Darius Rucker gets his own street & day in North Charleston

With country music superstar Darius Rucker and his wife Beth looking on, City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey officially renamed a portion of Coliseum Drive to Darius Rucker Boulevard this morning at a ceremony at the North Charleston Coliseum. Rucker, a proud Lowcountry native and resident, has performed many concerts at the Coliseum as a solo artist and as the front man for Hootie & the Blowfish.

“It has been great to see Darius Rucker become a first class and world renowned musician, while always embracing the Lowcountry,” said Mayor Summey. “However, it gives me a larger sense of pride to see Darius come back to the Lowcountry, time and time again, and put forth a meaningful effort to make our community a better place. Over the years his goodwill has truly benefited a countless number of our residents, and for that we are ever thankful. It is a pleasure and honor to recognize Darius Rucker, someone who has never forgot the Lowcountry.”

“It’s crazy,” Rucker said. “You never do anything with the intention of getting something in return, so I never expect anything but when I heard they wanted to name a street after me, I have to admit I was flattered. I’m truly honored that they’re doing that. It’s massive…just incredible. I’m totally over the moon about the whole thing. It’s just amazing to be recognized like that.”

The renaming of the street was initiated by country music radio station WEZL 103.5 FM. Morning show co-hosts TJ Phillips and Ric Rush floated the idea on air of naming a street after Darius back in the spring. North Charleston Mayor Summey was listening. He loved the idea and called into the show to tell Rush and Phillips that he was going to work on the idea. On June 10, 2013 the North Charleston Planning Commission approved the name change of a Coliseum Drive to Darius Rucker Boulevard. 

“The WEZL Crew is humbled by the fact that we have incredible listeners which includes North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey,” Rush said. “He heard us talking about this idea on the air and teamed with WEZL to make the naming of Darius Rucker Boulevard a reality. We are proud that we had a small part in making this happen.”

CARTA and area partners launch NASH route in North Charleston

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) today announced the launch of the North Charleston Area Shuttle (NASH), a new route linking area hotels, restaurants, retail, as well as Charleston International Airport and entertainment venues, in North Charleston. The route will be available free of charge thanks to a partnership with City of North Charleston, Boeing and the Charleston County Aviation Authority. The service, which officially began on Sunday, June 9, will utilize hybrid buses, a first for the transit system.

Check out the route and schedule (pdf)

View CARTA NASH route in a larger map

“We know there is a need for more service in this area and it has been a long-term goal of the Board to bring hybrid buses to the system,” said CARTA Board Chairman Elliott Summey. “We have heard riders’ requests and have found a way to not only bring this service, but offer it for free with hybrid equipment, which is huge for our system. We appreciate the support of Boeing, the City of North Charleston and the Aviation Authority in making this all possible.”

The NASH free shuttle is the newest addition to CARTA’s services, and will run seven days a week. This route will run on International Boulevard with convenient stops at the airport, North Charleston Coliseum, Boeing, hotels, retail shops and restaurants. With 16 stops along the looped route, the shuttle will also service key points of interest including, Performing Arts Center, Tanger Outlets, SCRA Lowcountry Graduate Center, and more.

Photos from the launch event

“The City of North Charleston has some of the highest ridership for several of CARTA’s routes. Residents depend on the service to get them to work, while visitors use it to travel between places to stay, visit, eat and shop – all without leaving North Charleston,” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. “This new service mutually benefits both groups with a positive work-live lifestyle.”

The NASH shuttle was launched at a morning press conference in North Charleston. CARTA Executive Director Christine Wilkinson led the event, welcoming area leaders, CARTA partners, CARTA Board Members, and neighboring businesses and residents, who were in attendance. Other speakers at the event included CARTA Chairman Elliott Summey, Mayor Keith Summey, Boeing South Carolina Director of Operations Willy Geary, and Aviation Authority Chairman Andrew Savage. Following remarks, speakers joined together to officially cut the ribbon on one of the hybrid buses that will service the new route.

“This shuttle service will provide a more efficient way for visitors and residents to travel in the North Charleston area, and will also provide Boeing South Carolina teammates with an environmentally-friendly way of commuting to and from places of business on the shuttle route, all without adding traffic to the roads,” said Boeing South Carolina Director of Operations Willy Geary.

“Charleston is making national lists every day and we are seeing tourism quickly increase with this exposure. It is important that we accommodate this growth with true southern hospitality,” said Aviation Authority Chairman Andrew Savage. “The NASH free shuttle demonstrates this hospitality with the bonus of hybrid buses, a great addition to our area.”

To learn more about the new NASH route, visit RideCARTA.com. Learn more about CARTA bus passes and all other routes at RideCARTA.com.

About CARTA

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit to the Charleston community through four services – fixed routes, Tel-A-Ride, flex/demand service and express routes. CARTA services Charleston and the surrounding areas including West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant. For the latest on CARTA, visit www.RideCARTA.com, follow us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @RideCARTA. CARTA – It connects us all.

Earth, Wind and Fire to Bring Guiding Lights Tour to the North Charleston Coliseum, June 26

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey announced today that legendary musical group EARTH, WIND AND FIRE will bring their “Guiding Lights Tour” to the North Charleston Coliseum on June 26 at 7:30 PM. The concert is part of the City of North Charleston’s 40th anniversary celebration.

Earth, Wind and Fire will perform with the North Charleston Pops Orchestra. Opening the show will be the Charleston’s own The Explorer’s Club.

“After 40 years, North Charleston has grown into a thriving city, bustling with business and prime for young families and professionals. To mark the advancements we have made, we are going first class in our 40th anniversary celebration. Both born of the 70s, the City of North Charleston and Earth, Wind, and Fire, we will be celebrating together with an exciting evening of shear entertainment combined with exceptional musicianship,” said City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey.



“With over 90 million albums sold, 20 Grammy Award nominations and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Earth, Wind and Fire are one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music. We are honored to have them play the North Charleston Coliseum as part of the City of North Charleston’s 40th anniversary celebration. This is going to be a very special night,” said Dave Holscher, North Charleston Coliseum General Manager.

Reserved seat tickets for the show go on sale Friday, March 30th at 10:00 AM at the Coliseum Advance Ticket Office, Ticketmaster outlets (including select Publix stores), online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are priced at $45 and $25 (plus applicable fees). A limited number of Gold Circle seats will be available.

For more information on the concert, visit www.NorthCharlestonColiseumPAC.com. For more information on Earth, Wind and Fire, visit www.EarthWindandFire.com. For more information on The Explorer’s Club visit www.ExplorersClubMusic.com. For more information on the City of North Charleston’s 40th anniversary celebration, visit www.NorthCharleston.org.

High school teams showcase design and engineering skills at robotics competition with “Rebound Rumble”

Palmetto Partners announces “Rebound Rumble” as high-school students from six states and Charleston area schools gather to showcase their hard work in the 2012 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Palmetto Regional.

From Thursday, March 22, 2012 to Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the North Charleston Coliseum, over 1,000 students making up 42 teams, as well as engineering and technical mentors will demonstrate their skill for science, mathematics, and technology. They will compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities. The highly competitive, action-packed contest is described as a rock concert and sporting event rolled into one.

The Opening Ceremonies on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 9:00am will include South Carolina Superintendent of Education, Dr. Mick Zais, North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey, and The Citadel President, Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa. Afterwards, games will begin. A full schedule of events.

Over a six-week timeframe, students work with professional engineering Mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a Kit of Parts and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

The 2012 “Rebound Rumble” robotics game is played between two Alliances of three teams each. Each Alliance competes by trying to score as many of the basketballs in the hoops as possible during the two minute and 15-second match. Balls scored in higher hoops score teams more points. Team Alliances are awarded bonus points if they are balanced on bridges at the end of the match. Game animation of Rebound Rumble.

Apart from the game itself, teams are judged on design, team spirit, professionalism, and perseverance.

Now in its 21st season, the FIRST Robotics Competition encompasses more than 58,000 high school students participating on approximately 2,343 teams in the United States and worldwide. The regional events will lead to the FRC Championship, an international competition, at the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri 25-28 April, 2012.

FIRST was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, developer of the first portable insulin pump and the first portable kidney dialysis machine, to “create a world where science and technology are celebrated where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.”

“The varsity sport for the mind,” the FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

This season, participating FIRST students are eligible to apply for more than $14 million in scholarships from 130 leading universities and colleges.

Students: 

Learn from professional engineers

Build and compete with a robot of their own design

Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware

Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments

Earn a place in the World Championship in St. Louis, MO in April 2012

Qualify for over $14 million in college scholarships

For more information on the competition, go to the FIRST website at: www.usfirst.org, FIRST Robotics Competition or http://www.palmettopartnersrobotics.com/

More FIRST Robotics Competition Rebound Rumble videos

A live Webcast will be available throughout the event and can be accessed from Palmetto Regional’s homepage.

Montague Terrace at North Charleston Coliseum to open Fall 2011

The North Charleston Coliseum’s latest expansion, the Montague Terrace, will open this fall. Montague Terrace expands the North Charleston Coliseum by 7,400 square feet and will provide a new experience for patrons, as it will be used as a food court for Coliseum events, a special event space for private receptions, and also as an entertainment venue for small concerts, theater performances, and comedy shows.

For private gatherings, such as corporate receptions and weddings, Montague Terrace provides a state-of-the-art venue with LED lighting, full production capabilities, and accents of modern décor.  The space can host up to 740 people for a reception and up to 340 people for a seated banquet.

Montague Terrace is also a unique venue for entertainment events, as shows will be presented in a cabaret theatre setting that will include seating at round tables for four guests with full food and beverage service.

During large concerts and hockey games at the Coliseum, Montague Terrace will serve as a gathering area for patrons.  All concessions will be offered out of Montague Terrace, and various bands will be featured on the Montague Terrace stage before Coliseum shows and during intermissions.

“We are all anxiously awaiting the opening of Montague Terrace,” says North Charleston Coliseum General Manager, Dave Holscher, “as it will enable us to deliver a superior experience for our patrons on a number of levels.  Not only does Montague Terrace allow us to host smaller entertainment show, such as Glorious Gershwin, which will be Montague Terrace’s premiere performance this September, but it also allows us to host private functions, therefore serving the community in a way we have not been able to in the past.”

With the addition of Montague Terrace, the North Charleston Coliseum’s exclusive caterer, Centerplate Catering, will expand its catering menu to offer a wider variety of high-quality food and beverage items.

Montague Terrace is being built for LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, making it one of the largest eco-friendly event venues in the Charleston Area.  Once completed, Montague Terrace, as well as Centerplate Catering, will continue to operate in an eco-friendly manner.

North Charleston Coliseum Renovation Project

On Monday, October 19, 2009, the North Charleston Finance Committee moved forward with a resolution to authorize Mayor Summey to execute a letter of proposal and subsequent contract to facilitate the North Charleston Coliseum Renovation Project. The resolution will receive final reading at City Council on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

Dave Holscher, North Charleston Coliseum General Manager, was on 1250AM WTMA's Morning Buzz with Richard Todd to discuss the North Charleston Coliseum Renovation Project.


Hear it here:

Copyright © 2009 Citadel Broadcasting Company and MediaSpan



Improvements to the Coliseum include:

Suite Renovations
Renovate four suites on each sideline for a total of eight suites. Renovations will occur in the area vacated by current concession stands.

Concourse/Concession Expansion
Additions to the Coliseum on each sideline will provide new food court areas with new concession stands, small toilets, and exterior balconies.

Concourse Elevator Addition
Addition of a single passenger elevator internal to the existing building footprint, to provide improved vertical transportation service for patrons.

New Arena Bowl Sound System
Replacement of current Coliseum seating bowl sound system with a new distributed sound system.

New Rigging/Camera Platforms
Addition of catwalks with wider platforms to provide for expanded rigging capabilities and spotlighting of events.

The goal is to complete the design scope within a six month targeted timeframe with the construction phase to commence the week of June 2, 2010 and conclude April 15, 2011.