Many people look forward to retirement and all the enjoyment it can bring after having worked so hard for decades. But from a distance, whether a few years or many years away from retirement, it’s not easy to clearly see what retirement will look like.

In response to your article (“Water committee discusses management plan,” Sun City West Independent, April 28, 2021), we have lived here five years and all we ever hear is things are really getting bad and we really need to do something.

When my husband and I — six-year residents of Sun City West) — were vetting locations in which to retire back in 2005, there was so much to consider.

The short-term rental platforms are working hard to spin their recent loss. They would have you believe that they offered legislation to “fix” the STR rental problems that they created in our towns and throughout the state, only to have it rejected without reason.

I received the April 21 Sun City West Independent paper. As I’m reading I come onto page 42 under music.

In the Recreations Centers of Sun City West E-News edition of April 14, 2021, there is a link to commentary by RCSCW Chief Financial Officer Pete Finelli.

Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (who also was a former U.S. Senator and congressman from Utah) famously noted in the landmark 1926 case of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. that: “A nuisance may be merely a right thing in the wrong place — like a pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard.”

Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is well underway.

I have been reading about HR 1/S.1, the so-called “For the People Act,” which is under consideration in the U.S. Senate.

We are concerned about the unsightly trash at the recycling bins at Pebblecreek Golf Course, 18838 N. 128th Ave.

I’m writing in response to the letter from Bonnie Boyles of Sun City (“Reflecting on impotent society,” Sun City West Independent, April 7, 2021).

The Sun City West Foundation board and staff would like to thank our fabulous, generous neighbors for supporting our fund drive this year.

As one of those other “people” (quotes are his) referenced in George Aschendorf’s letter (“People can hang flags on property,” Sun City West Independent, March 17, 2021) a couple weeks ago, I take issue with his support of a neighbor flying the flag upside-down.

Now that all of the Recreation Centers of Sun City West indoor and outdoor venues are open, guests are allowed back into pools and fitness centers and the mandatory mask mandate has been lifted by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, our community still needs to be careful just more than a year after COVID-19 arrived on the scene.

In response to the letter (“Opinions should not be forced upon others,” Sun City West Independent, March 10, 2021), I would like to reply to the writer who found offense at my opinion from a previous letter.

We are in complete agreement with Sandra Witt (“Do house murals violate the rules?” Sun City West Independent, March 17, 2021).

Back in the fall last year I joined the Budget and Finance Committee and spent four months moving through the process of reviewing the financial policies and adjusting them as needed.

I lived in Phoenix for 35 years and experienced and saw rude drivers.

My wife, Ronnie, and I moved to Arizona in May 2018 after retiring from work life and desiring to leave Southern California.

Most of us think of the seasons in Sun City West as monsoon, allergy and citrus-picking. But we’re currently in the throes of another important season — it’s budget season for Recreation Centers of Sun City West.

Thank you for asking for input from Sun City residents regarding short-term rental properties (“Short term rentals on hot seat,” Sun City Independent, March 10, 2021).

This is my first time taking action like this but as a Sun City homeowner I have concerns as well.

The idea that anyone should be able to do anything they want with their property is just selfishness.

I support legislation that regulates short-term rentals to owner-occupied homes (“Short term rentals on hot seat,” Sun City Independent, March 10, 2021) during the rental and that renters meet the various CC&Rs that maintain the restricted age limitations that make Sun City an attractive residential choice for seniors.

We purchased property in Sun City for the relaxing atmosphere, no out of control parties, no noise produced by people who have no respect for others and no cars racing down the streets at all hours, plus property management companies that work with the HOAs to maintain the communities.

Short term rentals (aka Airbnb or vrbo) are businesses and don’t belong in residential zones(“Short term rentals on hot seat,” Sun City Independent, March 10, 2021). This shouldn’t be complicated, it is a zoning issue.

Sun City West Resident Frank Bagnato had been criticized for hanging his American Flag upside down.

I just read the article (“Resident hopes to share home murals,” Sun City West Independent, March 10, 2021) and would like clarification of C&R rules for Sun City West if displaying artwork on your house is permitted.

I recently experience a health issue, which was very serious. This letter is about MD Anderson Cancer Center and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, both at 14502 W. Meeker, Blvd., Sun City West.

The pandemic has been an ordeal that none of us want to repeat.

The Rec Centers of Sun City West operates independently of Recreation Centers of Sun City.

It is once again spring in Sun City West; the birds are singing, and the birds in the general manager’s office and Governing Board (birds of a feather?) are hard at work preparing to further pad their gilded nests and bloated budgets by gouging the citizens of Sun City West with unnecessary fee increases.

In golf, one of the most overlooked areas of importance is how you hold the club.

A recent letter writer (“Distress has different meanings,” Sun City West Independent, March 3, 2021) opined that I have no right to be distressed with how far our country has fallen in the past two months, and that my flying the American flag as I see fit is unwarranted.

As I have talked about with Rec Centers of Sun City West General Manager Bill Schwind on my Rec Center Show on 103.1 KSCW Radio, while we have learned a lot about COVID-19 and the vaccines, there is still much more to learn and to be careful about.

This morning there was a message on my landline phone from someone who was obviously very upset about getting phone calls, perhaps multiple times from the same number.

Thank you to all of the individuals who joined us Feb. 21 for the Ninth Annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life of the Sun Cities drive-through in the Sun City West Foundation parking lot.

The Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Lourdes Council 11809, and Valley View Community Food Bank thank all those who helped make the “Give From The Heart” food drive Feb. 13 for the local needy and hungry of the community such a success.

This is in regards to Mary Pitzer’s letter (“Cases keep rising, what is the problem?” Sun City West Independent, Feb. 17, 2021).

The article on the front page says a first-term legislator convinced other lawmakers in our State House to ignore mask mandates. It wasn’t a lawmaker, politician or president who created …

This letter is in response to the letter from Rebecca Ettien (“No need to be distressed in Sun City West,” Sun City West Independent, Feb. 17, 2021).

I have seen too many people lose their ability to “hop around” and “pivot the hips.”

The Phoenix VA hospital is doing a good job!

Please do not donate any more plastic bags at this time.

It was a year ago when COVID-19 struck and our world changed.

This is in response to a letter from Frank Bagnato (“Accusation about resident was wrong,” Sun City Independent, Feb. 3, 2021).

The recreation centers in Sun City West ave been closed for weeks. Yet the COVID cases increase.

To set the record straight and to respond to Mr. Frank Bagnato (“Accusation about resident was wrong,” Sun City West Independent, Feb. 3, 2021) and Ms. Patricia Leopold (“Resident offers other side of flag letter,” Sun City West Independent, Feb. 3, 2021), here are the facts relating to my original letter to the Independent sharing my discomfort and disappointment in seeing the foremost symbol of our country, the United States flag, flying upside down on a high flagpole in Sun City West.

Staying well requires a strong, balanced immune system combined with reducing exposure to pathogens.

The vaccination process continues in our community at the State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale and other locations but everyone needs to keep in mind that after you get your two vaccination shots, you still need to keep COVID-19 out of your lives by doing what you have been doing to this point.

As the chairwoman of the Sun City Home Owners Association Government Affairs Committee it is my privilege to be a part of SCHOA’s advocacy efforts, particularly as they relate to utility rates.

We need more help!

This is an open letter to all elected officials at the federal, state and local levels.

This letter is in response to a letter (“Resident upset with inverted U.S. Flag,” Sun City West Independent, Jan. 27, 2021) relating to our flag being flown upside down.

The Sun City West Community Fund officials want to thank the many residents of Sun City West who recently donated to the Fund and claimed their donation as an Arizona Tax Credit.

I have been using the gym and indoor pool at the Beardsley Recreation Center for the last 14 years.

Two letters were printed in the Sun City West Independent Jan. 27, 2021 I feel need some response.

It is unfortunate that Sun City West resident Jim Somerville in his letter to the editor (“Impeachment necessary to send message,” Sun City West Independent, Jan. 27, 2021) completely missed the point of my comments pointing out the ugliness of an Impeach Trump banner hung on a home in our community.

The Mission of the Sun City Community Assistance Network is to, “Connect people with resources to enhance their standard of living.”

I wanted to give a big shout out to the Banner team administering COVID shots here in Sun City West. Fantastic!

The Friends of the Library continue to be impressed by the generosity of our community.

In regards to the letter (“Resident upset with inverted U.S. Flag,” Sun City West Independent, Jan. 27, 2021), this was written about my neighbor.

In her letter (“Resident upset with inverted U.S. flag,” Sun City Independent, Jan. 27, 2021), Sun City West resident Mary Arnot comes across as if the world has ended because a neighbor decided they want to express their disgust with the current state of political affairs in this country by flying their flag upside down.

I strongly disagree with the opinions Debby Phillips expressed in her letter to the editor (“Resident not happy with impeach banner,” Sun City West Independent, Jan. 20, 2021).

Today, Jan. 19, 2021 on the eve of what we all hope will be a peaceful transition of power to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, I walked in my neighborhood in Sun City West.

Today, my husband, Gerry Connor, and I unexpectedly received a $625 direct deposit “stimulus check” from Uncle Sam (the IRS).

I don’t know who you are, and after seeing the vile, hateful banner you have hanging in your front yard in the northwest corner of our community, I’m quite happy I don’t.

I am writing about a safety risk at the new Kuentz pool in Sun City West.

During my daily walks, I notice a few homes still have Trump/Pence lawn signs up and /or fly a Trump flag or hang one on their palm trees.

This is in response to Norman Webb’s letter (“Do not force your opinions on others,” Sun City West Independent, Jan. 6, 2021).

The year 2020 was a different one for R. H. Johnson Library. It started with new director in December of 2019.

Recreation Centers of Sun City West officials are following the necessary COVID-19 data in its decision-making concerning closures of fitness centers, indoor pools and other indoor recreation venues.

Recreation Centers of Sun City West officials are following the necessary COVID-19 data in its decision-making concerning closures of fitness centers, indoor pools and other indoor recreation venues.

All of the outdoor sports venues are currently open, except for the Kuentz tennis courts.

Below is a human interest story that focuses on the extraordinary efforts one of our excellent doctors here in Sun City West/Surprise went to give me hope for the future.

When I was being interviewed for my current job (I’m the pastor of a Sun City West church) the call committee chairman told me, “The most dangerous place to drive is the parking lot at Bashas.”

On behalf of the SunDome Merchants, the Corte Bella Vets and all our local veterans, we wish to thank everyone for their continued support and generosity for the angel tree program.

Question: I know there was a cost of living expense increase but I barely got an increase in my Social Security check. What happened?

I am excited when golfers approach me saying, “I can’t hit my driver, it doesn’t work the way I think it should.”

I read the article on electric cars (“Possible electric cars, shuttle program in SCW,” Sun City West Independent, Dec. 23, 2020) with interest.

This is in response to Raymen Starkka letter (“Merry Christmas not correct phrase,” Sun City West Independent, Dec. 23, 2020).

With respect to Gib Foulkes’s letter (“Buyers should know what they are getting,” Sun City West Independent, Dec. 30, 2020) about Luke Air Force Base and noise, Luke was founded in 1941 during the era of propeller driven aircraft, which were relatively quiet.

In regards to the letter from Carol McDade (“Concentrate on Sun City problems,” Sun City West Independent, Dec. 23, 2020), please print this response.

I met Jesse Ramirez, Valley View Community Food Bank founder and director, a year ago and am constantly amazed at how much he does with so little.

In this season of thanksgiving and love, I’d like the residents of Sun City West to treat our postal employees in Bob’s Variety Store and the post office as you would like to be treated.

This was an outstanding article (“Legion seeking more veterans,” Sun City Independent, Dec. 16, 2020) about the new changes in American Legion membership eligibility.

I am enthusiastic about the electric vehicle program that was presented to the RCSCW governing board Dec. 4.

This has not been a normal holiday season because nothing in the world is normal anymore as we try to outlive the pandemic that has taken over our world.

We are a leadership team of volunteers coming together each week to build on the essence of what Northwest Valley Connect is all about.

I see the pet owner is back in my neighborhood who sees fit to put their dog’s poop in my garbage can.

The idea of maintaining civil discourse when debating public issues of the day is more than lip-service at Independent Newsmedia. At Yourvalley.net, which is powered by the work of local …

Most say Merry Christmas, and they mean well.

We are all excited about the COVID-19 vaccines and the daily updates on the effort to get it to us.

When was the last time you visited our R.H. Johnson Library? Today? Yesterday? Last week? All of the above?

The Mission of the Sun City Community Assistance Network is to, “Connect people with resources to enhance their standard of living.”

The political campaigns are (mostly) over, but the annual campaign to attract tax credit donations is in full swing!

On R.H. Johnson Boulevard driving home from the store at about 4:30 p.m. with my son the other day we noticed a pickup sitting half on the sidewalk with it’s flashers blinking.

We are in total agreement with the recent letter (“SCHOA should clamp down on CC&Rs,” Sun City West Independent, Dec. 2, 2020) regarding the need to clamp down on CC&Rs to deal with excessive noise.

From my observations, driver infractions are getting out of control.

Can anyone identify the creature in this picture that was taken on our property adjacent to the Stardust Golf Course, 12702 W. Stardust Blvd.?

We are honored in Sun City West to have Veterans of many wars in our community, but this week we put a big spotlight on World War II veterans.

Thank you for your article (“Street racers invade Sun City,” Sun City Independent, Nov. 25, 2020) regarding street racers.

We moved to Sun City to get away from noisy cars, children running in the streets and noisy backyards.

Most people know Sun City and Sun City West as great places to live. Originally catering to retirees, these days seniors still working are as much the norm as not.

I just don’t get it with how our golf courses are being run.

Most people know Sun City and Sun City West as great places to live. Originally catering to retirees, these days seniors still working are as much the norm as not.

Across the country and our communities, people are isolated because of social distancing, a COVID-19 health and safety practice to prevent contracting the virus.

The Mission of the Sun City Community Assistance Network is to, “Connect people with resources to enhance their standard of living.”

Let’s open the rec centers and let those that want to come do so and let others that are concerned about the virus stay away.

We bought a house in Sun City West in 2012.

Positive news! Thank you to the artists who painted the rocks on Sunland Drive at the intersection of Agua Fria Drive.

The recent passing of "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebec has sparked a flood of tributes for him and the game show itself.  Former contestants and celebrities who've competed there have shared numerous …

Question: I will turn 65 in February. Because of COVID-19, I can’t seem to find anyone in person at the community centers. Any suggestions?

With the pandemic upon us, information is changing rapidly. We have been working hard at PORA to get out timely and accurate updates and news.

With the election behind us, now is the time for governing, and there is no shortage of issues that demand Washington’s and our state’s attention.

I just want to ask homeowners of our retirement communities that before the weather really cools off, please use the time wisely to clean up your front yards, get rid of dead and tired decades old foliage.

On this Veterans Day week we must not only honor all of those living in Sun City West and all across the country who served in our Armed Forces, we must also remember what they fought for and who they have fought for — the United States of America, with emphasis on United.

Id like to welcome Penny Hunger (“Reader wants to get human connections,” Sun City West Independent, Oct. 28, 2020) to Sun City West and thank her for the kind opinion she expressed.

Question: I’m getting advertisements indicating this is the time to evaluate Medicare’s Part D drug coverage. How do I do this?

To the person who smokes “Swisher Sweets” cigars, please do not use Deer Valley Road near Deer Valley Golf Course to dispose of your empty cigar packages, which I have picked up for the past year.

This is regarding the person who thinks the clubs in Sun City West do not suit her needs.

During this COVID-19 scare, many live in fear. As a Christian, I remind people to remember that scripture says 365 times, “Do not fear.” One for each day of the year.