February 8, 2013 North Myrtle Beach/Little River, SC In recognition of National Heart Month, McLeod Loris Seacoast is offering a free heart health seminar at McLeod Seacoast.  The seminar will feature a heart specialist who will be discussing heart health, risks for developing heart disease and preventive measures that can be taken to maintain a healthy heart.

Dr. Nathan Almeida, of Pee Dee Cardiology, will be the key speaker at Dessert with the Doctor scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, at 5:30 p.m. at McLeod Seacoast. Dr. Almeida will focus on heart health and discuss the warning signs of heart attack in men and women. He will talk in depth about the preventive testing, such as a lipid profile, which can be done to monitor the heart and help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.  He will also offer information about lifestyle changes that can be made to maintain a healthy heart and discuss ways to avoid reoccurrence if you have suffered a stroke or heart attack.
 
For more information or to register for this informative seminar, please call (843) 390-8326.

February 7, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – During their February 4 meeting, the North Myrtle Beach City Council appointed Sarah Richardson to serve on the Tree City Board, and passed a resolution identifying February 7-14 as National Marriage Week in North Myrtle Beach.

Employee Longevity Awards were provided to two City employees. Records Supervisor Diane Hardee has worked for the City for 25 years, and Heavy Equipment Operator Willie Gause for 15 years. We thank both employees for their outstanding service.

Council passed first reading of an ordinance to amend the Robber’s Roost Planned Development District. The proposed amendment involves a redesign of the Town Center portion of the project.
Council considered second reading of a zoning ordinance and map amendment for a Marina Mixed Use Floating Zone. After discussion, Council decided to hold a February 25, 4:00 p.m. workshop on the matter in City Council Chambers at City Hall. Council members decided to hold the workshop in order to achieve a better understanding of the commercial activities that could be allowed within marinas that may be located adjacent to residential areas.

Council also pointed out that a marina planned for a location adjacent to the Tidewater community on Little River Neck Road is already permitted by S.C. DHEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The City itself does not have a legislative role in permitting such facilities. The owners of the land on which the proposed marina would be located expressed an interest in annexing their property into the City of North Myrtle Beach in order to receive police and fire protection, and other City services. At that point, the City began to consider the creation of a “floating” or movable zone that would regulate marinas along the Intracoastal Waterway as proposals for them arose. Council stressed that the owners of the marina property still have the option of not annexing into the city and constructing their marina under county regulations.

Council considered second reading of an ordinance to amend the Bellasera on the Waterway PDD. After much discussion relating to the required setback between housing units, the applicant requested that Council table the matter until its next meeting. In the interim, the applicant will work with the City to address Council’s desire for a greater setback between housing units.

Council passed second reading of an ordinance to eliminate in its entirety the W-1 (Waterfront Pleasure District) zone. The zone, which used to cover the City’s entire oceanfront, was put in place prior to the federal and state laws governing oceanfront construction. It also addressed activities as opposed to land uses. Those activities are now regulated by other ordinances.

Council passed second reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance to add a new overlay district called Crescent Beach Neighborhood Overlay. This will aid future development and redevelopment within the 17th Avenue South corridor.

Council also passed second reading of an ordinance to amend the Comprehensive Plan in the Crescent Beach Neighborhood District. Now, instead of having to provide all required parking upfront, a fee-in-lieu option will be available to property owners who want to develop or redevelop their property. A fee of $1,200 per parking space would be collected by the City, and the funds deposited in a separate account, to be used solely for the purpose of improving the 17th Avenue South corridor streetscape with new public parking.

At the request of Barefoot Landing, a proposed ordinance to amend the Barefoot Landing PDD to allow body piercing as an approved use was removed from the agenda.

Council passed first reading of a proposed major amendment to the Barefoot Resort PDD to abandon Private Drive and reestablish a new public right of way connection to Water Tower Road. The City would provide the engineering, labor and equipment for the project, and the Barefoot Residential Owners Association would purchase materials for the project and obtain any equipment needed for the project that the City does not already possess. The new connection is necessary in order to provide emergency access for residents who live on the south side of Barefoot Resort, and it would help to alleviate traffic concerns in Barefoot Resort.

A request to amend Tuscan Sands in the Barefoot Resort PDD was tabled at the request of the applicant.
Council passed first reading of an ordinance regulating the purchase and use of laser pointers. North Myrtle Beach was the first municipality along the Grand Strand to establish an ordinance regulating the possession and use of laser pointers, however, since that law was established, Horry County has passed a more restrictive ordinance. The County’s ordinance has also been adopted by the City of Myrtle Beach and the Town of Surfside Beach. If it passes second reading, the City’s new laser pointer ordinance will mirror that of the other jurisdictions. The move to further tighten laser pointer laws grew out of increased illegal use of laser pointers this past summer. Some of that illegal activity targeted a rescue helicopter used locally in a search for lost boaters, and some of it focused on commercial aircraft.

February 6, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Mayor Marilyn Hatley and the North Myrtle Beach City Council invite the public to participate in a February 18 reception honoring former South Carolina State Senator Dick Elliott for his 30 years of service to the community.

The February 18 event will be held 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the atrium at North Myrtle Beach City Hall, 1018 Second Avenue South.

Dick moved to the Grand Strand in 1959 from Camden, South Carolina. He attended Wingate Junior College in North Carolina and Clemson University in South Carolina.

Elliott has been a South Carolina senator since 1992 and State representative for the 10 years prior. He served with 100% attendance each day the House was in session for 10 years, an unparalleled record in the history of South Carolina.

Dick and his wife Anne have one daughter, two sons and three grandchildren.

February 2, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC  - So far two civic organizations have set dates for the public to meet, greet and ask questions of the five candidates for Horry Council Chairman.  

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 The Greater Carolina Forest Republican Women's Club will meet at 4pm at Longbeard's Restaurant (5040 Carolina Forest Blvd.).  The speakers already confirmed to attend include:  Al Allen, Mark Lazarus and Debbie Harwell.  The candidates will each address the group and then there will be an open question and answer session.  There will also be an informal meet and greet following the meeting with some appetizers presented by Longbeard's restaurant.   Everyone is invited to attend.  

If you have any questions about the meeting or the GCFRW please contact Jan McDonald at 236-7799 or at cfrw2012@gmail.com.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Sav-R-Cats will host a public luncheon debate among the five (5) Republican candidates vying for the H C Chairmanship on starting 12:30 PM, at the Omega Pancake & Omelette House 2800 North Kings Hwy ( Hwy 17 Business) Myrtle Beach. The three course, plus beverage, lunch is going to cost $8.00 per person.
 
The Republican candidates invited and expected to attend are : H C Councilman Al Allen; Hon. Liz Gilland; Debbie Harwell; Hon Mark Lazarus and Fonzie Lewis. Each candidate will to given 3 minutes to introduce themselves and briefly discuss their qualifucations for being County Chair, after which the public will have an opportunity to ask questions of each candidates.
 
The public is invited to attend. In order to reserve your seat, reservations are requested call Sharon Dumay at 843-997-8701; Barbara Cook 843-651-9505; or Ted Sedje 843-3819280
 

January 30, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Five Republicans filed as candidates for the vacated Horry County Council Chair seat.  Al Allen, current Councilman and owner of Allen Aviation; Liz Gilland former two term County Council Chair; Debbie Harwell, owner of Adobe Palm Communications; Mark Lazarus, owner of Wild Water and Wheels and Fonzie Lewis, owner of 501 Mini Mart all met the filing dead line.  No one filed as a democrat.

Sandy Martin, Horry County Election official released the following information:
 
February 11 - Last day to register to Vote in Primary
March 12 - Primary
March 26 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)
April 1 - Last day to register to vote in Special Election
April 30 - Special Election

The position was vacated when former Horry County Chairman Tom Rice was elected to Congress as the Representative from the newly formed SC 7th Congressional District. The filing period for people interested in running for Rice's old seat began on January 18th.


 

North Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Dance Partners is now offering ballroom dance classes on Mondays, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center in North Myrtle Beach. The cost for the class is $10 per person or $15 per couple.

Beginner and intermediate dancers are welcome. Participants can learn to Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Cha-Cha, and more. An introduction to show dancing is included. Wedding dances are also a part of the package.
No partner is required. It is recommended that participants wear smooth sole shoes with sling back or enclosed heel. Private lessons are also available by appointment.
For more information regarding this class, please call the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 280-5584 or Carolina Dance Partners at (843) 798-2639 or (843) 995-1862.

January 24, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC - The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department is searching for local artists who would like to participate in the Artists Everywhere program. Artists Everywhere is a monthly art display at City Hall that showcases local painters, sculptors, potters, and more.

Local artists who are interested in learning more about the program may call (843) 280-5584. Artists may also visit http://parks.nmb.us/ and, under the “Recreation” category at the top of the homepage, click on Artists Everywhere. The link also offers examples of past exhibits.
City of North Myrtle Beach - Parks & Recreation

January 7, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – City spokesman, Pat Dowling, announded that North Myrtle Beach residents may participate in the Recycle your treeGrinding of the Greens Christmas tree recycling program by dropping off their natural Christmas trees at any of the following locations through January 23. (Trees must be stripped of all decorative materials.)

1. WINDY HILL - Public parking lot at 38th Avenue South and Seaview Street.
2. CRESCENT BEACH: In the parking lot across from the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center at 1030 Possum Trot Road.
3. OCEAN DRIVE: In the paved public parking lot on the northeast side of Main Street between Ocean Boulevard and Hillside Drive.
4. CHERRY GROVE: In the public parking lot at intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Shorehaven Drive (near 19th Avenue North).

December 8, 2012— North Myrtle Beach/Loris, Sc - The Loris Seacoast Healthcare Foundation will celebrate the "Lights of Love" Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 13, at 5:45 p.m. The ceremony will be held at McLeod Loris Extended Care Center.

Proceeds raised through the tree lightings will directly benefit McLeod Loris Seacoast.

Lights are available with gifts to Loris Seacoast Healthcare Foundation of $25 each. Sponsorships are also available for $1,000 in honor of or memory of an individual. One hundred percent of each gift is tax-deductible. Please call Loris Seacoast Healthcare Foundation if you are interested in a sponsorship. Individuals, groups and organizations are encouraged to participate by supporting McLeod Loris Seacoast in this meaningful way.

The "Lights of Love" program is sponsored by the Loris Seacoast Healthcare Foundation to directly fund items needed for McLeod Loris Seacoast to meet the critical health care needs of our community.

McLeod Loris Seacoast serves patients in Horry county in South Carolina and Brunswick and Columbus counties in North Carolina.
 
While the lights on the tree will brighten the community this season, the gifts they represent will help bring the light of hope to McLeod Loris Seacoast patients and their families.

For more information on the "Lights of Love" Tree Lighting Ceremony, please call (843) 390-8215.

December 4, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – City spokesman, Pat Dowling reported, “During the December 3 meeting of the North Myrtle Beach City Council, Sandhills Bank of North Myrtle Beach presented the City with a check in the amount of $1,140.00 to benefit the Shop with a Cop program managed by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department. The funds were collected during the 2012 Mayfest on Main, a Water Dog Promotions event held annually in North Myrtle Beach.

From 2006 to the present, Sandhills Bank of North Myrtle and its employees have played an integral part in helping to raise money for the Shop with a Cop program through raffles at Mayfest on Main.

The North Myrtle Beach Shop with a Cop program, created and managed by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department, focuses on children in need at North Myrtle Beach Primary, Elementary and Intermediate schools. Guidance counselors at the schools identify children to receive program benefits. The children enjoy a luncheon and each child is presented with a $100 Walmart gift card. North Myrtle Beach Police Officers and other volunteers help guide the children through Walmart as they purchase presents and necessity items, such as winter coats.”

Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are Sandhills Bank of NMB Manager Gretchen Floyd and NMB Public Safety Director Jay Fernandez.