More from Sunrise

It has admittedly been several decades since I heard the playground taunt “Nyah, nyah, sore loser” that Virginia Kennedy is sing-songing at me in the different local periodicals. Although I have had to admonish schoolchildren to ignore such childishness, I would like to set the record straight, if only to encourage other poor souls who might dare to disagree with Mrs. Kennedy and face her contempt and disdain. I keep hearing how the Responsible Residents were financially backed. Well then - somebody owes me some money: $20 for the signs I kicked in for that Staples made up for us.— $5 for the flyers we had printed — $3 for the Advil I had to take after walking the aforementioned flyers all over my portion of the neighborhood because we had no money for postage (not that we had access to a mailing database anyway) — $10 for a new umbrella because one of the ribs on mine broke at the gathering in the rainy, muddy field because we had no indoor place to meet and no money to rent a hall. Ironically, I didn’t even want to run for the board but I offered to help out the candidates I supported. Then right after the flyers with the candidates’ names were handed out, one of the candidates I supported dropped out due to some work and medical issues that had cropped up. I offered to take his place since we had been assured the election was only for a 6-month transition period. After I had made the commitment, the director’s term was changed to a minimum of one year. I did my best to present my position and offer my skills and services to the community. As everybody knows by now, I did not win. But rather than the “bitter, sour grapes” Virginia Kennedy keeps tossing my way, I am humbled and very pleased that I, a dark horse, last-minute candidate, only missed the board by 6 votes. I still feel very honored to have had so much support from the community and I am grateful for the opportunity to have met so many wonderful people. The new Board and our community have my support and offered efforts even beyond the litter pickup, lakeside weed-whacking and roadside mowing my husband and I have been doing since we moved here. I will always believe the more we each get involved and contribute, the stronger our community is. And those grapes are sweet indeed. Barbara Chapman Sunrise Lakes