Orland Park Patch’s Top Topics of 2011

A blizzard should get people’s attention, even here where 10 inches of snow doesn’t even slightly faze us.

But 20 inches? OK, that gets some respect from the most grizzled Midwesterner.

Only in this lightning-fast and busy year would a blizzard only be the first news of the year. 2011 was packed full of changing tides. Between one of the most contested elections in years, shifts in the and Main Street Triangle plans taking shape, it was beyond eventful.

We take a look back at a few standouts from the year.

Please add your own thoughts and other stories that you think ought to be remembered.

The Big Snow

We’ve heard before that nasty storms are coming, but a lot of times it’s no big thing. About a month before the early February blizzard we were , and nothing of note fell.

But then about 20 inches dumped throughout Chicago and the suburbs, with a handful of places getting more.

We held up pretty good, aside from a torn-off roof, a few other damages and some power outages. It wasn’t long before kids were .

A Filled Election

The April 2011 local election was one of the most heavily stacked in years. In five contested races ( and school boards, as well as , Orland Fire Protection District and boards),

It’s a shame more people .

Fire’s Brewing

The election changed a lot in Orland, but no other entity changed as quickly as the Orland Fire Protection District. With new trustees Chris Evoy and Blair Rhode in, as well as new board president James Hickey, the board went to work about for better or worse. 

The latest conflict involves lawsuits between the district and the former HR director .

Triangle Plans

Few topics in Orland Park cause as deep a divisive split as the Main Street Triangle. The vision for a walkable downtown led to a lengthy court process, ending in eminent domain for the Orland Plaza land. Most of that process is complete, with some businesses closing for good, while others moved to a new home within town .

The first new development to be built in the land will be , also for better or worse.

School Strife

In September, contract negotiations between the Orland School District 135 teachers and school board were moving slowly. Then student services secretary Melanie Walsh found out she’d either have to take the paraprofessional job she held for 15 years before being promoted to the .

Since then, , the board and teachers have reached a tentative contract agreement that is scheduled to be approved at the Jan. 9 meeting.

That’s a lot of hard news for a year. But life isn’t all extreme and controversial.

Our Local Connections Section is Good News

Whether that includes local , residents and volunteers trying to teach teens and kids , people did good and meaningful things all throughout the year.

Thanks for joining in on the conversation. In a lot of ways, we’re only just getting started.

Happy 2012 everyone. May we all be a little bit better.

.