Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Connection August 11

 

 

By Lezley Brown

 

The tickets are going fast, but they are still available!!!  The Chamber of Commerce is hosting An Evening of Speed Networking!  Because networking is just a fancy word for making friends! Our event will be held on Tuesday, August 30^th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cedar Canyon in Sulphur Springs. This is the perfect opportunity for local business owners to network in a non-pressured environment, meet new people, promote and describe their businesses, and enjoy delicious food and beverages provided by Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions. Many door prizes will be given away throughout the evening.  There are very limited spaces available, so tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.  Tickets are $25, so call the Chamber of Commerce at (903)885-6515 to reserve your ticket right away! It’s going to be fantastic!

IT IS TIME to submit your entries into the first annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics.  Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category.  The picture must be newer than January 1, 2014, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 1^st to August 31^st.  There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to WeTheChamber@gmail.com  Rules and releases are available on the Chamber of Commerce website.  I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!

Let’s talk about something I know you have been waiting for… It’s STEW time!  The Chamber of Commerce sent out letters to sponsors and cooks this week inviting them to the 47^th Annual Stew Cook-off.  These letters contained all the information you will need to sign up to sponsor or cook stew.  If you have moved and did not receive your letter, please call the Chamber at (903)885-6515 to update your address and get your letter.  If you are interested in cooking stew or sponsoring stew for the first time, please call the Chamber to request information. We need more cooks and more sponsors, so don’t hesitate!

In regards to stew pots, sometimes individuals are not using their stew pots any longer and would like to sell them.  If this describes you, please let the Chamber know.  We have people calling all the time wanting to purchase used stew pots, so we can pass your information along to the appropriate contact.

Finally, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Cook-off.  There are several rules and regulations to follow, but if you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber.  You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regards to rules and expectations.  Deadline for volunteers is August 26^th.  Once we have all of our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization.

Just a reminder… effective August 1^st we have new business hours.  The Chamber of Commerce is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  We are closed on Mondays from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. as well.

Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions hosted their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 9^th at 11:30 a.m.

Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions held their ribbon cutting celebration at their new restaurant and market located at 313 Main Street.  Lyndsay’s offers a daily lunch menu but also offers take home options to bake at dinner time.  She offers Take and Bake Options which are prepared and ready for baking, and she also offers Mise en Boxes.  Mise en Boxes are containers of the appropriate ingredients to take home and cook for yourself. You may even order online by going to www.lyndsaysplates.com.

Days Inn of Sulphur Springs hosted a ribbon cutting and Grand Opening August 10^th at 5 p.m.

Days Inn of Sulphur Springs is under new ownership and has been recently completely remodeled.  They hosted their ribbon cutting and Business After Hours event on Wednesday, August 10^th at 5 p.m.  Everyone enjoyed live entertainment, snacks, fellowship, and fun!  The hotel is beautiful and ready for guests!

The Venue at Two Nineteen will host its Grand Opening Celebration Friday, August 12^th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Appetizers and drinks will be served at the Grand Opening of The Venue at Two Nineteen on Main Street.  Live entertainment will also be provided by James Taylor.  Please make plans stop in, admire, and celebrate this new venue on Main Street.

Dana Hodges Farmers Insurance is hosting an open house Friday, August 12^th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Farmers Insurance, Dana Hodges Agency at 108 Gilmer Street, is hosting a wine and cheese open house and mixer from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, August 12^th.  There will be a drawing for a $25 gift certificate. Please make plans to attend!

The 10^th Annual Hot August Night BBQ Cook-off will be held on Saturday, August 13^th

The whole weekend is scheduled to be full of Hot August Nights!  Come watch firefighters from across the country compete in the “Toughest 2 Minutes in Sports” at the SSHS Football Stadium parking lot on Friday, August 12^th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and again on Saturday the 13^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The BBQ cook-off food service will begin at 5 p.m., and the Third Day with Steven Curtis Chapman Concert is slated for Saturday evening.  For ticket information, please visit itickets.com or call 903-885-7639.

Hot August Night is also introducing a new event… the Hot August Night Street Party featuring James Taylor from The Bachelorette.  The Street Party will be held Friday night, August 12^th, on Main Street.  The concert is free and will begin at 9 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration for Beauty Grace Boutique on Wednesday, August 17^th at noon

The Beauty Grace Boutique will host a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, August 17^th at noon.  The new boutique is located at 101 Bill Bradford Road Suite 21, and specializes in women’s fashion and accessories.  The owner, Ana Velasco, has spent time selling her merchandise at Canton, so she is thrilled to be opening a shop right here in Sulphur Springs.  Please make plans to attend the ribbon cutting and do a bit of shopping! Her opening day for customers is Monday, August 15^th, and her hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Hopkins County Fall Festival presents Emerald City Band on Friday, August 19^th

The Emerald City Band will be performing on Friday, August 19^th, on Celebration Plaza.  For ticket information, contact a Fall Festival Board member or by calling (903)243-1925.

The Venue at Two Nineteen will host its Ribbon Cutting Celebration Wednesday, August 24th at noon

Please make plans to attend the ribbon cutting celebration for The Venue at Two Nineteen on Main Street at noon.  We have all watched this building with anticipation wondering how beautiful this venue would become.  Well, now is the time to see for yourself.  Put the ribbon cutting on your calendar, and we’ll see you at noon!

Adult Leadership Class being offered for the Fall!  Sign up Now!!!

Lynda Hager reported that she would be offering an Adult Leadership Class starting in August for anyone who is interested.  The Adult Leadership Class is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins county Chamber of Commerce.  The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. Leadership Sulphur Springs is a nine-month session, with meetings held once a month. The deadline is quickly approaching, and application will be accepted until August 15^th. For more information, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.

First United Methodist Church will host Divorce Care every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Divorce Care continues every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through September 13^th in the administration building at First United Methodist Church.  All who are dealing with separation or divorce are invited to attend.

Lone Star Quilt Guild currently selling raffle tickets for the 17^th Annual Quilt Show

The Lone Star Quilt Guild is currently selling raffle tickets for the 2016 Raffle Quilt called Autumn Stars. Autumn Stars was designed by Joy Gregory, made by guild members, and quilted by Debra Hager.  Tickets are 1 for $1 or 6 for $5.  The 17^th Annual Quilt Show will be held September 16^th and 17^th at The ROC, First Baptist Church Outreach Center at 115 Putman Street in Sulphur Springs.  We have tickets available here at the Chamber of Commerce, or you may purchase tickets from Quilt Guild members.

Workforce Solutions will host its annual LEAP Conference on September 23^rd from 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting its annual LEAP (Learning Endorsements and Professions) Youth Expo on Friday, September 23rd.  This event is very much like a job fair except that it is geared to educate eighth graders and help guide them as they make their endorsement selections heading into high school.  Workforce Solutions is seeking a wide variety of companies and businesses to attend the LEAP Youth Expo to describe your business and expose eighth graders to all career avenues after graduation.  Since students now choose their high school endorsements while in eighth grade, the Expo is perfect for them.  Please consider attending this Expo and taking visuals and information to give away.  They will be so thankful to have you there!  Please call Bart Spivy at (903)794-9490 ext. 513 with any questions.

New members to the Chamber of Commerce:

Welcome to Dana Hodges Farmers Insurance Agency at 108 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs.  Also welcome to Fireside BBQ & Catering located at 9457 Texas Hwy 19 North in Sulphur Springs. We are very excited to welcome these businesses to the Chamber of Commerce!  Also, Soundmind Productions has changed their name to Brightstar TV.  Michael Branch, owner of Brightstar TV, just wanted everyone to be aware of the name change.

Celebration Plaza’s Friday night movie will be The Minions at 8 p.m.  Saturday morning, Yoga on the Square will be offered from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The Celebration Market will be held on Celebration Plaza from 6-10 p.m. and Matt Dunn will provide your entertainment starting at 6 p.m.