Spartanburg City News

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October Arts Roundup Podcast: Local organizations offer something for everyone Sep 23, 2013

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October is nearly upon us, and as the mercury falls down into that autumnal sweet spot, our local arts organizations here in Spartanburg are gearing up for the season with some excellent offerings. On this podcast special, we sit down with folks from Hub-Bub, the Chapman Cultural Center, and the Hub City Writers Project to get the rundown on some of the excellent arts and cultural events they have planned for the coming weeks. So if you're looking for an answer that familiar "what is there to do?" in Spartanburg, this is the podcast for you. Listen and enjoy.

City News Podcast: Bold Education Moves Focus Attention on Spartanburg Sep 11, 2013

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As you've probably read in the news (informed citizen that you are), Converse College announced yesterday a huge 43 percent cut to its tuition, making national headlines in the process. Also this week, Spartanburg School District 7 started distributing Macbook Air laptops to its high school students, following a decision made in April to put laptops in the hands of all middle and high school students, and provide iPads for students in grades 3-5. What does all that big and bold thinking about education mean for our City? Listen to the podcast to find out.

City News Podcast: Construction Starting Soon on Northside Healthy Food Hub Aug 29, 2013

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Earlier this year, we had City Community Services Director Mitch Kennedy on the podcast to talk about the Northside Initiative, a truly massive effort on the part of both public and private entities to redevelop of one of our city's most impoverished areas. Today on the podcast, we're focusing in on one element of that effort, the Healthy Food Hub. With construction set to begin shortly on the project, the Healthy Food Hub will serve as home to the Hub City Farmers Market, and will house a garden, a community kitchen, and a cafe selling nutritious, ready-made meals and fresh produce to members of the Northside community and beyond. Where does the food hub fit in to the overall Northside Initiative picture, and what could it mean for the community when the hub opens next year? This week, we've brought Kennedy back on the podcast to talk about it.

City News Podcast: A 'Bicycle Friendly' Discussion with Partners for Active Living Aug 22, 2013

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Spartanburg is a bicycle friendly community, and has been since 2007 according to the League of American Bicyclists. Why does that matter for our community, and why does it matter that we continue to improve bicycle access throughout our city? This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ned Barrett and Anne Piacentino of Partners for Active Living to hash it out. Listen below and enjoy!

City News Podcast: Charting the Course of Downtown Development Aug 15, 2013

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If you've lived in Spartanburg for anything longer than a few years, you don't need anyone to tell you how different our city's downtown looks now compared with its not-so-distant past. Decisions made years ago, from the renovation of Morgan Square, to the construction of new parking garages to accommodate new class A office space downtown, have influenced the shape of everything that has come since, and with announcements of new developments, renovations, and business openings coming at an impressive pace, it's tough not to like the shape our city center is taking. This week on the podcast, we're talking about that downtown momentum, how we got to where we are today, and how we can keep it going into the future. Listen and enjoy.

City News Podcast: WOLI rolls into Spartanburg, August 14 Aug 08, 2013

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It might just be the coolest thing to ever come completely out of left field in Downtown Spartanburg's history. Yes, the rumors (and the slightly incorrect piece in the local newspaper) are true. Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, for 12 days starting August 14, a 90 ft. ferris wheel named WOLI (Wheel of Lights and Illuminations) will dominate the Morgan Square skyline from its position along Spring Street in front of the clock tower (click here for a map). Standing 20 feet taller than the clock tower, and festooned with enough lights to throw off an owl's circadian rhythm, WOLI spends most of the year at some of the nation's biggest outdoor festivals, including a stint at Bonnaroo earlier this summer. In our humble opinion, there's no better way to bring a little of that festival spirit to Spartanburg as summer winds down. Want the full details? Listen to the podcast below, and get ready to be taken to new heights in Downtown Spartanburg!

City News Podcast: The Carolina Panthers Come to Spartanburg Jul 31, 2013

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As another July gets ready to pass by in Spartanburg, and another August is set to plow into us with all its usual brow-wiping, humidity-cursing charm, it's important to remember that autumn isn't as far away as it may seem. To help you get in that sweater weather spirit, the City's dynamic podcasting duo wholeheartedly recommends a trip to Wofford College's Gibbs Stadium to visit the Carolina Panthers Training Camp. Practices run nearly every day until August 13 (follow this link to view the schedule), and are free and open to the public. Need a little more convincing? Listen to the podcast.

City News Podcast: The Iron Yard brings tech startups to Spartanburg Jul 24, 2013

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Back in February when we first sat down with Kate McCarthy, Program Director for The Iron Yard in the Spartanburg, renovation had just started on their future space beside Hub Bub's Showroom in the Grain District. Even then, the idea of a business accelerator and coworking space in Downtown Spartanburg was enough to make local boosters like us giddy at the potential. Fast-forward a few months, and we're not talking about potential anymore. Last week, The Iron Yard welcomed its first class of ten tech startups, all focused in the healthcare industry. We sit down with Kate to get her take on the potential impact these businesses could have beyond their three-month stay in the Grain District, along the way learning useful alliterative phrases like "surfaces of serendipity." Afterward we take a few minutes to talk with Max Gillespie, Jim Ness, and Mike Roberts of MyDocTime, one of the startups taking part in this year's accelerator program.

City News Podcast: "Sundays Unplugged" Coming to the Chapman Cultural Center Jul 16, 2013

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Sunday afternoon generally isn't the busiest time in Downtown Spartanburg. Sure you can grab a little lunch, take a little walk, and enjoy the sunshine (assuming we still get sunshine in the afternoon anymore). But what if you wanted a little more? What if you'd like to hear a little live music, or maybe take in a few cultural offerings, or what if you're looking to take home a cool piece of local art? Up until now, you might have been out of luck. The Chapman Cultural Center has plans to change all that. This week on the podcast we sit down with Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of the Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg to talk about "Sundays Unplugged" at the Chapman Cultural Center (click here for a map). With a Sunday Art Market featuring the work of local artists, live music from local singer-songwriters, and free admission to the center's history and art museums, the question of "what to do on a Sunday in Downtown Spartanburg" just got a great new answer. So give a listen, and be sure to come out this Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a little music and art at the Chapman Cultural Center.

City News Podcast: Options for Downtown Streetscaping Jul 11, 2013

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Earlier this week, City Council got an overview of options for downtown streetscaping projects that could be undertaken over the next year. Enough funding exists to allow the City to take on one of three possible "big" streetscaping projects (with a couple of the smaller projects possibly in the mix as well) over the next 18 months. Always looking for ways to better engage with our city's residents, yesterday we posted some photos of these streets with a brief explanation of how each streetscaping project would work, and asking you to give your take on which one deserves to move forward first. Today on the podcast, we're hoping to continue that conversation. So give a listen, head on back to yesterday's post to see the pictures, and join in on the conversation.

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