Serena Huberty, seventh-grader at Bernotas Middle School, won the Region II Spelling Bee held at Bernotas on Feb. 11. Ved Patel, eighth-grader at Cary Junior High, was runner-up.

McHenry County

Epilepsy Foundation to expand service offerings

The McHenry County Health Board reported that the county’s Epilepsy Foundation will begin offering brain injury health management services to county residents on March 7. The program will be housed at the Epilepsy Foundation Office, 333 Commerce Drive, Suite 500, Crystal Lake. The facility includes a telepsychiatry program, two clinic rooms, and space for client workshops and support groups. The Epilepsy Foundation provides access to state-of-the-art medical care, mental health care and support services for children and adults with epilepsy, seizure disorder, traumatic/acquired brain injuries and co-occurring mental health conditions. The addition of brain injury health management services will enhance traumatic brain injury programming currently provided through Pioneer Center for Human Services. The new program will provide medical health care coordination, individual case management, counseling, patient and family advocacy, school and community education, support groups and more. For more information, call (815) 455-2828 or visit www.co.mchenry.il.us.

Conservation District sets slate for Sugar Maples fest

The McHenry County Conservation District’s Festival of the Sugar Maples will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 5, 6, 12 and 13 at Coral Woods Conservation Area, 7400 Somerset Drive, Marengo. All ages are welcome to attend the free event, which provides the opportunity to learn about the history of maple sugaring and the evolution of the sap collection process. A series of one-hour tours will begin every 15 minutes, involving a walk through the woods; no pets allowed. Hot chocolate, pure maple syrup, and maple-flavored candies and cookies will be available for purchase. In addition, the Union Lions Club is inviting attendees to stop before or after the event for its annual Pancake Breakfast at Smithwood Bar & BBQ, 6517 Main Street, Union. Breakfast is $6 per adult and $3 per child. For more information about the festival, call (815) 338-6223 or visit www.mccdistrict.org.

Algonquin

Library to host playgroup for kids with therapy needs

The Algonquin Area Public Library District’s Main Library, 2600 Harnish Drive, will host an inclusive playgroup for children who currently receive therapy services or may benefit from therapeutic play. The unique playgroup offers opportunities for children to focus on developmental play while families meet and find support. The drop-in program — intended  for babies to age 5, with a caregiver — will be run by a speech therapist from Elgin Pediatric Therapy, and will be held in the library’s Harnish Meeting Room from 10:30-11:15 a.m. March 7. Contact the library if your child requires any special accommodations. For more information, call (847) 458-6060 or visit www.aapld.org.

Johnsburg

Business & Craft Expo coming to high school

The Johnsburg Area Business & Craft Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12 at Johnsburg High School, 2002 W. Ringwood Road. The event, co-sponsored by the Johnsburg Area Business Association and Johnsburg School District 12, will feature more than 50 vendor booths, an art show, music performed by students from the high school, a musical instrument petting zoo, crafts, face painting, games, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, food concession stands (including a $10 meal special of soup or chili, bread, dessert, a beverage, a handmade ceramic bowl) and more. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (815) 347-0181 or visit www.johnsburgjaba.com.

Huntley

HIWIN Corp. to construct office/warehouse facility

The village reported that HIWIN Corporation, which designs precision components such as linear guides, robotic equipment and ball screws, recently gained approval from the Plan Commission and the Village Board to construct a 117,441-square-foot office and warehouse facility in Huntley Corporate Park. The new facility will be constructed on a 15.25-acre site, located on the south side of Jim Dhamer Drive, east of George Bush Court. HIWIN, currently located in Elgin, chose the Huntley location due to its tollway access and the ability to acquire enough land for future expansions. The first phase of development includes the office/warehouse facility, with construction anticipated to begin this spring. A future phase proposes a 139,966-square-foot warehouse addition on the north side of the new facility, as well as additional parking. HIWIN’s parent company is based in Taiwan, and theHuntley location will serve as its U.S. headquarters. For more information, call Village Hall at (847) 515-5200 or visit www.huntley.il.us.

Crystal Lake

YMCA lunch program to feature guest speaker

Sage YMCA, 701 Manor Road, continues its Out to Lunch series with a presentation by guest speaker Phil Eaton, president and CEO of Rosecrance Health Newtwork, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. March 4. Eaton will share stories of Rosecrance’s work in addressing regional and national substance abuse. The cost is $10, which includes a choice of Caeser salad, a club sandwich or a turkey wrap from Tropical Smoothie Café. To RSVP, and for more information, call Lesley Smith at (815) 526-1635, send an email to lpsmith@ymcachicago.org or visit www.ymcachicago/sage/.

Union

Historical Society to kick off annual lecture series

The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, 6422 Main Street, will begin its 30th annual Sampler Lecture Series with “My Kind of Booze Town” from 7-9 p.m. March 7. The event will feature tavern and beer historian Liz Garibay, who will discuss how alcohol helped shape the history of Chicago. Garibay is the founder of History On Tap, a project that connects the history of drinking to global history. She also created History Pub Crawls while heading up the Education Department at the Chicago History Museum, and is the only American ever invited to join the prestigious Pub History Society of the United Kingdom. A $10 donation is requested for this program. Tickets for the entire Lecture Sampler Series, which continues into April, are $35; $30 for Historical Society members. For more information, call (815) 923-2267 or visit www.mchenrycountyhistory.org.

Cary

Library to host program on genealogy

The Cary Area Public Library, 1606 Three Oaks Road, will host Genealogy Lineage Lineup from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 5. The free, drop-in program is for anyone interested in acknowledging their genealogical research and ancestors’ accomplishments. Representatives from a variety of organizations, including the Sons of the American Revolution and the McHenry County Genealogical Society, will be on hand to share information about joining their respective groups. No registration is required. For more information, call (847) 639-4210 or visit www.caryarealibrary.org.

–McHenry County Area News Briefs–