Chamber holds their meeting for early March

The Harrington Opera House Society held an Open House on March 2 with about 20 persons enjoying hors d’oeuvres and conversation during the 6 p.m. social hour. At the 7 p.m. business meeting, discouraged by the legal requirements and liability factor, the Society opted not to pursue the purchase of a defibrillator for the building. A suggestion was made that the Society invest instead in an extensive first-aid kit. There was also discussion of the possibility of providing public first-aid training. A total of $2,000 was allocated for upholstery coverings for the pews in the auditorium. No action was taken regarding the purchase by the Society of a banner for the Highway 28 sign. Members are working on a grant for the repair of the south exterior wall of the Bank Block building which houses the opera house. Details are working well for hiring a piano teacher and Connie King has acknowledged she is willing to teach art classes. Upcoming events scheduled are Bridges Home on March 20, the Miss Harrington Pageant at 3 p.m. on March 29 and the Harrington Grade School Concert on April 2.

The Harrington Area Chamber of Commerce met on March 4 in the presence of Pres. Tim Tipton, Cade Clarke, Paula Harrington, Heather Slack, Karen Robertson, Julie Jacobsen, Billie Herron and Cherie MacClellan. Most of the discussion centered around the upcoming Cruizin’ Harrington. Amy Hickok of Red Sand Custom Harvest will co-sponsor the beer garden. Opera House Society will have the quilt show in the auditorium and will offer the rummage sale on Friday and Saturday. MacClellan has registered ten vendors with another 20 spaces available. The street dance which was such a success last year will be offered again this year on Friday, May 15, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Don Timm reported that the Lions Club delivered the grain bin which had been donated by Peggy Charlton from the Jantz Family Farms. Employees of the Odessa Trading Company lifted it and placed it on the truck in sections and transported it to the Harriington Square lot where it will be used as an open gazebo. The bin measures 14 feet in diameter, with a cone height of four feet and an overall height 16 feet. Ring sections are three feet high. Each ring has five segments composing the circle. It took two hours to take it apart and transport it.

Tipton attended the Innovia Foundation’s Community Leadership Summit. The Community Leadership Council for Region 3 includes Adams and Lincoln Counties. Members are Tim Tipton, Heather Slack, Scott Hutsell, Richard Miller (Ritzville), John Kragt (Ritzville), Ian Eccles and Shaun Cross. Tipton is excited by the direction that the Foundation is going. Slack said that seminar topics included how to grow communities and how to keep donation dollars local by providing opportunities for people to give to projects they feel passionately about via bequests or endowments. Another consideration was how to connect the heart of what Harrington was built on to what will be happening in the future. She feels that the Community Leadership Council, which will meet twice a year, will be good partners for us in the future.

Herron spoke regarding Senior Meals served at Memorial Hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Presently the food is cooked in Davenport and brought to Harrington, salads being offered from 11:30 and the main course served at noon. It is assumed that if Harrington can get 15 regular diners, it would be possible to get an on-site cook.

The next Chamber mailer will be sent out the during last week of April, and the deadline for submissions is April 24. The next Chamber meeting will be on April 1 at noon at the Post and Office.