McClory: Special Olympics Mass. Winter Games take place in two weeks

The 2010 Special Olympics Massachusetts Winter Games will be held March 12, 13 and 14 in Worcester and surrounding areas. The 2010 Winter Games will host approximately 2,000 athletes and coaches, as well as 1,500 volunteers under the guidance of the professional Special Olympics Massachusetts State Office staff. The Special Olympics Massachusetts Winter Games consist of competition in eight sports: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Nordic Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Ten Pin Bowling, and Basketball. Basketball is the largest of the eight sports hosted at Winter Games, with more than 100 teams and 1,200 coaches and athletes. Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding will take place at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, and I will be there as a coach with my team, the “Nashoba Shooting Stars.” This is our eighth year competing and we are hoping to bring home the gold. If you are in the area, stop in to watch these fine athletes enjoy some very competitive alpine racing.Lack of snow cover, blustery weather and long sunny winter days are a formula that eats away at the ice causing treacherous fishing conditions. The thickness and quality of the ice will fluctuate throughout the day. This was the case two weekends ago on Sebago Lake where the Maine Chevrolet ice fishing derby and winter carnival was being held. On Saturday after a dozen vehicles and people went for unexpected dips in the ice-cold water, derby officials scrambled to cancel the event and evacuate two thousand participants and spectators.During the September and November bear seasons, licensed hunters took a record total of 168 black bears, breaking the 2003 record of 153 bears. During the 17-day September season 140 bears were taken, and a record November black bear harvest of 28 more was taken during the 18-day season. Last year, the total number of bears taken was 100.Are you planning on a spring turkey hunt here in Massachusetts? Don’t forget to send in your permit with $5. This is attached to your license and needs to be postmarked by March 15.Do you know that a major source of funding for the protection of rare and endangered species in Massachusetts comes from voluntary tax refund donations? Since 1983, Massachusetts residents have had the option of donating to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund when filing their state income tax form (Line 32). When you contribute to the fund, you help to protect and restore rare and endangered animals, plants, and their habitats. Past donations have helped conserve and restore in the Commonwealth populations of the Bald Eagle, Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly, the Redbelly Cooter, and the beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster. If you have made a contribution in this manner, thank you for supporting the program and its conservation efforts!All for now.