Jan 31, 2018 | Community News, Mini-Grant Success News, News
NEWBERRY OBSERVER
The City of Newberry unveiled two new accessible wheelchair swings recently at Marion Davis Park.
The swings, IP15 iSwings, are the first of their kind in the United States. Scott Sawyer, City of Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism director said that not only was it a great day in Newberry, but an even greater moment for the special needs community.
“This particular project started in the winter of 2015, so we’re about two years into this. Staff met with some parents of special needs children in spring of 2016 and in September 2016 the City established the first Recreation Accessibility Team,” Sawyer said. “Thankfully in November we secured a Parks and Recreation Development Fund Grant of $30,000. Once that came to fruition, we knew we could upgrade and get the best things for these kids and adults.”
The IP15 iSwings were manufactured by the Inclusive Play Company, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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![Kirby Named New BCBSSC Foundation Executive Director]()
Jan 31, 2018 | News
Erika Kirby, who served as the Board Chair for Eat Smart Move More South Carolina (ESMMSC), and served as one of the organization’s founding members has been promoted to Executive Director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. As executive director, Kirby is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization, as well as policies, programs, and initiatives.
“Erika is so deserving of her new position! I have known Erika for five years, and admire her passion and commitment to improve lives in South Carolina. She recognizes that health disparities exist, and works tirelessly with state and local partners to identify solutions Erika has traveled up and down the state, is committed to working with community partners. She genuinely cares about improving the health of all residents, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Beth Franco, ESMMSC Executive Director.
Kirby joined the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation in 2013 as a Senior Research Analyst and Grants Manager. She supported the development and execution of the Foundation’s vision and mission of improving the health of South Carolinians, particularly for the economically disadvantaged, by developing partnerships and collaborations with local and state-wide health organizations, and managing and evaluating grant projects. She previously worked as a division director at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, providing strategic direction and leadership of a program to address nutrition and physical activity and related chronic health conditions in South Carolina. During this time, she built partnerships and collaborations to create spaces and places supporting healthy eating and active living.
She is a member of the 2018 class of Leadership South Carolina. Kirby is involved with local, state and national efforts on health issues such as mental health, adolescent health, safety net provider networks and childhood obesity; and contributes to advancing strategic grant-making and partnerships to improve health.
Headquartered in Columbia, the Foundation’s mission is to promote and support healthier South Carolinians, particularly the economically vulnerable, by supporting solutions to address gaps in health care and serving as an agent of change to support innovation and value-added public-private partnerships.
Nov 16, 2017 | Community News, Mini-Grant Success News, News
Published in the Chronicle-Independent
November 10, 2017
Tall Longleaf pines stood silent guard as the first official hikers took to the Sweet Gum Trail in Camden on Tuesday afternoon. About 50 people participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the 2/3-mile trail that now connects Scott and Woodward parks.
Tuesday’s ceremony took place at the Woodward Park trail head. Visitors entering the park from Chestnut Ferry Road just off West DeKalb Street can make a right turn after passing the park’s tennis courts and find the trail head next to a baseball field at the end of the road.
The 10-foot wide, paved trail winds through woods behind Woodward’s baseball fields, running just a few feet away from the railroad that cuts through the city near West DeKalb Street’s Donald Holland Bridge over the tracks. The Amtrak station can be seen through the trees at one point. The trail continues around behind the park before coming to a point where it heads straight toward Scott Park off Battleship Road.
That trail head meets Scott Park’s unpaved walking/running track. Hikers, runners and bikers wanting to use the Sweet Gum Trail from Scott Park will need to make their way nearly half-way around the track to meet the trail.
City Manager Mel Pearson welcomed guests to the short ceremony saying he knew the track was wide enough to accommodate both walkers and bikers at the same time.
“I know that because a young lady on a bicycle lapped us five times the other day while we got from one end to the other and I think there were a couple of walkers who lapped us also,” Pearson said.
Pearson said the Sweet Gum Trail marks the completion of Camden and Kershaw County’s first steps in creating a truly county-wide trail system connecting other trails and parks across the county.
“This is the first of that county wide plan. Now, I don’t want you to underestimate Kendall Park; it’s a very nice, half-mile trail over there. It’s a rubberized surface, but this trail has a lot of potential to be connected to other trails in the parks and we’re excited about the beginning here,” he said.
Pam Spivey, of Eat Smart Move More Kershaw County (ESMMKC), ebulliently declared Tuesday’s ribbon cutting a “dream in the making for years.”
“(We) used $65,000 in grant funding to hire all the planning to put together a county-wide pedestrian greenways plan,” Spivey said. “This plan was adopted by our city government and county government and because of that, decisions around existing upgrades and new construction … have allowances for our pedestrians, our parks, our streets. All these things are worked out before these projects begin.”
Spivey said the collaboration between ESMMKC, the city and county is why there is now an “amazing” opportunity.
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Nov 16, 2017 | News
Palmetto PALS (Partners Advancing the Lives of Students) were recently recognized for their support of Richland One schools in developing and implementing action plans to improve the health of students and staff. Palmetto PALS are health professionals who volunteer on Richland One’s School Wellness Councils to promote practices and policies to create healthier learning environments.
Dr. James Stallworth, University of SC School of Medicine – Columbia, and Dr. Rachel Brown, USC Palmetto Health Medical Group, were recognized for their contributions in creating PALS. Former Richland One school board member Vince Ford was honored as the 2017 Palmetto PALS School Wellness Champion. Ford is the chief community health officer for Palmetto Health and was a committed advocate of wellness efforts during his 24-year service on the Richland One Board of School Commissioners.
The twenty-three Richland One schools that have won the prestigious National Healthy Schools Award were also recognized including:
- Brockman Elementary – SC’s first Gold National Healthy Schools Award winner;
- Burton Pack Elementary – SC’s first Silver National Healthy Schools Award winner; and
- AC Flora High School – SC’s first high school Silver National Healthy Schools Award winner. (Photos available)
Nov 16, 2017 | News
Published by the Spartanburg Herald Journal; to see the full article, click here.
The Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation faced a dilemma this week.
The cities of Spartanburg and Inman each requested $100,000 for parks projects. But the delegation only had $119,373 to hand out in state Parks and Recreation Development funds.
“Inman is on the cusp of major change for the better,” City Administrator Jeremy Caudle said in his pitch. “The (Leroy Mathis) park is a big part of it.”
In the end, though, Spartanburg won out.
Legislators awarded $100,000 to Spartanburg for its $1.14 million 7-acre park at the Mary Black Rail Trail between Union Street and Glendale Road.
Inman was awarded the remaining $19,373, but Caudle said that project could still move forward — the city would have to borrow more to make up the difference, though, and it would take longer to build.
For Spartanburg, the cash infusion means grading can begin next week as planned, with a spring 2018 completion on target.
“This will give us a new signature park,” said Mitch Kennedy, community services director for the city. Partners for Active Living Director Laura Ringo is working with Kennedy to develop the park, which will include a “Play 60” section.
Kennedy said the Play 60 part of the park will be the first of its type in South Carolina.
The Carolina Panthers, which helped build three Play 60 parks in Charlotte, donated $20,000 to Spartanburg for the park here, Kennedy said.
Play 60 will feature a playground with obstacle courses and elements of an NFL combine workout to promote the NFL’s youth health and fitness campaign, which encourages young fans to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.
“The full park will include many other features that are not NFL-related,” Ringo said.
The city of Spartanburg also received a $42,000 donation from J M Smith Corp. and raised $935,000 in private donations for the new park.
Caudle said the Leroy Mathis Park project in Inman will cost $286,550, and that will be paid for with city funds, grants and borrowed money.
It will include a new playground, restrooms, trails and a stage area for concerts to draw visitors to Inman, he said.
Caudle said Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation is helping with the project, and that work has already started.
Nov 15, 2017 | News
Over the past 10 years, Eat Smart Move More South Carolina has survived as a new non-profit because its founding partners created a clear vision for a non-profit that provides a unique service to community coalitions and to the public health profession. Because of these two important distinctions, ESMMSC has been able to grow as an organization and increase its capacity and services.
Beth Barry, a founding member representing the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and ESMMSC’s second Board of Directors Chairman, can attest to that. Barry helped establish the vision and mission and was one of the leaders to help sustain the organization in its beginning
This year we celebrate ESMMSC’s 10th Anniversary. What thoughts and emotions come to mind when you think about that?
Pride. ESMMSC has made so much progress as an organization and in its capacity to effectively advance community-led change and ensure that healthy eating and active living are central to the culture of South Carolina. I am proud of its accomplishments and honored to be associated with this organization.
What was your vision during your service?
I was in a challenging position as board chair as fairly early in my term, when our founding executive director left to take another position. The executive committee and board decided to hire an interim director while we searched for a permanent executive director. We hired Beth Franco shortly before my board chair term was completed. My vision was to sustain our current momentum while searching for someone who could continue to lead the organization forward.
What do you see as ESMMSC’s biggest accomplishments since 2007?
There have been numerous accomplishments, however, I am going to focus on ESMMSC’s organizational development. I think back to the early years of having a staff of one, Amy Splittgerber who worked from home, through the steady addition of high-quality employees, obtaining an official brick and mortar office and being fully staffed. I can’t commend enough the vision, effort and determination of Erika Kirby and Amy in leading the creation and early growth of ESMMSC. Also, critically important to our progress was the excellent guidance and direction provided by Lee Pearson, as the inaugural board chair, and as a most valued mentor during my chairmanship. I was also fortunate to have the highly skilled Eleanor Dunlap as my co-chair and subsequent chair. Board development, more diversified funding and the ability to persevere through challenging economic times have strengthened the organization and its role as a state leader in the promotion of healthy eating and active living.
Where would you like to see ESMMSC in 10 years?
I would like to see the organization have even more opportunities to provide leadership for advocacy, to increase the capacity for community action using evidence-based, best practice strategies, and for partnerships with agencies/organizations who share our mission.
Do you have additional thoughts that you would like to share?
I believe ESMMSC is viewed as an effective organization whose work is genuinely improving the lives of South Carolinians. I also think most people don’t have a true appreciation of the daily determined efforts required of staff, board members, coalition members and others to attain and sustain the current level of success. I commend all who have served in any of these roles.
Founded in 2007, ESMMSC is one of the first non-profit organizations of its kind in South Carolina, focusing on both healthy eating and active living. Its roots date back to 1999 when the South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity formed and received nonprofit status in 2000. After changing its name to ESMMSC in 2007, the organization merged with the SC Coalition for Obesity Prevention.
