Remind the trustees you don’t vote by referendum. You should know your constituents. You should have the facts and use your time and your Facebook page to get opinions and thoughts of your residents. Don’t be afraid to vote; that’s why you were elected.

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Hi, I’m a resident of Lombard and I’m calling to talk about Lilacia Park. It’s such a beautiful park and it’s so unfortunate that it gets dyed such an unnatural blue color, the water that is in the lovely waterfall. It’s such a shame that the Jens Jensen design is so unnatural when I don’t think that’s how the landscape architect would have intended it. I’m hoping the Lombard Park District sees this message and considers leaving the water in a much prettier state this year. Thank you.

“The park district has been using the ‘blue dye’ in the water for over 20 years,” responded Lombard Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs. “The dye is called True Blue and is a blend of environmentally friendly, nontoxic water-soluble dyes formulated to reduce sunlight penetration and reduce algae buildup, keeping the water cleaner. Unfortunately, the cement ‘pond’ is less than 18 inches deep and algae growth becomes a very bad issue if not treated. True Blue is also nontoxic to birds, mammals, reptiles, fish or other aquatic species. I am sure Mr. Jensen would appreciate the park district’s effort in making sure that his pond is not a bowl of algae during the summer. Should you have any further questions about the pond, Lilacia Park or anything else park district-related, please feel free to call me anytime at 630-953-6016.”—blm

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Shame on trustees Breen and Fitzpatrick. Lilac Princesses are chosen by judges from outside of Lombard who don’t even know the candidates’ last names. Morgan Fugiel was selected because she is a shining example of not only being a good student who is involved in making her community a better place to live, but also exhibits a solid work ethic, is dedicated to helping those in need and is a generous and kind person who is mature for her age. Perhaps Breen and Fitzpatrick could learn a thing or two from her.

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The five princesses were awarded their tiaras on March 12; everyone knew the names of the princesses on that date. Fifty days later, two days before the coronation, two trustees decide to make it a political issue. These five young women stand on their own merits. The process run by the Junior Women’s Club is transparent and nobody from Lombard is involved in the selection. To suggest that this is improper is ridiculous. I am so disgusted by the action of two trustees that I am embarrassed to live in their district. They seem to both give speeches to feed each others’ egos; they need to go, remember this next April. Their actions were wrong and they need to be reminded of that.

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This is Lombard calling in reference to the May 1 village board meeting. Peter Breen and Laura Fitzpatrick, you need to do some serious self-evaluating. Just pack your bags. You are an embarrassment to the entire Lilac Village and everything we stand for. You obviously do not know Princess Morgan Fugiel. If you did, you would not have made such a spectacle of yourselves. Simply appalling.

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At Lombard’s first meeting in May, I was glad to see someone make sense of the scholarship award issue. It reminds me of the blanket zero gun tolerance in school. A 5- or 6-year-old gets suspended because he used his finger as a gun. It makes me wonder about the brains of our leaders who make the laws. Zero tolerance takes away people’s ability to make their own decision and use their own brain. Thank you.

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I am extremely disappointed with our village board. First we have to sit through a Breen and Fitzpatrick pony show over the traditional scholarship offered to the Lilac Princesses. Please. Who on Earth would allow a scholarship to be awarded to Lilac Princesses with the exception of just one? One who happens to be caught up in the shenanigans of two board members. Shame on you, Mr. Breen and Mrs. Fitzpatrick. Secondly, how can the board allow gambling into Lombard? Quit denigrating our reputation of Lombard just to obtain a few extra dollars. Just go back to issuing dog licenses and village stickers.

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I think that Trustee Fitzpatrick and Trustee Breen are an embarrassment discussing the Lilac Princess scholarship. They are truly one and the same, one only copies the other. Look in the mirror when talking about character counts. I hope neither one of these hypocrites shows up at the ball to greet the princesses. It was a low blow that shows you do not live in the real world. Can’t wait until you are both out of office.

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Appalling. Trying to deny Morgan Fugiel her scholarship. The village didn’t pick her—independent judges did who have nothing to do with the village; paid through hotel-motel taxes. Also, about video gambling. Appalling. The businesses and vendors get the lion’s share of it. Would the local businesses pay taxes on it that would trickle back to the village? Then the state share, 25 percent, versus the municipality’s share, 5 percent. What would the state give back? The two figures should be reversed if it’s going to even happen.

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Hats off to the board of trustees and village president at the May 1 board meeting. Transparency is a good thing but it has to be executed by people who have the ability to use discretion. The majority of trustees exhibited that quality on the princess scholarship award vote. Watch the reruns if you missed the meeting. It is worth your time.

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With Lombard Pride week beginning, maybe our public works director should take his own works to heart by cleaning up the property. There are dead trees, bushes and plenty of litter on the village hall property. From there, let’s run the street sweeper as there are plenty of leaves and debris at the curbs and sewer drains still. Maybe if there is time, let’s fix the pot holes, especially on Grace from Washington all the way to North Avenue. Thank you.

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Lombard calling. North Grace Street is such a disgrace. We had company for Easter and many of them commented how bad North Grace Street is. I was truly embarrassed and now with Lilac Time soon approaching and people coming from all over to Lombard, this does not speak nicely about our town. The corner of Sunset and Grace is so full of big holes; it seems like our village could have at least filled them with asphalt until whoever will come and fix the street. Can our trustees do something about this? Thank you.

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Hi. I just got my tax bill and I guess this is the first time I’ve ever noticed this, but the money I’m giving to the Village of Lombard, which I don’t begrudge—it’s a beautiful village—is one-third the money I’m giving to the Lombard pensions. That’s right. The pension is three times what I’m actually paying to give to the Village of Lombard. Somehow that just doesn’t sound right.

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Hi. I was at the board meeting Thursday regarding the video gaming and now have joined the ranks of the towns in our area that have added these. We could have stayed with the other towns, but it seems the apparently greedy trustees and the president are on board and they all are for this. We can now be called Slumbard. Thank you.

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I’m happy to hear there is a petition in Lombard to ban fire pits, but where is the petition?

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Hi, to all the people who want to ban fire pits, we have one. We use it about three times a year, usually when the kids come over; have a couple of beers, soft drinks, laugh—not late into the night—and we burn logs or tree branches, not leaves. We have a few neighbors who do the same a couple of times a year. If you are living next to somebody who’s burning every day, day and night constantly, then they are doing something illegal. But to say we shouldn’t have fire pits in Lombard? This is a free state. I also don’t smoke, but if someone wanted to go in their backyard and smoke, I think that should be allowed, too. I think it’s getting a little ridiculous when you have a few telling people what they can now do in their own home. Just thought I’d put that in there.

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Hello, Lombard or IDOT. I just want to let you know that the timing light at the traffic light for Butterfield and Finley is off. The north-south light at rush hour is only a few seconds and traffic gets so far backed up. Somebody ought to look into retiming the lights. Thank you.

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With all the governmental issues in SPEAK OUT, Obama, etc., what about Lombard and the dogs and their dog poo? What about pot holes? What about the person walking his dog in the middle of the street? Get it together, folks. Train your dog to go in the pot holes and you will also help the public works. They need your support, big time. Your trained pets can do it. Goodbye.

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What a joke. At a recent orientation at Hammerschmidt School, the statement that nothing can be done about the parking problem, we’re land locked. I would like to suggest there’s lots that can be done. Why doesn’t the principal form a committee to discuss the parking? All the people who have to deal with the problem have lots of solutions. There are always answers. You just have to seek them.