We thought you'd like to see the setup for the Ice-Out Contest that's on the ice. Larry Rossi puts the contraption together - with posts to keep the rope from getting frozen into the ice (hopefully). 
     I'll let you in on a little secret - sometimes the ice thaws enough to let the posts fall over and then the rope gets frozen in anyway, but never mind - we try.
     So when they were out there, they had an auger and were able to measure the ice in the vicinity of the block and the report is that it is two feet thick. I don't think there was an actual measuring tape involved, but these guys are carpenters, so perhaps! At any rate, they would have a good eye to judge, so I'm thinking that's a pretty accurate report.
     So now all we do is wait.
     There is no camera transmission like there was a few years ago, and people do miss that, but really, there isn't much to see. Watching ice melt is akin to watching paint dry. The excitement comes later, when the block and flag begin to tilt and there's open water in the usual places. That time will come - but not for a few weeks.