I've been a Republican all my life and must say I am thoroughly embarrassed by the performance of our current president. We must not pass health or tax laws that people and/or the country cannot afford. He has not helped in any way to "unite" people of our country.  It is up to each of us to be kind to one another and treat each other fairly.

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It was stated the library board took on "good faith" that the park district would work with them if the referendum passed. The library board/officials said they needed to pass this referendum because of the poor condition of the existing building. Oh, just in case the new building couldn't get built? That was not the spin to voters. It was all about the need for a larger building, not to use that money to fix the existing one. Sounds like they were gambling that it would all work out; betting with our money. The library board president says on the website they have shown as many as 10 designs to the park board, all of which have been rejected. What are we taxpayers paying the architects for and how much is that costing us to repeatedly go back to the drawing board? I'd find another firm, and furthermore, shame on those who keep passing along unacceptable plans. Either the design violates the air space or it doesn't. Maybe it's time for taxpayers to find out if there are grounds to rescind the tax increase for what seems like a "bridge to nowhere."

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A new "rule" from Trump. Now he demands that everyone stand up every time the national anthem is played anywhere. I know most of us pay almost no attention to our "president," but he wants to be a dictator. He could be a dictator at his businesses, but we must not let him dictate laws or "rules" that suit him. It's time to repeal and replace our president.

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Hasn't the NFL fined or threatened to fine players for making throat-slashing gestures, performing excessive celebrations or dances in the end zone after touchdowns and wearing certain shoes that don't conform with league rules? The league wants to crack down on all kinds of behavior, but it doesn't have a problem with people disrespecting the national anthem?

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Kneeling is a sign of respect for God in our churches, but not for our flag? I served in the military and don't see a problem with someone facing the flag, being quiet and thereby respecting our flag and country.

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When the Helen Plum Library Board presented a depiction of a library to be built in the current location, they apparently knew at that time they did not have permission from the park district to build this library, but the library board went ahead and displayed this proposed building, asking residents to vote for a tax increase to build this new library. Personally, my taxes went up over $700 a year for the library. Now that this library is not being built, do we get a tax refund? Do we need to have this tax increase repealed? When the library board told voters the new library was a done deal, when it really wasn't, that sounds like deception and fraud. I voted no for the library funding. I wonder how all the people who voted yes feel now. Our taxes have increased for something that is seemingly not going to materialize.

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Some churches are donating clothes and shoes from rummage sales to disaster relief. Castle Chevrolet in Villa Park is a collection point—thanks Castle Chevrolet. I hope many churches will consider donating jeans, shirts and shoes to the relief effort.  These poor people have nothing left — donating money is great, but clothes go 100 percent to the people, with no organization taking a cut.

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Jason Brandt—the park district said no. Continually throwing the park district under the bus won't change anything. You are just making things worse, if that is possible. Move on. The park district made it clear: What part of no don't you understand? With the money you have already wasted and will continue to waste in the future plus the temporary location costs, you could buy Z's. Z's has a very large and safer parking lot. In fact, you once wanted to build an underground parking lot for the new library because you knew the current parking wouldn't be enough for the new library in its current location. Now parking doesn't matter anymore? Sometimes we need to honor the past by living in the present and planning for the future. How about a beautiful thank you statue and plaque honoring the Plums, including some lilac bush plantings from the park district in the new location? Don't blow this opportunity for a new library. This is embarrassing to Lombard. Voters won't give you another chance. Lombardians, attend the next library board meeting and show you really care about your town. Please demand the library show you their perfect plans.

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I called in that Trump supporters are ill-informed. Someone responded that he or she has a PhD. Well, I wouldn't brag about it. Because you have a PhD doesn't make you intelligent; it just makes you ill-informed. I do not watch CNN News. I watch Trump in office and the man is a buffoon. He's got us on the brink of nuclear war; he has no idea what he's doing. I have lived through presidents from Kennedy on up to him. He does not know what he's doing. This man in this office is a disgrace to the United States of America and I would not want to go around telling people I have a PhD and I voted for him.

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Lombard calling. In recent weeks the number of Donald Trump supporters have called SPEAK OUT to celebrate his many accomplishments. His nine months as president are indeed remarkable in American history. In that short time he's brought us to the brink of war with North Korea, he's alienated virtually every U.S. ally around the world, he's tried to take health care coverage away from tens of millions of Americans. He's reversed scores of laws, regulations and rules to make our environment less healthy, our food less safe and our schools less secure. He and his family continue to financially profit off of his presidency; he's been engaged in seemingly traitorous activities with the Russians before, during and after the election. That's certainly a record for the history books. The stone cutters at Mt. Rushmore are probably already busy carving his likeness next to those of Washington and Lincoln. Thank you.

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Hello, Lombard calling. I don't think that everyone who voted for Donald Trump is a racist, but anyone still supporting him definitely is. Sad.

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Hi, this is Lombard. It's not even winter yet and already our mail is all screwed up. We're not even getting mail every day. Oh, well, I wonder what will happen in winter. Maybe we won't get mail at all. Bye.

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Lombard calling. Regarding the Village of Lombard's billboard proposal at I-355 and the Prairie Path, in the very recent past our village installed slats within the chain link fence on the Prairie Path over Route 53 and I-355 to eliminate the distraction of protesters on that bridge. Now, because it serves them and their bad idea, the Village of Lombard is possibly on its way to approving the installation of two two-sided billboards 75 feet in the air at that same location, and that's not going to be a distraction?

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This is Lombard calling. I just want to voice my disappointment that the Lombard Town Centre is cancelling Spooktacular. Spooktacular was designed for kids to have a Halloween to go trick-or-treating in the businesses, for businesses to open up their doors to the kids. This year the Lombard Town Centre decided to have a beer tent, bands, charging admission. I think it is a total disgrace that they had to cancel the Spooktacular because that was for thousands of kids to come out every year to be able to have fun in downtown Lombard. It's a crying shame and I hope it gets brought back next year. Thank you. Bye.

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Obama seduced the American people with his false narratives. He led us down a dark, dangerous path that we are now realizing. His legacy is one of 8 million more people in poverty and 13 million more people on food stamps. Health care, which is a sham, has increased so much people can't afford it. Race relations are the worst in memory. The black community has suffered the most under the Obama regime. Let us not rewrite history when it comes to Obama, but learn from it. Let us not duplicate our mistakes by electing an illusionist and fabricator of truth ever again. Trump is a light from the darkness.

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I came from a poor family and lost my dad when I was 2 years old. At 13 I worked full time. I was drafted and added a year of service because I honor this country. I honored the American flag by saluting it at every occasion, not for racist activities since I love all Americans regardless of color or church affiliation, but for the freedom I received from this flag. I barely make enough money to survive, unlike the sports players who receive tons of money. I don't even own a home. At my age, I can hardly rise up at a parade to salute the flag but I am proud to do so. The only good thing I have going is I won't be on this earth too much longer. I will be with God.

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I just wanted to comment on the libraries in both Villa Park and Lombard. If I’m not mistaken, both libraries had their referendums approved in the last election. I don’t mind having my tax dollars used for such things as state of the art computers and other cutting-edge technologies for kids and adults to use, but I remember looking at the coming events section in the paper a couple of weeks ago, and I have to ask: Why do these libraries host such things as LEGO clubs and storytimes, and have programs for just about everything under the sun? No wonder these libraries need extra space and extra staff … and guess who has to pay for all this? We, the taxpayers, of course. Let’s stick to being a library instead of an entertainment center.