Category: News

Ice safety

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department officials urge outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution when enjoying winter activities near any ice, including vertical ice and on trails. Parents are urged to educate themselves about ice safety and share their knowledge with their children to help prevent accidents.

In a statement, Col. Kevin Jor­dan, Chief of Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division, said that “caution is in order for those going out onto any ice, especial­ly with the extreme fluctuations in temperature and precipitation expected this week. With erratic weather conditions, some areas of ice may look safe, but may not be. We are urging people to check the ice thickness before going out onto any frozen waterbody.”

New Hampshire Fish and Game says it is never advisable to drive cars or trucks onto ice. They advise that if you’re on foot you should carefully assess ice safety before venturing out by using an ice chisel or auger to determine the thickness and composition of the ice, and continue to do this as you go fur­ther out, because the thickness of the ice will not be uniform over the entire waterbody.

Snow-covered ice can be deceiving and should always be inspected carefully. Though all ice is potentially dangerous, the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., offers this advice on ice thickness: There should be a minimum of 6 inches of hard ice before individual foot travel and 8 to 10 inches of hard ice for snow machine or off-highway recre­ational vehicle travel.

New Hampshire Fish and Game notes that thick ice does not always mean safe ice and that it is possible for ice to be thick but not strong, because of varying weather con­ditions. Weak ice forms when warming trends break down the ice and then the surface refreez­es; people should be especially careful of areas with current, such as inlets, outlets and spring holes, where the moving water can make ice dangerously thin, according to the release.

• New Hampshire Fish and Game listed these tips for staying safe on the ice:
• Don’t venture onto any ice during thaws.
• Stay off the ice along the shore­line if it is cracked or squishy.
• Docks, rocks and downed trees absorb the sun’s heat and can cause the ice around them to be thin.
• Watch out for thin, clear, or hon­eycombed ice. Dark snow and ice may also indicate weak spots.
• Small bodies of water tend to freeze thicker. Rivers and lakes are more prone to wind, currents, and wave action that weaken ice.
• Never gather in groups on less than 8 to 10 inches of hard ice.
• Always bring along a rescue rope, ice picks and a personal flo­tation device such as a float coat or life preserver.
• If you do break through the ice, stay calm. Move or swim back to where you fell in, where you know the ice was solid. Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. A set of ice picks can help you pull yourself out; wear them around your neck or put them in an easily accessible pocket. Once out of the water, roll away from the hole until you reach solid ice.
• If someone you are with breaks through the ice, don’t rush over to the hole — keep yourself safe. Look for something to throw or to use to reach out to the person such as a rope, tree branch or ice spud. Lie down flat and reach out with your tool. After securing the person, do not stand — wiggle backward on the solid ice pulling the person with you.

Ice safety is also very important for snowmobilers: Never assume a trail is safe just because it exists, and check out trail conditions before you go, at nhstateparks.org/ activities/snowmobiling/trail-in­formation.aspx.

Visit wildlife.nh.gov for more information which also includes a video on ice safety.

Robot talk

Attorney General John M. For­mella announced that he and a bipartisan coalition of 46 Attor­neys General have successfully urged the Federal Communications Commission to tighten rules aimed at blocking and mitigating robocalls.

In a statement, AG Formel­la said, “Illegal robocalls are a growing threat to New Hamp­shire families and businesses. By working with the FCC and col­leagues nationwide, we are taking strong, bipartisan action to protect consumers and hold those respon­sible accountable. These steps are a major move toward stopping fraud and harassment, and we must remain vigilant in combating these deceptive practices.”

According to the release, in response to a letter from the AGs the FCC has announced three ini­tiatives in its continued fight against robocallers, which include strengthening the Robocall Mitiga­tion Database (RMD), thousands of dollars’ worth of fines for non­compliance, and investigations into voice service providers trans­mitting illegal robocall traffic.

Panther Pitch winners

Plymouth State University’s annual “Panther Pitch” busi­ness competition announced two winners from 13 finalists for inno­vative business ideas: senior Cara LaPlante of North Woodstock for her Collegiate Recovery Program and senior Joe Zuber from Con­necticut for his SweetPea candy bar. The Panther Pitch challenges students to create innovative and entrepreneurial ideas that address societal challenges, according to the press release. Two other awards were presented at the Pan­ther Pitch event. Alex Ray, founder and owner of the Common Man Family of Restaurants, was giv­en the Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Award and 1999 PSU graduate Todd Angilly was given the Social Entrepreneurship Award for his service as director of workforce development at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

On Monday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. at Pembroke Town Library (313 Pembroke St., Pembroke) Joshua Duclos presents a talk called “Why Democracy?” Call 566-1031 or visit nhhumanities.org for more information.

Gibson’s Book Club meets on Monday, Jan. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord (45 S. Main St.) to talk about The House in the Cerulean Sea, a novel by T.J. Klune. Newcomers are welcome!

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3:30 p.m. at Newmarket Public Library (1 Elm St., Newmarket) Erin Moulton will present “History and Mystery: A Genealogy Starter Guide” for those interested in family history. Call 659-5311 for more information.

Leadership Program

Stay Work Play is now accepting applications for its 2025 Rising Stars Leadership Program, a leadership development initiative tailored to young people across a myriad of industries from February through June, according to a press release.

The program consists of six in-person sessions that focuses on leadership skills, community engagement and fostering ambition for the Granite State. Tuition is $2,000 and discounts are available for Stay Work Play Board of Advisor members, according to the release. Applications are due Friday, Jan. 24. Visit stayworkplay.org/rising-stars-leadership-program for more information.

In a statement, Corinne Benfield, Executive Director of Stay Work Play NH said “the Rising Stars Leadership Program exemplifies our mission to elevate and empower the incredible young people that call the 603 home. By investing in this program, we are ensuring that New Hampshire has strong ambassadors who can help shape New Hampshire to be an attractive and vibrant place to live, work, and play.”

Here, fishy, fishy, fishy

According to a press release, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department stocks trout during the fall to bolster the winter ice fishery for winter anglers.

Fish and Game has listed on its website links for different bodies of water that are open year-round as well as rules for these water bodies with special regulations included in the New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, which is also available from license agents, according to the same release.

The following lakes and ponds were stocked with trout during the fall of 2024 and are open to ice fishing: Akers Pond in Errol, Beaver Pond in Woodstock, Bow Lake in Strafford, Cedar Pond in Milan, Big Diamond Pond in Stewartstown (opens Wednesday, Jan. 1), Higher Ground Pond in Wentworth, Highland Lake in Andover, Hildreth Pond in Warren, Little Dan Hole Pond in Ossipee, Manning Lake in Gilmanton, Martin Meadow Pond in Lancaster, Mascoma Lake in Enfield, Mirror Lake in Woodstock, Newfound Lake in Bristol, Ogontz Lake in Lyman, Pearl Lake in Lisbon, Perch Pond in Lisbon, Pleasant Lake in Deerfield, Streeter Pond in Sugar Hill, Sunapee Lake in Newbury, Tewksbury Pond in Grafton, Webster Lake in Franklin, White Lake in Tamworth, and Winnisquam Lake in Laconia. There are additional ones not listed here.

In a statement, Fish and Game’s Inland Fisheries Program Supervisor John Magee said that “the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s hatcheries stock post-spawn brook and brown trout into selected water bodies that do not have a closed season before winter. These fish can range from 2 to 3 pounds each. Numbers, dates, and stocking locations vary annually. I would encourage anglers of all skill levels to take advantage of this season’s stocked opportunities throughout New Hampshire when weather conditions are favorable and once the ice is safe.”

In another statement, he said that “The Granite State’s rivers and streams open to fishing on Jan. 1, and there are some quality fish to be caught in some of the tailwater fisheries such as the Newfound River. When water levels are drawn down on larger lakes for the fall, prize-sized fish often drop down below dams, creating opportunities for savvy winter anglers. This winter’s free fishing day is Jan. 18, so why not try your luck through the ice this year.”

To learn more about ice fishing in New Hampshire visitwildlife.nh.gov.

More access to education

According to a press release, New Hampshire’s public higher education systems have created more than 100 direct pathways designed to help students move smoothly from associate degree programs offered by New Hampshire’s community colleges to bachelor’s degree programs offered by the University System.

This collaboration between the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) makes it easier for students to continue their education, earn subsequent degrees more efficiently, and fill critical jobs in New Hampshire’s workforce faster and with less debt, according to the release.

Students currently enrolled in or planning to enter any of New Hampshire’s seven community colleges can now follow clear, structured pathways that lead directly to bachelor’s degrees at Keene State College, Plymouth State University, or the University of New Hampshire (UNH), which includes UNH Durham, Manchester and the College of Professional Studies Online, according to the release.

In a statement, USNH Chancellor Catherine Provencher said “these pathways give students the confidence to pursue their educational goals with assurance that we have taken steps to align programs to help manage time and cost. This collaboration makes it easier for New Hampshire residents to stay in the state, earn a degree, and strengthen our workforce.”

The CCSNH has trained advisors available at each community college and USNH sponsors a centralized Outreach and Enrollment Center that assists with applications, financial aid resources, and other support services available to students in both systems, according to the same release.

For more information visit nhtransfer.org.

There will be a Winter Ball at Phenix Hall: Home for the Holidays, Saturday, Dec. 28, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Phenix Hall (38 N. Main St., Concord). Tickets are $100 each. Visit eventbrite.com.

Shaskeen Pub (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com) will hold its annual New Year’s Eve Bash on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be an open bar, a free buffet, a free Champagne toast, and music by DJMyth.Tickets are $60 through ticketleap.com

The Strand (20 Third St., Dover, 343- 1899, thestranddover.com) will feature a dance party on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 8 p.m.