Newport lights tree, opens ice rink

Jersey Journal

By Paul Koepp

Wednesday November 28, 2007, 6:52 PM

 

Rockefeller Center didn't have the only holiday party tonight.

 

Jersey City's Newport section held its own tree lighting, at Newport Town Square, followed by the opening of an brand new outdoor ice rink.

 

A crowd of hundreds, including Mayor Jerramiah Healy, packed the square just before the 6:15 p.m. tree lighting.

 

A clown made balloon animals for kids and a man on a unicycle juggled glowing pins, while Christmas carols played over loudspeakers set up in the outdoor plaza.

 

After the 25-foot tall Christmas tree was lit, the Ed Pulcer Brass Band led the crowd down River Drive to the ice rink, Newport Skates, for two hours of free ice time.

 

Just after the ribbon was cut on the rink, Oksana Baiul, the 1994 Olympic Gold Medalist in women's figure skating from Ukraine, performed on the ice.

 

"It looks fantastic," said Khateeta Brands, who waited with her two children to skate. "We don't have to go to Rockefeller Center anymore."

 

Skaters enjoyed the free ice time courtesy of HSBC Bank, which recently opened a branch at Newport.

The final touches to the 7,000-square-foot rink, at 93 River Drive, were made last weekend.
Operated by the same company that runs "The Pond" at Bryant Park in Manhattan.

 

Richard LeFrak, whose family-owned company, the LeFrak Organization, developed the mixed-use waterfront community, said it was gratifying to see this type of amenity open at Newport.

 

"This is personally significant to me because I was here in 1981 when this was a railroad yard," LeFrak said tonight.

 

During the week, the admission charge and skate rental fee is $5; on weekends and holidays, it is $6. The rink will be open seven days a week: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and school holidays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
It will be open until March.