Sun City resident brings good vibes to aspiring musicians

Tony Pratt, a Sun City resident, enjoys volunteering and encourages others to donate their time. Pratt starting working with the Fox Valley Music Foundation in Aurora. The foundation promotes local musical artists and provides educational programs to help foster a love and appreciation for music in the community.

Pratt said, “I got involved when I met a record store owner in Batavia. Kiss the Sky record store owner Steve Warrenfeltz, the former President of the Fox Valley Music Foundation, got me interested, and that’s how it began.”

Remembering our fallen heroes

September 11 is a day that Americans across the country reflect on the attacks that stunned the world. It’s a day that unites us in remembrance and reflection as we recall where we were when we heard the news of the planes hitting the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A Sun City Resident, a Chicago firefighter, and twenty fellow firefighters traveled to the site. He will never forget that day.

Playing in their lane

Grandpa, Grandma, & Me (GG & Me) Charter Club members celebrated Grandparent’s Day on September 8 at GLO-BOWL in Marengo. It was a day of inclusivity and togetherness as grandparents, grandkids, and families came together to celebrate the occasion by throwing a few strikes.

Retired educator reflects on state honor

After a nearly 30-year career as a teacher, athletic director, and coach, Jim Meyers received a top honor from the state-wide Illinois Association of Athletic Directors (IADA).

Meyers was one of three members of the IADA Class of 2024 Hall of Fame, along with Terry Dobbs who worked at Palatine and Greg King of Sterling, at the May IADA meeting. Meyers explained that due to his retirement as Johnsburg High School Athletic Director in 2003, he is one of the elder statesman so honored.

“I was nominated by the present Johnsburg High School Principal Kevin Shelton, and filled out an informational and career packet from IADA, including letters from colleagues (former tennis coach Rick Bailey), and that went to a committee,” Meyers, a long-tine Sun City resident, said.

Celebrating 25 years of Drinks on the Drive

Sun City Neighborhoods, united in their celebration, marked the 25th anniversary of their community on Sunday, August 25. Despite the heat, residents, brought their chairs and contributions and participated in the community event in a show of solidarity.

The Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) invited each neighborhood to hold a community-wide Drinks on the Drive.

Meet the R.O.M.E.O.s

The ROMEOs, a unique group of Retired Old Men Eating Out, reside in Neighborhood 10A.

They made a memorable entry in Sun City’s golf cart parade with their ROMEOs Breakfast Club cart, adorned in patriotic colors and a large sign. The club, consisting of ten current members, including Rich Gawlik, Tom Reichardt, Jim Saletta, Bob Sholiton, Mike Shehorn, Bob Wainscott, Gene Harrison, Steve Lindskoog, Clyde Sample, and Bill Berendt, is known for its weekly breakfast outings, marked by their distinctive shirts: “Team Breakfast.”

By writing his first book, Sun City resident finds voice

Writing a book wasn’t even on Russ Kovar’s radar for the longest time — until suddenly it was.

Kovar has worn many hats in his lifetime: a veteran of the U.S. Navy, an information management professional, a mentor to veterans searching for civilian employment; he is also a husband, father, and grandfather. Now retired and living in Sun City, Kovar has taken on yet another identity: author.

Party like it’s Neighborhood 5

Cedar Cove, or Neighborhood 5 (N-5), held its annual neighborhood picnic on Saturday, August 10, at the Fountain View Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. N-5 was one of the first neighborhoods opened in Sun City.

James Harper said, “At the picnic, we recognized all our residents who have been here since Sun City opened. The ‘originals’ began a tradition in 1999 when they moved in, lasting 25 years. They cared for each other, checking in on neighbors and being there for each other. They set the tone. We wouldn’t be the kind of neighborhood we are without them.”

The constant gardener

Joann Miller, a Sun City resident, loves to garden, and her beautifully planned gardens are proof. At 94 years old, she confirms that gardening can be good for your health, happiness, and quality of life.

Miller said, “In August, I will have lived in Sun City for 20 years. My next-door neighbor, Diane, moved in on the same day. We love gardening.”

‘He knows everyone’s name’

Tom Schlechter, a steadfast pillar of the Sun City community, has diligently served as the pool monitor at Meadow View Lodge pool for ten years, withstanding the challenges of the COVID years.

“I like people. I like talking to them. They all have interesting stories,” he shared, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the community.

Brick by brick

They may be called nerds or geeks, but there’s a more fitting term for adult LEGO collectors – AFOLs, which stands for Adult Fans of LEGO. These AFOLs are not just collectors but also builders, and anyone with a deep-seated passion for the LEGO brick. This shared passion creates a strong sense of community among adult LEGO collectors.

During the pandemic, Peter Mazzoni embarked on a new hobby. “I used to love building models. When I was younger, that’s what we would do. But I always disliked the smell of the glue. Then my son suggested, ‘Why don’t you try LEGOs?’ And that’s when I got hooked. I built the Colosseum, R2-D2, Millennium Falcon, and the shuttle.”

All eyes on the 25th annual golf cart parade!

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.”

Percussion with a purpose

Alex Macaluso, 68, has transformed his garage in Sun City into a musical workshop, where he spends his time preparing donated drum sets and other percussion instruments to be given away on behalf of a non-profit organization called Recycled Rhythm.

Recycled Rhythm got its start in 2018 when its founder, Anthony Maland, wanted a way to share the positive effects of music therapy with other young people. Maland, who was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 5, benefited greatly from his musical training and refused to allow his diagnosis to hold him back.

Reaching 100th blood donation a proud milestone

Fred Joob, a regular blood donor, was recognized on Monday, June 17, for his blood donations. Joob first started donating blood in 1990. He vividly remembers the moment that sparked his commitment. “I belonged to a church in Chicago. A parish member, a young girl, Emily, had tumors around her heart. I started donating palettes. I got in the habit of donating. I kept on donating every six weeks.”

Today, Joob is a 100-pint blood donor, an accolade he reached.

Resident organizes flag display to honor veterans

During the 4th of July week, a heartwarming sight greeted those driving through Neighborhood 9 — flags proudly flying underneath some of the mailboxes. This initiative was sparked by Cindy Byrd, a resident in N9, who sent an email to her neighbors, asking if they were veterans and, if so, which branch of service they served in.

Byrd said, “It would be nice to bring awareness to how many military veterans we have living among us. For those veterans that responded to my email, a flag with a tag identifying the veteran’s name and branch of service was placed in front of their mailbox for the holiday.”

Sunflower Garden Club grants scholarships to next generation of scientists

Thanks to the support of the Sunflower Garden Club basket sale this year and the fall mum sales, scholarships were awarded to three Huntley High School students.

Darlene Pratt, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, said, “Our sales were so well supported, we were able to increase the number of scholarships from the two planned to three.”

Helping hand

Bonnie Scherkenbach, a Sun City resident, isn’t afraid of change.

Having once taught first, second, and third-grade children, she later felt the pull to switch gears and embark on a new path.

Scherkenbach said, “I decided to return to school and work on getting a master’s degree in counseling, focusing on gerontology. I went from one end of the age spectrum to the other. I got three different internships as part of my program. Those were at the Palatine Township Senior Services, Condell Intergenerational Day Center, and The Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA). After finishing my degree, I was employed at BACOA for 20 years.”

Happy 100

Sun City Bridge Charter Club took a moment away from their serious game to celebrate resident John Snow’s 100th birthday not once but twice. Pat Zenner, a resident and bridge player, said, “On May 31, in the card room at the lodge, we will have a cake to celebrate his birthday.”

Not to be outdone, the Monday night bridge group also celebrated Snow’s centennial birthday with more cake on June 3.

Sandi Karnatz said, “John is an amazing man and bridge player. He likes to play no trump. Everyone who plays with him knows that.”

Ain’t life grand?

Father’s Day, a holiday we now celebrate with joy and gratitude, was not always a part of our cultural fabric. It was founded in Washington State by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910, a woman of remarkable determination. This was a time when the role of fathers was not as publicly recognized as it is today. The first celebration was held in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Dodd’s father, a Civil War veteran and a single parent who raised his six children, is the inspiration behind this day. After hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day, Dodd felt a similar holiday honoring fathers was long overdue. She initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, but the pastors needed more time to prepare their sermons; the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

Bringing history to life

Todd Ary and Mark Stahl, teachers at Heineman Middle School, sent students outside of the classroom and brought history to life for their students.

Ary said, “We invited veterans from the community, allowing students to interview them and show veterans how much their service is valued.”

Sixteen veterans representing the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy branches of service participated in the program.

The restoration project is led by Desert Rat’s owner, Mike Kellner, who first found the plane chopped up into pieces back in 1984 in an overgrown field near Bangor, Maine, according to Desert Rat restoration volunteer, Bill Stanczak.

Mother’s Day memories stitched into keeepsakes

Daughters and sons hold close, cherished memories of their mothers, whether it be a trip, a celebration, or a note in a lunch bag. Some are lucky to have special sentimental items. Candi Thuringer has kept some beautiful crocheted items that her mother, Melly, made for her two daughters. Each outfit is a piece of the past.

Thuringer said, “My mother crocheted and was a seamstress. Everyone she loved got a beautiful crocheted blanket. We have a special round crochet blanket that is a treasure. She crocheted so many different things for my daughters. My daughters both came home from the hospital in the most beautiful, crocheted blanket woven with hues of soft colors and an outfit that mom had made.”

All dogs go to Heaven

A widely-known saying by an unknown author reads: “When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.”

Wrigley, a St. Bernard, was a beloved figure in Sun City. His gentle nature and friendly demeanor earned him the title of ‘mayor’ and ‘mascot’ of our community. His massive size was matched only by his even bigger heart, which he shared freely with everyone he met.

Letter carriers’ food drive provides critical help

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) of the United States Postal Service is making a significant contribution to end hunger in the Huntley community. They are sponsoring the Annual Stamp out Hunger food collection on Saturday, May 11. This event, held every second Saturday in May, mail carriers in over 10,000 cities and towns across the country collect donations. This initiative, which began in 1993, has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive.

Harriet Ford, President of Grafton Food Pantry, emphasizes the crucial role of our community in this effort.

Sun City residents take part in Young Authors panel

The Young Authors’ program, an initiative sponsored by the Huntley School District, provides a platform for kindergarten through 8th grade students to showcase their creative writing skills. The program’s goal is to foster a love for writing and storytelling, encouraging students to express their unique perspectives and ideas. Each student had the unique opportunity to pen their original stories, which esteemed community volunteers then evaluated. The selection process is rigorous; one exceptional winner was chosen for each grade level.

The judging panel, including dedicated community volunteers from Sun City, played a crucial role in the selection process. Their commitment and expertise were instrumental in identifying the most outstanding authors. Their names include Judy Cieciwa, Julie Ford, Pat Hector, Dolores Kuta, Mary Nogar, Diane Nolan, Sandra Pelka, Kathy Render, Joan Riffner, Valerie Tomanica, Barbara Yarbrough, Dolores Kuta, Karen Hutchings, Darcy Chadwick, and Heather Elder.

April showers bring May flowers … for Mom!

However Mother’s Day looks for you this year, hopefully these ideas inspire you to spoil your mom. Or, moms send this to your kids to give them hints! Let’s get a head start to celebrate our moms!

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