Sun City trio completes Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike

Many people visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Maybe one percent of those visitors make the trek to the bottom. A smaller percent do the hike known as the Rim-to-Rim (R2R). The percentage only gets smaller of those who do it in one day. Sun City residents Mike Grantham, Larry Lindahl, and Doug Jenks did just that on Thursday, September 7. What existed on avid hiker Doug’s bucket list, became a reality when Mike and Larry with their triathlete experience brought their endurance training knowledge to the adventure.

Space-traveling capsule containing Sun City resident’s work briefly returns to Earth

Seven years ago, when this NASA spacecraft was launched, my wife Mary and I witnessed its ascent into space at the Kenedy Space Center and wished it “Godspeed.” Along with thousands of cheering visitors that day and many in the country watching TV, we excitedly viewed and heard the spectacular, perfect, and right-on-time liftoff.

Bystander CPR saves life, can save many more

On July 24, at Bowl-Hi Lanes, a 57-year-old bowler went into cardiac arrest. Bowlers began bystander CPR. Now, Robert McIntyre is alive and doing well because there were individuals who were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

CPR can increase survival for cardiac arrest victims by up to four times.

Youngest DJ in Huntley makes his debut

Jim Eggers, Sun City resident and Executive Director of Huntley Community Radio, said, “Here at the mighty 101.5 we are always looking for new talent. He’s four years old and won the DJ for a day contest run by the Huntley public library. Lochlan Pedersen redeemed his prize and got to cohost a show with 101.5 FM Huntley Community Radio.”

Huntley Historical Society invites community to learn about its roots

How much do you know about the history of Huntley? Do you know which minister called people to worship by hammering on the anvil? Did you know that the Latimer brothers manufactured a unique bike in Huntley? Or that Huntley, at one time, was the dairy capital of the United States?

Karen Makowski, Sun City resident and board member of the Huntley Historical Society, said, “We are hoping to preserve this history of the Village of Huntley, which was founded in 1851 by Thomas Huntley. His home still stands here in Huntley.”

Gilbert said, “The story of the quilt began with my visit to Yad Vashem in Israel; The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in 1996. Inspiration hit me when I saw the sculpture of a train car. I came home to make the quilt. I cried while I was making this quilt.”

Like hotcakes

As reported in the August 10 edition of My Sun Day News, the Sun City Huntley Neighborhood 3 Cookbook was released, coordinated by Sandy Smith.

Board candidates outline plans for Sun City, part 1

Seven candidates have applied to volunteer for three open positions on the Sun City Community Association of Huntley, Inc. Board of Directors.

My Sun Day News forwarded surveys to each of the candidates.

Neighborhood 3 cookbook stirs up excitement

Sharing recipes is a connection people have had throughout time across the world. Recipes from family, friends, and community can leave behind some history. There is a sense of warmth in looking at a cookbook filled with recipes in the handwriting of your mother, friend, or neighbor.

In Sun City, one neighborhood published their residents’ favorite recipes in the ‘Sun City Huntley Neighborhood 3 Cookbook.’ Sandy Smith coordinated the effort.

TEAL: Take Early Action and Live

Did you know 1 in 78 women are at risk for ovarian cancer, and that ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers? Illinois ranks #5 in the nation for the most ovarian cancer deaths. Spreading awareness about symptoms and educating women will make a difference.

Joyce Zito, a Sun City resident, is trying to spread the word about ovarian cancer and is asking for help. According to information from the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older.

World War II vet celebrates 102nd birthday

Raul Zuniga turned 102 On June 15 this year. One of Zuniga’s celebrations happened at Culvers in Huntley.

Richard Meyers, a manager at Culvers said, “It was a magical moment in time.”

Quilters honor vets at annual event

On June 19, family and friends gathered at Shepherd of the Prairie Church in Huntley to honor the veterans who served our country by presenting them with a custom quilt.

Each stitch on the quilts is a labor of love completed by the women in The Quilts of Valor to show appreciation and gratitude to veterans serving the United States of America.

Paw-sitive vibes

Sun City Resident Debby Smith volunteers at Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions. Young at Heart is a rescue and safe haven for senior dogs and cats in Woodstock, Illinois.

“I’ve been there 8 months,” Smith said. “I’ve worked at animal shelters since I was 20.”

According to Smith, volunteering is a true passion.

Putting the psychology into fiction

Most self-help books help foster growth in all aspects of life. But these may not hold your attention like a favorite fictional story. Merida Johns, Ph. D., has found a way to incorporate self-help into the entertainment of fictional characters.

Johns, a Sun City resident, is the founder and director of The Monarch Center for Women’s Leadership Development. She is a retired university professor and has authored textbooks in health care and leadership.

What gave her the idea to start writing fiction?

Antique farm equipment interest going strong

For close to a quarter-century, the McHenry County Antique Farm Equipment Association of Illinois (MCAFQI)has been a gathering place for all who cherish generations-old tractors. Some of the tractors were on display at a recent Huntley Farmers Market.

Membership chairman Jim Jones of Union described the purpose of the 100-member club.

“We go to area fairs, as we were just at Harvard Milk Days, have tractor treks to places like Lake Geneva, Wis. and work with FFA Alumni and McHenry County Farm Bureau.”

Vacant homes create issues for some Sun City neighbors

Homes may become vacant for a variety of reasons, some of which are relatively benign. A property that is for rent or sale can be vacant for a short time. If these properties are well maintained by responsible owners, they will not depress neighboring property values. In general, a vacant property becomes a problem when the property owner abandons the basic responsibilities of ownership.

Sun City residents Debbie and Don Smith have been living next to a house that has been vacant for five years.

Radioactive

Rich and Kathy Allen, Sun City residents and scientists, are retired health physicists. Health physics is the science of radiation protection. Rich and Kathy devoted their career to protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards.

Rich said, “We both started working at Medi+Physics. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes radiopharmaceutical diagnostic imaging agents. The company produced isotopes. One of the uses for isotopes is for imaging. Some have a short shelf life and have to be used the next business day.”

Raising hope

Shirley Kroot, Sun City resident, has raised over $120,000 for cancer research through the Komen Foundation, and currently, for the American Cancer Society.

What prompted her to start fundraising?

Kroot said, “I decided to start fundraising in 2003 when my cousin’s wife died of breast cancer. I sent out emails asking for donations. The first year, I raised $300 with little effort. I thought that with more effort I could raise more.”

Clowning around

Pat Henning, Sun City resident, is a member of the Sun City Band that performed in the recent ‘Under The Big Top’ concert. Henning said, “A circus needs a balloon lady to make it complete. A friend of mine in a group I work with told me her daughter makes balloon animals, as well as magic so I was very happy when she called me and I was I’m able to arrange a plan for her to join our concert. When I saw her come, dressed in a cute clown-type outfit, I thought this is just perfect. And she was a hit.”

A bugs life for this Sun City resident

Biff Smith, a Sun City resident, caught the bug love.

As a Volkswagen connoisseur, he catalogs the value of one of the oldest nameplates in automotive history still in use today. This all began when Smith’s wife, Nan, enrolled in a lifestyle presentation of Kiddieland. Kiddieland was an amusement park located at the corner of North Avenue and First Avenue in Melrose Park, Illinois.

Sun City book club reaches milestone

The only thing better than reading a book is talking about them with others. Book clubs provide motivation to read stories you perhaps may not have read otherwise. They also provide you with an avenue of community, and an opportunity to meet and connect with people.

The Neighborhood 26 Book Club reached a milestone this April.

On the write path

Marcia Elke shares the journals she wrote in a book she published, ‘Our Journey of the Heart…and Soul,” documenting her life with her husband, Bill, as he fought heart disease.

Bill Elke was diagnosed with heart issues at the age of 35. Marcia, his wife said, “Bill was in denial thinking he was invincible.”

Lions Club: ‘We serve Huntley’ top cause

The Huntley Area Lions Club traces its history for more than 20 years as being part of the Huntley community since its days as the Lions of Sun City. The civic group now has about 45 members.

Lions Club current Co-President Mary Meyer explained some of the main projects.

Here to serve

Marilyn Berendt and her husband Bill have collectively volunteered for over 40 years in the Sun City community. Both were elected to a position on the Sun City Board of Directors to represent the residents. Berendt said, “Bill left the board on December 31, 2016, and I took a position on the board on January 1, 2017.”

Berendt served on the board for six years, serving her last year as the President of the Sun City Board, which ended on December 31, 2022.

Sun City residents share favorite places for nutritious meals

Proper nutrition is vital for good health no matter how old we are. However, cooking meals from scratch every day can be difficult for anyone, and senior citizen meal planning needs to ensure that nutritional needs are met.

Sun City residents do have alternatives to making that meal every day. Just minutes from their front door, residents can take advantage of various dining options, including meal prep kits delivered to their door.

Citizen bystanders’ CPR effort saves life

Many heartfelt thank-yous highlighted a Huntley Fire Protection District gathering.

Sun City resident Dennis Wolff thanked Huntley Fire Protection District members, 911 dispatchers and Huntley Police Officers for teaming together to save his life.

Wolff, 79, was walking at the Del Webb Fitness Center Dec. 6, 2022, when two retired nurses, Barb Verdich and Nancy Parente, noticed something was wrong. Wolff had suffered a cardiac arrest. But the two retired nurses quickly assisted Wolff with administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) before he was transported to Northwest Medicine Huntley Hospital.

Sun City ceramics artists show off their work

From prehistoric pottery to ancient Greek amphoras, clay art has always been important to the world, and Sun City is no exception. Residents John Garland and Mary Paul are ceramic artists who create individual and collaborative low-fire, functional, earthenware pottery.

Their pieces are feature bright colors and intricate embellishments inspired by nature.

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