Harrington news Chamber newsletter lists businesses, civic groups, entertainment, events

Chamber Newsletter

The 12-page February Harrington Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter is out and full of information preparatory for a busy season of activities. The “Harrington News” this week is a condensation of their gleanings from the organizations that are active in Harrington. The board of directors for the 2019 Chamber of Commerce comprises President Tim Tipton, Vice President Cade Clarke, Treasurer Cindy Haase and Secretary Paula Pike Harrington. Since the Chamber is the active agent in the Vacant Lot Project, they acknowledged the receipt of a $30,000 challenge grant from the Innovia Foundation of Spokane to start the development. Harrington needs to come up with matching funds. Signage has been placed in the square that shows the concept plan for the town square. Chamber has acquired a grain bin top for the gazebo structure and is currently working on the logistics of getting it taken down, transported to Harrington and then made into an actual gazebo: “It will tie into the rich farming and agricultural history of Harrington and be an eye-catcher to people driving by.”

Each of the organizations that are active in Harrington contributed information for a page of “volunteer opportunities” in which each group specified the types of help that might be needed. The Harrington Opera House Society would accept volunteers to help with venue performance support, building rehabilitation and rummage room activities. The contact person to volunteer is the Society’s president Ellen Evans at 509-253-4122.

The Lion’s Club could utilize volunteers for each of the annual city festivities, for fundraising projects and community projects. The contact person is Nathan Luck at 509-808-6283.

The Harrington Historic Preservation Commission could use volunteers to help with preservation projects, ideas and research, as well as seeking new members to aid in filling the offices of the organization. Karen Allen is the person to contact to learn more about the group and ways in which one could contribute to the group. The Electric Hotel would utilize volunteers to aid in moving equipment, cleaning, weeding and helping with organizing events. Allen is also the contact person for the hotel, 509-481-3262.

Lincoln County Fire Protection District #6 wants volunteers for short term use to help with food and water distribution during a large fire to help feed and replenish the firefighters. Volunteers who want to apply as full-time volunteer firefighters or EMTs need only contact Ron Mielke, commissioner, at 509-721-0067 or Scott McGowan, fire chief, at 509-721-0200 to make arrangements to begin training. They included a cautionary note stating that “volunteer firefighters don’t have to go into burning buildings if they choose not to. There are many on-scene jobs that need to be done besides actively fight the fire.”

The Harrington Community Food Bank would use volunteers for heavy lifting, off-loading trucks, stocking shelves and aiding in serving the public on Saturdays. Contact person for the Food Bank is Anita Smith at 509-768-4316.

The Huckleberry Press Harrington Page entry is seeking writers and photographers to write articles, organize a calendar of events, take photographs and submit them to the Huckleberry Press. This project was sought by the Chamber to increase Harrington’s visibility in the Inland Empire, whereby the Chamber is responsible for a full page on Harrington for each issue of the Huckleberry Press. Similarly, the Harrington Website Blogger is looking for contributors to write a blog about Harrington life, people and events for the Harringtonbiz.com website.

The beer garden offered during Cruizin’ Harrington and the Fall Festival could use volunteers who are over 21 years of age to serve during one-hour blocks of time during each event. They could also use volunteers to set up and tear down for the events, with no age restriction. Harrington Clean-Up Days before Cruizin’ Harrington and Fall Festival. For each of these four areas of potential service the contact person is Tim Tipton, president of the Chamber, at 509-844-1794. The Quilt Show at Cruizin’ Harrington and/or Fall Festival would like volunteers to help in moving and setting up quilt racks. Paula Harrington is the contact person at 509-348-0272.

The newsletter included a “2019 Vendor Application” for Cruizin’ Harrington and Harrington Fall Festival. The contact for getting a space for either or both events is Cherie MacClellan at Harrington WAVendors@gmail.com or 509-936-3022. Fees are $25 per space or $40 for both events.

The Harrington Golf Course included a page in the newsletter describing an “Honoring our Past & Celebrating our Future—Dinner & Auction” planned for Saturday, March 30, 2019, stating that, “Proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of the Harrington Golf Course, a non-profit organization formed to support and sustain our golf course and to continue our legacy of promoting golf among young golfers and veterans in Lincoln County.” Tickets for this event have sold out early. Due to capacity restrictions, no tickets will be sold at the door. Waiting lists for tickets are available at the Post & Office and at Leffel, Otis & Warwick. For more information, contact LaMarr Larmer, fundraising director, at 509-253-4229.

Harrington Senior Meals opens their doors at 11:30 a.m., with lunch served at noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. For people 60 years and over, the suggested donation is $4 per meal. Those under 60 must pay $8.50 per meal. Home delivery is available within the city limits.

The Harrington Opera House Society placed a full-page notice in the newsletter with general statements of its successful accomplishments since 1992. “HOHS volunteers have not only brought the historic 1904 Bank Block and Harrington Opera House back from the brink of destruction, but also transformed the grand old building into a functional and beautiful venue. Retaining many of the original historic elements, the rehabilitation has involved refurbishing the 2nd floor Harrington Opera House auditorium (including adding a 2nd staircase), modern lighting and sound, a Boston by Steinway Grand Piano, ADA-compliant restroom and elevator; converting the original 1st floor bank area into an elegant lobby with adjacent modern restrooms; providing a space for display of some of Harrington’s historic memorabilia and transforming the Willis St. entrance into ’The Art Room,’ a handicapped-accessible space for music and art lessons, gallery showings and meetings, complete with hi-speed internet and audio-visual connection to the 2nd floor auditorium. Many of the main structural and furnishing goals have been accomplished! But there is still much more to be done. You can join in this successful venture by helping to sustain and polish this jewel of Harrington’s downtown and Lincoln County’s treasure. Return a HOHS Support form or contact us to see how!”

The Harrington Community Food Bank’s schedule for the year is reported and shows that it is open from 11-12 on the first four Saturdays of each month, and the fourth Saturday will typically be a commodities day. Exceptions to this rule occur in May when the Food Bank will not open on May 18 due to Cruizin’ Harrington, and commodities will be on May 25 instead. Similarly in September with the Harrington Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, the Food Bank will be closed and commodities day will be Sept. 28. In December, commodities day will be Dec. 21, since the Food Bank will not be open on Dec 28. To learn of changes in this schedule, watch for postings on Facebook.

The Post & Office put in a full-page ad with their hours, Monday to Friday, 8-4 and Saturday, 8-3. They have a prominent space on Facebook where they advertise the schedule for classes. Heather Slack keeps space available to show local talent, “We love supporting local makers! Stop by and see the talent that lives in our own community.” The back half of the building has been converted into fully serviceable office space, with high-speed internet, office furniture, a conference room and utilities.

An advertisement appeared for Studio 1 on South 3rd Street. Its hours are 9-5 Monday through Saturday. In addition to products created by the Harringtons, samples are also displayed by Art by Ashley, Leather Jewelry by Cindy Lee and Cherishables by Cherie, all local artisans.

The Wild Hair Salon posted its scheduled hours as Tuesdays 10-4, Wednesdays 9-3, Thursdays 10-4 and Fridays 9-3, with evenings and weekends by appointment only.

The Studebaker Garage is also looking for sponsors to aid in keeping the Harrington Car Show going, which was founded by the late Allen Barth.

New to Harrington is Reese Bentley who is starting Bentley’s Memory and Disability Home Care. Contact her for information at 208-310-0125.