Masking the Signs of Age

A priority for the Beautification Committee is coming to fruition.

Members had wanted to spruce up the village’s entryways and have recently been repainting some of the seven "Welcome to Montgomery" signs, which are more than a decade old and have become dilapidated over the years.

“What’s happening is the wood is deteriorating,” said Trustee Stan Bond, a co-chair of the committee. “And the paint has really faded.”

As part of the project, members also hope to plant flower gardens around each sign after they are restored and to place additional signs at village entryways that currently don't have them.

Bond is putting out the call for volunteers.

“We need them to assist in the selection of the flowers and planting of them and maintaining them,” he said.

The Beautification Committee plans to put in prairie flowers “so once they get started they can kind of take care of themselves,” Bond said.

The first planting will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, for the Douglas Road entryway sign, by the Taco Bell on Route 30.

Weather will determine how many other entryway plantings committee members and volunteers can get done this year.

“Whether we’re able to do it in the fall or wait until the spring is a little up in the air,” Bond said.

Director Mike Pubentz lauds the committee’s work.

“The village as a whole and committees in particular are always looking for volunteers to help,” he said. “Whenever we have people who want to come in and donate time and effort to get projects done, that’s a great help to us.”

For more information about the Montgomery Beautification Committee, contact Stan Bond stan@stanbond.com or Marilyn Michelini at michelini@ci.montgomery.il.us.