by David Warren
Contributing Writer
Fall now has the Lakes Region in its grips and summer is becoming a passing memory, but before we say goodbye for 2023, we’d like to share one more summer memory from our friend David Warren.
Summer weekend trips to visit my grandparents
Saturday, October 14th at 7pm, The Laconia Putnam Fund presents “An Evening With Alexander Prud’homme Author Of ‘Dinner With The President’” at the Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave, Laconia.
in Alton Bay are among my most cherished childhood memories. After a quick supper of hotdogs and beans, my sister and I piled into the back of our Pontiac woody wagon with our blankets, pillows and coloring books, prepared for the nearly 4 hour trip from our home in Waltham, MA. Super highways like Route 128 and I 93 were far in the
future, so we headed up route 3. We stopped for dessert at Howard Johnson’s in south Nashua and I had a dish of my favorite strawberry ice cream. Do you remember how many flavors they had? It was getting dark by then so we bedded down for the ride to the lake. I recall a Peanuts strip that featured Charlie Brown telling Lucy that they’d never again be able
to sleep in the back of the car like they did when they were children. Lucy, with a horrified look on her face exclaimed “Hold my hand Chuck”! My dad woke us up when we passed through Alton, and my excitement built when I saw the sign on the right side of the road that said “AKC registered beagles”. My beloved Alton bay was just
The U.S. presidents have been hosts to some of the most significant moments in our history over meals at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And during such occasions, they have understood the value of breaking bread with both friends and foes. In DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House . inspired by the first reporting from inside the White House kitchen by his great-aunt Julia Child, Alex Prud’homme studies the tastes of twenty-six of America’s most influential presidents—what they ate, why they ate it, how their meals were prepared and by whom, what it tells us about the state of the nation, and the ways in which their administrations’ food policies affected people around the world.
What our leaders say about food touches on everything from our
See DINNER on 18
To The Editor: Our North Country stands as a gem within our Granite State, one I am honored to represent in the New Hampshire Senate.
Our recent budget for FY2425 reflects our objectives toward reducing property taxes, encouraging economic development, and boosting education choice. We directed an unprecedented level of revenuesharing and education funding back into our cities and towns which empowers local leaders to take action towards property tax reduction. Additionally, we thwarted efforts to raise county property taxes and safeguarded the business tax cuts that continue to fuel the growth of the New Hampshire economy.
I also led efforts to secure funding for crucial local projects, including $18 million designated for the reconstruction of our iconic Cannon Mountain Tramway, a cornerstone of our tourism industry. Further, we directed $1.5 million for protecting the paper industry in the north country.
As Vice Chair of the Education Committee, I focused on expanding education opportunities for every child, regardless of zip code or household income. We increased per-pupil state aid by 31% and provided $100 million for Building Aid, including $49 million for new school building aid projects. Having not only protected
but expanded Education Freedom Accounts for low-income students, I’m proud to have helped secure a better learning experience for every child.
As we conclude this Senate Session, I am happy to report on these legislative accomplishments and look forward to continuing to serve you in 2024!
Carrie Gendreau Littleton, NH.To The Editor:
Mao’s Agrarian reform growing into Klaus Swab’s WEF, Great Reset and the UN Agenda 30 plans will control every aspect of our lives. The Harold Ware Communist Party Cell planted in the Agriculture Department in 1933 sprouted the American “War on The Farmers.” Soviet agent Alger Hiss started his career of espionage there; later becoming Roosevelts Advisor at YALTA and co-authoring the UN Charter. Hiss’ policy of paying farmers not to grow crops put farmers on welfare that has far reaching consequences to this day.
Today, the war on the food supply is on steroids with our farmers feeling the impact of Karl Marx’s plan to destroy private property. Forced property surrendered, under the banner of eminent domain, is authorizing Carbon Capture pipelines to ruin countless acres of rich agriculture in the heartland. A few days ago, the John Birch Society (JBS)
This newspaper was first published in 1883 by Mathew H. Calvert as Calvert’s Weirs Times and Tourists’ Gazette and continued until Mr. Calvert’s death in 1902. The new Weirs Times was reestablished in 1992 and strives to maintain the patriotic spirit of its predecessor as well as his devotion to the interests of Lake Winnipesaukee. Our newspaper’s masthead and the map of Lake Winnipesaukee in the center spread are elements in today’s paper which are taken from Calvert’s historic publication.
Locally owned for 30 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories of the people
Leadership Conference in Des Moines, Iowa revealed an international scam called “Carbon Capture.” Navigator CO2’s application to implement a Carbon Capture pipeline was denied by the South Dakota Public Utilities thanks to the JBS. Several weeks before, Summit Carbon Solutions application for the pipeline was also denied by the North Dakota Public Service Commission.
In contrast, a public hearing before the Iowa Utilities Board to investigate a similar process in Iowa was met with a kangaroo court atmosphere. Officials simply did not listen to opposition. The pipeline company even hired security personnel to intimidate and harass the opposition. Why would other states deny these application to infringe on private rights while Iowa’s process ruled against the farmers? Because members of the Iowa Utilities Boards are appointed by the governor. Other states continue to prove the power of the people is superior to governors appointing bureaucrats who promote job security with no vested interest to protect personal property rights.
Usurpation of power by governors appointing commissions to destroy property rights must be stopped! This scheme is based on fraudulent science that claims the opposite of our Creator’s balance in nature. Digging ditches all over Americas heartland to store carbon below the earth amounts to
and places that make New Hampshire the best place in the world to live. No, none of the daily grind news will be found in these pages, just the good stuff.
Published year round on Thursdays, we distribute 24,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 60,000 people reading this newspaper.
To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 603-366-8463.
Rivers were our first highways, though they required portages around the rapids and falls if one went far enough upstream. The means of transportation in New Hampshire since its first settlements took place in the early 1600’s have gradually transitioned from one type to another.
We are being encouraged (pressured?) now to transition to a different, but not entirely new, means of going where we want to go by purchasing electrically powered automobiles.
But let’s think about the fact that progress in transportation in the Granite State as well as elsewhere has depended on the roads provided for us to travel on.
New Hampshire was once considered to be wilderness by the European settlers, though there were Indians who lived on the land. The rivers did provide a way into that wilderness but were limited
in the extent of travel, though, interestingly, future roads would often be built alongside the rivers. The trails or paths made by the native Americans provided a means of travel for the immigrants, the ancestors of some of us, These paths could be used for walking and perhaps for horseback riding but were not suitable for any type of vehicle.
The ways through the wilderness of New Hampshire opened up by horseback riding came to be known as bridle paths.
The early explorers didn’t find their gold and other precious
minerals they were expecting to find here, and at that time probably had no interest in granite, but they did find fur-producing animals, fish, and tall trees that were perfect for converting to masts for ships and lumber for the rest of the ship. Rough roads were built for the purpose of removing the trees from the forest by the use of horses and oxen, but these were not suitable enough for carriages and the more advanced means of travel, the stagecoach.
In America the first stage coaches were built and used in New
On Saturday and Sunday, October 14th & 15th The Leaf Peeper’s Craft Fair will take place ar Schouler Park, 1 Norcross Circle, North Conway. Hours are Saturday 10 am to 5 pm & Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Celebrate Fall at this amazing arts & crafts fair in North Conway with over 135 fabulous exhibitors!!! Some of the arts & crafts will include beautiful pottery, handsome handpainted glassware, laser-engraved charcuterie boards, cedar wood furniture, beautiful soy candles, amazing wildlife photography, African animal photography, stained glass art, handpoured soaps, wrought iron creations, beautiful resin art, delicious fudge/kettle corn, gourmet foods & pastries, wooden crafts, pressed floral art, essential oils, cutting boards, awesome quilts, unique macrame furniture, various styles of jewelry, amazing pottery, maple products, string art, & lots more!
Friendly, Leashed Dogs Welcome. Held Rain or Shine Under Canopies.
Music with North River Both Days. Always Free Admission. For More Info Call Joyce 603.387.1510.joycescraftshows.com
More than 175 years after its first publication, the poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe remains both a masterwork of American literature and an entertaining adventure in horror.
Enrich your Halloween season by experiencing a dramatic recital of The Raven by poet Jeffrey Zygmont at the Wolfeboro Public Library on Wednesday, October 18 at 6pm.
Jeff will bring the 18 stanzas of The Raven to life by emphasizing Poe’s inventive and ingenious language that draws listeners to the poem’s chilling conclusion – aided by a few choice props to enhance the listener’s experience.
Jeff will also give a brief review of the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, providing background and commentary on the poem to make one’s understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of The Raven more complete. The program runs for about 40 minutes. All are invited.
Trinity Episcopal Church if pleased to announce that after a 3 years absence their Famous Roast Beef supper is back! The supper will be held on Saturday October 21st at Trinity Church 93 NH route 25 in Meredith. Trinity is the little white Church just up the hill from Rite-Aide. There will be two seating, one at 5:00pm and the second at 6:00pm. A fabulous Roast Beef supper with all the fixings and featuring the finest homemade desserts.
Tickets are $15.00 per person and $40.00 for a family of 4. Take out orders are available. A portion (25%) of the ticket sales will be donated to the Meredith Food Pantry.
For more information or tickets please call the Church office at 603-279-6689.
On Thursday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Loon Center in Moultonborough, the Lakes Region Chapter of the New Hampshire Audubon Society will present a program on The Winter Crow Roost on the Merrimack, presented by Craig Gibson. Craig, a well-known bird and conservation photographer, is on a mission to shed light on a captivating winter crow roost in Lawrence, MA in the heart of the Merrimack Valley along the Merrimack River, near the border of southern New Hampshire and about twenty-five miles north of Boston.
For decades, the city has hosted a significant winter crow roost of mostly American Crows, along with a much smaller number of Fish Crows. Typically, an hour before sunset, the crows gather in smaller pre-roost groupings. The crows then converge after sunset time, into the final roost location. The size of the roost typically grows from an initial group of 2,500 in October to almost 15,000 by late January.
Craig established a Crow Patrol during the 2017-2018 winter crow roost season, along with help from Bob and Dana Fox. During the following winter seasons, Craig has made hundreds of observation nights observing, monitoring, documenting, and photographing the amazing crows, with a constant eye on streaming, staging, and roosting behaviors and patterns in what Gibson describes as a “giant avian slumber party.” The Crow Patrol is promoting wider community involvement among birding, conservation, environmental, and educational groups as well as expanding a series of citizen science projects with grade school, high school, and college students. The Loon Center is located on Lee’s Mill Road; follow the signs on Blake Road from Route 25 near the Moultonborough Central School, or from Rte. 109 turn on to Lee Road and turn left on Lee’s Mill Road.
I’m not a big drinker, but once I awhile I may have a beer or two. I’m certainly not a connoisseur of the different types of liquors out there, but, like it or not, the sale of the spirits is a big part of New Hampshire’s economy.
book incident and how, at the time, I thought that the idea should never have been ditched and that a different book with my ideas should have been used instead to help the casual imbiber and, in turn, increase sales.
made with any new liquors that come on the market, though it is expected that it will be anywhere from six months to a year until natives will try it. (Still, no native will admit they like it no matter how good it tastes.)
by Brendan SmithYou don’t have to go too far to find a state run liquor store. In fact, if you are in the press business like I am, you’ll get a lot of press releases about the latest happening on that front.
There always seems to be a new store opening or a major renovation to an existing one.
Recently there was a press release for a raffle of a bottle of some very expensive liquor that one could never possibly afford themselves.
They are very good at marketing. Though not all of their marketing ideas have worked out as hoped for.
Back in 2015, a few thousand dollars were spent to print a booklet of drink recipes that employees at the state liquor stores could use to give customers some great ideas for some new drinks they had never tried before so as to entice them to buy some different liquors they had never tried before and increase sales.
The story goes that some of the name of the drinks in the booklet were so offensive that some employees refused to read them to customers and complained to their managers who in turn complained to their higher ups who in turn complained to the governor at the time who then did what any responsible public servant would do after spending thousands of dollars on a bad idea…they had all the booklets disposed of.
I’m not making this up.
The press release about the raffle got me to recall the recipe
My ideas would not have been embarrassing names, but drink names that also educate people about New Hampshire and its history. Maybe even bringing in new customers if only for the sake of the learning part.
I came up with a few at the time and since have added to the list.
Here are a few of my ideas for drink names. I haven’t figured out yet what will go in all of them.
The Drink Less Sipped – I’m thinking this might be an expensive brandy of some sort. Possibly served in a “Frost”ed glass.
The Old Man and Mountain Dew – A great one for the younger generation giving them both a history lesson and another use for one of their favorite soft drinks.
The Kancamagus Highball –Two of these and you won’t be able to pronounce Kancamagus… Then again, you might not be able to even before you have one.
The New Hampshire House –This drink will change every two years and can be made from any combination of four hundred different types of liquors. Of course, not all will go well with each other. The mixer used will be debatable.
The NH Senate – This will be pretty much the same as The New Hampshire House but only using twenty-four different liquor varieties.
The Sandwich Fare – This concoction, could be advertised as going well with any sandwich. Could even have special sales on the mixers involved on Columbus Day Weekend.
The Flatlander – This could be
The White Mountains – Not sure which liquor will be used, but I know it will be a cream drink.
First In The Nation –This drink will change every four years as liquor companies will lobby long and hard across the state to have their product included. The final recipe will not be pleasing to everyone.
On the wine front, I was thinking that maybe the folks at the State Liquor Stores could use this opportunity to increase lottery ticket sales as well, perhaps suggesting different tickets to go along with different wines.
“I see you have chosen the Pinot Noir. May I suggest a tendollar ‘Big Buck Bonanza’ to go along with it? To get the full effect I would recommend using a dime instead of a quarter in scratching the ticket so as to have the illusion of winning last just a little longer, much like the lingering aroma of the Pinot.”
To promote this new approach, the Liquor Commission could get together with the Department of Travel and Tourism and spend some money to come up with a catchy slogan to help increase liquor sales but also safety. I was thinking something like “Live Free and Drink, Drink, Drink… But Responsibly.”
Do you have an idea for a drink name using something to do with New Hampshire? Send it along to me including what might be in it and other details. I will then take them all and put them in a booklet and present it to the powers that be at the NH Liquor Commission who will, in turn, not even consider it because it wasn’t their idea.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley got to the heart of the government shutdown fireworks in her appearance on Fox News Sunday.
“Let’s be clear what the Freedom Caucus is really trying to do; they are trying to cut spending.”
That’s of course correct. One would be hard-pressed to find any Republican, Freedom Caucus member or not, who does not understand the gravity of the state of our federal budget and spending.
by Star Parker Syndicated Columnist
Unfortunately, now we have a small group of Republicans doing what liberals do -- looking for whom to blame. You would think that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is personally responsible for $33 trillion in national debt and a $2.2 trillion deficit.
McCarthy is sent to do budget battles with his hands tied behind his back. The marching order regarding spending cuts is and has been that only on the table is discretionary spending.
Discretionary spending accounts for 27% of the federal budget.
Discretionary spending is funds that Congress has authority to appropriate annually. About half of it is the Defense budget. Given that our Defense spending is currently at a dangerously low level as a percent of GDP, it is, for practical purposes, also off the table.
So, what is left to target for spending cuts is miniscule in the grand scheme of things. The allegation that McCarthy betrayed his party and colleagues by not seriously going to budget war and shutting down the government is a grand distortion.
If we want to turn to reality, the real issue is what no one wants to talk about -- the approximately 70% of the federal budget that is non-discretionary, which happens automatically.
The major non-discretionary items are interest on the federal debt and entitlement programs -- the two largest being Social Security and Medicare.
Interest is a symptom rather than a cause. Interest rates, and hence interest expenditures, have been going up because of all the spending and the inflation that has resulted from this.
So, we wind up staring into the eyes of the elephants in the room.
This week, a small coterie of House Republicans moved, along with all House Democrats, to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., they claimed that McCarthy had to go because of his insufficient zeal in cutting spending, most prominently by failing to advance more individual spending bills.
making it impossible for Republicans to pass bills closing the border and radically cutting spending; and second, Gaetz is perhaps Congress’ most ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, who added some $7 trillion to the national debt and pledges never to touch the greatest drivers of America’s debt: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
by Ben Shapiro Syndicated Columnist
McCarthy, for his part, had advanced four individual spending bills, which were then rejected by the Senate. In order to avoid a government shutdown, McCarthy attempted to pass a continuing resolution that would have cut discretionary spending by 8% and included border security provisions; Gaetz and his colleagues voted it down. McCarthy then passed, with a majority of Republican support plus some Democratic support, a “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government for 45 days, not including any further funding for Ukraine.
This, for Gaetz, was supposedly the last straw. He took to the floor of the House to accuse not merely McCarthy but the entire Republican caucus of cowardice in confronting President Joe Biden’s spending agenda. “My colleague says we’ve passed the strongest bills in history, well guess what, look at the border right now... I take no lecture on asking patriotic Americans to weigh in and contribute to this fight from those who would grovel and bend knee for the lobbyists and special interests who own our leadership... who have hollowed out this town and have borrowed against the future of our future generations.”
All of this would be more convincing except for two simple facts: First, Democrats control the Senate and presidency,
So, what was this truly all about? Radically misaligned interests. The Republican Party has zero actual institutional power at this point. It can be captured from the outside with ease; it can be twisted by a few rogue actors who seek attention rather than policymaking power. McCarthy signed his own political death warrant the day he acquiesced to insurgent Republicans’ demand that they be able to challenge his speakership with a single vote. Once, congressional Republicans ensured solidarity through the power of the speakership; now the speaker worries about avoiding his own demise at the hands of fractious politicians seeking TV spots on CNN and MSNBC.
This won’t change with McCarthy’s ouster. Should Rep. Steve Scalise or Rep. Jim Jordan take over, they will presumably still serve at the behest of a few free radicals who can ensure chaos at the drop of a hat. The only way to restore any semblance of order to the House would be to restore consequences for violating party solidarity. And that won’t happen so long as conservative media declare anyone a hero who declares himself a lone man standing against the “powers that be” -- and so long as both politicians and conservative media parrot the lie that if only Republicans were simply more determined, conservative policy priorities would magically become law over the objections of a Democratic Senate and Democratic White House.
Last week Republicans and Democrats got together to avert a government shutdown.
Too bad.
There’s so much that ought to be shut down.
Useless Cabinet departments, for example, like Housing and Urban Development, Labor and Agriculture. Agriculture employs almost 100,000 people. Why? Independent farmers grow our food. They don’t need a giant department.
Let’s get rid of the Department of
Education, too. Why does it even exist? Education is a local responsibility and none of the federal government’s business. Yet its spending is up 300% over the last 10 years.
The department didn’t even exist before 1979. Has education improved since then? No. Government’s grand plans, like No Child Left Behind and Common Core, helped no one but bureaucrats.
Trying to justify itself, the department funded studies of everyone’s favorite government program, Head Start. The “experts” were surprised to learn that the much-praised program has no effect. By third grade, there was no difference between kids that
attend and those who don’t.
Education is best left to local governments and parents.
We don’t need a Commerce Department. After all, commerce just happens. Get rid of the bureaucrats and sell the buildings.
Get rid of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
I know, Medicare is popular. “Free” stuff always is. But government’s current health promises are unsustainable. As we live longer and want the newest and best medicines, Medicare is on track to go broke.
I’m on Medicare. I get everything my doctor suggests. I never even ask about price. That’s insane.
Medicare and Social Security take money from the young and give it to those of us who had decades to invest and save. That’s just unfair.
Let people shop for free-market plans. Let the market work.
Once people pay their own bills, competition will drive prices down. Health care would be less confusing and bureaucratic.
Abolish the Food and Drug Administration. It’s a big reason drugs are so expensive. It was created years ago when people were hurt by quack medicines. But today we have the internet; sites like Drugs.com let us decide for ourselves if we want to risk
In an extraordinary and fast paced series of events, the Islamic Republic of Iran was thrust back into the headlines.
her fight against the systematic oppression of women in Iran.”
of Mahsa Amini (22) by Iran’s “morality police” has been given new life and renewed hope. Protests in 2022 continued for months and at least 500 women were killed and 20,000 demonstrators arrested.
by John J. Metzler Syndicated Columnist
The Middle East again emotionally whipsawed in our 24/7 news cycle, both in a fleetingly positive and also tragically negative way.
The Setting; First, in a clear rebuff to the oppressive theocratic regime, an Iranian woman political prisoner won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The Mullahs ruling Iran were furious. Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi (51), was honored “for
In awarding Narges Mohammadi the prize, the head of the Nobel committee Ms. Reiss-Andersen began her address with the words “woman - life - freedom” a clear reference to the motto of recent mass protests sweeping Iran. Mohammadi, currently serving a ten year jail term in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, acts as a rallying point for human rights activists.
The Nobel Chair said, the prize was in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who have demonstrated against the “theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women.”
Importantly this mass movement which was sparked by the killing
The Nobel for an Iranian dissident sheds light into the darkness of the Islamic Republic.
Then came a lightning bolt out of the blue.
The Shock; Secondly, but not connected, the Iranian backed and supported Palestinian Hamas terrorist group in Gaza carried out a massive and deadly surprise attack on Israel, almost fifty years to the day after Arab armies, notably Egypt and Syria attacked the State of Israel setting off the Yom Kippur war.
Well coordinated Hamas rocket attacks, cross border onslaughts and kidnappings of Israeli civilians shattered a quiet if nervous pause. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exclaimed, “We are at War.” He vowed “mighty vengeance” on Palestinian terrorists for what he called a “black day.” Israel says more than 800 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped.
Significantly a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the Hamas surprise attack; “We support the proud operation of AlAqsa Flood.” Lawmakers in the regime’s Tehran Parliament shouted “Death to Israel!”
the impact of market volatility on your holdings. Consequently, you might want to sell an investment that may now be “redundant” to your portfolio and replace it with another one that could boost your diversification efforts.
GILFORD
NICK TRUDEL, ChFC®, AAMS™ , CRPC™, FINANCIAL ADVISOR (603) 293-0055
nicholas.trudel@edwardjones.com
28 Weirs Rd., Suite 1, Gilford, NH
LACONIA
Here are some scenarios to consider:
• If an investment has consistently underperformed – For one reason or another, some investments may not live up to your expectations. Rather than holding these investments in the hope that they will eventually show consistently positive returns, you might be better off selling them and using the proceeds to buy other investments that could help you make progress toward your goals. Keep in mind, though, that short-term price swings are inevitable for virtually all investments, so you may not want to sell an investment after just a few price drops, as it may still have strong fundamentals and good prospects.
• If the investment itself has changed – The nature of some investments, such as stocks, can change over time. Stocks represent companies, and companies can evolve and adapt — or not. So, you may own shares in a company whose management has changed or whose products are less competitive than they once were. If this company no longer seems like a sound investment, you may consider selling your shares and moving on.
• If an investment is “redundant” – Over time, you may have added investments that are similar to others you already own. If you do have too many investments that are alike, you risk not having a fully diversified portfolio, and while diversification can’t always protect against all losses or guarantee profits, it can help reduce
• If an investment takes up too much space in your portfolio – If you bought an investment years ago, and it’s grown substantially in value, it could eventually take up more space in your portfolio than you had intended, which could expose you to more risk than you’d like — because too much of any single investment may leave you more vulnerable to market downturns. Of course, if the investment is still appropriate for your needs, and still has a good outlook, you may not want to totally liquidate it, but you could consider scaling back on the shares you own.
• If your own needs have changed – You originally created your investment mix to help you reach certain goals, such as a comfortable retirement. And during much of your working life, you could possibly afford to invest primarily for growth, accepting the risk that comes along with that approach, as you knew you’d have time to potentially overcome the short-term volatility that’s part of investing. But as you near retirement, you may want to lower your risk level. Consequently, you could decide to sell some of your growth-oriented investments and move the money into income-producing ones. However, even during retirement, you’ll still need your portfolio to provide some growth opportunities to help you ahead of inflation. Generally speaking, you may not want to do a lot of selling (or buying) of investments once you’ve built a portfolio that’s appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. But if you are going to sell investments, make sure you do so for the right reasons.
BENJAMIN J WILSON, CEPA®, AAMS™, FINANCIAL ADVISOR (603) 524-4533
benjamin.wilson@edwardjones.com
386 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH
LACONIA
JASON R POCHILY FINANCIAL ADVISOR (603) 524-4533
jason.pochily@edwardjones.com 386 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH
MEREDITH
DEVON SULLIVAN, CFP®, ChFC®, CRPC™ , FINANCIAL ADVISOR (603) 279-3284
devon.sullivan@edwardjones.com 164 NH Route 25, Unit 1A Meredith, NH
MOULTONBOROUGH KEITH A BRITTON FINANCIAL ADVISOR (603) 253-3328
keith.britton@edwardjones.com 512 Whittier Highway, Suite 1 Moultonborough, NH
Investing is about more than money.
At Edward Jones, we stop to ask you the question: “What’s important to you?” Without that insight and a real understanding of your goals, investing holds little meaning. Contact your Edward Jones financial advisor for a one-on-one appointment to discuss what’s really important: your goals.
If you’re a long-term investor, your portfolio may stay fairly stable over time. However, that doesn’t mean you will never sell any investments. But when should you sell — and why?
From God is an attempt to put the thoughts of God as revealed in the Scriptures.
This is a very important question. If your faith is faulty, when you need me and my resources the most, you will lack them in the time of your greatest need. Imagine standing in my presence when you die and thinking you will be accepted by me and spend eternity with me in my Kingdom and discover your faith was not genuine and your eternity will be in hell (Matt 7:2123).
On a lesser scale, imagine that you expect my power in a crisis situation in your life but when it comes, you face it in your inadequate power and falter because of faulty faith. First let me remind you of what genuine faith is.
It is coming to the end of your own abilities and relying on me to do for you what you can’t do for yourself (Romans 4:4-8).
In previous letters, I described three major needs that without me you can never experience life during your lifetime and in your eternal existence. These included being delivered from the penalty of sin which separates you from me and my life-giving resources. It also included being delivered from the power of sin,
that even though you are a child of mine through faith, drags you back into sinful behavior and robs you of life experientially. The last is deliverance from the presence of sin. It will only be when you are with me in heaven that you will be free from the ravages of sin, but only I can get you there once you die. These and a myriad number of other needs during your lifetime, that only I can truly meet and satisfy, require genuine faith.
Here are some aspects of genuine faith that can help you test genuine faith from false faith.
First, it requires humility. I told Peter to write in his letter in my book, the Bible, that I bestow my gifts only to the humble. He wrote, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
(1 Peter 5:5). If you still think you are God and haven’t humbled yourself to make me God, and you ask for my help by expressing faith, it is a false faith and I will not answer you. If I did, I would only reinforce your pride and contribute to your journey to hell. For your faith to be genuine, you must humble yourself by admitting you are not God and that you need me and Jesus, my son, who lived among you and died to pay your penalty for sins so our relationship could be restored.
Next, it involves confidence that I will provide what you need when you express faith. In another let-
ter in my book, the Bible, written to Hebrew believers I said, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1). In other words if you don’t think I can deliver, don’t ask because you aren’t really trusting me. I went on to say, “and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
(Hebrews 11:6).
Yet another important aspect of genuine faith is that it isn’t only a matter of thinking I can provide your needs but also practically relying on me to meet your needs. I have written often that before I created you, humanity, I also created angels. They, like you, were created by me but unlike you I have created them to live in the realm or dimensions of heaven so that they are not limited to time and space. You also know that many of them, like you, have rebelled against me and seek to destroy me and all I have made, particularly you. These angels are called Demons.
In a letter written by James in my book the Bible, I had written, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder.’ (James 2:19). These demons have head knowledge that I am God (false faith) but they don’t humble themselves and rely on me to forgive their sins so that they can be
restored to me and life (genuine faith). You may believe a plane can carry you to a desired destination, but it isn’t genuine faith until you get on the plane. When you express faith, in areas of your life which you can’t do for yourself, do you simply think I can help you or do you abandon your selfeffort and totally rely on me?
A final test of genuine faith is that there is evidence in your life that your faith changes your life or your life situation.
If you truly trust me and my son, Jesus, to forgive your sins, do you have joy because you know we have forgiven you? (Psalm 51:12). When you give me a worrisome problem, do you have peace because you know I have taken the burden and will work your problem for good? (Philippines 4:6-7). When a loved one who trusted me and my Son to save them dies, do you grieve with hope because you know they are safe with me in heaven? (1 Thessalonians 4:13). If you are serious about trusting me, make sure your faith is genuine. I can’t wait to help you.
I love you, God
Help maintain the trails you Bike or Walk on!
Saturday, October 14th … 9am to Noon
Where: Meet on the Steves Run trail. Enter from Point Sewall Road. Look for parked cars and a sign , then walk or ride in.
What: We will be spreading material on the singletrack bike path in the low and root covered areas to make the trails more sustainable.
What to Bring: Shovel, wheelbarrow, metal rake for spreading , or loppers for roots. Please come help even if you don’t have any of these!
General tasks: There will be piles of materials in specific areas that we need to move onto the trails using wheelbarrows & buckets. There are many other tasks as well … simple tasks for ALL physical abilities.
SCAN the QR Code for the WSA website: WolfeboroSingletrack.org … Select the EVENT tab. There is also info on the WSA Facebook page .
I love nearly everything about the Fall season but I dislike the length of the days. (I’ll leave it to Brendan to write about the leafpeepers messing up traffic). The days are getting too short.
Every day we are losing about two and a half minutes of daylight.
There is more darkness than daylight now! There’s less time to play outside.
I do love the cool weather, no bugs and the change of the landscape. The foliage may not be as bright as it has been in other less wet years but it fills me with joy to see the hillsides rippled with gold and red.
Becca wanted to get off the beaten path and visit a waterfall. Hawthorne Falls is on the northeast side of Mountain Garfield.
I was a tad off the back and didn’t get to the Gale River Trail parking area until after 9 am.
The lot was already overflowing onto the roadside but I managed to squeeze into the lot’s last place. I gathered my gear and started jogging up the trail. Becca was ahead of me and I told her I’d catch up if I was late.
Two miles up the trail right after the stream crossing of the West Fork of the North Branch of the Gale River I left the trail and entered the woods.
See PATENAUDE on 34
One of Canterbury Shaker Village’s most popular offerings, Stone Wall Workshop returns one final time for the 2023 season on Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22, respectively. Providing participants with the unique opportunity to not just learn about history, but help restore it, the workshop is led by master stone artisan and mason Kevin Fife.
“History comes to life with Kevin,” said Leslie Nolan, executive director of the Village. “These workshops are fun and informative, and participants walk away with a practical skill they can practice at home.”
Citing their Stone Wall Workshop as one of many experiential learning opportunities offered yearround at the Village, Nolan said their hope is to in -
spire people of all ages to learn more about the Shakers.
“These were successful innovators and entrepreneurs who developed an incredibly effective, efficient, and egalitarian way of life,” she said.
“Shaker craftsmanship and ingenuity only tell part of their incredible story.”
As for the Stone Wall Workshop itself, Nolan said participants will complete restoration of a section of a stone wall at the Village. “This is the final
push,” she added.
To enroll in the Village’s Stone Wall Workshop, 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 21/22, visit shakers. org. The two-day workshop
includes materials, gourmet lunch, and drinks. Tuition is $250 per person per workshop.
Designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural integrity and significance, the Village features 25 restored original Shaker buildings, 4 reconstructed Shaker buildings, and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens, nature trails, and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement.
Canterbury Shaker Village is a member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information, visit nhmuseumtrail. org.
The first “million dollar” sports event occurred on July 2, 1921, in a hastily built venue at Boyle’s Thirty Acres in Jersey City, N.J., to accommodate a heavyweight title fight between reigning champ Jack Dempsey and a French challenger named Georges Carpentier.
Around 90,000 fans paid around $20 each to see the spectacle, which resulted in a record take of $1,789,238. That was an incredible amount of money in 1921.
Ironically, Dempsey was then seen as a villain and a draft dodger, as he’d avoided military service in World War I. He’d gone to trial the previous year for draft evasion. And shockingly, he’d also just finished divorce proceedings with his former wife Maxine.
The Manassa Mauler was not a fan favorite.
The media (then limited to newspapers) portrayed Carpentier as a dashing war hero who’d fought in the trenches against the Germans. Women swooned for the handsome Frenchman, and many thousands of females were in attendance cheering him on.
Women buying sports tickets? Mais qui! Certainment!
This new phenomenon was largely attributable to the favorable pre-fight press coverage Carpentier received in many New York City newspapers
portraying him in heroic terms with flattering photos.
But the draft dodger knocked out the war hero in the fourth round, much to the chagrin of most of the women.
Twenty bucks was a huge sum for a spectator to fork over for the short fight, but Dempsey’s promoter, Tex Rickard, accurately sensed the market demand and borrowed $250,000 (in 1921 dollars) to construct the venue. It proved to be worth the investment. He cashed in. That’s the American way.
Fast forward a century. Super Bowl tickets now start at around $5000 each, with premium seats costing $36,000. The average cost is around $8000 per ducat. Yikes. Talk about inflation!
Tickets to the first Super Bowl in 1967 went for $12 each at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and the game did not even
sell out.
Anyway, as in 1921, sports ticket prices today reflect market demand. It’s the American way. And ticket prices can go down if a team stinks. In 2011, plagued by fiscal and attendance woes, the New York Mets cut the cost of some season tickets by around 40%.
Red Sox attendance has significantly declined since 2019. How bad would things have to get for the BoSox to actually lower Fenway Park ticket prices?
And Fenway beers cost about $10 each. If fans stopped buying beer, then the prices would come down. But organizing a beer strike would be a “heavy lift.”
My first Fenway Park ticket cost $2 for a bleacher seat back in the 70’s. When the BoSox raised the price of those tickets to $3 (a 50% increase) there was an outcry.
“Three bucks? The
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Red Sox are nuts if they think I’ll pay three bucks for a baseball ticket!”
Still, people continued buying tickets and prices steadily rose. The average Fenway Park baseball ticket is now $228. Aye Caramba.
But demand is demand and the market is the market. That’s the American way. I just can’t afford to pay that much to watch a last place team—much less buy any rounds of beers for my cronies.
While much inflation is caused by the federal government dumping untold billions of dollars into our economy, sports inflation largely reflects projected demand, as Tex Rickard sensed before cashing in back in 1921.
As the Red Sox apparently (and unfortunately) are keeping Cora the Cheater as manager, we can expect more lackluster baseball in Boston. If the team stinks
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Expires 11/1/23
Expires11/1/23
by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer
In the New England bird world, there is the ring-necked pheasant and the ring-necked duck. The ring-necked duck should probably be called the ring-billed duck, but that’s a story for another day. Then there is the ring-billed gull, but that’s also not relevant for this column.
The other day, my son Andrew and I came across a ring-necked animal of another sort. It was a ring-necked snake, and it is very aptly named.
Andrew, now 20, is still very naturally curious. We still turn over rocks and logs near ponds to see what lurks underneath, just like we have done together since he was a toddler. We usually find redbacked salamanders, and that was what we expected to find on this warm, sunny fall afternoon.
We turned over the first rock. Nothing. We moved a long log aside. A few worms. The next rock yielded a small, slender, black wiggly creature. Andrew reached down and gently picked up the as-ofyet mystery animal.
The scales gave it away as a snake, and the bright yellow band confirmed it as a ringnecked snake. It was a young snake and smaller than the earth-
A ring-necked snake found in New England last week.
worms that crawled their way into their dirt tunnels when their log was disturbed.
It was the first ringnecked snake we found together. I once found a dead baby ring-necked snake in a spider web in my basement, and I have seen them around woodpiles before, but never on a walk with Andrew. We come across garter and water snakes fairly often.
One day last summer, we walked near a pond
Garter snakes are the ones most commonly found in New England. They can be found on a walk in the woods or a stroll around the house. Garter snakes can grow to an intimidating size (about 30 inches), but the ones I usually find anyway are much smaller. Northern water snakes get even bigger (about 40 inches) and are often found in intimidating sizes.
I’ve only seen pintsized baby ring-necked snakes. They don’t get terribly big (about 17 inches), and they are slender critters. They are easily identifiable by the yellow
See BOSAK on 36
and there were so many water snakes on the shore we had to watch our step to avoid stepping on them.
Ring-necked snakes, like most snakes in New England, are harmless to humans. There aren’t a ton of snakes to be found in New England, and only the timber rattlesnake and copperhead are venomous. The odds of coming across either of those snakes in New England is very low.
by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer
There I sat. It was another “70’s” Sunday night at the kitchen table. When it came to Sunday night suppers they were like watching the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, a mystery unfolding before you. The big meal on Sunday was dinner at noon. In the summer, supper was usually sandwiches or some sort of cold leftovers. In the cooler months it was cheap and easy eats, warmed leftovers or the occasional TV Dinner. In our house that meant those little frozen pot pies.
While everyone got their own, sometimes “mistakes” happened. Let’s face it, once they were out of their boxes, with five of those little pies crammed onto a sheet pan, it was a shell game, and, like Vegas, at least one of us was going to “lose.” It was times like this that reminded me of the stories dad would tell of eating C Rations while on training maneuvers in “The Guard.” Everyone would put their little tin can of food into the boiling pot of water to heat up their ¨dinner¨. Then they would all “double time” to wherever they could to
wash off a day’s worth of grime, smoke, and gun powder residue before hustling back to eat. But, the chances of you getting your can back was remote, the guys at the head of the line always getting the “good stuff.” I suppose with selections like Pork and Beans, Meat Chunks and Beans, and Chopped Eggs and Ham, well, “the good stuff” was purely a subjective term.
Getting back to the 1970’s, to make these pot pies extra special sometimes mom would make mashed potatoes. And, if we were really lucky, we’d have peas too! Who could resist one of those little pot pies with its crisp lightly browned flakey crust? Flipped upside down from its scorching hot tin onto a bed of mashed yukon
golds the goal was not to break the pie open. Inverted, the top crust now the base and the bottom crust, with its faint columnar jointing and flat top, looked for all the world like a scale mockup of a movie set.
Imagine! Your plate was the scene right out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and you were Richard Dreyfus as you too were obsessed at building your diorama. Only this one was a “Devil’s Tower” pot pie rising up out of a base of mash potato rubble surrounded by a green pea forest. I bet at least one of you out there reading this has quietly hummed those classic five notes pretending to communicate with aliens when you too saw this on your plate.
But, getting back to the three to four
pounds of leftover pot roast, that’s a lot of pot roast for three people to eat. So what do you do? How about a super easy Beef Pot Pie? I love pot pie, and yes, I know I have written on the subject before but that has never stopped me from writing about something I like. And that was Chicken Pot Pie with a biscuit crust, this is a traditional classic beef pot pie… well, sort of. This may not be a truly classic homemade example of Beef Pot Pie, but this is a great, inexpensive, and quick way to make a timeless classic comfort food. After all, who doesn’t like a time tested treat that reminds them of home or a favorite childhood memory? This pot pie is a meal that everyone will savor and appreciate while it provides a great way to use up leftovers. Why, it’s even good enough to serve company and that is why this recipe makes two pies.
Let’s talk economy for just a moment. My family probably thinks I am obsessed with figuring out food cost. My son actually asked me recently if we really needed to worry about the cost per meal when I announced the meal we were eating cost under a dollar per person. My answer is always a resounding, “YES!” We all should pay close attention to costs no matter how big or small our pocketbook. In this questionable economy with food and fuel prices predicted to go up
nation’s shifting diet and local politics to global trade, science, religion, war, class, gender, race, and so much more. And food is not just fuel when it is served to the most powerful people in the world. It is a tool of communication, a lever of power and persuasion, a form of entertainment, and a symbol of the nation—
take Thomas Jefferson’s nation-building receptions in the new capital Washington, D.C.; Ulysses S. Grant’s state dinner for the king of Hawaii; Booker T. Washington’s groundbreaking supper with Teddy Roosevelt; Richard Nixon’s practiced use of chopsticks to pry open China; and Jimmy Carter’s détente between Israel and
Egypt at Camp David. As each president grew into their distinguished role, their personal tastes also evolved the White House menus over time—from simple eggs and black coffee for Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and celebratory turtle soup after, to squirrel stew for Dwight Eisenhower, jelly beans and enchiladas for Ronald Reagan, and arugula for Barack Obama. Prud’homme also pulls back the curtain on overlooked figures like George Washington’s enslaved chef, Hercules Posey, whose meals burnished the president’s reputation before the cook narrowly escaped to freedom, or pioneering First Ladies, such as Dolley Madison and Jackie Kennedy, who used food and entertaining to build political and social relationships. Admission is free but tickets are required. Pick up tickets at the Laconia Daily Sun office, 781 Union Ave, Laconia.
“The
MAILBOAT from 2
promoting doom and gloom environmentalism for profit.
While power and money cabals hype up their cause to save the earth, don’t forget that all the foundation pillars that have made America great are at stake. Environmentalist utopia is control over every aspect of your life. Don’t let them take your property! Biden’s Green power Executive Order has usurped congressional power. Don’t let them continue to cower in silence while the “Great Re -
Great Food, Libations & Good Times!
set, Build Back Better, Karl Marx’s dream” destroys our liberty. Demand your Senators and Representatives stand up and do their job.
See the complete JBS event that covers multi-aspects of this imminent tyranny creeping, now swiftly upon us at JBS. org/DesMoines2023. Warning: Google doesn’t like the truth! Download DuckDuckGo to reach this link.
Russ Payne Merrimack, NH.TAKE OUT & DELIVERY
ACKERLY’S
Grill & Galley
83 Main Street, Alton 603.875.3383 Akerlysgrillandgalleyrestaurant.com
Woodstock - Dbl Pig’s Ear
Great Rhythm - Squeeze
Baxter - Coastal Haze
Tuckerman - Pale Ale 603 - Summatime
COPPER KETTLE
TAVERN
At Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant 233 D.W. Hwy, Meredith 603.279.6212 hartsturkeyfarm.com
Henniker - Working Man’s Porter
Concord Craft - Safe Space
Stoneface - IPA
Moat Mtn - Blueberry 603 - Winni Amber Ale +6 More On Tap
D.A. LONG TAVERN
At Funspot 579 Endicott St N., Weirs 603.366.4377 funspotnh.com
Long Live Beerworks - DDH
The All Seeing Eye
Allagash - Haunted House
Southern Tier - Pumking
Great Notion - Jammy Pants
Foam - Dead Flowers
Southern Tier - Warlock +6 More On Tap
FOSTER’S TAVERN
403 Main Street
Alton Bay, NH 603-875-1234
fosterstavernbythebay.com
Bud Light
Tuckerman - Pale Ale
Aqua Vue Haze -Muddy Road Brewery
Sam - Seasonal
Allagash - White
Maine - Lunch IPA
+2 More On Tap
At Johnson’s Seafood & Steak 69 Rt 11, New Durham 603.859.7500
eatatjohnsons.com/ newdurham
Lone Pine -Brightside
Widowmaker -Blue Comet
Shipyard -Smashed
Pumpkin
Jack Abby -Red Tape
Muddy Road -1762 Porter
Northwoods -Autumn Buzz +30 More On Tap
MORRISSEYS’
Porch & Pub
286 S. Main St., Wolfeboro 603.569-3662
Morrisseysfrontporch.com
Morrisseys’ 20 Year Lager by Great North
Smithwick’s
Guinness Harp
Concord Craft Safe Space +11 More On Tap
1253 Upper City Rd., Pittsfield overthemoonfarmstead.com
Oatmeal Stout
London Porter
Pitt Stop Pils
Coffee Porter
No Need To ArgueCranberry Mead
Maple Apple Cider
+6 More On Tap
PATRICK’S PUB
18 Weirs Rd., Gilford 603.293.0841 Patrickspub.com
Patrick’s Slainte House Ale
Great North - Moose Juice
Guinness
Clown Shoes - Bubble Head
603 - Winni Amber Ale
Tuckerman - Pale Ale
+9 More On Tap
THE WITCHES
BREW PUB
At The Craft Beer Xchange
59 Doe Ave., Weirs Beach 603.409.9344
FB @craftbeerxchange
Spaten – Oktoberfest
Ayinger – Oktoberfest
Moat – OPAs Oktoberfest
Jack’s Abby – Copper
Legend Oktoberfest
Able Ebenezer – Gemutlich
Oktoberfest
von Trapp – Oktoberfest
+30 More On Tap
** Tap listings subject to change!
(StatePoint) After extreme weather events, it’s common to evaluate exterior home products and to feel a sense of urgency about replacing them if they’re not providing proper protection. One addition that homeowners should consider is a storm door, however, experts say it’s important not to rush the decision.
“Storm doors provide insulation, curb appeal, and weather protection for the entry door, but they are not one-size-fits-all,” says Brandon Morris, entry and storm door product manager at ProVia, a manufacturer that carries several brands of customizable aluminum storm doors.
“Before making a purchase, first determine your needs and style preferences.”
To help homeowners make sense of their options, ProVia is offering this round-up of essential factors to consider:
To reap the maximum benefits a storm door can provide, take thickness and construction into consideration. Those offered by ProVia all feature an aluminum wall thickness 20% greater than industry standard, to provide greater protection to your entry door, along with stability and
ing visual appeal, and a unique artistic statement where you least expect. Different colors and multiple options in hardware styles and finishes allow the storm door to blend in with your exterior design, whether that’s traditional and understated or ultramodern and eye-catching.
Glass
durability for long-term use. Most brands they carry also have multihollow construction, which translates to greater strength and security than standard storm doors.
Style
Storm doors are not always just functional. Certain manufacturers understand that they are a home element that can boost curb appeal, too. Decorative storm doors come with options like beveled glass, stained glass, and privacy glass, add-
The type of glass you choose can maximize energy efficiency. Low emissivity (LowE) glass doors, for example, have a thin, invisible coating that reduces infrared and ultraviolet light coming through the door glass. In winter, Low-E glass lets radiant heat pass through, but doesn’t allow it to come back out, for a cozier interior. And in summer, it helps keep heat out. Low-E glass also features UV protection that can prevent fading of items inside your home.
Storm doors with removable glass panels and retractable screens enable airflow and crucial ventilation between the storm and entry doors, while letting the design of the entryway shine.
Accessories
Accessories can create additional functionality for your storm door. Have a furry friend who needs regular outdoor access?
Fall is filled with preparing gardens for the following season, raking leaves, and harvesting. Use plant trimmings and fall leaves to create raised beds and a quality planting mix without disturbing the existing soil. When you minimize or eliminate tilling, you’ll increase organic matter in the soil, maintain and over time improve soil health and structure, save water, and boost plant growth.
This no-dig gardening technique employs sheet composting, also known as lasagna gardening, to create planting beds. Plant trimmings are used to create multi-layered beds like you would when building a compost pile. The mixture used is not as precise and you do not turn it like you would a compost pile.
Start your lasagna garden by measuring and marking the garden bed. Edge the outline of the garden bed, if needed, to slow the infiltration of the surrounding grass and weeds. Cut any grass and weeds in this area very short and cover with moist newspaper or cardboard to smother these unwanted plants. The grass, weeds, and paper layer will eventually decompose adding organic matter to the soil.
Sprinkle a layer of compost over the initial layer, if needed, to hold the newspaper or cardboard in place. Top this with four to ten inches of
The bottom layer of a Hügelkultur garden consists of logs, branches, and fall leaves.
plant trimmings such as fall leaves, plant-based kitchen scraps, herbicide-free grass clippings, straw, or other similar materials. Sprinkle a low nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer over this layer to feed the microorganisms that will help convert the trimmings to a rich planting mix. Cover with an inch of compost. Repeat the layers, just like making lasagna, until your garden is 18 to 24 inches high.
Fall is a great time to create your beds since you have an abundant supply of the needed ingredients. Or stockpile these ingredients until you have time to build the garden beds. You can plant transplants directly in your lasagna garden bed at the start
of the season, even in a freshly built garden bed. Just sprinkle compost or potting mix on top of the beds when planting seeds.
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(Family Features) For younger homeowners and first-time homebuyers in particular, money is likely to be tight. When most available cash is directed to the best possible down payment to secure a home in a desired neighborhood, there’s often little left for improvements.
According to a Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preference Report from the National Association of Realtors, 53% of homebuyers took on a home improvement project within three months
of buying with kitchen projects being a priority for 47% of those surveyed. However, when buyers finance a home renovation into their mortgage application, they can broaden their options of available properties to include fixer-uppers that can be upgraded prior to move-in.
A finance option like the Guaranteed Rate Home Renovation Loan allows homebuyers to visualize the home they want versus the one that’s listed. By rolling renovation costs into their mortgage, buyers can enjoy a home tailored to their vision while paying a little extra each month for upgraded windows, siding, decks, kitchens, bathrooms or a walk-in closet. In many cases, the project can be completed after closing but prior to moving in with contractor commitments to
stay within budget.
If cosmetic or structural improvements are needed when prospective homeowners find a property worth bidding on, they can work with a licensed loan officer to secure a home renovation loan. The borrower’s choice of contractor that meets the lender criteria submits an estimate that’s reviewed and validated by the lender. Once approved and the mortgage is closed, the renovation can begin with costs paid upfront, added to the loan and repaid as part of the mortgage.
Consider renovation projects like these:
Luxury Renovations are geared toward the enjoyment of a home. They might be as easy as updating an entertainment room or reworking existing landscaping or as complex as adding a swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen or
fitness area.
Structural Renovations affect load-bearing elements like posts, beams or even the foundation or walls of the home. Some examples include adding a garage, raising a roof, converting rooms or adding square footage to the house.
Non-Structural Renovations do not affect load-bearing elements and are often more cosmetic, including remodeling kitchens or bathrooms, repainting, replacing siding and upgrading for accessibility.
Consider the out-ofpocket costs of similar non-structural renovation projects according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2023 Cost vs. Value Report when compared with the monthly price of financing via a Guaranteed Rate Home Renovation Loan based a sample mortgage
Nestled within the embrace of a Mediterranean-inspired façade, the Navarro 1-story house plan unveils a symphony of elegance and comfort. As you approach, a vaulted entry extends a warm welcome, providing a moment of quiet before the revelation of the main living area.
Slightly down the entry hall and to the right, the owner’s suite exudes a sense of luxury, with a walkin closet and a private bathroom offering respite from the outside world. This enclave becomes a personal sanctuary, a place to rejuvenate and find solace.
Moving further, the heart of the home beckons—a vaulted great room where walls seem to disappear, opening into a well-appointed kitchen. This open concept design fosters an environment of togetherness, where culinary creations flow seamlessly into shared conversations and laughter.
The kitchen, both a testament to culinary artistry and practicality, artfully divides the dining area from the living room, creating defined yet interconnected spaces. It becomes the hub of activity, where meals are prepared, stories are shared, and memories are forged.
On the opposite side of this single-story haven, two additional bedrooms offer comfort and privacy. Each
room is a canvas for personalization, an invitation to create a space uniquely tailored to its occupant. Households that do not need additional bedrooms will find
these spaces to be comfortable home offices, hobby rooms, or guest accommodations.
Efficiency meets elegance with the
Consider a doggie door so they can come and go as they please. Some manufacturers offer this option in multiple sizes to fit your pet’s needs. No streetside mailbox on your property? Add a mail slot to your storm door.
Other optional features, such as a piano hinge and bottom expander, and an easy release closer, can help your storm door operate more smoothly, while ensuring it’s
custom-fit to eliminate drafts.
For more storm door tips and recommendations, visit provia.com/ doors/storm-doors/.
Like many home elements, there’s a lot to consider when selecting storm doors. By weighing your style preferences and security needs, and by determining what add-ons your household can benefit from, you can make a decision you won’t regret.
placement of the utility room, acting as a bridge between the dining room and the attached 2-car front load garage. It’s a testament to the thoughtful design that underlines every inch of this abode.
Stepping beyond the great room, a screened porch invites nature to join the narrative. Here, the outdoors merge seamlessly with the interior, creating a tranquil space to bask
in the gentle embrace of natural surroundings.
The Navarro is a Mediterranean-inspired oasis, every element harmonizes to create a space that marries luxury with practicality. It’s an ode to the art of living, a sanctuary where cherished moments are nurtured, and memories are etched into the very walls. Welcome home.
The Navarro 11-061 is created by Associ -
ated Designs, Inc.’s talented team of residential home designers. To learn more about this design visit www.AssociatedDesigns.com.
Located in Eugene, Ore., Associated Designs offers custom home plans for developers, builders, and homeowners across the country. Plans are created by a team of talented designers with more than 65
years of combined residential design experience. More than 1000 pre-designed home plans are featured online at www.associateddesigns.com and can be modified to suit specific needs.
perpendicular to water runoff. The garden can be started in a trench or on the soil surface. Starting the garden below ground captures more stormwater runoff but may require extra tools, equipment or help with digging.
The garden can be any size and height depending on the available materials and your gardening goals. The sides can be steep or more gently sloped which reduces the risk of freshly planted seeds washing out during rainfall.
The bottom layer is made of logs, branches, and fall leaves. Do not include black walnut, which is toxic to many plants, or cedar and black locust which are very slow to decompose. The rotting logs and branches absorb water, making it available to the plants in the garden. As the tree trimmings decompose, they add nutrients to the soil. Research and experience show these woody plant materials do not deprive plants of needed nitrogen. Instead, it will provide the plants with needed nutrients for five to ten or more years.
Next, add the layers of a lasagna garden atop the bottom layer. Then
top it all off with several inches of soil.
You can also use these methods to create the planting mix needed to fill raised bed structures. Not only will you save money, but you will put landscape trimmings to work, creating a quality planting mix for growing your favorite vegetables and flowers.
These beds gradually settle but the benefits remain. Add compost or repeat the sheet composting process as needed to maintain the desired depth.
Building a healthy soil foundation is a longterm solution to growing productive gardens with fewer pest problems that require less ongoing maintenance.
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 and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
payment of $2,525/ month*.
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Yield: Makes 2 Pies Of Standard Size Time: 90 Minutes
3-4 pounds of Leftover Beef Pot Roast, cut into small pieces
2 Cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 15oz. Can of Mixed Vegetables with Potatoes
2 Packets Brown Gravy Mix (or 3 cups of leftover gravy)
2 and ½ Cups Water
1 pkg. Ready Made Pie Crust (2 crusts)
- Remove the box of ready made pie crust from the fridge. (It will be easier to unroll if it has some time to set out.)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Find two pie plates and hold off to the side. (Crockery pie plates work well for this application and make a nice presentation.)
- Dice three pounds of leftover pot roast and any veggies that may be in with the leftover roast (carrots, celery, onion, potatoes). Heat the leftovers in a pot with 1 and ½ cups of water and one packet of Brown Gravy mix. (You may opt for 1 and ½ cups of leftover gravy).
- In a separate pot bring the two cups of frozen mixed vegetables to a boil, cook for ten minutes and check for consistency. When the frozen veggies are done the way you like them, add in the can of mixed vegetables (entire contents of can) and bring to a boil again. Remove from heat, drain, and add to the beef.
- Gently mix the veggies and beef to combine the two. Divide the mixture into the two pie plates and evenly cover with a top crust, crimping the dough around the inside edge of the pan as needed.
- Make a few venting slits in the top crust and place in the oven (center rack is fine) and bake for about 45 minutes. (Juices / gravy should bubble and the crust should be slightly browned, not translucent or pale.
- Remove from the oven, check for internal temperature of 165 degrees F. and serve hot with mashed potatoes and a vegetable of your choice.
even higher this winter, some items once again lacking on store shelves, stocking up (not hoarding), trimming the budget, and keeping expenses in line while still eating filling, healthy, delicious meals, will afford the conscience a little room for a guilty pleasure once in a while. And this meal, even with its use of convenience items, was “cheap eats.” This pot pie comes in at about .46 cents per serving*
(8 slices per pie with a yield of two pies.) What you decide to serve with it is up to you. (I highly recommend mashed potatoes and peas.)
So, here’s a look at some of the ingredients for this Beef Pot Pie. Using leftover pot roast is economical and is the perfect candidate for Beef Pot Pie. It is the
second time around for this pot roast, it should be even more flavorful, more tender, and readily fall apart. Cutting it up into smaller bite sized pieces will make it even more appealing in this application. A package of ready made pie crust currently costs about $4.00 to $5.00 and personally that to me is a bargain since I cannot make pie crust. At least once a year, in a fit of weakness, I buy a can of mixed veggies. If my wife is with me, she gives me that look that says, “Why, Where, and What the…” and a whole lot of other words, most of them unpleasant and have to do with questioning my sanity. But, in a pinch this can of mixed veggies serves to bulk up some casseroles, soups, and pot pies, so they have a space on
my pantry shelf. (Be it a small space, but a space nonetheless.) A bag of frozen mixed veggies is my concession to my wife, for as much as I hate lima beans, she affords me the canned mix veggies so I yield to her the frozen veggies with lima beans. (Preferably, without!) A packet or two of brown gravy mix is always a staple of the pantry or spice cupboard. While gravy, whether from packet or scratch, may have some not so healthy items in it, it is the “Holy Water” of the cooking world. And, these packets offer more flavor enhancing bang for their buck. Slip one of a different flavor each week into the shopping cart and soon you are stocked up for nearly any emergency. Gravy truly can cover a multitude of culinary sins. Using some convenience items means
that there are trade offs but if you have the ability and the time to make it from scratch then kudos to you! However, if you are pressed for time, but want to add some pizzazz to your leftovers, then here is a meal that comes together in about an hour and a half or less. A real plus on a busy night after work or school. Looming large on a plate, steaming hot savory Beef Pot Pie with mashed potatoes and gravy, now that´s a culinary close encounter of the best kind. Enjoy the Simple Feast!
(* The food cost of this recipe did not include the pot roast used as it was a leftover item from another meal.)
ahead. And suddenly the sky opened up and there it was , brightly lit on a perfect evening.
We turned left at the traffic island with its beautiful flower garden maintained by the Downing family, and headed down to the bridge. Dozens of happy kids and adults were riding the miniature train that circled the track behind Downing’s landing and the Land Ho restaurant.
I learned later that, when his dad Lester wasn’t around, Philip Downing loved to open the throttle all the way and derail the locomotive. (He eventually mended his ways and ran the Downing’s real estate office at the landing.) We looked to the right when we passed over the bridge and saw the Legionaire speedboat returning from a moonlight cruise with a crew of hap -
py passengers. It was one of the many public speedboats that operated over the years, a tradition carried on by the Millie B in Wolfeboro. We passed the fire station on the left followed by the Atlantic gas station and the most unique tourist
attraction ever in the Bay or the entire lake for that matter. The reptile zoo housed live snakes, frogs, lizards and any number of other creatures, living or stuffed. My friend Sheldon once worked in the gas station for his uncle Carl, who ran
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the Minuteman and Yankee Flyer speedboats. One evening, as he drove to the back of the station to put his Ford Tudor away, he noticed a piece of rope blocking the door. When he reached down to remove it, it reared up and hissed at him! It was a copperhead that had escaped from the zoo. Sheldon said his yell could be heard as far away as Farmington. In 1942 he went off with his fellow marines to fight the Japanese in the Pacific, but never had as frightening an experience as that one.
Looking to the right we saw McGrarth’s market (originally W.P. Emersons). It burned in 1971, so folks now must go to Alton for their groceries. Next came the post office, and we turned right at the Busy Corner store, my go-to place for Archie comic books and Bazooka bubble gum. My favorite place in the bay now came into view. The Bay View Pavilion was brightly lit, and we could hear the clatter of the wooden roller skate wheels as dozens of happy cou-
ples circled the floor to the sweet sounds of the Wurlitzer organ. We then spotted the old bandstand all lit up out in the middle of the bay. In years to come, we’d watch hydroplanes race around the bandstand and fly off the waterski jump in front of the Mount Washington dock. In the winter, old jalopies raced around the same loop. I remember one year a young man showed up with a shiny new hotrod painted bright orange. He was immediately targeted by the old beat
up Model A’s and was a complete wreck by the end of the race.
We finally reached the dead end road that lead to my grandparent’s cottage. It was cut into the side of a steep hill and was only one lane wide, so my dad honked the horn to check that nobody was coming the other way.
We parked up at the carriage house, walked down the steep steps to the cottage and greeted my grandparents with hugs and kisses. Then my sleepy head sister and I trundled up the steep stairway to our attic bedroom. I awoke in the morning to see
walked down the dirt road, we picked wild blackberries , which would make a delicious dessert drowned in heavy cream and sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Lola kept crawfish traps at the end of her dock so, armed fishing poles and bait, we bailed out the old wooden rowboat with a Maxwell House Coffee can and headed out to try our luck. No luck, so it was time to go swimming. I thought I’d try deep sea diving, so I put one end of a garden hose in my mouth and jumped off the end of the dock. When I hit bottom I was amazed to find I couldn’t draw a breath. It was many years and a high school physics course later before I understood why. Soon the MV Mount Washington came by on the first of her 3 ½ hour round trips of the lake, which meant
it was time for lunch. Through the pass thru came a western sandwich, strawberry frappe and a Lady Finger; the best lunch I ever had. After another long hour wait it was time to ride the motorboat with my grandfather to the bay. First we walked up to the carriage house where my father was busy sanding and varnishing the beautiful maple body panels on “Wally Wagon”. People always named their cars back then. Unlike the homogenized appliances we drive today, they had personalities and were members of the family. We mixed up some gas and oil for the old Martin outboard and headed down the steep flight of steps to the water. My dad and granddad built the little wooden runabout in the cellar of our Waltham home from plans published in Pop-
ular Mechanics magazine. It was trimmed with varnished oak, painted forest green inside and even had removable floorboards to make it easier to bail. The beautiful jet black Martin was the Cadillac of outboards in its day and always started on the second pull (unlike my other granddad’s Mercury – don’t get me going on that!). I sat in Granddad’s lap as he steered for the bay. We slowed down at the bandstand, passed under the bridge and tied up at the Downing’s guest dock on the Merrymeeting river. We stopped at the Busy Corner, picked up the mail at the post office, and went to visit our friends Lester and Aida Downing at the landing. When the Mount returned on her second daily run we watched dozens of kids dive for coins tossed overboard
See ALTON on 32
shimmering light reflected onto the roof rafters from my beloved Winnipesaukee; a sight I’ll never forget as long as I live. We gathered for breakfast on the wrap around porch facing the water, seated at rustic furniture made from peeled logs. We had to stay out of the water for the next hour to avoid the dreaded “bends”, so we went in search of our neighbors Lola and Steve, as well as our friends Joni, Nancy and Judy who lived in the cove around the corner (I had a huge crush on Nancy, but was too shy to let her know). As we
ALTON from 31
by generous passengers. Many years later, I met a man who mined the bottom there for buried treasure.
After supper, we decided to go see a movie at the Oak Birch Inn. It was at that time mostly a summer home for re-
tirees who spent their winters in Florida. When we arrived, they were all sitting in their rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the bay. My Grandmother, concerned that we learn respect for our elders, insisted that we spend time visiting with
Pavilion.
them before we went in to see the picture. The theatre was at the back of the inn, and there was a small candy counter well stocked with Cracker Jacks and Good N’ Plenty. The inn burned in a spectacular fire in the 80’s
and the site remains vacant to this day. After Sunday breakfast it was time for our traditional boat trip to get the paper. So Grampa fired up the old Martin, and we steered for the green boathouse at the tip
of Watson’s point. We turned left into Loon Cove, passed under the railroad bridge and through a carpet of water lilies, and tied up next to Route 11. The amazing blasting operation that carved out the Route 11 bypass was a long way off, so Route 11 (now 11D) skirted the shoreline all the way to the broads. We then walked the
half mile to the Mount Major store. On our return trip, we picked water lilies for my grandmother to float in a crystal dish on the dining table, and I looked forward to the day that I could run the Martin. Sadly, it was not to be. As we approached Watson’s point on a subsequent trip, the Martin suddenly raced and the boat came to a stop. We checked the sheer pin to see if we’d hit something, but it was OK, so we had a long paddle home. We later discovered that the splines on the drive shaft had worn away, so that was the end of the Martin. It was replaced by a new, green, 10HP Johnson, which began my love affair with that brand on boats I’d design and build in the future. After another delicious lunch it was time to pack up and head for home, the end of a perfect weekend. [28 flavors – good for you!]
England in the early 1700’s, but they required better roads and were still uncomfortable to ride in. Though the first settlers of New Hampshire sometimes set about clearing land and building houses before roads were built to their location, building roads, for obvious reasons, soon became a priority.
In 1771 Governor Wentworth traveled from Portsmouth to Hanover by way of Plymouth and Haverhill to attend commencement exercises at Dartmouth College. The trip took him six days. Haverhill, New Hampshire, came to be the central destination for stagecoach travel in northern New England. Coaches regularly left from there to go to Maine, Vermont, northern New York, and Stanstead, Quebec, Canada.
According to Stearn’s history of Plymouth a line of stages was established to that location in 1814. Daniel Webster is said to have commented on travel conditions in New England in 1805 by saying “Stages then ran no more into the center of New Hampshire than they ran to Baffins Bay.” That would seem
to have changed soon afterwards.
In 1834 there was stage service six times a week from Concord through Canterbury, Northfield, Sanbornton, New Hampton, Plymouth, Rumney, Wentworth, Warren, and Haverhill. Certainly there would have been a change of horses somewhere along the route. Another route was from Gilmanton through Laconia and over the Province Road and on through Winona and over Beech Hill in New Hampton and on to Ashland and Plymouth. A stage route from Sanbornton divided in the town of Meredith on its way to New Hampton with one route going through the village and then across the river and on to Plymouth. The other went over Pinnacle Hill to the first New Hampton Post Office run by William Kelley and on to Holderness (Ashland) and Plymouth.
Going back a little in time, it might be well to note that between the years of 1750 and 1780, the Conestoga wagon, that is commonly seen in depictions of families moving to the west, made its appearance. It was popular as a means of transportation until
the middle of the 19th century.
Stagecoaches were made in various sizes with some seating up to 15 or 16 passengers, but, if the situation warranted, they added as many as a dozen more with some sitting with the driver or elsewhere on top of the wagon. The passengers did not have a smooth ride; some of the stagecoaches didn’t have springs, and after metal springs were added, it was still a rough ride. The driver was often accompanied by a companion with a gun as there was the danger of meeting up with robbers on the way, giving us the phrase, “riding shotgun.” The roads were not always great along the stagecoach route, making it necessary for passengers, on occasion, to get out and walk, or to help push the coach out of the mud.
A new type of coach was introduced in the year 1829 which was manufactured by the Abbott-Downing Company in Concord, New Hampshire. It was called the Concord Coach and its use extended around the country. While visiting a museum in WallaWalla, Washington a few years ago I was
drawn to an exhibit of a replica of a lifesize twenty count mule team in front of a real stagecoach which I discovered was a genuine Concord Coach.
The main improvement of the Concord Coach was that its “springs” were leather strips which were attached sideways beneath the body of the coach, giving the ride a cradle-like feel.
Mr. Abbott and Mr. Downing, the owners of the company were reported to have personally inspected every coach before it left the factory. Their coach seated up to nine passengers with room for three facing each other
from the front and the back, and a bench in the middle for an additional three persons. This did not mean that the actual passenger list was always limited to nine.
The speed of a stagecoach was usually considered to be about five miles an hour, but with the making of better and smoother roads the speed increased by a mile or two per hour.
As it is today, so it was in 1771: many people seemed to like speed. A wagon without springs made the trip from New York to Philadelphia in one and one-half days and was named the Flying Machine. A few years
earlier in 1754 it took Benjamin Franklin, then the postmaster general of Colonial America , riding most of the way on horseback, eighteen days to ride from Philadelphia, PA, to Portsmouth, NH. Though similar in method the postal service was at first operated separately from stage routes and with post riders as delivery men, but eventually teamed up with the stagecoach.
That story, however, will have to wait for another article.
Robert Hanaford Smith welcomes your comments at danahillsmiths@yahoo.com
From now on I’d be following the east bank all the way to the Falls. For a while it felt like I was following a herd
path but it quickly turned into slow-going bushwhacking–lots of downed trees and big rocks to get over and around.
I wandered into the streambed that was flowing down wide granite ledges and looked up and down. The Mountain Ash’s red berries dotted the banks and the Beech tree’s leaves were mostly gold.
The cascading water was loud. I yelled for Becca but I didn’t hear anything in return.
I continued on and soon I saw her light blue
and the water below was extra loud. I knew we had walked past the Falls. I knew too because this is exactly what I did four years ago. But it was fun to climb to the top and look down on the Falls and into the narrow
We climbed back down and battled our way to the bottom of the Falls. We carefully made our way onto the ledgy streambed and up to the pool. This day it wasn’t warm enough to go swimming and we both were happy to not go swimming by
mistake.
The seat pads we carried were put to good use keeping us dry while we sat in the gorge next to the pool. We watched the loud cascading water and we ate our lunch.
We were feeling pretty content and since it was only Noon I talked Becca into one more thing. Let’s bushwhack up to Flat Top Mountain. This peak is really the big north shoulder of Garfield but it has some prominence.
Downstream we hiked and when we found a place we could cross the
water and climb up the other side, up we went. I pulled out my compass but we didn’t really use it to guide us. We just kept going up the path of least resistance. On the steep climb we did well finding mostly open woods and a lot of moose paths. On the Flat Top summit ridge we crossed it to the north and found the highpoint. We found a small open ledge that gave us an unexpected great view of Garfield, the Ridge and the Twins–it was marvelous. We could even spy
PATENAUDE from 34
the roof of the Galehead Hut.
There was also a large boulder sitting on top of the mountain and a brown bunny rabbit came running by us. We liked the top of Flat Top Mountain.
Instead of going back down the way we came we decided to adventure more and bushwhack to the north and then back east to hit the trail again lower down. This seemed like a great idea for the first half hour but the moose paths
disappeared and the trees got tighter.
“Uh-Oh.” I was standing on top of a ledge that I didn’t even see until I nearly stepped off its lip.
This unexpected ledge was in the middle of the widest contour line of our map. The ledge was at least 15 feet high. I peered over it and I looked. The ledge reached far in both directions. But just in front of me there was a narrow gangplank of ledge that angled down most of the way and
then a tree that would be handy to lower ourselves the rest.
Our bushwhack was slow going and just when we thought we were rejoining the trail. I led us right into a wet hole surrounded by a jumble of blown down trees. The next 15 minutes were the toughest of the day.
Back on the trail we felt like we were flying down to the car.
It was a good bushwhack, we got out before dark.
Have Fun.
Amy Patenaude is an avid skier/outdoor enthusiast from Henniker, N.H. Readers are welcome to send comments or suggestions to her at: amy@weirs.com
Social Security and Medicare.
Even our champion of Make America Great Again, former President Donald Trump, has insisted that reform of Social Security and Medicare is off the table.
Federal spending is now around 25% of GDP. CBO projects it reaching 30% in 30 years. The average from 1962 to 2022 was 20.5%.
Most of the growth in that spending comes from interest, Social Security and Medicare.
We are a far different country today compared to when these programs were enacted -- Social Security in 1936, Medicare in 1965.
The costs of Social Security, a retirement system, and Medicare, a health care payment system for the elderly, are driven by the percentage of elderly in the population. Lower birth rates, hence fewer children, and longer life spans means a higher percent of elderly and increasingly costly programs.
The median age in the U.S. in 1930 was 26.5. In 1960, it was 29.6. In 2021, it was 38.8.
Per a Cato Institute report, “unfunded obligations for Medicare and Social Security are equivalent to $650,000 for every U.S. household.”
Must our citizens take a beating with benefit cuts and retirement age increases?
We need to transform from tax-based government systems to market-based systems of ownership. Markets and ownership are what built our country. Our problems began when we start turning to government.
But major change takes courage and leadership. And in this we seem to be sorely lacking.
I invite those Republican members of Congress, so bent on dumping on Speaker McCarthy, who has done his job keeping the nation functioning and moving forward, to step out and speak to the nation regarding how they propose to reform Social Security and Medicare.
And I invite our Republican presidential candidates, including the one currently leading in the polls, to do the same.
Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
or white ring around their necks. Their bellies are yellow or red, usually yellow in New England. If the snake feels threatened, it may expose the yellow belly to appear toxic.
Thankfully I have not experienced this, but ring-necked snakes apparently emit a foulsmelling musk as another defense mechanism. The website of the Orianne Society, an organization that conserves imperiled reptiles and amphibians, describes the musk as smelling like “rancid cottage cheese soaked in dirty pennies.” I don’t know what that smells like, nor do I want to find out.
Ring-necked snakes are hearty and adaptable with a range that
covers most of the U.S. from top to bottom and into Canada. The eastern ring-necked snake is the subspecies found in New England. They are largely nocturnal, which may explain why they aren’t seen as often as garter snakes. I always get a thrill when I see ring-necked pheasants in a field or ring-necked ducks on a pond or lake in the winter. On this day, however, it was the ring-necked snake that took the spotlight.
jlake@metrocast.net
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The Stark Symbolism; On the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war and the day on which Egyptian peacemaker President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981, and the decisive 1571 Battle of Lepanto, Hamas struck. Uncanny but very intentional symbolism.
The Screwup; USA and Israel suffered massive Intelligence failures; on the scale of September 11, 2001. Israel’s vaunted intelligence and security services missed the ball. So apparently did the U.S. whose intelligence gathering and sharing with Israel was found wanting.
What lessons does the USA learn beyond the rote rationalization, “It can’t happen here?”
Also let’s face it, Israel’s divided political climate where toxic opposition to Netanyahu has become commonplace, has gnawed into the fabric of Israel’s democracy. The old image of Israel of tiny, tough and united is about as current as photos of the 6 Day War with the heroic Moshe Dayan leading tank columns across Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.
A senior Israeli contact told this writer the surprise attack was, “A Terrible failure of Israeli and U.S. intelligence. Heads will roll.”
‘A colossal failure’ as Gaza’s Hamas terrorists infiltrate, catch Israel unprepared,” opined David Horovitz, founding editor of the Times of Israel.
I vividly recall the 1973 war and the ensuing Arab Oil Embargo. Now the aggressors are not Arab states but non-State
actors, terrorist proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Strategic Objective; Tehran wishes to derail political rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel as well as scuttle the wider implications of the Abraham Accords peace plan crafted during the Trump Administration. Iran is using its militant proxy forces, Hamas in the Gaza, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, to do its political bidding. The world is not at peace. So in the midst of the Ukraine war in Central Europe, Azerbaijan’s “ethnic cleansing” of an Armenian territory in the Caucuses, a MidEast war explodes. A month ago the Biden Administration sent $6 billion of previously frozen assets to Iran in exchange for five prisoners. What could possibly go wrong?
Israel is fighting for its survival. The United States will give military and diplomatic assistance to our friend and partner in the Middle East. We owe it to our ally Israel, and to ourselves.
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.
taking a drug.
Get rid of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the destructive War on Drugs. The DEA spends $3 billion a year and does little but raise the price of drugs, switching users from drugs like heroin to deadlier things like fentanyl.
Did we learn nothing from alcohol Prohibition? Banning liquor created Al Capone and organized crime.
Today there are no beer gangs or vodka cartels only because alcohol is legal.
The drug warriors’ rules don’t protect us from drugs. They mostly enrich murderous drug cartels.
Get rid of subsidies for NPR and PBS.
Kill the Export-Import Bank and the Small Buasiness Administration. Businesses should operate on their own. They shouldn’t get handouts and dubious advice from government bureaucrats.
Privatize air traffic control. Canada and dozens of other countries already did, and their systems are safer and work better. That would save $2 billion, and your flight would be more likely to arrive on time.
Likewise, privatize Amtrak. Save $7 billion. Privatize the post office. Today there are lots of better alternatives.
Of course, I’m dreaming. Government programs don’t get shut down. They just grow.
Washington claims every one of its activities is crucially important. But that’s nonsense.
If the Nov. 17 deadline isn’t met and the government shuts down, will you even notice?
Few outside the media and the Washington bureaucracy noticed the last shutdown.
Social Security, Medi-
care, the Postal Service, air traffic control, the passport agency and irresponsible lending to college students will continue during a “government shutdown.”
Democrats, sleazily, say they’d close national parks. That’s a government product that people definitely like. But they are outdoors! It’s stupid to close the gates (Donald Trump didn’t close them during when government shut down during his term).
They’ll close parks because Democrats and many Republicans want to convince us that everything good comes from government.
It doesn’t. Go ahead. Shut most of it down.
Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom.
bad enough for long enough the fans could cease coming and prices could come down. The team would then presumably seek new ways to attract fans.
Maybe BoSox execs will channel their inner “Bill Monbouquettes” and find a handsome French war hero to bring in from the bull pen to attract those female fans that helped make Rickard rich. But French war hero pitchers are few and far between nowadays.
In the meantime, we’ll just keep paying what we pay while adhering to the laws of economics, as taught in ECON 101: Demand is demand and the market is the market. That’s the American way.
Happy (traditional) Columbus Day!
Sports Quiz
When did Jack
Dempsey relinquish his heavyweight boxing title? (Answer follows).
Born Today
That is to say, sports standouts born on October 12 include Red Sox Hall of Fame catcher Rick Ferrell (1905) and Red Sox Hall of Fame player-manager Joe Cronin (1906).
Sports Quote
“Honey, I forgot to duck!” – Jack Dempsey to his spouse after a boxing loss. (In 1981 President Ronald Reagan used the same quote to his wife Nancy in a D.C. emergency room after he’d been shot by John Hinckley Jr.)
Sports Quiz Answer
In September of 1926 former U.S. Marine Gene Tunney defeated Jack Dempsey in Philadelphia to claim the heavyweight boxing title.
by Parker & Hart
THEME THIS WEEK: WORDS WITH ANTS
OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION
Charlie Brown’s sister got fooled by Lucy also!!
-Rich Teed, Gilford, NH.
Runners Up : No wonder I couldn’t get to first base with this young lady. Wrong sport.
- David Barth, Laconia, NH.
Early women placekickers got cheers from the fans, but received Peanuts from the owners. . - Roger Dolan, Milford, Mass.
The Post Office now recruits specialists who can drop kick packages to your porch. -Bob Patrick, Moultonboro, NH.
Send your best brief caption to us with your name and location within 2 weeks of publication date... Caption Contest, The Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 email to contest@weirs.com
