Tuesday, July 31, 2012

North Charleston neighborhoods turn out to Stomp out Crime

Police Chief Zumalt in the communityOn August 7, citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses and local officials in over 10,000 communities and military bases worldwide will join forces to mark the 29th Annual National Night Out.  Locally, the North Charleston Police Department will host National Night Out in conjunction with Target, the national sponsor, on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

At 6:00 pm, Police Chief Jon Zumalt, along with Councilman Michael Brown and residents of the Accabee community, will kick off a neighborhood cookout and crime prevention education activities at the Accabee Community Center on Appleton Avenue. The event will conclude with a neighborhood walk.

Similar events will occur simultaneously in neighborhoods throughout the city to include: Forest Hills I, Midland Park/Stall Road Corridor, Charleston Farms, Union Heights, Olde Village, and Indigo on the Ashley to name a few. Citizens are asked to turn on their porch lights as a sign of unity and to let the criminals know that the City of North Charleston is organized and fighting back.

National Night Out is designed to (1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs; (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit, police and community relations; and (4) send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods around the world are organized and fighting back. Nationally, over 33 million people will participate in ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime’ this year.

Schedule of events

Ferndale - Community cook-out from 6-8 pm at the Community Center on Bolton and Piedmont.

Stall/MidlandPark/Pepperhill - Neighborhood- Watch Block Party from 6–8 pm. Games, food, and community/vendors invited. The event will take place at the Stall Road Community Center.

Accabee - The community will be hosting a cookout and a walk. The event will take place at the Accabee Community center from 6 – 8 pm. The North Charleston Police department will be hosting a bicycle rodeo.

Olde Village - The community will be hosting a cookout and walk. The walk will start at 5:30 pm meeting place is Triangle Park at Justice/Beaver. The cookout is from 1830-until.

Charleston Farms - The community will be hosting a cookout at the community center (1633 Sumner Ave). The event will take place from 6 pm.

Indigo on the Ashley - The neighborhood will be hosting a family movie night under the stars. The event will take place in a community common area from 6–9 pm.

Taylor Plantation - Community cook-out at the amenity center from 6–8 pm.

Forest Hills - The neighborhood is having a “Going Away Party” for crimes and drugs. They will be conducting a walk starting at the Lil’ Cricket at 7 pm.

Wando Woods - Community Walk starting at 7 pm. Meet at the Community center.

Chicora/ Cherokee - Community cookout from 6–8 pm at the Community center.

Union Heights - Community cookout at the Community Center at 6 pm.

Coosaw Commons - Community Cookout at the Pool House starting at 6:30 pm.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Five Charleston area fire departments sign unprecedented aid agreement



Greater Charleston area fire departments have taken unprecedented steps toward cross-boundary support when responding to future fires and emergencies. The governing bodies of the City of Charleston, the City of North Charleston, St. Andrew’s Public Service District, James Island Public Service District, and St. John’s Fire District each approved an Interlocal Agreement for Automatic Aid and Response to provide mutual assistance during emergencies and jointly signed the agreement on Monday, July 30, 2012 at the North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center.

At the ceremony, five neighboring fire departments formally entered into the automatic aid agreement for fire protection. This agreement is the result of years of work to develop identical or compatible procedures that allow the members of these five departments to work together seamlessly at fires and other emergency incidents. In the future, responses will be from the closest available crews for emergencies that are located anywhere in these jurisdictions, regardless of municipal and service district boundaries.

The areas included cover Daniel Island to Kiawah Island and Ladson Road to Peninsula Charleston. Faster response can significantly improve the outcome of incidents and could result in saving more lives and property. These five departments have a total combined force of approximately 800 firefighters who can now operate together effectively at large scale emergencies.

“This agreement for automatic aid significantly improves our capability to handle major emergencies as well as multiple, simultaneous incidents. I credit our partner departments with working through many challenges to achieve this agreement that provides safer and more effective service to the citizens we serve,” said North Charleston Fire Chief Greg Bulanow.

“This agreement assures we provide the best response and customer service to the our citizens. We are proud to be working with the other Departments,” said Charleston Interim Fire Chief Franklin Finley.

“This historic document is all about improving service to our customers while enhancing safer operations for our personnel,” said St. Andrews Public Service District Fire Chief Mark Schrade.

“Automatic Aid, common Standard Operating Guidelines, and joint training are key to providing the citizens we protect with the highest level of service possible. This Automatic Aid Agreement ensures that our communities are receiving the quickest possible response to their call for service by sending the closest unit regardless of jurisdiction,” said James Island Public Service District Fire Chief M. Chris Seabolt.

"Automatic aid is all about the customer getting an adequate response without the worry of whose jurisdiction they may reside in,” said St. John’s Fire District Fire Chief Karl E. Ristow.

Each department will bear the costs associated with its own crews and equipment, with the possible exception of hazmat costs. Assistance rendered under this agreement is determined on an as available basis and is not required if the circumstances are such that safety in one area of service will be diminished by providing assistance.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Officer DeCorte honored for off duty actions


Office Jason Lee DeCorte of the North Charleston Police Department was honored at City Council on July 27, 2012 as the City's employee of the quarter for his off duty actions last spring.

On May 15, 2012, Officer DeCorte traveling on Dorchester Road when he observed a vehicle swerving across all lanes of traffic.  Although off duty, Officer DeCorte went forth with a standard traffic stop to prevent the car's occupant from injuring himself, other motorist, or pedestrians.

When Officer DeCorte approached the vehicle, the motorist would not roll his window down or open the driver's door as was instructed and appeared to be in a daze with his eyes opening and closing very slowly.  When the door was finally opened, the motorist's legs appeared to be very swollen, his shirt and pants soaked from sweat, and his reactions delayed.  In addition, the motorist could not answer any of Officer DeCorte's questions.

Quickly realizing the motorist needed medical treatment, Officer DeCorte requested an EMS Unit to respond immediately.  After their arrival it was discovered that the motorist's blood sugar was dangerously low.  If a few more minutes had passed, the motorist could have lost his life.

Officer DeCorte, while off duty, prevented what could have been a tragic ending.  His actions saved a life and removed a very dangerous situation from our community's roadway.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Adult fall sports now open for registration

The North Charleston Recreation Department is accepting teams for the upcoming 2012 fall adult season.

Sunday Co-Ed Flag Football - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 8 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapston Park

Sunday Co-Ed Softball - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 16 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park

Women’s Recreation Softball Weeknight League - $600 team entry
Accepting the first 9 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park on Monday and Thursday evenings

Men’s Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball - $250 team entry
Accepting the first 12 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at the Sterett Hall Gymnasium on the Old Naval Base.

The managers’ meetings for the leagues will be held August 15, 2012 at Felix C. Davis Community Center in Park Circle.
7:00 p.m. for Softball
7:45 pm for Flag Football
8:30 pm for Basketball
All interested teams are urged to have a representative present at this meeting.

For more information call Cindy Dambaugh at 843-740-5801, or e-mail cdambaugh@northcharleston.org.  For information on all North Charleston Recreation Department Programs visit our website at www.northcharleston.org or for a monthly update of programs and events offered, call our 24-Hour Information Line at 843-740-2699.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Lunch in the Park, a fundraiser for our Dixie Majors Championship Team




To support North Charleston’s World Series Dixie Majors baseball team, a luncheon fundraiser will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Felix C. Davis Community Center (4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405). All lunch proceeds will assist the team in travel expenses to the tournament.

The North Charleston team went undefeated to win the South Carolina State Championship in Lancaster, SC over the July 14, 2012 weekend, advancing to the Dixie Majors World Series Tournament.

The Dixie Majors World Series Tournament will be played at Legion Field in Laurel, Mississippi. Games begin on Saturday, July 28, 2012. The North Charleston Majors team, ages 17-19, will take on the Alabama State Champions in its opener at 1:00 pm on July 28.

The double elimination tournament consists of the eleven 2012 State Champions throughout the Southeast and one team from the respective host city.

The North Charleston Recreation Department will be serving up lunch, sponsored by Cheerwine, of hamburgers, hotdogs, and grilled chicken with a $5 donation requested.  The Barbeque Joint is donating BBQ!

For more fundraiser information or donations, please contact Ed Barfield at (843) 740-5814 or edbarfield@northcharleston.org.

Friday, July 6, 2012

NCFD Fireboat dedication and demonstration

North Charleston Fire Department's fireboat, NCFD Marine 1
The North Charleston Fire Department (NCFD) dedicated and demonstrated the Lowcountry's first fireboat at North Charleston's 4th of July Festival.

The 32ft purpose-built fireboat was named in memory of Retired North Charleston Fire Chief W. Frank New who lead the department from 1973 to 1985.  The fireboat joined the NCFD fleet as "NCFD Marine 1."

The fireboat, model FireStorm 32, was built by Metal Craft Marine in Kingston, Ontario.  It is powered by dual Cummins diesel engines, each rated at 480 horsepower, which were manufactured at the Cummins Turbo Technologies facility on Leeds Avenue in North Charleston, SC. Its top speed is 43 knots or nearly 50 MPH and can pump more than 2,000 gallons of water per minute through 4 water monitors mounted on the roof, bow and two on the aft deck.



The fireboat can traverse and operate in very shallow water due to its shallow draft and jet drive configuration.  The aft deck provides an oversized dive platform/recovery deck, which provides water level working space for deployment and recovery. The cabin is equipped with VHF, radar integrated with GPS, infrared capabilities and high output scene and spot lights for night operations.

The fireboat dedication was part of North Charleston's 4th of July Festival, which boasts a full day of top level musical entertainment and family and children activities.  The Festival concluded with the largest show of fireworks in the State of South Carolina.