MY SUN DAY NEWS
I’m a widow in her seventies seeking advice on managing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Over the last few years, I’ve found myself slipping into a state of loneliness and melancholy after the rush of the holiday season. The isolation of widowhood, compounded by the gloomy weather, weighs heavily on me. I’ve heard that engaging in hobbies and activities can combat SAD. However, as someone who spends a lot of time alone, I struggle to find motivation or inspiration to pursue such interests.
Here is hoping you had a wonderful Christmas and your New Year is bright with possibilities. How does one create the opportunity for the kind of growth and change? Sometimes out of painful experiences we can be free to heal and move forward. Others continue to wallow in those feelings in order to function. This may seem like a rather heavy introduction, but it only fitting to ponder this when sitting down to watch Netflix’s May December.
After four days in Barcelona, we decided to take the train versus the plane from there to Madrid as we wanted to see more of the countryside. We were surprised to find, as the song goes, mainly “the plain in Spain.” Long stretches of the plain were only occasionally broken with a vineyard or small herds of roaming cattle but otherwise, only gently rolling hills. I wasn’t sure what I expected but still, the ride was quiet, comfortable, and restful. Once we entered Madrid, all that changed. From the quiet of the countryside to the chaos of the city!
Crystal Lake residents Heather and John Barnes not only welcomed a new addition to their family but also now happen to hold the honor of having the first baby to be born in 2024 at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
Letters for the week of January 11
Making gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. Cookie dough is cut and shaped into appropriate components to build a house. The elaborate, cookie-walled houses, decorated with icing and a variety of sweets, became associated with Christmas tradition. Gingerbread houses also became popular with the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel. They find a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest.
Making gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. Cookie dough is cut and shaped into appropriate components to build a house. The elaborate, cookie-walled houses, decorated with icing and a variety of sweets, became associated with Christmas tradition.
Gingerbread houses also became popular with the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel. They find a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest.
As a “band wife,” I’ve attended hundreds and hundreds of band concerts, band festivals, and marching band performances because my husband is a high school and college band director. I miss very few performances. I don’t go because I’m obligated, but because I love it.
For Sun City resident Nedra Reeves, the hills are alive with the sound of Christmas this year. Reading about book clubs online, she came across clear ornaments filled with miniatures of books. She started making a unique ornament for her granddaughter to commemorate her role in Sun City’s production of The Sound of Music.
For Sun City resident Nedra Reeves, the hills are alive with the sound of Christmas this year.
Reading about book clubs online, she came across clear ornaments filled with miniatures of books. She started making a unique ornament for her granddaughter to commemorate her role in Sun City’s production of The Sound of Music.
Ask someone to share their favorite Christmas memory, and they’ll probably tell you about that cherished present they got when they were young. Or the joy in their children’s eyes when they came downstairs to see all the presents beneath the tree. Or the snowy trip into the pines to find the perfect tree to cut down. Something like that. But for me, it’s cookies.
Ask someone to share their favorite Christmas memory, and they’ll probably tell you about that cherished present they got when they were young. Or the joy in their children’s eyes when they came downstairs to see all the presents beneath the tree. Or the snowy trip into the pines to find the perfect tree to cut down. Something like that.
But for me, it’s cookies.
Mike Ciffone, a Sun City resident, remarked about the elegantly-decorated Prairie Lodge and noted the decorated bar in the Fountainview area. Sun City Sunflower Garden Charter Club members are responsible for many of the trees and holiday decorations. Ciffone said, “First and foremost, I would like to thank our Board of Directors, as they responded to community input concerning the Welcome Center and rescinded to remove the bar.
Mike Ciffone, a Sun City resident, remarked about the elegantly-decorated Prairie Lodge and noted the decorated bar in the Fountainview area. Sun City Sunflower Garden Charter Club members are responsible for many of the trees and holiday decorations.
Ciffone said, “First and foremost, I would like to thank our Board of Directors, as they responded to community input concerning the Welcome Center and rescinded to remove the bar.
Sun City’s Tall Oaks Tennis Charter Club members continued their supported The Rotary Club of Huntley’s second “Running of the Elves” on Saturday, December 2, in downtown Huntley. The race benefited the Huntley community and Scholarships for Huntley Students. The Very Merry Huntley event was held downtown with a farmer’s market, craft fair, cookie walk, carols, and many other activities. Over 30 members of the Tennis Club joined.
Sun City’s Tall Oaks Tennis Charter Club members continued their supported The Rotary Club of Huntley’s second “Running of the Elves” on Saturday, December 2, in downtown Huntley.
The race benefited the Huntley community and Scholarships for Huntley Students. The Very Merry Huntley event was held downtown with a farmer’s market, craft fair, cookie walk, carols, and many other activities. Over 30 members of the Tennis Club joined.
As many Sun City residents pack for warmer climates, it is important to spend an hour or so to prepare your house for the winter. When you are going to be away for a week or more you should prepare your home so there will be no surprises on your return.
What, exactly, is a Christmas movie? The definition has gone through some transmutations. Traditionalists rail against ever adding new works to this cultural canon. No Die Hard or The Nightmare Before Christmas for you! I am not a particular fan of these two; however, movies like this are a kind of prism with which many shades are noticeable. Some see joy, others feel melancholy. A Charlie Brown Christmas has endured because of this dichotomy. This is where The Holdovers is nestled in.
I’m a daughter-in-law, and this Christmas, my husband and I will be hosting his elderly parents at our home. While I’m looking forward to spending time with them and creating cherished memories, I’m also concerned about making the holidays as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for them.
Letters for the week of December 14.
At Sun City’s Grandma, Grandpa & Me Charter Club Breakfast with Santa, Nora Hrdlicka ponders Santa’s question if she has been good all year.
Funny how a space can be completely empty, but as soon as live music starts, people arrive from everywhere. That’s the power of music. That’s an occurrence that happens often at Sun City’s Prairie Lodge. Sun City resident Jim Sura plays the grand piano in the lodge while residents walk, play cards, or meet near the Fountain View area. He even plays when no one is around.
Funny how a space can be completely empty, but as soon as live music starts, people arrive from everywhere.
That’s the power of music. That’s an occurrence that happens often at Sun City’s Prairie Lodge. Sun City resident Jim Sura plays the grand piano in the lodge while residents walk, play cards, or meet near the Fountain View area. He even plays when no one is around.
On a cold day in mid-November, my husband came in from outside, his cheeks flushed with excitement. With a smile, he said, “The roses are still blooming!” Long after the other plants in our garden faded and settled in for a winter nap, the rosebush on the southeast side of our house continued to grow and stretch toward our bedroom window so that when we awoke and pulled up the shades, the palest pink, delicate petals rested serenely with faces open wide, patiently waiting for us to begin our morning.
On a cold day in mid-November, my husband came in from outside, his cheeks flushed with excitement. With a smile, he said, “The roses are still blooming!”
Long after the other plants in our garden faded and settled in for a winter nap, the rosebush on the southeast side of our house continued to grow and stretch toward our bedroom window so that when we awoke and pulled up the shades, the palest pink, delicate petals rested serenely with faces open wide, patiently waiting for us to begin our morning.
With daylight growing ever-shorter, I was gazing out the window at sunset yesterday watching the light fade, when a traffic-jam of sunlight-related thoughts collided in my brain. The first was the memory of a powerful passage from a novel by Elie Wiesel, in which a man is waiting to execute a political prisoner who has been sentenced to die at sunset. He says you know night has arrived when you’re gazing out a window in the evening and you suddenly realize that you’re looking at your reflection in the darkening glass instead of the landscape outside.
With daylight growing ever-shorter, I was gazing out the window at sunset yesterday watching the light fade, when a traffic-jam of sunlight-related thoughts collided in my brain.
The first was the memory of a powerful passage from a novel by Elie Wiesel, in which a man is waiting to execute a political prisoner who has been sentenced to die at sunset. He says you know night has arrived when you’re gazing out a window in the evening and you suddenly realize that you’re looking at your reflection in the darkening glass instead of the landscape outside.
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.
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.
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 (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.”
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.”
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 — 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.
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.
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.
The Killer comes to us from cinema’s Enfant Terriblé, David Fincher. Gone are the more elegant trapping of 2020’s Mank, also on Netflix. Although this could have used some black and white.
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.
You have probably realized by now that Nancy and I are not the brightest people in the world. Both of us are in our seventies, and we decided it would be a good idea to get a little puppy. How much work can she possibly be? So, after two weeks in Aruba, resting up for this momentous occasion, we came home and picked up a nine-week old Maltese/Shih Tzu puppy named Rosie. We now realize why puppies are so cute, because that is the only thing that keeps them alive!!!
I’m an active senior who loves staying physically active throughout the year. However, as winter approaches, I find myself facing a dilemma. Last winter was the first winter where staying active during the colder months became a challenge for me.
Note: The views expressed in these political submissions do not reflect those of the Sun Day, its staff, or those associated to the Sun Day.
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.
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.
