Briefs: Little help from up north

The McHenry County Division of Transportation rushed to the aid of one its peers this week, lending one of its snow plow trucks to Grundy County after it lost its entire fleet in a devastating fire. The fire swept through a building south of Morris Wednesday evening, causing at least $2 million in damage and leaving the county without any snow removal equipment. McHenry County officials learned of the blaze the next day and contacted Grundy County with an offer of help. Within a matter of hours, a truck was on the way south with an 11-foot plow and a load of road salt to help with Thursday night's snowfall. "We have the luxury right now of feeling we can loan them one of our trucks and still be able to take care of what we have to up here," said Mark DeVries, superintendent of operations for McHenry County. "If we can help them, then absolutely we should."

Condo building for seniors

Algonquin trustees this week approved the construction of a three-story, 18-unit condominium building that will be part of the Waterford of Algonquin development reserved for people ages 55 and older. A portion of the units will include affordable housing units. Construction on the building, slated for routes 62 and 25, likely will begin in the spring, officials said.

Thank you dinner

Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Algonquin will hold a dinner to honor its congregation that helped raise money for the land that will house its new church at Longmeadow Parkway and Sleepy Hollow Road. The party is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn. Parishioners' children have the option of celebrating at the church, 100 Hanson Road. That party begins at 4:15 p.m. For details, call (847) 658œ9250, ext. 10.

Returning to college?

Adults interested in entering or returning to college have an opportunity to attend a "Beginnings" information session in December. Participants learn what ECC has to offer and what steps to take to enroll. The session will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Resource Center Alumni Room on the Main Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. For more information or to register for the Dec. 11 session, call the Admissions Office at (847) 214-7385.

Village water investigated

The McHenry County Department of Health is investigating whether groundwater in Port Barrington is safe to drink after finding dye in a retention pond in the village. There have been no reports of illness, but residents should use bottled water for drinking and cooking until the investigation is complete. Sixty-four homes in the Brighton Circle area could be affected. A dye used to control aquatic plant growth was found in a retention pond in last month. Well water that was sampled did not contain coliform bacteria. It is not known what health effects the contamination would produce. The health department will take additional samples in the area.