BECOME A GARDENING GURU: Master Gardener Training will be offered by Alleghany Cooperative Extension every Wednesday, Jan. 11 through March 28 from 1-5p at the Conference Room of the County Office Building across from Halsey Drug. Program costs are $11 per class ($110 total). Graduates are required to provide 40 hours of volunteer service to Extension or in community gardens. What is the old saying: Give a man a squash and feed him for a meal. Teach him to garden and feed him for a lifetime. What a great way to revive our agricultural heritage. But you better hurry. Applications are at the Extension Office. For more information, drop by the Extension office in the top floor of the County Office Building or call or email Teresa Herman 336-372-5597 teresa_herman@ncsu.edu.
GREAT BUSINESS TO BUSINESS DEAL: Bland Holland is the manager of the recently re-opened Mountain Hearth Lodge at mile post 231.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It offers luxury accommodations, gourmet breakfasts and impeccable service. This is one of the oldest bed and breakfast inns in the county and is known for its serene surroundings and for pampering customers. Holland is offering you a certificate for a free night's stay for every five paid nights' stay you refer to Mountain Hearth Lodge. There are no black-out dates or restrictions on the certificates. Use them for yourself, family and friends or best of all, for your customers coming to the area on business or for leisure travel. Please drop in and tour the property at any time or call 336-372-8743 for detailed information. If you refer a guest, make sure that we have your name and company listed to get the proper credits posted.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST CHARLES RUDY presented a program on suicide at Thursday's Rotary Meeting in the Alleghany Memorial Hospital Solarium. He stressed that depression, the underlying reason for most suicides, is treatable but individuals have to seek treatment. The Jan. 12 Rotary program will be the Alleghany Honor Guard, that is composed of firemen, emergency and law enforcement personnel and is open to retired military. Rotary meets every Thursday at 7a in the Alleghany Memorial Hospital Solarium and consists of a program and breakfast. Visitors are welcome. For more information, contact President George White 336-372-2265.BUY A LITTLE, WIN A LOT: Alleghany Arts and Craft has deal going on. Make a purchase and complete a chance to earn a $100 gift certificate! Last minute shoppers: What a treat. Buy a gift for a friend and win $100 in handmade art! Drawings are quarterly in April, July, October and January. 336-372-1776
QUICK EDITORIAL: Kudos for the decorated Christmas trees in the former Teapot Museum storefront. Few things cast a shadow on downtown retail than an empty storefront, but no one hardly noticed that the old museum site was empty because of the decorated trees filling the front of the building. Hats off to the Sparta Revitalization Committee and particularly Johnnie Whitlow for spearheading this project and her helpers, Sandy Rost and Cheri Turner and, for helping decorate the front of the building. Thanks to the following farms for donating trees: Buddy and Brenda Nelson, Jeff Cannon, Homer and Bonnie Sides, Mark Pardue and Joe Edwards. And a big thank you to the following organizations and businesses for decorating these trees: Mountain Dreams Realty, the Wildflowers Garden Club of Sparta, Blue Ridge Christian School, Mary's Splashers Water Aerobics Class, and Quilters Guild. Congratulations to the Wildflowers Garden Club for being selected the best decorated tree . Their nature themed combination of dried flowers and birds (pictured) won the judge's heart.
HAPPENING EVERY WEEK: Crouse House Pickers: Local blue grass and old time musicians jam each Monday, 2 blocks north of the Courthouse at the Crouse House in Crouse Park, beginning at 6p. Come and play or just listen. No charge, but a donation is appreciated. 336-372-5473
Chamber Gift Certificates: Green like money! Can be redeemed at any Chamber Merchant for goods and services (even at the hammer, nails, 2-by-4s, plywood and electrical cable place)
Weather permitting, there's lots to do in our community. Where provided, click on the links for more information.
Support Luke Hampton at the benefit book sale that continues through January. Buy a book and support this cause.
Atrium Gallery presents the Alleghany Quilters Guild Annual Quilt Show in the atrium of the Blue Ridge Business Development Center. This is a free show.
The Alleghany Library is accepting entries into the NW Regional Library Photography Competition. Check it out. You picture could be a winner.
Wednesday, January 18
Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Member Meeting will be held in the Blue Ridge Electric Conference Room beginning at 5:15p. All Chamber members are encouraged to attend.
The Alleghany Quilters Guild is sponsoring Ruthanne Sawyer, a quilt artist, of Elk Creek, VA who will be
teaching a machine applique quilting class. Seating is limited. To register, for more info and for the
supply list, call Jo Seagle 336 372-7862.
AREA MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
>> Alleghany Jubilee: Come to listen or come to dance to the blue grass and old time musicians who play on Tuesday beginning at 7p and Saturday at 8p. Admission $4. The Jubilee is located on North Main Street, across from the courthouse. 336-372-4591
>> Crouse House Pickers: Local blue grass and old time musicians jam each Monday, 2 blocks north of the Courthouse at the Crouse House in Crouse Park, beginning at 6p. Come and play or just listen. No charge, but a donation is appreciated. 336-372-5473
ACTV SPECIALS
>> Alleghany Jubilee on TV: Every Thursday at 7p on Alleghany CableVision channel 98 (formerly Channel 50) and Skybest cable channel 21.
>> Alleghany Memories: Interviews with long-time Alleghany residents recalling local history Every Thursday at 8p on Alleghany CableVision Channel 98 (formerly Channel 50) and Skybest cable channel 21.
GREAT ACTIVITIES TO DO ANYTIME
>> Barn Quilt Trails: Barns and other structures throughout Alleghany County are adorned with large squares illustrating quilt patterns and add interest to a driving tour of the countryside. Drop by Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Center for a brochure. We are in the rock building with the green awning (58 South Main Street, Sparta). Our foyer is always open and a brochure is always available.
>> Driving Loops: Brochures for three driving loops of the Alleghany countryside are available at the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Center. Each loop is about a leisurely hour's drive and includes information on historic points along the way. The Chamber office is in the rock building with the green awning (58 South Main Street, Sparta). Our foyer is always open and a brochure is always available.
>> Alleghany Historical Museum is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by to experience local history and to see the new displays, 7 North Main Street, Sparta.
>> Veterans' Morning Coffee at the VFW: The VFW hosts an informal coffee just for veterans every Wednesday from 8:30-11 a.m. Click to learn more.
Check for upcoming events: On our website are listings for our Calendar. Check them often and let us know if your activity is not listed.
Bob Bamberg
Executive Director
Alleghany Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1237 Sparta, NC 28675
336-372-5473
Director@Sparta-NC.com
Sparta-NC.com
This email is a weekly update of news and information from your Chamber of Commerce. If you do not receive a fully formatted copy, it can be viewed on the Web at http://www.blogger.com/www.sparta-nc.blogspot.com.
Subscribe: If you are viewing this on the Web and would like a copy emailed to you as soon as it is updated each week, email director@sparta-nc.com with Subscribe in the subject line.
Unsubscribe: If you would prefer not to receive this communication by email, please just send a return email to Director@Sparta-NC.com with the words Unsubscribe in the subject line, and you will be removed from the distribution list.
