Grand Strand Newsmakers

Horry County Youth Learn Leadership and Agriculture at SC Farm Bureau Conference

Horry County students Kristen Chestnut and Lindsey Gerald (left to right) were among forty-seven rising high school juniors and seniors from across South Carolina who recently participated in the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s (SCFB) 2016 Youth Leadership Conference in Newberry, S.C.

The conference, held on the Campus of Newberry College June 12-15, allowed students to gain valuable leadership skills, a better understanding of SC agriculture, and of the South Carolina legislative process.

“Our Youth Leadership Conference, sponsored by the SCFB Women’s Leadership program, allows students to explore opportunities within agriculture while developing their skills to be leaders in the industry,” SCFB Ag Literacy Director, Vonne Knight, said.

The conference operates on a two-year curriculum cycle where students learn about agricultural marketing and promotion one year and about government relations and agricultural advocacy the next. This year’s conference focused on legislative action in South Carolina.

Students were addressed by industry professionals on leadership, goal setting and legislative history of South Carolina. Nathan Saunders, Curator of Manuscripts at the University of South Carolina’s South Caroliniana Library discussed with participants the history of South Carolina legislation and how they can become involved in the legislative process. Director of organizational training and leadership development for SCFB, Jessica Cabrera, engaged participants in leadership activities essential for students to develop personally and professionally.

2016 SCFB Youth Ambassador Dalton Stalvey said, “Youth Leadership Conference is a great way to meet people from all across South Carolina who share a passion for agriculture. We were able to build leadership skills while expanding our network and agricultural knowledge.”

The Newberry County Young Farmers and Ranchers also hosted their annual Ag Olympics competition for the conference attendees.

“South Carolina’s agricultural industry is a vital part of the state’s economy,” SCFB President Harry Ott said. “We advocate so our children and grandchildren can farm long after we are gone. Educating our youth on opportunities available to them within the agriculture industry is the first step in involving students so they can have a lasting voice in today’s issues.” The S.C. Farm Bureau Federation is a non-profit membership organization formed to promote and preserve the work of family farmers and rural lifestyles across the state. In exchange for their annual dues and financial support of education, promotion and lobbying efforts on behalf of agriculture and family farmers, Farm Bureau members are entitled to discounts and access to a number of quality products.

The organization serves more than 100,000 member families in 47 chapters and has been around since 1944. Persons interested in supporting agricultural education are encouraged to contact their county Farm Bureau office or the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation at www.scfb.org for additional information.

Newcolmes choose this year’s charity

Each August, the Newcomers of the Grand Strand Board and its President choose the charitable and/or service organizations that they will be working to help support during the year. This year the President’s choice went to the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center located at 421 S.C. 57 South in Little River..

Their mission is to tap into every resource available to help veterans from all eras which includes helping with benefits, job service, counseling and any other assistance they may require. They are a federally approved, nonprofit, all volunteer organization with the sole purpose of bringing better and total services to our local veterans.

A check of $ 6,548.37 was presented by Mary Costello, President 2015-2016, Cassandra Chappell, past treasurer, Marilyn Keyser, past Special Events Chairperson and Jackie Miles, member. The check was accepted by Kris Tourtellotte, director of the Resource Center.

The Board of NCGS chose two organizations . Teen Angels of North Myrtle Beach High School and Savannah’s Playground located in The Market Common. Teen Angels is aimed at addressing critical needs of homeless and near-homeless students at North Myrtle Beach High School. Books, school supplies, prescriptions, transportation to doctor's appointments, clothing...pretty much anything a teenager needs in order to stay in school until graduation is supplied. A check of $3,274.18 was presented by Mary Costello, President 2015-2016, Cassandra Chappell, past Treasurer, Marilyn Keyser, past Special Events Chairperson and Jackie Miles, member. The check was accepted by Renee Hembree, program director and Trevor Strawderman, principal.

Savannah's Playground is being constructed in the Market Common neighborhood. The mission of this project is to provide a safe area for social interaction and exercise for children of all abilities through enabling playgrounds and programs designed to address special needs. Their check of $3,274.18 will be presented at a later date.

In addition to these main charities, NCGS also donates monthly to local charities via their “purple bucket” program and at the end of the year to three charities where their members volunteer.

Newcomers of the Grand Strand is a women’s club open to all women living in the Grand Strand area from Little River to Pawleys Island. NCGS offers its members opportunities to interact with other members living in the area in a variety of programs, travel events, and special interest groups as well as our charitable fund raising efforts. The NCGS meets the first Wednesday of the month September to May at the Recreation Center located on Carolina Forest Boulevard in the Carolina Forest section of Myrtle Beach. To find out more about NCGS, please log onto their website: www.newcomersgs.org.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue Takes Delivery of New Pierce 95-foot Mid-Mount Fire Truck

On July 15, North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue took delivery of a 2016 Pierce 95-foot Mid-Mount fire truck on an Arrow XT chassis. The new truck, which is now the city’s primary tower ladder, has been designated Truck 714 and is located at Fire Station #1, Second Avenue South.

The fire truck cost $1.2 million and was paid for out of the City’s capital improvements fund over two fiscal years. A fire truck of this type has an effective lifespan of about 20 years.

The new truck replaces a 1996 KME Aerial Cat 102 foot Rear-Mounted Aerial, which has been moved to another city fire station as a reserve apparatus. The KME served the City well as its primary tower ladder for 20 years. It was replaced due to its age and condition.

With the purchase of the new Pierce, the department has its third operational aerial device within the city limits.

The new fire truck features a 2000 gallons per minute Hale pump; 300 gallon poly tank; TAC-4 independent suspension; a 500 horse power Detroit (DD13) with an Allison Transmission; LED Headlights; an Onan 10Kw generator with two 150 foot cord reels; David Clarke Headsets for clear in-truck communication; seating for six fire/rescue personnel; and the Pierce Command Zone Multiplex System with monitors inside the cab, at the ladder turntable, and in the basket of the 95 foot aerial ladder. The truck also features a four-camera DVR system that allows for video recording of fire scenes for training purposes. The ladder compliment on the truck comes to 206 feet of ground ladders, including two 35 foot, two 28 foot, two 16 foot, an 18 foot, and a 10 foot attic ladders. A Little Giant Ladder also has a custom made storage box above the pump panel to save on compartment space.

In North Myrtle Beach, police and fire personnel are cross-trained, and this influenced the new truck’s paint scheme and some of its features. The latest trend in fire truck colors has been a black over red paint scheme, but with neighboring fire departments already sporting that or a similar design, North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue decided to go with dark metallic blue over red, a reflection of the department’s cross-trained personnel—blue for police and red for fire/rescue. The colors can be seen well at night and in daylight.

The truck also features several blue emergency lights, which may be a first for this region and possibly the state. Compared to other colors, blue is a very effective emergency light color and can been seen from farther away. The primary emergency lights are red.

The truck uses three Whelen Freedom Mini Light Bars as the primary light bar configuration. North Myrtle Beach’s street system is built on a grid, which means fire trucks need a lot of side angle lighting for visibility.

John C. Vecchio of Little River, South Carolina, Chosen to Lead District of Elks

As members of the Elks-USA from across the nation gathered in Houston, Texas, early in July, John C. Vecchio, of Little River, was installed as District Deputy to the Elks National President for the lodges in the Northeast District of the South Carolina Elks Association.

Vecchio was installed at the Order’s 152nd Elks National Convention happened in Houston, Texas, where over 8,000 members and guests were present. He will serve a one-year term.

Last year alone, the Elks donated approximately $300 million in cash, gifts, and time to make our communities better places to live. The Elks are one of the premier patriotic and charitable organizations in the United States of America.

The Elks vow “So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Elks volunteers visit thousands of hospitalized veterans each year in support of both active military forces and retired veterans. Elks furnish food, comfort care items, therapeutic items and gifts; provide recreational activities at bases and hospitals; and, stand ready to fulfill any need when called upon. Last year alone, the value of Elks’ contributions to our nation’s heroes provided more than $33.4 million to more than 300 Veterans Administration medical centers, clinics, and state care facilities, as well as to the homeless veterans. Annually, the Elks award college scholarships across the nation totaling more than $4 million. The Elks Community Investment Program awards more than $9 million toward enriching our communities. In all, on an annual basis, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks contributes in cash, goods, and volunteer time and travel more than $300 million to help students, people with special needs, veterans, and charitable organizations.

Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program 2016 Course

The Brunswick County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service will offer the Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteer Training beginning September 13, 2016. The Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteer Program is designed to instruct potential volunteers on the basics of horticulture and gardening in Coastal North Carolina using research-based information from NC State University, NC A&T University, and other land-grant college systems.

Class size is limited due to space, activities, and the need for interactive sessions. Applicants will interview with the Horticulture Agent, Master Gardener Coordinator, and Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in July. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program in by August 1st. Ability to volunteer during normal business hours will be a key component for selection. The course is ideal for beginners as well as advanced gardeners who want to enhance their gardening skills and use this knowledge to serve their community.

Course participants will receive over 40 hours of training from Horticulture Extension Staff in a variety of subjects such as coastal soils, composting, fertilizers, adjusting soil pH, lawn care, landscape plants, fruit and vegetable gardening, indoor plant care, insect and pest management, plant disease management, integrated pest management, and safe pesticide use.

Classes will meet 9 a.m. – 12 noon every Tuesday and Thursday beginning September 13th through November 1st at the Brunswick County Extension Center located in the Government Complex in Bolivia. The cost of the course is $160, which covers the cost of an Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteer Reference Notebook and other class materials. An application must be completed and returned to the Cooperative Extension Service no later than Friday, July 1 2016 to apply for the course. For an application form, contact the Cooperative Extension Service at (910) 253-2610 and ask for Gina Britton.

Following successful completion of course, participants will be certified as Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteers by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

Applications can be mailed/e-mailed to: Master Gardener Class 2015, Post Office Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, attention Gina Britton. (gina_britton@ncsu.edu)

To learn more about other consumer horticultural programs contact Sam Marshall, Horticultural Agent, at wsmarsh2@ncsu.edu. You can call the Cooperative Extension office at 910-253-2610. Visit the Extension website at http://brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu/

KofC donates money to honor priest

Grand Knight Scott Slater and Faithful Navigator Carl Powalie presented Father Andrew Marinak with a check from Knights of Columbus Council 7122 and Assembly 2431 for $1,000 in appreciation of all the work he does for the Council and Assembly. The priest also received a proclamation from North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley and the city council honoring him for his contributions to Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the North Myrtle Beach community. The mayor and city council declared the week of June 11 be in honor of Father Andy.

Knight Council 7122 hosted its annual Spring Fling June 11 to honor Father Andy on his 60th anniversary as a priest. More than 40 Sir Knights lined up in an honor guard to welcome him into the “Knight to Remember Dance.” He was escorted in by Slater and Powalie to the tune of God Bless America. Father Andy is a fourth-degree Knight and provides spiritual direction and guidance to the Council and Assembly.

Marinak was ordained May 26, 1956, at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio. His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Hanover, Pa., and then associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc in Hershey, PA. For several years he was chaplain at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pa. He became pastor of Holy Cross in Mt. Carmel, Pa., pastor of Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pastor of Corpus Christi in Chambersburg Pa., pastor of St. James in Steelton, Pa., and finally pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cornwall, Pa.. He retired from the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., on June 19, 2003.

Marinak relocated to the North Myrtle Beach area and has been associated with Our Lady Star of the Sea since December 2014. He assists in surrounding parishes as necessary and at Holy Trinity Catholic School.

Marinak is an active member of the Marian Movement of Priests, and has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and the rosary. As a dedication to the Blessed Mother, he celebrates the First Saturday Mass every month in her honor.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Grand Strand Newsmakers."