Aurora Citizen

News & Views from the Citizens of Aurora Ontario

Archive for the ‘Community Corner’ Category

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Aurora Market Going It Alone

Posted by auroracitizen on May 21, 2010

The Aurora Farmers Market & Artisan Fair have delegated to Council last Tuesday that they wish to separate operations from the town.

After being used as a political tool this last term it was only a matter of time before the folks who were simply interested in providing products and services to the community, would wish to distance themselves from those who sought to use the market for personal advantage.

Ex Councillor Kean initially championed the idea of the market to offer a service to the community and provide a draw for the downtown core on a Saturday morning. His good intentions were matched by selfless behaviour.

This last term we have seen a different approach.

Since the market  resisted the efforts by Sher St Kitts to leverage her “volunteer” role for personal gain — she has disappeared. Guess there was nothing in it for her any more.

Councillor Granger also backed away after his manipulative and dictatorial attitude were resisted by the executive.

Good for the executive at the market. If they stick to delivering on what the citizens of Aurora are looking for — and leave the politics out of the mix — they will probably be a success. The opportunity to purchase local produce without the political grandstanding every Sat will be a pleasant change. Well done!

Now let’s hope that Council can see their way clear to letting business do their thing without the ongoing political interference.

Posted in Community Corner, Leadership, Local Business | 2 Comments »

Farmers Market Opens this Weekend

Posted by auroracitizen on May 7, 2010

Reprinted from Cllr Buck’s Blog

On Saturday, May 7th at 8 a.m.

Aurora Farmers Market starts anew.

The Season is new but that’s not all.

The Market, for the first time, will chart its own course.

They will be independent of the town.

Free of exploitation.

They will show us their wares and cry;

Who will buy …. Who will buy!

We will hear their cry,

And gather there for the sheer fun of it.

Posted in Community Corner, Local Business | 17 Comments »

Community Input: Was Ad Electioneering?

Posted by auroracitizen on April 28, 2010

Received from a reader. If someone can send along a PDF or even identify the issue we will provide a link or publish the information.

Perhaps you could help me.

At tonight’s Aurora Council meeting, Councillor Buck raised some questions about a large ad in a recent Era-Banner issue concerning Aurora’s successes with economic development. I remember reading the ad since it was spread over 2 pages, although it would be about 1 page in total space.

At the time it struck me as being a bit strange, since it didn’t seem to have a real focus and there were mistakes (though minor in nature) in it that I thought shouldn’t have slipped into it. From a marketing point of view it seemed to be put together in haste, though that’s just my personal opinion.

When Councillor Buck mentioned tonight that she was raising these questions as she had concerns from other citizens and it had a flavour of “electioneering”, I thought I would like to take a second look. Unfortunately I didn’t keep my copy.

Would anyone connected with the Aurora Citizen still have a copy that they might be able to scan the 2 pages and provide it as a pdf file for 2nd reading? I unfortunately don’t know the issue date but I remember that it had a blue background and was on the lower half of each page with a number of photos of new construction.

Thanks for any help that you can provide.

The following were supplied by a reader. The ad was published April 15. Click on image to view as larger size.

Posted in Community Corner, Conflict of Interest, Election 2010, Town Council | 20 Comments »

RETA Video: Welcome To Your Future

Posted by auroracitizen on April 26, 2010

The following was provided by a reader for distribution and information to readers.

RETA has put together an informative and entertaining video to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding high voltage power lines.  Please pass this on to everyone you know. And, if you get mad enough, please drop our premier a line too (he can be reached at premier@gov.ab.ca).

You can see the video at www.reta.ca or you can see it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2JoYdo1kk8.

Posted in Community Corner, Community Input, Hydro | 2 Comments »

Community Corner: A Request from a Former Citizen

Posted by auroracitizen on April 22, 2010

Dear Aurorans,

In 1945, my father took a job with a company that was building a new plant or facility in Aurora, Ontario. I was 7 years old at the time when we moved from Hartford CT in the States,  to Vandorf Ontario. We did not stay very long there because my fathers work ended in about a year and we moved back to the States.

I would like to know where was the building located in Aurora and is it still in use?  I understand there might have been news articles in the “Aurora Banner” at the occasion of the opening of the factory in 1945/46.

I would love to hear from anyone who could tell me about this company and its history in Aurora. The only thing that I have are some hazy memories and several photos of the “new plant” under construction c. 1945. My E-mail is below for anyone who might have memory or could suggest where I might look. 

Thank you very much.

Bob Hodgson  rjhson@comcast.net

Councillor Buck, any chance this was the Sterling Drug building at the south end of Town?

If anyone has any information for the reader and decide to respond directly, please include a wee note in the reply section. Other readers may find the information of interest.

Posted in Community Corner | 8 Comments »

Sisman Shoes & The T. Sisman Shoe Co. Ltd.

Posted by auroracitizen on April 5, 2010

Hello!

I’m looking for any Sisman memorabilia that Auroran’s may have, to add to my collection. Old ads, paperwork, shoes, boxes, info, stories, etc. I’m happy to pick up in the area. Please email me – I’m especially interested in stories from people who worked for Sisman’s.

I know that not everyone in Aurora is online, so I’ve placed an ad in the paper too.

Thanks!

Heather Sisman

Posted in Community Corner, Community Input, Guest Post | 20 Comments »

Guest Post: LED Streetlights on Murray Drive

Posted by auroracitizen on March 30, 2010

A reader writes:

I recently read that the town is looking for feedback on the pilot project of LED streetlights.  The lights are currently are on Murray Drive.

Please have a look, make a comment and do provide feedback to the Town even if it is to tell them to NOT do anything more until their time (this Mayor and Council) has run out!

Sadly there will be more stuff, so let us not leave anything to this current team to decide for us.

Thanks

Posted in Community Corner, Community Input, Guest Post, Traffic/Parking | 8 Comments »

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Posted by auroracitizen on February 23, 2010

Council Watch #6 – by Richard Johnson

You have to love the following quote from the news story below: “They never really understood the proposal, even though we tried to explain it to them,” Mr. Cherniak said.

Does that quote sound familiar to anyone that has followed the power supply issue closely? It really does take your breath away when you realize the lack of critical thinking that Aurora council continually demonstrates.

Even Councillor Buck’s response regarding the town spending money on legal battles is consistent with her stance in the power supply issues we have faced.

That said, I disagree that the town should not work to protect residents from inconsiderate or poorly planned public infrastructure and corresponding environmental impacts stemming from municipal development approvals. But also remember, this is the same council that approves poorly planned urban sprawl all of the time while trumpeting their efforts to allow cloths lines to be installed in postage stamp sized back yards as some form of environmental panacea. We are hardly talking about smart growth planning in Aurora.

This latest case serves as yet another example of why we need some new blood at the helm.

How can the town expect to win their latest legal battle when they can’t even understand the core issues or the viable alternatives ?

Knowing what we know, is it any wonder that the town has wasted $135,000 in legal fees in this case alone and are likely to waste far more ?

How many examples do we need to drive home the point that we would all benefit from more professional representatives on council ?

RJ

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Town loses appeal on golf course

But another appeal filed by town, residents to protect water.

BY SEAN PEARCE – February 19, 2010 05:41 PM

Aurora has been handed another setback in its fight to stop a golf course and housing development on the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine.

Earlier this month, a divisional court dismissed an appeal by the town and local residents arguing a joint board hearing involving representatives of the Ontario Municipal Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal would be necessary to gauge the suitability of the Westhill Development, eyed for an area near Leslie Street and Bloomington Road.

Lebovic Homes plans to build an 18-hole golf course and 75 luxury homes on the site, but the application was denied by council in 2008.

Since then, the matter has bounced back and forth between the OMB and the divisional court with the former body denying a joint board hearing and the latter supporting its lack of jurisdiction to even order one.

As such, the divisional court has repeatedly said the OMB is the appropriate venue to address the myriad of concerns raised by the town and residents.

Undaunted by the recent divisional court ruling, Mayor Phyllis Morris said she and her colleagues have since ordered their counsel to launch another appeal. Read Full Article.

Posted in Community Corner, Community Input, Council Watch-Richard Johnson, Leadership, Town Council | 13 Comments »

Is Another Petch House Debate Brewing?

Posted by auroracitizen on February 20, 2010

Council is faced with a decision about what to do with the seats in the aging Aurora Community Centre arena. The catalyst for this decision appears to be the funding available from Recreational Infrasructure Canada (RinC) — to the tune of $80,000. The Town portion would be $40,000 based on staff reports.

So what’s the issue? Well it seems some Councillors are concerned about the historic significance of the seating. Really!

Is this setting up to become another Petch House debacle?

Surely this Council isn’t planning to dithering around for a number of years until 1) the seats die a natural death, 2) they spend money on studies, and 3) the grant dollars are no longer available, before we are required to replace the seat for the full $120,000 — or more!

What’s the deal about wooden seats. Who decided everything older than 40 years was historically significant and should be saved? Is that why the smell in the hockey change rooms is so potent — they don’t want to get rid of the smell for historical significance.

Council should demonstrate some of the same care and concern for an elder Councillor they seem to have for old rotting homes and wooden seats. 🙂

Posted in Budget, Community Corner, Recreation | 17 Comments »

Check Out Aurora Council on TV

Posted by auroracitizen on February 5, 2010

In case you missed it, the page Council on TV was set up to offer quick links to Rogers Cable — where they post Council Meetings and other political programming.

This is a handy way to catch up on past meetings, as well as highlight comments and/or issues you feel might be of interest to other readers.

Feel free to send us notice of portions (tell us the date and approx time) that you feel others would benefit from viewing and we will try to highlight those for easy access.

This is a great way to share specific facts to support your point of view. Enjoy 🙂

Posted in Community Corner, Community Input, Leadership, Media, Town Council | 4 Comments »

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