Gosh, this week has gone by fast - too fast in fact!

If you want a break from the hustle & bustle of the holiday season, be sure to visit Fireside Books & Gifts tomorrow, as Nancy and Guy Winker will be reading their book "Abigail Ann & the Santa Claus Plan". This book is also highlighted in the December issue of "Our State" magazine. Enjoy a great afternoon Pajama Party with the kids, complete with storytime, snack and a fun make-a-snowflake craft project! Perfect activity for a cold day. 1:00-3:00 pm

If you're looking for a small, unique gift for your secret pal, office gift exchange or stocking stuffer, stop by the Gift Shop at Spindale Drug and check out the great selection of ornaments that can be personalized while you wait!

The Graham Cash store in downtown Forest City is running a 3 Day Sale which concludes tomorrow, with 25% -30% many selected items as well as Lee and Levis jeans for $19.99. They also offer free layaway & gift wrapping on purchases over $10. You may want to check the Daily Courier for an additional coupon for 25% which appeared in the last several days!

Here are some GREEN ideas for hosting a party-

*Buy drinks in bigger bottles rather than small ones. One large bottle generates less waste than several smaller ones.

*Check out Farmers Fresh Market at http://www.farmersfreshmarket.org/. Local produce supports small suppliers and the community while minimizing your carbon footprint. They are still offering items such as honey, jam, jellies, eggs, potatoes and various types of lettuce and tomatoes. Even a few varieties of apples still available.

*Buy your fruits and vegetables loose and skip all that wasteful plastic packaging. Make sure any packaging is made from recycled materials.

*Cook a fresh, organic turkey or ham.

*Use the right-sized pan for anything you cook; boil vegetables in just the amount of water they need. This all saves on energy and helps our planet.

* Don't forget to put your vegetable peelings from your parties or holiday dinners in your home compost bin. If you have a garden, consider an indoor worm (ugh!) ranch to break down the vegetable food waste into rich nutrients for the soil. (That idea is even worse than having an ant farm).

* Switch to cloth napkins - collect varied ones at thrift stores and garage sales. Tie one at each place setting with raffia, and insert a cinnamon stick, dried flowers or eve a spring of fresh boxwood or rosemary. This also adds a very elegant touch to your holiday table. Just love cloth napkins!

What a gorgeous day! As promised, here are some of the happenings going on around Rutherford County this weekend!

* Beginning tomorrow evening thru Sunday, Dec. 6th, you can catch the Rutherford County Community Theater production of "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" at the Union Mills Learning Center. Nightly presentations on Friday and Saturday evenings will begin at 7:30 pm, with the Sunday matinee at 2:30 pm.

*The ECA Holiday Sampler IX "A Cup of Christmas Tea", held at the Co-operative Extention Office, will be this Saturday, Dec. 5th from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Join them for great ideas on holiday decorating with beads, sample holiday treats and learn how to make a great pot of tea! Admission is $10; call 287-6020 for more information.

* Annual holiday festivities in downtown Forest City kick off Friday night with hayrides, carriage rides on Saturday night, visits with Santa at the Santa House, Santa Paws pet pictures and the return of the Holiday Craft Show all located on Main Street!

*The Spindale-Rutherfordton Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 5 beginning at 3:30 pm on E. Main Street in Spindale and continuing at 5:00 pm on Main Street in downtown Rutherfordton. Come out and enjoy this annual event!

In addition to the above highlighted events, be sure to check the community calendar and Rutherford Info for various home tours and Christmas caroling activities going on in the various communitities. There is truly something for everyone during this festive season!

Just a little "green" item to pass along

I ran across a great recycling effort going on involving old blue jeans! Bonded Logic is a business who makes insulation out of old denim. You can send your old, used jeans to:

Fair Indigo Denim Drive
c/o Green Jeans Insulation Inc.
1109 W. Milwaukee Street
Stoughton, WI 53589

What a great way to help our planet! So, if you get new jeans for Christmas, pack up those old ones and send them to Wisconsin to be used in insulation!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a successful shopping experience on Black Friday! There were some great sales going on locally, and even though I didn't get started until 11:00 Friday morning, I still was able to put a big dent in my shopping list and saved a bunch at the same time!

Be sure to check the sales fliers that are in the newspaper almost daily now. Many are offering additional savings with percent-off coupons, early bird specials, etc. I, myself, have found great bargains by heading directly to the clearance racks. Don't overlook "seasonal" items as many finds such as short sleeved blouses or shirts can easily be used during the winter season under sweaters or jackets! Just yesterday I stopped by Burke's Outlet and found on their clearance rack, stationed outside their entrance, a men's black leather belt for $7.99 with 70% off, as well as a wide selection of purses ranging from soft leather shoulder bags to cute crocheted purses for 50% off the listed price.

Besides shopping for holiday gifts, most of us are now in the midst of holiday decorating. Keeping with the "Green Christmas" tips mentioned in the last several blogs, today's topic will feature trees and wreaths -

• Always buy real. Although artificial trees and wreaths are reusable, the fact is that both are petroleum-based and are not biodegradable. If you get a fresh, natural tree or wreath, it can be recycled later.

• If at all possible, buy a potted or balled Christmas tree (the roots are still attached). After the holidays, you can replant the tree in your yard or donate it to your town for replanting.

• If you prefer a fresh cut tree, purchase one grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers at an organic tree farm. We are so fortunate to live in an area where we can find so any tree farms within a short driving distance.

• After the holidays, be sure to take your tree to the recycling centers where it can be turned into mulch. To learn more about this process, contact SWEEP at http://www.sweeprecycles.com/.

• Many local tree stands, as well as churches and non-profit organizations, are selling wreaths and trees, some of which are already decorated and ready to hang. You not only get something beautiful, but you know your hard-earned dollars are staying local and supporting a good cause.

• If you're really crafty and have the time, you can make your own wreath from cuttings from the plants and trees in your own yard! The nandina and holly bushes have beautiful berry-laden branches this time of year.

Tomorrow I'll highlight the numerous holiday events going on this weekend in Rutherford County. Enjoy your day!

One week and counting until BLACK FRIDAY!

Many are beginning the countdown to the busiest shopping day of the year - BLACK FRIDAY! This is the day all retail merchants look forward to having a profitable day of sales. Some of the Big Box stores have already gotten a jump start on shopping by "leaking" their Black Friday ads to the press and reducing stock items in their store early.

If you're not the "gotta hit the stores at 5:00 am" type, here are some suggestions for a leisurely holiday gift shopping experience.

• Shop the local stores in the downtown areas during non-peak times, such as 10-11:30 am or 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Check with local merchants to see if they have extended hours in the evenings during the holiday season.

• Ask merchants if they have an e-mail or mailing list that they use to notify customers of special sales or discounts.

• Look around your house for items that would be happier in a friend's home - a favorite book or photo, perhaps those candlesticks you've never used, or that extra set of hand-painted fruit plates. More commonly known as re-gifting.

• Scout estate sales, consignment shops or antique shops for one-of-a-kind treasures. We have several antique, thrift and consignment stores in the TriLocal area. It's not only a great way to recycle, but it's also nice to give something with a little history.

• Get crafty. If you are talented in sewing, scrapbooking, woodworking, painting, knitting, crocheting, pottery making, etc., you can turn your talents into treasures that ones on your gift list will appreciate because it's a gift from the heart.

• Good at cooking? Then turn your culinary skills into delicious creations that will be appreciated by any harried hostess.

• If you're not talented in craft making or cooking (or simply lack the time), you can give green by buying products that are locally made. Purchasing gifts created by local craftspeople help support the artisans in our community, boosts the local economy, and help avoid unhealthy carbon emissions caused by shipping. The Rutherford County Visual Arts Guild shop is a great place to look for unique gifts at great prices! The shop is located on Main Street in Rutherfordton a few doors up from Green River Interiors (formerly Blossoms). Another idea is local church bazaars and craft shows.

• If your shopping list includes individuals who really don't need or want more stuff, invite them over for a home-cooked meal, an offer of a night of babysitting or perhaps a donation to a favorite charity in their name.

• Give an experience instead of a gift. Purchase tickets to an upcoming concert, give a DVD of their favorite movie along with a gift basket containing popcorn, candy, etc., or a subscription to one of many great magazines relating to western North Carolina such as WNC, Our State or Southern Living. You can also try treats such as dinners out, an afternoon of horseback riding, a session in a pottery studio, a massage, pedicure or facial, all environmentally friendly ideas and experiences that will last forever in someone's memory.

Remember - gifts make memories, but the best aren't about the newest, the latest or the most expensive!

Now - let's look at some upcoming events for this weekend.

* The 18th Annual Ellenboro Fiddler's Convention will be held Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 pm at the Ellenboro School Gymnasium, 813 Piney Mountain Church Road, Ellenboro. There will many concessions for sale, as well as CD's from the musicians.

Admission is $7 for adults, children $1, those under ten are free.

A BBQ dinner will be served beginning at 4:00 pm. Adults $8, 6-12 yrs $5, and 5 and under - free.

Lots of cash prizes and trophies for various categories. For more information, call 453-7457 or 458-0342. All proceed will benefit Colfax Free Fair Exhibits.

* The Rutherford County Visual Arts Guild will host an open house at their shop in Rutherfordton this weekend. Local artisans have stocked the shop with beautiful items ranging from pottery & paintings to one-of -a-kind jewelry pieces. Be sure to shop by the Main Street location and find that unique gift for that special person on your holiday gift list!

* The Foothills Antique & Artisan Show will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Spindale House located on Main Street in Spindale. Hours for the show are 3-7 pm on Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturday. Admission is $2 per person at the door, but look for BOGO coupons in the local newspapers and at Spindale Drug.

In addition to the show, the Spindale Merchants' Association is holding a Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday with lots of specials for the holiday season ! Spindale Drug will offer tips on how to accessorize your holiday outfits, make the perfect bow and how make holiday wrapping a snap! Merchants will also offer special discounts on food orders and retail purchases, so check out the Coupon Queen page in last Saturday or this Saturday's Daily Courier for coupon information.

Join the town Friday night for the Lighting of the Christmas Tree on the lawn of the Spindale House at 6:15 pm. The weekend will be filled with special entertainment, a Gingerbread House display, book signing by Robin Lattimore and a visit from the jolly old elf himself, Santa!

* And finally, don't forget to place your orders for Urban Half or Full boxes from Farmers Fresh Market by noon on Monday, Nov. 23. Pick up is Nov. 14 after 12:00. Half boxes are $17.50 and full boxes are $35.00. Great way to due your holiday grocery shopping online, visit http://www.farmersfreshmarket.com/ and click on "Other" in the sidebar.

IDEAS FOR A GREEN CHRISTMAS

With the holiday season fast approaching, the Savvy Shopper is going GREEN!

Did you know that Americans will send out approximately 2 BILLION holiday cards, use more than 50,000 miles of ribbon and leave millions of dead Christmas trees on the curb! Now that doesn't mean you can't enjoy all the traditions you love - absolutely NOT - just celebrate ecologically!

Going green can be fun, inspiring and a great time to bless the whole county with holiday spirit! So starting today, with each new post,until January 2nd, I will feature some way you can begin dreaming of a GREEN Christmas!

• If you're shopping for new appliances, look for the Energy Star label, which insures you are purchasing an item with the highest ranking by the EPA and industry. Besides, certain items even qualify for tax deductions!
  
  
• Shop smart by by taking your own tote bags shopping with you - if you don't have any, check the local thrift stores for good, clean canvas totes (wash before using) or check the stores, as most are now carrying inexpensive recycle bags with their logo on them. They can usually be found near the register/check-out area.
  
  
• Carpool whenever you can - going to parties, shopping or other holiday events. It saves energy and makes it a social event!
  
  
• REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE - Let nature be your palette for holiday decorating by using natural materials and forest products. We have an abundance to choose from in Rutherford County!
  
  
• Buy Less - Put your crafting & culinary skills to work and get creative with re-gifting! It's become a very chic thing to do!
  
  
• Buy Local with TriLocal - don't forget to look for gift ideas in our downtown shops - you'll be surprised what you'll find and you will be helping our community as well as saving time and gas!

Speaking of shopping locally, Fireside Books & Gifts invites everyone to two upcoming author events. Tonight, from 5:30-8:00 pm, they welcome Jim Shroyer to Fireside to sign his novel, Crossroads:Winds of Grace.

Next Saturday, November 21st, from 1:00-3:00, they're hosting a dual reading/signing with Joan Medlicott and Celia Miles!

Be sure to mark your calendars now and join them for these two exciting events. Start your Holiday Season with Fireside in the company of some sweet Southern charm!

Have great weekend!

The sun is beginning to peek out this afternoon - just in time for weekend!

Several events going on Saturday at the Union Mills Learning Center! The monthly "All You Can Eat" Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 from 7:30-10:00 am at the center. November's special price for a hearty country breakfast is only $5 for adults, children 6-12 years $3, and children under 6 years are free with an adult.

When you finish breakfast, be sure to browse the Fall Book Sale being held at the Center. All books are only 25 cents each! Now that's a real deal!!!

Union Mills Learning Center is located at 6495 Hudlow Road in Union Mills.

There's also a new business in Union Mills - UNION MILLS MUFFIN COMPANY.
They offer scrumptious buttermilk muffins baked fresh daily in their Union Mills kitchen.

Every batch is created from scratch using all natural ingredients including the finest fresh butter, eggs, buttermilk, flour & sugar, plus fruit, nuts, chocolate and other delectable extras that will surely tempt your taste buds. They contain no preservatives, fillers or artificial flavors.

Great idea for the upcoming holidays when you have guests in or as a hostess gift. For more information and to see their menu, visit http://www.unionmillsmuffincompany.com/ or contact them by phone at 828.287.4283. A warm welcome to our latest Rutherford County business!

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, and the Christmas ads and sales have already begun!

Many of the local big-box stores, such as Wal-Mart, Aldi, & Big Lots, are offering weekly holiday specials on select items such as Wii, X Box, etc. The grocery stores are also getting on board with specials on baking items, condiments, etc. Be sure to check the weekly ads for sales and use your coupons whenever possible for additional savings. Just last week I had coupons for BirdsEye Steamfresh Meals for Two - one was for $1.50 off one bag and the other one was a Buy One, Get One Free coupon. Food Lion had several varieties on sale for $4.99 each (normally $6.99 a bag); so... for a mere $3.49 I got two bags. Now that's savvy savings!

Several local business also offer layaway, which comes in quite handy with holiday shopping. It's All in the Bag is offering layaway during the holiday season only, while Graham Cash and Roses have the service year round.

Don't forget to check the thrift stores for some great buys on Christmas decorations - you can find everything from brand new to vintage at really great prices. This week, Hospice and Yokefellow are running their half-off sale throughout the entire store!

Some events happening around the county this weekend include the Snuffy Jenkins Renunion Festival being sponsored by Rutherford County Arts Council. The event will be held at Isothermal Community College on Saturday, November 7th. For more information contact Matthew McEnnerney at (828) 245-4000.

An Arts & Crafts Sale will be held tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 6th at the Senior Center located on Callahan-Koon Road. The sale begins at 9:00 am and runs until 5:00 pm. Be sure to check out it, as there are always some great handmade items for sale.

If you're looking for something interesting and educational to do Friday evening, way not stop by Fireside Books & Gifts. They will be hosting a reception and reading by Ed Southern from 5:00-7:00 pm, as they celebrate his debute fiction collection. Mr. Southern is a born & bred Tarheel, who currently resides in Winston-Salem and is Executive Director of the North Carolina Writer's Network. Don't forget to browse the gift shop while you're there. Both books and gifts from Fireside Books & Gifts are great for holiday gift giving!

Grand Opening of Forest City Pets

For all the pet lovers out there - a new pet store opens tomorrow in Forest City! The shop is located at 141 Thomas Street -at the end of Thomas Street near Trade Street, and they will carry birds, fish, reptiles, and small animals. Dogs and cats won't be left out, as the shop will stock food and items for them as well as the animals previously mentioned.

The shop's grand opening will be Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, with hours from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Just in time for Halloween, a Pet Costume Contest will be held between 4:00 & 9:00 pm both days. Jimmy Gibson, mayor of Forest City, will be the official judge with the First prize winner receiving a year's supply of pet food and 2nd & 3rd place receiving a $50 and $25 in-store gift certificate, respectively.

The Community Pet Center will be in attendance with rescue doggies & kitties available for adoption!

If you can't make it this weekend, stop in during the week and browse the large selection of items and food for your pet. Normal operating hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 am -6:00 pm, with the shop closing at 5:00 pm on Wednesdays.

A big WELCOME to you with wishes for lots of success!

In addition to Forest City Pets, there are two other shops now located on Thomas Street - Time After Time (antiques, collectibles and clothing consignment) and Good Earth Pottery, which offers pottery classes as well as the sale of handmade pottery by local potters!

(for those of you who aren't familiar with Thomas Street, it's the street that runs beside Stallings Jewelers and connects Main Street & Trade Street; or it is one street west of Horn's Garden Center on the left if you're traveling on Trade Street- almost across the street from Off the Beaded Path!)

Timothy Will: 2009 Purpose Prize Winner

Congratulations Tim Will and Foothills Connect!

It's a gloomy Wednesday with a chance that the sun will peek out this afternoon! It's one of those days that you just want to curl up with a cup of hot tea and a good book.

If you like history books, especially local history, stop by Spindale Drug today between 11 :00 and 2:00 and purchase Robin Lattimore's latestbook on the history of Spindale and the textile industry. The book would make a great holiday gift for someone on your list and it retails for $30 with proceeds going to benefit the Spindale Library. Robin, who was just named North Carolina Historian of the Year, will be on hand to autograph the book for you.

With the dampness in the air, why not enjoy a bowl of homemade vegetable soup and coffee from the lunch counter at Spindale Drug - it's their special of the day!

Since we've touched on holiday gift-giving ideas, I must tell you about the new Switch Flop ballet flats being sold at It's All in the Bag, located on Main Street in Forest City. Made of soft leather, they are so very versatile in that you can change the look of the flat by switching the medallions on the toe. The flats come in black, pewter and copper and with the wide range of medallions to choose from, you can have a different look every day with just one pair of flats! Cost of the flats, which include one pair of medallions, is $59.95 and additional medallions are $14.95/pr. The store is now offering lay-away as well as gift certificates! Stop by and see their latest arrivals. Your feet will thank you!

Now that the discussion has turned to the holiday season, you may want to stop by Postively Paper, also located on Main Street in Forest City, and check out the class schedule for November. Several items of interest are Advent Calendar wall hanging, as well as Christmas Card classes. Handmade cards always mean so much to that special someone during the holidays!

Last, but not least, Black Friday is only about 4 weeks away! That's right - the Friday after Thanksgiving is right around the corner and is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. For those of you who spend Thanksgiving Day pouring over the sale ads, there is now a way to start putting your Black Friday itinerary together sooner -http://www.iblackfriday.com/, www.blackfriday.info or http://www.blackfriday.com/ . These websites already have postings of sale ads from stores such as Sears, Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

With the holidays fast approaching, please be sure to send any information about local merchant sales, restaurant specials or holiday events to the Savvy Shopper, and she'll post it in the blog!

Happy Shopping!

It looks like the start of another rainy weekend! Hope the weather reports are correct in that Sunday the sun will come out.

Several items of interest to share with you -

A new group is forming in Rutherford County that focuses on entrepreneurial women. With the present state of our economy more men and women are starting their own businesses and the

Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs is a program that connects rural Western NC women with one another, as well as resources (including training and technical assistance), and with markets - for the purpose of creating new and expanded businesses. The Rutherford County group meets the first Thursday of each month at Foothills Connect Business & Technology Center on Main St, Rutherfordton. The November meeting will take place on Thursday, November 5 at 6:00pm. Members benefit from group support, access to one-on-one business assistance and resources, practical trainings for strengthening business and marketing skills, news updates, and online visibility (member businesses are featured on AWE's website). For details, please contact Anna Levitsky at anna@foothillsconnect.com or 828-288-1650. You may also visit AWE's website at http://www.appalachianwomenentrepreneurs.org/.

There is another program in the works that will be like Cash for Clunkers was for cars, but this time it will be for household appliances. The details aren't final yet but, in North Carolina, the program would cover the purchase of several types of energy-efficient appliances, including clothes washers, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves, freezers and refrigerators. It may also cover heating and cooling systems, as well.

Using federal stimulus dollars, the state would provide rebates on purchases of qualified items during a certain period - most likely March or April of next year, according to Seth Effron of the N.C. State Energy Office. Consumers wouldn't have to apply for rebates, they would simply pay the reduced price (retail price less rebate amount)at the cash register and retailers would deal with the state to obtain the rebate. These items can be sale or reduced items as long as they meet the energy requirements.

Effron said the rebates will be at least equivalent to the sales tax - 7.75 percent, and will not coincide with the tax-free weekend for certain appliance purchases which is scheduled for Nov. 6-8.

More details about the program will be available shortly. The state is submitting its plan to Washington presently. Meanwhile, you can start considering if and what you should purchase and please don't forget - TriLocal. We have several appliance businesses in Ruthford County such as Hendrick's, Ferguson Plumbing, Henson Lumber, Lowe's, etc.

Have a great weekend and be sure to visit the local pumpkin patches, as well as nurseries & fruit stands, for a pumpkin for Halloween - it's only a week away!

If you didn't get a chance to visit the Farm Fresh Market over the summer, don't despair - you now have the chance to order in-season fresh fruits and veggies on-line. Yes, that's right - order on-line from the convenience of your home or office. You have two options to choose from - either the Urban Boxes which are available for pick-up on Tuesdays or custom orders which are available for pick-up on Fridays.

The Urban Boxes are either "full urban boxes" or "half urban boxes" ($30 and $17.50, repectively) and come packed with different fruits and vegetables of the week. Example: Boxes ready for Oct. 20 will feature 1- 12 Oz. Fig Walnut Rye bread, 1- 8 Oz. Arugula, 1 pt.- Heirloom Yellow Pear tomatoes, 3 Lbs- Sweet Potato Medley, 3 lbs- Mountain Fresh Tomatoes, 5 Lbs- Apple Medley, 3 Lbs- Butternut Squash, 1- Dozen Farm Fresh Eggs ($30 box). The Half Urban Box will contain basically the same items, only half as much!

Custom ordering allows you to choose any quantity you wish from numerous selections. Prices are listed per item or pound. Minimum order is $30 and payment may be electronic or C.O.D. with check when you pick up order.

Now to the fun part - ORDERING! Simply go to http://www.farmersfreshmarket.org/. You must first register with a user name and password. When you are asked your company name, simply enter"Metropolitan Buying Club". After you have registered and are signed in - start shopping and adding items to your shopping cart! Categories are listed in the left hand side bar and "The Urban Box" is located in the "Other" category.

What a great way to get local produce. When you go to pick up your purchases at Foothills Connect, which is located in the Woodrow Jones Bldg. in downtown Rutherfordton (corner of Main & Court Sts). - be sure to say "thank you" to Kirk Wilson for coming up with such a great program. Kudos to Tim, Kirk, Pat and Anna at Foothills Connect!!

Several "arts" related items to report-

• A new dance studio is opening in Forest City. Toes-2-Toes, located at 152 E Main Street, will offer classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Broadway and Clogging for children and adults. A monthly fee will be charged based on the number of classes you take - for example, tap & clogging is $40 per month or you can take a 2 hour workshop with a one-time set fee. Registration of classes is currently under way, so call 828.748.6263
  
• Pops on Main in Rutherfordton is now offering private music lessons which include vocal, piano and guitar, as well as dance lessons. For more information, call 704.948.9179 or stop by 187 Main Street in downtown Rutherfordton.
  
• Off the Beaded Path will be hosting a glass bead making class, as well as a Hand-Made Glass Bead Trunk Show at the shop located at 120B Trade Street on Saturday, October 17th. For more info. contact Kelly Dale at 828.245-0306.
  
• Anne Barnhill will be visiting Fireside Books & Gifts this Saturday, October 10th, for a reading and Writer's Workshop that focuses on promoting your work and getting published! As always, this event is free and open to the public, so plan to attend and show support for our local bookstore!
• If you have plans to be outside this weekend, be sure to stop by the local nurseries in Rutherford County. Most are clearancing their inventory and this is a great time to plant those trees and bushes, as well as reviving those planters with winter pansies! Some nurseries that come to mind are Piney Ridge Nursery (currently running their annual 1/2 off sale), Horns Nursery (lots of autumn decor), The Country Gardner (50% all inventory), and Plants-a-Plenty Farm (annual fall sale starts 10/15/09).

Have a great weekend!

Busy weekend ahead with lots going on in Rutherford County!

• Beginning today and running thru Saturday, Oct. 3rd, Freeman Gas, which is located at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Hwy 64 in Rutherfordton, is having an Open House Celebration with numerous specials including 18" oak gas logs for $97 (regularly a $399.95 item) as well as refills for 20# grill tanks for $7!! Stop by and enjoy free hotdogs and cokes while you register for over $1,000 in free prizes. Hours are Thursday & Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; Saturday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.
• Tonight is the last of the Ruff'ton Live summer concert series. The event begins at 5:30 pm on the lawn of the Rutherford County Courthouse with the honkabilly trio, Hard Times, performing American music, Southern style! A play area, sponsored by Kidz Play is available for the children. Remember to bring your lawn chair, so that you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful weather and great entertainment.
• Simply Silver, previously located in the old Hanes Outlet in Spindale, has moved to a new location in the Food Lion Shopping Center on Railroad Avenue in Rutherfordton. Fall hours are Mon-Sat 10 am - 6:30 pm. Be sure to stop in and check out their great items for gift giving!
• The newly opened Seams to Be Fabrics Sewing Center is taking registrations for upcoming quilting classes. Located at 526 US Hwy 74 Business in Bostic, the classes will be Beginners Quilt and Beginners Scrappy Bag. For more information, call 828.245.5400 or visit them on the web at http://www.seamstobefabrics.com/.
• A dance class featuring tap, jazz and ballet will begin Tuesday, Oct. 7th at POP's on Main Street in Rutherfordton. The 9 week session will an 1 1/2 hours from 7:30 - 9:00 pm. Cost is $104 for the entire session, plus shoes. For more information, call 704.948.9179 or visit http://www.popperformingarts.com/.
• Last, but certainly not least, remember to visit the Hilltop Fall Festival this Saturday in downtown Rutherfordton. Activities begin at 8:30 and include arts/crafts, 5K race, Truman's Playland, Canine Costume Contest and Guiter Hero Tourney as well as good food and live entertainment throughout the day!

What a beautiful day - the sun is out and the temperature is cooler! Great weather for visiting the various shops and restaurants located in our Tri-Local downtowns. Lots of events and specials being offered this week, so let's get right to it!

• Barley's Taproom in Spindale is now offering $6 luncheon specials Monday-Friday 11am -4 pm and ALL day of Thursday! There are 6 selections to chose from and all include a soft drink or tea.
• Did you know that you can buy raw pizza dough from Barley's? That's right, for $3 you can purchase freshly-made dough that makes a 14" pie; for $4, you have enough dough for an 18" pie (comparable to medium and large pizzas from the local pizza shops). Great idea for parties!
• MudBones in Spindale is also offering great lunch specials. Each day (Monday thru Friday) there is a $5 special which includes entree, side and drink. Stop by and check it out.
• Thursday, Oct. 1st and Friday, Oct. 2nd - the Norris Public Library in Rutherfordton will hold their book sale from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on the lawn of the library as well as inside Rutherfordton Town Hall. Come out and support your local library!

With Fall in the air, there are lots of great activities going on across the Rutherford County! Below is just a sampling for the next two weeks:

• KidSenses Interactive Museum will be hosting their annual gala tomorrow evening, Sept. 26, from 6:30-11 pm at the store located at 172 Main Street in Rutherfordton. Event tickets are $50 per person. A raffle and live auction will also be held, with raffle chances to win an extraordinary weekend at Grove Park Inn in Asheville! The package is valued at $5,000! Raffle tickets are $50 each with a limited number of 300 available. For more information about the gala, call 828-286-2120 or visit http://www.kidsenses.com/.


• The Clothes Closet, located at Cane Creek Baptist Church, will be giving away a large selection of mens, womens and childrens clothing at no cost on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8 am to noon. Clothing is summer and winter. Everyone is invited to join them at 151 Cane Creek Mtn. Road, in Union Mills!


• Also, the Union Mills Community Learning Center will host the Rutherford Community Theater's latest production Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick beginning Friday, Oct. 2 thru Sunday, Oct. 4 in the center's auditorium. See the following youtube clip for more information. Special pricing of $8 each is availabe when six or more tickets are ordered together in advance. This would be a great outing for a Girls Nite Out on Friday evening or a gathering of friends after church on Sunday for the matinee!
  
  
  

Just a few of the activities going on this weekend and next week. Stay tuned for information in Monday's blog on the Hilltop Fall Fest in Rutherfordton, as well as where you can purchase fresh pizza dough for those "Armchair Quaterback" parties on the weekends!

With the week almost over, here are some events happening over the weekend.

• Don't forget - Relay for Life is tomorrow evening, Sept. 11th, at RS Middle School! Come out and support your local teams!


• Join Fireside Books & Gifts in welcoming author Josh Weil to Rutherford County on Saturday, September 12th from 6:30-8:00 pm! He is the critically acclaimed author of the New Valley, which is a a trio of novellas. Come learn more about the man who "thinks his best thoughts on writing while hiking to the top of an Appalachian ridge..."


• Help support the Union Mills Learning Center on Saturday, Sept. 12, by attending the Community-Wide Yard Sale which is being held in conjunction with their all-you-can-eat Breakfast. Tours of their Computer Center and Gymnasium will also be given. For a sneak peak at what will be for sale, check the YouTube video below.

Several openings & re-openings to report!

• 191 Prime, formerly the Rowdy Rib, re-opened Saturday night with entertainment by Firecracker Jazz Band! Not only does the restaurant have a new name, but also a new 1920's era decor, as well as a new diverse menu! With everything from soup & salad to entrees of steak, chicken and fish, there is definitely something for every palate. There is even a Late Night menu to choose from for those of you who like late night snacks after a ballgame or movie! For a complete listing of choices and prices, visit 191 Prime at http://www.191prime.com/. By the way, 191 is the address on Main Street in downtown Rutherfordton!!
• Speaking of Rutherfordton - don't forget that tomorrow night, Thursday, Sept. 3, is Ruff'ton Live. Come out and enjoy good food & drink, as well as live bands and activities for the kids. Located at Courthouse Square, the fun begins at 5:30 until 8:00 pm!
• For those of you who enjoy sewing, a new sewing center is opening Sept. 12th! Seams to be Fabrics will be located at 526 US Hwy 74 Business (beside the Moose Lodge between Forest City and Ellenboro). They will host an Open House on Saturday, Sept. 12 between 10:00 am & 5:00 pm. Alterations and sewing classes are planned for the future. For more information, contact them at seamtobe09@yahoo.com.
• September, I just learned, is National Coupon Month. With that in mind, be sure to check out the new column appearing in this Saturday's Daily Courier entitled "Coupon Queen". Learn great tips from the expert, Jill Cataldo, that is guaranteed to save you money at the grocery store, as well as other businesses that offer coupons. There will also be coupons from local merchants to help you TriLocal!

Trivia - Did you know that the first true coupon appeared in 1909, when grocer C.W. Post offered a penny off his new cereal, Grape Nuts! Happy 100th Anniversary to the coupon!

The last day of August - where has the Summer gone! Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend and got to the Farm Fresh Market on Saturday morn; because if you did and you purchased first of the season spaghetti squash, I have a delicious recipe for you today!

Cheesy Spaghetti Squash
1 spaghetti squash
2 Tbsp Parmesan style grated topping
1/2 c Shredded Mozarella Cheese
2 Plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley

Pierce the squash several times with a fork or sharp knife to allow steam to escape. Place in microwavable dish and microwave on HIGH 10 minutes or until squash is softened, turning after first 5 minutes. Let it stand for 5 minutes when done.

Cut squash in half; remove & discard seeds. Use a fork to scrape the insides to form strands. Place strands in a large bowl and add remaining ingredients to bowl and toss lightly with a fork. Spoon mixture back into one squash shell (other shell can be discarded).

Place squash in microwave and cook on HIGH 2 minutes or until heated thru. YUM!

Since we're talking shopping and food, did you know:

• Bi-Lo and Food Lion both offer on-line deals if you join their "club" by visiting their website and registering your card number and e-mail address? You can receive offers by e-mail from Bi-Lo, Food Lion and Aldi.
• My Bi-Lo is currently offering coupons for free items if you purchase the name brand product equivalent to the store brand. Example: Purchase 1 box of Eggo waffles, get a FREE box of Southern Home brand waffles. Coupons change every three weeks.
• If you're a couponer and you can double a coupon, you can really cash in on the savings!

Stay tuned tomorrow and I'll let you know about some new store openings and re-openings!

Merchants Websites

Calling all merchants! Have you noticed we've added a section on the right hand side for links to all local merchants. Please let us know if your business has a website so we can add it to our list. Thanks!

The weekend is here, and it looks like rain is in the forecast with milder temperatures! But don't let that stop you from getting out and attending the Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad. Activities started yesterday and will continue thru the weekend. Everything from water skiing, tennis, volleyball, hiking to children's events will take place throughout the Lake Lure/Hickory Nut Gorge area.

*The Farm Fresh Market will be held Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 am next to the cinema at the Tri-City Mall in Forest City. Some of the goodies being offered this week include several varities of apples, acorn squash, butternut squash and spaghetti squash! Definitely signs that Fall is on its way!

There's a hint of Fall in the air! With mornings cooler and some leaves starting to change color, the outdoors is a great place to spend leisure time. The 2009 Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad "Summer Sports Festival" begins Thursday August 27 thru Sunday, August 30. As a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, the annual event brings people together in the spirit of friendly competition for the broader purpose of promoting health and wellness, charitable giving, regional tourism and economic development. The Olympiad has given back over $120,000 to charities since 2005. One of the highlights of this year's event will be the Lake Lure Ski Club. The show line-up will include three water-ski pyramids, barefoot skiing, tantrum wakeboard flips and much more! The club will also highlight the influx of young talent with several children who learned to ski this season!

In addition to water skiing, there will also be tennis and volleyball competition as well as children's games. All three of these categories are in need of more participants.

For more information on volunteering, registering for events or to make a contribution, please visit http://www.hickorynutolympiad.com/, Facebook or call 828-429-9011. Tomorrow I will share a more complete weekend schedule with you.

Some troubling news to pass on to you - Scoops Ice Cream Shop in Forest City has closed its doors as of last week. That only leaves Doc's in Rutherfordton, Smiths Drugs in Forest City and Spindale Drug in Spindale for an ice cream cone in the TriLocal area!

Speaking of sweet treats, did you know that Davis Donuts has moved to a new location? They are now located next to Sherwin Williams Paint on Main Street across from the old depot building in Forest City. Stop by and check out their new digs - I understand they have added a few new items to their menu besides donuts.

*So what is going in to their old spot - well, City Table Catering is moving into it. Not only can you stop by and enjoy great BBQ at the City Table restaurant, but you

can also handle your catering needs right next door! Both are located on North Powell Street in Forest City.

*Do you clip coupons?? If so, look a new column in the Daily Courier beginning Saturday, Sept. 5th. It features Jill Cataldo, who is known as the Coupon Queen. Each weekly session will teach people how to track sales and use coupons to their fullest potential! There will also be coupons from local Rutherford County merchants included. For more information about the columnist, visit http://www.super-couponing.com/.

*If you're a local merchant who wants to participate in the weekly coupon offers, contact the Daily Courier at 828.245.6431 for all the details. A 2" x 3" ad is only $25.00 per week (deadline for 1st week is 9/2/09)!!

The Third Annual Relay for Life Idol Competition will be held Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 pm at the Rutherford County Senior Center located on Callahan Koon Road. General admission is $2 per individual age 6 years and older, with no charge for those 6 and under. You can vote for your favorite performer as many times as you wish for only $1 a vote. Finalists will compete for the coveted Idol title on Friday, Sept. 11 at the Relay for Life event. Make plans now to attend a great night of live, local entertainment! All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and their fight to eliminate this deadly disease.

*Don't miss out on the Wednesday Freebies at Arby's! Mark your calendars for the Wednesdays' Hot Deals which last the duration of Summer. Tomorrow's special is a Free Iced FruiTea with any Sandwich purchase; Wednesday, August 26, the meal deal is a Free Regular Beef 'n Cheddar with any Soft Drink purchase. Save some cool cash with these hot deals!!!

*Check out the garden centers at Wal-Mart, Lowe's and Big Lots - there are many great buys on flowers, outdoor furniture and garden supplies during their end-of-season clearances! Many of the flowers and plants are perennials - so if you plant now, you can enjoy their beauty beginning next Spring!!!

Switch Flops!

Check out these new Switch Flops available at "It's All in the Bag" in downtown Forest City.

Weekly Promotions 8/7/09

The Tax Free Weekend is now in full swing, so how about some ideas of places to shop for tax -free items besides Wal-Mart and Staples!

*If you're looking for computers or computer- related items, don't forget about Conner Computer Consultants, Inc. in downtown Rutherfordton (across the street from the Courthouse) or City Computers located on E Main Street in Forest City.

*Supplies for school, home or office can be found at Duffie's Copier, located off Oak Street in Forest City

*Personalized items are also popular with students, either full names or monograms. Two shops that come to mind for such items are Simply Silver Acessories & More and Monograms & More. Located in Spindale in the old Hanes outlet site, Simply Silver is offering water bottles, note pads, book bags & lunch totes, as well as pre-schooler water bottles with names or initials on them. They are also having a clearance sale on the summer line of Royal Child.

Monograms & More, located in Rutherfordton on South Main, is having an Inventory Reduction Sale with everything in the store 1/2 price!! Not only a great time to buy totes, towels, collegiate items, etc for back-to-school, how about gifts for the holidays!!

For store hours for either shop, contact Simply Silver @ 828-287-4454 and Monograms & More @828-286-2266.

* Several of the area thrift stores, Yokefellow and Hospice, are still running their 1/2 off sale this weekend. Sales end Saturday at 5:00 pm.

A tip for school clothes shoppers - buy now what you absolutely need to get the kids started in school. If you can wait to buy the rest of their school wardrobe between Labor Day and Columbus Day, you can really save alot by taking advantage of all the end of season & pre-season sales that will be going on! That's what makes you a Savvy Shopper!

Have a great weekend & TriLocal for all your tax- free shopping needs!!

Weekly Promotions

Have you noticed the new Savvy Shopper section on the Blog? We have begun adding weekly promotions, specials, special events, or little known facts about our local businesses. Please send us your stuff! We'd love to include information from a lot of different businesses. You can send information to Brenda Watson (bwatson@rutherfordncedc.com). Thanks!

Making Your Own YouTube Video

Wanting to find new ways to advertise your business? YouTube is a great way to do this. Look at Positively Paper and Off the Beaded Path below. You can just grab your handy video camera or even your camera phone and shoot a quick advertising piece for your business. You can even make a video from still photos you may have (look at the Steve and Barry's video below). If you have Windows XP then you also have Windows Movie Maker. All you have to do is download your photos and cut and paste your video together.

If you want more specific details on how to do this, just email us at info@trilocalnow.com or post a comment on this blog. We'd love to help!

There are so many creative ways to promote your business. You can video new inventory, post info on an upcoming sale, video one of your Merchants Association events or festivals, and more!

Positively Paper

You too can make a You Tube video of your business - check out Positively Paper in Forest City, NC.

Off the Beaded Path

Kelly Dale promotes her bead shop in Forest City, NC.

SteveandBarrys

63,000 sq ft building for lease in Spindale, NC

Tri Local Sponsors Forest City Owls Game Saturday Night

Come on out to the Ballgame! Saturday, June 6th, TriLocal is sponsoring the Forest City Owls game. You won't want to miss this great game as the Owls take on the Gastonia Grizzlies. As part of the TriLocal night, merchants will have booths set up around the concourse and many will be giving away prizes and gift baskets. Fireside Bookstore is also our premier sponsor and will be giving away baseball clappers and fans to the first 1,000 people through the gates.

The game starts at 7:05 pm and tickets can be purchased at the gate ($6.00 general admission for adults and $4.00 for children and seniors).

Tri Local Night with the OWLS

Saturday, June 6th is fast approaching and you won't want to miss out on the Tri Local Night with the OWLS. This will be a fun evening that merchants can really take advantage of. Merchants can have tables showcasing their merchandising for $10 a table, door prizes will be given out all night which will give merchants a spot light on their businesses, there will also be information handed out about the Tri Local effort and how others can get involved. We are also looking at a premium item to hand out as people arrive. If you are a local merchant and are interested in being the premier sponsor and having your name on that premiem item, let us know (248-1717). Hope to see you then!

Check out this great article: "Twitter Proves Its Worth as a Killer App for Local Businesses"

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=136662

Please comment on how we can get more businesses using Twitter locally. We have an untapped market right under our noses.

MAYFEST

Come out and support downtown Rutherfordton on Saturday (May 1) at MAYFEST. This is an all day event on Main Street in Rutherfordton. There will be over 100 arts and crafts vendors from the Carolinas, as well as food vendors serving BBQ, burgers, funnel cakes, ice cream and more. There will also be inflatables and a petting zoo for kids to enjoy.

Local merchants will also be open on Saturday, and many with specials going on just for the event. Join us Saturday and try local!

Email Campaigns

Are you looking for a better way to communicate with customers? Are you doing any communication with your current customers? Making contact with your current, loyal customers is a great way to get them into your store more often. You can first begin with collecting email addresses. This is easiest to do at your point of sale, either by asking or having a sign up sheet next to the register.

Once you have gathered a group of email addresses, you might want to consider an online source like "Constant Contact." This is an email newsletter service that allows you to send our mass emails without being considered spam. They have hundreds of templates for you to choose from and all you have to do is type in your information. You then upload an excel spreadsheet of email addresses, or type them in directly on the website.

Another great benefit is that this service also tracks which emails bounce back, are not opened or any other problems. This allow you to keep a much better database of customers. It also allow anyone to "unsubscribe" from your newsletter which is a great bonus feature.

Constant Contact starts at around $15/month and provides you with a free 60 day trial.

Fresh Local Art & Produce Market

Starting on Tuesday, April 21 and every Tuesday through September, you can bring your local art and produce to the shores of Lake Lure, in beautiful western North Carolina. Space for vendors' tables and tents must be reserved in advance.We are always looking for new members. Give us a call at 828-691-5009 or email ken@lakeguys.com for details.
This is a joint effort of The Lake Guys and the Town of Lake Lure

Do You Need a Website?

Do you need a website, but not sure how to go about creating one? Not sure of the cost? I'm sure there are many different services out there, but we've come across Vistaprint.com which offers website templates for $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 a month. You choose how large a website you want, and what price you want to pay. They have hundreds of templates and it is very user friendly to set up your very own website. It even allows for you to sell your products online. To see if this is a good fit for your business, follow the link below. http://www.vistaprint.com/websites.aspx?xnav=TsrItem&xnid=aLMWebsitesStringMarketing+Services&dng=Marketing+Services

If you have used this service or perhaps another one like it, please leave your feedback so others can see the benefits or challenges.

Twittering 101

Need helping know what Twitter is and how to use it? Follow this link for a quick and easy tutorial on becoming a Tweet.

http://www.managebetter.biz/ME2/Sites/Default.asp?SiteID=BFB1B596875343AFA35B0686A2BB1096&id=8D1F9E6CF96E4A7FA838E8B5E23A768B&mod=ManageBetter

Lt. Gov. Dalton, Golden LEAF Announce help for N.C. Small Businesses

Looking for captial to help your small business? Check out this press release on a new NC revolving loan fund for small businesses.
http://www.goldenleaf.org/newsroom/lt-gov-dalton-golden-leaf-announce-help-for-nc-small-businesses/

Local Merchants on YouTube!

"Off The Beaded Path" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9cgP0Pcxkc

"Positively Paper" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UjdfQ5P-kE

"Next Level Gamez" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToY8i7Ep4Kc

Loans and the New Stimulus Package for Small Businesses

Small business owners will have an opportunity to hear from a panel of experts on how to access various government loan programs and stimulus funds at a free seminar this month.
The seminar, “Loans and the New Stimulus Package for Small Businesses,” will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Library Auditorium at Isothermal Community College. The event is open to all small business owners in Rutherford and Polk counties. It is sponsored by the Small Business Center at Isothermal Community College along with the North Carolina GATE Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The government, more than ever, is trying to help small businesses get started, grow and succeed,” said Ted Hamrick, the GATE counselor in Isothermal’s Small Business Center. “We hope that our local business owners will take advantage of the expertise offered by the folks involved in this seminar. There should really be some good information.”
Presenting at the seminar will be Mike Arriola of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Lamar Whorton of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both men are experts on the various federal loan and other programs offered by their respective agencies. They will also provide the latest information about the federal economic stimulus package and how it might help small businesses.
The program will include time for questions, answers and discussion. For more information on the seminar, contact Hamrick at 828-286-3636, ext. 203.

What in the World is Social Networking?

OK - have you been hearing a lot about blogs, facebook, twitter and others? Not sure what they are or how to use them? Well HubSpot is offering a free webinar to learn more about how to use these FREE forms of advertising. Just follow this link and sign up for the free class. http://www.hubspot.com/marketing-webinars/social-media-crm/?source=email-20090407. The class is this Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 2pm-3pm.

Can't break away for this class next week? No worries. Tri Local will be offering similar seminars or workshops on this subject in the near future.

Twitter

Does anyone use Twitter? I'm trying to decide if it is worth exploring for Tri Local. I can't seem to find many people in Rutherford County who are already on Twitter - so not sure who my audience would be. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Merchant-to-Merchant Gathering

We are excited to announce that there will be a Merchant-to-Merchant gathering on Tuesday, April 7th from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Spindale House. The purpose of the evening is to give merchants from Rutherfordton, Spindale and Forest City a chance to sit down and brainstorm ideas together.

We will also be launching the new Tri Local campaign and brand to the merchants that evening. We will have posters and stickers to hand out to those who attend with the new logo. Please plan to come out and join us. It will be a great time!

How to Leave a Comment:

I realized it may be difficult to leave comments to blog posts without a google account. I have changed the settings, so if you want to leave a comment, just click on "comments" at the end of this post. You will then need to "select profile" after you type in your comment. Click on "Name/URL". You will then type in your name as you would like it to appear. You can leave the URL field blank. Your comment will then appear on the blog. Thanks!

Merchants Meeting Date

Thanks Doug for your thoughts on bringing all the merchants together for some round table discussions. Please look at your calendars and let me know how the week of March 16th looks for everyone. I don't know if we want to offer one in the morning around 8:00 am and one in the evening around 6:00 or 6:30 pm or just do one time and see who shows up.

This will be a time to showcase what the campaign is all about and then step back and let the merchants discuss it amongst themselves and brainstorm ideas. What do you think?

A new day...

Over the past six months, the Economic Development Commission and the towns of Rutherfordton, Forest City and Spindale have been working together with Tripp Muldrow, a community development consultant, on Rutherford County's commercial development initative. Tripp completed a study that showed a $640 million dollar sales leakage in our primary and secondary trade areas (see link to study on the right sidebar). With this in mind, he branded our campaign "TRI LOCAL".

We are now looking to you, to help us put a unified campaign together to bring this concept to the citizens of Rutherford County. This campaign will be both a marketing and advertising effort to get the brand out to the public, but it will also be a campaign of services to help local merchants better position themselves to gain addtional sales. This might be through seminar classes, one-on-one assistance, programs, roundtables, etc.

What we are asking for with this blog, is a place for you to give input on what you would like to see this campaign materialize into. What are your thoughts and ideas? What can you or your organization contribute to this effort? Let's open the discussion.