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Taste of Blount was held last Thursday and by all accounts, the more than 300 people in attendance had a blast eating, dancing and singing, despite a little bit of rainfall. More than 13 vendors shared some of their best recipes, and the Aaron Tracy Band mixed in some of their own songs with a great mix of country covers. Rocky's Jamaica Sunrise took home the awards for best overall and best entree. Other winners included Lemon Grass for best appetizer, Full Service BBQ for best sandwich, Chadwick's Churn for best dessert, Vienna Coffee House for best beverage and Campfire Grill for best presentation. Check out the Facebook photo gallery to see the fun, and be sure to join us next year!
 The Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timer's Day is next Friday and Saturday, September 26-27. There are new crafters and more food options, as well as some great entertainment, as traditional bluegrass music from some of the area's best bands will be on stage. Admission is free, but you will have to pay for parking. This is the final week that we can offer a two-day parking pass for $10.
GET TICKETS FOR THIS SPOOKTAKULAR EVENT
 Tickets are on sale for $10 for the Spooktakular Party at Primetime Oct. 28 at Maryville College's Alumni Gym. This Halloween-themed event is your best opportunity to meet many Chamber members from all sectors of the community in one location. Instead of standing at a booth, like a traditional trade show, you can use this event to network and meet new people in the business community!
With 120 businesses already registered, you'll want to get your tickets and even bring a door prize. Call 865.983.2241 or email [email protected] to get your tickets.
Whether you decide to have a table top space or not, come and network at the largest networking event in Blount County.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR BEST OF BLOUNT AWARDS
 The Blount Excellence Awards have been renamed the Best of Blount Awards, and 2014 marks the first time the awards will focus on the Blount County community as a whole, rather than only on the business community. Hosted by The Blount Partnership for over 10 years, the Best of Blount will now celebrate those individuals and businesses that give their time and resources to make our county such a great place.
The event will be the evening of November 6 at the Clayton Center for the Arts, with a reception starting at 5:15 p.m. The awards ceremony and speaker starts promptly at 6:30 p.m., with awards presented in five categories: Business of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, Community Impact Award, Bright Future Award and Tourism Award. Each will be given to a peer-nominated business or individual, with each nomination vetted and reviewed by an independent committee. Nominees do not have to reside inside Blount County, but must have made an impact on the Blount County community over the last 12 months.
 Our special guest for the evening will be Robert O'Neill, a member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. One of the most highly decorated veterans of our time, he has deployed more than a dozen times and held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions. He has been involved in some of our nation's most important campaigns.
Mr. O'Neill is speaking on behalf of Your Grateful Nation, a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to supporting our special operation heroes and their families by providing executive-level mentoring, transitional services and family stabilization support.
Schedule
5:15-6:15 p.m. - Heavy hors d'oeuvres reception
6:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony
7:00 p.m. - Special guest Robert O'Neill
Tickets are on sale by calling 865.983.2241 or online
$45 - Chamber Member & General public with heavy hors d'oeuvres
$35 - Chamber VIP Member include heavy hors d'oeuvres (Must call Chamber to reserve)
$25 - Chamber Member & General public without heavy hors d'oeuvres
COME OUT TO THE VACATION RACES HALF MARATHON
 The Vacation Races half marathon is set for Sept. 20. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. The course begins near Heritage High School in the Hubbard Community outside Maryville and ends in Townsend, just under a mile from the National Park boundary. The finish line is at the Townsend Visitor's Center with beautiful views of the mountains. Find out more information at greatsmokymountainshalfmarathon.com.
Spectators are welcome at the starting line and finish line. There are several spots along the course you may be able to watch and cheer for your runners. Spectators are NOT ALLOWED on Old Walland Highway. Spectators are encouraged to be at the finish line to cheer on all our runners. All spectators should park in the Visitor's Center parking lot.
Aside from the start and finish, we have a few recommendations where to cheer. The course runs along one side of the Little River and the highway runs on the other side. Anywhere there is a bridge you can pull off and walk to where you can see the runners.
Some of the main bridges can be found at:
1) Melrose Station Road and Old Walland Hwy. (near mile 2)
2) E. Millers Cove Road and Old Walland Hwy. (near mile 3)
3) Cameron road and Old Walland Hwy. (near mile 8)
UT LAUNCHES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Business Administration is launching a comprehensive development program geared toward current organization leaders or those with potential to be on the fast track to leadership.
Registration is now open for the UT Emerging Leaders Series, which begins January 2015. Participants take classes just two days each month between January and June, which limits work disruption.
The series includes six modules and is designed for the same individual to take them all. But participants can sign up for individual modules, if desired. All modules are taught in the Haslam Business Building on the UT campus.
BUT FIRST LET ME TAKE A #SELFIE
Now's your opportunity to be featured during the 2015 Blount Partnership Annual Meeting set for Jan. 30 at the Airport Hilton. We want your selfies. Any selfie of you, taken any time and any place. (Please take your pictures safely; especially not while driving.)
How it Works: Be a part of our selfie collage by following these 3 easy steps: 1. Take a selfie 2. Tag #BPAM2015 3. Post your pic to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email. Don't forget to use the #BPAM2015 tag on ALL your selfies and look for them at the Annual Meeting!
GOT AN EVENT? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT
Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event, please email Ashlee so she can post it on www.SmokyMountains.org.
Also, please send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.
REMEMBER WHEN
Topping the Billboard Single Chart this week in 1986 was Berlin's "Take My Breath Away," the love song from the film Top Gun. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.
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