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The WOOdsTOck IndependenT

Oct. 10-16, 2012

Who will be Woodstocks next city manager?

My husband, Jim, often says he looks at situations as if from 35,000 feet, giving him a perspective that is very broad and wide open. It is a view, he says, that allows imaginative thinking and creative ideas and solutions. Well, Im at 35,000 feet as I write this column, flying back from five days in New Hampshire with friends Peter and Patty Anderson, who lived and worked in Woodstock for 10 years. The leaves of the trees were at their color peak while we were there. We hiked in the Sugar Loaf Mountains, enjoyed zip lining in the White Mountains and took a cog railway ride to the top of Mount Washington. But thats not whats on my mind now. Im using this time to take a 35,000-feet view of the selection of Woodstocks next city manager. Woodstock has had two city managers since the Wormleys moved to Woodstock in 1983 Dennis Anderson and Tim Clifton. Dennis served as city manager for 14 years. Tim will have been city manager for just short of 20 years when he retires at the end of the citys fiscal year, April 30, 2013. Hes been city manager for a generation. Children who were born the year Tim began his tenure as city manager have completed high school and are in college or working. The selection of a city manager is extremely important, especially given the tenure of Woodstocks city managers. Cheryl Mayor Brian Sager, Wormley with the City Councils approval, has established a comDeclarations mittee to conduct the search for the new city manager and to bring forth a candidate for the councils approval in 2013. The committee includes the mayor, city attorney Rich Flood, community leader and business owner Denise Graff Ponstein, Council member Mike Turner, executive assistant Cindy Smiley, and human resources director Deb Schober. The committee members have an awesome responsibility, and I applaud and thank them for agreeing to serve. The rest of us have responsibilities, too. We need to support them and let them know what qualities wed like to see in the next city manager. It may help to understand the role of the city manager. Woodstock has had a council-manager form of government since 1952. The council, which includes the mayor, is elected by the people to set policy, approve the budget and hire and evaluate the city manager. The city manager prepares the budget, hires and supervises the city staff and carries out the mayors and councils policies. The council and the city manager work together for the good of the city and its people. From 35,000 feet, the qualities I would like to see in our new city manager are divided into two parts: personal and professional. With regard to the city manager as a person, I would like her or him to choose to live in Woodstock and to be part of the community. I would want the city manager to participate in community activities and support local businesses. As for professional qualifications, the requirements are listed in the job opening (which can be viewed on the citys website under employment opportuni-

ties). They include a masters degree and 10 years of experience in municipal government. I would add that he or she should be a visionary, anticipating the needs of the entire community. In preparation for an interview by the committee, I would want the candidate to know quite a bit about our community, including changes in our demographics, resources and employment opportunities in the last 10 to 20 years. I would want the candidate to understand the economic impacts of the past few years, yet be able to articulate opportunities for Woodstock both now and in the future. We have work to do. I encourage each of you to take part in the process of choosing Woodstocks city manager by communicating with the mayor and/or the committee members in person, on the phone or by email or write a letter to the editor. Share your ideas about the future of our town and the hiring of our new city manager.

Cheryl Wormley is publisher of The Woodstock Independent.

The charm of chocolate

I have a chocolate addiction. It has been getting progressively worse the last couple of years. Recently, after a consuming a good portion of chocolate at the office and then devouring a king-size package of peanut butter cups after work, I realized something had to be done. After limiting my intake last week, I decided I would try my best to eat absolutely no chocolate for a week or two and see how I feel. This isnt so easy. About a month or so ago, The Independents general manager, John Trione, introduced The Chocolate Drawer after a few of us made the suggestion. On any given day, select staff members and I can be seen scurrying over to the drawer for our chocolate fixes. The temptation of the drawer has become too much two of our male staff members have even begun to fall victim to its beguiling ways. What makes people so in love with chocolate? According to Smithsonian online, the word chocolate has been traced back to the Aztec word xocoatl, which referenced a bitter drink created from cacao beans. The Latin name for the cacao tree , Theobroma cacao means food of the gods. The Aztecs believed the cacao bean had magical properties. Chocolate didnt become sweetened until a later date, after Europeans discovered the Rhonda Americas. Mix By the 17th century, the treat became Mix popular throughout Europe. Messages With the invention of the steam engine, mass production became possible. There are numerous theories as to what makes chocolate addicting. Studies show as many as 40 percent of women desire chocolate, potentially because of magnesium deficiencies. Men are not exempt 15 percent of males have experienced the crave. Chocolate contains caffeine and magnesium. It will temporarily up serotonin levels and make people feel good though these feelings also can be followed by a crash. Interestingly enough, studies suggest there is scientific evidence to prove chocolate addiction can become a real

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thing. Certain alkaloid compounds found in alcohol also have been found in chocolate. Known as tetra-hydro-betacarbolines, these neuroactive alkaloids have been linked to alcoholism. Anthropologists also discovered residue in the Honduras, dating back to 1400 B.C., which suggested cacao beans were once fermented into an alcoholic beverage. Of course, the caffeine aspect also contributes to the addictiveness. But perhaps being a chocoholic isnt such a bad thing. Studies have shown dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant and lowers blood pressure, helps the body fight off free radicals and is good for the heart. Dark chocolate satisfies and lessens cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods. Eaten in moderate amounts, it assists with weight loss and aids in calming people with elevated stress hormones. According to U.S. News Health, women who eat chocolate during pregnancy are not only happier themselves but produce happier babies. Since I generally prefer dark chocolate, I suspect my self-imposed chocolate hiatus will not last long. Want to indulge your own chocolate desires? Visit Mr. Food online and search for the Death By Chocolate recipe.

inde thought
Woodstock will host its annual halloween celebration on the square Wednesday, Oct. 31. a costume contest will be held at 4 p.m. at the bandstand. prizes will be awarded at 4:15 p.m. for the scariest, funniest and most original costumes in four age categories: 3 years and younger, 4 to 8 years old, 9 to 13 years old and 14 years and older. Trick-or-treating around the square will take place until 5 p.m. immediately following the costume contests. The Independent encourages Woodstock children to start planning their costumes now if they havent already. halloween is only three weeks away and will be here before we know it. We thank all the organizers of the activities and businesses who donate prizes for the costume contest for bringing yet another event to the square. parents, please remember recommended trick-or-treating in Woodstock neighborhoods is from 4 to 7 p.m.

Rhonda Mix is a staff writer for The Woodstock Independent.

I NDEPENDENT
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The Woodstock Independent (Usps #001287) is published weekly at 671 e. calhoun st., Woodstock, 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. Subscription rates/year: $35 in Woodstock and Wonder Lake, $37 in Mchenry county, $42 for snowbirds and $50 outside Mchenry county. Letters to the editor: We welcome letters of general interest 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 Wednesday and must be signed and include the writers address and a telephone number for verification purposes only. Corrections: The Woodstock Independent strives for accuracy. To suggest corrections or clarifications, email news@ thewoodstockindependent.com.

The

Woodstock

staff
Cheryl Wormley Publisher c.wormley@thewoodstockindependent.com John C. Trione General M anaGer gm@thewoodstockindependent.com Mike Neumann news editor news@thewoodstockindependent.com Katelyn Stanek Creative direCtor katelyn@thewoodstockindependent.com Jay Schulz editorial assistant/sPorts editor jay@thewoodstockindependent.com Rhonda Mix staff writer rhonda@thewoodstockindependent.com Jason Reinhardt GraPhiC desiGner jreinhardt@thewoodstockindependent.com Display Advertising Melissa knight, melissa@ thewoodstockindependent.com, Brian Borcherding, brian@thewoodstockindependent.com Classified Advertising classifieds@thewoodstockindependent.com Columnists John daab, Lisa haderlein, dick hattan, Lisa kelly, paul Lambert, debbie skozek, Tony casalino, Beth ryan, peter anderson, Laura Witlox, paul Lockwood Editorial Cartoonist Jim pearson Photographers Michelle krenger, ken Farver, alisa ellegood Proofreaders Tricia carzoli, don humbertson Reporters Tricia carzoli, carolyn handrock, elizabeth harmon, Jason Learman, Megan Ivers Special Correspondent don peasley

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