NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Posted 11-25-2009 by CHNA Board: City of Spartanburg to celebrate Arbor Day at Happy Hollow

There will be an Arbor Day celebration on December 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. until around 10:30 a.m. in the Happy Hallow Park in Converse Heights. Please view the attached News Release for detailed information.

Posted 11-25-2009 by Webmaster: New Site for Neighborhood Security Information

In order to make it easier to post the security reports in a timely manner, we have created a new page that can dynamically updated. The weekly security reports will be posted to the page at this link. Check the new page to see a list of security reports, because a ConverseHeights.org will not be updated each time a new report is posted. When you visit this new page, you will find options to subscribe to be notified when new items are posted.

We hope that you find this security information useful. Please feel free to send comments or questions about the way these are being posted.

Regards,
- webmaster@converseheights.org

Posted 11-02-2009 by CHNA Board: Neighborhood Security Information

Weekly Security Incident Report from the City:

• Spartanburg Public Safety Department Incidents Reported Converse Heights Neighborhood 10/26 - 11/01/2009

Posted 10-30-2009 by CHNA Board: Neighborhood Security Information

Liz Fort has been corresponding with a Crime Analyst for the City and has shared some recent incident reports for Converse Heights from the Spartanburg Public Saftey Department. Eventually these will be available online from the City, but in the meantime we will make an effort to post these weekly reports on this web site.

• Spartanburg Public Safety Department Incidents Reported Converse Heights Neighborhood 10/12 - 10/18/2009
• Spartanburg Public Safety Department Incidents Reported Converse Heights Neighborhood 10/19 - 10/25/2009

Also, please be aware there there have been many recent incidents of cars being broken into in Converse Heights and valuables being stolen from them. Remember to lock your car doors, and do not leave valuables in your car to attract theft.

Posted 09-16-2009 by CHNA Board: Partying In and Around the Kudzu Patch

Saturday 9/19 at 9 AM we mop up any remaining kudzu at the Ivy St. and Main Street site. That won't take long at all because the kudzu is virtually all gone.

We then move into the kudzu along the creek. This is a new site for us even though it adjoins the current site out back. The kudzu is ugly at the bottom of Ivy Street about 80 yards downhill from the current site. We will make a big difference in before quitting time at 11 AM.

Come join us! You will make a difference in the environment and in the community. You will also save a bunch of trees from kudzu death.

From Newt Hardie and Francie Little, Converse Heights Beautification Captain

Posted 08-29-2009 by CHNA Board: Converse Heights Tree Agreement with City

On July 15th, City Manager, Ed Memmott, City Attorney, Cathy McCabe, and Neighborhood Association Chair, Anne Leger, signed an agreement for the future care of Converse Heights street trees.

In a collaborative effort, the City of Spartanburg and the Neighborhood Association joined in stating their commitment to beautifying Converse heights by the planting and maintaining of trees, while at the same time keeping the right-of-ways safe for pedestrians and motorists.

The City is committed to maintaining all trees on the sidewalks and in the neighborhood medians. This includes mulching trees in the medians; removing dead, declining or hazardous trees or limbs upon notice; removing limbs or vegetation that visually obstructs motorists safety upon notice; and planting replacement trees purchased by the Neighborhood Association through the Tree Fund. The City specifies that planting be done at the correct time of year (fall) to ensure a greater rate of survival, and that each tree chosen be appropriate for the site.

In turn, the Neighborhood Association, through the Tree Fund, will pay for the replacement of dead or severely damaged trees on both sidewalks and medians. The Association will provide a tree replacement list to the City Grounds and Maintenance Department by September 1 of each year. That list should not exceed fifteen trees per year. (The Neighborhood Association may also provide attention at their expense such as pruning, mulching, etc. should they see fit).

For many years, the City has taken on the maintenance of Converse Heights’ older trees, without any written agreement. However, the addition of close to 900 trees in 2006 and 2007 has changed the dynamic.

Many of you will have participated in Tree Planting Project. The brainchild of resident, Hans Balmer, that project was enthusiastically supported by local leaders and a team of volunteers. LandArt Design provided professional services. Funding came from local contributions. The Converse Heights Tree Fund, currently held by the Spartanburg County Foundation, was also established at that time.

To ensure the ongoing success of such a worthwhile enterprise, now was the time to develop a more formal public/private partnership between our Neighborhood Association and the City of Spartanburg. It will remain valid for the next three years or until either party chooses to terminate it in writing. Three years from now it may be renewed upon agreement of both parties.

Link to the Tree Agreement Document

Posted 06-28-2009 by CHNA Board: Update on Glendalyn Ave Water Line Project

Phase 1 (from Connecticut to Clifton Avenue) and Phase 2 (from Clifton Avenue to approximately halfway been Clifton Avenue and Ivy Street) have now been completed, and work on Phase 3 began in May 2009. Spartanburg Water has posted feedback surveys for Phase 1 and Phase 2, so please take a few minutes to fill these out to tell them what you thought about this project.

Please visit the project website to learn more about this project.

Posted 06-14-2009 by CHNA Board: CHNA Security Alert

Neighbors,

Unfortunately another incident has been reported involving children walking in Converse Heights. These girls were approached by a stranger who attempted to speak to them. They were frightened and ran off. No one has been harmed in any way. However, Spartanburg police have requested that we are all alert to any suspicious behavior or vehicles in the area.

Should you see anything that raises your suspicions, do your best to obtain a description of the individual/s and try to obtain the tag number of the vehicle. Then immediately call 911 to relay this information. Your description of the individual and his vehicle may not be the same as those reported in previous incidents.

Thank you,
Anne Leger, Chair
Converse Heights Neighborhood Association
541-8095

Posted 05-01-2009 by CHNA Board: Police Searching for Man Exposing Himself to Children in Spartanburg

Yesterday (Thursday April 30th) at approximately 3:20 pm on Palmetto Drive an individual exposed himself to two female students who were walking home together from Pine St. elementary school. This person is described as a tall, Caucasian male in his twenties or early thirties. He had short sandy-colored hair styled in a buzz cut. At the time of the offense he was wearing a blue and white polo shirt, khaki cargo shorts and possibly a baseball cap. The individual was the driver of a large, shiny black truck. This person has also been seen on Rutledge St. and Glendalyn Avenue where he committed the same offense. There was an additional incident this morning, as described in this news story: Police Searching for Man Exposing Himself to Children in Spartanburg

If you should see a person answering to this description, please make a note of his truck license number and immediately call 911.

Posted 04-06-2009 by Jane M. Arrington, Ph.D. - Spartanburg Water: Update on Glendalyn Ave Water Line Project

Phase 1 (from Connecticut to Clifton Avenue) has been completed and Phase 2 (from Clifton Avenue to approximately halfway been Clifton Avenue and Ivy Street) began the week of March 23rd. All work in Phase 2 will be completed before the construction crew dedicated to this project moves on to Phase 3. The completion of Phase 2 is projected for the end of April. We at Spartanburg Water are currently in the process of developing a Phase 1 Report Card to gather feedback on the project from those residing in Phase 1. This report card will be distributed door-to-door and can be returned either by mail or submitted electronically on the micro Web site. It is important to us to gather residents’ opinions about how the infrastructure upgrade has been implemented in order to continually improve our service to the Spartanburg community.
Please visit the project website to learn more about this project.

Posted 03-01-2009 by CHNA Board: Congratulations Notable Neighbors

Nominated by Ruth and Fletcher Thompson, this month’s Notable Neighbors are Tom Bridgeman and Richard Gibson of Springdale Drive. Since moving to their home, Tom and Richard have done an outstanding job of enhancing their home, while also finding time to remove litter from the neighborhood, as well as to deliver errant newspapers and wheel in trash cans for some whose mobility is a little impaired. Tom and Richard, we salute you!

We invite you to recognize others in our neighborhood who set the tone for a friendly, helpful and positive community. Call 541-8095 or e-mail anneleger@charter.net with your nomination for Notable Neighbors.

Posted 03-01-2009 by CHNA Board: Bicycle lanes and Traffic Committee update

The sharrow lanes for use by cyclists and runners, identified by the painted marking of a bicycle guy with two chevrons above, have been installed on Hollywood/Brentwood which, subject to state approval of a designated lane on Sydnor, will ultimately connect with those already installed on DuPre Drive over in Fernwood. Along with the lanes also installed on Forest Avenue, the $60,000. cost was paid for with a grant from SPATS. (The bike lanes, identified by a bicycle guy without chevrons, on Spring and Magnolia Streets and on Marion Avenue were paid for by the Mary Black folks.)

Having noticed that the new lanes are occluded in several places with residents' yard waste, primarily raked leaves/grass clippings, Mr. Tim Carter of the city's Civil Engineering Department was contacted. He acknowledged that the Waste Management department is aware of this, but it seems that, as in the past, many residents articulate obvious reasons for their reluctance in placing such waste on the grass strip. The result is a dilemma.

The splendid improvements made by the City to the five-point intersection of Boyd Street, Mills Avenue, and Sherwood Circle are complete. This project was paid for by a grant from the South Carolina Department of Transportation's "Safe Routes to School" funding. If this area is not on your usual "beaten path", take a detour through this intersection AFTER SCHOOL HOURS and have a look. Remember that it's a FIVE WAY STOP - ALL DIRECTIONS!!