Weekly Village Update 10.06.22

Chamber News

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Meet The Candidates Forum - October 6th @ 5:00 - 9:00pm Last Music on the Lawn - Inn at Ragged Garden - Oct 7th @ 5:30pm Fall Festival @ Blowing Rock School - October 8th @ 11am - 3pm Sugar Mountain Octoberfest - October 8 & 9 @ 10am - 5pm Blessing of the Animals - Rumple Memorial - October 9th @ 2pm Blowing Rock Town Council - October 11 @ 6pm Ribbon Cutting - Lantern Farm - October 12 @ 4:30pm A Simple Gesture Food Bag Pick-Up - Oct 14th - Morning Pick-up Business After Hours @ Blowing Rock Brewing Co. - October 20 @ 5:30 - 7:00pm Watauga County Humane Society Christmas Sale - October 22 @ 10am - 2pm Town of Seven Devils Spooky Trunk or Treat - Oct 28th @ 4 - 6pm Town of Blowing Rock Halloween Festival - October 29th @ 3pm - 8:30pm Trick or Treat Festival at Tanger Outlets - October 31st @ 5pm - 7pm

RSVP required (click here)

2023 Business After Hours Now is the time to submit an application to host a BAH event for 2023. These events are very popular so apply now to reserve a date that works best for you. The purpose of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours is to provide networking opportunities for our members, giving business owners a chance to meet one another and to discuss issues relevant to their businesses and the community. The Chamber strongly encourages member-to-member business whenever possible, making these events a critical part of keeping in contact with other members. Hosting a Business After Hours gives you the chance to showcase your business/organization to the business community. These events are typically scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of each month, March through November (except July). Hours are 5:30pm – 7:00pm. Frequently Asked Questions

Application

The application deadline is November 15, 2022. If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours in 2023, contact Cathy Barker at the Chamber at Cathy@BlowingRock.com or call 828-295-7851. The First Word is Business!

Save the Date Tuesday, November 1, 2022 – 11:30am At Appalachian State University’s Grandview Ballroom (North End of the ASU Football Stadium) Registration & Networking will begin at 11:30am and the program will begin at noon.   $35 per person *  RSVP required (click here)

It's A Triple Chamber Ribbon Cutting Celebration Wilkes, Blowing Rock and Ashe County Chambers of Commerce

RSVP

LOCATION GoogleMaps  https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.1627648,-81.1532288/lantern+farms/@36.2292087,-81.6068471,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x8851016b48094041:0x88de1443813d31b6!2m2!1d-81.4354779!2d36.2653283 Doe Meadows Drive, West Jefferson, NC 28694 In Ashe County - Look for Corn Maze and Pumpkins   Phone 1-(828)-278-9805

Meet the Candidates Forum The annual Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 6th, from 5:00-9:30pm. The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce. For those who cannot attend, this will be broadcast live from the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone. For More Information

Thank you to all of you who volunteered for the Blowing Rock Chamber Community Cleanup today. We had a great time and the weather was perfect!!!! A big shout out to Chick-fil-A and Food Lion for sponsoring lunch and also to Peak Sanitation for providing our trash container this week for our Town cleanup efforts.

Restaurant Hours As our local restaurants continue to face unpredictable staffing and abrupt changes in travel patterns, restaurant hours continue to change often. 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

Member News

For more information and to purchase family wristbands

hello fall! my mountain home welcomes October with 1st Friday Fun! Friday - October 7th starting @ noon We're celebrating FALL with Apple themed Sangria & Savories by Sarah 🍁 Join us Saturday for our Artist on the Front Porch. Featuring our very own Cindy Willman - come see the wonderful pieces originally created for Art in the Park ... as always, Cindy is available for commissions including landscapes and pet portraits!  Also! Starting now through Sunday, October 9th, please enjoy 20% off one in store item of choice!  **please tell us you received this email when checking out!**  Lots of new arrivals and 'back in stocks'!

Put on your Lederhosen or your dirndl and head to Sugar Mountain Resort October 8 & 9 - 10am - 5pm Take in the beautiful fall foliage, cool, comfortable mountain temperatures, and a weekend full of festival activities from 10 am until 5 pm each day. Be sure to bring the kids because the event is for the whole family. Live Music Bavarian Food & Drink Arts & Crafts Bavarian Costume Contest Avery County Cloggers Chairlift Rides For More Information

Lantern Farm Maze and Pumpkin Picking Experience Join us from mid September to late October and enjoy autumn along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Halloweentime fall event. This year we have a 4 acre corn maze and a pumpkin patch that has been approved by the Great Pumpkin himself. Lantern Farm Website

Festival of Trees Designer Recruitment Designer Recruitment for themed trees & wreaths is underway for the 2022 Festival of Trees, presented by Western Youth Network and the Leslie Eason Real Estate Team with Keller Williams! Large and small trees are hosted in public locations in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties.  Designer Registration is quick & simple - sign up today! $ponsorships are also welcome. Contact fot.wyn@gmail.com for more information.

Buskers Fest 2022 ​A First Friday Art Crawl Like No Other Friday, October 7 @ 5:00 - 8:00pm "Live it up!" and join us in Downtown Boone to experience the arts in action as you walk the streets visiting the galleries, shops, and restaurants. Buskers Fest is a celebration of our eclectic creative community, and a nod to our town’s rich history of busking. Buskers Fest offers attendees a chance to experience the arts as they walk along the streets of Boone from the Turchin Center all the way to Mellow Mushroom. Information Tommy Emanuel, C.G.P. to Perform in Boone Friday, October 7 @ 7:30pm The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is welcoming Australian native and award-winning recording artist Tommy Emmanuel, C.G.P. to the mountains for a live appearance and debut performance at its historic venue in downtown Boone.   The highly-anticipated concert is part of the Mast Store Americana Music Series on the Doc Watson Stage of the Appalachian Theatre. This series is an ongoing, year-round program of artists and events celebrating the genre unique to our country.  Information & Tickets

Next Pick-Up Date October 14th The Chamber is a collection point. Please stop in and pick up an empty bag to fill. A Simple Gesture makes it easy, convenient, and inexpensive to give food, and thus supplies a steady flow of food to our food banks and food pantries. For More Information

Ghost Train Continues   Tweetsie's Ghost Train continues every Friday and Saturday night through October 29!  Gates open at 7:30 pm and the park will remain open until 11:00 pm Some Ghost Train attractions are suitable for younger children, while others are recommended only for kids aged 8 and older. Reservations are utilized for rides on the Ghost Train- ride time is selected at time of ticket purchase. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended as tickets are limited. Full Details & Tickets Aliens Have Landed at Mystery Hill Now through October 31, Mystery Hill will feature two special weekend events! Visitors can enjoy the Alien Expo and Celebration Carnival attractions during the day, and the Attack on the Hill horror event after hours. Ticket options include attractions like the Space Cube Experience (escape room) and Intergalactic Alien Target Practice. This series is a great addition to spooky offerings this season! For Information & Tickets

Town of Seven Devils Spooky Trunk or Treat October 28 @ 4 - 6pm Seven Devils Community Center 1356 Seven Devils Road, Seven Devils, NC 28604 Come enjoy some fun and safe Trunk or Treating. We will be giving out candy bags and CANDY! Bring children 16 and under for a spooky time! For More Information

Town of Blowing Rock Halloween Festival Join Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation for tons of FREE fun with a full afternoon of spooky activities! This is among the best Halloween events for kids of ALL ages. Memorial Park, located right in the middle of downtown, is the center for all the fun! 3:00-5:30pm: Games   4:00-8:00pm: Hayrides Downtown   5:45pm: Monster March (line-up at the American Legion)   6:00pm: Main Street Trick or Treat   7:00pm: Costume Contest   8:30pm: Moonlight Scavenger Hunt

Chamber Discount Just For You     Proudly supporting small businesses. Click for Special Chamber Offer

Changing Lives One Laptop At A Time! The mission of E2D is to ensure that all NC families have affordable access to essential at-home technology to support academic success, and prepare students for college, careers, and beyond, as well as to foster job creation and retention for adult members of the household. For More Information, visit our Website

Appalachian State University's Cyber Summit is our annual one-day professional development event where attendees will learn from the leading experts in the cybersecurity field. Held on Appalachian's campus in the new Grandview Ballroom at Kidd Brewer Stadium, attendees will network with industry specialists, business leaders and develop partnerships with the Department of Computer Information Systems and its rising star students. All Proceeds from the event fund student scholarships in the Department of Computer Information Systems.  Click for a copy of the Attendee Brochure

Registration Now Open

Savored Moments Travel is partnering with Turn It Up Consulting for a Powerful Planning Mastermind Retreat, November 10-14 at the Bend of Ivy Retreat Center in Marshall, NC. This incredible mastermind opportunity is being facilitated by Certified Neuro Coach and Mastermind Guru, Maelea Galyon. Maelea called the High Country home for several years before moving back home to Maryville, TN to be near family.  For Full Press Release For More Information and to Register

N.C. Department of Transportation Requests Public Feedback The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is asking for public feedback on the Draft 10-Year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP identifies the construction funding and schedule for transportation projects over a 10-year period. We invite the public to learn more and submit their feedback September 1 through October 28.    We need your help getting the word out. Public feedback is very important to us. Putting people first is a commonsense way to plan and design public infrastructure. Please assist us in maximizing public outreach by forwarding this email or the attached flyer to your constituents, members, and/or staff.    The public can comment in the following ways:  Take an online survey on NCDOT’s public engagement website by October 28 at https://metroquestsurvey.com/ew73x  Submit comments online, by phone, or mail using the contact information associated with each county (view here)  Attend a drop-in meeting (view dates and locations here)    Next Steps: Once the public comment period ends, NCDOT will review and address comments. This will help in the next round of project prioritization for the 2024-2033 STIP. We will also share feedback with the Board of Transportation. The Board is expected to approve the Final 2024-2033 STIP in Summer 2023.    Note:  NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate. Anyone requiring special services can contact Simone Robinson at strobinson1@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6085 so that arrangements can be made.    Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request by calling 1-800-481-6494.    Aquellas personas que no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación llamando al 1-800-481-6494.

Now open: 2022 Small Business Credit Survey The Federal Reserve Banks invite you to take our annual 10-minute survey of small business owners and the self-employed. This survey is designed to track small business conditions and capital needs across the nation. Your confidential answers provide critical information to service providers, policymakers, and lenders to improve programs that help businesses like yours thrive. Take the survey by November 4, 2022 For more information about the survey and to see past reports, visit FedSmallBusiness.org. SBA North Carolina District Office Seeks Nominations for National Small Business Week 2023 Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2023? If so, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wants to hear from you! The SBA is pleased to announce it is accepting nominations for the 2023 SBA Small Business Person of the Year and other National Small Business Week Awards. Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination.  For the North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, 8(a) Graduate of the Year, Women's Business Center of the Year, and Small Business Development Center of the Year, the North Carolina District Office must receive all nominations by electronic submission ONLY to the District’s BOX account found at www.sba.gov/nsbw no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 8, 2022. Additional nominations are being sought for disaster recovery, federal procurement and small business investment company of the year; those nominations are to be submitted via separate box accounts as indicated in www.sba.gov/nsbw . To obtain additional information, please contact Eileen.Joyce@sba.gov.

How To Track and Make an EIDL Loan Payment You are responsible for your COVID-19 EIDL monthly payment obligation beginning 30 months from the disbursement date shown on the top of the front page of your Original Note. During this deferment: You may make voluntary payments without prepayment penalties Interest will continue to accrue on your loan during the deferment If you do not make voluntary payments during the deferment, a final balloon payment will be due on your loan at maturity Create an account in SBA’s Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) to monitor your loan status, there will also be a link to pay.gov so that you can make a payment. You must have a funded loan to access the CAFS system. Get account enrollment instructions. If you are in need of a copy of your loan closing documents you can contact the servicing center. For North Carolina the servicing center is the Birmingham Loan Servicing Center. Birmingham Service Office  Telephone: 800-736-6048 TTY: 711  Email:Bham.servicing@sba.gov Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday

Welcome New Members!

MBA Roofing MBA Roofing is family owned and operated by Emmett Eagle and sons Matt, Brant, and Alex. MBA Roofing was founded in 2007 in Lincolnton, North Carolina. We serve residential and commercial customers in Lincolnton, Hickory, Boone, Blowing Rock, Mooresville, Statesville, Taylorsville, and surrounding areas. We provide roofing repair, replacement, and new roofs for customers. We also install gutters and gutter guards for homes and businesses.  At MBA Roofing, we are dedicated to providing our clients with excellent materials and craftsmanship. Our roofers/tradesmen are trained to meet our high standards and provide superior craftsmanship. We have continued to grow quickly because our customers are satisfied. They gladly refer us to family and friends who are considering re-roofing their home or having gutter guards installed. We keep our clients informed throughout the entire process. We are trustworthy, honest, and straightforward. We live by high standards and strive to provide top quality services in a timely and professional manner.  We promise to never cut corners or cheapen the product. Josh Elliott - Phone: 704-735-3922 mbaroofing.com

Two Hoots Home Staging Our passion at Two Hoots Home Staging is taking your vision from ideas to reality. Inspired spaces do so much to enhance your living, as well as attract home buyers. We concentrate on creating a beautiful space for yourself or your potential buyer while providing functional, comfortable and fabulous homes that will remain classic for generations to come. We are client focused whether providing staging, interior styling/redesign or beautifying short-term rentals. Two Hoots is bonded, insured and certified. Serving the High Country.    We look forward to seeing you soon! Tammy Walker & Trudy Fletcher - Phone: 828-434-0500 Two Hoots Home Staging Website

Lantern Farm The Lantern Farm Features: Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and Christmas Trees. We have something for every season. Lantern Farm aspires to provide only the highest quality products and build memories that will last a lifetime. Our goal is not only to create distinctive experiences but also to provide decor and apparel that you can be proud to own. Located in West Jefferson, come to play or to stay. Chad Belteau - Phone: 828-278-9805 Lantern Farm Website

The Victorian Inn Blowing Rock The Victorian Inn offers quaint rooms and old-fashioned charm. Situated in the heart of lovely Blowing Rock, NC, The Victorian Inn is your mountain home away from home. Stay for the night, or the week, and settle into the peaceful rhythms of southern mountain living. Relax and escape the bustle of the city. We provide complimentary 100+ Mbps Wi-Fi, cable/premium TV, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, microwave, spa bath products, a down comforter, and an electric fireplace in every room - you can stay as connected (or disconnected) as you please. Linger on the Rhododendron Deck or enjoy a glass of wine in the English Garden. Cameron Snyder - Phone: 828-295-2172 242 Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 The Victorian Inn Website

More events and updates can be found on our online calendar. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Cathy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,100 member contacts each Thursday!

Thank you to our 2022 Chamber Partners!