Sun City’s 25th anniversary celebration continued on the streets on June 29.
It started with a pancake breakfast catered by Sammy’s Bar and Grill. After breakfast, residents and guests got their faces painted, sponsored by the Grandma, Grandpa, & Me Charter Club (GG&ME). Student volunteers from Huntley High School assisted club members in fulfilling requests. Board members Dottie Harrison and Bob Olson sat down and were happy with the artist’s work.
Olson said, “I loved getting my face painted. The young people from the high school who did it were all terrific young people and fun to talk to.”
Grandchildren enjoyed a sparkle or two along with a butterfly, heart, or crown. Lily Berendt, the granddaughter of Marilynn and Bill Berendt, got her face painted by Nethara Subasinghe, a junior at Huntley High School. Subasinghe said, “It’s fun, and I love seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces.”
Sun City residents display unity in creative diversity at Annual Golf Cart Parade.
The day was a vibrant tapestry of entertainment, offering something for every taste. From the whimsical “Those Funny Little People,” to the musical Sun City Concert Band and the patriotic Sun City Color Guard presentation, a diverse array of performances catered to all.
The day was a beautiful mosaic of unity and diversity as charter clubs, special interest groups, neighborhoods, and individuals came together for the golf cart decorating contest and the classic and standard cars competition. It was a testament to the strength of the community spirit.
Kathleen Vogler’s household submission was a sight to behold, a testament to the creativity and imagination that the community is known for. Her adorned cart, complete with tempting treats and a roof decorated with gumdrops, made from pool noodles, added a fun and whimsical touch to the event, inspiring others to let their creativity shine and filling the community with pride.
The Neighborhood 10a Romeos took the golf cart out for a spin around Sun City. Neighborhood 34 made a strong showing with three golf carts, including Joe and Kim Marvin’s, which beautifully represented the diverse interests of Sun City. Their cart truly reflected the community, from the reading room to the RV Club. Joe’s favorite spot, the Fountain on the Lake, was recreated on the cart’s back.
Rich and Kathy Allen, also from Neighborhood 34, added a delightful personal touch to their golf cart. Kathy’s humor shone through as she explained to her daughter that the ‘gray stuff’ on the roof was a playful representation of her hair, adding a touch of warmth and humor to the event.
Charlie Brown and Lucy made it to the parade along with Snoopy and his house on top of the roof, aka David and Eileen Arreguin from Neighborhood 21. Eileen took credit for the lack of rain on Saturday: “I laminated all the decorations around the cart for rain, so it didn’t rain.”
GG&Me decorated the club with photos of the members’ grandchildren. The Golf Charter Club cart, which had the number ’25’ on the front, contained lots of golf balls. The passengers wore traditional golf clothing and golf ball sunglasses. The Flintstones and their neighbors, the Rubbles, arrived in Fred’s car. If anyone was interested in a snack, there was a Cicada Roast. A 3-foot cicada topped the golf cart, singing to the crowd their song, and a Weber grill prepared the delicacy.
The Sunflower Garden Club had hanging baskets, planters of flowers, butterflies, and even a rabbit sitting comfortably between his lunch buffet. The cart was designed by Garden Club President Paulette Carrion and decorated by Paulette Carrion, Judy Perry, Maxine McIntosh, Kathy Dalby-Brown, and Barb Sass.
One of the newest charter clubs, Bird Watching, topped its golf cart with three nests to and a penguin, singing Audubon birds, bird houses, and the decorated netting. Members all wore birds on their hats and carried binoculars.
The parade started on its short route at 1:30. The Mayor of Huntley, Tim Hoeft, and the Huntley manager, Dave Johnson, also joined the parade. Along the road, children and residents waved and enjoyed sweet treats and necklaces tossed to the watchers. A sign created by grandchildren that said ‘Thank you,’ greeted the parade participants, bringing another smile to everyone’s faces.
