04/23/2020 by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Live Free Or Die:

Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils.

— General John Stark

VOLUME 29, NO. 17

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020

COMPLIMENTARY

Let’s Get NH Open For Business - Soon! We all Understand What We Need Do. I am in my mid-sixties with underlying health issues. I get it. I probably won’t be going out any place where there are crowds for a while. I’ll probably keep wearing a mask when I go shopping. I’ll bring some hand sanitizer and I’ll keep washing my hands. I’ll try to keep six feet away from others and I’ll be vigilant about my own health. But let’s let the 120,000 people in the state who have lost their jobs get back to work for goodness sake. Sure, there will be some businesses that will have to make adjustments and some of us will have to be more careful than others. I think we all get that. We’ve been told over and over on the news what we should be doing to keep ourselves safe, and it’s good advice to be adhered to. Will I still catch the Coronavirus? Maybe. But, I’ll do my best not to. Just as I try my best to not have dozens of other potential problems happen to me. I drive the speed limit and use my blinkers; I have somebody hold the ladder if I climb and I check the sodium content on the food I purchase. The list is long. Right now, I am more concerned with the tens of thousands of hard-working people in New Hampshire being deprived of their livelihood and the necessity to provide for their families because someone like me might catch the virus. Now, That’s scary! I agree with the early, hard decisions Governor had to make and realize things could have been worse here in New Hampshire, but now it’s time to switch gears. I keep hearing we are in this together. Nothing could be more accurate when talking about getting people, many of them our neighbors, back to work. We all just need to be smart and vigilant going forward. We know that. by Brendan Smith Weirs Times Editor

Let’s face it, folks are getting a little stir crazy with the Stay At Home Order. We’ve all learned what we need to do to stay safe. Now it’s time to get started opening our state up again and let the 120,000 suddenly unemployed Granite Staters go back to work.

Let New Hampshire Open For Business!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

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We Should Be Angry To The Editor: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This is the Establishment Clause; The First Amendment. It is often cited by Leftists whenever the subject of Christianity is brought to the national stage. However, that has ceased in recent days. The reason is that Christians have been forced away from their Churches, and the current socialist agenda they have set forth leaves no room for God. They have justified this by claiming that public gatherings are going to spread Covid-19, yet they have no qualms with police shutting down a drive-in Mississippi Church where members of the congregation remain in their cars while the sermon is broadcasted through their radios from the pulpit. Make no mistake; The left hates our Constitution. The Ninth Amendment is broken every time they break any respective amendment, such as the First Amendment, as listed above. The Fourth Amendment guarantees the right to life, a right which is under constant assault by the left, who have gone so far as to assert that the ability to murder unborn babies is “essential” during the current pandemic. The Second Amendment is under constant assault, and gun stores have even been listed as “nonessential” in many states. We should not be angry; We should be livid. Social distancing is important if we are to solve this crisis, but I encourage all Ameri-

cans to protest. We must remind our state governments that we don’t work for them; They work for us. Elias R. Larabee New Hampshire.

Flag At Half Staff To The Editor: The pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the lives of people in the world, including our wonderful country. In memory of the thousands of U.S. citizens who have died and will die due to the coronavirus and in tribute to all of the brave hospital workers and first responders battling the pandemic, and In accordance with the powers vested in me and with the concurrence of my wife of 53 years I hereby will keep my U.S. flag and Navy flag at half staff during the remainder of the pandemic. Donald Allen Moskowitz Elizabeth (Jones) Moskowitz Londonderry, NH

Medicare In NH To The Editor: Recently, Dean Kamen chartered a plane to bring much needed medical supplies to the Granite State. A noble gesture in the face of the greatest public health crisis in a century. But, the role of government is the key to survival – and the one program that no private group can replace is Medicaid. Today, it is more important than ever that every Granite

Stater have access to quality, affordable healthcare, regardless of income. In New Hampshire, and across the country, Medicaid is a lifeline for people with limited resources, providing more than 55,000 NH residents with access to life saving health care and testing. But, a politically motivated lawsuit, Texas V. Azar, could end that - leaving New Hampshire families with no coverage, or access to testing, and having to rely on the generosity of a healthcare system pushed to the brink. In NH, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act gave thousands widespread, comprehensive access to care. Medicaid is supporting our state response to the pandemic and helping to keep us all safe and healthy. Our seniors remain most vulnerable to the virus. Medicaid covers many seniors living in care facilities. Medicaid also supports Granite Staters with disabilities, and helps those who need care remain in their communities. More than 115,000 people have lost their jobs in NH during the pandemic, and families across the state are wrestling with how to retain their health coverage. This illustrates just how critical Medicaid is for Granite Staters as we confront the coronavirus crisis. From providing health insurance to children and those with disabilities, to ensuring that seniors and Granite Staters living in rural communities have access to care, Medicaid is a lifeline in NH. Jayme H. Simoes Concord, NH.

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, April 23, 2020 —

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

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

Pioneer Doctors In New Hampshire reason, the year 1776 brought trouble to Keene, NH and the vicinity around it with the invasion of smallpox. The disease caused a number of fatalities along with some controversy. Some physicians set up private hospitals in order to treat the smallpox and to provide inoculation in an effort to stop its spread. The people in the area, however, were mostly opposed to the inoculation because they believed that the physicians by this means were spreading the disease instead of preventing it. Thirtyfive signatures were added to a petition and sent to the legislature asking them to take action to stop the inocula-

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

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early 1800’s prepared to attend to the physical ailments and teach school. He became one of the prominent preachers of the Baptist Church’s meeting house on the road that, along with the meeting house, now bears his name. Before there were medical schools in New Hampshire, the physicians would prepare by the personal instruction from an established physician who was referred to as a preceptor. Though better remembered for another

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courage to conquer the elements and the dangers of a new country in order to reach his patients r dise hand Ofight w ease C and germs, yet he seldom failed to reach the patient in time. He was his own druggist and carried his drug store with him.” Those pioneers were also apt to have been men of a second profession along with their medical one. That was true of Dr. Simeon Dana who came to my home town of New Hampton from Dartmouth College in the

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With the present onslaught of the coronavirus health crisis our attention has been drawn to the importance of those in the medical profession in our society. Though the politician of past years is apt to be remembered in the history books more often than the physician, the latter was not of less importance. An article in The Granite Monthly magazine of January, 1909 on the “Early Physicians of Cheshire County” described the way of life of the pioneer doctors of New Hampshire: “The pioneer doctor’s call did not come by telegraph or by telephone, nor was it answered by wheel carriage, steam or electric cars, or by automobile. It was answered on foot, at times on snow shoes, on horse back, directed by blazed trees, crossing unbridged streams, his path obstructed at times by savages and wild beasts. The pioneer doctor must have been a man of robust constitution and great

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

The

Weirs Times Presents

ICE-OUT DATES

Give Golf A Chance

For Lake Winnipesaukee EARLIEST ICE-OUT ON RECORD : March 18, 2016

1888 May 12 1889 Apr. 14 1890 Apr. 24 1891 Apr. 23 1892 Apr. 11 1893 May 10 1894 Apr. 20 1895 Apr. 26 1896 Apr. 23 1897 Apr. 23 1898 Apr. 14 1899 May 2 1900 Apr. 26 1901 Apr. 20 1902 Apr. 4 1903 Apr. 2 1904 Apr. 29 1905 Apr. 24 1906 Apr. 26 1907 Apr. 29 1908 Apr. 21 1909 Apr. 19 1910 Apr. 6 1911 May 2 1912 Apr. 23 1913 Apr. 17 1914 Apr. 15 1915 Apr. 24 1916 Apr. 16 1917 Apr. 28 1918 Apr. 24 1919 Apr. 14 1920 Apr. 24 1921 Mar. 28 1922 Apr. 17 1923 Apr. 24 1924 Apr. 18 1925 Apr. 10 1926 May 2 1927 Apr. 13 1928 Apr. 19 1929 Apr. 18 1930 Apr. 7 1931 Apr. 11 1932 Apr. 20

LATEST ICE-OUT ON RECORD : May 12, 1888

1933 Apr. 25 1934 Apr. 21 1935 Apr. 21 1936 Apr. 8 1937 Apr. 25 1938 Apr. 17 1939 May 4 1940 May 4 1941 Apr. 16 1942 Apr. 18 1943 Apr. 30 1944 May 3 1945 Apr. 1 1946 Mar. 30 1947 Apr. 24 1948 Apr. 10 1949 Apr. 6 1950 Apr. 20 1951 Apr. 14 1952 Apr. 20 1953 Apr. 3 1954 Apr. 16 1955 Apr. 19 1956 May 3 1957 Apr. 3 1958 Apr. 13 1959 Apr. 26 1960 Apr. 19 1961 Apr. 27 1962 Apr. 24 1963 Apr. 20 1964 Apr. 28 1965 Apr. 22 1966 Apr. 20 1967 Apr. 20 1968 Apr. 15 1969 Apr. 25 1970 Apr. 28 1971 May 5 1972 Apr. 22 1973 Apr. 23 1974 Apr. 17 1975 Apr. 25 1976 Apr. 17 1977 Apr. 21

1978 Apr. 27 1979 Apr. 25 1980 Apr. 16 1981 Apr. 5 1982 Apr. 29 1983 Apr. 10 1984 Apr. 20 1985 Apr. 14 1986 Apr. 16 1987 Apr. 12 1988 Apr. 16 1989 Apr. 25 1990 Apr. 22 1991 Apr. 8 1992 Apr. 21 1993 Apr. 22 1994 Apr. 23 1995 Apr. 15 1996 Apr. 17 1997 Apr. 24 1998 Apr. 7 1999 Apr. 8 2000 Apr. 10 2001 May 2 2002 Apr. 5 2003 Apr. 25 2004 Apr. 20 2005 Apr. 20 2006 Apr. 3 2007 Apr. 23 2008 Apr. 23 2009 Apr. 12 2010 Mar. 24 2011 Apr. 19 2012 Mar. 23 2013 Apr. 17 2014 Apr. 23 2015 Apr. 24 2016 Mar. 18 2017 Apr. 17 2018 Apr. 26 2019 Apr 24 2020 Apr. 6

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

One understands the tendency of elected and appointed officials to err on the side of caution when it comes to public policy and pandemics. One also understands the concept of social distancing, quarantines, flattening the curve, and minimizing the risks associated with COVID-19. But one can’t hunker down forever. Governors in particular will soon be facing difficult choices. At what point do we start to loosen restrictions on activities and movement? Leaders get all kinds of advice. There are no clear answers. On the one hand restaurant owners and the like plead for restriction relief sooner rather than later. Quite understandable. On the other hand, those motivated by political impulses see opportunities in the current crisis. The worse the economy the worse it is for our president’s prospects. Even before COVID-19, the likes of Bill Mahar were openly hoping for bad economic news as 2019’s unprecedented prosperity was not only

The third green at Loudon Country Club during happier times. good for America, but good for President Trump. They worry less about economic devastation and more about replacing the chief executive. Also understandable, if lamentable. But leaders would be best served by finding middle ground and listening to medical experts—as opposed to desperate business people or those who can tolerate economic distress if it hurts our president. Which brings one to certain outdoor activities. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “To golf or not to golf?” While it may be too early to open the 19th Hole, why not the first 18? Some medical experts see minimal risk,

especially if a golfing foursome walks or utilizes four carts instead of two, and don’t shake hands at the end. (Of course, many doctors are inveterate golfers!) Can one say “Personal Responsibility?” But our golf courses remain closed. Our governor indicated a reluctance to sanction golfing as long as neighboring states kept their golf courses closed, lest linksters from Maine, Massachusetts or Vermont crowd our courses—which they probably would. One gets it. But how does one reconcile keeping our liquor stores open with keeping our golf courses closed? Countless thousands of out-of-

staters continue to inundate our liquor and wine outlets, where patrons are inevitably in close contact in closed spaces, as opposed to the wide open fairways? Why is it okay for the state to accept out-ofstate money under such conditions, while shuttering golf courses and other types of outdoor activities which would similarly and happily accept out-of-state money? Reopening golf courses and the like would seem to be a logical first step in the long journey back to normalcy as we “turn the corner” on the COVID crisis. Of course one should ultimately defer to the counsel of medical exSee MOFFETT on 10

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

Live Free or Die.

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

Campaign Distancing Being in lockdown mode has sure put a crimp in the style of those us running for election in November. Against by Brendan Smith m y b e t t e r judgement, Weirs Times Editor I have once again decided to run for governor of New Hampshire under the Flatlander ticket. Having already made the commitment to the party, I am now having second thoughts. But I still have to go through with it. Being governor never really seemed that stressful to me. You get escorted around by the state police (you can even run the siren if you want…a lifelong dream of mine), you get to declare special days for this or that and, the best part, you make $100,000 a year and you can’t be fired for at least two years no matter how lousy you are at the job. But now with this Coronavirus thing, I am having second thoughts. There are some difficult decisions you sometimes have to make as governor and some of them can get people really angry at you. That’s no fun. I’m not sure that even turning on the siren in the state police car whenever you want is enough to compensate. Still, being a man of my word, I am going ahead with my campaign. The tricky part this year is how to get my message heard when I can’t go out and actually meet people. There’ll be no shaking hands at the local mall or attending bean hole bean dinners where candidates have to stand around and make small talk with a bunch of people who just ate a boatload of bean hole beans and then try to gracefully leave before

the beans force self-imposed social distancing. In these unusual times, campaigning has to be done creatively. Of course, there is the tried and true method of sending out those obnoxious oversized political mailers which have been the cause of many worker’s comp claims by postal workers suffering back strain from lifting them. But I am afraid the mailers will not be as effective as they have in the past. With the ongoing toilet paper shortages in the stores, those mailers may now be welcomed not so much for what their message might be, but more for how they can be utilized for other emergencies. The most effective method for getting the message out in this modern day is using social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. (Of course, there are many others, but I’m an old guy in my sixties so I don’t know what they are.) On these social media sites, you can post some of your thoughts on what you could accomplish as governor as well as stances on important issues. The best part about doing this is that the feedback is instantaneous. Before you can say “Emoji” people will be chiming in by calling you names and saying other nasty things to you they would never say to your face. Of course, any campaign worth its salt will come up with a few phony social media profiles to join in on the name calling of your opponent. These are really great resources if used correctly. If you can find enough people who aren’t too busy binge watching another silly documentary about a guy and tigers, you can try to start up a virtual Town Hall meeting using something like Zoom. (I guess there are others as well but, once again, over sixty, don’t know and really don’t care.) With Zoom, you give people a password so they can sign in, along with many others, and listen to you explain your

platforms while watching you live. You also get to see the faces of the folks you are talking to. It’s very personal. It is important to remember when holding a Zoom meeting that people will quickly get easily distracted watching other Zoomers scratching themselves and picking their noses, among other things and will stop hearing anything you say after about thirty seconds. (It is important to note that a lot of people will join in on a Zoom meeting simply to see what other folks’ houses look like, so play to that strength if you can.) If you want to still try and get out and personally meet folks, you will need to be creative so as not to break any Social Distancing laws. With many of New Hampshire’s scenic hiking spots still open (for now), you can literally take to the “Campaign Trail”. Making sure not to get to close to other hikers you can drop a few, loud erroneous comments like “What a beautiful view, it’s too bad candidate so and so wants to cut down all the trees and turn the public parks into state liquor stores.” Of course, some of the other hikers might catch onto your stealth campaigning and become annoyed. That is why you should make sure you are not standing near a ledge of any sort. It will be interesting to see how this strange campaign season goes this year. Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles” and “Best Of A F.O.O.L In New Hampshire”. His newest book “I Really Only Did It For The Socks -Stories & Thoughts On Aging” will be available later this year. Brendan has also entertained audiences around New Hampshire with his storytelling presentations. To find out more visit his website at BrendanTSmith.com

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*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. (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

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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.) Send checks or money for $16.99 to The New Talkorders Authority 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, April 23, 2020 —

Phyllis Schlafly: Godmother Of America First

Anti-patriot hatred never rests. Hollywood has launched a new character assassination vehicle targeting the late great Phyllis Schlafly. “Mrs. America” debuts on FX on Hulu this week with liberal actress Cate Blanchett starring as the traditionalist Catholic conservative activist who defeated the so-called Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and went on to by Michelle Malkin helm the influential Eagle Forum until her Syndicated Columnist death at 92 in 2016. Blanchett, who also served as executive producer on the project, denies any bias against Schlafly and points to the entire movie staff’s refusal to speak with any of her family members as proof of its neutrality. But blocking input from those who knew the phenomenal matriarch, lawyer and author of more than 20 books conveniently allowed the Tinseltown fable-tellers to fabricate calumnious scenes out of thin air -- including a fantastical depiction of Schlafly’s devoted husband, Fred, forcing the female conservative icon to have sex against her will. With the couple both deceased and family members unable to defend their marriage of 44 years, nobody and nothing stood in the way of Blanchett and Co. disseminating a cunning lie crafted to cast conservative women as abused captives with no independent agency behind closed doors. Anne Schlafly Cori, one of Schlafly’s six children and chair of the Eagle Forum, vigorously refuted Blanchett’s depiction of her mother in trailers released ahead of this Wednesday’s premiere. “Her acting is cold, cruel, and calculating,” she told Vanity Fair. “Phyllis Schlafly was warm and gracious and her beliefs were sincere. Women idolized Phyllis Schlafly.” I can testify to this firsthand. As a young conservative writer in the early 1990s, the Phyllis Schalfly Report greatly influenced my views on education, feminism, multiculturalism and immigration. (For my first newspaper column photo at the Los Angeles Daily News, I even emulated her trademark bun.) I admired Schlafly’s intellect, vigilance, style, grace, prolific output and commitment to family. In my travels as a journalist, I met legions of women inspired by Schlafly to run for school board and local and statewide offices on behalf of their families, faith and nation. Schlafly was as down-to-earth in person as her column voice and TV debates -- and contrary See MALKIN on 20

What Does Reopening Look Like? As our national lockdown drags on, Americans seem less and less inclined to move swiftly toward societal reopening. Perhaps that’s due to the consistent media focus on the risks of reopening. Perhaps by Ben Shapiro that’s also due to the Syndicated Columnist psychological comfort of the status quo: When we’ve been made to feel safe in our home, it’s difficult to leave it. Or perhaps we, as a society, have so fundamentally altered our own perception of risk aversion that we aren’t willing to leave our houses unless the risk is close to zero. Whatever the reason, it is simply untenable to lock Americans down for months more. Calls to do so ignore not only the catastrophic human suffering inflicted on millions -- employees who no longer have jobs, children who can no longer attend school, entrepreneurs who have seen their life’s dreams and savings destroyed at the behest of the government -- but the reality of economics, which is that government cannot interminably pay everyone to stay at home. Furthermore, long-term lockdowns do not even prevent the virus from eventual second-wave spreading; when we emerge from our homes, we will pass the virus to one another again. So, how should we view the risks of reopening our society? Rationally. This means that we should stop looking at false case fatality rates as inevitabilities. We simply don’t know how many Americans have had coronavirus, or how many have it now. We do know that the number of confirmed cases is far lower than the number of cases in society more broadly. In New York, the supposed case fatality rate -- the number of deaths from coronavirus over the number of confirmed cases -- rests at around 5%. But between March 22 and April 4, 215 pregnant women were screened for COVID-19 in New York City,

according to The New England Journal of Medicine. Four women had symptoms of COVID-19, and 29 tested positive despite being asymptomatic. This means 13.7% of these women had COVID-19 without knowing it -- for every symptomatic woman, there were seven others who were asymptomatic but positive. If applied statewide -- a simplistic model but certainly one that would be closer to accuracy than mere confirmed cases -- this would drop the case fatality rate from 5% to 0.7%. Needless to say, such a statistic would alleviate some worry, particularly among less vulnerable populations. We should also stop treating all cohorts of American society as equally vulnerable to coronavirus. According to two New York University studies, the first most predictive condition for hospitalization was age: Almost half of all coronavirus patients hospitalized in New York City were over the age of 65. The next most predictive condition was obesity. And over 70% of hospitalized coronavirus patients had a chronic condition. This should be no surprise: As of April 12, the New York City Health Department reported 128 fatalities among people with no underlying conditions and just 26 deaths among people below age 45 with no underlying conditions. There were 42,524 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 for New Yorkers under age 45, meaning that the case fatality rate -- again, a seriously highend estimate given the fact that asymptomatic people have not been tested -- for those with no underlying health conditions below age 45 is 0.06%. In other words, 9,994 out of every 10,000 young, healthy people who get coronavirus will not die -- and the number is likely higher than that. This means that we should be looking to send young, healthy people back to work, and urging social distancing and isolation for those who are elderly or have preexisting conditions that raise coronavirus risks. We should retain social distancing for the young and healthy, urge mask wearing and perform contact tracing when hot spots arise. See SHAPIRO on 20

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

China’s Tech Totalitarianism The media tell us China “beat coronavirus.” I don’t believe it. The Chinese government lies. AEI’s Derrek Scissors argues that they’ve unby John Stossel derreported the Syndicated Columnist number of COVID-19 cases by millions. Still, it’s possible that China has the virus under control. But at what cost? Most of us in America now practice “social distancing.” I’ve barely left my house in a month. I do that

voluntarily. Forty-two states do have some sort of shelter-in-place orders, but most of American’s social distancing is voluntary. Not so in China. China’s dictators are quick to take extreme measures against whatever they see as a problem. They locked down Wuhan -- closed roads to the city, stopped public transit and banned private cars. Chinese police have even welded people into their homes to keep them inside. They’ve tied people to posts for not wearing face masks. China spies on every citizen, using more than 200 million cameras

and social media tracking. Electronic eavesdropping lets them analyze every person’s political leanings and social interactions. They use that to give everyone a trust score. Your “trust” score drops if you criticize the government -- or the trust score system. You lose points if you do things like play “too many” video games, watch porn or have friends with low scores. Then the government punishes you by doing things like slowing your internet speed, keeping your kids out of good schools or stopping you from getting good jobs. Now, some Americans say our

government should be more like China’s. “Still no nationwide stay-athome order!” complains MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow (even though that would be unconstitutional -- the 10th Amendment leaves such things to states). Frightened people push bad law. “You’re walking toward the communists voluntarily! That scares me,” said Li Schoolland, an immigrant from China I interviewed before the pandemic. “After I came to the United States I thought, no more politics. I’m in the land of the free!” she See STOSSEL on 21

Reopening America? Since midMarch the American economy has been on pandemic lockdown. Commercial, social and educational interacby John J. Metzler tion have faced Syndicated Columnist a form of Limbo, forced to follow a still uncertain script dictated by the deadly Coronavirus and decreed by State Governors. For many of us, the world seems suspended in time; the proverbial “Snow Days” for the schools and business are turning into a stormy season with dire economic con-

sequences. U.S. jobless numbers have now surged beyond 22 million as restaurants and the retail industry have been devastated. So too have been airlines and leisure travel. Just two months ago, the U.S. economy boasted the lowest unemployment in more than a half-century with a robust growth to match; today the shutdown economy is beginning to trend towards the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Small business remains on intravenous as government loans support most firms. Nonetheless you can’t make business plans, never mind payroll, nor progress by treading water. The world remains

frozen in time; People are hurting. Walk around, drive around, see them, and have empathy especially for countless firms devastated by the pandemic. Americans want to get back to work. This is no idle slogan but a gripping necessity. Both President Donald Trump and many state governors want to Reopen America through a cautious and phased plan, working in concert with scientists and testing to bring in a step by step reopening for many parts of the USA not affected by the Coronavirus. Much of this is aspirational, certainly carries risk, but, at the same time, reflects the reality that

large parts of the country have profoundly different levels of risk and exposure. State Governors have the final say and not the Federal Government over the specific reopening plan for each of the fifty states. This is a tailored response reflecting the Federal system not a one size fits all diktat. Does this mean an opening of the delayed Baseball season and other sporting events? Not likely. Schools and Universities remain closed for the semester too. Larry Kudlow, the President’s top economic advisor concedes, that it may be possible “to re-open the U.S. economy in the next four t o e i g h t See METZLER on 21

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Kayak Flounder Fishing by Tim Moore

your catch. Some anglers bring a small cooler to keep their fish in, but I prefer to hang my catch in the cool spring waters on a stringer or in a catch bag. I prefer overcast days with light wind and try to time my trip so that the wind and the tide are in the same direction. This makes my bait more natural to the flounder when it drifts by. Time of tide is subjective to the time of day as well as time of year, but the flounder numbers have risen to the point that there are always a few fish willing to cooperate.

Contributing Writer

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From what I have been told, a flounder was the first fish I ever caught. They were plentiful and easy to catch. As a young adult though, the flounder had become overfished, and catching one each day was a rarity. However, flounder populations along the New Hampshire coast have rebounded over the last decade thanks to better management. I was elated to once again find them in catchable numbers and when I began kayak fishing, targeting them from my kayak seemed only natural. In the spring, flounder typically arrive in the harbors, estuaries, and even tidal creeks around May first. They can be found in very shallow water. I’ve watched from the seat of my kayak as flounder have eaten my rig in water as shallow as four feet. I prefer to drift for them rather than anchor and chum, as flounder highly rely on sight as much as scent to feed. A mov-

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A limit (eight fish) of flounder provides quite the meal. ing flounder rig at the right speed and tide is an almost irresistible treat. I find that kayaks are much better suited to drifting in the close quarters of the harbors that often contain mooring fields much easier and more effective. Any kayak will do, but a siton-top fishing kayak, like the Old Town Predator, is going to be much more comfortable and easier to fish from. Flounder fishing from a kayak is a pretty simple process. A heavy trouttype or light saltwater spinning setup is all you need. Two-hook flounder

Winter flounder (named for when they spawn) are not only fun to catch but taste delicious. rigs can be purchased at most tackle shops and can be tipped with sea worms or clam strips, but earth worms will work in a pinch. Use as little weight as you can while still being able to keep your bait on the bottom. The use of a net will help keep the second of the two hooks out of your hand while unhooking

Kayaks are easier to get to the water, usually free to launch, and put you in close contact to your quarry. Kayaks also give you access to areas out of reach of shore anglers, and too shallow for boats. Once you get on the water, drop your rig to the bottom, keep your See MOORE on 18

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

Canadian Geese & Beaver Dens by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

I received an interesting email the other day from Tricia from Alstead. She relayed that she and a few other people — and a couple of dogs — were taking a walk when they noticed a strange lump on the top of a beaver den. It turned out that the lump was a Canada goose, presumably sitting on eggs, as the bird remained hunkered down, despite the proximity of the humans and dogs. Tricia hypothesized that the goose nest was built over a vent hole in the den, which kept the eggs warm. I couldn’t confirm nor deny that hypothesis but it does make sense. The email did spur me to research the relationship between Canada geese and beavers. It turns out that they have a very beneficial relationship, even if most of the benefits go to the geese. By using a beaver den as a nesting site, Canada geese get a sturdy surface for their nest on a small “island,” protected from predators. When a goose nests on the shore of a body of water, the eggs or chicks are vulnerable to foxes, coyotes, raccoons, ravens and other predators. A beaver den in the middle of a pond offers much more protection.

A Canada goose pair utilizes a beaver den as a nesting site in New England CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO this spring. It is not fool-proof, of course, but it’s far safer than nesting on the shore. Beaver dens also offer higher ground than the shore, lessening the risk of the nest being washed away by heavy rains. A study conducted in 2013 by the University of Alberta found another advantage for Canada geese. The study showed that ponds with active beavers thawed 11 to 13 days prior to other bodies of water because of the movement of the relatively large mammals. This gave Canada geese that chose a beaver den as their nest site a significant time advantage over other geese. From my observations in southern New England, however, all water is thawed long before geese start nesting. Life is tougher up north, I’m sure, so any advantage animals can

get is likely to be used. Yet another advantage for geese in this rather one-sided relationship is that beaver dens are usually topped with mud. This creates the possibility of grass and weeds growing on the den, offering easy meals for the geese. I walk almost daily to a beaver pond at the end of a trail that runs basically through my backyard. I’ve seen the beavers at work and I’ve seen the felled and nearly felled trees on the shoreline. In the winter, hooded mergansers and ring-necked ducks use the pond when it isn’t frozen. In the summer, green herons and wood ducks are the predominant birds, although there are also tons and tons of frogs. Armed with the new knowledge about beaver dens, I paid closer attention during a recent walk and, sure enough, all three dens have Can-

ada geese nesting on the top. The other day I witnessed a squabble at one of the dens as an interloping Canada goose pair tried to climb onto one of the occupied dens. One of the geese that already had a nest on the den put up such a racket with its wing-beating and honking that the other pair quickly retreated. Canada geese are loud to begin with; imagine the decibel level when their nest is threatened. Maybe that’s what the beavers get out of this whole thing. Extra protection during goose nesting season. Chris Bosak may be reached at chrisbosak26@gmail.com or through his website at www.birdsofnewengland.com

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Wicked BREW Review

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Lagunitas The Waldo’s 2020

by Jim MacMillan Contributing Writer

This has been the most interesting springtime that I can ever remember, I guess that goes for almost all of us. But putting that all aside, I love the promise of spring! That sweet time when everything greens up, just before the black flies appear and Ice-Out is called. April has so many great moments to offer. The lake’s ice turned to green diamonds and vanished. People are out walking and hiking (carefully at 6’ apart) and the promise grows. April is also the time when one beer is released to adoring fans. I am referring to The Waldos of course. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA, is a slightly quirky set of people bent on bringing your the very best and varied beer you might ever taste. Owner Toby Magee admits he has been curious of how people affect beer. So he creates circumstances where people can enjoy beer while they are… being people. Each of their offerings is special and

oddly named, but that’s the fun they put into each can or bottle. In his own words, beer speaks, people mumble. Look at their unique website, www. lagunitas.com The Waldo’s is more of a story that became a tremendously revered beer. Waldo packs a punch coming in at 10.8% ABV this year (11.7% last year) and 100 IBU’s (bittering scale). It is sold in 12 oz six packs (surprising for NH’s strict total volume ABV limit). It’s slightly hazy golden and delicious hue, short-lived but off-white head, and malty aroma tells you that you are in for a real treat. With 6 very potent bittering and flavoring hops, Waldo takes shape as a triple ale that will not let you down. The rewarding flavor profile of the hop combinations bring aromas of mango, pineapple and lots of citrus peel. Your first taste backs up your senses as you experience wonderful fruit goodness. Malt choices helps make this beer so full and enjoyable. Sometimes referred to as their 420 beer, the number refers to 4:20 pm when high school friends would

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gather after school looking for the fabled secret garden on treasure map. They called themselves the Waldos. These same friends later became brewers at Lagunitas. This beer release, always in April, is looked forward to by so many Lagunitas fans. It is a celebration of brewing genius and a commitment to loyal friends alike. Their story is even printed on the label if you look for it. BeerAdvocate.com has officially rated The Waldo’s as ‘WorldClass’ and awards it a 96 out of 100. You can find a good supply of The Waldo’s Special Ale (while it lasts) at Case-n-Keg in Mer-

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

4 Outdoor Cleaning Tips That Could Save You Thousands The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning. “Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings

you no longer want or need - it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.” Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road. Clean your gutters Gutters collect debris over time, especially when rain, snow and wind causes twigs, pine needles and leaves to settle on your roof and in your rain gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages that direct water into the home or, in areas without much pre-

cipitation, can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof. “Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters - even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking your gutters is time well spent compared to the alternative.”

Trim Branches & Remove Dangerous Trees Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round, so it’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance in early spring. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage. “Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” said O’Rourke. “Also, in areas that are prone to wildfires,

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trimmed trees create a buffer zone to help lower the chances of flames easily jumping onto your roof. Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist to determine their health and have diseased trees removed before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty, but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy, but can be a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety. See TIPS on 17

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Turn Your Backyard Into A Safe Space For Healthy Play

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reading. Whether it becomes family story time or some quiet time to yourself, spend some time enjoying your own personal piece of the great outdoors. Take this time to give your lawn some TLC Now is a great time for some DIY spring maintenance to get your lawn ready for summer and the likely heavierthan-usual use it will see as you spend more time at home. To create a lush, healthy, low-

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Upgrade Your Outdoor Living Space Home improvement projects aren’t limited to indoors. In fact, not only can upgrades to areas outside the house expand your livable space, they can also increase your home’s value. Outdoor living projects account for almost one-third of renovation projects, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The findings echo trends reported by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, which found 43% of respondents said they designed outdoor kitchens in the past year and 41% expected an increase in outdoor projects in the coming year. “Our clients are asking for entertaining areas, which can be anything from a fully engineered cabana or a new paver patio with a pergola,” said Dave Garcia, owner of DPG Pavers and Design. “We love being creative with materials in our designs and installations. One of my personal favorites is an outdoor kitchen we wrapped in hardwood with a granite countertop. It has clean lines and a unique custom look.” Custom-built and prefabricated kitchens are also in high demand, Garcia said, along with recreation features like putting greens, bocce ball and basketball courts. Hardscape features that add function and ambiance top many homeowners’ lists, as well. Examples include

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fire pits and fire tables, as well as water features like fountains, waterfalls, basalt columns and bubbling urns. Understanding Landscaping Elements Creating the ideal outdoor living space requires thoughtful planning and a holistic approach to landscaping. Typically, when people consider landscaping, they think of plants and flowers. However, landscaping includes a wide range of elements in an outdoor design that can generally be grouped into two main categories: hardscape and softscape. Understanding the components and options within each category can help you create a cohesive design for maximum enjoyment. The hardscape encompasses the man-made elements that bring function and aesthetic appeal to the design. Examples include concrete pavers, natural stone

features, seating and retaining walls, wood and composite decks, pergolas, fencing and synthetic lawns. Softscape elements are the living components that add beauty and character to your outdoor space. These include the grass, shrubs, trees, flowers and plants. Your softscape may also include enhancements like mulch and an irrigation system to help care for the vegetation. Although the hardscape and softscape elements are distinct, an effective landscape design integrates both to create the look and feel you want for your outdoor living space. Getting Started Once you’ve considered the landscaping features necessary to bring your vision to life, it’s time to get your project in motion. Set a budget and consider whether you will need professional support to

make your design ideas a reality. A remodeling expert can guide you on how to achieve the look you desire with your home’s unique characteristics in mind, while helping manage your timeline and expenses. Find more remodeling advice and contractors in your community at remodelingdoneright. com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

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Interseed for a thicker lawn. Lawns that are sparse or have worn patches coming out of winter can be interseeded when the soil warms up in the spring. In addition to enhancing the overall appearance of the lawn, interseeding will help keep turf dense, which is a natural defense to keeping pesky weeds out. Simply rake away lawn debris or accumulated thatch, broadcast seed widely or

target bare spots on your lawn and irrigate regularly until the seed germinates. Be sure to use a high-quality seed that is a good match for your geographic region and your lawn’s soil type, sun exposure and irrigation patterns. Seed can be ordered online and shipped directly to your home from most home improvement retailers. Water deeply and infrequently. Rather than irrigating lightly every day, begin to water more deeply, only once

or twice a week, which will encourage strong root growth and make for a hardier lawn in the summer. Most turf grasses will stay vigorous if they receive about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall (and droughttolerant species such as tall fescue do well on even less). Mow early and leave the grass taller. Start mowing your lawn before it gets too tall. Scalping an overgrown lawn will stress the plants and potentially

cause problems all season long, so make sure you never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade height at a time. A good rule of thumb for most species is to mow when the grass reaches a height of about 3 inches. That means you can cut it to 2 inches - or you can even leave it a little taller to protect the growing point at the base of the blade and improve your lawn’s wear tolerance. Feed your lawn. Grasscycling - leaving the clippings on the lawn after you mow and allowing them to decompose - can save you time and provide up to 25% of your lawn’s fertilizer needs. To meet the rest of your turf’s nutrient requirements, you’ll likely need to fertilize in the spring and fall. The spring application should be relatively light and should feature slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to avoid causing rapid but weak growth, which can make the lawn less durable. If you’re among the many Americans seeking activities for energetic kids, suddenly finding time for longdelayed home improvement projects, or just needing a breath of fresh air, step out the backdoor and take advantage of your home’s lawn. By engaging in a few DIY spring lawn projects now, your lawn will be ready no matter what summer brings!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

TIPS from 12 Watch Out For Service Lines Homeowners who want to plant gardens, trees or install additional landscape features to enhance their outdoor living space should be aware of potential underground utility lines. Most service lines - a network of exterior, underground utility lines or pipes that supply a home with electricity, gas, water and sewer functions - are only buried a few inches beneath the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury. If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs, and this damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. “The average cost to repair a break to a service line is about $5,000 and most Americans wouldn’t welcome such a large surprise bill,” said O’Rourke. “Homeowners should definitely consider purchasing an endorsement to their insurance policy to protect against losses of this nature. Mercury offers this coverage as an addition to our home insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a

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est efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.” Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages - the average cost for an inspection is about $300. Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 — MOORE from 8 line tight, and feel for the telltale “tap tap tap” of a flounder. Give them a few seconds to get the hook in their mouth before setting the hook, and enjoy your next meal of delicious freshcaught fish. If you like to eat fish, you’ll really enjoy flounder. Tim Moore is a full-time professional fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors Guide Service. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association and the producer of Tim Moore Outdoors TV. Visit www. TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.

The author prefers calm overcast days for flounder fishing.

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HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. 1 The HughesNet Gen5 service plans are designed to deliver download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps, but individual customers may experience different speeds at different times of the day. Speeds and uninterrupted use are not guaranteed and may vary based on a variety of factors including: the configuration of your computer, the number of concurrent users, network or Internet congestion, the capabilities and content of the Websites you are accessing, network management practices as deemed necessary, and other factors. When you connect to the HughesNet service using Wi-Fi, your experience will vary based on your proximity to the Wi-Fi source and the strength of the signal. 2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads. 3. Free standard installation applies to new Lease subscribers only. Not valid with Purchase option. Limited-time offer. Restrictions may apply. 5. Per the “5th, 6th, 7th and 8th FCC Measuring Broadband American Reports.”

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 — SMITH from 3 tions. Dr. Amos Twitchell practiced medicine in Keene between 1810 and 1850. He was famous for his surgical skills and in the 1830’s built a hospital on Main Street with 24 rooms. People came from the New England states and beyond for surgery performed by the Doctor who also taught many students pursuing medical careers. The story was told of a farmer who lived twenty miles from Keene who sometimes provided Dr. Twitchell with grain. The two met one day, and the doctor, seeing that the farmer looked to be in an unhealthy state, asked him how he was doing. With a serious face the farmer responded: “Almost gone, doctor. I shall never bring you any more corn. The physicians have all given me up, and tell me I am dying of consumption.” The doctor replied that he was sorry that he would have no more of the farmer’s corn, but added, ‘...but possibly, after all, it may not be so bad as you think! I may be able to cure you.” The farmer insisted that it was too late and lamented “I must put my house in order, and prepare to die.” The doctor, however, said that he would make a bargain with the farmer. He told him that if he would follow the doctor’s prescription for three months and recovered, he should pay him 50 bushels of corn. If he didn’t recover and died, the doctor would pay his heirs the value of the 50 bushels of corn in money. The farmer was finally convinced to agree and the doctor gave him his prescription. The man was told

to take the quid from his mouth and never to touch tobacco in any form again. Six months went by and the doctor and the farmer met again. The man appeared to be in perfect health and the doctor asked for his corn. The farmer, however, declined to pay, saying that his wife thought the amount was greater than his life was worth. He did finally agree to give Dr. Twitchell three or four bushels of corn and a bushel of white beans. In the year 1844 Dr. Horace Wells, a native of Westmoreland, N.H., and a famous dentist, was credited with performing the first operation ever without pain with the use of nitrous oxide gas. His dental practice was conducted in Boston and in Hartford, Connecticut. According to The Granite Monthly “ He was a man of great ingenuity, constantly making new instruments and devising new experiments.” A Doctor Pratt was a Winchester physician in the early 1800’s who was also obviously involved in gardening. It is said that Dr. Pratt was annoyed by some boys who were stealing his watermelons. In the words of Dr. Gardner C. Hill, “ To remedy this he tapped some of the best melons and inserted tartar emetic. The doctor was called soon after, in great haste, to visit several youngsters. On his arrival he found all suffering and vomiting, and some of his melons were in evidence. The doctor realized good pay for all the melons stolen. He had no trouble afterwards.” Dr. George Farrington had practiced medicine in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s in Winchester. There was in the northeastern part of town a small hamlet.

One of the residents was seriously injured in a work-related accident and a message was sent for the nearest doctor, who was Dr. Farrington. The doctor hurried to get to the scene by the nearest route which involved crossing the Ashuelot River. What the doctor didn’t know, or had forgotten, was that the bridge over the river had been washed away, leaving only the piers and uncovered beams remaining. Rather than taking a long detour, Dr. Farrington was said to have dismounted his horse, taken some instruments from his saddlebags, and walked across the river on one of the beams with his horse cautiously following him. After they safely reached the river bank on the 150 foot long beam the doctor remounted and was able to help the injured man. After mov-

Dr. Amos Twitchell.

ing from Winchester to Chesterfield, Dr. Farrington died in that town at the age of 47. His epitaph might well be used as a tribute to many good physicians. It says, in part “Here lies beneath this monument The dear remains of one who spent His days and years in doing good; Gave ease to those opres’d with pain, Restored the sick to health again, And purified their wasting blood. He was respected while on Earth By all who knew his real worth..” Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr., welcomes your comments at danahillsmiths@yahoo.com.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

MALKIN from 6 to a Wall Street Journal movie reviewer’s attack on her “resentment” and “rage,” she was the quintessential happy warrior with a twinkle in her eyes. Far from the “lone wolf” portrayal of Schlafly in “Mrs. America,” Schlafly was constantly surrounded by old and new proteges and mentees. After publication of my first book, “Invasion,” in 2002, I was honored to receive an “Eagle Award” from Schlafly and the Eagle Forum for “articulate leadership in bringing the truth to the American people.” A plaque signed by Schlafly hangs in my home office. I am just one of thousands of conservative activists, volunteers, elected officials and media personalities who have received

the honor since 1972. The “Mrs. America” that nationalist conservatives honor was ahead of the curve on the issues that defined the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, whom she endorsed in March 2016. Long before “drain the swamp” became a MAGA meme, Schlafly had called out the “secret kingmakers” of the Republican establishment in her seminal book, “A Choice Not an Echo,” way back in 1964. Those East Coast power brokers and financiers propped up liberal GOP ciphers, she wrote, to “preserve their America Last foreign policy” and “foreign giveaways.” Today, the new generation of donor-class elites work in backrooms to serve the same “Open Borders Inc.” agenda -and many are embed-

ded in the Trump White House undermining it from within while stabbing American students, workers and taxpayers in the back. If Pat Buchanan is the godfather of “America First,” Phyllis Schlafly is its godmother. For decades, she relentlessly lambasted globalism, unfair trade deals and border anarchy -- earning derision from both the establishment left and right in Washington (along with the smear merchants at the Southern Poverty Law Center) as being “racist,” antiSemitic” and “bigoted.” Highlighting one of the Eagle Forum’s most important reports in 2014 on “How Mass (Legal) Immigration Dooms a Conservative Republican Party,” Schlafly called out the cheap foreign labor lobby

suppressing American workers’ wages. Importing 1 million new foreigners every year whose socialist and left-leaning voting patterns are stubbornly unmalleable, on top of the 20 million illegal immigrants constantly clamoring for amnesty, is a recipe for GOP suicide and American collapse. “Outreach” is futile, Schlafly warned, without “reducing the number of immigrants allowed into the country each year. If legal immigration is not reduced, it will be nearly impossible for conservatives to be successful on the issues we care about.” As ever, Mrs. America’s fierce clarity is more relevant than ever as big business, big tech, big ag and big academia oppose the will of the people for an im-

migration moratorium in the age of the ChiCom virus. Hollywood has done the “American First” movement an invaluable favor by bringing renewed attention to the wisdom and patriotism of Phyllis Schlafly. It’s up to the rest of us to reclaim her true legacy -- and fulfill it. 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 We should continue to avoid large-scale gatherings. We should urge special vigilance in high-density areas. Localism is our friend here. But there is a path toward reopening. To ignore it isn’t just foolish; it’s counterproductive. Ben Shapiro, 36, 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 No. 1 New York Times bestseller “The Right Side of History.” He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles. 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, April 23, 2020 — STOSSEL from 7 recounts. But after she saw some Americans embracing authoritarian ideas, she thought, “No, I have to tell the American people, ‘Don’t let this happen.’” Schoolland survived China’s Great Leap Forward, Great Famine and Cultural Revolution. Her parents were doctors, “intellectuals,” which meant they, and she, were sent to horrible work camps where they received communist “re-education.” I thought this repressive era of communism was over. Starting in the late 1970s, China’s leaders modernized their economy and became a major trading partner with the United States. But no, “The repression is not over,” says Schoolland. China’s spying on people to create “social trust” scores is an example of it. “The control of people’s mind, people’s mouth, people’s pen, never stopped.” That’s something to think about now in America, when so many politicians are eager to do more. Florida set up checkpoints on highways and planes, requiring people who enter from coronavirus hot spots, like New York and Louisiana, to self-quarantine for 14 days. Travelers must give officials contact information so officials can check up on them. In Rhode Island, police went door to door, checking on people with New York license plates. Colorado police handcuffed a man for playing softball with his daughter in a park. Father and

daughter were more than 6 feet apart, but the officers clustered together to make their arrest. California police ordered a group of young men to sit on the ground while they photographed them and fined them $1,000 each because they bought beer at 7-Eleven that was an hour away from their homes. Of course, in a pandemic, some extreme measures are needed. But repressive government controls like China’s should not be our role model. The virus began in China and spread farther because their autocrats suppressed information, denied the virus could spread between people, and punished scientists who told the truth. Even people who post opinions about the virus may be locked up in China. I’m glad I live in America, where I’m free to say anything I want about the virus -- or my government. John Stossel is author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.” For other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www. creators.com.

METZLER from 7 weeks.” That’s still a long time especially given it’s Spring with greening, warming, and the urge to get outside in the sunshine. This means more than just Florida reopening its beautiful beaches. No serious person denies Coronavirus’ deadly global impact; Western Europe has been ravaged by levels of civilian deaths not seen since WWII. Italy, the worst affected country, has seen 23,000 fatalities, 20,000 in Spain and 19,000 in France. Yet in Europe we see cautious reopening in Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Slovakia. In France, on the other hand, there’s still a draconian stay at home order which the State enforces down to the personal level of carrying mandatory permission papers for daily walks and food market sorties! Here in the USA the COVID-19 fatalities have reached a stunning 41,000 people. The majority of the cases are focused in various “hotspot” metro areas such as New York, New Jersey, California, and Louisiana. Still many other states are happily not facing the same dire health risks and thus have more flexibility to isolate vulnerable groups and carefully reopen. In Vermont, Governor Phil Scott said that two people would be allowed to return to work at the offices of “low-contact professional services, like realtors, appraisers, municipal clerks and attorneys.” Equally, construction firms could work with two person crews. Farmers Markets could reopen after May 1st. In Texas, Gov-

ernor Gregg Abbott launched, “Strike Force to Open Texas,” which nonetheless offers a cautious framework to be determined by “data and by doctors.” The Lone Star State is the world’s 10th largest economy! Americans are protesting in many states for a return to their work and livelihoods! This is not the time for a blame game between opposing political camps in America but a time for national unity. The Fates have thrown Coronavirus at a Brave New modern

world and we weren’t ready. Many Governors’ political overreach has played fast and loose with peoples civil liberties; Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer comes to mind. The ancient Roman statesman and orator Cicero once opined, “In times of war, the law falls silent.” The global war with Coronavirus, the “invisible enemy” continues unabated. Permitting the right to work and the right to livelihood looms large for those who govern. This is not an Option,

nor an Opinion, but an Obligation upon government. Can we afford to reopen America? Actually, can we afford not to? 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.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Super Crossword

PUZZLE CLUE: TAKING OUT THE MIDDLE

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

Sudoku

Magic Maze THEME THIS WEEK: THOMAS JEFFERSON

Caption Contest OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

Runners Up : Hey Margie - Did you know that Superman started out this way? Sandy Percy, Laconia, NH. “It was at this instant that Jan and Sue realized the error of attaching the swings to the old airplane’s wings.”. - Steve Jamele, Sanbornton, NH.

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

PHOTO #804 Send your best caption to us Even at an early age two with your name and location within 2 weeks of publication of the Andrew Sisters were taking “Swing” to We have plenty of vertical date... Caption Contest, The Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, new heights. distance. Do we have Weirs, NH 03247 enough horizontal?.-John Brennick, email to contest@weirs.com Robert Furness

PHOTO #802

Rochester, NH..

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 23, 2020 —

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