By: Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
It was a sweetheart of a “Hot Topics Breakfast” on Feb. 14 in Alpine!
The tables were full at the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting, held in the historic Alpine Town Hall at 2156 Alpine Blvd.
By: Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
It was a sweetheart of a “Hot Topics Breakfast” on Feb. 14 in Alpine!
The tables were full at the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting, held in the historic Alpine Town Hall at 2156 Alpine Blvd.
The crowd began by celebrating the 65th birthday of The Alpine Sun, started on Valentine’s Day, 1952. Publisher Vonnie Sanchez, Editor Lori Bledsoe and Advertising Manager Jennifer Tschida brought tasty cupcakes for everyone, but the Chamber surprised them with a ceremony.
“As many of you know, these women are the heart and soul of this town,” Chamber Chairman Joseph Perricone of The Canvas Makers began. “They’re always fair in what they write.”
The women of The Sun then received certificates of recognition and appreciation from the Chamber, State Assemblyman Randy Voepel and U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter.
State Senator Joel Anderson’s representative, Andrew Hayes, gave them a large framed California State Resolution. It honored The Sun for 65 years of “dedication to the community and commitment to writing accurately and fairly.”
“It was the tiniest newspaper in the United States at that time and it cost 10 cents,” Sanchez said later. “I want to thank everyone. Without all the businesses and advertisers that have supported us and all the news turned into us, we wouldn’t be here.”
In other business, the Orange Book team encouraged everyone to support the Chamber and its new phone directory for Alpine and the Mountain Empire. The local Orange Book will also be digital and on a mobile app when it comes out in June.
“It covers all the communities that the Chamber represents,” said Luann Boylan, Orange Books’ owner. “Why be a Chamber member? It makes you a part of the community. This is how America works. We make America work —- every day, every transaction, every dollar.”
Boylan pointed out that small communities across the nation have helped keep small businesses alive.
“Those towns, those people are alive because those communities banded together and said ‘We aren’t going down,” she said.
Boylan encouraged everyone to contact the Orange Team if they want to be in the directory.
Proving how grass roots and supportive chambers are, members Chris Wiley of Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. and Darryl Bush of Keller Williams Realty prompted spur-of-the-moment fund raising for this year’s four Alpine Honorary Mayor candidates.
Wiley even matched $200 that others donated during the meeting for candidate Frank Sturniolo of REACH Air Medical Services!
Chaplain Theo Bazdorf of VFW Bert Fuller Post 9578 won a Chamber Ambassadors’ “Red Hot & Moving to the Top” promotional event for the post. Jennifer Tschida held the winning drawing ticket for a free “Hot Topics” Breakfast.
To get your business, organization, group or agency listed in the new Orange Book, call (760) 789-4243. Call (619) 445-2722 or visit www.alpinechamber.com to learn how the Chamber supports communities.
