NMCA Newsletter (Jan/Feb 2020)

Phyllis Gilreath Local Business, Social Events

 

      Please Welcome Your 2020 Board of Directors:

 

President:                                Dave Modeen

Vice-President:                       Rhett Brown     

Treasurer:                               Kevin Parker              

Recording Secretary:             Amanda Stevenson-Cali

Membership Secretary:          Julie Proctor   

 

We welcome our two new additions to the board, Kevin Parker and Julie Proctor, and appreciate their willingness to share their time and expertise.                                                                                                   

*Normally the Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday of most months.    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.

 Time to Renew Your NMCA Membership Dues for 2020

It’s the easiest new years resolution you can make!  Renew your dues.  You can pay via Paypal or credit card online at our website.  You can also send a check payable to NMCA to PO Box 571, Greenville, 29602. PLEASE let us know if any of your information has changed. Dues are $20 for residents and $30 for businesses per calendar year.

Look for information soon regarding our Spring Member Social and Membership Drive.  We hope to schedule it sometime in April.  More details to come!  Thank you all for your support.

 

 

Please Welcome our Newest Business Members

Greenville Remodeling and Restoration  Mike & Julie Aquirre offer everything from Backsplash Installation, Basement Remodeling and Bathroom Remodeling to Outdoor Kitchen Design, Shower Installation, Sustainable Design, Tile Installation, Wood Floor Installation, Drywall, Doors, Windows, and more.  Working as a contractor since 1978, Michael brings a wealth of experience to each project. He has an eye for detail and a commitment to excellent results. Julie has an eye for design. If needed, she can help clients with design ideas, product selection and remodeling suggestions that many of our customers have found valuable. When Julie acquired her first license in 1993, she was the youngest woman ever to have obtained a contractor’s license from the State of Minnesota.  Check out their website for testimonials and past design work.  Contact them at (864) 484-3007 or via email at remodel@hushmail.com

 

Austin Nelson Property Solutions, LLC. is a commercial real estate company. We specialize in representing landlords with commercial property management and brokerage services.  Austin Nelson currently manages retail, flex, industrial, office and small multi-family properties, and brings the experience, expertise and resources needed to address all phases of commercial property.  From specialty consulting, asset management, leasing and sales, to property management and maintenance – we do it all. Whether it’s office parks, industrial properties, retail centers or anything in between, Austin Nelson has the resources, quality and flexibility to deliver the service you need.  They can be contacted via email at will.nelson@austinnelsonpropertysolutions.com or j.austin@austinnelsonpropertysolutions.com

or by calling 864-735-7091.

 

Development and Other City News

NorthPointe:  We continue to get questions regarding Northpointe and what the status is.   In talking to someone with Central Realty Holdings, it appears that this recent rain and the cold temperatures we are now experiencing may set them behind possibly 1 to 2 months…but things are moving right along.  Harris Teeter expects a mid- to late-June opening and this will be a top of the line HT, with wine and beer bars, hot food, deli, sushi deli and more.  All parking for HT is surface parking including the first floor of the parking garage which makes for covered parking.  In addition, of the 7 retail spaces for lease, a high-end nail salon has already signed and they anticipate a fitness studio and casual restaurant to sign soon.  Apartment delivery will be late next month, so by our next newsletter, tenants should have already moved in.  If you look at the current structure, it’s looking more and more like the rendering above.  They hope this will be a great addition to this side of Greenville.

County Square:  Greenville City Council voted to approve the proposal for the $1 billion County Square redevelopment project. This vote followed the first of two readings – the second + final vote will be held on Feb. 10. In a nearly unanimous vote — all but Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe voted in the affirmative — city council approved a plan that would cap buildings at 12 stories, despite county recommendations to push building height up to 18 stories.  (Greenville Journal)   To see an aerial view and more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/r86mg3s

 

 

 

District 1 Update from John DeWorken

Allow me to take this moment to thank you for your trust to represent you on City Council.  I am profoundly grateful and will do my very best.

 Chick Springs Sidewalks:  With so many families living on either side of Chick Springs, along with nearby schools, parks and the pool, it is imperative that the City provides safe walking routes.  The City staff informed me that Chick Springs sidewalk work will begin in March, with a neighborhood meeting in February.

 Bobby Pearse Center Update:  We are all fully aware that the BPC should have been addressed nearly two years ago. However, I am confident that the City is making progress.  As for an update, City staff is finalizing site and building plans for permitting and bidding for the rehabilitation of the building. Staff also is working with stormwater engineers to address some stormwater concerns.

Additionally, staff has solicited and received quotes for internal demolition and asbestos abatement. And, the staff has asked for a confirmed timeline from the contractor.

 Park Ave: Because it is surrounded by four major highways, East Park Avenue has been victim of cut-through traffic for years. It negatively impacts residents, walkers and particularly children as they walk to school and the park.  As a result, I am working with neighbors and City staff to provide traffic calming measures that will have a real impact on volume and speed.

 Of course, there are many other issues under consideration; but, I hope this provides you a highlight of some issues we are discussing.  Always feel free to contact me. You can call my cell (or text) at 864.905.5529 or email me at jdeworken@greenvillesc.gov.     Thank you for allowing me to serve you. It is my honor.

 

Greenville Votes

Greenville County announced 45 temporary polling locations on Thursday that will be in place for upcoming  special  elections and the Democratic Party Presidential Preference Primary on Saturday, February 29.  (South Carolina Republican leaders have voted to scrap the state party’s presidential preference primary in February 2020.)  Several of the polling places normally held in schools will not be available and some others are also unavailable due to construction or other conflicts.  You can click here to see the list.  The highlighted polling locations are the temporary ones.

 

 

Greenville City Boards and Commissions

The city offers many opportunities for citizens and business owners to participate in municipal government through its Boards and Commissions.  City Council fills appointments on 13 various boards and commissions. In addition, the Mayor and City Council also appoint a limited number of members to six boards, which do not directly advise City Council, but act as policy-making boards and oversee the operations of their respective independent agencies.

There are several vacancies coming up this year, including:

Planning Commission…2 seats….4/1/2020 – 3/31/2024

Design Review Board – Neighborhood….3 seats….8/1/2020 – 7/31/2022

Design Review Board – Urban….2 seats….8/1/2020 – 7/31/2022

Community Development Advisory Committee….1 seat….11/2/2020 – 11/1/2022

Board of Zoning Appeals….3 seats….1/1/2021 – 12/31/2024

Volunteering to serve on a board or commission is a good way to get involved and learn more about your local government.  For additional upcoming vacancies or more information, click here.

 

Crime Awareness

We reached out to Lt. Hammett who covers our zone for the GPD.  He informed me that nothing has been out of the ordinary lately in our community, but he did ask that we  PLEASE  remind residents to lock their vehicle every night, take their firearms inside with them every time they leave their vehicle, and do not leave their vehicle running with the keys inside on these cold mornings.

 

For our Four-Legged Friends

Animal Care Services Several of the dogs that were removed from the alleged puppy mill in Greenville County in early January are now up for adoption along with plenty of others looking for a forever home. So many new dogs have come in over the last few days! We really need our community’s help by adopting a pet. Can you make room for one more?? Animal Care also tries to exhaust all possible options to keep pets in their homes through their Get Pet Help: A one-stop web page with advice on pet issues from behavior problems to life changes.

We still have so many cats and dogs that go missing.  There was recently some good information and advice on Nextdoor on posting missing pets.  If you choose to post, remember to post your approximate location [ie, the Sans Souci area of Greenville, near Cherrydale, around Old Buncombe and Poinsett — or wherever it is with cross-streets — that way, people share the post with the location already in it] and any identifying features [neutered, color of collar, microchip, etc.], and a photo or two. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LostFoundPetsUpstateSC https://www.facebook.com/groups/LostandfoundcatsSC/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/378102535985001 You can also submit a “Lost Pet” report at the GCAC website page that is very useful for those looking for their lost pet. https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/ACSLostAndFound/lostform.aspx [Make sure you search their Found Pets database on that site — people also post *found* animals!] You can post to the NMCA FB page and we’ll help share with others.   Here is the CraigsList Lost and Found page to post a lost cat [and people also post found animals there too]: https://greenville.craigslist.org/search/laf You can also post a Lost Cat on Pawboost [use the free service they offer]: https://www.pawboost.com/  Check this site for other tips.

Don’t miss Spa for Spays  on March 12,  5:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Zen Greenville. For just $50.00, guests receive one spa service of their choice (massage, reflexology, etc.), delicious appetizers, a fabulous unique boutique, amazing silent auction, and more! Guests can also purchase an entry ticket for $35.00 with no spa service.  100% of proceeds benefiting Speak for Animals!

 

 February Gardening

Some gardeners are unsure whether to tidy up the garden now by removing dead plants. We’re all getting a little antsy whenever we have a taste of warm weather. The neat freaks insist that the landscape must be prim, so dead, unattractive stalks must be removed; however, others argue that seed heads add interest to the garden in winter. Sunflower stalks, grasses, and some perennials provide food and cover for wildlife. Birds can’t eat seeds that we cut down and relegate to the garbage or compost. Overwintering butterflies may also be removed with the debris. Also, remember that the dead foliage and stems provide a layer of insulation that will protect the crown and roots of plants during freezing weather. Read more at Dave’s Garden Website. And remember, our risk of frost continues till mid-April. And we have recorded a trace of snow on April 3, back in 1925.  (Obviously prior to global warming…but you never know!)

Pruning – Winter is a good time to prune most trees and shrubs.  However, do not prune azalea, dogwood, forsythia, redbud and rhododendron – they should be pruned after they bloom, since they set blooms in the fall on the previous season’s growth.  If you prune now, you prune off the part that will bloom.  Almost anything that blooms after June 1 (except oakleaf hydrangea and late-flowering azalea cultivars) can be pruned safely; however, make sure there is no green wood which could actually start sprouting new growth if we have a prolonged warm period. See Pruning Trees and Pruning Shrubs for more information.

Tree Planting – The winter months when trees are dormant are excellent times to plant.  Be sure to plant no deeper than the plant came out of the pot, or the top of the root ball if ball-and-burlap.  Mix a little phosphorus in the soil where you plant. This encourages root growth which will help the plant get established so it will be ready to put out top growth come spring Maybe consider adding a water feature to provide water for birds and other wildlife.

See Planting Trees Correctly for information on the proper way to plant a tree.

Transplanting – This is also a good time to move plants that have overgrown a site or that don’t fit the microclimate of that site (sun, shade, etc.)  Plants are dormant and will undergo less stress if transplanted now.  Be sure to plant at a similar depth from where they came and get as much of the root ball as possible.  http://www.clemson.edu/extension/county/laurens/yard_garden/01_january.html

Plant hardy vegetables and other cool-season crops, such as lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, spinach, peas, and cauliflower. Start seeds of warm-season vegetables indoors.

It’s also a good time to check the pH of your soil to see if amendments are needed for plants you want to add.  Remember that azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies, hydrangeas, etc. prefer acidic soils (pH below 7).  Check this site for others.  Check with the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service for forms, costs, etc.

Mark your calendars now for the Upstate Native Plant Sale on April 28.  More details later.  Get lots of plants to help make your garden wildlife friendly.  Also, the SC Botanical Gardens at Clemson has a  plant sale coming up.  Spring Public Plant Sale, Saturday, April 4, 9am-1pm. Spring Second Chance Sale, Saturday, April 18, 9am-1pm. The Spring 2020 Plant Sale Catalog will be available approximately 2 weeks before the sale.

 

Make Your Garden Bee Friendly

Our pollinators need your help. There are over 16,000 recognized species of bees world-wide and there are many plants on every continent that rely on insect pollination. Without our bees, the world’s food supply is in grave danger. Urbanization and expanded agricultural business with unsuitable plants has reduced the food available to our bees. There are things that everyone can do to provide food, shelter and safety for our bees and if we all pledge to do our part, the combined millions of gardens can make a huge difference. Our monarch population is starting to rebound since citizen gardeners have taken it upon themselves to plant milkweed. We need to do the same thing for our bees. Become part of the polliNATION and register your garden with the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Stand up and bee counted no matter where you live. Your pollinator garden can be registered anywhere in the world.

Have a yard, not a lawn and let the little flowers and plants that sprinkle through the grass stay.  For more information on what to plant to give bees food for the longest period of time, click here or visit the Honeybee Conservancy website.

 

For the Birds

It’s time to start cleaning out bird houses and putting up new ones. Bluebirds and some other songbirds start scouting for spring nest boxes in February. Other birds may not nest until later in the season, but they may still use the available houses as shelters from predators, cold temperatures and poor weather both before and after the nesting season. Birds that raise multiple broods each season often nest earlier as well. If a house is not up when these birds are ready to lay their first eggs, they may still investigate it as a nesting site later in the season.

Don’t forget the birds during cold periods. They need food, especially high calorie food such as black oil sunflower seed, suet, etc.  But more importantly, keep a supply of water available.

The Great Backyard Bird Count provides thousands of data points that show how the winter ranges of some birds have changed significantly due to the warming climate.  Another good program is Project FeederWatch …a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. FeederWatch data help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.

Weather Tidbits

According to climate data, the average maximum temperature for Greenville in February is 57°F, the average low is 33.5°F and the average precipitation (rainfall) is 3.97” (We may beat that this year!).   Looking at records from 1890 to 2017 the maximum high was 81 on Feb 12 & 16th in 2017 & 2018.  The highest low temperature was 62 on Feb 21st, 2018.  The minimum high temperature was 20 on Feb 14th, 1899 and the minimum low was -5 that same day.  Maximum precipitation (rain) in a 24-hour period was 3.42” on Feb 28, 1987.  Maximum snow was 15” on Feb 15, back in 1902.  Our snowiest winter was back in 1935-36 with 21.4”. http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/index.php   According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, the Jan-Feb-March 2020 temperature outlook favors near normal to slightly above normal temperatures and normal precipitation across the Southeast.

Groundhog Day historically has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal (the hedgehog) as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they exchanged the hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State. In 1887, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was America’s only true weather-forecasting groundhog, but he’s only correct about 39% of the time.

 

 

“As we grow older and wiser, we begin to realize what we need and what we need to leave behind. Sometimes there are things in our lives that aren’t meant to stay. Sometimes the changes we don’t want are the changes we need to grow. And sometimes walking away is a step forward.” —Unknown

 

                                    

Shop Local

Keep your dollars in your community. The following companies are committed to preserving the beauty and economic well-being of the North Main Community and the greater Greenville area.  Please thank them and give them your business when you can. 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.  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 February Calendar.
  • There’s always something new and fun at the Greenville Zoo. Check their They are closed for maintenance but will reopen Feb 16.
  • The Children’s Museum has great programs for kids. Check them out at 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.
  • Another great online resource is ‘Kidding Around Greenville’.

For other events in this area bookmark Go-greenevents  for a listing of various events with registration, etc., handled online to save needless waste of paper.

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

Feb – Check out the Community Tap calendar of events.

Ongoing – Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Line Dancing, Lindy Hop and International Folk Dance at the Sears Shelter at McPhearson Park.  Dances are taught in a fun and easy way with a variety of music. No partner or dance knowledge required. Two left feet are fine. Bring your friends and have some fun. Check out the Parks and Rec website for times and registration for each.

Check out the events at the Carolina Music Museum at Heritage Green.

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. Visit their website to learn about current exhibitions.

Jan 27 – Music Bingo at the Northgate Soda Shop.  6:30 -8:30 with “Triple B”.  Happy Hour from 5-7pm with a beer and burger for $5.99.  Winners receive a gift certificate.

Feb 14-17 – Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that occurs across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy – and it helps the birds. During the 2019 count, bird watchers submitted more than 210,000 bird checklists reporting a record 6,876 species,–more than half the known bird species in the world for a total of 32,517,787 birds.

Feb 28 – Chili Cookoff.  7pm.  Northgate Soda Shop.  Please have your chili at the SS by 6:30 for judging.  Prizes will be given.

Feb 29 – Good News Spectacular.  10am – 3pm.  Greenville Convention Center.  A FREE one day community event filled with games, inflatables, popcorn, live interactive shows, crafts and more fun for the whole family.

Feb 29 – Prisma Health Half Marathon & 5K run.  Half marathon & 5K runs along the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail

March 12 – Spa for Spays  5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.  Zen Greenville. For just $50.00, guest receives one spa service of their choice (massage, reflexology, etc.), delicious appetizers, a fabulous unique boutique, amazing silent auction, and more! Guests can also purchase an entry ticket for $35.00 with no spa service. – 100% of proceeds benefiting Speak for Animals!

March 14 – St. Paddy’s Day Dash & Bash.  7am – 11am. 945 S. Main Street. 5K Walk/Run to benefit Camp Spearhead, Compass of Carolina, Harvest Hope Upstate and Pendleton Place

March 14 –  St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival.  11am – 8pm.  220 N.Main St.  Parade and festival featuring Irish American Culture and heritage and spotlighting Greenville and Greater Upstate Community groups and charitable organizations

April 28 – Upstate Native Plant Sale.  Mark your calendar and watch for more details.

For more Community Events, click here.

 

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

 

 

 

NMCA Newsletter (Jan/Feb 2020)
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