Chamber Connection

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  2018 has been a fast and furious year, and now here we sit at Thanksgiving Day!  Friday is a day often referred to as Black Friday.  It was named Black Friday because it described the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic that would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.  Many people shop Black Friday, and that’s fantastic.  But, there’s an even better day for shopping!  Saturday is called Small Business Saturday.  It is a day labeled to remind us to shop locally for the holidays.  Our small business owners are giving everything they’ve got to live their dreams, and we in return, can benefit from those dreams!  Hopkins County offers wonderful local shopping!  Please make sure you spend at least some of your day at your favorite local place… stores, restaurants, venues, all of them.  We love our Small Businesses, and we want them to continue to thrive and be successful in all they do.  Shop local for the holidays and enjoy Small Business Saturday!

The Sulphur Springs Hopkins County EDC and the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce are hosting their annual Economic Outlook Conference at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Wednesday, December 5^th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  We are so excited to welcome Mr. Richard Froeschle, current Labor Market Economist, as our keynote speaker at the 2018 Economic Outlook Conference. Mr. Froeschle will present Hopkins County the economic outlook for Northeast Texas for 2019. Sponsorships of the conference and tickets are available. Lunch will be provided. For further information, please call the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.

I'm excited to let you know that we have begun work on the 2019 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory.  We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even home town heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses.  They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County.  The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business. LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, will be contacting you in the next few weeks to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory.  The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business.  I hope you will consider this a wise investment with over 7,000 opportunities for business exposure.  You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her.  I'm proud to produce this book telling all about the place we love.  I hope you will join me in the journey!

Here's another HUGE announcement from the Chamber!  Our Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has joined in with the Longview Chamber to offer small businesses health insurance through United Healthcare.  It is called HealthyVIEW and is only offered to small businesses, 2-50 employees, who are members of our Chamber.  This is a huge milestone for our Chamber to offer, and an extremely needed benefit for many.  For additional information, contact Lezley Brown at the Chamber, (903) 885-6515.  We are thrilled to be able to offer this invaluable asset to our Chamber members! 

Heritage Park will host Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 24^th
The Hopkins County Historical Society presents Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 24, and Saturday, December 1, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Admission is $3.00, and children under seven are free. Visit with Santa, see the light displays, listen to live music, enjoy hot cocoa, old-fashioned cider, coffee and cookies, and begin your Christmas shopping in the Country Store.

Love’s Travel Stop hosting their grand opening
The Chamber will host a ribbon cutting for Love’s on Tuesday, November 27^th at noon.  Make sure to stop by and check out the biggest Love’s Travel Stop to date.

Temple’s Trailer Sales is hosting their 50^th Anniversary
Temple’s Trailer Sales is hosting their 50^th Anniversary celebration with lunch and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 28^th at noon.  Come celebrate this huge milestone with us!

Christmas Market coming to Main Street
The Christmas Market on Main Street will be held on December 1^st from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  There will be 22 vendors on the street with a variety of items.  This is a perfect opportunity to get some Christmas Shopping done and be able to enjoy main street by stopping in the shops and walking across the street from place to place.  For more information about the market feel free to call Marlene's Sass & Class 903-335-8918.

North East Texas Choral Society present Starry Night
North East Texas Choral Society presents Starry Night on December 1^st at 7 p.m. and on December 2^nd at 2 p.m. in the SSHS Auditorium in Sulphur Springs.  Tickets are $15for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.  You may purchase tickets online at www.singerscount.org. 

Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra hosts winter concert
The Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra is hosting a free concert called A Winter Classical on Thursday, December 6^th, at Shannon Oaks Church in Sulphur Springs.  For additional information, call (903) 261-7907 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SSY017/. 

CASA hosts their annual Cookie Walk
CASA is hosting their annual Cookie Walk on Friday, December 7^th, from 9 a.m. to noon at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.  Cookies are sold for $5.00 a pound.  Go by there and load up on Christmas cookies while supporting our local CASA!

Lion’s Club will host the 11^th Annual Christmas Parade on Friday, December 7^th
The Lion’s Club is hosting the 11^th Annual Christmas Parade Friday, December 7^th at 7 p.m.  The parade begins at Buford Park and goes East on Connally Street to the square, turns left onto Church Street, and left on Houston Street to end in the Gerald Prim Stadium parking lot. You may pick up registration forms and rules at the Chamber of Commerce.  The entry fee is one toy, to be donated to the Blue Santa Program. Charitable cash donations also accepted, and checks should be made payable to the Sulphur Springs Lions Club. Registration forms must be received by noon on Tuesday, December 4.

--Lezley