They made a memorable entry in Sun City’s golf cart parade with their ROMEOs Breakfast Club cart, adorned in patriotic colors and a large sign. The club, consisting of ten current members, including Rich Gawlik, Tom Reichardt, Jim Saletta, Bob Sholiton, Mike Shehorn, Bob Wainscott, Gene Harrison, Steve Lindskoog, Clyde Sample, and Bill Berendt, is known for its weekly breakfast outings, marked by their distinctive shirts: “Team Breakfast.”

Kovar has worn many hats in his lifetime: a veteran of the U.S. Navy, an information management professional, a mentor to veterans searching for civilian employment; he is also a husband, father, and grandfather. Now retired and living in Sun City, Kovar has taken on yet another identity: author.

James Harper said, “At the picnic, we recognized all our residents who have been here since Sun City opened. The ‘originals’ began a tradition in 1999 when they moved in, lasting 25 years. They cared for each other, checking in on neighbors and being there for each other. They set the tone. We wouldn’t be the kind of neighborhood we are without them.”

Miller said, “In August, I will have lived in Sun City for 20 years. My next-door neighbor, Diane, moved in on the same day. We love gardening.”

“I like people. I like talking to them. They all have interesting stories,” he shared, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the community.

During the pandemic, Peter Mazzoni embarked on a new hobby. “I used to love building models. When I was younger, that’s what we would do. But I always disliked the smell of the glue. Then my son suggested, ‘Why don’t you try LEGOs?’ And that’s when I got hooked. I built the Colosseum, R2-D2, Millennium Falcon, and the shuttle.”

It started with a pancake breakfast catered by Sammy’s Bar and Grill. After breakfast, residents and guests got their faces painted, sponsored by the Grandma, Grandpa, & Me Charter Club (GG&ME). Student volunteers from Huntley High School assisted club members in fulfilling requests. Board members Dottie Harrison and Bob Olson sat down and were happy with the artist’s work. 

Olson said, “I loved getting my face painted. The young people from the high school who did it were all terrific young people and fun to talk to.” 

Recycled Rhythm got its start in 2018 when its founder, Anthony Maland, wanted a way to share the positive effects of music therapy with other young people. Maland, who was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 5, benefited greatly from his musical training and refused to allow his diagnosis to hold him back.

Today, Joob is a 100-pint blood donor, an accolade he reached. 

Byrd said, “It would be nice to bring awareness to how many military veterans we have living among us. For those veterans that responded to my email, a flag with a tag identifying the veteran’s name and branch of service was placed in front of their mailbox for the holiday.”

Darlene Pratt, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, said, “Our sales were so well supported, we were able to increase the number of scholarships from the two planned to three.”

Having once taught first, second, and third-grade children, she later felt the pull to switch gears and embark on a new path.

Scherkenbach said, “I decided to return to school and work on getting a master’s degree in counseling, focusing on gerontology. I went from one end of the age spectrum to the other. I got three different internships as part of my program. Those were at the Palatine Township Senior Services, Condell Intergenerational Day Center, and The Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA). After finishing my degree, I was employed at BACOA for 20 years.”

Not to be outdone, the Monday night bridge group also celebrated Snow’s centennial birthday with more cake on June 3.

Sandi Karnatz said, “John is an amazing man and bridge player. He likes to play no trump. Everyone who plays with him knows that.”

Ary said, “We invited veterans from the community, allowing students to interview them and show veterans how much their service is valued.”

Sixteen veterans representing the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy branches of service participated in the program.

The restoration project is led by Desert Rat’s owner, Mike Kellner, who first found the plane chopped up into pieces back in 1984 in an overgrown field near Bangor, Maine, according to Desert Rat restoration volunteer, Bill Stanczak.

Thuringer said, “My mother crocheted and was a seamstress. Everyone she loved got a beautiful crocheted blanket. We have a special round crochet blanket that is a treasure. She crocheted so many different things for my daughters. My daughters both came home from the hospital in the most beautiful, crocheted blanket woven with hues of soft colors and an outfit that mom had made.”

Wrigley, a St. Bernard, was a beloved figure in Sun City. His gentle nature and friendly demeanor earned him the title of ‘mayor’ and ‘mascot’ of our community. His massive size was matched only by his even bigger heart, which he shared freely with everyone he met. 

Harriet Ford, President of Grafton Food Pantry, emphasizes the crucial role of our community in this effort.

The judging panel, including dedicated community volunteers from Sun City, played a crucial role in the selection process. Their commitment and expertise were instrumental in identifying the most outstanding authors. Their names include Judy Cieciwa, Julie Ford, Pat Hector, Dolores Kuta, Mary Nogar, Diane Nolan, Sandra Pelka, Kathy Render, Joan Riffner, Valerie Tomanica, Barbara Yarbrough, Dolores Kuta, Karen Hutchings, Darcy Chadwick, and Heather Elder.

When Dolores Fischer was a junior in high school studying WWII, her U.S. History teacher suggested that his students interview their fathers who were war veterans. Fischer knew that her father flew in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, flying Boeing B-17s, a four-engined heavy bomber aircraft. Beyond that, details were scarce. When she asked him to let her interview him, he seemed uneasy.