Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Councillors

At The Council Meeting For The First Time, Different Experience

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:46:26 +0000

It was my first time at the council chambers for the Town Council meeting on April 9th, 2013. I have to admit that it was a totally different experience in comparison if I were to watch this meeting on the Internet. Not to mention so many familiar faces there.

Council Meeting, Town Hall, April 09, 2013

I did bring my photo gear to capture the council meeting moments. The beginning music from Tom Taylor’s public forum presentation was an interesting spice, however, I can’t say that the rest of the meeting was exciting. I left after one hour.

A while ago my friend Chris Watts did a review of blogs/media in Aurora and that gave me an encouragement – and boy I really needed to get out after reading his post. I looked back how little I have done, how much I have neglected, however, my camera never stopped clicking.

But then when you look at the window NOW and see the winter blast back – I am back to my writing board again. So much for taking my camera for a walk. I don’t necessarily enjoy cold and so does my camera.

I am also happy to write that there will be couple of new blogs coming out soon and hopefully we can get blogging rolling in Aurora once again.

To conclude, I think I will leave out my feedback and criticism on the council meeting for the community FOCUS site, and in the meantime enjoy few of my photos. This was my first attendance, but not the last.

Public Forum, Council Meeting, Town Hall, April 09, 2013

Council Meeting, Town Hall, April 09, 2013

Mayor’s Anti-Litter Day Event Great Event, Short On Innovation

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:09 +0000

It all started with the reminding announcement I heard on the radio yesterday while driving home. The announcer sounded rather sarcastic than encouraging the Aurora Mayor’s Anti-Litter Day participation.

Today was the Mayor’s Anti-Litter Day and I don’t even know where to begin – I have so many thoughts.

Pitch-In

Let’s start with the positive side of the anti-litter day event. Any type of awareness is good for the community. Its good for the environment and its good for our children as they are our future and we need to teach them good environmental habits.

Congratulations to all who participated in today’s event.

Waiting

The Town of Aurora announced this event on their site and concluded with this statement: ‘Last year, Aurorans collected 1.94 tonnes (1940 kilograms) of litter and we are looking to collect even more in 2012.‘

Is more better you may ask yourself? I asked my husband the same question after the event not seeing the above statement yet. I stated – ‘I hope that this year during this event less garbage will be collected.‘

Hopefully They Are Asking The Same Question?

Collecting less and less litter during this day event is a positive outcome and it means that the Mayor’s Anti-Litter Day awareness is working. It was rather disappointing to read that the Town of Aurora was looking forward to collect more litter in 2012.

I know, I know, I am picking on something probably very insignificant and I am sure that whoever wrote this note did not mean for us to interpret that way. I am sure they meant that more volunteers will come out and help to clean up our town. More of us out, more garbage collected.

Take Pride In Our Parks & Do Not Litter

Then another question popped in my head later on – are we innovative?

I admit, I did not participate in collecting garbage today (I got my reasons) but we did come to the Town Park to enjoy the activities with Matthew just before lunch. Park was still preparing for the celebration – food and fun activities for volunteers and families. We had an opportunity to enjoy few things without waiting in long lines.

We had other obligations, so we left before volunteers arrived for the celebration.

Recyclable Drinks

Yes, innovation came to my mind when I saw blue recycle boxes full of drinks in cans and plastic bottles. So how innovative is that? Volunteers spend three hours collecting garbage around the town and then we come to the town park to generate more garbage. I just find this ironic.

I am sure anti-littering day event is not only to tell littering people not to litter, but bring up the complete environmental awareness how bad to the environment is the littering concept.

Hopefully Others Will Say The Same Thing

So here is what I have to say. We have to be more innovative. Repeating same thing over and over again does not make things greener. We need to think about solutions that work. We need to educate children to develop good habits.

Thinking?

Last year about 2000 kg of litter was collected. If I recall last year’s event, I have seen some interesting items piled up in the pick up areas. I think if you reuse what was collected you could easily assemble living space for a one person.

The good news is that we did not have such things this year, at least in the area where I live. But if we collect about the same weight of litter, then that means we collected more of light garbage.

We Cannot Just Have Fun

How can we reduce littering? Not so fast, first we need to identify source of littering. Probably the biggest litter comes from blue boxes that are filled to the top on the windy day. Second source comes from people who litter.

Fishing For Ideas For Next Year?

Our blue box broke. The garbage man is to blame. Town will replace your blue box with a new one. All you need to do is to bring broken one for a worthwhile exchange. We did and we got not just brand new box but taller one. We did not have chance to use it yet as we continue to have technical difficulties filling up the smaller blue box.

Hint, put three inch mark inside the blue box from the top that shows recommended fill up height and develop habit to never pass that mark.

Put This Year Behind & Let Us Be More Innovative Next Year

Perhaps in years to come the Mayor’s Anti-Litter day will be more strategic and innovative. I am hoping to see less litter on the ground, less litter collected and less litter generated as a result of this awareness.

Lastly, lets hope that next year I will also capture some innovative ideas on photos because this year was just like last year.

Town Park, Aurora

Doors Open Aurora Cultural Centre Or Doors Closed, And The Motion Is Cultural Shock?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:47:58 +0000

Once upon the time and that time was last year when I re-invented my blog and moved from blog-ger to word press-er. I invested all the little time I had and I never even anticipated this return on my investment.

And the return being the increased traffic, growing subscribers list, networking opportunities, interesting photo shoot projects, thank yous, emails, comments and fresh post ideas. My plan worked but little too well.

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

The plan shall be the same for another year or so – slow growth. New inspirations, thoughts and post subjects come along unexpected on daily basis and my own list of potential posts is becoming outdated and irrelevant.

Some of you may know that I had an opportunity to visit and photograph SOYRA show at the Aurora Cultural Centre and at the same time I couldn’t resist to photograph the Layers show by students from Sacred Heart.

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Show

I received personal thank you note from Luisa Capelet, Arts Department Head at Sacred Heart C.H.S. for visiting, photographing and blogging about this show. She said:

‘Your photographic eye is insightful and creative. Some really great photos in your portfolio. I also teach photography and am using the “blog” forum in the classroom. It is such an effective way to encapsulate ideas-words-images as well as evoke responses and reactions. Your blog site serves as a great example.’

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Art Show

I smiled and I wish I could really think the same about me, but I really liked what she said about using ‘blog’. Though I must say that it is not an easy task to maintain blog regularly, so for that I will give myself tap on the shoulder.

She also wrote: ‘My students are really enjoying the Aurora Cultural Centre. It started with them acting as volunteers and since then theyhave been hooked. They felt an immediate connection and were well received. Funny how I randomly see them now and again as guests to art shows and programs.

Our show at the Cultural Centre had many lasting, positive effects on our students. I am grateful that the Centre was able to arrange for us to have some space. From my understanding the room was originally booked for a display that the Historical Society was going to have and when they no longer wanted to use it, it opened up space for us.

It was perfect timing. Many of my students are progressing with art and taking it in post secondary. The experience of showcasing in a gallery will remain as a strong element to their beginning successes in this area. Thank you for visiting our show.‘

Layers, Sacred Heart C.H.S Art Show

Another great statement this time for the Aurora Cultural Centre.

So the latest and greatest in town – potential motion to terminate the current Agreement between the Aurora Cultural Centre and Town of Aurora.

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

Strings of emails came lately asking me for the support and along a hint to make public aware of the Novita Report or Novita Study (Click on the Strategic and Business Plan for the Aurora Heritage Centre under DELEGATIONS Item 2 to download over 100 pages report).

The report was created by Novita Interpares and was adopted by Council in August 2008.

As result of this study the Agreement came along. The agreement is under jeopardy, and if terminated – ouch I don’t even want to think about it. Doors Closed? I guess, yes doors closed, just like the doors were closed for the museum.

So what did we learn from the museum then? I think we learned how hard is to get back on feet again. Do you think that it will be easy to bring the culture back if doors are slammed just like that. I doubt.

Oh yes I have been asked for help. But that wasn’t in the my blogging plan. My plan is to observe, photograph and write my observations. I rarely state facts because someone already did this job for me. I write my opinions based on the observations I discovered, and I could be wrong too. I write my experiences, and support what I believe.

Okay I cave in to post the link to the Novita Study, but I found pages of interesting stuff there especially when after scanning the report I went back to ACC website and there was no events under Heritage. See what I mean getting back on feet.

Show Case, Aurora Public Library, Aurora

For the Heritage part I have to give credit to Aurora Public Library for presenting the artifacts on regular basis (oh that Helen lady is really doing great job). In the mean time the only Heritage in ACC is the building itself.

Town Hall, Aurora

So I see two aspects in the argument between the two bodies – the cultural aspect and the financial aspect.

No doubt that the cultural aspect is booming at the ACC. No doubt that Town of Aurora pockets are depleting by pouring money to ACC. I am sure that it is in the Councilors best interest to have cultural centre in place they just do not realize that termination of the agreement may bring a cultural shock.

On the other hand if the culture is booming at the ACC then less financial support they should seek from the town. I thought that was always the way of governments, soon as your family makes more money they cut you off the government support.

Something to think about and I just hope we can resolve this issue anytime soon.

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.