Local ice rink needs volunteers

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my thanks to the Village of Owego and its D.P.W. They have done whatever it took to set up the ice rink at the large pavilion in Marvin Park. That includes the plastic liner, which is draped over the fiberglass panels.

Those panels, with their supports, form the rink wall, which is about 30 feet x 85 feet. Next they hooked up a hose from the faucet to flood the rink to the proper depth. They also attached screens all the way around the outside to provide shade for the ice and to block the wind. 

At each end outside the rink wall they have placed a picnic table for skate changing. The village provides overhead lighting in the pavilion. They also provide a faucet and water for initial flooding and for periodic resurfacing. They also plow for access and parking spaces. 

Close by there is an Amish weed shed which houses the various rink set-up equipment, as well as snow shovels, scrapers, hockey goal nets, hose and nozzles, etc. The D.P.W. does not use these last items. That is where one or two volunteers could really make a difference, which would be appreciated by all.

They could keep the ice cleared and resurface it at times. They could also keep tools put away and maybe even do some repair work. HINT: Be sure to drain the hose after each use. Otherwise your hose will be locked by a 100-foot long plug of ice. I know, because for six winters I was the volunteer.

Sincerely,
Karl Tiemann

Owego, N.Y.