CONCORD — Hunter or Bowhunter Education courses are underway around the state and those who want to participate can start by logging onto the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website to sign up for a class.
"We urge people to try to get your course in early in the year, especially if you want to go turkey hunting in May," said Hunter Education Coordinator Josh Mackay. "Don't delay, because spring classes and online field days are filling up fast."
To sign up for a class, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm. Under "Find a Class," click on the link for traditional hunter education, online hunter education or traditional bowhunter education courses. Scroll down and use the handy calendar search engine to find classes using your zip code. Once you find a class, simply click on the event to preview all the details about the course and register. After you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email. If you need help using the online system, call the Hunter Education office at 603-271-3214.
To accommodate the increasing number of people taking the online Hunter Education course – more than a thousand people completed the online course in 2012 – the program will be offering additional field days this year. Those taking Hunter Education online must complete their testing and hands-on requirements at a structured field day event.
New hunters applying for a license, and hunters without a previous hunting license, must first take a hunter education course. (An exception is those purchasing an apprentice hunting license; learn more at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/apprentice.html.) If you're age 16 or older, you need a license to hunt in New Hampshire; youth are encouraged to take hunter education between the age of 12 and their 16th birthday.
To meet this requirement, Fish and Game offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes around the state, as well as Trapper Education. To receive a certificate of completion, participants in these programs must be 12 years old by the end of the course. Courses are available from February through October.
Last year trained volunteer Hunter Education instructors presented 65 traditional Hunter Education courses, with 1,886 students certified; 37 Bowhunter Education courses, with 1,084 students certified; and 26 online Hunter Education course field days, with 723 students certified. Overall, the program certified 3,935 new hunters in 2012.

LACONIA — Enhanced Life Options Group (ELO) has moved its Lakes Region Office to 55 Church Street, formerly owned by Munzey & Brazil and Cross Insurance Agency.
ELO is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, established in 1993. For 20 years ELO has been committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.
ELO provides consulting, advocacy, mentoring, referral services and trust related services for the disabilities community, including special needs trusts, supplemental needs trusts, pooled trusts and trusts for independent living.
ELO now has three locations in Bedford and Laconia, New Hampshire and St. Johnsbury, Vermont. ELO interacts with many members of the disabilities community, including graduates of the Laconia State School, utilizing private sector funds, to arrange services beyond what public benefits have to offer, including modified van purchases, household goods and home purchases.
The Executive Director Nina Hamberger is the daughter of Armand and Irene Bedard and the sister of Phil Bedard of Laconia.

CAPTION:
Enhanced Life Options Group (ELO) has moved its Lakes Region Office to 55 Church Street, formerly owned by Munzey & Brazil and Cross Insurance Agency. (Courtesy photo)

LACONIA — The LRGH Auxiliary Gift Shop located in the Atrium lobby at Lakes Region General Hospital is in need of interested individuals to volunteer to work in the hospital gift shop.
A volunteer in the LRGH Gift Shop has the opportunity to meet and assist the many visitors to the hospital, patients and staff who come into the shop looking for just the right card to brighten someone's day, a cheery floral bouquet, a special gift or that sweet "pick me up" treat.
There are a variety of shift openings available Monday to Friday that include mornings, afternoons and some evenings. There is also a need for some weekend coverage and those hours can be made flexible according to volunteer availability.
Funds raised by the LRGH Auxiliary Gift Shop help support the projects and programs of the Auxiliary, which in turn benefit patient care in the LRGHealthcare community. Each year the Auxiliary donates several thousand dollars to purchase equipment or provide support to programs that assist in patient care at Lakes Region General Hospital. Much of that funding donated is a result of the proceeds earned in the operation of the LRGH Gift Shop.
Those who have former retail experience, would like to gain that experience or simply want to donate time to a job that offers the opportunity to interact with a variety of people while helping a charitable effort are encouraged to contact the Auxiliary Gift Shop Committee.
Those who are interested in volunteering or who would like more information can contact the LRGH Auxiliary Gift Shop Chairperson, Sue Dalton, at 293-2236.