Andrews – The Andrews Chamber of Commerce celebrated everything that makes the Valley special during the annual dinner meeting June 18.
Held at Andrews United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center, the dinner celebrated local businesses and volunteers with a catered meal from Mariolino’s and desserts from Farm House Diner. Music was provided by Bill Vespasian, and the invocation was given by the Rev. Horace Free of St. Andrew Lutheran Church.
Emceed by former chamber board member and Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown, the evening offered door prizes from Cherokee County businesses, including gift cards and certificates along with floral centerpieces, to lucky recipients. Volunteers Terry and Vernon Gribble, along with Nenia Thompson, were thanked for setting up the tablescapes along with the presentation stage, along with the church’s men’s and women’s groups for serving attendees throughout the event.
A solemn moment of silence was held as a memorial for former chamber member Jerry Cox. He created a car show that helped fund the chamber for years, and Cox was always promoting the community and businesses.
Chamber President Gayle Horton said this year’s dinner had the largest turnout for the annual event, showcasing growth in Andrews over the last year. Executive Director Nola Cooper added that Andrews is growing stronger with support from every small business in town as well as infrastructure from the Town of Andrews, which has helped the chamber’s events from Spring Fling to Food Truck Fridays to Oktoberfest to Christmas on Main Street.
Speakers included Holly Bryant, director of Tri-County Community College’s Small Business Center, who encouraged those already owning businesses in Andrews and Cherokee County – or those thinking of branching out into small business ownership – to utilize the center’s resources, including free online classes, to help with all facets of owning a business.
The second speaker was Tom O’Brien, longtime director of Industrial Opportunities Inc., who outlined IOI’s growth over the last 50 years from one mailbox in Marble to being the leading provider of components for U.S. governmental and military contracts. They have done that while also being the area’s premiere employer of adults with disabilities as well as one of the county’s largest employers.
The highlight of the evening came when the chamber handed out its three annual awards for 2023.
- Business of the Year: Andrews Valley Rail Tours. In a tearful acceptance, Judy Fitzpatrick thanked the Andrews community for their support over the last year and in the wake of a recent health crisis. She said the town’s welcoming of her business shows how the tight-knit business community can help Andrews thrive.
- Beautification Project of the Year: The Baxter family. Last year, Andrews native Jeff Baxter and his family purchased Legacy Farms on Cover Street, adding gardens and farm animals in their urban homestead landscape, while at the same time greatly improving the main route into Andrews.
- Joe El-Khouri Volunteer of the Year: Bill Anderson. His dedication to the Andrews Beautification project, which places live floral arrangements along downtown’s roadsides, has been a huge success. Anderson was also commended for his fundraising efforts for overseeing both this project over the last eight years, bringing in more than $120,000, as well as continuing to make Christmas on Main a landmark event for Andrews.
Brown closed the ceremony by saying, “Andrews is a great place today, and by working together it will be even better tomorrow.”
Details: Visti visitandrewsnc.com.