Hi, this is Villa Park calling. I'd just like to do a shout out to Debbie from pubic works. I had a problem, called over a month ago, called her, she got it taken care of right away. Thank you, Debbie, from Villa Park Public Works.

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I just heard recently that John Kerry, secretary of state, has traveled more miles than any other person in that office, so what I'd like to know, has he spent more money than anyone else in that office? And, is he making deals and giving our country away? No wonder we're broke. And the president of the United States goes on trips and takes his mother-in-law with him. How do you like that for a perk? Wouldn't you like to get some perks with a job that you have instead of putting in more hours and working for less money? Yes. It's OK for the president and Mr. Kerry to spend all kinds of money and tell the taxpayer to do with less because they're important.

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Lombard calling. Today is April 13. Yesterday I received four pieces of mail that were mailed on Sept. 28, 29 and 30 of 2015. The guys on horseback gave better service. I wonder what other important mail I'm missing. It's pathetic. Thank you, bye.

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To the person who called SPEAK OUT and said the teachers deserve to be compensated appropriately because they do such a good job and they are so much for the children and work so many hours, my question is, why on this Thursday, are there so many of their well-educated and informed students on which they worked so hard, out there striking for a minimum of $15 an hour for working fast food restaurants? Please, get a grip. If you teach the kids, it's one thing. If you teach them and pass them along so they can work at a fast food restaurant for the rest of their life, you're not doing your job.

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Hi, Lombard. I notice the YMCA is having a battle of the mayor from Villa Park that's going to help raise money for the hungry families in Lombard. Kudos to the mayor in Villa Park.

Deborah Bullwinkel, Villa Park village president, is indeed going to “battle” child hunger; the event is today, April 20, from 5:45-8:45 p.m. at Rock Bottom Brewery, 94 Yorktown Center along Highland Avenue. Event details include a chance to win cash during a split the pot contest, and 25 cents of each pint of Rock Bottom’s “The Mayor” ale sold will be donated to the Tri-Town YMCA. You can go to www.tritownymca.org and download a flier to present to the server, and 10 percent of all food sales will be donated to the Tri-Town YMCA. Additionally, if you donate an item—bottled water, crayons, pencils, paper, magic markers or colored pencils—you can receive $5 off your next meal at Rock Bottom (dine-in and to-go, excluding Happy Hour and Late Night Menu pricing).—JAC

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To all the people who have no children, to all the people who send their children to private schools, to all the people who have paid years and years and years past senior citizens, this is what I say to all the teachers: If the teachers want to go on strike, go ahead; it doesn't bother me. And to the aforementioned, if the teachers go on strike, we ought to have a class action lawsuit against the boards that are collecting our taxes when no services are being rendered. I'm sure this will start something. Bye bye.

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Hi, Lombard calling. I just want to applaud the Illinois state comptroller for withholding all salaries or what have you, to the state legislature. That takes real guts and I applaud her for it. Those guys should not be getting paid when other bills are not being paid also. Thank you.

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Please be so kind as to clarify how the SPEAK OUT column works. Here are some questions based on what I have been seeing: 1) Are the SPEAK OUT comments on your Web site page the exact same set of comments that appear in the weekly newspaper? 2) How often are the comments on the Web site updated? 3) When a person leaves a SPEAK OUT comment on your messaging system, when does that comment appear in print and on the Web site? 4) Are comments edited? 5) Are all comments published or is there a selection process for those that appear either in print, online or both? Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks.

Comments appearing in the online version of the Lombardian and Villa Park Review are the same ones that are published in the print version. The Web site is updated weekly after the next edition comes out. As for when comments are published, it depends on available space or perhaps if we are awaiting a response to an inquiry. With regard to the last two questions, as indicated below (see gray box), we reserve the right to edit for clarity, length and subject matter. Not all comments are published—also due to clarity, length and subject matter—and to reiterate, comments that appear online and in the newspaper are the same.—JAC

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Anybody get their District 87 newsletter? Anyone notice the laundry list of things being done as capital improvements over the summer? Compare what’s happening at Glenbard East versus the other high schools. So, some of my tax dollars will end up paying for West to get a new wing, South to get a new press box and North to get parking lot lights. East gets driveway, roofing and door replacements.

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Good afternoon. The U.S. Post office lost 5 billion dollars last year. If you want to see how this is possible, stop by the Lombard Post Office where you will witness for yourself.

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Just read state Rep. Lang's proposed graduated tax amendment to the Illinois Constitution. Over 99 percent of Illinois tax-filers would pay less each year, and yet it would raise $1.9 billion of new revenue. It would not make billionaires happy, but if our local state reps can't vote for this one, it would be time to hold a special election.

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Tuesday before the primary I was getting inundated with calls, which made me think—for the last few years now I’ve been receiving Peter Roskam’s calls for Congress and he was going to have a town meeting. I would just like to know, and I hope you can answer, who pays for that? Do the taxpayers pay for all his calls to my house or is he paying for that individually? I would really want to know and I think that other people might want to know. Thank you very much.

David Pasch, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, responded: “Peter frequently hosts events and tele-town halls to stay in touch with the friends and neighbors he represents in Congress. The calls are paid for by his campaign—not the taxpayers.”—JAC

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I just saw the street sweeper going by. What is he doing? The streets and the curbs are very clean —no leaves at all. But maybe he is collecting the dust.

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I have a question for Lombard. I have a concealed carry permit and a grocery store in Lombard has a no-conceal carry sign on it but the wording says only for on-duty associates and vendors. Now, is it legal to carry a concealed firearm with a permit into the store or is it still against the law, considering it’s a sign for banning concealed handgun carry. I’m asking, just want to see. Thank you.

We received the following response from the Village of Lombard: “The Lombard Police Department cannot read into the intent of the wording on this sign that you mention, but if the establishment has the universal ‘no concealed carry’ sign at the main entrance, then licensees are on notice that concealed carrying of firearms is prohibited. Please clarify with the store in question for further information.”—blm