SPECIAL-DELIVERY SNOW TRUCKED-IN WHITE STUFF LETS LOOSE FLURRY OF FUN IN NEWHALL.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Brandee Fairchild, 11, ground her booted foot into the trucked-in snow, glancing up shyly through her lashes as she explained her creation.

``It's a melted snowman,'' Fairchild said, pointing to the flat face with rocks for eyes and a nose and a twig for a mouth. ``What you see is all you have left after it melts.''

Fairchild and her brother, 9-year-old Michael, were among about a dozen families that turned out to build snowmen in the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual contest in Hart Park. Anything handy, including bits of leaves as well as scarves, mittens and jackets, decorated the snowmen.

``It's harder than it looks,'' said Megan Young, 15. ``It's difficult to get the snow to make a circle.''

Young's snowman, which she built with her friend Nicole O'Shea, 16, wore sunglasses, even though the afternoon was cloudy and brisk.

Caren Rosen, 5, used her pink and purple headphones to make a very cool snowman - and took home one of the prizes for the youngest children.

A few families thought ahead and brought carrots and top hats to decorate their creations with, while others brought ribbon and garland to spruce up their versions of Frosty.

The Torres family hadn't been planning to build a snowman, when they happened upon the competition. But they all pitched in, using Cheetos instead of carrots.

``We used whatever we had,'' said Marlen Torres, 12. ``We didn't have real carrots. I think these are just as good.''

Planning Commissioner Rick Winsman was one of the judges of the snowmen, as City Council members Laurene Weste and Bob Kellar looked on.

A short distance away, children - and even some adults - sledded down a hill, squealing with delight.

``I wish it snowed all the time,'' said Connor Whitfield, 8, just as he pelted his mother with a well-shaped snowball.

After Chamber President Connie Worden-Roberts awarded the prizes to the winners, and goody bags to all of the participants, Santa Clarita residents gathered with their pets to parade through Old Town Newhall.

``This is what makes it seem like Christmas to me,'' said Tom O'Neal with his golden retriever Buddy. ``Now it seems like time to get out there and start shopping.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Regan and Shayna Laser, both 5, of Newhall sled down a manmade snow slope Sunday at Hart Park in Newhall.

(2 -- color) Alexas Abner, 4, of Newhall gets advice during the snowman- building contest Sunday.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News