Tri-Cities briefs

Sugar Grove used book sale:The Sugar Grove Library Friend's "Used Book Sale" will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Sunday and Tuesday at the Sugar Grove Library, 125 Municipal Drive. All books are priced well and in great condition. The used book sale proceeds support the reading programs and materials. If you have any books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, games or puzzles to donate, bring them to the library. For more information, go to sugargrove.lib.il.us or call (630) 466-3905.Tax bills mailed soon:Kane County property tax bills will be mailed out no later than April 26, and the first installment is due June 1 and the second installment is due Sept. 1. Beginning Friday, taxpayers can go to kanecountytreasurer.org to view current tax information and print out duplicate bills. Also available on the Web site is a list of all unclaimed funds held by the treasurer's office. People can make payment by mailing the payment to the treasurer's office in the envelope provided, at a designated bank in Kane County, or in person from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Treasurer David Rickert's office, 719 Batavia Ave., Geneva. There is also a payment drop box available 24 hours a day located behind Building A at the Government Center on Batavia Avenue. People can also pay by credit card or E-check over the Internet, but there is a convenience fee for each service. For more information, call Rickert's office at (630) 232-3565.Improvements set for farm:Improvements are scheduled to begin this spring at the Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm in Aurora. The first phase of work at the 41-year-old facility - being done in cooperation with Jack Rouse and Associates and Upland Design - will include an adventure play area, paddle boat dock, new restrooms, concession stand renovations, events plaza and expanded group picnic shelters. The work, funded by a park district referendum in 2008, is expected to cost between $3 million and $3.2 million. The farm, at 100 S. Barnes Road, attracts more than 60,000 visitors a year.Purchase Metra tickets online:Metra accepts credit card payment for ticket purchases made online. Using a Web feature, My Metra, commuters can create an account to manage and order tickets online. The feature also will allow them to view ticket order history, create a customized view of their train schedule and set up personalized e-mail alerts. For details, visit metrarail.com.