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See Villa Park library plan

Villa Park library officials will give residents a chance to comment tonight on initial plans for a new three-story library building. Before construction could begin, however, voters would need to approve a $20 million ballot question. The building would be built south of the existing building. It'd be roughly 45,000 square feet -- nearly twice the size of the current facility -- and would have space for 144,000 print titles, quiet study rooms, group study rooms, separate youth, adult and teen services areas, additional space for public computer work stations and a large but dividable meeting room that could accommodate up to 150 people. Tonight's meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the library, 305 S. Ardmore Ave.

Police academy starts soon

The Villa Park Police Department will hold a citizens police academy from April 17 to June 26. The academy will meet at the police department from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. Topics include community policy, crime scene investigations, DUI enforcement, accident investigation, and introductory firearms training. Participants must be at least 21 and live or own a business in Villa Park. A completed application is required and can be picked up at the police station along Ardmore Avenue. For details, contact officer Marc Bregman at (630)592-6169 or e-mail mbregman@vppd.org.

Ride for a good cause

Take a scenic ride while helping the Tri-Town YMCA by participating in next month's Lilac Time Poker Run. The 100-mile ride will begin at 9 a.m. May 4 at Wild Fire Harley-Davidson, 120 W. North Ave., Villa Park. During the trip, the caravan will stop at various YMCA sites and other sponsored stops before concluding at the Lilac Time festival art and craft show in downtown Lombard. Fees of $20 per bike and $10 per additional passenger will benefit the Tri-Town YMCA, sponsor programs in Lombard, Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace. Two grand prizes will be awarded at the ride's end to the best five-card poker hand from cards given out at each stop. For details, visit www.tritownymca.org or www.wildfirehd.com. Registration may be made over the phone by calling the YMCA at (630) 629-9622. Checks made payable to the Tri-Town YMCA may be mailed to 1464 S. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148.

Hastert Center gets leader

Professor Javier Comboni is the first director of the J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government and Public Policy. The Hastert Center was established to contribute to an ongoing societal conversation about the interplay of economics, public policy and Christian faith and to advance the values of Speaker Hastert. Comboni earned a master's degree in political economy and a doctorate in economics at Boston University. He has worked as the Bolivian minister of finance and also served as professor of economics at the Catholic University of Bolivia. He has studied the impact of economic policy on sustainable development in Bolivia and throughout Latin America. He also has focused on the influence of long-term macroeconomic trends on employment and growth. Comboni has been an active Protestant lay leader in the Church in Bolivia throughout his adult life.