Category: Suburban Chicagoland

Frankfort hosts community cleanup in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 26, 2025

April 4, 2025April 4, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Frankfort hosts community cleanup in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 26, 2025 In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the Village of Frankfort is inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to take part in a community-wide cleanup event on April 26, 2025, to help spruce up neighborhoods, parks, roadways, and the Old…

Events, Frankfort, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Why We Pay Property Taxes In Arrears?

April 4, 2025April 4, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why We Pay Property Taxes In Arrears? Column: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas One of the most common questions I get in my office, is, “Why do we collect taxes for the previous year?” Here’s the backstory. Cook County’s property tax system has changed dramatically since The Treasurer’s…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Illinois officials offer best wishes to Muslim community at end of Ramadan

March 30, 2025March 30, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Illinois officials offer best wishes to Muslim community at end of Ramadan By Ray Hanania Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, and several officials including from Cook County, the State of Illinois and from officials of the Orland Fire Protection District offered their best wishes to the Muslim American community as they prepared…

Culture, Editors Pick, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Honors Duggan Sisters at Women’s History Month Celebration

March 28, 2025March 28, 2025 News Editor No Comments

MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Honors Duggan Sisters at Women’s History Month Celebration MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn with The Duggan Sisters (Mary, Annie, and Clare) The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) celebrated Women’s History Month with a special event on March 27 recognizing women making strides in public safety, cybersecurity,…

Events, Government, Health, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Pappas Urges Citizens to Vote on April 1 as Study Reveals Racial and Income Disparities in Referendum Turnout

March 28, 2025March 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas Urges Citizens to Vote on April 1 as Study Reveals Racial and Income Disparities in Referendum Turnout In a first-of-its-kind analysis, the Cook County Treasurer’s Office found much higher property tax referendum turnout in wealthier, predominantly white communities where nearly all people own their homes than in areas with mostly minority populations, lower incomes,…

Cook County, elections, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Mayor Christopher Getty Welcomes Buddy Bear Car Wash to Lyons

March 27, 2025March 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mayor Christopher Getty Welcomes Buddy Bear Car Wash to Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty joined business owner Phil DeGeratto and local officials on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of Buddy Bear Car Wash’s 17th location at 8136 Ogden Avenue in Lyons. The new facility, spanning three acres, represents a multimillion-dollar investment in the community. The…

Business, Events, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

March 23, 2025March 23, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving annual property tax relief. By Maria Pappas Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer must reapply for the benefit every year. Lawmakers acted to allow…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Patch publishes inaccurate news story on Fire District & merger

March 21, 2025March 24, 2025 News Editor No Comments

Patch publishes inaccurate news story on Fire District & merger By Ray Hanania The Patch is a great source of information but it should also have checks and balances on the publishing of news and information. This week, Patch writer Lauren Traut published an article on the growing controversy regarding the issue of “consolidation” or…

elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Former Homer Glen trustee Pazmino says village board needs independent voice

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Homer Glen trustee Pazmino says village board needs independent voice Former trustee and restaurant owner Ruben Pazmino hopes to continue to push his ideas to help taxpayers in Homer Glen as an independent voice in the April 1 election. Homer Glen gets very little attention from the media and its issues and needs are…

elections, Homer Glen, News, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Will County

Independent candidates launch social media and website for Orland Fire race

March 8, 2025March 8, 2025 Press ReleaseChicago No Comments

Independent candidates launch social media and website for Orland Fire race The independent candidates seeking re-election and election to the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees in the April 1, 2025 General election have launched their website and Facebook page to inform voters about their experience, platform and news. The candidates are Donald “DJ”…

Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Investigation leads to aggravated vehicular hijacking arrest

March 7, 2025March 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Investigation leads to aggravated vehicular hijacking arrest A Country Club Hills man on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) was charged with felony aggravated vehicular hijacking stemming from an incident that occurred in September in Tinley Park. Police said Jamal Britton, 33, approached a 27-year-old man as he was leaving work Sept. 11 in the 18700 block…

Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Independent Candidates for Orland Fire Protection District announce their slate

March 5, 2025March 8, 2025 News Editor No Comments

Independent Candidates for Orland Fire Protection District announce their slate Three seats are up for election on April 1 for the Orland Fire Protection District’s Board of Trustees and three slates of candidates are competing for those seats. The independent slate, Fiscal Voices for Fire Safety, includes two Orland Fire Protection District officials, incumbent Trustee…

elections, Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Tinley Park

Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Tuesday, March 4 due date

March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Tuesday, March 4 due date First Installment Tax Year 2024 property taxes are due Tuesday, March 4, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded taxpayers today. The Treasurer’s Office posted nearly 1.8 million bills online at cookcountytreasurer.com in early December and mailed printed bills to…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation March 12

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation March 12 The Orland Fire Protection District will host is next “Coffee & Conversation” public meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 beginning at 10 AM. The meeting features special guests who address topics of interest to district residents. This meeting’s focus is “Empowered Aging: Finding the Right…

Baby Boomers, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill name and address information

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill name and address information By Maria Pappas You may not look forward to receiving your property tax bill, but it’s crucial that you get it. Not getting it can lead to missing the payment due date, which can cost you money. That’s exactly what happened…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cicero building severely damaged by fire, no one injured

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero building severely damaged by fire, no one injured The former Cork and Tap Bar, 1501 S. 51st Court, was consumed by an aggressive fire today, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. The two-story frame building sustained significant fire damage. No one was inside or injured. The Cicero Fire Department is investigating the cause. They believe the…

Fire, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

Recent Ray Hanania columns you might have missed on President Carter, Tom Cotton, Keith Pekau, Camelot, and JFK assassination

February 1, 2025February 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Recent Ray Hanania columns you might have missed on President Carter, Tom Cotton, Keith Pekau, Camelot, and JFK assassination Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to throw trash and lies at the residents of his Suburban Chicagoland community in an eNewsletter that is filled with political exaggerations and distortions attacking anyone who challenges his failed…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Comedy, Crime, Federal, Festival, Government, Humor, National, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Podcast, Police, Politics, Racism, Regional Midwest, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Firefighter volunteers honored for helping victims of Hurricane Helene

January 29, 2025January 29, 2025 News Editor 1 Comment

Orland Firefighter volunteers honored for helping victims of Hurricane Helene OFPD Fire Chief Michael Schofield presented awards and citations to Firefighters who volunteered to help residents in North Carolina during the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Schofield presents awards to Firefighters and Orland Park Police who saved the life of a fire colleague…

Crime, Events, Fire, Flooding, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland