Lombard calling. Today is April 24 and I just received my Lombard Park District summer brochure and there’s the schedule of events for Lilac Time. Unfortunately the first three events all occurred before April 19 and I was unable to know about them or participate in them.

Lombard Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs commented: “The Lilac Time schedule of events, which included the events prior to April 19, was initially printed in the spring brochure that was mailed on Feb. 26 to all park district residents.  Those events were also listed on the park district  Web site, www.lombardparks.com, since March 3. Annually, the park district puts out a separate Lilac Time pamphlet which has been available at all district facilities, local businesses and community organizations, which this year has been available since March 15.  Finally, this information has been sent out sporadically since March 1 via our e-newsletter, Facebook and Twitter. Please feel free to go to the district’s Web site, www.lombardparks.com, and sign up for the e-newsletter, or follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter.  Should you have any further questions about this issue, Lilac Time or anything else park district- related, please feel free to call me anytime at 630-953-6016.”—blm

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Recently I read in the Daily Herald where the Butterfield Park District could acquire the northeast corner of Butterfield Road and Route 53, which was destined to become a site for a proposed gas station, convenience store and car wash near Glen Ellyn by announcing a deal with The Conservation Foundation of Naperville to acquire the land and lease it back from the organization. The land was to be purchased later by the park district. Butterfield officials were able to persuade the Dupage County Board to deny request for the development.    Why did Lombard officials not pursue something similar in the case of the Ken Loch’s Golf Course? Thank You.

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Hi, Lombard. This is for all you political animals. First thing is, all politicians are out for themselves. All their thoughts are to get re-elected, not for the good of their constituents. And remember this, if their lips are moving, they are lying, as the majority of them are lawyers. Have a nice day. Bye.

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If you want to talk about spending village money on local officials. Where does the grant for the DuPage Arts Coalition go to?  One of our trustees has been involved with this event.  Who vetted the winners to see if they have a connection to anyone that might be a conflict? I am sure some of the village money goes to the prize winners award fund. Are any of the artists related to or friends with an elected official? Now wait for the spouse of this trustee to write a response to defend this expense.

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Maybe the village can use the money from the gaming machines to fund the scholarships for the princesses. That would put the good money to a good use. Anyone want to bet on it?

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In response to the person who said 50 percent believe in global warming and 50 percent don’t, so let’s stop talking about it. Some corrections – 63 percent believe, 23 percent don’t believe, and the rest are undecided. The problem with your premise is the word “believe”—it should be “acknowledge.” Here is a scenario of your logic. The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2. So the facts and evidence say the Blackhawks won, but in your argument, 50 percent of the people think that Minnesota won, regardless of evidence. Ninety-eight percent of people who study the evidence—they are called climate scientists—say global warming is real, and humans are causing it.

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I am going to take the $6.67 that the village board saved me on my property taxes and put it in a new video gaming device. I hope to win enough money to give a scholarship to next year’s Lilac Princess in case the board wants to change the rules again.

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Thank you Trustee Fitzpatrick and Trustee Breen for your diligence and knowledge of the rule of law. If SPEAK OUT accurately reflects what occurred at the last meeting, perhaps one should refrain from attending. My apology to Trustee Fitzpatrick and Trustee Breen who have knowledge and use right reason, know their facts and have a clear understanding of what is presented, unlike those who run on feelings, emotions, cruelty and lack right reason. Trustee Breen and Trustee Fitzpatrick, we welcome and appreciate your service. Thank you. You who disagree, please state your thoughts and reason for holding a different opinion and omit the hate and maliciousness. It appears the vote gave you what you wanted, so why aren't you pleased? Why are you so unhappy? This display of meanness does not advance the goodness of Lombard.

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Hello to downtown Lombard. I think the village should stop paying out any money for sidewalks, lights, flowers and everything else. Apparently they don’t appreciate it down there. They complain about everything: they don’t like Cruise Nights, somebody doesn’t like the art fair. How many directors have they had down there? I don’t know. Maybe it’s time to spend our money on something else, like repairing Grace Street or Highland Avenue.

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Hi. I like going to the gaming places just like anybody else, and I also enjoy a local restaurant. We often go maybe a couple of times a week, skip a few weeks and go again often. But the idea of having video machines and slot machines in a family restaurant or any kind of restaurant—it belongs in a bar. Personally, I wouldn’t patronize it anymore. It’s not something I would enjoy while I’m having a nice family lunch. I so hope Lombard doesn’t do this. It’s not worth the few pennies to be the video place because everybody else is doing it. I really hope they don’t because to me, it’s a step down.

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I don’t get it; the media hypes, front page of papers, local and Chicagoland newspapers, that ComEd asked for a rate hike. My gas bill went from $40 to $160-something and nobody blinked an eye. I have to pay over $100 for pretty much basic cable, or a little bit expanded cable, my cell phone bill is $100; nobody bats an eye. But God forbid, ComEd asks for a rate hike and it’s all over the news, No. 1 story. I don’t get it.

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I cannot believe what I just saw at the May 1 village board meeting. Trustees Breen and Fitzpatrick, shame on you for what you did to that girl—two days before the coronation. If you hear somebody booing very loudly at the Lilac Parade, that will be me.

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I just want to say hats off to our new village president, Mr. Giagnorio. I did not vote for you nor did I support you in your last election, but you can be sure that I will next time. I was at the village board meeting and I watched how you had justice prevail and you definitely showed with your speech what it is to be a Lombardian. I need to order a pizza. I’ll just make sure I don’t serve it and eat it at any village event, OK Trustee Fitzpatrick? We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. Thank you.

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This is Lombard calling. Trustee Bill Ware, who wants video gaming in Lombard, says it’ll put us on a level playing field with the towns around us. How very sad. If Lombard really has to collect money from video gaming, which preys on the poorest of the poor, it is absolutely a morally bankrupt way for a town to collect taxes. If we really need that to keep our village going, then everyone in our village government should be fired, because we truly have failed. Really? This is absolutely disgusting.

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I do not have a problem with fire pits as long as they keep the smell and smoke on their property. If they can contain the smell of smoke on their property, more power to them.

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I understand the idea of trying to level the playing field for businesses who want video gaming in Lombard, but it seems the majority of the residents don’t want it. So, that leads me to believe that those same people will frequent non-gaming establishments to offset those who go elsewhere to do so. Problem solved. Also, we elected trustees to represent us, so find out the voice of the people, trustees, and act accordingly.

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I’m reading the Lombardian from May 7 and somebody called in that trustees Fitzpatrick and Breen are an embarrassment. I don’t think they’re an embarrassment. Maybe they’re an embarrassment to you because they’re so intelligent. That man and that woman are a credit to the Village of Lombard. Hopefully we don’t lose Peter Breen and hopefully Trustee Fitzpatrick gets re-elected. I’ve seen bad politicians and these are two of the smartest and fairest politicians I’ve seen in all my 67 years on this Earth. If they’re too much for you, maybe you should go get a library card and maybe read a few books on politics.

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Hello, I’m a Lombard resident and I do not support gambling in our town. This is not a done deal; please attend the meetings and speak out against gambling at a meeting. If you go to any restaurant and have a nice meal, and they have a liquor license, please voice your opinion that you do not want them to install gambling machines and when they do not, support the business. Also, please call Trustee Ware and inform him of your opinion if you do not want gaming in our village. Thank you.

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I’m a 40-year Lombard resident and I’ve never called SPEAK OUT. However, after reading in your paper Trustee Breen’s ludicrous remarks on why one of our current Lilac Princesses should not be awarded her scholarship—the reason being because her father happens to be one of our trustees. I would like to know who the Democratic candidate for the 48th District is in the Nov. 4, 2014, election, so I can vote for him or her and rally all my friends and relatives to do so also. Thank you.

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I would just like to thank the county assessor or whoever’s responsible for raising the tax rate on my house for taxes, when the value is going down. It makes complete common sense for them to do something like that, doesn’t it? Gas prices up, food prices up, everything’s up in Illinois but wages. And, their fix is to increase the taxes to spend more money on the pensions. Great job, Lombard.

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I’ve owned a business and a building in Lombard since 1976. I’m totally fed up with the Village of Lombard and their Gestapo-like tactics. I believe their TIF District taxes are unconstitutional. I used to have 16 commercial tenants in my building; now I have eight tenants, due in part to the TIF District taxation without representation. I’m also disappointed in the lack of police protection in our village where people continually dump garbage in and around my dumpster and I find items from alleged juveniles hiding out by my building. Please Lombard, wake up and smell the coffee.

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What a terrible embarrassment these two trustees have brought on Lombard’s Lilac Time. Maybe the trustees should just forbid anybody who works for the village from having their daughter enter this pageant. This pageant has gotten such a small attendance of late. I can remember in the ‘60s, there would be 75 or 80 girls wanting to be involved in it. Now you throw more water on it. In those days there was no prize; they got a tiara. Just a terrible embarrassment. What a rotten thing to do to Lilac Time. I hope they don’t have the guts to ride in the parade.

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Hello, Lombard. I just watched the May 1 board meeting on the Web site and I was shocked but not surprised to witness trustees Breen and Fitzpatrick attempt to throw a high school student and Lilac Princess under the bus. I’m absolutely furious, especially since it seemed apparent to me that the motive for their nonsense was political. What a shame.

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This is Villa Park calling in response to somebody who called last week about the police department and there being police cars in the parking lot all the time and officers eating. Ever stop to think that yes, police officers do eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the police station because it’s open 24 hours a day. They also eat Christmas Eve dinner, they eat Christmas Day dinner, they eat Thanksgiving dinner, Easter dinner, all at the police station. So before these people make comments, they should really think about it. I’ve dealt with the police department—really nice guys and gals. I think they do a good job. Keep up the good work, Villa Park. Thank you.

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Just read about a woman who missed seeing her daughter perform because she had to get off a flight before it left where there was a service dog, due to allergies and asthma. How does one balance rights? Not talking against the person with the service dog, of course, but surely there has to be a way to resolve the issue. Maybe that person could have taken a different flight if he or she didn’t have an agenda. This lady missed a milestone in her daughter’s life. Where are the airlines to work this stuff out?

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Hi. I just received my water bill from Lombard and it is the same exact amount as it was the previous bill. When I called the village to ask if there was a mistake, she said no, this happens a lot. So I was wondering if there are any other people in Lombard who receive the same amount on their water bill, down to the exact cents. My bill was $159.42, same exact bill I received a few months ago. I just find that strange.

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To my neighbors on the next block to the east and to the west: I do not, repeat, do not want to hear your dogs barking at midnight and 4:55 a.m. They’re barking loudly at the wind. My windows are closed and I’m awakened before 5 a.m. to your barking dogs. If you get up that early to go to work, you must go outside with your dogs and prevent them from barking and disturbing your neighbors. I do not have air conditioning and I do not look forward to another summer of my windows being open and your dogs barking incessantly. I do believe that Lombard has a noise ordinance and you should be fined. Please take your neighbors into consideration and bring your dogs inside. Thank you.