The Daily Required

In this epsiode, I talk with Wilma Moore, Highland Community Outreach Coordinator for the United Way of the Piedmont, about her work implementing the Highland Neighborhood Transformation Plan, but also about her memories of and love for the nieghborhood. A segment of the Daniel Morgan Trail System (the Dan) will pass through Highland along the Fairforest Creek, part of the 14 1/2 miles of the RAISE grant project. The segment will be called the Highland Flats Trail, named by the Highland Neighborhood Association for the now-overgrown area where Wilma and her friends, along with generations of other Highland residents, played down by the creek. Wilma and I also talk about the role the trail will play in the transformation of Highland. 

In this episode I talk with Dr. Malinda Willard, a nearly life-time resident of the Beaumont Mill Village, and her niece Dr. Laura Palmer. Malinda has lived in the Beaumont Mill Village, now a locally designated historic district, since 1945 when her parents bought their first house on the GI Bill. The Beaumont Mill Village Pathway, the latest segment of the Daniel Morgan Trail System, passes through the neighborhood with its historic homes and quiet streets. Malinda and Laura talk about their memories of growing up in the mill village, and why it's important to protect the historic integrity of the community. 

In this episode I talk with Heather Raines, Associate Driector of the Hub City Farmers' Market, and Channing Houser, Agricultural Sustainability Coordinator at PAL about training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for farmers. GAP certification opens new markets for farmers and assures buyers of high quality produce. Sessions are concluded for this year, but look for more in 2023. You can find out about GAP training on the PAL website, palspartanburg.org.

In this episode I talk with PAL ED Laura Ringo about our decision to buy the PAL office, and with Heather Morrow, owner of Heather Homes Renovations and Design, about the renovations we did to make it an even better space. Heather and I also talk about historic renovaitons and why it's important to save old homes.

In this episode, I talk with PAL Schools Coordinator Emi Bautista and Selena Smith, Lead Community Health and Resource Coordinator at the United Way of the Piedmont, about the Spartanburg Healthy Schools Initiative. We talk about the goals of the intitative, about someof the highlights of their work, and about working in schools or not during the pandemic. 

In this bonus episode, Julian Hankinson of the Tyger River Foundation shares his expertise on mill stones, mill races and the mnill renovations at Anderson Mill. Be sure to listen to the regular episode with Julian,  Promote, Protect and Restore: The Tyger River Foundation and the Old Anderson Mill.

In this episode, I talk with Julian Hankinson, co-founder and president of the Tyger River Foundation, an organization that aims to promote, protect and restore nature and history in the Tyger River Basin. We talk about the organization's mission,  about the history of the old Anderson Mill and their renovations of it, and about how active living and history work together. 

In this episode I talk with Brenda Lee Pryce, a life-long resident of Spartanburg's Southside; co-author of South of Main, an oral and photographic history of the Southside; and the first African-American woman to serve in the South Carolina legislature. We talk about play, and we talk about community, and how both can take us into the future. 

In this episode I talk with Abigail Hoffman, content manager for In the Burg, the Spartanburg-focused e-newsletter aimed at promoting all that is great about Spartanburg. We talk about how In the Burg came to be, how the pandemic affected the roll out, and how trails fit into Spartanburg's development boom. 

In this episode, I talk with Luther Norman and Todd Stephens. Todd is the Spartanburg County librarian, and Luther is a local businessman whose life's work has centered around at-risk youth and baseball. We talk about Luther's baseball career, the Negro Leagues and the historic Duncan Park Stadium, and why playing baseball and gardening are important. 

In this episode I talk with a remarkable panel of local food activists working to strengthen Spartanburg's food system from multiple angles. From farmer development to access to healthy food to cooking classes and learning kitchens, the Spartanburg Food System Coalition seeks to improve community wellness. We talk about their work, and about how they each learned to cook.  Links to things we mentioned: Spartanburg Food Coalition Ruth's Gleanings Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Heart Resource Center Wholespire Spartanburg County

In this epsiode, we talk with Susan Dunlap, chair of the Board of Directors of the Trees Coalition, a Spartanburg non-profit dedicated to saving native trees and eradicating invasive plant species. We talk about why it's important to plant native plants and how to get involved with the Trees Coalition. And did I mention the goats?

In this episode, PAL ED Laura Ringo, County Assistant Administrator Kevin Stiens and I trade questions and answers about the County receiving a $23.8 million grant from the US Department of Transportation. We talk about why we applied and how the money will impact our the Daniel Morgan Trail System.

In this episode, I talk with Wofford College students Drew Wilson and Wade Wood about their experiences gathering data for the Spartanburg Parks Equity Study, and what they found by looking at our trail count data. Drew and Wade talk about why they think their work is important, and about the value of outdoor recreation.  Listen to episode 35 for more information about the Spartanburg Parks Equity Study.

In this episode I talk with Dr. Jennifer Bradham and Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden of Wofford College about their study of park use in Spartanburg. Combining qualitative and quantitative data approaches, the research team looked at both use and users of all of Spartanburg's parks in the City and County. We talk about what they discovered, and how the pandemic prompted their work.  Find out more on the Digital Commons @ Wofford and in this interview Dr. Bradham and Dr. Barbas Rhoden with Upstate Forever. 

In this episode we talk with Todd Stephens, Spartanburg County Librarian, about the effort to save the old iron bridge at Glendale. Along with his father BG Stephens, Todd spearheaded the campaign to raise the necessary funding to renovate the bridge, and in the process discovered the importance of bridges and community. 

In this episode, I talk with local historian Brad Steinecke about the role that the Fairforest Creek has played in Spartanburg's history, from before Europeans to the present. Join us as we "float" downstream in anticipation of trail being developed there, highlighting particular places that help us understand our place in time. 

In this episode I try to tell the story of Spartanburg BCycle, the PAL bike-share initiative that launched in 2011 and celebrate ten years in operation this year. I talk with some of those who were involved in the launch, and those who are still with the program as we look back and look forward at Spartanburg BCycle. 

In this episode, I talk with Kelly Thorvalson and Joyce Harrison of the South Carolina Aquarium about the Aquarium's Litter Free Digital Journal, an app being used statewide to allow volunteers to keep track of what kinds of trash they are picking up. There are all kinds of uses of the data, including influencing policies around plastic. And of course we talk about how you can get involved. Litter Free Digital Journal South Carolina Aquarium Contact Joyce Harrison: joyceh332@gmail.com  Keep One Spartanburg Beautiful

In this episode I talk with Jennifer Candler and Tariq Caudle. Jennifer is the Communication Manager at Spartanburg Water. We talk about World Water Day and all the reasons why water is such an important part of any community. Tariq teaches Physical Education at Dawkins Middle School in District 6. He is also the Health Coordinator at Dawkins. We talk their Rethink Your Drink campaign, an initiative of the Eat Smart Move More Spartanburg chapter, and how they replaced all their conventional water fountains with bottle fillers as a result of its success. We talk about the ways in which the Dawkins community has found water to be important in their lives. 

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Alyssa Handelsman of Wofford College, and Tonja Smith and Channing Houser of Ruth's Gleanings and Foodshare Spartanburg, about a project undertaken by one of Dr. Handelsman's classes to inventory kitchens in Spartanburg that are available to the community. We talk about the importance of the project notably for cooking, but for community building.  Find out more about PAL's work with the Spartanburg Food Coalition by emailing Alissa Duncan here,Find more about Ruth's Gleanings and Foodshare Spartanburg here. 

In this episode, host and PAL Trail Coordinator Ned Barrett and PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo trade questions and answers about the work we're doing expanding the Daniel Morgan Trail System. We talk about the past, present and future of the system: how we got here and where we're going. 

In this episode, PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo interviews our usual host, me, Ned Barrett, about his 2020 running project where he ran every street in the city of Spartanburg. We talk about why I decided to do it, some of the things I learned about the city, and how others might undertake the same or a similar project to get to know where they live. You can find photos and text on Instagram @15minutesfromhome. 

In this episode, I talk with several volunteers at the Newt Hardie Birthday Bash, celebrating the birthday of Newt Hardie by clearing invasive species from the Converse Heights ravine. Many thanks to the Trees Coalition and to Keep One Spartanburg Beautiful for their partnerships. 

In this episode, I talk with Brad Steinecke, assistant director of local history at the Spartanburg County Public Library. Brad has a wealth of knowledge of Spartanburg's many layers of history; we talked about the development of the community that the Mary H. Wright Greenway passes through, and an interesting connection it has to the area around the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail. We also hit on the story of Vanderbilt Road, along which the new Three Creeks Trail passes. Let's consider this the first of a periodic series delving into Spartanburg's rich history. 

In this episode, I talk with Amanda Mathis, newly named executive director of the Spartanburg Area Conservancy, better known as SPACE. SPACE is our local land trust, and owners and operators of the Cottonwood Trail Preserve, the Glendale Preserve and the Chinquapin Preserve. After Amanda introduces herself, we talk about SPACE's 30th anniversary celebration, why 31 is just as important, and what's in store for SPACE for the next 30 years. 

In this episode I talk with Earl B. Hunter, Junior, the founder and president of Black Folks Camp Too, a company addressing the problem of the lack of diversity in the camping industry and in camping and the outdoors in general. Earl talks about the historical reasons that some Black folks don't feel comfortable in the woods, and how important feeling welcome is for all of us. Join us around the campfire. Find out more about Black Folks Camp Too here: blackfolkscamptoo.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

In this episode we attend the opening ceremony for the Bike Park, the latest feature at the Rail Yard. The development of the Bike Park has been a collaborative effort that has resulted in one of the coolest new recreational areas in the Upstate. We hear from some of the major players, and also from some of the sponsors and others who attended the opening. 

In this episode I talk with Patrick Jinks of the Jinks Perspective, who led our recent strategic planning sessions and continues to work with us. We talk about his approach to strategic planning, and why Eisenhower said that plans were useless, but planning is essential. I also talk with PAL Board members Adrienne Ables and Ty Dawson who chaired the Strategic Planning Committee. We discuss some of the specifics of our plan. 

In this episode, I talk with Jean Crowther and John Cock of Alta Planning and Design, the firm we hired to write Spartanburg County's application for $19.4 million from the Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program for expansion of the Dan. John and Jean talk about their Spartanburg roots, what the BUILD program entails and the impact on the Daniel Morgan Trail System. 

In this episode, we talk with PAL colleagues Alissa Duncan and Liz Perry about their work with Spartanburg's Food System Coalition and emergency food providers before and during the corona virus crisis. We also talk about how some of the measures are informing their work moving forward. 

In this episode we talk with Wanda Cheeks-Holmes, a long-time community activist in Spartanburg. Currently Wanda works for the City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation Department as director of the Northwest Community Center. She will be the director of the new Dr. T.K. Gregg Center. She is also a Northside Voyager and a board member at Partners for Active Living. We talk about how the coronavirus has affected her work and her personal life.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jon Storm, professor of Biology at USC-Upstate and the author of A Field Guide to the Southern Piedmont and its accompanying coloring book, and the curator of the Facebook page, Southern Piedmont Natural History. Dr. Storm talk about finding a new insect species on the Drayton Trail while teaching his daughter to ride her bike, and about the various critters you can find in your backyard. 

In this episode we check in with three past podcast guests to find out what and how they are doing these days. We talk with Tim Ritter, Croft State Park Manager, about the park's closure and how it is impacting their work. We call Tonja Smith, Executive Director of Ruth's Gleanings about increases in the Foodshare program and how they have changed protocols. Finally, we visit with Sarah Kate Abee and Katie Burnett of the Hub City Kids to get some tips about keeping things interesting and fun for your kids.  Lots of links here: Croft State Park  Ruth's Gleanings  Hub City Kids   Spartanburg Science Center  Spartanburg Historical Society   Spartanburg County Public Library   Southern Piedmont Natural History  

In this episode we talk with two PAL board members and two recent podcast guests about how they are responding to life during the Covid-19 pandemic. All of us are dealing with new ways of working and playing; PAL Board Chair Jalitha Moore, PAL Board Member Brandt Goodwin, education consultant Jed Dearybruy and Carolina Miracle League Executive Director Pam Dean share their lives at work and at home.  Jed Dearybury: The Power of Play: Skipping on the Rail Trail with Jed Dearybury and Julie Jones Pam Dean: Not Only a Game: An Inning with the Carolina Miracle League

In this episode, we walk along the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail with Jed Dearybury and Julie Jones, authors of The Playful Classroom: the Power of Play for All Ages. Jed and Julie teach teachers, and their book comes from a need in their classroom for a suitable text book. We talk about everything--from the importance of failing to the ways the brain responds to play in learning. This one's a lot of fun, y'all--and by the way, it's spelled "pareidolia."  

In this episode, I walk with Tim Ritter, Croft State Park Manager. We talk about all the things that make Croft State Park unique, from the recreational activities to the cultural and natural resources the park protects.  Links to things we talked about: Croft State Park official site hikecroft.com hiking trails The Friends of Croft  Spartanburg Horseman's Association holds horse shows every third Saturday January to November. The Spartanburg Area Mountain Bike Association holds regular events to maintain trails at Croft.

In this episode we watch a Carolina Miracle League baseball game. We also talk with Pam Dean, Executive Director of the Carolina Miracle League, as well as players, coaches and parents who participate. But mostly we saw a great ball game.  Find out more about the Carolina Miracle League by clicking here. 

In this episode we talk with some friends and some strangers about their memories of learning to ride a bike. It's remarkable how many people have that formative memory, and details like bike color, age, place and others involved come right back. 

In this episode we tour the Bike Park, Spartanburg's newest recreational facility. Located on the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, the Bike Yard will feature a number of fun and dynamic elements to inspire cyclists of all ages and abilities. We walk the emerging flow tracks, rideable berms and innovative skills structures with Matt McClain, president and Chief Stoke Officer of Ride Garden, along with his son Jack and Richard Guilmette, and PAL colleagues Alissa Duncan and Lindsey Graham.  Find out more about Ride Garden here.

In this episode, we talk with Tonja Smith, Executive Director of Ruth's Gleanings, a non-profit focused on reducing food waste by gleaning healthy, nutritious food that would normally be thrown away and distributing it to shelters and other facilities. Ruth's Gleanings also operates Foodshare Spartanburg, a program where customers buy boxes of mostly local, fresh produce at reduced rates.  Click here to find out more about Ruth's Gleanings, and to sign up to volunteer or donate food or funds. 

In this episode we talk with Katie Burnett and Sarah Kate Abee, founders of the Hub City Kids, at the NFL Play 60 playground on the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail. Hub City Kids is a resource for families looking for fun, healthy activities to do with their kids. We talk about what they look for in a park, where they go in bad weather, and what places around Spartanburg are the most fun. We also talk with PAL staff Laura Ringo, Alyssa Duncan and Siobhan Saul about what their kids are doing this summer. Here are links to much of what we talked about: City of Spartanburg Parks Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Croft State Park Cottonwood Trail The Children's Museum of the Upstate Spartanburg Science Center Boiling Springs Community Park Upstate Parent magazine 

In this episode we visit two new recreational facilities on the west side of Spartanburg County. The Westview Extension of the Wadsworth Trail held an opening ceremony on May 18.We walk the trail with one of the creative forces behind the Wadsworth Trail and a donor to the Westview Extension, Laura Henthorn. We also visit the trail with Dr. Lindi Metcalf, principal at Westview Elementary. Tyger Berry Landing is a new non-motorized boat launch on the Tyger River, one of two handicapped accessible put-ins in Spartanburg County. We visit the site with Monty Mullen and Kody Crawford of the Tyger River Foundation.  Find more information about the places and people we talk about below: Tyger River Foundation Westview Elementary School Wadsworth Trail

In this episode we take a look into the planning and history of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Criterium 2019, the fifteenth and largest edition of this Spartanburg favorite. We sit in on a staff meeting and talk with PAL ED Laura Ringo and PAL Resource Development Coordinator Lindsey Graham.  For more information about the Crit, click here.  

In this episode, we walk and talk with Alissa Duncan, Healthy Communities Coordinator, about her work with the Healthy People Healthy Carolinas grant from the Duke Endowment.  For more information about the Blue Zones model, go here: www.bluezones.com

In this episode we talk with Siobhan Saul, Healthy Kids Coordinator at Partners for Active Living, about her work with the Spartanburg Healthy Schools Initiative in coordination with the Mary Black Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  We also visit with the Oakland Elementary School's Wellness Committee, led by Carolina Cabe, and go for a walk on their new fitness trail.

In this episode we walk and talk with Betty Montgomery and Anne Flynn of the Noble Tree Foundation, an organization that recently planted 42 trees on the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail. We find out about the Noble Tree Foundation and why they think trees are so important.    

This episode of the Daily Required is a live recording of a panel discussion that was part of the Spartanburg County Historical Association's Annual Meeting entitled History and Active Living. With PAL's Ned Barrett, the Spartanburg Area Conservancy's (SPACE) Executive Director Andrew Waters and Monty Mullen and Julian Hankinson who founded the Tyger River Foundation (follow the links to find out more about each organization). We talk about our favorite places in the County, ways in which each organization is making the connections between history and active living, and even why we might want to teach our children how to jay-walk. Because this is a live recording, some of the recording levels may need adjusting. 

In this episode, we focus on the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, which surpassed 100,000 annual uses in 2018, up 38% over 2017. We interview volunteers at a trail work day, and talk with Mitch Kennedy, Community Services Director at the City of Spartanburg, about the role the trail plays in Spartanburg's growth.