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Sir Skate still holds many fond memories

As of next year, Altoona’s last roller skating rink, Sir Skate, will be closed for 20 years. Yes, you read that right — 20 years.

Anyone under 30 at this point has probably never even heard the name, but those of us who have been around since the 1990s and back have very fond memories of the place.

It was our place to play, socialize, get exercise, etc. People met their spouses there, met their best friends there.

While I don’t know the circumstances as to why it closed, times definitely had changed around then. The rise of video games and the internet had a lot of us staying home for our entertainment.

Meanwhile, new shopping centers were being constructed, and new restaurants were popping up to replace the vacant lots that were once our old social gathering spots.

As a result, we only go out now to shop and eat. We stay home watching Netflix, surfing Facebook or playing video games. And we wonder why we’re all depressed and overweight.

Today, though, with online shopping, a lot of retailers have closed and left vacant locations yet again. I believe now more than ever we need places like Sir Skate to fill these vacant spots.

A clean, safe place for people to mingle again, to have fun and get exercise would help everybody.

Roller skating never died, and it’s interesting to see online how it has evolved across the country, thanks to YouTube. Thankfully, roller skating seems to be making a big comeback, too, maybe because of the reason I mentioned.

And while we do now have an ice rink, those of us who have roller skated, and those of us who still do, can tell you that they are nothing alike.

While I may not be able to get something started, I wanted to write this in the hopes of it reaching someone who can. Actually, I write this to everyone.

On a Friday night, make a trip to either Moon Glo II in Bedford or Penn Skates in Penn State, and see that roller skating hasn’t died.

Roller skating used to be in Altoona’s blood, and any time I talk to someone about those old days, I know it’s still there.

So please lace up once more, if only to remember Sir Skate.

Shawn Hollern

East Freedom

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