AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax assistance free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers over 50 and with low-to-moderate incomes. The program is free and does not require membership in AARP.

Bill Niemasz, Sun City Board President, Brian Gregory, Executive Director, Dolores Fischer, a resident and a critical component of the partnership with the school district, and Ben Manibog received the recognition on the behalf of all of Sun City residents who have given their time, shared their skills and experience, and helped with many needs of the School District.

The Huntley area Lions Club is hosting this mobile unit on September 30, allowing Sun City residents to have their hearing and eyes checked conveniently. A Sun City resident generously donated $500 to cover the expenses. The van is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by trained professionals to screen for retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness) and hearing loss. 

The village secured an almost $1 million grant from the Small Business Administration via a Community Project appropriation through the office of US Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

Dennis O’Leary, Chair of SPAC, emphasized, “The Strategic Planning Committee values your feedback on walking and biking paths within the community. Your participation is integral to our long-range plans for Sun City. Come and share your opinions.” 

Under the dedicated sponsorship and direction of the Neighborhood Watch/Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NW/NHN) Committee, this year’s NNO is set to take place on August 5.

The softball game at Sun City’s Veterans Memorial Field kicks off National Night out, on Aug. 5, with a start time of 2 p.m. Wagner was named as a HFPD Deputy Chief for Operations before last year. The public may also tour Huntley Fire Station No. 1, 1118 Main St., from 3-7 p.m., Aug. 6.

The event, held July 5 at Culver’s of Huntley, has been held there for more than 20 years. Huntley Citizens Police Academy Alumni assisted in accepting tips from customers.

There are two upcoming events for Sun City residents to practice their generous spirit. The first event is the third annual Brat and Brew Fest on Saturday, August 2, from 2-8 p.m. It is held at and sponsored by Sew Hop’d Brewery and Taproom. Enjoy food, brews, and music all day while supporting the Grafton Food Pantry and the Huntley Lions Club. 

The group, Friends of Del Webb Nature Preserve, are happy with support they received for installation of a trail, at the June 25 Sun City Board of Directors meeting.

Paulette Carrion, President of the club, said, “This year, Sunflower Garden Club awarded three $1000 scholarships at our June meeting to Huntley High School graduating students.”   

The awards were quite notable.

Ed Cuttle won the prestigious “Best of Show” Best Exhibit in Crafts for the second year. Mike Shortridge, Vice-President of the Woodchucks, said, “When Ed won last year the ‘Best of Show’ we were excited, but this year’s win validates the workmanship, quality and beauty of the submitted pieces.”

Leopold moved into Sun City in 1999. He said, “We were interested in Del Webb since [wife] Gini’s parents bought a Del Webb home in Arizona where we planned to buy. Then we heard that Del Webb was building in Huntley. We selected our house from an artist’s conception at the Outlet Mall. We were the third to close on our home on April 19, 1999.”

As previously reported, the idea for the co-op was first conceived in 2014 by an organized collective of McHenry County residents that calls itself the McHenry County Food Cooperative. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last July to celebrate the initial construction phase of the grocery store.

The pledge was to “…encourage residents and Village staff to take steps to increase the planting of milkweed and nectar plants to preserve and strengthen the monarch butterfly population.”

At the direction of the village board, staff have been in the process of finalizing a Purchase and Sale Agreement and Redevelopment Agreement with True North Properties, Inc. to accommodate the conversion of the former village hall to a restaurant use.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the only way many food establishments thrived was through drive-thrus since indoor seating areas were shut down. According to a CNN article, drive-thru sales hit $133 billion in 2022, which was reported as a 30% increase from 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

According to the Jan. 11 Village Board meeting agenda packet, the agreement established the jurisdictional boundary for both planning and annexation purposes with it set to expire in 20 years.