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Chamber Hosts Wine-Tasting Social at Stone Mountain Vineyards By Jay Crawford DYKE (September 2006) - Prior to hosting a Wine-Tasting Social at Stone Mountain Vineyards last Friday, Sept. 15, the Greene County Chamber of Commerce continued to add details to its plans for the county's first Holiday Parade of Lights.
It is hoped that this first-year project, which is being sponsored by the Greene County Record , will evolve into an annual Chamber-led event, Pyles re-emphasized. In addition to the parade, which will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in Stanardsville, it is hoped that the "Holiday Parade of Lights" also will include open houses at businesses throughout Greene County leading up to the parade. The Chamber, which is receiving additional support from the Greene County Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Stanardsville Area Revitalization (STAR) group, is currently seeking parade entries from every aspect of the community, as well as businesses that would like to host open houses prior to the parade. There is no fee to participate. If you or your business, civic organization, church group or recreation team is interested in participating in this event, you may call Cheryl Martino, event organizer, at 979-6003 for more details, or you may send e-mail to cheryl.martino@SunTrust.com . Pyles announced during Friday's meeting that an organizing committee already was working with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Greene County Sheriff's Office to obtain the closure of Main Street during the parade, and working with Emergency Medical Services personnel to arrange Santa's arrival by fire truck at the end of the parade, although the jolly old man will not be available for lap-sittings.
Jay Crawford, vice president of the Chamber, is contacting local schools, including Greene County Public Schools, to invite area bands to participate in the parade. If you are a music teacher at one of the area schools and would like your group to participate in the parade, you may contact Crawford at 985-2315 or jcrawford@greene-news.com. At the suggestion of Chamber member Judy Berger, coordinator of the Greene County center for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, the Board also is planning a passport-style competition for visiting businesses, for which the winner - or the guest who visits the most businesses - will win some sort of prize package or holiday gift basket. The Chamber's Board of Directors feels the community-wide "Holiday Parade of Lights" will be an outstanding prelude to Sunday's traditional activities on Dec. 3, when the choir festival, tree lighting and arrival of Santa are scheduled. In other action taken during Friday's meeting and social, the Chamber Board: *Recognized and presented plaques to event co-sponsors The Four Seasons and McCarthy & Company Fine Furnishings. A representative of each company was then allowed to make a brief presentation to the approximately 40 guests in attendance. *Announced the new membership of Nora Gillespie, director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which was organized to help small businesses with counseling services, seminars and training, and through providing resources. Additional information may be obtained by calling Gillespie at 295-8198 or by sending e-mail to sbdc@cstone.net . *Heard a short presentation by Greene County EDA director Dennis Jarvis, who re-emphasized Greene County Small Business Counseling Day, which will be held 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the EDA's offices in Stanardsville. Counselors from the SBDC and SCORE will be available to discuss business problems or issues, or to discuss new business opportunities. To schedule an appointment, call Gillespie at 295-8198 or send e-mail to sbdc@cstone.net . *Learned that the first set of "Welcome" boxes were being distributed by the Chamber, and that a second batch is being planned at the end of this month. Information to be included in the welcome boxes may be dropped off at The Virginia Shops/Greene County Visitors' Center during business hours. *Planned its holiday party for Wednesday, Dec. 13. The Chamber's annual reorganizational business meeting will be held at 6 p.m., prior to the party, which is planned for 7 p.m. at The Lafayette in Stanardsville. Additional information on the Greene County Chamber of Commerce or its members may be obtained by visiting www.greenecoc.org. |
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"The reception of this idea is going very well, so let's pick things up a bit," Chamber president Alan Pyles urged at the opening of a short discussion. "Let's think of anything we can do to rally the county and the community." 
Chamber members also are organizing an antique and muscle car show, and the Chamber is seeking individuals or groups to organize the Ruckersville and Stanardsville "Parade of Businesses" open house tours leading up to the parade. If you or your group is interested in organizing one of these events, contact Cheryl Martino at 979-6003 or