John Cooley, left, senior biologist of the Loon Preservation Committee, accepts a kayak from John Larrabee, leader of the Eastman Lake Boatbuilders program, earlier this month. Richard Sachs photograph
John Cooley, left, senior biologist of the Loon Preservation Committee, accepts a kayak from John Larrabee, leader of the Eastman Lake Boatbuilders program, earlier this month. Richard Sachs photograph Credit: Richard Sachs photograph

Eastman Donates Kayak To Loon Preservation Group

Grantham — The Eastman Lake Boat Building program, part of the Eastman Charitable Foundation, has donated a 16-foot kayak restored by youths in the program to the Loon Preservation Committee.

John Cooley, senior biologist of the Loon Preservation Committee, accepted the kayak, which he said will be used in field work or raffled during the preservation committee’s annual fundraiser.

Montshire Hosts Talk Demystifying Marijuana

Norwich — Acceptance of marijuana is growing at a rapid rate, and state laws are changing just as quickly. Anyone who feels confused or overwhelmed by the changes around cannabis is invited to attend a free talk, “Marijuana/Cannabis: What We Know and Don’t know,” taking place from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

“Today more than ever, the need for factual and honest information for parents and their children is critical,” said Angie Leduc, coordinator of ALL Together, a community resource for prevention, treatment, recovery and advocacy of substance misuse in the Upper Valley. ALL Together is sponsoring the event in partnership with Green Peak Alliance, is a collaboration of substance abuse prevention coalitions.

At the event, Dr. Alan Budney, professor in Psychiatry at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and a national expert on the subject of marijuana, will discuss a number of topics, including the effects of marijuana on the body, the difference between THC and CBD, and the growing CBD market. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions.

“We are proud to have Dr. Budney discuss an overview of what we know and don’t know about cannabis based on the research,” Leduc said. “ALL Together works to protect the health of youth and the communities they live in. Our goal in hosting this event is to provide information on the science that exists around marijuana to empower people to make informed decisions.”

New Hampshire Officials Respond To Psychiatric Boarding Lawsuit

Concord — The head of New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services says the agency will continue to work with hospitals to provide timely hearings for psychiatric patients being involuntarily held in hospital emergency rooms.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state this week alleging that mental health patients routinely wait in emergency departments for weeks even though state law requires probable cause hearings within three days of admission.

Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers said the state developed a plan to provide video conference hearings for such individuals and will work with hospitals on implementation.

Meyers said he will seek more money for mental health treatment, but thanks to current spending, the number of adults waiting for a bed at New Hampshire Hospital has leveled off.

Most N.H. Snowmobile Trails Don’t Open Until Mid-December

Concord — It may look like winter in parts of the Granite State, but the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails reminded snowmobile riders that most of the state’s network of trails doesn’t open until mid-December.

More than 80 percent of the state’s public snowmobile trail network exists on private land, and most of the trail agreements governing their use don’t take effect until next month. Early riding is available, however, on the state-owned recreational rail trails, as long as there is snow cover.

The bureau also reminds riders that all machines must be registered before they can operate on the public trail network.

N.H. Sen. Shaheen Helps Lead Delegation to Security Forum

Concord — Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina are leading a bipartisan delegation attending an international security conference in Canada.

The group is participating in the 10th annual Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Three hundred delegates from around the world are discussing strategic cooperation on common global security goals.

Shaheen and Tillis are the co-chairs of the recently re-established Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization Observer Group. The conference began on Friday and ends Sunday.

In previous years, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain led the U.S. delegation. Shaheen said McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, was slated to present an award at the conference.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bug Hits Vermont Retirement Community

Shelburne, Vt. — The Vermont Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of an antibiotic-resistant bug that sickened 70 people at a retirement community.

Investigators have confirmed 22 cases of Shigellosis and 48 others have shown symptoms consistent with the bacteria at the Wake Robin retirement community in Shelburne.

The Shigella bacteria can cause diarrhea and fever.

The investigation into the outbreak began a month ago, and units were quarantined for a time. Officials said there have been no new cases in several weeks

Health Commissioner Mark Levine said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting because the bacterial strain is resistant to antibiotics. He said most affected people needed five to seven days to recover.

Vt. State Board Votes to Merge Districts Despite Opposition

Barre, Vt. — The Vermont Board of Education has voted to make the Arlington and Sandgate school districts join the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union.

Arlington and Sandgate now make up one of Vermont’s smallest supervisory unions.

The SUs had opposed the plan and sought a six-month delay to study the idea.

— Staff and wire reports