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Thirty Second Little River World Famous Blue Crab Festival, May 18 and 19

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:27 -0500

May 17, 2013 Little River, SC – A little waterfront community just a few miles north of North Myrtle Beach, SC has been holding a festival that draws a crowd that exceeds its 9,000 population by a factor of five and the 200 volunteers required to put it on will strain it’s resources. The two day World Famous Blue Crab Festival will bring 50,000 or more visitors to a 10 acre track along the oldest remaining operational fishing village in South Carolina.

This year’s event will showcase 250 food and specialty arts and crafts vendors, music and children activities. As last year, seafood will only be available from the local waterfront restaurants – not from food vendors. Still, festival-goers can get funnel cake, hot dogs, hoagies, BBQ and other foods they are accustomed to from outside food vendors.

However, to get that fresh caught right-right-out-of the Atlantic Ocean, the festival-goer does not have to leave the area. Embedded within the event boundaries are the seafood restaurants that are the favorites of North Myrtle Beach and other local residents – Patio’s Tiki Bar and Grill, Captain Jules’ Hurricane Restaurant, Fibbers on the Water, Crab Catchers, and Key West Crazy. Select from their menus and enjoy oysters on the half shell, soft shell crabs sandwiches, shrimp and grits, grouper bites, seafood stew, popcorn shrimp, conch fritters or even gator bites.

Entertainment this year will feature multiple award winning Craig Woolard Band, Carolina Soul Band, Jim Quick and Coastline and The Fantastic Shakers.

With 50,000 people coming into the small community over two days, traffic and parking is always a challenge. Festival organizers are doing everything possible to minimize the impact. Last year saw a huge expansion of home and lot owners along Mineola Avenue and the side streets opening up for parking and that is expected to continue this year. Horry County Police, Horry County Sherriff and the SC Highway Patrol will be on hand in larger numbers to keep the traffic flowing.

In addition, off area parking is available with shuttle service. The following locations will be providing free parking: Lowe's Foods Store at 2575 Highway 179, Hope Willard 701 Highway 17, River Hills Medical Plaza 4237 River Hills Drive and Collision Masters at 825 Highway 17.

Admission price is nominal - $5 per day at the gate. Hours are 9 am to 6 pm each day. Grab you walking shoes and your appetite and visit one of the best festivals along the Grand Strand.

For more information see http://www.bluecrabfestival.org/index.html.

NMB Farmers Market to Open

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:41:25 -0500

April 30, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC - The North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market opens May 1 at 10:00 a.m. The market is located on 1st Avenue South, between the new North Myrtle Beach Library and City Hall. The market is open Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

The North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market offers local produce, fruits, baked goods, seafood, jams and jellies, plants and flowers, and artisan crafts.

The North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market is part of the Waccamaw Market Cooperative. The Waccamaw Market Cooperative is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating and managing community-based farmers markets throughout Horry County. Under the guidance of the Clemson Cooperative Extension, the cooperative has grown to include a regional network of markets sponsored in partnership with public and private organizations in locations throughout the county. This structured farmers market network ensures that virtually all communities in Horry County may benefit from access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and other commodities that farmers markets typically offer.

For more information on the North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market, please visit www.WaccamawMarkets.org.

Medicine Drop-Off a Big Success

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:39:50 -0500

April 30, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – On April 27, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety held a Community Medicine Drop-Off Day in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The event was the fourth for the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department and the sixth for the DEA. It provides an opportunity for people to remove unused and expired medicines from their homes in a safe, responsible manner.

About 120 people brought various controlled and legend drugs, and over the counter medications to the drop-off location in front of Walmart at 550 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach.

A total of 59,428 dosage units were collected. That breaks down to 5,355 dosage units of controlled drugs; 50,896 dosage units/514 cc liquid dosage units of legend drugs; and 2,663 grams of powder-type drugs. For DEA reporting purposes, the weight of all medicines collected was 695 pounds.

North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officers Mathew Pasqurell and Ian Vaughn managed the drop-off location. As a courtesy during the drop-off event, the officers also offered to check child car seat installations and, when necessary, taught parents and grandparents to install them correctly.

Agent Pam Hucks with the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) assisted in verifying the pharmaceuticals that were dropped off, and she also estimated the count for DEA accountability purposes. The medications were verified, logged, and then deposited into the department’s National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators container. Immediately after the drop-off event, all collected medications were turned over to DEA for destruction.

The department offers a special thanks to Captain Poo’s Grill for providing lunch for the event and to Walmart for the use of its parking lot.

Volunteers welcome

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:57:57 -0500

April 29, 2013 Atlantic Beach, SC -According to Linda Cheatham, Atlantic Beach acting Town Manager, the city will host a clean up day on saturday, May 4 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cheetham said, "Any one interested in helping out is welcome to join us."

Medicine Drop-Off Event set for April 27

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:56:12 -0500

April 25, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety will participate in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s April 27 National Take Back Initiative by holding a Medicine Drop-Off event in the Walmart parking lot at 550 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach. Public safety officers will be on hand April 27 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the parking lot to accept used and expired prescription, over-the-counter and other medicines.

The April 27 Medicine Drop-Off event offers an opportunity for people to remove unused and expired prescription and other medicines from their homes and drop them off with public safety personnel, who will properly dispose of the medicines. No questions will be asked of participants and no identification is required.

By removing unused or expired prescription medicines from their homes, participants can help to prevent accidental drug use by curious children or intentional experimental drug use by teens and adults.

Several previous Medicine Drop-Off events sponsored by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department have resulted in the collection of over 111,000 doses of controlled, legend, and over-the-counter medications.

North Myrtle Beach Junior Lifeguard Camp scheduled

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:52:28 -0500

April 25, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety will hold a Junior Lifeguard Summer Camp in June for children ages 10-15.

The registration fee for the camp is $25. Registration will be held at the Beach Services Warehouse, 6th Avenue South. Call (843) 280-5684 for directions. The fee includes a North Myrtle Beach Junior Lifeguard hooded sweatshirt upon completion of the camp.

In order to qualify for the free camp, participants must be able to tread water for three minutes, swim 100 yards continuously using front crawl with rhythmic breathing, must attend all class to be eligible for graduation, and must be able to accomplish a 20 yard brick tow.

Participants will be trained in the following:

   Proper stroke mechanics
   Reaching, walking, throwing assists
   Caring for head, neck and back injuries
   How to escape a rip current
   Water safety
   Rescue board techniques
   CPR/AED
   First Aid
   Basic rescue skills

The camp schedule is as follows:

   June 15 – Qualification Test, 3:00 p.m., North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center
   June 17-19, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 7th Avenue South Beachfront
   June 20, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., J. Bryan Floyd Community Center
   June 24-27, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 7th Avenue South Beachfront
   June 29, Beach Clean Up (sponsored breakfast to follow)

At the end of the camp, participants will be American Red Cross certified in adult and child CPR.

Participants should bring goggles, bathing suit (a one-piece suit is recommended for female participants during aquatic activities), towel, extra change of clothes, swim cap, sunscreen, bottled water.

For more information, please contact North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Monty Reed at (843) 503-6297.

City issues motorist advisory

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:09:36 -0500

April 24, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – North Myrtle Beach residents and visitors are asked to familiarize themselves with the course that the April 28 Divas Half Marathon will follow. Some residents and visitors who wish to access the course’s main routes in the early morning hours may have to select alternate routes until the race ends.

The half marathon begins at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 and has a three and one-half hour time limit. The 5K race begins at 7:20 am.

As they progress, the races will impact various parts of Ocean Boulevard, Hillside Drive, Main Street, 2nd Avenue North, 11th Avenue North, Highway 17 and 20th Avenue North. A map showing the half marathon course from start to finish in North Myrtle Beach is available for downloading from the Divas website at http://www.runlikeadiva.com.

Those who attend the following places of worship may also have to access them via alternate routes:
Trinity Methodist Church, Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, Barefoot Church, Lakeside Baptist
Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, and St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

On the morning of April 28, Divas Half Marathon participants will be running along the main routes where these churches are located at about the following times:
Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church
7:00 a.m.-7:35 a.m. – Participants should be running south on Ocean Boulevard.
7:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m. – Participants should be running north on Hillside Drive.
Trinity United Methodist Church
7:15 a.m.-8:00 a.m. – Half marathon participants should be running north on Hillside Drive and will be crossing 14th Avenue South.
Barefoot Church
7:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. – Participants should be running up the westbound lane of Main Street and turning right on to Ye Olde Kings Highway.
Lakeside Baptist Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, St. Stephens Episcopal Church
7:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. – The westbound lane of 11th Avenue North will be closed to vehicle traffic. All runners should have cleared 11th Avenue North by 10:00 a.m.

The 2012 Divas Half Marathon was held on May 20 in North Myrtle Beach drew a sold out crowd of 4,400 women from 47 states. As of the end of March, registration for the April return of the Diva Half Marathon had already gone way beyond last year’s number, exceeding 5,350.

NMB to host Wheelchair Games

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:41:02 -0500

April 13, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The Southeastern Wheelchair Sports Association (SWSA) in partnership with the North Myrtle Beach Courtesy of SWSAAquatic & Fitness Center will host the 19th Annual Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games April 19-21. SWSA is a regional club of the Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports, USA (WASUSA) which sets the rules and maintains records for sanctioned events. All athletes must be a member of WASUSA to compete in these Games.

The events will occur at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, and Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. Thirty athletes from across the United States will compete in the event. The public is invited and admission is free.

The events are fully sanctioned by WASUSA.

Friday, April 19
12:00 p.m. - Shooting (J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road,
North Myrtle Beach)
4:00 p.m. - Weight lifting (NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center, Second Avenue South,
North Myrtle Beach)
7:00 p.m. - Swimming (NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center)

Saturday, April 20
9:00 a.m. - Field Events at field behind Doug Shaw Stadium, 3205 North Oak Street,
Myrtle Beach
After Field Events - Archery on Field Events site
Sunday, April 21
8:00 a.m. – Track Events at field behind Doug Shaw Stadium

For more information, please contact Meet Director Melinda Chappell at (843) 997-7688. Melinda Chappell is the North Myrtle Beach Aquatics and Fitness Director and serves as the Eastern Regional WASUSA Representative.

The Southeastern Wheelchair Sports Association has hosted the Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games for persons with physical and visual disabilities for the past nineteen years.

April 20 Self-Defense Class for Females

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:08:37 -0500

North Myrtle Beach, SC – On April 20, from 10:15a.m.-11:45a.m., instructor David Smith will teach a course on self-defense techniques for females at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road, North Myrtle Beach.

No previous martial arts training or special clothing is required. Participants will learn realistic self-defense techniques that they can quickly incorporate into their lives.

The workshop is designed for females only and no outside observation is allowed. Females under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a paying female who is over the age of 18.

The cost is $27 per person and $25 per person for multiple female members of the same household.

Participants must preregister with the front desk staff at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center by April 19 at 3:00 p.m.

For more information, contact instructor David Smith at (910)740-7689 or the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 280-5584.

McLeod Loris Seacoast Recognizes Physicians

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:22:22 -0500

April 1,2013 North Myrtle Beach/Little River/Loris SC — On Thursday, March 28, McLeod Loris Seacoast celebrated Doctors’ Day, a time set aside each year to thank our doctors for their many contributions to our communities. At McLeod Health, more than 750 physicians in Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Loris and Seacoast go above and beyond every day to provide exemplary care for their patients.

Members of the medical staff were honored at McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast with a special event that included a card of thanks and a gift as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Many physicians were presented personal thoughts and expressions of gratitude submitted on their behalf by patients and staff. A Thank You card can still be submitted to a physician through April 5 at www.McLeodDocDay.org.

On March 30, 1958, a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day was adopted by the US House of Representatives and in 1990 legislation was introduced in the House and Senate to establish a national Doctors’ Day. Following overwhelming approval by the House and Senate, on October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed a resolution designating March 30th as National Doctors’ Day.

“We have been proud through the years of our very competent, compassionate and dedicated medical staff. They have been and continue to be a key component to our success”, said James Craigie, MD, vice president of medical affairs. “We appreciate all they do for our patients and we are honored to recognize them for their efforts.”

McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast provide care for residents of northern Horry and southern Brunswick and Columbus counties. Founded in 1950, McLeod Loris is a fully-accredited acute care facility with 105 licensed beds. McLeod Seacoast opened in 2000 as an outpatient facility. In July 2011, McLeod Seacoast began providing inpatient care as a 50-bed hospital. On January 9, 2012, both facilities became part of the McLeod family of quality healthcare facilities. Other facilities located in Horry County affiliated with McLeod Health are Loris Extended Care Center and the Center for Health and Fitness.