Harrington News

The Harrington Chamber of Commerce met Wednesday, September 3, under President Cassandra Paffle-Dick. Chamber members present were Bunny Haugan, Margie Hall of the Lincoln County Economic Development Council, Kathy Hoob, Cindy Haase, Allen Barth, Summer Clark (of US Bank), Sharon Nighswonger and Marge Womach.

Margie Hall informed the Chamber that the broadband grant application had been submitted and may be viewed on the EDC website. She also announced two events by the EDC on September 25. NectarMedia Consultant Josh Wade will provide a workshop from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Davenport Memorial Hall providing strategies for effective marketing, on-line traffic, utilizing Facebook and Twitter for business and building customer satisfaction. To register, call 509-725-1170 or email edcjoyce@centurylink.net.

Immediately following the workshop, the Board of Directors of the Lincoln County Economic Development Council are hosting a dinner and networking session called EDC Connect from 6 to 8 p.m. to catch up on business buzz in the area and the work of the EDC. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to 725-1170 by September 17. “Come when you can and come as you are! Beer and wine will be available,” said Hall.

In preparation for the Harrington Fall Festival activities, discussions included the restroom project at the city park, vendors for the Festival on September 27 and the Parade, sponsored by the Lions Club. The new President of the Lions Club is Jim Wilcox. US Bank is having its Annual Hot Dog Feed on Friday, September 26.

The poster project for the historic business buildings in Harrington is progressing. Samples were shown to the chamber by Marge Womach. The next step will be for Bonnie Hardy to make them uniform in design according to the sample she provided at a previous meeting.

Two parties are showing an active interest in two of the historic business buildings on Third Street, one a proposed purchase and the other a potential rent. These are the good types of rumors circulating into the chamber meeting.

Harrington Opera House

Happenings

By KAREN ROBERTSON

The Harrington Opera House Society continues to juggle building rehabilitation efforts with events and activities. Event-wise, the summer was relatively quiet with monthly Elevator Fundraiser Rummage sales, an Art Room exhibit of Zentangle-inspired art by Renee Cahhoun, tour group visits and the annual Dog Wash in August.

The schedule for the next two months includes several exciting public events as well as a couple of weddings. For the third year in a row, “A Grand Interlude” has music for everyone this Sunday, September 14, at 4 p.m. Ranging from a Beethoven symphony to a selection from Gershwin, the repertoire is diverse. The concert will also include pieces from Latin America played by someone who knows them well, Colombian pianist Andres Jaramillo. Featuring a grand piano from the Steinway Gallery of Spokane, other performers include the return of Dr. Randel Wagner, baritone, chair of Vocal Studies at EWU; Rebecca Hardy on piano and Stephen Hardy for many of the vocal selections. Organizer Rebecca Hardy says, “Get ready to enjoy familiar favorites alongside brand new selections in the recently-updated auditorium space!” The concert is free, but donations (after expenses) will go into the Society’s concert piano fund.

The Harrington Nazarene Church is sponsoring a free concert by The Needhams on Monday, September 22, at 7 pm. for a night of southern gospel music and sharing at the Opera House. And the following weekend, on September 27, the Opera House will welcome visitors before and after the Harrington Fall Festival Parade. The Rummage Room, next to The Art Room (Willis St. entrance) will also be open for shopping by donation to the Society’s elevator fund.

Country music fans can secure their tickets now for the Friday, October 10, Tayla Lynn concert. Tayla will include a tribute to her grandmother, Loretta Lynn, as well as some of her own country songs. Grammy Award winner Eric Tingstad, the guitar playing half of the duo Tingstad and Rumble, will return to the H. Opera House to accompany Tayla. Tickets are $20 and are available at Harrington Foods, Harrington City Hall, AmericanWest Bank in Davenport and on-line at taylalynn-harringtonoh.brownpapertickets.com or call Linda at 509-253-4719.

The 2014-2015 Piano and Arts program at the Opera House is kicking off in the next couple of weeks. This year there will be two piano instructors and organized creative arts projects in The Art Room.

Heather Safe (in her second year with the Society) has an M.M. degree in piano pedagogy; is a Music Teacher’s National member; teaches classical, sacred, and beginning methods and is accepting students ages six and up.

Rebecca Hardy has an M.M. degree in piano performance, membership in the Music Teacher’s National Association and accepts piano students of all ages and levels. She teaches classical music, lead sheets and chording, sacred music, and methods for the beginner.

Thanks to a grant from the US Bank and sponsorships by local donors, lessons are only $15 per ½ hour lesson, including books. Additional partial scholarships may be available. General information about the programs is available from Billie Herron at 509-253-4594. Inquiries about scheduling piano lessons should be made to Rebecca at 509-731-3774 or Heather at 509-257-2891.

Rehabilitation efforts to the historic 1904 Harrington Opera House and Bank Block building continue thanks to volunteer efforts, donations, grants and contractors willing to provide their services at reasonable rates. The Lincoln County Economic Development Council grant funded the south side-walk work by Midnight Finishing LLC, helping to make the building more ADA accessible. Funding from the Washington Dept. of Commerce “Building for the Arts” grant continues to support the on-going rehabilitation of the auditorium and other public areas of the building. The current project, by J.M. Jeanneret General Contractor, is restoring the plaster to the auditorium walls. Donated stage curtains that formerly hung in Eastern WA University’s Showalter Hall will be customized and hung once the plaster work is completed.

Slowly, but surely, the historic building that in 1992 was close to being beyond repair, has been brought back to use by the Harrington Opera House Society and is well on its way to becoming a venue for the arts and use by the citizens and organizations of Lincoln County and beyond. Though the architectural plans by Sue Lani Madsen are complete, the elevator to the second floor auditorium is still in the distant future. In the meantime, a video feed of second-floor events can be made available by prior request in The Art Room on the first floor for those unable to negotiate the stairs. Information is available at http://www.harringtonoperahouse.org, on facebook, or by calling HOHS Events Chair, Linda Wagner at 509-253-4719.