pOGDENSBURG — River Shiver week kicks off this weekend with the annual Polar Bear Plunge into the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River on Saturday./ppThe week-long celebration will wrap up Feb. 20 and 21 with historic re-enactors staging the 203rd anniversary of the Battle of Ogdensburg. The original battle, which saw British troops from Canada storm the city from across the St. Lawrence River, took place on Feb. 22, 1813. The battle involved intense fighting through city streets and at historic Lighthouse Point./ppWhile the polar plunge and the historic battle will book-end the week-long celebration, there will be other family-oriented activities scheduled throughout the week, including daily public skating sessions sponsored by the Ogdensburg Parks and Recreation Department at the Richard G. Lockwood Civic Center./ppSkate times at the civic center’s Jimmy Howard Rink during River Shiver week will be 1 to 3 p.m. Monday; 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday; 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to noon Thursday; 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 19; and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21./ppCost for each skating session throughout the week is $1 for children and $2 for adults. Skate rentals are also available for those who need them for a $3 fee./ppOther skating activities during the week will include a free Rock-N-Skate event hosted by the Molson Maples from 5 to 9:15 p.m. Feb. 20. Children in grades K-6 are scheduled for the ice from 5 to 7 p.m. while the older kids in grades 7-12 will be allowed to hit the ice from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. Although admission to the event is free, those needing to rent skates will still be required to pay a $3 rental fee./ppIn addition to the week of skating, the Ogdensburg Recreation Department will also be offering free arts and crafts for children from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday of next week at the Dobisky Visitors’ Center, 100 Riverside Ave./ppOgdensburg Parks and Recreation Director Matthew J. Curatolo said River Shiver week has traditionally been a time when residents stretch their legs after putting a long stretch of winter behind them. He said the mild winter this year has resulted in the cancellation of the popular ice fishing event during River Shiver, but that there are plenty of other reasons to get outside. /pp“River Shiver is a chance for people to get out and enjoy some winter activities,” Mr. Curatolo said. “Whether it’s skating at the arena, joining the chamber’s Polar Bear Plunge or watching the street battle re-enactment there is something for everyone.”/ppOn Saturday, the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce is revamping this year’s annual Polar Bear Plunge to include a special team category billed as the “badge battle” aimed at pitting groups of law enforcement and first responders against each other in friendly competition./ppRegistration is still underway for the Saturday Polar Bear Plunge, where people jump into the frigid St. Lawrence River through a hole in the ice and then scurry back out. The winter event serves as a fundraiser for the Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce as well as the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. After expenses, the money generated is split evenly between the two organizations./ppLaura A. Pearson, director of the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce, said in addition to reaching out to teams composed of first responders and law enforcement, this year’s event also seeks to draw teams of stu-dent participants from the nearby universities in Canton and Potsdam. She said early registration forms were sent to area colleges in hopes that fraternity and sorority groups would participate./ppThis marks the 10th annual Polar Bear Plunge in Ogdensburg. The event is held at the city’s marina next to the Dobisky Visitors’ Center./ppSame-day registration will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The plunge into St. Lawrence River begins promptly at 1 p.m./ppThe historic re-enactment of the Battle of Ogdensburg will take place Feb. 20 and 21. On Feb. 21 there will be an open house at the National Guard Armory on Ford Street. The battle will begin in downtown Ogdensbug at 1:30 p.m. The battle will be followed by a “winter ball” event at the Ogdensburg Amvets starting at 7:30 p.m./ppOn Feb. 21 a 10:30 a.m. wreath laying Ceremony will take place at Sheriff York’s Grave at the Ogdensburg Cemetery. The ceremony will be followed by another battle re-enactment at Lighthouse Point and along the city’s marina district./ppAll events are open and free to the public./p
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