Hi. I just wanted to thank the driver who slowed down on Wilson Avenue to avoid hitting a black/white Newfoundland pup that got loose. I also wanted to thank your neighbors on the corner of Lombard Avenue and Wilson for catching her. God bless and thank you.

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This is the second time this week I’ve been beeped at, at Main Street and the crossing of the Prairie Path for bicyclists or runners while other people driving have stopped. I would like clarification. There is no stop sign at this location. Is traffic supposed to stop? Are we not supposed to stop? If we’re not supposed to stop, could they clearly mark that for people who have no idea that no stop sign means don’t stop? I know we’re supposed to respect pedestrians in the walkway, however they are the ones coming up to an intersection at this point. I really don’t think traffic should be stopping for the pedestrians. Please clarify.

For those new to Lombard or who may have missed it, SPEAK OUT has gotten clarification on several occasions from Lombard Police Deputy Chief Dane Cuny, who said after the last inquiry that the situation is “complex” and that the village’s Transportation and Safety Committee has addressed this issue, which has admittedly been a “pedestrian safety issue” as well as one for motorists. The bottom line is that motorists have the right-of-way and individuals using the Prairie Path are obligated to stop for oncoming traffic. They can cross the street and/or cross two lanes at a time and wait on the median only if it is safe to do so.—JAC

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I work for the U.S. Postal Service. There was a call in your paper several weeks ago and the person was disturbed that the postal service had just raised rates because of the price of gasoline is coming down so why wasn’t the cost of the stamps rescinded. The postal service could request a 3-cent increase; the postal rate commission determines, no, 2 cents will have the post office at a break even level. The postal service is not allowed to make money; they are only supposed to be self-supporting. The price of the stamps is what the public pays.

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I think it’s great that Lombard as a village has rules, but I think Lombard needs to be more consistent with their rules. I usually get a notice that my grass is too high when it’s like an inch high, and my neighbors two doors down from me literally have a forest growing in their yard and nobody has said a word. In addition to that, if I have a garage sale, my signs are torn down no matter where I put them the first hour of my sale; today I passed by three garage sale signs that have been up all day since 8:30 this morning. I don’t mind if you have rules, Lombard, but let’s be consistent.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. My husband and I were looking for a car repair place; we have used Nofsinger’s twice already. They are the most trustworthy, kind people you’d ever want to meet. Give them a try. Their prices are reasonable and they do a fantabulous job. They located on St. Charles Road just east of Grace Street. If you want somebody trustworthy, give Nofsinger’s a try because they’re very good. They are a credit to our community.

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This is Lombard calling. I want to make everybody aware of a dog fight that occurred in Lombard. A couple of pit bulls were recovering after being used for fighting. I’m somebody who takes care of pit bulls after they’ve been devastated by dogfighting, and I’m wondering if everybody in Lombard is as outraged as I am.

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This is Lombard calling. The village, who went down St. Charles Road and put asphalt on the sidewalks, really did a bad job. It looks really bad for us homeowners who live on St. Charles Road and I think the village should contact us if they’re going to do something like this in the future. When I called the village, they said that they’d get to replacing the sidewalks eventually, so I’m hoping it happens sooner than later. It really looks bad in front of my house to have asphalt covering up cracks on the sidewalk.

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Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s starting. Taxes are flying. Ford Motor Co. announced they will tax the life insurance benefits of its employees, due to a new IRS regulation. Gee, I could have sworn that our infamous change president said that this would never happen under his watch, yet it is starting. How long before will it be before your health benefits are taxed, which he was absolutely opposed to during the campaign when John McCain brought it up. It’s time for change, America.

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I believe the car show is a good way for our business to grow. Many people enjoy coming out to see friends and the cars. As a resident of the downtown, I see the clean-up is done for St. Charles Road but the area near train tracks is never picked up and all the condos are littered with ice cream cups, wrappers and plastic water bottles. Can your crews cover a larger area? The main corner to the downtown is an eyesore—maybe move some lilacs from the park; it needs some serious landscaping.

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Concerned dog lover calling for a follow-up from the neighbor who reported the rottweiler crated in the backyard 24/7. Has the situation changed? Please report back. If the situation is status quo, please call the police to have them remedy the situation for that poor dog. Thank you for doing the right thing. And for all of you out there who see animal abuse, do something about it—don't ignore it. These voiceless animals need someone to speak up on their behalf. You'll feel better about yourself for this act of kindness. Thank you.

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Villa Park calling. You want to complain about the money being spent by President Obama? Remember, it was George Bush who put us in this position—a war that should never have happened, gas prices reaching over $4. And remember, he was the one who started the bailouts and he put no control on how the money would be spent. So I haven’t heard anything from the Republicans on exactly how they’re doing it. If you want to complain, go ahead and complain, but remember; America, love it or leave it.

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This is Lombard calling. When our president first took office, he passed a pork spending bill, otherwise known as the Stimulus Package. It was almost a trillion dollars, the largest pork spending bill in the history of the world. He told us it was so important that we passed it immediately, that not a single congressman or senator read it. He said that would guarantee that unemployment would not go over 8 percent. To this date $44 billion out of a trillion dollars has been spent. The rest of it isn’t to be spent until the end of 2010 and the start of 2011, when he starts running for president again. Isn’t it wonderful what we have going on?

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Recently, I went to one of the Lombard Cruise Nights.  The quality of the music was excellent, but it was way too loud.  People had their fingers in their ears.  There was plenty of room up front, because most people choose to sit back closer to St Charles, where it was not so loud.  The only folks who need to hear the music were those of us in that area.  Not people a couple of blocks away in their homes who choose not to be there.  How can we expect our neighbors to keep their music to a reasonable level, when our own village blatantly violates its own noise ordinances?

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I wanted to send out a reminder to all businesses and residents that we recently celebrated the Fourth of July, a traditional flag holiday, and we should also take note of flag etiquette. One point to remember is it is time to retire old flags and replace them with new ones once they become worn and tattered. The reason for this SPEAK OUT is mostly due to a couple of flags spotted that are in need of replacement. My comments are not meant as a means of embarrassment, but should serve as a reminder of flag etiquette.