The Friends of the Kelly Rink would like to thank all those who made the past ice-skating season a success at the outdoor Kelly Rink behind the Stony Brook T stop. The Kelly Rink is owned and operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Friends is an all volunteer 501c3 organization that supports the rink by operating the skate rental trailer and providing Saturday skating lessons to 160 adults and children.
This past season, the DCR rink staff and regional supervisory staff did a superb job of keeping the ice free of snow and the rink open despite the harsh conditions. They were always responsive and available to both the Friends and community requests.
A special word of appreciation goes out to Max Lee, who is the manager of the skate rental trailer. Max is responsible for making sure the trailer is staffed and the ice skates are sharp and ready for use. He and his staff of community youths do a fabulous job of relating to the youth who use the rink.
We could not maintain our $1 skate rental fee for youths 17 and under and $2 fee for adults and offer scholarships to our Learn to Skate Program without the sponsorship of local businesses, elected officials, nonprofits and individuals whose signs are displayed around the rink during skating season. Our sponsors are: Ace Hardware, Boston Building Materials Coop, City Feed and Supply, East Boston Savings Bank, Fresh Hair, Hatoff’s Gas Station, Clerk Magistrate Maura Hennigan, Hyde Square Task Force, JP Licks, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, JP Seafood, Knights of Columbus Council 120, Rep. Liz Malia, Mann and Rodgers Funeral Home, Councilor Matt O’Malley, Tom O’Malley in honor of the late Rep. Kevin Fitzgerald, Mike’s Fitness Gym, Morrison’s Auto Rite, El Oriental de Cuba, Partners HealthCare-affiliated Brookside Community Health Center and JP Southern Community Health Center, the Regan Youth League, Sign Post, Stanley Services, The Stone Family Trust, Ula’s Café, Urban Edge, Whole Foods, and Yumont Hardware.
Please show your appreciation for all our sponsors’ generosity by patronizing their businesses and supporting all the organizations and elected officials who support our community.
Finally, our wildly popular Learn to Skate Program is ably directed by Kim Wheeland. Kim is a JP resident and professional ice-skating teacher. Each year she recruits a group of accomplished skaters to teach our youths and adults the basics of ice skating. DCR also contributes to our Learn to Skate Program by donating free ice time.
See you on the ice in December 2015.
Mike Frank, Ginny Clifford and Steve Glickel
Friends of the Kelly Rink
Jamaica Plain