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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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News & Features Columnists Editorials Hang Your Hat Obituaries My Huntley News

March 11, 2021

Features

The Emmy winner next door

Sun City resident Paul Culler has worked as an audio engineer in television for 40 years.

“I worked for a company that provided T.V. facilities for everyone. We designed, built, and rented T.V. facilities for the broadcast industry,” Culler said.

Trash it or pass it?

Residents, at one point or another, may have wondered to themselves whether the piece of garbage they are about to throw away should be recycled instead. The U.S. generates approximately 262 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, according to a report done by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The biggest portion of waste comes from consumer disposal of paper products, plastics, and food.

Will you get the jab?

Americans’ willingness to take the coronavirus vaccine has jumped since the first two vaccines were authorized by the FDA. In a response to a survey, Sun City residents echo the Nation’s willingness to take the vaccine. Sixty-four residents responded to the question, “Will you get the vaccine?” Only three said that they would not.

Cue-ties

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many life celebrations, like birthday parties and weddings, have been celebrated quietly, postponed, or canceled.

Dorothy Cronin turned 90 on December 6, 2020. Her friend Judy Cieciwa decided that she would not let the day go by quietly.

‘Tough old sport’

A World War II veteran in Sun City celebrated his 96th birthday quietly on Friday, January 8. Marking another milestone, Fritz Mazur would have celebrated surrounded by family and friends. But Fritz and his wife, Tina, have sequestered themselves in their home in Sun City during the coronavirus pandemic, so the annual birthday celebration was a small gathering of three.

The family trees

In many houses, the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of a home, during the holiday seson. Most Sun City residents have collected several ornaments over the years. They are ornaments from trips, children’s crafted ones, favorite themes such as Disney, Cats, dogs, and music.

The show must go on … even in 2020

Among the many losses this year was the chance for residents to shine on stage in the classic end-of-the-year theater production of Scrooge. This pandemic has crippled most live audience events. The performing arts sector has been hit especially hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, but something is happening in Sun City in the world of live theater. Debi Sieckman found an innovative way to weather the storm.

Hanukkah celebrations bring light into a dark year

Hanukkah is a Jewish eight-day celebration, sometimes known as the festival of lights. It is celebrated with nightly Menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried foods. It commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt and is observed with the lighting of a nine-branched candelabrum each night.

Stocking” up on help

Sue Coltman’s garage was looking a little like Santa’s Workshop. Coltman is the President of the Sunflower club who coordinated the effort to make sure that every child under 18 serviced by the Graton Food Pantry would receive a Christmas Stocking this year.

Send cheer to a vet

The holidays may be tough for most this year, but Sun City resident knows that some groups need extra cheer this year.

Naples is asking for help to brighten up the holiday for veterans.

8,000 lights… and counting

2020 has been a tough year. But Sun City has some relief thanks to David Mathis.

Mathis has an enormous lights and music display in his yard and 11861 Sedgewick Drive. The lights are on from 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Sun City pen pals paired with local high school students

It might not be obvious what old-fashioned letter writing has to do with careers in the cutting-edge medical field, but Huntley High School Medical Academy teacher Renae St. Clair says the relevance is crucial.

Valor quilters and the McHenry County Historical Society team up to honor Huntley veterans

This community, like places all over the country, paused on Veterans Day to honor those who served. Veterans Day is always on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918. But unlike past remembrances in the 102-year history of the holiday, no one is inviting crowds, hosting parades, but instead preferring to offer virtual ceremonies, or hosting in person events requiring masks and observing social distancing in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Bravery, compassion, humor

Avid readers of the Sun Day may very well be aware of former Sun City resident, Paul Souchek, whose colorful life has filled the Sun Day’s pages with tales of his time in 36th Infantry Division of the Army during WWII to his active involvement in various Sun City organizations such as the Scandinavian Club and other activities alongside his wife, Joan. Although today Souchek spends his days entertaining nurses and other staff with his humorous stories at the Alden of Huntley Senior Living facility, Souchek’s daughter, Linda Cook, explains that despite battling some medical setbacks, “[it] doesn’t slow him down.”

Sadly, Souchek’s wife passed away August 21 of this year after 73 years of marriage, but as Souchek recounts, was able to have one last touching moment with his beloved partner.

HOWL-O-Ween recap

Dogtoberfest is the ultimate fall festival, uniting pets, Halloween, Oktoberfest, and the community with a dog costume contest.

Residents brought out their pets to strut their stuff in costume on October 20.

2020 Thanksgiving plans as varied as the menus for Sun City residents

Things don’t always go according to plan on Thanksgiving Day. Entrees are forgotten in the fridge, new recipes don’t work out, and sometimes those turkeys take longer to cook. The food, the family, the travel, the emotion, and now 2020 has brought an additional element to feel stress and anxiety as Thanksgiving Day is nearing.

Thanksgiving is the day when we feel most grateful for the blessings in our lives. Some residents have not seen extended family for months. Thanksgiving conjures up pictures of big happy reunions but how safe is to make it a reality?

Contributions are a Turkey Day delight for families in need

On the morning of November 14, a truck will stop at the Grafton Food Pantry in Huntley and put the wheels in motion for hundreds of people who might otherwise not have a Thanksgiving. Forgive if you will the cliché because the wheels are key to the Grafton Food Pantry Thanksgiving Dinner giveaway, a two decades old tradition.

The truck driver will oversee the packing of 170 to 175 boxes of frozen turkeys into his truck at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. From there, the driver will deliver the turkeys and boxes of trimmings to Grafton Food Pantry where several dozen pantry volunteers will unload the boxes for the turkey giveaway.

No trick

In the past, Sun City’s Grandma, Grandpa, and Me (GG&ME) Charter club has hosted a very special Halloween event.

The Halloween Party is one of the club’s more popular events. The club would invite members and family to come in costume and enjoy the crafts, games, prizes, refreshments, and entertainment. Trick-or-treating in Sun City would begin right after the party. Grandkids would relish this opportunity since this would occur the week before traditional trick or treating in their own neighborhood; a second Halloween. This year, Covid-19 has impacted this tradition.

Storm surge

2020 has altered many vacation plans, graduations, weddings, and even birthdays.

Pam and Ed Richard, like many residents, have been following social-distancing guidelines since March to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. As with many families, the Richards were aching to see family. They decided to take advantage of everyone’s good health to visit family in Louisiana. In planning for the visit, they booked a hotel, creating a social bubble helping them feel comfortable interacting with Ed’s brother, his wife, and children.

WWII veteran shares battles, bobbles, and best memories

To be in the audience of Sun City resident and storyteller Bob Gordon is to be in the presence of a master. Turning one hundred on December 23, Gordon has tales that span both the decades and the globe, and he regales his vivid and often humorous anecdotes with near perfect recall.

A veteran of World War II in Guam, Gordon detailed his years in intelligence.

Doing it right at Valley Hi Nursing Home

Since the first COVID-19 cases were reported earlier this year in the U.S., Valley Hi Nursing Home in McHenry County has not had a single resident test positive for coronavirus.

The “resident centered” county-run long-term facility in Woodstock made news because Valley Hi stands out from other similar nursing homes across the country that have not been free of COVID cases. National statistics show 42 percent of COVID deaths have occurred in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

Prepare to lift your spirits with some Halloween Bingo!

The current pandemic has certainly taken its toll in terms of forcing events to either get cancelled or postponed for this year. With that in mind, residents of Sun City who have kept up to date on ongoing shows and events within the community may have taken notice to the Halloween BINGO event being held in the Drendel Ballroom on October 21.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Holiday season traditions such as Christmas concerts may not survive the COVID social distancing test for large gatherings, yet any holiday traditions we can hold onto may give us the feeling of hope this Thanksgiving and Christmas. A small red pot dangling from a pole symbolizes the hope our community can come together and support those in need. However, the Salvation Army of McHenry County won’t have enough of those “small red pots dangling from a pole” manned to meet their goal if volunteers don’t sign up soon to ring bells for the Red Kettle campaign.

Oh, brother!

Just after 8 p.m. on a December night in 2019, Robin Rinaldi-Esta composed a private Facebook message, took a deep breath, and pressed “send.”

“I wrote, ‘I think you are my brother. You look exactly like my Dad,’” remembers Rinaldi-Esta.

Parkside Pub describes the highs and lows of Covid-era restaurant life

“Could I have five more ketchup packets?”

A customer at Parkside Pub in Huntley was just served a burger and fries and caught the server’s attention. The customer figured two ketchup packets on her plate weren’t enough. The number of ketchup packets served to a customer won’t break a restaurant’s budget but it’s part of the complete picture of COVID related costs for restaurants and how restaurants struggle to stay on budget.

Pebbles painted with positivity popping up around Sun City streets

Painted rocks? The idea is simple: get a rock, paint it, hide it, and then leave a hint on Facebook so others can find it. It’s a trend that is popping up all across the country.

In Huntley, Sun City residents post their treasure finds on The Facebook Page Wildflower Lake Neighbors in Huntley. Who is responsible for all those painted rocks hidden all over Sun City?