I recently received the Lombard Pride news bulletin, which included paragraphs by the various selected village trustees, all patting themselves on the back for their various accomplishments. Nowhere was there even a mention of the status of the long-delayed reconstruction of Finley Road, which continues to be both an eyesore and major inconvenience to Lombard residents trying to navigate this village. Also, there still does not seem to be any indication of when the traffic lights at Elizabeth and St. Charles Road will be improved to include left-hand turns onto St. Charles Road when going south on Elizabeth as trains approach, so that one can at least get to the St. Charles/Main Street viaduct to get from one side of town to the other. Do these trustees have any clue of how difficult it becomes lately to move through town because of these two bottlenecks? Stop patting yourselves on the back, read the SPEAK OUT column in the Lombardian, address some of the residents’ concerns as mentioned in SPEAK OUT, and get to work fixing the traffic problems for the voters who put you in office.

* * *

To the person calling in complaining about how Terrace View Pond currently looks, do you realize that the pond had to be drained in order for the work that they are currently doing to get done? Do you think the people installing the new equipment to make it a better area should put on scuba gear and work underwater?  Finally work is being done to eliminate many of the problems and you’re still going to complain without, obviously, knowing what is happening? Instead of making a blanket statement that you are not going to vote for anyone on the current board, why don’t you pick up your phone and/or send an e-mail to the trustees or the village president and ask what work is being done? Then make your judgment.

* * *

Well, here we are again at the government shutdown—funny thing about this is we have nobody to blame but ourselves. We vote these people in under the same party lines time and time again. Some vote “all Republican” or “all Democrat”; the fact is they should all be voted out. They have violated the Constitution so many times now, that it has become no big deal when they do it again. We the people are to blame for putting them back in office. They obviously don’t have our best interests in mind; what will it take for us to realize these things? It’s both parties who caused this mess, so when the time comes, will we be the ones to vote them out for new blood? So many of you are the typical example of sheeple, it sickens me. Just follow the herd—right to the slaughterhouse. Take a look at your tax dollars and what you get for them. A good hard look. You’ll be sick too. Especially in this ridiculous state of ours. Fees and taxes on everyday items have risen so much in the past 10 years there’s no way we should be broke. This system is broken beyond repair; it’s time to do away with this two-party system. Get on board with voting them out. Think for yourselves for a change instead of letting big government run your lives for you.

* * *

To the person who drives by the schools and sees people talking on cell phones, I must ask: Why are you paying attention to what other people are doing and not keeping your eyes on the road? You, apparently, are potentially distracted by other people’s cell phone use enough to make the observation, so remember your own point that these are school zones. Eyes forward.

* * *

Hi, just wanted to call and say that for the first time a friend and I went to the senior fair on Oct. 2 and it was absolutely spectacular. Thank you so very much. Everything there was very interesting; especially we were happy that the secretary of state booth was there. We both got state IDs. I was happy to see York Township there. Afterward we went to York Township and signed up for their newsletter. I was kicking myself today that I didn’t go to the hearing bus, but just what a wonderful, wonderful day we had at the senior fair. Thank you so very much. Bye.

* * *

Obama will close the World War II memorial but he won’t close the border.

* * *

There’s a lot of talk about balancing the budget. Our country isn’t short of money; our country has too much money and our politicians spend too much money. So if the president would stop flying that big luxurious jumbo jet with his whole entourage, stop taking so many vacations, stop with the foreign aid, stop with the farmer subsidy, stop with the corporation subsidy, the budget could be balanced in about one year. It’s no secret. We all know this, but somehow our politicians and president don’t understand that. I think they should all resign and let somebody else do the job who knows how to do it. Goodbye.

* * *

Lombard calling regarding the SPEAK OUT call referring to the price of gasoline. Yes, our gas is too high. Yes, there many things we can do about it. It is terrible somebody has to spend that amount of money to go to work. However, let’s look at all those people who are complaining and see how they drive their children to school, back and forth, to every event there is, instead of walking, teaching the children to walk, and/or riding bikes to friends’ houses. Also, they sit in front of Hammerschmidt school, maybe not even in front, maybe a block and a half away, with their cars running when there’s a sign posted, “No idling.” Not only polluting, but using up their gas. They sit there even when the weather isn’t even really cold, waiting for their children. Most of these children can walk. They’re within walking distance. Let’s get back to the way things used to be, and learn how to save money on gasoline. Thank you.

* * *

World War II vet calling. As a veteran of World War II, I want to express my disgust that Obama was closing the World War II memorial. These men of our generations have waited years for a memorial and even helped pay for that themselves. These men have served and sacrificed for America and now we have a commander-in-chief who has never put his life on the line for America and he sneaks away on Air Force One apparently so he doesn’t have to give account. We vets have never forgotten to remember Pearl Harbor and we will not forget this one, either.

* * *

A major metropolitan newspaper had an article about the government and the use it or lose it budgetary process. As long as the trustees are in a budgetary and money-saving mood, can we have them take a look at what village spending will be the last two months of the budget year? How many unnecessary purchases will be made the end of this year to spend the tax dollars that were budgeted? Why can’t the departments be encouraged to save money and have a spending freeze at the end of the year instead of a spending frenzy?

* * *

I think Peter Roskam needs to resign. In the Oct. 2 issue of the Villa Park Review he writes “In Support of the Keystone XL Pipeline.” Seriously? His party, which considers him a leader, has just shut down the government and his main issue is getting a pipeline built that doesn’t even go through Illinois and will allow Canada to ship badly needed energy to Gulf states so that it can be refined, shipped overseas and sold to the highest bidder. Get a clue, or another job.

* * *

I wish Tom Masterson would run for state representative. He discovered the Village of Lombard made one heck of a mess for the Park West condo owners by issuing occupancy permits without the required on-site parking. I watched the board meeting Thursday and he still has not received the answers to his 11 questions. Peter Breen, a Lombard trustee, is running for state representative; on his campaign Web site, the following is stated: “One of his first initiatives as trustee was authorizing and securing passage of the strongest municipality transparency policy in the state of Illinois.” Peter, if you want my vote, prove that you mean what you say. Show transparency by answering Mr. Masterson’s 11 questions at the next board meeting. Thank you.

* * *

Hello, this is Lombard calling. I just received the latest news flash on the Finley Road rehabilitation and I cannot believe what I’m reading. Another two weeks working until the wee hours of the morning? What is this village thinking? This is a residential area. Now they’ve got all that stupid yellow tape again. You can’t walk; you have to go all the way around just to take your dog for a walk. It’s ridiculous. Why can’t they just close the road and get it done? Also, they plan on opening the east side of the road before they even have the driveways done. This also doesn’t make any sense. I think the residents of Finley Road have shown enough patience and I think this contractor should step forward and be a little more considerate, and get the job done. Thank you.

* * *

This is Villa Park calling. There was a fire plug painted on Second Street today. Four guys to paint one fire plug for 45 minutes. Where’s our tax money going? Unbelievable. Thank you.

* * *

The World War II Memorial belongs to the people. It was publicly paid for and publicly kept up; no government resources whatsoever. No government money at all, yet Obama shuts it down and puts up barricades. This memorial is not the government’s. It belongs to the people. When will the people say enough?

* * *

Now that Mr. Z’s is closed, wouldn’t it be great if an independent grocer or a fresh market went into that location? Somebody like a Pete’s Fresh Market. That would be wonderful. This is Lombard calling. Come on down, Pete’s. Lombard welcomes you. Thank you.

* * *

Next weekend there’s a march for immigration reform. It’s not immigration, it’s illegal immigration that our politicians should acknowledge by upholding the laws of our country; not catering to people who demand rights. They drive new cars, get Social Security, live in the same houses we do, they have LINK cards, free medical care—what more do they want? When they get amnesty, will they start working 40 hours a week and no more entitlements and pay taxes like all of the legal Americans have done for a lifetime? Our politicians had better wake up and figure out who they work for and who voted them in, and it’s not illegals.

* * *

Thanks to Chris and the public works staff for paving our street. It’s the first major work that’s been done in 17 years. Not only do we have a smooth ride now but getting into our driveways is also so much better. Great job. Don’t forget us this winter with snow removal. It’s supposed to be above average.