Greenfield, Mass. — The nonprofit Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is distributing a survey and holding four public meetings throughout the Connecticut River watershed in central and southern Vermont and New Hampshire to collect input on needed infrastructure improvements to river access and recreation areas. As part of the ongoing research for the relicensing of the Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon hydro-electric dams, CRC is compiling public input on how people access the river and which public access points need improvements, as well as where additional public access points might be developed.

CRC invites the public to complete their survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRCrecreation or to attend any of the following public meetings:

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6-8 p,m,: Bellows Falls Waypoint Welcome Center, 17 Depot St., Bellows Falls, Vt.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6-8 p.m., Windsor Welcome Center, 3 Railroad Ave., Windsor.

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m., Hinsdale Town Hall, 11 Main St., Hinsdale, N.H.

Thursday, Dec. 7, 6-8 p.m., Kilton Public Library, 80 Main St., West Lebanon.

The re-licensing of the Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon dams, along with the Northfield Mountain Pump Station and Turners Falls dam in Massachusetts provides an opportunity to improve the ecological health of and recreational access to the river. The Federal licenses for these hydro-electric facilities were last issued in 1979, 38 years ago and expire in April of 2019. This re-licensing process began in 2012.

Since 1952, Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. We collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for your rivers and educate and engage communities. We bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of your river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies. To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect the Connecticut River, visit www.ctriver.org.

On the Ice

Learn to Curl in Hartford

White River Junction — The Upper Valley Curling Club will hold a Learn to Curl clinic on Dec. 2, at 5:45 p.m. at Wendell Barwood Arena.

Curling is one of the faster growing sports in the U.S. and this is a chance to see what it is all about.

The clinic costs $25 per person and is open to any individual ag 12 and older. The club provides all equipment needed to curl; you just have to wear warm clothing and shoes with non-skid soles.

Participants will start with an off-ice introduction to the concepts and rules of the game and then move onto the ice for hands-on instruction and lots of fun. If time allows, we may even play a short game.

Space is limited at each session so interested participants must register in advance at www.uppervalleycurling.org. Click on “Learn to Curl.

More information about the Upper Valley Curling Club can be found at www.uppervalleycurling.org or by emailing uppervalleycurling@gmail.com.

With the Dogs

Plaisted Top 5 in Maine

Westbrook, Maine — Orford musher Fran Plaisted earned three top-five finishes on Sunday at the Sunset Ridge Dryland Race hosted by the Down East Sled Dog Club.

Plaisted took third place in the adult 1-dog scooter race in 24:25, fourth in the adult 1-dog bikejoring race in 20:39 and fifth in the adult 6-dog speed class in 19:31.

To the Hoop

Holiday Hoop Clinic

Hanover — The Dartmouth College men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold a joint youth clinic for kids in grades 6 and below on Saturday from 3-4:30 p.m. at Leede Arena.

There is no charge to attend. Each participant will receive a voucher for a free ticket to one Dartmouth men’s and women’s hoop game as part of attending.

Participants are asked to register in advance at www.dartmouthsports.com. For more information, contact Laura Sgrecci at 603-646-6561.

Free Referee Clinic

Wilder — Certified Vermont high school basketball referee Dan Pause will lead a introductory basketball officials clinic on Dec. 3 at the Dothan Brook School.

Pause’s clinic is geared toward young or first-time basketball referees, giving them the framework for getting started in the sport. The meeting will provide an overview on basketball officiating, including pregame and postgame responsibilities, basic signals and penalty enforcement.

Participants will also learn expectations for proper positioning and are encouraged to ask questions about getting started as a referee.

The clinic will run from 1-2 p.m. Although free of charge, participants are asked to register online for the session at www.hartfordrec.com.

In the Saddle

Dressage Team Tryout

Enfield — First Choice Riding Academy is taking the first steps toward building a potential Upper Valley dressage team by holding a test and tryout for young riders on Dec. 9, starting at 2 p.m.

The plan is to develop an Upper Valley-based team of four riders ages 21 or younger to compete at the Hits on the Hudson dressage event in Saugerties, N.Y., in 2018. The December event will start with an organizational meeting followed by a short written test on knowledge of horsemanship and the training scale.

After that, half of the group in attendance will go through core assessments in the gym with the other half gets on their horses for compulsory evaluations.

Any riders interested in what the program has to offer are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available. For more information, contact Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill at heidi@firstchoiceridingacademy.com or 603-632-1011.