Ear: Skates

At the upcoming Dec. 6 event at the Astoria Armory, in conjunction with the annual Astoria Fire Department Holiday Food Parade, free skate rentals and free skating will be offered for those who bring nonperishable food a monetary donation. The Armory will also be celebrating the gift of new skates, to keep the armory a welcoming space for everyone.

“There is nothing more upsetting than to have to tell a teen that we don’t have skates in his size,” Susan Hobson, president-elect of the Armory, said. “This has happened recently more than I would like to admit, and it just breaks my heart.”

Skate Night is becoming more and more popular at the Armory, with up to 300 people hitting the wheels on most weekends. A shortage of skates in common sizes, and small numbers of adaptive equipment, makes it hard to serve everyone. No one wants to tell a child, who is excited to get rolling, that they have to wait until a pair of skates is available.

Astoria booster extraordinaire, Jeff Daly, has come to the rescue, donating more than 150 pairs of new skates, plus adaptive equipment, to ensure that everyone can participate.

“The Armory is special to me,” he said. “Skate Night was part of growing up as a kid in Astoria, and I want to make sure this fun community event is available for everyone.” (Screenshots: Jeff Daly)