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April 22, 2009

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. Can somebody tell me why Glenbard East High School flew its flag at half mast for over a month? As a veteran I find this disrespectful.

Principal Josh Chambers responded: “Glenbard East lowers the flag to honor service members from Illinois who have died in combat. This information is provided by the governor's office and we are then directed to lower our flag by the District 87 office. These directives tell us when to lower the flag and when to return it to full staff. We follow these guidelines precisely. Sadly, there have been a number of these instances in the recent past. At no time has Glenbard East kept our flag at half staff for the entire month. Glenbard East is a strong supporter of our troops. Just this past November, our school came together to raise over $1,000 to provide care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. We appreciate and value the service and sacrifice that our veterans have given to this country and we would never disrespect them.”—JAC


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Thank you, thank you to the 22-year-old Lombardian who called about catching tadpoles when he was young. How refreshing. Anything to change the sniping of these ignorant people speaking about politics they know nothing about. I’ve lived in Villa Park for 50 years and I’ll add a little story to his. I remember riding up Villa Avenue to the Ben Franklin and Barr’s Five and Dime on Villa Avenue and we knew we were getting closer as the smell of chocolate from Ovaltine got stronger and stronger. Thank you, SPEAK OUT.


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America now has its own Chavez. He wants to control the whole country; everything we do, from medical to making cars. This is the worst thing that ever happened, to get this guy in office.


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Hi, Lombard. I was happy to read the article about District 44 and Jim’s Pet World, how helpful Jim’s Pet World is to the school district. Very friendly, very helpful people who work at Jim’s Pet World. I’m really glad they can support District 44 with all their pet needs.


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Hi, Lombard calling. Trustee Gron said he wanted to help residents with flooding issues. How? Isn’t four years enough time to come up with a solution? Also, he has not provided us with any economic solutions for historical downtown, which is also part of his district.


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Hi, this is Lombard calling. As for Trustee Gron’s idea for public restrooms at the train station, not a good idea. Metra already supplies restrooms to passengers on the train. Why spend our money and water bills and upkeep for public restrooms when Metra already supplies facilities for passengers? I drive over 30 minutes a day to get to work; I don’t expect the state of Illinois to pay for me to have public restrooms.


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When I received the anniversary edition I couldn’t figure out what was going on with the front page, but as I read through the paper, I found out that this is your 50th anniversary. Congratulations and I wish you many more years of the Lombardian and thank you very much for your time and effort to put out a good paper.


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I’m calling from Lombard and it’s 8 p.m. and I feel like I just had a visit from the cable mafia. A couple of guys were canvassing the neighborhood with clipboards and asking about my cable service. It’s 8 p.m., it’s dark outside, all my lights are out and these guys are going door to door. I know I have elderly ladies living in the neighborhood and I don’t think it’s right that these guys should be out at 8 p.m. knocking on doors, and they have all our information about our cable service. I just want to let you know that I don’t think it’s right.


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Hello, Lombard calling. Does this village really recycle? If so, where is the plant? Or are all these blue garbage cans really just a facade?

Carl Goldsmith, public works director, responded: “All residential recycling material collected in Lombard is transferred to the Waste Management Recycle America Facility located at 550 Center Ave. in Carol Stream. Under the village's contract with Waste Management, the following materials can be recycled; glass (clear, brown, green), magazines/catalogs, aluminum, tin, bi-metal cans, telephone books, aseptic packaging and gable top containers (juice boxes, milk cartons), wet and dry strength paperboard (cereal boxes, soda cases, etc.), PET #1 and HDPE #2 plastic, plastic 6- and 12-pack rings, empty aerosol cans, formed steel containers, newspaper, plastics #3-7, kraft brown paper bags, steel paint cans and lids, mixed paper and corrugated cardboard. The comingled material is sorted through the use of both automated and manual processes.  Lombard residents recycle approximately 6,500 tons per year, which represents a diversion of 39 percent of the material out of the waste stream.”—JAC

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This is in response to the caller who’s complaining about the $13 a week extra on his or her paycheck, compared to the $25 extra unemployment is giving, and you’re working your tail off so you don’t have to be on unemployment. My husband is a union pipe fitter, he works 80 hours a week, supports me and two 16-year-old boys. Just because the economy is slow, he’s been put on unemployment. So, be glad you’re getting anything. You know what? Unemployment is about a third of what you make when you are working. So, be grateful you have a job. Take the $13 and deal with it.


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OK, America, to all the whiners who constantly complain about President Obama, leave him alone. He’s a new fresh face in politics. He can’t do any worse than his predecessors. In fact, I’m sure he’ll do even better. Let him alone so he can pick up all the pieces of all the messes he was given—and he was given plenty, so stop your complaining. Try looking at your own messes and fix those.


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Lombard and Villa Park, the theme for the $104.7 million renovation for School District 88 is “Building the future in District 88.” This sounds wonderful, except Superintendent Humphrey does not include the 22 visually impaired students at Willowbrook High School in the future of the school. The visually impaired students have been asked to leave Willowbrook because of the renovations. These students have learned to navigate the hallways of Willowbrook using their white cane, they feel comfortable and part of the school community, and they are being asked to leave as 13 new classrooms are being added to Willowbrook. Why? Superintendent Humphrey, please reconsider this decision and keep the blind students at Willowbrook, not only for their sake, but for the entire student and faculty population to learn to live in a diverse community.

Sherri Anderson, spokesperson for District 88, responded to your comments: “The Program for Visually Impaired, housed in District 88, serves all of DuPage County. Although space constraints are requiring the program to move to Addison Trail High School in the fall, it will still remain in District 88. Principal Dr. Helton and the ATHS staff are excited about this opportunity to welcome the new students. The board and administration are pleased to have retained the program in the District 88 learning community.” —JAC

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I want to say thank you to Lombard Public Works. I called less than 20 minutes ago and they are already out putting asphalt on the pothole. I just want to say thank you.


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I have a way to help out the state of Illinois and also with the photo enforcement zones. Has anybody ever noticed that the photo enforcement zones are all on state-maintained roads? Why wouldn’t the state get the revenue from these cameras? I do not think that the villages should receive the money because if it’s a state-maintained road, let the state get it for the roads. That way it could lower our taxes. I’d like to know what the state and village would think about this.

 

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