MY SUN DAY NEWS
Lots of birds visit our backyards every day, but how do you learn about a bird you can’t identify? Carol Smith, a Sun City resident, posted on the Wildflower Facebook page: “Buffleheads, robin, ringbills, cardinal, and loon… today in Sun City!” The photographs and post generated many comments and interest from residents. Bill Dollear said, “We need a bird watching group.”
Lots of birds visit our backyards every day, but how do you learn about a bird you can’t identify?
Carol Smith, a Sun City resident, posted on the Wildflower Facebook page: “Buffleheads, robin, ringbills, cardinal, and loon… today in Sun City!”
The photographs and post generated many comments and interest from residents.
Bill Dollear said, “We need a bird watching group.”
For a good five minutes, I was convinced I was going to have to listen to the Elton John concert while stuck in an elevator.
At, least, it felt like five minutes: the time it took for the elevator to arrive to take us up to our seats in the nosebleed section, where our seats were located at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. We were there to see Elton John perform live for his Farewell Tour.
We were relieved, my friends and I, to see there was an elevator operator, who had an air of authority perched on a stool in front of the panel of elevator buttons.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” said a woman to the elevator operator. “Up, please.”
Approximately 50 Sun City residents went to school on April 25th when District 158 opened the Huntley High School doors for an update on happenings in the District.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe spent the first hour of the day talking about how the District has evolved since March of 2020, the day Covid-19 shut the school doors.
I am not a “cat guy,” so sometimes I need help understanding how “cat people” think. Today is one of those times. A few weeks ago, Carol Pavlik wrote in this paper about her attempt to adopt a cat, only to be thwarted by a woman sitting behind a desk who peppered her with stern questions. What was her policy on declawing? Did she have a vet? What would the cat be fed? She answered carefully and thoughtfully, because she had “nothing but good intentions for our hypothetical kitty!”
I am not a “cat guy,” so sometimes I need help understanding how “cat people” think. Today is one of those times.
A few weeks ago, Carol Pavlik wrote in this paper about her attempt to adopt a cat, only to be thwarted by a woman sitting behind a desk who peppered her with stern questions. What was her policy on declawing? Did she have a vet? What would the cat be fed? She answered carefully and thoughtfully, because she had “nothing but good intentions for our hypothetical kitty!”
The Illinois Supreme Court announced on April 12 that a new commission would be established to oversee ways in which state courts can better serve the needs of those in advancing years. The Commission on Elder Law hopes to tackle the legal problems facing senior citizens not only by examining the role courts play in terms of guardianship cases but also in the Judicial Branch’s obligation to protect the legal rights of the most vulnerable populations. Following the state supreme court’s announcement, on April 25, it was revealed that Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser had been appointed to serve on the Commission on Elder Law.
The Illinois Supreme Court announced on April 12 that a new commission would be established to oversee ways in which state courts can better serve the needs of those in advancing years.
The Commission on Elder Law hopes to tackle the legal problems facing senior citizens not only by examining the role courts play in terms of guardianship cases but also in the Judicial Branch’s obligation to protect the legal rights of the most vulnerable populations.
Following the state supreme court’s announcement, on April 25, it was revealed that Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser had been appointed to serve on the Commission on Elder Law.
On April 22, OHCHR (The United Nations Human Rights Office) reported the number of civilian casualties in the Ukraine as killed: 2,435 and as injured: 2,946. However, Ukraine officials very recently strongly suggest the more accurate figure as 15,000 dead. The nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said weeks of bombardment in the city of Mariupol alone had killed “tens of thousands.” While these estimates vary widely, there is no doubt that both in the general civilian population and in the military, huge numbers of Ukrainian citizens are dying and suffering wounds for their country.
Representatives from M/I Homes were in attendance at the April 14 Board meeting as the board took up the proposed development of the 82-acre property along Dundee Road that is known as the Kudlach Property. M/I Homes requested approval for the construction 173 single family homes on the area bordered by Haligus, Dundee, Ruth, Main Street and the Huntley Municipal Building complex and the Shepard of the Prairie church property lines.
My Sun Day News asked Village Trustee Ronda Goldman if there was any truth to a rumor that a developer has come forward with a plan to build single family homes on the Regency Square property. Goldman responded with “No.”
My Sun Day News asked Village Trustee Ronda Goldman if there was any truth to a rumor that a developer has come forward with a plan to build single family homes on the Regency Square property.
Goldman responded with “No.”
At the Huntley Planning Commission’s April 11 meeting, two companies made presentations requesting approval of plans to build and operate new businesses on Huntley’s south side. Barnes Development Company, on behalf of Belle Tire, requested approval of its plan to build a 10,000 square foot facility at the southeast corner of Route 47 and Regency Parkway. The request included a Special Use Permit for an Automobile Repair and Tire sale business.
At the Huntley Planning Commission’s April 11 meeting, two companies made presentations requesting approval of plans to build and operate new businesses on Huntley’s south side.
Barnes Development Company, on behalf of Belle Tire, requested approval of its plan to build a 10,000 square foot facility at the southeast corner of Route 47 and Regency Parkway. The request included a Special Use Permit for an Automobile Repair and Tire sale business.
Mythos and their power over us have been in the zeitgeist in the last decade. A glut of superhero films continues to fill multiplexes, our modern equivalent to ancient tales. It is enough to take them for granted as base culture. However, this was not always the case. Equal parts anthropology and religion, these tales passed down were inspiration for many writers going forward. No greater motivation has ignited plots as revenge. And no grander presentation has graced the screen as Robert Eggers’s latest.
Isn’t it true that everyone is a kid at heart? It’s safe to say that at one time or another, most people have been to Disney World, either by themselves, with their children, or possibly with their grandchildren. There are a few classic attractions that everyone remembers, either good or bad. One is that boat ride with those cute little dolls from all over the world incessantly singing, “It’s a Small World.” It took us several years to get that nauseating song out of our heads. Another is the Haunted Mansion where a holographic ghost suddenly appears sitting next to you. Our grandson is now in therapy.
A recent trip to the grocery store left me feeling completely unfulfilled and concerned about the future. What should have been a 15-minute dash into the store to get a few essentials (i.e. milk, eggs, cereal, salad and honey) lead me to recalibrate my life choices. I noticed the eggs were more expensive than usual, but put them into the cart anyway. I drew the line, though, at purchasing a $7 jar of honey. I wasn’t trying to purchase Manuka honey or even honey comb. I simply wanted a small jar of clover honey to enjoy on toast the next morning for breakfast. While staring at the yellow price sticker on the shelf, I simultaneously realized while I could afford to spend that much on honey, I certainly wasn’t going to.
My husband recently had a health scare. We’re both in our mid-60s and have had few health concerns until recently. During my husband’s annual dermatologist appointment, where his doctor found a small bump on his ear. A biopsy confirmed it was skin cancer. Fortunately, it was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, and he had it removed a week ago. His doctor said that it’s common to find growths on ears, especially in men prone to wearing baseball caps. These hats protect their scalps but offer no UV protection for their ears. My husband wears sunscreen but often neglects to put it on his ears.
Letters for the week of May 5.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Illinois residents on Wednesday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CST as part of the 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts.
It all started with a horse named Sunshine. “Sunshine, my first horse, changed my life,” said Sandy Horn. Horn was a horseman all his life. When he was a young boy, he would meet Dick, a big red draft horse who pulled the milk wagon. Horn said, “I used to meet the wagon about four houses before ours and feed Dick a treat, usually a cookie, apple, or carrot. I’d pet Dick for a moment and then go to my stop and wait for the wagon to arrive.”
It all started with a horse named Sunshine.
“Sunshine, my first horse, changed my life,” said Sandy Horn.
Horn was a horseman all his life. When he was a young boy, he would meet Dick, a big red draft horse who pulled the milk wagon.
Horn said, “I used to meet the wagon about four houses before ours and feed Dick a treat, usually a cookie, apple, or carrot. I’d pet Dick for a moment and then go to my stop and wait for the wagon to arrive.”
Like me, when you think of Easter (putting aside any religious references), you probably think of sunny mornings in springtime, pastel everything, nice clothes, and colorful baskets. It’s a clean feeling. And the other night, I learned why Easter is a morning tradition or daytime tradition and not something celebrated at night…because it’s creepy. A couple weeks ago, my wife’s cousin (who has a son around the same age as mine) invited us to go on a flashlight Easter egg hunt sponsored by their park district. My first thought was that it sounded pretty neat. Normally Easter egg hunts involve about ten thousand screaming kids making a mad dash across an open field, scooping up hastily hidden eggs like they were harvesting precious commodity. Although slightly odd, a nighttime Easter egg hunt sounded just enough different to be interesting and fun. It also sounded less congested and hectic. We were in.
Like me, when you think of Easter (putting aside any religious references), you probably think of sunny mornings in springtime, pastel everything, nice clothes, and colorful baskets. It’s a clean feeling. And the other night, I learned why Easter is a morning tradition or daytime tradition and not something celebrated at night…because it’s creepy.
A couple weeks ago, my wife’s cousin (who has a son around the same age as mine) invited us to go on a flashlight Easter egg hunt sponsored by their park district. My first thought was that it sounded pretty neat. Normally Easter egg hunts involve about ten thousand screaming kids making a mad dash across an open field, scooping up hastily hidden eggs like they were harvesting precious commodity. Although slightly odd, a nighttime Easter egg hunt sounded just enough different to be interesting and fun. It also sounded less congested and hectic. We were in.
Tennis players everywhere have felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But according to an annual study commissioned by the Physical Activity Council, tennis has also boomed during the pandemic with an estimated 21.64 million Americans picking up a racquet in 2020, up 22.4 percent after several years of stagnant participation. In a sense, there’s no real surprise that tennis stood to benefit more than other sports from COVID-19 because it’s played outdoors and doesn’t require people to be within six feet of each other.
On Sunday, April 3, if you were taking a walk in Neighborhood 21, you might have run across a lawn heavily-decorated for a birthday celebration. The balloons indicated a milestone that you don’t see very often: 109. Betty “Lulu” Lucille Winkelman celebrated her 109th birthday on April 3, 2022, with friends, family, and neighbors.
On Sunday, April 3, if you were taking a walk in Neighborhood 21, you might have run across a lawn heavily-decorated for a birthday celebration. The balloons indicated a milestone that you don’t see very often: 109.
Betty “Lulu” Lucille Winkelman celebrated her 109th birthday on April 3, 2022, with friends, family, and neighbors.
After having lunch at a restaurant with my son recently, we got into the car and I turned to look over my shoulder as I backed out of the parking space. “Wow,” he said, “you still do that old-school.” I had no idea what he was talking about, which is pretty much par for the course for me when it comes to conversations with members of generations that are less vintage than mine. “What are you talking about?” I said.
After having lunch at a restaurant with my son recently, we got into the car and I turned to look over my shoulder as I backed out of the parking space.
“Wow,” he said, “you still do that old-school.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, which is pretty much par for the course for me when it comes to conversations with members of generations that are less vintage than mine.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
EVERYDAY HEALTH, in its April 2022 newsletter, invites us into the realm of those grieving, especially on the loss of a loved one – such as a parent, spouse, sibling, daughter or son, friend, or pet – even the loss of a job or romantic relationship. Psychologist Sigmund Freud published a 1917 essay on the subject which he called “grief work.” He described it “as a period of time following a loss when a person must process or work through their thoughts, memories, and emotions in order to move on with life.”
More than $106,600 in impact fees were disbursed at the March 24 Huntley Village Board meeting. My Huntley News contacted Cathy Haley, Village Director of Finance, for an explanation of the fees. Haley explained that “Impact fees are added to each new residential and new commercial construction permit and are paid by the developer.” She continued, “The Village is just a pass-through for these fees for the other taxing districts.”
More than $106,600 in impact fees were disbursed at the March 24 Huntley Village Board meeting. My Huntley News contacted Cathy Haley, Village Director of Finance, for an explanation of the fees.
Haley explained that “Impact fees are added to each new residential and new commercial construction permit and are paid by the developer.” She continued, “The Village is just a pass-through for these fees for the other taxing districts.”
Our time is finite. We have absolutely no control over the amount of time in each hour, day, week, month or year. What we can control is how we spend that time. As the author of this column and a landscape professional I can honestly tell you the less time I spend working in my yard the better. I would rather spend time enjoying my yard rather than working in it. Sustainable landscaping is a pathway towards less work and more joy.
Once in a blue moon, Nancy and I get a taste for some good old fashioned tangy, smoky barbeque. Luckily, we did get a recommendation from someone, but because we’re old, we can’t remember who it was from or the name of the restaurant. We knew it was “Moon” something.
Agreed, that title is very weird. You, dear readers, may be scratching your head in confusion and bafflement. Honey, you don’t even know the half of it. Trust me, this was my first feeling when I saw the trailer for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. The latest from distributor A24 in theaters, we should know a bit of what we are in for if you saw my reviews for The Lighthouse or The Green Knight. Arthouse and avant-garde are the best descriptions for their output. And this release is no exception.
In the summer of 1992, I was packing up for my first semester of college. I was 17, about to move to another state, to live in a dorm where I knew no one. That’s when my Dad gave me a gift, wrapped in the comics from the Sunday paper. The Sunday funnies were always the first choice for wrapping paper in my house, and Dad would take extra care to wrap it so that his favorite comic strip — featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy — were prominently displayed on top. You would never fold the flap over Snoopy, or place tape over Charlie Brown. No, the Peanuts gang always got top billing as gift wrap.
In the summer of 1992, I was packing up for my first semester of college. I was 17, about to move to another state, to live in a dorm where I knew no one.
That’s when my Dad gave me a gift, wrapped in the comics from the Sunday paper. The Sunday funnies were always the first choice for wrapping paper in my house, and Dad would take extra care to wrap it so that his favorite comic strip — featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy — were prominently displayed on top. You would never fold the flap over Snoopy, or place tape over Charlie Brown. No, the Peanuts gang always got top billing as gift wrap.
‘m writing about my father who is approaching his 90th birthday. He is my mother’s primary caregiver, who’s in her mid-eighties and has early-stage dementia. They live in a single-family home. I’m fortunate to live nearby and pop in often to visit. They also come to our home for dinner regularly. While he’s in relatively good health, I’m growing concerned about his driving ability. He doesn’t drive too far and seems to have set his own limits (such as not driving at night). However, I’m not sure how long he should continue driving, even locally.
Letters for the week of April 21.
Ever heard the phrase “raised in a barn”? What if the barn is a barndominium, a combination of a traditional barn and a condominium? Duane and Nancy Fontana had their barndominium ground breaking ceremony with a gold shovel, gold balloons and gold champagne on Wednesday, March 16.
Ever heard the phrase “raised in a barn”? What if the barn is a barndominium, a combination of a traditional barn and a condominium?
Duane and Nancy Fontana had their barndominium ground breaking ceremony with a gold shovel, gold balloons and gold champagne on Wednesday, March 16.
Before we had children, my husband and I decided to adopt a cat. We were in our early 20s, starting our jobs that we hoped would turn into careers, living in a sunny one-bedroom apartment. We had to download forms off the internet, fill them out, and take them to an office where a woman looked at us sternly from across her desk. She asked us if we had a vet. A vet? No, we don’t have a vet. We don’t even have a pet. Yet.
Before we had children, my husband and I decided to adopt a cat.
We were in our early 20s, starting our jobs that we hoped would turn into careers, living in a sunny one-bedroom apartment. We had to download forms off the internet, fill them out, and take them to an office where a woman looked at us sternly from across her desk. She asked us if we had a vet.
A vet? No, we don’t have a vet. We don’t even have a pet. Yet.
