Category: Orland Park

Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure

October 12, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure State Comptroller Susana Mendoza slaps the wrist of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau as TIFs, Taxes, and Audits continue to plague the Southwest suburban village, but is it enough? By Ray Hanania State Comptroller Susana Mendoza suspended the Village of Orland Park from the…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, construction, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Park Police to Host Annual Seniors Luncheon

October 10, 2024October 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Police to Host Annual Seniors Luncheon The Orland Park Police Department will host a complimentary luncheon for area seniors at noon on Monday, October 14 at the Orland Park Civic Center, located at 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone again during this annual event,” said Chief of Police…

Baby Boomers, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees Students from across Consolidated High School 230 are adding their voices to Board of Education committee meetings. Specifically, three students from each school have been selected to serve on each of the three Board of Education Committees – Education, Student Support & Development, and Building…

Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

October 1, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns Mayor Keith Pekau used his eNewsletter to defend School District 230 President Lynn Zeder who attacked a school colleague for raising concerns about the impact Pekau’s 3 new TIFs will have on schools and property taxes By Ray Hanania Mayor…

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

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way

September 29, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way By Ray Hanania Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, 14651 S La Grange Road, has a fantastic menu with a great tasting Korean Chinese fusion food menu. But it goes one step further offering a fun way to enjoy it allowing…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

September 27, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park On June 6, 2024, the Orland Park Police Department responded to a call of an aggravated vehicular hijacking at the Mercedes-Benz of Orland located at 8430 W. 159th St. The victim, a vehicle transporter, was preparing to load a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz onto…

Cook County, Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire Protection District responds to home fire, no injuries

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 News Editor No Comments

Orland Fire Protection District responds to home fire, no injuries At approximately 2pm on Thursday, September 5th, 2024, the Orland Fire Protection District responded to a fire in the single-family home on the 14300 block of South Claridge Court. On Arrival crews were faced with a fire in a second-floor bedroom. The fire was quickly…

Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Releases

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers By Ray Hanania 09-04-24 The dangers of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s secretive TIF district proposals I am not surprised Orland Park Trustee Cindy Katsenes, a local realtor with Village Realty, attacked me personally at the Village Board…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 AM until 2 PM featuring live demonstrations in fighting fires and engaging in life-saving rescues. The Open House is one of…

Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits

August 29, 2024August 31, 2024 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the…

Education, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

August 25, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move Residents of Unincorporated Orland Township blast Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau for trying to grab their land and violate their rights. Residents say Mayor Pekau failed to properly notify them of his plans that began quietly in 2022 and continued to 2023 before residents could address the board…

Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Videos

Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic

August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic Two of four units in Orlando Park townhouse were severely damaged an uninhabitable, including the senior’s unit The Orland Fire Protection District responded at 6:51 pm to reports of smoke coming out of the eves of a…

Baby Boomers, breaking news, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Quick News, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Garage Fire in Orland Park Wednesday extinguished, no casualties

August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Garage Fire in Orland Park Wednesday extinguished, no casualties The Orland Fire District responded to a reported garage fire located in the 8900 block of Oakdale Court in Orland Park on Wednesday August 7th, 2024 at at 4:51 pm. Multiple 911 calls were received for a reported garage fire. Companies arrived on the scene and…

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

“Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday

June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday The Orland Fire District responded at 2:31 pm on Thursday, June 20, 2024 to a reported fire in the UFC Gym located at 66 Orland Square Drive, Unit C, in the Orland Park Mall complex. Multiple 911 calls were received for a fire in the rear…

Business, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara Controversy-plagued Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau will introduce a letter at Monday’s Village Board meeting (June 17, 2024) signed by him telling Village Manager George Koczwara that his contract cannot be renewed because it would be “unfair and inappropriate to allow an automatic extension” to…

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

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park

June 8, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park One of Chicagoland’s best Middle East Arabian restaurants offers a special exotic entertainment show every Wednesday, complementing their great food menu with the mesmerizing dance of Belly Dancer Tina every Wednesday from 7 PM until 9 PM. Enjoy a great show along…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, food, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s “Farewell to South Shore” by award winningauthor Charlene Wexler takes readers on a nostalgic trip through Chicago’s South Shore and beyond — A Perfect Summer Beach Read This summer, readers can transport themselves to mid-century Chicago, where Sherrie Paul…

Books & Films, Chicago, Culture, Editors Pick, Features, News, NewsWire, Orland Park