Friday, October 16, 2020

Weekly Village Update 10.15.20

 

Chamber News
Voting in Blowing Rock
Early voting will take place in Town Hall October 15th - 31st from 8:00am to 7:30pm.

Election Day voting will take place on November 3rd at Blowing Rock Elementary from 6:30am to 7:30pm.
Grow With Google
Using YouTube to Grow Your Business
Tuesday, October 27th from 1:00-2:00pm

Video marketing is highly effective in boosting brand awareness, generating leads, increasing sales, and connecting with your audience. Did you know that YouTube is now the second-largest search engine in the world (behind Google) with over 2 billion monthly logged-in users watching 1 billion hours of video per day?

Even more staggering is this stat: YouTube reaches 91% of the online population in the US. Today, when people want to know how to do something, they often turn to YouTube first.

Real Estate Report
The High Country real estate market hit a new sales high in September, according to the monthly real estate report by the High Country Association of REALTORS®.
REALTORS® sold 434 homes worth $171.41 million last month, eclipsing the then-record 370 homes sold in July. In that three-month time span - July to September - REALTORS® sold more homes than they had in the first six months of the year (1,172 to 1,041).
Overall unit sales for the year so far - 2,213 - exceeded annual sales recorded for each year from 2007 to 2017. It’s also 85 percent of sales recorded the entirety of last year, as recorded within the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It tracks all REALTOR® transactions in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties.
Sellers’ market trends can also be seen in the median sold price - the midpoint at which half of all homes sold either above or below. The median sold price so far this year is $315,000, 6.7 percent higher than the median sold price for all of 2019.

RETOOLNC Grant Program
Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) are vital to the community and economy in North Carolina. These businesses are at-risk of permanent closure as a result of COVID-19. The RETOOLNC program will help address the challenges that certified NC HUBs and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms are facing as they work to recover from the pandemic.

Funded at $12 million, the HUB Small Business Impact Grant Program (RETOOLNC) will be administered by the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB Office) in partnership with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) and the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development (the Institute).

Initiative Capital, a program of The Institute, will service businesses that start with A-K. Businesses beginning with L-Z will be serviced by Carolina Small Business Development Fund.
High Country Labor Report
To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday.

Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday!
Upcoming Activities & Meetings

Member News
New Members!
Help us welcome new members by checking out their website or following them on social media!

Tweetsie Christmas
Beginning November 13th, Tweetsie Railroad will host Tweetsie Christmas, every Friday, Saturday, and select weekday evenings through December 31st. The park will open at 5:00 p.m. and the train will depart every 40 minutes beginning at 5:30 pm. 
Tickets are $44.00 for an adult, $38.00 for a child (age 3-12), and free for children age 2 and under. 
They will go on sale Tuesday, October 13th. Space is limited due to reduced capacity. Buy your tickets online (link to tickets) or call 877-TWEETSIE (893-3874).
For more information about Tweetsie Christmas visit Tweetsie.com.
App Ski Mtn Pre Season Sale
October 16th- 25th

Appalachian Ski Mtn.’s 23rd annual preseason sale. Make plans to come out and take advantage of the huge savings on all your winter needs. Slopeside at Appalachian Ski Mtn., you will find everything from Skis and Snowboards to Helmets, Accessories, and Children’s clothing, all discounted up to 70% off!
Doc's Rocks Re-Opening
Doc's Rocks will re-open at their new location at 100 Shoppes on the Parkway Drive on Friday, October 23rd. Doc's Rocks will be open 11am-7pm.

Go check out their new space!
Virtual Book Club
Caldwell Hospice Serving the High Country and Watauga County Public Library will partner to offer Provoking Thoughts Virtual Book Club via Zoom on the third Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8pm beginning October 21, 2020. The group will discuss four of author Mitch Albom’s most thought provoking books! Monica Caruso will facilitate the group.

October 21, 2020
Tuesdays with Morrie is a memoir by Mitch Albom about a series of visits Albom made to his former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz gradually dies of ALS. The book topped the New York Times Non-Fiction Best-sellers of 2000.

Register for the virtual book club on Eventbrite or contact Erica Andrews at 828.754.0101, 1.844.MY.JOURNEY, or eandrews@caldwellhospice.org. Participants will receive a Zoom link for the book club meetings. Limited to 10 participants. To borrow a copy of the book from the Watauga County Public Library contact Monica Caruso at 828.264.8784, ext. 4.
Book Signing at BR Antiques Co-OP
Book signing of “Garden Secrets of Bunny Mellon” at Blowing Rock Co-Op Store this coming weekend!

Saturday October 17, 12-5
Sunday October 18, 12-4


Watauga Humane Society Fundraiser
After 10+ years and thousands of dogs, our floors and kennels have all seen better days. The floors are in need of sealing and repair. As you can imagine, 10 years of wear and tear, cleaning chemicals and thousands of dogs using the kennels has taken a toll. 
 
The kennels themselves are deteriorating and our state inspector has warned that they will soon fail inspection. Due to their design, the kennels now in use are very difficult to sanitize and are unsafe for dogs in some circumstances. After much discussion, research and planning, the WHS Board of Directors has approved a design that will better protect our dogs from injury and unsanitary conditions. The new kennel design includes a “fear free” feature that lessens the amount of distraction the dogs receive in the kennels and will reduce their stress.
 
The estimated cost for this project is approximately $147,000 to resurface the floors and upgrade our doggie quarters. 

DeWoolfson Sale
DeWoolfson Fall Feather Sale
October 10-24

Receive an extra 20% off on Dewoolfson down pillows and comforters in 5 weights. Sale available in store or online at dewoolfsonlinens.com
Oasis Virtual 5K
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Oasis is hosting a virtual 5k fundraiser to raise money and awareness.

When: Any time between October 18-24 (Domestic Violence Awareness Month Week of Action)
Where: Wherever you are!
How: Walk, run, hike, bike, however it feels best for your body! Complete the entire 5k at once or spread it out. This event is virtual, so there will be no winners. No one will monitor your progress--do what feels right to you. 
Cost: A suggested donation of $25, but anything counts!
WYN Festival of Trees
Thursday, December 3rd

Like everything, Festival of Trees has been reimagined this year! WYN is kickin' it old-school with a fun & festive TELETHON (with modern twists)!  It's sure to delight with local holiday entertainment, contests to enter, and a HUGE raffle that will knock your socks off!!! Not to worry: Decorated trees will still be on display in various locations around the area (available for viewing and online auction), along with gifts for under the tree. Stay tuned for more information coming soon, and mark your calendar NOW! In support of Western Youth Network.
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.
The Hellbender Bed & Beverage is open! Smoothies and coffee are available 8:30-11 and a full menu from 12-8. Go check them out!
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!

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