Fair / 50° F
Volunteers vital to ice arena concession stand [UPDATED]
Published 9:51am Monday, February 6, 2012 Updated 11:53am Monday, February 6, 2012Volunteers who man the concession stand at the new Community Ice Arena not only serve people, but take pride in something special.
Concession counters, with an up-to-date adjoining kitchen, are located on the second floor at what was formerly the foyer connecting the high school cafeteria, science wing and lockers and classrooms to the south.
“We’re standing right in the area that used to be the classroom where Grace Halcrow taught bookkeeping (accounting),” said Pam Muxfeldt, who has operated the concession stand for a decade. The first nine years were at the old ice arena at the fairgrounds.
All parents of kids in the Fergus Falls hockey program are responsible for volunteering to work at the concession stand. This breaks down to 15 hours per child. Forty hours per family is the maximum per season.
All money generated from concession sales goes back to the hockey program to keep the costs down. Items are purchased, primarily, through local businesses.
“It’s fun to work here at the concession stand, with other parents of hockey kids,” said Troy Stenstrom who, with his wife, Kerian, have two kids in the Fergus Falls hockey program.
Their son, Kellen, skates in the Mites League and daughter Makenna participates with the girls 10U hockey team.
Another volunteer at the concession stand on Tuesday evening, when the Otter boys hockey team hosted Sartell, was Jason Vaughn. He and his wife, Stacey, have three kids in the Fergus Falls hockey program.
Their daughter Ashley is a ninth grade skater. Jack is with the pee wee team and his brother, Joe, skates with the squirts.
“We have a lot of camaraderie while working with concessions,” said Vaughn. “It’s not only the people you’re working with behind the counter, but also the interaction with people who come to get something to eat or drink. It’s a fun place to be.”
Many alums of Fergus Falls High School, while eating a hot dog or enjoying a soda near the new concession stand, look down the hallway, to the east, which used to be the chemistry room with teacher Earl Engan. Others recall nearby science classes and teachers Loren Woolson, Paul Anderson and others.
The industrial chiller, to the east of what was formerly the high school cafeteria, is used to cool Kennedy Secondary School during the warmer months. In the winter, when normally not in use, the chiller is used to serve the main ice arena (to the south) and satellite facility (to the east).
Tags: ice arena
