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Introducing My Huntley News

I’d like to introduce you to our new endeavor My Huntley News (or myhuntleynews.com), a fully digital news publication dedicated to covering the Village of Huntley on a hyper-local level.

‘Nun’ too predictable

You might not know her name, but if you have attended any concerts in Sun City, outdoor or indoor, you might have seen Juliana Krupka encourage residents to get up and dance to the music.

“We have music in our hearts,” Krupka said.

Huntley Walmart to host drive-in movies

The Huntley board of trustees unanimously approved a motion for the Walmart supercenter off State Route 47 to host a series of drive-in movies on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22.

The international race for a successful vaccine, part 1

The world is still living with the extreme health threat from what is now known officially as the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Because the corona virus germ spreads easily, a vast number of the earth’s populous of 7.8 billion people (United Nations elaborated by the Worldometer/August, 2020) is still susceptible to it. As a result of this humongous threat, large numbers of international countries are joining the race to develop a vaccine that could be used to curb the virus’ spread.

The flu waits in the wings

You may grow weary of wearing a mask, staying at least six feet apart socially, washing your hands often, and using disinfectant on surfaces to minimize the chances of coming in contact with COVID-19. While health departments and Governor J.B. Pritzker ask for vigilance in your efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus, another virus is only a few months away from entering the picture.

COVID-free…at last

After more than two months of fighting the COVID-19 virus, an Elgin family of four is thankful to be reunited after three of them contracted COVID-19.

Olivia Morales, 22, looks back on March 2020 with bemusement. “When everything was in lockdown and none of us were sick, we thought we were bored,” she said. “But that was nothing compared to this. We would rather be bored than have anyone experience anything like this.”

The return of e-learning

Every residence where a student lives in Huntley Community School District 158 will become a center of learning “temporarily” replacing the traditional classrooms in the 2020-2021 school year.

On the first day of student remote attendance set for Friday, August 21, all students in District 158 will report from their own residences. This is what’s called a modified remote learning model for this fall.

COVID-19 Cases Rising in Lake and McHenry Counties

Public health officials in Lake and McHenry Counties are urging the public to take action to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of August 3, the testing positivity rate in the North Suburban Region was 4.9 percent, with daily increases reported in 4 of the past 10 days.

The butterfly effect

You may know Janet Graf from her stunning performances in the Sun City’s theatre productions. Outside of the theatre, Graf raises Monarchs. This year she has released around 95 butterflies.

“I find the eggs on a milkweed leaf, I break the leaf off and I put them in a glass container on my counter,” Graf said.

In Need of a Good Laugh?

There is an apology on order, dear readers. Much of my current columns have been dedicated to heavier topics. But with what we have been going through, we are in need of an escape. And the best way for this is in comedies. Luckily there are a number of great recent choices to bring on the yucks and guffaws.

The COVID Zone

Imagine if you will, a world where any dealings with strangers is done through a sheet of plexiglass; where toilet paper can mysteriously disappear from all store shelves overnight; and where wearing a mask going into a bank will not get you arrested. Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to enter the “Covid Zone.”

Hang Your Hat: August 13, 2020

Letters for the week of August 13.

Back to school… sort of

Creating a whole new way of operating a school and educating students in the world of COVID-19 has had hundreds of Huntley School District 158 staff members working tirelessly against the calendar as the start of a new academic year draws near.

Dan Armstrong, director of Communications and Public Engagement, knows that some people may not understand the complexity of a school district.

Conversations with a 3yo are bananas

One of my most popular Happy Trails to date was when a I published a two-part series of quotes by my wife when she was pregnant with our son. They were little blurbs of funny things she said about her pregnancy or upcoming parenthood. It went over famously with readers but not so much with my wife when she found out.

Lost wheelchair base

In Del Webb near pool. Thought to have been left when person was picked up during rain on Sunday. Parkinson’s resident was returned to DeerPath with only back rest of seat. The base has two batteries and looks like a black scooter.

Reward offered. If found, please call 847-209-9978.

Huntley Plan Commission reaches verdict on potential Hampton Inn Hotel project

The ongoing discussion on whether to approve of Woodstock Hotel, Inc.’s petition to construct a four-story, 100 room Hampton Inn Hotel appears to be getting some traction within the confines of Huntley’s body of government. As of July 13, the Huntley Plan Commission recommended the approval of the hotel project by a vote of four to one.

The 63,208 square foot hotel is slated to occupy 3.7 acres of the 11.3-acre Lot 2 of the Huntley Crossings Final Plat of Subdivision, with the main entrance to face towards Route 47.

You *can* do it

I measure my level of domesticity by the very high bar set by my grandmother.  As I head off to bed with two sinks full of dirty dishes, I silently say ‘Grandma would have never done this.’  When I hire someone to wash our windows, and I don’t take the time to wash every set of curtains while he is washing the windows, I feel like I am missing the mark.

The time to wear a mask is now

Throughout the end of this past March, confusing statements on whether or not to wear face masks could be heard emitting from various U.S. communication media. But with all of us still in the coronavirus battle and with cases mounting daily, Americans unanimously (including the White House) seem to be in agreement. Our First Lady, Melania Trump, comments “Even in the summer months, please remember to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.” She continues, “The more precautions we take now can mean a healthier and safer country in the fall.”

Ex-selling at beauty

Darlene Rutledge, a Sun City Resident, has worked at the same job for 47 years and continues to work at that job.

“I joined as a Mary Kay Consultant in Springfield area on April 1, 1973, to get out of the house a couple of times a week as a break from my 1 & 4-year-old with a big goal of making $30 profit a week, and I expected to quit. I was the first consultant and director in my hometown of Springfield, Illinois,” Rutledge said.

Village investigates ruse burglary

The Village of Huntley investigating a report of a ruse burglary occurring on July 15 at approximately 7 pm in the 11300 block of Dean Street.

With club closures still in effect, Softball moves ahead with pickup games

The Sun City Softball players have been waiting to hear those magical words this summer: “Play ball.”

The field is open, but on June 24, the Sun City Board decided that all club activities were canceled.

Ask the Woodchucks: Cleaning and caulking a shower

The caulking around our shower has black mold that we can no longer remove. What can we do to eliminate this mold?

Ask an Angel: July 30, 2020

As we continue to watch southern states see a rise in COVID cases, I’m concerned about what our area will look like this fall.

Hang Your Hat: July 30, 2020

Letters for the week of July 30.

Go Fund Me campaign for Grafton Food Pantry

Sun City Huntley has Heart sponsored a Go Fund Me campaign for Grafton Food Pantry.

Questions raised about Sun City’s Phase 4 reopening

As many residents eagerly assimilate into the new normal for Sun City brought on by the “Phase 4” guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan, there remains questions as to whether the Sun City Community Association Board of Directors have made the right decisions on choosing to open some amenities while maintaining others closed.

How to take your Monday from boring to exciting in a few easy steps

A few Mondays ago, I was walking on the Prairie Path (a nature trail that runs across Illinois), and I was trying to social distance. Bikes raced past me. Clusters of Nike-clad joggers forced me to the outskirts of the trail. I had enough.

Phase 5, the new goal

Moving into Phase 4 for the State of Illinois is a type of “thank you” from the governor’s office that comes with relief and the hope of normalcy. In the governor’s message on Illinois moving into Phase 4, JB. Pritzker said he looked at the data provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.