Cory Hoffman, left, and Martha Watts form slush letters on a giant carved heart outside the Winter Carnival Ice Palace, spelling “Essential Workers” on Wednesday evening. Watts has done the lettering on the Palace since 1997, so she moved fast, guiding Hoffman through it in his first year. He was learning fast. Watts said the tribute to essential workers was carver John “Doc” Ward’s idea.
(Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)