02/27/2025 Weirs Times

Once UpOn A Winter

We’ve recently been asked by some long time readers if we might occasionally reprint some of the “Around The Cracker Barrel” columns written for the Weirs Times by Ed Allard. Ed wrote these often hilarious columns from 1992 until is passing in 2000. Hope you enjoy this one from 1995.

I was poking idly at the keys of my word processor a few mornings ago, peeking out the window once in a while to see what was going on, when I saw the delivery man slip on the

ice and go sailing down the sidewalk on one leg. The other leg was in the air, pointing straight ahead, until he crashed into a forsythia bush in an interesting spraddle. I hope that the bush recovers in time to blossom in the spring.

His graceful glissade - up to the point where he collided with the bush - reminded me of days long ago when skating was my passion and joy. I don’t believe that the event stirred up any such memories in the delivery man although there was plenty

of passion in what he was muttering as he limped back with my crumpled package. The delivery man looked a little crumpled, too, as he thrust the package at me. “Slip?” I asked soothingly. There is no need to pass on his reply and it would probably never get by the editor’s blue pencil anyhow.

“Nothing broken, I hope,” I remarked in an attempt to smooth his ruffled feathers.

“Can’t hear nuthin’ rattlin’,” he mumbled as he gave the parcel a

LRSO Performs Beethoven’s 5th Symphony

The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra (LRSO) invites you to embark on a captivating musical adventure with their March concert, “Vienna to Berlin – A Germanic Journey” on Saturday, March 22nd at 7pm at the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium in Meredith.

The program also delights with the charm of Vienna in Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Die Fledermaus Overture”, a lively and witty overture that transports listeners to the elegance of a Viennese ballroom. The evening continues with the fiery rhythms of Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 and 6”, brimming with folk-inspired energy that evokes the vibrant streets of Berlin. The journey takes a more introspective turn with Max Bruch’s “Romanze”, a heartfelt and lyrical showcase for the viola, performed by LRSO’s principal violist, Sally Wituszynski.

Sally Wituszynski brings passion and experience to every performance as a versatile violist and educator.

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of New Hampshire, Sally has performed with numerous notable ensembles such as the Vermont

See LRSO on 28

Hysterical Outrage

To The Editor:

The hysterical reaction of Democrat politicians to cutting billions in wasteful spending from the US Agency for International Development might make someone think that money was being taken from their own pockets.

Trump’s team is fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to cut wasteful spending. Trump’s enemies are calling these efforts “attacks on our democracy!” But they aren’t defending the spending which suggests that US AID was, as it appears, a slush fund promoting radical causes and providing kickbacks to democrats. US AID reportedly funded Burisma Holdings which paid Hunter Biden $1 million annually.

Congress has long complained that US AID refused to explain their spending. Diplomats complained that US AID efforts weren’t coordinated with them and were often contrary to US policies.

Reported examples of US AID overseas spending: $520 million for ESG investments in Africa, over $100 million on climate change (including to China which builds one coal fired electric plant weekly), $65 million for condoms, $200 million or more promoting DEI and LGBTQ, $122 million to our enemy the Taliban, and apparently billions to NGOs helping foreigners come to and live in our country illegally.

Domestically US AID spent many millions to get favorable

coverage from left leaning media outlets, like Politico, New York Times, and the Associated Press; no wonder they are so biased.

Trump’s team has found many billions of wasted tax dollars in a single agency in two weeks. Each area of government spending needs a similar scrubbing to eliminate the waste.

There’s hysterical outrage from the beneficiaries of these wasted billions. But, with 16% of Americans dependent on food banks and well over half of our people living paycheck to paycheck, cutting this waste and lessening the burden on American taxpayers is long overdue.

Don Ewing Meredith, NH.

MKULTRA

To The Editor,

This is a letter I wrote to Kash Patel, the new FBI Director under Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, the New Director of National Intelligence and Pete Hegseth , new Secretary of Defense. I want to share it with your readers. Here it is:

After WW2, hundreds of Nazi scientists were secreted into the U.S by the OSS – Office of Strategic Services, without state department authorization through Operation Paperclip. When they got here, the OSS became the CIA and those Nazis were organized under it.

In 1953 the CIA started MKULTRA to experiment on unwitting, nonconsenting subjects to learn methods of mind control

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

and behavior change. These experiments utilized hypnosis, electroshock therapy, sensory deprivation, sexual and physical abuse and drugs. Much of it was described as torture. Some of the victims were left permanently unable to function. It was subcontracted out to 80 institutions, many that did not realize they were acting under direction of the CIA.

In the 70’s Ted Kennedy called for congressional hearings as a result of victim complaints. Other congressional hearings were held by The Church Committee and the Rockefeller Commission. MKULTRA was done in settings where experimenters had physical access to victims. After congressional hearings and CIA records proved that victim complaints were valid, the CIA was told to stop. They found ways to continue with remote technology that made the experimentation invisible and undetectable to people around the victim, thus providing plausible deniability. This new phase is referred to as the ‘Targeted Individual’ Program. It’s still going on. The FBI has a central role in it, as do the military branches and the DHS. John Hall, a retired anesthesiologist living in Texas was a victim. He wrote 2 books on it. His first, ‘A New Breed - Satellite Terrorism in America’ is his personal account. His next book, ‘Guinea Pigs – Technologies of Control’ is a very well researched objective look at this operation from the scientific, political and historical standpoint.

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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.

BOldUc pArk piche’s ski tOUring center

Bolduc Park has been a location for cross country skiing for a long time. Here, Bob Bolduc’s vision of ski trails was completed in 1978, making for a place where Piche’s could host cross country ski races and offer skiers a place to ski and receive instruction. People can snowshoe too.

This winter has been one of the best in many years and the ski tracks are waiting for you and your family and friends. It is a great deal too—to be able to enjoy skiing on groomed ski trails with set tracks for a five dollar trail pass is a very big bang for your buck.

Bolduc Park is located off of Gilford Avenue on the Laconia and Gilford townline, just a short distance from Piche’s Ski & Sport. It was late Saturday afternoon when Charlie and I pulled into the parking lot next to the clubhouse. When I went into the clubhouse to pay for our trail passes I was welcomed by the President of the Bolduc Park Association (he was not interested in me taking his photo). He gave me a copy of the trail map. There are restrooms in the clubhouse. If the clubhouse is not open, trail passes can be paid for online/ QR code or use the donation box next to the door.

Bolduc Park is run and maintained entirely by volunteers. Bolduc Park is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Yours truly kicking and gliding on the cross country ski trails at Bolduc Park. I recommend reading on the Bolducpark.org website the Thompson-Ames Historical Society piece by Carol Anderson, “History of Bolduc Park, a history of giving to local communities.” Since 1978 people have been skiing here because of the vision and generosity of Bob Bolduc, founder. Winter activities at the Bolduc Park are cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The disc-golf course is open year-round. In the summer the Park is home to a nine-hole par 3 golf course. Bolduc Park is run and maintained entirely by volunteers. Bolduc Park is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible.

and donations are tax deductible. The park also has an open yearround disc-golf course and in the summer it is home to a nine-hole par 3 golf course.

We found that the ski trails had been recently groomed. They crisscrossed in the woods and looped around the property and over the golf course. The big race track loop had a skate lane and tracks while it appeared all the other trails through the woods

are for classic skiing. There were a few other people out skiing around making the best use of the last hour of daylight

along with us. The trails in the woods along the disc golf course were rolly and fun. We spied

See PATENAUDE on 26

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

New England Colonial Trade Fair

On Saturday and Sunday, March 8th and 9th, come see some of New England’s finest Artisans and Traders Keeping Early American History Alive (17th, 18th And Early 19th Century) at the New England Colonial Trade Fair held at the Dover Lodge of Elks #184, 282 Durham Road, Dover NH.

Hours are Saturday, March 8th from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, March 9th, 9am to 2pm. There is a $5.00 Admission and there will be a Daily Door Prize For more info Contact Jeff Wardwell at 603-998-8134 or jsat3@comcast.net.

World Pro Ski Tour Comes To Tenney Mountain

The excitement is building as Tenney Mountain Resort (Tenney) prepares to host the World Pro Ski Tour (WPST) from March 14-16, 2025—the only East Coast stop on the circuit! This thrilling event will bring world-class athletes to the slopes, where they will compete in two men’s and two women’s professional dual slalom races, delivering highspeed action and unforgettable moments for all in attendance. While ski racing enthusiasts won’t want to miss this elitelevel competition, the event is designed for everyone—from lifelong ski fans to families looking for a fun-filled winter experience. Spectators can enjoy a lively festival atmosphere featuring food, music, vendors, giveaways, and more.

Don’t miss out on this three-day event, filled with world-class competition and mountain fun!

Spectating from the base of the mountain is complimentary, but if you want to secure a spot to view the action on the slopes, consider our special 3-day WPST lift ticket option, which provides access to on-mountain race viewing. Guests can look forward to:

Spectators with lift access can watch from designated viewing spots along the course and at the finish line. For 3-day ticket information, visit https://skitenney.com/world-pro-ski-tour/. Spectator Areas at Base – A designated area at the base of the mountain will be available for additional spectators.

On-Site Amenities – Enjoy a full-service restaurant, outdoor seating, and tubing hills for added family fun.

Exclusive VIP Experiences – Limited sponsorship and VIP viewing opportunities will be available for a premium experience. If you or your organization are interested, contact us at info@ skitenney.com for more details.

Schedule of Events:

• Friday, March 14 -NOON Pro Qualifying Runs

3-5 pm Après Party @ Tenney/Backcountry Bar & Grill

• Saturday, March 15 10am- 3pm Men’s & Women’s Dual Slalom Races – Round 1

3-5 pm Après Party @ Tenney/Backcountry Bar & Grill

• Sunday, March 16 10am- 3pm Men’s & Women’s Dual Slalom Races – Finals 3-5 pm Closing Ceremonies @ Tenney/Backcountry Bar & Grill For more details, visit https://skitenney.com/world-pro-ski-tour/. We look forward to welcoming you to Tenney Mountain for an unforgettable weekend of racing and entertainment!

Community Garden Club of Meredith Opens 2025 Season

The Community Garden Club of Meredith is pleased to welcome members and guests to attend the opening meeting for the 2025 season.

The Meredith Community Center will host the meeting on Thursday, March 20th from 1-3pm The building is fully accessible and ample parking is available.

Reservations are not required. Refreshments will be served. The Meet and Greet format will allow members and guests to learn more about the garden club, its rich history of service to our community and opportunities to be a part of a friendly, vibrant and talented group of gardeners. The program topic, Gardeners We Need You! will focus on past, current, and future projects. Keeping Meredith in Bloom through the We Dig Meredith program is an engaging and fun way to meet others interested in gardening and to learn new skills to use in your home gardens. The Community Garden Club of Meredith is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting horticultural education, community beautification and conservation through volunteerism and friendship.

If you are a gardener, or would like to learn about gardening and horticulture, this is the group for you!

Visit the club website at meredithgardenclub.org

Murder Mystery Dessert Theatre In Franklin

Franklin Opera House in cooperation with Franklin Footlight Theatre Co. is proud to present its annual murder mystery dessert show, “Murder at the Pie Auction.” Now in its 11th year, this collaboration between Franklin Opera House and Franklin Footlight Theatre Co. is loads of laughs and tons of fun. Characters and camaraderie join forces to benefit Franklin Opera House. March 14th is not only International “Pi Day” it is also the opening night of this hysterically funny whodunnit. In this production, members of the audience will visit the small town of Mynute, Alaska. Residents are excited that their sleepy town will finally show up on GPS with the famous “Mother Mable’s Pie Baking Competition” to be held there. However, someone mistyped, and Mynute was supposed to be Minot. So, there will be no publicity from remote Alaska for Ma Mable. Add the mysterious murder of one of the pie judges during the auction, and you have all the ingredients needed for an evening full of big laughs and outrageous characters. Audience participation is highly encouraged as you help to solve the crime and find the culprit. Two shows only, at Franklin Elks Lodge #1280. 125 South Main St. Franklin, NH 03235. Opening night is National Pi Day, Friday, March 14th. 6:30pm. There will be another show on Saturday, March 15th at 6:30pm.

Adults $30, Seniors $25, and if you purchase eight or more tickets, you will receive a 10% discount off your total purchase! Your ticket price includes snacks, water, and of course, pie! When you purchase your ticket, be sure to select your favorite pie flavor. Choices include Blueberry, Boston Cream, Sugar Free Apple, or Gluten Free Apple. Be sure to bring your wallet as there will also be an actual pie Auction, with pies donated by Zeke’s Sweets and local bakers! A cash bar will be open as well for those who wish to partake.

Visit www.FOHNH.org to purchase your tickets. Now that is something sweet.

Events like this one make it possible for Franklin Opera House to continue bringing quality affordable entertainment to Franklin and the surrounding area.

by Brendan Smith Weirs Times Editor

OOL

NEW HAMPSHIRE

seriOUs BUsiness

Getting back together with my old friend Vinnie and resuscitating FATSO couldn’t have happened at a better time. In all honesty, it was me who contacted Vinnie, he’s been living in Florida for the past couple of years and things become unexpectedly overwhelming and I really needed his help.

In case you don’t know, FATSO stands for Flatlanders Adjusting to Solitary Oblivion and was created by Vinnie and myself as a support group for new Flatlanders to New Hampshire in helping them adjust to their first few winters here.

At first it didn’t seem like I would need Vinnie’s help. Since he has moved the winters have been fairly mild and gave a lot of new Flatlanders a false sense of security. This was especially true of the many who moved here during the Covid craziness. They’ve had it pretty good as far as winters go up to this point.

Even this year things started out pretty mellow. Slow in fact. I even resorted to sending out unsolicited mailers trying to encourage people to sign up for FATSO as well as remind other members to not let their memberships lapse as I needed to keep the treasury full

Then came February and everything changed.

The late arriving constant snowfalls along with the never ending freezing temperatures caught a lot of folks off guard, myself included, and suddenly the membership ranks started to swell exponentially.

For the first time in the history of FATSO, we even had calls from Flatlanders, no longer members of the group, who are

wintering in Florida and other warm climates, wanting to renew their memberships just so they could receive the weekly email blast to read about what was going on up here. Seems they wanted to be kept aware as to when might be a good time to consider coming back to New Hampshire for the spring and summer season.

Of course, the media hysteria really hasn’t helped much over the last few milder winters. It seemed every national newscast was heralding the end of winters as we knew them here in New Hampshire and around the world.

They told us if things kept us, there wouldn’t be a need to go to winter in warmer climates ever again since the weather here would soon be balmy and warm all year round and Florida would soon be under water anyway.

It was the kind of doomsday news that would bring a smile to David Muir’s face.

Of course, like most doomsday predictions, this one didn’t hold up this year. We have had one of the snowiest and coldest Februarys in recent memory, and March is still yet to come. Even places in Europe have seen record breaking cold and snow. People are freezing where they have never been freezing before.

Of course, all of this was good news to me as far as FATSO was concerned. I had been considering shutting down for good and now that Global Warming has been put on the back burner once again – at least until we have a hot day in the summer -FATSO is back in business.

With all of this, the calls started coming in hot and heavy and that is why I turned to Vinnie. He’s fielding some of the calls through our 800 number in Florida since I was really becoming overwhelmed with the influx and needed help in weeding out the good from

the bad.

There are always the few deadbeats who try to get some help from us without having to pay the membership fee. They will call and tie up the phone lines telling us they really don’t want to be a member but just have one simple question -which always turns into five or six.

“I really don’t need to join. I am doing very well on my own. I just wanted to ask one simple question about how these roof rake doohickeys work.”

Or

“It’s my first winter here from New York and I really only need to know where I can buy some real chopped chicken liver. “

In the past when FATSO was flourishing, we would have answered these questions from the goodness of our hearts, but we soon found out others were selling the info we gave them for free.

So, yes, a few of those tips are out there, but we have hundreds of unique winter survival tips we have discovered that can’t be found anywhere else that we will only share with paid members. (Just a heads up. You will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement, so if you are thinking of joining then using the knowledge for your own profit, be ready for a big legal battle.)

Due to an increasing demand for our services this winter, we are refusing to help anyone who isn’t serious about membership. We don’t mean to be heartless, but it’s a dog eat dog world and either you are in or out.

So to those of you who are full of good intentions when you contact us, please understand why we insist on a fully paid membership before we can give you any help.

It’s only fair.

“I Really Only Did It For The SocksStories & Thoughts On Aging”

Order your autographed copy today for $16.99 plus $3 shipping. (Please include any inscription you would like.) Make out checks or money orders for $19.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Socks Book c/o Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 Or order online at BrendanTSmith.com (Autographed copies also avail. at the Weirs Times)

“I Really Only Did It For The SocksStories & Thoughts On Aging”

Order your autographed copy today for $16.99 plus $3 shipping. (Please include any inscription you would like.) Make out checks or money orders for $19.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Socks Book c/o Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 Or order online at BrendanTSmith.com (Autographed copies also avail. at the Weirs Times)

the left hAtes

thAt We nOW hAve respOnsiBle leAdership

by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist

The left is screaming that President Donald Trump is on some kind of ideological crusade.

Some recent headlines: “Trump and Musk’s Purge Isn’t Cost Cutting -- It’s a Coup”; “Doge is About Ideology and Mindless Budget Cutting”; “Elon Musk’s Indiscriminate Carnage”; “Dems Must Stand Up Against the Bully in the White House.”

It’s sort of like labeling a company CEO ideological because he is driven to keep his company profitable and competitive.

One column in The Guardian says Trump is “lacerating the structures of U.S. democracy.”

In other words, protecting taxpayers and running the country efficiently is anti-democratic. But forgiving $189 billion of student loan debt -- done under Biden -- and dumping it all on taxpayers is not. Or government spending trillions and larding it all onto the federal debt rather than raising taxes is not.

The Congressional Budget Office just issued its latest 10year outlook, and it is not a pretty picture regarding today’s economic realities of the nation.

It forecasts that the federal debt will grow from 100% of GDP in 2025 to 118% of GDP by 2035, the highest in American history.

CBO forecasts GDP growth over this same 10-year period to average 1.8% per year. It is not ideology to point out that this is pathetic and dangerous.

It’s about one-half the 3.5% per year that the U.S. economy grew over the half century from 1950 to 2000.

Hoover Institution economist John Cochrane has pointed out that if the U.S. economy grew 2% per year from 1950 to 2000 instead of 3.5% per year, per capita income would have been less than half what it was in 2000.

Ideology is about words -- slogans with no reality check. Business is about numbers, measurement and performance.

The failure of socialism, the failure of societies with oversized intrusive government and the failure of ideas like social justice falling into the realm of politics is politicians seize more and more power and take less and less responsibility. When government expands at the expense of individual freedom, productivity and creativity suffer, and economic growth shrinks. These are not words. They are

BlAck histOry MOnth: tO celeBrAte Or nOt tO celeBrAte?

Back in the mid1980s while a mail handler working for the United States Postal Service at what was called the South Postal Annex, I had a conversation with a White liberal coworker. I was trying to “Red Pill” him” by loaning him a book, “Hijacked” the Anthory Bryant Story. Mr. Bryant was a Black Panther turned born-again Christian and patriot. Bryant hijacked a plane to Cuba back in 1969.

Thinking he would be given a hero’s welcome; he ended up spending twelve years in a Cuban hellhole prison.

My liberal co-worker never bothered to read the book because it didn’t fit his liberal narrative.

“You need to travel around the country and then get back to me,” he exclaimed. I told him that while I wasn’t the most welltraveled man, “I have been in the Deep South, but it wouldn’t make any difference to you.” He accused me of not knowing much about Black history. I then began to ask him some questions:

Who was the first Black U.S. Senator?

Who was the Black man killed in the Boston Massacre?

Who invented the traffic light?

What was the name of the first all-Black unit in the Civil War?

He didn’t know the answer to any of the questions and a few more I posed to him

“For someone who knows so much about Blacks, you don’t know much about Blacks,” I replied.

A number of my Black co-workers were listening to the conversation. As my liberal co-worker was about to clock out, I asked him one more question “Why did you White liberals give Blacks the shortest month of the year to celebrate Black History Month?” This question ended our friendly relation-

ship.

My Black co-workers, on the other hand were high-fiving each other, and congratulated me for putting this condescending White liberal in his place.

A Black postal co-worker, a friend, and I were discussing the issue. He was a conservative minded man but told me that Whites write history. I asked him if he could name the Black man who was killed in the Boston Massacre. “Crispus Attucks” he correctly replied. “Now name the White victims,” I queried. “You made your point,” he replied.

Actually, Black History Month wasn’t chosen because it was the shortest month of the year. It started as Negro History Week in 1926 thanks to the efforts of historian Carter G. Woodson and the members of the Association for the Study of Negro Life. The second week of February was chosen because the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas fall in that week. Of the Negro History Week, Professor Woodson said: “It is not so much a Negro History Week as it is a History Week. We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in History. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hatred and religious prejudice.”

Woodson acknowledged the work of William Cooper Nell, perhaps the first Black American historian.

I highly recommend Nell’s book, Colored Patriots of the American Revolution which is still in print. His book included a segment on the nation’s first all-black militia-the Bucks of America.

This Boston based unit was led by Colonel George Middleton, who may have been the first Black military officer in U.S. History. John Hancock, and his son John George Washington, Hancock, who may have been the Buck’s mascot, presented a flag to Colonel Middleton to honor the militia unit. The original flag is on display at the National See SHURTLEFF on 29

by Hal Shurtleff Camp Constitution

I tried meat grown in a lab. It tastes like ... well ... meat.

I guess it is meat, but it’s not grown the normal way.

Scientists extract meat cells from an animal and then grow them in a bioreactor, much like ones you see in a brewery. There, the cells divide again and again until you get ... meat. If you want to try some, you’ll soon be able to.

But not in Florida or Alabama. There, politicians banned it. Other states now may ban it, too.

“We appreciate that ban,” says Bill Bullard. He lobbies for cattlemen. In my video, he argues, “If not for Alabama and Florida (banning) it, then

gerMAny’s

Another major country has flipped politically to the conservative column.

After three years of a drifting center-Left coalition government, voters elected a conservative (small c) Christian Democratic Union CDU government in Germany’s parliamentary elections. Yet what was expected to be a massive win for the likely new Chancellor Frederich Merz, became a bit disappointing when his party gained 28.5 percent of the vote. The outgoing Social Democrats (SPD) under Olaf Scholz were handed a “bitter defeat” with a 16.4 percent vote share while their coalition partner the Greens slipped to 11.6 percent. Ominously the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to 20.8 percent, double its tally of four years ago. The socialist Left Party gained 8 percent.

Given that no party holds 316 seats to form a majority in the 630 seat Bundestag in Berlin, now comes the tough task of cobbling together a coalition. Significantly the winning

WhAt’s On yOUr plAte?

the meat packers would have the ability to pass it off to unsuspecting consumers as if it were indeed a meat product, which it is not!”

I push back. “But they don’t conceal it! They say (on the label), this is ‘cultivated’ meat.”

“It’s not produced in the same manner!” He replies.

So, what?

But cattle lobbyists won over narrow-minded politicians.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says, “Fake-meat, petri-dish-meat folks, they’re not going to have a place in Nebraska. “

Why should politicians get to decide for everyone? If I want to try something, it should be my choice.

An artificial chicken company sauteed some chicken for me. After I tried some, I took the rest outside and offered it to people. It was my unscientific blind taste test: lab-

grown versus “farm-raised” chicken from Whole Foods.

Everyone liked both. A few preferred the lab-grown. They said it was “juicier.”

So why can’t consumers in Florida and Alabama (and, if short-sighted politicians get their way, Nebraska, Arizona, Michigan and Tennessee) try it?

Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner wrote me, “If other states want to allow their citizens to be used as guinea pigs for lab meat, they have the freedom to do so. Our consumers will be protected until there is more evidence that this ‘frankenmeat’ is safe.”

Why does he get to decide? Artificial meat is safe enough that the USDA and FDA both approved it. Don’t we own our own bodies? It should be my choice!

I ask lobbyist Bullard, “Why bribe

politicians to ban it?”

“It will threaten the viability of our food production,” he responds. “Government has a legitimate role ensuring that we have an abundant, affordable and safe food supply.”

Wow, another silly argument.

Lab-grown beef would make our food supply more secure because there’d be more sources of meat!

By his logic, cars should have been banned to protect the horse and carriage industry. Computers ... to protect typewriter makers. And so on.

Melissa Musiker of Upside Foods, which makes lab-grown chicken, points out that they can “make the equivalent of millions of chickens.”

With less waste: “No beaks, no feet, no feathers.”

And no animals are killed.

“A lot of people (have an) issue eating animal protein,” Musiker contin-

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electiOn; cOnservAtive victOry BUt…

CDU and their Bavarian sister party CSU refuse to cooperate or form a government with AfD.

There were three key issues in the German election; the Economy, Ukraine, and Illegal Migration.

The Economy

Germany’s once vaunted GDP numbers have been grim and lagging; between 2019 and 2024 while the Euro area has grown 4 percent and the USA over 10 percent, Germany’s once robust heavy manufacturing sector has stalled. Energy costs, largely from a dangerous dependence on Russian gas supplies, now interrupted, as well as uber Green restrictive climate policies, and the counterweight of Chinese competition has changed the once rosy paradigm for Germany’s economic growth.

Often described as the locomotive of European growth, Germany’s economic engine seemed sidetracked by high energy pieces, the reverberating geopolitical instability of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and now the threat of U.S. tariffs have combined into a kind of perfect storm facing the new government. Merz wants to energize the economy through cutting suffocating regulations.

These early parliamentary elections were called precisely because Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) collapsed in a vote of no confidence last November.

Ukraine

The historic and easy camaraderie between America and Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) while still strong is not as instinctively compatible as in the past when leaders like Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl or even Angela Merkel were Chancellor. Friedrich Merz, (69) both a politician and a successful boardroom executive, doesn’t comfortably fit into that political mode.

“Europe must become stronger again and Germany must become more involved in the European Union,” Merz told a rally of his CDU/CSU alliance. He has stressed wider military spending and closer ties with France, the UK and Poland as a counter to what is perceived as lagging American interest in European

security ties. Even the previous SPD coalition in Berlin had significantly increased defense spending following Russia’s war in Ukraine.

After the vote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Merz and asked Germany to “bring real peace closer to Ukraine.” Following the U.S., Germany remains Ukraine’s largest military assistance donor. Most German political parties, except AfD support helping Kyiv. A firm proponent of close transatlantic security relations, Frederich Metz remains concerned that the Trump Ad-

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by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

KINDRED SPIRIT FARM

Letters From God

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.

trusted him that they would be forgiven and restored to a relationship with me.

Letters From God

QUESTION: Is There A Panacea For Life?

Yes, there is!

A panacea, as you may know, is a solution or remedy for all of life’s difficulties or problems. There are many that plague your human existence and rob you of meaningful life. Perhaps the worst is that death is awaiting you and it is unavoidable. If you are not ready to die you can never truly live.

Though there are many individual things that you can do to treat each individual problem you face, there is one however that, if it is appropriated, can bring comfort and relief to everything you face in life. The panacea is revealed in an encounter in my book, the Bible, in the 24th chapter of Luke. I asked Luke to include this event so that all who looked to me in faith would have access to the panacea of life.

The event occurred shortly after my son, Jesus, was raised from the dead. Just as I promised in my book, the Bible, in the Old Testament, I raised him from the dead (Job 19:25-27, Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:1011). I did this in order to prove that he was indeed God and that his sacrifice of paying for your sins on the cross assured all who

Jesus had tried to prepare his disciples for his death by letting them know that after his substitutionary sacrifice for their sins, he would be raised from the grave. Unfortunately, it never quite got through to their heads or hearts. As a result, after Jesus was crucified, they became despondent and despairing of life.

This is one of life’s great problems, that of discouragement and despairing of life. All of humanity suffers under this plague and many never recover. Indeed, many even take their life as a result.

Two of his disciples we’re walking away from Jerusalem to a nearby city called Emmaus, when they were approached in the darkness by a shrouded individual. As they walked, they discussed with this new traveling companion their despair over the fact that they had trusted in Jesus being the one sent from God to deliver them but instead he was sentenced to death and was crucified. They went on to say, “but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” The new friend surprise them with a rebuke. He said, “how foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” He went on to say “did not the Christ (the Messiah) have to suffer these things and then en -

ter his glory. And beginning with Moses and all the prophets he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27). This was no ordinary visitor; this was Jesus who was alive, and they didn’t realize he was walking with them in their presence.

to overcome any thing that threatens to harm you. If you were to have your eyes opened and recognize that he is alive and present with you today and if you were willing to trust him instead of your own pathetically weak power, you would have the panacea for life.

The story goes on to say that when they got to their destination, they invited him into their home to share a meal with them. As he broke the bread, they saw the nail pierced hands and immediately recognized it was Jesus who was alive. They were immediately filled with joy and they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that Jesus was alive, and he walked with them in their presence.

How is this a panacea you may ask? Let me put it in terms that you perhaps could understand.

Most are familiar with a fictitious character called Superman. If you recall, he had superpowers beyond any human. He also had the ability to see danger that threatened the lives of individuals or even the entire nation. Because of his supernatural power and his passion to protect and preserve the vulnerable from life threatening foes, his presence with the people ensured them that nothing could harm them when he was present.

Superman is fictitious but my Son is your creator God with power and authority

Isaiah the prophet spoke of the confidence you can have if you would trust my Son when he said “so do not fear for I’m with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). That hand is almighty. Sin has brought many problems into your life but if you will trust me and my Son, we will deliver you from every problem you face, including death. He’s alive you will be as well, if you ask him to forgive you and walk with you through life and death.

I love you, God

These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH

Not So LoNg Ago ...

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

AnOther JOhnAnOther tOWn

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

“The church and state were one.”

As we read of the early days of white settlers in the United States, including New Hampshire, we are sometimes struck by the fact that some of the issues those early settlers dealt with are not much different than those of today. It seems that when our “wise men” go back into the early history of the provincial and colonial settlements (and before) to ascertain what the customs, intentions, and directions of the early settlers were, they don’t always agree as to the answer to that inquiry.

They don’t agree because they are looking at different periods of time, different settlements and different leaders. So we find those today, though probably fewer than the noise about it would suggest, who say that the United States was begun as a Christian nation and

should decide to be such today. The alarms then are spread, as if that were the worst of things that could happen, and the cry is sounded, that the founding fathers never intended such a radical happening. But the Puritans were among the first to settle and build towns in New England. In a speech at the 250th anniversary of the founding of the first church in Exeter, New Hampshire, and the town itself, on June 3, 1888, the speaker, Rev. Swift Byington, declared correctly concerning the first years of Exeter, that “the church and state were one.”

I don’t think anyone would insist that the same situation exists in the United States of America today, but while our Constitution prohibits both the church and the state from interfering with the rights of the other, it does not prohibit all interaction between the two.

Before there was any state government in New Hampshire or any U.S. Constitution or Declaration of Independence. a Puritan preacher by the name of John Wheelwright led a group of followers in establishing the town of Exeter and the first church in town, the Congregational.

ART WORKSHOPS

John Smith had previously sailed the coast of New England and put on a map what he discovered concerning its seacoast. Most people probably know that the Puritans, called Pilgrims, landed at Plymouth on the Massachusetts coast in 1620. In his sermon of 1888 Rev. Byington spoke of another group of Puritans, whom he described as being more educated and more wealthy than those at Plymouth, and whom, he said, landed at Salem eight or ten years after the poorer Plymouth Puritans. These people expanded their colony to Boston and Charleston and went by the name of the “Massachusetts Bay Colony.” John Endicott was the first

See SMITH on 24

John Wheelwright.

tO yOUr gOOd heAlth

by Dr. Keith Roach Syndicated Columnist

DEAR DR. ROACH:

I am an 84-year-old male in amazingly good health and have great physical abilities, but after running about 3 miles, I noticed some minor chest discomfort. After a calcium score test and stress test, my doctor wanted to place stents in my coronary arteries.

I read a National Institue of Health study from 2020 regarding stent outcomes versus medication and lifestyle changes, and it showed no difference in the outcomes. So, I decided not to do the stents.

I no longer do any distance running, but I do weight training

and a stationary bike exercise for 10 minutes without any chest issues. I now take statin drugs, blood pressure medicines, and baby aspirin.

Are you familiar with this study, and am I doing a reasonable thing by not having the stents inserted? -- T.E.

Lakes Region WEATHER

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ANSWER: Whether stents are beneficial in people with stable coronary artery disease remains somewhat controversial. Although stents in combination with a healthy diet, exercise and medication may improve symptoms better than lifestyle changes and medication alone, there are no data to show an improvement in lifespan or in preventing heart attacks.

In a recent column, you discussed IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome). I have IBS-D and had very serious episodes for several years. The cramping was enough to keep me in bed for two to three days. The episodes started happening more fre

sufferers as well. Still, it may be worth a try, and I agree with eating plain yogurt.

Your cardiologist wanted to reduce your symptoms, but if you aren’t having any now, then stenting isn’t indicated. If you had to reduce your running because of chest discomfort, then stenting might possibly allow you to do more exercise without having these symptoms.

(NYT) — Martha Stewart has published 100 books across her long and eventful career, but perhaps none is more beloved than her first, “Entertaining.” Published in 1982, and long out of print, it has attracted a number of new fans who have lately paid hundreds of dollars for an original hardcover copy. Because of its seemingly undying appeal, it will soon be back in bookstores in all its 1980s glory. Two recent documentaries about Stewart — “The Many Lives of Martha Stewart,” which aired on CNN, and “Martha,” on Netflix — introduced the 83-year-old entrepreneur and O.G. influencer to a generation too young to have witnessed her rise, but that now admires her entrepreneurial hustle and self-determination. Some of these new fans want their own copies of

DEAR DR. ROACH:

see BOOK page 13

help the majority of people. The lactose (milk sugar) is problematic for many IBS

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a comment about your recent column on nuclear stress tests. As an 87-year-old person sion, the nurse stated that many couldn’t get as far as I did. Medications were a

“Not too many tire tracks on the road today,” observed Bruce Gordon, who sent in this image of downtown Laconia as seen during a snowstorm on Feb. 6. If you have a great local photo you’ve taken recently, send it to readerpics@laconiadailysun.com for consideration. You can check out previous Reader Pics – and bonus pics not chosen for print – by going to our website, following The Laconia Daily Sun’s Instagram page and liking our Facebook page.

See HEALTH on 11

way for them to obtain the needed results.

ANSWER: Stress testing may be done for several reasons, but the most common is to determine whether there are blockages in the arteries in the heart that are severe enough to limit blood flow. When ordering a stress test, the clinician has to decide how to stress the heart and get information from it.

In people who can exercise (meaning they don’t have an orthopedic or neurological condition that keeps them from being able to move), then using exercise is the best approach in almost all cases. Exercise is safer since you can stop doing it at any time, and it also provides useful information. People who can exercise for a longer time (9 minutes on a standard protocol called a Bruce) have a very good prognosis; whereas if you can’t make it to 3 minutes, this is a poor prognosis.

The treadmill gets steeper and faster every 3 minutes on a Bruce protocol so that eventually even an Olympic athlete has to give up. The goal is to get to maximum exercise where a person simply can’t go any further. The person who runs the stress test looks for any sign of incipient heart damage through an electrocardiogram

(EKG), a blood pressure monitor, or symptoms so that the test can be stopped if it seems dangerous.

Despite trying really hard, some people cannot get their heart rate and blood pressure high enough where the stress test can diagnose heart disease. In this case, the exercise stress test is converted to a pharmacologic stress test. A medication, such as dobutamine, is given to make the heart beat faster and stronger until the adequate workload is achieved.

Many of my patients tell me that this is uncomfortable, and more than once, I have heard someone say, “My heart was going to jump out of my chest.” If there are signs of danger,

the medication can be stopped, and in some cases, a reversal agent is given.

Once the heart is at an adequate level of exertion, abnormalities in the blood flow can be detected by the EKG. However, the test’s sensitivity can be improved by looking at blood flow through a radioactive chemical injected in the blood, which can measure blood flow to various regions of the heart more precisely. The sensitivity can also be improved by examining the heart’s wall movement through echocardiography.

In other cases, a more limited stress test is done to determine the safety of exercise. This is often done after a heart attack to determine

which exercises a person can do as part of their cardiac rehab.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@ med.cornell.edu.

(c) 2025 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

Birds And ice

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

Every so often in New England, everything is covered in ice. I’m not talking about lakes and rivers freezing or icicles dangling from the edge of roofs. I’m talking about when literally everything outside is covered in ice. Every branch, every leaf, every pine needle, every blade of grass is sheathed in its own covering of ice. It doesn’t happen often. Sometimes it’s once or twice a winter. Sometimes it’s once every couple of years. The conditions have to be just right.

The other week, the conditions were just right. A near-freezing rain fell hard in the evening, and, when the temperature dropped just a bit after the sun went down, it turned into freezing rain. By morning, everything was ice, including a slick covering on the remaining snow. When it happens, it is a spectacle to admire. It is not fun if you have to drive or walk somewhere, but it’s beautiful. A rare treat from nature.

It also poses a challenge for birds. Bitter cold temperatures and snow are tough on New England birds, but the birds have adapted to handle those harsh conditions. When ice covers everything, however, no natural food

black-capped chickadee perches on an icy branch after a winter storm in New England earlier this month.

sources are available for the birds that eat things such as berries, seeds and insects. Berries are ensconced in a layer of ice. Wild seeds are inaccessible. Insects and larvae are now guarded by bark and ice. What do the birds do? For many, they rely more than usual on bird feeders, assuming, of course, the feeders and seed or suet are not covered in ice. Studies show that birds, even in winter, get a small percentage of their food from bird feeders, and wild sources make up the bulk of their diet. When those natural sources are shrouded in an impenetrable coating of ice, bird feeders are key.

When I woke up to the icy spectacle, the first thing I did was

check the feeders. Sure enough, the exposed seeds were covered with ice. I brought those feeders inside to thaw and filled two other feeders with fresh seeds. I also poured some water into the birdbath to create a layer of unfrozen water for the birds.

The chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and cardinals came almost immediately to the new seeds. White-throated sparrows and juncos arrived in no time to the seeds I had tossed onto the iced-over snow on the ground. There were few takers on the birdbath. Perhaps the thin coatings of ice were already starting to melt, meaning drinking water was otherwise accessible. Or, perhaps food was the greater priority at the moment.

Nothing unusual showed up at the feeder either. When other food sources are covered, birds that typically do not utilize feeders will sometimes visit. Robins, for example, are not common feeder birds, but when winter berries are not accessible, they may show up at feeders for mealworms or suet.

The icy fantasyland made for an interesting morning of photography. The precipitation had stopped, but the sky remained dark gray. There was not a lot of natural light to work with, so I did my best shooting the birds as they perched on icy branches near the feeders. The birds’ extraordinarily adapted feet allowed them to retain a tight grip, and their

A

The Simple Feast

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The Simple chUrrO cOOkies

The Simple Feast Simple

They taste like a cross between a Snickerdoodle and a Sugar Cookie. Not overly sweet as cookies go so the Cinnamon “ButterCream” Frosting is, quite literally, the frosting on the cake, or in this case, the cookie. My quest began like most any other, a deadline approaching and no idea what to write about. So rather than put my nose to the grindstone and hack out something on the keys I did what any other procrastinator in my position would do… I found something else to do. Now, this is nothing new, procrastination has been my M.O. (Modus Operandi) for as long as I can remember. Ask anyone close to this source and they will tell you that I have always put things off. In fact, I live by the adage, “Why do today what you can put off until next week?”.

As I was saying, my quest began like most others, an encroaching deadline, no idea what to write about, yadayada-yada, you get the picture. What better time to head out and do some errands. With town business done

I headed to a friend’s house to mooch a cup of coffee and drop off some items that I had promised him back about a month or so ago. On my way over I wrestled with the idea of, do I first go to the gas station and then swing in on my way home? Or should I stop by to see him first?

Either way I knew the visit would be good for burning a few hours of my life that I’d never get back. Needless to say, I stopped at my buddy’s house first, I still had a gallon or so until empty.

Driving a truck for a seasonal product, winter is my friend’s slow time of year. Usually I can catch him doing some farm chores and he’s usually got a coffee pot on the burner. Perfect timing, he was heading in the house to warm up and invited me in. As we sat solv-

ing the world’s problems the topic turned to education and how fewer and fewer kids today know how to read and write cursive. He handed me a sheet with his daughter’s writing and said it was pretty good for cursive. I looked at it for a moment and smiled.

“I think it’s time for you to get some glasses. This is print.” But, at thirteen and reared in the computer age, her handwriting was readable. And that is when I noticed that there were recipes on the page he handed me. Cupcakes, Cookies, and a few other items. While he complained about the state of the kitchen on any given evening, dishes stacked up and a general mess, he said he didn’t usually complain too loudly as she was becoming quite a good cook, so he could

deal with cleaning up the dishes.

I advocated that cooking and baking were excellent ways to reinforce not only reading and writing skills but also good for her math and science skills too. Baking is a series of actions, interactions and reactions that rely on precise measurements. And you can even introduce history to her, having her research the origins of a recipe or its ingredients. As well as skills development, cooking and baking are great ways to encourage active learning.

So why the Churro Cookie? Well, the Churro Cookie was one of the recipes on the sheet of paper I was reading. I was curious, to say the least, so I decided to look up Churro Cookies. Well, let me tell you, there are

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chOOsing A Wedding dAte

The most commonly asked question you will hear when your friends and family are informed of your engagement is “When is the wedding?” Choosing a wedding date is very important because almost all of your wedding planning details will revolve around the date that you choose. Here are some things to take into consideration to help you pick a perfect date for your wedding.

If you already know where you would like to have the ceremony and reception, you should call them and confirm what dates they have available. If you are set on a specific location, your wedding date will have to coincide with the availability of the location, especially if you have chosen a very popular location because these places tend to get booked very quickly.

Take into consideration what type of wed-

ding you have in mind. For example, have you always dreamed of a beach wedding sur -

rounded by the calming sounds of the ocean or a fall wedding with beautiful red and orange leaves in the background? You will have to choose a date that is appropriate in terms of temperature and seasons. In addition, if there is a particular style of dress that you have in mind, the time of year will influence your bridal attire choices.

Have you always wanted a wedding during a specific holiday such as Christmas? Christmas is a popular time because many wedding locations are already beautifully decorated at this time of

PHOTO COURTESY ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

DATE from 18

year. However, getting ready for a wedding in addition to all the activities that occur during the Christmas holidays such as shopping, parties, wrapping gifts can be too much for some people.

Maybe you thought having a wedding during a holiday would be easier for your guests due to the three day weekend. Some people may appreciate that your wedding is during a long holiday weekend while it might be difficult for others because many people plan their own vacations during these times of the year. Are there important people in your life that you feel must attend the wedding? While there will always be people who will not be able to make it, some people may be higher on your priority list than others. For example, if your maid of

honor is giving birth the same month you choose to have your wedding, you may want to give her a little time after the birth to feel more comfortable in her bridesmaid dress. Or maybe your parents

have a vacation already planned for the same time. Prevent scheduling conflicts as much as possible by discussing your wedding date with these important people to avoid any problems.

You are in a position of honor. Your close friend is assuming the position and he needs your help. He has asked you to be his “best man”, to stand by his side and support him through his last act as a free man. You relish your thoughts of all the fun aspects of your job; you get to help coordinate a stag party, ok, so maybe that’s the extent of the fun parts. Still you want to help your old buddy make as cool and smooth transition to the other side as possible; you want to be the best best man you can be.

You’re going to have to make a speech, a verbal representation of good times past, current times observed in a promising light, and words of ominous wisdom pertaining to the future of the newly linked couple.

Let’s break this speech thing down into some workable components. You need to first embrace the fact that as the deliverer of a speech, you need to project not only your voice, but others projectiles like enthusiasm, positivism, confidence, and an entertaining sense of composure. I know it

giving the Best MAn speech Weddings

sounds like a lot. Don’t worry; we have a plan to bring you through to the successful side of this speech writing/ delivery.

The most important component of your speech is not the words you choose to deliver, it is how you present them to your audience. Think about it, you know that the last thing that they want to endure is

a long winded, nonpersonally relevant, over-mushy, big bag of wind. They want entertainment. They want lighthearted laughter. They want it to be over relatively soon so that the celebration can continue. So there is your first lesson. In a nutshell: Be confident; speak up; smile a lot; don’t belabor your points. These aspects

of delivery will make even a poorly written speech flow easier thereby enhancing the undercurrent of the whole ceremony.

You are going to need to at least write a flowchart to have in front of your eyes to keep you on task. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be able to fake your way through it. Most people are not fluent public speakers. This has nothing to do with you; it’s just that public speaking, sometimes especially in front of friends and acquaintances who you would think you’d be at ease in front of, makes people nervous. Without some notes for reference, speechmakers commonly will

draw a blank at the crucial moment of deliverance. Although the friendly crowd won’t judge you for a poor performance, in retrospect you will wish that you had shined when the focus was on you. You will want to flow like a pro, making all wonder how you pulled off such an orchestrated masterpiece.

As for the content, that is where you are the expert already. Remember that you got this job because of your knowledge. You know the groom. You probably know him better than his new wife (mostly), especially if you have been friends for an extended period of time. Use your knowledge to bring out the lighter

side of life. Keep topics non-offensive and lighthearted for the most part. It is expected and would be a letdown to the crowd if you did not do at least a little grilling. Poke some borderline, yet still clean, fun at the groom and whoever else may be present as a target of your roomcaptivating speech. Spontaneity is a beautiful thing as well. If you draw a blank, just take a breath and tell a little story that nobody but you and the groom would know. The audience will appreciate being made to feel like insiders, and you will be remembered as the best man who knew how to lay it down like a breeze through the trees. Salute!

Almagra Barn At Waukewan Golf Club

Located in the heart of the Lakes Region, this 1800’s farm offers everything you are looking for in a charming New England setting. The Property had operated as the Almagra Farm before it became a golf club. “Almagra” translates to “Red” in native languages. 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.

Please contact Kim Hale at 603-677-2649 or email: khwaukewan@metrocast.net for more information.

Please contact Kathy Baker at 603-677-2513 khwaukewan@metrocast.net for more information.

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SPEECH

Please look into this matter. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are caught in their web. I am one of them. We are tired of the secrecy and silent complicity of many in our government who pretend they don’t know about it. I personally want it known because it’s part of the current spiritual battle going on in our country between good and evil. And I think knowing about it will help draw many Americans to Christ. Nazism at its core is Satanism. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Hillarie Goldstein Franklin NH.

Proper

Motivation

To The Editor: Just read in the news

how Mexico’s just agreed to send 10,000 troops to the border in order to help us police it. And all it took was for “Mr T” threatening to levy a 25 percent tariff on their products. Just like the late Col. Khaddafi agreeing to behave and cooperate after our fleet paid him a visit in ‘83. Isn’t it just amazing how reasonable and cooperative people can be when properly motivated?

Reminds you, doesn’t it, about the old story about the mule who would do whatever you told it to, provided you first whacked it between the eyes with 2x4?

B.J. Figuerdo Gonic, NH.

ministration has shifted its focus from Europe.

Migration

There’s no question that Germany along with France, Britain and Sweden have faced massive illegal migration from Afghanistan, Africa and Syria. Yet in 2015, former Chancellor Angela Merkel confidently opened the doors to a flood of Syrian migrants of which one million legally entered and settled in the country. To a point this worked, but in recent months Germany has faced regular terrorist attacks by many migrants especially Afghans. Friedrich Merz wants tough border controls and migrant asylum policies.

The rise of illegal migration has seen the growth in popularity of the populist and far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) a once marginal Eastern German rooted group a decade ago which has now surged to the second largest party in the German Bundestag. AfD’s rise is rooted in unchecked migration and marginalized job opportunities. The party appeals to disenfranchised voters among former Social Democrats and frustrated labor union voters across the country’s old industrial heartlands.

Now Frederich Mertz must build a coalition; an optimistic date is forming a new government by Easter. Though the CDU/CSU have become the largest party in the Bundestag with 208 seats, he will likely have to do a deal with the defeated Social Democrats (SPD) who hold 120.

Germany’s export driven economy has faced global headwinds for a number of years; but now with the threat of tariffs from the Trump Administration, the economic horizon has become cloudy. Equally the European geopolitical game-board may be changing and most countries are posturing for advantage.

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.

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At Johnson’s

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METZLER from 7

Governor of the Salem Colony and John Winthrop led the Boston Colony.

Another John, John Cotton, was a prominent minister in Boston. In 1636 another John, John Wheelwright, like all the others, came to New England from England where he had been a church pastor but was removed from his position because his theology was not acceptable to the Church of England. Before becoming a clergyman, Wheelwright went to college at Cambridge University where he was a classmate of Oliver Cromwell and apparently became known for his wrestling skills. John Wheelwright graduated from Cambridge in 1614 and came to Massachusetts in the year 1636 at the age of 44. Though Wheelwright was a Puritan

and was involved for a time at the church in Boston John Winthrop, the past Governor of the colony, didn’t believe that all of Wheelwright’s doctrine was sound and opposed his involvement in the Boston Church. This resulted in Wheelwright, with a group of supporters, going to Quincy in 1637 where they began a new church.

Wheelwright preached a sermon in the Boston church on a Fast Day which included opinions that offended ex-Governor Winthrop and others, and, after being tried in courts, Wheelwright was given fourteen days to leave the colony.

The banishment of the new Puritan preacher from Boston opened the way for the Puritans to start another church, this time in New Hampshire. Rev. Byington expressed the belief

John Winthrop.

that Rev. Wheelwright left Boston in a ship owned by one of his supporters, another John, John Clark. Traveling up the Piscataqua River, Wheelwright and a group of supporters settled on a large plot of land that the minister had apparently purchased from Indians, and which included pres -

GILPATRIC METAL RECYCLING

ent day Exeter and more land.

In the first division of land in the new town parcels were assigned to over 30 men and Exeter had its beginning as did the church which was under the leadership of Wheelwright. A log church building was constructed on what was called Meetinghouse Hill and the town and the church officially had their beginning on November 6, 1638.

Wheelwright has been called, not only the founder of Exeter, but also the founder of New Hampshire. There was no state government at that time, so the church and town were self-governing, as there was no other authority over them. They would in a few years become subject to Massachusetts before becoming a town of New Hampshire when the King of England proclaimed New Hampshire to be a Province.

the church with these words: “No one could vote unless he was a communicant, so that the town meeting was nothing but a church meeting and the deference to the clergy was unbounded, and not only the religious but the social and political authority was in the hands of the clergy. ... The clergy were consulted by the governor on every important question which arose, and their counsel was greatly heeded. Every inhabitant was obliged to attend the services of the Lord’s day, under the penalty of fine or imprisonment.”

In his 250th Anniversary sermon of the first Exeter church and the town, the Rev. Swift Byington emphasized the bind between the Puritan towns and

Though John Wheelwright offended some with his Fast Day sermon, he seems to have been held in high esteem by most of those whom he ministered to; however, he left and went to Wells, Maine after four years in Exeter when the four towns that are now part of New Hampshire, Dover, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Exeter were placed under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The church went through some unsettled times before Rev. Samuel Dudley became Pastor in 1650. But under Wheelwright’s leadership Governor Bell, who wrote of him said that “Exeter flourished and took permanent root.” And, “..good order seems to have prevailed in a degree unusual in a frontier hamlet.”

(Most of this article, but not all, was developed from the remarks of Rev. Swift Byington in 1888.)

vigorous shake.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the banged up parcel contained a large sweatshirt with a sassy quip emblazoned on its front. I did not mention the quip at that time and have no intention of divulging it now. I took the package and watched solicitously as he limped pigeon-toed back to his van.

I grinned as I closed the door and retreated to my den, His performance as he glided down the sidewalk had brought back memories of evenings when I slid my homework out of sight, slung my skates over my shoulder and headed for the nearest ice.

There is a pair of shoe skates tucked away in my attic but I have no intention of heading for the icy lake with them. I remember all too well

the last time that I tried to recapture the joy of skating.

Memories of my youthful agility bounced around in my mind as I shoved my feet, bunions and all, into the skates and laced them up. Getting up was not too difficult. By clinging to the wall desperately with both hands I managed to reach a fairly erect position. It was staying up that presented a problem. My ankles had the consistency of Jello as I hobbled carefully through the door, clutching at anything that promised stability and looking like a young miss trying high heels for the first time. Youth seemed long ago and far away as I tottered out on the ice and stood there, fearful that a deep breath would upset my equilibrium. I leaned like the Tower of Pisa, dreading

what might happen if I moved. My ankles were no help and I waited, wobbling helplessly and pondering dire punishments for those who had talked me into this.

Desperate, I threw caution to the winds, took a deep breath and hauled myself upright. It was not the smartest thing to do. My feet shot out from under me like the greased lightning, landing me on my fundament with a thud that rattled my back teeth. As I sat there cooling the area in contact with the ice I saw a tiny five-year-old do a graceful pirouette, twirl to a gentle stop and raise her eyebrows as she spotted me sitting there. Suddenly she collapsed in a hysterical fit of the giggles. I got the message. I didn’t even attempt to get up. On hands and knees I crawled back

into the hut, removed my skates and headed for home. I didn’t even look back.

Father did his best to encourage me to take a wider interest in winter sports, and along with Pete and some other male friends I managed to acquire nipped ears and frostbite on Luddy Frimble’s homemade bobsled. Coming down Muskrat Hill after an ice storm had slicked the road, Luddy spotted one of Milo Kooch’s cows slipping and sliding across the ice. He just missed her as she blatted and went spraddle legged down the ditch,

We shot off the road like a rocket, knocked down Deacon Whipple’s mailbox, tore through his lilac bushes, headed for the barn and soared over the manure pile. By the time father had stopped laughing, and I had bathed

in the washtub and mother had daubed my scratches with iodine, I had lost my enthusiasm for bobsledding.

Father once made me a pair of skis out of some long strips of ash steamed up at the tips. Inner tube elastics kept my overshoes from sliding out of the leather straps. We had a terrific snowstorm that year. Dogs were going crazy trying to locate hydrants under the snow. Even the fences on the pasture slope were buried.

Father gave me a high pressured sales pitch and, with skis slung over my shoulder, I trudged through the drifts to the top of the hill.

It was a beautiful day and with father’s enthusiasm ringing in my ears, I slipped my skis on and shoved off down the hill. Feeling the wind against my face,

I crouched into it. I felt as if I was flying as I picked up speed.

I was going faster than I like to remember when the tips of my skis slipped under a fence wire hidden under the snow. The skis stopped, the inner tube straps snapped and I soared through the air, flapping my arms and screeching like a seagull. I lost interest in skiing just before I made a four point landing.

The other day I slipped on a piece of ice in my back yard, did a Fred Astaire imitation and limped back into the house. If you are thinking of inviting me to go skating; forget it.

Bolduc Park’s Swamp Trail. Visit Bolducpark.org for more information about recreational activities and volunteer opportunities.

PATENAUDE from 3

a few handpainted trail signs tacked to trees.

“Swamp Trail, “Neighborhood,” and “Carrol’s Cutoff.” What a wonderful place to go skiing.

We skied by a tall

windmill on the edge of the ski trail and read the sign that it was an Eagle Scout project. When I got home I did a Google search and learned that it was Cameron Skarritt’s 2010 Eagle Scout

The Loon Center

& Markus Wildlife Sanctuary

The Loon’s Feather Gift Shop

Selling “all things loon” & more!

Copies of the trail map are available in the club house. This map was posted on the wall at Piche’s Ski & Sport.

project. Bob Bolduc, the park’s founder, had purchased the windmill and called the local Troop to see if anyone

Charlie admiring the 25 foot tall windmill that was Cameron Skarritt’s 2010 Eagle Scout Project. The windmill powers an air pump to aerate the pond.

Bolduc Park’s cross country ski trails criss-cross through the woods and go around the golf course.

Skiing here is a great place to learn to cross country ski and to sharpen your skills no matter what your level of experience. If you don’t own your own equipment Piche’s offers daily rentals for $25. They sell cross country ski equipment and have

season-long rentals and snowshoes too.

Piche’s Ski & Sport is nearby but they close at 5 pm so we hustled to get there before they closed. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet any of the Bolduc family members but the staff at the store were cheerful and

helpful.

There is still plenty of winter left. As I sit here typing away, it is snowing outside like crazy. I really am enjoying this wonderfully snowy winter! I hope you are too. Have Fun.

a plethora of recipes out there on the web with little variation. It seems like every food blogger has jumped on to the Churro Cookie recipe bandwagon. I finally settled on this one because it had a recipe for Cinnamon ButterCream Frosting with it. It is a delicious complement to the cookie.

For those still in the dark about Churro Cookies, they are the natural progression of the Churro. I say the natural progression because it seems that everyone is taking their favorite treat, no matter what it is, and turning it into a cookie. And at this point some of you may be asking, “What’s a Churro?” A Churro, my friends, is a delicious deep fried pastry type of dessert / snack that has been taken mainstream by street food vendors, carnival kiosks, and restaurants over the past few years. The most recognizable form of Churro is in sticks and spirals of simple dough that is piped into hot frying oil (think fried dough and doughnuts). Usually the stick form is piped through a star tip to give the sticks a fluted look. The finished sticks or spiral pinwheels (depending upon the vendor) are then tossed or rolled in cinnamon and sugar and sometimes a dipping “sauce” is sold with them; honey, chocolate, or a sweet glaze.

Where did the Churro come from? No one really knows for sure but one accepted theory circulating the internet points to old world Spain. Spanish shepherds are credited with combining flour, water, and salt to make a primitive dough and

CHURRO COOKIES W/ CINNAMON BUTTER CREAM FRROSTING

YIELD: 28-30 Cookies TIME: About 75 Minutes

Adapted from: https://lifestyleofafoodie.com/chewy-crumbl-churro-cookies for appropriate measures.

INGREDIENTS

Cookie Dough

¾ Cup Butter (softened)

¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar (softly packed)

¾ Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Small or 1 Large Egg

Cinnamon Sugar Mix

¼ Cup Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Cinnamon Butter Cream

2/3 Cup Butter (softened)

1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. Cinnamon

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

½ Tbsp. Vanilla Extract

¾ tsp. Salt

¾ tsp. Baking Soda

2 Cups + 2 Tbsp. A/P Flour

1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon

Dash Chili Powder

Dash Cloves

½ Cup Brown Sugar (softly packed)

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Tbsp. ½ and

½ Dash Salt

— PREPARATION—

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

- Cream together butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix until well blended.

- In a bowl combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon).

- Add the dry ingredients to the butter sugar mix, one cup at a time allowing each cup to combine well with the butter sugar mixture. Make sure you scrap down the sides of the bowl to fully mix all ingredients well.

- Combine the Cinnamon and Sugar ingredients in a separate bowl large enough to roll dough balls.

- Using a small ice cream scoop or two spoons, spoon out dough into 1.5 inch balls and roll the dough balls in the Cinnamon and Sugar mixture. Place dough balls on a cookie sheet allowing room for the dough balls to expand during cooking.

- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes. Do not over cook! Cook just long enough to “set” the edge of the cookie.

- Allow to cool while you make the frosting.

- In a mixing bowl combine the sugars, cinnamon, and salt (optional).Cream the sugar mixture together with the butter until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and then the half and half and continue to mix for a fluffy / creamy frosting.

- Once cookies are cool, using a piping bag and tip of choice, decorate each cookie or dab each cookie with frosting and spread with a knife.

then fried these “fritters” in a pan over a campfire. (Hmmm, sounds like a pancake?) These “fritters” were eaten for breakfast with coffee or tea. Somewhere along the way the dough was refined to make it a bit sweeter and, like

any good idea, someone decided to deep fry it. Then someone had a brilliant idea to actually “pipe” the dough into hot oil, roll the finished product in cinnamon and sugar, and behold! A carnival food star is born.

So of course the next

one half teaspoons of cinnamon and one and one half cups of sugar plus a roll in sugar and cinnamon, these cookies are not overly sweet nor spicy. And the Cinnamon ButterCream Frosting is a delicious addition, making this cookie seemingly cool to the pallet. While not overly labor intensive I will caution you that the recipe I found did take a bit longer than anticipated. And this cookie is not for the budget conscious as it is loaded with sugar: brown, granulated, and powdered. It’s all in there, and in copious amounts. And butter? Oh yeah! That’s in there too. I also added a dash of cloves and chili powder for a little zing. But, at a dash

of each the “zing” was negligible.

If you are a fan of cookies, cookies with cinnamon and sugar, cookies reminiscent of Snickerdoodles and Sugar Cookies, or you just want a cookie that is a step or two out of the ordinary without being too far off the beaten path, I suggest you give these Churro Cookies a try. Who knows, perhaps they just might be the perfect finish to your next Simple Feast.

Enjoy!

logical step in the Churro Parade is Churro Cookies and these cookies are really yummy! Especially when paired with the Cinnamon ButterCream Frosting. Now, believe it or not, for a cookie that calls for one and

quantitative results.

In a recent Pew Research survey, 74% of Americans said they feel that our children will be worse off financially than their parents. These are Americans living in a country with government bigger and more intrusive than that of their forebears.

The Fraser Institute in Vancouver, Canada, publishes annually an Economic Freedom of the World report.

Fraser measures economic freedom in 165 countries around the world. For every country, they measure the size of government, the extent of regulation, the extent to which the legal system works to protect personal freedom and private property, the extent to which every country is careful to not debase its national cur-

rency, and the extent to which it allows citizens and firms to trade freely internationally.

Every nation is quantitively scored in each of these areas and given a score for overall economic freedom.

The top 25% of countries in overall economic freedom scores have average per capita income -- $52,777 -- 7.6 times higher than average per capita income of the lowest 25% -- $6,968.

These are numbers, measurements, performance. Not ideology.

It’s much harder to diet and lose weight than to overeat and get fat. It’s much harder to sober up than to drink in excess.

But every individual, every country, sooner or later, must deal with reality.

Our country has lost its way.

Those on the left who are verbally assaulting the new Trump administration are the ideologues. They are in love with empty words and bankrupt ideas.

Fortunately, we now have tough and courageous leadership willing to do the very hard work of getting a great country that has lost its way back on track.

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.

ues, “This is a way for them to literally vote with their plate.”

Exactly. We should be able to use our money to “vote with our plate.” We should get to decide for ourselves if lab-grown meat (or anything) is something we want.

Maybe we won’t like it. Then we won’t buy it. But it’s wrong for politicians to forbid us to try things.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

countercurrent heat exchange kept their feet warm. Humans would have a much more difficult time trying to hold onto an icy perch. My hands are cold just thinking about it.

Other birds likely fled the area in search of food. They probably did not have to go far to find food sources that weren’t covered in ice.

This type of weather phenomenon is usually not very widespread. It is also not usually very long-lasting. In this case, the sun came out around noon, and by 2 or 3 in the afternoon, all was back to normal. It was beautiful and fun while it lasted, though. For me, anyway. I’m not sure the birds thought so.

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Symphony and Granite State Symphony. Tickets to the March 22nd performance are $10–$25 available online at www.LRSO.org. And mark your calendars! On May 10 and 11 LRSO concerts revisit the soul, funk, disco, and contemporary radio hits of the ’70s. Discount tickets are available for the pair of March 22 and May 11 Inter-Lakes concerts. The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra has been bringing exceptional live music to New Hampshire audiences for nearly 50 years. As we look ahead to our 50th anniversary season in 2025-2026, we remain dedicated to inspiring a love of classical music and showcasing the extraordinary talent of local and guest musicians.

Boat Slip For Rent

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Museum of Black History in D.C. Nell helped bring the name of Crispus Attucks, one of the victims of the Boston Massacre into national prominence.

Negro History Week was observed by schools and organizations. Mayors of some cities would pass resolutions observing Negro History Week. In 1976, President Gerald Ford was the first president to declare February Black History Month with these remarks:

“Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Every president since then has issued proclamations including President Trump who did so on January 31st.

I have mixed thoughts on Black History Month. On one hand, I think it is important for all Americans to learn of the incredible contributions made by many Black Americans from the Battle of Lexington to the Civil War, World War One and Two to the Deserts of the Middle East, Black Americans fought and died for our nation. Their ranks also include educators, explorers, inventors, architects, political leaders athletes, artists, clergy, doctors, poets, writers, jurist and every other profession and trade. However, the Left has hijacked Black History Month by promoting race hatred and division.

Leftists give us a sanitized version of the likes of WEB DuBois and Paul Roberson-

both communistswhile having disdain and contempt for Christians like Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver. And they ignore people like George and Philippa Schuyler, Julia Brown, Dr. Mildred Jefferson, and Clarence Thomas just to mention a few.(They especially hate Justice Thomas.)

Many prominent Black Americans including Morgan Freeman, Stacey Dash, and Vince Ellison have denounced Black History Month. In an interview on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace, Freeman said that “Black History is American History” and Black History should not be “relegated to one month.’

In a 2016 interview on Fox and Friends, Dash said: “We have

to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration, and if we don’t want segregation, then we have to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black,” she continued. “If it were the other way around, we’d be up in arms. It’s a

double standard. There shouldn’t be a black history month. We’re Americans, period.”

Vince Ellison, in a recent podcast, said that he “feels sorry for White folks” during Black History Month, that it is a “waste of time...A bunch of lies... Black people are oppressed… White people are low down and America is

bad...”

While it may be a while before we as a nation can jettison identity politics and the inordinate influence that the Cultural Marxist, Death Cultists and Self-Loathing Whites have, we can celebrate and honor the incredible accomplishments of Black Americans yearround.

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&

Walkways & Patios Concrete Demo & Repair

by Parker & Hart

SUPER CROSSWORD

B.C.

PUZZLE CLUE: ICKY ENDING

MAGIC MAZE SUDOKU

THEME THIS WEEK: UP--OR DOWN--

Answers on Page 29

The Winklman Aeffect by John Whitlock