Get ready for an early boating season
Lake Hopatcong is preparing for an early boating season by starting to fill the lake a month early. A mild winter with no ice on the lake, or predicted for the near future, allows officials to close the dam and start the water rising now, said Lorraine Cannata, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 10-7. And with the mild weather, boating season will be here before you know it. In order to help boaters get ready for the season, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 10-07 will be conducting additional boating safety courses in March. The first course will be held on March 18 at the Hopatcong Senior Center, 32 Lakeside Blvd. in Hopatcong. This course will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The fee is $65 and includes lunch. Contact Frank Federico at ffederico@att.net for registration and further information. Morris Hills Adult Education is sponsoring the next course to be held over two successive nights of March 19 and 20. Classes will be held at the Morris Hills High School, 520 W. Main St. in Rockaway. The classes will be in Room 107 and run from 6:30 to 9:45 p.m. each night. To enroll in this course, please contact the adult school office at 973-664-2295. The registration fee for this course is $69. Anyone 13 years of age or older operating a boat in New Jersey is required to have successfully completed a boating safety course and possess a boating safety certificate. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarys About Boating Safety courses meet all of the state and federal requirements for a certificate. These courses are taught by instructors certified by both the U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police. These instructors are dedicated and experienced volunteers, continued FC Cannata. They not only teach what you have to know, but what you should know as well for our local waters and area. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer Component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, Americas Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the services missions.