I
Can’t BelIeve What they SaId
aBout lInColn
by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer
“And great joy will the event bring to the whole American people.”
What was that predicted event by a New Hampshire newspaper in August of 1864? Read on!
Every February during my elementary school years many decades later, there were three days in the month that came to mind, the 2nd, 12th, and 22nd, or, to be more specific, Groundhog’s Day,
and President Lincoln’s and President Washington’s birthdays. Those were the days before a President’s Day was initiated to honor all United States Presidents. To me those two Presidents were the best of them all, though I knew very little about them, and probably less about all other U.S. Presidents.
If I saw a picture of Washington or Lincoln I knew who they were and held them in high es -
See SMITH on 16
Laconia KofC Program
Sandy Newhall from the Humble Grunt Work organization of Center Harbor will be speaking at the Laconia Knights of Columbus/Holy Spirit Disabled Veterans meeting hall on Friday February 21st 10am to Noon. Humble Grunt Work mission is to recognize and honor those who have served, leaving no one behind. Their programs include Honor Flight, School to Honor, Veterans Only Parking and Humble House.
Any veteran, active mili-
tary personnel, or those wishing to learn more about the Humble Grunts Works Program are invited. The meeting hall is located at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 314 South Main St, Laconia. Parking is available at the rear of the building and access is via the rear door.
The China Model
To The Editor:
While the Western World ignores the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) enslavement and murder of Uighurs and Christians for their organs , the CCP plots to spread the “ China Model “or “ Chinese Wisdom” to gain world domination thru financial chicanery, industrial theft, military mobilization, “lawfare” and artificial intelligence!
The CCP uses legal systems and international organizations to accomplish military and political objectives including treaties and national laws. The CCP and the Supreme People’s Court of China believe that Chinese Communist local laws supersede all international law. The best example of Chinese legal hegemony is their asserted ownership over the East and South China Seas despite the national interest of Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines.
While these “lawfare” claims seem remote to Americans, Chinese financial chicanery and industrial theft strike much closer to home. The CCP purchased trillions of dollars U.S. debt. The CCP awaits a critical crisis point to destroy the U.S. dollar. President Trumps burden is to overcome this financial catastrophe Biden-Harris left.
In a stroke of geo-political genius, President Trump has explained to the Nation the importance of Greenland and the Panama Canal to the na-
tional security of the USA. Astonishingly, the Biden- Harris administration failed to inform the country that the CCP now manages the Panama Canal and restricts passage of our shipping thru the Canal. Greenland is the Panama Canal of the North, and Greenland has vast fisheries’ and “mineral wealth”.
Despite the Mainstream Medias’ caterwauling about Trump’s interest in Greenland , a brief search of Google reveals Secretary of State William Seward eyed Greenland and Iceland immediately after purchase of Alaska, named Seward’s folly. The Monroe Doctrine also secured Greenland and Iceland.
Trump’s policy protects our national security and the future of our grandchildren as Seward’s folly did!
Charles Bradley Laconia, NH.
Have Apes Become Humans Or Humans Become Apes?
To The Editor:
When hearing of the January 25th Nashua School Board members voting unanimously to replace opening prayer with a statement, I’m reminded of words of Longfellow’s poem: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep…” Obviously, each member, viewing prayer from the Secular Humanist World View, predominantly taught dur -
This newspaper was first published in 1883 by Mathew H. Calvert as Calvert’s Weirs Times and Tourists’ Gazette and continued until Mr. Calvert’s death in 1902. The new Weirs Times was reestablished in 1992 and strives to maintain the patriotic spirit of its predecessor as well as his devotion to the interests of Lake Winnipesaukee. Our newspaper’s masthead and the map of Lake Winnipesaukee in the center spread are elements in today’s paper which are taken from Calvert’s historic publication. Locally owned for 33 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories of the people
ing the 20th century. It’s no wonder nor should we be surprised that Christina Darling felt confused, this is what they have all been taught: “There is no God.”
The confusion is generational deception, starting with the late 19th century Friedrich Nietzsche’s,“God is Dead” quote, who blamed this on the erosion of the church- comparable to the same decline over the past century in our nation. Going back to the enlightened minds of that era , Marx and Darwin, planted seeds of devaluation of human life and collectivism. The God is dead movement,” in the 20th century has grew into democide of hundreds of millions of people. It is not by accident that for decades, the three basic tenets of Communism have been taught in many of our schools: “There’s no God, no innate right or wrong, and man is a graduate beast.” The perverted mindset denying a Creator has grown this darkness taught to generations of our youth resulting in too many we vote into office being confused about God and wanting to take his place because they don’t know who He is. So like computers, minds of each generation, programed in schools that God is so bad, children must not know Him because Jesus Christ is an enemy of the state. The programed mind will automatically be confused and uncomfortable about God. Perhaps you all should read See MAILBOAT on 20
and places that make New Hampshire the best place in the world to live. No, none of the daily grind news will be found in these pages, just the good stuff.
Published year round on Thursdays, we distribute 24,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 60,000 people reading this newspaper.
To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 603-366-8463.
SkI & SnoWShoe up Green MountaIn huBBard Brook experIMental ForeSt
During the night it snowed another four or five inches. I had already made up my mind that I was going to go out for a cross country ski and snowshoe adventure. The temperature was in the single digits but it was forecasted to be sunny and move up into the teens.
I had to repack my backpack for a colder winter day. I packed extra mittens and some chemical hand warmers. I added an extra jacket and some insulated warm up pants. For food I packed some granola bars that wouldn’t be too difficult to chew when frozen. I filled my thermos with a mix of coffee and hot chocolate. I packed my food and drinks so they would be next to my back to help keep them warm.
For skis I used my 70mm wide touring skis with the no wax fish scales underfoot. I shoved my snowshoes under the brain at the top of my pack.
I decided on tackling a peak that is ranked 224th on the NH Highest 300 list, Green Mountain elevation 2,762 feet. I last visited Green’s summit in the fall of 2016. Since Hubbard Brook Road is not plowed, instead of driving I would have to ski the uphill approach
You don’t know what you’ll find while snowshoeing in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. On the shoulder of Green Mountain, at elevation 2,500 feet and 7/10ths of a mile from the nearest forest road, I found this collection of rain gauges, antennas and a solar panel. The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest was established in 1955 by the USDA Forest Service. In this bowl-shaped valley consisting of nearly 8,000 acres is where acid rain was first discovered. The forest rests between Rte 118 and Route 3 in Woodstock and the summits of Green, Cushman and Kineo Mountains’ summits line its boundary.
to start my snowshoe bushwhack. Mirror Lake Road was in good condition and I was able to pull off the roadway near the beginning of Hubbard Brook Road. The wind was cold on my face as I put on my skis and shouldered
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Museum of the White Mountains Opens New Exhibit
The Museum of the White Mountains (MWM) has opened a new exhibit, “Silent Shifts: Evolving Winters in the White Mountains,” on display until March 29.
The exhibit was co-curated by MWM Director Meghan Doherty and New Hampshire-based photographer Joe Klementovich. According to Doherty, the exhibit explores how winters have changed in the last 150 years. Through displays that feature historical and contemporary winter recreation gear, graphs from climate science studies, and winter-related photography by Klementovich, the exhibit reveals the complex relationships between climate, technology, and access to the outdoors.
Since 1957, she said snowpack duration has also decreased by 31 days at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in Woodstock, New Hampshire. “As our winters get warmer and we experience more rain during the winter months, our opportunities to get outside and experience the joys of winter recreation are decreasing,” she added. “Getting out and enjoying the snow helps us remember the joys of winter and why it’s worth protecting.”
MWM is one of nearly two dozen NH Heritage Museum Trail member institutions. According to Trail President Jeff Barraclough, the new exhibit at MWM underscores the relevance of The Trail itself.
To learn more about the Museum of the White Mountains, including the “Silent Shifts: Evolving Winters in the White Mountains” exhibit, visit plymouth.edu/mwm.
In addition to the Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast. To learn more about The Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
Gut Fish Event At League Of NH Craftsmen
The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, Meredith Fine Craft Gallery invites you in to be caught into a captivating net of artistry at the upcoming Gut Fish Event. Dive into the world of aquaticinspired artistry with a showcase that brings together diverse works of art celebrating marine life. Featuring a stunning collection of glass fish sculp tures, pottery adorned with fish motifs, intricately crafted metal fish pieces, and unique fishing flies transformed into stylish pins and tie tacks.
Gut Fish Event features handcrafted glass fish sculptures by innovative jur ied glasswork artist Joe Forrestall who transforms delicate glass into stunning works of art that combine technical skill with artistic imagination. A mesmerizing display of creativity sets the hook with bait of colorful, shimmering scales of designs that evoke the beauty and fluidity of marine life and lets you cast off for pieces that push the boundaries of glass artistry.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries (6) - $18 (12) - $36
Mini Cannolis (6) - $13 (12) - $27
Mini Eclairs (6) - $13 (12) - $27
Mini Whoopie Pies (6) - $12 (12) - $24
Also showcased will be fish motif pottery by juried potters Elaine Fuller and David Ernster with beautifully designed pottery that incorporate fish themes, blending functionality with artistic expression in a myriad of species of vases, bowls, plates, and mugs.
Assortment of Cake Balls (12) - $24
Dessert Platter - $32 (4 Strawberries, 2 Cannolis, 2 Eclairs, 2 Whoopie Pies, 2 Sugar Cookies)
Decorated Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies (6) - $18
Juried metal and iron works artist Joe DeRobertis will tie the hook with metal sculptures and wall hangings capturing the natural habitat of fish, meticulously crafted to highlight texture and intricate detailing.
6" Valentine's Theme Cake of Your Choice - $25
• Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate with Raspberrry Filling, Buttercream
• Vanilla with Fresh Strawberry Center, Pastry Cream and
Be attracted by a unique collection of fishing fly pins and tie tacks by juried artist Larry Antonuk. Brilliant-colored fishing flies are reimagined as wearable art, from stylish pins to distinctive tie tacks, each piece telling a story of craftsmanship and nature.
• Whipped Cream Frosting (other options available, to be ordered)
ACONIA ILLAGE AKERYB
Last day to place orders will be the 11th. Pick up will be on the 13th or 14th from 7am-2pm.
660 Main Street, Laconia, NH • 603-527-1414 • laconiavillagebakery.com
Be reeled in by our Gut Fish Event which promises to be a bobbing-good catch of artistry, innovation, and connection to the myriad of fish that swim along. Float along with us as the line tightens to the beauty, craftsmanship, and magic inspired by the movement of the sea. For more information please call the Gallery at 603-279-7920 or visit their web site Meredith. nhcrafts.org. The League of NH Craftsmen Gallery is located at 279 DW Hwy. Meredith, NH.
StyLe In Thursday’s Laconia Daily Sun
9 N. Main – Downtown Wolfeboro 603-569-6159 | TheArtPlace.biz Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30am to 5pm Let
alentine’s Day is a time for ing the special person in life with various tokens of tion. Flowers, chocolates and jewelry often top the list of Valentine’s gifts. Anyone who has shopped for jewelry understands it can be a complicated endeavor, particularly when shopping for gold. As of December 2023, the for gold per ounce was $2,010.52 the gold price per gram was $64.64. According to the jewelry retailer Uverly, a 14K diamond cut solid gold necklace can range from 3.1 and up depending on the thickness and length. It’s not unheard of gold necklace to retail for around Shoppers who cannot afford that tag may wonder if there are any natives that can still inspire the gold. Gold-plated pieces may be attainable and affordable. Gold-plated
OOL
NEW HAMPSHIRE
a FaIry tale
Seems I caught the dreaded flu this week and couldn’t quite get it together in time for this column. Here is an ancient one from 2012.
Once upon a time, back in the early part of the 21st century, when global warming was all men knew, there was a significant lack of snow.
Some of the elders who sat in the sacred seats of the congress and senate in Washington, pleaded with their peers to invoke some of their magic legislation to do something about it.
It seemed that the merchants who depended on snow for their livelihood would soon cease to exist as it was apparent that one day, very soon, if mankind continued to drive cars, heat their homes with evil substances and use plastic straws to consume their beverages, no more flakes would ever fall from the sky and the world would be forever changed.
Some of the people cried about the unfairness of it all and marched by the thousands over hills and dales to the grand castle where the elders, the ones gifted with the magic power of legislation, to plead their case.
The sacred elders listened to the concerns of the peasants and decided to use the power of their magic legislation and, in a few short years, snow was falling again.
No one knew how the magic legislation worked, and few dared to ask. There were hints of gold and spices being given to the legislators to help calm the anger of their gods.
The world was saved.
But soon even the best laid plans of the legislators were overwhelmed. Things had changed direction too dramatically and now the world was experiencing
overwhelming record snowfalls.
So, once again, our brave elders took to the streets and podiums and railed once more again against man and his excesses. We had not listened to them or heeded their warnings, even after they had saved the planet once. We continued to drive our cars too much and heat our homes incorrectly and we had once again changed the planet.
So, the sacred elders in Washington once again realized it was up to them, and only them, to fight against the powerful forces of nature which only they knew how to control.
And again, their magic legislation was extraordinary as they, in the course of a mere year, changed the mighty course of nature and stopped the snow from falling.
Again, no one asked how.
The legislators decreed that global warming would now be called climate change and would mean that anytime the weather changed, the population would be blamed and punished accordingly with magic legislation.
Still, some commoners, the people, those without the magic powers of legislation, were confused.
Some had heard that it wasn’t the magic legislation at all that was responsible, but merely the way things were naturally. Some had whispered that such changes had happened before. The ancient centuries of the nineteenth and twentieth had seen such dramatic changes in weather without the interference of the magic legislation. Some had even suggested it had happened way before then as well.
For many this was blasphemy.
Many of the present generation, who have been told they are much wiser than their ancestors due to significant advances in science, were convinced that only man had the power to change the weather and that nature itself was no challenge to the powers of man. Those who believed that it was nature in control, were
shunned.
One day, some of the commoners decided to question the wisdom of the elders. This invoked the wrath of The Mighty Gore.
The Mighty Gore was a wonder to most, especially himself. He utilized the same supposed destructive sources of energy as the commoners but, being rich in carbon credits, he was able to live a life fuller and richer than others without harming the atmosphere.
It was magic powers that only a select few had a their fingertips.
When he heard of the audacity of the commoners he used his magic jet, the one that sprinkled pixie dust and damaged the atmosphere none, and flew from city to city to debunk the ignorance of the commoners.
Many were delighted by the actions of The Mighty Gore but some, still in defiance of the wisdom of the sacred legislators, continue to question.
Now we await the coming of the next change in climate. Will it be warm, will it be cold, will it precipitate, or will it stay dry?
We have been told by the elders that it will certainly be one of these and that whatever one it is, we will be held accountable, and we must do as they decree as they know best.
And we will all live unhappily ever after.
The End.
by Brendan Smith
Weirs Times Editor
endInG the taxpayerFunded Blue pIpelIne Elon Musk Should Take On Social Security
by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist
This week, a massive firefight broke out between Democrats and Team Trump over the White House takeover of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The USAID managed approximately $40 billion in fiscal year 2023; its original mandate, established under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, was to spread American influence across the globe through aid to various governmental and non-governmental organizations. Over time, however, USAID morphed into a piggy bank for a wide variety of international
The Panama Canal is back in the headlines after President Donald Trump raised political and security concerns over the future of the strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The heart of the President’s argument is that the Canal, built and paid for by the United States in the early 20th century is now coming under Chinese communist influence. Indeed twenty-five years after the United States transferred full control of the Canal to the Republic of Panama, there’s growing evidence of Chinese interests alongside the
organizations with agendas ranging from green energy policy to the spread of left-wing gender and racial politics.
President Donald Trump tasked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with taking charge of the agency for purposes of assessing possible cuts. When Musk’s team, including a variety of talented young men, entered the offices, they were barred from access to material by the heads of USAID; Trump fired those officials. Within days, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was made acting director of USAID, with the authority to implement recommended changes from DOGE.
And all hell broke loose.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Musk of
If I say that Elon Musk is the smartest, boldest, most creative entrepreneur in the world, I don’t think I will get pushback.
President Donald Trump’s move to bring him to Washington and put him at the top of a new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, to do the seemingly impossible -- to streamline a vastly outsized government spending behemoth -injects hope that yes, maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Musk, the world’s richest man, is not beholden to anyone, and so there is little danger of him getting
p ana M a C anal r hu MBa
strategic waterway.
Thus President Trump dispatched Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Panama to address the situation with the Panamanian leadership. According to the State Department, Secretary Rubio informed President José Raúl Mulino that “President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.”
Significantly Secretary Rubio “made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures
necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.” Tough talk indeed. But let’s face it, the 1977 Neutrality Treaty signed with Panama covers this very contingency and security concern.
Built largely during Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration between 1904 and 1914 the Canal across the narrow isthmus of Panama represented a superlative achievement of American engineering and technology which to this day serves as a major transit for safe trans-continental shipping. But back in the 1970’s after long and acrimonious negotiations between the United States and Panama, the Carter Administration agreed to ceding control of the Canal and the adjoining Canal Zone, a security buffer along both sides of the wa-
bogged down and imprisoned in the Washington culture of politics and quid pro quo.
He can stand above it all and turn the Titanic around before it hits the iceberg for which it’s clearly headed. There’s a lot of talk that almost 75% of the federal budget is untouchable, mandatory spending. The top of that list is the largest, and oldest, entitlement program, Social Security -- 21% of federal spending. Short of passing a law to change it, it is on automatic pilot.
After reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, I see him as uniquely qualified to lead an historic, essential transformation of Social Security.
When Trump noted, in his inauSee PARKER on 18
terway, to the Republic of Panama.
Though Jimmy Carter and Panama’s stereotypical strongman leader Col. Omar Torrijos decided on a deal, the formal treaties had to be ratified by the U.S. Senate as per Constitutional mandate. Importantly the Neutrality Treaty , stated that the United States could use its military to defend the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality , and equally allowed perpetual U.S. usage of the Canal. This first Treaty remains the crux of the argument and contemporary concerns about Chinese communist inroads around the waterway. Chinese companies’ operations near the Panama Canal, including a Hong Kong-based firm operating two ports, at each end of the water-
See SHAPIRO on 20
by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist
by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist
This series of Letters From God is an attempt to put the thoughts of God as revealed in the Scriptures as they relate to individuals and the nation of the USA.
Letters From God Letters From God
QUESTION
What Would Be The One Thing That Would Enhance My Life?
Life is so complicated and requires so many resources to live life to its fullest. To reduce it to one thing, that takes care of all your needs, would make life much simpler. Fortunately, there is one thing and that is me. I made you. Before I made you, I made the Heavens in all their vastness and the earth and everything in it. I did it all simply by speaking (Genesis 1, 2). I know what is best for you and actually have at my disposal all the resources you would ever need for this life and the next (Philippians 4:19). All you need to do is trust me.
King David discovered that I am “the pearl of great price” for which, if you sell everything to possess my resources, I will provide every one of your needs (Matthew 13:45,46). David wrote a song that I included in my book, the Bible. It was the 27th song of 150 that he composed and I preserved, so others could learn from his experience. At the time of his writing this song, his particular need was security. His life was being threatened. “Evil men” and “enemies”
tried to kill him (:2). At more than one-point, entire Armies sought to take his life. Despite those overwhelming odds, David would survive every attempt on his life and die an old man in his sleep. Nothing touched him. Not only that but also David was so confident that he would survive every threat against him, he never worried. He said, “whom shall I fear” (:1) and “my heart will not fear.” (:3) Even when an Army attacked him, he would say, “even then will I be confident,” (:3) In fact, before he concluded his song he said, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (:13) How was this possible? It was because he discovered and trusted me, and when he did, he was able to harness my supernatural resources that can and did overpower every human power. I became his “light” and “salvation.” (:1) I became his “stronghold” that made him invincible until it was time to call him home (:1). Listen to David’s own words that revealed that he had found me. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (:4) David realized that if he would pursue me and enter a relationship in which he would trust me, he would have everything else. This is what I told Matthew in
the book named after him in the New Testament, “Seek first his (my) kingdom and his (my) righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33).
“These things” in the context were practical things like food, shelter and clothing. Whether it is security from evil people who try to kill you or basic human needs or anything else, I will provide them for you, if you trust in me. David’s passion was to be with me and to rely upon me above anything else in life.
The heart is the core of every man or woman. It reveals your passions to which you will dedicate your life because they “grab your heart.” Listen to David’s heart when he said, “My heart says of you ‘Seek, his face!’ Your face, LORD I will seek. Seeking my “face” is seeking me, my blessings and my resources for life.
David realized that I am a faithful Father who will never let him down and will always be there for him. In :10 he said, “though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Could you imagine having this resource from me in times of trouble or danger. Could you imagine having my resources for every need you will ever face. I created you and love you and have always desired to provide for and bless my children. The problem, however, is that you have turned away from me and sought life apart from me, the
author of life. In this condition you are on that treadmill that will never stop and will always let you down. In fact, all of you will die one day and be unable to see the “goodness of the LORD in the land of the living,” (:13) because only I have the temporal and eternal resources for “life.”
David concluded his song with these words, in which he was appealing to you and all who would read his words, to follow him. He said, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” To “wait” is to trust and rely on me. If you desire to make me the “One thing,” you must begin by asking my son, Jesus, your Messiah, to pay your debt for the sins you have committed and which, separate you from me, a Holy God. Trust him to pay that debt and to restore you to a relationship with me. Then, “Wait,” trust me for everything, and watch how I will provide for you as I did for David and all who have found the “One Thing.”
I love you, God
These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH
BIRDS For The
New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats
are you ready For the GBBC?
by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer
I’ve seen a ton of robins this winter. On several occasions, I’ve seen them in big numbers attacking bushes and trees and stripping them of fruit.
I’ll always remember the first time I saw this spectacle. It was more than 20 years ago, and I was a relatively new birder. I walked into the woods and the trees were alive with bird life. Birds were darting from tree to tree all around me.
I was finally able to focus on a few and discovered that they were all robins. I was surprised because, at the time, I still thought of robins as spring and summer birds in New England. They are the harbinger of spring, aren’t they?
Not exactly. Many robins stay in New England throughout winter. They just aren’t as noticeable in the winter. They aren’t hopping along every yard and field looking for worms like they are in the spring. They are scouring the woods looking for berries.
What also sticks out about that day is that it was during the Great Backyard Bird Count. It was one of my first times participating in the GBBC (maybe it was the first for all I remember), and I couldn’t believe I was going to enter 80 robins on my list. I wondered at the time whether the compilers
would even believe me.
It is a good memory of a past GBBC. Well, it’s almost time to make new memories, as the next GBBC is coming up February 14-17.
The GGBC is one of many bird counts that help draw a clearer picture of how bird populations are faring throughout the world.
The GBBC started as a rather modest North American venture, but it is now a worldwide phenomenon. Along with the Christmas Bird Count, the GBBC is one of the more popular counts. More than half a million people participated last year.
Unlike the Christmas Bird Count, which is done by teams of birders in specific areas, the GBBC can be done anywhere by anyone as long as it falls on that
long weekend. It is also free and easy to participate.
Here’s how easy it is: count birds (either in the field or looking out a window), keep track of the birds seen, and submit the results online. If you see three birds in 15 minutes of effort, great. If you see 100 birds in 10 hours, that’s great too. All data is valuable. Participants should count the species and number of each species.
There are no prizes for the most birds seen, and it is not designed to be competitive. But, by all means, if you and your friends or neighbors want to make a wager on who counts the most birds, go ahead. Or you can join forces with your friends or neighbors and go out birding together. Sub-
mit only one checklist per group.
Data may be submitted in a few different ways. It wasn’t long ago that lists could be mailed in, but the event has grown and technology has advanced to the point where all lists must be submitted online. Ebird users will have their lists automatically submitted for the GBBC during those days. Other users can visit www.birdcount.org and click on the “How to Participate” button.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited is the founding sponsor. Have fun out there. Let me know your highlights.
Cardinals are likely to be seen in high numbers during the Great Backyard Bird Count.
top honeyMoon deStInatIonS around the World
(Family Features) After all the planning and stress of a wedding, many newlyweds look forward to celebrating their union by taking the trip of a lifetime. With the honeymoon destination options nearly unlimited, however, choosing where to go on your post-wedding getaway can be more stressful than proposing or choosing the right venue to say “I do.”
To help newlyweds make the most of their first trip as a married couple, consider this guide to some of the most lavish honeymoon destinations across the globe.
Explore The The Maldives
Known for its stunning white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters and luxurious resorts, the Maldives is a tropical paradise located in the Indian Ocean. A perfect destination for couples looking for a romantic, lavish honeymoon experience, the Maldives offers a range of romantic activities for couples including sunset cruises, candlelit dinners on the beach, spa treatments and luxurious accommodations in private villas built on stilts above the ocean with direct access to breathtaking views, snorkeling and diving.
Adventure & Opulence
In South Africa From thrilling safa -
ris to world-class vineyards, South Africa offers a variety of experiences for couples looking for a unique honeymoon experience.
On safari, you can spot
lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos in their natural habitats and witness the beauty of African wildlife up close and personal. After an ex-
hilarating adventure, you can unwind at one of the luxurious lodges or tented camps before visiting the picturesque vineyards of the Cape
PHOTO COURTESY ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM
& Formalwear
Winelands, where you can enjoy some of the finest wines and gourmet dining in the world. Cultural Riches And Exquisite Comforts In Italy Rich in culture, history and exquisite com-
forts, Italy is a perfect honeymoon destination for couples who want to combine luxury and exploration. From the rolling hills of Tuscany – where you can indulge in wine tasting, visit medieval towns or take a cooking class to learn how to make authentic Italian dishes – to the picturesque Amalfi Coast, with its colorful cliffside villages, crystal clear waters and luxurious resorts, the country offers a diverse range of experiences. Plus, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Vatican City and the Grand Canal allows couples to immerse themselves in the rich history and art of the charming cities of Rome, Florence and Venice.
Indulge
In French Polynesia
A tropical paradise made up of 118 islands and atolls, French Polynesia is known for its overwater bungalows and azure waters. These luxurious accommodations are built on stilts above the lagoon, offering direct access to the crystal-clear waters. With the South Pacific’s
vibrant marine life and coral reefs, you can go on a snorkeling or diving adventure to explore the underwater world or take a boat or kayak tour to discover hidden lagoons and remote islands.
Private Island Seclusion In The Caribbean
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Almagra Barn At Waukewan Golf Club
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The function facility is an elegant post & beam barn, with a beautiful fieldstone fireplace and large dance floor. We are surrounded by majestic mountain views. It is a perfect place for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, business meetings and conferences or special occasions.
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You can put more into your 401(k) this year
Once you retire, you’ll likely need to draw on a variety of financial sources — and one of the most important ones may be your 401(k). And for 2025, you can put even more money into your plan than ever.
You can invest in your 401(k) in one of two ways, depending on your employer’s plan. With a traditional 401(k), you contribute pre-tax dollars, which can lower your taxable income, and your money can grow tax deferred. If you have a Roth 401(k) option, you can contribute after-tax dollars, which aren’t deductible, but your eventual withdrawals will be tax-free if you’ve had your account at least five years and you’re at least 59½.
For either a traditional or Roth 401(k), as well as similar plans such as a 457(b) (for government employees) or a 403(b) (for educators and employees of some nonprofit groups), the contribution limit has increased by $500 for 2025, to $23,500. If you're 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500, for a total of $31,000. And under the SECURE 2.0 legislation, if you are between 60 and 63, you have a higher catch-up contribution — $11,250, instead of $7,500, for a total of $34,750.
If you can afford to contribute the full amount to your 401(k) or similar plan, consider doing so. Of course, not everyone is in that position. If you’re a younger worker, you may well have other financial obligations, such as paying off student loans. And even if you’ve been in the workforce for a while, you may be putting away money for other things — such as your children’s education — as well as your own retirement. But even if you can’t “max out” on your 401(k), try to contribute at least enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if
one is offered.
Regardless of how much you contribute to your 401(k), consider these suggestions on managing the money within your plan:
• Create a portfolio that fits your risk tolerance. Most 401(k) plans offer up to a dozen investment options, while some plans offer many more. You obviously want to increase your 401(k) balance as much as possible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean putting all your 401(k) dollars into the most aggressive funds available. Instead, consider spreading your 401(k) contributions among a range of investments, which can help you lower your risk level while still giving you opportunities for long-term growth. Everyone’s risk tolerance is different, though, so you’ll want to evaluate yours when constructing your 401(k) portfolio.
• Adjust your portfolio as needed. It’s a good idea to review your 401(k)’s investment mix at least once a year to see if it’s performing as you’d hoped. But be patient — one “down” year doesn’t necessarily mean you must make changes. However, as you approach retirement, you may want to lower the risk level of your 401(k) by moving some of your dollars into more conservative vehicles. Still, even when you’re retired and have started drawing money from your 401(k), you might want to keep some growth potential in it to help you stay ahead of inflation.
By contributing what you can afford to your 401(k), and by carefully managing the investments within your plan, you can help maximize the value of this powerful retirement savings vehicle — and give yourself a key asset to help you enjoy your retirement years..
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.
Investing is about more than money.
At Edward Jones, we stop to ask you the question: “What’s important to you?” Without that insight and a real understanding of your goals, investing holds little meaning. Contact your Edward Jones financial advisor for a one-on-one appointment to discuss what’s really important: your goals.
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nicholas.trudel@edwardjones.com 28 Weirs Rd., Suite 1, Gilford, NH
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The Simple Feast
The Simple Feast Simple
by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer
The Simple ChICken. It’S What dInner… and lunCh… a nner.
I have been accused on more than one occasion of sounding “preachy” when writing on a topic that I feel passionate about. I have three words in response: “Guilty as charged.” And I make no apologies because saving money, bringing family to the table, and taking responsibility for one’s finances are all topics where my passions run deep. And yes, chicken too, is a passion. Not because I like chicken more than any other protein. HA! Not hardly! That would be far from the truth.
While I do like chicken dishes, I write about chicken because of its ability to feed the masses for comparatively less cost than other meats. Now, to be clear, I am not talking about boneless skinless chicken. Nor am I talking of prepared, breaded, infused, or mechanically pre-chewed frozen products. I am talking about a chicken, the whole chicken, and nothing but the chicken.
Stop and think about it, what other product
can provide so much for so little? Compared to other meat proteins chicken gives us so much more, dollar for dollar spent. I will use a recent experience to illustrate what many of you seasoned readers already know. That experience being, how to stretch a chicken in this economy. Yes the current economic times we are in. As much as I remain hopeful with a new administration, I also know that the inflationary times we are in will take some time to resolve.
So, what can you and I do? Well, first off, do not look toward the government to solve your problems. Rather
Them’s the facts, like it or not.
Remember the old saying “watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves”? Well, it is true. It means tend to those little amounts and they will add up to big savings. Obviously it was an idiom uttered back in the day when pennies and dollars were both worth more but the same holds true today. I admit, seldom will I ever pass by a penny on the pavement, reminding
we should gather our family around the dinner table because this is how and where solutions to life’s problems happen: at the dinner table. Only when people come together and talk and listen to each other can ideas be exchanged and problems begin to be solved. And yes, it starts at home. (Does anyone even sit down to the dinner table any more?) The solutions to our problems begin when you and your family and me and my family take control of our spending, get out of debt, live within our means, make do with what we have, and figure out ways to make our dollars work harder.
myself that with 99 more bends I will have a dollar and perhaps even be able to tighten my belt to the next hole. Well, the same could be said for a chicken. A nine pound roasting chicken in the hands of a frugal individual is like feeding a family of four at least three meals and then some. And here’s how you do it.
Your first meal is dinner, the big dollar spent. Roast Chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, a vegetable of choice and gravy. On a recent night my better half and I had the kids over for dinner.
nice dusting of flour and seasonings and a tin foil tent over the top into the oven it goes. Don’t forget to baste the bird! Basting can make a huge difference between a tender flavorful moist bird and one that is dry.
was made with bread scraps cut into cubes: some seeded bread ends, perhaps a bagel, some leftover hot dog buns. It all went into the mixer with a small diced onion, a stalk of celery, and a carrot, then seasoned with poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, and herbs. Add a little hot water to the mix, just enough to get it clumpy but not mushy and there you go.
Setting the oven to preheat at 375 degrees figure on about 20 minutes per pound. Stick a few cubes of butter under the skin at the breasts and “armpits”, stuff the bird, and pour about a cup of water into the roasting pan. With a
Subsequent meals: this is where you get your hands dirty, call it “picking up those pennies on the ground” and start saving some money. This, incidentally, is also where a lot of people decide to chuck the mess rather than exert a little effort and time. No one ever said saving money was easy, so get out a pair of disposable food safe gloves and start Chickin Pickin’! Get those pennies! I will usually clean up the chicken carcass the day after serving roast chicken, once it has had time to chill in the fridge. After the six of us finished the first meal there was still a significant amount of chicken left. Some leg, thigh, and breast meat totalling about a pound and a half of clean chunks of meat. (To think, some people actually throw this out!) Along with this there was quite a bit of scraps and small pieces. All these “pennies” have a purpose. The larger pieces can be diced and used for casseroles or, in this case, Chicken Salad for sandwiches. Add a little mayo, some diced celery, some seasonings, and maybe even some dried cranber -
Chicken Salad Sandwich. There were actually six of us. The chick
on the TOWN OUT OUT
ries and some walnuts if you have them. This made about two pints of Chicken Salad, enough for several sandwiches.
Meal three (more pennies saved) utilizes a combination of leftovers to make a hearty Chicken Soup. With the bones picked relatively clean, I managed to accumulate a bowl of scraps. These are the pieces that, if made into Chicken Salad would become mush so they are perfect for soup. For a quick soup pull a quart of stock from the pantry. You can use the bones for making stock or broth adding to your chickens over all “mileage” but I did not do this this time around. Add a diced onion, a couple stalks of celery (diced), a few carrots (coins or diced) into a fry pan with a dab of butter and sau te until tender. Add this into a large pot and using a splash of white wine, deglaze the fry pan. Add this into the pot with the veg
gies and the chicken scraps. Add the stock along with a quart of water and to this toss in any leftover gravy and stuffing to thicken the soup. Bring it all to a boil and season to taste for a delicious hearty Chicken Soup. You can wait until nearing service time and then break up the stuffing into dumpling size pieces if you prefer, bringing the soup to a rolling boil and trying one of the stuffing dumplings for proper tempera
ture. You can also add peas, rice, or noodles if desired and stretch this soup even further. It’s your soup to enjoy so make it the way you want to. This will yield nearly a gallon depending upon the amount of other items added into the liquid. At this point you have gotten quite a bit of mileage from just a single nine pound chicken, and you have saved quite a bit on meals too. Coupled with some basic pan-
FROG ROCK TAVERN
FEAST from 14
Hearty Chicken Soup.
teem. I would have been shocked to learn that there were people from the northern states who were not fans of “Honest Abe” and that included some people from New Hampshire.
Some Granite State newspapers, including The Union Democrat , out of Manchester, were very critical of President Lincoln in 1864 when he was running for re-election, advocating that he be defeated. As the name implies, The Union Democrat was an outlet for the Democratic Party of the time and had little on the good side to say about the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln.
The following is from an editorial of The Union Democrat : “The truth is, the sympathies of the civilized world are against us in this war upon the South. Intelligent men, and lovers of liberty everywhere instinctively feel that the North is warring against the fundamental principles upon which our government is founded. A few agitators, or self-styled reformers, of the same diabolical, destructive class as our abolitionists, (a small number which exist in
all countries) sympathize with the war of the Lincoln administration.”
Further editorial rants against President Lincoln included the statements that “the Lincoln party conceal the truth from the people, and seek to lead them on blindly in the road to ruin. They constantly assure their deluded followers, that the sympathies of all peoples, and of the Almighty Himself, are with their
party and its measures, and that consequently a happy issue will be found out of all their troubles.”
The paper warned if the Lincoln administration went too far “the Northern people may find to their lasting sorrow, that Lincoln Abolitionism is but a blind guide, discerning neither the right road to earthly prosperity nor to heavenly rest.”
There were northern Democrats who were in
favor of the war and Lincoln’s policies, but there were also Democrats called “Copperheads,” who were in favor of a peace treaty that would unite the country but could return to pre-war acceptance of slavery in the South. Copperhead Democrats did not have a high opinion of African Americans and they did not refer to them as “African Americans.”
The Manchester, New Hampshire paper, previously mentioned, published an account from the Albany, New York newspaper, Statesman, which it identified as a Republican paper, in which the writer suggested that President Lincoln should decline the nomination to be reelected to his position.
“There is only one way left to prevent the Democrats from electing the next President, and that is, to have President Lincoln decline the nomination, his successor be either Grant, Sherman, Butler or Hancock.” A predicted catastrophe could only be avoided, the paper said, by Lincoln’s declension.
Charges were made in August of 1864 by Lincoln’s opponents that soldiers in the army were required by their officers to vote for Lincoln in the November election; this charge was made particularly concerning soldiers from Western states. The New Hampshire newspaper stated, concerning soldiers and voting in a previous election, “...none but partisans of Lincoln, or those who would pledge themselves to vote for Republican candidates, were allowed to go home to vote. And this tyranny over the souls of the soldiers is in keeping with the whole course of Lincoln, his army officers, and his party...” President Lincoln was
referred to as “the chief dictator.” Lincoln and “his minions” were accused of putting ballot boxes under their unrestrained control.
The residents of the town of Hillsborough expressed their desire to see a peace treaty enacted by a resolution passed at a town meeting. They expressed their dismay that the past three years of war had brought enormous indebtedness to towns, states, and the national governments and that a million brave men had met destruction or been disabled in the war. They argued that because President Lincoln would not accept terms of peace or reunion but held “the fanatical idea of the general abolition of a clear Constitutional State right..... gives the people no reason to hope for peace or reunion except by a change of men and a change of measures.”
Mr. Lincoln was also accused of plotting to get enough votes from the Southern States to make “his calling and election sure.”
As the 1864 election drew nearer, even the Daily Monitor of Concord, which had supported the President, wrote concerning him, “The people still respect the honesty of his purposes; but they are coming to think that something more than good intentions are demanded of a national leader in such a crisis
as the present.” The Union Democrat was blunt in its remarks. It challenged its rival newspaper. The Monitor, to come out against Lincoln, “ ..and help the people to rid themselves and the country of the curse that is now upon them, instead of pledging themselves to support Lincoln...” He has not soul and courage enough to commit political hari-kari, though so plainly advised by his party to do so...” ... “No: there is but one way to get rid of A. Lincoln - THE PEOPLE must and will perform the hangman’s duty upon his political body! ... Old Abe will be ‘regularly suspended’ next November! And great joy will the event bring to the whole American people!” So the event that was promised to bring great joy to the American people, the defeat of Abraham Lincoln in the election of 1864, did not happen. President Lincoln was re-elected with 55% of the popular vote and by receiving all but 21 of the electoral college votes. Who knows what would have happened if the man who was called a dictator, usurper, tyrant, and other names, and was predicted to be responsible for years more of war between the states, was defeated in that election.
General George McClellan, Lincoln’s Democrat opponent in the 1864 election.
Map showing the results of the 1864 Presidential election.
There are dozens of numbered metal tags affixed by a nail through a punched hole in the tag on Beech Trees in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. When the wind blows just right the tag bounces on the nail against the edges of the hole making a high pitched ring. It took me a while to figure out what was making the noise surrounding me in the middle of the forest.
Yours truly on the summit of Green Mountain, elevation 2,762 feet, on the edge of the northern boundary of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.
All I left behind were ski tracks on Hubbard Brook Road.
my pack.
The road had not seen much snowmobile traffic and no recent use. The fresh snow from the past couple days rested upon the old snowmobile tracks and my skis floated well. I tested the snow off the track and snuck deep to my shins. I was happy kicking and gliding. About two miles in I was even happier when I saw that a snowmobile had turned and gone up Weir Road then turned onto Flume Road.
To my surprise and delight at the end of Flume Road the snowmobiler had not turned around but continued on up the steep yellow blazed hiking trail. Here I left my skis behind and put on my snowshoes.
What a wild snowmobile ride, this person must be crazy I thought as my snowshoes sunk down but they didn’t sink as deep as they would have without this track. The path was steep and narrow and it passed by abandoned experimental experiments. Dete-
riorating plastic pipes and milk crates, solar panels and what looked like a TV antenna were just a few of the things I passed in the otherwise pristine forest. I waved at a game camera. Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest was established in 1955 by the USDA Forest Service as a center for hydrologic research. In 1963, this site was famous for being the first to identify Acid Rain. When I reached the near ridge I came upon a wide open area with lots of experimental equipment. The wind had blown the snow so I couldn’t tell if the snowmobile continued on or if it had turned around here but I didn’t need it past here. Its track saved me almost three quarters of a mile of much harder snowshoeing. This is where I decided to enter the woods and start my bushwhack to the Green’s summit.
I stayed just south of the ridge and I snowshoed between the trees in the mostly hardwood forest. I stomped on the top of Hobblebush. There was
over two feet of sugary snow. With every step I sunk down between nine inches and often up to my knees. It was a lot of work and made me appreciate the old snowmobile track. When the wind blew I heard a tinkling sound. It took me a while to realize it was small tin numbered tags that were nailed onto many trees. The wind made the tags ring when the edge of the hole hit the nail. It was a light sound but there were dozens of them singing together in the stiff breeze.
nearby Mount Kineo between the bare limbs of the trees. The light tingling of the tree tags amused me and I wondered what the moose thought of the noise. My skis were right where I left them. Still there was no new snowmobile traffic. My ski tracks were windblown but the ski back down
was fun. My outing round-trip was about eight miles and climbed nearly 2000 vertical feet.
Just before I got back to my car I saw deep tracks made by people and dogs that had walked just a short ways before turning back. They would have had more fun if they had used skis or snowPATENAUDE from 3
shoes I bet. Have Fun.
Amy Patenaude is an avid skier/outdoor enthusiast from Henniker, N.H. Readers are welcome to send comments or suggestions to her at: amy@weirs.com
The bushwhack was less than a mile to reach Green’s flat Spruce covered summit. I found the summit register and signed my name. It was too cold to flip through the pages but I did notice the last visitor was back in September.
Following my snowshoe tracks back was a joy. I felt like I had made my own sidewalk and in no time I was back to where I had started my bushwhack. It was easy to jog down the steep path. I noticed fresh moose tracks had crossed my tracks. I wished I had been back in time to see the post-holing moose. As I descended, I saw the forest and
gural speech, his commitment “to give the American people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and, indeed, their freedom,” I believe him.
But these ideals cannot be achieved without taking on our broken Social Security program.
Even the rhetoric surrounding this discussion is not American in character. “Saving the system.” We don’t serve systems in our free country. We preserve the freedom and integrity of individuals.
The nation’s founders, who pledged “our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor” for the ideals of the Declaration of Independence would be aghast that today practically every young American is forced to pay a tax into a Social Security program that cannot fiscally honor its prom-
ised benefits. They would also be aghast that the pedigree of the largest federal program is not American. The first social security system -- where citizens were taxed by government, which then promised to take care of them -was introduced in 1889 by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. This was the beginning of the modern welfare state, which inspired Franklin Roosevelt to sign America’s social security system into law in 1935.
Immediately after Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, its constitutionality, appropriately, was challenged. Transfer payments -- taxing one set of citizens to pay for benefits for another set of citizens -- never existed in America and were not viewed as constitutional.
fer payments -- goes back to that 1937 court decision Helvering v. Davis, which deemed transfer payments, and Social Security, constitutional.
While Jefferson and Lincoln look out onto the national mall in Washington, the spirit of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck hovers over the whole city.
To succeed at this transformational opportunity, I hope Musk will appreciate that first and foremost, this is not about budgeting and accounting but about ideas and principles.
No one proposes to threaten Social Security benefits current retirees receive. That is sacred.
But we must free young Americans, our future, from failed German socialism, and return them to American capitalism.
However, the Roosevelt-era Supreme Court, by vastly expanding understanding of the Constitution’s “general welfare” clause, opened the door to German socialism in America.
The massive growth of entitlement and welfare spending -- trans-
At least give them a choice -- a choice to take ownership of the funds, now being taxed and forced into a broken system, and invest them, over a working lifetime, in the American economy.
Washington is now so jaded, our establishment now so confused and corrupt, no one believes it can be done.
But it can be done, and Elon Musk can do it. I pray he’ll step up to this historic leadership challenge and save our nation.
Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.
A breakthrough in Ear-Brain Technology™:
Intrigue AI mimics the cerebral cortex of the human brain to quickly and more accurately ‘fill in’ the gaps produced when our hearing system falters.
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leading “an unelected shadow government ... conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government.” According to Schumer, cuts to AID would undermine “countering terrorist activity” as well as “humanitarian efforts” around the world. “If America retreats from the rest of the world,” Schumer said, “China will fill in the void.”
That may well have been true with decent leadership. But instead, Democrats decided that American interests had to take a backseat to blue interests. That’s why USAID embedded “LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy” in its agenda for foreign countries -- despite the obvious incompatibility with such radical ideology with America’s interests abroad. It’s why in 2013,
for example, USAID announced that it would funnel $11 million to radical groups to support on gay and lesbian advocacy in Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and other developing countries.
This is indicative of a broader Democratic approach to governance: When Democrats are in charge, they use the levers of government not only to enrich their political friends at home and abroad; they embed those streams of funding into the system for times when they aren’t in charge. Democrats have spent a century building permanent funding mechanisms of this sort: The hundreds of billions of dollars spent each year via the Department of Education, for example, are largely directed to blue-affiliated “educa-
tional” institutions and groups.
But what happens when the new head of the executive branch isn’t content to allow that blue funding pipeline to continue? What happens when he looks into the spending and finds that taxpayer dollars are being directed toward political ends antithetical to his own purposes?
That’s what Democrats are experiencing right now: the massive power base they built and maintained for their own ends is now being run by people they despise. And those people are gutting many of the systems they built.
That’s why panic is setting in: because while most executive action is by nature transient and re-
versible, unleashing a wrecking ball against the carefully wrought administrative state isn’t. Trump and Musk are doing something unprecedented on the right: They are keeping their promise to drain the swamp. They are moving fast, and they are breaking things. And the caterwauling from Democrats who supposedly care about America’s interests abroad is actually indicative of something far deeper: a grinding fear that their permanent, bureaucratic structures of power are under existential assault.
Ben Shapiro’s new collection, “Facts and Furious: The Facts About America and Why They Make Leftists Furious,” is available now. z
MAILBOAT from 2
Matthew 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Depriving and misleading children about God has been a sin for the past century. It’s insanity that each generation passes on unbelief and each generation expects different results. Every day news watching ponders the question: Have apes become human or have humans become apes?
Russ Payne Merrimack, NH.
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try items, and veggies commonly on hand in most refrigerators you have made three meals feeding your family of four (maybe even six?). The total cost of these meals? With the average chicken running about $1.89 per pound one can expect to pay about $17.00. Add to this the pantry items and veggies, and the frugal shopper could probably expect to pay about $30.00 to $32.00. But remember, you will still have carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes on hand for other meals. Does $30.00 sound like too much? Not when you stop and consider that for $30.00 and perhaps three hours of your time over two days to prepare food, you were able to feed your family sandwiches for lunch and two wholesome hearty dinners. But even more important is the fact that you began to save some money without compromising on solid food choices as you gathered your family around the table time and again to engage in conversation over a Simple Feast. Enjoy!
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way, have long raised security concerns.
The second, The Panama Canal Treaty , stated that the Canal Zone would cease to exist on October 1, 1979, and the Canal would be turned over to Panamanian sovereignty on December 31, 1999. Both two treaties were signed in September 1977.
The Panama Canal Treaty debate triggered a domestic political firestorm across America where citizens opposing Carter’s deal spoke of the American Canal in Panama , while proponents claimed that Washington’s treaty would lessen growing political hostility across parts of Latin America over U.S. control of a part of a sovereign Latin country.
After six months of acrimonious national
debate, both the treaties were voted on in 1978 and subsequently ratified by the U.S. Senate by a narrow margin of 68 to 32.
This writer visited Panama a few years after the Treaties to assess the political climate following President Carter’s controversial deal. The Canal up close remains an engineering masterpiece integrating complicated Lock systems and waterways to transit merchant and military vessels.
The key issue remains that on the Atlantic/Caribbean side is the Port of Colon and Balboa on the Pacific side, nearby capital Panama City, along with the former U.S. Howard Air Force Base. The Canal spanning the narrow Isthmus is 51 miles wide with a series of locks, can handle all
but the largest ships. Typically 12,000 vessels transit the waterway annually; crossing takes between 8-10 hours from ocean to ocean thus saving long voyage times and fuel.
Back in 2017 Panama broke diplomatic ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan thus opening an already burgeoning business relationship with Beijing. Since that rupture in relations, Panama became the first Latin American country to endorse China’s Belt and Road (BRI) later that year. Since the Rubio trip, Panama has withdrawn from Beijing’s BRI plan!
On another note, Secretary Rubio also underscored close cooperation with Panama to end the hemisphere’s illegal migration crisis especially transiting through
Panama’s Darien Gap. The Secretary of State described his trip as having achieved “potentially really good things,” adding, “We don’t want to have a hostile or negative relationship with Panama.”
John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China.
NH Veterans Home celebrates the
Residents of the NH Veterans Home had a prime rib dinner with all the Onions Pub & Restaurant and Sanborn's Auto Repair. Pictured back to Guard commanded by
Auto Repair (right), residents Bear, Diamond in the Ruff and Smoky Sanborn, service dogs and frequent photo)
HOUSING from page 13
The governor-elect said she doesn’t intend on renewing a starter home program in the state that provided $10,000 in a first-home loan assistance.
“I think that we’re only going to make this more affordable if we have more housing,” said Ayotte. “That’s how markets work, and so I think that’s where the priority has to be.”
Maggie Goodlander, who will succeed Annie Kuster as the U.S. representative from New Hampshire’s District 2, described politics as a “team sport.”
“And it’s so true in the area of housing,” said Goodlander, “and that’s things I had about was In terms man, public the 2024 legislative “Lawmakers inate barriers making housing mixed. Some didn’t make other bills housing garnered into law, taking Together, in the coming ADUs will, will consider.
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Major General David J. Mikolaities, Angela Silva Powell (center), Ginny Sanborn of Sanborn's
by Parker & Hart
SUPER CROSSWORD
B.C.
PUZZLE CLUE: CELEBRITY ANAGRAMS
MAGIC
THEME THIS WEEK: ----THINGS
Answers on Page 21
The Winklman Aeffect
by John Whitlock
