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.
Not here, please
With an election coming up this fall the many candidates will find, some to their disappointment, that whether they like it or not, voters will have their say. In any race there are winners and there are losers. That is the norm and anyone entering the race fully realizes that the outcome is out of his or her hands once the votes are being cast and counted.
But let's hope what happened to Barbara Rock, the incumbent mayor in Tracy City, Tennessee, would never happen in our community.
Her challenger was Carl Robin Geary, who rolled to a lopsided victory by polling 268 votes to Rock's 85. The overwhelming defeat was not the biggest embarrassment for Rock; it was the fact that Mr. Geary had died five weeks before the election, and his demise was well known throughout the community.
While Mr. Geary didn't breathe long enough to savor the thrill of being elected mayor, his earthly demise will minimize the risk that he will break any campaign promises.
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Uxbridge residents have always been proud of their veterans from both World Wars and the pride grew when, after the end of World War I, Branch 170 of the Royal Canadian Legion was established in Uxbridge.
It was 80 years ago that the doors of the Legion opened to veterans and their wives, and this Sunday afternoon a ceremony is planned to mark this auspicious occasion.
Over the years there have been many changes. A major one came when membership was opened to the sons and daughters of veterans and later to those who were interested in furthering the aims and objects of the Legion. These were known as Fraternal Affiliates. And today the Uxbridge Legion is proud to have a large number of active veterans and a total membership of over 600. While other Legions across the country are suffering, the Uxbridge Legion, under the leadership of President Jack Ballinger, his executive and an interested and hard-working membership, continues to grow and prosper.
To mark this important milestone, there will be a parade starting at 4 p.m. from the Legion Hall, along Franklin St. to Reach Street to the Memorial Park on Main Street where special ceremonies will be held. Everyone is invited to attend, and motorists are advised that Main Street will be closed between Mill and Bell Streets from 4 to 5 p.m.
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Here's an interesting day excursion that you may be interested in joining, especially if you speak French and want a chance to practice.
The Chamber Choir is hosting French-speaking visitors, and they have planned an interesting one day tour which includes a 3 1/2 hr boat cruise on The Georgian Queen out of Penetanguishene to Millionaire's Row with a buffet lunch on board. There will also be a tour of Ste. Marie Among the Hurons and a stop at the Martyr's Shrine.
Cost of the tour day is $75 each and the bus leaves Haugen's in Manchester at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31. The tour will be returning to Haugen's Chicken BBQ by 7:30 p.m. where a late supper will be available (cost extra) at that time.
If you would like to be part of this fun day with Chamber Choir members and their French guests call Ruth Wade at 852-4401 to book a seat before Sat. May 29th.
You can also hear the Chamber Choir sing on Sunday, May 30th at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Anglican Church in The French Connection. See the advertisement on page 8 for details.
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Maybe someone could give me a reasonable explanation of how gas prices are determined across the province, because I am puzzled how the pump price can vary by as much as 6c a litre over a span of very few kilometres.
Driving back from Ottawa Saturday morning I needed a fill and stopped just east of Peterborough. Pump price was 89.5c a litre, which was a pleasant change from what I had been paying.
Continuing my journey, I wondered what the price would be in Uxbridge. Needless to say I was more than a bit shocked to see the pump price along Toronto Street was 95.5c litre. There has to be a reason for this large discrepancy, but darned if I can come up with an answer.
