This is Lombard calling. Just wondering what they have planned for the old DuPage Theatre parking lot, if it's for sale, or if there have been any bids on what they're going to do there. Great idea, though, maybe somebody would buy and put up a new theater there. It would be a great place for residents of Lombard to go to again. Just a thought.

According to Village Manager Dave Hulseberg, "The village is completing an environmental remediation of the site at present.  The village has asked the various sister units of government if they have any interest in the property. They have answered to the negative. The village will begin addressing this issue more completely in September." -JAC

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This is Lombard calling about the person who made a comment about me actually supporting the red-light camera issue at all the major intersections. Obviously you're going to be one of the ones who are going to be getting a ticket because you don't know how to drive. There are laws posted at intersections that say stop, you know. You just don't drive through them. You stop first, then you go-isn't that how it works, how you were taught in driver's ed, or did you get your driver's license in Illinois, or China or Thailand? You're the person who doesn't know how to drive. I obey the laws. I don't get in accidents. That's why I have cheap insurance, not you people who blow through stop signs like they don't even exist and put people's lives at risk. You're the ones who are going to be paying for it, not me.

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This is Villa Park calling regarding the question about the Salt Creek Greenway bike trail, I know the trail runs up to Eldridge Park in Elmhurst, but I'd like to know, how do you get across Roosevelt Road to pick up the rest of the trail in Oak Brook? I know of no way of crossing that street, so if somebody could let me know, thank you.

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This is Lombard calling. First I want to say that the fireworks at the fest this year were beautiful but not long enough. I don't know what happened, but it seemed very short. Also, I know there's a lot of work that goes into the fest, but there really needs to be some improvements; the same old food booths and we could use more. There seems to be a lot of nice restaurants around, especially some of the new ones, and there's plenty of room in the park. So, I think we could use some more. The park this year was nothing but a noise box. I know many neighbors went up there and just turned around and came back. You couldn't even talk to your friends who were there. I don't know what's going on as far as the bands, but it's way, way, way too loud and just too noisy. It's not entertaining at all, and I love to listen to the music. I was very disappointed this year.

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I realize we pay a franchise fee for our cable, and I realize that the cable provides us with Channel 6, but has anybody realized that Channel 6 is not in sync, that the people's mouths move then the sound comes out? It's very aggravating. I really wish that if they were a professional company and if the village is a professional village, the least they could do is have the voice and the mouth in sync.

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This is Villa Park calling on the village board to obey its own law. Trustee Richard Illian pointed out in a letter to the newspaper that the board is allowing a child care project to proceed, even though it has not been approved formally by the board, but only by the board's committee of the whole. The formal vote on the project was scheduled for July 14. I was shocked when I read the letter. Illian is not against the project but is insisting that the law be followed. I couldn't agree with him more. The board always expects everybody else to follow the law; why shouldn't it?

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Lombard calling. First, regarding the Taste of Lombard, yes, they are the same restaurants there all the time. Why do we not have any of the other more popular restaurants there? Also, I thought the prices were very high-$8 for pia colada with no liquor? Come on. But, to the Jaycees, the fireworks were awesome; the best I've ever seen. They were just spectacular.

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I read about the swimming pool in SPEAK OUT and why the work isn't being done. I, too, have just passed the pool and I agree. I think that the park board really blew this. After all, if they weren't going to start until fall, even if they had the bid, they could have kept it open for the neighborhood. I think they were incompetent, and I'd really like to know what the cost over-runs will be on this. I heard the cost over-runs have run in to the tens of thousands of dollars on that little sprinkler on St. Charles Road. Once again, I'd like to know what the cost over-runs are going to be.

Lombard Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs responded: "Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, the Moran Water Park was permanently closed after the last pool season due to repair costs and potential safety and environmental concerns.  The pool could not have been opened for the 2008 season.  Design work began on the new facility the day after the referendum was passed. As scheduled, demolition bids [were] opened on July 17, and the new pool construction bids will be accepted on Aug. 5. Staff has been vigilant to keep the community updated on the work regarding the pool on its Web site, www.lombardparks.com. If you have any other questions or comments regarding the pool, please call the park district directly at 630-627-1281." -JAC

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I know the Jaycees put a lot of work into the Taste of Lombard, but come on, why can't we get more local food establishments to participate? A few local pizza places as always, Culver's, a beef and Cajun place, and what else? It felt more like going to a county or state fair with the other choices, like elephant ears, alligator on a stick and so forth. And, where were those $2 sample items? I only saw one, and that was for frozen custard. What gives? I've seen other comments in the paper, and I sure wish someone from the Jaycees would let us know what's going on. I'd like to take pride in my community for having the Taste, but it's not a Taste of Lombard; in fact, it never really has been. I'd also like to know why more of our restaurants don't participate.

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Hello, Lombard. Every day I walk on a street and there's a house that has their furniture out on the patio. Is there a law or regulation against that? They have their couches out there, their cabinets. It's just embarrassing.

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Lombard calling. While visiting the Taste of Lombard this Fourth of July, we were very disappointed to see groups of children, ages 16-18, smoking cigarettes throughout the Taste, especially in the carnival area-no police officers patrolling the area. Let's wake up, Lombard.

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Villa Park calling. Why do you put "No Parking" signs on the street and don't enforce it? Trucks park there all month, west of Addison Road. One more thing; Sunset isn't any worse than any other street around that area, and that's another point of view, where I guess you've got to be a politician to get something done on that road-get it blocked off to reduce the traffic.

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Hello, this is Lombard calling. I'm looking at the July 9 paper where some person called and said that the teachers' pensions start at $160,000 a year. I worked in Chicago for 30 years, six days a week because I taught driver's ed on Saturdays until 2 p.m. My first two years working there, I didn't get a summer job, I didn't get a driver's ed job, so I mowed lawns and painted houses. After that, then I got a driver's education job and I worked that on Saturdays and also during the summer. Plus, I coached two sports.

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This is in regard to the call protesting gun violence. Gangs are the real problem, along with some gun control. Gangs are as strong as a community allows them to be. Some gangs control whole neighborhoods; police can't do it alone. Neighborhoods, people, have to eliminate the evil from their streets. Marching and praying won't do it alone. Work is the missing ingredient. Maybe we have become a nation of whiners instead of doers and workers in the early days.

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Lombard calling. Those who think that intersection cameras are only a revenue builder for the village, should think about the safety factor first. If you are a red-light violator, then you are a law-breaker and you should worry about giving your money to the village and the county. Getting too many tickets will put you in jeopardy of having your license suspended. If you are a law-abiding driver, then you won't have to worry and you'll benefit from the violators' fines going into the general fund of the village to slow the rate at which taxes will be going up. The village, towns and cities wouldn't be installing cameras if there weren't a high number of accidents at certain intersections. If you are an unfortunate victim of a T-bone accident at an intersection, the camera may or may not be a good witness. If you are not a red-light violator but a victim, you will be the first one to look up for the camera. If you don't see one, just think how bad you'll feel because you don't like the idea. It's not a matter of revenue making for the village, it's a matter of safety. There are not enough police on patrol to cover the high accident rate at intersections.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just wanted to say how great I thought the Taste of Lombard was and what an excellent job Lombard Church of the Nazarene did with the lemon shake-ups and root beer floats.

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Hi, I read that we might get the red-light cameras so we can ticket drivers who run red lights. I think it's a good idea. This is just one more way of turning our police officers lazier than they are now. They don't enforce overnight parking-that's one of my biggest pet peeves-I drive down streets on my way to work in the morning and it looks like I live in Chicago with all the cars on the street. Normally the ones on the street are the dilapidated ones; people who really don't take care of their stuff.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling regarding the SPEAK OUT in the paper. My sister was mentioned because she gave another resident the Heimlich maneuver. She'd actually like to make sure that person's OK.

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I work from home on Fridays and was shocked to watch as drivers rolled through the four-way stop all day long as kids were walking back from the local school. Some drivers even accelerated through. I sent an e-mail to the Lombard police and received instant feedback that a traffic control officer would look into it. A month later and I have never even seen a police officer drive down my block. Very disappointed in the lack of response.

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Lombard calling about the person who called about their painted turtle being stolen from their own back yard. First of all, I'm so sorry, what a shame. I guess the lesson to be learned from their heartache is that you can't leave anything outside. You even have to treat a little turtle like you would your dog. If you're home, it's OK to leave it outside where you can keep an eye on it, but as soon as you leave the house, you have to bring it inside. Shame on whoever took that turtle.

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Lombard, my question is directed at the Lombard Police Department. I've seen a couple times a little off-road vehicle driving on the Lombard streets. I'm curious how a non-licensed motorized vehicle is allowed to do that? I'm sure if my friends or I used ours on the street, we'd be arrested on the street. I would like an explanation. Thank you.

Lombard police Deputy Chief Dane Cuny responded: "The Lombard Police Department has a special utility vehicle that is equipped with police markings and emergency lights that is used in the parks and trails. The vehicle is considered Special Mobile Equipment and is therefore exempt from vehicle registration while moving to and from job sites." -JAC

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On July 4 I had 10 flags stolen off my driveway-I lined them on the driveway and they were stolen by somebody. I don't know who took them, but they represented the 10 friends I lost in Vietnam. I hope they have a good time with those flags.

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Would the person who wrote about the teachers receiving $160,000 pensions please back that up with reliable sources? I am a 35-year retired teacher who receives one-fourth that amount in pension, as do most of my retired colleagues. Perhaps this person was mixing up the salaries with CEOs of big corporations. Teachers do not receive that kind of a pension.