Homecoming fit for Olympic medallist

Homecoming fit for Olympic medallist

Columns

By: Jim Thomas

Stouffville’s downtown came alive Saturday.

And it took a 27-year-old Olympic silver medallist to do it.

Diminutive Karen Cockburn, a trampoline specialist of unconceivable skill, was the guest of honour, accompanied by husband Mathieu Turgeon, two fire trucks, two police cruisers and a Cadillac Escalade.

“It’s great to be home,” Karen said. “I really appreciate the warm welcome and community’s support.”

The red carpet  reception was attended by local politicians and other dignitaries.

“You’ve made Whitchurch-Stouffville and all (of) Canada very proud,” Oak Ridges-Markham MP Lui Temelkovski said.

“Today, we celebrate determination, achievement and excellence,” town crier Marcel Bossi said, “a young lady who finds herself among a select few to have ever basked in the glory of three consecutive Olympic games.”

Mayor Wayne Emmerson presented Karen with a certificate of appreciation and a history book of Stouffville. To enthusiastic applause, the mayor declared Sept. 13 Karen Cockburn Day.

Stouffville artist John Roberts added a timely touch to the ceremony, presenting Karen with a colour sketch.

A ‘Way to Go Karen’ banner, with names attached, was held front and centre by students of Stouffville’s Christian School.

Later, Karen and Mathieu autographed hundreds of cards for long lineups of  adults and children.

Harmony in house

The 156-year-old Altona Mennonite Meeting House was filled to capacity Sunday  for the annual commemorative service at Sideline 30 and the Pickering-Uxbridge townline just east of Stouffville.

Special music for the occasion was provided by the Rouge Valley quartet comprising Quinton Newfeldt, John Harder, Hugh Laurence and Paul Reesor along with sisters Clara and Anndee Hoover. Pieter Neimeyer of Rouge Valley Mennonite Church was the guest speaker.

Ron Brownsberger described  the extensive work completed this summer in an effort to preserve the landmark.

Trustee Susan Cogar said two tour groups visited the site, checking family records from cemetery stones. Other board members include Larry Cogar, Graham Fretz, Lisa Nighswander and Ron Brownsberger.

The hymn-sing, all a cappella, was led by Eldon Fretz. The strains of four-part harmony were undoubtedly sufficient to stir the spirits of Abram and Esther Stouffer, Stouffville’s founding family.

Bowling, anyone?

While participation isn’t on a par with softball, hockey and soccer, bowling is a vital form of recreation for many people here.

The closing of the Stouffville Bowling Centre last spring has created a vacuum that, for some, can’t be filled by other sports.

With the town proceeding with plans to build a new fire hall on Weldon Road, why not transform the Main Street fire station site into a bowling facility?

The structure is all on one level and the size would appear to be a perfect fit. Something to think about.

While on the subject of fire halls, is town council prepared to provide seniors at Parkview Home and Parkview Village, who will live across from the new hall, with earplugs?

Main St. crawl

Why, I ask, do weekday commuters and weekend vacationers continue to clog Main Street during re-construction when alternate routes are available?

Bumper-to-bumper traffic travels at a snail’s pace every morning, afternoon and Saturdays and Sundays despite the fact it’s clear-sailing along Hoover Park Drive and Millard Street. While improved signing might help, undoubtedly old habits die hard.

At the same time, a tip of the hat to Main Street construction personnel. Never have I seen employees so dedicated, often starting at 7 a.m. and working 12-hour shifts.

And committed to the personal interests and safety of the traveling public also. Attending PR school must have been a pre-requisite before filing applications.

Fair sounding good

Vocalist Susan Brown is coming to Markham Fair. The New Brunswick native who, in but a few short years, has captured the hearts of music-lovers everywhere, will appear in concert Oct. 3 from 2 to 3 p.m.
 
Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 50 years.
 

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