Villa Park. I would like to know why the residents on North Michigan Avenue were not notified a day before that the street would be closed and some residents’ water would be shut off. The street is broken up worse now than it was before, and also they painted cracks on a driveway entrance on the blacktop white. Will Villa Park repair these cracks the heavy machinery did? Also the grass on the parkway on North Michigan Avenue.

Eric Dubrowski, interim village manager and finance director, responded: “Public works informed me that they were not aware that the street was closed to all traffic or that any water was shut off, but they will investigate the matter. They have informed me that all restoration will take place during that phase of the contract, it is documented that sod needs to be replaced and the street needs to be repaired. The painted cracks on the drive approach will be looked into when the contractor returns to town to begin work again next week.” The finance director later added that he heard from Dan Sullivan, superintendent of streets, who noted, “The contractor just called back [and] said that signs he put up read road closed and the street was always open to local traffic; and the drive approach was painted prior to the start of work to show the drive was previously cracked. He also mentioned that the entire project has been videotaped and should indicate if the drive approach was cracked prior to construction. If not, he will replace it. One water service was taken out of service [due to] a conflict with the sewer repair then put back into service.”—JAC

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A point of view on two different subjects. First off, I’m very offended as an American that some teachers in America are being forced to learn Spanish as a second language in America. Second off, I’m extremely offended that marketers and television stations and anybody else involved are now airing on English-speaking channels, commercials or ads in Spanish language. Very offensive. How low this country has gone. We are doomed.

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I would like to thank Clint Reif for choosing to bring the Stanley Cup home to Lombard and sharing his day with us. I am a lifelong Hawks fan and I truly cherished this opportunity. It was an experience my family and I will never forget. Congratulations Clint and thank you so much.

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Thank you to the kind person who turned in my lost bag from Bath and Body Works in Yorktown. It’s nice to know we still have good honest people around.

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I was just wondering why the Friends of the DuPage Theatre group still exists, or at least why they haven’t yet changed their name? That’s all.

“The Friends of the DuPage revisited their mission after the DuPage Theatre was demolished. We are a registered 501(c)3 organization under that title. Our continuing mission involves bringing more awareness and opportunity for the arts and historical preservation to Lombard and beyond. We hope to someday see a performing arts center as part of our downtown landscape and would assist in making that a reality. Our membership was asked about changing our name and going through all of the legal proceedings to do so shortly after the theater was razed. The group overwhelmingly decided to commit to a newly adjusted mission under the same banner. Preserving the theater was a galvanizing force for the volunteers in our organization. The group continues to proudly engage in strong volunteer efforts throughout the community,” responded Deb Dynako, president of the organization.—JAC

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North Lombard calling. I wanted to thank our next-door neighbor, Dan, who mowed our lawn a few days ago. He had borrowed one of those large mowers, he said, for his own yard, and just did it for the heck of it. When I thanked him, he said it was no big deal. Well, it was to us. We need more neighbors like that, don’t you think?

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I’m calling because I would like to see the park district go back to the way they used to operate the pool on the weekends. It used to be open I believe from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for adult swim only. I would like to see adult swim brought back before the general population.

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Villa Park calling in response to a Lombard comment in the July 14 SPEAK OUT in our Fourth of July Parade having his dog off-leash. I think his purpose was to show his dog-handling skills and I think they both did an outstanding job. Our canine officer and his dog I thought to be very proud and I hope they make more appearances throughout town because we’re glad to have them. And yes, you still need to keep your dog on a leash in public. That’s just the way it is. I really enjoyed their appearance in the parade and I hope they do it every year. Hopefully they’ll make more appearances around Villa Park.

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This is Lombard calling. I just wonder if Lombard is going to have another day like last year for shredding. I think a lot of people would appreciate that, and I’d also like to comment—I don’t mind people putting their garage sale signs on my property, but I do mind when they don’t come and get them. I think they should be kind enough to come back and get the sign.

According to its Web site, West Suburban Bank will join the Better Business Bureau to present a shred event on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Suburban Bank’s Downers Grove location at 2800 Finley Road. Special guest will be Stephanie Zimmermann, consumer advocate and author of “The Fixer” column in the Chicago Sun-Times. Participants are invited to bring unwanted personal financial and/or confidential documents for free proper disposal at the shred event. All are invited, but items to be shredded must be limited to 10 boxes.—blm

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This is Lombard calling. To the neighbor who walks their dog without a leash, here’s some information for you. It’s the law in Lombard that all dogs be on a leash at all times when outside unless they are in a fenced yard. Next time I see you with your dog walked not on a leash, I will call the police. I will not put my children’s life in jeopardy. I know you think your pet is nice and gentle, but children do not know this.

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This is Villa Park. I know it’s the chamber of commerce’s job to put on the car show as it has the last years. I was wondering if they’re ever going to bring it back. I talked to Doc Hensley and he didn’t give me an answer. So, Doc, bring back that car show on Friday nights on Central.

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Lombard calling to complain about Cruise Nights. I live along St. Charles Road. I am tired of the noise, I am tired of the litter, I’m tired of the fact that there’s no parking, and if you’re going to start extending business in the downtown area, how are you expecting any type of business to come in here knowing that they have no parking and no way of getting around to their customers on the busiest night of the entire week, particularly during the summer? Get rid of Cruise Nights, get rid of Cruise Nights, get rid of Cruise Nights.

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Thanks to the Lombard Public Works Department for the street repairs on East Hickory and the corner of Grace and Wilson streets. Please check the corner of Fairfield and Madison, and Martha and Washington Boulevard for similar street repairs.

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This is Lombard calling. I would like to know where I can get a bumper sticker saying that I observe the speed limit of the roads and yet, when you try to do that, people tailgate you; they’re right on your bumper. I’ve been driving for 36 years and this is the worst I’ve ever seen it—the last few years, people just don’t care. I know the “Illinois “Rules of the Road states I’m supposed to change lanes and let them go by, but I’m getting tired of doing that. I need to know where I can get a bumper sticker for these clowns to wake up and smell the coffee.

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What’s going on with Rep. Peter Roskam? Two mailings in one week about a job fair and his negative comments about the Democrat Party and its policies. Certainly he needs a reality check regarding the millions of unemployed Americans who need their compensation checks, which he and the Republican Party are voting against. Talk about being out of touch. How many furlough days has he taken? Has his salary or benefits been frozen or cut? He doesn’t even support a Republican colleague who had a bill in Congress to protect the faltering Social Security program. Has he spoken out about the $20 million that is missing from the DuPage Water Commission that no one can account for? The silence of the Republican Party in DuPage County is deafening. As a longtime Republican, I have finally seen the light. Time for change this November.

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This is Villa Park calling. This is for President Cullerton. I’m talking about the entrance to Villa Park at Addison Road and North Avenue, the center curb in particular. Every year, it’s overtaken with weeds and nobody does anything from the village until the fall. What an impression we give people heading into our town who come here to shop, live, work. It looks disgusting. Those of us owners on the north side are just appalled that you guys don’t maintain that center curb. Get the weeds out of there. Please do something Mr. Cullerton to improve this town.

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I know District 45 administrators took a zero-percent pay increase for next year. I’d like to know if they still get their benefits for free or if they will be contributing finally.

According to School District 45 Assistant Superintendent for Finance Vickie Nissen, at this time, no changes were made to the administrators' benefits for the 2010-11 school year.—JAC