On the Edges

Aurora

Aurora chamber holds events in April

The Aurora Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting April 14 for Heritage Harmony House, the new senior citizens' center located at 700 S. Hudson.

Several events are planed during the month of April, including a radio show.

On April 26, the chamber will be the host of a live radio program, "Wake Up to Aurora," 8:30-11 a.m. at its office in the restored 1909 Missouri Pacific Depot.

Presented by KSWM 940 AM, the program will provide information from local civic groups, churches and city leaders. The public is invited to the chamber to visit with speakers as they wait to be interviewed by Art Morris.

The second annual Secretaries Day luncheon will be held at noon April 26 in the Carol Morris Community Room at Aurora Hospital.

Tickets to the chamber-sponsored event are $10, which includes lunch, entertainment, gifts and drawings. The grand prize is a one-night stay for two at Howard Johnson of Branson, provided by Around the World Travel, and two tickets to the "Buck Trent Show" and "Country Tonite," provided by KSWM 940 AM/KWMO 97.7 FM. For information, call 678-4150.

Business During Hours will be held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 27 at The Aurora Advertiser, 226 W. Church St. The event will kick off the 115th year of local newspaper history in Aurora. The event will include networking, appetizers, tours and a lesson on how a newspaper is produced.

The first annual Dawg'wood Days of Spring home-garden-leisure show will be held April 29-30 at Oak Park. Saturday hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The first 1,000 people to visit the chamber booth will receive free flower seedlings. The event will also include food booths, demonstrations, business booths, vendors, tug-of-war, contests for all ages, entertainment, drawings and lawn mower races. For more information, call 678-4150.

Nixa

Chamber forms Nixa Business Alliance

Nixa businesses have banded together to form the Nixa Business Alliance, sponsored by the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce.

At its March meeting, the Nixa chamber's board of directors unanimously adopted the mission statement and goals for the Nixa Business Alliance. The name was chosen to reflect all types of business that seek to promote doing business in Nixa.

Co-chairmen of the alliance are Ron Shawgo of Ozark Mountain Stained Glass and Stephanie Hassell of Enchanted Cottage Interiors. The group has come up with a logo and will organize a promotional campaign on Christian County cable TV.

The alliance will run 200 commercial spots per month. Each will include an opening segment promoting the Nixa Business Alliance and the importance of shopping in Nixa.

The chamber hopes to attract 20 to 30 businesses that would be featured on a rotating basis, with each commercial spotlighting five businesses.

The cost for the TV campaign ranges from $160 to $220, depending on the number of participating businesses. The registration deadline for the three-month program is May 5. Businesses must join the Nixa Business Alliance, pay a $10 fee and agree to eight goals designed to promote Nixa business.

In addition, the Nixa Business Alliance will sponsor an Independence Day celebration and a Christmas Shopping Festival. The group's next meeting will be at 8 a.m. May 4 at Le Cour Caf. For more information, call 725-1545.

Town & Country Flowers moves

A ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration will be held at 1 p.m. April 26 at the new home of Town & Country Flowers & Gifts Inc., 912 W. Mt. Vernon in the Stone Crest Plaza. Chamber members and customers are invited to the event, which will feature pastries by Le Cour Caf.

The store moved from its downtown Nixa location at 115 S. Main on March 27.

"We have wonderful clientele and a good customer base, but we needed more space. I also wanted to increase our visibility," said Jo Wollard, owner since May 1999. The store was established in 1980.

The 2,200-square-foot shop, which fronts Highway 14, has an open interior, which was completed by Tim Harrington Construction. Brick walls and counters include some old brick from the recently demolished MFA store in Ozark.

The move has tripled the shop's square footage, according to Wollard. A cooler of flowers and displays of containers allow customers to select items for custom arrangements. Counter stools allow customers to watch the four designers work. Gifts include baskets, balloons, a line of premium, scented, hand-poured candles Spencer's Candlery silk flowers, plush toys and more.

Two drivers provide deliveries to Nixa, Springfield, Ozark, Highlandville, Spokane and Clever. Three wire services are also available: FTD, Teleflora and AFS.

Town & Country Flowers & Gifts is open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. For more information, call 725-1644.