Harry Stemp April 09, 2009
Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
Previous
Stimulus packages
We are being bombarded by 'stimulus packages' in Canada and from around the world. Politicians feel it will put people back to work and help us see an end to the economic recession. Money in people's pockets means more spending, in turn more manufacturing, end result more jobs.
Someone should let the folks at the Liquour Control Board of Ontario know that this is happening. Judging by a recent decision concerning the Rogers Centre they haven't got a clue what's happening around them. This is not unusual for beaurocrats who, when it comes to dealing with the public, have a habit of saying: “Let them eat cake”.
I am speaking of the incident where Rogers Centre was charged with a couple of infractions under the Liquour Control Act. Of course the Board won't say what those infractions were, but they have ruled that there will be no beer sold at two Blue Jay games and one Argo game this season.
Now don't get the idea that I condone any organization or business breaking the rules. Far from it. The rules are there for the protection of the public and should be adhered to.
It's the ruling I have a problem with. With the economy in a nosedive why doesn't the board slap the Rogers Centre with a huge fine instead of this penalty? No way. They have ordered three 'dry' days which penalizes close to 100,000 fans who enjoy a cold one with their hot dog, and who did nothing wrong.
Worst results of this ruling? The 'dry' days will cause several hundred Rogers Centre employees to lose three days of employment - translate lost pay. I have no idea how much beer is consumed at these games, but the ruling will have a serious effect on the employees of the brewing industry who will see production drop somewhat because of this. These moves will take dollars out of the economy, rather than following the well-publicized government (of which the LCBO is part) stimulation plans which inject dollars into the economy.
Maybe someone should call the LCBO and let them in on the bleak economic news. It won't change their dictatorial attitude. It won't change their ruling re the Rogers Center, but it may make you feel better.
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Have had nothing but positive comments about the new Cosmos web page. If you haven't checked it out do yourself a favor. Look up www.thecosmos.ca . I know you'll be impressed. For me being away from Uxbridge for a couple of months, it was like a letter from home. I could read the entire issue and keep up with happenings in Uxbridge.
However, the Cosmos site proved to be an added value for me in a surprising way. I received an e-mail from Conrad containing an e-mail he received from a former employee of mine with the Lake Simcoe Advocate in Sutton:
My name is Tony Ricciuto, I'm a reporter at the Niagara Falls Review, and I came across your paper while surfing the net the other night. I was so happy to see that Harry Stemp is still writing his Stemp's Stew in your paper. Harry gave me my first job at the Lake Simcoe Advocate around 1973 when I got out of college. He's such a terrific guy, always upbeat with a great sense of humor. The last story that I read about him was that he was trying to slow down. It was great reading his column again and I will continue to keep reading. If you happen to see Harry or have his email could you just pass along a hello from Tony Ricciuto, the wet behind the ears reporter that he hired up in Sutton. More than 30 years later, I'm still at it, plugging away, and still think it is one of the best jobs anyone can have.
What a pleasant surprise. Tony was a fine young man who loved his chosen profession - journalism. He may have been wet behind the years but it didn't take him long to fit right in to the Sutton community and became a favorite with Advocate readers.
Since then Tony and I have been back and forth with e-mails filling in the blanks of past years apart. I wouldn't be surprised Tony and I will have a reunion sometime this summer.
And all thanks to the very professional Cosmos web site.
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Noticed that the subject of traffic control at intersection of Brock Street and the 6th Concession came up again at a recent meeting of council. Seems that councilors and dept. heads can't decide on traffic control lights or a traffic circle. Every time I read this I have a hard time understanding why they don't give the simplest, and least costly, solution a try.
All-way stop signs work well in all communities, including the Town of Uxbridge. The cost for installing two new 'Stop' signs plus four signs warning motorists that there is a change ahead would be minimal. Employees of the Works Department could, at the same time, take a look at the hedges around the intersection and make sure visibility is improved in all directions. This plan wouldn't cause any costly engineering plans, or other studies that seem to gobble up a ton of taxpayer dollars on an annual basis which is another plus.
In my opinion, we should give this a try for at least a year. At that time if it is felt the four-way stop is not working, then council can decide to go for one of the other big bucks solutions.
