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Walking your way to mental health

If you have been doing numerous walking sessions during this pandemic, an Irish experimental brain researcher would be in total agreement with your (hopefully) daily exercises. In The Wall Street Journal’s April 18-19, 2020 publication, Dr. Shane O’Mara of Trinity College, Dublin, gives us this essay on the benefits of walking and movement. Even walking now, with 6 feet restrictions in place, has produced a more mindful brain following the new rules for “safe walking.”

Getting back down to business

Come May 29, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order is expected to ease restrictions in accordance to the “phase three” transition of the Restore Illinois plan. For restaurants like Jameson’s Charhouse, this means re-opening their outdoor patio dining area starting May 30.

Garden State: Growing your own food in a time of crisis

We have all responded to the pandemic in different ways. For some, that response means sheltering in place while other members of our family bring us the essentials. For others, it means learning new ways of doing daily or weekly tasks; ordering food and communicating with others through cell phones, tablets and computers. For many, work now begins with a walk to the kitchen table instead of a 45 minute commute. My family’s response included an afternoon spent planting vegetable and herb seeds in containers with daily updates during dinner about their progress.

Ask the Woodchucks: June 4, 2020

Should heating and air conditioning vents be cleaned and if so, how often?

Ask an Angel: June 4, 2020

I’m a senior who lives alone and am wrestling with disappointment as the COVID-19 crisis continues. I’m having difficulty sleeping at night, I’m lonely, and I’m over virtual visits. I just want to hug my children and grandchildren, but don’t know when it will be safe to do so. My family lives out of town, so a social distancing visit isn’t possible right now.

Hang Your Hat: June 4, 2020

Letters for the week of June 4.

Sun City ‘Zooms’ through board meetings

For Sun City’s Board of Directors, meetings to discuss important topics within the community will continue on as usual.

The method in which the most current meeting was conducted, however, is an entirely different story.

In response to Harvard Magazine

In the May-June 2020 issue of Harvard Magazine, in an article titled “The Risks of Homeschooling,” Erin O’Donnell got one thing right: homeschooling is risky.

But risky for whom?

An unmitigated mental health crisis

You won’t need to listen very long before you hear this plea, “Get the country open again.” This is not a lone voice pleading the case for resuming a normal life. After staying home week after week building to month after month, we’re hearing more of a collective shout that has registered with people throughout the U.S. “Get the country open again,” has become a rallying cry.

Local college grad helps create MCDH COVID resource guide

You really don’t have to look very far for examples of people helping others amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In the medical field, nurses, doctors, and paramedics are helping on the front lines. Whether it’s on the front lines or behind the lines, the war on COVID-19 has drawn the attention of mostly everyone with medical training. From the field of public health, the McHenry County Department of Health and the health departments in Kane, Lake, DuPage, Will, and Cook Counties, are facing serious challenges every day.

Mask maker, mask maker, make me a mask

Sandy Oslance, Lifestyle Coordinator said, “Following the ‘Stay at Home’ order, Tom Fitzpatrick, a Sun City Huntley resident and Neighborhood Watch Captain, had an idea to help supply face masks to various organizations such as home health care and hospice organizations, food pantries, Senior Care Volunteer Network, etc. He shared his idea with his neighbor and friend, Marie Frostman who he knew enjoyed sewing, and shortly after, the ‘Huntley Strong Hometown Heroes Project was born made up of approximately 45 women who sew.”

Ah, Betelgeuse, we hardly knew ye

I know, in a world so filled with death, it’s a horrible thing to wish for the death of any person, place or thing, but this time I just can’t help myself. Because just a few months ago, Betelgeuse gave off some clear indications that it will die soon — and I have to admit I’d like to see it happen.

Pets and COVID transmission

For the past few months, Sun Citians have been trying to practice six feet of social distancing as they travel through their daily activities outside of their homes.

Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are asking pet owners to take precautions with furry members of their household.

Quarantine queen

This “Covid 19 quarantine” that we are all going through has really been an eye-opener. I have discovered that my loving bride of almost 46 years is a total, raving, lunatic. We all know that she feels I’m the moron, but here is a little look into life with Nancy.

A little bit of this if you enjoy that

Humans, we are creatures of habit. Ever since the beginning of time, we as a species has lived out lives in categories and order. Recently those routines have been seriously shaken out of balance. Luckily, our entertainment has changed much. We enjoy what we always have. So in that spirit, here are some items you might like if you into a particular taste of genre.

Hang Your Hat: May 21, 2020

Letters for the week of May 20.

Despite statewide lockdown restrictions, Loughran says ‘Sun City, Huntley, is financially healthy’

Despite an ongoing battle with coronavirus, Sun City maintains a healthy financial outlook.

Thank you and DON’T!

After publishing my piece on the Sun Day’s tenth anniversary, we received numerous letters (and cards!) from readers wishing us congratulations and continued success, and I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. On this note, I would like to highlight one item in particular that caught my attention.

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.

Lupo on probation after sentencing [updated 5/19]

The Kane County Circuit Clerk’s office says Jennifer Lupo is serving two years on probation. The judgment order for the former finance manager of Sun City Huntley staff also called for 20 days in the Kane County Jail.

McHenry County property tax relief arrives

Property taxpayers in Del Webb Sun City-Huntley are more than ready for good news in the form of relief. Whether you live in Grafton Township in McHenry County or in the Kane County portion of Sun City Huntley, you’ll have extra time to pay the first installment of your property taxes.

Ask the Woodchucks: May 7, 2020

There is a black hose where the sump pump water exits the house to guide the water away from the foundation on houses with a basement. To keep it from freezing in the winter you probably removed this hose.

Making your garden last

My husband is a stuff guy. I am a “less is more” girl. His motto is why buy one of something when you can buy three and have a few extra? I only buy something when I absolutely have to. When he cooks, it is in large quantities, and he puts the extra in the freezer. I’m perfectly content with making just enough for that particular meal.

Ask an Angel: May 7, 2020

It has been about five weeks now since we’ve spent time with my aging parents due to COVID-19. This is the longest that we’ve spent apart, given that we live near each other and are used to visiting at least once a week.

Hang Your Hat: May 7, 2020

Letters for the week of May 7.