Harrington news

Hark! But there are no angels singing. What is that alarming sound reaching throughout the town of Harrington at 10 a.m., December 3? Not a minute late for the children that awaited the arrival of Santa on his one-horse sleigh? No, not a sleigh, Santa came in modern fashion, grasping ahold of one of Harrington’s finest fire trucks. Santa has been watching his diet the past year or so, and he is not as rotund as one might expect.

In he came with a “Ho, Ho Ho” much to the delight of the children with wide-eyed excitement. Children sat on Santa’s lap and made mention of what they’d like to see under their Christmas tree. Karen Robertson took professional photos from 10 until noon, and families were then able to take their own photos for an hour. Goody bags were given out, compliments of the Chamber of Commerce. It is surmised that the state football championship games in Tacoma were reducing the amount of activity in Harrington on Saturday. Tours of the Opera House were given for about an hour.

The Harrington Opera House Society held its potentially final rummage sale for the year on Saturday, December 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lower than expected amount of traffic, but the donations were more than equal to any slower day. There remained enough merchandise left over to tempt the crew to try to hold another sale. Strings of lights, short and tall trees, elegant decor and homemade decorations, household items, lamps, kitchenware and books galore were all in the offering. The Vintage jewelry was open again and as usual, it was a tremendous big draw.

Although no official report has been received, the FFA chapter at Harrington High was tremendously successful according to their instructor Betty Warner. She was heard to have said that she was very pleased with the work the kids had done and pleased with the community support. The FFA has been gardening for weeks and weeks, watching over their investment in poinsettias. They sold out early and the chapter turned a profit, all part of the teaching strategy that they receive in Harrington. Life skills and learning what to do with the information stored in their brains are two highlights of sitting in on a class with Mrs Warner. At noon, several expressed concern that they might not get a tree if they didn’t get up to the school quickly, as the there were only about ten trees left. No report was overheard regarding the wreaths that were offered.

Jen Mallory recently resigned from the Harrington Food Bank in order to pursue personal goals. The food bank is a 501-3c organization, hosted and under the direction of the local Nazarene church. Pastor Cade Clarke is now the director and chief operating officer, having had experience in four prior locations of food banks. “Our food bank is under a board of directors and also has a local sub-committee responsible for day-to-day operations. The committee are members of our community, functioning much as it has since its inception with Pastord Bill Bull, Tony Hamilton and Tony Bellotti. The food bank receives food from Second Harvest and NW Harvest, both in Spokane, as well as fresh produce and bread from Safeway. Food is available to all patrons of the Food Bank on Saturdays, when 13 families typically receive food. People come in from Odessa, Wilbur, Davenport and Harrington. One Friday per month commodities out of Moses Lake are offered, but only to local Harringtonians. This is the food bank’s busiest day, and it varies with generally about 20 families represented and serving food to about 150 to 200 individuals.

The Opera House Society is hoping that the opera house auditorium will be filled to capacity on Friday, December 9, at 7 p.m. when “Hometown Country Christmas” will be presented free of charge by The Parks Family, sponsored in part by the Harrington Church of the Nazarene and Alpha Omega Charter Tours. They come from Branson, Mo. to sing and play in a program you won’t soon forget.