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.

Eggers said, “I started this project 40 years ago. I purchased this kit, which was a replica of the Yacht Mary. It is 1/54 scale of the original, a gift from Amsterdam for King Charles II. It was not a fighting ship. It was a pleasure ship.”

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.”

At a high school reunion, Bailey reconnected with Debbie Phillips. Bailey said, “We immediately bonded again, both having in common the love of animals, especially cats. I found out that Debbie wrote a book about her cat, Heidi. It was a children’s book, ‘The Empty Bed: Tails of Heidi’. It was so cute, and I loved the story and the illustrations.”

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.

Kane said, “I completed the final 2½ miles on March 2, 2024. This time, it took 61 days. The coldest run was on January 15, at -6 degrees F. You just dress for it. There’s no bad weather, just bad clothes. The warmest day was January 2 at 54 degrees F.”

Vice-President Marsha Geist of the Sunflower Garden Club said, “The Sunflower Garden Club has been very active in fundraising and this past year has donated over $10,000 to various organizations.”

Scott Ravagnie, Fire Chief at Huntley Fire Protection District, said, “This was a five-year project. The engine was donated back to the fire department after several owners. All the parts are original except for the diamond tank. The truck was made originally for the war. It had a green interior then. It works; the engine has been redone.”

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.