By Stephen Smoot
The Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce has steadily ramped up its community involvement and exposure in recent years through coordinating with local government and other stakeholders. In last week’s meeting, they started work on planning another recreational event for locals and visitors alike.
On Aug. 16, the town and chamber will collaborate on setting up a “Food Truck Friday” to coincide with the first day that students return to school in Pendleton County. Recent upgrades to the Franklin Town Park have brought new security cameras and an expanded capability to handle the power needs of food trucks and other possible needs.
Elizabeth Scott, executive director of the Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce, shared that Isaac and Tasha Sponaugle offered to donate use of a large tent for shelter, whether from rain or the late summer sun. She said that she will also schedule one musical act. Food trucks will open for business between 10:30 and 11 a.m. and serve the public all day long.
Brooke Alt, board member for the chamber, inquired about the collaboration, “What are we expected to do and what are we getting?”
The town is hosting the event in its park while the chamber has put in much of the work of organization. Scott replied by explaining that the chamber and town would split vendor fees. “Any time we can make a little bit of money, it’s better than none,” she said.
The board approved setting the event for the 16th and continuing with plans and preparation.
Chamber board members also briefly discussed the Route 33 Yard Crawl, scheduled for Aug. 24. “All we do is advertise it,” Scott stated. The event features yard sales and other sales opportunities on the entire 45-mile length of U.S. Route 33 in Pendleton County, but practically extends mainly from Onego to Brandywine. The road runs from Allegheny Mountain through Seneca Rocks, Franklin, and Brandywine to the Virginia state line on Shenandoah Mountain.
The chamber does not put on the event, but acts as “a pass through for advertising.” It will start advertising on July 1.
Scott reported on the chamber’s assumption of responsibilities for the Main Street Beautification project that erected light poles and hangs flower baskets from them each summer. It had started as a combined project of the chamber and the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We agreed to take over that,” she said, because the CVB wanted to focus its efforts countywide.
She added, however, that the Main Street Beautification project did not include the 99 veterans’ memorial flags hanging from power and telephone poles along Town of Franklin streets. She explained the history of the project, emphasizing that it had always been separate from the beautification and had never been associated with the town. Kristen Dingess, board president, shared that Russ Sasso, her fellow Franklin Town Council member, had gotten support from the local American Legion Post to recruit volunteers and help to maintain the flags, including rehanging them if they fall.
The board also heard a proposal from Scott on how to change up the traditional chamber of commerce dinner. Normally the dinner takes place during the holiday season and has a more formal atmosphere.
Scott stated that she had wanted to put a major event in the North Fork region for some time and had been working with Mountain Cajun Getaway owners Chris and Melissa Grimes to hold the dinner on their Circleville property.
Other changes would include having a more informal barbeque type setting on Oct. 3 to take advantage of the still relatively warm temperatures common at that time. The Sponaugles would donate use of outdoor furniture, heaters, and other necessities.
