Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Blog: Weekly Village Update 6.25.20

Chamber News

Want to display this signage in your store or business? Find a printable version here or pick one up at the Chamber.

How will the face covering requirement be enforced? Citations related to this Order can be written to businesses or organizations that fail to enforce the requirement to wear face coverings. Operators of businesses and organizations are entitled to rely on their customers or patrons’ statements about whether or not they are exempt from the face covering requirements, and businesses and organizations do not violate this Order if they rely on customer or patron statements. Law enforcement personnel cannot criminally enforce the face covering requirements of this Order against individual workers, customers, or patrons.

However, if a business or organization does not allow entry to a worker, customer, or patron because that person refuses to wear a face covering, and if that worker, customer, or patron enters the premises or refuses to leave the premises, law enforcement personnel may enforce the trespassing laws.

NC Governor extends Phase II, Face Masks mandatory in public areas

NC Governor Cooper extended Phase II "Safer at Home" Order to Friday, July 17th.

In addition, face masks are now required in all public indoor & outdoor spaces.

What does this mean?

People are now required to wear face coverings in public spaces, whether inside or outside, where physical distancing of six feet is not possible. This includes but is not limited to:

• Retail Businesses: Retail businesses must have all workers wear face coverings. Retail businesses must also have all customers wear face coverings when they are inside the establishment and may be within six feet of another person, unless the customer comes under an exception identified in the Order. If a customer states that an exception applies, the retailer should try to make an accommodation. The business may choose to provide curbside service, provide home delivery, allow the customer to enter without a face covering, or use some other reasonable measure to deliver goods.

• Restaurants: Restaurants must have all workers wear face coverings. Restaurants must also have all customers wear face coverings when not at their table, unless the customer comes under an exception identified in the Order.

Executive Order #147

Executive Order #147 FAQ

Congratulations, Rita Davis on retiring from 33 years in the banking industry!

Rita Davis, Branch Manager of First Citizen’s Bank in Blowing Rock, is retiring after 33-years in the financial industry. Rita is joining her husband, Charles, in retirement. They plan to stay in Blowing Rock and use this time together to travel. Rita has been in Blowing Rock for more than 20 years and has been, and still plans to be, an avid volunteer and member of the Blowing Rock community. She has served as President of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Board, Blowing Rock Rotary Club and The Village Foundation of Blowing Rock.

When you ask Rita about her retirement she has said, “I’m not going any where and will still be apart of Blowing Rock. I’m always here to help.”

Rita’s last day at the bank is tomorrow, Friday, June 26^th. Since we cannot come together for a party, please consider sending her an email or stopping by the bank!

Virtual Ribbon Cutting: High Country Woodworks Today at 4pm!

We got rained out last week - Tune in today at 4pm for the ribbon cutting~

High Country Woodworks is one of the newest kiosks in SouthMarke. Join us for a social distant ribbon cutting in person or virtually! We will be live streaming the ribbon cutting on the Blowing Rock Chamber Facebook page. If you plan to join us in person, don't forget your mask!

Join Ribbon Cutting Virtually!

Count On Me NC

“Count on Me NC” is an initiative the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), along with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), the North Carolina Tourism Bureau (VisitNC), and the North Carolina State University, launched to provide customers reassurance that participating restaurants and businesses, including lodging, have implemented and are practicing the highest sanitation and safety measures. Training and certification are free. For more information, please visit: countonme.org Have you completed your training?

Be sure to verify your business name, address, and category for accuracy. If corrections are needed, send them to countonmenc@ncrla.org. If your business listing is NOT appearing on the CountOnMeNC.org site, submit your information via the link here. Note that it can take 24-48 hours for corrections or additions to appear on the website. Any questions or concerns with that submission link should also be directed to the NCRLA team at countonmenc@ncrla.org.

For a list of Blowing Rock businesses who have already completed the training, visit https://countonmenc.org/participating-businesses/#business-list and input Blowing Rock in the "Search by City" field.

Email Regina to have the "Count On Me NC" logo displayed next to your business name on blowingrock.com.

Blowing Rock Job Opportunities Facebook Page

Are you hiring? Share your employment opportunities on the Chamber Facebook Group: Blowing Rock Job Opportunities

The Blowing Rock Job Opportunities Facebook group is designed to help Blowing Rock Chamber Business Members recruit employees. This group is open to the public and will be monitored by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Visit ChamberPPE.com

Chamber PPE Discount

The Chamber and NewDay have partnered to bring small businesses reliable access to high quality PPE with on-time delivery. Get the supplies you need to practice safe operation as you reopen. Check out these great prices. You can use discount code:Blowing Rock Chamber at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Business Resources

Upcoming Activities & Meetings

Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Today from 3-6pm
Ribbon Cutting - High Country Wood Works - Today @ 4pm
Heritage Day at Bolick & Traditions Pottery - June 27th
Blowing Rock Pool Opens - June 27th
Blowing Rock Farmers Market - July 2nd
First Friday Art Walk at Shoppes on the Parkway - July 3rd

There will be no Fourth of July parade or fireworks this year to COVID-19 concerns.

4th of July Decoration

Chamber Members - Join us in decorating your store front or office for the 4th of July!

Let's welcome the month of July and our visitors with jazzed up window displays. Send Suzy Barker a picture or let us know you've decorated, and we will feature you on our Facebook page.

Member News

App Summer: From Our Home to Yours

Festival organizers for Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts event, An Appalachian Summer Festival, announce the complete programming calendar for this summer’s revised virtual series. The online festival features a month-long selection of livestreamed and specially pre-recorded concerts, live chats with artists, film screenings, and virtual tours. The pivot from in-person to online was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the cancellation of live events for the first time in festival history. App Summer, which typically draws more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer, will present its 36^th season of special programming daily July 1-31.

All events are free and will be streamed via the website as well as the festival’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Film screenings require pre-registration, as registration capacity is limited. Some events will be archived for later viewing; others are only available for the scheduled date and time. Full descriptions about each event and how to access them are available at www.appsummeronline.org.

Marketing Secrets of Top Brands Webinar by Spectrum Reach

Join Spectrum for an exclusive conversation with Senior Marketing Executives from some of the biggest brands in the world as they share secrets about how to market on the local level.

This conversation will ultimately guide local businesses to rise above the noise with creative marketing campaigns that reach the right audience, at the right time, on the right platform. Our award-winning production team, Kernel, is available to guide you through the process.