No injuries at Orland Home seriously damaged by fire

No injuries at Orland Home seriously damaged by fire

Lightning suspected, officials said. The family was on vacation

The Orland Fire Protection District responded to a fire reported in a home located on the 108th block of West Scarlet Drive in Orland Park early Wednesday morning.

The fire was reported at about 2:46 am on Wednesday July 29, 2015 and initial arriving fire companies found heavy fire had spread through the attic and roof areas of the 5,000 square foot residential home. Firefighters reported that heat radiating from the blaze was extensive.

OFPD Chief Ken Brucki said that firefighters immediately went into a defensive position to get the fire under control preventing any injuries.

“This fire had a tremendous amount of heat and it concerned us,” Brucki said. “We were concerned about structures around the property and took appropriate precautions to keep nearby properties safe.”

Brucki said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Crews were able to conduct a rapid primary search to confirm there were no occupants in the property at the time, and we were able to verify that the family was vacationing,” Brucki said.

The alarm was elevated to a full still to bring in additional companies.  A total of two aerial master streams and five large diameter hand-lines were required to extinguish the fire. 

The structure suffered major fire damage to the entire roof and extensive damage to the interior of the structure from fire, smoke, and water. 

It took approximately an hour to bring the fire under control. 

Brucki said one possible cause of the fire may be lightning noting “there was a tremendous amount of lightning in the area at approximately the same time of the fire.”

Brucki also said that the fire department was able to deploy a drone to assist in quickly identifying the fire location on the home.

“It was a very large home and the drone helped give us an immediate, aerial view of the property and the fire,” Brucki said.  “The aerial view assisted the Battalion Chief to direct suppression efforts to bring the fire under control.”

VIDEO:

 

Drone Video Link

https://youtu.be/vS4B8LHHB8k

Drone still Pic’s Links

https://youtu.be/lrl1HywxMAA

end

Little league baseball, moms and not enough apple pie

Little League Baseball, moms and not enough apple pie

By RAY HANANIASouthwest News-Herald Newspaper May 13, 2010

My son is nothing like me when it comes to sports. He loves sports, I don’t.

My parents were too busy working to spend the time needed to walk me through the rigorous schedules of Little League and other sports programs when I was growing up.

And if they did, I’d probably guess I would not have been very good at it any way.

But my son is in a Little League hosted by the Orland Youth Association. I support him and cheer him on. I go to all the practice scrimmages and I go to the games. I’ve even taken him to the batting cages

Although I’ve never been more than an “Easter Sunday” sports fan (ignoring the games until the Super Bowl or the World Series), I’m really in to his performance.

OK, he’s not a “natural” yet — a term I learned from Robert Redford, not sports. But being at the games only reinforces why I stayed away from the sport. I can’t handle sports-politics!

I used to always say that politics is my sport. But after only a few games with my son in Little League, I know sports is the real politics.

I’ve learned a lot, though.

For example, “good eye” is the most popular cheer at a Little League game. That’s what you say after a batter doesn’t swing for a pitch that is a “ball.”

See? I am learning. It’s not all hopeless.

I’ve also learned not to sit next to the moms, who cheer and scream instructions to their sons on the field. “Put your ear muffs on!”

I don’t know how the coaches do it. Sitting there while the moms scream out more instructions than the coaches.

That’s not to berate the moms at all. I admire them. Men are wusses when it comes to kids.

Want to know about sex? Ask mom.

Want to know about baseball? Ask mom, too.

OK. I admit it. Every time my son gets on base, I give him $20. (It goes in his savings account.)

Ever since I offered him the payola, his batting average has shot up dramatically.

That’s what dads know best. Have a problem? Throw money at it. Punish a kid? No way. Give the kid money and ask them not to do it again. It works.

Then there are the stories about elected officials in Orland Park who use their clout to get to pick the best players so they can have the best teams.

I’m looking in to that one, of course. But I’ll wait till the season is over.

It’s all too intense for me, though. I like watching the kids play ball. Why do they have to be under such pressure? Why can’t they have fun and learn teamwork, and the game, of course?

It seems too much for me. As soon as the moms start shouting, I’m down the field near third base watching and taking pictures of my son.

In the end, though, I think the concern of the moms make it all worthwhile for the kids. They’re young. They listen to their moms.

So here’s a toast to the moms. And I’ll bet Babe Ruth’s mom was at many of his first few games yelling at him often.

“Tuck in that shirt, Little Georgie!” (That was the Babe’s real name, George Herman Ruth Jr.)

“Suck in that gut, Junior! Shoulders back, elbow out!”

“You’re not focusing on the ball, George Herman! You want to grow up like your father?”

(Listen to Ray Hanania on WJJG-AM 1530 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. He also may be heard from 7 to 9 a.m. Fridays on www.RadioBaladi.com in the Chicago area, Dearborn, Mich. and Windsor, Ontario. Check out the Web site at www.radiochicagoland.com or call [708] 493-1530.)

Time to eliminate Orland Fire Protection District and Save taxpayers money

I don’t think I ever would have thought about the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) had it not been for the email I received from former Orland Park trustee Tom Dubelbeis. Dubelbeis, as I later learned, is an unofficial campaign adviser to Pat Maher, the son of the Orland Park Village Clerk David Maher whose royalty in politics traces back to the privileged 19^th Ward Democratic Organization.

Dubelbeis was the “enabler” who “introduced me” to Pat Maher, in much the same way that a royal announcer introduces the Queen of England when she enters a room. In this case, Maher was entering serious politics beyond his role as President of the Orland Fire Protection District which I had assumed was just like any other fire department.

It’s not. In fact, it is one of the most expensive fire protection districts in the state with a budget of about $26 million a year. It takes 12.51 percent of your property taxes, the largest chunk of any government agency not including the school districts.

I guess that’s the definition of royalty. But in reality, it’s the taxpayers who getting the royal screws.

A TYPICAL SATURDAY, SHOCKED BY WASTEFUL SPENDING

Every Saturday, I like to work on my lawn, read a book and find those old black and white movies from the 50s on the TCM Channel. It’s the one time where I actually get to greet the mailman, too, and collect the mail personally.

You can imagine how shocked I was when I opened my mail and found a full color eight page brochure from the Orland Fire Protection District. It was addressed to “RESIDENT” so I assume everyone in the Orland Fire Protection Distirct, almost exclusively residents of Orland Park and unincorporated Orland Township, received one.

Most government brochures are informative. This one was all about politics, promoting the fact that Pat Maher is a candidate not for re-election but for a bigger job, one suitable for a person of his 19^th Ward pedigree, the commissioner of the Cook County Board from the 17^th District which encompasses Orland Township and the OFPD, and communities all the way north to Wheeling.

Right on the front page was the debate that Maher is engaging in as the foundation of his election campaign. Maher insists -- despite the facts – that the Orland Fire Protection District is a benefit to taxpayers. The front page article paralleled the arguments he made recently in a press release about how he has “reduced” taxes. The rest of the information was useless timber,  including “Tips” on how to shovel snow, and “Tips” for Thanksgiving. Hey, it reminded us days before Thanksgiving, “The Holidays are around the corner.”

Like I needed the Orland Fire Protection District to tell me in an expensive mailer that I would estimate probably costs over $20,000 to produce a mail, maybe more.

Is that a way to save taxes, Mr. President, your Excellency, your 19^th Ward Prince?

I don’t think so. The whole purpose clearly is so that Maher can respond to charges that the Orland Fire Protection District is a costly waste of money to taxpayers. That’s not a good platform to run on, so candidates who manage bloated government agencies always tell you about how much they have cut back taxes, reduced spending, rebated money and protected your interests as a taxpayer.

Baloney.

OFPD IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN STATE

Fire Protection Districts were an ingenious idea when the suburbs were prairies and communities were miles apart and they couldn’t afford huge municipal budgets to pay for a fulltime fire department. A Fire Protection District was a great way to have each community share in the cost and save the tax payers money. The alternative is to have a volunteer fire department, as many communities big and small still do.

The Lemont Fire Protection District, for example, covers an area of approximately 40 square miles and serves the Village of Lemont, portions of Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook, and Homer Glen. It collected about $12.2 million in revenues including $7.5 million from property taxes and they spent about $10.7 million in overall expenses.

I know that because the Lemont Fire Department puts their budget on their web site, obviously because they are very proud of what they do. Click here for the link.

The typical fire department costs about $8 million to manage

The Orland Fire Protection District budget is $25.6 million and covers only 33 square miles. It has 157 employees (or 81 percent of the entire budget), expanded this year with several new hires and positions from last years. Click here for the link.

That’s three times the average cost of a Fire Department?

Of course, when you see how they spend money, and understand that the Prince of the Orland Fire Protection District is planning to break into politics in a big way next year, you can then understand why they don’t care about spending $20,000 to publish a newsletter with a lot of worthless drivel.

$20,000, by my estimate, so that on Page 1 with his picture, Prince Maher can tell the taxpayers that he “abated” $1.3 million.

Of course he can abate $1.3 million. He’s collecting $25.6 million far more than any other fire department in the region (outside of Chicago).

When you look at the budget, it’s a shell game. He’s not cutting back taxes, he has a bloated budget that has so much excess funds including rolled-over bond issues that if retired would save tax payers millions but have been recommitted to a new training center.

Believe me when I tell you this is all about politics. When a politician tells you they are cutting your taxes, figure that your taxes will go up a fortune.

In fact, over the past eight years, my taxes paid to the Orland Fire Protection District have continued to skyrocket.

Do we get accountability? No. We get rhetoric and statistical shell games. When I pointed out one of the OFPD Battalion Chiefs was using his gas-guzzling Fire District-owned SUV for personal reasons outside of the district, they shrugged and said they’d look in to it.

It still goes on.

DISBAND OFPD & MERGE IT AS THE ORLAND PARK FIRE DEPT

The bottom line is this. We don’t need an Orland Fire Protection District. It’s a patronage haven. It responded to 8,300 calls last year. That’s $3,132 for every call, double what it costs other communities.

Orland Park should absorb the Orland Fire Protection District into a Fire Department, cut the budget, trim the staff and really save the taxpayers a lot of wasted money.

But that would be the responsible thing to do.

And when it comes to responsibility for the interests of taxpayers, we don’t seem to get much of it in the Orland Fire Protection District.

-- Ray Hanania
www.radiochicagoland.com

Maher's Orland Fire Protection District jacks up taxes a whopping 12.51 percent of the total bill

I have to say when I first met Patrick Maher, the president of the Orland Fire Protection District, I thought he was a pretty decent and honest person. Of course back then, the meeting I had with him was to simply put to rest many of the issues that plague the Orland Fire Protection District that he heads.


Since then, Maher only answered one issue, arguing that he's not going to make senior citizens pay for ambulance service by the OFPD. He just wanted the seniors who have insurance to submit the ambulance service costs to their insurance companies to see if the OFPD could recover money.


I wasn't sure why any Fire Protection District would have to worry about money but over the past year, I have seen why. Maher's OFPD spends like there is no tomorrow. And he has not been accountable on the major issues I have asked him about.


I am not sure why. He seemed like a good guy. A father with kids who takes them to sports games the way I take my son to participate in sports leagues too. But I do think it has a lot to do with the people he has chosen to associate himself with. Of course, for some, there was no choice.


But first, let's talk about the issues I have concerns with that Maher just can't seem to answer no matter how many times I ask him. Which makes me believe there are no real answers.


First, Maher has a battalion chief whose big-assed SUV is seen all over the place by a lot of people outside of the Orland Fire Protection District. This battalion chief drives his gas-guzzler everywhere like its his personal limousine doing personal things like taking his kids to sports activities outside of the district in places like Lemont.


Maher promised to look in to it, but apparently he doesn't want to do anything about it. The only vague response I got was that somehow Lemont and Orland have some kind of deal. I think it has to do with the fact that Maher's brother, David B. Maher, ran and lost in a bid to become a trustee out in Lemont this past April.


Maher did absolutely nothing about it.


Next, Maher decided to run against Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman for the office of Cook County Commissioner from the 17th District. Originally, I wasn't a big fan of Gorman's and my criticism has been published -- mostly dealing with minor political issues. But since then, Gorman, on her own, has done some amazing things fighting for the rights of taxpayers not just in the 17th District but in the entire Cook County. I have gotten to know her and recognize that she has the chutzpah to take on Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's government-as-usual, tax-hike driven antics.


If it wasn't for Gorman, the fight to repeal Stroger's 1 percent sales tax would have been forgotten long ago. The board would have made one effort and then turned their backs on the issue. But Gorman wouldn't let them do that. She persisted. Gorman made the fight against Stroger's Sales Tax a key focus of the county and she was the spirit behind the repeated efforts to repeal the tax. She just wouldn't give up. That fight helped give taxpayers hope that the repressive 1 percent sales tax will be repealed.


And, if it wasn't for Gorman making this tax fight the high profile battle that she did, the Illinois legislature would never have taken notice and finally, after many attempts, decided to roll back the number of votes it takes on the Cook County board to override a veto by the board president. It was 14 votes before and thanks to the legislature, and Gorman, it is only 11 (of 17 commissioner) today. That means that the county board commissioners -- who had 14 votes to repeal the Stroger tax, (betrayed only by the shameful conduct of Deborah "Do Nothing" Simms who voted for the repeal and then flip-flopped to support Stroger's veto)  -- can override Stroger's veto and put him in his place until he is replaced in office next year.


Liz Gorman's name is synonymous with the fight against rising taxes. And she has promised to try AGAIN to repeal and rollback the sales tax.


Yet this is what Maher wrote on his slick web site about the whole issue:

Patrick Maher supports legislation proposed by Illinois Sen. Dan Kotowski to lower the threshold for overriding a veto by the Cook County Board President. On two recent occasions, Todd Stroger used his veto to block the will of the voters to rollback his wildly unpopular tax increase. The proposed legislation would allow a 3/5th majority, rather than a 4/5ths majority, to override a veto. Currently 14 of the 17 members must agree for an override to pass.

Patrick Maher has reached out to local legislators to encourage them to support the measure. The incumbent Cook County Board Member from the 17th District has turned a blind eye to this important issue.

Gorman has "turned a blind eye to this important issue?" What planet are you on Maher? Why would you say something so stupid on your web site? 


But I don't think Maher is really running the show. When I first met Maher, the political enabler for the meeting was Tom Dubelbeis, the former Orland Park trustee whom I never had any real contacts with. He told Maher he could arrange the meeting. Turns out Dubelbeis not only is helping to run Maher's campaign, he is on the Orland Fire Protection District payroll.


Maher has to make it through the Democratic primary February 2 where he faces a tough challenges from independent Democrat Dr. Victor Forys. Forys has gotten all the big Democratic endorsements and most Democrats view the Maher race as a case of clout: a father (Orland Park Village Clerk and Cook County government patronage employee David Maher) using his clout to help his son get on a better more lucrative public payroll.


BUT TAXES IS THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST


I'm most concerned about taxes. Maher says he is going to fight taxes and he cites the great job he has been doing heading the Orland Fire Protection District.


Yikes! Maher's Orland Fire Protection District spends more money than most other Fire Protection Districts, it seems.


And when it comes to fighting taxes? Well, like all of you, I got my tax bill this weekend and I am pissed off!


Outside of the taxes for schools, which ALWAYS go up, Patrick Maher's Orland Fire Protection District had the highest tax increase in the county for Orland Park. The taxes for Maher's Orland Fire Protection District claimed 12.51 percent of the pot, which drove up taxes as much as 30 percent in some cases.


The Orland Fire Protection District is taking more money from your taxes than any other government agency on the list, with the exception of the school districts. The village is taking 7.4 percent. The Library is taking 3.01 percent. The OFPD District is taking twice as much as the county, which is taking only 6.86 percent for all county agencies.


What the hell are you spending all this money on Mr. Maher?


For the life of me I don't understand why a major city like Orland Park doesn't just have it's own Fire Department. Why do we have this overlapping tax-spending government called the Orland Fire Protection District taking more money out of our pockets?


Under Maher, the costs of politically connected attorneys hired by the district have skyrocketed. Some insist that the spending is politically motivated and that the legal work should be done in-house. And there is a big messy lawsuit out there, too.


But 12.51 percent? That is absolutely outrageous.


And yet, this is what Patrick Maher has to say about taxation and his promise to protect the interests of the taxpayers:

As President of the Orland Fire Protection District, taxpayers in Orland Township have seen the reforms initiated by Patrick Maher.

Patrick Maher and the fire protection board inherited a multi-million dollar deficit and, with a responsible spending, the district eliminated its deficit, balanced the budget, improved fire and emergency services AND saved taxpayers over $1.3 million.

Was that before or after you hammered the taxpayers with an increase this past year (12.51 percent of the county's total tax bill) in new taxes Mr. Maher?


Pat Maher was first elected to the Orland Fire Protection District in 2003. He was then fast-tracked as OFPD President in 2006 after being anointed with his father's clout.


So, Maher above says he "inherited" a multi-million deficit. Who did he "inherit" the deficit from? Himself? He was on the board for three years before becoming el Presidente!


And, if he turned the table on the so-called "deficit" -- every politically connected child put in office by their father always insists they had a "deficit" that they "inherited" -- but never from their parent, of course -- when and how did that table turn?


Did it turn in 2006 when he "inherited" the deficit from himself on the board? Or, is he using this windfall tax increase to cover the excessive spending in the OFPD?


Patrick Maher is a huge disappointment for me personally. I really liked him. I just don't like the bull-s--- that seems to be written all over his phony PR claims and campaign boasts and I am cautious about some of the political people he has chosen to surround himself with.


I am not convinced that Maher's Orland Fire Protection District's really cares about the  taxpayers at all. I have a nagging suspicion that his administration is all about the same old political patronage and insider clout that plagues the very Cook County Board he's trying to get elected to; a county board where Maher's 19th Ward relatives have had a longstanding and cozy political relationship with the Stroger's.


-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Maher says he's endorsing McCarthy, has nothing to do with trustee's possible race

Orland Fire Protection District President Patrick Maher, a candidate for the 17th Cook County Board seat now held by Commissioner Liz Gorman, says he has nothing to do with a possible candidacy of fellow OFPD trustee James P. Hickey running for state representative.


Petitions are being circulated to place Hickey's name on the Feb. 2, 2010 Democratic primary ballot in the 37th House District, challenging incumbent State Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Some of those petitions are being circulated along with petitions for Maher in Orland Park. (I haven't had a chance to speak with Hickey to find out if he is circulating them or if backers are trying to draft him.)


But Maher says he has "nothing to do with it."


Protested Maher, "I’ve emailed my petitions to hundreds of people … I can’t control who else they are getting signatures for. If my signatures are with anyone elses that does not mean I am working with them or supporting them. I have my  own organization. I am getting support from leaders of the community."


Maher also made it clear he backs McCarthy for re-election. "I’m supporting Kevin McCarthy for State Representative and I will continue to support Kevin McCarthy. He (Hickey) hasn’t talked to me, or, as far as I know, to the Democratic Committee in Orland Township. This is the first I heard he is running."

Maher expressed shock that Hickey might consider running for another elected office after having only been recently elected to the OFPD board of trustees.


"I am astounded that he would consider running for this position," he said.

Maher received the endorsement for his candidacy from the Cook County Democratic Organization. he also has the backing of several unions.

(I have calls in to Hickey to explore why he might be running this soon after winning office to the OFPD.)


UPDATE: State Rep. Kevin McCarthy called me back to say that he was contacted by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan's office this morning about the report, but when I passed along Maher's comments, he said he was "appreciative. I can work with him."


"I'm busy working on pension reform legislation and have some meetings on it this week. It's important to the taxpayers," McCarthy said. "I met Hickey and heard his petitions are out there. I met him once."

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com  

Dodge makes it formal for comptroller at the Humphrey House Monday

ORLAND PARK, Ill., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jim Dodge will formally announce his candidacy for the Office of Illinois Comptroller at a press conference Monday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. at the historic John Humphrey House, 9830 W. 144th Pl., Orland Park.

An Orland Park official since 1989, he is seeking the Republican Party nomination as the state's chief fiscal control officer in the Feb. 2, 2010 primary election. Dodge, who holds a master's degree in economics and finance from the University of Chicago, works as a technology consultant.

Dodge selected the Humphrey House site for its historical sentiment as John Humphrey served in the Illinois General Assembly, as a Republican Illinois state senator, and as Orland Park's first mayor.



Dodge is the first one to formally jump in to the race. Former Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka is also planning to officially announce and there are reports she is circulating her petitions, too, and will be running. Topinka has higher name recognition, but targeting Comptroller rather than the synch race for treasurer or governor might be an issue. Dodge needs to broaden his name recognition statewide. Both are friends and it is expected to be a cordially race.

* * * * *

Orland Fire District President Patrick Maher is also in the race for Cook County Commissioner in the 17th District. Maher, someone told me, was in the Lemont Parade (where I walked with my son). I didn't see him but I did see Mark Kirk and Judy Biggert.

I know because Maher's camp sent me their newsletter announcing his candidacy in the Democratic Primary Feb. 2. He'll face Dr. Victor Forys who has amassed a large campaign fund and ran once before for U.S. Congress.

I got the newsletter when I mentioned Maher in an earlier blog post. I also wrote that there have been more  sightings of one of Maher's top Fire Battalion Chiefs in their taxpayer-funded SUV gas guzzler driving his kids someplace outside the district again. Maher said he planned to look in to it. I thought he might actually act on the problem, because it is a major problem. But then again, all he did say was he would look in to it.


Here is Maher's campaign web site where he announces his candidacy: www.friendsofpatrickmaher.com.

He talks about the need to protect the interests of taxpayers, but I haven't seen him take any action on what I and other taxpayers consider a misuse of public vehicles, driving a Fire Protection District SUV outside of the district. Maher explained before that the 5 (?) battalion chiefs in the district drive the cars around on and off-duty so they are available when needed. Let's just hope that idea doesn't spread to other taxpayer funded government agencies.

The winner of the Democratic primary Feb. 2 will then face off with Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, a Republican who has built a powerful front defending the rights of taxpayers leading the charge against the repressive 1 percent Todd Stroger Cook County Sales Tax. Maher didn't attack Stroger's sales tax plan in his newsletter discussion about fighting for taxpayer rights. That is going to be an hurdle that will be hard for him to overcome, the fact that Stroger and the Democratic Machine back him.

******

Former Cicero Town president Betty Loren-Maltese, who was convicted of corruption and spent seven years in the hoosegow and is now spending six months in a halfway house across the street from Circus Circus in Las Vegas, told FOX Chicago News reporter Anne Kavanaugh that she is writing a book called "Justice: Chicago Style" ... I thought it should be titled "Guilty."

Loren-Maltese, of course, never takes responsibility for her crimes or her vindictive ways and plays the victim so well. She's a split personality, on one side very likable and on the other vicious, cruel and mean. It's the Bad Betty and her greed that put her in jail and the Good Betty who only reappears when she needs sympathy.

When Kavanaugh asked me about whether her book would sell, I noted I would buy it, as a journalist. But, I wasn't sure a public that has had it up to here with former convicted criminals and convicts trying to make excuses for their actions would want to read the book. Betty most likely will simply fill the pages with junk about how it was everyone else's fault instead of her own, blame it on how "friends" betrayed her, and paint herself as the innocent victim of injustice, duped by male politicians.

The truth is if Betty were smart -- she has it in her -- she'd admit her responsibility in her crimes and her own life, stop playing the victim which is BS, and take responsibility for her own actions. Then, write about the colorful characters she met during her three year reign as Good Betty (93-96 when I was her consultant) and six year reign as Bad Betty (96-02 when politically sleazy PR consultants Dave Donahue and later Lee Harris ran her post-corruption defense campaigns under Ed Vrdolyak's direction. Donahue's greasy fingerprints are all over Orland Park and Township.)

I was her consultant when she was doing good and while she was quietly betraying everyone around her. Town Supervisor Joe DiChicio was found not guilty because the judge easily saw through her weak defense and efforts to manipulate the Town Clerk's board meeting records. I left her when I asked her if the FBI charges were true and she called Vrdolyak to tell him I spoke with the FBI, and Vrdolyak ordered Betty to fire me. Thank you Betty!

Harris and Donahue represented her when it was clear that she was the focus of a major corruption investigation that looted the Town of more than $10 million. That explains how Betty amassed all that money and property and big cars and high-flying gambling life.

If she got her act together, she could do some good with her life. but knowing Betty, she is always consumed with anger, hatred and meanness. Those are tough obstacles for anyone to overcome.

I liked the old, Good Betty, the one that shared leadership with other leaders in Cicero back in the early 1990s and opened the town together with progressive programs. But that Betty is just a memory that if came back would make her book a success. Bad, mean Betty writing a book. People who know her will buy it but that won't be enough to make it successful.

*****

Rumor is Rocky Wirtz, the owner of the Blackhawks and Judge & Dolph is a part of the investment group buying the Chicago Sun-Times. Wirtz is a smart guy. He put the Blackhawks back on the map and he is smart when it comes to business. I hope he can help re-organize the Sun-Times and keep it from closing.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Firefighter who claimed to be 007 in Iraq war expected to be sentenced today

The two-and-a-half year saga involving former Orland Fire Protection District firefighter Larry Masa, accused of collecting a paycheck and faking military leave to work for a private contractor overseas, could wrap up

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/Orland_Fire_Fighter_Could_Be_Sentenced_Today

Orland Fire Vehicle makes distant calls, from sports parking lots

Randy Reeder has been a longtime member of the Orland Fire Protection District hired in 1989 after serving in Palos for almost a decade before.

So you would think he would know better.

Reeder was promoted to Battalion Chief last November and now drives a Battalion Chiefs “Command Car,” a huge, fire-engine red SUV with “Orland Fire District” in large letters on the side doors and back, and “Battalion Chief” emblazoned on the front fenders of the big FORD Expedition.

The vehicle is hard to miss. So it was easily spotted in many locations by Orland Park residents who called me to ask why an Orland Fire Protection District vehicle parked, late at night, at some unusual public places like the parking lot of the Bo Jackson Sports Complex 12 miles away in Lockport neat I-355? And other places outside of the District? (His ID was dangling visibly from the rearview mirror in the car so it’s obvious whose vehicle was in use.)

I asked OFPD President Patrick Maher and he explained that Reeder is on 24 hour call this month. He’s the “Safety Officer” also. It’s done for the benefit of the district residents in the event of an emergency.

I understand every father has family obligations outside of the Orland Fire Protection District. And while they are vigilant and ready to rush to the scene of a fire or emergency where they may be needed, but do they really have to use a Fire District Car on personal time to be ready?

Insured by the District, in case something happens to their car outside of the district. Gasoline paid for by the district. Maintenance, wear and tear. Sounds like nothing. But it’s a lot.

I like Pat Maher. He runs the OFPD and the buck for all of the foibles of all the clout heavy people with the clout heavy names that he has to oversee stops at his desk. That gives him all kinds of political hassles to contend with outside of trying to manage the OFPD budget and operations.

He’s related to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes through Dan’s mother’s side of the family. You see the Hynes name on the OFPD employment roster (they are not all related). We also saw all kinds of 19th Ward workers swarming around polling places at the past election handing out palm cards. And then there are the relatives of the former Orland Park village president, who I knew personally, Fred Owens. That’s just the beginning. So I don’t envy the job that Maher has to do. He’s also planning to run for higher office – isn’t that the mandate of every relative of a 19th Ward Dynasty?

I wouldn’t accept the excuse he was given. It’s hard to believe that Randy Reeder needs to be in his OFPD gas-guzzling SUV every minute of the day even if he is on call for the month.

Reeder is one of four Battalion Chiefs who work under Fire Chief Bryant Krizik. There’s also Raymond Kay, Joe Copeland and Dan Smith, who was promoted with Reeder last November from the fire ranks. All these guys are listed under “Administration.” That means “clout.”

Then there are three Battalion Chiefs who actually do all the hard work under “Fire Operations” who split up the day, every day, into three 8 hour shifts Black, Red and Gold. They are 1st Shift (BLACK) - BC Steve Smith; 2nd Shift (RED) - BC Nick Cinquepalmi; and 3rd Shift (GOLD) - BC Bill Bonnar, Jr.

I give Maher credit. He’s not like the other politicians and government officials I deal with who run like scared rabbits when you ask them to account for the taxpayer’s dime, like the ones who call your publisher and try to get you fired, or have people drive by your house giving you threatening looks. Or joke around that if something were to happen to me, would I get my garbage can lid?

Maher explained it and stood by his explanation. Personally, I think the political animals who do occupy some of those OFPD jobs are pulling the fireman’s wool over his eyes. And I don’t buy the on-duty 30-days at a time explanation.

“The day-time battalion chiefs are assigned an on-call month which rotates between the three of them. During their assigned month, they are expected to be available 24/7 throughout the month to respond to secondary calls, extrication needed car accidents, working fires, and any technical rescue incidents,” Maher explained.

“Their ‘on-call’ time is outside of their working hours. They are not compensated for being on call, it is an expectation of their position. Additionally, the reason that we required our chiefs to live within the District boundaries is so that they are available to respond in a timely manner to incidents. When they are on call they need to be available and ready for response – which means not getting too far away from the district boundaries. If while on call the assigned chief needs to leave town, or is otherwise incapable of response they need to call one of the other off duty chiefs and find coverage.”

Maher adds, “Battalion Chief Reeder is the Department Safety Officer so even when he is not assigned “on call” duty, he still has a level of expectation to respond in the safety officer role. Again, he is not paid additional money. The practice of having off duty chiefs take home cars is practiced by practically every department which was evident during our inquiries when we decided about three years ago to change our policy. Many chiefs have that as a provision of their contracts.”

Hey. It is baseball season after all.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Fire Vehicle makes distant calls, from sports parking lots

Randy Reeder has been a longtime member of the Orland Fire Protection District hired in 1989 after serving in Palos for almost a decade before.

So you would think he would know better.

Reeder was promoted to Battalion Chief last November and now drives a Battalion Chiefs “Command Car,” a huge, fire-engine red SUV with “Orland Fire District” in large letters on the side doors and back, and “Battalion Chief” emblazoned on the front fenders of the big FORD Expedition.

The vehicle is hard to miss. So it was easily spotted in many locations by Orland Park residents who called me to ask why an Orland Fire Protection District vehicle parked, late at night, at some unusual public places like the parking lot of the Bo Jackson Sports Complex 12 miles away in Lockport neat I-355? And other places outside of the District? (His ID was dangling visibly from the rearview mirror in the car so it’s obvious whose vehicle was in use.)

I asked OFPD President Patrick Maher and he explained that Reeder is on 24 hour call this month. He’s the “Safety Officer” also. It’s done for the benefit of the district residents in the event of an emergency.

I understand every father has family obligations outside of the Orland Fire Protection District. And while they are vigilant and ready to rush to the scene of a fire or emergency where they may be needed, but do they really have to use a Fire District Car on personal time to be ready?

Insured by the District, in case something happens to their car outside of the district. Gasoline paid for by the district. Maintenance, wear and tear. Sounds like nothing. But it’s a lot.

I like Pat Maher. He runs the OFPD and the buck for all of the foibles of all the clout heavy people with the clout heavy names that he has to oversee stops at his desk. That gives him all kinds of political hassles to contend with outside of trying to manage the OFPD budget and operations.

He’s related to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes through Dan’s mother’s side of the family. You see the Hynes name on the OFPD employment roster (they are not all related). We also saw all kinds of 19th Ward workers swarming around polling places at the past election handing out palm cards. And then there are the relatives of the former Orland Park village president, who I knew personally, Fred Owens. That’s just the beginning. So I don’t envy the job that Maher has to do. He’s also planning to run for higher office – isn’t that the mandate of every relative of a 19th Ward Dynasty?

I wouldn’t accept the excuse he was given. It’s hard to believe that Randy Reeder needs to be in his OFPD gas-guzzling SUV every minute of the day even if he is on call for the month.

Reeder is one of four Battalion Chiefs who work under Fire Chief Bryant Krizik. There’s also Raymond Kay, Joe Copeland and Dan Smith, who was promoted with Reeder last November from the fire ranks. All these guys are listed under “Administration.” That means “clout.”

Then there are three Battalion Chiefs who actually do all the hard work under “Fire Operations” who split up the day, every day, into three 8 hour shifts Black, Red and Gold. They are 1st Shift (BLACK) - BC Steve Smith; 2nd Shift (RED) - BC Nick Cinquepalmi; and 3rd Shift (GOLD) - BC Bill Bonnar, Jr.

I give Maher credit. He’s not like the other politicians and government officials I deal with who run like scared rabbits when you ask them to account for the taxpayer’s dime, like the ones who call your publisher and try to get you fired, or have people drive by your house giving you threatening looks. Or joke around that if something were to happen to me, would I get my garbage can lid?

Maher explained it and stood by his explanation. Personally, I think the political animals who do occupy some of those OFPD jobs are pulling the fireman’s wool over his eyes. And I don’t buy the on-duty 30-days at a time explanation.

“The day-time battalion chiefs are assigned an on-call month which rotates between the three of them. During their assigned month, they are expected to be available 24/7 throughout the month to respond to secondary calls, extrication needed car accidents, working fires, and any technical rescue incidents,” Maher explained.

“Their ‘on-call’ time is outside of their working hours. They are not compensated for being on call, it is an expectation of their position. Additionally, the reason that we required our chiefs to live within the District boundaries is so that they are available to respond in a timely manner to incidents. When they are on call they need to be available and ready for response – which means not getting too far away from the district boundaries. If while on call the assigned chief needs to leave town, or is otherwise incapable of response they need to call one of the other off duty chiefs and find coverage.”

Maher adds, “Battalion Chief Reeder is the Department Safety Officer so even when he is not assigned “on call” duty, he still has a level of expectation to respond in the safety officer role. Again, he is not paid additional money. The practice of having off duty chiefs take home cars is practiced by practically every department which was evident during our inquiries when we decided about three years ago to change our policy. Many chiefs have that as a provision of their contracts.”

Hey. It is baseball season after all.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

First mailer in Orland Park isn't from a candidate -- yet!

It’s a little surprising, but the first political mailer I have received in Orland Park this political season doesn’t come from any of the candidates, but someone who many believe has a very prosperous political career ahead of him.

I’m talking about the mailer the Orland Fire Protection District mailed this week to tell me that they are not going to take all the money in taxes they had planned to take and will in fact be taking less. It’s called a tax abatement – not a rebate. The OFPD will abate $1.3 million, which you will see on the Fall Tax Bill. And you don’t have to fill out any paperwork. The mailer, a single two-sided color card is signed by Patrick Maher, the Fire Protection District president and son of village clerk, Dave Maher.

I call it the “first political piece of the season,” but that’s if you don’t count the two other “political pieces” I’ve already received in the mail from the Village of Orland Park. Yes, they are the very expensive, slick and full color “Village of Orland Park Public,” and the “Village of Orland Park Recreation & Parks Department” magazines and they are, in part, political.

Both publications do a great job of reminding us of who are our mayor, clerk and six trustees.

By the way, you can read the two publications the way they used to read the May Day Parade in the old Soviet Union: You can tell who has the most clout based on how many times names are repeated in the publication. Mayor McLaughlin’s name is mentioned 9 times, of course, as it should be. The next closest mention is of Trustee Brad O’Halloran, six times. Brad’s considered the political heavy on the board. Then there are Maher and Trustee Kathy Fenton, with four mentions each. (I only counted two mentions for Trustee Bernie Murphy, the lowest total. He’s not running for re-election this round, and if you put it to a vote, he'd probably say "no.")

The village publications are informative detailing what programs the village has to offer. Although I wonder: would anyone in the village be upset if it came out after the April 7 election instead of before?

BACK TO THE ORLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Back to the Orland Fire Protection District. Their piece was a bit of a surprise. Or, maybe not. Maher is not up for election, although he has ambition and the backing of many fans in the village. I met him. Very nice guy. Says he’s just into it all because he wants to bring “change.” Kind of “Obama-ish.” The meeting was arranged by former Trustee Tom Dubelbeis, who is working part-time community relations for the OPFPD and has political smarts.

There is an election for a trustee on the board. But none of the incumbents are running so the piece doesn’t promote anyone. So why the notice?

There has been so much negative press about the OFPD. Reports that they’re buying three trucks next year are not true. Although the OFPD added 10 more employee spots to the budget, they are not hiring.

Maher insists the hires will only happen if there is an emergency, a retirement or disability. “I’m comfortable at the manpower level we are at now, unless there is a need and I don’t see it yet,” he said. “We have it in the budget in case we need it.”

Maher also said rebating taxes has always been his goal. “My goal has always been to rebate taxes and I think we have tried to cut back,” he said. “We had six open public meetings on the budget last year and six public meetings the year before. I want the public to know what we are doing. We want to do it again next year too.”

Although Maher says he doesn’t have any plans yet to announce for any public office, the word on the street is he may run for the Cook County Board seat in this, 17th District. And that would put him head-to-head with the incumbent, Republican Committeeman Elizabeth Doody Gorman who has the seat now but is rumored to be ready to step aside for let Paul Vallas, the former Chicago CEO. Vallas wants to against beleaguered and controversy-plagued Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and being on the board gives him a stronger platform to take Stroger on.

If Vallas does replace Gorman, that would be good news in and of itself. But, it might make it a tougher race for Maher. Maher will be a shoe-in to beat Gorman if she is still holding the seat when the time comes to file at the end of this year.

Here is what the Orland Fire Protection District says about the Tax Abatement from their web site:

Did the Board of Trustees approve a property tax abatement?
Yes, the Board of Trustees approved abating $1.3 million from the district’s property tax levy. The abatement means that for the year 2009, you will pay less for the OFPD portion of the tax bill than what was projected in our taxing ordinance. This is not a recurring abatement and is only applicable to the 2009 tax year at this time.

Based on our calculations and projections, the District’s portion of your property tax bill will decrease from last year.

A FINAL NOTE ON AMBULANCE SERVICE

And I’ve come to reconsider the whole issue of the ambulance service after Maher insisted that not one resident will have to pay for ambulance service out of their pocket. The whole idea was to get residents who need ambulance service to fill out the paperwork so the OFPD can seek reimbursement for the service from the Insurance Companies.

If there is one thing I hate more, it’s the robber baron low-lifes who run the health insurance industry. So, yes, make them pay for the service. We need to put them out of business anyway with universal health care.

Oh, and if you are an Orland Park resident and you don’t have health insurance, don’t worry. You don’t have to pay the OFPD anything.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/