Special to The Leader

A special events committee met at the home of Katherine Frey, volunteer, on Tuesday, to begin planning for the annual gala for the Friends of the Orange Depot, which will be held Thursday, November 12, at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center.  Chairing the fundraising event, called Boogie Woogie Train, is Board Member Susan Quigley.
Local businesses will be contacted to lend their support for the event.
Last year, more than 200 guests attended the fun event at the Brown Estate and participated in the silent and live auction which will be enlarged this year.
Entertainment at the event has not been announced formally, but the group has secured a renowned performer from the Houston area.
Carrie Woliver, President, is pleased with the enthusiastic response from the community and wishes to thank those who have donated continually to the project, many people purchasing engraved bricks for the pathways around the depot.
“Currently, we have raised more than half of our goal to bring the depot back to its former glory and transform it into the multi-use building, including a museum featuring artifacts from the four industries that propelled the city’s success in the last century:  railroad transportation, timber, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals,” Woliver said.
The Friends organization is now asking for in-kind donations from those businesses who would like to help with the construction needed for the renovation, which could start later this year.  Those interested can email info@friendoftheorangedepot and they will be contacted for further instructions. More information can be obtained from the website, www.orangetxdepot.org.