MY SUN DAY NEWS
A couple weeks ago, I chatted with a guy at O’Hare Field that looked like a living Ken doll. He was maddeningly good looking — medium height, blond hair, blue eyes, fit and trim and impeccably dressed — and I wondered which Ken doll he might be. Because it turns out there are more than 50 varieties of Ken dolls out there — 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 O’Hare Field that looked like a living Ken doll. He was maddeningly good looking — medium height, blond hair, blue eyes, fit and trim and impeccably dressed — and I wondered which Ken doll he might be.
Because it turns out there are more than 50 varieties of Ken dolls out there — 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 “Aunt.”
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.
What percent of the world was experiencing mental illness in 2021? According to Google search, 19% of adults, translating into over 47 million Americans, had the disorder with 4.55% suffering from a severe mental illness. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) informs us that more than half of mentally ill individuals don’t seek help for their disorders. Why? The association states “Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood.”
At the May 12 Village Board meeting, Charles Nordman, Director of Development Services for the Village, introduced a request by More Brewery for a conceptual review of their plan to expand their brewery operations and to add a 4-story, 89 guest room hotel on the property south of their existing building.
Lennar builders submitted a proposal, at the May 12 Village Board meeting, to develop the 63 acres located at the west end of Reed Road as the location of 129 new single-family homes. Accord to Charles Nordman, Village Director of Development Services, reported that “there are seven different floor plans being offered. These are the same homes offered in other sections of Talamore.”
They say everything is bigger in Texas. Distances definitely play into that picture. It’s so large that its flag only needs one-star, perfect for the Lone Star State. Texas also has five, yes five, of the largest cities in the US: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth.
History is, basically, the stories we tell ourselves. Fact is muddled somewhere in it, but it is some human element that binds it together. Much of historical dramas operate on this principle. No film could completely depict the events as they unfolded. However, we don’t expect it to be created from whole cloth either. A balance is struck between the machine of Hollywood filmmaking and the adherence to the truth. In some ways, this can yield middling results. Much of Netflix’s latest Operation Mincemeat falls into this region.
Panera Bread has submitted a new conceptual plan for a 3,480 square foot restaurant, with a drive through lane, located on the southeast the corner of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road. The permits for the previously approved plans had expired and Panera is required to reapply for permission to build.
We had a very enjoyable New Year’s Eve celebration partying with new friends Rich and Melody. At that time, we agreed to go out to dinner in the new year. Five short months later, we finally got together and met them at Jurin Sushi-Teppan in South Elgin.
Natural gas prices are at an all-time high. In May of 2021, the average price of natural gas in Northern Illinois was 53 cents per therm. By May 2022, that price had risen to 111 cents per therm. This is a 109% increase. ComEd recently proposed a 199-million-dollar rate increase for 2023. We depend upon natural gas to heat our homes, electricity to run our appliances, and our utility bills continue to escalate.
“Going Once – Going Twice – SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! Nick Koplos’s voice rang out loud and clear repeatedly as he auctioneered the 8th Stingrays Annual Charity Auction on May 14.
Letters for the week of June 2.
My family and I plan to visit my parents over the summer. We live out of state and usually get together about four times a year. Since COVID, our visits have spread out. They haven’t been out to visit us yet, stating they’re concerned about variants of COVID as they travel. My parents are approaching their 80s. I noticed during our last visit that they seem to be struggling. My sister lives nearby but doesn’t appear too concerned for their health. She also heavily relies upon them, specifically my mom, to watch her children while she works.
What happened after Cinderella tucked her foot into that glass slipper? Did she and the prince live happily ever after? Sun City resident Cathy Kwon has the answers in her book “Cinderella the Next Chapter.”
What happened after Cinderella tucked her foot into that glass slipper? Did she and the prince live happily ever after?
Sun City resident Cathy Kwon has the answers in her book “Cinderella the Next Chapter.”
I’ve always thought collections were both highly interesting and weird at the same time. Look at a museum, for example. Museums collect items from our past and they’re highly, at least to me, entertaining and educational. But ultimately, they’re just items on display much like decorations in a house, only these particular items have a backstory, also like some of the decorative items in your house.
Carol and I love to take a brisk walk every day — usually at least three miles or so, and usually at sunset. It’s a great way to let whatever seemed so important throughout the day to dwindle and fade back into a “So, that happened” memory, and let us refocus our minds back to what’s really important.
Lisa Armour, Deputy Village Manager, introduced a resolution at the April 28 Village Board meeting, to approve a contract with The Retail Coach for “conducting a site assessment of the Village’s market trade area and profiling the customer’s buying habits, lifestyle characteristics and media habits.”
It was a gorgeous day at the garden center. A gentle breeze danced through the heavily perfumed air, playfully mixing and mingling with the sweet and savory scents of the flowers and herbs. The earthy scent of grass clippings and warm soil felt like a tender embrace, comfortable and calm.
The motion to amend Article 3.4 of the By-Laws was discussed. The amendment would add the word “consecutive” to the By-Laws which would remove the term limits included in the By-Laws as they now stand.
Sun City Huntley’s Prairie Singers will perform its spring concert, “A Season of Hope,” on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Willow Creek Community Church in Huntley. More than 70 resident singers and musicians of Sun City Huntley will join together to produce some truly great choral music. This group has been a part of the entertainment activities of the Sun City community for more than 22 years.
Sun City Huntley’s Prairie Singers will perform its spring concert, “A Season of Hope,” on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Willow Creek Community Church in Huntley.
More than 70 resident singers and musicians of Sun City Huntley will join together to produce some truly great choral music. This group has been a part of the entertainment activities of the Sun City community for more than 22 years.
Hamra Enterprises, the petitioner in charge of franchising certain restaurants and other establishments, has officially submitted a conceptual site plan and building elevations for the construction of the long-awaited Panera Bread restaurant.
Andrew Lee, a Professor of Public Health/the Research Lab of the University of Sheffield, England gives us his Relief/Web Conversation on Health Issues facing the Ukrainian citizenry these days. Because the Conversation was posted on March 2, 2022, I will not be giving any stats which are no longer accurate. As mentioned in my first H & W column on the subject (May 5’s publication), war extends far beyond bombs and bullets.
Gerber Collision and Glass requested approval of their plans for the construction of a 15,650 square foot building on Kreutzer Road east of the Goodwill store. The plans had been previously approved by the Village planning commission. The Village Board’s approval was required for the project to begin work.
New, for many, represents exciting, different, a chance to try again. A new haircut just waiting to be admired, a new page in the calendar ready to be filled in or even simply a bright new day just waiting to be enjoyed. Each year brings a whole new set of plants that are introduced to gardeners across the United States. Hybridizers devote years and indeed sometimes their entire lives developing new plants.
New, for many, represents exciting, different, a chance to try again. A new haircut just waiting to be admired, a new page in the calendar ready to be filled in or even simply a bright new day just waiting to be enjoyed.
Each year brings a whole new set of plants that are introduced to gardeners across the United States. Hybridizers devote years and indeed sometimes their entire lives developing new plants.
Well for those who saw the last film I reviewed, you might need a much needed break from brutality. As good as The Northman was, it’s not a film to easily shake off after viewing. As I saw the box office numbers come in, it was both disheartening and understandable the weak totals that Viking epic brought in. A needed dose of mirth is just what the doctor would order. With the wealth of options what does one choose? And, after all, humor is highly subjective. In my fumbling way, let me guide those over to HBO Max for a couple choice program to get your yucks in.
Normal people celebrate holidays on their appointed day and for one day only. Not so in the Dining Duo’s household. Any holiday that is in tribute to Nancy, such as, Grandparent’s Day, her birthday, Mother-in-Law’s Day, Groundhog Day, April Fool’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, and especially Mother’s Day, always turns into a weeklong gala celebration extravaganza.
Our neighborhood holds an annual garage sale and this is the year we’re going to participate. My husband and I are ready to downsize to a smaller, ranch-style home. We’re both retired and our kids have flown the nest. We’ve accumulated a lot over the 20 years we’ve lived in this home. I want to use the neighborhood garage sale as an opportunity for my husband and me to begin sorting through our belongings. However, I’m starting to feel overwhelmed.
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.”
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.”
