Port Townsend Main Street’s new holiday ornament has Santa coming to town on iconic Kiwanis train

Published 12:01 am Friday, December 19, 2014

PORT TOWNSEND — This year’s collectible Christmas ornament from Port Townsend Main Street depicts Santa Claus arriving in town on the Kiwanis Choo-Choo.

Since the 1990s, Port Townsend Main Street has offered special limited-edition ornaments to capture the spirit of each holiday season.

The 2014 edition immortalizes Santa arriving in the miniature mock engine at the Haller Fountain for the community tree lighting, as he did earlier this month.

In red and green as befits the season, the glass ornament shows Santa hauling a Christmas tree in the tender.

The $15 ornaments are on sale at stores throughout Port Townsend.

Designed by Frank Iuro, owner of PT Shirt Co., the ornament features original artwork by Dan Huntingford of SOS Printing.

The same image can be seen this season on holiday posters, on postcards and in holiday ads.

The full name of the miniature train is the Kiwanis George Earl Memorial Choo-Choo.

It is named for the late George Earl, who was principal of Grant Street Elementary School and an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend. He died in 2005.

Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend spent six years rebuilding the train.

Club members volunteered to bring Santa to the community tree this year.

The club is involved in a variety of projects that involve fundraising, community service and assisting children.

It raises money for the Port Townsend Food Bank and conducts fundraisers to provide coats and gifts for children for the holidays.

Proceeds from the sale of the ornament benefit the Port Townsend Main Street program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ornaments are on sale at Uptown Nutrition, Port Townsend Safeway, Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Co., Completely Puzzled, Maricee Fashions, PT Shirt Co., Quimper Mercantile Co., Sport Townsend, The Closet Space, Conservatory Coastal Home, Wooden Boat Chandlery, The Green Eyeshade and Port Townsend Visitor Information Center.

For more information, see www.ptmainstreet.org.