The new ice rink at Cornerstone Sonoma has been the site of Gays on Ice, a skating competition and general family fun since its opening over Thanksgiving weekend.
At the 'friendly competition' on Dec. 15, Gary Saperstein, Manuel Merjil, Bret Sackett and Lisa Carlsson served as judges. Almost a dozen local skaters performed for the crowd and judges, and the show included both the comical and the athletic.
At the end of the evenings, a handful of skaters were deemed crowd and judge favorites.
First Place: Laya Martin (performed to 'Santa Tell Me')
Best Family Win: Noa and Camille (ages 2 and 7, skated to 'How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?')
Most Graceful: Sophia Smith (skated to 'Thaïs Meditation' by Jules Massenet)
Most Daring: Drew Kettler (dressed up as a reindeer and skated to 'Run Run Rudolph')
Most Original: Sofia Carlsson (skated, sang and dressed like an elf)
The skating rink, believed to be the first ever in Sonoma, was made possible by the Ramekins-Cornerstone Foundation. Foundation chair Darius Anderson said that all profits from the rink will benefit fire victims and relief efforts via the Redwood Credit Union Fire Relief Fund and Rebuild North Bay.
The 80-by-50-foot rink is located in the area on Arnold Drive alongside Cornerstone's annual snowman exhibit.
The ice rink is open for the season until Tuesday, Jan. 2. The rink will be open seven days a week, though closed on Christmas Day. Admission is broken into two-hour intervals at $20 for adults and $10 for children, and includes ice skate rentals.
Up-to-date operating hours, any rink closures and more details can be found on the Cornerstone Sonoma website at cornerstonesonoma.com/ice-rink.
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