Thank you and DON’T!

After publishing my piece on the Sun Day’s tenth anniversary, we received numerous letters (and cards!) from readers wishing us congratulations and continued success, and I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. On this note, I would like to highlight one item in particular that caught my attention.

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Drive and drop

The need to help our neighbors in the community is so very important at this time. In addition to the Theatre Company’s efforts and those of various other groups like the softball club, Sun City residents have also turned out in numbers to support Culver’s of Huntley’s weekly food/donation drive (Sunday from 11 am – 5 pm through May 31).

Field day

Marcia Kmet, Sun City resident, grandmother of 11, and great-grandmother of four, was filling up her car at the gas station last week. Something very strange happened next.

“A woman came over and asked me for my autograph,” Kmet said.

But you also might see resident Todd Kane, sporting a rainbow top hat to match his Skittle-colored beard, smiling and holding a sign that says, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”

Peace Corps service cut short by COVID-19 threat

It was just a normal Monday morning, and Brad Christin was getting ready to go to work. Suddenly, the quiet morning was interrupted by an onslaught of texts and emails on his phone.

Christin, 23, a Peace Corps volunteer, was living in Capitán Miranda, Paraguay. But on that Monday in March, as COVID-19 Coronavirus made its way across the globe, Brad knew from the countless texts and emails that his 27-month service in the Peace Corps was going to be cut short after only 18 months. He was leaving South America and going home.

Local teen uses 3D printer to make face shields for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19

When Gail Tepper and her husband, Artie, first heard that their grandson was part of a growing movement to help make masks for healthcare workers, they couldn’t be prouder. Describing the teen as, “a wonderful, kind and caring young man that is very knowledgeable with computers,” it was no surprise to the Teppers that his efforts would catch the attention of the Great Big Story, a media company whose micro-documentaries and short films have been viewed by millions of people on websites like Facebook and YouTube.

The View of a senior’s morning at the supermarket

From the view of a senior shopper, the supermarket experience is all new. Many supermarkets are following “senior hours” generally a few mornings a week. Among the stores in McHenry County, Jewel and Mariano’s have scheduled “senior hours” into their operation.

February 13 started off like any other Tuesday morning for Sun City resident Jan Scialabba who also works at the Member Services Desk at Prairie Lodge. Two buses where expected to arrive that day, prepared to take fellow residents to the Chicago Auto Show. Nothing out of the ordinary for the seasoned Member Services Desk professional.

Theatre Company plans CARavan Food Pantry donation drive

Due to the pandemic and stay at home rules, The Theatre Company of Sun City cancelled our Spring production of Beauty and the Beast. The Theatre Company for years has donated the proceeds from the candy and water sales during our productions to the area Food Pantries. In order to make up for the loss of donations during this trying time, The Theatre Company is planning a CARavan of Donations.

Chef moron to the rescue

In keeping with the CDC Covid-19 guidelines, please “social distance” yourself six feet from our photo!!!

Finding comfort in entertainment nostalgia

So if you are anything like me, this has not been the easiest of times in terms of entertainment. A filmgoer like myself wants that larger than life experience that the theater offers. However, due to the threat that shall not be named, we are in this situation. But to paraphrase Jane Austen, we are always in the pursuit of a new film or show to watch. And the home theatre will have to do.

Quarantine bingo: Being inside, not going out

The doors to apartment units in the hallways are open and only a few feet inside are residents playing bingo. Hallway BINGO has become one of the more popular activities at Heritage Woods and White Oaks at Huntley. The irony of hallway BINGO as an activity at assisted living facilities is BINGO’S popularity usually brings residents together because of its ease of playing and odds of winning.

Hang Your Hat: April 23, 2020

Letters for the week of April 23.

Ready or knot, here they come

For Linda Campbell and her husband, staying active outdoors was just another part of their daily routine, and they regularly joined others in Neighborhood 18 who also enjoyed going on walks and runs. In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic however, mandatory stay-at-home orders and social distancing seem to pose obstacles in the way of those wanting to maintain their physical health.

Hoping to preserve as much normalcy as possible, Campbell stumbled onto a creative way to continue to stay active with other neighbors while following social distancing protocols.