Tuesday evening, December 13, the Connellee Hotel was dressed up in its elegant and festive Christmas decorations and ready for another event. This event, however, was a reception to honor its own board. The Eastland Community Foundation (ECF) operates the historic Connellee Hotel and its neighbor, The Lumber Yard Event Center. The ECF was selected as the Eastland Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month. Debbie Wharton, Executive Director of the ECF does an outstanding job of organizing, scheduling, and assisting clients and visitors. The facilities have various rental spaces with different amenities and sizes making it a perfect location to host parties, weddings, meetings, and gatherings.

At the same time the ECF was accepting its recognition, they were also hosting a farewell reception for Eastland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Laura Hobbs. Laura spent countless hours over the past six years heading up the Chamber and increasing the popularity for annual events like the Chamber Banquet, Rip’s Ribs Cook-off, RipFest, the Old Rip Parade, Old Rip Pageant and the Christmas Parade.

Laura and her faithful sidekick (i.e. administrative assistant), Ashley Little, decided several years back that they could do a better job of creating the Eastland Chamber Guide publication than outsourcing it as it had been in the past… and they certainly did. The Chamber Guide gives some local history and a lot of information about the City of Eastland. The information is showcased in a beautifully laid-out magazine which is handed out to those who are looking to move to our city, visit our city, or have expressed an interest in Eastland, Texas. Ashley was with the Chamber of Commerce nearly as long as Laura was, having just left the position earlier this year to take a full-time position at Atmos. The two created a level of professional excellence and enthusiasm at the Chamber that will be hard to replace.

Laura accepted a marketing position at Palo Pinto General Hospital. Her last day with the Chamber was December 9th. The Chamber Board of Directors is still taking applications for her replacement. The Eastland Chamber office is open part-time during the week. Julie Elrod is the new administrative assistant.

Contact the Eastland Chamber of Commerce at 254-629-2332
Contact the Eastland Community Foundation at 254-631-0708