When the ice is ready, ice fishing makes for an exhilarating winter activity. Fisheries biologist Ben Nugent said nothing beats getting up at 3 a.m. for an ice fishing trip.

“Just being outside in the open, cold winter air, there’s nothing better for you,” Nugent said. “It’s just great being out there. It’s a whole different scenario walking on top of the water like that.”

Officials from N.H. Fish and Game warn that ice conditions are not yet safe for fishing in the state, but they will be soon. And if you can cope with the cold air, you just might land one of the trophy fish that lurk beneath the frozen surface.

Opinion

Guest columnist NH State Rep. Jim Splaine, primary sponsor of House Bill 436 creating marriage equality, reminds us that the law takes effect on Jan. 1. Other states will eventually extend equality to all of their citizens, he says, just as we are doing here. But we must give it a chance.

The Portsmouth Police Department has been on Facebook for more than two months now, and Capt. Mike Schwartz said the Internet tool serves a variety of purposes. It enables police to let the public know about winter parking bans or traffic tie-ups due to accidents.

The department also posts what it deems to be noteworthy arrests, with mugshots, every few days.

When asked if he would post information about an arrestee being found innocent, Schwartz wavered. “I suppose we could,” he said. “We haven’t had that happen as of yet.”

Twelve years after the colossal crossover mega-hit “Titanic,” director James Cameron has returned to blockbuster moviemaking with a gorgeous 3D sci-fantasy super-adventure. Who doesn’t want to ride a dragon and date a blue girl? Sold!

A round-up of recent releases from the Seacoast music scene 

Live Free Photography offers camera services in Portsmouth

The opening of Live Free Photography on Dec. 1 marks the return of an independent, local source for camera services and supplies in Portsmouth.

Let’s Get Married, The Jonee Earthquake Band, Billy Raygun, The Devil and a Penny and The Zambia are part of an all-ages winter holiday rock show in Dover.

Tales from the Video Vault

Dan O’Bannon worked with big-name directors like James Cameron and John Carpenter, but he dwelled in the shadows of genre filmmaking and is, in a way, responsible for a good chunk of the modern landscape of sci-fi and horror filmmaking. O’Bannon did it all, from aliens to zombies to space vampires.

Library sharing reaches record high

The State Library Bookmobile began in 1938 to help small, rural libraries supplement their collections. Today, it couriers half a million books, movies, music and periodicals around the state each year.