The briefs

Oakton OKs board member:

Oakton Community College board named Evanston accountant William Stafford as the board's newest member. Stafford fills the vacancy of Michael Collins, who resigned in September to accept a teaching position in Nevada. The term expires in April 2009. Stafford, chief financial officer for Evanston Township High School District 202, holds a master's degree from the University of Michigan school for public policy. He also has a bachelor's degree in political science from Wittenberg University in Ohio.

District 62 approves levy

The board of Des Plaines Elementary District 62 this week approved a tentative tax levy for the 2008-09 school year that would be 4.72 percent higher than this year's levy. A public hearing on the levy is planned for Dec. 17. The levy hearing will be at 7 p.m. at Forest Elementary School, 1375 Fifth Ave.

Optimist tree sale starts

The Optimist Club of Des Plaines will start its annual Christmas tree sale today in the Kmart parking lot, Lee and Oakton streets. The money raised by this event goes to the children of Des Plaines in the form of scholarships, youth sport team sponsorships and other youth programs. The event is staffed by club volunteers.

Train show in Schaumburg

The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour, a model train show featuring more than 250 industry manufacturers and retailers, is at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is expected to draw 20,000 to 30,000 attendees. Admission is $10 and covers both days; children 16 and younger get in free.