Weekly Village Update 6.24.21

 

Chamber News Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - TODAY from 3:00pm - 6:00pm Heritage Days at Bolick & Traditions - June 26 @ 10:00am Tourism Management Plan - Public Presentation & Suggestions Workshop - July 1 from 8:30am - 11:00am Artisan Market at Tanger Outlets - July 2nd Fourth of July Parade - July 3rd @ 10:00am Firework Extravaganza at Tweetsie Railroad - July 4th @ 9:30pm Tourism Management Plan - Input Needed Like many destination towns, Blowing Rock encounters challenges regarding sustainable tourism development. The Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority seeks to turn challenges into opportunities with a proactive Tourism Management Plan. What are the best ways for our community to preserve the things that make it special, while being open to growth? What should that growth look like? We want everyone to be part of this conversation!   Join us for a public presentation & forum with Roger Brooks of Destination Development Association: Assessment Findings & Suggestions Workshop on Thursday, July 1, 8:30 am- 11:00 am at the Blowing Rock American Legion.   Roger Brooks has been hired to help us coordinate the effort required to create a tourism management plan. Mr. Brooks has worked with over 2000 communities across the globe to help them improve the lives of their residents and the experiences of their visitors by finding sustainable solutions. He recently visited to secret shop the town, and he will present his observations at this event. The initial suggestions he will make are based on successes in comparable communities. He will be available for questions after the workshop.   This public presentation is the kickoff to a month of information gathering and immersion. Through July, he will be staying in Blowing Rock to learn all he can about the place we call home. Surveys will be available to all residents and business owners in July, both online and as a printed version. In addition, Mr. Brooks will be conducting interview sessions on Tuesday, July 6 and Wednesday, July 7. Each interview is a listening session for small groups of homeowners, business owners, organizations, frontline employees, etc. If you would like to be part of one of these hour-long discussions with Mr. Brooks, sign up by calling the Blowing Rock TDA at 828-295-4636, or reply to this email.   We look forward to building a plan WITH our incredible community, and can't wait to get started!   Read the full press release here >> 4th of July in Blowing Rock Parade The Blowing Rock Independence Day Parade will be Saturday, July 3rd at 10:00am. Parking will not be available on Main Street until after the parade to allow more room for spectators. Parking and shuttle service from Tanger Outlets to downtown will be available from 8:00am - 5:00pm the day of the parade. Want to participate in the parade? Sign your business or organization up here! Fireworks Tweeties Railroad will have a public firework display on Sunday, July 4th beginning at 9:30pm. Member News Chetola Naturalist Series with Grandfather Mountain We invite you to join us and the naturalist staff of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation on June 30th at 5:30 pm for a discussion and exploration of the different Rhododendron species found in the High Country. We will share some pollination techniques of our local flowers and learn some interesting facts about Rhododendron species. Participants will have a chance to get a close-up look at some of these flowers and make some observations and discoveries of their own! *This event is open to the public Yoga on the Rooftop We are excited to partner with Mountain Pose Boone to offer Rooftop Yoga Wednesdays from 11:30-12:30 starting June 30th. Come flow with us on the roof of The Horton, which boasts 360-degree views of downtown, campus and mountains. Afterwards, you're invited to soak in that post-yoga glow and take in the sights as you sip a refreshing water infusion on the deck. We hope you're as eager as we are to practice yoga in this incredible space. Together, let's do more than take a class. Let's create an experience.   $18 includes yoga plus post-class sip.  Free mat rental for out-of-town guests.  Space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling ahead to the hotel at 828.832.8060. High Country Real Estate Report Housing inventory increased for the second consecutive month in May as total unit sales in the four-county area broke 1,000, a record pace according to the High Country Association of REALTORS© monthly sales report.   A hectic spring buying season was evidenced by the sale of 1,213 homes worth $515.33 million so far this year, a 35 percent increase in unit sales compared to the first five months of 2019. (The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted sales last year, though REALTORS© still sold 815 homes for $250.73 million).   Read the full release here. Village Thrift Special Item Blowing Rock Women's Club has big news! The Buddha Figure pictured here is vintage jade from Tien Shan Mountains and has been appraised by McCoy Minerals Inc for $5,000. Bid on this item to help raise money for local scholarships. Item will be on display at the shop Saturday, June 26 from 10 to 3. Highest bid above the reserve will win. Bidding ends at 5:00 pm EST Thursday 7/1. Contact Blowing Rock Women's Fund to place bid. Spectacular Summer Events at The Turchin Center!  The community is invited to a Summer Exhibition Celebration on July 2 from 6–9 pm. During this debut re-opening event, the Turchin Center will celebrate seven exhibitions in grand style. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and gain an “insider’s view” of the featured exhibitions. This festive evening will include live music by The Mercury Dames and is free and open to the public. The celebration is generously sponsored by Allen Wealth Management, and is dedicated to the memory of Tina Silverstein, a long-standing friend, leader and generous supporter of the Turchin Center’s exhibition, education and outreach programming. View the full list of exhibitions here. J.E. Broyhill Civic Center Upcoming Showcase  J.E. Broyhill Civic Center announces Upcoming Showcase of Stars Events   Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s J.E. Broyhill Civic Center has announced several upcoming Showcase of Stars events. The events feature returning favorites as well as some new faces for a variety of entertainment options. Line up includes: Comedian Chonda Pierce, Masters of Soul, and many more. View the full schedule of events here. 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!

Weekly Village Update 6.17.21

 

Chamber News Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - TODAY from 3:00pm - 6:00pm Jerry Burns Day - June 18th @ 4:30pm Ribbon Cutting: Beaver Fine Art - June 22nd @4:00pm Blowing Rock Young Professionals Meeting - June 23rd @5:30pm Artisan Market at Tanger Outlets - July 2nd Fourth of July Parade - July 3rd @ 10:00am High Country Workforce Survey What we are seeing so far.. 67% of respondents reported barriers to hiring 73% of respondents report open positions to fill 41% of respondents reported being at least 20% below their full employment capacity and 19% reported 40% below full employment Many businesses have reported reduced hours or closed days due to employment shortage Help the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce collect information regarding workforce conditions in the High Country! Our goal is to have the opportunity to present data trends over time to Senator Deanna Ballard and Representive Ray Picket for real-time facts and figures in the counties they represent to guide future advocacy efforts. Workforce Survey Ribbon Cutting: Beaver Fine Art Are you coming to my event? DATE AND TIME 06/22/21 4:00pm - 06/22/21 4:30pm Please join the Chamber in welcoming Beaver Fine Art to Blowing Rock! Beaver Fine Art is located in SouthMarke across from Town Tavern. I'll be there! Maybe I can't make it Blowing Rock Shuttle A free AppalCart Shuttle will be available on Friday and Saturday until the end of October. This shuttle will run from Tanger Outlets, The Village Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Green Park Inn, Morris Street, and Blowing Rock School on Sunset Drive. Click here to save a printable schedule. Member News Appalachian Summer Festival Established in 1984 as a festival rooted strongly in chamber music, An Appalachian Summer Festival has grown into a multi-arts event, presenting the best in music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts each July. What began as a popular local and regional event now attracts visitors from around the country. Yet the classical component remains central, and the festival continues to share world-renowned classical artists and ensembles with the High Country. This year, the festival’s chamber series is proud to present Emerson String Quartet, Canadian Brass, Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber, Tesla Quartet, and Julian Gargiulo. This year also features the Rosen-Schaffel Competition: 10th Anniversary Celebration. Read full press release here. A Simple Gesture The next pick up for Hunger & Health Co.'s Simple Gesture Program is Friday, June 18th! The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is a donation collection location! Father's Day Brunch Join The Table at Crestwood for a Father's Day Celebration on June 20th from 12:00pm - 7:00pm. Call 828-963-6646 to make reservations for barbeque on the terrace! HCAR Spring Clean Out High Country association of Realtor is hosting a Community Spring Clean Out this Saturday, June 19th from 9am-Noon. The HCAR office is located at 4469 Bamboo Rod, Boone, NC. This event will feature a SHRED truck for you to clean out old paperwork. While you're at it, clean out your pantry and bring nonperishable food items to support Hunger & Health Co. Carlton Gallery Workshops Carlton Gallery is hosting several workshops all summer long! Next up: Holly Glasscock "Using Music to Inspire Exciting Painting" from June 22-24. Visit Carlton Gallery's website for a full list of workshops and to register! 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!