It was a year ago when COVID-19 struck and our world changed. Social isolation, masks and hand-washing became the norm. Travel stopped.

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.