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.
We need a gravy station
For some reason the Township of Uxbridge, for years, has never been favoured with a flood of money from the federal government in Ottawa. Although we have had some good representatives, present member Bev Oda included, the big bucks that go to other ridings never seem to filter down to our community.
An example was a recent report that over the past two years since Tony Clement won the Liberal-held riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka, the federal Tories have sent close to $100 million into that riding for a variety of projects. Since Clement won the riding in 2006, Ottawa has tapped every funding program available to shower the 90,000 residents with cash.
The report listed a number of projects that received federal funds, from a low of $22,500 for the village of Sundridge to develop an economic plan to $5.2 million for dorms for the Bracebridge campus of Nipissing University. The project that caught my eye was $2.1 million for a fire hall, a sports park and other projects in Huntsville.
This hit home, as this is exactly what we have before council at the present time. We need a new fire hall, and the costs to develop the former Kennedy House property are top of mind with council members and staff as they battle budget restrictions and try to make the best decisions possible to accomplish this without wasting our hard-earned tax dollars.
The Liberals are accusing the Conservatives of exercising pork barrel politics and, although the Conservatives vehemently deny these charges, to the taxpayer there seems no other answer for it.
A lot is under the guise of the G8 Conference. But Sundridge is 65 km from the summit site. Doubt very much that US President Obama is going to saunter into town and enjoy a hot dog under the new shelter in Lions Park.
Parliament is recessed for the summer, and members will have some free time for a few months. I suggest that our member Bev Oda spend some of that time discovering where the 'gravy train' is parked and make a reservation to have one of the train cars loaded with cash visit the Township of Uxbridge for a while. At least long enough to dump a few million dollars of this federal government largesse our way. It's long overdue. --------------------------
Attended the Graduation Ceremonies of McMaster University recently, a very proud occasion as I watched my beautiful goddaughter Nicole Parisien receive her Bachelor of Science and Kinesiology degree after years of dedication and hard work. An added bonus was making the Dean's Honours list in her final year.
Sitting there amongst a huge crowd of proud parents and friends, I couldn't help but realize that I was also witnessing a very rare happening.
No, it wasn't the graduation ceremonies. These have gone on ever since universities were started. It was the fact that the stage was loaded with a large number of the top brass of McMaster University, from the Chancellor to faculty members who make McMaster one of the top education facilities in Canada. What struck me as strange, but refreshing, was the fact that during the over two-hour ceremony, not one person on stage checked their Blackberry for messages.
A few years ago I would not have even thought of this. But as mobile phones have taken over the world, one can expect that even the most intimate moments in life will be disrupted by the urgent need to check the Blackberry for messages. At a recent dinner party I attended in a lovely restaurant in the Gatineaus, the conversation was flowing nicely until a guest arrived and was proud to show off his new Ipad. An 8x10 monstrosity, which is the latest gadget in the 'must have' category.
Within minutes the mobile phones came out, and one end of the table was having fun sending messages back and forth to see how the Ipad worked. Fortunately the guests at my end of the table were, like me, technology illiterate so we carried on with what is becoming a rarity - one on one conversation.
If it is like this now one has to wonder what it will be like in a few years. Will the art of one on one conversation be part of a 'things that were' exhibit in the Smithsonian Institute? Wouldn't be surprised.
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Members of the Uxbridge Legion are working hard with the huge organizing job for the annual Ribfest, which will be held July 16, 17 and 18 in Elgin Park. Things are falling into place for another fun, and mouth-watering event.
The ribbers have been booked. Uxbridge merchants and organizations have been booking space. The entertainment is well organized and the midway folks are ready to set up when the date arrives.
So I would suggest you mark your calendar now, invite family and friends and plan to enjoy another Uxbridge Ribfest hosted by the Uxbridge Legion.
