Millar Civic Center open for skating

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
 HOULTON, Maine — It is known by many names. Some people call it by its official name, the John A. Millar Civic Center. To others, it is the “arena” and still others simply call it the “ice rink.”
Since 1999 the civic center has provided southern Aroostook County residents with a gathering spot in the winter months to either watch youth hockey games or participate in public ice-skating sessions.    Starting in mid-October and often lasting until mid-March, ice skating is an excellent source of both recreation and exercise.
“Skating is a great way to get some exercise during the winter,” said Haley Nickerson, director of the Civic Center. “It’s a great activity that children can do, but it’s also good for adults. Skating is something just about anyone can do.”
The hours for public skating are typically Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.  Stick Time, an informal hockey shoot-a-round, is offered Sundays from 4-5 p.m. Occasionally, Sunday’s public skating is not offered if there is a youth hockey game scheduled.
Public skating sessions cost $3.50 for youths, $4 for adults and $2 for seniors. All persons stepping onto the ice must have skates because shoes and boots can have salt particles on them, which harm the ice.
For those who have their own skates, the Civic Center offers a skate sharpening service for a small fee.
According to the website www.skatingfitness.com, “ice skating is an exhilarating, relatively inexpensive activity that provides an excellent source of exercise and entertainment for the entire family. If you are already an avid ice skater, we will provide you with some useful tips, and connect you to a great selection of quality ice skates, and other ice skating equipment.”
The health benefits of skating are plentiful. Aside from giving a strong cardiovascular workout, skating can help individuals lose weight, increase one’s endurance and tone muscles.
For those in need of skates, the Civic Center has an ample supply of skates to rent for just $2. Ice skates come in a variety of styles and sizes to accommodate all types of ice skaters. The Civic Center received several pair of new hockey skates this year as a donation from an anonymous person.
For beginners, double-bladed skates provide stability for those just learning to glide across the ice. For the more experienced skaters, the choice is typically between figure skates or hockey skates. Figure skates are equipped with toe-pick in the front, to allow for jumps, spins and other moves, and also has a blade that extends beyond the back of the shoe. Hockey skates are generally more comfortable and provide greater support and stability.
When it comes time to take a break, the civic center has a heated snack area where it serves hamburgers, pizza, French fries, hot cocoa and other delicacies to warm a person up.
“We’ve been open for about a month now and the attendance has been steady,” Nickerson said. “There have been lots of people coming out and trying skating. We encourage everyone to come check us out.”
For more information, call 532-1313.