Arbor Day is April 26. Click here to see a beautiful video of how to respect a century old tree.
Update on “Cottages on Townes”
As most of you are aware by now, the applicant has asked to withdraw this item from the April 11 Planning Commission Meeting. The appeal that was filed regarding the determination of completeness for the original application will be considered only if the withdrawal of the application is not accepted by commission. For the complete agenda wording check out our website. If something changes we will keep you posted.
Thank you for your interest and support on this issue! It would still be good to have a show of support at the April 11 meeting. It will be held at 4pm in the first floor conference room at City Hall. See you there!
NMCA Spring Membership Drive/Happy Hour
Mark your calendars now for the 2013 NMCA Spring Membership Drive/Happy Hour. April 25 from 5-7pm out back at the Northgate Soda Shop . This year we’ll have some special guests…local firefighters and Engine 6…they would like to meet and greet the local neighbors. So if you see a fire truck in back of the Soda Shop that night, don’t panic! Plan to come on out and enjoy free beer and snacks, see your neighbors and meet new ones and welcome spring! We also challenge everyone to bring a new member! So grab your neighbor and come on down!! (Sponsored by Northgate Soda Shop, Redhype and NMCA)
Membership Update
Our 2013 membership drive is going well. You probably noticed we’re trying something different. In the last few weeks you should have received an invoice for $10 for dues for 2013. We did this in response to requests from folks who could never remember when they had paid their dues. Dues are based on a calendar year. So…this is your last reminder. The newsletter will still be accessible to you via our website but will no longer be emailed to you unless you are a member. As a member, you also receive all the emails we send out about crime updates, community events, lost and found pets, social events, etc. There’s not a lot you can get for $10 these days and we hope you feel like we give you $10 worth. Remember, even though all the work of the association is done strictly by volunteers, it still takes money to fund projects in the park, social events, our website and PO Box, paper, ink, stamps, etc.
So…if you still haven’t paid, what are you waiting for?? Send your check to PO Box 571, Greenville, 29602, or you can pay via Paypal at www.northmaincommunity.org/membership or just click on the little bird on the left. Or, you can pay at the Membership Drive/Happy Hour mentioned above. After May 1, the newsletter email list will be revised.
A big Thank You to those who have already paid, especially those who paid for 2 or more years in advance …that saves us stamps in the future.
Stone Academy Spring Carnival
Open to the community. Arts Alive is an annual school festival which will include an afternoon of music, food, games, rides, silent auction and, most importantly, GREAT fun! They typically have 2000+ people. This year’s event will be held on Friday, April 26th from 3:30pm until 7:00pm. It is one of their largest fund raising events and an integral part of Stone Academy. They still are in need of volunteers, silent auction items and more. To volunteer or participate, check out their website by clicking on the picture to the right.
50 Things we Love About our Community
The Board Members of the North Main Community Association (NMCA) are often asked what is special or important about the community. While we are usually able to come up with answers, they are usually bits and pieces of the whole story. What we want to do, with your help, is create a document for our website and our members about what makes our neighborhood special. There are some things, like the dogwoods in the median of North Main Street that we know will be on the list. But we suspect that there are many local landmarks and features we do not know, and would love to discover. Long-time residents probably know what they like, but new residents will appreciate knowing what they’ve ‘lucked into’.
So, send us your ideas by using the comments section on our website, email, or even the USPS. You can send lists, stories, nominations, historic or modern photographs, or all of the above.
Some ground rules.
- It must be in the North Main boundaries. Note that this includes Earle Street and the businesses on North Main, Rutherford, Stone Avenue, and the Mohawk/Wade Hampton area.
- The nominations or suggestions may be buildings, parks, individual properties, landscape features, views, or even significant individual people. The nominations may also include businesses like the Northgate Soda Shop.
- Nominations should be specific, and should give a clear location if possible. Giving a reason why something is loved, or telling a brief story, is as important as just having the name of something.
- Please do not use this site to voice complaints or things you don’t like. For that, please go to the ‘Got a Gripe’ link on our home page.
Links to boundary map and email are above, and USPS address is:
North Main Community Association (or just NMCA)
P.O. Box 571
Greenville, SC 29602
The Board will sort through the list, and try to bring some order to it. We hope to send a report out in the June newsletter with a first draft and requests for help to fill in details. We hope to finalize the list and have a draft of a final product by October. A final note: While this is called “50 Things We Love,” there is nothing magical about the number fifty. If the list grows to 100, so be it. Let us know! Thanks!
Weather Tidbits
According to climate data, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in April is 60.1°F, the average low is 48°F and the average precipitation is 3.71”. The record maximum for the period 1962-2006 was 93°F on April 27, 1986. The record minimum was 25°F on April 11, 1973. Record high rainfall was in 1964 with 11.3”. Record minimum precipitation was 0.69” back in 1976. Average snowfall in April is 0”. The highest recorded for this period was 0.3” back in 1987.
April 30, 1924: The highest tornado death toll in South Carolina’s history occurred on this date when two tornadoes struck. The paths of both were unusually long; each over 100 miles long. Together they killed 77 persons, injured 778 more, destroyed 465 homes and many other buildings resulting in many millions of dollars of damage. One tornado remained on the ground from Anderson County to York County; the other, which as been named “The Horrell Hill Tornado”, was the more destructive of the two. Its path was 135 miles from Aiken County to Florence County. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php
Spring to Action in your Yard
This is time of year when there’s a lot to be done in your yard…
- It’s time to divide fall blooming perennials and planting summer and fall-flowering bulbs
- Time to prune back perennials and other shrubs, depending on the bloom time. Remember: Summer-Flowering Plants: Prune before spring growth begins (produce flowers on current season’s growth) Spring-Flowering Plants: Prune after flowering (produce flowers on previous season’s growth).
- Fertilizer your lawn, shrubs and trees. When fertilizing shrubs and trees, be sure to scatter the fertilizer out around the drip line and not up close to the trunk to prevent burning roots. If using liquid foliar fertilizer, be sure to wait until leaves are fully expanded so they will be able to take up the fertilizer.
- Now is the time to think about irrigation as the temperatures warm and the days are drier.
- Typically mid-April is the date of the last killing frost for this area, so for those who want to get an early start on their vegetable garden, there are several common vegetables you can plant, including cantaloupe, cucumbers, melons, squash, beans and sweet corn. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/county/laurens/yard_garden/04_april.html
Don’t forget about the birds. Spring migrants have been moving through. My cedar waxwings didn’t show up this year until last week and my pyracantha bush is pretty well stripped now. The Greenville County Bird Club reported the first sighting of a hummingbird this past week, so clean out those hummingbird feeders and get them back out. Goldfinches are out in force now and love black oil sunflower seed and thistle. But they are rather picky in that they want fresh seed. If you put out seed from last year, they’ll likely pass it up. I usually just put all my seed out the end of the season and start with fresh thistle each year. Birds are looking for nesting sites and starting to build nests. If you are curious about what nests you are seeing in your boxes, a good source of information and pictures online is The Birder’s Report. There are also good books available on bird nests. Some, like the Carolina Wren, seem to like to build nests near humans in hanging baskets, tin cans, or just about any small container, so be watchful when you are moving things around.
I find that a lot of people are not aware of a wonderful free service offered by the Library of Congress. Talking Books is a free library service available to U.S. residents and citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. Local cooperating libraries throughout the United States mail NLS audiobooks, magazines, and audio equipment directly to enrollees at no cost. Braille books and magazines are also available to patrons at no cost. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving Talking Books, you can fill out the form at this site. To speak to a librarian in your service area during normal business hours, call 1-888-NLS-READ (toll free) and follow the prompts. Your call will be connected to the appropriate library. This service can be a life-saver for those with visual impairments who were once avid readers.
Flash From the Past
Here are two ‘new’ old photographs for you to identify…
From Last Month:
The C. Granville Wyche House, built in 1931, is primarily significant as an excellent example of depression-era Italian Renaissance architecture. It also has importance because of the distinguished legal career of its owner, C. Granville Wyche, who lived in the house from 1931 to 1988. Designed by Atlanta architect Silas D. Trowbridge, the ornate façade is Italian Renaissance with some Beaux Arts influences. As a “country estate” for a successful attorney with a large family, the Wyche house was one of the most expensive and elaborate residences constructed in Greenville during the 1930s. The symmetrical form, low-pitched tile roof, wide eaves with brackets, full-length, first floor windows and recessed door are all typical of the primary Italian Renaissance style. Beaux Arts influences may be seen in the massive portico, balustrades, grouped classical columns and pilasters, window crowns, and keystones. While the two Neo-Classical Revival styles were no longer fashionable in much of the country, they combined to create a high-style residence for a leading Greenville attorney. Plans for an elaborate formal garden, leading from the left wing, were originally drawn by the architect but were never carried out by the Wyches. A small grotto, original to the landscape design, with deep pool and edged by large boulders and cement mortar inscribed with the names of the Wyche children, is placed at the rear of the formal garden space, contributes to the property. An unpainted barn dating from the mid-1930s also contributes to the property. Listed in the National Register September 2, 1993.
This picture is the slash burner that was used by the Graves Planing Mill on Graves Drive which is essentially an extension of North Main Street across Rutherford Road. It is now known as Larkin’s Sawmill at North Main and is used for catered events. While it is known as The Sawmill, it was always used to make custom moldings that were used all over Greenville. The company was founded in 1913 near the Southern Railway depot on Washington Street and moved to Graves Drive in 1947. It burned in 1952 but was rebuilt.
The slash burner or incinerator was built in 1953 and shut down in 1964 “for environmental reasons.” Frank Charles Graves (the brother of past NMCA treasurer Lois Graves) took over the operation in 1992. The operation was sold in 2002 and the building was renovated as a site for hosting events. Larkin’s has recently invested in a higher level of renovation.
History of Greenville County
While the low country of South Carolina had been settled for many years, Greenville County, once the stronghold of the Cherokee Indians, was not ceded until 1777. The Greenville District was created in 1786, but was known as Pleasantburg until 1831. The origins of the name Greenville County are uncertain. The county was either named for an early resident, Isaac Green or Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. The first settler in present Greenville County was Richard Pearis. He married a Cherokee woman and records indicate that the Cherokee tribe thought so highly of him that he was given several tracts of land by the Cherokee Indian tribe. On part of this estate now stands the City of Greenville and Paris Mountain, its name a derivative of Pearis. The city of Greenville was founded in 1770 at the site of the Reedy River Falls Park in downtown Greenville. The falls were once the source of power for early industries. The land around Greenville became a village centered around a trading post and grist mill. Greenville evolved at the vision of Vardry McBee, whom some call the “Father of Greenville”. He was instrumental in moving Furman University from Edgefield to Greenville in 1851 and in securing Greenville’s first railroad. McBee encouraged the construction of mills to take advantage of Greenville’s proximity to fast-flowing water, the Reedy River. Soon the town was the home to a number of grist, textile and paper mills and the largest carriage factory east of the Mississippi. By the end of the 19th century and into the next, Greenville industry was expanding up and down the banks of the Reedy River. http://www.greenvillecounty.org/about_us.asp
Calendar
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 April Calendar Also check out their new Facebook page!
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. 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. Discover this magnificent collection of works by America’s iconic watercolor master. Highlights include Four Poster and Dusk.
April 11 – Planning Commission Meeting. 4PM. City Hall First Floor Conference Room.
April 11 – Hillcrest Garden Club Meeting. Greenville Woman’s Club, 8 Bennett St., Horticulture submissions at 9:45 a.m., refreshments at 10:00 a.m., devotions, club prayer and program, “Hummingbirds – Our Jewel-feathered Friends,” by Diana Collier, who will share photos of her garden in Greer. Business will be conducted after and adjournment at 12:00 noon. Visitors and those interested in joining are always invited. For additional information, please call Mary Roberts at 458-7735.
April 13 – Northgate Soda Shop/Other Side Golf Tournament. 10am. Summersett Golf Club. $65 per person includes golf, 2 mulligans, lunch, beer cart and Charity. This year’s charity is Shepherd’s Gate, a shelter for homeless women and their children. Registration deadline: Monday, April 4. Questions? Call 420-6636.
April 18 – Humane Society Pet Project Runway. 6:30pm at the Greenville Jet Center Hangar at the Greenville Downtown Airport . Watch Greenville celebrities and community leaders compete on the catwalk with their canine companion. It’s fierce, it’s fun and it’s furry! Votes are $10 each and there is no limit on the number of votes that can be cast. Online voting will be open until 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 18th. Guests at the event may vote that evening. Check out the Humane Society’s new website developed by NMCA’s own Marie Dunn and her staff at Redhype.
April 19 -20 – Erth Dinosaur Petting Zoo. TD Stage at the Peace Center. Educational show that interacts with kids and adults while they travel on a journey through a prehistoric world. Show #1 – 9:50am – 11:00am and Show #2 -12:00pm – 1:00pm.
April 20&21 – Greenville Paracycling Open 2013. 11am – 4pm. CU-ICAR at TD Bank. 200 Carolina Point Parkway. The only advance opportunity for the world’s best athletes to compete on, ride and experience the course for the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championship. The athletes will compete in a Time Trial on April 20th with the first athlete starting at 11:00am and a Road Race on April 21st with the 1st race starting at 8:00am. The start finish line will be on Carolina Point Parkway in front of TD Bank
More Info: Click to open URL Contact: Keri Hall Telephone: 864-467-5751
April 20 – Furman University Earth Day Festival. 1-6pm. Celebration of Earth Day showcasing music, local foods, sustainability-related student initiatives and community organizations. Contact the Shi Center at 864-294-3655 for more information.
April 22 – Celebrate Earth Day with the City of Greenville. The City of Greenville will host a phone book drive at the North Greenville Recycling & Education Center, 514 Rutherford Road, from 10 am to 2 pm, Monday, April 22. We’ll have refreshments, giveaways and information about our recycling programs and events, so drop off your old phone book(s) and celebrate Earth Day with us!
April 25 – NMCA Spring Membership Drive/Happy Hour. Northgate Soda Shop. 5-7 PM. See article at front of newsletter.
April 26 – Stone Academy Spring Carnival. 3:30pm until 7:00pm. It is one of their largest fund raising events and an integral part of Stone Academy. www.artsalive2013.com
April 26 – National Walk at Lunch Day. 11am – 2pm. Falls Park. Free health and wellness event to promote walking at lunch.
April 26 – Reedy River Jazz and Wine Festival. 3-10pm. TD Stage at the Peace Center Amphitheater. A Jazz and Wine Festival for the Jazz fans and the Greenville Community. Great music and a fundraiser for local Greenville Charity – safe environment to enjoy music, food and wine.
April 27 – North Main Neighborhood Yard Sale. Back parking lot of Northgate Soda Shop. 7am – 2pm. First come, first served. Please bring your table, come and unload and then park on the street to leave more room for others and for parking for the Soda Shop. Sell what you can, keep the money for yourself and if you have anything left that you do not want, they will collect it and take it to a charity.
April 27 – Project Rx: A River Remedy. 10am – 2 pm. McAlister Square, St. Francis Millenium. Sixth annual drug take-back event for community members to properly dispose of their unused or unwanted medications. This event is FREE and ANONYMOUS and accepts unwanted or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, vitamins and supplements, and veterinary medications from households only.
April 27 – March of Dimes March for Babies. 8am – 12noon. Greenville Technical College. Walk begins at 9am. Contact Lisa Green at 551-2640.
April 30 – North Main Blood Drive. Northgate Soda Shop. 4-8pm. Choice of shirt or movie tickets or ball tickets for Greenville drive.
May 2 – Yappy Hour. Greenville Humane Society. 6-8pm. Enjoy listening to local artists with a cold beer in hand while your dog has a chance to run around our canine courtyard and cool off in one of our “doggie pools”. This event is open to the public. All canines must come on leash, be dog-friendly, spayed/neutered and up to date on vaccinations. All proceeds benefit the Greenville Humane Society. Cost: $8 (includes beer, bark & band)
May 4 – Reedy River Duck Derby. 10am – 4:30 pm. Reedy River Falls Park. 10,000 rubber ducks will be released into the Reedy River all racing to the finishing line where prizes will be awarded to the winning duck’s “adopters”. The race is combined with a Community Children’s Day with booths focused on hands-on- activities and entertainment. It is fun-filled family event. This is a Rotary Event to support local charities so come on out and enjoy the fun!
May 4 – TD Saturday Market starts a new season. Main Street @ McBee Ave. 8:30am – 12:30pm.
May 10 – Artisphere. 12noon – 8pm. Main St. from Court St. to Augusta St. ARTISPHERE is an annual signature event for Greenville, SC, showcasing the arts, reflecting the area’s international flair, and maximizing existing arts programs by providing a diverse menu of experiences that center around the arts visual and performing and Greenville’s multi-cultural offerings to appeal to visitors from throughout the world, as well as citizens throughout the region.
May 11 – Free Shredding Event. 9am -12 noon. TD Convention Center. Businesses and individuals are welcome. All paper must be bagged or boxed and each person is limited to three trash bags or three small boxes of paper.
May 15 – Earth Market. Starting in May Earth Market moves to the newly renovated NoMa Square at 220 North Main St. in front of the Hyatt Hotel. Please watch their web site for updates. Dates will be the third Wednesdays of the month from 3 – 7 pm. Earth Market Products will be featured on the menu at the Hyatt’s new “Soil to City” Restaurant ROOST
May 18 – Electronics, Television and Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Day. Sponsored by the City of Greenville Solid Waste Division, the collection center will be located at 360 S. Hudson Street. Free to City residents and businesses, the following items are accepted: computer monitors, keyboards, mice, CPUs, etc. (all things that plug into a computer), televisions, fluorescent bulbs, tubes, ballasts, etc. Items may be brought to 360 S. Hudson Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Note: There is a limit of 10 electronic items and 10 fluorescent bulbs per person. For more information, call 864-467-8300.
For other community events, check the Greenville City calendar
Or, the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Spring Programs at Greenville Community Centers
Program Instructors Needed
The City of Greenville Parks and Recreation Department is seeking instructors to offer fun and exciting recreational and educational classes to our community. Our department offers a wide variety of recreational programs to citizens of all ages. These programs take place in city parks, community centers and other locations. For a full listing of programs visit http://www.greenvillesc.gov/ParksRec/RecPrograms.aspx
Spring 2013 Program Schedule
- To view the winter/spring program calendar for the Bobby Pearse Center, go to the Parks and Rec website
- To view the winter/spring program calendar for the Sears Recreation Center, go to the Parks and Rec website You will be able to view program information and pay directly online.
For additional information about each of the programs listed below, call the contact number or visit http://www.greenvillesc.gov/ParksRec/RecPrograms.aspx
….Or pick up a program brochure at your local community center.
Community Center Rental
Both the Bobby Pearse Center and the Sears Shelter are available for rent. For information about renting the Bobby Pearse Center, email Jonathan Jones or call 467-4331.
Planning a special event like a wedding reception, birthday, anniversary or family reunion? Why not have your events at the Sears Recreation Center? It is conveniently located in McPherson Park at the corner of North Main Street and E. Park Avenue (100 E. Park Avenue).
Some of the Community Center features are:
- Kitchen
- Restrooms
- Handicapped accessible
- Piano
- Banquet tables & chairs
- Plenty of parking
- Sound system
Contact Jan Cox at 864-467-4326 or jbcox@greenvillesc.gov for more information and availability.
The City of Greenville Parks and Recreation is working with LiveWell Greenville to promote healthy eating among our athletes. Watch this short video to learn more about eating healthy snacks at youth sports!
The use of trade names or advertisements in this publication does not constitute endorsement or discrimination by the North Main Community Association.
