Myrtle Beach Friday Fax Memo

2.   Two opioid addiction and drug use events that were postponed by Tropical Storm Idalia will happen this Monday, September 25. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control partners with the City of Myrtle Beach for a free Overdose Prevention and NARCAN Training Session at 3:00 p.m., Monday, September 25.  The event is at DHEC’s Myrtle Beach Office, 927 Shine Avenue.  Learn how to recognize an overdose and administer lifesaving NARCAN.  Register at https://bit.ly/OverdoseTraining23.  Also Monday, the community will honor International Overdose Awareness Day from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Chapin Park, 1410 North Kings Highway.  This free event includes speakers, recovery resources, support services and food. See https://bit.ly/OAD23 to RSVP.

3.   The selection process begins now for Myrtle Beach’s first-ever Poet Laureate. A panel will review the eight applications next Wednesday, with an eye toward recommending three finalists for City Council’s consideration.  This new, two-year position will be the city’s poetic voice, working to promote cultural heritage, literacy and creative writing among residents of all ages.  It comes with a small stipend, as well as required appearances at civic events, schools and other public functions.  View the qualifications and other details at https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/poetlaureate.pdf. 

4.   The next “Nights at Nance” free concert is this Thursday, September 28, at Nance Plaza in Myrtle Beach’s Arts & Innovation District. Everyone’s invited to hear Julio & the Saltines from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Bring a beach chair or blanket to this family friendly event, sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance.  “Nights at Nance” returns on October 12 and 26, too, so mark those dates on your calendar, too. 

5.   Looking ahead, everyone’s invited to celebrate National Night Out, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, in Exhibit Hall C at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Meet your neighbors and city staff and vote in the Neighborhood Watch cooking competition.  Neighborhoods will prepare their best “signature dish,” with winners selected by a panel of judges.  Admission is free, parking is complimentary, and all food and drinks are free!  Myrtle Beach’s Fire, Police and Neighborhood Services Departments will serve desserts for all to enjoy!  Our Public Works, Police and Fire Departments also will have vehicles, K9s and service trucks on hand.  Questions?  For more information, contact Crime Prevention Officer Stephani James at sjames@cityofmyrtlebeach.com.

6.   A comprehensive list of city-related activities, events, festivals and recreation programs is available online.  The Events webpage, a downloadable PDF file, is updated weekly. 

7.   South Carolina’s Largest Garage Sale drew thousands to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Saturday, September 9, and that’s the subject of our Photos of the Week. More than 250 vendors offered a little bit of everything, from castoff to keepsake.  Think of it as the Noah’s Ark of retail, with thousands of shoppers searching for a collector’s piece or a priceless bargain.  Vendor spaces sell out in a matter of hours, and the sale draws a large crowd each year.  Check out what was available and the people who enjoyed the treasure hunt.  To view these photos and more, see our Photos of the Week Library

8.   Did you know... That Myrtle Beach’s city-owned structures and their contents are insured for a total of $411,069,539?  The 447 structures – administration buildings, pump stations, water tanks, dune walkovers, dugouts, scoreboards, picnic shelters, storage sheds, static airplanes, recreation centers, the boardwalk, Chapin Memorial Library, etc. – are valued at $350,261,580, while the contents are valued at an additional $60,807,959.  These totals do not include the city-owned Sheraton Hotel at the Convention Center or the hotel parking deck, which are insured by the hotel management company.  The totals also do not include the value of the underlying land or any underground items, such as water and sewer lines.