Best Bets for the Myrtle Beach area, Feb. 28-March 6

February 27, 2014

Brookgreen Gardens will have an “Otter Birthday Celebration” 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1, to celebrate the second birthdays of three river otter pups, photographed soon after their birth in 2011. COURTESY


Brookgreen’s otter birthday party

Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, will have its “Otter Birthday Celebration” 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1, to celebrate three river otter pups about to turn 2. The trio, born March 11, 2011, have grown into big boys among a group of resident otters in an indoor-outdoor habitat in the Lowcountry Zoo. This birthday party will include craft tables with color sheets, word finds and masks; storybook reading; ice pops for the resident otters; and a zookeeper talk as the otters unwrap their presents.

Other events in March include (unless noted otherwise, free with admission, which lasts seven days: $14 ages 13-64, $12 ages 65 and older, and $7 ages 4-12):

• Exhibits “Equine Spirit: The Horse in American Art” exhibit, through April 20, and “Sojun tu Gullah Geechee” (“Sojourn to Gullah Geechee”), a traveling exhibit from Geechee Kunda Center, in Riceboro, Ga., noon-4:30 p.m. daily through March 16.

• Cooking Demos, 4 p.m. Wednesdays in March, for $25 extra ($20 members) – reservations at 235-6016.

• “Diggin’ It” Spring Garden Festival, March 22

Details at 235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org.

FRIDAY, NEXT THURSDAY | 02.28, 03.06

Curtains open for four plays

Two local historic theaters open plays Feb. 28 for three weekends through March 16:

• “Monty Python’s ‘SpamALot’ ” by Theatre of the Republic, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, and March 1, 6-8 and 13-15; and 3 p.m. March 2, 8-9 and 15-16, at Main Street Theatre, 335 Main. St., Conway, for $21. Details at 488-0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com).

• “The Constant Wife,” by Swamp Fox Players, 8 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1, 7-8 and 13-15; and 2:30 p.m. March 9 and 16, at Strand Theater, 710 Front St., Georgetown, for $15. 527-2924 or www.swampfoxplayers.com.

Two Horry County high schools will mount major productions starting March 6:

• “Shrek the Musical,” by students in grades 3-12, 7 p.m. March 6-9 and 3 p.m. March 8-9, at Socastee High School, on S.C. 707, near Dick Pond Road. $12 or $17. 293-9041 or socasteeperformingarts.com.

• “Fame the Musical,” 7 p.m. March 6-8, and 2 p.m. March 8, at St. James High School, at S.C. 707 and Salem Road, in Burgess community, for $8. 650-5600.

•

SATURDAY | 03.01

Tour churches, hear organs

Local members of the American Guild of Organists, Grand Strand Chapter, and five downtown Conway churches will present a historic tour on March 1. At each church stop for a half-hour, learn about that church’s history and architectural design, and enjoy a demonstration of the pipe and digital organs used in its worship programs. Admission is free.

Much more at:
 http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/27/4054638/best-bets-for-the-myrtle-beach.html#storylink=cpy

Where we Worship in the Myrtle Beach area

February 21, 2014 

SATURDAY 


TEMPLE EMANU-EL
406 65th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, second nature project is collecting canned goods, soups, drink mixes and juice boxes during the month of February. Bring donations to the Rosen Center and place in the basket by the door. Donations help the Community Kitchen and Helping Hand. Call 446-1060.

THE ALLEGANY FRANCISCAN ASSOCIATES OF ST. BRENDAN THE NAVIGATOR
5101 Ocean Highway W., Shallotte, N.C., all-day retreat, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Brendan Hall. $10 includes light breakfast foods and lunch. Call 249-7023 to register. 


MONDAY 

GREATER BIBLE WAY CHURCH
1518 Hawkins St., Georgetown, 39th pre-church anniversary service, 7 p.m. Call 527-4158.


TUESDAY 


ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
2080 Highway 129, Galivants Ferry, men’s Bible study, 5:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the family life center. The study title is “Confronting Empty Religion” from the book of Malachi. All men welcome. Call 358-6390.

BASIL HOPKO MISSION CHAPEL
3059 S.C. 90, Conway, Eastern Rite Catholic Liturgies, 5 p.m. All are welcome. Call 249-9502. 

Much more at:

 http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/21/4042952/where-we-worship-in-the-myrtle.html

NWS Issues Tornado Watch

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 23 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA

BLADEN                BRUNSWICK             COLUMBUS
NEW HANOVER           PENDER                ROBESON

IN SOUTH CAROLINA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES

IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA

DARLINGTON            DILLON                FLORENCE
GEORGETOWN            HORRY                 MARION
MARLBORO              WILLIAMSBURG

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...BURGAW...CONWAY...
DARLINGTON...DILLON...ELIZABETHTOWN...FLORENCE...GEORGETOWN...
KINGSTREE...LELAND...LUMBERTON...MARION...MYRTLE BEACH...
SHALLOTTE...SURF CITY...WHITEVILLE...
WILMINGTON AND WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH.

Horry County Recycling Centers Extend Sunday Hours for Winter Storm Debris

Conway, South Carolina - Residents in the unincorporated areas of Horry County, who need to dispose of their yard debris due to the winter storm, can take it to one of the 24 recycling centers (except Ketchuptown Recycling Center, which does not accept yard waste) and a link to the locations of the centers can be viewed athttp://www.solidwasteauthority.org/recyclingcenters.html. Horry County does not provide curbside trash pick-up services, as the unincorporated millage pays for the 24 recycling centers located throughout Horry County. The Horry County Solid Waste Authority is prepared to handle the large volume of vegetative debris that is expected to be disposed of at the centers. Additional information regarding the Horry County Solid Waste Authority is as follows:

    All Horry County Recycling Centers normally open on Sundays will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to accept storm debris from residents only on Sunday, February 22.  Contractors, landscapers and lawn care companies should utilize the Horry County landfill for disposal of storm debris.
    Residents utilizing the recycling centers are asked to cut all tree limbs into pieces no larger than 4' in length.

Private property owners in the unincorporated areas of Horry County are responsible for the removal of their own yard debris. Please do not place any yard debris in the county right-of-ways, as it will NOT be picked up.

When trimming or removing trees, please use the following safety tips:

    Stay Alert at All Times!
    Do not trim trees in dangerous weather conditions.
    Perform a hazard assessment of the work area before starting work.
    Eliminate or minimize exposure to hazards at the tree and in the surrounding area.
    Operators of chain saws and other equipment should be trained and the equipment properly maintained.
    Use personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, etc., recommended in the equipment manufacturer’s operating manual.
    Inspect tree limbs for strength and stability before climbing. Tree trimmers working aloft must use appropriate fall protection.
    Do not climb with tools in your hands.
    If broken trees are under pressure, determine the direction of the pressure and make small cuts to release it.
    Never turn your back on a falling tree.
    Be alert and avoid objects thrown back by a tree as it falls.

Due to warmer weather conditions expected this weekend, homeowners are urged to use extreme caution when burning vegetative debris that has fallen from the winter storm. State law requires that property owners notify the South Carolina Forestry Commission prior to burning outdoors by calling toll free at 1-800-986-5405. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that owners clean up from their yard. The notification law does not apply within town or city limits.

Homeowners should follow the below safety precautions:

·         The law requires property owners to clear a firebreak around the burning site and have the right equipment available to keep the fire under control.
·         Before doing any burning, establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around any burn barrels and even wider around brush piles and other piled debris to be burned. The larger the debris pile, the wider the control line that is needed to ensure that burning materials won’t be blown or roll off the pile into vegetation outside the line.

·         You must also stay with the fire until it is completely safe.
·         Keep water and hand tools ready in case your fire should attempt to spread.
·         Homeowners are responsible for the control of their outdoor fires.



Lisa H. Bourcier | Public Information Director
Horry County Government
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1236, Conway, South Carolina 29528
Tel 843.915.5390 | Fax 843.915.6390 | bourcier@horrycounty.org
www.horrycounty.org

Greater Burgess Community Association Quarterly Meeting

Note starting time of 6:30.

Al Jordan

President

Greater Burgess Community Association

843.215.1473

http://greaterburgesscommunity.org

Air Force One Museum looking for landing spot

By Steve Jones



Click Here to enlarge.


MYRTLE BEACH — An attempt to locate an Air Force Once Museum in Horry County had a second touchdown in Myrtle Beach recently, but if its reception here is like what it had in other cities, you probably don't want to buy tickets just yet.

According to various news reports, the museum didn't find the right formula or a home in Las Vegas; Charlotte; Fayetteville, N.C.; Wilmington, N.C., or Chicago before it found its way to the administration committee meeting of the Horry County Council earlier this week.

No news reports could be found for its touch-and-gos in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Fayetteville or Chicago, but it apparently shunned Wilmington just as the North Carolina Department of Transportation said it wouldn't donate 35 acres for the museum, but it would sell the land. It is unclear why museum officials opted not to build in Wilmington.

Continue at:

http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/02/15/5682503/air-force-one-museum-looking-for.html#storylink=cpy

Power outages persist across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee Thursday

Santee Cooper outage map as of 8:10 am Santee Cooper outage map as of 8:10 am

Horry Electric Cooperative outage map as of 8:10am Horry Electric Cooperative outage map as of 8:10am

Duke Energy outage map as of 8:10 am Duke Energy outage map as of 8:10 am
 
Photo of a frozen power line taken Wednesday. Source: Susan Greer Photo of a frozen power line taken Wednesday. Source: Susan Greer

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - As freezing temperatures persist across the region, widespread power outages are affecting tens of thousands of customers Thursday morning, according to outage information from local power companies.

SLIDESHOW: February 12-13 Winter Storm Damage
Photos from our staff and viewers of the damage caused to the area by the extreme winter storm on February 12 and 13. Send your pics to news@wmbfnews.com

GO HERE:

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/24702093/power-outages-reported-near-conway-mullins-garden-city-wednesday

Horry Now OPCON 3

Horry County Moves to OPCON 3 for Second Winter Storm

4:00 p.m. Update here:
 http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/12/4021296/second-round-of-winter-weather.html

 

Conway, South Carolina – Horry County has moved to Operating Condition Level 3 (OPCON 3) in preparation of continuous wintry weather over the next 24 hours. OPCON 3 puts Horry County on “Standby” status, as county officials continue to monitor storm activity. Horry County has activated its operational plans and will continue to keep everyone aware of any changes in the forecast and will take appropriate actions when necessary. Horry County has NOT opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), but county officials will be monitoring conditions throughout the evening and tomorrow.

 

Issues throughout the county are iced trees and tree limbs which are falling, causing roads to be blocked and downed power lines. Sporadic power outages are likely overnight and possibly into tomorrow and residents should contact their local power provider to report any outages. Drivers are urged to use caution due to tree debris and downed power lines. Drivers should also use caution overnight when traveling over overpasses and on bridges.

###

Additional Horry County CLOSINGS

Due to inclement weather, the following Horry County schedule changes are as follows:

• All family, circuit, magistrate, magistrate jury and probate court hearings will be canceled on Wednesday, February 12.
• All Clerk of Courts Offices will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12.
• All afterschool care is canceled at all Horry County Recreation Centers on Wednesday, February 12.
• The Treasurer and Probate Offices located at the South Strand Complex, off of Holmestown Road, are closed.

 

 

Lisa H. Bourcier | Public Information DirectorHorry County Government

ROADS GETTING WORSE: 10:00 a.m. Storm Update

Following is from MBOnline:

10:00 a.m. UPdate at:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/12/4021296/second-round-of-winter-weather.html

Nikki Haley Storm Statement

February 11, 2014:

"We are bracing for a major ice storm. Please stay off the roads. We will have numerous power outages due to ice. Contact your power co asap. Do not assume they know about your outage, they don't unless you report it. Do not use candles, use flashlights. Hunker down and know that Team South Carolina is at work! DOT, DPS, DNR, DSS, DHEC, National Guard, BCBd, SLED, LLR, ORS, our EMD ofifces, utility companies, first responders....we appreciate all of you! Be safe."

Things to do in the Myrtle Beach area on Feb. 10

February 9, 2014

Book some bargains

At the L’il Book Nook, new and used books are available for purchase Mondays-Thursdays, most for $1 or less, to benefit adult literacy programs. Details at 839-1695 or www.literacyhc.org.

Details | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Horry County Literacy Council, in the Myrtle Beach Family Learning Center, 3101 Oak St.

WonderWorks discount

WonderWorks interactive science museum continues “Local Appreciation Days” through March 7 for residents of Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties with ID. Details at 626-9962 or www.wonderworksonline.com.

Details | Open 10 a.m. at Broadway at the Beach, at U.S. 17 Bypass, off 21st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, for $14.99 ages 13-54 and $9.99 ages 4-12 and 55 and older (regular rates, $22.99 and $14.99, respectively).

Opera workshop meets

The Grand Strand Opera Workshop meets the second Monday monthly, this time with a DVD showing of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Details at 385-3963, and Brightwater at 903-8300.

Details | 3 p.m. at Brightwater, 101 Brightwater Road, off International Drive and S.C. 31, northwest of Myrtle Beach; annual dues $25 individual, or $35 for family/couple; first meeting free for guests.
Much more here: 

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/09/4011960/things-to-do-in-the-myrtle-beach.html#storylink=cpy

Greater Bugess Roadside Cleanup

To the Communities of the Burgess Community

The Greater Burgess Community Association needs your help.

We're sure you realize the importance of a litter-free Burgess.

We are organizing our first Burgess Community Cleanup and we intend to make it a success.
Our goal is to involve Burgess residents in improving our community's appearance and fostering neighborhood pride. Your help is needed to promote this effort and to help secure volunteers.

What we need from you is someone willing to lead your group's participation and to recruit volunteers. The more volunteers the better, but if only a few volunteers from each of the forty-plus neighborhoods in Burgess show up March 15th, we can muster a workforce capable of substantially bettering the appearance of our community. The actual time needed for our initial cleanup will take just a couple of hours that Saturday morning and will make a big difference.

We teamed up with Keep Horry County Beautiful and several business sponsors to further our efforts. Cleanup participants will receive incentives such as a free t-shirt to all those who preregister and possibly a free breakfast biscuit and coffee and/or lunch snack on the day of the cleanup.

The presence of litter in our communities adversely affects our quality of life and property values.
According to a study conducted for Keep America Beautiful, litter reduces property values by a little over 7%. That means for a $150,000 home in our community, litter in the area degrades the value of that home by roughly $11,000.

Plus, litter has environmental consequences. It can accumulate and clog our storm drains and stormwater systems, which could lead to flooding in the case of severe storms or hurricanes.

Litter along our community roadways reflects on us, our values and on the expectations we have for ourselves and the community in which we live. Please provide Al Jordan or Scott Maxwell with the name, email address and phone number of a Cleanup Leader for your neighborhood by Saturday, February 15th, and help to better Burgess.

Sincerely,

Al Jordan  
President                                                         
Greater Burgess Community Association                    843.215.1473  

Scott MaxwellNeighborhood Coordinator                                                       843.240.2919

maxwellkscott@yahoo.com

http://greaterburgesscommunity.org

Things to do in the Myrtle Beach area on Feb. 9

February 8, 2014

Two auto-driven outings

Auto enthusiasts have two special events:

• Hot Rod Promotions cruise-in, noon-3 p.m. Feb. 9 at Cheesesteak U, 1867 S.C. 544, Conway, for free. Details at 503-8245.

• Myrtle Beach Corvette Club, monthly meeting 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery, at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach. 284-0127 or www.myrtlebeachcorvetteclub.com.

Four shows in finales

Four shows reach their final days:

 • Myrtle Beach Stamp Club’s annual show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 101 Fantasy Harbour Blvd., off U.S. 501 and George Bishop Parkway, just west of Myrtle Beach and along Intracoastal Waterway. Free admission and appraisals. Details at 347-0087 or email lilfort@sccoast.net.

• Beatles tribute concert by The Fab 2 – Brian and Bruce McElroy, 6 p.m. at Wahoo’s Fish House, 3993 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet (651-5800); no cover charge. www.thefab2.com

Much more here:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/02/08/4002987/things-to-do-in-the-myrtle-beach.html#storylink=cpy

Hartsville woman shares in championship

 ‘Super’ Mom: Hartsville woman shares in championship moment with her Seahawk son
 

Posted: Thursday, February 6, 2014 5:29 pm

BY ARDIE ARVIDSON

HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Cathy Brown can still remember the days when her son, Tony McDaniel, played rec football in Hartsville and the two years he took the field for the Hartsville High School Red Foxes.

Brown, who has worked at the Hartsville Wal-Mart for the for more than 20 years, had what she called “a dream come true” on Sunday as she watched her son play in Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“The Super Bowl hasn’t left me yet,” Brown said on Tuesday after returning to Hartsville. “It was the most amazing experience.”

McDaniel, a 6-7, 305-pound starting defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, reached the pinnacle of his profession as he and his teammates hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Denver Broncos 48-3. Win or lose, McDaniel made sure his family was not left out on his big day. He invited his parents and several family members to make the trip to New York so that that could share in all the excitement.

continued at:
http://www.scnow.com/messenger/sports/article_2311aa06-8f7e-11e3-b79f-0017a43b2370.html

The Middle Class Is Steadily Eroding. Just Ask the Business World

G.E. Appliances' fastest-growing brand is its Café line of refrigerators and other appliances, which is directed at the high end of the market.

By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ

FEB. 2, 2014

" ... in corporate America there really is no debate at all. The post-recession reality is that the customer base for businesses that appeal to the middle class is shrinking as the top tier pulls even further away."

In Manhattan, the upscale clothing retailer Barneys will replace the bankrupt discounter Loehmann’s, whose Chelsea store closes in a few weeks. Across the country, Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants are struggling, while fine-dining chains like Capital Grille are thriving. And at General Electric, the increase in demand for high-end dishwashers and refrigerators dwarfs sales growth of mass-market models.

As politicians and pundits in Washington continue to spar over whether economic inequality is in fact deepening, in corporate America there really is no debate at all. The post-recession reality is that the customer base for businesses that appeal to the middle class is shrinking as the top tier pulls even further away.

If there is any doubt, the speed at which companies are adapting to the new consumer landscape serves as very convincing evidence. Within top consulting firms and among Wall Street analysts, the shift is being described with a frankness more often associated with left-wing academics than business experts.

The top 5 percent of earners accounted for almost 40 percent of personal consumption expenditures in 2012, up from 27 percent in 1992. Largely driven by this increase, consumption among the top 20 percent grew to more than 60 percent over the same period.

“Those consumers who have capital like real estate and stocks and are in the top 20 percent are feeling pretty good,” said John G. Maxwell, head of the global retail and consumer practice at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Continued at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/business/the-middle-class-is-steadily-eroding-just-ask-the-business-world.html
 

S.C. National Guard to support Horry County in training exercise

FYI – from the S.C. National Guard.

 

S.C. National Guard to support Horry County in training exercise

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The S.C. National Guard will conduct training to support Horry County during their public safety training event “Operation Coastal Response 2014,” responding to the scenario of a simulated commercial airliner crash near Myrtle Beach on Saturday, February 1, 2014. 

            The S.C. National Guard will have more than 200 Guard members conducting training in the areas of Conway, Bucksport Marina, Wacca Wache Marina and around Georgetown and Horry Counties.   

          The S.C. National Guard’s portion of the exercise is called “Palmetto Thunder” and will practice capabilities of hazardous materials response, bridging operations, helicopter operations and public safety assistance. Volunteers from the South Carolina State Guard will also support the exercise. 

       The citizens of South Carolina can expect to see an increase of military vehicles and rotary aircraft during this training period and should not be alarmed.  The S.C. National Guard appreciates the continued support from the community.    

            “This exercise validates our coordination procedures with county EOCs and first responders,” said Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., The Adjutant General for S.C. “The importance and value of conducting these exercises can be illustrated as recently as a few days ago, when our National Guard members supported the S.C. Department of Public Safety during the winter storm.”        

-30-

For information about the S.C. National Guard’s training during “Palmetto Thunder” please call MAJ Cindi King at 803-667-1413.

 

For more information regarding Operation Coastal Response 2014, please call Horry County Emergency Management at (843) 915-5150. .