HAPL Holiday Basket Fundraiser going on now

This year’s annual “Holiday Basket Raffle” has been announced by the Huntley Area Public Library (HAPL) Friends Foundation, which will be running from Nov. 17 through Dec. 14.

The Foundation has carefully curated baskets that include an enticing assortment of items, ensuring there is something for everyone, according to a press release statement.

Budget-friendly activities for this holiday/winter season

The Huntley area is ready to be unwrapped! The Holiday season is such a good opportunity to get together with friends and family. But what about some budget friendly activities when it is so chilly outside? Find out how to add even more cheer and magic to this season.

Seniors Helping Seniors, a way to give and a way to receive

Seniors Helping Seniors (SHS) provides non-medical home services to seniors by seniors.

Colleen Flaherty, marketing assistant, said, “SHS has a unique peer-to-peer model to caregiving. Seniors connect best with other seniors because of their common life experiences, compassion, and appreciation for the aging process. Seniors who need services, receivers, are carefully matched with seniors who render services, providers, creating mutually rewarding relationships.”

Noodles and Company backout prompts trustees concerns over new tenant

HUNTLEY — Core Huntley, LLC, owner of Lot 4a of Huntley Crossings Phase I, had previously received final PUD (planned Unit Development) approval from the Village Board back in July for a multi-tenant building which included a Noodles and Company restaurant, an unnamed urgent care medical user, and a standalone Chipotle building.

Since that time, Core Huntley has reported to trustees that Noodles and Company is scaling back its operations in Illinois and therefore decided to no longer pursue the site. In an unexpected setback, the urgent care user also opted to back out as a tenant.

Huntley couple builds historical “Barndominium”

Sun City residents Duane and Nancy Fontana had their Barndominium ground-breaking ceremony with a gold shovel, balloons, and champagne on Wednesday, March 15, 2022. On November 4, 2023, they celebrated the completion of their Huntley Barndominium with an open house.

Family, neighbors, and friends attended the celebration. The weather cooperated, allowing the guests to wander outside for conversation and enjoy the perfect weather. Other guests sat upstairs in the loft and watched while others danced to the familiar music of their youth provided by the band Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones.

Should older residents worry about getting the Covid and flu vaccines at the same time?

In a January public communication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it was explained that one of their real-time vaccine safety monitoring studies — referred to as the Vaccine Safety Datalink — had picked up a small and uncertain risk of stroke for older adults who received a dose of Pfizer’s bivalent Covid-19 vaccine and a high-dose or adjuvanted flu shot on the same day.

Sun City resident displays sculptures honoring soldiers

Gerald Tarpey, Sun City resident and artist, displayed his sculptures of soldiers in Prairie Lodge in the Hallway in Front of the Clayground Club facilities.

The sculptures gave pause to residents as they passed them on the way to a meeting or getting their steps in for the day. The three sculptures tell a story.

Concert Band preps for 20th anniversary tour

Sun City Concert Band is celebrating its 20th anniversary this December with two performances of “A Musical Celebration – 20 Years of Favorites” in Drendel Hall at 7 p.m. December 7 and 1 p.m. December 9.

Sun City residents collect items for Grafton Food Pantry on Halloween

On a cold wintery day, October 31, 2023, Mary Schlee and Sue Wallace provided Sun City residents with some hot beverages and donuts while collecting items for the Grafton Food Pantry.

The bursts of fall snow did not stop residents from dropping by and bring their donations.

Keep the ball rolling

Bocce Club is one of Sun City’s largest charter clubs, with over 700 members each summer coming Monday through Friday to play bocce. Bocce courts from June to August are filled with residents playing, laughing, and socializing with one another as they all enjoy the famous Italian game.

But the club may soon come to an end if no one volunteers to be president or vice president.

Sunflower Garden Club transitions to winter to host annual holiday walk

A holiday tradition for Sun City Sunflower Garden Club is the House Walk for Charity.

This year the event is on December 14, from 1-5 p.m. Sun City residents’ homes, decorated for the holidays, will be open to visitors. This is a ticketed event and may sell out.

From Catty to Cornell

What was once a milk condensation factory has now turned into luxury apartments in downtown Huntley.

Bond, family bond

Sun City Resident David Applegate is putting the pieces of the puzzle together to figure out what his father, Harold M. Applegate, did for a living.

Applegate is aware of some of the story.

“My father retired in August 1975 at the rank of E—9, Chief Master Sergeant serving in the Strategic Air Command (SAC), working at The Vault,” he said.

3 winners named in Sun City vote

Three Sun City Homeowners Association Board of Directors candidates have been elected. Results were official as of Oct. 18.

Woodchucks Illinois State Fair winners

The 170th Illinois State Fair was a success for the Woodchucks this August. Members From Sun City’s Woodchucks Charter Club entered their hand-crafted pieces in the competition. Rich Escallier, Judy Escallier, and Ed Cuttle came back with winning ribbons.

Cuttle, who has been a member of Woodchucks for 17 years, not only won a blue ribbon and first place, but also took the honor of “Best in Show in All Crafts.” “Best in Show” includes categories of metal, wood, ceramic, and glass, and Cuttle won for his beautiful segmented vase. The vase was made with white ash, mahogany, wenge, and bloodwood cherry, with six coats of Minwax Tung Oil.

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.

Village board approves final Kelley’s Market gas station plans

Director of Development Services Charlie Nordman had previously presented trustees with conceptual plans brought forward by petitioner Kelley Williamson and Bakley Development, LLC for the construction of a 6,000-square-foot gas station/convenience store at the northwest corner of Route 47 and Noah Avenue.

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.

Consumer Showcase takes over Prairie Lodge

On Thursday, October 26, the Prairie Lodge in Sun City hosted their bi-annual consumer showcase for residents and the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services and residents to do home renovations and plan the next stages of their life.

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.

The Artisan Fair will showcase 75 high-quality local talent vendors. There are 22 new exhibitors, along with favorite sellers from past fairs.

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.”

Board considers approving wireless telecommunication service facility permit

At the Oct. 12 Village Board meeting, trustees will be presented with a proposal brought forward by petitioner, Vertical Bridge VB II, LLC., to construct a 50-foot by 50-foot wireless telecommunication service facility (WTSF) with a 175-foot-tall mobile service support structure built alongside it.

The Witches’ Story

Into the night they gather and enter a cave from many directions, unseen by the naked eye. Only a few walk passed there. At times voices could be heard screeching sounds and wails of laughter. Hidden out of sight a brave man observed what went on there.

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