Sunnyvale ‘Robots on Ice’ wants to inspire STEM careers, save local rinks
December 7, 2021 | KCBS Article
“It’s not every day you get to see robots on and off the ice, but you can on Saturday at Sunnyvale’s Winter Ice Rink. The second annual “Robots on Ice” event will bring together people of all ages and abilities to show off their robots and support Bay Area ice rinks. Recreation and STEM – or, science, technology, engineering and math – will be on full display. Podcast Episode KCBS Radio: On-Demand “Robots on Ice” returns to Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink Listen Now “Super exciting to be able to inspire young girls and young guys to pursue careers in STEM,” Sarah Feldman, Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association Founder and CEO, told KCBS Radio. ”
“Robots on Ice” returns to Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink
December 7, 2021 | KCBS Radio 106.9FM & Podcast
“Have you ever seen a robot ice skate? KCBS Radio’s Margie Shafer tells us you may have your chance this weekend at “Robots on Ice” in Sunnyvale. ”
OPENING: Winter Ice Skating Rink 2021: Downtown Sunnyvale
November 19, 2021 | Patch.com
“The Winter Ice Rink Downtown Sunnyvale returns this holiday season, welcoming guests of all ages to create a new seasonal tradition of outdoor skating. “In a new location this year, adjacent to Historic Murphy Avenue the Winter Ice Rink Downtown Sunnyvale (230 S. Murphy Avenue) will hold a special Opening Celebration on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 5 p.m. to ring in the holiday season. “After first making its debut in 2019, The Winter Rink Downtown Sunnyvale invites visitors back with a series of special events, including Learn to Curl and the return of the popular Robots on Ice, a one-of-a-kind event merging the tech industry with the sport of ice skating. “The Winter Ice Rink Downtown Sunnyvale will be open through January 2, 2022.”
Safe Harbor for an Ice Rink? Skating Enthusiasts Hitch Their Hopes to a Bayside Development
November 17, 2021 | Redwood City Climate Magazine
“After Nazareth’s Redwood City rink closed, Hennessey was invited to participate last December in an online town hall meeting with city leaders to brainstorm ways to create a rink. The forum was hosted by the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association, which coalesced in response to the threatened loss of ice rinks in Belmont and San Mateo. Hennessey participated in the Zoom town hall, which included City Council members Ian Bain and Giselle Hale. One of the ideas that came out of the meeting was seeking corporate sponsorships, but “a light bulb went off for me,” says Hennessey, when someone suggested that skating enthusiasts seek developers with large projects who might donate money or land.”
Future of Redwood City Rink Unclear
September 12, 2020 | San Mateo Daily Journal
“Roy Maydan, whose two young daughters skate competitively and have practiced at the rink for years, said a permanent closure would be devastating for families like his all over the southern region of the county. No other options for skating exist between San Mateo and San Jose, he said. “[Redwood City’s Ice Oasis] is where both of my daughters learned how to skate and it is their primary rink. My daughters would be devastated to lose the rink,” Maydan said in an email… Like Feldman, Maydan noted the closed rink and lack of access at open rinks have had a major effect on the mental and physical well-being of his daughters who have missed their skating peers. Their moods have “improved dramatically” since practices have picked up, he said.”
A Look Back on Robots on Ice
March 27, 2020 | Women Who Code
“At the event, we combined quadrupeds, hexapods, bipeds, septopeds, autonomous robots, and RC cars to inspire new STEM projects. The team from Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association also partnered with Skydio, Bayone Consulting, Homebrew Robotics Club, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, SiliconSage, Robot Garden, Bots N Beers, and robotics hobbyists to test the limits of their bots.”
Robots on Ice: Skydio 2 Takes to the Sky, Olympian Polina Edmunds Performs, Robots vs Robots Action
January 13, 2020 | SkydioHQ
“This weekend, Skydio 2 took to the air for some robot on robot filming action at the local Robots on Ice event as well as special performance by figure skater Polina Edmunds.”
Olympian and Drone takes to Sunnyvale ice
January 12, 2020 | NBC – Scott Budman
“An Olympic skater takes to the ice with robots and drones. PolinaEdmunds meets Skydio at the Sunnyvale Ice Rink. Photo credit: Rina Amir”
Only in Silicon Valley – Robots on ICE
January 10, 2020 | KCBS – Margie Shafer
“This is an “only in Silicon Valley” story. KCBS Reporter Margie Shafer tells us about an event at the Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink called “Robots on ICE.”
Bringing Sunnyvale’s rink to a reality
January 6, 2020 | Kron4 Amy Larson
“Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association CEO Sarah Feldman explains how Sunnyvale’s rink became a reality”
Olympian figure skater shares love of sport in Sunnyvale
January 6, 2020 | Kron4
“Figure skating has been an integral part of my life and I would love to help make it accessible to Silicon Valley residents and enthusiasts…Edmunds and a community group, the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association, rallied enough momentum to open the new rink this winter. Tech giants including Facebook and Google helped fund building and opening the outdoor rink for the winter. Organizers are now hoping that the rink’s popularity will turn it into a permanent place for skating.”
Kids find their footing at Rotary skate night
December 8, 2019 | Mercury News
“It was the first time on the ice for many who came out for a special skate night Dec. 4 at the downtown Winter Ice Rink. Rotary Club of Sunnyvale hosted the event for 100 children who benefit from Sunnyvale Community Services. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Sunnyvale)”
Sunnyvale Rink Grand Opening draws daughter of Olympic Medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi
Nov 29, 2019 | Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink
“Spotted!! Emma Hedican, daughter of 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (left) and Anastasia Likharev (right) performing at Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink Grand Opening!”
Google helps sponsor new tradition of Sunnyvale Winter Ice Rink
Nov 26, 2019 | Google California
“Google is proud to help Sunnyvale get into the winter spirit as one of the founding sponsors of the new @WinterIceRinkSV . Come sharpen your skates on the ice rink with Sunnyvale residents, employees and visitors for a great new holiday tradition!”
Wonderful Grand Opening of Winter Ice Rink with SVISA, Cityline, Google
Nov 23, 2019 | Vice-Mayor Nancy Smith
“Winter Ice Rink SV is open! SVISA, City of Sunnyvale, Google and CityLine did great to bring a rink to Sunnyvale. [Olympian] Tim Goebel came from NYC to support our rink. All proceeds benefit Sunnyvale Community Services. See you on the ice!”
Developer trades back hoes for skate blades for Sunnyvale ice rink
October 25, 2019 | Mercury News
“The rink is a symbol of our commitment to civic engagement and to the type of downtown public events that we hope to host in our future Redwood Square Park,” said Travis Duncan, project manager for CityLine Sunnyvale, in a statement.”
Ice Skating Gala
May 6, 2018 | The Daily Journal
“Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association welcomes members of the Bay Area’s skating community alongside Olympians Jeremy Abbott, Michal Brezina and Emily Hughes to the Association’s 2018 Gala [on] April 28 at the Nazareth Ice Oasis San Mateo at 2202 Bridgepointe Parkway.”
CHASING ICE: CAN CROWDED BAY AREA SKATING RINKS HANDLE POST OLYMPIC CRUSH?
February 19, 2018 | The Mercury News
“Even Kristi Yamaguchi, who grew up in Fremont and won Olympic gold in 1992, is now driving her 12-year-old daughter around the Bay Area for ice time, O’Neal said. For the second year, Yamaguchi plans to donate a “Skate with a Legend” session to the highest bidder at a planned fundraising gala in April to support the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association’s push for more rinks.”
ICE RINK NEARS LONG AWAITED REOPENING, NAZARETH PUTS FINAL TOUCHES ON BRIDGEPOINTE
September 7, 2017 | The Daily Journal
“Rink fever along the Peninsula spread further when a Belmont facility in Belmont also closed after the operator cited maintenance costs. The Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association formed to try to push for expanding rink access in the region.”
SAN MATEO ICE RINK TO REOPEN: BRIDGEPOINTE OWNER WITHDRAWS $8 MILLION OFFER TO DEMOLISH FOR NEW RETAIL, SKATE ENTHUSIASTS ‘ECSTATIC’
March 10, 2017 | The Daily Journal
“Sarah Feldman, CEO and co-founder of the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association, which formed after Belmont Iceland closed and has been working to either reopen it or provide for a location for a new rink in that city, was also pleased by the announcement. ‘Personally, I am thrilled for the success of our sister effort. They have worked so hard for so long… This will be an amazing gem that the community will treasure as a legacy for decades to come.'”
NEW BELMONT DEVELOPMENT RULES TAKE SHAPE: PLANNING COMMISSION BEGINS CONVERSATION ON ZONING TO ACCOMPANY GENERAL PLAN
February 23, 2017 | The Daily Journal
“At a Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, several community members spoke in support of including language specifying support of an ice rink within the zoning code.”
DEVELOPED FEE EYED FOR NEW ICE RINK
February 23, 2017 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“Belmont officials are considering the idea of charging developers a fee to build a new rink to replace one that closed. After the 60-year-old Belmont Iceland closed in April, skating enthusiasts have asked city officials to find ways the city could either fund a rink or at least find a location for one.”
IS $8 MILLION ENOUGH MONEY?
February 15, 2017 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“A new rink would cost roughly $15 million to build, according to [SVISA CEO]Sarah Feldman, a Hillsborough resident who is behind efforts in Belmont to reopen the rink there.”
GROUPS TRYING TO OPEN ICE RINKS HAVE A PLAN
January 17, 2017 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“Sarah Feldman, president of Belmont-based Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association, was a part of the [fundraising] effort to get a [$15M] rink in Goleta… When she found out that her ‘home rink’ in Belmont was closing last April, she and a few skating enthusiasts sprang to action and created a nonprofit, the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association.”
ICE RINK SUPPORTERS FIGHT FOR PROPOSAL
January 14, 2017 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“‘Burlingame would be lucky to have such a gem of a facility within their city. I know that Burlingame will make the right decision to keep such an amenity in our region and provide recreation for 100,000 or more individuals in the area,’ Skating Association President Sarah Feldman said.”
GROUP OFFERS PLAN TO OPEN NEW ICE RINK
January 7, 2017 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“The Belmont rink at 815 Old County Road was shuttered in April after previous owner East Bay Iceland said that it needs about $1 million in improvements that it can’t afford… the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association made a lease offer to the new owners, San Mateo-based Locke-house Group.”
BURLINGAME: NEW PLAN OFFERS HOPE FOR PENINSULA ICE SKATERS, HOCKEY PLAYERS
January 1, 2017 | The Mercury News
“…the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association last month persuaded the planning commission to tweak the language of the city’s emerging plan for new downtown development, specifying an ice rink as a possible future use. While pressing for a permanent rink, the association also is seeking a temporary reopening of Belmont Iceland while the property’s long-term fate is decided. The property is reportedly now owned by a private real estate developer. There’s more than enough demand on the Peninsula to support two new rinks, said Sarah Feldman, founder of the association and a Tesla business analyst.”
DOWNTOWN DREAMS TAKING SHAPE: BELMONT PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSES DRAFT BELMONT VILLAGE PLAN
December 16, 2016 | The Daily Journal
” ‘Historically, an ice rink has been part of Belmont,’ said Sarah Feldman, of the non-profit Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association… ‘In the past, it has been a great asset, a unique gem which any city would be lucky to call their own. [It’s] something to draw new residents, and something to make Belmont stand out.’ ”
A PUSH ON FOR ICE RINK
December 13, 2016 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“Last month, the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association made an offer to lease the former Iceland property. The new owners, San Mateo based Lockehouse Group, wants to lease the property for two years.”
NONPROFIT GROUPS MAKE MOVE TOWARD ICE RINKS
November 5, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“…the new owner of the former Belmont Iceland property has reportedly begun making inquiries about redeveloping the site at 815 Old County Road. But in the meantime, the property has been listed for short-term lease and the nonprofit Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association is hoping it could rent the site to open a temporary facility. ‘We’re working to keep a rink in Belmont. We think it would provide a vibrant community asset to the city,’ said Sarah Feldman, founder of the association… Feldman said the association plans to stay involved in the village specific plan and, after speaking with other rink operators, believes a temporary holiday-style ice rink could serve as an interim solution for preserving skating opportunities on the Peninsula.”
CLOSED ICE RINK MAY REOPEN
November 5, 2016 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“A group of ice skating enthusiasts has offered to lease and reopen the old Belmont Iceland rink, which has been closed for nearly seven months. The Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association has made a lease offer for the Iceland property at 815 Old County Road to the new owners…. [SVISA founder Sarah] Feldman said that this is just half of the Association’s mission. It was formed with the short term goal of saving the Belmont rink and the long term goal of building a regional rink. ‘We are excited by the chance to reopen Belmont Iceland and fulfill the first half of our mission as an interim solution in Belmont,’ Feldman said.”
PLANS FOR A REGIONAL ICE RINK
September 16, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“…officials from multiple jurisdictions have begun collaborating on ways to address the community’s pleas for a facility since two rinks shut down.”
BELMONT ICE RINK SOLD, STILL NO PLANS
June 23, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“It’s official, the former Belmont ice rink has been sold. However, there’s still no indication on what the new owners plan to do with the property. But a group of local skaters who have rallied to keep it open — even raising millions of dollars — aren’t ready to give up hope. Perhaps most disappointing to the newly formed nonprofit the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association, it appears to have sold for less than the group offered to the original owner, East Bay Iceland.”
BELMONT’S BELOVED ICELAND SKATING RINK IS SOLD: FUTURE OF CLOSED RINK UNCLEAR
June 21, 2016 | Silicon Valley Business Journal
“Belmont’s Iceland skating rink — whose closure earlier this year sparked a vocal “save the rink” movement — has officially sold. But the buyer’s plans for the 1.5-acre site at 815 Old County Road are anything but clear. The property changed hands in two transactions that closed late last week, according to public property records.”
NEWLY FORMED NON-PROFIT HOPES TO FREEZE SALE OF BELMONT RINK
April 29, 2016 | Bay Area News Now
“Comprised of Belmont residents who work for major companies such as Google, Tesla and Cisco, [SVISA] has worked swiftly to raise money and attain their non-profit status in order to officially present a counteroffer to the rink’s management company, East Bay Iceland.”
NONPROFIT FORMED TO SAVE RINK: BELMONT ICELAND CLOSES SATURDAY, SUPPORTERS SEEKING TO RAISE FUNDS
April 28, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“This week, the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association was formed as a nonprofit and is accumulating a hefty amount of donations to try and purchase the Belmont rink on Old County Road.”
JOHN HORGAN: DON’T EXPECT SHARKS’ FISCAL POWER PLAY IN LOCAL ICE RINK DILEMMA
April 27, 2016 | Mercury News
“Despite cautiously optimistic thoughts to the contrary, it does not appear likely that the San Jose Sharks will step in to help to preserve an ice-skating option in San Mateo/Belmont.”
ICE RINK CLOSES TODAY
April, 20, 2016 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“After 60 years in business, Belmont Iceland will close today, sad news for recreational skaters, budding figure skating stars and hockey players who love the place… ‘Teams must relocate to Oakland and they are already losing people,’ [SVISA co-founder Crystal] Smith said.”
LETTER: BELMONT ICELAND
April 15, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“I truly support any action that can be taken to keep Belmont Iceland for the families and children on the Peninsula. My daughter had an exciting career and now inspires other young kids to greatness. [Ice skating is] such a beautiful wonderful sport along with hockey and gives children such a wonderful opportunity to achieve perfection, and to learn how to compete in the world.”
ICE RINK SUPPORTERS SEEK CITY’S SUPPORT: SKATERS TO ASK BELMONT CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER REZONING ICELAND PROPERTY
April 12, 2016 | The Daily Journal
“[SVISA CEO Sarah] Feldman said she hopes the council will take the 3-acre Iceland site into consideration as part of the city’s zoning process — which is the focus of Tuesday’s meeting. While not suggesting the site be restricted to only an ice rink, Feldman and other supporters are advocating for a diverse recreational facility or creative ways to integrate ice skating if the site were redeveloped.”
RESIDENTS WANT CITY TO SAVE ICE RINK
March 23, 2016 | Palo Alto Daily Post
“With emotional pleas, and even a few tears, Belmont residents yesterday called on City Council to intervene and help keep Belmont Iceland alive. The ice skating rink where hundreds of skaters head to weekly for daily free skates, classes and team practices, is coming to a close on April 20, after nearly 60 years in existence… [SVISA co-founder] Crystal Smith, a figure skating teacher at Iceland since 2008, said that the closure was ‘not due to a lack of business.’ She argued that when it closes down, many children’s future in skating will be over.”
Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association 