I read a recent post from a concerned individual about our current District 44 superintendent and others at the district office. I’m confused. He/she states that they are upset about Dr. Robey being elected to the school board where he lives—why? Doesn’t this show that people in his community respect his opinion? Doesn't it show community involvement?  Doesn’t it also give him another lens in which to make decisions for our children? Also, he/she has an issue with helping district employees being approved for advancing their education—why? Don't most employers offer tuition or degree advancement opportunities? If they don't, shouldn't they? Don't we want lifelong learners at our district office? Would you complain if the principals were taking advanced courses? Would you complain if teachers were taking classes to improve their skills? I doubt it. I also read recently a complaint about the early childhood center being built. Is this really a bad thing? I'm thinking the people complaining must have children already at the high school level, or almost there and they have decided to “forget the other people.” I can't imagine anyone saying out loud, “Did you hear that our school district had the money to build a fantastic early childhood center without raising taxes and they're doing it, what jerks?!” Why can't we support people and see what happens? Why is everything so shocking and life-altering? Want to help out? Volunteer at the school.

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Hey, What the Lombard Park District isn't telling you is that when you go over to use that new fitness center, mostly the gym, the basketball courts, you're probably not going to be able to use it because they're going to rent it out to organized groups, tournaments, practices and so forth. So, when you want to go over there and play a little basketball with your kids or you want to go over there on a cold day to play some basketball, burn off some energy, you're going to be told, there's no open gym, there are no open courts.

Apparently you have been misinformed. Lombard Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs offered the following clarification: "Will the Park District rent out the basketball courts to organized groups? Yes, just as every facility of this type in Illinois does and reserves the right to do so. Will we rent it out for tournaments? I’m not sure what kinds of 'tournaments' you are referring to; however, due to the total time commitment for running most types of tournaments, it would interfere with our daily programming and open gym time, so chances are tournaments will be extremely limited and most likely aren’t going to happen at all. Will we rent it out for practices? I am sure we will. Just as we do at the Paradise Bay Water Park and Sunset Knoll Recreation Center, we will maximize the use of this space in an effort to recoup costs for the taxpayers and at the same time keep the costs down for all other facility users. The question the caller should have simply asked is 'Will the Park District offer dedicated open-gym time for me to bring my kids so we can exercise and burn off some excess energy and play basketball?' The answer to that is a resounding OF COURSE!!  The Park District will dedicate and schedule hours for open gym for exactly that purpose. Once again, should you have any other questions regarding the new facility or anything else Park District related, please feel free to call me anytime at 630-953-6016, Paul Friedrichs, Executive Director, LPD."—JAC

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Hi. I’ve been walking on the Great Western Trail for quite a few years now and I noticed that a yard just east of Ardmore has become increasingly an eyesore. It looks like a dump with all the impounded cars, old equipment, bricks and junk; I think it's an embarrassment that this is allowed for everyone to see while they're walking, riding their bike, running through Villa Park, so I'm wondering if it's possible to put up a privacy fence to hide this area since it's not being maintained very well. Thank you.

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The Maple Street Chapel Heritage Concert was fantastic. What a musical extravaganza; it was just so great. If you missed it, I'm sorry. Hope you can make it next year. They really do a great job. Continued success, Maple Street Chapel.

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Hello, Lombard. This is with regard to the person calling out the Glenbard Rams Athletic Boosters regarding Glendale Heights. If they appeared more inclusive with everybody, then maybe more people would participate, but they seem to make some people feel like an outsider and it's very hard to get involved when you're not part of what feels like a clique. Thank you.

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The Trump administration wants to cut funding for Meals on Wheels. How heartless can they be? The people who receive those meals need those meals. For many, the wonderful people who deliver those meals are the only visitors they get.

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I don't know what is sadder: the president's supporters who are so desperate for him to succeed that they attack anyone who objects to his actions, or those who pay to attend fundraisers for his re-election to hear promises of what he will accomplish four years from now.

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The April 6 SPEAK OUT included a question asking, “Where is Donald Trump's wife?” I'd like to borrow from a recent column by Jazz Shaw. Writing about first ladies, he noted, "Nobody voted for them. They have no official position in the government. They are not supposed to be setting policy or conducting the work of the people in any fashion.” Referring to Melania Trump, Shaw added, “At least she's not trying to destroy the school lunch program with a bunch of leaves and twigs that the kids won't eat. She didn't run for any office or volunteer for any duty.” Well said.

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It is 19 months before his next election and the governor—who still has not performed his constitutional duty of proposing a balanced budget—is already running commercials of himself in a flannel shirt and a garage telling us how he is going to fix Illinois. To borrow the terminology of another field, this is an extinction burst. The adults in the room—the Democratic and Republican leadership in the Senate—are about to make him irrelevant.

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Hello, SPEAK OUT. We're going on year three that Ken Loch has been vacant. I'm curious to know if you know what's going on with it? I realize it's county property, not Lombard, but thought you folks might be able to shed some light on it. Thank you.

Here is what Lombard officials related: “The questioner is correct that the property is unincorporated and it will be developed under DuPage County regulations. The project will be named and marketed as the Woodmoor Development. Donven Homes is the proposed developer of the property and the approved 100 townhome units. Urban Street Group LLC will be the developer of the approved 288 apartment units. The village’s engagement will pertain to any constructed public improvements within the Finley Road right-of-way, any of the constructed public water mains and any of the off-site stormwater improvements located on land within the village. Based upon the latest discussions with the village, they intend to start construction on the project in 2017 once DuPage County and the village approve final engineering plans. They have represented that they will undertake a communications effort regarding their construction activities once the plans are approved.  This effort will include a future community meeting in which all aspects of the construction phases will be presented to attendees.”—JAC

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OK, the people have spoken and Villa Park will now tax people twice as much as just fixing the library would have cost. Let's hope it is worth the expense.

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Another pathetic performance from DuPage County's election results team. It's election night and the results site is down. These guys have a pretty simple job. Publish the results on election night. This isn't the first time there's been a problem with the county's Web site on an election night. Who's running this operation? I'm looking forward to the lame excuses from the county. "We didn't know people would be going online for results…we had a lot of visitors on our site that night." Who could have imagined the site would receive a lot of traffic on election night? Whoever is in charge of this should have to answer for his or her apparent incompetence. Of course, we are talking about government, so there probably won't be any accountability.

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Helen Plum Library supporters, ask yourself one simple question. If your neighbor won the lottery, does that give them the right to knock down their house and build a larger one that will extend onto your property? Of course not. No one is saying you can't build a new library. Just build one with a little common sense.

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Hi. I'm a retired Lombard School District 44 teacher and also a community member. I’ve been reading the spots in SPEAK OUT and on social media regarding the current administration. I'm proud to say I was a member of a district that knows it takes a village to educate children. I'm aware of the teacher presence at the board meetings and confident that their presence is not for their disdain for this current administration but for all stakeholders in this district. They are also there for all stakeholders in the district—children, parents, secretaries, taxpayers, custodians, nurses, principals, instructional aides, caseworkers, etc. who are seemingly not being treated with the respect that built this district's trusted reputation. Does the board take an opportunity to ever seek feedback from these other important stakeholders? For once it's not about pay grades but ironically it is a sad story about a district that once founded the pillars of Character Counts! that is now looking for its own character. Thank you.

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Villa Park calling. Thursday, April 6, the Villa Park Review issue, the first issue after election, didn't publish the voting results of these candidates or the propositions that affect our city. Not everyone wants to go online. That's why I'm purchasing your paper. I feel they should still be published. It's a big oversight on your part. Thank you.

Editor's note: The Lombardian and Villa Park Review go to press on Tuesday afternoon; thus, election results were not published in last week’s issue. Election results can be found in this week’s issue.—JAC

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This is Lombard calling. After reading so many unhappy comments in SPEAK OUT, I have a suggestion. Take a walk to the Corner House on Park and St. Charles. Sit and relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the artwork, and the friendly baristas. Just chill out.

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Yes, Lombard resident calling. To all the Lombard residents: We should all call Aldi's corporate office and tell them we need an Aldi's in Lombard in the old Mr. Z store. Thank you.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling in reference to the March 30 edition of SPEAK OUT. I'm going to refer to the paragraph that said the person was thinking that Dr. Larson of School District 87 was talking in a condescending way, or it seemed that way to her. Well, I think he was the same way. First of all, in talking about private and parochial schools in the area, it appears a small percentage of the teachers they have are younger teachers. With that, they've been there a few years. These teachers are not there for the salaries, obviously, or they wouldn't be in these schools.