So, Lombard wins top honors for its Web site transparency. Nice, but how about the transparency when it comes to answering questions in the newspaper? Next thing you know, we’ll have to fill out a Freedom of Information Act request to get answers.

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I would like to give praise to one of your shop owners in Lombard. The name of the shop is Art’s Master Mechanic. I visited with him on Tuesday and explained to him the problem with the air conditioning in my vehicle and he gave me prompt, attentive service and it was with a hometown flair. He is an incredible person. I have to let you know I didn’t even have an appointment, but he knew the urgency of the visit and he took care of me. I truly appreciate it. It is the second time now he has given me prompt, attentive service with a hometown flair. I just wanted SPEAK OUT to know.

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Hi, I read SPEAK OUT and if you’re looking for mean-spirited, intolerant, caustic personalities, read the SPEAK OUT column. I think these people have a future in many talk radio shows.

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To the person who called in saying that they believe the liberals are manipulating the weather in an attempt to convince people that global warming is nonsense, really. Get a life.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just want to say I’m embarrassed to say I live in Lombard. I had relatives who live in Wheaton coming here and seeing that our neighborhood here on the north end of Lombard still had trees after two-and-a-half weeks still waiting to be picked up.

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Hello, everybody. The subject is taxes. We have a government that constantly figures out ways to increase taxes and the only problem with that is it doesn’t solve anything. All it does is cause bureaucracy and dependency on the use of our taxes and it takes away more and more of our freedom. Stop the taxes. Let the people spend the money on their own problems. Get the government out of our hair. Stop devising ways of using us as a slave. We don’t need to be dependent on the government. If we got rid of the government, the cost of living would drop down dramatically. Think about that, ladies and gentlemen.

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To the person who wants a stop sign on Ardmore by the Prairie Path, here’s one. It’s on the Prairie Path. That’s who’s supposed to stop not the cars. The roads are for cars. Bikes are supposed to obey the rules of the road and obey stop signs. People are not supposed to stop in front of cars. This is all explained in the front page of this paper awhile back. I know, because I requested it. I suggest stop and look and teach your children that. That’s the way it used to be. And learn not to ride a bike or walk in front of a car. It’s called common sense. Forget what Durbin and Quinn started. Save yourself.

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Is there a picture of the bridge going across St. Charles and the railroad? It looks expensive. Where is that money coming from?

The Village of Lombard Web site, www.villageoflombard.org, has information on construction progress—click on “Biking in Lombard,” but no rendition of the final project was evident. According to the Web site, the awarded contract amount was $4,418,291.78, with funding sources being the Federal Surface Transportation Program, State Grade Crossing Protection Fund, Lombard Tax Increment Financing District and DuPage County. I hope this helps. Since the Village of Lombard will not answer SPEAK OUT questions, the Web page was the only resource.—JAC

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Hello, I’m calling in regard to the resolution that was offered by Trustee Peter Breen and I am in full support of this resolution. This whole issue has gotten so far out of hand and it’s being primarily instigated by the mainstream media. This issue is about an individual citizen having the right to express his own opinion. Instead, the gay community seemingly has turned this into a gay-bashing discussion; not a discussion, really an assault. It is obscuring the fact that he’s entitled to his opinion. He’s not making any comment about homosexuality at all. He’s talking about the fact that he supports marriage as a union between one man and one woman. That’s it. What they’re seeking to do is silence him, which is an infringement of the First Amendment.

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Hello, I’m calling in regard to the PADS program that goes on around Lombard. I think it’s about time we get rid of the program. We’re bringing in way too many homeless people. They sleep all over the Prairie Path and on the day that thing’s going on, the library is a mess. I’m tired of seeing downtown Lombard like this.

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I keep reading about homeless, hungry and in need of medical care veterans. I have never heard of homeless, hungry and in need of medical care illegal immigrants. Maybe our senator and representatives should address this issue. If anyone should be helped in America the veterans should be at the top of the list, not the people who came here illegally.

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The information about the selection of our new electric energy provider and the specifics regarding how the electrical energy will be produced was very interesting and thought provoking. My concern relates to the wiring and transformers that will be used to conduct this new electrical energy to our community. The current delivery system is in excess of 50 years old and unreliable because of frequent ongoing outages. The apparent lack of maintenance and replacing integral parts of the current delivery system will certainly decrease the efficiency of operation by the new provider and the outages and inconvenience to the customers will continue.

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There was a recent article in a daily newspaper regarding the 20 best “transit-friendliest” towns in the suburbs of Chicago. This was based on parking availability, shopping, entertainment and availability to the needs of the commuter. As respects the Western suburbs, they included Elmhurst, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Naperville, Glen Ellyn and Westmont. Conspicuous by its absence is Lombard. Not really a surprise, when you consider our apparent inept village government, both past and present, as well as those apparent decisions made by them, as respects the current train station, parking facilities, condition of downtown Lombard; none of which those towns cited had as bad a scenario as Lombard. I see no effort to have village government brought back here to help facilitate a revival of downtown Lombard by those currently in charge. Just a bunch of lip service. If you want to help, then become a part of the effort, village government.

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This is in response to all the people who complain about the Lombard drivers. Get over it and the majority of drivers are sick and tired of being stuck behind people like you.

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To the person complaining about the new sidewalk along Westmore-Meyers Road north of Roosevelt Road. They wanted to know who was going to clean it. The same people who clean the other hundreds of miles of sidewalks.  That person probably can’t read this post because they are on their way to Stockholm, Sweden, to get their Nobel Prize for ignorance.

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I know the village won’t answer any questions in SPEAK OUT, but I was wondering who the fire chief is this week? And why hasn’t the village board looked for a new village manager yet?

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I’m all for sharing the road with cyclists, but do they not have to obey some rules? The “Tour de France” wannabes don’t share the road. They think they own the road. Stop signs do apply to them, don’t they? Kids riding at night never have a light or reflector, never stop for a stop sign and never wear light or reflective clothing. Sooner or later someone is going to get hurt. I think it’s time to hand out a few tickets and send a message.

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The caller who recently accused President Obama and Attorney General Holder of “…working to steal the election again” should choose his/her words more carefully. In the 2008 presidential election, Mr. Obama overwhelmed Sen. McCain by winning (not stealing) 53 percent of the vote to Mr. McCain’s 47 percent. That was the largest victory margin in a presidential election since G.H.W. Bush won. Further, the assertion that Obama wants to make America a communist state is nothing short of ludicrous.

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Lombard, I am a lifeguard at Paradise Bay. For those who called in saying that it is ridiculous that we close on occasion due to low attendance, you have to take into account that we are a business that costs money to operate. It does not make sense, nor is it possible, to stay open when we have a few dozen people in the facility and have to cover employee salaries and all the other expenses that come with running a pool. We love our patrons and work our hardest no matter how many people are in our pools. Also, lifeguards do not decide to close because we are bored. It is a carefully thought out decision made by those in charge because it is necessary. I am sorry this upsets you. Enjoy the warm weather.

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This is regarding the debate about Chick-fil-A. I feel it is a shame that we need to debate what kind of marriage is correct. While I respect an individual’s opinion, including those who speak out against same sex marriage, I wonder what is your purpose? Anyone who wants to be in a relationship with the same sex cannot change because some feel it is wrong. How sad it is that our country continues to single out people because the do not fit into “traditional” ways. In a perfect world, we would all accept everyone no matter who they love or marry. I am not an authority on religion, but loving one another seems like a good rule to follow.

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I cannot believe how much gas has gone up in just a few days. At one local gas station it was $4.09 a gallon, then when I drove by the next day, it was $4.15. Two days later it was $4.33. Chances are the gasoline supply the owner bought all came in at the same time, at the same cost, so unless he or she had to fill the tanks with new supplies each of those days—unlikely—I don’t see how they can raise the prices like that.

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We bought our house because of the beautiful Terrace View Pond 15 years ago—now we want to sell because of the horrendous sight and smell. How can anyone sit outside and smell the pond? We can’t understand why nothing can be done year after year. We can spend how much money building a bike bridge but what about all the bikers, joggers and dog walkers at Terrace View—you can’t even walk your dog because it smells so bad.

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What’s wrong with having to present a photo ID to vote? How can some left wingers claim that laws requiring people to present a photo ID will suppress votes? We have to present a photo ID to do lots of things. Do photo ID requirements to buy alcohol suppress people from purchasing liquor?

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Hi, I never called SPEAK OUT before but I wanted to say I totally agree with the other callers who were outraged about Paradise Bay being closed because of low attendance. That is absolutely ridiculous. If someone has the day off and wants to go to the pool, they shouldn’t have to worry if it’s going to close because there’s not enough people. Period. I think that’s a very bad policy of the Lombard Park District that really needs to change. Period.

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Come on, guys, how dumb can you be? When the road says northbound closed on Finley Road, that means you. Just because the person in front of you went, two more cars decided to go and you think it’s OK, and when you get to the stop sign right at Wilson, do you think you have the right-of-way? No. Now you just keep going and the rest of the traffic has to wait for you. They have the right of way. You’re lucky you didn’t get pulled over by the police because there were quite a few number of cars pulled over and I was told you could get a ticket.

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Construction, northbound Finley Road, road closed. What part of road closed do you not understand? Some of you are being stopped and have gotten tickets. Now do you understand?

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Why does the Village of Lombard commuter parking lot by the fire station have a piece of equipment on it that says Village of Norridge Public Works? I’m just curious. Oh, never mind; the Village of Lombard can’t answer these questions. Thanks anyway.

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I read a great article by Andrew Colson in the Wall Street Journal. President Obama says the problem with the country right now is we don’t have enough teachers. If we hired more teachers, we’d all get rich. I’m tired of the hiring more teachers teachers thing. Since 1970 in the United States we have doubled the amount of teachers we have. There were 3.3 million. Now there are 6.4 million. That increased 11 times faster than enrollment. Since 1970 enrollment has only gone up 8.5 percent. That means those extra 3.3 million teachers aren’t needed, folks. That’s $210 billion a year being sucked out of our economy for teachers doing nothing.

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This is Lombard calling with many thanks to the wonderful librarians at our terrific library for stepping up after the power outages from the storms. Not only was the library a great cooling center, but the librarians provided outlets so I could charge my dead cell phone, and I could send and check my e-mails at their Internet terminals. Our library really is a community center, so why was the village telling people to go to the Yorktown mall? Go figure.