Monday, February 22, 2010
Former Olympian JoJo Starbuck teaches the skills, grace to figure skating.
Got Olympic fever? The women who skate with two-time Olympian figure skater JoJo Starbuck at Codey Arena in West Orange on Monday mornings sure seem to. They participate in "JoJo's Cool Workout," a weekly skating class sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. "I love teaching these women," said Starbuck, who is as gracious off the ice as she is on it. "For adults, it's slower to achieve things, but when they do a turn correctly they are so happy." In 1968, Starbuck made skating history when she and her skating partner, Ken Shelley, competed as the youngest pairs team the United States had ever sent to the Olympic Games. Starbuck and Shelley were crowned the 1970, 1971 and 1972 U.S. national …
Friday, February 19, 2010
Short Hills resident Dean Gemmell tells you about the game. He's headed to the national curling championships in March.
Short Hills resident Dean Gemmell is headed to the U.S. National Curling Championships in March as part of Team Hames. He's also the host of The Curling Show and president of the Plainfield Curling Club. He gives you an overview of the game that he's been playing since he was a kid in Canada. The Plainfield Curling Club also will hold an open house on Feb. 28 from 2-6 p.m., and people can visit the club after 6:30 p.m. each night through the Olympics to learn more about the game.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Short Hills resident will be heading to the national curling championships in March.
If you didn't know it was there, you might drive right by the Plainfield Curling Club without realizing it. Inside you'll find two sheets for curling. The sounds of brooms, rocks gliding on the ice and shouts of "hard" are frequent. This is Dean Gemmell's sanctuary. He makes the 30 minute trip south five times a week for matches and to serve as the club's president. It's a sport from his youth that's re-entered his life since moving to New Jersey, and now the Short Hills resident will be heading to his second straight U.S. Curling Nationals Championship in March. "(Curling) just gets in you," Gemmell said. "Once it gets in you, you can't get it out." When Gemmell and his wife moved to Short Hills from Michigan six years ago, they had two …
