Weekly Village Update 10.26.17

Chamber Events & News

Holiday Stroll Call for Retail Participants! Friday, December 8th, 5 pm until ? Downtown Blowing Rock Santa, carolers and dancers, oh my! Plus, shops staying open late with refreshments & specials! Retailers: Be a part of this very popular event! Last year, even in the bitter cold, there were crowds of people downtown enjoying our beautiful village and shopping for the holiday season! If you want extra exposure for your business, please let us know that you will participate and we will list you on the the Holiday Stroll page!

Want your business included? Email Harrison or call the Chamber at 828.295.7851

Great News! Loni is Back! It is with great pleasure that we announce Loni Miller has returned to the Membership Services Director position for the Chamber! We are fortunate to have her back in Blowing Rock working hard for the member businesses, young professionals and other community groups that partner with the Chamber. She will also continue to manage Art in the Park. Please welcome Loni back with a call, visit or email.

Ribbon Cutting Recap: Julian Price Campground Shower Facility Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Charles Hardin, joined the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Parkway staff & supporters for a ribbon cutting at the new shower facility at Julian Price Campground. This is the first ADA accessible shower facility on the Parkway!

Photo from Blue Ridge Parkway Facebook Page

Business Tax Essentials Seminar Friday, November 3rd at 9 am Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory This free seminar will cover the basics of tax compliance ranging from registering your business to withholding from employees and sales and use tax requirements.

Information & Registration

Online Training for Vendors How to do Business with the State The North Carolina Department of Administration’s Division of Purchase & Contract (P&C) is excited to launch its first online training module for vendors. The How to Do Business with the State online teaching tool was created to navigate vendors on how to register and form a successful partnership with the state. This 20-minute module explores answers to frequently asked questions and can be accessed now by clicking here.

If you have questions or experience any technical difficulties, please contact the Division of Purchase & Contract at 919.807.4500.

Harvard Business Review: How to be Happier at Work We all want to be happy on the job, but what does that actually mean? Is it just being satisfied in your job? Does it mean having fun at work? Are we happy when working conditions are good, our days are enjoyable and our nights are worry-free? All of these things matter, of course, but there’s more to it. Harvard Business Review (HBR) has published a quiz to help you figure out how to be happier at work. It only takes a couple minutes; give it a try! Learn More & Take the Quiz

Image from HBR Article

Member Events & News

Wireless Microphones Specials If you use wireless microphones you may be required to upgrade. RYGID AV is offering specials on wireless microphones in response to the FCC 600 MHz band sell off. This affects a large majority of people who use wireless technology. Contact RYGID AV today to find out if you’re affected and if you qualify for a rebate on your wireless microphones, regardless of brand. Special offers available until April 30, 2018 on all Shure orders.

Learn More

High Country Food Hub The High Country Food Hub, operated by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, is a collaborative community effort with Watauga Cooperative Extension, Watauga County and the Town of Boone! Check out the 400+ products available for purchase from more than 30 local farmers and producers and consider placing your first order this week! The High Country Food Hub's online marketplace makes it possible for farmers and producers to work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food and other products in the High Country area. Our marketplace brings fresh, nutritious, locally grown and produced food and other products to the community in a cost-effective manner on a weekly basis all year round.

The online marketplace is now open and offers a weekly shopping cycle with custom orders available for pickup each Wednesday!

14th Annual Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit REGISTER TODAY! Friday, November 10th at 8:15 am Appalachian State University Business owners from across the region will present and discuss entrepreneurial issues in a full day of speakers and workshops focused on entrepreneurial inspiration. This is an opportunity for students and community members to meet, network and learn from successful entrepreneurs. The day will end with the student Big Idea Pitch competition. It is sure to be a day to remember and one you don't want to miss. Free to attend. Free parking on campus.

Registration Deadline: November 3rd Learn More & Register

SNIPS Fundraising Events Barktoberfest: Thursday, October 26th Everything but the Kitchen Sink: October 28th Halloween Adoption Event: Tuesday, October 31st Proceeds from these events benefit the Watauga Humane Society's SNIPS low cost spay/neuter program. Help reduce the number of homeless animals and euthanasia rates!

Learn More About SNIPS

High Country Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Saturday, October 28th at 9 am Start & Finish at American Legion, Blowing Rock Register now and help High Country Breast Cancer Foundation raise funds to help LOCAL breast cancer patients. The foundation provides scholarships for childcare, wigs/hats, support classes for caregivers, nutritional education, therapeutic classes, career counseling and workshops, individual counseling, transportation services, support group meetings for survivors, end-of-life support and more!

Learn More & Register Facebook Event

Opening Reception for New Oils by Amos Westmoreland Saturday, October 28th, 11 am - 5 pm Alta Vista Gallery While here in the mountains, you'll enjoy the many colors of autumn, both outdoors and inside the gallery in Westmoreland's new solo show, "Autumn in the High Country," The show is hanging now through November 18th. Meet palette-knife painter Amos Westmoreland at this opening reception. Refreshments will be served.

Facebook Event Visit Website

3rd Annual Masquerade Ball Saturday, October 28th at 6:30 pm Blowing Rock Country Club The Hunger and Health Coalition is bringing back the Masquerade Ball for year three! The last two have been downright stellar, raising over $20,000 for the Hunger & Health Coalition's programs to help those in need in our community. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served along with a cash bar! The costumes, dancing, drinks and performances from Appalachian Musical Theatre Ensemble will all be back too, plus visits with fortune tellers and tarot card readers and even more surprises and twists! Come in costume or buy a mask at the door!

Tickets: $55 individual / $100 for two Purchase Tickets To Volunteer or become an event sponsor, please call Elizabeth Young at 828.262.1628.

Tanger Trick or Treat Tuesday, October 31st, 5 pm - 7 pm Tanger Outlets, Blowing Rock A fun, family event for all! Stores will host a Spooktacular Scavenger hunt for guests that require you to participate in all the fun clues and complete your scavenger hunt card. Bring your completed cards to shopper service to be entered in a drawing for a $100.00 Tanger Shopping Spree! Additional fun activities for the family including a costume contest, meet and greet with local fire and police, pet costume contest and much more!

Fall Exhibition Celebration Friday, November 3rd, 6 pm - 10 pm Turchin Center for the Visual Arts During this celebration, the Turchin Center will celebrate five new exhibitions in grand style. The public is invited to “engage, discover and connect through the arts.” This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and gain an “insider’s view” of the featured exhibitions. Read More Free and open to the public. Includes live music, refreshments and cash bar.

Visit Website

Bridal Showcase Sunday, November 5th, 1 pm - 4 pm The Inn at Crestwood Come one, come all to the Bridal Showcase! Take a tour of the facility, get to know some of the top vendors in the High Country and receive awesome door prizes! For more information, call 828.963.6646 ext.126 or email events@crestwoodnc.com

Facebook Event

Be sure to visit our website calendar for information on other and future events!

Community Events & News

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival THIS SATURDAY! Saturday, October 28th Downtown Blowing Rock Come out for the Halloween festival! Get ready for an afternoon filled with creepy crafts, airwalks, games, a funhouse, hay rides and a monster march! Evening activities include trick-or-treating, costume contest and moonlight scavenger hunt!

Learn More 

Parkway Closures Due to Monday's storm, there are some closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most of the road closures are north of Blowing Rock, though both Crabtree Falls Picnic Area and Craggy Gardens trails to the south are closed during clean up. In addition, this is the last week of the season for campgrounds along the Parkway, including Price Park Campground.

The NPS Map provides real-time Blue Ridge Parkway closures. This is a valuable resource, especially for the upcoming winter!

Boone License Plate Agency New Location The Boone License Plate Agency office has moved to 274 Winklers Creek Road. Office hours will continue to be 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Call 828.268.2315 to confirm appointments and operating hours. DMV now offers license plate registration renewals and other services online. Visit www.MyNCDMV.gov and click “Online Services” to see if your needs can be met online.

Chamber Events, Information & Meetings

Halloween Parade: Saturday, October 28th at 5:30 pm, Main Street Chamber Board Retreat: Wednesday, November 15th, American Legion Business After Hours: Tuesday, November 21st at 5:30 pm, The Inn at Crestwood Christmas Parade: Saturday, November 25th at 2 pm, Main Street Chamber Executive Board Meeting: Tuesday, November 28th at 8 am, Chamber Office Chamber Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 6th at 8 am, Chamber Office Holiday Stroll: Friday, December 8th at 5 pm, Downtown Blowing Rock Chamber Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 13th, The Gamekeeper Restaurant