VTF&W
Ice fishing
Ice conditions across Vermont are inconsistent due to warm and variable weather, and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is urging anglers to put safety first if they venture out ice fishing. At higher elevations and in the Northeast Kingdom, many lakes and ponds have frozen over completely and have fishable ice. But in southern Vermont and the Champlain Valley, many lakes and ponds are not yet safe for ice fishing.
Even on a single waterbody it is important to know ice thickness is not always uniform. Areas around pressure cracks or near stream or river inlets can be thinner and weaker than surrounding ice.
The department says anglers should always carry a spud bar to test the ice as they go and should have a set of personal ice picks for self-rescue. Anglers should avoid fishing alone and should let someone know where they will be fishing and when they plan on returning home.
Deer taken
The final number of deer taken in Vermont’s 2023 hunting seasons will not be available for a few more weeks, but Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the final tally will be a little over 16,800 deer. The buck harvest will be close to 9,800, which will be up from 2022 (9,619) and the previous three-year average of 9,336. The final antlerless deer harvest will be around 7,000, which will be down from the previous three-year average (8,101). The 2023 White-tailed Deer Harvest Report with final numbers will be on Fish and Wildlife’s website in early March.
YOUTH NEWS
Abuse prevention
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Prevent Child Abuse Vermont has developed the CARE Program (Child Anti-trafficking Resources and Education). The program is for Grades 7-12 students, staff of their schools, and their caregivers. The program is based on the premise that students and the adults in their lives can learn the risk factors related to labor and sex trafficking of children and can learn the skills to seek protective factors shown in research to work.
The program includes student lessons, faculty/staff training, parent newsletters and a parent training event. If you are affiliated with or provide prevention services to a middle or high school and would like to learn about being a part of a pilot of the CARE Program, email ksinz@pcavt.org.
GIV applications
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont has opened applications for its 2024 residential summer programs. Vermont students in grades 9-11 are invited to apply by March 31 for programs focused around a career-oriented topic, including arts, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental science and technology, global issues and youth action, health and medicine, mathematical sciences, and technology and design.
GIV Institutes take place on Vermont college campuses and are designed to be affordable to all Vermont families with scholarships that allow students to pay as little as $10 to attend. Students learn from industry professionals, participate in hands-on projects, and explore career options. For more information, visit giv.org or email hello@giv.org.
AROUND VT
Garden helpline
The University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Helpline free service can help Vermont gardeners by providing science-based information on home horticulture, integrated pest management and backyard composting. Although the program’s Thursday morning phone-in service is closed until April, the online Garden Helpline is open 24/7/365.
To pose a question to the Helpline, visit go.uvm.edu/gardenquestion. There, you can submit your question (providing as much detail as possible), can upload photos and enter your contact information. Volunteers will research your question and provide answers and additional resources via email.
Commercial growers should contact the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic (www.uvm.edu/extension/pdc) to submit samples or for assistance with the identification and management of diseases, pests and weeds.
Don’t flush
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is offering a few tips on what not to flush down toilets and how to better dispose of that waste.
Most waste should not be flushed; that includes tissues, cotton swabs, floss, diapers, feminine hygiene products, coffee grounds, cat litter, wipes, excess household cleaners, cigarette butts and medications. Even products advertised as “flushable” do not break down and can clog toilets, household plumbing, sewer pipes and pumps, and septic tanks.
Vermonters should only flush human waste, soap and toilet paper. For more information, visit the DEC Wastewater Management Program.
COLLEGE NEWS
Southern New Hampshire University fall 2023 academic honors include:
President’s list — Alaina Rueda, Bobby-Jo Salls, Nicole Supernault, Nicholas Vitagliano, all of Barre; Hayden Smith, of Berlin; Heather Lucas, of Chelsea; Alisa Martin, of Danville; Makenzie Murray, of East Burke; Nichole Bailey, of Eden; Amelia Broome, Danforth Morrigan, both of Lyndonville; Shera Adams, of Marshfield; Whitney Clement, Michaela LaCoss, both of Morrisville; Cary Lafirira, of Northfield; Walter Belliveau, Mazie Burt, Josie Choiniere, Emily Doyon, Sheahan Miller, all of St. Johnsbury; Jed Heck, of Sheffield; William Ulz, of Vershire; Aidan Poulin, Emily Tanski, both of Waterbury; Brieanna Ingalls, of Wells River; Dixie Davis, Edwin Jones Jr., both of West Burke; Katie Emerson, of West Fairlee; John Burgess, of Wolcott.
Dean’s list — Scott Matthews, of Brookfield; Grace Limoges, James Rust, both of St. Johnsbury.
Husson University fall 2023 academic honors include:
President’s list — Chesnee Barney, Hayleigh Pollard, both of Barre; Madeline Benoit, of Hyde Park; Colby Prue, of Lyndonville.
Dean’s list — Cierra Richardson, of Lowell; Taylor Bean, Felicity Perreault, both of St. Johnsbury.
Honors list — Melina Brooks, of Cambridge; Aiden Davis, of Lyndonville; Hunter Fleming, of Morrisville; Lucas Roberts, of Plainfield.
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