03/23/2023 Weirs Times

“The Tax Collector’s Office” by Pieter Brueghel (1565-1636)

The Tax Man CoMeThhe Is no aprIl Fool

Laconia Kiwanis Free Throw Competition

The Kiwanis Club of Laconia is offering a Free Throw Competition.

The event is open to all Lakes Region Boys and Girls, ages 6 to 13 years old.

It will be held on Saturday, March 25th at Laconia Memorial Middle School at 9am. Pre-Register early for a gift (while supplies last).

Applicants may pre-register via QR Code, or text 603-630-5531 or email kiwanishoop@gmail.com. Register at Laconia Middle School at 8:30am.

Warm up is at 8:45am The competition begins at 9am.

Walk-ins are welcome!

The competition will benefit Lou Athanas Basketball Youth Basketball League and Gilford Parks & Recreation League Scholarships.

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr.

Contributing Writer

One thing that mankind cannot escape is the paying of taxes, and when those settlers of America objected to the taxes required of them by their mother country they revolted and birthed a new country with new taxes. If by some reason you think your forefathers or those who lived before you in

the state of New Hampshire escaped the payment of taxes, you are wrong.

Some things have not changed much when it comes to collecting taxes, but if we consider the year 1886 and the tax laws then in place we see some differences.

“Every person shall be taxed in the town of which he is an inhabitant or resident on the first day of April for his poll and estate, except in cases other-

wise provided by law.”

An exception was made for persons residing in a town for the purpose of being educated. They were not required to be taxed by that town, and soldiers and sailors who fought in the “late Rebellion” were exempted from paying the poll tax.

The poll tax was a tax on the individual which had to be paid before he went to See SMITH on 27

The Laconia Middle School is located at 150 McGrath Street.

WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

GRAY MATTERS

Counseling & Wellness, PLLC

Leslie A. Gray, LCMHC, RYT

REAL THERAPY FOR REAL PEOPLE: SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD

Fake Climate Crisis

To The Editor:

It’s been claimed that: “No power source is more dangerous to life and the environment than burning fossil fuels”. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Such evidence hasn’t been provided.

Would returning to burning wood, peat, dung, whale oil, and animal fat be safer? No.

Honest evaluations consider minuses AND benefits. If we only considered minuses, we would abandon most transportation forms because of their occasional injuries and deaths.

US life expectancy has gone from about 40 to about about 80 since oil was discovered. Reliable, cheap, portable energy enabled modern life; improving health, transportation, communications, medicines, education, etc. and improving most people’s lives far above their former bare subsistence level existence.

Constructing wind and solar farms require huge amounts of materials and land, destroying native plants and animals, maybe even whales. Obtaining the materials needed for wind and solar farms will require hundreds of new mines, some dealing, potentially unsafely, with very toxic substances and operated mostly using fossil fuels (https://tinyurl. com/4m628f3p). Operating wind and solar farms destroys millions of birds and bats, eliminating their beneficial impact on the environment.

Burning fossil fuels seems far less destructive to the environment.

If climate change advocates actually wanted to reduce human CO2 production they would immediately: abandon costly, unreliable, and environmentally damaging wind and solar systems; quickly transition to generating all electricity via safe, cheap, abundant, reliable nuclear power (eliminating about 25% of human caused CO2 (https://tinyurl. com/2p83yw8f)); and outlaw or prohibitively tax private jet travel…but they don’t. Why?

Climate change advocates created a fake crisis to benefit their own and their rich supporters’ wealth, power, and conveniences (https://tinyurl. com/2p972wer). For that they willingly sacrifice the wellbeing of the vast majority of living humans.

Don Ewing

Meredith, NH

Response To Testerman

To The Editor:

This is a response to Karen Testerman.

There is a reason God made men different from women! Women should not be subjected to compete with men who want to be women(transgender). God made men different in bone structure and speed.

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

There should be a category that is transgender so men who want to compete with similar individuals not against women. Women should be the opportunity to compete against women, not men.

Women do not have the same endurance as men.That would not be fair.

The same is for bathrooms. In schools there should a bathroom labeled transgender so individuals who are the same gender can use it.

Women should not be subjected to using a bathroom that men use! That is degrading to women!

This is idea of transgender is getting out of hand thanks to Biden!

Angela Boksanske

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.

PO

by Debby Montague Weirs Times Book Reviewer

The Book of Maps by

Ernest Thompson, Global Collective Publishers, 2022

Why read a book if you’re not going to learn from it? We read books to remind ourselves how wide the world is and to discover how small it is, too…

You probably are familiar with Ernest Thompson, playwright, actor, and author of The Book of Maps. You will recall that he adapted his play, On Golden Pond, into the screenplay for the movie On Golden Pond , starring Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda. And you may also know that On Golden Pond was filmed in the summer of 1980 in the Lakes Region, primarily on Squam Lake with some shots taken on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Many of us who lived in The Weirs or Meredith or Laconia at the time were agog. Would we catch a glimpse of Katherine Hepburn?

Were the actors staying nearby at the Brickyard Mountain Resort?

Were the prop loons kept frozen in the Brickyard freezers? I never caught sight of Katherine Hepburn, though I kept my eye out, and I don’t know the truth about the loons. I do know that when I saw the movie (released in 1981) I thought it was terrific. I still think so.

The Book of Maps is every bit as remarkable as On Golden Pond, but better (speaking as a bibliophile), because it

is a book, and it is long and one can sit and be enveloped in its rhythm for however long or short a time the reader chooses.

The story is set in 2002, in retrospect a time more innocent than 2022 despite the fear and uncertainty during the year following 9/11. The Book of Maps is a narrative about a father, Brendan, and son, Blynk (Brenlyn), on a cross-country trip from California to New Hampshire. It is not only an uncertain time in the country and the world, but also for the father personally whose marriage and career are in disarray and for his son who is about to see his unsettled yet safe world fractured. With the help of The Book of Maps,

a 1930’s travel guide, Brendan and Blynk make their way to New Hampshire with stops for the highpoints, and some low points, along the route.

There are many reasons to appreciate this book. The writing is outstanding. You can hear the thrum of the tires on the highways and the thumps of the wheels on the small roads as you ride along with Brendan and Blynk through California to Nevada and on East checking The Book of Maps for the highlights in the states they travel through. You can experience the cold river water at Yosemite and know the sensation of your heart in your throat at the apex of the highest roller-coaster in the world in Ohio.

You will also share the anguish and the delight of a father and a son as you listen to Brendan’s and Blynk’s internal monologues. What better place to scrutinize heartache, uncertainly and joy than driving along the highway on the long way across the country. And if the feel of the road and the feelings of the heart are not enough, there are plenty of passages in The Book of Maps to make you laugh out loud. If you are a logophile you will love this book for the vocabulary alone. There are great strings of words, lovely words, like lepidote and amrita. My grandmother made me look up unfamiliar words in her dictionary and she would say “use a word three times and it is yours.” I own mondegreen thanks to Brendan and Blynk and Ernest Thompson.

The story, the characters, the words, BrenSee MONTAGUE on 29

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction To Host A Let’s Meet For Coffee

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction will host a Let’s Meet for Coffee event on April 5 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Lakes Region Chamber, 383 S. Main St., Laconia. This casual morning coffee gathering will offer members of the public a chance to meet board members and members of the Auction’s Community Engagement Committee and learn more about the Auction’s mission to engage the community to financially support local children and families in need.

The Hot Tamale Brass Band At Franklin Opera House

The Hot Tamale Brass Band takes their audience on an exciting excursion into New Orleans at The Franklin Opera House on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

The Hot Tamale Brass Band takes their audience on an exciting excursion into New Orleans jazz, festive Mardi Gras, funky second line parades, traditional Dixieland jazz and reverent New Orleans jazz funeral traditions. You may have seen them playing at Fenway Park... they have performed over 1500 pre-game shows for the Boston Red Sox since 1999. Reserved Seating tickets available at www.FOHNH.org, or by calling the box office during limited office hours at (603) 934-1901.

Franklin Opera House is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and utilization of an historic community resource, located within Franklin City Hall at 316 Central Street in downtown Franklin, NH.

“The Auction offers many opportunities for people to get involved, or you can just come to the event to learn more and build connections,” said Executive Director Jennifer Kelley. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit https://bit. ly/3FkmVQW or contact Kelley at Jenn@ChildrensAuction.org.

In the past 41 years, the Auction has distributed roughly $8 million to nonprofit organizations in the community. Learn more about the Auction at www.childrensauction.org, or follow the Children’s Auction on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The Art Center Presents: An Artist’s Journey

On the stage at The Art Center, there is an impressive exhibit that depicts An Artist’s Journey. Juleen Stacy explores the trials and triumphs as a student enrolled at a fine art atelier.

Juleen has been a Resident Artist of The Art Center for several years. In 2019 she enrolled in The Academy of Realist Art in Boston, Massachusetts, and began an artistic journey that would tax her patience, yet provide immeasurable satisfaction in her finished assignments.

The work displayed is rendered in pencil and charcoal. The Academy of Realist Art, Boston, teaches students to draw and paint using the French Academic Method. Ms. Stacy is enrolled in the online curriculum, taking classes via Zoom in her studio. However, achieving a goal isn’t always a linear progression. She provides explanations of where mistakes occurred and the issues she had creating the work.

As the viewer progresses through the show we get to follow along as Ms. Stacy’s works get more complex, providing the viewer insight into how the curriculum builds on previous skills learned and demands new levels of expertise.

An Artist’s Journey will be on display at the Art Center now through the end of April with a reception on Saturday, April 1, from 6 pm-9 pm. The public is invited to attend. Please visit the Art Center located at 1 Washington Street, Suite 1177, Dover, NH. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm and Saturday 10 am-2 pm. For more information visit www.theartcenterdover.com or call 603-978-6702.

FlaTlander FIlM FesTIval ‘23

It’s almost April so it’s time again for my selections for some of the best films that will be making their premiere at the 16th Annual Flatlander Film Festival. The festival itself will be held at an as of yet undetermined Grange Hall somewhere in the Northern part of the state. We are still trying to work out final details but will let you know as soon as we do.

by

Among some of the more notable entries this year are:

THE DARK NIGHT – Almost millionaire Bruce Lane moves from Connecticut to a beautiful home on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in the middle of the summer. Taken in by the busy night life and pace of the Lakes Region in the summer, Lane feels empowered by his move but soon becomes disillusioned when Labor Day hits as half of the restaurants and attractions close down for the winter, the temperature drops and the nights suddenly become longer and colder.

12 ANGRY NATIVES – A Long Island Man retires and buys a home in a small town in Northern New Hampshire. Over the course of time he must convince his new neighbors, all natives of New Hampshire, that he is still a good person even though he is a fan of the New York Jets. He slowly gets through to all but one, Stanley, who still holds a big grudge over the fact that the Jets beat the New England Patriots in the 2011 AFC Conference Championship. He finally breaks through Stanley’s tough shell when he reminds him that the Jets have not even been in the Super Bowl since 1969. The end of this movie is a real tearjerker, especially for Jets fans.

E.T THE EXTRA TOURIST – A family of four from Massachusetts set off for a fun week at an AirBnB on Lake Winnipesaukee. The trip takes a turn for the hilarious when, upon arriving, they discover that their madcap Uncle Jimmy has stowed away in the back of their SUV. Having specifically only rented for four people, the family now has to do their best to keep the amicable Jimmy hidden from the noisy native neighbors who are looking for any excuse to complain. It’s really a laugh a minute riot as the family keeps finding creative ways to keep Jimmy’s existence a secret and avoid angry letters about the rental property from neighbors in the local daily newspaper.

MUTINY AT THE BOUNTY –

It’s another busy Saturday night at “The Bounty” a popular summer restaurant on the shores of one of New Hampshire’s many lakes. Things soon turn ugly when those who have waited up to an hour for a table are informed that the kitchen has run out of lobster rolls and clam chowder. A large group of twelve from Massachusetts turns loud and ugly and soon tables are overturned and chairs flung across the room. Things almost come to a deadly end before head chef Bly finds an extra buckets of lobster salad and clam chowder far back in the kitchen walk-in, hidden from sight by at threegallon jar of mayonnaise. Soon peace is restored. (Spoiler alert: In a twist ending Chef Bly reveals that there is actually no real lobster in the lobster rolls anyway.)

GOOD, WILL’S HUNTING – A family from New York moves into their dream home in a small New Hampshire town. At first they have no trouble settling in and are welcomed by their new neighbors, especially their next door neighbor Will, who is single and a lifelong resident of the town. Will starts to visit the family every day telling long, drawn out

– and often boring - tales about the history of the town. The family starts to get annoyed but in order to keep the peace they put up with Will so as not to appear unneighborly. The only respite they get is when hunting season comes around and Will is gone for most of the day. (Flatlander moviegoers can actually learn some history of New Hampshire though Will’s monologues if they can stay awake.)

SLOW AND CURIOUS – During Autumn in Central New Hampshire, a rogue group of older drivers from out of state called “The Leaf Seekers” create chaos on local roads as they travel way below the speed limit and often coming to complete stops in the middle of the road causing incredible backups as they search for the elusive “Super Leaf”- a single leaf with unique mixture of red, yellows and oranges which legend has it is has been expected to arrive in the early 2020s. A sequel is already planned called “Slow And Curious 2 – The Search For The Elusive Christmas Holiday Light Display.”

GONE AGAIN

WITH THE

WIND – A insightful documentary showing the secret rituals by New Hampshire natives that are celebrated every Labor Day as the summer season ends and all the tourists and summer residents finally disappear. For years this unknown (until now) ceremony has been practiced in basements across the state. Controversial filmmaker Henry “Bud” Levinson fooled these natives into thinking he was one of them in order to infiltrate one of these, sometimes disturbing, happenings. The sight alone of the natives chanting and dancing around a large screen TV showing the Labor Day traffic backup at the Hooksett Tolls south is unnerving.

It is sure to be a great festival this year.

Brendan Smith

Weirs Times Editor

sIlICon valley Bank -- More GovernMenT, less realITy

President Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”

how To Crash The eConoMy, BIG GovernMenT sTyle

We are in a looming financial crisis, even if we don’t want to see it.

by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist

Shock waves are rippling through the country after the announcement of the second largest bank failure in the country’s history last week -- Silicon Valley Bank.

This just 15 years after the largest bank failure in the country’s history -- Washington Mutual.

Research shows that the great collapse in 2008, one casualty of which was Washington Mutual, was one more example of the damage done by excessive government.

Then, standards for issuing mortgages deteriorated as a result of pressure from government entities Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Department of Housing and Urban Development on lenders to meet affordable housing goals. More and more substandard loans were issued, all taking place under the illusion of government protection, until the house of cards came down.

After the total collapse, originating in government policy designed to allegedly make our lives better, the Dodd-Frank Act was passed, now with some 8,000 pages of regulations to supposedly strengthen America’s financial system.

Time and again, a crisis caused by government is supposedly solved by creating even more government.

So now, with the Dodd-Frank Act in place, passed under the pretense of “solving” the problems of instability in our financial system, here we are again.

I make no claims as any kind of expert in finance. But reading through articles by those who are, the amazing story that emerges behind SVB is its violation of principles that any undergraduate student in business learns. That is, banks make a profit by lending, investing at higher rates of interest than they pay on deposits.

So, managing interest rate risk is finance 101. Yet mismanagement of risk -- the bank ignoring huge problems they would have if interest rates increased -- is what brought it down. How can it be that people who are allegedly smart do things that are incredibly stupid?

I attribute it to a detachment from reality. Detachment from reality is a direct symptom of a lot of government and politicization of our lives.

by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was, according to Moody’s, worthy of an investment-grade rating as of March 8, 2023. S&P Global Ratings similarly held a high opinion of SVB. Two days later, SVB was shut down; immediately, Moody’s dropped SVB into junk territory. So did S&P Global Ratings. Within days, Signature Bank -- with Barney Frank, cosponsor of the famed and much-ballyhooed Dodd-Frank Act, on the board -- went belly up.

The Biden administration, touting its own heroism, immediately stepped in to fill the gap. Concerned that unsecured depositors would lose billions in cash, Team Biden announced that all unsecured depositors would get their money back; the Federal Reserve launched a Bank Term Funding Program, to create additional reserves for the banks. Then President Joe Biden himself claimed that he had stabilized the banking system. He hasn’t.

To understand just why throwing money at the problem with the banks won’t solve the underlying issue, we need to understand just why SVB failed in the first place. It failed thanks to three specific factors: from 2020 to 2022, the federal government injected more liquidity into the American economy than at any time in history, bar none; SVB, trusting that the liquidity would keep on coming, socked away a large amount of that liquidity into bonds, which bore a low interest rate; the federal government, having now created an inflationary wildfire, had to count on the Federal Reserve to cut inflation by raising interest rates. Those increased interest rates made SVB’s

bond holdings lower; when depositors, hampered by the lack of easy money, started to withdraw their cash, SVB had to liquidate the bonds at a loss, essentially bankrupting them.

So, what happened? Simply put, the federal government created a carousel of easy cash; investors thought the carousel would never stop; it stopped. Now, the federal government blames capitalism -- and in the process, claims that by injecting more liquidity into the system, it will prevent capitalism from melting down the banks. But instead, the federal government has created two new problems: first, the Federal Reserve has now given itself the unenviable task of simultaneously quashing inflation (which requires raising interest rates) and shoring up the banks (which requires lowering them and/or injecting more liquidity); second, the federal government has created a new and massive moral hazard, whereby bank managers know that if they promise outsized returns to their depositors, they can gain their business -- and worst case scenario, the government will bail out the depositors anyway.

Now the experts tell us that the Biden team will achieve a soft landing -- that they’ll somehow square the circle, lowering inflation while preventing bank assets from depreciating, incentivizing financial responsibility while simultaneously backstopping bad decision-making, promoting fiscal responsibility while proposing $7 trillion budgets. No one has this kind of power, least of all the team that’s brought America fourdecade-high inflation, the highest interest rates since before the 2007-2008 financial crash and an ever-soaring national debt.

No, the crisis will arrive. If it feels like the federal government can fly, that’s just because it always feels that way when you jump out of a tenth-story window and you’re nine stories down. Joe Biden and the economy are not immune to the forces of financial gravity.

Your flight is delayed? Blame your government.

BeTTer FlyInG

it’s the private sector that innovates. Government rarely does.

of using computers, they move paper around manually.

nities.”

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

OK, it’s not always government’s fault. Sometimes it’s weather or mechanical problems. But often we suffer horrible flight delays because politicians won’t relinquish power.

In January, flights were grounded when the government’s “Notice to Air Missions” system broke down. That was just the latest incident.

America rightly prides itself on being on the cutting edge of innovation. But

Asked if America’s air traffic control system is out of date, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg paused a long time before answering, “The system is continuously being upgraded.”

But the government’s been “upgrading” air traffic control for decades, promising to switch to a “NextGen” system that uses satellite navigation. But implementation keeps being postponed. Now the Federal Aviation Administration won’t even say when NextGen might be done.

Air traffic control is still a lot like it was in the 1960s. Controllers use paper strips to track flights. Instead

“This is your government at work,” says Diana Furchtgott-Roth in my latest video. Furchtgott-Roth worked for the Transportation Department during the Trump administration.

I yell at her. “Air traffic control was in your department. You could have fixed it. You should have fixed it!”

She smiles and explains that although she had control of $1 billion, she wasn’t allowed to move those funds to where they were needed.

Government managers must fund projects pushed by politicians, like “Justice40,” meant to fix “underinvestment in disadvantaged commu-

“Sounds like they mean well,” I say. “It sounds a lot better to talk about social justice,” answers FurchtgottRoth. “Nuts and bolts like computer hardware for air traffic control gets left behind.”

Computer hardware isn’t left behind in Canada. They got rid of “flight control with paper strips” years ago. That’s because Canada turned air traffic control over to a private company. They switched to an electronic system.

It’s not just Canada that did it. Dozens of countries have privatized or partially privatized.

See STOSSEL on 28

UkraIne GraIn shIpMenTs sTIll Flow despITe war

Despite a widening war with Russia, shipments of Ukrainian food and grain are still being shipped to global markets under a complex but fragile accord brokered by the United Nations and nearby Turkey.

for that matter. The problem was the Russians originally closed off Ukraine’s Back Sea ports so the food could not be shipped out. Moscow’s concession under a parallel Memorandum of Understanding was that Russian fertilizers can also be exported overseas.

then proceed towards Istanbul along the agreed maritime humanitarian corridor.

by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist

Since the deal was initiated last Summer, The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed for the export of 24 million metric tons of grains and over 1,600 vessel voyages through the Black Sea and on to ports in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Prior to Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was, and still is, a major grain and foodstuff producer. So is Russia

Intense diplomatic negotiations brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, who controls the narrow and strategic Bosphorus shipping channel through which the ships must pass, thus agreed to a deal with both Ukraine and Russia. The Black Sea Initiative based in Istanbul, inspects ships of both belligerents and then grain and needed fertilizer sail forth.

According to the UN, Ukrainian vessels guide cargo ships into international waters of the Black Sea, avoiding mined areas. The ships

Russia was recently balking at the objectives of the agreement and threatening to pull out. Given that wide-ranging Western sanctions restrict bank payments, even though Russian food and fertilizer exports are not sanctioned, Moscow is pushing for a return to the SWIFT banking system. Moscow provisionally reentered the agreement for a two month extension, rather than a four month period.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressed, “that the UN remains fully committed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as to efforts to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizer.”

Still should Moscow’s demands

on easing its wider sanctions not be met, diplomats warn there’s a strong chance Russia will not renew the deal in two months time causing wider food insecurity.

During talks in Geneva, the UN added that “The continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is crucial for global food security, as grain and fertilizer prices and availability have not returned to pre-war levels, causing hardship particularly in developing countries.” Yet only three Ukrainian ports are open for commerce. This is the key.

Martin Griffiths, the UN’s Chief Humanitarian coordinator informed the Security Council,

“The war has had very significant implications for global food insecurity..the word relies on These

See METZLER on 29

laTe season ICe FIshInG on lake wInnIpesaUkee

by Tim Moore Contributing Writer

For the most part, warm water fish spawn in the spring and coldwater fish spawn in the fall. For spring spawners, the length of daylight in March, accompanied by increased oxygen levels from snow and ice melt, triggers fish, such as white perch, to form large schools as they anticipate the coming spawn that will occur in the shallows

White perch aren’t the only fish that begin to feed more late in March.

after ice-out. But the increase in feeding activity during the late winter period isn’t exclusive to spring spawners. There are also aquatic insects that begin to become active in the substrate, in which both warm and coldwater fish take advantage of. This is the absolute best time of the year to fish for white perch and lake trout. Around mid-March, small schools of white perch will join to form larger schools. These

huge schools of fish have one thing on their minds this time of year…food! They need to eat before the spawn, and they’re after hatching insects in the mud and smelt. Finding schools of prespawn white perch means non-stop action that sometimes lasts all day. An advantageous biproduct of increased oxygen levels and substrate insect activity is the increase in lake trout feeding activity.

When I am fishing for

white perch, you will usually see me sitting over a basin or on an inside turn as the sun rises. To clarify, a basin is a depression, and an inside turn is like an underwater cove. I focus on areas 25 to 30-feet of water. Zooplankton rise from the bottom at dusk and feed until the sun begins to rise at dawn. This concentration of plankton draws baitfish, which in turn draws white perch. Ba-

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: Are We On The “Slippery Slope?”

You are well into the slide and very near the end.

Do you remember the joke, that the fall from a great height doesn’t kill you it’s the sudden stop at the end? The radical transformation your country has made in even the last few years has been precipitous in its defection from me and my will.

For over 250 years I was honored as God and my word was the basis of your legal, moral and even political decisions. But with the prosperity I bestowed on you, you have not only rejected me but used your newfound “freedom” to slide into a state of moral depravity that is nothing short of hedonism. You have done this with leaders who have maintained the veneer or religiosity but brazenly rejected me and my will.

I once wrote of Israel who practiced the same thing and said, “These people come near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13).

How dare you change my creation of men being men and women being women! I created nothing but male and female. How dare you legalize and sanction transgender behavior

and even surgical mutation of the bodies I created as male and female! How dare you sanction and praise those who sexualize children with crossdressers performing disgusting gyrations as these little ones look on. You are imprinting them at the earliest age with sexual perversions that they will struggle to overcome for the rest of their lives if they ever desire to function according to my healthy design and teaching on sexuality.

How dare you sanction and promote the destruction of the biological family headed by godly men and women who fear me and worship me and raise up their children to do the same! How dare you attempt to take the responsibility for nurturing these children away from parents, to whom I expressly gave this responsibility, and give it to godless schools or state agencies!

How dare you glorify and reward criminals and punish innocent victims when I called for, swift, just and painful consequences to be administered to protect the innocent and motivate the perpetrators to change their ways!

I could go on and on to identify your indolence and brazen rebellion against me, your creator God. Allow me however to describe the slippery slope you have entered with such rapidity and radical fervor.

For all but the last few decades my laws and my will were the basis of all moral behavior and judgment of right and wrong. Then

you began to overlook evil. Then you permitted evil. The you called evil, good. Then you legalized evil. Then you promoted evil. Then you celebrated evil. Then you persecuted those who still called it evil until only evil is sanctioned and practiced. Then evil will bring about wholesale death and destruction. There is no way you can avoid this destiny. Your practices are naturally destroying the fabric of your society and tearing you apart as a nation. You have incurred my wrath and I cannot sit idle as the judge of heaven and earth. If I did, I would not be just and guilty because I would be encouraging the evil in which you have come to delight. I would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah and every other nation that did the same.

You have unwittingly begun the same slide that nations of the past have experienced. Sadly, it even led to the destruction of my chosen people. Moses once spoke my words to Israel in the 32nd chapter of the book Deuteronomy, one of the books within my book, the Bible. It was spoken on the occasion of my blessing Israel with the promised land. I knew however that their prosperity would be short lived, and I prophesied about their slippery slope and sudden destruction. Read it and weep. I chose them and prospered them (:1-14). But their prosperity led to abandoning me and trusting in their wealth and achievements (:15).

They forgot I made all of this possible. They angered me by worshiping foreign gods and even demons (:1617). They deserted me who fathered them and gave them birth (:18). As a result I hid my face because they became a perverse people, children who were unfaithful (:20-21). They kindled a fire of wrath in me that would lead to calamities of destruction and death (:22-25). Foolishly they didn’t discern what their end would be, and they continue on their naïve way (:28-29). A foreign nation would displace them and none of the gods they trusted in would save them (:3036). I, as the only true God. would carry out my judgments (:37-43). I told them these were no idle words and they came true. If you are to avoid this fate you must listen now, for my words are not idle for you today. Your slide is fast and furious as well as fatal. Until the end, I am prepared to stay your execution if you will return to me. I have whispered in the past, but I am shouting in the present. If you continue, I will go silent until the end. 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

an exCITInG TIMe

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. If only it were that simple.

This March, like many before it, seems to be toggling between lion and lamb daily. One day last week, I was at the beach photographing oystercatchers and other shorebirds. The next day, I watched out my window as several inches of snow fell. As with any snowfall, I enjoyed watching my feeder birds. This day’s visitors included bluebirds, Carolina wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, juncos, woodpeckers, and other feeder birds.

Such is life in New England in March, and even early April, as outdoor enthusiasts are subjected to the whims of mother nature. Thankfully, there is birdwatching to be done regardless of the weather.

As I mentioned earlier, I spent a few hours last week at a Connecticut beach watching and photographing shorebirds along the edge of Long Island Sound. The stars of the show, of course, were the American oystercatchers. Oystercatchers have always been a favorite of mine, and seeing their carrot-like bills in March is an underrated, yet certain, sign of spring.

I knew there were

oystercatchers at the beach long before I spotted them. Their high-pitched and loud piping notes greeted me as I crested the dune. I nearly missed out on actually seeing them as I had already turned around and headed back when I heard those piping notes again. I wheeled around and spotted two oystercatchers flying my way. Another beach visitor must have spooked them further down the coast and chased the birds my way. I stopped in my tracks and let the bird pick a safe spot to land. To my surprise and delight, they landed fairly close to me and started looking for food.

Oystercatchers are relatively large shorebirds with red and yellow eyes and substan-

tial red-orange bills used for prying open shellfish such as oysters and clams. Their specialized diet keeps oystercatchers close to the shore and you are unlikely to see one inland.

I was also enjoying the large, mixed flock of sanderlings and least sandpipers. They are about the same size, but the sanderling’s nonbreeding plumage is much brighter.

The day at the shore got me thinking that the beach is an underutilized resource for finding signs of spring. You’re not likely to see bulbs poking out of the sand or robins scampering along a grassy area looking for worms, but you will see the movement of birds that herald spring.

The term spring mi-

gration can be a bit of a misnomer, and the seasonal movement of shorebirds is a prime example. Many shorebirds head north early, and some even make their southward, or “fall,” migration early in the summer.

Regardless of what mood March decides it wants to be in on a certain day, the bird migration will stay true to its historical schedule. Many shorebirds have already arrived. So have other birds such as red-winged blackbirds and American woodcock. I am expecting to see my first eastern phoebe any day now. Soon, they will all be passing through or setting up homes in our region.

It’s an exciting time to be a birdwatcher.

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Remedies for Missing Tax Documents

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Records You Need to Keep

An American oystercatcher sits on a beach in New England last week.

New spring yarns arriving weekly… selections from Noro, Ella Rae, Laines du Nord, Berroco, Juniper Moon Farm, Tahki Stacy Charles and Malabrigo. Hat & sweater kits • And sale baskets are full!

The Simple Feast

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The Simple Feast Simple The Simple

The following article is for entertainment value only and not intended as advice for proper food preservation practices. It is for this reason that specific quantities and/or weights have been omitted. It is always best to consult experts in the field of food preservation / food safety when attempting to preserve and or store foods safely for long periods of time. The reader assumes all risks to health and safety when attempting to preserve foods in the following manner.

There is a reason brisket is brined or seasoned, principally with salt, and slow roasted or simmered. These cooking methods, along with a salt brine, acids, or sugars help to break down the connective tissues. With neutral seasonings and fast cooking methods, traditionally cheaper cuts of meat will typically tighten and hold together. The results; a piece of meat equal to that of shoe leather. But not necessarily so when seasoned, salted, brined or aged and then slow roasted or simmered for hours at a time.

Up until recent history, Beef Brisket had been one of the cheaper cuts money could buy. That all changed when someone started making a big to-do over BBQ. Then, as with all things that were once “inexpensive,” the world of brisket was turned upside down and costs started to climb. And here’s a little secret, not all Corned Beef is Brisket. It’s true! And this, I didn’t have to read on the internet.

While brisket is preferred by many for Corned Beef you can actually use other cuts too, because Corned Beef is not a “cut” from the beef critter, it is beef that has been “treated,” “cured” or “corned,” usually in a salt water brine. Now, I know most everyone reading this knows that, but remember there are those out there reading this that may not. You know, the same folks who honestly still think milk comes from

counter tops. And a little gentle prodding from the store clerks always helped. This pre-loaded the orders and gave the proprietor some sort of a clue as to how much Corned Beef to make.

the store and not from cows in a dairy. So we’ll take a brief pause here while we wait for them to digest this new found revelation.

While we’re waiting, did I ever tell you about the time I learned to float a potato? No? Well, come along with me on a little trip down Memory Lane. Back when I was just a young pup apprenticing in the meat cutting trade, the shop I worked in made Corned Beef the old fashioned way, by floating a potato. It true! For good Corned Beef you need to float a potato. Or so I was told.

Now, the first step in floating a potato is to start putting up signs long about February telling folks it was time to start thinking of Corned Beef. Something like “Don’t Forget St. Patrick´s Day! Order Your Corned Beef Today!” These signs were placed throughout the store in strategic eye level locations such as

Now the idea behind all this marketing is that you want to make enough Corned Beef to cover the pre-orders and have some for the walk-ins, but not so much as to have too much left over. Trying to sell Corned Beef the day after St. Pat’s is like trying to sell a heart shaped box o’ chocolates the day after St. Val’s at full price. After all, anyone who thinks milk comes from a store likely too thinks that that box of chocolates is now a day old. And,

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

A friend I’ll call Fred once invited me to join him and his cronies in Las Vegas during a March Spring Break for the opening weekend of March Madness and the NCAA basketball tournament.

(Actually, Fred is his real name.)

I convinced Dr. Beth to accompany me, but her excitement level was less than mine. She wasn’t afflicted with “Madness.”

After getting to Vegas, we were to link up with Fred and company at a hotel that had a cavernous function room with multiple screens showing multiple games while multiple people drank multiple beers. As we walked towards the cavernous function room, Dr. Beth said, “I don’t see any women.”

“No worries,” I responded. “I’m sure there will plenty of them around.”

We entered the cavernous function room which was loud and raucous.

“I still don’t see any women,” said Dr. Beth.

“No worries,” I responded.

One of the games was in the closing moments and bettors on either side of the point spread were drinking and screaming. Madness.

Then Fred saw us and came over, beer in

MarCh Madness

ticles! Lol Thanks again for your contributions to the Weirs Times.”

Best regards, Dave Paquette

(Dave is correct!)

Sports Quiz

College basketball fans are in the midst of March Madness

hand.

“Welcome to the Madhouse,” said Fred, with a wink.

Then he added “I can’t believe you brought a girl in here.”

As Mark Twain once wrote: “Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of this scene.”

Madness!

LOUISVILLE LOSERS

The above March Madness trip occurred in 2019. Being a conservative bettor, I decided to simply pick six high seeds, bet $100 on each and make what I might. Picking heavy favorites straight up wouldn’t pay much but six easy wins together would add up enough to give me some ROI. Five of the six picks came through handily, but Minnesota upset Louisville to make me a net loser. Madness.

AN ALERT READER

…

… named Dave Paquette caught an error. Mea culpa!

“Hi Mike, Long time reader of your columns. Thank you for adding some

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

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Grill & Galley

83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383

Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com

Woodstock - Dbl Pig’s Ear

Stoneface - IPA

Baxter - Coastal Haze

Tuckerman - Pale Ale

sports spice to the Weirs Times.

Other readers may have already given you some flak for your oversight in your article regarding goats. My intention is to not pile on, I can assure you. I’m just seeking to clarify something.

In the article, you mentioned the disastrous lateral throw that Jacobi Meyers passed to Mac Jones. You wrote that had the pass made it to Mac Jones he could then have thrown long, potentially setting up a pass interference situation on the defense. I have to point out something crucial here. Because the ball had already passed the line of scrimmage, the ball could no longer have been thrown forward. Mac was relegated to either another lateral pass himself or he could run with the ball. He chose option C and got pancaked by Chandler Jones. Ouch! If you have received some feedback on this, I think that’s a good thing. People are reading your ar-

What New Hampshire college played in two NCAA Basketball Tournament finals? (Answer follows)

Born Today

That is to say, sports standouts born on March 23 include English runner Roger Bannister (1929) and former BoSox first baseman George Scott (1944).

Sports Quote

“Babe Ruth made a grave mistake by giving up pitching. Working once a week he might have lasted a long time and become a great star.” – Cleveland Indian star Tris Speaker in 1921 on Ruth becoming an outfielder

Sports Quiz Answer Dartmouth College

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.

603 - Winni Amber Ale

COPPER KETTLE

TAVERN

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

Henniker - Working Man’s Porter

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Moat Mtn - Blueberry 603 - Winni Amber Ale

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D.A. LONG TAVERN

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

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Northwoods - Lucky Cast

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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

Newburyport Brewing Co -

Green Head IPA

...+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

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Jack Abby -Red Tape

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Smithwick’s

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1253 Upper City Rd., Pittsfield overthemoonfarmstead.com

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London Porter

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No Need To ArgueCranberry 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

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THE WITCHES

BREW PUB

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

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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!

here’s a TIp

by JoAnn Derson Syndicated Columnist

* “It can be tricky to add new keys to a key ring, especially if you don’t have much of a fingernail. I have found a foolproof way to get the key started. Just use a staple remover. It works wonders!” -- T.R. in Indiana

* If you find that you have small scratches in your wood furniture, try this old trick: Rub a walnut over dings to cover them up. Or find a matching brown crayon, rub it lightly into the scratch, and finish with a hair dryer held 10 inches away for about 10-15 seconds. It melts the wax of the crayon, and then you can buff it with a soft rag. Any excess is swept away and the color remains.

* Got small kids? If your little one keeps rolling out of his bed, here’s a tip: Use a pool noodle tucked under the fitted sheet, lengthwise along the edge of the bed. It’s just enough of a bumper to send a sleeping child back to the center of the mattress.

* “If you have many mismatched frames that you would like to use, you can try spray painting them all the same color. I had several that were different colors and a little bit beat up, but I wanted

to use them in one big group. I painted them all glossy black, and they look great!” -- W.F. in Arkansas* Check your local newspaper or city/county government for programs that provide free or near free water barrels or trees. Many areas have a program, and they really do help keep your water costs down if you have flowers or vegetable gardens.

* To keep the edges of lettuce from browning, tear it or use a plastic knife sold just for this purpose. Metal will make the edges brown.

* “If you want samesize cookies, roll and freeze your dough for 10-15 minutes. Most doughs will harden enough to slice into perfectly uniform slices, and the freezing doesn’t really affect cooking time too much. (Watch your first batch, though.)” -- R.L. in Missouri

* If you are reattaching a button to shorts or pants, try using dental floss, the unwaxed kind. It’s much stronger and can hold the button better than regular thread. Use a marker to darken it if the color is an issue.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Lucie Winborne Syndicated Columnist

* While fish can cough, they don’t sneeze.

* Michael Jordan was nicknamed “Magic” in high school after Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson.

* In June 2022, the New York Public Library donated half a million books to kids under 18 so they could start their own personal book collections. Collecting and reading books has been found beneficial to learning, stress relief and even future success.

* And speaking of libraries, they’re not always just for books: The Buffalo Tool Library in Buffalo, New York, allows members to take out tools for home improvement, gardening and repair projects.

* Provincial law in Quebec prohibits a woman from taking her husband’s surname after marriage.

* Actor Morgan Freeman, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, got his first paid job in show business as a dancer at the 1964 World’s Fair.

* After having a double mastectomy in her senior years, the everoutspoken Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth, eldest child of President Theodore Roos -

sTranGe BUT TrUe

evelt, took to referring to herself as “Washington’s only topless octogenarian.”

* Dolbear’s Law, which states the connection between air temperature and the rate at which crickets chirp, is accurate to within about one degree Fahrenheit for the field cricket.

* The Chinese video sharing and streaming site Bilibili used 1,500 drones to create a light show celebrating the first anniversary of the release of mobile game Princess Connect! Re:Dive, which was followed by a huge QR code to download the game.

* Did you dislike Brussels sprouts in your youth? Turns out they don’t taste the same nowadays, thanks to Dutch scientist Hans van Doorn,

who figured out which compounds in the sprouts made them bitter, then helped begin the work of selecting seeds that would produce more palatable results.

* The first gun was made in 1,000 AD in China.

* While ostriches can’t fly, no bird on Earth can match their speed on land, since they can not only sprint at up to 43 mph, but cover more than 10 feet in a single stride.

* A 50 by 50 foot area of healthy lawn generates enough oxygen to supply a family of four.

* Every year, 1.2 million students drop out of school. That’s 7,000 dropouts every day, or one every 26 seconds.

Thought for the Day: “A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.” -- Billie Jean King (c)

sprInG CleanInG: don’T Toss ThaT ‘jUnk,’ IT May Be valUaBle!

(StatePoint) It’s time to hit the garage, basement, attic and closets for that age-old task of spring cleaning! Before hauling unwanted possessions to the curb, you may be surprised to learn they might be valuable -- especially if you have sports cards and memorabilia gathering dust.

With prices of sports cards rising in recent years, take time to determine if yours are valuable and how to best sell them.

“Older sports cards and memorabilia aren’t just highly collectible; they can be worth lots of money. Recent sales of scarce vintage cards have topped anywhere from thousands of dollars to tens of thousands, even hundreds

of thousands. And really rare cards can go higher,” says Al Crisafulli, Auction Director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable items.

Crisafulli has as -

sisted people in selling such keepsakes as a grandparent’s autograph collection and an uncle’s childhood baseball cards, for tens of thousands of dollars. In one lifechanging event, he helped a family determine that a baseball bat that spent decades protecting their home was used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig -and Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars. Today, that bat could bring more than a million dollars.

The key is understanding what makes old sports collectibles valuable. To help, Cri-

safulli is sharing some tips:

Older Is Usually Pricier

Cards from the 1960s and earlier are collectible, and those from before the 1940s can be worth a lot of money, especially those depicting stars. Do you have cards of Hall of Famers, such as Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb? Even nonstars from the early days of a sport can be worth big bucks, especially if the cards have no creases and retain sharp corners and original gloss.

If you have very old cards from the 1880s through the 1930s, look for tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, Goudey or American Caramel.

If you want to sell sports items for the most money, consider a specialty auction, such as Love of the Game, which has the expertise to properly research sports ephemera and maintains bidder lists of collectors specializing See SPRING on 25

UndersTandInG planT TaGs & seed paCkeTs To InCrease yoUr GardenInG sUCCess

by Melinda Myers

Gardening is a wonderful way to grow your own food and create a beautiful landscape. Proper plant selection can help you make wise purchases when visiting the garden center or ordering plants online.

Much of the information you need to know can be found on plant tags and seed packets. Understanding this information can help you select plants suited to the growing conditions in your yard.

Most gardeners first learn about plants by the names that friends, relatives, or fellow gardeners use to refer to them. Each plant also has a unique scientific, also called botanical, name. Since plants can have multiple or regional common names, it is important to check the botanical name when shopping. Checking the tag for the botanical name ensures you buy the right plant.

You will also see the word “zone” followed by numbers in the information on trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and vegetables. These numbers reflect the plant’s ability to survive the average minimum winter temperatures in the hardiness zones listed. You can find your hardiness zone on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It is often included in plant catalogs and other gardening resources to help

Check the back of seed packets for pertinent information so you provide the proper growing conditions for the plantings to flourish.

you find plants suited to your climate. Despite record summer temperatures, it is still important to select plants that can survive the average minimum winter temperatures in your area. Selecting plants that tolerate both the highs and lows where you live will increase their chance of returning each year.

Make sure the plants you select have sufficient frost-free growing days to mature and flower or produce fruit. This is listed as the number of days from planting until harvest. Count the number of days in your growing season from the time you can plant to harvest to see if it’s a good choice.

Matching plants to the amount of sunlight they need to thrive is also important for growing healthy plants. In gen-

eral, full-sun plants prefer six, preferably eight or more, hours of direct sunlight. Areas receiving only intense afternoon sun are often suitable for plants listed as full or part sun tolerant. Part-sun plants usually need four to six hours of direct sunlight. Partshade plants generally need two to four hours of direct sunlight preferably from east-facing or other locations where the sun is less intense. Shade plants usually perform well with two hours of direct sunlight or bright, indirect light throughout the day. Always check the mature size and spread of the plant you select. See SEED on 25

Ten aFFordaBle Ideas To BoosT CUrB appeal

(Family Features)

Your home’s first big impression is its curb appeal, so if your place is in need of some sprucing up, you may wonder how you can make some updates without breaking the bank.

These 10 ideas are easy on budgets, but they can also make a big impact on your home’s exterior image.

Paint Your Front Door

As long as your front door is in good condition, there’s no need to replace it completely. A fresh coat of paint can instantly update your home’s facade. Go bold or stick with a classic hue – it’s all up to you.

Dress Up

The Windows

Add character and charm by enhancing your front windows. You might add wooden shutters, window box planters or both. Also look at the trim around the windows. If it’s chipped and peeling, adding a fresh coat of paint doesn’t just look nice, it can protect your windows from damage, too.

Clean Up Flower Beds

An unkempt flower bed can drag down an otherwise stunning home. Keep beds tidy and vegetation trimmed, even during the offseason. Watch for weeds and replenish mulch or rock ground cover as needed to keep the beds looking healthy and inviting.

Install New

Lighting

Replacing outdated light fixtures can give your exterior an instant upgrade. There’s no right or wrong style; just choose a color and look that matches the rest of your design.

Replace Worn Welcome Mats

A cheerful mat at your front door can be an inviting sight for visitors, but those mats inevitably wear with time, and what was once bright and charming becomes dingy and dull. A new mat can help bring back that cheery entry you once cherished.

Pressure Wash The Drive And Walk

Over time, driveways and sidewalks collect an incredible amount of grime. Pressure washing not only eliminates the filth, but the clean surfaces also add to your home’s visual appeal.

Add

New Vegetation

Landscaping is a relatively inexpensive way to introduce more personality to a yard. Aim for a mix of pretty and practical, such as some low flowering bushes and some trees or bushes that offer privacy and shade.

Keep Up With Basic Maintenance

When your home is in poor repair, it shows. Pay attention to bent or rusting gutters, imperfections in the roof and other maintenance matters that aren’t just aesthetic; left unrepaired, they can also result in major damage.

Pay Attention To Details

Functional items like the mailbox might not seem like much of a design element, but these small details can be a big distraction if they’re

See APPEAL on 29

in sports. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Postcards

And Photographs

We all have keepsakes of vacation destinations, but most aren’t valuable. However, photographs and postcards depicting sports stars and ballparks can be significant. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

As with sports cards, star power matters, so preserve those Babe Ruths as opposed to images of your great grandma’s baby cousin once-removed. And when it comes to photos, look for old markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps.

Picking the right size plant for the available space will save you time and frustration having to prune the mature plant down in size. No matter what plants you select, make sure to call 811 at least three business days before you begin planting. Wisconsin residents can also file online at www. DiggersHotline.com and gardeners in any other state can visit https:// call811.com/811-InYour-State. They will contact all the appropriate companies who will mark the location of their underground utilities in your designated work area. This free service can help reduce the risk of injury and the inconvenience of accidentally knocking out power, cable, or other utilities.

To remind everyone to call before digging, April has been designated Safe Digging Month. Please make contacting 811 part of your gardening plans and remind family and friends to do the same.

For more gardening

information, register for Myers’ free webinar “Understanding Gardening Basics to Boost Your Gardening Success” on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Just visit Myers’ website www.MelindaMyers. com. If you can’t attend the live webinar, a recording will be available to watch 24 hours after the live presentation.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Diggers Hotline to write this article. Myers’ website is www. MelindaMyers.com.

SPRING from 20 SEED from 21

MOORE from 8 sins can be fished early and late in the day since zooplankton concentrations will be highest then and the bowl-like feature of the basin will hold the plankton and baitfish in that area, but they can also serve as a resting place for well-fed white perch, so basins

are always worth a look as far as I’m concerned.

Other areas to try are deep coves with feeder streams. Warmer temperatures and longer days in March create runoff from melting snow. The only good source of oxygen this time of year will come from streams carrying

oxygen-rich water and microorganisms into the lake. As smelt begin to stage in shallow water, they will congregate in these areas and the white perch will follow. Coves will be hot and cold however, because the fish will move in and feed until they run the bait out. Then it will

take some time for the bait to return and the process to repeat.

My go-to lures are a size twelve white and orange Epoxy Drop or a 1/8 ounce Blade Spoon with a single hook from Clam Pro Tackle, tipped with three or four spikes (maggots) or a tiny piece of worm. The tungsten

Epoxy Drop sinks fast, getting you back down to the fish quickly, which is important when a school moves in. The color really depends on the water clarity and light conditions. On bright days use bright colors, on dark days use dark colors, and in stained water use neutral colors. Other great lures are the Daddy Mac Elite Ice and Blade jigs.

March white perch and lake trout fishing is a blast. This is your best chance at catching big numbers of big fish. When my ice fishing clients get into that kind of fishing and the fish are in the two-pound range, they usually start planning their return trip before they are done catching. Most anglers enjoy the warmer temperatures that occur in March. After a long cold winter, it’s nice to be out on the ice catching huge

panfish…in a t-shirt. As ice conditions can change by the hour this time of year, it is important to stay safe. Ice conditions can change by the hour from seemingly safe to extremely dangerous. If what ice exists on Winnipesaukee holds through the month of March, you’ll see me out there, but be careful out there. Remember, these are fish. They aren’t going anywhere. There is always spring fishing, or next winter.

Tim Moore is a full-time professional fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors, LLC. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association and the producer of TMO Fishing on YouTube. Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.

Late ice white perch fishing is something many Winnipesaukee ice anglers look forward to all year.

the polls(voting places) to vote. “If any person removes from town on or after the first day of April,” the law stated,” he shall pay his taxes that year in the town from which he removed.” So every person paid his taxes for the year to the town in which he lived on April 1.

So what do you suppose was taxed on the first day of April back in 1886? All male polls (persons) from the age of 21 to 70 years of age were liable to be taxed except “paupers and insane people.” Real estate, whether owned by residents or those who were not, were subject to taxation, except houses of public worship, seminaries, school houses, and most property owned by a town, county, or state, Any land purchased by the United States for the purpose of building lighthouses or other buildings, and the buildings built thereon, were exempt from taxation.

Included in taxable real estate items were mills, carding-machines, factory buildings and machinery, wharves, ferries, tollbridges, locks and canals, and aqueducts, along with any of the water that was sold or rented. Mines of gold, silver, lead, copper, iron, tin, mica, or zinc were appraised and taxed accordingly. Stocks and bonds were considered taxable, as was stock in trade held by most businesses.

Selectmen were allowed to offer exemption to new businesses for a period of time not to exceed ten years. Items associated with businesses which were taxed in 1886 included “fishing vessels, steamboats, horse-boats, and other vessels owned by individuals and navigating the waters of the state,

and sea-going vessels for the transportation of passengers or freight, for the purposes of taxation, to be deemed stock in trade.” Carriages were included if their value exceeded fifty dollars and the animals that moved them – horses, donkeys, and mules, if they were over 18 months of age. Eighteen month old oxen, cows, and neat stock and sheep and hogs over six months old were subject to taxes, except that each family could have two hogs over that age that were exempt from the tax because of an amendment to the law in 1879. Towns were allowed to vote to make some establishments exempt from taxes for a period of up to ten years

The selectmen of any particular town in New Hampshire in the year 1886 were given responsibility for implementing the tax laws. When it came to taxes April was the month most prominently mentioned in the assessing and laws having to do with the same. The law read, “The selectmen of each town shall annually, in April, take an invoice of all the polls and estate

liable to be taxed in such town on the first day of said month, and the blank invoice-books to be used hereafter by the selectmen and assessors in taking such invoice shall be prepared by the secretary of state, printed by the public printer, and seasonably furnished to the selectmen and assessors of the several towns and cities of this state.”

The invoices (inventories) were to be delivered to the people by March 20 each year and be returned to the selectmen by April 15th. Taxpayers were required to by oath declare that the inventory they returned to the selectmen or assessor (sometimes the same) was a true statement.

by appointment by the selectmen and was responsible for collecting the taxes for the county and the state as well as all town or city taxes. The collector, if authorized by a vote of the town, could appoint deputies to help him collect the taxes. He was instructed by the law to turn into the town treasury on the first Saturday of each month all monies he had collected up to that point. The collector was given the same powers of constables when it came to carrying out his responsibilities, and, according to the rules of conduct was “entitled to the same fees for the collection of taxes by distress and sale, or for arresting or committing any person to jail, as sheriff’s may be entitled to receive for like services upon civil process.”

that with unpaid taxes could be sold at auction by the town.

As in these days there were exemptions and abatements for certain situations involving New Hampshire’s taxpayers. The selectmen of 1868 were told that they “..for good cause shown, may abate any tax assessed by them or their predecessors.” The selectmen were instructed that they “..shall abate a sum not exceeding three dollars from the tax of any inhabitant who shall construct, and during the year keep in repair, a watering-trough, well supplied with water, sufficiently elevated, and easily accessible for horses and carriages, if said selectmen shall deem the same necessary for the convenience of travellers.”

The selectmen were required to appraise all taxable property at its true value in preparation for the tax collector to do his job.

The collector of taxes was elected by vote of a town’s residents or

The collector was authorized to sell property of delinquent tax owers to obtain the amount due, or, if unable to do that, he could arrest any person who refused or neglected to pay their taxes and take them to jail. If he couldn’t collect the money he could take the body to jail. However, if a collector took more than he was allowed from anyone he was required to give the offended person five dollars. There was a process whereby abandoned property or

Money raised by taxing dogs was used to pay for damages to domestic animals, but any money remaining in the town or city treasury from that source on the first day of April of each year could, if the town so decided, be applied to the support of schools. Additional fees were collected in 1886 by surveyors and inspectors of various products put up for sale, such as hay and wood products.

Tory (English) tax collector lifted up on rope about to be tarred and feathered in the 1770’s.

Example of a tax collector’s invoice provided by the state.

After the 2008 crisis, there were major government bailouts. This builds into the mentality of a culture that if you are big enough, government will not let you fail. And if you believe government will not let you fail, that government is your friend, you tend to do stupid, irresponsible things.

On top of this, when government passes laws like Dodd-Frank, it builds an attitude in the culture that the problem has been solved. In this case, that the regulatory system was put in place under which banks won’t fail.

As our culture becomes more deeply mired in a sense that our lives get better with more government and politics, more and more business people become detached from reality.

In this case, over recent years, “woke” cul-

ture has become rooted more and more deeply in business, particularly high-tech companies, a major customer base of Silicon Valley Bank.

Woke and ESG investment guidelines -- environmental, social and governance -- seems to have captured more attention at Silicon Valley Bank than the risk management essential to running their business.

The proxy statement of the bank, writes Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Kessler, notes that the board is “45% women” and there is “1 Black ... 1 LGBTQ+ ... and 2 Veterans.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy notes that SVB announced in 2022 committing $5 billion in “sustainable finance and carbon neutral operations to support a healthier planet.”

Worth adding to the picture is that the inter-

est rate increases that SVB did not anticipate resulted from the inflation generated by trillions of dollars of government spending during COVID.

Now, fellow citizens, hold on to your wallets as our government bails out SVB, despite Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying it won’t happen.

The only good news is it increases prospects for a Republican victory in 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.

Computer screens have replaced not-always-clear windows in many air traffic control centers. Controllers don’t use binoculars anymore because highdefinition cameras let them see much more, especially at night.

A Government Accountability Office study found that in countries that privatized, there are fewer delays and costs are lower.

So why doesn’t America privatize?

Because our politicians get money from labor unions, who “advocate for keeping the same people in the same jobs,” says FurchtgottRoth.

Another opponent is the private plane lobby. Under our current system, Congress makes sure that the big airlines, which you fly, subsidize private flights’

air traffic fees.

“If they have private planes,” says Furchtgott-Roth, “they should be able to pay their fair share.” Yes. Today’s pricing amounts to welfare for rich people.

A third obstacle is fear. “For-profit companies will cut corners and make flying less safe!” But this is nonsense. That GAO study found that safety stayed the same or improved in countries that privatized.

Also, “For-profit companies actually run the airlines!” FurchtgottRoth points out.

The airlines get FAA supervision, but the main reason planes don’t crash is because the private companies don’t want to destroy their business by killing their customers.

There hasn’t been a commercial airline crash in 14 years.

By contrast, govern-

ment-run airlines do crash. Aeroflot (the Soviet airline) killed thousands of people.

“What ensures high quality is competition,” says Furchtgott-Roth. There wasn’t any competition in the Soviet Union.

And there isn’t any at the FAA.

Today, computers controlling air traffic in other countries keep getting better. In America, privatization would reduce delays and make flying even safer.

But our arrogant politicians won’t allow it. They insist government run things.

Since governments rarely innovate, you must sit at the airport and wait.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom.

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STOSSEL from 7

we pause here to wait again while some catch up…

Step two, about three weeks before St. Patrick´’s Day the beef comes in. Almost anything you can use for pot roast is good for Corned Beef: chuck, shoulder, odds and ends of that sort. I’ve even seen Eye Round used in a pinch but, personally, I wouldn’t give two plugged nickels for a piece of Eye Round, corned or not. And yes, some will argue it’s a clean piece of meat, but that’s the problem with Eye Round, there’s no fat, and fat adds flavor. But, that too, is another story.

So, it was about this time I got my education on the science of Brine or: step three. The boss says to me one day, “You´re gonna make some brine.”

“OK.” (What else am I supposed to say? I’m an apprentice.) My only question was, “How much?”

So the boss tells me, “Grab two bags of salt, a clean five gallon bucket, and a potato.”

“OK. Salt, bucket, and a potato.” Then it hits me… “A potato!?”

“Yep!” he says with a smile, “A potato!”

“Ooohhh-Kaay…” all the while I’m thinking, “This ought to be good.”

Back in a few minutes with all the items, and, as instructed, I fill the bucket with about half to two-thirds cold water.

“All right, now put the potato into the water.”

I look at him with some trepidation, hesitation, and consternation.

“Seriously? You want me toooo put the po-tatoe, in-to the wa-ter?”

He looks at me and says, “Yes! PUT THEEE POE-TAY-TOE IN-TO THEEE WAH-TER!”

“OK.” And with a “PLOP!” and a little splash, in it goes. Annnnnnd sinks! As I reach in to rescue the potato, he tells me to wait.

“Now,” says the boss, “add the salt, about a scoop at a time. And stir between each scoop.”

So I add some salt, stir, and the potato spins around bouncing off of the bottom of the bucket. And I add some more salt, stir, and the potato spins around bouncing off of the bottom of the bucket. And I add some more salt, stir, and the potato spins around in the middle of the now murky water in the bucket?

Hmm… something is beginning to happen here. Not really too sure if it’s Physics or Chemistry but I do know that I am witnessing something beginning to happen here. So, I say to the boss, “Hey! Something’s beginning to happen here.” Notes of surprised amazement in my voice. So the boss comes over, looks into the bucket, and with sage-like wisdom tells this young “grasshopper” to add more salt and keep stirring.

After a few more scoops of salt and stirring, an amazing thing happens. The potato pops to the surface like a Humpback Whale in the Bay of Fundy. Now I know that this is not exactly a news flash for some who managed to make it beyond Earth Science but at the time, I thought that this was pretty cool. Up to this point in my life salt was for steak and french fries or to rub into wounds. Little did I know that salt could actually float a potato. And that, my friends, is no Simple Feast! Enjoy.

supplies.” He added, that while 25 million metric tons of Ukrainians foodstuffs have been exported, since last August, the Word Food Program (WFP), “has been able to transport more than half a million metric tons of wheat to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.”

So where do the Ukrainian food shipments go? As would be expected shipments are still below pre-war levels by about a third. Actually about half of the foodstuffs are going to developing countries while the rest go to the developed world. Exports primarily include corn, wheat and sunflower oil.

The continuing fragility of food prices continues to stalk most of the world. While global food prices have spiked in poorer countries in the wake of the Ukraine war, costs are slowly being to moderate. Still according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO) food prices in January 2023 were 45 per cent above the average over the past two decades. What is equally troubling is the even with some lower prices, countries like Argen -

tina, Egypt and Ghana are paying higher prices given their own currency depreciation.

As U.S. UN Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield told a Security Council briefing, “The Black Sea Grain Initiative slashes global food prices. It calms market volatility. It ameliorates global food security. It saves lives. It must continue, reliably and sustainably.”

Significantly the humanitarian deal has become a lifeline for both embattled Ukrainian farmers as well as for forty-five countries who depend of Ukrainian food.

Yet as Martin Griffiths implored, “More than ever, we need a political solution to the war in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine deserve peace. They deserve to turn the page on this terrible war.”

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.

dan’s reflections on his life, his career, his marriage, and his son, and Blynk’s thoughts about his father all make The Book of Maps a charming and engaging read.

So, dig out your old atlas for some atmosphere or to stir up your own memories of road trips taken and settle down in your favorite space with Ernest Thompson’s The Book of Maps.

Let the words travel from the page to that spot in your brain that makes the pictures, creates the emotions, and relays the experience. Enjoy the ride.

not in good condition. Update or replace as needed to keep your aesthetic in sync.

Add Seasonal Decor

There’s no need to go all out for every occasion, but some timely decorations that celebrate the holiday or season can make your entry fun and festive. Coordinate wreaths, planters, signs and other accent pieces for a cohesive look that says, “come on in.”

Find more affordable ideas for upgrading your home and garden at eLivingtoday.com.

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603t724t1995

PUZZLE CLUE: INTERNAL IDENTIFICATION

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

Magic Maze Sudoku

THEME THIS WEEK: U.S. WOMEN IN SPACE

Caption Contest

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

Daddy does not need help with his slip and fall cases.

-Bob Patrick, Moultonborough, NH.

Runners Up : I try to help Mommy, but Daddy says I’m driving here bananas - William “Ben” Guay. Farmington, NH.

“They said I was a couple of bananas short of a full bunch?”

- Bob Watson, Bristol, NH.

She may not know what she’s got, but she knows she’s getting her fair share - David Doyon, Moultonborough, NH.

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 #956

PHOTO #954

The Winklman Aeffect by John Whitlock