Geoff Dawe

On Saturday, The Society of York Region Artists (SOYRA) celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a Show and Sale at the Aurora Cultural Centre.

SOYRA was founded in 1987 to provide a forum for artists to exchange ideas, and give them an opportunity to help reach their creative potential.  Through art shows, trips, study groups and guidance from professionals,  SOYRA allows artists to hone their craft and share their works with the public.

These artists are an amazing group with a wonderful array of vision and talent. Additionally, Sacred Heart Catholic High School had their graduating art class display upstairs. And, Aurora High had their display a couple of weeks ago.

Aurora is a community with a rich cultural heritage and a strong history of support for the arts. We are a community that actively promotes artistic endeavour, and the Aurora Cultural Centre is an ideal venue to showcase these vibrant works of art for everyone to enjoy.

So, congratulations to SOYRA for 25 years of fantastic work and beautiful creations.

The show is on until February 4th, so please take advantage of the opportunity to see some terrific art.

We hosted an E-Waste day today. And it was a great success!

This was an opportunity for our residents (and others!) to safely dispose of those electronic devices that were no longer wanted or needed.

Computers, monitors, TVs, telephones, batteries, turntables, the occasional toaster and I think I saw an 8-track!

We need to wait for the final numbers, but there were over 300 cars that came in, and the estimate was about 18,000 pounds or 8,000 Kgs! That’s a lot of waste that is being handled properly! Not being thrown out.

We partnered with Artex Environmental ( http://artexenvironmental.com/ ) who have a proven track record of responsible disposable of electronic items.

And, a big thanks to our Public Works crew for helping out, along with Amanda Newman and Betty DeBartolo.

And, of course, thanks to our residents for “pitching in”.

The Municipal Act requires each municipality to enact tax deferral programs for low income seniors and low income disabled persons. For our two tiered structure, the Region of York manages the text of the policies for the lower tier, while the lower tiers administer the actual programs with the taxpayers.

The following link will jump you to the Town’s website section, and the actual application form for these programs.

http://www.e-aurora.ca/app/wa/mediaEntry?mediaEntryId=59353

You will see there are three distinct programs: 

• low income disabled persons (any tax increase eligible)
• low income seniors aged 55 to 64 (only tax increases in excess of $100.00 are eligible for deferral)
•  any senior aged 65 or older. (any tax increase eligible)

There are low income eligibility criteria for those seniors aged 55 to 64, and for disabled persons under 65, while all persons 65 or older are eligible regardless of income. Each program defers year over year total tax bill increases, or a portion of it, interest free until the property ownership is transferred. This concept is similar to a reverse mortgage, but is interest free. For those who qualify in the low income disabled program or the 65 and over program, it is possible to essentially fix your tax bill at the amount of taxes in the year of first enrollment, and pay the same amount each year thereafter, until the property is sold or transferred.

Should you be interested in this program, you can

• fill out the form and submit it,
• contact our tax office at  905-726-4747, or
• contact my office at 905-726-4741

Thanks to our Treasurer, Dan Elliot, for this information.

Once again, State Farm sponsored the Festival of Trees for Southlake at Upper Canada mall. This is a fund raiser, where various groups decorate a Christmas tree and the public votes on their favourite.

In addition, 7 of the local municipalities (Aurora, Bradford West Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Newmarket and Whitchurch Stouffville) sponsor a tree that you can bid on.

And, in shameless self-promotion, I am pleased to announce that as of November 30, the bids totaled $4,861, with Aurora leading the way at $1,000.00.  Way to go Aurora!

A big thank you for showing your spirit.

Much to the pleasure of a certain female in my life, Movember is over and I have shaved it off!

Considering that I had a moustache for almost 40 years, I can’t believe how happy I was to have it off as well.

But, it was for a very good cause and thanks to MoBro Paul, Councillor Pirri, for being our team captain. Our team, Aurora Town Stache, raised $3,425.00. Congratulations!