NMCA Newsletter (10/2017)

Phyllis Gilreath Local Business, Social Events

 

 

 

 

Mark your calendars!  Sunday afternoon, November 5.  Join us for the NMCA Fall Member Social. This will be a private event for NMCA members Sunday afternoon (Time TBA) at Main and Stone. Come on out and visit with friends and neighbors and enjoy great food and drink!   If you haven’t renewed, you need to do so now so you don’t miss the fun.  Hope to see you there!

 

Welcome our New Business Members

The Personal Touch Cleaning Service of Greenville.  Founded in Boston in 1981, the Personal Touch offers personalized house cleaning services to suit the needs of real people and families.  Superior service and word of mouth helped grow the business over 35 years.  Insistence on cleaning only one house per day and the focus on pairing clients with who they feel does the best work for them has kept the Personal Touch of Greenville a close friend to some of Greenville’s most successful families since 1995.  They can be contacted for a free consultation at 864.291.0102.

 

Zen Guitar Studio Greenville was founded in 2013 with the goal of offering private guitar lessons in nearly every style of music.  Owner Matthew Kay has been teaching since 2008 and has performed solo classical, jazz, rock and theater professionally since 2008.  A tireless student, he has sought private instruction from some of the world’s biggest names in addition to attending USC Upstate’s Commercial Music Program. He can be seen performing locally with his funk band, the Hustle, as well as around town with his two amazing children and his wife, Allyson.  Sign-ups are generally done through his website or by phone at 864.283.9156. (Editor’s note: As a student, I can say that Matthew has the patience even for beginners like me who can’t read music or carry a tune!)

 

Development and Other City News

  • Here is a brief update on the NorthPointe Development from their development coordinator:

Here is a quick explanation of a few things that you may notice happening at the construction site!

First, Earle Street will be temporarily closed to through traffic! All residences will be accessible via Bennett Street only. Amy Doyle coordinated this change with the City and SCDOT on behalf of the residents. Signs will be placed at the corner of Earle Street and Bennett Street indicating that there is no outlet.

Second, be alert in the coming weeks. We will have additional barricades and workers on Wade Hampton north of Mohawk Drive and Column Street. They will be laying the new curbing on both sides of the street. All businesses will continue normal operations!! Please do not hesitate to enjoy their goods and services.

Third, while Duke has been working hard across the South to restore power to those impacted by the storms, we have been patiently waiting for them here. They will be on site as soon as they can to supply power to the new traffic signal at Stone Avenue and the Canal Parking lot (future Wade Hampton Interchange). While I will do my best to keep you informed, I may not know of the switch to the new signal until the day of! This change will mean the end of the Stone Avenue and Mitchell Street signal.

Last, we anticipate opening the new Wade Hampton Boulevard at the beginning of November. Simultaneous with Wade Hampton re-opening, the Earle Street access will re-open and Column Street will be closed.

As of October 11, here is the status: “The rain this week has held up the curbing along Wade Hampton that was scheduled for Monday.  It is now scheduled for Oct 12.  Duke has powered the new Wade Hampton at Stone Ave traffic signal.  It has been flashing yellow & red for the last few days in order to give all regular drivers a chance to see the change.  The signal will go into full operation shortly. Currently, we only have daytime work on our schedule for the next week.”  

  • Regarding development along Wade Hampton, in answer to this question from a resident: “I just got wind that a bar had been approved next to the U-Haul place on Wade Hampton…. questioning what city planning and our officials are thinking about regarding this stretch from Lidl into Church St?”  The city’s response: “We just completed the RFP for the Wade Hampton Boulevard Strategic Plan and sent it to our Purchasing Division for review. Assuming everything checks out, they should begin advertising it this Sunday. In addition to the City’s website, we will also advertise the RFP on the American Planning Association website (https://www.planning.org/) and South Carolina Chapter of the APA website (https://scapa.org/).”

Amy Doyle will keep us updated on the schedule and progress. She also plans to chat with Jay Graham this week regarding next steps. In the meantime, please feel free to call or email Amy if you have any questions.

  • Mayor White issued a proclamation declaring the month of October 2017 as Try Transit Month. Try Transit Month is part of an ongoing initiative to educate Greenville County residents about the economic and environmental benefits of public transit and encourage citizens who don’t typically use public transportation to ride Greenlink. Events include:
    • Story time with a bus driver
    • Presentation by Greenville Health System on the cost of health-related transportation
    • Transportation summit to kick-off a vision for the Upstate
    • Transit Trivia
    • Fare Free Friday sponsored by Greenville Heritage Federal Credit Union

 

 

 

Vote on November 7

Whatever your party affiliation or whichever candidate you are supporting, PLEASE get out and vote on November 7.  If you think you might be out of town on November 7th, Greenville County provides voters the opportunity to visit County Square during normal business hours for absentee voting. We encourage you to do this because you never know what will come up that first Tuesday in November!

The League of Women Voters will be holding a City Candidate forum for contested seats.  Wednesday, October 25, 2017 6:30-8PM at Hughes Main Library.


There are two contested races for Greenville City.

City Council At-Large:
*John DeWorken, Republican

*Russell Stall, Democratic

 

City Council District 02:
*Matt Cotner, Republican

*Lillian Brock Flemming, Democratic

“We will have a moderator (Professor Brent Nelsen of Furman University Political Science and International Affairs Department) ask the candidates questions prepared by the League of Women Voters. The questions will not be distributed in advance. We will also gather questions from the audience and as time permits, we will use these questions. The first question will give the candidates three (3) minutes to introduce themselves to the audience. There will also be time (from 7:30-8:00) for people to meet the candidates and talk one on one. The public is invited.”

 

 

 

 

Crime and Suspicious Activity Notes

  • Two males were reported breaking into cars Tuesday night, Oct 3, on Garraux and Elizabeth around
    11:40. They hit multiple vehicles according to the resident who reported it. The police were called and forensics came out and dusted for prints.
  • Recently there was a spree of autobreakins in the North Main Street community according from Officer Michele Lentz. Surveillance footage allowed officers to identify 1 suspect, who then named a second suspect in the crimes. A total of 13 warrants/charges were brought against the 2 suspects in connection with the multiple autobreakin incidents. The suspects are all juveniles. Although they have closed out at least 10 cases with these arrests, please remain vigilant in your communities. Neighbors are some of the best crime prevention we have. If you see something, say something!
    • With the holidays just around the corner, be careful about having packages delivered to your door. If possible, have them delivered to your office or track them and have a neighbor watch out for them that day.  Call the Police Non-Emergency number 864-271-5333 to report any suspicious individual and/or activity
  • Here’s some good crime-prevention advice from Officer Michele Lentz with the Greenville Police Department: Hello Greenville! Here is your Crime Prevention Tip for the week (and a weekend project for you)! Did you know that the outside of your house says a lot about your attentiveness to your home and neighborhood? Well-groomed lawns, gardens and landscaping give the impression that the homeowner cares about the community and will be watching for suspicious activities. Here are some specific things you can do:
    • Trim up all low-hanging branches on trees to a minimum 6-foot height.
    • Trim down all shrubberies to 36-inches high.
    • Make sure landscaping doesn’t block sight-lines to doors and windows.

By trimming trees and shrubs, you will take away the natural hiding places a criminal can use on your property. A criminal capitalizes on concealment. If there is no place to hide when a neighbor or police drive by, a criminal will be more likely to pass up your property.

Local Halloween Events

As we do each year, we try to get a list of local Halloween events that welcome kids in the North Main area.  If you are having an event, or know of one, please email us at northmaincomm@gmail.com and let us know.  We’ll try to provide a more complete list of events closer to Halloween.  As of now, here are a few we are aware of between now and Halloween.  Some streets in the area (such as East Hillcrest) often have their own Halloween parade.

  • Northside United Methodist Church on Summit has its Pumpkin Patch open.  Monday thru Friday from 2:00 to 6:00pm and on Saturday from 2:00 to 7:00pm. They will continue this until the end of October.
  • Boo on Buist – Oct 28, 2-5pm.  100 block of Buist Ave. Old School games, costume parade at 3, costume and carved pumpkin contests. Bring your jack-o-lanterns.  Bring snacks/drinks to share. BYO chairs.  Bring a crock to share and enter the chili cookoff.
  • Boo in the Zoo – October 20-22, 27-29 at Greenville Zoo. The event will feature more than 20 trick-or-treat stations; character photo opportunities, including princesses; an extinct species graveyard and a Not-Very-Scary House sponsored by ScanSource. The event site will also include a new area called Dragon Alley.
  • Enchanted Forest – October 26-28 at The Pavilion. 6-9pm. Enchanted Forest provides children 10 and under a unique fairytale trick or treat experience with an array of storybook characters from Sleeping Beauty to Snow White and destinations like Robin Hood’s Hideaway, Shrek’s Swamp, and the magical, mythical, maze. There will be carnival games, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, treats, and a costume contest each night. (only $5 in advance or $7 at the door) Adults get in free.
  • Scaraoke.  Oct 20 from 8:30pm – 1am.  Northgate Soda Shop. Come in costume or in regular clothes……your choice.  A prize will be given for the best costume.  A good time will be had by all.  Karaoke and music with Vannah the DJ.  Kitchen open until 9 PM
  • Oct 28 – Join the Children’s Museum of the Upstate for their annual Boo!seum celebration! Participate in ooey-gooey science experiments, vote on your favorite pumpkin, participate in Halloween-themed art, and much more throughout the day!  Activities from 10am – 3pm.
  • Earle Street Parade – With Halloween falling on a Tuesday this year, we assume that is the day for the parade.  If anyone has a schedule for the parade, please let us know.  Thanks.
  • Boo Bash –  Oct 31 from 6-9 pm in Belk Court at Haywood Mall. Festivities include costume contest, make creepy crafts, play ghostly games, collect candy and more! Enjoy a Spooky DJ and interactive games!
  • Join the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery on Tuesday, October 31st from 4-6pm for Little Monster’s Halloween – a Halloween party with all the Little Monsters! SRCG will provide candy, hayrides, and a photo booth. Plus, a costume contest! Drop in with your ghost or goblin and join the fun before you venture into the night for trick-or-treating!
  • Check out a list of other local Halloween activities at Kidding Around Greenville.

Weather Tidbits

According to climate data, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in October is 73°F, and the average low is 50°F.  The average rainfall for the month is 3.70”. The maximum high was 97 on Oct 6th,1954. The maximum low temperature was 72 on Oct 4th,1941.  The minimum high temperature was 41 on Oct 26th, 1926.  The minimum low was 25 on Oct 29, 30 & 31 in 1976, 1910 and 1893, respectively.  Maximum precipitation (rain) in a 24-hour period was 7.24” on Oct 16, 1932.  We had a trace of snow on Oct 20 (1923) and the 21st (1926). Obviously, this was prior to global warming.  The wettest October on record was in 1948 with 12.18”.  The driest was in 2000 when we saw no rain.  http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php .

Current climatic models, taking into consideration La Nina, indicate above-normal temperatures for much of Alaska and for most of the contiguous 48 states during the last quarter of 2017.They also predict below-normal precipitation for the southeast and portions of the middle and lower Mississippi valley.

October Gardening

Hope you’re enjoying these bursts of cooler weather and the recent rain courtesy of Hurricane Nate was welcome.    Now is the time to start planting trees and shrubs.  If you found you put a shrub in the wrong spot, fall and winter are the best times to move it.  And don’t forget to adjust your irrigation system as the weather cools and plants are transpiring less and require less water.

October is a great time for planting pansies and purchasing spring bulbs to plant in late October or November.  Limit pruning of shrubs to sniping 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.     

You’ve probably seen more yellow jackets around lately. Yellow jackets are beneficial around home gardens because they feed on caterpillars and harmful flies. But when the populations peak in late summer and early fall, the yellow jackets’ feeding habits become a problem. At this time of year, they have a healthy appetite for many of the same foods and drinks we eat. Yellow jacket stings can result in a life-threatening situation if the person is allergic to the venom.  They often have colonies in the ground or hollow tree cavities so be careful when working in the yard this time of year.

For the birds:  For those who have been enjoying our ruby-throated hummingbirds this summer, you’ve probably noticed they are not around.  They typically disappear around October 15 – with research showing there is a good possibility that our birds are flying to Texas and then on to Central America.Help Backyard Wildlife Prepare for Cold Weather: “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.Your firewood pile can also make a good shelter for wildlife, even if you’ll be disturbing it occasionally throughout the winter. Pile your logs crisscross fashion to create internal spaces that offer small animals a little relief from the cold.”  And don’t forget to keep a fresh, unfrozen source of water…often more important than food in subfreezing temperatures.  Consider investing in a quality heater for your birdbath or artificial pond to keep water ice-free.

Have I Missed the Fall Foliage?

We’re actually seeing a little color here, especially the dogwoods. Oct 10-20 is typically the peak time for areas above 4,000 – 5,000 feet.  This would include: Devil’s Courthouse, Waterrock Knob.   Oct 18-26:  3,000-4,000 ft.  Remember: these are just estimates based on current conditions.  “Hurricane Nate brought lots of rain, which should really help the colors, and make the waterfalls more photogenic for the next couple of weeks.  The downside is that it brought lots of high winds as well.   We saw lots of leaves on the ground as result.”  “The primary color about a week ago was YELLOW.  We’ve seen significant color progression in the 5,000 foot and below areas.  Lots of bright oranges and reds right now as well.  Higher elevations, above 5,000 feet are past peak and remaining leaves are browning.  Due to weather this fall, the higher elevations were about a week early, but with current warmer temperatures, lower elevations should be close to predicted.  Check out The Blue Ridge Fall Forecast Guide for more information and good locations for later in the season.

 

For Our Furry Friends

The Humane Society celebrated the opening of their new medical facility last month.  If you haven’t been by there, it’s quite a change with expanded room for the vaccination clinic, surgery, adoptable pets and more.  And during “Barktoberfest”, all dogs 4 months and older are only $50 to adopt. Please note that as of Oct. 13, they no longer offer grooming services as their groomer has moved on to another position.

Greenville County Animal Care Services has been taking in a lot of animals from shelters in hurricane ravaged areas.  They still have some…so come by and rescue a hurricane evacuee.  Currently they are offering free spaying and neutering for large breed dogs.  Call 864.467.SPAY to make an appointment.   When it comes to animals, we live in a great community!  And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Barktoberfest Oct 21 from 3-6 pm at the Universal Joint.                  

 

Buy 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:


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 to be members.  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

  • The Hughes Main Library has numerous programs for adults and children. Check out their October calendar.
  • The Children’s Museum has summer camps and other great programs for kids. Check them out on their website.
  • 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.
  • And check out Kidding around Greenville, a great site for fun things to do in Greenville.

 Every Tuesday – Line Dancing at the Sears Shelter at McPhearson Park from 6 – 8pm.  Swing Dance – McPherson Log Cabin each Tuesday evening. Lessons begin at 7pm. $4 for City residents! No partner or dance knowledge required. Two left feet are fine. Bring your friends and have some fun.

October– There’s always lots going on at the Community Tap.  Check out their calendar.

October– Check out the classes and events at the Swamp Rabbit Café

Now – Nov 30 – Fall Yoga Session at Bobby Pearse Center.  Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 7:30. Bobby Pearse Community Center on Townes St. (North Main Rotary Park).  Only $6 per class (Greenville City Residents $5).  You can register for the entire session or just come as you can to single sessions and see what it’s all about.  Come start the week out feeling great!  Bring your own mat if you have one. The instructor is Alexa Kurtz, a certified yoga instructor, who teaches a class that would be perfect for even first-time yogis.

Oct 14 – Nov 4 – Tryon Painters & Sculptors will hold their Mid Fall Show from 10/14 to 11/4 at 78 N. Trade St. in Tryon. One of their member artists is NMCA business member Marcy Yerkes with Southern Accent Designs.

 Oct 20 – Sidewalk CPR Event. 10am -2pm.  Main Street Plaza, South Main Street and Falls Park Drive. For information, contact Francis Crosby.

Oct 21 – GCGC Fall Plant & Gift Sale – 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Kilgore Lewis House. There will be lots of plants from our gardens AND vendors with great gifts to purchase!   Come and enjoy artistic surprises as well as our wonderful array of plants raised by our members.  This is their annual Fall fundraiser to support the Kilgore-Lewis House, lovely grounds, and the educational programs of the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs.

Oct 21 – County-wide “Litter Pick Up Day   Join forces with the rest of Greenville County on this annual day of service where people from all areas our community work together to clean up litter! Get your group together, whether it’s your school, neighborhood, family or church and let’s END litter in Greenville County.  All we ask is that you volunteer, as a group or individually, to pick up litter in your community. We will supply the safety vests, litter pickup sticks and trash bags.  To register as a volunteer, submit a signed copy of the volunteer safety procedures to Deanna Damato at ddamato@greenvillecounty.org. All volunteers must submit a signed form to receive litter clean-up supplies.

Oct 22 – Euro Auto Festival at the Preserve at Verdae.  Largest European-only automotive festival in the USA.  Admission: $15. Check website for a schedule of events.

Oct 25 – Organic Farming.  Greenville UU Fellowship.  1135 State Park Road.  7:30 – 9pm. Presentation from Chris Sermons, owner of Bio-Way Farm located in Ware Shoals, SC. Bio-Way Farm is a certified organic farm with a focus on sustainable agriculture and perma-culture design principles. Chris Sermons has been committed to organic agriculture for decades and was one of the first farmers to achieve USDA organic certification in our region. He will offer many insights into the history of his farm, as well as the ins & outs of growing organic produce. This event is hosted by the Sierra Club Upstate. Free admission and open to the public. www.sierraupstate.org

Oct 20-22 & 27-29 – Future Scholar Boo in the Zoo  will feature more than 20 trick-or-treat stations. Event hours are 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for Member Adults (age 15+), $7 for Member Trick-or-Treaters, $6 for Non-member Adults and $8 for Non-member Trick-or-Treaters. Admission for Boo Babies (age 0-2) is free. Corporate group rates are also available. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo  The Greenville Zoo Conservation will give a portion of the event proceeds to the Saving Animals from Extinction (S.A.F.E.) Foundation.

Oct 27-28 –  Enchanted Forest at The Pavilion. Trick-or-Treat through an enchanted forest filled with storybook characters. This event also includes bounce houses, carnival games, and a costume contest with the price of admission. Each child also receives a bounce house pass for use on a later date with their admission (only $5 in advance or $7 at the door).

Oct 26 – 11th Annual Dine Out for Mom fundraiser.  All of your food and gift card purchases count –  breakfast, lunch, dinner, & anything in between!  All of our restaurant partners have agreed t donate 20% of their totals sales (excluding alcohol) to Let There Be Mom, working to preserve the legacies of moms and dads with life-threatening illnesses.  See their website for a list of participating restaurants, including some of our own NMCA business members!

Oct 28 – Bark in the Park.  Count down has begun for Concerned Citizen’s for Animals BARK IN THE PARK at Conestee Park, 840 Maulden Rd. 9:30am – 3pm.   Awesome fun for entire family. Contests, raffles, silent auction and entertainment by K9’s in Flight Frisbee dogs. Please come join us for our 34th Annual Event.

Oct 27 – Second Annual Halloween Bat Count. 6 – 9:00 pm.  Sunrift Adventures, 1 Center Street, Travelers Rest.  Sunrift and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources invite you to the 2nd annual Halloween Bat Count! Their bat colony has grown a bit. Sunrift bat houses foster many beneficial insect-eating bats that emerge in an impressive display at sunset. Please join us in observing and counting these mysterious creatures, and learn why a world without bats would be scary indeed! Cost is FREE.

Nov 2 – Project Host is kicking off fall with the 1st annual chili cook-off and online silent auction.  Tickets include chili tasting and drinks. The chili cook-off features local guest chefs and the Project Host All-star Team.  Online silent auction begins October 19th following our Community Dinner and will conclude at the cook-off.  Silent auction items include beautiful hand-crafted items (many made by members of the Greenville Woodworker’s Guild), event tickets, fitness classes, gift packages, Clemson Football Tickets, and much more.  You can view items at their website.  The perfect beginning to your holiday shopping or simply a great way to treat yourself while donating to a worthy cause!

Nov 5 – Daylight Saving Time Ends

Nov 5 – NMCA Member Social. Main & Stone.  More info to come.

Nov 9 – Hillcrest Garden Club.  10:00 a.m. at the New Center for Creative Arts, Abney St., off Pendleton St.  We will have a tour of the old mill.  All are invited and we are pleased to have guests.  We will have a short business meeting and we will have refreshments.  For information, those interested can call Mary Roberts, 864.458.7735.

Nov 11 – Mission Marketplace.  Earle Street Baptist Church. 8 am – 2 pm.   All items handmade   All proceeds to international missions.  Frozen casseroles, Home Décor, Yard Décor, Seasonal Items, Boutique, Jams, Jellies, Chow
Chow, Cakes.  Free coffee.  Sausage Biscuits $1.   BBQ plates beginning at 11:30 (while it lasts) $8.00

Nov 11 – Shredding and E-waste Recycling Day. The City holds this event two times a year – in the spring and fall. The November 11 event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the new public works facility located at 475 Fairforest Way in Greenville. As the event is on Veterans Day, the city has partnered with the non-profit Upstate Warrior Solution, who will be onsite to accept donations.  Check the city website for more information on what is accepted for shredding and recycling.

The city will be selling compost bins for $20, payable by cash or check, during the Shredding and E-Waste Recycling event.  For more information, visit recycle.greenvillesc.gov or call 864-467-8300.

Nov 11-12 – Greenville Open Studios.  The 2017 self-guided tour features 145 artists and their studios. Studio locations vary throughout a 15-mile radius of downtown Greenville with Easley, Greer, Travelers Rest and Simpsonville included. Open Studios catalogues can be found at all the studios as well as here at the Metropolitan Arts Council in late October.  Check the website for days and times, a map, and a list of artists.

Nov 12 – Veterans Upstate Salute. Fluor Field Stadium at the west end.  5-9pm. Show support of our Nation’s Veterans with a free, family-friendly event featuring Fireworks, Aerial Flyovers, Paratroopers, and a special concert by Craig Morgan. The Upstate Veterans Alliance is responsible for the production of this event. Upstate Veterans Alliance is a registered 501(c)3 Non-profit.  Event is free.

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

 

NMCA Newsletter (10/2017)
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