July/August 2019 Newsletter

Phyllis Gilreath Announcements

     

 

Where did summer go??

The first day of school for Greenville county students is August 20!  Hope you’ve had a fun summer. 

 To see the 2019/20 School calendar, click here.

 

*The Board of Directors typically meets the first Tuesday of most months at the Sears Shelter at McPherson Park.    Members are welcome to attend board meetings.  Please email northmaincomm@gmail.com  for the location and to find out if we are meeting that month.

 

 Please Welcome Our Newest Business Member

 

D’als Pizza LLC at 17 Mohawk Drive gives the neighborhood another great place to dine.  Call them at (864) 252-4700 or check out the menu and order online.  This second location of the beloved Charleston pizza joint opened last year. Greenville residents John Petrich, who lives in the North Main neighborhood, and his stepson Chad Matheny have partnered with brothers Nick and Ben D’Allesandro to bring their favorite pizza to the Upstate.  Deliberately remaining open an hour after The Community Tap closes to capture those customers, hours are Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. They will also deliver pizza directly to The Tap.

 

 

 

 

North Main Tree Planting

 Reminder:   TreesUpstate is starting to schedule site visits and discuss planting dates for Fall 2019 – March 2020.  Last year, North Main participated, and it would be great to take advantage of this opportunity to get more trees in the neighborhood. If there is widespread interest, we may be able to plan multiple tree planting events. For each event, they need at least 12 residents and at least 17 trees that are within walking distance of each other (maybe 5 minutes) — the closer the better, especially for the volunteers. This information is still correct: https://www.treesupstate.org/gottrees/

              What’s included:

  • 15 gallon, 5′-10′ tall tree (height depends on species)
  • Species selection
  • Public utility marking (however, residents are responsible for marking any irrigation or private utility lines before the tree planting)
  • Professional site visit from staff to give recommendations based on available space, utilities, etc
  • Installation

We’ve had a number of residents email us.  If you haven’t and are interested, please let us know SOON by emailing northmaincomm@gmail.com.  If you are interested in helping to coordinate this with TreesUpstate, PLEASE let us know.  Your board can always use help with projects like this.

 

NMCA Fall Events

Watch for details about upcoming events including a City Council Candidate debate in October, an informational meeting in early November by the GPD…”Community and Home Security Briefing”.  We’ll talk about how to keep your home and possessions safe during the holidays, issues of theft, homelessness, etc.  And of course, our annual Fall Member Social.  Watch for specific dates, times and venues.         

 

North Main Yard Sale

We have had several inquiries about a fall yard sale at the Northgate Soda Shop.  The date is Saturday, September 28, from 7 am – 1 pm.  Bring your tables, change or whatever you need to set up your area to sell. The space is free.  PLEASE pull in, unload around the perimeter of the back parking lot.  PLEASE PUT YOUR VEHICLE ON THE STREET AFTER YOU UNLOAD to leave room for buyers to browse.  If there are items that you don’t want to take back home, they will be collected on-site and donated to Miracle Hill.

 

 

 

 

Development Update and Other City News

  • Many are now wondering about the recent closure of the Rite Aid store on E. Stone Ave. According to the Greenville News, the closing of the East Stone Avenue Rite Aid store was in connection to an October 2017 earnings announcement that the company would close some locations to “ensure we have the right stores in the right locations to create a more focused network of stores that can deliver the greatest value for our customers.”  The spokesperson added that Walgreens isn’t leaving the Greenville area. Walgreens currently has nine locations with Greenville addresses.  No word was given on the future of the site.   County property records show ownership of the site has not changed hands since 2004.

Amy Ryberg Doyle said she would love to see the building redeveloped for neighborhood use.  Doyle said no plans have been submitted to the city, but she said she hopes to meet with the building’s owners soon. “I have reached out to the owners to encourage a good neighborhood use (restaurant or mixed use),” Doyle said in an email, “and to inform them of the city’s Facade Improvement Program for Stone Avenue.”

  • As you know, the City of Greenville is embarking on a planning process to develop a new Comprehensive Plan to determine the course of the next 20 years. This process, called Greenville 2040, will enable the community to help shape the vision and make recommendations through ongoing engagement opportunities. When completed, the comprehensive plan will help guide decision-making in Greenville for years to come. Many of you have completed the survey, but if you want to stay informed about the process, just go to this website and sign up to receive updates about meetings and announcements.  The city hopes to adopt the plan in the winter of 2020.
  • Update on Bobby Pearse Community Center: “The Parks and Rec department staff have been working with MHK Architects (who are donating their time and services) to complete bid documents for the repair of the Bobby Pearse Center.  On Monday, August 8th , Parks and Recreation staff and the MHK team met at the center to finalize details needed to complete the documents.  These documents will serve to complete a Request for Quote for the Center. As we noted previously, a June meeting among City staff and community contractor volunteers agreed that without a more specific Request for Proposal to be presented to General Contractors to solicit quotations, an insufficient basis exists to contrast a repair and restoration quotation against other options, including demolition, full replacement, or no demolition, building replacement or something else.  We will keep you apprised as we learn more.”  (Marlie Creasey-Smith, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation)
  • Signage in Public Right–of-Ways: Once again, a resident has asked us to remind folks that the city does have a sign ordinance which was put in place for a number of reasons, including public safety and aesthetics.  It applies to all types of signs, including political signs, signs for yard sales, open houses, etc.  Check out the city’s website to see all of the do’s and don’ts.
  • The City of Greenville is introducing a new monthly parking rate designed to provide an affordable, convenient parking option for hospitality workers and others who work outside of regular business hours, as well as those who visit downtown in the evenings and on weekends to enjoy its many dining and entertainment amenities. The new Night Owl monthly parking rate is currently available for the South Spring Street (316 S Spring St) and Poinsett (25 W McBee Ave) garages; however, additional garages will be added incrementally as installation of the City’s new parking equipment progresses on a garage-by-garage basis.

Night Owl monthly parking is available for a discounted rate of $36 per month (half of the standard monthly parking rate) and provides access to the customer’s preferred garage from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday. The application for Night Owl monthly parking is available online and applicants must submit their completed application, along with payment, in person at the Parking Services office, located at 516 Rutherford Street.  For more information about parking in downtown Greenville, visit parking.greenvillesc.gov or call 467-4900.

  • The Greenville City Fire Department (GCFD) is now accepting applications for its annual Citizens Fire Academy. The free seven-week program is open to anyone age 18 and older. The Citizens Fire Academy offers a unique opportunity for citizens who live and work in Greenville to learn firsthand what it’s like to be a firefighter. In addition to touring the City’s fire stations and dispatch center, and meeting firefighters and 911 personnel, participants will also have a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, including wearing personal protective equipment, experiencing a fire simulation, extinguishing a fire and learning CPR and basic first aid.

According to David Kerns, GCFD’s chief of training, GCFD has designed the academy to be an educational and empowering experience for citizens. “Because we’re asking people to give up their evenings to spend time with us, we want to make sure they leave the academy with meaningful knowledge, skills and experience,” said Kerns. “So while we hope that participating in our academy will help them gain an appreciation for what it’s like to be a firefighter, one of our main goals is to help them discover what a critical role citizens can play in helping us save lives and prevent fires in the first place.”

Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. from October 1 through November 12 at the department’s training facility, located at 688 Mauldin Road. Drinks and snacks will be provided. The class schedule is below and the application is available at www.greenvillesc.gov/FireAcademy. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, September 23.

Class Schedule

October 1:       History/Organizational Structure

October 8:       Dispatch/911 Communications

October 15:     CPR/Basic First Aid

October 22:     Personal Protective Equipment/Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

October 29:     Vehicle Extraction/Aerial Operations

November 5:   Fire Behavior/Fire Extinguishers

November 12: Graduation

 

Contact:

David Kerns

Chief of Training

Greenville City Fire Department

(864) 467-3284                      

Why Sweep the Streets?

Your tax dollars pay for the street sweepers that sweep all arterial streets leading into downtown and all neighborhood streets with curbs and gutters.  Part of the reason they do this is to keep debris from entering the stormwater system which ultimately flows to the Reedy River.  The Public Works Department has been working these past couple of years to improve their sweeping operation.  “By utilizing improved route mapping and acquiring better equipment, we have been able to increase our level of service by close to 50%.  We are continually working to improve the program and input from the community is very important.

Our sweepers run through the neighborhoods every other week February-September.  We come the day after trash pick-up so that all the carts are off the curb.  The issue right now is being able to nail down which week we will be in each neighborhood.  We are currently collecting data to assist us in coming up with a more exact schedule.

To help you better understand… if your solid waste day is this Tuesday, our sweepers will either be there this Wednesday or next Wednesday.  Now, during leaf season (October-January) this schedule is not possible due to the amount of leaves on  the street.  It takes us longer to pick up the heavy debris on each street.” (Ben Carroll, Streets Superintendent)

While this is a great service, sometimes during dry periods the unintended result is a thorough dusting of almost anything that is within sight of the truck.  Want to help prevent this dusting?  Take the grass catcher off your mower and mulch your leaves and grass.  A few extra passes over your yard will result in dime size pieces of leaves that will settle down in your yard where microbes and worms will go to work.  Add a little nitrogen rich fertilizer to speed the breakdown process and you’ll notice a difference in your lawn’s appearance.

No Cure for the Summertime Blues?

Millions suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in summer as well as winter, and evidence hints that birth season plays a role in who develops the disorder. About 1 in 10 people suffer from SAD during the summer.  Some research suggests it can be triggered by too much sun exposure or oppressive heat. Other scientists have theorized that allergies play a roll, or that people are responding to shifts in sleeping habits during summer’s lighter nights and bright early mornings.

A recent brain study suggests that the season in which someone is born may have a lasting impact on whether they are affected by the disorder. Researchers at Vanderbilt University pinpointed the mid-brain region that may be a source of SAD—the dorsal raphe nucleus, where many of the neurons that control serotonin levels are located. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood; high levels have been linked to feelings of well-being, while lower levels are associated with depression.  While most studies have been done with mice, a Columbia University study compared 1,688 diseases with the birth dates of 1.7 million patients who had been treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/CUMC between 1985 and 2013. Among other ailments, several depression-related diagnoses were modulated by birth season, according to the study, with winter babies being more prone to suffer their effects.

Summer in Your Yard

Hard to believe it’s already August and things are starting to lose that bright green hue and looking a little ‘sad’.  Your fescue lawn may be a little thin (after all, it’s a cool season grass).  If you plan to plant trees or shrubs, start planning now, but late fall and winter are the best times to plant.  While we’ve been receiving more afternoon rain lately, we still have September to go before we start feeling much difference in temperature. The following tips may help:

Hot, dry summer months are some of the most stressful times for plants in the landscape. One of the most common problems seen is improper watering.  Without adequate moisture, plants cannot function normally and can become predisposed to other stresses in the environment, such as winter injury or diseases. Particularly susceptible to drought damage are plants that have developed shallow root systems due to improper watering practices. Make sure you are following proper irrigation practices.

Apply about an inch of water per week. Usually this can be done by watering twice and applying at least 0.5 inches each time.  This amount should moisten the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Early morning is the best time to water when there is less evaporation. (And check your system often as power ‘blips’ in the summer can wreak havoc on timers.)  There is a popular misconception that landscapes should be watered daily – after all, plants use water every day. This idea completely ignores the fact that soils hold water.  Stretch the interval between each watering to encourage development of deep, extensive roots. If we need one inch of water per week and we irrigate daily, we will in effect be applying 1/7 inch (0.14 inches) of water each day, wetting the soil to a depth of less than one inch.  While this promotes growth of weeds, it encourages shallow rooting and water will never reach the roots of shrubs or trees unless their roots are very close to the surface, in which case you may see the grass suffer.  That is why a good rain always seems to help everything look better.

Can you prune plants in this hot weather?  It depends on the plant, but generally you don’t want to do heavy pruning this time of year. The lower leaves that are exposed are not acclimated to that hot sun!  As a general rule, plants that flower before June 1 should be pruned after they bloom while those that flower after June 1 are considered summer-flowering and can be pruned just prior to spring growth. One exception to this rule is the oakleaf hydrangea, a summer-flowering shrub that forms flower buds the previous season. Late-flowering azalea cultivars that bloom during June or even July are another exception. Prune both the oakleaf hydrangea and the azalea cultivars after they bloom.  For further information on suggested pruning times for selected flowering trees and shrubs, refer to the fact sheet, HGIC 1053, Pruning Shrubs.

Many of you are familiar with the popular ETV show “Making it Grow” seen Tuesdays at 7pm.  It’s a live call-in program produced by SCETV and Clemson University. Hosted by Amanda McNulty, the crew includes Clemson Extension Resource Agent Terasa Lott, other featured Clemson Extension Agents, guests and Dr. John Nelson from the USC Herbarium.  You can also watch online and find out more information about past or future shows at their website.

For Our Four-Legged Friends

Kitten season usually runs from May into September.  That means there are still lots of kittens available at the Humane Society and Greenville County Animal Care.

Howling for Hope:  August 24th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Greenville Humane Society for an afternoon of barks, brews, bands and food to raise money for the sick and injured animals in our Healing Place! Purchase your tickets in advance for a free beer from Quest Brewing Co. at the event.  Live music, craft beer, delicious food, vendors, a raffle and family friendly entertainment in our brand new doggy playground! Dogs are welcome for this event but must be kept on leash. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Funds raised will benefit our Hope Fund which is used to treat over 2,300 sick and injured animals annually in our Healing Place.

We hear of so many lost and found pets.  There are many ways to try and find a lost pet.  One you may not be aware is Lostmydoggie.com   You can create a free lost or found pet listing that is emailed & faxed to over 25 local shelters, vets and rescue groups (over 35K in their entire network).  With over 99770 reunions since 2009, their services have a proven track record.

Others include the free phone app, Finding Rover and Pawboost Lost & Found Network.  One of the first places to look for or list your missing pet is the GCAC Missing Pet Page.  (If they are turned in there, adults dogs and cats are put on stray hold for five days.  Kittens and puppies are put on the adoption floor immediately.) During this 5-day period, they can be pre-adopted and get surgery if needed in order to get in a home sooner. Other ideas include: flyers, UPS drivers in your area, your mail carrier, waste management employees, Nextdoor, Craigs List, etc.  Leave a dirty item of your clothing where your pet would mostly likely approach your house.  Ask neighbors to check garages and basements.  One of the most important things to do is get your pet microchipped.

Greenville County Animal Care also has a new program called “Owner Surrender Prevention”.  They have a vet and animal behavior specialist on staff to assist owners if it’s a medical or behavior issue preventing them from keeping their pet.

As the largest open-admission shelter in the state, they are doing a great job in getting to “no-kill” status (90% save rate).  During the first 6 months of 2019, they did not drop below the 90% level!  This GCAC is definitely NOT the “dog pound” of years past which still receives unwarranted criticism.  To see a great enlightening article, check out this site.

Greenville Animal Care Services along with Partners in Animal Care continues Yappy Hour every 4th Sunday of every month through October at Brewery 85 between 2 and 4pm.  For $12, you and your friends can unwind to the music with 2 cold brews and snacks.  Leashed, friendly dogs WELCOME!  Proceeds benefit Greenville Animal Care Services.

This year Partners has a new initiative called CHIPPIN’TAILS, free vouchers to have your dog or cat micro-chipped. Come learn more about it while having fun.

Weather Tidbits

  According to climate data from 1884 to the present, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in August is 87°F, and the average low is 67°F. The maximum high was 105 on Aug 10, 2007. The maximum low temperature was 78 on the 10th in 1991 and the 11th in 2007.  The minimum high temperature was 61 on both Aug 21st, 1949 and Aug 27th, 1944. The minimum low was 50 on Aug 29 & 30, 1905.  Average rainfall is 4.48”. Maximum precipitation (rain) was 9.32” on Aug 26, 1995 which is still an all-time record.  The wettest August on record was 1908 with 19.52” . http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on August 8 upped its chances for an above-average hurricane season, saying it now expects 10-17 named storms – an increase from its May prediction of nine-15 named storms, which must have winds of up to 39 miles per hour or greater.

Of the 10-17 named storms, NOAA expects five to nine of them to become hurricanes and two to four of those to become major hurricanes with winds of 111 miles per hour or greater. The agency doesn’t predict how many storms will make landfall because those conditions can only be measured about five to seven days in advance.

According to a NOAA report published on July 18, scorching temperatures made June 2019 the hottest June for the globe in the agency’s 140-year global temperature dataset. The year-to-date temperature for 2019 was the second warmest January–June on record. And for the second month in a row, warmth brought Antarctic sea-ice coverage to a new low.

 

Thank You to our Business Members

Keep your dollars in your community. We have numerous businesses that 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.

If you are a business and would like to see your company listed on our website, please join the NMCA today!  Businesses do not have to be located in the North Main Neighborhood to be members.  They only need to provide services to North Main residents.

  

Gardening and Plants

 Law Firms/CPAs/Financia

Insurance

Retail/Home Décor

Realtors

Food/Drink/Catering

Personal Health/Well Being

Home Improvement/Builders/Architects

Miscellaneous Professional Services

 

 

Calendar

 

For a detailed list of activities in Greenville, including concerts, sporting events, nature programs, tours, exhibits, etc., click here for a printable copy.  A few events are listed below.

 

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

The Hughes Main Library has numerous programs for adults and children.  Check out their  calendar.

The Children’s Museum has great programs for kids.   Check out their website calendar

Check out the current exhibits and other programs at the Upstate History Museum.

Don’t forget about a great local resource for family activities.  Macaroni Kid lists all kinds of local activities for kids and families.

 Greenville County Museum of Art – The Museum is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm and on Sundays 1 – 5 pm. As always, admission is free.  Considered the premier American art museum in the South, the GCMA is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by iconic American artist Andrew Wyeth.  The Greenville Collection is now the largest and the most complete collection of Andrew Wyeth’s watercolors owned by any public museum in the world. The GCMA boasts a particularly strong collection of works by South Carolina artist Jasper Johns.

Ongoing – Dancing at the Sears Shelter (McPherson Park). Line Dancing each Tuesday from 6:15-8pm.  Greenville Lindy Hop, Thursdays, 7-11pm. $4 per class for city residents. Greenville Swing, Tuesdays, 7 – 10pm.  $2 per class.  Greenville International Folk Dance.  Mondays, 7-9pm.  6-week course:  $15.  Call 864-467-4326 for information or to register.

Check out the classes at the Swamp Rabbit Grocery and Café.

There’s always something happening at the Community Tap.

Deep Flow Yoga – Tues/Thur. 9am. Log Cabin at McPherson Park. $8/class. Begins Sept 3

Sept 9 –  Language Lessons at David Hellams Center. American Sign Language 1&2 AND Spanish 1 & conversation.  Begins Sept 9. Registration begins next week!

Check the Greenville Parks & Rec Community Center website for other classes.

Ongoing – Upstate Pickleball.  Click here to see dates and venues.  What started out as a few friends getting together to play Pickleball has blossomed into a growing athletic and social community with about 400 players in the Upstate.  New to pickleball, click here to learn more.

August 16 – Karaoke With “Triple B”.  8:30 PM TO 12:30 AM. Northgate Soda Shop. The kitchen will be open until 9 PM.

August 17 – Greenville Triumph Back to School Night.  7pm. Legacy Early College.  Join CDS (Center for Developmental Services) and Greenville County Schools at Back to School Night with Greenville’s Professional Soccer Team – the Greenville Triumph.  CDS will receive $5.00 for every seat that is purchased through this link. Tickets are only $15 – just click below to get started!  Click here to purchase tickets online!

August 24 – Howling for Hope:  3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Greenville Humane Society for an afternoon of barks, brews, bands and food to raise money for the sick and injured animals in our Healing Place! Purchase your tickets in advance for a free beer from Quest Brewing Co. at the event.  Live music, craft beer, delicious food, vendors, a raffle and family friendly entertainment in our brand new doggy playground! Dogs are welcome for this event but must be kept on leash. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Funds raised will benefit our Hope Fund which is used to treat over 2,300 sick and injured animals annually in our Healing Place.

August 27 – Fall Vegetable Gardening.  The Pavilion. This class is part of the Sustainable Gardening Series. Community Garden members and the public are invited to attend classes throughout the year. They’re based on the American Community Gardening Association’s series, Environmental Education in the Community Garden, and also draw upon the knowledge of local experts and resources. They will cover a variety of topics from gardening basics for the newest gardeners to trap crops, beneficial insects and organic pest control. Choose just one or attend them all!  Contact: Aerin Brownlee. 864-288-6470 ext. 133

Click here for other fun events at the Pavilion.

Sept. 8 – Camp the Falls Event. 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM.  Camp the Falls Festival is a family-friendly, outdoor focused festival that is part of a two-part event that includes a camp-out the following weekend, Sept 14-17. Raffle tickets for camping opportunities will be sold before and during the festivals. Funds raised from the event will support Rotary Charities

Sept 19 -22 – Euphoria. Charitable Food, Wine and Music Festival.  Click here for schedule and tickets.

Oct 11- 13 – Bank of America Fall for Greenville.  Discover a world of tempting tastes, sights and sounds, as mouthwatering aromas carry you along Greenville’s Main Street. With over 40 restaurants featuring over 200 menu items and free entertainment on seven stages, we invite you to enjoy the Southeast’s most popular outdoor festival

Oct 19 – Read Up Greenville.  9:30 AM - 6:00 PM @ Peace Center.  Read Up, Greenville is an annual celebration of Young Adult and Middle Grades books and authors. By bringing teens in close contact with authors through book signings, panels and interactive events, the festival will encourage youth to continue their love for reading and hopefully encourage non-readers to become readers. With book sales, author signings, panel discussions and keynote speakers, Read Up is a day of celebration of Young Adult literature.

 

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

July/August 2019 Newsletter