City of North Myrtle Beach Homors Coach Joe Lategano

On July 31, the City of North Myrtle Beach recognized Coach Joe Lategano for his years of dedication to parks and recreation activities. A basketball court at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center is now known as Joe Lategano Court.

Coach Joe began volunteering with the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department in 1993.

He organized and conducted the “Summer Slam” basketball camp each summer for more than a decade. More than 500 children participated in this free basketball camp.

Coach Joe led and coached the rookie basketball program for 20 years. This was a basketball program for kids ages 5 to 6. It introduced them to the game of basketball. Over 750 children participated in the rookie basketball program.

Coach Joe also served many years as a volunteer basketball referee. He would attend games nightly and speak with parents and children.

When it came to basketball, Joe was not an outsider looking in. He graduated from St. Francis College in 1954, where he lettered in basketball.

Joe also served as a league commissioner for the Parks & Recreation Department, organizing basketball and baseball leagues.

In 2007, City Council appointed coach Joe to the North Myrtle Beach Recreation Commission. He became chairman of the commission in 2007 and continues that service today.

Coach Joe is also very active as a sports ambassador, having welcomed hundreds of people to north myrtle beach at our many sports tourism events.

On a more personal note, Joe’s wife, Mary, passed away in 2005. As Mayor Marilyn Hatley said during her talk about Joe, "We know she is looking down today, so proud of and excited for her husband."

Joe’s dog, Buddy, passed away around 2006. It's important to note because Joe would always walk around the Central Park Fields at night with Buddy, talking to children and parents while games and practices were going on.That is how most of the parents and kids came to know Joe back then.

Joe has two daughters, Christyne and Barbara, and five grandchildren.

Joe’s commitment to his nation and his community did not begin and end with sports. He served two years in the U.S. Army and three years as a reserve in the Marines. He also served in the Korean War.

We thank Coach Joe for all that he has given to the North Myrtle Beach community. We are certainly a better community for having him in our midst!

For more event photos, visitwww.Facebook.com/cityofnmb

North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board Picks a Pair of Cleveland Pears For its August Tree of the Month Award

The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board used its August Tree of the Month Award to highlight a pair of Cleveland pears planted in the right-of-way along 9^th Avenue South. 

The trees were planted about 15 years ago as part of an Ocean Oaks Community beautification project. The trees are healthy and happy in their location. 

The Cleveland pear tree is often mistaken for the Bradford pear tree.

The Cleveland pear is a rapid grower but a bit smaller than the Bradford pear, reaching 30 to 40 feet high and 15 feet wide at maturity, while the Bradford pear grows more rapidly to a height of 30 to 50 feet with a spread of 20 to 30 feet.

The Cleveland pear has an erect, oval-shaped canopy, growing more upright than the Bradford pear, and it has an attractive pyramidal form. The Cleveland Pear grows more slowly and is stronger and less invasive than the Bradford pear. Multiple outlets no longer recommend the Bradford pear for landscaping. 

The Cleveland pear is often used as a specimen tree, focal point, shade tree or street tree.

ABOUT THE TREE OF THE MONTH PROGRAM

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

If you have a tree you would like to be considered for Tree of the Month, contact Parks & Grounds Superintendent Jim Grainger at (843) 280-5571 or via email at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.  

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

City of North Myrtle Beach Introduces "Park N' Play", a Recreation Center on Wheels

The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department introduces "Park N’ Play", a recreation center on wheels offering a variety of organized activities to promote outdoor play at local parks. The mobile recreation program seeks to enhance play opportunities throughout the community.

As part of the program, children have the chance to create unique art projects, play an array of organized games/activities or utilize the playground in a safe, kid-friendly environment. Children can join the department's Passport Club to record their experiences and favorite things about Park N’ Play at each stop. 

Park N’ Play is scheduled 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Locations vary and showcase the different parks and open spaces the City offers. Park N' Play is free to the public.

Upcoming Park N' Play stops include:

August 13 – Hill Street Park, 2346 Hill Street

August 27 – Heritage Shores Nature Preserve, 5600 Heritage Drive

Free Child and Digital Fingerprinting Cards Available at the Aquatic & Fitness Center July 29 in North Myrtle Beach

The North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center (AFC) considers the safety of children to be a top priority. The AFC is partnering with New York Life Insurance Company to help parents keep their children safe.

On Monday, July 29, 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., New York Life will be in the AFC lobby to make FREE Child ID and digital fingerprinting cards. Stop by and have a card made! It takes just a few minutes.

Child ID cards feature the child’s photo, fingerprints, contact information and other pertinent data needed by the Police in case of an emergency.

Child IDs are made using the EZ Child ID system, the nation’s most comprehensive digital fingerprinting child identification system. Created with help from the National CHIP foundation and law enforcement officials, this system ensures that digital fingerprints meet industry standards by capturing vital information required by the Amber Alert system. 

Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No child’s information or pictures are electronically retained. All data is automatically erased after the Child ID is printed.

This free service is open to AFC members and non-members alike for children of all ages. Taking advantage of this free service does not place you under any obligation to New York Life. We thank New York Life for partnering with us to enhance child safety in our community!

City of North Myrtle Beach Comments on July 10, 2019 Court Order Regarding Civil Action No 2019-CP-26-01732

The City of North Myrtle Beach has reviewed the July 10, 2019 Order from Judge William H. Seals, Jr. pertaining to Civil Action No. 2019-CP-26-01732.

In that Order, the Court specifically ruled that on and after August 10, Horry County cannot collect its Hospitality Fee in the city of North Myrtle Beach.

The Order does not affect North Myrtle Beach’s lawful tax ordinances, which authorize the City to collect its Accommodations Tax of 3%, Hospitality Tax of 2% and Amusement Fee of 1%. North Myrtle Beach businesses should continue to collect and remit these taxes and fee in full to the City of North Myrtle Beach as previously outlined in the City’s June 24, 2019 notice mailed individually to all businesses within its jurisdiction.

According to the July 10 Court Order, on and after August 10, only the City’s Hospitality Tax, Accommodations Tax and Amusement Fee will be collected in the City of North Myrtle Beach.

To read the July 10 Court Order, follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/yy23v974 or visit www.NMB.us and look under "Press Releases."

Motions And Exhibits Filed Today (June 26) Asking The Court to Fully Implement Its Order of June 21, 2019 as Written to Apply to All Municipalities in Horry County

Horry County indicated by way of an emailed June 25 news release that it intended to continue to collect unauthorized taxes in North Myrtle Beach and other municipalities starting July 1, 2019.

A July 21, 2019 Court order associated with CIVIL ACTION NO. 2019-CP-26-01732 opposed Horry County’s actions in this regard. The same Court order identified the plaintiff as “City of Myrtle Beach, For Itself and a Class of Similarly Situated Plaintiffs”, which clearly includes municipalities in Horry County.

In response to Horry County's stated intent, motions and exhibits were filed today, June 26, in the Horry County Court of Common Pleas asking the Court to fully implement the order of June 21, 2019, as written, to apply to all municipalities within Horry County.

Today’s motions and exhibits are available online at http://bit.ly/2RMzCud

If the link above does not work for you, please visit www.NMB.us and look under "Press Releases" on the homepage.

North Myrtle Beach Reacts to Horry County's Decision to Illegally Collect Hospitality and Accommodations Taxes Within the City Limits

North Myrtle Beach, SC – June 25, 2019 – Today, Horry County announced it intends to collect hospitality and accommodations taxes within the city of North Myrtle Beach. Only the City of North Myrtle Beach has the legal right to establish and collect these taxes within its jurisdiction. Horry County has absolutely no authority to do so and is in clear violation of law.

In overwhelming fashion, the recent Court order associated with CIVIL ACTION NO. 2019-CP-26-01732 opposed Horry County’s actions in this regard. The same Court order identified the plaintiff as “City of Myrtle Beach, For Itself and a Class of Similarly Situated Plaintiffs”, which clearly includes municipalities in Horry County.

As emphasized in that Court order, South Carolina law preserves the autonomy of municipalities within their borders, absent their agreement or consent or an express statutory provision to the contrary. The County and the City each possess the authority to enact uniform service charges but no law grants the City or the County the power to unilaterally impose uniform service charges within the jurisdictional limits of the other.

The City of North Myrtle Beach is seeking immediate legal recourse.

The City will collect the full hospitality tax and accommodations tax within its jurisdiction. Under law, Horry County can only establish and collect service taxes in areas of the County outside of municipal jurisdictions.