Bring Your Kids (Of All Ages) To The Free April 8 "Touch-A-Truck" Event

The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department will host the first annual "Touch-A-Truck" event April 8, 10am-2pm, at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex in the Soccer/Lacrosse parking lot. Admission is free.
Touch-A-Truck offers a day for children of all ages to get an up-close, interactive look at many of the large vehicles and heavy equipment they only see on television or driving down the road. Everyone will have the opportunity to explore exhibits like dump trucks, tractors, a helicopter, fire trucks, police car, race cars and more.
In addition to all the vehicles, this community event features public safety information and other activities, including face painting, helmet safety by the North Strand Optimist Club, spot camera eye screenings offered by the North Myrtle Beach Lion’s Club, and writing letters to soldiers with the Grand Strand Blue Star Mothers.
Everyone is invited to come out to climb, learn and discover!

Kindermusik Classes For Kids Through Age 7 Start April 6 (Free Preview March 30)

New Ongoing Class -  Thursdays 5:30–6:15 pm
Free Class Preview – Thursday, March 30 5:30–6:15pm
Kindermusik is a music and movement class for toddlers, babies, big kids, and families.
Participants sing, dance, giggle, hop, travel on imaginative adventures, cuddle, play instruments, share ideas, read stories, celebrate the uniqueness of each child, and more!
A trained, licensed Kindermusik educator will lead the class through music and movement activities with proven developmental benefits to include boosting early literacy and language abilities, social/emotional skills, and cognitive development. The classes give children many opportunities to practice fine and gross motor skills in a fun, loving community of families. Throughout the classes, parents and children also enjoy special one-on-one moments bonding together.
This family-style class meets once a week for 45 minutes, beginning April 6. The first class on March 30 is a free preview.
Open to ages 0 through 7
Location: J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Rd; NMB, SC 29582
$60 per child per month and $40 for each sibling
To register, follow this link: www.miredostudio.com or contact the front desk at the   J. Bryan Floyd Community Center (843) 280-5584.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Department to Install FREE Smoke Alarms March 25

North Myrtle Beach firefighters and members of participating organizations will visit North Myrtle Beach residents on Saturday, March 25 to perform free smoke alarm inspections, replacing batteries and installing free smoke alarms as needed.  It’s part of a free community-wide fire prevention effort.

Installing smoke alarms in the homes of North Myrtle Beach residents who do not have them will increase their odds of surviving a home fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the international nonprofit leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety and official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, working smoke alarms are the key to saving lives from fire.

“Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning device there is,” said Judy Comoletti, NFPA’s division manager for public education.  “Just having a smoke alarm in your home cuts in half your chances of dying in a reported fire.”

“Our goal is to make sure residents have the protection of a smoke alarm,” said North Myrtle Beach Fire Marshal Greg Frazier. “Our project also includes educating residents to have a home fire escape plan so they know what to do if the smoke alarm sounds.”

During the smoke alarm installation program, local firefighters will fan out throughout the city, visiting residents in several neighborhoods. They will be going door to door in their areas of focus.
Interested residents can also call in advance to request that the department visit their home to install a free smoke detector.  Call Fire Marshal Greg Frazier at 843-280-5614 or email him at gtfrazier@nmb.us. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Receives $10,609,844 to Fund Emergency Beach Renourishment Project in the City of North Myrtle Beach

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received $10,609,844 in funding to accomplish an emergency beach renourishment project in the city of North Myrtle Beach. Current indications are that the funding will not require a cost sharing by the city, however, a Cooperation Agreement will have to be entered into between U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city.

The city will have to pay separately for dune reconstruction, sea oats planting, and other associated dune work. “This is great news for the residents of North Myrtle Beach, the State of South Carolina and the Charleston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley. “The North Myrtle Beach City Council and many others have been working hard toward this goal since Hurricane Joaquin hit our shores. The severe damage incurred from Hurricane Matthew only made the need for this project even more immediate.” “We especially want to thank U.S. Representative Tom Rice for his help in securing these funds,” Hatley said, “and we also offer our very special thanks to Project Manager Wes Wilson of the U.S. Army Corps’ Charleston District and the many other Corps leaders and personnel from Washington to Charleston who visited North Myrtle Beach often, studied our beach carefully, and came to understand the proven and dire need for more sand here in North Myrtle Beach.”

Additional details regarding the emergency project will be provided as they are determined.

North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshals Announced

The Grand Marshals for the 2017 North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade are USA Olympian Amber Campbell and former Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Coach Alan Connie.  Coach Connie was Amber's Head Coach while she attended Coastal Carolina University.

Amber, a resident of Myrtle Beach, is one of the top track and field athletes in the world, competing in the hammer throw. A three-time USA Olympian (2008, 2012 and 2016), she has also represented Team USA at five Outdoor World Track and Field Championships (2005,2009,2011, 2013 and 2015).  At the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her sixth place finish was the highest finish ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer throw, and her throw was the best ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer. She is a 12-time USA National Champion and twice has set USA Olympic Trial records with her championship throws in 2012 and 2016.

At CCU, Amber was a five-time NCAA Division 1 All American, and graduated as the all-time American Collegiate Record Holder.

Coach Connie began his coaching career in 1979 at North Myrtle Beach High School. His boys cross country teams and girls track teams won four South Carolina State Championships, and had three state runner-up finishes in his eight years of coaching at the high school. His girls track and field teams had a combined record of 169 wins, one loss and two ties over eight years.  

In his 28 years as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at CCU, Coach Connie's teams won 28 Big South Conference Championships, and he was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year 33 times in the two sports. He coached 12 All Americans and was named the Big South Conference Coach of the Decade twice in women's cross country for the 1990s and 2000s. He was also named Big South Conference Coach of the Decade for women's indoor track and field for the 2000s and for women's outdoor track and field for the 2000s.  

Amber and Coach Connie have been inducted into the Coastal Carolina University Hall of Fame and the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.

North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board Announces Tree of the Month Award for March

The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board has provided its Tree of the Month Award for March to Jack Jones II for the preservation and care he has provided to a large Loblolly Pine located at 405 22nd Avenue South.

 

The loblolly pine is an important American timber tree that is also cloaked in beauty during much of the year.

 

With a natural range reaching across the southeastern United States, this pine tree is distinguished by its large, columnar trunk; attractive bark in broad, reddish-brown plates; and its pale green needles.

 

As one of the fastest growing southern pines, it is used for a quick screen in many landscapes.

Results: March 6 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

During the March 6 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, City Council issued a Proclamation recognizing March as Red Cross Month in North Myrtle Beach. The Proclamation was presented by City Councilman Bob Cavanaugh to Red Cross Board Member Jerry Tekac. Councilman Cavanaugh presided over the meeting in the absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, who were out of town.

Councilman Cavanaugh said that North Myrtle Beach has a long history of helping those in need, and American Red Cross Month offers a special time in which to recognize and thank American Red Cross “heroes,” who give of their time and resources to help members of the community.

American Red Cross heroes help families find shelter after a home fire, and give blood to help trauma victims and cancer patients. They deliver comfort items to members of the military who are in the hospital, and they use their lifesaving skills to save people experiencing a heart attack, drowning or choking. They also enable children around the world to be vaccinated against measles and rubella.

The American Red Cross depends upon its heroes to deliver help and hope during disasters, and the City of North Myrtle Beach applauds them. It has dedicated the month of March to encouraging its citizens and visitors to support the American Red Cross and its noble humanitarian mission.

 

City Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance to amend section 5-24 of the City's Code of Ordinance titled, “Placing Obstructions on the Beach”, to establish the dimensions of authorized "baby tents".

That part of the ordinance that regulates the placement of shading devices on the beach now reads:  "Placement of shading devices on the beach from May 15 through September 15: Other than umbrellas with a center pole no greater than 7 feet, 6 inches in height and with a circular shade no greater than 9 feet in diameter, and shading devices no larger than 36 inches in height by 36 inches in width and 36 inches in depth used to provide shade to persons 18 months of age or younger, all shading devices, including but not limited to tents, tarps, cabanas, pavilions, sports-brellas or devices similar to sports-brellas, or any material mounted on supports are prohibited from being placed on the beach from May 15 through September 15. An umbrella is defined as a collapsible circular shade consisting of a natural or synthetic fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a center pole without grounding lines or ropes."

The dimensions for baby tents were changed because previously established measurements pertained to a type of baby tent that is no longer commonly available.

City Council passed first reading of an ordinance toamend the Barefoot Resort Planned Development District (PDD) concerning the Dye Estates (MJPDD- 16-04).

The proposed ordinance had been delayed until the applicant, Coastal Resort Holdings, had received approval from the Dye Estates HOA for its proposed site plan. Assurances were provided to the city attorney that the board of directors for the Dye Estates HOA had approved the proposed site plans, which paved the way for the introduction of the proposed amendment for first reading. 

The revised PDD documents provided to City Council address the current status of the proposal:

• Approval by the Dye Estates HOA.
• 29 approved single-family detached dwelling units versus 5l proposed single-family attached townhome dwelling units.
• Reducing access points along Gray Heron Drive to four driveways.
• No building is closer than 15 feet to the property line.
• The orientation of townhomes has been adjusted to reduce garage door exposure outside of the development.
• A minimum 4-foot earthen berm with plantings will be added to both sides of Gray Heron Drive.
• A secondary control gate is reflected on the site plan.
• Building materials and colored renderings of townhomes has been provided.

Additionally, the applicant, Coastal Resort Holdings, has indicated it intends to prohibit short-term rentals and parking along Gray Heron Drive by deed.

City Council approved a special event permit for the Society of Stranders’ 2017 SOS Spring Safari Parade to be held April 29, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. The parade will start and end on Main Street.

 

City Council approved a special event permit forCoastal Adaptive Sports and the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center’s Wheel to Surf, an adaptive surfing event for people with disabilities to enjoy the beach and surfing. The event will be held May 14, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., on the beach at 21st Avenue South.