City of North Myrtle Beach Work Schedule for New Year's Day (January 1, 2020)

During the New Year’s holiday, the City of North Myrtle Beach will adhere to this work schedule:

SANITATION SERVICE

-- No service January 1

-- January 1 customers serviced January 2

-- January 2 customers serviced January 3

PUBLIC SAFETY

-- Open

CITY HALL

-- Closed January 1

J. BRYAN FLOYD COMMUNITY CENTER

-- Closed January 1

AQUATIC & FITNESS CENTER

-- Closes 7:00 p.m. on December 31

-- Closed January 1

PARK & SPORTS COMPLEX

-- Open January 1, 6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

RECYCLING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?

-- Bring your tree to the public parking lot at Shorehaven Drive on Ocean Boulevard near 19th Avenue North or the public parking lot across from the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center on Possum Trot Road. Remove all materials, including tinsel, from your tree before recycling.

NOT RECYCLING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?

-- Remove all materials, including tinsel, from your tree and place it curbside for pick up.

North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board Selects Tree of the Month for December

L-R In The Accompanying Photo: Jan and Max Presley,
Mike and Caroline Price, and NMB Tree City Board Members
Jeanette Lyon, Caroline Black, John Sloop, and Chad Lewis. 

Photo Credit: Jim Grainger, Public Grounds Superintendent

The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board selected an oak tree located at the entrance to The Oaks at Windy Hill as its Tree of the Month for December.

Mike and Carolyn Price moved into The Oaks at Windy Hill three and a half years ago. When they purchased their home, they inherited the role of caretaker of a beautiful oak tree at the entrance to their neighborhood. The tree is between 150 and 175 years old. 

The former owner of their home, Kathy Estes, told the Prices she had taken special care of the tree since 1998 and the Prices were happy to take over the reins. The owners of three of the six homes built in The Oaks at Windy Hill split the responsibility for caring for the tree.

As the years progress, the Prices have come to understand the true beauty and focus such a tree can provide. It is the centerpiece for neighborhood barbecues during the holidays and on any day that seems fit to bring all the neighbors together for food and enjoyment.

Property owners and developers interested in finding more about how they can preserve trees on their property are invited to contact the North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.

The Tree of the Month program began in 2010 as a way to recognize preserved trees within the city limits. It also provides a platform to remind people of the benefits and importance that trees offer in our everyday lives.

If you think you have the biggest, prettiest, or most unusual tree in North Myrtle Beach, or that your tree has a unique story attached to it, the Tree City Board encourages you to contact Parks & Grounds Superintendent Jim Grainger at (843) 280‐5571 or via email at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.

City of North Myrtle Beach Work Schedule for the Holidays

During the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the City of North Myrtle Beach will adhere to this work schedule:

SANITATION SERVICE

·     No service December 25. All December 25 customers serviced on December 26.

·     No service January 1. January 1 customers serviced January 2 and January 2 customers serviced January 3.

PUBLIC SAFETY

·     Open throughout the holidays

CITY HALL

·     Closed December 24, December 25 and January 1

J. BRYAN FLOYD COMMUNITY CENTER

·     Closed December 24, December 25 and January 1.

AQUATIC & FITNESS CENTER

·     Closes 3:00 p.m. on December 24 and closed December 25

·     Closes 7:00 p.m. on December 31 and closed January 1.

PARK & SPORTS COMPLEX

·     Open December 25, 6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

·     The Great Christmas Light Show is closed on December 25, reopens December 26 and continues through December 30.

·     Open January 1, 6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

RECYCLING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?

Bring your tree to the public parking lot at Shorehaven Drive on Ocean Boulevard near 19^th Avenue North or the public parking lot across from the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center on Possum Trot Road. Remove all materials, including tinsel, from your tree before recycling.

NOT RECYCLING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?

Remove all materials, including tinsel, from your tree and place it curbside for pick up.

How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

Holidays are a special moment for each of us. We all love to let the spirit of holidays permeate us and bring out the best in us. The place we call home should be no different: with a minimum effort we can make it look specials, reflecting the holidays spirit and feel inviting and comfortable for our guests.

The way we decorate our homes for the holidays should reflect minimalism and good taste. Here are a few tips on how to accomplish that:

• Start with the Christmas tree – use either a one-color decoration approach or go for neutral colors. This way you stay within the minimalist principles while making sure the tree matches any corner of your hose it might best fit it.
• Fireplace is next – make sure the mantel reflects the holiday spirit. Don’t make it too complicated though, just use a few good-taste decorations only.
• Bring the holidays spirit to your table – this is the place where family and friends gather often during the holidays, so use a nice table runner and top of the table with a simple, beautiful garland and mix in a few candles.

Bring in the magical spirit of the holidays to your home and make your family and friends feel truly at home with a minimalist yet tasteful approach to decorations.

Register Now for the December 13 Shop With a Hero Charity Golf Tournament on the Dye Course at Barefoot Resort and Golf in North Myrtle Beach

The ninth annual North Myrtle Beach Shop with a Hero Charity Golf Tournament is December 13 with an 11:00 a.m. start on the Dye Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf.

For registration information, please contact the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department at 843-280-5584 or download information and a registration form at https://parks.nmb.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Shop-with-a-Hero-2019-Registration-Form.pdf

Proceeds from the charity golf tournament go to the Shop with a Hero (formerly Shop with a Cop) program, managed by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department. Shop with a Hero is a Christmas program for children in need at the Ocean Drive Elementary School. Guidance Counselors at the school identify children in need who receive the benefits of the program. The children enjoy lunch and receive a $150 Walmart gift card with which to buy presents and essentials, such as winter coats.

North Myrtle Beach police officers and volunteers help guide the children as they make their purchases. The goal of the charity golf tournament is to raise enough money to provide an unforgettable Christmas for children in need.

Register for January 21 - March 12 North Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard Program

Register now for the City's January 21-March 12 Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard program at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center (AFC). Classes are Tuesday and Thursday 6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. at the AFC.

The program focuses on people ages 9-15 who enjoy the beach and ocean, and who would like to learn water safety and lifesaving skills, including CPR, while also participating in fun games and activities. For successful participants, the program can also offer a path to eventual seasonal employment as one of the city's paid Ocean Lifeguards (age 16-plus).

The North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department sponsors the program and Beach Patrol Officers teach the classes. Several trained and experienced Ocean Lifeguards also assist in teaching the program.

Participants engage in fun, physical exercises that encourage them to work in teams, build confidence, and learn lifesaving skills.

PRETEST REQUIREMENT

Saturday, January 11, 3:00 p.m. at the AFC: All participants who are new to the Junior Lifeguard program must perform a 50-yard (two laps of the pool) swim test to demonstrate swimming ability. Participants do not have to be fast swimmers, but must be comfortable enough in the water in order to ensure a safe and fun learning environment.

LESSON DATES AND CONTENT

-- Lesson 1 (January 21) – All Lessons are 6:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Welcome and Orientation, Recognizing Emergencies, Victim Recognition, Lifeguard Equipment, Reaching Assists

-- Lesson 2 (January 23)

Knowing your Environment, RID Factor, Surveillance and Scanning, Throwing Assists

-- Lesson 3 (January 28)

General Procedures, Entering the Water, Entries and Approaches

-- Lesson 4 (January 30)

Procedures for an Emergency, Primary Assessment

-- Lesson 5 (February 4)

Emergency Action Plan, Rescues at or Near the Surface

-- Lesson 6 (February 6)

Educating Others, Conflict Resolution, FIND Model, Injury Prevention, Submerged Victim Shallow Water

-- Lesson 7 (February 11)

Walking Assist, Two Person Removal from Water, Escapes

-- Lesson 8 (February 13)

Conscious Choking, Ventilation, Unconscious Choking

-- Lesson 9 (February 18)

The Cardiac Chain, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Using an Automated External Defibrillator

-- Lesson 10 (February 20)

Facility Safety Check, Preparation for Shadowing, Currents

-- Lesson 11 (February 25)

Handling Difficult Situations, Aquatic Hazards,

-- Lesson 12 (February 27)

First Aid, Secondary Assessment

-- Lesson 13 (March 3)

Head, Neck and Back Injuries

-- Lesson 14 (March 5)

Preparation for Shadowing, Skills Review

-- Lesson 15 (March 10)

Course Review, Make Up Day, Survival Floating

-- Lesson 16, (March 12)

Group Written Test, Final Skills

PROGRAM COST

The cost for the program is $25. All participants receive a rash-guard swim shirt and a Junior Lifeguard manual, and new Junior Lifeguards receive a backpack.

QUESTIONS?

To learn more about the program, please email Lieutenant Corporal May Lauzon at melauzon@nmb.us

REGISTRATION

Register for the Junior Lifeguard program at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, 1100 2nd Avenue South.

Don't place bagged Recyclables in Recycling Roll Carts or Bins at Curbside for Pickup

Do you collect recyclables in plastic or other bags during the week and then place the bagged materials at curbside in recycling roll carts or bins for pick up? If you do, please stop.

During the week, you may put your recyclables in a plastic or other bag, however, before placing the materials at curbside for pick up, you must empty the contents of the bag into your recycling roll cart or bin so that the materials are loose in the container. Do not include the bag in the recycling container.

If you recycle using City or County drop-off locations, this rule also applies.  

It is still okay to bag regular household garbage for pick up.

WHY ARE WE TELLING YOU THIS?

The Horry County Solid Waste Authority informed cities, towns and other entities offering recycling programs that it is receiving an increased number of loads containing plastic and other bags at its Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), where your city and others take the materials it collects to be recycled. The bags wind up in the MRF's machinery, causing significant downtime and repair costs.

In the recycling industry, loads containing bags are “contaminated loads." The overseas markets that buy recyclables from the County have decreased their acceptable contamination threshold to .05%. When the contamination level exceeds that, the country receiving the recycling load sends it back to the County at the County's expense. The County must then pass that cost on to the cities, towns and other entities that collect bagged recyclables and deliver them to the MRF. The County now charges a fee of $150 to the city, town or other entity that delivers a contaminated load to the MRF. Continued violations increase the fee to $250 and $350 per load, respectively.

PLEASE ALSO FOLLOW THESE OTHER RULES

-- Do not recycle pizza boxes if they have cheese or other food remnants on them. Food remnants cannot be removed from the box fibers.

-- Before recycling, wash soiled food and drink containers and bottles. There cannot be any residue.

-- Do not flatten cans and bottles. The recycling machinery often mistakes the flattened items for paper, jamming the machinery.

If you have any questions about recycling in the City of North Myrtle Beach, please call 843-280-5500. 

Remember - North Myrtle Beach Public Parking Charrette is November 15, 2019 at the City Hall

Representatives from Kimley-Horn, the City’s public parking consultant, will be on hand Friday, November 15, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at City Hall to conduct a public parking charrette. Property owners, residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to participate.

A charrette is an interactive planning session that enables participants to collaborate on a vision or strategies. It provides a forum for ideas and offers the unique advantage of giving immediate feedback to project designers.

The charrette offers a “drop-in” format, allowing people to arrive and leave at any time between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The charrette will include proposed strategies for potential refinements to the City’s paid parking program introduced in mid-June 2019, and proposed long-term parking management and investment strategies.

As occurred during the City’s first public parking charrette in February 2019, easels will display proposed solutions to public parking challenges and participants will use different colored stickers to indicate their preferences regarding each item.

Kimley-Horn representatives will be available at the charrette to answer questions or provide additional information on proposed solutions.

City Council members will receive a report including the points of view collected during the charrette and will refer to it as they continue to work on the City’s public parking program.

Accompanying photo taken during February 2018 public parking charrette. 

The Great Christmas Light Show - Nov 25 - Dec 30, 2019

Location: North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex 150 Citizens Cir, Little River, SC

The Great Christmas Light Show is a park-wide lighted celebration that is sure to capture the true spirit of the season! The drive through light show will feature over 2 million lights festively displayed along a 2 mile drive throughout the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. Over 500 magical light displays, some up to 55 feet tall, have been custom made for The Great Christmas Light Show. Visitors will experience 40 enchanting animated figures and holiday scenes where the lights will come to life. The drive through light show is open nightly November 25 – December 30 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

After the journey through the light show, we invite everyone to park their car and visit Santa’s Village where they can enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores, get an up close look at the lights on the Santa Express Train Ride, petting zoo, visits with Santa and more! Santa’s Village is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only from November 29-December 15. Opens nightly December 19-30 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

Hours & Admission

The Great Christmas Light Show – Drive Through Experience will be open November 25 – December 30 (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)

Gates open at 5:30 pm.

Santa’s Village will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only from November 29 – December 15. Opens nightly December 19 – 30 (Closed on Christmas Day December)

1-15 guests: $15 per vehicle

16-30 guests: $30 per vehicle

31+ guests: $60 per vehicle

Santa’s Village

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only from November 29 – December 15. Opens Nightly December 19-30 (closed Christmas Day).

Park you car and walk over to Santa’s Village where you’ll find…
Visits with Santa – FREE! Don’t forget your camera!
Petting Zoo
Obstacle Course and Maze!
Village Treats – Hot Chocolate and s’mores! Roast your own marshmallows.
Santa’s Express Train Ride – Hop aboard and get an up close look at the lights!


Directions:
North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, 150 Citizens Circle, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

Attend November 11 Veterans Day Event in North Myrtle Beach

PARTICIPATE IN A NOVEMBER 11 VETERANS DAY EVENT AT THE NORTH MYRTLE BEACH PARK & SPORTS COMPLEX

You are invited to participate in a Veterans Day Service at Veterans Plaza at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex on Monday, November 11. The event begins at 11:00 a.m.

Hosts for this event are American Legion Post 186 and VFW Post 10804.

Special guests include Grand Strand Blue Star Mothers, who send care packages to troops overseas and help local veterans, and, North Myrtle Beach Cub Scout Pack 800, whose members will honor veterans.

The event will include posting of colors by the American Legion Honor Guard, the National Anthem, and an opening prayer.

The posting of service flags by VFW 10804 will include flags representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The guest speaker is Christopher N. Vandenberg, a retired Chief Master Sergeant serving in the Air Force from April 1984 until retirement from active duty in June 2011. His assignments were wide-ranging.

During his 27 years of service, he traveled to every state and 16 countries. Assigned to the Pentagon and surrounding agencies for 17 years, he served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Policy & Legislative Initiatives, and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of War Planning during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and other anti-terrorism initiatives.

The presentation of wreaths includes red for strength, white for purity and blue for eternity.

The closing portion of the observance includes a flag ceremony, 21-gun salute, Taps, the song God Bless the USA, and a closing prayer.

November 2 Citywide Clean Up Day in North Myrtle Beach Was a Success

Todd Welles (KNMBB), Jay Beeson (KNMBB),
and Brock Williams (NMB Sanitation Department)
with some of the paint and other materials brought to the
Transfer Station on Second Avenue South.

Last Saturday, the Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Commission (KNMBB), City Sanitation Division personnel and others held the annual citywide cleanup.

This was an opportunity for residents to clean out their attics, garages and homes of many types of unwanted items.

We thank all who participated!

SHRED 360 was on hand and reports they shredded over 2,000 pounds of material.

About 2,000 pounds of paint, chemicals and other items were brought to the Transfer Station.

About 4,000 pounds of electronics (primarily old TVs), scrap metal, appliances, grills, old beds, couches and other items were also collected.

See you again next year!

2019 Paid Parking Season Ends on Thursday, October 31 at 5:00 p.m. in North Myrtle Beach

The City's 2019 paid parking season comes to a close on Thursday, October 31 at 5:00 p.m. At that time, all paid parking kiosks in public parking lots on either side of Ocean Boulevard will be turned off and the Passport App will no longer accept payments for those lots until next parking season, currently identified as March 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020. REMEMBER: Representatives from Kimley-Horn, the City’s public parking consultant, will be on hand Friday, November 15, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at City Hall to conduct a public parking charrette. Property owners, residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to participate. A charrette is an interactive planning session that enables participants to collaborate on a vision or strategies. It provides a forum for ideas and offers the unique advantage of giving immediate feedback to project designers. The charrette offers a “drop-in” format, allowing people to arrive and leave at any time between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The charrette will include proposed strategies for potential refinements to the City’s paid parking program introduced in mid-June 2019, and proposed long-term parking management and investment strategies. As occurred during the City’s first public parking charrette in February 2019, easels will display proposed solutions to public parking challenges and participants will use different colored stickers to indicate their preferences regarding each item. Kimley-Horn representatives will be available at the charrette to answer questions or provide additional information on proposed solutions. City Council members will receive a report including the points of view collected during the charrette and will refer to it as they continue to work on the City’s public parking program.

Ingram Dunes Natural Area in North Myrtle Beach Open to Public

On October 24, 2019, North Myrtle Beach City Council and many others gathered at the 7.24-acres Ingram Dunes Natural Area to recognize those who contributed to the purchase of the property on June 4, 2019.

The purchase price was $2.5 million.

In her remarks, Mayor Marilyn Hatley said that:

"Everyone, from the largest donor to the smallest, is responsible for our being here today. However, there are those without whose involvement we would not be here today.

"We owe the South Carolina Conservation Bank and its board of directors a large debt of gratitude. The board worked with the City as we went through extended negotiations for this unique piece of land. We thank the board for staying the course, and we thank them for the conservation bank’s $500,000 investment Ingram Dunes.

"I would like to thank our City Council members for committing the City to its $500,000 contribution. While many people in our community loved the idea of preserving Ingram Dunes, I can tell you that not so many of our taxpayers loved the idea of committing significant taxpayer funds to this project. However, Council understood the value of this land to the community and stayed the course.

"Even with those two major contributions," Mayor Hatley continued, "we were still $1.5 million short of the funds needed to buy this land. I know we can all agree that when the family of Charles Ingram stepped forward to announce that it would contribute $1.4 million to the purchase of this natural area, this was the turning point in all of our efforts. Without the generosity of the family of Charles Ingram, we would not be celebrating here today."

The city also received 71 donations from the public. The donations ranged from $10 to $16,039. They closed the funding gap.

Mayor Hatley thanked the members of the Horry County delegation, from the federal to the local levels, for their help in securing funding.

"Journeys like the one that led us all here today do not just happen," Mayor Hatley said. "Someone always rises up and lights that first spark, encouraging others to embark on a worthwhile journey. We thank Damien Trioulerye and Jane Vernon for having been early leaders in the effort to preserve Ingram Dunes. They introduced us to the unique natural value of Ingram Dunes."

The Ingram Dunes Natural Area is managed by the City's Parks & Recreation Department. Parks Division employees will maintain the property but will not add much to what is already there.

The Ingram Dunes Natural Area honors the family of Charles Ingram. Members of the Charles Ingram family attended today's event but preferred not to speak. As Mayor Hatley put it, "They are comfortable in letting Ingram Dunes speak for itself."

The address for the Ingram Dunes Natural Area is 915 Hillside Drive South. It is across from Hillside Commons. 

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC/NC Metropolitan Area Tops USA Today's list of "50 Affordable Cities Where Everyone Wants to Live Right Now"

According to USA Today, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 24/7 Wall Street identified the 50 most affordable metropolitan areas Americans are moving to. The Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC/NC Metropolitan Area topped the list. Our Metropolitan Area includes a portion of NC.

In each of the metropolitan areas on the list, the overall cost of living is lower than the national average, and typical housing costs are more in line with area incomes than average across all cities. Additionally, between 2010 and 2018, far more people have moved to these cities than have left.

Statistics offered for our metropolitan area include:

-- Total population: 480,891

-- Population growth due to net migration, 2010-2018: +28.0% (+105,460)

-- Cost of living: 8.1% less than the national average

-- Median home value: $194,700

-- Median household income: $51,580

Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Citywide Cleanup Day is November 2, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, November 2

TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

LOCATION: North Myrtle Beach Sanitation Transfer Station, 2^nd Avenue South

City of North Myrtle Beach residents are encouraged to participate in the Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Annual Citywide Home Cleanup Day on Saturday, November 2, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

To participate, city residents must transport their items to the North Myrtle Beach Sanitation Department Transfer Station located on 2nd Avenue South. Once on 2nd Avenue South drive toward the Intracoastal Waterway past City Hall and the Aquatic & Fitness Center. The drop site is then on the right hand side of 2nd Avenue South.

The annual home cleanup day provides North Myrtle Beach residents with an opportunity to clean out their closets, attics, garages, and storage sheds. During the event, residents may discard unwanted items, including appliances, TVs, electronics, furniture, paint, pesticides, chemicals, oil, old tires and more. No construction debris or medical waste is accepted.

The cleanup event includes document shredding. Shred 360 provides document shredding at the cleanup drop off site at the 2^nd Avenue South Sanitation Transfer Station from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. These rules apply:

1) Document shredding is available for North Myrtle Beach residents only.

2) Limit to a maximum of three (3) bags or boxes of documents/paper only.

3) No combustibles. No metals. No glass.

Please make an effort to donate usable furniture and appliances to the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries or local churches. Many of these organizations pick up donated items.

Special Collections: The City provides a special collection service for furniture, appliances and other bulky items. Place these items at curbside for pickup. This service is not regularly scheduled but provided on an as-needed basis. Please call the Sanitation Division at (843) 280-5500 prior to placing such items at curbside to ensure prompt pickup.

The Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Commission, the North Myrtle Beach Sanitation Department and the City of North Myrtle Beach sponsor this event.

The Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful Commission offers a community based volunteer program to educate and empower the North Myrtle Beach community to personally improve the environment and enhance quality of life and community pride through beautification, litter prevention and recycling.

Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.