Harrington News

Lynn and Eric Tingstad performed at the Harrington Opera House to an audience of more than 110 on Friday evening, Nov. 7.

President Mark Stedman of Harrington Opera House Society introduced Tayla Lynn, a granddaughter of the country star legend, Loretta Lynn. Tayla grew up in the heart of Tennessee. She introduced Eric Tingstad, a Grammy Award winner, who had previously performed in our opera house as Tingstad and Rumble. The free flowing program seemed to be decided moment by moment as they interacted with each other, sharing, cajoling, verbally jousting between songs with Eric Tingstad playing the guitar. After two of her own songs, the audience was treated to two Loretta Lynn songs, You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man and Don't Come Home a Drinkin' with Lovin' on Your Mind. Although Tayla Lynn prefers keeping her own identity, several commented after the program that they could tell it really wasn't Loretta Lynn, but you knew they were kin-folk.

Prior to intermission Tayla Lynn shared some of her personal stories of abuse, and rather than stopping on a rather depressed note, she continued singing and dialoguing another fifteen minutes.

Given the opportunity to rest between sets, she spent the intermission time meeting and greeting and autographing much as she had done prior to going on stage, an occurrence that simply would not happen in a larger venue. Here one could be "up close and personal". She came back from the intermission congratulating the hostess for the food that was prepared for the evening and continued her singing, allowing time for Eric Tingstad to perform only one solo for the event. Among the songs that Lynn sang were "Coal Dust", "Proud Mary", "Honky Tonk Girl" and she concluded with "O Lord, Don't Give Up On Me.""Coal Miner's Daughter."

4-H Teen Rally

Bridget Rohner from the WSU Extension arranged with the Harrington school and the Harrington Opera House Society to bring the 4-H Teen Rally for the N.E. District to Harrington this session, Nov. 8 and 9. Twenty-five to 30 teens and ample chaperones, (three of which were EMTs), and Jan Klein, the Washington State 4-H Adolescent Leadership Specialist from Edwall.

Workshops were held in the following categories: Log rolling in the indoor pool, drama on the stage of the opera house, square dancing (taught by a group from Reardan), Gluten-free cooking (the teens prepared the Saturday evening meal) and public presentations (by the 4-H ambassadors).

Rohner received help in the planning of the rally from two teens in Lincoln County, Mariah Wollweber from Edwall and Marlee Eldridge of Odessa. After the activities of Saturday, the teens slept at the school.

Sunday they were involved in projects at the opera house to earn community service credit. One group found and moved the Christmas decorations from the basement to the lobby of the opera house and decorated the tree. Another group unboxed the rummage items and laid them out in a stylish manner to be viewed for the sale. All items were of a seasonal nature. The third group remained in the basement and organized and inventoried the costumes that are stored and preserved for theatrical productions. As noon brought the end of the 4-H Teen Rally, all comments regarding the teens have been very positive.

The workshops were awesome, as were the teens. One opera house member stated: "They were a good bunch of kids, responsible, cooperative and helpful." One of the adults hadn't been to Harrington in some years but was so pleased with how nice the town looks, "people seem to be invested in your community."

Chamber of Commerce

The Harrington Chamber of Commerce met Wednesday noon to answer the request of Santa's elves at the North Pole. Due to labor disputes "Up North", Santa needed some local help to fill bags for his early appearance in Harrington.

Following the same assembly line patterns developed by the elves, approximately 50 bags were stamped, filled, and sealed in record time, 27 minutes. The elf crew consisted of Cassandra Paffle-Dick, Kathy Hoob, Bunny Haugan, Principal Justin Bradford, Cindy Haase, Sharon Nighswonger, Margie Hall (EDC), Paula Pike, Summer Clark (U.S. Bank), and Dillon Haas.

The Chamber canceled its December meeting as the Chamber will be working with the school as part of Santa's Workshop on Dec 18 from noon to 3 p.m. Santa will come to Harrington Nov. 29 from 10 until noon to have a photo session with the Harrington children.

HOHS

Monday, Nov. 3, the Harrington Opera House Society met at 7 p.m. in the Art Room. President Mark Stedman, called the meeting to order. Those present were Paul Charlton, Ed and Bunny Haugan, Mark and Sheryl Stedman, Linda Wagner, Carol, Billie and Gordon Herron, Dillon Haas, Steven Hardy, Bonnie and Mike Hardy, Karen Robertson and Marge Womach.

Much discussion was held regarding the building projects. The stage curtains need to be delivered to Royal Upholstery. The ceiling in the dressing room will be done Tuesday, the Nov. 4, in preparation for the performance of Tayla Lynn and Eric Tingstad, Nov. 7.

Most of those at the meeting took the old staircase up to the opera house auditorium for inspection of the stage and dressing rooms to ensure that all were in agreement about the plans for preserving the graffiti. Discussion was held regarding the sound system and an interference that occurred between the sound system and the electrical lights in the auditorium.

Santa Claus is Coming to Harrington on November 29 from 10 a.m. through noon in the lobby of the Opera House. Pictures will be available. Carol will have the rummage held in the Art Room during this time schedule, the last for this year with Christmas and seasonal decor for the theme. There may be additional items. The Memorial Hall has been rented for a bazaar.

Mark Stedman shared that the Inland Northwest Foundation group came for their visitation on Oct. 29 and he, Gordon Herron and Ed Haugan, took them on a tour and heard the history and accomplishments of the HOHS. The members of the foundation were interested to know what projects were presently being organized, what the long term goals were, and what they believe it would require to financially complete the Harrington Opera House, including the elevator.

Music lessons are occurring in the art room on Mondays and Wednesdays, four students each day, with Heather Safe and Becky Hardy as instructors. Billie Herron wants to meet with these instructors to discuss scholarships for 2015.

Discussion was held regarding the Teen Rally for 4-H kids. There could be as many as 25 from the N.E. District, including Spokane, Stevens, Chelan and Lincoln counties. The teens would be using the opera house stage for one of their workshops, and would be obtaining community service hours for helping the HOHS with projects on the premises. Opera house members will need to meet and assist the teens.

HHPD

Celeste Miller called the Harrington Historic Preservation District meeting to order at 6:30 Tuesday evening, Nov 4, at city hall with Karen Allen, Aileen Sweet, Lindsey Harder, Anita Harman, Paul Charlton and Marge Womach present.

Discussion was held regarding the community meeting of Oct 18 sponsored by Harrington Historic Preservation Committee in conjunction with Studio Cascade about the revitalization of Harrington and the update of the Harrington 2000+ Plan. A meeting will be held before the end of the year in which William Grimes and Chaz Bates of Studio Cascade will present an "Action Plan" to the city council.

Under new business, Miller stated that she had spoken with Cassandra Paffle-Dick and that Paffle-Dick had recommended that the downtown community groups (HHPD, HOHS, PDA, and Lions Club) select a representative to meet with the major property owners in the downtown business district to discuss brightening the facade of the buildings on the main street. Restrictions would be placed on the color of paint and the HHPD would educate those involved as to what colors are considered historic colors. It was suggested that these community representatives select one building at a time to work on the appearance of the buildings. If these groups furnish the labor, it was deemed reasonable that the building owner would furnish the supplies.

Looking toward the future of HHPD, Miller will attend the next city council meeting to seek consent to reduce the required number of voting members from five to three. January is the month in which terms expire and elections will occur in February.