The Craftsman hammerhawk lesson that will outlive Sears

When I read that Sears was closing still more of its stores nationwide, my nostalgia gland ached just a bit, because once long ago I learned a valuable life lesson in a Chicago Sears hardware department.

When I was a kid, my philosophy of life was: “Let Someone Else Break It.” It worked like this.

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There are the White Sox and Red Sox, and then there are Chuck Hund’s socks

Baseball uniforms are unique for teams in the majors, minors, Little League, t-ball and Sun City.

The uniforms here in Sun City reflect the generous sponsorship of the community. But nothing is as unique to baseball as the stirrup sock.

Chuck Hund, a team member for the Capitals, is known for the variety of Socks he wears to the games.

Coffee sessions focus on giving residents a voice

No one can say that the Sun City Board of Directors isn’t trying to communicate with residents.

The board recently expanded its written communication with residents through the Lifestyle Magazine and the community website, with more detailed reports on board meetings, more details in the staff’s weekly e-mail messages, and similar initiatives.

Board discusses range of topics from lightning safety to insurance

Topics ranged from lightning warning, insurance policies, parking lot improvements, and a refuse and recycling contract, among many others, at the Sun City board of directors meeting on August 22.

The following is a report on discussions held and actions taken by community directors.

“I worked for Hollywood Casino for 5 years. I was hired in June 1993 and received 8 weeks of training and received certification from the State of Illinois. I was trained on blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, and the roulette table. Blackjack is the most popular table game. When you sit down at a blackjack table and face off against a dealer, you are playing the best odds in the house.”

I wrote my first negative Yelp review and here’s what happened

A few days ago, I felt moved to do something that I forgot real people do: write a review on Yelp.

Sometimes, without realizing it, I imagine that Yelp reviews of restaurants or YouTube tutorials on how to knit a hat just appear on the internet out of the blue. But people write them and film them and share them with the world everyday. Now I’m one of those people.

Prairie Singers welcomes new choir director

When your choir director retires, a typical scenario might be – what do we do now?

Do you know anyone who might help in a search, or, who might be a candidate for a replacement? You had a unique and special relationship with your recent director, how do you find someone else who is equally desirable?

In Sun City’s Prairie Singers choir, however, none of the above was necessary.

Becoming motivated to fitness walk

I have oft informed my Sun City readers of the outstanding rewards of a fitness walk. As we approach the fall season of the year and its more modified, cooler temperatures, it’s time to reconsider this easy-to-do and “just about anywhere” sport.

Surviving Kodak and clothesline “sexting” — 1950s style

When I was eight years old, Mom shocked me by snapping a photo of me with her little Kodak camera — while I was sitting naked in the bathtub.

Keep in mind that this was in the mid-1950s, when snapping a photo was a big deal that required loading film into a camera, screwing on a single-use flashbulb, driving to a photo shop to have the film developed, and going back a week later to pick up the prints. It was faster to make a Thanksgiving turkey than a photo. I don’t think more than a dozen snapshots of me were taken before I entered high school.

Operation Finale: 4 star story, 2 star movie

The Oxford Dictionary defines Despot as “A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.” Adolph Hitler was such a person, and he spawned a number of others, including Adolph Eichmann, the mastermind of the holocaust, which was referred to by the Nazi’s, as “the final solution.” The horrors they unleashed on the world, the extermination of 6 million Jews, and after joining forces with the Japanese, sixty million war victims worldwide, will never be fully reconciled, until the end of time.

How now Blue Cow

Several of our loyal readers recommended a new restaurant in the neighborhood. Since we both love Polish food, we put it at the top of our list. One evening we jumped into the Mini-Mobile and headed out in search of kapusta pierogis. When we pulled into the parking lot, we spotted a sign over a storefront that said Polish Restaurant. We said to each other, “this must be the place.” We are referring to the Blue Cow Polish Restaurant in Lake in the Hills.

Ask the Woodchucks: September 6, 2018

Water keeps dripping down the copper tube on the side of our water heater onto the floor. Is this a problem, or is it normal?

Ask an Angel: September 6, 2018

I have been invited to a weekend getaway with a few friends. I would love to join them, but I feel guilty leaving my husband alone. I am his caregiver and can’t imagine someone taking my place, and I don’t think he would either. What do other people do when they want to be gone for any amount of time, and how do they deal with the guilt?

Hoofers ‘Dancing Queens’

The Hoofers are getting ready for their annual show. The show is Wednesday, September 12, at 7 p.m. in Drendel Ballroom at Prairie Lodge in Sun City. Ticket sales will be in the Fitness Studio at Prairie Lodge: Thursday, September 6, from 3-6 p.m. and Monday, September 10, from 4-7 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 each.

Dressing your landscaping for the seasons

Our family tends to use the same contractor for multiple generations. Although we do a lot ourselves (my husband stayed up until 12:30 installing a water softener last night), when we do ask someone to do something at our home, it tends to be a group mentality. The same person who washed the windows in my grandparent’s home washes windows for my mom and me. The same is true for the carpet cleaner.

Welcome to Alaska

The evening breeze gently stirs the forest of hemlock, pushing smoke from the alder wood fires toward our group. The aroma of freshly caught, grilling salmon spiced with a brown sugar glaze waifs in the air. The sky is bright and it will be for several more hours even though it’s already after 9 p.m. Yes, we’re in the land of the midnight sun, Alaska, and enjoying every minute of it. And, with 20 plus hours of daylight, you can see a lot during a single day.

Political Place: September 6, 2018

Now anyone in Illinois can vote from the comfort of their home. No need to stand in lines.

Passing the mic

Leadership transitions are often controversial, difficult, involve power struggles, or come at the end of a bitter political contest.

In corporate America, they frequently are dominated by strong personalities and the financial bottom line. In today’s government, one party loses and another wins amid a tumult of criticism and finger-pointing. In professional sports, if you don’t win, you quickly become expendable.

But in Huntley and Sun City, we just had a transition that was quiet, mutually respectful, peaceful, and totally seamless.

Tuning in to a legacy

This edition’s cover story is about Allen Pollack retiring from his position as Executive Director of Huntley Community Radio and Dave Eggers assuming the role. Although the story does an excellent job covering this transition and highlighting both players (Pollack and Eggers), I wanted to personally congratulate Allen Pollack for a job well done … to say the least.

Another chance to say, “Thank you for your service”

“Thank you for your service, Erin,” I said recently to a young lady I know who was about to be re-deployed again soon.

But Erin isn’t in the military, as you might have surmised from my expression of gratitude for her service. No, Erin is a teacher, and her “re-deployment” would begin as soon as the new school year opened in mid-August.

Broadway is just around the block

The Huntley Park District is bringing more theatre productions to Huntley. Rikki Lee Travolta, who founded the “Its Showtime Theatre of Huntley” is working in cooperation with the Huntley Park District and has put together a production using the talent of the community.

Deborah Swinford, one of the catalysts to utilize the Cosman Theatre to bring more quality productions to Huntley, said, “I am helping with the fund-raising, creative concept and theatre group itself.”

Hit the road with the RV Rovers

“Sun City brought us together. Cub Fans and Sox Fans – it didn’t matter. It’s about friendship,” said Roy Diez, explaining how Retro Rovers became what they are today.

Retro Rovers is a small group of Sun City Residents who have taken over 40 trips in an RV.

“We make about 3 to four trips a year,” Diez said.

Proudly Serving the Community of Sun City in Huntley

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley