Read one of the fables: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, or 2005.

SARA THE SNOWY OWL I

Winter had swooped down on the tiny village of Saranac Lake. It was another white winter in the Adirondacks. Lakes were frozen and snow blanketed the land. Like the previous year, the good folks of the town were planning the second Winter Carnival, to ceebrate the magic of winter.

The year was 1898. Games were planned. Ice sculptures were carved. Entertainment and glee were in the hearts of all who called Saranac Lake home.

On the snowy eve of Winter Carnival a stranger came to town, one who would create memories in the minds of children of all ages for ever more.

This was not your typical visitor, but then Saranac Lake was not your typical village and the stranger knew that. Though she did not look like the north land inhabitants, she had the same pioneer spirit. It is not typical to revel in the frosty temperatues like the residents of this village in the mountains. For this the stranger was truly excited. She knew that those who embraced winter as a friend would love her as well. She knew because she had often flown above this small community.

The stranger knew she had no place to stay, but was confident the inhabitants of the village would make room for her.

She was not noticed at first. The residents were busy cutting blocks of ice that would be saved for the coming summer. The ice would be stored and used to cool food through the summer heat.

As the workers went about their task they thought of the week of fun ahead. Intent on their work, they never looked up at the tree right next to them.

Suddenly a strong breeze, which the folks took as brisk northerly wind, blew across the necks and faces of those cutting ice. So used to the winter cold were the Saranac Lakers, at first they did not look up at the spectacle that had landed just above thir heads.

Eventually the mayor of the village stopped sawing and looked up. With his mouth gapped wide he saw the visitor perched on the bough of a tree. The wind was in fact the flapping of wings as the large bird had landed.

In Saranac Lake at this time, if one person stopped working, the rest would notice. Though no one was surprised that it was the mayor who was resting, they were when his son Brent stopped. The amazement on the faces of the two was sublime. Following thei gaze, all of those present, one by one, saw what would become a friend to each.

What sat before them was Sara The Snowy Owl. A bird that was as stunning as she was kind. She had traveled far, but knew by the smiles before her, she had found a place she could call her winter home.

Everyone marveled at the sight of the majestic bird sitting on the biggest tree in town. The tree, now bare of the leaves that once provided summer shade, framed the bird's feathers. Her feathers were as white and fluffy as the snow that rested upon the illage rooftops. Sara \tab The Snowy Owl was the biggest, most beautiful bird they had ever seen. And they had seen a lot of birds.

Sara spoke to the people and they were surprised to realize her hoot sounded much like the low tone of winter winds. Instantly the people knew this stranger was one of them. Though not from the village, she was one who would love it as they did. The friendly residents of Saranac Lake invited her to stay and even invited her to stay with them in heir homes.

Unfortunately, Sara would have to refuse them. Each home with its woodstoves and fireplace would be too warm for her, she explained. She pointed out that her feathers provided her with too much warmth to stay inside.

The humble village inhabitants insisted that at the very least they must provide her some shelter against the winds of winter.

Sara told the people she could not take the wood they used for heat and besides, she only needed a basic shelter that would block the wind.

The mayor's son suddenly and unexpectedly jumped up. Some still say he did so because the block of ice he was sitting on had chilled his thought process, but when everyone turned to look at him, he exclaimed, "the ice blocks."

Yes, that was the answer. Along the shore of the lake were several thousand blocks of ice. If stacked right, they could create a home for the snowy owl. All of the town began to slide the ice blocks onto each other creating a wall, then another, and another, and then a fourth.

The sun was slipping behind the mountains. With ramps and pulleys the workers built the walls higher and higher, until they thought they could go no higher.\par

The beautiful snowy owl had been working with the villagers, using her beak to help place the bricks of ice. When the men could no longer place the blocks any higher, Sara -- with her wide and powerful wings -- was able to fly the last few blocks to the top of her winter retreat. As she settled the last block of ice into place, the village realized they hadcreated Sara the perfect home, as well as a monument befitting the upcoming Winter Carnival.

This was the beginning of a friendship between Sara and the village that would grow for years to come. Each visit to the village brought with it a new story for children to tell their children.

Sara was a busy bird and, as much as she loved the people of Saranac Lake, she was not able to visit each year. Nevertheless, each year, in hopes that she would fly in with winter, the people would build her a magical palace in which to live. Even withou Sara, the palace ignites a spark of happiness that endures today in the castle of ice.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL II
The Winter It Forgot To Snow

Sara had been coming to Saranac Lake since 1898, but never had she seen the folks of the village so sad. In the 50 years since her first visit, this was the first time the village was not covered with snow.

This was a time long before snow could be made by spraying a mist of water into the cold air. It was a time when only what fell from the skies covered the ground and now the ground was green. When Sara arrived for her annual visit, all the snowshoes and skis were still packed away.

It was ironic, in most places people hope for warm and mild Winters, but not in Saranac Lake where people enjoy the fruits of Winter. They relish the fun of snow and ice that usually is so abundant in the area. This was the first time that Sara's beautiful white feathers did not blend in with the snow in the trees.

Sara was a white owl (that is what they called owls like her at the time, but that name was soon to change). Her wing-span was almost as wide as the whole Adirondack Forest.

Sara was in town for the Winter Carnival, but few were excited about the prospects of a Carnival without snow. Everyone wondered how they could celebrate Winter, if Winter never showed up. Even the arrival of Sara was met with less enthusiasm than usual. Sara swooped down on Prospect Avenue to visit her friend Sean. She liked to make that her first stop because the road was high above the village and presented one of the best views. She also liked how Sean always greeted her with a big smile--his smile was almost as big as the wing-span of the white owl!

To her dismay, even Sean was not happy. If Sean couldn't smile, then who could, thought Sara. The little boy told Sara that he felt bad because the town would not be able to build the Ice Palace for her to stay in.

Sara told him that she could sleep in the woods in Bloomingdale, in the woods near her friend Kati-Ann. But that was little comfort for her young friend. Sean pointed out that he could not ski at Mt. Pisgah, the little ski slope north of town, or sled at the hills in town. Many of the children had received sleds and skates for Christmas, but these gifts were sad reminders that Winter had forgotten to stop in Saranac Lake that year.

The missing Winter was also hurting business in the small town. Everyone from Morgan Fobare, who sold wood for the wood burners, to Pat Nosliw, who made the warmest sweaters in the east from the wool of her Norwegian sheep, was wondering where their next dollar would come from. Without Winter, who needed their goods?

Without the cold to freeze the lakes, the ice industry of the village was missing. The same blocks of ice that were pushed and stacked into a home for Sara, were also stored to fill iceboxes in the summer.

By now the town had become famous for the gigantic Ice Palace that was built to protect Sara from the harshness of the Winter winds. Almost as well known was how people who were sick got better when they lived in Saranac Lake. Few believed the town had any magical cure, but all knew that happiness makes people feel better. Unfortunately that happiness was sadly lacking this year.

Sara told her friends in the Village to cheer up, that she had a plan to bring Winter back to Saranac Lake. It was no simple plan, but fortunately Sara had come to Saranac Lake early this year. She had planned to go sledding with Sean and to help Kati-Ann with her math homework. Sara was very talented with fractions and could divide with the best of them.

The first thing Sara did was borrow the mayor's hat. Sara knew the Mayor had the biggest head in town and since it wasn't cold he didn't need a hat anyway. With the hat in her beak she flew up to the Arctic Circle and scooped up a hatful of snow and dumped it into a cloud that was just dawdling in the sky. She got several more hatfuls until the cloud was so full, it was ready to burst.

To give the cloud a little nudge, Sara got behind it and flapped her powerful wings. She then began to push the cloud with her beak. In front of the cold air that moved along with Sara and the bundle of snow. It was a long flight, but the enormous white owl was able to bring the cloud to Saranac Lake in plenty of time for the beginning of Winter Carnival

Once the snow-filled cloud was over the village, Sara took a snootful of pepper. This caused her to sneeze and her sneeze was more than that cloud, or any other, could bear. When the cloud cracked open it snowed for days, dumping Winter all over the village. The cold air froze the lakes and soon the village was making another Ice Palace. Sara had brought Winter to the village.

In the process of scooping up snow, the mayor's hat had stretched some, but once the mayor began to tell everyone that he was responsible for Winter finally arriving, the hat seemed to fit just right again.

He didn't take all of Sara's credit though. Because she had turned the village into a Winter spectacle, they gave her a nickname. From then on Sara and all the other white owls became known as snowy owls.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL III
Sara Talks To Saranac Lake

When Sara the Snowy Owl came to Saranac Lake to visit Winter Carnival in 1936 she was happy to be back. It had been a few years since she had been to Saranac Lake and thus the folks of the Village had not needed to build a Ice Palace home for Sara.

When that great white owl Sara did not fly in, the Village folks put the grand February festival, the Winter Carnival, on hold. With out Sara, the life of the party, the town took a break from Winter Carnival.

Many changes had occurred in the village in the years since Sara's last visit. The town hall she remembered had burned down, and the villagers had built a new one in the same location. It was a beautiful brick structure, and the heart of community activities. When Sara first saw the auditorium in the building she knew this would be the perfect spot for concerts. Though she didn't know it at the time, the new town hall would also be the perfect spot for the crowning of the King and Queen of Winter Carnival once the winter festival started naming royalty.

There was also the new Paul Smith's Electric Light & Power & Railroad Company building. Many visitors had come and stayed a short while in the village to cure from tuberculous. With the curative properties of life in the village and the freshness of the air, Saranac Lake was well known as a place to get better.

Like the rest of the country, Saranac Lake had endured a great depression, but was once again a thriving community.

And there was now something new in the air that would change the village for evermore. It was something that would bring the Village even closer than it had been. It was something that would give Sara a chance to visit all her friends, without going to each person's home!

Since Sara had started visiting she had become friends with most all the residents of the small Village. She also had become a healing spirit for all the visitors who were in Saranac Lake to recover from tuberculous. When Sara came to town and visited the patients in the Trudeau Sanitarium and the other curing cottages in the Village there were clearly a therapeutic results.

Sara had so many friends that when she made her visits, it was difficult for her to see everyone. In fact, in 1936 she had little time to participate in the many Winter Carnival events. She thought she was going to miss some of the Northern New York Speed Skating Championships and maybe even the dog sled races. The Skater's Ball was the highlight of the 1936 Winter Carnival Social Calendar and Sara thought she might have to miss that too.

But that was before Sara found out what was new in the air.

Sara was having tea with her new friend Hannah, the 10-year-old acting star of Saranac Lake and her manager, Tera Olive. The white owl was excusing herself to go visit some of her other show business friends who were in the town. Hannah was by no means the only actor that Sara knew. Saranac Lake was a recreational mecca for entertainers. So much so that Tera worked for the William Morris Talent Agency which had set up an office in the Village.

Sara told Hannah that she wished she could get the whole Village into the Town Hall so she could talk to them all at once, when Hannah suggested they take a trip to the radio station, where Hannah was famous for her commercials. At first Sara thought Hannah had gone off the deep end. The Snowy Owl thought Hannah was referring to the Radio-Flyer wagons that many of the children in Saranac Lake had. The children would often push their wagons up to the top of the many hills and go flying down, driving their parents crazy with fear. Sara thought that Hannah meant the owl should hop in a wagon and travel around to her friends.

Then Hannah explained what was new in the air - it was WNBZ. The small radio station had first gone on the air in 1928. In fact, Hannah said, while walking over to the big wood box in the corner of the room, there is a really great show coming on the air now. They gathered around the wood box and Hannah turned some knobs. At first there was static, then a voice came on announcing there was going to be an encore production of "A Stranger For Christmas." It was a radio drama and like magic the radio broadcast a wonderful story.

Right after the show was over, Sara flew over to the radio station and talked to the owners Earl Smith and Bill Mace. Sara and the owners became fast friends and they offered the White Owl a chance to broadcast to her friends whenever she was in Saranac Lake.

Shortly after her visit to the station, Sara, with Hannah's help, developed the very famous comedy routine of Hoo's on First.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL IV
On the Iron Highway

Sara the Snowy Owl was on her way to Saranac Lake. It was 1908 and she knew there were no plans for a Winter Carnival that year, but she was feeling a bit lonesome for the sight of some of her friends from the mountain town. She figured that she would fly down for a couple weeks for a visit before returning to her winter retreat in northern Canada.

In recent years, finding Saranac Lake had become easier. Railroad tracks formed pathways to towns and village around the North East. Just as it was easier for travelers to travel to Saranac lake, it was easier for Sara to find her way back to her adopted home. As long as the trains were running she could find her way by following the 'ribbons of steel.'

Even with the railroad lines to follow, it was still a long trip. Sara would stop from time to time to catch her breath and admire the beauty of winter.

Flying over Mont Tremblant, in Quebec, she was a bit tired, so she swooped down to a tiny little village.

The small town of Sainte-Agathe-des-Mont reminded here of some place so familiar. The air was pure and fresh and the folks in the town seemed friendlier than most. It reminded her of Saranac Lake.

Sara had landed on a hillside that overlooked the French-Canadian town of Ste.-Agathe which offered a beautiful view. The same kind of view she had when she sat on the mountain tops of Mt. Baker or Mt. Pisgah on the edges of Saranac Lake.

As her thoughts drifted to Saranac Lake, she realized it was time to move on. She thought of returning on her way back, but now her focus was more on flying on.

The skies were near pristine and she followed one train line to another finally connecting with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Line over Plattsburgh.

As luck would have it, there was a train pulling out of the station. Sara flew down onto the caboose that brought up the rear of the train leaving the station. With her strong feet, she was able to hold on and hitch a ride on the train all the way to Saranac Lake. She had rode the train several times. The first time she had hitched a ride it was known as the Chateaugay Railroad.

She knew in the train below there would be many people on their way to Saranac Lake to seek out the great Dr. E. L. Trudeau for treatment of tuberculosis. He was well known for the work he did, just as Saranac Lake was known for it's convalescing properties. Sara was blessed to have not contracted the lung disease. She always reasoned that a lot of her luck had to do with visiting Saranac Lake and breathing the fresh air. Regardless of the air, just being in Saranac Lake made her feel better and she attributed her good health to happiness that exuded in the village.

While the rhythm of the train rambled through the wilderness of the Adirondacks, Sara was lulled into a nap. When she woke, the train was pulling into the station. It was the Union Depot, a station that was just four years old and served two rail lines.

As always, Sara made her way to the Trudeau Sanitarium to visit Dr. Trudeau. She found out that he was doing his rounds. When she caught up with him, the doctor was talking to one of his patients. From the conversation, she guessed the patient was fairly new to the hospital. Like many patients, he was wishing he could be home. It wasn't that he didn't like the care he was receiving, he just missed his family.

Sara introduced herself, which startled the gentleman. He stepped out of bed, part because he was very formal and part out of fear of seeing a giant snowy owl in his hospital room.

Dr. Trudeau introduced Sara to the gentleman, Douglas Lorne McGibbon. McGibbon was a big man, who could look Sara in the eye. She found his enthusiasm to be inviting. It was clear though, that McGibbon was suffering from TB and needed to return to bed.

Sara was quite surprised that McGibbon was actually from the town she had rested in only a few hours earlier. When Sara commented on how fresh the air was and friendly the people were, McGibbon responded with his own comparison of Saranac Lake.

Instantly Sara and McGibbon knew they were of like minds. The two friends would have several more conversations in the years to come, but their introduction was interrupted by nurse France Gareau. France made it her job to ensure patients got their rest, she was kind, but you didn't want to disagree with her, so Sara said good-bye.

Sara heard McGibbon comment to a patient next to him, who by coincidence was also from Canada, that the two of them should start a cure hospital in Ste.-Agathe.

Sara knew there would be a passenger on the train back to Ste.-Agathe before too long, looking for a sanitarium site. In fact, the very next year, she visited McGibbon in Saranac Lake and he was excited to tell her that not only was his health improving, but should he have problems again, there would soon be a cure center in Ste.-Agathe.

Their friendship firmly cemented, like the villages of Ste.-Agathe and Saranac Lake, Sara and McGibbon went to the 1909 Masquerade Ball together in the Village. The two of them also watched the parade, with 50 floats.

From then on, Sara would always make a stop in Ste.-Agathe as she traveled to Saranac Lake to visit McGibbon and eventually a town full of friends. The communities would forever be linked, regardless if there was a train junction to connect them, there would always be a connection of history that would hold them together.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL V
Sara is a Flapper

Times were kind of somber for Sara the Snowy Owl when she flew into Saranac Lake on January 27, 1920. The whole country had been through a lot of difficulties. Sara was filled with melancholy.

That was part of the reason why she had returned to Saranac Lake. She knew when her beak was turned down, there would be someone in town with a joke or story that would cheer her up. There hadn't been a Winter Carnival in just about three years, so Sara was thrilled to be back.

The last time Sara really felt energetic was three years before in January 1917. Oh what a time Winter Carnival had been then. The residents of Saranac Lake had built a runway of ice down Baker Mountain that slid into Moody Pond. That was a year of exciting fun. Perhaps her favorite event was the Fancy Dress Ice Carnival where seamstress Maggie Atkins, and her assistant Amanda Hubert, created a wonderful dress that Sara could slip her big white wings through and do the Charleston.

When the big white owl flapped her wings and crossed her knees it was a sight to behold. In fact many of those who saw Sara do the dance with her wings a swinging would imitate her, because it looked like so much fun. And it was. The imitators soon received the nickname of flappers, because of the way they would flap their wings.

In 1917, there were bobsled races and single sled races, Sara couldn't fit into the bobsleds, but she was a whiz on the sing sled. Her friend Forest would give her a big shove and down she would go, light as a feather and as fast as a locomotive.

That was good year because - Andrew J. Callahan and Francis B. Cantwell, Marshals of Parade, let her sit on the marshals' float during the gala parade.

But that was 1917, now it was 1920. Sara was hoping for it to be another exciting Festival of Winter. She had received a letter from her friend Bud Walters and the letter mentioned that Saranac Lake was becoming quite prosperous. The train was making as many as 20 stops a day. The train brought many visitors. Some to enjoy the recreation the area had to offer and some to visit the Trudeau Sanatorium. Now with a new name; named after the founder Edward Livingston Trudeau who had passed away in 1915. Not just Sara sorely missed E.L., but Mr. Trudeau was a friend to all in Saranac Lake.

There were also more than 6,000 residents in Saranac Lake, most of who were on a first name bases with Sara. With paved main streets, two theatres and an automatic fire-alarm, Saranac Lake was quite a little Village. It served as a center place that supplied the workers for construction materials as they built many wealthy industrialists' 'camps' in the woods.

Bud's letter told Sara of an exciting Winter Carnival that would include fireworks and a Mardi Gras Dance. Certainly Sara would get her party dress out and shake her tail feathers.

After visiting with Bud, Sara stopped by Cole M. Ann at the local music store. Cole was known to always have a good story. She went in to see what the popular piano rolls were and get a story ripe with mirth from Cole. After a couple jokes she was giggling like a school girl.

Next Sara went to Christy Mathewson's place on Park Ave to play a couple games of checkers, Sara lost all of them; that Mathewson could jump to a king almost as well as he could throw a fastball.

The Village was expecting Sara's return. There was going to be an International Ski Jumping Championship. The Villagers had created a special category for Sara, a special honor for her alone. Of course this was because everyone knew, that even the best jumpers in the world could not out jump Sara.

The magnificent Ice Palace that Saranac Lake built for Sara to live in during her stay was in place as well.

The only trouble was the gloomy feeling in Saranac Lake. Even though there was a lot of fun planned, there seemed to be some spark missing. Worst of all, no one seemed to know about the big talent show so Sara took it upon herself to spread the word, but she knew she couldn't do alone. Few great and wonderful things can happen with only one person.

The first person the snowy owl went to was William Morris, the talent agent from the big city, who now lived in Saranac Lake. Like many of the new residents, Mr. Morris was very active and he was organizing the show. He had organized many grand events, since he had connections with the top entertainers in the country. In 1915, the talent agent had organized the building of the Methodist Church through his various talent shows.

And why not? The town could boast having the Pontiac Theatre, one of the best theatre houses in New York. As Mr. Morris liked to boast there was none better than what Saranac Lake had to offer. At one time it was believed that Laura Crisp performed there.

So Sara flew over to William Morris' house to talk turkey. He was very excited about the show, but for some reason he couldn't get anyone interested in going to the performance.

Their first idea was to make up some poster and Sara flew them around town to the various stores and businesses in town. With only one more day left until the extravaganza, they weren't sure if there was time.

Mr. Morris told Sara to go to her ski jump competition and not to worry. So Sara grabbed her skis and started out...then an idea struck her. Mr. Morris could see the twinkle in Sara's big round owl eyes. He wanted to know what she had in mind, but the snowy owl would only say, "You'll see."

An hour later most of those in the Village had gathered at Miller Hill near Riverside Inn to watch the competition. When it was Sara's turn to jump, everyone moved back, they knew her jump would be the longest of the day.

Down the snow-covered ramp slid the snowy owl. When she jumped off the end of the ramp, she spread her wings and took flight. Attached to her tail was a banner, a banner so large that only Sara could draw across the sky. On the banner was an American flag and the words: "Talent Show at the Pontiac!"

Sara didn't land at the end of the jump, but continued to fly through the sky, displaying her banner. She flapped her wings and crossed her knees, just like she danced and flew around the North Country until everyone knew about the big dance.

Even if they didn't go to the show, people in the area talked about the 'big flapper' from up north for many years to come.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL VI
Sara Finds Love

When Sara the Snowy Owl flew into Saranac Lake in 1953, there was something special in the air. She was excited, as always, about her visit to the friendly mountain town of Saranac Lake. Winter Carnival was being held in mid-February, with all kinds of fun, including a nighttime parade through the Village. There is nothing an owl likes better than nighttime activities and with a parade involved, Sara would surely be there, soaring on her wings.

Something else was up, another kind of excitement blew in on that winter carnival wind. Sara was just as excited about the fact that she was going to be in charge of marrying a couple, in front of her Ice Palace home!

Sara had received a letter from a woman named Mardi Enfant. Mardi and her fiance Andrew Ron Dax were planning to be married on February 14, 1953. That was Valentine's Day, a very romantic day indeed. Of course Mardi came from a very romantic family, which is why she had an unusual name.

Mardi's mom, Carol, had met her father, Pierre - a big strong lumberjack, at a Mardi Gras Dance in 1920. Her parents fell in love at that dance...it was love at first sight. They 'courted' for two years and were married in the summer of 1923. When the happy couple had their first child, it was a girl and Carol named her Mardi in honor of the night fell she in love with Pierre.

The letter that Sara received told of all that romance and asked the Snowy Owl if she would perform the wedding ceremony. Mardi told how she loved Andy and how they wanted to be married on the last day of Winter Carnival, in front of the Ice Palace.

Sara was excited and wrote back right away. Mardi and Sara exchanged many letters, until they were best friends. In December of 1952, Sara left her home in the Arctic to visit Saranac Lake and meet both Mardi and Andy. She liked them as much in person as she did in letters. She found out that Mardi had gotten the village to give Sara permission to perform the marriage ceremony at Winter Carnival.

Sara arrived early on February 10, so she could spend time with Mardi and Andy. They had a good time, but she could see that Andy was kind of nervous. Even though he dearly wanted to marry Mardi, he was uncomfortable in large crowds. Getting married in front of the Ice Palace, he knew, meant lots of people would be there.

He was right. Many people come from all over the North Country to see the beautiful Ice Place where the Snowy Owl lives. When word spread there was going to be a wedding, too, it created even more excitement. The town planned for more visitors on the afternoon when the great white snowy owl was to perform a marriage ceremony.

That night everyone was thrilled to see a Winter Carnival Parade under the brightly lit street lamps. There was much merriment as the parade traveled under the sparkle street lights in the gentle snowfall. The courtiers sang, and the Winter Carnival King and Queen danced the Hokey Pokey in the street. Snowy soared silently with a big smile beside the parade. It was a bustling winter night. Afterward, Mardi and Andy said good night and went home to get some sleep.

The next day everyone went to the Ice Palace for the big wedding. All the famous people from the parade, the King and Queen, the courtiers and even the famous photographer Kim Smith. When you added in all the family from the bride and groom, you had quite a crowd.

earth*girl dreams earth*girl is here for you to enjoy her seasons of fun from spring to winter she dresses you in color every autumn and in flowers every spring in summer she paints the forest green and winter sparkles white she is simple in her desire she does not ask you to build her a castle just give her blocks of ice and she will call it a palace lay down in the snow wiggle your legs and arms and those are her angels let her wind blow back your hair and her sun warm your horizons her days are your visions her nights are your dreams earth*girl does not ask you to change her seasons just as she knows you will be you through them all when you accept earth*girl for the woman that she is you inherit the beauty of nature that is yours forever

As the Harrietstown Town Hall Clock tower struck two, Mardi was still not there. Everyone was wondering where the bride might be. Andy was upset about waiting as he had been standing on a big block of ice. He was not the first or last groom to get cold feet, but he thought his toes would fall off. He was afraid that Mardi might not show up and all the people standing there would know that his beautiful bride had stood him up with cold feet.

Sara didn't mind waiting because she had insulated feet to kept her warm. She also knew that Mardi would get there and that she was probably late because she was making sure her dress was perfect.

The Snowly Owl fluffed her wings and flew to the top of the Ice Palace. With her keen eyesight she could see that Mardi was in her carriage and on the way. She swooped down and told the large crowd that the blushing bride would arrive in a moment.

The news didn't cheer up the groom. He couldn't understand why Mardi would be late on a special day. Andy got really mad when he found out that part of the reason Mardi was late was because she had stopped to enjoy a view of the wintry Village from Petrova Hill.

Mardi could see that Andy was upset with her when they met at the ice palace steps. They did not speak or even look at each other; they both moped.

Sara saw the two lovebirds were not happy. She knew she had to do something, because she was afraid one or both would say "I don't," when she asked if they wanted to be married.

From beneath her wing she took out a crumpled piece of paper.

"I have a poem to read for our couple, from the famous Adirondack storyteller, Kathleen Errant," Sara said loudly and began to read the poem. Andy looked up from his brooding and saw Mardi smiling at him. Her smile warmed his heart and he completely forgot his cold feet.

"Andy, I stopped and enjoyed the view because I knew from now on, starting today, everything beautiful that I see will be shared with you," Mardi explained.

Andy's smile spread to the edges of his face. He hugged Mardi. He looked at the beaming Snowy Owl and said, "Let us start forever, right now."

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL VII
Sara's Playhouse

Sara the Snowy Owl was a bit of a joker and that is why the children always liked her. From the very beginning, they always wanted to touch her soft feathers or give her a hug. Since Sara loved children as much as they loved her, she was always glad to oblige them with a big, full-winged embrace.

So it wasn't unusual for her to stop at schools when she first arrived in the Saranac Lake area. When she looked up her young friend Joseph Firo, she teased him about being a Yankees fan. Joseph was also a joker and would tease Sara right back. He was quite proud of the Yankees, especially since they had just won the World Series the previous summer over the New York Giants. Sara bet him a soda pop that the boys in pinstripes wouldn't repeat in 1924.

Once when Sara was talking to her friends Summer and Meadow, Joseph said, "Look Snowy and Summer separated by a Meadow," and he laughed and laughed. Of course Sara had the last laugh that year because the Yankees were four years away from their next World Series victory. But it was all in fun, and everyone knows the Yankees have won enough World Series.

So Sara flew in from the North in early February and decided to stop into Lake Clear School. The children of Lake Clear were very much excited about the coming Winter Carnival. Part of the excitement was because they were going to march in the Winter Carnival Parade. There was a rumor that this was going to be one of the biggest parades ever, with 80 floats expected. The students knew all their family and friends would be watching them along the roadside.

The children were also excited because the school librarian, Emily Mugino, was telling the children a story about Sara the Snowy Owl. Most of the children had heard about how friendly Sara was from their older brothers and sisters. A few had even seen Sara fly over the school the previous year. So, during story hour, they were excited to hear tales about the great white bird.

Miss Mugino was reading a book to the children about snowy owls to get the children enthused about the 1924 Carnival that was set for February 12-16. Just as Miss Mugino held up a picture of a winter owl, Sara landed outside of the library window.

"Can everyone see the owl?" Mugino asked while Sara spoofed the librarian and gave the children a 'shush' sign with her wing and smiled. Then she did a funny little dance, pretending to be a ballerina - - all behind Miss Mugino's back.

Miss Mugino was a little perturbed when all the children began to giggle. Once Sara had the kids laughing and she continued her pirouettes until Miss Mugino figured out someone was behind her. Fortunately Sara had arrived just before recess and the children could go out and play with her for a while.

After classes resumed, Sara headed for Saranac Lake. Ironically, when she arrived at the Village by the river, she ran into Summer and Meadow, who were moping outside of the Berkeley Hotel, in the center of Saranac Lake.

The two girls told Sara they were sad because the wanted to act in a play, but there was nothing going on in the depths of winter. They had acted in school plays and were thinking it would be fun to do a play during Winter Carnival, but they couldn't find anyone to direct.

Sara thought for a moment, but she couldn't think of anyone who could direct the play either. It was getting late, so Sara told the girls she would try to find someone, but wasn't sure if that was possible. One of the problems with Winter Carnival was, with so many things to do, everyone was busy.

Sara flapped her wings and took flight to her temporary home of ice blocks built by the IPW 101.

Just before Sara was about to fall asleep in the Ice Palace, she heard someone shuffling outside of her abode. She expected it to be a couple - perhaps Mardi and Andrew, whom Sara had married the year before.

It was very common for couples to steal away to Sara's Ice Palace home and sneak a kiss or two. Everyone was aware of the romance that floated around Sara. It floated around her like the breath of her friend, the great guide Paul Smith, when he was chopping wood in February!

In 1925 the villagers were still building the Ice Palace up on the hill. Anyone who wanted to visit Sara's Home needed to walk up the road near the Village Hospital. But it wasn't young lovers outside the Palace; it was a scraggly character that Sara thought was a bum.

"Excuse me, may I ask who you are?" Sara asked politely.

The stranger told Sara that he was just out for a walk and that his name was Clark. At the time, Sara didn't know it, but Clark was part of a group called National Vaudeville Artists. He was in Saranac Lake looking for some land to build a 100-bed curing hospital for stage performers with tuberculosis.

Clark was a little befuddled and looked quite a sight with his hair blowing in all four directions of a compass.

Sara wasn't sure if that was how he always looked or if seeing a giant snowy owl living in an Ice Palace might have caused the strange hairdo.

He apologized for his intrusion. Clark was a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was a likable cuss. He told Sara he had been restless in the small town and had taken a late night walk to relax. He mentioned how he missed the theatre he used to work in.

"You worked in a theatre?" Sara asked, her mind spinning like the lariat of a rodeo performer - - she had never met a theatre person she didn't like.

Clark admitted that he did, but he found it odd to be discussing such things with a giant snowbird. Little did he know, Sara was already planning his future. *

His future was not just with the NVA curing hospital, which would be completed in 1930 (at a nearby site), but the odd, grouchy man would soon be part of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. And he would never be far from the theatrical productions that he loved.

Sara was able to convince Clark to share his theatre knowledge and expertise with all the children of Saranac Lake and soon the arts were as much a part of Winter Carnival as the many sporting events!

* Sara bet Clark she could comb his hair without touching him and Clark quickly took on the bet. Sara then flapped her wings twice and the breeze the wings caused laid every hair in place.

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SARA THE SNOWY OWL VIII
Sara Sweeps the Village Off its Feet

It had been about two years since Sara the Snowy Owl's dear friend Dr. E.L. Trudeau died. The sanitarium had become the "Trudeau Sanatorium" in Dr. Trudeau's honor, and though everyone missed E.L., the curing hospital was just as warm and caring as before. Many people were happy that the Sanatorium continued to be prosperous, yet most were sad that the good doctor was not hanging his 'shingle' out on Church Street, and of course he was missed at St. Luke's on Sundays.

World War I had been brewing, but the United States would not enter into the war until April. There was lots of trouble in the world, and Sara wondered if this war would be the last war and - more importantly - how would it end.

Yes, 1917 was a curious time for Winter Carnival; it was an in-between year. Much of the rest of the world was thinking about war or in war. But for all the things that can and do go wrong in the world, having a Winter Carnival on the weekend between January and February was a nice break from the melancholy of the world. Not to mention that coming to Saranac Lake has always been a breathtaking delight for everyone, be they human or snowy owl!

Sara would call her visits to the Adirondacks "the trip to Ah's." She picked the phrase up from her friend Elizabeth Hoxie. Elizabeth was known to say "Ah-wesome" or just "ahhhhh" when she mentioned the views in Saranac Lake. This was appropriate since one of her favorite stories was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Elizabeth, who was 10 years old at the time, liked Winter Carnival because she could go in Sara's home - the Ice Palace - and play "oz" with her friend Emily. Elizabeth always made her play the part of Aunt Em and the good witch.

This was going to be a Carnival that sparkled because of all the ice, both events-wise and Ice Palace-wise. Saranac Lake worked extra hard when it knew Sara was in town. With Sara around, the handsaws were jumping on Pontiac Bay to ensure she would have a proper Ice Palace to sleep in.

It wasn't just the Ice Palace that was making Saranac Lake sparkle with ice crystals. So much was going on this year and Sara was glad she made the trip from the Great North. There were bobsled and single sled races; there were hockey matches; Baker Mountain had an ice run that zipped participants to Moody Pond; the International Amateur Outdoor Speed Skating Championships was scheduled; also, part of the ice fun was a curling competition; for the adults there was a Fancy Dress Ice Carnival; and, best of all, there was an Ice Carnival just for children.

The Fancy Dress part of the festivities was keeping local seamstress Sully busy stitching up some excitement. She was making dresses for the nurses at the D. Ogden Mills "Training School for Nurses." Many a pretty young lady was looking for the opportunity to spin the light fantastic.

Since Saranac Lake has always been known for its health and beauty, it was natural to have nurses training in the village. Not only were they participating in the dances, the student nurse coordinator Carolynn Mark had put together a team for the curling competition. Carolynn asked Sara to be on the team called The Ice Whipples.

Sara protested at first, pointing out that with her wings it would be impossible to 'deliver' a curling stone go down the ice. Carolynn winked and said she could help out by just being there. She would inspire the team.

On the day of the competition, Sara jazzed up the competition by wearing a Hawaiian shirt with little bears on it. She made up some cheers for the team like: "boola hoola, laugh and giggle, no one can beat the Whipples!" Sara's presence on the team must have helped because the ladies made it to the final round.

The Whipples were tied with the Trudeau Cousins in the finals, and it looked like sure victory for the "Cousins." The "Whipples" were down to their last toss with the score even, but the "Cousins" had a stone right on the center tee line. Worst of all - it had started to snow. Susie Janczak delivered her 'rock,' but with the snow on the 'sheet' it didn't seem like it would make it to the target.

Out of the crowd Sara quickly swooped down and - by flapping her wings - began to clear the snow from the ice. The curling stone began to pick up speed and bumped against the Cousins' stone. Just as the snow kissed against the Cousins' stone the crowd let out a loud "ahhhhh!" Both stones stayed keen on the middle.

It was a fantastic toss by Susie, but everyone agreed that once again Sara had "swept Saranac Lake off its feet." The officials decided - because of the snow that was coming down and the fact everyone wanted to get dressed for the dance - to let the match end in a tie. Every year since 1917, if there was curling, teams sought out Sara to be their 'sweeper,' perhaps changing the way curling would be played forever more.

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