Algonquin starting monthly e-mail

For those who can't get enough of Algonquin, the village is debuting a new service that lets residents know all about the town's goings on.

Algonquin e-News will provide details about special events, road construction, awards, budget proceedings and general announcements, information already available on the town's Web site, but now delivered directly to residents' inboxes, said Assistant Village Manager Jenna Kollings.

"It's things that we're already sending out, but this is just a direct link to residents," Kollings said. "It's part of the village's overall goal to increase communication with residents and to give them more options and opportunities to learn what's going on in their community."

For now e-mails are scheduled to go out every month. Their frequency will increase along with demand, Kollings said.

So far, 121 people have signed up for e-News since the service became available late last month.

The village currently sends out a quarterly newsletter to residents with similar updates.

But if e-News takes off, officials may consider using it in place of the newsletter.

"Obviously, we're always looking for ways to be green and environmentally friendly," Kollings said.

The new service comes at no cost to the village.

Existing staffers are responsible for writing updates during normal business hours and sending them out is withing the town's existing Internet capabilities, Kollings said.

To sign up for the free service, visit www.algonquin.org.