Weekly Newsletter
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Meet our New Executive Director on December 13th


Join Clayton Visual Arts
for Christmas in Clayton

2016 Houses 

Begin tour at: The Piazza (clubhouse) at Portofino,
25 Paraggi Court
 
* Upperman residence,
182 Paraggi Court

* Harris residence,
210 Paraggi Court

* Mendola residence,
232 Paraggi Court

* Thompson residence,
203 Portofino Drive

* Atchison residence,
62 Rapallo Court 

* Bosick residence,
215 Sicily Drive

* Snead residence,
265 Ventasso Drive

2016 Christmas in Clayton Artists  
Deborah Coates- Photography (Clayton),  Krissy Crittenden- Painting (Clayton),  Catherine Donleycott-Painting (Clayton),  Bronwen Fullington- Weaving (Clayton),  Jim Hopkins- Woodworking (Clayton),  Lori Ann Martin- Photography (Clayton),  Cathy Spivey Mendola- Jewelry (Clayton),  Kathy Nobles- Painting (Clayton),  Medrith Nuttle- Painting (Zebulon),  Heidi Peach- Painting (Clayton),  Janie Prete- Painting (Clayton),  Bill Rice- Silversmith (Clayton),  Sharlene Thomas- Decorated Eggs (Willow Spring),  Jo Lee Tucker- Painting (Four Oaks),  Kyle Wilson- Photography (Clayton),  Evelyn Wood- Soaps (Pine Level)
 
2015 Recipients of Christmas in Clayton Grants 
Inaugural Dorothy Demboski Art Teacher Assistance Grants of $300 each to:
* Charlene Bowling of Cleveland High
* Abby Boykin of Corinth Holders High
* Suzan Fontaine of Cooper Elementary
* Mary Catherine Foust of Powhatan Elementary

The awards are a new effort by Clayton Visual arts to support art teachers and promote art among Clayton area school children.

For more information about this event or to purchase tickets, visit http://claytonvisualartsnc.org/Christmas-in-Clayton/
Quick Links
2016 Chamber Champions


Clayton Chamber of Commerce 


919-553-6352

301 East Main Street
Clayton, NC 27520

Executive Director (Interim)
Jessica Lloyd

Don't Forget
Closed for Thanksgiving

The Chamber offices will be closed for Thanksgiving Wednesday, November 23 to Friday, November 25. Our office will 
reopen on Monday, November 28 at 8:30 a.m. We hope you have a safe and ha ppy holiday weekend and we would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from our families to yours!
Register for the
Clayton Christmas Parade Today!

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Don't forget to register for the Clayton Christmas Parade, now directed by the Clayton Rotary Club. Parade registration ends on December 3rd. Make sure you send your registration in so you can participate in this awesome annual event! For more information, visit the Clayton Rotary Club's Parade homepage by clicking here .

Shop Small This Saturday

Wouldn't you agree that it's the most wonderful time of the year? We certainly would! When you're shopping for your Christmas gifts this season, please remember to support local small businesses. 

Mark your calendar for Shop Small Saturday in Downtown Clayton on Saturday, November 26! Shop Small Saturday will begin at 10 a.m. and continue all day! The Farmer's Market will be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Horne Square. After 1 p.m., there will be other entertainment at Horne Square, and businesses will remain open until the evening!

What could be better than a day of shopping around in our beautiful town?! Don't leave without stopping by one of our downtown restaurants to grab lunch or dinner.

Come out and support our local businesses, enter to win some awesome prizes, get your picture made with Santa and enjoy carolers on each block. So far, the participating businesses include: Rejoyce Gifts, Classy Stitches, Craze Boutique, Blackley's Printing & Sign Shop, Harbor Inc.'s Upscale Resale Shop Pizazz - Clayton, Sherry's Signature Cheesecakes, Dylan's Unique Gifts & Weddings, Three Little Birds, Flowers By The Neuse Clayton, NC, Main Street Jewelers, Studio Bleu, Solution Quest, Artisan Boutiques and Marketplace...and the list is growing!

Please visit the Shop Small Saturday event page for more information!
Come to the Clayton  Christmas Tree L ighting on  December 1

Ring in the holiday season with the Town of Clayton's festive and ever-popular Christmas Village and Tree Lighting. Come  downtown Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 and celebrate the 26th Anniversary Tree Lighting Ceremony! Thousands of people pack Main Street and help bring downtown Clayton alive with the holiday spirit!

Starting at 5:30 p.m., Main Street hosts two and a half hours of music, holiday cheer, a business open house, a live Nativity, and - of course - a chance to sit on Sa nta's lap and tell Saint Nick what's on your Christmas wish list.

The entire night culminates in Town Square with a traditional tree lighting ceremony on the corner of Fayetteville & Main streets.

This year marks the ninth the Clayton Downtown Development Association Inc. (CDDA) has organized holiday festivities in partnership with the local community, businesses and groups. The CDDA sends a huge thank-you to the wonderfully dedicated volunteers who make this event possible year after year. Check out our Christmas Village and Tree Lighting event page for more information coming soon.
Ambassador of the Month
Erin Belcher, owner of
Dylan's Unique Gifts and Weddings

My name is Erin Belcher, Owner of Dylan's Unique Gifts & Weddings in Downtown Clayton. My husband, Charlenzo Belcher and I set out 3 years ago on a unbelievable journey. #1 entailed me moving to North Carolina, #2 was to purchase a home, #3 we got married and #4 we opened a store. Amazing, it all happened in a 8 month period in 2013. Born in the inner city of Chicago, Illinois, at 18 I was able to leave the city for the first time and attend college on a Band Scholarship at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC where I met my future husband (who knew) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering. After graduation I returned back to Chicago and worked under a internship with the Chicago Transit Authority in their Architectural Drafting division. One day, while watching one of my favorite Elvis Presley movies "Girl Happy" Rusty (Elvis character) worked in Chicago and went to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It looked like that would be so much fun to enjoy the beach everyday so I moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fl. The one detail that I did not plan for, to have all that fun you needed money, which meant you needed to work. WHAT? I have to get a real job. That was not in the movie. Once I worked through that minor bump I have resided  in Jacksonville, Fl, Atlanta, Ga, Columbia, SC and now Clayton. After the sudden and tragic lost of my 9 year old son Dylan in 2010 and suffering through years of depression and grief due to lost, In 2013 I was finally able to due something in his memory. I had always told him that we would have a great home and a business one day. Although he would not be able to physically see what we have accomplished in his name, Dylan's serves a brand of superior service and love. I also serve as a Clayton Chamber of Commerce Board Member and a Clayton Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.
Dylan's opened for business in September 2013 and we have been evolving ever since. As many small businesses can attest, you go through many peaks & valleys. I have learned it is what you do with the valleys that will determine your longevity as a owner. I have also learned that the experience itself is priceless. 

Dylan's itself has evolved into not only selling goods at our brick and mortar location, 106 S. Lombard St. and Online Store but into a customer service leader in Custom Gift Baskets, Catering, DJ Services, Event Planning and Interior Design. At our Storefront location we sell an array of items including Jewelry, Handbags, Picture Frames, Pre-made Gift Baskets, Men's Jewelry, Wedding Accessories, Toasting Glasses, Mineral Stone Gems, Organic Dylan Bath & Body Spa Collection and Oil Paintings. During the upcoming Holiday Season come see what we have to offer.

Online Store: We ship all over the United States with a turnaround time from order to ship being less than 48 hours. During this Holiday Season let Dylan's take care of sending that special gift to that very special someone. We can custom make you order, if needed through our website www.dylansuniquegifts.com  

Caterer: Dylan's Catering offers an extensive menu to satisfy any palate. We have catered Business Expos, Business Luncheons, Corporate Dinners, Weddings, Baby Showers, Memorial Passings, House Warmings, Family Dinners, Festivals, and Holiday Meals. Our meals are prepared with love. We look forward to serving you during this Holiday Season. See our menu at www.dylansuniquegifts.com or stop by our store front at 106 S. Lombard Street in Downtown Clayton.

Event Planning: As a experienced Event Planner we have planned everything from a 20 guest Baby Shower to a 200 guest wedding to a 300 participant Corporate Meeting. Let Dylan's take the weight off and plan your next successful event. 

DJ Services: With a music catalog of over 200,000 songs, state of the art sound system and 30 years worth of experience Dylan's can make your event fun and full of any type of music. Our catalog consist of 40's - 2016 (Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Country, Old School, Alternative, Jazz, Bollywood and Instrumental). Need a DJ for your Holiday Party, Call Dylan's.

Interior Design: Do you need your home decorated for your guest during the Holiday Season? We can set up and decorate your tree, design your dinner table, decorate your home as you see in the magazines. Let's plan it! Call us at (919) 550-3333 or come by our store for details.

Custom Gift Baskets: Do you have a person that is hard to shop for? What a better way to say Happy Holiday's then a custom made Basket or Wreath. You select your price point and/or theme and Dylan's takes care of the rest. We have been rated 5 stars overall for our work and one of the leaders in Gift Basket Giving. Check out our Facebook page at  h ttps://www.facebook.com/DylansUniqueGiftsandWeddings/
Twitter Page at @BelcherDavis
Instagram at erin.davis.52206

My faith, My undying love for my son, My love for my husband with his unbreakable support and belief in our brand and support of the best family in the world, I present to you Dylan's Unique Gifts & Weddings.