12/24/2020 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

VOLUME 29, NO. 52

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

COMPLIMENTARY

Katherine’s Christmas Eve Vow Part II

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

Let’s begin with a quick summary of last week’s article. Katherine Pollock was raised in an unidentified New England town in the mid-1800s. As a young lady she made a Christmas Eve vow to dedicate her life to helping others. As a result she cared for her parents until their death, and after spending three years as a saleslady in the city she dedicated the next four years of her life ministering to wounded and sick soldiers during the Civil War. After the war was over she returned to her New England home and went from house to house in her hometown helping needy people and came to be highly respected in the town. Things took a sudden change, however, when a shab-

bily dressed and sick man knocked on her door one day. She let the strange man stay in her house which the townspeople thought was scandalous and thus broke off their ties with Miss Pollock. There was much speculation as to who the man might be with suggestions that he might be a criminal or maybe a lover that Miss Pollock had kept secret. The mysterious visitor had knocked on the door of Katherine’s house in August and weeks went by and he was still there. Neither Katherine or the Doctor who visited the home was talking about the man. Katherine was not invited to any homes in the town, nor were the people visiting her. The loss of her good reputation was deeply felt by the woman who had dedicated her See SMITH on 12

Cross Country Skiing At Bolduc Park

Bolduc Park is now open for cross country skiing. Have some safe, affordable fun outdoors. Bolduc Park is on Gilford Avenue at the Laconia/ Gilford Town line. The non-profit, all volunteer run Bolduc Park’s mission is to offer recreation to area residents. Cross Country Lessons will be offered to youth and adults beginning on Saturday, January 2 and will continue on January 9, 16 and 23. Lessons begin at 10am and rental skis may be picked up at 9am at Piche’s Ski shop. The cost for lessons is $80 per person including rental

equipment or $40 per person if you have your own equipment. Register with the Gilford Parks and Recreation Department or at Bolduc Park. For more information call Bob or Pat at 524-2068.

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by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

The first major snowstorm of the year hit New England with a varying degree of impact. Parts of the region were socked with a foot or more, while other parts were hardly touched. I woke up to about a foot of light snow and I loved it. As anticipated, the activity at the bird feeder was frenetic. Juncos, dozens of them, along with a few whitethroated sparrows and a lone song sparrow grazed nervously on the ground under the feeder. Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches politely took turns at the hopper feeder and a pair of Carolina wrens occupied the platform feeder. The wrens were quickly displaced by a boisterous blue jay who made it very clear whose turn it was at the feeder. Not that the blue jay waited patiently in the first place. The big, beautiful bird

A dark-eyed junco eats a berry following a recent snowfall in New England. CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO

filled its crop and took off to parts unknown. A shy cardinal pair hid among the tangle of forsythia branches. Neither one ventured over to grab some sunflower seeds. For some parts of New England, it was the first major snowfall in more than two years. Personally, I missed the snow. Watching the feeders

after (or during) a good snowfall is one of my favorite pastimes. This one didn’t disappoint. Speaking of blue jays, I heard some interesting stories from a few readers last week about these birds. Andree from Quebec, Canada, wrote to say blue jays come flying in “when I simply ring the feeding bell.”

Andree added a fitting quote about the season: ““The human species spent 2020 in hibernation, estivation, brumation and torpor. We are ready for the 2021 nectar.” Deb from Royalston, Mass., said blue jays are “in charge” at her feeders. A hairy woodpecker they named See BOSAK on 21

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.

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IT’S SNOW TIME! Ski Biz is Open in New Hampshire

by Amy Patenaude Outdoor/Ski Columnist

Thanks to the snow makers and Mother Nature the trails and slopes are open all over the State. Christmas is looking better than ever for snowsports this year. Yah, things are different this year. But different doesn’t mean it’s impossible or difficult. A little plan-

ning ahead is well worth the effort for some good winter fun. Ski New Hampshire’s “Know before you go” is a good place to discover what you need to do before arriving at your favorite resort. The Granite State Visitor Code of Conduct is a helpful resource for those coming from out of State. Visit SkiNH. com for updated information.

Most of the ski areas and Nordic Centers have been open since the beginning of December. Season passes have always been a good value but this year they are your best bet. At many resorts their season pass holders were given an extra bonus by having opening day only for pass holders, no day tickets were sold. This allowed the resorts to get into the swing with

the new way of doing things and making happy their most dedicated visitors. Different this season, even with a season pass a few resorts are requiring reservations and most all require day tickets to be purchased on-line in advance. This is a good thing that resorts are limiting contact and eliminating crowded lines of people. See PATENAUDE on 17

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Holiday “Festival Of Planes” At Aviation Museum

LONDONDERRY - The ‘Festival of Planes,’ a display of more than 1,000 vintage aviation toys and model aircraft, is now open to the public at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. The walk-through exhibit features aviation-themed toys, models, puzzles, and promotional items from the past 100 years. Themes range from the Wright Brothers to sci-fi favorites as Star Trek, Star Wars, and more. The exhibit, a combination of several collections as well as items from the Aviation Museum’s own archive, uses toys and model aircraft to trace the history of flight. The walk-through ‘Festival of Planes’ exhibit is designed to be an immersive experience, complete with Christmas trees, a fireplaced living room, and a starry winter sky filled with model planes flying overhead. The ‘Festival of Planes’ exhibit of aviation toys and model aircraft is included with museum admission of $10 per person; $5 children under 13, seniors 65+, veterans/active military. Members and children under age 5, free. The Aviation Museum is open on Saturday, Dec. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 27 from 1 to 7 p.m., and then Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 28-30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow families to visit during the holiday vacation week. The Aviation Museum is located at 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H. It can be reached via Exit 1 on Interstate 293 in Manchester and heading south on South Willow Street past the Mall of New Hampshire entrance; then follow the brown “Aviation Museum” directional signs.

Magic Journey Through The North Shop Barn –Canterbury Shaker Village’s A Magic Journey through the North Shop Barn continues December 27 – 30, from 1 – 5 pm. The Magic Journey begins at the “magic wardrobe”, winding and meandering through the North Shop Barn, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. The Barn features artist-created vignettes, including a Shaker Christmas, a dollhouse and skating panorama, and snow-laden forest scene and more. This a socially-distanced event with safety guidelines in place. Masks are required and all barn doors will be open to optimize air flow. Non-member adults: $10. Member adults: $5. All youth are free! Canterbury Shaker is located at 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury, New Hampshire, just south of Laconia and north of Concord, NH. For more information, visit www.shakers.org, or call 603-783-9511 x 205.

Fireside Chat At Slim Baker BRISTOL – Enjoy the warmth of a roaring fire, s’mores, and humorous tales of Newfound adventures on January 9th from 7 to 9 p.m. with the Slim Baker Foundation. Dick Tapply, the son of Wink Tapply, founder of the Tapply-Thompson Community Center, will tell stories of his father’s shenanigans and tales from the “good old days”. Share your own memories of Newfound and your hopes for the future. Registration is required for this free event and is limited to nine participants to maintain a safe environment. Reservations are first come, first serve. Email events@slimbaker.org to reserve your space today. Slim Baker’s full COVID-19 policies can be found at: SlimBaker.org/our-covid19policy. The Slim Baker Area is open year round for outdoor recreation via New Chester Mountain Road in Bristol, NH. The Slim Baker Foundation was established through a gift of land from Reba Hipson and gifts of support from Lucy Baker in memory of her late husband, local Fish and Game Officer Slim Baker. Comprised of 135 acres of land, the site includes numerous trails, camping areas and a lodge. More information about the Foundation and other upcoming activities can be obtained at: SlimBaker.org

Bob Marley Virtual NYE Show Laugh on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31st with comedian Bob Marley’s New Special. “Crona Watch 2020” Was Filmed Before A Live Audience On Sept 26, 2020. You can watch it on your smart TV, computer or any device with a web browser. You will be sent an email with an access button and 9 digit code to your email address which can be used at 8PM EST New Year’s Eve (Dec 31, 2020) or for 72hrs after that at which time it will expire! $25 each + $4.50 fee. To get tickets go to ccanh.com/show/crona-watch-2020/

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

Now In 4th Printing!

The Flatlander Chronicles Live Free or Die.

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

Reason To Believe I still believe in Santa Claus. At the same time, I’m not entirely sure that he really exists. Still, I am of the mind that I shouldn’t disby Brendan Smith miss anything Weirs Times Editor as false unless it is absolutely proven to me that something is or isn’t. It has never been proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Santa Claus isn’t real. It has only been suggested to me by a bunch of other people who believe he doesn’t exist solely on the information that has been handed down to them by other people whose only proof of this is the word of other people who were, in turn, told by others. In some circles this is known as the Great Santa Claus Conspiracy. No one, it seems, ever has had positive proof that Santa Claus does not exist. So, I am not one to fall easily for the conspiracy. I will always hold onto that inkling of hope in my head that he does. After all, if the guy actually shows up one day holding a bagful of treats just for me, he might call me on my disbelief and turn around and leave with the goods. (I do have to throw in here, that even for the sake of political correctness, I will never assume that Santa Claus, if he exists, might be a woman. All lines must be drawn somewhere.) When I was a kid, Santa Claus always came to our house on Christmas Eve with a pillowcase full of toys. I was always in awe and for years was so mesmerized by the whole scene that I never thought twice about where Santa went once he left our house. One year, when I was maybe seven or eight, I was becoming more curious about Santa. Some kids at school were touting the possibility of his non-existence.

It was a confusing time. That Christmas Eve, amongst all the hubbub in the house upon his arrival and departure of Santa (there were six of us kids, two parents, two grandparents and a dog, so there was always a fair amount of Christmas Chaos) I slipped through the crowd unnoticed and made my way out the front door. Expecting to see Santa on his sled, or at least walking down the street to wherever he parked it, instead I saw him make a sharp left and come back into our house through the side door. Wending my way back through the pile of wrapping paper that was building up on the living room floor, I casually headed towards the kitchen where the entrance of the side door led to. No one seemed to notice my movements. Once in the kitchen, I peeked down the stairs to the basement. The lights were on and there was noise. Someone was down there. Santa! I tiptoed down the steps and peeked around the corner into the laundry room. Standing there, undressing from his Santa outfit, was my grandfather. He turned and saw me. A slight smile came over his face and, without missing a beat, began to explain that Santa was very busy and he was acting as his helper. I must admit he was pretty convincing. Still, combined with all of the stories I was hearing at school from my friends, my confidence in Santa Claus had taken a huge hit. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was to be my first real disappointment in a long line. Age and more wisdom showed me that more and more people were just pretending to be someone they weren’t. They were playing fictional characters, people we really want to believe in, but sure to disappoint later. This is especially true in politics and with anything having to do with a lot of money.

But age and wisdom also proved to me that many others tried hard to be someone it was increasingly harder to be in this crazy world: almost fictional characters who were honest, reliable, responsible, hard working and self sufficient. People like that always give me an inkling of hope for the world and that’s why I can’t completely give up on the idea of Santa Claus, no matter what the conspiracy folks think. The poor guy and his elves, also great role models, work hard all year making presents for people they hardly even know, Then Santa spends twenty-four hours circling the globe, stuffing himself down chimneys, making sure everyone gets what they asked for. It doesn’t matter what the weather is and all he eats during this entire, selfless ordeal is some cookies and hot chocolate that has been sitting out for hours and is lukewarm at best. He never asks for anything for himself, never complains and he does it all with a big smile and a hearty laugh, year after year after year. It makes sense that as he got older he would need some helpers. Who wouldn’t? So maybe my grandfather did know the guy. People will tell you it’s crazy to believe in Santa Claus if you are an adult. I disagree. I think he is a great role model and we need more people like Santa. Merry Christmas!! Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles” and “Best Of A F.O.O.L. In New Hampshire” His latest book “I Only Did It For The Socks - Stories and Thoughts On Aging” will be published March 2021.

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.

Order your autographed copy today for $13.99 plus $3 for shipping. (Please include any inscription you would like the author to personalize your copy with.) Make out checks or money orders for $16.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: The Flatlander Chronicles, c/o The Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247. Order online at www.BrendanTSmith.com (Pickup autographed copies at the Weirs Times)

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Some Church Lives Matter More Than Others

Here is a textbook illustration of how the corporate media’s sins of omission can be far more damning than the corrupted industry’s sins of commission. Over the weekend, thousands of patriotic citizens descended on Washington, D.C., to protest election fraud and defend President Donald Trump. Left-wing “black bloc” mobs threw water bottles, by Michelle Malkin bricks and fireworks at cops and Trump Syndicated Columnist supporters. Eight law enforcement personnel were injured by antifa and Black Lives Matter anarchists; one officer received multiple severe lacerations to his face. At least 33 were arrested at the close of the weekend for assaults and mayhem, but countless victims received zero help from cops who stood down and did nothing. So, what did national news outlets choose to focus on? --NBC News: “Black Lives Matter signs burned at D.C. churches; police investigate as possible hate crimes.” --The Washington Post: “Historic D.C. Black churches attacked during pro-Trump rallies Saturday.” --CNN: “Protesters ripped and set fire to BLM signs at two D.C. churches.” --Associated Press: “Vandals hit Black churches during weekend pro-Trump rallies.” This much is true: As chaos broke out late Saturday night, some members of the Proud Boys stole and set fire to several Black Lives Matter signs that were on display at two D.C.-area churches. This isolated mischief was nowhere near on the scale of the wanton looting, shooting, terrorizing and burning down of entire downtowns and neighborhoods across the country by Black Lives Matter and antifa in the name of “social justice.” But the media propagandists who have labeled violent left-wing riots as “peaceful protests” all year long seized the opportunity to stoke false narratives: Trump supporters are the real threat to civil order. The populist movement to “stop the steal” of election 2020 is rooted in hate. It’s “Jim Crow” all over again, “reminiscent of cross burnings,” and the “rise of white supremacy,” according to one of the fragile black church pastors making the rounds. Except that it’s not. The idea that this was an See MALKIN on 20

Revenge of the Lapdogs For four years, we heard that President Donald Trump is a threat to freedom of the press. The Washington Post signaled its own faux bravery by adopting the slogan “Democracy Dies by Ben Shapiro in Darkness” at the Syndicated Columnist top of its masthead. CNN began running commercials about facts being facts, and apples being apples rather than bananas (unless, presumably, those apples identify as bananas). The New York Times championed its own supposed stunning intrepidity in covering the Trump administration. Those four years followed eight years during which the sitting president of the United States, Barack Obama, treated the press as lapdogs. He fed them occasional treats; they licked his hand. He occasionally disciplined them; they learned silence. He asked them to bark on cue; they did. During the Obama era, scandals went underreported; egregious seizures of power were portrayed as inevitable byproducts of Republican intransigence; and Obama’s political opponents were treated as deplorable remnants of historic American bigotry. With the elevation of Joe Biden as president-elect, prepare for some hardhitting deja vu. To be fair, the extent of the media’s lapdogging for Biden became clear throughout the election cycle. President Donald Trump was presented as the single-greatest factor in the rise of COVID around the nation. Barrels of ink were spilled over his supposed support for white supremacy. Reams of paper were wasted claiming that Trump presented a threat to the integrity of the election itself. Biden, meanwhile, answered few, if any, difficult questions during the entirety of his campaign. In fact, when

the New York Post reported on the contents of a laptop purportedly owned by Hunter Biden -- emails and texts that spell out the possibility that Joe Biden knew about Hunter’s nefarious global business activities trading on the Biden name -- the media immediately worked to shut down the story. NPR announced it wouldn’t cover the story, with managing editor Terence Samuel stating, “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don’t want to waste our listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distraction.” Social media quickly came to heel, with Twitter banning the Post’s account for weeks and Facebook announcing it would suppress distribution of the story. Just a few weeks after the election, news broke that Hunter Biden had been under some form of federal investigation since 2018. Now the media see fit to cover Hunter’s business activities -- but only from the angle that his activities may provide some sort of challenge for his father’s administration. Meanwhile, the establishment media rush to defend Jill Biden from the supposedly cruel predations of a Wall Street Journal op-ed columnist who noted -- correctly -- that she should stop using the title “doctor,” since she has an Ed.D., a doctorate in education, from the University of Delaware. That rather uncontroversial notion was met with a paroxysm of rage from the usual media suspects, many of whom deemed it misogynist. It’s no wonder that after Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory speech, the man himself sneered at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for asking him about Hunter. “Thanks for the congratulations,” said the supposedly avuncular Biden sarcastically. “Appreciate it.” It wasn’t Doocy’s job to congratulate Biden. It was his job to ask Biden tough questions. But Biden could be forgiven for thinking See SHAPIRO on 20

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Hero Or Traitor? President Donald Trump should pardon Edward Snowden. Who? I know, it’s embarrassing -- Assange, Manning, Snowden... Who by John Stossel did what? Syndicated Columnist I got them confused before I researched this topic. National security isn’t my beat. I finally educated myself this month because I got a chance to interview Snowden, the CIA/NSA employee who told the world that our government spied on us but lied to Con-

gress about it. Now Snowden hides from American authorities. We talked via Zoom. Fourteen years ago, when Snowden worked for the CIA, and then the NSA, he signed agreements saying he would not talk about what he did. I confronted him about breaking his promise. “What changed me,” he answers, “was the realization that what our government actually does was very different than the public representation of it.” The NSA’s mass surveillance program was meant to find foreign terrorists. When congressmen asked

NSA officials if, without warrants, they collected data on Americans, they lied and said, “No.” “There was a breathtaking sweep of intentional knowing public deception,” says Snowden. “We’re capturing everything that your family is doing online.” I asked Snowden if his co-workers had qualms. “In private, some said, ‘This is crazy. I’m not sure this is legal, but you know what happens to people who talk about this.’” What does happen? Nothing terrible, said President Barack Obama, who claimed Snowden could have revealed the

government’s lawbreaking legally. “There were other avenues available,” he told reporters. “What he said was incorrect,” Snowden tells me. Government officials protect themselves by discrediting those who reveal inconvenient truths. Previous whistleblowers lost their jobs. Some were shocked to be subjects of dawn raids by federal police with guns drawn. I understand why Snowden feared “proper” channels. Instead, he took documents to journalists. The world learned the truth. See STOSSEL on 19

Sen. Romney’s Misguided Lament Republican Sen. Mitt Romney is grieving over, as CNN anchor Dana Bash put it, President Donald Trump’s “very firm grip on the Repubby David Limbaugh lican Party.” Syndicated Columnist Bash asked Romney whether he fears the party won’t “be able to overcome Trumpism in the near future.” Romney didn’t object to Bash’s negative characterization of Trumpism. He merely responded that he believes “Trump will continue to have a substantial influence on the party” and that those other than Trump who are rumored to be GOP presidential candidates in 2024 “are trying to appeal to kind of a populist approach.” Romney concluded: “I don’t think Trumpism is going away, but I hope

that we can have disagreements over policy and a vision of our respective parties without continuing to promote a narrative which puts democracy itself in jeopardy. And when you tell people that voting doesn’t work and that democracy can’t work because we don’t have legitimate elections, that is a very dangerous thing to be saying.” Romney seems more comfortable breaking bread with leftist CNN anchors than grassroots Republicans. He clearly believes Trump is an illmannered rogue, but his remarks also confirm that he objects to the current direction of his party. Like other Trump critics, Romney calls Trumpism “populist.” He doubtlessly laments this trend. A populist is defined as “a person, especially a politician, who strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by estab-

lished elite groups.” I admit that I used to associate “populism” with demagogic politicians who cynically appeal to the so-called common man to gain power for their own political gain without really being interested in improving the plight of ordinary people. But I don’t believe that pejorative connotation applies to Trump or his agenda. The dictionary definition, however, does describe Trump — and his establishment nemeses. From the time he announced his candidacy in 2016, Trump has connected with ordinary Americans whose interests and wishes have been ignored by an elite Washington establishment, with its byzantine, unaccountable bureaucracy. He sold himself as an outsider who would bring a new, unorthodox approach to politics as usual that would focus on getting things done despite the

bureaucratic roadblocks installed by our entrenched ruling class. Unlike former President Barack Obama and contrary to the media’s lies, Trump didn’t run roughshod over the Constitution to advance his agenda but brought a can-do businessman’s approach to the Oval Office and achieved an impressive list of accomplishments in his first term. He did things previous politicians disingenuously promised to do, such as moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and took action that previous politicians wouldn’t have even considered, such as implementing Operation Warp Speed to produce multiple COVID-19 vaccines with previously unthinkable alacrity. Despite the haters’ endless ridicule, he also pulled off a Middle East peace deal that is the secret envy of all establishment foreign policy “experts” who said it couldn’t be done. N o n e o f See LIMBAUGH on 21

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Wicked BREW Review

The

wickedbrews@weirs.com

DuClaw’s Sweet Baby Jesus!

WHAT’S ON TAP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?? A listing of some of the area’s beercentric watering holes where you can find old favorites on tap as well as some cutting edge seasonals.

ACKERLY’S JOHNSON’S GRILL & GALLEY TAPHOUSE 83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383 Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com Smuttynose - Finest Kind 603- Winni Ale Tuckerman - Pale Ale Great Rhythm - Squeeze Stoneface IPA

COPPER KETTLE TAVERN

At Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant 233 D.W. Hwy, Meredith 603.279.6212 hartsturkeyfarm.com Bud Light Stoneface IPA Moat Mtn - Blueberry Tuckerman - Pale Ale 603 - Winni Amber Ale ...+6 More On Tap

D.A. LONG TAVERN

At Funspot Family Entertainment Ctr. 579 Endicott St N., Weirs 603.366.4377 funspotnh.com Bell’s - Christmas Ale Woodstock - Dbl Pigs Ear Equilibrium - Wavelength Henniker - Dustoff Southern Tier - Creme Brulee Nitro Gneiss - Nord ...+6 More On Tap

At Johnson’s Seafood & Steak 69 Rt 11, New Durham 603.859.7500 eatatjohnsons.com/ newdurham Southern Tier- Salted Caramel Lone Pine- Oh J! Woodstock- Frosty Goggles Foundation- Gobble Gobble UFO- Winter Blonde Muddy Road- Heads Up ...+30 More On Tap

PATRICK’S PUB 18 Weirs Rd., Gilford 603.293.0841 Patrickspub.com Patrick’s Slainte House Ale Sam Adams - Seasonal Guinness Tuckerman - Pale Ale 603 - Winni Amber Ale Shipyard - Pumpkin Ale Woodstock - Autumn Ale ...+8 More On Tap

THE WITCHES BREW PUB

At The Craft Beer Xchange 59 Doe Ave., Weirs Beach 603.409.9344 FB @craftbeerxchange Smuttynose - Key Lime Pie Hobbs - One Arm Farmhouse Flanders - Holiday Red Ale Woodstock - Autumn Brew Woodland Farms - Big ‘Effin Porter Maine Beer Co. Mean Old Tom ...+30 More On Tap ** Tap listings subject to change!

RESTAURANT OR BAR OWNER?

by Jim MacMillan Contributing Writer

Recently, I asked some folks ‘What makes you return to a favorite restaurant, listen to the same song over and over or order the same beer at your favorite watering hole?’ We all thought about it and then came up with similar answers… the reason you like it is because it’s memorable. We have all had less-than-memorable experiences with food, drink or even music. But the the experiences you enjoy most are the ones you want to repeat. This is not limited to the three examples above but for many things we collectively like to repeat based on our initial favorable experience. And because of the nature of this column, we will stick to good beer experiences. So, the focus beer this week may fit into the ‘oh wow’ column of taste treats coming to us from our friends at DuClaw. DuClaw Brewing outside of Baltimore, Maryland has an interesting twist on making quality craft beers; ‘Craft be cherished, rules be damned!’ This has been the motto of own-

er David Benfield since 1996. Benfield studied many things while in college, one of them was homebrewing. His successful creations led him away from a predestined job at his family’s electrical business and into forming DuClaw Brewing. With over 70 different beers including a diverse assortment of Sour Me fruit-enhanced sours as well as PastryArcher imperial stouts of every possible combination, DuClaw is anything but your normal brewery. They distribute throughout the east coast and have finally come to NH. Look over their website at Du-

Claw.com Sweet Baby Jesus! Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter has been annually produced since 2011 and possesses a mouthful of intricate flavor. This year’s production comes in at 6.2% ABV (last year was 6.5%) and reminds me a little of a liquid version of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Hue is dark brown with a healthy tan head. In a beer that has adjunct ingredients to create a particular direction for that beer, quantity of those ingredients to make a point is a risk. Big flavors such as chocolate and peanut butter can

overtake the base beer. Porters and stouts are usually the canvases chosen to experiment with. This porter supports a roasty, dark coffee beginning, but it is the chocolate or brownie batter, slightly more than peanut butter, than runs the show here. You might think it to be a dessert beer to be enjoyed after a generous meal, but the medium body keeps it from being so. Still, it is something to experience for sure. BeerAdvocate.com has officially rated Sweet Baby Jesus! Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter as ‘Very Good’ See WICKED on 18

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

JOY TO THE WOOLED!

Tulsi And Trans by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

FROM KINDRED SPIRIT FARM

NEWS ITEM: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced a bill called the “Protect Women’s Sports Act.” Given the average difference in abilities conferred by biological sex, this bill would clarify Title IX protections for female athletes. Essentially, Tulsi’s proposed legislation would prohibit males from competing on women’s teams. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. One needs to understand how this would affect the transgender folks. They feel that their birth sex doesn’t match their gender identity—or the gender that they feel they are inside. Our society has evolved considerably in terms of attitudes and understandings of orientations. We better know that, for the most part, people just don’t choose their orientations. They are who they are. That said, professional therapists constantly deal with people who are confused about their identities— particularly younger people. Are they gay, straight or bisexual? Are they locked into an orientation or can it ever change? To paraphrase Star Trek’s Dr. McCoy: “I’m a sports columnist,

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State Representative Jess Edwards (with libation) exchanged sports stories and war stories with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and the Weirs Times sports columnist earlier this year at the Meredith American Legion. not a therapist.” But like most people, I want to better understand and support my fellow human beings during their life journeys—whoever they are. Some transgender folks experience “gender dysphoria,” which refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity. Having never dealt with such dysphoria myself, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for some people and their families to determine and then embrace authentic identities and orientations. In coming to terms with situations involving orientations and identities, questions of

bathroom and locker room usage inevitably arise. Resolving those questions creates challenges and different communities develop different policies. But sport bring different communities together on playing fields and courts. And what if these communities have differing values? The NCAA developed guidelines concerning transgender athletes but these remain works in progress. Consider a Granite State situation. According to WorldAthletics.org, CeceTelfer is a trans woman who competed for two years on the Franklin Pierce University men’s track and field team. In the 400 meter hurdles she ranked 200th in 2016

and 390th in 2017 among NCAA Division II athletes competing in that event in the men’s division those years. Under NCAA rules, transgender See MOFFETT on 18

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

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A few years ago, Dr. Mehmet Oz asked me to create a recipe containing foods that help to naturally reduce stress and to do a cooking demo on “The Dr. Oz Show.” I found that the following ingredients have stress-reducing properties: * Red, Orange and Yellow Bell Peppers -These peppers contain vitamins A and C and folate, which help give you more energy and repair cell damage caused by stress. When under prolonged stress, the body gets depleted of vitamin C, an antioxidant

that fights the free radicals that get released when you’re stressed. These free radicals have been shown to cause cancer. * Turkey -- An amino acid called L-trypto-

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mins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress. Many dark green vegetables also contain potassium, which is good for our nerves and can calm them. * Quinoa and Brown Rice -- Quinoa is rich in vitamin B, which has a calming effect on the body and helps relieve feelings of stress and anxiety while enhancing your mood. Brown rice is a healthy carbohydrate and boosts serotonin levels, which has a calming, soothing effect. All whole grains contain B vitamins and fiber, and also supply serotonin-producing carbohydrates that do not spike blood sugar levels. When you eat a carbohydrate, your body sends an amino acid called tryptophan into the brain to trigger the manufacture of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tranquil and better able to cope. * Low-Fat Cheese, Greek Yogurt -- The whey and protein in milk products like cheese and yogurt help your nerves stay healthy, stabilize your blood sugar, stops you from feeling those extreme highs and low when you eat sugar, and has been shown to decrease anxiety and frustration. When consumed over a period of time, the calcium in dairy also has been shown to calm muscles and help keep blood pressure in check. See STRESS on 11

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

OUT on the TOWN Great Food, Libations & Good Times!

STRESS from 10 * Avocado -- The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. Avocados have more potassium than bananas. Monounsaturated fat also helps keep receptors in the brain sensitive to mood-boosting serotonin. * Basil -- A great source of folate, which helps to repair cell damage caused by stress. This is the healthy, stress-reducing recipe I created for “The Dr. Oz Show.” Enjoy and relax! STRESS-BUSTING STUFFED BELL PEPPERS 8 red, yellow or orange bell peppers, or a mixture of all (about 4 pounds) 2 tablespoon canola or olive oil, divided 1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 16 ounces fresh Italian turkey sausage, removed from casing, or ground turkey 1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa, mild or hot 2 cups fresh baby spinach, rinsed and chopped, or 1 (10-ounce) package chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove moisture 2 cups cooked quinoa or cooked brown rice, or mixture of both

1 cup low-fat Cheddar cheese 2 large avocados, peeled and pits removed, sliced 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaves 1. Heat oven to 375 F. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise, slicing from the stem to the bottoms, leaving the stems intact. Remove the white pithy ribs near stem and down length of inside. Remove the ribs and seeds, and discard. Place the peppers in a shallow 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Drizzle the peppers with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cover the dish with foil, and bake the peppers 15 to 20 minutes, until they start to soften.

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2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, chili powder and cumin; cook until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the sausage or ground turkey, breaking it apart with a fork and cooking until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the salsa and spinach. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked quinoa and/or brown rice. 3. Fill the pepper halves with the turkey mixture. Cover with foil. Bake 20-25 minutes until peppers are tender. Remove foil and sprinkle peppers with cheese. Return to oven;

bake, uncovered, until cheese has melted. Top peppers with avocado slices, yogurt and basil. Makes 8 servings, 2 stuffed pepper halves per serving. Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and the author of seven cookbooks. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, recipes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva! on Facebook. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from Angela Shelf Medearis.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

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SMITH from 1 life to helping others, but through all the disgrace she was subject to she would not reveal the truth concerning her unidentified guest. She was keeping a promise but the appearance of evil that resulted was difficult for her to bear. She became despondent at times to the point of despair. William Clough wrote:“besides all this she felt that possibly

her unfortunate position had a tendency to weaken public morals, especially in the young, and this was no inconsiderable part of her burden.” The curious neighbors realized that the man was sick, and the time came when they no longer saw him sitting on the back piazza (porch) on a sunny day. Sometime before Thanksgiving Day the undertaker and the

When the Colonel appeared at her door as a poor, homeless, and sick man she couldn’t turn him away. minister were summoned to the Pollock homestead and soon

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afterwards the body of the deceased guest was removed from the house. A short service was held in the church for the still unidentified stranger and his body was buried in the soldiers lot in the local cemetery. The guest in the Pollock house was gone , but that didn’t change the social status of Katherine Pollock who had in the past been the helper of many needy families in her home town. Now she was looked upon as one of low moral standing whom her neighbors no longer wanted as their friend. After the death of the stranger KatherSee SMITH on 13

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

SMITH from 12 ine experienced great loneliness and her own health began to fail. No word of any kind came from her brothers and sisters. Her neighbors weren’t neighborly. She spent Thanksgiving Day by herself, having had no invitation to observe the holiday with others. But Katherine seemed to have an angel comforting her and she found pleasure in imagining that the house was active with family members, that is, her parents and her brothers and sisters. After Thanksgiving Day she received no invitations from the

families in the rural town and as the days and weeks went by her health continued to worsen. She spent her time meditating and reading Scripture and devotional material. “An unquestioning faith, an abiding trust, a calm and holy peacesuch peace as the world can neither give nor take away- permeated the atmosphere of her humble home.” Not everybody was blind to Katherine’s condition, however, and William Clough, who had been a native son of the unnamed town, received a letter from a concerned resiSee SMITH on 14

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

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SMITH from 13 dent informing him of Katherine’s illness. He felt that he should call on his former acquaintance and made a late December trip back to the town, arriving there late in the afternoon of Christmas Eve. A couple of hours later he was at the Pollack homestead, accompanied by two of the community’s ladies, who entered the house first and found Miss Pollock in bed. And it was then, on that Christmas Eve, as the country was recognizing the birth of Jesus Christ, that Katherine Pollock broke her silence about the mysterious man who had so

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recently been a guest in her home. She first told her small audience about the voice from above that had spoken to her on a Christmas Eve over 25 years previously and asked her to give her life to helping others beginning with her own elderly parents. She said, “It cost me a severe struggle, but I gave up all. I said to the young man who had asked me to be his wife, that all was over between us. I did my duty as I understood it.” She went on to tell of another Christmas Eve in 1861 when in a church the same voice told her to go to the fields of battle where her countrymen needed woman’s nursing and woman’s prayers, and how she obeyed. While ministering to needy soldiers during the war she once again met the man who years previously had asked her to be his wife. He was then a Colonel who was leading victorious battalions during that war between the States. After the conflict was over the still unidentified man asked her once again to marry him. She was weary from her efforts in the war and in poor health. Feeling that it would be wrong for her to accept his proposal because in her weakened condition she felt herself an invalid, she again turned him down. She did tell him, however, that if he was ever in want or sick and needed someone to care for him and give him a home she would See SMITH on 15

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 — SMITH from 14 do so, not expecting that time to ever come. So when the Colonel appeared at her door as a poor, homeless, and sick man she couldn’t turn him away. She said, “All he desired was food, a little of woman’s nursing, and a bed upon which to die in peace.” Katherine wouldn’t reveal the name of the man because he had made her promise not to do so, feeling that his name and the place he made in history would be disgraced if it were known that he died a poor man. Katherine Pollock then spoke of the damage done to her own reputation because of once again putting the needs of another above her own. She spoke of the inner peace that she experienced and the satisfaction of being obedient to the Divine

calling. After telling her visitors: “I forgive all who have wronged me in word or thought,” Katherine made the transition from the mortal to immortality on

that Christmas Eve as others celebrated the birth of a baby who was named Jesus Who came to save people from their sins. Faithful unto death that leads to life.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Yours truly cross country skiing at the Bretton Woods Nordic Center. We planned ahead, dressed Two young skiers heading down Ragged Skiing and snowboarding up a storm at Pats Peak and booted up in our car and enjoyed the many Mountain’s Blueberry Patch Trail. Here comes on the Cyclone Trail. Did you know at Pats Peak miles of groomed trails surrounding the Mount the sun, the days are getting longer. the trails are named after winds? Washington Resort. BRIA CLARK PHOTO

Snowboarder kids taking a break at Ragged Mountain’s summit ski patrol BECCA MUNROE PHOTO shack. PATENAUDE from 3 Wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing isn’t difficult and honestly it doesn’t seem different since we have to do it everywhere else we go these days. What is different is having limited access to the lodges but it is okay. We are being asked to get dressed and boot up in our cars to reduce the amount of time people are inside. Get dressed at home as much as you can but be sure you don’t overheat in the car. Keep your boots warm so they will be easier to put on when you arrive. Most of us can’t put our boots on inside our car so bringing a towel or a rug to stand to keep your feet dry is helpful.

Snowboarding in a blizzard at Pats Peak. Purchase your lift tickets on line and in advance. Visit SkiNH.com and click on “Know before you go” before you hit the slopes and trails.

Families can enjoy hot chocolate and a meal inside the lodge at Pats Peak. Guests are asked to limit their time in the lodge so everyone can use the lodge. The lodges are open and are serving food and hot drinks. The bathrooms are open too. With social distancing requirements we have to all use the lodges less so that ev-

eryone can use them when they need to use them. Lessons and rentals need to be purchased on-line and in advance. Something that isn’t different is that time is

running out to sign up for adult race leagues; they’re still a go. Night skiing is still a thing too, Yippee! Please, oh please, stay home if you’re feeling sick. No one wants to catch anything. My friends and I have found it easy to follow the guidelines that the State and the resorts have set forth for keeping each other safe and healthy. I hope you do too. Skiing makes me happy. Seeing families and young children having fun makes me happy too. Merry Christmas and Have Fun.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 — WICKED from 8 and awards it an 86 out of 100. For me, this was a bit lower than I expected for this delicious American-style porter.

You can find Sweet Baby Jesus! in 12 oz cans at Case-n-Keg in Meredith as well as other fine beer providers. Enjoy something

memorable and keep searching for more memorable creations from DuClaw.

MOFFETT from 9

an unfair advantage and that some females subsequently didn’t receive due recognition. I don’t have answers to transgender related sports issues. I do have questions. And concerns. Imagine a girls’ soccer game and a 200 pound trans athlete and a 100 pound girl on a collision course for a 50/50 ball. Is there a safety issue for the smaller player? Probably. Presumably such situations would be addressed by Rep. Gabbard’s bill. I expect spirited debate and I’m quite interested in hearing all the related arguments and hope that we ultimately achieve some consensus and get some needed definition in areas that were certainly not on our “radar screens” way back when many of us came of age before the “turn of the century.” MERRY CHRISTMAS … … and Happy New Year to readers far and near. 2020 has been a year like no other for our country, with 300,000 COVID-related deaths and a sports world shut down or in uncertain chaos throughout the land. A year ago, none of this could be imagined. So where will we be a year from now? Time will tell, of course. Sports psychologists encourage clients to visualize that free throw going into the basket, that football flying over the goalpost, or that putt dropping into the cup.

So I’m visualizing a column a year from now reflecting on our wonderful national resiliency and celebrating our triumph over the coronavirus. We’ll see. Be safe!

athletes can compete in women’s events after completing one calendar year of testosterone esuppression treatment. Telfer then qualified for the NCAA Women’s II Division Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2019, ranking third in 60-meter hurdles and seventh in the 200-meter dash nationally in the women’s division. She finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles finals, and first in the 400-meter hurdles finals at the 30-inch women’s division height. There are those who felt Telfer’s “male” muscle mass gave her

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Sports Quiz Kicker Sarah Fuller makes history as first woman to play in a Power Five college football game last month when she appeared in a game for what university? (Answer follows) Born Today That is to say sports standouts born on December 24 include former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1940) and former NFL linebacker Winston Moss (1965). Sports Quote ““People would say, ‘Girls don’t play hockey. Girls don’t skate.’ I would say, ‘Watch this.’” – Canadian ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser Sports Quiz Answer Vanderbilt University State Representative Mike Moffett was a Professor of Sports Management for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He co-authored the critically-acclaimed and award-winning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon.com. His email address is mimoffett@comcast.net.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 — STOSSEL from 7 American officials said Snowden’s leaks put lives at risk. But in the eight years since then, they’ve never given any clear examples. “They constantly tell us, ‘This is for your safety (and) to investigate terrorists,’” says Snowden. “Barack Obama’s own investigations found that it didn’t stop a single terrorist attack.” At the time, the NSA did claim that mass surveillance stopped terrorism. Richard Ledgett, former deputy director of the NSA, said NSA programs contributed to stopping 54 terrorist

attacks. “That makes me feel safer when I hear that,” I say to Snowden. “We want to believe it’s true,” Snowden responds, “but it’s not. The government itself no longer makes these claims that it stopped 54 plots.” In fact, the government no longer claims it stopped any attacks. All of this made me realize -- Snowden got screwed. “Aren’t you pissed off?” I ask. “(Former Director of National Intelligence) James Clapper lied to Congress and he wasn’t fired! Now he

works for CNN. (Former NSA director) Keith Alexander wasn’t fired. Now he’s on Amazon’s board! They made out; you’re in exile.” “If you’re one of these ‘made men,’” answers Snowden, “You face a very different flavor of justice.” Snowden went to Hong Kong to give reporters the data that showed the NSA had lied. He asked 27 countries to grant him asylum, without success. He tried to fly to Ecuador. When his plane stopped for a layover in Moscow, U.S. officials revoked his passport. He’s been stuck in Moscow for

seven years now. If he returns to America, then Snowden will almost certainly be jailed. “I can be very much at peace with the choices that I’ve made,” he says. It was the right thing to do, and it has made things better. Some of these programs have been halted.” In 2013, Donald Trump was asked about Snowden. He said, “This guy is a bad guy and there is still a thing called execution!” But this year, President Trump said he’d “look at” giving Snowden a pardon. “I think it’s clearer and

clearer that what I did was the right thing to do,” Snowden tells me. “History has a way of exonerating the truth.” Sometimes, anyway. Snowden did a good thing. He deserves a pardon. Julian Assange deserves one, too. 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.

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MALKIN from 6 “intentional targeting of houses of worship,” as another black pastor claimed, is nonsense on stilts -- and a viral video of the incident proves it. The Proud Boys, a largely Christian men’s group led by Afro-Cuban activist Enrique Tarrio, chanted “F--- Antifa!” as they roasted a couple of the BLM signs. They were “targeting” symbols of those twin domestic terrorist groups, whom the Proud Boys have stood against when no one else would, not black church congregations. Make no mistake. There has been a concerted campaign of terror against people of faith and their houses of worship this year, but it doesn’t fit the anti-Trump narratives of the propaganda media. Since the George Floyd

incident in May ushered in the age of anarchotyranny, scores of Catholic churches have come under attack across the United States. You probably haven’t forgotten about it because you probably didn’t know about it in the first place. Black Lives Matter leader and propagandist Shaun King instigated the anti-white, anti-Christian, antiCatholic mob by tweeting during the first outbreak of post-Floyd riots. “Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down. They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been,” he fumed. King’s call to violence was explicit: “In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark. Tear them

down.” King is still spreading his venom on Twitter. Catholic officials have tallied at least 39 incidents of “arson, statues beheaded, limbs cut, smashed, and painted, gravestones defaced with swastikas and antiCatholic language and American flags next to them burned, and other destruction and vandalism” at Catholic churches across 19 states since June. Complicit Clergy, a Catholic watchdog group, tracked nearly 70 such attacks through the summer. --In May, Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter in Los Angeles was spraypainted with “ACAB” (All Cops Are Bastards) “Kill All Cops,” “FTP” (“f--- the police”), and “Make America Pay For Its Crimes Against Black People” slogans.

--A statue of Jesus was decapitated at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso, Texas, after the bishop of the local diocese knelt before a BLM sign. --Rioters tore down a statue of St. Junipero Serra, an 18thcentury Franciscan priest and missionary, at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. A Serra statue at Mission San Rafael Arcangel was defaced and toppled. The mission church in San Gabriel, California, which Serra founded, was destroyed in July by a massive arson fire. --”Statues of Jesus and Mary at churches in Boston, Mass., Miami, Tenn., and Colorado Springs, Colo., were set alight, beheaded, and defaced,” Carina Benton reported for The Federalist in October. --Catholics praying

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the rosary to guard the King Louis IX statue in St. Louis were threatened and beaten by BLM and antifa sympathizers. A BLM leader unleashes a year-long, race-based “Tear them down” ragefest against followers of Christ. The anti-Trump, anti-white journalists are as quiet as church mice. Silence is not just complicity. It’s media malpractice. 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.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 — LIMBAUGH from 7 these accomplishments or countless others are the work of a populist demagogue. But they do redound to the benefit of the common man and all Americans — just as his pro-growth economic policies benefited all income groups, especially minorities. This was the work of the dictionary-described populist, not the type of populist soul mates Dana Bash and Mitt Romney have in mind. We can expect no different from the liberal Bash, but Romney’s sanctimonious hypocrisy is getting older and older. Like his liberal friends, with whom he is more in step than the grassroots Republicans who nominated him in 2012, Romney believes that Trump’s election contests threaten democracy. Nonsense. Trump has challenged the election through his bully pulpit and in courtrooms across the land because, along with millions of other Americans, he believes the election was stolen. Unsuccessful court challenges don’t prove cheating didn’t occur, nor do repeated claims that there “is no evidence.” If the election was, in fact, stolen, I dare say that would, by definition, represent a far greater threat to democracy. Why doesn’t Romney express concern over the inexplicable anomalies tainting this election and the unconstitutional changes in laws that obliterated the integrity of our ballots and paved the way for widespread cheating? Why doesn’t he demand federal election reform to prohibit the relaxation of voting procedures? Why doesn’t he crusade against social media oligarchs who censor conservative speech in a way that

truly threatens democracy? Why doesn’t he condemn liberal media bias against Trump and their lack of scrutiny of the failing Joe Biden? Why doesn’t he call for an investigation into Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg for his having poured an obscene amount of money into this election? Why can’t he grasp that the public’s genuine distrust of the election’s legitimacy imperils the democratic process infinitely more than Trump’s rhetoric or legal challenges? We get nothing but crickets from Romney. Romney’s unabashed hatred for Trump perhaps blinds him to the reality that Trump is a wildly popular president, notwithstanding that he is the object of hatred among those whose anti-American agenda he has thwarted. Romney’s willful imperviousness to the extent of Trump’s appeal precludes him from recognizing that this year, we had a perfect storm for unprecedented cheating. He can’t believe the election was stolen, because he refuses to believe Evil Orange Man could have won. Lament all you want, Sen. Romney, because you are correct that Trumpism is here to stay, as his supporters appreciate and endorse his unapologetic pride in this country; his resistance to the left’s destructive agenda, which itself is undemocratic in every sense; and Trump’s agenda to literally make America great again. David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is “Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win.” Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com.

BOSAK from 2 “Spike” is the real bird boss, however, she wrote. When Spike is not around, the blue jays rule the roost. She tried a few blue jay deterrents to give the smaller birds a chance, but the jays figured out the tricks. “I give up. The blue jays won. They are beautiful birds,” she wrote. Spike may be the boss there, but their favorites are the redbellied woodpeckers, which continue to expand northward. Deb also mentioned that a flock of evening grosbeaks had been visiting as well. I’m still waiting for mine to arrive. Nancy and Paul from Dublin have also had daily visits from a redbellied woodpecker. “We knew they were in our area, but until this year we had not had one come to our feeder,” they wrote. Nancy and Paul also had red-breasted nuthatches and evening

grosbeaks. “We have not seen either of these birds in many years. It may be as many as 40 years since seeing evening grosbeaks. This morning there were more than we were able to count, all squabbling with each other over seeds.” Michael, also from Dublin, was intrigued by a ring-necked pheasant sighting — a first for Michael in 26 years as a Dublin resident. Ring-necked pheasants are native to Asia and were introduced to the U.S. as a game bird in the late 1800s and remain of the most popular game birds in the country. They live yearround in New England, but many do not survive the harsh winters as most of the birds seen in the wild have escaped from hunting grounds. Ken from Winchester saw a sizable flock of eastern bluebird last week and wondered if they would be staying in New England all winter. The answer is prob-

ably. Many bluebirds do tough out our winters. Offer some mealworms at your feeding station and you just may get some visits from these enchanting birds. A few weeks ago I wrote about blue jays filling their crops with suet nuggets I had offered on my platform feeder. Margaret from East Alstead replied with an interesting story about suet. She said downy and hairy woodpeckers take chunks of suet and fill in cracks in a wooden support post on her porch. They return later to eat it, of course. Margaret likens the behavior to utilizing a tool to perform a function. Ken from Wisconsin wrote to say he has noticed a lack of chickadees at his feeding station this year. In past years, “I’ve always had swarms of them at my feeder,” he wrote. It is a concern I hear a lot and, while chickadees are not listed as a threatened bird, it is a

trend to keep an eye on. Ken closed the email with a touching memory: “I miss them. As a retired forester, there were many extremely cold snowy days I spent all alone cruising timber in the deep woods. Chickadees were my only companion and they always cheered me up.” I seem to be getting plenty of chickadees still, but I don’t doubt that others are seeing far fewer. Drop me a line and let me know how your chickadee population is holding up. Merry Christmas, everyone. Chris Bosak may be reached at chrisbosak26@gmail.com or through his website www.birdsofnewengland.com

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Super Crossword

PUZZLE CLUE: POP TRIOS

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —

Sudoku

Magic Maze THEME THIS WEEK: -- BLUES

Caption Contest OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

Runners Up : Maid in the USA - Jean Cram, Pittsfield, NH. The vacuum cleaner salesman said the still attachment would win over her husband. - Robert Patrick. Moultonboro, NH.

PHOTO #837

Margaret questioned her career choices as she used the Vacmaster 1000 to clean up blood stains from the carpet. -Matt DeVellis, Webster, NH.

I like it though it’s not exactly the mini-vac I asked for. - Kaye Rongstad, Bridgewater, NH

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

PHOTO #839 Send your best brief caption to us with your name and location within 2 weeks of publication date... Caption Contest, The Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 email to contest@weirs.com

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 24, 2020 —