Hello. Lombard calling. I just want to say how grateful I was to have District 44 put on a forum outlining a new curriculum to our kids. Coincidentally, SPEAK OUT was mentioned there, so I thought it was appropriate to call and inform everyone that the last video played at the forum can also be viewed on the Dalai Lama Center Web site. Thanks.

After a request for clarification about this comment, Amy Kaczmarek, director of special services for Lombard Elementary School District 44, responded by explaining that the district has implemented a pilot program called MindUP, which focuses on social/emotional learning. She further stated that a social/emotional component is required for schools to meet state standards. Offering such a curriculum is also one of the District 44 Board of Education’s goals, she continued. Kaczmarek said the purpose of such a program is to help students improve their focus and attention, work on social/emotional skills and prevent bullying. A parent information night was held on Jan. 29 for parents to learn about MindUP, and the director said a video clip was shown that involved the Dalai Lama Center. She pointed out that the center “works on social/emotional learning” as well, and also emphasized that MindUp is “not related to religion. It is about educating the heart and the mind and is completely non-secular.” Because this is a pilot program, not all students will be participating, and Kaczmarek said parents can opt to have their child(ren) not participate if they so desire.—JAC

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It amazes me the negative comments surrounding the bridges spanning the railroad tracks on the Great Western Trail. I remember a letter to the editor from a person who stated that we already have a perfectly good trail, referring to the Prairie Path, and that building the bridges was a waste of money. He or she said that a lot of people do not use the Great Western Trail for many reasons, then failed to list any of them. That’s OK though. That person can stay on the Prairie Path with all the other people who are too good for the Great Western Trail, and there are a lot of them. Go ahead and do your little jog or bike ride on the over-crowded Prairie Path. You do not need the Great Western Trail anyway. Besides, it looks like a concentration camp, with the way they put up the protective fences. That’s nice. Truth is, many people do use the Great Western Trail for many reasons, one being it’s not crowded to the point of being unsafe at times. Everyone I have spoken to about the bridges loves them and the way they open up the connection between Villa Park and Lombard. The safety they provide crossing the intersection of Grace and St. Charles is good for everybody. The bridges are a good investment for this side of town. If you do not like them, don’t use them. You won’t be missed. One last thing. Try to see things from other people’s viewpoint. Come out of the negativity bubble you live in and try being positive sometimes. You might find it refreshing. 

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This is Villa Park calling. I would just like to say that our Villa Park trustees should look into the fact that they spend all this money on studies, of things that are never done. They should take the money that they’re spending and fix our streets. That’s what needs the fixing. We don’t need studies on how to fix the water or economic development or anything else. We need work done. And the money would be well-spent on that. Thank you. Good day.

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Obama and his supporters have long and loudly accused us of materialism around the world, but if you look at the lifestyle of the First Family, you will see a lifestyle that any emperor would envy.

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I am a frequent walker of the Great Western Trail. This winter it has been virtually impassable. Elmhurst and Villa Park seem to be able to maintain the trail for all of us walkers. I am sure that this is not too labor intensive, and I know that Lombard has the equipment to keep the trail clear. We deserve and expect a better return on our tax dollars.

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I’ve noticed that gas prices are all over the map again. On Jan. 30 I paid $3.28 a gallon and on Feb. 9 I paid $3.75 a gallon for the same grade of gas, same gas station chain. What’s going on? One never knows what the price of gas is going to be anymore, even from day to day. Please, legislators, lower the gas tax at least. Illinois’ is one of the country’s highest. It’s an expense many of us can ill afford.

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Hello, this is Lombard calling. I’d like to thank Rob for his thoughtfulness in clearing off the snow-covered fire hydrant that is located on St. Charles. Thank you, Rob. Bye.

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In last week’s SPEAK OUT someone again is saying global warming isn't happening because it’s cold and it snows here. Your ignorance is amazing to me; there are so many extremes happening all around the globe and the average global temperature keeps rising, Thirteen of the 14 warmest years have all occurred in the 21st century. There are many places north in the Arctic that are having well above normal temperatures which then pushes Arctic air down. I know that may be hard for you to understand but inform yourself and watch a reputable source. Tom Skilling frequently discusses why we are cold this winter. Also, California is in a record-breaking severe drought so the next time it rains there will you mock that too, saying they were in a drought? Think for yourself and not inside your Faux “news” box.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. And yeah, it’s been an absolutely awful winter with the snow and the cold weather, but a bright side of the winter is the Olympics, with the Olympic games. So, let’s show our spirit and support our athletes and let’s put up our American flags. Go in your garage, dig it out and proudly display your American flag and your support of our American athletes. God bless America.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. To all the people who just want to complain about the post office, give it a break. It’s the last great U.S. bargain. Where else can you pay 49 cents, put a stamp on an envelope, send it across the country and have it delivered in three to four days? How much longer did it take you to get to work on these snowy days? Three to four times longer? How many of you had a snow day, school closings or work telling you to stay home, or taking your own snow day, calling in because you just did not want to face the elements? Think of the postal carrier. It took him or her three to four times longer to get to work. It took him or her two to three times longer to finish his or her route plowing through snow on unshoveled walks. Think of the branch managers dealing with employees whose cars did not start. This is the human side of business. I do not work for the post office.

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It’s Saturday morning, Feb. 1. It’s winter and it’s snowing. Do we really need to devote one to two to three hours of live coverage to reporters out in the field or in cars being filmed to tell us the fact that it’s snowing out? Let it go. I know a lot of people are going to call in and say they want to know what’s going on, but really, one to three hours of live coverage to let us know it’s going to snow in winter? Are they going to the same thing when it drizzles or rains in the summer or when the leaves fall in October and November? Let’s hope so, because it’s good watching.

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I am that person who called about walking across the snow on the lawn. When I called about that, there wasn’t a below-zero wind chill, and there wasn’t a ton of snow on the ground. Those conditions didn’t exist at the time, and of course I feel compassion for the postal carriers, so you don’t have to lambaste me anymore. I have decided it is not an issue. In fact, we made a path for the mail carrier so he doesn’t get his boots all soaked. How about that?

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I’m the one who called about the coyotes in the area and I just wanted to make a correction to what you printed. According to the column on Wednesday, Jan. 29, it said they were heading east toward the park on Madison. What I actually said was they were heading east toward Villa Park on Madison. Thank you.

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Hi, this is Lombard. I was reading my Lombardian and the article regarding the multi-family fire that took place in Lombard, $100,000. Why was it necessary for the Lombard Fire Department to be assisted by 15 additional fire districts? Who pays for them just to show up? They were coming from as far away as Wood Dale and Lisle. Is Lombard not equipped to fight a fire of that nature by itself? Who pays for that? Thank you.

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This is to the person who suggested putting a store on Finley where the old Kmart was. My son had a really brilliant idea, which I know many may object to, but he drives a big truck. There are other semi drivers around here and we’ve seen them and on occasion would park there. He thinks it would be neat if there were an operating center there for trucks and there could also be a dining area there, not only for them but for others. He said there are no operating centers around here; the nearest is in Plainfield, and he works in Indiana, so it would be nice if they had somewhere they could go to park their trucks and then go home for the weekend or something.

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The Lombard Post Office is not delivering mail six days a week this month. They’re all saying neither rain nor sleet nor snow, I guess is no longer true.

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Hello, this is Lombard calling. Seems we have another problem with the post office. Once again we get snow and cold, and no mail delivery. This is the third day we are now missing pieces of mail. Who do we go to, to try to get this straightened out? We tried talking to the post office here in Lombard and they say there is nothing they can do. Please, if somebody knows how to get this situation straightened out, let us know. Bye.

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I’m calling in regard to the very critical situation at the Lombard Post Office. We haven’t gotten mail delivery for two days. Every time I call to inquire about it I get a different answer. What are we supposed to do about this? Mail’s very important. I live in Arboretum Park Townhomes. We haven’t gotten mail for two days now and I just called this morning and I get a different answer every time I call. Something has to be looked into. This is a very critical, critical situation. Goodbye.

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I’ve lived in Lombard for 30 years and gotten mail every day, Monday through Saturday until last month. Last month I started getting mail three to four days a week and it is continuing this month. Today is Feb. 6. I didn’t receive mail today, yesterday, or Monday. I know the weather’s bad but I think they can do better than that. If not they could at least let us know what their schedule is and that we will get our mail eventually. Thank you.

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I’m a longtime resident of Lombard and I would just like to know what is going on with the mail this winter. The rest of us have to get up and go to work in the snow and I’ve been missing my mail at least half the time this last month. Just wondering what’s going on. I thought they were supposed to deliver through rain, sleet, hail and snow, but that hasn’t been the case over here.

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Hello, this is the 200 block of North Park in Lombard. We did not receive mail Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Saturday I called the post office and the quite rude lady there said, "We can’t keep postal workers because the weather’s bad and they start and then quit." Aren’t there a lot of young people out there who would just love to have a postal job? Federal government pay, etc.? Today is Monday, and we still have no mail today. Upon calling the post office, they apparently have the phone off the hook. Thank you.

Residents concerned about mail delivery can call the post office’s consumer affairs at 708-563-7756 or customer service at 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777).—blm