This is Lombard calling. It is very disturbing that the Lombardian has not put one word in about the demise and the death of the Lombard Town Centre. Lombard Town Centre was around for over 15 years and has brought downtown Lombard to what it is; new businesses, Cruise Nights, Spooktacular, Jingle Bell Jubilee, all the stuff that Lombard has participated in and has done for downtown Lombard. I don't care about the rest of Lombard, I don't care about Yorktown, I'm talking about downtown Lombard. The Village of Lombard could not get any money to be able to fund the Lombard Town Centre or help fund the Lombard Town Centre to be able to be in existence to help the downtown community. I think it's a total disgrace to Lombard and a total disgrace to the Lombardian.

In a memo to local businesses, residents and Lombard Town Centre (LTC) members dated Dec. 19, the board of directors stated that it is going to "reevaluate the future direction of the LTC," and that without current funding, the position of executive director was suspended as of Dec. 22, 2017.

As such, there has been no "demise or death" to report at this time. Your statement that the village "could not get any money" to fund the LTC is incorrect.

"Historically, LTC receives a majority of its funding each year through the downtown TIF fund and the Community Promotions and Tourism funds. These grants are used, in part, to pay for one part-time Executive Director and other administrative expenses. The future of our funding is currently in question, prompting an opportunity for us to reevaluate the future direction of LTC," the memo states.

Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz, Finance and Administration Committee chair, noted: "The funding was based on several factors. It all began with the cancellation of Spooktacular. LTC requested some more time to get their house in order before they requested funding for 2018."

"So in short, we did not deny or take away any funding. They chose not to come to the village at this time to request funding," said the trustee.

"While our volunteers will periodically monitor email during this time, all small business-related and downtown community questions should be referred to the Village of Lombard, www.villageoflombard.org, or at 630-620-5700," the board memo states. "All other questions will be answered during the Jan. 29 Community Meeting. Meeting details will be sent in a follow-up email in early January."—JAC

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I received a message on my computer that my keyboard was locked due to someone trying to access it. The number I was told to call was the scammer. I know because they wanted a credit card number to "fix" the problem. I hung up and called Microsoft; they told me the number was a scam.  Microsoft fixed my computer in less than five minutes.  Please do not fall for any scam that wants your credit card number. Call your software company and they will fix it. Thanks, Microsoft!

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I am disappointed in the library and park boards for being so secretive about their apparent behind-closed-door talks. These discussions should allow taxpayer access since it's our money on the line. I mostly blame the library board because they were trying to sell us on a design idea when they asked for voter approval. That's been scrapped for who knows how many revisions at how much expense, and it reminds me of the Obamacare debacle. You have to pass it to see what's in it. I am willing to bet the library board wanted to get the referendum passed and then take their chances on the park board's approval. Other than what we see in the newspapers, there is a lack of transparency. Taxpayers have a right to know what's going on. Updates on the library's website seem vague and outdated, except for a response to the petition. I fear a petition will not be sufficient to put a halt to this travesty. The library says this is what the voters wanted—and only at this location—well, ask us again, and see what we voters have to say now. I will have my say in the voting booth.

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Villa Park should build a new center since both pools have "aged out" and it will be a waste of taxpayer money to fix and keep fixing these pools. I am very much in favor of the center with an indoor pool and would love to see a hot tub included. Outdoor pools not only cost more, but need more maintenance due to weather. We currently pay about $1,000 per year at a health club just for the pool and hot tub. We would gladly drop that membership and use our Villa Park center and pool. I know it's not being called a health club, but seniors would love to have the pool and hot tub available at a reasonable cost, and close to home.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I would like to know who's responsible for the parking lot at Eastgate Shopping Center? I broke a tie rod there. The parking lot is so bad. I don't know if you've been driving through there; the bumps in front of the bank, and when you leave the Ace Hardware. It's never been that bad. It's ridiculous. Something should be done about that. I don't know who is responsible; I don't know if Lombard is, or if that's part of Lombard, or a private owner. Thank you.

The lot in question is privately owned, as are most parking lots adjacent to businesses. Anyone who has a parking lot concern about this location can contact Greenstone Partners at 312-285-0460 (direct), 847-769-7270 (cell) or visit www.Greenstone-Partners.com.—JAC

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This is to the person who said “all the Trump hating leftists out there.” You know, sure the world is still standing. You can't destroy the world in one year. But he's destroying everything the United States has ever stood for. He's destroying our ability to negotiate with everyone, he's taken us out of the union, now, he's toying with North Korea, playing like a child. What does that mean? The man is not fit to be in the office. He should have never been in the office. You people just seem to stand by him no matter what he says or what he does, and quit trying to compare him to other presidents because there is no comparison. We've never had a president like this one before who does nothing but lie; tweet his lies, lies about everything he touches. He is an idiot. He tweets that his nuclear bomb button is bigger than North Korea's, putting us on the brink of a nuclear war because he is such an idiot. You chose to vote for him, that's fine. I don't like him. I think he is pathetic. I don't understand people who are behind this man.

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This is Lombard calling. Just wonderful to see now that the crossword puzzles and Sudoku are printed in a way that people like us with old eyes can actually work on them. Congratulations. Thank you.

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This is Villa Park calling. A reminder: Do not vote for any trustee in office right now in Villa Park who voted to take away the landmark Lufkin Pool. They did us no favors. The only thing left in Villa Park would be the countless video gambling locations. That's where they should get the money to repair the pool after all, if they were smart, which they're not. What a shame. Remember them in the next election for sure. You don't want to lose this pool.

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You people who are up in arms about the closing of Lufkin Pool amuse me. Most towns the size of Villa Park have just one pool. You’ve had two pools all these years. You mean to tell me that you can’t drop your little darlings off at Jefferson Pool, which is three miles away, if that? Oh, the hardships you have to endure! Get out the violins. Quit whining and go to Jefferson Pool this summer!

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The saga of the Lombard library continues. Our seemingly inept director, who still has apparently done nothing in over a year and now going into the next year of having gotten us to approve that referendum, and there's still nothing. They keep talking about a plan but they don't release the plan. It's just a total embarrassment that they are so stuck on this location. Again, I urge you to go to the Addison Public Library and see what it could be at a new location. Walk into the Lombard library and it's depressing. The staff appear rude, there is no action, there is no excitement, there is apparently no concern about the citizens and scheduling classes when it's convenient for the people who are paying their salaries. It's all about leadership. Like most things it's all about leadership and in this case we have extremely inept leadership in this library, on the board and the part of the director. They all need to go.

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Hi, Lombard. Happy New Year, everybody. I would just like to say everybody try to chill about Donald Trump and watch the Hallmark movies. Mike says the Hallmark movies are starting in January, like "Love on the Slopes." That's all. God bless. Bye.

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Our national media is focused not on reporting news but on damaging and destroying our president and leadership and Congress. Far left progressive politicians vow to resist and obstruct every effort to ensure the constitution is in place as the supreme law of the land. The efforts of our president, he's trying to roll back regulations that squeeze free enterprise and individual liberties. Right now our unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, the lowest in 20 years, our stock market is thriving, he has strengthened our border by hiring more border patrol police. Also, we have our tax reform, which is going to be giving relief to middle class citizens.

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Hello, SPEAK OUT, Hello, Lombard. It just seems like SPEAK OUT is not local anymore. It's just not local. It seems like you want to be national. Well if that's the case, Oprah for president. Thank you, Oprah. Goodbye and good night.

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Hey, Villa Park, Mr. Bulthuis and Mr. Keehner, you should be embarrassed for your apparent dog and pony show that you put on, on an evening when there were a lot of people there wishing to talk about a hot button topic about the pool in the town. It was a pretty terrible tactic to keep people from being able to get up and have the time to speak their mind. You should be embarrassed. Have a good day.

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Lombard calling. With all the big-money chain restaurants flooding Route 38, what are the chances of an occasional review of smaller, lesser-known restaurants in the Lombardian? Thank you.

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To the people saying Trump is a buffoon and asking what has he done for us this year—really? How about he's giving the country back to the American people as our founder's intended? EPA reform, $3.2 trillion in tax cuts, cutting the United Nations bloated budget significantly, religious freedom, regulatory reform, collapse of ISIS strongholds, job creation, drops in numbers needed food stamps, our borders are being protected now, getting rid of the health care mandate, mining has increased almost 30 percent, more money on missile defense means our country can defend ourselves again, Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, business taxes lowered, rising property values, manufacturing optimism has greatly increased, welfare work requirement increase among the states, GDP increase, Veterans Administration reform, school choice revived, getting us out of the TTP pact — these are just a few of the things he's done in his first year! I can't wait to see what he does in 2018! He is making America great again and Obama supporters either can't deal with his success or are too naive to know what's really going on in this country. The one thing he was wrong about — I will never get sick of winning! 

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I have several postal delivery problems as follows: Some days I don't receive any mail, then a lot of mail the next day. Receive mail at late hours, 7 to 9 p.m. at night. Our block used to have a regular mail carrier years ago, now we have different ones every day. I noticed there are mail delivery problems through the Lombardian SPEAK OUT and they are never addressed, why is that? Who is the postmaster of Lombard? I'd like to hear their answers to some of these problems.

Without a resident's address—which we don't publish—it is difficult to get a specific response. It is always best to first contact the post office about a mail issue.

SPEAK OUT reached out to Postmaster Tenia Thompson, who requested an address so as to better respond to your specific issue. However, she did offer a general response:

"Lombard Post Office has had all their carriers off the street by 7 p.m. We have had a few challenges in the past week due to [inclement] weather. Safety is always our first concern for our employees, and providing service to our customers. I have been Postmaster here in Lombard since Sept. 16, 2017. Lombard had multiple vacant routes upon my arrival and I have now corrected that issue with every route [having] a regular carrier effective Jan. 20, 2018. Anytime a customer has a concern with their mail they can reach out to me via email at tenia.m.thompson@usps.gov."—JAC

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For the call last week about reducing taxes; the library asked for a permanent 75 percent tax increase; this doesn't go away. They seemingly have no plans for a building, no plans for storm water, lack of required parking and no approval for anything. They did it backwards. The park district saved money and was able to build a recreation center without a tax increase. They had plans for a building approved, got a vacant lot and did not try to shoebox in a building that does not fit. The park district discussed this idea for two years at their open monthly meeting. They should be praised for their accomplishment. The library showed residents a building they knew they could not build to dupe them into voting for a tax increase. They have nothing to show for it. Any other director of a government taxing body would have been fired by now for not doing their job and being so incompetent.  The caller obviously mixed up guts and glory for stupidity.

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The president’s comments about certain countries being s---holes are inexcusable, indefensible, crude and wrong. He needs to apologize, but I know he never will because he's too proud and arrogant. Mr. Trump must held to a high standard because he is the president. All that being said, anytime Trump goes bottom-feeding, the left is right there along with him. Robert De Niro went on a vulgar tirade about Trump at the National Board of Review awards filled with f-bombs. Chelsea Handler made a homophobic tweet last week about Sen. Lindsey Graham. Try reading the profanities she used in that tweet sometime. Speaking of the media, the New York Daily News had a caricature of Trump on the front page on Friday (Jan. 12), depicting him as having a brain that’s the equivalent of fecal matter. I could go on about the antics and statements made by Kathy Griffin, Madonna, Johnny Depp and Ashley Judd since Trump's election. So, to the media, the left and the Hollywood elite, I have to ask: Where are your filters? I’ll answer my own question: You have none. You often go even lower than Trump, if that’s possible.

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Instead of carrying on about what Trump is, let's talk about what he is not. Trump is not kind. Trump is not wise. He is not humble. He is not mature. He is not faithful. He is not honest. He is not stable, and although he is currently the president, Trump is definitely not presidential.

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In Lombard on Hunter, we have had the best postal workers over the years. Thanks so much for your service.

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Hey, Lombard Park District, once the Taj Mahal over there on Wilson is built, what are the plans for Sunset Knoll Recreation Center? Thank you, goodnight.

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To all you pro-life people, everyone is pro-life. I'm pro-life. If you're so pro-life and backing all your Republicans, then how can you possibly go to bed and sleep at night when the minute after a baby is born they no longer care what happens to this child? They defund the money they need for children who are handicapped, who need help; they pass a tax law that's going to defund Medicaid for children, the elderly. They don't care what happens to a child after it's born. For some unknown reason they seem to think they have to fight for this child and then they don't care what it's born into and what happens to it. Every woman does not have an abortion, but that doesn't mean a woman should not have the right to choose if she wants to have an abortion.