'A Diamond City Christmas' marks the first performance of this kind since the Ice A Rama closed.

BILL O ' BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Axels, jumps and spirals will be the features moves Sunday at the first-ever local performance of the Diamond City Figure Skating Club.

The 49-member club will host its first ice skating exhibition Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ice Rink at Coal Street. The show, titled "A Diamond City Christmas," will feature skaters, coaches, and students performing programs along with the traditional holiday fare.

This will also be the first exhibition of this kind at the rink since the former Ice A Rama closed over a decade ago.

"It means a lot to the skaters," said Kelly Marinari, president of the club. "This will be their first time performing in front of a local crowd. It's a chance for the community to come and see what the ice is being used for other than hockey. And it's a chance for us to perform for the community."

Marinari is hoping a large crowd turns out to view the performance. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Children under age 5 are free.

The club organized in January 2009 and joined the U.S. Figure Skating Association in December 2009. Members of the club competed at the 2010 Keystone State Games, and Marinari's daughter, Breanna, 12, finished third at the preliminary level.

"The Coal Street facility is wonderful," she said. "The ice is terrific and well-cared for, and we are treated extremely well. The kids and the adults love it. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins also treat the skaters very well."

The Penguins use the facility as their primary practice facility and the organization's offices are housed at Coal Street. The city-owned facility is operated by the Penguins.

Marinari said a public skating session will be held Sunday at noon, so she urges people to bring their skates.

For further information regarding The Diamond City Figure Skating Club, membership, or the Learn to Skate program, contact Marinari at dcfsc.com.

The club offers private lessons and training, as well as public programs like exercise program Icercize.

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JANESVILLE — They'll soon be skating in Salt Lake City and Singapore, but this weekend they'll be in Janesville.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the Janesville Figure Skating Club is hosting its annual "Spice on Ice" show at the Janesville Ice Skating Center, 821 Beloit Ave.

The show is free, but the club is asking for donations of nonperishable food items for ECHO and the Salvation Army's food pantries, said Mardel Wien, club president.

The event will feature 22 of the club's 25 members and 12 visiting skaters.

"Our members go from 6 years old to one who is a medical student at UW-Milwaukee," Wien said.

One of the event's highlights comes when all club members take the ice for a number they've choreographed and produced.

It's tricky thing to coordinate.

"We have kids skating at all levels, from snow plow all the way up," Wien said.

Local club members also will display their individual and pairs skating skills.

The 12 guest skaters include regional champions who have competed at the national and international levels.

Other skaters are at the top of their class in the state and have a history of performing in Janesville's annual show, making it kind of a skating family reunion.

"It's a fun show and they enjoy coming," Wien said.

Guest skaters performing at the show include:

-- Brooke Herzfeldt, 12, who won the Upper Great Lakes Regional Championship and will be going to nations Dec. 19, in Salt Lake City.

-- Taylor Blair, 15, a two-time regional champion who trains at Stattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota, a college prep boarding school for figure skaters and other athletes.

-- Brittany Lau, 16, a two-time national champion who will skate in the world championship in South Korea in 2011.

-- Lexis Verhulst, 15, who has competed at sectional events and is the first alternate for senior nationals.