Pool doesn't have funding, shouldn't have funding

The Oct. 22 edition of the Downers Grove Reporter had a bold type, eye-catching from page header: "Pool costs take a dive."

Hells bells! The Downers Grove Park Board has been taking deep dives into its pool of resident taxes to pay for the conjectures of two companies with differing cost projections for a village pool. We should know that the figures are only part of the "hole," so to say.

How about: Employee salaries? Maintenance of the pool? User fees to sustain said pool? The Park Board must address these matters before yet another vote is taken by the people of our community. How often do we have to say no, we do not need a pool that may very well have us swimming in debt?

Irma Pittroff, Downers Grove

Another pool in Downers Grove not needed

We have lived in Downers Grove for over 20 years and find it incredulous the subject of a public pool being proposed again, notwithstanding the fact it has been turned down numerous times for so many years. Apparently Mr. Cermak and certain board members just don't get it.

Seems Cermak wants to add to his empire, as he led the charge to build the Wellness Center without taxpayer approval or a referendum. Have we ever seen a financial report?! Reminiscent of the other infamous white elephant, DuPage Airport, wherein taxpayers were assured for decades it would reduce our taxes. We are still paying.

Tens of millions of dollars, plus employee salaries, pensions, maintenance, etc., yet we already have six pools.

On the basis of his pledge to oppose a pool, I spent considerable time and effort having distributed petitions for Mr. Jaros' election to the board. Now he favors it. Shame on both of us.

Finally, look at your latest tax bill. The Park District increased theirs by 7.9 percent to $365.90.

John Carlin, Downers Grove

Crossing guard deserves more credit

I would like Naomi Duncan to be recognized for her outstanding job as a crossing guard on 39th Street and Highland Avenue in Downers Grove.

I can't say enough about her. I would highly recommend her for woman of the year, if there is such a thing. I feel she goes above and beyond her call of duty for the children. She is very protective of them.

Being an employee at Good Samaritan Hospital for many years, I have seen her protect her children and keep them out of harm's way. With this crazy and hectic time, no one really takes the time to recognize the good some people do, especially Naomi. Please take the time to pat her on the back, she deserves it.

Donna Mares, works in Downers Grove, resident of Woodridge

Election rules should include everyone

While working as a Judge of Election Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Belle Aire School, it was sad for me to witness a World War II veteran being turned away from voting. The veteran said that he lost his leg fighting for America, and now he was not allowed to vote. When leaving, he dragged himself in his walker out the door, looking like he had tears in his eyes.

Although he was not registered to vote at the school, it does not seem fair that he was not allowed to vote, since he said that he was a resident of Downers Grove for many years. Perhaps he made it to a Naperville polling place, where he may have been registered.

Charlotte Ulmanis, Downers Grove

Local resident truly a great man

I would like to salute my friend Larry Fruci of Westmont.

Although he is not 6 feet tall, he is one of the biggest men that I know. He entered the Marine Corps in World War II, and by the time he was 19 years old, he had landed on Guadal Canal, Tinian, Tarawa and Saipan, with his 2nd Marine Division. Surviving one of those islands was a feat, but living through all four was a miracle.

He came home, married his present drill instructor, Flo, and raised his family. Nothing miraculous about that, but he absolutely exemplifies the group designated as the "Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw.

He saw his duty and did it, came home to no fanfare and just got on with life.

I would like to thank Larry, who I see as a giant of a man, and the thousands of others that have made our country safe and free. Semper Fi.

Max Palmer, New Port Rickey, Fla.

Marla Gilbert and Sarah Ripani

Co-presidents of Downers Grove Elementary Education Association

People should be more patient, observe rules

This is for the person driving the car behind me on Oct. 29; we were stopped, in the southbound lanes, for the red light at 55th and Main streets by the new Downers Grove Fire House. I was about the third or fourth car from the red light and left a big space between my car and the one in front of me. You were beeping your car horn very impatiently gesturing for me to move forward and were obviously in a hurry.

Here is your Illinois Rules of the Road lesson for today: The reason I left all that space between me and the car in front of me is because it is against the law to park or stop on yellow diagonal hash marks. If there was an emergency, a car stopped on those lines would prevent a fire truck or ambulance from leaving the firehouse.

Do you get it? If another car was stopped on those lines when you or someone in your family called 911 for help in Downers Grove, you would be pretty upset if an emergency vehicle could not get out of the fire house and help you.

Denise Karstens, Downers Grove

Schools a sign of taxes, neighborhood

The problem is with the legislators we have in this state, not with our constitution.

The Democratically run majority has infighting and an overall poor approach to policy making. Teachers in the suburbs didn't want Con-Con because that would almost certainly mean instituting some sort of revenue-sharing program.

I don't want DuPage County sharing its property tax revenue with Cook County or any other county just to make the state equal. If you divide that state's property tax evenly across the board, you would no longer make it an advantage to live in a nicer area. A good portion of real estate valuation is tied to the school districts. If you have a good school district, chances are you will pay higher property taxes and have higher home values. That is economics 101.

I voted no to Con-Con because my school district does a better job spending my property taxes than the state ever could.

Chad Walz, Downers Grove