With news rolling in every day of this pandemic stretching on, more people sick with COVID-19, more lives lost and more disagreements about the best way to live life in this unique time we find ourselves in, sometimes things can seem pretty bleak.

The sight of machinery at the state boat launch and volunteers out on Pontiac Bay on Friday was a sight for sore eyes. There’s just something about the construction of the Ice Palace that makes us so excited, no matter how many times we see it.

The Ice Palace is — and has always been — more than a spectacle. It’s the manifestation of traditions and skills that’ve been handed down through generations of Saranac Lakers; a testament to the strength, the resilience and the volunteer spirit so prevalent in our community. It’s because of the dedication of local volunteers that it comes together each year.

We want to thank Ice Palace Workers 101 Director Dean Baker and everyone else involved in putting together the plan for this year’s Ice Palace. We’re looking forward to seeing your ideas come to life. We also want to thank all of the volunteers who return each year — like Garrett Foster, who has helped cut the ice for well over a decade — and make the construction of the Ice Palace possible.

There’s less than two weeks to go until Winter Carnival returns. We can’t wait.