Celebrating 25 years of Drinks on the Drive

Sun City Neighborhoods, united in their celebration, marked the 25th anniversary of their community on Sunday, August 25. Despite the heat, residents, brought their chairs and contributions and participated in the community event in a show of solidarity.

The Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) invited each neighborhood to hold a community-wide Drinks on the Drive.

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7 lawn diseases and what you can do about them

The healthiness of living things, at times, can be paramount. We spend a good portion of our lives either trying to remain healthy or fighting to become healthy again. We also worry about the health of those around us; our family, friends, neighbors and even, if applicable, our pets. As trivial as it seems, by comparison, we also want our lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees to remain healthy. This year unfortunately for many, our lawns are suffering from diseases. The symptoms of these diseases have become increasingly obvious over the past 4-5 weeks. This column focuses on identifying turf diseases as well as possible causes and treatments.

Ask an Angel: September 5, 2024

I’m hoping for some guidance on a topic that’s become increasingly important to my family: home care. My parents have recently started receiving home care services, and as their daughter, I want to ensure that they’re receiving the best possible care and support.

While we’re grateful for the assistance that home care provides, I must admit I’m quite new to this experience, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed about what to expect and how to best utilize the care services available to us.

No modern Marvel

Movie theaters, and viewers, have been holding out on a savior. Very little has clicked with audiences this summer, with family fare sequels and the occasion horror flick being glimmers of hope. That was until a certain superhero graced our screens and deemed himself to be our Jesus. That person I am speaking of is Ryan Reynolds. His Deadpool serves as a counterpoint to the usual gifted people in capes we normally see. But when he is co-opted, it comes as a bit of a mixed bag.

Steakhouse in disguise… with onions

Now that beef prices are at an all-time high, of course, Nancy has a recurring taste for steak. To stop her incessant whining, I cleverly suggested that we go check out a steakhouse. We have passed by this restaurant a number of times, but never gave it a second thought until today. “To the Mini-Mobile Nancy,” and we headed out to Addison’s Steakhouse in McHenry.

When we arrived in the strip mall, we were surprised that the restaurant had outdoor seating by the shopping center’s fountain. We decided to dine indoors due to the Florida like weather we’ve been experiencing.

Posting Colors

The Sun City Marines Color Guard gets ready to post the colors at the Huntley Police Department against the Huntley Fire Protection District contest.

Meet the R.O.M.E.O.s

The ROMEOs, a unique group of Retired Old Men Eating Out, reside in Neighborhood 10A.

They made a memorable entry in Sun City’s golf cart parade with their ROMEOs Breakfast Club cart, adorned in patriotic colors and a large sign. The club, consisting of ten current members, including Rich Gawlik, Tom Reichardt, Jim Saletta, Bob Sholiton, Mike Shehorn, Bob Wainscott, Gene Harrison, Steve Lindskoog, Clyde Sample, and Bill Berendt, is known for its weekly breakfast outings, marked by their distinctive shirts: “Team Breakfast.”

By writing his first book, Sun City resident finds voice

Writing a book wasn’t even on Russ Kovar’s radar for the longest time — until suddenly it was.

Kovar has worn many hats in his lifetime: a veteran of the U.S. Navy, an information management professional, a mentor to veterans searching for civilian employment; he is also a husband, father, and grandfather. Now retired and living in Sun City, Kovar has taken on yet another identity: author.

Party like it’s Neighborhood 5

Cedar Cove, or Neighborhood 5 (N-5), held its annual neighborhood picnic on Saturday, August 10, at the Fountain View Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. N-5 was one of the first neighborhoods opened in Sun City.

James Harper said, “At the picnic, we recognized all our residents who have been here since Sun City opened. The ‘originals’ began a tradition in 1999 when they moved in, lasting 25 years. They cared for each other, checking in on neighbors and being there for each other. They set the tone. We wouldn’t be the kind of neighborhood we are without them.”

Jennifer’s closet

Over the weekend, I found myself giggling with two longtime friends as we mugged at a bathroom mirror while trying on outfit after outfit.

The clothes are from my friend Jennifer’s closet. She called us over because she was ready to clear some space from her ample wardrobe and wanted us, her friends with similar figures, to get first dibs.

Speaking of that idiot on the road

In case you were wondering, I’m that idiot you see on the bike most mornings, pedaling down Jim Dahmer and Sandwald roads, all the way to Big Timber and back.

I freely confess that I’m an idiot, but I’m not stupid. My bike has flashing lights fore and aft, I wear a red helmet and sunglasses, and I’m dressed in either orange, yellow, or fluorescent green.

Disregard for no-fishing rule causes stir among some Sun City residents

The tranquility of those who reside on Lilly Lane in Neighborhood 36 has been disrupted by a growing number of individuals who are ignoring a no-fishing rule at the nearby area pond. This blatant disregard of the policy is causing concern among residents and management alike, raising questions about respect for community guidelines and the potential impacts on the environment and safety.

Ask an Angel: August 22, 2024

My spouse and I are at a bit of a crossroads, and we could use some guidance. We’re in our early sixties, still working, and have recently become empty nesters. With our children having flown the coop, our once bustling home now feels a little too spacious for just the two of us.

We’re contemplating the idea of downsizing, yet are unsure about whether it’s the right move for us and, if so, how to go about it.

Miller said, “In August, I will have lived in Sun City for 20 years. My next-door neighbor, Diane, moved in on the same day. We love gardening.”

My favorite bird in the garden

Don’t tell the other birds, but my favorite bird in the garden is the little house wren.

While other birds are beautiful in some gaudy, outlandish way — like cardinals, orioles, goldfinches, or even robins — the tiny wren’s beauty lies in its simple, classical, dappled brown look, like a tiny refined Englishman in a tweed suit.

Singing for strangers

As I write this, I’m at the beginning of an 11-day European tour as a member of a choir. Over the next week, we will sing concerts in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary.

Tonight, our first concert is in Prague. We have rehearsed, but now that the performance is drawing near, tensions are high. It’s hot. The performance hall we are in does not seem to be air conditioned.

Sun City Concert Band shares how much they love rock ‘n’ roll

Sun City Concert Band is going to Rock the Ages on August 20. Rob Lindsey, President of the Concert Band charter club, said, “The performance will be a lively, fun concert. We are celebrating our 21st anniversary and our director, Pam Jorgensen’s 10th anniversary.”

Off to the races again

My husband, Nick Koplos, who will be turning 88 years old on August 16, began the sport of running races for weight control and cardio-vascular exercise at 41 years of age. He immediately began training for racing as a part of his nightly after-work-program of 40 miles weekly (for marathons) and 25 miles weekly (for other races). He accomplished most of his 10-12 yearly races (with numerous medals won) under the auspices of CARA or Chicago Area Runner’s Association. During the years of 1981, 1982, and 1983, at the ages of 45, 46, and 47, respectively, Nick became hyper-enthused with his newly discovered sport through his successful entrance and completion of three Chicago Marathons with an average time accomplishment of 3 hours and 26 minutes for the 26.2 mile races.

Huntley Community Radio debuts new look, focuses on unique community insights

In a previous interview with Eric Thomas, Executive Director of 101.5 FM Huntley Community Radio (HCR), he informed readers of a format change to the programming. Weekend programming on HCR includes live music shows, interview programs to spotlight local non-profit organizations, and many community features of Huntley.

How mistaken thoughts on obesity are helping fuel the US obesity epidemic

The growing epidemic of obesity is hardly news, but the increasing rates of this growing problem are alarming. According to The US World News Report (March 2024), the US obesity rate increased to 44 percent for women and 42 percent for men. Even business-focused publications like Forbes are taking note, reporting that obesity rates have grown 10 times in the last decade. The magazine cited that “…medical costs for people with obesity in the US tend to be 30-40% higher than those without obesity” and noting that “obesity is often considered a cause of multiple comorbid and chronic health conditions, including type 2 disease, some forms of cancer and heart disease.”

Ask an Angel: August 8, 2024

As the summer days stretch on and the heat of the season settles in, I find myself increasingly concerned about my mom’s well-being. I’m a teacher and I have less and less time to spend with my mom as I prepare for the upcoming school year. I worry that my mom may be feeling bored or lonely during the long days at home.

My mom recently moved to the area so that I didn’t have to worry about her being alone after my dad passed away. While I’ve enjoyed all the quality time I’ve had with her, she’s yet to make friends here. I’m fearful about her well-being once school is back in session.

Late to the party

Writers are always trying to grasp the hem of greatness, not immune to fads and popularity. Last year’s Barbenheimer is the most recent example of such. The zeitgeist is our goal as much as anyone. However, sometimes you have to look back at why we felt these trends deserved praise or be derided. In the spirit of a podcast called “Rehash” I have been listening to, let’s walk back over a couple months and talk about some topics we all got into a tizzy about. Maybe we can understand why they fascinated us in the first place.

Pret-zilla

Just like clockwork, the deadline for our restaurant review approaches every two weeks. Honestly, this time we had nothing! Time to ask the fountain of all knowledge (not Nancy), we’re talking about Google. We searched restaurants near us and were treated to a list of culinary delights. This included such delicacies as burgers, hot dogs, sub sandwiches, and the all-encompassing chicken nugget emporiums. We kept expanding our search until something caught our eye in Lake Barrington. We decided the place we are going to review is the Wild Onion Brewery.

Fishing derby makes big splash!

The weather was perfect on July 25; the fish were biting, and the grandkids and grandparents had a great time at the Fishing Derby.

This popular event was hosted in conjunction with the Del Webb Anglers for Sun City residents and their grandchildren over two years of age. Prizes were awarded for various categories for ages 2-7 and 8 and above. Each child was able to choose a prize due to the generosity of donations from the Anglers, grandparents, Bait Shanty, Ace Hardware in Huntley, Culvers, and Moretti’s.

Gardening resources, an interview with Brenda Dahlfors

Successful gardeners rely on all sorts of support. Personal experiences, friendly advice, research orientated books, plant-based events, and horticulture programs all can assist homeowners as they live and learn while trying to grow vegetables, flowers and shrubs. For 114 years, Illinois residents have benefited from the research and education of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Extension programs.

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