MY SUN DAY NEWS
Whether we like it or not, our world is becoming more electronics-focused. Information that we used to get from books, we now derive from our computer. Communication that previously took the form of face-to-face conversations is now done through our smart phones. The average American spends 7 hours and 4 minutes staring at a screen per day. Only 1/3 of all adults spend more than 1 hour a day outside. Children spend less time outdoors than any other generation.
Upon watching the Pride Parade a couple weekends ago, I was reminded of how fun riding on a motorcycle looks like. Wind in your hair as the world breezes past. The exhilaration of being outdoors while simultaneously on a moving vehicle seems too good to resist. That is, with the exception that you can be more easily hurt than riding in a car. Back in college I read Robert M Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for class, but it feels like the afterthought of the feature I plan to talk about today.
As I sit down to plan our family reunion, I find myself filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. It’s been years since we’ve all come together under one roof. I want to ensure that this reunion is not only memorable but also inclusive and enjoyable for everyone, especially our elderly family members.
One of my primary concerns is how to prepare and accommodate our elderly relatives, some of whom have specific needs or health issues. For example, my beloved aunt has been showing signs of early dementia and I want to ensure she feels comfortable and supported throughout the gathering.
It’s a wonderful age we now live in. There are hundreds of cable channels and dozens of streaming services, all for the low introductory price of $4.99 a month. Nancy cringes when I turn on the TV. She is fed up with me watching Hoarders, American Pickers, and Dr. Pimple Popper. As a result, we find ourselves tuning into the old standards, such as the prime-time cartoon show, The Flintstones. We love their creative solutions to everyday items such as the Pterodactyl Airlines, the dinosaur garbage disposal, and the baby elephant vacuum cleaner. Interesting, isn’t it, they all had TV. With this in mind, we jumped into our prehistoric “Mini”-mobile and decided to go to Granite City Food and Brewery in Schaumburg. Jim got his size 14 clod-hoppers all revved up, his feet hit the pavement, and off we went.
Note: The views expressed in these political submissions do not reflect those of the Sun Day, its staff, or those associated to the Sun Day.
Bonnie Scherkenbach, a Sun City resident, isn’t afraid of change. Having once taught first, second, and third-grade children, she later felt the pull to switch gears and embark on a new path. Scherkenbach said, “I decided to return to school and work on getting a master’s degree in counseling, focusing on gerontology. I went from one end of the age spectrum to the other. I got three different internships as part of my program. Those were at the Palatine Township Senior Services, Condell Intergenerational Day Center, and The Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA). After finishing my degree, I was employed at BACOA for 20 years.”
Bonnie Scherkenbach, a Sun City resident, isn’t afraid of change.
Having once taught first, second, and third-grade children, she later felt the pull to switch gears and embark on a new path.
Scherkenbach said, “I decided to return to school and work on getting a master’s degree in counseling, focusing on gerontology. I went from one end of the age spectrum to the other. I got three different internships as part of my program. Those were at the Palatine Township Senior Services, Condell Intergenerational Day Center, and The Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA). After finishing my degree, I was employed at BACOA for 20 years.”
Sun City Bridge Charter Club took a moment away from their serious game to celebrate resident John Snow’s 100th birthday not once but twice. Pat Zenner, a resident and bridge player, said, “On May 31, in the card room at the lodge, we will have a cake to celebrate his birthday.” Not to be outdone, the Monday night bridge group also celebrated Snow’s centennial birthday with more cake on June 3. Sandi Karnatz said, “John is an amazing man and bridge player. He likes to play no trump. Everyone who plays with him knows that.”
Sun City Bridge Charter Club took a moment away from their serious game to celebrate resident John Snow’s 100th birthday not once but twice. Pat Zenner, a resident and bridge player, said, “On May 31, in the card room at the lodge, we will have a cake to celebrate his birthday.”
Not to be outdone, the Monday night bridge group also celebrated Snow’s centennial birthday with more cake on June 3.
Sandi Karnatz said, “John is an amazing man and bridge player. He likes to play no trump. Everyone who plays with him knows that.”
Sun City Prairie Singers put on a hit show on June 8 at the Willow Creek Community Church of Huntley. The cast of 79 Prairie Singers, 22 Prairie Voices, and nine Prairie Singers Pit Ensemble members with accompanist Barbara Klein were all directed by Denise Caliendo. The hours of practice and crew of volunteers, ushers, ticket sellers, sound and lighting teams, and generous support to the musical programs all played an essential role in the production’s success.
Sun City Prairie Singers put on a hit show on June 8 at the Willow Creek Community Church of Huntley. The cast of 79 Prairie Singers, 22 Prairie Voices, and nine Prairie Singers Pit Ensemble members with accompanist Barbara Klein were all directed by Denise Caliendo.
The hours of practice and crew of volunteers, ushers, ticket sellers, sound and lighting teams, and generous support to the musical programs all played an essential role in the production’s success.
Recently, while traveling back from Oregon State University for our daughter’s graduation, I had just enough time in the airport to choose a snack for the flight and then hurry to the gate to board the plane. The pressure was on. It was mid-afternoon when we boarded the plane but it would be well into the evening before we disembarked. What should I choose to provide sustenance for the next four hours? As I saw it, my options were a blueberry scone, a bag of potato chips, or a fresh-made salad. Ultimately, I chose the salad figuring that it was the option that was the healthiest for me and perhaps for the environment. Choosing what to plant in our yards is a bit like deciding what to put into our bodies. What not only brings us joy, but is also good for the environment and those around us?
I realize that it’s unethical and illegal to conduct mind control experiments on living humans, but I think I should be cut some slack since I’m only doing it to bring a good man back to life. OK, that might not be the best way to begin this. Let me start again.
I realize that it’s unethical and illegal to conduct mind control experiments on living humans, but I think I should be cut some slack since I’m only doing it to bring a good man back to life.
OK, that might not be the best way to begin this. Let me start again.
The famous Serenity Prayer penned by Reinhold Niebuhr in 1932 has woven itself into my life from the very start. Growing up as a minister’s daughter, the prayer appeared to me in prayer books and greeting cards, on motivational wall hangings and embroidered pillows. When I went away to college, I lived in a dorm named after Rev. Niebuhr, who was a pastor, theologian, and ethicist. My father wrote me letters addressed to Niebuhr Hall, and he would tuck a copy of the prayer he had clipped from a church bulletin. On the back, he would write with his customary post script: “You may keep.”
The famous Serenity Prayer penned by Reinhold Niebuhr in 1932 has woven itself into my life from the very start. Growing up as a minister’s daughter, the prayer appeared to me in prayer books and greeting cards, on motivational wall hangings and embroidered pillows.
When I went away to college, I lived in a dorm named after Rev. Niebuhr, who was a pastor, theologian, and ethicist. My father wrote me letters addressed to Niebuhr Hall, and he would tuck a copy of the prayer he had clipped from a church bulletin. On the back, he would write with his customary post script: “You may keep.”
Congratulations Pixar for the first one-hundred million-dollar domestic opener for the year at the box office, the first since Barbie last year. Your animation studios have had quite a curse hanging over, presumably caused by a prick off the needle on a spinning wheel I suppose. But it begs the question, where is the elusive blockbuster for adults this year? You know, those beings that pay taxes and read these ancient scrolls I have heard of called newspapers? Yes, there has been some bigger movies of late (two starring Zendaya). A few more are on the way out, but what is the holdup? There is one film that I have seen which could have been, but is not in theaters.
Nancy doesn’t ask for very many things in life (okay, let’s wait for the lightning bolt to subside after hitting this newspaper). One day she had a taste for a pizza in a dine in restaurant. I would never pass up a good Italian dinner and remember, happy wife, happy life. She remembered a place in Elgin that coincidentally is in the same shopping center as our favorite donut shop. Looking forward to a “win-win” that evening, off we went to Maciano’s Pizza and Pastaria.
As Independence Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the notion of freedom and what it means to truly live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Recently, I’ve been feeling as if I’m stuck in a rut in my career. I feel trapped in a cycle of meaningless work that keeps me tied to a desk most of my day. I long for a greater sense of purpose and connection to my community. In my search for a more fulfilling career path, I’ve been drawn to the idea of becoming a professional caregiver. The prospect of making a difference in the life of a senior while also enjoying the flexibility and independence that come with this line of work is incredibly appealing to me.
As Independence Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the notion of freedom and what it means to truly live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Recently, I’ve been feeling as if I’m stuck in a rut in my career. I feel trapped in a cycle of meaningless work that keeps me tied to a desk most of my day. I long for a greater sense of purpose and connection to my community.
In my search for a more fulfilling career path, I’ve been drawn to the idea of becoming a professional caregiver. The prospect of making a difference in the life of a senior while also enjoying the flexibility and independence that come with this line of work is incredibly appealing to me.
Letters for the week of June 27.
Father’s Day, a holiday we now celebrate with joy and gratitude, was not always a part of our cultural fabric. It was founded in Washington State by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910, a woman of remarkable determination. This was a time when the role of fathers was not as publicly recognized as it is today. The first celebration was held in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Dodd’s father, a Civil War veteran and a single parent who raised his six children, is the inspiration behind this day. After hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day, Dodd felt a similar holiday honoring fathers was long overdue. She initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, but the pastors needed more time to prepare their sermons; the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.
Mystery, murder, and intrigue will take center stage in Sun City Theatre Company’s summer production of Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap. The play is set at a remote guesthouse, where seven strangers are trapped by a snowstorm. When a police sergeant arrives to investigate a murder nearby, suspicion is cast in all directions as the strangers are questioned and reveal their sordid pasts.
Mystery, murder, and intrigue will take center stage in Sun City Theatre Company’s summer production of Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap.
The play is set at a remote guesthouse, where seven strangers are trapped by a snowstorm. When a police sergeant arrives to investigate a murder nearby, suspicion is cast in all directions as the strangers are questioned and reveal their sordid pasts.
Todd Ary and Mark Stahl, teachers at Heineman Middle School, sent students outside of the classroom and brought history to life for their students. Ary said, “We invited veterans from the community, allowing students to interview them and show veterans how much their service is valued.” Sixteen veterans representing the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy branches of service participated in the program.
Todd Ary and Mark Stahl, teachers at Heineman Middle School, sent students outside of the classroom and brought history to life for their students.
Ary said, “We invited veterans from the community, allowing students to interview them and show veterans how much their service is valued.”
Sixteen veterans representing the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy branches of service participated in the program.
Russ Becker finished a castle that took 15 years to build. It was featured in My Sun Day News in June 2022. Since then, residents and friends have encouraged him to keep on building. He has completed nine buildings. Recently, his finished projects included the Pentagon and the St. Louis Arch.
If things had gone differently, tomorrow would have been my 55th wedding anniversary. But as the 18th Century Scottish poet Robert Burns famously wrote: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Well, that’s not exactly how he said it. In the words of his place and time, it was: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!”
If things had gone differently, tomorrow would have been my 55th wedding anniversary.
But as the 18th Century Scottish poet Robert Burns famously wrote: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
Well, that’s not exactly how he said it. In the words of his place and time, it was: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!”
Jim Eggers, a Sun City resident, has always been passionate about ships and architecture. He recently completed building a historically accurate replica of the Yacht Mary. Eggers said, “I started this project 40 years ago. I purchased this kit, which was a replica of the Yacht Mary. It is 1/54 scale of the original, a gift from Amsterdam for King Charles II. It was not a fighting ship. It was a pleasure ship.”
Jim Eggers, a Sun City resident, has always been passionate about ships and architecture. He recently completed building a historically accurate replica of the Yacht Mary.
Eggers said, “I started this project 40 years ago. I purchased this kit, which was a replica of the Yacht Mary. It is 1/54 scale of the original, a gift from Amsterdam for King Charles II. It was not a fighting ship. It was a pleasure ship.”
Everybody knows that smoking is bad for one’s health. It’s also generally recognized that being lonely and socially isolated can be harmful to both our emotional and physical health. But can feeling lonely and isolated really be as bad for us as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? Or drinking six alcoholic drinks a day?
Last week, my family drove off into the west without me. While they went to visit some relatives on my husband’s side of the family, I stayed back, left alone with our dog and a stack of to-do lists for myself. I know myself to be an introvert, but I’m always a little bit shocked, on these rare occasions when I’m left alone, at how much of an introvert I am.
Last week, my family drove off into the west without me. While they went to visit some relatives on my husband’s side of the family, I stayed back, left alone with our dog and a stack of to-do lists for myself.
I know myself to be an introvert, but I’m always a little bit shocked, on these rare occasions when I’m left alone, at how much of an introvert I am.
In life we all have choices to make. Some choices are mundane such as choosing which shirt to wear, figuring out what to make for dinner, or deciding on the next Netflix series to watch. Other choices can be much more difficult, such as at what age to retire, making medical decisions or picking a vacation destination. We also have choices regarding the plants that we grow in our yards. Those choices revolve around flower color, mature height and width, the maintenance required, and the environmental conditions in which the plant grows best. Another factor may be whether the plant is a native or non-native. This column includes a description of native plants, the benefits of planting native plants and resources for those who would like more information.
Nancy has saved the Eggers’ household countless millions of dollars by being on every restaurant rewards club mailing list. Most of the time these rewards consist of getting a free small cheese pizza after you purchase 62 large pizzas with all the toppings. However, every once in a while, an email does strike a chord and actually is a good deal. Such was the case when Nancy received an email telling us about “Lobster Weekends” at Bonefish Grill in Algonquin.
I’m facing a delicate family matter that’s been weighing heavily on my mind, and I’m writing to get some advice on what to do. I find myself in a situation where my siblings and I are at odds regarding our parents’ health and the level of care they need. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed signs that indicate our parents may require more assistance at home. Simple tasks that they used to handle with see now seem to be increasingly more challenging for them. Despite my concerns, my siblings seem reluctant to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
As summer heat sets in, some dream of heading out to listen to their favorite bands perform. Concerts were the most missed when we were stuck in ascetic hermitage from a certain plague. My first major concert was during Septemberfest: Ramsey Lewis and his band. Those ethereal nights sitting on blankets under the stars. During the last four years, I have been more grateful for those memories than I ever had. A sense of community we all lost has slowly been creeping back in the intervening years. In college, rock shows were a staple of a Saturday night. After watching these two films, a spark of those times flickered in my joy.
Father’s Day is coming up soon! Feel free to build off of ideas from the Mother’s Day article, including ice cream and other experiences. You could even send this to your kids to spoil you! Now let’s find out how to celebrate Dad this year!
The 25th Anniversary of Sun City is not just a number, it’s a testament to lots of collective dedication and hard work. Over the past quarter-century, Sun City has transformed into an exceptional resort-style community for active adults aged 55 and over. The lifestyle has evolved, enriched by the addition of events, classes, charter clubs, a myriad of activities, and a 94,000-square-foot clubhouse. With over 5,400 homes spread across 2,200 acres, Sun City Huntley stands as one of the largest and most amenity-rich communities in the region, and a true source of pride for all residents.
