03/17/2022 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

VOLUME 31, NO. 11

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

COMPLIMENTARY

Great Northeast Boat Show This Weekend

It’s Time for the Great Northeast Boat Show!

NH’S LARGEST BOAT SHOW

FRIDAY MARCH

SATURDAY MARCH

18 19 20

St. Patrick’s Day Poem

AT THE NH SPORTSPLEX • Bedford, NH

SUNDAY MARCH

12PM -6PM

10AM -6PM

10AM -4PM

By Jean Blewett Here’s to the day when the men Here’s to old Ireland—fair, I FRIDAY There’s an Isle, a green Isle, set that roam ween, SATURDAY SUNDAY MARCH in the sea, Send longing eyes o’er tahe wa-MARCH With the blue skiesMARCH stretched Here’s to the Saint that blessed ter! above her! it! Here’s to the land that still Here’s to her shamrock warm 12PM -6PM 10AM -6PM 10AM -4PM And here’s to the wild spells home and green, AT THE NHbillows SPORTSPLEX • Bedford, NH and free To each loyal son and daughAnd here’s to the hearts that That for centuries have caressed ter! love her! it!

It’s Time for the Great Northeast Boat Show!

This weekend, March 18-20, marks the eleventh anniversary of the Great Northeast Boat Show (GNEBS) at the NH Sportplex in Bedford, NH. The Weirs Times has been producing the GNEBS official guide since the beginning and we are proud to once again be partnering with this terrific show bringing an impressive display of the best boat and marine dealers north of Boston. There will be twenty-five boat dealers offering seventy-five brands and more than one hundred and fifty boats. Our special pullout section in this week’s issue provides you with all you’ll need to enjoy the show which is a one stop shop, showcasing everything the serious or casual boater needs to get out and enjoy the water. Hope to see you at the show!

18 19 20 NH’S LARGEST BOAT SHOW INSIDE THIS WEEK! BOAT SHOW PREVIEW EDITION!!

It’s Time for the Great Northeast Boat Show!

FRIDAY MARCH

SATURDAY MARCH

SUNDAY MARCH

18 1019 20 NH’S LARGEST BOAT SHOW 12 -6 -6 10 -4 AT THE NH SPORTSPLEX • Bedford, NH READ THE OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE - INSIDE THIS ISSUE! PM

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 — Serving ServingLaconia LaconiaDaily Daily

M r. CC’’ss Ta xi Mr. Taxi 267-7134 or 527-8001 OPEN AT 5AM DAILY

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To The Editor: There’s a gem in Moultonborough you might not know about, and you’ve probably driven by it a thousand times. It’s Winnipesaukee Wellness Center! We’re your neighborhood fitness center and we offer a safe, clean, friendly, nojudgement zone for folks of ALL AGES to improve their health and wellness. So, stop cruising by and come on in! We’d love to see you! We offer the use of several different exercise machines, along with guidance on their correct usage. This includes rowing machines, treadmills, recumbent steppers, several different varieties of stationary bicycles, elliptical, and a weight/group exercise room with hand weights, ankle weights, and stretch bands. The weight room has exercises posted on its walls as guidance to help you work all your muscle groups. Folks often gather in the room in groups and work through all the exercises together. There’s a definite camaraderie here among staff and members and everyone is very friendly and helpful. Our member, Ed Farmer, speaks directly to this feeling of family at the Winnipesaukee Wellness Center, “Primarily, for me, it’s the camaraderie. The Center gives me a reason to get out and socialize. And, honestly, I just won’t exercise on my own.” He shows up bright and early each day and enjoys exercising with our other early birds. Sharon Simler shared the same

sentiment as she joined the daily exercise group in the weight room, “It’s the people that keep me coming to WWC.” Clearly, the geniality is a very important part of the atmosphere here. Margaret Cooper agreed and added that the Center itself is very appealing, “It’s a sunny, open space and there are so many choices of machines and exercises.” Truly there is something for everyone and every skill level here at Winnipesaukee Wellness Center. The WWC is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 7-3:30, and Tuesdays from 7-12noon, and is always staffed with a friendly, knowledgeable supervisor who can help with your workouts for optimal results. We’re located right on Route 25 – 60 Whittier Hwy, Unit 3A & 7A (in the same plaza as Elvio’s Pizzeria). Please contact us at (603) 253-1839 or stop in if you would like to join or if you have any questions. We’d love to have you in our wellness family. Cynthia Skaff Winnipesaukee Wellness Center

Private Road Legislation Passes Senate To The Editor: In February, the New Hampshire Senate passed SB246. SB246 mandates that municipalities and developers who approve and build future private road communities with four or more residential units must either construct those roads to

existing public standards or the developers must fund a reserve account for up to 50% of the cost to replace those roads at the time of completion of the project. Those funds would be turned over to the eventual resident’s association to maintain and replace those private roads going forward. This legislation is meant to reduce the increased proliferation of private road developments which places an unfair tax burden on unsuspecting residents. SB246 was sponsored by Senators Regina Birdsell and Sharon Carson. SB250, which would have granted municipalities the authority to offer a tax credit to current residents on private roads did not pass the Senate as amended but recommended for interim study. This was not the expected outcome for SB250 however the NHPVRTA will continue to offer guidance and information to any Senate study of private road issues. Additionally, the NHPVRTA plans to submit further legislation in 2023. SB246 will soon be scheduled for hearings before a yet to be determined committee in the House of Representatives. Anyone interested in private road legislation should immediately visit www.nhpvrta.com, sign up and follow through with the recommended course of actions. John J. Goglia NHPVRTA Director and Treasurer

Our Story

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, March 17, 2022 —

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

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

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ince of New Hampshire and masters are too inwere near the sea in the dulgent and negligent of southeast corner. From their duty in that kind, it 1641 to 1680 these is ordered that ye chotowns were considered sen men appointed for to be part of Massachu- managing the prudensetts and it was that tial affairs in the several commonwealth which precincts and quarters enacted the first laws where they dwell, shall pertaining to schools in have a vigilant eye over its towns. When New their neighbors, to see, H a m p s h i r e b e c a m e first, that none of them a separate province, shall suffer so much including those four barbarism in any of coastal towns, the edu- their families as not to cation laws that had endeavor to teach, by previously been enact- themselves and othO u r Ntheir ed in Massachusetts e w children and o m e S h op ers, C became part of the laws apprentices so much S r t e o g r r e ! La of New Hampshire. learning as may enable The Act of 1642 stat- them to read perfectly ed: “Forasmuch as the the English tongue, and good education of chil- to get knowledge of the dren is of singular be- capital laws upon penhoof and benefit to any alty of twenty shillings commonwealth, and for each neglect therein. whereas many parents See SMITH on 22

abin Rust y C ic

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Journalism students are instructed to answer five basic questions when they write a newspaper article: who, what, when, where, and how. Parents around the country have in recent months been attending school board meetings and asking those questions of those in charge of their children’s education. I, however, am going to try to answer those questions as they relate to the early efforts in New Hampshire to provide the children with an education. Much of my information comes from the “Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction” in New Hampshire in the year 1876 which took a look back into the state’s education history. The responsibility for maintaining the education of children in New Hampshire has historically been considered the responsibility of the towns. The first four towns of the Prov-

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES “Crafting Chairs And A Business For The Future” In Sandwich

On Sunday March 20, Sandwich Home Industries will host a lecture “Crafting Chairs and a Business for the Future,” with Adam Nudd-Homeyer, the craftsperson and steward behind the current incarnation of Tappan Chairs, which began in Sandwich, NH in 1819. Based in a t ra d i t i o n o f using historic equipment dating back to the business’ earliest days, t h e Ta p p a n Chairs of the 21st century blend that soul of history into an elegant and contemporary form that has proven to cross generations. Adam will be sharing his own history with the business, as well as his vision for the company for the future and its role in the community as a benefit corporation. The lecture will be held at the Doris L. Benz Community Center located at 18 Heard Road in Center Sandwich. Masks will be required to attend. Open to the public, the lecture will begin at 4:00 pm, with doors open at 3:45. A founding member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the Sandwich Home Industries (now known as the Center Sandwich Fine Craft Gallery) has been supporting artisans and providing crafts education for over 90 years. The Gallery will open on May 14, 2022 for the summer and fall seasons. Learn more about Sandwich Home Industries, the gallery and the lecture series at centersandwich.nhcrafts.org.

Homeschool Series At Squam Lakes Natural Science Center HOLDERNESS - Squam L a ke s N a t u ra l S c i e n c e Center holds a program for homeschool students ages 4 to 6. on Thursday, April 7th from 10-11am. This final program of the series is a one-hour, in-person session held outdoors, followed the next week by a 30-minute virtual wrap-up featuring a live animal. The program is all about New Hampshire wildlife. Each session considers a different group of living things through activities, hands-on experiences, and a meeting with a live animal. April will focus on turtles. An adult must participate with children at no additional cost. Each additional adult pays child fee. Pre-registration is required for all programs at www.nhnature.org. Cost: $9/member child; $11/non-member child To register for this event, and learn about upcoming programs, and membership go to www. nhnature.org or call 603-968-7194.

Make Your Own Dichroic Glass Pendant The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen ¬- learn to make your own Dichroic Glass Pendants at the Meredith Fine Craft Gallery during this 2-Day Class with League-juried artist, Lynn Haust, on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Sunday, April 3rd, 2022, ¬from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Melting glass, also known as the ancient art of kiln forming, is fun and addictive. This fastpaced class will give you a chance to explore this art and many of the techniques that make melting glass so exciting. Using clear and black Bullseye glass as a base, you will design and create a collection of pendants out of dichroic, transparent, and opaque glass. Day 1: You will cut the dichroic glass to create color and design. The glass will then be full fused into two large squares. Day 2: You will coldwork the glass by cutting and shaping it into pendants. The pieces will be fired a second time to fire polish the glass into finished pendants. Your pendants will be fired and annealed offsite and you will be notified when they are available for pick up within a few days after the class. Tuition is $150.00 per student with no additional materials fee. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register or inquire about the class, email meredithfinecraft@gmail.com, call 603) 2797920 or stop into the gallery at 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, NH. For more details, visit meredith.nhcrafts.org/classes/com

Judy Collins At The Colonial Theatre Tickets Now On Sale The Colonial Theatre of Laconiappresents Judy Collins on Thursday, May 12th at 8pm. Judy Collins has long inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century. The newly reopened Colonial Theatre has a seating capacity of 750 and plays host to a wide range of performances, including music, theatre, comedy, and civic events. The Colonial Theatre is managed by Spectacle Management and is home to the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative. The Colonial Theatre is located at 609 Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246. www. coloniallaconia.com Tickets for Judy Collins at the Colonial Theatre of Laconia on Thursday, May 12th at 8pm are $29-$79 are now on sale at www.coloniallaconia.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

entral Baptist hurch

Live Free or Die.

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

Changing My Perspective It was a cool but sunny day last week when I visited the local post office. All I had in my mind was to mail a simple letter and be on my way, by Brendan Smith but instead I Weirs Times Editor was confronted with a situation that completely changed my perspective about a simple matter. Upon leaving the building, which has a set of about seven steps to the door from the sidewalk, I saw a guy approaching with a letter who was still on the sidewalk about ten feet from the bottom of the steps. As I exited, I held the door open with my left hand as I spied him approaching. Through my decades of experience in doing my due diligence in kindness and always holding the door for those coming in or out after me, I decided that he was a little too far away for protocol to have me hold the door for him. Of course, if he had been holding a package, occupying both his hands, the protocol would have been different as I would have understood that waiting and holding the door would have been helpful. But with just a letter and both his hands basically free, I followed the simple rule of measuring his speed and distance from the door and calculated that I would be holding the door longer then was the necessary human response. So, I let it go. Just as I did, he increased his speed a bit and bounded up the stairs past me, the door was not quite shut yet, maybe an inch to go, but he still missed it and now needed to pull the door open himself. As he did, he turned to me and said, “Thanks for nothing.”

Not wanting to create a confrontation, I said nothing. Still the logistics of this situation played around in my mind. Who is at fault here? Was it me for not holding the door long enough, or was it his fault for presenting me with the false sense that he was way beyond the appropriate distance as societal rules apply, but then at the last second sped up closing that gap and just as I removed my hands from the door, he was now within the proper distance that required anyone in a civilized society to hold the door? Of course, now at sixty-six years of age, my decision making on holding or not holding doors for others will now always be questioned in my mind. Is he or she close enough for me to hold the door? Is he going to suddenly speed up? How long is it appropriate now for me to stand here and wait so as not to once again be confronted as an uncaring and selfish individual when all along I was working so hard at not to be considered such? All of this made me take stock of other things in my life; instances where I thought I was doing the right thing, but was looked upon as the worst of humankind. After all, not everyone will give you a “Thanks for nothing” even if you deserve it. When I am at the checkout at the supermarket, not really paying attention, as another shopper comes in behind me and quickly reaches past me to grab the plastic divider to separate our orders, am I at fault for not grabbing the divider myself to place between my package of Oreos at the end of my supply and the Marie Callender Frozen Lasagna that starts hers? Or is she the uncivilized one who invades my space to take hold of that piece of plastic? How much time do I have to perform the proper acts in such a scenario and when is it okay for her to

come to terms with the barbarian in front of her and take matters into her own hands? Unfortunately, I will now be obsessed with thinking about these once conventional moments in life. After a lot of thought I came to another realization. I thought about my other various experiences with doors when I was the one entering while those exiting held them open. I was always curious why some would hold the door open for far too long. I might be a good thirty-feet away and yet they will, without following normal protocol, continue to hold the door for me forcing me to break into a slight jog to get there faster. I must admit that at times in the past I have found this a bit aggravating, interrupting my own natural rhythm so as to get to the door and let them finally relax. But now, based on this own recent experience with “Thanks For Nothing” guy, I have come to sympathize with them. Imagining they have had their own similar door experience in the past and instead of agonizing over their movements every time, they have decided to just hold the door for anyone who is within shouting distance. You never really know someone till you put yourself in their shoes. Of course, this goes for more in life than just holding open doors. I’m still trying to figure out the checkout divider though. Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles” and “Best Of A F.O.O.L. In New Hampshire” and his latest book “I Only Did It For The Socks Stories & Thoughts On Aging” . All are available at BrendanTSmith. com.

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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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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

Torpedo The Traitorous America Competes Act Our overlords in the Beltway Swamp depend on you not paying attention. COVID-19 was a weapon of mass distraction for the past two years. Ukraine is the new shiny toy. Put down their bread. Take your eyes off their circuses. Pay attention. In the bought-off halls of Congress right now, Senate and House collaborators are by Michelle Malkin preparing to send legislation to President Syndicated Columnist Joe Biden that will open the floodgates to more foreign tech workers, wealthy foreign investors and foreign students -- while our own homegrown American tech workforce, American business owners and American STEM graduates are still reeling from pandemic disruptions and displacements. The Senate passed the $250 billion U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last June. The House passed a similar measure, the $350 billion America Competes Act, last month. Biden wielded his State of the Union address to push for reconciliation of the two bills so he can commence another massive giveaway to foreign and domestic special interests. The just-approved House bill would create a new visa category on top of the dozens of alphabet-soup visas already in existence. According to the open-borders, big business-backed American Action Forum, the “W” visa program will benefit three groups of foreign nationals: “W-1, entrepreneurs with ownership interest in a start-up; W-2, essential employees of a start-up; and W-3, W-1 and W-2 holders’ spouses and children.” Based on dubious “job creation” criteria similar to the fraud-riddled EB-5 investor visa program, if the foreigners’ startups are “successful,” the W visa holders could soon join the already overwhelming annual tide of 1 million green card winners who take up jobs in the U.S. and are then eligible for citizenship. Only in the Swamp can a bill handing out citizenship for sale to the highest bidders be marketed as a way to help America “compete.” hen there’s the poison pill for Americans studying in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The House bill would lift the cap on immigrant visas for foreign nationals and their entire immediate families if they have doctoral degrees in STEM fields. Silicon Valley lobbyists will claim (as they have disingenuously arSee MALKIN on 28

Environmentalist NIMBYism Means Foreign Policy Disaster This week, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine dragged on, gas prices in America soared to their highest levels since 2008, increasing over 57 cents in just one month. In parts of the United States, gas by Ben Shapiro at the pump costs in Syndicated Columnist excess of $7 per gallon. The answer to this challenge is obvious: The United States ought to open the drilling floodgates. In 2019, net imports of crude oil and finished products were exceeded by American exports of such products for the first time on record. That was due to the massive increase in American production thanks to fracking over the course of the prior decade. This did not mean that the United States had stopped importing crude oil. But as of 2019, we were importing some 3.8 million barrels of crude oil per day, radically down from over 10 million in 2005. More production, generally speaking, means less dependence. And that matters, as we’re now seeing. Europe, which is far more dependent on foreign oil than the United States, has seen its energy prices skyrocket since the Russian invasion. That’s why Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced, “Europe has deliberately exempted energy supplies from Russia from sanctions. Supplying Europe with energy for heat generation, mobility, electricity supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way at the moment.” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed: “I think there are different dependencies in different countries, and we have to be mindful of that.” So now would be an excellent time for the United States to grab muscular leadership of the world energy markets. Instead, the Biden administration -- which opted upon taking office to undercut the oil and gas industry and radically subsidize inef-

ficient “green energy” production -- has decided to seek energy aid from some of the world’s worst dictatorships. This week, the Biden administration sent emissaries to the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in an attempt to increase oil imports from the socialist hellhole. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “The purpose of the trip that was taken by administration officials was to discuss a range of issues, including certainly energy security.” Meanwhile, Juan Guaido, leader of the Venezuelan opposition, was left out in the cold. “It is foolish to think that Maduro will quit Russia,” he quite logically explained. “This is a mistake. To buy oil from Maduro is the same as buying oil from Putin.” But this is the point: For the international Left, dependency on oil-driven authoritarian states is preferable I to energy independence. It allows Left-wing leaders the privilege of appeasing their environmentalist base while at the same time keeping energy prices low. Carbon-based emissions are too hideous to be considered so long as they’re being produced on American or European soil -- but we’re perfectly willing to subsidize Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maduro and the Iranian ayatollahs to exploit the environment and enrich themselves while promoting tyranny at home and abroad, so long as Greta Thunberg isn’t disappointed in us. And so we continue to promote the abject idiocy of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who recommended to those suffering from high gas prices that they just shell out for an electric vehicle. We continue to nod along to the stupidity of Psaki, who agreed that the solution to $7-a-gallon gas was “getting the whole country off of fossil fuels.” Then we import our energy from the world’s worst despots. Opposition to oil and gas development has always been the privilege of rich countries; we simply outsourced the pollution and environmental degradation elsewhere. But as it turns See SHAPIRO on 28

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

Cowards And Leaders Russia’s invasion revealed big differences in how politicians deal with threats. The president of Ukraine, when offered evacuation, said, “I need amby John Stossel munition, not a Syndicated Columnist ride.” He’s a leader. By contrast, in Canada a few weeks before, when truckers staged a protest against COVID-19 rules, the cowardly Prime Minister Justin Trudeau felt so threatened by the peaceful protesters that he went to “a secret location.” Then he invoked

Canada’s Emergencies Act. That empowered authorities to forcibly break up the protest. In one instance, police rode into a crowd on horseback. People were trampled. Nasty as that was, the part of the act that turned out most effective at stopping protest was freezing protesters’ bank accounts. That’s similar to what the West is doing to Russian President Vladimir Putin now. But Trudeau did it to his own people! “You do have to have a bank account, really, to be able to live,” says George Mason University law professor Todd Zywicki in my new video.

“Imagine if, during the Civil Rights era, Martin Luther King could have lost his bank account because he trespassed at a Woolworth’s counter.” Of course, more people used cash then. Now we rely on banks and credit cards. The easily frightened Trudeau justified his use of the Emergencies Act by saying the truckers received “disturbing amounts of foreign funding to destabilize Canada’s democracy.” Really? The truckers were going to “destabilize Canada’s democracy”? “I don’t know why you would say it’s ‘destabilizing democracy,’” says Zywicki. “This is democracy. Cana-

dians trying to stand up for their rights.” Fortunately, such abuse of power doesn’t happen in the United States. Except it does. In 2013, Zywicki reminds us, “Companies engaged in completely legal services found themselves losing access to bank accounts ... being forced to shut down.” It happened because the Obama administration launched Operation Choke Point, which encouraged banks to choke off accounts of pornographers, gambling businesses, payday loan operators, gun dealers and other businesses that they See STOSSEL on 26

Ukraine’s Humanitarian Exodus Into Europe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered a rising tsunami of refugees fleeing their beleaguered homeland and heading for neighby John J. Metzler b o r i n g P o l a n d , Syndicated Columnist Slovakia and Hungary. As the winds of war sweep across the Ukrainian steppe, this growing humanitarian wave of civilians, young and old with legions of children among them, have headed for safety. More than two million civilians have now fled their country in the first two weeks of fighting. We have seen this all before, albeit it in slower motion in war torn Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Congo and so many

other places which are etched into the headlines only to be supplanted by yet another often more horrible tragedy. Europe’s most recent refugee exoduses came from the bloody Balkan wars during the 1990’s following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the painful aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Now Poland, Hungary and Slovakia have opened their hearts and homes to the displaced Ukrainians; many of the refugees have already headed for Germany, France, the UK as well as the United States and Canada. Many will indeed return home to Ukraine if and when the time is right, but in the meantime they need refuge from the Russian Bear. The UN Security Council has addressed this clear and present danger to stability, especially relating to a

growing humanitarian wave. The alphabet soup of global relief agencies has gone into overdrive to help Ukraine. There’s an amazing outpouring of support thus far. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched an emergency appeal for US$1.7 billion to urgently deliver humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees; “The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months.” This presents a stunning humanitarian and security challenge for Europe, despite NATO’s unprecedented political unity. An exasperated Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told

the Security Council, “We already had enough on our hands, many other unnecessary and unwanted conflicts leaving misery in their wake…We had no need for another war.” He lamented, “Simply put, millions of lives have been shattered.” American UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that she’s increasingly concerned about civilian protection, especially women, and girls affected by “Putin’s war.” Apartment buildings, villages, hospitals and civic centers have been wantonly targeted by the Russian military causing deliberate grief and fear. Civilian causalities are mounting. But this tragedy is not entirely new. In 2014 Russia began to dismember sovereign Ukraine and detach the Donbas and Luhansk with pseudoSee METZLER on 29

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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Masks off, we come to our senses. Now that we’re breathing normally again, we can come to our senses. As parents, we’ve been polite. We are also purpose-driven with strong data at our backs like a prevailing wind. Parents complied with a strip of cloth on their children’s faces, and it’s time for elected and appointed leaders in school districts to explain their critical thinking behind these measures, the results of which families will be dealing with for years. ‘What did you do, mom?’ Its a question we’ll have to answer when our kids ask us one day. As mask mandates are lifting, I’m left with my own questions. How has a piece of puckered fabric protected our kids’ academic, physical and emotional health? Suicides have skyrocketed for high school kids, particularly girls. Kids have been isolated from their friends. Learning loss has compounded. Yet, children enjoyed a fraction of a fraction of risk from a virus for which healthy kids were repeatedly tested. It’s only safe to say as we look back, the social media blitz for masks (after experts were against them) was nonstop and effective. We as the polite citizenry sacrificed two weeks to slow a curve, giving months and years with no plan, trading safety for something sold as education. The cost for our children is irredeemable, impacting

Time for masks on schoolchildren to go. them forever. We sanctioned isolation from elder family members, from their friends. We were instructed on one hand, that a piece of cloth was no big deal, to suck it up; and on the other, to believe it had the power to stop aerosolized viruses when the data showed otherwise. We parents behaved well and good, we believed the authorities. We trusted the experts. We were treated to some data, but not all. Now, “free” to remove a scrap of cloth, we’re expected to pretend no harm was done to our children. Was this trade-off worthy of the cost it demanded? Parents, when we value our rights to parent, those responsible will need to give us more than a patronizing pat on the back for being so patient because it wasn’t easy for them to decree policies which did more harm to, than

good for, our children. The recent deliberations over target dates to lift mandates are a long-time coming. The ramifications will be the stain school boards and leaders will have to bear as we help our most vulnerable kids to try to adapt and catch up. Unintended divisions between children who believe in a strip of cloth the data doesn’t support and kids who’ll never wear a mask for anything but playtime or sports have been sown. Did board members under the direction of powerful teachers unions model losses to students’ health and wellbeing as these children socialize face-to-face daily? How about the child who still believes that a simple piece of porous fabric will keep her safe? Safe from her peers? The thinking to lift mandates was founded on vaccination rates

which have not prevented transmission or infection. Vaccines losing by the day hands-down to the very variants they selected. Masks inextricably sewn to them. Lifting mandates due to factors, excepting previous certain caches of trending data and peer reviewed research discouraging masking children, yet including current COVID-19 data as in, vaccination rates, guidance given, law-like credence from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education dependent on flip-flopping recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; state and local boards of health who don’t come in contact with patients; and a long-over-due governor’s announcement to end mask mandates, might be too little, too late. We, as parents are expected to trust our local bureaucracies with our kids but, from top to bottom, you have made it difficult, Chairmenand-women. Time for masks on schoolchildren to go. Ms. Toomey’s stories, essays, and poems have been featured in Baystateparent Magazine, New Hampshire Parents Magazine, Baystate Echo, Penwood Review, and Solace in a Book. She worked as an adjunct at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, where she earned a master’s degree in literacy. Bonnie writes about life in the twentyfirst century and lives in New Hampshire with her husband. Learn more at bonniejtoomeydotcom.wordpress.com

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

-201

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March Fun!

What’s that? A bright Yellow Submarine racing down King Pine’s slopes! King Pine’s Cardboard Box Derby is back on March 27th in East Madison. Build your own cardboard creation using just cardboard, glue and tape and join the fun. Wear a costume or just come out and cheer on the participants. KingPine.com for more information. Happy Spring Fun. You may have put your snow shovel away but don’t put your skis and snowboards away yet. Ski resort slopes are still deeply covered with snow and Mother Nature is sure to deliver more snow. Especially if you did put away your snow shovel, that always makes it snow. Thankfully more fun is returning to the slopes this spring.

To encourage smiling and laughing, ski resorts host fun events to celebrate the end of the season. It is really fun to take part in the contests but they just might be more fun to watch. Spectators are encouraged to come out to cheer the craziness on! The Pond Skim and Slush Pond contests, where skiers and snowboarders do their best to try to get

across the open water without going for a dunk, are popular. The ponds are built by pushing up snow and lining them with plastic sheets and then using the water from their snowmaking system ponds to fill them with very cold water. Each resort has its own pond design. Some are very long and others are short but to the crowd’s delight many take a dunking!

Success depends upon the amount of speed they are carrying when they hit the water. Often participants are required to wear fun costumes too. Here are the dates for many of the Pond Skim events: March 19th–Pats Peak March 26th–Mount Cranmore March 27th–Mount Sunapee See PATENAUDE on 24

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

A Full House Welcomed Brendan Smith At Cold Spring Farm Music By Chris & Roy Fills Out The Fun Evening

On Saturday, March 5th, Cold Spring Farm in Alton, NH, saw a full house for their first event of the season. Weirs Times’ editor and columnist Brendan Smith brought his comedic storytelling presentation out of mothballs after a long Covid hiatus of over two years, and delighted the crowd with some of his classic “Flatlander” tales about adjusting to life in New Hampshire after having moved here unplanned in 1985 from Long Island, New York. Brendan also brought along some new stories about another adjustment he has had to make only recently… getting older which are also in his newest book “I Really Only Did It For The Socks – Stories & Thoughts On Aging.” During the hour-long

the evening, the crowd was entertained by the talented music duo of popular local musicians Chris Bonoli and Roy D’Innocenzo. A definite highlight of the evening was when Cadence “Cady” Mae Adler, 7, wowed the crowd with her a cappella version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Cady is the granddaughter of Cold Spring Farm owner Diane Loudon, who along with her daughter Sarah Lewis and Sarah’s husband Bob Adler (Cady’s mom and dad) have been working to bring

Weirs Times’ editor and columnist Brendan Smith performs to a full house in the barn at Cold Spring Farm in Alton. SARAH LEWIS PHOTOS

Music was also provided by the talented duo of Chris Bonoli & Roy D’Innocenzo who played before and after Brendan’s presentation. show Brendan humorously covered everything from learning how to rake the roof, to a day at the dump as well as his recovery from openheart surgery in 2018 and more. Some creative illustrations designed by his artist wife Kimberly added to the fun. Before and after the storytelling portion of

new avenues of entertainment to the 300acre farm located on Alton Mountain. The breathtaking views have already been experienced by many who have attended weddings at Cold Spring Farm over the years. The beautiful true post and beam two-story barn See FARM on 27

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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.

host of other perversions and sins, which I expressly declared as wrong and evil. Your leaders have led you to believe you can be and do anything you desire, as though I was nonexistent, and I wouldn’t bring judgement. You have taken a hard stand on every self-interest or politically expedient civil and social issue. You have created a deep racial division that was healing substantially, by embracing radical and unfounded theories, many of which are being promoted by godless, socialistic leaders. You have stated your greatest threat is from citizens who not only looked to me to build your country but fought, with their lives, for the rights of every man to be equal. All while you have approved and even supported destruction of your property, history and values that once made you great. You give everyone everything “free,” to win new voters and remain in power. You punish those who seek legitimate elections with safeguards that make certain that only true American citizens vote to elect their leaders. You threaten, demonize and treat as criminals, citizens who legitimately question your motives and methods, even when they appeal to the need to be faithful to your founding Constitution, which you swore to defend. Your military is more concerned about be-

ing “politically correct” instead of preparing to defend your homeland and the land of others who are being bullied into submission by forces more powerful than themselves. Your border polices break your own laws not to speak of my laws, that declare that you must take great care to ensure that those who enter your country have the same values, my values, that once made you prosper. I have made it clear that this is my world and I have clear standards for right and wrong. I have shared with you that if you keep practicing these things and don’t return to me, I will move to begin to implement the Law of Diminishing Returns as a means of judgement. I have been patient and have given you time to turn around, but you have abused my patience and used it to move farther away from me and my will (Zechariah 7:7-14). My judgment is intended to punish the wrong but also to bring pain to cause you to return to me and do what is right. You don’t learn by me, continuing to allow you to prosper. So, my judgements are the only recourse to bring you back. “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the

Letters From God

QUESTION: Why Can’t We Get Ahead? It Seems As Though We Take One Step Forward And Then Two Back. I am glad you noticed. I am sad however, that I need to bring even more bad news. You have entered a period in your nation’s history in which you have begun to experience what your economists described as the Law of Diminishing Returns. It is a process of receiving less and less for the same or even greater investment. With respect to your economy, you may be producing as much or growing as much as you have in the past, but you continue to experience economic decline. You are just not seeing the same results and instead are experiencing less in return than ever before. I have warned you over and over that you have abandoned me and have legislated and practiced things that I consider wrong and even reprehensible. Your morality of right and wrong is from hell not from me in heaven. You have desecrated my design for maleness and femaleness, marriage and sexuality, by sanctioning heterosexual, homosexual, transsexual and a

Lord.” (Isaiah 26:9-10). If you knew me and my word you would see that you are simply repeating the practices of my people, Israel, and as a result you are experiencing the same consequences. They would not listen or learn, despite the growing severity of these judgements (Isaiah 5:18-25). For these reasons you, like them, are losing more than you gain and will continue to experience the Law of Diminishing Returns. In my letter to them written by Micah I wrote, “Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save, I will give to the sword. You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine… Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.” (Micah 6:13–16). You cannot win if you oppose me! You cannot lose if you obey me! Choose me once again and choose life before it is too late. I love you God

These letters are written by a New Hampshire pastor.

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With over 40 of the best of Brendan’s weekly columns he covers everything from politics to health to technology to shopping and more. This is the perfect sampling of his unique humor which has been entertaining readers of The Weirs Times and Cocheco Times for twenty years. Order your autographed copy today for $13.99 plus $3 for shipping. (Also available on Amazon andlocal bookstores Send checks or money orders for $16.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Best of a F.O.O.L., c/o The Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247. Order online at www.BrendanTSmith.com

Newest Release By Brendan Smith

“The Best of a F.O.O.L.* In New Hampshire”

*Flatlander’s Observations On Life

With over 40 of the best of Brendan’s weekly columns he covers everything from politics to health to technology to shopping and more. This is the perfect sampling of his unique humor which has been entertaining readers of The Weirs Times and Cocheco Times for twenty years. 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.) Send checks or money orders for $16.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Best of a F.O.O.L., c/o The Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247. Order online at www.BrendanTSmith.com (Pickup autographed copies at the Weirs Times)

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

Critical Race Theory Program In Alton Camp Constitution will sponsor a presentation on “ Critical Race Theory - How The Enemies Of The United States Are Using Races As A Means Of Dividing Our Country For Politcal Power.” The presenter will be Rev. Steve Craft and the

program will be held On Thursday, March 24th at 7pm at The Community Church of Alton, 20 Church Street, Alton, NH. Admission is free. Donations accepted. The Reverend Steven Louis Craft holds a Master of Divinity

Degree from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA and a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Pastoral Counseling from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He has completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Boone Hospital Center, Co-

lumbia, Missouri. Rev. Craft is a member of the American Correctional Chaplains Association and is ordained as a Correctional Chaplain with the American Baptist Church, U.S.A.. He formerly served as Correctional Chaplain at the Pine Prairie Cor-

The Rev. Steve Craft will be the guest speaker for a program on Critical Race Theory on Thursday, March 24th at 7pm, at The Community Church of Alton. rectional Center, the Missouri State Penitentiary and the Moshannon Valley Correctional

Center in Central Pennsylvania. Reverend Craft is the Executive Director of Christian Citizenship Ministries, Inc. He is co-author of “Virtue and Vice”: A Fascinating Journey into Spiritual Transformation. He is also the author of “Morality and Freedom: America’s Dynamic Duo”. Steven is also a motivational and inspirational speaker on issues involving race, religion, politics, and culture from a Christian, Black American, Conservative perspective. As a flexible, multi-faceted speaker. For more information contact campconstitution1@gmail.com

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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brightly colored males are much more drably colored. Think of the cardinal, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager and indigo bunting. First-winter bluebirds will already be in their adult plumage. It is not rare to see bluebirds in the winter as many of them do not migrate. This is similar to their cousins the American robin. Robins are often thought of as a harbinger of spring, but the truth is that many robins spend

Contributing Writer

It looks like another Winter of the Bluebird. In recent years, I have proclaimed our coldest season as the Winter of … whatever bird is being seen in unusually high numbers that winter. I remember the Winter of the Snowy Owl in 2014 and the Winter of the Barred Owl in 2019 (that winter was crazy with all the owls being seen throughout New England.) Juncos and robins have also make the list. But this year, for the second time in three years, it has to be the Winter of the Bluebird. It is the first repeat selection. I should probably mention here that this is strictly my own proclamation based on my personal experiences and emails received from readers. There is absolutely nothing scientific about this. I’ve seen bluebirds in a variety of locations this winter. I haven’t been lucky enough to attract them to my house, but I have received several emails from readers who have seen bluebirds in their yards. Many readers have sent along photos, which I appreciate and post to my blog. My latest bluebird sighting came a few minutes after I saw the ducks that I wrote about in last week’s

See BOSAK on 29

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An eastern bluebird rests on a headstone in a cemetery in New England. column. A little farther down from the pond is a small cemetery that I have driven past many times. I’ve always thought it would be a good place to look for bluebirds, but until last week had never taken the time to do so. Cemeteries, with their openness and wooded borders, are often good places to find bluebirds in the winter. This time, it was almost too easy. I saw a male bluebird on a headstone even before I completed the turn

into the cemetery. The bird flew from stone to stone for a few minutes before landing on a branch at the far boundary of the cemetery. I parked and looked at the vibrantly colored bird through the binoculars I always have at the ready in the truck. Male bluebirds, even in the winter, are brighter than female bluebirds. Females, however, are similarly patterned and colored but just less vibrant. The females of many bird species that have

New Hampshire has a mandatory boating education law. Everyone 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 to wear your life jacket!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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THE SIMPLE FEAST

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

With inflation rates not seen since the 1970’s and gas hitting an unprecedented $4.17 per gallon and no signs of stopping, if your house is like mine, we will all be eating more inexpensive meals that can satisfy the entire family, not only once, but two, or maybe even three times. American Chop Suey (ACS) is inexpensive, easy to make, filling, delicious, and there is really no wrong way to make it. Using common staples from the fridge, pantry, and cupboard, combined with a little creativity, ACS truly is a hodgepodge that recalls old world tradition while satisfying even today’s fussy eaters. ACS made with ground beef, pasta, and tomato sauce has been the foundation of this “American Standard” for decades. Bulking it up with onion, green peppers, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, and seasoned judiciously with a host of herbs and flavorings makes this a popular, budget conscious, go-to dish for any family meal or social potluck gathering. Many have written about the history of American Chop Suey. Some barely scratch

the surface, while others have blogged quite the lengthy essay. Some herald its origins as a New England dish and still others debunk this as both myth and legend. Some claim ACS to be a casserole and others a one pot meal. Regardless of preference, I just claim it to be “good, hearty, eats!” No matter the camp you are in, compromise on some commonality can be found with all opinions, and are as follows: 1)American Chop Suey is as American as Apple Pie. (He says boldly with a wry grin.) 2 )It’s recorded origins go back nearly 150 years. (Or around the same time as the

canned tomato.) 3) Some sources indicate a very rough translation of the words “Chop Suey” originated from the Mandarin language and indicates “odds and ends” or “bits and pieces.” (Bits and pieces of what, you ask? Well, if I told you, and you’re reading this before dinner, you’d probably skip dinner.) 4) ACS, much like any other dish over years of making it, has followed a regional evolutionary process from what it was to what it is now. And, perhaps the biggest myth busted by some internet foodies is this: 5) ACS did not originate in New England. (I know, I was just as

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shocked as you are now.) Early recipes for American Chop Suey called for all sorts of poor quality meats (refer back to No.3 above), rice, and / or rice and noodles, making one think that this harkens back to roots in Asian Cuisine; think Chinese Chop Suey. (Which is actually another culinary evolution rabbit trail.) Later ACS recipes of the early 1900’s began to steer away from ofal, fat back, and other less desirable proteins and standardize the recipe toward chopped steak (burger), noodles (macaroni came later still), and tomatoes (stewed, chopped, and finally, sauce). Gaining culinary traction in the early part of the 20th century, both for its flavor and its economy, ACS recipes begin to include onions and celery, both for more nutrition and bulk. And as the “Branding of America” became big business in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were tomato and spaghetti sauces, Worcestershire sauce, and macaroni brands all pairing with recipes like ACS in merchandising ads throughout printed media. (Yes! That is where granny got all those “snipits” in her recipe box.) Dinners like American Chop Suey offered (and still offer) the economy needed while putting something filling and nutritious into bellies. ACS was building its reputation as that “go to” meal through two See FEAST on 21

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

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So Chinese dictator Xi Jinping asked Russian dictator Vladmir Putin to hold off on invading Ukraine until after Beijing’s Winter Olympics. Putin generously postponed the bloodshed to accommodate his Communist buddy’s request. Interestingly, Russian tanks subsequently got bogged down in March mud that was frozen in February. Xi owes Vlad bigtime on this one. Also interestingly, in 2014 Russia waited until after the February conclusion of its 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics before invading and taking Crimea away from Ukraine. What’s past is prologue. In the wake of Russia’s horrendously bloody 2022 Ukrainian invasion, sanctions and boycotts of all sorts were imposed on Moscow. These will cause much pain. Time will tell how effective they’ll be. But sanctions don’t impact dictators as much as many wish. Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein laughed off sanctions that targeted his regime. Until such time as the dictators themselves actually go hungry, they’re apt to thumb their noses. At least until their na-

COPPER KETTLE TAVERN

The American Olympic ice hockey victory over the Soviet Union in February of 1980 was rated as the top sports story of the 20th Century. tives get very restless. So what about the numerous Russian sports sanctions now in place? Consider the decision of FIFA and UEFA to suspend Russian national and club soccer teams from all international competition “until further notice.” Ouch! Or as Putin might say, Ой! (Oy!) Those favoring such sanctions ask how we can possibly conduct business as usual with such countries. Germany’s 1936 “Nazi” Olympic example is often cited as a cautionary tale, the lesson from which being that we should not bestow legitimacy upon bestial regimes. Those 1936 Berlin Olympics were cited by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 when he declared a boycott of Moscow’s Summer Olympics. A Soviet invasion of Afghani-

stan made business as usual impossible. (Although 1980’s Lake Placid Winter Games did take place that February, the highlight of which was the American ice hockey win over the Soviets. “Do you believe in miracles? YES!”) While athletes who’d trained and chased Olympic dreams for years were embittered by Carter’s 1980 decision, most folks understood and supported his actions. Over 60 other nations joined the boycott. But there were consequences, such as Soviet payback in 1984 when the Russians and their satellites boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics. The Soviets cited security concerns and American “chauvinistic sentiments” that whipped up an “antiSoviet hysteria” in the U.S. Sure.

The only east bloc country to buck the Soviets in 1984 was Ukraine’s neighbor Romania, whose athletes received a thunderous ovation when they marched into the L.A. Coliseum. Interestingly, the athletes from Communist China received a similarly warm American reception as they marched into their first-ever Olympic competition. (At the time Ukraine was an unhappy member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It broke free at the end of 1991 when the USSR imploded.) Will Russians participate in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics? Time will tell. Athletics greatly enrich the human experience while connecting cultures so the sports world is much poorer when innocent athletes can’t compete due to world See MOFFETT on 26

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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-- W.C. in Washington * “Another great use for a length of nylon stocking, or a kneehigh, as we used to call them: Slip over your pet brush and poke the bristles through. Brush your cat or dog as normal. When you’re done, you can pull the kneehigh stocking right off and all the hair will be caught inside!” -- P.K. in Pennsylvania * If you have a pickleor jelly-jar lid that’s stuck on, try using the handle end of a butter knife to tap a few indentations around the edges. This can sometimes loosen the seal, making it easier to remove the lid. * “When you get to the bottom of a bag of chips or a box of crackers, there usually are a lot of crumbs. I save ours in a baggie, then add them to breadcrumbs to bread fish or chicken. They

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* Fresh ginger can be frozen. Simply grate as needed. The flavor remains, and it will stay fresh much longer. * “With two preschoolers, I have a rather large collection of artwork. I save papers that are decorated on only one side and use them to write letters to family members. I try to write which child drew the picture and the month and year, but even when I can’t, the papers make very unusual and appreciated stationary.” -- M.F. in Oregon * Here’s a wonderful tip received via e-mail: “If you have a panic button for your car alarm, keep your keys by the bedside. If you experience a problem during the night, trip the panic alarm. Let your trusted neighbors know about your intention, and they’ll be able to assist you.” * Use the closure tab from your bread bag to keep your place on a roll of packing tape.

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* Here’s a great recipe substitution: “If you do not have cream, melted vanilla ice cream can be used for icings on cakes or pastries.” -- P.B. in North Dakota

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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Ingredients: 1 lb. Casserole or Elbow Noodles 1 lb. Ground burger 1- ½ Med. Green Peppers diced 3 Lg. Carrots quartered and diced 3Lg. Stalks Celery split and diced 1 Lg. Onion diced 6-8oz. Fresh Mushrooms chopped ¾ Cup Burgundy 1 Pkt. Brown Gravy Mix 1 Tbsp. Browning Sauce 1 Pkt. Low Sodium Beef Bouillon 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning ½ tsp. Black Pepper table or fine grind (your preference) 1 - 24oz. Can Pasta Sauce 1 - 14.5oz. Can Diced Tomatoes ¼-½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese Suggested Garnish 1-2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella 4 Tbsp. Chopped Parsley -Boil noodles following directions on the package to desired doneness. -Place diced carrots in with noodles if softer carrots are prefered.

-Brown the burger in a large pot over mediumhigh heat. Do not burn. Remove burger from grease and set aside. Reserve one to two teaspoons of fat in the pot and discard the remainder. -Reduce heat to medium and into the large pot saute the diced green pepper, diced onion, diced celery until just tender and then add the chopped mushrooms continuing to saute until mushrooms begin to turn color. Nothing should be burned so you may need to play with the heat a little. -Add the burgundy and the low sodium beef bouillon to the vegetables and deglaze the pot, stirring to dissolve the bouillon and get any ¨bits¨ off the bottom of the pot. -Add the beef back into the pot of vegetables and stir. -Drain the cooked noodles and diced carrots from their water and add these into the pot of veggies and burger. Reduce the heat to low. -Add to the pot and mix well the: pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, browning sauce, brown gravy packet, black pepper, grated parmesan, and Italian seasoning, continuing to heat on low until well blended and hot. Stirring often. -Garnish with shredded Mozzarella or Grated Parmesan Cheese and Chopped Parsley. -Serve individually or family style (on a deep platter). Warm Garlic Bread and Salad on the side.

Prince Pasta made sure everyone in New England knew that Wednesday was “Prince Spaghetti Day.” Not only in Boston’s North End, but from high points in Maine to Vermont, down the Connecticut River Valley, back over through parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, onto the Cape, and back up the Atlantic coast. Anyone within earshot of a TV set heard young Anthony Martignetti being called home for dinner on Wednesday evening. But, in our house Spaghetti was about as welcome on the table as Pickled Tripe. Dad

didn’t like “slurping” Spaghetti. Mom got around this by serving American Chop Suey. Still not a big fan of ACS, Dad fussed less because at least ACS had a better chance of staying on the fork all the way to his mouth. Served with a loaf of Nissan´s Whole Wheat bread and margarine (that’s as close as it got to garlic bread in our house) and a glass of milk; ACS was Wednesday night supper. And we too enjoyed this Simple Feast!

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

SMITH from 3 Also, that all masters of families do, once a week at least, catechise their children and servants in the grounds and principles of religion.” An additional law, the Act of 1647, warned the people that the chief project “of ye ould deluder, Sathan,” was to keep men from the knowledge of Scripture, and that the true sense and meaning of the Scriptures might be clouded by “ saintseeming deceivers.” That danger was given as the reason to require that children be taught to read and write. Every town with over 50 households was required to appoint someone to teach the children at the expense of their parents or the town as a whole. Any town with 100 or more households or families was required to set up a grammar school with an instructor who was

School House of earlier years- Gordon Hill, New Hampton.

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capable of preparing the students for the university. Towns who did not abide by the laws were subject to fines. The individual towns were held responsible to raise the money needed to educate the

children. I find that I had, in a previous article, indicated that the State had passed laws providing for the establishment of grammar schools as early as 1789, but here we find that was done more than 100 years earlier. The New Hampshire legislature of 1789 did away with all the old laws pertaining to schools and passed new laws. The new laws specified how much the towns should spend on schools and required teachers to be examined and show certificates proving that they were qualified to teach. Pupils would sometimes start their learning in a primary schools before going on to the grammar school and perhaps the high school. Towns usually began providing public education by hiring a teacher and sometimes providing a place in which to teach, but because of the rural nature of New Hampshire and slow means of transportation, the towns eventually became divided into districts in different parts of their territory. The first law authorizing the dividing of towns into school districts took effect in 1805; the law was repealed in 1817. In 1801 the town of Hampton had voted “That the North District shall have Jonathan Sanborn’s barn for a Schoolhouse.” The teaching was often done in the homes with the teachers traveling to hold “school” in different areas of the town. Because teaching sessions sometimes only lasted for a few weeks during each year, it was possible for one teacher to teach in several districts in the same year. Before the teachers were availSee SMITH on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

This and chalk were one of few aids teachers had in Colonial times. College some teachers were educated there. In Sanbornton Master Abraham Perkins was the only teacher in the town in its early days, and he went from one place to another teaching school in the different districts of that town . He had been

SMITH from 22 able the parents would teach their children. So where did the teachers come from? Some of them came from Harvard University. The town of Hampton had a number of Harvard graduates serve the town as teachers in the 1600’s. Campton was report-

ed to have drawn its teachers for its numerous schools from its own and neighboring towns, choosing “young persons of more than average mental ability.” Those selected to be teachers in the town of Hill were described as “Those who were a little above average in bookknowledge.” After the founding of Dartmouth

taught by General Sullivan’s father. Schools in the interior of the state which were populated later than those near the Atlantic coast, obviously were later in being established. So it wasn’t until 1773 that the town of Hill held its first town meeting. Two years later one of the warrant items was “To see if the town will vote to raise money for a school.” Two years after that money was raised for a school. Teachers were often referred to as schoolmasters or school-mistresses. Newton school records from 1758 find the town voted to raise twenty pounds to hire a school-master, and fifty pounds (old tender) to hire a SCHOOL DAME.” The earliest teachers in New Hampshire were probably mainly men, but it was not long before there seemed to be many women taking up the task. In next week’s article I plan to share comments from different

school districts in 1876 in which opinions were offered in comparing male and female teachers. Back in the year 1649 the Hampton selectmen hired one John Legat to teach all the children of the town, both male and female. They were to be taught to write and read and

“cast accounts” whenever the weather was fit for them to come together in one place. Catechism instruction was to be offered once a week. The pay was to be twenty pounds worth of corn, cattle, and butter.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

The Leprechaun is feeling lucky at Pats Peak! Pats Peak holds its annual Pond Skim on Saturday, March 19th, limited to 100 people and costumes are required for entry, no registration fee but lift pass is required. Spectators are encouraged to attend and those 21+ can watch the fun from the adjacent Even Gumby can do it at Cannon Mountain! Lots of Spring Fun at Cannon Skim Pond Beer Garden. Mountain: March 26th is 80’s Day and Cannon holds their annual Blizzard Splash Pond event on April 9th, limited to 50 people and a chance to win Blizzards Skis and Chutters Candy! CannonMt.com for more information.

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PATENAUDE from 9 April 2nd–Dartmouth Skiway & Gunstock April 9th–Cannon Mountain & McIntyre. At King Pine they are hosting their annual Cardboard Box Derby on March 27th.. Racers make a “vessel” that holds 2 or 4 riders made completely of Cardboard held together with only tape and glue. Cardboard boxes are transformed into everything from race cars to rockets ships! It is either sunscreen time or pull on your rain jacket to enjoy the soft spring snow of March. Last week I skied twice in the rain. Loon Mountain’s, new this season, Kanc 8 high-speed eight passenger bubble chairlift is really nice. Its super comfortable See PATENAUDE on 25

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 — PATENAUDE from 24

was the only skier on the trail. Calendar winter ends and the Spring Equinox arrives on Sunday, March 20th at 11:33 am. We have just a few more days left to nab some winter peaks. And now it’s time to start thinking about buying next year’s season pass at the very best rates! Have Fun.

heated seats and its bubble protective covering shielded us from the rain. Also, the lift line is covered because it is inside the building that houses the chairs when they’re not in use. Loon’s 4 passenger gondola was a nice dry ride too but it had a little bit of a lift line. Skiing in the rain at Loon was great. I skied the whole resort. I especially liked flying down Walking Boss and all the trails on South Peak. I also skied in the rain at Bretton Woods. I did laps riding their 8 passenger gondola to the summit. The snow conditions were great and the temperature was warm and comfortable. I especially liked skiing the Water Bucket Trail and the trails furthest from the gondola where often I

Yours truly and Fred riding Loon Mountain’s Kanc 8 chairlift on a cloudy and rainy day. Loon’s new-thisseason-Kanc 8 has super-comfortable heated seats, individual foot rests and a tinted bubble that rise automatically at the top! Loon celebrates 80’s Day on April 2nd!

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 — MOFFETT from 19

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politics. While the biggest victims of Russian aggression are obviously the Ukrainians, the Russian people are also needlessly suffering in many ways—to include innocent Russian athletes. A united front by those Russian athletes would matter. But it takes a lot more courage to protest by “taking a knee” in Russia than it does in America. Still, could high profile Russian sports heroes assert themselves and change the world? Do you believe in miracles? Yes. Sports Quiz What country hosted the 1936 WINTER Olympics? (Answer follows) Born Today That is to say, sports standouts born on March 17 include St. Patrick’s Day babies like NFL legend Sammy Baugh (1914) and former Celtics star

Danny Ainge (1959). Sports Quote “With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in Sochi, that country is open to pressure. American and world leaders must speak out against Mr. Putin’s attacks and the violence they foster. The Olympic Committee must demand the retraction of oppressive Russian policies under threat of boycott.” — JewishAmerican actor Harvey Fierstein in 2014 Sports Quiz Answer Germany also hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics at GarmischPartenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps. 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.

STOSSEL from 7 didn’t like. Gun dealer Kat O’Connor did everything the government demanded -- filled out the paperwork, got federal and state licenses, paid hefty fees. But suddenly, online payment processors wouldn’t deal with her. She then tried companies like Stripe, PayPal and Square. “It always ended up with an email saying they were closing my accounts,” she told me. She assumes the blacklisting was “a backdoor attempt at gun control.” It probably was. Choke Point continued until Donald Trump was elected. But O’Connor is still blacklisted. Once government labels you a problem, the bureaucrats may choke off your finances forever. That’s infuriating. But part of my job is taking the other side. So, I said to Zywicki, banks are private businesses, lending their own money. Why should they lend to people they don’t like? Private businesses can make whatever choices they choose. Zywicki had a good

answer: Banks are not really private businesses. “There are barriers to entry. You have to get permission to start a new bank. ... The financial services industry is so intertwined with government.” That government connection means bureaucrats who regulate banks can silence government’s critics by cutting off access to their money. In Canada, protesting truckers resisted pressure from police and politicians for weeks. But once Trudeau froze their money, that was the beginning of the end of their protest. When governments can de-bank you, you are not really free. “We need to tolerate people saying things we don’t like and separate that from their ability to make a living,” says Zywicki. “We’ve merged those two things. That’s a very big threat to the free society.” John Stossel is creator of Stossel TV and author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

NOW ON SALE!

like this as well as fundraising events. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Diane Loudon. “We are going to have BrenBRENDAN also dan back soon for those who missed this great SMITH’S show.” NEWEST To find out more about Cold Spring Farm and BOOK! what they have to offer, visit their website at “I Really Only Did coldspringbarn.com It For The Socks - or Stories & Thoughts Onout Aging” check Cold Spring on Facebook. Order your autographedFarm copy today for $16.99To find out any more about plus $3 shipping. (Please include inscripBrendan Smith and his tion you would like.) Make out checks or money speaking engagements orders for $19.99 to Brendan and mail to: go toSmith BrendanTSmith. Socks Book c/ocom WeirsToTimes, find our more Cadence ‘Cady’ Mae Adler, 7, of Alton a Weirs, about Chris Bonoli and POprovided Box 5458, NH 03247 Roy D’Innocenzo special performance with an a cappella version of Or order online at BrendanTSmith.com visit “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. DIANE LOUDON PHOTO ChrisBonoli.com

(Autographed copies also avail. at the Weirs Times)

Brendan told some of his classic Flatlander tales as well as stories from his new book “I Really Only Did It For The Socks - Stories & Thoughts On Aging.”

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Cold Spring Farm in Alton is a beautiful 300 acre farm on Alton Mountain. It’s been the spot for many COURTESY PHOTO weddings over the years and is now branching out into hosting events of all kinds. FARM from 10 was built by Diane’s husband Alan in 2010 and was finished to accommodate events after his passing in 2018. “It is a tribute to Alan’s craftsmanship and longtime desire to share the beauty and tranquility of the farm with as many people as possible,” said Diane. The grounds and barn

have proven to be a very special place for many of the couples who have had their nuptials there. (In fact, the first couple that was ever married at Cold Spring Farm still has a close connection with Diane and family and was even at the March 5th show.) The idea to expand on the success of Cold Spring Farm and bring

in more events besides weddings was what led to the March 5th event. Not sure how the reaction of the public would be, the turnout of a packed house for the event solidified the idea to work at bringing more live shows and events to Cold Spring Farm. “We are very excited, and we have some great ideas already for shows

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

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

MALKIN from 6 gued for the past three decades) that there is a catastrophic shortage of high-skilled, high-tech labor. Here are the facts, straight from the U.S. government: “Among the 50 million employed college graduates ages 25 to 64 in 2019, 37% reported a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering but only 14% worked in a STEM occupation,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey oneyear estimates. “This translates into less than a third (28%) of STEMeducated workers actually working in a STEM job.” I repeat again and again and again in the face of the America Last

lies: There is no American tech worker shortage. Other provisions of the House bill would grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens and refugees from Hong Kong, and “special immigrant visas” to 5,000 “high-skilled” Hong Kong residents for up to five fiscal years for a total of 25,000 new green card holders flooding the American tech workforce. Only in the Swamp can legislation that busts open the cheap foreign labor pipeline and undermines native American STEM graduates be sold as a vehicle for increasing American competitiveness. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Buried in the America Competes

Act is a side bill snuck in as a last-minute amendment called the College Transparency Act, which will radically expand the federal government’s ability to conduct surveillance, tracking and profiling, of every college student in this country. According to The Federalist, the bill opens the door to collection of “studentrelated surveys, race or ethnicity, age, sex, attendance, program of study, military or veteran benefit status, enrollment and credential status, distance education enrollment status, and federal Pell Grant status.” In addition, “economic status, participation in remedial coursework, status as a parent of dependent children, incarceration

or confinement status, disability status, and ‘other’ undefined data” will be collected “as the government later deems necessary.” There would be no means to opt out of this national student database, and the bill “specifically allows third parties to sell student data.” The potential for abuse and exploitation of highly personal student data that could be used for racial, psychological and ideological profiling is terrifying. Put on your shocked faces: Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation enthusiastically champion this American social credit system penetration into college student data -- just as they have lobbied for years for the other America Com-

petes Act provisions sabotaging American workers through relentless mass migration. Any American politician who calls himself “America First” and shills for this traitorous monstrosity should be kicked out of office. Pay attention. Raise hell. Do something. 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.

SHAPIRO from 6 out, in the end, we all pay the price for our willingness to pay off autocrats just so we can temporarily pretend that we did our bit for Greenpeace. Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and editor-inchief of DailyWire.com. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “How To Destroy America In Three Easy Steps,” “The Right Side Of History,” and “Bullies.” To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 — METZLER from 7 republics and more significantly seized Crimea. UN relief agencies have been feeding and caring for 1.5 million Ukrainian civilians displaced by the fighting which has droned on for the past eight years, largely unnoticed by the outside world. Now Vladimir Putin’s massive military invasion of all Ukraine, has thrown new light and urgency to a simmering conflict and unleashed calamitous carnage in a country the size of France, known as the breadbasket of Europe. Putin’s war has come to Ukraine and through its invasion of a sovereign country, has now unleashed the largest single refugee

exodus since the Second World War! As strange and surrealistic as it may seem, my calendar says 2022, not 1942. UK UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward stated poignantly, “Putin is directing a campaign of violence and cruelty against civilians.” Then speaking directly to the Russian representative she beseeched, “Vassily Alekseevich…The great Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote, “Man is given not only one life, but also one conscience’.” She implored the Russian delegate to “report faithfully back to Moscow what you have heard today.” The UN’s Martin Griffiths stated, “above all, the parties must

take constant care to spare civilians and civilian homes and infrastructure in their military operations. This includes allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities.” Russia has often blocked establishing secure humanitarian corridors for fleeing civilians. Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya underscored the international community is “responding to the worst humanitarian crisis we have ever seen since the end of the Second World War in Europe.” Importantly there’s an urgency for an immediate ceasefire to mitigate causalities and damage. This is a key first step. Moreover, there’s

a very real potential for the conflict spilling over from Ukraine into a wider war through design, miscalculation or blunder with a nuclear armed Russia. Thus military deescalation and political decompression through focused diplomacy becomes crucial before the crisis spills any farther beyond Ukraine’s borders and deeper into Europe. 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.

BOSAK from 13 their winters in New England. The same is true of bluebirds. This is another winter in which bluebirds appear to be especially prolific. Hopefully, this means good things for the eastern bluebird population overall. Due in large part to human intervention, bluebird numbers have increased over the years after they had fallen to dangerously low levels many decades ago. Otherwise, it’s been a fairly quiet winter from what I can tell. I have not seen nor have I received many reports of other birds that are sometimes numerous in the win-

ter. There have been a few scattered reports of pine siskins, but nothing like some winters. The redpoll sightings I’ve heard about were from a friend in Canada. A few snowy owls were spotted in late fall/early winter, but nothing too out of the ordinary. So it is another Winter of the Bluebird. I don’t know of anyone who would complain about that.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

Super Crossword

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —

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PHOTO #901 Theodore Seuss Geisel always insisted that his wife Helen dressing up their pets did not have an influence on his writings. John Brennick, Rochester, NH.

After picking up her rescue cat Elton at the shelter, they posed for a quick photo. On their way-out Elton exclaimed, “ Someone saved my life tonight.” - David

PHOTO #903 Send your best brief caption to us with your name and location Haynes, Alton, NH. within 2 weeks of publication date... Caption Contest, The Look, mom. I don’t know about Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, you, but I don’t need CATWeirs, NH 03247 aracts to be special! -Karen email to contest@weirs.com Eade, Ctr. Barnstead, NH.

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, March 17, 2022 —