Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections
  • Silent Threat: The True Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries — How to Stay Safe and Respond to a Battery Fire Fire

Acting no more

Posted on October 3, 2017 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Acting no more
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Acting no more

Torres to head Summit Parks; Tala steps up in Lyons

Steve Metsch

After two years, Frank Torres can remove the “acting” from his title and replace it with “executive.”

Torres has been hired as the executive director of the Summit Park District. Board members made it official with a unanimous vote on Sept. 12.

As a result, his becoming executive director in Summit has a direct effect on Lyons. Torres had been part-time director of the Lyons Park and Recreation Department since 2015, the year he assumed the acting director’s job in Summit.

In his place, Ted Tala, Torres’ deputy director in Lyons since May, has been named acting director of that department.

Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty announced the changes at the Sept. 19 meeting of the village board’s finance committee. He thanked Torres for his years of service, and wished him well, adding that Tala is an excellent replacement.

At a recent event held at Summit Park, Torres, who lives in Countryside, said he’s excited to be named head of the Summit Park District.

“I’m very happy, very humbled for the board (members) to put their faith in me and make me full time,” said Torres who will earn $75,000 per year for his three-year contract.

Park Commissioner Tony Cervantes said Torres “has done a good job” in Summit. “I think it’s a good idea to have him here full time. It’s good for the community. The parks look a lot better than from years before thanks to Frank.”

Torres enjoyed his time in Lyons. “I learned a lot and I want to thank Mayor (Christopher) Getty for putting his faith in me back in 2012.”

Torres was full-time director of the parks and recreation department in Lyons from 2012 until 2015, when he went part time, doing both jobs in Lyons and Summit. Torres’ ties with Summit date from when some park board commissioners attended recreation events he had organized in Lyons, and liked what they saw.

During the finance committee meeting, Lyons Village Manager Tom Sheahan said Tala “has a strong background working with park districts.”

Getty said Tala did well running Lyons’ summer camp this year. Tala had worked for Brookfield’s summer camp for 10 years, and for the Normal Park District while a student at Illinois State University.

“Pretty much, his whole resume is parks and recreation. He was a natural,” Getty said.

Tala is “excited to hit the ground running.”

Tala is reviewing what has and has not worked in other municipalities. “Some things have jumped out at me, from seniors to toddlers,” Tala said Sept. 26 in his village hall office that overlooks Veterans Park.

One possibility is a movie night for kids at the village hall’s community room, he said. Another is an after-school study group, perhaps asking high school students to tutor elementary school students, he said.

Tala, 29, resides in Brookfield and enjoyed working with Torres.

“Frank showed me the ropes. He had me tag along to meetings, along with teaching me how to plan events like the Fourth of July and our Father’s Day car show,” Tala said.

Tala has one year left in his college education after leaving Illinois State to work in construction, as a gymnastics instructor at Flying High in Countryside, and with the summer camp in Brookfield.

— Desplaines Valley News

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 77
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News Tags:Christopher Getty, Frank Torres, Lyons, summit, Ted Tala

Post navigation

Previous Post: 10-year-old rides to the rescue
Next Post: Czech, Slovak & Bohemian culture showcased in Houby Day tradition

Related Posts

  • Budget-minded Bridgeview News
  • Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta
    Egyptian Flag to be raised in Celebration of Egypt’s Independence by America’s only Egyptian American Mayor Mary Basta Culture
  • Cicero fire damages 3 story apartment building Sunday August 19, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Cicero Fire Department
    60 residents, and pets, rescued from major apartment fire in Cicero breaking news
  • Arrested in Orland Park April 12, 2024:  Jeffery Meyer,  (Male/21 years old), Chicago Heights, IL 60411
    Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school Crime
  • PulsePoint Respond App, Orland Fire Protection DIstrict. Alerts on Cardiac Arrest incidents
    New App connects CPR/AED trained citizens with cardiac patients in need Fire
  • Popular Lyons chicken BBQ returns News

More Related Articles

Vince Gill does it all News
Cook County Treasurer Payment plan info Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale Cook County
New trash hauler in Bridgeview News
Roadwork underway for Harlem and Archer News
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners  Cook County
Hybrid medical center proposed in Lyons Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday
    October 26, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme