Posts by Jeff Vorva
Palos Heights business plan taking shape
By Jeff Vorva It may take a while before downtown Palos Heights buildings get face-lifts and parking lots get makeovers, but significant movement was made with a business district plan. The city council voted 7-0 on Aug. 15 to adopt an ordinance for the approval of the business district plan and designation of the Palos…
Read MoreRed Stars near sale to group led by Laura Ricketts
By Jeff Vorva The Ricketts family is ready to buy the Chicago Red Stars. The family, which owns the Chicago Cubs and has a minority share in the Chicago Sky, will purchase the Red Stars, pending approval from the National Women’s Soccer League, for $35.5 million according to multiple reports. The current ownership, led by…
Read MorePekau denies accusation of swearing at veterans
By Jeff Vorva Less than 24 hours before a major heat wave hit the area, there was some heat coming out of the air-conditioned confines of the Village Hall board room. Mayor Keith Pekau gave a heated response to a citizen after she accused him of swearing at veterans during a recent meeting held at…
Read MorePrice of water going up in Palos Park in September
By Jeff Vorva Area communities are feeling the pinch of rising water costs and Palos Park is included in that mix. The village gets its Lake Michigan water via the Oak Lawn Regional Water System and when there are increases from Chicago and Oak Lawn to the villages and cities in the system those rate…
Read MoreHarvey to be Palos Heights clerk for more than a day
By Jeff Vorva Shannon Harvey is getting her second chance at being the City of Palos Heights’ clerk. This one will last a little longer. Harvey, whose maiden name is Dunne, has done the job before. Sort of. “A fun fact is that this is actually not my first time serving as the Palos Heights…
Read MoreArea Sports Roundup | Orland Park recognizes wrestler Rocco Hayes for national title
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Sandburg wrestler Rocco Hayes was honored at the Orland Park Village Board meeting on Aug. 7 for winning a national championship. Hayes, a junior, beat five opponents by a combined score of 51-1 — including four technical falls — to win the 100-pound men’s freestyle title at the USA Wrestling/United…
Read MoreTaste of Orland finishes at Village Hall and readies for Centennial West
By Jeff Vorva The 20th edition of the Taste of Orland Park seemingly featured a little of everything. This is the final year it is scheduled to be held near Village Hall as plans are to move it to the revamped Centennial Park West starting next year, a site Mayor Keith Pekau said is better…
Read MoreArea Sports Roundup | Jillian Cosler wins Illinois State Junior title
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Jillian Cosler made a two-day trip to her grandfather’s hometown. And, like her grandpa, she came out a winner. Cosler, an Orland Park resident who graduated from Sandburg in May, won a one-hole playoff to claim the 44th Illinois State Junior Girls Golf Championship, held Aug 1-2 at the Aldeen…
Read MorePalos Heights officials say Classic Car show was good for business
By Jeff Vorva The Palos Heights City Council took a victory lap Aug. 1 over the huge numbers the Classic Car event received when it was held downtown in July. There were a record 682 cars at the event – almost double some of the higher number of participants in the past – and estimates…
Read MoreOrland Park, Palos Heights police make National Night Out special
By Jeff Vorva The 40th National Night Out took place all across the country on Aug. 1 and two of the Regional’s three police departments hosted events that night while the third is doing a weeklong celebration. Palos Park is using early August to have residents learn about its Community Emergency Response Team, the Palos…
Read More