Nearly all of the ice is now gone at Lake Ripple (photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 22).

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

Photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

Just a day earlier, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Lake Ripple still have ice cover over have of its surface.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

GRAFTON, Mass. - A somewhat symbolic indication that winter was never going to ramp up this year, what little ice was on Lake Ripple is all but gone after the first of several warm days this week.

With temperatures expected in the 50s in this final week of February, Graftonites may have seen all the ice they're going to see this particularly mild winter, which is a disappointment for fans of ice fishing and skating.

For the Grafton Lions Club and its Ice-Out Charlie Contest. The results came in more quickly than expected. Charlie took the plunge on Feb. 19 at 3:12 p.m.

The lucky winner of the $500 prize was Doug Knotts, who came closest to the correct time.

The Grafton Lions would like to take this opportunity to thank all of people that participated in the success of this project and are looking forward doing this again next year.

Those of us who prefer the warmer seasons are hoping Mother Nature doesn't have any surprise spring snowstorms in the works for New England this year!