NMB Public Safety Department’s February “Sock it to Winter” campaign was a big success!

During the month of February, the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department ran a “Sock it to Winter” campaign in an effort to collect new socks to provide to homeless youths in the North Myrtle Beach area. With the help of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Towers on the Grove, Upward Bound/Horry Georgetown Technical College, and the community at large, the department was able to collect over 1,000 pairs of new socks.

Photo by Amanda Heim.

The department partnered with Sea Haven, Inc. to help distribute the new socks to homeless youths.

We congratulate the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department and all who contributed to this effort!

34th Annual North Myrtle Beach Community Easter Egg Hunt is March 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at McLean Park

The 38^th Annual North Myrtle Beach Community Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, March 26, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at McLean Park (93 Oak Drive) in North Myrtle Beach. The egg begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp.

Egg hunt areas are divided by age groups (infant and above), and there are many other activities for all ages.  The North Strand Optimist Club will provide refreshments.

The Easter Bunny will make a special visit to McLean Park to hand out candy to all the children that attend.  Participants are encouraged to wear their Easter best to have their photo made with Ms. Blossom. The North Strand Optimist Club will provide refreshments.

This is a very popular event with hundreds of kids participating each year. There is limited parking at McLean Park, and participants are advised to arrive early, park in the Main Street area, then walk to the park.

The event is a combined effort of the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, North Strand Optimist Club, North Myrtle Beach Lions Club, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, Driftwood Keep America Beautiful Kids, North Myrtle Beach High School Clubs, North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department, and many individual volunteers. 

Volunteers are always welcome to help with the Easter Egg Hunt from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. For more information contact Gregg Barnhill, dgbarnhill@nmb.us, or call (843) 280-567.

RESULTS: North Myrtle Beach FY 2017 Budget Retreat

The North Myrtle Beach City Council held its FY 2017 budget retreat March 7-8 at Santee Cooper’s Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis, SC.

The City’s budget year runs from July 1 to June 30.

The proposed FY 2017 budget includes Governmental Funds (general fund, special revenue funds, capital improvement funds, debt service fund) expenditures of $54,088,271 and Enterprise Funds expenditures of $39,727,931 for a total of $93,816,202 in budgeted expenditures for all funds.

The proposed 2017 budget is $13,656,195 million more than the fiscal year FY 2016 budget, due primarily to various street improvements, major water and sewer projects, storm water management improvement initiatives and other projects.

During the budget retreat, City Council discussed a proposed property tax increase of two mills, which would generate about $750,000 annually, primarily to help pay for four new public safety employees, and enhanced paving and maintenance of the City’s roads.

An increase of two mills in the property tax equates to $8 annually for each $100,000 of residential home value.

The City’s current property tax rate is 39.3 mills, which includes 6.2 mills that will be cut in October 2019 when the bond issue for the construction of the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex has been paid off. The proposed two mills property tax increase would bring the City’s tax rate to 41.3 mills, still the lowest tax rate in Horry County and one of the lowest in the state.

Currently, Surfside Beach offers a property tax rate of 46.2 mills, Briarcliff Acres 50.8 mills, Horry County 50.87 mills, Aynor 60.8 mills, Myrtle Beach 74.5 mills, Conway 82.4 mills, Atlantic Beach 84.5 mills, Loris 115 mills, and the Horry County School District 133.1 mills.

City Council also discussed a proposed $2 increase in the City’s monthly storm water management fee, which would be applied to local storm water improvement projects and would also help fund the next ocean outfall project at 18th Avenue North, construction of which is scheduled to begin in FY 2019 at a cost of about $11 million. The City will have four or five ocean outfall projects remaining after the 18th Avenue North project has been completed, and the fee increase will also help to begin to fund those projects.

The storm water management fee is currently $6 per month for a single family home and would increase to $8 per month. The fee is currently $4 per month for a condo unit and would increase to $5.50 per month.

Some additional highlights for the proposed FY 2017 Budget include the bond issue for the Cherry Grove dredging project; a final payment on a $1.2 million platform fire truck; in-house capital improvement projects; and more than $1.5 million in road paving projects.

Some additional projects include the widening of Ocean Boulevard in the Crescent Beach section, placing overhead utilities underground in the same area, and improvements to 11th Avenue North.

City Council also reviewed $1.7 million in proposed storm water improvement projects. The projects represent the City’s response to many storm water management challenges that arose during the historically heavy rains experienced in North Myrtle Beach during September and October of 2015. Projects that would most likely have to be contracted out were prioritized into four groups. A fifth group was created containing projects that the City can accomplish using in-house personnel and equipment.

Thus far, City Council has determined that the City could tackle many of the storm water projects in the first two priority groups during FY 2017, with the rest being accomplished in FY 2018 and FY 2019.

Continued addition of sidewalks in the city is also part of the proposed budget. Since 1995, the City has installed 34 miles of sidewalks. Additional sidewalks and paths proposed for the FY 2017 budget include an addition to the East Coast Greenway along Water Tower Road (near Barefoot Resort & Golf), along Robert Edge Parkway west of the bridge, and along Little River Neck Road.

Traveling Bob Hope Exhibit Opens May 1 at the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum

“Bob Hope: An American Treasure”, a traveling exhibit celebrating the life and times of the Guinness Book of Records "most honored" man, will open to the public on May 1 at the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum, 799 2nd Avenue North in North Myrtle Beach. The exhibit was created by the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, FL.

"It is an honor for the Museum to be able to host the exhibit about legendary entertainer Bob Hope,” Museum Board Chairman Dick Hester said. “From soldiers to U.S. Presidents, Bob Hope touched the lives of Americans in a way no other celebrity could—with laughter.”

Hope's story is narrated in first-person comedy, combining anecdotes, quotes, jokes and stories from all aspects of his life. The exhibit includes more than 200 vintage photos and seven video displays that chronicle Hope’s early years as part of an immigrant family in the early 20th century; his rise as a star of stage, screen and radio; the relationships he had with U.S. presidents; his devotion to the U.S. military; and his love of golf.

"Bob Hope: An American Treasure" has toured the U.S. and England, but has never been displayed on the East Coast. In addition to having been displayed at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, CO, the exhibit has been shown at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans; the Gerald Ford Presidential Library in Grand Rapids, MI; and the Green Bay Packers Museum in Green Bay, WI.

According to Museum Board Chairman Dick Hester, the exhibit rental fee is $45,000 and shipping costs exceed $18,000, all of which have been paid for through donations. The museum received a grant from the Bob and Delores Hope Foundation to cover the entire rental fee. The City of North Myrtle Beach has provided $7,500 in accommodation tax funds toward the shipping costs, and a $12,000 transportation grant from the Hope Foundation will pay the balance of the transport fee to safely truck the exhibit from Denver to North Myrtle Beach.

"We're counting on our community to help make the exhibit a success in South Carolina," Hester said. “Although the Museum received grants for the exhibit and for transportation, additional funds are needed to help promote the exhibit to the rest of South Carolina and to our neighbors in North Carolina.”

Sponsorship levels range from “Par Sponsor” at $500 to “Hole-in-One Sponsor” at $5,000.

Interested persons are asked to contact Museum Director Jenean Todd for more information at 843.427.7668 or director@NMBmuseum.com.

North Myrtle Beach welcomes top Prep School Basketball Teams

The USA National Prep Basketball Tournament will be held March 3-5 at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road.  Fifty-one Prep School basketball teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Indiana, Maryland and New Jersey will compete in the tournament.  This is the fourth year USA National Prep has hosted its event in North Myrtle Beach. 

Admission is $12 per day, $20 for a two day pass, or $30 for a three day pass. 

For a list of teams and tournament brackets for the USA National Prep Basketball Tournament, visit www.usanationalprep.com.

Participating Schools:

American Basketball Institute (GA)                              Prestige Prep School (NJ)

Moravian Prep School (NC) - 3 Teams                         Combine Prep School (NC) - 3 Teams

Combine Prep School-Atlanta (GA) - 3 Teams            Tennessee Prep-(TN) - 2 teams

Georgia Prep (GA)                                                        Forest Trail School(NC) – 2 teams

Indiana Prep (IN)                                                          Bryant & Stranton (VA)

Concord Prep (NC)                                                       Mount Zion Christian Academy (NC) - 4 teams

S.O.E Prep (NC) - 2 teams                                            South Side (VA)

Raleigh Swish City Prep (NC)                                      Our Saviour New American (NY) 

Upper Room Christian (NY) - 3 teams                         Our Saviour Lutheran (NY)

National Christian (MD) - 3 teams                               Comenius School (SC) - 3 Teams

Legacy Charter School (SC) - 2 teams                          York Prep (SC) 

Faith Baptist School (GA)                                             Faith Assembly (NC) 

Bull City Prep High (NC) - 2 teams                              Genesis Academy (VA)

New Garden Friends School (NC)                                St.Ignatious School (SC)

Piedmont Classical (NC)

Sales in 2015 Earn CENTURY 21 Thomas CENTURION® Office Award for Production

CENTURY 21 Thomas announced today that Century 21 Real Estate LLC recently recognized the office with the CENTURION Office Award for production for its impressive sales in 2015.  The CENTURION Award is presented to independent CENTURY 21® System offices that achieve or surpass sales production of $2,053,000 or 436 closed transaction sides within a calendar year.

"The individual efforts and dedication displayed by each member of CENTURY 21 Thomas in achieving this significant accomplishment are to be commended," said Rick Davidson, president and Chief Executive Officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC.  "Through the CENTURION Office award, the CENTURY 21 System is able to recognize the outstanding achievements of its franchisees."

This is the 13^th year CENTURY 21 Thomas has received this award. CENTURY 21 Thomas is a full-service independent brokerage specializing in residential, luxury and commercial properties.

Individual agents also were recognized for outstanding performance (designating various levels of sales performance), including:

• The Bellamy Team—CENTURION Award
• Scott Mathews—CENTURION Agent; Office Realtor of the Year; President’s Producer; Quality Service Pinnacle Producer
• Sandy Rainwater—Masters Diamond
• John Creel—Masters Ruby; Quality Service Pinnacle Producer
• David Hyatt—Masters Ruby; Quality Service Producer Award
• Sarah Richardson—Masters Ruby; Quality Service Provider Award
• John Jaskolka—Quality Service Pinnacle Producer
• Jeannie Turner—Quality Service Pinnacle Producer
• Sheri Wooten—Quality Service Pinnacle Award
• Sheila Blazer—Quality Service Producer Award
• Carrier Hall—Quality Service Producer Award
• Alyssa Holmes—Quality Service Producer Award
• Nancy Richardson—Quality Service Producer Award
•  Mahala Pearsall—Quality Service Producer Award

About CENTURY 21 Thomas

CENTURY 21 Thomas, which was established in 1962, takes pride in personalized service and exceeding client expectations. It has offices at 625 Sea Mountain Highway and 404-A Main St. in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and 440 Highway 90 E., Suite 1, in Little River. S.C.

It is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com), the iconic brand and franchisor with the largest global network in the residential real estate industry including approximately 6,900 independent offices worldwide in 78 countries and territories worldwide and more than 101,000 independent sales professionals.

For more information on CENTURY 21 Thomas, call 866-241-2100 or go to century21thomas.com.

28th Annual North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival set for March 12 on Main Street

Joanne Myers was selected as the winner of the 28th Annual
North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival Tshirt
Design Contest. She will receive a $100 Walmart gift
card and will be recognized at the festival. The shirts will be
sold at the parade and festival. Supplies are limited.

The 28th Annual North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival will be held March 12 on Main Street. The parade begins at 9:00 a.m. and the festival will be held 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The one-day rain or shine event attracts more than 30,000 people annually.

Spectators gathering to watch the parade should be in place along the Main Street parade route by 8:20 a.m. Main Street will close to vehicular traffic at 8:30 a.m. Main Street from Ash Street to Ocean Boulevard will remain closed until the festival ends.

The festival offers 150-plus food, arts and crafts, nonprofit, and other vendors.

Trevor Strawderman, principal at North Myrtle Beach High School, is the Grand Marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Trevor Strawderman is the Parade
Grand Marshal. (Photo courtesy NMB
High School website.)

The North Strand Optimist Club organizes the parade, and all entry fees go back into helping the youth of our community.

WDPE TV 15 is the Media Sponsor. Easy 105.9 is the Radio Sponsor. The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Presenting Sponsor. 

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival offers three entertainment stages. The current entertainment lineup is as follows: 

Community Stage

Main Street & Oak Drive

11:00 am: Myrtle Beach Regional Pipes and Drums

11:15 am: Triple Toe Cloggers

11:45 am: Parade Awards

12:15 pm: Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe and Drums

12:45 pm: Coastal Pipes and Drums

1:30 pm: Ocean Drive Elementary School Chorus

2:15 pm – 4:00 PM: Folk ‘Em

Main Stage

Near Flynn’s Irish Tavern

11:00 am: Band on the Rum

11:45 am: Coastal Pipes and Drums

12:00 pm: Band on the Rum

12:45 pm: Wake District Pipes and Drums

1:00 pm: Tan and Sober Gentleman

2:15 pm: Leprechaun Contest

2:30 pm: Shepard’s Pie Eating Contest

2:45 pm: 4:00 PM: Tan and Sober Gentleman

Green Stage

Near Duffy’s Seafood Shack

11:00 am: Retrograde

1:45 pm: 4:00 PM: Chocolate Chip and Company

Two contests are also part of this year’s festival:

Far right, last year’s winner Michael Walsh.

28th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival Leprechaun Contest

Show off your love of all things Irish by competing in the 28th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival Leprechaun Contest. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, appearance, enthusiasm and energy.

Participants must be 18 years or older, must register and be dressed in a leprechaun/Irish-themed costume, and must grant permission to the City of North Myrtle Beach to publish photos for promotion and sign a release of liability. The contest is open to the general public and no purchase is necessary to participate.

Contestants must register at the Main Stage at Flynn's Irish Tavern before 2:00 p.m. Preregistration is also available at the Festival Information Booth (corner of Hillside Drive and Main Street) before 1:30 p.m. Meet at the stairs of the Main Stage at 2:00 p.m. Contest begins at 2:15 p.m.

There will be a grand prize winner. In addition to holding the title of the 28th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival Leprechaun, the St. Patrick's Day website will feature the winner's name and brief bio. The winner also receives a $100 gift card to Walmart, an event t-shirt, and a souvenir of achievement.

Rory Duffy, last year’s winner.

28th Annual St. Patrick's Day Shepherd's Pie Eating Contest

First to clear their plate without using their hands wins bragging rights and a stylish plaque designed by Coastal Engravers.

Register at the Main Stage at Flynn’s Irish Tavern before 2:00 p.m. Preregistration is also available at the Festival Information Booth, corner of Hillside Drive and Main Street before 1:30 p.m. Meet at the stairs of the Main Stage on festival site at 2:15 p.m. Contest begins at 2:30 p.m.