Tag Archive

Video-O-Rama: Dickens, Activism, God Vlog And “Guilty”

By Steve Shanafelt

If you didn’t make it out to the A Dickens of a Christmas event in downtown Spartanburg, you might be desperately wondering just what all the fuss was about. Victorian costumes, classic holiday tunes and an overall holiday vibe were on display, so it’s only natural that anyone who didn’t make it would be... »

The Hub City Co-Op’s New Site And Membership Plan

By Steve Shanafelt

Although the Hub City Co-Op has been active as a Facebook group for several months, and briefly had a blog documenting some parts of their organizing efforts, they haven’t had a true home on the web. This week, however, that changed with the unveiling of their new webite, HubCityCoop.org. Although the sites content is... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Poor Air Quality Hurts in More Ways Than One

By Tammy Stokes

Spartanburg has a problem with air quality. Did y’all know that? Well, surprise, we do. I really doubt any of you are surprised. Spartanburg isn’t exactly known for taking care of the earth much less the air we breathe — yet. I don’t think I need to go into any details about the dangers of... »

Sustain Spartanburg: We Bought A Lawn Mower!

By Tammy Stokes

It’s funny how, as you approach 40, the most bizarre things get you excited. Like us. We got a new lawn mower last week. And I’m so excited! I never thought I’d be excited over a lawn mower. These days, everything is an expensive purchase for us, but this was a really expensive purchase... »

Sustain Spartanburg: A Green Daydream

By Tammy Stokes

I have quite the active imagination and tend to dream big. One of my dreams of late is to grow a garden. And I don’t mean just plant it and water it; I’d like to actually get some food out of it. So for the past two years, I’ve tried to grow a... »

Sustain Spartanburg: My Favorite Things

By Tammy Stokes

Have y’all ever watched one of Oprah’s “My Favorite Things”? It’s pretty cool, because not only does she share with her audience some of her favorite products — which include technological gadgets, food, etc. — she usually gives each member of the audience one of everything. Well, this post is going to be kinda... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Are we really saving money at discount stores?

By Tammy Stokes

We’ve all heard a lot about Spartanburg’s new Dollar General. It upset the right people this time, and they don’t want a discount chain store in the neighborhood. Can’t blame them there because they’re right, in the long run it is bad news for the surrounding areas. Hence the reason I’m such a... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Simple Is Sustainable

By Tammy Stokes

Coming back from vacation is hard. There have been times this week when I wondered if vacation was worth the hell you go through when you return. I have concluded that it is. Last week, the family and I spent the week at Edisto Beach. Love Edisto. It’s very old school. It’s so less... »

Sparkle City Headlines: The Local Food Movement Gains Momentum

By Steve Shanafelt

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reports today on a soon-to-open grocery that focuses on locally grown and raised foods. And here’s the big surprise: It’s not the Hub City Food Co-Op. The Schaum family started farming more than three years ago. It gave them an opportunity to be closer to their four kids, control their workday,... »

Sustain Spartanburg: The One Citizen Project

By Tammy Stokes

I’ve been thinking a lot about all the stuff happening in Spartanburg these days. We have so much going on. If you missed Steve’s piece on ‘Critical Mass’ please give it a read — I really think he’s onto something. From the recently proposed Hub City Co-op sparking such immediate interest to Show Up... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Trash Talk

By Tammy Stokes

Well, here I go…writing a blog about trash when everyone is totally inundated with juicy high-profile scandals. Sigh. I’ve really got my work cut out of me, but here goes … Over the past few years I’ve become rather obsessed with trash. I know … I’m weird. It all began a few years ago when a... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Where to Start?

By Tammy Stokes

I’m slowly realizing that changing the world isn’t so easy after all. I’m not really sure why I ever thought it would be. The only thing I know I can change for sure is me. Of course, I can force things on my kids and hubby and my extended family and friends as well... »

Sustain Spartanburg: Takin’ Care of the ‘Burg

By Tammy Stokes

How important is it to you to leave your grandchildren’s world in good shape? Is their future worth that much to you? That’s something each of us needs to ask ourselves because we need to get busy protecting their future. So here I am. Welcome to the first blog entry in a new project... »

Miss Mom: Conservation

By Sylvie Galloway

I remember being a kid during the Carter administration. This was during the change of government in Iran, a hostage situation with our embassy over there and and oil embargo that led to lines at the pump. I also remember during that time the president rolling back speed limits to 55 miles per hour,... »

Coming Soon: A less sucky Community Directory!

By Steve Shanafelt

One of the more frustrating parts of creating the Spark’s long-promised “Community Directory” has been the rather laborious process of creating the thing. Unlike the rest of the site, which uses semi-fancy databases to make the content easier to sort and manipulate, the Community Directory is basically a standard HTML document — a text... »