I live in Lombard and pay property taxes. Recently I became unemployed. The company's office moved to Idaho. Today, I needed to fax paperwork out of state in order to receive compensation. I went to Helen Plum Library to fax. I did expect a fee but I didn't expect to have to pay $7 for six black and white pages plus the required Helen Plum cover sheet, which they told me they were not charging me for. I asked how much it would have been if I didn't have a library card. Same amount, I was told. Does anyone believe something is wrong with the fee?

Your comments were forwarded to the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, which responded: “The cost(s) for the Helen Plum Library’s fees and fines are currently being reviewed by the Board of Trustees Policy and Bylaws Committee with recommendations for change. The fee structure for faxing was originally developed to cover the costs for equipment, paper and the connection. Currently a $2 fee is charged for the first page of a document sent out of state, and an additional $1 per page. If patrons have the option to scan and e-mail documents, they can do so at no cost.”—JAC

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois has seen growth in the number of businesses in the state for 49 consecutive quarters. No other state can match that steady and sustained growth. In that time, minimum wage has increased five times, and the prevailing wage laws were strengthened on multiple occasions. But let’s not let facts get in the way of governin’. The governor’s “reform” agenda, which is supposedly to attract more businesses to Illinois, is actually about enhancing the wealth of those who already have big money at the expense of those who do not. Why do you think he ran for office?

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Good snowy morning. I guess if we live in Lombard we don’t live far enough north geographically. I was driving in Wisconsin yesterday coming back into Lombard and when I turned south on Main Street off North Avenue, I was more than embarrassed. This is probably about 8 p.m. so I think there was adequate time to clear the street. What an embarrassment. When people say, “You live in Lombard?” I say, “Yes, I do.” Have a good day. Take care.

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This is in response to the person who indicated that “our librarian again wants a new library” and “in 10 to 15 years there will be no use for a library…” in the SPEAK OUT section of the Feb. 10 issue of the Villa Park Review. I am a Villa Park library board trustee who wants to correct the idea that a new library is the plan. The board of trustees made the decision to renovate and expand the library by about 10,000 square feet rather than build new because the structure of the library is sound, and more space would be realized for the money. As to the idea that libraries will not be relevant, last year our library had 228,911 total visits, 1,807 attendees at adult programs and 4,126 attendees at youth services programs as well as over 280,000 items checked out. Please attend our open house on Monday, April 18, at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. to learn about the building needs of our 47-year-old library and what can be offered to our residents with a renovated and expanded library.

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In regard to Justice Scalia passing away, it’s flabbergasting to hear Republicans who say “Obama ignores the Constitution” then tell Obama to ignore the Constitution. Have Republicans forgotten that Reagan appointed Kennedy during the 1988 election cycle?

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This is to all the people who, after it snows out, can’t take two minutes to brush the snow off all their windows. If you’re in a parking lot, whether it be a mall, a store or an apartment complex and you don’t clean off your windows, do not give me a certain gesture when you’re backing up and almost hit me while I’m in my company vehicle. It would have been your fault. Take two minutes to at least clean off your windows if you’re not going to clean off your car. I almost got hit five times today while on my route in an apartment complex because people were too lazy to clean off their windshields and all their windows. It would have been your fault, not mine. Thank you. And here’s hoping you finally clean off your windshield and your windows.

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I want to say thank you to some of the local news channels. This is Tuesday; there’s a light band of snow that’s going through. We could get anything from a trace to a whopping one-half inch of snow, yet they have reporters driving live, in cars, to where the snow is to tell us how hazardous conditions are. Really? One-tenth or a trace of snow up to a half an inch and this relegates time on the news to eight minutes? We know how to drive in the snow. Well, most people do. What a waste.

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I wanted to launch a formal complaint about the ComEd tree trimmers. As a Lombard resident, I’m very dissatisfied with their efforts to trim the trees. They’re not doing a very good job. They’re hurting the trees, not to mention the squirrels are without a home. There are no dry leaves so where are they supposed to go? They’re knocking the nests right out of the trees. There’s a tree in front of our house that looks horrible. It’s so sad what they’re doing. Can they get some botanist or somebody who knows what they’re doing, to trim trees, or give them some lessons? Thank you.

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I’m reading the paper from the 17th, today. I, too, have Wayne as a carrier. I’d like to let the people know that these guys really work hard and Wayne is to me the best mailman around. I just wish everybody would stop complaining about these poor guys. They do stuff in all kinds of weather, so let’s give a shout-out to the Lombard Post Office. Thank you very much.

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I just received my primary election notice paper and you have instructions in English and Spanish. You should not cater to one nationality. If you do it for one you must do it for the other nationalities. If they cannot read English then they cannot vote. Thank you, bye.

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Congratulations Lombard on the worst idea ever; of the flashing beacon on Main Street and the Prairie Path. As stated in the notice in the posting online, Illinois state law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk and just like at any other intersection, drivers are not required to stop for people on sidewalks waiting to cross the road. You are only required to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. So just one more reason for people to come to a screeching halt in the middle of Main Street, where there’s not a stop light, to cause more accidents. Why don’t we just put up a stop light or put up a bridge?

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So once again Villa Park sees a need to utilize the Willowbrook auditorium for its State of the Village address this year, even though attendance is normally less than 50 residents, minus staff, of course, sometimes less than 20 residents. The use of such a large venue appears to be an ego-booster for the board. The village hall would be more than sufficient. The major accomplishment has been nothing but becoming a regular and continuous taxing body for the Villa Park board. Unfortunately, that’s all. Thank you.

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This is Villa Park calling. I’m responding to the person who does not know the value of the library in the community. There is no way they understand the importance of the library and need to visit it. The library is more of a community center and the heartbeat of the community, rather than just somewhere to pick up library books. They’re doing a great injustice not visiting the library and seeing what it has to offer all the members of the community. We need to vote to keep the library alive in Villa Park.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just wanted to thank the person who plowed the 100 block of South Stewart Avenue this winter. I believe this person went all the way down Stewart and then all the way down and around to Lombard Avenue, too. I just want to thank you for doing that for the neighborhood. Have a great day. Thank you, bye.

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First of all, I am not a Trump follower, but the media is criticizing and even calling the backers of Trump names. Wait a minute. Why does he have this following? Because the politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, have apparently deceived, lied and ignored the people they supposedly represent. Look at our situation at the state and federal level. How well off are we? And the future of our children? It’s not the Trump followers who should be criticized and maligned. People are looking for someone they can trust and follow. Clearly the politicians at this point are not the answer. The electorate is anxious, fearful and very angry.

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I am going to help you make a decision when it comes to elect somebody for the new president of the United States. And the criterion is this: Many of them are very qualified. Many of them would make a decent president, but the biggest thing you must look at, trust. Who can you trust to do what they say they will do? There are a lot of them making promises you’ll never, ever see it, you’ll never, ever hear about it. They’re liars and they don’t keep their word. George Herbert Walker Bush once said, “Read my lips,” so people read his lips, but then he voted for the tax increase.

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Why are the illegals coming to America? Evidently they’d be welcome at the Vatican.

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Helen Plum, you scored another hit. “Hot and Cole, the Music of Cole Porter” with Matt and Cynthia Gruel. Fantastic entertainment. It was a very worthwhile hour at the Plum Library this afternoon. Way to go, Helen Plum. Keep up the good work and let’s get this group back again. Really great talent. Thank you.

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Hello, here’s an idea in which the Village of Lombard and the Lombard Park District could work together. The park district could gather up all the geese that are gathering in Lombard Common and Madison Meadow. The village could hold them and pen them in, in the empty parking lot of Mr. Z’s or Kmart, or the old DuPage Theatre. Someplace where nothing is going on and these geese won’t bother anyone.