When I was a young pup, one favorite winter pastime was ice skating. My siblings and I routinely skated on the frozen Mississippi River. We hauled our skates and snow shovels down over the riverbanks to clear off our very own rink. Cracks and uneven ice provided challenges but also laughs when a sibling stumbled over the rough ice. It was the second-best place to skate where I grew up. 

The best place to skate was Furlano’s Pond. It was the wintertime youth center in the small town where I grew up. It was a 2-acre cattail lined pond where the muskrat houses served as both benches and places to tighten our skates. It had one flood light that provided enough illumination to allow skating well beyond sunset. If you have ever seen an ice-skating painting by Norman Rockwell, you could make a reasonable argument that Furlano’s Pond was his inspiration.  The only thing that prevented the pond from being packed with ice skaters was frigid cold weather and then the pond was only half-packed. For another point or reference, if this was the fall season I would be talking about Furlano’s football field which was right next to the pond. 

I was reminded of those great memories from my youth when I walked by the outdoor ice rink located near the Ellsworth Elementary School at 445 S. Piety. The free rink is a cooperative effort between the Village of Ellsworth and the Ellsworth Community School District. I have actually skated there and for an outdoor rink without a Zamboni to smooth the ice, it’s not a bad skate. 

Skating does not have the appeal that it once did and for that reason most people don’t have skates, but don’t let that stop you. There are a variety of skates available to use for free. If you have skates that you no longer use, you can drop them off at the Warming House or at the Ellsworth Elementary School.  

Warming House Hours (weather permitting)

• Wednesday through Friday 3:30-8 p.m.
• Saturday noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday 4-8:00 p.m.

The Ellsworth Skates Program was provided by an Empower Ellsworth Grant (a collaboration between Ellsworth Community School District and Ellsworth E3 Community Development Corporation).

I prefer outdoor rinks because they provide a quick nostalgic glance to my past. There is something about racing across an outdoor sheet of ice that cancels out the winter chill. If you want to know what I mean, go check out the Ellsworth outdoor rink.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook or at  ottwithdavebeck on Instagram for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal