ExpandRoute 47 in Huntley would be closed for an unknown period of time early Saturday evening (Photo provided by the Huntley Fire Protection District) Four people were taken to the hospital after a crash Saturday near Huntley shut down Route 47 for several hours [ UPDATE: Pingree Grove woman, 2-year-old boy among those injured in Huntley-area crash ] The Huntley Fire Protection District was called to the intersection of Route 47 and Foster Road at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday; crews found a five-vehicle accident with damages ranging from moderate to heavy, according to a department news release. One person was taken to Northwestern Huntley Hospital “where patient care was transferred to Life Net helicopter by paramedics for transport to Condell Hospital due to assessed injuries,” according to the release. Another was taken to the Northwestern Huntley emergency room, and two others were taken to Sherman Hospital with minor injuries, according to the release. Six people “were released by paramedics into their own care,” according to the release. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office warned motorists that Route 47 in Huntley would be closed for an unknown period of time early Saturday evening. According to an alert from the office at 5:52 p.m., the road was closed from Foster to Ballard roads until further notice because of a motor vehicle accident. Drivers were asked to avoid the area. The sheriff’s office had a follow-up post at 10:29 that the road was open. The sheriff’s office is investigating the crash, according to the release. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker WOODSTOCK — Former police chief Joe Swanson has filed a $5 million lawsuit against village trustees and the municipal manager that alleges he was unlawfully ousted from his job and “maliciously maligned.” a 25-year veteran of the Woodstock Police Department who was named chief in 2023 filed a 31-page civil complaint in Windsor County Superior Court on Tuesday that claims his demotion to patrol officer harmed his professional reputation and “caused him to suffer extreme emotional distress and economic damage.” The lawsuit was filed by Swanson’s attorney after the trustees backed Municipal Manager Eric Duffy’s decision to demote Swanson Fraas announced that the former chief planned to take legal action Swanson’s lawsuit relies in part on testimony that Fraas had elicited from Duffy and police department employees during a public hearing in March before the five-member Village Trustees Swanson sought that hearing to contest his demotion infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy Named as defendants are the five village trustees — Seton McIlroy Frank Horneck and Lisa Lawlor — as well as Duffy the firm Duffy had hired to conduct an investigation of Swanson and both the town and village of Woodstock The lawsuit alleges that the trustees “jointly conspired to intentionally and maliciously demote (Swanson) knowing that there was no legal authority to do so” under his contract with the town It also offers examples of alleged conflicts of interest secret dealings and ethical lapses by some trustees as they sought to push Swanson out of his job who returned to work as a patrol officer on April 24 None of the named defendants responded to an email seeking comment as of press time on Thursday defendants have 21 days from the date of being served with the complaint to file an answer “We are confident that justice will prevail and that Joe is grateful for the outpouring of support he has received from the townspeople,” Fraas said in an email to the Valley News on Thursday Fraas added she is in the process of preparing a Rule 75 petition to appeal the trustees’ decision in Windsor County District Court The lawsuit lays out in detail the timeline of events and alleged actions of the defendants over the nearly seven months It begins with a minor road-rage incident involving Swanson’s husband that ultimately led into an investigation of Swanson’s leadership of the police department During a marathon public hearing in March that lasted 14 ½ hours several members of the police department voiced their unhappiness with Swanson’s tenure as police chief Witnesses included the department’s second in command Most of the complaints centered around allegations of poor communication disorganization and showing up at the police station out of uniform the trustees prepared a written report that supported Duffy’s decision to demote Swanson In addition to his career on the police force Swanson previously served as chairman of the Woodstock Town Selectboard who for 34 years was the town manager of Woodstock fire and emergency headquarters was named in his honor Contact John Lippman at jlippman@vnews.com you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users By Josh WhitePublished: May 2025 at 6:15 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - A Woodstock man who held his girlfriend hostage during an hourslong armed standoff with police last May has been sentenced to 35 years after taking a plea deal entered a negotiated guilty plea – also known as a plea bargain – on April 25 to multiple felony charges stemming from the incident the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday with the first 10 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation Kirk is barred from contacting the victim and was also ordered to participate in a Family Violence Intervention Program and to be evaluated and treated for mental health and substance abuse “This case is a stark reminder of the danger victims of domestic violence face especially when firearms are involved,” Assistant District Attorney Macelyne A “This victim survived a frightening ordeal PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Armed suspect arrested after long standoff with police in Woodstock Kirk and his girlfriend got into an argument inside an apartment at the Alta Ridgewalk complex off Brandon Street which “escalated into a physical altercation,” prosecutors said Kirk’s girlfriend left the apartment to get help from friends She later returned with her friends to pick up her dog and some belongings “intending to stay elsewhere until the situation calmed.” Kirk let her enter the apartment while her friends waited outside with the door propped open who saw the gun and heard the woman‘s screams for help The Woodstock Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded with assistance from the Holly Springs Police Department The sheriff’s office’s hostage negotiation team tried to speak with Kirk The negotiation team also wasn’t able to speak with the woman during the standoff Police later seized five firearms from the apartment Woodstock police told Atlanta News First that Kirk held the woman hostage at gunpoint for nearly eight hours overnight in the apartment “The explosive rage of this defendant posed a substantial risk to the safety of the victim and surrounding residents of the apartment complex,” District Attorney Susan K “We are grateful for the swift and coordinated response of our law enforcement agencies that ensured the victim’s safe rescue and protected our community as a whole.” Courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - A Woodstock man has been sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges stemming from a domestic violence incident that led to an armed standoff and SWAT response last year entered a negotiated guilty plea on April 25 to charges including family violence aggravated assault possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon during the commission of a felony He must also have no contact with the victim complete a Family Violence Intervention Program and undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluation and treatment The charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 20 at an Alta Ridgewalk apartment in Woodstock Prosecutors said a verbal argument between Kirk and his girlfriend escalated into physical violence prompting the woman to leave and seek help from friends When she later returned with those friends to retrieve her dog and personal belongings Kirk allowed her inside but then locked the door who witnessed Kirk holding the firearm and heard the woman screaming Multiple law enforcement agencies responded The Cherokee Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiation Team attempted to make contact with Kirk A search of the residence turned up five firearms despite Kirk being a convicted felon prohibited from possessing weapons District Attorney Treadaway praised the law enforcement response "The explosive rage of this defendant posed a substantial risk to the safety of the victim and surrounding residents of the apartment complex We are grateful for the swift and coordinated response of our law enforcement agencies that ensured the victim’s safe rescue and protected our community as a whole." The case was investigated by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and Woodstock Police Department If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the Cherokee Family Violence Center at CFVC.org or call their 24/7 crisis hotline at 770-479-1703. In an emergency, dial 911. Information for this story provided by the Office of the District Attorney for Blue Ridge Judicial Court.  By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Please support local news—East Cobb News—during Small Business Week! Kemp won’t challenge Ossoff in U.S. Senate race East Cobb Weather Update: A mild forecast stretches into May Check the latest East Cobb real estate sales Editor’s Note: The savory tastes of the Taste of East Cobb • Call/text 24/7 for breaking and emergency news tips: 404-219-4278 A free digest with top East Cobb News headlines calendar listings and more is delivered every Sunday Joe Cocker is celebrated with a little help from his friends Joe Cocker has – at last – been announced as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame From his breakthrough in the late 1960s through a stunning 1970s and beyond Joe Cocker's stunning voice made him a superstar He played some of the biggest festivals in rock history won a Grammy award in the 1980s and was still picking up accolades in the 1990s and 21st century we round up all the fast facts you need about the King of British Blue-Eyed Soul John Robert "Joe" Cocker was born to RAF aircraftman dad Harold Norman Cocker and mum Madge in Sheffield on May 20 As for how he got to be known as "Joe" it's a pretty obvious contraction of "John" Other theories come from John and Harold playing a game called 'Cowboy Joe' together or that he picked it up from a window cleaner who worked in the area Joe grew up in the Sheffield area and after he left school he worked as a gasfitter for the East Midlands Gas Board Joe Cocker is not related to Jarvis Cocker It's been widely reported that Joe did fit a gas fire for Jarvis's mum once and is even said to have babysat the future Pulp frontman Inspired by soul legend Ray Charles and skiffle master Lonnie Donegan Joe Cocker was into music from a young age He was just 12 when he played his first "gig" joining his brother Victor on stage to sing some skiffle Cocker formed his own band The Cavaliers in 1960 Then came Vance Arnold and the Avengers (Joe was "Vance") around about the time Cocker fell in love with the blues The band had some local success, and even supported The Rolling Stones at Sheffield City Hall in 1963 His first single was a Beatles cover... no, not that one, but 'I'll Cry Instead', from A Hard Day's Night He then changed the name of his group to Joe Cocke's Blues Band He then joined forces with Chris Stainton to form The Grease Band Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (Live) The band fell apart and reformed with some new faces (though Stainton stayed), and in 1968 he recorded another Beatles song, 'With A Little Help From My Friends', which had just been released on Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Cocker offered up a much grittier take than the original Ringo Starr vocals The recording featured drummer BJ Wilson and organist Tommy Eyre as well as backing vocals from Sue and Sunny Guitar came from session superstar and future Led Zeppelin icon Jimmy Page The song climbed and climbed and eventually topped the UK singles chart on November 9 Joe Cocker - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Live) The Beatles were undoubtedly the biggest band of the 1960s While Joe Cocker could certainly write his own songs he was most famous as an interpreter of existing work So it's no surprise that he took on The Beatles more than once in his stellar career Cocker returned to The Beatles to record a cover of John Lennon's 'Come Together' for the soundtrack of Across The Universe Joe Cocker - Let's Go Get Stoned (LIVE in Woodstock) HD what famous festivals didn't Joe Cocker perform at Cocker and The Grease Band toured with major artists like The Who, Gene Pitney and Marmalade before answering the call of the outdoors Joe played the Newport Rock Festival and Denver Pop Festival before the big one. His producer Denny Cordell had got wind of the upcoming Woodstock Festival and cajoled Artie Kornfeld into putting them on the bill Along with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Santana, The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin Joe Cocker's was a standout performance at the festival when they took to the stage on Sunday afternoon Joe Cocker's Woodstock setlist was as follows: Less than two weeks later he was back in the UK playing a set at the Isle of Wight Festival Cocker even returned to Woodstock in 1994 to play a well-received set at Woodstock '94 Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - Up where we belong 1983 Joe Cocker released 22 studio albums and 80 odd singles during his remarkable career The Wonder Years 1988 - 1993 Opening and Closing Theme (With Snippets) but The Wonder Years was one of the all-time great sitcoms navigating young adulthood in the late 1960s and early 1970s mashing up laughter and tears in equal measure The Beatles were an obvious choice for the soundtrack but the show went a little better in choosing Joe Cocker's version – the song that made him a star and closed his stunning Woodstock set but we’re not going to let them use the version of you singing it' "Now, I don’t know if Paul McCartney recommended Joe Cocker that he [McCartney] was the one that made the call after seeing the pilot before it was put on the air." 90Joe Cocker had an on-and-off relationship with fellow Sheffielder Eileen Webster that lasted over a decade It was when he was living at Jane Fonda's ramnch in Santa Barara that he met local camp director Pam Baker in 1978 They hooked up and eventually married on October 11 The couple didn't have any children together but Joe had a stepdaughter from Pam's previous relationship A former heavy smoker until he quit in 1991 Joe Cocker died of lung cancer on December 22 the greatest rock/soul voice ever to come out of Britain and remained the same man throughout his life," said his agent Barrie Marshall "Hugely talented - a true star - but a kind and humble man who loved to perform Anyone who saw him live will never forget him." Joe Cocker was showered with awards and accolades in recognition of his tremendous talent Joe won a Grammy Award in 1983 Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for 'Up Where We Belong' In later years he racked up a clutch of further nominations at the Grammys and in 2025 Joe Cocker was finally inducted as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Paul McCartney Hall Of Fame Rod Stewart Song Lists The Beatles Open navigationClose navigationHome All the major chapters in the American story from Indigenous beginnings to the present day History from countries and communities across the globe a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock The longtime artists’ colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians the young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more brought huge crowds and groundbreaking performances Plans for the festival were on the verge of foundering after both Woodstock and the nearby town of Wallkill denied permission to hold the event Dairy farmer Max Yasgur came to the rescue at the last minute giving the promoters access to his 600 acres of land in Bethel Early estimates of attendance increased from 50,000 to around 200,000 but by the time the gates opened on Friday more than 400,000 people were clamoring to get in Those without tickets simply walked through gaps in the fences and the organizers were eventually forced to make the event free of charge Folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens kicked off the event with a long set and Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie also performed on Friday night Two three-day admission tickets for the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York. Hippies walk along roads choked with traffic on the way to the large rock concert in August, 1969. Occasionally they are given rides by likeminded motorists. Fans climb a scaffold to get a better view. Alvan Meyerowitz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Bill Eppridge/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Singer Grace Slick performs with the American rock group Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock music festival. Joe Cocker performing at the Woodstock music festival. Shirtless male drummer & dress-wearing female flutist jamming during Woodstock. Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who on stage at the Woodstock music festival. Attendees had to cope with mud, rain and minimal food and water. Festival-goers withstood a lot of rain to listen to the acts at Woodstock. Bill Eppridge/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images Refuse overflows a trash bin as the band Aquarian Rock Explosion ends early August 18. An estimated half a million people descended on the private farm site for three days of rock music, love, drugs, rain and mud.Read more: Woodstock, the Legendary 1969 Festival, Was Also a Miserable Mud Pit Two young men in the boot of a car after hitching a lift home from Woodstock. Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on August 15th At the Battle of Lumphanan, King Macbeth of Scotland is slain by Malcolm Canmore, whose father, King Duncan I, was murdered by Macbeth 17 years earlier. Macbeth was a grandson of King Kenneth II and also had a claim to the throne through his wife, Gruoch, who was the granddaughter of Kenneth III—the Scottish king […] On August 15, 1899, in Detroit, Michigan, Henry Ford resigns his position as chief engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company’s main plant in order to concentrate on automobile production. Henry Ford left his family’s farm in Dearborn, Michigan, at age 16 to work in the machine shops of Detroit. In 1888, he married Clara Bryant, […] The Panama Canal, the American-built waterway across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is inaugurated with the passage of the U.S. vessel Ancon, a cargo and passenger ship. The rush of settlers to California and Oregon in the mid 19th century was the initial impetus of the U.S. desire to build […] 1914 On August 15, 1914, the government of Japan sends an ultimatum to Germany, demanding the removal of all German ships from Japanese and Chinese waters and the surrender of control of Tsingtao—the location of Germany’s largest overseas naval bases, located on China’s Shantung Peninsula—to Japan by noon on August 23. The previous August 6, the […] The Indian Independence Bill, which carves the independent nations of India and Pakistan out of the former Mogul Empire, comes into force at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. The long-awaited agreement ended 200 years of British rule and was hailed by Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi as the “noblest act of the […] Heavy fighting intensifies in and around the DMZ, as South Vietnamese and U.S. troops engage a North Vietnamese battalion. In a seven and a half hour battle, 165 enemy troops were killed. At the same time, U.S. Marines attacked three strategic positions just south of the DMZ, killing 56 North Vietnamese soldiers. Apocalypse Now, the acclaimed Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, opens in theaters around the United States on August 15, 1979. The film, inspired in part by Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, among other sources, told the story of an Army captain (played by Martin Sheen) and crew of men who […] Mary Winkler, who confessed to fatally shooting her pastor husband Matthew Winkler in his sleep at their church parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee, is released from jail on $750,000 bail. Winkler was later convicted in his killing, but served only a short time in prison. On March 22, 2006, church members found 31-year-old Matthew Winkler in […] On August 15, 2021—just two weeks before U.S. troops were set to officially withdraw from Afghanistan—Taliban leaders enter the capital city of Kabul and sweep back into power with little resistance. The Afghan government collapses, the country’s president Ashraf Ghani flees, and many desperate Afghan civilians are left behind. The withdrawal ended a two-decade war […] In all of their different incarnations, the Men in Black usually have one main purpose: to muzzle witnesses of strange, paranormal phenomena. Paul McCartney said the song was about a playground slide, but Manson claimed the music incited a race war and murder. After sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos made a defiant gesture from the awards podium at the Games, they faced repercussions—but also gained respect. Among seven Apollo moon landing missions, only one did not land men on the moon. We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day Learn something new with key events in history from the American Revolution to pop culture you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Global Media You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States Clayton the Maryville-based home builder wholly owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway begins preparing for the company's next annual shareholder meeting as soon as the last one ends Buffett bought Clayton in 2003 for $1.7 billion launching a period of growth and stability for the Knoxville-area company founded in 1956 Clayton built 60,000 manufactured and on-site built homes last year More: How Clayton's explosive growth proved Berkshire Hathaway's power long before Pilot sale Shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway which has the most expensive Class A stock price at nearly $800,000 gather each year to hear updates from Buffett and other executives They also buy and tour products from Berkshire companies filling the large convention center brings a home to each meeting for attendees to tour The company showcased the Laurel this year part of its CrossMod series of homes built both off- and on-site to blend in with traditional site-built homes "CrossMod is just one example of how Clayton is redefining attainable homeownership," said CEO Kevin Clayton in a release we are able to find innovative ways to meet the needs of today’s homebuyers while helping address the housing shortage in our country.” The Laurel is a 1,065-square-foot home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms Clayton's CrossMod homes are built 70% off-site and placed on a permanent foundation with features like a covered porch They can "integrate seamlessly into established city lots," according to the company and meet zoning requirements that historically limited manufactured homes Clayton wanted to show shareholders the work it is doing with cities to increase their stock of affordable housing "What we don't want to do is bring a concept idea We want to talk about who we are and what we're about We were actually being approached by cities about addressing their affordability crisis," DeSpain told Knox News The company plans to announce a large neighborhood in Knoxville next month its largest-ever development of CrossMod homes Clayton delivered its showcase home to Omaha the week before the shareholder meeting The home was built at a Clayton manufacturing facility in Redwood Falls and includes products from other Berkshire subsidiaries like flooring from Shaw and paint from Benjamin Moore Buffett himself used to host an annual newspaper toss challenge where competitors tested their aim onto the porch of a Clayton home The in-person interaction with the home provides shareholders a chance to get close to what the company is doing "We want people to have that experience and touch the product because this might be their first time in one of our homes," DeSpain said "They'll walk into the living room and then have a tour but mostly we just want people to experience it for themselves." Clayton's modern manufactured homes, including CrossMod homes, are designed with energy efficient features to meet the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home program standards The features can save homeowners up to 50% on energy bills compared to traditional manufactured homes Berkshire Hathaway bought Pilot from the Haslam family through three sales from 2017 to 2024, totaling $13.56 billion Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe ExpandStaff at the Woodstock Drivers and Motor Vehicles Facility on Saturday checking to see if they had the correct paperwork rather than making them wait in line to find out later they needed additional documents Brad Hart and his wife had a plan for Saturday: Pick her up from O’Hare airport at 8:30 a.m then swing into the Des Plaines Department of Motor Vehicles to get their REAL IDs The Des Plaines office had 300 people in line, Hart said, so after waiting almost 45 minutes, they drove to Woodstock They were just two of the 500 people expected at the Woodstock Secretary of State’s office on Saturday seeking the document before the federal deadline airline passengers will need either a REAL ID a passport or other federally recognized identification to board domestic flights a dozen driver‘s services offices have remained open on Saturdays to allow residents to get those IDs in advance of their travel plans but without an appointment The line of people seeking Illinois REAL IDs at the Woodstock Drivers and Motor Vehicles Facility is seen about 10:45 a.m that line wrapped around the far side of the building Rebecca LeClaire of Cherry Valley is one of those future flyers when it was still wrapped around the building but had her temporary paper REAL ID in hand just after 10 a.m Applicants Saturday were issued temporary REAL IDs “The website was helpful” to determine the paperwork she needed She drove 45 minutes to Woodstock because it was the closest DMV with Saturday hours where she would not need an appointment the Harts were sure they had all of the correct documents: certified birth certificates Illinois driver‘s licenses and bills showing their current address But after standing in line about a half-hour, the couple headed back to the car to drive home to Chicago and she was told she also needed a divorce decree Illinois REAL IDs will be distinguishable by a gold star on the upper right corner checking documents and waiving off drivers looking to buy their registration tags or do anything other than get the REAL IDs Marriage licenses are one of the most common missing documents According to a Illinois Secretary of State’s guide handed out to those in line “multiple name change documents will be required if your name has changed multiple times.” For women who have been married, divorced and remarried, and have changed their names each time, they will need both marriage licenses, according to the REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions section of the secretary of state website It did not indicate divorce decrees would be needed such as birth certificates and marriage licenses need to be official copies and cannot be photocopies Skye Ziemke of Johnsburg walked out of the DMV without her paper REAL ID because of the missing marriage license. The document was at home, so her plan was to go get it then drive back to Woodstock and get in line again. “I swear it did not say anything about if the name is different, maybe it is in the fine print,” Zeimke said. She looked at the handout she got in the line, saw the fine print regarding name changes, and sighed. Adam Connerty and his son, 17-year-old Adam “A.J.“ Connerty Jr., both of Johnsburg, waited in line to get A.J.’s REAL ID for an upcoming summer job. They were not looking for the driver‘s license version, but the Illinois identification card. The Connerty’s said they will need to go back in a few weeks, with an appointment, to get A.J’s driver‘s license, which does not need to be a REAL ID. Several people questioned while waiting in line said they were getting the IDs in advance of upcoming flights, from as soon as May 15 to early June. “We have a flight on May 19″ that has been planned for a while, said Aleah McCarthy of Lakemoor. “We procrastinated, but hopefully we are good” and will get the ID in the mail in time. Note: This reporter got in line for her REAL ID at 6:30 a.m. April 19 at the Elgin DMV, had leave to print out a more-recent credit card statement, then got in line again. Including time spent taking a written driver‘s test, she had the temporary paper copy in hand just after noon. The REAL ID was in the mailbox by May 2. ExpandThe Cherry Tree Inn is decorated for Christmas on Friday as the “Exes of Christmas Past,” is filmed at the inn in Woodstock Although the Easter Bunny just paid McHenry County a visit, the Cherry Tree Inn in Woodstock recently was recently decorated for Christmas It’s not part of Christmas in April celebrations the Cherry Tree Inn played host to filming for another holiday movie the week of April 21 [ Photos: Christmas movie scenes shot at Woodstock's Cherry Tree Inn ] Titled “Exes of Christmas Past,” it’s the second holiday-themed movie that’s been filmed at the bed-and-breakfast in recent years The film is “about an ambitious hotel manager who returns to her family’s B&B for Christmas to find all three of her high school exes staying there,” producer Chris Charles said The movie has parallels with the three ghosts of Christmas past who co-wrote the film with her husband Jake Jarvi Toser said if you know what a Christmas rom-com is you can probably guess at the plot of this one Jarvi said there are three ex-boyfriend characters in the film each of whom needs something different from the woman Jarvi said the couple starts watching holiday rom-coms Nov 1 and “we have a great time” watching them Charles has worked on other films involving the Inn, including “Reporting for Christmas.” It was a Top 15 release on Hulu in 2023 Charles said he and his partner at Very Merry Entertainment worked with Jarvi and Toser on another film the horror “Haunt Season,” which Charles said was released last October “Exes of Christmas Past” stars Brittany Underwood and Alex Trumble who Charles said are a real-life couple playing love interests in a film for the first time together Charles said at the time “Reporting for Christmas” came out that the film team was “looking for charming bed-and-breakfasts,” and the Cherry Tree Inn stood out The Cherry Tree Inn is well known among fans of the “Groundhog Day,” the cult classic filmed in Woodstock that and is the basis for the city’s annual Groundhog Days festivities and prognostication. In “Groundhog Day,” the bed-and-breakfast where Bill Murray’s main character stayed was called the “Cherry Street Inn,” but in real life and in the “Exes of Christmas Past,” it’s Cherry Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast. Lori Miarecki, who owns the bed-and-breakfast with her husband, George, said having the crew there was a happy experience, with people laughing and clapping every time filming cuts. The lobby of the inn had a table of Christmas goodies used during filming. Morgan Beck of Desserts and Stuff Bakery in Woodstock made the holiday cookies and other goodies. Beck lives near the Cherry Tree Inn and had also made baked goods for “Reporting for Christmas.” Beck said she made a variety of cookies for “Exes of Christmas Past,” some that were hot cocoa mug-shaped sugar cookies with phrases like “Cup of Cheer” on them. She also got to make peanut butter blossoms with Hershey kisses and red and green sprinkles. She said she would love to have a watch party when the film comes out and maybe she’d have to make the cookies again. She added that from what she had gathered, viewers might get to see the desserts a little more this time. The bed-and-breakfast’s kitchen was dedicated solely to “marshmallow manufacturing” for three days, Miarecki said. The film team is hoping to release the movie in time for the holidays on a streaming service, Jarvi said. Jarvi said Woodstock was treating the crew “very well” and the Cherry Tree Inn had been the “best host to us.” Woodstock had more problems than any other concert in music history but it also had more great music than any concert in music history Freedom is an anthem for those who need to escape for a couple of days and they couldn't have asked for a better place to do it.  With its mix of sunny vocals and hippie optimism Going up the Country was the song that kicked off Woodstock (1970) The film introduced us to acts like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin but it's the opener from Canned Heat that sticks with you.  The crowd lost their mind when Hendrix played Voodo Child and partly because he sped up the tempo and played one of the solos with his teeth The fact that it sounds the same is just plain ridiculous.  Joplin gave everything to her music and gave nearly a million people goosebumps on a warm summer's night She may not have liked her performance at Woodstock but she also didn't like her performance at Monterey...so take that with a grain of salt.  Even though the title might indicate otherwise The Who aren't singing about summertime blues but rather tearing through one of their most popular The song was originally a 1950's downer...now it's a rock song with growls A hippie anthem that still rocks today, My Generation wasn't a success in the US until it played at Woodstock When 500,000 people saw Daltry throwing his mic in the air like a yo-yo and the band veering into a three-minute jam sesh Woodstock lives on through Sebastian's lullaby The people in the crowd have grown up or passed away but the song lives on through their kids and grandkids.  The real national anthem for marijuana--sorry Bob Marley--this folk tune wafts over you like a cloud of smoke The Weight didn't make it into the final cut of Scorsese's film which might be the director's biggest mistake since Boxcar Bertha.  This ridiculously catchy tune is heavily influenced by drugs but that didn't stop it from becoming a hit for Jefferson Airplane in 1967 it also played great at Woodstock--who knew lyrics about acid would play so well with hippies I Put a Spell on You is unlike any other Credence track out there It saw John Fogerty adding a touch of vinegar to his vocals and the guitar puts you in a trance like few other songs of its era.  Considered one of the great live performances this soul classic has enough energy to power an entire city You can't listen to it without moving to the beat.  and rock & roll--it was also a protest against the war Joan Baez knew that and gave the crowd a protest song for the ages Protest songs don't get any better than this Sing-a-longs don't get any better than this Rednecks with earrings don't get any better than this This is an Apex Mountain for a lot of things not least of which is the crowd at Woodstock who rose to their feet and sang so loud you could hear them 20 miles away.  This catchy tune about a broken couple was a hit for CSN in 1969 it's sold millions of records and has been studied in classrooms for its use of alliteration.  Judy Blue Eyes is arguably the band's most recognizable tune It's one of the few breakup songs that doesn't sound like a pity party and is written with the kind of honesty and sung with the kind of grace you can only find on a CSN record.  Paul Butterfield is one of the concert's most underrated acts the performance went unnoticed by just about everyone...until now.  Joe Cocker turns the Beatles ditty into a full-blown and air guitars worthy of a Lance Stephenson celebration.  This performance is right up there with the great duels as Ravi and Rakha trade riffs like two boxers trading punches in the ring.  Despite the riffs of Hendrix and the vocals of Stone it's Alvin Lee who rocked the house harder than anyone His rendition of Going Home is quite possibly the hardest song of its era.  Asher Luberto is a film critic and entertainment writer for L.A customized to your favorite sports and teams Billionaire Warren Buffett will retire at the end of the year, bringing the curtain down on a six-decade run leading Berkshire Hathaway that made him the most influential investor in the world. Mr. Buffett said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway’s board on Sunday that Vice Chairman Greg Abel should replace him. “I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end,” Mr. Buffett said. Mr. Abel has been Mr. Buffett’s designated successor for years, and he already manages all of Berkshire’s noninsurance businesses. But it was always assumed that he would not take over until after Mr. Buffett’s death. Previously the 94-year-old Mr. Buffett always said he had no plans to retire. Mr. Buffett announced the news at the end of a five-hour question and answer period without taking any questions about it. He said the only board members who knew this was coming were his two children, Howard and Susie Buffett. Mr. Abel, who was sitting next to Mr. Buffett on stage, had no warning. Mr. Abel returned an hour later without Mr. Buffett to conduct the company’s formal business meeting, and he responded to the news. “I just want to say I couldn’t be more humbled and honored to be part of Berkshire as we go forward,” Mr. Abel said. Many investors have said they believe Mr. Abel will do a good job running Berkshire, but it remains to be seen how good he will be at investing Berkshire’s cash. Mr. Buffett endorsed him Saturday by pledging to keep his fortune invested in the company. “I have no intention — zero — of selling one share of Berkshire Hathaway. I will give it away eventually,” Mr. Buffett said. “The decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Greg’s management than mine.” Thousands of investors in the Omaha arena gave Mr. Buffett a prolonged standing ovation after his announcement in recognition of his 60 years leading the company. During that period Berkshire nearly doubled the returns of the S&P 500, with a 19.9 percent compounded annual growth rate compared with the index’s 10.4 percent gain. Mr. Buffett had such a devoted following among investors that markets would move when his investments were disclosed because so many people copied him. CFRA research analyst Cathy Seifert said it had to be hard for Mr. Buffett to decide to step down. “This was probably a very tough decision for him, but better to leave on your own terms,” Ms. Seifert said. “I think there will be an effort at maintaining a ‘business as usual’ environment at Berkshire. That is still to be determined.” In many respects, Mr. Abel has already been running much of the company for years. But he hasn’t been managing Berkshire’s insurance operations or deciding where to invest all of its cash. He will now take those tasks on, but Vice Chairman Ajit Jain will remain to help oversee the insurance companies. Investment manager Omar Malik of Hosking Partners in London said before Mr. Buffett’s announcement that he wasn’t worried about Berkshire’s future under Mr. Abel. “Not really (worried). He’s had such a long time alongside Warren and a chance to know the businesses,” Mr. Malik said about Mr. Abel. “The question is will he allocate capital as dynamically as Warren? And the answer is no. But I think he’ll do a fine job with the support of the others.” Cole Smead of Smead Capital Management said he wasn’t surprised Mr. Buffett is stepping down after watching him Saturday because the 94-year-old wasn’t as sharp as in past years. At one point, he made a basic math mistake in one of his answers. At other points, he got off track while telling stories about Berkshire and his investing without answering the question he was asked. Mr. Abel is well regarded by Berkshire’s managers and Mr. Buffett has praised his business acumen for years. But he will have a hard time matching Mr. Buffett’s legendary performance, and since he doesn’t control 30 percent of Berkshire’s stock like Mr. Buffett does, he won’t have as much leeway. “I think the challenge he’s going to have is if anyone is going to give him Buffett or (former Vice Chairman Charlie) Munger’s pass card? Not a chance in God’s name,” Mr. Smead said. Mr. Buffett always enjoyed a devoted following among shareholders. Mr. Buffett has said that Mr. Abel might even be a more hands-on manager than he is and get more out of Berkshire’s companies. Managers within the company say they have to be well prepared before talking to Mr. Abel because they know he will ask tough questions. Mr. Buffett earlier warned that President Trump’s tariffs were harmful Earlier Saturday, Mr. Buffett warned of dire global consequences from Mr. Trump’s tariffs while telling the thousands of investors gathered at his annual meeting that “trade should not be a weapon” but “there’s no question that trade can be an act of war.” Mr. Buffett said Mr. Trump’s trade policies have raised the risk of global instability by angering the rest of the world. “It’s a big mistake in my view when you have 7.5 billion people who don’t like you very well, and you have 300 million who are crowing about how they have done,” Mr. Buffett said as he addressed the topic on everyone’s mind at the start of the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting. While Mr. Buffett said it is best for trade to be balanced between countries, he doesn’t think Mr. Trump is going about it the right way with his widespread tariffs. He said the world will be safer if more countries are prosperous. Mr. Buffett said he just doesn’t see many attractively priced investments that he understands these days, so Berkshire is sitting on $347.7 billion in cash, but he predicted that one day Berkshire will be “bombarded with opportunities that we will be glad we have the cash for.” Mr. Buffett said the recent turmoil in the markets that generated headlines after Mr. Trump’s tariff announcement last month “is really nothing.” He dismissed the recent drop as relatively small. He cited when the Dow Jones industrial average went from 240 on the day he was born in 1930 down to 41 during the Great Depression as a truly significant drop in the markets. Currently the Dow Jones Industrial Average sits at 41,317.43. “This has not been a dramatic bear market or anything of the sort,” he said. Mr. Buffett said he hasn’t bought back any of Berkshire’s shares this year either because they don’t seem to be a bargain either. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced and Elias Cervantes (Photo Provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) Two Woodstock men have been detained after allegedly pulling a gun on a person off the historic Woodstock Square of the 600 block of McHenry Avenue in Woodstock was charged with aggravated use of a weapon without a without a firearm owner’s identification card possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a FOID card of the 200 block of Hoy Avenue in Woodstock was charged with obstruction of justice and possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID card Woodstock police said in a news release that they were called at 9:27 p.m. to the 200 block of Main Street for a “verbal altercation.” “During the verbal altercation, it was reported that a firearm had been displayed by one of the individuals,” according to the release. “The gun was not discharged and was located shortly after the incident occurred and was secured by the officers.” Responding officers interviewed a man who said he’d been followed by Herrera and Cervantes and knew them from “previous disagreements,” according to the release. Cervantes was arrested at the scene, and Herrera was arrested four days later after a warrant was issued, according to court records. Both were denied pretrial release on the grounds that they posed a “real and present threat” to the man on whom Herrera allegedly pulled the gun. According to court documents, Herrera had confronted the victim at a Jewel-Osco and followed him home, where he brandished the loaded gun at the victim “in the presence of others and in front of an occupied apartment building.” Cervantes is due in court for a preliminary hearing May 13, according to court records. Herrera is due in court for a status hearing May 8. from hedge fund managers and tech executives to students and retirees will soon descend on Omaha to hear from the patron saint of level-headed investing Warren Buffett, 94, is riding high after cashing in $158 billion of stocks over the last two years before President Donald Trump's tariffs tanked the market Berkshire Hathaway's billionaire CEO rarely speaks publicly he will answer questions onstage for nearly five hours — the high point of his conglomerate's annual shareholder meeting "Woodstock for capitalists" sees attendees immerse themselves in all things Buffett for one weekend a year Many of Berkshire's businesses offer cut-price goods at a two-day shopping event It might sound like an investing conference but devoted attendees told Business Insider it was a "pilgrimage," a "celebration," and a "blessing." "The gathering offers a unique blend of wisdom the author of several books about Berkshire and the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center on Corporate Governance a finance professor at the University of Maryland who's been attending the meeting for 20 years told BI he's going for the "excitement of being in the same room" as Buffett and 40,000 other investors "I will also be renewing friendships with several value investors and meeting other investors for the first time," he said He's returning with his two sons this year to see Buffett impart his knowledge and to reunite with friends "We are just so happy to see him given how much he has impacted our lives," Lountzis said adding that the chance to see Buffett was "first and foremost a blessing." The Berkshire boss and his lieutenants will field a mix of questions curated by CNBC's Becky Quick and posed by audience members told BI it's a "wonderful chance to get your bearings realigned," calling Buffett "the leader of rational thought." Check hailed the investing legend as "America's business leader" but noted he rarely gives interviews anymore so the meeting "has become about the only time during the year to hear directly from Buffett." you always have a good feeling that things will be just fine Cunningham said Buffett's "ability to expound on a wide range of subjects with clarity and humor" is a core part of his appeal to many acolytes This year's meeting will be only the second since Buffett's right-hand man Buffett's folksy humor and colorful anecdotes combined with Munger's blunt manner and scathing judgments to create a remarkable double act for corporate America Buffett will be accompanied this year by his planned successor, Greg Abel who heads Berkshire's non-insurance businesses will also join the first session of the day an analyst and author of "Buffett's Early Investments," said he simply wanted "to hear from Warren Buffett!" "I am in awe of his investment record and how he created a trillion-dollar company built on integrity and I view the meeting as a celebration of what he's accomplished," he added a Buffett superfan and shareholder since 2007 told BI that he thinks of the investor as an "intellectual grandfather" whose teachings have made him money and helped him to build a college fund for his kids and nest eggs for loved ones "The least I can do to say 'thanks' is to show up when I know how much shareholder attendance at the meeting means to him," Gongol said showcase their wares at discounted prices for shareholders Gongol said he's attended so many meetings that Berkshire merch makes up a "meaningful share" of his wardrobe rivaling his Chicago Cubs gear and college sweatshirts the author of "Buffett and Munger Unscripted" and the founder of investment research service TSOH told BI the meeting was a chance to "see Warren share his wisdom with the investment community potentially for the last time," and to reconnect with other investors who "worship at the altar of value investing." "It is a unique weekend with no parallel in corporate America," he added Buffett's advanced age and whispers he could step down have stoked intense interest in one of the last Buffett's last meeting — don't want to think about that," Lountzis said and the fact that they released countless live records celebrating their prowess onstage is a huge testament to how beloved they were for this aspect of their output their studio albums were loved and demonstrated the band’s brilliance but live was where they truly shone above their contemporaries They were well aware that this was where their strength lay as well and would regularly perform marathon live sets that saw them jam with a sense of connectedness that few other bands could claim It was an almost telepathic kinship that they shared and to be able to make every performance feel somewhat unique was a huge undertaking that they were able to carry through flawlessly the band never seemed to do well when it came to performing on the ‘big’ stages or simply having taken their commitment to drug use to the extreme there always seemed to be something that got in the way of them ever triumphing in front of their largest audiences While they may resent this to a certain degree at least the band have always been able to laugh about it During a 1989 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia claimed that the band always seemed to hit a stumbling block when it came to playing the most momentous shows of their career despite having spent over two decades honing their craft “We usually do pretty bad at the big ones,” Garcia said “We played terrible at Woodstock and Monterey Pop Festival Letterman also referenced their time performing in Egypt which was another series of shows on an enormous scale that went catastrophically wrong for the group Garcia was happy to brush this off as jetlag and exhaustion from flying to the North African nation he and fellow guitarist Bob Weir weren’t willing to make any excuses for their Woodstock appearance which the host questioned them on as to why it was such an abysmal experience for the band “Our situation was more than a little weird,” Garcia laughed before Weir elaborated on the reasons behind their performance being a complete train wreck “Our sound man at the time decided he was going to change the ground in the middle of the whole thing,” Weir explained referring to the botched electrical setup of their show Adding: “It was not done right or something While having “bolts of electricity flying across the stage” may have sounded like an incredible spectacle for members of the audience to witness it certainly didn’t help the band in their performance and they forever lamented their momentous appearance at the festival as being one of their worst and they proved time and time again that they were still a force to be reckoned with in a live capacity—Woodstock just wasn’t the best example of it U.S. Trotting News VA — Roger Hammer’s Battin Athousand captured his 23rd career victory in Shenandoah Downs’ $8,000 featured race Sunday (May 4) as the Woodstock oval continued its “10 Years of Pari-Mutuel Racing” campaign The 5-year-old Fordham Road horse trotted fourth through the half as Charles & Rose Robbins’ Terry’s Watching controlled the field early gained the lead coming out of the third turn and held off a stubborn Blue Bayou Deo (Eric Davis) the rest of the way crossing three-quarters of a length the best in 1:57.3 as the betting favorite Blue Bayou Deo was runner-up and DW’s Revenge (Stacey Mclenaghan) took third Battin Athousand pushed his lifetime earnings to $225,655 in collecting his second win of the year has four wins over the first two weekends of action He scored Saturday with Andy B Worthy and on opening weekend with Maker Dance and Cirrus de Vie.  Fastest race of the weekend was a 1:54.2 mile authored by Chuck Perry’s The Lizard in Saturday’s $5,000 conditioned pace The 3-year-old Lazarus colt went gate-to-wire in just his sixth lifetime start led The Lizard to a 1:53.3 triumph — at Rosecroft — in his previous start April 21 Virginia-bred Hillbilly Kisses prevailed for the second straight weekend shaving over two seconds off opening day’s 1:57 2 mile The 8-year-old Charles Myers trainee wired the field again Sunday with Lucas Myers in the bike the 8-year-old Rusty’s For Real mare is within $7,000 of the $300,000 mark in career earnings Shenandoah Downs continues its seven-week spring campaign next Saturday and Sunday Entries for both days are due by Wednesday at 9 AM and purses in many classes will see a 10-percent increase compared with the first two weeks the track has a beverage tumbler giveaway that recognizes the top 10 Shenandoah drivers of all time and on Sunday a special Mother’s Day edition of the VHHA’s “Own a Horse for a Day” promotion will take place and is open to Moms in attendance.  Previous “Own a Horse” promotional winners Steve Wetzel and Barry Shrum won races over the weekend as actual horse owners Wetzel’s Defriended kicked off Saturday’s program with her 14th career win while Shrum’s Pacific Stride captured win number 21 in Sunday’s finale What is the USTA? Become a Member Renew Discounts Free Account Member Services Department Directory MyAccount Hoof Beats Magazine Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person The Town of Woodstock is gearing up for the eighth annual Woodstock Music Festival Organizers said the event will unite music enthusiasts from across Alabama for a day filled with live performances The festival's main attraction is country music superstar Tracy Lawrence renowned for hits like "Alibis," "Time Marches On," and "Paint Me a Birmingham." Lawrence continues to enthrall audiences with his enduring sound and extensive music catalog Joining Lawrence on stage will be The Southbound Revelers along with Mobile's versatile Marieo Parrish The lineup also includes internationally acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Rick Harris promising a diverse array of talent for attendees This year's festival holds special significance as all proceeds will contribute to the construction of Woodstock's first municipal playground The playground will be located at the Arvell Kornegay Walking Track next to Town Hall offering a new gathering space for families and children "We are incredibly excited to bring such a wonderful event to Woodstock for the eighth year in a row," said Mayor Jeff Dodson "This festival not only celebrates music but it also brings us together as a community We are proud to support the development of our first playground fun space for children and families for years to come I want to thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to seeing you there." If you're looking for "I Spys," dating or LTRs Tags: , This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2025 at 7:41 am CDTExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11Assistant director Josh Schilling moves the actors as they set up a scene for the “Exes of Christmas Past,” while filming on Friday April 25 Gregory ShaverPhotojournalist with the Northwest Herald Monday: Clarksville Fire Rescue was able to evacuate an additional five residents from Woodstock Sunday night for 12 total.adButlerLazyLoad("567567878180902431",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); 7 p.m.: Clarksville Fire Rescue tonight is making an additional pass at the Woodstock neighborhood They have evacuated an additional three people and will help as many people as they can that residents of Farmington north of Jupiter Pass need to evacuate due to rising water “Once roads become impassable residents will be required to shelter in place emergency response will be delayed.” The Red Cross is reopening their shelter at the Crow Recreation Center for anyone displaced by flooding who needs a place to stay tonight.adButlerLazyLoad("3408618382953918045",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); 4:40 p.m.: A second sandbag distribution is being set up at Northeast Middle School 3703 Trenton Road.adButlerLazyLoad("3014820761208367008",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); 3:20 p.m.: The city and county have organized a sandbag distribution at Kirkwood High School Twelve pallets of sandbags are available for pickup by anyone who needs them on a first-come All residents in flood-endangered areas are urged to evacuate before nightfall Previously:adButlerLazyLoad("2551950916178384311",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Over two dozen homes in the Farmington and Woodstock neighborhoods were evacuated today, the day after an evacuation from The Reserve at Kirkwood apartments With temperatures dropping and water rising today anyone in a flood-prone area is urged to seek shelter before nightfall and resources from food and clothing to cleaning supplies are available Evacuations began this morning in the Farmington subdivision off Rossview Road Montgomery County Fire Service Chief Michael Rios told Clarksville Now.adButlerLazyLoad("229647190593339225",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); telling people about the possibility of being trapped,” he said With tonight’s low going down to 41 degrees anyone staying in their homes will be without heat and unable to leave Fort Campbell is sending in a high-water truck to assist in evacuations and carry sandbags The Austin Peay State University football team is there helping to load sandbags for those in need.adButlerLazyLoad("23600314919408836",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); | ROAD CLOSURES: Dunbar Cave Road, Dunlop Lane, Gholson Road and more Clarksville Fire Rescue went door-to-door by boat last night asking residents if they needed evacuation CFR Deputy Chief of Operation Jim Eley told Clarksville Now they’ve evacuated four people and four pets “We’ve talked to almost everybody in the neighborhood,” Eley said haven’t returned from the February flood or decided to stay in their house and shelter in place.”adButlerLazyLoad("91855890799836904",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); CFR has called in additional staff and has four swift water teams on duty doing roving patrols in high-risk areas and we’re out there if needed,” he said and flood water can contain dangerous debris and other hazards Clarksville Fire Rescue conducted evacuations of residents in the Woodstock subdivision | WEATHER ALERTS: Severe weather alerts for Clarksville todayadButlerLazyLoad("414610709460170123",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Residents who live in flood-prone areas are urged to evacuate to higher ground The Red Cross is partnering with YAIPAK for a daytime shelter at their location Lori Ann Tinajero with the Red Cross told Clarksville Now they will assess today whether an overnight shelter is needed and they will open one at a different location | RIVER FLOODING: Cumberland River to crest today with water reaching Riverside DriveadButlerLazyLoad("90845761056736960",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); | DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter Reach him by email at csmith@clarksvillenow.com or call 931-648-7720 The City of Clarksville posted the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget on its website Friday It includes a letter from Mayor Joe Pitts in which he highlighted a proposed property tax increase of 15 cents Police have closed off a north Peachers Mill Road neighborhood in Clarksville as they negotiate with a barricaded person in a house Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) is excited to host their second Recycling Roundup in Montgomery County Some new summer markets have popped up in Clarksville and Montgomery County Here’s a list of where you can find local markets for locally sourced vegetables Visitors don’t just pass through Clarksville – they help pay our bills taxes from tourism spending put an extra $14.7 million into Clarksville’s public purse This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again Wayne Thompson was a dedicated patron of Artistree the community arts center in South Pomfret he submitted numerous paintings and sculptures to group exhibitions over the years But Thompson made perhaps his most generous contribution just before his death last October at the age of 83 when he donated most of his remaining body of work to raise money for Artistree’s scholarship fund Pieces from the collection will be available for purchase by donation in the gallery’s upcoming exhibition “Hats Off to Wayne Thompson,” which opens with a reception on Saturday “We want people to be able to take his work and remember him,” Deborah Goodwin Thompson graduated from Woodstock Union High School in 1959 before attending Rhode Island School of Design where he studied photography Thompson worked as a graphic designer in Boston and New York but eventually returned to his hometown of Woodstock where he became immersed in the area’s art and theater community “Everybody knows Wayne,” said Artistree’s gallery coordinator Azusa Mihara His participation in Artistree ran the gamut from attending life drawing classes to taking part in the collaborative support group Daily Artists to talking to young students about his sculptures as a gallery instructor “He really liked engaging with others,” Goodwin said wooden shapes rising from thin lengths of wire making the sculpture look like a three dimensional rendering of a Mondrian painting clouds were a perennial source of inspiration for Thompson “I think he found the shifting light and colors fascinating,” Goodwin said with their Day-Glo hues and billowing forms so I like to think he found some spiritual meaning in the clouds,” Goodwin said Thompson ultimately donated some 70 works of sculpture The majority of pieces will be for sale by donation during a reception at the Lobby Gallery from 3 to 5 p.m The remaining work will be on display in the gallery and available for purchase through May 24 The upcoming week is a busy one for arts in the Upper Valley After 15 years of bringing arts programming to New London and its neighboring towns, the Center for the Arts will unveil an exhihibition and classroom space of its own on Thursday, April 10. The grand opening will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. For more information, visit centerfortheartsnh.org the Lebanon Opera House will take part in the 19th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour with a 7 p.m screening of short films from around the world For tickets ($17) and more information, visit lebanonoperahouse.org or call 603-448-0400 A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the New Hampshire and Vermont Chapters of the Native Fish Coalition a national nonprofit focused on the conservation of wild fish The work of four artists are on view at AVA Gallery through May 10 the soft sculptures of Massachusetts artist Cynthia Atwood are displayed alongside the abstract paintings of Concord native Mark Lorah Heidi Broner’s portraits of everyday life and Chris Papa’s makeshift sculptures are exhibited in the adjoining rooms The show is free to the public. For more information, visit avagallery.org “Art from Hexagon Bridge,” includes a series of intricate scenes by New York-based cartoonist Richard Blake The show offers a kind of behind-the-scenes peek at Blake’s comic series “Hexagon Bridge,” an adventure story about two cartographers who become trapped in a parallel dimension “Art from Hexagon Bridge” is on view through April 26 visit the gallery’s Instagram page @kishka.vt Also in White River Junction, JAM will be hosting an installation by Arantza Pena Popo, a fellow at the Center for Cartoon Studies. Bright and colorful, Pena Popo’s work explores political events and activism through a marriage of cartooning and journalism. The show opens on Friday, April 11 and is free to the public. For more information, visit uvjam.org Marion Umpleby can be reached at mumpleby@vnews.com or 603-727-3306 The lineup includes Town Councilmember Anula Courtis who narrowly made it on the ballot this week after his petitions were challenged by the current town supervisor Wallis calls the challenge “political retribution” for his public criticism of McKenna over the years He tells WAMC he was prepared to run as an independent candidate just in case but the Ulster County Board of Elections upheld his petitions by three signatures "I want to run because I believe that people in Woodstock are just hanging on — many people — and that financially they're struggling And I think that it's going to get worse as federal programs are cut and slashed," says Wallis "But I'm glad to say his challenge proved unsuccessful." He says he challenged Wallis’ petitions because they were “a mess.” There were individuals who didn’t live in town There were individuals who were not registered Democrats," he adds "And I just felt very strongly that anybody who wants to lead the town should do better than that." Politics in Woodstock have gotten testy over the years as the town grapples with a number of issues including: allegations of a toxic work environment at the Woodstock Police Department and an illegal dump of contaminated construction materials at 10 Church Road in the hamlet of Shady Despite lawsuits and court rulings deeming the dump illegal years ago has volunteered for multiple local organizations and serves as the town’s Climate Smart Communities Coordinator She says Woodstock needs someone who can bring people together “Unfortunately social media has really played a big role in It's really turned into this toxic environment and it has spilled over into these Town Board meetings," says Moran [The Town Board] needs to be a five-person team." Moran disagrees with the town’s approach to the Shady dump so far She says she wants to “reopen the files” on the situation and enforce a remediation plan that she created as part of the Woodstock Environmental Commission in 2020 Wallis has said he would enforce a town law banning dumping and he thinks the homeowner should be forced to pay for the cleanup Courtis has been on the Town Board for two years She agrees the town should have been more proactive when the dump was first discovered she thinks moving forward will take a reset In addition to talking with the state attorney general’s office “I am working through other ways — in a more peaceful manner outside of courts and lawsuits and more tens of thousands of dollars being spent on something that is likely to lose," she tells WAMC "[I'm] coming up with a different way forward that’s more peaceful and community based.” Courtis says she also wants to bring more healthcare to the region and “increase transparency and cut out central decision making.” “I know that we can do better as far as communicating what is happening "My style is going to be to engage the community.”  Courtis says she would have the unique opportunity to appoint her replacement on the Town Board He looks back fondly on their time working on Woodstock’s Hunting/Hiking Task Force in 2017 The group negotiated with the Department of Environmental Protection to increase the buffer zone between private properties and a hunting/hiking parcel in town “I was just thoroughly impressed with how firm she was in her commitment but how willing she was to yield and compromise," he says "Bill and I have had a tricky relationship In the beginning we have screamed at each other about differences He’s also been generous with his knowledge and showing me kind of the ropes Wallis says he has an idea to ease the tension: a carnival dunk-tank fundraiser “Let the citizens of Woodstock raise money for our dilapidated youth center which requires millions of dollars of repair the price tag estimate is upwards of $30 million for the whole kit and caboodle And I say let’s do a fundraiser," Wallis says Asked if he’s down to get dunked with Wallis “He’s gotta do some mending of fences before I would do anything with him," he adds The Woodstock Democratic Committee will be holding several candidate forums leading up to Primary Day on June 24 The next forum is scheduled for May 8 at 6:30 p.m No Republican candidates have tossed their hat in the ring Be one of the first to know what's coming up on WAMC See additional subscription options CLARKSVILLE, TN – Here’s a look at the top local news stories from Clarksville Now this week.adButlerLazyLoad("3852802066210318765",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); ‘We don’t want personal conversations’: City officials meet with Woodstock flood victims: Though the flood waters are receding, tempers have only risen for the residents of Woodstock Estates – tempers that flared during a neighborhood meeting between residents and city officials. READ MORE Former Fort Campbell intelligence analyst gets 7 years in prison: A former soldier and intelligence analyst was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison for conspiring to sell military secrets to a person he believed to be affiliated with the Chinese government. READ MORE Ethics complaints against Rep. Maberry dismissed, commission warns complainants of legal action: The Tennessee Ethics Commission dismissed the complaints, and, in a turn of events, considered taking legal action against those who made the allegations. READ MORE Phoenix Theatres at Governor’s Square Mall to open May 23: Following months of work gutting the old theaters and installing new state-of-the-art seating and screens, the all-new movie theater will open to the public on the weekend of May 23. READ MOREadButlerLazyLoad("2503003803320405502",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Open house planned on future of 1,000-acre Britton Springs neighborhood: Planners will study the quickly-changing Britton Springs neighborhood in northwest Clarksville, to get resident input on zoning issues, possible amenities such as parks, sidewalks, access to public transit and overall future land use. READ MORE Northeast High shortstop earns Player of the Week: Jamarion Green compiled a batting average of .405 across those five games and also had an on-base percentage of .526. READ MORE | DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for our free daily email newsletter | MORE: Check out The Clarksville Rundown with Chris and Ryan on The Patriot 105.5 FM/1400 AM.adButlerLazyLoad("308888089431617651",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your GPS did not respond. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again. Cloudy during the evening. A few showers developing late. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Big Boi performs in Suburban Park at the NYS Fair Friday, August 30, 2024, in Geddes, N.Y. A Woodstock legend, two rap acts, an ’80s pop star and a variety of rock artists are headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock Hall announced this year’s inductees, including Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, Bad Company, Outkast, Soundgarden and the White Stripes. It was the first time Cocker, Checker and Bad Company had been nominated. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist  Would you like to receive our daily news? Sign up today! Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Winning pitcher Nick Michalek, who struck out four over five innings, had a triple, a single and scored five runs at the plate for the visiting Indians (9-11, 7-2 KRC). Jeffrey Ashley was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and an RBI and Griffin Somlock was 3 for 5 with a double, run scored and two RBIs. Danny Paige homered and had six RBIs, Paige and Danny Gleason each had three hits, Ben Raddatz also homered and Reese Seng got the win in relief for the Mustangs (12-7). The visiting Panthers rallied from a six-run deficit with two runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh, but Bolingbrook walked it off with one in the bottom of the seventh. Dylan King and Jacob Fehrmann homered for Oswego (16-5, 1-3), King going 2 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs and Fehrmann 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Minooka hit five home runs in snapping visiting Yorkville’s six-game winning streak, the last five of which came via shutout. Kal Arntzen and Bodhi Harrison both homered for Yorkville (10-8, 3-1). The Wildcats broke the tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth and went on to beat the Foxes (10-8, 2-4), who out-hit Plainfield Central 14-10. Callie Ferko, Kayla Kersting and Isla Eidsness each tallied three hits for Yorkville, with Kersting driving in four runs, including a two-run home run in the fourth. Rilee Petrusa also collected two hits. Lindsey Cocks hit an inside-the-park home run in the first inning and doubled in a run in the second for the Reapers. Annabelle Solis homered, scored two runs and drove in three and Cami Nunez had three runs scored and three RBIs with two hits. ExpandYaraldy Avilez Estrada (Photo Provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office) A Woodstock woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to driving drunk before a crash that killed her sister and she was sentenced to six years in prison Yaraldy Avilez Estrada, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol causing a crash that involved a death, a Class 2 felony, according to the judgment order filed in McHenry County court She is required to serve 85% of her prison time followed by two years of mandatory supervised release She will be given credit for 288 days spent in the county jail since her arrest May 17 plus an additional 20 days for time spent working volunteering or participating in a self-improvement program additional charges of aggravated DUI were dismissed Woodstock Fire/Rescue District spokesman Alex Vucha said at the time of the crash Avilez Estrada’s sister, Belan Estrada, 29, of Woodstock, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and died later at the hospital. The Lake County coroner said she died of blunt force injuries due to the crash Authorities said Avilez Estrada was driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla south on Dean Street when the vehicle went off the left side of the road left the road again to the west and crossed over Gayle Drive The vehicle entered a yard at the southwest corner of the intersection before rolling over striking a tree and coming to rest on its hood had to be extricated from the heavily damaged vehicle A GoFundMe was created to assist Estrada’s family with funeral costs. The online fundraiser raised $7,450 of a $10,000 goal. Estrada is remembered as a daughter, sister and mother to two young children, according to the GoFundMe page. At a hearing in which Avilez Estrada asked for pretrial release to attend her sister’s funeral, Judge Mark Gerhardt denied the request, saying he did not trust her. He noted that a month before the fatal crash, she was convicted of misdemeanor DUI and failed to appear in court on that conviction. In both DUIs, the judge noted that Avilez Estrada had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.199, more than twice the legal limit. Assistant State’s Attorney Justin Neubauer had objected to her release, informing the judge that her sister had died in the crash and that he expected charges against Avilez Estrada would “be enhanced.” He also noted that on April 16, weeks before the crash, Avilez Estrada was convicted of a misdemeanor DUI and given one year of supervision. When convicted in that case, she was “assessed as a high risk, requiring 75 hours of substance abuse treatment,” according to the order detaining her. Assistant Public Defender Kim Messer said Avilez Estrada could be fitted with an ankle monitor if the judge allowed her to go to the funeral services. In denying her request, Gebhardt noted Avilez Estrada’s misdemeanor DUI conviction about a month before, her failure to appear to court in the past and the current case in which her sister died. “I don’t trust you,” Gebhardt said. “Your request is denied.” Back in 1994 I had just graduated college and was beginning my career in radio As a newly-hired full-time employee of 101.5 WPDH my first big assignment was to cover the Woodstock '94 concert in Saugerties Sending back live reports to the studio would require us to set up a permanent base of operations in the backyard of a house that was adjacent to the concert grounds I'm not sure how much we paid the homeowner but they most likely didn't expect several campers radio station vehicles and a large microwave tower to clutter their lawn for several days in August we found ourselves at a huge disadvantage competing with MTV CBS and all of the other national news organizations invited to set up mobile studios backstage we took advantage of some holes in security to upgrade our access the stakes were much lower when it came to sneaking into secure places The worst thing that would happen would be that you got kicked out and had to try another way in After noticing that the press passes we were given only granted us limited access we took the liberty of "upgrading" them ourselves with the help of a Sharpie marker What we didn't realize was that we wound up changing our security level to "all access" which gave us free reign of the entire backstage area including the artist tents where performers would relax between sets but included some crazy interviews with the likes of Green Day Nine Inch Nails and other legendary artists Tom Arnold and more a-list celebrities who came just to hang out backstage We also received lots of dirty looks from popular MTV VJs who were wondering how some punk kid from a local radio station got to interview Aerosmith as the band walked to the stage to perform their late-night set all we had to document the weekend was a disposable 35mm camera we had the foresight to take a few pictures to prove what actually transpired during that long weekend in 1994 If I didn't find these photos at the bottom of a drawer a few years ago I probably wouldn't have believed any of this happened myself It's been 30 years since Woodstock '94 took over Saugerties, New York and some of us are still trying to clean off the mud.\nRead More The McHenry County Coroner’s Office identified a man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Woodstock last week The coroner’s office identified Nicholas Panosian, 40, of Harvard Panosian’s family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses [ Fiancee of Harvard man killed in motorcycle crash expecting their child, recalls his love of family, Harleys ] “We do not know why God decided to take you from us so soon I’m still waiting for you to walk through the door I don’t know how to comprehend all of this I have some comfort in knowing you went the way you always said you would riding your motorcycle,” according to the fundraiser Panosian had six kids and a seventh on the way who is due the day after what would have been Panosian’s 41st birthday I wish you would have gotten a chance to meet them and our little one,” the organizer wrote The GoFundMe had raised 47% of its $8,000 goal as of early Monday afternoon. The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the intersection of Route 14 and Washington Street at 6:19 a.m. April 23 for a reported motorcycle crash. First responders arrived to find Panosian and his motorcycle in the ditch and he was pronounced dead at the scene. I always aim for authenticity in my mystery novels especially when it comes to depicting law enforcement personnel and methods of investigation There are a number of sources to help in this endeavor: Facebook groups likes “Cops and Writers,” police procedure manuals and guidelines that are easily found on the Internet attending conferences that feature law enforcement panels Having those conversations with folks in law enforcement—getting a flavor for the vernacular discussing the personal issues behind the badge hearing firsthand the highs and lows of the profession—is key to bringing depth and realism to my characters the site of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair It’s a dual timeline narrative—1969 and 2019—whereby a present-day murder has all the earmarks of a 1969 serial killer case And so I began to research how law enforcement operated at the 1969 Woodstock Festival but I really wanted to speak to someone from the NYPD who had actually volunteered for the infamous “Peace Force.” I was looking for behind-the-scenes anecdotes and firsthand experiences that I could possibly weave into my story but the stars aligned in September 2022 at Bouchercon I chatted up Greg Renz (author of Beneath The Flames) about my work-in-progress at the time and my desire to find someone who worked law enforcement at Woodstock I got an email from Greg introducing me to Nick Chiarkas crime writer and ex-NYPD who volunteered for the Woodstock Peace Force He became both my trusted resource and my inspiration for the Woodstock scenes depicted in the novel If you’re curious about how the volunteer-NYPD “Peace Force,” Wavy Gravy’s Hog Farmers’ “Please Force,” and the Sullivan County police departments managed to keep the peace at Woodstock stick around for my interview with Nick Chiarkas Marcy: How did you get the “Peace Force” gig at Woodstock Nick: NYPD Commissioner Howard Leary originally agreed to provide NYPD cops for security at Woodstock he was embarrassed by a front-page story in the New York Post that inferred NYPD would be working with Wavy Gravy’s Hog Farm employees and withdrew consent spoke with the Commissioner and made it clear that Wavy’s group would only be helping with odd jobs as the “Please Force” and the NYPD would be the security at the festival and be known as the “Peace Force,” the Commissioner was still not willing to budge on his decision to pull out he agreed to not take action against any off-duty NYPD cop that worked for Wes Pomeroy as security The clerical police officer there knew Wes Pomeroy and asked me and my partner if we would be interested We simply had to complete a short application My partner Tom Kenney (the best cop I ever knew) and I were chosen so we both took a few days off and joined Wes Pomeroy’s team of about 275 off-duty NYPD cops at Woodstock Marcy: What was your directive from Wes Pomeroy Nick: You have to understand that we expected close to 100,000 people wisely decided there would be no gate to sell or collect tickets Wes had only three rules for the attendees: 1 patched up cuts and bruises…and we talked with everyone We helped to keep the peace and serve the needs of the attendees Marcy: Were there any conflicts among the Peace Force Marcy: Did you take away any valuable lessons from your experience policing at Woodstock Nick: I learned the power of just talking with (not to or at) other people—even when you disagree So much can be de-escalated if you calm down Kenney and I were part of a line of cops at a student protest around NYU Facing me in the crowd was a co-ed with a sign; she spit at me and called me a pig “We’re home; what do you wanna do?” I looked at the young woman and yet you spit on me; we’re all just people.” I really said that She broke down and kept apologizing as she wiped her spit off of me with a scarf Kenny and I talked more with residents and tourists in our sector (Sector A Marcy: What was your most memorable experience at Woodstock Nick: My partner Kenney and I were often around and on the stage I was wearing my short-sleeved red Peace shirt and the bottom of my 101st Paratrooper tattoo was showing Just about everyone at Fort Campbell who wanted a tattoo got them in Hopkinsville That’s when I learned that Jimi Hendrix served as a member of the 101st Airborne Division a few years before I did Marcy: I hope you don’t mind that I stole that Jimi Hendrix story for my Nick-inspired character I loved the character of Sal Valero; he is way cooler than I have ever been Masthead About Advertisers: Contact Us Privacy Policy Become a member for as low as $5/month Snow tubing at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa It may feel like spring is starting here in Rhode Island but if you are still craving hitting the powdery slopes or action-packed sledding it is still very much a winter wonderland in New Hampshire my family headed north for a few days of school vacation I wanted to take the family skiing/snowboarding for the first time, and my sister and cousin were already up at Attitash Mountain, so we decided to book a last-minute getaway at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield The resort itself has plenty to do without leaving the grounds snowshoeing and cross-country skiing (all equipment is available complimentary to hotel guests) They also have an on-site farm with beautiful llamas you can sign up for ax throwing and children’s activities or spend the evening at the resort for movie night Hit up the vast indoor pool up until 9 p.m. or return in warmer weather for the outdoor pool including an all-you-can-eat buffet with everything from french toast with fresh fruit compote and whipped cream to French cooked eggs plus a full lunch and dinner menu with comfort food classics A sprawling spa is located on the top floor of the hotel with services including massages and facials Right now the resort has a deal where you can book two nights and it’s already a reasonable nightly rate to wait until you get to the mountain to purchase kid passes The novice pass only allows rides on the partial lift It was the perfect mountain for her to learn how to ski while my son worked on improving his snowboarding skills Then it was off to the Ice Castles for our final day It was snow much fun exploring this frozen wonder in North Woodstock We bought tickets online for a specific time frame Even though we were ten minutes late for our scheduled time and they said we could stay as long as we liked The kids arrived dressed in full snow pants then we set off to explore the winding paths of the frozen castle There were all kinds of cool things to do this time which is much different from six years ago when we last visited and took photos on the ice throne and with dragon ice sculptures There is a 1/4-mile illuminated trail for a walk through the woods and a snack bar serving hot cocoa and treats for the kids There are several fire pits for warming up along the way It’s definitely worth the trip and admission if you enjoy all of these amenities You can even book a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the property Pro tip: Arrive before sunset around 4:30 p.m and stay until nightfall to see the whole place lit up in purple There are only portapotties available outdoors After the ice castles, we went for lunch and brews at nearby the Woodstock Inn Brewery where I sipped a s’mores stout and ate a steak and brie flatbread while the kids had short rib tacos and a chicken quesadilla Third in a series on outstanding emeritus faculty at Berkeley Public Health Back in August 1969, Brenda Eskenazi hiked 15 miles in the pouring rain to reach the Woodstock Festival—but she never heard the music Eskenazi was so far back from the stage that she missed Janis Joplin and the rest of the performers at that famous (and infamous) gathering in upstate New York Watching him dive off the top of a car onto the cement the future scientist wondered: What on earth had happened to his brain to make him do that really interested in how chemicals affect the human brain,” she said in a recent interview The incident at the ‘60s most famous rock concert led Eskenazi to become a neuropsychologist and environmental epidemiologist specializing on the impact of environmental exposures on children’s health She joined the faculty of UC Berkeley School of Public Health in 1984 as an assistant professor in maternal and child health and epidemiology and became a professor in 1995 She was named Distinguished Jennifer and Brian Maxwell Professor of Maternal and Child Health in 2008 Eskenazi’s research has taken her all over the world producing groundbreaking studies on the health hazards of exposure to pesticides She has analyzed the aftermath of a chemical plant explosion near Seveso, Italy; studied what happened to workers exposed to benzene in China; and looked at in-utero DDT exposure in South Africa Eskenazi has also conducted research on the effects of social adversity and nutritional factors on male and female reproduction and on child development from the fetal stage to adolescence She is best known for building the Center for Environmental Research and Community Health (CERCH) a world-renowned science hub whose affiliated researchers have published hundreds of papers on environmental exposures and their impacts on pregnant women and children Eskenazi became an emerita professor in 2019 which oversees the longest-running longitudinal birth cohort study of pesticides and other environmental exposures among children in any farmworker community in the world CERCH’s Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas CHAMACOS is still a source of trailblazing research the specimens and data that Eskenazi and her team have collected—initially from hundreds of pregnant women and then from their children—serve as a lending library for researchers from around the globe the fact that lead was a potent neurotoxin was beyond dispute But the notion that pesticides and some other chemicals could also damage the developing brain was not as widely accepted Eskenazi’s investigators have produced some of the first evidence that the children who were exposed to pesticides in the womb had lower IQs than other children and other neuro-developmental problems Their work showed that other chemical exposures were associated with lower birth weights It’s hard to overstate Eskenazi’s contributions to environmental science She has had an important impact on the regulation of chemicals at the state and federal level; on warnings about the risk of cancer reproductive harm and birth defects now required under California’s Proposition 65; and on documents informing the Stockholm Convention the historic international treaty to protect the public from persistent organic pollutants (toxic chemicals that resist degradation and can accumulate in living organisms) “Brenda’s work has led the field of environmental epidemiology in designing and conducting longitudinal studies of key populations from the Seveso Women’s Health Study to the CHAMACOS cohort the former director of the National Institute for Environmental Science director of the NIEHS office of scientific coordination “Brenda is a brilliant researcher who has been very very dedicated to expanding our knowledge base when it comes to the health effects of exposures to environmental chemicals She’s not afraid to take on the tough stuff She brings a very deliberate and rigorous approach.” Eskenazi’s research has earned her many awards, most recently the 2023 Child Health Advocate Award from the Children’s Environmental Health Network. In 2014, she was inducted into the Collegium Ramazzini a prestigious academy of the top 150 people in the world in occupational and environmental health from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Kim Harley the faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Wallace Center for Maternal who first worked with Eskenazi on CHAMACOS in 2004 as a graduate student there are so many cohort studies and research looking at prenatal exposures and how they affect brain development,” Harley said “But when she wrote that first grant back in 1998 “The National Institutes of Health now has a toolbox of neurodevelopmental tests for this purpose but none of this existed when Brenda started and her PhD in neuropsychology put her in the perfect place to do it.” Eskenazi wanted to become either a surgeon or a medical illustrator But while attending Queens College in the 1960s her biology professor told Eskenazi that women didn’t belong in medicine a branch of the City University of New York was the site of the entire university’s neuropsychology department Eskenazi was accepted to the CUNY doctoral program in neuropsychology and then spent a pivotal year studying at the University of Leeds in England Her plan was to conduct electrical and chemical stimulation of animal brains the head of her laboratory told her she had to stop operating because she didn’t have a license “You needed a license to operate on animals in England,” Eskenazi said I guess you’re going to have to do human research.”’ She designed a study of cognitive issues in women using high-estrogen birth control pills “I wrote a questionnaire like an epidemiologist would I entered into the field of epidemiology but without real training at that time.” and received her PhD from CUNY Graduate Center in 1979 while also working at the Columbia University Psychiatric Institute That led to an epidemiology and environmental health sciences postdoc at Yale University she was an assistant professor in Environmental Health Sciences at Yale School of Medicine studying the neurotoxic as well as reproductive effects of many chemicals ranging from alcohol She moved to UC Berkeley School of Public Health in 1984 The first class she taught at Berkeley was on reproductive hazards of industrial chemicals. And one of her first landmark studies was an investigation into the 1976 chemical factory explosion near Seveso which exposed residents to high levels of 2,3,7,8-tetracholorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin) a human carcinogen and potent endocrine disruptor She has followed the women exposed to dioxin from that disaster for more than two decades An ongoing theme of her research has been the negative consequences of environmental agents on child health Much of Eskenazi’s most important research has come from CHAMACOS the joint project she founded with Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas Natividad Medical Center and other community groups in the Salinas Valley This rich agricultural land is often called “the world’s salad bowl.” Dole is there the Food Quality and Protection Act was passed by Congress and this Act called for the protection of the health of fetuses and children from the effects of pesticides–that children were not “little adults.” In 1998 the Environmental Protection Agency and NIEHS put out a request to establish Centers for Children’s Environmental Health “We didn’t know very much information about children’s exposures and their effects and how that affected child development,”’ Eskenazi said Eskenazi and her research team applied to establish one of these Children’s Centers to study the effect of short-acting pesticides on children we live in the largest agricultural state in the nation Our work needs to be on agriculture and it needs to be on pesticides,” Eskenazi said After forming partnerships with local health care providers and community leaders—Eskenazi launched a birth cohort study tracking mothers and children from primarily Mexican farmworker families who may have been exposed to pesticides used in the fields Her team recruited 600 women in the first half of their pregnancy Half of these women had lived in the US less than five years but at the time if you were pregnant you could receive MediCal They followed and examined their children soon after birth and at 6 months and every one to two years after They did home walkthroughs and neighborhood assessments researchers collected data on their neurodevelopment including autism spectrum behavior; obesity onset of puberty and other health outcomes I also made sure I got a lot of stuff on their social well-being and psychological well being as well as their full medical history,” Eskenazi said Right after the 2016 Presidential election we even collected information on their concerns about immigration policy Another frequent subject has been gene-environment interaction the effects of exposure to environmental chemicals and social stressors on the epigenome of the developing child Colleagues at UCSF and UC Berkeley have been following the health of the mothers They have been following many of the families for 25 years ending up with more than 400,000 biological samples fueling more than 200 studies on the impacts of pesticides and other chemicals on health as well as a myriad of other exposures; while at the same time educating farmworker families and finding ways to reduce exposures the CHAMACOS has provided valuable information on the ubiquitous chemicals found in furniture and their effects on many aspects of health and it was really going to depend on the cooperation of the community,” said Kim Harley who started as a student and later became study coordinator in 2004 Brenda was really committed that the core of the study would be community-based participatory research praised Eskenazi for becoming part of the farmworker community and spending the time necessary to develop and keep trust “The passion and connection that she has to the people in the Salinas Valley is so unique “She’s created an enormous treasure trove of information that we can mine the CHAMACOS team is just knocking it out of the park.” there was another tremendous benefit to CHAMACOS: It was a training ground for scores of Eskenazi’s former students went on to become prominent environmental health researchers not just teaching them how to do the research but making sure every single paper is perfect,” Collman said and they are a wonderful group of scientists Having Brenda as a mentor for even one year has been transformative for so many of them “Working with Brenda totally defined my career She was my mentor and continues to be my mentor She helped me and encouraged me and enabled me to develop my own research portfolio and move into a faculty position at Berkeley where I was able to start my own research program.” Eskenazi believes that the mentorship role is one of the most important contribution a professor can make to science “I see my students and mentees as branches of a tree,” she said “I train them and they train others—that is my biggest legacy.” Eskenazi recognized that the situations that farmworkers lived in—crowded conditions difficulty getting medical care—made them especially vulnerable to the disease Quickly, she teamed up with her longtime CHAMACOS partners—Salinas Valley health clinics, agricultural companies and farmworker advocates—along with UC Berkeley Professor Jennifer Doudna the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences produced a study laying out the need for fast action to protect the agricultural workers motivated the state government to prioritize farmworkers for COVID vaccinations The result was an innovative van service that circulated around the Valley inoculating farm workers against COVID and testing them and their families for the disease “Our coalition became a model for other counties in California and around the country,” she said farmworkers were prioritized for vaccination in many states.” publichealth@berkeley.edu