Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » By-laws

Victoria Day Fireworks In Aurora, A Messy Day After

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:49:37 +0000

It is unfortunate that after any celebration there is always a mess. For the first time today we visited the playground at the Copland Park. I have not seen all playgrounds in Aurora yet but this is probably the highest play structure I have ever seen. Three levels and the humongous, enormous slide. Matthew loved it.

Playground at the Copland Park, Aurora

It was nice outing for the morning after Victoria Day. It was also nice to have a small convenience store near by as we treated ourselves with ice cream sandwiches. Matthew had Oreo ice cream sandwich and I, (never again), the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich. On the other hand, it was not nice to see all the garbage in the park left after the fireworks.

Left Out Garbage, Copland Park

By looking at my blog stats today – traffic on this blog yesterday was enormous just like that slide. Everyone was searching for activities or fireworks (a combustible or explosive device for producing a striking display of light or a loud noise) demonstrations in Aurora. We have not gone anywhere on Monday and not sure if there were any activities in Aurora.

Left Out Garbage, Copland Park

Firecrackers were popping since Saturday. The biggest display we were able to watch from our window was on Monday night when someone set something up at the Hamilton Park, the soccer field. Not sure why it was allowed since we have hydro lines over the park.

Left Out Garbage, Copland Park

Speaking of mess. Copland Park had a pile of garbage as of result of fireworks. I hope that whoever was doing fireworks had permit to do so – that is fireworks. I read the Town of Aurora fireworks by-law and it is unfortunate that the by-law does not call for – take your mess with you after you are done. Or may be that is what the $25 is for.

Left Out Garbage, Copland Park

Smoking Needs Serious Whacking

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:33:44 +0000

This is a photo proof for the comment Councillor Abel made that ‘most people would not smoke around their children or their environment‘, in THE AURORAN, Week of August 2, 2011 and I guess addition to my previous post Desperate Measures, Do We Really Need More Signs?.

Camera’s don’t lie. This was captured on the August 13th, 2011 during a beautiful day at the Aurora Farmers Market. I saw not once but twice her having a cigarette around the little girl.

A Woman Smoking Around Child

After what I saw again, the by-law for not smoking at the playgrounds is a must.

Disturbing moment that was.

Desperate Measures, Do We Really Need More Signs?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:02:55 +0000

This is absolutely a great idea, and I could not agree more. The article ‘Councillor’s Notice of Motion would create smoke-free areas near town’s recreations facilities‘ published in THE AURORAN, Week of Auguts 2, 2011 on page 3 was an interesting reading and in my favor. The Councillor Abel proposed to increase smoke-free areas around recreational facilities, including playgrounds.

It’s about time law enforcement got as organized as organized crime. ~ by Rudolph Giuliani.

This also reminded me our last visit to the Town’s Park Splash Pad and how awful it was to stand around people who smoked close by. We couldn’t do much because our boy was playing near by, no choice but to accelerate our visit at the pad. He stated that ‘most people would not smoke around their children or their environment‘, well he is wrong on this one as I have seen many cases where parents smoke around their children and in presence of other children at the playgrounds.

He also stated ‘it would take a lot of funds and resources to monitor these sorts of events‘. I could not agree more again. These are all valid statements. They are in favor of our children and who would not agree. So I was agreeing while reading this article – yes, yes this is good.

But wait a minute there is something wrong with this picture.

How possibly can I agree on the above? NO I WILL NOT. It will be just another useless sign put out in our town.

The article ‘Residents semi-successful in dangerous dog appeal‘ published Week of August 9, 2011 on the front page of THE AURORAN is a perfect example of useless signs in our town. If the town enforced the by-law for dogs off the leash (a rope or similar material attached to the neck or head of an animal for restraint or control), we would not have this incident in the first place.

I am repeating this again and again. I had dog jumped on me last year (a friendly puppy according to the owner). I had another dog charging at me on the soccer field where the owner had to raise serious voice on them in order for them to get back and be leashed, and these were not small dogs. Size probably close to the German Shepherd dog. I continue to see dog owners letting their dogs off the leash.

I don’t drive. I walk. I see. I see every day. People take dogs to the parks and playgrounds and let them out. Then why bother having just another useless sign if not enforced.

Last spring I was completely disgusted and tired bringing dirty shoes, and not just the dirt. The melted snow revealed lot of hidden illegal doggy treasures. Now I see it is happening again. A month ago I have noticed someone took time to create these home made signs with plastic covers (in plastic so they last longer) asking politely to scoop the poop after the dog. The signs appeared all around the Hamilton Park.

Attention Dog Owners

I noticed about 6 of them plaster all over the posts and garbage cans. Desperate measures, residents acting on their own wasting their time and resources on top of the tax dollars they have to pay to keep our streets clean. Then why bother having just another useless sign if not enforced.

Attention Dog Owners Again

The other time I wrote about people dumping in front, not just close by, but in front of the No Dumping sign – By Law No Dumping Dump Ditty Dump Dump Dump. Then why bother having just another useless sign if not enforced.

How about no litter signs? We need those too, but then why bother having just another useless sign which will not be enforced.

Littering, McKenzie Marsh

[Thinking] I have an idea. I think instead of another sign we should have a column in our local newspaper from the Town of Aurora dedicated to all the by-laws in town stating fines as well. It probably would raise eyebrows for some. Here is an example.

Dear Aurora Residents:

Keep your dogs on the leash everywhere and anytime of the day or night; otherwise $$$ fine.

Pick up after your dog during all four beautiful seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer; otherwise $$$ fine.

Pick Up After Your Dog - Sign

Do not leave bag full of poop hanging on the tree in the park; otherwise $$$ fine.

Stop dumping in front of No Dumping signs. We know who you are – your patio is looking great. Fine $$$.

Do not litter. If we don’t fine you we will pass charge on Tim Hortons and McDonalds for littering. Fine $$$.

Try not to hide 4th, and 5th dog or cat in the house. Fine $$$ for every over the limit animal.

Do not let the cat go outside before going to the litter-box; otherwise $$$ fine.

When parking on the street don’t just rotate your tires every 24 hours, move to the next spot. Fine $$$.

When you have dust in your eyes, you forgot to use water jet when cutting stone. Fine $$$, more fine for dust in your neighbors eyes.

Idling Car

No mercy if you forgot to turn off the ignition key. Fine $$$.

What can I say more? What will another sign do? Probably absolutely nothing. I think it is plain simple that we just keep plastering our town with signs that mean nothing. We need more than that, a by-law enforcement officer and real fines. With all this illegal activity the collected fines may even cover the officer’s salary plus some money for the town.

Kidding aside, I think Councillors Abel’s Notice of Motion for smoke-free is good one, but lets look at the existing by-law signs and their effectiveness. Something to think about.

By Law No Dumping Dump Ditty Dump Dump Dump

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:21:01 +0000

Short and sweet. Why do people dump in front of the No Dumping sign? Yes, in front, around and as close as possible to the sign. How dump ditty dump dump dump idea that is?

May be it is the sun behind the sign.

Check out for yourself one day. Just look around the No Dumping sign.

I know three places here in Aurora where there is dumping going on like there is no tomorrow, and it does not take a genius to figure it all out.

How wacky that is? Looks like the signs determine the most common dumping places. May be we should remove the signs all together.

No Dumping Sign, Hamilton Park, Town of Aurora

Stoop and Scoop Pick Up After Your Pet

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:10:11 +0000

It was very nice weather and very inviting for a walk. I needed to do small groceries that day, so we have decided to go shopping to Superstore. It is only about 15 minutes walk. It was kind of wet, because snow is still melting. We caught through the Hamilton Park, and down to the soccer field. Then as I was enjoying my beautiful walk – nice sun, beautiful blue sky, fresh air – suddenly I freaked out. Searching for words to express myself and dancing around, especially in the front of my three year old, I yelled ‘Holy macaroni crap’. Yes, crap, I stepped into pile of crap – dog poop. Disgusted and upset, I tried to enjoy my rest of walk to the grocery store. Oh and the stink? Never mind I got a kid at home who now runs around and keeps repeating: ‘Holy macaroni crap, mommy stepped into dog poop’.

I know in other cities, if you don’t pick up the poop after your pet there is a fine of $2000. I decided to do some research for by-laws in Town of Aurora. I took a photo of the sign reminding dog owners to scoop after their pets. The message is very clear. The sign also reminded to keep dogs on the leash which some do not practice at all. Once I had a dog run after me and jumped at me. The owner apologized and said he was just a puppy. Yes to you mister, to me he looked like a big wild crazy dog attacking me. Then I had two big dogs charging at us, until owner started to yell hard at them. Both cases, dogs were not on the leash.

Furthermore, I continued to search for the by-law #4283-01.P listed on the sign as shown on the picture here. I only was able to find this page which provides information on by-laws for pet licensing only. I am going to do little more research in this area. Something definitely needs to be done.