Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "iceland skating rink"

Kerth leaves MBA to focus on City Council run

2011-10-11T01:00:12Z

Rob Kerth is stepping down from his position as the Midtown Business Association’s executive director to focus his attention on a run for a City Council seat in 2012.

“It’s like climbing a mountain,” Kerth said Monday of his departure from the MBA. “Once I’ve done what I needed to do, then I need to go find a new mountain.”

The Midtown Business Association is a nonprofit organization that started in 1983. According to the MBA website, the goal of the organization is to “improve Midtown Sacramento through public maintenance, marketing, business advocacy and economic development.”

Kerth was hired as Executive Director in July 2008.

He said in an email that his official last day as executive director is Friday, but he plans to continue working with staff and consultants during the transition to “ensure the continuity of MBA's programs, such as Second Saturday (Art Walks), Midtown Cocktail Week, and graffiti and litter cleanup.”

“I want to help the association continue programs that are in place,” Kerth said, “and there are some things that haven’t yet been instituted but are under way that I want to still lend a hand with, too.

“One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about Midtown are the wonderfully creative people here,” Kerth said. “They are always on the cutting edge, making things happen.”

Kerth said he is looking forward to running for City Council because, since his last term as a City Council member (1996–2000), he has “so many new experiences” under his belt.

Kerth will run against Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy for the District 2 seat in the primary election in June.

“I know all sorts of new ways to get things done for people,” Kerth said. “North Sacramento has a lot of potential, and it’s exciting for me as I look forward to helping this district thrive.”

Kerth said he will formally announce his bid for City Council Nov. 4 at the official reopening and ribbon cutting for the Iceland ice-skating rink.

Jimmy Johnson, co-owner of Zócalo restaurant in Midtown and 2011 president of the MBA, said Kerth’s stepping down is not a sudden action.

“The final decision was made last Friday,” Johnson said, “but (Kerth) has been involved in the transition process for the past few months.”

Johnson said the organization has hired a consulting firm to assist in conducting a nationwide search for Kerth’s replacement.

The salary for the new executive director has not been confirmed, however it will likely be in the range of Kerth’s former annual salary of $90,000, Johnson said.

Kerth isn’t the first to exit the ranks of the MBA in recent months. In September, the MBA announced that Aja Uranga-Foster, assistant director of the MBA, is leaving the organization Nov. 1.

Johnson said the MBA’s board of directors has not made any decision about filling the Assistant executive director position yet.

“Amber (Schmaeling, marketing and outreach manager) is going to step up as program director,” Johnson said, “and we may get her a little help, but we aren’t focusing on that position just now.”

Instead, Johnson said, the organization is focusing on its Property Business Improvement District (PBID) renewal, which is coming up in January.

The search for a new executive director will take about three months, Johnson said, and the MBA expects to have the position filled by Jan. 1.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Iceland may open Saturday

2011-01-13T02:43:21Z

Iceland's outdoor skating rink is expected to open Saturday after more than two months of delays.

The landmark North Sacramento ice rink was all but destroyed by an arsonist last spring. The Kerth family, now operating Iceland as a nonprofit, and volunteers worked to reopen the rink – without a roof and many other amenities – by the facility's 70th anniversary on Nov. 4. The opening was delayed after family members learned they needed a special permit from the city Planning Commission.

The Kerths will open a temporary rink at 1430 Del Paso Blvd. this weekend if city building inspectors approve handicapped-accessible ramps Thursday, said Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth, whose family built the rink.

The Kerths say they must get the rink open for at least part of the season, or they may not be able to raise enough money to rebuild. Skaters may never return to rinks closed for even one season, said Kerth and his sister, Terrie Kerth, executive director of the nonprofit, Sacramento Iceland.

The Planning Commission awarded a special use permit in November. The rink's opening was delayed again when Sacramento City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy, whose district includes the rink, called for the council to reconsider the permit. Rob Kerth served as the district’s councilman prior to Sheedy.

On Dec. 14, the council OK’d a three-year special permit approving a temporary zoning change so the rink could operate outdoors. However, three permits were still needed after that.

On Dec. 28, the city approved a building permit for access ramps and a special event permit allowing a portion of the alley to be closed during operations. The area, which has been gated by the city's dangerous buildings division since the fire, will be used by skaters for putting on skates or waiting while a Zamboni resurfaces the ice. Cars and emergency vehicles have access to drive through the alley if needed, Rob Kerth said.

The rink can only operate during daylight until a new electric system is installed and the work is inspected by the city, which won't happen for at least two weeks. The rink will temporarily operate from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekends and holidays and 2 - 5 p.m. weekdays, remaining open into April if weather permits. The family has set up a mailing list to alert skaters to changes in hours and other news, Terrie Kerth said.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

Iceland Celebrates 70th Birthday

2010-11-06T19:55:29Z

Hot-pink neon sparkled once again on Del Paso Boulevard as Iceland celebrated a very special birthday: seventy years of entertainment, hopes fostered and dreams achieved, and a well-deserved place among the cultural icons of Sacramento.

But this birthday bash was much more than cake and candles.

An arsonist reduced the landmark ice rink to charred rubble in March 2010. The roof caved in; the beautiful glass-brick façade was destroyed—and suddenly Sacramento’s ice skaters were homeless.

Through a heroic volunteer effort, the cleanup began immediately. Generations of skaters and their families, community groups, local businesses, and fans of the annual ice shows pitched in to help.

A volunteer does some last minute electrical work.

Randy Chapman of Chapman Equipment Solutions had recently done some work on the Zamboni and was quick to pitch in to help.

The Zamboni was charred and crushed beneath the fallen roof. Randy Chapman and his crew donated over $10,000 in labor, parts and materials to repair and restore the machine. It has taken over 6 months of effort just for the Zamboni; Randy's crew also put in many hours on the site cleanup.

The refurbished floor nears completion.

Said Steve McCarthy Sr, the general labor coordinator (and Zamboni operator): “It’s been just a lot of hard work. Lots of volunteers put in hours and hours of work.” Sunbelt Rentals donated a skip loader, On The Go Graphics created a beautiful wrap for the restored Zamboni, and countless other community businesses have also volunteered their services and equipment to help the restoration effort.

The birthday bash was due to feature skating, but the warm weather made it impossible to create and maintain ice.

Terrie Kerth, right, the executive director of Iceland with sister Wendy Nugent and T.J Nugent.

Terrie Kerth, granddaughter of founder Bill Kerth, is a former national skating competitor. She expects that Iceland will be open by Thanksgiving as a seasonal open-air skating venue, as soon as the weather cools down enough. Iceland will close down for another year after the winter season, and they hope to reopen as a fully operational year-round rink —with a roof-- by next winter.

Hotdogs and hamburgers were served to the crowd.

The crowd at the birthday party included hundreds of fans, many of whom were former and current skaters. Chuck Kanoff met his wife Shirley on this ice in the 1950’s; they went on to ice dance in Los Angeles and Seattle. Tim Walton is the current president of Sacramento Iceland, and the son of legendary ice dancers and coaches Walter and Clara Walton. Many current skaters, including Naomi who has skated in the Disney on Ice touring company of “High School Musical”, were there to cheer as the sign was lit. Goalie Jason Dreger said he’s had to go to Roseville for hockey and is eager to return to Iceland as well.

Chuck Kanoff, a longtime skater at Iceland, met his wife here in the 1950's.

An Iceland fan ready to test the ice.

For skating coach and ice show director Janelle Loburg Cardoso, Iceland is home. She has taken her 30-some skaters to Stockton and Vacaville rinks to continue their training until they can return to Iceland.

The ice shows for which Iceland is famous are currently being produced at the Westfield Downtown Ice Rink at St. Rose of Lima Square by Janelle and Debi Segal Gold, another Iceland competitive skater and coach. Both look forward to returning to their home rink at Iceland.

(Coincidentally, the downtown ice rink was designed by Iceland founder Bill Kerth’s grandson Rob Kerth, SMUD Board Member and North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce president and former city councilmember and mayoral candidate. Rob also owns Ice Unlimited, Inc., the ice company next door to Iceland which was not damaged in the fire. Ice Unlimited provides all the ice-making equipment for Iceland.)

Rob Kerth addresses the crowd before the sign is lit.

Said Dianne Coiner Mendoza, who skated at Iceland from 1968 to 1975: “Everyone should know about Iceland—the lives this building has touched, the memories… Iceland lives in your heart.”

Dianne Coiner Mendoza hugs Tim Walton, current President of Iceland.

The neon pineapple atop the Iceland sign is lit for the first time since the 1940's.

To help with the Iceland restoration project, please visit http://www.skatesacramento.com, or call 916-992-4832.

You can sponsor a glass brick to restore the façade, or participate as a volunteer or a donor.

Iceland Ice Arena is on Facebook.

Photos | Kati Garner

Urban Flea Market to Benefit Iceland Skating Rink June 19th!

2010-06-09T01:46:02Z

Gary Schiff and Danyelle Petersen, of Schiff’s Estate Sale Building and Schiff's Estate Services, are coordinating the first annual Urban Flea Market on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 9am-3pm. After much urban renewal of the Estate Sale Building itself, as well as North Sacramento’s Del Paso Boulevard’s shopping district, the lot next to Schiff’s Building will be temporarily renewed with Antiques, Collectible, Furniture, Arts & Crafts, Unique and Desirable Items of all Kinds.

The event benefits the rebuilding of The Iceland Skating Rink on Del Paso Blvd. The Skating Rink was destroyed by an arson fire in March. Through donations they are looking to rebuild by their 70th birthday in November. The Iceland Skating Rink is important as a form of recreation, a gathering place that is healthy, safe and fun.

Join us for a good cause and a great time on Saturday June 19th at 1309 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento.

Admission is Free!

Vendors Wanted!

• Contact: Danyelle Petersen 916-220-3627 or danyelle@schiffestateservices.com www.schiffestateservices.com

Midtown ice rink opens

2009-11-20T06:19:09Z

Rob Kerth has been getting plenty of Zamboni action the last few nights.

Midtown Business Association's executive director has been staying up late and going out in the early-morning dark to use the ice groomer to help create an ice-skating rink that opens at 10 a.m. Friday in Midtown.

"It's a tremendous amount of work to put up one of these portable rinks," Kerth said Wednesday. "I've been there until 4 in the morning at least five out of the last 10 days."

While most business association leaders might not even know how to spell "Zamboni," Kerth not only knows how to drive one, he owns one. And he has the license to drive it.

That's because until last year, Kerth owned Ice Unlimited, the company that built the holiday rink on a half-block of 20th Street next to J Street. Kerth and his father, William John Kerth, also designed 75 ice-skating rinks all over the country and on other continents as well.

The last rink they designed was at Squaw Valley's High Camp in 1990. The family also has owned Iceland Skating Rink since 1940.

The holiday rink was built in front of the MARRS Building this year due to conflicts at St. Rose of Lima Park, where a rink has operated every holiday for 18 years. The park was renovated and a Carnival of Lights is being held there this year.

Just two days before the Midtown rink was set to open, Kerth rushed to drop off sign materials at GW Print Media while Carlos Rios of Ice Unlimited scraped leaves off the new ice.

More than a dozen people helped build the rink and lay the ice. The project began Nov. 2, when the half block was closed. Skilled construction crews first built a wooden edge smack against street curbs.

They poured in gravel — 10 truckloads of it — and leveled it. Three-quarter-inch foam insulation went on top of the gravel to protect water mains and sewer pipes from freezing. A plastic sheet was laid on top of that and up the sides of the wooden edge, Kerth said.

Then, 69 pipes connected with u-bends on one end were laid. The 123-foot pipes were connected to headers or manifolds on the other end, Rios said.

About 1,800 gallons of saltwater is circulating now through three miles of pipes. Saltwater or "brine" is used because it freezes at a much lower point than fresh water.

The saltwater flows through bigger pipes into coolers inside a big trailer. That system chills the saltwater flowing out to 10 degrees, Rios said.

The saltwater warms up a few degrees outside, but the pipes stay cool enough to freeze the fresh water crews spray on the surface, little by little and layer by layer.

The water was sprayed from one end to the other and back again, forming layers until the ice is 4.25 inches thick. Most work took place between sundown and sunup, Kerth said.

The ice must be thick enough that a skate heel can't hit a pipe, Kerth said.

At 5,000 square feet, the 123-foot by 40-foot rink will be smaller than the St. Rose rink, which was 6,500-square feet.

Sponsors' names were set in the ice on mesh signs or around the rink. Major sponsors include Elk Grove-based Bell Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning, MARRS Building owner Heller Pacific, Harv's Car Wash, CBS13/CW31, California Pizza Kitchen and Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn.

The rink will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week. The rink will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Hours on Christmas Day will be noon to 6 p.m. Two to three hours of skating are $5 for kids, $8 for adults. Skate rentals are $2.

The street will be closed for 90 days. The rink will operate until Jan. 18. The rink can hold 200 skaters.

Locals have been talking with MBA about holding activities on a small stage at one end. Some have talked about a tropical hula hoop demo. Fire dancers want to perform next to the ice. Two traveling musicians have talked about informal sessions on Friday nights and other bands may play Saturday nights, Kerth said.

Security will watch the rink overnight.

"They're there to help people not get hurt," Kerth said. "This is not like ice in the Sierras. It is the slickest surface that can be produced."

Photos by Kati Garner. Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.