I am contacting SPEAK OUT about the new Salt Creek Path. The path is quite nice, I am on it several times a week, and many other people use it also. What is the future of this path regarding the following: the bike path, controlled burns, taking care of bad/dead trees, the creek itself? This would be a great place for a canoe. Perhaps in the future. Please respond.
Andrea Hoyt, director of planning for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, addressed your comment: “We are very excited about the regional trail which will provide a county-wide path roughly following the Salt Creek. We have also received a grant to fund a water trail and canoe launches along the water. Combined with hiking/cycling the water trail will add to the recreational corridor.”—JAC
* * *
This is Villa Park calling. What is the village doing about our streets? West Kenilworth and Wisconsin, between Kenilworth and Maple, are in horrible condition. When some of the residents call the village, we are told that it’s in the planning stage. This is the same thing we’ve been told for the last three years. They are repairing streets on the south side of Villa Park that are not half as bad. Do we have to get a resident from West Kenilworth or Wisconsin on the board in order to get some results? Come on, Villa Park, fix these streets.
* * *
This is Villa Park calling about the Willowbrook new fields by Chris Fox. Is this a Sunday bulletin? That whole article and not one mention of the cost. Not one mention of the new track. Are we getting a new track? We have not hosted a track meet in 10 years because the track is in such poor condition. Tell Chris to do some actual reporting. Nothing about the athletic director being fired or all the other troubles. Maybe that’s why we’ve had four track coaches in the last six years. Come on, let’s do some real reporting. Get to the truth of things.
District 88 spokesperson Sherri Anderson responded: “The Willowbrook outdoor track was resurfaced within the last 10 years and the Warriors have hosted nearly 10 track meets in the past 4 years, including two Boys Freshman Conference meets (seven teams) in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, the girls and boys track meets were moved to different campuses to accommodate construction. Regarding the athletic department staff, the Willowbrook A.D. has been employed since 2005. Although the boys track program has experienced some coaching turnover due to a retirement ('05) and resignations ('07,'08), last year's varsity coach looks to stabilize the position. The varsity coach for the girls track program has been with the team for nearly 20 years.”—Chris Fox
* * *
Hi, Lombard calling. These are some great times we live in. We have a president who wants to pay for abortions overseas, a president who has an unaccountable person for the car industry and credit industry, among others, accountable only to him—the king czar himself. We have a president who apologizes for how evil and bad America is and all our many mistakes, when we’re the only free leader in the world. We have a president who bows down in front of his enemies, who wants to cut our nuclear stockpiles to make America more unsafe and the rest of the world unstable? Guess what; it’s worked. We give up our nuclear arms and other countries will develop them, because they perceive it as a weakness. It’s not that difficult, Mr. Obama—if you are weak, people and countries take advantage of you, i.e. Iran.
* * *
Lombard calling. My car and I are wondering when North Grace Street and North Main Street are going to be resurfaced. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Carl Goldsmith, head of public works, sent along this update: “The village recently submitted a grant application for federal funds for the resurfacing of Main Street between St. Charles Road and North Avenue. It is anticipated that should federal funds be received, the resurfacing will take place next summer. As for Grace Street resurfacing, the village's 2010-19 Capital Improvement Program currently provides funding for the project in 2013-2014.”—JAC
* * *
Villa Park calling. I’m calling about the red light cameras that are at the intersections. These are put here for our protection. Instead of $100 fine, maybe just give out a warning, and the second time, a $25 ticket and so on and so on. I think $100 for the first offense seems a little bit steep.
* * *
Just calling about the government-issued Cash for Clunkers car deal. First $1 billion and then another $2 billion, up to $3 billion. I’m actually quite offended that my taxpayer money is going to give rebates to customers who decided to buy SUVs, Hummers, trucks that got 10-12 miles per gallon, and now they reap the benefit of this program to buy a more fuel-efficient car at my cost. My money is being used because these people wanted huge vehicles they can’t afford the gas money for.
* * *
If you love your parents or are 65 or over, you’d better read the health bill. As Obama said, the old will get a pain pill instead of treatment. Think of the savings that will be for his health plan and also Social Security. This president is at war with the American people. He’s called out the unions to intimidate citizens who do not want his health care. We need to continue to gather and speak out. Our families’ very lives depend on it.
* * *
This is a Lombard skater calling. I’m just asking for a skate park because Lombard police give out tickets for skating and where are we supposed to skate? We can’t just skate on your driveway because you’re never going to get good. You have baseball fields, you have soccer fields, you have basketball courts.
* * *
This is Lombard calling. If you go to Sen. Durbin’s Web site, he has a cute little video that explains that, unless we let the government take over our health care system, our economy and our government will go bankrupt, that we can’t afford to keep going on the way we’re going.
* * *
Rep. Peter Roskam’s vote to end poverty and hunger throughout the world was basically a symbolic gesture that certainly impressed one resident, i.e. a letter to the editor that appeared in the recent Lombardian. Mr. Roskam has one of the worst voting records in the House of Representatives regarding senior citizen issues, i.e. congressional record and independent watchdog organizations. At the same time Mr. Roskam is voting against bills that will benefit seniors, he is invoking his right-to-life mantra. How does Mr. Roskam reconcile this contradiction?
* * *
I am surprised week after week that this righteous community defends red light offenders rather than support people who follow the rules of the road. It seems a bit oxymoronic.
* * *
I’m calling in regard to the caller who said we have free health care in this country. I’d like to know where. My husband cannot get insurance; they refuse to insure him. We cannot buy it on our own; we cannot get it through a company. If he goes to the hospital, I get a bill. I have to pay the bill or they’re going to come after me. Where’s the free coverage?
* * *
Lombard calling. Just wondering why bicycles are driving on the streets where cars are, when they can be on the sidewalk driving where cars are not. Streets are made for cars and not bicycles unless there’s a bike lane. That’s my understanding. If you could clarify that, it would really be great.
Bicycle ordinances are listed on the village Web site, www.villageoflombard.org. The section is Title VII, Chapter 71, and indicates that bicyclists must follow the rules of the road. There are some sidewalk restrictions, such as downtown, where bicycles are prohibited.—JAC
