In the Feb. 15 SPEAK OUT did I understand Lombard's response about the bike lanes on Grace Street south of North Avenue correctly? Did we pay a contractor to create bike lanes then pay a contractor to remove them because they were not supposed to be installed? If so, this is a waste of taxpayer money and Lombard should consider putting a review process in place to prevent this type of mistake from happening again.

Your inquiry was forwarded to Village of Lombard officials, who responded: "Throughout 2017, both the Public Safety & Transportation Committee and the Public Works & Environmental Concerns Committee reviewed a proposal to include bicycle accommodations on Westmore-Meyers Road between St. Charles and Madison Ave. As part of that review process, a general discussion of bicycle improvements led to the decision to delay the construction of additional bike lanes. Prior to that discussion, the village had planned on striping bike lanes along Grace Street, South of North Avenue; however as a result of these conversations, the decision to not move forward with the striping was made. Unfortunately, the contractor had begun the installation of the previous plans, causing the pavement markings to be removed at a cost of $2,000. Based upon feedback garnered from committees and the village board, the Public Works Department has established additional internal controls to prevent this type of thing from occurring. Please feel free to contact Public Works with any questions at 630-620-5740."—JAC

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Please do not ask our teachers to carry guns! Not only is there a chance the gun could be stolen, which of our teachers would be able to shoot one of their students? And, as soon as the police get to the building, they will see an adult with a gun and possibly kill that person; and maybe more of our teachers. Our president has not thought this through, so we need to. Also, this would not help those who shoot in other public places. We do not need assault weapons available to the public. They are not to be used for hunting; at least not to hunt innocent people. Our kids are our future. They will be making the laws, and will remember how to vote when they are able.

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I stopped at the Helen Plum Library to get a free "Rules of the Road" book. None were on display in English but there were plenty in Spanish. I was informed that they only received a few in English but I was also able to check one out if I desired. I asked why there were no books in English and again I was informed they only received a few in English.

According to library officials, "A Helen Plum Library staff member annually requests the Illinois Rules of the Road handbooks through the Secretary of State’s Office. Last year, we were put on a list for the new 2017 edition and in April received half of a box of booklets in English. One 2017 copy in English is kept at the Adult Services Reference Desk and two are available for check out. If we have additional copies, we set them out alongside the College of DuPage and the Lombard Park District guides, but no copies are available to take away at this time. Currently we have two 2013 copies in Polish and one in Spanish in our collection available to be checked out.

"Copies may be available at the Secretary of State Driver’s License facility in Lombard. The Rules of the Road handbook, as well as a wide range of other driver’s handbooks, are also available at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/motorist/rorts.html."—JAC

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The photo in the Feb. 22 Lombardian of Glenbard students making blankets for ill children was so heartwarming. Thank you for participating in celebrating Live Life Well Week.

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Has anyone else noticed the roadside trash on Madison where it ends by Route 83? How about all the trash on the west side of the road into Walmart? It is disgusting, especially when you think about all the people going into Walmart and knowing this is Villa Park? We often ride bikes/walk there; major clean up is needed. We can't safely walk there as there are branches extending into the street, and there is a lot of traffic. Please Villa Park, have someone look into this mess.

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Hi. I'm a Lombard resident. I would just like to say that I don't like to get involved in partisan politics too much, but we just had our taxes done. We own a condo in Lombard, our kids are grown, I think our incomes are about average. Our tax professional, who is an MBA, ran the numbers for 2018 and he said if our income in 2018 is the same as 2017, we're actually going to pay $200 more in federal taxes. So, I'm just wondering exactly who benefits from these latest tax cuts that have been passed. That's it. Thanks. Bye.

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In light of the murders of 17 individuals in Florida with an assault rifle and the murder of children in Sandy Hook and Columbine, and all who were murdered in a church in Texas and all who were murdered in Las Vegas, let's not fool ourselves. No place and no one is safe. Our children and we could be next. Remember this on election day. I heard Peter Roskam takes money from the NRA. Is this true? President Trump's dumb idea that our teachers should be given guns; what good is a gun against an assault rifle? The United States will become a war zone, which the NRA and the politicians who get money from the NRA would love. Money means more to them than human lives. Thank you.

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Lombard calling. Tired of hearing about Lufkin Pool in our paper. It's going to close, people should get over it and deal with it and move on to the next stage, so it doesn't tie up our SPEAK OUT column anymore. Thank you.

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Lombard calling. I want to know why the postal carriers have to walk through my grass every day to deliver the mail. I have called the post office and they said it's the fastest route. I don't care. Sidewalks are meant to be walked on. They're wearing paths on people's grass. Postal carriers should use the sidewalk like everybody else. Thank you.

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Hey, Lombard calling regarding the tragic incident in Florida, the mass shooting. It's really getting old fast; the deranged people walking around shooting innocent people and children. To blame guns and the availability of guns to law-abiding citizens for self-protection, empower women to go for walks at night to protect themselves is totally wrong. The liberal judges letting these people out much earlier than their sentences, giving them light sentences, and blaming society for their violent tendencies and their psychotic tendencies is wrong. The Broward County Sheriff's Office received many calls about Mr. Cruz; they didn't act on them, no charges were filed, no arrests were made.

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Hi. I find Com Ed's energy efficiency letter that I get stupid and a waste of money. I'm usually one of the efficient neighbors. I'm just old school. The way I save electricity? Something should either be on or off. It's as simple as that. I don't need a letter from them saying how much electricity I use. To me, that's a waste of energy and money. Thank you. Goodbye.

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Responses to two items in SPEAK OUT, which I have to admit is one of my favorite parts of the paper. As to Casey's, I agree the food was good and the place was nice. I was a frequent customer there. And the second thing is, there were so many positive thank-yous this week, kids helping out during the snowstorm, neighbors helping out during the snowstorm. Really heartwarming. One of the many reasons I moved to Villa Park. This is really a great area to live in.

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Hey, Lombard, here's an idea for that vacant lot at Main and Parkside. Why not just turn it into a cemetery? It'll fit right in since the rest of the downtown is dead anyway. Thanks. Bye bye.

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To the person who called in and said Democrats were asking the individual if he or she voted for Trump, to make a long story short, I didn't vote for Trump, I would have never have voted for Trump and anyone who can stand here today and still admit they voted for Trump, I think they have a really hard time with what's truly going on in the world, that they cannot face the facts of this man who has practically lost everyone who has worked for him due to the investigation of Mr. Mueller, due to the fact of their incompetence. You cannot see what he has done to this great land of the United States of America and not be frightful or live in fear that he could get us all killed by pushing the button and sending us all into a nuclear war. The man does not belong in the office of the president.

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Lombard calling. I had to laugh when I read the comment about the mail carrier needing to have the sidewalks shoveled. Our neighborhood does a good job of shoveling the sidewalks and the mail carriers just walk right across all the front yards from one end of the block to the other, not matter what. I think they're all trained that way just to save time, so try not to feel too sorry for them. Thank you.