Huntley Plan Commission reaches verdict on potential Hampton Inn Hotel project

The ongoing discussion on whether to approve of Woodstock Hotel, Inc.’s petition to construct a four-story, 100 room Hampton Inn Hotel appears to be getting some traction within the confines of Huntley’s body of government. As of July 13, the Huntley Plan Commission recommended the approval of the hotel project by a vote of four to one.

The 63,208 square foot hotel is slated to occupy 3.7 acres of the 11.3-acre Lot 2 of the Huntley Crossings Final Plat of Subdivision, with the main entrance to face towards Route 47.

Questions raised about Sun City’s Phase 4 reopening

As many residents eagerly assimilate into the new normal for Sun City brought on by the “Phase 4” guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan, there remains questions as to whether the Sun City Community Association Board of Directors have made the right decisions on choosing to open some amenities while maintaining others closed.

Village approves temporary liquor license changes in wake of COVID

During the May 28 virtual Village Board meeting, Interim Huntley Village Manager Lisa Armour proposed a plan to the Board of Trustees calling for the temporary suspension of the Village Liquor Code (Section 110.14) for a period of 90 days in order to allow restaurants to serve takeout food and alcoholic beverages in designated public outdoor areas within the Town Square.

While popularity in such theaters has dwindled, drive-ins, such as the Golden Age Cinema in McHenry, have seen a recent surge in attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to not having the same limitations of mass gatherings like their indoor counterparts.

Getting back down to business

Come May 29, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order is expected to ease restrictions in accordance to the “phase three” transition of the Restore Illinois plan. For restaurants like Jameson’s Charhouse, this means re-opening their outdoor patio dining area starting May 30.

Sun City ‘Zooms’ through board meetings

For Sun City’s Board of Directors, meetings to discuss important topics within the community will continue on as usual.

The method in which the most current meeting was conducted, however, is an entirely different story.

Despite statewide lockdown restrictions, Loughran says ‘Sun City, Huntley, is financially healthy’

Despite an ongoing battle with coronavirus, Sun City maintains a healthy financial outlook.

A probe into homemade masks

Are all masks effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19?

Local teen uses 3D printer to make face shields for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19

When Gail Tepper and her husband, Artie, first heard that their grandson was part of a growing movement to help make masks for healthcare workers, they couldn’t be prouder. Describing the teen as, “a wonderful, kind and caring young man that is very knowledgeable with computers,” it was no surprise to the Teppers that his efforts would catch the attention of the Great Big Story, a media company whose micro-documentaries and short films have been viewed by millions of people on websites like Facebook and YouTube.

A Lesson in Kindness

February 13 started off like any other Tuesday morning for Sun City resident Jan Scialabba who also works at the Member Services Desk at Prairie Lodge. Two buses where expected to arrive that day, prepared to take fellow residents to the Chicago Auto Show. Nothing out of the ordinary for the seasoned Member Services Desk professional.

Ready or knot, here they come

For Linda Campbell and her husband, staying active outdoors was just another part of their daily routine, and they regularly joined others in Neighborhood 18 who also enjoyed going on walks and runs. In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic however, mandatory stay-at-home orders and social distancing seem to pose obstacles in the way of those wanting to maintain their physical health.

Hoping to preserve as much normalcy as possible, Campbell stumbled onto a creative way to continue to stay active with other neighbors while following social distancing protocols.

Thinking outside the box

In response to the stay-at-home order issued for the state of Illinois until April 30, clubs in Sun City were forced to make the difficult decision to suspend activities for the time being. For some residents, this sudden loss of meaningful social interactions may have the potential to lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which could affect one’s physical health and mental well-being.

Huntley’s response to Coronavirus pandemic

As news about the coronavirus becomes widespread, it can be easy to become lost in the sea of information which in turn may lead some to panic. In these times of crisis, Huntley Chief of Police, Robert Porter, ensures that Huntley is taking a “common sense but prepared approach,” in an effort to keep local residents informed and safe.

Paczki Paradise

Sun City resident Kathy Boyce never imagined her once small celebration of a common Polish tradition would grow into a much larger and highly anticipated annual event.

For those unfamiliar, paczki are a must-have decadent treat commonly eaten on Fat Tuesday in America, the day before Lent begins. This Polish tradition of indulging in these round, sugar-filled pastries, has been around since the Middle Ages and has only continued to grow in popularity as more and more people get hooked on these delicious fried dough desserts.

The 2020 Census in the digital era

April 1, also observed as Census Day nationwide, will mark the twenty-fourth time the United States has conducted the practice of counting the population since 1790.

A practice that is done every 10 years, the Census has been a key component in determining congressional representation, funds for communities used for a variety of different services, and more.

Living snow fence program reduces risk of drift

It is no secret that winters in Illinois are brutal. Besides freezing temperatures and unpredictable snowfall posing hazardous conditions for drivers, residents of rural populated areas, including portions of McHenry County, face the added danger of snow drift.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “blowing snow is the primary cause of icy roads in wind-exposed areas.” Not only do these icy roads endanger motorists, but they are costly to state and local agencies who spend billions of taxpayer dollars on snow and ice control operations.

Love at FURst sight

The sound of excited barks and meows echoed all throughout the innovative Young at Heart pet adoption center in Woodstock as Sun City resident and long-time volunteer, Allen Podraza, demonstrated the home like environment created to limit stress for the senior cats and dogs residing at the center.

Woodchucks get noticed by major broadcast network

The holidays are right around the corner, meaning it’s that time of year for joy and festivities. For many, it also brings the daunting task of gift shopping – an activity that tends to hit the hardest for the nearly 39.7 million Americans that live in poverty and simply don’t have the means to provide presents to their children this holiday season. However, Sun City’s very own Woodchucks charter group has come up with a solution to combat this problem on the local level.

The Pioneers

October marked the month Sun City celebrated 20 years of continuing to provide a unique lifestyle to many, but November 10 presented some residents with yet another opportunity to celebrate a different type of milestone.

When Sun City broke ground back in 1999, people like Nancy Visconti, eagerly jumped at the chance to be one of the first to close on a house in the newly established resort-style community. Although much has changed throughout the years, the memories created amongst the pioneers of Sun City remained.

Village of Huntley assures residents their survey voices are heard

Sun City accounts for the most represented area in the 2019 Village of Huntley resident survey. The Village of Huntley resident survey has been conducted annually since 2010 to obtain a better understanding of residential opinions. The 15-question survey ranged from simple subjects including quality of life within the village to the feeling of public safety.

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A Frank Sinatra band, a magic show, and an ice cream sundae bar are just a few of the commodities that residents were treated to in this open floor celebration to commemorate Sun City’s 20 years of commitment to offering a lifestyle of dreams.

Huntley school district unveils groundbreaking initiative to energy saving costs

October 1 marked a momentous occasion for Huntley school district 158 (Huntley 158). After many months of deliberation, the much-anticipated solar panel installation project was approved for construction on three Huntley 158 campuses, celebrated through a small ceremony involving school and public officials.

Navigating a path to success

Retirement brings a lifestyle change. For some that involves more leisure activities, and for others like Mary Merrell, it means continuing her efforts to serve the community.

However, Merrell’s story extends far beyond volunteering for multiple great causes. Although at times having to deal with the occasional rocky path in life, Merrell’s remarkable spirit and passion has led to some equally as outstanding achievements.

Flower Power

A little care and a lot of patience, two traits that Albert Pollastrini credits to helping his common garden flowers grow to an astonishing six feet.

“I planted them around Mother’s Day. I bought them from Menard’s and they came with a bit of fertilizer. By the Fourth of July, they started to really bloom. They moved pretty rapidly. Now they reach to just above the windowpane. I almost need a step latter to cut flowers for the house,” Pollastrini said.

Learn the red flags: Fight back against phone scams

This is a follow-up piece in light of the story about Bonnie Archer, from the July 11 edition, who fell victim to a phone scam. The warning signs are important to know.

Root, root for the veterans

The blazing, afternoon heat was not enough to keep veterans from taking the field in Sun City’s third annual veterans softball game.

Taking place Saturday, June 29, at Eakin field, this weekend event provided attendees a fun experience while working to support a great cause. Event Organizer, Glenn Groebli, has been in charge of running the veterans softball game since 2016. This year, Groebli planned to use proceeds to build a memorial dedicated to all veterans.

Sun City resident victim of a phone scam

76-year-old Sun City resident Bonnie Archer never expected an average trip to Walmart would result in such an unforgiving nightmare.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, Archer received a call from an unsuspecting Seattle number.

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley

Michelle Moreno