WHAT YEAR IS IT? I received a phone call last week from former Lombard Police Lt. Chuck Kundrot, who now lives in Missouri.
He related that he read the Lombardian online and saw that someone was rescued by boat near Madison and Addison during the recent flood.
This brought back memories for Kundrot, 75, who retired from the department in 1986. He spoke of a time back in 1961 or 1962 when he was on duty and called to that same neighborhood because houses on Addison were flooding.
“Water was coming in the doors of the squad car,” Kundrot said, adding that the water was up to the seats.
Now more than 50 years later, Kundrot was amazed at “how things repeat themselves.”
He also said he remembered a photograph published in the Lombardian in the “good old days.” The former officer explained that someone took a piece of old stovepipe and taped it to the squad car “to make it look like a submarine.”
Although some of the same areas in town still flood five decades later, there is no need for “submarines” these days. We now have SUVs.
He also reminded me that the department had lilac squad cars in the early ’60s.
“Everything was lilac then,” he quipped, saying that the officers even wore lilac ties.
Although I had forgotten about the lilac squad cars, it was fun to ponder how that would “go over” these days.
Speaking of flooding, I do remember watching the viaduct flood in the ’60s. Like the area on Addison, the viaduct is still flooding all these years later. And it’s a new viaduct.

NOW’S THE TIME. I received an e-mail from Laura Sasinka, co-chairman of restaurants for the 2013 Taste of Lombard.
The Lombard Jaycees will host their annual party in the park, beginning on Tuesday, July 2, and continuing through Saturday, July 6. A fireworks concert will be presented on Thursday, July 4, starting at dusk.
There will be a $3 admission fee to the Taste. However, children 9 and under are free
Sasinka said she is looking for new restaurants and businesses to enhance this year’s Taste of Lombard, adding that this would promote more local business in the community.
I’ve certainly heard comments over the years–especially in SPEAK OUT–how many people would like to see more Lombard restaurants at the Taste.
Restaurateurs, now’s the time.
Restaurant owners interested in participating at this year’s Taste can contact Sasinka at president@ lombardjaycees.org.

LET’S GET SERIOUS. On Thursday, May 2, newly elected village president Keith Giagnorio will be sworn in as president. Others taking the oath of office this week include new trustees Dan Whittington (District 1) and Reid Foltyniewicz (District 3), and village clerk Sharon Kuderna.
Following the election, Giagnorio said one of his first priorities will be trying to “mend some fences.” He also related that he is learning to listen and knows he needs to listen, listen, listen.
He cannot do it alone. For the sake of Lombard, I hope that all the trustees–new and old–are also ready to listen and ready to move forward without any more “antics.”