Sun City or Sin City?

Sun City resident publishes riveting memoir

Jerry Straily, a Sun City resident, wrote a book that took years to finish. But this year, it’s published. The book is a memoir about his struggles and his journey to change.

Straily said, “Unfortunately, all the events in this book are true. Most names in this book have been changed to protect the individuals’ identities. And yes, there is a heaven and a hell, and I’ve approached both. My book reveals a dysfunctional family life and what it leads to: pain, suffering, loss of trust, poor decisions, and a turbulent life.”

Where has all the wildlife gone?

“Where have all the birds, butterflies and bees gone?” asked Helen Wiederkehr, Sun City Resident, in a letter to the Sun Day News editor. “When my husband and I moved into Sun City in 2002 it was so beautiful, with abundant birds, wildlife and even insects like bees and fireflies. We used to see doves, tree swallows and cardinals everywhere. Not to mention killdeer running all over the golf course, of which I haven’t seen one for the last five or six years. Almost all have dwindled. I don’t know what has even happened to the squirrels in my neighborhood.”

Wiederkehr suspects a specific cause.

Shops on Main offers new opportunities to local creators

Denisee Garza has been busy with her successful business, DD Creations, for about a decade now.

On November 1, DD Creations, will be part of the 10 businesses Shops on Main Village of Huntley incubator business shops at Route 47 and Main Street. Village officials hope most shops will be open at the former Hackett House site by or around November 10.

2024’s Miss Huntley reflects on pageant life

Did you know that the tradition of selecting Miss Huntley goes back to 1949? This year, on July 19, another Miss Huntley was chosen for 2025. The Miss Huntley/Lake in the Hills Scholarship Pageant promotes the personal and professional growth of young women. The annual scholarship pageant celebrates the talents and accomplishments of young women in the community and aims to promote confidence, leadership, and personal development. The 2025 Miss Huntley is Destiny Tolbert, and Kruthi Aiyer was selected as Miss Lake in the Hills.

Annual flower show returns to support community

This November, the annual Flower Show, organized by the Huntley Area Lions Club, will celebrate its twelfth year. Since then, it has grown in attendance and popularity. This year, the show takes place on Wednesday, November 5, from 7-9 p.m.

Carol Didricksen, chair of the event said, “This year, we have three florists creating and crafting beautiful floral arrangements in person.”

Altogether ooky

The Theatre Company of Sun City is preparing for a ghoulishly good time for audiences as they announce their fall musical, The Addams Family.

Shoe donation initiative steps up in Sun City

It all started when Sun City resident Dave Nash lost his wife of 48 years, Rosemary, in April of this year.

“I wanted to donate the shoes she had, which were in good condition, to someplace other than Goodwill. I started researching, and I found Soles4Souls, a non-profit organization.”

Successful tourney wraps up pickleball season

The Sun City Pickleball Charter Club, whose motto is “Game On” concluded its summer season with a three-day tournament ending September 20.

“We had 200 participants, and they all played well,” Pickleball Charter Club President Pam White said. “We had participants from age 50 to 100, and some of the older players beat some of the younger ones.”

COVID Vaccine update

A once-straightforward seasonal vaccine process has become puzzling this year because of changes in new federal guidance. Understanding what has changed with this year’s COVID vaccine recommendations requires a brief review of the usual way vaccines are adopted each year in the US. Two federal agencies are involved. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)oversees review of the safety and efficacy of candidate vaccines and is authorized to determine whether or not to approve vaccines for use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)is responsible for providing recommendations on how to use approved vaccines. This includes issuing annual U.S. adult and childhood immunization recommendations (referred to as “immunization schedules.”)

Volunteer of the year

Sun City resident Esther Bell had words of admiration for one of her neighbors, Sandy Magana.

“She has been a dedicated member of the Elgin Symphony League (ESL) for over 25 years and manages the Boutique at the Hemmens Cultural Center, during performances. Before that, she served as an usherer at ESO concerts for six years, including during Bob Hansen’s 25th anniversary season. It is an experience she fondly remembers.”

Lumbarjacks chop way to softball championship

Darkness was coming fast when the Lumbarjacks took their 11th inning swings against the Monarchs in the Sun City Softball Club’s 16-inch championship series.

The season concluded with 90 minutes of intense softball and a 6-3 Lumbarjacks’ comeback triumph for the title over the Monarchs at Veterans Memorial Field Sept. 3.

Spooky season gets a head start

With Halloween candy already on the shelves, it’s also time for the highly anticipated Halloween Bash in Sun City. The Grandma, Grandpa, and Me (GG&Me) Charter Club, Model Train Club, and the RV Club are preparing for a unique and thrilling event on Sunday, October 26. This event is for everyone, regardless of age. There will be games, crafts, and entertainment. Everyone can come in costume.

Pam Mosier, president of GG&Me, said, “The party starts in Drendel Hall at 1 p.m. This event is also a fundraiser for the GG&Me club, raising money for the other events held throughout the year, which are offered at no cost or at a low price to the club’s membership.”

Tax preparation volunteers needed

Tax season might reach a fervor in April, but it’s a year-round topic.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax assistance free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers over 50 and with low-to-moderate incomes. The program is free and does not require membership in AARP.

Sun City community receives distinguished award

On July 17, the Huntley School Board awarded the Sun City community the Positive Outlier Award. A Positive Outlier is someone who goes above and beyond to spread positivity and lifts the community around them.

Bill Niemasz, Sun City Board President, Brian Gregory, Executive Director, Dolores Fischer, a resident and a critical component of the partnership with the school district, and Ben Manibog received the recognition on the behalf of all of Sun City residents who have given their time, shared their skills and experience, and helped with many needs of the School District.

Mondays bring Divas golf to Pinecrest

More than a dozen years ago, an idea for a new ladies golf league became reality at Pinecrest Golf Club.

“The name Diva’s was chosen by the ladies by a show of hands and the league has evolved over fourteen years,” Diva’s Ladies Golf League president Joyce Marnell said.

The gallery will be a vibrant showcase of Sun City’s artistic diversity, featuring over 140 original artworks from more than 40 talented artists of the club. The exhibition will be a rich tapestry of artistic expression, with works in acrylics, oils, pastels, colored pencil & graphite drawings, watercolor, and collage.

In tune

Sun City residents Michael Hollis and his wife, Norita Degallado, share a deep passion for music that brought them together.

Hollis fondly recalls, “A friend of ours introduced us in 2007. We went out together once.”

Degallado adds, “We talked about music, but we made no plans to get together.”

Ask an Angel: September 11, 2025

I’m a 72-year-old woman who has always tried to take decent care of myself. I watch what I eat, walk when the weather is nice, and keep up with the grandkids when I can. But for the past couple of years, my cholesterol levels have kept creeping up. My doctor mentioned medications, but I’d like to try making some real lifestyle changes first.

Post-season softball clashes provide fun

The Barrett family, Evers, Mike, Susan, Jack, and Bonnie gathered for a photo along the third-base line at Sun City’s Veterans Memorial Field.

They were celebrating the Monarchs’ 8-7 comeback win over the Adjusters in the first round of the Sun City Softball Club’s post-season tournament.

Evers, age 5, shouted “go grandpa, go” during the exciting night of softball Aug. 13. Grandad, age 85 years young, came through with a single and three key putouts at home as catcher.

Sun City Lions Club hosts mobile health screening unit

Since 2007, the Lions of Illinois Foundation Mobile Screening Unit Program has been traveling throughout Illinois and conducting screening for hearing loss and retinal eye diseases. Each year, local Lions Clubs host the Mobile Screening Unit within their communities.

The Huntley area Lions Club is hosting this mobile unit on September 30, allowing Sun City residents to have their hearing and eyes checked conveniently. A Sun City resident generously donated $500 to cover the expenses. The van is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by trained professionals to screen for retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness) and hearing loss.

It’s a small world after all

John and Mary Paule Bierlein never even heard of Huntley, Illinois until they decided to move there in 2008 to be closer to their grown children. Their roots were in Michigan, where they fell in love at Michigan State University, married in 1960, and spent most of their married life and child-rearing years settled north of Detroit. But when their two children, Paul and Lori, wound up relocating and settling in Illinois and southern Wisconsin to start their careers, John and Mary Paule eventually followed.

Because they were at retirement age, someone suggested the Bierleins check out Del Webb retirement community in Huntley.

Davis completes bike journey, raises funds for disabled

Jennifer Davis of Huntley rode her bicycle across northern Iowa as part of the 52nd Annual RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), with a two-fold purpose.

Davis’ ride of 400 miles raised funds for the Msrklund Home. Marklund Home’s mission, as described on its web site, “is to make everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities.” Davis said her late mother-in-law, Anne Davis, started the family’s support5 of Marklund Home, which has Geneva and Elgin locations. Davis donated $500 to Marklund.

Reeling in family fellowship

The Anglers and Grandma, Grandpa, & Me members, along with their grandkids, enjoying an afternoon at the annual fishing derby on July 24 at Wildflower Lake.

In her Lang

Summer vacation is soon over, and school will be starting shortly for Huntley children. Some will be lucky to be transported by a special bus driver and Sun City resident, Kristen Lang.

Lang has been driving a bus for fifteen years. Most of her career was in Minnesota, where she also trained others to drive a bus.

Lang said, “I loved the job and the kids. I left the position because I fell in love and I moved here to Sun City. I was hired here as a bus driver for the Huntley School District. Before I left Minnesota, I wrote a letter to each of my students. It was a sad goodbye. But I love it here in Huntley.”

Sun City resident, Ed Piotrowski, is a published author. His current project has been finishing and publishing a book based on writings by his mother. The book gives a glimpse into the lives of two members of the “Greatest Generation,” Virginia and her husband, Eddie Piotrowski.

Piotrowski said, “When she was in her 80s, my mother documented the first 30 years of her life, from 1922 to 1952.”

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