Whatever You Do, Do NOT Flush These Items

Backing up the sewage system can be awful, disgusting and costly. Here's an article on the Shark 102.3 FM Radio (NH) that tells you what NOT to flush down your toilet. You may be surprised by some of them, but it will prevent an expensive lesson

 

Whatever You Do, Do NOT Flush These Items

Eric Greene, Eric Greene , Published: November 2, 2025

Here's something to pontificate on, Massachusetts friends and neighbors: Why is it that, for the most part, people are careful about what goes down their kitchen sink drains, but seem to think that almost anything can be flushed down the toilet?

Is it because many of us think that the rush of water generated by the flush will help? It turns out that what many of us take for granted and just toss in the toilet bowl should never be flushed. No way. Not in a million years.

The bottom line is this: Toilets are made to remove human waste--and (outside of a few clumps of toilet paper) that's it. Nothing else should be disposed of down the toilet. All that other refuse needs to go in the trash can.

"Why?", you ask. "What's the worst that could happen?" Well, for starters, a clogged toilet and a potentially nasty mess all over your bathroom rugs and floor. The worst-case scenario is getting a blockage in your sewer line that causes wastewater to come up out of your sink drains. You don't want that. Trust me.

According to Reliance Home Comfort, certain items tend to get flushed down the toilet a lot more than others, either because people think that their toilet can handle those items or because people just aren't thinking in general.

I'm sure you can guess some of them or perhaps have been guilty of flushing some of them in the past yourself. By the way, the following items do not constitute a complete list. This is only a partial list, according to Reliance Home Comfort. To Stave Off Some Potentially Huge Plumber Bills, Here Are Some Items You Should Never Flush Down The Toilet:

Dental Floss

How can something small like dental floss cause plumbing problems? Simply because floss can cluster and knot together with other waste, and that can cause a big backup down the line.

Tissues & Paper Towels

A lot of people (myself included) don't get the fact that paper products like Kleenex and Bounty are designed to absorb water, unlike toilet paper, which is designed to break down in water. Eventually, paper towels and tissues will clump together, leading to pipe problems.

Sanitized Wipes & Moist Towelettes (and "Flushable wipes")

Items like disinfecting wipes and wet wipes should not be flushed. Even wet wipes that declare on the packaging "100% Flushable!" are risky. Many plumbers will advise you against it.

Cotton Swabs & Cotton Balls

Cotton products, despite what the product packaging may tell you, do not break down like toilet paper does, and that will eventually lead to possible septic problems. Yes, even America's dependable and trusty Q-Tips should not go down the Porcelain God.

Chewing Gum

Any type of gum is a no-no! Gum is sticky like glue. Flushed gum will stick to pipes and toilet paper, and that could lead to a MAJOR blockage in your sewer pipe.

Cigarettes

I know a couple that used to dump their ashtray in the toilet bowl and flush it all away. Not good! Cigarettes, especially ones with filters or plastic tips, can totally block your septic system.

Again, this is just a partial list. For more things you absolutely should not flush down the toilet, visit Reliance Home Comfort's website here.

Read More: MA Plumbers Will Love You If You Keep Flushing These Items Away | https://shark1053.com/ixp/920/p/massachusetts-residents-do-not-flush-these/?alef=&lh_aid=5844&lh_cid=2zd44q5qk9&utm_campaign=which_businesses_are_allowed_to_be_open_on_thanksgiving_in_m_a&utm_medium=email&utm_source=letterhead&utm_term=shark1053&di=512706947efb8e4fc27b41110c7784b4&utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Article: If You Can Do This Many Pushups After 50, Your Upper Body Strength Is Elite

I've been working out since I was 17 years old because since I was a kid (I was always skinny), I always wanted to look like a superhero (I loved Superman, Batman, Aquaman and still do). There were times when I didn't work out regularly, but always did push ups, or reverse tricep pushups (using a chair). Today, at 63, I work out daily at home for 20 mins. Every other day I do chest/back with 100 pushups (sometimes I pause at 75 and then continue) and more. Alternating days are for arms with 100 reverse tricep pushups and other things. Give it a try and work your way up. Start with 5. Today's blog is a fitness article about fitness after 50 based on pushups. If I can do it, you can do it.

(Photo: The start of my push up regime, every other day)

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If You Can Do This Many Pushups After 50, Your Upper Body Strength Is Elite 

Alexa Mellardo, Eathis.com, November 3, 2025

Pushups are a simple yet incredibly reliable test of upper-body muscular endurance and strength, says Joshua Dillaha, MS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, founder and movement specialist at Semper Fitness Training, LLC. The best part? This bodyweight move requires zero equipment and can be made more or less challenging with the plethora of variations. Below, Dillaha breaks down how many pushups after 50 signals elite upper-body strength.

“Pushups offer clear benchmarks and engage multiple muscle groups — including the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core stabilizers,” Dillaha explains. “For adults over 50, the pushup is more than just an exercise; it’s a marker of functional capacity, resilience, and aging well.”

Unlike machine-based exercises and drills, pushups also test “relative strength,” which is the ability to move your body weight. For gym-goers over 50, preserving this ability helps maintain muscle mass, core control, and joint integrity.

“It’s also an excellent predictor of functional strength needed for daily activities, from getting off the floor to carrying groceries,” Dillaha adds.

According to Dillaha, while benchmarks may vary slightly across different organizations and fitness platforms, “general performance standards can be drawn from military fitness data, law enforcement testing, and population norms.”

Here’s what to aim for:

Men in their 50s

• Average: 15 to 20 pushups 
• Above average: 25 to 30 pushups 
• Elite status: more than 35 continuous pushups

Women in their 50s:

• Average: 10 to 15 pushups (modified or standard)
•  Above average: more than 20 pushups
•  Elite status: more than 25 continuous pushups

“For comparison, younger adults (20s to 30s) often see elite ranges closer to 45 to 55 pushups for men and 30 to 40 for women,” Dillaha explains. “While the numbers may decline with age due to natural physiological changes, maintaining or approaching these benchmarks after 50 reflects exceptional strength, endurance, and musculoskeletal health.”

Goof of the Week: MaineHealth computer error sent mistaken death notices to 531 patients

 Imagine receiving a letter from your health care provider that says you're dead. That's what happened when a computer error generated letters to some Maine residents. Today's blog is about a "Goof of the week (instead of an idiot)."

MaineHealth says computer error sent mistaken death notices to 531 patients

Nov 3, 2025, WMTW-TV, Portland, ME, Connor Clement

PORTLAND, Maine — MaineHealth says a computer error caused letters to be sent to more than 500 patients incorrectly stating they were dead.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the health system said that on Oct. 20, a malfunction in MaineHealth’s computer system for generating estate vendor letters resulted in 531 patients receiving letters that indicated they were deceased and included information for their next of kin about resolving their estates.

“MaineHealth sincerely regrets this error and has sent apology letters to all patients who have been affected,” the spokesperson said. “At no time were these patients listed as deceased in their medical records and the issue has been fully resolved.”

Heroes of the week: Crew of the Fishing Boat "Sweet Jane" Rescues Man in Icy River

 This week's heroes are two unnamed fishermen who pulled a man from the icy waters of a New Hampshire/Maine river after a suicide attempt. 

(Photo:   Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, a lift bridge spanning the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, carrying traffic of U.S. Route 1 Bypass. This is the replacement bridge, which opened in March 2018. View from the New Hampshire side. Credit: Wikipedia)

Man rescued after jumping from NH/ME Sarah Long Bridge

Portsmouth Herald. Ian Lenahan, October 27, 2025

PORTSMOUTH — An Eliot, Maine, man was pulled from the frigid Piscataqua River alive on Oct. 27 after jumping from the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, according to authorities.

The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge is a lift bridge spanning the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, carrying traffic of U.S. Route 1 Bypass.

The man was rescued shortly after 10 a.m. by the lobster boat Sweet Jane on the New Hampshire side of the span, according to Kittery police Lt. John Desjardins, the department’s interim chief. The vessel is owned and operated by two brothers from Eliot, Maine.   

“He rode his bicycle from Eliot up on the bridge and jumped,” Desjardins said.

(Photo: The new Sarah Mildred Long Bridge across the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, Maine, replaces an existing span built in 1940. Credit: American Institute of Steel Construction) 

Vehicles go over the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge connecting Portsmouth and Kittery via the Route 1 Bypass July 8, 2025. The lobster boat brought the man to the Atlantic Marine Corporation terminal at the Market Street pier. The Portsmouth Fire Department transported the man to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for assessment.

The man’s family was on scene, according to Desjardins.

Port leader describes rescue scene Richard Hartley, acting director of the New Hampshire Port Authority, was told by staff the fishing boat was at the secure pier unauthorized Monday morning.

It quickly became clear that the two brothers aboard the Sweet Jane were seeking assistance in a dire situation.

Hartley got on the boat, held the hand of the man who had jumped and waited for emergency responders to arrive at the terminal. Hartley noticed a woman on the scene, who identified herself as the man’s mother, then drove her to Portsmouth Regional Hospital after her son was transported. Hartley, a retired Coast Guard veteran, said he guided the woman through breathing exercises and spoke with her at length.

The port leader estimated the Sweet Jane lobstermen reached the man in the water within 90 seconds of impact from his jump.

“I’m just so glad those guys were there,” Hartley said of the fishermen.

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RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE IN CRISIS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness - New Hampshire offers the following resources to those in distress:

1. NH Rapid Response Access Point – Call/Text 1-833-710-6477 – If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff. You’ll be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access vital resources in an emergency.
2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (Chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org.)

The Maine chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health offers resources for anyone, of any age, who is experiencing any level of distress.

1. Call 9-8-8 to access the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, 24 hours a day. The hotline offers help through phone calls, texts, and online chats. The Maine Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-888-568-1112.
2. The Maine Intentional Warm Line, for anyone not experiencing an immediate mental health crisis but still needs support, can be reached at 1-866-771-9276.
3. A Teen and Young Adult Helpline is available Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This service can be accessed by texting “Friend” to 62640, by calling 1-800-950-6264, or by using the “Chat With Us” function online at NAMI.org.

Latest Video Interview on GHOST BOX RADIO - Talking Linville Ghosts and Pet Spirits

 On October 21st, I had the pleasure of joining my friend Greg Bakun, host of the Ghost Box Radio show (also video and podcast). We talked about my latest book, "Ghosts of Linville Manor - Maryland's most haunted house" and pets in spirit (based on my "Pets and the Afterlife" series of books). It was an engaging and sometimes light-hearted conversation, as it is talking with old friends (Greg and I have known each other for about 10 years, via this show). Enjoy the show.

LINK (or watch below): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJnPTEtkf8

Book of the Week: A Dangerous Thing by Josh Lanyon

 This week's book of the week is "A Dangerous Thing," an LGBTQ themed mystery and the second in the "Adrien English Mysteries" by Josh Lanyon. I read the first book last month, and liked it so much that I got the second (there's also a third). Today's blog is how I enjoyed the book and a summary of it! 

I really liked this book and it's quirky characters. The mystery takes the main character, Adrien English out into a rural part of California and away from the L.A. bookstore he owns and manages. He learns a relative left him an old house on a lot of property that has a history some are trying to explore for their own gains. I love the way the author gets right into her stories, as by chapter 2, Adrien drives up to the old house in the country to find a corpse (who later disappears). 

The mystery unfolds and Adrien's somewhat lover, Jake, an L.A. Police officer struggling with his own feelings, drives out to help. There were times when I wanted to say to Jake, just be true to yourself!!

It's a great mystery, as are all of Josh Lanyon's books. Highly recommended for readers of Mysteries and LGBTQ themed stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

(Book #2 in the The Adrien English Mysteries Series)

By Josh Lanyon

In this second LA-based adventure, bookseller Adrien English arrives at the Pine Shadow Ranch to find a corpse in his driveway. But by the time the unfriendly local sheriffs arrive, the body has disappeared.

Who are the mysterious strangers excavating on his land? And will he sort out his problems with LAPD Detective Jake Riordan, heavily into S/M sex but not so hot on relationships? Find out in this engrossing, slyly witty thriller.

DISCOVERY! A surprise bonus from COVID-19 vaccines: bolstering cancer treatment

Science is AMAZING. And now there's encouraging news for Cancer patients who received the COVID-19 vaccines. They may also help fight tumors in cancer patients. Today's blog is from the journal SCIENCE, about the incredible finding. 

A surprise bonus from COVID-19 vaccines: bolstering cancer treatment 

  Patients who got shots of mRNA before starting a type of cancer immunotherapy lived much longer

SCIENCE Magazine, Oct 2025 By Phie Jacobs

The innovative messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that thwarted the ravages of COVID-19 may also help fight tumors in cancer patients, according to a new analysis of medical records and studies in mice.

People with cancer who coincidentally received the mRNA shots before starting drugs designed to unleash the immune system against tumors lived significantly longer than those who didn’t get vaccinated, a research team announced yesterday at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin. Laboratory experiments by the group suggest the vaccines rev up the immune system, making even stubborn tumors more susceptible to treatment.

The findings underscore the still-untapped potential of mRNA technology at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration has backed away from funding the area.

“I think this data is extraordinary,” says Ryan Sullivan, an oncologist and immunologist at Massachusetts General Hospital who wasn’t involved in the new research. Although the analysis of cancer patient data was retrospective, he notes that the observed association between COVID-19 vaccination and improved survival “is very strong.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic about these results,” says Mark Slifka, an immunologist at the Oregon Health & Science University. The research still needs to be confirmed with a prospective, randomized clinical trial—something Steven Lin, a radiation oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and principal investigator on the work, says is already being planned.

The new findings build on results from the same group showing that, in mouse models, a generalized mRNA vaccine boosted the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. Those results, published in July in Nature Biomedical Engineering, “really laid the groundwork” for the idea that an mRNA vaccine—even one not targeted toward any specific tumor protein—could bolster cancer immunotherapy, says Adam Grippin, a medical resident and immunotherapy researcher at MD Anderson who presented the group’s new data in Berlin on Sunday. “The next question we wanted to ask was, if this is true, what about the COVID vaccine?”

To find out, Grippin and colleagues analyzed the records of more than 1000 patients who were treated for advanced skin and lung cancer at MD Anderson between 2019 and ’23. 

People who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors lived significantly longer than those who received the same drugs but didn’t get the vaccine. For patients with advanced lung cancer, the median survival rate nearly doubled, rising from 20.6 months to 37.3.

Grippin says he and his colleagues “utilized as many statistical approaches as we could” to account for potential confounding factors, but the association between improved survival rates and COVID-19 vaccines persisted. Patients who received non-mRNA vaccines for influenza and pneumonia, for example, didn’t do better than the average immunotherapy patient.

The vaccines, which consist primarily of mRNA encoding the spike protein on the surface of the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, are designed to prompt an immune response specific to the pathogen. But based on lab studies, Grippen and his colleagues think that in cancer patients, the mRNA vaccine acts “like a siren.” It triggers the release of immune signaling proteins known as cytokines, including type 1 interferon—the same protein responsible for many of the strong side effects people experience after getting immunized. The lab data suggest interferon, in turn, activates immune cells inside tumors and causes them to move into the lymph nodes, where they train other immune cells to travel back through the bloodstream and attack the tumors.

Tumors normally respond to this assault by expressing a protein called PD-L1, which is designed to suppress the immune system. But checkpoint inhibitors block immune cells from binding to these proteins. That thwarts the tumor’s attempts at evasion and helps “unleash the power of the immune system to kill cancer,” Grippin says.

The earlier mouse work suggests any mRNA-based vaccine could have a similar effect.

Dolly visits our friend Sue in a Dream - At the Anniversary of Dolly's Passing

In my "Pets and the Afterlife" series of books, I explain how our pets in spirit usually come around and give signs of their presence around birthdays (theirs and yours), anniversaries- like of their adoption or around their passing, and holidays. Recently, our friend Sue in Florida, who has never met our dog Dolly, the Weimaraner, in person (Dolly passed on Oct 20, 2020), had a dream about Dolly. She wrote me and wondered why she would have that dream. Today's blog provides that answer.

Sue wrote: Hey Rob, I had to tell you this.....I had a dream last night that Jim & I came to visit you guys and guess who was part of the dream AND liked me.....Dolly!!!! She followed me around where ever I went but she did a low growl at me once, lol. She did that when I touched her back leg.

 Now, you know I never met her....why do you think she came to me in my dream?? Do pets in spirit "visit" people they don't know/never met?? I knew it was her b/c I've seen her pics and of course, the name 😉.

Here's my reply: Hi Sue! Wow!. That's awesome. Dolly shows me she's around every day. In fact, I just noticed the time was 1112, and her Angel number is 1, or 11, 111,1111.... so she's always sending me signs.

It is common for our pets in spirit to visit friends and family in dreams, especially close friends. 

Specifically, why she came to you in a dream is because today (Oct 29) it's within 2 weeks of the anniversary of her passing (Oct 20, 2020), and she knew you would tell me about her dream visit. Pets in spirit usually give signs around their birthdays, anniversaries of passing or adoption and holidays. This was her confirmation to me, that she's very much around on her birthday!.

No surprise she would follow you around, being a loving person and a dog mom. The low growl when you touched her leg was an acknowledgement that it was her rear legs that gave way the day before she passed. It was also a way for you to ensure you'd remember it, and tell me about her visit.

This means SO much to me.

HISTORY: About the William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine

 Yesterday's blog included a recap about my Halloween lecture at the William Fogg Library in Eliot, located in southern Maine. Today you'll read about the history of the family who helped inspire and create the library. 

(Photo: William Fogg Library, Eliot, Maine. Credit: R.G.) 

ABOUT THE FOGG FAMILY -  The Fogg family had been in Eliot since 1680, making them among the town’s earliest settlers. William Fogg was born in 1790. As an adult, he would become a prominent local historian and genealogist. Officially, he worked as Eliot’s Town Clerk and first postmaster.   

WHO IS JOHN FOGG? -  One of their sons, John S. H. Fogg, would become a doctor, and the most famous of the Fogg children. Born in 1826, John Samuel Hill Fogg was a man of many interests and well known as a genealogist and expert in Colonial history. He attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine beginning in 1842. Following his graduation in 1846, he studied at Harvard Medical School and established his practice in South Boston in 1850. John was a general practitioner until 1875 when he was stricken with paralysis and became wheelchair-bound. For the remainder of his life, John and his second wife, Mary, would devote their time to collecting autographs and books. 

WHY A LIBRARY?  -  Upon his death in 1893,  Dr. John S.H. Fogg  gave his family’s land for the town’s library and provided its endowment, along with his personal collection of American history books, and an endowment. The library was named in honor of his father, William Fogg, whose homestead still sits on library property. 

 He also bequeathed his family homestead to the library, as well as his beloved book and artifact collections, thus becoming one of Eliot’s greatest benefactors.

(Photo: Fogg House on the same tract of land. This is an historic site).

LOCATION/WEBSITE - William Fogg Public Library is located at 116 Old Road, Eliot, ME, 03903. The website is: https://www.williamfogglibrary.org/

ESTATE BEQUEATHED -Dr. John Fogg also bequeathed his estate to fund the continued operation of the library. You can visit the restored Fogg Homestead and see personal artifacts from the Fogg family and the historic Fogg collections by appointment. 

Halloween Week: Haunted Theatre, Paranormal Library Talk

The weekend before Halloween, we visited a staged haunted theatre with actors, and I gave another paranormal presentation at the William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine. Today's blog shares those events and the history of the family who provided the library and granted their homestead to the town.

(Photo: Rob and Tom waiting in a claustrophobic narrow hallway for the theatre tour.) 

LEAVITT THEATRE - Built in the 1920s in Oguinquit, Maine, this theatre is also now a craft cocktail bar, restaurant and entertainment venue.Oguinquit is in southeastern Maine, right on the Atlantic Ocean.   

(Photo: The Theatre's Halloween tour poster)

OUR FUN EXPERIENCE - There were groups of 8 people led by an actor through a darkened theatre that was filled with nightmarish scenes, stuffed dummies of "dead people" sitting in random theatre seats, costumed actors dressed as witches, evil clowns, zombies and other threatening looking creatures. We were led around the theatre to a small room under the stage where we were shown a short homemade film showing 2 actors killing Elvis, and as you walk through the darkened backstage, broken up into rooms, you meet some of the ghouls. It was fun, and at Tom actually Jumped when a scary evil clown lunged at him! (He never gets startled, so that was funny). 

(Photo: One of the actors portraying a creepy character in the halloween theatre haunting. Credit: Leavitt Theatre)

ABOUT THE HAUNTED THEATRE TOUR! Ever been into the inner sanctum of Ogunquit's spookiest and iconic landmarks? Well, once a year, the 100 year old spirits allow you to wind your way through the eeriest of haunted places, the historic Leavitt Theatre! ...one of the biggest, oldest and most haunted buildings in town! Not for the faint of heart. Secret backstage chambers, hidden creepy-cobweb-clad corridors, chilling tales from the ghastly ghosts. Be careful in the gigantic auditorium and backstage!! You may spot a strange figure or two from the theatre's dark past! In our centennial Halloween season, the Leavitt Theatre will be filled with the spookiest celebrations!  

 (Photo: The William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine with a sign proclaiming my event on October 25, 2025.).

MY HALLOWEEN LIBRARY TALK- The lecture I gave was accompanied by a power point presentation, and referenced some of the things in my books. It was called "Outside the Paranormal: poltergeists, demons and near-death experiences." This talk gives Rob's insights on what demons really are, the truth about poltergeist activities, and what happens with near death experiences and how they affect people later. 

FULL HOUSE!  - Lee at the library does an amazing job of spreading the word about events, and all of the chairs were filled. There were also a lot of great questions about ghosts, spirits, poltergeists, demons and orbs. One of the attendees had just watched the 1980s movie "Poltergiest" which is 100% inaccurate (because poltergiests are not ghosts!) and she was surprised.

Rob's books are all available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook. Click here to see them.

  

NEXT: History of the William Fogg Library 

Idiot of the Week: Wrong-way driver faces multiple DWI-related charges

I'm unsure what is is about New England where being drunk and driving going the wrong way, and speeding is a thing. But this week's idiot is yet another one of those and she is only 18!!  If you're drunk, DON'T DRIVE. Gosh, people are stupid. Here's the story 

Accused wrong-way driver in Candia faces multiple DWI-related charges

UnionLeader newspaper, Nov 3, 2025

A Manchester, New Hampshire woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 101 in Candia early Saturday morning, according to State Police.

Shortly before 3:30 a.m. police received reports of a wrong-way driver traveling west in the eastbound lanes 101 in Raymond, police said in a news release.

Troopers responded and found a silver 2009 Honda Civic traveling west in a high-speed eastbound lane in Candia, officials said. The driver was identified as Savannah Leigh McClaughry-Bertelsen, 18, of Manchester.

McClaughry-Bertelsen was arrested and charged with reckless conduct, driving while intoxicated, aggravated DWI, reckless operation, driving with an open container of alcohol, and transportation of alcoholic beverages by a minor.

She was held in protective custody at the Rockingham County Jail and later released on personal recognizance bail. McClaughry-Bertelson is scheduled to be arraigned in Candia District Court on Nov. 17.

Route 101 eastbound was closed briefly during the investigation.

Heroes of the Week: Cog Railway Employees rescued 20 Hikers from Mount Washington

This week's heroes are employees of New Hampshire's Mount Washington Cog Railway. Imagine being a railway employee and learning there are more than 20 ill-prepared hikers starting to experience hypothermia... and you're part of a rescue. Today's blog will tell you about the rescue, and explain about the Cog Railway.(which is worth doing!).

(Photo: Nearly two dozen hikers had to be rescued from Mount Washington after they found themselves unprepared for the frigid conditions. Mount Washington Observatory)

ABOUT THE COG RAILWAY: The Mount Washington Cog Railway was invented by Sylvester Marsh, who began construction in 1866 after getting a state charter in 1858. Despite the 1857 idea of a mountain-climbing steam train being deemed impossible and nicknamed the "Railway to the Moon," the first public run occurred in 1868, with the first trip to the summit completed on July 3, 1869. It was the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, using a rack-and-pinion system that still operates today, making it the second-steepest railway in the world.   

More than 20 hikers rescued from Mount Washington amid wintery conditions 

The hikers were hypothermic and lacking the proper gear needed to face the frigid temperatures when they were found and rescued. 

By Darin Zullo, Boston.com, October 26, 2025

Nearly two dozen hikers had to be rescued Saturday after they found themselves stranded and hypothermic on the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Employees at the Mount Washington Cog Railway brought more than 20 “ill prepared hikers” down from the 6,288-foot summit, where wintery conditions are in full force, according to Andrew Vilaine, the railway’s assistant general manager.

“Many were hypothermic and without gear even near suitable for the conditions,” Vilaine said in a Facebook post. “Most had no idea that Summit services would be unavailable and that the state park was closed for the season. A few indicated it was their first hike ever.”

(Photo: A train on Mount Washington's Cog Railway. Credit: Cog Railway)

Temperatures on Mount Washington’s summit this weekend have ranged in the single digits after accounting for wind chill, according to data from the National Weather Service. Due to the frigid summit conditions in the winter, the Cog Railway stops running trains to the peak in mid-October, according to the railway’s website.

As the Mount Washington State Park closes for the season at the same time, the railway instead runs services up to Waumbek Station, which has a lower, more tolerable elevation of 4,000 feet. Vilaine warned all prospective hikers to take heed and do their research on mountain temperatures before attempting a climb and running into trouble.

Book of the Week: Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse by Lee Goldberg

 If you loved the tv series "Monk" about the OCD detective, you'll love the series of books. I've read all of them and recently re-read the first in the series "Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse" by Lee Goldberg. That's this week's Book of the Week, and it's a 5 star book. (It's book #1 of a series of 19) 

There are parts of this book that will make you laugh out loud at Mr. Monk's quirks. In fact, after I read one part, I had to re-read it out loud to Tom, and we both laughed over it. The mystery is brilliant and will keep you reading. I re-read this book in 4 days (which is super-fast for me). Of course, I'm going to re-read all of them, but this is the one to start with! 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Monk's house is being fumigated, and he has nowhere to go. Fortunately, his assistant Natalie and her daughter are kind enough to welcome him into their home. Unfortunately, their home is not quite up to Monk's standards of cleanliness and order.

But while Monk attempts to arrange his surroundings just so, something else needs to be put straight. The death of a dog at the local firehouse-on the same night as a fatal house fire-has led Monk into a puzzling mystery. And much to his horror, he's going to have to dig through a lot of dirt to find the answer.

Part 4: Fun Weekend: Peaceful Forest Walks!

This is part 4 of 4 of the events over my birthday weekend last month. Our friend visited and we did a lot of activities. Today's blog is more of a calming blog after yesterday's crazy and unsettling local public paranormal investigation. Today's blog is about walking through a forest and finding peace. 

(Photo: Rob and Lynn enjoying a forested walk.)

PEACE IN THE FOREST - There's nothing like walking through a forest in the fall, especially in New England. I'm going to paint you a picture of what that experience is like.

(Photo: Lynn with Dash (left) and Cody (right) ready for a walk!) 

DOG WALKS - Walking the dogs through the backyard forest paths we made is my favorite activity. It took about 6 months of work to rake, clear and build the borders of our forest paths (there are 4 parallel paths) but it's my favorite place. Lynn and I suited up Dash and Cody and enjoyed several forest walks. 

A COLORFUL MOSAIC - It was the weekend of October 17-19, 2025.  The remaining leaves on the trees were all bright yellows, oranges and reds, and sunbeams stretched through the trees like arms of light.  There was also a mosaic of colors on the forest floor of yellow, orange and red leaves. 

FIND YOUR PEACEFUL PLACE - Forests are a great way to relieve the stress of any day. Even if you just take 15 minutes to walk through a park with trees, you'll connect with nature and re-find that inner peace. 

Part 3: Fun Weekend: Public Ghost Investigation Vs. my Explanations

This is part 3 of the events over my birthday weekend last month. Our friend visited and we did a lot of activities. Today's blog is about a public paranormal investigation held at a local establishment and my experiences vs. what the group conveyed. 

GHOST "HUNTING" - As a medium and paranormal investigator, I normally co-lead paranormal investigations, and this time I was an attendee from the public. I happened to read that a New Hampshire paranormal group was going to conduct a public ticketed "investigation" at the Summersworth Museum on October 18th, from 7pm-9pm. Since our friend Lynn was going to be here, I got tickets for Lynn, Tom and myself. The group said they connected with four ghosts, but I found one.

(Photo: Lynn and Rob at the ghost event. Credit: R.G.) 

HOW IT WORKED:  There were 19 rooms filled with history and thousands of artifacts. The Paranormal group guided attendees through the museum’s most active predetermined paranormal “hot spots.” The evening began with a reveal of evidence captured during the team’s September 2025 investigation. Participants learned how some ghost-hunting equipment worked. Led by members of the investigation team, each group rotated through different rooms of the museum during the two-hour event to support the Summersworth Historical Society & Museum.

MY PET PEEVE - One of my biggest pet peeves as a paranormal investigator is that the difference between a ghost and a spirit is not explained. The group didn't explain that there's a difference between ghosts, who are earthbound in a fixed location of their choosing - where they lived, worked, died, or were familiar with, versus a Spirit, who crossed over. They used the words interchangeably, and they are 2 different entities (as I wrote in my first book). That explanation was sorely needed. 

(Photo: Rob  & Tom at the ghost event. Credit: R.G.) 

MY FINDINGS: ONE GHOST - I found only 1 of the 4 entities was an actual earthbound ghost, and I learned his identity and the reason why he stayed behind.  We were brought into a room with memorabilia from many past mayor's campaigns, that included an old desk from the city's mayor's office. 

  The team suggested there was a male ghost in that room and his name may be "Jack" (the guy I connected with was not named Jack). They suggested he was a former mayo but there was nothing else to go on.

WHO IS HE? WHY IS HE THERE? 

   While on the public tour, I connected with a male earthbound ghost. He said he was connected to the desk. He told me about the year "1930" so I scanned the framed headshots of mayors that hung on the wall, and cited their years as mayor. I found the man. I asked him why he stayed behind and he conveyed that he accepted a bribe and regretted it. He didn't think he deserved to cross over. I telepathically assured him he did. 

ABOUT THE OTHER 3 ENTITIES - The group said they connected with 3 other Earthbound Ghosts, but I realized they are Spirits who crossed over and came back when the investigators were near objects connected to them. 

    They included 1) A German soldier (because a WW2 German helmet was in a display), 2) A teenage girl who died in high school (school memorabilia was in an "Education" room), and 3) A nurse associated with the corpses of 5 babies found in a trunk in the 1950s (Story at bottom of this blog). 

 (Photo: The mummified remains of five infants were found in this steamer trunk in the early 1980s some believe the five infants were victims of a baby snuffing operation active in the area in the 1940s and 1950s Credit: John Huff, Fosters Daily Democrat) 

Just like when you visit a cemetery and pay homage to a loved one, their spirit can sense you there and they come around and give a sign. Some may appear as butterflies, dragonflies or birds while you're there. Others may bring people who resemble them near you. There are many ways they give signs. 

1) The German Soldier- A talented medium heard German words in the military room and had no idea there was a German soldier's helmet there. She heard morse code (which turned out to be an "S.O.S" for help, and some actual German words (she didn't speak German). So, the Spirit (crossed over) of the soldier came back knowing he could share messages with the medium, because spirits know who has medium abilities. The soldier did not stay with his helmet. 

2)  The Teenage Girl - The team said they connected to a high school girl who died in school. They received audio answers on an Ovulis (replicates some words), when they were in the room with High School memorabilia. It was a perfect time for this spirit to come back and tell her story (she was also not attached to anything in the room). 

3) The Baby Trunk - The corpses of the 5 babies uncovered in the 1980s were buried in a nearby cemetery. The case remained unsovled (see below). 

TWO THINGS were happening in the room where the trunk was located. 

A) A lot of residual energy of sadness, anxiety and depression generated by whomever put the corpses in the trunk. That energy stayed on it and when one sensitive came near it, she burst into tears. (NOTE: Residual Energy is energy generated from Emotions of living people that get absorbed into a structure or object, and when living sensitive people come near it, they feel those emotions).

B) The medium of the team said she sensed a woman in the room with the trunk. It was NOT a ghost.  It would have been the spirit (crossed over) of either a nurse or mother of one of the infants.   

WHY NOT A GHOST?   Ghosts ONLY stay earthbound in places they lived or died, unless, like the mayor, they attach themselves to an artifact (which is rare). If you were the mother of one of the infants you wouldn't even know about the trunk. 

BOTTOM LINE FOR ME - Although it was interesting to go on this investigation, there were some things that didn't make sense and needed more explanation. I would have offered it, but it wasn't my investigation. It was, however, interesting to see how other teams work. 

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STORY OF THE BABIES' CORPSES - The Somersworth "babies in trunk" case - The remains were wrapped in newspapers dating from 1949 to 1952, and Thomas told police they were from a "baby snuffing" ring and that the responsible party was already dead. The case is unsolved and has been linked to the 1950 death of a nurse, Irene Copeland, though no official connection has been proven. 

Part 2: A Fun Weekend: A Protest

This is part 2 of the events over my birthday weekend last month. Our friend visited and we did a lot of activities. Today's blog is about the No Kings Protest. It was a sea of people who are extremely upset about the way things are right now in the U.S. 

(Photo: Over 1,000 people lined the streets of this small NH town on Oct 18, 2025)

Since we feel strongly about the way things have been going (not the correct way), we decided to investigate and be present for one of several No Kings Protests in New Hampshire. We were told that it was twice the size of the same protest that was held in June. That says something. The signs were great.  From "Release the Epstein files" to "Project 2026: Jail Trump and Musk" to "Science Saves Lives."

WHAT IS "NO KINGS"? - The No Kings protests, also known internationally as the No Dictators or No Tyrants protests, is a series of demonstrations, largely in the United States  against what the organizers describe as authoritarian policies of Donald Trump and corruption in his administration. This particular protest was held on October 18, 2025.  

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 3 takeaways from Saturday's No Kings nationwide protests 

October 19, 2025 By Alana Wise, Chandelis Duster , Emma Bowman, NPR

One of the biggest days of protest against the Trump administration's policies happened on Saturday in cities around the U.S. The overriding theme of the marches was the accusation that President Trump is behaving more like a monarch than an elected official.

It marked the second massive wave of protests organized by No Kings — a network of progressive organizations fighting against Trump's agenda.

Organizers said about 2,600 No Kings events were planned across nearly every state, and that it projected a bigger turnout than the 5 million it said attended its previous nationwide action in June.

(Photo: Local protest in a southern NH town)

What factors Prompted this protest? 

Energized by a slew of actions taken by the administration since the summer protests, the group cited widespread immigration detentions carried out by often-masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the administration's aggressive slashing of federal education resources and environmental protections, gerrymandering and other concerns.

Here's a recap of how the protests unfolded.

1. United in protests to 'protect America' 

Protesters showed up to oppose a wide range of issues, including the administration's immigration tactics and its push for federal and military intervention in Democratic-led states as a way to tackle crime. The diversity of concerns was strung together by the broader messaging of democracy, constitutional rights and the freedom the U.S. was founded on.

In Washington, D.C., demonstrators filled Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol, many holding signs that read "No Kings, No Tyrants." Many people wore yellow, a color organizers said is to show unity.

Uriah Kitchen of Delaware, who attended the protest with his son Elijah, told NPR "we made a pledge of allegiance when we were in school and this is what it's all about."

"This is why we're here, we're here to protect America," Kitchen said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, addressed D.C. protesters in remarks slamming tech billionaires who he said have become richer and more powerful since Trump became president. Sanders singled out Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg "and the other multibillionaires who were sitting right behind Trump when he was inaugurated."

On the West Coast in San Pablo, Calif., Maria Floriano attended a No Kings event with immigration on her mind. Wearing a hat and shirt decorated with butterflies, she compared immigration to butterflies and said "migration is beautiful" and "an act of courage."

"We want them to know that there are people fighting for them, that not everyone feels that they're not welcome here," Floriano said, noting the protest was held in a Bay Area community home to a large population of immigrants.

2. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers weighed in 

(Blogger's Note: They are Obviously CLUELESS)

House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Saturday's protests as a "hate America rally," and other Republicans have derided the event as anti-American.

Responding to NPR's questions about the protests, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Who cares?"

Trump was not at the White House during the protests but on a visit to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Connecticut House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora told Connecticut Public that he considered the "No Kings" messaging of the protests "divisive." He also doesn't share protesters' concerns but supports their right to exercise their First Amendment rights.

"I think our democracy is still strong as ever — but, you know, they're free to express themselves," Candelora said.

3. Peaceful protesting with song and dance 

Despite the many criticisms that anti-Trump protesters came to preach, there were displays of optimism, hope and whimsy in several cities.

Inspired by protesters in Portland, Ore., people in Los Angeles, Hartford, Conn., and elsewhere showed up to march in inflatable animal costumes. Song and dance broke out in Salt Lake City and other cities.

As with the previous mass No Kings protests, revolutionary messaging showed up in demonstrators' clothing, chants and signs as protesters sought to remind people that America was founded in opposition to monarchy.

The protests were largely peaceful. Police in New York City and Washington, D.C., where rallies drew some of the day's biggest crowds, said no protest-related arrests were made.

"The Governor has authorized state active duty for training to help ensure the Guard will be ready to respond if needed to help keep people safe," Youngkin spokesman Peter Finocchio wrote in a statement to VPM.

The Texas Newsroom reported that Abbott said in a statement of sending the Guards to Austin: "Violence and destruction will never be tolerated in Texas." The newsroom also reported that state troopers were stationed at entrances to the Capitol grounds inspecting bags but protesters said the law enforcement presence felt smaller than the previous "No Kings" event in June.

Saturday's rally was peaceful and there were no arrests, according to the Austin Police Department.

NPR's Joel Rose and KQED reporter Brian Krans contributed to this report.

(Photo: Some of the over 1,000 protesters lining the main street of a southern NH town)