Since my cover story about the Fate of Five create a sheet of ice at Five Flags is not being Flags I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people physically dismantled. from all walks of life. For the first couple of weeks, it was people giving me insights, ideas The other ice equipment, however, is still and putting in their two cents on the issue. wanted and being taken by the new arena, Since then, it’s mostly been people asking including the Zamboni, insulating floor, rental what happened. So in order to stop people skates and dasher boards. Dasher boards are from having to come over to my table during those white and plexiglass walls that surround lunch, or more importantly to curb the people the ice sheet. They are best known for use in who have stopped their car in the middle of the game of hockey, but are also used for other Main Street to ask me where the issue stands, purposes, such as indoor soccer, speed skating I’ll give the the scoop so far as I know it. and ice motorcycle racing. (Yes, they actually do that.) By losing the dasher boards, the civic First off, I suppose a quick recap of the issue center also loses the ability to host those other would be helpful. events. Late last year, it was announced that the con- The dasher boards at Five Flags are not big struction of the new ice area in Dubuque was enough for the new arena, which will feature a no longer going to be bringing a second ice larger ice sheet. But that does not mean there sheet to Dubuque, but rather, the arena would is no value in taking them. The DICE organi- be the only ice sheet in Dubuque and Five zation decided to sell the dashers, which will Flags’ ice was to be discontinued. For myself, provide funds toward the purchase of their as Chairman of the Five Flags Civic Center own boards. They are still being used this sea- Commission, as well as my fellow board mem- son, but the pre-emptive sale of the dashers bers and the entire staff of the center, this came has already been approved. Any guesses as to as a surprise. We were not involved or con- who is buying the dashers from DICE? You’ll sulted in the matter. It was announced at the never guess. I know, I had to read it twice be- same time that the ThunderBirds would cease fore I said, “What the ...?” Come on, guess. to exist as a hockey club and the new arena Drumroll, please ... The City of Dubuque! Yes, would be hosting a new USHL hockey team, that’s right, they gave them away, then bought since announced to be called the Dubuque them back. And, for some reason, the contract Fighting Saints. made special note of the City’s responsibility to pay sales tax on it, which made no sense The biggest difficulty I had with the plan, and to me, as the City ... is supposed to be tax- what caused me to dedicate an issue of 365ink exempt? I don’t think I want to know. to the matter, was the details of the city’s agree- ment with DICE, the organization that will On one level, I don’t care. Like the Five Flags own and manage the new facility. By contrac- crew, I’m glad to see them stay. It keeps many tual agreement, the City of Dubuque “shall not avenues open for the future. But on another allow any ice at Five Flags Civic Center with- level, I have to wonder why? Is it an end- out approval” of DICE. Further, the city will around way for the City to give more money deliver to the new arena the ice equipment to the new facility without having to have it from Five Flags, including the dasher boards, approved directly? One person said to me they insulating floor, refrigerator systems, 200 pairs could have gotten a lot more money for the of new rental skates and their Zamboni. So in boards and given them to the city for a song. addition to losing hockey and ice, Five Flags I didn’t know how to react. Am I supposed to was losing the tools that make it possible to see benevolence in selling something at rock provide ice in the future. bottom prices to the person you took it from? I don’t know what to think of it. I guess it just Fast-forward a couple of months. leaves a bad taste. I’m sure it’s all on the up- and-up, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. If they I’m happy to say, there has been some positive want to give them more money, just give them progress in saving ice at Five Flags. Consider- more money. ing that it was all bad news before, getting any- thing changed is probably not so much good But, in the end, we have our ice ... well, at news as it is less bad news. But it’s something. least the possibility of ice, and the dasher boards. Perhaps at some future date the new First off, and most importantly, it appears the arena would let us borrow the Zamboni back ice plant, and the chiller which cools the floor for a special event, if they first give us permis- to create the ice, are staying at Five Flags. They sion to make ice for the event. But, I imagine, are reportedly not energy-efficient enough for based on past practice, the City will want to the standards put forth by the new facility. So pay them to rent it back. that’s a major relief, though Five Flags still can- not make ice unless DICE says it’s okay to do All my pessimism aside, I am looking froward so (note that the City of Dubuque itself is un- to the Saints coming back to life in Dubuque. able to make the call on whether or not it can Hopefully they’ll still let me in the door. The 365ink crew... faces you already know! make ice in its own facility). But the ability to Tim Mike Kristina Jeff Kelli Ralph Kate Matt Lisa Chris Pam Jon Ben Ron Bob Roy Brad Bryce Issue #101 _____________________The Inkwell Publisher: Bryce Parks ([email protected]) FEBRUARY 4 - 17 Editor: Tim Brechlin ([email protected]) Advertising: Kelli Kerrigan ([email protected]) In this Issue: 563-451-9365 Kate Lydon John Pizzarelli 4 ([email protected]) Winter Jazz & Blues 515-441-6754 Writers & Content: Community Shorts 5 Mike Ironside ([email protected]) Movie at the Library Tim Brechlin, Bryce Parks, L.A. DubuqueFest Applications Hammer, Chris Wand, Mayor Roy Shoulder Pain Seminar Buol, Matt Booth, Bob Gelms, Pam Kress-Dunn, Jeff Stiles, Me- Text for Haiti gan Dalsing and Pat Fisher. Tai Chi Classes Designers: Public Skate Kristina Nesteby 365 Pop Quiz 6 ([email protected]) Bryce, Tim & Mike Area Entertainment Events 6 Photography: Help Haiti 7 Mike Ironside, Ron Tigges, Bryce Parks Mississippi Moon Bar 8 Layout: StreetJaw Scavenger Hunt 9 Tim Brechlin, Bryce Parks Director of Operations: Symphony 10 Patricia Reisen-Ottavi, J.D. Pam Kress-Dunn 11 Community, Incorporated Brad Parks, C.E.O. Wando’s Movies 12 Ralph Kluseman GRIFINFEST Submissions 13 Special thank you to: Brad Parks, Fran Parks, Christy Monk, Mindframe Movies 13 Katy Brechlin, Kay Kluseman, Todd Locher, Everett Buckardt, Julie Steffen, Budweiser Nightlife 14-15 Sheila Castaneda, Ron & Jennifer Tigg- es, bacon, the crew of Radio Dubuque and all the 365 friends and advertisers DAWG Call for Entries 16 for all your support. You are all 365. Warehouse Art Gallery 17 Dubuque365 / 365ink Gaelic Storm Returns 18 401 Locust Street, Dubuque, IA, 52001 Main Street PM 19 dubuque365.com Mayor Roy Buol 20 (563) 588-4365 All contents (c) 2010, Community, Incor- Bob’s Book Reviews 22 porated. All rights reserved. Mattitude 23 LifeStiles 24 Like our stuff? We can make yours too! 365 Puzzles Page 25 Trixie Kitsch 26 365 Dr. Skrap’s Horoscopes 26 • Web Site Development • • Graphic Design • Eating Healthy w/ Hy-Vee 27 • Photography • • Video Production • • Marketing / Consulting • We’ve hidden 365’s WANDO somewhere in this issue of Dubuque365ink. Can you find the master of movies buried within these pages? Hint: He’s tiny and could be anywhere, In a story? In an ad? On the cover? Good Luck! DON’T GET BRYCE STARTED ON THE SPELLING OF PIZZERIA 4 FEB 4 - 17 NOW With snow falling every other day and of “Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli,” reveals that ticket prices for his shows programs for students of all ages. temperatures low enough to make a a nationally syndicated radio program are generally in the $100 range, if not polar bear say, “Oh, come on,” it’s cer- co-hosted with his wife, Broadway star more, a testament to the reputation and “This guy puts on just a fabulously fun tainly easy to fall into the trap of winter Jessica Molaskey which can be heard the prestige of this musician. show,” says Hemmer. “We’re really try- doldrums. Fear not, however! There is locally on KDTH on Sundays, from 1 ing to reach out to young crowds this still fun to be had during these dreary - 3 p.m. “Anyone who wants to hear a top-qual- year, with our ticket special at Winter times! One such event, now in its fifth ity New York City jazz musician needs Jazz and a program like this.” year, is the Dubuque Arts Council’s “John plays a lot of Nat ‘King’ Cole,” to attend this show,” says Hemmer.