Police officer honored for promoting railroad safety
Lombard Police Officer Joe Menolascino was recently awarded the “Achievement of Excellence Award” by the Illinois Operation Lifesaver Enforcement Committee. Menolascino was recognized for his exemplary enforcement efforts and promoting railroad crossing safety throughout the community since 2008.
Menolascino is a 15-year veteran and a truck enforcement specialist assigned to the Lombard Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit. He has been instrumental in securing thousands of dollars in grant funding to support efforts at educating pedestrians and motorists about the dangers associated with railroad crossings. The Village of Lombard sees an average of 4,000 train commuters per day, as well as 50,000 vehicle operators who also cross the tracks.
As part of the efforts which gained him this recognition, Menolascino has passed out more than 10,000 informational safety fliers to children and adults, including on the train platform. He was instrumental in having new railroad safety signs installed in the community and he has organized railroad crossing enforcement campaigns aimed at reducing violations. Additionally, because of his efforts, Lombard became one of the first communities to have suicide prevention information along the railroad tracks.
Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne commented, “Joe really deserves this award. He has worked tirelessly in so many ways to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries at railroad crossings. We’re all very proud of him.”


Village’s lowered credit rating of BBB means higher interest rates
by Bonnie MacKay                                  
When the Lombard village trustees voted unanimously late last year not to fund a bond payment of close to $1 million, the village anticipated that it would receive a downgrade in its credit rating.
The request for funding of $911,747 had come from the Lombard Public Facilities Corp. (LPFC), which was created to finance, develop and construct the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, 70 Yorktown.
As expected, Standard and Poor’s lowered the village’s credit rating to BBB, which, according to an article in Lombard Pride, is still considered investment grade.
However, with the lowering of the credit rating comes higher interest rates. As reported in the Pride, it was estimated that the higher interest rates could cost the village an additional $7,800 annually for every $1 million borrowed.
Although the Pride used the figure of $4.2 million on an annual basis for construction projects, Lombard Village Manager David Hulseberg said the figure could be $6 million.
“Six million dollars realistically reflects what could be the case,” Hulseberg said Monday.
In this case, borrowing $6 million dollars would cost the village close to $50,000 annually, higher than the $32,760 cited in the Pride.
But, the village does not always borrow money. Hulseberg said last year there was no borrowing, but the year before the village borrowed a little more than $6.6 million.
And while the village would not have to pay an extra $50,000 in interest if the hotel project had not moved forward, Hulseberg said the hotel paid $3.3 million for water mains around Yorktown.
“If not, we would have had to pay for it,” he outlined, adding that it was the investors who paid for the water mains, which were about 40 years old and needed replacement.
As for where the money is going to come from if the village needs to borrow money? Hulseberg said the non-home rule sales tax of 1 percent, which accounts for about $62,000 from the Westin annually, could be used, if needed.
“It comes directly back to the village and into the general fund,” he explained, adding that this 1 percent is the only sale tax dollars that does get rebated under the sales tax rebate agreement.
The 1 percent tax is applied to certain commodities, but is not part of the hotel/motel tax, according to the village manager.


Suspicious package at hotel ends with arrest of Florida man
by Bonnie MacKay                                  
A package, sent to a registered guest at a Lombard hotel last week, aroused enough suspicion for police to be called.
According to Lombard Police Detective Cyndy Abenante, police were notified of a suspicious package at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, 70 Yorktown, at about 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The subject, to whom the package was addressed, was in the lobby waiting for the package, Abenante related.
“He was detained on the information that we had,” she said. “Upon obtaining a search warrant, we had enough to detain him.”
The lieutenant related that Lombard investigators worked with the Secret Service and used their resources to assist with the investigation.
Detectives recovered more than 150 credit cards in different names, she said. She said the cards appeared to be new, unused credit cards.
“We do know that they were not locally stolen,” she said.
Victor A. Gonzalez, 25, of Orlando, Fla., was charged with financial identity theft, counterfeit or knowingly possess counterfeit credit card, illegal use of credit card and possess or display any  fictitious unlawfully altered identification card. He was transported to DuPage County Jail in Wheaton where, as of press time, he was being held in lieu of $300,000 bond.
Abenante said the case involves other states and possibly other countries.


Incident prompts reminder for kids not to talk to strangers, stay away from unknown vehicles
by Bonnie MacKay                                    
Lombard investigators were fielding calls Monday after Lombard parents learned of a possible “abduction attempt” of a child at Schafer School in Lombard through an Internet “Student Safety Alert” from Lombard Elementary School District 44.
According to Lombard Police Detective Lt. Cyndy Abenante, police were first alerted to the incident, which they classified as “suspicious circumstances,” on Monday, Jan. 23. She related that a young student had been dropped off at Schafer School, 700 E. Pleasant, at about 7:40 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20. The youngster was approached by a male subject, who reportedly asked him to get into his vehicle, a newer, gray Mustang.
Police reports show the young boy ran into the school building. The subject was described as an older, white male with brown hair and wearing a black hoodie.
Abenante said this was not classified as an abduction attempt by officers as the man “did not take a substantial step toward actual abduction. He didn’t grab him or walk up to him.”
The student safety alert asked parents to remind students never to talk to strangers and to stay away from unknown vehicles.


Villa Park man charged with robbery, aggravated battery
by Bonnie MacKay                                        
Villa Park police arrested a 23-year-old man last week shortly after the robbery of a natural vitamin store.
Villa Park officers were dispatched to the store at 742 N. Westmore Ave. at about 4:16 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, for a robbery that had just occurred.
According to a police department press release, officers arriving on the scene found an employee who had been injured in the incident.
The employee advised police that a male subject allegedly had entered the store and demanded cash. He then reportedly ordered the female employee to go into the store washroom, where he demanded she take her clothes off.
The press release states that the victim refused to undress and the male subject allegedly tried to remove her clothing. When the victim continued to resist, he allegedly struck her in the face numerous times, the release states.
The incident was interrupted by two customers who entered the store. The subject fled when the customers came into the business.
Witnesses were able to give officers a detailed description of the suspect, who also left evidence at the scene.
The store employee was transported to an area hospital by paramedics for severe facial injuries. She was admitted to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, according to the release.
The suspect, Jermany Gates, was located at his residence in the 900 block of West North Avenue in Villa Park. Witnesses were able to identify Gates, who was taken into custody. According to the release, officers located money stolen from the store inside his residence.
Gates was charged with robbery, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint. He was transported to DuPage County Jail in Wheaton, where as of press time he was being held in lieu of $200,000 bond.


Lombard Dairy Queen reaches across street to help ‘neighbor’
The recent reroofing of the Maple Street Chapel last fall prompted a Lombard business owner to make the decision to reach out and help a “neighbor.”
“I watched them putting the roof up for months,” said Karen Kanthack, co-owner of the Lombard Dairy Queen, 205 S. Main St., adding that although she sent a donation to Lombard’s historic chapel, she wanted to do something more.
“We’ve done fundraisers for churches and schools,” she said. “Why not our neighbor?”
The Lombard Dairy Queen, which will open for the season on Friday, Feb. 10, will hold a fundraiser for the Maple Street Chapel on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. On that day, if you bring in a flier or mention the fundraiser when ordering, the Dairy Queen will donate 20 percent of those sales to the Maple Street Chapel.
Charles Kreichelt, treasurer of the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, said he was busy making plans to publicize the upcoming fundraiser. Fliers will be placed in “The Chapel Bell” newsletter, the church bulletin for the First Church of Lombard, as well as handed out at the Cooperative Nursery School and Jazzercise classes held at the church.
Like many Lombardians, Kreichelt said, “You know spring is around the corner when the Dairy Queen opens. The customers haven’t had a Dairy Queen cone for months.”
Kanthack encourages customers who would like some of the store’s special heart-shaped Dilly Bars to call and order ahead. She related that they make the heart-shaped Dilly Bars at the Lombard Dairy Queen and “when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
In addition to special Dilly Bars, orders are encouraged for bags of regular Dilly Bars, Buster Bars, DQ Sandwiches and no-sugar-added bars. She said the 20 percent off (with the flier or by mentioning the fundraiser) applies to all the bagged items, as well as “Sweetheart Valentine’s Cakes” and other custom cakes. And, of course, all the treats at Dairy Queen will be 20 percent off on Valentine’s Day with a flier or by mentioning the fundraiser.
The funds will be donated to the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society for the maintenance and preservation of the historic chapel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
To place an order for the upcoming fundraiser, contact Kanthack at 630-627-6364. The Lombard Dairy Queen has served Lombard since 1953.
—Bonnie MacKay


Chairman Cronin accepting applications for District 2
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin is accepting applications for the District 2 vacancy that was recently created by the resignation of Brien Sheahan of Elmhurst.
“I encourage District 2 residents to consider serving on the county board. The nominee will help advance our reform agenda to make DuPage County a smarter, more efficient form of government,” said Cronin.
Sheahan’s resignation from the county board was effective Tuesday, Jan. 31.
Those interested in serving District 2 for the remainder of the term, which expires Nov. 30, 2012, should submit the following to Cronin’s office:
•A cover letter of intent
•A summary (no more than 300 words) as to why the applicant is interested in serving on the county board
•A resume
•An application, which can be found at www.dupageco.org/ district2app.
The applicants will be reviewed by Cronin and a candidate forum will be held in February. Following the forum, Cronin will select a nominee and submit it to the county board for the Tuesday, Feb. 28, board meeting.
The applicants must reside in District 2. A map of the district boundaries can be found at www.dupageco.org/dist2map/. Applicants must be a member of the same political party (Republican) as the person they are succeeding.
The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, Feb. 7. Nominations can be submitted by mail to the county board office at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, or by e-mail to chairman@dupageco.org or by fax to 630-407-6001.


Samuel Lumbard home to be used on vehicle sticker
The Village of Lombard has been featuring local homes on its vehicle stickers for a number of years and this year is no exception.
The residence to be used on this year’s vehicle stickers is located at 125 E. Washington Blvd. and is sometimes referred to as “Morningside Mansion.” It was built by Samuel Lumbard sometime between 1911-15.
The rendering of the home which will be used on the vehicle sticker was done by Andrea Cooper, a local artist/resident who also serves on the village’s Plan Commission.