Wednesday, May 25, 2011

May 25, 2011
Carol Beddingfield
Executive Director

Chamber Chatter


Budget shortfalls have caused many hardships for the DeKalb County Public Library. The library is now closed each Wednesday. The Book Mobile no longer serves the communities in DeKalb County.

According to Elizabeth Tucker, librarian, state budget cuts have created the loss in many of the library services. A library this size usually operates with 8 full time staff. There are 3 full time and one part time positions.

Average visits are around 53,000. The over 80,000 printed materials as well as computer access are valuable to all ages.

The Board of the Mary C. Weatherly Memorial Foundation is seeking the public’s help in solving the budget crisis. A fund raising effort will begin the first of June.

The Foundation has made improvements to the facility. New carpet and the remodeling of the lobby and bathrooms are examples.

The Summer Reading Program, which attracts scores of kids and challenges them to read, is also funded by the Foundation. The cost is $3500 per year.

The Foundation is giving everyone the opportunity to make a tax deductible donation for the benefit of the library.

When you become a Friend of the Library, you also help improve our area’s quality of life. The library is one of the factors that business and industry leaders consider in locating here.

Your gift will not only improve the education of all of our citizens but it will also help in the creation of a more stable financial future.

Call Elizabeth Tucker, 256-845-2671, to volunteer or to become a Friend of the Library.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Chamber After Hours Block Party

As you have read, many businesses in our area have stepped up to the challenges that the tornado disaster brought. I want to personally thank each one that has given time, money, and man-hours to help in the cause.

We will all be stronger if we adhere to the Chamber’s logo: “Together We Can”.

To showcase businesses working together, the Chamber has created our first After Hours Block Party.

The merchants of Glenn Crossing will host this fun event on May 19th at 5:00 PM at 1800 Glenn Boulevard.

Usually, the After Hours is held at one business. Our block party will include the following merchants: Los Arcos, the UPS Store, Burke’s Outlet, Verizon, General Nutrition Centers, Shoe Show, and Hibbett Sporting Goods.

May 25, 2011
Carol Beddingfield
Executive Director

Chamber Chatter

A special treat will be the live remote from WZOB. Doris Hobbs and Jack Martin will create a fun atmosphere. You could even be on the radio!

Refreshments, door prizes, and discount coupons will be available. To be eligible for the grand door prize, your ticket must be validated in each store. The winner will be drawn at the WZOB table.

Bobby McKeehan’s mobile snow cone factory will be creating your favorite frozen flavor. The UPS Store will provide tickets for the snow cones.

You can get some great bargains for the upcoming summer months for the kids and other family members.

The Chamber encourages everyone to shop locally. The public is invited. Bring a friend and join us for the Chamber’s First Block Party.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

5/11/2011

The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing low interest rate loans to those who were affected by the storm disaster in our area.

Assistance to homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations, and businesses will be available. You must have filed the proper paperwork with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by June 27, 2011 to qualify.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to
$2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans for small businesses will be available to help meet working capital needs regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.563 percent for homeowners and renters; 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years.

Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

If you are interested in applying for an SBA loan, your first step is to file with FEMA for disaster assistance. You can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or file at the FEMA disaster recovery center located in the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center in Rainsville. The hours are 7AM - 7PM.

The second step is to contact the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or fill out an application on line at the SBA secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Please help the Chamber by providing this information to others so that people can start rebuilding their lives. "Together WE Can!"

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sweet Seasons Farm

May 4, 2011
Carol Beddingfield
Executive Director
Chamber Chatter

The Sweet Seasons Farm invites everyone to the third annual Art at the Barn on May 7th from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Farm is located at 2339 County Road 608, Valley Head, Alabama.

This spring art sale will feature works by over 60 regional artist and artisans.
Some of the types of art will include pottery, antiques, handmade jewelry, blown glass, forged metal, paintings, and garden accents. Delicious baked goods along with food vendors will also be offered.

Donations will be accepted for the tornado victims at the event. All the artists have agreed to participate in the fund raising efforts.

Entertainment by various musical groups will be provided throughout the day. Demonstrations will include sheep herding, yarn spinning, iron forging, and hypertufa creations.

The Shabby Sheep Barn will be stocked full of antiques and other fun finds. The Sweet Seasons Farm Event Barn LLC will be housing a lot of the artists. This new facility is available for hosting such events as parties, weddings, receptions, etc.

Justin Manning has created his own line of products which are also available at the Barn. His hypertufa creations look like aged concrete. These products are made of peat moss, perlite, cement, and reinforced with chopped fiber. This combination makes the containers lightweight and porous.

Justin not only teaches hypertufa classes, but he advises people who are interested in concrete stains, dyes, or sealers. He produces concrete table tops, sinks, accessories, and statuary repairs. My favorite is his reproduction of an old grist wheel.

The art show is located on one of Alabama’s oldest and largest sheep farms. Paulette and Richard Manning have taken run-down acres and created 175 acres of beautiful as well as environmental friendly farm land.

I congratulate the Manning family on the creation of the fastest growing event in our area. This is a great opportunity to get that extra special Mother’s Day gift.

Visit the Chamber’s website for a link to these two Chamber members’ web pages- Art at the Barn and Creo Concrete. View the various artists on Paulette Manning’s facebook page.

To get to the Sweet Seasons Farm, travel north on US Hwy 11 toward Hammondville. Turn left onto County Road 608 (just past the Hammondville city limits sign). Go 3.2 miles to Sweet Seasons Farm on the left.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

First Presbyterian Church

April 27, 2011
Carol Beddingfield
Executive Director


Chamber Chatter

As I sat in the First Presbyterian Church for Holy Week services, I was in awe of the history of the sanctuary.

The church is part of the thirty-two churches that comprise the Hallelujah Trail of North Alabama. Each church is at least 100 years old, is on its original site, and is still holding services today.

Members of the church stood outside to greet me for each service. You could sense the devotion that Bobby Johnson and Dexter Smith feel for their church.

The stain glass windows will take your breath away. The worn wooden floors creak with many memories of births, weddings, baptism, as well as funerals.
Located downtown, the church not only reflects important events in individual lives but also the history of our city.

The church was built in 1875. It is the oldest church still in use in Fort Payne.

The Master Minorities of Fort Payne High School presented a beautiful Easter Program. This group of high students is sponsored by the Ministerial Association.

The students of Arise also performed a dance interpretation of the crucifixion.

If you would like to view the historical First Presbyterian Church, call the church office at 256-845-2915.

The Chamber has brochures describing the location of the other 31 churches on The Hallelujah Trail of North Alabama. Stop by 300 Gault Avenue, North for more information.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Art at the Barn 2011

The Sweet Seasons Farm invites everyone to the second annual Art at the Barn on May 7th from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Farm is located at 2339 County Road 608, Valley Head, Alabama.

This spring art sale will feature works by regional artist and artisans.
Some of the types of art will include pottery, antiques, handmade jewelry, blown glass, forged metal, paintings, and garden accents. Delicious baked goods along with food vendors will also be offered.

The art show is located on one of Alabama’s oldest and largest sheep farms. Paulette and Richard Manning have taken run-down acres and created 175 acres of beautiful and environmentally friendly farm land.

Grass-fed lamb production is the cornerstone of the farming operation. No grains are fed and no animal is fed in confinement. The goal is to work with nature with no chemicals or herbicides.

These farming techniques produce meats that are healthy, all natural, nutritious, and flavorful. Current research indicates that eating grass-fed meats may reduce your risk of a number of diseases.

As for taste, most people agree that grass-fed is superb. It has a sweeter and milder taste, plus it has no greasy after taste.

In addition to meat productions sales, Sweet Seasons Farms offer commercial breeding stock. The sheep have White Dorper-Katahdin mix of approximate 5/8 to 3/8 percentage.

The Mannings invite everyone to visit the art sale and to view the Farm. If you have questions concerning the sale of meat, please call them at 256-635-6791.