Category: Orland Park

Orland Fire Protection District presents lifesaving commendations

August 23, 2017August 23, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire Protection District presents lifesaving commendations Good samaritans and Lifetime Fitness employees among those recognized by Orland Fire District Tuesday OFPD Fire Chief Mike Schofield and the Board of Trustees set aside time at the beginning of the August 22nd Board of Trustee’s meeting to receive the following awards: Firefighter Doug DePersia brought up…

News, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Weather gives Chicago suburbs light show

July 11, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Weather gives Chicago suburbs light show Lightning lights up the skies over the Chicagoland South and Southwest suburbs Monday night in a rapid succession, and some thought might be a scene out of the SciFi movie “War of the Worlds.” By Ray Hanania The skies above gave the South and Southwest Chicagoland suburbs a real…

Features, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Village of Orland Park Vets Collect for Current Military

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Village of Orland Park Vets Collect for Current Military The Village of Orland Park Veterans’ Commission will collect items for current military on Saturday, July 22. The care package collection will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orland Park Veterans Center, 15045 West Avenue. “We’re happy to be able to collect…

Orland Park, Releases, Veterans

It’s our obligation, not politics, to support our Police

June 26, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

It’s our obligation, not politics, to support our Police The Village of Orland Park this year is distributing new vehicle stickers that salute the dedication and service of the nation’s Police. Police have come under attack because a few members have committed criminal, violent acts against civilians, unjustly killing suspects or asserting excessive violence in…

Crime, Editors Pick, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Sports figures, activists warn of rising opioid crisis

May 14, 2017November 30, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sports figures, activists warn of rising opioid crisis Sports figures, community leaders and activists warned Wednesday that heroin and opioid use has reached a crisis stage in suburban Chicagoland and is rising across the country. At a forum organized by the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD), the National Football Players Fathers Association (NFPFA), Cook County…

News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

No injuries in fire that damaged three homes in suburban Chicago

April 24, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

No injuries in fire that damaged three homes in suburban Chicago Three homes were damaged when broke out between two homes in Orland Hills, a Southwest suburb of Chicagoland. Photos and drone video shows extent of the fire View the Drone Video below Two Orland Hills families were displaced by a fire this afternoon, Monday April 24….

News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board

April 20, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board The Orland Park Village Board is apparently pretending that village voters really didn’t mean to support “change” in the last election, voting to oust 24-year incumbent Dan McLaughlin and replacing him with a little known, well-intentioned challenger, Keith Pekau. The board has named Joe LaMargo, the former head…

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost

April 6, 2017October 21, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost A poorly run re-election campaign by seven-term incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin combined with a hot-topic issue of salary and pension hikes, and a laser-focused issues campaign of a non-political challenger, Keith Pekau, running on the Republican Party banner did what no one thought could happen April 4 in Orland Park….

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections

April 5, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections Two Muslim candidates who had strong political backing lost their bids for election on Tuesday in Suburban Chicago contests. Dave Shalabi, who was appointed to a position on a local school board two years ago, lost his bid to remain on the influential school board. Bahira Karim fails in…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

April 5, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race Republican challenger Keith Pekau easily unseated 23 year incumbent Dan McLaughlin as Mayor of Orland Park in a contest that focused on the mayor’s bid to boost his salary by more than 375 percent and to spike his pension from $30,000 a year to $110,000. By Ray Hanania…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit

April 4, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit The high profile battle for the office of mayor of Orland Park in southwest suburban Chicago is fueled by the board’s decision to give the 23 year incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin a massive salary boost and huge pension after only one term in office. The salary and pension spike has…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention

April 4, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention The battle between Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau has the attention of the entire state apparently creating a wild election contest filled with a lot of unusual issues, supporters and claims By Ray Hanania The battle to lead Orland Park, one of the fastest growing suburbs…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Sports figures, activists warn of rising opioid crisis

April 4, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

News, Orland Park, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park sidesteps the will of the people

October 25, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park sidesteps the will of the people The Orland Park Board approved a plan to significantly increase Mayor McLaughlin’s salary 375 percent from what it was (a 275 percent increase). But the board action ignores the rights of the village’s taxpayers and voters. Oct. 20, 2016 Des Plaines Valley News, The Regional, The Reporter…

Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

How can movie reviewers all be so wrong?

October 25, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

How can movie reviewers all be so wrong? Tom Cruise knocks it out of the ball park in his latest movie “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.” Cruise costars with Cobie Smulders of TV’s “How I Met Your Mother.” And even better, the Marcus Theaters in Orland Park isn’t even finished with its renovation and it is…

Baby Boomers, Entertainment, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park approves 375% increase in mayoral salary

October 18, 2016November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Orland Park approves 375% increase in mayoral salary Nearly 100 residents crowded the Orland Park village hall to complain that the pay hike should be presented to the voters for approval and not the board members, who voted unanimously to hike the salary following two hours of public discussion and debate. By Ray Hanania (Note: You…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Finding a new place to lose weight & hang my iPod

April 3, 2016November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

I finally found a great place to work out, at Charter Fitness. I’ve bounced around a few health clubs but Charter fitness so far is the best. And I think seniors in Southwest Suburban Chicago should give it a closer look. It’s also the least expensive of all the clubs By Ray Hanania I think…

Baby Boomers, Features, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Common Core and our failing high schools

November 4, 2015November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Common Core and our failing high schools. Too many high schools are graduating students who are “not ready” for college, achieving under 21 on ACT testing. By Ray Hanania When I was young, if my grade point average was under 60 percent, I flunked. The grading system we used then applies today: A=90+; B=80+; C=70+;…

Education, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland