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.”

Nash said, “Sun City residents Sandi Karnatz (N33) and Dolores Fischer (N35) greatly assisted in the coordination of the shoe drive.”  

Putting his writing together in a volume had been on his mind for nearly 20 years, but lack of confidence kept Fox from taking the final step to publishing. Three years ago, Fox moved into Sun City and discovered that his next-door neighbor, Herb Fuqua, was writing a book. Fox felt encouraged.

Jim Ulszer, Sun City resident and member of the Rotary club, said, “The coat drive with Grafton Food Pantry grew out of our regular pickup from Grafton boxes at Heartland Bank, Brunch Cafe, Park District Cosman Center, Huntley Library, and BMO bank. It started about three years ago, after they had been providing coats to children for several years, but felt the need to support the parents as well.”

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.

Joe Quinn, a 22-year Sun City resident, has taken up that cause of waiver concern.

“I understand the reasons for it, trying to lower the cost of insurance premiums, but my concern is the heavy-handed implementation of forcing residents to sign the waiver agreement. I am opposed to being threatened to sign something under duress,” Quinn told My Sun Day News. “I question how it will be maintained.”

“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.

Welvers said, “My father was a painter. I began my studies in Mexico City. It has been my focus my entire life. I have painted everywhere I live. In my work, I seek to vividly examine questions related to the human condition by pursuing the tensions between realism and impressionism. As an artist, I examine universal truths by using the canvas as a conduit for interpreting personal experiences and reflection.”

Welvers continued her studies in art when she moved from Mexico to Germany, where she lived for 20 years. Then she moved to New Jersey and then to Illinois. But her love of art continued.

Beverly Kenny, Coordinator of the program, welcomed quilters, veterans, and their friends, family, and guests. Sun City Marines started the event with the presentation of colors. Something to note is that the Gazebo Valor Quilters Guild is distinct from the National Quilts of Valor organization. The Huntley-area quilters were once affiliated with the national group, but they split off in 2014 because they wanted their quilts to be distributed locally.

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.