Tag Archive

New Spark Schwag

By Steve Shanafelt

Now that we have a spiffy new logo (courtesy of local designer Stephen Long), it’s high time we starting showing it off. And what better way to do that than to suggest you buy some stuff with the logo on it from our online store. Although we’ve had an online store for a year... »

Hub City Co-op’s Website Updated

By Steve Shanafelt

For those of you who have been following the evolution of the Hub City Co-op from good idea to actually-looking-like-it’s-really-going-to-happen store, you’ll be heartened to know that the group now has a brand-new website to replace their static information page (which, as long as we’re on the subject, replaced their free blog page,... »

Sparkle City Headlines: Delinquent Tax Sale Listings

By Steve Shanafelt

While it can be heartbreaking for someone to lose their home because of things like not being able to pay the taxes, it’s not always without a silver lining. For those looking for good deals on properties in need of a little TLC, this can take the form a tax sale. Spartanburg County’s tax... »

GLBT Friendly Businesses In Spartanburg: Coming Out Party!

By Steve Shanafelt

It was recently brought to my attention that there’s no central listing for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) businesses in Spartanburg. Given the heavy prejudice against the GLBT (or LGBT if you prefer) community in the region, perhaps it’s not entirely surprising that local businesses have been a little reluctant to make... »

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... »

It’s Finally Official (Maybe): Hub City Co-op Announces Space

By Steve Shanafelt

While it has been common knowledge that the Hub City Co-op was looking at the space next to Brasserie Ecosse as their potential home — in fact, the Spark reported this in June — we’ve all been collectively waiting for some kind of confirmation since then. Today we have it. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s Dudley... »

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... »

Miss Mom: Fame, Fortune, Toilet Paper

By Steve Shanafelt

As a writer, I dream of catching my big break, where I finally write the piece that gets me noticed. Where my literary work catches the attention of someone important and launches my career to the point where I can quit my day job and devote my time to writing my next hotly... »

Miss Mom: Mission Improbable

By Sylvie Galloway

The other day I was watching a young mother making a purchase at the store. She had a baby on a hip as she was trying to pay for her purchase. Her other child, a lively little girl was making fast circuits around the checkout area, running as fast as her little feet... »

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... »

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,... »

Does Spartanburg Need A “Shop Local” Site?

By Steve Shanafelt

A simple question for today: Does Spartanburg need a website to promote the idea of “shopping locally” within the community? As many of you know, there are a great many skilled craftspeople in the area, as well as wealth of talented artists. Currently, there are very few specifically local outlets for them to showcase their... »

Miss Mom: Colander Brain

By Sylvie Galloway

I have always thought of my self as a fairly intelligent person. I can carry on conversations on a wide variety of topics. I can multi-task, I am creative in a couple different mediums. I possess a decent sense of humor and seem to be good with people. But every once in awhile my... »

Update: Hub City Co-op Announces First Meeting

By Steve Shanafelt

The first meeting for the Hub City Co-op has been announced. Confirmations and further information available on the group’s Facebook page. Please mark your calendars, the Hub City Co-op will be having its first meeting at the Spartanburg Library Headquarters on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 pm in the Barrett Room. Please plan on attending!... »

Miss Mom: Toyland Revisited

By Sylvie Galloway

A recent Fox News article discussed the top-selling American-made car, and that it will take its place among historically significant automobiles at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, OH. This car model first came off the assembly line in 1979, and last year alone sold 457,000 units, outselling every other car in the U.S.... »