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Monday, December 14, 2009

The West Main Artists Cooperative

The West Main Artists Cooperative is a non-profit initiative that houses thirty-five artists. Howard Solomon purchased the 20,000 square foot West Main Baptist church a few months back with the notion of giving artists an affordable place to work, providing a diverse group to learn from and forming a catalyst which would both pull the Spartanburg community together with fine art and help revitalize the downtown area. All aspect of the arts is produced here: painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic design, writing, music, performing arts are in the works, ceramics, jewelry making, and creative thinking in general. Plenty of exhibition space is here to hang, view, and sell work.

This new group cannot wait to work with other local art groups for future projects that will push Spartanburg into that huge art scene like Greenville, Asheville, Columbia and Charlotte have. Great ideas for community functions that focus on the fine arts are on the table now! Never before has Spartanburg had such a diverse collection of artists in one spot. This is a place where people can learn from others and apply that knowledge to her/his work. Each will push another to a new level of clarity that will expand their art. Growth as an artist from a collective seems to be the theme here. Over all, it is a new foundation of creativity where individuals become stronger through their peers.
The artists come from all over the county to unite the town during hard economic times, proving the upstate will rise and usher in a new sense of place for artists to work for years to come.

The co-op has the Main Street Trolley for three months, so getting here will not be a problem during each and every Art Walk.

The Cooperative hopes to see as many new faces as they will the old on December 17th for their first Art Walk. Come explore all mediums of art at 578 West Main Street.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Police, Victim Advocates and Wal-Mart Provide Christmas Gifts for Children

Police, Victim Advocates and Wal-Mart Provide Christmas Gifts for Children

The Spartanburg Public Safety Department; Office of Victim Assistance, Wal-Mart Super Centers, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, United Way of the Piedmont, Weed & Seed, Integral Solutions, 911 Communications, FRED’S, Converse Fire Department, The Church of Latter Day Saints – Spartanburg First Ward and area High Schools have teamed up to sponsor “Shop with a Cop”. Officers and Victim Advocates will kick off this year’s event for the first time at the Dorman Centre Wal-Mart Super Center on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 10:00am. The event will then make its’ annual occurrence on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at Wal-Mart Super Center at 2151 E. Main St. in Spartanburg at 10:00am and the Wal-Mart Super Center at 4000 Hwy 9 in Boiling Springs at 2:00pm to give children an opportunity to fulfill their Christmas wishes. The event will begin with a meeting with Santa Claus and then the children are paired with an officer who will assist them with their Christmas shopping for that special gift.

The children benefiting from this event may not otherwise experience the joy of Christmas from a child’s perspective. Needy children from the Spartanburg area, as well as children who are victim/survivors of crime, have been invited to participate in this year’s “Shop with a Cop”. Spartanburg Public Safety Department Victim Advocate, Marla Drummond states that, “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our community’s youngest citizens a memorable holiday experience that truly exhibits the sincere caring of the Spartanburg community".

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

ROAD CLOSINGS FOR DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS



ROAD CLOSINGS FOR DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS

The 16th annual A Dickens of a Christmas is planned for Tuesday, December 1 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in downtown Spartanburg. Due to the event the following streets will be closed starting at 3 p.m.

• Converse Street from Dunbar Street to Broad Street
• Main Street from Converse Street to Spring Street
• Magnolia Street at the Magnolia Parking Garage to Dunbar Street
• Wall Street from Main Street to Broad Street
• Broad Street from Church Street to Converse Street

The following will close at 5 p.m.
• Church Street from St. John Street to Broad Street

The Victorian-era celebration complete with horse drawn carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, hand bell choirs, ballet dancers, characters from the Charles Dickens novel, living windows, holiday choirs, and the magical Denny’s Tree Lighting Ceremony has drawn tens of thousands of attendees for the last 15 years. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 8:00 p.m. with a community sing-along of favorite Christmas songs, led by the Spartanburg Community Band, University of South Carolina Upstate Gospel Choir and Park Hills Elementary School Chorus.

To learn more details about the celebration visit http://www.spartanburgdickens.org/

Monday, November 23, 2009

Feed the Community - This Thursday!

Feed the Community -
This Thursday!

For the 22nd year, Spartanburg County community organizations and individuals are joining together in a Feed the Community effort to ensure everyone who is hungry enjoys a hearty meal on Thanksgiving Day. Last year, approximately 6,000 meals were served. This year’s number is expected to increase.

Meals will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 at the Second Presbyterian Church Soup Kitchen from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. In addition, meals will be delivered to those who do not have transportation, or prefer to eat at home, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Preparation is provided by volunteers from area churches and ministries within Spartanburg County.

Volunteers Needed
• Licensed drivers are needed to deliver food, using their own vehicles, on Thanksgiving morning.
• Volunteers are also needed to help prepare and serve food.
• Volunteers should call 582-7556.
Donations Needed
• Anyone wishing to make a donation is asked to send a tax-deductible check, or money order, made payable to South Carolina Christian Foundation. The address is P.O. Box 2397, Spartanburg, SC 29304. Please indicate that it is for Feed The Community.
• Call 949-5800 for additional information.
Family/Individual Delivery Orders
• Requests for delivered meals are to be placed in advance by calling WSPA 888-777-7556 Monday – Wednesday, November 23 – 25, 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Transportation
• Although SPARTA buses do not normally run on Thanksgiving Day, the City has authorized a special schedule to help bring guests to Second Presbyterian Church Soup Kitchen. For a schedule, please call General Manager, Marc Keenan @ 595-2710.

For additional information, contact Rev. Paul McKee at 641-5140 or Tina Nichols at 590-5022.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

City of Spartanburg to celebrate Arbor Day


City of Spartanburg to celebrate Arbor Day

In celebration of Arbor Day, the community is invited to join Mayor Bill Barnet, III, Chris Thompson of Land Art Design Group and Holly Welch of South Carolina Forestry Department, in the planting of a Bigleaf Magnolia and a Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress. The Bigleaf Magnolia is donated by the Spartanburg Community College Horticulture Department and the Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress donated by the City of Spartanburg. These trees fit noted horticulturalist and author Michael Dirr’s definition of Noble Tree because they are both “manifest and magnificent in stature.”

Rain or shine, the event takes place on December 4, 10:00-10:30 a.m., at Happy Hollow Park in the Converse Heights Neighborhood.

Although nationally observed on the last Friday in April, Arbor Day traditionally falls on the first Friday of December in South Carolina because it’s the best time to locally plant trees. Spartanburg takes pride in the fact that this is the 28th year it has been designated by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City. A city must meet four standards of excellence in the area of tree management in order to qualify for this designation. Details can be found at www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/standards.cfm.

For more details, contact Joshua Henderson, City Planner, at 864-596-2069 or jhenderson@cityofspartanburg.org.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Special Thanksgiving Farmers' Market Planned


The Hub City Farmers’ Market is hosting a special pre-Thanksgiving market on November 20, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. The market is located on Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg; the market will included locally grown vegetables, turnips, turnip greens and sweet potatoes as well as free-range turkeys and other meats.

Cornbread to Caviar’s executive chef, Bill McClellan, will perform a cooking demonstration of a Thanksgiving dish with products from the market.

Local artists and food vendors will be on location to sell goods for holiday shoppers and Little River Roasting Co. will sell coffee by the cup.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CITY OF SPARTANBURG INCREASES GREEN FOOT PRINT


CITY OF SPARTANBURG INCREASES GREEN FOOT PRINT


Beginning December 7, 2009 the City of Spartanburg’s Solid Waste department will introduce improvements to its current recycling program.

Large 96 gallon roll carts will replace the current 16 gallon bins. Recycling pickup will go from a weekly pick up to a twice a month pick up. The new carts will be delivered beginning November 17th with all carts delivered by November 30th. This new procedure increases individual residence recycling pick up from 16 gallons/weekly to 192 gallons/monthly.

All paper products and empty metal cans will be accepted in your recycling cart for pick up. Glass should be taken to Spartanburg County Convenience Centers.

A City representative will attend Neighborhood Association meetings to educate and to answer any questions residents may have.

For additional information, please contact Bill Thompson, Solid Waste Manager @ 864-562-2931.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Tomorrow in downtown!

The Business and Professional Women organization is sponsoring an "After Hours Shopping Extravaganza" for downtown Spartanburg. The group invites the public to shop
at women owned business tomorrow, October 27, 2009.
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.

LUNCH TIME JAZZ ON THE SQUARE THIS FRIDAY CLOSES OUT 2009 SEASON


LUNCH TIME JAZZ ON THE SQUARE THIS FRIDAY CLOSES OUT 2009 SEASON

The 2009 Jazz on the Square series ends this Friday, October 30 – with a special lunch time concert on the Square. Jazz lovers can bring their lunch and enjoy music from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm by the fountain on Morgan Square.

Carolina Breeze, a four piece ensemble from Spartanburg, will be performing at JOTS. The group’s leader is Rupert Hodges, who plays guitar and saxophone. He is joined by his wife Sally on vocals and keyboard, Nate Hearn on drums, and David Porter on bass. Carolina Breeze performs light jazz and ballads.

“We like to mix in songs that people recognize and enjoy,” said Hodges. “We play a little bit of everything – jazz, country ballads, beach music, Duke Ellington tunes, and songs from the 60s and 70s. We want to play something that everybody in the audience will like.” Hodges said that they will have several guest performers joining them during the two-hour concert on Friday as well.

As an added “treat” for this Jazz on the Square, there will be candy for those who would like to bring out the little trick or treaters one day early.

Jazz on the Square is produced and coordinated by the City of Spartanburg’s Special Events Office. It is presented by QS/1. Event goers can check the Special Events Hotline number at 864-596-3613 for updated information and any cancellations because of inclement weather.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Spartanburg High School Homecoming This Weekend

The Vikings are coming home this weekend for the Spartanburg High School Homecoming activities. Events kick-off tonight with a school parade beginning at 6 p.m.
on Fernwood-Glendale road.

Thursday is the big game against Hillcrest High school with a school tailgating beginning at 5 p.m. behind Gibbs Stadium. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m and WLOS’s TV coverage will run from 6:45 PM to 10:00 PM. The coverage will air on WLOS’s affiliate
station WMYA, Channel 5 on Charter.

On Friday, join the Vikings at Jazz on the Square and take a trolley ride to see children's art exhibits throughout the city. Saturday includes an alumni golf tournament at Creek Golf Club along with other family friendly events.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Street Beat Tonight!


Street Beat Tonight
Street Beat preforms tonight at the Chapman Cultural Center. Show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.
To order tickets, call 864-542-ARTS or visit chapmanculturalcenter.org

Thursday, October 15, 2009

ArtCycle Auction


Thank you to the community for your support of ArtCycle. The auction is now closed and we sold ALL of the ArtCycles! Applications for ArtCycle 2010 will be posted in January.

ArtCycle - Auction Home Page - cMarket Fundraising Auction

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Hub City Empty Bowls - This Saturday!


Hub City Empty Bowls
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Plaza at Chapman Cultural Center.
3 - 7 p.m. at The Showroom.
Open to the public

Eat Soup… Keep the Bowl… Feed the Hungry

Help feed local hungry citizens by purchasing a bowl of soup served in a handmade bowl for a $15. All of the bowls are made by volunteers in the community. The soup is donated by local restaurants. All proceeds go to a local charity that feeds the hungry. Keep the souvenir bowl as a reminder of helping others.

Hub City Empty Bowls is being headed by Jim Cullen, a local potter and pottery instructor at the Spartanburg Art Museum (SAM) Art School. HUB-BUB is partnering with Carolina Clay Artists, SAM’s Art School and Chapman Cultural Center in this project.
The goal of Empty Bowls is to raise money to help organizations fight hunger, to raise awareness about the issues of hunger and food security and to help bring about an attitude that will not allow hunger to exist.

For more information about Hub City Empty Bowls, please email HubCityEmptyBowls@gmail.com or call Jim Cullen at 320-5358.

The Empty Bowls Project, a grassroots movement to help end hunger, started in North Carolina. From its humble beginnings as a meal for the staff of one high school, Empty Bowls has spread across the United States and beyond and has raised tens of millions of dollars for anti-hunger organizations.

Chris Story Joins City of Spartanburg

The City of Spartanburg announces the hiring of Chris Story as the new Assistant City Manager effective November 1. Reporting directly to City Manager Ed Memmott, Story’s direct responsibilities will include internal and support operations.


Story will be leaving his current position as Assistant County Administrator for Spartanburg County, Chris states, “This is an exciting new challenge for me and an opportunity for which I am grateful. I've understood for many years that the county cannot reach its full potential without a thriving vibrant and prosperous city. Although I'll have plenty to learn about the unique challenges of the city, in many ways this move allows a continuation of the same goal I've worked on for over a decade - helping make my home community the best it can be”.



Selected from over 150 candidates, Chris has a B.A. in Business Economics from Wofford College. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Clemson University/USC.



“The City conducted a national search for the position of Assistant City Manager and is pleased that Mr. Story has accepted the position. Chris brings great enthusiasm, a proven record of professional accomplishment, and commitment to the Spartanburg Community. The City team looks forward to working with him.” states Ed Memmott.



For additional information please contact Ed Memmott, City Manager, 864-596-2394, ememmott@cityofspartanburg.org.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Hot Spot Skate Park Grand Opening Announced

CITY ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING OF THE HOT SPOT SKATE PARK

The Hot Spot Skate Park located at 339 Union Street will be holding it’s official Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 10 beginning at 11:00 a.m. and will remain open until 11:00 p.m.

After opening remarks from the Mayor, the day will be filled with demos by professional skate boarders, contests, give-aways, skateboarding for youth/adults, and much more!
The City of Spartanburg and the Coalition for Active Youth are very grateful for the supporters of the new Hot Spot Skate Park. Without their support, the skate park would never have been possible. The Hot Spot Skate Park is managed and operated by the City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation Department.
For additional information, please contact Brian Wofford, City of Spartanburg’s Parks & Recreation Superintendant at 864-562-4059.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Imagine That - Tomorrow Night




Join Imagine That tomorrow at the Chapman Cultural Center. Tickets are $7 in advance and the show begins at 7 p.m. Performances recommended for children 13 years or older.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

CITY OF SPARTANBURG PARTNERS WITH BMW


CITY OF SPARTANBURG PARTNERS WITH BMW

Together with BMW Manufacturing Co., the City of Spartanburg announces a new revitalization project being developed adjacent to the new CC Woodson Community Center.

The project, primarily a green space revitalization project, will include stream restoration in order to construct a new walking trail, an outdoor classroom and native plantings. The goal of the project is to create a connection with the community center and the Collins Park development to include an area where young people can gather and learn about the importance of protecting our environment.

A voluntary work day is being planned for late January 2010. This will allow the community to lend a hand in cleaning up the area and reinforce their commitment to volunteerism.

The project will be completed by early 2010 around the same time that the new CC Woodson Community Center opens its doors to the community. A ribbon cutting will be scheduled at that time.

City of Spartanburg’s Mayor William Barnet, III states "We salute, and deeply appreciate, the interest of BMW in our community and all the communities across the face of the upstate. This visionary partnership encourages all of us to better focus on our neighborhoods and deliver the quality of life our citizens seek."

“BMW hopes this new area engages young citizens to invest in the community, stated Max Metcalf, Manager, Community Relations for BMW. As we have done with other programs, we want our young people to learn the importance of environmental responsibility and building sustainable communities for generations to come.”

For additional information regarding the City’s partnership with BMW, please contact Mitch Kennedy, City of Spartanburg’s Community Services Director at 864-596-2052.

Monday, September 28, 2009

SPARTANBURG INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

SPARTANBURG INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL WHERE THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER

The annual Spartanburg International Festival celebrates Spartanburg’s diverse multicultural community. And multicultural it is, as people from more than 60 countries actually call Spartanburg home. The event not only brings the cultural spirit of Spartanburg to light, but it also provides an opportunity to share and be a part of such a vast cultural exchange.

The daylong fall festival at Barnet Park is set for Saturday, October 3, from 11 am to 6 pm. It is free and open to the public. Organizers promise a world of fun and cultures from around the globe, including entertainment, food, music, exhibits, dance, and activities for the entire family.

“We have a record number 54 countries represented in this year’s International Festival,” said Festival Coordinator Jane Warner. “These countries are represented through food, educational displays, art, entertainment, sports, games, and activities in the kids’ area.

Festival goers will have an opportunity to learn more about Africa at this year’s festival as it was selected to be the 2009 Honored Continent. Exhibits and activities will fill the entire fountain area at the entrance to the park. There will be information from nine African Countries – including: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Please visit the festival website at www.SpartanburgInternationalFestival.com for all of the festival details.

Friday, September 18, 2009

On-line ArtCycle Auction

Spartanburg Creative Energy Announces the 2009 On-line ArtCycle Auction

The City of Spartanburg invites the public to pariticpate in the first online auction for the 2009 ArtCycles starting Monday, September 21, 2009 at 8 a.m. at www.artcycle.cmarket.com. Sales from the auction will help fund the ArtCycle program for 2010.

As part of the Spartanburg Creative Energy campaign, ArtCycle is an initiative to promote regional artists, each of whom has been commissioned to build an outdoor sculpture from recycled bicycle parts. The sculptures need not be made only of bicycle parts, nor need they be made of a specific percentage of bicycle parts. However, the sculptures must be made of enough bicycle parts that the viewer readily sees that a significant portion of each sculpture contain parts that were formerly from of a bicycle.

The sculptures were on display in Spartanburg’s downtown area from May until the end of September. The project is the result of a collaboration between Spartanburg Creative Energy , HUB-BUB, Spartanburg Art Museum and Partners for Active Living. ArtCycle celebrates the City's national designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community, which made it the first in South Carolina to receive that honor in 2007.

2009 ArtCycle Artists
Jason S. Galloway – Roebuck, SC
Sean Pace - Asheville, NC
Miles Paquin – Spartanburg, SC
Ralph Paquin - Spartanburg, SC
Sarah Perry, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center Student – Spartanburg, SC
Lauren Ponder -Spartanburg, SC
Cody Roberts – Spartanburg, SC
Daniel Tripp- Campobello, SC
Brandon Waddell, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center Student – Spartanburg, SC
Blake West, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center - Student – Spartanburg, SC

For additional information please contact Amanda Mathis, City of Spartanburg, Communications and Marketing Specialist, 864-596-3068, amathis@cityofspartanburg.org.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Penny-Farthing Proposition

Penny-Farthing Proposition Art Project Announced

The City of Spartanburg announces seven new art pieces installed in the downtown area as part of the Penny-Farthing Proposition.

The Penny-Farthing Proposition is a new public art initiative creative by local Spartanburg artist, Cody Robert, “Hoondirt”, to promote active living and Spartanburg’s Bicycle Friendly Community Award through art. The gold bike sculptures are located along Main Street, Daniel Morgan Square, Church Street and the Hub City Art Park.

A penny-farthing is a term used to describe a bicycle with a large font wheel and a smaller rear wheels. They where the first contraption to be labeled with the term bicycle and considered as a symbol of the late Victorian era.

For more information, please contact Amanda Mathis, Communications and Marketing Specialist at 864-596-3068 or amathis@cityofspartanburg.org.
Photo Credit

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Website Request


The Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is working to overhaul its Website (www.VisitSpartanburg.com). One of the features on the new site will be a listing of local restaurants, shops and attractions complete with a description, photo, and contact information for each business.

The Internet has revolutionized the way in which people make their travel plans. With nearly eighty percent of consumers searching the Web to make their travel decisions, it is crucial for VisitSpartanburg.com to be as informative as possible.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau is requesting that you email your business’ information to Amy Phillips, aphillips@visitspartanburg..com by Friday, September 25th. Please include a photograph of your restaurant, boutique, or attraction along with the address, phone number, website, hours of operation and a brief description.

The mission of the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is to promote and develop Spartanburg as a destination for all visitors.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Call for Volunteers!

The Spartanburg International Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 3 at Barnet Park from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm.
The festival is held each year to celebrate Spartanburg’s diverse community through food, hands-on activities, folk art, music and dance.

The City of Spartanburg is currently seeking volunteers for the 2009 event. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals or groups to volunteer at an event that showcases the cultures of the many unique populations that make up our community. Volunteers are needed for general set up of all festival areas, decorating, assistance with kids activities, working in Coke booths, etc. Volunteers can stay all day or work a single four-hour shift.


To volunteer for the festival, contact Volunteer Coordinator Darryl Goodwin at dgoodwin@cityofspartanburg.org or 864-596-3110.


For additional information regarding the International Festival, contact Mandy Merck, Special Events Manager at mmerck@cityofspartanburg.org or 864-562-4195.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

College Fest Tonight


Fall 2009 College Fest
To Welcome Students Back

The eighth annual College Fest event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Denny’s Plaza in downtown Spartanburg, featuring nationally known singer/songwriter Matt Wertz, local recording artists After August, and Atlanta-based hip-hop artist B.o.B.

The Fall 2009 College Fest is a yearly event targeted to college-age students and presented and hosted by College Town of Spartanburg, a consortium of the six colleges in Spartanburg (Converse College, Sherman College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Spartanburg Community College, University of South Carolina Upstate and Wofford College) and in partnership with the City of Spartanburg. College Town was initiated by Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet in 2003 with the goal of collaborative social and academic programs to showcase the institutions of higher education in the community.


Previous College Fest events have been held annually in the spring, however the event has been moved to the fall to coincide with the beginning of the school year and welcome the local college students to the Spartanburg community.Several local food vendors will be on hand at the event providing free food to students with valid tickets, including Papa John’s, Jason’s Deli, Smokin’ Pig BBQ and several others. Student tickets are available at each of the respective Spartanburg County colleges. This year’s musical guests bring a diverse array of music that will appeal to all of Spartanburg’s college students.



Headlining the fall 2009 College Fest is singer/songwriter Matt Wertz, who is currently promoting his fourth full-length album Under Summer Sun and an EP entitled Where We Started, both 2008 releases on the Universal Republic label. He initially grew his fan base by performing at Young Life camps following the release of his first album, Somedays, in 2001. He has toured with several acts including Gavin Degraw, Jason Mraz, Jars of Clay, and others. Some of Wertz’s songs have been featured on both the small and large screen, in movies like Employee of the Month and My Super Ex-Girlfriend, along with TV shows like Wildfire and Brothers and Sisters. Over his seven-year career, he has sold more than 75,000 albums. He divides his time between the stage and his home in Nashville.



Spartanburg recording artists After August have been building a fan base throughout the country since they formed in 2004. They have a polished rock sound and an energetic live show. They have shared the stage and played alongside bands such as Bon Jovi, Little Big Town, Cowboy Mouth, Twista, The Last Goodnight, & Matt Costa. They entered Rock 101.1’s Battle of the Bands in January 2006 and won it, while beating out over 100 bands. Their reward – opening up for Bon Jovi at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, SC on February 8, 2006 for a sold out crowd of 12,000 people. The next day, they had so many hits and downloads on their website, that it crashed. It was a very good crash. Since then the band has released albums, is constantly touring, and has played with many national acts. With tunes ranging from pop-rock love ballads to lead-filled southern-rock songs, After August already has racked up over 200,000 myspace visits. They released their self-titled full-length debut in 2006 and have two EPs to their credit, including 2008’s “AA EP.”



B.o.B., also known as Bobby Ray, is an Atlanta hip-hop artist with Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records, who began selling beats to other artists at the age of 15. Now at 20 years old, he has released four mix tapes and most recently his 2009 debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray on the Grand Hustle label. B.o.B has a unique talent in that he produces, writes, raps, arranges, and mixes his own music. He is a one stop music creation shop from top to bottom. Hit beat maker Jim Jonsin, who has already made his mark by producing fire such as “Give It To Me” by Sean Paul and Danity Kane’s “Showstopper” in addition to smashes by Trick Daddy, Trina, Pretty Ricky and others, has signed B.o.B to his Rebel Rock imprint as the flagship artist. Plus, the industry tastemaker, TJ Chapman the CEO of TJ’s DJ’s is serving as B.o.B’s co-manager after helping launch the careers of T-Pain, David Banner, Yung Joc, and Rick Ross to name a few.

My Fair Lady - This Weekend



My Fair Lady debuts this weekend
at the Chapman Cultural Center.

Click here to purchase tickets
or call (864) 542-2787.





Friday, September 4, 2009

Spartanburg CVB to Feature Local Musicians Past and Present

Spartanburg CVB to Feature Local Musicians Past and Present

The Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is working to overhaul its website. One of the features on the new site will be a “Spartanburg Jukebox”, which will pay tribute to local musicians past and present. The CVB is asking for mp3 files of local musicians’ work to feature on the site.



The Internet has revolutionized the way in which people make their travel plans. Research shows that eighty percent of consumers use the internet when making travel decisions, making it crucial that you have a site that is not only informative and easy to use, but also appealing to the visitor.



“Spartanburg has such a rich music heritage from Singin’ Billy Walker to Pink Anderson and Ira Tucker to The Marshall Tucker Band”, says Amy Phillips with the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. “By featuring local artists on our website, visitors are not only able to learn about that part of our culture, but also able to enjoy some remarkable music”, she says.



If you know of a local musician, past or present, that you think should be featured on the “Spartanburg Jukebox”, please send the mp3 file, title and artist of each song to Amy Phillips, aphillips@visitspartanburg.com or mail to 298 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg, 29306. For any questions, please call 864-594-5050. All files will be needed by Friday, September 25th.



The mission of the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is to promote and develop Spartanburg as a destination for all visitors.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Spartanburg Creative Tastes - 2 days away!


Join us this Saturday in downtown Spartanburg for the 2nd Annual Spartanburg Creative Tastes. Details in today's Spartanburg Herald-Journal.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Fall Season of Jazz on the Square Begins September 4


Fall Season of Jazz on the Square Begins
September 4



The fall series of Jazz on the Square is returning to Morgan Square in Downtown Spartanburg for its fourth season and will be held every Friday in September and October. JOTS gets underway this coming Friday - September 4. It will be held by the fountain on Morgan Square from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Lunch time Jazz will be offered during the final Friday of the fall season – on October 30. Jazz lovers can bring their lunch (or get take out from one of the downtown restaurants) and enjoy music on the Square from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.


Jazz on the Square, presented by QS/1, is a free event. Wine, beer, and soft drinks are available for purchase from Carriage House Wines.


Jazz on the Square is produced and coordinated by the City of Spartanburg’s Special Events Office. Event goers can check the Special Events Hotline number at 864-596-3613 for updated information and any cancellations because of inclement weather.
The City is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to minors or intoxicated persons. Anyone wishing to consume an alcoholic beverage must show a valid ID and wear a wristband. All guests of Jazz on the Square are asked to leave pets and coolers at home.

Monday, August 31, 2009

2009 ArtCycle Winners Announced


2009 ArtCycle Winners Announced

SPARTANBURG, S. C. (August 31, 2009): The 2009 winners of ArtCycle were announced on Monday after a summer long contest in downtown Spartanburg. First and second place winners were chosen by a panel of judges and the people’s choice award was decided by the amount of phone calls a piece received over the summer. The winners are the following:

First place – Sean Pace, Lowest Common Demonstrator
Second place – Miles and Ralph Paquin, Recycled Rising
People’s Choice – Lauren Ponder, Soul Train – Hub City, SC

As part of the Spartanburg Creative Energy campaign, Artcycle was an initiative that promoted ten regional artists, each of whom was commissioned to build an outdoor sculpture from recycled bicycle parts. The sculptures need not be made only of bicycle parts, nor need they be made of a specific percentage of bicycle parts. However, the sculptures must be made of enough bicycle parts that the viewer readily sees that a significant portion of each sculpture contain parts that were formerly from of a bicycle.
The sculptures are on display in Spartanburg’s downtown area from May until the end of September. The project was the result of a collaboration between Spartanburg Creative Energy, Hub-Bub, Spartanburg Art Museum and Partners for Active Living. Artcycle celebrates the City's national designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community, which made it the first in South Carolina to receive that honor in 2007.


2009 ArtCycle Artists
Jason S. Galloway – Roebuck, SC
Sean Pace - Asheville, NC
Miles Paquin – Spartanburg, SC
Ralph Paquin - Spartanburg, SC
Sarah Perry, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center Student – Spartanburg, SC
Lauren Ponder -Spartanburg, SC
Cody Roberts – Spartanburg, SC
Daniel Tripp- Campobello, SC
Brandon Waddell, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center Student – Spartanburg, SC
Blake West, R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center - Student – Spartanburg, SC


For additional information please contact Amanda Mathis, City of Spartanburg, Communications and Marketing Specialist, 864-596-3068, amathis@cityofspartanburg.org.

Storytelling at the Taste!

The Stone Soup Storytelling Festival committee will be sponsoring storytelling during the Spartanburg celebration of local talent, Spartanburg Creative Tastes.
Stop by their site on Morgan Square near the Lemonade Stand during "the Tastes" to enjoy tales and poetry with performers Rixon Lane, Evelyn Parks, Dixie Page, Mary Dell Fletcher, Moody Black, and Johnny Weaver. The Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, declared "the Storytelling Festival of South Carolina" by the General Assembly, is held in Woodruff annually.
The date for Stone Soup is April 23-24, 2010. Mark your calender! Stories, history, food, and fun! Ghost stories on Friday evening! Contact is at www.stonesoupsc.com.
Rixon Lane, Evelyn Parks, and Moody Black are on the schedule from 4:30-6:30
Dixie Page, Mary Dell Fletcher, and Johnny Weaver are on for 6:00-8:30

Friday, August 28, 2009

Spartanburg Creative Tastes General Information

Spartanburg Creative Tastes
General Information


Admission
Entry admission is free. Prices for restaurant “taste” portions range from $1.00 - $6.00. Prices for cookbooks and other items in the Made in Spartanburg area will be set by the individual vendors. The ATM will be on Main Street near the Stroller Cookbook Market.


Restaurant Row
More than 20 menu items from various Spartanburg restaurants offer tastes of not just locally favorite dishes, but also the global influences that are part of the City’s growing diversity. There are the always favorite crab cakes and the more adventurous can get a taste of dishes such as lemon grass chicken and lamp chops.


Lemonade Stand
Sponsored by the Spartanburg Youth Council, the Lemonade Stand is designed to be a fun, child- and youth-friendly section of this festival. The Lemonade Stand will include interactive hands-on food preparation for young children. The Mayor’s Service Board and Youth Voices are partnering to bring fun recipes, bingo and nutritional information.

Other activities include children creating their own chef hats, decorating cookies and making edible necklaces. Face painting, games and prizes will be offered. Lemonade will be for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Mayor’s Service Board and Youth Voices. A sidewalk chalk art contest will take place with judging held at 7:30 p.m. Children between the ages 3 to 18 years old are welcomed to participate.

Wine Tasting/Beer Purchase/Wristbands
Adults, 21 years of age or older, may pay $1.00 for a wristband. This is required for anyone purchasing wine and/or beer. Sponsored by Carriage House Wines, over 60 different wines from around the world will be available for purchase by the glass from 3:00 – 9:00. For $10.00, a wine tasting of all these wines will be featured from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Local brewery RJ Rockers will also be located at Carriage House Wines and will be offering its beer for sale.

Stroller Cookbook Market
Located in front of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal on W. Main St., this area features local cookbooks from the newspaper’s own Stroller cookbook to the Junior League of Spartanburg. Prices range from $1 to $20.

Made In Spartanburg
Featuring local food produce and kitchen products for sale, visitors will also be able to learn about home improvement techniques.

The Flavor of Art Market
HUB-BUB is sponsoring local and regional painters, potters, photographers, jewelry makers and textile artists. Their wares are available for purchase and will be in the parking lot next to Carriage House Wines.

Live Entertainment

Ezell Street Food Court
4:00-4:30 Matthew Knights Williams
4:45-5:45 Fayssoux McLean and Brandon Turner
6:00-7:00 Kyle and Tad
7:15-8:00 Marc Higgins
8:15-9:00 Daryle Ryce

Music Main Street Stage
4:00 – 6:00 Enforcers
6:30 – 8:45 Low Blow Jazz

Art by the People
ArtCycle artist Sean Pace invites the public to make art utilizing his creation, “The Lowest Common Demonstrator,” during Spartanburg Creative Tastes. This duel person interactive art piece consists of two bikes, a large wood mixing chamber and eleven #10 paint cans full of various paint colors to create different works of art on canvases provided.


Parking and Street Closures
Free parking is available at the Magnolia St. garage, City Hall parking lots on Broad St., Event Rentals on W. Main St., and any other nearby public parking places.

Streets that will be closed from 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning, September 5th until Sunday, September 6th are: W. Main St. from Daniel Morgan Ave. to Magnolia St.; Spring St. from Broad St. to St. John St.; Ezell St. from Spring St. to Daniel Morgan Ave..; and Ezell St. from Daniel Morgan Ave. to W. Main St. See attached handout for more details.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Check out "Live at the Showroom"



"Live at the Showroom" is now on Channel 14 and you can view the entire

show throughout the day.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

ArtWalk


Last ArtWalk of the Season. Tonight from 5-9 in Downtown Spartanburg. Free trolley rides!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Spartanburg Team To Attend The 2009 AAU Junior Olympic games

City of Spartanburg Sponsored Track Club to attend 2009 AAU Junior Olympic games


SPARTANBURG (July 29, 2009) Spartanburg based Express Lane Track Club will be attending the 2009 AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa Saturday, August 1st – August 8th. We have 11 qualifying athletes that range from ages 7-14. In addition to the 11 qualifying athletes, there are four athletes entering competition in the top 10 with others just inches/seconds away.

In looking to expand the City’s athletic efforts and diversify programming, while predominantly serving youth who live in the City, Express Lane fit what the City wanted. Express Lane is sponsored by the City of Spartanburg who will eventually develop an established program with the City name.

For additional information, contact James Rice, Athletic Coordinator, 864-596-4387 or jrice@cityofspartanburg.org

Faces in the Crowd of Life

Photography by Carroll Foster Opening Reception

Join us at The Showroom (149 S. Daniel Morgan Ave) on Wednesday, July 29th from 7-9pm for the opening reception of this exhibit featuring photographs by Carroll Foster.


Faces in the Crowd of Life features large-scale portraits of people in and around Spartanburg with a wide-range of subjects, from local ministers to fashion models.. With this exhibit, Carroll invites you to " trace the lines on our faces that lead back to the places we come from."Carroll Foster was raised in Spartanburg and is a graduate of Spartanburg High School. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Savannah College of the Arts and is currently a full-time photographer and owner of Hot Eye Photography in downtown Spartanburg. Admission if free and beverages & hors d'oeuvres will be available.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Playful City USA

City of Spartanburg Selected As A Playful City For The Third Consecutive Year.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (July 21, 2009) –The City of Spartanburg in partnership with Southside Unity in the Community was selected as a “Playful City” for the third year in a row by KaBOOM! a national non-profit that promotes providing areas for children to play.
Of the 93 communities chosen, Spartanburg was among the 22 cities named for the third consecutive year including Honolulu, Indianapolis and San Antonio due to the City’s commitment to usable, open parks in the City of Spartanburg.
Southside Unity in the Community, a local nonprofit focused on improving the lives of the community's youth, started the application process in aspiration of receiving grant money to improve and maintain city parks. As a result of the 2007 Mary Black Foundation Community Champion award, Southside Unity in the Community used the $25,000 award money to train community volunteers and beautify Priscilla Rumley Park, a 14-acre neighborhood park located at the intersection of Seay St. and Gary St.

For more details, contact Parks and Recreation Superintendent Brian Wofford at 596-3105 or bwofford@cityofspartanburg.org

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

City Hires New Economic Development Director

City of Spartanburg Hires New Economic Development Director


SPARTANBURG, SC (July 21, 2009) Patty Bock will be joining the City of Spartanburg as the Economic Development Director effective July 27. She will be for responsible for a variety of programs designed to encourage private investment and development in the City.

Ms. Bock graduated from The Ohio State University. She has over 20 years experience in leasing, management. She has been active in Leadership Spartanburg and many other civic organizations.

States Bock, “It is a pleasure to join a great team at the City and build on the City’s objectives (success) in making Spartanburg a better place to live, work and play. I am eager to work with current and future businesses, developers and property owners in the City, as well as implementing plans and programs that will bring private investment and jobs within the City limits. “

Reporting directly to the City Manager, Ed Memmott states, “The City is very excited that Patty has accepted the position of Economic Development Director. Patty was selected from over 140 applicants for the position. I look forward to working with Patty. She is a great addition to our team.”

For additional information please contact Ed Memmott, City Manager, 864-596-2394, ememmott@cityofspartanburg.org.

Open House for Ballet Spartanburg's Dance Center

Ballet Spartanburg’s Dance Center will host an open house and registration for 2009-10 dance classes Thursday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg.

This year, there will be classes for 3-year-old children through adults in ballet, tap and jazz, Irish step, hip hop, modern, salsa, ballroom, boys’ program, adult beginning tap, and musical theater. Guests will be able to meet dance instructors and tour the state-of-the-art dance studios.


For more information, please visit online http://www.balletspartanburg.net/ or call 583-0339.

United Way's Week of Caring

United Way's 6th Annual Week of Caring Announced

United Way of the Piedmont is excited to announce the 6th Annual Week of Caring, which will take place in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties the week of August 31st - September 4th. During that time, over 600 volunteers will team up to provide assistance to multiple non-profit agencies in each county. We encourage individuals, groups of friends and co-workers to adopt a volunteer project. With multiple projects to choose from, we are sure there is an opportunity perfect for you. Join United Way of the Piedmont and make your mark by participating in Week of Caring.

To view a menu of projects please follow this link http://www.uwpiedmont.org/2009-week-of-caring.php
Please contact Mary Catherine Mitchell at 582-7556 or mmitchell@uwpiedmont.org for more information.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

2nd Annual Spartanburg Creative Tastes

CITY OF SPARTANBURG ANNOUNCES 2ND ANNUAL SPARTANBURG CREATIVE TASTES

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (July 1, 2009) The public is invited to celebrate Spartanburg’s creative restaurants and food vendors at the 2nd Annual Spartanburg Creative Tastes in downtown Spartanburg.

Planned for Saturday, September 5th, from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., there will be a Restaurant Row featuring local restaurants and chefs; a “Made in Spartanburg” area highlighting local foods of the Spartanburg area, artwork featured by HUB-BUB and area artists, the “Lemonade Stand” featuring kid’s activities and local cookbooks will be for sale. Local entertainment will also be provided during the event.

Planned for the west-side of Downtown, applications are available online at the Spartanburg Creative Energy website, http://www.spartanburgcreativeenergy.com/. Participants may sign-up until August 7, 2009. Admission is free with food and beverages available for purchase.

For additional information contact Sonya Culbreth (sculbreth@cityofspartanburg.org) or Amanda Mathis (amathis@cityofspartanburg.org).

Friday, June 26, 2009

Fireworks Ordinance


SPARTANBURG RESIDENTS ASKED TO OBEY
FIREWORKS ORDINANCE

As the fireworks season approaches, the City of Spartanburg would like to remind all Spartanburg residents of the City's fireworks ordinances.

Sec. 13-113. Fireworks.
(a) It shall be unlawful within the limits of the city, for any person to sell or expose for sale, keep, store, maintain, have in possession, transport, give or pass any squibs, torpedoes, firecracker or any other type or form of fireworks, including salutes, Roman candles, fountains, balloons carrying any lighted substance, cannon, cane, sky rockets, bombs or other similar articles of fireworks, which will be fired, lighted, ignited, set off or thrown. Cap pistols and caps for same are expressly excluded from the operation of this section.

(b) Before any fireworks will be permitted for public exhibition in connection with fairs or other special celebrations, permission shall first be obtained from the city manager, and such fireworks shall be under the supervision of an expert, who shall be present in order to handle, maintain or fire same, and in such case of exhibition, the parties in charge of same shall be held strictly responsible for any damage to person or property resulting from the use of such fireworks. All fireworks being held in storage for special exhibition shall be in a closed wooden box until they are used.

(c) All public exhibitions of fireworks permitted under this section shall be concluded not later than 10:00 p.m.

(d) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

The fine for ignoring this ordinance is $262.00. Please help the Police and Fire departments to make this Independence Day safe by observing the fireworks ordinances.
For additional information contact Lt. Tim Suber at 864.596.2224 or tsuber@cityofspartanburg.org.

Free July 3 Concert at Zimmerli Amphitheater


246th Army Band Plays Free July 3 Concert at Zimmerli Amphitheater

Spartanburg, SC – The City of Spartanburg is proud to present to the Spartanburg community the 246 Army Band, South Carolina Army National Guard, in a free outdoor concert. The concert will be held at 7 pm on Friday, July 3 at Barnet Park’s Zimmerli Amphitheater. The Army Band will play patriotic music as part of their concert tour leading up to Independence Day.

The 246th Army Band was organized and federally recognized on October 12, 1939 and has served under numerous commands including General George S. Patton during World War II. The band has performed throughout the world and in 2003, was honored to perform at the funeral for Senator Strom Thurmond.

Commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Jessie Morlan, the band is comprised of thirty-seven members who, in addition to concert and ceremonial duties, are assigned for four musical support teams – Ceremonial Band, Pop-Music Band, Jazz Combo, and the Brass Quintet.

The members of the band meet one weekend per month and two weeks every year training for their wartime mission. That mission is to provide music to enhance unit cohesion and Soldier morale; assist in civil, military, coalition and recruiting operations; and to promote national and international community relations.

For further information about the 246th Army Band, please visit their website at http://246armyband.info/.

Picnic Baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets are welcomed at this free Barnet Park event. No pets allowed in the park. For more information, call 596-3105.

Shaggin' In The Park - July 10, 2009


SHAGGIN' IN THE PARK
To benefit Glenn Springs Academy(formerly Spartanburg Boys' Home)
Friday, July 10, 2009
6:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Cleveland Park Event Center
141 N. Cleveland Park Drive
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Tickets $25
Includes BBQ, beer, wine and a night of dancing.There will be shag instruction by Steve and Kathy Day andmusic will be provided by
DJ Bobby Vaughn.Wear your dancing shoes
so you won't miss out on the fun!
To Purchase tickets call Colleen Bishop at
864-583-4367, ext. 124
or mail your check
(please note Shag Event on the check) to:
Glenn Springs AcademyP.O. Box 99Pauline, SC 29374

City Announces Yard Waste Transition


City Announces Yard Waste Transition


Effective July 1, 2009 the City of Spartanburg’s Solid Waste department will make changes to its current garbage/junk and yard waste pick-up procedure.

Garbage and junk - These items will no longer be picked up together. They will be picked up on separate days. Junk consists of any large household items that will NOT fit into your roll cart. If you have more bags than will fit into your roll cart, you will need to request a 2nd roll cart. If you do not wish to request a 2nd roll cart, you will need to carry excess bags of garbage to the county drop off station. Your “junk” will be picked up the day AFTER your normal garbage pick-up day.

Yard Waste – Due to changes at the landfill, all yard waste picked up curbside must be less than six feet long or less than six inches in diameter. Residents will be responsible for transporting anything larger directly to the county landfill. Yard waste must also be placed in separate piles from leaves.

For additional information, please contact Bill Thompson, Solid Waster Manager @ 864-562-2931.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Mary Black Foundation To Host Film Series


The Mary Black Foundation for a film series examining the root causes of our alarming socio-economic and racial inequities in health. The six segment series crisscrosses the nation, uncovering startling new findings that suggest there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care, or unlucky genes.


Above is a short clip of the upcoming first film, "When the Bough Breaks", exploring racism and birth outcomes, airing on June 24th at noon at the Showroom @ Hub-bub.
Click here to learn more about attending the series.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Red, White & Boom 2009!



Red, White & Boom 2009 planned for Friday, June 26th at Barnet Park in downtown Spartanburg. General Admission is $5 with gates opening at 5 p.m. Fireworks planned for 9:30 p.m. For more information call 864-596-4624 or visit http://www.sccfoundation.org/



Thursday, June 18, 2009

Wofford College features America in Crisis (June 20-23)

Come hear Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Parks at Wofford College in Chautauqua: America in Crisis (June 20-23)


History will come alive at Wofford during four evenings of Chautauqua performances featuring George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Rosa Parks.Chautauqua: America in Crisis will take place June 20-23 in Leonard Auditorium of Main Building. The event is free and open to the public.

All members of the Wofford community are invited to attend with their families, friends and neighbors.Each performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. with live period-style music in the auditorium.Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy on the lawn of Main Building prior to the presentations.

Saturday, June 20 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, Popular World War II-era songs
Sunday, June 21 - George Washington, Music from the Colonial period
Monday, June 22 - Abraham Lincoln, Antebellum and Civil War tunes
Tuesday, June 23- Rosa Parks, African-American spirituals

Chautauqua (pronounced sha-TAW-kwa) is an improvisational theatrical program in which costumed scholar-actors portray historical figures. Each performance is broken into three acts. In the first act, the performer represents a historical figure in the first person. In the second, the performer invites audience questions and answers them in character. In the final act, the performer steps out of character to answer questions that the historical figure could not (or would not!) have been able to answer.For more information, view the Chautauqua Web site (http://www.wofford.edu/alumni/Wofford_Chautauqua.aspx) or contact Charlie Gray, Director of External Relations/Continuing Education at Wofford College (864-597-4186).

Monday, May 18, 2009

July 4th - Renissance Street Navigation

An urban orienteering race designed to challenge participant’s street navigational and reasoning skills.

Goal:
Highlight the city’s transformation from yesteryear to present.

The objective of the game:
Locate landmarks; solve word problems and trivia questions before time elapses.

How to play:
•Each team is given a compass, a map, an answer sheet, and marker location card.
•Teams may navigate to any point in any order they choose.
•Participants interpret and compare map information to natural surroundings.
•Travel by foot (as a team) to marker locations without the aid of electronic devices.
•Overcome misinformation (things false or no longer in existence).

NOTE: Teams may not be able to locate all locations due to time restraints; therefore, each team must maintain an awareness of time and its member’s physical limitation.
Teams must remain within 40 feet of each other at all times. The team must return to the start point together. No substitution of team members after 9:00 am July 4th.
Each team will receive the official game rules upon registering.

Team Preparation (optional):
Take the historical tour walk conducted by the Spartanburg County Historical Association.
Tour dates are: April 24; May 23; Jun 19. Call 864-596-3501 for details and reservation.
Consult your physician before engaging in any physical activities.
Integrate the practice of navigating around town by city map into your walking/running regime.

Award (winner take all):
In addition to the Five Hundred Dollars awarded to the winning team, each member of the winning team will receive a 30 day gift certificate to Clyde’s Main Street Fitness, a $20 gift certificate to Justin’s Steakhouse, and a pictorial book depicting the City of Spartanburg both past and present.

Pick up registration at:
The Spartanburg Regional History Museum in the Chapman Cultural Center
Clyde’s Main Street Fitness 167 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC
Hibbett Sports, 1855 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC
Or download it by visiting: www.EventfulThings.org








Thursday, May 14, 2009

1st City and County Neighbor and Neighborhood of the Year Awards

The Spartanburg County Foundation, City of
Spartanburg, and Spartanburg County recently
sponsored the Building
Communities – Bridging Gaps Conference
Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Marriott Spartanburg.

The purpose of the Building Communities-Bridging Gaps Conference was to equip residents with the tools and information necessary to: make our communities safe, increase unity among our diverse population, access available local resources, and develop partnerships to improve the quality of life in Spartanburg County. Approximately 200 City and County residents participated in workshops that focused on three tracks: Common Threads: Tying Your Community Together; Get Up! Stand Up!: Tools to Make Change; Hi Neighbor!: Coming Together to Build Community.

The event culminated with a luncheon that included remarks by the conference facilitator, Dr. Thomas A. Gordon, consultant and leadership strategy advisor, and the announcement of the first Neighbor and Neighborhood of the Year Awards for the City and County. The City of Spartanburg Neighbor and Neighborhood of the Year award was presented to Florence Kennedy and the South Converse Street Neighborhood Association respectively. The Spartanburg County Neighbor and Neighborhood of the Year award was presented to David and Cindy Gregg and the Linville Hills community respectively. Winners of the Neighbor of the Year award received a $100 gift certificate to Home Depot and the winners of the Neighborhood of the Year award will receive a special sign designed and constructed by Home Depot to be displayed in their community.


An immediate outcome of the Conference will be the development of a website designed to keep City and County residents informed about community events and opportunities to remain civically engaged. The web link will be accessible from all of the sponsor’s websites, the Spartanburg County Foundation, City of Spartanburg, and Spartanburg County. Information concerning the establishment of the website will be provided in the next few weeks.

The final speaker of the event was Mr. James Cheek, a member of the Community Planning Committee, who encouraged and challenged all attendees to remain actively engaged in the community and to “aspire to inspire before expiring.” Anyone interested in participating on a Community Planning Committee for next year’s conference should contact the Spartanburg County Foundation at 864-582-0138.

For more information, please contact The Spartanburg County Foundation at (864)582-0138 or visit our website at http://www.spcf.org/.

Monday, May 11, 2009

CITY TO INTRODUCE SUMMER PLAYGROUND PROGRAM


The City of Spartanburg’s Parks & Recreation Department is introducing its annual Summer Playground Program extending from June 11 – July 23.

The program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all children by providing a safe, secure, enriched environment – supervised by trained and caring adults. The summer curriculum will provide educational activities, arts and crafts, music, drama, sports, games, creative dramatics, special events and more.

In addition to being a popular program offering activities to local kids to fight the summer doldrums, the program also offers summer employment opportunities to college students, teachers, and others who enjoy working with kids.

The program will be held at the following locations:

Bethlehem Center
397 Highland Ave.
(864)582-7158

C.C. Woodson Center
885 S. Liberty Street
(864)596-3710

Northwest Center
701 Saxon Ave.
(864)596-3946

T.K. Gregg Center
310 Oakland Ave.
(864)596-3720

The program hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. -12 noon Fridays. This program is FREE to kids ages 5yrs. – 12 yrs. Free lunch will be served beginning Monday, June 15th.

To register, visit any of the locations above beginning the second week in May.
C.C. Woodson registration is limited to the first 50 kids due to ongoing construction at the facility.

For additional information, please contact Larry Jeter, Recreation Manager at 864-562-4262.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Spring Fling Street Closings


Street Closings for 31st Annual Spring Fling Festival

The following streets will be closed after midnight Thursday (April 30th) until Sunday (May 3rd) around 9 p.m.

Church Street - from St. John Street to Kennedy Street
Main Street – from Daniel Morgan Avenue to Converse Street
Broad Street - from Daniel Morgan Avenue to Converse Street
Dunbar Street – from Magnolia Street to Liberty Street
Liberty Street – from Kennedy Parking Garage to Dunbar Street


*Converse Street will be closed from Broad to Dunbar Street on Friday at 2 p.m.

All streets will reopen as quickly as possible after the festival ends on Sunday and the streets are cleared of all activities. Questions concerning street closures? Sgt. Lee Raines at 864-809-8225