Report May Be Clue to Firing a Report, Included in This Week’S Council
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What we offer: A CUP OF COFFEE Beverley Varcoe 905-727-3154 AND A Highly Qualified to Handle Your Real Estate Needs with Over 20 SECOND OPINION years of Award Winning service! 53 Wellington St. E. Aurora 905-727-4300 Your Community Realty, Aurora BROKER, CRES, SRES www.beverleyvarcoe.com Market Value Appraiser Aurora’s Independent Community Newspaper Vol. 9 No. 4 905-727-3300 auroran.com FREE Week of November 11, 2008 Report may be clue to firing A report, included in this week’s council. Aurora Council meeting, could pro- In responding to the report, Mayor vide clues as to why Chief Phyllis Morris would only say, "coun- Admininistrative Officer, John cil's focus is to ensure that the tax- Rogers, was terminated. payers are protected and that the The report shows that for several repairs are made." months council has been discussing, The building of the new recreation in closed session, the authorization facility, located on Wellington Street of payments for bulkhead repairs to East, was approved by Council in the new Stronach Aurora Recreation May, 2004, at a cost of more than Centre. $25 million, of which $19 million was As required under Provincial leg- borrowed from the Region. islation, council aired the matter Over the course of 20 years, resi- Tuesday and the report is startling. dents of Aurora will continue to pay Several payments were made by down the loan by almost a million the Town that were not authorized by Please see page 9 Habitat for Humanity home unsure in Aurora By SCOTT JOHNSTON residential areas. Please see page 12 It may be another few years before the town of Aurora sees its first Habitat for Humanity home. Doreen Barfitt dies The town has been actively Doreen Barfitt, who with her seeking an appropriate location husband, Stuart, established one of for a Habitat house since at least Aurora's most successful businesses, 2002. So far, all efforts have been Aurora Home Hardware, on Wellington unsuccessful. Street, died Saturday. After a recent and extensive In 1968, Doreen and Stuart opened Lawyer Chris Sorley points to the 15 solar panels installed on the roof of his business on Yonge Street. review of potential town-owned their store on Aurora's downtown Yonge Inset, he starts up the system which is expected to produce about 3,500 kilowatts of power annually. land by Aurora staff members, Street. Auroran photos by Ron Wallace most properties were deemed In 1975, they moved the store unsuitable, as they were in indus- across the street to a bigger building trial or flood regulated areas. near Wellington and Yonge. Solar panels produce power The only town land that would The continuing success of the potentially be suitable for a resi- business meant another move, in 1986, to their current store on Wellington The warm sunshine that Aurora felt phur dioxode from being emitted into cents per hour a customer pays for dential development would be Street East, west of Mary Street. last Wednesday morning was put to the air. hydro.The contract is expected to gen- parkland. Since the beginning, Doreen's three good use when Aurora lawyer Chris The amount of electricity produced erate $1,500 per year. Therefore, Aurora’s General sons worked alongside their parents. Committee was asked last week Sorley flicked a switch and began turn- in a year by the panels is enough for Although a solar generation con- Now in its fifth decade as a fixture in ing that sunshine into electricity. one to do 14,282 loads of laundry, lis- tract is available to any person or busi- to provide direction on severing a Aurora, the store is still operated by His offices, on Yonge Street at ten to a stereo for 35,700 hours or ness in Ontario, it is a first for portion of municipal parkland to Doreen's sons. Reuben, had just been fitted by Solera make more than 89,000 slices of Powerstream, Inc., which services be used for a Habitat home. Doreen is survived by her husband, Energies with 15 solar panels capable toast. Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and In addition, since Habitat is Stuart, her children, Russ, Randy, and of producing 3,500 kilowatts of power The power is not actually used on Vaughan. interested only in land that would Robert, six grandchildren, and three per year. site but is sold back to PowerStream, “Aurora Council may wish to take allow newcomers to integrate great grandchildren. That type of power will, in its life- Inc., at a rate of 42 cents per kilowatt note as they appear to believe that easily into the town, this Service will be held from Trinity time, prevent 56 tons of coal from hour. hydro grows on poles,” Sorley told eliminated potential parkland that Anglican Church, 79 Victoria Street, being burned and 932 pounds of sul- This compares with the 11 to 12 The Auroran. was not in proximity to existing Wednesday at 1 p.m. Brian Get more out of your Mailbox! • A real address with a suite number Our Document Experts are here to help. and not just a PO box number Right in your neighbourhood. John • Secure, 24 hour access to your mail • Package acceptance from all carriers Aurora’s Business Service Centre • Mail forwarding and holding Hunters Gate Plaza - 14845 Yonge St. Unit 6 • Call-in Mail Check T: 905.713.1632 F: 905.713.1633 • Package Notification E: [email protected] 2 - THE AURORAN, Week of November 11, 2008 COMING EVENTS Continuing for more information. the main lobby of the Stronach Aurora general admission and $25 for Legion On Tuesdays, until June, the Navy **** Recreation Centre, 1400 Wellington members. League has a Cadet program for children Gamblers Anonymous meets every Street East from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. All SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 9 to 12 years from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Tuesday night at Trinity Anglican Church, proceeds go to the York Region Annual Aurora Santa Claus Parade. Cliff Davies at 905-727-2244 for details. Victoria Street, at 7.30 p.m. Children's Aid Society Holiday Gift **** **** **** Program to benefit local families in need. Local artist and author Nancy Hallas On Tuesdays, until June, a Sea Cadet Progressive Euchre every Thursday **** will tell a tale about a clever mouse then program for youths 13 to 18 from 7 to 9 p. night at the Aurora Legion at 7.30 p.m. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Women's offer children between the ages of 6 and m. Leave message at 905-895-3038. Call 905-727-9932. League's 13th Annual Christmas Fair and 9 the opportunity to model their own **** **** Artisan's Sale in Lynett Hall, 16 mouse character at the Aurora Public Aurora Opera Company's Children's Canadian Federation of University Catherine Avenue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Library beginning at 2 p.m. The fee is $6 Chorus is a new treble voice choir dedi- Women holds monthly meetings at the includes a fish pond, face painting, silent per child. cated to educating, nurturing and provid- Aurora Legion with a variety of speakers. auction, bake table and a visit from Santa TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 ing opportunities for children to express Contact Beverley at 905-727-2151. Claus with a raffle every half hour. Aurora Chamber of Commerce their musical abilities. The chorus is open **** TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Business After Five from 5.30 to 7.30 to boys and girls in Grades 1 through 12 The Aurora Seniors’ Evergreen Choir Canadian storyteller Jennifer Cayley p.m. at M & L Fotographics, 15032 Yonge and consists of two choirs: Angel practice in the West-McKenzie Hall of the will be at the Aurora Public Library from 7 Street. Choristers, a training choir for 6 and 7 Seniors Centre, every Wednesday from to 8 p.m. to introduce heroes and hero- SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 year-olds and the Children Chorus, open 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. under the direction of ines in the Optimist Room for children Aurora Senior Citizens’ Christmas to 8 to 17 year-olds. To audition, contact Enid Maize. ages 6 to 9. There is no charge if you Bazaar at the centre from 9.30 a.m. to 3 general director Sarah Kyle at keepsing- **** book in advance by calling 905-727- p.m. Included will be a silent auction, col- [email protected]. Tots (age nine months to four years) 9493. lectible table, crafts, sewing, and wood- **** bring your caregivers for coffee or tea *** * working, and 28 outside vendors. There CHAT'S Community Home Assistance while you enjoy story and playtime every Aurora Council meets as general will also be a 50/50 raffle, which will take to Seniors is looking for volunteers to Tuesday from 9.30 to 11 a.m. at committee in the council chambers of the place at 2 p.m. assist with the activities in its Adult Day Cornerstone Church, 390 Industrial Town Hall at 7 p.m. NOVEMBER 29-30 Program. The positions call for a commit- Parkway South. Call 905-841-8883 for FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Aurora Optimist Club annual book sale ment of a few hours a week at its Aurora further information. Aurora Legion presents Aurora at the Aurora Public Library, Yonge and location. Various times are available. Call **** Borealis featuring Endless Summer with Church Streets, Saturday, November 29 Christine at 905-713-3494. Meet at Martha's Table, now in its 4th a tribute to the Beach Boys and ABBA, from 8 a.m.