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.
Pistol packing south of the border
For many years it's been a well-known fact that our American friends have a major love affair with guns. They guard the right to bear arms with ferocity and anyone who makes a move to take this right away from them better be prepared for a major fight.
This gun-loving attitude is foreign to most Canadians who have never had a love affair with guns, and I'm sure you would be hard pressed to find a firearm in the majority of Canadian homes. Maybe this attitude is the reason that we have few, if any, murders in most Canadian communities although, in recent years, there has been major concern at the rising number of shootings in some large Canadian cities.
Recently the American love of weapons came to light in a big way when a Cable TV company here in Florida made an interesting offer in an advertisement appearing in newspapers and on TV. Those who took out a new subscription to their cable service, or renewed their present contract, would receive a free shotgun. This probably meant little to local residents but as a Canadian, it was shocking and I had to take a second look to make sure I was reading the ad right.
But there it was in black and white, and although we love our neighbours to the south, we often have a hard time understanding why they are the way they are. -------------------------
Pistol packing Momma!!!!
Speaking of the use of guns getting out of whack, here is a classic example. A 96-year-old woman in Florida took a fancy to a 66-year-old bachelor who lived next door and visited her often to make sure she was okay. On the last visit the old gal got a bit amorous, made a couple of advances and when the neighbour shunned her, she whipped out her pistol and shot him in the legs.
This has not just caused severe pain for her neighbour but a dilemma for the authorities. What do you do with this old gal? Send her to jail? Maybe the Judge could give her 10 years or a life sentence - whichever is the lesser. -------
Mentioned in a recent column about the wonderful work that Rev. Bill Fritz and a group of volunteers were doing with handicapped people in Uxbridge and surrounding communities. These people who face many challenges that you and I can only imagine gather regularly at Trinity United Church for fun, fellowship and learning.
Members of the community are always welcome to drop in for a visit to see what this program is all about and, often, to help this project along. And now everyone has an opportunity to see firsthand these people in action as you are invited to attend the Handicapable Talent Show on May 15 in the auditorium at Trinity United Church. It runs from 3 to 5 p.m. and no ticket is required as there is no charge for the event, but there will be a “free will” offering to raise a few dollars for this great community project.
The group will be demonstrating their talents in music, drama, poetry and crafts with strong passion and much love in their hearts.
The progress of these people is thanks to their seemingly unstoppable leader, Rev. Dr. Bill Fritz, and his assistants Betty Catherwood, Tracy Karkheck, Dianne Morris, Nairn Robertson and Nancy Wood along with some others who assist from time to time.
Needless to say they are extremely proud of all their accomplishments and they look forward to an enthusiastic crowd to support this wonderful group. So how about packing the auditorium and cheering these people on. Believe me, seeing the efforts they put into everything they do and what they have accomplished through this program will give you a bigger boost than it does the performers.
If you would like to know more call Dianne Morris at 905-852-6213.
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Interesting last week to have Ted Barris mention the huge cannon that was built in Barbados many years ago by Canadian Gerald Bull, a professor at McGill University. The remnants of the cannon can still be found in Barbados although many years of neglect in the salt air from the Atlantic Ocean have done a lot of damage.
I wasn't aware of this project, or had ever seen the cannon, until our walking club, the Hash House Harriers, took one of their weekly walks along the south coast of the island.
A fellow walker explained why the cannon was erected and the plans that Bull had for this monstrous gun. It was rumored around the island that he was eccentric and he figured his gun could put a man on the moon one day.
Residents of the island just call it the 'big gun' if you can get one of them to talk about it. When you land in Barbados take a look out the right side of the plane. You will see the large Police Academy including a shooting range. A short walk along a small path down the hill behind the Academy and you can catch a glimpse of this huge gun or at least what's left of it.
It may be rusty and crumbling but, as Ted explained, it is another excellent example of Canadian ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Something our country has become famous for.
