Harrington News

The Harrington Opera House Society met Feb 2, in the Art Room at 7 p.m. The “project” list is becoming smaller with current emphasis on the need to hem the stage curtains, completion of the painting in the auditorium, completion of the exterior doors and installation of the refurbished molding in the auditorium. New prices were determined for the rental of the opera house for weddings or functions.

The next performance will be the Horse-Crazy Cowgirls scheduled for March 20 with tickets selling for $15. There will also be a concert on April 18 at Steinway Gallery of Spokane which will benefit the HOHS piano fund. The performers will be EWU students, faculty and alumni and will feature chamber music written after 1900. Some pieces will be performed for the first time. Details of the cost are not known locally.

The next meeting will be March 2 at 7 p.m.

Harrington Historic

Preservation Commission

Tuesday evening, Celeste Miller called the meeting of the Harrington Historic Preservation Commission to order with Karen Allen, Aileen Sweet, Lindsay Harder, Anita Harman and Marge Womach present.

Miller announced that the City Council had approved the addition of the Attie Turner house on the local Harrington Historic Register. This is the second house to be put on the list, the first is owned by Lorin and Terry Howe, built in the early 1900s and owned by the Morgan and Charlton families. The Register has two business houses on the list, Harrington Food Market and Hotel Lincoln.

The final report of Studio Cascade for the Harrington 2000+ Revitalization Plan was received and not approved; work will continue on its content.

The HHPC is continuing to focus on potential fund-raising projects to create funds for cosmetic changes to business houses on the main drag. The HHPC concluded its voting on leadership: Celeste Miller was selected at last meeting as chair of the organization and Karen Allen was selected as co-chair during this meeting.

Harrington Chamber

Harrington Chamber of Commerce met Feb. 4 at noon at city hall with the following individuals present: Cassandra Paffle-Dick, Mark Stedman, Margie Hall (Economic Development Council), Heather Slack, Allen Barth, Kathy Hoob, Celeste Miller, Sharon Nighswonger, Becka Downing (USPS), Cesar Godinez (Avista), and Marge Womach.

Celeste Miller, representing the Harrington Historic Preservation Commission, spoke of the need for the various groups to collaborate and work together toward the common goal of the appearance of the town in the hopes of encouraging new businesses to come to Harrington.

Fund raising ideas were elicited. Margie Hall informed the Chamber of an upcoming meeting in Odessa, Friday, April 17 from 8:30 to 3 p.m. entitled: “Rural Pathways to Prosperity Conference.” Godinez informed the Chamber of upcoming projects of Avista in Harrington, which includes upgrading from 4,000 volts to 13,000 volts, and replacing transformers, and changing the average height of electric poles from 40 to 45 feet. They will also have a gas project in the works this summer season.

Discussion was held about a clean-up day for the town about May 4 and areas that were deemed “unsightly” near the entrances to town as well as some in the downtown district.

“Cruizin’ Day” is rapidly approaching. Allen Barth made mention of car trophies as is his usual plan with the car show. The Chamber decided to order two banners, two feet by eight feet, at a cost of about $390 each. Ideas for activities included a pie sale, the quilt show, an espresso stand, a band, and a basketball shoot-out for the kids. Mention was made that there is preliminary interest in the present freshman class regarding Harrington having a float.

Mark Stedman reported briefly on his continuing attempts to gain access to the Landmark Apartments and find a controlling body to take control of the property.

The next Chamber meeting will be March 4 at noon in City Hall.