MY SUN DAY NEWS
Every great rock and roll story starts with a simple spark, and for bass guitarist John Dwyer, that spark was a deep-seated passion to play. His creative drive ultimately led to the formation of The Del Fossils, a high-energy rock and roll band comprised entirely of local talent. Dwyer proudly notes that all band members are Sun City residents, highlighting the tight-knit, community-based nature of the group.
Lately, granny squares have been popping up in unexpected places.
Remember granny squares? I watched my mother work her crochet hook like a magic wand when I was a little kid in the 70s. The sight of her yarn morphing into squares, which were then stitched together to become handbags and blankets is a core memory for me. So is the click-click of her knitting needles. As well as the whir of her sewing machine. As I grew into a teen, I rejected all these things, because I was determined to be more contemporary, not wanting to continue these “old lady” hobbies.
A remarkable partnership is flourishing in the Huntley community, bringing together the rich life experiences of Sun City residents and the energy of local youth. What began as a strategic goal by the Sun City Board of Directors to deepen ties with Huntley High School (HHS) has grown into a successful collaboration involving students, teachers, volunteers, and residents throughout the district.
Let’s talk about bugs, shall we? Well, technically it’s not actually bugs I want to talk about—it’s bacteria. But if I started by saying that, you might have stopped reading by now. But wait! It’s not the bad bacteria bugs I want to talk about. It’s the good ones. And yes, there are plenty of good ones to talk about.
Let’s talk about bugs, shall we?
Well, technically it’s not actually bugs I want to talk about—it’s bacteria. But if I started by saying that, you might have stopped reading by now.
But wait! It’s not the bad bacteria bugs I want to talk about. It’s the good ones. And yes, there are plenty of good ones to talk about.
Last month’s Health News Report summarized recent research on how the human body responds to the daily cycle of light and dark through a master clock nestled near the optic nerve. This clock responds to that circadian rhythm sending hormonal signals to all regions in the body throughout the day. Without your awareness the master clock sends out melatonin to promote sleep and decreases that hormone to wake you up each morning. But that circadian rhythm does not stop with just awake/sleep influence.
After a break for Memorial Day, its back to three days a week of softball fun for Sun City Softball Club players, fans and umpires, at Veterans Memorial Field. Fortunately for the increasing crowds, light jackets have replaced the blankets.
I’m a grandmother in my 60s, and I find myself in a situation I’m both excited about and quietly worried over.
It’s that time of year again, when a trip to our ophthalmologist is necessary. My arms weren’t long enough for me to read a book. Jim’s eyes are so bad (How bad are they?), when he went to take Rosie for a walk, he put her harness on backwards and couldn’t figure out why she only had one eye! After our examinations, we hurried off to get our new frames and lenses. Sparing no expense, we went to Sam’s Club. All of this activity worked up quite an appetite so we decided to stop at a nearby restaurant called Around the Clock Restaurant and Bakery in Crystal Lake.
The Star Wars Universe under Disney has taken quite a beating over the last few years for its lack of interesting storylines and uninspired character choices. Largely, the property has lived on in the era of streaming. Shows like Andor and The Clone Wars were there to feed long-term fans with content from a galaxy far far away. However, the loss of a big screen feature not since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker is telling.
Letters of kindness found in the Sun City Community.
Perennial flowers are a mainstay of most landscape settings. They add color, extend the bloom times, and can be low maintenance. Perennial flowers also improve the quality of the soil and act as food sources for pollinators and insects. The availability, selection and reliability of perennial flowers is the direct result of several very high-quality growers in our area.
Letters for the week of June 4.
Following his run for the Sun City Board of Directors last fall, familiar face Jim Fatigato is taking on a new position in community governance. The Board recently has appointed the Sun City resident to the Election Committee. But Fatigato has another role, too. Last Halloween, he stepped in and brought Mickey Mouse to Grandma, Grampa & Me’s traditional Halloween party. Fatigato has brought delight to children’s lives for 20 years, giving them the opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Following his run for the Sun City Board of Directors last fall, familiar face Jim Fatigato is taking on a new position in community governance. The Board recently has appointed the Sun City resident to the Election Committee.
But Fatigato has another role, too. Last Halloween, he stepped in and brought Mickey Mouse to Grandma, Grampa & Me’s traditional Halloween party. Fatigato has brought delight to children’s lives for 20 years, giving them the opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The statistics around bomb threats rank right up there with The Boy Who Cried Wolf. 90-95% are hoaxes. And yet, even these threats have to be taken seriously when innocent lives are at stake. That’s how I found myself helping to direct community members out of my workplace — a public library — on an impossibly beautiful spring day. A suspicious call came through to a public desk. The caller spoke through a voice changer and made threats to the building and the people inside. Immediately, staff called 911 to report the threat, and the dispatcher advised that the building be evacuated.
The statistics around bomb threats rank right up there with The Boy Who Cried Wolf. 90-95% are hoaxes. And yet, even these threats have to be taken seriously when innocent lives are at stake.
That’s how I found myself helping to direct community members out of my workplace — a public library — on an impossibly beautiful spring day. A suspicious call came through to a public desk. The caller spoke through a voice changer and made threats to the building and the people inside. Immediately, staff called 911 to report the threat, and the dispatcher advised that the building be evacuated.
I never imagined that Jeff Bezos and I would have much to talk about over a beer, but when I learned that he was a bit dissatisfied with the size of his “super yacht,” I had to give it a second thought. Because, like Jeff, I am also a boat owner. So I feel his pain. My first boat is a hundred-year-old 17-foot wooden canoe I’ve owned since 1973, and although I honor its natural beauty, it clocks in at almost a hundred pounds.
I never imagined that Jeff Bezos and I would have much to talk about over a beer, but when I learned that he was a bit dissatisfied with the size of his “super yacht,” I had to give it a second thought.
Because, like Jeff, I am also a boat owner. So I feel his pain.
My first boat is a hundred-year-old 17-foot wooden canoe I’ve owned since 1973, and although I honor its natural beauty, it clocks in at almost a hundred pounds.
In a society increasingly dominated by digital screens, there is something remarkably timeless about the sound of a hammer hitting a nail. Recently, the Woodchucks Charter Club and the Grandma, Grandpa, & Me (GG&Me) Charter Club teamed up to bring that hands-on experience to the grandkids. The event showed that the best way to bridge a generation gap is through a shared project. The GG&Me spring event proved to be more than simply a craft workshop; it displayed the Woodchucks’ mentorship. The Woodchucks Charter Club supplied not merely the physical tools and materials but also the expert-level patience to teach young children the fundamentals of woodworking.
In a society increasingly dominated by digital screens, there is something remarkably timeless about the sound of a hammer hitting a nail. Recently, the Woodchucks Charter Club and the Grandma, Grandpa, & Me (GG&Me) Charter Club teamed up to bring that hands-on experience to the grandkids. The event showed that the best way to bridge a generation gap is through a shared project.
The GG&Me spring event proved to be more than simply a craft workshop; it displayed the Woodchucks’ mentorship. The Woodchucks Charter Club supplied not merely the physical tools and materials but also the expert-level patience to teach young children the fundamentals of woodworking.
Sun City’s Fitness Department is filling a vital gap in local programming with its new Brain & Body fitness class. Led by Kelly Bertrand, Sun City Fitness Director, the session is every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Studio A at Meadowview Lodge. The initiative sparked after a Kay Osborn and Marilyn Gustafson, Sun City residents, along with a local support group, noticed a lack of specialized resources for people navigating life after a stroke or living with Parkinson’s. “There was a clear need for fitness tailored specifically to neurological challenges,” says Osborn, who helped advocate for the program.
Sun City’s Fitness Department is filling a vital gap in local programming with its new Brain & Body fitness class. Led by Kelly Bertrand, Sun City Fitness Director, the session is every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Studio A at Meadowview Lodge. The initiative sparked after a Kay Osborn and Marilyn Gustafson, Sun City residents, along with a local support group, noticed a lack of specialized resources for people navigating life after a stroke or living with Parkinson’s.
“There was a clear need for fitness tailored specifically to neurological challenges,” says Osborn, who helped advocate for the program.
Sun City is preparing to celebrate the heart the community: volunteers. Join in on Wednesday, June 10, from 4-6 p.m. at the Fountain View Pavilion for a special Volunteer Social Pop-Up Event.
A group of Sun City Tall Oaks Tennis Club (TOTC) members would like to have additional court time at Tall Oaks Courts. Spearheading the current tennis club’s campaign is TOTC member Nancy Fontana, with the main purpose a chance to grow the sport’s initiatives.
A group of Sun City Tall Oaks Tennis Club (TOTC) members would like to have additional court time at Tall Oaks Courts.
Spearheading the current tennis club’s campaign is TOTC member Nancy Fontana, with the main purpose a chance to grow the sport’s initiatives.
I’m writing as a very concerned daughter who is feeling a little stuck when it comes to my dad. He’s in his upper 60s, extremely active, and generally healthy, which I’m grateful for. However, recently he had a spot removed from the upper part of his left ear. Thankfully, it turned out to be benign, but it shook me more than it did him.
Nancy’s hip replacement is now ancient history. Despite the best efforts of a local hospital, she is now doing really well. While she was rehabbing, her physical therapist recommended a buffet style restaurant. Since Nancy no longer requires a cane, she was free to run around the buffet grabbing copious amounts of food with both hands. The restaurant he recommended was one that has two of Nancy’s weakness’, shrimp and crab. With empty tummies we ventured out to Umi Sushi and Seafood Buffet in Niles.
Almost every movie season, there is an actor that is in everything. Usually this is some newly touted talent or ingenue. But sometimes, it is just a familiar face. Anne Hathaway has been out of the spotlight a bit, sporadically turning up in projects from time to time. However, she has five major projects that will be hitting screens throughout 2026. All of which are wildly different in tone and context. Here are just the first two on display at the present moment.
I was in a car accident 10 weeks ago. It wasn’t my fault. I know that I was lucky. My car was totaled and my ankle was broken in two places but at the time I thought I was going to die. I am now the proud owner of seven screws, two plates and a rod.. For seven weeks I was not allowed to put my right foot down. I lived in my bed, a wheel chair and a recliner. I could not live alone. My kids and sisters were wonderful taking turns stopping their lives so they could take care of me. Like I said, I was lucky.
I was in a car accident 10 weeks ago. It wasn’t my fault. I know that I was lucky. My car was totaled and my ankle was broken in two places but at the time I thought I was going to die. I am now the proud owner of seven screws, two plates and a rod..
For seven weeks I was not allowed to put my right foot down. I lived in my bed, a wheel chair and a recliner. I could not live alone. My kids and sisters were wonderful taking turns stopping their lives so they could take care of me. Like I said, I was lucky.
Often when someone dies, we are left with one lingering question, “Why?” Sometimes the answer is painfully obvious; a terminal illness or a devasting accident. In other instances, though, the answer is illusive and never fully reveals itself. The question looms large “Why?” and the survivors may struggle with coping.
Letters for the week of May 21.
Sun City residents Dick Bosold and Claudia Millington recently joined a delegation of 25 travelers for a 10-night pilgrimage through Rome, Assisi, and Florence. Led by Father Julius of St. Mary’s in Huntley, the group’s itinerary featured a momentous highlight: a Papal audience with the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Elected in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, holds a special place in the hearts of the Midwest travelers. Born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on September 14, 1955, the Holy Father’s roots are firmly planted in Illinois. He grew up in the south suburb of Dolton and attended school at St. Mary of the Assumption on the far south side, making this international pilgrimage feel like a visit with a local hero.
Sun City residents Dick Bosold and Claudia Millington recently joined a delegation of 25 travelers for a 10-night pilgrimage through Rome, Assisi, and Florence. Led by Father Julius of St. Mary’s in Huntley, the group’s itinerary featured a momentous highlight: a Papal audience with the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.
Elected in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, holds a special place in the hearts of the Midwest travelers. Born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on September 14, 1955, the Holy Father’s roots are firmly planted in Illinois. He grew up in the south suburb of Dolton and attended school at St. Mary of the Assumption on the far south side, making this international pilgrimage feel like a visit with a local hero.
A core value of mine is this: Everyone is just doing their best. I really do believe this, and it plays out during the day when there are minor infractions committed against me, like getting cut off in traffic, or seeing when someone hasn’t cleaned up after their dog in the neighborhood, or the cashier forgets to scan a coupon.
A core value of mine is this: Everyone is just doing their best.
I really do believe this, and it plays out during the day when there are minor infractions committed against me, like getting cut off in traffic, or seeing when someone hasn’t cleaned up after their dog in the neighborhood, or the cashier forgets to scan a coupon.
“Well, here we are,” said the frog, to nobody in particular. It just seemed like the right thing to say, given the situation he was in. And that situation, of course, was that he was in water — which should come as no surprise to anybody. Frogs love water, and this frog was no exception. Like all frogs, this frog could think of no place he would rather be than to be sitting in water, which he was.
“Well, here we are,” said the frog, to nobody in particular. It just seemed like the right thing to say, given the situation he was in.
And that situation, of course, was that he was in water — which should come as no surprise to anybody. Frogs love water, and this frog was no exception. Like all frogs, this frog could think of no place he would rather be than to be sitting in water, which he was.
Sun City’s John Schwan began his pickleball season on the sport’s biggest stage. Schwan competed in the age 75-59 bracket at the US Open Pickleball Tournament. He faced four players with a higher rating than his 4.0, and won three matches. He lost to Ed Klarman, of Naples, Fla., a 4.5 rated player, 16-14 for gold, on April 12. This year marked Schwan’s third time to qualify for the US Open, and he won his rating bracket’s gold medal the last two years.
Sun City’s John Schwan began his pickleball season on the sport’s biggest stage.
Schwan competed in the age 75-59 bracket at the US Open Pickleball Tournament. He faced four players with a higher rating than his 4.0, and won three matches. He lost to Ed Klarman, of Naples, Fla., a 4.5 rated player, 16-14 for gold, on April 12. This year marked Schwan’s third time to qualify for the US Open, and he won his rating bracket’s gold medal the last two years.
The Huntley Community School District D-158 Huntley Hurricanes Special Olympics teams have had success in several sports this season. Advisor Crystal Miguel explained some of the highlights for the participants, ages 8-22. “Many athletes do multiple events at once,” Miguel said. “Some were in soccer skills and participated in track-and-field, or on the soccer and track-and-field teams. Every year our program keeps growing. There are 22 athletes on the track-and-field team, 12 in soccer skills and 12 are on the high school soccer team.”
The Huntley Community School District D-158 Huntley Hurricanes Special Olympics teams have had success in several sports this season.
Advisor Crystal Miguel explained some of the highlights for the participants, ages 8-22.
“Many athletes do multiple events at once,” Miguel said. “Some were in soccer skills and participated in track-and-field, or on the soccer and track-and-field teams. Every year our program keeps growing. There are 22 athletes on the track-and-field team, 12 in soccer skills and 12 are on the high school soccer team.”
