02/18/2021 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

VOLUME 30, NO. 7

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

COMPLIMENTARY

Canterbury Shaker Village Snowshoe Race

Two hikers at the summit of Bald Knob in Moultonborough. Just one of some great hikes in the Ossipee Mountain SHAWN PAPP PHOTO Range.

Fun Winter Hikes Not Far From Home by Rob Levey

Weirs Times Correspondent

If you enjoy trails and are looking for an adventure this winter, you do not need to go far. “I love hiking in the Ossipee Mountains,” said Mara Michno, who lives in

Wolfeboro. “You can get a lot of peaks in there, and they have some good elevation and are just a short drive from my house.” Center Tuftonboro resident Rachel Ryan also loves the Ossipee Mountains. “I love them because

there is a trail there for all levels,” she said. “The views of the lakes on one side and the Whites on the other are just incredible.” Wolfeboro resident Megan Williams said hikers can earn a patch for “bagging” ten peaks in the Os-

sipee Mountain range. These mountains include: Mt. Shaw (2,990’), Black Snoot (2,803’), Faraway Mountain (2,782’), Mt. Roberts (2,582’), Mt. Flagg (2,390’), Turtleback Mountain (2,203’), Big Ball Mountain (Tate See HIKES on 24

In partnership with the New Hampshire Snowshoe Trail Race Series, Canterbury Shaker Village will be hosting a Bonus 2-4 mile snowshoe race Saturday, March 6 at 10 am. The race winds through the Village’s spectacular 700-acre grounds, with racers free to explore its open pastures, wooded trails, and take in views of Turning Mill Pond. After the race, enjoy hot cocoa & treats. In addition, prizes will be awarded. Registration for the race is $20 and is open at www.shakers.org. Participants may opt to run either one or two loops on race day. Please note that though this race is part of the New Hampshire Snowshoe Trail Race Series, it is a special bonus race, and will not count towards the series competition. The race is limited to 75 participants, and there will be no day-of registration. The race will follow strict Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all racers, staff, and volunteers. For more information on race details or registration, please visit www.shakers.org, or email Tom Walton twalton@nedelta.com or info@ shakers.org.

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SUZANNE’S WINDOWS

Furious With Impeachment To The Editor: I am furious with this impeachment trial. Why? This congress has no concept of the poor in their country that could use every cent they are wasting on an unconstitutional trial. The money being spent could easily feed hundreds of families or provide rent and mortgage payments. Trunp lost the election is that not enough humiliation to satisfy those bringing the charges? Apparently not because over a million will instead be spent in a wasted trial. I will never vote for any representative or senator who wastes taxpayer money for this trial. Harriet E. Cady Deerfield, NH.

China Repsonsible For Pandemic

To The Editor: Communist China exported the COVID 19 virus to the United States and the rest of the world, and it is primarily responsible for the millions of deaths, virus ailments, and economic hardship in the world. A study by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, which was subsequently removed from the internet by the Chinese government, stated researchers in two laboratories in Wuhan China had been gathering bats infected with the coronavirus since 2012, and they were ex-

perimenting with bats that could spread the virus to human beings. In 2015 the Wuhan institute of Virology conducted further experiments on bats capable of infecting human beings with the coronavirus. On November 18, 2019 the Wuhan Institute of Virology posted job openings for postgraduate students to study the coronavirus in bats and humans. In particular, the openings emphasized the experiments would involve letting the coronavirus lie dormant in some people for a long time without symptoms. It is noteworthy China has a history of students working in laboratories becoming infected. Subsequently, one researcher was bitten by a bat and another worker was secreted on by a bat. The woman director of the laboratory got the COVID 19 virus and died, and this was covered up by the Chinese authorities. These laboratory workers then infected people in the surrounding population of Wuhan China and the virus took off from there. Communist China might not have foreseen the possibility of the COVID 19 virus escaping from the Wuhan laboratories and infecting the world. However, China with its strictly controlled closed society had to know it could lockdown the country and bring the virus under control, but the open societies of most other countries, including the United States, are not conducive to locking down, and are prone to spreading the virus. Furthermore, China experimented with a virus capable of mass infection and being asymptomatic in people, which weaponized the virus.

Communist China owes the world pandemic reparations payments in the many tens of billions of dollars. It, along with other countries, must conduct in-depth reviews of the safety and security procedures in virus laboratories, and implement any necessary changes to ensure viruses cannot escape from laboratories. China, in particular, must stop experimenting with viruses, because it poses an ongoing health and security threat to the world. It should be sanctioned for developing and accidentally unleashing a biological weapon of mass infection into the world. Donald Moskowitz Londonderry NH

A Nation of Frightened Sheep?

To The Editor: When did we become a nation of frightened sheep? Wearing a mask probably doesn’t prevent transmission of the Wuhan Virus and is, for the most part, a gesture of obedience and a message that you can be frightened into giving up your liberties, even with a virus that has a 99% survival rate. Living in a free society always involves a certain amount of risk. I encourage people to deal with this risk and come to terms with the fact that your life on this earth will not last forever. Russell B. Cumbee Franconia, NH.

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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 over 20 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories

of the people 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 30,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 66,000 people reading this newspaper. To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 1-888-308-8463.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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ering and all my ski clothes in my car and outside my car I stand on a towel while I jump into my ski boots. Everyone dresses in the parking lot and then heads straight to the lifts. I confess I did slip into the lodge to visit the Lady’s room before clicking into my skis. I followed the one-way arrows into the lodge and found my way. Everything we need is available and to provide a safe experience for everyone the recommended guidelines are taken seriously. Physical distancing and limiting time in the lodges are feeling commonplace to me now. We nabbed the second chair up the Spear Mountain Express and flew down the perfect packed powder corduroy on Showboat beneath the lift. The softness beneath my skis as I cut arching grooves in the snow with my skis thrilled me. Runs like that make us wish they would never end so we See PATENAUDE on 22

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Newfound Lake Region Assoc Webinar “State Of The Lake”

Working Cat Program At NH Humane Society LACONIA - The New Hampshire Humane Society (NH Humane) is rolling out a new Working Cat Program which will place fully vetted cats into safe, independent living settings across New Hampshire. NHHS will look for adopters who are interested in having a cat to serve as a natural rodent deterrent for enclosed properties such as barns, churches, factories or other facilities. Most people know about service dogs or emotional support animals, but fewer people have heard about “working cats.” A working cat is a cat not suited for an indoor-only lifestyle. Working cats thrive in environments with more space, a job and prefer less pressure from humans and other pets. The concept exists at shelters across the country, as well as in a few communities in New Hampshire. The Working Cat Program will adopt out cats that are spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated. While donations are welcome and crucial to animal welfare organizations, the adoption fees will be greatly reduced or waived for working cats. In exchange for their services, the cats are to receive a place to live, food, water and vet care as needed. Candidates for the program usually fall into one of the following categories: •Under-socialized cats who prefer to keep their distance from humans •Feisty cats that play too rough when kept indoors only •Cats whose litterbox habits make them unsuitable to live indoors (and for whom medical issues have been ruled out) •Cats who previously lived as outdoor pets or indoor/outdoor pets The Working Cats Program is the first of several new initiatives planned for 2021 that are part of the new Community Response Initiative. NH Humane is looking to evolve its services in tandem with the work that Stanton is involved in with the national initiative called Human Animal Support Services. The consortium is evolving the way animal welfare functions and this will be reflected in new initiatives such as the Working Cats Program. The program launches later in 2021 and will be a permanent fixture at NH Humane along with numerous new or expanded programs. This program is made possible through a grant from the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust. For more information, contact Charles Stanton at charles@ nhhumane.org.

Newfounders near and far can tune in March 25th at 7pm Eastern Time to the Newfound Lake Region Association’s webinar presentation of “The State of the Lake”, where Executive Director Rebecca Hanson and Program Manager Andrew Veilleux will present findings on the health of the Newfound watershed and outline NLRA’s conservation initiatives for the coming year. Learn about impacts to watershed health, get the details from NLRA’s water quality collection data, and ask the lake experts your questions! Registration is available at: NewfoundLake.org/state-of-the-lake. Like communities across the globe, 2020 was an exceptional year for the people, plants, and animals of Newfound. A record number of visitors and recreators found refuge from the pandemic in Newfound’s clear waters and abundant forests, with reports of negative impacts from pet and human waste, crowded boat launches, and poor environmental stewardship. Simultaneously, the watershed faced drought conditions which can stress ecosystems and affect lake level management. The unique circumstances of the year also prompted many new and experienced recreators to realize the incredible value of Newfound’s clean water and natural spaces, prompting further support of local conservation efforts. Throughout the year’s trials, NLRA was able to safely maintain and even expand it’s programs, continuing it’s nearly 50 years of dedication to protecting the Newfound watershed. Through education, programs, and collaboration, NLRA promotes conservation and preservation of the region’s natural, social and economic resources. Learn more at NewfoundLake.org.

2nd Annual Abenaki Open On Saturday February 20th , the Wolfeboro Cross Country Ski Association will be hosting the 2nd annual “Abenaki Open’ This is a fun Nordic ski race for all ages and abilities. There will be a 1.5 k race for kids twelve and under, a 4k race covering moderate terrain, and a 5k race over more challenging terrain at the Abenaki Ski area. Registration is open from 8am to 10 am Allowing competitors to start right after they register. For more information about the race, go to www.wolfeboroxc.org

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

Live Free or Die.

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

Checking Out The Models When I was a young boy I enjoyed looking at models. Often they were on the pages of magazines I wasn’t supposed to be looking at in by Brendan Smith the first place. Weirs Times Editor It didn’t matter if the models were American or European, they all were fine with me, but I certainly couldn’t let anyone except my closest friends know I was looking at them. Today, as an older and more mature man, I still look at models, but not with as much enthusiasm. In fact, sometimes I prefer the European models over the American ones or vice versa. It really depends on the day. The models I focus on today aren’t in the pages of forbidden magazines, but on television. In fact, I will often gaze at these models intently on TV, with my loving wife by my side. She will often study them as well. In fact, many other folks are also very interested in these models. These models are, of course, the different scenarios of weather patterns that may or may not affect our lives over the next few days. My appreciation of either the American or European model truly depends on what kind of effect either model will have on my upcoming week. I had not really paid that much attention this winter to any of the models until this week. I wasn’t too concerned if it was the American or the European model which was correct. The weather patterns have been fairly quiet, precipitation wise, so there wasn’t that much cause for concern. I wasn’t very interested in what the weatherman and his models were up to.

But, of course, this is winter in New England and eventually the interest in models is inevitable at some point. This week is the first time in a long while I thought about the models. One of them was showing two storms making their way towards New Hampshire within days of each other that might cause a bit of disruption. I’m not sure if it was the American Model or the European Model, but neither one looked too good to me. It really didn’t matter. It looked as though the first really significant snowfalls of 2021 were upon us. Depending on which type of model you prefer, this would mean a feeling of despair or one of overwhelming joy when one sees the signs of that first cold front that is about to move in as it takes aim on a front of passing moisture moving in our direction that together may, or may not, drop copious amounts of that snowfall upon our wellinsulated heads. Some of us, who have nice, warm inside jobs worry will study the latest models to see if maybe that European beauty that is on its way might disrupt our morning and evening commutes. Those of us who work in businesses that depend on copious amounts of snowfall wait anxiously, hoping that the American model, predicting more snowfall, will beat down the European model which suggests much less. We watch the weather reports like they are election night returns; both parties waiting, fearful that things might not go their way. Their reactions will differ dramatically over what the results may be. The anti-snow crowd throwing empty hot cocoa packets at the TV screen when the latest update shows a probable direct hit and mounds of snow which will need to be moved from driveways, while the pro-

snow crowd puts away their coffee mugs, breaks out the champagne and proceeds to do a happy dance in their living rooms dreaming of skiing and snowmobiling. In rare instances, the antisnow party will go to bed feeling defeated as the forecast shows little hope, the weatherman calling it a victory for the pro-snow crowd, only to awaken to find that some kind of weird jet stream (or so the weather forecasters will claim to cover yet another mistake) showed up at the last minute and that foot of snow that had infiltrated the night’s bad dream, was no more than a dusting to an inch. Of course, when we are talking about weather, there are no recounts. When the news that these two models were both approaching the area, both parties came to life in hoping the best for their constituents. No longer were the other news stories of the day important. This was real thing. As I write this, it looks a lot like the pro-snow constituency is about to have their day while the anti-snow crowd will most likely be disappointed and try to cheer themselves up with cries of “Wait Until Next Week!” Meanwhile, I will, like most of you, come home, turn on the TV and follow these American and European models as they cross the country, following their every step. I won’t tell you which side I am on, but I can only say that the European model is looking pretty darn good to me right now. And my wife agrees. Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles” and “Best Of A F.O.O.L. In New Hampshire” available at BrendanTSmith.com. His latest book “I Only Did It For The Socks - Stories and Thoughts On Aging” will be published soon.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Maxine Waters, Racial Insurrectionist What a sick joke. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, one of the loudest mouths leading the impeachment circus against former President Donald Trump over the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6, is a brazen racial insurrectionist. The sixteen-term Democrat from South Central Los Angeles has been pouring verbal gasoline and tossing rhetorical Molotov cocktails into the by Michelle Malkin public square since the 1992 L.A. riots. Syndicated Columnist Now she’s the arbiter of civility and keeper of social order? LOL. Waters blasted Trump for telling his supporters on Jan. 6 to “be tough” and “take back their government” -- standard, peaceful stump speech fare. She blames our 45th president for the actions of a few who ignored his explicit call to remain “peaceful,” while denying that her own fighting words and direct embrace of riots have contributed to decades of violent incitement. Trump’s impeachment trial lawyers rightly allude to her instigation of mobs formed against administration officials at restaurants and public spaces. In their trial brief, Trump’s team contrasted the president’s anodyne encouragement for conservative activists to “fight like hell” for their country with Waters’ endorsement of physical harassment against Trump’s cabinet members: “If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd,” Waters shrieked in 2018 at a rally in Los Angeles. “And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.” That’s exactly what left-wing professional agitators, from Occupy ICE to antifa to Black Lives Matter to Smash Racism D.C. to the Sunrise Movement, have done over the past two years, targeting prominent Republicans and conservatives and their families on the streets and in their own homes. But the fact is that Trump lawyers only scratched the surface of Waters’ divisive and destabilizing diatribes. I first began covering “Turbulent Waters” in the early 1990s as an editorial writer and columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News. Let me remind you that newfound anti-insurrectionist Waters is the very same bloodthirsty opportunist who whitewashed the deadly L.A. riots as a “rebellion,” excused the week-long shooting, looting and arson orgy as “a spontaneous reaction to a lot of injustice and a lot of alienation and frustration,” and coddled Crips and Bloods gang members -with whom she performed the See MALKIN on 27

When The Hateful Think They Are the Virtuous This week, Virginia Heffernan, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, unleashed the most perverse column in recent memory. The title: “What can you do about the Trumpites next door?” Heffernan by Ben Shapiro wasn’t lamenting neighSyndicated Columnist bors who had tagged her house with proTrump graffiti, or who had participated in the Jan. 6 riots, or who had even held an election watch party and turned the music up too loud. No, Heffernan was lamenting the travails of living next door to Trump supporters ... who had cleared her driveway of snow. Heffernan writes, “Trumpites next door to our pandemic getaway ... just plowed our driveway without being asked and did a great job.” This simple act launched Heffernan into a journey of angst and rage. “How am I going to resist demands for unity in the face of this act of aggressive niceness?” she laments. “I realize I owe them thanks -- and, man, it really looks like the guy back-dragged the driveway like a pro -- but how much thanks?” In order to justify the answer she wants to give -- as little thanks as possible, because, after all, these are Evil Trumpites -- Heffernan proceeds to speculate as to her neighbors’ motives: Perhaps they only cleared her driveway because she and they were white. Or perhaps this whole event was a reminder that members of evil groups sometimes do good -- she compares them to the Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and the Nazis. If she treats her neighbors with too much decency, she reminds herself, that might make her like an upper-middle-class family from France who collaborated with the Nazis and lamented the Nazis’ defeat because of their commitment to being “polite.”

Heffernan seethes with the agony of cognitive dissonance. “My neighbors supported a man who showed near-murderous contempt for the majority of Americans,” she writes. “They kept him in business with their support. But the plowing.” In the end, Heffernan’s solution is to be nice -- but not that nice. She will offer a “wave and a thanks,” but she is “not ready to knock on the door with a covered dish yet.” She’s unwilling to give her neighbors “absolution,” ignoring the fact that they have not asked for absolution, nor do they require absolution for the great sin of voting differently and clearing her driveway of snow. “Free driveway work, as nice as it is,” Heffernan states, “is just not the same currency as justice and truth.” The only way she’ll be able to truly treat her neighbors decently is if they recognize “the truth about the Trump administration” and work “for justice for all those whom the administration harmed.” Then, she’ll be decent to her neighbors. Heffernan’s neighbors should immediately pile as much snow as humanly possible back onto her driveway, hose it off and let it freeze. The nasty snootiness Heffernan evidences is all too common these days. Heffernan obviously judges her neighbors not on the basis of what she knows about them but on stereotypes she holds about all Trump voters. When faced with the reality that those who disagree with her can be nice and decent people, she simply dismisses the possibility altogether, justifying her own viciousness by referencing their supposedly radical political beliefs. Which, of course, makes her the villainess in this particular morality play. But she’s too blind to see it. These days, tens of millions of Americans are. And so, the social fabric continues to shred, all in the name of depraved, unearned moral superiority.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Socialism Never Works Last week, I reported on two myths about socialism. My new video covers three more. Myth No. 3: Socialism works if it’s “democratic.” by John Stossel As the DemoSyndicated Columnist cratic Socialists of America put it, “Society should be run democratically -- to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few.” Sounds nice. If socialists are elected, then we’ll have a more just society. But Venezuela’s socialists were elected.

“They can start off democratically elected,” says economist Ben Powell, director of the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech, but “once they centralize control over the economy, it becomes impossible to ‘un-elect’ them.” Hugo Chavez was elected but became an authoritarian who chose his successor, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro now gets “elected,” by having opponents arrested and “ordering state employees to vote for him or they lose their job,” says Powell. “Socialism always becomes authoritarian?” I ask. “Everywhere you try socialism, that’s what you get,” he replies. “It’s hard to exercise political freedom if

you don’t have economic freedoms. If you’re dependent upon the state for your livelihood, you lose your ability to use your voice to oppose (the state) because you can be punished. And if the state directs the economy, some government department must manage millions of production decisions and prices. That never works. No bureaucrat can anticipate the needs and wants of millions of people in different places. No politician can match the wisdom of decentralized entrepreneurs making subtle adjustments constantly. Celebrities like Rosario Dawson, Susan Sarandon and Danny DeVito star in videos selling “democratic” social-

ism as “public schools” and “interstate highways.” They are not wrong. “Some industries are government-owned,” replies Powell, but “when you look at things that are inefficiently done -- public education, our congested streets -(it’s clear) socialized industries don’t work well.” “They do in Scandinavian countries!” say socialism’s promoters. That’s myth No. 4. Scandinavia does have big welfare programs, but capitalism pays for them. The socialists call Sweden socialist, but that’s just wrong. “Volvo is a See STOSSEL on 29

Keystone Pipeline Pipe Dreams? When the new Biden Administration spoke grandly of “restoring America’s place in the world,” that bold new relationship by John J. Metzler with Canada reSyndicated Columnist started with an insult. Indeed, while the United States and Canada are among the world’s best neighbors, trading partners, and security allies, the governments in Washington and Ottawa have often not kept to the spirit of close friendship. In one of its first lengthy Executive Orders, the Administration fired a hubristic salvo on climate policy; buried within pages of bro-

mides was the news that the USA would cancel its part of the joint Canada/U.S. Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline which was mired in controversy since its start over a decade ago, was first blocked by the Obama Administration and then revived by the Trump team. Already last year, candidate Joe Biden had promised to cancel the pipeline. A Wall Street Journal editorial stressed, “This is a slap at Canada.” Indeed. “Despite all the bonhomie and civility between Biden and Trudeau, the abrupt decision on Biden’s first day in office underscores just how irrelevant Canada and its Prime Minister are to the Biden Administration,” wrote Derek Burney, a former Canadian Ambassador to

Washington. Writing in Canada’s National Post, Amb. Burney called the Keystone decision “disrespectful” if not “insulting.” Alberta Premier Jason Kenney whose energy rich Province took what calls a “gut punch” for the Canadian and Alberta economies from Joe Biden’s decision, has demanded legal challenges to the American action, but it is more than curious to see the tepid response by Justin Trudeau’s own government to this setback. Let’s face it, Trudeau’s touchyfeely Liberal government was never a fan of Alberta’s enterprise-driven Western policies, Kenney or Keystone for that matter. For Trudeau’s Liberal party it’s time to move on from Keystone and

to energetically embrace Biden’s and the UN’s climate policies as the greater greener good to preserving jobs and livelihoods on both sides of the border. Trudeau’s Trade Minister Mary Ng told Bloomberg, “I don’t think that getting into a trade war with the U.S. is in the best interests of Canadian workers or the energy sector,” she added, “What we’ve got to do is find that common ground where Canadian interests are viewed and seen as American interests as well.” When complete, Keystone XL would ship more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Alberta’s oil sands to U.S. refineries. The pipeline represents of part of a wider U.S./ C a n a d a See METZLER on 27

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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During pre-COVID times, wedding concerns like venue capacity had far more to do with budget and vision than with the health and safety of guests. It’s a different world today, but with some careful planning you can still find ways to safely celebrate your love. As the vows say, marriage is in good times and in bad. It may simply require some flexibility and creativity to make your dream day a reality. Enlist help from an experienced coordinator. If you weren’t planning to use a wedding coordinator, the pandemic is a compelling reason to reconsider. Keeping track of changing mandates and how they affect gatherings, crowd sizes and more is a job in its own right. Allowing your coordinator

to keep tabs on the latest recommendations, and adjust arrangements with your vendors accordingly, may save a great deal of time and frustration. Be realistic about your invite list. A year ago, it would have been

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unthinkable to create a tiered guest list and even consider making cuts even after invites go out. Today, that decision may be out of your hands. Rather than waiting until you get news that you’ll have to make cuts, take time now, with a level head and less emotion affecting your decisions, to segment your list. Determine who absolutely must be pres-

ent as you exchange vows then expand in increments. Your coordinator or venue contact can help you determine thresholds (e.g., 25, 50 or 100 guests) based on the guidelines in your community. Understand expectations. Vendors are required to enforce local guidelines, so ensure you’re clear on what measures they will implement on your day. This may include everything from masks and distancing to whether you’re allowed to use a dance floor during the reception. Keep guests informed. If you haven’t already, create a blog or send out regular updates about wedding plans to guests. If circumstances require you to uninvite someone, be conscious of timing and give plenty of notice so travel can be canceled, if necessary. As the event approaches, be clear about expectaSee TIMES on 10

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Newlyweds: Money-Saving Tips For Your First Move Together With the average wedding costing upwards of $30,000, starting your new life together takes a lot of careful budgeting. After you’ve finished paying for the flowers, reception hall, caterer, photographer and everything else related to your big day, you may not have much money left over when it comes time to move into a new home together. However, managing your move can be your first big DIY home project together, and it’s one that’s very doable on a budget. Whether you’re moving in together for the first time or moving up from a smaller apartment to the home where you’ll start your married life, you can save money and make your move go smoothly with a few tips: Streamline If you were both living on your own before marriage, you probably have duplicate items you won’t need, such as two sets of pots and pans, dishes, glassware and furniture. You also likely received some wedding gifts that can replace old stuff. Don’t take things you don’t need with you to your new home. Instead, streamline by selling or donating excess stuff. Selling unneeded items can put some money in your pocket when you need it most. Or, donating goods can help you get a tax credit for charitable contributions when you file your taxes

next year. Hold on to gift cards If you received gift cards for your wedding, you might be tempted to spend them right away. However, every item you buy before the move is one more thing you’ll have to pack and haul. Put off using gift cards until after the move, when you can use them to help decorate or furnish your new home.

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Line up your moving truck Renting a truck and doing your own packing and driving are great ways to save money on your move. If you’re moving from a small apartment or condo into a larger home, you probably have less stuff, and a smaller vehicle - such as a 12- or 16-foot Penske rental truck should be big enough. Gen-

erally, moving experts recommend you plan for 150 cubic feet of space for every furnished room you’ll be moving. Be sure to reserve your truck at least two weeks in advance, and ask about discounts; Penske Truck Rental offers discounts for AAA members and military personnel. Pack wisely You’ll need multiple See MOVE on 10

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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. 166 Waukewan Road

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TIMES from 8 tions so guests can arrive prepared or bow out if they’re not comfortable with what you’re planning. Make safety convenient. Providing masks, gloves and sanitizer can all go a long way to help make guests feel more secure at your event. A personalized hand sanitizer holder might even be a practical gift that guests can use and think fondly of your wedding day. Forego traditions,

for now. The pandemic won’t last forever, but while it’s still here, consider skipping high-contact traditions like photos that bring multiple households together or a receiving line where everyone is in close contact. One alternative is to plan a mini-wedding (or even elope) now, and save the bigger celebration for later, when everyone can honor your marriage more safely. Find more wedding advice and tips for daily life at eLivingtoday.com.

MOVE from 9 sizes of sturdy boxes to pack and protect your belongings for the move. Your local truck rental store will have all the packing supplies you need. Start early and pack over time so the job doesn’t feel overwhelming. Label each box with the contents and the room where it will go in your new house, tape it securely and it’s all ready to go onto the truck on moving day. Loading up Loading the truck well maximizes the use of the space and helps protect your belongings while they’re in transit. Load the heaviest boxes and items first, placing them on the bottom of the truck. Next, load lighter items and boxes on top. Penske’s Truck Wizard application can help you plan how best to pack your truck. Drive safely Your move may be the first time you’ve driven a vehicle larger than an SUV. Safely driving a moving truck takes some caution, such as using your mirrors to help navigate turns, avoiding abrupt stops or lane changes, and setting the emergency brake every time you park. For more tips on driving a moving truck, visit pensketruckrental. com. Moving into your first new home together can be an exciting experience. With some planning and care, you can accomplish your move smoothly and on budget.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Not So . . . o g A g N o L

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

Once Upon A Time When It Was Winter The Games We Played

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

One of my grandsons and I stood looking at some old board games and I asked him if he thought he would like to have any of them. His reply was that he thought his family had the modern versions of those games. We didn’t have a winter of coronavirus restraints when I was a youngster, but we did not have all the conveniences my grandchildren enjoy today. No television, little radio reception at night, none of the electronic game devises youngsters enjoy today, and, of course, no internet. But that was okay because we don’t miss what doesn’t exist. We did have games, however, and sometimes manufactured our own games to play. One of my first games was a card game called “Old Maid.”If I remember correctly the object was to get rid of your cards and the person who was left with the

An old Baseball Board game. old maid card at the end of the game was the loser. A game where the focus was on the loser, not the winner. I expect in today’s world where we have to be super-cautious about offending anyone by how we label them that ‘Old Maid” is an off limits game. There could be cries of “discrimination” or “oldmaidophobia.” Another card game was the game of “Authors” where each player tries to collect sets of four cards depicting the same author. I remember gathering around the sitting room stove on a winter’s day and playing that educational game teaching young minds the names of classic au-

thors and some of the books they wrote. The card table was set up for the games using regular playing cards, and until I came to the realization that those games were used by some to gamble their money I was unsure why I heard warnings about playing cards. Of the board games I mentioned the most popular had to be Monopoly. There are many versions of this game today, but there was only one when I was a child- one that took a long time of playing to produce a winner. Many a game had to be suspended to be continued, and possibly completed at a later time as Monopoly was difficult for a player to

attain a monopoly.. Then there were games of checkers and chinese checkers and Parcheesi. This is a royal game of India. There were sports board games which someone would receive as a Christmas or birthday gift which also provided entertainment on cold winter days or other times of the year. The most used sports board game by our family was the All-Star baseball game. Player’s names were printed on round cards with 12 numbers representing possible results of the player’s turn at bat, A spinner determined which outcome the player experienced in a fantasy game. AnothSee SMITH on 26

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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Order your autographed copy today for $13.99 plus $3 for shipping. (Please include any inscription you would like the author to personalize your copy with.) Make out checks or money orders for $16.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: The Flatlander Chronicles, c/o The Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247. Order online at www.BrendanTSmith.com (Pickup autographed copies at the Weirs Times)

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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. Every attempt is made to express thoughts according to statements made by God in the Bible. It is written so that we may remain one Nation under God by always following His will, in order to continue to enjoy His blessings of individual and national life that only He, the source of life, can give.

these responses to your questions, the time of day. On the other hand, if I am God and God alone, you will want to listen very closely and follow my counsel even more diligently. First let me remind you of an inviolable law, the law of Non-Contradiction. It states: if X is in conflict with Y than, either X is wrong and Y is right or X is right and Y is wrong or they are both wrong. They can never be both right. If someone held up a “yellow” No 2 pencil and one person said it was yellow & another said it was green, either yellow is right and the green is wrong or the green is right and yellow is wrong, but they can never both be right. In light of this inviolable law, when I say I am God alone, and others say they are God, either I am right, and they are wrong, or they are right, and I am wrong, or we are both wrong. We can’t both be right. You must also consider that the term God assumes supreme being. None higher. No two gods can be supreme at the same time. With this as a vital starting point let me tell you one of many reasons why I am God and why you therefore should listen very carefully in the weeks ahead to my answers to your questions. In case you don’t know, I have written you a book that purports to know the past and the future. It is called the Bible. In it I predicted, sometimes thousands of years before events happened, that they will occur precisely as I promised.

Consider that only God, who stands outside time can know the events of the past and the future. Isaiah made this very clear and affirmed, that the one who knows and declares these events from the past, when no one was around to witness them, or declares the future, when no one has been there yet, has to be God (Isaiah 44:68; 45:18-21; 46:9-11; 48:3-6). Let me give you one very important example. After, Adam & Eve disobeyed me and began their death march that was passed on to all humanity, I promised to send a Savior who would rescue all who chose to return to me from the death grip of the Devil (Genesis 3:15). Throughout the entire Old Testament, I revealed, through prophecy, over 300 details of the coming of my Son, Jesus, who would give His sinless life to pay your debt of sin to restore you back to me and to life that will last eternally. These details were beyond the ability of anyone to fabricate since they included the time (Daniel 9:24-27) and place (Micah 5:2) and means of His birth (Isaiah 7:14) and His substitutionary death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) and of course His resurrection (Psalm 16:9-10; Isaiah 53:10-11). The odds of even 8 of these events being fulfilled by one person have been calculated by a mathematician.* He calculates it would be 1x10 to the 17th power. To illustrate these odds of any one person fulfilling only 8 of the

Letters From God

Question What makes you think you are God? Why are you God alone? Why are you “better” than other gods? What a great question? What an important question? If I am not God, and if I am not uniquely and solely God, I am an imposter whose words will ultimately hurt you more than help you. I wouldn’t give

over 300 prophecies, it would be the equivalent of spreading silver dollars over the state of Texas 2 feet thick. Then marking one and asking an individual who is blindfolded to have one chance to pick that coin. If you think that is something, you wouldn’t believe what I have prophesied for the second coming of my Son, when he will come not to die as a substitute for sin but to reign as King of Kings as He consummates human history. If you could only see, you would be astounded at these events and the way the world is moving rapidly toward them. I wish we had more time and space to talk but I will speak more in the weeks ahead. I am God, and this is only one evidence of my credentials as God. If you haven’t yet opened my book, the Bible, I would encourage you to start today. As you do, list questions you may like to ask. I’ll give a summary of my book in my next letter in response to a question another has asked. Please know that I love you and I long to have you return to me so I, as a loving heavenly Father, can pour out my blessings of life on you, now and forever. God *Stoner, Peter W. Science Speaks. Chicago: Moody Press, 1963, pp 100-107. “Letters From God’ is written by New Hampshire Pastor.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

Winter Of The Rarity by Chris Bosak

this many. I can’t remember a winter with so many sightings of siskins, redpolls, redbreasted nuthatches and grosbeaks. This winter (really late fall) also featured a flight of purple finches moving sough through the region. This could all make for some interesting notations on Great Backyard Bird Count and New Hampshire Winter Bird Survey checklists. I hope you See BOSAK on 28

Contributing Writer

Now the reports of redpolls are coming in. It has been a winter full of rare-bird alerts where the sightings are coming in from the woods as well as people’s backyards. People have been reporting red-breasted nuthatches and evening grosbeaks at their feeders for a few months already. There have also been reports of pine siskins, but not in the great numbers of the big irruption winters for that bird. In the woods and fields, and mountains for that matter, pine grosbeaks, whitewinged crossbills and red-winged crossbills have been showing up on reports. Boreal chickadees, long a target bird for life-listers south of the Boreal forest, have been found on the mountaintops of the Monadnock Region. The exceptional winter continues with sightings of redpolls occurring throughout New England. I have heard from a few readers who have seen these small northern birds and have reported them with rightful delight. There are two types of redpolls that occur in New England: common and hoary. Common, as its name suggests, are the ones more frequently seen

Common redpolls visit a feeder in New England CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO one recent winter. in New England. Redpolls somewhat resemble sparrows in size and color but have a red-topped head, black spot under the bill and rosy wash throughout that is more obvious in some individuals than in others. Sarah from Sandwich last week reported having more than 20 redpolls at a time at her Droll Yankee feeders. Some of the redpolls preferred to grab the seeds from the ground, she wrote. Amy from Harrisville also wrote in to say she has had a lone female redpoll at her feeders. I had dubbed last year’s cold months as the winter of the bluebird because so many people (includ-

ing myself) were reporting sightings of these cheerful birds in their yards. The year before that it was the winter of the barred owl as those awesome birds of prey were being found in unusually high numbers. I have dubbed other winters in honor of snowy owls and robins. Perhaps this is the winter of the rarity with so many different rare birds being found throughout the region. I’m using “rare” in a general sense as these birds are not particularly rare in their normal range, but they are somewhat rare sightings throughout New England. Winter typically features an irruption of a species or two, but not always

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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For The Ages

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The recent Super Bowl triumph involving a 43year old quarterback should inspire people of all ages. Forty-three is the new thirty-three say some. Works for me. But Tom Brady is not the first to cheat Father Time and Mother Nature. The biblical Abraham reportedly lived to be 175. And remember Tom Watson almost winning the British Open at age 60? Gordie Howe played pro hockey well into his fifties. Carl Yastrzemski hit .266 with ten homers and 56 RBIs at age 43 during his 23rd Red Sox season. Another 43-year-old, George Blanda, captured the imagination of the country in 1970 when the Oakland Raider backup quarterback passed for several gamewinning touchdowns. But he also kicked a 48-yard field goal with 3 seconds left for a 1717 tie with the Chiefs. A week later he threw a touchdown pass with 96 seconds left to tie a game with the Cleveland Browns. Then with three seconds left he kicked a 52-yard field goal for the win. Top that Tom Brady! Erramatti Mangayamma recently gave birth to twins in India at the age of 74.

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George Blanda. Is 74 the new 44? And consider that our new president, Joe Biden, is going on 79. Is 79 the new 69? I do remember Democrats howling that Ronald Reagan was too old to be president at age 69. Dem thinking has apparently “evolved.” Again. Although there are clear indications that President Biden has “lost his fastball” as he has ever more trouble speaking clearly. Look for Vice-President Kamala Harris to be summoned from the “bullpen.” Soon. Biden apparently still feels spry though. Not that long ago he spoke of taking Donald Trump “behind the gym to beat the hell out of him.” Wow. Biden occasional cites other successful oldsters as models and inspiration for still working as he approaches 79. But I don’t think

he’s cited Abraham yet as one of them. But if he did, I can imagine the ghost of Ronald Reagan, the erstwhile football Gipper, visiting the White House to chastise Biden. “I knew Abraham,” the Gipper might say. “Abraham was a friend of mine. And Mr. Biden, you are no Abraham!” Sports Quiz Who was the oldest baseball player to hit an MLB home run? (Answer follows) Born Today That is to say, sports standouts born on February 18 include Notre Dame football star George Gipp. The Gipper was born in 1895 and died in 1920. Knute Rockne’s Fighting Irish “won one for the Gipper” when they beat Army on Nov. 10, 1928.

Sports Quote “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?” – Satchel Paige, who threw his last MLB pitch at age 59. Sports Quiz Answer New York Met Julio Franco was almost 49 when he hit a home run off of 43-year-old Randy Johnson in Arizona on May 4, 2007. Jack Quinn was almost 47 when he homered for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930. State Representative Mike Moffett was a Professor of Sports Management for Plymouth State University and NHTIConcord. He co-authored the critically-acclaimed and award-winning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A WarriorActor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon. com. His e-mail address is mimoffett@comcast. net.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Wicked BREW Review

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Flavorful Stouts - Part I

WHAT’S ON TAP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?? A listing of some of the area’s beercentric watering holes where you can find old favorites on tap as well as some cutting edge seasonals.

ACKERLY’S TAPHOUSE GRILL & GALLEY At Johnson’s Seafood & 83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383 Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com Henniker - Kolsch 603- Winni Ale Tuckerman - Pale Ale Great Rhythm - Squeeze Moat Mountain - Stout

by Jim MacMillan Contributing Writer

In past years, I’ve drawn attention to winter and how hearty stouts are so enjoyable is this timeframe. Is it that we are drawn to bolder flavor in colder months? Are we not worried about ‘putting on our winter coat’ (a phrase used to illustrate how winter beers add to our waistline) or is it that we want to explore new taste varieties? Well, all three reasons may be true. Stouts are for winter like light beers work in the summer. So with this established, I’d like to introduce you to some very differently flavored stouts that are intriguing and satisfying. Each has a bragging right and each is worth trying. Part 1 will tell you about two stouts from Maine and Massachusetts while Part 2 will discuss two other amazing stouts from larger brewers in both east coast and west. All four are different but worth examining. Let’s dive in… Holy Donut Imperial Stout from Lone Pine of Portland, Maine, is absolutely original. Combining dark choc-

COPPER KETTLE TAVERN olate and toasted coconut may remind you of a Girl Scout cookie variety called Samoas. Roll that taste into a decadent 10.5% imperial stout and you have Holy Donut. The name comes from a local Portland donut shop which has supplied the main taste ingredient for this beer. Deep and dark with a plentiful khaki head, Holy Donut is smooth and luscious. The coconut is nicely apparent and the donut side is not overwhelming. Slight booziness is encountered but doesn’t steal the show as you partake. It is slightly sweet in both aroma and taste with some expected stout bittering at the end of your sampling. Consider it to be a dessert drink or a sipper with friends. Lone Pine has a well established line of amazing beer so add

this to your shopping list and any others you may encounter. Wide Awake Imperial Stout from Night Shift Brewing in Everett, Massachusetts, is a hefty blend of Night Shift’s own coffee beans infused into a mighty tasty stout. You might ask yourself, ‘coffee and stout?’ but it is a perfect combination. Just like bourbon barrels add a compelling difference to stout, coffee does as well. It’s like peanut butter and Jelly. There’s lots of perfectly balanced expresso aroma and flavor right up front on this one followed by dark chocolate and vanilla. It couldn’t be more different from Holy Donut due to its bean bittering, though they look almost identical. At 9% ABV, Wide Awake throws you a curve ball that you’ll

want to catch over and over. BeerAdvocate.com hasn’t officially rated either Holy Donut or Wide Awake yet as of this writing. You can find both of these great beers at Casen-Keg in Meredith as well as other fine beer providers. Try sampling these stouts side by side and give them your own rating as to which one you enjoy most. As mentioned above, it is still Stout Season. See you next week for Part 2.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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I was looking for a baking pan in the back of a cupboard and inadvertently discovered I have quite a collection of casserole dishes. I started thinking about all the casserole recipes I’ve collected over the years. When I was a newlywed and novice cook almost 46 years ago, preparing a casserole was my “goto” dinner recipe. I decided to do some research on the origin of the casserole, and I discovered a photo of an ancient casserole dish in a museum in Athens, Greece. Casseroles, both the dish and various recipes, have had a long and interesting culinary

detailed information about casseroles: “Casserole cookery has been around since prehistoric times, when it was discovered that cooking food slowly in a tightly covNEW Craft Beer Destination in The Weirs! ered clay vessel softened fibrous meats OF and blended succuHOME lent juices. With the addition or subtractions of leftovers or inexpensive cuts of 36 Rotating Craft Taps • Great Lake Views • Delicious Pub Food meat, the casserole is OPEN ALL YEAR - FULL LIQUOR LICENSE flexible and economical in terms of both 603-409-9344 • 59 Doe Ave, Weirs Beach, NH ingredients and effort. The classic casserole, s a French dish, was k 603.527.8144 a e originally made with t myrnascc.com S od • a mound of cooked o ta af rice. Fannie Meritt s Pa Se Farmer’s Boston CookItalian & American Comfort Food ing School Cook Book Formerly known as (1896) had one casseNadia’s Trattoria, voted role recipe, for Casseone of the top ten restaurants role of Rice and Meat, Veal Francese and Eggplant Rollatini in NH by Boston Magazine. to be steamed for 45 minutes and served — Join us Tue-Thurs from 3-5 p.m. for Small Plate Specials — Hours: Tues. Wed. & Thur 3-9pm Fri. & Sat. 3-9:30pm with tomato sauce. Located under the canopy at 131 LakeatStreet At Paugus Bay Plaza,Bay Laconia Located under the canopy 131 Lake Street at Paugus Plaza See DISH on 21 history. There’s some debate about the origin of the term “casserole” but most culinary histo-

rians think it’s from the French word for “saucepan.” Casseroles come in a variety of styles, but what they all have in common is that they are typically a large, deep dish used both in the oven and as a serving vessel. The word casserole also is used for the food cooked and served in the dish. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America provides

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

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DISH from 20 “In the 20th century, casseroles took on a distinctive American identity. During the depression of the 1890s, the economic casserole provided a welcome way to stretch meat, fish and poultry. Certain items also were scarce during World War I, and leftovers were turned into casserole meals. The same was true during the Great Depression of the 1930s.” The casseroles we know today became popular in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Typically, casseroles are composed of a meat, starch, creamy sauce (after 1934, it was usually a creamed soup from a can) and a vegetable. Casseroles are an economical, one-pot meal, and can be prepared in advance for breakfast, lunch or dinner. During the 1950s-’70s, casseroles became an easy way for a busy cook, and a modern workforce composed of women, to prepare the family meal ahead of time. Today, casseroles have been updated to include a variety of ingredients from lobster and tofu to made-from-scratch sauces and locally grown vegetables. The shape, size and construction materials of casserole dishes have also changed over its centuries-old history. However, the purpose of the casserole is still the same, to bring a

familiar container of comfort food to the ones we love. Bring a little comfort to your family and friends with this Sausage and Gumbo Casserole With Garlic Toast Topping, and enjoy a little history with each bite! Sausage And Gumbo Casserole With Garlic Toast Topping 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 cup instant roux mix, like Tony Chachere’s Creole Instant Roux Mix 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, like Rotel’s 1 (32-ounce) container chicken broth 1 (16-ounce) package frozen okra 1 cup quick-cooking

rice, uncooked 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 3 tablespoons butter, melted 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (12-ounce) French baguette, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices Fresh parsley, finely chopped for garnish 1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over high heat, 1-2 minutes. Add the sausage, green bell pepper and onion. Saute the sausage mixture for 8 minutes or until browned; stir in roux mix. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. 2. Stir in tomatoes, chicken broth, okra, rice, Cajun seasoning and thyme. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. 3. Stir together butter and garlic; brush on one side of bread slices. Top sausage mixture evenly with

bread slices, buttered side up. 4. Bake, covered, at 425 F for 10 minutes. Then, uncover casserole dish and bake 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Makes 8 to 10 servings. Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. Her latest cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro. com. To see how-to videos, recipes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva! on Facebook. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from Angela Shelf Medearis. (c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc., and Angela Shelf Medearis

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

The gentle Meadows Carpet is a wonderful slope for beginners. Ragged Mountain Resort’s snowsport instructors wear bright orange jackets and their students wear numbered bibs. The Learning Center is booking private Dan flying down Cabin Fever at Ragged Mountain. Be sure to plan ahead lessons, adventure camp and learn to ski programs. and buy your lift tickets online in advance. SkiNH.com is a good resource for ski area winter operations updates. Know Before You Go: plan ahead, PATENAUDE from 3 was a kid. The three R a g g a e G l a d e s a r e did the next best thing of us skied together wind open and nice buy online, wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, boot up at and rode the lift to the since it is a good idea packed powder mo- the car and please stay home if you’re feeling sick. top again. Bria is a season pass holder and skis most Thursdays, she knows the mountain well. On the slopes we met another ski pal, Dan. He’s been skiing Ragged since he

not to ski the glades alone and it is a lot more fun skiing with pals. Bria and Dan took turns leading me down the trails and into the glades. We floated our way down gentle glades,

guls. Raggae Glades is also the Uphill Skiing Route and we stopped and chatted with a couple of men skinning up the mountain. They said they were going to go up and down the mountain

two or three times. A current pass/ticket or a $10 uphill only ticket is required and only busy holiday/ weekends it may not be permitted.

In the Stone Hearth Bar the Groomer Pizza with maple buffalo sauce with chicken and blue cheese crumbles hits the spot. We worked our way into the more difficult glades that are steeper and the trees are tighter. We had fun going down Pel’s Pass and Not too Shabby and we dodged a few rocks and trees successfully. Even a few days after the snow fell we were able to make fresh tracks in the untouched between the trees. Between glade runs we skied the trails,

groomed and ungroomed. Spear Mountain’s Flying Yankee was buffed out and the turns and changes in terrain made for some fast bold skiing. Fluffy ungroomed Cabin Fever tested our skills and delighted us. We skied from the opening bell until 12:30 with no break. Bria and I decided we’d go to the Stone Hearth Bar See PATENAUDE on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Skiing the cold powder snow in the glades at Ragged Mountain Resort. fun run down Exhibition Glades completed my day. Bria told me she made a couple more runs and hit the magic 20 run mark. Though neither one of

Uphill skiers showing off in the Raggae Glades. Uphill $10 passes or a season pass/lift ticket are required. us made it until closing at 4 pm, it was a perfectly dandy day. I can’t wait to go back. Have Fun.

Amy Patenaude is an avid skier/outdoor enthusiast from Henniker, N.H. Readers are wel-

come to send comments or suggestions to her at: amy@weirs.com.

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The Wild Side Terrain Park has more than a dozen features and jumps and this one is a biggy! PATENAUDE from 22 for lunch. The tables are widely spaced out and due to restricted lodge space we are all asked to limit our time in the lodge to no more than 30 minutes. We ordered a 16 inch pizza and while we waited for it to come out we sipped a glass of Ragged’s signature beer, Rags to Riches IPA brewed locally by The Flying Goose Brew Pub. Bria checked her tracker and we had

skied 14 runs. No wonder we were hungry. I am not lying, we ate the entire pizza. The bartender when she presented us with the check commented she didn’t think we’d really eat the whole thing. All warmed up and our bellies full and we hit the trails again. I am glad we made it back out because the clouds lifted and a grand view of Mount Cardigan appeared in the distance. A few more groomers and a

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

HIKES from 1 Mountain) - 2,060’, Bayle Mountain (1,853’), Bald Knob (1,801’), and Sentinel Mountain (1,680’). “Having grownup in Tuftonboro, Bald Knob is my personal favorite,” said Williams, who cited multiple ways to approach it. For hikers who are pressed for time, but desire “a stellar workout and stunning view” of Lake Winnipesaukee, she recommended hiking up Bald Knob from Rt. 171 on the Tuftonboro/Moultonborough line. “It’s short, yet challenging, and is sure to get your blood pumping,” she said. Hikers can also summit Bald Knob via Castle in the Clouds (Moultonborough). “These trails are well-marked, and there’s nothing quite like the beauty of approaching the summit of Bald Knob from the

Taking in the magnificent view from Bald Knob.

MEGAN WILLIAMS PHOTO

Carriage Road,” said Williams. “It’s a less challenging hike, but it is longer.” For those uninterested in “bagging” peaks, Castle in the Clouds features an array of hiking trails that range from easy to difficult. “You could hike all day or simply take the little ones up to poke around by the trout pond and waterfalls for an hour or two,” Willams added. Aside from the Ossipee Mountains, there are no shortage of trails in the region. Eagle Cliff and Red Hill, located in Sandwich, represent two favorite options for Ryan. “Red Hill is fairly short but offers a magnificent view at the top of the fire tower -- it’s a steady climb but not difficult,” she said.

She described Eagle Cliff as “a short hike straight up” to a view of Squam Lake. “You can walk from Eagle Cliff to Red Hill, and it’s peaceful,” she added. “We also just hiked the waterfall trail in the Ossipee mountains, and it was incredible with the snow and ice.” Williams said her second favorite hike is nearby Copple Crown Mountain, which can be accessed via Moose Mountain Rd. in Union. “It’s about 6 miles out and back if you are able to park in the last lot by the trailhead,” she explained. “She said that this time of year, though, parking is likely not possible there. “Folks may have to park at Moose Mountain, which would make the hike almost 2 miles longer,” she See HIKES on 25

View from Moody Mountain in Wolfeboro. MARA MICHNO PHOTO

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Hiking across Knight’s Pond in Alton. HIKES from 24 said. The hike, she added, is not difficult. “The views from the East Peak are the best and are at their full glory, like most mountains, in the fall,” she said. Regarding familyfriendly hikes, Michno cited her favorite as Whiteface Mountain and Moody Mountain, both in Wolfeboro. “I consider them ‘family-friendly’ because my five yearold can hike them on his own two feet without complaining,” she said. “They are a short drive from our house and they each are gradual inclines.” Michno said other favorite hikes around the region include Piper, Blue Job, Boulder Loop and Rattlesnake. “There are literally so many mountains in general in the Lakes Region that I’m having a hard time listing them,” she laughed. When hiking in the winter, Williams said preparation is paramount. “It is so important to

in the way of getting outside, then I feel like I would always have an excuse to not get outside.” There is one bit of gear, however, Michno suggested not bringing on a winter hike. “I don’t use a water hydration bladder in the winter because the hose freezes,” she said. “Bring water bottles of warm water in your backpack. They won’t freeze, and I personally don’t find super cold water appealing on a super cold day.” The last bit of advice is to have fun. “Go out and explore,” said Ryan. “Our backyard is incredible. The Whites are magnificent, but these mountains around the lake have a different kind of beauty.” To learn more about hiking trails in the surrounding area and beyond, download the Alltrails.com application, or visit franklinsites.com.

MEGAN WILLIAMS PHOTO

Hiking trails in winter in New Hampshire are guaranteed to provide fascinating views. JACQUELINE GREYMONT PHOTO

Mara Michno and family on a summer hike at Chamberlain-Reynolds Memorial Forest in Center Harbor. be prepared with layers of clothing, more food and water than you think you need, headlamps, micro spikes and poles,” she said. Noting she grew up

in Alaska, Michno agreed with Williams regarding considerations for gear. “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing,” she said. “If I let the weather get

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

SMITH from 11 er version of baseball had a diamond shaped board and players were able to swing at a miniature baseball and the place it landed on the board determined if it were a hit or an something else. Plastic figures represented the players. I suppose our interest in baseball heightened during the spring and summer, but there was probably more time for board games in the winter. We had a football

game that was electronic to a certain extent in that it had a light bulb in it to display plays on paper for offense and defense which revealed the result of each play when the light shone through them. Winter games were not, however, limited to inside board games. While we couldn’t afford new skis and skates we did have some old skis and skates available for us to occasionally try out our skills in those sports. They weren’t

The Smith homestead in New Hampton. Painting by Sydney Taylor. usually games, but it was play even though it may have seemed at times to be work,and we probably did some racing with each other. There were also some attempts to play hockey on the ice. Finding a good place to skate was a challenge and some small “ponds” of water in the woods had to suffice for some skating adventures. The hilly fields provided a venue for attempts at skiing. I learned that falling and hitting one’s head on the ice and tumbling head first into deep snow weren’t the proper ways to skate and ski.

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with toast with a butter spread provided fuel for the day. Certain chores such as feeding the animals and sawing and chopping wood and filling the wood boxes in the kitchen and sitting room were things that had to be done every morning and evening (or late afternoon). The barn sometimes served as a gymnasium for our games. We played basketball on the barn floor (the space in the center of the barn between the tie-up, where any cat-

fit the circumstances. The barn was also used for games of tag which were particularly trying for the person who was “it.” There were built in ladders that went from the lowest level to the highest in the barn, which was a scaffold built high above the burn floor in the middle of the structure. The lower scaffolds had open support beams which we would use to scramble up and down to escape the tag of the one who was it. I think we found the

Monopoly game from 1946. Getting out of bed on a winter’s morning in an unheated room when the temperature was minus 20 or 30 degrees outside meant a quick trip downstairs where the fire in the kitchen and living room stoves had been rekindled and the temperature was above the freezing point. Until the room temperature increased it was “rally around the stove, siblings,” but don’t get too close and burn something. A hearty country breakfast helped to relieve the discomfort of the winter cold. Fried eggs and potatoes cooked in bacon grease or lard (which was bought by the small bucket load), along

tle spent most of their winters, and the haymow where the winter hay for those few head of cattle was stored. Those games usually were made up of two or three players on each team, and sometimes as few as one against one. We often used real baskets instead of metal hoops, baskets that had fulfilled there usefulness for that purpose, and had developed holes in the bottoms. There were no gym shorts and typical basketball style numbered shirts, though, as the cold meant we played with our jackets and knit hats on and enjoyed it. The court was small, but we were still playing basketball under rules we made to

most fun in testing our climbing abilities while preventing falls. When the neighbors installed television in their home and invited us to watch the Friday night fights I found an interest in boxing. The barn-floor thus became a boxing ring as I encouraged my brothers and neighborhood boys to box with me. It didn’t matter how big they were, at least until they got into the ring (which wasn’t a ring) and I found out how hard they could hit. I’m at the end of this article and I haven’t yet mentioned snow-ball fights and sledding on the public roads (dirt) and in the fields..

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 — METZLER from 7 Energy relationship whereby Canada has shipped $838 billion worth of oil and gas to the U.S. markets over the past decade. The foreseeable consequence of the U.S. not buying accessible Canadian oil is purchasing petroleum from Russia or the Middle East. Keystone XL was on track to create as many as 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in both Canada and the U.S.; the 1,200 mile pipeline would carry crude oil going through Montana and South Dakota and to Nebraska before linking up to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline avoids costly and more environmentally impactful overland truck and train shipping. But on the American side of the border, the direct losses are 11,000 high paying union jobs in welding and heavy machine operations. The cuts coming at a time when the U.S. economy is still losing jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis. AFL-CIO union leader Richard Trumpka, though having supported Joe Biden in the election, was rightfully upset over the Keystone job losses. Realistically Canadian/USA trade is huge; part of the $525 billion two way trade in 2020. But before the pandemic, bilateral trade stood at $618 billion in 2018. Not surprisingly, China has replaced Canada as the USA’s #1 trading partner. But there’s pushback from Western American states to the pipeline decision. Montana’s Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined with 14 other attorney generals from across

America to call upon President Biden to reconsider and reverse his Keystone decision. Calculations are based on preserving skilled union jobs. Recalculations by Biden to rescind parts of his otherwise massive Executive Order, could offer an olive branch to Ottawa and more importantly to American workers and their families who feel disenchanted after a year of dispiriting pandemic policies. But Joe Biden’s Keystone cancellation is probably more than a symbolic rebuff to Canada’s rich energy export sector. It’s a philosophical commitment to green energy and a powerful environmentalist movement actually on both sides of the border, who views fossil fuels and the skilled workers who extract them, as an expendable cost to a brave new world. 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.

MALKIN from 6 Electric Slide as part of her “fearless support and understanding of young people and their efforts at self-expression.” Waters made common cause with her neighborhood gangsta rappers who stoked the violence, calling them “poets” and “children” expressing their “pain.” I remind you that shortly before the 1992 L.A. riots, rapper Ice Cube (a denizen of Waters’ district and a member of the cop-killing glorifiers at rap group N.W.A.) had penned the hatefilled song “Black Korea” for his best-selling platinum solo album, “Death Certificate.” He seethed against lawabiding immigrant entrepreneurs in his ‘hood and threatened to burn their stores “right down to a crisp”: They hope I don’t pull out a Gat, try to rob Their funky little store, but, b-tch, I got a job. So don’t follow me up and down your market Or your little chop suey ass will be a target Of a nationwide boycott. Juice with the people, that’s what the boy got...

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...So pay respect to the black fist Or we’ll burn your store right down to a crisp. Promises made, promises kept. Waters told the L.A. Times in May 1992 that “riot is the voice of the unheard.” She openly embraced the term “insurrection” as a substitute for “riot” in a 1992 interview with Katie Couric. A quarter-century later, in an anniversary interview with the Huffington Post, she again used the term “insurrection” to celebrate the implosion of L.A. and stoking of anti-white, anti-Asian violence as a “defining moment in the way that black people resisted.”

“Resistance”? Sixty people were killed, 2,000 injured, $1 billion in damages inflicted, and $700 million in federal aid injected to quell the arsonists, looters and shooters simply expressing their “pain.” “Roiling Waters” excused the violence repeatedly by defending the “righteous anger” of the rioters against police, innocent white bystanders like trucker Reginald Denny (nearly beaten to death by Waters’ gangsta buddy Damian Williams), and the Korean shop owners (forced to take up arms and take to their rooftops to defend their lives and livelihoods when the cops yielded to the mob).

Now, nearly 30 years later, the wealthy and powerful black congresswoman whose rise to power is defined by violence-inducing and violence-excusing racial demagoguery, demands “accountability” for words to remove a president no longer in office. Clown Congress. Clown country. Michelle Malkin’s email address is MichelleMalkinInvestigates@ protonmail.com. To find out more about Michelle Malkin and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

—OBITUARY— PHILIP JOHN KRISS, 1951 – 2021

Phil Kriss, devoted husband, community volunteer, firefighter, insurance analyst, lifelong motorhead and devilish teenager, died of a life well lived on Monday, February 1, 2021. A Simsbury, Conn. Native, Phil’s childhood, spent with his brother Greg and parents Bernice and Alex, involved a lot of swimming, biking and woodworking. While those knowing Phil today might not believe it, he developed quite a reputation as a prankster in parochial school and at the seminary. He learned to build all sorts of thing, ranging from a clubhouse and a wooden boat as a kid, to eventually a home for his parents in North Granby, Ct., and later his own home, a classic New England Cape, tucked among the trees in Barkhamsted, Ct. It was there that he welcomed home his bride, Linda Danielson, in 1985. Hand-in-hand, the couple enjoyed the next 35 years together. Their lives brought them to many places far and near, surrounded by family and friends, and in the past decade to Hebron, NH. Linda welcomed his kisses each morning and night, and the refrains of “I love you’s” at the end of every phone call. Phil’s profession as a financial insurance analyst in Connecticut included positions with The Hartford, CIGNA, Lincoln Financial, United Healthcare and others. Outside of work, Phil fulfilled a dream of owning his own ice cream parlor, Philbert’s Desserts in Torrington, Ct. As his tool room in the garage would attest, his skills were many. Odd jobs included a firewood business, property appraiser and accounting. More recently, in retirement, Phil worked for the Plymouth, N.H.’s O’Reilly Auto Parts, combining many passions – auto parts, and driving to remote corners of the state to meet the people who would use them. In Hebron, as well as Connecticut, Phil (and Linda) always served their community. Phil was a lifelong volunteer fireman, not only protecting the community, but also securing grants for equipment and overseeing construction projects at the station. In Barkhamsted, there is a stuffed Teddy Bear named Phil in a firefighter uniform looking out the front windshield in honor of the man whose hard work allowed the town to buy the truck and watch over the town Phil served. His wife is a member of the Hebron Union Congregational Church, Phil would do the grocery shopping for the monthly Community breakfasts, and he and Linda helped organize the craft fair part of the Hebron Church Fair each July. He will join in heaven his parents, Bernice and Alexander Kriss of Barkhamsted, Ct. Survivors include his beloved wife Linda Danielson Kriss of Hebron, N.H,; brother Greg Kriss and his wife, Debbie; nephew Jonathan Kriss and his wife, Lauren, and mother and step-father, Dorothy & Bob Field; his sister and brothers-in-law Sue Martin and Robert Danielson of N.H. and his partner, Ed Cassidy; several cousins, nieces and grand nieces and nephews, legions of friends and former co-workers, the more than 35 automobiles which he loving cared for and drove throughout the years, and the flock of wild turkeys, birds and squirrels who await his morning feeding daily off the back deck of their home. Due to current COVID restrictions, there are no services at this time. When our world is safe once again, the family plans a religious service at the Hebron United Congregational Church and a celebration of life in Barkhamsted, Ct. In honor of Phil, donations can be made to Barkhamsted East Volunteer Fire Co, #1, PO Box 152, Pleasant Valley, CT 06063 or Hebron NH Fire & EMT Dept., PO Box 97, Hebron, NH 03241. An obituary can only say so much. Linda asks that you share a favorite moment or memory of Phil that can be shared here by all who knew and loved him at Mayhew Funeral Homes website: www.mayhewfuneralhomes.com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 — BOSAK from 13

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got out and participated over the weekend. I look forward to seeing the results when they are available. In the meantime, keep your eyes open on your feeders and during your walks in the woods. There is still plenty of winter left so no one knows what might show up next. Chris Bosak may be reached at chrisbosak26@gmail.com or through his website www.birdsofnewengland.com

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 — STOSSEL from 7 private company,” says Powell. “Restaurants and hotels are privately owned. Markets organize the vast majority of Swedish economic activity.” Sweden did once try socialism. The result was high taxes, inflation and economic decline. It’s an example of how people in prosperous places often don’t know what made their lives better. In 1950, Sweden was the world’s fourthrichest country. Then Sweden tried socialism.

Suddenly, once industrious Swedes started taking sick days. Wealth creation stopped. “Talent and capital stormed out of Sweden to escape taxes and red tape,” writes Swedish historian Johan Norberg. “Businesses moved headquarters and investments to more hospitable places. IKEA left for the Netherlands... Bjorn Borg and other sports stars fled to Monaco.” Sweden recovered only when it ended its socialist experiment. They cut taxes, govern-

ment spending, and sold state-owned businesses. After economically ignorant politicians like Bernie Sanders called Scandinavia “socialist,” Denmark’s prime minister even came to America to say: “Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy.” In fact, in rankings of economic freedom, Denmark ranks as more free market than the United States. Myth No. 5: Socialism is completely different from fascism. In Congress, Rep.

Louie Gohmert called Hitler a “socialist.” Rep. Steve Cohen took offense, shouting, “It’s the Nazis that were terrible, not the socialists!” But Nazis were “national socialists.” There are differences between fascism and socialism, but “both replace market decision-making with command and control,” says Powell. Fascism “leaves private ownership in nominal terms” but neither system allows individual freedom. “You lose... control over your own future. Only under capitalism do you

have the freedom to say, ‘No.’” Socialism appeals to people today because it promises “equality and social justice,” but look at its track record. In Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Vietnam and China, socialism has meant a loss of freedom. Socialist experiments also failed in Israel, India, Great Britain, Afghanistan, Syria, Algeria, Cambodia, Somalia, etc. There are no socialist success stories. Only capitalist countries create real wealth.

“The history of humanity is poverty, starvation, early death,” Powell points out. “In the last 20 years, we’ve seen more humans escape extreme poverty than any other time in human history. That’s because of markets!” Yet, millions vote for socialism. John Stossel is author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Super Crossword

PUZZLE CLUE: AM TOO!

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —

Sudoku

Magic Maze THEME THIS WEEK: COMFORT FOODS

Caption Contest OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

Runners Up : This ride is boring. Let’s go to the slide! Roland Labrecque, Ctr, Barnstead, NH.

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

Billy the Kid and Calamity Jane; the early years. - Alan Dore, Rochester, NH.

PHOTO #845

Sarah and Annie were quite upset ending up in the slam for leaving preschool early. -Bruce Wright, Rochester, NH.

You just wait until we get out of here. -Joyce Lounsbury, Meredith, NH.

PHOTO #847 Send your best brief caption to us with your name and location within 2 weeks of publication date... Caption Contest, The Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 email to contest@weirs.com

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 18, 2021 —