DuPage County briefs

Art in the park:

See an 8-foot dragon tail and a giant beetle when the Lombard Arts Coalition and the Lombard Park District host the first annual "juried invitational" sculpture and 3D art show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today on the main lawn of Lilacia Park, near Main Street and directly across from the Metra station. This is the first sculpture invitational of its kind in DuPage County, featuring established area sculptors as well as outstanding emerging student sculptors. "The idea behind the art show is to keep DuPage artists working and making a living right here in DuPage," said Laura Fitzpatrick, local artist and Lombard village trustee. Admission to the park is free.

Roselle hydrant flushing:

Approximately one third of fire hydrants throughout Roselle's water distribution system will be inspected and tested this month and in June. This year's inspection zone includes areas east of Roselle Road, south of Irving Park Road, west of Medinah Road and north of Foster Avenue. Maintenance, which will include some hydrant flushing, will be performed by public works crews between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Street signs will be posted in affected areas in advance. Fire hydrants in Roselle are inspected every three years to ensure they will work properly during an emergency. Residents in affected areas may want to avoid using tap water, washing machines, or dishwashers until flushing is complete. For details, call (630) 671-2370.

Orchestra seeks musicians:

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra is seeking musicians for its upcoming summer season that includes three concerts in downtown Naperville and at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. The orchestra has openings in the string sections, and in selected woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Auditions will be by appointment on May 14-26. The orchestra rehearses weekly from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays. This summer's concerts will feature an array of popular music and traditional orchestral repertoire. They are: June 20, "Life, Liberty and Melody," a musical tribute to our country, history and people; July 16, "There's Music in the Air," featuring Big Band, Broadway, Beethoven and the Beatles; July 25, "Tschaikovsky Spectacular," including Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 5," "Marche Slave" and "1812 Overture." For details, contact music director/conductor Barbara Schubert at (773) 702-7628 or b-schubert@uchicago.edu.

Emergency notification:

The village of Glendale Heights has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., in Florida for CodeRED high-speed telephone emergency services. The system gives the village the ability to deliver prerecorded messages to residents at 60,000 calls per hour. The system can also send out text messages and e-mails. The system gives residents and businesses the ability to add their own numbers directly into the village database. Those interested can log on to glendaleheights.org and follow the emergency notification links. Those without Internet access can also call the Glendale Heights police from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday at (630) 26006070. First and last names, street address and phone numbers are required. E-mail addresses and also be specified. For more information, contact Sgt. Larry Pincsak at (630) 909-5432 or lpincsak@glendaleheights.org.

French markets open:

It'll be a few weeks yet before many of the farmers markets start rolling out their produce, but the French Markets are already underway.

Lombard's French Market debuts for the season on Tuesday, May 12, at a new location right in the middle of downtown at Park Avenue and St. Charles Road. The hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Expect Michigan produce, including apples, potatoes and rhubarb; flowers and plants; Midwestern artisan cheese and many kinds of baked goods, from pretzel bread to tartlets and croissants.

Days and times for other French Markets in DuPage are Glen Ellyn, 8 a.m to 1 p.m. Fridays, starting May 22; Lisle, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays; Wheaton, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, and Villa Park, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.