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October 27, 2010


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Lombard calling. I’d really like to know if parking cars on your driveway in a way that blocks the sidewalk is an enforceable offense. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but ride on a bike with your kids or push a stroller and you’ll see what a nuisance it creates. Some cars are packed so tightly that we cannot go around the cars at the front of them and are forced to push the stroller around the back or into the street. So, if you do block the sidewalk, don’t fool yourself into thinking no one is affected by this. Can someone at the village tell me what can be done officially?

This topic has come up frequently, and the police department has responded that it is against village ordinance to park on a driveway in such a way that it obstructs the sidewalk. Call the Lombard Police Department at 630-873-4400 to report a violation.—JAC

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It’s wonderful that the ordeal of the Chilean miners came to a happy ending.

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Lombard. People are never satisfied. They complain to have a skateboard park, and then the skate park is built. Then they complain it’s too small. The person complaining—was he or she a Lombard resident? Maybe he or she wasn’t if the person had to drop his or her child off.

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I had to laugh—I'm sitting at the red light at Finley and Roosevelt and there's a Lombard cop in the right turn lane and he's not turning right on red. It's legal there, and there are about 10 cars behind him all waiting to turn right, and nobody beeps their horn. I pulled up next to him because I was going to go straight, and he's on his cell phone. Nobody's going to toot their horn because it's a policeman.

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Hello, this is Lombard calling. I think that trustees Ware, Giagnorio and Wilson should be ashamed of themselves for voting to try to charge people for citizens' assist. These people are very sickly and they don't work, and least able to afford to pay for that kind of care. We should try to help them.

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Hello, Lombard. New York has the right idea. They want to pass a law to prohibit LINK cards from purchasing soda pop. How can we get that law here? We need to regulate welfare so that it is not abused, starting with LINK cards. Exclude soda pop, candy, cookies and chips immediately. This will, in turn, help reduce diabetes, obesity and dental disease among the recipients. And while we are at it, how about not just handing out these cards. Instead, make the recipients take classes and pass a test on choosing proper nutrition for their family.

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This is Lombard calling on Oct. 15. I just went by the Lombard Jaycees haunted house. I thought I would take my family of four there until I found out it was $12 a head to walk through there. No wonder there was absolutely nobody in line. Twelve dollars a head in this economy is absolutely ridiculous.

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This is in response to the person asking about the no-tax increase for the COD referendum. The thing with that is with the bonds that are already in place and will be set to expire, will be extended, so instead of you getting that money back after the bonds expire, and then dropping your rate or whatever, it's just extended longer. That's why they call it a no-rate increase. But, in some ways you're just taxed longer.

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This is Lombard calling. I hope everybody goes out to vote on the pension reform. These government pensions are out of control.

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While the Glenbard East administration and police force did a commendable job in identifying the students responsible for the recent threats, these incidents raise concerns in terms of what the GE adminstration, police department and GE staff psychologist are doing daily and proactively to identify students who may be prone to violent behavior or may be potential threats to the student population. The question is, if these students were prone to violence and hadn't written anyting on the walls, would the school and police department have been able to prevent violent behavior? In this day and age, it's important to have a proactive school administration as it relates to security matters. It's time for Glenbard East and the Lombard Police Department to hold a parents meeting to address the many questions and concerns we parents have day to day, in terms of communication protocols and security infrastructure. We do not want to hear generalities on this topic but specifics to ensure the safety of our children. These are serious matters and it's time to have an open forum to better understand security and prevention at Glenbard East. Please contact the Glenbard East administration and let them know you're interested.

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William Heniff, director of community development, you are a typical government employee when explaining the waste of $100,000 of RTA money. You seem to think this money is free. Since when did the RTA earn the funds they are spending? This $100,000 is taxpayers' money; not yours, and not the RTA's. This is typical government mentality; if you have the money, spend it. How about a novel idea? Cut your budget and give the funds back to the taxpayer, rather than waste it on a survey of downtown Lombard?

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Lombard calling. I sent a birthday card to my daughter who lives a few blocks away from me in Lombard, on Oct. 8. It should have arrived the next day as usual, but it did not. It's the 19th of October and still no card. My daughter is very disappointed. I called the post office and was told the mail has to go through Carol Stream. Why does the local mail go to Carol Stream? I always believed the postal service was reliable, but I sure am disappointed. 46-year resident. P.S.; is it coming by horse and buggy?

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I read the article about the public safety pensions being bashed by the village manager. I wish he would give both sides of the issue. He did not mention how his pension is 100 percent funded and the perks he gets. What about his 5 percent raise? What did he give other village employees?

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I won’t defend G.W. Bush as I have never been a supporter. Recently, a SPEAK OUT caller protected Obama’s failures as president with the standard blame Bush points, even going so far as to list a number of “failed” Republican presidencies including Calvin Coolidge. Did the liberals rewrite history of the incredible growth and prosperity of the Roaring Twenties and ignore what Wilson did to the country? But why quibble with the seemingly ignorant? The only valid statement the caller made was that we should “look it up.” Everyone should re-read the history books before the liberals finish rewriting it to fit their agenda. They are already writing the history books in a pro-Obama slant and our grandkids will suffer for it.

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Sure wish the maze that is North Main Street and also St. Charles Road would end soon. Not only is it claustrophobic to drive between the cones, but those blasted sewer covers are sticking up and nearly impossible to avoid because they are all over the place. It’s like an obstacle course not only driving between the cones but trying to dodge those covers sticking up. I have had quite a few jolts running over them and believe doing so resulted in some damage to my car. Can’t prove it, though.

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Lombard calling and sending out a shout out to Lombard Town Centre for a job well done with Spooktacular this year. Wow.  What a great family event this has turned into. Thank you so much for closing down St.Charles Road this year for the event. This year, my wife and I were able to enjoy the fest, walk around the businesses and not worry about the kids and traffic.  We were so impressed by the dedication of this group, that we joined and hope to help out as much as possible. Thank you again for a job well done.


 

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