Calling from Lombard regarding the Peck Homestead property at St. Charles Road and Grace Street. It looks very, very bad, like no one is taking care of the landscaping. The weeds are very overgrown and not looking very presentable for the corner lot. Hopefully somebody’s going to be working on that soon. Thanks. Bye.

Natalie Troiani, executive director of the Lombard Historical Society, responded to your comments:

“The Lombard Garden Club, years ago, planted a natural garden at the Peck House with native plants to resemble what would have been in the area during Peck’s time here. Many of the prairie grasses and wild flowers can look a bit wild and messy compared to the many lovely manicured gardens we see today. The Lombard Historical Society is working with the Lombard Garden Club to identify which of the plants currently in the garden area are weeds and which are part of the gardens so we can begin the clean up process and bring the gardens back to a more beautiful state. We are always looking for gardening volunteers who are interested and willing to share their time and talents with us. Anyone who would like to help with our clean up project is encouraged to call our offices at 630-629-1885.”—JAC

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Lombard calling. The statewide effort to restore food sources for the monarch butterfly, which is rapidly declining in numbers, received front-page coverage in the June 22 Tribune. The article said that the Lombard Garden Club has appealed to our park district to plant milkweed to feed the butterflies. I hope the park district will plant milkweed and join in the effort to save this beautiful monarch butterfly and help it make a comeback.

Residents can also do their part to help the monarch butterfly population thrive by obtaining free milkweed seeds through the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s education centers—Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Danada, Fullersburg, Kline Creek Far, Mayslake Peabody Estate and the administration center. Visit www.dupageforest.org for more information.—JAC

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Hey, Lombard. I like those new summertime banners; you’ve got a car, you’ve got baseball, you’ve got apple pie, a Chevrolet. The one I don’t get is, it looks like a brick wall. I don’t get it. Thank you.

It’s not a brick wall you’re up against; it’s a picnic basket.—blm

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Hello, Lombard. A couple of days ago I had the honor of checking out the new access to the Metra platforms. I don't remember ever seeing anything about anybody being injured walking across the tracks before this was built. I wonder how long it will be before somebody is accosted in the tunnel.  Am I missing some security feature that will prevent it? Maybe Metra will be posting the railroad police there 24/7.

Your concerns were forwarded to the Village of Lombard, which is acting as the local point of contact and communication for the project on behalf of Union Pacific and Metra. The village provided the following response:

“The Metra underpass was constructed because the original at-grade crossing was deemed as a potentially dangerous crossing situation by Union Pacific, due to the high volumes of people who crossed the tracks in order to access various parts of Lombard, as well as an increase of commuter traffic. The Village of Lombard’s primary concern is the safety of our residents and those visiting Lombard. To help maintain the village’s safety, the Metra tunnel prevents unnecessary pedestrian and train interaction, which will help keep our village safe. The Metra underpass tunnel is currently monitored by Lombard police and surveillance cameras will be installed shortly. The tunnel has been fitted with extensive lighting and will be well lit during all times of the day and night. Police presence in the area has been increased to help alleviate any concerns people might have when using the new tunnel. Any suspicious activity should be immediately reported to 9-1-1.”—blm

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Was Supreme Justice John Roberts blackmailed? That’s the headline on The Blaze by Wayne Root, author of “Murder of the Middle Class.” He goes on to say, which we’ve seen and theorized for a long time, that Republicans in D.C. have been blackmailed, intimidated, extorted and bribed. I’d love to see someone investigate Justice Roberts and Boehner, because these people have changed their whole personality and what they believed. There’s something rotten in Denmark—no, in D.C. Thank you.

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To the caller who suggested three ways to “solve” the immigrant problem, right off the top, who’s going to regulate that? Just more bureaucracy to deal with and policing of these people. Who will pay for these people to learn English if they have to attend some school? They likely can’t afford to. Lastly, pay their wages in currency that can’t be sent out of the country? Now we have to create a new monetary system? Besides, I don’t think we have the right to tell people how to spend their paycheck. Nice ideas in theory but costly, I fear, to put into practice.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. It’s 12:30 on July 2 and I’m very happy to let my fellow Lombardians know that the Great Western Trail is secure. I just saw two Lombard police on four-wheelers driving down to make sure that the Great Western Trail is secure. Great job, Lombard Police Department. As people are driving around the Village of Lombard talking on their cell phones, not paying attention and speeding, we’re making sure that not one but two Lombard police officers are securing the Great Western Trail. Good job, guys, way to go. Thanks, Lombard Police Department for making sure the Great Western Trail is secure—never mind the neighborhood.

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Mike Madigan, you haven’t been doing things right for the last 30 years. It’s about time to change. Go along with the governor and get this state moving. It’s all your fault, the problems we have, with your deficit spending and unfunded mandates to the local citizens. Do it now. Bye.

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Last week at a store in Yorktown, I heard a woman yelling at her young son to keep his hands to himself. I looked over where the angry voice was coming from and saw her yanking him by gripping him by the arm—hard. When she let go, he grabbed his arm and was rubbing it and even lifted his shirt to rub his chest, as if he bumped into something. The look on his face was heartbreaking. It took all my will power not to say something because what I observed seemed to border on abuse. I know better than to go clothes shopping with two young kids in tow—boredom gives way to mischief. Exasperation is no excuse to get that physical. She’s the one who needs to keep her hands to herself.

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The individual state income tax in Illinois is 3.75 percent. In Missouri it is 6 percent. In Wisconsin it is 7.65 percent. In Iowa, 8.98 percent. Indiana uses a formula and not a straight rate. Illinois is the third wealthiest state in the nation. This is a no brainer. If you are not going to close the corporate tax loopholes or stop the corporate tax giveaways, raise the personal income tax on the wealthiest 1 percent in this state. Rauner won’t like it; he made $60 million in 2013. We don’t know what he made last year because he apparently hasn’t yet filed his 2014 income tax return—he’s been busy. But he’s not going to move to Missouri while he is still governor here.

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Hi. I would like all Lombard residents to know about the great service you can get at Bill’s Auto Center on 330 Main in Lombard. This last Friday my friends and I were ready to go for a bike ride on the Great Western Trail. Mistakenly, I took apart a knob that I thought controlled the seat height. Then the four of us women could not put it together for anything. After driving to J and R cycle and seeing that it moved to St. Charles Road, we decided to stop at Bill’s. The mechanics were busy fixing cars, but Bill asked one to stop what he was doing, and the young man helped us immediately with the kindest of attitudes. If you ever need anything done to your car, I recommend you to take it to Bill’s. You will receive top service with a smile.

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Here we go again, Fourth of July and the people on the south end of Villa Park are blowing off fireworks and what sounds like half sticks of dynamite. These people are the only ones year after year in my neighborhood who do this. Thanks so much for being so considerate to your neighbors and to those who are suffering from PTSD. I hope this year the Villa Park police did something about it.

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I witnessed a good Samaritan the other day by Glenbard East. A young man was crossing Wilson on a bicycle and fell as he entered the crosswalk. A man in his car, facing east at the stop sign, not only stopped in time but was out of his car in seconds. I also stopped to see if I could help, but the man had it under control. Thankfully the young man seemed to have only a scrape on his elbow—I gave him a spare bandage—so I went on my way. It’s nice to see people willing to help.

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Yes, this is Lombard calling. It is the Fourth of July weekend, for the past 30 years looking forward to going to the Taste of Lombard and then listening to the bands and then on the Fourth of July night, watching the fireworks. Well, this year, I want to thank Laura Fitzpatrick; we didn’t have a Taste of Lombard, we didn’t have the bands and we’ll be only going to see fireworks. Thank you for ruining the Fourth of July. Thank you.

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Hi, I owe Lombard and Villa Park villages an apology for saying they don’t support our military because of yellow ribbons. It was not the villages I was asking to do it—it’s the people of our communities I was asking. Sorry, villages, I do thank the villages for what they do for our military and the people in the villages who send packages and cards, etc. That is very supportive of our military, but I do not agree that the yellow ribbon is an empty symbol. Ask the military soldiers who have returned and seen yellow ribbons around trees and poles and everything else. Again, I do not think that it’s an empty symbol. Thank you Lombard and Villa Park communities and the people of the communities.

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Well, here we go again. It’s July 4 and I’m already seeing commercials for Christmas on TV. Absolutely unbelievable. Christmas commercials July 4.

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Very disappointed in the Lombard police for not stopping the neighborhood fireworks on Madison Street across the street from Madison Meadow right after the fireworks display. This is getting worse, year after year.

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Lombard calling. Madigan sponsored a bill that would allow the schools to open in fall even if the budget had not been passed by then. He pushed it through the General Assembly. It was walked over to the governor, who immediately signed it, because no one wants the schools to remain closed. So why did none of our local Republican state reps vote for the bill? Are you trying to be the minority party? Please at least consider bills sponsored by the other guys before rejecting them. Thank you.

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Are the mosquitoes bad everywhere in Lombard or just at my house?

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Hi, I’m calling from Lombard. The mosquitoes are terrible. Aren’t you going to spray? It’s just horrible. All our leadership, put it together and spray. Bye.

See “Out and About” on Page 13 for more information.—JAC

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You know, it’s Thursday, July 2. You know what I don’t miss? I don’t miss the Taste of Lombard one bit. I thought for a second I would, but with all the smell and all the people and all the loud vulgarity and music, I’m truly glad the village decided not to have it.