11/28/2024 Weirs Times

The Thanksgiving ProclamaTiona sign of The Times

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

A Thanksgiving Day Proclamation by a governor of a state not only gives notice of what date that holiday will be observed on, but also gives us insight into the mind of the particular governor who makes the

proclamation or whoever else may write the actual words of the same. It is also a sign of the times in the year the governor signed the treatise and a commentary on the spiritual climate of the state when each proclamation is issued.

Take, for example, the

1805 proclamation of New Hampshire Governor John Langdon, given from the governor’s council chambers in Portsmouth on the tenth of October of that year, with the holiday, appointed to be held as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer on Thursday, November 28.

Under the heading of A PROCLAMATION the governor began the statement by saying, “It has been customary for the citizens of this state, at the recommendations of the supreme executive authority, to set apart a certain day near the close of the year for

by Eric N. Gibson Simple Feast Columnist

Thursday, November 28, 2024 is Thanksgiving… Have you given?

I don’t ask this as a segue into a “preachy” essay on giving. I write as more of an advocate for giving. Personally, I will often ask this question of myself when the Church and Charity envelope is becoming a bit “fat”. “Eric, have you given lately?”

It is a sensitive topic but one that should be addressed in everyone’s house from time to time. It’s not a trick question. And I don’t ask it in order to flip the “guilt” switch on within the readership. Guilt should never be the reason you give, or do anything for that matter. In fact, if you use guilt as an excuse for giving anything, perhaps you should reevaluate why it is you give or do, whatever it is you gave or did to assuage your guilt. And perhaps then the question should be, did giving what you gave out of guilt really alleviate the guilt? If the answer is no, then why did you give? If the answer is yes, perhaps there are bigger issues in your life to deal with?

Giving should always be done freely. Without guilt (to you or the receiver). Without expectations. Without limitations. Without conditions. And without the wanting of payment or expecting something in return. And never should giving be done as a means of trying to inflict guilt or authority over another. If you can give unconditionally, no strings attached (real or implied), then it is truly giving. I would argue that anything else is just a form of bargaining or attempting to hold If You Are Giving,

Open Skies

To The Editor:

Does anyone recall President Dwight David Eisenhower’s (Ike’s)“Open Skies” proposal at the 1955 Geneva Conference? Ike suggested that the USA and Russia “exchange complete blueprints of their military bases and establishments, from beginning to end, from one end of our countries to the other”. Both countries would reveal all military installations and allow verification overflights. Khruschev immediately killed the proposal when he walked by Ike and, in a hushed voice, muttered “No Way”.

Apparently, Joe and Kamala were inspired by Ike’s “ Open Skies” concept. The surrender of Bagram Air Force Base, whose strategic importance cannot be overstated, was a first step to convince the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) to cede one of their advanced military bases to the USA. Biden-Harris then supervised the worst military surrender in American history as Afghanistan was overrun by Communists and thirteen American heroes were murdered by the Taliban!

Biden-Harris converted Ike’s “Open Skies” into a form of traitorous appeasement that, if continued, will lead to the destruction of the USA and our grandchildren becoming slaves of the D.C. Bureaucratic Monstrosity and the Computer Monsters of Silicon Valley.

Vladimir Putin, witnessing the Biden-Harris cowardice in Afghanistan, invaded Ukraine. Putin may gobble up Ukraine before Trump can assume office. Biden-

Harris wasted billions of dollars losing Ukraine to Putin.

The South China Seas and islands were a contentious issue during Eisenhower’s Presidency. Ike ably contained the Chinese Communist and advised JFK how to handle the Quemoy-Matsu issue in the South China Seas. After the Afghanistan debacle the CCP asserted control over the South China Seas and relentlessly intimidated Taiwan.

Let’s not forget Biden-Harris sent $60+ billion to Iran, which has financed terror in the Middle East and Iranian development of an atomic bomb, which Iran threatens to drop on Israel and the USA.

That is why Americans re-elected DJT as the 47th POTUS, only the second POTUS in American history to serve non-consecutive terms.

Charles Bradley Laconia, NH.

Poking The Russian Bear

To The Editor:

“The Grizzly Bear is huge and wild. It has devoured the little child. The little child is unaware, it has been eaten by the bear.” - A. E. Housman. The analogies that one could apply to how today’s cultural Marxists and the Democrats have invaded all aspects of American society are endless. It would appear that trying to get Trump killed, jailed, off state ballots etc. was not enough. Are they willing to start World War III to thwart the efforts of the 47th President? Biden has authorized

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

Ukraine to deploy U.S. made long range ATACMS rockets. The Kremlin recently warned that the United States is escalating tensions and further entangling itself in the Russian/Ukrainian war. Putin has previously stated that firing rockets deep inside Russia would be crossing a red line. He may be bluffing but should we poke the bear?

Biden has become the child in this scenario. He has dementia and was recently seen walking aimlessly into the Amazon forest and standing by a palm tree as the world’s diplomats waited for him to take a group photo at the G7 summit. He is our Commander-in-chief. Perhaps if Trump is mired in a war that will distract him, then his agenda will be thwarted. Are the Democrats going scorched earth to stop Trump? As seen by the past election, The Democrats and media acolytes have poked the MAGA bear. Putin knows Trump is coming soon. My hope is that he will not declare war on NATO, Europe and the United States. Any mushroom clouds will come from the demolition of the corruption in our government. The Deep State is a conspiracy theory claimed by the Democrats. Remember, 51 intelligence officers affirmed that the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation which thwarted Trump’s 2020 Presidential run. Everyone can take a breath because the adults will soon be in charge.

Russ Wiles Tilton

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.

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BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

Turkeys & Thanksgiving

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

This is the time of year when I typically write my Thanksgiving column on wild turkeys. This year, however, instead of sharing facts about wild turkeys, I’m going to do something a little different.

I got to thinking about what other birds are associated with Thanksgiving. I couldn’t think of any off the top of my head because the turkey completely dominates the modern Thanksgiving holiday. Instead of giving up, I turned to the internet, and, as usual, it didn’t disappoint.

While no other birds stuck out in terms of being linked to today’s harvest holiday, several birds surfaced as being associated with the original Thanksgiving. In fact, wild turkeys were either not part

Wild turkey was not the centerpiece meal of the original Thanksgiving feast.

or only a small part of the original Thanksgiving, according to most sources.

National Public Radio writes on its website that deer, or venison, was likely the main course for the original

Thanksgiving in 1621, a several-day celebration among the pilgrims and Wampanoag. NPR even got so detailed as to write that the Wampanoag brought five deer with them. Other likely courses, according to

NPR, include migrating ducks and geese.

The National Constitution Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and debate about the U.S. Constitution, goes

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Dark WhaTever Day

Depending on when you picked up this issue if the Weirs Times, Black Friday is coming up or it has come and gone.

Black Friday, in case you don’t know what it is, used to be when millions of people across the country took an early leave of their Thanksgiving celebrations with their family and friends, some of whom they may have not seen all year or even longer, to instead mingle with millions of strangers who had also taken leave of their family and friends, to get the best deal on the latest technology that they would be anxious to replace with even newer technology at the next Black Friday when would leave their Thanksgiving celebrations early again. It’s was vicious circle.

Over the past several years some stores have succumbed to the criticism that opening on Thanksgiving night was not really a good idea and it was best to stay closed so that families could bond closer without having half of them leave early on Thanksgiving to get the best deal on a new gadget or ugly sweater.

So now Black Friday actually starts on Friday morning. Many stores will open as early as 6am so that many family members will leave the Thanksgiving meal early anyway so they can get a good night’s sleep and be ready to stand in line with strangers before the stores open so they can get those good deals on ephemeral items.

Then on Sunday night people rest up, have a nice meal and a good night’s sleep in order to be ready to tackle Cyber Monday. There are some seasoned Black Friday to Cyber Monday professionals out there who can utilize

these ninety-six hours of round the clock shopping to score some really great deals, all in the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill towards all men.

I have yet to participate in any of this frenzy. The thought of leaving the comfort of my warm home early on a cold morning after just having consumed a large meal and good times with important people in my life I haven’t spent nearly enough time with in order to get a new smartphone or a cheap pair of pants, never appealed to me like it does to others.

I actually like to take part in what some of us call Dark Whatever Day, which is whatever day is two days before Christmas. Dark Whatever Day is when we realize that the time for procrastination is over. We now need to use those forty-eight hours to their fullest potential in gathering whatever presents might still be left to be had; a few of them might actually be on our Christmas lists we have been adding to, but otherwise ignoring, since Thanksgiving.

The feel of Dark Whatever Day is much different than Black Friday. It is now the final countdown. Once smiling faces of anticipation towards the big day a few weeks away are now faces of panic and chaos.

I am not alone. There are many others like me. Those of us who scoffed at the insane crowds of the day after Thanksgiving as well as the insane crowds of every weekend thereafter until our time was finally up.

We make our way past the mall Santa who doesn’t give a “Ho, Ho, Ho” and a hearty smile as we pass, but a “Oh Oh Oh,” and a frown as he glances at his watch.

I know, as does the other Dark Whatever Day shoppers, that the pickings will be slim. Odds are good that the blue blouse with the tapered shoulders that our better halves saw when shopping a few weeks ago

and told us they would like for Christmas when we asked them while watching football, will no longer be there.

Even though you might not get the best deals, Dark Whatever Day, breeds creativity. Anyone can get that great Black Friday deal. It is when there is nothing of significance left to choose from that the synapses of the brain kick in.

If it wasn’t for Black Whatever Day shopping people would never own things like decorative ice cream scoop warmers or gloves that display the time and temperature. Some of the really great gifts get looked over when your focus is only on certain things.

Even the store cashiers are a bit off on Dark Whatever Day. You can see it in their eyes. They have had just about enough and are near the end of their ropes. Once in a while one might even slip and give you a half-hearted “Merry Christmas” forgetting all their training of only saying “Happy Holidays” so as not to offend those people who are just waiting to be offended.

I think, if the marketers were smarter, they would promote Dark Whatever Day. Of course, there are ads about last-minute deals which appear, well, at the last minute, but they just don’t feel personal. The Black Friday crowd feel special when they see those ads that are geared towards them that start weeks before Thanksgiving.

Dark Whatever Day shoppers could use a little of that shopping love themselves. We have an important place in all of this as well.

After all, if it wasn’t for us would any home actually have a battery-operated toast buttering gizmo?

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

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

Letters From God

This series of Letters From God is an attempt to put the thoughts of God as revealed in the Scriptures

Letters From God

QUESTION How Important Is Thanksgiving To You?

If you mean a day to gather with family or friends, to eat sumptuous meals and watch football games or movies, then prepare to buy yourselves and others gifts in the early hours of “black Friday,” all of which satiates you with pleasure until you fall asleep in exhaustion, it is not important at all. In fact, it is offensive to me. What would you think of your children being loved and lavished with abundance almost without measure by you, their parents, who set aside a day of thanksgiving and they never think to thank you? Wouldn’t this be offensive to you. Wouldn’t this break your hearts?

Consider that I created the earth in which you live. I designed men and women to love as I loved you and consummate their love with bodies I uniquely made, to create human physical life. I placed a spirit or person within your physical frame to initiate your existence in order for you to enjoy life for time and eternity. I have blessed you with resources to sustain your lives and those of millions upon millions. I have placed a burning orb, the Sun, that has never burned out, to give light, warmth and energy for flora to produce food so the fauna of animals of every kind, can be sustained in life,

enabling you to be sustained with life. I have made you as my children, originally in a perfect environment, and you have consistently rejected me for other so-called gods who have led you to disobey me and bring death into the life I bestowed. Despite your rebellion and sin, leading to your suffering and bondage and despite your continued rejection of me, I have continued to love you. I gave you the greatest gift I could give, when I allowed my son, Jesus the Messiah, who as God walked among you and died to take your sins and penalty of death upon himself, so that you might live again and forever. Yet for most, at your Thanksgiving celebration, you will never even think to thank me. Put yourself in my place and feel the pain.

My pain, as your heavenly Father, isn’t only because of your ungratefulness but also at the sight of your pain as a result of rejecting me evidenced by a lack of thanksgiving.

When the first man and woman were deceived and followed the deceiver, the Devil who himself was one of the created angels that I made, they stopped thanking me. They thanked the Devil and ultimately themselves for all that I gave them. What appeared to be freedom and life, however, soon began to turn into bondage and death. I watched as my children allowed themselves to be enslaved to an existence of addictions, abuse, frustration, failure, suffering and death because they abandoned my loving care for

that of the evil deceiver. Imagine yourselves as parents, who gave your bodies, energy, time, money, heart and life to see your children flourish and then watch as they are deceived to follow a drug dealer, a pimp or a false cultic leader whose only true concern is to steal their life in order to enhance their own, usually in the name of a false “love.”

If you search my book to you, the Bible, you will see that I have wept over the condition and fate of my children who failed to thank me and looked to other false gods for love and life. In each case I wept because of the unnecessary suffering you, my children, suffered at the hands of the false gods you foolishly trusted. Before the judgement of the flood, due to pervasive sin, disobedience and degeneration of the life I ordained for you, I grieved (Genesis 6:6). When the King, Saul, misled my people into sin and suffering, I grieved (1 Samuel 15:11). When Jerusalem, my people, continued to sin and they faced the panful consequences, I grieved (2 Samuel 24:16). When my Son, Jesus the Messiah, walked the earth, he had compassion for your unnecessary enslavement, abuse, suffering and death as a result of your sins and those of others, and he grieved (John 11:35; Mark 6:34; Matthew 26:38). The Holy Spirit, who as God, is present among you and offers supernatural power to live, grieves, when you choose to sin and suffer painful consequences instead of enjoying the

delights of life which he offers (Ephesians 4:30). Failure to give thanks brings pain to me and to you. It is the first step away from me and reveals that you are no longer recognizing me as the source of your life. (Romans 1:21) Once this fatal transition takes place you will inevitably experience a descent into hell. You will adopt all kinds of substitute so called “gods.” (Romans 1:23). Abandoning me, my will and my laws for life, you will practice things that are against my will and which will always boomerang on you with suffering and pain. Thinking yourself wise you will become fools and your hearts will be darkened so that the light of life will grow dim and eventually be extinguished (Romans 1:22-32). I will “give you over” to your choices and you will continue to indulge your life with pleasures that will satisfy for a time but in the end will steal your life away. Where are you on this spectrum of thankless “living?” To the extent that you give thanks to me this Thanksgiving, will be your answer. Remember me and my love. Come back to me and recognize I alone can give you life and thank me. Trust me for life for the rest of your life and you will know the fullness of life forever.

I love you, God

These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH

neWTon’s ThirD

laW

of PoliTics

Isaac Newton’s third law of motion famously states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction: If you push an object, for example, the object pushes back against you with equal force. It turns out this isn’t just a law of physics.

It’s a law of politics.

President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks thus far have run the gamut from traditional and wellestablished (Sen. Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Rep. Mike Waltz

for National Security Adviser, Chris Wright for Secretary of Energy, Brendan Carr for FCC Chairman) to the more audacious and controversial (former Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary). What they all have in common is that they represent a precise reaction to the excesses and evils of the Obama-Biden bureaucracy that has, for over a decade and half, plagued American politics.

Take, as the most obvious example, Gaetz. Gaetz is charismatic and brilliant; he has been both aggressive and effective on the House

See SHAPIRO on 26

DesTrucTive environmenTalisTs

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

People eagerly give money to rich environmental groups. The Natural Resources Defense Council has $463 million in assets.

It claims it uses law “to confront the climate crisis.” What it really does is pay lawyers to torture people who try to do useful things.

Example: America needs minerals like copper and silver to make things. Even President Joe Biden made a speech saying America will need 400-600% more such minerals to make “solar panels, wind turbines and so much more!”

TrumP: from ‘fascisT’ To ‘leT’s

by Larry Elder Syndicated Columnist

Of the television commentators who routinely disparaged, attacked, demeaned and mocked former President Donald Trump and his supporters, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, co-hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” belong to the “A” team.

Yet, after Trump’s extraordinary victory two weeks ago, including a sweep of all seven swing states and becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in 20 years, Scarborough and Brzezinski visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago after the election,

spending a reported 90 minutes with the president-elect.

As for why they made the trek, Brzezinski said: “For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’ Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump but also talking with him.”

Neither Brzezinski nor Scarborough mentioned the most likely reason: ratings. Since Trump’s victory that several MSNBC hosts predicted would not happen, the channel’s primetime viewership is down a whopping 53%. By contrast, Fox’s ratings are up 38%.

The MSNBC pundits for the most

An iPhone alone requires aluminum, iron, lithium, gold, copper ...

But when investors dare try to dig up such minerals in America, the NRDC objects and uses political connections to stop them.

Twenty years ago, entrepreneurs tried to open a mine in Alaska. Before they even got the application in, the EPA vetoed it.

Why? Because groups like the NRDC say the mine “would be a catastrophic threat to the wildlife and ... fragile ecosystem.”

They get their way because when Democrats run the EPA, they not only support NRDC’s positions, they even hire NRDC employees.

The next Republican administration removed the EPA’s veto. The

Do lunch’

part not only failed to prepare their viewers for Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat but host Rachel Maddow, for example, all but predicted a humiliating loss for Trump. Two days before the election, Maddow devoted several minutes to the “gold standard” of polls, an Iowa poll showing Trump down 3 points in the Hawkeye State, where no Democratic presidential candidate has won since 2012. Gosh, Trump is down even in Iowa!

Maddow gushed: “The prototypical example of a gold standard poll is the Iowa poll done by J. Ann Selzer in Iowa. ... (H)er poll has accurately predicted the winner of the Senate and presidential races in Iowa within one or two points every time. ... (Y)ou have seen Ann Selzer basically as a living bulls -

eye.” Trump won Iowa 56% to Harris’ 42.7%.

MSNBC News wrote about historian and election predictor Allen Lichtman, who supposedly has correctly predicted eight out of the last nine presidential contests. He uses “13 keys” to determine the result, eight of which he said pointed to Harris.

But back to the “Morning Joe” hosts. Roll tape: Scarborough: “And I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that if there are articles of impeachment ever drawn up, the first article of impeachment drawn up against Donald Trump will be the first article of impeachment drawn up against Richard Nixon and that is obstruc-

by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist

See STOSSEL on 28

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To your gooD healTh

by Dr. Keith Roach Syndicated Columnist

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neuropathy, but I’m still quite agile and mobile. I have a hernia in my lower abdomen. I had one just like it on the right side that was repaired 35 years ago.

My family doctor seems to think that having surgery at my age could be riskier than living with the hernia. The pain isn’t terrible, but it is frequently uncomfortable. Should I consider surgery? -C.E.K.

ANSWER: You should consider it to the point where you consult a surgeon. The operative risk is relatively small, and despite your age, it sounds like you are in good shape. However, after consulting with a surgeon, you may decide against surgery. The most important factor is how much the pain from the hernia bothers you. In general, we recommend surgical repair for symptomatic hernias, as the pain tends to gradually increase over years.

No surgery comes without a risk, and your family doctor is right that it is riskier to have the surgery than it would be to live with the pain. But the risk is not enormous, so if the pain is to the point where the hernia is bothering you a lot, it is certainly worth discussing the risks and benefits of surgery with an expert surgeon.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH: I saw a post somewhere saying that we should throw away all vitamins or supplements

with magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide or microcrystalline cellulose. This means I would need to discard vitamins, antacids, and even my glucose tabs that I occasionally need for reactive hypoglycemia. Do you have any guidance on this? -L.D.

ANSWER: In 1538, a Swiss physician with the pseudonym “Paracelsus” articulated the basic premise of toxicology: The dose makes the poison. This remains critical today.

Magnesium stearate is commonly used in food, cosmetics and medicines. It is generally regarded as safe at doses below 175 grams for an average-sized adult. A typical supplement might contain as much as 20 mg. It would take well over 8,000 doses at once for a person to reach a dangerous level.

Titanium dioxide is used as a food coloring, in sunscreen, and in medications like styptic pencils. It has long been considered safe in the United States and Canada. But its status in Europe has recently been changed, so it is no longer recommended as a food additive. The tiny doses of it in medications and dietary supplements are very unlikely to cause harm, but many manufacturers in the U.S. are beginning to stop using it, more due to perception than proven harm (which there is no evidence for).

Microcrystalline cel-

lulose is simply an indigestible fiber source made from wood pulp. It is not absorbed. It is used in many foods and as a filler in tablets and capsules. You can also buy it as a supplement or use it as a thickener in cooking.

I don’t have any concerns with magnesium stearate or microcrystalline cellulose at the kinds of doses used in pharmaceuticals and supplements. I also don’t have any concern with food-grade titanium dioxide as a coloring agent in food or supplements.

***

DEAR DR. ROACH :

I’m an active, 5-foot2-inch, 125-pound, 72-year-old Caucasian woman without a history of known osteoporotic risk factors, other than demographic ones. I exercise daily, eat calcium through food, take 2,000 units of vitamin D, and follow a Mediterranean-style diet. My last dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan showed a T-score in my spine of -3.3 and a T-score in my hip of -2.7. My Z-scores were 0, and my FRAX score showed a 15.4% overall risk of fracture, with a 4.4% risk of a hip fracture in the next 10 years. Overall, my bone density went down 6.5% for my spine and 5% for my hip, compared to three years earlier.

My primary care physician has recommended starting bisphosphonates. My preference would be to postpone

by Stephanie Ryan, DC Crossroads Chiropractic

If you’re like me, you’re staring down the deadline of Christmas and/or Hannukah wondering what to give to your beloved friends and family to show them how much you care and just how much they mean to you. Somehow a gift card feels like you just phoned it in, avoiding the effort or the thought. But yet, with a gift card, at least they can choose something they actually want! After feeling stuck myself, realizing that there are only a few shopping weeks left, I created this list of potential gifts which invest in health, happiness or furthering the goals of my friends and family.

1. ExperienceBased Gifts to let them try something new, make memories, or indulge in an activity they enjoy.

• Healthy Cooking Classes: For the foodie in your life, a cooking class could be the perfect gift. Classes can range from gluten free baking workshops to international cuisine sessions, and they’re available both in-person and online.

• Concert or Theater Tickets: A night out at a concert, theater, or comedy show

can create a memorable evening. Some theaters and event organizers also offer vouchers, allowing recipients to pick their own show and date.

• Outdoor Adventures: For nature lovers, think about gifting activities like zip-lining, a season ski pass or a guided nature hike for the spring.

• Escape Room or Puzzle Challenge: If you’re shopping for someone who loves puzzles and games, consider an escape room experience. Many escape rooms have themes ranging from detective mysteries to historical events, so there’s something for everyone.

2. Subscription Services to keep the giving going long after the holidays have ended.

• Book Subscription Box: For avid readers, book subscription services deliver a new book each month, often with personalized recommendations based on their favorite genres. Some boxes even include extra goodies like bookmarks, coffee, or snacks.

• Art or DIY Craft Kit Subscription: For a creative spirit, an art subscription could be an ideal gift. Monthly craft kits, painting supplies, or art prints provide everything needed for a regular dose of creativity and

inspiration.

• Meal Kit Subscription: If you know someone who loves cooking but struggles to find time for meal prep, consider a meal kit subscription. These services provide fresh ingredients and easyto-follow recipes that make mealtime both fun and convenient.

3. Skill-Based Gifts to focus on helping the recipient learn or improve a specific skill - perfect for people who love growth and self-improvement.

• Fitness Classes: Gifting a class or an online subscription can be particularly meaningful for someone looking to expand their fitness level or pursue a new recreation like rock climbing or tennis.

• Language Learning Subscription: For anyone who dreams of traveling or exploring new cultures, a subscription to a language learning app like Bab bel, Rosetta Stone, or Duolingo could be a fantastic gift. It’s prac tical, enriching, and offers the gift of con nection to different parts of the world.

• Music Lessons: Music lessons can be an incredible gift for someone who has al ways wanted to learn to play an instrument. Virtual or in-person lessons for instru ments like guitar, piano, or even sing -

ing allow the recipient to develop a skill they’ll enjoy for years to come.

4. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gifts to reflect the values of environmentally-conscious loved ones.

• Reusable Essentials: Items like stainless steel water bottles, beeswax wraps, or reusable tote bags make practical gifts that reduce waste and inspire sustainable habits. Look for items made from eco-friendly materials like bamboo, organic cotton, or recycled plastics.

• Tree Planting or Environmental Donation: Many organizations offer options for gifting a tree planting in the recipient’s name. For someone passionate about conservation, consider donating to a charity that focuses on reforestation, ocean clean-

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• Zero-Waste Kits: For someone interested in reducing waste, a zero-waste starter kit can be both practical and inspiring. Kits might include reusable straws, cloth bags, biodegradable toothbrushes, and compostable dish sponges.

5. Personalized and Handmade Gifts to show that you went the extra mile to create something unique just for them.

• Custom-Made Jewelry or Accessories : Make your own

of purchase from an artisan who offers custom jewelry that can feature initials, birthstones, or meaningful symbols.

• Memory Scrapbook or Photo Album: Compile special photos, letters, and mementos into a scrapbook or photo album. This can be a touching gift for a family member or close friend, as it celebrates the relationship and shared memories.

• Customized Map: Customized maps featuring meaningful locations—such as a place where the couple first met, a memorable

vacation, or a hometown—can be a sentimental gift for loved ones, especially those who are sentimental about places and travel.

• Charity Donation in Their Name: If the recipient has a favorite cause, making a donation in their name can be incredibly thoughtful. Whether it’s for animal welfare, children’s education, or global health, a charitable gift reflects the spirit of giving back. Whatever you choose, write a thoughtful card or note to include with the present. Say

something special about that person, tell them what they mean to you and wish them blessings for the future. Your kind words may be the best part of the holidays, because in the end, it is still the thought, sentiment and love that comes with the gift that means the most.

Stephanie Ryan, DC, CCWP is the owner of Crossroads Chiropractic, PC and is the host of the “Half Hour to Health” radio show on WEMJ, WTPL and WTSN.

medication for at least a year, while I work with a dietician and a physical therapist to refine my exercise program and try to build bone more effectively. But I also don’t want to take foolish chances with a spine or hip fracture.

At my request, I received a referral to a specialist, but I cannot see her for four months. How accurate are the results of a DXA scan? I have scoliosis from my childhood; could it affect the accuracy of the test results? Would any other imaging, blood or urine tests be appropriate to provide additional information or indicate if there are other causes of bone loss, besides age and gender? -- A.M.

ANSWER: The most important number here is the FRAX score, which combines your clinical risk (age, gender, height and weight,

ethnicity, steroid use, smoking, previous fractures, alcohol use, etc.) and your bone density results from your DXA scan to provide an estimate of the overall fracture risk. It also provides an estimate of the most dangerous type of fractures: hip fractures. It’s freely available at frax.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/ tool.aspx.

Your results are above the recommended threshold for medication, which is either a total-fracture risk of 20% or a hip-fracture risk of 3%. Among the different options, most experts would choose a bisphosphonate drug like alendronate, based on decades of experience and strong data. However, a very low T-score (worse than -3) makes some experts choose a different type of agent -- a PTH analogue like teriparatide. Your scores have

dropped a lot quickly, so I definitely recommend treatment.

I do understand why you are hesitant. These drugs can cause more harm than good when they are not used correctly, and many of my patients are concerned after reading others’ experiences. But when used properly, generally for three to five years, they are very good at preventing fractures.

Scoliosis can affect the accuracy of DXA tests, but the tests usually underestimate the severity of osteoporosis in people with scoliosis. Furthermore, the fact that both your hip and spine have osteoporosis makes the diagnosis pretty certain. A Z-score of 0 means your bone density is at a level that is expected for your age and sex. This means that a secondary cause is unlikely; however, the T-score still indicates osteoporosis.

Four months may seem like a long time, but it’s entirely reasonable to wait on deciding the optimal medication until you see the expert. She is likely to do additional testing and give you more personalized information.

Finally, if you can improve your diet and exercise from the standpoint of osteoporosis, this will help you whether you decide to take medication or not. Getting enough protein and calcium from your diet will help, as will avoiding excess alcohol.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@ med.cornell.edu.(c) 2024 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved

ROACH from

RYAN from 9

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

I’m someone who sometimes thinks “outside the box,” to use that timeworn cliché.

For example, as a State Representative I’ve submitted bills reflecting new ideas. Some made it through. Many did not. It’s not easy to pass a law—nor should it be. And there is a natural, inherent resistance to new ideas. i.e. “We’ve never done that before.”

Christopher Columbus: “The world is round.”

Naysayer: “You’re nuts.”

And so it goes.

I recently re-submitted a bill proposing that we take $1 million from a swelling $1.2 billion Education Trust Fund and establish a modest incentive grant program establishing a formula to reward schools which improve standardized math test scores. Reward achievement? Yikes!

Sadly, “competition” is an anathema to too many folks in the education establishment. But when the Soviets launched the first manmade satellite to start the space race, it turned into a contest that brought out the best in America. We won that race and put men on the moon using teamwork and 1960s technology.

(Also, look up “Manhattan Project,” which involved a different race against both Hitler and

The four-PoinT shoT

Boston Celtic three-point shooter

Stalin which we also thankfully won.)

Sport provides a fabulous interscholastic model for promoting excellence. Bring on math teams and math meets. That, of course, means winners, losers, and life lessons that too many youngsters who don’t play sports are shielded from—thus delaying their emotional development.

And so it goes.

Which brings us to basketball’s three-point shot. Naysaying traditionalists were appalled when the gimmick came in with the ABA in 1967. And then the NBA in 1979. And then college basketball. And then high school basketball. But the three-pointer really changed basketball for the better.

Hooray for the “trey!”

But can we get too much of a good thing? Can there be too many treys?

legged threes, transition threes, early-shotclock threes and deep threes from the center-court logo. Teams are commonly fielding lineups with five players who are encouraged to shoot from the outside, including seven-foot centers. Within this whirlwind, it can feel like anything goes.”

And that’s okay, IMHO. Just let the players play and the coaches coach. Let them think “outside the box,” or in this case, “beyond the arc.”

Which inspired an idea.

Mike Moffett: “Let’s have a four-point shot!”

Naysayer: “You’re nuts.”

Ben Golliver and Artur Galocha wrote about this for the Washington Post:

“The defending champion Boston Celtics launched 61 attempts from behind the arc on opening night, and Celtics star Jayson Tatum put up 18 by himself against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 30. When Kevin Durant was a rookie in 2007-08, his Seattle SuperSonics shot just 11.5 three-pointers per game; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is averaging more than that by himself this season. NBA teams are taking 37 three-pointers per game, which is on pace to set a record and more than double the league’s average in 2014-15. Players continue pushing the boundaries, hoisting off-the-dribble threes, step-back threes, one-

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But if three-point treys turned out to be good for Hoop-World, then why not four-point “quad shots?”

Here’s how it would work. Just use the existing three-point arc but in the final two minutes of a game, a threepointer would count for four points. A team that is down by 10-12 points could bang a couple quad shots and get right back into a game. And it would be so fun to watch.

Now I understand this exciting idea will take time to implement. It took 20 years for the three-pointer to go from the ABA to all of basketball. So, let’s start with the NBA summer league. Or the NBA G-League. Or the WNBA. Yes. Truly unleash Caitlin Clark!

It will take time. Like some of my bills which eventually became law

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Weirs Times F.O.O.L columnist, Brendan Smith’s first book with over 30 of the best of his original Flatlander Columns. From learning to Rake The Roof to Going To The Dump to Buying Firewood for the first time and everything in between, Brendan recounts the humorous tales of his learning to fit into New Hampshire life as a Flatlander from New York.

by Tim Moore

Contributing Writer

I’ve been ice fishing for more than 40 years. I cut my teeth ice fishing for smelt on Great Bay with my late father. It was fun, but there was nothing easy about it. There was gear that needed to be brought onto the ice, usually pulled by hand in sleds. It was cold, hard, and largely inefficient, but we did what we could with what we had. As I got older, I started looking for ways to make some of the most difficult tasks a little easier. Chisels became augers, a bucket full of tip ups became an ice rod case, and my sled was eventually pulled by a snowmobile. Then I met Dave Genz. Dave is often referred to as the Godfather of the modern ice fishing revolution. He preaches a system of efficiency to make ice fishing easier. “If it’s easy you’ll do it,” he says. That was the beginning of a journey that continues today and largely centers around my method of transportation on the ice.

Getting all the gear I want to use out onto the ice, especially as a professional ice fishing guide, is crucial. My snowmobile’s primary function is to transport people and gear, but carrying all my gear required some modifications. Some snowmobiles are easier to modify than others and creativity is key. Know-

Tim’s “bass boat on ice” is an efficient workhorse, designed to make his days easier and more efficient.

ing how to weld and fabricate metal is invaluable. Lucky for me, there are a lot of really good fabrication shops that can easily do what I can’t.

My 2016 Arctic Cat Bearcat has an optional 2-inch receive hitch built into the front bumper. I had a fabrication shop make a custom auger mount to fit the 2-inch hitch. This allows me to carry my auger and access it quickly and easily, and it’s removable. There are many options to mount auger racks, and it is best to have your snowmobile and chosen auger rack on hand before you decide how to mount it, so that you can verify if your idea will work. Mounting an auger to a snowmobile might seem simple enough, but it also needs to be solid enough to withstand constant pounding and

vibration as you drive across the ice so that it doesn’t fall off while riding.

My entire goal with modifying my snowmobile was to eliminate the need to tow a sled full of gear. So, the next thing I turned my sights onto was the back of the snowmobile. My Bearcat is a utility sled, so it is designed to pull weight and carry loads.

I had a fab shop build a rack that I could bolt an empty tub from a one-person Fish Trap ice fishing shelter to. I contacted Clam Outdoors and ordered a tub that matched the one on my Legend XL Fish Trap shelter, so I could nest my shelter inside the tub during transport. During a guide trip, I use the empty tub to carry gear. The rack has four legs that slide over four solid feet. The feet are permanently

bolted to the snowmo bile tunnel, and both the legs and feet have holes drilled through them so I can secure the rack with hitch pins and remove it when I put the snowmobile in my trailer. I also had the rack built high enough so that I could also store some gear under it, maximizing the amount of gear I can carry.

When it’s snowing and visibility is low, I need to be able to see where I am going and where I’ve been, so I have a GPS mounted to my snowmobile. I can run a track so that the unit draws a line everywhere I have been. When I find safe passage across pressure ridges, I can see where that was and return safely, especially in the dark. I can also note areas that I want to stay away from. I also like the conve

by JoAnn Derson Syndicated Columnist

* Need a quick batch of cookies? Keep a box mix of cake on hand. Instead of the listed ingredients, add two eggs and a half-cup of oil to the mix. Mix and shape, then bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. They are really good, and you can get pretty creative.

* Inexpensive gift idea: A cute holiday coffee mug with a bar of chocolate, a packet of hot cocoa or instant coffee, a peppermint stick and a holiday pick. Place inside a gallon-size zipper-top bag, tie with a ribbon, then trim off the zipper-top, leaving just the plastic. Looks nice.

* Instead of going out and buying extra items to have on hand for guests, just borrow from your neighbors. Extra towels, place settings, silverware, kitchen appliances: It’s a pretty good bet that someone on your street has it for you to borrow. If you don’t know your neighbors well enough to ask, maybe you should start planning a getto-know-you party right now.

much further in a blog on its website. In addition to turkey, duck and goose, other birds on the menu likely included swan and passenger pigeon. Passenger pigeons were once so plentiful that, according to John J. Audubon, “the flocks, during the flight, darken the heavens.” It was believed at the time to be an “endless natural bounty.” Sadly, passenger pigeons are now extinct. Chicken, by the way, was not a common meat eaten back then. It was hard to come by and expensive until hundreds of years later.

Eels, fish and shellfish were also likely on the table as side dishes.

“Another possible side dish was seal,” the article states. I don’t know about you, but I had never heard of eels or seals being part of the first Thanksgiving feast.

According to MaineLobsterNow.com – I know, a strange website to be writing about the history of Thanksgiving dinner – there is no written record of what the original feast included. The guesses for what was likely on the table come from historians speculating based on documented accounts and available local ingredients.

Because the feast was held close to the coast, the website presumes that fish such as bass and cod, as well as clams, mussels and lobster were also served. In Colonial times, according to many sources, lobster was overly abundant

and considered a food for the poor. It was allegedly served to prisoners because other people did not want to eat it. Lobster, of course, is now a cherished luxury food and their numbers have unfortunately plummeted. Imagine being able to walk to the shore and fill your bag with as many free lobsters as you want.

I’m surprised I didn’t see any references to birds such as ruffed grouse, American woodcock or snipe. They are popular game birds even today and were likely much more abundant in Colonial times. Until recently, ruffed grouse were common throughout New England. Now, they have disappeared from some parts of southern New England, although they remain fairly common elsewhere in the region.

As longtime readers of this column know, ducks are a favorite type of bird for me to watch. I can only imagine how different a fall duck migration was hundreds of years ago. Now that I know ducks were likely part of the original Thanksgiving feast, I want to know what kinds of ducks were eaten. I guess we can only speculate since there aren’t any historical records of the menu.

Maybe that’s a column for another time.

Perhaps next year. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I appreciate your continued support of For the Birds.

BOSAK from 3

franklin oPera house hosTs fesTival of Trees

Happy Holidays!

It’s time for the annual Festival of Trees in Franklin, on December 6, 7 & 8. As Franklin Opera House awaits renovations to its home in Soldiers Memorial Hall, this year’s Festival will be right next door at Franklin Public Library, 310 Central Street. Join your friends on December 6 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (in conjunction with the Downtown Holiday Stroll); Saturday, December 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, December 8 from 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.

Admission to this event is FREE. Decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, stockings, gift baskets, and other item(s) will be raffled off, and $5.00 will buy 25 raffle tickets. Concessions will be sold as well and all proceeds benefit the Franklin Opera House. It’s their biggest fundraiser of 2024, and funds raised from the Festival of Trees will continue to bring quality, affordable entertainment to Franklin during this time of transition, allowing other fundrais-

ing efforts to go towards the pending renovations.

More than 30 donors and many volunteers from in and around Franklin are contributing to making the Festival a success — business owners, neighbors, members of Franklin Opera House, and other local organizations.

Also happening the same weekend, FHS Players present “A Christmas Carol” -the musical. After visiting the Festival of Trees meander up to Franklin

Middle School to take in a show depicting this classic Christmas tale of love, compassion, and the importance of friends and family. The kids are donating $2.00 of each ticket sale back to Franklin Opera House to help with the renovations! More information and show tickets are available at www.FOHNH. org.

*2022 was the most recent year the Festival of Trees was held at Franklin Opera House, which is located inside Soldiers Memorial Hall/City Hall in downtown Franklin, NH. Due to the pending renovations, the 2024 Festival of Trees will be held next door to Franklin Opera House at Franklin Public Library. -Image 2022 credit Franklin Opera House.

chrisTmas nighT in ashlanD

Photos by Bob Letourneau

This year’s theme is “It’s a Kandi Kane Christmas.” Christmas Night in Ashland will be celebrated downtown on the first Friday evening in December, a long-standing Christmas tradition for the town and all who wish to join in the festivities.

**Event Details:**

- **Date:** Friday, December 6, 2024

- **Time:** 4-7pm. Start your evening in Memorial Park, where Santa will arrive on his decorated fire truck at 4:00 PM. Santa will be available throughout the evening for children and the young at heart to visit.

Many Ashland businesses along Main Street will be open during the event. The Ashland Area Recreation Association will serve hot cocoa and popcorn.

A free raffle of gifts donated by local businesses and residents will take place for both children and adults. To enter, pick up your free passport (one per person) at the North Pole Passport Control Station in the park. The passport will include a map showing the participating businesses. Once you’ve collected stamps, return the passport to the North Pole Station to be entered into the free raffle, which will be drawn by Santa after the lighting of the Christmas tree.

The Common Man Restaurant will provide a trolley that will stop at various locations throughout the event,

beginning at 4:00 PM.

**Activities Include:**

- A Cookie Walk with delicious homemade cookies (available for $1 per bag) at Colleen’s Kitchen, located across from the park on Main Street. Non-perishable

food items will also be accepted there for donation to the local food closet.

- Crosshairs Barber Shop, just down the street from Colleen’s Kitchen, will hand out candy to children and

the young at heart.

- Elaine Hughes Realty will host a gingerbread house-building activity for children who want to participate.

- The 4-H Club will provide animals for petting, perfect for children and parents who enjoy animals.

- A Craft Fair will be held at the American Legion Hall (across from

Decorate your own wreath class

Check out the new wild bird supplies,including bird seed, bird feeders, bird baths and more. Great gift ideas for the entire family

Local Fresh trees, wreathes, kissing balls, swags all locally grown poinsettias, boughs, holly berries

New fleece lined winter mittens, hats, scarves, headbands Christmas trees sales open late Fridays with a campfire

Black Friday Specials Available, like Buy $100 Gift Certificate and get $20 Gift Certificate Free.

HOLIDAY HOURS: Mon. - Sat. 9-5, with extended hours Fridays thru Christmas, Sun 10-3

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

two-dozen member in stitutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail will cele brate the holidays with special programs and events.

festive season on The Trail,” said The Trail President Jeff Barra clough. “There are plenty of opportunities for guests to get into the holiday spirit with the whole family.”

Saturday, December 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Canterbury Shaker Village, which will feature music from Symphony New Hampshire Quartet. The concert, Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails, will take place in the Dwelling House Chapel and be followed by a reception with appetizers and drinks in the Hubbard Gallery.

“This is going to be a

tor Erin Hammerstedt. “The Dwelling House Chapel is a beautiful location for music, and the entire Village will be stunning when it’s decorated.”

Tickets for Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails are $35 and can be purchased at shakers.org.

In Moultonborough, Castle in the Clouds will hold their annual Christmas at the Castle event from 10am to 4pm November 30 and December 1, and December 7 and 8.

“We added an extra weekend this year for visitors to tour the beautifully decorated historic Lucknow Mansion,” said Charles Clark, executive director at Castle in the

CLOUGH TAVERN FARM CHRISTMAS

23 Clough Tavern Road, Canterbury

Please join us for 10 days of Holiday shopping at one of Canterbury’s oldest historic homes. Complementing the farm’s Two Sisters’ Garlic and sheep products are five rooms offering a diversified and eclectic collection from 50 other NH Artisans, Artists, Authors and Antiques. This year look for special themed gifts celebrating us headed to “the North Pole”.

DIRECTIONS: From 93 take Exits 17 & 18 or Rt 4, 9, 106, go to Canterbury Center, take Old Tilton Rd; turn left onto Clough Tavern Rd Follow the Christmas Signs

Clouds. “This year’s holiday theme, Home for the Holidays, brings a cozy, nostalgic touch to the festive season.”

According to Clark, the theme offers a modern twist on the legacy of the original owners, Tom and Olive Plant. “They crafted a place filled with personal touches, early 20th century innovations, and stunning views that create a sense of warmth and hospitality,” he added.

During event days, Castle in the Clouds will also feature Tours, an Artisan Fair, photos with Santa Claus, crafts, and hot cocoa and cookies. The Carriage House Restaurant will also be open.

Tickets for Christmas at the Castle are $25 for adults, $15 for those ages 5 through 17, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets can be purchased at castleintheclouds.org or the Carriage House on event days.

ASHLAND from 19 the park) from 2:00 to 7:00 PM. Additionally, the Chowder Fest will take place there from 4:00 to 6:30 PM. Local musicians Paul Hubert and Katti Sheer, known as “The Dreamers,” will perform in the Hall.

- The Ashland Town Library will distribute children’s activity kits along with light refreshments, and the Pond & Peak Reading Council will host a Children’s Storybook Giveaway.

- The Ashland Com-

munity Church will provide free drinks, snacks, meals, and a Dessert Walk beginning at 6:00 PM. They will also have a photo booth, family photographs, games, and crafts for children.

- Roundabout New England (next to the Common Man) will feature a Christmas display and movie. They will also host the Mailbox for “Letters to Santa,” open throughout the Christmas season.

- Stop by Meredith

Village Savings Bank (across from the park on Route 3) for Christmas ornament kits.

- Up the street from the bank, the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Hall will host an Ashland Historical Society display featuring historic photographs of Christmas and winter scenes in Ashland, taken by a local photographer.

At 7:30 PM, a teen night will be held at Mill #3 on Winter Street, specifically for

Ashland youth ages 13-19. There will be exciting games, and The Do-Drop-In will provide food for this event.

Finally, the Ashland Re-Enactors will be caroling throughout the downtown area in their beautiful period clothing.

The event will conclude in Memorial Park with the lighting of the town Christmas tree, decorated by Tree Solutions, at 7:00 PM, followed by the drawing of the passport raffle prizes. Good luck to all participants!

The Ashland Historical Society and the Ashland Area Recreation Association have worked hard to provide a joyful evening in the Christmas spirit. A special thank you goes out to all our local businesses for their support of this free event.

power over another. And that is not giving.

Late November through the end of December historically has seen a significant increase in charitable giving with December most often being the most charitable month of any given year. Two reasons often cited for this increase in giving: holidays and the anticipation of tax time. While I am happy to hear that people are willing to give, sadly, as these two reasons may suggest, the giving is often for reasons of guilt or gain.

But that aside, what about the rest of the

year? After all, epidemics, medical research, natural disasters, the need for clothing, medicine and medical procedures, clean water, assistance with heating bills, overcrowded shelters for people and animals, the spreading of the gospel, and hunger do not take a holiday for 10 months just to show up like crazy cousin Eddie and the family to join in some holiday “fun, fun, fun” at the Griswold’s. These are all real issues. Hunger, as an example, is real. Hunger happens all year round. And while Hunger may seem to have a simple fix, give them food, it is most likely one of the more complex issues of our time. What is “Hunger”?

According to “Ms. Webster’s online dictionary, HUNGER is defined as:

1: a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient

2: a strong desire

You and I often think of hunger in the first

term, someone not having enough to eat. Around the holidays we think of hunger as not having a turkey with all the trimmings, or maybe a ham at Christmas with all the extras.

But, as the second definition (“a strong desire”) alludes to, hunger takes on many forms. Maybe it’s not so much that someone is in need of a meal, rather that they are in need of learning how to use their resources better in order to make better purchases and cook nutritious meals?

Perhaps hunger is the elderly or infirmed, people who can no longer drive?

Living in rural areas, where public and private transportation services are limited or non-existent, walking is hampered by the lack of sidewalks, and businesses and professional services are lacking, losing the ability to drive significantly impacts people’s lives. For those needing a ride, a lack of reliable transportation service or their

loneliness due to rural isolation creates a very real psychological hunger. As much as we may value our privacy and independence, we too enjoy being around others. When we are cut off from society, no matter the reason, the negative effects of that hunger for socialization becomes very, sometimes painfully, real.

Sometimes hunger may look like the kid down the street who needs someone they can trust in their life. Perhaps you have the time, the patience, and the skills needed to help young people navigate the ever changing world we all live in?

Perhaps you can provide a moral compass without passing judgment? Or maybe it’s as simple as inviting them out with your family to play ball, go to a movie, or attend a youth group game night? Kids are desperate for solid role models, mentors who can teach them skills and lead them. Rather than sit on the sidelines and complain about the

See GIBSON on 23

way the world is going, maybe it’s time for you and me to offer more than just condemning words and a passing concern before we flip the page to the next headline?

Perhaps hunger is the dog at the shelter who enjoys a good walk or to play fetch? Maybe it’s the cat whose owner can no longer take care of them? Being starved for attention, affection and affirmation are all very real forms of hunger. And these are not just felt by people but animals as well. Do you have to adopt every stray in order to fill the void in their life? No. But can you volunteer at a local shelter or offer to take care of the elderly neighbor’s dog or cat so that they do not have to give it up? Maybe. Often instances of hunger are not solved by throwing money at the issue, particularly when and if our charitable giving is limited

to two times a year. While dropping off a few canned goods at the local pantry may ease our conscience. Or, like Pavlov’s dog, we mindlessly toss our lint coated pocket change into a pot each time a bell rings. This “giving” does not solve the very real problem of living in a world that is both literally and figuratively starving, craving to be fed: both body and soul. While yes, donating to local causes, volunteering in a civic organization, or clearing your shelves of excess goods and running them to the food pantry well before they expire are commendable steps toward helping your community, think about what you could do to give more freely in the upcoming year. Maybe it means taking a few dollars from the paycheck and stashing it away to donate monthly? Perhaps it means brewing your own coffee and the cost of that daily Latte goes to a shelter at the end of the week? Maybe it means volunteering at church, the YMCA, or

somewhere that makes a positive impact on youth?

It will take time and money to fight hunger in all its forms. Expecting the government (at any level) to do it, well we all know how that works. It hasn’t happened yet, and frankly all it does is breed more bureaucracy. No, hunger is a grassroots issue, your issue, my issue, our issue and it needs grass roots solu-

• Fri. 11/29 10-7 The Studio at 44

tions. It will need patient persistent givers to offer freely of their time, tallents, and re-

sources. And whatever those resources may be, remember to be givers throughout the

year. And may your Thanksgiving be… a blessed Simple Feast. Enjoy!

*Sale pricing effective 11/29-12/2

the purpose of publicly recognizing their dependence upon Almighty God for protection, and that they might express their gratitude to Him for all blessings and mercies received and implore a continuance of them...”

Langdon continued his proclamation by telling the people that they should gather in places of public worship with their pastors and teachers on Thanksgiving Day and spend a reasonable part of the day “in praising and adoring Almighty God, and in offering up our thanks to Him..” In his rather lengthy treatise the Governor stated that the item the people should be thankful for, above all others, was “...the inestimable blessings of the gospel of peace and salvation, the means of grace and hopes of future glory, through the merits of a crucified Savior.” He included a

long paragraph of items he told the residents of New Hampshire they should pray about.

The New Hampshire governor in 1824, David Lawrence Morrill, issued a similar proclamation to the citizens of the Granite State. He wrote, “Every returning year furnishes evidence

of the universal Providence and goodness of God, and clearly demonstrates our obligations, at the close of the year, to enter His Gates with Thanksgiving, and His Courts with praise.” Governor Morrill, therefore, appointed Thursday, the eleventh day of November of 1824

to be observed as a day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer. After a list of things the people should be thankful for, the governor wrote, “Let us realize that we live in a Christian country, and in an eventful period of the world - that we are members of the same great family...” Among things that he proclaimed citizens of the state should pray for was the extension of the Scriptures and the institutions of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and that the labors of those who propagate and preach the Gospel would be successful. In the year 1831, Governor Samuel Dinsmoor, by the advice of the Council, appointed Thursday, November 24th as a day of public Thanksgiving and Praise throughout this State. Recognizing the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, the Governor said “...it is at all times

SMITH from 1

Governor Charles Busiel.

Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor.

Gov. John Page.

proper that his intel ligent creatures should render to him their grateful homage, adora tion, and praise.”

Ten years afterwards, in the year 1841, Gover nor John Page, with the advice of the Council, appointed Thursday, No vember 25th as another day of Public Thanksgiv ing and Praise, because, he said, “...it becomes us, as Christian people, to offer unto God our humble acknowledge ments.” He continued by saying, “Let us on that day assemble in our usual places of public worship, and express our gratitude to God for His unnumbered mercies bestowed upon us....for the preserva tion of our happy form of government, and of our free institutions, for the increased prosperity of our common schools.... and especially let us remember to offer our sincere acknowledge ments to God, for the inestimable gift of His Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Saviour, and adore and praise Him for that hope of a blessed immortality that is brought to light in His Gospel...” That was given from Haverhill, New Hampshire, and more, not by a preacher in a church, but by the Governor of New Hampshire with the advice of the Governor’s Council. Perhaps it was because the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth on Dec. 22nd that Governor Henry Hubbard made a proclamation on November 22, 1842, setting Thursday, December 22, 1842, as the day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise, recommending that people assemble at

to forget to mention God, either as the One to Whom we should offer thanks, or the One Who has provided the things for which we are thankful.

their accustomed places of worship, and there to offer the sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving to Almighty God...”

Some years later, in 1896, Governor and former Mayor of Laconia, Charles A. Busiel, recommended the people to, “with the service of thanksgiving and with songs of praise, devoutly acknowledge the continued mercies of God,” as he appointed Thursday, November 26th as the day to do so.

“I hereby appoint

day to the inmates of our charitable and reformatory institutions.... Let the evening be devoted to the children, who always seem so much nearer to God than the older ones. Make merry in the good old ways.”

Somehow things have changed over the years, including governors’ thanksgiving proclamations.

In the year 2015 Governor Margaret Hassan acknowledged the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving and the proclamations of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, and the efforts of New Hampshire resident Sarah Josepha Hale that helped to establish a national day of Thanksgiving.

In 2021 Governor Christopher Sununu also acknowledged those three people, and said that Thanksgiving Day was a time to “gather in a spirit of gratitude,” as Hassan had said it is a time “when we can express gratitude for our many blessings.”

Thursday, the thirtieth day of November, as a day of joyful thanksgiving to Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,” proclaimed Governor Frank Rollins in the year 1899. He said, “Let the morning of this glad day be devoted to services of praise and thanksgiving....and the after to deeds of brotherly kindness and loving charity, visiting the sick and needy, sending flowers and delicacies to the hospitals, and bringing the joyousness of the

Except for these proclamations indicating they were issued “in the year of our Lord,” 2015 and 2021, neither of them mentioned God. either as the One to Whom we should offer thanks, or the One Who has provided the things for which we are thankful.

A sign of the times for sure, and surely the times indicate that we should invite God back into our Thanksgivings and much more.

SMITH from 24

Judiciary Committee. He is also, as has been widely reported, thoroughly disliked in the House of Representatives. He has been generally perceived as a destructive force, an egotist focused more on media coverage than on the functioning of the House; his defenestration of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was unpopular among his colleagues, with many believing that he pursued McCarthy vindictively based on his opposition to McCarthy’s House Ethics investigation against him.

And that’s precisely why Trump is picking him.

To Donald Trump, the Department of Justice has been an instrument of vindictiveness from his first days in office. From insiders in the DOJ working with the FBI to gin up the Mueller investigation to the Merrick Garland DOJ targeting him repeatedly under legally shoddy auspices, the DOJ has consistently represented resistance to his presidency. And so Trump has picked precisely the type of person he believes will clean out the agency from top to bottom.

Or take RFK Jr. RFK Jr. represents a slap in the face to the traditional health establishment. He has a long record of controversial statements on everything ranging from 5G to vaccination. But he is a reaction to the overweening arrogance of a conspiratorial elite who crammed down Covid-19 misinformation on an industrial scale, told Americans that boys could become girls, attempted to wield the reins of government against their medical opponents and even

tried to mandate vaccination on 80 million Americans. RFK Jr. is the natural reaction to a health policy elite who have made themselves radioactive.

Trump himself has always been a form of snapback against the overreach of what came before. Barack Obama tried to remake American politics in his image: high-handed, intersectional and replete with authoritarian overtones. Trump came along and ripped the idol off his pedestal. Joe Biden tried to transform American politics by radically reinterpreting the bargain between American citizens and their government. Trump is returning to reject that never-requested transformation.

Every political action has its equal and opposite reaction. No doubt the same will hold true in the future if Republicans overreach in their own way. But for the moment, it’s vital to recognize that the Trumpian backlash has been well-earned.

Ben Shapiro’s new collection, “Facts and Furious: The Facts About America and Why They Make Leftists Furious,” is available now. Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and cofounder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. 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.

on the second or third try. Persistence can overcome naysaying. As Christopher Columbus proved in 1492. Take THAT, naysayers! Happy Thanksgiving.

Sports Quiz

Who spent years trying to bring the “trey” to college basketball before finally succeeding in 1986 as the “father” of the three-point shot? (Answer follows)

Born Today

That is to say, sports standouts born on November 28 include NFL receiving great Paul Warfield (1942) and star MLB pitcher Dave Righetti (1958).

Sports Quote

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – President Calvin Coolidge

Sports Quiz Answer

Ed Steitz, a one-time Springfield College A.D., was the prime mover behind the collegiate three-point shot. He’d earlier helped bring the dunk shot back to college basketball in 1976, after a ten-year hiatus.

State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He co-authored the award-winning “Fahim Speaks: Between Two Worlds: A Hollywood Actor’s Journey as a U.S. Marine Translator through Afghanistan” which is available on Amazon.com. His e-mail address is mchlmoffett@ yahoo.com.

“A place for everything, and everything in its place,” is a staple saying that makes moving spots at a moment’s notice easier and faster.

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nience of running a lake map chip on the GPS so I can mark my favorite spots. Lots of companies make GPS/fish finder mounts designed for boats and kayaks, but few make anything with a snowmobile in mind. Finding a place and a way to fix a GPS/fish finder unit can get tricky, especially a larger unit like my 9-inch Humminbird. Luckily, the dash of my Bearcat has the space, but I questioned if the dash material was thick enough, so I cut and shaped a piece of plastic cutting board and fastened it to the dash to provide a more rigid place to mount a large GPS/fish finder. I like a larger screen so that I can see it while I am driving across the lake, but they are heavy and require a firm mount. I discovered that RAM made a ball large enough to fit my fish finder mount that came with U bolts rather than a flat mounting plate. This allowed me to move the unit to my handlebars. Now it is up higher

where I can see it easier. I ran the power inside the engine cover and under the seat, where I can store the battery to power it without worrying about running my starting battery dead. I’ve seen lots of creative ideas for mounting gear. Some anglers mount Vexilar Sonar Flashers to their snowmobiles and power ports to charge cell phones or run action cameras. Today the possibilities

seem endless. Just keep in mind what you want to mount on your snowmobile and your snowmobile’s weight capacity. Overload your transportation and you will wear it out over time. My grandmother used to say, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Rigging ice fishing transportation is about being more efficient. Being more efficient makes ice fishing easier, which also make it more fun. When there is something new that I want to bring, the first thing I think about is how I’m going to transport it. The possibilities are endless. Whether it’s augers or other gear, electronics, or safety gear. Having a permanent place for everything on your ice fishing transportation means always knowing where it is when you need it. Less time looking for things means more time ice fishing, which means

more fish on the ice.

Tim Moore is a fulltime licensed professional fishing guide on Lake Winnipesaukee. 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 and the Hooked with

TMO Fishing Podcast. Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.

Village Open House at the Farm... Sat. Dec. 7th 9-4 & Sun Dec. 8th 10-3

KINDRED SPIRIT FARM

Army Corps of Engineers then studied the mine and concluded that it wasn’t an environmental threat.

So, is Pebble a bustling mine today? No.

Democrats got elected and vetoed it again.

Physicist Mark Mills wonders why anyone would try to open a mine in America today. “Why in the world would you put millions, maybe billions of dollars at risk, spending those decades to get a permit, knowing there’s a very good chance they’ll just cancel a permit? How in the world do you build mines in America knowing that that’s the landscape you have?”

Well, you don’t. America now ranks second to last in the time it takes to develop

a new mine -- roughly 29 years. Only Zambia is worse.

You start applying for permits,” says Mills, “You’re going to be waiting not months, not years, but decades!”

Waiting while the NRDC sues and runs frightening anti-mine ads, saying nature will be “destroyed by a 2,000-foot gaping hole in the ground!”

Mills points out their deceit. Today’s mines disturb “a tiny infinitesimal pinprick in the landscape” and we do need to disturb the landscape a little, because “we need metals and materials and minerals to build everything that exists to make society possible!”

I confronted NRDC spokesman Bob Deans, saying the NRDC killing mines also kills peo -

ple’s opportunity. He responded that “clean” energy creates jobs.

“We created 50,000 new jobs in this country, putting up wind turbines, solar panels, building the next generation of energy efficient cars. This is where the future is!”

“But also, you need copper and gold,” I point out.

“That’s right,” says Deans, “And we have to weigh those risks.”

But the NRDC doesn’t weigh the risks. They just oppose American mines.

I asked Deans, “Are there any mines that the NRDC doesn’t complain about?

“Sure,” he replied. He said he’d send us some names. But he never did.

I asked again this month. Again, no

names.

“Don’t hold your breath,” says Mills. “The mines that they implicitly support are in Africa.”

“Implicitly” because they don’t actually say mining should be done in poor countries.

“They don’t say that,” says Mills, “But the green movement has been perfectly happy outsourcing mining to disadvantaged countries where thousands of children in bare feet, working by hand with shovels, dig minerals out of the earth.”

At least in America, children wouldn’t be digging with their hands, advanced equipment would make mining safer and our rules would reduce pollution. You’d think environmentalists would want more mining done

in America.

“To have a sane world,” says Mills, “We should be doing a lot more of it. Not all of it. But not none.”

Allowing America to do more would definitely be good. Our future needs minerals.

“Society can’t exist without mines,” concludes Mills.

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

THE CLASSIFIEDS

and

and

tion of justice, because I could find you 1,000 Republican criminal defense lawyers across America who could say what Donald Trump has admitted already on national television could rise to the level of obstruction of justice.”— May 2017

Scarborough described to me Trump’s visit to Europe with leaders as a “disaster” and said Trump looked like a “thug, goon and an idiot.”— June 2018

Scarborough: “... (W) ho in the world would be so cruel, so hateful, who would be so despi-

cable, who would be so utterly lacking in character, to suggest, to — to make something up about someone having a facelift for the sole purposes of trying to damage or humiliate them. ... You would have to be utterly despicable, a classless man, to say that about a woman.”— May 2020

Scarborough: “But there are these bizarre disconnects and they’re showing up in campaign ads. There are these weird things he’s saying off the cuff. Again, it’s so - it is so ironic that

Trump’s campaign team actually go after Joe Biden for non sequiturs, for stumbling, for getting lost halfway through his sentence when —”

Brzezinski: “Or a decline.”

Scarborough: “— that’s what Donald Trump has been doing now, in a very public way, for 3 1/2 years.”— April 2024

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Question: What’s it like spending 90 minutes with a “fascist,” a “thug” and a man who is “utterly despicable”? Did they bring along a food taster? But most important for these Trump-hating hosts turned Mar-a-Lago guests, will their ratings improve?

When it comes to declining ratings, Joe and Mika know how to turn on a dime — to make a dime.

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated ra-

Scarborough: “They voted for Trump in ‘20, they knew exactly what they were doing. If they vote for Donald Trump in 2024 ... they’re knowingly voting for a fascist, they’re voting for a racist ...”

dio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” visit www.LarryElder. com. Follow Larry on X @larryelder. To read features by other Cre-

ators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

by Parker & Hart

SUPER CROSSWORD

B.C.

PUZZLE CLUE: “TAKE THAT”

MAGIC MAZE

THEME THIS WEEK: TURKEY TERMS

Answers on Page 29

The Winklman Aeffect by John Whitlock