 | | Johnny Ferro, Jim Roden, Rick Manuel and Mark Springer pose next to one of the six new pole cards created by Granite Properties for the Richmond State School's Project Noel, which opens Friday evening to the public and will be on display through the holidays.
| | | | |
| For more than 30 years, Richmond State School has delighted visitors young and old with Project Noel, a collection of Christmas displays featuring such favorites as Santa Claus, Rudolph and Gingerbread Lane.
With more than 40 lighted displays and 35 pole cards decorated on the 241-acre campus, Project Noel opens Friday to the public and will remain open each evening through the holiday season.
Santa Claus will visit from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 7-9 and 14-16. Photos will be available for a small fee.
Project Noel is free, but donations are accepted. Proceeds benefit the Client Enrichment Fund, which provides a variety of activities for the school's residents.
Since its inception in the early 1970s, Project Noel has become a family tradition, and its success is due to support of the community and the nostalgia that accompanies it.
Project Noel began when Richmond State School Superintendent Russell White started wrapping flagpoles on the school grounds with red ribbon to resemble candy canes.
Over the years, the project grew as different departments, volunteers and corporations designed and created individual scenes.
“Some of the old displays were made out of paper mache, chicken wire and lumber, and they needed help ... so we dipped sheets in starch to keep them together,” explained Rick Manuel, RSS maintenance technician who has been in charge of Project Noel since 1973.
Carl Kelly, the husband of Volunteer Services Director Sue Kelly, built the first display using a favorite storybook character, Winnie the Pooh, in 1971. The next display was Snoopy, built by RSS employees.
“Project Noel is a wonderful opportunity for us to give something back to the community which has been so generous in its support of our facility and the individuals who live here,” said Claire D. Chipman, director of community relations. “It is also very popular with the residents who love to tour the campus with family or staff and admire the lights and colorful displays.”
|
