Weekly Village Update 1.14.21

 

Chamber News WinterFest January 28-31 This year we will not be hosting the Polar Bear Plunge or any ticketed events, but we are working on creating a fun weekend focused on celebrating the restaurants, shops, and outdoor activities in Blowing Rock. Want to add something to the schedule of events? Email Suzy the information. Check out BlowingRockWinterFest.com for a listing of activities. 5th Annual High Country Economic Kickoff The 5th Annual High Country Economic Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, January 28th from 9:00-10:30am, produced from the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country and distributed via Zoom by AppTV. The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and is presented by Peak Insurance Group, with additional support from Skyline National Bank, 4 Forty Four and Allen Wealth Management. Dr. Harry Davis, longtime Appalachian State Walker College of Business faculty member and member of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, will deliver his 2021 Economic Forecast. Dr. Davis serves as both Dean and Instructor for the North Carolina School of Banking.  Register online HERE. Use code "BRCHAMBER" for a $5 discount. Visit AppHealthCare.Com North Carolina is currently in phase 1b, group 1, which includes all adults 75 years or older. Vaccine Interest Form Press release from AppHealthCare: We have launched a COVID-19 vaccine interest form for anyone interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone can fill out the form regardless of which phase they will fit into. The interest form will provide us basic information about someone in order to determine which phase they will fall in. If someone is eligible for the vaccine in the current phase and has provided a valid email and phone number, they will receive a link to schedule an appointment. If someone is eligible for the vaccine outside the current phase, their information will be collected and will receive notification when it is their turn to get the vaccine. The information someone provides will be kept private and secure. We will not ask for any personal information like credit cards, passwords, social security numbers, etc. The form can be found on our website 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 Tunes at the Trout - Tonight from 6-8pm Rotary Blood Drive - January 19th Festival of Lights at Chetola - on display till the end of January Planning Board Meeting - January 21st WinterFest - January 28-31 Mountain Alliance Auction - January 23 - 30 Member News Real Estate Report Real estate professionals in the four-county area sold 3,253 residential listings worth $1.18 billion, both metrics record highs, in a year marked by a national pandemic, historically low interest rates and North Carolina becoming a top destination state for people looking for a new home. At year’s end, the number of High Country homes sold was up 25 percent from 2019 and the sales value was up 48 percent. That’s according to the High Country Multiple Listing Service. It records all REALTORS® transactions in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. The median sold price - the point at which half of all homes sold above or below - was $285,000. It was $240,500 the year prior. Chill at the Hill Mystery Hill is hosting family friendly events during WinterFest including the Tomahawk Throwing Competition. Visit their website to learn more: https://mysteryhill.com/chill_at_the_hill/ Hospitality House Blanket Drive January 25-30 Our partners at the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina are in need of new or gently used blankets. Please consider making a donation to help those in need during WinterFest! The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and Mystery Hill will be collection sites during WinterFest. The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is located at 132 Park Ave in downtown Blowing Rock. The Chamber is open from 9am - 5pm (closed 12-1pm). Volunteer Fair Resolve to volunteer this year! Join Red Cross’ “Kick Off the New Year- Virtual Volunteer Fair” on Thursday, January 28th, 2021 from 12-1 pm to learn how to help your neighbors and community in times of need. Red Cross Team Members will virtually showcase how to assist with blood drives, disaster response, virtual opportunities, and more! *All volunteer opportunities follow CDC guidelines* RSVP required by 1/26. RSVP by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/RedCrossFair Horton Hotel Rooftop Photo Sessions Available JANUARY 28TH & 29TH! We know it's cold outside, but nothing warms your heart like getting your photo taken with your bestie, your sweetie or the rest of your family members! So many of us are stuck inside this winter, which is why we are providing a fun experience and outing on the Horton Hotel Rooftop.  Enjoy the view of downtown Boone complete with a cozy fire, refreshments and a fun photo mini-session!  Book mini photo session here! Blood Drive The Blowing Rock Rotary Club and the Red Cross will be hosting a Blood Drive at Tanger Outlets on Tuesday, January 19th from 11:30am - 4:00pm. 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 2021 Chamber Partners! Important Contacts  NC Governor Roy Cooper www.governor.nc.gov US Senator Thom Tillis tillis.senate.gov US Senator Richard Burr burr.senate.gov US House Representative Virginia Foxx foxxforms.house.gov NC House Representative Ray Russell Ray.Russell@ncleg.net NC Senator Deanna Ballard Deanna.Ballard@ncleg.net US President Donald J. Trump www.whitehouse.gov