Boothbay Civic Association is looking for a few good men and women to help create a community ice rink. For decades, the BCA has been instrumental in funding projects, from the Boothbay municipal building to an imaging camera for the fire department. 

More recently, the association’s focus has been on creating a community ice skating rink, but a lack of members and volunteers has hindered the project. The BCA currently has 12 dues-paying members, but hasn’t had an official meeting since May. To boost membership, the BCA sought more members and volunteers for winter projects by submitting an article to the Boothbay Register. “We need more volunteers to help us regroup and to work on more projects,” read the Sept. 28 article. “Over the years, the BCA helped and raised money to help the the town of Boothbay for Christmas lights on the Common. We had the boats, trees and many other decorations up. We used to have a Lobster Stew Supper at the Boothbay Fire Station to raise money. But now we need more help from the Boothbay area communities this year for Christmas Lights on the Common.” 

The article worked. Ten residents attended the BCA’s Oct. 5 meeting which discussed creating a community ice rink and Christmas lighting of Boothbay Common. Former BCA President Rosemary Bourette wasn’t surprised by the turnout. “No, not at all. There is interest in the skating rink so a lot of people came,” she said. 

But once again, the BCA fell short of a quorum to hold an official meeting. Only five of the 12 members attended which left them two short of a quorum. Instead, the association held a brain-storming session with the 10 community members. With winter approaching, the group wasn’t sure if either a permanent or temporary ice rink was possible. The project’s major hurdle is a location. In the past, community ice skating was held at the Boothbay Fire Station. Other locations under consideration are Boothbay Common or Clifford Park. “We need to focus on what we can do this winter, and where we are going with it,” BCA president Dawn Gilbert said. “We need to talk to (Town Manager) Dan Bryer and Linc Erhard (a BCA member involved in past ice skating projects). Now that the Clifford Park project is over maybe we can talk to the town to see what we can and can’t do.”

Several volunteers supported building a permanent hockey rink which could support both public skating and either formal or informal hockey games. Such a structure would span 200 feet by 85 feet. If a hockey rink is built, the community skating rink would include a roof which would enhance ice conditions in winter and host community events and pickle ball in the summer. 

The project’s next step is forming a community ice skating committee. All 10 community members signed up for the committee. Bourette urged them to join the BCA which would give them more project input. “It’s a $5 annual membership fee and you can vote on all projects,” she said. 

In other action, the BCA plans on displaying three ships on Boothbay Common as the association has in years past. The BCA  had five people committed to setting up the lighted display with a completion date goal of mid-November.

Southport resident Sandy Larsen is considering becoming a BCA member. “I saw the article in the paper and wanted to help,” she said. “I didn’t even know about the ice rink. I just wanted to help with the lights, but I’m considering joining.”

This article has been updated since its original posting.