Three Weeks to Go

The Stokes Stomp is just over three weeks away. It is hard to believe that there will be between 15 and 20,000 people in Danbury that weekend. It will be my first visit and I have volunteered to work in the Arts Council Booth on Saturday. This will give me a chance to meet a lot of people and learn more about the event. Mark your calendars and be ready for a really busy time in Stokes County.

In addition to the "Stomp", the Walnut Festival is Scheduled for Friday Sept 11. Visit the Town of Walnut Cove's web site for more details. The Stokes County Fair begins on the 14th in King and runs through the 19th. King Fest is the first weekend in October. High School Football is going on each Friday night and that is just the beginning.

We were awarded a $15,000.00 Incumbent Workers Grant last week. We are very close to making our web site building project a reality. There are six pilot companies already selected to allow us to work out the kinks and we should be building site full bore in 2010. If you have a business in Stokes County or know of someone in the county that does not have a web site, have them get in touch with me. There will be a media campaign set up to make this known through-out the county but I am so excited that I wanted to tell some folks about this now (not sure how many because this is a new blog).

We should soon have a visitor information center in Danbury a the library. This will fill a big need and allow us to start getting more information in the hands of our visitors. We hope to have this open by Stomp Weekend. Stay tuned for more...

Classes at Camp Sertoma

This is a repost from yesterday, as all my information did not show on the previous blog. Through the efforts of the folks at Camp Sertoma, Stokes Core and Forsyth Technical institute, there will be several classes offered this fall at the camp. You may call 336-493-2482 for more information. The classes offered have the potential to lead to employment in a very timely manner.

Financial A$$i$tance MAY be available for Electrician Helper,


Intro to Masonry, Landscape, Welding, Computer and Keyboarding Classes.


Call 336-593-2482 for information to see if you qualify.

This assistance made possible through the


Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments and WorkForce Development.





Electrician Helper

Course Code 35193 $188

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm


Intro to Masonry

Course Code 35155 $178

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm


Landscape Technician $ 68

Course Code 35257

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm


Welding ARC Basic $198

Course Code 35156


Welding MIG $198

Course Code 35258




Both Welding Classes Begin in Fall



Computer Basics

Course Code 35426 $68

11/24-12/17 T/Th 9 am-noon


Into to Keyboarding

Course Code 35429 $178

8/25-11/12 T/Th 9 am-noon


Painting: Mixed Media

Course Code 35165 $35

10/6-10/27 Tue 9 am-noon

or 34994 $25

11/10-12/1 Tue 9 am-noon


Photography: Nature $25

Course Code 35225

9/15 Tue 9 am-noon

Course Code 35227

11/10 Tue 9 am-noon

Face Book Article

For those of you who don't read the Stokes News, below if a reprint of an article from last weeks paper on the Stokes Travel-Tourism and Development facebook page. It quotes me a number of times but this isn't about me. This is about developing a community around technology. This is about helping the citizens and former citizens of the county to share information and build better lives. I believe that by using this technology in unique ways we can get a jump on the rest of the world. Heres hoping that I am right.

County joins Facebook frenzy
by Leslie Bray Evans4 days ago

One of the hottest social networking websites in the world is now being used by Stokes County to enhance economic development. Stokes has a Facebook page where people can become fans of the county. Since Economic Development Director Alan Wood created the page about three months ago, nearly 600 people have become fans of the county on the page entitled Stokes Travel-Tourism and Development.

“It seems to be popular with people who have ties to the area and are missing their home,” Wood notes. He says he is using the page to promote local events and businesses. Already he has links to over 60 companies and civic organizations, with plans to add even more links in the future. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, then Stokes County’s page is in great shape; it boasts four photo albums with about 100 pictures.

Wood states that the goal of the Facebook page is not to advertise the businesses in the county but rather to serve as a fun place to share information. “I think it can stir interest in the events that we try and help publicize and hopefully help to build a sense of community,” he elaborates.

With the page still in its infant stages, Wood is working on several ideas for increasing the fan base. One of the newer features is a blog called “Stokes Folks.” The focus of this latest addition to the Facebook page is business, industry, interesting items, people, opportunities and events from Stokes County. Wood has high hopes for the blog, “I hope that people will participate and let me know what is going on in the county.”

The page also contains information on animals that are available for adoption at the Stokes County Animal Shelter. “I have a special place in my heart for these unfortunate animals,” Wood confesses, “and I hope this information helps at least a few of them find homes.” In just one day recently, 18 animals were rescued from the shelter and one was adopted—19 animals in one day! That was all of the animals listed on the Facebook page except for one adult cat.

Plans are in the works for the Facebook page to be linked to the new Stokes County Economic Development website as well as the new travel and tourism site that is being created. These plans fit into the economic development strategy of using social networking, web-based marketing, and normal marketing channels to help local businesses access untapped markets.

A January 2009 Compete.com study ranked Facebook as the most used social network by worldwide monthly active users, followed by MySpace. It is a privately-owned corporation where users can add friends, send them messages, and update their own personal profiles to update friends. A Facebook user can also join networks that are organized by workplace, school, city and region.

Facebook was founded in 2005 by Harvard University student, Mark Zuckerberg, and his roommates, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. The three men were fellow computer science majors. Zuckerberg took the name for his brainchild website from the colloquial name of a book that was traditionally given to new students at his former high school, Phillips Exeter Academy. The “Facebook” of his alma mater shows the faces and gives the names of the students and faculty at the academy.

At first only Harvard students could access the new service, but soon it spread to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. The next step in Facebook’s expansion was its availability to any university student, followed by high school students, and ultimately to anyone aged 13 and over. Today, Facebook has over 250 million active users from all over the world.

And now some of those users are fans of Stokes County. This is yet another example of the county’s continuing use of modern technology to promote the economic development of Stokes County.

I am convinced that educaction and the willingness to learn will be the way to success in the future. To this end, Forsyth Tech and Stokes Core have joined together to offer continuing education classes at Camp Sertoma. The information below will show you who to contact and the courses that are being offered. This is an opportunity to increase your skills and prepare for your future. Please contact the number below for more information.

Sertoma -4H Center on

Moore’s Springs Rd.

Is the latest addition to Forsyth Tech’s Stokes County locations for

Continuing Education Classes

Call 593-2482 for Information

Financial A$$i$tance MAY be available for Electrician Helper,

Intro to Masonry, Landscape, Welding, Computer and Keyboarding Classes.

Call 336-593-2482 for information to see if you qualify.

This assistance made possible through the

Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments and WorkForce Development.

Electrician Helper

Course Code 35193 $188

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm

Intro to Masonry

Course Code 35155 $178

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm

Landscape Technician $ 68

Course Code 35257

8/31-12/2 M/W 6-9 pm

Welding ARC Basic $198

Course Code 35156

Welding MIG $198

Course Code 35258

Both Welding Classes Begin in Fall

Computer Basics

Course Code 35426 $68

11/24-12/17 T/Th 9 am-noon

Into to Keyboarding

Course Code 35429 $178

8/25-11/12 T/Th 9 am-noon

Painting: Mixed Media

Course Code 35165 $35

10/6-10/27 Tue 9 am-noon

or 34994 $25

11/10-12/1 Tue 9 am-noon

Photography: Nature $25

Course Code 35225

9/15 Tue 9 am-noon

Course Code 35227

11/10 Tue 9 am-noon

Stokes Stomp Update and More

Tomorrow is a big day for the EDC and our plan of work. If we get an approval for our Incumbent Workers Grant, we can go full speed ahead with our web site development program for our local businesses. Keep your fingers crossed!

It is 24 days until Stokes Stomp 2009. I am posting your first look at the events of the weekend. This is not final and is subject to change. It looks like a great event and a wonderful time. This is just part of the excitement that is taking place in Stokes County during this time. Keep your eye on the visitstokesnc web site and visit the Stokes Travel/Tourism and Devleopment facebook page for more.
The 35th Annual
Stokes Stomp
Festival On The Dan
Saturday
Entertainment Schedule
10:30 -11:30 AM
Stokes Stomp Parade
11:30 AM-12:15 PM
North, South, West Stokes Bands
12:15 PM-12:30 PM
Stokes Opportunity Center Singers
12:30-1:30 PM
Black Diamond
1:30-1:45 PM
North Stokes Cheerleaders
1:45-2:45 PM
Zephyr Lightning Bolts
2:45-3:00 PM
CC Dance Company
3:00-4:15 PM
Wood and Steel
4:15-4:30 PM
CC Dance Company
4:30-5:15 PM Holly Creek Girls
5:30-7:00 PM Blues Creek

Sunday
Entertainment Schedule
9:00 AM
Stomp Canoe & Kayak Demonstration
12:30-1:30 PM
The Ramshackles
1:30 PM-1:45 PM
West Stokes
Cheerleaders
1:45-3:00 PM
Flat Out Bluegrass
3:00-3:15 PM
Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio
3:15-4:45 PM
Kopper Kanyon
4:45 PM
Duck Race
4:45 PM-5:00 PM
Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio
5:00-5:30 PM
Stokes All Star Jam


Major Sponsors:

North Carolina Arts Council
Ben and Lemma Apple Foundation
RJ Reynolds American Foundation
Town of Danbury
Pepsi Bottling Ventures
NewBridge Bank
Artists Way Creations
Danbury General Store
Grady Burgin & Charlotte Offerdahl
King Music Center
King’s Cabin Salon & Day Spa
Dan River Company
Rainbow Print and Copy
Republic Waste

August on the Dan River

Countdown to fun.

Things are heating up, no pun intended, in Stokes County. This is the start of our count-down to a really busy month of activities in the area. Beginning on Friday September 11, with the Walnut Festival in Walnut Cove and running through early October with with King-Fest in King. I am attaching the event announcement from the Stokes County Arts Council below concernin 35th annual Stokes Stomp. Plan on coming out and attending these wonderful events.

The Stokes County Arts Council is proud to present the upcoming 35th Annual Stokes Stomp, Festival on the Dan scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 13, 2009, 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the beautiful banks of the Dan River at Moratock Park, located on Sheppard Mill Road, in Danbury, North Carolina. The Stomp will kick off on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with the Stokes Stomp Parade, followed by North, South and West Stokes High School Band performances, the Stokes Opportunity Center Singers, Black Diamond, Zephyr Lightning Bolts, CC Dance Company, Wood and Steel, Holly Creek Girls and Blues Creek on the Main Stage or in the Main Stage area. In the Children’s Area, the Stokes Partnership for Children will sponsor “The Little Folks Tent” and there will be entertainment by the Stokes County 4-H Program, North Carolina Junior Miss Tara Lynne Schiphof, Miss Krishna Corbett, Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio, and On Stage Dance Academy. On Sunday, the Stomp will begin at 12:30 p.m. with musical entertainment on the Main Stage or in the Main Stage area by The Ramshackles, Flat Out Bluegrass, Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio, Kopper Kanyon, and at 5:00 p.m. the Stokes County Arts Council will host the “Stokes Homecoming All Star Jam.”In the Children’s Area, George and Maggie Hicks will host a Historical Program, followed by The Boy Scout Program, North Carolina Junior Miss Tara Lynne Schiphof, Black Diamond Band, On Stage Dance Academy, and the Evans Family Dancers. The Stokes County Arts Council will also sponsor the Dan River Duck Race, Guitar and Mandolin raffle autographed by Alan Bibey, and other events. Numerous food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and much, much more will be available! Please come out and celebrate the 35th Annual Stokes Stomp, Festival on the Dan with us. Admission and Parking are free to the public. For more information, please contact the Stokes County Arts Council at (336) 593-8159 or if interested in participating either as a vendor or volunteer, please contact us via e-mail at stokesarts@co.stokes.nc.us.