Harry Oct 1, 2009
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.
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Our town doing just fine
“Wow! Brock Street Open!” That was the flashing message that greeted everyone using the Brock St. entrance to Uxbridge this week. And what a wonderful greeting it was.
Although there is still some cosmetic and landscaping work to be carried out, the street has a smooth coat of asphalt, wide sidewalks and traffic can move about without annoying detours and no access to Brock Street. And it is open ahead of schedule with the contractors, and their workers, receiving praise from all the business people and residents who live above the Brock Street buildings.
When all the planter boxes are complete and the Rutledge family has the attractive clock installed at the corner of Brock St. and Church St., we will have a downtown we can be proud of and pleased to visit.
Another plus. The street is ready in time for the Halloween Parade that is being organized again this year - a popular event in 2008. So start working on your 'scary' float and plan to be part of the first celebration making use of our new Brock Street.
We suffered a lot of inconvenience and a lot of mess and dust, but I'm sure everyone will agree the finished product is well worth it.
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Trail Capital Of Canada! That sure has a nice ring to it and we should all be proud of the national recognition of this wonderful accomplishment for our community.
Seems to me I heard the figure of 5.9 kilometres being mentioned as the amount of trails we have wending through our community. I have walked a few of them and will eventually experience them all.
On Saturday morning, into early afternoon, there will be a party in Elgin Park (including free food!) to recognize the hard-working volunteers who made this happen and to celebrate the national recognition of Uxbridge Trails.
Everyone is invited to attend. Hope to see you there.
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Who says there is nothing to do in a small town?
We have been enjoying the ongoing activities of the Celebration of The Arts, which started September 17, is going strong and will do so right through to October 11.
But let's just use this coming Saturday as an example of what life in Uxbridge is all about.
Start at the Roxy Theatre Saturday at 9 a.m. and enjoy some classic and new cartoons from the National Film Board. At 10:30, head to Elgin Park for the Trails of Canada celebration mentioned above. Then at 12.30 move to St. Paul's Anglican Church and enjoy an hour of “Duets”, four vocalists who will provide a pleasing mix-and-match repertoire.
After that, you could take the 2:30 Teddy Bear Train to Stouffville, a great heritage ride on the rails through the beautiful fall colours of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
And you still have the evening free to enjoy dinner in one of our fine dining spots. Tired yet?
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A large number of Uxbridge residents took part in the Canadian Cancer Society 'Relay For Life' this summer at the Sunderland Fair Grounds.
Well, you'll be pleased to know that through your efforts $178,226 was raised to help fund research in the battle to get rid of this dread disease. Over and over it was heard that the Sunderland Fair Grounds are the ideal spot to hold this event. Plenty of space with a short walking track and all facilities available in a very compact layout.
So you will be pleased to know that the 2010 Relay For Life will again be held at the Sunderland Fair Grounds. Mark your calendar, it will be held June 25 and 26, 2010.
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A tip of the hat this week to Mike and Tania Venedam, owners of Grangeways Trailer Park who saw an opportunity to do a good deed and did it.
When they read in the 'Stew' that Councillor Jack Ballinger had taken on the huge job of painting the fence in front of Kennedy House and needed help, they rallied to the cause.
Along with two of their employees they joined Jack at the job site and within a few hours the painting of the fence was completed. Not only that, when the fence was finished they moved over to the Legion and did a great job of doing a thorough cleaning of the Legion parking lot.
Thanks for this, Mike and Tania. It is wonderful to know that there are still many residents on the 3rd Concession with a positive attitude toward their chosen community.
