I’m calling about Brendan, that somebody took his wagon and the stuff that he needs to deliver his newspapers. I lived next door to him since he was a little boy and he’s such a good person. He’s grown into such a nice man and I feel really bad about this. I think that whatever can be done to get his wagon back and the things that got stolen from him, I think it should be done. Thank you.

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This is actually someone from Tennessee who used to live in Lombard, and I’m calling regarding an incident in Villa Park. Come on, people of Villa Park, Addison, Lombard, Elmhurst. A Radio Flyer was stolen from a handicapped adult and it should be returned. Any parent who all of a sudden sees a Radio Flyer or their child having one, check where he or she got it. Or, if it was an adult who took it, come on, give it back, please. This adult really deserves to have the property that was in the wagon returned and the wagon so he can perform his ritual delivering the newspapers. As old as this activity is, it’s such a really nice thing to accomplish, so please bring it back. Bye.

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I heard that an unfortunate thing happened to Brendan. He was at Willowbrook when three of my children were at Willowbrook and they loved him. I just feel terrible about it and wanted to know if it was true. I hope we can read something about it. Bye.

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I went to Jefferson Junior High with Brendan and I would like to help. Hopefully all Villa Park people will help. Thanks. Bye.

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This is Villa Park calling. I just heard a horrible story about a handicapped adult who had his wagon stolen. This is a former high school friend of mine’s brother and I just find it horrible that someone took that from him. That’s not how things should be and it was horrible. I hope they can find the people who did it and get him a new wagon. Thank you.

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I’m calling about the theft of the Radio Flyer wagon and personal belongings such as reading glass, gloves and a hat. A very cold day it was stolen on the north side of Villa Park from a man who has been delivering newspapers for as long as I can remember. I haven’t lived in Villa Park in 27 years and I still have childhood memories of Brendan and I think the paper and the community need to do something about this for this young man. Thank you.

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This is Villa Park. Last week the faithful and well-known Villa Park native Brendan had his wagon stolen while delivering the Villa Park Review on the north side of town. His belongings inside the wagon were taken as well. My heart really goes out to him, as I know this is his only way of getting the residents’ paper to their doorstep. Brendan is a good, kind, hardworking citizen and this was the thoughtless act of a selfish individual. It is my ultimate hope that the wagon and his belongings are returned so Brendan can resume his duties that he loves so much. Thank you.

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I have just learned of a red Flyer wagon that was being used by a man in Villa Park to deliver his newspapers, the Villa Park Review, to customers along Plymouth and Yale streets, has been stolen. Not only were his newspapers taken, but his glasses, his gloves, his hat. I think it’s shocking. I think it is deplorable. I think it is unkind and that if anyone knows of where this wagon might be and where the other items might be also, that they might alert the police and report it. This is such a shame on Villa Park.

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Villa Park calling. The theft of a Radio Flyer wagon being used by a handicapped adult while delivering the Villa Park Review on Jan. 28, near North School in Villa Park, is nothing short of a deplorable act of meanness. This beloved member of the Villa Park community was faithfully carrying out his weekly role as a news carrier when his wagon, loaded with newspapers, was taken from near near Plymouth and Yale avenues. His reading glasses, gloves and a hat were among the personal effects taken with the wagon. We deplore the actions taken so cowardly against this community resident.

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I’m calling about Brendan, whose wagon was stolen, seeing if there’s any way we can start a collection for him. Brendan works some programs I work with special needs and we would like to try and make this better for him. Thank you.

In a statement written by Brendan’s family, it was announced at the Village of Villa Park board meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, that his wagon and glasses have been replaced.—JAC

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This is Lombard calling. This is for Villa Park. Reading in another newspaper, you guys had approved the purchase of a Ford F350 pickup truck worth approximately $33,000 and instead of purchasing it locally, using local areas, local merchants, you guys purchased it from Taylorville, Ill. Isn’t that a little ridiculous, since you could have gotten it locally and be able to help the local economy? Thank you.

Village of Villa Park Superintendent of Streets and Forestry Rich Salerno responded: “The purchase of the 2015 Ford F350 pickup truck is through the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services Joint Purchasing Program. All dealers, including local dealers, are eligible to place bids in these state contracts. The lowest qualified bidders are then awarded the contract. The Village of Villa Park also looks at cooperative purchasing programs too. The village is legally bound to bid, purchase through state contracts, or through a cooperative program on any item over $20,000. We look for the best possible price for the vehicle wanted. We have also purchased vehicles from local vendors too when conditions are warranted.”—JAC

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Lombard calling. It just occurred to me that it used to be the little old ladies in Florida who always drove in the left-hand lane. I had assumed it was because they didn’t know how wide their car was and needed the extra room. And now it seems like everybody’s driving in the left-hand lane. I guess it’s along the lines of the fact that people are not as good a driver as they used to be, when the signs used to be up, “keep to right except to pass.” Thank you.

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Was 2014 the hottest year in the history of Lombard? No. Was it the hottest year in the history of Chicago? Absolutely not. In 140 or so years of records, we see that 2014 was the fourth-coldest year in Chicago’s history. The climate-change fanatics, of course, don’t want to consider relatively reliable records. They would rather point to their own questionable statistics that feature cherry-picked numbers, including sea surface temperatures at selected locations. Do you believe scientists have precise records of various ocean temperatures from the 1800s? By the way, what can humans do to control the temperature of the planet? I agree with the writer David Harsanyi, who stated, “If you believe slight warming over a fraction of the Earth’s long climate history is reason enough to empower the state to create contrived energy shortages to curb your own living standards, well, please vote accordingly.”

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I just wish the Lombardian would leave out the comments about the president of the United States, whether for or against. This is a Lombard paper that should be dealing with Lombard issues. Leave the others up to the Tribune.

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Our current president seems to have better relations with Iran and Cuba than he does with Israel.

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This is Lombard. Thank God they canceled the Taste of Lombard. The Taste of Lombard should never come back. It’s a disgusting festival. It is a shame. I work outside of our town and people talk about it. Oh, you live in Lombard. That’s where they have that nasty festival. It’s just disgusting. Actually, come to think of it, the whole town has some issues. But, hey, good news, what little bit of land is left in downtown Lombard, we’re putting in more parking. Greg Gron—I thought that was his bag. Thank you.

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Hi, I just wanted to say goodbye to the Babies R Us store in Lombard. I will miss you. Thank you.

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Villa Park calling. A big thank you to the lady who found my credit card at the BP gas station on St. Charles Road and Ardmore on Monday, Feb. 2, and returned it to the station. You proved that there are special, honest people in this world, I wish I could thank you in person. Thank you.

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Hi, Lombard. The Taste of Lombard may be cancelled for this summer but German Fest, the Western suburbs’ longest running festival, will be going strong on July 16-19. Please mark your calendars to come on out and enjoy free entertainment, free admission, brats, beer and great food, an outstanding carnival with daily wristband specials and all rides throughout the fest, kids’ game, bean bags, bingo for adults and children, casino nights and much, much more. Located in the Sacred Heart church parking lot one block west of the Metra train station in Lombard. For more information, call 630-627--0687. Check us out on Facebook or go to our Web site, sacredheartlombard.org. Thank you.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. Public works does a good job on the snow but could the plows please, please slow down. They go so fast in our neighborhood that snow is thrown onto the sidewalk that has already been shoveled, and you know how hard it is to clear your driveway after they’ve been through. Now picture trying to also have to clear your sidewalks. Thank you.

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If you’ve been a regular SPEAK OUT reader for awhile, you’ve seen several comments that snidely refer to Fox News as “Faux News.” The person(s) who has made those comments apparently believes himself or herself to be intellectually superior to Fox News viewers. The person(s) have also insinuated that Fox News is not trustworthy or credible. I wonder if that commenter(s) gets his or her news from NBC. That would be the outfit with the anchorman who fabricated a story about being on a helicopter in Iraq that was hit a rocket-propelled grenade.

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Villa Park calling. Can someone please explain to me why Lufkin swimming pool parking lot is plowed to the pavement and yet my side street, which is a school bus route for both Willowbrook and District 45, has yet to be plowed to the street? We saw plows last weekend; nothing since. Come on, Villa Park, you’ve had all week to clean up the side streets. Get with it.

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Global warming, health care, you name it, and now the measles outbreak. What do they have in common? They’ve all been politicized. If you are a Democrat or liberal, you will see it one way and vice versa. Medical science has shown the measles vaccine to be safe—obviously there are those who will have a reaction, but that is a minority. While most people say that it’s the parents’ right to make decisions about health matters, this goes beyond that, to the common good. What about the babies who are too young to get the vaccine who will be exposed? Or even an adult who never had the vaccine or the measles? This is one of the few times I might be for government stepping in—to enforce vaccination to keep more children from getting sick.

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Residents of Villa Park, it looks like our village is at it again. We have a big old snow storm and wow, what a beautiful job the guys did plowing. It looks like they plowed certain streets, and they must be the streets everybody lives on who works for the village, because the other streets are done like junk. Addison and Madison, half Lombard, half Villa Park. The Lombard side? Clear, starting to melt. The Villa Park side? Garbage. Boy, we pay taxes for such a good cause. Thank you.

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Lombard. A shout out to Scott who plows near the Common park area, who has been very kind to residents and tries to help us out. Much appreciated. We’re very grateful to you, Scott. You are a really swell guy. So, Village of Lombard, please know you have kindhearted, good people driving those plows, like Scott. Thanks, Scott.

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Just want to say to the Village of Villa Park. How sad of a plow job. I had to call Lombard to come out and take care of your street side by Easter Seals because I called you guys up and you guys refused to do it. And, you want to know what? They went over it three times. You should be ashamed of your workers over there, Villa Park. Thank you.

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It’s Feb. 5. I know by the time this is printed it will be a moot point, but I would like to ask the village snow plowers to really think about what time of day they’re plowing the streets and blocking everyone’s aprons—because if it’s right before the kids have to be picked up from school, it causes a big problem in the community. Thank you.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. Due to the recent snowfall we had I give Lombard a B for keeping our streets clear and less slick. Villa Park though? I give you guys an F-. How the heck can you guys say your streets are safe at any time? I go from Lombard into Villa Park and it is just snow-packed and snow-covered. The other day I drove past a snow plow and what’s he doing? He’s throwing salt on 4 inches of snow with the blade up. So, Villa Park, get your act together. Get somebody in there who can do your streets. Thank you, bye.

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To all the men who work for the villages of Lombard, Villa Park, Elmhurst and the township, I want to personally thank you all for doing a beautiful job in clearing the highways. There was a tremendous amount of snow and you did a good job in a short period of time. You should be commended because it was difficult work and I know you don’t get many thanks for the hard work you do. Thank you, gentlemen, very much. Goodbye.