In 2007 the BRES asset development team asked students what they would like to see to improve their community. The number one response was a free and safe place to skate. Toward that end a group of students, parents and volunteers was formed which eventually became the Boothbay Region Ice Rink Committee. We set up our first rink up on land offered to us by the Boothbay Fire Department after being rebuffed for our efforts by the Boothbay Selectmen. That first year was a great success - we had great use and volunteer support.

I am pleased to say, we have provided the same until recently. Unfortunately, our best efforts are no match for the generally worsening climate for skating. When we started this, we could skate by mid-December. After a while, it was around the first of January. The last few years it has been the middle of January before we could skate. So, given our ever narrowing weather window, and the dearth of youth to fill our work boots, we have decided to shut it down. We will no longer provide the rink at the fire station.

Since inception the Ice Rink Committee has asked the town for a place where we could build a structure so we could provide ice over a longer season, with better consistency and rink conditions. With a roofed structure and open sides, our season would be greatly extended both in the winter and the spring, and could be maintained much easier. This structure could be used as an open air market, basketball court, a place for indoor spring practice, etc. We believe this would fit nicely into the new Clifford Playground redo. Therefore, the Boothbay Region Ice Rink Committee, with full support of the Boothbay Civic Association, will continue to advocate for the rink that our kids have asked for.

I would like to thank a few of the many people that have helped us over the years. First, a big thank you to Jeanne Tonon for getting this rolling. Thank you to the Boothbay firefighters for accommodating and tolerating us over the years. Thank you to Bill Smith for helping us keep the rink cleared off. Thank you to the entire Conlin Family for everything they have done over the years to make this a success. Thank you to Lincoln Erhard for his leadership, Peter Brown for his tireless optimism, Eric Marden and crew who bailed us out more than once, and the Boothbay Civic Association for truly caring for the youth of this town. Lastly, I would like to thank
the youth of this town who had the courage to dream, and the strength to make it happen.

Your humble rink shoveler and vice president of the Boothbay Region Ice Rink Committee, Kevin Anthony