Drive and drop

The need to help our neighbors in the community is so very important at this time. In addition to the Theatre Company’s efforts and those of various other groups like the softball club, Sun City residents have also turned out in numbers to support Culver’s of Huntley’s weekly food/donation drive (Sunday from 11 am – 5 pm through May 31).

Field day

Marcia Kmet, Sun City resident, grandmother of 11, and great-grandmother of four, was filling up her car at the gas station last week. Something very strange happened next.

“A woman came over and asked me for my autograph,” Kmet said.

A probe into homemade masks

Are all masks effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19?

Self-isolating presents a great time to get a pet

On October 10, 2011, I wrote a H&W column titled “THAT BLACK CAT MAY CROSS YOUR PATH,” a Halloween story. Due to the U.S. Recession in “full swing” at the time, large numbers of animals were being returned to shelters, with their owners unable to afford them. At that time, half of the 6-8 million animals in shelters were being euthanized.

But you also might see resident Todd Kane, sporting a rainbow top hat to match his Skittle-colored beard, smiling and holding a sign that says, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”

Peace Corps service cut short by COVID-19 threat

It was just a normal Monday morning, and Brad Christin was getting ready to go to work. Suddenly, the quiet morning was interrupted by an onslaught of texts and emails on his phone.

Christin, 23, a Peace Corps volunteer, was living in Capitán Miranda, Paraguay. But on that Monday in March, as COVID-19 Coronavirus made its way across the globe, Brad knew from the countless texts and emails that his 27-month service in the Peace Corps was going to be cut short after only 18 months. He was leaving South America and going home.

Local teen uses 3D printer to make face shields for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19

When Gail Tepper and her husband, Artie, first heard that their grandson was part of a growing movement to help make masks for healthcare workers, they couldn’t be prouder. Describing the teen as, “a wonderful, kind and caring young man that is very knowledgeable with computers,” it was no surprise to the Teppers that his efforts would catch the attention of the Great Big Story, a media company whose micro-documentaries and short films have been viewed by millions of people on websites like Facebook and YouTube.

COVID-19 fact vs. fiction

The large amount of information shared on our corona virus pandemic is presenting many dangerous myths currently being circulated. Here are 5 of these suspect stories that might help you stay safe in this dangerous news environment.

A Lesson in Kindness

February 13 started off like any other Tuesday morning for Sun City resident Jan Scialabba who also works at the Member Services Desk at Prairie Lodge. Two buses where expected to arrive that day, prepared to take fellow residents to the Chicago Auto Show. Nothing out of the ordinary for the seasoned Member Services Desk professional.

Theatre Company plans CARavan Food Pantry donation drive

Due to the pandemic and stay at home rules, The Theatre Company of Sun City cancelled our Spring production of Beauty and the Beast. The Theatre Company for years has donated the proceeds from the candy and water sales during our productions to the area Food Pantries. In order to make up for the loss of donations during this trying time, The Theatre Company is planning a CARavan of Donations.

Quarantine bingo: Being inside, not going out

The doors to apartment units in the hallways are open and only a few feet inside are residents playing bingo. Hallway BINGO has become one of the more popular activities at Heritage Woods and White Oaks at Huntley. The irony of hallway BINGO as an activity at assisted living facilities is BINGO’S popularity usually brings residents together because of its ease of playing and odds of winning.

Ready or knot, here they come

For Linda Campbell and her husband, staying active outdoors was just another part of their daily routine, and they regularly joined others in Neighborhood 18 who also enjoyed going on walks and runs. In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic however, mandatory stay-at-home orders and social distancing seem to pose obstacles in the way of those wanting to maintain their physical health.

Hoping to preserve as much normalcy as possible, Campbell stumbled onto a creative way to continue to stay active with other neighbors while following social distancing protocols.

Happy (Quarantine) Birthday

Families of residents get colorful and creative with birthday wishes while on lockdown.

Thinking outside the box

In response to the stay-at-home order issued for the state of Illinois until April 30, clubs in Sun City were forced to make the difficult decision to suspend activities for the time being. For some residents, this sudden loss of meaningful social interactions may have the potential to lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which could affect one’s physical health and mental well-being.

Meet the coronavirus challenge with a healthy respiratory system

We are in a pandemic where healthy lungs can mean the difference between life and death. As we age, our massive organs become less flexible, losing their strength and making it more difficult for us to breathe. In our present daily battle against the world evil pathogen, COVID-19, fortunately, there are a few ways to fight back by strengthening and preserving our lungs’ health.

Kane County Health Department Launches COVID-19 Dashboard

In response to public interest, the Kane County Health Department (KCHD) has launched a database dashboard about COVID-19 disease on the KCHD website at KaneHealth.com.

Sun City sewers make face covers for community

A global shortage of face masks is prompting concern for the safety of health care workers. With the nation facing an acute shortage of masks, and with new suggestions for the public to wear masks when they go out, Sun City residents are pulling out their sewing machines to fill the void.

McHenry County launches Coronavirus Community Resources Page

McHenry County has created a webpage for residents facing challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Softball Club hits a home run for Grafton Food Pantry

Sun City residents are earning a grand slam this softball season, even though current games are cancelled.

Chuck Hund, President of Sun City Softball, highlighted their club effort during this Conavid-19 crisis, reaching out to help others in our community.

Property tax ordinance proposes waiving late fees

Coronavirus has caused a myriad of adjustments in our daily lives from federal, state, and local governmental action and from health officials. The biggest adjustments seem to be shelter in place and six feet of separation. Not only are adjustments made but we’re finding heroes in our fight against COVID-19.

Huntley’s response to Coronavirus pandemic

As news about the coronavirus becomes widespread, it can be easy to become lost in the sea of information which in turn may lead some to panic. In these times of crisis, Huntley Chief of Police, Robert Porter, ensures that Huntley is taking a “common sense but prepared approach,” in an effort to keep local residents informed and safe.

Social distancing in Sun City

How are Sun City Residents practicing social distancing due to COVID-19? Some Sun City residents answered that they are using the opportunity to spring clean.

Keeping checking fraud in check

When the calendar switched over to 2020, I, like many other college students nationwide, promptly forgot what year it was and started dating all my papers as if it was still 2019. An easy enough mistake to make, when it’s easily correctable with the backspace button and the only documents affected are your English papers. When it comes to papers of more bearing, such as checks, the consequences can be more dire, and this year more than ever.

Washing Your Hands of COVID-19

The Del Webb residential community in Huntley has a history of enduring not only medical crises, but wars and recessions. They are survivors and they lead the way in presenting a tough exterior for whatever comes into focus from the media spotlight. Now the focus is on coronavirus, known as COVID-19 and what is called the protocol of social distancing.

Stress reactions to Coronavirus pandemic

A world pandemic health crisis can promote 5 common reactions.

Improving mental health in a quarantined Home

With the order from Governor JB Pritzker now in full effect, Illinois residents have been mandated to stay in their homes for all but the most essential of trips, effectively quarantining 12.6 million in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Organizations like the McHenry County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs (SCC), have been at the front lines in destigmatizing mental illnesses, and improving the lives of those afflicted by them, for decades.

Ask an Angel: March 26, 2020

My elderly mother, 82 years, has been living independently in her home since my dad, her husband, passed away nearly ten years ago. I’m fortunate that she lives across town from me, but I can’t always pop in as often as I’d like to see her. Although she insists she’s fine, I worry about her.

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