By Dave Heun Daily Herald Correspondent To hear Denny Farrell's voice is to know he belongs on a radio broadcast from a long-gone era.

By Kerry Lester klester@@dailyherald.com Cynthia Martinez sat in a darkened auditorium Wednesday morning at Elgin Community College, clutching a folder close to her hooded sweat shirt.

Students often get in trouble for logging onto social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook during class. At Elgin Community College, they're actually encouraging the habit.

By Kerry Lester klester@@dailyherald.com A New Year's resolution for a fitter, leaner self recently became easier for Elgin Community College students. The college's board of trustees in December approved a $3-per- visit fitness center fee for the spring semester, to begin next week.

By Emily Krone ekrone@@dailyherald.com A year-old partnership between Elgin Community College and its feeder high schools has local educators redefining what it means to be ready to attend college.