Do Olive readers have an interest in this? I have deleted all the “personal” and domestic disputes from this list and will not publish those. I feel thay are not anyone’s business. Click herefor the whole report Read the rest of this entry »
Revenue sharing possible; Aurora, Bainbridge may discuss JEDD
Aurora Advocate –
by Brent Hovey At this point, no one knows what is in store for the land previously occupied by the amusement side of Geauga Lake, but one or more of the above are a possibility.
A lot if “ifs” and “coulds” in this story.
City to provide day for shredding of documents
Aurora Advocate –
by Brent Hovey — Councilman John Kudley proposed a project to benefit city residents. The first session of a program will take place Sept. 27 at the same time and place as the city’s semi-annual paint dropoff.
Aurora– The Aurora Golf and Country Club closed late Thursday, but its president says it might reopen within a few days as a public course after a new lender finalizes financing arrangements.
On Friday afternoon, Scott Brubaker, president of the member-owned club, confirmed that the club had decided to cease operations. A group of private investors is negotiating with a buyer to take over and operate it as a public course, he said.
“I believe the new investors have a great vision for the property and are committed to making this course a great asset to all the citizens of Aurora,” said Brubaker. “It’s a beautiful golf course, and our goal has always been to see it remain as a golf course.”
The group of private investors is called Aurora Recreation LLC and one of them is Aurora resident Hunter Banbury, according to Brubaker.
Banbury could not be reached to comment by press time.
The ranking in the paper was a surprise to m. It appeared that Aurora ranking had gone down. Here’s a bit of an explanation from a letter posted on the school website:
AURORA BOARD OF EDUCATION APPEALS TO STATE BOARD TO CORRECT AMBIGUITIES IN STATE “REPORT CARDS”
To: Members of the State Board of Education:
From: Members of the Aurora Board of Education
Date: August 28, 2008
We, the members of the Aurora Board of Education, urge you to seek answers to mounting questions over why high-achieving school districts like the Aurora City School District are ranked below lower performing districts as a result of the state superintendent’s newly created report card category: “Excellent with Distinction.”
This year, Aurora’s test scores were higher than in previous years and showed significant growth. Due to the fact that last year the growth score alone was not in the “above” range, our district is not awarded the “distinction” rating this year. It is highly disappointing that this one factor can overshadow significant growth Read the rest of this entry »
Just a quick post about last week’s concert at the Veteran’s Gazebo in Aurora. There was free food sponsored by Aurora Manor and Independence Village. And a group playing bluegrass/folk, they were real good! It is a nice location for the concerts, i hadn’t been there before and the evening was nice. it is sponsored by the City of Aurora. If you get a chance to attend you can have a good time. Plenty of room for the kids to run around and a nce hill to put your blanket on.
From the Aurora Advocate
by Ken Lahmers, Editor
Aurora — A project which has been 11 years in the making is nearing completion on the south side of Aurora Lake Road at the northern end of the Hawthorn of Aurora development.
On Aug. 22, United Civil Contractors installed a 32-foot long by 4-foot wide metal pedestrian bridge, which spans a small creek and provides access to the city-owned Giles-Seward Cemetery.
According to Ron Lowe, architectural adviser for the city’s landmark commission, work should be completed at the site by mid-September and a dedication is planned afterward. Read the rest of this entry »
TICKETS ON SALE FOR AHS ATHLETIC EVENTS
Tickets and discounted ticket books for athletic events at
Individual ticket prices: Adults – $4, Students – $3;
Adults – 10 tickets for $30; Students – 10 tickets for $20
Last year, one of the changes made after the levy failure was charging students for tickets. It was thought that it was repealed after the levy passage. Now students must pay for the football games. It seems that this is a change of policy for the schools. A student ID was all that was required for admittance to the games.
Sure, you could buy a booklet, but what if the weather stinks and you don’t want to go sit in the cold rain.
Do the schools truly need this additional revenue after the levy passage? Or is this a way to discourage the throngs of unsupervised younger kids at the football games?
by Brent Hovey, Reporter
Aurora — An exterior maintenance code the city has tried to pass in one form or another off-and-on for many years won’t happen at this time.
Council voted to remove the legislation from its agenda Aug. 11, meaning the code is dead for now. It was a 5 to 4 vote, with James Fisher, Robert Galaska Jr., George Horvat and Carl Rausch voting to keep the issue alive.
A public hearing had been set for Aug. 25, but that will no longer be on the calendar.
Mayor Lynn McGill introduced the code July 14, but Council had been torn over the effectiveness and execution of the code since then.
More of that was voiced Aug. 11, led by Councilman Joe Kastelic, who was concerned about how the code would be enforced.
“What’s the standard for this?” he asked. “Are we only going to enforce it on the residents who’s neighbors call? What about a house that has no paint compared to one where paint is chipping? Read the rest of this entry »
From the school’s website:
The business agreement, reached on July 30, will give naming rights to InkStop, scheduled to open its doors in Aurora in August. It will also enable the newly-formed Greenmen Pride organization to reach its “million dollar goal” in Phase #1 of the community’s stadium renovation project. Read the rest of this entry »
Too often this and other blogs are the forum for negative and complaining people so to start a trend here are my 4th of July kudos. Everyone involved with the planning and operation of the 4th of July festivities should be commended. All of the events seemed to go without any problems. A great time was available to all that attended. The quantity of parade viewers seemed to be up. The paving at the Kiwanis-Moore park was a big plus too (as much as i hate to say it, cause i didn’t want more asphalt in town) Read the rest of this entry »
So there hasn’t been much going on at oliveaurora lately has there? After a huge increase in interest and visits during the school levy campaigns, i have become apathetic. How Aurora-ish of me!
Additionally, I do not want to engage in legal battles to operate this blog. And I don’t want to be personally blamed for what other people write. I also saw some readers go after another reader, anonymity allowed the freedom for some to turn into A#1 jerks. I think this blog could be useful and entertaining but I don’t know if it is worth it.
So feel free to comment on this or do it elsewhere. I don’t care.
The fish kill at Aurora’s Sunny Lake on Tuesday seems to have been a success. City workers are cleaning up thousands and thousands of dead carp floating along the shore. The average fish that was killed was a 12 inch carp. There are a few suckers, some small catfish and some 4 inch crappie and bluegill. In adition a bout 20 large Amur are among the dead. I don’t feel these fish had any value to fishermen.
Cool weather is aiding the city employee task. But they are a muddy mess, wading along the shoreline, gathering the fish for disposal. Where’s the “Dirty Jobs” guy?
The outlet of the lake is closed for about a week to allow the poison become inert before releasing the water downstream to the Chagrin River. The fish kill used a method approved by the EPA.
The lake will be restocked with sportfish.
An Aurora manufacturing plant of a German company will be getting an $82 million expansion and 150 new jobs.
Rotek Inc., which manufactures large diameter bearings for such things as radar systems, wind energy turbines, tunnel boring machines and rail vehicles, will begin construction at the end of this month with the plant expected to begin expanded production in the first quarter of 2010.
Rotek, a subsidiary of Dortmund, Germany-based Rothe Erde, announced the investment on Tuesday. Rothe Erde is part of the ThyssenKrupp Technologies Group of Dusseldorf, Germany.
The investment includes what is called a second ring mill at the Aurora facility to serve its own expanding large diameter ”slewing ring” production and help meet the growing demands in the United States for seamless rolled rings.
The manufacturing plant will increase by 116,000 square feet and add new machinery, tooling and production lines, said spokesman Matt Rhodes.
In a press release, Rotek President Leonard F. Osborne said, ”The planned expansion is an integral part of the company’s growth strategy. This significant investment represents our continued commitment to provide the highest quality products and customer service possible.”
ThyssenKrupp Rotek received funds from the State of Ohio Department of Development for job creation and training, as well as machinery and equipment purchases. In addition, the city of Aurora offered the company property tax abatement and funds for road infrastructure improvements.
In the news release, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said, ”Rotek is developing and manufacturing components for several high growth industries, including wind energy, where Ohio has become a national leader with a strong competitive advantage. We welcome Rotek’s growth and the 150 new jobs in the City of Aurora.”
The company said it will create 150 new full-time jobs within three years and retain the 215 existing full-time jobs in Aurora at the plant and local headquarters. The hiring process will begin in the fall. Read the rest of this entry »
Take a short drive east from Aurora on Rt 82 to Hiram, and view the best looking wisteria in the nation! It is on the north side of the street just this side of campus climbing on a pine tree. I’d guess it is 40 ft high. My Hiram spy called and siad it is in full bloom. Park on campus and take the short walk to view this beauty.
from the advocate website
Aurora — The city continues to take steps to keep one of its largest employers from moving.
At City Council’s April 28 session, members passed two ordinances in an effort to convince Rotek to stay here and not move to Kentucky.
Rotek plans a $90 million expansion, but is also considering leaving for Florence, Ky., just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
The first item passed will have the city and Rotek entering into a Community Reinvestment Area, in which Rotek will receive a 15-year, 100 percent tax abatement.
Finance Director Bob Paul said of the proposed $90 million expansion, $17 million is for real estate and $73 million for equipment. Only the real estate falls under the abatement.
Rotek would receive $3.4 million in tax abatement during the 15 years.
The other ordinance will allow the allocation of up to $450,000 of the budgeted 2008 road paving program to improve Route 43 in front of the plant. Read the rest of this entry »
In case you haven’t been by the library this week, there are big changes. The city has removed the old bushes and is in the process of planting a lot of new ornamental trees and shrubbery. It is a big improvement.
OliveAurora is currently being upgraded. The site may not be working properly Hope to be up and more active in a day or two
As taxpayers, we and several other families in our area have been proud to let friends and relatives know what a lovely community we have in Aurora.However, to dwellers in the Lakes of Aurora and especially those who use Cochran Road, it has become an embarrassment to have visitors see the mass of rubbish and dead trees, and deplorable condition of the road.
It’s crumbling and in places is so pitted there is hardly room for two cars to pass. Potholes are damaging vehicles. Cochran is no longer the back road it was in former days.
The large number of homes and condos built now use it as their main connection to Route 82. Patches are no longer viable because of the heavy amount of traffic.
While it is nice to discuss clocktowers, flower gardens and sidewalks that go nowhere for the next 20 years, it seems our priorities should be to maintain what we already have.
While the city spends tax dollars working on private roads and paving some streets for a second or third time, Cochran gets pushed to the back of the to-do list year after year.
I know many taxpayers believed when the road levy passed several years ago Cochran would be one of the first roads done. But every year, we’re told it’s too expensive.
The job will not be less expensive next year or the year after. If it had been done when promised, it probably would’ve cost a fraction of what it will now.
We urge taxpayers with similar concerns to contact Council reps and the administration or attend the April 28 Council meeting at 7 p.m. to express concerns directly.
It’s not only a matter of looks, but a serious matter of safety.
Pete and Terry Gugliotta, Aurora
Do you have favorite family recipes that you cherish? Is there a special dish, bread, or dessert that your Grandmother or Mother always made for certain holiday celebrations? Is there a story behind some of the family celebrations that you pass along from generation to generation? If so, you are not alone. Families share favorite recipes and pass along treasured stories that accompany them. More and more families are preserving these stories in the form of family cookbooks. On Saturday, April 12th from 1:30 – 3:30, the Aurora Historical Society will host Dr. Martha Pallante, Read the rest of this entry »
It looks as though Geauga Lake will be auctioned of in its entirety June 17th and 18th. Here’s your chance to get a ride for your backyard. My kids want the Space Needle (think zoning would allow it?)! The end for the once grand park.
During the storm on Saturday, the Aurora Service Department did a good job of keeping the roads passable. I had to drive to Macedonia in the morning to get a part for my snowblower and the roads in Aurora were great, much better than T-burg and Macedonia.
Olive readers might have noticed that there weren’t any new postings or comments the past 4-5 days. The site has had problems with a variety of issues from content to spam to glitches or hacks. But the primary reason for no new posts was nobody was changing anyones minds with their rhetoric. So, in fairness, there were no pro-comments or anti-comments. I am still hoping that this site will be a place for thoughtful discussion rather than name calling, nasty rumors, and personal attacks and untruths. I did not have the time to verify anything. Oliveaurora had the potential to rapidly deteriorated into a crass and vulgar site. So i put everything on hold.
Olive wanted the levy to pass, that should be no secret to readers. I had a horse in this race as they say. In most cases anti-levy comments were published as well as pro-levy comments. A two-sided conversation is always more interesting.
To the voters who said this will be a real hardship to seniors and that some will not have the money: I don’t think anyone who voted for this levy is happy about that. It would be great if the community could help those who are going to need the help.
Many hope this entire experience was significant to the school board and the administration. And that there will be more involvement from the community and openness from the board in the coming months and years.Our community, however divided right now ought to realize that that people in Aurora passed their levy and is looking toward the future. Most other school levies failed!
Congratulations to all the volunteers in Aurora who made this pass, it was a group effort. What do you think?
Here is a breakdown of the results. It failed only in Geauga Lake and 2-B. Support was way up everywhere since the last election. Click on it for a larger view.
The IB program had become controversial in the Aurora schools due to recent financial pressures. The Cleveland Plain Dealer has written a story about IB in Northern Ohio. It seems that Aurora is ahead of the trend. Other schools are looking at the IB progams as part of their cirriculum. Read about it here
Here’s a better look at the plans that were approved by Landmark Commission. click for larger image
THE GARDENS AT TOWN CENTER POINT
General Layout:
Landscape bed is higher in middle and gently slopes at edges. Annual flowers dominate the edges for big color impact. Edge plantings are small and plant material gets gradually taller toward middle. Nice mix of evergreen trees and shrubs, & deciduous (lose leaves in winter) tree and shrub material & incorporates a lot of perennial (return year after year) flowers & ornamental grasses and annual (need to be replanted every year) flowers for year-round interest.
*area will be irrigated with sprinkler system
Overall Plan Incorporates:
213 Shrubs (125 are evergreen, 88 are deciduous)
17 Trees (11 are evergreen, 6 are deciduous)
103 Perennials
Various annual flowers and bulbs
Lawn Areas
Retaining Wall
Year – Round Interest:
Spring Bloomers:Â Â bulbs – (allium, daffodils, tulips), flowers (pansies, violas); trees – Japanese Tree Lilacs (late spring)
Summer Bloomers: shrubs – roses, viburnums, bush clover (late summer); perennials – daylilies; complementary annuals – wave petunias, geraniums, begonias
Fall Color: viburnum, daylilies will still be in bloom, dwarf fountain grass; annuals – mums, ornamental cabbage & kale
Winter Interest: evergreens – spruces, junipers, boxwood or yews; shrubs – winterberry has bright red berries that remain through winter; perennials – ornamental fountain grass
Other than the name sounding like an assisted living home. what do you think?
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