It’s back to baseball for Cougars and fans. Pg. 16 SunPROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY OFDay SUN CITY IN HUNTLEY Volume 12 - Number 6 www.MySunDayNews.com March 25 - April 7, 2021 Forging fast friendships Pen pal program huge success between SC volunteers and HHS students Photo Provided Last fall, HHS teacher Renae St. Clair paired students with SC volunteers for a pen pal program to help students better their communication skills with strangers. Since then, 500 letters have been exchanged, and not only did the program exceed expectations, it has fostered meaningful friendships between students and volunteers. By Judy O’Kelley one goal in mind: to foster the have gone back and forth in the sweet letter,” said Sun City Sophomore Ali Hornberg For the Sun Day critical skill of being able to span of a couple of months,” pen pal Judy Stage. “She said, and her pen pal discussed mu- converse with a stranger. said St. Clair. “I did not expect ‘Dear pen pal. I want to tell sic and books and progressed hen Huntley High The result? Mission accom- it on this scale. Honestly, they you about one vacation I took from there. WSchool teacher Renae plished. The evidence? Those are impacting each other’s with my two girlfriends last “Even the little things that St. Clair paired her Medical strangers quickly turned into lives.” summer.’ I told her I was hap- happened in my week or that Academy students with Sun friends. What did they talk about? py she had nice friends, that I happened in her week. It’s just City pen pals last fall, she had “Easily five hundred letters “The first girl had such a had good friends, too.” PEN PAL | Pg. 4 It’s feed for thought • Thur, March 25 - Wed, April 7, 2021 VIEWS quPckquote LETTERS “I gave myself a project. I wanted to run past all 5400 homes in Sun City.” Todd Kane | Sun City Resident| Page 7 2UPDATES MySunDayNews.com fromthesunday questions that can be an- phones listed. now free, thanks to T-Mobile. 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Assistant Editor Kelsey O’Kelley Office: 847-658-6090 [email protected] CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS Joanie Koplos................Health Christine Such...........Features Stew Cohen......News/Features Tony Pratt.....................Photos CLASSIFIEDS 847-658-6090 DISPLAY ADVERTISING Huntley South/Hampshire Kurt Kuehnert | 815-347-4621 [email protected] Algonquin/Elgin Area Judy Tenorio | 847-863-6019 [email protected] Huntley North/Woodstock Dave Elsner | 847-531-0275 [email protected] The views of the writers do not necessarily reflect those views of the owners, staff, or those associated to the Sun Day. www.MySunDayNews.com Sun Day Thur, March 25 - Wed, April 7, 2021 3 4 Thur, March 25 - Wed, April 7, 2021 Sun Day COVER STORY son.” family,” said Doy. “They’re For political submissions, opinions, • PEN PAL Sun City pen pal Tom Fitz- in my everyday conversation. politicalplace and views only. crazy how much a pen and patrick concurs. If my pen pals could write paper can do,” said Hornberg. “At first it was a high me a book about their lives, I upport Burt Natkins for Huntley Village Board Trustee St. Clair was struck by the school girl and an old guy would read every word mul- S I know Burt well as a Sun City resident through his mem- genuine interest Del Webb trying to make that common tiple times.” bership in the Woodchucks, and I believe he is highly qualified pen pals showed in their stu- ground,” said Fitzpatrick. And like true friends, they to be a Huntley Village Board Trustee. Considering his pres- dents. “But it seems to dissolve, all also read between the lines. ent and past experience working with local governments, Burt “I opened letter after letter these years. It doesn’t matter “I was able to tell what’s brings a strong set of skills to the position. Most importantly, that started ‘Congratulations! what age you are.” important to her,” said Fitz- I see Burt as a person who knows how to listen to others and I can’t believe you got ac- Del Webb pen pal Terry patrick. “Not just by what she clearly share his thoughts. We need a representative from our cepted into so and so college. Kafenshtok considered the was writing but by how she community who will be a voice for us with the Village. I feel I’m so proud of you.’ age difference a bonus. was writing it. I don’t know Burt will be the representative on the Huntley Village Board the “Some of my students may “That was one of the things what she looks like, but I community needs. On April 6, vote Burt Natkins for Huntley not have heard that from any- that drew me to it,” said Kaf- can picture her smiling when Village Board Trustee. body else,” said St. Clair. enshtok. “In our family, we she’s talking about something “It may have been expected don’t have any high school- she’s excited about.” Marty Hertz from their parents. It may ers, so it was nice to connect What is the future for these Sun City resident have been expected from with somebody that age.” pals? Most hope to keep pen- their friends. This might be The bonding is evident. ning letters long after the pro- ransforming a small rural town of 5,000 residents to a cur- one of the few times some- “It’s not surface level any- gram ends.