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Letter from the President
Dear Chamber Members:
April was a busy month with a variety of events centered around the Lighthouse Square. The Queen Isabel Market Day Arts & Heritage Festival and the first ever Block Party in the Lighthouse District were both very successful. The Chamber also hosted its Annual Awards Banquet on April 16th. For a complete list of award recipients, please see the related article in this issue of our newsletter.
We will soon begin advertising sales for our 2010-2011 Visitors’ Guide, which has proven to be a tremendous success. We hope you will continue to support this project. Watch for our advertising rate sheet and information coming to you mid-month.
As always, we encourage you to contact our office with any suggestions or questions you might have about the services we provide to our membership. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Betty Wells
President
Chamber Honors Presented at Awards Party
The Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards party for Friday, April 16th from 5:30-7:30 pm at Black Jack’s next to Pirates Landing in Port Isabel.
The format of the annual event changed to a more casual atmosphere, says Chamber President Betty Wells. The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to individuals and businesses who have made outstanding contributions to the community.
“Scott Friedman and the staff of Black Jack’s Galley did an outstanding job for our event,” said Chamber President Betty Wells. “The relaxed outdoor atmosphere was conducive to conversation and networking and is something our members really enjoyed.”
Awards were presented to the following recipients: Outstanding Service Award—City of Port Isabel Public Works Department; In Appreciation—Tarantino Properties, Inc.; Special Recognition—Richard Wolf; Outstanding Community Improvements—The Friedman Family; Outstanding Community Citizen—Edward Meza; Volunteer of the Year—John & Sandy Sabin; Lifetime Achievement Award—Mary Ann Brown; and Chairman’s Award—Capt. Danno Wise.
Merchants Committee Deems Block Party a Success
The Port Isabel Merchants Committee was deemed a success as hundreds of visitors and residents surrounded the Lighthouse Square.
Held last Friday, the event was the premier event in a series of Block Parties that will feature Chamber members within Port Isabel’s eight districts. Businesses within the District offered special promotions as well as providing refreshments.
“The Merchants Committee feels like our first Block Party was a success,” said Chairwoman Linda Garrett. “Our mission is to promote local businesses and we think this was a wonderful opportunity for the business community to come together. The weather was absolutely perfect.”
Chamber business members participating in the April 23rd Block Party included: Pirate’s Landing Restaurant, Lighthouse Lighting Center, Designer Consigner/The Garden, Marcello’s, Purple Parrot, Salon Samuel, Coastal Winds, Rio Bravo Gallery, ArtSea Gallery & Goods, Farm & Retail Market, Silver Breeze, Yellow Petals, Bayside Furniture, Black Dragon Cruises and the Museums of Port Isabel.
“We encourage all area businesses to become involved in the Merchants Committee,” Garrett said. The committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. For more information, contact the Chamber office at 943-2262.
American Wind Symphony Orchestra Coming to Port Isabel
The American Wind Symphony Orchestra will make its third appearance in Port Isabel on May 21st.
The Port Isabel performances will launch the 53rd season of the floating orchestra and afford spectators the rare opportunity to hear performances by students from the Julliard School of Music. More than 4,000 people from across the Valley attended their last performance in 2007 and were treated to the sights and sounds of the open air band shell that unfolds upon its traveling barge.
The performance is sponsored by the El Paseo Arts Foundation and is under the direction of Conductor Robert Boudreau. According to El Paseo Board member Joann Evans, support for the event is being solicited from area businesses and individuals. Persons interested in contributing may contact El Paseo at 943-4700.
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