Brush up on your talent for Dist. 158 showcase

Do you have a hidden talent? If so, it's time to take it out of the closet, polish it up and put it on display for a good cause.

This week, the District 158 Foundation issued an open invitation to Huntley-area entertainers to share their talents and help raise money for local students.

Foundation members say they're convinced that our town is brimming with untapped "star power." They want to give it a chance to shine at their Community Showcase variety show, set for Feb. 10 in the Huntley High School auditorium. Proceeds will benefit the foundation's school programs and scholarships.

Auditions will be held next week to find Huntley's top singers, dancers, musicians, bands and other entertainers. Sessions are scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Huntley High School choir room on Harmony Road. Acts should be four minutes or less and must be family-friendly.

All ages are welcome, and a piano and CD player will be provided. You do not need to be a District 158 resident to take part. For details or to reserve an audition time, call Kim Skaja at (815) 923-8810 or e-mail kskaja158@foxvalley.net.

A sign-up sheet is located on the door to the choir room.

Avoid the crowd: If you've followed this month's election coverage, you have probably heard all you need, or want, to know about the major candidates in the upcoming Feb. 5 primary.

If you have already made your choice, why not vote early and avoid those long lines on Super Tuesday? Illinois offers early voting to all registered voters Monday to Jan. 31.

In Huntley, there will be two early voting sites, one for McHenry County voters and another for Kane County residents.

For the next two weeks, McHenry County will maintain an early voting polling place at the Huntley Park District office (Cosman Cultural Center), 12015 Mill St. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

Another nearby poll will be open at the Lake in the Hills village hall, 600 Harvest Gate, from 8:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Kane County residents may cast early voting ballots in Huntley at the Sun City Prairie Lodge, 12880 Del Webb Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Jan. 19 and 31.

During the early voting period, you may vote at any early poll location within your county of residence. For more McHenry County locations, call (815) 334-4242 or visit http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/CountyDpt/countyclerk. For Kane County locations, call (630) 232-5990 or visit http://www.co.kane.il.us/COC.

Historical Society needs you: Want to help preserve Huntley's history and landmarks?

Take some time this weekend to attend the second meeting of the new Huntley Historical Society. Organizers will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in the old village hall, which is located downtown across from the square.

Volunteers will report on their research into drafting a mission statement and by-laws, applying for not-for-profit status and finding members to serve on the group's board of directors.

All interested persons are invited to attend and share their ideas. For details, call Lonni Oldham at (847) 669-5204.

For job hunters: If you're looking for work here in Huntley, there's a new on-line job board that you can check. The Huntley Chamber of Commerce has a new link on its Web site, http://www.huntleychamber.org, that lists available job openings at member businesses. The Web page also has links for "hot deals" in Huntley and local weather reports.

Equestrian seminar: Did you or someone you know get a pony for Christmas? Maybe you're just a horse lover with a big heart and a big barn? Either way, you won't want to miss "Horse Sense 101: Basics of Horse Ownership," a day-long workshop for horse owners set for Feb. 9 at the Hooved Animal Humane Society in Woodstock.

Co-sponsored by the University of Illinois-McHenry County Extension office, the program offers tips for choosing horses, caring for them and locating services such as boarding, trainers and veterinarians.

Horse owners can learn about equine nutrition and physical conditioning to promote good horse health.

Presentations run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the HAHS facility, l10804 McConnell Road. For details, a fee schedule and a list of speakers, call (815) 338-4747 or visit http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mchenry/.