Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » News

Yesterday Was The Day Here In Aurora, Target Store Grand Opening

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:50:36 +0000

Kind of puzzled, Matthew was looking at the target sign, and then he asked – do they sell bow and arrows? Very valid, it was a target he was looking after all.

Target Sign, Town of Aurora

Yesterday on March 19, 2013, after a nice walk at the Sheppard’s Bush, I dropped by the Target store – grand opening here in Aurora. Parking was full and people were coming in and out constantly. Not surprised that the Sobeys plaza was very empty at the same time.

I didn’t get the opportunity to photograph inside the store, however, due to red store theme colors visible outside I was able to capture interesting photos. Interesting enough red cars driving around – and hence my theory similar colors attract each other.

All In Red, In Front of Target Store, Town of Aurora

All In Red, Target Store, Town of Aurora

At the store I got personal tour of all different departments by a very nice young lady. The store is definitely almost all in one, and does it ever look big.

Remember the day because March 19, 2013 will be marked in history of Aurora, especially because the grand opening was during the Sesquicentennial year.

Customers, Target Store, Town of Aurora

Red Balls, Target Store, Town of Aurora

community FOCUS Website For Town of Aurora, A Different Kind Of Walk Today

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Today let me take you for a walk. Not outside and not inside, but the virtual kind of walk. A walk through just published site for the Town of Aurora community, the community FOCUS virtual site LivingInAurora.COM. It took a long time to assemble this site and we are very pleased and happy to have it up and running.

Nokiidaa Trail Link Boardwalk, Aurora

Let me tell you more about it then.

The name says it all. The community FOCUS site is for you. The site is for you to write about anything and very focused on Aurora. You can express your views, opinions, issues, start discussions or even share the news. You can write essays and you can write stories.

The site is organized based on areas of specific interests and as the content will grow you will see more categories introduced. You can even suggest a topic.

Go Station Parking in Aurora

In addition it will be a resource site to everything in Aurora from outdoors recreations to indoor shopping, entertainment and events. We are inviting everyone from Aurora Ontario to submit a profile to our AURORA Directory – people, bloggers, small business owners and big business owners – all of you can participate and it is absolutely FREE.

We have certain guidelines but not to worry, they are designed to work for you, to give you better ranking and better exposure in the virtual world, a world we are heading towards to.

There are always beginnings. With town politics always on the spotlight we teamed up with Matt Maddocks who will have a regular column with us – Point of Privilege on our Town Politics focus page. Matt have been writing letters to editor in our local newspaper The Auroran or commenting on few Aurora blogs regularly. We are very pleased to have someone like Matt on board, but wait Matt will tell you more in his first introductory post on the community FOCUS site.

There is always lots to talk about when comes to politics – so don’t be shy you can write as well.

Having said that – focus pages, example being Town Politics, will be added regularly as we get public interest in writing their opinions/views, reviews or stories. We have in mind History/Heritage, Arts & Culture or Sports to start. Columns are available. Cartoonists are welcome.

Note that commercial writing to promote your Aurora, Ontario business for consumers is also welcome. Read our Message Board for more information.

Now, we have also introduced Aurora-Youth-Writes project.

Yes we want Aurora youth to participate as well.

We want to give Aurora youth writing opportunities as well. A column will be great opportunity to create a writing portfolio for those who want to enter writing field, especially journalism. You can read more about this here: Aurora-Youth-Writes Project Initiative – Writing Opportunities for Town of Aurora Youth. Talk to your children.

Town Hall, Town of Aurora

Not to overwhelm you I will conclude my virtual walk for today and let you tour the site for yourself – community FOCUS LivingInAurora.COM. Lots of great writing opportunities for everyone.

Just so you know, my role on the community FOCUS site will be to moderate the site, organize received content, manage site updates, write newsletters, write about updates and write resource content. Feel free to write me if you have any questions or even concerns.

No worries I will continue to write on this blog and to confuse you more, this photo journal blog is LivingInAurora.CA and the community FOCUS site is LivingInAurora.COM. Don’t ask why?

Meeting The Auroran’s New Employee, Newspaper At Your Door

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:25:21 +0000

Few changes in our town last week. The George W. Browning house was demolished – that was one and I am sure we will be reading about it in our local newspaper, The Auroran, this week. The York Region already released news online at the beginning of last week, but they were one day ahead.

The Auroran, At Your Door

Speaking of another change.

She showed up at our door last Thursday, no no not the change – the girl. Matthew spotted her through the window so he started to wave at her. We thought she was waiting for something. When we opened the door her face was smiling at us and smudged with red and black ink. She placed gently The Auroran newspaper at our door step. She was The Auroran employee who delivered our local newspaper that day.

That day I also noticed The Auroran newspaper in few places around the town.

So the change is that we will not be getting The Auroran in the mail anymore, just door-to-door. I think this is a great initiative in our community that encourages youth to work, to create a sense of responsibility.

Black Widow Spider Found In A Bag Full Of Grapes, And Free To Good Home, Dahhh

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:45:03 +0000

Few nights ago I was watching the CP24 news about the Black Widow spider that was found in a bag of grapes. This is not a first time I heard that. So they talked about this and that about the spider.

Fall Spiders, Tim Taylor Trail

In the concluding remark of this breaking news it was implied by the news anchor that the owner is looking to find a good home.

What the Wack! A home for the Black Widow spider! Give me a break. Just put them to rest as stated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: ‘If a spider falls into the sink it is recommended that the spider be killed rather than captured.‘

I don’t care what kind of spider it is, I don’t like spiders. I like photographing them though. This Black-and-yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia) I found right across the Case Woodlot on Henderson Drive sometimes in August. That was a good size spider too. This alerts me also may be I should be more careful going into the high grass area, something I often do.

Black-and-yellow argiope, Case Woodlot, Aurora

When they are small like this one on the rusty bridge railing, they don’t bother me as much. It is the web. Few times I got my self tangled in the spider web, and it creeps me out. Have I ever been bitten? I think so. Once in the neck when we hiked in Cape Breton about 5 years ago. I got small reaction but nothing serious.

Jumping Spider, Nokiidaa Trail Link, Connecting Bridge

And this little creature below I shook off Matthew’s jacket on the Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk back in November. Not sure what it is but hopefully was harmless.

Spider, Nokiidaa Trail Link, Boardwalk, Aurora

So winter is coming. Days are colder and getting shorter and that means less time outside for us with camera. I took lot of images this spring, summer and fall so I am sure there will be plenty stuff for me to write about living in Aurora.

Earthquake in Aurora, Ontario, No Not Again

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:17:27 +0000

No not again. Just about 25 minutes (1:52 pm, Aug 23, 2011) ago I felt the earthquake under my feet. I had windows open so at first I did not register. But then the wind cannot possibly shake my heavy dining table and heavy crystal vase and the chandelier. No it was not a wind. I get really weird feeling when comes to earthquakes. This is probably my fourth.

I reported on one last year, June 23, 2010. It was so strange to see my Matthew shaking in the bed: An Earthquake Hits Aurora Ontario. And now I am paranoid to put him to sleep. I hope nothing bigger than the last year. Apparently there is a town somewhere close to Ottawa that gets them all the time.

No The Airplane Did Not Cause It

Furthermore …

One hour later and I am still experiencing internal aftershocks.

I called my husband the same minute it happened. I needed conformation. He answered the phone and first thing ‘did you feel the earthquake?‘. ‘Yes I did‘ – I replied. He mentioned that he felt pretty good, it was in Concord. Probably when it hit Aurora, it dissipated.

The origin this time came from Virginia. More data here …

‘An unusually strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Virginia Tuesday afternoon, sending tremors along the East Coast of the United States.‘, FoxNews reported.

CTV Media Helicopter, Why Today?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:42:47 +0000

I looked up and I saw CTV media helicopter heading towards Newmarket. I heard sirens too. The unusual helicopter sighting flying over Aurora Arboretum this afternoon was in fact related to the funeral of fallen officer Const. Garrett Styles.

CTV Helicopter Flying Over Aurora Arboretum

Const. Styles died after he was dragged and pinned under a minivan that was speeding on Highway 48 in East Gwillimbury on June 28, 2011. He left behind young wife and two very young children. All that because of dangerous act and stupidity.

Sometimes I don’t have much to say, and today is the day.

Sympathy Roses

‘Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.’

Blog Readers The New Post Subscription Is Now Available

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 20 May 2011 02:58:17 +0000

A feature I did not have on my Living in Aurora blog when I changed over to the WordPress platform – the subscription to new posts option and comment follow up subscription.The subscription to the new posts via email is a one line form on the top, right column. You always have an option to unsubscribe. The subscribe to comments is for those who leave a comment. First leave a comment and then under the editor you can choose to be notified of other comments via e-mail.

Sorry it took a while, but WordPress is a bit different than the Blogger. Personally I like subscriptions and I use them a lot. I don’t have to think about what blog I missed while doing my visitations. Yes, I like to visit and leave a trace, meaning a comment sometimes.

I started to blog in 2007 and since then no second thoughts quitting. The Living in Aurora blog been around since 2009 and it was first launched with Blogger, and recently in 2011 I change over to WordPress.

Field of Dandelions, St. John's sideroad

Most of the time I tried to leave a photo with each post. So today I thought the field filled with dandelions could be related to this post. Meaning I would love to have that many of you subscribed to my blog. Wishful thinking on my part, but it is always your choice.

As you can see the dandelion season is in effect. I grew up with lot of dandelions around our house. Domestic rabbits loved them. It was never a weed to me. They smell good too.

New Beginnings For Living in Aurora Blog

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:55:43 +0000

Yes everything has an end. It is going to be expensive year for our household. My DSLR camera broke down, appliances needed to be replaced, window and doors definitely going, and end of lease vehicle was returned back in November. I predict empty pockets by the end of June. My advice is to never buy items with same life expectancy at the same time.

Well, how can I have photo journal blog and no camera. With extensive research, heavy thinking about financials and one trip to the store – I got myself a new DSLR – Canon EOS 7D. Little more advanced piece of equipment that is, but I am getting hang of it.

Now, new blog platform – WordPress. I am saying good bey to Blogger. My new exploration of nature and culture in Aurora, of course with my new camera and my son by my side, starts here. I plan to write more and definitely explore more. Nature in Aurora will be my niche. Culture in Aurora will be something I am ready for. History will be fun to learn. Politics I will leave to the experts.

Hope everyone in Aurora enjoyed the Earth Hour 2011.

Willow Trees, St. Johns Sideroad and Cliff Trail

This may be simple photo of the trees. However, I have noticed looking around the town, that lot of willow trees are falling down. Aurora is definitely planting lot of trees on the grounds, the question is how about the willow trees. Will this be end of willow trees era, or will they survive by spreading new shoots?

My second advice is to never plant trees with the same life expectancy at the same time.