Chamber Chatter: Smithville chamber plans Fourth of July celebration, calls for volunteers

April Daniels

Special to the Smithville Times

Five students graduated from the Smithville Workforce Training Center's fourth certified nursing assistant graduation ceremony last week at the Smithville Recreation Center.

It’s almost time for Smithville’s July 4th celebration! We’ve been working with our partners — the VFW, the Partners of the Veteran’s Park, the city of Smithville and the First Baptist Church — to plan a big, fun-filled event celebrating our nation’s Independence Day. We are signing up volunteers now for two-hour shifts (all volunteers get a free t-shirt) so give us a call if you can help with the tournaments or beer booth or kid’s area, etc. Contact us if you’d like to sponsor, come as a vendor, be in the parade or join in the games: 512-237-2313.

Schedule

9 a.m.: 5K Freedom Run (hosted by Smithville Parks and Rec)

11 a.m.: Patriotic Parade — Downtown Smithville

Noon: Hotdog Meal — at VFW Post 1309 (Sponsor: Calbri Road & Bridge)

1 p.m.: Riverbend Park opens to the public

-Tournaments and contests (1-5 p.m.):

- Cornhole tournament ($20 team entry fee)

- Horseshoe tournament ($20 team entry fee)

- Washer tournament ($20 team entry fee)

- Patriotic cake baking contest ($5 to enter)

- Pie baking contest ($5 to enter)

- Uncle Sam look-a-like contest (Free to enter)

- Hot dog eating contest ($10 entry fee per person)

1-5 p.m.: Petting zoo

1-7 p.m.: Kid’s water fun park

1-9 p.m.: Beer booth

1-9 p.m.: Food and merchandise vendors

5 p.m.: Tournament and contest winners announced & salute to veterans

3-9 p.m.: Live music

1-3 p.m. — Down South Band (at beer stage)

3-6 p.m. — The Johnny Rockit Band (pavilion stage 1)

6-9 p.m. — Shop Dawgz (pavilion stage 2)

9 p.m.: Fireworks display

Parking shuttles will run from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Smithville Elementary School and Smithville Recreation Center

Many thanks to our title sponsor: LCRA. If you are interested in sponsoring, please call us at 512-237-2313. www.visitsmithville.org/4thofJuly

Announcements

The chamber was excited to host our third Lunch & Learn last week: Chamber 101. Our participants learned about the membership benefits available to them as well as learn about the chamber’s advocacy work, volunteer and networking opportunities, marketing and sponsorship and more.

The Smithville Workforce Training Center held its fourth certified nursing assistant graduation ceremony last week at the Smithville Recreation Center. We were excited to celebrate five more graduates of that program, all of whom were immediately placed in jobs with Towers Nursing Home or Silver Pines Nursing Home in Bastrop. Our EMT classes, HVAC training and more are all ongoing now. Visit www.smithvilleworkforcetrainingcenter.org for more information.

The chamber wants to thank the Ralph-Land Group for hosting the May mixer. The ice cream sundaes, food prepared by Feed the Need Missions and the beautiful weather made for a wonderful evening! Mark your calendars for the June mixer on June 16 at 5 p.m. at Front Room Wine Bar.

Ribbon cutting: Join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony for Worthy & Worthy Creations, 3988 U.S. 290 E, Paige, on June 17, 4-5 p.m. Kimberly Worthy and Javon Worthy specialize in personalized items and clothing. Come out and support this new business and help us welcome them to our chamber community.