Weekly Village Update 9.3.20

 

Chamber News Become a Chamber Board Member The Chamber has a few board vacancies to fill specifically in the retail, accommodations and professional services sectors. The Chamber board has a distribution of seats among business sectors. Terms are two years with an option of renewing up to three terms. If you are interested in serving along with other Blowing Rock business community leaders on the Chamber board, please email Charles Hardin at HardinCE@BlowingRock.com or call to get more information. Chamber members may nominate any other Chamber member or you may nominate yourself. If you nominate someone else, please let them know that we will contact them.  NC Phase 2.5 On Friday, September 4th the State of North Carolina will enter Phase 2.5 at 5:00pm. What does this mean? Playgrounds and Park can open Meusems can open at 50% - Stay up- to-date with BRAHM's opening Gyms can open at 30% Indoor gatherings of 25 people and outdoor gatherings of 50 people We’d Love to Hear From YOU! How are we doing as your Chamber of Commerce? Share with us and other members how membership in the Chamber has helped support and promote your business. Share your experiences with the Chamber or collaborations with other businesses that have been created by being a member. With your permission, we will then share these testimonials on our website and/or social media channels. Please reach out to Regina McCaughan at regina@blowingrock.com. In advance, thank you for sharing! NC Broadband Survey We urge all homeowners and businesses to complete the broadband survey below sent to us by Blue Ridge Energy from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. The survey will gather information on locations with adequate internet access and speeds with the results used to determine which communities receive future grant funding for high speed internet service. Click here for more information on how to take the survey. For homes or businesses WITH internet service, take the survey at NCBroadband.gov/survey For homes or businesses WITHOUT internet service, text "Internet" to 919-750-0553 Blowing Rock Community Calendar It's time to gather details for the 2021 Blowing Rock Community Calendar! As always, our goal is to have the calendar printed and ready for distribution by Thanksgiving weekend. The calendar lists Town and civic events, as well as festivals, event series, and cultural programming. Please send your public events for inclusion by September 30. We know that 2021 may still warrant some tentative planning, so the usual scheduling disclaimers will reflect that. Photo submissions are also welcome! The image theme for 2021 is animals, so we're accepting photos of birds, deer, or other wild High Country critters, as well as pets enjoying mountain activities. Photos must be high resolution for printing, and the cutoff date is the same: September 30.   Send events and photo submissions to amanda@visitblowingrock.com.  Have you taken the Census? There are only a few weeks left to take the Census! The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. The Census only takes minutes to complete at https://2020census.gov/ NC Chamber Destination 2030 NC is facing a transportation funding crisis that is creating uncertainty for many businesses. The NC Chamber’s Destination 2030 Coalition is developing forward-thinking solutions to modernize transportation funding in NC. JOIN here: bit.ly/3g6QqXi #Destination2030 Chamber Member Health Insurance Discount Aetna Funding Advantage (AFA) makes it easy for members of any Chamber of Commerce in 26 western North Carolina counties to save money on their benefits with up to 25% savings on monthly costs vs an ACA plan**. And now, these businesses can save on average, an additional 2% on monthly costs through Chamber Health Insurance for Western North Carolina. Learn more about Aetna here. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday! Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Weekly on Thursday from 3-6pm Town Council Meeting & Playground Ribbon Cutting September 8th Art in the Park- September 12th Concerts in the Park - September 13th Member News September @ Stick Boy! It's that time of year again... Vote for your favorite LOCAL NON PROFIT! Get a FREE raffle ticket with a $10 purchase or buy a ticket for $5. Help spread the word by sharing this post, and come in to vote or visit our online store! Learn more here! Providing a Splash of Happy: New Vibrant Turchin Stair Mural Needs a Name! A stunning site-specific art installation has just been completed on the outdoor grand staircase at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. The Turchin Center is situated on King Street and lies at the crossroads of Appalachian State University and downtown Boone and this staircase serves as a pedestrian connector between the two. Several years ago the staff and advisory board at the Turchin Center recognized the imposing concrete staircase as a “blank canvas” with potential to be transformed into something special. After considering a variety of artists, the dynamic duo of Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn @jessieandkatey were commissioned to transform the stairs into what has become an eye-popping mural. Live Music at Egg Rollin Egg Rollin is hosting the Keith Stroud Band on September 4th from 4pm-8pm. Join them for great food, drinks and southern classic rock! Book Signing at BR Antiques Co-Op Enduring Southern Homes by Eric Ross Book signing at Blowing Rock Antiques Co-Op September 5th from 4-6pm September 6th from 1-3pm Visiting Scholar at Rumple Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church invites everyone to a lecture & discussion series on Zoom, September 13-14th. Visit www.rumplechurch.org for more information and to register! We'd love to see you! The Chamber Team is glad to see our businesses re-opening! Email Regina to let us know you're open and we will stop by for a socially distance visit. More events and updates can be found on our online calendar. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday! Thank you to our 2020 Chamber Partners!