The McHenry County Conservation District will host its Valentine’s Day Love Nature Celebration from 2-5 p.m. Feb. 14 at Prairieview Education Center, 2212 Behan Road.

Marengo

Chamber of Commerce to host Home and Business EXPO

The Marengo-Union Chamber of Commerce will host its 27th annual Home and Business EXPO from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at Marengo Middle School, 816 E. Grant Highway. The event is free and open to the public, and includes exhibitors from local businesses, prizes, face painting, a meet-and-greet with former Chicago Bear and 1985 Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael from 1-3 p.m., an appearance by Rick Aspen as Captain Jack Sparrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a pet adoption event hosted by Glory Bound Rescue Ranch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a demonstration with Sergeant Riley and Shadow from the Marengo Police Department K-9 Unit, and an art exhibit by area artist Paul Turnbaugh. In addition, WXMR-94.3 FM will be broadcasting live. For more information, call (815) 568-6680 or visit www.marengo-union.com.

Cary

Grant program opens door to aid village services

The village reported that it has approved a Community Event Grant Program. The mission of the program is to fund nonprofit grant requests that provide cultural, recreational, and youth and senior services which contribute to the quality of life in the village. The village’s stated goal is to budget and fund $20,000 to $40,000 in grants each year, with the actual figures to be determined on an annual basis during the village’s budgeting process. For more information, call (847) 639-0003 or visit www.caryillinois.com.

Duraflex renovates building to expand operations

A report stated that Cary-based Duraflex, Inc. — an industrial manufacturing, engineering and design company in the field of bellows and expansion joints — is renovating a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and office space at 1000 Alexander Court, with plans to open in early March upon completion of the renovations. Duraflex, which has maintained its headquarters on Industrial Drive since opening a 150,000-square-foot office and manufacturing plant in 2004, purchased the building for $615,000.

Crystal Lake

Conservation Dist. Valentine’s event focuses on nature

The McHenry County Conservation District will host its Valentine’s Day Love Nature Celebration from 2-5 p.m. Feb. 14 at Prairieview Education Center, located in the Silver Creek Conservation Area at 2212 Behan Road. The event will feature a special performance of  “A Valentine to the Earth: Stories and Songs for Kids About Loving and Caring for the Planet,” by Clare Norelle, at 2:30 p.m.; a first-come, first-served Make Your Own Birdfeeder Workshop at 2:15 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; and a guided woodland hike in search of animal signs, beginning at 4 p.m. For more information, call (815) 338-6223 or visit www.mccdistrict.org.

Author to give talk on life in WWII England

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society, will host “Growing Up As a Teen During the Blitz,” a presentation by author Joy Aavang, at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at The Pointe Outreach Center, 5650 Northwest Highway (adjacent to Target). Aavang will share memories of living with her grandparents in England during the German Blitz bombing raids of World War II, as documented in her book, “A Lost Adolescence: Surviving the Blitz.” For more information, call (815) 687-0436, send an email to mcigs@mcigs.org, or visit visit www.clchamber.com.

Hebron

Plaque at cemetery honors Revolutionary War veteran

The village reported that the Illinois Society of Sons of the American Revolution recently paid to have a plaque placed at the entrance of Linn-Hebron Cemetery — located between Highway 173, Johnson Road and Hillside Road — denoting the site as the burial location of a soldier named Major Watson, who served under Gen. George Washington and Gen. Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. Watson, a resident of the Hebron area in the late 1830s, died in southern Wisconsin at age 100 in 1840. He is considered to be the only Revolutionary War veteran buried in McHenry County.

Huntley

Library offers Red Cross program on babysitting skills

The Huntley Area Public Library, 11000 Ruth Road, will present Red Cross Babysitting (for ages 10-14) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 13. The program will feature information on how to care for children of all ages, basic first aid and rescue breathing techniques, and other valuable babysitting skills. The class fee of $50 includes a babysitter training handbook, an emergency reference guide, a CD-ROM and a babysitting certificate. Participants should bring a lunch, and a baby doll (optional) for diapering practice. Registration is required. To sign up, and for more information, call (847) 669-5386, Ext. 21 or visit www.huntleylibrary.org.

Algonquin

Village nets prestigious budget award for 12th year in row

The village reported that the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada presented a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to Algonquin for its Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget. In order to receive the award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan and as a communications device. This marks the 12th consecutive year in which the village has received the prestigious award. To view the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget, visit www.algonquin.org/finance.

Harvard

Contest for Balloon Fest logo design underway

The Harvard Events Committee is inviting residents to submit a logo design idea to be used as the official logo for the first Harvard Balloon Fest, to be held Sept. 2-4. Logo ideas should be submitted to moller@cityofharvard.org or in person at Harvard City Hall, 201 W. Diggins Street. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. March 14, and will be judged on March 15. The winning entry will become the official logo, and the winner will receive an official Balloon Fest polo shirt and a free, tethered hot air balloon ride during the fest. For more information, call (815) 943-6468.

Woodstock

Rec Dept. offers help for low-income families

The Woodstock Recreation Department announced that it has financial assistance available for participation in its programming for families who reside within corporate city limits. Assistance is available for individuals and families with low incomes, allowing either a 50 percent or 100 percent discount on program fees. Applications are required, plus proof of residency, age and eligibility (including participation in the school lunch program, Illinois Public Aid, Head Start, SNAP and current proof of all household income). For complete details and guidelines, call Recreation Department Office Manager Mary Lynn Lisk at (815) 338-4363.

–McHenry County Area News Briefs–