CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tom Daugherty used to go to the recreation room of Charleston's First Presbyterian Church as a kid and roller skate. He remembers when the Monkees' song "I'm a Believer" used to play while he and his friends skidded across the floor.
Olivia Miller, 11, helps Abigail Marinkowsky skate while Iris Finn glides by. The First Presbyterian Church on Virginia Street has opened the recreation center for roller-skating nights over the summer so kids can let loose with their wheels.
Years later, he brought his two kids to the same church's rec room to roller-skate. The same song, the remake by Smash Mouth, was playing.
Classic fun never really changes.
First Presby has resurrected its roller-skating night this month, letting wheels go wild on the wooden floors of the church's recreation room. The church on Leon Sullivan Way has hosted a roller-skating night the past two Wednesdays, and the grand finale falls tonight at 6 p.m.
Last week, as the kids skated around the wooden floor, a spinning disco ball reflected the colors of the stage lights on the ceiling. The sounds of Miley Cyrus filled the room as the children, no older than 11 or 12, skated to the teen's popular songs.
Daugherty says it's great fun.
"It's something fun and wholesome for them to do," he said.
Skate night developed out of a weekly tradition at the church, Wednesday Night Connections. It's a time for members to come together for a big meal. Afterward, the children would skate in the rec room in the donated skates.
Amanda Hughes, a church member and preschool teacher there, said that once summer rolled around and people started getting busy, the Wednesday night meals were few and far between.
So she sent out e-mails to her preschool families and other church members, inviting them to come for an hour of skating on Wednesdays in July.
"It's fantastic for the kids, and they have a great time," Hughes said. "And it's a church, so you can't get much better than that."
Hughes' daughter, Adrienne, 9, has donned a pair of skates on those Wednesdays.
"I think it's really fun," she said. "I'm glad because I really enjoy roller-skating."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tom Daugherty used to go to the recreation room of Charleston's First Presbyterian Church as a kid and roller skate. He remembers when the Monkees' song "I'm a Believer" used to play while he and his friends skidded across the floor.
Years later, he brought his two kids to the same church's rec room to roller-skate. The same song, the remake by Smash Mouth, was playing.
Classic fun never really changes.
First Presby has resurrected its roller-skating night this month, letting wheels go wild on the wooden floors of the church's recreation room. The church on Leon Sullivan Way has hosted a roller-skating night the past two Wednesdays, and the grand finale falls tonight at 6 p.m.
Last week, as the kids skated around the wooden floor, a spinning disco ball reflected the colors of the stage lights on the ceiling. The sounds of Miley Cyrus filled the room as the children, no older than 11 or 12, skated to the teen's popular songs.
Daugherty says it's great fun.
"It's something fun and wholesome for them to do," he said.
Skate night developed out of a weekly tradition at the church, Wednesday Night Connections. It's a time for members to come together for a big meal. Afterward, the children would skate in the rec room in the donated skates.
Amanda Hughes, a church member and preschool teacher there, said that once summer rolled around and people started getting busy, the Wednesday night meals were few and far between.
So she sent out e-mails to her preschool families and other church members, inviting them to come for an hour of skating on Wednesdays in July.
"It's fantastic for the kids, and they have a great time," Hughes said. "And it's a church, so you can't get much better than that."
Hughes' daughter, Adrienne, 9, has donned a pair of skates on those Wednesdays.
"I think it's really fun," she said. "I'm glad because I really enjoy roller-skating."
Watching the children have fun on their wheels is nostalgic for many parents there.
"I roller-skated when I was a kid, and it was great," Hughes said. "And so to have a place where my kids can come roller-skate, it's fun for them and for me."
Heidi Marcinkowsky is a parent and worker in the preschool office. She also brought her daughter to skate.
"When I was a kid, roller-skating was the thing you did every weekend," she said. "And I just think it's great she has an opportunity to do something like this like I did."
Gracie Switzer, 11, and her sister, Bekah, 9, went to skate with a friend. The sisters like to face off on the skates.
"She always challenges me to these competitions," Gracie said. "And I always win."
But Bekah thinks she can beat her sister in a race.
While Bekah and Gracie challenge one another, Jaelin Overton likes to show off her own skating skills. The 8-year-old can glide on one leg while crouching down low.
"You get to do all kinds of cool tricks," Jaelin said. "I'm having lots of fun."
Olivia Miller, 11, can't fit into any of the skates currently available at the church. Adult sizes haven't come in yet. But she still finds a way to make her night worthwhile.
"I'm helping the little kids," she said. "It's fun because some of them are really stubborn, but all you got to do is just talk to them a little bit."
As the night wound down, many other older kids traded skates for shoes to help prevent the youngsters from falling. Even those who did take a spill or two during the night didn't shed a tear.
"Not only is it good for our church, but it's good for our community," Hughes said. "I can't wait to get adult-sized skates."
This is great! I play roller derby for the Blue Ridge Rollergirls in Asheville, NC. I'm moving to Charleston next week and I want to start a roller derby team up there. I love that people are starting to roller skate again.
Delirious Dan(9:35am 07-24-2008)
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I remember going to First Presby on Saturday mornings years ago and skating all morning long. Skate rentals were fifty cents, but admission was free. It was great fun, good exercise, and a wonderful mission for them to attract children. Gald to see it's been revived!
