Algonquin rewards seven businesses

With awards season sweeping the nation, it's only natural Algonquin would hand out awards of its very own.

Earlier this month, seven businesses in Algonquin were honored with the village's 2009 Business Awards.

• Dania Furniture and the Sonic drive-in restaurant both received the new development architectural award for the way their structures complement the village.

• Arby's received the rehabilitation/improvement award for renovating what was the vacant Algonquin Family Restaurant building.

• J.C. Penney snagged the village's community impact award for doing its part to attract more shoppers to its portion of Randall Road, bringing 150 jobs to the area and helping to help draw other retailers.

• Three entities received the community service award: the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, Community Unit District 300 and Vander Weit Chiropractic.

The village recognized the chamber for holding its homes and business expo and for sending a cadre of volunteers to help at town-sponsored events, including the Founders' Days festival, national night out, the Algonquin Farmers' Market and Holly Days on the Fox.

The school district was named for its ongoing community service, namely the Bear Run for Pediatric Cancer in Algonquin that raised more than $32,000, food donations to local shelters and for raising more than $9,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Finally, Vander Weit Chiropractic was honored for holding Kids Day America, which lets kids get free health screenings and gives information to parents on how best to improve their children's health. Moreover, Dr. Scott Vander Weit has made it his business to travel around the area giving free presentations on workplace health and safety.

Congratulations to all.

Finding Elgin in Melbourne... twice: Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge tennis fan and usually schedule my vacation time during the grand slam tournaments so I can watch them on the television set.

This time was a little different.

For two weeks, I was on vacation in Melbourne to see the Australian Open and returned to the states earlier this month.

And no, I had nothing to do with the Bosnians and Serbians throwing chairs and water bottles at each other during one of the matches, an incident that made international headlines.

But while there, I thought of Elgin historian E.C. "Mike" Alft, who has traveled to towns all over the world named Elgin.

There actually is an Elgin in Australia, but it was way on the other side of the island.

The best I could do was find "Elgin Street" and "Elgin Place," quiet, residential streets which are right by the University of Melbourne.

I was a little bit too excited to find them and the locals looked at me like a weirdo when I took pictures by both streets.

Overall, the trip was cool and while it was nice to get out of the cold weather for a bit, I am so happy to be home.

Now if only it would get warmer...

• Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove and McHenry County College. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com