Thursdays on College continues with The Reggie Sullivan Band

WHAT: Thursdays on College concert featuring The Reggie Sullivan Band 
WHERE: East College Avenue, Hartsville, S.C. 
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

Rock/Soul group The Reggie Sullivan Band will appear in the first October concert of the Thursdays on College series this week, taking place Oct. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This third concert of the fall series is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board of Coker College. 

Recyclers of the Month - September 2013

The Bryan family is the City of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for September 2013.

Jack Bryan said recycling has been very important for his wife and himself for many years, and the family really took it on when the City of Hartsville began its recycling partnership with Sonoco. He said the family recycles everything they can, from delivery and diaper boxes to food containers, and will fill their recycling bin every week even if they have not filled their trash roll cart.

“With two kids, we go through a lot of recyclable materials,” Bryan said.

As the Recyclers of the Month, the family received a yard sign as well as a gift certificate to Bizzell’s Food & Spirits, 137 E. Carolina Ave. in Hartsville.

The monthly award program highlights those city residents participating in the City of Hartsville’s recycling partnership with Sonoco. To learn more about guidelines for recycling material in Hartsville, visit www.hartsvillesc.gov. To request a recycling roll cart, call Environmental Services at (843) 383-3019.

A Moment with the Manager - Cycling in Hartsville

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

Hartsville has really developed its status as a bicycle-friendly community in recent years. We are home to the very active Hartsville Polar Bear Cycling Club and the annual Loop da Ville bike ride sponsored by the Hartsville Family YMCA. Just this weekend, our city will serve as a stop for Bike MS, an annual bicycle ride benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and as the location for the Hartsville Family YMCA Triathlon.

In the City of Hartsville, we recognize the value of bicycle use in making our community attractive, healthy and vibrant. The new transportation portion of the Hartsville 2020 Comprehensive Plan, proposed by the Planning Commission, calls for bicycle-friendly projects including bike racks. That particular vision will be fulfilled by the installation of the City’s first decorative bike racks around downtown in the weeks to come.

Thursdays on College fall concert series continues with Chris Wilson and Planet Earth

WHAT: Thursdays on College concert featuring Chris Wilson and Planet Earth
WHERE: East College Avenue, Hartsville, S.C.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Chris Wilson & Planet Earth, an alternative rock guitar-and saxophone duo, will soon be arriving in Hartsville for the second of the Thursdays on College fall concert series. The event, taking place Thursday, Sept. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on East College Avenue, is sponsored by Sonoco.

Hartsville Fire Department hosts residential fire sprinkler information meeting

The Hartsville Fire Department is inviting local residents to an informational meeting on residential fire sprinklers at the Lawton Park Pavilion, 716 Prestwood Drive, on Monday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.

The session will be presented by Kyle Minick, Deputy Fire Chief of the North Charleston Fire Department and Chairman of the South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Coalition. Members of the public and the media are encouraged to attend.

Sprinkler systems, a common precaution against fires in commercial structures which reduce a fire’s size and impact, are increasingly used as a line of defense against fires in private residences as well. Residential sprinkler systems may cost about $1.50 per square foot in a new home and $2.50 to $5 per square foot when installed in an existing home, according to the United States Fire Administration. Residential sprinkler systems are designed to activate in the very early stages of a fire, while still reducing the likelihood of accidental activation, attacking the fire at a point when less water is required.

“When sprinkler systems are combined with properly installed and maintained smoke detectors, the prevention efforts can save most potential house fire victims,” Fire Marshal Bryan Crowley said. “When we can encourage more residents to make use of these lifesaving devices, we can create a higher level of local fire protection than ever before.”

A Moment with the Manager - Fall special events

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

Among the things which really set Hartsville apart is the ongoing schedule of community events made by its many organizations. This week, the City of Hartsville and the Hartsville Downtown Development Association contributed more events of our own as we kicked off another round of the Thursdays on College concert series.

This first event of this downtown street concert series featured Terence Lonon and the Untouchables, the same Beach Music and R& B musicians who were the first performers in our initial series last year. They made such an impression that we wanted to bring them back, and Duke Energy returned as the sponsor for them as well.

Recyclers of the Month – August 2013

The Isgett family – Joe, Angel, Madison and Gracie – are the City of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for August 2013. 

Joe Isgett said the family has been recycling for as long as he and his wife have been married. He described it as a great way to help reuse materials and keep them out of landfills. The family always sets out full bags of cans, bottles and papers every week. 

“It isn’t hard to do. It doesn’t even take much time,” Joe said. 

The family received a Recycler of the Month yard sign as well as a gift certificate to Zapata’s Grill, located at 1217 Retail Row in Hartsville. 

The award program highlights those city residents participating in the City of Hartsville’s recycling program, a partnership between the City and Sonoco. To learn more about guidelines for recycling material in Hartsville, visit www.hartsvillesc.gov. To request a recycling roll cart, call Environmental Services at (843) 383-3019.

Thursdays on College fall concert series kicks off with Terence Lonon & the Untouchables

WHAT: Thursdays on College concert featuring Terence Lonon & the Untouchables 
WHERE: East College Avenue, Hartsville, S.C. 
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

Thursdays on College, the concert series presented by the City of Hartsville and the Hartsville Downtown Development Association, will return on Sept. 5 with a repeat performance by Terence Lonon and the Untouchables. This first concert of the fall season, taking place on East College Avenue from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is sponsored by Duke Energy. 

Returning to Hartsville after an enthusiastic reception last year, the group was formed by Terence Lonon, a former member of Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters. The legendary, timeless doo-wop and R&B hits of the Drifters, songs such as “Under the Boardwalk” and “Save the Last Dance for Me,” are part of the Untouchables’ large repertoire. The group also offers a variety of selections from other famed performers in the R&B/Soul tradition such as the Temptations, the Tams, the Four Tops and more. 

The free event will have food and drink available for sale from Bizzell’s Food & Spirits as well as Vintage Wine Boutique. Child care services will also be available through Nana’s Play Zone. 

Thursday’s concert will only be the first in the fall Thursdays on College series. Chris Wilson and Planet Earth will appear in a Sept. 19 concert sponsored by Sonoco, followed by the Reggie Sullivan Band in an Oct. 3 concert sponsored by the Campus Activities Board of Coker College. Erica Lynn Berg and the band Wine Down will finish the series on Oct. 17, sponsored by First Citizens Bank and Nucor Corporation.

A Moment with the Manager - Crime-fighting efforts

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

Crime counts among the most serious issues facing any community. It hurts the people who live there, it threatens their property and it stands as one of the starkest examples of how our society is imperfect. The City of Hartsville takes the crime in our community very seriously, and whenever it does happen, we are always standing up against it. 

In 2011, the last year of compiled data, the FBI counted 32 officers serving Hartsville, a number which currently stands at 36, not counting three part-time officers and 2 reserve officers. In that 2011 data, Hartsville stands out as having the highest number of officers for any South Carolina municipality with a population less than 8,000, and more officers than several larger cities as well. 

Our officers are always busy keeping the city safe. In 2012, the Hartsville Police Department responded to 11,930 calls for service, an average of more than 32 a day, and filed 3,594 reports. This is a decrease in the calls for service over the previous five years – the number stood at nearly 15,000 in 2008, with more than 5,000 reports written – but many of the crime indicators have been dropping in the same period. Aggravated assault has trended downward, from 137 cases in 2008 to 55 in 2012. Burglaries fell in the same period from 258 to 170. Robberies declined from 39 in 2009 to 27 last year. 

The Hartsville Police Department’s work isn’t all patrol and investigation, however; so much of it is about connecting with our residents. Some of this outreach is easy to see, like our officers’ appearance at the recent National Night Out, or their organization of a donation drive to bring electric fans to residents in need. Other efforts are more subtle. Using a S.C. Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant, the City has bought a house for an officer’s residence in the historic Oakdale neighborhood as one of the security improvements for that community. We are now looking at options for placing an officer in another target neighborhood as well. 

We want very much to be a part of the solution for crime, but the entire solution requires the contributions of everyone – all organizations and all residents. Hartsville always needs neighborhood watches, and we always need residents letting the City know exactly what kind of problems and concerns they have, and reporting any crimes as they happen. 

Hartsville is patrolled by a very dedicated law enforcement agency around the clock. I’ve seen Chief James Hudson, our investigators and our officers solve crimes and respond to all kinds of dangerous situations too many times to not feel pride in their tireless efforts. The fight against crime will always be an ongoing process, but we’re not about to slow down in our response.

Screen on the Green summer movie series wraps up with showing of cult classic “The Princess Bride”

WHAT: Screen on the Green summer movie series showing of “The Princess Bride.” Rated PG. No admission charge. 
WHERE: Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way, Hartsville, SC 
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, dusk 

The summertime Screen on the Green series of free outdoor movie showings will end in Burry Park this Saturday, Aug. 17 with the classic 1987 film “The Princess Bride,” sponsored by the Landmark Inn. 

The well-remembered romance/comedy/fairy tale follows Westley, played by Cary Elwes, as he rescues his true love Buttercup, played by Robin Wright, from a wedding with a villainous prince. Along the way he is confronted by everything from the revenge-seeking fencer Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), to the scheming outlaw Vinizzi (Wallace Shawn) and his giant assistant Fezzik (Andre the Giant). 

A Moment with the Manager - National Night Out

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

National Night Out is coming to Burry Park this evening at 6:30 p.m., and it is going to be a fun one: live entertainment, activities and a free movie showing after dusk. It may be the best version of this community event we have had yet, with everything from the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office Mounted United Unit to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources gaming trailer, free food and drinks, inflatables and much more. 

National Night Out exists to connect law enforcement and emergency services with the communities they serve. It gives us another way to connect to our communities and to build the partnerships which make Hartsville a safer, better place to live. 

It’s also far from the only time that those involved in our city see our police officers and firefighters reaching out. The Police Department, for example, has hosted Teen Summits to focus on issues important to our youth: bullying, crime prevention and education. For two years, the department has also coordinated a donation drive in the hottest days of summer to provide electric fans to senior residents most vulnerable to heat. The department strives to connect with a wide variety of community organizations, from the Greater Hartsville Ministerial Alliance to the PULSE mentoring program of the TEACH Foundation. 

In 2012, the Police Department responded to nearly 1,200 calls for service. They patrol our city around the clock, investigate crimes and arrest offenders. We know, however, that law enforcement cannot focus on crime response alone. Crime prevention and ongoing partnerships are needed to make Hartsville better. 

The Hartsville Fire Department, which will be serving you hot dogs and drinks if you come to National Night Out tonight, also practices ongoing outreach with their fellow residents. They had a busy year in 2012, responding to more than 1,500 calls, and improving their ISO classification from a 5 to a 4 in the city, indicating a strong level of fire protection services and allowing for lower insurance premiums. Even so, many of the services they provide occur outside of emergency situations. 

Fire Department personnel have undergone the training necessary to inspect children’s car seats and how these seats are installed, allowing them to provide car seat safety check events. Christmastime shoppers in Hartsville often see our Fire Department raising funds for the Boots and Buckets for Kids program. Last year, after raising $5,000, they helped provide Christmas gifts for 135 children in 60 families. The department also makes contributions to the MUSC Children’s Hospital Burned Children’s Fund. 

I hope everyone can join us for a great time this evening, and meet many of the departments which support this city and county. We’re working for you the rest of the year as well, so never hesitate to reach out to us.

Hartsville Police Department hosts National Night Out

WHAT: National Night Out, presented by the Hartsville Police Department 
WHERE: Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way, Hartsville, SC 
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 9, 6:30 p.m., with free showing of “Rise of the Guardians” beginning at dusk 

The Hartsville Police Department is inviting residents out for an evening of fun and excitement with the law enforcement and emergency service agencies serving the Hartsville community.

 Hartsville’s National Night Out 2013, “Heroes’ Night Out,’ will begin Friday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way. The evening will feature a wide variety of free activities, free food and a free outdoor movie showing of the movie “Rise of the Guardians,” beginning at dusk. In keeping with the event’s theme, children who come are invited to dress up as their favorite hero for a chance to win prizes, including season passes to the recently opened Piratesville Splash Pad. 

Recyclers of the Month - July 2013

Dorothy McCoy and her family are the City of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for July 2013. 

McCoy, who has made use of her recycling bin for as long as she has had it, said she enjoys knowing that sorted recycling materials will be used again and not simply thrown out. 

“It saves on trash bags,” said Doris Flemming, McCoy’s daughter, seen at left. “All you have to do is put your bottles, papers and cans out in the bin.” 

As the Recyclers of the Month, the family received a yard sign as well as a gift certificate to Ruth’s Drive-In, located at 659 W. Carolina Ave. in Hartsville. 

The award program highlights those city residents participating in the City of Hartsville’s recycling program, a partnership between the City and Sonoco. To learn more about guidelines for recycling material in Hartsville, visit www.hartsvillesc.gov. To request a recycling roll cart, call Environmental Services at (843) 383-3019.

A Moment with the Manager -- Building an attractive, vibrant community

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

I often communicate with other City Managers and economic development officials who have the same goals we have in local government: supporting and growing our communities. Many times we talk about what our cities need to attract residents and visitors.

More than anything else, healthy, thriving cities must have residents who are engaged with their community, who want to work toward making it a better place. This is the reason why the City of Hartsville website, www.hartsvillesc.gov, lists local volunteering opportunities, both in the boards, committees and commissions which support local government’s effectiveness, and in the nonprofit organizations promoting the needs of Hartsville residents from education to food security, personal development and more. If people of different backgrounds, young and old, feel that they cannot make a difference in a community, they have no incentive to stay.

Successful cities also need businesses and organizations willing to invest their resources locally. Coker College is providing a prime example of this along East Carolina Avenue these days, where it is building its new student housing village. This, combined with the nearby under-construction DeLoach Center athletics facility, has promise for moving the college closer to a greater enrollment and community impact.

The Duke Energy Foundation, Byerly Foundation and Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville are also making a major commitment to our economic development with the establishment of the Duke Energy Center for Innovation. Thanks to their contributions, Hartsville has a program taking a unique, proactive approach to economic development, providing tech-focused startup businesses with the resources and the knowledge to grow and to create jobs locally.

Increasingly, the communities in this state which attract businesses and people have one major feature in common: vibrant, welcoming downtowns. More and more municipalities are working to create business districts full of shops and restaurants, places which invite people to walk around and explore, and which have full slates of special events. The City of Hartsville has been hard at work in recent years bringing events downtown. The Screen on the Green series pulls in excellent crowds, most recently at last Saturday’s showing of “Brave.” The Thursdays on College street concerts, created last year, will offer four dates this fall.

As more programs develop among cities for the revitalization of their business districts, the refurbishment of our storefronts and the creation of event attractions only become more crucial. Downtown Hartsville’s significance is why it is the focus of our city’s under-development Master Plan, along with our entryways. Just like our people and our businesses, our downtown always needs effort invested into it. The work of making the City of Hartsville a dynamic and attractive city is never complete, and that may be one of the greatest things about a community: that there is always room for growth and improvement.

Screen on the Green series continues with showing of “Brave”

WHAT: Screen on the Green summer movie series showing of “Brave.” Rated PG for some scary action and rude humor. No admission charge. 
WHERE: Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way, Hartsville, SC 
WHEN: Saturday, July 20, 2013, dusk  

The Screen on the Green series of free outdoor movie showings will continue in Hartsville’s Burry Park this Saturday, July 20 at dusk, with the 2012 film “Brave,” sponsored by Duke Energy.

Before the movie, the Hartsville Fire Department will be offering free car seat safety checks for interested parents and guardians, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Cargill Way next to Burry Park. Fire Department personnel have been trained to inspect how car seats are installed and used. Hartsville Interfaith Ministries is also accepting canned goods during the event.  

“Brave,” a 2012 release of Walt Disney Pictures, features Merida, a Scottish princess and archer voiced by Kelly MacDonald who accidentally unleashes a curse on her family and unrest in her kingdom -- problems which require her courage, bravery and determination to solve. “Brave” is rated PG for some scary action and rude humor. 

The City of Hartsville’s Screen on the Green series uses a 25-foot screen for summer movies in Burry Park. The screenings begin as soon as the sunset allows for the movie to be projected, a time which will come after 8:45 p.m. this Saturday. Moviegoers are invited to bring out chairs and blankets as well as drinks and snacks for the showing. In case of rain, signs will be posted at Burry Park directing attendees to the rain location: the Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center at Byerly Park, 701 W. Washington St. 

The Screen on the Green season will wrap up on Saturday, Aug. 17, with a showing of the classic fractured fairy tale “The Princess Bride,” sponsored by the Landmark Inn.

A Moment with the Manager -- Summer activities in Hartsville

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

The Fourth of July has passed, and now we’re on the way toward the first day of school. About this time every year, summer can seem like it’s slipping away. In Hartsville, thankfully, this is a time filled with activities to help our residents enjoy the sunshine and good weather. Here are some fun opportunities for you and your family to enjoy in this back half of the season.

The Byerly Park Recreation Complex now has the most talked about new addition to Hartsville’s recreation facilities: the Piratesville Splash Pad, the water play area for children found at 1109 14th St. It has brought in crowds of kids buying daily tickets and season passes since it opened on Independence Day, with excellent reviews coming from parents and children, enthusing about its slides, fountains, water cannons and more. We’ve been reserving quite a few private parties as well. Call 843.339.2878 or visit www.hartsvillesc.gov to learn more about hours, rates and rentals. When you visit this great facility, you may agree with us that Hartsville has never seen anything quite like it.

Our Screen on the Green series of free outdoor movies is also underway, with two movies still to go this season. Next Saturday, July 20, we feature the Disney movie “Brave.” Our Fire Department will also be conducting free car seat safety checks on site before the event. The season ends with the well-remembered fractured fairy tale “The Princess Bride” on Aug. 17. For three seasons now, we’ve shown movies on our huge 25-foot screen in Burry Park on Cargill Way, and the crowds which keep coming truly show the value of having a downtown green space for events. Bring your snacks and drinks, your chairs and blankets, and meet us downtown at dusk for a fun Saturday night with the family.

Darlington County schools begin Aug. 19, signaling the end of summer for many. The City of Hartsville will be throwing another family event beforehand, however: National Night Out on Aug. 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Burry Park. For three decades, National Night Out has taken place in communities nationwide, fostering partnerships and connections among law enforcement, emergency personnel and the community members they serve. As in years past, this evening is a time for residents to meet our police, firefighters and EMS, all while enjoying free food, drinks, activities and entertainment. We will have DJ Trey Nicholson on site, and another movie showing, this time “Rise of the Guardians,” beginning at dusk.

Hartsville, we often say, is a wonderful community for families, and the City’s facilities and summertime events show the truth of that statement. I hope to see many of you out in our parks and at our upcoming events.

Hartsville Police Department hosts electric fan donation drive

WHAT: Distribution of electric fans for Hartsville residents
WHERE: Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center, 701 W. Washington St., Hartsville, SC
WHEN: Friday, July 19, 2013, 10 a.m.

Following a fundraising drive to provide electric fans for some Hartsville residents who are vulnerable to summer heat, the Hartsville Police Department will distribute fans this Friday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at the Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center, 701 W. Washington St.

The fans are available for City residents, age 55 and above, on a first-come, first-served basis. A photo ID with a date of birth and address will be needed to pick up a fan at the event.

The Police Department first organized a fan donation drive in 2012 to provide protection for those most at risk to the health and safety dangers of hot weather. This year’s drive has been made possible by numerous contributions, including those of Jay Lucas, South Carolina House of Representatives District 65, Ed Saleeby Jr., the Auman Law Firm, First Citizens Bank, Blackwell Insurance Agency, SPC Credit Union, Quality Auto Sales, Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home, Lowe’s and Walmart.

The first of the fans will be distributed to residents recommended to the Police Department by social service agencies based on the needs of the recipients’ health and residence situations. The remaining fans will be provided at the distribution event on July 19.

“Temperatures often reach toward triple digits this time of year, so we are pleased to offer this assistance to residents who would otherwise be exposed to the heat,” Police Chief James Hudson said. “On behalf of the Hartsville Police Department, I thank our sponsors for their kind donations to this project. Because of them, many residents needing these fans will stay cool and safe this summer.”

Duke Energy Foundation, Byerly Foundation provide first grants to Duke Energy Center for Innovation

The Duke Energy Foundation and the Byerly Foundation have committed the initial funding for a Hartsville business incubation program which will connect entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise needed for success. 

This program, named the Duke Energy Center for Innovation in honor of its first benefactor, has received a grant of $99,500 from the Duke Energy Foundation for its first year of operation. The Byerly Foundation, which provides grants to meet the education, economic and social needs of Hartsville residents, granted $100,000 for the innovation program. 

Hartsville Fire Department offers fireworks-safety tips

Using consumer fireworks on our nation’s birthday is as American as apple pie, backyard barbecues and afternoon storms. It can also be a safe activity if a few common sense rules are followed, according to Fire Marshal Bryan Crowley of the Hartsville Fire Department. 

“Thanks to testing of consumer fireworks in China, through the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory and other testing programs, and rigorous enforcement of federal fireworks regulations by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, consumer fireworks today are safer than ever before,” Crowley said. 

Fireworks-related accidents do occur every year, however, and most could be prevented with some basic safety precautions. The Hartsville Fire Department offers these common sense safety tips for using consumer fireworks in the hopes that injuries to consumers can be greatly reduced this season.

 • Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens if they are using fireworks. 
• Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks. 
• Fireworks should only be used outdoors. 
• Always have water ready if you are shooting fireworks. 
• Know your fireworks. Read the caution label before igniting. 
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them. 
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. 
• Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks. 
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water. 
• Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor garbage can. 
• Avoid using homemade fireworks or illegal explosives -- they can kill you! 
• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the Fire Department or Police Department. 

These additional safety tips should be consider when using sparklers. 

 • Always remain standing while using sparklers. 
• Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers. 
• Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time. 
• Never throw sparklers. Sparkler wires and sticks remain hot long after the flame has gone out. 
• Be sure to drop spent sparklers in a bucket of water. 
• Teach children not to wave sparklers, or run while holding sparklers. The Hartsville Fire Department urges local residents to follow these simple safety rules in their holiday celebrations this Fourth of July. 

For more information, please contact the Hartsville Fire Department at 843-383-3000.

Recyclers of the Month – June 2013

The members of the Cutler family are the City of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for June 2013.

Marc and Sheryl Cutler moved with their children to Hartsville a year and a half ago, and the family said they have enjoyed the convenience of recycling service in the city.

“We’ve been in the habit of recycling for years, but we love it that you don’t have to sort your papers, your glass, your cans,” Sheryl Cutler said.

A house with three children means a lot of food packaging accumulates, but she said recycling is not a hassle.

“Two teenage boys in the house leads to a lot of opportunities to recycle,” Marc Cutler said.

The family received a gift certificate to Depot Diner, 128 E. College Ave. in Hartsville, as part of the award, as well as the Recycler of the Month yard sign.

The monthly award program helps promote the recycling partnership of Sonoco and the City of Hartsville. To learn more about City of Hartsville garbage and recycling pickup schedules and what recyclable materials are accepted, or to request a recycling roll cart, call Environmental Services at (843) 383-3019.

City of Hartsville launches Piratesville Splash Pad at Byerly Park

WHAT: Grand opening of Piratesville Splash Pad
WHERE: Byerly Park Recreation Complex, 700 Russell Road, Hartsville, SC
WHEN: Thursday, July 4, 2013, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Piratesville Splash Pad, a multi-featured water play area designed for children, will stage its grand opening Thursday, July 4 at 11 a.m. at the Byerly Park Recreation Complex.

The splash pad, long planned as an addition to the athletic and recreational facilities at Byerly Park, offers a variety of pirate-themed water play features – fountains, geysers, slides, dumping buckets and more – and has no pools of standing water.

A Moment with the Manager -- Accommodations and hospitality taxes

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

Every year when the City of Hartsville develops a new budget, we find that the funding from accommodations taxes and hospitality taxes can be a little confusing for those following along with the uses of tax money. These funds have many different recipients: projects and programs which make Hartsville an attractive, lively community for visitors and residents alike. As such, I think these funds are well worth understanding.

Both taxes are collected for specific purpose of tourism and promoting the places in which they are collected. They differ from budget items like the City’s General Fund, paying for local government operations such as public safety or parks and leisure, from the proprietary funds which go to water, sewer and sanitation, and from state funding for local projects like roads and bridges.

Accommodations tax is collected by the state and the City of Hartsville on hotel room rentals – 2 percent by the state and 3 percent by the City. In the 2012 fiscal year, the City disbursed nearly $55,000 of state accommodations tax funds from the money collected – another part of the funds collected is allocated to City operations – as well as about $19,000 out of all locally-collected accommodations tax funds. City Council approves specific amounts for applying agencies and purposes, most recently at their June 11 meeting.

These funds support events drawing people to Hartsville like the Southeastern Baseball Classic, Renofest and Jazz! Carolina, and some of the organizations giving Hartsville recreational and cultural opportunities, like the YMCA of the Upper Pee Dee, Black Creek Arts Council and the Butler Heritage Foundation. Guidelines for the funds also set aside some money specifically for local advertising and tourism publicity. In Hartsville, this takes the form of Darlington County Tourism, the organization promoting our attractions, from arts and entertainment to dining, events and more.

The City’s local hospitality tax is a 2-percent tax on prepared food and beverages. The City disbursed more than $30,000 of these funds in the 2012 fiscal year, apart from those funds collected which go to pay City recreation bonds. As with the accommodations tax, the hospitality tax supports signature Hartsville events like Renofest or the Thursdays on College concert series drawing out downtown crowds since last fall, and other projects as well. The Piratesville Splash Pad provides an excellent example of what this funding can do. The local hospitality taxes provided the majority of funding for it, giving Byerly Park a new recreational offering now generating a wellspring of excitement from in-town and out-of-town parents.

Projects like the splash pad give us another attraction for our city’s visitors. By providing a mechanism to make this a vibrant and attractive city for tourists, residents and prospective residents, these funding sources are helping us build the future of our city.

City Swim begins at the Hartsville YMCA

The City of Hartsville will again sponsor free swimming time for young people living in the city at the Hartsville Family YMCA’s pool this summer.

The program, known as City Swim, kicks off Thursday, June 20, and run every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. through Thursday, Aug. 8. The Hartsville Family YMCA is located at 111 E. Carolina Ave, and will be closed for the holiday of Tuesday, July 4.

Participating children must be City of Hartsville residents who are 12 years old and younger. Accompanying adults must be legal guardians of the participating children, and must provide photo identification, proof of residency less than two months old, such as an electric bill, water bill or pay stub and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Adults must accompany the children at all times. All rules of the YMCA must be followed by participants, and a swim test must be taken before going into the pool’s deep end.

For more information about the program, contact City of Hartsville Parks and Leisure Services at (843) 339-2878.

Screen on the Green series presents showing of "Earth, by Disneynature"

WHAT: Screen on the Green summer movie series showing of “Earth, by Disneynature.” Rated G. No admission charge.
WHERE: Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way, Hartsville, SC 29550
WHEN: Saturday, June 22, 2013, dusk

Screen on the Green, the City of Hartsville’s free outdoor movie series, will continue its 2013 season at Burry Park this Saturday with a showing of “Earth, by Disneynature,” sponsored by Sonoco Recycling.

Released in 2009 by the Disneynature division of Walt Disney Studios, this nature documentary tells the story of many species of animals living across the earth over the course of a year. Highlighted animals include a family of polar bears in the Arctic Ocean seeking hunting grounds during the spring ice thaw, African bush elephants traveling to their watering holes through the dust storms of the Kalahari Desert, and humpback whales traveling on a long journey from the tropics to their feeding grounds near Antarctica. These creatures and many others are filmed in vivid clarity in a film narrated by James Earl Jones.

A Moment with the Manager -- Hurricane season preparedness

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

June has arrived, and hurricane season has come right along with it.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tells us that this year’s season has the potential to be an extremely active one, and as such could bring one of the region’s greatest natural hazards to our doorstep later this year. While we are free from the threat of catastrophic storm surge which faces our state’s coast, hurricanes may still inflict substantial damage here, and this possibility is something for which we and our residents ought to be prepared. Those who experienced Hurricane Hugo on the unforgettable night of Sept. 21, 1989 surely remember just how destructive wind and rain can be -- taking out power, downing trees and smashing in windows and roofs.

City of Hartsville resumes yard debris pickup

The City of Hartsville has resumed the collection of yard debris following the reopening of the Darlington County Landfill. The landfill, which handles all Hartsville yard waste, had been closed temporarily by heavy rains. City crews are now collecting the yard waste which developed during the interruption of service, and will restore regular pickup routes early the week of June 17.

The City of Hartsville collects yard debris every seven to 10 business days. Residents and businesses are asked to keep yard waste separate from other trash and place it at the front property line. For more information, visit the City of Hartsville website at www.hartsvillesc.gov, or call City of Hartsville Environmental Services at (843) 383-3019.

City of Hartsville temporarily suspends yard debris pickup durring interruption of Darlington County Landfill service

 The City of Hartsville has been notified by Darlington County that the Darlington County Landfill, which receives yard debris from Hartsville city residents, has been temporarily closed. Ongoing rainy conditions are preventing access to the landfill site by garbage trucks.

Because of the landfill closure, City of Hartsville crews are suspending regular pickup of yard debris. When Darlington County reopens the landfill, the City will inform residents that the yard debris pickup schedule will resume.

Under regular operations, the City of Hartsville collects yard debris every seven to 10 business days. Residents and businesses are asked to keep yard waste separate from other trash and place it at the front property line. For more information, visit the City of Hartsville website at www.hartsvillesc.gov. 

Recyclers of the Month - May 2013

Lamar and Lucy Caldwell are the City of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for May.

Lamar Caldwell said the family has been recycling for a very long time, and they generally fill their recycling bin every week with newspapers, magazines, cans and bottles.

“It’s definitely worthwhile. I am a firm believer in recycling,” he said.

A Moment with the Manager: Keeping Hartsville illuminated

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

Projects and programs of city government are at times eye-catching, headline-making affairs. The Piratesville Splash Pad opening this summer has caught the attention of many children and families. Our beautiful new City Hall in the refurbished Bank of Hartsville building has had many interested residents come through for tours.

Many of our operations come as ongoing services, however, taking place quietly in the background of our residents' lives. Consider, for example, the crews which collect trash and recyclables every day, or the water and sewer service provided to homes and businesses, and the streetlights which light up Hartsville every night.

Tales on the Town student art contest winners

From left: Hartsville City Manager Natalie Zeigler, John Byrd, Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington, Claire Brown and Leadership Hartsville Class of 2013 members Casey Hancock and Sherri Diaz.

The Leadership Hartsville Class of 2013 and the City of Hartsville recognized the winners of the student art contest which decided the designs for the Tales on the Town project at Hartsville High School on Tuesday, May 28.

John Byrd’s contest submission was named Best Overall Design, and will serve as the basis for the red fox bronze sculptures to be installed in downtown Hartsville. Claire Brown’s entry was named Best Cartoon Design, and will be include in all promotional materials for the project. Tales on the Town will be a pedestrian-friendly scavenger hunt activity featuring 13 small red fox sculptures as well as one large sculpture in Hartsville’s Burry Park. Leadership Hartsville has taken on fundraising for the project, and more information may be found at the City website, www.hartsvillesc.gov.

 

Tornado relief donation drive

The City of Hartsville is collecting donated toiletry items to provide for the victims of this week’s tornado in Moore, Okla. through May 31.

Benjamin Chastain to become director of Duke Energy Center for Innovation in Hartsville

Benjamin Chastain has been selected as the first director of the Duke Energy Center for Innovation in Hartsville, a business incubator which will provide resources, guidance and business space for technology-oriented startups. This program, an effort of the Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville and made possible by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, comes as one of several Technology Village Program sites created around South Carolina by the Clemson Institute for Economic & Community Development.

A Moment with the Manager -- Community leaders

By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager

The Hartsville community is blessed with many truly excellent leaders. Some serve on our City Council or our boards, committees and commissions. Others lead the many businesses, civic organizations and nonprofit organizations which make this city an excellent place to work and live.

The Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce has helped to cultivate leaders with its Leadership Hartsville program, and already we are seeing great things from their Class of 2013 in the form of the Tales on the Town project.

SC Department of Transportation public information meeting

The South Carolina Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting on the proposed roundabout project for the intersection of West Carolina Avenue and West Home Avenue Thursday, May 16, 2013, 5-7 p.m. at West Hartsville Baptist Church, 1003 W. Carolina Ave.

The SCDOT flyer below provides additional details.

Screen on the Green kicks off with "Wreck-It Ralph"

WHAT: Screen on the Green summer movie series showing of “Wreck-It Ralph.” Rated PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence. No admission charge.
WHERE: Burry Park, 131 Cargill Way, Hartsville, SC 29550
WHEN: Saturday, May 18, 2013, dusk


Screen on the Green, the City of Hartsville’s free outdoor movie series, will kick off its third season this Saturday at Burry Park with a showing of “Wreck-It Ralph,” sponsored by Sheriff Wayne Byrd.

The 2012 Walt Disney Animation Studios movie tells the story of Wreck-It Ralph, an arcade video game villain who wants to be as beloved as his video game’s good guy, Fix-It Felix. Sneaking into other video games in the hopes of becoming a hero, Ralph accidentally unleashes an enemy capable of destroying every game in the arcade. His one hope of becoming a real good guy lies with Vanellope von Schweetz, a troublemaking “glitch” from a candy-coated cart racing game.

Fox sculpture project coming to downtown Hartsville

Tales on the Town, an installation of bronze sculptures in the shape of red foxes spread around downtown Hartsville, will soon arrive as a unique community attraction made possible by a partnership of the Leadership Hartsville Class of 2013 and the City of Hartsville. The project, inspired last year by a Hartsville family, will involve 13 statues placed among the downtown’s points of interest such as historic sites and businesses, with a list of clues hinting at each location. With a fundraising drive now underway, statues could be installed as early as the fall of 2013.

Leadership Hartsville’s Class of 2013 has taken on the project in an effort to promote Hartsville’s cultural development. Tales on the Town will provide a pedestrian-friendly scavenger hunt activity incorporating a promotional brochure and website.

Hartsville's Residential Demolition Assistance Program kicks off

The dilapidated structure seen in this April 24, 2013 photo was among the first to be demolished under the Residential Demolition Assistance Program of the Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville and the City of Hartsville.

The same lot has been completely cleared of its structure following the house’s demolition, as seen in this May 7, 2013 photo.

Hartsville’s Residential Demolition Assistance Program, the effort to eliminate blighted and hazardous residential properties in the city, began the week of April 29 with the removal of three vacant and blighted houses.

The program, a partnership between the Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville and the City of Hartsville, provides funds to help property owners clear away decayed house structures in situations where the demolition cost would be otherwise unaffordable for the owner. After a property is identified as failing to meet code and the owner agrees to participate with a $500 investment, the program subsidizes the remaining cost of removing the structure. At the same time that three structures were demolished through the Residential Demolition Assistance Program, the City of Hartsville demolished two additional structures which were in violation of building codes. The next three removals under the assistance program are planned for the coming weeks.