04/25/2024 Weirs Times

General George Washington praying at Valley Forge.

NatioNal Day of Prayer observeD

oN first thursDay iN May

Thursday, May 2nd, we observe a National Day Of Prayer which was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

The following article is an excerpt from the book “Miracles In American History” by Susan Federer and is

used by kind permission of the author. The article has also been edited for space considerations.

“At a time when our country is facing so many crises, it is important for Americans to remember that in past times of national crises we took courage, prayed and

saw hopeless situations turn around.”

— “Miracles In American History” Introduction.

WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE

After the American victory at Saratoga, British General Howe struck back by driving the patriots out of

Philadelphia. While 11,000 Americans were dying on British starving ships, another 11,000 soldiers set up camp, December 19, 1777, at Valley Forge, just 25 miles from Philadelphia.

Soldiers were from every State in the new union, ages 12 to 60, white, AfriSee PRAYER on 32

Author

Vince Ellison In Loudon & Alton

Camp Constitution Speakers Bureau will be hosting author and documentary producer Vince Ellison in New Hampshire on Saturday, May 4. His first event will be held at Charlies Barn Community Center 29 S. Village Rd Loudon at 11am and the second will be held at the Alton Senior Center 7 Pierson Rd. Alton at 7:pm. Free admission. Donations accepted. RSVPs are recommended.

Vince Everett Ellison was born on a cotton plantation in Haywood County, Tennessee. His parents at that time were sharecroppers. Through hard work and a belief in Jesus Christ, his parents pulled him and his seven siblings out of poverty. His family started the Ellison Family Gospel singing group, where Vince sang and played multiple instruments as a child and young adult. Vince worked for five years as a Correctional Officer at the Medium/ Maximum Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, SC. Afterward, Vince worked in the

See ELLISON on 28

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PHOTO

Pie In The Sky (PITS)

To The Editor:

“Pie in the Sky” is a phrase authored by Joe Hill, an American singer, writer and workers’ organizer from the play “The Preacher & the Slave” (1911). Mr. Hill wrote it as a parody of the Salvation Army hymn “In the Sweet By-and-By” (1868).

The phrase occurred to me because of several recent stories in the Sun that brought the phrase “pie in the sky” to mind:

Story 1 – The sale of the former State School property: The proposed buyer has repeatedly missed deadlines to close on the agreed $21.5 million purchase price. This purchaser tells the City the entire project will be a $700 million development of a hotel and housing. Sounds like “Pie in the Sky” to me.

Story 2 – The sale of the downtown Antique Center: Although there is no Sales & Purchase Agreement, the City Council has agreed to pay $1.2 million for this White Elephant. This is a joint purchase by the City and a private entity for a total of $1.2 million. The City’s portion is $700,000 to obtain additional space for use by the Colonial Theater and parking for diesel-fueled entertainment trucks that will be idling next to the $500,000 private entity restaurant on performance days.

Story 3 - Developers recently replaced Barton’s Motel with three high-rise condominium buildings on Union Avenue. Now the owner of T-Bones proposes to build more high-rise condominiums just down the street. Are traffic studies done any more?

When my wife and I moved

from D.C. to Laconia in 1974, the City rolled up the sidewalks after Columbus Day. This so-called progress makes me wish for the “good old days”.

Hopefully, nobody ends up with pie in the face, but I’m pretty sure someone will be eating crow. However, that is another story.

Charles Bradley Laconia, NH.

Warfare In Middle East

To The Editor:

Iran and Israel are conducting direct military attacks which could escalate into a major regional war and potentially impact U.S. military forces in the Middle East.

Other attacks on Israel are instigated by militias in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza, and the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7,2023 epitomizes the situation facing Israel.

The animosity and violence in the Middle East are attributable to religious differences and hatred between the Sunnis and the Shiites. There is the hatred of the Israeli Jews by many Arabs, and the Arab characterization of Christians and Jews as infidels. There are the remnants of the Syrian Civil War abetted by Russia; and the ongoing conflict between the Kurds of Iraq and Syria with Turkey.

The Sunni dominated countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain are wary of Shiite Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza. These Sunni dominated countries will not provide any assistance to

Iran in its confrontations with Israel. In fact, the Sunni dominated countries probably clandestinely provide intelligence support to Israel in its confrontations with the Shiite entities.

The Sunni countries look upon Israel as a buffer country in the Middle East who can blunt the impact of Iran and their Iraqi, Lebanese and Gaza militias. Israel is a U.S. ally in a very strategic location in the oil rich Middle East, and we consider it as a blocking force against Iran and its proxies. Iran refers to Israel as the Little Satan and America as the Great Satan. Additionally, the Suez Canal is a maritime choke point to be safe guarded.

The United States and other democratic countries have to continue to provide military funding to support Israel in its confrontations with Iran and its proxies, or any other adversaries that evolve in the Middle East. Let us not forget Iran and Syria are allied with Russia. We currently have strategic military bases in the Middle East with thousands of troops and their equipment ready for action.

Unfortunately, the recent brutal attack on Israel by Hamas and the vast death and destruction wrought by Israel in Gaza significantly set back peace in the Middle East. The hatred in the Middle East is ingrained in the souls of the populations.

The world should be prepared for ongoing wars in the Middle East.

Donald Moskowitz Londonderry, NH.

There’s Still Snow On The Mountains

Mount Sunapee & Mount Waumbek

The grass is green and the Daffodils are blooming everywhere but above higher elevations you will still find snow. Above elevation 3000 feet you’re going to find a lot of snow. The White Mountains are going to hold snow well into May.

Becca and I met

Saturday morning at Mount Sunapee in Newbury. The ski resort has closed,their last day was April 7th but many of their trails are still covered with snow. We weren’t the only ones with the idea to skin up the mountain and ski back down. There were six or seven other cars in the parking lot.

We went up the skinning route following the Ridge Trail to the summit. We passed by one fellow who told us that this was his first season climbing up to ski and he was loving getting into

Last weekend on Mount Waumbek Eric Rathbun completed his second Grid-hiking all 48 New Hampshire 4,000 footers in every month. He completed his first grid way back in March of 2011. Spring is here but it looks like and feels like winter in the White Mountains. There was still three feet of snow on Mount Waumbek, elevation 4,006 feet.

shape doing it. About halfway up the mountain we noticed spots of natural snow

beneath the shade of the trees and the higher we climbed there was more. Not enough to ski in the

trees but since it has been crazy warm and sunny here I didn’t think

The

603-744-9333

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Open House at Moulton Farm In Meredith

Moulton Farm’s open house on Saturday, May 4, is an event food lovers and gardeners will want to attend. The event starts at 10 am and runs until 2 pm.

At 10 am, the farm’s food truck, Moulton’s Hay Wagon, will celebrate opening for the season, and visitors will have the opportunity to sample items from this year’s seasonally inspired menu.

In addition to visitors being able to sample food from the farm’s food truck and farm kitchen and bakery, several of the small businesses that have their food in the farm’s market will also be at the farm during the open house.

A hands-on container gardening workshop in which each attendee will create a container garden or planter to take home. Expert advice from the farm’s garden center team about choosing plants, arranging, and caring for the plants is part of the workshop. It starts at 10:30 and costs $30. Pre-registration is required.

At 1 pm, there will be a free guided walking tour of the farm, allowing visitors to see how the farm grows plants for their garden center and food for the farm’s market. It’s also an opportunity to see some of the changes the farm has made to adapt to New Hampshire’s challenging weather conditions.

A Coast of Maine Organic Soils representative will be at the farm from 11 am to 2 pm. Gardeners can get answers about the company’s products and which of the company’s soils and organic soil amendments can help different plants and growing conditions.

Moulton Farm is located at 18 Quarry Road off Route 25 in Meredith. More information is available at MoultonFarm.com

Pemi Choral Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The 100-voice Pemigewasset Choral Society (Pemi Choral) presents its 50th anniversary May concert series “Sweet Rivers.” The two concerts will be performed on Saturday. May 4th at the Colonial Theatre in Laconia, N.H., and Sunday, May 5th at the Silver Center in Plymouth, N.H. The concerts will feature a commissioned work celebrating the chorus’s 50th anniversary, composed by internationally recognized New England composer Moira Smiley. Her commission, “I Soared without Regret,” is based upon the poem “Flying” by former Plymouth State University professor Jane Babin, who died from ALS in 2015. Accompanied by an 11-piece chamber orchestra, the concert also features the beautiful Franz Schubert “Mass in G” with soprano soloist Janet Poisson and bass soloist Michael Gallagan.

Pemi Choral is a 100-voice regional community chorus based in Plymouth, N.H., with a wideranging musical repertoire. Members come from 27 communities throughout the Lakes Region, Central New Hampshire, and the White Mountains. The chorus boasts a diverse range of ages from high school students to beyond 80. They perform concerts in December and May, and welcome new members at the beginning of each semester. For more information, please visit pemichoral.org, find us on Facebook and Instagram, or email us at pemichoralsociety@gmail.com.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Program

In observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Temple B’nai Israel, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Laconia, the Congregational Church of Laconia, and the Laconia Human Rights Committee are proud to present a program to promote the importance of speaking out against injustice. The program will feature a screening of the acclaimed documentary “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War,” followed by a question-and-answer session led by Dr. Larry Benaquist. The community is invited to come together on Saturday, May 4th, at 1:00 pm at the Congregational Church of Laconia, located at 18 Veterans Square in downtown Laconia (across from the train depot). This marks the second year the Congregational Church has hosted a Yom HaShoah event for the community.

“Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War,” sheds light on the heroic efforts of Unitarian Minister Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha. The Sharps, from Wellesley, Massachusetts, risked their lives to save countless Jews and refugees fleeing Nazi persecution across Europe. Following the documentary screening, a question-and-answer session will be led by Larry Benaquist, Ph.D. Dr. Benaquist is an Emeritus Professor of Film Studies at Keene State College, where he founded the film studies program and played a key role in establishing the Holocaust and Genocide Studies major. He also has extensive experience teaching courses related to film and the Holocaust. Dr. Benaquist played a significant role in the production of “Defying the Nazis,” contributing his expertise and research. His personal experience and insights will add a unique dimension to the program.

Light refreshments will be served during the Q&A session. All are welcome to attend this free community program.

by Brendan Smith

oNe Great iDea

People have been asking me if I am going to throw my hat in the ring again this year and run for governor of New Hampshire under the Flatlander Party ticket.

First off, I let them know that, since I am bald, I make sure never to throw my hat anywhere as I never know when a particularly cold, or even very sunny, day is to appear and needing a hat under such conditions is necessary to either keep my head from getting chilly or a bad sunburn.

Over the decades that I have run here on these pages, it has always mostly been done tonguein-cheek, but still with a sense of maybe I could actually do some good if I were to be elected.

I now think I have one great idea. (Which I believe is more than some candidates.)

As I was putting this week’s paper together, and finding material to highlight America’s National Day Of Prayer, I had mentioned to someone that this was to be our cover this week.

That person told me that “was a brave thing to do.”

I never thought of it as being brave. In fact, it wasn’t my idea to put it on the front page in the first place. When it was suggested to me, I thought that it would be a great idea.

Still, the thought that it was a “brave” thing to do, stuck in my head.

I have written about in this column a few times over the last few years as to how at the ripe old age of sixty-plus, I truly came to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Some readers told me I should keep my faith to myself, while others thanked me for doing it. You can’t please everyone.

I had been attending church

for years before that, basically going through the motions, trying to be a good person, putting money in the collection basket, listening to the sermons, singing the hymns, but, in all honesty, nothing was really sticking. I just assumed that I needed to do these things by rote to get into heaven and then spend the rest of the week forgetting about it.

Back in late 2020, during all the Covid nonsense, I received a phone call that eventually led my wife Kim and I to try a different church. God’s hand at work I realize now. It was a much longer drive from home than we were used to and, if not for that hand at work, we probably never would have checked it out.

It changed both of us. (I believe I can speak for my wife.) We have been attending that same church now for a little over three years and happy to make the journey each Sunday. It is now the highlight of my week as it always brings me even closer to what I know is the absolute truth of the Bible. I know there are many other churches that bring this same message, but there are also way too many that stray from the Bible, or just ignore the uncomfortable parts, in order to please the congregation instead of the Lord. No sense riling anyone up over what the word of God actually means. After all, that can make people uneasy, and we don’t want that.

Anyway, one of the biggest changes in my own life, besides listening to the miracle of God’s word, has been my daily focus on prayer. I never used to do that before. After all, I was busy and did not have the time even for a few minutes.

But one thing I can say for sure is that prayer does work. Sometimes in small ways and sometimes in big ways. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all, or so it seems, until you realize much later that it actually did, but not in the way you expected. You may not get what you think

it is you need, but you will get something even better if you are paying attention.

So, publicizing a National Day Of Prayer is far from “Brave.” It is, I feel, necessary. Of course, one day a year is not even close if you have felt the power of the Holy Spirit, but for some it is a good start and will hopefully lead to even more.

I pray for that.

So, what does this all have to do with me running for governor again? Well, I will say right here and now that if elected I will try to make a Day of Prayer a pretty big deal here in New Hampshire.

Over the years other governors have made a big deal about special “days”. Having a 24-hour span dedicated to this business or that thing has always made for good press and a few votes on Election Day. But what if as governor I simply declared the first Tuesday of every month as a State Prayer Day? I’m not looking for a bill in the legislature (though it would be interesting to hear the arguments against) just a suggestion by me, the governor, in saying it is so. What you do with it is up to you.

Of course, it could be controversial and make a lot of headlines, but would that be a bad thing? Much more meaningful than “Official New Hampshire Ice Cream Day.” (At least I think so,)

Best case scenario? Some folks who never really stopped to take the time to pray (I was one of them) might actually give it some consideration. Even if it is only a few dozen at first, well that’s a start.

They might be surprised at the changes that start to take place in their own lives.

Even if I don’t win, I will continue to pray that others will find their way like I did so late in my life.

And if that’s a brave thing to do, then bravery is easy.

DawkiNs’ ‘Cultural ChristiaNity’ is a ParasitiC CoNtraDiCtioN

by Victor Joecks Syndicated Columnist

The world’s most famous atheist calls himself a “cultural Christian.” It’s a parasitic contradiction, denoting someone who feasts on the fruit of Christianity while poisoning its roots.

On Easter, Richard Dawkins did an interview on a U.K. talk show. Dawkins is a British biologist famed for his atheism. He’s authored numerous books on that subject, including “The God Delusion” and “Outgrowing God.”

In “The God Delusion,” Dawkins entertained the idea that religious faith is “a symptom of a psychiatric disorder.” He implied religious people are insane. His explicit goal for the book was that religious readers “will be atheists when they put it down.”

Following the Bible encourages “a system of morals which any civilized modern person, whether religious or not, would find — I can put it no more gently — obnoxious,” he wrote in the book.

Contrast that with what Dawkins said in his recent interview. “I do think that we are culturally a Christian country, and I call myself a cultural Christian,” Dawkins said, referring to Britain. “I’m not a believer, but there’s a distinction between being a believing Christian and being a cultural Christian.”

He noted he was “happy” that the number of believing Christians was declining. But it “would be truly dreadful” if “we substituted any alternative religion” for Christianity. In Europe, the fast-growing alternative is Islam. The show host noted some 6,000 mosques are being built around Europe while church attendance plummets. Dawkins said that was a problem.

“If I had to choose between Christianity and Islam, I’d choose Christianity every single time,” Dawkins said. “It seems to me a fundamentally decent religion in a way that I think Islam is not.”

To be clear, this was no conversion experience. Dawkins went on to disparage those who believe in Jesus’ virgin birth and resurrection.

But there’s a stark contrast between these recent statements and his past description of Biblical principles.

Here’s what is happening. Western Civilization, including the U.S. and Britain, is built upon Judeo-Christian values. These are more foundational than the government itself. Indeed, our country’s government assumes its citizens will have them.

“We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion,” then-President John Adams wrote in 1798 to the Massachusetts Militia. Further,

Joe biDeN is sCareD of his owN shaDow

by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist

This week, the Islamic Republic of Iran -- a radical Shariah theocracy hell-bent on the destruction of Israel and Saudi Arabia, among others -- fired some 300 drones and missiles at the State of Israel. This is, definitionally, an act of war. Iran claimed that it had attacked Israel in response to Israel’s killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps terror master Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi in Syria. In reality, this was merely the latest escalation by Iran, after decades of using its proxies in the Middle East to attack Americans, Israelis and Western allies.

Why, though, did Iran think it could get away with such a launch without serious repercussions -- particularly since America directly intervened, along with the U.K., France, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in taking down Iranian ordnance?

The answer is simple: Iran has successfully deterred the United States.

Deterrence, according to the Defense Department, is “the prevention of action by the existence of a credible threat of unacceptable counteraction and/or belief that the cost of action outweighs the perceived benefits.” Clearly, the United States has not deterred Iran. Far from it: according to a report from the Jerusalem Post, Iran notified the United States in advance of its barrage against Israel, hoping to attain some sort of assurance that the United States would not retaliate and would pressure Israel to not retaliate, either. According to a Turkish go-between, “Iran informed us in advance of what would happen. Possible developments also came up during the meeting with (Secretary of State Antony) Blinken, and they (the U.S.) conveyed to Iran through us that this re-

action must be within certain limits.”

This is perfectly repulsive. In short, Iran wanted to engage in a show of strength; they then notified America that they would be attacking an American ally directly in the largest Middle Eastern cross-border attack by a sovereign country on another sovereign country since the Gulf War. And Biden said, “Sure, OK, so long as you don’t go too far.”

Biden then performed his part: he pressured Israel to “take the win” and not retaliate. After all, Biden said, it wouldn’t look good to “escalate” in the region.

Now, the reality is that the best way to deescalate in foreign policy is often to engage in actual deterrence. That’s why President Donald Trump’s approach, mocked by the pseudo-intellectual class, was effective: yes, it was bizarre to watch the sitting president of the United States threaten other world leaders with his “nuclear button,” which Trump assured those leaders was “much bigger and more powerful.” Also, would you want to provoke a man who tweeted such things if you were Kim Jong Un or the ayatollahs?

But Joe Biden doesn’t understand deterrence. In fact, he is deterred: Iran has successfully launched a war against Israel, and the United States is not only backing down but also pushing Israel to do the same.

So, why is Biden backing down?

Two reasons. First, Biden believes that his reelection effort requires the Middle East to calm. Second, Biden believes that his reelection effort requires the support for pro-Hamas radicals in Michigan. Biden is wrong on both counts, of course: It turns out that appeasement heightens the possibility of conflict in the Middle East, and Biden’s attempts to feed the pro-Hamas alligator one bite at a time will eventually end with his candidacy on the plate. Whatever

by John Stossel Syndicated Columnist

Soon the government might shut down your car.

President Joe Biden’s new infrastructure gives bureaucrats that power.

You probably didn’t hear about that because when media covered it, few mentioned the requirement that by 2026, every American car must “monitor” the driver, determine if he is impaired and, if so, “limit vehicle operation.”

Rep. Thomas Massie objected,

the kill switCh

complaining that the law makes government “judge, jury and executioner on such a fundamental right!”

Congress approved the law anyway.

A USA Today “fact check” told readers, don’t worry, “There’s no kill switch in Biden’s bill.”

“They didn’t read it, because it’s there!” says automotive engineer and former vintage race car driver Lauren Fix in my new video. The clause is buried under Section 24220 of the law.

USA Today’s “fact” check didn’t lie, exactly. It acknowledged that the law requires “new cars to have

technology that identifies if a driver is impaired and prevents operation.” Apparently, they just didn’t like the term “kill switch.”

But it is a kill switch.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants that.

I say to Fix, “It would save lives.” “Are you willing to give up every bit of control of your life?” she asks. “Once you give that up, you have no more freedom. This computer decides you can’t drive your vehicle. Great. Unless someone’s having a heart attack and trying to get to the hospital.”

The kill switch is just one of several ways the government proposes

to control how we drive.

California lawmakers want new cars to have a speed governor that prevents you from going more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

That would reduce speeding. But not being able to speed is dangerous, too, says Fix. If “something’s coming at you, you have to make an adjustment.”

New cars will have a special button on the dash. If you suddenly need to speed and manage to find the button when trying to drive out of some bad situation, and it lets you speed for 15 seconds.

ukraiNe; Missiles, Morale aND Morality

by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist

After months of hesitation, political infighting and rancorous debate, the U.S. Congress passed a massive Ukraine funding bill with a bi-partisan majority. The deal was done and a dangerously divided Republican majority smiled nervously. The Democrats and the Biden Administration cheered, many holding little blue and yellow Ukrainian flags on the House floor. But before sing-ing a transatlantic rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, let’s view the realistic options both Washington and the Europeans faced in aiding Ukraine, or not sup-

porting Kyiv.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson did the right thing in finally bringing the package to the floor; yet the vote was on each element of the assistance package which Biden had lumped together in a $95 billion mega-bundle. Each segment was voted on individually; Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan/Asia. Still the controversial American aid will not win the Ukraine war but does give Ukraine the chance to win. It equally underlines American credibility. The Ukraine $62 billion assistance will help stabilize the situation on what is certainly the eve of a major Russian offensive by June. Getting more munitions and supplies to Ukrainian front line units will significantly boost the sagging morale of defending units which

have been pummeled by relentless Russian artillery barrages. Importantly more air defense will be provided to protect Ukrainian skies from Russian attacks on civilian centers. This is all warranted.

The big issue here is morale. More than two years into the conflict, the heady days of bloodying the Russian Goliath and having a chance to win the war, have turned into a sullen despair as Moscow’s military does what it does best; use the sledgehammer despite hideous causalities to wear down an opponent. Ukraine is bleeding and the perception was that the Americans and Europeans were talking a good line but not delivering munitions to bloody the bear.

Now has this changed? Yes and no. Even prior to the new funding

the United States has already provided $100 billion in military aid to the Kyiv government. More European aid must now flow forth too!

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky admonished NATO defense ministers, saying, “the choice of whether we are indeed allies,” will be determined by whether NATO countries are willing to support his beleaguered country with more military aid. He described the state of Western assistance as “very limited,” but later hailed the “lifesaving U.S. aid package.”

The U.S, Germany and United Kingdom are Ukraine’s major weapons suppliers. New American military aid includes air defense systems, long-range missiles and artillery shells.

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

Letters From God Letters From God

QUESTION: Do You Think The Direction Our Country Is Heading Is Stupid?

Let me answer that by reminding you that all “sin” is stupid! I wrote about this in my book, the Bible. I instructed Solomon to write, “So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.” (Ecclesiastes 7:25)

Wickedness is sin and it is always stupidity. Anyone who is stupid is lacking right thinking and as a result, living and acting in ways that will hurt them, not enhance their life. Solomon went on to say that when one lives according to wicked or sinful ways, they are fools and actually manifest “madness.” Madness is a condition of being mentally disturbed and dysfunctional.Those who manifest madness, live in ways that are destructive and deadly to both the quality and quantity of life.

Before I describe why this is true of wickedness or sin, let me first define “sin.” Sin is actually a term used in archery. If you miss the red bullseye it is termed sin and simply means “missing the mark.”

With respect to me and my design for life, the bullseye is finding and following my will and design. Anything else is “missing the mark”

and sin. Since I am your designer, I know which thoughts and behavior will help you and which will hurt and even kill you. That’s why I told my chosen people to find and follow my word and will for “they are your life” (Deuteronomy 32:47).

Finding and following the designers design is vital not only for enjoyment but also safety. Departing from that design due to foolish arrogance will always end badly. Always! Let me illustrate this.

A number of years ago you launched a Space Shuttle called, Challenger. It held 7 souls, including a teacher whose voyage was watched by millions around the world. That spacecraft was designed to hold massive amounts of fuel in a cylinder comprised of multiple segments. The designers installed seals between each segment. That design called for a safe launch only if the weather was above 39 degrees. On the day of the launch, the temperature dropped to 27 degrees and at launch time it was 36 degrees.

Despite warnings by the designers, those who launched, rejected the wisdom of the designers. Though the rocket functioned well for a short time, it and all who were in it were destroyed shortly thereafter.

I want to remind you that I am God and I have designed and created you. Like the Challenger disaster, you can never truly “live” in your lifetime or after your death, if you violate my design, due to arrogant pride. You will manifest “stupidity” and a lethal form of “madness.” You may, as the Space Shuttle,

appear to be preforming “well,” but because of sin, missing the mark or bullseye of my will, you will suffer disaster. Listen to me, you can’t avoid this inevitability, for I am God.

How, you might ask, have you sinned and thereby “missed the mark of my design.”

1. You have forsaken me as God. For over 250 years, you have flourished as a result of living under and following moral principles based on my word. It has never been perfectly nor universally followed but until recently my laws and will have never been radically repudiating as you are now. This deadly departure has even been championed and endorsed by so called, “Christian” leaders, both clergy and politicians.

2. I made mankind “male” and “female.” You mock me and my design, at your own peril, with your “nouveau wisdom,” that brazenly claims you can be “anything you desire.”

3. Sexual love is to be expressed by one man and one woman committed to one another in a covenant of marriage for life. Any other practice, even though sanctioned by your new laws and customs violate my design. I am patient and even though it may seem that this behavior is acceptable, it only brings you closer and closer to my judgment and discipline.

4. I created good laws and called for swift and painful punishment to deter criminal activity and protect the innocent. What you are practicing now throughout your country can only be described as “madness.”

Open your eyes and see

the destruction that is taking place in your society. Imagine if this malignancy expands eve more.

5. Open borders in the name of compassion, that violate your laws and for many is a cover for political gain, is nothing short of “madness.” Though immigration is good, unvetted it is “stupid.” Would you ever allow your skin on your body to be opened to any invasion of outside influences, never knowing which are good and which are bad? Would you ever allow your homes to have the same influx? Those who ingest anything without caution and knowledge of the content of that which they ingest will inevitably destroy themselves. You could not be more stupid and mad, than to base your immigration process on these policies.

6. Allowing the current political party to claim to be champions of “Democracy” while demonizing, attempting to silence and attacking any politician and all of their followers, who point out the hypocrisy and who valiantly seek to restore Democracy, is a mental disorder. It will lead to authoritarianism and ultimately to anarchy. No country which practices this will flourish but will end up on the scrapheap of failed nations.

In each of these areas and in so many more, you have in pride, departed from that which I established as my design. I had given you hundreds of years of prosperity that made

See LETTERS on 36

As a life-long sufferer of seasonal allergies, I am happy to announce that the suffering for me now as an adult is minimal and I am grateful for the plants and mushrooms for offering up their medicine.

Ragweed season is the worst for many people and it begins late august and doesn’t end until a hard frost. Some have allergies in the Spring, some in the Fall, some all season long, and some even all year long, but either way, there is relief that doesn’t involve a chemical drug.

Why find an alternative? Antihistamine drugs, namely the nonsedating kind, are correlated with liver toxicity

- otherwise known as hepatotoxic. Toxicity affecting the hepatocytes (cells) in the liver. Your liver is a very important organ and keeping it healthy ensures good brain health and proper detoxification of the blood. Here is link to an article from 2018 in Gastroenterology Report which discusses the issues regarding these drugs.

https://academic. oup.com/gastro/article/6/3/228/2909369

Listed below are a few alternatives used traditionally to reduce the histamine reaction and help to control symptoms:

Stinging Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica): this plant while high in minerals is also excellent at controlling histamine reactions in the body.

Ginko (Ginko biloba): not just for brain function, this plant has a high flavonoid content which makes it one of THE BEST for allergy season.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): while I use this plant for anxiety as well as for controlling herpies infections, it’s also an excellent candidate for controlling histamine.

Reishi Mushroom

Sara Woods Kender Sacred Tree Herbals

by Stephanie Ryan, DC Crossroads Chiropractic

Traveling is exhilarating, expanding our horizons and feeding our souls with new experiences. However, it can also be physically demanding and stressful, often leading to neglect of our health. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a novice adventurer, prioritizing your well-being is essential for making the most of your journey. Here are some indispensable tips to keep you feeling your best while exploring the world.

1 . Prioritize Hydration One of the simplest yet most crucial aspects of staying healthy while traveling is staying hydrated. Air travel, changes in climate, and increased physical activity can all contribute to dehydration. Carry a refillable water bottle with you and make a conscious effort to drink water regularly throughout the day. Opt for bottled water in areas where tap water is questionable to avoid waterborne illnesses.

2. Pack Healthy Snacks Long flights, bus rides, or train journeys often mean limited food options, which can lead to unhealthy snacking on processed foods. Pack nutrient-rich snacks like nuts, dried fruits, granola bars, or

fresh fruits and vegetables to keep hunger at bay and provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals. This will not only help you avoid unhealthy temptations but also keep your energy levels up during

long travel days.

3. Maintain a Balanced Diet While indulging in local cuisine is undoubtedly one of the highlights of traveling, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet to sup-

port your overall health. Aim to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your meals whenever possible. Embrace the opportunity to sample local specialties, but also be mindful of portion sizes and opt for lighter options to avoid feeling sluggish.

4. Get Sufficient Rest Traveling often disrupts our regular sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and decreased immunity. Prioritize getting sufficient rest by establishing a bedtime routine and ensuring you have a comfortable sleeping environment. Consider packing earplugs and an eye mask to block out noise and light, especially if you’re staying in shared accommodations

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or unfamiliar surroundings.

5. Stay Active Maintaining an exercise routine while traveling can be challenging, but incorporating physical activity into your daily itinerary is essential for staying healthy and energized. Take advantage of opportunities for walking tours, hiking, swimming, or cycling to explore your destination while staying active. Many hotels also offer fitness facilities or exercise classes, allowing you to squeeze in a workout even while on the road.

6. Practice Good Hygiene Maintaining good hygiene habits is crucial for preventing illness while traveling. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating or after using public transportation. Carry hand sanitizer for times when handwashing facilities are not available. Additionally, be mindful of food safety practices and opt for freshly prepared meals from reputable establishments to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

7. Protect Your Skin

8. Listen to Your Body

Above all, listen to your body and prioritize selfcare during your travels. Pay attention to any signs of fatigue, illness, or discomfort, and don’t hesitate to take a break or seek medical attention if needed. Pace yourself, and don’t try to cram too many activities into your itinerary, as this can lead to burnout and detract from your overall enjoyment of the experience. In short, staying healthy while traveling is all about preparation and prioritizing selfcare. As summer rolls around, whether you travel near or far, take time to think ahead, pack your bags and prepare for your adventure with health in mind. Happy travels!

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

Exposure to harsh sun rays can not only lead to sunburn but also increase the risk of skin cancer. Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF rating, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat when spending time outdoors. Reapply sunscreen regularly, especially after swimming or sweating, and seek shade during the peak hours of sun exposure.

(Ganaderma tsugae): a medicinal mushroom that grows in NH on the Eastern Hemlock tree that can be processed and used for its immune modulating and lung strengthening.

I combine these plants with a few others in different formulations. In tea form for the tea lovers; something to sip on throughout the day, in extract form which can work more acutely, and in syrup form with a little raw local honey for that extra sweetness and allergy support. So whatever your preference having more tools in the tool box that coincidently support the body in other ways, is a win win for you and your health!

Sara Woods Kender is a Clinical Herbalist & Reiki Master and owns and operates Sacred Tree Herbals, 169 Daniel Webster Highway, Unit 1, in Meredith, NH. She teaches classes on herbalism and see clients weekly at her shop. www.sarasherbs.com

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BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

the sPriNG warbler

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

I saw a yellow-rumped warbler, a few pine warblers and several palm warblers on my last bird walk. That can only mean one thing: time for my annual spring warbler column.

The aforementioned warblers are the earliest to arrive in New England in the spring. The rest will follow shortly.

But first, what is a warbler? A warbler is a small Neotropical songbird. Many are colorful but not all of them. Yellow is a common color among warblers, but white, black, orange, brown and tan are also found frequently on warblers. While some spend their winters in the southern

A chestnut-sided warbler perches on a branch in New England.

part of the U.S., most migrate farther to Central or South America, or the islands south of the U.S. A few stragglers may be spotted in New England during the winter, but it’s not common.

Warblers breed throughout the U.S., mostly in the northern states and into Canada. By late September and into October, warblers do their southward migration. In April and May, they pass through the area again — this time in their fresh spring plumage.

Many warblers will remain in New England to raise families, and others will head farther north. Yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, for me anyway, are the species most commonly seen during the summer raising their families. I’ve also found the breeding spots of American redstart, ovenbird, pine warbler and a few other species.

Warblers are best

known in New England for their spring migration. In their best breeding plumage, dozens of species of warblers pass through New England in April and May with the peak being the first two weeks in May. This also coincides with the return of other colorful songbirds such as rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting and Baltimore oriole.

Watching warblers can be incredibly rewarding and frustrating at the same time. With a few exceptions, warblers do not visit birdfeeders, meaning they must be found “in the wild.”

Sometimes they are easy to find, but usually they are flitting among the leaves and hard to pinpoint. The typical size of a warbler is about five inches, so it’s not like trying to find a blue jay or robin.

Their songs are usually sung softly, so it takes a good ear to find

them that way too. Also, there are dozens of warbler species and learning their songs, while infinitely valuable when in the field, is not the easiest task. Try the Merlin app to help identify warblers by song. Remember, though, while the app is extremely helpful and accurate, it is not 100 percent accurate. It’s best to “get eyes” on the birds in addition to having Merlin ID it by sound.

Some of the most common species to look for include the yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, American redstart, common yellowthroat, northern parula, chestnut-sided warbler, blue-winged warbler, black-and-white warbler, black-throated green warbler, blackthroated blue warbler and magnolia warbler. Ovenbirds, whose loud “teacher, teacher, teacher” song if often heard in the New England woods

Not So LoNg Ago ...

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

better roaDs for rural Carrier a 1952 ProMise

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

In June, 1952 there was only one woman rural mail carrier in the state of New Hampshire and her name was Mrs. Marion Weeks. Mrs. Weeks had delivered the mail in Warren on a 25 and 1/2 mile route in all kinds of weather for the previous eight years. She was one of 129 rural letter carriers who attended the 49th annual convention of the New Hampshire Rural Letter Carrier Association and Auxiliary which was held at Oak-Birch Inn at Alton Bay.

The Association held a Saturday and Sunday event for the purpose of conducting business, receiving committee reports, listening to talks by members of the postal department and the national carriers association, electing officers, and attending a banquet. With the limited space to report such events in

today’s newspapers, you may not find a detailed report concerning this year’s carrier’s convention as I did in the Laconia, N.H., Evening Citizen of June 25, 1952. It should be known to understand the purpose of the organization that it is a labor union and is associated with the National Rural Letter Carriers Association.

As a boy in rural New Hampshire in the 1940s and ‘50s, the mail carrier was someone I looked forward to seeing and expected him to stop at our mailbox everyday of the week except Sunday no matter what the weather was. It was very seldom that anything in the mail was addressed to me exclusively, but, mail

to anyone at our address was a welcome addition to the day’s events.

The rural carrier was knowledgeable enough so that a name, town, and state on the envelope was sufficient to get it to its right rural mailbox. No street number, RFD number, or even street was needed in those days, though we were at R.F.D. # 1. A letter sent to either the town of Ashland, the post office our rural mail came out of, or the town of New Hampton, where we actually lived, with my Dad or Mother’s name on it, or even that of their children, seemed to always find its way to the correct mailbox. Rural Free Delivery Carriers served their clients

well before there were rural street numbers and zip codes.

I can’t tell you much about today’s Association of Rural Mail Carriers, whose members now appear to serve in suburban and urban locations, as well as rural, because when I tried to open windows on their national website I was informed that I was trying to obtain information intended for members only. But, because local newspapers used to print more news about more events, I can tell you about that 1952 New Hampshire Rural Letter Carrier Associations annual convention. A short business meeting was held on the Saturday of that June event “disposing of several routine items of business.” Those words ‘disposing’ and ‘routine’ seem

New Hampshire M arine Patrol

Oak Birch Inn in Alton as pictured around 1906. NHRLCA met here for their 1952 Convention.

to indicate that the ‘business’ taken care of was not of great interest to the delegates who welcomed getting it over with quickly. A ‘formal’ and apparently more interesting business meeting was held on Sunday.

The big event on Saturday seemed to be the banquet featuring roast turkey to eat and music to eat by, the music was provided by Eileen Martin of Laconia on the piano accordion. The association’s president, William Montgomery of Contoocook, presided over the banquet and a double welcome was given to the letter carriers by Alton’s two postmasters, Mr. Varney of Alton and Mr. Lynch of Alton Bay.

The Association’s vice-president, Robert Bennett of Newmarket responded on behalf of the group

Alice French of Tilton, who introduced the Auxiliary officers and a member of the national auxiliary board, Mrs. Barbara Wright of Barton, Vermont. A postal inspector gave a talk on postal affairs and the Association’s national treasurer from Ohio was introduced.

to the welcome. The Oak Birch Inn had a “little theater” in their building that provided space for a Saturday

evening meeting of the state’s letter carriers. They heard from the president of the State Auxiliary, Mrs.

This year’s temporary exhibition features works of art that depict female Navy military personnel

Visit our website for admission information and event schedule.

But it was a Mr. Otis from the New Hampshire Highway Department, representing Commissioner Merrill, who perhaps brought the most welcoming news for the rural mail carriers. That news was that progress was being made in improving road conditions and the state had more money than usual in that year of 1952 to spend on upgrading class 5 roads which were the ones most commonly used by the rural route drivers.

When rural letter carriers met for their annual gathering they did so for pleasure as well as business. There was a Saturday morning golf tournament and the winner, Ed Hull, was presented with a ‘silver’ cup to hold for the year, which was presented to him by the secretary of the N.H.R.L.C.A., Irving Brown of Center Harbor. The group also enjoyed, we were told, square dancing under the direction of

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Mr. & Mrs. Brownlow Thompson of Bristol. There were also door prizes that were given out on Saturday evening of the event.

In 1952 there were 177 rural mail routes in the state of New Hampshire. Five carriers had retired in the year before the convention and there were four new ones awaiting appointment. On Sunday of the convention the business items included the election of officers which appear to have been mainly those who served the previous year and with some of the wives of officers being elected as officers of the auxiliary. Harry Clark of Derry was elected as chaplain of the R.L.C.A. and Mrs. Clara Clark of Derry as the auxiliary chaplain.

Let me insert here that the names shown in this article may not seem very significant to most of the readers, but my hope is that some readers will recognize a name as a relative, friend, ancestor, or someone else they have some knowledge about.

I have been ac -

quainted through the years with quite a few U.S. postal service people and generally hold them in high regard for their attendance to duty and professionalism. Many years ago I applied for employment with the United States Postal Service and took an entrance exam with the hope of becoming one of those letter carriers. I did pass the test but moved from that area before I was hired.

I guess I could write an article on ‘Postal Employees I Have Known,” from my experiences in several states, but right now I’m pondering how members of the New Hampshire Rural Letter Carriers Association and Auxiliary could have grown to a total of 735 in 2024.

Frank Dow Merrill - New Hampshire Commissioner of Highways in 1952 and WWII

Benjamin Franklin- the first head of the United States Post Office.

The Simple Feast The Simple Feast Simple

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

The Simple CheeseCake!

In my humble opinion, no matter how much is written about cheesecake there will never be enough written about cheesecake. It really is that good!

I honestly never thought I would like cheesecake when I was a kid. The thought of putting cheese and birthday cake, together as one, was actually quite disturbing. I never even knew what cream cheese was (nor a bagel for that matter) until my early teens. So, how was I supposed to know what cheesecake was?

Until I discovered… what cheesecake was A delightful combination of cream cheese, eggs, sugar, cream and a flavoring of some sort, and perhaps a few other ingredients are the basic foundation for most cheesecakes. When combined with a crust and a topper, and maybe a garnish, what in my youth sounded simply dreadful, has become one of my favorite desserts. While I may not remember my first encounter with cheesecake, I do recall it was good enough to leave me wanting more. And too, I wanted to try my hand at making cheesecake. That was over 35 years ago.

It just so happened that it was about this time that a friend was managing a now defunct kitchen store. Somehow, I ended up with a boxed set of springform pans. Now, I admit to being totally clueless as to what to do with this automotive patch kit. Seriously! It resembled a jumble of metal pieces my dad would pop rivet onto rotted fenders and floor boards or slide over leaking mufflers in order to get the family jalopy to pass inspection. I can remember thinking, “No wonder this store is going out of business!

Who in their right mind wants to buy baking pans that fall apart at the flip of a lever?”

Mom to the rescue! Up to this point in my life I had obviously never seen a springform pan. To my knowledge the only cheesecakes my mom made were the very rare Mini Cherry

Cheesecakes I wrote about in a past article. Those delicious little cheesecakes, making their first appearance in our house when I was in my late teens, had a Vanilla Wafer cookie for a crust and a spoonful of cherry pie filling on top. Baked in a paper muffin cup, they could readily be taken out of the tin after baking; no springform pan to mess with. But, that is not to say mom didn’t know her pots and pans, so she clued me in as to their proper use.

It was also about this time that I found my “go to” book for cheesecake. A neat little cookbook, one of the first I had ever purchased, titled The 50 Best Cheesecakes in the World by Larry and Honey Zisman. It is an unassuming book, no real photos except for the attractive color picture on the cover. However, for its diminutive size and sparse illustrations this

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book packs a lot into a little package. And the best part? The recipes are easy to follow and readily adaptable. Once you gain confidence in making a few of these cheesecakes, you too will find yourself leafing through the book to find a foundation upon which to build your next mouthwatering masterpiece.

And that is what I did with this Candy Bar Cheesecake recipe. Originally a Snickers Cheesecake, made nearly 8 years ago for a holiday gathering, recently I was asked by a family member to make it for a meeting they were chairing, only this time without the nuts. (Too many dentures and partial plates in this particular audience, is my guess.) Subbing in Milky Way and Three Musketeers, it was, in a word, “Delicious!”, according to feedback from

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six out of seven Octogenarians. The seventh, the naysayer, claimed the candy bar pieces were not chopped fine enough. (Duly noted and recorded for the good of the order.)

Having tried many delicious recipes from this book for over three decades I can tell you that The 50 Best Cheesecakes in the World “delivers the goods” because this book has yet to disappoint. And, more good news (Hold on to your fork, cheesecake lovers!) this book is still available… on the internet. (Yes, I too was shocked.) Just type the title into the search bar, click on the copy you want at the price you can afford, and head for the checkout. By the time your knees have fully recovered from your archeological dig to retrieve that slightly dented ovoid form and

stray piece of sheet metal from the far back recesses under the counter. You’ve chiseled off all that crud from your last foray into cheesecaking. You’ve figured out how to properly secure the bottom back into that darn metal Uh-“O”-ring. And your

other half asks, “Honey, what did you buy THIS TIME?” as that all too familiar van comes to a stop in your driveway. The book will be off your doorstep and into your hands, so that you too can start on your next… Simple Feast. Enjoy!

CANDYBAR CHEESEECAKE

YIELD: 16-20 Servings Time: 7-9 Hours (Overnight Chill Is Better)

INGREDIENTS

CRUST

2 Cups Chocolate Graham

Crackers Crushed

1 Stick plus three Tbsp. Butter (melted)

FILLING

1 ½ pounds Cream Cheese, soft

1 Cup Sugar

4 Eggs

1 Tbsp. Vanilla

1 Cup Heavy Cream

1 ½ Cups candy bars chopped*

TOPPING

4 ½ Cups candy bars chopped*

2 oz. Caramel Sauce

- 10 inch Springform Pan

FUDGE SAUCE

2 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate

¾ Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Boiling Water

2 Tbsp. Butter

3 Tbsp. Light Corn Syrup

WHIPPED CREAM

2 Cups Heavy Cream

3-4 Tbsp. Confectioners Sugar

Dash of Vanilla Extract

Dash Cream of Tartar

PREPARATION

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Crust: Place one and one half packs equivalent of chocolate graham crackers from a box of the same into a gallon zipper seal bag and, using a serving spoon or rolling pin, crush to a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and mix well. Crumbs should hold together with a little pressure.

- Press about 1 and ½ cups of crumb mixture into the base of the pan and up the sides.

Filling: Combine softened cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.

- Add eggs to the cream cheese mixture, one at a time and continue to mix after each is incorporated. Then add the vanilla and heavy cream and continue to beat for 5 minutes or until smooth. Scrape down the sides.

- Fold in 1 ½ Cups of candybar pieces.

- Pour filling into a prepared (crust lined) springform pan and bake in a 375 degree oven for 45-50 minutes. Check for center set and remove to cool. If still not set, continue to bake, checking in 10 minutes. (Golden brown is okay, burnt is not). Let cool for 3040 minutes.

Topping: When the cheesecake is cool, spread the remaining chopped candy bar pieces evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Fudge Sauce: While cheesecake is cooling make the fudge sauce by combining baking chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until melted.

- Stir in the boiling water, sugar, and corn syrup and bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly. Drizzle over the top of the cheesecake. Drizzle the caramel over the cheesecake.

- Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.

Garnish: One to two hours before service, in a mixing bowl begin to whip the heavy cream. Add in the vanilla, confectioners sugar, and cream of tartar. Whip on medium high until peaks form then slow the speed. Scrape down the sides and continue to whip for another minute. Check to see if the peaks hold their form. If so, evenly spread the whipped cream over the top of the cheesecake and smooth the top.

- Using some of the leftover crust crumbs sprinkle over the whipped cream for added garnish.

- Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.

* This recipe uses 30 “Fun Size” candy bars chopped

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

Some sports column topics are of broader interest than others. Not everyone cares about mascots or women’s basketball or the 1936 Olympic rowing team.

Still, there’s always the Red Sox. Most all area sports fans track the Red Sox to some extent.

So here we go.

After a promising start the BoSox quickly fell back to around .500. The team is not creating much of a sports stir. Of course, it’s still April. And the Celtics and the Bruins finished at the top of their respective leagues as their playoffs got underway and those teams are absorbing much of New England’s sports attention.

But the Red Sox Nation baseball energy is still lacking. Really lacking.

“Ennui” is a great word for it.

“A feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction. Boredom.”

The BoSox finished last in 2023 and 2024 doesn’t look to be any better.

Fenway Park is still relatively full for home games, despite the highest prices in baseball. But apparel sales are down. NESN’s TV ratings have cratered in recent years. Admittedly, if the team surprises and is in a pennant race this August and September, then some energy will return. Bandwagon jump-

constant presence with the team.

Bill Belichick led the Patriots to ten Super Bowls, but he’s gone from Foxboro because the team floundered. One generally can’t live on one’s laurels forever.

The sports columnist and Red Sox owner Larry Lucchino shortly after the BoSox won the 2004 World Series. Lucchino passed away on April 2.

ers are always out there. Or if Raphael Devers went on a 57-game hitting streak, then interest would spike. But don’t count on anything like that.

Ennui.

How to overcome it? Fresh faces. Not only on the field, but in the dugout and in the front office.

I’ve been saying manager Alex Cora needs to go for a long time. That old dictum is true about firing a manager because you can’t fire the whole team. That Cora is a cheater who served a season suspension for bad behavior just “poisoned the well” for many of us.

But how do you fire an owner?

I’m talking about the principal owner John William Henry II. He’s also the principal owner of the Liverpool Football (English soccer) Club, the Boston Globe, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Among other things he’s a co-owner of RFK Racing. So, he’s spread pretty thin. The conventional

wisdom is that he’s no longer “emotionally invested” in the BoSox and that he should move on from Fenway.

It wasn’t always so.

Along with Tom Werner and the late Larry Luchino, Henry purchased the Red Sox in 2002. Two years later the team broke the “Curse of the Bambino” and won a World Series. Henry was “toast of the town.”

Another title followed in 2007. And yet another a wonderful championship came about in 2013, sandwiched between three last place finishes.

As recently as 2018 the Red Sox were World Series Champions, setting a victory mark during that special season.

But that was then, and this is now.

That Henry is a woke, preening, virtue-signal ing liberal annoys many of us. He changed the name of Yawkey Way to Jersey Street because longtime BoSox owner Tom Yawkey was not as morally enlightened as Henry. But at least the beloved Yawkey was a

Prime Minister Charles DeGaulle was probably the greatest Frenchman since Napoleon. But he was rejected by the French electorate in 1969. He died the next year. And British voters famously dumped Winston Churchill as prime minister two months after he’d led his nation to victory over Hitler’s Nazi Germany in 1945. Fate

bathtub or shower why Choose?

Everyone enjoys a nice, warm bath at the end of a stressful day. In fact, most people enjoy a bath just because of its soothing qualities, no matter how the day went! But, when space is tight and room is running out, where do you squeeze in this luxurious tub of yours?

There is a solution! Small shower bathtubs have started to blossom in the home improvement market, catching many home owners attention. Although they are not as large as a standard tub they

are very effective. A small bathtub shower is a good, basic solution to the cramped space scenario, fitting both a shower and a tub in the same limited area. This gives you the option of either a shower or a bath, and saves space as well.

By installing a small bathtub shower in your bathroom, you are giving yourself options. When walking into your lavatory, you are able to make the decision between a shower or bath. This is great because some days you just don’t have time to take an hour away from your life for a soak. That’s where having a small bathtub shower comes in handy, you can hop in for five minutes use the shower head and be done. Another option that small shower bathtubs give you is size. You can choose the standard five foot bath tub that is available in every Home Depot and attach a shower head just above it. Or, you can choose a condensed, small bathtub shower combo. These are perfect in cramped spaces because you can choose a

smaller sized one (some are four feet, some even smaller) or one that is square, fitting right in a corner. This saves so much space while also still being fully functional as a bathtub.

Most of these small bathtub showers are deeper, so even with its lack of length; you still get your soak on. Square small shower bathtubs are also a very contemporary and edgy look, making your bathroom very stylish and different.

Some small shower bathtubs do not have to be a completely new unit. Some homes are already equipped with a small tub, but no shower head above. Shower heads can easily be mounted on the wall above the tub. But, if the space is too confined, you can always replace that old tub with a new small bathtub shower unit.

A bathtub shower unit is a great option for people with mobility problems, health problems, and the elderly because some are outfitted with doors creating convenient and easy access. This makes the struggle of stepping over the tubs

large sides a breeze because they can simply open the small door and slip right in.

Because most people purchase a standard five foot tub, you may have to search a little harder for small shower bathtubs. There are many options out there, but some home improvement stores only carry a small variety of tubs. A four foot standard tub is the going to be available in most home improvement stores as well, and works quite nicely as a small bathtub shower.

These are relatively cheap in price, so you do not have to worry about high dollar specialty tubs. By searching online, the quest for the ultimate small shower bathtub may be made easier.

If a small bathtub shower is not small enough for your bathroom, perhaps some renovations are needed. Sometimes a wall mounted sink will do the trick!

By replacing your sink or removing excess cabinetry you could potentially save just enough space to squeeze in your dream small bathtub shower!

DiG, DiviDe, aND boost your GarDeN’s beauty

by Melinda Myers

Overcrowded, poor flowering, and floppy perennials can be invigorated with a shovel and a bit of your time and energy. Dividing perennials is an excellent way to improve their appearance and create new plants to use in other spaces in your landscape.

As the old garden adage states “divide spring flowering perennials in late summer or early fall, divide fall bloomers in spring, and summer blooming perennials in either spring or fall.” Some gardeners prefer to enjoy the spring blooms and divide soon after the flowers fade. Most gardeners have found the best time to divide is when they have the time and can provide proper posttransplanting care.

Reduce the stress on plants by dividing perennials on a cloudy, overcast day when the plants won’t dry out so quickly. Make sure the plants are wellwatered a day or two in advance of dividing. Dig up the whole plant using a garden fork or sharp spade, like Corona Tools’ DigMaster Nursery Shovel (coronatools. com), with its narrow, hardened steel blade. A shovel with a long handle and narrow blade makes it easier to access plants

in small and hardto-reach spots in the flower garden. Carefully lift the plant out of the soil. Depending on the plant and the tenacity of its roots, you may be able to gently pull the roots apart with your hands. Otherwise, use a sharp spade or knife, such

as a Hori Hori garden knife, or a reciprocating saw to cut the plant into smaller sections. Some gardeners place two garden forks back-to-back in the center of the clump and pull the forks apart to make the divisions.

Discard the dead center, if needed,

in the compost pile. Make sure each division has at least three to five healthy shoots and adequate roots. The larger the division, the quicker it will fill in the space and possibly need dividing sooner than smaller divisions.

Replant the divisions as soon as possible. In the meantime, store them in a cool, shaded location and keep the roots covered and moist.

Prepare the soil before planting. You can plant one of the divisions in the original spot once the soil is amended. Use the others to fill in bare areas or start new garden beds. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Plant the division at the same depth it was growing. Some gardeners set it slightly higher so it can settle in place. Either way, make sure the roots are not exposed and

When dividing perennial plants use a sharp spade or Hori Hori garden knife to easily cut plants into smaller sections

(StatePoint) While neutral tones continue to be popular this year among home DIYers, bold and colorful surroundings also are trending right now.

From adding dramatic style to the kitchen to giving an unexpected space a splash of color, these ideas—inspired by the 2024 FrogTape Design Trends, as identified by celebrity interior designer Taniya Nayak—will make areas around your home pop in 2024.

Colorful Kitchens. Make the kitchen a focal point by painting the cabinets or panels on the island a vivid color. Calming blue will ensure a relaxed and laid-back feeling, while fuchsia will energize the design.

Nayak recommends using FrogTape Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape to prevent paint bleed and achieve crisp paint lines. The low-adhesion tape is designed to prevent damage on surfaces like cabinets, freshly painted walls, wallpaper and more.

Dynamic Décor . If painting projects aren’t in the plan for this year, revive a living room or bedroom by adding a collection of brightly colored pillows and throws, bohemianstyle macramé, wall art and a rug with geometric patterns. As long as the colors are complementary to each other, the blend of styles and textures will catch the eye and make the room feel refreshed with little

effort.

Nourishing Green. A simple, but effective, way to boost the mood of a space is to fill it with large blooms. Place a modern plant stand in an empty corner or between rooms as a divider, and layer in green houseplants or ones with colorful leaves on the shelves. Accentuate the greenery with pops of the same color throughout the room to create a sense of cohesion.

Elevated Exteriors. It’s not just the interiors of the home that should speak to personal style, the outside should, too! Give the front door a facelift by painting it a daring color. Don’t be afraid

to choose one hue for the outside of the door and another for the inside. For this project, apply FrogTape MultiSurface Painter’s Tape before painting, so that trim around the door and doorknob is protected from paint bleed.

For more fresh decor ideas and design tips, visit FrogTape.com.

Whether you choose one or all of these trends, they can be tackled by DIYers with a range of skillsets to transform dull living spaces into the home of your dreams.

how to MaiNtaiN a healthier hoMe oN a buDGet

(BPT) - Living healthily remains a primary concern for many today, with homeowners looking to make home improvements with an emphasis on the health benefits of living in an environmentally friendly space.

“When it comes to home improvement, eco-friendly choices can be budget-friendly,” said Bonnie Lee, Vice President of Propert \y Claims at Mercury Insurance. “Healthy home choices, especially for large renovations, can bring your homeowner cost down and save you money on insurance too.”

The journey to a healthier home begins by identifying areas needing regular main-

tenance and determining which environmentally friendly products can replace current ones. Here’s a roundup of beneficial and feasible home enhancements:

Breathe Easier With Clean Air

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. The air filters in your home’s heating and cooling equipment weed out contaminants like dust and pet dander; however, a dirty filter hampers their efficiency. Regularly cleaning or changing these filters, especially HEPA filters

See BUDGET on 27

Volleyball vs. Newfound; 6:15

GILFORD

Boys’ Soccer vs. Prospect Mountain; 11 Cross Country at Coe-Brown; TBD Field Hockey vs. St. Thomas; 4 Girls’ Soccer vs. Prospect Mountain; 12:30

Volleyball vs. Laconia; 4:45

GILFORD-BELMONT

GILFORD

Boys’ Soccer at Campbell; 4

Girls’ Soccer vs. Campbell; 4

Wednesday, Oct. 4

BELMONT

Cross Country at Prospect Mountain; 4

Volleyball at Moultonborough; 6:15

GILFORD

Boys’ Lacrosse vs. Milford; 4 Girls’ Lacrosse at Milford; 4 Softball at Winnisquam; 4 WINNISQUAM

ing second behind host White and ahead of Hopkinton and Inter-Lakes. White Mountains took top honors

Gilford finished with 66 for second Hopkinton with 59 points and Inter-Lakes Ryan Folan earned medalist honors spot in the lineup, finishing with Gilford.

Brett Skoog from the second Wallace from the third spot both points and Chris Port finished the fourth spot to round out the Colton Byars finished with five man rounded out the field of Gilford

Football vs. Laconia; 7 WINNISQUAM

Boys’ Soccer vs. Farmington; 10 Field Hockey vs. Littleton; TBD

Football vs. Franklin; 2

Volleyball vs. Souhegan; 5:45

Monday, Oct. 2

Boys’ Soccer at White Mountains; 4 Cross Country at Prospect Mountain; 4

Volleyball at Gilford; 5:45

Thursday, Oct. 5

BELMONT

Girls’ Soccer at Inter-Lakes; 4

All schedules are subject to change.

Gilford is scheduled to be at Sports Editor Joshua Spaulding 279-4516, ext. 155 or josh@salmonpress.news.

BUDGET from 25

that cost as little as $30, can ensure clean air.

A costless preventive measure is to maintain the proper functioning of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are more likely during winter when homes are typically heated, making detector maintenance an important step.

Ensuring Safe Water

Water filters offer a health-centric and budget-conscious upgrade to homes. Filter pitchers start from as low as $20, and there are more upscale alternatives available like under-sink, countertop or faucet-mounted systems.

Water leak detection devices present another home improvement avenue. These systems alert homeowners when a leak is detected and can automatically shut off the water system if a significant issue exists. Mercury Insurance offers a related discount to eligible homes equipped with these devices.

Environmentally Friendly And Effective Household Supplies

Attentions have shifted due to concerns over the composition of traditional cleaning products, paints, flooring and construction materials. Many homeowners now prefer envi -

ronmentally friendly alternatives. Look for biodegradable products based on renewable resources. When painting the walls of your home, look for volatile organic compounds (VOC)-free options or those that are Green Seal or GreenGuard certified. When it comes to appliances, aim for LEED-certified or STAR-rated products for lower energy usage and eligibility for an insurance discount for green homeowners. For flooring, consider alternatives like unfinished hardwood, stone or concrete, and carpets made from natural fibers. Look for non-toxic adhesives to further limit chemical exposure.

For building materials like drywall and insulation, opt for GreenGuard-certified products to avoid hazardous chemicals.

Adopting routine maintenance and home improvements can foster a healthier living environment and offer financial rewards. For instance, Mercury Insurance provides a 5% green home insurance discount to homeowners with a certification from either the U.S. Green Building Council LEED or the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Guidelines (NAHB).

MYERS from 23

the crown, the part where the roots meet the stems, is not buried.

Gently firm the soil around the plant and water thoroughly. Check the soil moisture every few days and water deeply and often enough to keep the roots slightly moist. Reduce your watering frequency as the plant begins to develop a more robust root system. Start by dividing just one or two overgrown plants. As you master the technique, you will find it easier to divide perennials when needed to keep your gardens looking their best.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Corona Tools for her expertise in writing this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

nonprofit arena. In 2000, Vince received the Republican Party nomination for the South Carolina 6th Congressional District. In 2019, Vince wrote The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide Christians and America in their Quest for Power and How We Can Defeat Them, which became an Amazon #1 bestseller. He has appeared numerous times on Hannity, The Laura Ingraham Show, Newsmax, OAN, The Joe Pags Show, The

ELLISON from 1 Brian Kilmeade Show, Tucker Carlson, and many other radio and television programs. He is the producer of the documentary “Will You Go to Hell For Me.” His latest book is Crime INC.

At

we’d see any.

On the summit we met two other guys with their dogs and they said they were on their second lap up the mountain.

The sun was now shining bright and it warmed up a lot and the views over the now iceless Lake Sunapee were grand. We chose to ski down Skyway Ledges to enjoy the big view north

After skinning up Mount Sunapee, Becca glides down Skyway Ledges. Mount Sunapee celebrated its 75th season this year and the view over Lake Sunapee is as lovely as it ever has been.

and made turns around the few ledgy bare spots. We then hiked up the snowless pass to the top of North Peak so we could ski down Lynx. The steep Lynx Trail had more than two feet of snow and it was just awesome turning all the way back to the car.

The next day I drove to Jefferson to meet friends to hike up Mount Waumbek. This was a special hike to join our friend Eric as he completed his second Grid. The Grid is hiking all 48 of the mountains on the New Hampshire 4,000 footer list every single month. Maybe you have seen the bumper sticker “576”--that’s 48 mountains times 12 months.

There was only one other car in the parking lot besides ours. Bria, Jeremy, Bryan and I met Eric at the Star King Trailhead at 7:45 am. It was cool and cloudy with a short promise of sun before afternoon rain would arrive.

All five of us had snowshoes tied to our backpacks. There was no snow in sight but there was plenty of mud and running water down the trail.

The trail remained bare as we walked beneath the bare hardwood trees. A little more than a mile up the mountain trees are mostly spruce. The shade of the coni-

Bria on the Star King Trail. Look at those frosty spruce trees in April! Her snowshoes are the same color as her backpack and she is wearing mircospikes on her feet.

fers prevent the snow from melting. Soon we put micro-spikes on our boots because the snow on the trail had been packed down to form ice. And not long after that we were hiking on hard packed snow.

Now the night before it had been cold and we were able to walk right on top of the trail’s packed out snow. But if the temperatures were warm this snow would not have supported our weight and we would have had to use our snowshoes. It is better to have snowshoes and not need them than to need them and not have

PATENAUDE from 3

Yours truly on Mount Star King. The ruins of a stone fireplace is all that remains of a shelter that was once on the summit of Mount Star King.

them. There was nearly three feet of snow as we neared the top of Star King. No Joke!

On top of Star King the sun was really starting to warm things up and some of the ledges were bare where the hot sun had melted the snow. The Presidential Range was in view but Mount Washington was covered with clouds.

From Mount Star King to Mount Waumbek the last mile went by quickly and we cheered for Eric when he touched the summit cairn and I took

his photo at the trail sign. We walked past the summit for a couple minutes to reach the outlook. Here we took a good break and ate a snack.

It was around 10:30 am when we left the summit. The Canadian Gray Jay found us and the bird acted very hungry and was happy to steal a piece of my sandwich.

The sun was getting hot. We passed by a lot of people headed up the trail as we hiked back down. Most, like us, carried snowshoes on their packs and wore spikes on their feet. A few people looked like they would be in for a slippery wet hike. It was a quick trip down the trail. We did stop to clear a few trees

that had blown down across the trail. Jeremy and Bria pulled their hand saws out of their packs and he went to town cutting the tree up so we could drag it off the trail.

We celebrated Eric’s achievement eating pizza at the Old Corner Store in Jefferson. They make

the best pizza. Everytime we hike Waumbek we eat their pizza. Have Fun.

This happy butterfly can be found at the Old Corner Store in Jefferson.

PATENAUDE from 30

Dense Fog Appears Allowing 8,000 Troops to Escape.

PRAYER from 1

can American and even American Indian. Over 2,500 died at the rate of 12 per day from freezing exposure, hunger and disease.

A Committee from Congress reported: “Feet and legs froze till they became black, and it was often necessary to amputate them.” Lutheran Pastor Henry Muhlenberg, whose sons Peter and Frederick were in the First U.S. Congress, wrote in The Notebook of a Colonial Clergyman: I heard a fine example today, namely, that His Excellency General Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each and every one to fear God, to put away the wickedness and to practice the Christian virtues God has marvelously, preserved him from harm in the midst of countless perils, ambuscades, fatigues.

Hessian Major Carl Leopold Baurmeister noted the only thing that kept the American army from disintegrating was their “spirit of liberty.”

In February, 1778, Prussian Officer Baron von Steuben arrived to train and drill the American volunteers, transforming them into an army. On

April 21, 1778, Washington wrote to Lt. Col. John Banister: No history can furnish an instance of an army’s suffering such uncommon hardships as ours has done, and bearing them with the same patience and fortitude. To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes, by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provisions marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day’s march of the enemy, without a house or hut to cover them and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled.

Successfully keeping the army intact through the devastating winter, Washington issued the order from Valley Forge, April 12, 1778:

The Honorable Congress having thought proper to recommend to the United States of America to set apart Wednesday, the 22nd inst., to be observed as a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, that at one time, and with

in world history to that date — 32,000 troops on over 400 ships. The thousands of wooden masts in New York’s harbor looked like a forest of trees. Washington wrote to his younger brother, John Augustine Washington, May 31, 1776:

We expect a very bloody summer of it at New York. We are not either in men, or arms, prepared for it. If our cause is just, as I do most religiously believe it to be, the same Providence which has in many instances appear’d for us, will still go on to afford its aid.

one voice, the righteous dispensations of Providence may be acknowledged, and His goodness and mercy towards our arms supplicated and implored: The General directs that the day shall be most religiously observed in the Army; that no work shall be done thereon, and that the several chaplains do prepare discourses.

On May 2, 1778, Washington ordered:

The Commander-inChief directs that Divine service be performed every Sunday. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished character of Christian.

DENSE FOG APPEARS, ALLOWING 8,000 TROOPS TO ESCAPE

With Boston freed from British occupation, New York was the next target. Washington’s ranks swelled to 20,000 as he fortified Brooklyn Heights. Citizens in New York pulled down the statue of King George and classes were suspended at King’s College, which was later renamed Columbia University. Anxiety mounted, though, as the British assembled the largest invasion force

General George Washington ordered, May 15, 1776:

The Continental Congress having ordered Friday the 17th instant to be observed as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please Him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the arms of the United Colonies, and finally establish the peace and freedom of America upon a solid and lasting foundation;

The General commands all officers and soldiers to pay strict obedience to the orders of the Continental Congress; that, by their unfeigned and pious observance of their religious duties, they may incline the Lord and Giver of victory to prosper our arms.

On July 9, 1776, Washington’s men were encouraged when messengers from Philadelphia brought a copy of the recently passed Declaration of Independence. Washington had it read out loud to his troops. It acknowledged God four times: Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Ap-

pealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions. Firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.

Washington expected the British to attack from the sea as they did at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Instead, 10,000 British troops landed a distance from New York and a British loyalist led them through Jamaica Pass, marching all night long to make a surprise attack on the Continental Army from behind on August 27, 1776. An estimated 3,000 Americans were killed or wounded compared to only 392 British casualties.

The Battle of Brooklyn Heights was the first major battle after America had declared its independence and it was the largest battle of the entire war.

As General Washington watched 400 brave soldiers of the First Maryland Regiment

charge six times to their deaths directly into the British lines, allowing the rest of the Continental Army to find cover, he exclaimed:

“Good God, what brave fellows I have lost this day.”

British General Howe trapped the American troops on Brooklyn Heights with their backs against the sea. That night, Washington made the desperate decision to evacuate his entire army by ferrying it across the East River to Manhattan Island. The sea was boisterous where the British ships were, but providentially calm in the East River allowing Washington’s boats to transport troops, horses and cannons.

As the sun began to rise, half of the American troops were still in danger, but a ‘miraculously’ thick fog lingered blocking the evacuation from being seen by the British.

Major Ben Tallmadge, Washington’s Chief of Intelligence, wrote:

As the dawn of the next day approached, those of us who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety, and when the dawn appeared there were several regiments still on duty.

At this time a very dense fog began to rise off the river, and it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments.

I recollect this peculiar providential occurrence perfectly well, and so very dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at six yards distance ... We tarried until the sun had risen, but the fog remained as dense as ever.

General Washington was on the last boat that left Brooklyn Heights. The British never again had such an opportunity to capture the entire American army at one time. Had the Americans not been able to evacuate, they would have been captured and Washington would have been hung. America would have continued as just another colony in Britain’s expanding global empire, along with India, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Australia.

General George Washington wrote: August 20, 1778:

Undergoing the strangest vicissitudes that perhaps ever attended any one contest since the creation the Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this — the course of the war — that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith. But it will be time enough for me to turn Preacher when my present appointment ceases.

Samuel Adams addressed the Continental Congress, August 1, 1776:

General George Patton.

There are instances of, I would say, an almost astonishing Providence in our favor; our success has staggered our enemies, and almost given faith to infidels; so we may truly say it is not our own arm which has saved us. The hand of Heaven appears to have led us on to be, perhaps, humble instruments and means in the great providential dispensation, which is completing.

WEATHER CLEARS AFTER PATTON’S 250,000 TROOPS PRAY

Adolf Hitler had seized power in Germany in 1933 by promising hope after a depression and devaluation of their currency. His National Socialist Workers Party eliminated political opposition, took control of healthcare and confiscated guns. With lightning speed over two dozen countries were occupied. In 1,200 concentration camps over 4 million died.

The major turning point was D-Day, June

6, 1944, when 160,000 troops landed along a 50–mile stretch of heavily fortified Normandy coast. It was the largest invasion force in world history, involving 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft. The beaches of Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword and Pointe du Hoc ran red with the blood of over 9,000 killed or wounded. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower ordered:

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty–loving people everywhere march with you. You will bring about the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle–hardened. He will fight savagely. And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

See PRAYER on 35

“…

STOSSEL from

For all these new safety devices to work, cars need to spy on drivers. Before I researched this, I didn’t realize that they al -

ready do.

The Mozilla Foundation reports that car makers “Collect things like your age, gender, ethnicity, driver’s license number, your purchase history and tendencies.” Nissan and Kia “collect information about your sex life.”

own (the data). There’s nothing you can do about it.’”

Finally, Biden’s infrastructure bill also includes a pilot program to tax you based on how far we drive.

How? Cars aim video cameras at passengers. Other devices listen to conversations and intercept text messages.

Then, says Mozilla, 76% of the car companies “sell your data.”

“I just bought a new car,” I say to Fix. “Nobody told me about this.”

“Oh, it’s there,” she replies. “Buy a new car, you get that really long document. ... The small print says, ‘We’re collecting your data. We know everything you’re doing in your car, and we

“A mileage charge seems fair,” I say to Fix. “You pay for your damage to the road.”

“Correct,” she replies. “But when you start allowing them to do this, they could say, ‘We don’t want you to buy a firearm.’

... ‘We don’t want you to go to that destination. So we’re not going to let you start your car.’ It’s about control.”

I push back. “They’re not controlling me.”

“They can,” she replies. “Wait until you get a bill for your carbon footprint. ‘You’re at your maximum for carbon credits. We’re not going to let you drive today! Take the train. Take the electric bus.’”

“This is paranoia,” I suggest.

“Maybe,” says Fix. “But so far, everything that I’ve said about these things, each step keeps coming through.”

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

7

PRAYER from 33

President Franklin Roosevelt stated June 6, 1944:

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you. I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. I ask you to join with me in prayer: Almighty God, our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization. Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. The enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. We know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. Help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. Give us strength and, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. And

See PRAYER on 37

JOECKS from 6

“our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The limited government envisioned in the Constitution rests on a populace that’s willing to self-govern. Most basically, the citizenry at large must be willing to do what is right without an immediate threat of force. If not, either the government must become large and intrusive to keep order or society descends into anarchy.

SHAPIRO from 6

BOSAK from 14 LETTERS from 9

Third, local religious communities encourage and censor various behaviors without the need for government.

Fourth, it promotes vital institutions, like the traditional family. Fifth, it provides an intellectual basis for the God-given rights identified in the Declaration of Independence.

A nonreligious person, like Dawkins, can see the benefits provided by a society built on JudeoChristian principles.

But if people believe that foundation — Christianity — is false or insane, like Dawkins does, its values won’t survive.

Why subject yourself to

Christianity helps promotes self-government in a number of ways. First, it provides an objective source for right and wrong. Second, it restrains human behavior, because people know they are always accountable to God.

“obnoxious” morals if God is a delusion?

A tree is known by its fruit. If even Dawkins can acknowledge the cultural benefits of Christianity, he and others should examine why it works. Chance isn’t a probable or satisfying explanation. Psychiatric patients don’t create great societies. Perhaps Christianity works so well because it came from the one who personally designed and created humanity.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Email him at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or follow @ victorjoecks on X.

the rationale, however, the image of the United States under Joe Biden is one of unending cowardice. The Taliban called Biden’s bluff; Russia has called Biden’s bluff; Iran has called Biden’s bluff; how long will it be until China does? Deterrence requires, above all else, willpower. And that is in short supply from a White House that sees strength as a weakness.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

you the greatest nation the world has known. In your arrogance and folly, it is disintegrating before your eyes. To say otherwise, in light of your precipitous decay, is madness. Time is short. Please believe me! My patience will end soon, your condition is terminal. Come back to me and my design. Read my book and learn that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12).

I love you, God

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

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in the spring, are also warblers.

As I mentioned, there are dozens of other warbler species that pass through or breed in New England. A good field guide, whether an app on a smartphone or an old-fashioned paper book, is a must for identifying warblers. I wish I could describe each warbler in detail here, but obviously, that’s not feasible.

The spring warbler migration is a highlight of the year for many birdwatchers, myself included. There will be a dizzying assortment of birds to find in the coming weeks. Let me know your highlights.

Seeking an enthusiastic, kind, patient person interested in working with a thoughtful individual with a disability. This position is part-time with flexible hours and is home/community based working in Barnstead, Gilmanton, and surrounding area. Reliability and willingness to learn is key.

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METZLER from 7

The bill now goes to the Senate for likely approval.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, dealing with a serious political revolt in his own party, called Marjorie Taylor Green’s bluff and went ahead with the vote. That took courage. While Johnson was supported by former President Donald Trump and obviously by Joe Biden, he lost support from half the GOP members who voted against the bill including powerhouses like Elise Stefanik (R-NY). The final vote tally was a bittersweet 311-112.

Though the GOP has been divided with a razor thin political majority, the right flank (Chaos Caucus) may try to dump Mike Johnson (as they foolishly did McCarthy), and paddle towards the isolationist islands.

Feuding factions inside the Republican party have hobbled the Ukraine vote but the far deeper and malevolent warring factions inside the Democrat party delayed Israel/ Gaza military aid for six months. The Israel aid passed too but notably with opposition from the Squad and the hard Left Palestine caucus.

Mainstream media mendacity towards the GOP concerning Ukraine was put in simplistic terms that somehow the Republicans did not want to help embattled Ukraine

in its fight for survival against Russia. Well not quite… Johnson and the Republicans realize that if Ukraine falls apart and collapses during a Presidential election year, the Mainstream media will craft the narrative as a “GOP Lost Ukraine.” But who lost the Crimea a decade ago? Getting away with Crimea, is what, to use the phrase, “is what really emboldened Putin.” He assumed he could grab more, and he tried in 2022.

Polish President Andrzej Duda stressed on FOX News that, “Support is indispensable for Ukraine.”

Indeed. Now Ukraine must ramp up its own troop conscription to begin to offset Russia’s numerical superiority. Kyiv passed a controversial new military conscription bill focusing on basic military training for those aged 18-25.

The U.S. and NATO can send Kyiv the weapons but Ukraine must field the military forces to defend themselves. The hour is critical.

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.

MOFFETT from 19

is fickle. But DeGaulle and Churchill didn’t “own” their countries like Henry owns the BoSox.

Heck, consider that the Yankees fired Yogi Berra after his first season as manager in 1964 even though Berra’s Bronx Bombers won 99 games before losing the World Series to the Cardinals in seven games.

So, change is way overdue at Fenway. New manager and new owner, please!

Enough “ennui” already!

Sports Quiz

Has there ever been an MLB “dual no-hitter,” i.e. simultaneous no-hitters in the same nine-inning game? (Answer follows)

Born Today

That is to say, sports standouts born on April 25 include sportscaster Joe Buck (1969) and

NBA star Tim Duncan (1976).

Sports Quote

“All literary men are Red Sox fans. To be a Yankee fan in a literate society is to endanger your life.” – American novelist John Cheever.

Sports Quiz Answer

On May 2, 1917, Hippo Vaughn of the Chicago Cubs and Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Red threw dual no-hitters. Vaughn gave up a hit and a run in the top of the tenth. Toney then completed his ten-inning no-hitter for the win.

State Representative

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

PRAYER from 35

a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.

A month after D-Day, an assassination of Hitler was attempted by courageous German resistance, but he survived and retaliated by executing over 7,000 Germans.

By December of 1944, Nazis amassed three armies for an enormous attack against the Allies in the Ardennes Forest and soon surrounded the 101 Airborne Division in southern Belgium, demanding their surrender. U.S. General Anthony McAuliffe answered in one word: “Nuts.” This response confused the Nazi commander, causing him to hesitate.

Marching to the rescue was the U.S. Third Army, but it was hindered due to bad weather. troops to pray:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains. Hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee. Establish Thy justice among men and nations.

The weather cleared and the Allies were able to successfully counterattack. In his order, December 22, 1944, General Eisenhower stated: By rushing out from his fixed defenses the enemy may give us the chance to turn his great gamble into his worst defeat.

So I call upon every man, of all the Allies, to rise now to new heights of courage with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God’s help, go forward to our greatest victory.

“Miracles In American History” is Available through AmericanMinute.com

B.C.

Parker & Hart

MAGIC MAZE SUDOKU

THEME THIS WEEK: --TIME

Answers On Page 37

The Winklman Aeffect by John Whitlock