle (“Quarantine”) and stars Perdita Weeks (“Prowl”), Ben Feldman (“Clo-verfield”) and Edwin Hodge (“The Purge”). R, 93 MINUTES

‘LET’S BE COPS’Two friends dress up as policemen for a Halloween party and are mistaken as ac-tual police officers. Hilarity ensues. “Let’s Be Cops” is directed by Luke Greenfield (“The Girl Next Door”) and stars Jake Johnson (“Safety Not Guaranteed”), Damon Wayans Jr. (“The Other Guys”), Rob Riggle (“21 Jump Street”), Andy Garcia (“Internal Affairs”) Nina Dobrev (“The Vampire Diaries”) and James D’Arcy (“Cloud Atlas”). RATED R, 104 Minutes

14 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

MarketplaceSharpener tackles anything with an edge

By SANDY KUCHARSKIThe Independent

In today’s disposable society, most peo-

ple haven’t taken advantage of the servic-

es provided by a professional sharpener,

but the movement toward reusing and

recycling make extending the life of tools

a natural, green choice.

Scissors and knives initially come

to mind as the primary candidates for

sharpening, but that doesn’t even scratch

the surface. According to Joe Wolf, owner

of Extreme Edge Professional Sharpen-

ing, “�e sharpening field is hidden, and

you don’t really talk about it, but there are

so many things to sharpen.”

Wolf has experience sharpening an

array of items including dental instru-

ments, clipper blades, drill bits, ice au-

gers, saw blades, pizza cutters, mower

blades, chainsaw chains and cuticle clip-

pers. Virtually anything with an edge can

be sharpened, he said.

Wolf started out in the building trades,

and, several years ago, he branched out

into small engine and outdoor power

equipment repair. His customers fre-

quently asked if he would sharpen their

mower and chainsaw blades, prompting

him to look into the field of sharpening.

Intrigued, he pursued the trade by ap-

prenticing, attending seminars, work-

ing with mentors and honing his skills

to earn the title of “Factory Trained and

Certified Master Sharpener.”

“Sharpening is all about trying to mas-

ter it,” he said.

Wolf holds numerous factory authori-

zations, including the designation of “Au-

thorized Repair Center” for Andis/Oster

and Wahl clippers and the distinction

from the National Beauty Tool Sharpen-

ing Guild as “Grand Master Sharpener”

for clipper blades, shears and scissors.

“�ey said you talk the talk. Can you

walk the walk?” said Wolf of the certifica-

tion process.

Relocating the business from Hamp-

shire to Woodstock in 2012, Wolf said,

“I wanted to live on a farm.” He and

his wife, Marihelen, operate out of a

1,500-square-foot shop on 10 acres west

of town where they grow hay and have

a small flock of sheep. �ey also operate

out of a service van and a mobile shop,

a specially outfitted 15-foot trailer that

they haul to events including horse fairs,

sheep shows and the Woodstock Farm-

ers Market.

�e couple enjoys the variety and flex-

ibility of the family-owned business. “It

just depends on what you want to do,”

Wolf said. “I’m trying to master as many

things as I can, and, someday, I’ll mentor

somebody.”

�ey also have begun to see some

growth. “�e shop is good for Wood-

stock,” Wolf said. “A lot of people are

starting to find me.”

�e Extreme Edge trailer has become a

familiar fixture at the Woodstock Farm-

ers Market, mostly sharpening kitchen

knives and scissors on site. Spreading

good will, they provide their services on

the Square free to veterans and police

officers who drop by.

Early one Saturday at the market,

the Wolfs were surprised to see a long

line of customers, most of them clutch-

ing blocks full of kitchen knives. �ey

quickly went to work. When they got to

the fourth customer, he was laughing

and said, “Don’t you know what’s going

on here? Last night we were all in a cu-

linary class and the chef said ‘Go to the

farmers market. Go see Joe. Get all these

knives sharpened!”

Joe Wolf puts a new edge on a kitchen knife in his mobile workshop at the Woodstock Farmers Market. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY LISA KUCHARSKI

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Filed in the McHenry County Recorder’s Office July 30 to Aug. 1:

Residence at 9210 Vine Ave., Wonder Lake, was sold by Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation, Chicago, to Edin and Elizabeth Mehanovic, McHen-ry, for $38,000.

Residence at 4417 W. Lake Shore Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by Steven and Carrie Ek trust, Park Ridge, to Kristine Isonhart, Wonder Lake, for $73,000.

Residence at 18211 Collins Road, Woodstock, was sold by Dale and Car-ol Vossel, Crystal Lake, to Borys Jary-mowycz and Jennifer Graves, Wood-stock, for $370,000.

Residence at 287 Macintosh Ave., Woodstock, was sold by Salvatore and Ashley Cucinella, Downers Grove, to Ka-tie Berezowski, Woodstock, for $95,000.

Commercial grocery building at 201 E. Church St., was sold by Dear-born Street Holdings LLC Series 5 Rock-ford, Coral Gables, Fla., to Jose and Elba Bonilla, Woodstock, for $230,000.

Residence at 1070 Rose Court, Woodstock, was sold by Susan Begley, Woodstock, to Michael and Susan Kirby trust, Woodstock, for $210,000.

Residence at 274 Joseph St., Woodstock, was sold by Intercounty Ju-dicial Sales Corporation, Chicago, to Sierra Investments LLC, for $66,000.

26 acres at 1503 Rose Farm Road, Woodstock, was sold by Harvard State Bank Trust #945, Harvard, to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County, Woodstock, for $221,680.

Residence at 7402 Hickory Trail, Wonder Lake, was sold by Gary Fultz, Wonder Lake, to Mark and Michele Nothdorf, Wonder Lake, for $176,000.

Residence at 525 W. Jackson St., Woodstock, was sold by Jane Dwyer, Woodstock, to Sean and Lindsay Keis-man, Woodstock, for $185,000.

Residence at 591 Silver Creek Road, Woodstock, was sold by Judicial Sales Corporation, Chicago, to the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-velopment, Oklahoma City, Okla., for $111,074.24

Residence at 5606 E. Lake Shore Drive, Wonder Lake, was sold by the George E. Lindley 2012 Trust, Huntley, to Aleksandr and Natalia Pavlenko, Wonder Lake, for $157,450.

Residence at 667 Silver Creek Road, Woodstock, was sold by Arturo Flores, Woodstock, to Angelica Cruz Or-tiz, Woodstock, for $50,000.

Residence at 2114 Preswick Lane, Woodstock, was sold by Paul and Kelly Shamoun, Crystal Lake, to Eduardo Mar-ti Santos and Fanny Loyola Barragan, Woodstock, for $195,000.

EXTREME EDGE PROFESSIONAL SHARPENING

Address: 3618 Vermont RoadPhone: 847-683-0275Web: ExtremeEdge1.com

Joe Wolf, owner of Extreme Edge, can sharpen anything from a pizza cutter to a chainsaw

15Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTMARKETPLACE

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16 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

CommunityBy LISA KUCHARSKI

The Independent

As spring 2015 nears, one Woodstock

family’s move to Africa is becoming a re-

ality. Extending Hands ministry and In-

ternational Teams are hosting a benefit

from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at

Suncreek Farms for the Choitz family so

they can move to Chongwe, Zambia, to

minister to local communities there.

Extending Hands, a nonprofit started

by Kristin Choitz after her first visit to

Zambia in 2008, was designed to “give

the opportunity of a sustainable living

to the widows and vulnerable women of

Zambia who are affected by or infected

with HIV/AIDS.” Choitz, her husband,

Ben, and children Kate, a sophomore

at Woodstock High School, and Carter,

a seventh-grader at Creekside Middle

School, are raising funds to move to

Zambia to continue the work they start-

ed with Extending Hands. �e oldest

daughter, 18, will be attending Augustana

College.

Factoring in essentials like paperwork,

airfare, insurance and budget to perma-

nently move a missionary family of four

from the U.S. to Zambia, International

Teams estimate the Choitz’s set-up ex-

penses at between $50,000 and $60,000.

�e “Under One Sky” benefit – featuring

raffles, sales of products made by women

in Zambia, a pig roast and musical per-

formances by Tina Jenkins Crawley and

Chris Frankowski – will help the family

with their one-time moving costs.

“�is benefit is about making as big of

a dent as we can in those costs and re-

ally helping people understand that do-

ing that, and that money, per se, is re-

ally about us being able to be there long

term,” Kristin Choitz said.

Working with Zambian Rev. Luke Bu-

leya of the Baptist Fellowship of Zam-

bia, the Choitz family will minister in

Chibolya, a village of about 4,000 within

Chongwe. Choitz said Carter also will

start a baseball ministry to begin con-

versations with younger boys about the

Bible and how they should treat their

mothers, sisters and other women. She

said he has received generous equip-

ment donations from Woodstock Little

League.

“Between last year and this year, [the

Zambians] have been really convicted

about the fact that they have not been

reaching out in their own community

in Chongwe,” Choitz said. “We just re-

ally see us and a future team of I-Teams

coming along with this church, going

into this community and trying to trans-

form lives.”

To minister in the area, the family will

require transportation from their future

home in Chongwe, which is very costly

in Zambia.

“�is is about people’s souls and lives

and hearts, not about us having to buy a

motorbike and a four-wheel-drive vehi-

cle. ... it’s that I’ll be able to drive around

in these little, rutted roads and be able

to get to the very people that we want to

minister to.”

Like other missionaries, the Choitz

family must obtain their own personal

funding from individuals, churches and

other organizations.

“We are selling everything here, and

we have to start completely over,” Choitz

said. “We’re only taking what we can take

on the plane.”

Tickets for the Under One Sky benefit

are $35 per person in advance and $40 at

the door. RSVP to www.extendinghands.

org/pages/events. Pay by check or make

a donation to Extending Hands, P.O. Box

181, Woodstock, IL 60098.

Benefit to fund family’s move to Zambia UNDER ONE SKY BENEFIT

When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6Where: Suncreek Farms, 5119 N. Route 47Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door

HIGHLIGHT

Police Explorers prep for law enforcement jobs

By JANET DOVIDIOThe Independent

Sgt. Tino Cipolla organized the

Woodstock Police Explorer Post pro-

gram in 2012. At the July 15 Wood-

stock City Council meeting, he re-

ceived the 2014-2015 charter renewal

agreement for the post from Nicke-

sha Wilson of the Blackhawk Area

Council Boy Scouts.

Explorer posts are chartererd by

the Boy Scouts in coordination with

local police departments. �is post is

a subsection of the Woodstock Police

Department and supported by the

city of Woodstock.

Cipolla has four instructors assist-

ing him: Sgt. Ray Lanz, Officer Jason

Bernstein, Officer David Dempsey

and Detective Rob Branum. �is

team recruits new members every

fall from Woodstock, Marian Central

Catholic and Woodstock North high

schools, as well as students from sur-

rounding cities.

�ere are currently 24 active Ex-

plorers. �e program provides edu-

cational training on the purposes,

missions and objectives of law en-

forcement. Explorers must follow the

same dress code and procedures as

department members. A basic pro-

gram of classes includes the oppor-

tunity to ride along with officers after

six months in the post.

According to Cipolla, “�e kids are

not aware at first of the value of their

networking with other Explorer posts

and law enforcement agencies, as well

as their local experiences. �is really

gives them a leg up on future jobs.”

�e Explorers are involved in many

community activities. During the past

several months, they participated in

a breast cancer walk, directed traf-

fic at the McHenry County Fair and

helped at Gavers Community Cancer

Foundation Barndance. Ten Explor-

ers recently accompanied Cipolla for

a tour of a police academy in Cham-

paign-Urbana.

In August 2013 the Illinois legisla-

ture passed a law giving Explorers

two points on any future police de-

partment examination.

“If these Explorers choose to apply

for a law enforcement job after col-

lege,” Cipolla continued, “they will

have the advantage of hands-on ex-

perience that places them ahead of

other applicants. We are very proud

of our program.”

News of recognitions and milestones can be sent to Janet Dovidio at [email protected].

Ag industry is good for wallets and stomachs

My family and I had the opportu-

nity to take a drive down to Missouri

last month, and I noticed a repeti-

tive theme that played out along our

450-mile journey. �e theme was

very green and featured a taller plant

and a shorter plant. �e taller plant,

corn, occupies 12 million acres of land

within Illinois and represents our

largest agricultural crop. �e shorter

plant, soybeans, comes in a distant

second, occupying 8 million acres.

For those of you who are not familiar

with an acre, it is an area of land that

is a little smaller than a football field.

Illinois’ 75,000 farms cover more than

26.9 million acres — nearly 80 percent

of the state’s total land area. Looking

at last year’s receipts, Illinois farmers

contributed a whopping $17 billion to

Illinois’ economy.

Here in McHenry County, we plant

120,000 acres of corn, 58,000 acres

of soybeans and 3,000 acres of winter

wheat. A modest amount of this grain

production is fed

to our county’s

livestock. Another

modest portion

goes to regional

ethanol plants and

food processors.

�e lion’s share,

however, is not only

headed out of our

county, but out of

our state. Some of

this grain hops a

ride on a train to

chicken producers

in the Southern states and some of it

finds its way onto ocean-going vessels

headed to countries around the world.

Last year’s corn, wheat and soybean

production added $100 million-plus

to our local economy.

McHenry County also hosts a

diverse lineup of livestock includ-

ing dairy and beef cattle, chickens,

sheep, goats, horses, ponies, donkeys

and alpacas. In total sales, our dairy

production ranks seventh out of Il-

linois’ 102 counties. We also hold top-

10 ranks in sheep, goats and horses.

Livestock, poultry and their related

products contributed another $29

million to our local economy.

In addition, McHenry County leads

all other counties in Illinois for its

production of cut Christmas trees and

short-rotation woody crops. Within

our county, we have a host of nurser-

ies, greenhouses and sod businesses.

�ese businesses serve retailers,

developers and homeowners across

our region. �ese items are marketed

a variety of ways, including at farm

stands, farmers markets, contract

sales, food subscription programs

and even internet sales. �e com-

bined sales of these products contrib-

uted another $18 million to our local

economy.

McHenry County also garners a

top-10 state ranking for its produc-

tion of vegetables, melons, potatoes,

fruits, berries and honey. �e com-

bined sales of these items contributed

an additional $5 million to our local

economy.

Agriculture’s value isn’t limited to

just dollars. I encourage each of you

to think about the importance of

agriculture. Do you know anyone di-

rectly or indirectly employed because

of agriculture? Are you wearing any

agricultural products? What’s in your

fuel tank? Have you eaten today?

» COLUMN

On the Farm

Dan Volkers

Dan Volkers is manager of the McHenry Coun-ty Farm Bureau, a nonprofit that represents the interests of farmers. Volkers grew up on a grain and livestock farm in the northwest corner of Illinois. He and his wife, Marjorie, and their children reside in the Marengo area.

17Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTCOMMUNITY

Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/1/14-8/31/14. *On select models. See your dealer for details. Warning: The Polaris RANGER® and RZR® are not

intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license to operate. Passengers must be at least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand

holds and plant feet firmly on the floor. All SxS drivers should take a safety training course. Contact ROHVA atwww.rohva.org or (949) 255-2560 for additional information. Drivers

and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets or doors (as equipped). Be particularly careful on difficult

terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don't mix. Check local

laws before riding on trails. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Polaris adult models are for riders 16 and older. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective

clothing, and be sure to take a safety training course. For safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call

Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2014 Polaris Industries Inc.

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18 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

With students heading back to school, summer must be almost over — which is the bad news. However, the good news is fall is just around the corner. And fall, in addition to causing grumbling children and happy grown-ups, means it is the Friends of Woodstock Library’s Fall Plant Sale time, again. Come to the Woodstock Public Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, or from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 — or until we sell out of plants.

Purchase your fall annuals while you check out the newest book and DVD releases. A variety of fall plants will be on sale, including many gorgeous mum plants in a wide range of colors. Ex-amples of the beautiful plants that will be available for sale can be seen around town at various vendors.

For extra fun this year, Sept. 13 also will be the kickoff of our fall season of library programming. Miss Katie will be in the Children’s Department to help the kids get into the spirit of the season with some fun fall art and craft projects.

COMMUNITY

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ASSURE YOUR PETS PUT THEIR BEST PAW FORWARD» COLUMN

Check It Out

NickWeber

Nick Weber is director of the Woodstock Public Library.

Mum’s the word at the libraryBring an art smock as there will be glue involved.

In unrelated but exciting news, the Woodstock Public Library is looking for a fresh, new look for our logo. And, we want the public’s help! Our current logo is 14 years old, so it’s time for a design that better reflects the 21st century tech-nology center, community focal point and lifelong learning center that is the Woodstock Public Library.

Designs will be judged in one of three categories: youth – 18 and younger, amateur – 19 and older, and profession-al – design companies or professional artists and designers. An award and a prize will be given for the best design in each category, and one of the designs may be chosen as the library’s new image. Full details and requirements for the logo contest are available at the library and will soon be posted to our web page. All submissions are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

And, of course, there are lots of other exciting things happening at the library this fall, so keep your eye out for our newsletter which will arrive in your mailbox right after Labor Day. Or, check it all out at www.woodstockpublicli-brary.org. See you at the library!

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus

The McHenry County Department of

IN BRIEF

Health reported mosquitoes collected Aug. 6 from a mosquito trap in McHenry have tested positive for West Nile virus.

This is the first positive test for WNV in McHenry County in 2014. MCDH has tested 147 mosquito batches as of Aug. 14 and all other batches tested nega-tive for WNV. The Illinois Department of Public Health indicated as of Aug. 14, 31 other counties reported 154 positive mosquito batches, 13 bird cases but no human cases so far this year.

MCDH will continue to collect and test mosquito batches throughout the remainder of the season – mid-October – and will accept a limited number of dead birds for testing. It is important to remember the risk of WNV remains until the first hard frost. For more information on WNV, visit www.mcdh.info or call 815-334-4585.

Conservation district offers native vegetation restoration class

Residents are invited to learn tips and tricks for returning local native habi-tats to their former beauty and function through Restoring Vegetation, part of McHenry County Conservation District’s People and Nature Program, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.

The workshop, designed for adults and interested students 14 years and older, will include the selection of plant species appropriate for each ecosystem, the relative benefits of seeding versus planting, site preparation methods and seed collection and processing tech-niques.

The programs are designed to serve the homeowner, volunteer steward, na-ture educator or lover of the outdoors, and cover topics on ecological restora-tion and landscaping with nature.

The class cost is $40 for county resi-dents, $45 nonresident. The registration deadline is Sept. 2. Online registration is available at MCCDistrict.org.

19Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTCOMMUNITY

Recently, the farmhouse of 20th

century county resident Cole Peter-

son, located just west of the Pioneer

Cemetery on South Street southwest of

Woodstock, was destroyed in a practice

burn for the Woodstock Fire/Rescue

District. Prior to its destruction, no

mention was made of the fact the front

porch of the house had been blown off

by a dynamite bomb thrown by an Al

Capone-mob muscle man during the

Roaring Twenties.

�e reason why the Capone mob

would target the home of a rural

Woodstock farmer was that it was

the home of the chief organizer of a

vigilance committee formed in 1926

to combat rampant Prohibition-

related crime in the county. Peterson

felt McHenry County State’s Attorney

Alford Pouse had not done enough to

stamp out the many speakeasies oper-

ating in a wide-open way in the county.

When Pouse fled to parts unknown in

September 1927 after being accused of

being in a conspiracy with Sonny Grom

of the notorious Bubbling Over speak-

easy located on Highway 14 north-

west of Woodstock, and with Louis

Cernocky Sr. of the

Crystal Palace in Fox

River Grove, Peter-

son and likeminded

citizens felt they had

to act forcefully in

the way the law did

not.

Peterson had

founded a vigilance

committee called

the Law and Order

League. �e com-

mittees first move

was to raid a still/

brewery on the old Kohl farm on Lucas

Road in Ridgefield. �ey were lucky

enough to capture the manager of the

still. When Vincent Lumley, the newly

appointed state’s attorney, demanded

the still manager be turned over to him,

Peterson and the committee refused.

�ey became outraged when they

found Lumley seemed to have colluded

with Al Capone’s personal lawyers

to take legal action against them for

the “kidnapping” of the still manager.

Peterson and the committee were con-

vinced Lumley’s action was strong evi-

dence county law enforcement officials

were in league with the Capone gang.

Peterson and the committee then

raised a great deal of public outrage

against a notorious speakeasy called

the Bubbling Over. Managed by well

known Prohibition violator Sonny

Grom, the Bubbling Over seemed to

the Law and Order League to be the

epitome of all that was wrong with

county government. �is was especial-

ly clear to the league when Lumley did

nothing to close the Bubbling Over.

On Sept. 20, 1928, a dynamite bomb

exploded on the front porch of the

Peterson home, destroying much of

the front of the house. Fortunately, the

family was eating dinner in the rear of

the house and no one was harmed. It

was agreed by all at the time that the

bomb was a message from the Capone

organization to leave their activities

in the county alone. Now, in 2014, the

house no longer stands, and another

bit of McHenry County history is gone.

Years after mob bombed it, home with history is burned» COLUMN

Guest Column

Craig Pfannkuche

Craig Pfannkuche lives in Wonder Lake. He is a volunteer at the McHenry County Historical Society.

WFRD CONDUCTS PRACTICE BURN

A firefighter uses a camera to assess a fire during a practice burn at 15620 W. South St. Aug. 15. The building was donated to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District for training purposes. PHOTO BY ALEX VUCHA

HIGHLIGHT

Grace Lutheran to take part in day of service

By JANET DOVIDIOThe Independent

On Sunday, Sept. 7, the nearly 10,000

congregations of the Evangelical Lu-

theran Church in America are invited

to put their faith into action by serving

their communities in ways that share

the love of God with all of God’s people.

�e congregation at Grace Lutheran

Church will participate in this day of

service. �eir efforts will be coordinated

by Grace’s Evangelism Committee, �e

Rev. Ken Gibson and the Rev. Amanda

Bergstrom. Last year, the church sent

out more than 110 volunteers.

Following worship that day, partici-

pants will gather at Grace at noon and

go out to particular sites for two to

three hours of volunteer work. Service

projects will include yard work, land-

scaping, painting, cleaning, minor re-

pair work and assembling 100 school

kits.

�e service efforts will be provided for

Turning Point, McHenry County Emer-

gency Management Agency, McHenry

County Public Action to Deliver Shel-

ter, National Alliance on Mental Illness,

McHenry County Historical Society and

Lutheran World Relief School Kits.

“�e upcoming ELCA Day of Service

is a wonderful opportunity to live out

our faith as we give thanks for God’s

work through our hands through love

and service with our neighbors,” Berg-

strom said. “It is a joy to see faith in ac-

tion and to support the compassionate

care provided by community partners.”

News of recognitions and milestones can be sent to Janet Dovidio at [email protected].

A complete local business

listing for EVERYTHING

BUSINESS in Woodstock!

Call Barb to place your free listing

815-701-9262

Click MARKETPLACE thewoodstockindependent.com

Historial society seeks white elephant donations

The McHenry County Historical Society is seeking donations for its white elephant sale during this year’s Cider Fest. The sale has become a pivotal part of the society’s fundraising effort. Items range from vintage clothing to a combination microfiche/micro-film reader for budding genealogists. Gar-den tools, furniture, new and vintage books, glassware, seasonal merchandise, games, sporting equipment and unique odds and ends are popular.

The sale will be from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in the Schuette Building, next door to the museum. Donations may be dropped off at the historical society museum, 6422 Main St., during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. No broken or soiled items, or items that have been recalled or contain hazard-

ous materials will be accepted. Large appli-ances, antiquated computers and electronic items, VHS tapes, medical supplies and such child items as cribs, car seats and used stuffed animals will not be accepted. The so-ciety also reserves the right to reject items.

Donations are tax-deductible and will con-tribute to funding MCHS. For information, call 815-923-2267.

Free Friday concert at MCCDCheryl Niemo and the Down Home Boys

will perform 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, on the back patio of the Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Road, Ringwood. This will be the final con-cert in the district’s summer series.

Visitors should bring a picnic dinner or des-sert and a lawn chair to the beautiful outdoor setting. A backup indoor venue is available in case of rain.

For more information, visit MCCD.org.

IN BRIEF

20 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 COMMUNITY

FLASHBACKS

25 years ago Wonder Lake resident Jim Aberle,

12, placed fourth at the Midwest Barefoot Water Ski Tournament in Peoria.

Schmidt Printing defeated Edgetown Bowl 6-5 and 8-6 to win the Woodstock Recreation Department Red-Blue Division softball championship.

Woodstock resident Dan Cooney, an employee of the Woodstock State Bank, was named vice president of the Suburban Bank of Cary-Grove.

20 years ago McHenry County’s only shelter for

homeless teenage boys, to be run by Home of the Sparrow, opened on Calhoun Street.

The Woodstock High School varsity pompon squad prepared to compete at the Universal Dance Competition in Orlando, Fla.

The Social Security office moved to its new location at 1110 McConnell Road, which had previously housed McHenry FS and Northern FS.

15 years ago More than 1,000 people celebrated

the grand opening of Mercy Health Sys-tem’s Woodstock facility located on Lake Avenue.

Peter Anderson, principal at North-wood Middle School, received the Mason-ic Lodge Community Builders Award.

The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show team placed second at the National Water Ski Show Tournament in Janesville, Wis.

10 years ago The Woodstock City Council voted

5-0 to approve a special-use permit request for a gas station on the site of a proposed Walmart Supercenter. The vote overrode the Woodstock Plan Commission’s recom-mendation against the permit.

Woodstock VFW Post 5040 decid-ed to not renew its lease with the city of Woodstock for public use of the VFW park-ing lot on Throop Street.

Tom Reimer retired from WHS after 33 years. Reimer taught math at the school and was the associate principal his last five years.

The Marian Central girls golf team won the McHenry Quadrangular at Boone Creek Golf Course with a score of 352 be-

hind senior Eva Downes, who shot 81, and Lindsey Rithamel, who shot 86.

5 years ago Several students in John Rigby’s

classes at Olson Elementary School raised $1,050 during the previous school year to be donated to charity.

A grand opening was held at the Hennen Conservation Area, a 25-acre na-ture park, at 4622 Dean St.

The Woodstock North High School varsity football team held its first Black and Teal scrimmage in preparation for its first varsity game.

1 year ago The Woodstock City Council unani-

mously approved a search to fill the posi-tion of economic development coordina-tor, a position that had been vacant since 2008.

Woodstock resident Marguerite Kaufmann celebrated her 100th birthday.

The Woodstock co-op boys golf team tied for seventh in the Woodstock In-vitational. For Woodstock, Alex Ferguson shot 88.

RELIGION NOTES

BLUE LOTUS TEMPLE & MEDITATION CENTER

Meditation: 10 a.m. Saturday, TuesdayMeditation: 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday

CHRIST LIFE

Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday

EDEN BAPTIST

Worship: 3 p.m. Sunday (Spanish)

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

FIRST UNITED METHODIST

FREE METHODIST

Worship: 10:30 a.m. Sunday

GRACE FELLOWSHIP

GRACE LUTHERAN1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road 815-338-0554 Worship: 5 p.m. Saturday (casual); 8:30 a.m. (traditional), 10 a.m. (contemporary) Sunday

HERITAGE BAPTIST

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

MCHENRY COUNTY JEWISH CONGREGATION8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake815-455-1810

REDEEMER LUTHERAN

Worship: 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday

RESURRECTION CATHOLIC

815-338-7330Worship: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday; 5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. weekdays

ST. ANN’S EPISCOPAL

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN

ST. MARY CATHOLIC

Worship: 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday;

and 10:30 a.m., noon (Spanish), 5 p.m. Sunday

THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

THE VINE

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER

Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday

WOODSTOCK ASSEMBLY OF GOD

worship service

WOODSTOCK BIBLE

grade)

Sunday

21Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTCOMMUNITY

Aug. 27 to Sept. 13

CALENDARUpcoming events in the Woodstock area Events are free unless otherwise noted

27 | WEDNESDAY

AUGUST CONCERT SERIESWoodstock Square7 p.m.See The Entertainer, page 13.

SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-ESTEEM SUPPORT GROUPRecovery Outreach Center101 Jefferson St.10:30 to 11:30 a.m.815-338-3590Monthly free group meetings will be ongoing and no reservations are needed.

29 | FRIDAY

LIVE MUSIC AT EXPRESSLY LESLIE’SWoodstock Square Mall110 Johnson St.5:30 to 7:30 p.m.815-338-2833See The Entertainer, page 13.

HARVEST FEST FUNDRAISERStage Left Café125 Van Buren St. 7 p.m.$15 donation offsquaremusic.orgSee The Entertainer, page 13.

30 | SATURDAY

HABITAT RESTORATIONBoger Bog2100 Cherry Valley Road10 a.m. to 1 p.m.815-455-1537Individuals, students, small groups and families with children older than age 6 can participate in restor-ing native habitat at the conserva-tion area.

WHS FOOTBALL CARWASH/HOT DOG SALEWoodstock Fire/Rescue District Sta-tion #21325 Dean St.Noon to 4 p.m.DonationA fundraiser for the purchase of concussion helmets will include lunch and a carwash.

31 | SUNDAY

TLC CONSERVATION WORK DAYRyder’s Woods750 E. Kimball Ave.10 a.m. to 1 p.m.conservemc.orgThe Land Conservancy of McHenry County seeks volunteers to help with the restoration project. Dress to work outside. Tools and refresh-ments will be provided.

HOT COCOA & STORY HOUREthereal Confections113 S. Benton St.10:30 a.m.815-575-9315Children’s stories will be read aloud around the fireplace and every child will receive a free children-sized hot cocoa.

1 | MONDAY

LABOR DAY

2 | TUESDAY

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGWoodstock City Hall121 W. Calhoun St.7 p.m.

FOX VALLEY ROCKETEERS CLUB MEETINGChallenger Learning Center for Sci-ence and Technology222 E. Church St.7:30 p.m.815-337-9068foxvalleyrocketeers.orgAn open meeting of model rocket enthusiasts will be held.

4 | THURSDAY WOODSTOCK SENIOR CLUBSHearthstone Communities840 N. Seminary Ave.10 a.m. to 2 p.m.$2.50 for lunch815-344-3555The activities will include tai chi and coffee.

5 | FRIDAY

JAIL BRAKERSUnity Spiritual Center of Woodstock225 W. Calhoun St.6:30 [email protected] Brakers is a support group that provides a safe place for children and families to express their emotional re-actions to separation from a family member who has been incarcerated.

HOPE THROUGH DANCEWoodstock Opera House121 Van Buren St.8 p.m.$28 Adult, $18 Student815-338-5300See The Entertainer, page 13.

JAZZ JAMStage Left Café125 Van Buren St.8 p.m.$5 donation815-337-1395See The Entertainer, page 13.

6| SATURDAY

TOUCH-A-TRUCKFirst Presbyterian Church of Woodstock2018 N. Route 4710 a.m. to 2 p.m.815-338-2627fpcwoodstock.orgFarm equipment, road work ma-chinery, campers, motorcycles and vehicles of all kinds will be free to touch, climb into and explore. Food, a bounce house and a silent auction also will be available.

OPEN HOUSE AT THE BLUE LOTUS TEMPLE221 Dean St.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.815-337-7378bluelotustemple.orgThe community is invited to visit the temple.

UNDER ONE SKYSuncreek Farms5119 N. Route 475:30 p.m.$35 in advance, $40 at the doorextendinghands.orgThe fourth annual fundraiser will benefit Extending Hands – an orga-nization that helps people affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zam-bia – and includes a full pig roast, cash bar and entertainment.

FIRST SATURDAY MUSICUnity Spiritual Center of Woodstock225 W. Calhoun St.7 p.m.$3 donation815-337-3534unitywoodstock.orgSee The Entertainer, page 13.

THE FAT BABIESWoodstock Opera House121 Van Buren St.8 p.m.$19815-338-5300See The Entertainer, page 13.

8 | MONDAY SPOUSAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPFamily Alliance2028 N. Seminary Ave.10:30 to noon815-338-3590An open support group meeting will be offered for individuals caring for a spouse.

MCHENRY COUNTY HORSE CLUB MEETINGHooved Animal Humane Society10804 McConnell Road7 p.m.847-366-1315The general meeting of the club is open to everyone. Meetings will have various speakers and exhibits.

COFFEE WITH THE CHIEFWoodstock Police Department656 Lake Ave.7 p.m.815-338-6787Detective Sergeant Jeff Parsons will discuss sexting.

9 | TUESDAY ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPValley Hi Nursing & Rehabilitation2406 Hartland Road6 p.m.815-334-2817Caregiving tips and strategies will be discussed.

DISTRICT 200 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGClay Professional Development Center112 Grove St.7 p.m.

woodstockschools.orgMeetings will be on the second floor. Use the parking lot behind Clay Academy and enter via Door 5.

10 | WEDNESDAY DAYTIME BOOK CLUBRead Between the Lynes129 Van Buren St.12:30 p.m.815-206-5967The group will discuss “The Boys in the Boat” by James Daniel Brown.

12 | FRIDAY

WOODSTOCK KTM RACE UNDER THE LIGHTSMcHenry County Fairgrounds11900 Country Club RoadGates open at 3 p.m.$10 adults, ages 5 and younger are free815-337-3511woodstockmx.comThe stadium motocross series will continue.

WOODSTOCK OKTOBERFEST/ROCKTOBERFESTWoodstock Water Works1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road5 to 11 p.m.Adults $8 or $6 with a donation of canned food; children accompa-nied by an adult are freeSee The Entertainer, page 13.

OPEN MIC NIGHTStage Left Café125 Van Buren St.7 p.m.$3 donation815-338-5164offsquaremusic.orgSee The Entertainer, page 13.

13 | SATURDAY

HABITAT RESTORATIONDUFIELD POND11750 Country Club Road9 a.m. to noon815-337-9315Individuals, students, small groups and families with children ages 6 and older can participate in restoring na-tive habitat at the conservation area.

ONGOING

OPEN AA MEETINGSundaysWoodstock Alano Club545 W. South St.11 a.m.815-455-3311Meetings are open to anyone who is interested or who thinks they may have a problem with alcohol.

OPEN VOLLEYBALLMondaysWoodstock Recreation Center820 Lake Ave.6:45 to 9 p.m.Free for members, $4 nonmembers815-338-4363woodstockrecreationdepartment.comTeams will be formed at random

each week to play volleyball.

WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKETEvery Tuesday and SaturdayWoodstock Square8 a.m. to 1 p.m.woodstockfarmersmarket.orgVoted No. 1 in Illinois for midsize markets in 2012.See The Entertainer, page 13.

COFFEE AT THE CAFÉ FOR SENIORSTuesdaysStage Left Café125 Van Buren St.1 to 3 p.m.Senior citizens are invited to drop in for coffee.

MINDSHIFTERS GROUPTuesdaysUnity Spiritual Center of Wood-stock225 W. Calhoun6:30 p.m.$5 suggested love offering815-337-3534unitywoodstock.orgA support group focused on the practical use of self-help tools for personal and spiritual growth will be presented weekly by Dr. Mi-chael Ryce.

BINGOWednesdaysWoodstock Moose Lodge406 Clay St.7 to 9:30 pm.815-338-0126Games will include crossfire. Food will be available. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

SUMMER BIKE NIGHTSThursdaysWoodstock Harley-Davidson2050 South Eastwood Drive5 to 9 p.m.Riders are invited to gather for a group ride. The group will ride out at 5:30 p.m. and return by 7 p.m. for food, drinks and live music.

VFW FISH FRYFridaysVFW Post 5040240 N. Throop St.5 to 8 p.m.$8.50815-338-5040

OPEN GRILL NIGHTFridaysRedeemer Lutheran Church1320 Dean St.6 p.m.815-338-9370rlcw.orgThe church will provide the grill, and the community is invited to bring something to eat and drink and maybe something to share.

PHOTO: SCOTT CRAWFORD

BEST BETSELECTION

To submit calendar items, e-mail [email protected] or visit

thewoodstockindependent.com

Seasons By Peg111 E. Van Buren St., Woodstock

815-206-3666

Spon

sore

d By

:

Beware, the Sorceress is coming!Meet her at our Halloween Grand Re-Opening.

Saturday, September 6th, at Seasons by Peg

22 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014 SERVICE DIRECTORY/CLASSIFIEDS

Small blocks are $40 for 4 weeks.Call 815-701-9268

and ask for Jen for details.Service Directory

AC/HEATING

Woodstock815-337-4200

24-Hour Service

24-hour service on

all makes & models

Boiler & hot water heating specialists!

Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Water Heaters

Mark MitchellInsurance Agency

815-334-1000www.markismyagent.com

INSURANCE

INSURANCE

CARPENTRY

ATTORNEY

COLLISION REPAIR

ENGINE REPAIR

B&J SMALL ENGINE REPAIR

Authorized and stocked service center for Briggs & Stratton,

Tecumseh & Kohler Engine Co., Honda, Subaru-Robin, Engs.,Murray & M.T.D. products. Chain saws serviced &

sharpened.Call 815-648-2813

10302 Alden Rd., Alden, IL

TECHNOLOGY

ASPHALT SERVICES

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Siding, Windows and GuttersFor a free in-home consultation,

Call today at (779) 210-4096Visit us online at

www.smarthomeexteriors.com

HOME EXTERIORS

- Service upgrades- Repairs- Maintenance

Since 1986

Residential - Commercial

Fully Licensed

815-338-3139

Delaware Electric Co.

MENTION THIS AD FOR 10% OFF SERVICE CALL

ELCTRC. CONTRACTOR

Fully Insured

CAREGIVING SERVICES

HANDYMAN

Eli’s Handyman Service

Please call or text 815-206-9902

Bathroom RemodelingTiles, Painting, Plumbing,

ElectricalNo job is too small

Free estimates

WINDOW CLEANING

Not just for women anymore!

GERRY FRANKINDEPENDENT SALES

REPRESENTATIVEUnit Leader

Buy or SellA on Produ ts In oodsto IL

Tel ell erry fran s lo al net

AVON

YOUR AD COULDBE HERE

Call 815-338-8040

HOME SERVICES

HEALTH INSURANCE

HANDYMAN

STORAGE SPACE SYLVAN LEARNING

23Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT

Trundle bed metal frame $50.00. 9 foot Banzai wa-terslide, used a few times, blower included $125.00

815-338-7976

Antique wooden John Deere grain seeder, Iron Wheels &

Antique Victorian Pump Organ. $250 each or best offer

Antique Oak School Desk. Adjustable top, book drawer.

Fully refinished. Beautiful $200. 630-334-4242

20” Acer Flat Screen, Color Computer Monitor. Best Of-

fer. 815-338-3684

Now entertaining applica-tions from competent detail-ing specialists who have a strong work ethic. Experi-

ence with boats preferred but will train the right candidate.Send applications to [email protected] or

call 630-536-9596.

Caregiver Wanted, Live-in and/or Worker. Call for an

Appointment. Garden Prarie 815-975-7075

Multi-family Huge Garage Sale

Something for everyone 1604 S. Rose Farm Rd.

Aug 29, 30, 31

SERVICE DIRECTORY/CLASSIFIEDS

Classified AdsFOR SALE

HELP WANTED

Technician experienced with small engine repair for ATV, UTV, Snowmobile, Outdoor

Power Equipment. Must have own tools. Call 815-308-5705 for

appointment.

HELP WANTED

Masterson Staf ng Solutions is recruiting energetic individuals for the following positions: Assembly, Light Industrial, Machine Operators, Packaging, Plastic Injection, QA, Warehouse.

Pay Rate: $10.30 to $14.00

HELP WANTED

Do you want tomake a change? Have you heard about clean eating, but you’re

not sure how?I can help you change

bad habits, learn proper portions, and lose 5 - 15

lbs in just 21 days!If you’re ready to

commit, I’m ready to help. Challenge groups starting

every Monday in July. Contact Jen at815-519-3512

CLEAN EATING

PLOTS FOR SALE

2 complete cemetery plots

in McHenry Co. Memorial

Park. Total cost today

$12,000. Will sacrifice for

$6,000. Info call

262-716-3426.

Promote Woodstock Talent

Get Your Company’s Name Out...

BE A SPONSORThe Woodstock Independent is looking for sponsors of weekly features such as:Student of the Week, Athlete of the Week, and The College Report.

Call for details 815-338-8040

HELP WANTED

Experienced Upholstery Worker

The ideal applicant must have experience operating anindustrial sewing machine

doing upholstery, boat covers, and interior work.

Pay rate depends onexperience.

Send resumé to Dave [email protected] or mail to 1151 Lake Avenue,

Woodstock.Call Dave at 630-536-9596 with any questions regarding

the position.

HUGE GARAGE SALE

LOST PET

He is a chiweenie named Peanut, he is 4 months old and has been missing since

August 15th. Contactnumber is 815-323-3130

HELP WANTEDKolze’s Corner Gardens of Woodstock has job open-

ings starting in the 3rd week of August. This is a great entry job for a local college student. The job includes, loading, spacing and watering fall potted crops. Good

communication and people skills are needed for our re-tail store. A candidate must enjoy working outdoors and physically capable of lifting 75 lbs (a bale of mulch). A good/clean driving record is a must for local Chicago

deliveries . Paying $9+/ hour. Average weeks are 15-40 hours. No experience necessary. Please apply if you

have a desire to learn and grow in a small family busi-ness. Please send an email and description of why this

job might be for you. Contact Bob Kolze [email protected]

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

Woodstock, Illinois law firm has office

Conference room and receptionist included

Call Sue at 815/338-9600 for information

NOW HIRING

Customer Care Reps - only 3 people needed - call now! $700-$800 per

week avg to start. Weekly pay - Cash -

id advancement is possible. $1200-$1500 after 4-6 weeks - call now!

630.799.8080

ESTATE SALE TOOD WOODS

1007 HICKORY RD,WOODSTOCK

SAT-SEPT 6, 9AM TO 5PMSUNDAY SEPT 7,10AM TO 3 PM

UNIQUES & ANTIQUES1920 ERA SINGER MACHINE1950 ZENETH STEREO (78 & 45’S) COLORED GLASS, VIN-TAGE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

PATTERNS & SEWINGNOTIONS, TOOLS,

TABLESAW, DRILLS & MORE

ESTATE SALE

Paid Accompanist needed for Ridgefield Crystal Lake

Presbyterian Church. Join ourmusic team in providing an

outstanding selection of varioustypes of music for our

congregation. Visit our website for additional details at www.rclpc.org. Contact our church

office directly at [email protected] or call 815-459-1132.

NOW HIRING

HomeworksCentralOnline.comHomeworksCentralOnline.com

CALL NOW 1-800-254-7349CALL NOW 1-800-254-7349

60-60-60 Metal Roofing Sale!

60% OFF Installation!60 Months No Interest!$60 Gift Card with Estimate!

Our Metal

Roof Lasts a

Lifetime!

Our Metal

Roof Lasts a

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24 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept.2, 2014 PUBLIC NOTICES

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25Aug. 27-Sept.2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTPUBLIC NOTICES

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REAL ESTATE

SPORTS

By JAY SCHULZThe Independent

As the Marian Central Catholic High

School girls tennis team heads into its

first season in the East Suburban Catho-

lic Conference, head coach Ginny Larsen

is hoping 11 returning players, including

10 seniors, will benefit the Lady ‘Canes.

“I’m excited,” Larsen said. “We have

a lot of experience, and that’s really go-

ing to benefit us. I’m hoping for a lot of

consistency. I have high hopes. �e hard

part is I’m not sure how our new confer-

ence is. I don’t know how we’ll stack up

against them.”

Larsen said she is confident that play-

ing in the ESCC will benefit her team.

“�e players are going to have to step

up their games,” Larsen said. “�ey are

going have to be a lot more mentally

tougher.”

Senior Abby Waters and her sister Syd-

ney Waters, sophomore, will play dou-

bles this year. Abby Waters, the team’s

No. 1 singles player the last three years,

has made the state qualifying round at

the IHSA sectional tournament the last

two years, just missing qualifying for the

IHSA state tournament. �e Waters older

brothers, Aaron and Riley, qualified for

the IHSA state tournament as a doubles

team in 2012.

Sydney Waters was on the No. 2 dou-

bles team last year.

“�is is [Abby’s] last year. It’s a chance

to play with her sister,” Larsen said.

“State is the goal.”

Abby Waters said she is looking for-

ward to playing with her best friend.

“Playing with my sister is definitely an

adventure because we are best friends

off the court,” Abby Waters said. “We are

really competitive and like to take it se-

riously, but we like to goof around and

have fun. Tennis-wise we complement

each other really well.

“I’ve played singles for three years,

so that’s my strength. I’m just getting

back into playing doubles. I’m a little

nervous about that but Sydney’s got

it going on. We just complement each

other really well.”

Larsen said the teaming of the Waters

sisters will benefit the team.

“We are trying to give [Abby] the best

shot while also helping the team,” Larsen

said. “�em playing doubles is really go-

ing to help the team. I really have a lot

of confidence in the two girls playing

singles.”

Senior Ariel Majewski, No. 2 singles

player last year, and senior Elizabeth

Toth, who played singles and doubles

last year, are battling for the No. 1 and

No. 2 singles spots.

�e other doubles teams are juniors

Allie Dobbins and Alex Shukis, and

seniors Taylor Sledz and Rachel Mel-

chionna.

Sledz, who has played doubles for the

Lady ‘Canes for three years, said the

team is ready for the challenge a new

conference will bring.

“We have a great team this year,” Sledz

said. “We’re excited because we’re join-

ing a new conference. We’re excited to

see where that takes us. … I think we’re

up to the challenge. It will be nice be-

cause each time, we’ll get to see a differ-

ent team we haven’t seen before that we

can learn from and work to take some-

thing out of it.”

Marian graduate Kasey Gallagher, who

played for the Lady ‘Canes, is the new as-

sistant coach replacing Judy Roller, who

is now the head coach for Woodstock

North High School.

�e Lady ‘Canes open the season at

Lakes High School at 4:30 p.m. �ursday,

Aug. 28. �eir first home match will be at

4:30 p.m. �ursday, Sept. 4.

Experienced Lady ’Canes team starts season in new conference» PREVIEW MARIAN GIRLS TENNIS

Marian Central Catholic High School’s singles player Ariel Majewski practices at the school Aug. 13. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

Thunder football Continued from Page 28

said he is very impressed with

the dedication he has seen since

the end of last season.

“�e guys worked really hard

in the offseason, as hard as any

group I have had,” Schroeder

said. “Attendance has been great.

�ey are a lot of fun to coach

because they make the most of

practice. When we do face ad-

versity, we have to fight through

that ‘here we go again’ feeling.”

Krenger said he believes the

team has come together.

“I feel really good about the

team this year,” Krenger said.

“Everyone’s connecting really

well. Everyone trusts each other.

Everyone has each other’s back.

We’re more of a family this year

than ever before.”

Britton agreed.

“We’re feeling really good,”

Britton said. “We feel like we re-

ally had a productive off-season.

We’re just really excited to final-

ly get out there on the field next

week and put it all together.”

Schroeder said a key for the

season is finding a way to win

the first game.

“To me, the most important

game of any season is the first

game, because you want to set

the tone and get started on the

right foot,” Schroeder said. “If

you can win that first game, it’s

such a boost. �e kids have been

working since June in the sum-

mer camp and lifting since De-

cember, so you really want them

to see the fruits of their labor.”

Krenger said, regardless of re-

sults, he is looking for his team-

mates to give 100-percent effort.

“We need to give 100-percent

effort every single play,” Krenger

said. “We can’t give a perfect

game, but we can give a 100-per-

fect effort every single play.

�at’s what I want my team to do

this year.”

�e �under host Wauconda

High School in the season open-

er at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

26 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept.2, 2014 SPORTS

a problem with. Having a bunch of guys who can step in and get the job done is big.”

Brucker is pleased with the depth in this year’s roster and the possibilities that it provides in fielding the team on defense. With players like seniors Steve Wember and Michael Hartlieb returning, there is no shortage of positive influence for the younger players.

“As we go along, we’ll get better,” add-ed Brucker. “Even though we have expe-rience, we have young guys playing.”

As the Hurricanes prepare for their first East Suburban Catholic Confer-ence game against Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, in week three of the season, these players with experience know they’ll need to bring all the speed, physicality and tough-ness they can from the opening kickoff through possible overtime play.

“We’re incorporating a new mentality into our play this year to be tougher and more physical,” said Wember.

“We want to be the defense nobody

wants to go up against,” added Hart-lieb. “We will come out and play to the whistle.”

A key newcomer to the defensive line this year is junior Gavin Dineen.

Brucker noted that having talent amongst younger players in addition to the returners can create competition for positions which in the long run can be a positive for the team as a whole.

“I’m hoping we perform in a game like we have in practice,” said Brucker. “�ey have come out from the very beginning and jelled. We have a lot of enthusiasm, and I hope it continues. It gives a coach a good feeling when you feel that already.”

�e Hurricanes will open the season at home against Crystal Lake South at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. �ey will play at McHenry High School in week two. �eir next home game will begin ESCC play with kickoff against Marian Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. In the follow-ing two weeks, the ‘Canes will play Naza-reth Academy, LaGrange Park, and Joliet Catholic Academy.

Hurricanes Continued from Page 28

By JAY SCHULZThe Independent

�e Woodstock North High School girls tennis team has new leadership this fall. Judy Roller, formerly the assis-tant girls tennis coach at Marian Central Catholic High School, will be leading the �under into the 2014 season.

Roller replaces Mike Boehler, who had coached the program from its inception. Roller said she understands she is build-ing a young program and is working on the skill level of her players.

“I’m working on their skills to improve their games,” Roller said. “We’re working on consistency a lot.

�ey really love to bang that ball, and, so, we are working on hitting it hard and keeping it in [play].

“We’re starting to work a little on strategy. �ey’re out there hitting the ball hard without knowing where they are hitting it. Once you get the skills down, it’s such a mental game. It’s most-ly strategy.”

Seniors Sara Keesee and Cassidy Conliss are the captains for the �under. �ey played doubles the last three years.

Both said they like the direction the �under are moving under their new coach.

“I like her,” Conliss said. “She seems really good at her job. She knows what she’s talking about. She brings different

view points. … She’s been really helpful.”“She seems very hard-working and re-

ally into the team,” Keesee said of Roller. “It seems like she is going to be great for us. She’s challenging us a lot more, which is always good.”

Roller said she is still setting her line-up.

“I definitely do not have a No. 1, 2 or 3 player yet,” Roller said. “�ey are all even. I’ve had years when you have a couple at the top and you work from there. I don’t know [the order yet]. It’s going to be an interesting year.”

�e three players vying for the top three singles spots are junior Kasia Mu-cha, senior Kelsey Parlogean and sopho-more Laura Nicks.

�e doubles teams are Keesee and ju-nior Anna Gabrielson, juniors Allison Lavin and Allison Nordvall, Conliss and junior Avery Keesee and senior Mcken-zie Dice and junior Abigail Krieger.

Roller said she is very happy with the enthusiasm she has seen from her team.

“�ey are hard working, very enthu-siastic,” Roller said. “�ey love to play and are very coachable. It’s a really good group of girls. I’m really enjoying work-ing with them. �e beginning of the year has just been outstanding.”

�e �under were 5-15 in 2013. �ey opened the season at home against Cary-Grove High School Aug. 26 and will host the Woodstock Invite at 9 a.m. Sat-urday, Sept. 27.

New coach, new direction for Thunder» PREVIEW WNHS GIRLS TENNIS

IN BRIEF

WHS football team to host fundraiser car wash

The Woodstock High School football team will host a car wash and hot dog sale from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Woodstock Fire/Rescue Dis-trict,1325 Dean St.

Proceeds will go towards the purchase of concussion helmets.

Woodstock co-op golf team posts roster

The Woodstock co-op golf team varsity roster was named Aug. 19.

The team members are Steven Al-caraz, Adrian Geske, Brandon Gulli, Devin Meyer, Daniela Miranda, Lynsie Pietrzak, Jared Zientz and Jonathan Zoia.

27Aug. 27-Sept.2, 2014THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTSPORTS

markismyagent.com

“Nobody takes care of you like the Mark Mitchell Team”

“Nobody takes care of you like the Mark Mitchell Team”

Waryck, tackle and defensive tackle;

senior Cameron Grisiola, linebacker;

senior Tim Piquette, defensive back;

and junior Langdon Scott, offensive

line.

Beard said the team has to get

tougher.

“We need to be a little tougher than

in the past,” Beard said. “How do you

measure toughness? Toughness is

blocking and tackling. … We’ve got to

get better every week at blocking and

tackling.”

Pohlman said he believes the senior

leadership can help lead the team to

success this season.

“We’ve really come together,” Pohl-

man said. “It started back in December.

I think our athleticism is at a different

level. �is group of seniors is a strong

core. We’ve been together since sixth

grade. I think we’re going to be un-

dersized, but we’re going to win with

speed. �at’s how we’ve done it before.

I really do feel good, and I think we can

do some special things this year.”

�e Blue Streaks open the season

at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Oswe-

go East High School. �eir first home

game will be against Crystal Lake Cen-

tral High School at 7:15 p.m. Friday,

Sept. 5.

WHS football Continued from Page 28

Fedmasu

hopes three

is a magic

numberBy JAY SCHULZThe Independent

Woodstock High School senior ten-

nis player Ana Fedmasu has a lofty

goal this season. Fedmasu, a two-time

IHSA state qualifier, said she is look-

ing for the perfect season.

“I’m really excited,” Fedmasu said. “I

think I’m much better than last year. My

goal this year is to not lose a match.”

Fedmasu, the Blue Streaks No. 1

singles player, spent

the summer working at

Woodstock Recreation

Center coaching young-

er tennis players.

“[Working with

younger players] really

helped me review every

single shot and under-

stand the concepts [of

tennis],” Fedmasu said.

She also played in

summer competition at

Jacobs High School.

Blue Streak head

coach Jessie Justice

said Fedmasu looks

primed for her senior

season.

“Ana looks really good going into

the season,” Justice said. “She’s mov-

ing pretty well and working really

hard. You can tell she really wants it

and has goals for herself.”

Fedmasu said she wants to play ten-

nis in college. She made her college

video last year and has been working

with Justice, who played college tennis

at Anderson University, Anderson, Ind.

“She’s been a great help,” Fedmasu

said of Justice. She also praised WHS

baseball coach John Oliveira for his

help.

Justice said she feels Fedmasu has

the ability to play at the next level.

“Ana definitely has what it takes to

play in college. What we’re really try-

ing to work on is her mental game

to make sure when things are going

tough she can stay in the match,” Jus-

tice said.

Fedmasu said she knows she has to

continue working to improve.

“Just keeping working more and

more, never giving up, striving for

what you really want,” Fedmasu said.

“You have to keep working every day.

You can’t ever think you are the best

because you always need practice.”

Fedmasu and seniors Amy Fisch-

bach and Karen Evans are the team’s

captains.

Fischbach is the team’s No. 2 singles

player. Justice said she is still waiting

for the No. 3 singles player to emerge.

Competing for the No. 3 singles role

are seniors Jessica Meyer, Joanna

Tellez and Brenda Flores.

Two of the three doubles teams

are set – seniors Hope Brainard and

MacKenzie Smith and junior Katy

Holub and Evans.

“I think the doubles teams are very

similar,” Justice said.

“Each of the teams is a

good partnership. �ey

complement each other

very well and will work

well together. We still

need to work on fine-

tuning our skills and

getting doubles strategy

down.”

Evans said she is hap-

py with how the team has

bonded this season, and,

even though the team is

smaller, 13 players, she

feels it is stronger.

“I feel like the team we

do have is actually very

strong,” Evans said. “We’re very close

to each other.”

�e Blue Streaks finished the 2013

season 4-10, and Justice said she is

looking for her players to up their

level of commitment.

“�ey really enjoy being out there,”

Justice said. “�ey enjoy playing. I would

just like to see them step up their level of

commitment and, when we’re out on the

court, we just focus on tennis.”

�e Blue Streaks opened the season

at Crystal Lake Central High School

Aug. 26. �eir first home match is at

4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, against

Grayslake Central High School.

» PREVIEW WHS GIRLS TENNIS

“I think I’m much better than last year. My goal this year is to not lose a match.”

— Ana Fedmasu,WHS tennis

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28 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENTAug. 27-Sept.2, 2014

MARIAN TENNIS

PAGE 25

The Lady ’Canes tennis team takes on competition in a new conference

WNHS TENNIS

A new coach joins Thunder girls tennis

WHS TENNIS

Ana Fedmasu sets her sights on a perfect season

PAGE 26 PAGE 27

Sports

By JAY SCHULZThe Independent

�e Woodstock High School football

team is taking a team-first approach

this season. �e Blue Streaks, who fin-

ished the 2013 season 2-7, are hoping a

focus on teamwork will bring positive

outcomes.

“We have a team right now that has

good leadership. ... I really believe that,

since the end of last season, one of our

strengths has been to really think about

the team first,” said head coach Steve

Beard. “I think that’s been one of our

building blocks for this year. Our team

motto is to think we before me.”

�e evidence of this emphasis can be

seen immediately in the promotion of

junior Zach Cullum to starting quar-

terback over senior Jace Pohlman, who

was the team’s starting quarterback for

most of last season.

Pohlman, who will play running back

and wide receiver, said he is excited

about the change.

“I really like playing there and I am

happy I can contribute to the team,”

Pohlman said. “I think this is going to fit

me a lot better. I worked a lot this off-

season to get faster, stronger. I lost a lot

of weight and I was able to improve my

athleticism overall.”

“He has a very tough role,” Beard said

of Pohlman. “He does have good receiv-

ing skills, good running skills, but he

also has to be ready because he is one

play away from being the quarterback.

“We’re a much better team with Zach

at quarterback and Jace at running back

and wide receiver.”

Senior wide receiver and defensive

back John Kruse has been impressed

with the development of Cullum.

“Zach has been working great at quar-

terback. Coach [Todd] Anderson, our of-

fensive coordinator, has really put Zach

under his wing and helped him out with

all the reads and footwork,” Kruse said.

“Zach is a natural quarterback – tall,

great arm – so he’s fit in great.”

Blue Streak captains are Pohlman;

senior Gus Siebert, linebacker and full-

back; senior Mason Sutter, defensive

end and tight end; and Kruse.

Other returning starters include se-

nior Alex Shannon, running back and

defensive back; senior Marty Becker,

center and defensive end; senior Devin

Please see Hurricanes, Page 26

» PREVIEW MARIAN FOOTBALL

» PREVIEW WNHS FOOTBALL

By MEGAN IVERSThe Independent

�e Marian Central Catho-

lic High School football team is

ready for action in 2014 with re-

turning key varsity players. �e

Hurricanes will need every ounce

of past knowledge to help them

transition into the East Suburban

Catholic Conference.

“We’re going to have to play as

a team on offense, defense and

special teams on every play,” said

head coach Ed Brucker. “It’s good

that they’re working hard, be-

cause we’ll have to be on our toes

all the time this year.”

Offensively, Marian returns

Billy Bahl, senior quarterback.

�e team also will look to the

senior leadership of Matt Ric-

chiuto, Jordan Neimeyer and

Cole Bokowy, especially in help-

For Hurricanes, a new season means a new conferenceing juniors Emitt Peisert, Kolton

Rominski and Eric Ruschke step

in. �e offensive line will benefit

from senior returners Shane Kir-

wan and Karl Rude.

“We have a lot of guys who can

step in and not miss a beat and

make big plays,” said Bahl. “�at

was one thing, last year, we had

WHS counting on team-first atmosphere

Members of Woodstock High School football team line up to run a play during practice Aug. 11 at Larry Dale Field. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY KEN FARVER

By JAY SCHULZThe Independent

After making the playoffs for the

first time in school history in 2012, the

Woodstock North High School foot-

ball team came back to earth in 2013.

�e �under finished the 2013 season

1-8. �eir lone victory was a 22-21 win

over crosstown rival Woodstock High

School.

�e �under are looking to bounce

back to the playoffs and are banking

on an experienced roster to make the

difference.

“Our strength is our experience,

because we started so many kids last

year that are returning,” said head

coach Jeff Schroeder.

�e team captains are seniors Jim-

my Krenger, quarterback; Jake Brit-

ton, offensive and defensive line; and

Brendan Domek, offensive line and

linebacker. Other key returners are

seniors Cody Barnes, nose tackle;

Jeremy Haymond, linebacker; Sean

Langerstrom, split end; Ben Flores,

defensive back; Jordan Plummer, run-

ning back and linebacker; Jacob Pe-

schke, wide receiver/defensive back;

and Trevor Jensen, offensive and de-

fensive line.

Schroder said the team “has to have

a short memory about last year,” and

» PREVIEW WHS FOOTBALL

Thunder look for bounceback on the gridiron

Please see Thunder football, Page 25

With a 2-7 season behind them, the Streaks are looking toward teamwork

Please see WHS football, Page 27

Woodstock North’s Ben Flores returns a kick during the Black & Teal Scrim-mage Aug. 22. INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY MI-CHELLE KRENGER

“I really believe that, since the end of last season, one of our strengths has been to really think about the

— Steve Beard, head coach