Main Street Aurora
NewsLetter
April / MaY 2015
Where is It? Contest
Hillforest in Miniature
Main Street Aurora is comprised of a
volunteer Board of Directors that
guides the organization.
Board of Directors
James G. Waldon, President
Dr. Matthew B. Probst, Past President
Judy S. Hizer, Vice President
Cindy Rottinghaus, Secretary
Nancy Fahey Turner, Treasurer
Pamela Brandes
Debbie Fehling
R. Brett Fehrman
Wayne Schroeder
Executive Director
Bethany S. Ross
Mission Statement
The Mission of Main Street Aurora
is to revitalize the historic downtown
physically, commercially, and
as a community gathering place.
Head to Historic Downtown Aurora and see if you can find this mini
replica of the Hillforest Victorian House Museum. It is about 5” in
height from the front porch steps to the highest chimney and is a
complete, three-dimensional rendering of the historic mansion. The
Be sure to look for the ceramic Hillforest which
displays Main Street Aurora's official logo!
Check out the photo above if you're in doubt
about whether you've found the right one.
replica can be any place in the Historic District, which covers Fifth
Street to Hogan Creek and the Ohio River to US 50 and seen from the
sidewalk. Send in your guess on the entry form below. If it is the
correct answer your entry will be included in a drawing to win $20.
The correct answer for the replica location will be printed in the next edition of this
newsletter along with the winner.
Where is It? Contest Entry Form
Name: ________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________
Hillforest Mini Replica Location: _________________________________________________________
You must have your entry in by May 7th. Only one entry per person!
Mail completed entry form to: Main Street Aurora, PO Box 156, Aurora, IN 47001
Aurora Ramblings
Hopefully by the time you are reading this, Winter will be on the way out. With all the snow melt and the Spring rain coming, we can shift to flood watch. Having the
53' recently, we are on a good start. For new comers to the area, that level would have shut down SR 56 at the old ferry landing, but with the new roadway we had about a
foot of clearance.
Speaking of floods are you ready for one in your house? A sewer backup or a broken water line? Either one can be devastating. Recently, an insurance company has
been sending notices to Aurora residents offering coverage for these events, and NO, they are not connected to Aurora Utilities. You will also notice that they will only
cover the line to the basement wall. Well the point of failure is usually where it comes through the wall, and a sewer backup might be outside but the damage will be in
the house. Check your homeowner’s policy – a spot check found that $5,000 in coverage can be added for $59. This would be money better spent, especially if you have
drywall, carpet or appliances in your basement. These can be costly to replace. Two recent backups cost $5,000 for one homeowner and $15,000 for another.
City Council is currently debating our policies on sewer backup or broken water lines, as the State says we have no responsibility for these, unless negligence is proven.
This brings in filing a claim against the Utility by a tort notice, more red tape and expense. Currently we offer clean up by an outside service, which the homeowner can
refuse. This involves cleaning, disinfecting and removal of wet drywall or carpet. Restoration is up to the resident at that point. Feel free to discuss this issue with Council
members, and definitely check your homeowner’s policy, as to coverage.
— Randy Turner, Aurora Utilities Superintendent & City of Aurora Clerk Treasurer
Welcome Spring! Behind the rolling fog and memories of snow piles comes the scent of spring
rains and the promise of nature’s kaleidoscope of colorful blossoms. Thanks so much to all who
sent in lovely pictures of the Dearborn Trail and local Aurora Parks to be used for possible
marketing signage along the trail, city website and in advertisements & flyers.
The City of Aurora is seeking to fill a Code Compliance Officer job opening. Position requires a
highly motivated individual able to provide strong communication, customer service, and decision
making skills. Some of the job duties the person will assume include enforcement of the City Code,
review of location permits and development plans, developing agendas & reports for the Board of
Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission and City Council, project management, Unsafe Building
Order actions and other special projects that are assigned by the City Manager. The City anticipates
selected person will have 2 to 5 years of building\code related experience, high school diploma and
computer experience. A valid IN driver’s license will be required. All applicants must agree to a
drug test and background check prior to hiring, complete a City of Aurora employment application
and submit with resume to the City of Aurora, 235 Main Street, Aurora, IN 47001. Inquiries can
be made by emailing or calling: [email protected] or 513-505-7647.
All Code related issues will be coordinated through the City Manager’s office until further notice
As always I look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards! Guinevere Emery, City Manager
Talk About Aurora History
Local History Library @ the Depot , 510 Second Street 6:00PM - 7:30PM
May 26: The Four Corners of Green Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue
More information
Call Roy @ 812.926.4363
Where is It?
February/March Contest Winner
The February/March 2015 Main Street Aurora Newsletter announced
the
Where is It? Contest. Surprisingly and happily “numerous”
mini replicas of the Hillforest Victorian House Museum were found
throughout town. The intended replica location was at Personally
Yours, 308 Third Street.
Due to these unexpected results,
all entries with a verified replica
location were included in this first
drawing. Amanda Eldred was the
winner of the random drawing
and received a check for $20 from
Main Street Aurora.
To help clarify which Hillforest
replica to look for in the future,
we’ve placed our official Main
Street Aurora logo on the
miniature you must find to qualify
for our next drawing. This
Personally Yours, 308 Third Street
specially marked replica will
always be visible from the
sidewalk outside its mystery location.
 April 1st 1:00—5:00PM
Hillforest Opens for 2015 Season
 April 11th 7:00AM—2:00PM
Hillforest Early Bird Rummage Sale
@ Aurora City Park
 May 3rd 1:00-5:00PM
Hillforest Community
Hillforest Historical House Museum
Appreciation Day
213 Fifth Street, Aurora
Admission $1.00/6 and under FREE National Historic Landmark
Anna “Shorty” Meyer Petrovic, will be
an honored guest in her hometown of
Aurora for two days of special events
in April. Anna, affectionately called
“Pee Wee” by her baseball fans, was
born in Aurora in 1928 and is a
former shortstop who played in the
All-American Girls Professional
Baseball League (AAGPBL) during
the 1944 season when World War II
threatened to shut down Major
League Baseball.
At age 15, Anna was one of the
youngest players to sign a contract
with the newly formed female league.
Anna “Shorty” Meyer Petrovic
Saturday, April 25th – 9:00AM
Anna will be the Grand Marshall of the Little League Opening Day Parade,
beginning at 9:00AM in downtown Aurora. Immediately following the
parade, at approximately 10:30AM, a special field dedication ceremony will
take place at the Little League field, located between the Aurora Recreation
Community Center and Moore Street. Anna will be available to meet the
public and sign commemorative baseball cards, while supplies last.
Sunday, April 26th – 4:00PM—6:00PM
The public is invited to have dinner and view the movie A League of Their
Own with Anna at Big Daddy’s Bar-B-Q, 311 Broadway Street beginning at
4:00PM with a special presentation by Aurora City Officials at 6:00PM.
ALL EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Celebrate Aurora
Southeastern
Indiana
Art
Guild
Every
Gallery
Hours
Thursday, Friday
& Saturday
10:00AM—3:00PM
Aurora City Wide Clean-Up Day
The City of Aurora will have their Annual City Wide
Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 25th, so clean out your
attic, closets and garage! Have your garbage at the curb by
11:00PM on Friday night, since Best Way will begin pickup
around 5:00AM on Saturday morning the 25th. There will
be many dumpsters located in the parking lot behind the
Aurora Lions Club with staff available to assist you. The
drop-off area will be open from 8:00AM to Noon.
The Dearborn County Recycling Center will be accepting all household
hazardous waste, including household chemicals, electronics, oil based paints
and other oil based products on Friday, April 24h from Noon to 6:00PM and
Saturday, April 25th from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at the recycling center on US
50.
To use the dumpster services you must provide photo ID
proving you are an Aurora resident.
Thursday, May 21st
Celebrate Aurora is an evening dedicated to celebrating all the good
things happening in Aurora and the opportunity to find out what is
planned for the future. Join Mayor Donnie Hastings, Jr. and Main
Street Aurora President James G. Waldon as they talk about all of
these things and more. A light meal will be served and the winners
of the Main Street Aurora Sixth Grade Essay Contest will also be in
attendance to read their essays.
Aurora Lions Club Building
Thursday, May 21st at 6:00PM
Reservations appreciated but not required 812-926-1100
2015 Cruise Ins
Bridgeway Street, Aurora
1st Wednesday of every month
6:00—9:00PM
May - September
For more information on activities and events in Historic Aurora
please visit www.aurora.in.us or call 926-1100
Main Street Aurora…. Working to Make a Differen ce!