Nearly New Blog Site

Hi Everyone –

Hope you’re enjoying this hot summer! I spend far too many hours griping about the cold in winter, so you’ll hear no complaints from me regarding the heat J

Ok...the following is a “shameless self-promotion” alert;

If you haven’t already been reading it, there is a new blog site in Aurora, called “Community FOCUS”. The address is www.livinginaurora.com

Aurora resident Anna Lozyk Romeo, creator of her beautiful “Living In Aurora” photo journal blog, has recently launched this new community site, and she asked me if I would contribute a regular column regarding local political issues, or issues of local political/social relevance. I was honoured to be asked, and have to date submitted 3 columns. The most recent, “Doors Open Aurora – Of Swans and Freedom Fighters”, combines my account of the wonderful Doors Open events I attended, an amazing personal interview, and the continued fight to protect free speech right here in Aurora.

Anna has stressed to me the importance of encouraging strong community involvement in this blog to make it successful. As such, an invitation is wide open for anyone who wants to contribute. Community FOCUS has areas set up to share thoughts on a wide range of local issues, including politics, history, food & drink, health & wellness, shopping, business, and others. She’s also set up a project called “Aurora-Youth-Writes”, inviting local youth to contribute their views and opinions. She has also approached Aurora seniors to contribute any issues and opinions relevant to their lives here in town. This blog is prime and ready for contributions on many fronts, and by whoever wants to share their thoughts. Community FOCUS also has a local business directory set up called “Aurora Directory”, where any local business can submit their profile online, and have it posted on the site for free.

My column, like others on the site, is open for comments, so please feel free to share your thoughts.

Please take a few minutes and check out Community FOCUS.  What Anna has created is a beautiful, positive, welcoming, and inclusive blog site. We live in an amazing town full of amazing people. The more we can make use of platforms like Community FOCUS to share our thoughts, opinions, and ideas with each other, the stronger our community becomes.

Cheers,  Matt Maddocks

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Anna has been posting for some time. My first contacts were with  comments to my blog. Then we met at the site of the Petch House while it was being demolished.

Like others engaged in social media  Anna's blog is eon's ahead of my own in  technical  expertise.

My own is restricted  to  town  business and by my limited technical skills.  I relay information from the advantage and perspective of a sitting member of Council.

There must be discipline.  I  am not  completely free.

My   opinions are mine to share.  I  provide only exact quotes of  the Mayor and other Councillors.

As elected officials, when we speak, we do not speak for ourselves alone. We speak on behalf of others.

Those others have a right to know whereof  we speak.

There's always the risk  how I heard  a comment, may not  be  how the comment  was intended. That's a risk elected officials  take every time we open our mouths.  Or write either for that matter. 

How town affairs are presented in Anna's blog are not from the same perspective. 

Matt Maddocks  has been attending  to town affairs as a  resident and taxpayer since long before the last election. 

He participated in the election Contributed to its outcome.

Since the election, he  has  regularly attended Council and  General Committee meetings.

He applied ,was appointed and has served as Trustee of the Library Board.

Matt has  regularly posted comments to my blog , Aurora Citizen blog and always identified himself. 

He is thoughtful and analytical. He has no fear of  allowing his opinions to stand on their merits.

As an  observer, he has expressed  frustration with  decisions.  The  social media  has provided a healthy outlet to take off the edge. 

Letters to the editor  have been doing it for me  for  fifty years.Sharing a daily journal with constituents has been infinitely more satisfying.

Matt's  regular contribution on Anna's blog  on town affairs  will be another  important voice added  to  the public debate.

Add Christopher Watts to the  mix and I would say.in the field of politics, we are coming of age.

So  welcome MattMaddox

Anna as soon as I can figure how to do it , I will add your blog as a link to mine and restore Christopher's as well.

We are living in exciting times!!!