Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Palouse Community Center is almost one-year old and board members report it will be a happy birthday.
With a record gross for Needful Things, and November and December the two biggest months in rentals, not to mention an advance payment on the center’s outstanding loan, the facility is picking up momentum.
“We’re really pleased,” said Janet Barstow, president of the Palouse Community Center board.
The center had 22 rentals in November and 17 in December.
All the while, Needful Things, the secondhand store which moved into the foyer of the community center, grossed $16,000 through the end of November. It’s open three days a week, with all proceeds going to the building.
“That’s taking care of utilities and operating expenses of the facility,” said Barstow. “Needful Things is vital to the financial stability of the center, and all the volunteers who operate the store are invaluable.”
In addition, the Needful Things proceeds have allowed the board to make a $10,000 advance payment on the principle of its 10-year mortgage.
The first annual payment of $20,000 are due in November 2013.
“We have many fund-raisers planned,” said Barstow, including the first Palouse Cabin Fever Brewfest Feb. 9.
“If you like beer, it’s a fun way to try different stuff,” she said.
While fundraisers continue, Barstow said the Community Center is now stabilized with added purchases in the first year, such as a vacuum, snow shovel and microwave.
In addition, the center got its kitchen USDA certification in December, which has allowed for a recurring rental – a local couple making batches of commercial salsa in the kitchen.
The cost of renting the center varies, depending on if it’s to a Palouse resident, whether it’s for a non-profit organization, if the kitchen will be used and/or whether the renter is a charter member.
“It’s very affordable,” Barstow said.
Part of being able to rent the center is regular upkeep.
For example, various board members have picked a day to be in charge of shoveling snow, if need be. In addition, Barstow said that the building has gotten help from Jerry Neumann and Bob Brookshier coming by on four-wheelers to clear snow.
Four of the board members take one week per month to make sure the building is clean before each rental.
“The learning curve has been steep at times,” Barstow said. “I don’t think any of us had an idea of just how much goes into running a facility like this, but we’re all learning and things have settled into a good routine.”
The board has also been able to hire someone for six hours per month for mopping floors and other general cleaning.
“The volunteer board is committed to paying off the mortgage as soon as possible, and we really appreciate everyone’s support of fund-raisers, Needful Things, and donations,” said Barstow.
The Community Center made $13,562.70 from this year’s Haunted Palouse while also bringing in money from the Memorial Day dinner (revived from the Grange Hall), pig roast at the Palouse Music Festival and various memorial donations.
One contribution was the Mike Carlton memorial solar panels, which were installed on the community center’s roof in July.
Carlton was a Palouse resident, school bus driver and former Pullman police officer who was a member of a local group dedicated to renewable energy. He died at age 49 in 2010.
“They’re snow-covered, it’s overcast, but there are three solar panels that are producing right now,” said Dave Tharp, a volunteer and member of So Happy It’s Tuesday, the renewable energy group Carlton belonged to.
The WSU Center for Civic Engagement helped install the panels in March.
With help from Avista and Pullman Heating and Electric, the panels were turned on and started producing in July.
Tharp said that each panel has its own micro-invertor, which allows it to be monitored on-line. Since July, Tharp said the panels have generated 1.56 megawatt hours of electricity, or enough to power 52 houses for one day.
It added up to saving $135 in electricity this year while Avista gave $312 in incentives. The state of Washington pays 15 cents per kilowatt hour produced until 2020.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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