This page was exported from The Auroran [ http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran ] Export date:Thu Jul 4 16:26:36 2024 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: INSIDE AURORA: Year in Review 2013 --------------------------------------------------- By Scott Johnston Jan 3 – The Auroran introduces a new horoscope column, which correctly predicts that The Auroran will start publishing horoscopes in 2013. Jan 8 – Council members can no longer claim alcohol on their expenses, but residents can continue to consume alcohol to numb the effect of following Council activities. Jan 15 – Residents of west Aurora protest when the winning flag design for the Town's sesquicentennial celebrations includes a cell tower. Jan 21 – The Jazz Fest's threat to take its event to Newmarket means that Aurora will have to make due with only 67 public music festivals, events and concerts in 2013, instead of 68. Jan 22 – In an effort to encourage voting, it's proposed that a question be placed on next year's municipal ballot asking residents whether they wish to reduce the size of Council from 8 to 6 councillors. Feb 3 – Although a bonfire is not planned as one of the events at the first Sesquicentennial party, the same result is achieved when all 150 candles on the Town's birthday cake are lit. Feb 10 – Ironically, their value increases after the Federal government declares the penny worthless and starts removing them from circulation, thereby creating scarcity for coin collectors. Feb 16 - The Chamber of Commerce does not win any awards by deferring the annual business achievement recognitions until 2014. Feb 27 – The Town promises that the latest in a long line of public consultations on the future of Library Square will be the very last one before a decision is made – or at least, the last one before a decision is made on having another series of consultations. Mar 1 – Town unity is put to the test as new Federal electoral boundaries split Aurora north and south of Wellington. Mar 18 – A report commissioned to report on the Town's low level of reserve funds can't be completed due to a lack of funding. Apr 2 – The continuation of winter conditions forces the groundhog who predicted an early spring two months earlier to go into hiding through the Witness Protection Program. Apr 14 - The Town agrees to chemically treat ash trees in town against the Emerald Ash Borer, when a report suggests that would be more effective than equipping residents with flyswatters. May 7 – The Town publishes a public apology to the three bloggers over the defamation lawsuit, but fails to apologize to all other Aurora residents over the latest tax increase. May 11 – Following a growing trend for the Town to rename municipal sites on John West Way, which started with the address of Town Hall going back and forth from Municipal Way, Civic Square Park is renamed Queen's Diamond Jubilee Park. May 17 - A report that says the Town's natural green areas bring in $7.4M in revenue a year is hailed by Council, who then go on to approve final plans for the 3,000 new homes going into the undeveloped 2C lands north of Wellington between Bayview and Leslie. May 28 – The growth in nausea cases at Southlake Hospital is connected to negative reactions to the increasing parking fees charged at that location. Jun 2 – A 200 year old Burr Oak is celebrated as not only the oldest tree in Aurora, but also as one of the few trees in town that wasn't illegally cut down that summer. Jun 17 – The Town remains at the little kids' table as York again denies Aurora's request for a second representative on regional council. Jun 24 – Ron Wallace appropriately makes headlines as Aurora's Citizen of the Year. Jun 28 – While Toronto's restaurants, cultural institutions and retail establishments celebrate the return of week-end GO train service to the city, Aurora's financially-strapped businesses are less enthusiastic. Next time – part 2. Feel free to e-mail Scott at: machellscorners@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2014-01-01 15:22:38 Post date GMT: 2014-01-01 20:22:38 Post modified date: 2014-01-15 14:47:13 Post modified date GMT: 2014-01-15 19:47:13 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com