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.
Down the sink
Wildlife plays an important role in the makeup of this great country - Canada. I don't think many people would disagree with that statement. However, some residents go overboard in trying to protect wildlife at the expense of the welfare and wellbeing of the human race. Recent activities in Oshawa are a good example of this.
At a cost of over $3 million an overflow pond was created to avoid serious flooding to nearby properties and homes. This was a well-engineered facility, and a project which worked well. That was until a family of beavers came along and decided it was an excellent location to build a dam. Construction started which apparently was ignored by the authorities and, before long, the beavers were established and soon moved relatives in, and a small beaver community was established.
Wasn't long until the well-constructed dam meant the drainage system, which the project was designed for in the first place, no longer worked and something had to be done. The solution seemed simple - get rid of the beavers and destroy the dam.
No way, said a large group of wildlife activists. The beavers had squatter's rights and deserved to stay. They held demonstrations, which councillors ignored, and plans were made to correct the situation. Translated - get rid of the beavers.
This further irritated the protesters, who then rallied the forces and took a mass protest to the council chambers. Confronted with this, councillors who at first said no, caved in and the beavers will be allowed to stay.
Now plans are in progress to come up with another costly solution to the drainage problem and, because of a half dozen or so beavers, the taxpayers will be faced with another multi-million dollar tax bill.
To me there would have been no harm to trap the beavers, transport them up north for deposit in the wilds where they belong, allowing the drainage project to operate as planned for the protection of property.
Also one has to ask what role the works department played in allowing the beavers to establish a dam in the first place? Beaver dams are not constructed overnight, and a bit of vigilance on the part of the municipal workers could have nipped this in the bud.
Now because of this, taxpayers will be on the hook for more millions of dollars. Hopefully, one of these days, protesters will use some common sense in these matters and councillors will realize it is not their money they are wasting when they refuse to say 'no'.
But taxpayers be ‘dammed’ when elected officials see all those possible lost votes.
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Among the many jewels in Uxbridge Township one would have to rank the beautiful Elgin Park near the top. This well-treed property is often taken for granted by residents, and it takes visitors to remind us to be thankful.
The past two weekends I spent a lot of time working in Elgin Park, first with the Legion Ribfest and this past weekend with the Highlands of Durham Games. Both events were very successful and drew huge crowds of visitors to our community. It is these visitors who remind us of the beauty of Elgin Park and how lucky we are to have this gem at our doorsteps.
No one doubts the beauty of the park but many, like myself, who were born and raised in Uxbridge, are sad that the pond is no longer the local 'swimming hole'. The pond was the gathering place for residents and, on weekends, the west side was jammed with young and old enjoying a dip in the crystal-clear spring-fed waters of Elgin Pond.
Pollution has unfortunately taken over and now the pond is shallow and jammed with weeds, the shoreline covered in geese droppings and swimming is a no-no.
Times change but not always for the better. ----------------------------
For years we always thought of Udora as an attractive, sleepy little community just north of Uxbridge on the border with Georgina Township. That has all changed, and there are now activities galore
On the weekend I was handed a brochure telling all about the International Music and Art Festival coming up on August 28 and 29 called JK Jazz 2010. The festival will feature continuous performances by a long list of world-renowned performers, as well as an art exhibit and sale and silent auctions. Lots more, which you can discover on their web site www.jkjazz.ca.
Udora sounds like the place to be on August 28 and 29.
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If you see Richard Fintelman walking around these days with a wee tear in his eye, it is because he had to hand me $20 when his prized Netherlands team lost the World Cup of Soccer. Parting with money can often be tough for some Dutchmen, but also part of the wager was that he would name one of his prize foals after me.
Instead he informed me he named a prize bull instead. Since this bull is considered valued breeding stock, I took this as a compliment. That is, until one of my friends told me it was because that is what I 'shoot' most of the time.
Who needs enemies?
