Preserve the peace - leave fireworks to the pros

I know how tempting it is to buy your own fireworks and set it off for your own personal delight, but please don't.

Officials from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District say you should leave it to the professionals instead and attend one of many shows in the area.

Although there weren't any deaths in Illinois last year, the Office of the State Fire Marshal reports there were 125 fireworks-related injuries statewide, according to a news release.

They included lacerations, abrasions, fractures, loss of sight, hearing loss and burns.

Burns were 56 percent of total injuries reported.

Interestingly, 69 percent of the people injured were men, the statement said.

By the way, using fireworks is illegal - Algonquin and Lake in the Hills, zero-tolerance policies for violations of municipal ordinances and state law in place that ban the use, sale, possession or explosion of any illegal fireworks.

Then there's the annoyance factor.

I've been hearing sizzles, pops and wails from fireworks at night in Elgin ever since June.

They've woken me up several times and I really need my sleep. I'm sure other neighbors across the area have experienced the same thing.

So please, be safe and stay away from the unauthorized fireworks.

Those who like sleep at night thank you.

For information about fireworks shows near you, visit www.alfpd.org

Wii play games: Are you a teen who loves playing sports, but hates sweating?

You can play tennis and bowl without breaking a sweat at the Algonquin Library's main branch by playing it on the popular Wii video game system that's sold out nationwide.

Come alone or bring a friend for the event that starts at 2 p.m. July 11 in the Harnish meeting room.

For more information, call the library at (847) 458-6060.

Tennis anyone? Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big tennis fanatic and this is the second and final week for Wimbledon, 2008, the storied tournament on grass.

In case you were wondering, ESPN2, NBC and the Tennis Channel are carrying the matches all this week.

I've been getting up at 6 a.m. ever since the tournament started last week to watch all the action I can before going to work.

But I took this entire week off from work so I wouldn't miss a single match; watching the highlights just isn't the same.

So if you need to reach anyone this week on an Algonquin, Lake in the Hills issue, please call Amy Mack at (847) 931-5725.

If there's any breaking news on Sunday, which I'm also taking off for the men's Wimbledon final, drop a line to reporter Larissa Chinwah at lchinwah@dailyherald.com

I'll be back in action the following week.

Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College, breaking news and weekend events on Sundays. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com