Hi, this is Lombard calling. I use Westmore Avenue between Roosevelt and St. Charles to commute every day, and I'm tired of seeing speeders doing well above the posted speed limits and endangering lives of people. I'd like to see more done by the police department. Who's going to respect the law if we don't enforce it? I look forward to seeing something done about it. Thanks.

Your concern was forwarded to Lombard officials, who responded: “The Lombard Police Department takes the issue of speeding very seriously. In 2016, the Lombard Police Department made 16,445 traffic stops (a 6 percent increase compared to 2015) and issued 7,953 traffic citations. Despite the fact that the Lombard Police Department actively enforces speeding in all areas of Lombard on a continual basis, some motorists actively choose to violate posted speed limits. Lombard Police participated in Speed Awareness Day on July 27, resulting in 114 traffic stops for speeding violations. Out of this number, 41 motorists were given warnings and 73 received citations for speeding, with two aggravated speeding tickets issued. The majority of the enforcement was focused on Westmore-Meyers Road, between Roosevelt and St. Charles roads. In addition, added enforcement is scheduled for the area. Please feel free to reach out to the Lombard Police for any additional questions you may have at 630-620-4400.”—JAC

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The Helen Plum Library Board of Trustees needs to stop being apparently irresponsible by not considering a different location for the library. The park district is never going to cave in to their demands. The library not only has a very old boiler, but also no sprinkler system, endangering the public and all the library's books and equipment.

Your comments were forwarded to library officials, who responded: “The trustees have considered many locations away from Lilacia Park, downtown and the Metra station, but along with consultants, have determined that none are suitable at this time. If you want details on why a particular location is not being considered, feel free to look on our Next Chapter site or contact us directly.”—JAC

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Wow. That woman who put her car in forward instead of reverse and fell seven stories and lived is now suing the parking garage. This is just crazy. She should be thanking God every day that she is alive and well. I sincerely hope our courts do not give her anything. If anything should be paid, the parking garage should have her pay for the damage to the seventh floor. What do you think?

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The president spoke on Monday, Aug. 21, about our future in Afghanistan; the next day I heard on the radio that Sen. Tammy Duckworth was critical of how he didn't specify what his plan is. When it comes to spending on programs, I want to hear details about how they will be paid for using my tax dollars. However, Ms. Duckworth, I don't think giving away details about our military strategy and tactics is in the best interest of our service men and women. I leave that to the experts. Would you let your opponent know where you've placed your bombs in a game of Stratego? I think not.

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To get an idea of what the library is proposing go look at the recreation center being built on the Wilson Street side of Madison Meadow park. That is a two-story 38,000-square-foot building. Now picture a two-story 55,000-square-foot building where the current library is. How would that look to you? Don't forget to go into Lilacia Park and look south at the First Church steeple; you won't see that anymore; you will see a giant brick wall.

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None of us wants to see violence at any freedom of speech rally. But, when a radical group—Nazis, White Supremacists, KKK, etc.—do not follow the permit rules, violence was the result.  They were given specific rules on where the rally/march was to be held.  They entered from a different street, where the police were not watching and caught off guard. They carried guns—they wanted trouble. Violence is wrong, but as a veteran, with veteran father and grandfather, we all fought for our freedom against Nazis. We don't let ISIS have rallies because that also would lead to violence. Let's get real and not permit "hate" rallies anywhere. This is not limiting freedom of speech; it is saying we Americans do not stand for, or allow, hate to be on display.

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I just came back from Mass and found out the church doesn't have a cry room. A family with three unruly kids was seated in front of me and ruined my whole experience.

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Stupid is as stupid does. The future can change but history doesn't. All you can do if you have the use of reason is to learn from the past; burning books and tearing down monuments doesn't change how our ancestors felt back then. Thank you.

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Hey, thanks for that update about the speeding auto special project that you did in Lombard. What's going on with all the car burglaries in Lombard? How's the special detail, the special project going to catch that person(s)?

Your questions were forwarded to village officials, who responded: “Car burglaries are on the rise in most of Chicago area suburbs, including Lombard. The majority of these crimes involve unlocked or open vehicles. As such, Lombard Police have issued press releases communicated to the public, encouraging them to always lock their car doors. We continue to work together with other law enforcement agencies in the Chicagoland area in order to deter these types of burglaries and to ultimately hold the suspects responsible for their actions. If the caller is referring to the enforcement during Speed Awareness Day on July 27, and how this enforcement will impact potential burglaries, then the answer would be that increased police presence is always a good way to decrease crime. The Speed Awareness Day enforcement is not related to, nor is it designed to focus on burglaries. However, increased traffic enforcement has been shown to discourage criminals from frequenting areas and to reduce crime.  As always, we are here to answer your questions. Please feel free to reach out to the Lombard Police Department with any questions you may have at 630-620-4400.”—JAC

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I have a question for the person who called in, in a recent paper, about the wonderful things Donald Trump has done for the country. He or she mentions six, seven, eight good things for the country and the people. I'm sorry, but I can't seem to remember even one. I wish this individual would enlighten me.

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School District 45 in Villa Park should be ashamed of their handling of the solar eclipse on Aug. 21. Instead of treating it as a scientific phenomenon, it was treated as an inclement weather day, according to the letter that the superintendent sent out.

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Hi, Lombard. Regarding the person who's talking about racism and pointing toward Trump and you must be offended, I agree. Any supremacist view is wrong. However, you didn't really touch on any other issues such the Antifa protesters who are spitting on cops, throwing rocks at cops; basically hate our military, burn our flag. The people in Trump's crowd had flags and it was absolutely wrong what happened but when we looked at the video of when those people were hit by the car, they were jumping on this car. It was hit with a sign. The mainstream news media doesn't show you all that.

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Great solar eclipse viewing party at the library. A mother and a son shared their glasses with me. I did not get to thank them. Thanks mom and son, I really appreciated your generosity; really made it a unique experience. Also, a nice young man gave me confidence to climb the stairs to the deck where the party was taking place. I asked if he was out of school and he said he was home-schooled but hadn't started yet. He talked me up the stairs, saying, "See, only four here, and then you can rest, and then you're almost there." Very polite and helpful. Nice to see so many good people around, especially here in Lombard.

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The Helen Plum Library Board is not looking out for the taxpayers. The library board should have gone to the park district and obtained approval of a building and location prior to going to referendum; they are doing it backwards. The referendum asked for a tax increase for a new building; voters did not vote on a location. The Library Board decided to stay where they are. The voters were sold on a library drawing that was not approved by anybody, and can't be built where it is. The library board is not telling the taxpayers they could save over $2 million by not converting and renting a temporary library. It is cheaper and a better use of our taxes to build at another location. They are collecting higher taxes and wasting them on lawyers and architects for a building they want to shoe box into a location that won't work. Please do the right thing and build a library for a better cost at a different location and quit your incompetence. I will support a recall referendum to send the library tax rate back to the level prior to November 2016 and make them do this the right way.

According to library officials, “Prior to the referendum, we determined that the costs for an interim Helen Plum Library location is $900,000 and that remains our budget.”—JAC

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Lombard resident. I just wanted to call to point out the irony of so many Trump voters telling us to sit back and just deal with the election results, who are now telling us to reverse the referendum that passed in November on the library. Why can't they work with the community and deal with those election results? Thank you.

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When are people going to speak out on critical issues? There's a proposal for the tearing down of statues or the renaming of a park that has Washington's name. Or the removal of a statue from Washington, D.C. Wait now, that has to be more important than children being shot and killed in the streets of Chicago, or how many of them get a good education. Are we happy with the performance of Congress on our tax reform of Obamacare? We are really screwed up in this country that don't shout down the proponents of discord who want to tear down for their own goals, aims and profits.

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Hello. It sounds like the park board and library board need to have a joint meeting and figure out what's best for the people of Lombard who have elected them to represent them and the best interests of the people of Lombard. Perhaps if they can't do that we could have an independent negotiator meet with them and iron this thing out. Sounds like again that would be the best thing for the people of Lombard who need and want, by everything that's been reported, a nice new library for the future. Thank you.

Editor's note: As of press time, the two boards and directors were slated to meet on Monday, Aug. 28.—JAC

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Hello, friends. If our biggest problem is Cruise Nights noise, we Lombardians should feel very fortunate. Proud resident since 1962.

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Hi. I just want to answer the person who was talking about how much education he or she has and intelligence he or she has; that we are stupid people for voting for Trump. Do you think because you have more education that makes you more intelligent than some of us? It doesn't work that way. Name all the things Obama did to make the country great. As far as I can see, you're part of the reason why this country's going to pot. Thank you, bye.

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Hello. I'm a Lombard resident and I have a question. I'm wondering why we don't have any farmer's market in Lombard this year. I've checked around all the usual places, I've seen it in past years and there's nothing there, so I'm just curious as to why not. I'm close enough to a few others that I can go there, but anyway, just wondered. Thank you very much. Bye.

Your inquiry was forwarded to Lombard officials, who responded: “The Farmers Markets that have [been] located in both the downtown Lombard and at Yorktown Center are private businesses, similar to other seasonal business entities. For 2017, no private entity came forward to operate such a market.  However, if such a market sought to open in the future, the village can work with the respective property owner and the market vendor accordingly.”—JAC

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Good morning, Lombard. It was a shame to read in SPEAK OUT about the elderly man who removed his American flag. Instead of focusing on the negative in our country, we should be looking at all of the positive things our America has to offer. Many men and women gave their lives for our freedom. Two of my children and my son-in-law belong to the National Guard. One day they may be called on to give their lives for America's freedom. I will still fly my flag with pride. We are still one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all. You can't find that in any other country. God bless America.

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Last year the Helen Plum Library Board presented a depiction of a library to be built at their current location. They apparently knew at that time that they did not have permission from the park district to build this library as depicted. But the library board went ahead and displayed this proposed building asking residents to vote for a tax increase to build this new library. The definition of fraud is; wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. I suggest the library keep the new tax money they are receiving in an escrow account, they might have to return the funds to the taxpayers.

Your comments were forwarded to library officials, who responded: “The Library Board has created a Capitol Projects Fund for any increased revenue from the tax increase. These funds will be used solely for the purpose of design, construction and new equipment for the new library facility.”—JAC