The newly-built warming house was completed in November. The rink also has a new concrete floor, modern boards and a fence to better hold pucks and balls inside the rink.

Get your skates out; Ghent rink to open

For many years, the ice skating rink in Ghent has been a place where many memories are made. But over time, the rink has come to need a major overhaul and was seldom being used.

With the help of a dedicated committee and the assistance of many volunteers, the rink has a new base floor, new boards, and a new warming house. Now it's time to build memories. "We are hoping to start making ice this week after the snow passes and the cold air sets in," said Bill Maertens, one of the Revive the Rink committee members.

The new concrete floor and new boards were put up this past spring. This summer, basketball hoops were put up inside the rink and were used on a daily basis. Even the Sisters of the Morning Star from St. Eloi Church were seen playing a game of basketball there on occasion.

A volunteer group then put up a chain-link fence around the boards in late October to keep balls and pucks from flying over the boards and onto the street. "We wanted to put the fence up to keep it as safe as we can for the kids," said Mike Stassen, another of the committee members.

"We don't want them running in the street chasing after pucks."

The new warming house was recently built and placed on the south end of the rink. "Adam DeRoode and I, along with a few guys from my shop built the warming house at my shop in Marshall," said Maertens.

"We then loaded it up and set it in place in early November before the ground froze." Maertens anticipates power being hooked up to the warming house this week, too, to allow for lights and for those wishing to get some relief from the cold.

"We are hoping it will be all ready for skaters by the end of the week," he said. Skaters can also utilize the outside rink lights to play a game of hockey or to just skate around after dark. Goals are on the ice for those wishing to play hockey.

"We are also hoping to have a selection of used skates available for people to use if they wish," said Maertens. "We are still receiving donations,, which is great so we can keep making improvements."

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