News

The popular summer pastime of “rafting” - boating’s equivalent of a tailgate party - on the state’s lakes would be banned by a bill before the state Senate. Rafting is when boats congregate on the water, sometimes involving as many as 150 boats.

Ultimately the Conservancy will use carefully prescribed burns in this pine barrens ecosystem that has depended upon fire for its maintenance and regeneration for thousands of years.

Under state law, that means the planning boards of all potentially affected towns must be treated as abutters and invited to comment on the application.

In addition to considering the impact on the town, the Board expects to hear concerns about the potential impact on neighboring towns, including Ossipee and Freedom.

A law exempting “private driving instruction and exhibition facilities” from town regulatory authority over race tracks pursuant to RSA 31:41-a became effective Tuesday May 4th.