Troy's Take: The Carousel Of Miracles
The Falmouth Enterprise: August 19, 2022
By Troy Clarkson: In an unforgettable scene from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” Motel Kamzoil, the self-doubting tailor, timidly asks his future father-in-law Tevye for permission to marry his daughter Tzeitel. Tevye had already committed to the local butcher, Lazar Wolf, that he could marry his daughter (it’s important to remember that this musical occurs in early 20th-century Russia). However, it becomes clear to Tevye that Tzeitel and Motel are in love and meant to be together. He grants his permission for them to marry, then concocts the idea of a dream where their family throws a party and urges Tevye to allow Tzeitel and Motel to marry to gain consensus with his wife, Golde, that their daughter should marry the penniless but lovable Motel instead of the wealthy Lazar.
When Motel gains Tevye’s support to marry his love, he shouts, “It was a miracle,” and launches into the memorable song “Miracle of Miracles” to celebrate the unlikely development that, to the audience, just seemed like it was meant to be.
I sang that song out loud many times over the last week to celebrate another unlikely development right here in Falmouth, and I didn’t even have to concoct a dream to make it happen; it was real-life generosity and community spirit that created this miracle.
Our all-volunteer work as directors of the Carousel of Light has included some sleepless nights and difficult days lately. Vice president Don Terry and I, supported by the tireless and creative Jim Bowen, who was one of the original board members and served as president prior to my tenure and has been a constant and reassuring presence on social media, have met several times at our favorite breakfast spots—the Country Fare on Main Street and the Talk of the Town in North Falmouth—to strategize, triage, hope and plan for the future of our beloved locally crafted carousel. Carousel manager Beth Juaire and always-present and reliable mechanic Mike Fuss have both been invaluable with their input and insight.
When the carousel suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure in July, we knew our season was over and openly wondered whether we would ever again create merry-go-round memories. Together, our team crafted an announcement to let our fans know of the bad news. Then, just like with Motel the tailor, our miracle of miracles occurred. As noted in a report in today’s Enterprise, “Miraculously for the carousel, John Rabidou came seemingly out of thin air. Mr. Rabidou, along with a few other residents, offered to take a look at the carousel. When they did, they said they could fix the mechanism without tearing down the carousel. The Carousel of Light staff only had to pay for the cost of the new gears and equipment.”
We were incredulous and incredibly grateful for the offer and amazed at the result, as we were certain that our season was over. “Frankly, I didn’t think they would be able to do it,” Mr. Terry said. But on Saturday the bell signaling the start and stop of the carousel was ringing for the children on the Mullen-Hall playground and its music could be heard on Main Street, the piece in the paper continued.
But here we are after a few days of renewed operation. The miracle is real, and the carousel is operating daily until Labor Day, with the usual support of the school committee and school staff. The outpouring of love and support was amazing and astonishing. We knew we had created some love and support in the community, but the hundreds of comments, well-wishes and suggestions were not only reassuring, they were revitalizing.
There is much work left to do. We are still in search of a permanent location. The downtime this summer put us in a deficit of over $20,000. We need a storage location for the fall and winter, so the horses can get their much-needed rest. However, this most recent bump that we thought was a mountain has not only reminded us of the incredible generosity of spirit that exists in Falmouth, it has renewed our sense of place and reinforced the notion that the Carousel of Light is woven into the soul of our community.
At the end of the season, we’ll ask our fans and supporters to help us with all of these and to share their thoughts and memories of just how much the carousel means to them. The carousel has been part of many families’ pasts. We are hopeful that this community support that has sustained us through these last weeks will help us keep it part of many families’ futures. You can share memories, suggestions and offers of help at [email protected], and donations are always welcome through our website at www.carouseloflight.org. We’ll schedule a community discussion soon and are truly blessed and grateful for the love and support we’ve received.
Thank you, Falmouth, for loving our Carousel of Miracles and for keeping us going in our beautiful circles even when we thought we could no longer go at all.
www.capenews.net/falmouth/columns/troys-take-the-carousel-of-miracles/article_abc2139b-3187-5d9f-b641-26729b168b3f.html
When Motel gains Tevye’s support to marry his love, he shouts, “It was a miracle,” and launches into the memorable song “Miracle of Miracles” to celebrate the unlikely development that, to the audience, just seemed like it was meant to be.
I sang that song out loud many times over the last week to celebrate another unlikely development right here in Falmouth, and I didn’t even have to concoct a dream to make it happen; it was real-life generosity and community spirit that created this miracle.
Our all-volunteer work as directors of the Carousel of Light has included some sleepless nights and difficult days lately. Vice president Don Terry and I, supported by the tireless and creative Jim Bowen, who was one of the original board members and served as president prior to my tenure and has been a constant and reassuring presence on social media, have met several times at our favorite breakfast spots—the Country Fare on Main Street and the Talk of the Town in North Falmouth—to strategize, triage, hope and plan for the future of our beloved locally crafted carousel. Carousel manager Beth Juaire and always-present and reliable mechanic Mike Fuss have both been invaluable with their input and insight.
When the carousel suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure in July, we knew our season was over and openly wondered whether we would ever again create merry-go-round memories. Together, our team crafted an announcement to let our fans know of the bad news. Then, just like with Motel the tailor, our miracle of miracles occurred. As noted in a report in today’s Enterprise, “Miraculously for the carousel, John Rabidou came seemingly out of thin air. Mr. Rabidou, along with a few other residents, offered to take a look at the carousel. When they did, they said they could fix the mechanism without tearing down the carousel. The Carousel of Light staff only had to pay for the cost of the new gears and equipment.”
We were incredulous and incredibly grateful for the offer and amazed at the result, as we were certain that our season was over. “Frankly, I didn’t think they would be able to do it,” Mr. Terry said. But on Saturday the bell signaling the start and stop of the carousel was ringing for the children on the Mullen-Hall playground and its music could be heard on Main Street, the piece in the paper continued.
But here we are after a few days of renewed operation. The miracle is real, and the carousel is operating daily until Labor Day, with the usual support of the school committee and school staff. The outpouring of love and support was amazing and astonishing. We knew we had created some love and support in the community, but the hundreds of comments, well-wishes and suggestions were not only reassuring, they were revitalizing.
There is much work left to do. We are still in search of a permanent location. The downtime this summer put us in a deficit of over $20,000. We need a storage location for the fall and winter, so the horses can get their much-needed rest. However, this most recent bump that we thought was a mountain has not only reminded us of the incredible generosity of spirit that exists in Falmouth, it has renewed our sense of place and reinforced the notion that the Carousel of Light is woven into the soul of our community.
At the end of the season, we’ll ask our fans and supporters to help us with all of these and to share their thoughts and memories of just how much the carousel means to them. The carousel has been part of many families’ pasts. We are hopeful that this community support that has sustained us through these last weeks will help us keep it part of many families’ futures. You can share memories, suggestions and offers of help at [email protected], and donations are always welcome through our website at www.carouseloflight.org. We’ll schedule a community discussion soon and are truly blessed and grateful for the love and support we’ve received.
Thank you, Falmouth, for loving our Carousel of Miracles and for keeping us going in our beautiful circles even when we thought we could no longer go at all.
www.capenews.net/falmouth/columns/troys-take-the-carousel-of-miracles/article_abc2139b-3187-5d9f-b641-26729b168b3f.html
Against The Odds, Carousel Of Light Reopens In Falmouth
The Falmouth Enterprise: August 19, 2022
August 16, 2022: By Noelle Annonen: The Carousel of Light has reopened despite staff doubts that it would ever open in Falmouth again. It opened on Saturday, August 13, according to a press release from Carousel of Light Inc., the nonprofit organization that operates the attraction.
“We should change the name to ‘Carousel of Miracles,’” Carousel of Light Inc. vice president Donald Terry said.
Three weeks have passed since what carousel staff referred to as a “fatal mechanical failure.” A gear in the mechanism broke off on July 20 at the Mullen-Hall School where the carousel is set up for the summer, Mr. Terry said. The mechanic who usually works with the carousel said the whole mechanism would have to be dismantled in order to repair it.
“It was catastrophic financially,” Mr. Terry said.
He added that tearing down the carousel takes $3,000, a team of six to eight people and three days, the same as it would take to set the carousel up again. It would be nearly $10,000 to dismantle the carousel for repairs, then set it back up for the last few weeks of the summer season, only to tear it down again. That cost would go on top of the price of repairing the carousel.
On Monday Mr. Terry said that the carousel is already set to finish the summer at a $20,000 deficit.
“In my mind, on July 20, that meant that was it for the season,” Mr. Terry said.
Miraculously for the carousel, John Rabidou came seemingly out of thin air. Mr. Rabidou, along with a few other residents, offered to take a look at the carousel. When they did, they said they could fix the mechanism without tearing down the carousel. The Carousel of Light staff only had to pay for the cost of the new gears and equipment.
“Frankly, I didn’t think they would be able to do it,” Mr. Terry said. But on Saturday the bell signaling the start and stop of the carousel was ringing for the children on the Mullen-Hall playground and its music could be heard on Main Street.
Mr. Terry said the ultimate fate of the carousel is unknown. It was built in the late 1990s by Falmouth resident Lance Shinkle and for the last nine years the Carousel of Light Inc. board of directors has been trying to find a permanent location. That would allow for an indoor structure to be set up for the carousel, for which engineers already have designs prepared, Mr. Terry said.
The wear and tear of tearing down and setting up the structure could finally cease, Mr. Terry said, noting that in addition to the gear breakdown this year, the mechanism needed to be repaired last year. Those closures combined with weather can close the carousel prematurely throughout the summer. With a permanent structure, the carousel could be open any day of the summer or during Christmas time, regardless of the weather, he said.
The carousel staff have already found a preferred permanent spot for the carousel, in a space on the opposite side of the Mullen-Hall School playground from where the carousel stands today. They presented the request for a 30-year lease of that town property during Town Meeting. The votes in Town Meeting that are required to decide on a permanent spot for the carousel fell just short in two different years, Mr. Terry said.
“I don’t think we’ll try again,” Mr. Terry said. “We got turned down twice, we got the message. What’s the definition of insanity?”
He said that parents come to Town Meeting saying that their children love the carousel. The attraction is good for the businesses along Main Street as well. But the request for a permanent location does not get the votes it needs.
“We’d like to keep it in Falmouth,” Mr. Terry said. “But I’m not positive it’s coming back up in Falmouth. Maybe someplace else.”
www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/against-the-odds-carousel-of-light-reopens-in-falmouth/article_ce892d81-762a-53e0-b3fd-c973b13a111a.html
“We should change the name to ‘Carousel of Miracles,’” Carousel of Light Inc. vice president Donald Terry said.
Three weeks have passed since what carousel staff referred to as a “fatal mechanical failure.” A gear in the mechanism broke off on July 20 at the Mullen-Hall School where the carousel is set up for the summer, Mr. Terry said. The mechanic who usually works with the carousel said the whole mechanism would have to be dismantled in order to repair it.
“It was catastrophic financially,” Mr. Terry said.
He added that tearing down the carousel takes $3,000, a team of six to eight people and three days, the same as it would take to set the carousel up again. It would be nearly $10,000 to dismantle the carousel for repairs, then set it back up for the last few weeks of the summer season, only to tear it down again. That cost would go on top of the price of repairing the carousel.
On Monday Mr. Terry said that the carousel is already set to finish the summer at a $20,000 deficit.
“In my mind, on July 20, that meant that was it for the season,” Mr. Terry said.
Miraculously for the carousel, John Rabidou came seemingly out of thin air. Mr. Rabidou, along with a few other residents, offered to take a look at the carousel. When they did, they said they could fix the mechanism without tearing down the carousel. The Carousel of Light staff only had to pay for the cost of the new gears and equipment.
“Frankly, I didn’t think they would be able to do it,” Mr. Terry said. But on Saturday the bell signaling the start and stop of the carousel was ringing for the children on the Mullen-Hall playground and its music could be heard on Main Street.
Mr. Terry said the ultimate fate of the carousel is unknown. It was built in the late 1990s by Falmouth resident Lance Shinkle and for the last nine years the Carousel of Light Inc. board of directors has been trying to find a permanent location. That would allow for an indoor structure to be set up for the carousel, for which engineers already have designs prepared, Mr. Terry said.
The wear and tear of tearing down and setting up the structure could finally cease, Mr. Terry said, noting that in addition to the gear breakdown this year, the mechanism needed to be repaired last year. Those closures combined with weather can close the carousel prematurely throughout the summer. With a permanent structure, the carousel could be open any day of the summer or during Christmas time, regardless of the weather, he said.
The carousel staff have already found a preferred permanent spot for the carousel, in a space on the opposite side of the Mullen-Hall School playground from where the carousel stands today. They presented the request for a 30-year lease of that town property during Town Meeting. The votes in Town Meeting that are required to decide on a permanent spot for the carousel fell just short in two different years, Mr. Terry said.
“I don’t think we’ll try again,” Mr. Terry said. “We got turned down twice, we got the message. What’s the definition of insanity?”
He said that parents come to Town Meeting saying that their children love the carousel. The attraction is good for the businesses along Main Street as well. But the request for a permanent location does not get the votes it needs.
“We’d like to keep it in Falmouth,” Mr. Terry said. “But I’m not positive it’s coming back up in Falmouth. Maybe someplace else.”
www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/against-the-odds-carousel-of-light-reopens-in-falmouth/article_ce892d81-762a-53e0-b3fd-c973b13a111a.html
Falmouth Enterprise : August 12, 2022- Save the Carousel - Letter
Aug 12, 2022
Falmouth is about to lose a true work of art and a treasure than can never be replaced.
When I first visited Falmouth with my family, we were drawn like a moth to the flame to the timeless melody from the Carousel of Light on the Mullen-Hall School grounds. My grandchildren were thrilled and continue to be delighted by this attraction. It is a safe and wonderful blast from the past.
What can be more joyous than the sound of little children’s laughter and delightful screams of pure fun. Still, when my grandchildren hear the name Falmouth, the first thing they beg to do is ride the carousel. By the time the visit is over I have spent more than $500 on Main Street for ice cream, jewelry, summer clothes and food. Money well spent to have a wonderful day, oft repeated. Now that I am a permanent resident of this fair town, I can’t fathom not having the carousel.
Please all, find the land and build a structure to preserve this beautiful relic for the present and future of our children. Overcome the problems foreseen and unforeseen before it’s gone forever.
Marshall Faye
Reuanna Way
East Falmouth
Falmouth is about to lose a true work of art and a treasure than can never be replaced.
When I first visited Falmouth with my family, we were drawn like a moth to the flame to the timeless melody from the Carousel of Light on the Mullen-Hall School grounds. My grandchildren were thrilled and continue to be delighted by this attraction. It is a safe and wonderful blast from the past.
What can be more joyous than the sound of little children’s laughter and delightful screams of pure fun. Still, when my grandchildren hear the name Falmouth, the first thing they beg to do is ride the carousel. By the time the visit is over I have spent more than $500 on Main Street for ice cream, jewelry, summer clothes and food. Money well spent to have a wonderful day, oft repeated. Now that I am a permanent resident of this fair town, I can’t fathom not having the carousel.
Please all, find the land and build a structure to preserve this beautiful relic for the present and future of our children. Overcome the problems foreseen and unforeseen before it’s gone forever.
Marshall Faye
Reuanna Way
East Falmouth
July 29, 2022 - Falmouth Carousel Closes Indefinitely
The Falmouth Enterprise; July 29, 2022
The Carousel of Light at the Mullen-Hall School “suffered a fatal failure” last week, July 20, according to a press release from the nonprofit. The carousel will be closed and stored in a warehouse until it has a permanent location.
Because its current location was temporary, the organization had to reassemble, disassemble and transport the carousel on- and off-site each year. This, combined with daily wear and tear, was what did the carousel’s 75-year-old mechanism in, the press release says.
Beth Juaire, who operates the carousel each day, was there when it broke. She said it made a “loud noise, and then it started teeter-tottering a little bit.” Ms. Juaire said there were riders on the carousel when it stopped working, but they were not in danger. Carousel of Light vice president Donald Terry said the carousel goes 5 miles per hour.
The Carousel of Light has been operating at the Mullen-Hall School for nine years. During that time, the organization was in search of a permanent location where it could build a structure to house the carousel. Follow this link for the complete story.
Because its current location was temporary, the organization had to reassemble, disassemble and transport the carousel on- and off-site each year. This, combined with daily wear and tear, was what did the carousel’s 75-year-old mechanism in, the press release says.
Beth Juaire, who operates the carousel each day, was there when it broke. She said it made a “loud noise, and then it started teeter-tottering a little bit.” Ms. Juaire said there were riders on the carousel when it stopped working, but they were not in danger. Carousel of Light vice president Donald Terry said the carousel goes 5 miles per hour.
The Carousel of Light has been operating at the Mullen-Hall School for nine years. During that time, the organization was in search of a permanent location where it could build a structure to house the carousel. Follow this link for the complete story.
JULY 27, 2022 - Falmouth Enterprise
"CAROUSEL ANNOUNCES END OF SEASON"
November 19, 2021 - Falmouth Town Meeting Rejects For Second Time Land Transfer For Carousel
The Falmouth Enterprise: November 19, 2021
Photo-GENE M. MARCHAND/ENTERPRISE
By CARRIE GENTILE - The future of the Carousel of Light is unclear after Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 16, voted down an article that would have given the merry-go-round a permanent home outside the Mullen-Hall School.
After over an hour of debate on the second night of the November Town Meeting, the 105-to-72 vote failed to garner the two-thirds majority required for approval. It did, however, receive more support than it did at last January’s Town Meeting when the vote was 108-93. Since then, organizers continued outreach to Town Meeting members to try to change their minds.
“Most of us are not against the carousel, but this is the wrong place to put it, Deborah Siegal, Precinct Six, said. “I have heard from several constituents about the lack of parking, traffic in front the playground compromising children’s safety. So why would be put a carnival-like attraction to the center of town?” she asked.
Troy G.B. Clarkson, president of Carousel of Light Inc., described the transfer as the next step in finding a permanent home for the hand-carved carousel. The carousel debuted at the Barnstable County Fair in 1993. It has been located in front of the Mullen-Hall School during the summer since 2014, approximately 200 feet away from the section of land proposed for transfer.
Mr. Clarkson pitched the article to Town Meeting, stressing the need for a permanent home enclosed in a structure to eliminate the need each fall to take down the mechanism and store the horses away, which risks damaging the carousel. It costs the nonprofit 12,000 a year to take it down, he said.
He told Town Meeting this site was carefully selected.
“We considered several sites, and the task force unanimously came up with the recommended site,” he said.
The carousel has been operating seasonally on a corner of the Mullen-Hall School playground near the school driveway. Follow this link for complete story.
After over an hour of debate on the second night of the November Town Meeting, the 105-to-72 vote failed to garner the two-thirds majority required for approval. It did, however, receive more support than it did at last January’s Town Meeting when the vote was 108-93. Since then, organizers continued outreach to Town Meeting members to try to change their minds.
“Most of us are not against the carousel, but this is the wrong place to put it, Deborah Siegal, Precinct Six, said. “I have heard from several constituents about the lack of parking, traffic in front the playground compromising children’s safety. So why would be put a carnival-like attraction to the center of town?” she asked.
Troy G.B. Clarkson, president of Carousel of Light Inc., described the transfer as the next step in finding a permanent home for the hand-carved carousel. The carousel debuted at the Barnstable County Fair in 1993. It has been located in front of the Mullen-Hall School during the summer since 2014, approximately 200 feet away from the section of land proposed for transfer.
Mr. Clarkson pitched the article to Town Meeting, stressing the need for a permanent home enclosed in a structure to eliminate the need each fall to take down the mechanism and store the horses away, which risks damaging the carousel. It costs the nonprofit 12,000 a year to take it down, he said.
He told Town Meeting this site was carefully selected.
“We considered several sites, and the task force unanimously came up with the recommended site,” he said.
The carousel has been operating seasonally on a corner of the Mullen-Hall School playground near the school driveway. Follow this link for complete story.
Troy’s Take - The Next Step In Saving Lance's Opus
The Falmouth Enterprise: November 5, 2021
I’ve been involved with the Carousel of Light since the nonprofit was formed in the mid-’90s. When I was asked to join the board for the then-nascent local charity all those years ago, I saw it as not only an opportunity to give back to the community in which I grew up, but an opportunity to help preserve the unique and cherished artwork of a friend and to pay it forward for the kindness and generosity that he had shown to my family and me.
You see, I met Lance Shinkle under tragic but now what I see as fateful, circumstances. This week marked the 40th anniversary of the death of my father, Kent Clarkson. On November 4, 1981, Dad went to work and did not come home, taken from us too soon by a heart whose love knew no bounds but whose strength ran out. Not long thereafter, my mom had the idea to pay tribute to Dad’s love of the ocean—Old Silver Beach, in particular—and decided to have a beach scene created on a large boulder as his headstone. Mom found Lance Shinkle through a mutual friend, and he agreed to help create a loving and lasting memorial to my dad.
I remember like it was yesterday. My sister Dena and I, along with family friend Tracy Murphy, sat on a blanket near the site at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Gifford Street and enjoyed some Paul’s pizza while Lance first traced the beach scene, then sandblasted it on a large boulder. He added in some highlights to represent the sunshine falling on the ocean in the scene that depicted Dad walking near the two jetties that separate the two sides of the beach. All these years later, that scene still brings a smile to my face, knowing how Lance’s work was the gateway to many wonderful memories. Dad loved that beach. Lance helped memorialize that love forever. Follow this link for the complete story
You see, I met Lance Shinkle under tragic but now what I see as fateful, circumstances. This week marked the 40th anniversary of the death of my father, Kent Clarkson. On November 4, 1981, Dad went to work and did not come home, taken from us too soon by a heart whose love knew no bounds but whose strength ran out. Not long thereafter, my mom had the idea to pay tribute to Dad’s love of the ocean—Old Silver Beach, in particular—and decided to have a beach scene created on a large boulder as his headstone. Mom found Lance Shinkle through a mutual friend, and he agreed to help create a loving and lasting memorial to my dad.
I remember like it was yesterday. My sister Dena and I, along with family friend Tracy Murphy, sat on a blanket near the site at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Gifford Street and enjoyed some Paul’s pizza while Lance first traced the beach scene, then sandblasted it on a large boulder. He added in some highlights to represent the sunshine falling on the ocean in the scene that depicted Dad walking near the two jetties that separate the two sides of the beach. All these years later, that scene still brings a smile to my face, knowing how Lance’s work was the gateway to many wonderful memories. Dad loved that beach. Lance helped memorialize that love forever. Follow this link for the complete story
August 18, 2021- 'Art in motion': Hand-carved Carousel of Light gets spruced up as fans push for permanent home
Dina Kaur -Cape Cod Times- Published August 18, 2021
FALMOUTH — The Carousel of Light, a familiar summer attraction downtown in recent years, has been going through a restoration as well as a search for a new home.
The 2020 closure due to COVID-19 gave restorer Joseph Gregg the chance to refurbish more than half of artist Lance Shinkle’s nearly 35-year-old hand-carved figures. At the same time, supporters have continued to work to establish an enclosed location for the entertainment that is also a piece of art.
The carousel will continue spinning daily through Labor Day weekend at the playground of the Mullen Hall School, to the delight of thousands of local and visiting children and families. The carousel was named this year as one of 29 of the best children’s activities on Cape Cod by capecodvacationrentals.com.
"It's like a light in this craziness, it's a light that everybody needed," said Ashley Pavlovich from Falmouth, who volunteers to house the carousel horses during the winter. Her children ride the Carousel of Light multiple times each season. "From getting your tickets to getting on the ride, the staff, everybody is amazing and we love it so much," she said. Follow this link for the complete story.
FALMOUTH — The Carousel of Light, a familiar summer attraction downtown in recent years, has been going through a restoration as well as a search for a new home.
The 2020 closure due to COVID-19 gave restorer Joseph Gregg the chance to refurbish more than half of artist Lance Shinkle’s nearly 35-year-old hand-carved figures. At the same time, supporters have continued to work to establish an enclosed location for the entertainment that is also a piece of art.
The carousel will continue spinning daily through Labor Day weekend at the playground of the Mullen Hall School, to the delight of thousands of local and visiting children and families. The carousel was named this year as one of 29 of the best children’s activities on Cape Cod by capecodvacationrentals.com.
"It's like a light in this craziness, it's a light that everybody needed," said Ashley Pavlovich from Falmouth, who volunteers to house the carousel horses during the winter. Her children ride the Carousel of Light multiple times each season. "From getting your tickets to getting on the ride, the staff, everybody is amazing and we love it so much," she said. Follow this link for the complete story.
Troy's Take- "I Believe Horses Can Take Flight"
The Falmouth Enterprise Sept 25, 2020
Sometimes, when your eyes, ears and heart are open, amazing things happen. When I got this letter in an email a few days ago, I didn’t believe it myself. But then I read Denise Terry’s book “The Horses Took Flight: A Cape Cod Carousel Story” in which she tells the tale of the Carousel of Light’s colorful horses leaving their home at the Mullen-Hall School and visiting places throughout the community, highlighting some of our rich local history. I realized that just because I don’t see Santa when he comes each year, and just because I can’t see a gentle summer breeze when it rustles the leaves on the trees in my yard, doesn’t mean I can’t believe in them.
I believe. The horses can take flight. The horses did. They have come to love Falmouth as much as I do and wanted to share their love of our community with me. I’m so happy to share it with all of you now. Here’s the letter from the horses of the Carousel of Light:
Dear Mr. Clarkson:
Because you have been a friend to the Carousel of Light for so many years, we are writing to ask you to tell the children of Falmouth that we are thinking of them. We didn’t expect our winter home, Mass Maritime, to be our summer place too! But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carousel of Light was not set up at Mullen-Hall School. We miss everyone so much!
We, the horses, are doing well and have spent our time thinking and dreaming, remembering and planning. There is a lot to think about! Thunder and Lightning follow a weather app, so we know you had many great beach days. Sweet Caroline listens to the Red Sox on her radio and cheers every play, even though the team is in last place. Patriot wanted so badly to celebrate the Fourth of July—we all did!
Some of us have been going out for spa treatments with the restorative talents of Joseph Gregg. He did a lot of the interior work at beautiful Highfield Hall, so we feel like celebrities when he freshens our paint and smooths our rough edges. Lancelot is more handsome than ever, our shining knight. Karamel is golden, and Fireworks splashes with color. We didn’t think that Starlight Mist could be more beautiful, but she literally glows.
At night, we dream about the children, the laughter, the music and the sunshine. Shy Guy, who sometimes felt overwhelmed by all the company we had, now wishes he could be surrounded by the families and the noise. Bubbles just wants to dance!
When we are awake, we daydream about future summers in Falmouth.
We imagine the wooden building being planned by our board and their team of architects, engineers and community volunteers. We see the Carousel of Light set on the hill above Shivericks Pond, with a roof to protect our heads and a floor to prance upon. We picture a place where children don’t have to wait for Memorial Day to climb up and take a ride, a place where summer fun extends throughout the year, but only when school is not in session because we know the importance of learning time.
Imagine the children in their Halloween costumes riding on our backs! Cherokee wants the cowpokes, and Rosebud wants the princesses! We see birthday parties and family reunions. At Thanksgiving, a family might come with grandparents and babies, teenagers and aunties. And Christmas won’t stop talking about draping holly above us and giving us wreaths to wear around our necks. The holidays would be so exciting when they are celebrated on a carousel with Miss Beth playing “Jingle Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
We dream about our permanent home. All we need, once this health crisis is history, is to move into the future with the help of the community. Their approval will open up the gate and we will gallop on to a new chapter and a happy new year!
Do the people of Falmouth want to make our dreams come true? In New England, at the Town Meeting, citizens can vote for ways to make their town a better and happier place. Would they listen to us? Will the children speak up? Do we have a vote? We hope so, and we are grateful for all the love supporters of all ages have given us over the years. Falmouth is our home, and we hope to keep it that way—always.
Thanks for listening!
With Love,
The Carousel Horses
It’s amazing what can happen when your eyes, ears and heart are open.
I believe. The horses can take flight. The horses did. They have come to love Falmouth as much as I do and wanted to share their love of our community with me. I’m so happy to share it with all of you now. Here’s the letter from the horses of the Carousel of Light:
Dear Mr. Clarkson:
Because you have been a friend to the Carousel of Light for so many years, we are writing to ask you to tell the children of Falmouth that we are thinking of them. We didn’t expect our winter home, Mass Maritime, to be our summer place too! But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carousel of Light was not set up at Mullen-Hall School. We miss everyone so much!
We, the horses, are doing well and have spent our time thinking and dreaming, remembering and planning. There is a lot to think about! Thunder and Lightning follow a weather app, so we know you had many great beach days. Sweet Caroline listens to the Red Sox on her radio and cheers every play, even though the team is in last place. Patriot wanted so badly to celebrate the Fourth of July—we all did!
Some of us have been going out for spa treatments with the restorative talents of Joseph Gregg. He did a lot of the interior work at beautiful Highfield Hall, so we feel like celebrities when he freshens our paint and smooths our rough edges. Lancelot is more handsome than ever, our shining knight. Karamel is golden, and Fireworks splashes with color. We didn’t think that Starlight Mist could be more beautiful, but she literally glows.
At night, we dream about the children, the laughter, the music and the sunshine. Shy Guy, who sometimes felt overwhelmed by all the company we had, now wishes he could be surrounded by the families and the noise. Bubbles just wants to dance!
When we are awake, we daydream about future summers in Falmouth.
We imagine the wooden building being planned by our board and their team of architects, engineers and community volunteers. We see the Carousel of Light set on the hill above Shivericks Pond, with a roof to protect our heads and a floor to prance upon. We picture a place where children don’t have to wait for Memorial Day to climb up and take a ride, a place where summer fun extends throughout the year, but only when school is not in session because we know the importance of learning time.
Imagine the children in their Halloween costumes riding on our backs! Cherokee wants the cowpokes, and Rosebud wants the princesses! We see birthday parties and family reunions. At Thanksgiving, a family might come with grandparents and babies, teenagers and aunties. And Christmas won’t stop talking about draping holly above us and giving us wreaths to wear around our necks. The holidays would be so exciting when they are celebrated on a carousel with Miss Beth playing “Jingle Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
We dream about our permanent home. All we need, once this health crisis is history, is to move into the future with the help of the community. Their approval will open up the gate and we will gallop on to a new chapter and a happy new year!
Do the people of Falmouth want to make our dreams come true? In New England, at the Town Meeting, citizens can vote for ways to make their town a better and happier place. Would they listen to us? Will the children speak up? Do we have a vote? We hope so, and we are grateful for all the love supporters of all ages have given us over the years. Falmouth is our home, and we hope to keep it that way—always.
Thanks for listening!
With Love,
The Carousel Horses
It’s amazing what can happen when your eyes, ears and heart are open.
End Of A Long Road -
The Falmouth Enterprise Editorial Nov 6, 2020
The Carousel of Light and its hand-carved horses that Lance Shinkle created might finally have a permanent home. The Falmouth School Committee last month agreed to transfer control of a small part of the Mullen-Hall School grounds to the Falmouth Select Board, which will allow the carousel committee to install the carousel permanently under a protective enclosure.
It has been a long time coming. Mr. Shinkle started carving the horses for the carousel in the late 1980s. According to Enterprise archives he originally planned to build a traveling carousel, but his plans changed by 1993. Mr. Shinkle decided to find a permanent spot for the carousel where he could operate it and demonstrate the art of carving carousel animals. He also hoped to use it to raise funds for cancer research.
Falmouth quickly got behind the idea. The chamber of commerce endorsed it. The Falmouth Village Association wrote Mr. Shinkle of its desire to have the carousel in the center of town and offered to help raise funds.
A committee was formed. Friends of the Carousel of Lights included some names still associated with the project: Troy Clarkson, Rich Sherman and Jim Bowen.
It all looked promising; the committee signed an agreement with Mr. Shinkle and Elizabeth and Maxwell Millard, who owned property behind what is today Añejo, and offered to lease it to the committee for a dollar a year.
Then things began to unravel. The committee’s agreement with Mr. Shinkle expired, and it started to look into buying a different carousel. Mr. Shinkle set his carousel up in Mashpee Commons.
Years went by, and Mr. Shinkle moved to California to care for his father. When he returned the following year, life for the carousel began again. Mr. Shinkle donated the carousel to the newly formed Carousel of Light Inc., which formed as a nonprofit.
And in 2013 the organization received permission for the schools to operate the carousel during the summer on the grounds of the Mullen-Hall school. The first year, it attracted some 20,000 riders.
A permanent home was and is still needed. It is expensive to take down and store the carousel every winter. There is also too much wear and tear, especially on the turning mechanism, which is a 1947 Herschell.
Town Meeting will be wise to approve the new location. It takes little from the school grounds, as it is tucked away in a far corner. Yet it will be prominent enough to be seen and used by residents and summer visitors.
“Unique” is very often a misused word, but it applies unqualified to the Carousel of Light. There are several other hand-carved carousels in the country, but none is like any other. Except, of course, for the happiness they give young riders. And as Rich Sherman said nearly 30 years ago, the rides also bring out the children in adults.
www.capenews.net/falmouth/opinion/end-of-a-long-road---editorial/article_199e3fa3-cf05-5d95-abfc-c5e988fa3d91.html
It has been a long time coming. Mr. Shinkle started carving the horses for the carousel in the late 1980s. According to Enterprise archives he originally planned to build a traveling carousel, but his plans changed by 1993. Mr. Shinkle decided to find a permanent spot for the carousel where he could operate it and demonstrate the art of carving carousel animals. He also hoped to use it to raise funds for cancer research.
Falmouth quickly got behind the idea. The chamber of commerce endorsed it. The Falmouth Village Association wrote Mr. Shinkle of its desire to have the carousel in the center of town and offered to help raise funds.
A committee was formed. Friends of the Carousel of Lights included some names still associated with the project: Troy Clarkson, Rich Sherman and Jim Bowen.
It all looked promising; the committee signed an agreement with Mr. Shinkle and Elizabeth and Maxwell Millard, who owned property behind what is today Añejo, and offered to lease it to the committee for a dollar a year.
Then things began to unravel. The committee’s agreement with Mr. Shinkle expired, and it started to look into buying a different carousel. Mr. Shinkle set his carousel up in Mashpee Commons.
Years went by, and Mr. Shinkle moved to California to care for his father. When he returned the following year, life for the carousel began again. Mr. Shinkle donated the carousel to the newly formed Carousel of Light Inc., which formed as a nonprofit.
And in 2013 the organization received permission for the schools to operate the carousel during the summer on the grounds of the Mullen-Hall school. The first year, it attracted some 20,000 riders.
A permanent home was and is still needed. It is expensive to take down and store the carousel every winter. There is also too much wear and tear, especially on the turning mechanism, which is a 1947 Herschell.
Town Meeting will be wise to approve the new location. It takes little from the school grounds, as it is tucked away in a far corner. Yet it will be prominent enough to be seen and used by residents and summer visitors.
“Unique” is very often a misused word, but it applies unqualified to the Carousel of Light. There are several other hand-carved carousels in the country, but none is like any other. Except, of course, for the happiness they give young riders. And as Rich Sherman said nearly 30 years ago, the rides also bring out the children in adults.
www.capenews.net/falmouth/opinion/end-of-a-long-road---editorial/article_199e3fa3-cf05-5d95-abfc-c5e988fa3d91.html
October 25, 2019 ~ Falmouth School Committee Visits Proposed Carousel Of Light Location
- By STEVEN WITHROW Oct 25, 2019/ Photo by George Taylor
Since 2014, the carousel, with wooden horses hand-carved by Falmouth artist Lance Shinkle, has been located during the summer months in the Mullen-Hall Elementary School’s front field, but putting up and taking down the historic wooden structure each year is taking a toll on the carousel’s horses and mechanisms.
Next year, the carousel could move to a permanent and enclosed site to the western edge of the same property, beyond the school’s playground fence and close to the former Hall School cupola and Shivericks Pond.
Troy G.B. Clarkson, president of Carousel of Light Inc., said on Thursday, October 24, that a task force led by selectmen chairwoman Megan E. English Braga and made up of Carousel board members, school committee members and selectmen has been meeting about the project for over a year.
Task force members include James C. Bowen from the Carousel board of directors, selectwomen Susan L. Moran and Ms. Braga, and Michael Kasparian, president of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re emulating the process the town used to lease Highfield Hall, and the site visit was the next step in the process to show the school committee the piece of land we’re talking about,” Mr. Clarkson said.
The school committee might discuss and/or vote on the proposed location at its next meeting November 12, but that has not yet been decided, Dr. Duerr said Wednesday, October 23.
“We love the site we’ve been on for the past several years. It has been very successful for us, with more than 120,000 riders on the carousel, which is part of the fabric of the community,” Mr. Clarkson said.
The current site is in the middle of other Mullen-Hall school operations, Mr. Clarkson said, and the task force sought a nearby site that could coexist with the Mullen-Hall playground and school property but would be less intrusive.
“The proposed site has all the properties that the current site has, and the location has been time-tested in terms of traffic, safety, parking and attracting people from Main Street. The Mullen-Hall playground and the carousel complement each other, and the proposed site is on property not being used for anything else,” Mr. Clarkson said.
Board of directors members Michael Borseli from Falmouth Engineering and Antonia A. Kenny of Keenan + Kenny Architects, along with builder Michael Duffany, are working on an engineering plan and considering the shape of the secure enclosure, which will be a kind of pavilion with a roof, walls and windows.
“As the process moves forward, we’ll have a better sense of what shape the enclosure will take,” Mr. Clarkson said. “It’s both the expense of putting up and taking down the carousel, which costs $10,000 each year, and the wear-and-tear on the antique mechanisms, so having a permanent structure would be significant for us.”
Also, having a permanent location would enhance the board’s ability to raise funds to repair and maintain the carousel in a more permanent way, he said.
https://www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/falmouth-school-committee-visits-proposed-carousel-of-light-location/article_2cc09cde-9513-55df-bcc5-b6212a014262.html
July 26, 2019 - Horses take flight in children’s book about Carousel of Light
Tip o' the hat to Merrily Cassidy and the Cape Cod Times for this photo of the carousel
After busy days with hundreds of visitors, wooden horses Karamel and Butterscotch leave their posts at the Carousel of Light. They gallop across the page of a children’s book, dreaming of lollipops as they visit every candy shop in town.
This is one of 18 scenes brought to life with watercolor illustrations in the book, “The Horses Took Flight: A Cape Cod Carousel Story.” Written by Denise Ann Terry and illustrated by Karen Rinaldo, the story follows each of the carousel’s iconic horses as they seek adventure throughout Falmouth.
The Carousel of Light features handcrafted horses by artist Lance Shinkle, who carves each one from Eastern White Pine wood. The carousel has operated at the Mullen-Hall School on Katherine Lee Bates Road every summer for six years, Terry says, where more than 100,000 children have ridden it.
It takes Shinkle about two months to chisel and paint each horse he makes. He continues to create horses today and currently operates the Aptucxet Windmill Carousel — a pedal-powered six-horse ride that Shinkle designed himself. His art studio is just above the Aptucxet carousel, in the windmill’s second story.
“Each horse has its own story,” Shinkle says, gesturing to one in the windmill that was inspired by his friend, Jim Bowen. The painted horse depicts a man combing a mermaid’s hair as a nod to Bowen’s profession as a hairdresser.
Since he started nearly 30 years ago, Shinkle has carved more than 50 animals for different carousels. The first “big” carousel was ultimately too large and heavy to operate on his own, Shinkle says, so he donated it to the Carousel of Light organization.
“The Horses Took Flight” was independently published by Carousel of Light at New Wave Printing, just blocks away from the Carousel of Light. Falmouth residents and tourists were the first to see the final product, Rinaldo says, which was made available July 4.
When children visit the carousel, they often pick out horses by name that they want to ride, the book’s author says. The book takes place on the Fourth of July and features one of the carousel’s most popular horses: Fireworks.
″(The horses) are extraordinarily beautiful pieces of art,” Terry says. “Each one has a personality.”
Terry began writing the story last August and made final tweaks just days before it was sent to the printer. While each of the characters in the book are inspired by Shinkle’s handcrafted horses, the story was created by Terry.
The book’s cover is Rinaldo’s original painting of the Carousel of Light, completed in 2014. Rinaldo used watercolor to illustrate the book because it reflects the bright and lively energy of the carousel, she says. Her creative process was a year-long one — from visualizing the scenes in Terry’s written narrative to putting pencil to paper.
“It’s been very rewarding to watch the reactions,” Rinaldo says — she sees immediate smiles when readers open the book.
“The Horses Took Flight” is available for purchase online and at several Falmouth locations, including Eight Cousins Books, New Wave Printing, Blast From the Past, Celebrations and the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.
All proceeds from book sales benefit carousel operations and repairs for its vintage 1947 Allen Herschel mechanism. The horses and machinery take a beating when the carousel is taken down at the end of the summer, Rinaldo says.
Operating next to a playground has been great, says Troy Clarkson, president of Carousel of Light Inc., but the carousel is seeking a permanent home. The organization plans to launch a capital campaign (see box) later this summer to support a permanent location in Falmouth.
As one of the founding board members, Clarkson has been involved with Carousel of Light for 25 years. The nonprofit was dormant for several years before Shinkle returned to Cape Cod and the carousel was brought to life. Since then, Clarkson and other volunteer board members have worked to keep this Cape tradition alive.
“The carousel exists because it’s a living example of creativity and artistic expression,” Clarkson says. “So the book ... was just a natural extension of that expression of creativity.”
In the book’s dedication, Rinaldo reflects on the spirit the carousel aims to foster on the Cape.
“Dedicated to the childlike expression of joy found in all of us,” she writes, “sparked by the magic of painted ponies and tunes that get stuck in your heart.”
By Haley Robertson / [email protected]
Find Haley Robertson on Twitter: @_haleyannn
www.capecodtimes.com/entertainmentlife/20190726/horses-take-flight-in-childrens-book-about-carousel-of-light
March 7, 2019 Falmouth Enterprise: Long-Term Carousel of Light Location Proposed
Cape Cod Life Features the Carousel of Light in it's May 2016 issue.
August 21, 2015- Falmouth Enterprise: Carousel Brings Joy to Workers, Riders...
Photo by Falmouth Enterprise photographer Brenda Sharpe
Carousel Brings Joy To Workers, Riders From 8 To 80 Posted: Friday, August 21, 2015 10:38 am
LANNAN M. O’BRIEN It was 10:48 on Wednesday morning, August 19, and passersby of the Falmouth Carousel of Light at the Mullen-Hall School were getting antsy. As a mother and son approached the ticket table, manager Beth E. Juaire rushed over and asked that they go to the nearby playground for a few minutes while they opened the carousel.
Since last summer, the school property has been home for the carousel, which was hand-carved and painted by Lance R. Shinkle from Falmouth, starting in 1988. The finished product was completed in 1993 and includes a circular, nautical-themed lineup of horses and seahorses, mermaids and chariots. The carousel was displayed at the Barnstable County Fair, Mashpee Commons, and on Main Street in Hyannis before moving to California with Mr. Shinkle while he cared for his father. Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth in 2008, storing the carousel at his home until it began operating at the Mullen-Hall Elementary School.
Ms. Juaire and another carousel operator, Susan M. Lefcourt, disappeared behind the carousel’s maroon-and-white curtain. From the outside, the closed structure appeared void of activity. But behind the curtain, the two women were turning on power boxes and lighting up an elaborate parade of wooden horses.
“We have a lot of girl power, too,” Ms. Lefcourt said dryly. “It’s the most effective power.” Follow this link for the complete story
LANNAN M. O’BRIEN It was 10:48 on Wednesday morning, August 19, and passersby of the Falmouth Carousel of Light at the Mullen-Hall School were getting antsy. As a mother and son approached the ticket table, manager Beth E. Juaire rushed over and asked that they go to the nearby playground for a few minutes while they opened the carousel.
Since last summer, the school property has been home for the carousel, which was hand-carved and painted by Lance R. Shinkle from Falmouth, starting in 1988. The finished product was completed in 1993 and includes a circular, nautical-themed lineup of horses and seahorses, mermaids and chariots. The carousel was displayed at the Barnstable County Fair, Mashpee Commons, and on Main Street in Hyannis before moving to California with Mr. Shinkle while he cared for his father. Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth in 2008, storing the carousel at his home until it began operating at the Mullen-Hall Elementary School.
Ms. Juaire and another carousel operator, Susan M. Lefcourt, disappeared behind the carousel’s maroon-and-white curtain. From the outside, the closed structure appeared void of activity. But behind the curtain, the two women were turning on power boxes and lighting up an elaborate parade of wooden horses.
“We have a lot of girl power, too,” Ms. Lefcourt said dryly. “It’s the most effective power.” Follow this link for the complete story
July 28, 2015 Wicked Local Orleans -
Essential Cape Cod- The Carousel of Light in Falmouth
Photo by Beth Armstrong
- By Rachael Devaney
Posted Jul. 28, 2015 at 8:55 AM
This summer, our Essential Cape Cod series highlights places of special interest to visitors and locals from throughout the region. For more than a decade, the Carousel of Light was missing from Falmouth. The carousel, which was hand-crafted by Falmouth artist Lance Shinkle in 1988, could at times be found at The Barnstable County Fair or at Mashpee Commons, but it was relocated to California in 1999. While the carousel made its return to Cape Cod in 2009, it didn't resume operations until 2014. Thankfully, it is currently located at Mullen-Hall Elementary School for all to enjoy. Shinkle calls his creation "art in motion." This summer the non-profit in charge of the carousel will host a series of events including "Rat Pack Music Night," "Beatles 50th Anniversary Event," and "Star Wars Music Night." The happenings -- which attracted 15,000 riders in 2014 -- will continue through October. There and then, children and adults alike can ride the hand-carved wooden carousel while listening to delightful, care-free music. With a nautical theme, the working carousel includes 32 horses carved from eastern white pine purchased from Cataumet Sawmill; they are color-dyed and hand-painted. Shinkle, who is originally from California, painted 12 scenery panels to decorate the carousel. He carved sea horses, mermaids, and fishing nets while also creating two wheelchair-accessible chariots. The carousel mechanism and the calliope were found by Shinkle in 1993 in Cincinnati, Ohio. With donations coming from family, friends, and supporters, he was able to purchase the vintage 1947 Herschell Model, which still runs to this day. Shinkle, who previously owned Shinkle Signs in Falmouth for 20 years, originally developed the carousel to help raise money for cancer research. And while each $3 ride supports the Carousel of Light Inc., a federal non-profit corporation, much of the fare is also donated to senior and children organizations throughout Falmouth. After the success of his 2014 season, Shinkle decided to donate his work to the non-profit. The artist says that he hopes to "bring joy to children of all ages" by preserving the Carousel of Light for generations.The Mullen-Hall Elementary School is on Katharine Lee Bates Road, Falmouth. For more information about the carousel -- including hours of operation and fundraising goals -- visit www.carouseloflight.org.
July 9, 2015 Wicked Local Cape Cod - Falmouth Fun: Carousel of Light is up and running
- After 18 months of fundraising, cleaning, updating and touch-up painting, the one-of-kind, hand-carved Carousel of Light is up and running for the summer at Mullen-Hall School in Falmouth.The carousel passed comprehensive safety, mechanical and electrical inspections last week and received a license to operate from the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety.The carousel will operate seven days per week until Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. on SundaysLongtime Falmouth resident and artist Lance Shinkle created the carousel more than 20 years ago, but it was moved in and out of storage until a group of community leaders accepted Shinkle’s offer to donate the carousel to Carousel of Light, Inc.The mission is “to bring joy to children of all ages by protecting, supporting, operating and preserving the Carousel of Light for generations to come. Follow this link for the complete story.
August 29, 2014 - Falmouth Enterprise: Troy's Take
By TROY CLARKSON
Rob Hutchinson has a lifetime of Falmouth memories .The Falmouth native, who now lives in Hingham but frequently returns to visit family, fondly remembers days during his childhood when he would get his haircut at Stone’s Barber Shop back when it was located farther down Main Street, near where Celebrations is now.
When Rob would finish his haircut, Phil and Dickie Stone would escort Rob out of the barber shop and help him cross the street on his way home. Memories like that not only shape a childhood, they shape the soul of the community in which that childhood is created; fond memories and the people who make them can define a generation. When I met and chatted with Rob and his wife, Hilary, at the Carousel of Light in Falmouth Village last week, they were creating and defining new Falmouth memories for three generations, as Rob, Hilary, Rob’s mom and dozens of others watched as their children and other kids of all ages gleefully participated in the merriment and memory-making as Lance Shinkle’s hand-carved opus, Falmouth’s beautiful Carousel of Light, spun its way into the hearts and memories of Falmouthites and visitors alike.
As the carousel’s first summer(hopefully one of many) winds down in Falmouth Village, thousands of remembrances have been created, as families from
more than 30 states, upwards of 10 countries, and countless locales within the commonwealth have made the trip to the carousel for three unforgettable minutes of fun and fantasy. As I visited and watched kids from 8 to 80 sing “Let It Go” loudly and proudly as they sat atop one of Lance’s priceless works of art and eschewed technology and the issues of the day for a brief trip to a place of pure fun and innocence, I realized that the true value of having the carousel in Falmouth—the sustainable gift that the Carousel of Light has granted to our community—is its endless supply of smiles, while asking nothing in return.
Smiles are in constant supply at the carousel. Just ask newly engaged couple Melissa Patrician and John Brennan, who are making a lifelong commitment to one another next May in New York, but made their commitment known to their loved ones by having pictures taken aboard the carousel. Just ask Betsy and Bill Hike, committed and involved Falmouthites, who spend time benefiting many local charities, but who spent time at the carousel on a Saturday afternoon, beaming as their grandchildren Hadley and Benjamin gleefully completed their musical and whimsical revolutions. Just ask Olivia and Cecelia DePunte, who convinced their dad, Craig, to make a stop on the way home from a weekend lunch for a quick and “really fun”ride, making sure they sent pictures to Mom, who was working. Or ask the group of octogenarians and nonagenarians from nearby Atria Woodbriar who were transformed into a gaggle of giggling schoolgirls during their visit.These few smile snapshots are just a few tiles in the ongoing mosaic of magnificence that having the carousel downtown has created in our community. The Carousel of Light and its all-volunteer board hope to be a permanent fixture in Falmouth—sharing the endless supply of smiles for generations to come. Supporters can visit www.carouseloflight.org to help with that sustainable gift.
Carousel manager Beth Juaire was witness to those stories and many, many more, as this affable and upbeat ambassador of smiles delighted attendees with her effusive approach and endearing demeanor. Many visiting merry-go-rounders filled out comment cards, and one shared that Beth is “one of the most energetic and positive persons we’ve met.” I would agree and saw her act as a tour guide, dancer, singer, counselor, mechanic, safety officer, and DJ—all in one three-minute carousel episode.
More grins piled up in abundance as Pharrell Williams’s smile anthem, “Happy,” wafted through the crisp late summer air and a new group of revelers boarded the Carousel and I shared a smile and hello with local radio personality Dan Tritle, who took a break from his duties at WCAI to visit with family and make memories of his own. “Everyone, no matter how old, should ride the carousel,” noted this respected local voice of reason. Yes, Dan, indeed. Everyone should enjoy a ride and a smile. We offered a knowing glance as we gazed into the brightness of the setting sun and the brilliance of the revolving giggles and superlatives, both boasting broad and happy crescents on our own visages, surely like the Hutchinsons, Hikes, and betrothed New Yorkers, imprinting another magical Carousel of Light scene into memory.
(Mr. Clarkson may be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @TroyClarkson59.)
Rob Hutchinson has a lifetime of Falmouth memories .The Falmouth native, who now lives in Hingham but frequently returns to visit family, fondly remembers days during his childhood when he would get his haircut at Stone’s Barber Shop back when it was located farther down Main Street, near where Celebrations is now.
When Rob would finish his haircut, Phil and Dickie Stone would escort Rob out of the barber shop and help him cross the street on his way home. Memories like that not only shape a childhood, they shape the soul of the community in which that childhood is created; fond memories and the people who make them can define a generation. When I met and chatted with Rob and his wife, Hilary, at the Carousel of Light in Falmouth Village last week, they were creating and defining new Falmouth memories for three generations, as Rob, Hilary, Rob’s mom and dozens of others watched as their children and other kids of all ages gleefully participated in the merriment and memory-making as Lance Shinkle’s hand-carved opus, Falmouth’s beautiful Carousel of Light, spun its way into the hearts and memories of Falmouthites and visitors alike.
As the carousel’s first summer(hopefully one of many) winds down in Falmouth Village, thousands of remembrances have been created, as families from
more than 30 states, upwards of 10 countries, and countless locales within the commonwealth have made the trip to the carousel for three unforgettable minutes of fun and fantasy. As I visited and watched kids from 8 to 80 sing “Let It Go” loudly and proudly as they sat atop one of Lance’s priceless works of art and eschewed technology and the issues of the day for a brief trip to a place of pure fun and innocence, I realized that the true value of having the carousel in Falmouth—the sustainable gift that the Carousel of Light has granted to our community—is its endless supply of smiles, while asking nothing in return.
Smiles are in constant supply at the carousel. Just ask newly engaged couple Melissa Patrician and John Brennan, who are making a lifelong commitment to one another next May in New York, but made their commitment known to their loved ones by having pictures taken aboard the carousel. Just ask Betsy and Bill Hike, committed and involved Falmouthites, who spend time benefiting many local charities, but who spent time at the carousel on a Saturday afternoon, beaming as their grandchildren Hadley and Benjamin gleefully completed their musical and whimsical revolutions. Just ask Olivia and Cecelia DePunte, who convinced their dad, Craig, to make a stop on the way home from a weekend lunch for a quick and “really fun”ride, making sure they sent pictures to Mom, who was working. Or ask the group of octogenarians and nonagenarians from nearby Atria Woodbriar who were transformed into a gaggle of giggling schoolgirls during their visit.These few smile snapshots are just a few tiles in the ongoing mosaic of magnificence that having the carousel downtown has created in our community. The Carousel of Light and its all-volunteer board hope to be a permanent fixture in Falmouth—sharing the endless supply of smiles for generations to come. Supporters can visit www.carouseloflight.org to help with that sustainable gift.
Carousel manager Beth Juaire was witness to those stories and many, many more, as this affable and upbeat ambassador of smiles delighted attendees with her effusive approach and endearing demeanor. Many visiting merry-go-rounders filled out comment cards, and one shared that Beth is “one of the most energetic and positive persons we’ve met.” I would agree and saw her act as a tour guide, dancer, singer, counselor, mechanic, safety officer, and DJ—all in one three-minute carousel episode.
More grins piled up in abundance as Pharrell Williams’s smile anthem, “Happy,” wafted through the crisp late summer air and a new group of revelers boarded the Carousel and I shared a smile and hello with local radio personality Dan Tritle, who took a break from his duties at WCAI to visit with family and make memories of his own. “Everyone, no matter how old, should ride the carousel,” noted this respected local voice of reason. Yes, Dan, indeed. Everyone should enjoy a ride and a smile. We offered a knowing glance as we gazed into the brightness of the setting sun and the brilliance of the revolving giggles and superlatives, both boasting broad and happy crescents on our own visages, surely like the Hutchinsons, Hikes, and betrothed New Yorkers, imprinting another magical Carousel of Light scene into memory.
(Mr. Clarkson may be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @TroyClarkson59.)
August 19, 2014 Falmouth Enterprise -Plan Hatched for Falmouth Carousel and Walkway Around Pond
Photo by Gene L. Marchand -Falmouth Enterprise
By Carrie L. Gentile - James Bowen’s plan to keep the Carousel of Light spinning in Falmouth received enthusiastic support from the board of selectmen Monday night, August 18.
Mr. Bowen, president of the Carousel of Light organization, presented his plan to move the carousel from its temporary home at Mullen-Hall Elementary School to the northwest side of Shivericks Pond, building a half-mile public walking path around the circumference of the pond. The preliminary design includes a parking lot next to the carousel that would be accessed from Katharine Lee Bates Road.
The idea is contingent on the organization acquiring a parcel adjacent to the pond and gaining town government support, which Mr. Bowen secured at last night’s joint Falmouth Board of Selectmen and Falmouth Planning Board meeting.
“It could be an extension of Main Street and really open up the beauty of the pond,” said selectmen chairman Mary (Pat) Flynn. “It adds another dimension and attraction to town.”
Planning board chairman Patricia H. Kerfoot called the idea “a winner,” stating the current path is severely overgrown and trash-ridden. “It could be an economic driver,” she said. Follow this link for the complete story
Mr. Bowen, president of the Carousel of Light organization, presented his plan to move the carousel from its temporary home at Mullen-Hall Elementary School to the northwest side of Shivericks Pond, building a half-mile public walking path around the circumference of the pond. The preliminary design includes a parking lot next to the carousel that would be accessed from Katharine Lee Bates Road.
The idea is contingent on the organization acquiring a parcel adjacent to the pond and gaining town government support, which Mr. Bowen secured at last night’s joint Falmouth Board of Selectmen and Falmouth Planning Board meeting.
“It could be an extension of Main Street and really open up the beauty of the pond,” said selectmen chairman Mary (Pat) Flynn. “It adds another dimension and attraction to town.”
Planning board chairman Patricia H. Kerfoot called the idea “a winner,” stating the current path is severely overgrown and trash-ridden. “It could be an economic driver,” she said. Follow this link for the complete story
June 13, 2014 Cape Cod Times ~ Food truck festivals rolling onto Cape
photo by Cape Cod Tmes/Steve Heaslip
By Laurie Higgins, Contributing Writer- June 13, 2014 Food trucks and food truck festivals have been popular in places like California for years. In the Northeast, the cities of Boston and Providence have vibrant food truck scenes, but it is a trend that has been slow to catch fire on Cape Cod — until now. This month two different food truck festivals are planned and another one will take place in the fall.
Last May, the Carousel of Lights Food Truck Festival was the Cape's first official food truck festival. It was so successful that the nonprofit organization has decided to hold a second one June 14. It's their big fundraiser of the year. All profits are used towards preserving and finding a permanent home for the hand-carved Carousel of Lights.
"Last year 1,000 people came and we made close to $8,000," says organizer Elizabeth Sherman. "We had six food truck vendors and this year we have 12. I think the confidence is there from the food world that we can get people there."
Follow this link for the complete story
May 23 , 2014- A Quest to Create a Carousel- WCAI
A herd of carved wild horses has been looking for a home on Cape Cod. Brigitta Greene tells a story, years in the making, of Lance Shinkle's unusual quest. For more information and an update go to our website. This piece is edited by Jay Allison and comes from our production partners Atlantic Public Media, through their media training program, the Transom Story Workshop in Woods Hole.
Follow this link for the entire radio podcast - http://capeandislands.org/post/quest-create-carousel-light
Follow this link for the entire radio podcast - http://capeandislands.org/post/quest-create-carousel-light
May 2, 2014- Carousel of Light Wins Spot at Mullen Hall Playground
Falmouth School Committee Tuesday night voted unanimously to allow the Carousel of Light to operate at Mullen-Hall Elementary School this summer.
The Carousel of Light is a nonprofit seeking a home for a nautically themed carousel carved by Falmouth artist and sign maker Lance R. Shinkle.
The carousel will be placed in the middle of the bus traffic circle in front of the school, on the
cobblestone section at the center.
According to the lease agreement, the carousel will operate from 10 AM to 8 PM (or sunset)
Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 PM (or sunset) on Sundays.
It will cost $3 per ride, of which 10 cents will go to the school as a rental fee.
School committee chairman Judith Fenwick wanted to clarify two points with Carousel of Light president James C. Bowen of West Falmouth before agreeing to the lease.
Ms. Fenwick asked what the official chain of communication will be if neighbors have noise or other complaints. She also
wanted Mr. Bowen’s word that the Carousel of Light would not sell anything else besides rides on school grounds.
Mr. Bowen said he would write a letter to neighbors giving them his number to call if there were any problems. The carousel will play music, directed inward toward the riders. Mr. Bowen said the board did some tests on a day when the wind was blowing toward the nearby homes on Haddon Avenue, and felt confident that the music would be inaudible
to residents.
Mr. Bowen also pledged that the group would not be selling merchandise or anything besides rides. Ms. Fenwick then suggested that Mr. Bowen give the neighbors on Haddon Avenue a free ride. He agreed that was a good idea, and
indicated that perhaps the whole town would be given a free ride during a “soft opening.”
The Carousel of Light’s official mission is to bring joy and happiness to the children and families of Falmouth, both residents and visitors.
The carousel will be set up in time for the July 4th weekend and will be taken down before
the new school year starts.
There was some discussion about the power source for the carousel. The lease states that the Carousel of Light “shall be
responsible for all power necessary to operate...and for this purpose may erect temporary power service.”
A temporary power service machine would connect to a utility pole, and have its own meter. The town’s special events policy recommends that events supply their own power. However, Carousel of Light board members said they preferred to hook up to the school.
School committee member Laura L. Peterson was concerned a temporary power source could be noisy, and wondered if the carousel should be allowed to draw power from the school and just reimburse them for the electricity.
The school committee agreed to decide the power issue later. Donna Mattison-Earls then moved that the school agree to
the lease, and Samuel H. Patterson Jr. seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Carousel of Light board members clapped.
Under the lease agreement, the Carousel of Light is also required to provide at least three trash cans and do a daily litter sweep; they must maintain two multimillion dollar coverage insurance policies; prohibit smoking and drinking; not obstruct access to the playground; and secure the carousel with a zipped canvas cover and six-foot locked fence at
night.
The carousel has a long history. Mr. Shinkle began carving and painting the carousel in 1988,
and completed the work in 1993. It includes several dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels.
The carousel was then put on display at the Barnstable County Fair and the Mashpee Commons shopping complex. Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after
his father died in 2008, Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
The carousel is currently dismantled and being stored at Mr. Shinkle’s home on Davis Road.
of Light board members are working on securing the carousel a permanent home in Falmouth. Mashpee Commons has offered them a piece of land for free, Mr. Bowen said, but the group hopes to keep the carousel in Falmouth.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. Bowen said, “I applaud the leadership of Dr. Gifford [Superintendent of Schools] and Judy
Fenwick in helping us bring the carousel to the community.”
The Carousel of Light is a nonprofit seeking a home for a nautically themed carousel carved by Falmouth artist and sign maker Lance R. Shinkle.
The carousel will be placed in the middle of the bus traffic circle in front of the school, on the
cobblestone section at the center.
According to the lease agreement, the carousel will operate from 10 AM to 8 PM (or sunset)
Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 PM (or sunset) on Sundays.
It will cost $3 per ride, of which 10 cents will go to the school as a rental fee.
School committee chairman Judith Fenwick wanted to clarify two points with Carousel of Light president James C. Bowen of West Falmouth before agreeing to the lease.
Ms. Fenwick asked what the official chain of communication will be if neighbors have noise or other complaints. She also
wanted Mr. Bowen’s word that the Carousel of Light would not sell anything else besides rides on school grounds.
Mr. Bowen said he would write a letter to neighbors giving them his number to call if there were any problems. The carousel will play music, directed inward toward the riders. Mr. Bowen said the board did some tests on a day when the wind was blowing toward the nearby homes on Haddon Avenue, and felt confident that the music would be inaudible
to residents.
Mr. Bowen also pledged that the group would not be selling merchandise or anything besides rides. Ms. Fenwick then suggested that Mr. Bowen give the neighbors on Haddon Avenue a free ride. He agreed that was a good idea, and
indicated that perhaps the whole town would be given a free ride during a “soft opening.”
The Carousel of Light’s official mission is to bring joy and happiness to the children and families of Falmouth, both residents and visitors.
The carousel will be set up in time for the July 4th weekend and will be taken down before
the new school year starts.
There was some discussion about the power source for the carousel. The lease states that the Carousel of Light “shall be
responsible for all power necessary to operate...and for this purpose may erect temporary power service.”
A temporary power service machine would connect to a utility pole, and have its own meter. The town’s special events policy recommends that events supply their own power. However, Carousel of Light board members said they preferred to hook up to the school.
School committee member Laura L. Peterson was concerned a temporary power source could be noisy, and wondered if the carousel should be allowed to draw power from the school and just reimburse them for the electricity.
The school committee agreed to decide the power issue later. Donna Mattison-Earls then moved that the school agree to
the lease, and Samuel H. Patterson Jr. seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Carousel of Light board members clapped.
Under the lease agreement, the Carousel of Light is also required to provide at least three trash cans and do a daily litter sweep; they must maintain two multimillion dollar coverage insurance policies; prohibit smoking and drinking; not obstruct access to the playground; and secure the carousel with a zipped canvas cover and six-foot locked fence at
night.
The carousel has a long history. Mr. Shinkle began carving and painting the carousel in 1988,
and completed the work in 1993. It includes several dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels.
The carousel was then put on display at the Barnstable County Fair and the Mashpee Commons shopping complex. Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after
his father died in 2008, Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
The carousel is currently dismantled and being stored at Mr. Shinkle’s home on Davis Road.
of Light board members are working on securing the carousel a permanent home in Falmouth. Mashpee Commons has offered them a piece of land for free, Mr. Bowen said, but the group hopes to keep the carousel in Falmouth.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. Bowen said, “I applaud the leadership of Dr. Gifford [Superintendent of Schools] and Judy
Fenwick in helping us bring the carousel to the community.”
March 14, 2014- Mullen Hall Considered For Carousel of Light
Carousel of Light, the nonprofit seeking a home for Falmouth resident Lance R. Shinkle’s handcarved carousel, was before the Falmouth School Committee Tuesday night.
Carousel of Light president James C. Bowen of West Falmouth asked the school committee for permission to place the carousel on the Mullen-Hall Elementary School grounds from the end of school in June through Labor Day weekend.
Mr. Bowen told the school committee that the Carousel of Light’s mission is to “bring joy and happiness” to the community. He said the Mullen-Hall schoolyard, with its popular playground and the library and downtown shops just across the street, would be a “great fit” for the carousel.
The carousel would operate 10 hours a day, and riders would be charged $3, he said.
Also present at the meeting was Chelsea N. Maffei, daughter of Mr. Shinkle.
Ms. Maffei showed an aerial photograph of the schoolyard with two possible locations for the carousel: in the middle of the paved traffic circle where the buses pull around, and in the corner of the grassy playground that abuts Katharine Lee Bates Road and the bus entrance lane.
The school committee discussed the two locations, bringing up several concerns. Was the traffic circle a fire lane? How would the grass on the playground be restored? Had the neighbors on Haddon Avenue been consulted? What sort of insurance would adequately shield the school in case of a lawsuit?
The school committee said it would need some time to consult with the Falmouth Fire Department and its own policy subcommittee before giving an answer. “This isn’t going to be an overnight decision,” chairman Judith Fenwick said.
Despite the cautious approach to the idea, the school committee expressed no opposition to locating the carousel at Mullen-Hall and even seemed warm to the idea.
School committee member Donna Mattison-Earls said she thought it was “a good idea, if it’s going to be safe.”
Member Laura L. Peterson called the carousel “a gem.”
And Ms. Fenwick expressed a desire to be collaborative. “I hope we can play well with others,” she said.
The Carousel of Light has also applied to selectmen to locate the carousel on Shore Street Extension, the tiny connector road next to the library lawn, which would need to be closed to traffic. But Mr. Bowen told the school committee that he is “not optimistic” about that request, and that Mullen-Hall is the group’s “first choice.”
Selectman Mary (Pat) Flynn was present with Mr. Bowen and indicated her support for the Mullen-Hall location.
Mr. Bowen told the school committee that Mashpee Commons would like the carousel to locate near its shopping complex. The manager of Mashpee Commons has “made us an offer we can’t refuse,” Mr. Bowen said, but the group remains committed to finding the carousel a home in Falmouth. “We don’t want to put it there,” he said of Mashpee Commons.
After the meeting, Mr. Bowen elaborated on the offer. He said Mashpee Commons has offered to give the Carousel of Light a piece of land as a permanent home. The Carousel of Light would only have to pay to build the pavilion around the carousel, he said. “They’re very pleasant people there; it’s nice to have that option,” Mr. Bowen said. “But our hearts are in Falmouth.”
Mr. Bowen told the school committee he is “very happy to donate a portion of the proceeds” to the school department in exchange for setting up shop there for the summer. He estimated that donating 10 cents per ride would yield $3,700 for the school.
The hope is to show the carousel off, have the town fall in love with it, and then work toward securing a permanent home in Falmouth, Mr. Bowen said.
The school committee will discuss what insurance it would require the carousel to carry at its next policy subcommittee meeting on April 3. In the meantime, superintendent Bonny L. Gifford said she would consult with town departments on the fire lane and other safety issues. Dr. Gifford said the school may be prepared to give a final answer by mid-April.
School committee member Samuel H. Patterson Jr. pointed out that school begins prior to Labor Day weekend, and so the carousel would need to move out before then.
The carousel has a long history. Mr. Shinkle, an artist and sign maker, began carving and painting it in 1988. He completed his work—it includes several dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels, all with a nautical theme—in 1993. It was put on display at the Barnstable County Fair before being exhibited at Mashpee Commons and on Main Street in Hyannis.
Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after his father died in 2008 Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
The carousel is currently dismantled and being stored at Mr. Shinkle’s home on Davis Road.
Carousel of Light president James C. Bowen of West Falmouth asked the school committee for permission to place the carousel on the Mullen-Hall Elementary School grounds from the end of school in June through Labor Day weekend.
Mr. Bowen told the school committee that the Carousel of Light’s mission is to “bring joy and happiness” to the community. He said the Mullen-Hall schoolyard, with its popular playground and the library and downtown shops just across the street, would be a “great fit” for the carousel.
The carousel would operate 10 hours a day, and riders would be charged $3, he said.
Also present at the meeting was Chelsea N. Maffei, daughter of Mr. Shinkle.
Ms. Maffei showed an aerial photograph of the schoolyard with two possible locations for the carousel: in the middle of the paved traffic circle where the buses pull around, and in the corner of the grassy playground that abuts Katharine Lee Bates Road and the bus entrance lane.
The school committee discussed the two locations, bringing up several concerns. Was the traffic circle a fire lane? How would the grass on the playground be restored? Had the neighbors on Haddon Avenue been consulted? What sort of insurance would adequately shield the school in case of a lawsuit?
The school committee said it would need some time to consult with the Falmouth Fire Department and its own policy subcommittee before giving an answer. “This isn’t going to be an overnight decision,” chairman Judith Fenwick said.
Despite the cautious approach to the idea, the school committee expressed no opposition to locating the carousel at Mullen-Hall and even seemed warm to the idea.
School committee member Donna Mattison-Earls said she thought it was “a good idea, if it’s going to be safe.”
Member Laura L. Peterson called the carousel “a gem.”
And Ms. Fenwick expressed a desire to be collaborative. “I hope we can play well with others,” she said.
The Carousel of Light has also applied to selectmen to locate the carousel on Shore Street Extension, the tiny connector road next to the library lawn, which would need to be closed to traffic. But Mr. Bowen told the school committee that he is “not optimistic” about that request, and that Mullen-Hall is the group’s “first choice.”
Selectman Mary (Pat) Flynn was present with Mr. Bowen and indicated her support for the Mullen-Hall location.
Mr. Bowen told the school committee that Mashpee Commons would like the carousel to locate near its shopping complex. The manager of Mashpee Commons has “made us an offer we can’t refuse,” Mr. Bowen said, but the group remains committed to finding the carousel a home in Falmouth. “We don’t want to put it there,” he said of Mashpee Commons.
After the meeting, Mr. Bowen elaborated on the offer. He said Mashpee Commons has offered to give the Carousel of Light a piece of land as a permanent home. The Carousel of Light would only have to pay to build the pavilion around the carousel, he said. “They’re very pleasant people there; it’s nice to have that option,” Mr. Bowen said. “But our hearts are in Falmouth.”
Mr. Bowen told the school committee he is “very happy to donate a portion of the proceeds” to the school department in exchange for setting up shop there for the summer. He estimated that donating 10 cents per ride would yield $3,700 for the school.
The hope is to show the carousel off, have the town fall in love with it, and then work toward securing a permanent home in Falmouth, Mr. Bowen said.
The school committee will discuss what insurance it would require the carousel to carry at its next policy subcommittee meeting on April 3. In the meantime, superintendent Bonny L. Gifford said she would consult with town departments on the fire lane and other safety issues. Dr. Gifford said the school may be prepared to give a final answer by mid-April.
School committee member Samuel H. Patterson Jr. pointed out that school begins prior to Labor Day weekend, and so the carousel would need to move out before then.
The carousel has a long history. Mr. Shinkle, an artist and sign maker, began carving and painting it in 1988. He completed his work—it includes several dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels, all with a nautical theme—in 1993. It was put on display at the Barnstable County Fair before being exhibited at Mashpee Commons and on Main Street in Hyannis.
Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after his father died in 2008 Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
The carousel is currently dismantled and being stored at Mr. Shinkle’s home on Davis Road.
February 7, 2014 - from The Falmouth Enterprise... an editorial
The Carousel of Light, which is raising money to put Lance Shinkle’s beautiful wood-carved carousel into operation for the summer months, plans to ask selectmen for permission to set it up on Shore Street Extension, next to the library lawn and the block of stores that is anchored by Hannoush Jewelers. Whether the selectmen will be willing to block a street, short as it is, and eliminate valuable parking spots, remains to be seen. If the group fails in this bid, we hope an alternative can be found.
A friend this week suggested two: the Village Green and the Mullen-Hall playground. Both have merits. The Green would be the ideal spot. There is street parking and the carousel at what might be considered the entrance to Main Street would make quite an impression on visitors coming into town for the first time. There isn’t even a remote chance that selectmen will allow it, though. A previous selectman called the Green “sacred ground.” That attitude, no doubt, if shared might be enough to squash the notion. The Mullen-Hall playground doesn’t give Mr. Shinkle’s carousel the prominence it deserves, but the spot makes sense. There is room and the place is already a popular spot for children. And it could be taken down in the winter months so as not to interfere with school activities.
Whatever its fate, we wish the Carousel of Light luck in its endeavor. The carousel will be a feather in Falmouth’s cap when a home is finally found for it.
A friend this week suggested two: the Village Green and the Mullen-Hall playground. Both have merits. The Green would be the ideal spot. There is street parking and the carousel at what might be considered the entrance to Main Street would make quite an impression on visitors coming into town for the first time. There isn’t even a remote chance that selectmen will allow it, though. A previous selectman called the Green “sacred ground.” That attitude, no doubt, if shared might be enough to squash the notion. The Mullen-Hall playground doesn’t give Mr. Shinkle’s carousel the prominence it deserves, but the spot makes sense. There is room and the place is already a popular spot for children. And it could be taken down in the winter months so as not to interfere with school activities.
Whatever its fate, we wish the Carousel of Light luck in its endeavor. The carousel will be a feather in Falmouth’s cap when a home is finally found for it.
'Carousel Of Light Hopes To Land On Shore St. Extension '
February 7, 2014 - A carousel may be coming to downtown Falmouth this summer. At least that is the hope of the nonprofit Carousel of Light and its board, which will be seeking permission from selectmen to shut down Shore Street Extension between Main Street and Katharine Lee Bates Road to allow Lance Shinkle’s handcarved carousel to be placed there from
Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
If approved, it would mark a significant step in fi nding a permanent home for the carousel, which Mr. Shinkle started carving and painting in 1988. He completed his work—it included more than three dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels, all with a nautical theme—in 1993. It was put on display at the Barnstable County Fair before being exhibited at Mashpee Commons and on Main Street in Hyannis.
Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after his father died in 2008 Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
Although Mr. Shinkle has since kept his creation at his home, he has elected to donate it to Carousel of Light in hopes of allowing the community to enjoy it. Carousel of Light, led by president James C. Bowen of Uncatena North, West Falmouth, has spent the past year raising funds to operate the carousel on a semi-yearround basis in Falmouth.
Among those assisting with the effort are Richard A. Sherman of Falmouth, who was involved with the original attempt more than two decades ago to try and find a home for the carousel, and Troy B.G. Clarkson of Palmer Avenue, North Falmouth. The trio’s mission “is to raise enough money to operate,” Mr. Sherman said. “That includes insurance, which
is the biggest one, and paying for personnel, because it will take a little while to sell enough seats to run in the black. We expect to run in the black this summer, but not immediately.”
Mr. Sherman, who is serving as the nonprofit’s clerk and treasurer, highlighted the efforts made so far by volunteers to help cover those upfront costs. Its first major fundraiser occurred in May as part of a food truck festival at Falmouth Marina Park that was organized by Mr. Sherman’s daughter Elizabeth Sherman. They raised over $7,500 and kicked off a series of small and large endeavors. An additional $10,700 was raised over the course of last year through T-shirt sales and donations, including a failed Kickstarter campaign last fall in which several residents still committed money despite organizers not reaching their goal of raising $20,000 in 35 days. Among the costs incurred so far, he said, is $1,500 to store the pieces to the carousel; $1,000 for the T-shirts; $2,400 for a safety inspection of the carousel, which
included flying the inspector to Cape Cod; $1,500 to set up and test the carousel in Mr. Shinkle’s back yard; and $3,570 to replace the canopy. He anticipated another $11,000 will be needed to pay for everything from advertising and marketing to insurance to employees who will be taking tickets and operating the carousel. Carousel of Light, Mr. Sherman said, recently received $1,900 in donations, primarily from board members, to bring its current balance to just under $7,500.
It is holding another fundraiser, a screening of the classic film “Casablanca,” Thursday evening at 7:30 at the Falmouth Cinema Pub. Tickets for the event are $10. Board member Stanton D. Terrell of Acapesket Road, East Falmouth, is being credited for this latest endeavor. The entire ticket proceeds will go to Carousel of Light. If successful—so far 85 out of
the 120 seats have already been reserved—Mr. Sherman said the group may hold similar screenings of popular movies in the future. Along with this week’s fundraiser, Mr. Sherman said his daughter is planning a follow-up to last year’s food truck festival. And efforts have been made to keep the carousel in the public eye. Last year they set up booths at the Arts Alive Festival in June and the Falmouth Village Professional Arts and Crafts Street Festival in July, when Mr. Shinkle was carving and chiseling a horse. “Even our town administrator Julian Suso banged a couple of chips out of the horse at
the street fair,” Mr. Sherman said. The work may not be glamorous, but Mr. Sherman said it is important for several reasons. Thanks to the birth of his first grandchild, Theodore, in August, one of those reasons is personal. “I think Theo
will be ready to take his first ride on the carousel this summer,” he said.Beyond that, he said, the carousel itself is a stunning piece of art that the entire community should have a chance to experience. “Why am I doing this?” he said. “Because he [Mr. Shinkle] asked me and I thought this is more than worthy because I love carousels and this is way more than a merry-go-round. It is a work of art.”
And if selectmen agree to locate it on Shore Street Extension, Mr. Sherman said, it will provide joy to many and benefit the downtown area. “I believe it will bring more people to Main Street,” he said. “Not that people will come to Falmouth
just because we have a carousel, though in some cases they will. Once they are parked here they will walk down to the farmers market, the shops and restaurants on Main Street.”
Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
If approved, it would mark a significant step in fi nding a permanent home for the carousel, which Mr. Shinkle started carving and painting in 1988. He completed his work—it included more than three dozen wooden horses, sea horses, mermaids, chariots and display panels, all with a nautical theme—in 1993. It was put on display at the Barnstable County Fair before being exhibited at Mashpee Commons and on Main Street in Hyannis.
Six years later Mr. Shinkle moved to California to take care of his ailing father, taking the carousel with him. A year after his father died in 2008 Mr. Shinkle returned to Falmouth, and the carousel eventually followed last spring.
Although Mr. Shinkle has since kept his creation at his home, he has elected to donate it to Carousel of Light in hopes of allowing the community to enjoy it. Carousel of Light, led by president James C. Bowen of Uncatena North, West Falmouth, has spent the past year raising funds to operate the carousel on a semi-yearround basis in Falmouth.
Among those assisting with the effort are Richard A. Sherman of Falmouth, who was involved with the original attempt more than two decades ago to try and find a home for the carousel, and Troy B.G. Clarkson of Palmer Avenue, North Falmouth. The trio’s mission “is to raise enough money to operate,” Mr. Sherman said. “That includes insurance, which
is the biggest one, and paying for personnel, because it will take a little while to sell enough seats to run in the black. We expect to run in the black this summer, but not immediately.”
Mr. Sherman, who is serving as the nonprofit’s clerk and treasurer, highlighted the efforts made so far by volunteers to help cover those upfront costs. Its first major fundraiser occurred in May as part of a food truck festival at Falmouth Marina Park that was organized by Mr. Sherman’s daughter Elizabeth Sherman. They raised over $7,500 and kicked off a series of small and large endeavors. An additional $10,700 was raised over the course of last year through T-shirt sales and donations, including a failed Kickstarter campaign last fall in which several residents still committed money despite organizers not reaching their goal of raising $20,000 in 35 days. Among the costs incurred so far, he said, is $1,500 to store the pieces to the carousel; $1,000 for the T-shirts; $2,400 for a safety inspection of the carousel, which
included flying the inspector to Cape Cod; $1,500 to set up and test the carousel in Mr. Shinkle’s back yard; and $3,570 to replace the canopy. He anticipated another $11,000 will be needed to pay for everything from advertising and marketing to insurance to employees who will be taking tickets and operating the carousel. Carousel of Light, Mr. Sherman said, recently received $1,900 in donations, primarily from board members, to bring its current balance to just under $7,500.
It is holding another fundraiser, a screening of the classic film “Casablanca,” Thursday evening at 7:30 at the Falmouth Cinema Pub. Tickets for the event are $10. Board member Stanton D. Terrell of Acapesket Road, East Falmouth, is being credited for this latest endeavor. The entire ticket proceeds will go to Carousel of Light. If successful—so far 85 out of
the 120 seats have already been reserved—Mr. Sherman said the group may hold similar screenings of popular movies in the future. Along with this week’s fundraiser, Mr. Sherman said his daughter is planning a follow-up to last year’s food truck festival. And efforts have been made to keep the carousel in the public eye. Last year they set up booths at the Arts Alive Festival in June and the Falmouth Village Professional Arts and Crafts Street Festival in July, when Mr. Shinkle was carving and chiseling a horse. “Even our town administrator Julian Suso banged a couple of chips out of the horse at
the street fair,” Mr. Sherman said. The work may not be glamorous, but Mr. Sherman said it is important for several reasons. Thanks to the birth of his first grandchild, Theodore, in August, one of those reasons is personal. “I think Theo
will be ready to take his first ride on the carousel this summer,” he said.Beyond that, he said, the carousel itself is a stunning piece of art that the entire community should have a chance to experience. “Why am I doing this?” he said. “Because he [Mr. Shinkle] asked me and I thought this is more than worthy because I love carousels and this is way more than a merry-go-round. It is a work of art.”
And if selectmen agree to locate it on Shore Street Extension, Mr. Sherman said, it will provide joy to many and benefit the downtown area. “I believe it will bring more people to Main Street,” he said. “Not that people will come to Falmouth
just because we have a carousel, though in some cases they will. Once they are parked here they will walk down to the farmers market, the shops and restaurants on Main Street.”
Troy's Take: The Beauty of Falmouth's Christmas Parade
By: Troy Clarkson, December 17, 2013
The Fal mouth Christmas parade is so much more than the pageantry of the day. Yes, the colors, sounds, and memories of this annual celebration of the season capture the imaginations and stimulate the senses of the multitudes who gather to watch along the meandering procession through the heart of our downtown, but this day has an even greater meaning and purpose for Falmouth.
To find the true meaning—the true value—of this event, which is sponsored by the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and supported ably by the volunteer efforts of the parade committee, you have to find the people who work for weeks and sometimes months leading up to the holiday spectacle, our annual community Christmas miracle. They exemplify the community spirit and community commitment that is the real significance of this special day.
Elizabeth Sherman is one of those people. Her love for her hometown of Falmouth is boundless, instilled in her by her parents, legendary Falmouth volunteers Rich and Kathy Sherman. This affection for her hometown was manifested during Sunday’s rolling pageant through our revitalized downtown. As the quarterback for the Carousel of Light’s entry in the parade, Elizabeth coordinated, cajoled, and cheered her volunteer colleagues into producing an award-winning entry, showcasing Lance Shinkle’s hand-carved masterpiece with unparalleled flair and splendor, and winning the hearts of the parade committee, who rewarded Elizabeth’s creativity and leadership with the “Committee Choice Award,” a recognition of the weeks of planning, days of preparation, and hours of execution. Liz’s selfless and loving efforts, joined enthusiastically by Carousel of Light volunteers Lissie Hoffert, Nick Kleimola, Ben Smith, Justin Perkins, and supported on the float by Mrs. Claus (a glowing Denise Terry) and a baltering Carousel of Light president and omnipresent volunteer Jim Bowen, illustrate the spirit of Falmouth that this holiday happening reveals for all to see.
That spirit hung like a festive wreath over the entire parade route on Sunday. The cheerful mood was palpable as Donna and I strolled from Palmer Avenue to our perch in front of Stone’s Barber Shop. As we made our way down the sidewalk....follow this link for the complete article
By: Troy Clarkson, December 17, 2013
The Fal mouth Christmas parade is so much more than the pageantry of the day. Yes, the colors, sounds, and memories of this annual celebration of the season capture the imaginations and stimulate the senses of the multitudes who gather to watch along the meandering procession through the heart of our downtown, but this day has an even greater meaning and purpose for Falmouth.
To find the true meaning—the true value—of this event, which is sponsored by the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and supported ably by the volunteer efforts of the parade committee, you have to find the people who work for weeks and sometimes months leading up to the holiday spectacle, our annual community Christmas miracle. They exemplify the community spirit and community commitment that is the real significance of this special day.
Elizabeth Sherman is one of those people. Her love for her hometown of Falmouth is boundless, instilled in her by her parents, legendary Falmouth volunteers Rich and Kathy Sherman. This affection for her hometown was manifested during Sunday’s rolling pageant through our revitalized downtown. As the quarterback for the Carousel of Light’s entry in the parade, Elizabeth coordinated, cajoled, and cheered her volunteer colleagues into producing an award-winning entry, showcasing Lance Shinkle’s hand-carved masterpiece with unparalleled flair and splendor, and winning the hearts of the parade committee, who rewarded Elizabeth’s creativity and leadership with the “Committee Choice Award,” a recognition of the weeks of planning, days of preparation, and hours of execution. Liz’s selfless and loving efforts, joined enthusiastically by Carousel of Light volunteers Lissie Hoffert, Nick Kleimola, Ben Smith, Justin Perkins, and supported on the float by Mrs. Claus (a glowing Denise Terry) and a baltering Carousel of Light president and omnipresent volunteer Jim Bowen, illustrate the spirit of Falmouth that this holiday happening reveals for all to see.
That spirit hung like a festive wreath over the entire parade route on Sunday. The cheerful mood was palpable as Donna and I strolled from Palmer Avenue to our perch in front of Stone’s Barber Shop. As we made our way down the sidewalk....follow this link for the complete article
Carousel of Light's float wins the Committee Choice Award for the 50th Annual Christmas Parade
December 10, 2014- Folks along the parade route were in awe of our float on Sunday as we rolled along the Main Street of our fantastic community. We were so proud to be able to show off our carousel horses and chariot. Our own Mike Fuss, who keeps the carousel tuned up and running, rode alongside with "The Lion," a hand-carved motorcycle that the carousel's artist , Lance Shinkle created. The crowd loved it!
Our team spent many hours converting a flatbed truck into a miraculous display of carousel horses pulling Mrs. Santa Claus on her "sleigh." Piped-in carousel Christmas music filled the air with joy and gladness. We were delighted to have the Girls' Hockey Team come aboard along with many other "Friends of the Carousel." (To join this support group visit our Contact Us page and send us your email address.)
Special thanks go out to the wonderful folks at Loud Fuel for donating their truck and their work-space for our team to create the float. Loud Fuel represents the goodness that make up our community. Hats off to them! The flatbed was from Lawrence-Lynch. What a wonderful act of kindness to allow us to use it. Christmas trees were donated by Clover Landscaping. We thank them for their generosity.
To see more photos of the Christmas parade go to our "Picture Gallery" page.
Our team spent many hours converting a flatbed truck into a miraculous display of carousel horses pulling Mrs. Santa Claus on her "sleigh." Piped-in carousel Christmas music filled the air with joy and gladness. We were delighted to have the Girls' Hockey Team come aboard along with many other "Friends of the Carousel." (To join this support group visit our Contact Us page and send us your email address.)
Special thanks go out to the wonderful folks at Loud Fuel for donating their truck and their work-space for our team to create the float. Loud Fuel represents the goodness that make up our community. Hats off to them! The flatbed was from Lawrence-Lynch. What a wonderful act of kindness to allow us to use it. Christmas trees were donated by Clover Landscaping. We thank them for their generosity.
To see more photos of the Christmas parade go to our "Picture Gallery" page.
The Falmouth Enterprise: Kickstarter helps Cape Cod Artists to Fund-raise in the Digital Age
By: Christopher M. Kazarian, September 27, 2013
Knocking on doors, car washes and bake sales? So passé.
Those serious about raising funds to support their latest project have moved beyond those old-fashioned means to the Internet, which allows for a direct connection to one’s social network and the ability to easily and creatively explain what one is planning on doing with any donations they get.
Kickstarter is a prime example where this past Monday the Falmouth nonprofit Carousel of Light, Inc. launched a campaign to raise $20,000 that will go toward the restoration and maintenance of the carousel Lance Shinkle started carving in 1988 and which was first displayed in 1993 at the Barnstable County Fair. The money will also be used to replace the red-and-white canvas top as well as cover the cost of carving 10 more horses that will go along with the 30 mares and stallions in the current set.
So far the group has raised $2,930, as of yesterday morning, and still has another 31 days to reach its fundraising goal. Kickstarter has an all-or-nothing approach so that if the financial goal is not met by a certain date—the site allows up to 60 days to raise funds needed, although some choose a shorter period—those who offered a donation are not charged anything.
Whether Carousel of Light will meet its goal has yet to be seen, but this week James Bowen, who sits on the organization’s board of directors, was pleased with the progress made so far. “We are extremely happy and delighted the community has already come through,” he said.
Outside of altruistic reasons, those using Kickstarter offer an incentive to donors. The incentives are larger and more attractive the more money one donates.
With the carousel project, those who pledge $3 or more get a free ride and those who donate $10 receive two free rides as well as a photograph of a hand-carved horse suitable for framing.
The larger incentives include unlimited use of the carousel for three hours to celebrate a birthday, wedding or special occasion for $250; recognition on a sponsor board, the carousel’s website and other literature naming those donors who gave $500 or more; and the ability to name one of the hand-carved horses for one year as well as a three-hour party, a T-shirt and a letter of appreciation from Mr. Shinkle for those who donate $1,000 or more.
Easy to Follow Approach Though he was unfamiliar with crowdfunding prior to launching this campaign, Mr. Bowen said, “the Kickstarter people really lay it out for you. If you follow the advice they give you, you can create incentives and rewards that are really fun and interesting like the ones we did.”
The fundraising effort is part of an overall goal of Carousel of Light to find a permanent home for the amusement ride, preferably in Falmouth or in a nearby town. Why is this so important? “Because just as a town is identified by its library, it is also identified by the cultural activities it has,” Mr. Bowen said. “This is a real feather in the town’s cap if we can bring this back to Falmouth. I think it will enhance the area where it ends up being and will be something that children and grandchildren can enjoy for generations to come.”
Cape Cod Wave : A Carousel for Falmouth
July 28, 2013 - Falmouth– A red and white striped tent is visible just between rooftops, nestled between a house and garage on tiny Davis Road in the center of Falmouth.
It is just a temporary spot for the colorful merry-go-round named the Carousel of Light that artist Lance Shinkle has handcrafted over about 10 years and that he hopes to give as a gift to the Town of Falmouth and install on Main Street next month.
Read all of the article by clicking the link below
http://capecodwave.com/a-carousel-for-falmouth/
It is just a temporary spot for the colorful merry-go-round named the Carousel of Light that artist Lance Shinkle has handcrafted over about 10 years and that he hopes to give as a gift to the Town of Falmouth and install on Main Street next month.
Read all of the article by clicking the link below
http://capecodwave.com/a-carousel-for-falmouth/
Falmouth Patch: Carousel of Light passes safety inspection
July 11, 2013-The Carousel of Light took a giant step toward its 2013 public debut this week.
On Tuesday, July 9, structural engineer Mark Glynn arrived in Falmouth from North Tonawanda, N.Y., to inspect the carousel. The vintage mechanism passed a comprehensive safety review and has been certified for operation. According to Mr. Glynn, “This classic mechanism is a wonderful example of Americana, and the hand-carved horses are simply gorgeous. It is structurally in excellent condition.” The mechanical work was done primarily be Mike Fuss of Falmouth.
The first official ride was taken by carousel board of directors member and Falmouth selectman Pat Flynn, carousel creator Lance Shinkle, recently-elected selectman Rebecca Moffitt and her grandchildren, Marrisa Matthews, 7, her twin brother Charlie, and brother Will, 6, of Hingham. Pictured here is Marrisa Matthews, with Mrs. Flynn in the background.
Read more here: http://falmouth.patch.com/groups/announcements/
On Tuesday, July 9, structural engineer Mark Glynn arrived in Falmouth from North Tonawanda, N.Y., to inspect the carousel. The vintage mechanism passed a comprehensive safety review and has been certified for operation. According to Mr. Glynn, “This classic mechanism is a wonderful example of Americana, and the hand-carved horses are simply gorgeous. It is structurally in excellent condition.” The mechanical work was done primarily be Mike Fuss of Falmouth.
The first official ride was taken by carousel board of directors member and Falmouth selectman Pat Flynn, carousel creator Lance Shinkle, recently-elected selectman Rebecca Moffitt and her grandchildren, Marrisa Matthews, 7, her twin brother Charlie, and brother Will, 6, of Hingham. Pictured here is Marrisa Matthews, with Mrs. Flynn in the background.
Read more here: http://falmouth.patch.com/groups/announcements/
Travel New England:
The Carousel looks for a permanent home
May 31, 2013- A beautiful, hand-carved, carousel is looking for a permanent home on Cape Cod. Currently known as the Carousel of Light, the carousel is the creation of artist/carver Lance Shinkle. Starting in 1988, Lance began the painstaking process of hand carving horses, chariots, ornamental sculptures, as well as painting colorful scenery panels for a carousel. The carousel is done in a nautical theme with sea horses, mermaids and fishing nets in addition to the horses, chariots (which are wheel chair accessible), and sculptures. All of this is placed on top of a vintage 1947 Allan Hershell carousel mechanism with a calliope to provide the music.
The Carousel of Light first operated at the Barnstable County Fair in Falmouth as well as in Mashpee Commons in Hyannis. In 1999 Lance and his Carousel moved to California so that Lance could be with his ailing father. Lance returned to Falmouth in 2009 and the carousel followed him to Falmouth in February of this year. Follow this link for the whole story: http://www.travel-new-england.com/blog
The Carousel of Light first operated at the Barnstable County Fair in Falmouth as well as in Mashpee Commons in Hyannis. In 1999 Lance and his Carousel moved to California so that Lance could be with his ailing father. Lance returned to Falmouth in 2009 and the carousel followed him to Falmouth in February of this year. Follow this link for the whole story: http://www.travel-new-england.com/blog
Wicked Local: A merry homecoming
April 8, 2013— Now that Lance Shinkle’s Carousel of Light has been transported from its temporary home in California back to Falmouth, the next goal is to find it a permanent place of residence.
Shinkle, a Falmouth artist in various media, began constructing the carousel as a labor of love about 20 years ago, after his brother-in-law, Falmouth resident Rich Fredericks, died of cancer. His motivation was to use the carousel to raise funds for cancer research. Shinkle was also inspired to tackle a new form of artwork after seeing the reaction of his daughter, Chelsea Maffei, when the two visited a carousel. He was moved to write a story about the experience describing how Chelsea gravitated to a particular horse, which she named Jingle Bells.
Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/capecod/news
Shinkle, a Falmouth artist in various media, began constructing the carousel as a labor of love about 20 years ago, after his brother-in-law, Falmouth resident Rich Fredericks, died of cancer. His motivation was to use the carousel to raise funds for cancer research. Shinkle was also inspired to tackle a new form of artwork after seeing the reaction of his daughter, Chelsea Maffei, when the two visited a carousel. He was moved to write a story about the experience describing how Chelsea gravitated to a particular horse, which she named Jingle Bells.
Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/capecod/news
Cape Cod Today : Carousel of Light Comes Home
March 18, 2013- Earlier this month, a special piece of Falmouth returned home after five years. The one-of-a-kind handmade carousel designed and built by Lance Shinkle more than two decades ago is returning to the Upper Cape after a brief stay on the West Coast.
Shinkle, a long-time Falmouth resident, built the nautical-themed carousel here and moved it to California in 2008 while he cared for his ailing father. After the death of his father in 2009, Shinkle decided to bring his Carousel of Light back home and donate it to the community.
Follow this link to read more.. http://www.capecodtoday.com
Shinkle, a long-time Falmouth resident, built the nautical-themed carousel here and moved it to California in 2008 while he cared for his ailing father. After the death of his father in 2009, Shinkle decided to bring his Carousel of Light back home and donate it to the community.
Follow this link to read more.. http://www.capecodtoday.com