A Polska Tradycja

Over the Labor Day weekend, we were invited to an “end of the summer” party. Jim must be slipping in his old age, since it took him a while to nonchalantly drop the fact that we are the Dining Duo into the casual conversation with other guests. As a result, we did receive a lot of good recommendations and were asked several questions. One inquiry was about a new Polish restaurant in Hoffman Estates called Tradycja (Tradition).

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Ask the Woodchucks: Fall Maintenance

As winter approaches, you should remove all hoses from the outside faucets, drain them, and store them in the garage to prevent them from freezing and damaging the hose. If you have a basement with a sump pump, be sure to remove the extension hose from the sump pump discharge pipe on the outside of the house. This is a black hose that directs sump water away from the foundation.

Let it snow outside and let it grow indoors

Life can be stressful. We all experience the stress of family, money, and health. My current angst is that of being a mom of 3 teenagers. While I used to be their most loved and admired person, as they naturally grow up and away, I am now that out of touch person whose IQ level keeps decreasing as their age increases. My beloved husband has realized that a walk around the block with me will cure any amount of stress that I experience with our children.

Many Sun Citians are readers, and now the Huntley Public Library, with help from an area Eagle Scout candidate, is bringing library services to a Sun City neighborhood.

Fair? Who wants fair at a carnival?

It was the late 80s. The guy wore a battered leather vest straight over tattooed skin that featured things I can’t repeat or describe here. On his feet were Converse sneakers that were maybe once white but were now nicotine yellow and fraying to bits, the famous Converse logo chipped away somewhere in the thousands of miles he walked. He squinted against a smoking cigarette tucked into the corner of his mouth. He had shaggy hair, a shaggy goatee, and a voice that sounded like rusted pipes grating together. With it he said things like, “My blind grandma has better aim than you.” He was working the ring toss at my church carnival, and this guy was my hero.

I’m either desperate, fed up, or both

I go to dozens of movies every year. I go for three reasons.

Welcome to America, where it looks just like it does on TV

My buddy Mike just got back from a week in France, and we took to the links for a quick nine holes so he could tell me a few lies and tales about his trip. His wife, Sandy, had been there before, and they were meeting an old college friend of hers with whom she had spent some time in France years ago, hoping to recapture a bit of the fun they had way back then.

Flyby

To celebrate the flyby of Earth by the OSIRIS-REx satellite, some of the world-wide followers of the NASA space program posted their smiling faces and waving hands on social media (Twitter: #HelloOSIRISREx) on September 22 of this year.

Recent sale spurs questions regarding resale transfer fee

When John Cox, a former resident of Neighborhood 12 in Sun City, recently sold his home, he paid more for the transaction than was legally required.

He paid a resale transfer fee, even though his home was exempt from the fee because of its location and the date it was built.

Swinging for the gold

Glenn Groebli announced that once again “We have brought home the gold.”

Groebli, a team member for 16-inch softball and manager of the 70-plus division confirmed that, “We have dominated the race for the gold on the 6 County Senior Olympics in softball for the last 5 out 6 years.”

How many batteries does your house have?

As electronics move into every corner of our lives, most of them require batteries to operate. As these batteries die the consequences can be from a minor annoyance to a catastrophic failure in your house when the heat goes off and the pipes freeze. In order to avoid these problems, large and small, you need to know where all the batteries are located and when to change them.

The Home Advantage

On Sunday Afternoon, September 24, the Chicago Bears took on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Alex and Rita Schank brought the full home entertainment experience outside, with a television set situated in their backyard and Stadium Seating for their neighbors.

“The admission price of appetizers or dessert is well worth it,” said Kathy Martelli, neighbor.

Huntley maps out new plan for growth

If you’ve been impressed by the Village of Huntley’s growth and expansion in the last 20 years, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Ask an Angel: October 19, 2017

I’ve noticed my mom’s vision is getting worse over time. She is a proud person and has never wanted help around the house. However, her home is not kept up in the way she typically keeps it up. It seems like she is letting things go, but I think it is because she can’t see well. How can I help without overstepping?

Sleep apnea, part 2

While obstructive sleep apnea can affect all ages, central sleep apnea affects only older folks.

My daughter, 43 years old, and my daughter-in-law, 52 years old, were recently diagnosed with the sleeping problem. My son, 46 years old, is about to be tested for the illness. So why is it so important to be checked for the disorder? Well, Mayo Clinic provides us with this list of complications that can arise from untreated sleep apnea.

The Stingrays earn 63 total swim medals in 2017

For the past six years, The Stingrays Swim Club has consistently been walking away with top club honors for medals garnered in the Illinois Six County Senior Swim Meet held more recently at Addison, IL. This year’s July 20 meet, with its usual 7 event format, proved that the Stings continue to be up for the challenge!

To everything there is a season (and an appropriate choice of foliage)

“Tag, you’re it. A wonderful young man disguised as a grumpy teenager it headed your way,” was the text I sent my daughter as my son’s plane took off. Christopher was headed to Kansas State University to spend the weekend with Mary.

No holds barred at Bar Louie

Nancy and her bowling babes were bummed out when they realized one of their favorite lunchtime haunts, Uno’s Pizzeria in Schaumburg, was closing. They were un-bummed out when they found realized “Bar Louie” was taking over that location. Her bowling babes said, “You’re the trained professional, go check it out.” So Nancy took off her bowling shirt. I put on my loose fitting work pants. We both hopped in the Dining Duo Mini-Mobile, and off we went to Bar Louie in Schaumburg.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

If you’re close to 60 or older, you understand the disconnect between your own perception of your age and your actual age. It’s easy being a beauty at 16, but at 60, it takes some care and work.

Sheila Osborne gave away some of the secrets for ageless skin recently in a class here in Sun City.

Teenage dreams

In a nod to simpler times, the Sun City Theater Company is donning poodle skirts, bobby socks, and letter sweaters to bring “Grease” to the stage.

“It’s always fun when you have adults play teenagers,” said Rob Kaye, director. “It’s amusing to see them be the cool ones, the nerds, or the hot chicks.”

Getting to know your EquiFACTS

It is becoming all too common these days.

Each day there seems to be another instance of another security breach. Makes me nervous, you? As a tax preparer for the last 25 years, I know that identity theft issues are on the rise. What makes the most recent Equifax breach so alarming is the fact that they knew about it for six weeks before any announcement was made.

Sleep apnea Part 1: explanation and symptoms

Twenty-two million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, but 80% of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea cases appear to go undiagnosed. Those of us who sleep solo nightly/daily may not be aware of our snoring or breathing habits. And with the epidemic of overweight U. S. citizens increasing in number, so too are the case statistics for this health disorder.

Our actions are often meant to achieve a specific goal. Being a former teacher, my underlying goal for each of these columns is to educate. Over time I have used humor, personal stories, and observations as a conduit for information. I have tried not to lecture or use this forum as a virtual soapbox to tell you what to do. Frankly, there are many readers of my column that have much more gardening experience than I do. Who am I to tell them what to do?

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley

A Polska Tradycja

Ask the Woodchucks: Fall Maintenance

Let it snow outside and let it grow indoors

Suburbicon: What goes around comes around

Ask an Angel: November 2, 2017

Sun City Lions Club park bench dedication

Little Free Library ‘opens doors’ in Sun City