NORWAY – Recreation Director Debra Partridge says funds are available to restore the town’s ice skating rink to perfect form, but volunteers are being sought to help man the ice hut where skates are kept to loan out.

“We are still looking for adult volunteers to man the ice hut,” Partridge said. “Our goal is to have it open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.”

The small shack, which Partridge says she hopes can be spruced up with a can of paint eventually, is used to house dozens of pairs of skates, but volunteers are needed to do the actual loan transaction, keep the ice skate shelves tidy and other functions.

“This is not a supervisory role for the ice rink,” explained Partridge. People under the age of 14 are required to have adult supervision at the rink.

The rink on Cottage Street is used during the season by skaters of all ages from Norway and surrounding towns. Last week, for example, Jill Gabrielson and some other volunteers had 35 children from through grade three at the rink for after-school skating. Earlier in the afternoon, college students from Waterford, Paris and the area were practicing ice hockey on the rink.

Although the upkeep of the skating rink is done through the town and volunteer efforts of people such as Bruce Fox of Norway, who spends hours each winter clearing the snow with his plow, the town has budgeted $4,500 to replace the rink liner and accessories, including several yellow bumper caps that need attention.

The work is expected to take place this year after the rink is disassembled in the spring, Partridge said.

“The ice rink is put together in the fall and dismantled in the spring by the Highway (Department) crew and as many people as we can get to do this job,” Partridge explained. “The liner is very big and heavy, so if we have a person every few feet, the job can be done much easier and quicker. We can not pick an exact date, as it is weather- and labor-availability dependent.”

Partridge said if any money is left over from the liner and accessories replacement, it might be used toward resetting light poles and painting the ice hut.

Anyone is interested in volunteering, even for one day a week, should contact Partridge at 743-6651.