Briefs: Food pantry goodies

PumpkinFest in Libertyville last Saturday generated $500 in cash and more than 1,800 pounds of food for the Libertyville Township food pantry, organizers reported. Participants received a pumpkin, donated by the Libertyville Rotary Club, in exchange for a cash or food donation. Local Cub and Boy Scouts also volunteered their effort. PumkinFest is one of 16 community events organized each year by MainStreet Libertyville, a downtown group.

Cuba Marsh connection

Two major donations will be used for a new community trail project connecting Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve to the Barrington Park District's Citizens Park. An anonymous donor contributed $100,000 toward the cost of a 50-foot long timber bridge for the trail connection as a memorial to Keith Pederson, a former Lake County Forest Preserve board member. The Barrington Park District also contributed $100,000 toward the three-quarter mile trail connection. The $767,000 project includes an 830-foot boardwalk, the longest ever built by the Lake County Forest Preserves, to span wetlands. The trail is expected to open to the public later this fall.

Forest board OKs tax levy

The Lake County Forest Preserve District board on Tuesday approved its annual tax levy, which includes a slight drop in the property tax rate. The overall rate will drop to an estimated 0.196 cents per $100 assessed valuation from the current 0.204. District taxes represent about 3 percent of the average tax bill. The district collected more than $58 million from this year's levy. Just under half, or about $26 million, is used to operate, maintain and improve the forest preserves. The rest is for debt service. The district's 2007-08 budget, approved last June is about $114.5 million.

Get tickets while they last

The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus will present a concert free to the public, at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Tickets are available by mail only through a form published several times a week in the Daily Herald. Ticket orders must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. For details, call (847) 427-4381. The U.S. Army Field Band, an elite 65-member instrumental ensemble, performs marches, overtures, popular music and patriotic selections. The Soldiers' Chorus has earned an international reputation for presenting musical excellence and inspiring patriotism. The Daily Herald and District 214 Community Education are co-sponsoring the concert.