Borealis - Spring 2014 Spring Edition | Page 6

And the Award Goes to...AURORA! While the entertainment awards season may have come to an end with the Oscars, the City of Aurora continues to bring in top notch honors at local, regional, and national levels. Here are a handful of recognitions so far this year: Host a block party this summer Aurora’s aldermen invite you to get your neighbors together and host a block party this spring or summer! Block parties are a great way to meet and get to know your neighbors while helping to bring the community together. Neighbors who want to block off a stretch of roadway to host a get-together this year can get help from the Alderman’s Office. Once you and your neighbors have picked a date, visit www.aurora-il.org/aldermen/ block_parties.php to download and application or call the Aldermen’s Office at 630-256-3020 to have one mailed to you. The electronic version also includes links to applications for festivals and special events. Your alderman can assist with obtaining a permit and barricades, but you bring the party. So visit aurora-il.org and click on Aldermen’s Office to start planning your block party now! 6 | City of Aurora | Spring 2014 Top 10 Safest Mid-Sized Cities in the Country Movoto Real Estate ranked 100 of the country’s mid-sized cities (cities with populations between 126,047 and 210,309 residents) in terms of safety. Aurora ranked in the Top 10 at #8! This ranking is based on FBI crime data from 2013, the latest available from the agency. It includes incidents of: burglary, theft, vehicle theft, murder, rape, robbery, and assault. In order to make a fair comparison, Movoto looked at the number of crimes per year per 100,000 residents, rather than the total number of crimes reported in each city. Top 10 Water Innovations in America Water System Operator Magazine recognized the City of Aurora as one of the places improving the water industry in America! Aurora’s innovative and environmentally responsible stormwater management practices, including retention basins and biofiltration, rain gardens, and a 6,500-square-foot wetland bioswale, are definitely improving and “greening” the nation’s infrastructure, as the blueprint recommends. Top in Suburban Home Sales Chicago Agent Magazine release its 2013 data and Aurora ranked #1 in single-family detached home sales with 1,896 sales -200 more than Naperville’s 1,687 home sales and #2 in single-family attached home sales with 735 sales, second only to Schaumburg’s 777 sales. Director’s Award for Water Production Aurora’s Water Production Division has received the Director’s Award from the Partnership for Safe Water. The division achieved and documented performance levels in excess of federal regulations four years in a row (2010-2013) which led to the honor. Most Romantic Restaurant in the Country Restaurant.com released its 2014 List of the Top 50 Most Romantic Restaurants in the Nation! Aurora’s Domo 77 ranks at #2! Project of The Year The American Public Works Association (Chicago Metropolitan Chapter) named the City of Aurora’ s RiverEdge Park Music Garden and Blues Island Restoration as the structural Project of the Year! Customer Service – 630.256.INFO