Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Christmas is in air, Fort Payne is no exception

Christmas is definitely in the air. After the shopping frenzy of Black Friday, everyone's attention turns to enjoying the events of the season.
The story of the first Christmas will be presented at the Tom Bevill Lyceum on the campus of Northeast Alabama Community College on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Under the direction of Christina Wise, this live nativity will unfold in song, action and word. Tickets are $5 each and will be available at the door.
The annual Fort Payne Christmas parade will be Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. The parade begins at 18th Street N. and continues to Third Street S.
If you want to enter a float or a vehicle in the parade, you must register by Monday. There is a charge of $25 if you are not a member of the chamber. There is no charge for floats. For more information, call the chamber at 256-845-2741.
We have had several inquires for equestrian teams and horse-drawn wagons to enter the parade. These types of entries would really add to the spirit of the parade.
However, the chamber's insurance carrier will not allow this type of entry. There have been several injuries from animals becoming uncontrollable due to the crowd noise or hit by objects from the crowd.
Horses must be certified in crowd control. Therefore, the exception to this rule is the Sheriff's Mounted Patrol.
Christmas in the Park will begin at 4 p.m. in City Park. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.
The Fort Payne Film Society will present a Christmas movie in the DeKalb Theatre after the parade at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit the society's Facebook page.
Carol Beddingfield is the director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Make sure to save for Small Business Saturday

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community. Supporting them is a great way to help fuel the economy.
First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. The second annual Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 26.
Over the past two decades, small businesses have created 65 percent of new jobs. In fact, small local businesses are the largest employers nationally.
The overall message is to take pride in your community by spending locally.
The concept of Small Business Saturday was started by American Express. Being the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the U.S., the company wanted to support owners in growing their companies.
To entice even more shoppers, American Express is providing the card holder a $25 statement credit for shopping on Small Business Saturday.
You will need to register your American Express card and spend at least $25 with one of the registered Fort Payne businesses. All the information is online. Many of our businesses are participating in the event.
To register, visit the Small Business Saturday website or the Small Business Saturday Facebook page.
These sites also have marketing ideas for the small business owners.
Last year's program drove millions of dollars to small businesses across the U.S.
According to Michael H. Shuman, author of the book "Going Local," "Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporation and back into the community where it belongs."
Carol Beddingfield is the director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Holiday Market is like several shops in 1 spot

I began to panic today when someone said there are only five weeks until Christmas. How can I possibly get gifts for everyone on my list?
Then I remembered - the Holiday Market for Missions. The event, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church, will be Friday and Saturday in the Family Life Center.
This year's theme will be "Joyful Hearts Helping Others." The event is a fundraiser for the mission outreaches of FUMC.
One of the main programs is "Serving Our Savior" (SOS). Food and clothing are provided to those in need.
The chamber has recently become a drop off point for non-perishable food for this program. Join us as we try to make a difference in our community through donations to this food bank.
Hours of the market are Friday 2-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Door prizes will be given away. A free weekend getaway from Chestnut Bay Resort will be part of the drawing. Live music and refreshments will be available.
Holiday Market provides an opportunity for community vendors and community shoppers to come together under one roof and get an early start on their Holiday shopping.
A beautiful Christmas story will be told in dance by the Arise students. This performance alone would be worth your efforts to attend.
I bought so many unique items at last year's market. Items will range from purses to pieces of furniture. Not to mention the sweets that never made it as a gift.
If you have any questions, call Marianne Norris at 256-845-1141 for more information.
Carol Beddingfield is the director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Halloween event meets expectations

The positive compliments about the successful Halloween Block Party continue to come from all aspects of our community.
The event was a great example of people working together. It was an honor to partner with the Fort Payne Area Merchants Association.
More than 2,000 people enjoyed trick or treating with the downtown retail shops. The chamber gave 1,200 tickets for the door prize drawings.
The merchants not only gave candy but also the great door prizes. WZOB provided the live remote to entertain the crowd and draw for the prizes.
The Fort Payne Police Department started giving out treats many years ago. They inspired us to carry the idea all through downtown.
A big thanks to Chief Randy Bynum and his crew to insure the safety of all the participants during the event.
The purpose of the ticket to be eligible for the door prizes is to get potential customers inside the stores. I heard so many say that they would be back to shop with the merchants.
I know of no other town our size where you can buy artwork from a vendor that has been featured at the Smithsonian to a 14-year-old girl who is just beginning her career.
These artists are Cal Breed at Katherine's Framing and Jonnie at the Green Egg.
The Holiday Market will return to the First Methodist Church Family Life Center on Nov. 18-19.
Christmas Parade entry forms are available at the chamber office. The deadline to register is Dec. 5.
There is a charge of $25 per vehicle if you are not a member of the chamber. That is another good reason to join the chamber.
Carol Beddingfield is the director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Devan Lowe Celebrates 50 Years

I am ashamed to admit the fact that I love cars. I remember as a small child envying my older siblings because they could drive.
My brother always had the "coolest" cars. Watching him race at Green Valley Drag Strip was a huge thrill for me. He even let me work on the cars with him.
Having grown up in Attalla, we knew that great car deals came from Wayne Lowe. His sons, Devan, Rex, and Larry have carried on the tradition throughout their careers.
Devan Lowe celebrates his 50th anniversary in the car dealership business. He started to work for Cliff West Motors in Fort Payne in 1961. A partnership with the company began in 1968.
From that beginning, Devan has owned dealerships in Rome, Ga., Gadsden, and Rainbow City.
In recognition of his success, Time Magazine honored Devan with the Dealer Award of the Year.
Whether you are purchasing a new vehicle or having your car serviced, the main goal of the employees of Devan Lowe, Inc. is the help you and get you back on the road quickly. They treat their customers like family.
The 75 employees have been trained and certified in their job duties. Service technicians have the knowledge and expertise to perform repair and maintenance on the entire computer driven mechanics of the new vehicles.
Devan Lowe, Inc. takes great pride in the number of second and third generation customers that they serve. The Fort Payne dealerships include Devan Lowe Chrysler, Inc. and Lowe Buick, Pontiac GMC, Inc.
Call 256-845-0922 to schedule an appointment or drop by 1107 Gault Ave., S.
I congratulate Devan on his 50th anniversary. You have grown up strong because of your sturdy roots planted in Attalla.
Carol Beddingfield is the director of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce.