Algonquin Wal-Mart set to be a super store
Listen up, Wal-Mart junkies.
The Algonquin store on Randall Road is about to become a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
The village recently approved the store's plans to build a 38,000-square-foot addition that will encompass a grocery store, medical office and a drive-through pharmacy.
You should know that Wal-Mart will be responsible for all the costs involved with new traffic signs on County Line Road, including synchronizing them with existing signals, village officials say.
And in keeping with its efforts to become greener, Algonquin officials are insisting that those traffic signals be LED or some other energy-efficient lighting.
I've been to that Wal-Mart a few times and have found it to be a very nice store and not too crowded.
Earlier this year, I ran into Vicki Ziebert of Algonquin at the Lily Falls gift shop in Elgin that she co-owns.
I commented on the beautiful wine glasses she had up for display and she proudly told me that she got them from the that Wal-Mart in Algonquin for really, really good prices.
Look for the store's extension to open within the year.
Stoplight spotlight: To all motorists who find themselves running through red lights when trying to speed through the yellow light (myself included), we have until July to shape up before our actions will be caught on camera.
That's right, the Algonquin Police Department hopes that the four cameras are up and running by June 1, while police await permits from McHenry County and the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Sgt. Wade Merritt.
A 30-day grace period will follow before the camera starts issuing tickets, Merritt said.
As a reminder, there will be four cameras in all -- two for Algonquin and Randall roads and one each for Randall Road and Bunker Hill Drive and routes 31 and 62.
These intersections log the most accidents in town, Merritt said.
If the camera catches you blowing through a red light, it will send you a $100 ticket, which you'll be able to contest in Algonquin's traffic court, which should also be up and running by then.
For details, call the police department at (847) 658-4531.
International flair: McHenry County College will have its fourth annual International Night from 3:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. April 12.
Here's what's on the menu: a catered Greek and Italian dinner buffet; salsa and bachata dance classes; language workshops in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Chinese and Arabic; live music by the school's jazz ensemble; and a mariachi band called Mariachi Águilas de Mexico.
The evening also will include two presentations on racial history titled "Argentina vs. the U.S." from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and 6 to 6:45 p.m. The doors open at 3:30 p.m.
It costs $15 for the public, $7 for MCC students and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. For details, call Gabriel Decio (815) 455-8557 or e-mail gdecio@mchenry.edu.