Fox Valley briefs

Elgin High young writers lauded:

Two Elgin High School seniors, Rachel Bruce and Natalie Lalagos, are among 400 students to win a prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing awards. More than 140,000 works were submitted nationwide. Judging follows a two-tier system: both Bruce and Lalagos won Gold Key awards in a regional competition. Regional winners were then submitted for judging at the national level. There, Bruce won Gold Key Awards for both of her short stories, and Lalagos won a Silver Key Award for her short story. The students and nominating teacher Lisa Smith are invited to a reception and reading at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June. Winners will have the opportunity to read from their work at the city's Bryant Park as well as to attend writing workshops while there.

Flush it out:

Starting Monday, April 20, and ending Friday, April 24, Fox River Grove's water department will be flushing, inspecting and testing the flow of local fire hydrants. This is done to improve water quality and ensure the hydrants work properly. Avoid washing your clothes during this time. Water pressure fluctuation and discoloration may occur. Run the cold water until the discoloration clears.

Free GIS system in Algonquin:

Algonquin has launched a new GIS system on its Web site to help residents and businesses map out where they're going. The free service also details information about parks, trails, subdivisions, streets and floodplains. To use the system, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, visit www.algonquin.org and click on the GIS and maps button.

Jump in the way-back machine:

Groups now have the chance to tour the restored Centerville School with a 20-minute presentation on what it was like to go to school in the 1800s. Reservations are required. The program costs $30 and is limited to 30 people per group. The school is at Randall Oaks Park.