Weekly Village Update 3.11.21

 

Chamber News Live Entertainment Survey Tell us how you feel! The High Country Host has created a survey to gauge interest in attending in person events. Please fill out the survey here. Entrepreneur Roundtable Hey, entrepreneur! Learn more about the dynamic new resource Startup Caldwell-Watauga, and ask your burning business questions to our expert panel of entrepreneurs, mentors, and small business owners during our Virtual Entrepreneur Roundtable event on March 18th from 12:00-1:00 PM. Confused about how to start and grow your business? Have specific questions about being a business owner in Caldwell and Watauga counties? Our panelists are ready to answer any and all of your questions and help you succeed. You don't want to miss this event! Bass Lake Sidewalk Project   This week, contractors for the Bass Lake Sidewalk Project will be focusing efforts on drainage construction at the intersection at 221 and Main Street. Based on NCDOT agreements, work can only be performed in the roadway from 9am-4pm weekdays. During these hours, motorists may want to consider alternative routes around the intersection. Traffic control is being conducted, but minimal delays are expected. The intersection will be opened back up this week and will remain open until flat work begins for the walkway itself. For the foreseeable future, 221 beyond the intersection will be limited to one lane Monday – Friday from 9am-4pm.  Help Us Raise $1,000 for Public Schools We're already more than 1/3 of the way there! To Purchase: Visit www.HighCountry365.com Select SHOP from the menu Choose a Watauga Dining Pass or High Country Package Fill in your information Remember the discount code: UNITY Support Public Schools through the Watauga Education Foundation when you buy a Watauga Dining Pass and use the discount code UNITY!   The Watauga Dining Pass Can be used for dine-in or take-out! Click here for a list of participating restaurants. Can be mailed to you free of charge or choose a pick-up option from High Country 365.  “My wife and I have been long time HC365 BOGO dining pass users because of the savings, and value, they bring. Now, we find it especially gratifying to know that by purchasing these passes it provides us another way to support our schools in these unprecedented times. We are particularly pleased that, not only are we supporting local restaurants and saving money in the process but, our schools are also raising much needed funds!”   -Gary Childers, former Principal and current School Board Member Watauga Medical Center announces entrance and parking changes in order to begin $100 million expansion Patient and Visitor Entrance Changes Hospital patients and visitors, including Emergency Department walk-ins, should enter the building through the temporary main front entrance doors close to the newly constructed canopy and walkway beside the Heart & Vascular Center. The usual Emergency Department entrance patients and visitors have been using for the past year will be closed on March 10th.   ARHS is attempting to limit the inconvenience for the community while proceeding with these much-needed improvements and additions to the hospital facility.     For more information about Watauga Medical Center, visit apprhs.org/wataugamedical. In preparation for a new hospital patient bed tower, Watauga Medical Center will experience changes to the entrances, exits and parking lots over the next few months. Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) announced that construction on the new patient bed tower began this week.   “The expansion project represents a $100 million investment in the health of Watauga County,” said Rob Hudspeth, Sr. VP of System Advancement for ARHS. “The first phase – a new Heart and Vascular Center – was completed in August of 2020. Phase two, in progress, includes construction of the new central energy plant. Phase three calls for construction of a new medical bed tower, which we are excited to start this March.”  Traffic and Parking Changes Beginning March 11th, traffic into Watauga Medical Center, including the Emergency Department, will flow one way (two lanes) into the main parking lot entrance closest to the hospital. Leaving the hospital, drivers should exit to Deerfield Road through the parking lot’s side exit. Signage will be posted.   All Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center patients and ambulances should enter from Mary Street and park in the existing parking spaces. There will be no public access to the hospital from the Mary Street entrance or from the Cancer Center lot. Read the Weekly Covid-19 Situation Update - March 5, 2021 here. Update from AppHealthCare “With three approved COVID-19 vaccines now available, it is important to note that each vaccine is safe and effective and has been studied in clinical trials. We have full confidence in these vaccines and hope people will take the vaccine that is offered to them when it’s their turn. The news of a third vaccine provides more hope, and we are very glad to have more vaccines available to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” stated Jennifer Greene, Health Director, AppHealthCare. Upcoming Activities & Meetings Easter Family Photos at Tanger Outlets - March 12 -14 Blowing Rock Easter Egg Hunt - March 27th Trout Derby - April 3rd Member News Welcome New Member! Areté Engineers - providing structural engineering services to the bridge, commercial, and residential sectors. Areté - "air-i-tey" - excellence; virtue Steep Canyon Rangers The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) virtual performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, proudly welcomes to the stage of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts the Grammy-winning bluegrass septet Steep Canyon Rangers, Thursday, March 11 at 8pm. Steep Canyon Rangers are Asheville, NC’s Grammy winners, perennial Billboard chart-toppers, and frequent collaborators of the renowned banjoist (and occasional comedian) Steve Martin. The concert will be performed without a live audience, but livestreamed for free to the general public as the penultimate event in the spring virtual series. The event is free, but registration is required. Dates: Friday March 12 - Sunday March 14 Friday March 19 - Sunday March 21 Friday March 26 - Sunday March 28 Hours: Friday 2PM - 5PM Saturday and Sunday 12PM - 3PM Easter Photos at Tanger Outlets Spring is in the air, hop into spring with fresh portraits of the kids and the entire family presented by Reg & Kala Photography, LLC. Photo sessions are 10 minutes long and cost $125.00+ tax! After your photo session you will receive an online gallery where you can choose and purchase your digital files or prints!   CLICK HERE to book your session and select your photo packages! Photo sessions by Reg & Kala Photography, LLC will be located in Suite 16, just near Banana Republic and Van Heusen. Don’t forget to shop with your TangerStyle 25% OFF Savings Coupons for extra savings on the perfect Spring and Easter outfits for everyone! Staycation at The Horton Hotel In celebration of their 2nd birthday, The Horton Hotel is inviting guests to TAKE 2 - Book 2 nights Sun-Thurs and save 50% off of one (the lowest rate) on reservations from Feb. 1 through April 29th, 2021. Must book by April 1st and use promo code TAKE2 to save. Book online or call 828-832-8060. Not valid on existing reservations. Not valid on Fri or Sat dates. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Can only be used once per reservation. ‌ Spring Semester 2021 ARTtalks & Events! Join the TURCHIN CENTER for the Visual Arts for their spring semester ARTtalks with easy and safe access to their exhibition artists. ARTtalks include a presentation from the artist about their practice, their current exhibition and an opportunity for participants to ask questions. For more information and to register, visit their website: tcva.org/learn/arttalks. 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. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday! 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!