Sept/Oct 2021 Newsletter

NMCA Announcements, Newsletters

 

 

 

Meet Our Newest Business Members

 

“Kidwise Outdoors is a family-owned and operated business located in Greenville, SC. We strive to promote fun, safe play for kids of all ages through outside activities. We serve both commercial and residential customers. From our uniquely designed inflatables to our made in the USA trampolines and playsets, our goal is to provide “Everything a kid wants” and more with affordable pricing.”  Their contact information is 1801 Rutherford Rd STE 101, Greenville, SC 29609.  Local (864) 448-5369 ext. 201.  Toll Free (866) KID-WISE.  Or contact Brittney Whiten at brittney@kidwiseusa.com

 

 

Law Office of W. Andrew Arnold, PC.  Andy Arnold has practiced law for 29 years. He litigates cases in state and federal courts and has a track record of success. He currently is accepting employment cases, business and partnership disputes, non-compete cases, and nursing home abuse and neglect cases. However, the Law Office of W. Andrew Arnold, P.C. is not a volume practice. This practice model is highly selective. By limiting the number of cases we accept, the firm can focus all its energy and all of its experience on a select few cases that are too important to lose. They are located at 307 Pettigru St.

Greenville. (864) 242.4800 or (864) 551.4499.  Or email info@aalawfirm.com

 

 

NMCA Board of Directors

 

In accordance with the by-laws, this is the SECOND call for nominations for the 2022 NMCA Board of Directors.  All officers must reside within the geographical boundaries of the NMCA for the entire period they hold office, Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2022.  All officers must be 18 years or older.  The President may serve 2 consecutive terms and may then run for any office other than the one currently held.  The Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Membership Secretary will be able to succeed her or himself as elected by the members.   Any member may nominate someone for office.  The nomination must be submitted no later than November 1.  You may email the nomination to northmaincomm@gmail.com or mail to PO Box 571, Greenville, SC  29602.  The person nominated must agree to serve if elected and a brief statement of their qualifications and past contributions would be helpful for those who may not know them.  Election ballots will be emailed to all members in late November, early December.

Please consider getting involved in the association or talk to someone you know who would be willing to serve.  It is not that time-consuming and we would love to get some new folks involved.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

NMCA Dues

For those of you who paid on Eventbrite for the fall social, your dues are now up-to-date through 2022.  All others who wish to remain members should pay their dues between now and the first of the year.  They will be good through 2022.  You can pay on our website via Paypal or Credit card or send a check to P.O. Box 571, Greenville, SC, 29602.  Dues are still $20 per year for residential members and $30 for business.  If you are a business and would like an invoice or receipt, please let us know by emailing northmaincomm@gmail.org   If you need a decal for your car, please email us and we’ll get one to you.

Thank you!!

If you are reading this and not getting the notice of the newsletter in your inbox, please let us know.  We have some bounce, likely due to incorrect email addresses, and we have no way of knowing if yours has changed.

 

We enjoyed seeing all who came to the fall social on Saturday, September 26, at Larkins Sawmill.  The weather was beautiful and the venue large enough that we could all spread out inside or out.  Great food, great music from the West End String Band, and a great chance to catch up with friends and neighbors and meet some new residents.  Thanks again to our sponsors Jason Elliot Law Firm and Sunnie & DeWorken.  We couldn’t do it without you!!  We’ve included a few pictures here.  For more check out our Facebook page or our website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development Update and Other City News

 

  • If you’ve wondered about the bare spots in the North Main median where there used to be a dogwood, fear not…this winter the city plans to replace the dogwoods that were removed. They are just waiting till the appropriate time to plant.  They know we all love our dogwoods.

 

  • For those who were unable to attend the Neighborhood meeting last month, we have summarized some of the information below:
  1. Lt. Hammett, our zone 2 Police liaison began by emphasizing once again that property crimes are still our biggest issue. Vehicle break-ins are still high with 90% of cars unlocked!  The GPD wants to know about suspicious activity in the area…people trying doors, etc.  Don’t just post on social media, call the nonemergency number…864.271.5333.
  1. Council Member John DeWorken discussed the things he hears the most about…Cars going too fast, too many cars and parks & greenspace. Three big problems that are being addressed are Chick Springs, Main St. and Stone Ave.  Sidewalks will be completed from Mohawk/Chick Springs to the Community Tap.

Eddie Littleton, Engineer with Greenville Public Works, expanded on John’s comments and some of the actions being taken:  The City is planning on installing 2 radar signs on Stone Avenue which will be located west of Townes Street, but not exactly sure of the location yet.  At the Northgate Soda Shop, they plan a 2 ft. wide median that will narrow the road so people have to slow down.   You will still be able to pull out and turn into the Soda Shop.   There are plans to include what’s called an “RRFB”, or rectangular rapid-flashing beacon.  An example is shown in this photo.  The pedestrian presses a button to activate the lights, and when it is safe to do so, the pedestrian can cross the street.  Please know that this device only warns drivers of a pedestrian’s presence at the crossing; it does not require the driver to stop.  So, it is incumbent on the pedestrian to make sure that vehicles have stopped prior to crossing.

Bike lanes will have delineator posts and more striping on N. Main. There will be crosswalks across Kenwood at N. Main, and across N. Main just south of E. Mountainview.  To see diagrams of these traffic pattern changes, just go to our website.

  1. Angie Prosser and Meghan Young with Parks and Rec talked about the need to increase funding to keep up with growth…there are currently 45 parks in the City. They emphasized the importance of neighborhood parks for quality of life.  Meghan Young, Parks Administrator introduced Torian Ware, the new supervisor at the Bobby Pearse Center.  She discussed the replacement of the playground and how they are “little space challenged” when it comes to replacing our playground.  We hope everyone took the opportunity to have input in the survey.  They plan to put the bases in the ball field in concrete to keep them stable. She mentioned that on October 16 there will be a Volunteer Cleanup at the North Main Rotary Park.  Sign up and volunteer to help spruce up our park by following this link.  The Rotary Club does monthly cleanups at various parks.

Stone School Park is technically a City park but it is not open until 6:30 and weekends when students are not there.  Like the North Main Park ballfield, it is not a dog park.  It’s a health and safety issue for those who use it plus it’s against city ordinances.  The problem is also that a dog park requires at least 3 acres, plus no one wants it in “their back yard”.  The city will provide dog waste stations at the request of residents.

They are still working on timing of when the exterior doors to the Bobby Pearse Center will be open so the Public can use the restrooms.

Meghan discussed the recreation survey.  While only 22% have children under 18, 60% have used the center and over 70% want to see special interest classes.

  • Codes Update Notification: Several Ordinances in the Greenville Code of Ordinances were modified as of September 15, 2001.  Some may be of interest such as placement of waste containers, on street parking, landscape lighting guidelines and noise abatement from such things as waste collection, etc.  To see the modifications, go to https://library.municode.com/SC/Greenville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?showChanges

 

  • We’ve received questions about why the ball field at the North Main Rotary Park is padlocked sometimes. According to staff at Parks & Rec, when they prepare the field for a programmed use (kickball, baseball, etc.) they lock the gate to prevent damage to the lined field before programmed use. They also lock the field if they have recently treated with an herbicide or pesticide as a safety precaution.

 

  • In several areas of our neighborhood, people are parking too close to intersections which is quite dangerous for cars and pedestrians. One example is the intersection of W. Hillcrest and N. Main. I have personally seen vehicles parked within 6 feet of North Main which makes it tricky if you are making a turn and there is a car waiting for the light. According to city code Sec. 42-84, It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic control sign or signal: …..(7) Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal located on the side of a  roadway;

 

  • Fall Break Camp is being offered at the Bobby Pearse Community Center. This is scheduled for October 18 and 19. Greenville County Schools are out those days for teacher workshops so this camp will give families activity options for children for those days. Only $15 per child per day. See the flyer on our website for more info.

 

  • Our secret is out. Greenville is ranked the “ 5 Best Small City in the United States” in the 2021 Condé Nast TravelerReaders’ Choice Awards.  The City moved up one spot from last year, making the list for the fifth time, behind Aspen, Charleston, Alexandria, VA, and Sante Fe.

 

  • November 2 is election day with 2 races that affect us. One City Council at-large seat is on the ballot:  Russell Stall (Dem) and Joe Farmer (Rep).  Commissioner of Public Works: Matthew B Praytor (Dem) and James Bannister (Rep).  Some polling locations have changed.  Check this link for your location.  Precincts 1 and 3 will vote at Northgate Baptist Church on Summit Dr. Precinct 4 at Earle St. Baptist Church and Precinct 5 at The Sears Shelter.

 

Did You Know?

  • To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.
  • Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
  • If all our newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!
  • If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year.
  • The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!
  • The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail.

Check out these other recycling facts from the University of Southern Indiana.

 

 

 

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale is back. Shopping appointments are being scheduled for Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24. Amazing books, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs are available at awesome prices. Appointments are required to attend this sale. Request your shopping appointment today! 

The duration of each shopping appointment is limited to one hour and 30 minutes.

Please note: Book sale appointments fill up fast! If the appointment date above no longer appears on the book sale calendar, all appointments for that date have been reserved. In that instance, please consider another available date/time.

 

DST Ends November 7

Did you know?  Daylight-saving time is a killer according to some reports.   The annual ritual in which we “gain” an hour of evening light in the summertime by pushing the clocks forward one hour each spring may seem like a harmless shift. But every year on the Monday after the switch, hospitals report a 24% spike in heart-attack visits around the US. Just a coincidence? Probably not. Doctors see an opposite trend each fall: The day after we turn back the clocks, heart attack visits drop 21% as many people enjoy a little extra pillow time. “That’s how fragile and susceptible your body is to even just one hour of lost sleep,” sleep expert Matthew Walker, author of “How We Sleep,” previously told Insider.

In 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine called for the seasonal time changes to be abolished in favor of year-round standard time, noting it most closely matched our sleep-wake cycle.

Enjoy Your Yard This Fall

Fall is definitely here.  Temperatures are more pleasant, leaves are starting to turn, holly berries are changing color along with all the other changes fall brings.

October is a great time for planting pansies and purchasing spring bulbs to plant in late October or November.  Limit pruning of shrubs to snipping stray branches and removing dead or damaged stems.  Be sure your plants don’t get stressed, especially shallow rooted plants like camellias and azaleas that are getting ready for winter and spring bloom, and everything in containers.  In our area the risk of frost is from October 28 through April 12 with the average date being October 30.  And leave those dried flower seed heads.  They are a source of food for birds.  It’s a good time to aerate and seed cool season lawns.   DON’T fertilize warm-season grass lawns late in the fall!

The city has asked us to remind residents that grass clippings and leaves should NOT be in the same pile as shrub and tree prunings.  They are picked up separately and may get left if they are in one pile.  The city does not have a list of lawn maintenance companies, so it’s up to those who hire companies to insure they know the rules.

“From a wild animal’s point of view, our annual autumn rituals of raking leaves and cleaning up yards and gardens are a major blow: Just when the going gets tough, we’re removing prime sources of food and shelter.   So, do the animals (and yourself) a favor and skip the raking, bagging, trimming, and other yard chores this fall—it might just help your neighborhood wildlife survive the coming cold weather. Want an easy (and cheap) way to clear your yard of stray branches and twigs? Build a brush pile to provide a safe spot for ground-nesting birds, chipmunks, rabbits, and hibernating reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Put it in an out-of-the-way corner of your property, preferably close to food sources and away from buildings. Start with a layer of larger limbs and stack branches loosely, adding grasses and leaves to create nooks and crannies.

As fall arrives our backyard birds are going through even greater changes in their lives than we are. They may change the foods they eat, their social arrangements, plumage and even where they live. Most of our backyard birds have been eating protein rich insects in summer and feeding them to their young. In fall, they may change to feeding on the ripening seeds and berries, partly because of the abundance but also because insects are becoming scarce as winter approaches.

Fall is a season of active bird migration in South Carolina. Much of this migration; however, is seldom noticed by observers because it occurs at night. During the clear quiet predawn hours in fall it is often possible to hear various flight call notes from the passing parade of migrant thrushes and wood warblers overhead.  Other birds migrate by day, being consequently more visible and sometimes spectacular, as a few species congregate in large numbers during their flight south. Hummingbirds usually leave around mid-October.  It is suggested that you leave your feeders out for 2 weeks after you see the last hummer just in case a few stragglers wander through.

For more on Fall Migration in the Mountains and Piedmont, check out this Audubon website.

 

When And Where to Expect South Carolina’s Fall Foliage To Peak This Year

If you’re thinking ahead and wondering when to see fall colors, then here are some insights about the best dates for each part of the state – as determined by the experts at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.   Check out their interactive map.  The current map shows the Upstate to be near peak around Oct 18.   If you’re traveling and want a look at predictions for the entire country by date, click here.  Click on this site to get lots of information on some of the best places to visit for color.

You can also check out Table Rock’s live webcam to keep up with the changes every day.  Just click on this link.

The weather is just one factor that influences their color. The “best” fall color for an area occurs when days are bright, sunny, and cool; when nights are cool but not below freezing; and when there has been ideal rainfall through the growing season. Wet, cloudy, warm weather or exceptionally low temperatures in early fall tend to mute the autumn display.      

 

Fall for Greenville is Back

Come and celebrate the autumn season at the 40th anniversary of Bank of America Fall for Greenville, presented by Pepsi October 8-10.  This family-friendly three-day smorgasbord of food and entertainment showcases 50+ local restaurants serving some 250-plus dishes with more than 50 beers on tap, wine vendors, and over 75 musical acts on six stages—it is an absolute must-do for food and music lovers alike.

Sample wines, learn about local beers, and watch some of the best regional chefs show off their chops in exciting demos. Top name acts shine a spotlight on Greenville’s robust music scene with free entertainment on stages along downtown Greenville’s charming Main Street. Consider yourself invited to the Southeast’s most popular outdoor festival!

To learn more or to purchase taste tickets, visit their official website.

Exclusively at this year’s Bank of America Fall for Greenville, meet the Budweiser Clydesdales. You’ll find them on West McBee St. throughout the festival weekend.

Stop by and snap a selfie with them during their visiting hours!

Friday, October 8: 4pm – 9pm
Saturday, October 9: 1pm – 8pm
Sunday, October 10: 1pm – 5pm

 

Weather Tidbits

According to climate data from 1884 to the present, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in October is 87°F, and the average low is 67°F. The maximum high was 98 on Oct 3, 2019. The maximum low temperature was 72 on the 4th in 1941. The minimum high temperature was 41 on Oct 26, 1926. The minimum low was 25 on Oct 29th, 30th, and 31st in 1976, 1910 and 1893, respectively.  Average rainfall is 3.44”. Maximum precipitation (rain) was 7.24” on Oct 16, 1932.  The wettest Oct on record was 1932 with 12.68”.   The driest was in 2000 when we got no rain at all!  We did get a trace of snow on Oct 20, 1913, and Oct 26, 1926.  http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is an ongoing Atlantic hurricane season, which is part of the annual tropical cyclone season in the Northern Hemisphere. It officially began on June 1 and will end on November 30.  By late September, 20 tropical cyclones had formed in the Atlantic, some of them bringing destructive winds and torrential rains to the United States and the Caribbean.  That’s a few shy of the 23 that had formed by the same time in 2020’s record-breaking season. Last year eventually had 30 storms before the season’s end. 

We also went in the record books this year for number of tornado warnings.  Greenville-Spartanburg had 62 warnings, rounding out the top five regions in the country.

By an extremely narrow margin, (less than 0.01 of a degree Fahrenheit), the heat this summer exceeded the record heat that occurred during the “Dust Bowl” summer of 1936, when hot and dry conditions baked parts of the Midwest and Canadian Prairies and caused devastating impacts, making this the hottest summer ever in the United States.

Given the global temperatures measured throughout 2021, NOAA said that it is “very likely” that 2021 will finish as the warmest year on record. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/goodbye-summer-11-wild-facts-about-summer-2021/1021645

 

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. Click on the business name to go to their website:

Small businesses have been hurt by the COVID pandemic and are still struggling as customers are beginning to return but are still wary due to the Delta variant. 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  

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.

Oct 19 & 19 – Fall Break Camp is being offered at the Bobby Pearse Community Center. This is scheduled for October 18 and 19. Greenville County Schools are out those days for teacher workshops so this camp will give families activity options for children for those days.  Cost:  City residents:  $15 per day.  Kids need to bring a lunch.  Afternoon snack provided.  TO REGISTER: rec.greenvillesc.gov

Oct 23 – 30 –  Less than three weeks remain to register for the Greenville Humane Society Virtual Mutt Strut 2.0 presented by Papa John’s! Each registration includes this year’s awesome t-shirt, a free large one-topping pizza from Papa John’s, a doggy finisher medal/keychain, race bib and more! There are also tons of awesome prizes you can win for fundraising including a Yeti cooler!  Participants can complete their walk/run anywhere at any time between Saturday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 30th. Don’t want to walk or run? No problem! The proceeds of your registration and fundraising still benefit the homeless pets of the Greenville Humane Society!  Register here.

Oct 31 – Halloween.  We’ve been asked about Halloween Events in our area.  Boo on Buist is planning it’s annual event.  Watch for more details.  We have not heard about Earle Street events.  Earle St. Baptist Church is having a “trunk or treat” event Oct 22 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  For more information visit https://www.ESBCGreenville.org

Boo in the Zoo – The Greenville Zoo’s annual family-friendly Halloween event for all ages features trick-or-treating and fun specialty areas including Dragon Alley, a princess castle and an extinct species graveyard. Everyone is invited to dress up and join in the fun. Proceeds benefit conservation efforts and various programs throughout the zoo. Below are the dates and hours.

October 14 – October 17 • 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
October 21 – October 24 • 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
October 28 – October 31 • 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Last time slot is 7:45 p.m. – 8 p.m. Last entry into Boo in the Zoo is 8 p.m.
For more information, visit greenvillezoo.com/260/Boo-in-the-Zoo .

Check out Kidding Around Greenville’s website for more things to do on Halloween.

Nov 7 – Daylight savings time ends.  “Fall Back”.  Set your clocks back one hour.  That means an extra hour of snoozing!

Nov 13-14 – Greenville Open Studios.  Greenville Open Studios is an annual event that opens the studios of local visual artists to the public. The 2021 self-guided tour will feature 139 artists and their studios. 96 studio locations vary throughout a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville with Easley, Greer, Travelers Rest and Simpsonville included. Open Studios catalogues for 2021 can be found in various retail locations by the middle of October, in the November 5th edition of The Greenville Journal and in various retail locations throughout the Greenville area.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

Sept/Oct 2021 Newsletter