Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Driving

White Winter-y Town Of Aurora, The Beautiful Sheppard’s Bush Stills

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:19:18 +0000

The snow arrived just in time for the ‘after Christmas‘ holiday. We have been blessed with unusual warmer weather this season that was extended all the way to Christmas Day.

Picnic Pavilion, Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

I am kind of glad that there was no snow before and for Christmas. The winter snowstorm driving conditions can add to the holiday shopping stress. It is also nice to have nice comfortable drive when visiting loved ones for Christmas.

Picnic Pavilion, Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

When snow arrived all I wanted is run to the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area. I never been there during the winter season. When we arrived there yesterday I was really surprised how beautiful the trails were, especially when under sparkling white blanket of snow. The picnic pavilion and the maple syrup evaporator shack were exceptionally magical when surrounded by the snow.

Maple Syrup Evaporator Shack

I also noticed that the Sheppard House was not under construction anymore. It is possible that the heritage retrofit is now completed.

Sheppard House, Windfall Ecology Centre, Aurora

We probably walked for about 1/2 hour. It was nice to see that the trail is used regularly. It was only two days of snow and the trails were completely padded. They were very comfortable to walk on.

I was hoping for some animals like deer or even a rabbit, but all we found was black squirrels. I shot some photos of the birds but that will be my future post.

Aurora Strategic Plan, Sustainable Communities, How? High Density Housing

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:52:59 +0000

Building sustainable community in the Town of Aurora, a community that promotes sustainable living by reducing use of Earth’s natural resources, is my next topic for the Aurora’s 2031 Strategic Plan.

We all know that the idea of sustainable community or living is not new. With all the buzz of climate change around the world (too hot or too cold), we know that change must take place as soon as right now. We all must act together, but remember the sustainable living starts at home and then spreads out.

The Ridgewood, Aurora

In 20 years I will be 60. My goal in 20 years is to go back to even more sustainable living, as far as back to my early childhood years where my sole means of commuting was walking. Walking to school, to store, to church or to a bus station as far as 3 km away from home. Even biking wasn’t an option – it was always the eldest child who was granted a bike, and it wasn’t me.

I read an article in the Auroran yesterday, Wells Street facade is utmost priority school owner says [The Auroran, Week of November 22, 2011, pg 1,8] about future of the Wells Street Public School.

Wells Street Public School, Aurora

The local newspaper reported: ‘Joanne Birch … form Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts, told The Auroran that the new owners were attracted to the heritage building both for the beauty of the building itself and the opportunity to build in Aurora as a well known community. Aside from the building itself and the Town in which it stands, Ms. Birch said her company was also attracted by additional amenities including the proximity to Yonge Street shopping, GO Transit, and being so close to the idyllic Town Park.’

Good start. Good thinking. A first step to sustainable community living on the Wells Street. We need more builders or developers to think like that.

We have 20 years to build and we also have data from the past to work with. A perfect example is the closing of Foodland store on the St. Andrews plaza on October 29, 2011 and leaving local residents with no other grocery store close by, especially elderly that commute by public transportation.

Foodland, Now Closed, Aurora

If you note my first paragraph, I said sustainable community and not communities. Yes, I want to see in 2031 for the Aurora to be one sustainable community, an integration of sustainable sub-communities or a network of sub-communities. We need to all work together.

The best part comes is how do we achieve this. It will not happen overnight, so we must act now. Even with the Strategic Plan in the horizon, the change must start. We don’t want to start building the sustainable community in 2031, we want to be sustainable community then.

Hollandview Trail, Retirement Community, Aurora

What I have in mind is to introduce (for future developments) more of high-density housings and putting limit on the population growth to secure more green space. I am not asking for sky scrapers, but something that will reduce the residential footprint leaving us with more natural land around.

Some may argue that it may increase traffic on the roads, but not if residents get access to the basic amenities within a walking distance.

For example, a grocery store, a medical/dental office, a restaurant/food court, a bus station, more bike racks, access to walking /hiking /biking paths, all must be part of the residential development project. Stores can easily be build underground as they are above. The idea is not to attract visitors from outside especially those who drive. Residents must have an option to commute to work/school by bus, bike or even walk. Many of them may even work within their living community.

I know, I know – we already have few similar places in Aurora but they are just shops – how many times will I need a wedding gown compare to a bag of milk. Just once in a life time for the gown but – milk every week. You tell me what is more beneficial.

The Ridgewood, Aurora

The message is clear that we need rules, by-laws and plans implemented to build future Aurora sustainable community. It may not be possible with current developed Aurora, but there is still lot of potential land to be developed and I hate to see being carelessly filled.

Reading, Talking And Driving, She Must Be BlackBerry CrackBerry

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:29:13 +0000

I just wish I could do this – read messages, talk to the passenger and drive, all at the same time. I wish I could go trick-or-treat with my child and text at the same time, but I chose not to own this cool toy blackberry often called crackberry for such reasons.

Yesterday, I was driving along the St. John’s sideroad. I glanced in my mirror to see what Matthew was doing on the back. However, before I was able to look at him I saw white Mazda car driving behind me with two young ladies. Or even better I young lady driving the Mazda car with her friend in the passenger seat. But sometimes it does feel like that car is driving by itself.

I was slowing down as few cars in front slowed down and were flashing to make a left turn. I was slowing down but not the driver in the Mazda car.

The driver had her head down for most of the time. At the same time she was conversing with her passenger friend. When they came close to me they stopped. I must say the driver was good. Oh I wish I could have such multitasking skill. She almost gave me a heart attack though because I wasn’t in the mood for another fender bender incident.

The driver continued to text and chat with her friend. I turned left on Yonge Street and they drove straight on St. John’s sideroad.

Quack

I may not sound too angry. Let just say that I have no hope in the drivers or the law enforcers, both need some good wacky wack qack on the head.

Where There Is Yonge Street, There Is Aurora

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:24:25 +0000

Out of town for few hours. Planned family trip to the Center Island. Packed food and drinks, and there we were driving downtown. Sky scrapers everywhere and more sky scrapers will soon scrape the sky. We almost scraped the sky ourselves when just getting to the island cost us forty six dollars flat – parking $30, ferry ride $16, prepared lunches – priceless.

‘Hi, hi‘ – a little boy waved at me. It was our neighbors son. You can run, walk, drive, ride, hike but you can’t hide from Aurorans.

One Yonge Street, Toronto Star

No one should ever worry if lost downtown Toronto. Just find Yonge Street and head North. Yes it is the same Yonge Street there and here in Aurora.

40 km to Aurora from One Yonge Street

Only 40 km from the beginning of Yonge Street to Aurora. That would have been a nice drive on the longest street and historic street, but no we choose to take highway and scratch our heads in traffic.

Yonge Street History

Beside the high cost of this short trip, we had a great family time on the Center Island today.

Windows, Windows, Lots of Windows Downtown Toronto

Now if you have nothing to do, you can count windows. That is lot of windows, lot of glass, and never mind this is only one of the buildings out of many many more.