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The pen and the brick, a followup to my previous Happy Trails

In light of some of the feedback I received on my last Happy Trails (titled “A riot speaks a thousand words but one voice speaks millions”) published in the June 4 edition, I thought it best to add a follow up because I think I missed the mark with its point for some readers, which is what I get for writing half-asleep at 2 a.m. the night before (or morning of) production.

Contact tracing

Both Kane and McHenry County Health Departments are awaiting word from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on grants for additional funding of contact tracing. Each county sent their plans on exactly how they would use the yearlong grant for their respective contact tracing program.

Board meeting agenda: reopening under Phase 4 guidelines

The Sun City Community Association Board of Directors meeting was held on Wednesday, June 24, at 9 a.m. via video conference streamed live on www.sccah.com. The Illinois governor’s Phase 4 guidelines for reopening activities were considered by the board in voting on decisions to resume activities.

Because I’m ‘Happy’

This past month, Sun City received a challenge to a dance-off by a neighboring community. Kathy O’ Toole, Sun City Fitness Manager, responded to that challenge stating, “And we want to show them our moves.”

The email blast went out to residents. Clubs contacted their members, and neighborhood captains encouraged their neighbors and individuals got their plans together.

Social fitness-ing

Sun City is offering an outdoor fitness class at the Pavilion. The class began on June 22, and weather permitting, will occur weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. “Music N Moves” is led by Laura McGovern.

Telemedicine, part 1: The future of healthcare

With the use of computers and smart phones, it has now become possible to have a consultation with your physicians, out of their offices, for a chronic or many non-emergency health issues. Indeed, due to the corona virus pandemic and its social distancing policy, telemedicine is now just steps away from becoming a “new norm” in these treatments.

Ask the Woodchucks: 911 flasher switch update

The one Sun City home device that we have gotten the most questions about is the flasher switch that flashes the outdoor lights to help fire and ambulance personnel find your house when you call them. That was 1990s technology.

Sun City resident’s dream job right on track

When Sun City resident and model railroad aficionado Mike Ptak landed the train engineer role at Goebbert’s farm, he didn’t know he would be immortalized in a children’s book; now he and local author Deb Skog are both living the dream.

Blooms with a view

As with most of our lives over the past 4 months, my son’s life has taken on a very narrow scope. As a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University, his life used to include get- togethers with friends, professors lecturing in classrooms, strolls around a gorgeous campus, Sunday morning church services and trips to Nashville.

Ask an Angel: July 2, 2020

My mother is scheduled to have her hip replaced in a few weeks, after suffering from chronic pain for many years. Her surgery has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she can hardly wait to be relieved of her chronic pain. She’s in her mid-70s, and her care team seems hopeful for a quick recovery.

Hang Your Hat: July 2, 2020

Letters for the week of July 2.

Sun Day poll shows majority of respondents will return to non-essential activities with protective measures in place

The Sun Day conducted an online poll in which 53 readers anonymously responded to questions about how they will meet the phased reopenings.

Huntley protests remained peaceful

In the wake of the death of George Floyd, the message of Black Lives Matter has arrived in smaller towns across America, and Huntley is no exception. Protesters arrived with peaceful intent and showed signs of encouragement in how the youths of this nation are spearheading peace and a common ground in race relations.

2020: A climate of change

In Anthony Powell’s 2013 documentary “Antarctica: A Year on Ice,” the story focuses on life in an unfamiliar climate.

The film depicts the life of researchers at United States science bases in Antarctica. Life in this environment is not an easy one.

Farewell to a good friend I never met

John Prine was a childhood neighbor of mine, though I don’t think I ever met him directly.

He was a year and a half older than me, and we grew up just a bike ride apart — I in Elmwood Park, and he in Maywood, no more than five miles away. His dad was a tool-and-dye maker, shaping the steel that my dad produced in his steel mill job.

Covid & Carbs

Are you aware of the startling fact that Americans with obesity, diabetes, heart/cardiovascular disease, and other diet-related diseases are about three times more possible to suffer severe outcomes from Covid-19 disease, including death?

Village approves temporary liquor license changes in wake of COVID

During the May 28 virtual Village Board meeting, Interim Huntley Village Manager Lisa Armour proposed a plan to the Board of Trustees calling for the temporary suspension of the Village Liquor Code (Section 110.14) for a period of 90 days in order to allow restaurants to serve takeout food and alcoholic beverages in designated public outdoor areas within the Town Square.

The Call of the Wild

“T’ree vair’ good dogs,” Francois told Perrault. “Dat Buck, heem pool lak hell. I tich heem queek as anyt’ing.” Maybe you’ll instantly recognize this dialogue from the classic book, The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. The Call of the Wild is described as a short adventure novel, published in 1903. The book is …

Huntley PD discusses defunding, complaint management, policing practices, community outreach

President Donald Trump calls for specifics in his level of rebuilding police departments while some activists are pushing for defunding. However, an important tool is missing from the toolbox that’ll rebuild law enforcement in America. To prevent the whole of law enforcement from toppling is a simple tool, called the “level,” used to create balance.

COVID delays Huntley construction projects

In a previous edition of the Sun Day, residents were informed of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Huntley Investment Partners LLC, against the Village of Huntley over the Village Board’s rejection of an industrial project on the former site of the Huntley Outlet Center. While Huntley Village officials have declined to comment on the lawsuit, …

Sun City’s 20th Annual Golf Cart, Classic Car, and Car Parade

Parade route will be similar to the Day of Thanks Parade in April. Rain or shine!

Evel K-‘Nancy’

The “Shelter in Place” order seems like has been going on forever and the Dining Duo is getting bored. While standing outside hoping to see other signs of life, our friend John goes zooming past on his bike. He stopped to talk, and we told him we would like to ride our bikes but it was too much work.

Reimagining the movie theater in 2020

At this point last year, the weather was calm and we were enjoying all the season had to offer. It was also the height of the summer movie season. All this feels like a distant memory however. The loss of the cinema, that communal experience, has given us questions as to how can we move forward culturally?

Huntley Area Public Library unveils grand reopening

The Huntley Area Public Library’s construction project will be adding 17,000 square feet of space in the first of two phases.

Hang Your Hat: June 18, 2020

Letters for the week of June 18.

Sun City residents support hospital staff with meal donations

While traditional volunteer opportunities have been canceled, in times of crisis, we all want to help. Sun City Residents have responded by running errands for neighbors, making masks, and providing meals for the busy staff at Northwestern Hospital in Huntley.

Sandy White had an idea.

A riot speaks a thousand words but one voice speaks millions

You might think that the Sun Day’s black masthead this edition is in memorial of George Floyd’s death but you’d be wrong…or only part right…because in reality it’s memorializing the loss of voice.

Park & Watch

Although some might see drive-in movie theaters as a relic from the past, others like Sun City resident, Diane Scott, see them as a family friendly form of entertainment bringing back memories to a time when she and her siblings could enjoy a film outdoors in their family car while wearing their pajamas and enjoying familiar movie snacks.

While popularity in such theaters has dwindled, drive-ins, such as the Golden Age Cinema in McHenry, have seen a recent surge in attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to not having the same limitations of mass gatherings like their indoor counterparts.