The stigma against mental illness, part 1

What percent of the world was experiencing mental illness in 2021? According to Google search, 19% of adults, translating into over 47 million Americans, had the disorder with 4.55% suffering from a severe mental illness. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) informs us that more than half of mentally ill individuals don’t seek help for their disorders. Why? The association states “Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood.”

More Brewing Company expansion plans unfold

At the May 12 Village Board meeting, Charles Nordman, Director of Development Services for the Village, introduced a request by More Brewery for a conceptual review of their plan to expand their brewery operations and to add a 4-story, 89 guest room hotel on the property south of their existing building.

Talamore subdivision expansion ramps up

Lennar builders submitted a proposal, at the May 12 Village Board meeting, to develop the 63 acres located at the west end of Reed Road as the location of 129 new single-family homes. Accord to Charles Nordman, Village Director of Development Services, reported that “there are seven different floor plans being offered. These are the same homes offered in other sections of Talamore.”

Panera project moves forward

Panera Bread has submitted a new conceptual plan for a 3,480 square foot restaurant, with a drive through lane, located on the southeast the corner of Route 47 and Kreutzer Road. The permits for the previously approved plans had expired and Panera is required to reapply for permission to build.

Stingrays donate big to charity

“Going Once – Going Twice – SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! Nick Koplos’s voice rang out loud and clear repeatedly as he auctioneered the 8th Stingrays Annual Charity Auction on May 14.

Happily ever after?

What happened after Cinderella tucked her foot into that glass slipper? Did she and the prince live happily ever after?

Sun City resident Cathy Kwon has the answers in her book “Cinderella the Next Chapter.”

Toys, dirt, glass, comic books, or grievances – what makes a collection a collection?

I’ve always thought collections were both highly interesting and weird at the same time. Look at a museum, for example. Museums collect items from our past and they’re highly, at least to me, entertaining and educational. But ultimately, they’re just items on display much like decorations in a house, only these particular items have a backstory, also like some of the decorative items in your house.

Village approves use of retail-development planner to attract new businesses

Lisa Armour, Deputy Village Manager, introduced a resolution at the April 28 Village Board meeting, to approve a contract with The Retail Coach for “conducting a site assessment of the Village’s market trade area and profiling the customer’s buying habits, lifestyle characteristics and media habits.”

Board updates on bylaws, satisfaction survey, Ukraine ribbons, among other points

The motion to amend Article 3.4 of the By-Laws was discussed. The amendment would add the word “consecutive” to the By-Laws which would remove the term limits included in the By-Laws as they now stand.

Prairie Singers set to perform ‘Season of Hope’ concert this June

Sun City Huntley’s Prairie Singers will perform its spring concert, “A Season of Hope,” on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Willow Creek Community Church in Huntley.

More than 70 resident singers and musicians of Sun City Huntley will join together to produce some truly great choral music. This group has been a part of the entertainment activities of the Sun City community for more than 22 years.

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.”

Sun City residents tour HHS for D158 updates

Approximately 50 Sun City residents went to school on April 25th when District 158 opened the Huntley High School doors for an update on happenings in the District.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe spent the first hour of the day talking about how the District has evolved since March of 2020, the day Covid-19 shut the school doors.

Illinois Supreme Court appoints Kane County State’s Attorney to commission on elder law

The Illinois Supreme Court announced on April 12 that a new commission would be established to oversee ways in which state courts can better serve the needs of those in advancing years.

The Commission on Elder Law hopes to tackle the legal problems facing senior citizens not only by examining the role courts play in terms of guardianship cases but also in the Judicial Branch’s obligation to protect the legal rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Following the state supreme court’s announcement, on April 25, it was revealed that Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser had been appointed to serve on the Commission on Elder Law.

The health of Ukraine’s citizens under the seige of war

On April 22, OHCHR (The United Nations Human Rights Office) reported the number of civilian casualties in the Ukraine as killed: 2,435 and as injured: 2,946. However, Ukraine officials very recently strongly suggest the more accurate figure as 15,000 dead. The nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said weeks of bombardment in the city of Mariupol alone had killed “tens of thousands.” While these estimates vary widely, there is no doubt that both in the general civilian population and in the military, huge numbers of Ukrainian citizens are dying and suffering wounds for their country.

Kudlach Property Update

Representatives from M/I Homes were in attendance at the April 14 Board meeting as the board took up the proposed development of the 82-acre property along Dundee Road that is known as the Kudlach Property. M/I Homes requested approval for the construction 173 single family homes on the area bordered by Haligus, Dundee, Ruth, Main Street and the Huntley Municipal Building complex and the Shepard of the Prairie church property lines.

Goldman debunks Regency rumors

My Sun Day News asked Village Trustee Ronda Goldman if there was any truth to a rumor that a developer has come forward with a plan to build single family homes on the Regency Square property.

Goldman responded with “No.”

New businesses coming to Huntley

At the Huntley Planning Commission’s April 11 meeting, two companies made presentations requesting approval of plans to build and operate new businesses on Huntley’s south side.

Barnes Development Company, on behalf of Belle Tire, requested approval of its plan to build a 10,000 square foot facility at the southeast corner of Route 47 and Regency Parkway. The request included a Special Use Permit for an Automobile Repair and Tire sale business.

AFA hosts free virtual Alzheimer’s conference

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Illinois residents on Wednesday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CST as part of the 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts.

Horsing around was serious business for this Sun City resident

It all started with a horse named Sunshine.

“Sunshine, my first horse, changed my life,” said Sandy Horn.

Horn was a horseman all his life. When he was a young boy, he would meet Dick, a big red draft horse who pulled the milk wagon.

Horn said, “I used to meet the wagon about four houses before ours and feed Dick a treat, usually a cookie, apple, or carrot. I’d pet Dick for a moment and then go to my stop and wait for the wagon to arrive.”

Tennis Club sees new pros this season

Tennis players everywhere have felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But according to an annual study commissioned by the Physical Activity Council, tennis has also boomed during the pandemic with an estimated 21.64 million Americans picking up a racquet in 2020, up 22.4 percent after several years of stagnant participation. In a sense, there’s no real surprise that tennis stood to benefit more than other sports from COVID-19 because it’s played outdoors and doesn’t require people to be within six feet of each other.

Sun City resident celebrates milestone birthday

On Sunday, April 3, if you were taking a walk in Neighborhood 21, you might have run across a lawn heavily-decorated for a birthday celebration. The balloons indicated a milestone that you don’t see very often: 109.

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

Coping with grief: Healthy grieving tips

EVERYDAY HEALTH, in its April 2022 newsletter, invites us into the realm of those grieving, especially on the loss of a loved one – such as a parent, spouse, sibling, daughter or son, friend, or pet – even the loss of a job or romantic relationship. Psychologist Sigmund Freud published a 1917 essay on the subject which he called “grief work.” He described it “as a period of time following a loss when a person must process or work through their thoughts, memories, and emotions in order to move on with life.”

Village impact fees explained

More than $106,600 in impact fees were disbursed at the March 24 Huntley Village Board meeting. My Huntley News contacted Cathy Haley, Village Director of Finance, for an explanation of the fees.

Haley explained that “Impact fees are added to each new residential and new commercial construction permit and are paid by the developer.” She continued, “The Village is just a pass-through for these fees for the other taxing districts.”

Raised in a barn

Ever heard the phrase “raised in a barn”? What if the barn is a barndominium, a combination of a traditional barn and a condominium?

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

Barry Newman resigns

Marilyn Berendt, President of the Sun City Board, announced Barry Newman’s resignation from the board at the opening of the March 23 Board meeting.

Sun City Board term limits explained: Article 3.4

Deanna Loughran, Sun City Executive Director, in an email to all residents, described the Sun City Board’s consideration of a By-Law Amendment that would affect the term limits of Board members.

Village board discusses bills, parking, rezoning

DORA is coming to Huntley!

Not the children’s cartoon character, but the new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) Special Events.

Barb Read, Village Special Events Manager, presented a resolution “designating the Village Sponsored Special Events area as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.” This allows for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the town square, but only during village sponsored events.

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley

News & Features