11/30/2023 Weirs Times

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

VOLUME 32, NO. 48

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

COMPLIMENTARY

New Hampshire’s Tercentenary About Time They Remembered by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

In the year 1921 the New Hampshire state legislature passed a joint resolution to establish a commission to make preliminary plans to observe the tercentenary of the first white settlements in the state in 1923. A tercentenary is a period of 300 years and the two settlements reported to have taken place in the state in the year 1623 were Portsmouth and Dover. The original settlers in Portsmouth didn’t stay long at that location and moved a little

south to an island in Boston Harbor and the date of the Dover settlement has been questioned in more recent times, but the commission to plan a tercentenary celebration for 1923 carried out its commission. In a letter to the Governor of New Hampshire Albert O. Brown and Arthur G. Whittemore, members of the commission, set forth the reasons that motivated the legislature’s joint resolution. After saying that the precise date of the settlements at Portsmouth and Dover were not known, the men wrote as follows: See SMITH on 26

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On Saturday, Dec. 2nd the first Winter Fever Pinball Tournament will take place at Funspot. This month’s tournament will be in ‘pin golf’ format and feature 18 of Funspot’s new and classic pinballs in their recently opened “Pinball Outpost.” In pin golf the number of balls it takes to reach a certain pre-determined score on each pinball machine is your score for that game. The pinballs selected for the tournament are: Black Knight, Cyclone, F-14 Tomcat, Fire!,

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Christian Nationalism: The Latest Bugaboo Of The Left

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According to vocabulary.com a “bugaboo” is a noun: A source of concern “the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them-type of concern, headache, vexation, worry -something or someone that causes anxiety, a source of unhappiness. The Left does an excellent job promoting bugaboos especially in the wake of the election of Congressman Mike Johnson to Speaker of the House of Representatives. The recent bugaboo of the Left used to scare its donors is Christian Nationalism. An on-line search for the term will lead to a plethora of articles from the usual suspects: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and the pens of clergy in liberal Christian churches -the ones that consider the U.S flag a symbol of hate but fly the banner of the antiSemitic Black Lives Matter. According to Brian Karem a columnist at

Salon, Christian Nationalism is a bigger threat to the United States than Hamas. So, what is Christian Nationalism, and should we be concerned that these Christian Nationalists are on the verge of taking over the United States and setting up a theocracy? If you ask a staff writer from the sources mentioned about or the ladies on “The View” or a theological professor at an Ivy League college or an anchor on CNN, and MSNBC, they will tell you that Christian Nationalism is the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation

and only Christians should be allowed to live here. They may even add the word “white” to convince you that this dangerous movement about to destroy democracy is racist as well. Here is how Wikipedia defines it: Christian nationalism is a type of religious nationalism that is affiliated with Christianity, in which the end goal is to achieve a Christian theocracy within a society. It primarily focuses on the internal politics of society, such as legislating civil and criminal laws that reflect their view of Christianity and the role of religion in politi-

cal and social life. A perusal of our nation’s organic documents proves that the United States was founded by those of the Christian faith. Here are just a few examples: Mayflower Compact 1620: IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick…” Fundamental Orders of Connecticut 1639 FORASMUCH as it hath pleased the Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of WindSee SHURTLEFF on 25

Our Story

This newspaper was first published in 1883 by Mathew H. Calvert as Calvert’s Weirs Times and Tourists’ Gazette and continued until Mr. Calvert’s death in 1902. The new Weirs Times was reestablished in 1992 and strives to maintain the patriotic spirit of its predecessor as well as his devotion to the interests of Lake Winnipesaukee. Our newspaper’s masthead and the map of Lake Winnipesaukee in the center spread are elements in today’s paper which are taken from Calvert’s historic publication. Locally owned for 30 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories of the people

and places that make New Hampshire the best place in the world to live. No, none of the daily grind news will be found in these pages, just the good stuff. Published year round on Thursdays, we distribute 24,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 60,000 people reading this newspaper. To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 603-366-8463.

PO Box 5458 Weirs, NH 03247 Weirs.com info@weirs.com facebook.com/weirstimes 603-366-8463 ©2023 WEIRS PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

BIRDS For The

New England’s Wild Birds & Their Habitats

New England’s Osprey Another Success Story

by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

New England’s ospreys left the region weeks ago for warmer temperatures in the south. That doesn’t mean, however, that they are forgotten. The return of the osprey from dangerously low numbers is another hugely successful conservation story. Last week, in honor of Thanksgiving, I talked about the turkey reintroduction and how wild turkey numbers went from zero to goodness knows how many in New Hampshire over just the last 50 years or so. Ospreys have a similar successful conservation story. Ospreys were at critically low numbers in the 70s and slowly started making a comeback due to conservation efforts on many fronts. The osprey population is now to the point where it is safe to say it is wildly successful. I recall working for a newspaper in southern Connecticut in the early 2000s, and a pair of ospreys building a nest on a light tower at a local beach was literally front-page news. Ospreys hadn’t nested in that city in several decades. Now that town, Norwalk, has several dozen osprey pairs nesting in

An osprey soars in New England. it. A similar story can be told about osprey up and down the Connecticut coast along Long Island sound. Inland osprey numbers are thriving as well. Osprey numbers, in fact, are on the rise in all New England states, including New Hampshire. According to an article by New Hampshire Public Radio, the Granite State now has 150 osprey pairs, in “every major watershed in the state.” That is up from about only 12 pairs four decades ago, the article states. I remember talking to a biologist about

that initial nesting pair in Connecticut many years ago. He mentioned that the thriving osprey population is indicative of a cleaner environment all the way around. Long Island Sound, once very polluted, is now clean enough to support hundreds of ospreys. That means the fish are healthier and more plentiful and whatever the fish eat is thriving and plentiful as well. Ospreys are at the top of the food chain so for them to thrive, everything below them must be thriving as well. I bring up osprey

now as we head into winter because the Connecticut Audbon Society just released its annual Osprey Nation results. Osprey Nation is a citizen science project whereby people monitor osprey nests throughout the summer and fall. This year, volunteers monitored 688 active osprey nests and recorded 881 fledged ospreys. Both are all-time highs for the project. Some of that is likely due to an increased number of volunteers looking for nests and monitoring them, but it is mostly attributable to See BOSAK on 27

May not be combined with other discounts. Expires 12/31/2023


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Storyteller and Celtic Harpist, Martha Gallagher In Meredith

The Art Center Unveils Annual Contemporary | Abstract Exhibition The Art Center at 1 Washington Street, Dover, NH has announced the opening of its highly anticipated Annual Contemporary | Abstract Exhibition, featuring a dynamic collection of works by over 40 talented artists. The exhibit includes diverse artistic expressions such as paintings, collages, mixed media, printmaking, photography, and sculptures. The showcase highlights the extraordinary talents of both emerging and established artists, focusing on Seacoast favorites who have significantly contributed to the local art scene. Among the featured artists are Tim Gilbert, Joe Flaherty, Beth Wittenberg, Dawn Boyer, Rebecca Klementovich, Maria “Pep” Manalang, Brian Wagoner, aka Bunkt_, and Brooke Lambert. Their creations promise to captivate art enthusiasts with a mesmerizing display of color, form, and creativity. To mark the opening of this spectacular exhibition, The Art Center invites the community to join “A Celebration for the Arts” on Saturday, December 2, from 6-9 pm. This event offers an opportunity to engage with the artists, gain insights into their creative processes, and celebrate the thriving arts community in Dover. On display now through December 31st. Visit thier online gallery at www.theartcenteronlinegallery.com.

The 1st Congregational Church in Meredith is very excited to welcome back storyteller, original composer, and Celtic harpist, Martha Gallagher, to share her music and message on Sunday, December 3 at the 10am service. Story telling is an art, and a great storyteller weaves a tale with such descriptive clarity that listeners can picture events unfolding, becoming part of the narrative themselves. Spotlighting her mesmerizing voice, augmented by the magical melodies of her harp, Martha Gallagher will transport the congregation to a monastery garden, a poor village, and a deep, dark northern forest, as she shares her adaptation of Selma Lagerlof’s, “The Legend of The Christmas Rose.” It is a rich and expansive story which is captivating and perfect for the darkest time of the year, when miracles abound throughout many celebrations and traditions of the season. Through vivid imagery and creative song, Gallagher will bring the story characters to life, “introducing thieves, monks, robber women, herbs, wild animals and wilder children. There are the rich and the poor, the narrow-minded, and the open-hearted. There is danger, faith, mistrust, love and, of course, there are miracles.” “Although its basis is in Christian beliefs,” she says, “the miracles of the heart transcend any one religion, making this a universal tale of faith, joy, hope and love.” The stress of today will fade away for a bit, enjoyment is guaranteed, and donations are gratefully appreciated. Child care will be provided with play for the youngest and crafts for those a little older, but all ages are also welcome to become immersed in this beautiful story. The church is located at 4 Highland Street in Meredith. Parking is in the back, across the street at the Town Annex, or on Main Street.

Newfound Nature Station Explores Evergreens Hebron—Join the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) as we explore the world of evergreen plants during Newfound Nature Station, a free program that connects youth and families to the natural world. This event will be held at Grey Rocks Conservation Area at 178 N Shore Road, Hebron, NH on December 12 from 1 pm to 3 pm and December 16 from 10 am to 12 pm. Plant survival in a wintery world takes a number of forms- those plants that don’t shed their leaves in fall face the weight of more snow & ice and have to find ways to limit water loss. While we might think of pine trees first, these hardy winter companions come in all shapes and sizes. Join us as we take a closer look at the variety of evergreen plants at Grey Rocks, learn about their cold weather adaptations, and make a craft to take home. This program is free

and open to all. Newfound Nature Station, along with other family programs and events, is part of NLRA’s year-round work to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty around them, learn more about the environment and how to protect it, and fall in love with the Newfound Watershed. By connecting the people of Newfound to the wonders around them, NLRA works to inspire the next generation of stewards and fulfill the mission of protecting Newfound Lake and its watershed. Along with programs like Newfound Nature Station, NLRA maintains Grey Rocks Conservation Area in all seasons as a place for people and wildlife alike. It offers walking trails, a picnic area, fishing alcoves, and a non-motorized boat launch and is frequented by wildlife like loons, turtles, and bald eagles as well as people. Learn more about NLRA including other upcoming events at NewfoundLake.org.


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

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All For Nothing? It is sometimes hard for me to believe that I have lived in Central New Hampshire for a little over thirty-eighty years now. Back in Sepby Brendan Smith tember of 1985 Weirs Times Editor I took that first step from Long Island, New York and legally crossed through Connecticut and Massachusetts paying all them highway tolls and taxes on gasoline until I reached what would be my new home. I wasn’t alone. There were many others like me who made the journey, leaving their homelands and journeying to a the new land where the natives didn’t talk or dress like us and certainly weren’t always that welcoming. We didn’t travel together, but separately, not knowing each other at all but feeling a kinship in spirit. We knew we would have to work to fit in, not just expecting the natives to bend to us, we would have to bend to them and their ways and culture. We had no expectations of it being easy. We worked our way up through assimilating and being accepted. We had studied that caste system and knew our place, holding out the hope that we would, if we worked hard enough, become accepted. We would never be considered natives, always Flatlanders, but through the different levels we could make our mark. First, we were Novice Flatlanders and would be for our first five years, there was no faster way as we learned. Then we graduated to Adjustable Flatlanders, knowing quite a bit but not enough to truly hold court yet with natives. Next, some of us become more accepted as Veteran Flatlanders but would never truly arrive until

we reached the status of Native Flatlanders. It took almost two decades for me. Of course, during these long, hard years of working hard to move ourselves up the ranks of the Flatlander Hierarchy, we were diligent in making sure that we respected the Native Culture and did all we could to never try to instill that from our own native lands into our new homes. Of course, we did hold our own private get-togethers to remember our heritage. (I recall fondly the many get gatherings we would share in the basements of fellow New York Flatlanders with pizza, knishes and potato salad bought from our homelands smuggled in by some brave Flatlanders who sweated as they carry their contraband through the Hooksett tolls.) So why write about all of this? It’s not about the pride we feel in our accomplishment, which is true, but more of the anger the simmers over how things have changed. If you have been paying attention, you may have read or heard about the influx of new Flatlanders who have boldy crossed the border during the Covid fiasco. As the so-called plague spread though their homelands in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts they arrived in droves, some not even paying tolls but driving right through the EZ Pass lane without even a transponder and no one even tried to stop them. This is all fine, but what they wanted was to simply get here and have it all without any of the work or sweat involved. Most of then simply wanted to incorporate the designation as Native Flatlander as their own instantly. None were interested in putting in the years of hard work to climb the hierarchy ladder as so many of us did before them. It all happened so fast and now, as the Covid Maskarade

has wound down, they insist that they be referred to as Native Flatlanders. There has even been some talk that some in the NH House and Senate, as well as our own governor, are feeling sympathetic to their cause and considering a bill that would grant these brand new Flatlanders instant “Native Flatlander” status creating a loyal voting base for the future, even making it a crime to refer to them as anything but. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for more of my kind moving here if there intentions are noble; we have a beautiful state with a lot to offer as well as plenty of room and opportunity, but what about those of us who struggled for years to reach the status of “Native Flatlander?” This is a giant slap in the face to all of us who did things the right way, worked hard and waited years in line to be officially recognized. Did we simply waste our time? I’m sure some (especially the new folks) will condemn me for feeling the way I do. There isn’t much I can do about that. I just wish they could put themselves in my shoes and the shoes of thousands like me. (I wear an 11 and a half by the way). We feel we’ve been sold a pretty crummy bill of goods. We don’t hold it against the new arrivals personally, but we are a bit upset at the fact that they might not have to go through the process like we did. It just isn’t fair. Brendan is the author of “The Flatlander Chronicles,” “The Best Of A F.O.O.L. In New Hampshire” and “I Really Only Did It For The Socks -Stories & Thoughts On Aging” available at BrendanTSmith.com

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Ronna McDaniel Is Doing Her Job Moderator Lester Holt kicked off the last Republican debate by asking Vivek Ramaswamy, “Why should you be the nominee and not the former president?” Ramaswamy ignored the question and chose instead to attack Republican National Committee Chairperson Ronna McDaniel, calling for her resignation, calling his party by Star Parker “a party of losers” and placing the responsiSyndicated Columnist bility for this accusation on her shoulders. McDaniel may hold a high-ranking position in the structure of her party; she is chairperson. But elections are not about party operatives. Elections are about candidates. The best party machine in the world, with all the money in the world, will not elect a candidate that voters don’t want. Politics is about candidates, and candidates are about leadership, and leadership is about truth and character. That Ramaswamy ignored what he was asked, to explain why Republican voters should prefer him to former president Donald Trump, is far more relevant than issues about party bureaucracy. Reasonable scrutiny shows that the Republican candidate selection process is working well. Candidates are presenting themselves in the political marketplace and the marketplace is evaluating and choosing. In the first debate there were eight candidates. In the last, there were five. In the next, three, maybe four. I wrote in this column that when Trump decided to not participate in the debates that it wouldn’t be a bad thing. It would give the others a chance to present themselves to the public. The greatest beneficiary of this has been Nikki Haley, who, at the time of the first debate, was polling, per the RealClearPolitics average, 3.2% nationally. Now she stands at 10.7%. Perhaps this is really what is bothering Ramaswamy, who was polling 7.2% at the time of the first debate and now stands at 4.9%. I don’t think he can blame McDaniel for this. Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose polling imploded over the course of the year, dropping from 28.8% at the beginning of January to 14.3% at the time of the first debate, has not succeeded to capture hearts and minds through the debates and now stands with little change at 14.8%. Trump, of course, has been hovering at 50 points beyond the rest over the whole period. And maybe this is where things will remain. But we need an open and See PARKER on 28

Why The Media Despise Javier Milei So, Javier Milei is extremely scary. That’s what the legacy media have decided: The newly elected libertarian conservative leader of Argentina is absolutely frightening. Axios calls him a by Ben Shapiro “far-right libertarian Syndicated Columnist who’s been compared to (former President Donald) Trump.” The New York Times writes, “Argentina Braces Itself for Its New ‘Anarcho-Capitalist’ President,” and called the election Argentina’s “Donald Trump moment.” “Who,” asks The Washington Post, “is Javier Milei, Argentina’s far-right president elect?” This, unsurprisingly, is not the way the press treated the election of former convict and Left-winger Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva in Brazil. “Brazil Elects Lula, a Leftist Former Leader, in a Rebuke of Bolsonaro,” The New York Times reported last year. “Who,” the Washington Post asked, “is Lula? What to know about Brazil’s president.” Milei, as we’ve said, is one scary character. So, what are his deeply frightening positions? He has called for vast cuts to Argentina’s government -- a necessity, since Argentina has defaulted on its debts three times since 2001, has a $43 billion outstanding loan to the International Monetary Fund, and now faces another default. They received a $57 billion bailout just five years ago. Thanks to out-of-control spending, Argentina has had to print pesos hand over fist, which is why, according to the Ministry of the Economy, total money supply in Argentina skyrocketed 30.7% a year from 2007 to 2022. The poverty rate in the country is 40%. Milei’s media appearances may be colorful, but that all serves a purpose: a

determination to make massive change to Argentina’s economic trajectory. Milei has promised to slash and burn his way through government, cutting 11 of 19 departments of the government; he campaigned with a chainsaw he pledged he would use on the “parasitic state.” He wants to draw closer to the United States and Israel, and away from China. He wants to dollarize the economy. All of this should be treated as good news. Argentina’s trajectory has been a total disaster area for decades, despite the glorification of Peronism at the hands of Hollywood. And, in fact, the markets are treating Milei’s election as they should: Argentine stocks and bonds have jumped on Milei’s election, mainly because he is the first leader of Argentina in generations who has a plan to actually avoid economic default. So, why the heartburn? Because the reality is that there are many in the United States and Europe, particularly on the political Left, who somehow feel more comfortable with the socialist radicalism of Lula De Silva, Gabriel Boric and even Nicolas Maduro than with anyone who smacks of libertarianism or conservatism. That’s because Argentina is a living example of what happens when corporatism and social democracy are taken to their limits: the substitution of governments for markets, the overregulation of industry in pursuit of social redistributionism, the attempts to create autarky via tariff protections and trade restrictions -- the endless populist promise that if all power is given to the government to protect “the people,” all will be well. That promise always results in privation and misallocation, in tyranny and poverty. Milei’s victory represents that realization. So Leftists hate Milei. Now the media and the political Left will attempt See SHAPIRO on 23


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

You Can’t Say That My first Stossel TV Fellow, Trevor Kraus, initiated this column. Our video version is called “Freshly Cooked Censorship: Why You Can’t Put ‘Low by John Stossel FODMAP’ on Food Syndicated Columnist Labels.” Kraus reports that rigid government rules prevent food producers from informing you about useful foods, like low-FODMAP foods. FODMAP is an acronym for sugars prevalent in garlic, onion, apples, honey and many other foods. Lots

of Americans have an intolerance to FODMAPs. For a few, it can be deadly. Ketan Vakil, who’s FODMAP intolerant himself, started a company that sells low-FODMAP foods like bone broths, garlic chive salt and green onion powder -- all with fewer of the ingredients that can cause stomach problems. “I decided to replace those ingredients with other things that taste great, but don’t cause stomach symptoms,” says Vakil. “We use the tops of scallions, just the green parts. They taste like onion. Not the exact flavor, but really similar. That part of the plant is lower in FODMAPs.” Sounds great.

But stupidly, the government won’t let him say “low-FODMAP” on his labels. It’s not because Vakil is lying about ingredients or their usefulness. He’s right in saying his labels have “scientific backing that the medical community accepts.” Doctors acknowledge that FODMAPs are a problem for some people, causing cramping, diarrhea, stomach bloating, etc. Choosing low-FODMAP products would help many. But the government still won’t allow Vakil to put “Low-FODMAP” on the label. “We had to remove the Low-FODMAP certified symbol, ‘gut-friendly,’

all the words that would help a shopper find that product for themselves,” says Vakil. The government didn’t actually “ban” those words. They just don’t allow them because they’re not already on the government’s approved list. So Justin Pearson, senior attorney at public interest law firm the Institute for Justice, is helping Vakil sue the government. “Everyone agrees that Ketan is telling the truth,” Pearson points out. “The government just bans it because it’s not on the outdated, pre-approved list.” Some of the approved terms don’t See STOSSEL on 28

North Korea’s “Third Time Lucky” Launch Of Spy Satellite North Korea got lucky. After two previous failures earlier this year to launch a spy satellite, the Pyongyang regime successby John J. Metzler fully sent a satelSyndicated Columnist lite into orbit. Using a powerful Cholima rocket, the military satellite was placed into orbit prompting leader Kim Jongun to proclaim the launch “had propelled the country into a new era of space power.” Amid celebrations with his family, Kim said “the possession of a reconnaissance satellite is a

full-fledged exercise of the right of self-defense,” for the quaintly titled Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In a scene evoking a DPRK socialist Disneyland, Kim Jong-un is seen beaming at a celebratory reception of space scientists and technicians with his wife Ri Sol Ju and, daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is wearing a glitzy space themed T shirt, which was dutifully reported by the North state-run Korean Central News Agency. Kim’s daughter Ju Ae, though believed to be in her early teens, appears to being groomed for an eventual leadership role in the unique Marxist Monarchy started

by the current ruler’s grandfather Kim Il-sung in 1948. Initial skepticism over the launch and the technological capacity of the spy satellite is actually secondary to the fact that North Korea has done it; psychologically this brings the DPRK military capacity up a notch. Deploying an operational spy satellite is an integral part of North Korea’s five-year military plan. In theory the satellite could allow the North monitoring of South Korean and American military forces on the divided peninsula as well as beyond the immediate region towards Okinawa and Guam. According to the South Korean

intel agency, the launch was aided and abetted by Russian aid and technical assistance, reflecting the warming ties between Pyongyang and Moscow in the wake of Vladimir’s Putin’s surprise visit to the communist hermit Kingdom in September. Intelligence officials confirmed Russian support for North Korea’s space project. Significantly multiple United Nations Security Council sanctions clearly forbid the DPRK regime to develop and test ballistic missile technology. Shortly after the launch, a tough statement by nine members of the Security Council including France, See METZLER on 29


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

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

always rob you of life. When the first man and woman I created were tempted to disobey me, it was with the promise by the Devil that they could become like me, God. It was too alluring, and they fell for the lie (Genesis 3). In disobeying me, even though they were not “god,” the practically result was that they saw themselves as God and acted that way thereafter. Only I am God, there is no other (Isaiah 28:16). The universal problem for all humanity is that you are self-centered. The world and everything in it revolve around you. Why is this a problem? First, because you are not God and trying to be God will kill you! Doing for yourself what you need for “life that is truly life,” (1 Timothy 6:19) is not only impossible but the weight of trying to fulfil my job description with your puny and inadequate resources will not only be an exercise in futility but will also quicken your demise. You will be following your own limited wisdom, choosing paths that will hurt you and even kill you. You will also exhaust your limited resources that will bring added burdens, depressing you into the grave. When you thank me however, you demonstrate that you no longer see yourself as god and that you “cast your burdens on me,” (Psalm 55:22) to provide for your “life” needs. Instead of carrying my job description, you simply trust me and only do those things I have left for you. Since I know

what your limits are, these will never overburden you. I will then lift the excessive burden on you, and you will know peace as you enjoy the wonderful supernatural blessing that I provide. This transition will always lead to “life that is truly life.” A second benefit of being thankful, results from being freed from the burden of performing my job description and replacing self-ishness with self-lessness. Every relationship you have will blossom and add more life instead of detracting from it. You will become a self-less lover of others with my resources and your newfound self-lessness, and “the whole world will love you,” as you say. Of course, not everyone but those who love you and enhance your life will multiply. You will soon celebrate Christmas. One of your popular stories recounted at this time is that of Scrooge. He was the epitome of self-centeredness. Despite his achievements, wealth and overall prosperity, he was a miserable creature. Alone with his “success,” made his “life” one of being a “walking dead man.” He had little enjoyment of his “success” and was bereft of vital relational love since most hated him. It was only as he “woke up” to his foolishness, aroused by the specter of death, that he changed and became self-less. When he did, “life that is truly life,” infused him, and his relationships with others now compounded life for others and of course for Scrooge. I created you to know “life” through quality

Letters From God

The Blessings From Being Thankful

Well, Thanksgiving is over. Did you take any time to include me, to thank me? Many won’t, and that is so sad in light of what I have done for you and what it can do for you. In my last letter, I sought to inspire you to give me thanks. In my letter today, I want to encourage you to begin, if you have not already done so, but just as importantly to continue to give thanks for the rest of your life. In other words, as you leave Thanksgiving, don’t let thanksgiving leave you. I want to inspire you in this regard, by asking you to consider the benefits of giving thanks continually. In a letter to a church in a city called Thessalonica, contained in my book the Bible, I asked one of my servants, Paul, to encourage his listeners and all those who would read my words afterwards, saying “in everything, give thanks.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There are two very wonderful benefits of having an “attitude of gratitude,” that causes you to “give thanks in everything.” The first, is that when you are expressing thanks regularly you demonstrate that you have made a vital transition away from self to others. This is so important because you have made yourself a “god,” and this is a serious problem that will

relationships. It is only as you give up the empty pursuit of selfishness, in which you made yourself a “god,” will you enjoy healthy relationships with me and others and know life. As you leave Thanksgiving, don’t let thanksgiving leave you! Never stop trusting me and thanking me. Thank me for my son Jesus, your Messiah, who lived among you, died to pay the penalty for your sins in order to restore you to me and was raised to prove he was God who will provide the eternal life he promised to all who trust in his sacrificial work to save you. Thank me for healthy relationships that add “life to your years and even years to your life.” Thank me as well, four all my gracious heavenly provisions for “life” that will meet every need during your lifetime and carry you safely into my presence at your death. There you will enjoy the fullness of life without any form of death. It is my realm and only “life” lives there. Finally, “in everything give thanks,” because I will even turn evil into good to enhance your life, while you live in a dying world (Romans 8:28). I love you, God These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Tap Into The Transformative Power Of Gratitude This Holiday Season

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In a world that often moves at an unrelenting pace, where stress and challenges abound, cultivating gratitude can be a beacon of light guiding us towards mental well-being. Beyond a mere expression of politeness, gratitude holds profound implications for our mental health, influencing our emotions, relationships, and overall outlook on life. Let’s take a look at just how healthy being grateful can be. Being grateful is emotional state of being that goes beyond the polite “thank you.” Research in positive psychology suggests that expressing gratitude triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters associated with happiness and pleasure. These chemical reactions in the brain contribute to an improved mood and a sense of wellbeing. Some research has even shown found that individuals who practice gratitude regularly experience lower levels of depression and stress. When we express

gratitude, whether through words or actions, we strengthen our connection to others, which is also good for our mental health. Research by psychologists Sara Algoe and Jonathan Haidt suggests that expressing gratitude not only enhances the giver’s wellbeing but also benefits the recipient and improves the overall relationship. Acts of gratitude create a positive feedback loop, creating an environment where individuals feel valued and supported. Studies have also shown that practicing gratitude is associated with improved physical health. The positive emotions linked to gratitude have been linked to a reduction in inflammation, blood pressure, and even the strengthening of the immune system. Furthermore, people who maintain a grateful outlook tend to engage in healthier behaviors. They are more likely to exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep, and make better lifestyle choices. Gratitude can play a role in cultivating resilience as well. When faced with setbacks, individuals who can find elements to be thankful for are better equipped to bounce back. A study conducted by psychologists Michael McCullough and Robert Emmons found that individuals who maintained a gratitude journal were more resil-

ient in the face of stress and adversity. Incorporating gratitude into our lives doesn’t require grand gestures; small, consistent practices can make a significant impact. With the New Year just around the corner, why not focus on cultivating gratitude this holiday season? Here are some practical tips for cultivating gratitude: 1. Gratitude Journaling: Set aside time each day to write down things you are grateful for. If you’re like me, you can buy yourself a beautiful new journal and a fancy pen in a color that makes your heart sing. 2. Focus on Expressing Gratitude: Take the time to express your appreciation to others. Write an old-fashioned, heartfelt thank-you note and drop it in the mail. Or simply make an effort to acknowledge the things that your co-workers or family members do that make your life easier or more pleasant. Set a goal for yourself to express your gratitude to three new people each day this week. 3. Mindfulness: Incorporate gratitude into mindfulness practices. During meditation or moments of reflection, focus on aspects of your life that evoke feelings of gratitude. 4. Create a Gratitude Board: Start a new bulletin board at work, school or home where everyone can

contribute. Leave a pad of sticky notes and a pen nearby and invite everyone to participate in filling the board with things, people or experiences that they are grateful for. Feeling creative? Offer cutouts of stars, hearts or leaves instead of sticky notes for a more eye appealing display. 5. Give Thanks for Freedom: Be grateful for our freedoms by writing a thank you note to a veteran or member of our armed services who makes our freedom possible through their sacrifices. For the past 8 years, Crossroads Chiropractic has partnered with A Million Thanks to deliver your notes overseas - just drop off your letter to any of our locations and it will be mailed with our next shipment to our troops! Gratitude can be powerful tool for good, enhancing our own mental health while at the same time positively impacting the people around us. Building a more grateful heart can improve our social connections, physical well-being, and resilience in the face of challenges. Gratitude can be lifechanging, and it’s free and contagious. Pass it on! Stephanie Ryan, DC, CCWP is the owner of Crossroads Chiropractic, PC and is the host of the “Half Hour to Health” radio show on WEMJ, WTPL and WTSN.


11

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

The Practice Of Gratitude

by Kelly Chapman Meredith Whole Living Center

Gratitude is enjoying its annual time in the spotlight, and while we each have a relationship with the concept, we don’t always pause to consider what it is and how it’s cultivated. While many people think of gratitude as a feeling of thankfulnessand certainly this is part of the experience, enough research has been done on the practice of gratitude and its many benefits to help us better understand and integrate it into our lives with ease. One of the most notable researchers in the field, Robert Emmons, describes gratitude as recognizing and affirming the goodness around us, while also noting its source, particularly that which comes from outside of us. In this way, expressing gratitude becomes not just a way to feel good, but also an exercise we can use to shift our perspective to experience the world from a place of wonder, humility and interconnectedness. Everyone has vulnerabilities, and although we have a great amount of influence in our lives, nothing is ever fully within our control. Although this can be a bit nerve wracking, it also helps us to better

understand the incredible power the lens of gratitude has on our ability to accept these truths while also maintaining a healthy, happy perspective. We rely on the goodness of others and the world around us in so many ways that can easily be taken for granted, and unless we pause to take stock of them, we can easily miss them. As just one example, most of us living in the United States enjoy readily accessible clean drinking water. While easy to take for granted, nearly 1 in 10 people globally lack this access, and we rely on incredible systems of waste and water management that are managed by faithful individuals in our com-

munities whose job it is to ensure we aren’t without. When we stop to consider the underlying web of goodness that supports our daily lives, it’s hard not to develop a more deeply rooted appreciation for everything that is consistently going right in the world around us. The value of a gratitude practice has shown to have a myriad of positive effects on our health and wellbeing. In controlled studies, a gratitude practice has been shown to improve sleep quality, correlate with a decrease in anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, improve markers of heart health, and increase overall happiness. Addition-

ally, by increasing our self esteem, hopefulness and positive perspective of the world around us, those with a gratitude practice often find other healthy habits such as healthy eating and exercising are easier to begin and maintain. When we share our gratitude with those around us, whether verbally, through writing a letter, or other means, we enjoy stronger social connections and healthier relationships, which further enhance our physical and mental well-being Incredibly, the benefits of a gratitude practice emerge in as little as 3-6 weeks. Whether it’s 3 things per day or 5 per week, the intentional act of being mindful for what we’re grateful for is all we need to get started. While not required, writing these items down enhances our experience while creating a tangible reminder we can turn to time and again when times get tough. Over time, what began as an intentional practice becomes more

second nature, and our capacity for resilience heightens while our joys multiply. If you’re curious about learning more about gratitude and the many ways it can improve our lives, the website

greatergood.berkeley. edu has a useful collection of resources. Kelly Chapman is the Founder of Meredith Whole Living Center.


12

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Over-Eating Season Is Here! Simple Remedies For Digestive Woes

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Yeah, we all do it. Doesn’t matter how healthy we think we are, or how cautious we are with our diets, over-eating doesn’t discriminate and especially so this time of year when festive food is in abundance and all your favorites are being shoved in front of your face. Not a time for scarcity, that’s for sure! So, you find yourself with indigestion; the

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acid flowing up into your throat, your insides are bursting, or you are in a bind….literally. Not to worry! This article will offer you solutions to your digestive woes all in one convenient place. Cut this article out and stick it on your fridge. Share it with family and friends! Indigestion can come from over-eating, yes, but what is actually occurring is your stomach cannot keep up with the volume so it is trying to churn this food around and excrete hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes in the process. Give it some help with Digestive Bitters. This remedy comes in a convenient spray and can be taken prior to eating to give the gut some help. Herbs like burdock root, dandelion root, orange peel, and gentian root prime the stomach to do its job more efficiently. This

will also keep things moving (wink wink) and reduce the issues that may occur later. Carminatives are indicated here as well. Herbs like anise and ginger help the body expel gas and cut down on the bloat. Antispasmodics like mint, ginger, chamomile, and cardamom, alleviate cramping and discomfort. Demulcents like marshmallow, slippery elm, cinnamon, and plantain leaf (not the banana) reduce inflammation in gut which can lead to lack of enzymatic action in the small intestine and inhibit the further breakdown of food. I mean you do want to assimilate all that yummy food, right? These herbs and spices you may have at home, but here at Sacred Tree Herbals I carry all these and more. An herbal tea after meals is an excellent way to take these herbs in, but

I also make encapsulations and sprays too. From Tummy Tea and Healing Gut Powder, to Digestive Bitters, Better Belly, and my Ginger Syrup all these blends are specially formulated for the gut. I hope you all enjoy this amazing Holiday Season and I hope you enjoy it with less digestive issues too. December 16th I am having another Open House 9:30-4:30. Please come in and enjoy some tea and snacks and sample some of my in-house blends. Think Sacred Tree for your holiday shopping! Sara Woods Kender is a Clinical Herbalist with over 15 years experience with herbal medicine. She is a Reiki master and Intuitive and owner/operator of Sacred Tree Herbals. 169 Daniel Webster HWY, Unit 1. www.sarasherbs.com.


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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Chimney Swe Starting at ep

by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

A Sport-Thoughts piece about the Seattle Kraken is way overdue. In almost 20 years of these columns, there’s not been even one about the Kraken. Of course, the NHL’s 32nd and newest franchise didn’t join the league until 2021. So, what is a Kraken (other than a Seattle NHL player)? It’s also a mythic sea monster said to hang out off the coast of Norway to hassle Vikings. But there are no photos or proof of its existence— although Joe Biden reportedly claimed to have seen one in his youth. The Kraken. Maybe not the greatest sports nickname, but certainly not the worst. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Utah Jazz!) Anyway, the expression “Release the Kraken” is now part of our contemporary vernacular. It’s a catchphrase from the 1981 movie “Clash of the Titans.” That flick’s interesting cast featured Harry Hamlin, Judi Bowker, Burgess Meredith, Maggie Smith, Claire Bloom, Ursulla Andress, and Lawrence Olivier. That silly old-fashioned heroic epic was actually a hit. The “Release the Kraken” phrase made

The kraken is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear in the sea between Norway and Iceland.

a comeback in 2020 when pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell claimed her candidate actually won that year’s election in a landslide. She was going to share proof. “I’m going to release the Kraken!” exclaimed Powell. Unfortunately for Sidney, that proof never materialized, and her Kraken was never released. She later pled guilty to election interference. But I digress. The Seattle Kraken ended up on my sports radar screen due to an extended stay in the Pacific Northwest vis-

iting family members who somehow ended up in Portland. As a new part-time Oregonian, I’ve tried to integrate myself into the local sports scene. I even attended a Portland NBA game, even though the Blazers are the NBA’s worst team. I saw a BlazersBulls game for free a couple years ago when the Blazers generously offered press credentials for this big shot east coast sports columnist. (SPORT-THOUGHTS, 12/2/2021). Having been there and done that, I

turned my gaze to Seattle—just three hours up I-5. But Seattle’s NBA team long ago moved to Oklahoma City. And with the Mariners’ MLB season long over, I thought of seeking press credentials for the Seahawks’ November 23rd NFL game with the 49ers. (Me, of course, being a big shot east coast sports columnist.) However, I wanted to bring Beth this time. So, I went on-line to find tickets and discovered that the average cost of a Seahawk ducat was $600. Bringing Beth meant spending $1200. That was before buying beer. While likely getting chilled outside in the Seattle elements. Good-bye Seahawks. Hello Kracken! The Kracken were actually a .500 club when I checked, and Vince Dunn was turning into an All-Star defenseman. I suggested a road trip to Beth, who prudently See MOFFETT on 22

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — Newest Release By Brendan Smith

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Early-Ice Trout Fishing by Tim Moore Contributing Writer

The NH Fish and Game Department stocks a number of lakes ponds designated as trout ponds with no closed season, creating some of the first ice fishing opportunities for anglers to target trout through the ice. Once trout waters freeze, rainbow and brook trout can be caught in as little as a foot of water, which means you can safely venture onto thinner shoreline ice while you wait for your regular spots to thicken up. The exhilaration of fishing on just a few inches of crystal clear ice and watching fish swim in from a distance to devour your lure may very well turn you into a trout fishing addict. During the open water months, trout normally avoid shallow water because it leaves them vulnerable to aerial attacks from birds of prey and shoreline threats from predatory mammals. However, as soon as the water freezes, the fish have less to worry about and they move into shallow water to feed, but they are far from easy picking. They are wary, spook easily. Stealth is key when fishing in shallow water through thin ice. Rainbow trout prefer sandy bottom. During the winter months rainbows constantly cruise shallow water and scour the bottom for whatever insects, eggs, or baitfish

NH has many early opportunities to catch stocked trout while anglers await the opportunity to fish their regular spots. they can find. On water bodies with rainbow trout, you will often find clusters of fish houses gathered around town beaches, all targeting rainbow trout, but some hardcore rainbow trout ice anglers will venture off to lesser-known areas with less fishing pressure and noise. Private beaches or secluded sandy areas will provide your best chance at better numbers and bigger fish. One of the most popular techniques is to drill many holes along a shoreline in 12” – 24” of water as soon as you arrive at your fishing

location. Set tip ups (or jig rods) rigged with a Caviar jig tipped with a salmon egg in some of the holes and, in states that allow it, drop a couple of plain salmon eggs in the remaining holes. Silently inspect each of the holes with salmon eggs every 15-20 minutes. If the salmon eggs are gone, move one of your lines into that hole, because chances are the rainbow that ate the salmon eggs hasn’t gone far. Brook trout will also frequent sandy areas, but they congregate in front of stream inlets to capitalize on any food

that washed in. Use caution when fishing these areas, because the moving water will keep the ice thinner than surrounding areas. It might not present an immediate safety concern, but a wet leg can end a trip. Drill several holes in depths from 12”-36” around the front and sides of the inlet. A 1/8 ounce white or red blade spoon tipped with a white w/red flake Maki Minnow Head is almost irresistible to hungry brook trout. Keep the blade spoon moving, stay alert, and stay still. Watch the edges of the hole you’re fishing. Brook trout may swim around for several minutes before committing to eat your bait. A wisp of silt off to the side of the hole is a telltale sign that a fish is interested in your offering. It may very well dart in at any moment and devour your blade spoon, so stay focused. The addition of a camera system will not only add an element of excitement to your trip by letting watch fish take your bait, it will also help you determine how the fish are behaving toward a certain lure or cadence. Underwater cameras will also let you see first-hand just how easily trout spook in shallow water. Many camera systems today use Wi-Fi to transmit video to a remote device, such as an iPad, See MOORE on 29


15

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

The

Simple Feast

Pilaf: The Original Globe Trotter The

Simple Feast

The

Simple Feast

by Eric N Gibson Contributing Writer

Rice is certainly a versatile dish. A grain starch used for centuries, more likely thousands of years, rice has been a staple food throughout the world. While not an anthropologist by trade, I am confident in stating that nearly every culture has used some form of the grain as a backbone of its menu, whether it be the star attraction on the center of the plate or as a supporting member of an ensemble cast. And too, the Pilaf method of cooking rice has created a dichotomy of savory mouthwatering dishes we know today as pilaf. Confused? Don’t be. Because the word pilaf refers to both a dish (entree or side made of rice or rice and pasta) and a cooking method. If you have ever made one of those box mix Rice Pilaf’s that you can pick up in the store then you too can make Rice Pilaf. And once you make Rice Pilaf from scratch, see how easy it is, and perfect a recipe you like, you will probably never bother with one of those box mixes again. Seriously, it is simple enough to be done in about 35 to 45 minutes. That’s not

The

Simple Feast

much longer than it takes to make the box mix. And, by purchasing a bag of rice and a box of orzo pasta you are in the driver’s seat, with greater control over the economy, flavor, and nutrition of what you eat. Let’s start with some basics, the methodology for pilaf is simple. The pilaf method of cooking rice is to saute the rice in fat. Now, I know that does not sound very nutritious but there is a reason why this is done that will become evident as we explore this method further, and fear not, we are only going to saute the rice, not deep fat fry it.

As I was saying, it comes down to your choice of cooking fat. The pilaf method of cooking rice uses a fat to coat the grains and give those grains a light toasting. Which fat to use once depended upon the regional culture. For most reading this essay, this is not the case as our “Americanized” diet is more subject to whims and desires rather than cultural and dietary restrictions or the variety of available food ingredients. Getting into the details, remember the title, “Pilaf: The Original Globe Trotter?” Well, food historians

have traced pilaf back thousands of years and have found it cited throughout Asian, Persian, Mediterranean, and European documented histories with only slight variations to both its name and preparation method. The commonality being grains of rice sauteed in hot fat before being immersed in a liquid or steamed. The fats used range from animal fats and butter to olive oil and (in more modern times) vegetable oil. Why? The pilaf cooking method, sauteed in fat, gently toasts the rice, coating or “locking” in the starch, allowing the rice to cook without becoming too gummy. Toasting alters the outer coat and also alters the flavor profile of the rice. Some say this toasting offers a bit of a pleasing nutty flavor and / or the rice may also take on a bit of the flavor of the fat itself, which may complement the meat or vegetable dishes that the rice is served with. Personally, I prefer the use of butter as I like the flavor of browned butter while some people prefer olive oil to saute the rice. You may find olive oil or vegetable oil is preferred when making a pilaf to complement roasted vegetable or fish dishes or when using Italian and Mediterranean spices. One question I found hard to answer is, how did orzo and other pastas end up in a rice pilaf? I have not been able to find much See FEAST on 24

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

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host its Annual Tree Lighting Service, which will include singing of carols followed by a brief service led by their youth. After the service, cookies and hot chocolate will be served in GCC’s fellowship hall. On Saturday, Dec. 9, 5-7pm, GCC will participate in the town of Gilford’s Annual Candlelight Stroll. “We will have a tent with a few outdoor carnival games and small prizes during the stroll,” said GCC Youth Director Amber McLane. On Sunday, Dec. 17 at 10am children of the congregation will perform GCC’s annual Christmas Pageant.


17

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Carter Mountain Band Presents ‘Christmas Joy’ In Gilford

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You are invited to kick off the Christmas season with Carter Mountain Brass Band’s “Christmas Joy!”, Sunday, December 3rd starting at 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Gilford. Conductor, Debbi Gibson, has chosen a program that features music from the Classi-

cal period to the Contemporary, including traditional Christmas carols. Also included is the ever-popular audience participation sing-along. You will also enjoy projected visuals that accompany the music along with interspersed poems and stories. Afterward, audience members are invited to

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enjoy dessert and meet band members. A $10 donation (students – free) will be appreciated with proceeds to be split between the Church and the Band.

First United Methodist Church (Hope Ministries) is located at 18 Wesley Way, (Off Rt. 11a near the 3-11 Bypass.

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18

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Christmas Night In Ashland

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On Friday, December 1, Ashland will again celebrate Christmas Night in downtown Ashland. Most of the activities will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. in the evening. Santa Claus will arrive by fire truck at 4PM and will be in Memorial Park at the center of downtown Ashland, visiting with children and others until 7PM. Memorial Park is also where you can pick up a passport, which can be stamped at various venues and returned to Memorial Park for the free raffle. The Cookie Walk in the Ashland Fire Station (9 Main Street) will offer home made cookies for $1 per bag from 4 to 6:30PM.. Chowder will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Legion Hall. The Ashland Town Library (41 Main Street) will give out Take and Make Activity Kits to children. Free food and snacks will be available at the Ashland Community Church (55 Main Street) from 4 to 7 p.m., with a free Dessert Walk beginning at 5:30 p.m. Letters to Santa Claus can be mailed in a special mailbox at Roundabout New England Vintage and Thrift Shop (62 Main Street) every day until Christmas. The Ashland Historical Society will display photographs of past Christmas celebrations in the parish hall of Emmanuel Episcopal Church (18 Highland Street), where hot cider will be served by the Church. See ASHLAND on 21


19

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

Outdoor Winter Container Gardens by Melinda Myers Add a bit of greenery to your front steps, window box or patio with a winter container garden. You’ll find all the ingredients you need at your local garden center, craft store, and maybe even a few in your backyard. Start with a walk through your yard and look for evergreens and other potential ingredients for your winter containers. Fruits like rose hips, winterberries, holly berries, crabapples and others add color to the container. Fluffy seedheads of grasses make a nice vertical accent and add a bit of motion to the arrangement. Next, convert one or two of your summer or fall containers into a winter display. The container should be able to tolerate the winter conditions in your area. Concrete, iron, metal, wood and fiberglass containers are best suited for year-round use. Even plastic pots will last for a few years when left outside. Or start a new container for winter. Repurpose or purchase a container. Nursery pots that once housed trees and shrubs make excellent options. These black containers provide the perfect backdrop for greenery and are available for free from most garden centers and fellow gardeners. Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent water-logged soil and water from overflowing the pot. Fill the

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Winter container gardens made of natural materials add beauty and color to the winter landscape. container about 7/8 full with a well-drained potting mix. The soil helps hold the greenery, twigs and other materials in place and adds weight to keep the pot upright throughout the winter. Consider using a mix of greens for a variety of textures and various shades of green. Pine, spruce, arborvitae, boxwood and junipers may be growing in your landscape and most are available at garden centers. Spruce tips are popular, allowing you to add “mini” trees or create vertical accents in your containers. Use greens to cover the pot and create an attractive base for your winter display. Place some branches upright and others at a 45-degree angle so the greens drape over the edge. Secure the stems by placing them at least four

inches deep in the soil. Now add some color and vertical interest with stems of red twig dogwoods, paper birch branches, berry-laden stems from holly and winterberry and curly willow branches. Artificial material and outdoor ornaments can also be used. It’s your opportunity to get creative. Do consider adding other elements such as evergreen cones, seed pods, allium seedheads, and balloon plant pods. Leave them natural or add some paint and glitter. Water thoroughly to remove air pockets and lock your ingredients in place. Keeping the soil moist until the potting mix freezes can help extend the beauty of the greenery. The winter containers will also last much longer in cooler temperatures. And

those displayed in more sheltered locations out of direct sunlight and wind will suffer less drying. Once your container is complete it is time to relax and enjoy your holiday celebrations. 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. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

IT’S YUMMY IN HERE!

Funspot Gift Card Promotion To Benefit Mix Cash & Cans

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ing customer. ble.” “One of the reasons I chose to detect ned, however, that the oblem may be so enor- fake Google reviews versus Amazon and done to is insurmountable, and others is because of the harmREGULAR founder fake reviewers survived consumers,” said Curtis Boyd,PRICES of The Transparency Company. “A bad downs. n, founder of Review $10 kitchen knife, or cheap Bluetooth umer advocacy website headset, isn’t going to ruin a household. ed businesses using fake Choosing the wrong doctor, lawyer or platforms had not done contractor can ruin your life.” WINTER BOOTSTransparency An analysis by The nage the problem, but he that half of the reviews that concern from regula- Company found WORK BOOTS on Mohrmann’s Google Maps profile are nies was swelling. OF STYLES! ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR feeling the heat and pres- “highly suspicious,” with many accounts & DRESS FOOTWEAR connected to CASUAL India, Vietnam and BritTime will tell.” SLIPPERS ain. Mohrmann retains a rating of 4.5 ake reviews are positive OF PAIRS! compared with just 2.5 such as four-star and on Google Maps, AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! SOCKS exclusions apply visit store review for details (The latest Google ws, that the businesses stars on Yelp.brand es or are created by dig- identified as suspicious was published RT. 16 CONWAY, NH (NEXT 569-3560 TO Meredith, NHone 279-7463 • •Wolfeboro, NH RITED) 569-3560 ago.) MEREDITH, NHyear 279-7463 WOLFEBORO , whose services can beNORTH PHONE: 356-7818 HOURS: M-THUR 9-6; FRI-SAT 9-9; SUN 10-6 NORTH CONWAY , NH 356-7818 • LACONIA, NH 524-1276 MEREDITH, NHappeared • LACONIA, NHto • ROCHESTER, NH the Amazon anticipate ne for as little as aConway, fewNH • WOLFEBORO, North NH 356-7818 • Laconia, NH 524-1276 NH • KEENE, NH • GREENFIELD, MA FTC’s new regulations in June, announceview. Many deceptiveSTRATHAM, based overseas, limiting ing a blueprint to stop fake reviews. In er to police the problem. a blog post, the company acknowledged

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Mix 94.1fm presents its 37th annual Cash-and-Cans money and food drive for the

holidays now through ruso in 1987, raises D e c e m b e r 1 5 . T h e food and money for a fundraiser, started by number of central New THE94.1fm’s LACONIA DAILY SUN, Saturday, November 18, 2023 — Page 21 Mix Fred CaHampshire charitable

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organizations, from food pantries to soup kitchens to toys-fortots programs. Saturday December 9th, it’s the annual Funspot Gift Card Fundraiser at Funspot, Weirs Beach from Noon-3pm. “We’re very excited to have Funspot and the Lawton Family involved once again with year’s Cash & Cans campaign. They are always there to support so many community events,” Caruso said. For a minimum ten dollar donation to Cash & Cans, you’ll receive a ten dollar Funspot gift card; donate twenty dollars, get a twenty gift card; donate fifty, get fifty, and there’s See CANS on 21


21

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — CANS from 20 no limit! “It really is a win-win for everyone. Funspot gift cards make great gifts and stocking stuffers and your donation benefits Cash & Cans.” During the Cash & Cans campaign, Caruso and morning cohost Amy Bates will be accepting monetary and non-perishable food donations with 100% of the proceeds right here in our central New Hampshire community. “We live in a wonderful area, neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping friends, people helping people they’ve never even met. That’s what Cash-and-Cans is all about,” said Caruso. A complete Cash and Cans broadcast schedule is available at www.mix941fm. com. Donations can

also be made through the mail. Please make checks payable to Mix Cash-and-Cans and mail to Mix 94.1fm, PO Box 99, Franklin, NH 03235. Or Venmo, @Mixcashandcans. For more information about the Cash & Cans program email Caruso at fred@mix941fm. com. Mix Cash & Cans is a public service of Mix 94.1fm, a locally owned and operated Northeast Communications radio station.

ASHLAND from 18 The celebration will end 7 p.m. in Memorial Park with the lighting of the Town Christmas Tree, and the drawing of the winning passports. Santa will then depart by fire truck for the North Pole to get ready for his long Christmas journey. Teenagers however can go to the Town ballpark for an evening social with a fire pit, games and music, pizza and drinks, from 7 to 9 p.m.

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22

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

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

MOFFETT from 13 asked what the hockey tickets would cost. So, I checked. The average cost of a Kracken ticket was $300! Holy Howie Morenz!

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Sports Quote “What a Kraken grasps it does not give up, be it longship or leviathan.” – writer George R.R. Martin Sports Quiz Answer The Seattle Metropolitans (Mets) won the 1917 Stanley Cup. The team folded seven years later. State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He coauthored the awardwinning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A WarriorActor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon.com. His e-mail address is mimoffett@ comcast.net.


23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

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

SHAPIRO from 6 to shovel all of Argentina’s failures on Milei’s shoulders. Milei still faces a partly Peronist legislature, as well as a court system stacked in favor of Leftist foolishness: The Supreme Court magistrate Horacio Rosatti recently said that any attempt to dollarize would be unconstitutional. This means that his power may be curbed; he still faces entrenched economic problems, and he will require an infusion of foreign capital in order to right the ship in Argentina. If he comes up short, capitalism and economic liberalism will be blamed for the failures of Peronism. That’s always the pattern: corporatists ruin economies, and then capitalism gets the blame. But Milei can succeed. Investors ought to look south, to put their money where their mouth is, to ensure that Argentina realizes its potential as a massive source of

prosperity, wealth and power -- and that alliance with the United States grows stronger as a result. Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and cofounder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author; his latest book is The Authoritarian Moment: How The Left Weaponized America’s Institutions Against Dissent. To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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24 FEAST from 15 written on this from a factual historical perspective. Some suggest that it has to do with pilaf’s migration across and throughout the regions from Persia and Asia. Pasta, also a product of questionable origins with strong evidence pointing toward the far east, found a foothold in Italian cultural cuisine on its migration west. Somewhere along the way, during ancient or modern times no one really knows, the two starches were ultimately on a collision course. Eventually, in the modern era, the two were destined to be found packaged together with a packet of salt, seasonings, and real artificial chicken flavor, all in one small box on the grocers shelf. Were the two married together,

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — joined as a means of stretching the grains used in pilaf dishes? Or, perhaps it was a matter of economy on the part of food companies wanting to stretch their profits? Regardless of the reason or reasons, together they made for a good combination that tickled the palette of the general public. The rice and the pasta both take to toasting by the pilaf method quite readily, both offer that slightly “nutty” flavor when toasted, and too, both, when boiled in a delicious combination of seasonings, salt, and chicken flavor… Well, what’s not to like about that? As we dig into pilaf a bit deeper, here is where we find that we can stretch our dollar further. If you’ve noticed, those boxes of Rice Pilaf, like

VEGETABLE RICE PILAF Yield: 6-8 Servings Time: 35-45 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Rice 2 2/3 Cups Low Sodium Stock or Water 3 Tbsp. Butter (divide 1 and 2) 1/2 Cup Orzo (pasta) 1 Small Onion or Medium Shallot diced 1 tsp. Garlic minced

— INSTRUCTIONS— - In a large covered pot combine stock (water), and a Tablespoon of butter and bring to a boil. - While waiting for the liquid to boil, place 2 Tablespoons of butter into a skillet over medium heat. - To the melted butter add the celery, onion (shallot), and carrot and saute for about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, mushrooms, orzo and rice, and continue to saute for an additional 5 minutes to evenly coat the contents of the skillet. Do not burn. - Add the skillet contents to the boiling pot, cover, bring back to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer the contents of the covered pot for about 30 minutes. Check to ensure the contents of the pot have not dried out or burned. Taste for doneness of rice and orzo. If done to your liking, remove from the heat and let sit for a few minutes. Fluff with a fork, adding pepper, seasonings, and serve. - If the rice and orzo are not tender enough for your preference, add a few tablespoons of water and continue to simmer covered for an additional 7 minutes. - Recheck and serve.

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1 Medium Carrot diced 6-8 Mushrooms sliced 1 Stalk Celery diced TT Salt (may not need if using stock) TT Black Pepper TT Seasoning of your choice

most grocery items, have jumped in price lately. Gone are the days when you could buy these for under a dollar on the average day. But, why bother buying them when you can put your dollars to better use? Buying a bag of rice,

a box of orzo, and a carton or two of low sodium chicken stock, along with some butter or olive oil, for the cost difference, you get more for your money buying the ingredients rather than the box pilaf. And you have better control over the nutritional content, not knowing what all those ingredients are in the flavor packet alone should be an incentive. The rice pilaf recipe included in this article is filled with optional vegetables, a great way to get those in the family who do not like veggies to eat some. I find garlic, onion, celery, and carrot to be mainstays in a pilaf. In addition, mushrooms are always welcome and all of these will complement beef, chicken, pork, and vegetable entrees quite readily. A few dashes of Italian seasonings and cracked black pep-

per always add flavor and in about 35 to 45 minutes the pilaf is ready. If you can melt butter in a skillet and boil “water” (stock) in a covered pot you are well on your way to making pilaf. I find the rule of thumb cooking rice applies, 1:2 (1 cup rice : 2 cups liquid). With the addition of orzo the 1:2 ratio is fine. I would encourage you to try making a rice pilaf dish. It is easy, flavorful, and rewarding. Once mastered, you will open the door to exploring flavors that will complement all of your meals as you continue to create your own Simple Feast. Enjoy!


25

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — SHURTLEFF from 2 sor, Harteford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connecticut and the Lands thereunto adjoining; And well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Government established according to God,,, to maintain and pressure the liberty and purity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess…” The Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Massachusetts State Constitution: Article II. It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship. New Hampshire State Constitution: [Art.] 6. [Morality and Piety.] As morality and piety, rightly grounded on high principles, will give the best and

greatest security to government, and will lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society, therefore, the several parishes, bodies, corporate, or religious societies shall at all times have the right of electing their own teachers, and of contracting with them for their support or maintenance, or both. But no person shall ever be compelled to pay for the support of the schools of any sect or denomination. And every person, denomination or sect shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect, denomination, or persuasion to another shall ever be established. George Washington’s Farewell Address: “…Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness…” And, in a letter to Massachusetts Militia officers, President John Adams wrote: “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”[1] Morality and virtue are the foundation of our republic and necessary for a society to be free…” I have been a Christian for most of my adult life and have been involved in Pa-

triotic organizations since 1988. While the political and theological views of people that make up the Christian church and the Patriot movement vary widely, I do not know of any group of Christians whose goal is to set up some sort of Christian Republic excluding all others. Indeed, the vast majority of those the Left call Christian Nationalists are sympathetic to the State of Israel and either serve or support missionaries all over the world. Contrary to the teaching of International Atheists, Christians are instructed to live peaceably with their neighbors, to love their neighbors and to pray for their enemies. Christian have the duty to speak out against the “unfruitful works or darkness,” and an obligation to fulfill the Great Commission where they are commanded to

“make disciples off all nations.” (Matthew 28:19-22). I think this troubles the Atheist Internationalists the most. To use a sports analogy: Christians, have, for the most part, been sitting on the sidelines, while the Left has dominated the playing field. But conservative Christians are now in the game and putting points on the board. This frightens the Left and they have a need to promote fear and hatred of Chrisian conservatives. That fear and hatred has been manifested in the Biden Administration with its weaponization of the Justice Department. But as we are told by our Lord in Matthew 16 “The Gates of Hell shall not prevail.” Readers who are looking for a church or need prayer may E-mail me campconstitution1@gmail.com.

Last month’s Tournament winners at the Pinball Outpost at Funspot in Weirs, NH. (L-R) 1st: Mike Lupo, 2nd: Kris Spaulding, 3rd: Dave Tardif, 4th: John Bolton

PINBALL from 1 from each entry going to the prize fund. 1st Place will be awarded 70% of the Prize Fund with the balance going to 2nd place, 3rd Place wins a $50 Funspot Gift Card and 4th Place a $20 Gift Card. There is a 20-player limit and check-in will start at 10:30am with the tournament starting at 11am. Qualifying rounds will go from 11am to 3pm and the finals will start at approximately

3:30pm. Prizes and award ceremony will take place after finals. (Free pizza and soda lunch will be available to all players.) Scan the QR Code on the Winter Fever Pinball ad on page 27 of this issue to register or go to www. funspotnh.com/pinball to register and more information. You can also send an email to zackholt@funspotnh.com. Funspot is located at 579 Endicott St. N, Laconia, NH.

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26

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

SMITH from 1 “These settlements were next in order of time and historic importance to those made at Jamestown by the first Virginia Colonists in 1607, and by the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620.” A second rationale supporting a special celebration was this: “In view of the fact that the 300th anniversary of these settlements was to occur during the year 1923, and that no previous anniversary of the same had ever been duly celebrated by the state, the Legislature of 1921,” the letter continued, adopted the resolution previously stated. The celebration was to take place during Old Home Week, which was the week following the third Saturday in August. The date was chosen because it was during the vacation season “..when hundreds of natives and former residents of the state are visiting the homes and scenes of earlier life.” The letter to the governor reported that the commission had done its duty and formulated a plan. That plan involved having opening

Dr. Ernest M. Hopkins,Speaker at 300th and President of Dartmouth College (1916- 1945). celebrations in each of the cities, that is, Portsmouth and Dover, one of which would be held on Monday, and the other on Tuesday. It was expected that on the Sunday before, which was Old Home Sunday, religious services would be held in the churches throughout the state, and that during the week local celebrations would be held by individual towns around the state, “as generally

as the public spirit and civic pride of the various communities may provide.” Included at one of the opening ceremonies, as was required by the legislature’s joint resolution, was to be an anniversary address by an appropriate speaker. At the time the letter was written it had not been decided which town would host the keynote speaker, but the speaker had been selected.

He was the president of Dartmouth College, Dr. Ernest M. Hopkins. The commission also addressed the matter of the financial support needed to carry out the special observances and appealed to the Legislature to provide funds, noting that both Portsmouth and Dover had already made significant appropriations towards the cost. The state government was asked to add “a substantial amount” to that which the two cities had raised. The commission furthermore expressed the importance of having a state-sponsored anniversary celebration that had never been done before in the 300 years since the English first made their homes in the Granite State, with the following words emphasizing the why of the occasion. It was “...in recognition of the three hundredth anniversary of the beginnings of a state which has contributed more in proportion to size and population, to the development and prosperity of our great nation, along every line of human endeavor, than any other state in the Union...” So 100 years ago, on August 18-23, 1923, the town of Dover presented a Tercentenary Pageant on the history of the city, with 20,000 people visiting the pageant grounds which were on Dover Neck, on the point, where the fishmonger, Edward Hilton, built what would prove to be the first permanent settlement by the English in New Hampshire. There were 700 participants in the pageant and a parade with 128 floats and 10 bands. Before it became Dover the town was called Northam and the historical society, which was organized in 1895 was called the Northam Colonists. Members of

Highway Marker for Odiorne’s Poimt. the society had to be descendants of an original settler of the town. The name and the policy were changed in 2001 and the organization became the Dover Historical Society. Portsmouth’s first citizen was David Thomson who with others intended to develop a plantation at what is now Odiorne Point in Rye, which was at one time part of Portsmouth. A number of New Hampshire towns were once much larger in size than they are now, having been since their beginnings divided into several towns. Portsmouth also had its 300th Anniversary observance in 1923 on the same week as Dover as part of the state-wide emphasis on its beginnings. They put on an elaborate pageant with a large chorus including 100 sopranos, and that included dancers, horses, carriages, and more to tell about the history of Portsmouth. The 3-day event was largely attended. And I should point out that before it was the State of New Hampshire and the Province of New Hampshire before that, the Granite State was for a number of years after these first settlements under the jurisdiction of Massachu-

setts. There was a 200th anniversary observance in Portsmouth, so the state sponsored tercentenary was not the first local observance that remembered the first NH settlers, and in this year of 2023 there has been year-long activities to commemorate 400 years since David Thomson and family became the first to settle there. It seems as we are often reminded these days that the white man brought diseases to the New World that killed the Indians and succeeded in driving the Indians out of New Hampshire and surrounding states in their zeal for religious freedom and a fresh start in life. There is truth in those reminders, but perhaps we should remember also that colonists did not come here to do harm to the Indians and the Indians did not seek to harm them. But trying to maintain peace was not an easy assignment for either. Shifting to current events, I want to express my admiration for the heroism and selfsacrificing service of my nephew, Bradley Haas, whose passing we mourn.


— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — BOSAK from 3 the wonderful conservation efforts over the last decades to save the osprey. Ospreys are doing well in all New England states. Along Long Island Sound, ospreys have become almost a dime a dozen. I don’t mean that in a nega-

tive way, of course, it just means that there are so many it is hard to visit a beach or anywhere along the Sound and not see an osprey or three. They are not quite as common inland, but they are thriving along landlocked lakes, ponds and rivers as well. New

Hampshire’s thriving population is proof of that. Ospreys are a fan favorite and it’s always a thrill to see one, no matter where you are and no matter how many you’ve seen before.

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28

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

PARKER from 6 free market for political ideas and, to the extent that the Republican National Committee can influence this, I think McDaniel has performed reasonably well. Does the Republican Party have challenges? Yes, of course. But this is not because of the RNC. The chaos that prevailed in the House in picking a speaker shows a party that is divided on important issues, and this is not a good thing. If there is disappointment regarding Republican performance in recent elections, this is the reason, not party bureaucracy. It is clear what is wrong with the Democrats. The American people are looking for

alternative answers on our big problems, and Republicans must provide a clear other voice. How will the massive expansion of government, which translates into huge debt, huge spending and slow growth, be fixed? How will our broken entitlement systems -- Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid -- that consume some two-thirds of our federal spending, be fixed? What is our nation’s place as leader in the free world? And how will we revitalize our deteriorated defense and military capability? How will we restore our lost moral clarity and deal with abortion, marriage, family and children? The latest Census Bureau projection showing a shrinking and aging country

does not portray a nation with a future. The Republican candidate that chooses to courageously and honestly answer these questions can capture hearts and minds of American voters. Meanwhile, civility will help. It is worth remembering Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.” Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.”

STOSSEL from 7 seem very scientific, or even specific. Ambiguous labels like “home style” and “deli fresh” are approved. But “LowFODMAP,” a more useful term, isn’t allowed. The “approved” list isn’t even easy to find. It’s scattered throughout several government websites. It took Kraus hours just to compile a partial list of what’s approved. “How do you get on that list?” Kraus asks Pearson. “With a giant pile of money,” Pearson replies, sarcastically referring to the years of lawyering and lobbying that would be required to get the Agriculture Department or the Food and Drug Administration to agree to a wording change. Does the government ever update its list?

“No,” says Pearson. “Why would they? Federal agencies do not respond to the market. Only businesses do.” Of course, some businesses make meaningless and deceptive claims. “We have a job to make sure consumers have access to accurate and useful new information,” says the director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety. Fine. But in this case, the bureaucracy is banning useful new information! “It’s hard enough to get a product out the door,” says Vakil. “Not being able to explain it accurately to my customers, who we started the company for, is very frustrating. Laws that have been on the books for years harm my customer.” Lots of people suffer

from a digestive problem. They don’t want to wait for vendors like Vakil to struggle through the government’s lengthy approval process. Pearson says, “The best-case scenario: They could do it in a couple years. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.” Vakil doesn’t want to wait to help people. “I don’t want to solve it for them in eight years. I want to solve it for them tomorrow.” If Vakil and Pearson win their case, it would be a game-changer not just for people who have trouble digesting garlic and onion, but for millions more whose lives could be improved by future diets we don’t even know about.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 — METZLER from 7 the United Kingdom and the United States along with South Korea issued a statement to “strongly condemn the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) November 21 launch of a space launch vehicle (SLV) using ballistic missile technology… In addition to launching three SLVs this year, the DPRK has launched 29 ballistic missiles, including four ICBMs. This behavior threatens international and regional peace and security.” The statement added, “The DPRK must abandon its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic

missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement condemned Pyongyang for carrying out a military satellite launch using ballistic missile technology. All of the recent inter-Korean Sturm und Drang over the satellite launch caused Pyongyang to scrap a 2018 military accord which in effect seeks to de-escalate crises and to avoid military miscalculations. Abrogation of the Accord raises the risk of inadvertent clashes along the 38th parallel dividing the two Korean

states. Seoul’s respected Korea Times stressed editorially, “Now is the time for the two Koreas to regain their cool and seek an exit strategy…North Korean leader Kim Jong-un perceives, or misperceives, the current global situation as favorable for his reclusive regime.” Naturally reading the tea leaves in isolated Pyongyang can give supreme leader Kim the political misperception that South Korea, given the military overstretch of its American allies, in Ukraine, Israel and possibly Taiwan at some point, faces a vulnerable moment.

Moreover Pyongyang’s renewed political bromance with Vladimir Putin’s rouge Russian state, along with its longtime but wary comrades in Beijing, may allow the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea the illusion that it moves in the company of giants. This would be a very dangerous miscalculation. 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.

MOORE from 14 allowing you to view camera footage on your smart device from shore without spooking fish. Remember, there is no such thing as truly safe ice. You still need to use caution and check ice thickness as you go, but for the most part the only thing you have to fear when shallow water trout fishing is wet feet if you break through. Use stealth to your advantage, but stay mobile. Trout rarely sit in one spot, so you shouldn’t either. Drill lots of holes, but drill them when you first arrive to allow spooked fish the chance to calm down and return. Experiment with different

colors and presentation until you find the combination that best triggers bites and as always, have fun, be safe, and catch fish. Tim Moore is a fulltime licensed professional fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors, LLC. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association, and the producer of TMO Fishing on YouTube and the Hooked with TMO Fishing Podcast. Visit www. TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

SUPER CROSSWORD

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31

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

SUDOKU

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THEME THIS WEEK: THOMAS JEFFERSON

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by John Whitlock


32

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, November 30, 2023 —

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