Off to the races again

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.

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.

“I like people. I like talking to them. They all have interesting stories,” he shared, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the community.

During the pandemic, Peter Mazzoni embarked on a new hobby. “I used to love building models. When I was younger, that’s what we would do. But I always disliked the smell of the glue. Then my son suggested, ‘Why don’t you try LEGOs?’ And that’s when I got hooked. I built the Colosseum, R2-D2, Millennium Falcon, and the shuttle.”

I started, of course, by saying goodbye to colleagues — teachers, secretaries, custodians, counselors, and even a few administrators — but then I bid farewell to the places and things I would miss.

Francis Rowinski beautifully encapsulated Johnson’s dedication: “Randy has been deeply devoted to our Angler’s Club, tirelessly working to create a space where anglers of all skill levels can grow and find new friends. His instrumental role in organizing fishing tournaments at Wildflower Lake twice a month during each fishing season is a testament to his unwavering commitment.”

Like most pet owners, we subject our poor Baxter to many nicknames. Some are run-of-the-mill like “Puppy” or “Puppy-Schmup.” We call him “Booxie” and “Booxinator.” On days when Baxter is freshly brushed and walks with a certain swagger, I refer to him as “Lord Buxton.” This is always pronounced in an awful English accent for absurd reasons that I can’t explain. I hope you agree with me when I say it is our absolute right as pet owners to be reduced to sappy ridiculousness when it comes to our pets. No explanations required.

One of the most prevalent myths that gives me pause is the belief that receiving home care means giving up my freedom and independence. I worry that inviting a caregiver into my home will diminish my sense of autonomy and control over my own life.

It started with a pancake breakfast catered by Sammy’s Bar and Grill. After breakfast, residents and guests got their faces painted, sponsored by the Grandma, Grandpa, & Me Charter Club (GG&ME). Student volunteers from Huntley High School assisted club members in fulfilling requests. Board members Dottie Harrison and Bob Olson sat down and were happy with the artist’s work. 

Olson said, “I loved getting my face painted. The young people from the high school who did it were all terrific young people and fun to talk to.” 

Still, if you’re a Sun City Illinoisan who was looking forward to getting reacquainted with those long-awaited love-bugs, this year of the dragon has been a bit of a drag, because there hasn’t been a cicada in sight in our part of the world.

Recycled Rhythm got its start in 2018 when its founder, Anthony Maland, wanted a way to share the positive effects of music therapy with other young people. Maland, who was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 5, benefited greatly from his musical training and refused to allow his diagnosis to hold him back.

Today, Joob is a 100-pint blood donor, an accolade he reached. 

Byrd said, “It would be nice to bring awareness to how many military veterans we have living among us. For those veterans that responded to my email, a flag with a tag identifying the veteran’s name and branch of service was placed in front of their mailbox for the holiday.”

Darlene Pratt, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, said, “Our sales were so well supported, we were able to increase the number of scholarships from the two planned to three.”

Reflecting on her journey, Wade shared, “The whole event was enjoyable. It was a little overwhelming, especially the school bus ride to East Peoria. But it was a great feeling knowing my family and friends were supporting me.”