ADIRONDACK CAROUSEL RIDES AGAIN

$100,000 Grant Revitalizes Efforts to Bring Carousel to Adirondacks

SARANAC LAKE A special event will be held Saturday, July 24th to thank the local community for their support and celebrate the progress being made to bring an Adirondack themed carousel to Saranac Lake. The family oriented celebration will take place at the William Morris Park in downtown Saranac Lake from 10 to 1 rain or shine.

The celebration features free children's activities, crafts, music, clowns, prizes and giveaways as well as a parade of selected hand carved Adirondack Carousel figures that will be available for photographs. A variety of food and a special coupon booklet featuring discounts at 20 local merchants will also be offered.

Carousel volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed renovations to the Park, including the timber framed building that will house the carousel and provide meeting space for educational and community events, and the new playground equipment designed to replace the older equipment.

At two recent community meetings, the Adirondack Carousel was heralded as a way to strengthen the Tri-Lakes communities, support the local economy, foster imagination, provide entertainment, respect the environment, and encourage learning and appreciation for the Adirondacks. With the community's support, organizers hope to break ground this year, begin construction in the fall, and have the carousel and playground equipment in place by next summer.

SARANAC LAKE The Adirondack Carousel is so close to moving from a dream to reality that if you listen closely, you can almost hear the Carousel music and the laughter of children. It has been a long road to this moment, but the dream is so close and so real now that we are having a Community Celebration for the Carousel on July 24th, rain or shine, at the William Morris Park from 10:00a.m-1:00p.m. There will be clowns, face painting, music, games and food. We are in urgent need of cash donations, materials and the volunteering of skilled and unskilled labor. "JOIN THE RIDE" and help push this unique project spinning forward.

SARANAC LAKE The Adirondack Carousel project has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, announced Board president Ted Glowa. "We are thrilled to have this additional funding". noted Glowa, adding "It is also very encouraging that the State is continuing to support our efforts to bring a community Carousel to the Adirondacks, despite the economic downturn". They clearly view the Carousel as a project that will have a positive impact in the Tri-Lakes region as it has in other parts of the country. At the same time, the Carousel project is not going to cost the Saranac Lake residents any additional taxes, since it is not a Village project, and is being built with private funds.

The first phase of the Carousel project successfully raised over $400,000 for construction and has attracted more than $200,000 in in-kind donations, including all 14 of the 23 hand carved figures of Adirondack wildlife that have been completed thus far. A signed contract with the Village for space in William Morris Park is also in place as well as $20,000 set aside for new playground equipment as part of a State grant.

Board Seeks Community Members for Next Project Phase

"We are very thankful for all the support that individuals and businesses have given thus far, but we are going to need additional help to make the Carousel happen in the very near future", said Glowa. Specifically, the Board is looking for members who can help them reach out to others in the community and beyond, provide website and marketing support, oversee the construction of the pavilion, be part of the fundraising team, and assist with administering the state grants. "If you think you can help in any way, we'd love to hear from you" added Glowa who can be reached at 891-3284 or tedglowa@aol.com.

The Board also plans to offer an orientation and brainstorming session in the near future for anyone who is interested in the Carousel project.

"We can't wait to see the smiles on the childrenss faces when they ride one of the beautifully carved Adirondack wildlife figures on the Adirondack Carousel with their friends and family," said Glowa.

Carousel History

The Adirondack Carousel was the brainstorm of woodcarver Karen Loffler who saw it as a way to strengthen the Tri-Lakes communities, support the local economy, foster imagination, provide entertainment, respect the environment, and encourage learning and appreciation for the Adirondacks. With a dedicated group of local volunteers, she formed a not-for-profit to build and maintain a full size handcrafted carousel housed in a timber frame pavilion with space for community programs and special events.

One of the organization's first actions was to secure a site for the Carousel with the Village of Saranac Lake. Located at the corner of Depot Street and Bloomingdale Avenue, the William Morris Play Park is close to the Saranac Lake business district and to the Adirondack Scenic Railroad train depot.

In November 2007, the Adirondack Carousel project was awarded $240,000 as part of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservations Environmental Protection Fund. The funding allowed the not-for-profit organization to hire a director and mount a capital campaign.

When the economy took a downturn, the Board made the difficult decision to release paid staff earlier this year and is currently looking at other options that will allow the Carousel to be built in the near future. "We're not giving up", said Glowa who added that he and his wife have already received calls from people interested in helping.

ADIRONDACK CAROUSEL

Carl Dion Carves Adirondack Carousel Moose in Blue Mountain Lake
Moose - Carver Carl Dion in Blue Mountain Lake

Carl Dion, of Hatfield Pennsylvania, carved the "Moose" for the Adirondack Carousel while vacationing at Hemlock Hall in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. Rich Kraft a local builder, regular visitor to Hemlock Hall and current Vice President of the Adirondack Carousel, introduced Carl to the Adirondack Carousel project.

Carousels and carving have been a part of Carl's life from a young age. Carl's aunt, Anne Hinds, wrote a book "Grab the Brass Ring." Carl and his father traveled with his aunt taking pictures of many carousels for the book. Carl's parents also own an original Allen Herschell carousel horse.

Influenced by his father, Carl began carving wood at an early age. Carl's father took classes from a German master carver after deciding he wanted to carve a full-size figure of Christ for his church. He began with a bust moving on to a small figure, then completing a full-size image of Christ. Carl's father also carved a working miniature carousel that is now shared with his brothers.

Carl's carving career is extensive with 75 carvings to date. He carves for his family to celebrate graduations and anniversaries and has carved many mice figures for his wife who adores them. On the porch of Hemlock Hall a bear and a woodland hermit are permanent residents.

Carl has already has decided on paint colors in anticipation of completing Moose Carousel figure next summer.

The Best Picture Goes to
--- Alice Vera! Maddens Movers Assist

It's been cold outside but inside the studio of Alice Vera in Saranac Lake, it was warm and cozy as Alice began photographing the carousel animals from the Adirondack Carousel.

Alice Vera, a professional photographer for over 18 years moved to Saranac Lake to fulfill her life long dream of living in the Adirondacks. As a child, Alice's family vacationed in the Saranac Lake area every summer.

Alice recently built a new studio at her home located at 26 Jenkins Street to accomodate her growing photography business. The roomy space and good lighting were a perfect combination to accomodate four large carousel animals as they took turns posing.

The animals were well behaved while being photographed. The Raccoon asked for a snack and the Bass needed a glass of water. Alice invited them to come back anytime.

Alice is enthusiastic to be part of The Adirondack Carousel. "It is a fun and exciting project and fulfilling to see it all come together." stated Alice.

The new pictures will be added to the website and power point presentation.

Maddens Movers of Saranac Lake assisted the Carousel in picking up the Raccon, Black Fly, Loon and Bass from storefronts in town. Pete Rock, Nick Rock, and Kevin Rowe moved the animals with care and humor: it isn't everyday they get a chance to carry a 3-foot Bass around town.