May/June 2021 Newsletter

NMCA Local Business, Newsletters, Social Events

           

 

 

Re-opening of the Bobby Pearse Community Center

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m.  Please join us for a re-opening ceremony for the Bobby Pearse Community Center.  It’s taken 3 long years but support from the community and local city leaders have finally brought us to this day.  We look forward to many programs returning to the Center.  Their summer camp is already full!

There will be a small ceremony, and below is the draft schedule:

  • Welcome & Introductions – Emcee/ VIP coordinator
  • Brief of history and last three years of rebuild – City Leadership
  • Remarks – John DeWorken, City Council, District 1
  • Remarks – Dave Modeen, Neighborhood Association President
  • Remarks – Rotary Club Greenville City Center (aka N. Greenville Rotary) (not confirmed)
  • Uncovering of Poster/Mural Exhibit –
  • Ribbon Cutting– All Speakers
  • Tree Planting – Replant the fallen/loss tree – Park Staff with Camp kids
  • Tour of the facility

 

NMCA Annual Membership Social

We still don’t have a firm date for our annual social.  We have missed seeing all of you but want to make sure we can provide a safe environment.  Our plans are tentatively set for late September at Larkins Sawmill, 22 Graves Drive (between McDunn Gallery and the Fire Station on Rutherford at the end of N. Main).  There’s plenty of room inside and out so we can all practice social distancing if that is still a concern.

Membership dues:  We did not send out invoices to either businesses or residents for 2020 dues as most everyone has been affected in some way by COVID.  If you would like to pay your dues, you can do so anytime by going to our website where you can pay via Paypal or credit card or you can print the membership form and mail with your check to P.O. Box 571, Greenville, SC, 29602.  Dues paid now will be credited to 2022.   Thank you to those folks who have paid.  We appreciate it.

 

 

Development Update and Other City News

⊕ City Cancels July 4 Red, White and Blue .    After so many months of uncertainty, one summertime event that will not return this year is Red, White and Blue. The City has traditionally used County Square as the launch site for its July 4th fireworks; however, due to construction taking place in the area, that is no longer feasible. Identifying a new launch site that meets rigorous safety requirements and would not negatively impact surrounding uses is a challenge, but the City will continue to explore potential options for the future.

⊕ Greenville City Council Approves Budget Focused on Neighborhoods and Public Safety

Greenville City Council unanimously approved a nearly $144 million General Fund budget for fiscal year 2022. General fund revenue comes primarily from property taxes and business and insurance licenses. Projected revenue is $136 million. The City proposes using just under $8 million from its fund balance to make up the difference. The fund balance is maintained for this purpose and the City will still have fund balance more than the 20% target. The FY22 budget does not include a tax increase.

Primary Focus Areas for General Fund Expenditures

    • Neighborhood Infrastructure and Traffic Safety
    • GVL2040: Open Space, Affordable Housing, Mobility
    • Economic Development
    • Public Safety and First Responders

The budget includes a $32 million Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond. The bond will allow significant investment in streets, sidewalks, and public spaces without a tax increase, through restructuring Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plans and future growth in City revenue.

Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond Breakdown

    • $11 million for road and bridge improvements
    • $7 million for parks, recreation, community centers, playgrounds, and sports courts.
    • $6.1 million for transportation management, traffic signals
    • $5.4 million for sidewalk construction
    • $2 million reserve/contingency
    • In addition to the Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond program, the FY22 budget includes approximately $3.7 million for sidewalk improvements in the City’s Special Emphasis Neighborhoods, funded using the CDBG Section 108 Loan Program.
    • To further pedestrian safety efforts, Councilman John DeWorken proposed an amendment that sets aside up to $250,000 to identify the streets that pose the greatest risks, then design and construct projects identified by that process.
    • “Earmarking these funds ensures our children can walk to school and the park with less worry for parents,” said Councilman John DeWorken. “We are seeking to provide more protection to citizens walking their dogs, going for a jog or enjoying an evening stroll.”
    • “Our most solemn responsibility as elected officials is to ensure the safety of the citizens that we serve – this undertaking is an important and necessary step to that end,” said Councilman Will Brasington. “We aim to scour our city thoroughfares for all existing and foreseeable safety concerns, leaving no stone unturned in the process. The well-being and peace of mind for Greenville’s pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers is our end goal here.”
    • City Council adopted the twenty-year long-range GVL2040 plan in February. Staff, stakeholders, and community leaders spent 18-months developing a road map for Greenville’s balanced growth with a focus on open spaces, affordable housing, and mobility.

Spending on GVL2040 Priorities

    • $6,650,000 for sidewalks, trails, and intersection improvements
    • $500,000 for Land/Open Space Acquisition
    • $250,000 For enhancement of the City’s Tree Canopy

Affordable Housing Investment

    • Proposed Amendment to General Fund CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) FY22-26
    • $10.5 million over 5 years from the City ($1 million in FY22)
    • $7 million over 5 years from County Square Funding ($5 million from City, $2 million from County earmarked for Haynie-Sirrine area)
    • Public Safety makes up the largest portion of the City’s General Fund budget. The proposed FY22 budget continues to make investments in Law Enforcement and Fire protection for our residents and businesses.

Significant Public Safety Investments

    • $1.2 million Fire Station Improvements
    • $370,000 Police Body Camera Contract
    • $125,000 for Police LEC Facilities – space needs assessment and planning funds
    • $45,000 to support a Homeless Services Coordinator with non-profit partner

⊕ As published in the Greenville News, Greenville City Council declined to adopt a six-month development moratorium in April and instead voted to work on changes to its laws governing development within the city.  The proposed moratorium, which drew condemnation from developers when council first discussed it in March, failed a 4-3 vote. Instead, council charged city staff with creating text amendments to the land management ordinance — amendments that will address design and dimension standards as well as project and buffering requirements, according to an emailed statement from city government spokesperson Beth Brotherton. The amendments apply to non-residential and multi-family buildings that are adjacent to residential homes, and they will be intended to provide more of a buffer for residential neighborhoods while the city more permanently rewrites its rules for land use.

In a text from Mayor Knox White, “All councilmembers agree that the city needs to strengthen its neighborhood buffering requirements, Mayor Knox White said in a text message. We want to encourage quality redevelopment while proving extra protection to adjacent residential”.  (Greenville News)

⊕ Proposed Deal Would Move City Services to Bowater Building. The City of Greenville is exploring options to move City offices and services to the Falls Park area, at the edge of the Liberty Bridge. Council will consider the sale of City Hall at 206 S. Main Street and the purchase of the Bowater Building at 55 E. Camperdown Way.  “This is a once in a generation opportunity,” said Mayor Knox White. “Not only does the move to the Bowater Building put city employees and operations next to Greenville’s greatest natural resource, but it will also allow us to provide better customer service to citizens and those seeking to do business with us.”

 Benefits of Relocation

    1. Modernized, ground level Council Chambers allow easier access for citizens to attend public meetings
    2. True One-Stop-Shop for residents, businesses, development community and visitors
    3. Significantly improved safety and security for the visiting public and City employees
    4. Improve inter-departmental collaboration and employee morale
    5. Redevelopment of current City Hall by a private entity
    6. Bring additional office, retail, and affordable housing to downtown
    7. Revitalize an aging building in a key location
    8. Iconic location in the center of Falls Park at Liberty Bridge
    9. Reduced utility costs, rental income

Challenges with Current Location

    1. City Hall is not large enough to accommodate today’s business needs; some staff are having to use walk up service counters as their desks
    2. Not customer service oriented – planning and development functions are located on multiple floors making it difficult for the public to conduct business
    3. Extensive maintenance needs over the next 8 years at a projected cost of $5.75M
    4. Security does not meet today’s needs; difficult and costly to retrofit
    5. Council Chambers is difficult to access; emergency evacuation would be challenging

 

Crime Corner

Lt. Michael Hammett asked us to again remind residents to LOCK YOUR CARS.  He said they are still seeing way too many car break-ins and the majority are unlocked.  And we are not alone. According to WRDW.com, “Car break-ins are up in the river region. Law enforcement says they’ve investigated nearly 1,000 incidents across Richmond, Aiken, and Columbia Counties just this year.  The biggest thing seems obvious, but it’s the number one deterrent against break ins, lock your doors. It seems so easy locking the car after you close the door. But forgetting makes you an easy target for robbers. “99 percent of the incidents that we’ve investigated, we’ve noticed that these vehicles have been left unlocked,” said Sgt. Josh Boganow, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Here are a few statistics to keep in mind:

  • Homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be broken into and burglarized. (Alarms.org)
  • 9% of people don’t have a home security system installed in their home. (The Zebra)
  • 83% of would-be burglars check for the presence of an alarm system before attempting a break-in. (FBI)
  • 34% of burglars use the front door when breaking into a home. (Bureau of Justice)
  • There are 2.5 million burglaries annually in the United States. 66% of these are home invasions. (US Department of Justice)
  • Police solve only 13% of reported burglary cases. (Pew Research Center)

 

Summer in Your Yard

It‘s definitely feeling more like summer.  Hope you’ve been enjoying the cooler than normal weather we’ve had.  We’ll miss those cool evenings when we are in the dead of summer!

√  Unless we get regular rainfall, check your irrigation system to make sure you are putting down enough water to encourage deeper roots so that during dry spells they can better forage for what water is there.  Having a rain sensor will help avoid automatic watering when it’s raining.  Watering a little every day may seem like a good idea, but it’s the worst thing you can do.  Remember that container plants need water much more often as their root system is limited and they dry out quickly.

√   Mowing too low (also known as scalping) stresses the turfgrass, and the mowing height should be adjusted by raising the mower to the correct mowing height for your lawn type.  In general, fescue lawns should be cut to 3 inches tall and you should be removing no more than 1/3 of the grass blade when you mow.  Practice “grass-cycling” which is simply leaving the clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings decompose quickly and can provide up to 25 percent of the lawn’s fertilizer needs. If prolonged rain or other factors prevent mowing and clippings are too plentiful to leave on the lawn, they can be collected and used as mulch.

√  Don’t fertilize cool season grasses during June and July. Cool season turf grasses begin active growth in fall and need fertilizer at that time.  Warm season grasses can be given fertilizer during summer but stop as fall approaches as those grasses are preparing for dormancy.  And don’t overdo it as this can encourage disease.

√  Summertime and rainfall encourage diseases of turf.  All types of warm-season or cool-season lawn grasses grown in South Carolina can be affected by large patch or brown patch, respectively. There are no turfgrass species entirely resistant to these diseases currently available.  Good lawn maintenance can be as effective as pesticides.  For tips on maintaining a healthy lawn, click here.

For more information, visit Clemson University’s factsheet on June Yard and Garden Tips.   And while you’re at it, think about how you can make your yard more attractive to wildlife.

√  t’s challenging in hot weather to keep plants looking good.  The SC Garden Guru has a list of plants that do well with less water.  But any plant, even native plants, need water for establishment before you can cut back on irrigation.

√  What is That Plant?  Got a plant you can’t identify?  The SC Native Plant Society can help.  Send a photo of the plant along with the other information requested on this webpage.  They’ll let the experts take a look at it and post the results (or an educated guess) on their “Identified Plants” page!

*** Please submit requests and photos of plants growing in the wild… no potted houseplants or nursery plants. 

You may also want to check Name That Plant, a native plant identification website created by SC Native Plant Society member Janie Marlow.  Click here to view recently identified plants.

 

√   Where did all the clover come from this spring?  If you’re like many, your yard looked like you actually seeded clover this year.  If you noticed the median down North Main earlier this spring, it looked like the city had seeded clover!  Clover greens up early in the spring and if the soil pH and health of your turf grass are not right, then clover has an advantage.  As to why clover is so plentiful this year, agricultural experts point out that clover grows best in cool, moist weather. Last year’s near record rainfall probably contributed to a bumper crop of clover this year.

At one time, most yards had at least some white clover growing in them. It was a world before chemicals, and clover was part of seed blends because it improved the soil—and the condition of the lawn. Gardeners are returning to recognizing the benefits of clover in lawn grass mixtures—or even as a replacement for grass. Move on from the quest for a perfect lawn of just turf grass.  It’s not natural and ends up requiring chemicals. The Farmer’s Almanac list many benefits of clover.  Honeybees and other beneficial insects also like clover, although it’s getting harder and harder to find bees.  The decline in honeybee populations in the U.S. and elsewhere signals a major environmental imbalance that could have far-reaching implications for our agricultural food supply.

 

 

For the Birds

As we approach late spring and summer, you’ll likely see or hear baby birds. What if you find one on the ground?  The first thing to do is to figure out if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling.  Most of the baby birds people find are fledglings. These are young birds that have just left the nest, are still under the care of their parents, and do not need our help. Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can tightly grip your finger or a twig. These youngsters are generally adorable and fluffy, with a tiny stub of a tail.  Usually there is no reason to intervene at all beyond putting the bird on a nearby perch out of harm’s way and keeping pets indoors.  If it’s a nestling, the nest is almost certainly nearby. If you can find the nest (it may be well hidden), put the bird back as quickly as possible. Don’t worry—parent birds do not recognize their young by smell. They will not abandon a baby if it has been touched by humans. If the nest has been destroyed you can make a new one, place the chick back inside and watch to see if the parents come back. More information can be found here.

Be sure to have a source of clean water for birds during the hot summer months.  They especially like moving water.  You can rig up a sprinkler or dripper in a bird bath very easily.

Hummingbirds are a joy to watch.  These little birds have big appetites. Hummingbirds eat about every ten  minutes and their diet is not made up entirely of nectar. They spend more than 25% of their time foraging for small spiders and insects to obtain essential amino acids and other nutrients. They typically fly at 30-45 miles per hour (48-72 kph) but can fly up to 60 mph (96 kph). They can even hover and are the only birds able to regularly fly backwards and even occasionally upside down. They can do this because of an extremely mobile shoulder joint.

If you feed hummingbirds, remember to change the solution at least weekly and just use sugar and water…no color or dye.  And the more feeders the better since our ruby throats are extremely territorial!

 

 

 

When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down ‘happy’.  They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”.    – John Lennon

  

Weather Tidbits

According to climate data from 1884 to the present, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in June is 88°F, and the average low is 66°F. The maximum high was 105 on June 20, 1887, and June 29, 2012. The maximum low temperature was 80 on June 29, 1931 (an all time record).  The minimum high temperature was 58 on June 10, 1913, and the minimum low was 40 on June 1, 1972.  Average rainfall is 3.8”. Maximum precipitation (rain) in a 24-hour period was 4.21” on June 1, 1964, and June 16, 1969.  The wettest June was in 1886 when we received 10.99 inches for the month.  The driest June was in 2008 when we only recorded 0.13 inches. http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php

The average high temp in July is 90 while the average low is 69.  The record high was 107 on July 1, 2012 and the min high was 64 on July 12,1999.  The maximum low was 80 on July 12 and 14, in 1937 and 1932, respectively.  The minimum low was 53 on July 2, 1899, and July 26, 1922.  Normal rainfall for July is 3.8”. The record rainfall was 4.89 inches on July 7, 1898.

The 3 month forecast for June/July/August is for above normal temperatures and slightly above normal rainfall.   30 and 90-day Outlooks (weather.gov)

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020.

For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30.

 

 

For Our Four-Legged Friends

It’s kitten season!!  What do I do when I’ve found a litter of kittens?  It is a question that gets asked hundreds of times throughout kitten season. Since kittens require overnight care, most shelters are unable to care for kittens who may be unsocial or too young to be put up for adoption.  Check the GCAC website for five easy steps to help you navigate kitten season while also making a difference in the lives of our feline friends.

☺Wait Till Eight… Kittens can be spayed or neutered at eight weeks of age.  Click here to see how to tell how old a kitten is.  If you are interested in fostering kittens that are orphaned or too young to be adopted,  please get in touch with GCAC by emailing fosterapet@greenvillecounty.org or call 864.467.3950.  Average time fostered is 3-8 weeks.

☺Please help spread the word about the Home to Home Program initiated by Greenville County Animal Care as part of a nation-wide effort.   Home To Home gives people who can no longer keep their pets the opportunity to find new, loving homes without having to drop pets off at the shelter. Pets go from one home into another.

Animals in need of new homes are searchable on this website and may be posted to our Facebook page.

☺When taking your best friend on a walk this summer, remember that pavement can get extremely hot on paws.  Summer is a great time to get out and about with your dog, but outdoor excursions in the heat have quite a few risks for humans and pets alike.

We may have shoes to protect our feet when we’re strolling along the sidewalk, but it’s important to remember that dogs aren’t so lucky – and a few moments on blazing hot asphalt can do lasting damage to even the hardiest of paws.

If the pavement is too hot for your bare feet or hand after 7 seconds, it’s probably too hot for your dog’s paws.  Remember that the air temperature is NOT an accurate reflection of ground temperature at all!  Asphalt and other ground surfaces retain heat and this temperature rises exponentially as heat and sun exposure continues.   Asphalt is the worst surface for heating.  Even at an air temperature of 77°, asphalt can be 125°.  By the time it reaches 87° on a sunny day, the asphalt can be a scorching 143°.  It you’re like me, you’ve done the “hot concrete dance” more than once.

Hopefully we don’t have to remind anyone about the dangers of leaving pets in a hot car for even a few minutes!  If you have outdoor cats, PLEASE make sure they don’t hop into your car while you’re unloading groceries, etc.  I have heard of at least one case where a cat went missing and was found in the car 2 days later.

 

 

 

 

Shop Local

Keep your dollars in your community. The following companies are committed to preserving the beauty and economic well-being of the North Main Community and the greater Greenville area.  Please thank them and give them your business when you can. Hover your mouse over each company name to read a brief description or click to go to their website:

Small businesses have been hurt by the COVID pandemic and are still struggling as customers are beginning to return. Please continue to support our small and local businesses as much as possible.  Thank you!

  

Gardening and Plants

 

Law Firms/CPAs/Financial

 Insurance

 Retail/Home Décor

 Realtors

 Food/Drink/Catering

 Personal Health/Well Being

 Home Improvement/Builders/Architects

 Miscellaneous Professional Services

If you would like to see your company listed here, please join the NMCA today!  Businesses do not have to be located in the North Main Neighborhood.  They only need to provide services to North Main residents.

 

Calendar

 

City Council Formal Meeting and Work Session schedules can be found at http://www.greenvillesc.gov/city_government/meet.asp   

June 19 – Greenville Woodworker’s Guild Tool Sale & Silent Auction.  Save the date, tell your family, friends, neighbors and anybody else who might be interested in some good deals on tools.  They now have all the items tagged and ready for sale and the 14 page catalog is available on their website at https://www.greenvillewoodworkers.com/

June 23 – Greenville Heritage Sound Check. 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.  Join us through September 29 for Greenville Heritage Sound Check presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar, a concert series located on the Reedy River. Each Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. will feature live music on the Peace Center Amphitheatre stage. Grab your friends, reserve a T-mobile Safe Space Pod and we will see you on the river! Beverage delivery service will also be available.

 June 27- Hemmings Motor News Great Race  1-4 pm The 2021 Hemmings Motor News Great Race will start in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, June 19, and finish in Greenville, S.C., on Sunday, June 27 on N Main St.  The Great Race, which began 38 years ago, is not a speed race, but a time/speed/distance rally. The vehicles, each with a driver and navigator, are given precise instructions each day that detail every move down to the second. They are scored at secret check points along the way and are penalized one second for each second either early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins.

Upon crossing the finish line, the classic cars will park on Main St and spectators will be able to walk around and view the cars.

July 16 – Sidewalk CPR Event.  Free Hands Only CPR Instruction.  10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.  Falls Park. Contact:  864-467-3129

July 30 –  Sidewalk CPR Event.  Free Hands Only CPR Instruction.  10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.  ONE City Plaza. 103 N Main St

July 17 – Salsa at Sunset is a free evening of live Salsa music and dancing, bringing people together people of all ages, income levels and cultural backgrounds, to celebrate Latin Heritage and culture diversity of the Upstate.  6:00 PM - 10:00 PM.  Graham Plaza.  300 S Main St
July 1 – Registration Deadline for Park Hop – The Upstate’s Biggest Scavenger Hunt!  Join the free scavenger hunt that will take you to different parks in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. The more parks you visit, the more prizes you win! Register by July 1st to be guaranteed a t-shirt.   CLICK HERE to register!

TD Saturday Market.  On Saturday mornings until the end of October, two blocks of downtown Greenville’s Main Street are transformed into the TD Saturday Market. The market features over 75 vendors selling the season’s freshest produce and the area’s most original and high-quality crafts.

 

The North Main Community Association does not give, sell, or otherwise distribute your email or other information to third parties.

The use of trade names or advertisements in this publication does not constitute endorsement or discrimination by the North Main Community Association.

 

 

May/June 2021 Newsletter
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