Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Anna Lozyk Romeo

community FOCUS: Experience Nature Or Who Hauled Nature Away?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:24:35 +0000

“Town of Aurora is inviting you to experience nature – or not? Definitely our town is going through a major urban sprawl and I am confident that this will be noted as an important moment in the history of the Town of Aurora. Some welcome the development but I find it sad though, and somewhat hard to understand the short-sighted motives behind it.

Why are we so ignorant of the future, the future of our community? Developmental growth may bring some benefits to the town but also carries with it certain consequences that we blindly ignore to speak of today.” Read More & View Photo Gallery

I will be writing more on the community FOCUS site, post images and perhaps videos. Feel free to subscribe to other site as well as there will be more of Aurora on community FOCUS and more of a community related content.

If you wish to connect I can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I am active on all social medias and content may vary. Please no marriage or forever friends proposals :).

Christmas Eve Almost Frozen Night Rider Around Town of Aurora

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 06:32:07 +0000

I couldn’t resists. What else can I do late at night when children are asleep. I took my cameras and went for a drive around Aurora around ten o’clock. It was a beautiful cold night. I didn’t realize this until later.

Iced Trees, Superstore Parking Lot, Aurora

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

The images you are seeing here were taken in Aurora ON on Christmas Eve night on December 24th, 2013. I drove to the nearby Superstore on St. John’s sideroad. The parking lot was empty and beautifully illuminated – for nothing. The iced trees dispersed light even more.

I pull over and took some surreal images of the iced trees and bushes. I couldn’t believe how beautiful these bushes looked just with a naked eye. On the other hand they kind of looked painful as well – frozen.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

On the side note getting out that late I had to pay small prize – I was freezing myself. My fingers especially where there is not much of human mass and the metal lenses and metal case on one of my cameras didn’t do much justice. Not to mention my nose was kind of turning into – no mystery – a frozen nose. But that wasn’t the it.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I knew the ice will eventually go away. Last couple of days we have been experiencing meltdown – thus my urge to go out and take night photos that day. My backyard tree survived. Word of advice – plant flexible trees. The more flexible you are the better chance of survival you have – a life note here, as taken from the tree.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I had a choice to turn around and go home. No I needed more. I drove on the Earl Stewart Drive along the newly installed sidewalk for which I asked and finally after 2 years the sidewalk is here. Then it hit me – oh no, I missed most of the Rebook warehouse demolition. All ruins now.

Wellington Street, Near GO Station

Yes I wanted to see the Aurora Borealis at the Town Park. When I arrived the place was beautiful and scary at the same time. All the iced trees were squeaking like they were about to fall down. But the sound was not the same compared to the creepy noises coming from the roof tops – ice expansion.

Aurora Borealis, Town Park, Aurora

I kind of dragged myself to the middle of the ice ring and I tell you that was – it. I started to freeze. I literally was there for a minute or two and my fingers were about to turn into icicles and not to mention the nose. I went back to the car for de-frost. Drove a bit along deserted Yonge Street and headed home.

Victorian Hall, Aurora

Yonge Street, Aurora

And this is how I will remember the 2013 ice storm in Aurora – beautiful, cold and painful. But it wasn’t that painful for me as it was especially for those who lost their power for many days. There are still some unfortunate families that just getting their power back on today.

Caruso and Company, Yonge Street, Aurora

Wishing you awesome year 2014. Stay warm another cold front is coming our way.

Christmas Tree, St. John’s sideroad, Aurora

Perhaps Christmas Is About Something More, Perhaps Staying Warm

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 04:58:13 +0000

Perhaps Christmas is about something more, perhaps it is about staying warm. Never in my life I have seen such a destructive beauty. We have been covered with ice. Every tree in Aurora looks like a crystal tree. Millions of icicles hanging off the roofs. Fallen trees. This is all for the eyes, and for the ears the crackling noises when the wind blows.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Since Saturday Aurora is covered in ice. Many had power outages and some still don’t have it restored. Perhaps Christmas this year is about something more. It is about staying warm.

We don’t realize how much we rely on the electricity, not until there is none.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ~ Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Today sun came out but because it was so cold even in the sun ice would not budge off the trees. Branches are covered at least with one centimeter of ice. With small wind and the weight of the ice the dry and brittle branches are at risk.

We have tree on the back that is still standing. But it did creep down about one foot down over night with the second rain. Luckily branches are more flexible and holding on strong. But there is something more, observe closely, ice in some instances is the one that is holding branches up.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

This years Christmas is definitely a memory keep sake. We all will remember the ice storm and those who lost power will remember even more.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

So what’s happening here on my blog except the wicked ice storm and iced Aurora. Not much still going strong but things are changing around me just like Aurora is. Buildings going down and buildings going up.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

This blog is my journey with Matthew and Matthew is not a baby or a toddler anymore. He is a boy who talks and thinks a lot.

This is one of our conversations just in time for the Boxing day.

While I was making breakfast this morning Matthew was studying 2013 calendar.
‘Hey Mom’ – Matthew came to the kitchen and got my attention.
‘Yes’ – I replied.
‘Did you know that we can box on December 26th’ – he stated and put his two fists up.

Have yourself a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy your time with family and friends because it’s precious. Perhaps Christmas is about something more.

Ice Storm 2013, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Aurora Memories and More, Another Aurora Book by Elizabeth Hearn Milner

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 04:47:24 +0000

When this blog came to life few years ago I thought I can’t skip a history lesson about Aurora. Thus I spent some time in our Aurora Public Library digging for some books. Obviously the fatter the better and Milner’s first book was one that attracted me the most.

So I read Milner’s first book and eventually I acquired my own copy as well: Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change.

Aurora Memories and More by Elizabeth Hearn Milner

To make this long story short, I got my copy of the book from Ron Wallace and Ron connected me with Elizabeth and this is when I found out that she had second book on the go Aurora Memories and More, a continuation to her first book.

Since then I have been on Elizabeth’s case. Always asking when and when will she have the book ready. That persistent when got my name in the Acknowledgement section of the Aurora Memories and More book. In the Aurora Memories and More book Elizabeth writes her own memories when she was growing up in our town and also shares few stories from others.

It was a long journey for Elizabeth to have her book finally printed. The book is available at the Hillary House and also at the Caruso and Co, both places located on Yonge Street in Aurora.

I am not done reading yet. As of today I am halfway through the book. I think I enjoy even more reading this book since it is not so much of what happened when and where, but I am actually intrigued by small details Elizabeth writes about her own life in Aurora. She writes how small community we once were and how everyone knew each other. I am stunt by how much she is able to remember and to write about people in Aurora, the people she knew.

This is short and sweet introduction to the Milner’s book and you will be hearing more about the book and some of my own memories I have with Elizabeth.

“What a small pleasure it was to buy that candy at Mr. Lacey’s and oh what power came at recess when you pulled out that little bag with nine candies in it and, with grace and largess, you gave away five or even six to chosen friends keeping the chocolate for the walk home. Such delight for three or four pennies spent at Mr. Lacey’s shop.” ~ Mr. Lacey’s Shop: A Sweet Memory; Aurora Memories and More, pg 37, 2013.

Addison-Hall Horse Breeding Farm, Life Left Behind To Demolish

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:56:59 +0000

It was a beautiful September evening and I was at the hill on Leslie Street catching a last glimpse of the sunset. I am not sure if I spent more time photographing sunset that evening or rather observing.

I was in the middle of field so who knows what critters were crawling around me or on me, regardless I always tend to bring something home anyway, so I am used to.