I Did Not Know That...

I love lists. I admit it. Sometimes, I find myself looking at lists for hours at a time while I sit in Coffee Underground or at my apartment. I especially like fun lists that are specifically opinion based. Entertainment Weekly online always has great lists. They have everything from the top 25 Rock Albums to 50 of the Greatest Movie Villians. I love it. Many times I disagree, but it is still a treat to read.

Every now and then a list comes around that is not opinion based, but quite factual. And, believe me, those are fun too. Especially if they are little known facts. So, I share this list with you. Enjoy it. I shared some already with Russell and Kate. We had some very interesting conversations. A particular one centered around #8...

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT PROBABLY DON'T
1. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.
2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.
3. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a 'tittle'.
4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
5. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
6. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.
7. The 'spot' on 7UP comes from its inventor, who had red eyes. He was albino.
8. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents, daily.
9. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog.
10. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.
11. Most lipstick contains fish scales.
12. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
13. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.
14. Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case' letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters.
15. Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time, hence, multi-tasking was invented.
16. Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.
17. There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
18. The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan; there was never a recorded Wendy before!
19. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and silver!
20. Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.
21. A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.
22. The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was a Captain Kirk's mask painted white.
23. If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.
24. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink in quicksand.
25. The phrase 'rule of thumb' is derived from an old English law, which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
26. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At that time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.
27. Celery has negative calories! It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. It's the same with apples.
28. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying!
29. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher..
30. Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries.
31. Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages it.

Age before Beauty

I normally hate cliches. Since I dabble in the field of journalism, cliches often aggravate me as they are taboo when vying for limited space on a page. However, when thinking about the topic of which I am about to expound, the saying "age before beauty" came to mind but in an interesting way.

I don't think that we live according to that saying at all. In fact, I think we pay less attention to the elderly sector of society than we have in the past and that we have become terrified of getting old. I began to think about this after the loss of a dear Furman staffmember this past week.

Ms. Nena was an iconic elderly lady. Petite and endearing, she worked in our dining hall and swiped our meal cards upon entry. She spent the past 25 years of her life sitting on her stool with her crochet sweaters, greeting college students and absorbing their youth and vibrance.

Ms. Nena was loved by many Furman students and there was something comforting about seeing this grandmother-esque figure everyday when acclimating for the first time to life without the support system of a family.


But, as I thought more about what a lovely lady she was, I realized that I knew very little about her life. Did she work so long because she loved it or because she had to? I hope that she did it because she loved being around young people who enjoyed spending time with her. However, I had a chilling fear that came to mind after the poverty simulation I did a few weeks ago.


In the simulation put on by United Ministries, I took on the role of an 85-year-old man with terrible arthritis. He could not afford his prescriptions and had no transportation of his own. He had to rely on public transportation and could barely afford to cover his expenses and buy groceries.


When I think about either of my grandparents in this situation, it is horrifying. I keep hearing in the news that the declining economy is causing our aging baby boomers to dip into funds saved for retirement to make ends meet. Many more people seem to be in jeopardy of falling into a situation similar to the one I encountered in the poverty simulation.


So, I asked Russell and Brock what agencies in Greenville are focused on caring for our senior citizens. There is a group in Greenville called Senior Action that is devoted to providing resources for our aging community but also to nurturing the mind and spirit. You should check out their website and, if perhaps you feel inspired by an experience similar to mine, volunteer there or someplace similar. Check them out at http://www.senioraction.org/.


Perhaps we should revert back to the old saying and place our senior citizens on a much higher pedestal, respecting them for their wisdom and honoring their lives by helping to take care of them when they face difficulties that prevent them from taking care of themselves.

If it is on a screen, is it still reading?...

So, I grew up in a household where EVERYONE read. My dad, my step-mother, both of my sisters. All day. If there was a free moment in their day, they were reading. And, these people were busy. They were movtivated to be outside. To be working on something in the house. To continually challenge thier creative side. But, they always found time time read. And, I mean, big books. And, most of them read multiple books at a time. I would come home from baseball practice in High School and found the house eeirely quiet. I would walk through every room, wondering where everyone had gone. Then, I would find them in the living room, reading. All of them. Quiet as mice. Reading books. I mean, don't even get me started about the silence when the Harry Potter books would come out.

Now, I say this because I have never been a reader. I mean, I read, but just not non-stop. If I ever really got into a book (To Kill A Mockingbird or anything by Pat Conroy) I would read it whenever I got a chance. But, when I was done with it, I couldn't pick up another book for a while. I had a sense of loss within me. I missed those characters. I wanted to know more. It was kind of like a break up. I couldn't just move on immediately. I had to "take time" to heal.

Still, to this day, I don't read as much as I should. I have a stack of books at my apartment that I have pulled from various bookshelves with the sole intention of reading all of them. I mean, it's summer-time. I can sit by the pool and read, right? Well, so far, I've read one. One down, about 13 to go. I've still got the end of July and August, right?

Every now and then I feel guilty because I don't feel I read enough. I know that I should try to take the time to read good books. Heck, I should take time to read "okay" books, too. I know that I don't read enough and I should make more of an effort. Then, I realize that I do read a lot. It's just not out of books. I spend a lot of time reading electronically. With the invention of blogs, online books, etc. I have realized that I am reading a lot more than I usually do. I spend time reading the newspaper, checking reviews, reading plays, gathering general information from the internet. Now, I'm not using this as an excuse or a "defensive argument" to my folks when they tell me I should read more. I'm just bring a point up.

Younger people these days are as technilogically savvy as any of us. They gather information from sources many of us don't know about. Many times, you won't find them in coffee shops curled up with a book or a newspaper. You will find them curled up with a laptop (if it is possible to curl up with a laptop). Is this a bad thing? Is this destroying a part of our culture? Does the fact that our children are reading off of a screen, rather than reading off of paper provide the proof of why scores on standardized reading tests are declining?

Honestly? I have no answer. And, I seek to provide no answer. The attached article provides and interesting insight into the debate. Read this.

Enjoy the article. Debate the questions at coffee houses, schools, PTA meetings, in the park, at theatre, over lunch, in the gym and any other place you find. In the meantime, I'm going to go curl up with a copy of "Into The Wild" and get lost for a little bit.

Brock killed the zen

Yesterday, Brock knocked over Russell's sand pendulum, scattering the fine powder all over the floor and into his face and mouth. We all shuddered as we saw the mesmerizing office distraction fall to the floor, knowing how difficult it would be to clean up.

After nonchalantly attempting last week to achieve the perfect circle in the sand during a planning meeting, I personally was sad to see the sand scatter. However, Russell and Brock quickly got on their hands and knees to return the sand to its basin.

The sand pendulum is one of many office playground items designed to offer freedom from the pressures of work and to achieve momentary "zen." Perhaps Russell and Brock were so anxious to return the zen-producing object to its complete form because "zen" has been a common theme in past weeks.

Recently, Russell and Brock have been reading a book by Garr Reynolds called Presentation Zen. Being an organization that thrives on the conveyed PowerPoint message, the thought of a clean, simple presentation that is both attractive and informative has become very appealing and it is something we are currently pursuing.

Overall, we have become so bogged down with complicated presentations that the heart of the matter is not conveyed with purity and simplicity. A little zen seems to make a big impression.

And, in case you were wondering, the sand pendulum has been restored, minus the bit of sand Brock ate...

Games for Change

So, yesterday, toward the end of the day, I hear strange beeping and bomping noises coming out of Russell's office. My office is on the other side of the house as his and I can't see him from my desk. But, I can sure hear him. Many times, we like to yell back and forth. When one of us gets and idea, we tend to shout it across the floor, almost like we are scientists who have just come up with a new formula that will change the world.
This, I can only assume, annoys anyone within ear shot. Because, most of the time I yell, "WHAT?" repeatedly until I have to get up, walk out of my office and talk to Russell face to face to find out what wonderful idea has sprung from his creative mind. These days it's Kate who has to suffer the brunt of our mountain top communication. But, she enjoys it, (don't you Kate) and most of the time has to translate, mid-way, the message to the recipient.
Well, yesterday Kate had already left for the day and Russell and I were alone in the office. He in his office. I in mine. When I heard the noises, I figured that he was possibly playing the Playstation we keep in the conference room. We keep it there to help us rejuvenate our forward thinking ways, ha. Sometimes staring at a computer screen can make your eyes go crossed, so we like to stare at computer game images on a television instead. Make sense?
Anyway, I called to Russell and asked him what he was doing. No answer. So, I called again. Still no answer. But, the beeping and the bomping kept coming. Now, it was accompanied by sounds from Russell. "Aw..." "Oh yeah." "Whoops." "Uh Oh." started to echo in the emptiness of the first floor on Manly Street. Well, now my interest was up. So, I walked out and saw Russell intently working on something on his computer. He looked up and said, "Man, this is cool. You gotta try....", but his sentence faded out as he went back to the thing on his screen.
Eventually, he stopped and told me about this article he read that talked about kids designing online games with Game Lab, a NYC-based game development company. Students at South Shore High School developed Ayiti: The Cost of Life , detailing a family, living in Haiti, struggling with poverty. You live as this family for 4 years and have make choices as to where you work, how you work, whether your children go to school, how many go to school, what to do when someone gets sick, etc. You are also faced with challenges like Hurricane Season and Dry Season. My family made it to Year 4 when I lost the son to Cholera and the father to Diphtheria. Once the father was gone, the game was over. The oldest daughter could not care for her younger sister alone. Especially, when she was so sick from working as a Rum Distiller for so long, just to help feed her family.
Other games have been developed by other teens, including Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City and Starlight Starbright's Asthma Game. So far, these games have been played more than 1.5 million times since their launch.
So, if you have some time, check these sites out. It's nice to see games out there that teach us something. That help us learn a bit about our surroundings and put some perspective on the trials and tribulations that others may go through. Get online in your spare time and play. Or, just come over to Manly Street and hang out with me, Kate and Russell. One of us will probably be playing at some point.

To check out article in The NonProfit Times, go to http://www.nptimes.com/ and look for "Building vs. Blowing Up. Games aimed to change kids' idea of nonprofits."
And, check out these websites:

Ayiti: the Cost of Life

http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_3142.html

Hurrican Katrina

http://tempestincrescentcity.ning.com/

Starlight Starbright Asthma Game

http://asthma.starlightprograms.org/homepage.htm

Games for Change

http://www.gamesforchange.org/play


Enjoy!

I'd do it if you paid me...

I have recently been helping Russell with a report he has been writing on a new program we are trying to get off the ground to promote the value of learning in Greenville. Tagging along to meetings involving careful planning and brainstorming, I have grown to develop a lot of faith in the program's potential and am excited to see it come to fruition in the coming months.

One of my favorite things so far has been the focus groups of students Russell has gathered to figure out how to create a learning campaign, what concerns they have about education in Greenville and what would be "cool" to them. Russell always records the sessions to keep things casual and so that he doesn't have to take notes.

As I have been listening to the recordings and transcribing quotes and ideas that we are using in our report, I was struck today by a saddening thought. Some of the students we talked to said the best way to motivate them to want to learn would be money. Pay them to learn things and they will gleefully do so, they said.

This notion struck me as a common struggle we have with our youth today. Everything seems to be for an instant purpose that has concrete results. Kids today are volunteering because they want to look good for colleges. Good grades and leadership aren't enough these days...you also have to have an animal shelter named after you in recognition of your countless hours of dedication to be competitive. Sure, little Johnny would love to cut the elderly widow's grass...but for a small fee of $20. He is saving up for an I-pod.

Perhaps I am just being cynical, but I fear that today's kids do not understand the value of learning and experiences beyond what they can get out of it. It is with this information in mind that we are creating this learning campaign. We want to make learning fun again...and not because it yields something immediate, but because the enrichment of the mind and body are invaluable and inexchangeable.

Man On The Street

So, Kate and I just watched a cool video that Russell put together a couple of years ago that contained interviews from random Greenvillians about what they like and don't like about living in Greenville. The answers are wide ranging. Everything from the amenities we have here to the problem with transportation (and, it's still raging).

So, I think, soon Kate and I might hit the street again to talk to you again. This could be an interesting experiment. We can see what perceptions have changed in the last couple of years or so. Where do people stand now on the transportation issue? How do they feel about the state of Greenville? What does Greenville need to do to move in the right direction? What is the definition of the "right direction"?

Last week we released a study that was done in partnership with The City of Greenville. This study was a survey of City of Greenville residents about quality of life issues. It was done as part of the City's Comprehensive Plan initiative, and is an effort to involve the citizens in the planning process. The interest was high and the participation was extraordinary.

The results of the study were very positive, but there are still issues we face in our community that need to be addressed. Overall, the majority of respondents feel that the quality of life in Greenville has vastly improved over the last five years.

So, moving forward, we need to appreciate our surroundings and relish where we have come from, but we also must not ever stop looking forward to what we can be. We should, continually, ask ourselves the tough questions, challenge ourselves to make things better and work toward an inclusive, vibrant community for all. Greenville is moving toward this and with the enthusiasm of her citizens we will get there faster than most.

Check out the results from the study on our website: http://www.greenvilleforward.com/
Enjoy and have a great day.

My Park Bench

I love being outside. Though my fair complexion often betrays me, my ideal day would be spent in the sun, playing sand volleyball, hiking around trails and getting some fresh air. I must say, the whole working thing sometimes cramps my style. My desk sits behind two huge windows and I often find myself lost in a gaze outward, jealous of the walkers and bikers taking advantage of a beautiful day just feet from my perch beneath artificial light.

Thus, I relish my lunch outing--and not for the reasons you might think. While I do make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I enjoy my lunch break because I have found the perfect park bench.

For a while, I spent each day testing different benches. I first tried a bench by the steps past High Cotton and Starbucks. That day was marked with an unusual event. While I was gabbing with a friend en route to my destination, I thought I heard someone yelling my name. Unfortunately, "Kate" sounds a lot like "Hey" at really high volumes so I ignored it, doubting I would know anyone who would yell at me on the street and assuming the cries were meant for someone else.

I continued on and sat down, eating my lunch and chatting on the cell. A few minutes passed and a man I had never seen before looked me straight in the eye and said, "Kate, I think someone wants you up there." At this point, I began to feel a little freaked. Was I in some alternate dimension where everybody knows my name? I still wondered if maybe I had heard wrong.

A few minutes later I received a text message and realized that it was a good friend of mine who is hostessing at High Cotton and saw me walk by but could not get my attention fast enough. Despite her best intentions to just say hello, I have stayed away from that park bench due to the uneasy feelings I encountered when a stranger called me by name.

After numerous attempts, I found other benches in highly congested areas that offered plenty of chances for people watching but did not provide the rejuvenation I sought. Finally, after much searching, I have found my bench. I won't tell you where it is because it is too perfect to share. Nestled beneath a tree that provides enough shade to keep it cool but not too much that it blocks all of the sun is my little oasis.

The bit of respite and refreshment I receive from this spot serves as a constant reminder to me of how important it is to value the environment. If not for its beauty, for the rest we receive from being amidst nature. I would encourage you all to take a couple of days out of your week during lunch and try to find your own bench...it will do more good than you know.

Moving Forward...

So, we are trying one more experiment here. We are going to start one more blog and see how it goes. This blog will encompass the meanderings of all the employees of Greenville Forward. We may post only once a day. But, we may post more than once a day.

I've already included some entries from other GF blogs. As the days go by, the look of this site will change. We will begin to add pictures. More information on our profile. Information about events we have coming up. Stories, tall tales, legends, jibber-jabber, etc.
So, stay tuned and see what we do every day...

A Look That Changed Perspective

I've begun to write this blog entry many times, but somehow found it difficult to write. As my hands move across the keyboard as I write this story, I find myself shuttering with a feeling of hopelessness. My hands start to shake ever so slightly and my heart begins to ache in a way that I have never known before. I have tried to push through and write, but it just gets too hard. This is a blog that I wanted to write before Christmas. But, my best friend convinced me that I didn't need to. The Holidays are a beautiful time and I didn't need to bring such reality to this blog which has such a positive message. I mean, how could I follow up my Stevie Wonder blog with a post about real life and the struggles that many people in our community go through every day? It turns out that I couldn't do it.

What I was writing about was something that shook me to my bones. In my job, I see and talk about the struggles and issues that face our community. I learn and talk about childhood poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, lack of healthcare to those that need it, lack of viable education options for some, the ever present need for improved safe and timely transportation options for those that need it. We have Task Forces that address these very issues. I've been on the poverty tour led by Bruce Forbes and have seen some of the neediest places in Greenville. Places where our neighbors are living on cardboard. Living under bridges. Living in transition and doubt.

But, through all this, I still live a life of privilege. A life where I know where my next meal is coming from. A life where I know where I will sleep tonight. A life where my family and friends are supportive, strong and loving. A life that has allowed me to move forward on a path of success and has given me the tools to ensure that I do not stray too far from that path. A life where my challenges and struggles center around getting to work on time, making sure my dog is well fed and making up for mistakes that I make with friends and family. All pretty minor in the great scheme of things.

About a month ago, I was walking back to my car after a meeting downtown. It was a cold day, and I was hurrying to get back to my car to feel some heat. While I walked back to my car, I was running lines for a play I was doing out loud. Now, I don't normally do this in public, but for some reason, on that particular afternoon, I did. When I got to my car door, I pulled out my keys to open the lock (unfortunately, I don't have a cool keyless entry mechanism. It's really unfortunate when it's raining.) As I turned the lock on my door, I felt something to my left. Now, what I felt, was not supernatural or surreal, but very real. It was a feeling of emptiness and loss. I hadn't felt it before. It was strange and strong.

As, I turned to my left, I noticed that I was looking at an empty lot. It looks like there was a house there at one time, but it was gone now. I surveyed the lot and noticed that there was debris on the back end of the lot, closest to me. And, then I saw it. In the corner of the lot was a dilapidated dog house. It was leaning to one side, basically caving in from the top. As I looked at the house I saw a face staring at me from the doorway. It was a homeless man, huddled in the broken, falling down dog house. He just stared at me. His eyes were glassy and cold. He didn't look mad. He didn't look mean. He just looked. That's all. He looked at me and through me. I just stood there and looked back. I couldn't move. We both just stared at each other for what seemed like hours. I don't think either of us blinked. After a moment, I opened my door, climbed in my car, started the engine and drove away. The whole time, I never broke his gaze. He never broke mine. And, I still haven't broken that gaze.

As I drove back to my office I was awed. I don't even remember taking a left and a right. I don't remember pulling into the parking lot. I don't remember walking in and saying hello to Russell and Mary Hunter. I don't remember sitting at my desk and checking my email. But, I do remember the tears. I remember feeling so helpless at what I just saw. I remember feeling like I had taken everything in my life for granted. I remember feeling that this man was every homeless person that I had ever passed and felt nothing for. He was every homeless person that I thought could fix their situation if they just “got a job." He was my guilt for not paying attention earlier.

So, I floated through my Holiday season and thought of him. That man that I saw staring through me from the doorway of a dog house, trying to escape the cold the best way he knew how. As hard as it is to think about, I hope I don't forget that look. I hope I can remind myself of that man whenever I take things for granted. I hope I can find some way to use that moment as a push to motivate me to help Bruce Forbes and Beth Templeton and others in the struggle to eradicate homelessness and poverty from our community.

Many of us don't see poverty. We don't know the face of poverty. Sure, we see it on the streets, but we don't know what it looks like. We don't experience it every day. Well, sometimes facts work in ways that nothing else can. So, in the bear with this length of this entry and read some of these statistics that I received from Beth Templeton with “Our Eyes Were Opened"…


Sobering Facts 2007Assembled by Beth Templeton, Director of Our Eyes Were Opened(Primary sources of data: our Community's Impact Agenda, June 2003 and Out of Reach 2006, nlihc and Bureau of Economic Analysis, 4/06)
IncomeThe 2007 federal poverty level for a family of 4 in South Carolina is $20,650 and is $10,210 for one individual.The area median income in 2006 was $56,500.
In 2004 the per capital income in Greenville County was $28,531 which is 86% of the US per capita income of $33,050.
RentA minimum wage earner ($5.15 an hour) can afford monthly rent of no more than $268. The fair market rent for a one-bedroom unit in Greenville County is $560.
A SSI recipient (receiving $623 monthly) can afford monthly rent of no more than $181.
A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
The percentage of households not making enough money to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at fair market value ($623) is calculated to be 39%. (Income required is $24,920)
Rate of Poverty13.2% of all residents in 2003 in Greenville County live at or below established federal poverty levels.
Almost 1 in 4 African Americans and more than 1 in 4 Hispanic individuals live in poverty.
In Greenville County, 1 in 5 families makes less than $25,000 a year and 1 in 10 makes less than $15,000 a year.
41% of households living in the downtown 29601 zip code make less than $20,000 per year.
LiteracyIn 1990 Greenville County had 48% of its adults age 16+ who were functionally illiterate by national standards.
WagesThe Renter Wage in Greenville County is $11.06. This is the amount a full time (40 hours a week) worker must earn per hour in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent.
The average hourly wage in Greenville for service occupations is $9.55, with an average work week of 35 hours a week. For jobs categorized as handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers and laborers, the average hourly wage is $10.76 with an average work week of 38.5 hours a week. These jobs represent approximately a quarter of our workforce.
TransportationAccording to the 2000 census, 11,300 households in Greenville County are without a car.

If you've read this far, thank you. It means you care about what is going on in our community. Take some time to think about what you can do. Call the agencies that are working on this problem. Or, email me at bkoonce@greenvilleforward.com and ask me how you can help. I can point you in the right direction. It's as easy as sending an email or making a phone call. For me, it just took one look.

It Takes How Much To Fill My Tank?...

Quick observation. I'm sure many of you out there have thought the same thing...
As I was driving to work yesterday, passing by all the various gas stations on Laurens Road and then Washington, I thought a few things. My first thought was, "how long can I actually drive my car before I have to spend the 70 bucks it takes to fill it up. I have a trip to Virginia on Sunday, and if I can hold out that long, maybe I can save some dough." Certainly logic at it's best, right?
My second thought was that I should really take advantage of the bike that I had collecting dust in my office. Currently it has the wrong pedals for me to really ride it effectively with regular shoes, so I need to work on that a bit. But, once I have those new, shiny pedals on there, look out.
My last thought was, with this ridiculous increase in gas prices (almost 4 beans now), it has certainly put a pinch on many people who depend on transportation to get us around. There are a lot of people in our community who are able to drive to work, but barely. They live on shoe-string budgets and any increase or minor catastrophe can send thier day to day existence into a negative spiral. This has happened with the gas prices. I have met a couple of people who can no longer afford the gas it takes to put in their cars. This means they can't drive themselves to work. They have to depend on friends, co-workers, their feet, etc. In some circumstances, they can use the Greenville Transit line (now GreenLink), but we all know that it is a tad bruised and broken and currently being revamped. So, these Greenville citizens are forced to miss work and stress about providing for their families.
If for no other reason, should be the final wake up call that our transporation situation in Greenville County needs to be fixed. Our neighbors can't get where they need to go. We have a mounting gas crisis in this country and we are all having to pinch pennies a little bit more. If I could honestly hop on GreenLink and get to work effectively and efficiently from where I live, I'd do it. And, then I'd be able to spoil those around me with all the money I saved from not buying gas.