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.
Carved in stone
If you saw the photos of the destruction of the beautiful granite bench in Udora last week and didn't experience a real sick feeling, then you either are not a compassionate person, or you are one of the culprits who caused the senseless destruction. Not being close to the project, I can only imagine how the people of Udora must feel at this time.
I chatted with a couple of World War II vets the other day. One of them said, “Harry, I haven't felt right all day after reading that news report. I am starting to think that I am fortunate that I won't be around for the next generation.”
How sad, coming from one who risked his life so that Canada would always be great place to call home and a country to be proud of.
Destruction such as this and graffiti have become a plague, not just in our community but around the world, and no one seems to have the answer of how to stop it.
A few years ago a neighbour in Ottawa lost a young daughter to cancer and received permission to install a memorial bench alongside the Rideau Canal south of the University of Ottawa. He and I discussed the project and I mentioned several benches I had seen. Then he said something that I thought was brilliant on his part.
“I am going to bring in a huge block of granite and have it cut in the shape of a bench with the memorial engraved on the backrest. I have seen what these imbeciles can do to normal benches and I will not allow that to happen to my daughter.”
He did just that, and the memorial has been in place for a long time. I recently walked by and the granite bench looks as good as the day it was installed. This father went to the extreme and spent a lot of money but, sadly, if we want to have things that last, it is the way to go.
Hopefully the good people of Udora will come up with another plan to recognize the good works of Rudy Karjama and, hopefully, the culprits will be caught and receive the penalty they deserve.
--------------------------------
Always great when someone takes the time to let us know that they had a wonderful experience visiting our hometown. Such was the case when an e-mail arrived at the Uxbridge Legion on July 28 from Randy and Cathy MacKenzie who had attended the third annual RibFest. It went like this…..
“On Saturday, July 14 my husband and I, together with another couple, attended your RibFest in Elgin Park. At this time I wanted to let you know how much we all enjoyed our day. While the friends who accompanied us have attended a number of ribfests over the years, this was the first for my husband and I. We found the park to be beautiful, the entertainment outstanding and the food (and drink) to be delicious.
But without a doubt what impressed us most were the friendly volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event such a wonderful success. Also thought you would like to know that our friends, the well-seasoned ribfesters, claim this was the best ribfest they have ever been to. Kudos to all and see you in July 2011.”
Thanks to the MacKenzies for taking the time to send this letter. There were 96 Legion members, young and old, who gave up an entire weekend to make sure this event ran like clockwork and it is great to see them receive this kind of praise. It is well deserved. ------------------
I'm sure there are many families in our community with youngsters who would like to know more about the game of golf, and at the same time are itching to get the skates on and hit the ice. If so, then you should know there are two golf/hockey academies coming up organized by the folks at Foxbridge Golf Club.
The August 16 clinic is full but there are still a few openings for the week of August 23rd. The clinics run for five days, and feature morning golf lessons followed by a swim at Uxpool to cool off. In the afternoon there is a full hockey drill at the Uxbridge Arena. If you would like to have your child, or grandchild, take advantage of this or would like more information give Tim Evans a call at 905-852-7962.
