Skating Rink

It was a day for shirt sleeves and spring jackets, eating ice cream and driving with the car windows down.But at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis yesterday afternoon, some people refused to believe it. They dressed in parkas and down-lined coats -- some even wore mittens and gloves -- and they went ice skating.After all, the temperature had dipped all the way to 66 degrees.Leaves were still falling from trees as 40 skaters sped around the rink, which opened two years ago in December, a month more commonly associated with outdoor ice skating.

In its only performance this season in the greater Washington-Baltimore area, Windham Hill's Winter Solstice concert comes to Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts at 8 p.m. Friday.Featured are the pianist Paul Aaberg, singer Barbara Higbie and the Modern Mandolin Quartet, with Mike Marshall, John Imholz, Dana Rath and Paul Binkley. The musicians share a varied background of classical, jazz and folk music training, and bring fresh interpretations to traditional music.Tickets are $21 for general admission, $19 for Maryland Hall members.

The Piney Orchard Ice Arena is a very cool place to be on these hot,hot days. Susan Flamino, special events public relations coordinator, has a lot of exciting ideas for the rink.Along with open skate sessions, the rink is available for birthday parties and special skating events as a back-to-school skate, a Halloween skate and a Christmas skate.Some clubs practice and hold games at the rink. The Chesapeake Chiefs, a youth hockey club for children ages 4 to 17, practices at therink and plays in the Capital Beltway Hockey League.

The former coach of a roller skating team and his 14-year-old son have been indicted on charges they raped one of the son's girlfriends at a skating rink in Howard County and in their trailer home in Jessup.The 37-year-old former coach also has been charged with raping another of the son's girlfriends, a regular at the rink.The Jessup man, who is on parole after serving part of a prison sentence for daytime housebreaking, is charged with first-degree rape, child abuse and first-degree sex offenses in cases involving a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl.

About 500 skaters whirled around the Sportsman's Hall Skating Rink, showing their support for 9-year-old leukemia patient, Jennifer Zile.The evening, dedicated to raising money for Jennifer's medical bills, raised $2,376 in admission and skate rental fees at the party Monday night, said Nadine McCoy, organizer of the event.Another $50 was collected in buckets by the concession stand, shesaid.Fees were donated by Harry Morfoot, owner of the skating rink."He ate the cost of electricity to run the place," McCoy said.

A Mass of Christian burial for Vernon L. Bush, a retired owner of a roller-skating rink who was active in fraternal groups, will be offered at 10 a.m. today at St. Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church, 801 Stevenson Road, Severn.Mr. Bush, who was 76 and lived on Shore Road in Severna Park, died Saturday at North Arundel Hospital after a heart attack.He retired in 1976 as owner of Vernon's Roller Skating Rink, which he opened in Catonsville in 1949.Known as "Pop" to many skaters, he was willing to listen to their problems and to help with advice or, on occasion, a car repair.