03/03/2023 Weirs Times

Indy SkI PaSS Road TRIP Idaho

oR BuST!

Mary Baker Eddy Program In New Hampton

The New Hampton Historical Society presents “Mary Baker Eddy: New Hampshire’s Most Important Religious Thinker” onTuesday, March 7th, 7pm at the GordonNash Library, 69 Main Street, New Hampton.

Mark Twain called her “the most interesting woman that ever lived, and the most extraordinary.” The church she founded, The Church of Christ, Scientist, profoundly affected both American ideologies of religion as well as public opinion of the role of women in society. This program discusses the ways in which Eddy’s experience as a woman in Victorian-era America influenced her gendered understanding of God as well as the nature of humanity, the body, health, and the place of women in powerful organizations. In Eddy’s theology, the divine was not punishing but welcoming and caring.

Presenter Nicole J. Ruane teaches in the department of Classics, Humanities and Italian at the University of New Hampshire.

All programs are free and open to the public.

Light refreshments will be served.

by Amy Patenaude Outdoor/Ski Columnist

Bria and I left Henniker early Sunday morning, February 5th. The only thing that was cast in stone was Bria’s return airline ticket for February 14th from Boise to

Boston.

We both have the Indy Pass, a ski pass that is good for two visits at over 120 ski areas across the country. Our goal was to ski as many Indy Pass resorts as we crossed the country on our

way to McCall, Idaho to ski Brundage Mountain and Tamarack Resort.

Sunday afternoon we hit our first ski area, Swain Resort in western New York State. The ski hill has a 650 foot

WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023

VOLUME 32, NO. 9

Beginning on February 5th, On The Trails & Summits Columnist Amy Patenaude and her friend Bria, drove from New Hampshire all the way to Washington and Oregon. Here they are at Brundage Mountain Resort in McCall, Idaho where they arrived on the evening of the 10th. Using their Indy Passes they skied in New York, South Dakota and Montana along the way.

Statutes

Protect

Pornography In Schools

To The Editor: Leftists complain about the “banning” (“like the National Socialists (Nazis) in the 1930s”) of books and expression that never should have been in schools in the first place.

First, leftists object to removing sexually explicit, pornographic books from schools.

When did providing pornography to children become acceptable? Parents didn’t demand that schools provide pornography to their children. Society never debated and decided that providing pornography to young children provides a public benefit.

No sane person expected that school personnel would be so irresponsible as to surreptitiously bring immoral and potentially harmful pornographic materials into schools.

Second, leftists complain about the NH law outlawing discrimination in our schools (see explanation: https://tinyurl.com/ ymxbbz6x). Since discrimination was outlawed nationally about 50 years ago, no one expected that children would be discriminated against in school.

New Hampshire’s law doesn’t prohibit, as falsely alleged, teaching history, civics, or anything else. All subjects can be taught without discriminating against or assigning blame or victimhood to today’s children for the sins of others.

Republicans certainly want a clear factual presentation of history including the Democrat Party’s horrible racist history and current oppression of black

people. Slavery, the KKK, Jim Crow Laws, and today’s refusal to provide the decent schools and safe neighborhoods that provide economic opportunities are all oppression of blacks done by Democrats.

Why do leftists demand to be able to discriminate against children? Perhaps to brainwash children into accepting the blame for Democrats’s evil racist actions.

Decent people who care about children wouldn’t allow pornography or discrimination in our schools, so there shouldn’t need to be laws against them. When you hear people complaining about these laws/restrictions, you know who cares more about something other than what is best for America’s, and perhaps your, children.

Don Ewing Meredith, NH

Open Letter To NH Federal Delegation

Listening to sportscasters talk over the radio recently complaining about the New England Patriots raising their season ticket prices, they made the point “that all prices are going up.” With all due respect to the honor that should be placed on your office, as your constituent , I take issue with you all about this “widely accepted lie” that covers our chronic perverted monetary system which is sick with inflation caused by the Federal Reserve that has been given license to inflate our money supply since its

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 30 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories of the people

inception in 1913. These sportscaster have swallowed this lie “hook line and sinker.”

Congress set the precedent initiating the Federal Reserve Act in 1913 into law. The majority of every Congress since has accepted this lie as having constitutional authorization. Today’s Federal Reserve note has no precious metal backing and only has value as legal tender for debt because “it’s the law.” Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky now has 50 cosponsors of his bill HR 24 to audit the Federal Reserve that mostly operates in secret. Article VI labels “All laws not made in pursuance of the Constitution as null and void.” This includes the Federal Reserve that was not made in pursuance of the Constitution.

This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. It is corruption that steals the value of the wealth of the American people. Both parties, I think it is safe to assume, do not condone stealing when they are the victim. The “lie” is that “prices are going up.” What you buy, yes increases in cost, but this deception hides the fact that the value of the dollar is going down because the Federal Reserve continues to print more dollars. It takes more to buy the same value. They call it a nice sounding name, “Quantitative Easing.”

In 2010, a congressionallymandated partial audit of the Federal Reserve was conducted. This was highly revealing that demands further and greater transparency to expose further

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.

Not So LoNg Ago ...

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

you heaR Me now?”how we heaRd In The PaST

up their ear pieces at the same time, then they all could join the conversation.

But the conversation could not be carried on away from the box on the wall; one had to go to where the phone was to talk.

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

We didn’t use to talk to each other the way we do now.

There use to be plenty of cupping one’s ears in an effort to hear others clear enough to understand what they were saying, but there was nothing in our hands through which we could hear someone else’s voice, nor was everybody else walking around holding something to their ear or looking down to the same device held out in front of them.

There was a box in our house when I was a youngster which was fastened to the wall which enabled us to talk to the neighbors, or, occasionally, to someone at a distant location. That box on the wall in the sitting (living) room was attached to a wire that connected to a wire on the telephone poles thru which sound waves were carried to those distant places.

A ringing noise would sometimes come from

the box on the wall and those in the house would listen to its sound and either ignore it or pick up an ear-piece attached to it and say “hello” into a cupped like mouthpiece on the front of the box. If the phone rang one long ring followed by two short ones someone in our house would pick up that cone shaped, hollowed ear-piece and say one of the most used words in the history of mankind, “hello.”

If the contraption’s bell rang for three short rings or one long and one short ring, those signals belonged to another household. Short rings were single numbers, long rings were double or teen numbers, so ours in our household was number 12. We were on what was considered a party line with maybe three or more homes on each line. If all of the number of parties there were that shared the same line picked

It was possible for people to listen to each others conversations. It was common for one person to pick up the phone and find someone else speaking and I’m sure that there were times when a conversation continued for a considerable length of time that an impatient hopeful telephone user might interrupt

“Can

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES DOVER •

The Magic Of Metamorphosis — Butterflies Of New Hampshire

MEETTHEAUTHORS

A Dover 400th Anniversary Celebration Event

Dover, NH Public Library

Thursday, March 2, 2023 * 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Meet the authors of three important Dover historical publications who will discuss the scope of their research and projects.

Dover Heritage Walks: A Compendium of Past Walks and Reveals

This book is a revision of the former Heritage Walks conducted in Dover from the late 1980s t o the early 2000s New photos of historic properties and updated research have been included

Featuring authors Cathy Beaudoin, Andy Galt, Tom Massingham

Calling al Pupae People! It’s time to break out of your cocoon. Come to the Loon Center in Moultonborough at 7:00 PM on Thursday March 9th to find out who’s metamorphosing this year. This hour-long program on New Hampshire’s Butterflies will introduce the basics of butterfly biology, their life history, migration patterns, and more. Discover how these incredible pollinators sequence through the seasons in search of their favorite nectaries. Find out which ones overwinter as adults, and which ones travel thousands of miles to avoid the cold of winter.

Presented by ecologist Dr. Rick Van de Poll, this program includes the common day flyers in our area, and who’s watching them. The NH Butterfly Monitoring Network is gearing up for a banner year, and this is your opportunity to find out when and where the action is, as well as how you can sign up for butterfly training sessions this spring. Six “count circles” are going live this summer, and the nearest one in Conway is not far away.

The Loon Center is located on Lee’s Mill Road; follow the signs on Blake Road from Route 25 near the Moultonborough Central School, or from Rte. 109 turn on to Lee Road and turn left on Lee’s Mill Road.

Concert To Benefit Hunter’s Shop ‘N Save In Wolfeboro

Quaking Dover

The author has expertly captured the long history of the Quakers in Dover including their persecution for challenging Puritan teachings and living their peaceable life s t y le.

Featuring the author Jnana Hodson

Dover Stories from the Past

This book is a compilation of newspaper columns written by the author covering the families, events and s t o ries that shaped the Dover community.

Featuring the author To ny McManus

Books will be available for sale and signing

*Snow Date: March 9

More information at www.Dover400.org

“There’s a hole in our town.” A wonderful and creative friend, when told of the recent fire at Hunter’s Shop ‘n Save, summed it up with those words. It reflects what is best about living in a community like Wolfeboro when a landmark that has been such an integral part of our lives for so long has been lost. The community wants to do something about it.

On March 10, one stage of filling that hole will begin with a concert hosted by the Village Players Theater, 51 Glendon St, Wolfeboro. Under the leadership of longtime resident and talented performer Gary McGloin, an evening of music, friends and stories has been created. Carolyn and Jess Ramsay, with their gorgeous harmonies, joined by the beautiful folk tenor of Charlie Zatzkin will open the evening. Gary will add a little Broadway, and no doubt some “mash up” surprises will unfold.

The manager of Hunter’s Shop ‘n Save, Perry Shaw and many of the employees will be guests for the evening. Perry will update us on the progress to date and plans for the future to rebuild this piece of downtown Wolfeboro that serves so many in the community.

Doors open at 6:00 with light refreshments before the show. The concert is scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 with a short intermission. Tickets are $25, available at village-players.com, at Black’s Paper and Gifts, and at the door. Tickets are going fast so get yours soon!

All donations and ticket proceeds will fund a morale-boosting summer event for those employees and families affected. It will be over a year before they are reunited with each other in a work setting, and this event will give them an opportunity to gather together during this one year wait while Hunter’s rebuilds.

If you’d like to donate to the project, you can give online at village-players.com/ huntersbenefitconcert or send a check to Hunter’s Shop N Save, PO Box 946, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. Add a note on your check or with your online donation that this is for the Hunter’s benefit and your donation will be added to the funds raised.

I dIdn’T Go ICe FIShInG aGaIn

by Brendan Smith

The annual ice fishing derby in Central New Hampshire took place a couple of weeks ago so I am no longer worried about expressing my trepidations so as to be ridiculed.

Many new members of F.A.T.S.O. (Flatlanders Adjusting To Solitary Oblivion), my winter support group, have asked me to teach them, like they do every year, about this sport in order to help them get over their winter doldrums. In all honesty, it is one thing I am sometimes ashamed to admit to the group, that I know nothing about.

It’s not that I have anything against the sport itself, if that’s what you enjoy, it’s just not anything that I feel I could ever get used to.

I know a few folks who really enjoy ice fishing and when they express their often unbridled enthusiasm for it and then offer to take me out for a day of it, I will kindly refuse with an excuses that are starting to wear thin. After all, how can one person have to attend so many family wedding and funerals that always seem to occur on the second weekend in February? (Though back in 2021 I did use the Covid excuse. No one was allowed to argue with that or they could face jail time.)

If I was to tell them the truth, the fact that spending a frigid day outside sitting near a hole in the ice, even in one of those fairly comfortable bob houses, really has no appeal to me. I’m sure it would only encourage them to try even harder to get me out there and I have been known to buckle under the pressure on occasion. So, I find it safer to just create another

imaginary relative or disease to make it easier for them.

If they only knew, I’m sure they would thank me. It most likely would be an uncomfortable experience for them as well.

If I had grown up going ice fishing then I’m sure I would be enjoying it today just as much as them. But I grew up on Long Island, New York, where the thought of ice fishing was about as distant in our minds as the thought of eating a slice of pizza with a knife and a fork (something I have, I am ashamed to admit to old New York friends, succumbed to on occasion here after almost forty years….the horror!!)

There weren’t any large lakes near where I grew up, but there were a few small ones. In the winter they would freeze up and we would ice skate on them and that was about it. If anyone went ice fishing, I never saw them and if I did, I’m sure I would have kept far away from what would have been considered very strange behavior.

Obviously, ice fishing on Long Island wasn’t a cultural tradition handed down from father to son like it is here in New Hampshire.

I can only imagine a conversation between a Long Island father and his son about going ice fishing:

“Come with me, my brave son, we are going ice fishing.”

“What?”

“I said we are going to spend this cold winter day sitting in a wooden house on a frozen lake trying to catch a fish.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it will make a man of you my son.”

“Huh? Sure. You go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

I can also picture a frozen lake on the North Shore of Long Island, loaded with Lexus’, Mercedes and BMWs. Some people would be spending their day working at add-

ing on additions to their bobhouses to keep up with the one next to them. (This would be a big business for contractors.) Others would be walking from their car to the custom built fishing hole they had built for their child to see if he (or she) was learning anything from the ice fishing consultant they had hired for the day. (Not to worry, though, even if they didn’t quite get the hang of it they would be guaranteed a prize at the fishing derby.)

So, as I’m sure you have figured out by now, ice fishing was never in my blood and it isn’t something I will ever attempt. Still, people will keep on insisting I try it.

“C’mon it will make a great story,” they insist with a devious grin.

Still, no one will ever get me out on that ice.

To wake up at 5am on a subzero winter morning, dress myself in layers of clothing and then drive my car onto something that is water about ten months out of the year so I can sit inside a little house and wait for a stick to move will never appeal to me like it does to others.

I can think of better ways to spend my days. I could be productive like spending the time cleaning the basement or painting the bathroom or raking the roof or….hmmmm… come to think of it, maybe it would make for a great story after all.

Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles,” “The Best of A F.O.O.L. in New Hampshire,” and “I Really Only Did It For The Socks- Thoughts and Stories on Aging.” All are available through his wesbite BrendanTSmith.com.

Weirs Times Editor

nIkkI haley BRInGS a new FaCe To FReedoM

Joe BIden TuRnS The aMeRICan GoveRnMenT InTo wokeneSS, InC.

by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist

The Republican Party’s newest presidential candidate, former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, introduced herself by showcasing her roots as a child of immigrants. Haley’s family, originally from India, immigrated to the United States in 1969 and settled in a small, segregated town, Bamberg, South Carolina, where she was born three years later.

One can glean two reasons why Haley is spotlighting her background and presenting her candidacy as a successful minority woman.

First, one doesn’t need to be “woke” to recognize the value of an Asian American woman running for president with an agenda of less government and more freedom.

Second, showcasing her story and success qualifies her to say, as she does in her introduction video, “Take it from me, America is not a racist country.”

The strategy has opened her to attacks and criticism from the right and from the left.

Ann Coulter, who still seethes at Haley for taking down the Confederate flag which flew on South Carolina’s state Capitol grounds in Columbia, called her a “preposterous creature” and suggested she “go back to your own country and reconsider that history.”

But, of course, this is Haley’s “own country.” If it weren’t, she wouldn’t be able to run for president. But Coulter’s business is not facts but provoking an audience that buys her books.

More temperate advice came from The Wall Street Journal, which suggested Haley must do a better job distinguishing herself from other Republicans. No Republican, says the Journal, would disagree that “America is not a racist country.”

This is, of course, true. But I believe Haley is correct that it achieves particular resonance coming from an Indian American woman with a stellar resume of public service and achievement.

The left’s answer to Ann Coulter, Whoopi Goldberg, told her audience, regarding Haley, that “there are things about our country that are not perfect and to pretend that it is and to pretend that nothing happened is ridiculous.”

But, of course, Haley did not say that our country is “perfect” or that “nothing happened.”

Perfection is not what defines our country or any place or anything in this world. What defines and makes our country unique is freedom. This is

Last week, as Presidents Day weekend loomed, the Biden administration dropped a little-noticed executive order. That executive order happened to be one of the broadest, most transformative executive orders in modern American history; it turned the federal government into one giant machine designed for the propagation of woke principles. The so-called “Executive Order On Further Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government” -- presumably titled in jargonistic gobbledygook in order to avoid scrutiny -- set out the key guiding principle for the Biden administration. This principle, “equity,” will now be used to redirect the entirety of the federal government’s awesome powers.

by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist

for the annoyingly eternal human conditions of poverty and inequality. Biden’s executive order dictates that equity be “embedded... into the fabric of Federal policymaking and service delivery.” This will not be a “one-time project”; it must instead be a “multi-general commitment, and it must remain the responsibility of agencies across the Federal Government.” To that end, virtually every agency of government must establish an “Agency Equity Team... to coordinate the implementation of equity initiatives.” Every aspect of government down to the design, development and acquisition of artificial intelligence must advance equity.

What, pray tell, is “equity”? It certainly isn’t equality -- the presumption that Americans ought to be treated equally under the law as individuals. Instead, equity presumes that any group disparities must be the result of perverse government policy, and that the only corrective is government interventionism. The new executive order suggests that “by advancing equity, the Federal Government can support and empower all Americans, including the many communities in America that have been underserved, discriminated against, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” Poverty, you see, is purely the outgrowth of discrimination and lack of service. Individuals must never be implicated in their own failures, nor can cultural differences justify group underperformance. As Ibram X. Kendi more bluntly puts it, “As an anti-racist, when I see racial disparities, I see racism.”

The solution, therefore, is that government must correct all policy that allows

Nothing gives the president of the United States the unilateral authority to reshape the entire executive branch into an agent of “equity.” That is a legislative function, and the legislature has given no such grant of power. But Biden is doing it anyway. And that means stacking -- presumably for generations to come -- a Deep State of “equity”-driven Left-wing bureaucrats throughout the federal government, systematizing the equity agenda throughout the unelected and unanswerable areas of the executive branch.

This is dangerous, and it must be stopped. It is violative of constitutional principles, both in terms of separation of powers and under the equal protection clause -- which is designed to prevent precisely the sort of group-driven resource allocation Biden favors. Stopping this executive order must become the first priority of the Republican House, and of future Republican presidential candidates.

Biden is deliberately planting a poisonous seed in the fertile soil of the world’s most powerful executive branch. That seed will bear hideous fruit as the years roll by. The only answer is to uproot the seed before it begins to sprout.

Classified documents are found in Donald Trump’s home!

GoveRnMenT’S dIRTy SeCReT

secrets were floating around.”

But both sides were wrong.

coffee.’ They’ll end up classifying that email as top-secret.”

Connelly.

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

Democrats were outraged! Trump is guilty of “mishandling of some of our nation’s most sensitive secrets” creating “a national security crisis!” said MSNBC’s Chris Hayes and Nicole Wallace.

Then President Joe Biden got caught.

Suddenly conservatives were upset.

“Thanks to Joe Biden,” said Sean Hannity, “America’s most sensitive

The truth is, the word, “classified” means little. Our bloated government now classifies three things every second.

If you stacked up all the classified paper in Washington, the stacks would be taller than 26 Washington Monuments.

In my new video, Matthew Connelly, author of “The Declassification Engine,” explains that “as much as bureaucrats know they’re only supposed to classify information that’s really important, they end up classifying all kinds of nonsense. ... Even like telling a friend, ‘Let’s go have

Former CIA Director Mike Hayden once got a classified email saying “Merry Christmas.”

For years, government classified how much peanut butter the Army bought. They classified a description of wedding rituals in Dagestan. They even classify newspaper articles.

They are especially eager to classify dumb things they do, like the Army’s reported experiments testing whether “psychics” could kill people with their eyes.

“A lot of what the government keeps secret, they keep secret simply because it’s embarrassing,” says

Occasionally, government tries to reduce the overclassification.

Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all pledged to reduce the excess.

“Not in one case did they actually reduce the rate at which our government was creating secrets,” says Connelly. “In fact, the amount of secrecy only increased.”

I’m not surprised. In government, butt-covering and status matter more than efficiency.

I say to Connelly, “I would imagine bureaucrats think, ‘Ooh, if I label

on 28

un STeRnly ReBukeS RuSSIa BuT ukRaIne waR SloGS on

a “special military operation,” which has hardly brought glory to his own once vaunted military. Ukraine’s war has become a grinding stalemate.

by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist

Now a year after Vladimiar Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly firmly and sternly rebuked Russia’s brutal war against a sovereign country. With a thumping majority of 141 in favor, only 7 against and 32 abstentions, the Assembly again issued a non-binding resolution demanding Russia’s military withdrawal from Ukraine and calling for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”

Thus to the unrelenting backdrop of thudding artillery and lethal cruise missile attacks, Ukraine still stands tall but battered a year into what the Russian leader Vladimir Putin calls

But on the diplomatic front in New York, while lacking the danger, drama and debilitating cold of this ongoing war in Europe, there’s a clear consensus to censure and sanction Russia’s actions which violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The hallowed principles of “a rules based international order” are regularly recited by most diplomats almost in rote and offer the relentless chorus to what remains a long path to any negotiated peace.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated at the onset of the Emergency Special Session on Ukraine; “The one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stands

as a grim milestone, for the people of Ukraine and for the international community.” He added that 40 per cent of Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian assistance with 8 million refugees “creating the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.”

Yet diplomatic denunciations of Russia aside, here’s how the UN Assembly vote tallied. Yes, 141 with the United States, Canada, all of Europe and most of Latin America supported the resolution. So did Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore. Among African states, key countries such as Nigeria and Kenya backed the plan along with Egypt and Morocco.

Only six countries backed Russia; Belarus, Eritrea, Mali, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria.

Among 32 abstentions there’s nu-

ance and “non-alignment;” India, Iran, Pakistan, and South Africa. But China, Cuba, Vietnam and Zimbabwe abstained to the chagrin of Moscow.

“We are satisfied with the outcome and the message is clear,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the media after the vote.

U.S. UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield commented, 141 countries demanded Russia; “withdraw immediately, completely and unconditionally from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory, send your troops home, end this war.”

Interestingly China “abstained” sensing it could politically “afford to do it,” in what is a non-binding resolution. Now China has unveiled its 12 point Peace Plan for Ukraine; is this to offer Russia a respite or

This series of Letters

From God is an attempt to put the thoughts of God as revealed in the Scriptures as they relate to individuals and the nation of the USA.

Letters From God Letters From God

QUESTION: Will Global Warming Destroy The Earth?

This is a wonderful question and if you had ever read my book, the Bible, you would know the answer. I have made it very clear that the earth will one day be destroyed and all of human history will be consummated. But it will not be by the effects of global warming. In fact, at the end of human history, which will be marked by the return of my son Jesus, the earth will be intact even as it is today. Then you would not be duped into surrendering your national sovereignty and draining your financial resources to those who alarm you with the socalled coming catastrophe. Many of them, I might point out, live hypocritically with no regard for the radical changes they seek to impose on the rest of humanity.

Let me give you some evidence of this truth which I, your creator God, have made known. First of all, you must know that the earth was destroyed once by water. As a result of a worldwide defection from me with the attendant moral perversity that followed, I brought this judgment upon the world (Genesis 6:11-13).

After that event I made a promise. I spoke it to and through Noah

who was saved through that flood, because he and his family obeyed me and trusted in me to deliver them. I said that never again would I destroy the earth with water and -“as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22).

There will be no global warming catastrophe that will destroy the earth.

Notice as well that I have predicted in the last chapter of my book, the Bible called Revelation, the end will come not by a cataclysmic meltdown of the earth by global warming but by the greedy and sinful grasp of world leaders who will gather the nations to a final battle on the plains of Armageddon just north of Jerusalem. There will be a world government that will be set up and it will be led by a world leader who, as I spoke of in previous letters, will be known as the Antichrist. Because of his own evil nature, he will through his leadership, cause the nations to gather for this final battle (Revelation 6:1216).

There will be no global warming catastrophe that will destroy the earth.

Finally, Jerusalem and all of its surrounding nation will be present when this even unfolds. It will be stopped when my son, Jesus the Messiah, returns to earth and actually steps on the same mountain from which he left the first time he came. I instructed my

prophet, Zechariah, to record this event when he said, “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” (Zechariah 14:4). All of these places will be present when the time of the end will come. There will be no global warming catastrophe that will destroy the earth.

Let me add a caveat, however. I will in the last days bring a series of judgments on the earth for the widespread sin and rebellion from me and my will that will take place. I will do this first to be a faithful judge.

I have given you laws for life and told you that should you disobey them there will be judgements. I, as a righteous judge, love you enough to enforce those laws to protect life and punish those who willfully violate my laws.

I also will bring these judgments because you don’t learn when there are no painful consequences. In love, I will bring pain to do all I can to get as many of you as I can to “learn,” without me and my laws you will never fully enjoy life now and will never know life for eternity. Notice therefore that one of the judgments will be using the heat of the Sun to add to the painful judgements for all lawbreakers (Revelation 16:8). Notice however this will not be he cataclysmic event that destroys the world but an end time event to intensify the judgments against sin. There will

be no global warming catastrophe that will destroy the earth.

If you will listen and learn so that you follow my wisdom, you can avoid this attempt to herd you into submission by global elites who seek to control you and take your resources. You can also return to me and my son, Jesus, who died to pay for your sins and give you life for eternity.

The question is will you have ears to hear or continue to move ever closer to your destiny of death.

I write this because I love you, God

These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Samuel Hollo, pastor at the Community Church of Alton, NH.

BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

TalkInG BIRdS

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

I did two bird talks in New Hampshire last weekend and loved meeting everyone and talking about birds for a while.

In both talks, many questions and comments were about bluebirds. Everybody loves bluebirds, and these talks only confirmed that is true. And why not? They are beautiful birds and many of them are hardy enough to stay with us all winter.

I have found that New Englanders appreciate the birds that stick with us year-round. When I did an informal survey many years ago to determine New England’s favorite bird, the chickadee and cardinal were the top two species named. Both birds, of course, are with us spring, summer, fall and winter.

If I were to redo the survey, I would not be surprised if the bluebird didn’t crack the top two. I’m not sure which bird it would displace, but bluebirds certainly have been getting a lot of love lately.

New Englanders love their common loons as well. While loons may flee New England’s lakes and ponds in late fall, many of them settle for the winter in the region on Long Island Sound or off the Atlantic coast.

Everybody loves to see bluebirds in the spring at their nest boxes

bringing insects and worms to the babies. It is also fun to see them in the summer and fall with their fledglings. But winter seems to be the season when many people get the biggest thrill over seeing bluebirds. It is particularly gratifying to see them while there is snow on the ground and branches. Their bright blue coloring contrasts spectacularly with a fresh coating of snow.

Jim, an attendee at one of the talks, said there is something extra special, even spiritual, about seeing bluebirds. I couldn’t agree with him more.

There are three types of bluebirds in the United States. The western

and mountain bluebirds live out West. Eastern bluebirds, as the name would suggest, live in the East.

What was a little surprising to me is that eastern bluebirds nest throughout the entire East, northward into Canada and southward into Florida and even parts of Central America. For whatever reason, I tended to believe that they were a more northern bird until I saw one nesting in a tree hollow near my brother’s house in southern Florida.

Bluebirds are a prime example of how conservation efforts can work. They were declining significantly as a species due to a loss of nesting

sites caused by habitat destruction and competition with introduced species such as starlings and house sparrows.

Thankfully, the decline was noticed (always the first step in solving a problem) and bluebird boxes became a critical conservation tool. The boxes were, and still are, built to exact specifications for the bluebird, right down to the size of the hole. They aren’t foolproof as other species sometimes get to the box first, but there’s no doubt the bluebird box program greatly helped the species.

Many people are surprised when they see

An eastern bluebird visits a New England backyard during a recent winter.

CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

Most everyone who plays sports eventually gets hurt—physically and/or emotionally. And while sports are generally healthy endeavors—and while fitness is good—most everyone’s suffered sports injuries. For me, that includes three knee operations, three horrific ankle sprains, several dislocated fingers, an eye injury from a sucker punch, and some rearranged teeth due to an errant elbow on a basketball court.

Tennis anyone?

But even tennis has its hazards.

Which brings us to our 30th President, a Vermonter named Calvin Coolidge. Our recent Presidents Day holiday, as always, involved many stories of our illustrious (and not so illustrious) Commanders-in Chief—to include Silent Cal.

A true conservative, Coolidge was Massachusetts Governor in 1919 when the Boston police went out on strike. (Yes, Massachusetts used to have conservatives.) With criminals running amok, Coolidge sent the Massachusetts militia into Beantown and famously stated that “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any-

time.”

Coolidge’s decisive action won him kudos, plaudits, and huzzahs throughout New England and beyond. In 1920 he was elected vice-president to serve under President Warren G. Harding. When Harding died in 1923 the taciturn New Englander became president.

America experienced unprecedented peace and prosperity under Coolidge. The 1924 election returned Coolidge to the White House in a landslide. His popular vote total almost doubled that of the Democrat nominee, John W. Davis.

Which brings us back to tennis.

President Coolidge’s sons John and Calvin Jr. loved to play tennis on the White House court. One day Cal. Jr. played without socks and developed a small toe blister. Sadly, infection and then sepsis resulted, and the

16-year-old was soon fighting for his life.

As the bedridden youngster’s condition deteriorated, he tearfully pleaded with his father for help. Coolidge may have been the most powerful man in the world, but neither he nor the nation’s top doctors could save young Calvin, who died within a week.

The grieving Coolidge would never be the same. Despite unprecedented popularity the heartbroken president chose not to run again in 1928. He died in 1933 at the age of 60 and is buried in his hometown of Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

One must ponder how history may have unfolded very differently if only young Calvin Jr. had worn socks that fateful day on the White House tennis court.

Basketball, anyone?

Sports Quiz

Who won the World Series in 1923, the year Calvin Coolidge became President? (Answer follows)

Born Today

That is to say, sports standouts born on March 2 include slugging New York Giant outfielder Mel Ott (1909) and longtime Louisville University basketball coach Denny Crum (1937).

Sports Quote

“You lose.” – Silent Calvin Coolidge’s response to a woman who said she’d bet someone she could get him to say three words.

Sports Quiz Answer

The New York Yankees won their first of 27 World Series in 1923 when they defeated the New York Giants in six games.

State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He coauthored the awardwinning “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.

President Calvin Coolidge throws out the first pitch in the opening game of the 1925 season.

The Simple Feast

InTeRneT STRaTa: oPInIonS May vaR y

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The Simple Feast Simple The Simple

I have withheld the source information for this recipe lest I sway one’s opinion away from the source author. As always, I encourage you to experiment outside of your comfort zone, as budget and time permit.

I was once taken to task on the writing of my follies in the kitchen, but to this I said, “pish-posh!” After all, I am an ordinary person having to impress no one and perhaps others may learn from my mistakes. Yes, I like to cook, but more so I like to write. While I am not an authority in the kitchen, having given up management years ago, writers write what they are passionate about, and I love food. The fact that sometimes things don’t happen the way we want them to, well, that just makes for an entertaining story, both in or out of the kitchen. And so it goes with recipes, some are great, some are do overs, and some are just duds; costly mistakes from the get go.

To steal a phrase, “So what does that have to do with the price of strata?” Well, exactly! With the price of eggs still hovering in the lower stratosphere I would

caution the reader that perhaps this strata recipe be put aside until such commodities come down a bit. Having said that, around here, with nineteen layers, someone is always in a nesting box. When the dozens begin to stack up, I look to the “used” bread racks of my preferred shopping outlets for their “day old discount delights.” If none can be found I turn to the cheap store brand white bread, burger, and dog rolls as these too work well for a strata. (I know, given their penchant for brioche and baguette, the high brow are now clutching their pearls while gasping at the notion of using common white.)

So, just what is Strata? In geological terms strata is a layer, or layer upon layer, of rock. In the culinary world it is a type of bread and egg based casserole similar to bread pudding, and it too is typically made in layers. And, yes, I

know there will be some out there willing to take me to task on this loose definition, but I write for the layperson and not the culinarian or perfectionist. (Whom, I am fairly certain, I lost back at the last paragraph about using cheap white bread in a strata.)

Sometimes you may hear of a sweet strata referred to as a bread pudding or Baked French Toast. The characteristics are similar, but a strata can be either sweet or savory. Not normally so with puddings and Baked French Toast. However, the commonality shared between all is that their foundational components are, as previously mentioned, bread and eggs. From there the composition can take on a host of ingredients: fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, herbs and spices, and all have their place in the world of egg soaked bread. See FEAST on 22

uPSCale dInInG In PITTSFIeld

After 2 years of renovations, owners Michael Fairbrother an Berniece Van Der Berg have launched the restaurant at Over The Moon Farmstead, the almost 100 acre farm, on Upper City Road in PiIsfield. The reviews have been nothing but glowing.

Chef Eric McLaughlin, with over 20 years experience, brings up-

scale dinning to the Farmstead. Patrons have been amazed with a fresh, creative farm to table menu. Home to Moonlight Meadery and Hidden Moon Brewing, both recently recognized as worlds best in 2022, the restaurant offers a full bar, with the most spectacular views of the Suncook valley. With an elegant farmstead decor and stunning views, the restaurant is sure to delight customers See DINING on 15

looking for an elevated, friendly eating environment where quality is priority. While most haven’t ever thought about mead, as a pairing with dinner. Michael Fairbrother has been recognized as one of the most creative mead makers for the past 13 years. Berniece and Michael have strived to find the perfect locations to take their dreams to the next level, and Pittsfield is

DINING from 14

where they are making dreams come true!

“This is another step in our vision for the farmstead, providing an excellent experience every time for our customers.” says Michael Fairbrother, an internationally respected mead maker and brewer. “The restaurant is where we are focusing on food, and hospitality, the taproom is for light snacks, and entertainment.”

The menu offers everything from authentic wood fired Italian pizzas to a mouth watering menu that focuses on an upscale, from scratch, farm to table offerings.

The restaurant and taproom are currently operating on seasonal winter hours, Thursdays and Fridays 4pm to 8pm; Saturday 2-8pm and Sundays 2-6pm. Reservations are required, as food is on a first come basis in the restaurant.

The Taproom offers live music on Saturday evenings from 6-9pm.

Over The Moon Farmstead is now also booking for spe -

cial events and wedding space for 2023. Contact Berniece Van Der Berg Telephone 603.216.2162 X 403 or Cell 603.421.4469

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

Grill & Galley

83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383 Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com

Woodstock - Dbl Pig’s Ear

Stoneface - IPA

Baxter - Coastal Haze

Tuckerman - Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada - Celebration

COPPER KETTLE

TAVERN

At Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant 233 D.W. Hwy, Meredith 603.279.6212 hartsturkeyfarm.com

Henniker - Working Man’s Porter

Concord Craft - Safe Space

Stoneface - IPA

Moat Mtn - Blueberry

603 - Winni Amber Ale

...+6 More On Tap

D.A. LONG TAVERN

At Funspot 579 Endicott St N., Weirs 603.366.4377 funspotnh.com

Oskar Blues - Death by Coconut

Definitive - Cabin Beer

Maine Beer - Another One

Mast Landing - Sanctuary

Firestone - 22nd Anniv. Ale

Oxbow - Northern Lager

...+6 More On Tap

FOSTER’S TAVERN

403 Main Street Alton Bay, NH 603-875-1234

fosterstavernbythebay.com

Tuckerman - Pale Ale

Sam Adams - Seasonal

Sam Adams - Wicked Hazy

Maine Beer Co - Lunch

Lord Hobo - Boomsauce

...+2 More On Tap

JOHNSON’S TAPHOUSE

At Johnson’s Seafood & Steak 69 Rt 11, New Durham 603.859.7500

eatatjohnsons.com/ newdurham

Lone Pine -Brightside

Widowmaker -Blue Comet

Shipyard -Smashed

Pumpkin

Jack Abby -Red Tape

Muddy Road -1762 Porter

Northwoods -Autumn Buzz

...+30 More On Tap

MORRISSEYS’

Porch & Pub

286 S. Main St., Wolfeboro 603.569-3662 Morrisseysfrontporch.com

Smithwick’s

Guinness

Harp

Concord Craft Safe Space

Concord Craft Coffee Stout

Stella Artois ...+11 More On Tap

OVER THE MOON FARMSTEAD

1253 Upper City Rd., Pittsfield overthemoonfarmstead.com

Oatmeal Stout

London Porter

Pitt Stop Pils

Coffee Porter

No Need To Argue -

Cranberry Mead

Maple Apple Cider ...+6 More On Tap

PATRICK’S PUB

18 Weirs Rd., Gilford 603.293.0841 Patrickspub.com

Patrick’s Slainte House Ale

Great North - Moose Juice

Guinness

Clown Shoes - Bubble Head 603 - Winni Amber Ale

Tuckerman - Pale Ale ...+9 More On Tap

THE WITCHES BREW PUB

At The Craft Beer Xchange 59 Doe Ave., Weirs Beach 603.409.9344

FB @craftbeerxchange

Downeast Cider– Winter Blend

Frost – Lush DIPA

Moat – Boneshaker Brown Ale

Concord Craft – Four Rivers

Red Ale

Exhibit A – Briefcase Porter

Southern Tier –Peanut Butter Cup Imperial Stout ...+30 More On Tap

** Tap listings subject to change!

FUNds 4 Paws

INDOOR TRIATHLON

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&

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.

166 Waukewan Road v Center Harbor, NH v 603-279-6661 v www.waukewangolfclub.com

HART’S CATERING

10 unIque and aFFoRdaBle weddInG FavoR IdeaS

With wedding season in full swing, it’s likely you’re either planning a wedding for this summer, or perhaps you’re thinking about a wedding for the upcoming winter season. Whatever the date, wedding party favors seem to be a hot topic of debate in the realm of wedding planning. To give, or not to give— that is the question! If you’re considering giving something to guests to remind them of that special day, you’ll want to give them something truly unique.

Tote Bags

Perfect for any season and oh-so useful,

personalized tote bags make excellent wedding favors. Plain tote bags are inexpensive, and they are easy to customize yourself, should you wish to make your own wedding favors. Short on time? Some wedding shops offer personalized totes, but they will cost you more than if you design them yourself.

Sunglasses

Having the ideal summer wedding? Candies and chocolates might not be the best wedding favor to leave for guests in the hot summer sun. Sunglasses are a great way to keep your guests comfortable

and to remind them of your special day for years to come. A plus? Frames come in a variety of styles and can be personalized in so many ways. You are limited only by your imagination! Like tote bags, sunglasses can also be personalized professionally by many wedding and party vendors.

Candy in Personalized Wrappers

A bit more on the traditional side, personalized candy wrappers and candy seem to be mainstays when it comes to wedding

See IDEAS on 19

PHOTO BY CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

IDEAS from 18

favors. From those oftpresent Jordan almonds to the more modern chocolate bars, this is another easy and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your wedding. Why mess with a classic? Choose your candy and pick out those personalized candy wrappers. It’s a great way to make an impression on wedding guests with a sweettooth, and it also makes for a well-appreciated shower or bachelorette party gift.

Individual Bath Salts

Do-it-yourself bath salts are all the rage

See IDEAS on 20

these days. Whether they are for personal

use, a Christmas gift for a relative or birthday gift for a relative, chances are you’ve already got a recipe or two on one of your Pinterest boards. Individual bath salts are a unique and affordable way to pamper your

wedding guests. Luxurious, little jars of bath salt also make wonderful bridal shower favors.

Hangover Rescue Kits

Hangover rescue kits or “cures” are a must-

See IDEAS on 21

PHOTO BY CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

IDEAS from 19

have if your guests will be drinking. From a personalized bottle of water, to a hangover remedy-packed kit, you can make this wedding favor as simple or as complex as you like. As with the other doit-yourself ideas, this concept is flexible and budget friendly. Hangover rescue kits also make great bachelor and bachelorette party favors!

S’mores Kits

Perfect for weddings in late summer or early fall, individual s’mores kits are anoth-

er creative alternative to more conventional wedding favors. These can be as basic or as decadent as you prefer, and thus they can work for any budget. All you need are some graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bars and cute craft supplies to make these adorable and unforgettable gifts for your guests.

Individual Hot Cocoa Mix

Planning a winter wedding? Get your guests in the comfy, cozy mood with these individual hot cocoa favors. With some jars,

craft supplies and some ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, you can create some of the most memorable wedding favors possible! You can customize the ingredients for different hot cocoa flavors, and you can decorate the packaging however you like. If you like the concept but don’t have the time for a do-it-yourself project, some vendors sell personalized hot cocoa packets.

Lip Balm

Personalized lip balm is another outof-the-box concept for

a winter wedding favor that offers a lot of flexibility. If you’re going for more expression or you are looking to save some cash for the honeymoon, you can make your own lip

balm favors in a variety of different flavors and scents. As with the other ideas above, you can also buy personalized lip balm or do-it-yourself kits from vendors, should you

need to save yourself some time and energy. Either way, lip balm can be an interesting and practical wedding favor for your guests.

St. André Bessette Parish

Mass Schedule at Sacred Heart Church

Saturdays: 4pm; Sundays: 7:00, 8:30 & 10:30am

DAILY MASSES:

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 8am, Tuesday: 5:00pm

All Masses Livestreamed at www.standrebessette.org

Reverend Marc B. Drouin, Pastor

This particular strata I write of is a savory creation, the impetus for which was that I recently joined a cookbook group. Meeting once a month to discuss a cookbook or a topic, share the pros and cons of recipes, and try samples made for the group, I’m hoping to expand my culinary horizons. Well, being a Johnny-come-lately, I could not get the specific cookbook from my local library in time for the meeting. However, some internet sleuthing did find the featured authors´ website and a host of recipes. I decided on Corn, Cheddar, and Scallion Strata. Having made stratas before, how hard could this be? Besides, the author’s write up on it sounded spectacular, raving about how wonderful it was, even as a leftover. Why, it was so delicious they even heat it up in the AM and send it to school with their kids. (Baloney and PBJ’s on store bought wheat worked fine for my kids. How times

have changed!)

A creation reminiscent of stuffing, this dish, filled with eggs, cheese, bread, corn, and green onions, when served piping hot from the oven, smells heavenly and is truly flavorful. Served warm, this strata was palatable, retaining much of its aroma and its flavor.

The seven participants of the book club seemingly enjoyed it; several going back for seconds, which was encouraging.

However, upon returning home with a considerable amount left over, the dish had cooled to just above room temperature and this is where the web author’s opinion of this dish and mine diverge. Cooling off caused this strata to tighten up. No longer did it have that light souffle texture nor that “eggy eclair” flavor that one experiences with a proper strata. Its texture and flavor yielded, the cheesy cheddar and sweet corn elements lost to the scallion’s pungent aroma that the Allium family is known for. It

Corn, Cheddar & Scallion Strata

Serves 6-8 (actually more like 12 min.) TIME: 5 1/2 hours (Prep, Set, Cook)

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon butter

3 cups corn

1 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 French bread cut into 1-inch cubes

2 cups coarsely grated sharp cheddar

1 cup finely grated parmesan

9 large eggs

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 3/4 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

— PREPARATION —

- Butter a 3-quart baking dish (a 9×13-inch lasagna style pan).

- Toss corn and scallions together in a medium bowl.

- Combine the cheeses in another bowl.

- In a large bowl, gently beat eggs and mayo together, then whisk in milk, salt and lots (or, if measuring, 1/2 teaspoon) of freshly ground black pepper.

- Spread one-third of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. It will not fully cover the bottom of the dish.

- Add one-third of the corn mixture, then cheese mixture. Repeat layering of bread, corn, and cheese twice more being sure to end with the cheese.

- Pour egg mixture slowly and evenly over the strata. (It will run off the sides if right to the edge.)

- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for brunch service.

- When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake strata, uncovered, until puffed, golden brown and cooked through, about 45 to 55 minutes. (Minimum internal temp 165 degrees)

— ERIC’S CHANGES. ADDS & SUBSTITUTIONS —

2 ¾ Cups Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar

3 Cups Half and Half

½ Tbsp. or more Cracked Rainbow Pepper

of strata as layer upon layer of rock? Well, this could be applicable here. Stone cold, by the

1 ¼ Cups Grated Parm.

12 Large Eggs

way, this dish was an altogether different animal. And, not one that I would want to encounter in the dark. Beyond a polite “No Thank You” helping, no one in the house would touch it! So, out it went.

Let’s talk about portion size for just a moment. While the serving size on the original recipe says 6 to 8 servings, I´d say the editor fell asleep at the wheel. You could easily double or even triple that given it is made in a “9x13” baking dish. Too, this is an egg and carb heavy dish with at least 9 eggs ( more like 12), a loaf of French bread, milk or cream, four cups of cheese, three cups of corn and a cup and a half of scallions. Rather than a stand alone dish, in my opinion, this strata would be better if reduced by half and served as a side at a

brunch of baked ham and all the trimmings. Bottom line on this dish, it is best served screaming hot from the oven to the table. With your favorite white bread, plenty of eggs, cheese, corn, and scallions, this strata has all the elements to make it a tasty dish when served right from the oven. Flanked by family and friends all seated at the table, as it hits the trivet, say Grace, asking the Almighty that everyone eat with gusto. If, by chance, those in attendance did not take the hint and some morsels remain, chop them up fine before they cool and feed it out to the chickens. It is my humble opinion that this would be the ideal way to serve this Simple Feast. Enjoy!

Bria skiing Tamarack Resort on Super Bowl Sunday. The mountain’s summit is at elevation 7,700 feet and rests high above Lake Cascade. This big year around resort is not to be missed. The mountain receives on average more than 300 inches of snow each winter. Tamarack Resort is a member of the Indy Pass resorts, Indyskipass.com.

PATENAUDE from 1 vertical drop and three quad-chairlifts, lots of snowmaking and night skiing.

The place was busy. Their lifts were like no others we have ever seen–the quad chairs were two double chairs put together side by side. There were many novices on the slopes, we witnessed a lot of wipeouts.

Back in the car we drove and drove and made it just east of Cleveland, Ohio.

Monday, we didn’t stop until we reached Mitchell, South Dakota, 964 miles. We took turns driving but I was driving when we went through scary Chicago on I-90. It was 10 am and everyone was a maniac and I swore I won’t do that again.

Tuesday, on our way out of town we swung by Mitchell’s famous Corn Palace. Luckily it had lots of bright lights because it was still dark and we admired the Palace. The outside wall

murals are made using all the parts of the corn plant–from cobs to colored corn seed. The theme changes every year and this year it is the Circus.

We ate breakfast at Wall Drug, South Dakota. At Wall Drug coffee is still five cents.

Terry Peak Ski Area in Lead, South Dakota not far from Sturgis and Deadwood. We validated

our Indy Pass and the gal gave us our RFID cards and some sweet gummy bears. This gem of a ski area has 1,100 vertical feet of drop, fast lifts and nice lodges and it welcomed us with some new snow. The summit of Terry Peak stands at elevation 7,100 feet and has the highest lift service between the Rockies and the Alps and lots of See PATENAUDE on 24

South Dakota’s Terry Peak Ski Area is wonderful. Located in the lovely Black Hills of South Dakota near Deadwood it gets lots of snow. Across the way there is an open pit gold mine. We wouldn’t have known about this resort if it weren’t a member of the Indy Pass family.

snow!

Bria and I skied four hours non-stop and we enjoyed the fresh pow-

der snow. In the liftline we met John, a retired Wyoming Game and Fish officer and he ended up skiing with us. He

had lots of good stories about his career and growing up in the wilds of Wyoming. We followed John on I-90 and

he showed us where to stop to spy the Devil’s Tower. We spent Tuesday night in Sheridan, Wyo-

We found the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota just a half mile off of Interstate 90. The statue is 55 feet high and is the tallest statue in Minnesota. Bria is making music hitting the giant chimes.

ming. We went out for pizza, the town is quiet in the winter.

Wednesday, we made the three hour drive to Red Lodge Mountain in Montana for the first tracks. As we drove up the access road we could see a snowstorm

heading our way. This is a wild big mountain with over 2,400 vertical feet of drop with a mixture of slow and fast lifts. The snowstorm hit and we skied in near white out conditions dumping 4 inches of snow but the sun came out just past noon. We skied some crazy steep bumped up terrain. The views from the slopes were vast and jaw dropping, we were in the mountains now. We then drove over the Continental Divide and spent the night in Butte, Montana.

Thursday, we drove from Butte and over scenic and snowy Lolo Pass, following Lewis & Clark’s route. We hoped to make it to McCall, Idaho by late afternoon. When we arrived in Riggins, Idaho just one hour away from our destination we were stopped cold, Route 95 was closed because a

PATENAUDE from 23

propane tanker truck had crashed. Inside the Seven Devils Saloon, named after the local mountains, we sat with some US Forest Service employees who were rather concerned that the road would not be opening. We found a nice hotel right on the Salmon River and decided to wait and see.

Friday, we woke early to bad news, it would be closed for at least three days and the fastest way to get to McCall was a 9 hour drive. It was maddening to be so close and yet now so far away. Our reroute took us all the way to Walla Walla, Washington and into Oregon.

We stopped by Anthony Lakes Ski Resort,

just east of I-84 with beautiful views of the Wallowa Mountains. The ski area is about the same size as Pats Peak and it is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Anthony Lakes summit tops out at elevation 8,000 feet. The snow was good. Lift tickets were just fifty dollars. We skied for a couple of fun hours to break up the long drive.

It was dark by the time we checked into the Best Western in McCall. Mule deer were munching on the hotel’s shrubs. We counted our blessings that we made it and we enjoyed perfect weather all the way across the country.

Saturday, we skied Brundage Mountain and it was everything we had

hoped it would be. Lots of great snow, steep terrain, wild glades and fast groomers and wonderful mountain vistas that made our eyes pop! We met many locals while riding the lifts. A few led us around for a few runs and it was fun learning about the ski area. We skied all day.

Thanks to a local’s tip we picked up excellent Sushi for supper on our way to do more skiing.

McCall, Idaho is a fun town with a long skiing heritage. We went night skiing for an hour at Little Hill in McCall, opened in 1937, it is one of the oldest ski areas in Idaho. Boasting 400 vertical feet and lift served by a T-bar,lift tickets just $25.

Super Bowl Sunday,

Red Lodge Mountain is nestled in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. The summit elevation GrizzleyPeak is 9,416 feet and it was easy to find first, second and third fresh tracks. This was our third ski outing in just four days of traveling across the country.

we went to the newest ski area in Idaho. Tamarack first opened in 2004 and new owners took over in 2018 and it is a grand first class resort. We felt like we had the mountain all to ourselves. The lift attendant told me it was mobbed on Saturday but he guessed everyone was off to celebrate football. Tamarack has 2,800 vertical feet of drop and lots of fast lifts. There is a great variety of terrain, steep, easy, glades and terrain parks. We enjoyed another great day of sunshine and skiing. We tried to ski a different trail every run. Apres ski we joined the families

roasting marshmallows and making S’mores provided by that mountain’s guest services.

Monday, we decided to go back to Brundage and we skied their Hidden Valley glades and bumps again. We wished we had another day to ski Tamarack again but Bria had to catch her plane to get home to her husband on Valentine’s Day. It was about a three hour drive to Boise.

We had a delicious goodbye dinner in Boise and reminisced about our adventure hitting so many Indy Pass resorts and finding so much wonderful snow..

Bria took the shuttle

from the hotel to the airport and I was driving again by 6am in a snowstorm.

Things have gotten complicated this past week. I have learned a lot about road closures here in the Wild West. I am waiting for the blizzard that has closed the Interstates in Wyoming to move out. I have been staying with family in Sun Valley Idaho. The skiing has been wonderful but I am homesick and miss my husband Charlie. We live in a big country, I hope I can hit another Indy Pass resort on the way home. Have fun.

Bria pats Tamarack Resort’s avalanche rescue dog.

PATENAUDE from 24

the long-winders and tell them he/she has an important call to make. Or one of two people using the phone might feel that another is listening to their conversation and bring the third party into the conversation by asking them a question.

On one occasion after I had left home, was married, and living in Pennsylvania, I tried making a telephone call to my parents in New Hampshire. After the phone had rung maybe a couple times a voice said “Raymond and Dorothea aren’t home.” It was nice of the neighbor (a relative) to let me know my parents weren’t home, though I would have assumed that if they didn’t answer the phone, and each answered longdistance call back then added expense to our bill.

I should add that if

Telephone that is similar to first type our family used.

one wanted to initiate a call there was a handle on the side of the wooded box that they turned to make the bell ring. You could call someone on your party line by ringing their number. Anyone else could be reached only by calling the operator by turning the crank for one long ring and telling her the number of the person you wanted to talk to and she would make the connection from the

switchboard she operated. If it was long distance she might have to talk to another operator to make the switch to the right telephone line.

There is a New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner, New Hampshire which, according to its website, “houses a tangible history of telecommunications which can be viewed via guided or self-guided tours.” The museum has a collec-

tion of over a thousand artifacts, including many from families who have worked for telephone companies. Anyone interested in visiting the museum should check their website for the dates they are open.

Some of you may remember the time when New Hampshire had one telephone company that served us all. Our telephone service was provided by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company monopoly. The phones of those days, back in the 1930s and 40s were not used as frequently as many of us use our cell phones today, or whatever you call your phone, as fast moving technology quickly changes things.

Remember that before the invention of the telephone people benefited from the telegraph, one of the means where messages could be sent

by words though not by voice. The Hamptonia publication of the New Hampton Literary Societies of the school in that community had the following notice concerning the telegraph in October of 1892: “During the past summer the Tilton and New Hampton Telegraph Co. have extended their lines to Bristol, so that we are now well connected with the outside world. Messages may be sent to New Hampton by way of either Bristol or Tilton.”

Actually, long after the telephone was in use the Western Union Telegraph Company was used to send printed messages and I believe still handles money transfers.

The wall-mounted telephone station in homes eventually gave way to the rotary phone where one could dial their own choice of numbers without going through an operator. There were also the push-button phones. There was also a time, not so long ago, when it was customary to find coin-operated phone booths in places where many people congregated.

I recall the phone booths in the railroad station in Laconia and those that lined the

wall in the lobby of my college dormitory building. I have made phone calls from some of those booths without knowing until I had the word from an operator how many coins I would need to complete the call and talk to the person I wanted to reach.

Phone service that one could carry with him/her was but a dream in my childhood, and I find that this new “thing” that many consider a “must have” in today’s world can also be a nuisance. More than once I have called someone only to discover that they were in another country across the Atlantic Ocean and that I had awoken them in the middle of the night. And more than once have I thought someone near me, perhaps in a store or some other public place, was speaking to me, only to come to the realization that they were talking to someone else on their phone.

But about 100 years ago Clarence G. Swain said of my home town, “The automobile has solved for New Hampton the transportation problem; the telephone the question of communication; with a modern water system and electric lights we have all that the most fastidious can ask for, and all this without the contaminating influences of a pleasure-loving world.”

Today, one hundred plus years later, we have all that and more.

A Classic pay phone.

try to impose a Beijingbrokered Peace for a key region in Central Europe?

The role of China is increasingly mercurial. While Beijing backs Moscow as a military foil to disrupt Europe and the West in general, China secretly wishes to see a weakened Russian state become more dependent on the People’s Republic. Indeed China may send military ordinance to Russia to replenish its dwindling supplies. But in the longer term China can assess the situation, gauge military tactics and weapons systems, and sharpen its own sword for what is likely an inevitable military showdown with democratic Taiwan in a few years.

The Assembly vote comes in parallel to massive U.S. and NATO military aid to the beleaguered Ukrainians. Washington has provided over $100 billion in lethal aid and that’s probably a low number. Britain, France and Germany are rushing more supplies to Ukraine too including long awaited battle tanks, such as the British Challenger and German Leopard II. Ukraine’s military crisis is deepening. Ironically U.S. actions to engage in this proxy war with Russia, has ensured closer political solidarity between Putin’s Russia and Xi

Jinping’s China. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, offered a different perspective; calling on the international community to focus on establishing an immediate ceasefire and help launch peace talks as soon. He admonished, “in Central Europe, the lesson of history is clear. Whenever there is a conflict between East and West, we in central Europe have always lost.” As Ukraine’s neighbor, Hungary lives with the tragic consequences of this brutal war. “Hungary is carrying out the largest humanitarian operation ever in its history, having received more than a million refugees,” Minister Szijjarto told the Assembly.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, made a stirring address just before the Assembly voted; “We did not choose this war, ” she affirmed, “But the truth is if the Russian Federation stops fighting, this war ends, while if Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.”

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.

New Hampshire M

Sachets

You probably already know that sachets are little bags of perfumed flowers or aromatic herbs that people typically place in drawers or closets to make the space smell pleasant. What you might not know is that these herb and flower-filled pouches make creative wedding favors as well. As with sunglasses or totes, these unconventional wedding party favors can either be bought or made at home.

Travel Kits

Whether you’re having a summer or winter wedding, a homemade travel kit can be a useful and memorable wedding favor that doesn’t break the bank. This idea is highly versatile, as the kits can be made in a variety of ways on virtually any budget, and it’s the perfect favor for a destination wedding.

Candy Wrapper Store has been creating personalized candy bar wrappers for weddings and other events since 2000. In addition to custom party favors for weddings they also create unique favors for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc.

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Patrol

New Ham pshire has a mandatory boating education law Ever yone 16 years of age and older who operates a motorboat over 25 horsepower on New Hampshire waters must have a boating education certificate

The New Hampshire boater education course covers a range of topics from safety instructions to boat handling to reading the weather and prepares you for a variety of situations you could find yourself in while on the water

To search/register for a Boating Education Class visit our website at www boatingeducation nh gov or for information regarding boating laws and regulations visit www marinepatrol nh gov

Remember t o wear your lif e jacket!

bluebirds in the winter and wonder if it is an anomaly. Bluebirds do indeed regularly spend their winters in New England. Well, some of them anyway. Similar to American robins, their cousins in the thrush family, some eastern bluebirds migrate and some don’t. Of those that do migrate, some go a fair distance south and some go only a short distance. Many of the bluebirds we see in winter could be birds that nest farther north and come down here for the winter.

Like many New Englanders, I appreciate the ones that remain with us throughout the winter. New England winters can be long, cold and rather bland. A good bluebird sighting never fails to brighten things up.

MAILBOAT from 2

corruption. It’s a good bet that we have seen only the “tip of the Iceberg.” Now, please push for greater transparency by mandating a full audit. We the People must be given the facts, for it is our money that is being stolen through the “inflation process.” It is our decision to

make. You represent the people. I demand that The Federal Reserve, more accurately called the “generational theft machine”, should ultimately be abolished. I urge all victims of this theft to support HR 24.

Russ Payne Merrimack, NH.

IDEAS from 21 METZLER from

Haley’s point when she says, “Even on our worst day we are blessed to live in America.”

It is here in our free country that Ann Coulter and Whoopi Goldberg get to speak their minds and not worry that they will disappear in the night, as they might in China or Iran.

More serious criticism comes from the left from Asian American author Wajahat Ali, who accuses Haley of brandishing the “model minority myth,” which he calls a tool of white supremacists. That is, per Ali, they use the success stories “of some Asian Americans” as “a cudgel against Black people” who are “told by GOP politicians to stop blaming racism for their problems.”

Haley has only showcased her own story.

But the picture regarding the phenomenal business success stories of American immigrants is not a “cudgel” but powerful testimony to the opportunities for success and achievement in America.

According to a 2022 study by the National Foundation for American Policy, “more than half (319 of 582) of America’s start-up companies valued at $1 billion or more” were founded by immigrants. Nearly “two-thirds of (billion-dollar) companies were founded or co-founded by an immigrant or the child of an immigrant.” And “almost 80%” of billiondollar companies “have an immigrant founder or an immigrant in a key leadership role.”

These include immigrants from India, Israel, U.K., Canada, China,

France, Germany, Russia, Iran, Nigeria and many others.

My organization, CURE, covered Haley’s rollout event in Charleston. The palpable energy and excitement at the rally could be a sign that this campaign will pick up steam as more candidates enter the field, each pitching their own persona. Welcome to election 2024.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” 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.

this classified, I’m more important.’”

“In Washington,” he answers, “many officials won’t even look at something unless it’s classified.”

And classifying something needlessly has no downside.

“In all my years of research,” says Connelly, “I’ve never found a single instance of anybody being fired for overclassifying something.”

With so much unimportant but “classified” paper around, it’s no surprise that some ends up in officials’ homes.

After Trump and Biden were caught, classified documents were found at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence. In 2014, Hillary Clinton was caught sending emails that included classified information.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus gave classified papers to his mistress for a book she was writing.

Connelly is upset that these people act as if government documents are their personal property. Some of Biden’s documents were found in a folder labeled “personal.”

“I’d like to know who thought that this was his personal property?” Connelly says. “These are our property. These records are our history.”

Ordinary people who take records home go to jail. A Navy veteran who took top-secret documents got three years in prison. An ex-CIA contractor who kept classified documents in his home was sentenced to three months.

I bet that won’t happen to Biden or Trump.

America’s first “top-

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The second was the atomic bomb.

“We have to keep secrets,” says Connelly. “But when we create tens of millions of new secrets every year, it’s impossible to identify and protect the things that really do have to be protected.”

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.”

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THEME THIS WEEK: APPLE VARIETIES

Caption Contest

OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

If Hitler had known Brits name their dogs Winston Jesse Owens Churchill he would have surrendered earlier.

-David Barth, Laconia, NH.

Runners Up : “Rocky” the bulldog stands guard at the fortified Purina plant.Alan Doyon, Meredith, NH.

But the AC is broken.RIck Mader II, Wolfeboro, NH.

He won’t Let The Dogs out. -Robert Ferlito, Lynbrook, NH.

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

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

PHOTO #953

PHOTO #951

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock