Justin’s Newsletter: August 2024
Justin’s Newsletter: August 2024
Vol. 4, Issue 8
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What’s Up With Me
My heart is full. I’ve just returned from a trip to the Mother Land—Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was my first time back to Ireland in exactly 20 years, and my first time ever to Northern Ireland (occupied land). We went to Dublin, Cork, Blarney, Galway, Athlone, Belfast, Giants Causeway, and much more (west, east, south, and north). In Dublin, I visited the houses where my grandparents grew up and the grave of my great grandparents in Glasnevin Cemetery. What a beautiful island. We were particularly surprised by how beautiful Belfast and the north are. I loved seeing the peace walls of West Belfast, the Falls Road, the Shankill Road (creepy), Millstown Cemetery where loyalists attacked an IRA funeral, Sinn Féin’s headquarters and bookshop, the Solidarity Wall, the Bobby Sands mural, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Irish Republican History Museum, and more. So much bloody and recent history. On that note, go see “Kneecap,” the semi-autobiographical movie about the Irish rap group of the same name. It’s the best film I’ve seen all year. It is so good and so funny, and what they’ve done for Irish culture and language is so important. Read more by Rory Carroll here.
My heart is also heavy. My dear friend and mentor of nearly 20 years Kevin Uhrich passed away last weekend at age 65. He was an award-winning journalist and long-time editor of the Pasadena Weekly from 1999-2020. He was a legend in Pasadena. He taught me everything I know about journalism and launched my career (along with countless other young journalists). He was one of a kind—they certainly don’t make ‘em like him anymore. As PW columnist Ellen Snortland aptly put it, he was a “hard-boiled, hard-drinking real old time editor straight out of central casting.” Everyone who interacted with him was richer for it. Kevin, thank you for your work, your words, and your mentorship. You deserved better. As you said in our last conversation together, it was fun while it lasted. You are sorely missed. I somehow always knew I’d be the one to write Kevin Uhrich’s obituary. Here it is, it’s a must-read. Also read stories by the ol’ PW gang: André Coleman and Carl Kozlowski. Other stories by Local News Pasadena and Pasadena Star-News. You can watch the Pasadena City Council honor Kevin at its August 26 meeting (including remarks by me and André) here, starting at the 6:00 mark. There will be a memorial for him at The 35er, a dive bar in Old Pasadena (12 E. Colorado Blvd.) where Kevin spent a small fortune, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, September 13. See you there.
Watch the latest episode of Pasadena Media's award-winning show "Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman," featuring an interview with Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin. Read more here.
Great Reads
Here are some recommendations for interesting books I’ve read recently:
Death In the House of Broken Hearts: The Story of the Fifty-Year-Old Unsolved Murder of Teenager Peggy Reber—Kevin Uhrich and Martha Shaak
Kevin labored over this book for at least a decade. He showed me earlier versions of the manuscript, from which I pulled much of the biographical and family history info that I included in my obituary of him. In later versions he took that out, so I’m so glad he gave that early draft to me years ago. The book has come a long way since then. Former PW arts editor Carl Kozlowski helped make this book possible, so thanks to Carl for his work on this. So glad Kevin was able to hold a copy of his published book before he passed. In memory of Kevin, get a copy of his book and give it a read.
A New Ireland: Politics, Peace, and Reconciliation—John Hume | Belfast Diary: War as a Way of Life—John Conroy | Falls Memories: A Belfast Life—Gerry Adams | There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History—Rory Carroll
John Hume and the Social Democratic and Labour Party fought for a non-violent solution to the Troubles in Northern Ireland for decades. His decision to negotiate with Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin, which was controversial at the time, paved the way for peace talks and the eventual Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which ended the Troubles. This book lays out his vision of a new Ireland that includes all traditions, religions, and identities, with everyone living together and respecting one another like other diverse democracies have been able to do. All well and good—next stop, however, must be the reunification of the island of Ireland. Three more Ireland-related books that I recommend: Belfast Diary, a harrowing examination of the Troubles by an American reporter who lived in Belfast in the 1980s; Falls Memories, in which Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams writes fondly of the history of the Falls Road in West Belfast, also up until the 1980s; and There Will Be Fire, about the IRA’s unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Thatcher in the 1980s by blowing up her hotel. I met with the author, Irish journalist Rory Carroll of The Guardian, in Dublin during our trip (he was also on my show, here). Great guy and excellent writer.
Spotlight on My Past Stories
In addition to my tribute to Kevin Uhrich, check out my story about how the Pasadena Weekly actually dates back all the way to 1929.
And read all of my journalism here.