Sw Chaska Curling by Big Fish Works

A special i l section ti tto commemorate t the new Chaska Curling Center

yesterday, today, tomorrow

November 2015

The Olympian

The ice man

Walk in the parks

About curling

Meet Jeff Isaacson Page 6 速

Meet Scott Belvitch Page 7 速

Map details amenities Pages 8-9 速

Learn some basics Page 10 速

Page 2 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 3

PHOTO BY MARK W. OLSON

The Chaska Curling Center was nearing completion in October. The building sections, pictured from the north side, left to right, are: Crooked Pint Ale House; Welcome Hall and Chaska Event Center. The curling sheets are on the south side of the building.

CURLING

AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

The building, and the adjacent redeveloped Firemen’s and Veterans parks, honor Chaska’s past with historical monuments and its public servants with urling is coming to a firefighters memorial. Chaska. Opening date: A new scenic bridge (to be built The Chaska Most of the facility, including the this winter) will cross Firemen’s Curling Center Welcome Hall, Lake, and a new one-mile offers six lanes of Crooked Pint Ale illuminated trail system offers icy fun to the public, featuring House and the Chaska Curling Center, opportunities for a short stroll. a sport that has deep roots in is set to open on Visitors can enjoy Minnesota. Wednesday, Dec. 2. new picnic shelters, The center is ready for Address: 3210 Chaska playgrounds, a fountain, tournaments (also known as Blvd. concession stand and bonspiels), leagues and even More info: 952renovated beach. curiosity seekers interested 448-3176; www. chaskacurlingcenter. The stage adjacent to the in watching or “throwing the com lake provides a new local stone.” home for entertainment, However, curling is just one facing a large lawn where children piece of Chaska’s new $25.4 million complex, can play and families can picnic. which opens Wednesday, Dec. 2. The new center and redeveloped The building also features a Crooked Pint Ale parks provide another great reason to House restaurant and an event center that seats visit historic downtown Chaska. 300 — and is already booking up with weddings. By Mark W. Olson editor@chaskaherald.com

ON THE COVER

More information

Two-time Olympian Jeff Isaacson is the manager of the Chaska Curling Center. (Photo by Mark W. Olson)

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Page 4 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

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Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 5

COMMENTARY

AN AMAZING SPACE PARK HELPS BUILD COMMUNITY, EMBRACES HISTORIC CULTURE By Tom Redman uccess in building community does not come easy. It requires commitment and hard work by many people. The city of Chaska has historically taken the lead in helping to build community. This effort is focused on listening to and involving residents. The Chaska Community Center, built 25 years ago, stands as an outstanding example of such a process. Success also requires leadership that can make ideas a reality. Over the past two years, the Chaska Park Board, under the leadership of Chairman Nate Bostrom, has taken the Chaska City Council’s charge of working with Chaska residents, architects, contractors, businesses and staff to plan for and to redevelop Firemen’s and Veterans parks. Firemen’s Park will be a site that embraces its history, telling the story of Chaska brick making and sharing the story of volunteer Chaska firefighters through monuments and displays. The site will welcome people of all ages 12 months out of the year to downtown Chaska. Hundreds of trees, bushes, and flowers are being planted throughout the parks. Playground equipment, swings, benches, kiosk, promenade, performance stage, fishing dock, swimming beach, water fountain, concession stand and rest areas will be available for all. Shelters have been built in both parks, with a bridge and boardwalk scheduled for completion in 2016.

PHOTO BY MARK W. OLSON

Chaska Parks and Recreation Director Tom Redman gives a tour of Firemen’s Park in late October. The project has already taken on the notion of “Build it and they will come.” The 300-seat Chaska Event Center will take on large events starting in January. It has already been booked for numerous weddings, in addition to other large gatherings, including class reunions and Quinceañeras. The six-sheet Chaska Curling Center is being called one of the best curling buildings in the nation and will host the 2016 USA Collegiate Championships in March 2016. In addition, six bonspiels have been scheduled, along with curling league

opportunities starting up in January for beginning and established curlers. Learn to Curl and corporate curling team building sessions are also available with more information at www.chaskcurlingcenter.com. The Crooked Pint restaurant has fine food and drinks with indoor seating for 200, and a large outdoor 75-person patio opening up to the park. Firemen’s Park has now become an amazing community gathering place that embraces and speaks to its historic culture. It incorporates and tells the Chaska

Fire Department’s history in a way that one can actually see, touch and appreciate. It is a park that keeps all of its attributes, while at the same time building new leisure components for generations to come. And it is a park that will attract thousands of people to the Chaska downtown business community on a regular basis. Once in a lifetime, everyone should be so blessed to work with a community to help build such a park. Tom Redman is the director of Chaska Parks and Recreation.

Page 6 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

Jeff Isaacson

THE OLYMPIAN By Mollee Francisco mfrancisco@swpub.com f you’ve ever wanted to learn curling from someone at the top of the sport, Chaska’s got just the person. Two-time Olympian Jeff Isaacson is the new curling center’s manager. Isaacson competed for Team USA in the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver and the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. It was the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice for the 32-year-old. “It was a huge commitment,” said Isaacson. Now Isaacson is committed to growing the sport of curling in Chaska. It’s a game he’s been surrounded by his whole life

Age: 32 Residence: Chaska

growing up on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. “I was 13 when I first started,” he recalled. “I was very nervous to play.” Those nerves quickly disappeared. “I found it was a game I just really enjoyed,” said Isaacson. Isaacson loved the challenge of the game. He could often be found with headphones on throwing rocks for hours on end. “I’d just put the music on and throw,” he said. “I became a little obsessed.” That obsession led to a number of championships around the world, the Olympics and now, Chaska. “The big goal here is to get the leagues up and running,” he said. “I also want to build a junior program and a program for seniors.”

Job: Chaska Curling Center Manager Curling history: Isaacson’s father curled seven days a week. He started curling when he was 13 and made the U.S. Olympic Team in both 2010 and 2014. Hobbies: Traveling and playing cards PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO

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Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 7

THE ICE MAN By Mollee Francisco mfrancisco@swpub.com ’m always thinking about ice,” admits Scott Belvitch. “I think about it a lot.” Belvitch will be thinking about ice even more now as he begins his job as head ice maker at the new Chaska Curling Center. The 51-year-old St. Paul resident comes to Chaska after a long stint as an ice maker at the St. Paul Curling Club. Belvitch is excited for all of the opportunities the new Chaska facility will offer. “This is phenomenal,” he said. “Everything about it is state of the art.” Belvitch will be charged with

“I

maintaining the overall condition of the ice as well as all of the mechanicals at the curling rink. “It’s a daily challenge,” he said. Belvitch has to monitor humidity, indoor and outdoor temperatures and the number of people in the facility and treat the ice accordingly. It’s an important job to assure good game play. “When you’re curling on good ice, you can trust how everything is going to be,” said Belvitch. Belvitch is currently a level 2 ice maker, en route to his level 3 certification. There are four levels to ice maker before one reaches master. Belvitch hopes to take his skills as far as possible. “My goal is to be the best ice maker in the U.S.,” he said.

Scott Belvitch Age: 51 Residence: St. Paul (for now) Job: Head ice maker Curling history: Started curling after moving to St. Paul in 1988. Has played in the same Thursday night league at the St. Paul Curling Club since 1998. Hobbies: Curling, fishing, basketball PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO

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Page 8 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

Chaska Event Center

Welcome Hall The 28-foot-tall hallway serves as entrance to the building. Five displays, with 48-inch touch-screen videos, feature Chaska history, Chaska Fire Department, curling, parks and community activities. Historic fire department bell on display. Entryway lined with original Chaska brick.

Seats 300 people for community events or weddings. Large 26-foot-tall arched ceiling made from Glulam (laminated wood panels found throughout the complex). Giant 200-inch retractable viewing screen over a 30x8 foot soapstone and granite fireplace. Includes bar and kitchen. State-of-the-art sound and lighting system. North windows provide panoramic view of lake.

Chaska Curling Center Six curling sheets, overseen by viewing area in adjacent Crooked Pint Ale House. Wood ceiling structure and columns. Center includes men’s and women’s locker rooms (with a bridal dressing area) and players lounge. Lanes include scoreboards and six overhead cameras transmitting curling action into adjacent restaurant. The year-round Chaska Curling Center sits at one of the busiest intersections in Chaska — Highway 41 and County Road 61.

4 5

Crooked Pint Ale House Restaurant includes seating for 200, with an outdoor patio providing room for 75 more. Tiered seating provides views into the curling center. Bar will include 32 taps. Patio features gas fireplace and is landscaped with live hops.

Fountain Includes 12 water jets accompanied by a lighting system. Water and lights can be adjusted, depending on the occasion. Children can play in the fountain, which is surrounded by seating. Walking trails intersect at the fountain. (Pictured here, work continues on the fountain, along with a park shelter, with party rooms, restrooms and a concession stand.)

Stage

Overlooks large lawn. Includes sound system and set to feature occasional musical acts. Promenade travels behind the stage. During winter months, ice skating will take place behind the stage on Firemen’s Lake.

8 7

Historic plaza

Chaska Fire Department Firemen’s Park includes several homages to the CFD. Four fire department columns represent “Honor,” “Integrity,” “Pride” and “Respect” and list all retired firefighters. Welcome Hall extends into Firemen’s Plaza, which includes a firefighter statue.

Four round brick/landscaped monuments represent beehive kilns that once stood on the site. (During park redevelopment, several kiln tunnels were uncovered.) Each marker tells a different story of Chaska brickmaking, once the city’s largest industry. Will be surrounded by rectangular landscaping, representing the brickyard’s vast drying racks.

Source: Chaska Parks Director Tom Redman Photos by Mark W. Olson with submitted architectural renderings Map and page design by Mike Gears

Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 9

A WALK IN THE

PARKS C

Chaska Curling Center, Firemen’s Park & Veterans Park

rews broke ground for the Chaska Curling Center and redevelopment of Firemen’s and Veterans parks on Dec. 15, 2014. Now, less than a year later, the project, at the northwest corner of Highway 41 and County Road 61, is almost complete. Crews are finishing many of the details through November (when this publication was printed), so this map uses a mix of site photos and architectural renderings to give a sense of what the finished product will look like. Some portions of the project, including the Firemen’s Lake bridge and trail system, will be finished in 2016. Location: 3210 Chaska Blvd., Chaska Info: chaskacurlingcenter.com; 952-448-3176

Pier

Firemen’s Lake

Stage

Parking

Bridge

FIREMEN’S PARK

ad Ro ek Cre

VETERANS PARK

Honor Columns

Firemen’s Plaza

Fountain

Playground & Picnic shelter

Historic Plaza

Bridge Pier bridge will connect Firemen’s Park and Veterans Park. Slated for completion in 2016.

Crooked Pint

Playground & Picnic shelter Curling Center

Beach

Picnic shelters, playgrounds and beach At Firemen’s Park, shelters include concession stand, restroom and two 12x10-foot party rooms opening into large covered patio areas. Separate playgrounds for preschool and elementary-age children. Renovated beach retains much-loved diving platform. At Veterans Park, new 1,300-square-foot shelter includes indoor serving area and restrooms. Park will ultimately hold archery range, new horseshoe pits and renovated playground. Make park reservations at 952-227-7748.

Welcome Hall Event Center

Parking Sidewalks Trails Boardwalks

Parking Lots

Firemen’s Park lot holds 200 parking spaces, with another 60 at Veterans Park. Under the Firemen’s parking lot, a 220-foot-long by 10-foot diameter cistern holds run-off water from the site, which is re-used to irrigate the parks.

Trails One-mile trail system goes around Firemen’s Lake, connecting all areas of park.

Page 10 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

CURLING LEARN SOME OF THE BASICS

Curling is one of the oldest team sports, played on ice, and is similar to bocce ball and shuffleboard. The game dates back to medieval Scotland. Stones are standardized, composed of 42 pounds of granite with plastic handles bolted into the rocks. Curling gets its name from the spin placed on the stone once it is released.

How to play Rocks are thrown toward a circular target area, or house, the center of which is called the button. Once a stone is released, two teammates use brooms to sweep the rock to its desired location. When both teams throw their 8 rocks, they have completed one end. A game consists of 6-8 ends, which are similar to baseball innings. In an event of a tie, an extra end is played. Each end is typically played in 15 minutes, so a game usually lasts 2 hours or less.

Who plays? A game is played between two four-person teams. Curlers range in age from young children to people in their 80s and 90s. Each member of the team throws two rocks per end. The skip of the team is in charge of strategy and throws the last two rocks of the end.

Strategy The skip chooses how hard the stone should be delivered, the direction of delivery, and the amount of turn – curl – that the stone should be given. The skip can choose to aim the stone for the house, hit one of the other team’s stones out of play, or make a stone stop before the house as a guard if their team has a stone in a good position. Hack Foothold device from which thrower pushes off

What are the rocks made of? Chaska’s 96 curling stones come from the Scottish island of Ailsa Craig. The rocky isle is home to a special water-resistant microgranite, harvested by the 164-year-old company Kays Scotland to make most of the world’s curling stones – including those seen in the Olympics. Stones have strong resistance to chipping and breaking and very low water absorption, which prevents erosion. The unpolished center area of the stone absorbs collision impact.

Center line

What does sweeping do?

Pebbled ice Curling ice is first shaved flat and then sprinkled with water droplets called pebbles that the rock slides over.

Hog line (near) Stone must be released by thrower before this line

House (inside blue circle) stone must be inside to score a point Button (white circle in middle)

Hog line (far) Stone must cross to be in play

Sweeping warms up the ice in front of the rock and reduces the amount of friction between the pebble and the running surface. Good sweepers can carry a rock an additional 8–12 feet.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Tee line marks center of the House

GRAPHIC BY MIKE GEARS

Back line Stone past this line is out of play

Scoring A point is scored for every stone nearer to the center than any of the competitor stones. Scoreboards can be set up in a traditional manner, in which the numbers in the middle indicate the running score. They can also be set up so the numbers indicate the ends, similar to how baseball innings are shown. SOURCES: CITY OF CHASKA AND VARIOUS CURLING WEBSITES

Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 11

HARD, COLD FACTS ABOUT CURLING By Mark W. Olson editor@chaskaherald.com cott Belvitch has the slickest job in town — head ice maker at the Chaska Curling Center. Making ice for curling isn’t just a matter of hosing down a rink and freezing it. There’s a lot of science involved. “Water quality is a huge part of it, as opposed to hockey ice,” Belvitch notes. “You want curling ice water quality to be very acidic,” he said, adding that it should have a pH level of 5.5-6 (with 7 being neutral). “As far as total dissolved solids, you want them totally out of there,” he said. That means, no minerals such as salt or calcium. The Chaska Curling Center uses a reverse osmosis system to reach these goals. This results in hard ice. And, with curling “You want the ice to be

very, very hard,” Belvitch said. The other key goal is creating a level surface — with no more than an eighth of an inch difference over 50 to 100 feet, Belvitch said. PEBBLING Trying to throw a curling stone down a hockey rink would be futile — there’s too much friction on flat ice. To create less friction, ice makers “pebble” the ice. Belvitch wears a backpack with a 4-gallon tank attached to a “pebble head.” He can choose from among 15 different pebble sizes to create the best surface. On ideal ice, the curler will release the stone from the “hog line” and it will take 24 seconds to travel to the center of the house (the target), Belvitch said. This includes four feet of “curl” — the arch made by the stone as it spins down the ice.

PHOTO BY MARK W. OLSON

A crew installs the “house” at the Chaska Curling Center on Nov. 11, before freezing the curling sheets.

Volunteer Would you like to be an ice maintenance volunteer with Head Ice Maker Scott Belvitch? Contact him at sbelvitch@chaskamn.com.

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Page 12 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF CHASKA

The redeveloped Firemen’s Park includes a new picnic shelter (at right).

‘BRING YOUR FAMILY AND SPEND THE DAY’ By Mark W. Olson editor@chaskaherald.com hen the Chaska Curling Center complex opens, it will be only one part of a massive park redevelopment project. Outside the structure, crews have been busy building fountains, monuments, picnic shelters, a stage, plazas, playgrounds and trails as part of the revamped Firemen’s and Veterans parks. “I think the park is going to be a place where you can bring your family and spend the day,” said Kathy Skinner, assistant director of Chaska Parks and Recreation. “You can go to the beach, you can play on the playground, you can enjoy fishing, you can ride your bike on the boardwalk around the clay hole (Firemen’s Lake). You can enjoy archery. You can go to the Crooked

Pint and get something to eat. You can listen to band concert performances,” Skinner said. “There’s so much to do. It is a full-day event for a family.”

A new fountain near Firemen’s Lake also echoes the theme, with misters giving the illusion of smoke, and adjustable lighting that colors the water orange, Skinner said. Nearby, round historical monuments reflect the “beehive” kilns that originally stood on the site and educate passersby of the town’s brick industry.

will be the choice for many since it’s in a quieter location away from the busyness of Firemen’s Park with quick access from the bridge or the boardwalk to Firemen’s and all the activity,” Skinner said. Veterans Park includes a large lawn for games, and will ultimately hold new horseshoe pits and an archery range.

FIREMEN’S PARK The Klein brick company, which once had a large brick-making operation on the site, donated the land to the city, which was developed into a park by Chaska firefighters. The redeveloped park acknowledges both the Chaska Fire Department and the city’s brick industry. The park includes Firemen’s Plaza, a firefighter statue; and four “honor columns” (resembling fire ladders) listing local firefighters throughout the decades. Keeping with the firefighter tribute, new landscaping touts the theme of “smoke and fire.”

SHELTERS Firemen’s Park amenities include a picnic shelter with concession stand, restroom, and two party rooms opening onto covered patios. Nearby is the revamped Clayhole Beach, with a diving platform. Across the lake, Veterans Park holds a 1,300-square-foot shelter with a kitchen area, restrooms and large attached covered patio overlooking the lake. The shelter is meant to provide a larger area for gatherings such as family reunions and graduation parties, Skinner said. “This shelter

TRAIL Work continues on a trail and boardwalk that will circumnavigate Firemen’s Lake. The trail will be just under one mile long. A bridge is being built this winter that will cross the lake and connect Firemen’s and Veterans parks. When complete, anglers will be able to cast their lines from the bridge — or a fishing pier or walkway on the south side of the lake. The parks will really shine next spring, when the city plans to hold a “huge, massive kickoff,” with bands and activities, Skinner said.

Park info To make a park shelter reservation, call 952-227-7748.

Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 13

EVENT CENTER ALREADY BOOKING UP By Richard Crawford dcrawford@swpub.com he new curling rink isn’t the only thing garnering attention at the revamped Fireman’s Park in Chaska. The Chaska Event Center, located next to the curling rink, has already been reserved for 31 dates, including 15 weddings, as of Nov. 12. “We’re pretty excited about that,” said Mary Monteith, administrative assistant with the Chaska Park and Recreation Department. “They’re booking it going in blind and basing their decisions off of a rendering and drawings. That’s kind of amazing and they are very excited about it. I didn’t anticipate that we were going to get this many this early on.” Wedding receptions, class reunions, holiday parties and corporate

T ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF CHASKA

An architectural rendering of the Chaska Event Center fireplace, which will be made of black soapstone and granite.

More information For more information about the Chaska Event Center, call Mary Monteith at 952448-3176. gatherings seem to be popular, Monteith said. The Chaska Event Center can accommodate up to 300 people and will be a beautiful space with natural light, windows overlooking Fireman’s Park and access to patios and gardens. Round tables will seat eight people and there will be catering and liquor service available. Events can be booked out for 18 months. The cost for renting the event center can range from several hundred dollars on weekday nights to more than $1,000 for an eight-hour weekend block.

Page 14 • Curling Special Section • November 2015

WATERTOWN I 952-955-3553 WESTONKA I 952-472-3937 HUTCHINSON | 320-587-2593

Come join our Chaska Clinic for a Holiday Trunk show featuring KLiik and FYSH Thursday, Dec 3rd from 2-5pm!

FILE PHOTO BY MARK W. OLSON

Take a curling class or form a team through the Chaska Curling Center.

‘LEARN TO CURL’ SESSIONS SLATED By Richard Crawford dcrawford@swpub.com o you haven’t thrown a stone before but you’re interested in becoming a curler. There will be numerous opportunities to learn the basics of curling through “Learn to Curl” sessions at the Chaska Curling Center. In early December, there will be several free “learn-to-curls” and the prices during the remainder of the month will be low-cost. “We want it to be very affordable for people to come down and try it,” said Curling Center Manager Jeff Isaacson.

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LEAGUES There are 12 winter leagues at the Chaska Curling Center, with 12-14 teams in each league, according to Isaacson. Each team has four to six people. League options include Men’s, Women’s, Mixed, Beginner Open,

Classes and leagues For more details on Learn to Curl classes and league information, visit www.chaskacurlingcenter.com; email curlingcenter@chaskamn.com or call 952-448-3176.

Experience Open, and Open. Leagues promptly filled at the Chaska Curling Center. Hundreds signed up for memberships shortly after the Nov. 2 registration opened. However, curlers can contact the Chaska Curling Center to join a league waiting list. Curlers need an annual membership to create a team, costing $60 for adult Chaska residents, $ 80 for non-residents. The membership fee is discounted for students up to age 18 ($25), and seniors over age 55 ($40 resident, $53 non-resident). The cost of forming a team ranges from $400 to $500, Isaacson said.

Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 15

FIRST BONSPIELS By Richard Crawford dcrawford@swpub.com n curling parlance, bonspiels are tournaments that bring big numbers of curlers to town. At the Chaska Curling Center, there already are six big events on the calendar for 2016, including the 2016 College National Championships March 11-13 that will feature 16 teams from across the country, according to Curling Center Manager Jeff Isaacson. While hosting the college championship is a big deal for the fledgling Chaska Curling Center, the college bonspiel is not expected to be the largest event of the year. The Chaska Summer Spiel, sponsored in part by Schell’s Brewery, could feature 48 teams from around the country. That bonspiel will be July 22-24 and will include live bands, beer tents and food in Firemen’s Park. “It should be a big draw, with 200 curlers alone,” Isaacson said.

On the schedule As of November, the following bonspiels have been scheduled at the Chaska Curling Center. For updates, visit www. chaskacurlingcenter.com. Jan. 14-17: The Big Spiel, which will include curling at four sites in the Twin Cities – Chaska, Frogtown in St. Paul, the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, and the St. Paul Curling Club. Feb. 19-21: The Chaska Mixed Spiel March 11-13: The 2016 College National Championship. March 18-20: The 3 Year and Under Spiel April 29-May 1: Chaska Cares Charity Curling July 22-24: The Chaska Summer Spiel Source: City of Chaska

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Curling Special Section • November 2015 • Page 16

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