Weekly Village Update 9.23.21

 

Chamber News Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Today from 3:00pm - 6:00pm BR Chamber 221 Litter Sweep - September 23rd at 3:00pm App State vs. Marshall - September 23rd at 7:30pm Art in the Park - October 2nd from 10am - 5pm Concerts in the Park - October 3rd from 4:00pm - 6:00pm Blowing Rock Candidates Forum - October 4th at 5:30pm BR Chamber Board Meeting - October 6th at 8:30am Become a Chamber Board Member The Chamber has a few board vacancies to fill. 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.  Blowing Rock Candidates Forum October 4th, 5:30pm, Blowing Rock School Auditorium   The Blowing Rock Candidates Forum is open to the public and will provide the community an opportunity to meet and hear from the Candidates for Town Council and Mayor. Do you have questions or important discussion topics you'd like to see covered at the forum? Email Hardince@BlowingRock.com.   This event is hosted by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Leadership Challenge Alumni. Candidates   Mayor Charlie Sellers, un-opposed (I)   Town Council Candidates Nancy Collins Pete Gherini Doug Matheson (I) Melissa Pickett Polls will be open from 6:30am - 7:30pm on the day of the election, Tuesday, November 2, 2021 in Blowing Rock Town Hall.   Click here for early voting and absentee voting information. Restroom Project Complete! This week the Chamber hosted the official ribbon cutting for the Blowing Rock School Restroom. The Blowing Rock Leadership Class of 2019 has been working hard to see this project completed. Special thank you to the Town of Blowing Rock and Watauga County Schools for their support of this project. Restaurant Hours With unpredictable staffing and abrupt changes in travel patterns due to covid-19, restaurant hours have been changing often. For example, Village Cafe was open for Labor Day, but will be closed this Wednesday as a result. The Chamber of Commerce is currently maintaining a listing of Blowing Rock restaurant hours. The hours are updated weekly. Bookmark this page for reference so you can help your guests and customers when they are looking for dining!  Restaurant Hours List Membership Survey Through this survey the students at Appalachian State in the strategic management class will be gathering data to analyze from internal stakeholders (you) in an effort to create a useful strategic plan for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. This is an early data gathering tool that will aid in determining strengths and growth opportunities from members' opinions and feelings. This survey is anonymous and the information will not be shared or sold to outside parties in any capacity. Take Survey Here Career Center Resources Is your businesses hiring? Try these local career center sites: Appalachian State Career Center CCC&TI Career Center Blowing Rock Job Opportunities Facebook Group Message from AppHealthCare Dear Business Leader - The Appalachian District Board of Health recognizes the critical nature of public health services provided in Alleghany, Ashe, and Watauga Counties during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent further strain on the local healthcare resources, our economy, and to reduce preventable life losses caused by COVID-19. Unfortunately, we know of over 9,500 lives impacted by COVID-19 in our health jurisdiction and we have lost 95 special community members due to this virus. Sadly, we have also recognized many businesses have battled not only prior closures, but now are desperately trying to remain staffed and able to serve. Read the full message here. Watauga Covid-19 Update  In areas with substantial and high transmission, the CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent the spread of the Delta variant, and to protect others. Watauga County is considered an area of High transmission. AppHealthCare offers COVID-19 testing by drive-thru Monday through Friday 8:30-10:00am at each of our clinic locations. No appointment is needed. Read the full weekly Watauga County Covid-19 Update here. Submit Newsletter Information Submit your news or events to Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday at Noon to be included in the Weekly Village Update. Submissions must include graphic or photo, link to event or member website and event/promotional information. Member News First Day of Fall Thank you to The Last Straw for the beautiful Fall décor for the Visitors Center. Visit The Last Straw on Main Street Blowing Rock or online for all your seasonal décor needs. Blowing Rock Community Foundation Golf Schramble 36th Annual Blowing Rock Community Foundation Golf Schramble - Saturday, October 2nd, Blowing Rock Country Club Register online HERE by September 29th to participate. Golf Package: $175 per player Includes green fees, special events, lunch and prizes. Put together a foursome or have the committee pair you. Community Care Clinic Community Care Clinic is seeking art submissions for their online Art Auction. CCC is looking for original art pieces (all mediums) by October 5th. The Auction will run Oct. 15th - Nov. 15th. Community Care Clinic is a free clinic for low-income people in our region who are uninsured. The clinic serves around 900 patients in the High Country. The majority of the CCC patients are dealing with chronic illnesses like diabetes or hypertension. Without the CCC a lot of patients would not be able to afford to prioritize their health over taking care of their family's basic needs first. We allow them to have a medical home without the financial burden, helping them to become healthier individuals who can thrive in life. There are no qualifications to become a patient other than being uninsured. This also allows the CCC to serve people who fall through the healthcare gaps, ie: someone who doesn't qualify for Medicaid but can't afford marketplace insurance.  For more information contact Caitlin Massey at caitlinm@ccclinic.org Blowing Rock Civic Association is Hiring Executive Director The Blowing Rock Civic Association is transitioning from an all-volunteer organization to a sustainable organization led by an Executive Director. The Executive Director will become the key person to develop and maintain relationships with town and community leaders to serve as a bridge representing the voice of homeowners. The Executive Director will be the face and often the spokesperson of BRCA at all public and key community meetings. The Executive Director will be the chief communication, fundraising and administrative person for the organization. The position offers flexible scheduling for a full-time or part-time position. Attendance at evening Town Council and advisory board meetings will be needed. Living in or near Blowing Rock is required. Review our website at www.brcivic.org. Send your resume to Tim Gupton, President at info@brcivic.org Frank and Kay Golf Classic Get ready to tee off on Monday September 27, 2021, 1:30 p.m. at Hound Ears Club for the annual Frank and Kay Golf Classic to benefit Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina. This signature event honors the legacy of philanthropy and leadership that former Appalachian State University Chancellor Frank Borkowski and his multi-talented wife Kay have bestowed upon the High Country since their arrival in 1993.  Prior to hitting the links, golfers may arrive as early as 12:00 noon outside the Tee House Grill for a catered cookout lunch from Chef Micheal Armes. At the tournament’s conclusion, the awards ceremony will be held outside on the putting green, with beer, wine and catered hors d'oeuvres. Registration is $150 per person or $600 for a team of four. Participants are encouraged to register online at HospHouse.org/golf.  There will be no onsite registration, traditional check-in, or exchange of monies. Gift bags, water and snacks will be pre-loaded into golf carts, along with face masks and hand sanitizer.   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!