Weekly Village Update 4.27.17

Chamber Events & News

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14th!

We Encourage Everyone to Shop Local for Mom this Mother's Day! Members, would you like to be included in our Mother's Day Shopping section next week? Email Christine a brief description of your special item or sale. We would like to have a shopping list that includes apparel, chocolate/treats, dining, flowers, jewelry, spa treatments, unique gifts, wine and more!  Items must be submitted no later than 3 pm on Tuesday, May 2nd to be included.

Email Christine

Art in the Park The 2017 Season of Art in the Park begins Saturday, May 20th on Park Avenue, Downtown Blowing Rock (in front of Chamber), 10 am - 5 pm FREE parking downtown on the street and in the parking decks on Wallingford St. and at BRAHM.   FREE trolley from Tanger Outlets and Food Lion, all day, looping every 15 minutes. Mark your calendars; it's going to be a great season!

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FREE Magazine Subscription for Chamber Members As a membership benefit for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, you are eligible for a complimentary subscription to Business North Carolina magazine. Business North Carolina is North Carolina's premier business monthly magazine and has a normal subscription rate of $30 per year. To take advantage of this offer, please fill out the on-line form at this link:   http://businessnc.com/complimentary-subscription-renewal/ The code to get a free subscription is BROCK17

Real Estate Report Local real estate sales continue to increase, with first quarter activity this year almost surpassing $100 million. Individual sales remained strong, a longstanding trend as year-over-year sales activity continued to spike. Interest rates, meanwhile, are trending down.

Press Release

What in the World is Causing the Retail Meltdown of 2017? In the middle of an economic recovery, hundreds of shops and malls are shuttering. The reasons why go far beyond Amazon. There have been nine retail bankruptcies in 2017, as many as all of 2016. J.C. Penney, RadioShack, Macy’s, and Sears have each announced more than 100 store closures. Sports Authority has liquidated, and Payless has filed for bankruptcy. Last week, several apparel companies’ stocks hit new multi-year lows, including Lululemon, Urban Outfitters, and American Eagle. Read More

Member Events & News

Summer Exhibition Celebration Thursday, May 4th at 5 pm Blowing Rock Art & History Museum BRAHM invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of five exhibitions. The museum will provide hors d’oeuvres, live music, and free admission throughout the evening. The event is open to the public and sponsored by Bistro Roca. Along with a cash bar, there will be a special beer tasting offered by Blowing Rock Brewing Company.

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5th Annual Mule Days Thursday - Sunday, May 4th - 7th Leatherwood Mountains, Ferguson Free to attend and watch, here is your chance to get up close and personal with over 125 Mules and Donkeys from 10 states!  This event is held to fundraise for the Horse Friends Therapeutic Riding Program.

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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts: Weekend on the New River Friday - Sunday, May 5th - 7th New River State Park, 221 Access Come for a few hours, a day, or for the weekend; pack a picnic or reserve a campsite. There are several scheduled events on Saturday, including a water analysis with staff of the New River Conservancy, a hands-on aquatic sampling led by park rangers and an artist’s talk about the temporary site-specific art installation in the New River.

Press Release

1st Annual Drive for DECA Golf Tournament Friday, May 12th at 9 am Sugar Mountain Golf Club Appalachian State DECA Chapter is a club that focuses on professional development, philanthropy, and event planning to prepare students for the workforce. This golf tournament is to raise funds for DECA students to attend the 2018 International DECA Collegiate Competition.

Information & Registration

Youth Academic & Athletic Camps Appalachian State University is hosting a variety of youth academic and athletic camps this summer! Be sure to register early! Camp choices include: Anatomy & Physiology, Baseball, Basketball, Forensic Science, Engineering, Science, Volleyball and More!

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An Appalachian Summer Festival An Appalachian Summer Festival has announced their 2017 line-up! Now celebrating its 33rd season, the festival has emerged as one of the nation’s leading regional arts festivals, featuring the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film. Tickets are on sale now!

Information & Tickets

Blood Drive - Donors Needed ServPro of Watauga and Avery Counties is interested in hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive. Before they can schedule a date, they need to know how many people are interested in donating blood. If you're willing to be a donor, please email Ryan Berthelson and you will be contacted when a date is set.

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Chamber Information & Meetings

Upcoming Meetings Board of Directors: Wednesday, May 3rd at 8 am Blowing Rock Young Professionals Meetup: Monday, May 8th at 5:30 pm, Blowing Rock Ale House Business After Hours: Tuesday, May 16th at 5:30 pm, High Gravity Adventures Art in the Park: Saturday, May 20th at 10 am, Park Avenue (in front of Chamber) Concert in the Park: Sunday, May 21st at 4 pm, Memorial Park Gazebo Executive Board: Tuesday, May 23rd at 8 am All meetings are held in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.