WHITMAN — The roller skating rink is not being sold.
Humorist Mark Twain asked by a reporter about a rumor that the great author had died, is said to have replied, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
For Charlene Conway, owner of Whitman’s Carousel Family Fun Center, it is a familiar feeling.
“We’re back open again and we’re very happy and we’re moving forward,” she said Monday, March 8. “We had a great weekend and we’re very happy to be open again an back at it. We’re here to stay for a while.”
Over the weekend, a post on real estate website Crexi.com which listed the rink property for sale with an asking price of $1.3 million, had tongues wagging in Whitman.
“I had a realtor reach out to us while we were closed because of COVID,” Conway said this week. “That started when we didn’t know what was going to be going on.”
She said a license fee waiver from the town for the period during which the rink was closed because of the state’s order concerning indoor gatherings, has helped the business tremendously. Selectmen had been hesitant, when Conway made her initial request in January, to approve the waiver over their concerns about opening opportunities for other businesses to make the same request and the wish to determine what kind of relief she may have already received. The waiver was, however approved last month.
“It’s kind of hard to pay for permits when you didn’t use them,” she said. “Every penny counts now.”
Conway is not letting dust gather in the corners, either, planning a St. Patrick’s Day Family Skate event from 2 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, March 17 and a welcome back to roller skating Superhero Skate from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 20 “with special guests.”
Conway stressed that the facility follows the recommended COVID-19 guidelines, and provides details on the website carouselskate.com.
She is also planning the regular schedule of public skating hours: Family skates from 6 to 8 p.m., on Wednesdays; 7 to 10 p.m., on Fridays; 2 to 4:30 p.m., and 7 to 10 p.m., on Saturdays as well as 2 to 4:30 p.m., on Sundays. A Saturday skating class, from 8 to 10 a.m., is also continuing.