Thursday, July 30, 2020

Weekly Village Update 7.30.20

Chamber News
Help us Pack the Bus!
The Chamber has partnered with Back 2 School Festival to collect last minute needs for Watauga County students.

Drop off your donations at the Chamber by Noon on Thursday, August 6th.

Suggested donations include: markers, scissors, headphones & earbuds.

Watauga County Schools just announced they will remote learn for the first 9 weeks of school. Headphones/earbuds are important for virtual learning!!
State of the Town
State of the Town
Thursday, August 13th

Tune in to hear about this year's successes, current challenges and the future of our village. Updates from the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Town of Blowing Rock and Blowing Rock TDA.

Please submit questions to villagefoundation@blowingrock.com by Wednesday, August 12th at 5:00pm. The event will be live streamed on the Town of Blowing Rock's YouTube channel.
NC Restricting Late Night Alcohol Sales
Governor Roy Cooper announced this week a doubling down on prevention measures with Executive Order 153stopping the sale of alcoholic drinks in restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries at 11 pm. North Carolina bars that are currently closed will remain closed.
 
This order will take effect Friday, July 31.
2022 Watauga County Revaluation
Store owners may start seeing one or two people outside their establishments taking pictures and making notes, but they will have a Watauga County Tax Office ID Badge attached to a lanyard around their neck. They’ll be working between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday for the next several months. 
Forward to Fall
Forward to Fall, a virtual forum set for August 11th from 11am-12:30pm.

  • Wit Tuttell - Visit NC - Update on expected travel trends for late summer, fall, and winter.
  • Dr. Beverly Emory - Deputy Superintendent, NC DPI - logistics update on the return to public school across our region, what went into those decisions, and the relationship between the State and local districts on managing this effort.
  • Talia Freeman - Beech Mountain Resort -- How seasonal businesses are gearing up for the year ahead and how changes in federal hiring rules may impact workforce for some of these key regional businesses.
  • Ben Teague - Biltmore Farms - How we can best prepare for the short term and long term effects of people seeking out our area of the state to relocate their families/businesses. 

This is a free event, and registration is live now at this link: https://www.boonechamber.com/events/forwardtofall
Christmas in July is still going on!
The Chamber will be celebrating Christmas in July by selling previous Holiday Ornaments for $ 5 each.

We have limited quantity of:
2019- Mayview Manor
2018- Sold Out
2017- Memorial Park Gazebo
2016- Martin House
2015- 1888 Museum
2014- Grandfather Mountain
2013- Sold Out
2012- Edgewood Cottage
2011- 50th Anniversary of Art in the Park
2010- 7th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway

To purchase ornaments visit or call the Chamber at 828.295.7851
Our State Made in NC Awards
The Made in NC Awards are for all you North Carolina makers, bakers, crafters, and creators.

Categories include: Food, Drink, Style, Craft, and Home & Garden.

Learn more here. Applications close August 12th.
Business Resources
Upcoming Activities & Meetings

Member News
Vincent Properties Joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, today announced that North Carolina-based Vincent Properties has joined its network. The independently owned company will add one office and ten agents to the global brokerage network and operate as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties.

Carolina Mountain Live Magazine
Be a part of the recovery and get your name out in the forefront with Carolina Mountain Life Magazine. Partner with CML for the 2020 Autumn edition out mid-September through November 25,000 copies strong and online, with a wide regional distribution.

Contact us to reserve your space by August 7. We look forward to promoting your business.
828-737-0771
App Summer Fest
Entering its final stretch, the all-virtual monthlong incarnation of Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts event, An Appalachian Summer Festival, presents visual artist showcases, award-winning films, classic theatre with a modern spin, a popular sculpture walk, and a variety of livestreamed music ranging from orchestral and classical to standards and bluegrass. All events are free. The all-virtual festival runs daily through July 31. Take your seat at appsummeronline.org.
The 15th annual fundraiser to stream on Facebook Live and YouTube Live; online auction to run from August 14 thru August 20.

Executive Director Tina B. Krause, along with the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina Board of Directors will be broadcasting its annual Hope Luncheon on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m. via Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

A center-piece of the event has been the wine social and silent auction. This year, the silent auction transforms to an online auction that will be open for a full week beginning Thursday August 14 at 12:00 p.m. and run through Thursday August 20 at 12:00 p.m. The total value of items up for auction exceeds $50,000 and includes a 1967 Classic Plymouth Belvedere, one week stays at Holden Beach and Ocean Isle, Biltmore Estate weekend excursions, original oil paintings, custom metal artwork, travel packages, dozens of gift baskets and over one hundred area adventures and gift certificates.
Tanger Outlets Activities
SOUNDS of SUMMER this Saturday 12 PM – 2 PM at Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock. Located on stage in the center courtyard, come shop sidewalk sales, save and support local musicians! This Saturday’s free sounds are compliments of The Rewind. Listen to their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s tunes while you eat and drink at Tanger’s new restaurant, Egg Rollin’ and treat yourself to dessert from Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream and take home some Mookie’s Kettle Korn! SOUNDS of SUMMER is every other Saturday from 12 PM – 2 PM
Visit Tanger Outlet Blowing Rock Facebook page for more details!

FIRST FRIDAY ARTISAN FAIR, Friday 8/7 from 12 PM – 5 PM at Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock. Located in the center courtyard, come shop, save and support local artists selling their goods and crafts! See you at Tanger!
COMBATING SCAMS & FRAUD DURING A PANDEMIC
Rumple Memorial Church is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, August 12th at 3:00pm on combating scams & fraud during a pandemic.


Register in advance for this meeting:
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.
This week Regina met with Bill Arie, the new General Manager at Modern Ford. She got a tour of the new Ford F150!

Modern Ford of Boone is located at 300 New Market Blvd, Boone, NC 28607. Just behind New Market Center.
Last week the Chamber received a letter in the mail from a recent visitor. Hazel, 97-years old, writes that shes has just returned from ten delightful days at Chetola Resort & Spa. She has visited over 40 States and several country's and Blowing Rock, North Carolina is the prettiest she's ever seen. Signed- A Happy Visitor 
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 2020 Chamber Partners!