New Hampshire
‘A day I will never forget’: Massive shark crashes bachelorette party off NH coast
For bride-to-be Morgan Irons, her bachelorette party started out as a picture-perfect escape on the open water, but it quickly became a personal tribute to the 50th anniversary of “Jaws” as she came face-to-face with her deepest fear.
“Any type of open water, I just am very fearful,” Irons said.
To celebrate, Irons’ future sister-in-law, Colby Taylor, planned a surprise bachelorette cruise around the picturesque Isle of Shoals, promising a relaxing day of whale watching.
“I’ve never seen a shark. My dad’s been a lobsterman his whole life, I’ve always been on the boat, I’ve never seen a shark in these waters, you have nothing to be worried about,” Taylor recalled assuring her.
That assurance quickly evaporated, according to RJ Lincoln, the ship’s first mate.
“All the gals are out back having a fun time, and all of the sudden, we hear Colby scream,” Lincoln said.
“Colby goes, ‘I see a fin!’ And we all look and everybody’s like, ‘Oh, no, that’s a bird, that’s a sunfish.’ And she’s like, ‘No, that’s a fin!’ And my heart starts racing,” Irons said.
The bride’s last sail before the veil quickly evoked images of the iconic 1975 movie.
Filmed right here in Massachusetts, the summer blockbuster became a classic American movie.
“We were quoting ‘Jaws’ going out into the ocean, so maybe we manifested the sharks? I’m not sure we meant to,” Taylor said.
As Taylor captured the sharks on camera, Irons sought refuge at the back of the boat. The group, about 15 miles offshore, ultimately spotted not one, but two sharks.
“We looked down and then this monstrosity, it looked prehistoric, like a dinosaur coming out from underneath. It was just this massive, massive body,” Taylor said.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) confirmed they were basking sharks, a species known to migrate to these waters around this time of year. As the second-largest shark species, outgrown only by the whale shark, they can reach lengths of up to 40 feet, though most adults average between 20 and 30 feet. Their immense size often leads to them being mistaken for great white sharks, particularly in Massachusetts waters.
Actor Richard Dreyfuss was back on the Vineyard 50 years after helping to create a Hollywood phenomenon: Jaws.
However, these gentle giants are filter-feeders and harmless to humans, according to the AWSC. They’re commonly seen swimming near the surface with their dorsal fin protruding, mouths wide open as they filter plankton using bristle-like gill rakers.
RJ Lincoln, despite his extensive time on the water, still found the sighting remarkable.
“To be honest, that’s the biggest basking shark I’ve ever seen. It was like 25 or 30 feet,” Lincoln said.
“It was the topic of conversation for the rest of the night,” Taylor said.
“Definitely a day I will never forget. That is for sure,” Irons added.
Have you heard of Holly Jolly Journey in Litchfield, New Hampshire?
It’s touted as “New England’s largest and most spectacular holiday light show,” and it’s just one more incredible event you should check out this Christmas season.
According to its website, Holly Jolly Journey has added a million lights for this recent season, meaning there are now over 3 million dazzling lights you can take in while walking through.
What Is Holly Jolly Journey in Litchfield, New Hampshire?
Located at Mel’s Funway Park in Litchfield, Holly Jolly Journey is a walk-through Christmas light event that spans over 2/3 of a mile and features some incredible displays all along the way.
Some of the spectacular things you can see include Santa’s Workshop, Candy Cane Lane, Twinkly Tunnel and Teddy’s Christmas Corner, among others.
The walk is truly mesmerizingly festive.
The Holly Jolly Journey website also notes some new stuff for the 2025/26 season, including additions to almost every scene along the walk, more trees lit, more food and drink stations, a new 28-foot centerpiece, and a new indoor party suite.
When is the Holly Jolly Journey in Litchfield, New Hampshire?
According to its website, the Holly Jolly Journey takes place from the day after Thanksgiving through January 11. It is closed on Christmas Eve.
There are multiple time slots to choose from, starting at 4:30 p.m. and with the last time slot of the day being at 10 p.m. (for those late-night holiday owls).
It should take about an hour to complete, but you can take as long as you’d like.
READ MORE: New Hampshire’s Dazzling 2-Mile Holiday Drive-Thru With 3 Million Lights Returns for 2025
Have you decided which holiday experience you should do this season? You certainly don’t have to limit yourself to one, and Holly Jolly Journey is one you might want to consider. With over 3 million lights and incredible displays on a festive walk perfect for the family, you’ll be soaking up the sparkle of Christmas in the best way possible.
You’ll also have so many Instagram-worthy pics with that glowing backdrop!
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DOVER, New Hampshire (WGME) — A New Hampshire woman is facing charges after reportedly speeding more than 100 miles per hour during a police chase.
New Hampshire State Police say it happened Saturday night on Route 16 in Dover.
Troopers say they tried to pull over the driver, Stephanie Dupont, but she took off at high speed.
Troopers say they followed her to Exit 3, where she veered off the road.
After the crash, they say she jumped out of the car and tried to flee on foot.
An off-duty officer from Ogunquit happened to be near by and was able to stop her.
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Officials say Dupont suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
A superior court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of visually impaired New Hampshire voters who argued a newly passed absentee voter law violates the state constitution.
In a lawsuit filed this summer, the plaintiffs alleged the measure, which was backed by state Republicans, places a disproportionate burden on people with disabilities by making it harder to vote.
On Friday, New Hampshire Superior Court Judge David Ruoff dismissed the case, ruling that the new policies are reasonable.
The new law requires people requesting an absentee ballot to prove their identity in one of three ways: either mail in a photocopy of an ID, along with their ballot application; have their ballot application notarized; or show an ID at town hall prior to an election.
In his opinion, Ruoff said, “The identification requirements impose ordinary burdens on all absentee voters, and the possibility that it may cause additional burden on a subset of absentee voters does not render the entire statute unconstitutional.”
It isn’t clear if the plaintiffs will appeal the ruling to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
“We appreciate the Court’s recognition that the identification requirements for absentee voters are reasonable, constitutional, and consistent with New Hampshire’s long-standing election practices,” said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, who defended the law in court.
New Hampshire residents who vote in person are already required to show an ID at the polls when requesting a ballot. Supporters of the new law say the same safeguards should be in place for those voters who request an absentee ballot.
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