Frozen Sandlot crowds return to pre-COVID levels
Also, MLK service in Kokomo; local resident to be honored at state ceremony
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Bridges Outreach, a nonprofit designed to feed, tutor, mentor, employ, and provide affordable housing to youth and their families, announced the success of this year’s Frozen Sandlot, the outdoor skating rink located in Kokomo Municipal Stadium each Christmas season.
Bridges was selected by the City of Kokomo to operate and benefit from the Frozen Sandlot each year, and the 2023-24 event was a rousing success.
“Thanks to the City of Kokomo, (we) had a tremendous sixth season at the Frozen Sandlot ice-skating rink,” said Travis Taflinger, co-founder and CEO of Bridges Outreach. “The weather was great. Skating was up, and lots of great memories were made! We had a few rainouts early in the season, but we were open 33 days to the public and five more nights for private groups.
“This season, we hosted 7,511 skaters, employed 27 staff and nine interns, and served 1,898 cups of hot chocolate. This was the most skaters we have had in the last four years.”
When the Frozen Sandlot first opened in 2018-19, Kokomo responded enthusiastically. More than 11,700 skaters visited the rink that year. The number fell off in 2019-20 to 7,600 skaters, as the newness of the first season faded.
Then the pandemic happened. Though the worst of the quarantining and illness had passed, COVID still hung over everything. As a result, skating in the 2020-21 was muted. Just 5,500 skaters participated that year.
Like many parts of society in the wake of the pandemic, the Frozen Sandlot had struggled to grow and return to previous levels of success. That changed this year, with participation that mirrored pre-COVID levels.
“Only the first two years saw more, but our season was longer the first two seasons,” Taflinger added. “More and more people have their own skates, and after watching Kokomo skate the past two months, we can honestly see that Kokomo is getting much better at skating!
“Thanks for coming out and supporting ice skating in Kokomo. It also has the benefit of blessing Bridges Outreach, too. Hopefully you had a great time, stayed active this winter, and made some memories. See you next year!”
MLK service in Kokomo; local resident to be honored at state ceremony
Second Missionary Baptist Church, 818 N. Apperson Way, will host the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Ecumenical Service on Mon, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. A march to the MLK Memorial for wreath laying will take place following the service. A shuttle will be provided. The guest speaker for this service is Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount of the Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago. The entire community is welcome to attend. For additional information, visit www.smbchurch.com.
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) and partners will host the Annual State of Indiana Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Wreath Placing Ceremony remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and honoring his legacy of altruism. On Wed., Jan. 10, from 6-6:35 p.m., the groups will place wreathes in Dr. King’s honor at the Indiana War Memorial Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis.
Following the Wreath Placing Ceremony there will be a commemorative light show inspired by a quote from Dr. King, “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
On Thu., Jan. 11, the ICRC and partners will host the 33rd Annual State of Indiana Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. Speakers will include Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, ICRC Executive Director Gregory L. Wilson, and Dr. Russell Ledet from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Seven Hoosiers will be acknowledged for their contributions to humanity, including Howard County resident and Native American activist Sally Tuttle, who has advocated for the rights and cultural preservation of indigenous people for decades.
Last year, Tuttle was instrumental in the return of a formal pow-wow in Kokomo, the first such official meeting since Howard County belonged to the indigenous people of the Miami tribe more than 150 years ago.
The celebration will take place from noon until 1:30 p.m. in the Indiana Statehouse North Atrium in Indianapolis.
Congratulations Sally 🙌. Your dedication and perseverance is a blessing. Joyce
Way to go Sally! Congratulations!