The earthy collector

For some people, sand is an inconvenience that gets stuck between one’s toes. For others, it is something fun to collect and display. Sand collectors are called arenophiles. They look for sand samples with a variety of textures, colors, mineralogy, and location.

Sun City resident Kari Freeman has a collection of small bottles filled with samples of sand from all over the world.

Sunflowers, mice, and more

In the June 2 edition of The Sun Day, Chris La Pelusa invited readers to share their unique collections.

“Seriously, I really want to know. If you have an opinion or would like to share your collection,” he said.

Judith Aronson answered his call. Her collection concerns sunflowers. She said, “I still have some of the same items from 20 years ago but have added to them.”

Huntley Community Radio celebrates 10 years broadcasting

November 2, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast. Radio broadcasts have delivered lifesaving information during emergencies, entertained us with music and stories, provided us with broadcast sports, and made us feel connected to our communities, listeners have always counted on the radio to be there for them. FDR’s Radio ‘Fireside Chats’ kept Americans informed and connected.

Huntley Community Radio (HCR) is celebrating its own anniversary this year. James Eggers, Executive Direct of HCR, said, “We are rolling out an entirely new music format. We have changed our music library to specifically cater to the 45-year-old and up demographic. Basically, we are playing all the songs most people will actually recognize.”

Warehouse, distribution building possibly coming to Huntley

The intersection of Jim Dhamer Drive and Illinois Route 47 may be getting a new look.

A 729,600 square foot speculative warehouse and distribution building on the northwest corner of the 44-acre site has been presented to the Huntley Planning commission. The building will be constructed by Venture One Real Estate. It might be divided into two tenant spaces if a sole tenant is not found. No users of the building have been identified.

In wake of Uvalde, Sun City resident recalls her granddaughter’s own frightening experience

Columbine High School shooting took place in 1999. More than 1800 kids in the school that day; 13 were killed and another 20 injured. Since that shooting, more than 23 years ago, more than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school, according to an analysis done by The Washington Post.

Esther Bell, Sun City resident, was unfortunate to feel that fear. Bell said, “My granddaughter is a student at Oshkosh West High School. Last year the school was evacuated during a threat. It was terrifying for her parents and myself. A teenager had stabbed the school’s resource officer in a struggle for his gun. The officer managed to keep the gun away from him by shooting the teen while being staffed.”

Larry Rostis, club president, said, “Even with everything opening up, at this time we probably won’t be able to set up the train at Prairie Lodge this holiday season. It takes a lot of manpower to move all the set up and do maintenance on the trains. Our membership has aged and we are not capable of lifting and transporting the boards and equipment.”

Kane County State’s Attorney to go before grand jury amid mounting pressure to serve justice for dog shot to death

On Aug. 10, 2021, law enforcement responded to the 5N block of Pearson Drive in Wayne for a reported shooting incident that involved a Dogo Argentino named Ludwig.

The dog was shot and killed by Hal Phipps, who is the husband of current Wayne Village President Eileen Phipps and the neighbor of Ludwig’s owner, Joe Petit.

‘Aunt’ Magda

The world watches the current events in Ukraine and complains about the price of gas and goods. Some Sun City residents remember their ancestors that lived through harder times; grandparents who survived the depression and World War II. We watch as Holocaust survivors who fled the Nazis as children must now run from Russians.

Adrianne Kaplan, Sun City resident, recalls a woman in her life that survived the Holocaust, Magda Brown. Kaplan thinks of a woman she grew up calling “Aunt.”

Sun City Resident Creates Sharemystories App

Sun City resident Jim Hanekamp has designed a new app called Sharemystories, focused on preserving memories using photos, written word, and audioclips in a timeline format.

Hanekamp, 66, grew up outside of Chicago in a large family. During the pandemic, the six adult siblings, separated by geography, enjoyed regular Zoom calls to reminisce about family vacations and forgotten family lore.

The stigma against mental illness, part 1

What percent of the world was experiencing mental illness in 2021? According to Google search, 19% of adults, translating into over 47 million Americans, had the disorder with 4.55% suffering from a severe mental illness. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) informs us that more than half of mentally ill individuals don’t seek help for their disorders. Why? The association states “Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood.”

More Brewing Company expansion plans unfold

At the May 12 Village Board meeting, Charles Nordman, Director of Development Services for the Village, introduced a request by More Brewery for a conceptual review of their plan to expand their brewery operations and to add a 4-story, 89 guest room hotel on the property south of their existing building.

Talamore subdivision expansion ramps up

Lennar builders submitted a proposal, at the May 12 Village Board meeting, to develop the 63 acres located at the west end of Reed Road as the location of 129 new single-family homes. Accord to Charles Nordman, Village Director of Development Services, reported that “there are seven different floor plans being offered. These are the same homes offered in other sections of Talamore.”

Panera project moves forward

Panera Bread has submitted a new conceptual plan for a 3,480 square foot restaurant, with a drive through lane, located on the southeast the corner of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road. The permits for the previously approved plans had expired and Panera is required to reapply for permission to build.

Stingrays donate big to charity

“Going Once – Going Twice – SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! Nick Koplos’s voice rang out loud and clear repeatedly as he auctioneered the 8th Stingrays Annual Charity Auction on May 14.

Happily ever after?

What happened after Cinderella tucked her foot into that glass slipper? Did she and the prince live happily ever after?

Sun City resident Cathy Kwon has the answers in her book “Cinderella the Next Chapter.”

Toys, dirt, glass, comic books, or grievances – what makes a collection a collection?

I’ve always thought collections were both highly interesting and weird at the same time. Look at a museum, for example. Museums collect items from our past and they’re highly, at least to me, entertaining and educational. But ultimately, they’re just items on display much like decorations in a house, only these particular items have a backstory, also like some of the decorative items in your house.

Village approves use of retail-development planner to attract new businesses

Lisa Armour, Deputy Village Manager, introduced a resolution at the April 28 Village Board meeting, to approve a contract with The Retail Coach for “conducting a site assessment of the Village’s market trade area and profiling the customer’s buying habits, lifestyle characteristics and media habits.”

Board updates on bylaws, satisfaction survey, Ukraine ribbons, among other points

The motion to amend Article 3.4 of the By-Laws was discussed. The amendment would add the word “consecutive” to the By-Laws which would remove the term limits included in the By-Laws as they now stand.

Prairie Singers set to perform ‘Season of Hope’ concert this June

Sun City Huntley’s Prairie Singers will perform its spring concert, “A Season of Hope,” on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Willow Creek Community Church in Huntley.

More than 70 resident singers and musicians of Sun City Huntley will join together to produce some truly great choral music. This group has been a part of the entertainment activities of the Sun City community for more than 22 years.

From joke to reality, Panera may finally open in Huntley

Hamra Enterprises, the petitioner in charge of franchising certain restaurants and other establishments, has officially submitted a conceptual site plan and building elevations for the construction of the long-awaited Panera Bread restaurant.

Beyond bombs and bullets

Andrew Lee, a Professor of Public Health/the Research Lab of the University of Sheffield, England gives us his Relief/Web Conversation on Health Issues facing the Ukrainian citizenry these days. Because the Conversation was posted on March 2, 2022, I will not be giving any stats which are no longer accurate. As mentioned in my first H & W column on the subject (May 5’s publication), war extends far beyond bombs and bullets.

Village approves upcoming construction projects

Gerber Collision and Glass requested approval of their plans for the construction of a 15,650 square foot building on Kreutzer Road east of the Goodwill store. The plans had been previously approved by the Village planning commission. The Village Board’s approval was required for the project to begin work.

New group roosts in Sun City

Lots of birds visit our backyards every day, but how do you learn about a bird you can’t identify?

Carol Smith, a Sun City resident, posted on the Wildflower Facebook page: “Buffleheads, robin, ringbills, cardinal, and loon… today in Sun City!”

The photographs and post generated many comments and interest from residents.

Bill Dollear said, “We need a bird watching group.”

Sun City residents tour HHS for D158 updates

Approximately 50 Sun City residents went to school on April 25th when District 158 opened the Huntley High School doors for an update on happenings in the District.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe spent the first hour of the day talking about how the District has evolved since March of 2020, the day Covid-19 shut the school doors.

Illinois Supreme Court appoints Kane County State’s Attorney to commission on elder law

The Illinois Supreme Court announced on April 12 that a new commission would be established to oversee ways in which state courts can better serve the needs of those in advancing years.

The Commission on Elder Law hopes to tackle the legal problems facing senior citizens not only by examining the role courts play in terms of guardianship cases but also in the Judicial Branch’s obligation to protect the legal rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Following the state supreme court’s announcement, on April 25, it was revealed that Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser had been appointed to serve on the Commission on Elder Law.

The health of Ukraine’s citizens under the seige of war

On April 22, OHCHR (The United Nations Human Rights Office) reported the number of civilian casualties in the Ukraine as killed: 2,435 and as injured: 2,946. However, Ukraine officials very recently strongly suggest the more accurate figure as 15,000 dead. The nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said weeks of bombardment in the city of Mariupol alone had killed “tens of thousands.” While these estimates vary widely, there is no doubt that both in the general civilian population and in the military, huge numbers of Ukrainian citizens are dying and suffering wounds for their country.

Kudlach Property Update

Representatives from M/I Homes were in attendance at the April 14 Board meeting as the board took up the proposed development of the 82-acre property along Dundee Road that is known as the Kudlach Property. M/I Homes requested approval for the construction 173 single family homes on the area bordered by Haligus, Dundee, Ruth, Main Street and the Huntley Municipal Building complex and the Shepard of the Prairie church property lines.

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