Everett ice rink expands hours for skaters

Published 10:42 pm Sunday, December 21, 2008

EVERETT — When the weather outside is frightful, it’s hard to warm up to the idea of spending leisure time on ice.

Ask Cheri Bellinger, though, and she’ll say these wintry days and nights are perfect for skating.

“We’re open,” said Bellinger, who works at the front desk of the Comcast Community Ice Rink in downtown Everett.

During a snowstorm in Everett Thursday, Bellinger said the skating crowd was sparse although schoolchildren had been given an early gift. Last week’s snow brought school closures and longer winter vacations.

It’s fun for kids, but may leave parents scrambling for activities to fill long winter days.

“They’re not coming in, but it’s a good time to go skating,” Bellinger said. “I skated yesterday myself.”

The Comcast Community Ice Rink, part of Everett’s Comcast Arena, hosts a Learn to Skate program with lessons offered in six-week sessions; an Everett Youth Hockey League and other skating programs; and private birthday parties and group events. Over the holidays, the rink has scheduled extended open-skate hours.

Bellinger, 57, said she started taking lessons a couple years ago, first with a group. She’s now in private lessons. As a child growing up in Indiana and Connecticut, she skated on ponds. Bellinger said she hadn’t been on ice skates in decades.

It’s a good sport at any age, she said. “We have a gal 67, she’s been taking lessons. It doesn’t hurt your back or your knees,” Bellinger said.

Bellinger was a volunteer during the 2008 Skate America events. The international skating competition was held Oct. 23-26 at Comcast Arena.

“Anytime the Winter Olympics or Skate America is held, it increases interest in the sport,” said Bellinger. On the last day of Skate America, she got the chance to see U.S. men’s skating star Evan Lysacek up close during a public event at the Comcast Community Ice Rink.

“He’s real good looking. The girls were really in awe,” she said.

The athletes of Skate America have moved on to other venues, but the Everett rink is there for future stars of the sport.

“Snow should put people in the mood for it,” Bellinger said.

Reporter Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Ice rink information

The Comcast Community Ice Rink at Everett’s Comcast Arena has scheduled longer open skate hours during schools’ winter vacation.

Located next to the main arena at Hewitt Avenue and Broadway, the rink is a National Hockey League regulation ice sheet measuring 200 feet by 85 feet.

For schedules and more information: www.comcastarenaeverett.com/IceRink.ashx?p=3