Hi, it’s December. I was driving down Main Street and noticing that the wonderful Christmas decorations are no longer on the light poles. What happened? I feel like a piece of my childhood has been taken away from me.

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Did you read the article about the library proposal? They want to replace the existing building at the current site. Outrageous. There have been many costly improvements at the library lately. I have no problem with that. They did a nice job. Now, at a cost of $20 million, yes, $20 million, they want to raze the current library. I have to live within a budget. The library should also have to live within their budget.

The following information, which appeared in the Dec. 16 issue of the Lombardian, outlining the options—including the recommended scenario to increase the space from 34,000 to 50,000 square feet, utilizing the library’s property to the west of the current building and relocating temporarily during construction—is likely in the $20 million total project cost range. Seeking input on the willingness of the community to support this investment will be part of the library’s overall planning effort. The next steps in the process are to define three possible strategic options:

1. Complete capital repairs and renovate the building as needed.
2. Expand the existing building to meet the area requirements of the Needs Statement.
3. Replace the existing building on the current site to meet the area requirements of the Needs Statement.

Conceptual cost models will be developed for each option and a value index will be reviewed with the board of trustees. Community engagement meetings will be held at the Helen Plum Library, 110 W. Maple St. in Lombard to present details of these reports and to seek public input. The meetings will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 13 and 20, 2016, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at 7 p.m. The library is also currently collecting responses to the Next Chapter survey available at helenplumnextchapter.org. Anyone interested in receiving information about supporting the Helen Plum Library is asked to e-mail getinvolved@helenplum.org to join the mailing list. To view the recommendations online, visit helenplumnextchapter.org or via the Next Chapter Blog link at helenplum.org.—blm

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Lombardians, if you are as sick as I am of hearing all the gunshots all weekend, coming from Glen Oaks Country Club, the village isn’t going to do anything for you. You need to call your county board member from District 2 and District 4. Maybe they can pass an ordinance or crack down.

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Hi. I’m a new resident to Lombard. I would like to tell you about my experience at a store in Lombard. I walked to the counter with my purchase and an older woman was flossing her teeth. She went on flossing while ringing me up. At one point she couldn’t floss and ring me up so the floss just hung in her mouth around her tooth. Never did she wash her hands. I couldn’t just walk away so I told her it was disgusting to be flossing her teeth and waiting on customers. She went on telling me I was disgusting—my hair, nose, clothes, etc. I was humiliated to be treated in this way.

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This is a message to the lady I encountered at a Villa Park store at about 11:30, noon, on Dec. 26. I am recovering from a stroke, so I tend to list when I walk. I was pushing my cart toward the door and trying to remember at the same time where I had left my car, and I accidentally moved into her “space.” I said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.” She said, “Yes, you did. You’re just selfish” and wandered off. I thought, have a little empathy for people, lady. I wouldn’t wish you to have the problems that I have. Thank you.

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This is nothing important but to me amusing because we are the Lilac Village. I was channel surfing recently and saw an episode of the “Batman” series I remember from my youth. Milton Berle was playing a character called Louie the Lilac, and he was trying to round up all the hippies in Gotham City—for what purpose I don’t know. I just thought it was funny.

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This is Lombard calling. I wanted to wish a Merry Christmas, which is politically correct, not Happy Holidays, which is politically incorrect. If it wasn’t for the birth of Jesus Christ, it wouldn’t be Christmas. So people who think just to say Happy Holidays, they also have to specify that Christmas Day is for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank you.

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Hi. I’m calling about all the calls that the Lombard Police Department receives about homeless people sleeping on the Great Western Trail and the Prairie Path. These people are homeless and sometimes need a place to rest. I’m a runner who sees these people often. Instead of calling the police, how about telling them good morning? Just a thought.

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Hi. This is in regard to where you can take your electronics to be recycled. The Best Buy in Downers Grove on Finley and Butterfield does take TVs, printers and old computers. There are some restrictions. You have to check the Web site, but you can take all those electronics recyclables to the Best Buy. Thank you.

A check of Best Buy’s Web site revealed the following thank you: “With your help, Best Buy has collected and responsibly disposed of more than 1 billion pounds of electronics and appliances, making us the largest retail collection program in the U.S. Best Buy is committed to continue working with certified recyclers to collect 2 billion pounds of e-waste by 2020.” The recycling is limited to three items per household, per day.—blm

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Dictators cannot dictate to Donald Trump. The people with billions cannot dictate to Donald Trump. All the unions cannot dictate to Donald Trump and that’s what I need; a man to represent the United States. He isn’t afraid of anybody. If he’s the president of the United States nobody will be telling him what to do that we have to bail them out and spend all kinds of our money to give away to somebody else who doesn’t deserve to have it. I don’t care if a lot of you people don’t agree with me but I am voting for Donald Trump and we need a man like him who cannot be bought, who will run this country the way it should be run. We need to get back to what our country used to be. We need it badly and we need it now.

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This afternoon I witnessed true Christmas spirit at the corner of Washington and Highland in Lombard. Three children donning Santa hats were playing “Jingle Bells” with a horn, a violin and hand bells. The weather was unseasonably mild but the children’s actions warmed my heart.