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July 10, 2008

Adirondack Carousel creatures coming in small herds

Posse gathering for Saranac Lake's planned carousel

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

SARANAC LAKE -- All kinds of animals are crawling out of the woodwork.

But not the usual suspect camp invaders.

They're creatures crafted from big hunks of wood under clever hands of wood carvers around the country.

UNVEILINGS PLANNED

Five Adirondack Carousel creatures are to be unveiled in the next few weeks, with five others due to arrive by mid winter.

"Hank" the Heron, made by carver Leo Lambert of Woburn, Mass., was brought to the village in June, where he stands floor to ceiling in Cinderella's storefront window, gawking over Broadway with a big wooden fish in his mouth.

The thrush carousel seat will be unveiled Saturday by carver Tracy Kochanski of Westfield, Mass., in a 3 p.m. public celebration at Greens and Beans Cafe.

A bobcat, caught in a playful pounce, arrives at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake amid great fanfare at noon Friday, July 18, with carver Bob Eck from Plantation, Fla.

And the beaver by Carl Borst of Rotterdam and skunk seat carved by Tom Hozinger of Roanoke, Ind., will be revealed together at the Saranac Lake Block Party on Aug. 7.

"This is a very busy, busy time for us," said Sarah Greenwood, spokeswoman for the Adirondack Carousel project, as the herd comes home.

23 PLANNED

The creatures, each struck by a brass pole -- which someday will be smudged in small fingerprints -- have been carvers' works in progress for several years.

Boldly painted and embellished with harness ornaments, the Adirondack Carousel will be installed once 20 characters are ready, Greenwood said.

Several, like the large-mouth bass and the black fly, are already housed in public places, awaiting the final parade to the Adirondack Carousel pavilion.

The five additional creatures coming this fall and winter -- the turtle, fox, moose, frog and bear -- will bring the finished number to 17.

In all, 23 creatures are in the works, and only two -- a porcupine, who doesn't have a sponsor yet, and the deer, who hasn't a woodcutter -- are still in early stages of development.

CHARACTERS

The turtle, carved in Missoula, Mont., is actually finished and making rounds on a similar carousel there, Greenwood said, before it gets shipped here.

"He's taking a test drive," Greenwood said with a grin.

The "he" or "she" of each creature is, in part, determined by its coloration or shape.

But sometimes the carver's story has a lot to do with defining gender, Greenwood explained.

"Like Hank' the heron is just what Leo, the carver, called him."

Groundbreaking for the Adirondack Carousel pavilion is slated for after Columbus Day at William Morris Play Park, Greenwood said.

And the project has ramped into overdrive.

"We have so many people just jumping on board right now; it's great."

STARTED IN 2001

Since its inception by Saranac Lake artist Karen Loffler in 2001, the Adirondack Carousel has kept a steady momentum.

Carving each animal by hand, as in the original days of carousel makers, takes many years.

By the time it's finished, the project will have cost nearly $2.5 million.

In 2006, village trustees dedicated space for the carousel in a historic public park, not far from the train depot.

Then late last year, the Environmental Protection Fund awarded the project $240,000.

Outdated children's playground equipment already there will be removed in October and replaced through a $20,000 grant from Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury).

PAVILION

The new swings will be moved to the side, making room for the carousel in the park's center, Greenwood said.

Local architect Rich Kraft designed the pavilion as a 10-sided, timber-frame, rustic structure to enclose the carousel, keeping it safe from weather.

Barring any glitches in construction, the one-of-a-kind children's park will open next July.

And carousel music will chime from the edge of Saranac Lake, while the animals whisper in the wind, going 'round and 'round.

kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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