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Good Neighbors Choose Local

ISI is working with the Chamber of Commerce & Sparta Revitalization Committee on their shop local campaign. We’re volunteering several services – designing the logo, putting together a television ad for ACTV, making a facebook page that others in the Chamber and on the Committee can update.

The slogan of the campaign is “Good Neighbors Choose Local.” This isn’t just about shopping local or supporting your friends who own stores downtown (even though they’re pretty great folks).

“Choosing Local” is about building your community, in all the ways. It’s about choosing to be involved. In volunteering, in churches, in clubs, in recreation. Obviously, it would be wonderful if we had a very strong local economy. But it’s just as important to have strong local relationships.

We’re very proud to be associated with this campaign.

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On spam.

Everybody gets spam. Here are a few tips on how to lessen & manage it:
  1. Implement a spam blocker that will help cut back the volume.
  2. Never publish email addresses directly on your web site.
  3. Use a contact form for interaction with the public so as not to reveal individual email addresses.
  4. Set up filters on email clients that will send emails containing common “swear” words and other common keywords (viagra, refinance, credit score, etc.) to the trash immediately.
Everyone is susceptible to spam – there is no 100% solution. Once an email address is out there, it’s vulnerable. A few ways to prevent an increase of spam are to:
  1. Never click links in spam or unsolicited emails, as this can signal a spammer that your address is valid. Valid addresses are traded or sold to other spammers.
  2. Report spoof emails (emails that pretend to be from PayPal, LinkedIn, etc.) to the actual organizations, who will investigate them. (Most have an address to forward spoofs- search the term “spoof” at their site to find out.)
  3. Police your inbox diligently, deleting unsolicited emails from your system, so that other users don’t accidentally access them in a search, and think they are valid.
Unfortunately, there is no filter or application that will replace responsible, diligent management of an organization’s email.
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November 23 BookFest in Downtown Sparta

From 11am till 2pm on Saturday, November 23, regional authors will be appearing for book signings at downtown shops.

Hosting locations are Alleghany Historical Museum, Alleghany County Public Library, Becca’s Backwoods, Books N’ Friends, Centerview, Homespun, Imaging Specialists, Inc., Mangum-Cater on Main, Murphy’s Mercantile, Ofelia’s On Main, and Studio Redwood.

Authors are Kimberly Killon Atwell, Tim Bullard, Doug Butler, C. David Gelly, Jeff Halsey, Rose M. Haynes, Drew Hines, Rick Houston, Suzanne Irwin & Zach Hamm, Illustrator, Elva Sieg, Donn Shoultz, Peggy Poe Stern, Vicky Town, and Sparta United Methodist Women.

Downtown Sparta, NC
Saturday, November 23
11am – 2pm

Doug Butler:
After Appomattox: NC Civil War Monuments

Kimberly Killon Atwell:
A Stocking Full of Switches
A Brand-New Creature

Tim Bullard:
Haunted Watauga County

Peggy Poe Stern:
Last of the Summer Wine

C. David Gelly:
Fancy Gap
Books N’ Friends:
 Rick Houston:
Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program

Donn Shoultz:
Melting Sand

Vicky Town:
Mayhem in the Museum
Imaging Specialists, Inc.: Suzanne Irwin & Zach Hamm, Illustrator:
The Stratford Oaks Tales

Jeff Halsey:
Star Route Books – Four Brothers in Gray

Mangum-Cater on Main: Rose M. Haynes:
The Ore Knob Mine Murders
Murphy’s Mercantile: Drew Hines:
Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina
Ofelia’s On Main: Elva Sieg:
Celebrating the Underdog by Tom Sieg
Studio Redwood: Sparta United Methodist Women:
Faith, Food, and Fellowship

Come and join the fun and consider “liking” BookFest in Sparta for updates on other events.

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Special September Banner Pricing

We’re having a second Banner Sale this September! Any banner orders placed before the end of September will be 15% OFF.

Check out some of the signs and banners we’ve done this season. Below are car magnets, big ol’ banners, printed window decals, small yard signs, little banners, printed signs, cut vinyl decals. These are just a few of our favorite recent projects. We’d love to feature your event or organization here, too. Call or come by and talk to us about your sign needs.

Signs in Progress
2-color decal for Sparta Lions Club
Grand Marshal car magnet for Sparta Revitalization Committee
Banners
1-sided 34″ x 16′ Banner for 2013 Free Health Screening at Alleghany Wellness Center, Sponsored by Farm Bureau
Banners for Sparta Lions Club & Woodcrafts by Hedrick
David Hedrick’s booth at the Blue Ridge Craft Fair
Detail of The American Legion Logo
The American Legion (336-372-8540) in the 4th of July Parade
Window Decals
Signage at Ofelia’s on Main in downtown Sparta (Wood sign by Chris McCarn at Designs in Wood)
Logo decals for Havana Cafe, on the backstreet in West Jefferson
Intricate decal for Murphy’s Mercantile, downtown Sparta
Detail of window decal at Murphy’s Mercantile
Decal for Homespun in downtown Sparta
Signage
Mini Yard Signs for Sparta Bookfest Author Locations
Bookfest Banner and Open Easel for Imaging Specialists, Inc.
1 of 2 4′ x 8′ signs for Advantage Tires and Service
Vinyl Decals for Advantage Trailer Rental
Sign listing county offices located at the Alleghany County Office Building, in downtown Sparta
Blueberry Yard Sign for Kathy’s Kreations