Tides & Times Winter 2024

Flip through the pages, catch up on the latest happenings, and enjoy reading about this beautiful city, North Myrtle Beach!

Exploring North Myrtle Beach Tides & Times

Inside This Issue Join Our Team

The Great Christmas Light Show’s 8th year has come to an end, and we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your continued support and involvement. We are eager to embark on a bright new year!

Important Dates

Spring Sports Registration

Oyster Baskets for a Living Shoreline

Did You Know? Beach wheelchairs are available for use free of charge. These chairs are sturdy and come equipped with large

balloon tires for maneuvering through soft sand. Wheelchairs are available Monday- Friday at the Beach Services Warehouse. Reservations for wheelchairs are encouraged and can be made one year in advance. To reserve, call 843-280-5684.

Calendar of Events January 10: Get Out & Learn Educational Series January 13: Leashes & Beaches January 15: Kidz & Cops Fun Day January 15: NMB Citizen’s Police Academy Begins January 20: 41st Annual Winter Run February 3: Sweet Stroll February 6: Self Defense Class For Women Begins February 7: Get Out & Learn Educational Series February 8 - March 18: NMB Citizen’s Academy February 17: Family Formal March 6: Get Out & Learn Educational Series March 16: 34th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Festival March 30: 42nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt April 1-5: Spring Break Splash April 6: 6th Annual Touch-A-Truck

Upcoming Dates Electric Portable Space Heater Safety Checklist: - Purchase Heater with Seal of Qualified Testing Lab - Keep Heater at least 3 ft. Away from Anything that can Burn - Choose Heater with a Thermostat and Overheat Protection - Place Heater on Solid, Flat Surface - Ensure Heater has Auto Shut-Off - Keep Space Heaters Out of the Way of Foot Traffic - Do Not Block Exits - Keep Away From Children - Plug Heater into Wall Outlet - Never use Extension Cord - Turn Off and Unplug when Going to Bed or Leaving the Room

Regular City Council Public Meetings - 7 PM January 8, February 19, March 4 & 18, April 1 April 15-16 (Budget Retreat) Planning Commission Public Meetings - 5 PM (Workshop Day Of Meeting - 9:15 AM) January 9, February 20, March 5 & 19, April 2 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - 5 PM January 11, February 8, March 14, April 11

*To learn more about each event, click on the name of the event.

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Did You Know? Each year, the City of North Myrtle Beach hires 120 lifeguards to man the many lifeguard towers. Each spring, Beach Patrol Officers conduct swim clinics at the Aquatic & Fitness Center. These clinics are designed to prepare participants for the required 500 meter swim, which has to be conducted in 10 minutes or less.

Sign Up For A Membership Today There are daily and weekly passes, as well as monthly and annual memberships for young adults, individuals, couples, parent/child, families, senior individuals, senior individuals (restricted), senior couples, and senior couples (restricted). Where there is something for everyone, invest in your health!

Apply Today! Are you looking for a new career

opportunity, or a part-time job? The City of North Myrtle Beach is hiring, and we want you !

To View Openings and Apply, Visit: www.NMB.us

Saturday Adults & Teens Swim Lessons Learn to swim at the Aquatic & Fitness Center on Saturdays from January 13 to February 17! Each class begins at 11:30 AM and ends at 12:15 PM. Ages 13 and older are welcome. Cost for members is $38, and cost for nonmembers is $54. Registration is now open. For more information, call 843-281-3737.

Tidal Forecast App NMB Public Works is part of a program that tracks the tides. The Hohonu device is mounted on a dock in Cherry Grove. You can track the tides, too! Simply download the TideCast App for iOS. With this app, you will be able to: • View tidal forecasts plus real-time ob- servations for hundreds of NOAA and Hohonu locations across the United States • Navigate between nearby stations, and favorite the stations you routinely reference • Compare weather-related forecasts with water level forecasts

Group Fitness Schedule The holidays have passed and it is the start of a new year! The Aquatic & Fitness Center Group Fitness Classes make exercising FUN! View the schedule online, select your preferred class, and get ready to feel the burn. Please note, all fitness classes are 50 minutes, and can change without notice.

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Oyster Baskets for a Living Shoreline

Did You Know? There are a total of 13 parks throughout the City of North Myrtle Beach. Those include: 41st Avenue South Pocket Park, Central Park, Cherry Grove Oceanfront Park, Cherry Grove Park and Boat Ramp, Heritage Shores Nature Preserve, Hill Street Park, McLean Park, Ocean Park, Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve, NMB Park & Sports Complex, Ingram Dunes, 18th and Edge Pocket Park, and Yow Park.

The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation department will be building a Living Shoreline to help protect against erosion at the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve. To do so, NMB Parks & Recreation enlisted the aid of Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful (KNMBB) and its volunteer network for the construction of Manufactured Wire Reefs (MWR’s) or oyster baskets. That assistance was organized by the KNMBB Volunteer Coordinator, Megan Petit. The MWR’s will be positioned in April when the water temperature warms. The intent is to provide a habitat favorable for oysters which, once established, will help capture water-borne sediment and assist in the creation of an erosion resistant natural shoreline. Wildlife Biologist, Kevin Swain from the SCDNR South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement program (SCORE), was on-site on November 28 to provide tutorial guidance to a core group of volunteer leaders. These individuals worked closely with other volunteers to construct the MWR’s. The hope was to build 144 MWR’s over 12 days. Key KNMBB Volunteer, Bill Wishart,

directed the volunteer effort. The group exceeded its goals by building 182 MWR’s in 8 days. This project would not have been possible without the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers who participated. North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation and KNMBB thank all those who dedicated their time and energy in this effort. As a special reminder, those who signed up to volunteer will be contacted in Spring as the time to deploy the MWR’s approaches. Others who wish to volunteer

Registration for City Residents is open February 5 - February 9, then Open Registration is open February 10 - March 3. The fee for City Residents is $25, and the fee for Non- Residents is $35. Leagues for the Spring include soccer, baseball, softball, t-ball, and lacrosse. Spring Sports Registration

All Sports Leagues Must Register Through Civic Rec: parks.nmb.us/register

For More Information, Call: (843) 281-3800

may contact KNMBB by email, knmbb@nmb.us, or by phone, (843) 281-3732.

Help make a difference today by becoming a Volunteer Coach ! Parks & Recreation has training, practice plans, and everything you will need to succeed.

Interested in Becoming a Volunteer Coach? Email: recreation@nmb.us

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These special kids were selected during the months of October, November, and December by their school for meeting the following requirements: 1. Being Respectful 2. Making Good Grades 3. Good Attendance at School 4. Standing up to Bullies Meet Your New Jr K9 Officers

Grant Awarded to North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue

Congratulations: - Stella Schwaderer - Clark Vance - Bentley Mitchell - Jackson Bostick - Jay Long - Calvin DeStafano - Isabella Bunting - Britleigh Hyatt - Taylor Bolli - Raegan Walker - Bernhard Gustafson

The North Myrtle Beach Fire Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $22,019.94 from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. These funds were used to purchase twelve sets of Water Rescue Personal Protective Equipment. Each set is equipped with a dry suit, helmet, PFD, boots, gloves, knife, whistle, and rope throw bag. This equipment will allow those assigned to storm duty on the High Water Vehicle or Boat Crew to be better equipped to safely perform their duties.

Join your hosts, Lauren Eckersley and Officer Pat Wilkinson, as they talk public safety, special events, council decisions, and so much more! NEW City Podcast

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Improving North Myrtle Beach

The North Myrtle Beach City Council will hold the Annual Budget Retreat, scheduled for April, where they will consider proposals for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. A few projects that may be up for approval include: • New pickleball courts at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, given the sport’s rising popularity. • Potential expansion of the NMB Aquatics and Fitness Center to add more pools and gym space.

With the ending of 2023 and the beginning of a new year, it is time to turn our focus on all that is to come in 2024. As many of you know, the City’s fiscal year budget begins in July and runs through June. This means North Myrtle Beach has reached the midpoint of the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The first half of 2024 will see good progress on several key projects that are included in the current 2023/2024 budget:

• Construction of the new Fire Station 7 off Water Tower Road will begin, improving emergency response times on the south end of the City. • Work will commence on extending Champions Boulevard, which will alleviate traffic congestion around the Park & Sports Complex. • The NMB Park & Sports Complex will start its expansion project, allowing the City to host more regional tournaments and events.

Nikki Fontana Windy Hill Email: njfontana@nmb.us Trey Skidmore At-Large Email: rtskidmore@nmb.us Bubba Collins Ocean Drive Email: bccollins@nmb.us Your Elected Officials

Mayor Marilyn Hatley Email: mayor@nmb.us Mayor Pro Tempore J. Baldwin Crescent Beach Email: jobaldwin@nmb.us Hank Thomas At-Large Email: hathomas@nmb.us

Fred Coyne Cherry Grove Email: jfcoyne@nmb.us

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Stay Connected With North Myrtle Beach!

Seaside Session This quarter’s Seaside Session is brought to you by the Aquatic & Fitness Center. We have all heard the saying “new year; new you,” and the beginning of January is notorious for people trying to hit their lofty New Year’s fitness goals. And more often than not, this is quickly followed by dwindling numbers as the year progresses and these individuals give up on their fitness goals. A big reason that people don’t follow through is that they set unattain - able goals from the beginning and quickly burn out when they don’t see instantaneous re- sults. The key is to set sustainable fitness, workout, and exercise goals. Follow the tips below to build healthy habits that will help you crush your New Year’s fitness goals and stay healthy for years to come! Tips For Setting Realistic New Year’s Fitness Goals There is nothing wrong with setting the bar high. However, it can be helpful to choose short- term, realistic goals along the way to reaching your long-term goals. By changing your mind- set, you will be able to stay motivated as you reach new, smaller, everyday goals. This New Year’s fitness goals should be something that you can sustain as lifelong goals, and not just quick fixes. Make Performance Goals Instead of Just Weight Loss Goals While weight loss always seems to be the top priority for men and women looking to get into shape, performance goals are even more fun to achieve. Knowing that you can achieve physical goals based on strength and endurance is one of the best feelings out there. This is great not just for your physical health, but also for your mental and emotional well-being. So instead of just focusing on the scale when you plan your workouts, include performance goals to keep your body and mind motivated. Schedule Your Workouts It’s easy to make a New Year’s resolution and say you are going to workout more. However, you are more likely to achieve this if you actually schedule your workouts. Otherwise, you may fall back into the habit of saying “I’m too busy to workout” at the end of a long day. If you know that you have a busy schedule after work or in the evening, make it a habit to get up early and workout before your day starts. Or you can even schedule a midday workout if you have a long lunch break. If you put it on your schedule, you make it a daily task that needs to be checked off just like anything else. Try New Activities The New Year is a great time to vary your workouts with new exercises and routines. By add- ing variety to your workouts you can become re-engaged in a new fitness regimen. This will also help you to not fall back on old habits of skipping workouts. You can try out a class or two at AFC. You could even join a run or bike group so that you will have other people to mo- tivate you along the way. Expand your horizons and try new activities outside of your comfort zone. You may be surprised how much you enjoy these new workouts!