MY SUN DAY NEWS
Elwood Dowd, the kind-hearted, eccentric protagonist of the play, âHarvey,â enjoys talking to strangers, although, he says, they donât stay strangers for long. âSoon, the faces of all the other people, they turn toward mine and they smile,â says Elwood. âAnd theyâre saying, âWe donât know your name, mister, but youâre a very nice fella.ââ
Elwood Dowd, the kind-hearted, eccentric protagonist of the play, âHarvey,â enjoys talking to strangers, although, he says, they donât stay strangers for long.Â
âSoon, the faces of all the other people, they turn toward mine and they smile,â says Elwood. âAnd theyâre saying, âWe donât know your name, mister, but youâre a very nice fella.ââ
As houses age, some of the original equipment, even some of the replaced equipment, is no longer safe to use. While talking to neighbors, I am surprised at how much needed maintenance is not being done. Every few months we plan remind readers of things they need to do.
Below are five home maintenance chores that if you donât do could cost you many thousands of dollars.
As residents may already be aware, at the April 28 Village Board meeting, trustees unanimously approved a $47,000 one-year contract with a retail recruitment firm called The Retail Coach.
The Retail Coach states that they are âthe nationâs premier retail recruitment, market analysis, and development firm that will assist in creating a retail recruitment and development strategy that will help drive new business to Huntley.â
After two and a half years into the world viral disaster, health experts and White House officials are pivoting and stating a Covid-19 vaccination conclusion:  “The current approach of offering booster shots every few months isn’t sustainable.” Due to the critical need for the initial quickly developed vaccination to curb the drastic amount of deaths and hospitalizations at the onset of the pandemic, it now becomes apparent that these shots are not as successful as viral vaccines from the past.
For some people, sand is an inconvenience that gets stuck between one’s toes. For others, it is something fun to collect and display. Sand collectors are called arenophiles. They look for sand samples with a variety of textures, colors, mineralogy, and location. Sun City resident Kari Freeman has a collection of small bottles filled with samples of sand from all over the world.
For some people, sand is an inconvenience that gets stuck between one’s toes. For others, it is something fun to collect and display. Sand collectors are called arenophiles. They look for sand samples with a variety of textures, colors, mineralogy, and location.
Sun City resident Kari Freeman has a collection of small bottles filled with samples of sand from all over the world.
One thing that unites us all is the ability to be loved and understood. No matter the differences, those are criteria which matter. Some would say we could be proud of those. And here we are in the perfect month for that. Parades, mixers and drag shows are for allies too. We have come a long way from 1969 and it is great to see the inclusiveness. I laughed at seeing the trailer for Bros, happy to see ourselves getting an offbeat romantic comedy in theaters. However, there is also a great set of movies and series newly released.
As you go north on Route 47 things seem to get bigger. You approach the town of Hebron, and immediately you see a giant basketball cleverly disguised as a water tower. This undoubtedly was the game ball when the Hebron High School won the IHSA championship in 1952. Drive past the downtown area, look on your left, and there stands as Henery Hawk, the cartoon character would say, âthat is the biggest chicken ever I see.â It must be a monument to Foghorn Leghorn. He is standing guard in front of Crandallâs Restaurant in Hebron.
Tonight, like most nights, Chris, my husband, made us a delicious dinner. A fresh salad and chicken quesadillas were enjoyed by my daughter, my son and me. Strawberry Baked Alaska, compliments of my daughter, Sarah were served for dessert. This morning we enjoyed coffee and fresh baked blueberry muffins for breakfast. While we all appreciate each otherâs time and talents in the kitchen, none of it would be possible if not for the bees and other pollinators. The tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers, green peppers, jalapeños and even the coffee that nourish our bodies were only harvested after pollinating insects helped to produce them.
I’m concerned about my husband. He is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and has always been an avid gardener. He (and I) have reached the point where we can no longer garden as he’s used to doing. The constant bending over to plant flowers causes my back to flare up. My husband’s Alzheimer’s prevents him from staying safe outside in the heat and sun.
Letters for the week of June 30.
In the June 2 edition of The Sun Day, Chris La Pelusa invited readers to share their unique collections. âSeriously, I really want to know. If you have an opinion or would like to share your collection,â he said. Judith Aronson answered his call. Her collection concerns sunflowers. She said, âI still have some of the same items from 20 years ago but have added to them.â
In the June 2 edition of The Sun Day, Chris La Pelusa invited readers to share their unique collections.
âSeriously, I really want to know. If you have an opinion or would like to share your collection,â he said.
Judith Aronson answered his call. Her collection concerns sunflowers. She said, âI still have some of the same items from 20 years ago but have added to them.â
April of 2020 was My Sun Day Newsâ 10 year anniversary, but that was the month the pandemic began and shelter-in-place orders swept across the country, derailing any plans we had of celebrating this newspapersâ milestone. After two years, we finally decided to celebrate with the My Sun Day News / My Huntley News 12 | 10 Anniversary to make up for that missed occassion.
Dad and I were always close, and he had a big impact on the way I think today. For example, Dad instilled a strong respect for truth in me at an early age â because honesty didnât come naturally to me at first. When I was little, my philosophy was âLet someone else break it.â It worked like this: If I was tossing a ball around in the house and broke a lamp, I would painstakingly reassemble the pieces and then tiptoe out of the room. The next time somebody walked through the house, the lamp would rattle apart, right before their eyes. Son of a gun. And I was nowhere in sight.
Dad and I were always close, and he had a big impact on the way I think today. For example, Dad instilled a strong respect for truth in me at an early age â because honesty didnât come naturally to me at first.
When I was little, my philosophy was âLet someone else break it.â It worked like this: If I was tossing a ball around in the house and broke a lamp, I would painstakingly reassemble the pieces and then tiptoe out of the room. The next time somebody walked through the house, the lamp would rattle apart, right before their eyes. Son of a gun. And I was nowhere in sight.
November 2, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast. Radio broadcasts have delivered lifesaving information during emergencies, entertained us with music and stories, provided us with broadcast sports, and made us feel connected to our communities, listeners have always counted on the radio to be there for them. FDR’s Radio ‘Fireside Chats’ kept Americans informed and connected. Huntley Community Radio (HCR) is celebrating its own anniversary this year. James Eggers, Executive Direct of HCR, said, âWe are rolling out an entirely new music format. We have changed our music library to specifically cater to the 45-year-old and up demographic. Basically, we are playing all the songs most people will actually recognize.â
November 2, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast. Radio broadcasts have delivered lifesaving information during emergencies, entertained us with music and stories, provided us with broadcast sports, and made us feel connected to our communities, listeners have always counted on the radio to be there for them. FDR’s Radio ‘Fireside Chats’ kept Americans informed and connected.
Huntley Community Radio (HCR) is celebrating its own anniversary this year. James Eggers, Executive Direct of HCR, said, âWe are rolling out an entirely new music format. We have changed our music library to specifically cater to the 45-year-old and up demographic. Basically, we are playing all the songs most people will actually recognize.â
Our ritual each morning is this: he pads barefooted to the kitchen. He is a fast waker-upper; I am not. Even though my eyes are still closed, I follow along by listening to the sounds he makes. I hear the shoosh of the water from the tap going into the tea kettle, and the click of him turning on the stove. He tends to favor the burner at the back of the stove to the right, while I am partial to the front burner on the left. With the water set to boil in a bright turquoise-colored kettle that I bought one day when I was feeling sad and drab, he crosses over to the far end of the living room where I hear him lower himself to the ground where he does pushups on a mat.
The intersection of Jim Dhamer Drive and Illinois Route 47 may be getting a new look. A 729,600 square foot speculative warehouse and distribution building on the northwest corner of the 44-acre site has been presented to the Huntley Planning commission. The building will be constructed by Venture One Real Estate. It might be divided into two tenant spaces if a sole tenant is not found. No users of the building have been identified.
The intersection of Jim Dhamer Drive and Illinois Route 47 may be getting a new look.
A 729,600 square foot speculative warehouse and distribution building on the northwest corner of the 44-acre site has been presented to the Huntley Planning commission. The building will be constructed by Venture One Real Estate. It might be divided into two tenant spaces if a sole tenant is not found. No users of the building have been identified.
Columbine High School shooting took place in 1999. More than 1800 kids in the school that day; 13 were killed and another 20 injured. Since that shooting, more than 23 years ago, more than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school, according to an analysis done by The Washington Post. Esther Bell, Sun City resident, was unfortunate to feel that fear. Bell said, âMy granddaughter is a student at Oshkosh West High School. Last year the school was evacuated during a threat. It was terrifying for her parents and myself. A teenager had stabbed the schoolâs resource officer in a struggle for his gun. The officer managed to keep the gun away from him by shooting the teen while being staffed.â
Columbine High School shooting took place in 1999. More than 1800 kids in the school that day; 13 were killed and another 20 injured. Since that shooting, more than 23 years ago, more than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school, according to an analysis done by The Washington Post.
Esther Bell, Sun City resident, was unfortunate to feel that fear. Bell said, âMy granddaughter is a student at Oshkosh West High School. Last year the school was evacuated during a threat. It was terrifying for her parents and myself. A teenager had stabbed the schoolâs resource officer in a struggle for his gun. The officer managed to keep the gun away from him by shooting the teen while being staffed.â
With our country’s two mass murders having taken place very recently, the discussion about mental health issues has become a primary subject on social media (itself even possibly thought to be a contributing factor for loneliness). All forms of printed or computerized/televised press have weighed in on the subject. Stiffer laws for the prevention of lethal weaponry usage are now being discussed and, hopefully, passed. The background of a world and country suffering from extreme difficulties has brought mental illness to new raging proportions with the critical need for daily conversations. The Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukrainian/ Russian malaise, and the U.S.âs own economic decisions are just a few of these problems. Both public and institutionalized stigma for mental health are affected during these difficult times in history. Â
After the drought last year, the rain this year has been a welcome relief. With the rain, though, has come a proliferation of weeds throughout planting beds and lawns. Although I donât abide by the belief that a lawn has to be completely free of weeds, a well-kept lawn and maintained planting beds do enhance the look of a property and lead to more enjoyment from its owners. There are no strict guidelines of what is a weed or what is an acceptable plant. A plant that is growing where it is not wanted is considered a weed. Weeds, when given the opportunity, multiply, often stealing nutrients and moisture from the soil, from other more desirable plants. They can crowd out good plants resulting in the stunted growth of the good plants.
After the drought last year, the rain this year has been a welcome relief. With the rain, though, has come a proliferation of weeds throughout planting beds and lawns. Although I donât abide by the belief that a lawn has to be completely free of weeds, a well-kept lawn and maintained planting beds do enhance the look of a property and lead to more enjoyment from its owners.
There are no strict guidelines of what is a weed or what is an acceptable plant. A plant that is growing where it is not wanted is considered a weed. Weeds, when given the opportunity, multiply, often stealing nutrients and moisture from the soil, from other more desirable plants. They can crowd out good plants resulting in the stunted growth of the good plants.
People use a lot of adjectives to describe Nancy and I, some are even complimentary. The adjective smart is not one of them, let me explain why. We headed out at 5 p.m. one Friday night to review a restaurant. We said to ourselves, itâs pretty early, we donât need no âstinking reservations.â We proudly walked in and were asked if we had reservations. Since we had none, we were informed that the next open table was at 8:30. Of course this was my fault judging from the explicit phrases coming from the mouth of my loving bride. We returned to our car and started searching our restaurant âhit listâ for something nearby. We picked a restaurant and called for a reservation at Alâs CafĂ© in Elgin. I told you we were smart.
On the surface, scary movies seem rather basic. Like comedy, they only require a simple formula to work. A monster or killer plus victim equals gold. As these films have changed, it has taken on more philosophical aims. Subversion is the true nature behind what we fear. Works by Jordan Peele, Mary Harron and Alex Garland come to mind. The latterâs latest, Men, I failed to see before it left the theaters. However, another provocateur has made his return after a long hiatus.
Senate Bill 1975 was originally introduced on February 26, 2021. It became Public Act 102-0895 some 15 months later on May 23, 2022. Whatâs the significance?
Iâm a very concerned daughter writing for advice about her older parents. My parents, in their mid-70s, have significantly changed their eating habits over the last few years. They used to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Recently, Iâve noticed that their plates are usually filled with carbohydrates and red meat, with very little else. My dad loves bananas, and my mom enjoys potatoes in all forms. Yet, aside from an occasional carrot stick, they eat at my house, I donât think theyâre eating much variety of produce.
Sew N Sews of Sun City presetented quilts to veterans of Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan to honor their service to this country.
Before Covid, Sun City residents and the community enjoyed the elaborate model train layout during the holidays at Prairie Lodge. Trains pass through a bustling small town; passengers wait and wave. Children and adults alike marveled at the model train set, the towns, buildings, even a sign advertising Jamesonâs Restaurant during the annual train display. Larry Rostis, club president, said, âEven with everything opening up, at this time we probably wonât be able to set up the train at Prairie Lodge this holiday season. It takes a lot of manpower to move all the set up and do maintenance on the trains. Our membership has aged and we are not capable of lifting and transporting the boards and equipment.â
Before Covid, Sun City residents and the community enjoyed the elaborate model train layout during the holidays at Prairie Lodge. Trains pass through a bustling small town; passengers wait and wave. Children and adults alike marveled at the model train set, the towns, buildings, even a sign advertising Jamesonâs Restaurant during the annual train display.
Larry Rostis, club president, said, âEven with everything opening up, at this time we probably wonât be able to set up the train at Prairie Lodge this holiday season. It takes a lot of manpower to move all the set up and do maintenance on the trains. Our membership has aged and we are not capable of lifting and transporting the boards and equipment.â
Summer hasnât even started, officially. But school is out, and as Iâm writing this, my teen daughter is waking up on her first day of summer break. Her alarm clock went off at 6 a.m., a leftover relic of our automated life that cruises along during the school year. Instead of hitting snooze, she gets to hit âoff.â In less than 24 hours, the clock has suddenly lost its authority.
On Aug. 10, 2021, law enforcement responded to the 5N block of Pearson Drive in Wayne for a reported shooting incident that involved a Dogo Argentino named Ludwig. The dog was shot and killed by Hal Phipps, who is the husband of current Wayne Village President Eileen Phipps and the neighbor of Ludwigâs owner, Joe Petit.
On Aug. 10, 2021, law enforcement responded to the 5N block of Pearson Drive in Wayne for a reported shooting incident that involved a Dogo Argentino named Ludwig.
The dog was shot and killed by Hal Phipps, who is the husband of current Wayne Village President Eileen Phipps and the neighbor of Ludwigâs owner, Joe Petit.
A couple weeks ago, I chatted with a guy at OâHare Field that looked like a living Ken doll. He was maddeningly good looking â medium height, blond hair, blue eyes, fit and trim and impeccably dressed â and I wondered which Ken doll he might be. Because it turns out there are more than 50 varieties of Ken dolls out there â Cali Cool Ken, Tropical Vibes Ken, Hip Hoodie Ken, and more. And now they come in a variety of skin tones and body shapes that include slim, broad and original.
A couple weeks ago, I chatted with a guy at OâHare Field that looked like a living Ken doll. He was maddeningly good looking â medium height, blond hair, blue eyes, fit and trim and impeccably dressed â and I wondered which Ken doll he might be.
Because it turns out there are more than 50 varieties of Ken dolls out there â Cali Cool Ken, Tropical Vibes Ken, Hip Hoodie Ken, and more. And now they come in a variety of skin tones and body shapes that include slim, broad and original.
The world watches the current events in Ukraine and complains about the price of gas and goods. Some Sun City residents remember their ancestors that lived through harder times; grandparents who survived the depression and World War II. We watch as Holocaust survivors who fled the Nazis as children must now run from Russians. Adrianne Kaplan, Sun City resident, recalls a woman in her life that survived the Holocaust, Magda Brown. Kaplan thinks of a woman she grew up calling âAunt.â
The world watches the current events in Ukraine and complains about the price of gas and goods. Some Sun City residents remember their ancestors that lived through harder times; grandparents who survived the depression and World War II. We watch as Holocaust survivors who fled the Nazis as children must now run from Russians.
Adrianne Kaplan, Sun City resident, recalls a woman in her life that survived the Holocaust, Magda Brown. Kaplan thinks of a woman she grew up calling âAunt.â
Sun City resident Jim Hanekamp has designed a new app called Sharemystories, focused on preserving memories using photos, written word, and audioclips in a timeline format. Hanekamp, 66, grew up outside of Chicago in a large family. During the pandemic, the six adult siblings, separated by geography, enjoyed regular Zoom calls to reminisce about family vacations and forgotten family lore.
Sun City resident Jim Hanekamp has designed a new app called Sharemystories, focused on preserving memories using photos, written word, and audioclips in a timeline format.
Hanekamp, 66, grew up outside of Chicago in a large family. During the pandemic, the six adult siblings, separated by geography, enjoyed regular Zoom calls to reminisce about family vacations and forgotten family lore.
