Can we get a report or update from the Village of Lombard as to the status of some type of grocery store north of Roosevelt Road, south of North Avenue. What’s going on with the new grocery or a grocery store or any grocery store? Thank you and good night.

Your question was forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following response:

“There have been no building permits submitted nor any application for zoning approvals within the defined area you note. The one vacant building that is commonly referenced for a grocer is the former Mr. Z’s site at 401 S. Main St. However, we are unaware of an imminent sales activity. Interested parties in this site can see the real estate listing on sources such as loopnet.com by typing in the property address in the search screen.

The village is generally supportive of additional grocery store opportunities within the community for properties such as the Mr. Z’s site, based upon adopted zoning regulations. While the village does work with property owners and prospective businesses seeking to locate within the community, the village cannot dictate that a particular type of business open in Lombard. Those decisions are based upon market forces and a willing buyer and a willing seller reaching an agreement to buy or lease a property for a grocer. At such time that parties can reach an agreement, the village will facilitate the project from initial design to final business occupancy.”—blm

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OK, SPEAK OUT readers. You're all intelligent and you can read and understand what you're reading. What I'm going to say is we have to stop these grants for everything—giveaways. Grants are not free money. How can we keep giving it away when our country is deep in debt and we're getting in deeper and deeper? Eventually there will be a collapse. I think Donald Trump is correct. Propose a proper tax program and eliminate all the write-offs and loopholes, all the give-aways.

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Sure, there's a lot of killing going on in Chicago, and the rest of the world. And all the gun laws that everybody's proposing are a waste of time. This country was based on God's law unless all of us go back to what God teaches us—the 10 Commandments should be posted everywhere as a daily reminder. All public places. All schools. All churches. If we don't obey God's law, all this other ridiculing and fault finding in the newspapers by the different reporters are wasting their time. It won't work. You can have all the gun laws in the world. It won't work unless you change people's attitude and mind and teaching.

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I’m a Villa Park veteran. Medical care at the Hines VA has gotten so much worse in the last couple months from my experience. I have been told to get physical therapy, but the VA tells me it will be late January before they can get to me. I am still working and had to give up 80 percent of my work due to my injury. I am also told I live too close to Hines to be eligible for the “Veterans Choice” program allowing me to get outside help. The VA is not getting better.

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Villa Park calling. I wish that the Villa Park Review would cover more Villa Park things and not so much Lombard events. I understand that it’s both a Villa Park and Lombard newspaper, but this is the Villa Park Review. There’s no coverage of the Collage Concert at Willowbrook High School, which was outstanding and I wish there had also been pictures of the middle schools that came to band night at Willowbrook High School that Friday as well. There was absolutely no coverage of that. I was very disappointed in the Villa Park Review. Thank you very much and please make corrections for next year. Have a good day.

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Hi, Lombard calling. I have to laugh out loud when I read about somebody laughing about the mental stress of teaching. Yes, it is very stressful to be teaching in a room of young people who have to do what you say, but a lot of times they don’t because they could have issues at home; they could have behavior disorders, they could be at the wrong reading level. There is usually in an average classroom in the DuPage County area 10 levels of learning going on, so yes, that is a problem. What is stressful about earning over $100,000 for nine months’ work? Correction. That is about 11 months worth of work. Teachers do not leave school the last day when your student leaves then come back the first day. They do not get three months off every year. They actually work about 15-hour days during the school day and are not done until the end of June and report at the beginning of August. You say no working out in the heat or cold, no heavy lifting, no going into dangerous neighborhoods? Some teachers have to because that’s where their students live and that’s the only way to reach their family.

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Why are our politicians standing with and working for illegals, documented criminals, sanctuary cities, etc., instead of the taxpaying citizens of America? Trump for president.

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This is Lombard calling. What’s going on with the bakery on St. Charles Road west of Main Street? Thank you.

According to a response from the Village of Lombard, “Balkan Bakery is continuing their construction/buildout activities for their proposed bakery. A new awning has been installed, they have completed their exterior deck and are currently working on the interior space. They are planning to open once their interior renovations are complete.“—blm

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The response from the village didn’t really address the issue of the caller who wondered about solicitors standing at busy intersections, other than to say they are allowed there and are supposed to wear highly-visible clothing. What’s it going to take to get an ordinance stopping this activity? Someone getting hit by a car? I have no objection to the organizations doing their fundraising, but keep it in front of the stores or other places where they are not likely to get injured. Or, how about local businesses allowing them to put a collection box or jar in the store? That might reach even more people.

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You know, I have never heard a Democrat refer to a Republican as a communist. Yes, they talk about each other, they say where they could do better in their jobs, but I have never heard a Democrat refer to a Republican as a communist. So, obviously we know this person is so sadly misguided. I feel really bad for this person. Maybe this person should think twice before he or she starts calling people communists. Shame on you.

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Hi, to the caller who was whining about teachers and stress, first of all, surprise. Not all high school kids are going to do whatever you say. If you really want them to learn and you care about them, the profession can be very stressful. Comparing that stress again with physical labor is absurd. As far as owning your own business, that was your choice. You have the freedom of being your own boss, but something gets messed up, it’s on you, as it should be. Thank you, bye.

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I always read about the mailman and the people not getting their mail. I live on the north side of Lombard and I’m a disabled veteran. Our mailman is great. I can’t say anything bad about him and God bless him. Thank you.

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Reading The Pride, I noticed that the Halloween hours are missing the starting times. It only says “October 31, during the day.” When can the kids start going around the neighborhood? Do the homeowners have to stay home all day? Please announce it in the next Lombardian.

This question was addressed in the Oct. 7 edition. The Village of Lombard related the following: “The Lombard Police Department is reminding residents to use caution when trick-or-treating this Halloween. Since Halloween is on Saturday, trick-or-treating does not have a set start time but Lombard Police Chief Raymond Byrne encourages residents to use consideration and suggests that trick-or-treating should wait until the afternoon hours. Trick-or-treating hours end at 7 p.m.”—JAC

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To the person who called in a couple of weeks ago stating that they saw the “Live, Work, Play” sign in a vacant store window and complained that not enough was being done in downtown, you may want to take a walk through downtown and see what is really happening. Did you know that in just the past couple of months, a new restaurant has opened along with two yoga studios and a boutique? Three more restaurants are in the process of being built out and will be opening over the next few months. Downtown Lombard vacancies are at an all-time low for the first time in several years.  Please take some time and look around to see what is happening.