Sun City resident Kari Freeman has a collection of small bottles filled with samples of sand from all over the world.

“Seriously, I really want to know. If you have an opinion or would like to share your collection,” he said.

Judith Aronson answered his call. Her collection concerns sunflowers. She said, “I still have some of the same items from 20 years ago but have added to them.”

Huntley Community Radio (HCR) is celebrating its own anniversary this year. James Eggers, Executive Direct of HCR, said, “We are rolling out an entirely new music format. We have changed our music library to specifically cater to the 45-year-old and up demographic. Basically, we are playing all the songs most people will actually recognize.”

Esther Bell, Sun City resident, was unfortunate to feel that fear. Bell said, “My granddaughter is a student at Oshkosh West High School. Last year the school was evacuated during a threat. It was terrifying for her parents and myself. A teenager had stabbed the school’s resource officer in a struggle for his gun. The officer managed to keep the gun away from him by shooting the teen while being staffed.”

Adrianne Kaplan, Sun City resident, recalls a woman in her life that survived the Holocaust, Magda Brown. Kaplan thinks of a woman she grew up calling “Aunt.”

Hanekamp, 66, grew up outside of Chicago in a large family. During the pandemic, the six adult siblings, separated by geography, enjoyed regular Zoom calls to reminisce about family vacations and forgotten family lore.

Carol Smith, a Sun City resident, posted on the Wildflower Facebook page: “Buffleheads, robin, ringbills, cardinal, and loon… today in Sun City!”

The photographs and post generated many comments and interest from residents.

Bill Dollear said, “We need a bird watching group.”

Betty “Lulu” Lucille Winkelman celebrated her 109th birthday on April 3, 2022, with friends, family, and neighbors.

Duane and Nancy Fontana had their barndominium ground breaking ceremony with a gold shovel, gold balloons and gold champagne on Wednesday, March 16.

Pamela Bartholomew received a message from a funeral home. DeFiore Funeral Home said they had bouquets of beautiful flowers that families were hoping could be given to others to enjoy. This began one of the missions of the Red Geraniums (Sun City Garden Club), and their commitment to using the flowers that would be thrown away.

Hand said, “We filled up quickly, in a couple of days we had our limit of 100. I took down names and emails of those we couldn’t accommodate this time. I am hoping to do this again soon for the residents we couldn’t fit in.”

Mila said, “We decided to come to the United States in 1978 when the USA opened the borders. We were lucky. Seven of us left. My husband and I with our 3-year-old daughter, my mother, his parents, and my sister-in-law. We had a friend from Kyiv living in Chicago, and he took us in for 6 months. My husband was a Tool and Die Maker and found a job quickly. I became a nurse, getting a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Francis.”

Wordle is a simple online game that’s gained traction in the world and has captured Sun City residents’ interest also. It’s free, fun, and feverishly addictive.

“You never forget your first love,” Bill said.

However, the relationship had a few twists and turns.

The signs of distress include shivering, tail tucked between legs, whining or anxiety, reluctance to move, lifting paws, and snow or ice buildup in paw pads or coat, according to the news release.

How different is the club now from its inception?

Chip Bell is in the exclusive club of men with real beards, and a white beard at that. But is he Santa?

Bell said, “I was working at Meijer’s and I was approached to put on the red suit. That was about nine years ago, and I have been professionally playing the part [of Santa] at shopping malls, stores, Lincoln Park Zoo, and private homes.”

Jackie Pokorny’s love for Christmas village scenes began as child.

Pokorny said, “I grew up with the tradition of having a Christmas village. I helped my mother assemble and set up the little plastic homes and stores under the Christmas tree and it always had a train circling the tree. A Christmas village was a must in our home. It’s struck me as being so beautiful.”

In front of the lodge, festive decorations set the scene for photos. As you enter the lodge at the reception entrance, a dove made by the Woodshop of Sun City sits on the table. The Woodshop celebrates the season by providing handmade toys to children. Woodchuck Rich Escallier said, “We’re going to deliver them to the food pantry.”

Bell said, “I have always sewed, I think I was in sixth grade when I started.”

Sebastian explained that “Bitcoin, developed in 2008 to be a private currency, was the first digital currency.”

On November 1, the Sew N Sews presented 96 pairs of mittens, 180 hats, and 100 scarves to Grafton Food Pantry.

The number of apples they produce is quite the feat.

Sam Skog, one of the employees who is charged with caramel apple production, said, “We are busy making apples every day. This week on Monday we made about 3000. 5600 on Tuesday and 3500 on Wednesday. Our goal is 10,000 for the weekend. We make the caramel apples here at the Pingree Grove location for our Barrington location also.”

Grandpa, Grandma, & Me (GG & Me) has held one of their biggest events, a Halloween Party for members, parents, and grandkids, the Sunday before every Halloween.

Little said, “We were heading north to attend a wedding in Lake Geneva at the Grand Geneva Resort. The ceremony was at 2:30 and we left Sun City at 1:00, thinking we had plenty of time. It was an occasion to get dressed up for; heels and good jewelry.”