Ice Capades

Robert E. Kersey, a trumpet player, music educator and Carroll County public schools administrator, died of cancer Sunday at the Shores at Wesley Manor Health Care Center in Ocean City, N.J. The former Westminster resident was 84. Born in Trenton, N.J., he played the trumpet as a boy. When his father was named manager of the Hotel Lafayette in Atlantic City, N.J., he became a regular listener to live bands at venues at the resort. During World War II, he played in an Army Air Forces band and was an infantry rifleman at the Battle of the Bulge.

Fashions on iceDesigners like Yves St. Laurent have it easy compared with Jef Billings, costume designer for the Ice Capades, which open Feb. 20 at the Baltimore Arena.According to Mr. Billings, who's been designing for the ice show for five years, everyday clothing design is based on trends and desires, whereas in skating, costume design must be based on the material and the show itself."It's much more creative, and more elaborate. It's one of a kind," he says.He must come up with spectacular designs that can be seen across the arena, yet all the fabrics have to be waterproof, feather light, and extremely durable.

There'll be no drag queens here. Paris Hilton will be nowhere in sight. And don't look for Speedo-style man trunks with side tassels, fishnets paired with stripper shoes, moon boots, life-sized Care Bears or rat-sized Chihuahuas either. When Heatherette -- the funky, flippant fashion line -- makes its debut at the Nordstrom at Montgomery Mall on Thursday, the upscale department store known for its quiet sophistication will absolutely be getting a shot of cheek and a jolt of whimsy. But Heatherette's signature characteristics -- over-the-top, high-strung, glittery, glamorous outrageousness -- will be hard to find there.

"If you are afraid of crowds, this is not the job to have," said Charley Oberman, an ushers' supervisor at the Baltimore Arena.He ought to know. The former Baltimore Civic Center turned 30 years old last week. He and three other Arena employees have been at the ticket windows, turnstiles and aisles since opening night, Oct. 23, 1962, when the Baltimore Clippers took to the ice against the Providence Reds.The Arena, which Baltimoreans persist in calling the Civic Center, was never a stylish hall.

For months I've been looking forward to the release of Walt Disney's animated musical ''Pocahontas.'' The idea of a heart-warming family musical based on the early history of English colonization in Virginia is nothing short of amazing. It is as though the Muppets or the Ice Capades were to do a version of ''Aguirre: The Wrath of God.''From 1607, when the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery sailed up the James River, until 1646, the English colonists were in an almost constant state of war with the Algonquin federation called the Powhatans after the father of Pocahontas.

Chicago-- --The owner was wearing a brand-new White Sox World Series jacket and watched the pre-game circus from behind a pair of dark-rimmed eyeglasses. How exciting it all must be for Jerry Reinsdorf, the easy-to-hate Sox owner who once again has given this city something to be excited about. If there was any real enthusiasm, though, it was buried deep. "Right now, for some strange reason, I feel very calm," he said. That's not how it should be, not here, not with the White Sox. I flipped open my phone and dialed.

ALBERTVILLE, France -- Men's figure skating began at the Olympics yesterday with the names Viktor Petrenko, Paul Wylie and Kurt Browning underlined. A skater who could beat them all was sitting in the stands."

Do you love figure skating but are sick of the Tonya-Nancy soap opera? Depressed that we don't stand a chance in hockey? Are 35 skiing events still not enough for you?Have no fear. Thanks to the wonders of the VCR, you can watch winter Olympics or winter sports any time you want. Just wander into your neighborhood video store and check out these films.* "The Cutting Edge" covers both his-and-hers Olympic skating. D. B. Sweeney is an injured hockey star who teams up with a difficult figure skater (Moira Kelly)

It's time for another true confession, and - for the first time in a week - it has nothing to do with Anna Benson or night-vision goggles or my continuing obsession with the landmark television series Desperate Housewives. I follow figure skating. It gets worse. I actually switched over from an NFL playoff game a couple of weeks ago to watch Kimmie Meissner's long program at the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, and my heart sank when she fell on her seventh triple. My heart would have sunk even lower if that fall had left her in third place, because I had a pretty good idea that third place would not be good enough to get her into the Olympics.

General Assembly leaders say that if Baltimore fails to win a National Football League team, the city still may get the bulk of stadium construction money to use for some other tourist-attracting facility, such as a new sports arena."