Lombard calling. I am responding to the call in SPEAK OUT from Aug. 20 caller criticizing a resident’s comment on political views; not just comments that we should be talking about happenings or problems in Lombard. We are a free country. We have the freedom of speech and I applaud the Lombardian for giving us a section in our local paper to express ourselves for whatever reason.

* * *

Hello, Lombard, this is a concerned parent from Glenbard East calling. I received a letter in the mail earlier this week about the SOS suicide prevention test they are planning to administer to our children. I’m very concerned about this test for multiple reasons: one being, who do they think they are, administering a mental health evaluation to our children; are they HIPAA certified? And also, what is this test? Where did it come from? Why is it a good idea? Why should I let my child take this test? And, what is going to be done if my child does not score at a high level? What if this test tells my child that he or she has depression? Thank you for listening. We’ll be calling back.

See response below.

* * *

Good afternoon, Lombard, Glenbard East parents. I have a question. Have you received your letter in the mail telling you about the SOS suicide prevention program where they're going to give a diagnostic test out to your children about depression or potentially being suicidal? That’s great. I understand what they’re trying to do, but my question is, are you the experts who should be doing this? Why wasn’t it disclosed to us at our orientation meetings? Who’s administering it? Who’s reading it? Where do these results go? What’s the program behind it that is going to support this when you do identify somebody? Who’s going to be informed? How is this going to impact the person and how reliable is it?

Peg Mannion, community relations coordinator for Glenbard District 87, explained: “Our students’ health and well-being always is our No. 1 priority. Glenbard East health teachers conduct a depression screening and suicide prevention training as a part of the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program. This program has been used in thousands of schools and has proven successful at providing assistance to an increasing number of students concerned about themselves or a friend. Students’ privacy is protected in this screening, and parents/guardians who do not want their teen to participate may opt out of the screening.”—JAC

* * *

At Saturday’s game I was extremely frustrated at the lack of sportsmanship on the part of the Glenbard coaches and fans. I heard a coach yell at a player referring  to the “fricking” goalpost. This was a freshman game and maybe the first game for some of these kids. Give them a break. The fans were obnoxious including “F you” to a player (his own team). This was one of many incidents involving obscenities and rudeness on the part of the Glenbard parents. They screamed obscenities at the coaches and refs continuously throughout the game. It’s a game for goodness’ sake. Glenbard was way ahead of Willowbrook, so such fan reaction was uncalled for. Perhaps there should be off-duty officers to control the parents. I feel there was a total lack of sportsmanship by the coaches and parents at this game.

* * *

I am contacting SPEAK OUT to express concern for those living with Alzheimer’s disease as well as those people caring for them. Help is needed in stopping this epidemic that is threatening to bankrupt our country. Alzheimer’s disease has truly become an epidemic: The number of victims diagnosed continues to grow. Family members who suffer health ailments due to caregiver stress, depression and guilt is rising. There is no cure. My parents cared for my grandmother and I have spent the last 25 years working with and caring for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. I see first-hand the devastation this disease brings to so many lives. As difficult as this is, there is hope and you can help. In September the Alzheimer’s Association holds its largest annual fundraiser, “Walk to End Alzheimer’s.” It’s easy and fun. Please find a local walk at act.alz.org and join a team to raise money for research.

* * *

Someone in the Aug. 27 SPEAK OUT said Bush took 879 days of vacation. Please. That’s another left-wing figure that’s been widely debunked by people with basic reasoning skills. Can we debunk it here? 879 days of vacation in eight years? Do a little basic math. That’s about 110 days of vacation per year, or 15 weeks per year. Did Bush take 15 weeks of vacation per year during his presidency? Was he on vacation for 30 percent of his time in office? Of course not. More than half of that bogus 879-day figure comes from counting all his weekend time at Camp David. If he went there from a Friday to a Sunday, that was counted as three days. That figure also counts all of his time at his glitzy vacation home in Crawford, Texas, where he happened to host at least 17 world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Liberals have a hard time dealing with criticism (like Obama’s vacation schedule), so they resort to making up their own facts.

* * *

So is anyone else getting sick of the billionaire Republican candidate trying to buy the governorship? Bruce Romney, another Cayman Island guy who has had commercials running for two years now. We come to find out he spent $140,000 on an initiation fee for a wine club, I remember his commercial on how his 18-dollar watch gets the job done but he owns nine-million dollar homes, yes nine; what’s wrong Bruce, doesn’t one home get the job done? This guy certainly doesn’t know what hard working, struggling Illinoisans are going through.

The candidate’s name is Bruce Rauner.—JAC

* * *

Finally a cool evening to be able to sleep with the windows open. However, fire pits going in the neighborhood; can’t take that with my asthma. Wish they were outlawed.

* * *

This is for the caller who thinks that the president has decreased the deficit in half when he came into office. If you actually believe that, you’re apparently delusional. Yes, we know he came in and inherited a failing economy. We know that. Everyone should know that, but if you think he actually decreased it in half, you are delusional. And they say they are tired of the lies they tell about this president, we’re sick of the lies that Mr. Obama is telling. Did you ever think of that? I think this man has lied from the time that he took office until the time that he leaves. Wake up, America. Wake up.

* * *

Reading SPEAK OUT, I can say one thing: Don’t vote Democrat or Republican. Vote for the person who is American. Vote for the person who will work for all of us, the people. President Obama could have been one of our greatest presidents. Instead, he will be one of our worst; with the chaos, turmoil and deceit in the White House, we are floundering. They have the IRS, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, Obamacare, ISIS beheadings, Russian expansion, racial division, class warfare. This is President Obama’s legacy.

* * *

Hello, this is Villa Park calling. I just read a very funny comment about the person painting his or her house 10 hours a day for two weeks and hasn’t seen a police car go down the person’s street. Well, this person must have a house the size of the White House to take that long to paint the front of the house, which I think is very funny. I would welcome a survey to come to my house or any of the people I know who live in Villa Park, because as far as we’re concerned, the police are doing an outstanding job. Thank you.

* * *

Lombard here. Are you liberals so dumb you can’t see Obama is destroying America? Your love for him is sickening. Thank you.

* * *

This is Lombard calling. I’m just calling to thank the Village of Lombard Public Works Department for the wonderful job they did fixing North Grace. It’s been a nightmare for a couple of years now and I know they really didn’t have state funding for this but they went through and did it anyway. I, for one, am delighted. Thank you so much. All the workers out there did a wonderful job in some hot steamy weather, and I thank you all very much for your efforts. Bye.

* * *

Lombard calling. Dictators all make the same mistake. They think they are smarter than their generals. Case in point, Hitler. He lost because he overruled the generals. Read your history. Obama is no different. The generals developed the plans for defense, not the White House. We’re on the road to defeat by ISIS. Speak up Americans before it’s too late. Obama should resign.

* * *

This message is on behalf of the Pool Pals from Lombard, about 60 people who visit Paradise Bay on a regular basis. Thank you, thank you to the Lombard Park District staff and all the lifeguards for a wonderful summer season. Our thanks also for the customer appreciation day. It was a great lunch and a fun day. Thank you so much. It’s been a great summer.

* * *

Anyone know what’s going on in north Lombard with all the white fire hydrants? Are there more now or just more visible? I hope they plan to paint them because they will be buried in the winter.

It must be primer, as a number of the hydrants are now yellow.—blm

* * *

Hi, this is Saturday, Aug. 30. I just got home from Paradise Bay. I just want to commend Debbie Witcher, the pool manager, and her staff for the first customer appreciation day. She put together a great venue, food, music, raffles. It was fun for the kids and adults. The weather was great. I’m a 50-year-plus pool pass holder. It was great. I hope we have this again next year. It was awesome. Thanks, Debbie and staff so much. Thank you.

* * *

David Cameron, UK voice of sane, determined strategy to safeguard his people of England. Wow. And what do we get from Obama? “We haven’t got a strategy.” He never knows anything until he reads it in the paper. That his administration is spying on everyone. We have thousands of illegals who are overloading our schools and our states, rendering our teaching to its lowest levels to accommodate them. Obama again doesn’t have a strategy. This is the same old delay, delay, delay, so ISIS can hide men and weapons in Syria, so the terrorists who came in with the border invasion hide in cells all across the United States. Control our safety and our incomes, people. Take back the Senate in November.

* * *

Is Glenbard East football on the rise? I was surprised to see them beat a very good team from Oswego East this week. They will get a big test next Friday when they host Neuqua Valley, one of the best teams in the state. Go Rams.

* * *

How much did it cost for Glenbard East to downgrade its digital message board on Main Street? You could actually read the messages of the old board as you drove by on Main Street—the letters were clear and bold. This new board, when it’s working, uses much smaller red letters. I suppose you can read the messages if you are a pedestrian walking right by the board. If you’re a motorist, good luck. Can someone at Glenbard East increase the font size in the messages? Thank you.

* * *

To the commenter about illegal turns in SPEAK OUT, Sept. 3 issue about not turning into the closest lane to you, I do not think it is illegal, just bad etiquette. As a driver, I do tend to turn into the lane closest to me, but when gas stations are right at the corner of an intersection, it’s a little difficult to turn into your proper lane and quickly change two lanes to use the entrance to the gas station. I’ll use Shell on Route 53 and Route 64 as an example. It may be a little naive to say but I cannot imagine an accident where the main cause is someone turning into the outer lane.  It is usually because one driver was not looking at the other.

* * *

Hi, my name is Kelly and I’m a four-legged one from Villa Park, and I just wanted to tell Dr. Kipnis and his staff thank you so much. You’re the best vet around. Thanks again for making me better. Love, Kelly.

* * *

I know Terrace View Pond is used for Prairie Day and everyone has their own opinion on what shrubs and flowers are pretty, but Terrace View Pond looks like a bunch of weeds that haven’t been mowed in years. There’s nothing pretty about it. I heard a lot of money has been spent on trying to fix the pond and it looks worse than ever. I lived in that neighborhood for close to 25 years. The park was a great place to play and the path around the pond was a great place to take long walks. I feel bad for everyone who lives in Lombard and it makes me mad that the trustees have let it get so bad. A good place to start is with the lawn mower. If District One Trustee Dan Whittington thinks this is acceptable, we made a mistake at the voting booth. Thank you.

* * *

This is just my opinion calling. I think the level of driver courtesy for walkers on Main Street has reached a level that’s absurd and dangerous. I have been a walker on the Prairie Path for over 20 years and I have been finding the last couple of months that drivers have been stopping when I am still at the sidewalk level. This week I actually saw a driver stop on Main Street, put on his four-way flashers and block two lanes of traffic, expecting everybody else to stop driving through the intersection at Main Street and the Prairie Path, at which point it caused more confusion and endangered the walkers and other drivers. I agree with the person from a couple of weeks ago that they should remove all the signs and use common sense at the intersection.

* * *

What has happened to the Finley Road street lights? They aren’t on. People are driving down that road, it’s completely dark. What has happened to them? I know they say it’s the village’s problem and then they say it’s Commonwealth Edison’s problem. Maybe if they would stop blaming each other and find a way to correct this, we’d be a lot better off, because if those lights aren’t turned on soon, you’re going to have wrecks all over the place. Wake up.

* * *

Hey, Villa Park. How long is the sign going to stay down on Harvard and Jackson by the school, where it was run over by a truck? It’s been sitting there for over four days, smashed on the side. Are you going to fix it?

* * *

I love the political stuff here. Someone called in and said the deficit is bigger than when George Bush left office, then someone called in and was defending Obama, saying he decreased the yearly deficit by more than half and is sick and tired of lies by people on the right. I just hope the person who is supporting Obama does not vote. You apparently did not go to math class and you apparently do not know how to use a computer or read. Here are the facts according to the United States federal government. When George Bush left office, the deficit was $458 billion. In 2010, under Barack Obama, the deficit was $1.29 trillion. That would be more, not less. Last year’s deficit was $680 billion. That is still what we call more, not less.

* * *

The Glenbard East varsity football team is 2-0 after beating a very good team from Oswego on Friday night. What a turnaround in that program. Congratulations to those kids. Go East.