by Rick Wierzbicki
Despite the mostly mild to outright warm weather, we have had a great season down at the Edgemont Ice Rink. We got the ice in early during the December cold snap and have managed to keep it clean and frozen through the spring-like January weather. The main rink and the kiddy rink are heavily used by an enthusiastic mob of both young and old skaters. I would like to thank the ECA for continuing to fund the operation of the rink. Between electrical costs and repairs and fuel for the machines, the ECA spends more than a thousand dollars a season keeping the rink going.
The rink is cleaned and maintained by volunteers led by me. I have been involved since the early 1980s and have worked with many great volunteers who come out in the cold and clean and flood. Nothing like working with water at freezing temperatures. I would like to thank and acknowledge this year’s team of ice makers, Mike Good, Michael Hayward, Marty Chisholm, Rob Weston, and myself. Two of our volunteers do not even live in the community. Rob has retired from the group this year as he has started a small business which is taking up his time.
So, for 2024 we will need to recruit some new folks who want to operate snow blowers and snow brushes and learn the tricks of making ice using a fire hose. At some point, I will have to pack it in as well as the hoses keep getting heavier, so if someone wants to step up into a lead position the door is opening.
For the remainder of the season, which ends quickly once the sun rises higher in the sky, please remember to be kind and shovel the snow over the boards if you scrape the ice. Enjoy this great community amenity for the rest of the winter and then go play basketball and inline hockey in the summer.
