THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 28, 2020 Page 17 10th annual Harpoon Shamrock Splash – Sunday, March 8 To benefi t Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches program Last year more than 200 Splashers raised more than $50,000 to support free beach events and programs from Nahant to Nantasket. Register today at www.shamrocksplash.org. T he 10th annual Harpoon Shamrock Splash to benefit Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay’s Better Beaches program partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation will be held on Sunday, March 8, at the BCYF Curley Community Center at M Street Beach in South Boston. In 2019 the program awarded more than $210,000 to 37 organizations in nine waterfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket to support more than 200 events, including free beach festivals, concerts, movie nights and art and circus performances – including more than $17,000 to organizations in Revere to support free events and programs on Revere Beach. “Since the fi rst Splash in 2011, we have raised more than $1 million to support free events and activities on the region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull,” said Save the Harbor’s Executive Director, Chris Mancini. “Though it is cold in the water for a few minutes, the warm feeling you get from giving back to your community lasts all year long.” For just $20, participants can enjoy a refreshing Harpoon beer, hot chowder and the chance to win round-trip fl ights – although the fun is unlimited, some restrictions apply; see the event site at www.shamrocksplash.org for details – from JetBlue at Boston’s best winter beach party. The $20 helps Save the Harbor/Save the Bay raise funds. You can register today at www.shamrocksplash.org. Participants compete for JetBlue fl ights for biggest fundraiser and best costume. JetBlue has sponsored the event since 2011. “The employee-owners of Harpoon are thrilled to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of this event with our partners at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay,” said Harpoon Brewery President Charlie Storey. “I can’t say I look forward to diving into freezing water, but the Shamrock Splash is one of my favorite days of the year.” “At JetBlue, we are committed to our community and fun is one of our core values,” said JetBlue Corporate Social Responsibility Liaison Donnie Todd, who led a team of 30 participants. “More than 4,000 JetBlue crewmembers call Boston home; we cherish our harbor and proudly support Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the work they do on the region’s public beaches.” So start a team, invite your friends to join, and help Save the Harbor make a big splash on the beach in 2020 by registering online before the event at www. shamrocksplash.org for $20 (or register day-of for $25). Save the Harbor’s success would not be possible without their program partners and event sponsors, including Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, Mix 104.1, The Daily Catch, The Blue Sky Collaborative, The Boston Foundation, The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation, Beacon Capital Partners, P&G Gillette, National Grid and Comcast. Save the Harbor also thanks Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs State Representative RoseLee Vincent and State Senator Brendan Crighton, the legislative and community members on the Commission, the Baker-Polito Administration, Save the Harbor’s partners at the Department of Conservation & Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston and the hundreds of people who take part in the Harpoon Shamrock Splash every year for their support. Make a big splash for your beach on March 8 at the 10th Annual Harpoon Shamrock Splash. Funds raised will support free Better Beaches events in 2020. Register today at www. shamrocksplash.org. About Save the Harbor/Save the Bay As the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region's public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy. For more information about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work it does to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor and the region’s public beaches, please visit the website www.savehtheharbor.org, the blog “Sea, Sand & Sky” at blog. savetheharbor.org or follow ”savetheharbor” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. State officials remind public of dangers of walking on ice-covered water bodies W ith recent warmer temperatures across much of Massachusetts, state officials are warning the public of the dangers associated with walking on ice over bodies of water, including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams and rivers. Public safety and recreation offi cials from the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Department of Fire Services (DFS) remind residents and visitors to be conscious of the risks associated with walking on ice, particularly after warm weather, and ask that the public refrain from doing so. The winter season offers unique outdoor recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy, including ice fi shing, ice skating, and snowmobiling; unfortunately, year after year state and local offi cials receive and respond to reports of individuals falling through thin ice. In a short period of time, an individual who falls into icy waters can experience hypothermia-like symptoms, which can become fatal if not treated immediately. Hypothermia symptoms include shivering, dizziness, hunger, nausea, accelerated breathing, diffi culty speaking, lack of coordination, fatigue and an increase in heart rate. Ice safety tips the public should follow when near bodies of water during the winter months include the following: • Parents should supervise their children; • Never go onto ice alone; • Always keep your pets on a leash, and do not let them out off -leash near bodies of water that are covered by ice; • Beware of ice covered with snow. Snow can insulate ice and keep it from freezing. It can also hide cracks as well as other weak spots; • Ice formed over fl owing water (including springs under the surface) is generally weaker than ice over still water; • Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. It can be a foot thick in one spot or an inch thick in another; • If a companion falls through the ice and you are unable to reach that person from shore, throw something to them (a rope, tree branch, even jumper cables from a car, etc.). If this does not work, go or phone for help. Get medical assistance for the victim immediately; • If you fall in, try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, working forward by kicking your feet. Once the ice is solid enough to hold you, and you can pull yourself out, remain lying on the ice (do not stand; lying down spreads your weight across a wider area, lessening your weight on any one spot) and roll away from the hole. Crawl back the way you came, keeping your weight distributed, until you return to solid ice or ground; and, • As the season progresses, plan accordingly and use caution, as the conditions of older ice greatly varies and is subject to rapid changes. For further information regarding ice and winter safety tips, please visit the DFS and the MassWildlife websites. MSP reminds individuals to call 911 in the event of an emergency, such as an individual falling through thin ice. Additionally, several state parks and facilities provide outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the winter season, some of which have DCR rangers and/ or staff facilitating many programs. Please visit DCR’s website for details.
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