WEST JEFFERSON — The Ashe County Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting at Old Barn Winery in West Jefferson on Aug 14. During the meeting, the chamber and attendees came together to celebrate the hard work many have put in to make Ashe the place to be and to present three awards.
The first award of the night was the Coolest Corner Award sponsored by Randy Marion of West Jefferson. Dr. Cameron Current, owner of Current Chiropractic, presented the award to Frosty’s Choose and Cut and Old Barn Winery, owned by Greg and Robin Sexton. Accepting the award on their behalf was Tim and Penny Sexton.
The Coolest Corner Award is presented to a business or organization that has “positively impacted” tourism in Ashe County. Current praised Frosty’s Choose and Cut and Old Barn Winery for demonstrating “the strength of a family business, family connections, and love for the community of Ashe County.”
The second award was the Non-Profit of the Year Award sponsored by Lifestore Bank and Insurance. Karen Powell, member of the chamber’s services committee, presented the award to past president Kathy Chefas and current president Sharon Krider. Powell praised their work in increasing literacy in Ashe County. LifeStore’s Director of Strategic Growth and Marketing Judy Current presented a check for $1,000 from LifeStore to Imagination Ashe to show their appreciation for the work they have done.
“We are just very humbled. We just find early literacy so important,” Krider said. “It's very important in an area like this. Getting books in the hands of children means everything.”
Established in 2006, Imagination Ashe supplies books to children from birth to five years old. They are a fully accredited affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, an organization started by Dolly Parton in 1995. Chefas said the organization has provided close to 132,000 books to children since being established. Imagination Ashe does not receive any funding from the Dolly Parton Foundation and relies on grants and donations from local community members, organizations, and businesses.
The third award was the Cabot Hamilton Community Advocacy Award sponsored by Appalachian Legacy Funeral Services. The services co-owner and current chairman of Ashe County Board of Education, Josh Roten, and services committee member Linda Slade presented the award to Walter Clark.
Clark served as an executive director for both the Blue Ridge Conservancy and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. He also owned the Old Orchard Creek General Store with Johnny Burleson.
Roten said the award is presented to an individual who has “demonstrated an exceptional dedication to advocating for the economic, cultural, and social well being of Ashe County.” The award is named after the late chamber executive director Cabot Hamilton who was known for his generosity and commitment to the community.
Slade said that the High Country region has benefited greatly from Clark. She described Clark as being humble and never looking for or expecting recognition.
“John and I have lived in this county for almost 20-21 years now and I can’t imagine a more wonderful place to be,” Clark said. “We’re surrounded by beauty. Where can you find a more beautiful place and more kind and generous people to live.”
After the awards were presented, the meeting continued with the recognition of outgoing board members. Incoming board chair Reverend Dr. Michael Lea presented the 2024-25 board of directors and the executive committee for a vote. Those in attendance approved the appointments.
The featured entertainment for the evening was Connie Woolard, a member of The Mountain Laurels. Ashe Memorial Hospital sponsored the music. Woolard played Ken Kolodner's “Caspian Lake” and “Cascade Falls”, an original, on the hammered dulcimer. The Mountain Laurels will perform as part of the Backstreet Concert Series on Aug 30.
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