As a county employee, yes, I get the day after Thanksgiving off. So did everybody else I know. Yes, the government has to get its spending in line, but your example is way out of line. By the way, why don’t you apply for a government job, assuming you have the qualifications? Thanks, bye.

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Hello, Villa Park-Lombard calling. When driving to Villa Park and Lombard, one can see many American flags in front of homes, which is great. However, one should be reminded that flag etiquette requirements should be followed. Flag etiquette requires that a flag be properly illuminated at night and taken down during foul weather unless a flag is all-weather material. Thank you Villa Park, Lombard. Have a nice day.

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Pay attention to what’s going on in politics. Toni Preckwinkle was asking for Anita Alvarez’ resignation, but I think Toni Preckwinkle should resign, too, because she took that office over running on the pledge to do away with an earlier sales tax hike. Now she’s raising taxes, the highest it’s ever been. Pay attention to what’s going on with politics. It seems corrupt. I think Preckwinkle should look in her own closet first before pointing fingers at somebody else. Goodbye.

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Hi there, Lombard. Just a heads up regarding what’s left of any type of yard waste refuse. We still have oak trees with leaves on them, quite a few. Yard waste is only picked up from April through the end of November. Keep in mind, folks, if your trees have leaves, you’re going to have to tell your neighbors when they’re on the snow, that’s the way it goes. We’ve got 45 bags in front of our house and we’re told they won’t be picked up.

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Hello, Villa Park calling. It’s 3:25 on Monday and Jackson Middle School is getting out of school. Cars, kids and buses. The garbage truck drivers apparently thought this would be a good time to pick up garbage on Jackson Street. What a mess. Maybe the garbage management should stop in at the middle school some day. I’m sure there are some sixth-graders who could teach them some time-management skills. It’s not that difficult, is it?

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When we had that bad snowstorm on Nov. 21, the village cleared our street and blocked our driveway to the point we could not get out. I called public works on Nov. 22 and no one was available, so they would try to call someone. It was not too much later that a Lombard policeman came over, asked for our shovel and began to shovel our driveway so we could get out, then another policeman came and helped him. They were fantastic. Thank God for the Lombard Police Department. Bye.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just wish to compliment Fairy Tales on some of the most beautiful holiday windows I’ve seen in a long time. They are really a beautiful asset to our downtown and I hope everybody stops and looks at their windows. They’re just beautiful. Thank you, Fairy Tales.

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Hello, Lombard calling. It’s 6:30 on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and there’s still snow in the middle of St. Charles. Where are you, public works? It’s tough enough crossing the street without people stopping for pedestrian traffic, but then you block the crosswalk so we can’t safely walk in an area. Where is the traffic supposed to stop anyway?

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Just in from Jingle Bell Jubilee. Oh, how great. Lombard, you really did a good job; over 400,000 lights in our beautiful Lilacia Park, hot chocolate and cookies, too. Glenbard East Madrigals and another choral group entertained at the library where hot apple cider was served. A trolley ride to see the beautiful lights in downtown was the most fun. Luminarias along the paths around the Victorian Cottage was so festive. Thank you to all who made it a perfect night, and the weather helped, too. It was fantastic. Anyone who missed it, go next year. Lombard really knows how to have a party.

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I don’t know how long people are allowed to keep garbage in front of their homes, but one neighbor has one of those large green bags that hold lots of stuff, that has been sitting in the front yard now for months. It’s an eyesore and doubtful that it’s going to be picked up by now. It really looks sloppy.

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Lombard calling. I’m curious about all these people putting their leaf bags out at the curb, days after the village has stopped picking up leaves. I'm wondering what they're going to do with that. Can't store it until next year. Oh, well, not my problem.

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This is a responsible dog walker calling from the vicinity of Main and Ash. My thanks to other dog walkers who take responsibility for their dogs and clean up after them. To those who do not clean up after their dogs, may I remind you it is not your inalienable, constitutional right to leave your dog's waste on public property for other people and pets to step in. Grow up and clean up after your dog, and if you can't bend at the waist, don’t let your dog do its business on public parkways.