Pat Janiga, Janet Andersen, Sharon Melbye, Gerry Saia, Linda Rizza, Nedra Reeves, Kathy Wendhack, Dawn Leonard, Bernice Wills, Sharon Rainey, Jesus Villa, and Janet Kargol were ready and dressed in their holiday attire. Their participation reflects Sun City residents’ strong community pride and support for local events, inspiring others to join in. They put on their reindeer headbands, identifying themselves as volunteers, and went to take on tasks at the cookie-decorating station, snacks and beverages sales, and three craft projects.

La Pelusa said, “In the beginning, we didn’t have a budget or funds to buy the materials that were needed to make the wooden toys. Construction was still underway at Del Webb, and the scraps of lumber were left on the curb; they were being discarded. We were told that we were welcome to take the lumber. That was our beginning.”

Pat Bosi, Pat Cox, Kenn Ellis, Duane Fontana, Todd Kane, Adrianne Kaplan, Jill McCarron, Bill Niemasz, Bob Olesen, Nedra Reeves, Alex Schank, Rita Schank, Mike Shortridge, Gayle Smolinsky, and Ken Such volunteered their time and spent two days at the school, where students interviewed them.

Hughes said, “The sales office was located at the Outlet Mall in 1999. I had been living in Rockford for 35 years, and I was considering moving to a retirement community. My sister had moved to Palm Desert, but I had misgivings about moving there. Then a friend told me about an ad for a job in Huntley in the Chicago Tribune.”

Waller High School, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, is recognized for its college preparatory and vocational programs. The school eventually became Lincoln Park High School. The graduating class of 1962 had 165 students.

“Her stunning beauty took me aback. I saw her for the first time at a Salvation Army worship meeting in Chicago playing the tambourine. Her name was Yaneth, and I thought of her often.”

Fuqua said, “I was an average student. I could have done better scholastically. However, my focus was on sports. I was captain of the team in cross-country, wrestling and baseball.”

On November 9, the Heins are inviting the Del Webb community to participate in a service project at Fountainview Lodge, where community members will create comfort items that will be donated to local hospitals, senior centers, and nursing homes. Attendees are asked to pay an “entrance fee” of a monetary donation to Grafton Food Pantry, which serves Grafton Township, all of Huntley, and portions of the surrounding area.

Joanne Thomas, HHS culinary teacher, has held all kitchen positions, from line cook to corporate chef consultant, in restaurants, banquet halls, and corporate foodservice suppliers. She has her own catering business and is an international travel chef. 

Wiederkehr suspects a specific cause.

On November 1, DD Creations, will be part of the 10 businesses Shops on Main Village of Huntley incubator business shops at Route 47 and Main Street. Village officials hope most shops will be open at the former Hackett House site by or around November 10.

Carol Didricksen, chair of the event said, “This year, we have three florists creating and crafting beautiful floral arrangements in person.”

“I wanted to donate the shoes she had, which were in good condition, to someplace other than Goodwill. I started researching, and I found Soles4Souls, a non-profit organization.”

“She has been a dedicated member of the Elgin Symphony League (ESL) for over 25 years and manages the Boutique at the Hemmens Cultural Center, during performances. Before that, she served as an usherer at ESO concerts for six years, including during Bob Hansen’s 25th anniversary season. It is an experience she fondly remembers.”

Pam Mosier, president of GG&Me, said, “The party starts in Drendel Hall at 1 p.m. This event is also a fundraiser for the GG&Me club, raising money for the other events held throughout the year, which are offered at no cost or at a low price to the club’s membership.”   

Because they were at retirement age, someone suggested the Bierleins check out Del Webb retirement community in Huntley.

Lang has been driving a bus for fifteen years. Most of her career was in Minnesota, where she also trained others to drive a bus.

Lang said, “I loved the job and the kids. I left the position because I fell in love and I moved here to Sun City. I was hired here as a bus driver for the Huntley School District. Before I left Minnesota, I wrote a letter to each of my students. It was a sad goodbye. But I love it here in Huntley.”   

Piotrowski said, “When she was in her 80s, my mother documented the first 30 years of her life, from 1922 to 1952.”

This year’s annual Huntley NNO event will take place Aug. 5. Locations will be First Responders Softball Game, with Huntley Fire Department, at 2 pm., at Sun City’s Veterans Memorial Field, then at Huntley Town Square, at 5 p.m.

The Lions Club offered information as it celebrated Helen Keller Day on June 28 at Huntley Area Public Library. The annual event honors Keller, who earned a bachelor’s degree as she overcame blindness.

“I wake up at 2 a.m., and I start to work on the puzzle. I hurt my back and it’s hard to sleep. I like keeping busy, and working on the puzzle gives me satisfaction in the challenge and the process of seeing the picture come together piece by piece,” he said.

This event was not just a gathering, but a profound tribute to our Vietnam-era veterans, honoring their service and welcoming them home. It was hosted by the Sun City Veterans Charter Club. 

Dino Micheli, secretary of the club, said, “We are here to honor over 70 veterans. They will be given a commemorative pin and a Presidential letter, a small token of our immense gratitude.”

“I always enjoyed history and writing,” Domagalski said.

The Lake in the Hills resident, who works at Ace Hardware corporate offices, has taken his “hobby” and made it into a second career. His sixth book about World War II, “The Forgotten Island” was published last summer by Simon and Schuster. It is the story of Navy Radio Electrician George Tweed, who hid out on the island Guam from Japanese occupiers for two years and seven months. He described the writing the book and main character Tweed’s experiences at a Huntley Area Public Library session May 10.

“I was always at the park, surrounded by my three brothers, who were deeply involved in football, basketball, and baseball. Their passion for sports was contagious, and I found myself drawn to it,” she said.

Monaghan’s journey into the world was an adventure in itself, as she was born in a car on the way to the hospital.