After listening to the barrage of gunfire emanating from the skeet range located at the Glen Oaks Country on the Saturday and Sunday after Sandy Hook tragedy, the time has come to move this skeet range far away from residential communities so we no longer are exposed to the unsettling and upsetting sounds of gunfire throughout our day. It is time to move this range.

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The Dems pushed through a tax bill that adds $4 trillion to the debt over 10 years, cut virtually nothing and kept most of the tax rates the same. So important was this bill that after it was passed by the Dems and weak-kneed Republicans in the House that they worked late into New Year’s Day. Where was your fearless leader to sign the bill? He left for Hawaii to finish yet another vacation. By the way, it appears every working person’s taxes went up.

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A news article states that the College of DuPage restaurant lost $576,000 in 2012, the radio station lost $592,000, the Mac theater lost $519,000 and the hotel lost $152,000. Then the college president was quoted as saying, “We are not hemorrhaging money.” Then what is it, a slow nosebleed? As a COD alum, I am proud—and a little envious—that today’s students have those hands-on opportunities that didn’t exist for me years ago. I found the president’s comments to be disingenuous. Let’s help support COD by patronizing a wonderful community resource.

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Lombard calling. Today is Wednesday, Jan. 2. What is the weird burnt maple syrup smell? Lots of neighbors around Lombard complaining about a strong smell. Saw the fire department driving around a lot. Wondering what’s going on.

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I’m calling from Villa Park regarding our village presidential election. One of the candidates is former Police Chief John Heidelmeier. His 20-month tenure as police chief ended abruptly just one year ago. No details were given, citing confidentiality agreements between him, the lawyer and the village. Speaking for myself, I cannot in good conscience support someone whose employment with our village ended under this cloud. Whatever happened, it cost our village in dollars and reputation.

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I realize our water bill is going up 15 percent because of the increase that Chicago’s putting on us and there’s nothing we can do about the increase from Chicago. But, here’s an idea for the Village of Lombard. Why do you not modernize? I pay all my bills online; I get my bills online. I would think that you could eliminate the billing process for 90 percent of the people in Lombard if you modernized. Just give me my bill online; give me the ability to have my bank pay you online. Why don’t you think about that?

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There is one very simple solution to all our problems with indebtedness and it goes like this: If you can’t afford it, don’t spend it. Stop taxing the people for somebody else’s grandiose desires. If you don’t have the money, you don’t spend it. You don’t keep increasing taxes and all kinds of stuff to take away our liberties. This is why crime proliferates. People don’t want to work for a living. The Bible says if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Earn it or leave it alone. Stop the stealing. Stop the corruption and it starts at the top first. All you leaders, get your head screwed on your shoulders and let’s do things correctly.

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In a news article teachers said Illinois doesn’t have a pension problem, but instead, the state needs to either raise taxes or close loopholes for rich people. Raising taxes would put the financial burden on us taxpayers—many of us who don’t even have pensions of our own. Lawmakers from the past set up these costly pension programs, maybe with a vision of being able to afford it. Now, lawmakers of the present are stuck with that and must learn by their predecessors’ example not to promise more than they can deliver by reforming pension systems for new teachers and other public employees who are lucky enough to have pensions as a perk of the job. It’s that simple.

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Hi, I was just wondering of anybody heard of Café 101 at St. Charles Road and Park in Lombard. What a great place to go have lunch or dinner. Very happy place to go to, great ambiance; the people there are very, very, very cordial. You should check it out.

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Lombard calling. Once the Ken Loch Golf Course is sold to a developer, the second-largest remaining parcel of undeveloped open space in DuPage County is gone forever and we’ll never get it back. Lombard residents have a right to the truth, not just vague promises for what a great deal this is. Millions of dollars will change hands here, but do we really think the residents will benefit? If this really is a great deal for Lombard, show us the proof. Don’t dazzle us with empty revenue promises. We’ve been burned before by such nonsense. Westin Hotel, anyone?

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Wake up, America. Government dictates even the air we breathe. If you don’t make it an important part of your life, you’ll just become another by-product of the universe. Be informed. Voice your opinion. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

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Villa Park calling. I am troubled by Trustee Bullwinkel’s seeming inability to make a decision, or the delay in making a decision about the board seat she wanted to hold. If she has trouble making that kind of decision, how will she act with the decisions that are important to the future of our village?

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Hey Lombard, too bad you didn’t build a dome over the pool. We’ve been going to an indoor water park right in the area, paying them $10 a day to swim and have fun, work out in the gym, climb on the rock wall. Too bad you didn’t think ahead—over winter breaks, especially winter break, when there’s nothing for the kids to do. Shame, shame.

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Hello, Lombard. I would like to pay a compliment to the coffee house on the corner of St. Charles Road and Park. There is a group of us who met there on a recent morning. It was wonderful, so relaxing and the food was terrific. Thank you for being in Lombard.

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If the village board has a problem with the administration, being the village manager and department heads, then replace them. Don’t have the volunteer committees further micromanage the village. To run your department heads through the wringer for your own personal power is not a good idea.

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Lombard calling. Plans to develop the Ken Loch Golf Course with high density apartment buildings and town homes have recently come to light. Although these discussions apparently have quietly been happening behind the scenes since last April, residents and neighbors didn’t learn of it until September. Since then, two plan commission meetings have been filled to capacity and residents from across Lombard have spoken passionately in opposition to development plans. This is a multi-million-dollar plan that will certainly benefit a very few number of people, but destroying the second-largest remaining parcel of undeveloped land in DuPage County will eliminate a wildlife habitat, increase flooding and traffic concerns and put additional strain on area schools that are already overcrowded, not to mention extra work for our police and fire departments. Lombard has plenty of apartments, condos and town homes already and many of them are on the market or vacant. Do we really need another development that destroys open space that could and should be enjoyed by all residents?