Sun City’s 20th anniversary year is starting up, with the first major event of the celebration on Friday, April 12.
This kickoff event features a look back to when it all started, in the late 1990s.
The event includes s 90-minute Lifelong Learning lecture in Drendel Ballroom by Jake Marino, Huntley historian, followed by an outdoor re-enactment of the initial ground -breaking, and a cake reception. It is called, “From Farm Fields to Rooftops.”
“Register promptly, this event will fill up fast,” said Marilynn Berendt, a member of the community board of directors and board liaison to the Activity Advisory Committee, which is responsible for planning and presenting anniversary events. Marino will share some of the surprising and not widely known early things about Sun City’s history, including early farmers, the theme park that never came, and other unusual events.
Marino is a former resident of Huntley who now lives in Hampshire. He is a past president and current member of the Huntley Historical Society board of directors.
As of this writing, details of the ground-breaking part of this event were not set. Berendt said it will include appearances by Sun City officials with symbolic shovels in that area behind Drendel.
The Activity Committee is chaired by Ken Ladage. Members are Sue Conway-Coltman, vice chairperson; April Nystrom, Vicki Goldberg, Bonnie Spasojevich, Valerie Tomanica, and Bonnie Bayser.
This event is the first in a series of activities that will culminate this fall in an anniversary gala. The association staff is currently soliciting comments and stories from residents who came to Sun City in 1999, its first year of operation.
