12/29/2022 Weirs Times

A snow bunting perches on a fence in New England.

The Search For Snow BunTingS

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

Before starting this column I knocked on the wooden surface of my desk. I certainly don’t want to jinx this streak by going public with it.

It seems as though I have had pretty good luck finding snow buntings in recently years. Snow buntings come down from the Arctic

each winter and show up at random places — mostly beaches and open fields — throughout New England. I just happen to be lucky enough to find them. There are plenty of birds, relatively common ones even, that I hardly see at all, but buntings have been a different story.

About the size of bluebirds, snow buntings are a beautiful black and white

bird in their summer breeding plumage. I have only seen photos and drawings of this plumage as I’ve never been to the Arctic in the summer. In the winter, when New Englanders get to see them, male and female snow buntings are pale brown and white. White wing patches are obvious field marks when the birds take flight.

Not only have I found

snow buntings in each of the past several years, but my latest sighting came with a bonus: a nice-sized flock of horned larks.

Snow buntings are often seen in mixed flocks with either larks or pipits, but this was the first time I personally saw them in mixed company.

It was the day after a snowstorm and it was clas-

Warren Miller’s “Daymaker” at Colonial Theatre

Tickets for Warren Miller’s “Daymaker” 73rd Annual Ski and Snowboard Film at the Colonial Theatre of Laconia on Thursday, December 29th at 7pm are $25.50 and are on sale now at ColonialLaconia.com or by calling 1-800657-8774.

The Lakes Region Disabled Sports will be hosting a raffle during the film. Lakes Region Disabled Sports is the non-profit Adaptive snow sports school at Gunstock Mountain Resort, providing recreation, movement, and inclusion for athletes with a disability throughout the New Hampshire Lakes Region and greater New England.

The raffle will include: Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club – round of golf for four with grounds and cart fee, Winnipesaukee Chocolates –13 chocolate bars gift bag, Uvex goggles, Gunstock – 8 mid-week non-holiday lift tickets, 4 midweek non-holiday tubing tickets an more.

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO

Shadow Politicians

To The Editor:

The House of Representatives will soon be in control of the Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is about to receive the political golden parachute from President Biden.

When she leaves no one will miss her.

The issue at hand is reckless spending that both Republicans and Democrats need to bring to an end. This country is broke to the tune of thirty trillion dollars which is in addition to the operating budget. The number is so big that paying the debt will be a ball and chain for generations to come. Money is being printed and wasted that belongs to hardworking Americans.

The simple truth is that there appears to be no respect for the people who are paying the bills by politicians who took an oath of office to protect the Common Good of the country.

If voters do not get serious then the future will provide nothing for their children or grandchildren.

We cannot afford to continue spending money we do not have. Shadow politicians who show up a few weeks before an election will never serve you well.

Kenneth Bowers Wolfeboro, NH.

Why Are You Sllent?

To The Editor:

To Our Dear Leaders.

No one is above the law!

How many times have we heard that line recently?

If this talking point is true, why aren’t you enforcing our laws?

Twitter has revealed actual collusion, political influence peddling, election interference, suppression and censorship of free speech, and the spreading of misinformation and disinformation.

They have released tangible EVIDENCE, of internal communications, that reveal widespread corruption and collusion between big tech, the media and our government.

This is not a conspiracy, this is CRIMINAL activity.

Yet you are silent, why?

The DOJ, FBI, CIA, FDA, CDC, NIH, DNC, RNC, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and others, along with our political leaders, have either actively or passively abetted this criminal and illegal activity against the American people.

Yet you are silent, why?

Concurrently, you have allowed millions of ILLEGAL aliens to break our laws and invade our country.

Yet you are silent, why?

Your failure to secure our border, and enforce our immigration laws, have resulted in the needless deaths of thousands of law abiding Americans.

Yet you are silent, why?

You have allowed drug smuggling, human trafficking and violence to go unpunished.

Yet you are, silent, why?

I could go on, but I know you will probably continue to do nothing, that’s just who you are.

As our representative in Washington, you are either part of the problem, or you are part of the solution, but you can’t be both.

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 30 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories of the people

You must choose to be one or the other, there is no middle ground when it comes to doing right or wrong.

Your actions, or inactions, as it relates too, “No one is above the law,” makes a mockery of the phrase.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas, I pray that you will pause and reflect on these simple truths.

Jesus was the only person who ever lived a life without sin.

He wasn’t wealthy, owned nothing, held no office, and had no title, yet he is the most well known person who ever lived.

He sacrificed his life to cleanse us of our sins, we only need ask.

I recommend that you replace your tired, empty and hollow talking point with this one, “No one is above the Lord”.

You see he alone will judge each and every one of us, and his laws are the only ones that truly matter.

Our earthly titles, wealth, political affiliations, gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, or any other personal identifier we choose to give ourselves, will not save us.

The truth of the life we’ve lived, will be exposed to the light, and the darkness of our deeds will be laid bare.

I pray that our leaders will turn away from the darkness, and lead our country back into the light.

I wish you a Merry Christmas, and an enlightening New Year.

Michael Petruzziello Major, USMC (Ret) Wolfeboro, NH.

and places that make New Hampshire the best place in the world to live. No, none of the daily grind news will be found in these pages, just the good stuff.

Published year round on Thursdays, we distribute 24,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 60,000 people reading this newspaper.

To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 603-366-8463.

PO Box 5458 Weirs, NH 03247 Weirs.com info@weirs.com facebook.com/weirstimes 603-366-8463

Not So LoNg Ago

...

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

new Year’S expecTaTionSpredicTionS and admoniTionS

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

Recollections, resolutions, predictions, admonitions, and recommendations are all a part of the changing of the calendars every 365 or 366 days. Actually it happens as a short season in itself that begins the day after Christmas if not before, and extends until News Year’s Day, or later, with reviews of what happened the previous year and a look forward with expectations and hopes for the new one.

“Mother Shipton’s Prophecy” is a prediction that is said to have been first published in 1488, republished in 1641, and who knows how many more times before the copy I found in a scrapbook was printed. That would have been sometime before the date the last prediction in the prophecy that was supposed to occur which was in 1881. If that one had happened, you wouldn’t be reading

this. Take note of the predictions that were accurate and the one in the last two lines that wasn’t.

Mother Shipton’s prophecy: “Carriages without horses shall go And accidents fill the world with woe; Around the world thoughts shall fly In the twinkle of an eye.

Water shall yet more wonders do, Now strange, yet shall be true; The world upside down shall be.

Through hills men shall ride,

And no horse or ass be at his side;

Under water men shall walk, Shall sleep, shall ride, shall talk;

In the air men shall be seen,

In white, in black, in green.

Iron in the water shall float

As easy as a wooden boat.

Gold shall be found, and found in a land

That’s not now known; fire and

Illustration from Mother Shipton’s Wheel of Fortune; By Means of which you may Learn your Future Destiny (ca. 1838).

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Authors Seeking Photos Of Old Moultonborough

With the holidays upon us, and with more snowy days ahead, it’s a perfect time to check family albums for old photos showing Moultonborough buildings and places. Authors Cristina Ashjian and Jane Rice continue to collect historic photos for inclusion in the forthcoming “Images of America” photo book on Moultonborough.

If you have historic photos (stereoviews, black and white photos preferred) showing what Moultonborough looked like in the early 20th century, please contact the authors. The target timeframe is 1890-1960, and the book’s focus is on historic buildings, farms, and period scenes of recreation and transportation. Seen here is a snowy view of Main Street in Moultonboro Corner c. 1920, when the Methodist Parsonage (demolished 2001) and The Homestead (which burned down in 1923) can still be seen on the hill at center, where the Moultonborough Public Library (1929) now stands. Today’s Old Country Store (1781) is to the left. The book will include 220 black and white photos of old Moultonborough, and it will be in print in time for the holidays next year. If you have vintage photos to contribute, please contact the authors at moultonborobook@gmail.com. Cristina can be reached at 603-476-8446, and Jane at 603-279-3454.

Ferber Original Painting Presented To Moultonborough Library

John Buckley, chair of the Moultonborough Public Library Board of Trustees, with artist Peter Ferber, who presented his original painting marking the 50th Anniversary of the Lee’s Mills Steamboat Meet to the Library on December 15th. Aside from the Library Trustees, attendees included Dave Thompson, who founded the Meet in 1972, members of the Thompson family, and supporters of Ferber’s project creating a 50th Anniversary poster celebrating the Steamboat Meet. The poster is available at the Old Country Store and at The Art Place in Wolfeboro.

Ladies Of The Lakes Quilters Guild Donations

As part of the Ladies of the Lakes Quilters’ Guild community service commitment, a great number of donations have been made and distributed by members of the Guild in 2022. The Ossipee, Alton and Wolfeboro Meals on Wheels organizations have received over 200 placemats for their clients. The placemats will be distributed around the holidays to brighten up a recipients’ tables. At a recent LLQG retreat at Camp Sentinel, members made 43 pillowcases that have been donated to the children of Hope House and David’s House. Thanks to a generous donation of fabric from a former member, the fabrics for the pillowcases were all child related, from Thomas the Tank to Disney Princesses. Two LLQG members made up kits and retreat attendees stitched up the pillow cases in record time. A new project LLQG has undertaken is making flannel hearts for NICU (Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit.)

Parents wear the hearts next to their skin to pick up their scent and then the hearts are placed in their baby’s incubator. These help the children bond even when they can’t be held by Mom and Dad. So far over 200 hearts have been made.

Donations to David’s House include 206 quilts, 81 pillowcases, 24 “taggie” quilts, 36 trick and treat bags, 56 knitted hats, 4 knitted outfits, six doll bed quilts and four tote bags.

Quilts of all themes and sizes have also been made and donated to Carroll County Advocacy Center and local families in need. A portion of the LLQG Annual Raffle Quilt Ticket sales are donated to organizations in our communities. This year’s recipients were the Wolfeboro Public Library ($700.00), and the New Hampshire Food Bank ($1,288.00)

At the Guild’s annual Christmas luncheon an additional $195.00 was collected for the New Hampshire Food Bank and $405.00 for the Life Ministries Food Pantry.

For further information about the Guild, please visit their website www.llqg.net LLQG is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes which are exempt from federal taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(L to R) Lindalee Lambert, LLQG; Amy Braun, Alton Senior Center; Maureen Fadden, Meals on Wheels Driver

by Brendan Smith Weirs Times Editor

NEW HAMPSHIRE F OOL

a chriSTmaS par TY

I realize it is after Christmas, but I still would like to tell you about the fantastic Chrstmas Party that we held for FATSO (Flatlanders Adjusting To Solitary Oblivion) this year.

Every holiday season the members of FATSO get together to celebrate the holidays, exchange gifts and reminisce and this one was extra special as it was the first one we have had since the pandemic started.

FATSO is a winter support group for new transplants started many years ago by my friend Vinnie and myself.

We throw these Christmas parties to not only welcome the new members, but to keep in touch with the old ones as well.

I always love to surprise the new transplants, especially those from my birthplace of New York, with traditional gifts like real New York Potato Salad and a dozen fresh Brooklyn bagels which I get from my Black Market connection here in New Hampshire.

These gifts seem to soothe their fragile psyches when the temperatures plummet for the first time and they realize there isn’t anything to do after eight o’clock at night on a weekday once summer is over. It’s Flatlander comfort food.

Of course, some old FATSO members do show up for these parties and it always brings a small tear to my eye to see how well they are doing as well as how much food they eat at the buffet.

The older FATSO members get that misty, faraway look in their eyes when they see the new FATSOs reacting to the unexpected gifts. It brings them back to their first winters here.

After a few rounds of eggnog

and Schlitz beer, the older members will exchange gifts among themselves. These are the more practical items that we Flatlanders have learned that we truly need for our survival.

For example, this year I was surprised to receive a “Flatlander Tool Box.” It seems the group got together and bought me the best one that money could buy.

Among a few of the items inside were a worn, wing-tip shoe with a hard leather sole that can be used as a hammer, a sterling butter knife screwdriver, a lobster pick for those tight, precise jobs and, of course, two dozen rolls of duct tape with a coupon good for a dozen more. The tool “box” itself was actually a high-quality canvas bag from a local book store which was a big step up from the plastic Wal-Mart bag I had used for my previous tool box and was now stuffed into the broken utility draw in my kitchen. (I have to get around to fixing that one of these days.)

I had a few surprise gifts to give out myself.

To my friend Tony, a transplant form Queens, New York. I gave a CD collection “Planes, Trains and Automobiles – A Soundtrack of New York.” Now he can sleep comfortably as the unnerving quiet of the New Hampshire countryside is replaced by the familiar, unending beat of the Long Island Expressway as it sifts through his earpiece. My favorite sound in the collection is the rumble of jets taking off from Kennedy Airport as they fly two hundred feet over your house – Ahh! What memories.

When I told Paul, a long time Flatlander who is originally from The Bronx, the gift I bought for Tony, he helped to enhance the experience when he found one of those old “magic fingers” massage machines from a motel that was out of business. Paul jerry-rigged the “magic fingers” onto Tony’s bed (using only tools

from the Flatlander Toolbox, I might add) so that he could actually “feel” the eighteenwheelers zooming by his bedroom window.

Quite a gift!

After all the gifts had been exchanged and the buffet table was cleared off with many members using the plastic bags they bought to fill with the remaining potato salad and bagels (their grandmothers would be proud) it was time to gather around the video yule log and sing some of our favorite Christmas Carols.

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas… You Got A Problem With That?” is one of my personal favorites and usually starts off the singa-long.

Soon we were into rousing renditions of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Why?” and “Santa Claus is Coming To The Mall.” A dry eye could be found after we finished the night with the strongest of voices to end the evening with “Silent Night… In This Neighborhood. Whaddya Kidding Me?”

It’s always sad when the party comes to an end. The longtime Flatlanders give each other a hug and a handshake as we know we may never see each other again until the last bobhouse sinks to the botton of Lake Winnipesaukee.

The new FATSOs we try to reassure. We give them our phone numbers and email addresses so they can contact us if they are feeling out of sorts.

It’s really a great community and we are here to help each other.

Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles”,“Best Of A F.O.O.L. In New Hampshire” and “I Only Did It For The Socks Stories & Thoughts On Aging” All are available at BrendanTSmith. com.

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)

in Live Free or Die.

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

how do we geT our naTion Back on Track?

Cohen Is Off This Week

Some thoughts about our country as the new year approaches.

The LeFT’S Big piTch: emBrace a worSe LiFe in The name oF equaLiTY

by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist

In his Farewell Address to the nation in 1796, America’s departing first president, George Washington, observed: “It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring to popular government.”

And what is the basis upon which we define morality?

Washington answers, “reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Per our first president, for a democracy to function properly, it must be guided by moral principles. And the guidelines and rules by which we define what is moral are framed by principles of the Bible.

This is not exactly what we have going on today.

Rather than our democracy following prior moral principles, our moral principles now are defined by our democracy. What we deem to be moral -- good and evil, right and wrong -- now arrives to us not from heaven but from Hollywood.

Consider how, over the last 20 years, our idea of what is morally acceptable has changed.

Twenty-two years ago, in 2001, per Gallup polling, the following percentages of Americans viewed these activities as “morally acceptable”: gay/lesbian relations: 40%; birth to unwed mother: 45%; polygamy: 7%; suicide: 13%; pornography: 30%.

In the latest survey in 2022, following are the percentages calling these same activities “morally acceptable”: gay/lesbian relations: 71%; birth to unwed mother: 70%; polygamy: 23%; suicide: 22%; pornography: 41%.

What exactly happened over 22 years that, on average, the percentage saying each morally sensitive area is morally acceptable has more than doubled?

One thing that has happened is that the percentage of Americans that think the Bible is relevant to their life has dramatically dropped.

Per Gallup, the percentage saying that religion is “very important” in their life has dropped from 70% in 1965 to 49% in 2021.

The percentage saying they attended church in the last seven days has dropped from 49% in 1960 to 29% in 2021.

Certainly contributing to this is a long series of court decisions in which interpretations

by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist

This week, The New York Times released a long expose of the shortcomings of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. Long cherished as a crown jewel of Leftwing governmental policy, the NHS has been plagued by massive resource shortcomings, requiring rationing of critical infrastructure and care. Now, citizens are waiting up to 12 hours for ambulances. “It’s a near-crisis situation that experts say reveals a breakdown of the compact between Britons and their revered National Health Service,” the Times reported, “that the government will provide responsible, efficient health care services, mostly free, across all in -

come levels.”

There can be only one excuse for such signal failure to serve the prosperity of your citizenry: the chimera of equality. This, in fact, is the clarion call of the Left: that human beings sacrifice wellbeing and prosperity on behalf of the cult of equal distribution of resources. Klaus Schwab, head of the World Economic Forum, says as much in his book, “The Great Narrative”: we should dispense with economic measures like gross domestic product (GDP) in favor of “what matters most: climate action, sustainability, inclusivity, global cooperation, health and well-being.” In fact, says Schwab, “We might even find we can live with such a scenario quite happily!” The end goal will be ending “inequality and the unfairness that underpins it” by enshrining “universal provision of social assis -

Adriana

woke comic BookS

Did you know that Superman’s son is bisexual? So is Batman’s sidekick, Robin, and lots of other superheroes created by Marvel and DC Comics.

Eric July in my new video. “They make it seem as if the only way that you can relate to a character is because you’re gay and that character’s gay, which is nonsense!”

except she’s a lesbian who uses a wheelchair. Iron Man is now a Black teenage girl. Really. Maybe this is progress.

justice element.” says July.

“When I was a kid,” I say to July, “all the characters were white. It’s a good thing more are non-white.”

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

The author of the bisexual Superman story says gay people write to say they “burst into tears” when they saw that the characters had become gay.

While it’s nice to make LGBTIQ+ people feel more welcome in the world, not everyone is happy.

They became bisexual “out of nowhere!” complains comic creator

from 6

tance,” which will require that governments “rewrite some of the rules of the game and permanently increase their roles.”

Closer to home, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie says the same when he argues in favor of government nationalization of all wealth and then redistribution of that wealth on a per capita basis... every generation. This would amount to a complete rupture of property rights -- and this in turn would mean the end of innovation, since societies that dispense with property rights and profit margins

July, who is Black, says you don’t have to share the same traits as a superhero to enjoy the character. His favorite was Batman. “I ain’t got Bruce Wayne money, and I’m not rich! And I’m certainly not white.”

July points out that there have long been gay comic superheroes, like Northstar. But what’s new and dumb is that DC and Marvel are changing the identity of established characters.

A new Batman is Black. There’s a new Spiderman-like character,

regress into stagnation and then economic collapse. But at least we will have achieved Bouie’s goal: equality!

Indeed, members of the political Left are constantly asking citizens to simply reframe their perspectives on prosperity entirely. Jerusalem Demsas, writing in The Atlantic, calls on Americans to rethink whether homeownership is worth pursuing, explaining, “pushing more and more people into homeownership actually undermines our ability to improve housing outcomes for all.” Indeed, rather than all aspiring to buy

“But they’ve been just reduced to being an item to pander to certain audiences that aren’t really buying into it,” July responds.

No, they sure aren’t. Marvel and DC had the bestselling graphic novels. Now the best sellers are from Japan. Often, they aren’t even in color, yet they outsell Marvel and DC. The American-made books aren’t even in the top 20.

“They turned off their audience by ... hyper emphasizing the social

houses and some succeeding, Demsas calls for “public investment in rental-housing quality” as well as government “rent-stabilization policies.” None of this will make it easier for anyone to own a home, but it will make everyone more equal in their governmentsponsored tenancy.

President Joe Biden’s entire economic agenda is built around the notion of economic mediocrity rooted in a self-proclaimed higher justice. Paul Waldman of The Washington Post posited this week that Biden had launched an “economic policy revolution” rooted

Marvel made its evil character M.O.D.A.A.K. resemble Donald Trump. They hired leftist writer TaNehisi Coates to create a Captain America series. Coates made the villain, Red Skull, a bizarre version of Jordan Peterson.

Instead of just saving lives, today’s comic superheroes lead protests.

The cover of a Superman comic shows Superman’s son leading a school “strike for climate.”

It’s so stupid! Superman, with all his powers, could solve climate change all by himself. But now he holds a protest sign.

“These guys are writing mate -

See STOSSEL on 27

in fighting “inequality.” This would require “more active government intervention in the economy.”

And we will all learn to love such intervention, because it will be done in the name of a higher value: equality. Not equality of rights, but equality of outcome; not equality of value, but equality of resources. The problem with this philosophy is that it removes the incentive for all that creates prosperity: work, creativity, thrift, responsibility. And removing that incentive means more misery for everyone.

SHAPIRO

Letters From God

This series of Letters From God is an attempt to put the thoughts of God as revealed in the Scriptures as they relate to individuals and the nation of the USA.

Letters From God

QUESTION: What Does It Mean ‘To Number Our Days?

You are, no doubt, referring to Psalm 90:12 which I asked Moses to write. It states, “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I wanted him to remind you of the temporal nature of your life on earth as well as encourage you to maximize whatever days you have, so that when you one day stand before me, you can demonstrate that you were wise.

To answer your question, to number your days is another way of saying, make them count. In other words, use them wisely. It goes on to say that you should use your days wisely to acquire a “heart of wisdom.”

Wisdom is skill at living. A wise person discovers and then practices living in such a way that they experience maximum life in a dying world.

All of you are on a death march. No one will get out alive. Not only will you experience physical death but all of you are dying on your feet as well. This is what has been described as being a dead man or woman walking. You are alive

physically, but death permeates your life. This is because your relationship with me, God, is dead. You have made yourself a “god,” or pursued other “gods” who are not God, and rejected me, the one true God and the only source of life. I made you and gave you life. Only I can fill your days with life and enable you to live after you die. Yet you reject me and seek to find life apart from me. At the same time, you practice things that I have told you to avoid because I know they will harm you.

I have made my 10 Commandments the essence of what you should practice, as well as avoid. They include, not having any other God but me, not making idols to bow to and worship by dedicating your life to them, not misusing my name since I am your creator God and the source of life as well as the only name by which you can be saved, honoring me by observing the Sabbath with worship and rest, honoring your parents with obedience and respect, not murdering others, either literally or mentally with anger that could kill if you were given the right opportunity, not committing adultery by being faithful to one man or woman in marriage for life, not stealing, not giving false witness by lying about others, not coveting what others have so that you are content with what you have instead of

endlessly grasping for what you don’t have (Exodus 20:1-17). Examine your life and see if it isn’t true, that any violation of any of these commands has brought harmful consequences into your life and some form of “death” has ensued.

If temporal death isn’t bad enough, one day you will stand before me and give an account of how you lived your life. I can only allow you to spend eternity with me, and the perfect life I know, if you have never transgressed even one of my commands. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilt of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10). I am holy, without sin, and you must be holy to have a relationship with me (Matthew 5:48). Since you are not, this will lead to an eternity away from me, the source of life, and therefore an eternity of “death.”

So how then can you make your days count, so that you can stand before me and present me with a heart of wisdom, a heart that has become skilled at living? You must fear me. I also asked Solomon to write in the book of Proverbs, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” which is skill at living, “and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10). Fear me as you would a policeman or judge if you violate the laws given to protect life. They don’t hate you or want to hurt you but since they desire

to honor laws that protect life, they will have to bring painful consequences if you violate them. Fearing those consequences will turn you away from wrong behavior that will invariably bring pain and some form of “death.”

More importantly, when you fear me as stated above, you will want to ask me for forgiveness and seek to obey me. When you do, I will forgive all your sins and give you the power to obey me. You will live a life of wisdom, that gives you maximum life and minimum death and when you stand before me at the time of your physical death, I will welcome you into my perfect eternal kingdom because I have forgiven all your sins.

It is a New Year. Resolve to “number your days,” to make them count for life, from me.

I love you, God

These letters are written by a New Hampshire pastor.

Tech neck poSTure, iT’S ever Ywhere!

by Dr. Denise M Pickowicz NH Concussion Center

“Posture is declining at the rate of technology-It took us 3 million years to get bipedal and a couple of decades of technology to ruin it.” – Dr. Krista Burns, DC – American Posture Institute

“Tech neck” or “text neck” is the act of stressing muscles while using phones, tablets, and computers, commonly resulting in neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, and numbness of the arms and hands. It occurs when the head tilts forward at varying degrees causing the amount of pressure on the cervical spine to multiply. This position can also be described as someone having a “forward head posture”. When an individual has healthy posture and is standing completely upright, you will see their ear located directly over their shoulder at 0 degrees. In this position, the head weighs approximately 10-12lbs. With every 15-degree tilt forward, the weight of the head will be distributed in such a way on the neck that the head will actually weigh more. With a 15-degree forward head carriage the head weighs 27lbs, at

30 degrees the head weighs 40lbs, at 45 degrees the head weighs 49lbs, and at 60 degrees head will weigh an incredible 60lbs! Sixty pounds of pressure crushing down on the cervical spine when you are looking at your smart phone or computer! This is incredibly alarming because from a neurological perspective, this added pressure on the cervical spine by perceived head weight may produce considerable postural stresses impacting blood flow, respiration, proprioception, cognition, and mood.

Over time, forward head posture can reduce the normal cervical spine curvature causing imbalance and tension in neck muscles, decrease blood flow from arteries in the neck to the head, and cause changes to blood flow in the brain. The brain needs blood to help with clear thinking, to increase healing and reduce inflammation (especially from a concussion or brain injury), and to communicate with the body appropriately. When the head is forward and the neck curvature is reduced, biomechanically the mid back overcompensates by increasing its curvature causing the shoulders to become more rounded and “hunched” which in turn decreases the ability of the lungs and diaphragm to expand when an individual breathes in. With less lung expansion, the

body must use accessory muscles and more energy to breathe resulting in poor respiration and decreased oxygen to the body. This can lead to fatigue, poor circulation, and an increase in the sympathetic nervous system or “fight or flight” response of stress and anxiety.

Furthermore, forward head posture, has also been shown to significantly impact cervical proprioception, or the ability to know where your body is in space based on the location of your neck and head. Forward head posture has a negative effect on the muscle spindle activity involved in proprioception, resulting in cervical repositioning errors and deficits of dynamic balance ability. In other words, having your head in too forward of a position can lead to the brain misjudging where it is in space causing a tendency towards balance issues and falls. Interestingly enough, with the brain not accurately perceiving where it is in space, proper movement is inhibited leading to a fear of moving and walking around. Movement is essential to give input to the brain and without input, the brain can begin to decay. Research shows that “Mobility and upright posture is associated with aspects of cognition including memory. These results provide the first evidence for a link between postural alignment and cogni -

tive function in healthy older adults”. When we see individuals suffering with dementia, they have a characteristic hunched forward posture which tends to be associated with being elderly or being of “old age”. Again, this is because when there is a decline in upright posture and the posture system, cognitive function and capabilities are impacted as we resist gravity, and hence there is a reduction in cognitive output. Lastly, Tech neck posture due to smartphone and electronics use has also been seen to cause negative effects on a person’s psychological status such as depression and this has more to do then with just screen time and viewed content. Research has shown there is a direct connection between posture and mood. Typically, when a person has hunched forward posture, they exhibit feelings and emotions of being closed, depressed, and have less self-perceived leadership. On the flip side, someone with more upright and open posture is perceived as being more confident, positive, approachable and tends to express positive self-image, thoughts, and memory recall. There is a correlation between muscle activation and activation of different areas in the brain and due to this, change in psychological status and slumped forward pos-

DR. THOMAS A. FAGAN, DC

The heaLTh BeneFiTS

oF generoSiTY

by Kelly Chapman Meredith Whole Living Center

While many of us can relate to the excitement of giving a well thought out gift this time of year, or the warm feeling in our hearts we get when we go out of our way to help and support a friend or family member, it may surprise you that our natural inclination to give and be of service in our families and communities actually comes with some measurable health benefits. Those with a generous spirit release a powerful combination of chemicals and wellness supporting outcomes when giving that have even been tied to a longer, more satisfying life.

On a chemical level, authentic acts of generosity are known to release serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.

These chemicals are, respectively, responsible for mood regulation, a sense of pleasure, and the formation of lasting bonds. You may recognize them if you’ve ever researched the health benefits of other positive lifestyle choices like regular exercise. Giving activates the reward and pleasure parts of our brain and releases endorphins in a similar manner. In fact, the heart protective outcomes of living a life infused with generosity have been noted to be on par with those of a healthy diet and exercise, and can produce similar long term benefits. Specifically, engaging in acts of generosity and heartfelt giving over time have been tied to lower blood pressure and lowered stress and cortisol levels, all of which are quite literally heart protective. Additionally, those who live a generous life, and especially those who use their energy to support loved ones and causes they value report higher self esteem and lower rates of depression over

time.

It’s important to note that while generosity can include the exchange of money or other items, it is not at all limited by our wealth. The health and wellness benefits of generosity are just as easily created from seemingly small daily decisions, including giving a neighbor a hand with their groceries or volunteering for a local organization. Interestingly, this is not a case of more is always better, as findings have shown that giving beyond our capacity not only doesn’t create an increased sense of well-being, but can even negate some of the benefits of generosity and lead to burn out and frustration. Balancing the perceived needs of others while gauging our own capacity for service at any given time is important. It seems on some level our hearts really do respond to authenticity here, and some of the strongest ties to longevity outcomes are when our actions are connected to how we create a form of purpose and meaning

for our lives. As noted in previous articles, one of the cornerstone features of a satisfying life is our ability to create this sense of greater purpose, and intentionally doing so helps us to activate our anti-fragility, or ability to grow and expand through hardships rather than being worn down by them.

We all go through seasons where it’s easier to give, as well as those when we’re in need of support. Given the sur-

See CHAPMAN on 13

Hearing Loss Leads to Lost Cognitive Function

Austin wants to tell you about a very important finding in medical research. Any decline in hearing results in declines in cognitive performance and brain function.

Audiology Specialists provides cognitive screening that can measure some aspects of cognitive performance. This is an in-office, computerized screening. This is not an IQ test or list of questions. It is a simple, automated assessment that takes about ten minutes to complete.

The results of this screening are not affected by hearing loss. The results help your audiologist determine which hearing aid is most appropriate and ensures your hearing solutions are right for you. The screening can be repeated at any time in the future to identify changes in cognitive performance.

Please call for more information or to schedule an appointment at 603-528-7700.

Ever catch yourself wondering what’s the point of life? It’s one of the most common questions humans have been pondering since the beginning of mankind.

When my paternal grandfather retired from the Boston Naval Shipyard, he struggled with the unfamiliar abundance of time off. Like many, his career had become an integral part of his identity as a husband and father: the family provider. In the absence of his career, he found himself in need of a new identity. He had to reinvent himself. He talked with my dad about what made working so meaningful, narrowing it down to one simple thing. “I miss the hungry years,” he said. He described it as the time in his life where he knew his role. He had a family to take care of and did so primarily by going to work to keep a roof over, shoes under, food on, and everything else in between. There was

making meaning

something lackluster to him about getting a ‘paycheck’ in retirement without actively earning it week to week. This man had pride.

He went on to develop a hobby, initially to build dollhouse furniture for my grandmother. He was a highly skilled craftsman having been a coppersmith at the Shipyard his entire career, so it was no surprise when he turned his hobby into a new career, selling his tiny furniture clear across the country.

He managed to get his craft down to a quarter inch scale, building intricate grand pianos, wardrobes and dressers with drawers that pulled out, furniture with the tiniest hinges on them that actually worked. He even made drop-leaf desks with tiny supports that slid out. Much of his furniture was operable. The pianos looked so real that you expected to hear music when you touched the tiny keys. He created something that gave him a sense of pride and purpose: he made life more meaningful.

He didn’t stop there. He also dove into photography. I can remember him with his 35mm draped around his neck at family gatherings. More often than not the camera covered his face as he took candid shots of the family. And he de-

veloped a love of baking, declaring himself the official cake-baker for all the birthday gatherings.

He learned to enjoy retirement as something he earned through all his years of hard work, even to the point that he was ok going fishing on Tuesdays.

Humans thrive on being purposeful, in part by engaging in activities that give them a sense of pride, contributing to something greater than themselves. It might be hard to imagine but what if I told you that you do something on a regular basis, often without even thinking about it, that contributes meaningfully to your family, community, society, and the greater good?

Don’t believe me? Take a moment and think about how you spend your time. Take work for instance. Other than the paycheck and benefits, what motivates you to go to work? I’m thinking about human acts of kindness that make us feel purposeful and give us a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. Those little things we do as part of our good nature that give us a feelgood feeling about being alive, about being a part of something, about making even a small difference in someone’s life.

The grocery store clerk who stops to help

a vertically-challenged person like myself reach something on the top shelf. That’s not part of their job description; it’s part of their character.

The gas attendant who withstands the extreme temperatures so that someone else can fuel-up from the comfort of their warm vehicle. That’s endurance.

The landscaper who mows lawns, not just for those who can afford to pay someone else to do it, but also for those who want to do it themselves but are not physically capable: in service to those less fortunate.

How about those plow truck drivers who work tirelessly to clear the roads so that life can go on? These folks work for 10, 20, 30 hours at a time in dangerous conditions… by choice. Hat’s off to them.

Healthcare workers who choose to devote their careers to helping others, attending years of college to gain knowledge and skills to do so. Commitment.

Law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters who put their own lives on the line for the greater good. These folks defy nature, running into dangerous situations when everyone else is running away. Bravery.

What would we do without humans who are committed to these

by Leslie Gray, LCMHC Gray Matters Counseling & Wellness

ture, is now a diagnostic factor of depression. It has been said that, “Tech neck posture is a posture of neurologic decline” and even though it is now “normal,” it is not ideal.

By identifying postural distortions, correcting them with gentle chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal curvature, utilizing physical therapy to address muscular imbalance, working on postural stretching and strengthening exercises, etc. one can better stimulate their neurological system. Also, by implementing a few tips such as paying attention to workplace ergonomics, lifting your smartphones to eye level while viewing, and working to remind yourself to use proper posture, you can improve your blood flow, decrease pain and symptomatology, have healthy balance, obtain greater cognition and improve mood. Give yourself the gift of good posture and experience improved quality of life today.

Dr. Denise Pickowicz, Doctor of Chiropractic, Fellow of the International Board of Functional Neurology, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, and owner of NH Concussion Center

roles and so many others that I haven’t mentioned here? Essential workers. This terminology was not a household name before 2020. But it isn’t limited to a job title. It is expansive. Behaving in a meaningful way, engaging in essential services results in feeling purpose and pride. This is where motivation gets its fuel to keep you doing what you do. Still not convinced? Talk to someone who is retired and now volunteers in some way. They don’t get a paycheck or benefits. They often don’t even get recognition

for what they do. They do it because it makes them feel purposeful, gives them a sense of belonging and pride. So maybe it isn’t so much about there being a point of life but rather creating what makes it meaningful to you by how you live your life and what you contribute to the world around you.

Leslie A. Gray is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and operates Gray Matters Counseling & Wellness, PLLC in Laconia NH. Feel free to submit responses or requests for subject content to: askgraymatters@ gmail.com.

prising benefits generosity has on your loved ones, if this is a season where you’re on the receiving end of giving, you can rest assured that by accepting this help you’re creating an opportunity that’s also beneficial to those around you. Our systems have truly been designed for this form of human connection, and the warm feeling we get in our hearts when we show up for each other is having so much more of an impact on us than we ever may have realized.

Kelly Chapman, Owner of Meredith Whole Living Center

CHAPMAN from 11

GRAY from 12

PICKOWICZ from 10

ice FiShing SaFeTY

by Tim Moore Contributing Writer

It’s December, and I will likely recycle this article this month every year for as long as I am writing. For it’s a topic that should never get old or be ignored. Lakes and ponds are beginning to form their first sheets of ice, and early ice is one of the most dangerous times of the entire ice fishing season. Since ice

Early in the season, floating ice pics like the ones worn around Tim’s neck here are an essential life saving piece of equipment.

never forms uniformly due to varying temperatures, current, and other natural factors, it is important that you never assume ice is safe. Every year many people die and countless more need to be rescued after falling through the ice while ice fishing. Accidents on the ice are preventable, but they require effort on the part of the user. As we begin to prepare for the coming ice fishing season, a few basic safety tools and techniques could be the difference between life and death.

There are many variables when talking about safe ice thick-

ness such as how quickly the ice formed and whether it snowed or thawed during formation. Quickly forming (clear ice) is the strongest, while ice that has partially thawed during formation or had snow temporarily interrupt the freezing process will be weaker as there will be more air trapped inside. The only way to know how thick the ice is, is to check it as you go with a chisel (spud bar) or auger. I have seen ice thickness change from four inches to two inches in just ten feet, so check often. While a spud bar might sound like more work than drilling with an auger.

The bar makes this job easier in several ways. As you walk between places you chisel through, drive the bar into the ice like a walking stick and listen to the sound the sound bar makes as you chisel. If the sound of the spud bar hitting the ice changes, then so has the ice thickness, and it’s time to recheck.

Spud bar isn’t the only item ice anglers should have to keep them safe. Good traction, such as Kahtoola Microspikes, are a must. Traction not only helps protect you from falling and injuring yourself, but it is essential should you

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

FenwaY FooTBaLL

Did you know that Fenway Park hosted a college football bowl game on December 17?

Yes, it’s true. It was actually called the Wasabi Fenway Bowl game and it featured the Louisville Cardinals (7-5) beating the Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3) by a score of 24-7. The winner of this traditional rivalry game wins the “Keg of Nails,” which was probably the only keg in action on 12/17, the contest being an NCAA event.

(At a Red Sox home game around 15,000 beers are typically sold.)

The grid matchup was played under threatening skies with a game-time temperature a balmy 37 degrees. Not quite the Orange Bowl. Official attendance estimate was 15,000, but you’d never know it by looking at all the empty seats on ESPN. Fans must have been getting coffee (as opposed to beer) while avoiding the elements in the concession areas.

Attendance might have been better if Boston College was involved, but the Eagles finished 3-9 and the NCAA prefers

that Bowl Game participants have winning records.

The novelty aspect of a college bowl game being played at a sports park where Babe Ruth once trod had some appeal—but apparently limited appeal.

Fenway, of course, has hosted other novelty events, to include concerts, weddings, boxing matches and even political rallies.

Minnesota senator and presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy pulled in 40,000 “fans” during a rally in 1968. And there wasn’t even a “Keg of Nails” at stake.

College and pro ice hockey games at Fenway have now become de rigueur . Indeed, the Bruins will host the NHL’s 2023 Winter Classic there against the Penguins on January 2.

But Fenway football really isn’t that much of a novelty. The NFL’s Boston Redskins played four seasons at Fenway back in the thirties, before moving to Washington, D.C.

(The name “Redskins” was chosen because it sounded a bit like “Red Sox.” This was before the nickname became non grata .)

And the Patriots played numerous games at Fenway, the last one being a 3314 win over the expansion Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1, 1968. Remember Babe Parilli, Gino Cappelletti, and Jim Nance? You don’t remember? Don’t worry about it.

There was a time when most major league cities had dual purpose stadia that housed both MLB and NFL teams. It used to be cool to watch NFL games in September

when dirt baseball infields were still part of the gridiron experience. The Oakland Coliseum was the last stadium to host both pro baseball and pro football simultaneously. Raider placekicker Sebastian Janikowski used to hate kicking field goals from the dirt.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field was the site of the 1963 NFL Championship game where the Bears beat Y.A. Tittle and the New York Giants, 14-10. Gridsters went into the baseball dugouts to warm up. Cool!

Both the baseball Giants and the football Giants used to play at New York’s Polo Grounds—which wasn’t meant for either baseball or football. It apparently was built for … polo! It was only 258 feet down the left field line and 279 feet down the right field line. And almost 500 feet to straightaway center field.

But the multi-purpose stadia are largely history. The Raiders now play in the domed Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada— where is hardly ever rains. It cost about $2 billion—the second most expensive sports edifice in the world. An interesting place, to which the New England Patriots will attest.

Prior

How

Filer? No Problem Statutes of Limitation

Fenway Park really DID host a college football bowl game this month

raSpBerr Y Jam BarS

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The Simple Feast Simple The Simple

Did you know that National Lemon Bar Day was October 15? Don’t feel bad, neither did I. And, I’m fairly confident in stating that it will probably be a long while before everyone catches on to this and makes it a national holiday.

As most of my tales in the kitchen do, this story of the Jam Bar too began as a totally different subject. What started as a quest to use canned Yams (Sweet Potatoes) in a dessert, ended up becoming Raspberry Jam Bars. And, while I did use the yams in a successful bar recipe, I thought the Jam Bar would have more appeal to readers with a sweet tooth.

So why Jam Bars? Well, I bought “jelly” at the local Basket a while back and it just sat in the fridge. My wife and son both take their lunch to work and I can usually count on them to glean the fridge of recent leftovers, the fall back plan being a PBJ (Peanut Butter and Jelly). I figured at store brand prices the nuances to each (jams, jellies, et al) are lost upon the general consumer within this household. The prerequisite,

I thought, was as long as it passes for mashed up fruit in a semi jellified state and spreads between two pieces of bread, it’s all good.

Oh how wrong I was, for there it sat in the fridge amongst the assorted half bottles of condiments, sauces, and various sundry items. Upon inquiry as to why no one had eaten the Raspberry Jelly, I was informed that I had bought the ¨wrong¨ jelly. I never knew there was a ¨WRONG¨ jelly, just some preferred over others. But, the jelly snobs in the house informed me that ¨Rasp-

berry Preservers IS NOT JELLY!¨, because it has seeds in it. Not wanting to argue the point, I let it go, as it would be an argument in futility. But, yes, I am aware of the technical differences between jam, jelly, and preserves (and yes too, marmalades, fruit butters, and assorted fillings). However, I need not digress further down this rabbit trail.

So just what is a Jam Bar? A square? A cookie? Well, first off, some will call it a Square for the obvious reason that bars are square or sort of “rectangular¨, often having two opposing

sides longer than the two short ends that make up the four sides. (That is about the extent of my knowledge of Geometry.) But beyond their shape, I think of Jam Bars as the delicious misfits of the dessert world. With a crunchy cookie-like bottom crust, a layer of sweet “jam” and topped with a bit of crumble topping. But, to say the Jam Bar is a cookie would be like, to steal a line from the old commercial, saying Palerno “All Fruit¨ is, well… “jelly.”

So, while the Jam

STrange BuT True

by Lucie Winborne Syndicated Columnist

*

likely to be returned to their owners if they contained a photo of a baby. Barring that, you’re also more likely to recover one if you typically carry pictures of a puppy, family members or an elderly couple.

* The word “check -

mate” comes from the Arabic “shat mat,” or “The king is dead.”

* Want your candles to burn longer and drip less? Put them in the freezer for a few hours before lighting them.

* In what must qua lify as one of the oddest marketing campaigns ever created, Burger King launched one that entitled customers to a free Whopper if they unfriended 10 Facebook friends. Those folks would receive a message explaining that their digital relationship was less valuable than the sandwich. Hey, we like Whoppers too, but really!

* Dolphins have been witnessed amusing themselves by creating underwater bubble rings.

* There’s a Google Map for Mercury, Venus, Earth’s moon, Mars, Pluto, three out of four of Jupiter’s moons, and all but one of the round Saturnian moons.

* Leonardo da Vinci often bought caged animals just to set them free.

* Early 19th-century composer Robert Schumann had an interesting, if grisly and ineffective, method of attempting to cure any disease he had or might have: plunging his hands into

the guts of recently slaughtered animals.

* Sid Nouar, owner of the 1000&1 Signes restaurant in Paris, was the first deaf person to open a restaurant in France. It is also staffed entirely by deaf employees.

* When Ivan the Terrible’s young son Dmitry died, a bell was rung to mark the occasion. The bell was later lashed, tried for treason, found guilty and exiled to Siberia. Why? Local legend had it that the bell rang of its own accord, which was considered an evil omen.

* Each team must provide the referee with 24 footballs for each NFL game.

* A neuroscientist suffered a series of strokes that left him with an irresistible urge to rhyme and rap. He made the most of this unusual side effect by going on to pursue freestyle rap and improvisation as a hobby.

* Almost every New York City alley scene in the movies is shot at the same location.

* Nigel Richards won a French Scrabble World Championship without actually knowing how to speak the language. He just memorized words from a French dictionary.

by JoAnn Derson Syndicated Columnist

* The end of the year is a great time to pick up next year’s holiday decorations at a discount. Before you pack away your holiday lights, ornaments, cards, etc., do an inventory and see if you are able to find what you need to complete your look at a slashed price.

* Computer grocery lists can make not only shopping easier, but organization as well. Keep a file listing all the items you usually purchase from week to week. You can even create sections based on where certain items are located throughout the store. This will ensure you don’t miss something, necessitating a return trip to the store. Stay organized to save money.

* “Keep a small package of antibacterial wipes in your car to clean your hands after pumping gas. Not only is there any potential gas to get off your hands, but these handles don’t get cleaned often, and are very dirty.” -- R.D. in South Carolina

* “If you have extra papers that are only printed on one side, save them. You can cut them in quarters and staple several sheets together to make scrap paper pads to keep near the telephone or on the fridge. They are handy, and you’ll be reusing material, which is good

here’S a Tip

for the environment.” -- U.L. in Missouri

* Burned rice? No problem. While it’s still hot, carefully remove to a new pot any rice not browned or blackened. Then top it with a single slice of white bread. Allow it to sit for several minutes under a tightly

fitted lid. The burned smell is absorbed by the bread, and the rice is fit to eat. -- M.U. in Michigan

* Putting up new calendars? Before you toss your old one, be sure to look through it for important anniversaries, and cut out and save

any pictures or art that might be reusable for craft projects.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

ACKERLY’S

Grill & Galley 83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383 Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com

Woodstock - Dbl Pig’s Ear Stoneface - IPA Baxter - Coastal Haze Tuckerman - Pale Ale Sierra Nevada - Celebration

COPPER KETTLE TAVERN

At Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant 233 D.W. Hwy, Meredith 603.279.6212 hartsturkeyfarm.com Henniker - Working Man’s Porter Concord Craft - Safe Space Stoneface - IPA Moat Mtn - Blueberry 603 - Winni Amber Ale ...+6 More On Tap

D.A. LONG TAVERN

At Funspot 579 Endicott St N., Weirs 603.366.4377 funspotnh.com Mast Landing - Double December Sun Two Roads - Holiday Ale Deciduous - Short List Oxbow - Luppolo Maine Beer - Mo Four Quarters - Great Bear ...+6 More On Tap

FOSTER’S TAVERN

403 Main Street Alton Bay, NH 603-875-1234 fosterstavernbythebay.com

Tuckerman - Pale Ale

Sam Adams - Seasonal Sam Adams - Wicked Hazy Maine Beer Co - Lunch Lord Hobo - Boomsauce ...+2 More On Tap

JOHNSON’S TAPHOUSE

At Johnson’s Seafood & Steak 69 Rt 11, New Durham 603.859.7500 eatatjohnsons.com/ newdurham

Lone Pine -Brightside Widowmaker -Blue Comet Shipyard -Smashed Pumpkin Jack Abby -Red Tape

Muddy Road -1762 Porter Northwoods -Autumn Buzz ...+30 More On Tap

MORRISSEYS’

Porch & Pub 286 S. Main St., Wolfeboro 603.569-3662

Morrisseysfrontporch.com

Smithwick’s

Guinness Harp

Concord Craft Safe Space

Concord Craft Coffee Stout Stella Artois ...+11 More On Tap

OVER THE MOON FARMSTEAD

1253 Upper City Rd., Pittsfield overthemoonfarmstead.com

A Little Fling - Strawberry Rhubarb mead 6.5%

IPA 7.8%

Scotch Ale 5.4% Octoberfest 5.7% Chili Lime Ale 4.5% White Knight Wit 5.1% ...+8 More On Tap

PATRICK’S PUB

18 Weirs Rd., Gilford 603.293.0841 Patrickspub.com

Patrick’s Slainte House Ale

Great North - Moose Juice Guinness Clown Shoes - Bubble Head 603 - Winni Amber Ale Tuckerman - Pale Ale ...+9 More On Tap

THE WITCHES BREW PUB

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

FB @craftbeerxchange

Kettlehead – 101.1 Quad IPA

Oskar Blues – Mama’s Little Yella Pils

1911 – Cider Donut Cider

Able Ebenezer – Veterans Blend IPA

Cigar City – Maduro Brown Ale

Left Hand – Peanut Butter Milk Stout ...+30 More On Tap

** Tap listings subject to change!

Water shall wonders do;

England shall at last admit a Jew.

The world to an end shall come

In Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-one. “

Back in 1874 a few people may have been wondering about 1881, but Lakeport resident and Dartmouth College student, Albert Sanborn, wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper about the activities and plans at Dartmouth College at the beginning of that current year.

Apparently the winter vacation began sometime after the beginning of the new year. “New Year’s day,” Sanborn wrote, “was passed in the usual manner, the members of the faculty receiving calls from many of the students, as did some of the residents of the village.”

Remember that was 1874, so the calls were not telephone calls. It appears to have been some sort of a meet and greet tradition that they carried on.

On Monday of that

first week of the year, according to freshman student Sanborn of the class of 1877, “Francis Murphy delivered his stirring temperance lecture in the College Church

Newest Release By Brendan Smith

*Flatlander’s Observations On Life

to a large audience. One could not but be deeply impressed with the experiences of Mr. Murphy, and the sympathies which he exhibits for those who have fallen victims to the vices of intemperance.” The student also expressed interest in a future lecture by Senator Patterson, who had just returned from a trip to Europe, about his observation of topics relating to foreign lands.

There appeared to be excitement about the progress that Dartmouth College had experienced and that which was anticipated. In 1874 there were ten buildings at the College, including the most elegant buildings in Hanover, in Sanborn’s opinion, that had been erected in the previous ten years.

They were the gymnasium, built by “the munificence of Geo. H. Bissell, Esq, of New York, at an expense of $24,000,” Conant Hall and Culver Hall.

Plans for the future included the consolidating of the libraries, which then were kept by the various societies on campus, into one large library with a librarian appointed by the College, This would require the building of an elegant library building.

Another item from the old scrapbook from an unknown year states that the weather prophets said that year would produce a severely cold winter based on the condition of wishbones, goose breastbones, and corn husks. It also predicted 26 snow-storms that year based on

the formula that when there is a snowstorm on December 5th there will be 26 days left in the month. That figured into meaning 26 more snowstorms that winter. You figure what that means for this winter. I suppose that if we had no snow until Christmas that would have added up to six snowstorms for this winter.

And, if you are into making resolutions, here’s a newspaper clipping previos to many inflation cycles that have since reduced the value of the two-dollar bill: “Mrs. Dorcas Hanaford, of New Hampton, N.H., made a vow many years ago that she would give $2 a year to some one of our benevolent causes, so long as she was able to earn it herself. Although she is entirely blind, and is now 80 years old, she has not failed to keep her vow. How her example rebukes the multitudes who have sight and strength and wealth,

but give nothing!”

Remember also that those were the days when housewives seldom worked outside the home.

As we say good-by to year 2022 and hello to 2023 I want to thank everyone who reads this column for doing so. A special thanks to those who have taken the time to contact me with your comments. I try to respond to those who do, but have had a letter or two with missing or damaged addresses that has prevented a response. My apologies.

Wishing a happy and meaningful new year to all, with a Biblical admonition: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Ad for alcohol and drug abuse treatment center. -1904.

Tim considers the Ascent Suit from Ice Armor by Clam to be a crucial element in his safety and success.

MOORE from 14

need to help rescue another person. Companies such as Clam Outdoors offer safety throw ropes that can be used to throw a rope to someone who has fallen through the ice, floating safety picks that float up in front of your face where you can easily reach them, ice fishing suits that offer added buoyancy, and other valuable safety products specifically designed with the ice angler in mind. In today’s hi-tech world, there is no need to take risks. There is a tool for every job, and safety should come first.

Today, there are multiple floating ice fishing suits available to anglers, or anyone who might venture onto the ice. These suits contain a buoyant liner that will make selfrescue much faster and easier should you fall through. My preferred suit is the Ascent Suit from Ice Armor

by Clam. Due to the patented Motion Float technology, this suit is one of the most comfortable on the market, I honestly can’t tell that there is a buoyant liner in it. The suit also has a removable fleece liner for colder days. I wear this suit on the ice every day. Early and late in the season you will also see ice safety picks around my neck that I can use to help pull myself back up onto the ice should I ever fall through.

Ice safety gear isn’t always inexpensive, but it’s hopefully the least used piece of ice fishing gear you will purchase, and the easiest to justify to that significant other who may be skeptical of your fishing expenses. Don’t get complacent this season when your lakes and ponds begin to freeze. Our friends and families are far more important than a day spent on a block of ice trying to outsmart a fish. If you

can’t afford to take advantage of some of the newer safety gear on the market. Stick with the basics and use common sense. A little common sense goes a long way, and your loved ones will appreciate it. As you head out onto first ice this season, remember that there is no such thing as safe ice and always proceed with caution. Also, to answer the question you might be asking; no, I have never fallen through…yet.

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

sic case of “everything happens for a reason.”

I went to a local birding hot spot, but it was closed because the roads of the park were not yet plowed. I circled back to another park, more than a little annoyed about not being able to explore my initial destination with a fresh layer of snow on it.

I was annoyed no longer as soon as I drove into the new spot. I saw a large flock of small birds take off from the main parking lot and head to the western part of the beach. I knew right away that they were snow buntings so I parked the car and walked in their direction.

When flushed, a flock of snow buntings takes off as one, circles the area and, as one, settles on a safe spot, usually not far from their original spot. I got to know this behavior very well as several times unleashed dogs spooked the flock and sent the birds airborne. This always seemed to happen

as I painfully slowly approached the flock, often crawling in the snow, in an attempt to get some photographs.

Finally, I used the dogs to my advantage. I noticed that the flock was toggling back and forth between two spots — one near the beach

and one in a small grassy, weedy area near some small sailboats.

As the birds were comfortably eating by the beach, I settled into a spot where I could use one of the sailboats as a blind. My thought was that a dog and owner would walk past me

and eventually get to the beach to scare the buntings back to me. I cared only slightly about what the dog and owner would think of the strange person kneeling in the snow behind a sailboat.

Every once in a great while my plans work

out perfectly. This was one of them.

Two minutes after the first dog and owner walked past me, the birds came rushing back to the grassy, weedy area. That’s when I noticed the larks with the buntings. In fact, it appeared as though the larks outnumbered the buntings. The “horns” on the larks are not obvious to see, but when you do seem them, there is little doubt left

about the identification.

The birds fed on the seeds of the weeds as I quietly sat behind the sailboat observing them. I snapped a few photos and went back to observing. The larks would often stretch their heads up high to reach the not-so-low hanging seeds.

Then my plan showed a flaw, which is more typical of my plans. The next dog came up behind me and flushed the birds again. Back to the beach they went. But a little more patience was all it took as the dog eventually reached the sand and chased the birds right back to me.

This time I watched the buntings more, especially since one brave bunting kept moving closer and closer to me.

I didn’t raise my camera to photograph this bunting because if I had spooked just that one bird, the entire flock would have followed.

I figured they needed their energy, especially after the snow the day before.

Eventually I explored the rest of the park and saw brant, red-breasted mergansers, buffleheads, tree sparrows, gulls upon gulls and two American pipits.

But the highlight was definitely the buntings and larks. I remember every time I’ve seen snow buntings, from the first time at Plum Island in Massachusetts to last week and every time in between, which fortunately, has been plenty.

I just hope the sightings keep on coming. I sure hope my desk is made of real wood.

CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO

RASPBERRY JAM BARS

1 Cup Raspberry Preserves

¼ tsp. Clove

Preparation Instructions

Shortbread Crust

- Cut butter into a mixing bowl and whip with a wire whisk attachment. Add sugar, then flour, salt, and spices. Whisk until the butter flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

- Divide off ½ cup of crust mixture and hold in reserve.

- Pour remaining crust mixture into an ungreased, parchment lined 9x9 pan (parchment pressed to fit the pan and up the sides).

- Evenly distribute and lightly pat down the crumbs to create a level firm dough across the bottom of the pan and then bake for 12 minutes at 425 degrees F. Then remove from the oven to cool for about 10 minutes.

BARS

- Spread the Raspberry Preserves over the Shortbread Crust base.

- Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of crumb mixture evenly over the top of the jam.

- Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 40 to 45 minutes (until the jam bubbles).

- Remove from the oven and let it stand until cool. (About an hour.)

FEAST from 19

Bar is certainly not a cookie you really cannot call them a Square in the traditional sense because, around these parts at least, we think of a “Square” as those delicious soft, tender, base layer “crusts” topped with a layer of flakey crust and sandwiched between these two pastries is a filling of Fig, Lemon, or Raspberry. So, while they do come in a variety of flavors and they are not really a cookie, some would argue that these Jam Bars are not a square either. And, if you are not confused yet, you should be, because I am.

So, if following this logic, does this mean that Tollhouse Squares are not squares either? And, if not squares,

are they bars? After all these years of calling rectangles squares, and squares bars, and bars rectangles, perhaps that is why I failed high school Geometry? Not knowing my squares from my rectangles from my bars. Or perhaps it was because I spent too much time trying to figure out how many servings are in a pi? Or was I trying to determine the ratio of the circumference of pie? Hmmm???

These Raspberry Jam Bars are so incredibly simple to make and the recipe is adaptable to nearly any jam or preserve. I have even made them with Lemon pie filling. When cooked and fresh from the oven, the jam, all bubbly hot, takes on a sticky-like consistency

akin to molten lava so it is best to let this dessert cool and set before eating. Once cooled (chilled overnight for best results) the cookie-like crust becomes a crunchy yummy crisp and the topping too adds to this yummy effect.

Perhaps the only drawback to these bars is that this combination of crisp cookie and candy-like jam, when you eat it, will find every cavity you never knew you had. Indeed this cookie, square, bar tastes so good it would make a great New Years Eve party dessert and is, without question, worthy of this Simple Feast.

Enjoy!

All

¼ Cup Butter (cold cubes) 1 ½ Cups AP Flour Dash of Salt

INGREDIENTS

down to zero in regulation and still lose the game in regulation on Dec. 18? The Raider Miracle at Allegiant Stadium. But I digress.)

Back to Fenway Park, which was built in 1912 for something less than $2 billion. ($650,000

actually.) It’s obviously a multi-purpose edifice with wonderful history. But when will it be replaced by something more fan-friendly, i.e. with parking and with seats that 21st Century “fans of size” can fit into?

The Yankees eventually replaced Yankee

Stadium—the House that Ruth Built. When will the BoSox do likewise?

When that day finally comes the new stadium could be designed to better fit in baseball, concerts, rallies, ice hockey, and maybe even …

The WAHABI FENWAY FOOTBALL BOWL GAME! (Happy New Year!)

Sports Quiz

Where have the Patriots played home games besides Gillette Stadium, Foxboro Stadium, and Fenway Park? (Answer follows)

Born Today

That is to say, sports standouts born on December 29 include star football running back Dub Jones (1924), legendary Packer linebacker Ray Nitschke (1936), and baseball executive Theo Epstein (1973).

Sports Quote

“Fenway is special precisely because it has what modern stadiums lack: seats that while often cramped, offer the best views … and if you squint you can visualize Smokey Joe Wood pitching to Ty Cobb.” – Neil deM-

ause (sportsjones.com)

Sports Quiz Answer

The Patriots have also played home games at Boston University’s Nickerson Field, Boston College’s Alumni Stadium, and Harvard Stadium. They also played one regular season home game against the Jets in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1968.

State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He coauthored the awardwinning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A WarriorActor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon.com. His e-mail address is mimoffett@ comcast.net.

PARKER from 6

of the First Amendment have been more about purging religion from our public spaces than about protecting religious liberty.

The 1962 decision banning prayer in public schools was just the opening salvo producing our reality today in which traditional values and morality are gone from the instruction our children receive in public schools. Those values have been replaced by the secular humanism of the far left.

It is very popular to think about public policy in terms of the social agenda and the economic agenda, as if these are two separate worlds. But they’re not. As religion declines, government grows.

marriage and work overwhelmingly move out of poverty.

Government and politics have become our new religion, despite their dismal track record of success in improving the human condition.

The Penn Wharton Budget model, an economic research group at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, projects now that by 2050, our national debt will be 225% of our GDP.

A national culture increasingly rooted in falsehoods is spending itself into oblivion and bankruptcy.

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.

Perhaps George Washington’s point that a moral and virtuous culture enables popular government can be best understood in that a free society cannot function when individuals cannot govern themselves through personal responsibility.

How about we Americans who still pray direct our prayers that in the upcoming year we see a revival of truth in our nation? Let’s pray that all our citizens see that the only path to freedom is each embracing eternal truths that enable all of us to successfully govern our own lives.

the Weirs Times)

Tens of trillions have been spent on anti-poverty programs with practically zero impact. Substantial research shows that what really combats recurring poverty is the so-called “success sequence.” Those who finish high school, do not have children before

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

rial for their peers,” says July. “So even if the Son of Superman falls completely off the charts like it did, right? It’s still a win in their mind.”

I thought that capitalism would be a break on the silliest of the woke world. But in this case, they’re just sabotaging their own projects. The bisexual Superman series was cancelled after 18 issues.

Marvel came up with two not-so-super heroes named “Snowflake” and “Safespace.” Really.

“Snowflake is nonbinary and goes by they-them,” says the writer in Marvel’s video introducing the characters. Fan reaction to the preview video was pretty bad. Marvel decided not to release Snowflake and Safespace.

I wanted to ask Marvel and DC why they seem fine with losing market share. Aren’t their investors angry? Neither company would talk to me.

At least their stupidity gives new opportunities to independent creators like Eric July. He’s raised $3.7 million to fund a new superhero comic book, “Isom.”

The market will decide if people want to pay for new characters like him.

But July understands something that Marvel and DC apparently no longer do: Capitalism means giving people what they want.

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

STRANGE from 20

* We hate to disillusion you, but pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice contain no pumpkin whatsoever.

* There is an asteroid named after Kurt Vonnegut.

* The world’s oldest known rose bush, which grows up the side of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany, was planted more than 1,000 years ago and even survived a World War II bombing.

* Got a mouse problem at your house? Your grocery store might provide a quick and easy answer in the form of bananas. Male mice are scared of their scent -- especially virgin male mice.

* American radio broadcaster Art Bell stayed on air for a world-recordsetting 116 hours and 15 minutes as part of a fundraiser to bring 130 Vietnamese orphans to the U.S. for adoption.

Thought for the Day: “Take action. An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.” -- Steve Maraboli

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

THE CLASSIFIEDS

AUTOS WANTED

CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaledit doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 1-866-258-6720

FINANCIAL

WESLEYFINANCIALGROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and

learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free Consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-428-7954

MISCELLANEOUS

4G LTE HOME INTERNET Now Available! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo! 1-877-452-1183

DISH NETWORK $59.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100. Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-833-800-0411

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some Restrictions Apply. Promo Expires 01/21/2023. 1-877494-7039

SALES/APPLICATION SUPPORT/ENGINEERING

Candidate must have strong mechanical aptitude. Sales background and knowledge in the Machine Tool industry preferred but willing train the right individual. Worldwide travel once a high level of product knowledge is attained.

CNC SET-UP MACHINIST/OPERATOR

We are looking for a candidate with 2-5 years of experience for setup machinist and general knowledge for operator. Being proficient at reading prints, measuring parts, making offsets and editing programs is expected. First and Second shift positions are available – ½ hour paid meal break and pay differential.

INVENTORY/ASSEMBLY

This is a multi-faceted position including, product assembly, packing and breaking down skids, receiving product into inventory, heavy lifting of up to 70lbs and may include some laser operation. Individual needs to be detail-orientated, able to multi-task, have good math and communication skills.

Impressive benefits package with 100% paid medical including family also cover co-pays and 1st dollar up to $4,000 for individual & $8,000 for spouse and family! Short & long term disability, 401K matched retirement plan, paid vacations and holidays. Salary is commensurate with experience. If interested, please send resume to the address below. All qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. EOE

Send resumes to:

Email: jane@miteebite.com (note position in subject line)

Mitee-Bite Products LLC

Attn: Human Resources PO Box 430, Ctr. Ossipee, NH 03814 (603)-539-4538

All Antiques: American and Continental furniture, paintings, oriental rugs and bronzes.

Historical documents, old books and maps, nautical items, barometers and sextants. Old prints, movie and travel posters. Old photography, cameras and musical instruments. Gold and Silver U.S. and foreign

Civil war and all military items, guns, swords, medals and old flags. Old advertising, wooden and metal signs, vintage whiskey and wine, old weathervanes, old pottery, old jugs, crocks and textiles, lamps and lighting, glass and china.

Old toys, banks, trains, sports memorabilia and comic books.

Over 40 years experience in the antique business. Chinese and Asian arts, jade, ceramics, oriental textiles, furniture and art.

Classic car s and motorcycles, gas pumps, oil cans and signs 25 year s and olde r.

All estate and contemporary jewelry, diamond rings, brooches, Patek, Rolex, all watches and charm bracelets.

All Fine Gold and Silver Jewelry.

Sterling silver flatware, tea services, trays and all silver and gold.

Certified by Gem School of America

Member: New Hampshire Antique Dealers Assn.

Super Crossword

PUZZLE CLUE: TAKING OUT THE MIDDLE

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

Caption Contest

Runners Up : Burying a police cruiser in tons of snow might send you down a slippery slope!

- Jean Cram, Pittsfield, NH.

Housing in the city was so overcrowded that it had become “build your own.

-David Doyon, Moultonborough, NH.

The guys were tired of shoveling, so they created Mount Everrest. - David Barth, Laconia, NH.

Now they can ski without leaving the city - Barbara Bowman, Franklin, NH.

PHOTO #944

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