Briefs: MainStreet director named

A longtime Mundelein resident has been hired to lead a downtown business group. Joanne M. Horton, former membership director of the GLMV Chamber of Commerce, will take over as Mundelein MainStreet's executive director. She replaces Marian Rodriguez, who left for an undisclosed reason in April.

Principal wins award

Copeland Manor School Principal Erik Youngman has received an award from the Cook Memorial Public Library District for promoting library use and literacy. Youngman, who has led the Libertyville school since 2005, was honored with the Eileen M. Sullivan Award, which is named after Cook Memorial's children's services manager. It's the first time the award has been handed out.

Tax assessment help

A tax assessment help center will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the College of Lake County, Southlake Educational Center, 1120 S. Milwaukee Ave., in Vernon Hills. Residents will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from the Lake County Assessor's office. Property owners can learn about the assessment process, their new assessment, their right to appeal, and how to access information. Help will be available throughout October and November. Visit www.co.lake.il.us/assessor for more information.

Area group gets funds:

The U.S. Labor Department recently awarded $350,000 to the Youth Conservation Corps YouthBuild program in Waukegan. The funds are part of $47 million given by the labor department to 96 groups across the country to provide education in construction and leadership training to at-risk youth. The Waukegan program targets youth in Zion, Waukegan and North Chicago.

Village hall work starts

Wheeling officials will break ground on the town's new village hall at 6 p.m. today. The event, at 301 W. Dundee Road, will include refreshments. The village agreed to a land swapping deal with the park district for the new, $23.5 million hall. The new building should be finished by spring 2009. The old building, at 255 W. Dundee Road, will be used by the police department. For more information, call the village at (847) 459-2600.