Briefs: Cary-Grove Jaycees football contest

The Cary-Grove Jaycees will have a Punt, Pass and Kick competition beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Stagnet Park. The contest is for kids 5 to 13 years old. Call Alex Willson at (630) 254-2981 for details.

Celebrate with Algonquin:

The Village of Algonquin will hold a ribbon cutting Saturday, Sept. 6, to for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and the start of the Ted Spella Community Park. Both projects were fully funded by developer donations and, in the case of the park, a grant. The treatment plant improvements came in at $16 million; the park just over $1 million. It includes the installation of tot play areas, lighted tennis courts, a lighted sled hill, warming shelter, walking paths with pedestrian bridge across Woods Creek, gazebo shelter near new soccer fields, basketball shootaround, and new parking near the west end of the park to serve the play areas and sledding hill. The public is invited to the ribbon cutting at the wastewater treatment plant at 9, followed by a tour. It's off Route 31 at the south end of the town. The ribbon cutting at Spella Park will take place at 10 a.m. at the Wintergreen Terrace entrance to the park near Fairway View Drive.

Be part of the Thunder:

The South Elgin Thunder 11U Travel Baseball Team will hold a tryout at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Trolley Park in South Elgin. All games are to be played in the Fox Valley Area. To try out, a child must be age 11 as of April 30, 2009. Players must wear baseball attire including protective cup. For details, visit the Thunder Web site at www.sethunder.com or call (847) 727-8387.

Park opening set, again:

It's take two on the grand opening of the renovated College Green Park. A few weeks ago, a ceremony for the site on College Green Drive near Muirfield Circle and west of McLean Boulevard was delayed because of wet conditions. But neighbors and others are welcome between noon and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, to view the improvements, eat hot dogs, drink soda and play games. For details, call (847) 931-6788.

Loan company gets treasury grant:

Elgin-based Fox Valley Micro Loan Fund Friday received a Community Development Financial Institutions Fund grant from the U.S. Treasury Department. The $100,000 will help the organization continue to lend money to small businesses with potential to grow and provide start-up cash for individuals just starting their own companies. The Fox Valley Micro Loan Fund was selected from more than 225 organizations that applied for the grant. "The award is recognition of the vital role the Fox Valley Micro Loan Fund plays in economic and community development in the Fox Valley," Fox Valley Micro Loan Fund Board President Roma From said in a news release. "Entrepreneurs and their small businesses are important cogs in the local economy. Entrepreneurs and their small businesses are the sector we serve."