Vallhalla Newsletter November 2015

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Remember our Town has imposed the winter parking restriction on our roads. You could be ticketed if you leave your vehicle on the road overnight.

Crime Report

Please note; because you are being informed monthly of the crime within our area, you may think Valhalla is a high crime neighbourhood. Really it is not compared to other areas within Aurora and other municipalities. We seem to have sudden spurts now and then. The graffiti portion lasts a year or two when either they move on or “usually” young adults grow out of it, ... The less crime we have within our area the better for numerous reasons; i.e. home/car insurance rates, overhead costs to our town and us, home/area property value, beauty within our area, ...

Theft from Vehicle – Closs Square – Nov. 7th

Mischief to Property – Disorder – occurred throughout Valhalla - Oct. 30th

Street Check – Walton Dr. & Batson – Nov. 17th

Assault – Odin Cr. Nov. 20th

Traffic Stop – Mark St. & Cedar Cr. Nov. 17

Street Check - two Incidents Mark & Oak Ct. Nov. 17th

Break & Entering – Mark St. – Nov. 26th

Traffic Stop – six incidents – Old Yonge / St. John’s – Nov. 14

Traffic Stop – 26 incidents – Yonge St. / St. John’s – Nov. 18

NOTE: Since the speed limit has been reduced on Yonge St. to 60km north of St. John’s and south of the CN Bridge to Bloomington there has been a lot more speed enforcement by York Regional Police (YRP).

YRP have reported that they have captured alleged suspects to burglaries that have occurred in Aurora. The suspects are not from our area.

YRP have recommended to all residents to install a video surveillance system. (This was presented within an YRP video at the start of the year.) Over the last month, I presume because of shorter daylight hour, a number of neighbours do not seem to be picking up after their dog. Responsible dog owners carry multiple waste bags, a flashlight or use the flashlight on their phone. Would I be able to catch these dogs in the act with a video security system?

I have taken YRP’s suggestion and have ordered a HD 1080p 8 channel wireless surveillance system. According to the documentation, the system is supposed to be crystal clear up to 100’ in the dark and up to 750’ in daylight hours. All the video is stored in a hard drive. So make sure you stop at the Stop signs. LOL I will keep you posted on my learning curve and if there will be any deduction on my home insurance. The systems are not expensive. It goes by the number of channels and the resolution of the cameras and how / where the video will be saved. FYI: If you have some sort of incident in or around your home, YRP often ask if you or your neighbours have a video surveillance.

Take this link to report community concerns (traffic, graffitti, disorderly use, dumping) to York Regional Police: https://onlinereporting.yrp.ca/communityconcerns.html

PowerStream / Community Mailboxes

PowerStream

Great news, no outages reported. Bad news, our rates have increased.

Please note the Time of Use = TOU Prices - Winter - November 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016

Weekends & holidays: All day Off-peak $0.083 per kWh

Weekdays: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. On-peak $0.175 per kWh

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mid-peak $0.128 per kWh

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On-peak $0.175 per kWh

7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Off-peak $0.083 per kWh

Community Mailboxes

You may have noticed that all the NEW Community Mailboxes next to a road have a brick sidewalk next to them. When I saw this, I thought, well … Canada Post has changed their logic. Their reasoning previously was safety and that people walk to their mailbox not drive up to it. So, I called our contact at Canada Post who previously promised to have a contractor out to clean the mailboxes. I asked him if he could explain to me why the new Community Mailboxes have a sidewalk beside them in Valhalla but the olds Community Mailboxes do not. I went on to say what a benefit it would be for their customers who park up to the mailbox … He agreed. To my amazement, within the next few weeks, sidewalks were installed beside the old Community Mailboxes I had told him about. I doubt that it was my call that prompted this because usually there is a long process of approvals require to make such a change. Do you think Canada Post will clear these walkways in the winter? Do you think their contractor will know they had been installed? Only time will tell.

Outdoor Living Arrangement for ZERO Dollars

This year instead of purchasing an outdoor arrangment I thought I would make one myself. The money saved can then be put towards a donation to one of our local charities. The You Tube video below will explain. Enjoy!

RADON GAS

A few years ago our newsletter mentioned my concern regarding Radon Gas and why we should all test our homes especially during the winter. Depeding on the veins in the ground, your neighbours may all have it but you may not. It's random. The Canadian Government is now recommending and suggesting testing. The United States have been doing this for decades. I think we all know people who have passed on from lung cancer who have never smoked, seemed healthy, … Radon Gas is produced from the breakdown of uranimum in the ground. Small amounts of Radon Gas can also be produced from Granite Counter Tops and specific cooking equipment. It is easy to fix the levels of Radon in your home.

The following video is from one of my home inspectors that will help explain it and how to test for it. FYI: You can purchases the Radon test kit online. They are around $14.00.

Are you ready? This season brings a lot of wet weather. Ensure the water is flowing well away from your foundation. Check your eaves troughs to ensure they are clean and clear.

C O N T E S T S

PRIZE ONE:

A free MENS Hair Cut at SportClips . Located at Bayview and Wellington at the Home Depot Plaza, located beside Mark's Work Wearhouse. www.SportClips.ca

The first person who can e-mail me the words missing to this Christmas Song. Say _____ _____ ____ _____ _____ and eveyone you meet.

PRIZE TWO:

Car wash courtesy of Highland Chev.

The first person who can e-mail me name of the actor and his characters name who played the next door neighbour in the Christmas Movie "Jingle All the Way".

Only on prize per household. Good luck!

Joint Operations Center

View the Slideshow Below

The plan is to add a monthly picture to the slideshow from Wilson Park so you can see the progress of this 24 million dollar project.

Craddock Park

You may recall a few years back we reported the vandalism at Craddock Park when someone drove onto the soccer field tearing up the soil. The other problem was the town had spent thousands of dollars installing an underground drainage system the previous year. When this incident took place plus experiencing neighbours young adults stuck with their car in the parking lot, it was suggested to install a chain between two posts, the same distance from the road as our recommendation that was implemented directly across the north side of the street on Batson. The purpose of the chain on the North side was when a soccer game took place, vehicles were parking on top of the cisterns (large cement containers similar to a septic tank) that have a small amount of soil on top. The infrastructure department were quick to install the chain after they saw the pictures.

As per our suggestion, Parks and Recreation did install a chain between two poles a few years back. The problem is, our Town’s contractor installed the chain too far back from the road. As you can see in the picture, vandals or anyone who wanted to trespass could easily do so by just taking a vehicle up the drive, over the sidewalk, and around the tree. This was brought to department’s attention.

To my surprise last week two farm gates had been installed. Why? What was wrong with the chain? In my opinion, the gates are not enhancing our area. They are actually doing the opposite. Will it help? I don’t think so. The labour to maintain and even open these gates. I don’t understand. Would it not have been better to put the hundreds of dollars (yes hundreds of $) to purchase and install these gates to items required and needed in our area?

When I got back home, I sent an e-mail to the manager in case he was not made aware. Also, he had replied to my e-mail the previous week stating the department would keep the parking lot open until after the “Santa under the Stars Parade” so that volunteers and residents could have an additional place to park.

Hi ___:

I was cleaning up Craddock Park this morning and noticed the new posts and gate. See picture attached.

Where you made aware of this installation? What was the cost to purchase and install this gate? Note the block under the gate. Usually you have a long bar that is attached to the gate that goes into the ground.

I don’t understand why this was installed, what was wrong with the chain? There must be something I’m unaware of.

As you know, if anyone wanted to get into the parking lot they still can easily do so because of the distance the posts are located from the road. This was pointed out previously when the chain was installed. It was suggested previously, before the installation of the chain posts, that the posts be installed the same distance from the road as the chain gate on the other side of Batson. A person can drive up on the side of the driveway over the sidewalk and around the tree. This was done by vandals the previous year.

Personally, I would have preferred the chain since it looked better visibly. Also, I thought this lot was going to be open until after the parade this weekend? See your e-mail below.

I would have liked the funds and labour that was spend on this gate, post, .. installation put towards items that would have cost far less in our area and all of Aurora that was discussed with ____ and ___ in our meeting.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers,

Eric

As of today, November 30th, there has been no reply.

The day after the e-mail was sent, the town had opened the gates. Note the pictures to the left and how the gates need to be opened. The parking lot was well used during the evening of the parade.

Maybe I’m missing something. Unfortunately, this is not the example. I’m certain you are also puzzled when you see what our town and region puts are tax dollars towards. The way I see it, special interest groups seem to have the say. Our elected officials need to consider what is best for all of Aurora as a whole. For your information, here are some municiple tax rates. Toronto has the lowest.

Tax Rates

Aurora 0.946098

Burlington Urban 0.910620

Burlington Rural 0.859260

Caledon 0.896546

Halton Hills Urban 0.896794

Halton Hills Rural 0.865139

Markham 0.805732

Milton Urban 0.757464

Milton Rural 0.727371

Oakville 0.849481

Richmond Hill 0.830899

Toronto 0.7056037

Vaughan 0.837242

Whitchurch/Stouffville 0.879414

Look out neighbours, be prepared for some long term tax hikes from what will soon be proposed over the next few years. Our town has long term agreements and commitments in place made by both current and past councils. There are so many agreements and purchases being made that most of us I don't think are aware of. Example: Did you know than when the Hallmark building was up for sale our Town could have gotten this at a great price. In my opinion, this would have been a great location for the Joint Operation Center that is currently under construction for 24 million dollars. I would not be surprised if this amount will increase. Unfortunately our town waited until the building was sold. Guess what, our town went ahead and purchased the clear acreage next to the building that was included in the sale. If I was one of the owners I would be dancing. Now from what I am hearing, there is a possibility that our Town may consider leasing the building from the new owners because of special interest group requests. I wonder who the NEW owners are? There are so many things such as this that makes you think. What happened to the land Mr. Stronach gave to Aurora for Parkland? In the summer our councillors agreed to pay $2.47 million dollars for the Mavrinac lands on the eastside of Bayview to keep residents surrounding the land happy. This was a good purchase for our town. But again this was only because of a special interest group. The property was zoned for a school. The school board decided it was not require. In my opinion if our councillors were considering what was best for ALL of Aurora they would resell the property for development that would bring in millions to lower our debt. Consultants and the Park Department stated we have enough parks in the area. You can guess what is goint to happen.

Water Tower

As stated last month, the new water tower by HWY 404, just north of State Farm Home Insurance’s Head Office, now has TWO Aurora Town Logos on it. This will make it easier for visitors to know that they are now in Aurora. There are also two York Region logos on the tower. It looks like York Region is also getting ready to lease the top of the new tower to a communication company.

St. Andrews Bus Stop

The slideshow below will display the contractors correcting the past contractors mistake. I have not spoken to YRT, but I think they wanted to have this cleared up before the winter. They have taken the entire fill the last contractor dumped. Poured cement between the road and sidewalk and laid grass down the hill. It looks much better. I ‘m guessing, but I think the bus shelter would have cost too much to install properly with the correct footings for the amount of people that use this stop.

The charts / graphs for

Aurora Homes Sales Statisitcs

have been updated.

Click the home below to open a new window.

To view ALL the homes currently for sale within Valhalla click here.

This link will only be available for a few weeks.

December 2015 Town Events

Wednesday December 9th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Town Hall

Monday December 21st The First day of W I N T E R

Thursday Demcember 31st Family First Night

Collection Schedule:

Thursday Dec. 3rd Yard Wate, Green Bin, and Recycling

Thursday Dec. 10th Garbage, Green Bin, and Recycling

Thursday Dec. 17th Green Pin and Recycling

Thursday Dec. 24th Garbage, Green Bin, and Recycling

Thursday Dec. 31st Green Bin, and Recycling

Christmas TREE Collecton

Will be picked up between January 19th & January 29th 2016 Maximum height 6ft. If higher, cut in two.

Please put the tree in you side or backyard until collection day.

Volunteering

How many hours have you volunteered this month? Try something you may enjoy doing.

Until next month, keep safe, keep laughing, stay healthy, and say hello to everyone you meet. Do what you can to help those around you. There is always someone worse off than you. How fortunate most of us are.

Cheers, Eric

Web site: www.McCartney.me

E-mail: eric@mccartney.me

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