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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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News & Features Columnists Editorials Hang Your Hat Obituaries My Huntley News

August 13, 2020

News & Features

COVID-free…at last

After more than two months of fighting the COVID-19 virus, an Elgin family of four is thankful to be reunited after three of them contracted COVID-19.

Olivia Morales, 22, looks back on March 2020 with bemusement. “When everything was in lockdown and none of us were sick, we thought we were bored,” she said. “But that was nothing compared to this. We would rather be bored than have anyone experience anything like this.”

The return of e-learning

Every residence where a student lives in Huntley Community School District 158 will become a center of learning “temporarily” replacing the traditional classrooms in the 2020-2021 school year.

On the first day of student remote attendance set for Friday, August 21, all students in District 158 will report from their own residences. This is what’s called a modified remote learning model for this fall.

COVID-19 Cases Rising in Lake and McHenry Counties

Public health officials in Lake and McHenry Counties are urging the public to take action to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of August 3, the testing positivity rate in the North Suburban Region was 4.9 percent, with daily increases reported in 4 of the past 10 days.

The butterfly effect

You may know Janet Graf from her stunning performances in the Sun City’s theatre productions. Outside of the theatre, Graf raises Monarchs. This year she has released around 95 butterflies.

“I find the eggs on a milkweed leaf, I break the leaf off and I put them in a glass container on my counter,” Graf said.

In Need of a Good Laugh?

There is an apology on order, dear readers. Much of my current columns have been dedicated to heavier topics. But with what we have been going through, we are in need of an escape. And the best way for this is in comedies. Luckily there are a number of great recent choices to bring on the yucks and guffaws.

Back to school… sort of

Creating a whole new way of operating a school and educating students in the world of COVID-19 has had hundreds of Huntley School District 158 staff members working tirelessly against the calendar as the start of a new academic year draws near.

Dan Armstrong, director of Communications and Public Engagement, knows that some people may not understand the complexity of a school district.

Lost wheelchair base

In Del Webb near pool. Thought to have been left when person was picked up during rain on Sunday. Parkinson’s resident was returned to DeerPath with only back rest of seat. The base has two batteries and looks like a black scooter.

Reward offered. If found, please call 847-209-9978.

Huntley Plan Commission reaches verdict on potential Hampton Inn Hotel project

The ongoing discussion on whether to approve of Woodstock Hotel, Inc.’s petition to construct a four-story, 100 room Hampton Inn Hotel appears to be getting some traction within the confines of Huntley’s body of government. As of July 13, the Huntley Plan Commission recommended the approval of the hotel project by a vote of four to one.

The 63,208 square foot hotel is slated to occupy 3.7 acres of the 11.3-acre Lot 2 of the Huntley Crossings Final Plat of Subdivision, with the main entrance to face towards Route 47.

The time to wear a mask is now

Throughout the end of this past March, confusing statements on whether or not to wear face masks could be heard emitting from various U.S. communication media. But with all of us still in the coronavirus battle and with cases mounting daily, Americans unanimously (including the White House) seem to be in agreement. Our First Lady, Melania Trump, comments “Even in the summer months, please remember to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.” She continues, “The more precautions we take now can mean a healthier and safer country in the fall.”

Ex-selling at beauty

Darlene Rutledge, a Sun City Resident, has worked at the same job for 47 years and continues to work at that job.

“I joined as a Mary Kay Consultant in Springfield area on April 1, 1973, to get out of the house a couple of times a week as a break from my 1 & 4-year-old with a big goal of making $30 profit a week, and I expected to quit. I was the first consultant and director in my hometown of Springfield, Illinois,” Rutledge said.

Village investigates ruse burglary

The Village of Huntley investigating a report of a ruse burglary occurring on July 15 at approximately 7 pm in the 11300 block of Dean Street.

With club closures still in effect, Softball moves ahead with pickup games

The Sun City Softball players have been waiting to hear those magical words this summer: “Play ball.”

The field is open, but on June 24, the Sun City Board decided that all club activities were canceled.

Go Fund Me campaign for Grafton Food Pantry

Sun City Huntley has Heart sponsored a Go Fund Me campaign for Grafton Food Pantry.

Questions raised about Sun City’s Phase 4 reopening

As many residents eagerly assimilate into the new normal for Sun City brought on by the “Phase 4” guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan, there remains questions as to whether the Sun City Community Association Board of Directors have made the right decisions on choosing to open some amenities while maintaining others closed.

Phase 5, the new goal

Moving into Phase 4 for the State of Illinois is a type of “thank you” from the governor’s office that comes with relief and the hope of normalcy. In the governor’s message on Illinois moving into Phase 4, JB. Pritzker said he looked at the data provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

A subdued 4th for Huntley

The reports came in from all over the country. A CBS affiliate in the Denver area reported a substantial increase in firework reports over the Fourth of July, as did local papers in Dayton, Ohio and Lincoln, Nebraska. But in Huntley, and much of the surrounding area, people are saying that the last few weeks have been comparatively firework-free.

‘Trespassers’ welcomed

Due to the Coronavirus concerns, the Sunflower Garden Club has canceled the annual Resident Garden Walk this year. The club is doing its part in social distancing and following the Board’s mandates. But nine Sun City residents have opened up their beautiful gardens for the Community.

Telemedicine, part 2: virtual care

In spite of its huge negative hold on the world, the Coronavirus pandemic, with its international governments’ enforced quarantine policies, is contributing to incredible new advancements in the field of virtual medicine.

Young love…for 65 years

Covid-19 did not stop neighbors, friends, and family from celebrating Barb and Pat Freeman’s 65th Wedding Anniversary on June 18.

Happy Zoomversary!

Joan and Larry Davis celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with nearly 50 friends and relatives, in a special hybrid version of an anniversary party, suitable for this most unusual year.

The pen and the brick, a followup to my previous Happy Trails

In light of some of the feedback I received on my last Happy Trails (titled “A riot speaks a thousand words but one voice speaks millions”) published in the June 4 edition, I thought it best to add a follow up because I think I missed the mark with its point for some readers, which is what I get for writing half-asleep at 2 a.m. the night before (or morning of) production.

Rain nor Shine nor Coronavirus

Over 45 vehicles lined up, social distancing for Sun City’s Golf Cart Parade at Prairie Lodge Parking Lot. Participants were advised to stay in their cart or keep the current 6-foot social distancing requirement. Spectators who were lining up on the route were also advised to stay in your yard or keep their distances.

COVID-19 and the next step in the process of privacy rights

Deputies with McHenry County Sheriff’s Police, municipal law enforcement officers, and other first responders will not continue receiving names of people infected or testing positive for COVID-19.

Contact tracing

Both Kane and McHenry County Health Departments are awaiting word from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on grants for additional funding of contact tracing. Each county sent their plans on exactly how they would use the yearlong grant for their respective contact tracing program.

Board meeting agenda: reopening under Phase 4 guidelines

The Sun City Community Association Board of Directors meeting was held on Wednesday, June 24, at 9 a.m. via video conference streamed live on www.sccah.com. The Illinois governor’s Phase 4 guidelines for reopening activities were considered by the board in voting on decisions to resume activities.

Because I’m ‘Happy’

This past month, Sun City received a challenge to a dance-off by a neighboring community. Kathy O’ Toole, Sun City Fitness Manager, responded to that challenge stating, “And we want to show them our moves.”

The email blast went out to residents. Clubs contacted their members, and neighborhood captains encouraged their neighbors and individuals got their plans together.