Annual Hill School Community Skate draws crowd

POTTSTOWN >> The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day can sometimes leave you with a lull in things to do.

That wasn’t a problem for many area residents who decided to take advantage of The Hill School’s annual community skate. Skaters were gliding across the ice of The Hill School’s Thomas Eccleston Jr. Rink beginning on Tuesday, taking a break from the holiday stress and enjoying the company of friends and family .

“I like the music and being able to see all the families,” said Samantha Yeager with Pottstown Parks and Recreation. “It’s amazing, I think. It’s so great that the school lets us have this privilege to be able to do this.”

The Hill School hosts the annual Community Ice Skating Program, sponsored by Pottstown Parks & Recreation, each year during the week following Christmas. The cost for skating is $5 per person. Skaters must bring their own skates, as rentals are not available. Also, a knit hat or helmet is required for all those on the ice.

“I’m just here to make sure everyone’s safe and no one is messing around,” said Alec Krause, a Parks and Recreation counselor who was serving as a skate guard Wednesday. “People are here to unwind and relax, have a little fun.”

For people like Krause who can’t seem to stay off the ice, the community skate provides a unique opportunity.

“I play hockey so most of my time has been spent on the ice and during break, the team doesn’t really do anything. I still wanted to get on the ice so I would just come here with a bunch of my friends and skate around,” explained Krause.

“It’s just something different. This is not something that kids can do every day. You never hear about a kid and his dad going out to skate .... It’s

something different. This is the only rink in Pottstown and it’s not always open to the public so it gives the people of the community a chance to kind of see a piece of The Hill School.”

Yeager added that Yeager said their first day brought in about 89 skaters and they’re hoping to get even more as the week goes on.

Skate times for the rest of the week are:

• Thursday, Dec. 29, noon to 4 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 30, noon to 7 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 31, noon to 4 p.m.

Ice resurfacing is scheduled each day at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Child pushes a friend across the ice on a chair at the Thomas Eccleston Jr. Rink during free community skating at The Hill School in Pottstown.

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Families skate together at the Thomas Eccleston Jr. Rink during free community skating at The Hill School in Pottstown.

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A young skater zips across the ice at the Thomas Eccleston Jr. Rink during free community skating at The Hill School in Pottstown.