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Royal choices show value of volunteerism

We are excited to congratulate Anita Meserole and John Wamsganz as queen and king of the 2017 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Their records of volunteer service work, which you can read elsewhere in today’s paper, are amazing.

Since Ms. Meserole moved to this area in the early 1980s, she has thrown herself into volunteer work for health needs such as the hospital and hospice, charitable needs such as literacy instruction and food for the needy, fun service for Pendragon Theatre and Winter Carnival, and needs in her home community of Bloomingdale, such as that community’s Methodist church and the fire department.

Her selflessness and involvement are awe-inspiring and have attracted positive attention before, such as a 2013 Distinguished Community Leader from the Girl Scouts.

The Wamsganz family has long been a fixture of Saranac Lake, and John Wamsganz managed to get a double dose of community spirit. He has an open, friendly nature, but unlike his musical instrument of choice, the bagpipes, he is not loud in proclaiming himself.

Therefore, it wasn’t until we saw his royal resume Friday that we realized how much great work he has done for his fellow Saranac Lakers. From hockey coach to civic center builder, fire chief to Fish and Game Club, Legion, Masons, Moose and Methodist Church — wow.

In 1971, the Carnival permanently switched from celebrities to locals as its kings and queens. (It had previously used local monarchs for a few years in the late ’40s and early ’50s.) This was an excellent move that speaks highly of local people’s priorities and the value they place on community.

But how to choose those local monarchs?

For the last 46 years, we’ve had kings and queens with various characteristics. Some are very well known; some mostly flew under the public radar. Some were born here; others moved here. Some embody the spirit of charity while others embody the character and spirit of Saranac Lake.

Volunteerism emerged as the leading single attribute, as the Winter Carnival Committee put plainly this past December in its press release announcing the start of nominations:

“The king and queen selection is based upon volunteerism within the community. Candidates should demonstrate a long-term and broad-based commitment to making life more livable, pleasant, and enjoyable — both for the people who live here and for those who visit. The volunteer activities can be organized or completely self-motivated. They can be as diverse as organizing a major community event or as seemingly minor as shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk.”

This is the most prominent honor this community bestows on its citizens, and John Wamsganz and Anita Meserole have most certainly earned it. Thank you, John and Anita, for your loving commitment and service to this place and its people.

Happy Carnival, everyone.

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