Reporter requests info from new community

I'm so excited to be covering Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and McHenry County College.

For years, I've spent many a weekend in the area writing about various community events.

In Algonquin, for example, there's been the Polish-American Festival at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, where I saw some men of the cloth enjoying Polish beer -- and asked them if it was allowed. Of course it was, they said.

With respect to Lake in the Hills, I've gotten up early in the morning to cover practically every one of their 5Ks.

I've even joked with Trudy Wakeman, director of parks and recreation, that Lake in the Hills must be the healthiest town in the Fox Valley, thanks to all these runs.

Now that I'll be spending a lot more time in the area, I'll be frequenting the Algonquin Sub Shop a lot more.

Anyone know of some wonderful restaurants in Lake in the Hills?

To all you readers out there, please call me if you think there's anything I should know about. Any little thing in your town or at the college, I'd love to stay in the loop. Until then, curl up with the paper (or your computer for the online version) and thanks for reading.

Sacrifice for the greater good:ŒWhile we're all enjoying the comforts of home, members of the Joy Community Presbyterian Church are spending a week in hurricane-ravaged Gulfport, Miss.

The nine-member Katrina relief team left Saturday to help reconstruct homes damaged by the hurricane and are due back Jan. 19.

According to the church's Web site, their accommodations are at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport.

Like last year, they'll continue doing construction projects in the town.

You can see photos of their 2007 trip on the church's Web site at http://www.joycommunity.org/katrina.html

I'd like to thank them all for going down there to help. Here's hoping the government makes the region a priority in 2008.

Spike it!:ŒCongratulations are in order for Lindsey Loescher and Amanda Pagels.

Who are they?

They're two McHenry County College students named Division II All-American volleyball players.

This honor comes from the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The group recognized Loescher, part of its first team All American squad, as one of the top ranking outside hitters in the nation.

Pagels, on the other hand, got kudos as the highest ranked, all-American defensive back -- she was named to the group's second team All-American.

They're both Lady Scots' sophomores and helped lead the school to its third consecutive district Championship and NJCAA national tournament appearance.