NMCA Newsletter (11/10)


Your 2010 Board of Directors:

President: Jim Gilreath
Vice-President: Mike Cubelo
Treasurer: Lois Graves
Recording Secretary: Phyllis Gilreath
Membership: Joyce Murphy
Webmasters: Michael Huskey
Chad Chandler

The Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday evening of each month at 6:30 PM at various local venues – check the website for the location of the next meeting.

2011 NMCA Elections

This year our annual election will take place at the annual membership meeting, scheduled for Thursday, December 2 at 7 PM at the Bobby Pearse Center on Townes Street. (This meeting will be in lieu of the board meeting for December) Officers will be elected by the members of the NMCA. Nominations have closed and ballots will be provided to all NMCA members in the next few days. You can return them via mail or bring them with you to the meeting. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend the membership meeting. We welcome your comments and input into how the NMCA board can better serve you next year!

Stone Avenue Community Meeting Rescheduled

The Plan Stone Avenue Community meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 14th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Greenville County Main Library at Heritage Green. In the meantime, the draft Plan Stone Avenue report will be available for public review in the next few weeks. We will let you know when we get word that it is ready.

Weather Tidbits

According to climate data at the GSP airport, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in November is 61.5°F, the average low is 41.4 °F and the average precipitation is 2.9” Last year our first frost occurred on November 4. A record low was set on November 25, 1950 when the mercury dipped to a chilly -1 °F at Caesar’s Head. Check out the SC DNR weather site for more information and for educational ideas and games.

La Niña is expected to last at least into the Northern Hemisphere during spring 2011. Just over half of the models, as well as the dynamical and statistical averages, predict La Niña to become a strong episode by the November-January season before beginning to weaken. La Niña will begin to exert an increasing influence on the weather and climate of the United States. Expected U.S. impacts include an enhanced chance of above-average precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, and below-average precipitation across the southern tier of the country. Click here for more weather information.

Electronics and Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Event

The Electronics and Fluorescent Tube/Bulb Recycling Event is set for Sat., Nov. 20, 2010. Sponsored by the City of Greenville Solid Waste Division and Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission, the collection center will be located at 360 S. Hudson Street. Free to City residents and businesses, the following items will be 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 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New This Year: Bring in any pair of gently used shoes to benefit Soles4Souls, a charity that distributes shoes free of charge to people in need, worldwide.
For more information, call 864-467-8300 or visit the city’s recycling website.

Shred Event at Stone Plaza Pharmacy

If you missed the city’s shred day, here’s another chance. Stone Plaza Pharmacy is sponsoring a shred event on November 13, 2010 from 10 AM to 1 PM. Shred will have their truck here to do onsite destruction of documents. Consumers are invited to bring confidential documents, files and other sensitive information for shredding. Businesses are welcome to set up an appointment for us to service their needs at a future time, as this is a service for consumers. Consumers are limited to five (5) bags/boxes/bins of materials to be shredded. No plastic, glass, trash or other non-paper contaminants are allowed for shredding. These items must be removed by the consumer prior to submitting their information for shredding. Click here to view additional information from Shred 360 concerning what items can be destroyed. They will also be selling Bar-B-Que to raise money for the Renewal Center, part of Miracle Hill Ministries, located on Graves St. If you have questions please contact Ken Rogers at 233-7940.

Quilt Exhibition at McDunn Gallery

Terry Jarrard-Dimond, an Upstate artist based in Clemson, South Carolina, is a participant in a traveling exhibition of contemporary quilts called Color Improvisations that started in Stuttgart Germany. World acclaimed artist Nancy Crow personally invited 26 quilt makers from North America and Europe to improvise on the topic of color. At the end of a two-year process, Crow selected 50 large and unique works, all exciting and new in every sense of the word, never before shown in public. Color Improvisations was on exhibition from July 15 to August 25, 2010, at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart, Germany. The exhibition of large quilts will now travel to Europe, Japan and the United States.

To celebrate the international Color Improvisations traveling show, McDunn Gallery is inviting the public to get an up close look at richly colorful and intricately sewn examples of Terry Jarrard-Dimond’s quilt making. A reception will be held from 7:00 until 9:00pm on Saturday evening, November 20, 2010. The artist will be in attendance to meet and greet. This event is free and open to the public. 741 Rutherford Road at end of North Main. For additional information, please email mcdunn-art@mcdunnstudio.com To learn more, visit The Official Color Improvisations exhibition website, Stuttgart, Germany.

2010 Neighborhood Night Out – A Success

About 200 people turned out for the 2010 NMCA Neighborhood Night Out at the North Main Rotary Park. From the comments we received, everyone enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather, good food, great music and fun. It was nice to see so many young families participate! We hope everyone had a good time. A big thank you to our Social Committee Chair, Marie Cantrell, for organizing the event. Also, thanks to other members who worked …. Joyce Murphy, Chad Chandler, Chip Broome, Pam Davis, and Jim & Phyllis Gilreath.

Thanks also to our many sponsors for their donations of money and door prizes: Marie Dunn with Redhype, the ad agency, for the artwork and printing of the flyers, banner and posters; WildEarth Landscaping; Ted E. Bear Picnic & Barbeque for the sandwiches; North Gate Soda Shop; Bullmoose Tree Company; Precision Automotive; Gary Hester Interiors; Stone Avenue Nursery; PBR; and Hands for Soldiers. A special thank you to the Stone Avenue Fire Station for bringing the fire truck and to Brian Heinbaugh for providing the great music.

** Please show your appreciation by supporting our sponsors! **

Notable Moments in the Macy’s Parade History

For many of us as kids, it just wasn’t Thanksgiving if we didn’t spend the morning watching the Macy’s parade. Here are a few interesting dates about this tradition:
1924: Macy’s employees decided to entertain the city with a Thanksgiving Day Parade that wound throughout the streets of Manhattan. It was such a success that it became an annual tradition!
1942 – 1944: The only break in the Parade’s history came during World War II, when the Parade balloons were donated to the war effort thanks to a rubber shortage.
1945: The first year the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised. This was also the first year the Parade toured its current 2.5 mile route.
1979: The first year a broadcast of the Parade was awarded an Emmy award for outstanding achievement. Since then, it has received the award an additional eight times.
Present: Every year, over 2.5 million people watch the parade live from the streets of Manhattan, and 44 million watch on TV.
(Click here for more Thanksgiving trivia)

South Carolina Trivia

Most of you know the state’s nickname is the Palmetto State because during the Revolutionary War, SC soldiers fought from a palmetto log fort on Sullivan’s Island. They fired at British ships in Charleston’s harbor and when the ships caught fire, they thought the smoke above the ships looked like a palmetto tree.

But…SC also had an earlier nickname that you may not know…..the iodine state. Apparently South Carolina’s soil is both “delicious and nutritious.” In the late 1920s, the SC Natural Resources Commission began a campaign to draw attention to the high levels of iodine in our state’s soil and produce. The campaign warned people from the West and Midwest (where iodine was not as prevalent) about the dangers of iodine deficiency – “including sterility, dwarfism, and idiocy.” The commission hoped to increase the market for our fruits and vegetables around the country. To help the campaign along, South Carolina even printed “The Iodine State” on our license plates!

Now, today you and I might take iodine for granted, but back then it was serious business. In its lesser form, iodine deficiency manifests itself in a disease called goiter. During World War I, this swelling disqualified more men from service than anything else, and in Michigan alone 30% of draftees were afflicted by it. The relationship between iodine and goiter was discovered in Switzerland in 1821, but for various reasons it wasn’t acted upon here in America until 1924, when finally a major public health movement prompted the salt industry to begin adding iodine to table salt. This simple step helped eliminate goiters in America, but it also took away the impetus for South Carolina’s iodine campaign. We do have one lasting reminder of iodine’s importance in our state however. The call letters for WIS-TV in Columbia (which began as WIS Radio in 1930) stand for “Wonderful Iodine State.”
Watch for more trivia next month!

Attractions Upstate Dining & Value Guide

The Greenville Humane Society is now offering the NEW 2011 Upstate SC edition of the Attractions Dining and Value Guide for only $20! The Attractions books are the premier way to save money eleven years running. The Upstate SC edition features hundreds of BUY ONE GET ONE FREE offers and thousands of dollars in valuable savings to you and your family and friends. Using just 2 or 3 coupons at favorite restaurants and stores will easily pay for the book and save hundreds of dollars or more! The average family saves over $375 with Attractions! The Attractions Dining and Value Guide has something for everyone! The 2011 edition features savings from many of your favorite local restaurants….. Here’s a sampling of the merchants that are included: TGI Fridays, Mimi’s Steakhouse of Japan, Stax Grill, Justin’s Steakhouse, Moe’s, Quiznos, Portofino’s Italian, Camielle’s Sidewalk café, Mutt’s BBQ, Denny’s, Frodo’s Pizza, Atlanta Bread Company, Cantinflas, Papa John’s Pizza, Burger King, McDonald’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, hhgregg, Walgreen’s, Office Depot, AC Moore, Plato’s Closet, New York & Company, Centre Stage, Warehouse theatre and much more! Proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

Local Golf Tournament Raises Money for Boys Home of the South

On October 9, our own North Gate Soda Shop sponsored a golf outing to raise funds for Boys Home of the South. A total of 36 golfers played at Green Valley Country Club, raising $1000. This was enough money to furnish two houses for the Boys Home with dishes, pots & pans, silverware, linens, comforters, pillows, rugs and kitchen items. What a great community we live in!

For those who may not be familiar with Boys Home of the South, it is a non-profit, non-denominational, residential group home dedicated to the care, education, and nurturing of young men ages 6 to 21 years old.
Their mission: Mending boys…Building men! Through stabilization, advocacy, and education they begin the process of healing wounded spirits and teaching appropriate responses to living a healthy life.

Greenville County Animal Foster Care Program

Foster homes are urgently needed for pregnant and nursing pets, orphaned animals, as well as healthy dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens that have run out of space to live in the shelter. We have an adopt-a-thon coming up around Christmas and will also need individuals that could foster for approximately 7-9 weeks. Food will be provided by GCACS. If fostering a pet sounds interesting, contact Lauren Semande, Foster Care Coordinator, by email at lsemande@greenvillecounty.org . It just may give a needy animal a second chance on life!

What is Foster Care?
Fostering animals provides opportunities for adoptable and special needs pets to be cared for temporarily outside of the shelter. We are looking for kind, patient, adult volunteers to care for these pets. Animals are placed in foster care for a set period of time and later returned to Greenville County Animal Care Services for adoption and/or rescue.

Become a Foster Parent Today!
1. Complete a foster care application found on their webpage:
2. We will contact you and discuss your application with you to determine how you can best serve animals in need.
3. We will notify you when we have an animal that will benefit from fostering in your home.
Fostering is a challenging job that can be one of the most rewarding experiences.
(email from Shelly Simmons, Division Manager, Greenville Co. Animal Care Services, 328-C Furman Hall Rd.)

Calendar

City Council Formal Meeting and Work Session schedules can be found at the City’s website.

November 6-7Greenville Open Studios. Saturday, November 6, 10am – 6pm and Sunday, November 7, Noon – 6pm. Presented by Wachovia Bank, N.A. and SEW Eurodrive, Greenville Open Studios (GOS) is a weekend event which opens the studios of local visual artists to the public. The event showcases artists at work in their studios. Now beginning its ninth year, Greenville Open Studios began as an idea cast about during a casual conversation between a small group of artists several years ago; they discussed doing something to raise awareness in the greater community of the tremendous creative energy in the area. The idea has evolved into a full-fledged annual event.

November 7Daylight Savings Time Ends.

November 13 – Stone Plaza Pharmacy Shred Event. 10am – 1pm. Also selling barbeque to benefit Miracle Hill Ministries.

November 16Native Plant Society Meeting. ‘Controlling Kudzu without herbicides and having fun doing it.’ 7 pm. Free. Founder’s Hall Dining Commons, Southern Wesleyan University. Central. 972-0274. The Kudzu Coalition’s website, www.KOkudzu.com has clear step-by-step instructions for the landowner who wants to eradicate a kudzu patch.

November 16Volunteer Orientation, Greenville Humane Society. 6 pm in the lobby. 328 Furman Hall Road.

Lunchtime Greenway Bicycle Ride
Friday, Nov. 19, 12:00 p.m. – Gateway Park (Travelers Rest)
Friday, Dec. 17, 12:00 p.m. – Greenville Zoo Entrance

Join Brian Graham and Ty Houck for a bicycle ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. This is a great opportunity to get out of the office, enjoy some fresh air and get some exercise on a Friday afternoon. All level of bicyclists are encouraged to attend – the pace will be easy and no one will be left behind. They typically ride for about 30 minutes, but a longer ride may be available for those who don’t need to make it back to the office in such a timely manner. All participants are encouraged to wear a helmet. All rides are rain or shine, heat & humidity or temperatures near freezing, so please dress accordingly.

November 20Terry Jarrard-Dimond Quilt Exhibition. McDunn Gallery. 7 – 9pm. Open to public. Free.

November 20Electronics and Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Event. 360 S. Hudson St. 10am – 2pm.

December 2NMCA Annual Membership Meeting and Election. 7pm. Bobby Pearse Community Center at the North Main Rotary Park.

December 14 Plan Stone Avenue Community Meeting. Greenville County Main Library. 5:30-7:30 pm

The following classes will be held at the Bobby Pearse Community Center, 904 Townes St., on the dates indicated. For additional information or to register for programs call or email Pam Davis at 864-467-4331 or pdavis@greenvillesc.gov .

The Greenville Storytellers Guild meets at Bobby Pearse at 7pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Storytellers and listeners are welcome! The stories must be approximately ten minutes in length (or shorter) and appropriate for all audiences. Genres include local folk lore, ghost stories, family narratives and classic tales. The Greenville Storytellers Guild is open for anyone to join.

The Greenville Chess Club meets at Bobby Pearse each Thursday evening at 7pm. Both rated and informal games are played, and everyone is welcome.

September 7 – December 9 – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 am. Fitness Aerobics for Adults. FREE. In this class, participants will get a great cardio aerobic workout. The class will be geared to adult participants. All levels are welcome! Participants do not need to pre-register for this class. Instructor: Colleen McCullough.

    Programs coming to Bobby Pearse in the New Year…

After School Program
CPR for Adults, Children & Infants
Dog Obedience
Homeschool Fitness
Baby & Me
The Writing Room
Girls on the Run & Girls on Track
Yoga

Watch for details on these programs in next month’s newsletter

Invest $10 in your neighborhood! Join NMCA today!

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

NMCA Newsletter (11/10)