Tag: Orland Park

Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure
Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure

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…

Read More “Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure” »

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

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees
School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees

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…

Read More “School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees” »

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

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns
Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

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…

Read More “Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns” »

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

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board
High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

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…

Read More “High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board” »

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

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers
Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

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…

Read More “Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers” »

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations
Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

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…

Read More “Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations” »

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

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move
Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

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…

Read More “Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move” »

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 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic 
Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic 

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…

Read More “Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic ” »

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Garage Fire in Orland Park Wednesday extinguished, no casualties
Garage Fire in Orland Park Wednesday extinguished, no casualties

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…

Read More “Garage Fire in Orland Park Wednesday extinguished, no casualties” »

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

“Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on “Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday
“Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday

“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…

Read More ““Huge fire” damages UFC Gym in Orland Park Thursday” »

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

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara
Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

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…

Read More “Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara” »

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park
What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park

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…

Read More “What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park” »

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

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront
Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau just can’t be honest. Last week, I revealed that the Village removed the sign for the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall from the front of the building. Fred Owens was a beloved mayor who helped…

Read More “Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront” »

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

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building The family of beloved and highly respected late former Orland Park Mayor Fred Owens has questioned why Mayor Keith Pekau has removed his name from the outdoor sign identifying the Village Administration Building, which was placed there in 1993 following his passing the year before….

Read More “Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building” »

Cook County, Culture, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign
Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign In a pure act of pettiness, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has removed the name of Frederick T. Owens from the signs in front of the Village Hall, for which the Village Hall has been named, without any public discussion or notice. In its place, Pekau…

Read More “Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign” »

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

Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school
Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school

Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school In the fall of 2023, the Orland Park Police Department received information that there was a subject on snapchat selling cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms and vape pens to Sandburg students. The Orland Park Police Tactical Response Unit opened up an investigation and…

Read More “Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school” »

Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park

Posted on By Ray Hanania 3 Comments on Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park
Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park The Orland Park Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in a vehicular hijacking that occurred on the evening of April 3, 2024. Shawn Flores, a 44-year-old Midlothian resident, faces charges following his apprehension on April 4. The incident began when a male victim was forcibly…

Read More “Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park” »

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

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias
Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias By Ray Hanania (Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group newpapers): True to his colors, Orland Park’s beleaguered Mayor Keith Pekau is turning to racism and community division to base his re-election campaign. In a recent letter to “supporters,” Pekau launched his campaign using the racist slogan,…

Read More “Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias” »

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