OROVILLE – The Oroville Chamber of Commerce welcomed Vicki’s Unique Boutique, a new business opened in Oroville by Vicki Hart at 607 14th.
The business features unique, previously owned items and is located in the old Hart Insurance building and is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Even though we hadn’t officially opened yet, it has just taken off like crazy. I’ve been busy all day long, it has just been fun and I’ve just been thrilled,” said Hart, who gets many of her items through donations.
“People warned me that I’d just end up with a lot of junk dropped off, but actually we’ve gotten a lot of nice stuff,” said Hart.
The chamber also welcomed its newest member, the Tumble Weed Film Festival. Seattle filmmakers Geoff Klein and Mo Fine reported that the results of this year’s film festival were better than they expected for their first year. This year the film festival was two nights, the first at Esther Bricques Winery and the second at Alpine Brewery and attracted more than 120 movie goers interested in viewing the short film offerings.
“Next year we plan to have it over three nights and hope to double the number of people,” said Klein, who is looking for sponsors.
Last year the main sponsor for the event was Baines Title Company and their name appeared on all the posters, as well as the Web site and as one of the rotating ads before the films. Updates to the Web site will enable a lot more people the opportunity to be sponsors, said Klein.
This past festival filmmakers were also invited to talk about their films and a couple were on hand to discuss them with the audience. Klein said they hope to do the same this upcoming year and that feature, as well as short films, will be offered. In addition, the audience will be able to chose the “Best of Fest” and those chosen will win an award and the 10 best will become part of a traveling festival they hopes to show in Omak, Osoyoos and the Tri-Cities, according to Klein.
“I didn’t get a chance to go because of another obligation, but the people I spoke with thought it was awesome,” said Patti Garrett, a chamber board member.
More information on the film festival is available at www.tumbleweedfilmfest.com.
Garrett and her husband Pat will be hosting a Business After Hours get together for chamber members and others on Wednesday, Oct. 27 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Garrett Interiors and Mail n’ More located at 1400 Main St.
The monthly Business After Hours is something the chamber of commerce hopes other businesses will want to try. There has already been interest shown in hosting future Business After Hours events by Lake Crest Winery and the Inn at Molson.
Rae Jean Kelley, candidate for Okanogan County Clerk also spoke with the chamber members. She said that the clerk’s office needed to be more efficient and updated for electronic filing. She is endorsed by the clerks from Douglas and Chelan County.
Robin Stice, of Eden Valley Guest Ranch, asked if any members would like to have some of the Highlands Loop and Many Lakes Loop Maps from the Okanogan County Tourism Council to distribute. They come in padded form and she asked people to write down how many pads of each they would take.
She also reported that this year’s Northwest Ice Fishing Festival would be Saturday, Feb. 19 on President’s Day Weekend. Money raised from the festival goes to help keep the Visitor Information Center open more hours. She asked for help from the chamber and said she needed someone to head up getting sponsorships for the festival.
