02/15/2024 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

VOLUME 33, NO. 7

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

COMPLIMENTARY

Learn To Curl Clinic

A white-throated sparrow eats crabapples this winter in New England.

CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO

Birds & Berries

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

When I was just starting out in the hobby of birdwatching and bird photography, I saw a photo of a bird (I don’t recall the species) eating a berry. It became my mission to get

a photo of a bird eating berries. But how would I ever get such a shot, I thought to myself at the time. In the years that followed, I have had plenty of opportunities to get that coveted shot that once seemed so elusive. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph birds

such as yellow-rumped warblers, blackburnian warblers, cedar waxwings, robins, catbirds, hermit thrushes, purple finches, house finches and song sparrows eating berries. I say lucky because finding birds eating berries is a matter of timing. There

is skill involved, of course, such as knowing where the berries are and knowing the time of year that birds may visit for a meal. But there’s no way of knowing exactly when the birds will be there. This winter, however, I’ve been exceptionally lucky See BOSAK on 27

Residents of central New Hampshire are invited to a free learn-tocurl clinic on Wednesday, February 28, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center, Route 109A, Wolfeboro. In a two-hour session, experienced LRCA curlers will introduce participants to the basic rules and game play of the increasingly popular Olympic sport. All needed equipment will be supplied. However, participants are asked to bring a pair of cleansoled shoes that they can change into at the arena. Athletic shoes with rugged soles are a good choice. It is suggested that those attending the event dress in layers and wear warm socks. For both men and women of all ages and athletic abilities, curling is a sport that combines skill, teamwork, and strategy, and LRCA matches put a premium on friendly competition, sportsmanship, and fun. Registration is available from Events page of the Lakes Region Curling Association web site (lakescurlingnh.org).

D& REA

SHARE ONLINE FOR FR EE

THEW

EIRSTIMES.C

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

APACHE

Tax Preparation Prior Years Unfiled Returns Our Specialty!!!

What’s new for 2023 Standard deduc�on changes • AMT Exemp�on • Health Flexible Spending Limits • Estate Tax Exemp�on • Gi� Tax Exclusion Much, much more! Late Filer? No Problem Statutes of Limita�ons for Tax Collec�on Protect Your Tax Returns from Past Years Why You Should Always File Returns for Past Years, Even if You Haven’t Filed in Years Time Limits for Refunds and Audits Remedies for Missing Tax Documents Are My Social Security Benefits Taxable? Records You Need to Keep ApacheTax@yahoo.com

732-501-2985

Abortion Bill To The Editor: Recently the N.H. Legislature voted on CACR23 an abortion bill. The purpose of the legislation was to place a question on the November ballot adding an Amendment to the N.H. Constitution to enshrine in our State Constitution the “so-called right” to have an abortion up to 24 weeks (6 months) no questions asked and also the right to have an abortion up to birth for any reason “necessary” relying solely on the professional judgment of a physician. This Bill did not garner the 60% needed to pass and was defeated, thank God! Only one Laconia Representative voted AGAINST this Bill. Thank you Steve Bogert! Three other Representatives voted in favor--Democrats Charlie St. Clair, David Huot and Republican Mike Bordes. Please let it sink in what this Constitutional Amendment would have meant for the unborn innocent child in NH—abortion anywhere, anytime up to 6 months gestation and thereafter up to birth just by getting a likeminded physician to agree to this procedure. In 2019 the N.H. Legislature abolished the death penalty. The argument used to abolish the death penalty has always been it is “cruel and inhumane”. I cannot think of any procedure that ends a life that could be more cruel or inhumane than the termination of the life of a defenseless unborn child. The push to end life at every stage of its development is beyond abhor-

rent. 63 million U.S. abortions since 1973--What kind of people have we become? Representative Bordes has shown us repeatedly by his votes in the Legislature on children’s issues that he has no interest in protecting our children. He is a hopeless cause. I can only pray in the future Representatives St. Clair and Huot will choose to protect our most vulnerable population—the born and unborn children of New Hampshire! Marie Bradley Laconia, NH.

Transgenderism Madness To The Editor: I just retired after 35 years of working in the human service field. I was appalled at the lack of truthfulness, informed consent and irrational fear that was foisted upon citizens by the medical bureaucrats during the Covid pandemic years. Their many lies are coming to light with Lord Fauci, Patron Saint of Wuhan, merely the idolized figurehead. I am equally dismayed at the way the medical establishment is handling the transgender issue for the same reasons. People who feel they were born in the wrong body is nothing new. But the dramatic rise in those now identifying as transgender has almost tripled just since 2017, according to Komodo health reports. There is still much research that needs to be done before we know about the positive and negative consequences of “gender affirming care” as it is euphemistically called by the

medical field. Yet the medical community thinks they are showing compassion by immediately accepting a child’s emotional belief that they were born in the wrong body. Until very recently, those with gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder, were treated with counseling and mental health supports. Neuropsychologist, Alan Hopewell asserts that “administering hormones to a person under mental stress can exacerbate mental health issues.” “Hormones can change brain chemistry” sites Kathy Plantani, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. Now, there are growing concerns over links between transgenderism and violence, according to an article in the January 31 edition of the Epoch Times. Audrey Hale is the most horrific example to date. Scary confrontations such as what happened to Riley Gaines after her speech at San Francisco University about protecting women in athletics, and in the locker room, will become more common and violent, if cooler heads and common sense don’t soon return to the forefront of mental health and sports. Michael D. Breen, PhD wrote in the February 1 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, “efforts to mislead our still cognitively developing children and teens, even when well intentioned, is not compassionate. It is often harmful. It should stop.” The medical community is actually changing the definition of child abuse, in Orwellian See MAILBOAT on 23

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

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.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Snow, Skiing, Squaw Valley, Super Bowls, & San Fran May not be combined with other discounts. Expires 5/31/2024

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

Super Bowls inevitably summon memories, not only of previous games but of the circumstances surrounding them. The only Super Bowl I didn’t watch was in 1991, when the Giants edged the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV. I was dug in on the Saudi-Kuwait border with U.S. Marines during Operation Desert Storm preparing to assault Saddam Hussein’s occupying Iraqi forces to the north. But updates were passed by word of mouth. (We later heard that Whitney Houston offered a wonderful rendition of our national anthem.) The presence of the San Francisco 49ers in last Sunday’s SB LVIII in Las Vegas summoned memories of Super XIX in 1985—

United States Marines heading uphill at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. featuring the Niners and the Miami Dolphins. Joe Montana vs. Dan Marino. At the time I was in the snowy High Sierra Mountains in northern California, at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training

Center. I’d been sent to a winter mountain leader school, probably because I was from New Hampshire, and the assigning officers likely assumed I knew about snow and was presumably a skier. The reality was I’d never ever skied. I was

a basketball player. Still, I eventually became marginally proficient on snowshoes and on cross country/ mountaineering skis, as most time was spent traversing uphill with a big pack and a rifle. Being 6-feet-4, all the gear See MOFFETT on 10

C zy

-F ur ni

ab i n R u s t ic s

Come In & Get Cozy

ture & Mattre sse

From sofas, coffee tables, dining room sets, cabinets, shelving, tables, benches, bedroom sets, mattresses, lighting and lamps, you'll find plenty of choices to fit your home. COZY CABIN RUSTICS • 599 TENNEY MTN. HWY. PLYMOUTH, NH • 603-238-3250 • COZYCABINRUSTICS.COM

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Meredith Library Book Sale

Mark your calendars for the Meredith Library’ first 2024 book sale. Thursday, Feb. 15th (9 to 6), Friday, Feb. 16th (9 to 4:30) and Saturday, Feb. 17th (9 to 1). Thanks to the generosity of many book donors and book collections gifted to us, you will enjoy browsing through our large variety of books: biography, history, art, science, music, fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children’s books etc. Volunteers spend hours cleaning, sorting and separating by category, making sure each sale is the best possible experience for all. Located at 91 Main Street, with additional parking available at the back of the library (off High Street The sale is free but donations are accepted. With the purchase of a first time (new) membership with the Friends, you will receive an attractive, customized canvas book bag. Book Dealers are welcome and scanners are permitted. We Members of the Inter-Lakes/ are currently not accepting book donations until after the book sale. Moultonborough Academy The mission of the Friends is to promote library involveFootball Team helping library ment in the community and community involvement volunteers move boxes for in the library. Sale proceeds are used to sponsor library the Friends of the Meredith programs for children and adults. Visit their website at meredithlibrary.org and follow us on Library book sale. Facebook. Thank you for your support.

Aviation Museum Open Additional Days For NH School Vacation Week Aviation Museum to open additional days during upcoming N.H. school vacation week Looking for fun, indoor and familyfriendly activities for the upcoming school vacation week? Then look no further than the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire at ManchesterBoston Regional Airport. During winter vacation, the museum will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27 through Thursday, Feb. 29 in addition to its regular open hours of Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Aviation Museum of N.H. offers activities and exhibits for kids of all ages; from a real Embraer 110 cockpit which future pilots can play in, to scavenger hunts and a collection of aviationthemed toys that visitors are encouraged to interact and have fun with. The museum’s Elite Flight Simulator will operate on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. and again on Thursday, Feb. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m., giving young pilots age 12 and up a chance to experience flying a single-engine plane. Simulator operators will be on duty during these times; use of the simulator is on a first-come, first-served basis. Families with children age 12 and under are invited to Story Time on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. Participants will enjoy reading several aviation-themed stories as well as additional activities. Afterwards, families may visit the Aviation Museum. Museum admission for children under the age of 6 is free, kids ages 6 to 12 are $5. The museum also offers $5 admission for veterans and families. Standard admission for adults (age 13 and above) is $10. The Aviation Museum is located at 27 Navigator Road, off Harvey Road, in Londonderry, N.H. For more information, visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call (603) 669-4820. Follow the Aviation Museum online on www.facebook.com/nhahs.

Introduction To Animal Tracks & Signs

e not around, but they can be tricky to decipher. Join Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) Education & Outreach Manager Mirka Zapletal for an introduction to animal track and sign identification at the Hebron Town Forest on Thursday, March 7th at 9:30am. Many wildlife species spend a lot of time trying not to be seen, but they do leave behind clues about what they are doing and how they are doing it. Animal tracks and sign can tell us who was there, how they were using the space, and even what they were eating. Participants will get an introduction to tracks and gaits of local wildlife, learning which characteristics to cue in on. The event will finish with a short hike to look for recent animal tracks and sign. Register online at NewfoundLake.org/ events or call 603-744-8689. The Newfound Lake Region Association is committed to protecting Newfound Lake and its watershed through education, programs, and collaboration that promote conservation and preservation of the region’s natural, social, and economic resources. Through water quality and invasive species monitoring, educational events such as guided hikes and nature activities, and land conservation efforts that protect open spaces and help manage stormwater pollution, NLRA approaches conservation at the watershed level. You can learn more about NLRA’s initiatives at NewfoundLake.org.

Jumping In To Benefit Special Olympics On March 8th, along with her class at Inter-Lakes Middle/High School, Brooke Page will be jumping in the cold waters of Lake Winnipesaukee in Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast’s Winni Dip to support Special Olympics. As with all the participants who make the dip, Brooke is raising funds as part of the event. She’s been making and selling cookie’s (Brookie Cookie’s) with her mother Megan, who is the General Manager of Patrick’s in Gilford. Brookie’s Cookies are available for purchase at both Patrick’s and The Lakeshore Market and Deli in the plaza next to Patrick’s. In addition, Patrick’s will be hosting a ‘Giving Back’ event, contributing 20% of all food purchases between Sunday, February 11th and Thursday, February 15th. The public is invited to dine at Patrick’s and inform their server that they are there to support Brooke and the Special Olympics. “The amount of support from the community has already been overwhelming”, explained Megan. “We’re happy to be able to raise all this money for Special Olympics, a program Brooke participates in and is very near and dear to our hearts. However, the best part is teaching Brooke the importance of giving back and supporting organizations that are so important to our community”. For more information on how your community organization can raise funds with Patrick’s Giving Back program, email Megan@patrickspub.com or visit www.patrickspub.com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

Paul C. Dupont & Son Building Installing Harvey Building Products

Live Free or Die.

WindoWs • doors • siding

Visit HarveyBP.com

*A FLATLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

All In The Cards Well, I’m quite relieved that all of this is over once again. It comes around this time every year and always used to cause by Brendan Smith m e a b i t o f Weirs Times Editor stress. It used to worry me so much I often thought of just ignoring it, but then there would be consequences to pay that would last much longer than the initial stress and worry. Of course, I am talking about picking out a Valentine’s Day card for my wife. Yes, I, like most men I know, wait until the last minute to buy these cards even though they are on sale with ample time to purchase them, or so I’m told. Still, even though over the years I realized this and also knew what stress it would put me under if I waited until the last minute and made a vow to never do it again, I still waited as well as most other men. But over the past couple of years I have developed a plan As I enter the drugstore, which I know from past experience has a good selection of Valentine’s Day cards, I can already feel the angst that is simmering far away from the actual pharmacy department. I walk slowly past the shaving supplies and the rows of creams and lotions that promise to keep us all looking younger than we are and come face to face with the crowd. Yes, a small army of men sifting quickly through the various types of Valentine’s Day cards. There are serious cards and humorous cards. There are cards for the girlfriend as well as for those recently married and for those who have been married for decades. There are even cards for mothers and daugh-

ters. All the bases are covered. There are Valentine’s Day cards that are simple with a few lines and that deliver beautiful poetry that can cover two pages. There are cards that play music and sing songs as well as cards that, when opened, surprise the reader with a hidden figure that pops up and can either cause a hearty smile and laugh or, if unprepared, a coronary event. (I will say right here that I plan to write my local New Hampshire representatives and ask them to submit a bill that outlaws greeting cards of any type that have glitter on them. Just looking at these cards as a possible option fills the hands of the browser with hundreds of these annoying sparkling dots that they will unknowingly carry around with them the rest of the day and which will end up on their noses and cheeks and bring unwanted stares from others which will be confusing at first but then totally understood once one sees them in the mirror for the first time later that evening at home. I would also happily vote for a candidate who runs solely on this platform.) At first, I watch with amusement the other men as they look through this eclectic display of Valentine’s Day cards. Do the makers of these cards think they are doing men a favor by having so many options? Two of each category would help immensely. Other men have confided in me they would gladly pay double the average retail price if the selections were smaller. I see some of the younger men walk in, grab a card, give it a quick glance and then smugly go off to the counter to pay. Rookie mistake. I have learned in my many years of card shopping (not Just Valentine’s, but birthday and anniversary as well) that it is worth the extra time to actually read the cards and not go simply by the initial look. You can never just trust a card by

its cover. There is nothing more embarrassing, or relationship changing, then to have your wife, who you have been married to for thirty plus years and raised three children with, open your Valentine’s Day card only to read.“Miles may keep us apart, but the heart knows no distance. Though my eyes do not see you, you’re on my mind day and night” There would be a lot of explaining to do. As I mingle with the other last minute card buyers, some with glitter already on their hands and faces, I put my card buying plan into action. First off, I never go for the humorous cards. They may seem funny at the time in the drugstore, but you’ll never know her exact mood at the moment the card is read. I also never go for the overly poetic cards either. Expressing my love as a Shakespearean sonnet just doesn’t sound like how I talk in real life. If I said “your beauty shimmers as gold glistening upon the lake of our love” she’d probably like it, but might feel my forehead to see if I have a temperature. I hone right in on the simple, well meaning messages in everyday English. These are usually limited to one smaller section of Valentine’s cards. I can make easy work of picking up three or four and after reading them (once again always remember to read them) I can be in and out in two minutes tops. Once I pick out my card, leaving some of the other men who were there long before me who have already looked at dozens of cards and are starting to work up a sweat, I pay for my purchase and head home, confident that I have done well for another year. As I write this I have yet to deliver the card to my wife. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome.

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE

603-387-0015 —— 603-387-0026

NOW ON SALE! BRENDAN SMITH’S NEWEST BOOK! “I Really Only Did It For The Socks Stories & Thoughts On Aging”

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)

NOW ON SALE!

Skelley’s Market

BRENDAN SMITH’S NEW BOOK! Whether you are a vacationer or a full time resident of the Lakes Region, Skelley's Market is the place to go for your shopping needs. Located on route

Skelley’s Market Services Include: • Gas 24 hours a day • Fresh pizza • NH Lottery tickets • Beer and Wine • Sandwiches • Daily papers

• Richardson’s ice cream • Maps • Famous Lobster Rolls • Fish & Game OHRV Licenses

PIZZA SPECIAL

2 for $20

2 Toppings Every Sat. Night 4-7pm

Stop by Skelley’s Market today and enjoy some great food, Richardson’s ice

Really Only else Did For Socks cream, a“I lobster roll or anything youIt may need.The You will be glad you did! Stories & Thoughts On Aging”

Skelley’s Market

Order your autographed copy today for $16.99 plus $3 shipping. (Please include any inscrip374 Governor Wentworth HWY or money tion you would like.) Make out checks Moultonboro, N.H. 03254 orders for $19.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Call 603-476-8887 F: 603-476-5176 Socks Book c/o• Weirs Times, www.skelleysmarket.com PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 Or order online at BrendanTSmith.com (Autographed copies also avail. at the Weirs Times)

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Progressive Black Pastors Misguided On War In Gaza Some 1,000 Black pastors nationwide are reported to have weighed-in to pressure President Joe Biden to force a ceasefire in the war in Gaza. According to one pastor, the war “has evoked the kind of deep-seated angst among Black people that I have not seen since the civil rights movement.” by Star Parker And per another, regarding the PalestinSyndicated Columnist ians, “we see them as a part of us ... They are oppressed people. We are oppressed people.” Indeed, in a Gallup poll at the end of November, 61% of white adults expressed approval for the Israeli military action taken in Gaza, whereas only 30% of “people of color” expressed approval. Unfortunately, much of what is driving opinion on this issue among many Black Americans is very bad, confused information. The Hamas attack in Israel, resulting in some 1,200 deaths, was targeted to Israeli Jews. On Sept. 11, 2001, our country was attacked, resulting in almost 3,000 deaths. However, in tiny Israel, with a population of 9.8 million, 1,200 deaths equate to over 40,000 in our country. Nevertheless, despite a far lower relative casualty rate on 9/11, our country was in shock and outrage, and we went to war in Afghanistan to attack the source. That war resulted in 176,000 deaths, 46,319 of which were civilians. The death toll in Gaza is now a little over 27,000. Israelis take no joy in this. But there is no choice. Hamas shields their bodies and infrastructure among civilians -- even in hospitals. Just as no one questioned our country going after those who attacked our homeland in 2001, why should anyone question the justification of Israel going after those who threaten daily their lives and existence? How many of these Black pastors identifying with the Palestinians saying “They are oppressed, we are oppressed” have any idea of the history of the region and of the conflict? Oppression means having no choice. Choosing to live in squalor because of refusal to take responsibility for one’s life is not oppression. These pastors might consider doing some homework and learning that Israel was founded by Jewish immigrants, motivated to return to their historic See PARKER on 23

The Apple Vision Pro Future

by Ben Shapiro

Syndicated Columnist

This week, I tried out the Apple Vision Pro. That’s the device you’ve been seeing on the news: the bulky, unwieldy headgear; the bizarre images of people attempting to manipulate the air in front of them; even some people driving while looking like Geordi La Forge

from “Star Trek.” It’s extraordinary. As a piece of technology, I’ve never seen anything like it. It takes the apps on your phone and places them in the world around you: you can pin them in various rooms in your home. This essentially makes television extraneous; it allows you to post lists of groceries on your refrigerator; it allows you to speak with people in real-time while navigating the real world. The graphics are in the early stages, but they’re just as mind-boggling: one app called Encounter Dinosaurs introduces you into a prehistoric landscape, complete with dinosaurs. Remember how terrible movie 3D is? This is nothing like that. It’s totally immersive, and reacts to you. So, what does this mean? On a raw level, it means that entertainment like movies and gaming will be leagues better than anything now available. You’ll be fighting with a lightsaber like Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars”; you’ll be surfing waves along with Kelly Slater. You’ll also be in landscapes far from your office or cubicle -- you can already seat yourself in the midst of a nature landscape near Mount Hood, complete with soundscapes and full 360-degree view. But as the technology progresses, it means something far more dangerous: the complete transformation of human relations. Why? Because right now, everyone knows that you’re engaging in a mixed reality; after all, you look like an idiot wearing around scuba gear in broad daylight.

But presumably, the technology will get smaller and less obtrusive. It’s not hard to foresee a future when people will have all the same capabilities and more, but projected into contact-lens type technologies. And when that happens, everything changes. Imagine walking around, being able to access answers to any question by referring to ChatGPT -- without anyone knowing you’re doing so. Every conversation becomes a supplemented conversation. Every job interview becomes a test of AI rather than a test of the human being. Every date becomes a date between two AI prompts. Or imagine a shared reality in which everyone wearing the technology sees the filters projected by others -- so that normal human appearance disappears, corrected by the technology toward the unobtainable ideal. Imagine an even more dystopian world in which Apple or another major corporation controls what you see and hear by barring certain content or mandating certain language. The world of supplemented reality can open new vistas. But it can also become jet fuel for human frailty and sin, the same way smartphones have been. Imagine children growing up with such technology, removed from the normal consequences of life, their thinking atrophied by AI superpower, never having experienced the difficulty and beauty of normal human relationships. We are opening a can of worms here. And that can of worms can’t be closed. All of which means that even as our society throws away classical virtue, nothing is more necessary than its rapid reinstitution. If we advance technology and give people new capacities while ignoring the natural limitations of human beings, we are likely to meet with the ugly consequences of unknown unknowns.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

AI Is Coming for Your Job? The media warn, “Artificial intelligence will replace millions of jobs.” In San Francisco, Teamsters protest, demanding the government “protect” their by John Stossel jobs. In my new Syndicated Columnist video, they chant, “Do not have these self-driving vehicles on San Francisco streets, taking jobs!” They’re complaining about the Waymo driverless taxis already in use in part of San Francisco (and Phoenix).

The union is right to worry. Robot cars don’t get tired. They don’t take lunch breaks. They don’t drink or get distracted. Self-driving cars will replace many delivery-driver jobs, taxi jobs, Uber jobs and truck driver jobs. Texas is building a special highway with a lane just for self-driving trucks. The idea isn’t just to save money by having machines do what people do now, but to get human drivers off the road entirely. Safety advocates want that, because despite publicity over occasional robot-car crashes, we humans make many more mistakes.

Robo-cars will save thousands of lives. But when I said that in this column last month, some of you said government officials will soon use “safety” as an excuse to outlaw human driving. “Regulators will try to ban traditional cars,” writes orangecrate26. “You’re not taking my Mustang, or my guns.” Government will have “total control of your movement,” writes another. “No movement at all if you think the wrong way.” It’s a threat I hadn’t considered. Because lots of you like driving, and politicians fear upsetting big

voting groups, I assumed government wouldn’t ban human driving altogether. But I’ve been wrong about state intrusions before. What I haven’t been wrong about is the job loss. Some people will lose jobs because of AI. But history suggests that most will find better jobs. More than 90% of America’s workers once worked on farms. Better farm equipment replaced most of those jobs. Today, only about 1% of Americans work on farms. Are the former farmers out of See STOSSEL on 28

Pakistan; Always On The Brink Pakistan is politically on the brink again in the aftermath of fractious but inconclusive national Parliamentary elections by John J. Metzler which ended with Syndicated Columnist a wavering question mark hanging over this land of 241 million people like a political Damocles sword. Two former Prime Minsters, both of whom are bitter rivals and equally mired in alleged corruption, are vying for the top spot. Personality politics and regionalism remains a powerful force in this Muslim land created through the partition of India in 1947; a gaggle of political parties, colorful

personalities and scions of family dynasties all compete in a contentious political landscape. Yet it’s the Pakistan Army which remains the ultimate kingmaker. A Pakistani blogger jested, “The Pakistani Army has Never won a war, but Never lost an election.” The quip reflected Pakistan’s three lost conflicts with neighboring India over the disputed Kashmir region. Imre Khan remains a wildly popular populist whose PTI party or Pakistan Movement for Justice would have likely won the parliamentary elections. He actually did, given that his barred candidates running as “independents” scored 93 plus seats beating the government candidate. Pakistan’s military backed the

Sharif government in what appeared a slam dunk to win the elections. After all the country’s most popular figure Imre Khan was jailed by the government on a plethora of trumped-up politicized charges and thus barred from running. Khan, a former world ranked cricketer, and former London playboy, turned to politics founding the PTI. Following the inconclusive election results, Chief of the military General Asim Munir called on all parties to “show maturity and unity”, saying “Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people.” The election delivers a major political upset driven by an antiestablishment vote, a younger societal disenchantment, and genuine

concerns about vote rigging and government shutdown of phone and internet services on election day. The United States, UK and EU expressed concerns about the election’s fairness. But now there’s more wrangling and horse trading as the politicians try to form a government in Islamabad the capital. Yet the shadows of the men in uniform, whose forebears ruled this land for nearly half its national existence, are very much in evidence even on the brightest day. Forming a coalition needs a simple majority of 169 seats in the National Assembly. Nawaz Sharif, (73) a three time former Prime Minister ousted for corruption in 2018, has returned See METZLER on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

A breakthrough in Ear-Brain Technology™: Intrigue AI mimics the cerebral cortex of the human brain to quickly and more accurately ‘fill in’ the gaps produced when our hearing system falters. • Replicates how our “normal” auditory system works. • Distinguish words and speech more intuitively and naturally. • Hear soft sounds without distracting noise. • Reduce the effort it takes to listen and hear.

THANKS FOR VOTING US Best Hearing Center Best Medical Facility Best Customer Service

We work with all major brands of hearing aids, including Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, Audibel and NuEar. Family owned and operated since 1986.

CURRENT HEARING AID USER? Receive a generous

Better Business Bureau A+ accredited for 28 consecutive years.

UPGRADE CREDIT

toward the newest technology

ASK ABOUT OUR “Risk-Free” TRADE-UP PROGRAM Expires 12/29/23

Your First Visit is

FREE

(Includes audiology exam and consultation)

Expires 12/29/23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

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

terrorist threat” to your country. He would later say, “There are those who demonize and pit people against one another. There are those who would do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold on to power.” Isn’t he, a white man, doing the very thing he reviles other white people for doing? Isn’t he, by indiscriminatingly attacking all white people, one of “those who demonize and pit people against one another,” and one of those “who would do anything and everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold on to power?” He has forgotten that when you point the finger at others you point three at yourself. So much for his commitment to be the great unifier of your nation who once said, “For without unity, there is no peace and only bitterness and fury.” Without question there is racism among you, because you are sinful. But to castigate all and lump all whites as the problem is to overlook the work done by many who in the past, worked to end racism and the many who in the present, do not practice racism. It overlooks the work of white people in England, like William Wilberforce and John Newton, who challenged the evils of slavery and sought to give dignity and freedom to all regardless of the color of their skin. It led to the end of slavery in England. It overlooks the work done by thousands of soldiers and even the then President Lincoln, who gave their lives to end racial inequality and the demeaning of human life because of the color

of their skin. Its overlook, by your current President, doesn’t build on the past but only fans the flames of bitterness and hatred and divides instead of unifies. May I remind you that even your President sided against blacks in the past by eulogizing Robert Byrd, a former clan leader, as “one of his mentors.” He referred to President Obama as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean.” He once said, forced busing to desegregate schools, would cause his children to “grow up in a racial jungle.” Even Kamala Harris pointed out his inconsistencies when she ran for president, by attacking him as having personally impacted her as a young girl. Should he and you really be tearing each other apart with accusations when, no one is completely innocent of racism and many have seen the error of their ways and are reversing racism? May I, as your Creator, remind you that I created only one race, the human race. Each of you were created in my image (Genesis 1:26-27). To condemn, divide and attack one another for skin color or ethnic differences is nothing more than selfadmission of the wickedness within you. I created you without sin and with love for one another, regardless of race. Your sin of abandoning me, the source of life and love, has created a cancer of hate. Have you noticed that more and more of you including your political parties, politicians and average citizens are walking away from faith and trust in me? Have you not noticed that this defection coincides with your recent

Letters From God

QUESTION: Are We Creating Racism By Confronting Racism?

I couldn’t have said it better than you did in your question. All of the hard work over the years to overcome racism are not only being negated, but the chasm of divide is widening dramatically. Before this recent regression, the racism that was practiced by people of all races, was substantially healed. But now, with the advent of “creating racism by confronting racism,” that healing is now festering with infection and eating away the progress made in previous generations. Consider that a mostly white nation elected a black President, Judges, Governors, Senators and Congressmen and women, school Presidents, Military Leaders and a myriad number of governmental and private sector leaders. Yet suddenly, the wedge of hate and judgment is being levied against every white male as well as many, if not all, white women. The hatred is palpable and visceral. It is being expressed in print and speech. It is espoused in newsrooms and television stations. Your President of the United States, who is white, unwittingly castigated and condemned himself and every other white person by including all, without any distinction, as white supremacists. He declared white supremacists to be “the most dangerous

explosion of racial animus toward one another? “Without me you are not you, you are not the ones I created without sin. Instead, you are filled with hatred and racial divisiveness. You “bite and devour” one another so that you are in danger of being “consumed by one another.” (Galatians 5:15). I promise you that if you continue in this path, your racial chasm will grow, and you will see the effects of your sin in the destruction of your once great Nation. I meant what I said through my Son, Jesus, when he declared “a house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25). I always and only speak truth, and this will be your destiny if you keep going as you are. If however, you turn back to me and receive forgiveness for your sins through my Son Jesus’ death and payment of your sins on the cross, I will give you a new heart. (Ezekiel 11:19) A heart of love that will eschew racism. If you will elect leaders who have my heart and seek to unify not divide, you can survive this catastrophe and live to see another day. If you as citizens follow this lead you can continue to prosper and enjoy “life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:19). You can’t do it without me, however. So, I counsel you, “return to me and I will return to you” (Zechariah 1:3) and give you a heart that loves, not hates! I love you, God These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH.

The Loon Center

& Markus Wildlife Sanctuary The Loon’s Feather Gift Shop Selling “all things loon” & more!

• Free Admission • Award-winning videos, exhibits & trails! Lee’s Mill Rd, Moultonborough, NH

603-476-LOON (5666) • www.Loon.org

SEE WEBSITE FOR HOURS

CLEAN OUT SERVICE • ATTICS

• BARNS

• ATTICS

• BARNS

CLEAN OUT SERVICE • BASEMENTS • GARAGES • BASEMENTS • GARAGES • OFFICE BUILDINGS

OFFICE BUILDINGS IF YOU •NEED THE CLUTTER GONE, IF YOU NEED THE CLUTTER GONE,

GIVE US AA CALL! CALL! GIVE US (603) (603) 738-1909 738-1909

ALLABOUTFAMILYAUCTION23@GMAIL.COM

ALLABOUTFAMILYAUCTION23@GMAIL.COM allaboutfamilyllc.nh Join the Family allaboutfamilyllc.nh

Join the Family

WE BUY ESTATES

allaboutfamily.hibid.com WE BUY ESTATES

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

MOFFETT from 3 made me top-heavy, and I became very adept at wiping out without getting hurt or damaging my rifle. “Damn it, Jim, I’m a basketball player, not a skier!” The school was truly a tough characterbuilder. A night ski march on a cold, windy, moonless night at 9000 feet elevation offered us marvelous views of starlit heavens—before we dug snow caves to seek a couple hours rest out of the big winds. The paralyzing cold prompted ponderings of the incalculable

misery that must have afflicted so many on various Russian fronts during winters past. And present. But I digress. The school granted liberty for Super Bowl weekend and eight of us got into two vehicles and drove north to Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. We’d ski at the Olympic mountain on Saturday and then watch the Super Bowl at Lake Tahoe on Sunday, whereSawe could ve $10 Off w bet on the game. Andith this coupon sleep in a beautiful bed as opposed to a snow cave!

Chimney Swe Starting at ep

spection

603-520-7217

o Chimne ide

Sweeps • Stonework Brick Repairs • Liners Caps • Installations Fire Place Makeovers

$224

Fully Insured

Dan Marino and Joe Montana. Seven of us were proficient downhill skiers. One (me) was not. We were fitted for skis and headed right to a chairlift which took us way up the mountain. We got off and the gung-ho Marines head-

ed for another chairlift that would take us to the very top. An ominous sign stated, “Expert skiers only.” We got off at the top and seven Marines quickly headed down the mountain. I stood

GILPATRIC METAL RECYCLING, LLC Bring us your ferrous and non-ferrous metals to recycle!

—Call for pricing

We Buy CATALYTIC CONVERTERS - See Nick for Pricing BUSINESS HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 7am to 3pm Closed Sat. & Sun.

Fully Licensed Facility License Number: 2023000074 Permit Number: DES-SW-PN-11-006

Office: (603) 744-3453 Fax: (603) 744-6034

201 Abel Road, Bristol, NH 03222

**IF USING GPS, TAKE RIVER RD TO ABEL RD. (DO NOT TAKE PEAKED HILL RD.)

at the top in a 50-mph wind looking down at what seemed like a vertical slope. I had never downhill skied. I figured I was going to die. I traversed a few feet and fell and then repeated the process numerous times, gradually increasing the length of each traverse before wiping out. Fortunately, I was an athlete adept at falling and didn’t have a pack or rifle to contend with. By the end of the day, I was an actual skier. Euphoria. The next day saw us in Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side. We talked about our Super Bowl bets and we all agreed to bet on Miami. After all, Marino had just smashed most of the single season NFL passing records. We got a table in a vast hall—Harrah’s or Harvey’s, I can’t remember which. There were maybe 2000 people jammed in there, almost all wearing red 49er swag. We realized San Francisco was just a short drive to the west. A nice Dolphin play early on brought cheers and whoops from our table, which invited hooting and catcalls from the hundreds of Niner fans surrounding us. “I think we’re outnumbered,” said a lieutenant. “Yeah, it looks like we’ve got about 2000 Californians against eight Marines,” replied a gunnery sergeant. “Even odds.” But the only asskicking took place at Stanford Stadium— almost a home game for San Francisco—as Montana’s 49ers triumphed, 38-16. During the second half of the blowout, a Marine Corps recruiting commercial came up on all the giant screens in the giant room. We

eight Marines leapt to attention, as 4000 or so eyes looked at us. And at the end of the commercial, the happy 49er fans—enjoying their big lead—gave us mucho applause and soon rounds of beers were coming to our table. “These California hippies ain’t all that bad, I reckon,” said the gunny. Ah yes. Got to love Super Bowl memories. Sports Quiz How many Super Bowls did Dan Marino play in during his 17year career with the Dolphins? (Answer follows) Born Today That is to say, sports standouts born on February 15 include NFL Hall-of-Fame QB John Hadl (1940) and star Cincinnati Bengal QB Ken Anderson (1949) Sports Quote I “I’d never been more nervous in my life than when I sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl.” – Kelly Clarkson Sports Quote II “I believe that watching a bad Super Bowl halftime show is still better than watching a soccer game.” – Ron White, actor and author Sports Quiz Answer Just one. Super Bowl XIX in 1985. 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.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

NEED A GREAT JEWELER?

Not So . . . o g A g N Lo

Come see us at

—D Dover Jewel ers— We buy and sell high quality jewelry 460 CENTRAL AVE, DOVER

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

Less than a 30 minute drive.

603-742-1749

Yesteryear’s Winter Icy Memories

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

Apparently not taking the groundhog too seriously, but, paying strict attention to the date, the weatherman tells us that winter is half over. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted that we would have frigid weather in the first part of February of 2024. I was recently excited to spy an icicle hanging from the roof outside my window. It was only a foot or so long, but it reminded me of the huge icicles that would grow from the edge of the roofs of the old family homestead. I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say some reached a length of six or seven feet long and I could make believe that they were spears used by the knights of the middle ages in duels. It takes days for one of those huge icicles to form from the edge of shingled roofs. Cold weather used to come earlier and stay longer. Cold coming before snow covered

I guess snowmen have a long history - this one from the 1930’s with my older brother and sister. (Raymond,Jr. and Virginia). the landscape would cause small bodies of water, whether they are puddles or small ponds to freeze over. Actually a small puddle in the woods or on any cleared area like an old, seldom used road can freeze entirely, leaving a glassy surface with an empty space between it and the ground leaving what looks like a thin plate of glass with an intriguing design on it. Our family only rarely engaged in ice-skating, and when we did, using old skates originally used by those of a previous generation, on a small body of water (pond) in the woods near our home.

The presence of ice is the same today as it was in my childhood, but my encounters with it are somewhat different. What we called sliding, but many call sledding, was a main enjoyment of winter and a sled with runners, perhaps an American Flyer, was the vehicle upon which we would slide. The dirt road with snow packed down to make an icy surface was the favorite place to slide, and that was a favorite after-school activity. Traffic was just a minor concern because cars and trucks were driven slowly in those days and if a vehicle appeared when we

were sliding down the hill we would turn into a snowbank and drivers would slow as they passed by. The arrival of a sand truck to spread the sand on the road was not a welcome sight, but if conditions allowed we would take our sleds to the fields. The conditions would have to consist of some weather warm enough to melt or soften the top layer of snow followed by cold severe enough to freeze the snow creating a top layer of what we referred to as the crust, really an icy surface that had to be thick enough to support our weight on the sleds. The practice of rolling the snow on roads with a team of horses was before my time, but the snowplow was powered by a slow-moving tractor in my childhood. The paths from the house to the road, and to the woodshed and barn were shoveled as was the parking space for the car. It sure seems obvious to me that those winters brought more snow and more cold than in these days. Others have claimed having the snow so deep that the telephone lines were waist high. My childhood home didn’t have all of the conveniences of the See SMITH on 12

21st Anniversary SALE

GRADUATED SALE SAVE 5-45% FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH MARCH 3RD See store for details!

717 NH Rt 104 New Hampton, NH www.nhwood.com 603-744-9333 Mon to Fri 10:00-6:00; Sat 9:00-6:00; Sun 10:00-5:00

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

My older brother and sister ( Skip & Sister ) outside in winter in the 1930’s

My Mother on shoveled path amidst snow in 1960’s slippery area. SMITH from 11 modern ones, but it had more conveniences than New Hampshire’s pioneer settlers did. We did not have to go to the well when we needed water because the water from the well dug up the hill from our house came to us by gravity through a lead pipe (more flexible than iron) and into a tub in the kitchen. The overflow was carried by a pipe into a concrete

tub within a wood shelter in the barnyard. This is where the milk cow, and any other cattle we might have had at the time, received their water. The top of the water tub froze over in winter and became ice. We would cut the frozen top with an ax to access the water for the animals, but the ice, in cold weather, would get thicker and thicker and water would spill out of it making for a

If the weather was cold enough things inside the barn could freeze also. The hen house occupied a section of the barn and there we would check for eggs each day. There were times when eggs froze before we got to them. Different areas of the barn had specific names to distinguish them from other sections. The place where the cows were tied was the tie-up because it

Me outside on a winter’s day ( I know: “Where’s your coat?”) was there that the cow(s) were tied up. There was the hen house and the pig-pen. The haymow served its obvious purpose and the one scaffold also held hay while others were places for old farm machinery. The iron runners on the wheels of some of the equipment were hazards, particularly for young kids who liked to lick things. Wet tongues quickly stick to cold metal, and if one pulls away quickly some of the tongue could stay with the metal. One kid that I know well found out

that the metal runners in the neighbor’s barn did the same thing when the tongue was applied. If it happens to you don’t pull the stuck tongue away immediately, but give it a little time to warm the metal and it will release the tongue. The high platform over the center of the barn (called the barn floor) was called “ up over head” because that’s where it was. The inside of the barn could be icy cold in the winter, but it was still turned into a play place at times. We would play tag, using the few

built in ladders to access the scaffolds, or using the beams supporting the structure to pull ourselves up and around the 75 foot long barn. The barn floor became a basketball court with real baskets with the bottoms removed serving as baskets, as teams of from one to three players on a side would compete on cold winter days attired with winter clothing. The kerosene lamp used for light when doing early morning or evening barn chores during short winter days was replaced at some point during my early years with battery powered flashlights. When the light became dull the batteries were placed on a shelf attached to the kitchen stove hoping the heat would prolong battery life. We wore overshoes on our feet in those days; they were called overshoes because they went on over one’s shoes and were supposed to keep the feet dry and warm. If walking in deep snow, however, the snow could easily get into the boots (overshoes), melt, and make for cold feet. Overshoes, for the knowledge of those who do not know, had buckles with which to fasten them. and eventually buckles would break, making the overshoes less effective. And, on the subject of ice, Mother had a washing machine, but not a dryer, and I know what it is like to remove icy, frozen stiff long john’s or union suits, as we called them, from the clothesline. So you have just a few of my rural winter memories from childhood which would have been a bit different for the city lad.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

THE LACONIA DAILY SUN, Tuesday, January 9, 2024 — Page 9

Understanding the basics of the clean energy tax credits

By AmBrose KizzA KIZZA TAX & ACCOUNTING, LLC

Energy Credit.

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

Dartmouth Skiway Saturday morning Charlie and I raced in the Silver Fox Trot cross country ski race at the Oak Hill Outdoor Center in Hanover. Ford Sayre hosted 245 racers of all ages and speeds. When we were at the starting line we were congratulated for being the first to race on their new 3.3 kilometer trail that has a snowmaking system. We climbed up the steep hills and zoomed back down and we did two laps. It was great fun and the course skied well. The sun came out and it wasn’t too cold. Our races were held first and as we were leaving lots of youngsters were arriving for their races. The following weekend the best college racers will be racing in the Dartmouth Carnival ski races. The cross country races will be at Oak Hill and the alpine races just down the road in Lyme at the Dartmouth Skiway. It is terrific that Dartmouth is able to have their races at home. Driving back to Route 10 we stopped at the small Co-op market and I changed into my warm downhill clothing in the parking lot. Charlie ran into the market and bought us hot coffee and some snacks. We chatted about our race experiences as we drove to the Dartmouth Skiway. My Indy Pass is good for two days at the Skiway. It was 11 am when Charlie

If you are a homeowner and have been thinking about upgrading your home to be more energy efficient by installing energy efficient doors, windows, adding insulation, installing heat pumps, etc., this article will help you plan accordingly, depending on your goals and could potentially save you money on federal income taxes if a plan is well-executed. Most people will decide to make energy efficient upgrades to their homes for environmental reasons, to manage electricity consumption and save money on electricity, or both. Whatever the reasons, you may need to plan to achieve some tax savings for the work. Below, an explanation of the two kinds of energy tax credits is provided as well as some tax planning tips to help the reader benefit from making a desired upgrade. There are two kinds of energy tax credits that you can qualify for as a homeowner: The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit or the Residential Clean

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit is for existing main homes and applies to exterior doors and windows, insulation, heating, air conditioning and water heaters. You may qualify for up to $3,200 in tax credits. For each item, satisfying the energy efficiency requirements, the credit is 30% of the costs, including labor. The maximum credit you can claim each year is: $1,200 for energy property costs and certain energy efficient home improvements, with limits on doors ($250 per door and $500 total), windows ($600) and home energy audits ($150); $2,000 per year for qualified heat pumps, biomass stoves or biomass boilers. The credit has no lifetime dollar limit. You can claim the maximum annual credit every year that you make eligible improvements until 2033. The credit is nonrefundable, so you can’t get back more on the credit than you owe in taxes. You can’t apply

any excess credit to future tax years. Depending on what your current year tax liability is going to be in 2024, you may want to consider reducing the tax payments or withholdings by the estimated credit if the energy efficient property will be installed in 2024. To receive the full benefit of the credit, adjust the withholding for a W-2 employee or reduce the estimated payments for contractors and business owners filing a Schedule C. This credit will only reduce the tax liability and will not be refunded to the taxpayer. So, in this case, it is better to owe and utilize every cent of the credit and pay the balance. If you are due a refund, no benefit will be received, and you cannot carry forward any unused tax credits generated by the Energy Efficient Home Improvement. Therefore, the credit will never be claimed. For example, let’s say Joe Smith qualifies for up to $1,200 in credits because Joe made some energy improvements to his home. Let’s also assume that at the end of the year, Joe will owe an additional $1,000

DON’T MISS OUT ON TAX CREDITS

A wonderful winter day riding the Holt’s Ledge double chairlift at the Dartmouth Skiway. The natural snow on the Lift Line Trail below and in the trees was pretty to see and fun to ski. The Dartmouth Skiway is home (603) 524-5222 to the Dartmouth Ski Team and the Ford Sayre Ski Club. The mountain has two chairlifts and two carpet lifts on two mountains and has a vertical drop of 968 feet. Uphill access is permitted. Lift tickets are a good value for midweek adults just $35 and on weekends $65. The Dartmouth Skiway is a member of the Indy Pass File in-person with a trusted tax expert.

YOUR TRUSTED TAX EXPERTS FOR LIFE

dropped me off and said he’d be back for me at 1:45 pm. Charlie then went off on his own adventure to cross country ski more at the Green Woodlands trails that are located past the Skiway, up Dorchester Road. It was really nice that Charlie dropped me off right in front of the lodge and that I was fully dressed to ski. I went to the ticket window and redeemed a day on my Indy Pass. I placed the RFID card in my sleeve pocket. But before going straight to the nearest lift I quickly needed to go inside the lodge.

The Dartmouth Skiway’s lodge sits in the narrow valley between two mountains, Holts Ledge and Winslow Ledge. The McLane Family Lodge is beautiful and wonderfully functional. The first thing you see when entering the lodge is the Dartmouth Skiing Wall of Fame. The bathrooms are to the right. On my way back outside. I stopped and pondered at the Wall reading the names and looking at the photographs of the great men and women that hailed from Dartmouth. On the wall are Olympians and National

702 Union Ave Laconia, NH 03246

Champions dating back to the 1920’s. The Winslow Trails behind the lodge are the home of the majority of the more gentle trails with snowmaking. The Winslow quad-chairlift and novice area carpet lifts serve the Winslow slopes. I rode the lift with parents and their children. There were many families enjoying the sunny day on the slopes together. Pass Fail and Herman’s Highway were nicely groomed and a couple of others were open with natural snow that were pretty bumpy. See PATENAUDE on 26

in federal taxes. The $1,200 credit will offset his $1,000 to $0. The $200 leftover credit that was not utilized will never be claimed and used because it can’t be carried forward under the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. Therefore, it is recommended that Joe reduces the withholding to fully utilize the credit.

The Residential Clean Energy Credit

The Residential Clean Energy Credit would apply if one invests in renewable energy for one’s home, such as solar, wind, geother-

mal, fuel cells or battery storage technology; you may qualify for an annual residential clean

energy tax credit. The credit is 30% of the cost See next page

KIZZA TAX & ACCOUNTING, LLC. Experience true tax savings and accurate, timely accounting

Ambrose M. Kizza, MST, MSA, CFE, EA Owner

kizzataxaccounting.com ak@kizzaea.com 36 Country Club Rd. Gilford, NH 03249

Cell: 603.800.7922 Office: 603.527.8427

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

OVER

600 GAMES FOR ALL AGES!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

The

Simple Feast

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

Crockpot Chocolates

The The

Simple Feast

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The

Simple Feast

Receiving a few recipes from a friend recently Crockpot Pecan Turtles was one that sparked my interest. While the process was a bit different from what I remember my mom making back when I was a kid, the end result was similar, a familiar delicious “something” enrobed in chocolate. That “something”, in the case of my mom’s candy, was peanut butter mixed with sugar for a decadent semi sweet dark chocolate peanut butter cup. When we were kids Mom would make cookie platters for Christmas functions. Starting days before events, she always tried to hide those cookies from us kids. As we grew older and moved from one house to another, Mom’s repertoire of cookies and treats grew to include Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, the crown jewels of each cookie platter. And a new house always meant new hiding places. To increase the Peanut Butter Cup’s odds of survival, Mom would usually wait for a day when everyone was out

Chocolates packaged to go: two Peanut Clusters, an English Toffee, and two Pecan Pretzel Turtles. of the house to make them. But, this was of little success, the tell tale waft of Chocolate and Peanut Butter hit our noses as soon as we came through the back door. We were like lions on the prowl, watching for a stray that got caught in the open. Our noses had officially declared Hide and Seek had begun, it was, ”Game On!” And when Mom left them too long to chill on the back porch, well it was almost too easy. There was no way to avoid a few getting lost, picked off as easy prey. If Mom caught us with the evidence in hand she would say, “If you eat them all now, you won’t have any for Christmas.” But,

seeing two containers, each the size of a quarter sheet cake, filled with these decadent little temptations, I think there was a flaw in her logic. It was not until years later when attempting to make them, I began to appreciate the effort Mom put into these candies. Let’s face it, as anyone familiar with working chocolate will tell you, melting chocolate in a double boiler is not the easiest thing to do. And if you do not have a real double boiler, a batch of chocolate can be easily ruined when even just a smidge of water strays into the mix. I have seized up more than one bag of chocolate bits over the years to this little mis-

hap. Enter Crockpot Chocolate Candies. I admit to being more than just a bit gun shy of making chocolates given my past history. Not sure of the proper chocolate ratios and having numerous misfortunes with melted chocolate over these many years had made me an admirer from afar. But still I was intrigued with the recipe my friend had sent me on Crockpot Turtles. She encouraged me to try it as she and her mom had made them for years. “It’s almost foolproof, Mr. G.!” “Thanks kid!” The implications of her statement spoke volumes. But, after looking up some online videos on Crockpot Chocolates I decided to give it a go. Most of the Youtubers out there make it look easy, showing recipes for Chocolate Peanut Clusters. They toss the peanuts and three kinds of “chocolate” (white almond bark, semi sweet bits, and Dark Chocolate) into a crockpot and set it to low for at least an hour with some nearly two hours. Then stir to blend completely. If lumpy, continue on low for a little while more, then stir and it should be fine. However, what I found, with the quantities I used and forgoing the peanuts, given the large crockpot I have, about 45 minutes on “Low” was fine. The results: a creamy, nicely melted, See FEAST on 18

ACKERLY’S

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

JOHNSON’S TAPHOUSE

At Johnson’s Seafood & Steak 69 Rt 11, New Durham 603.859.7500 Stoneface - IPA eatatjohnsons.com/ Woodstock - Double Brown newdurham

Great Rhythm - Pale Ale Baxter - Coastal Haze 603 - Amber Ale

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

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’

Henniker - Working Man’s Porter Porch & Pub S. Main St., Wolfeboro Concord Craft - Safe Space 286 603.569-3662 Stoneface - IPA Morrisseysfrontporch.com Moat Mtn - Blueberry Morrisseys’ 20 Year Lager by 603 - Winni Amber Ale Great North +6 More On Tap Smithwick’s Guinness D.A. LONG TAVERN Harp At Funspot Concord Craft Safe Space 579 Endicott St N., Weirs +11 More On Tap 603.366.4377 funspotnh.com Henniker - King Misanthrope PATRICK’S PUB Foam - Arc of Petals 18 Weirs Rd., Gilford Lawson’s - Little Sip of 603.293.0841 Patrickspub.com Sunshine Patrick’s Slainte House Ale Rockingham - 3 Little Pigs Great North - Moose Juice Deciduous - Double Guinness Lollipop Forest Clown Shoes - Bubble Head Stoneface - Duderino 603 - Winni Amber Ale +6 More On Tap Tuckerman - Pale Ale +9 More On Tap

FOSTER’S TAVERN 403 Main Street Alton Bay, NH 603-875-1234 fosterstavernbythebay.com

Bud Light Tuckerman - Pale Ale Aqua Vue Haze -Muddy Road Brewery Sam - Seasonal Allagash - White Maine - Lunch IPA +2 More On Tap

THE WITCHES BREW PUB

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

Moat – Miss V’s Blueberry Ayinger – German Marzen 1911 – Black Cherry Cider Jack’s Abby – Blood Orange Able Ebenezer – Burn the Ships IPA Mighty Squirrel – Cloud Candy IPA +30 More On Tap

RESTAURANT OR BAR OWNER?

** Tap listings subject to change!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

few peanuts, pecans, or toffee, maybe some almonds or coconut, or Yield:60 Plus Pieces Of Candy Time: About 2 Hours perhaps some crushed pretzel pieces or caraINGREDIENTS mel bits. 2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Pecan pieces It is really that simChips 1 lb. 8 oz. Almond Bark Caramel Bits ple. And this project is (white chocolate) in pieces Mini Pretzels great for little helpers. 4 oz. 72% Cocoa Dark ChocoCoconut Kids love to “help” and late Bar (cracked) English Toffee (Crushed) should be encouraged Optional Add-ins Almonds to do so. Even if they Peanuts (salted) lose interest and walk away after the mystery -Preparationis “solved” you have - In a large Crockpot set to Low pour in the Semisweet Chocolate created memories. The Chips, Almond Bark, and Dark Chocolate. Cover with the lid and let chocolate is hot so be it melt. In 30 minutes check with a spatula by stirring. Continue to careful. But otherwise, melt if not ready. with clean hands, kids - While chocolate is melting, line as many mini muffin tins with can be useful helpers paper candy muffin cups as you can. This batch will make 60 to 72 at lining tins, filling candies. centers, and garnish- Gather your add-in ingredients. You may want to have some small ing tops. bowls to hold the different add-ins to get them ready for “producAfter all of my mini tion”. muffin tins were used - Stir chocolate and mix thoroughly (no white streaks) and check I still had about threewith a spoon. (Does it readily pour off the spoon? If so, it is ready.) quarters of a cup of - Using a soup spoon, pour half a spoon full of chocolate into each chocolate left over; perof the desired number of cups, place a moderate amount of add-ins fect for Pretzel Bark. Ready for the fridge: An array of chocolates and into the cup, and pour a spoonful of chocolate to fill the remainder Laying out a few handPretzel Bark of the cup. Within just a few candies you will know how much is the fuls of mini pretzels FEAST from 15 is fine for chocoholics, right amount. on a parchment lined blend of chocolate that but it makes for some - Garnish and place trays into the refrigerator to set. Soft set in sheet pan so that they humongous chocowas easy to use. half an hour, ready in about one hour. were touching but flat, While waiting for the lates! With a little I poured the remaining chocolate to melt I dug forethought you can melted chocolate over in making chocolate Warm” setting, I just the pretzels to cover out my supplies and have smaller, more used for fuel out on the candy. With no wa- turned it off once I all of them. The tins p r e p a r e d m y p a n s . uniform chocolates prairie. To achieve the ter or steam to con- started production and and sheet tray went Most videos show peo- with a variety of flamore uniform eye ap- tend with, less can go the chocolate was fine, into the refrigerator ple tossing add-ins to vor profiles. The repeal I used mini muf- wrong. The chocolate the residual heat keep- and within an hour or the crockpot chocolate sults: a chocolate with fin tins lined with mini stays warm, remaining the chocolate in a so the chocolates were and then “dropping” greater eye appeal, paper muffin cups. ing a stable “liquid” free flowing workable set solid enough to try. their chocolate by the rather than an object Using the crock pot during the process. I state. scoopful onto parch- resembling something Even though the Once the tins are chocolate is the same, to melt chocolate has also found that I didn’t m ent or wax paper collected from where restored my confidence need to use the “Keep lined with the paper each candy has its lined sheet pans. This the buffalo roam and cups the process is own flavor profile. I quite easy. A teaspoon will admit that of the will work but you may English Toffee, Peanut f i n d a s o u p s p o o n Cluster Cups, Pecan works better. A dollop Turtles, Pretzel Turof chocolate into the tles, and Pretzel Bark, bottom of each paper my favorites have to cup will usually set it be the simple flavors into the tin if the paper of the Peanut Cluster happens to pop up a and the Pretzel Bark. bit during the lining of With their satisfyingly the tins. Do all twelve, sweet chocolate taste th February 17 then drop in some of yet salty finish and the your desired candy or tactile crunch of peanut “center” and then nuts and pretzels, both top it with another candies hit all the right dollop of chocolate to notes for this Simple Door Opens at 9:30 ET ER ERBER seal the deal. And just Feast. Snow Date Feb. 18, 1-5 GALLERY SHOW OPENING how do you rememEnjoy! Show thru March 2 F E B RUA RY 1 7 , 2 0 2 4 ber which chocolate is which? Complete Original Art ▪ Limited Edition Prints ▪ Framed Art ▪ Maps one tray at a time and 9 North Main Street Downtown Wolfeboro 603-569-6159 garnish the tops with what’s in the center; a

CROCKPOT CHOCOLATES

Save the Date

Winter Gallery Show 2024

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

For all your Bridal, Bridesmaid, Mothers, Special Occasion, Prom & Tuxedo needs.

PHOTO COURTESY ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Simple Tips For A Better Wedding Registry (Family Features) For some couples, the idea of registering for wedding gifts is an exciting way to start planning for the home they’ll be sharing as newlyweds. For others, the registry is just one more chore to check off the wedding to-do list. Regardless of where you fall on the love-itor-hate-it spectrum, most experts agree a registry is a good idea, especially for couples who will be setting up a home together for the first time. Keep these tips and etiquette guidelines in mind to

get the most out of your registry.

Brenda MacKay

Established 1971

Take inventory of what you have and what you need. For couples who’ve lived alone or together, the registry may be a way to fill in gaps for necessities neither of you already have. It’s also a good way to begin upgrading the less expensive kitchen items and furnishings you had as college students or singles. Make a list of your needs and wants so you don’t forget any essentials.

My Little Sewing Room

ning Dry Cleaff & Drop O rvice e S p u Pick

Homestead Place, Alton, NH (603) 875-5329

If you’re still in doubt, request a checklist from the store where you’ll be registering so you can do some planning. Register for things at a wide range of price points. The whole purpose of a registry is to make it easy for your guests to get you things you’ll like and need. Part of making it easy is recognizing your guests have diverse financial situations. While it’s customary to gift the bride and groom, not everyone can afford an extravagant gift, especially if they’ve spent money on travel and attire to attend. While it’s a good idea to offer modest options, don’t shy away from bigger ticket items that a small group might chip in on together. Keep access in mind when you choose where to register. Avoid stores that are local or regional if you have many guests who live out of the area. Also

making your selections could take longer than expected. Also be sure to ask how you can add to or edit your registry after your initial visit. Get your partner involved. There are bound to be some parts of the registry your partner may not care about, but asking for input and making decisions together lets you both share in the excitement. Focus on things you’ll each find useful as you settle into your new home. For example, the person who will be responsible for taking out the trash should get to pick the new kitchen trash can. Find more inspiration for planning your way to wedded bliss at eLivingtoday.com.

PHOTO COURTESY ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

avoid the temptation to choose online only options, as some guests will prefer to see what they’re buying. Aim for a mix of large national stores and online retailers.

Plan to block off at least a few hours for an in-person registry. It will take time to get everything set up. Traveling through the store, debating options and

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Almagra Barn At Waukewan Golf Club Located in the heart of the Lakes Region, this 1800’s farm offers everything you are looking for in a charming New England setting. The Property had operated as the Almagra Farm before it became a golf club. “Almagra” translates to “Red” in native languages. The function facility is an elegant post & beam barn, with a beautiful fieldstone fireplace and large dance floor. We are surrounded by majestic mountain views. It is a perfect place for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, business meetings and conferences or special occasions. Please contact Kim Hale at 603-677-2649 or email: Please contact Kathy Baker at 603-677-2513 khwaukewan@metrocast.net for more information. khwaukewan@metrocast.net for more information. 166 Waukewan Road v Center Harbor, NH v 603-279-6661 v www.waukewangolfclub.com

PHOTOS COURTESY ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

Five Tips to Enhance Your Wedding Decor (Family Features) Wedding days are meant to be filled with love and celebration, and what better way to ring in the new stage of life as newlyweds than with a well-decorated venue to match the joyous occasion. Whether a couple is on a tight budget or picky when it comes to theme ideas, these decorating tips can help add more flair for the big day. Use a natural venue. Many couples choose wedding venues that require immense amounts of decorations, but a venue with organic scenery or a beautiful view can help alleviate the stress. Consider having the ceremony near a garden or beach with enough natural surroundings to keep guests in awe. Make the cake a centerpiece. Wedding cakes are almost guaranteed to be filled with flavor, but they can also serve as a decorative centerpiece for the reception. Choosing a cake topped with

flowers, highlighting bright colors and placing it in a prominent spot at the reception can grab guests’ attention while also keeping them eager for a bite. See DECOR on 22

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

DECOR from 21 Choose table accessories that pop. Leave guests in amazement

Sacred Heart Church 291 Union Ave Laconia, NH 524-9609

as they make their way to their seats for the reception with beautifully decorated tables.

Table accessories can be anything ranging from patterned table runners to flowers in

St. André Bessette Parish Mass Schedule at Sacred Heart Church Saturdays: 4pm; Sundays: 7:00, 8:30 & 10:30am

St. Joseph Church 30 Church St. Laconia, NH 524-9609

DAILY MASSES: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 8am, Tuesday: 5:00pm

All Masses Livestreamed at www.standrebessette.org

Reverend Marc B. Drouin, Pastor

full-bloom placed in simple, elegant vases. If you are not having a formal sit-down reception, try using paper lanterns or hanging flowers from the ceiling to create an eyecatching atmosphere to remember. Add classic lighting. At times, finding the right lighting to match the mood of a wedding venue can be tricky. In this case, less may actually be more. Try opting for a classic candlelit ceremony

New Hampshire based wedding photographers serving all of New England

PHOTO ROB CLIFFORD CLIFFORDPHOTOGRAPHYNH.COM

or reception to create a more romantic setting. This can save both money and countless hours spent attempting to configure elaborate light fixtures, and also provide a timeless feel.

Now booking 2024 & 2025! Contact Us!

CLIFFORDphotographyNH.com

Place engagement photos around the venue. With any wedding, you want the day to feel personal and intimate for the couple and guests alike. Consider decorating the venue with engagement photos of the soon-to-be

spouses as they popped the question. This can allow the newlyweds to reminisce while guests view those cherished moments and revel in the occasion. For more tips to prepare for life’s special moments like marital bliss, visit elivingtoday. com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 — METZLER from 7 from a four year exile in London and leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN); his party won 75 seats. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) got 54 seats and will likely join Sharif in forming a coalition government. Bilawal Bhutto is the son of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Imre Khan, (71) the winner of the last national 2018 elections, was forced out of office by a no-confidence vote in 2022. But despite his popularity, he sits in jail. Nonetheless Khan remains the most charismatic politician in Pakistan, as the unrelenting political allegations and a plethora of charges thrown at him have energized his popularity and political support. Among the charges and court cases against him revolve about “leaking classified state documents” gifts his wife received while he was in office, and “corruption” for which he’s serving a current jail term. Khan, a populist politician, is prone to sometimes outrageous antics to get attention. This writer saw him at a UN press conference a few years ago where he, as Prime Minister, railed against India and predicted a major uprising in the contested Kashmir region. Do these events half a world away echo a strange resonance as the U.S. approaches elections in November? But beyond chronic political infighting, Pakistan stands on the precipice of economic disaster, entrenched youth unemployment, and violent spillover from neighboring Af-

ghanistan. Nonetheless Pakistan’s political polestars remain its close ties to China and perpetual hostility towards India. The army has been described by analysts as “a state within a state”, and it has influenced national politics since Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947. Indeed within the military there’s ISI intelligence network which runs a shadow government …the ultimate Deep State, which has played a decidedly double game backing various Taliban factions during and after the Afghan war. Equally, Pakistan, not to be forgotten, is a nuclear armed state as is India. The longrunning confrontation with India concerning Kashmir remains a short fuse leading to a wider conflict. What does this mean for the United States? So much to anyone paying attention. John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China.

MAILBOAT from 2 fashion. A Montana father spent years to successfully appeal a jail sentence in British Columbia for “misgendering” his daughter. While the push to perform mutilating surgeries and dangerous hormone treatments on ever younger children is considered “compassionate child care.” Even Dr. Frankenstein performed his experimental surgeries on an adult. Of course his patient ended up being the cause of his demise. Check back in seven more years and we will likely know if there will be a similar result for this medical establishment’s dystopian horror show of confusion and chaos, in non-fiction fashion this time. Russ Wiles Tilton. NH.

Who Knows? To The Editor: Who knows, who knows? Looks to me like politics is becoming highly toxic more every day here in America and I keep reading opinions that some have given up hope on any fair elections. Who knows? I don’t really believe the left has a true majority any more so then the right does, so many people are independents.

The wild card looks to be the illegals threat to be allowed to vote. That to me is unacceptable but a real threat. How will conservatives respond if it becomes clear that in some cities or states illegals do get in to vote? Or what if Trump is returned to the Presidency how will the progressive left (those I fear most) respond? In the recent past it has been those progressives that have resorted to violence via Antifa and BLM violent riots but talk from the gun owning right is sounding ever more willing to meet the lefts violence with violence. A brewing civil war? Could be and to me it appears it is the left that is far more organized and ready for such an event even though the vast majority of legal gun owners have prior military backgrounds or hunting expertise. Things could get very nasty very fast especially in the time between the election and the new President is inaugurated. Can anyone trust the Biden admin. to keep a lid on things if Trump is elected? I wouldn’t. Then if another election is obviously corrupted like 2020 was will anger on the right explode? Who knows, who knows?

PARKER from 6 homeland after many, many years of oppression and persecution. This came to a peak in the Holocaust when 6 million Jews -- 40% of all the Jews in the world -- were murdered by the German Nazis. Jews returned to their historic homeland, worked and built, despite ongoing Arab hostility to their settlements. The situation was resolved by the United Nations in 1947. The U.N. voted to partition the area into two states -- a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews said “yes.” The Arabs said “no.” And then they attacked. Despite endless attacks and war, Israelis have shown what taking responsibility for one’s life means. They built from nothing a modern country that today has per capita GDP higher than most European nations. Saying no and choosing war, as the Palestinians have done, is not oppression. It is stupidity and irresponsibility. I would remind readers again that Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005. The Palestinians then could have started to build. They

were free to do it. Instead, they elected Hamas and started more rounds of endless attacks against Israel. The latest and most horrible being what happened on Oct. 7. We see now the more than 300 miles of hightech tunnels in Gaza that have been constructed since Hamas took leadership, at a cost of hundreds of millions, with the sole objective to attack Israel. Despite billions in aid, resources in Gaza have been focused on eliminating Israel, not on improving quality of life and building a future for Palestinians. I would remind these progressive Black clergy of the sad but accurate observation of former Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, that “Peace will come when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.” Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now.

Steve Earle Gilford, NH.

•Septic Pumping •Drains Unclogged •Septic Pump Repair & •Septic System Installation Inspections From the Lakes to the Mountains, We Are At Your Service! MOULTONBOROUGH: 476-5557 | MEREDITH: 279-4313 www.lampreyseptic.com

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

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

ks a e St od • sta afo Pa Se

603.527.8144 myrnascc.com

TAKE OUT & DELIVERY

yrna’s Classic Cuisine

Laconia’s Best Pizza Delivered

Italian & American Comfort Food

Formerly known as Nadia’s Trattoria, THIS WEEKEND SPECIALS voted one of theVeal top ten restaurants Francese and Eggplant Rollatini in NH by Boston Magazine — Join us Tue-Thurs from 3-5 p.m. for Small Plate Specials —

Hours: Tues. Wed. & Thur 4-9pm

To Your Door!

PIZZA / CALZONES • SALADS SUBS / SYRIANS • SEAFOOD OPEN Tues - Sat 11am - 1:45pm & 4pm - 9pm Closed Sun & Mon

302 S. MAIN STREET, LACONIA • 524-9955 • SOUTHENDNH.COM

Fri. & Sat. 4-9:30pm

Located under the canopy 131 Lake StreetBay at Paugus Bay Plaza Located under the canopy at 131 Lakeat Street At Paugus Plaza, Laconia Hours: Tues. Wed. & Thurs. 3-9pm; Fri. & Sat. 3-9:30pm

(603)527-8144

myrnascc.com

FROG ROCK TAVERN RELAX & ENJOY OUR CASUAL PUB ATMOSPHERE IN DOWNTOWN MEREDITH APPS • SALADS • SOUPS • BURGERS • SANDWICHES & MORE!

LUNCH & DINNER DAILY OPEN 7 Days • 11am - 9pm

67 Main St. Meredith, NH

(603) 677-7625

u V a j é Café D

—OPEN DAILY FOR DINE IN & TAKE-OUT— Mon - Fri 5:30am - 2pm Sat 5:30am - 12:30pm & Sun 6:30am - 12:30pm

603-524-7773

311 Court Street • Laconia, NH

For Health Concious People…

SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE ITEMS & VEGETARIAN DISHES

Open For Take Out Bar Open 11:30am - 8pm

215 Laconia Rd. - Tilton • 603-286-2223 273 Loudon Rd. - Concord • 603-715-8600

www.wrapcitysandwiches.com

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:30am - 8pm 331 SOUTH MAIN ST., LACONIA

603-524-4100 SHANGHAINH.COM

Here’s A Tip by JoAnn Derson Syndicated Columnist

* To get a really good shine on your windows, try using newspaper instead of a paper towel. Spray the window with your cleaner and just use the paper like a towel. Practically no lint! * “We save the bread ends and any too-hard or molding bread in our freezer until we can get down to the lake and feed the birds and fish. The ducks especially love it.” -- E.F. in Wisconsin * Drop a couple of crackers (saltines) in your sugar canister if you have problems with clumping. The crackers will keep it from clumping. Just remember they are there if you dip a measuring cup in the canister. You don’t want a bunch of cracker crumbs in your sweet recipe! * To stretch your gravy, add a spoonful (or two) of bouillon mix to a glass of hot water. Add enough cold water to a tablespoon of cornstarch to make a loose paste, and add both the bouillon and the cornstarch to your regular gravy. Mix well. * If you have a hard time skinning fish that comes “skin-on,” like salmon, try freezing it just long enough to firm up the flesh in order to easily peel it off or trim it.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

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

I Raced In The Daytona 500 by Donald Guarino Gilmanton, NH

One February I raced in the Daytona 500. Ford was really into automobile racing in the sixties, competing and winning Lemans in 1966. Jim Clark won the F1 World Championship in 1963,1965 and the 1965 Indianapolis 500 in a Ford powered Lotus race car. Our family car was a fastback race inspired 1968 Ford Torino. How did the family car become a Torino GT? I have asked my Mom that question and the answer was “The price was right.” I understand purchasing a used car in the early seventies, when car models changed every two years,could be advantageous and reasonably priced. I feel though, that the dark green metallic two door with gold stripes appealed to her. I was sitting behind the steering wheel of the Torino that Sunday afternoon tuning the radio, trying to find the motor racing network broadcast of the race. Yes !, they were broadcasting the Daytona 500 ! In that moment I was there, working the steering wheel, right on the edge of disaster running lap after lap around 190 miles a hour. I glanced over my

right shoulder, looking for competitors on the outside, as I came past the flag stand. What I saw was my parents looking out the picture window. Yes, they saw me ! I pulled the Torino into the pits. The green 68 Torino two door fastback served the family well those years, getting groceries and doing errands. I took my driving test in that car and later purchased the slightly rusted Torino. Now long gone it still brings a smile when I think of the day I led the Daytona 500.

Serving a nice selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza & breakfast

OPEN 7 DAYS

7 BELKNAP MOUNTAIN RD GILFORD, NH

603-528-1900 • thegilfordvillagestore.com

Open Tuesday - Saturday 8am – 6pm • Closed Sun / Mon Weekdays Open @ 4pm Weekends Open @ Noon Closed Tuesdays

MONDAY NIGHTS 6PM  8PM

LIVE MUSIC!

RESTAURANT | DAIRY BAR | MARKETPLACE | TAPHOUSE

FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS 6PM  9PM

18 Weirs Rd. Gilford

(603) 293-0841

PatricksPub.com

YOUR CRAFT BEER DESTINATION IN THE WEIRS!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Dine in or Takeout 7 Days A Week

JOHNSON’S TAPHOUSE

Featuring 36 BEERS on Tap!

69 State Route 11, (just south of the Alton circle) New Durham, NH

603.859-7500 | EatAtJohnsons.com

36 Rotating Craft Taps Full Liquor, Wine & Food Menu Huge Beer Garden Overlooking the Lake THE BEST PIZZA IN THE REGION! 603-409-9344 • 59 Doe Ave, Weirs Beach, NH

A LITTLE TASTE OF PARADISE IN THE LAKES REGION A low-key vibe, island-inspired food & featuring the largest selection of Rum & handcrafted Rum concoctions in the region Home of the

WINNI PAIN KILLER

- It’s Vacation in a Glass!

603-409-9983 • 604 Endicott St. N, Weirs Beach, Laconia

Exit 23 off I-93 • 233 Daniel Webster Hwy • Meredith Connect 603-279-6212 • HartsTurkeyFarm.com With Us!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Six young ladies wearing all kinds of pink ski clothing out for their ski lesson with their ski instructor. A big view of Smart’s mountain from the top of Worden’s Schuss at the Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme, NH., just twenty minutes north of the Dartmouth Campus. PATENAUDE from 13 To get to the Holts Trails I had to go back up to the lodge and walk across the road and up a short distance to the double chairlift. There was no lift line there. Most of the skiers on this side of the mountain were young kids doing race training. The Don Worden Schuss from top to bottom was super. It had tons of snow made on it and the bright red netting was set on both sides of the trail.This trail is reay for racing this season. The view from the Holts’ slopes was super. Looking over the Winslow slopes to the bright white frosted Smarts Mountain is always a grand sight to see. The

A view from the lower slopes of Holts of the Winslow slopes and the McLane Family Lodge. Appalachian Trail Passes over Smarts Mountain and crosses over Holts Ledge but not up the ski trails. The steep drop on the top of Worden’s is fun and it is a wonder how

fast ski racers get going right out of the starthouse. I skied this trail a few times in a row for the sheer joy of the speed. I felt lucky the trails weren’t crowded, Wor-

The start of the Silver Fox Trot men’s race at the Oak Hill Outdoor Center. The race is part of the New England Nordic Ski Association’s Popular Racing and Club Cup Series--races for all ages (nensa.net). The new ski trail has snowmaking and will host the Dartmouth Carnival XC Ski Races and next year’s NCAA Championships. den’s wasn’t closed for ski training and there was just enough natural snow to have a good number of the trails and some glades open. Thin cover and watch for rocks/ice. I found a good challenge in the trees. It was perfect. I rode the chair a couple times with ski patrollers. The Dartmouth Volunteer Ski Patrol is made up of students and community members. The two I met were both students, one from Alaska and another from New Jersey. They

do hundreds of hours of training and many more hours working on the mountain. They’re continuing an important Dartmouth tradition. I walked across back to Winslow and decided I had enough time to do one more run before Charlie arrived. Now there was a lift line at Winslow, just a minute or two. Lots of children were taking group ski lessons. Someone told me in the lift line that the lessons begin at 1pm. By the time I got back

to the base Charlie was waiting for me. I was almost on time and he admitted he had just got there too. The Oak Hill Outdoor Center and the Dartmouth Skiway are wonderful fun places to ski. What a fun two event day. Have fun. Amy Patenaude is an avid skier/outdoor enthusiast from Henniker, N.H. Readers are welcome to send comments or suggestions to her at: amy@weirs.com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 — Meredith, found robins and cedar waxwings. Pat from Sandwich had bluebirds and purple finches, as well as an eastern towhee still hanging around. Kathy from Swanzey has been hosting pine siskins in her yard for a few weeks now. “I’ve never had this many before. They are at our

High-bush Cranberry shrub after a fresh snow storm coating the bright red clusters of cranberries. Submitted by Tom Thomson of Orford, NH. Thomson purchased young High-bush Cranberry shrubs from the Grafton County Conservation Districts Spring Plant sale and planted them along with small Crab Apple trees for the wildlife which has been very successful over the years. The High-bush Cranberry in the spring has a large attractive cluster of white flowers, with large green leaves that looks like a maple leaf. Thomson says, “I encourage you to plant some High-bush Cranberry Shrubs, you will enjoy them as well as the Wildlife.” BOSAK from 1 (with a modicum of skill involved too, I guess.) My local patch has an abundance of a dark berry along my favorite walking trail. I’m not an expert at plant or berry identification by any means, but the plant ID app on my phone says the berries are from a plant called border privet. The app also marks the plant as invasive. Tons of these berries remain, which hints to me that the birds don’t particularly like the berries but eat them out of necessity. Nearly every time I walk there, birds of various sorts are eating the berries. That is where I have been seeing the unusual-for-winter species such as gray catbird and hermit thrush. I haven’t been lucky enough to find any cedar waxwings eating the berries this year. A few years ago, I saw a flock of waxwings

eating the berries during a snowfall. No such luck this year yet. A little farther along the trail and off to the right is a field where a crabapple tree grows. The crabapples, which are all but gone now, were a valuable source of food for many birds throughout December and January. I watched yellow-bellied sapsuckers and white-throated sparrows devouring the fruits one day last month. This winter has been a boon for my birds-eating-berries photo collection. Most of it has been luck with the timing, but some of it is knowing where those privet berries are and getting out there to see what’s around. Speaking of seeing what’s around, I heard from a few more readers who shared some interesting sightings. Connie from the Lakes

Region had a brown creeper in her yard and, during a trip to

feeders and feeding on the ground every day, usually in the morning. The last three days, my husband and I counted as fast as we could and had about 100 in our yard and on feeders. It’s the same every day,” she wrote. It was nice to hear about the siskins from

Kathy. Other than the usual suspects, I haven’t had anything exciting visit the feeders this winter. There’s still time. Don’t forget about the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend (February 16-19) and don’t forget to send me your highlights.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

STOSSEL from 7 work? No, most found other jobs, better jobs -- jobs less demanding and dangerous than farming. There were once half a million typists in America. Nearly all those jobs are gone. So are thousands of phone and elevator operator jobs. Bank tellers were replaced by ATM machines and online banking. Video rental stores were killed by streaming services. But after those people lost jobs, there was no surge in unemployment. In fact, over the past 15 years, unemployment has dropped. Wages, adjusted for inflation, are up. No union predicted that.

It happened because, as machines took jobs that humans once did, people searched for different, better work. Most found it. Thousands found better paying jobs in fields like education, hospitality and health care. This creative destruction makes almost everyone better off. Although you won’t convince the unions. Stossel TV Executive Producer Maxim Lott asked the Teamster boss, “In the future, there’ll be new jobs we can’t even imagine. You buy that?” “I don’t,” he replied, “because AI’s scary, and it’s here to stay.” It is scary and here to stay. Fortunately, many people Lott interviewed see the benefit

of that. One points out, “We got machines that pick things up. We no longer needed strong people to pick things up. We don’t say, let’s not develop the forklift!” AI will create lots of disruptive job change, probably more drastic than anything in the past. But history suggests that this change is probably good news. As former AI executive Alex Roy points out, “For every new technology, there has been someone who said, ‘stop this.’ But it can’t be stopped!” That’s a good thing, he says. “Think about how many businesses don’t exist yet that could and will, when Robo-taxis are ubiquitous.” My brain is too small

to know what those jobs will be. But they will come. Of course, it’s possible that AI robots decide that we humans are in their way and just kill us. That does worry some AI researchers. Then all bets are off. But short of that, the AI job change will mostly be a good thing.

KINDRED SPIRIT FARM FINE FLEECE SHETLAND SHEEP OLD TIME SCOTCH COLLIES

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

Center Sandwich • 603-284-7277 Like us! kindredspiritfarmnh@gmail.com

THE CLASSIFIEDS I WILL BUY * Fine Antiques * Art * * Jewelry * Silver *

Judy A. Davis Antiques

One Item or Entire Estate ~ Cash Paid For:

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 coins. 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 cars and motorcycles, gas pumps, oil cans and signs 25 years and older. 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.

603-496-1811

603-934-5545

jlake@metrocast.net

ROCKIN’ THRU THE AGES —ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES— Looking For Vendors!

Mention this ad & the month you move in is FREE!

Call Michael 603-403-0784

36 Endicott Street East • Laconia, NH

JOIN OUR TEAM! FULL TIME/PART TIME

STOP IN TODAY... WE’RE HIRING ALL POSITIONS!

Floor Attendant Prize Attendant Food Service Bartender Start pay 14-15 yrs - $9 • 16-17yrs - $11 • 18+ - $13

Rt 3, Weirs Beach, NH • 603-366-4377 FunspotNH.com • Open All Year

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

SERVICES DIRECTORY Old Fashioned STONEWALL

PETER O’BRIEN Mason Contractor

RESTORATION

Hardscapes & Landscapes Bricks, Blocks, & Stone Creations Walls, Walkways & Patios Concrete Demo & Repair Insured since 1987

Specializing in Dry Fieldstone or Granite Walls New Wall Built 35 Years Experience Contact Tony Luongo

603-833-0099

603-471-1954

Residential • Commercial Installations & Service Work

ROBERT LYNCH

ELECTRICAL SERVICES —Serving the Lakes Region— All major credit cards accepted

Fully Insured NH Lic.# 11671M

Does your home need some sprucing up? Let the Old Goat help you! INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING 10 Years Painting Experience, Fully Insured. Please call 603-800-9336 or email cpratt603@gmail.com

603-707-2236

Bruce Thibeault PAINTING Over 30 Yrs. Exp.

• Staining • Urethaning • Res./Comm. • Quality Work • Interior/Exterior • Wallpaper Removal • Pressure Washing • Window Reglazing • Screens • Free Estimates • Fully Insured

603-364-2435 BruceThibeaultPainting.com

ANY ROOFING PROBLEMS?....

We can help with all your asphalt and corrugated metal roofing needs. Been in Business since 2001. Fully Insured. Contact Christopher Pratt 603.800.9336 cpratt603@gmail.com

Fully Insured

Framing/Roofing/Siding tomsammon86@gmail.com Interior/Exterior Remodel & Restoration 603-530-2266

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

SUPER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE CLUE: STORYBOOK SENTIMENT

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

SUDOKU

MAGIC MAZE

SAME BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND END

CAPTION CONTEST OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

Dear Loyal Caption Contest Players: After over 1000 captions spanning close to 20 years, we will be discontinuing the Caption Contest following the answers to this week’s caption #1002. We thank all who have played over the years. Runners Up : Coach’s plays were always simple: give the ball to Larry . - Joe Vitali, Belmont, NH.

PHOTO #1002

Hey guys, check out these drawings from my 4 year old! -Rich Teed, Gilford, NH.

I realize that all of you boys will not be able to fit on this small board but I promise that all of you will get a chance to play.- Priscilla Richdale, Pembroke, NH. Coach shows how the strategy of a tic-tac-toe game may help upend the opposing team! -Jean Cram, Pittsfield, NH.

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 15, 2024 —

Happy Valentine’s Day Sirloin Pork Roast or

7-9 Rib End Roast

BONE-IN

Save 20¢lb.

Cut Fresh Daily

lb.

Fresh Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks

79 Save 50¢lb.

¢ lb.

Bone In Pork Chops

CENTER CUT

Save 50¢lb.

Cut Fresh Daily

Pepsi

2 Liter

45 for

Near East ilaf Rice P Save $3.00 $ •Original 6.09 oz.

for

34 S

5 oz.

•White •Orange

for

lb.

Save $2.00

16/20 Ct. Per Pound 2-LB. BAG $19.89

2-LB. BAG $13.89

Long Stem Rose Bouquet

Feta Chunk

Save $1.00

20 oz.

EACH

SToK Cold Brew Coffee

rted Red or Asrsso Colo

16 oz. BAG

FROZEN

48 oz.

ONE DOZEN

16/20 Ct. Per Pound

16 oz. BAG

lb.

E-ZPeel Raw Shrimp

5 Varieties

Save 50¢lb.

Quality Shrimp

Cooked Shrimp

Save $1.50lb.

American Cheese

lb.

6 4e 5 9 President

Bumble BeTuna Solid White ave $1.00

Turkey Breast

•Diet •Mtn.Dew

lb.

Save $2.00lb.

Save $3.00

Sliced Fresh At The Deli

•Honey Maple •Honey •Santa Fe •Low Sodium •Oven Roasted

Norwegian Salmon Fillets

Ocean Raised

Save 70¢

Drumsticks Save $1.30

•Mickey Bars •Oreo Cups

36.8 oz.

SALE NOW THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17th