Weekly Village Update 4.22.21

 

Chamber News Welcome Cathy Drury! Cathy Drury joined the Chamber team this week in the Membership Director role. Cathy grew up in Blowing Rock and spent most of her career with the LPGA. She's excited to get out and meet you all! Send her a warm welcome to Cathy@BlowingRock.com. Real Estate Report Land, home sales continue surge in March Sales of both homes and land remain on a breakneck pace in the High Country region, according to the latest monthly report by the High Country Association of REALTORS.   All four counties in the area recorded double-digit growth in home sales compared to the first quarter of 2020, as recorded in the High Country Multiple Listing Service. It tracks all sales activity by REALTORS active in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. Overall land sales are up almost 150 percent, and even commercial activity is increasing.  Read the full press release here. NPS Announces New Superintendent The National Park Service (NPS) announced the selection of Tracy Swartout as the new superintendent of Blue Ridge Parkway. Swartout is a 21-year veteran of the NPS and was recognized as the southeast region’s Superintendent of the Year in 2012. Read the full release here. Best of Travel Awards Blowing Rock has been nominated for TravelAwaits "Best Of Travel Awards" in the Best U.S. Small Town category! There are many more categories to vote in as well. Voting continues through Sunday, May 2nd and you can vote once per day per category. See categories and vote here: https://travelawaits.secondstreetapp.com/TravelAwaits.../ Health Insurance Special Offer As a Blowing Rock Chamber member, you can save on health benefits for your business through Chamber Health Insurance for Western North Carolina and take advantage of these new opportunities for plans beginning from 3/1/21 – 9/1/21: Receive a $125 invoice credit per enrolled employee! Receive a guaranteed surplus at plan renewal! Surplus varies by number of enrolled employees. Companies with 20 or more benefits eligible employees can take advantage of this opportunity.   To learn more, you’re invited to join us to learn about the health insurance value and savings available to your business in two webinars. Registration is free! Thursday, April 29 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Learn more about the Chamber Health Insurance here. Upcoming Activities & Meetings Hunger & Health Co Empty Bowls - April 24th & 25th BRAHM Exhibit Opening: Metalsmiths of North Carolina - April 24th IMC Legacy Trail Clean Up - May 8th Town Council Meeting - May 11th Member News Welcome New Member! Welcome to the Chamber, Immeasurably More Consulting! IMC is here for all your community focused marketing needs. Member Event: Local Marketing Firm, IMC, is organizing a spring cleanup of the Legacy Trail. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. The cleanup will take place on Saturday, May 8th from 10:00am - 12:00pm.    If you would like to sign up as a volunteer for the trail spring clean, please contact Whitney Brown at  immeasurablymoreconsulting@gmail.com  Allen Tate Official Realtor of App State Athletics This year, Allen Tate signs will populate a new High Country lawn: the football field at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone – or as many know it, The Rock. The Carolinas’ #1 real estate company is now the Official Realtor of App State Athletics. “We have been helping buyers and sellers in the High Country since 2005. And our love of this community has grown exponentially since we opened our newest office in downtown Boone in September 2020,” said Pat Riley, president and CEO, Allen Tate Companies. DeWoolfson Spring Sale DeWoolfsons Spring Sale runs April 8th - 25th on all European white goose down fills made by DeWoolfson. Visit DeWoolfsonLinens.com or call 800.554.3696 for 20% off (excluding current sale items). Use coupon code at checkout: THANKS2021 Pawfect Pets Photo Contest Welcome to the first annual Community Care Clinic pet photo contest: Pawfect Pets for Community Health! $20 to ENTER $1 To VOTE (Unlimited voting!) Funds raised will support free healthcare for low-income people in the northwest NC and East TN region who do not have health insurance. A small portion of funds raised will be donated to the Watauga Human Society to support our neighbors who help match animals with their furever homes. Categories include: Squeeze your face, All Dressed up, Weirdo Pets, Furever Besties Enter your pet or vote online here! Empty Bowls is Back!  The event will be on Saturday, April 24th, 5 to 8 pm, and Sunday, April 25th, 11 am to 2 pm at the King Street Art Collective located at 585 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607, just above Doe Ridge Pottery. This year, ticketholders will be able to drop in to choose a locally-made bowl, listen to a live band, and check out the App State Senior Design Showcase.    Please note that due to the pandemic, Soup will not be served this year. To best keep our patrons safe, we are offering two different days and various pick-up times. Tickets can be purchased in advanced at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/watauga-county-empty-bowls-2021-tickets-148442915757 and links can be found on the Hunger and Health Coalition’s or the Watauga Arts Council website and Facebook page. Laugh Magic Parlor Step into Lyndy’s Laugh Magic Parlor for an intimate one-man show and experience an evening of magic and comedy. No big stage or production and no rabbits or tigers– but a masterful blend of humor, sleight of hand and audience participation performed in an intimate setting. Join Lyndy for a 75 minute magical journey that begins with a simple coin trick and continues with the impossible performed from only a few feet away. Laugh Magic Parlor An Intimate Magic & Comedy Experience Saturdays, 8pm (May thru October) Holiday Inn Express, Boone $35 pp We're Hiring! Visit the Blowing Rock Job Opportunities Facebook group to see job postings from Westglow, Meadowbrook Inn, The Manor and more! This Facebook group is monitored by the Chamber and for Chamber members to share employment opportunities. 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!