MY SUN DAY NEWS
I sometimes have trouble falling asleep, but the bigger issue is staying asleep. I’ll wake up around 2:00 a.m. and just lie there. Sometimes I need to use the bathroom, but most nights I’m restless for hours. By the time I drift off, it’s morning.
The Sun City Birdwatching Club takes first place at this year’s competition.
Letters for the week of July 16.
When the house lights dim and the stage illuminates, the actors’ garments command the audience’s attention. The genuine magic of these theatrical wardrobes begins months earlier. Sun City residents Donna Scott and Carol Burgett are behind every flawless silhouette, historically accurate bodice, and quick-change seam, transforming fabric into living art.
When the house lights dim and the stage illuminates, the actors’ garments command the audience’s attention. The genuine magic of these theatrical wardrobes begins months earlier.
Sun City residents Donna Scott and Carol Burgett are behind every flawless silhouette, historically accurate bodice, and quick-change seam, transforming fabric into living art.
Having never been to summer camp myself, I’m living vicariously through my daughter, who is working this summer as a camp counselor. The camp she’s at could be right out of a Wes Anderson movie: picnic tables by the lake, tiny, brightly painted cabins with bunk beds and screen doors; a mess hall with huge serving platters and ladles and pitchers lined up, freshly washed. We visited my daughter the other day, for a brief 30 minute-stopover while we happened to be driving through the quaint Wisconsin town where she works. As she met us on the gravel lane between the road and the camp, I could already detect a difference, the way her messy ponytail bounced with every step. She looks casual and comfortable, as if she’s recently discovered that her skin fits her perfectly.
Having never been to summer camp myself, I’m living vicariously through my daughter, who is working this summer as a camp counselor. The camp she’s at could be right out of a Wes Anderson movie: picnic tables by the lake, tiny, brightly painted cabins with bunk beds and screen doors; a mess hall with huge serving platters and ladles and pitchers lined up, freshly washed.
We visited my daughter the other day, for a brief 30 minute-stopover while we happened to be driving through the quaint Wisconsin town where she works. As she met us on the gravel lane between the road and the camp, I could already detect a difference, the way her messy ponytail bounced with every step. She looks casual and comfortable, as if she’s recently discovered that her skin fits her perfectly.
Sun City bids a heartbreaking farewell to a tiny neighborhood icon, Tinker the Chihuahua, who passed away on Sunday, May 3, at the incredible age of 17. Tinker came into Mary and Al Novak’s life when Mary retired. Mary said, “She only weighed half a pound when we got her.”
Sun City bids a heartbreaking farewell to a tiny neighborhood icon, Tinker the Chihuahua, who passed away on Sunday, May 3, at the incredible age of 17.
Tinker came into Mary and Al Novak’s life when Mary retired. Mary said, “She only weighed half a pound when we got her.”
The annual Sun City Grandma, Grandpa, & Me (GG&ME) Charter Club’s picnic once again brought energy, laughter, and cherished memories to our Sun City community. This beloved tradition continues to be one of the highlights of the summer, bridging generations through shared games, food, and quality time. While the event is always a success, this year’s picnic featured a special milestone that highlights the lasting impact of this club.
The annual Sun City Grandma, Grandpa, & Me (GG&ME) Charter Club’s picnic once again brought energy, laughter, and cherished memories to our Sun City community. This beloved tradition continues to be one of the highlights of the summer, bridging generations through shared games, food, and quality time.
While the event is always a success, this year’s picnic featured a special milestone that highlights the lasting impact of this club.
As I write this, a robin is pecking at my bathroom window. He’s been at it, off and on, since before 5 a.m. this morning. And as irritating as that is, he has been pecking at my window every morning at dawn’s first blush since early May — more than two months now. I have tried everything I know to stop him. Post-it notes on the glass. Even pictures of cats and wolves.
As I write this, a robin is pecking at my bathroom window. He’s been at it, off and on, since before 5 a.m. this morning.
And as irritating as that is, he has been pecking at my window every morning at dawn’s first blush since early May — more than two months now.
I have tried everything I know to stop him. Post-it notes on the glass. Even pictures of cats and wolves.
The Sun City pickleball season is in full swing, with lessons on all courts in the morning, for players rated 1.0 to 5.0 locally. “The pickleball season is off to a fantastic start,” Sun City Pickleball Club President Pam White said.
The Sun City pickleball season is in full swing, with lessons on all courts in the morning, for players rated 1.0 to 5.0 locally.
“The pickleball season is off to a fantastic start,” Sun City Pickleball Club President Pam White said.
In the latest issue of My Sunday News, T.R. Kerth’s column “All roads lead to bugtown,” cited recent research on the importance of our “friendly microscopic buddies.” Mr. Kerth accurately and rather imaginatively described bacteria that reside in our body’s cells as “taking over,” making you more “bugs than body.” While that thought might make some readers squeamish, looking at these microscopic bacteria from a medical perspective might prove reassuring. As Cleveland Clinic has reported, “The gut microbiome is a hot topic these days in medical and wellness communities, and it’s easy to see why. These critters seem to have so many tentacles in so many different body systems that it’s possible to imagine they might hold the key to understanding and treating a wide range of intractable diseases.”
In the latest issue of My Sunday News, T.R. Kerth’s column “All roads lead to bugtown,” cited recent research on the importance of our “friendly microscopic buddies.” Mr. Kerth accurately and rather imaginatively described bacteria that reside in our body’s cells as “taking over,” making you more “bugs than body.”
While that thought might make some readers squeamish, looking at these microscopic bacteria from a medical perspective might prove reassuring. As Cleveland Clinic has reported, “The gut microbiome is a hot topic these days in medical and wellness communities, and it’s easy to see why. These critters seem to have so many tentacles in so many different body systems that it’s possible to imagine they might hold the key to understanding and treating a wide range of intractable diseases.”
A change of scenery, as they say, is good for us. Getting out of the house and experiencing new things offers emotional benefits such as reduced stress and physical benefits such as better sleep. It was with great excitement that I discovered Allerton Park and Retreat. Located in Monticello, Illinois, a short three-and-a-half hour drive away, it is the perfect combination of a Georgian Manor house and 14 formal gardens. For this column, Micah Putman, the Associate Director of Park Operations, has graciously agreed to answer a few questions.
A change of scenery, as they say, is good for us. Getting out of the house and experiencing new things offers emotional benefits such as reduced stress and physical benefits such as better sleep. It was with great excitement that I discovered Allerton Park and Retreat. Located in Monticello, Illinois, a short three-and-a-half hour drive away, it is the perfect combination of a Georgian Manor house and 14 formal gardens.
For this column, Micah Putman, the Associate Director of Park Operations, has graciously agreed to answer a few questions.
Ahhhh, the circle of life. Restaurants close and new ones sprout up. This simple fact has allowed us to bore you with our reviews for the last 14 years. Nancy needed a piece of jewelry repaired, so we ventured out on Randall Road and lo and behold, what used to be Georgia’s Restaurant has been transformed into Suzaku Field Sushi Restaurant in Algonquin.
What’s sad about this year is that, in the 250th year of this great nation, there isn’t a plethora of films or television specials dedicated to its memory. True, there is a lot of coverage planned for by news outlets on July Fourth. However, very little has been present in the lead up. Larry David and co will have a program on just after the deadline of this article entitled HBO Max’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness on June 26. He and many others like Jerry Seinfeld and John Hamm created sketches lampooning various points in our history. As fitting as that is given the current state we are in now, I can’t help but feel like some mode of reverence in the Founding Fathers is deserved.
I’m an older adult who usually enjoys the change of seasons, but I’ll admit, summer has started to feel more like something to get through rather than something to enjoy.
Letters for the week of July 2.
Jan Newman is a neighbor to both human and animal friends. She has been a dedicated member of Sun City and a key player at Animal House Shelter. Newman began with a modest desire to help by walking dogs, but her dedication quickly deepened when she recognized a critical behind-the-scenes need. Her passion for animal welfare began nearly two decades ago. She started volunteering in 2007 at the Colorado Humane Society. “I got hooked,” Newman recalled. “The more you volunteer, the more you want to give of yourself.”
Jan Newman is a neighbor to both human and animal friends. She has been a dedicated member of Sun City and a key player at Animal House Shelter.
Newman began with a modest desire to help by walking dogs, but her dedication quickly deepened when she recognized a critical behind-the-scenes need. Her passion for animal welfare began nearly two decades ago. She started volunteering in 2007 at the Colorado Humane Society.
“I got hooked,” Newman recalled. “The more you volunteer, the more you want to give of yourself.”
I was home sick the other day with a migraine, when I emerged from under my cold cap and darkened room to scavenge for something to eat. Not interested in any type of cooking, I found a slightly freezer-burned box of mini quiches behind the ice trays. I sighed. It would have to do. Thank goodness they at least had bacon in them.
I spent about an hour this morning doing what I do almost every morning for at least half of the year – I ride my bike south along rural Sandwald Road as far as Big Timber Road, jingling my bike bell in happy greeting to the growing fields of corn. I watch the corn spend its entire lifetime from mid-May until late October — from first germination to final harvest — and along the way I reflect upon my own life and the many roads that got me here. For me, it is a kind of church moment to take that bike ride each day.
I spent about an hour this morning doing what I do almost every morning for at least half of the year – I ride my bike south along rural Sandwald Road as far as Big Timber Road, jingling my bike bell in happy greeting to the growing fields of corn.
I watch the corn spend its entire lifetime from mid-May until late October — from first germination to final harvest — and along the way I reflect upon my own life and the many roads that got me here. For me, it is a kind of church moment to take that bike ride each day.
It’s not often I personally address a public comment or argument. In fact, it’s only done when a reader submission disseminates incorrect or inaccurate information about My Sun Day News, as is seen in a letter appearing in this edition that presumes My Sun Day News is only distributed in Sun City. This presumption is in regards to the debate on whether or not My Sun Day News should publish Political Place letters.
With more than 50 years of experience in wellness, kinesiology, and injury recovery, Steve Ferry, known to many as “MedicineMan2,” is sharing his deep knowledge and caring approach in a new book to help seniors stay active. In Chair Yoga For Seniors: A Safe and Effective Guide to Manage Joint Stiffness, Mobility Issues, and Regain Muscle Tone, Ferry provides a clear guide to aging with energy. “I cover everything from breathing techniques and foundational poses to focused exercises for joint health, balance, and muscle tone. Each chapter is designed to help you move with confidence and purpose,” he said.
With more than 50 years of experience in wellness, kinesiology, and injury recovery, Steve Ferry, known to many as “MedicineMan2,” is sharing his deep knowledge and caring approach in a new book to help seniors stay active. In Chair Yoga For Seniors: A Safe and Effective Guide to Manage Joint Stiffness, Mobility Issues, and Regain Muscle Tone, Ferry provides a clear guide to aging with energy.
“I cover everything from breathing techniques and foundational poses to focused exercises for joint health, balance, and muscle tone. Each chapter is designed to help you move with confidence and purpose,” he said.
Sun City Huntley residents have access to quality healthcare through the Northwestern Medicine Wellness Center. This facility, right in the community, offers premier medical expertise and is a trusted asset for residents’ well-being. Upon arrival, residents are welcomed by a cohesive medical team ready to address everything from preventive wellness to acute concerns. The Wellness Center’s daily team includes: Elena Makris, patient services representative; Lori Marcantonio, RN, clinical support; Gennesia Crowley, expert in phlebotomy; and Matilda Lutaj, nurse practitioner, overseeing primary treatments.
People trying to mail letters at Meadow View Lodge have noticed that the familiar blue USPS drop box is gone. It has been missing for several months, and residents like Donna Bodzin are asking what happened.
Nancy is crazy for coupons. Everybody knows that if you buy something you don’t need but you have a coupon for it, you’re saving money. She has saved us so much money over the years, we should be filthy rich! Nancy found in our mailbox the weekly sales flyers and in it was an envelope which contained a coupon for a local restaurant. We did hear good things about it, so we couldn’t afford not to go. We grabbed our coupon and with dollar signs in our eyeballs, we hurried off to The Annex Restaurant and Lounge in Lake in the Hills.
As soon as the ground thawed this spring, I excitedly ran outside and set three metal chickens within a flower bed. After taking great care with the placement and the spacing, I took a few steps back and smiled. These three chickens, set in front of an old chicken house, bring me a tremendous amount of joy.
I’m hoping you can help me think through a difficult situation that keeps popping up with my mom. My dad passed away nearly five years ago, and since then, my mom has been living alone. For a while, my wife would bring our kids over during the week to visit for a few hours. Now that our kids are older, they’re in school and involved in sports, so our visits have naturally slowed down.
I’m hoping you can help me think through a difficult situation that keeps popping up with my mom.
My dad passed away nearly five years ago, and since then, my mom has been living alone. For a while, my wife would bring our kids over during the week to visit for a few hours. Now that our kids are older, they’re in school and involved in sports, so our visits have naturally slowed down.
As we are about to head into some oppressive summer weather, some levity is in order. My wish was that I wanted to review Scary Movie 6 and another film. However, with scheduling, this isn’t going to come to pass here. Maybe next time. Columnists have been editorializing on the bummer summer we are getting. All the songs are about heartbreak and wistful longing. Beloved shows are making their exit. A farewell in late night has rocked the public. And in that view, one really big film event needed to be addressed.
Letters of kindness found in the Sun City Community.
Letters for the week of June 18.
Every great rock and roll story starts with a simple spark, and for bass guitarist John Dwyer, that spark was a deep-seated passion to play. His creative drive ultimately led to the formation of The Del Fossils, a high-energy rock and roll band comprised entirely of local talent. Dwyer proudly notes that all band members are Sun City residents, highlighting the tight-knit, community-based nature of the group.
Lately, granny squares have been popping up in unexpected places. Remember granny squares? I watched my mother work her crochet hook like a magic wand when I was a little kid in the 70s. The sight of her yarn morphing into squares, which were then stitched together to become handbags and blankets is a core memory for me. So is the click-click of her knitting needles. As well as the whir of her sewing machine. As I grew into a teen, I rejected all these things, because I was determined to be more contemporary, not wanting to continue these “old lady” hobbies.
Lately, granny squares have been popping up in unexpected places.
Remember granny squares? I watched my mother work her crochet hook like a magic wand when I was a little kid in the 70s. The sight of her yarn morphing into squares, which were then stitched together to become handbags and blankets is a core memory for me. So is the click-click of her knitting needles. As well as the whir of her sewing machine. As I grew into a teen, I rejected all these things, because I was determined to be more contemporary, not wanting to continue these “old lady” hobbies.
