In the nearly 10 years the Kevin Bell Ice Arena has existed in Homer, after a private loan allowed construction, the community has kept the rink open by paying solely the interest on that loan.
But later this year payments will be required on the principal of that loan, so the arena and the Homer Hockey Association this week kicked off a crowd-funding campaign through TILT, a website for crowd-funding. The immediate aim of the campaign, dubbed "Don't Let Our Rink Sink,'' is to keep the rink open for the 2015-16 season.
Organizers say various attempts to find a private buyer or secure funds through private donations or government help have not proved fruitful, so they are going this route.
The goal is to raise $60,000 to cover operating costs and payments on loan debt of $2.74 million. The immediate goal is to raise $10,000 in the first 60 days of the campaign -- credit cards will only be charged once the $10,000 goal is met.
The arena in Homer is used for youth and adult hockey, high school hockey, figure skating, Learn to Skate lessons, broomball and, beginning this season, curling. The arena services not just folks in Homer but people throughout the southern Peninsula.
As of about 9 p.m. Tuesday night, two days into the campaign, about $4,700, nearly half the immediate goal, has been pledged.
You can check out a video about the campaign and make a contribution by clicking here. And you can learn more about the arena by clicking here.