Santa Himself!
After many months of planning, those plans will be implemented next week when seven coaches of the upcoming Polar Express are decorated by members of the Maine Interior Design Association. The decorating will be done all next week to be ready for the start of Polar Express the day after Thanksgiving – the train runs through December 23rd as specified below.* The event is a yearly fundraiser for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum on the Portland waterfront.
Each team of decorators was responsible for coming up with a design concept – each one to be different and each one to be child-friendly said Lynn Ann Pepen, LEED AD ID+C, who is the chair of the event for Maine Interior Design Association (MIDA), responsible for decorating the Polar Express trains. Her own team will depict a scene from one of the pages of the book – when the train is running through the woods to the North Pole. There will be a tree canopy and a glistening floor covered in a woven composite that is used in commercial products. Lights will be woven into the floor to look like sparkling snow. “This project gives us an opportunity to showcase our designs and creativity,” said Pepen.
The Maine Interior Design Association has 80 members – both individual and corporate. It’s a non-profit It was established in 1992 to lobby Augusta on its behalf. In 1993, the State passed a Title Act regulating the use of the title Certified Interior Designer. It’s lobbying efforts protect this legislation. MIDA has a close working relationship with Habitat for Humanity – assisting in the design of those homes.
The MNGRailroad formerly was the Edaville Railroad stationed in South Carver, Massachusetts on an Ocean Spray Cranberry Plantation. It was a major attraction during the holiday winter season. It was moved to the Portland waterfront in 1993. Please also see Post # 629, dated ll/9 herein.
*The Polar Express Trains run: ll/26 – 28; 12/3-5; 12/10-12; 12/16-19; 12/21-23. To purchase Polar Express tickets: visit www.porttix.com or call 207/842-0800)