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.
Welcome to the commuity
Along with the majority of Canadians I am pleased to see the end of the Torri Stafford murder trial. If we thought it was a gruelling experience, just imagine how it must have been for the family to relive the horror that their beautiful daughter suffered. As right thinking Canadians it is hard to believe that there are people walking among us who are so sick-minded that they get their kicks from these types of sickening acts.
Sadly, it is a fact of life that this will not be the last of this type of crime. It has gone on since time began. Since we can’t control these very sick people there are many Canadians who feel that, in these cases, the death penalty should be reinstated. Prison life for them is not all bad and, in some cases, it is pretty good. In fact, didn’t Karla Holmoka manage to get a college degree while serving time following her killing spree along with Paul Bernardo? All paid for with our tax dollars. This must be hard to take for the parents of the victims as well as parents who make huge financial sacrifices to put their kids through college.
The old saying “crime doesn’t pay” sure doesn’t apply in our society these days. In Holmoka’s case it paid very well and she is free to walk among us today. Taking a life for a life is not popular with a lot of people but, when you see what happened to little Torri, turning the other cheek does not sit well either. Since we can’t change the law let’s be thankful that these two are locked away for many, many years.
------------------- The hard-working volunteers of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society are excited about the coming summer season and so they should be. Their latest bulletin lays out another full season of events which you will not want to miss. The events kicked off on May 12 with the Home and Garden Sale and the planned Wednesday Teas will feature a variety of programs. Two events to make note of are “Maud of Leaskdale” featuring the talented Jennifer Carroll in her one-woman show - Jennifer will perform every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from June 28 through September 2nd - and Uxbridge optometrist, Dr. Vi Ti Banh, telling the harrowing experience of the Vietnamese “boat people” and how they were welcomed into the community of Uxbridge.
Want to know more of what to expect at the historic Leaskdale Church and the manse this summer? Call 905-904-0977 or check their web site lucymaudmontgomery.ca.
--------------------- The Jumpstart program currently going on at Canadian Tire is a most worthy project and deserves your support. The program asks that you donate $2.00 (I suppose more if you are so inclined) that helps local kids in financial need get more active in the community. 100% of the funds raised at the Uxbridge store remain right here to help the kids of Uxbridge participate in a variety of events available for them in Uxbridge. And, during these times, there are a lot of kids who can use some help to be able to take part in the large choice of community activities our young people enjoy. There are also other prizes up for grabs after you make your donation. You can get all the details at the store. Hope they can count on your support.
---------------------- Sure felt sad when I learned that one of my favourite friends, Doug Irvine, had died – at the young age of 42. Doug was not dealt a good hand when he was born with Spina Bifida. But this did not stop him from living a full and active life and he was always the first in line to support a worthy cause in our community, even though he was confined to a motorized handicapped buggy for most of his years. Recall fondly getting calls from Doug when our committee was busy organizing events for the Library, 2nd ice pad, Spring Water Days, etc. I can still hear his voice, “How can I help, Harry? I can work at the gates or help organize the car parking. Just let me know”.
Despite his handicap he would be at the arena announcing minor hockey games or figure skating. He wrote ‘Tigers Eye’ for the Times-Journal and also did volunteer work in Oshawa. He also had a stint of working for the Toronto Metro Police Dept. There was nothing he wouldn’t tackle. No one was happier than me when I learned that Doug won the Ontario Junior Citizen of Year Award in 1983. Doug was an inspiration to everyone who passed his way and an excellent example of a person doing their best regardless of what was thrown their way during life. Doug’s glass was always half full and I never saw him when he wasn’t in a happy mood. Damn, I’m going to miss him.
------------------ Hard to imagine what Pope Benedict was thinking when he chastised American nuns for being more concerned about poverty and social justice issues than with abortion and gay marriage. Eyes rolled among nuns and many others at this attitude and pointed out that the Bible has a lot to say about poverty and the poor while it is hard to find any reference to homosexuality or abortion. But nuns have sacrificed themselves around the world such as Biafra where they ran hospitals and refusing to flee when other religions were running for cover. And that’s the way they like it and want to continue along that path.
Nuns are very strong and can be a crusty bunch. There is the story of a Mother Superior in Greece who asked the bishop if she could send two nuns to teach a literary project in a very poor area. The bishop refused and the Mother Superior explained that she could not disobey an order from a bishop. So she sent three sisters. Homosexuality and gay marriage are playing a major role in the presidential race in the U.S. and I have a feeling that the nuns will find a way to continue their wonderful work with the poor and sidestep politics, the abortion issue and gay marriage controversy. Good for them.
