Harrington news

Monday, March 5, the Harrington Opera House Society met at 7 p.m. with Sheryl and Mark Stedman, Billie and Gordon Herron, Carol, Karen Robertson, Bunny Haugan, Linda Wagner, Marge Womach and Stephen Hardy present. Members were reminded to give “in-kind forms” to Billie Herron. Minutes of the previous meeting and the financial reports were approved.

Following a year’s hiatus, the building committee is again working on small restorative projects and preparing for the refurbishing of the rummage room. Smaller issues included fixing the door sweeps on the Art Room and Rummage doors, considering reversing the doors and finishing the molding in the restrooms. The building committee had met with Jeremy Sewall for his ideas on the Rummage room in which he had suggested that HOHS have a specific job description and the order in which the projects would need to be done. Initial comments included: 1) removing the ceiling and the frame for the false ceiling, 2) demolition items, 3) electrical (heat and lights) and 4) removing the bay platform and fixing the floor in that area. Projects will be coordinated to work between potential Rummage events.

The next event at the Opera House will be March 24 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for “Social Media Bootcamp” sponsored by the Lincoln County Economic Development Council and hosted by the Society. This is a teaching session in which participants will learn and re-learn how to market in this ever-changing world of social media. Specifics of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and more will be addressed by Josh Wade of nectarMEDIA, who “has built his brand through blogging, social networks and online marketing. Learn from someone who has been through the trenches, is fighting the battle and can show you the tools and techniques needed to win and build business online.” Class topics will be: Guaranteed ways to increase your reach on Facebook; six mistakes every online marketer is making; targeting your audience with Facebook ads; grabbing attention with Instagram; Broadcasting yourself with Facebook, Instagram Live and Snapchat; lead generation with Twitter and LinkedIn; content and search engine marketing through blogging and avoiding the social media time suck.

Tuesday, March 27, the Seattle Shakespeare Co. will perform its production of “Romeo and Juliet” with Harrington school children. The curtain will rise at 1 p.m. and a question and answer session is planned after the play. The public is invited. Other events are filling the calendar in June, August and November.

The members of the Harrington Chamber of Commerce met Wednesday noon, March 7, at the Post & Office with the following present: Heather Slack, Paula Pike, Bunny Haugan, Kathy Hoob, Pastor Cade Clarke, Cindy Haase, Jill Plaskon, Michelle Quigley and Tim Tipton. The next Chamber newsletter and mailer to promote local groups and businesses will be sent out April 20 as Volume 2, Issue 2. The deadline for inclusion in the mailer is April 16 at 5 p.m. Approximately 322 copies are being sent.

The Chamber discussed the two new 2-foot by 6-foot banners being ordered to help promote the day’s events for Cruizin’ Harrington. The motion to grant the funds for the two new banners to be made by Baldwin Signs in Spokane was carried unanimously. The possibility for a Pinewood Derby for Cruizin’ Harrington was canceled but there is interest to have it at the Studebaker Garage for Fall Festival if the details can be worked out.

May 18 is scheduled for the city’s Clean Up Day with the help of students who will wash and squeegee windows, sweep sidewalks, pick up trash and pull weeds in the downtown area. The younger children will pick up trash and branches at the City Park.

Heather Slack reminded the Chamber that Les LePere will be displaying his artwork for the entire month of May at the Post & Office and she brought a piece of his artwork to share with the Chamber members.

Mention was made of the upcoming First Annual Harrington Athletic Booster Club dinner and silent auction to be held at the Larmer’s barn on Tokio Rd. April 28. They have been collecting donations since January. Proceeds from this auction will be used toward supplementing uniforms and/or equipment, helping with camp costs and for providing a scholarship for one graduate this spring. Contact persons for this event include: Heather Slack, Taunya Sanford, Debbie/Lonny Soliday, and Peggy Charlton.