12/28/2023 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

VOLUME 32, NO. 52

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023

COMPLIMENTARY

Ballroom Dance Instruction In Gilford

Off To A New Start by Ed Allard Contributing Writer

This week we present a classic from one of the Weirs Times’s original columnists, Ed Allard, who wrote the popular and humorous “Around The Cracker Barrel” column starting in 1993. This column was originally published on January 6, 2000, less than two weeks before Ed passed at the age of 91. We hope you enjoy it.

On a bench in the corridor of time sits an old man with rheumy eyes and a downcast expression, waiting to pick up his cue and make his exit. The nicked scythe on the floor at his feet is twisted and bent and a worn mole dangles from his scruffy sandals. His robe is tattered and threadbare and his scraggly locks are unkempt and disheveled. The clock ticks on slowly but steadily and he waits and stares at it

sadly. In an adjacent room a rosy cheeked cherub in a fresh new diaper with a shiny safety pin coos and laughs and looks out the window at the world with hope and shining wonder in his eyes. His face is smooth - no wrinkles yet and his chuckles are free of worry. I can remember when the old one looked like that. He doesn’t know what he is in for. A year from now he will look like

the dejected old codger sitting on the bench with his shoulders slumped. The clock ticks on and the world watches as the hands make their slow journey around the dial. In Times Square the gathering thou-sands out in force, looking hopefully up as I did some fifty years ago for the lighted ball to appear. When it does begin its slow descent voices will cry out the countdown and exSee ALLARD on 25

Free dance classes will be resuming at the Gilford Public Library at 31 Potter Hill Road beginning January 5 and most Fridays thereafter. Classes started in November and the numbers have been steadily growing! The classes will include dances such as Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, and American Tango. Class is open to all experience levels. No partner is necessary. Singles and couples are welcome. Partners will rotate during class. For couples, rotating partners is recommended but not required. The instructor will be Brian Barakauskas. The website SocialDanceOnline.com describes Brian as a world champion and professional dancer with over 15 years teaching experience from his dance studio. The video instruction from Brian will be See DANCE on 27 ONLINE FOR E R A H FRE D&S A E E R

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World Rules-Based Order Under Duress To The Editor: Since WWII the United States and allied countries have developed and implemented a “rulesbased international order” in the world, which has kept world civilization safe from destruction. But the world order is now being threatened by Xi Jinping of China who claims sovereignty over the South China Sea, threatens to attack Taiwan, is conducting genocide against Uighur Muslims, imprisoned many dissidents and started a COVID pandemic in the world. Putin of Russia went to war against Georgia and is now attempting to conquer Ukraine in a bid to expand the Russian empire in Europe, and he has thoughts of occupying Poland and other European countries. He continues the dictatorship in Russia. North Korea continues to threaten South Korea and the United States with nuclear war. Iran sponsors terrorist groups in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza; and it threatens Israel with annihilation. The United States must continue to support our allies against the forces of tyranny and evil through defense agreements to prevent the collapse of the “rules-based international order”. A collapse could lead to a major war with many millions of people killed and the doubling of U.S. defense budgets. Note: The information in this letter was derived from Alan W.

Dowd’s article in The American Legion Magazine of June 2023. Donald Moskowitz Londonderry, NH.

Wise Men To The Editor: Over two thousand years ago Three Wise Men followed a heavenly star that led them to the newborn baby Jesus. Today, billions of people around the world still celebrate his birth and follow his teachings. Teachings that are filled with love, joy, hope and peace. Over two hundred years ago another group of Wise Men, known as our Founding Fathers, signed a Declaration of Independence that would ultimately lead to the birth of our Nation. Most will agree that our Nation was founded by these Wise Men who believed in the same Judeo-Christian principles that Jesus taught. Others may argue semantics, as they try to minimize the part God played in the founding of our Nation. However, God is imbedded in our Nation, and the naysayers will need a sandblaster and a history revisionist to remove him from our buildings, money, monuments and documents. Like the Three Wise Men who sought out Jesus, our Founding Fathers left comfortable lives to pursue a dangerous journey in search of something bigger than themselves. They risked everything to give the men and women of our fu-

ture Nation a better life. A life rooted in something more valuable than material possessions or status. They sought to provide us all with a life free from government tyranny. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Most Americans have read or heard that first sentence of the second paragraph in The Declaration of Independence. How many have heard or read the last sentence of that paragraph? “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.” If you read the facts they then list, you may see some eerily similar injuries and usurpations being levied upon our country today. The first fact they list, “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” This of course means that the King refused to accept our laws. Sound familiar? Like the King of old, our current leaders refuse to accept, or enforce, our laws for the public good. We watch silently as our “leaders” either ignore our laws, or selectively and unequally enforce them. See MAILBOAT on 27

Our Story

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

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

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Not So . . . o g A g N o L

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

Do You Remember When?

Contributing Writer

Do you remember...Plaid Stamps catalog used for purchasing items with filled stamp books? b e r w h e n y o u t o o k three gallons of gasoyour car into the ser- line? One dollar. vice station for routine Or, do you remember service, it wasn’t just when grocery stores for an oil change, but hired “bag boys” to included a “lube job?” carry your groceries (lubrication). to your car for you? And the best places In brown paper bags? would also vacuum the One of my brothers interior of your car at had one of those jobs no extra charge? when he was in high Do you remember s c h o o l , w o r k i n g a t those winter storms the Atlantic and Pau r N e store S h op Ocific when, instead oofm e snow on Pleasw C S r t e o g tires, the car owner put ant Street in downr r e a ! L chains on his tires for town Laconia. Do you added traction? remember that store, T h e n t h e r e w e r e commonly known as those trips to the gro- the A&P? cery store. Do you Do you remember remember when three w h e n s o m e s t o r e s pounds of hamburg w o u l d g i v e g r e e n cost about the same as stamps with purchas-

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It is a common practice as one year comes to an end for writers to look back and publish a summary of what happened in that particular year. Periodically someone will venture back further and write a “Do you remember when” article. This is my “do you remember” article, and, yes, for most of these, I do. We will start with the automobile. None of you are old enough to remember when there were no automobiles. Do you remember when you started a car by turning a crank on the front of the vehicle? Do you remember when you could buy three gallons of gasoline for a dollar? How about those days when cars had running boards? Or when you stopped at a service station to fill-up with gas and someone pumped your gas for you? And cleaned your window for you? And checked the amount of oil in your vehicle? For free? And do you remem-

es. Those stamps could be saved in booklets printed for that purpose and then be exchanged for merchandise. Their were other types of stamps also, one being plaid stamps. One could purchase one of over 2,000 items with a set number books of plaid stamps. One could have obtained a bed sheet with one book filled with plaid stamps, or a seven day tour of colonial New England for 57 books (one person). Do you remember when you could mail a first-class letter for three cents or a postcard for one? Or when mail was directed to specific towns or cities and not to zip codes? See SMITH on 22

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Winter Lunch Returns To Castle In The Clouds

MOULTONBOROUGH – Castle in the

Clouds is thrilled to announce the return of Winter Lunch at the Castle, offering a combination of delicious food, rustic ambiance, and winter fun. The Winter Lunch at the Castle dining experience will be in the Carriage House Restaurant and is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2024. There will be three seating times each Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am, 12:30pm, and 2:00pm. Reservations are required, and a per person charge of $35.00 inclusive of tax and gratuity is due when making a reservation. Non-alcoholic beverages are included in the $35.00 per person cost, and a full bar and dessert options will be available for purchase. Upon arrival to the Carriage House Restaurant, each person will choose a starter and main course from the current prix fixe menu. Examples of main course menu offerings may include a Dilly Chicken Sandwich, Linguini with Clam Sauce, Grass-fed Smashburger, Veggie Burger, or Chef’s Choice. The Winter Lunch at the Castle menu is updated regularly, so visit often to enjoy the chef’s newest offerings. After making a Winter Lunch at the Castle reservation, expand your winter experience by planning to explore the Lakes Region Conservation Trust trails, which are open for winter activities such as hiking, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing. Visit the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area in the Ossipee Mountains of Moultonborough and Tuftonboro, then head over to Castle in the Clouds to enjoy your Winter Lunch at the Castle reservation at the historic Carriage House.

American Independence Museum To Host New Years In The Tavern On Saturday, Dec. 30, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the American Independence Museum (AIM) will host New Years in the Folsom Tavern, which celebrates the New Year as if it were 1774. Activities will include 18th Century evening victuals (food), live period music, colonial card tournament, and more. “It’s an immersive Revolutionary party in an historic structure with an incredible history,” added Shellenbean. Built by Samuel Folsom, Folsom Tavern was visited by George Washington in 1789 and was the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783. Founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution, the Society is an active part of AIM today, owning both the Tavern and Ladd-Gilman House (c. 1721). “New Years in the Tavern is a chance to experience Revolutionary history in a way that brings it to life today in unique and diverse ways,” explained AIM’s Executive Director Jennifer Carr. “You’ll be able to stroll through the rooms of the Tavern, Exeter’s high-end establishment in the late 1700’s, and enjoy food, drink, and colonial pastimes with fellow history enthusiasts,” Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that honor and invite inclusive and diverse perspectives. Tickets to New Years in the Tavern are $100 per person and may be purchased at independencemuseum.org.

Wolfeboro Friends Of Music Presents ‘Gathering Time’ Wolfeboro Friends of Music continues its 88th season with one of America’s most prolific Folk/ Acoustic ensembles, ‘Gathering Time’, back by popular demand! This encore concert takes place at The First Congregational Church, 115 South Main Street, Wolfeboro, on Sunday, January 14, 2023, at 3:00 PM. With a seamless vocal blend, inspired guitar work and precise percussion, Stuart Markus, Christine Sweeney, and Gerry McKeveny evince deep roots in 1960’s folk-rock, with a dash of traditional folk in the mix. Their stage chemistry makes clear that they take the music (if not themselves) very seriously, yet their infectious energy wins over even fans who never considered themselves as “folkies”. This is the fourth of eight concert performances comprising the current season running from Sept to May, 88 years of artistic excellence in service to NH’s Lakes Region! (Business partners support the Wolfeboro Friends of Music: Paul Zimmerman Co. season sponsor, Meredith Village Savings Bank and J. Clifton Avery Insurance, show sponsors.) Tickets are available for $30 at the website: www.wfriendsofmusic.org; at Black’s Paper & Gift Store and Avery Insurance, Main St. Wolfeboro, and at the door on the day of the concert (cash and checks only for door sales). High School students with ID will be admitted free of charge. Children accompanied by an adult ticket purchaser will be admitted free of charge. For more information, visit: www.wfriendsofmusic.org

Randy Armstrong At Franklin Opera House Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “surefingered guitar virtuoso”, Randy Armstrong is the co-founder of Do’a World Music Ensemble, Uno Mondo, & Beyond Borders. With a collection of over three hundred instruments from around the world, including acoustic, synthesizer and nylon-string guitars, sitar, balofon, djembe, koto, charango, mbira and a wide variety of percussion and stringed instruments, he has amazed audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Alaska, India, West and South Africa, Croatia, Belize, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Randy travelled to Central America and West Africa in 2004 performing and studying with Garifuna musicians and drummers in Dangriga and Hopkins, Belize and Ewe, Fanti and Ga drummers in Accra and Legon, Ghana. His entrancing performance will be in the intimate setting of the Franklin Public Library, next door to the Opera House, 310 Central St. in Franklin, on Saturday, January 13th at 7:30 p.m. Snow date, if necessary, will be January 20. Seating is limited, general admission. Adults are $16, Seniors/Students/Children $14. Tickets usually sell FAST so get yours now! Tickets are available at WWW.FOHNH.org, or by calling (603) 934-1901.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

F O O L NEW HAMPSHIRE A

in brendan@weirs.com

PAUL C. DUPONT & SON BUILDING

I hate to admit it, but I haven’t done much on the New Year’s Eve front for a few years now. When I was in my twenties, in New York, nine o’clock on a Friday or Saturday night was time to get ready for fun evening activities. Today, in my sixties, nine o’clock at night is still time to get ready for fun evening activities, Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your point of view) those fun activities usually center around sleep. I have braved it till ten and even eleven on occasion, but that usually evens out with the 8:45 lights out that, I hate to admit, happens on occasion. The rare times I find myself awake at midnight or later nowadays is usually more because of need as opposed to celebration. (If you are a guy over fifty, I think you get my drift, no pun intended.) Staying awake till midnight used to be easy when I was a younger man. It was a nightly occurrence, one didn’t need an excuse. It could be New Years’ Eve or just Wednesday. It really didn’t matter. The local bar in the town on Long Island where I grew up, actually had a Happy Hour from 2am to 3am and the place was packed. (Of course, as a writer, I was only there to observe this phenomenon in order to chronicle it for future generations.)

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Awaiting The New Year Brendan os off this week so we are rerunning this column which was originally published December 28, 2017. It also appears in his by Brendan Smith book “I Really Weirs Times Editor Only Did It For The Socks-Stories & Thoughts on Aging.

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When we were kids my brothers and sisters and I were allowed to wait up to celebrate the New Year. It was a big deal since these were the days that we were being prepared for old age by being sent to bed at 9pm, tired or not (usually not). It was a treat then to be able to stay awake till midnight, tired or not (usually tired). Our parents, who were out at their own celebration, made sure we had an ample supply of goodies yo eat as well as party hats and noisemakers to herald in the occasion. Rockin’ New Year’s Eve wasn’t even a consideration then. New Year’s Eve TV was Guy Lombardo and his Orchestra or nothing at all. We’d usually tune in around 11:30, listening to music we didn’t know was as good as it was, watching the clock on the TV screen counting down the final minutes to the New Year. Occasionally, we would even stay up long enough to greet our parents when they came home from their celebration. (This was more of a personal challenge than anything.) My mom, who passed away this past September at ninetythree, put me to shame as far as New Year’s Eve goes. She had stayed awake until midnight for every New Year’s Eve since she was a young girl. Lately she may have fallen asleep immediately after, but it doesn’t matter, she kept the streak alive. A streak I broke many years ago. I still stay up late enough to watch the beginnings of the New Year’s Eve Celebration. It is fun to watch the ten of thousands of people gather in Times Square in anticipation of the ball dropping to herald in the New Year. Even though I lived about twenty miles from New York City growing up, I never once went there for the celebration. Still, today, as I watch it on TV as I did when I was younger,

one thought still rings in my head: “Exactly where do all these people go to the bathroom?” One thing I will do on New Year’s morning is to watch the replay of the ball dropping. I’m not sure why I do it, but I guess something makes me want to make sure it actually happened. That there wasn’t some strange, once in a millennium occurrence that transpired at the last minute that kept us from entering into the New Year and I was the only one that didn’t know it. I know, weird right? But, I’ve always been a cautious guy and I need to make sure I am dating my checks correctly. As far as New Year’s Resolutions go? Well, I find that I am still doing as well with those today as I was when I was a younger man. Maybe even a little better. Nowadays I am good for keeping them for at least a couple of weeks as opposed to my old three-day average. (My personal worst record is twelve hours). So as 2017 comes to a close and a New Year enters onto the scene, I wish all of you out there a happy and healthy one and have fun with how ever you choose to celebrate it. Happy New Year and Good Night! 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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Order your autographed copy today for $16.99 plus $3 shipping. (Please include any inscription you would like.) Make out checks or money orders for $19.99 to Brendan Smith and mail to: Socks Book c/o Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 Or order online at BrendanTSmith.com (Autographed copies also avail. at the Weirs Times)

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Universities Symptom Of Much Bigger Problem I have written in the past about the similarities of the stress and tensions in our country today to the stress and tensions that were taking place in the years before the Civil War. A free country will always have debate and differences of opinion. But that debate becomes dangerous and destructive when the differences strike at the core premises that by Star Parker define the very existence of the nation. When Syndicated Columnist we can no longer agree about who we are, what we stand for and why we exist, our very existence comes into question. As Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Then the basic premises of our free country were challenged by the existence of slavery. The country is divided today by those who see injustice as a problem to be defined and solved by politics and those who continue to see injustice as evil defined by Scripture and dealt with through repentance and self-correction. When the issue of slavery tore apart our nation, most Americans were church-going citizens. The dividing line then was between those who saw slavery as a sin and those who did not. As Lincoln said in his second inaugural address, delivered as the Civil War raged, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other.” But today the division is between those for whom religion is relevant and those for whom it is not. The latter, overwhelmingly, are on the political left. The recent Wall Street Journal/NORC polling on national values shows the picture clearly. Of those who say religion is personally “very important,” 27% of Democrats say yes and 53% of Republicans say yes. Of those who say patriotism is “very important,” 23% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans say yes. Of those who agree that schools and universities have gone “too far ... taking steps to promote racial and ethnic diversity,” 6% of Democrats agree and 55% of Republicans agree. Of those who agree that “Businesses taking steps to promote racial and ethnic diversity” have gone “too far,” 7% of Democrats agree and 52% of Republicans agree. Many are now shocked to see how politicized our universities have become. But the data shows that this is not a problem limited to our universities; it See PARKER on 28

Barring Trump From Ballots Is A Recipe For Violence On Tuesday evening, the Supreme Court of Colorado ruled that former President Donald J. Trump had to be removed from the state ballot, for both the primaries and the general election. They cited by Ben Shapiro Amendment 14, Section Syndicated Columnist 3 of the Constitution of the United States, which states, in relevant part, that candidates are ineligible for office if they “shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution of the United States. It is unclear whether the provision applies to presidential candidates; it is even more unclear whether such a provision is “self-enforcing,” meaning that any electoral official in any state can simply declare for himself whether a candidate has been an “insurrectionist.” Nonetheless, the court said it is qualified to determine who is guilty of “insurrection” under the 14th Amendment without any criminal case or impeachment case. And the court says that “the events of January 6 constituted an insurrection and... President Trump engaged in that insurrection.” On a legal level, this is extraordinarily strained. Section 3 was designed to prohibit those who had served in the Confederacy from holding public office in the United States. The Confederacy, as we know, was an armed rebellion against the United States that ended in the deaths of some 600,000 Americans on both sides. Trump, by contrast, made a series of legal challenges to the election, all of which were denied, and then claimed -- on the basis of specious legal reasoning -- that the vice president could simply throw out electoral slates that had already been certified. He then called for his supporters to protest at the Capitol building and a riot broke out. This hardly qualifies as an “in-

surrection,” let alone proving that Trump engaged in one. Trump, let us not forget, has not been charged with insurrection. He was not even convicted in his impeachment trial over Jan. 6. Yet the Colorado State Supreme Court says it can bar him from electoral eligibility anyway. This is, to put it mildly, unbelievably dangerous. It sets up a perverse set of incentives for both political sides. Trump can and will rightly claim that lawfare has been used to thwart the workings of democracy -- that a slate of judges in any state can simply negate the will of the voters, and that President Joe Biden’s own Department of Justice has been attempting to drag him into court before the election in order to stymie his shot at the presidency. Meanwhile, the Colorado Supreme Court has now set up expectations for Democrats across the country that Trump can be legally barred from the presidency -and when the Supreme Court overturns that Colorado Supreme Court ruling, they will claim that the Supreme Court itself is rigged. All of which means that 2024 is going to be the most insane and ugly presidential election in American history. And that’s saying a lot, since 1968 and 2020 are both years that existed. Under what circumstances, precisely, would Democrats accept the result of a Trump election? Under what circumstances, precisely, would Republicans accept the result of a Biden election? The weaponization of the legal system creates an all-consuming fire, burning everything in its path. There is simply no 2024 result likely to result in anything but complete - and perhaps violent -- chaos at this point.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Enjoy The Ride The driverless car is here! Finally. Google has harnessed artificial intelligence to create a self-driving car they call Waymo, standing for by John Stossel “Way Forward in Syndicated Columnist Mobility.” Regulators in San Francisco and Phoenix legalized Waymo cars because the robo-cars drive better than people do. They’ve already driven millions of miles on public roads without any fatalities. Not one. No injuries either.

Waymo achieves that with sensors attached to the top and sides of the cars. The sensors constantly shoot out lasers that bounce back, telling the car precisely where other objects are. The magic of the driverless vehicle is the artificial intelligence behind the sensors. That allows the cars to operate like a human nervous system. Sensors and radar are the eyes and ears. The brain is algorithms trained by billions of simulated trips The more the robo-cars drive, the more they learn, and the smarter and safer they get. The big automotive safety problem is people, not robo-cars. It’s people

who kill nearly 43,000 Americans every year. Drunk drivers kill 13,000 people. 6,000 of us die because we fall asleep while driving. Waymo cars have accidents, too, but almost all happen because of human error: a human driver hits the Waymo. Another robo-car, Cruise, owned by GM, is almost as safe, but Cruise cars have gotten into bigger accidents. California regulators then said they pose an “unreasonable risk to public safety,” and suspended their permit to drive. But California limited the ban to Cruise cars’ autonomous mode, meaning Cruise can

still operate so long as they have a human in the front seat, as backup. I’m surprised that the regulators have been so reasonable. Often, after accidents, bureaucrats simply ban new ideas. California regulators have exercised unusual restraint. 500 Waymo cars still operate freely in large sections of San Francisco and Phoenix. They are wise to allow this because self-driving cars increase safety. Still, there will be problems. First responders in San Francisco told my executive producer, Maxim Lott, “(WAYMO cars) freeze in front of us. It’s a 15-to-30-minute fix waitSee STOSSEL on 28

North Korean Missile Launches; There They Go Again! There they go again again! North Korea’s reclusive communist regime ended the year with a provocative intercontinental ballisby John J. Metzler tic launch, flying Syndicated Columnist near Japan and splashing down in the Pacific. The ominous firing of a powerful Hwasong-18 rocket came a month after Pyongyang put a spy satellite into orbit. The latest intercontinental launch, the 5th this year, along with over 25 other ballistic missiles, plus three satellite firings using ballistic mis-

sile technology, places the quaintly titled Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in a league of its own for missile proliferation. These launches send the undeniably menacing message that the DPRK intends to hide in the shadows of the Ukraine and Gaza Wars and develop its offensive military capacity, to bully nearby South Korea and Japan, and to set the political template that North Korea remains a nuclear power. Pyongyang thumbs its nose at the international community despite multiple UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting these actions. During a Security Council meeting following the latest launches, a Joint

Statement on North Korea’s proliferation warned, “We condemn, in the strongest terms, the DPRK’s December 17 ICBM launch and those before it. Because we cannot become inured to this behavior. We cannot turn a blind eye to the DPRK’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons, or for that matter, its malicious cyber activity and flagrant human rights violations and abuses.” The Statement added sternly, “Council silence sends the wrong message to Pyongyang and all proliferators.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the launch and urged the DPRK to fully comply with its international

obligations under Security Council resolutions. Thus while nine Council members including the United States, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom called for restraint, the glaring political reality remains that China and Russia, two Council members holding the powerful Veto, remain committed to their comrade the DPRK as a disrupter of East Asia’s status quo. Significantly, South Korea’s Ambassador Joonkook Hwang voiced his deep concern that the Council is “locked in a stalemate and being ridiculed by the DPRK.” See METZLER on 27

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

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

an innocent substitute took your penalty and died in your place. That is the epitome of grace. To answer your question however, you must know that there will be a second coming and it will be radically different. The grace that was extended to you at his first coming will come to an end. It is during this time, between his two comings, that you have the opportunity to receive my grace and ask my son Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sins. For those who do continue to appropriate my grace or resources and live godly lives, you will stand with him when he returns and live with him forever thereafter. For those who don’t, it will be too late. Listen to the words I gave to my servant Titus, contained in my book, the Bible. Speaking for me he said, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us “to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14). Please notice that grace, or my resources to enable you to live, “appeared” through my Son Jesus at his first coming. Notice as well

my free gift that gives life when you were dead in your sins should never be used to continue in sin. If you truly receive my grace and now have the expectation of eternal life, because my Son paid your penalty of death, you will never see this blessing as a license to continue to sin but to love and obey. As I said through the scripture I gave to Titus, grace teaches you to “say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Finally, notice godly living that springs from grace should continue, “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” My Son is coming back. Just as I predicted his first coming, in which he was to be your “Savior…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good,” so also I have promised he would return. Make no mistake about it. Just as he came once, he will come again. But you must know that it will not be as a sacrificial Lamb dying for your sins. It will be as the Lion who will return to the earth to consummate human history and to bring judgement. For those who have trusted him to be their Savior and to forgive their sins, his judgment will be that they live with him forever enjoying the fullness of life which he possesses and bestows on those who trust him. For those

Letters From God

QUESTION: How Is Your Second Coming Going To Be Any Different From The First?

Christmas is over! Did you honor me and my Son Jesus, by using the time to worship us for what we have done to rescue you from your dying world? A few weeks ago, I wrote about my grace being revealed through my Son Jesus, when he left me in heaven and came to live among you on earth. Grace, if you remember, was my unmerited favor and blessings bestowed on you, sinful men and women, to enable you to know life in all its fullness in your lifetime and for eternity. Without my grace you would be lost in your sins and die physically but also remain separated from me, the source of life, and experience eternal death as well (Romans 6:23). This grace, and these blessings were brought to light when my Son came the first time. It was all made possible because he first came as a Lamb, to be sacrificed for your sins so that when he died, he didn’t die for his sins, for he like me was the sinless and eternal God. Instead he died to pay the penalty for your sins. Imagine being on death row and deserving death but being released to live, without any charges held against you, because

who have continued to reject him and his grace and continue to live in their sins, his return and judgment will mean a permanent entombment in the realm of the Devil and the darkness of death for eternity. Just as surely as he came once he will come again, and only the decisions made before that arrival will be effective to give you the gift of life. In light of this certainty, I ask you to “prepare to meet your God.” (Amos 4:12). Do this by recognizing that your sin that has separated you from me. Ask my son to remove the penalty of your sin through his death in your place. Then trust me to empower you to live a godly life that is the natural result of grace. Do this until my Son returns! When he does, he will crown you with life and welcome you into his eternal home. You will avoid the judgement of God on your sins that would have cast you into hell and instead find my judgment, that you are righteous because your sins have been forgiven. I love you, God These letters are written by Rev. Dr. Sam Hollo of Alton, NH.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Four Tips for Building Strong Community by Kelly Chapman Meredith Whole Living Center

Recently, the health benefits of community and connection have been written about extensively, and with good reason. Prolonged social isolation has been discovered to contribute to adverse health outcomes such as increased risk of stroke, heart disease, mental

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health disorders and premature death. Conversely, those with robust social ties enjoy less stress, better sleep, and overall better quality of health and wellbeing. While this information can be both useful and validating, it can also leave those of us looking to improve our community connections wondering where to start. Whether we’re starting from scratch or improving a group we’re already a part of, the tips below are useful for building strong and vibrant communities. Clarify and Communicate Purpose. As the saying goes, people don’t want to lay bricks, they want to build cathedrals. Even though many aspects of community involvement can include somewhat tedious tasks, by keeping the overall vision and purpose of success front and center, community members can find meaning and value in all forms of engagement. By clearly tying roles and responsibilities to successful outcomes, leaders and community members can generate feelings of dignity and value amongst their members while also fostering a sense of gratitude within themselves. Create Space for Diverse Ideas and Perspectives. The most successful organizations and communities aren’t those who are led by one person who does all of the strategizing, but rather those that

encourage a diversity of ideas, input and contributions. When we create space to consider problem solving from various perspectives, we greatly expand the possibilities around the “how” of achieving our goals, which leads to better outcomes and greater community resilience. Additionally, working alongside others creates a sense of trust, and when we are able to build trust among those with different viewpoints from us, we’re naturally better able to assume best intentions in others and learn how to disagree with ideas and not people. Encourage Relationship Building and Collaboration. Our sense of community and connection is enhanced when members of our inner and outer circles overlap. Communities that promote interaction and collaboration among their members and the community at large are stronger, more robust, and are able to reach goals with greater ease. As noted above, recognizing the value in diverse ideas and the importance of unique contributions increases feelings of satisfaction within a community while contributing to overall success. By fostering collaboration over competition, the strengths of individual members and organizations converge in an environment that encourages members to contribute generous-

ly while experiencing greater satisfaction. Foster Sustainability Through Intentional Leadership Development. Communities are best able to remain vibrant and healthy over time when they continuously look for opportunities to foster leadership skills within themselves. Successful communities search for strengths among their members and allow them to learn, grow, and make mistakes in a safe and supportive environment. When more people feel valued and entrusted within a community it both encourages them to continue showing up with their best while also more evenly distributing the work required to realize the community vision. These tips are universal because they speak to the human need to connect and belong. If you’re currently experiencing feelings of isolation, please know you’re not alone- up to a third of adults report this feeling at any given time. When we seek and create opportunities for community, we not only improve our own lives but also create environments where others will find their sense of belonging. In the words of the U2 song, when it comes to building community, “we are the people we’ve been waiting for”. Kelly Chapman is the Founder of Meredith Whole Living Center.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Inflammation Fighters: The Top 5 Foods To Keep You Feeling Great In 2024

by Stephanie Ryan, DC Crossroads Chiropractic

Chronic inflammation is linked to countless health issues, from heart disease to autoimmune disorders. Thankfully nature provides us with an arsenal of delicious and healthy foods that can help reduce bodywide inflammation, without a prescription. Here are our top five contenders that can make your taste buds pop while combatting unwanted inflammation. 1. Fatty Fish: Omega-3 Powerhouses Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fats play a pivotal role in reducing inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory molecules. Omega-3s also promote the production of anti-inflammatory compounds, helping to maintain a balanced immune response. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, fatty fish are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. The Ameri-

Turmeric has been used for centuries in for its anti-inflammatory properties. can Heart Association recommends consuming fatty fish at least twice a week to harness their health benefits. Grilled salmon seasoned with herbs or a zesty lemon marinade not only satisfies your taste buds but also provides a powerful punch against inflammation. 2. Berries: Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory Treats Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries, are not only sweet and delicious but also loaded with antioxidants known as polyphenols. These compounds have been shown to reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals that can contribute to inflammation and chronic diseases. The vibrant colors of berries are indicative of their high antioxidant content, which

helps protect your cells from oxidative stress. Incorporating a colorful berry medley into your morning yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothie is a simple and tasty way to introduce these inflammation-fighting fruits into your diet. 3. Turmeric: Golden Spice with Healing Powers Turmeric, a bright yellow spice commonly found in curry dishes, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its antiinflammatory properties. The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, has been extensively studied for its ability to reduce inflammation at the molecular level. To incorporate turmeric into your diet, try adding it to soups, stews, or stir-fries. You can also enjoy a soothing cup of turmeric tea or a golden milk latte, combining

turmeric with warm milk and a touch of honey for a comforting and inflammationfighting beverage. 4. Leafy Greens: Nutrient-Rich Inflammation Busters Dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are nutritional powerhouses that offer a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These greens are particularly rich in vitamin K, which plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation and supporting overall immune health. Incorporate leafy greens into your meals by adding them to salads, sautés, or smoothies. A nutrientpacked kale salad with a citrusy vinaigrette not only delights your taste buds but also provides a substantial dose of anti-inflammatory goodness. 5. Nuts and Seeds: Crunchy Inflammation Solutions Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, walnuts, and flaxseeds, are excellent sources of inflammation-fighting nutrients. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants, all of which contribute to their anti-inflammatory properties. Snacking on a handful of mixed nuts or sprinkling seeds on your morning yogurt or oatmeal is an easy way to incorporate these See RYAN on 26

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

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Chiropractic care encourages spinal health, restores joint function, and therefore supports the nervous system. As a result of improved function and mobility in your spine and body, your nervous system can work more optimally, as well as the systems of the body that the brain and spine control, such as your immune system. Incorporate this with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and even a few added nutritional supplements with immune boosting proper-

ties, and you can help increase your body’s defenses against illness. Your Immune System is Directly Related to Your Spine Your nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spine, is responsible for communicating and controlling all systems of the body. This means that when your spine is damaged or misaligned, there is an interference with that path of communication to that endorgan or system. With this, dysfunction, pain, or other symptoms can occur and can therefore increase your chances of injury or illness. The immune system is affected by the nerve system through the connections with the endocrine and the au-

tonomic nervous system. Your immune system may suffer from this decreased functioning of nerve pathways, weakening your body’s natural mechanisms for fighting off illness. Chiropractic care improves the function of the nerve system through improving the movement of the spinal bones that encase and protect the spinal cord. During Chiropractic Care, specific high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) adjustments or thrusts, are delivered to areas of the spinal column that are not aligned or moving well. The effect of realigning the spinal vertebrae is far reaching. Research states: “A number of basic science studies have been published that have evaluated the effect of HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts on various immune mediators, including neuropeptides (like neurotensin, oxytocin, and substance P), inflammatory markers (like tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins (IL)), and endocrine markers (like cortisol and epinephrine [15–32,50–54]. There is moderate level evidence that HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts impact these immune mediators [55,56]. A systematic review and meta-analysis, that included healthy and/or symptomatic subjects, showed that HVLA controlled vertebral thrusts can influence

neuropeptides and inflammatory biomarkers that are important biochemicals associated with the function of the immune system [55].” (https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/ PMC8226758/pdf/medicina-57-00536.pdf) In other words, Chiropractic spinal adjustments impact the nervous system and effect the cells of the immune system, potentially allowing for a greater expression of health and function. Stress Impacts Your Immune System, and Your Body Can Harbor Stress in the Spine According to the American Psychological Association, stress (the state of mind that affect’s one’s health), can weaken the immune system by reducing the number of natural killer cells or lymphocytes in the body, which are needed to fight viruses. Although stress does have a purpose in the short term (get you out of danger) and has been shown to cause the immune system to produce an inflammatory response which temporarily can be beneficial for fighting germs, if inflammation is persistent and widespread, it can contribute to chronic diseases or conditions. One example is stressrelated neck and back pain, one of the most common psychosomatic symptoms, because many people tend to See PICKOWICZ on 26

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 — Serving ServingLaconia LaconiaDaily Daily

Snow And “Elemental” Football by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

Something particular to football (as opposed to basketball, hockey, or baseball) is that gridsters carry on and play even if it rains, snows, sleets, or hails. Elemental and primal. I love it! (On TV. I don’t love sitting in the stands during a blizzard.) Basketball and ice hockey are generally indoors, of course. While baseball is an outdoor sport (except in Tampa) if there’s a little drizzle then rain delays are called. Playing in the snow would be inconceivable. Baseball is NOT primal and elemental. The 1967 NFL title game, the Ice Bowl in Green Bay, remains an all-time classic. Fifteen degrees below zero. Loved it. Packers edged the Cowboys to go to Super Bowl II. And I loved that game in Foxboro a few years ago when the seats were covered in fluffy snow. When the Pats scored the fans threw snow in the air. White confetti flying everywhere. Beautiful. Then there was the 1982 snowplow game in Foxboro—an alltime classic. With minutes left to play in a 0-0 game against the Dolphins, the Pats got within field goal range. But the heavy

Mark Henderson awaits on the snowplow for his big moment. snow conditions made place-kicking a perilous proposition. Enter Mark Henderson, a field snowplow operator on work release from prison. He drove his snowplow across then field clearing a spot for Pats kicker John Smith, who booted a 33-yarder to give New England a 3-0 win. Miami coach Don Shula freaked out. He asked that the result be overturned. And he said Henderson should be arrested. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle refused to overturn the result, but the league subsequently banned snowplow use during games. As for arresting Henderson, well, he went back to prison that weekend! The plow, a John Deere Model 314 tractor, with sweeper attached, now hangs from the ceiling at the Patriots Hall of Fame outside Gillette Stadium. Of course, the last game ever played at

the old Sullivan Stadium on January 19th, 2002, was a Snow Bowl Classic. That was the playoff game with Oakland, where Adam V inatieri made the greatest kick in NFL history—a 45-yarder in a howling blizzard to send the game into overtime. Another Vinatieri field goal gave the Pats the win and they’d go on to win their first Super Bowl. Snow and ice. Primal and elemental. I love it. Full disclosure: I have long had a guilty wish that the elements would someday play a role in a Super Bowl. But so many of these penultimate contests have been played inside antiseptic domes, devoid of wind, rain, or snow. It’s a pity. Maybe I’m a sicko, but I would love to see it pour rain down on the multi-milliondollar players and the fat cat spectators who paid $5000 + for Super Bowl tickets. And wash out the halftime show! Nothing against

Usher, who’ll be the halftime act at Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. When the Super Bowl was played at the Meadowlands in New Jersey or at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville or at Levi Stadium in California I so-hoped for rainy weather. It didn’t happen. Unfortunately, Allegiant Stadium is domed so there’ll be no wind or weather at the Super Bowl. Too bad. It does occasionally snow in the high desert of Nevada. The 2025 Super Bowl will be at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. No wind, snow, or rain there. But the Super Bowl returns to roofless Levi Stadium in 2026. February is the rainy season in northern California. Maybe, just maybe, we can finally see a Super Bowl played in the weather. Bring on wind, rain, and hailstones. Let’s see some real, old-time football. Let’s see MUD! Primal and elemental! (“Happy New Year!”) Sports Quiz Aside from the Ice Bowl, what was the coldest NFL game ever played? (Answer follows) Born Today That is to say, sports standouts born on December 28 include Boston Bruin legend Ray Bourque (1960) See MOFFETT on 27

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

Early Ice Brook Trout Fishing by Tim Moore Contributing Writer

Some of the first ice fishing opportunities for anglers across in New Hampshire are often for shallow water trout on thin 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 thin shoreline ice while you wait for your regular spots to thicken up. I usually head out for these fish, mostly just to scratch the ice fishing itch, and when I tell people I am ice fishing on 2-inches of ice, they think I’ve lost my marbles…or at least even more of them. By the time late December rolls around, I haven’t fished in over a month and I’m itching to get on the ice, and I’m only fishing over knee-deep water. During the open water months, trout often 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 on insects and small baitfish. They are wary and spook easily. Stealth is key when fishing in shallow water through thin ice so as not to spook them. Rainbow and brook

They author with a freshly stocked female brook trout from another year. trout prefer a sandy bottom. During the winter months they constantly cruise shallow water and scour the bottom for whatever insects, eggs, or baitfish they can find. On water bodies with rainbow trout, you will often find clusters of fish houses gathered around town beaches, all targeting rainbows, but some hardcore rainbow trout ice anglers will venture off to lesser-fished 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 on a hook setting device) with a salmon egg in some of the holes and, in states that allow it, drop a couple of plain salmon eggs in each of the remaining holes. Silently inspect each of the holes with salmon eggs every 20-30 minutes. If the salmon eggs are gone, move one of your lines into that hole. Trout are territorial and will repeatedly visit a food source, sometimes for days. Brook trout will also frequent sandy areas, but they often congregate in front of stream inlets to capitalize on

any food that washes 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 size 12 Clam Epoxy Drop tipped with a white Maki Plastic Jamei is one of my favorite baits, but a 1/8 ounce white or red Clam blade spoon tipped with a white w/ red flake Maki Minnow Head is also almost irresistible to hungry brook trout. Keep the blade spoon moving, See MOORE on 24

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

The

Simple Feast

WEIRS TIMES’ BEER FINDER

Peanut Butter Fudge: The A Holiday Tradition

Simple Feast

The

Simple Feast

by Eric N Gibson

The

Simple Feast

Contributing Writer

One of the things I always looked forward to this time of year was when one of my coworkers graced the office threshold with that telltale tin in his hand. For several years around the last week before Christmas his wife would make fudge and he would come through offering a piece of fudge to each of us. It was a nice gesture, the sharing of goodwill that created a cheerful moment in an otherwise hectic time as we all prepared for the shutdown period. If memory serves, it was a layered fudge of chocolate and peanut butter. Smooth, creamy, and very delicious, it was cut just right. It was just enough to leave you wishing for more but not enough to be too much. The making of fudge for holiday gift giving is a tradition in many families. Barely a Christmas goes by without my wife making fudge. It is relatively easy, rather inexpensive, a little goes a long way, and, when done right, it is smooth, sweet, and delicious. For the time and cost

Chocolate Fluff Fudge the Peanut Butter Fluff Fudge. invested in the process of making fudge, it is probably the most satisfying and gratifying present you can give to friends and family. It is sure to bring a smile to the face of just about everyone, with perhaps the only possible exception being your dentist or your endocrinologist. The word “fudge” is believed to have its origins from the word “fadge”, which loosely means all tossed together in a nonsensical manner. Brought down through the ages, fadge became corrupted over time to be pronounced fudge. So how did that sweet confection we enjoy today become known as fudge? Well,

the name is derived from the process. In general, the making of candy confections is a seemingly delicate affair bordering on kitchen alchemy. Back in the day there was a lot of guesswork involved with combining sugar, butter, and other ingredients with just the right amount of heat to yield the desired results; caramels, brittles, and other candies. The candy thermometer was just barely available to professional confectioners by the late 1800’s and not widely available for the home economist until about the second decade of the 1900’s. Legend has it that

in 1886 Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in New York, wrote home telling her family of a recent decadent sweet she indulged in. It seems she was able to procure a pound of a confection purchased from a friend. This friend had a cousin in Baltimore who “fudged: a batch of caramels and was selling the confection by the pound for the princely sum of .40 cents. Now that doesn’t sound like much by today’s standards but running the numbers we find that .40 cents in 1886 was the equivalent of about $13.07 in 2023. Keeping in mind that the average manufacturing job in the mid 1880’s was paying less than $1.50 per day, fudge was quite a costly luxury. And so, from a botched batch of caramels fudge was born. It is said that Miss Hartridge procured the recipe from her friend’s cousin and crafted 30 pounds of this “fudge” for a college fundraiser. And so began a tradition that carried on throughout women’s colleges. Some of these schools even became quite competitive, creating and perfecting fudge recipes of their own over time. Whether Miss Hartridge can be considered the mother of fudge is certainly debatable but there is little doubt she had a hand in making fudge a popular treat that has stayed with us to this day. See FEAST on 18

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

PEANUT BUTTER FLUFF FUDGE Yield: I Large Pan (9x13) or your choice Time: 30 mins. Prep Plus Set Time

INGREDIENTS

5 Cups White Sugar ½ Cup Butter cut into pieces plus 1 Tbsp. 10 oz. Evaporated Milk 1 16 oz. Marshmallow Fluff

1 tsp. Salt 1 ½ tsp. Vanilla 2 10oz. Bags of Peanut Butter Chips / Morsels

— PREPARATION— - Grease the selected pan with a Tablespoon of butter. - In a large pot over low heat combine sugar, ½ cup butter, evaporated milk, fluff, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon near constantly to blend until smooth. - Bring to a boil over low heat, continue to stir, and boil for five minutes. - Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and then stir in the peanut butter chips. Stirring to blend until smooth (no lumps from the chips). - Pour into a greased pan and rest in a cool place to set. Refrigerate overnight.

The plate of chips, ¨duds¨, and shavings are my favorite treat. Nothing goes to waste. FEAST from 15 One of my fondest memories of fudge while growing up was our summertime tradition of going to Wolfeboro NH and stopping

at what we called, ¨The Oh Fudge Shop¨ at the depot building off one of the side streets near the bridge in the middle of town. I can remember going there as a

kid where, in the station, there were some pictures and artifacts of times past. And in display cases were pans of fudge laid out in thick slab sheets scored in grid fashion on their tops. Mom and Dad would get two small white boxes, one with roasted peanuts

and the other a mixed “pound” of fudge. Was there really a display case? Was it really a pound of fudge in that box? I don’t quite remember for certain all of the details, I was just a little kid fifty years ago. But to my little wide eyes it may as well have been all there and

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more. One thing is for certain, the smell of warm salted peanuts and all the sweet smells of different kinds of fudge. It was all a decadent overload to the senses. The box was ¨full¨ and heavy as a gold bar and just as valuable to me. Always in the box was Chocolate or Chocolate Walnut and Peanut Butter fudge for us kids, and Penuche for Dad. The peanuts were for Mom and Dad. Well, a lot has changed in the last fifty years. One of the best things to happen

is that the makers of Marshmallow Fluff have taken both the mystery and alchemy out of making fudge. For years they have produced their classic, readily recognizable plastic one pound container with the red lid (great for leftovers, by the way). And on the side of that container is printed the recipe for Fluff Fudge. I can attest to the fact that this is a fool proof recipe and as long as you follow the simple directions you too will have a fudge you can be proud of. And once you gain confidence in your skill at making this fudge, you can branch off, making a variety of flavors with only your imagination being the limit. This recipe is easy, simple, and creates a delicious fudge that you can share. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and about 12 hours or less to hard set, ready for cutting. And it’s just in time for that last minute holiday party, Yankee Swap, or New Years celebration. What more can I say about this Simple Feast except… Enjoy! And Happy New Year!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

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by Chris Bosak Contributing Writer

One of the bright spots of an otherwise slow Christmas Bird Count this year was a large flock of hooded mergansers. A handsome bird with its black-andwhite head and pewter sides, the hooded merganser can be found just about anywhere from late fall through early spring. They are found on small ponds, large lakes, and even brackish water, such as harbors and tidal rivers. They are usually found in small flocks but may sometimes be found in larger flocks -- such as the one we found during the Christmas Bird Count. Female “hoodies” are grayish-brown overall. The male sometimes has his impressive white crest raised, and sometimes it is flattened, making it look like almost a different bird entirely for those new to birding. Surprisingly, hooded mergansers can be difficult to photograph, despite being easy to find. They are usually very wary and swim away at a photographer’s approach. To me, that’s part of the allure to these beautiful ducks. They represent the wild, even as they visit our urban and suburban areas. They aren’t about to approach a human

See BOSAK on 21

Hooded mergansers are often a highlight of Christmas Bird Counts. looking for a handout like mallards or Canada geese do. In fact, mergansers are diving ducks, so bread is not part of their diet. The hooded merganser is one of three types of mergansers we see regularly in New England. While I now count the hooded merganser as my favorite bird, the common merganser is very much responsible for my being so interested in birds. When I was just getting into the hobby,

I used to canoe on a body of water called Powder Mill Pond frequently. By the middle of fall, the pond would hold hundreds of common mergansers. Try as I might, though, I could never get a decent photograph of the large flocks. I would canoe there daily in search of common mergansers and, before I knew it, I was hooked on the challenge of wildlife photography. Male common mergansers are large fowl

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by JoAnn Derson Syndicated Columnist

* It might be hard to get or stay motivated for exercise once we’ve dipped into shortened days and lower temperatures. Exercise is so important to your health, so get it any way you can. Did you know that a half-hour snowball fight can burn 100 calories? Get out there and enjoy the winter weather! -- JoAnn * If you frequently face snow in your area, invest in a pair of running shoes that are designed for trail running. They have deeper cleats for better traction. Some are even waterproof. This will encourage you to run when it’s been snowing! * “To help your sneakers dry faster, remove the laces and sock liner and hang separately. Stuff them with newspaper to draw out moisture. Hang them to dry on a sturdy hook or line, but not too close to a heater, as it’s possible to break down the support materials that way.” -- E.D. in Minnesota * “If you are outdoors on freezing days, you know to dress in layers. When you exercise outside, you do that too, but be prepared to strip off a layer if you get overheated. I have a carabiner clip on

my waistband, and I can clip my outer light jacket to it, or even my fleece, through a button hole.” -- P.S. in Virginia * “Here’s a tip about sledding in a pinch: A laundry basket can make a fine sled for a small, sturdy kid, especially if you are blessed with surprised snow! If you attach a rope or belt to one side of the basket, it’s easy to pull the kids along.” -- M.B. in Missouri * Zip-top bags are essential when our family packs for holiday visiting. We use gallon-size bags for the kids’ outfits -top, bottoms, underclothes, etc. -- and each bag holds one complete set. There is no suitcase chaos, as the bag comes out, and yesterday’s clothing goes in, ready for laundry day when we get home. Happy traveling. -- JoAnn * After Christmas sales are a great time to buy not only gift wrap (look for solid colors that you can use all year long), holiday cards and decoration, but also next season’s winter wear. Things like scarves and gloves can be great bargains. And even coats can go on sale. Take advantage -- especially if you have kids -- and buy up.

Given his popularity and his proven ability to win as for her calls for term limits and com Sununu, a Trump critic who is serving his fourth and last two-year term as governor, was reelected last year a Republican in a state that leans Democratic, Sununu elected officials. He hoped Sunun help sway the moderate Republicans and inde- would provide her the boost she neede by more than 15 percentage points is popular the could — THEand WEIRS TIMES,inThursday, December 28, 2023 — 21 state. He was seen as a top recruit for the Senate last pendents whom Haley is counting on to give her a who he said was a force of “noise and “She’s very conservative,” he said. “I year but declined to run, and he also chose not to run strong showing in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Jan. 23. & Good Times! is going to try to change Washington.” for the Republican presidential nominationGreat himself Food, — primary Libations Undeclared voters, who can participate in the Repubsaying at the time that he thought he could have more lican primary, now make up roughly 39% of voters in influence as an external voice than as a candidate. On the 2024 presidential campaign trail, Sununu the state, a greater slice of the electorate than either stumped with Haley, DeSantis and former New Jersey Democrats or Republicans. And with no competitive 2023 Best of the Lakes Gov. Chris Christie, as he weighed which of the three Democratic presidential primary next year, they are Winner for Spa & Ma to back. In an interview last month, he said he would expected to play an even larger role in the Republican Gift Cards available onlin talk over his decision with friends and family over the contest. “It is really a big move,” Matthew Bartlett, a former Thanksgiving break. He said he was looking for someMeredithWholeLiving one who could beat Trump and who could connect with Trump appointee and Republican strategist who is unaligned in the race, said of Sununu’s backing. “It is voters on “a very retail level.” Before the raucous crowd in Manchester, Sununu really the last chess piece to fall in line before Election (603) 279-0007 lauded Haley as a traditional Republican with the Day, and it is not to be underestimated.” 48 Main Street, Meredith, NH 0 s But just how much weight it will carry is an open 603.527.8144 myrnascc.com executive experience to secure the border,Open tackle mental Weekdays @ 4pm aka primary in which nothing — not endorsee in Weekends Open @ Noon t health needs and ensure low taxes and limited govern- question S odebates, d • not Tuesdays not 91 felony charges — has changed ment. He urged New HampshireClosed voters to turn the ments, o a f t s a basic dynamic: Trump is the overwhelming favorite, page on this era’s politics, taking shots at both Presi- the Italian & American Comfort Food Pa Se dent Joe Biden and Trump. “We have a president who and everybody else is fighting for second place. At the ski area in Manchester, a prospective voter is more concerned about nap time,” he said. “We have a MONDAY Formerly known as Nadia’s solicited a low exclamation of “oohs” Trattoria, from the crowd president who is NIGHTS worried about jail time.” asked if of Haley would ever consider the vice In a news conference after the event, Sununu and when she voted one the top ten restaurants Veal Francese and Eggplant Rollatini  8PM given Trump’s dominance in national and Haley shot down6PM suggestions that Haley might choose presidency in NH by Boston Magazine — Join us Tue-Thurs from 3-5 p.m. for Small Plate Specials — Sununu as her vice president should she win the nom- state polls. Celebrate your days with us – Hours: Tues. Wed. 4-9pm & Sat. 4-9:30pm “It is not that big & ofThur a deal,” HaleyFri. responded, calming ination. “I think he is fantastic, but he has told me he Laconia’s most delightf under the canopy at 131 Lake StreetDowntown at Paugus Bay Plaza Located the canopy atlaughter, 131 Lake Street At Paugus Bay Plaza, the crowd under andLocated prompting some “because what doesn’t want anything to do with VP,” she said. shop Laconia for over ten years! to know I don’t play 3-9pm; for second.” Tues.isWed. & Thurs. Fri. & Sat. 3-9:30pm (603)527-8144 myrnascc.com Haley told reporters she had been more focused on you haveHours: FRIDAY & SATURDAY In the audience, Dan Silverman, 53, an undeclared winning over voters than scoring endorsements from NIGHTS 598 Main St., Laconia elected officials, but she nevertheless called Sununu’s voter who leans Republican, said he wasn’t partic603-455-8008  9PM support a 6PM huge win for her bid. Sununu argued that the ularly keen on any of the contenders in the Repubthestudionh.com lican primary and was concerned about some of race had now become (603) a contest between only two people 18 Weirs Rd. Gilford 293-0841 PatricksPub.com Haley’s “bombastic language” on foreign policy. But — “Nikki Haley and Donald Trump.”

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BOSAK from 19 vor salt or brackish water but may on occasion be found on large freshwater ponds or lakes. Male redbreasted mergansers resemble common mergansers, but have a “punk hair cut” and are darker overall. Female red-breasted mergansers resemble female common mergansers, but are less chunky and have more of a punk haircut as well. Also, as Mr. Miyagi says in The Karate Kid, “Look eye. Always look eye.” Male hooded mergansers have yellow eyes and females have red eyes; Redbreasted mergansers have red eyes; and common mergansers have dark eyes. I find the subtle differences in related birds to be fascinating. Of course, I find most things about birds and wildlife fascinating. Happy new year, everybody, and let me know what you’re seeing out there.

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did not have to pay extra for being in the country and not in the city. We actually lived in the town of New Hampton but our mail came from the town of Ashland’s post office. Our mail carrier, Mr. Avery, was well-acquainted with those he delivered mail to, so no zip code or even RFD number

was necessary for us to receive mail sent to us. A letter or postcard mailed to our family with the destination of Ashland, New Hampshire would find its way to our mailbox even if it was addressed to only my name or that of one of my five siblings. We looked forward to the daily arrival of the mailman like city folk

looked forward to the arrival of the milkman maybe once or twice a week? Country folk who were around threequarters of a century ago or more remember when many of the rural families owned at least one cow to supply them with milk. In our family, as each boy arrived at a certain age he was taught to milk the cow, At one period of time a little of the milk was poured into a dish for the cats, and a device called a separator with a handle to turn was used to separate the cream from the milk. Do you remember the milk can of old? Do you remember when the telephone was a box attached to the wall and connected to a wire from the outside, but could not be moved from location to location? Do you remember that it had a mouthpiece attached to the box and a cone-like earpiece on the side connected by a short wire? Are you old enough to remember the little crank on the side that one turned one long turn to reach the operator. Or a certain number of times and length to call someone on your “party line”? Our number was 12 or one long ring and two short ones. To reach anyone not on your party line you had to call the operator. Away from home you could find public phone booths with coin-operated telephones on city streets or in public places like bus and train stations. If you don’t recall the wall-bound telephones you may remember the rotary phones that sat on a table and enabled you to call others by rotating the dial See SMITH on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 — World Series, and college football games with their special rallying songs. I could go on, but things have changed and with each new year we adjust to new things and leave the old in the past, gone, but not all forgotten because there are lessons to learn from the past.

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Do you remember when the telephone was a box attached to the wall? SMITH from 22 from different numbers as more direct dialing came into use. Do you remember when the comic book with the Dick Tracy wrist phone was science fiction? I wonder why we aren’t wearing our phones on our wrists today? I guess the modern cell phone has gone beyond or skipped that phase. Do you remem-

ber when radios had tubes? And, when, if a filament on a tube burned out, like that in a light bulb, the tube had to be replaced? Or if it was broken, like a light bulb is broken, you had to buy a new one? Do you remember having only a few radio stations that you could access on your AM radio and having to adjust the dial to

eliminate some of the static? The few stations we could receive (that’s what we called it) were mostly local, like WLNH in Laconia, but in the mornings WBZ from Boston would come in clearly, and I remember my Mother listening to Carl DeSuze (not sure of the spelling) on his cheerful morning program. I still remember the winning submission to a joke contest he conducted. The winning entry was a short one, starting with a question: “ Why did the farmer name his rooster Robinson?,” with the answer being, “ Because he crew so!” But do you remember, before TV, when the public relied on the radio for the weather, the news, and for entertainment. For the children there were late afternoon programs like “Sky King” and “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” and I believe it was Sunday evenings when we were eating our popcorn and milk that we listened to Jack Benny, Amos and Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Our Miss Brooks. Do you remember those programs? And there were the sports programs with Red Sox baseball, the

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MOORE from 14 but not too much. Keep your lure moving in small jigs, 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 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

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take your bait, it will also help you determine how the fish are behaving toward a certain lure or cadence. A camera will also let you see first-hand just how easily trout spook in shallow water. The Because the camera view is wider than your view down the hole, you can also get a bit of warning that a fish is in the area. 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 the inconvenience of 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. However, if the fish are con-

stantly on the move, it may be best to settle in and wait. 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 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, December 28, 2023 — ALLARD from 1 actly at midnight bells will ring and whistles blow and perfect strangers will turn to one another for a holiday embrace. The old gent on the bench will pick up his rusty scythe with a sigh and shuffle to-ward the exit, shoulders bent wearily and eyes downcast. Few will mourn his leaving and that is sad, for he has done his best. Eager eyes will fasten on the door where the little toddler will appear. Take a good look at him while he is crisply clean and young and fresh. Then turn and bid the old codger goodbye. On New Year’s Eve I will go to bed as usual and if, by chance, I awaken at midnight I will hoist a Geritol toast to the many New Years that I have celebrated and the one that has just arrived. And in the morning I will arise and resume the daily routine. The kooks have tried to scare the daylights out of us and there are those who expect us to awaken to a world awry on New Year’s Day. It reminds me of a time when I was young and a religious sect known as the Millerites were predicting the end of the

not a happy event for Franklin and he never suggested that the boss host another one. By the way the owner looked at him I don’t believe that it would have done any good For some the new year will be a happy occasion; for others a sad one. I hope that it will bring happiness to those who find a happy memory or a chuckle in these columns. It is so pleasant for me to share them with you.

world. I recall Father and Mother talking of men and women who gave away all their possessions and gathered on rooftops to await the moment when they would be snatched up to glory. They had it figured down to the exact minute and when that time came many of them leaped from the roofs and were jolted back to reality with the thud of their landing. Doctors wrestled shattered bones back into place and drug stores did a land office business with hoss liniment. Back in the Thirties the owner of the business where I was working decided to throw

a bash on New Year’s Eve. We were surprised to see our hard driving boss show up and slug down a couple of drinks. It showed that he was no drinker and as his knees grew rubbery he reached out for support at the same time the boss’s wife did. She transferred about a gallon of lipstick to Franklin’s face before his knees buckled and he slid to the floor. Grinning happily, she slid to the floor with him. Not grinning, the owner separated them, got Franklin - now incoherent - into his car and drove him home. As he reached for the doorbell he had to let go of Franklin’s arm.

When Franklin’s wife opened the door, the business owner blurted, “I brought your husband home!” and fled, leaving Franklin trying to crawl out of the rose bushes. The next morning, about two hours late, the boss, who looked as if he had lost a battle with a bobcat, slouched past me with downcast eyes and growled, “Did I offend anyone last night?” without a trace of snicker, I shot back, “About a dozen”. Franklin groaned and trudged into the men’s room where he locked the door and sat down to sulk, trying to ignore our rapping and pleas of urgency. It was

And so on this day when we are all looking forward to a bright sparkling new year I wish you all the best new year’s you have ever had. There are wonderful people on earth and I am happy to know so many of you. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 — RYAN from 11 crunchy delights into your diet. Consider trying almond butter on whole-grain toast or adding chia seeds to your smoothies for a tasty and nutritious boost. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found people who ate the most inflammatory diets had a 38% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those consuming the most anti-inflammatory diets. Try recipes like this one which combine multiple sources inflammation busting compounds to start 2024 on a healthier note.

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Recipe: Grilled Turmeric Salmon with Berry Salsa Ingredients: For the Salmon: • 4 salmon fillets • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon paprika • Salt and pepper to taste • Lemon wedges for serving For the Berry Salsa: • 1 cup mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries), chopped • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped • 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and finely chopped • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped • Juice of 1 lime • Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: 1. Marinate the Salmon: • In a small bowl, combine olive oil, turmeric powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.

• Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and rub the turmeric mixture evenly over each fillet. Allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse. 2. Prepare the Berry Salsa: • In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped berries, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. • Gently toss the ingredients together until well combined. Refrigerate the salsa while you grill the salmon to allow the flavors to meld. 3. Grill the Salmon: • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. • Place the marinated salmon fillets on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side or until the salmon easily flakes with a fork. • Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets. Be careful not to overcook to maintain the salmon’s moisture. 4. Serve: • Carefully transfer the grilled salmon fillets to a serving plate. • Spoon the refreshing berry salsa over the top of each fillet, allowing the vibrant colors to contrast with the golden turmericinfused salmon. • Serve with lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of citrus flavor. 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.

PICKOWICZ from 12 carry the stress in their shoulders, neck, and backs. Stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function, and altered susceptibility to a variety of diseases. Many stimuli, which primarily act on the central nervous system, can profoundly alter immune responses. The two routes available to the central nervous system are neuro-endocrine channels and autonomic nerve channels. Heightened stress levels can therefore compound with regular back pain complaints, gravely affecting your immune system and leaving you more suspectable both emotionally and physically. While chiropractic care cannot actively cure disease or infection, like other preventative care health practices, a visit with a chiropractor can help strengthen your body’s natural ability to heal and recover from both illness and injury, should it occur. Chiropractic care can relieve stress, pain, and misalignment of the spine, improve nerve function, and can potentially boost your immune system. See Part 2 next issue for the continuation of this article addressing gut health, diet, and the immune system. References for this article are available upon request. Dr. Denise Pickowicz, BS, DC, FIBFN-FN, CBIS, DACNB, is theowner of Functional Chiropractic Care of New England, LLC and NH Concussion Center

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 — METZLER from 7 The Council’s Statement added, “While we urge the DPRK to abandon its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs, and instead invest in feeding the people in North Korea, we also urge the Security Council, every member of the Security Council, to exercise its responsibility and overcome its prolonged silence.” Diplomats added hopefully, “We encourage the DPRK to engage in diplomacy…and help the North Korean people suffering from food insecurity and a lack of basic humanitarian goods.” That’s wishful thinking. As this column has long asserted, the Pyongyang leadership has long favored neutrons for the regime over nutrition for its own people as a State policy. DPRK proliferation is sadly nothing new; in fact it’s been dangerously expanding in the past three years. While the Security Council now almost ritualistically condemns the launches, it’s time to ask a few obvious questions. First; Pyongyang communists want a “deterrent” to guarantee regime survival. Speaking at the Council briefing, DPRK Delegate Song Kim said that the latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch by Pyongyang is a “warning countermeasure.” In a rash and reckless statement, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile demonstrated his commitment not to hesitate to launch a nuclear attack in the event of nuclear provocations from the enemy. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood

stressed before the Council, “Meanwhile, the DPRK itself announced it is undertaking not defensive countermeasures, but offensive ones. No claim by the DPRK can repudiate that fact.” Second; as UN Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiari stated, “The launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern…regrettably the DPRK did once again not issue any airspace or maritime safety notifications. The unannounced launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic.” Air traffic corridors around Japan and South Korea are densely packed with civilian flights. It’s just a question of time and bad luck before a missile returning to the sea near the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido could accidentally hit a passenger aircraft causing civilian carnage. Third; the firings of these long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles pose a clear and present danger to East Asia and equally to the continental United States. And this is ok? Though the missiles are not carrying warheads, what if they were? Let’s get real, what is the ultimate purpose of these rockets? Clearly they are offensive military weapons of mass destruction, not Pyongyang’s pyrotechnic displays to woo the world with the power of the Kim Dynasty. John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China.

MAILBOAT from 2 They blatantly refuse to secure our border to protect the American people. They allow unvetted foreigners to invade our country, human traffickers to prosper, and drug cartels to poison our children. They aid and abet law breaking criminals by allowing our failed justice department to simply release them back onto our streets. As they let these violent criminals, rapists, murderers and the like free, they arrest, imprison and then zealously prosecute non-violent citizens who dare to question their King like behavior. Our Founding Fathers refused to bow to tyranny, and In the last sentence of the Declaration, they put everything on the line. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” This is where their words and their actions came together. They were willing to back up their words with their very lives. Our current leaders take an oath, but unlike our Founding Fathers, they pledge nothing of real personal value. Their lives are pampered, not risked, their fortunes are increased, not put in peril, and their honor is often times compromised for personal or political gain. Do we have any Wise, principled, independent leaders representing us in Washington, or are they all just “Rich Men North of Richmond”? This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us remember his life, his death and his resurrec-

tion as we look forward to his return. Let us also remember The Three Wise men who honored him and our wise Founding Fathers who risked everything to create this unique Nation that far too many Americans now take for granted. Let us pray that our Nation is able to find wise, ethical, moral leaders who are worthy of the Nation our Founding Fathers bequeathed to us. Men and women who are willing to put the good of our Nation first, before themselves, their donors and their political parties. Regardless of personal religious or political beliefs, let us all embrace the love, joy, hope and peace that Jesus gave to the world such a long time ago. Merry Christmas and God Bless America Michael Petruzziello Major, USMC (Ret) Wolfeboro, NH.

MOFFETT from 13

DANCE from 1

and Hall-of-Fame NFL placekicker Adam Vinatieri (1972). Sports Quote “I’d catch a punt naked. In the snow. In Buffalo. Just to play in the NFL.” – Steve Henderson

stopped and restarted at optimal times to alternately observe and practice as in a traditionally taught class. Over time, the hope is to have classes at all levels, as well as social dances as demand grows. The library meeting room reservation starts at 5:30pm on Friday. Class will run about 1 hour and will start at 6pm. Because of library policy concerning when outside doors are locked, all participants should arrive before the start of class. You may enter from the downstairs rear entrance. The classroom is to the right. Class facilitators are Stephen and Carlene Peterson If you have any other concerns or questions, please contact them socialdancelaconia@ gmail.com and they will respond to your inquiries.

Sports Quiz Answer The Cincinnati Bengals hosted the San Diego Chargers in a January 1982 playoff game which started out at -9 degrees Fahrenheit. It was -32 degrees with the wind chill. The Bengals won to advance to the Super Bowl. State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He coauthored the awardwinning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A WarriorActor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon.com. His e-mail address is mimoffett@ comcast.net.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

PARKER from 6 reflects broader, deep changes in our society. Injustice has become a problem relegated to politics as religion has increasingly been purged from our society. DEI -- diversity, equity, inclusion -- is a tool designed by secularists, who produce their own definition of injustice and then design their own quantitative tool to solve the problem they have themselves defined. This is one slice of ideology that is a subset of broader godless movements in social engineering -- communism and socialism. President Ronald Reagan gave one the nation’s great speeches in March 1983 to the National Association of Evangelicals in which he

called the Soviet Union an “evil empire.” Reagan said then, “But we must never forget that no government schemes are going to perfect man. We know that living in this world means dealing with what philosophers would call the phenomenology of evil or, as theologians would put it, the doctrine of sin.” Speaking about the then-Soviet Union, Reagan said, “Let us be aware that while they preach the supremacy of the State, declare its omnipotence over individual man ... they are the focus of evil in the modern world.” With the surge to the left in our country, and the purge of the influence of religion, we have produced our own “government schemes,” pre-

tending they will “perfect man” and solve our social challenges. The result is the ongoing expansion of government and a burden of national debt and government spending that is crushing us. Reagan quoted William Penn saying, “If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants.” This is where we are today. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now.

STOSSEL from 7 ing for a technician. That’s time we don’t have when a building is on fire.” Driverless car companies say they’re making adjustments to let first responders move the cars in an emergency “We’ve heard that, too,” the fire chief told Lott. “It hasn’t happened.” The media hype other risks. Quoting a magazine headline, Lott asks Alex Roy, former executive at Argo AI, “What if a hacker gets into Waymo and hacks 1,000 robo-taxis, ordering them off the road?” “These what-ifs don’t make much sense,” replies Roy. “For every technology that’s ever arrived, there was a ‘what if.’ The ‘what ifs’

played out. ... Solutions arrived and everybody moved on.” Still, many Americans object to robocars. Unions complain that they will take away taxi driver jobs, delivery jobs and especially truck-driving jobs. They are right, but in the long run, that will actually be good for most workers. I’ll make that argument in a future column. Meanwhile, some anti-car activists in San Francisco are vandalizing robo-cars. But most people who try them like them. “It’s one of the few things you can do today that makes you feel like people must have felt 100 years ago,” says Roy. “First time they saw a light bulb, first time they saw a plane.”

Fully driverless cars are here, and they’re a very good thing. More places should allow them. The bigger threat, as usual, is overregulation. Delaying selfdriving cars would cost thousands of American lives. Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

SUPER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE CLUE: MAKING 20 OUT OF 9

B.C.

by Parker & Hart

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

SUDOKU

MAGIC MAZE

THEME THIS WEEK: -POWER

CAPTION CONTEST OUR PICK FOR BEST CAPTION

PHOTO #995

Margie, stop singing “the wind beneath my feet.” -Robert Patrick, Moultonboro, NH.

Runners Up : In the beginning.. Rockettes tryouts promised to take your dancing skills to new heights. - John Brennick, Rochester, NH. This is the last photo of the Ogiba sisters , after one to many ‘ high balls.” - Joe Vitali, Belmont, NH.

“Screw Loose and Crazy Be” -Jean Cram, Pittsfield, NH.

CAPTION THIS PHOTO!!

PHOTO #997 Send your best brief caption to us with your name and location within 2 weeks of publication date... Caption Contest, The Weirs Times, P.O. Box 5458, Weirs, NH 03247 email to contest@weirs.com

The Winklman Aeffect

by John Whitlock

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 28, 2023 —

OVER

600 GAMES FOR ALL AGES!