Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sisters Keep A Skating Tradition Going Despite Great Distances

  •  Melody Stone 
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Left to right, sisters Maureen and Leslie Campbell and Nora Sutton go ice skating every year together on Christmas Eve. Nora's sister, Roberta Sutton is missing Christmas because she's working in Sierra Leone, so they made a cut-out of her face.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

For two sets of sisters, Maureen and Leslie Campbell and Nora and Roberta Sutton, Christmas Eve means a trip to the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink. No matter how far away the women move, they return to Sacramento year after year to lace up their skates.

However, this year, the group is one sister short.

Nora explains Roberta couldn't join them for the first time since the tradition started.

"My sister is in Sierra Leone right now,” explained Nora Sutton. “She studies international health. But, we made a life-size cutout of her face and put it on a stick with a Santa hat."

Sierra Leone is one of the West African nations currently dealing with the ebola outbreak.

The Campbell sisters, along with Nora Sutton and the cut-out version of her sister Roberta, took to the ice Wednesday. They all dressed in festive costumes; Leslie in full Buddy the Elf costume, Maureen in candy-cane leggings and Christmas sweater and Sutton as Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. 

"She might be more graceful on the skates like this," Sutton said, referring to Roberta's face on the stick.

The women said they've kept the tradition going because they don't deal well with change. They joke about the year the rink moved to J Street being particularly hard. Missing Roberta isn't easy either.

"It's hard not to have [Roberta] here, but I think it's really great that she can be in Sierra Leone," explained Nora Sutton. "She studies public health and she knows what you have to do to prevent getting ill, so I'm not concerned at all about her."

While they all grew up in Sacramento, none of the women currently live in the city. Maureen lives in Washington DC, Leslie lives in New Orleans and Nora Sutton lives in the Netherlands.

But, despite the geographical distance between them, the sisters come home to ice skate in Sacramento on Christmas Eve.

 


Our Multimedia Poducer Andrew Nixon captured these moments from the skating rink on Christmas eve.

SkatingRink2

Catie Sinderquist (7), tries walking while wearing ice skates. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

SkatingRink1

Bill Blake, visiting from Minnesota, puts skates on his grandson, Gannon Blake (9), at the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink on Christmas Eve. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

IMG_2609

Caitlin Rutan accepts help from Russell Furey on their date to the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink on Christmas Eve. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

IMG_2529

Christine Senderquist and her son, Matt (8) walk to the skating rink entrance at the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

IMG_2484

Participants laces up their ice skates at the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink on Christmas Eve. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

IMG_2684

The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink attracts visitor on Christmas Eve. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

IMG_2629

Sisters, Maureen and Leslie Campbell and Nora Sutton along with a cut-out of Nora's sister, Roberta Sutton, fufill a long-running Christmas Eve tradition of ice skating together. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Melody Stone

Former Interactive Producer

After working in newspapers and doing print journalism for years, Melody transitioned into digital marketing and design. With a healthy blend of journalistic and digital media skills she builds out interactive web stories for Capradio.org.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Bloomberg / Getty Images

Covid sewage surveillance labs join the hunt for monkeypox

August 10, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Stephon Clark family settles remaining lawsuit with city of Sacramento

August 12, 2022

Alain Jocard, Pool via AP

Sacramento County declares monkeypox a local public health emergency in response to rising cases

August 9, 2022

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: CDC drops quarantine, distancing guidelines

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

‘Overwhelming’ inflation affecting Sacramento restaurants — and chicken spots may be hit hardest

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: CDC drops quarantine, distancing guidelines

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

‘Overwhelming’ inflation affecting Sacramento restaurants — and chicken spots may be hit hardest

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.