Orland Park Archives

Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager Mayor Pro Tem announced, Downtown Orland Park development reviewed The Village of Orland Park is pleased to announce the appointment of George Koczwara as Orland Park Village Manager, following a special meeting held on May 12, 2025. Koczwara, who previously served as Orland Park’s Village…

Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Registration opens May 9 for Orland Fire Kids Camp and Jr Cadet Programs

May 4, 2025May 4, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Registration opens May 9 for Orland Fire Kids Camp and Jr Cadet Programs Registration will open on May 9 for two programs designed to help young children and teenagers learn about the role of Fire Fights. The two programs include the Kids Fire and Life Safety Camp, where children aged 8 to 12 years old…

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

Vehicles crash in Orland Park and one careens into a nearby home Friday April 4, 2025

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

Vehicles crash in Orland Park and one careens into a nearby home Friday April 4, 2025 Two vehicles crashed at 151st and just east of 80th Avenue in Orland Park (at Meadow Lane), about a half block east of 80th Avenue and near the Orland Fire Protection District Station #2, on Friday morning April 4,…

accident, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

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

Orland Fire to host annual “Shamrocks & Shenanigans” Senior Luncheon on March 14

February 10, 2025February 13, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire to host annual “Shamrocks & Shenanigans” Senior Luncheon on March 14 Tickets for the Orland Fire Protection District’s popular Senior Citizen “Shamrocks & Shenanigans” luncheon go on sale beginning Monday, Feb 17, 2025, at the OFPD Administration building, 9790 W. 151st Street. The event will be held on March 14. It sells out…

Baby Boomers, Crime, Culture, Events, Festival, Fire, Government, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Seniors

Fire damages several apartments in Orland Park, no injuries

February 1, 2025February 1, 2025 News Editor 1 Comment

Fire damages several apartments in Orland Park, no injuries An apartment on the second floor of a 6-unit condominium building at the 15300 block of Treetop Drive in Orland Park was seriously damaged by fire on Saturday morning, Feb. 1, 2025. The Orland Fire Protection District responded to the fire which was reported at 11:30…

Crime, Festival, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Veterans

Fire damages 2nd Floor Orland Park Apartment, no injuries

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025 News Editor 1 Comment

Fire damages 2nd Floor Orland Park Apartment, no injuries A fire severely damaged a 2nd Floor Apartment at a building at 15100 block of El Cameno Terrace on Saturday night, Jan. 18, 2025. No one was injured but rescue crews from the Orland Fire Protection District helped find temporary shelter for several residents of the…

Crime, Festival, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals How is it that members of Congress can far exceed the profit performance of the stock market when it comes to their own investments? Why did Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi artificially increase the assessments of suburban homes, thereby dramatically increasing…

breaking news, Comedy, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Entertainment, Federal, Festival, Government, Humor, Law, National, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Religion, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Orland School District 135 turns sex abuse case involving 2 female students into victim shaming

November 23, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland School District 135 turns sex abuse case involving 2 female students into victim shaming By Ray Hanania Everyone remembers in January 2015 when an Elementary School District 135 teacher, Cara Labus, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing two young school girls, aged 14, beginning in 2008 in suburban Orland Park. The case was…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Law, Opinion, Orland Park, Police, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, women

Comptroller’s Office comments on Pekau Administration’s “resolution”

November 21, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Comptroller’s Office comments on Pekau Administration’s “resolution” Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza responds to lies and exaggerations made by beleaguered Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and his rubber stamp board which has mishandled the village’s finances distinguishing themselves by being among only a few governments that have failed to file two annual financial audits in…

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

Taxpayer advocate Mohammed Jaber files for Orland Park Village Trustee in 2025 elections

November 18, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taxpayer advocate Mohammed Jaber files for Orland Park Village Trustee in 2025 elections Orland Park, IL — Education leader Mohammed Jaber Friday announced he is running for Orland Park Village Trustee to break the “rubber stamp” that has driven increased village fees and property taxes and to restore the publics participation in local government that…

elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Candidate for Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge and slate file 4,236 petition signatures for April election

November 18, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Candidate for Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge and slate file 4,236 petition signatures for April election ORLAND PARK, IL – Mayoral candidate Jim Dodge and his slate filed 4,236 petition signatures today to nominate their new Orland Park for All Party for the April 1, 2025, municipal elections. This total significantly exceeds the required minimum…

elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Seasons 52 restaurant arrives in Orland Park

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Seasons 52 restaurant arrives in Orland Park Restaurant Offers Seasonally Inspired Dining with Every Menu Item Under 595 Calories, opens Orland Park location officially Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar, is opening in Orland Park on Monday, November 4. The restaurant offers guests a better way to eat and…

Features, food, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, restaurants

PRESS RELEASE: Town Hall meeting in Orland Park Wednesday to address 3 NEW TIFS and impact on taxpayers, homeowners

October 27, 2024October 28, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

PRESS RELEASE: Town Hall meeting in Orland Park Wednesday to address 3 NEW TIFS and impact on taxpayers, homeowners Town Hall meeting will explain and identify issues with Orland Park’s current Triangle TIF and 3 New TIFs being considered by Village of Orland Park Tom Tresser, a recognized authority on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts…

breaking news, Cook County, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza takes tough action against Orland Park over unfiled audits

October 17, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza takes tough action against Orland Park over unfiled audits Comptroller Mendoza Suspends Payments to the Village of Orland Park for Failure to File Documents. The move aims to motivate Orland Park’s administration to follow the law without penalizing town residents By Ray Hanania Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza took tough action on…

Economy, Government, News, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

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

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