Chamber Connection by Butch Burney 11.6.25
Nominations are being accepted for Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Small and Large Businesses of the Year and other superlative recognitions by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.
The awards will be announced at the Chamber’s membership banquet on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
When nominating a person or business, please write in the nomination letter the reasons you are proposing them for the award. Nominations can be sent to Butch@HopkinsChamber.org or mailed to 110 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. The awards to be presented include:
· Citizen of the Year
· Woman of the Year
· Caregiver of the Year
· Community Pride Award
· Agriculturist of the Year— (can also be mailed to Hopkins/Rains Counties Farm Bureau at 233 College St., Sulphur Springs 75482).
· Growth and Renewal
· Outstanding Professional Educator (Administrator, Counselor, Diagnostician, or Teacher
· Outstanding ParaProfessional Educator (Secretary or Aide
· Outstanding Auxiliary Educator (Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation, Nurse or Cafeteria
Businesses of the Year nominations should be for those businesses which exhibit outstanding community involvement—civic, church, educational, benevolent, humanitarian or other.
· Large Business of the Year (50 or more employees)
· Small Business of the Year (fewer than 50 full-time employees)
Please get your nominations in before the end of the year.
Lunch and Learn
The Chamber will host a Lunch and Learn about social media marketing, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at The Depot on Church Street.
There will be three main speakers and a question-and-answer session that will cover setting up profiles correctly, choosing the right platform, creating a brand, tools for creating and organizing content, staying on top of trends and video basics, to name a few. The speakers will include Janis McAdoo of Rock Steady Resolutions, Calli Voorheese of Beauty Grace Lifestyle Shop and Magan Smith of Money Law and Title.
There is no charge for the Lunch and Learn, but registration is required. Please call the Chamber office at 903-885-6515 or email info@hopkinschamber.org.
Ornaments and Stew Merch
Our 2025 Christmas ornaments, featuring Buford Park, are on sale at the Chamber office. They are $45 each.
The Chamber also has a limited supply of 2025 stew merchandise still available. This includes a few shirts, tumblers, mugs and caps. We are located at 110 Main St.
Cocktails and Conversation
The next after-hours mixer, Cocktails and Conversation, will be hosted by Beauty Grace Lifestyle Shop from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend. It is open to everyone who wants to socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. Please join us for this event!
Ribbon Cuttings
Flowerland Florist will have a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at their office located at 411 Gilmer Street. Please join us.
Texas Insurance Resource will host a ribbon cutting at the Chamber office at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7. Everyone is invited to attend.
Christmas Activities
The 34th annual Sulphur Springs Symphony League live auction is brought to you by Chad’s Media on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m. The event will be streamed live via the Front Porch News Facebook page and Chad’s Media YouTube page. Expect to see incredible gifts from local businesses, handmade treasures and unique local experiences, all available for you to place your bid. And remember, everything you donate goes to funding local music enjoyment and education like the Children’s Concert, the Dallas Opera and the Independence Day concert to Sulphur Springs!
Christmas in the Park is set for Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 at Heritage Park on Jackson Street. Affordable family fun under the Christmas lights, with Santa, live music, nativity and more.
Lake Country CASA’s annual Cookie Walk is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. There will be cookies, cakes and other treats for sale to benefit Lake Country CASA.
The Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 5 starting at Buford Park. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. with the parade starting at 7. Registration must be received by noon on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Categories will be Large Business, Small Business and Non-Profit, with cash prizes awarded to winners.
Registration sheets are available at the Chamber office, 110 Main St.
Entry fee is one new unwrapped present for Blue Santa.
Along with the parade, the city will host the Lighted Celebration Market downtown from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. It will include lighting of the city Christmas tree at 5:45 p.m., and the snow slide opening at 6 p.m.
The Christmas Market on Main Street will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, downtown. You can do your shopping with our local merchants and vendors that day.
Northeast Texas Choral Society will have their “Joy to the World” production at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Visit the website SingersCount.org for ticket information.
“Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Sulphur Springs Christmas” will be playing at Main Street Theatre at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14. Tickets are $15. Visit communityplayersinc.com for more information.
