Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy the new layout for your paper. It’s very concise and easy to read and especially for us seniors to read the Sudoku and the crossword puzzle with our aging eyes. I hope you keep it up that way. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

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Resident has tried to report a missing stop sign at Elizabeth and Crystal. Neither the police nor public works will take the information. I guess we need to wait for an accident. Oh, well.

According to information provided by Village of Lombard officials, “There is no record of a stop sign ever being installed at the location of Elizabeth and Crystal.  Stop signs may only be installed at intersections if certain criteria defined within the Village of Lombard Traffic Code are met. Per the Traffic Code, there is no such requirement for a stop sign at that location. The intersection is subject to the right-of-way laws established in the Illinois Vehicle Code and the police department has not handled any crashes at that intersection during the past five years. Please contact Sgt. Joe Grage at 630-873-4667 if you have any questions.”—JAC

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This is Lombard calling regarding the person who called in about not having a True Value or Ace Hardware in Lombard. Just to let the know, we have a wonderful hardware store on Meyers Road, Schroeder’s Ace Hardware. The staff is wonderful, knowledgeable and couldn’t be more helpful. We’re lucky to have it. Thank you.

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Driving east on St. Charles Road past the Hammerschmidt parking lot, I was happy to see all the wildflowers. So very pretty. A welcome addition to the area. Way to go, Lombard.

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If we want to give our brave military personnel the best chance to succeed, I think it’s best to keep our military strategy confidential. There are 10,000 troops right now in Afghanistan. Why does President Obama saying we’re going to pull 4,500 out and only 5,500 left by the end of the year? I think he should be keeping that confidential. If Japan would have told us they were going to attack us on Dec. 7, 1941, I don’t think their invasion would have been that successful. Again , we have to really wonder, what side is Obama really on?

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To the caller responding to the person who wished for a hardware store in the former Mr. Z site, who mentioned the Ace Hardware on Meyers, yes, it is a nice store. Helpful employees and a longtime staple. However, for those of us living at the northwest end of Lombard, it is not convenient like, say, the former True Value that used to be where the pet store is today. I don’t like having to go to Menards all the time—probably the same distance as Ace, but it is a straight shot down North Avenue, convenience-wise—not having to make my way over to Meyers Road. Same for a grocery store. It would be nice to have a store, hardware or otherwise, on Main Street without having to go all the way to Roosevelt Road, driving through all the stoplights. Just my opinion.

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I think there have been enough calls to SPEAK OUT about the libraries. Nobody has mentioned having their mind changed, and I don’t think it’s going to happen. It is obvious some people are for and others are against. Thus it’s time to move on to something else. I don’t want my taxes to go up, but at the same time, I think the libraries do an important service by having rooms for storytimes and programs like in the auditorium. These are group activities that promote literacy, a place to share common interests like a book club or discussion and offer opportunities for parents and young children to participate in programs—in real time with other human beings, not in a virtual reality. Unlike some park district programs—where we also pay taxes–these are free. I don’t participate in these, but my tax dollars help fund them, and I’m not complaining. If anyone can come up with a solution or compromise for the library to use its existing funds, or borrow a lesser amount, why not propose it to the library officials?

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Hello, this is Lombard calling. It is the Fourth of July, 7:20 p.m., sitting down in Madison Meadow park, where it used to be bustling with people, with a band, with Taste of Lombard; now we’re sitting out here—there’s nobody around. Yes, people are coming in, not for the fest they used to have for so many years. It’s totally sad that one trustee had the power to shut down the Taste of Lombard. It’s totally sad. Thank you.

Your comments were forwarded to Village of Lombard officials, who responded: “The Taste of Lombard was organized and operated by the Lombard Jaycees, an independent organization which dissolved in 2014. In 2015, the Lombard Pride Committee, formed to advise the village on matters relating to special events and festivals, issued a formal Request for Proposals seeking a qualified not-for-profit group to operate a future summer community event or festival. Despite initial interest, no formal proposals have been received. The village encourages groups to come forward and we are continually open to accepting proposals from interested groups. If you are a member of an organization that would have the ability to operate a summer festival in Lombard, please visit www.villageoflombard.org/pridecommittee for more information on how to undertake this effort. The village sponsors and supports multiple community events including the Fourth of July fireworks, Cruise Nights and Summer Concerts, Spooktacular and Jinglebell Jubilee throughout the year. In addition, in the absence of the Taste of Lombard, several new carnivals have been hosted by community organizations and groups for residents to enjoy. While these events are not associated with the village, you may find a list of these and other community events at www.villageoflombard.org/villagecalendar.”—JAC

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Attorney General Loretta Lynch said she will accept the decision of the career prosecutors, investigator and FBI Director James Comey whether to bring criminal charges in the ongoing investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server while secretary of state. It’s really unusual how she actually met with Hillary’s husband, former president Bill Clinton, in her government plane. In 1999, then-President Bill Clinton appointed her chief federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, N.Y. It’s really crazy how these Democrats seem to cover each others’ behinds. Remember there was a case where Johnnie Cochran said, if the glove doesn’t fit, you’ve got to acquit. We all know what happened with that case. I’m voting for Trump.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. To all my neighbors and friends on West Sunset Avenue in Lombard, I would personally like to thank someone who blew off fireworks from Thursday up until the night of July 4. You drove our dogs crazy, you were ignorant and rude, but I certainly hope you didn’t hurt yourself. All I can say is, wait until your father gets home. You are in a heap of trouble. The final draw was blowing off fireworks at 2:30 a.m. Even if it was a holiday weekend, you have to show at least a sliver of compassion for your neighbors. You live in a neighborhood. To be a good neighbor is not that difficult. I hope you learned a lesson and hope that you’re not going to do it again next year.

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I would suggest that everyone go on the Helen Plum Library site and look at how much the taxes are going to go up in 2016. On a $7,500 tax bill currently on your property they’re talking about going up almost $150 next year. That’s not $250, that’s in addition of $150. I don’t why they would do it. Libraries are definitely an antiquated source of knowledge and we do not need more playtime. Thank you very much. Please, everybody check it out. Everybody voice your opinion. Something has to be done.

According to Sue Wilsey, communications manager for the Helen Plum Library: “A property with a $7,500 annual tax bill will see an increase of $180 toward the Helen Plum Library. For decades, Lombard’s public library has provided services for the community at the lowest cost per capita of any of the other area communities with comparable populations (a comparison chart is available at helenplum.org). As far as libraries being antiquated, the most recent Pew Report indicates than two-thirds of Americans agree that libraries are important because they improve the quality of life in a community, promote literacy and reading, and provide many people with a chance to succeed. Public libraries are community anchors that address economic, education and health disparities in the community. Educational programs, print and digital books, databases, meeting spaces and instruction on how to use new technologies are also among the many resources and services provided by libraries.”—JAC

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just wanted to say I like my little library and I’m kind of offended that somebody comes in from out of town and thinks it’s all so terrible that it all needs just to be torn down and built up the way it is in her town. Maybe if she likes it so much there she should go back to her town. Thanks, bye.

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Regarding the call about the Lombard gun shop; that “den of iniquity” has been there for at least the last five years and you’ve only now become aware of it? Perhaps it’s not the evil influence you fear after all. Recently a handful of well-meaning but seemingly misguided anti-gun extremists held a demonstration in front of the shop. They were easily outnumbered 10 to one by pro-gun-rights supporters. Passing motorists enthusiastically indicated support for the gun shop, the Second Amendment and American freedom. It seems the great majority of your fellow citizens agree that the shop does, indeed, belong. Can’t we all just get along?

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About the upcoming election, there’s been a lot of people bad-mouthing Donald Trump. They don’t like what he stands for or what he says. But give the man a chance. We’ve got a lot of other people and nobody has been successful in correcting our serious problems in this country. The man in office is a big mistake. Every time he opens his mouth he’s seemingly contradicting what he said the year before. He hasn’t brought peace in this country. He hasn’t brought the change he promised. He hasn’t done anything he said he would do. So, give Donald  Trump a chance. Give the man the opportunity to make the changes. If he doesn’t, we’ll remove him from office. We need somebody to do something. We cannot continue the way we are. Vote and give the man a chance.

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Coming across SPEAK OUT I see that someone says there is a need for a tax increase on my property to help rebuild the Helen Plum Library. Well, it is not a need to tax me for something that is no longer needed in the 21st century. All the research, all the book reading, anything you can do that pertains to books or research is found on the Internet. As far as all your other programs, that would seem to follow the guise of a park district, not of a library. Why should I care if you have after-school programs. Where is the park district in this? Thank you.

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In response to the person who wants a hardware store at Mr. Z’s, we need a grocery store there, not a hardware store. We have a great Schroeder’s Ace Hardware on Westmore Avenue. Take a look.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I want to invite everyone to come to the DuPage County Fair, which will be the last week in July. The county fair has been going on for 60-some-odd years, and we have the lease until at lease 2020. We’d like to show the support. It’s a great opportunity for the kids. There will be a petting zoo, there will be a rodeo, a demolition derby, music and fun for all. Please come out and support your local county fair. Thank you.