The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center officially opened “Are You an Escape Artist?” theater exhibit, Thursday, March 13, 2014.
In spring 2013, the Fire Museum partnered with museum exhibit and theater designers, Boston Productions Inc. to create an engaging and interactive theater experience truly unique to the museum, Lowcountry and the state. “Are You an Escape Artist?” takes guests on a fast pace, immersive and exciting adventure through fire history, knowledge, science, safety and planning and all at level that is captivating for all age groups.
The presentation will be a permanent fixture in the museum and replaces the museum’s original theater show from 2007.
Come join the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Lowcountry on Saturday, March 15, 2014 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm in the Olde Village of North Charleston. The 11th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party & Parade promises fun for the entire family. The Block Party location is East Montague Avenue between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue.
The celebration will feature live music across three stages, street vending and fare from Olde North Charleston restaurants, additional local food vendors & trucks, the North Charleston Artist Guild, a Kid’s Zone with jump castles, a fire truck, face painting, as well as the always favorite mechanical bull.
Live music line-up includes:
Family Zone Stage: Charleston Hot Shots, The V-Tones and High Gravity Jazz Band.
Cheerwine Stage Lizzy Pitch, Folkgrass, The Three Dudes, The Ryan Perry Band.
Madra Rua Stage: Karl Byrne, Don Merckle & the Blacksmiths, and Wadata.
This year’s party will kick off with a parade starting at Park Place East (adjacent to East Montague Avenue and across from Park Circle Community Center) at 12:00 noon. The parade route will proceed down East Montague Avenue through the block party location to O’Hear Avenue. The parade Grand Marshalls will be Madra Rua Irish Pub owners, Robert Spencer and Stephen O’Connor, who recently celebrated the 11th anniversary of the pub’s opening. North Charleston's Mayor Keith Summey, the North Charleston High School band, The Charleston Police Pipe & Drum Band and many other local groups will also participate in the parade.
East Montague Avenue will close from Park Place East to O’Hear Avenue at 11:30 am and stay closed for the duration of the parade. East Montague will close between Virginia Avenue and Jenkins Avenue at 9:00 am for set up and remain closed until 8:00 pm.
The party, parade and parking are free to the public.
The 11th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party and Parade is sponsored by the Madra Rua Irish Pub, the City of North Charleston, Southern Eagle Distributors, Lee Distributors, Cheerwine and the Olde North Charleston Merchant’s Association.
The North Charleston Fire Department will be conducting hydrant testing throughout the City of North Charleston in the month of March. Firefighters will flow each hydrant to ensure that the hydrant functions properly and that adequate water will be available in the event of a fire.
Firefighters will be posting signs in the neighborhoods to inform residents that hydrant testing is in progress. Firefighters will be as careful as possible to minimize damage to lawns or landscaping from the flow of water.
Despite all precautions, there is the possibility that sediment from the water system may become visible in residential tap water. If a resident encounters discolored water they should run the faucet in their home until the water runs clear.
The North Charleston Fire Department thanks residents in advance for their understanding as we perform this required task to ensure the safety of our City.
If you encounter any other problems with your water, please contact your water department. Charleston Water System can be reached at (843) 727-6800 or Dorchester County Water and Sewer Department may be reached at (843) 832-0075.
Its understandable to want to quickly get back on your feet after a disaster. During your recovery process, be careful to avoid another financial hit in the form of scams. Unfortunately natural disasters often bring out con artists and those looking to take advantage of disaster survivors. Consumer beware! Home repair scams and charitable donations are some of the ways criminals can target you.
Here are a few tips to avoid a home repair scam after a natural disaster:
Hire known and recommended repair companies; Get at least two estimates from different companies; Get all agreements in writing;
Make a full payment only when the terms of the contract are met.
Research the organization and their purpose; Do not give cash; Write a check or money order to the organization, not the individual collecting for the organization; and Do not provide personal information to anyone soliciting contributions.
Protect yourself, your family and your finances. Contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection to report scams or fraud in your area.
New federal resources have been awarded to the North Charleston Fire Department. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program awarded $1,813,830 on Friday to North Charleston to hire 15 firefighters.
The SAFER grant program supports the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. SAFER grants are awarded directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters. In addition, the grant encourages the hiring of veterans. More information can be found http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our residents and communities safe,” said Mayor Keith Summey. “These new federal resources extend the efforts of the North Charleston Fire Department and ensure we have the skilled responders needed.”
“The performance data we gained through the accreditation process helped us clearly demonstrate the need for this additional staffing,” said Fire Chief Greg Bulanow. “The additional personnel will be utilized to increase staff on our ladder trucks to better protect the increasing number of large residential and commercial structures in our thriving city. This will ultimately result in safer and more effective fire protection to the citizens of North Charleston.”
Chief Bulanow continued, “We have very good experience with hiring veterans, as they fit in well with the culture and values of our organization. We regularly attend veterans’ job fairs as part of our recruiting strategy and hope to hire as many veterans as we can to maximize the benefit of this grant.”
The North Charleston Recreation Department is currently accepting teams for the upcoming 2014 Spring/Summer Adult Softball, Men’s Flag Football, Women’s Sunday Soccer, Men’s Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball, and Women’s Basketball seasons.
The manager’s meeting for all for Adult Spring Sports will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at Park Circle.
Adult Softball managers will meet at 6:30 pm
Flag Football managers will meet at 7:00 pm
Women’s Soccer will meet at 7:30 pm
Women’s Basketball and Men’s Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball will meet at 8:00 pm
The Softball Leagues offered are Senior Men (50+), Weeknight Co-Ed, Weeknight Men’s Industrial, and Weeknight Women’s Recreation. Softball team entry fees will be $600.00 per team with the exception of the Men’s Senior League (TBD). Entry fee includes ASA registration fee, league tournament, umpires and awards. The first nine (9) teams to pay their entry fee in each Softball league will be accepted.
Entry fee for the Men’s Flag Football League, Women’s Soccer League and Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball league is $250.00 per team. The first (8) teams to pay their entry fee will be accepted into each of these leagues. All games will be played at the MeadWestvaco Kapstone Park, located at the intersection of North Rhett Avenue and Remount Road. The Men’s Flag Football League and Women’s Soccer will be played on Sundays.
The Over 40- 3 n 3 Basketball League will be played in the Sterett Hall Gymnasium.
All teams wishing to participate in these leagues must have a representative present at the league meeting.
For more information, contact 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 .
The City of North Charleston Police Fire, Code Enforcement and Building Departments announce its Citizens Public Safety Academy program. The program, which begins on February 5, 2014, is designed to bring awareness to the many aspects of public safety.
The Citizens Public Safety Academy is designed to foster better communication between citizens of North Charleston and public safety professionals. During the 11 week program citizens will get an inside look at what Police Officers, Firefighters, Code Enforcement Officers and Building Inspectors encounter on a daily basis. The Citizens Public Safety Academy will be held two times a year (February to April, and May to July).
Course Curriculum:
Police (Emergency Response, Laws, Arrests, Search & Seizure and Use of Force Fire (Emergency Response, Fire Fighting and Inspections Code Enforcement (Health and Sanitation) Building Department (Building Inspections, Permits and Property Maintenance)
New paint hangar and additional land purchase confirm Boeing's long-term commitment to South Carolina
Boeing announced Friday, December 13, 2013 that it will begin construction in the second half of 2014 on a new paint facility on its main campus in North Charleston, S.C. The company expects to begin painting fully assembled 787 Dreamliners in South Carolina in mid-2016.
The approximately 230,000 square-foot (21,368 m2) facility will be used to apply customer liveries to Boeing South Carolina (BSC)-built 787s. Today all BSC-built 787s are flown to Fort Worth, Texas, for final paint and then flown back to South Carolina for customer delivery.
"Painting our airplanes in South Carolina supports our Lean manufacturing and production optimization initiatives," said Jack Jones, vice president and general manager, Boeing South Carolina. "We can make our delivery process even more efficient by painting airplanes here in South Carolina, creating more value and convenience for our customers."
The company also announced today that it acquired access to a total of 468 acres (189 hectares) in North Charleston, S.C., to protect for potential future growth in South Carolina through a long-term lease with Palmetto Railways, a division of the S.C. Department of Commerce. In addition to the 267 acres (108 hectares) sold by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, another 201 acres (81 hectares) of land in North Charleston were purchased with state bond funds allocated to Boeing. Owned by Palmetto Railways, the land will be leased to Boeing under a long- term lease. The company has an option to purchase all of the 468 acres (189 hectares) at the end of the initial lease term at the end of 2027.
"This expansion makes future growth in North Charleston possible. While we expect to begin the permitting process immediately for this property, we have no specific plans for the land other than where we will locate the new paint facility," said Jones.
As part of the site expansion, beginning in January 2014, Boeing will construct a new 10,000 square-foot (929.03 m2) fully equipped fire station at its main campus, which is expected to be operational by late 2014. The company will add a second autoclave in 2016 to support aftbody composite fabrication for previously announced 787 program rate increases.
"We've been busy here in South Carolina this year," said Jones. "Our BSC teammates have not only been ramping to rate in component and airplane production, but they're doing it in the middle of construction zones. Our commitment to South Carolina is visibly demonstrated every day as our growth and expansion continues. I don't expect that ending anytime soon."
Since late 2012, Boeing has been expanding its main South Carolina site to create more efficiencies and capabilities in production to meet committed 787 build rates. Under previously announced expansion plans, the company is adding 391,000 square feet (36,325 m2) to its aftbody fabrication and assembly building; 42,000 square feet (3,901.9 m2) to its aft and midbody component paint facility; 67,000 square feet (6,224.5 m2) in office and meeting space to its final assembly building; and a new 94,000 square-foot (8,732.9 m2) Dreamlifter Operations Center, to be completed in the first quarter of 2014. The midbody component assembly facility is undergoing construction to add additional capacity and efficiency on the production floor.
In 2013, Boeing announced plans to establish IT Centers of Excellence and an Engineering Design Center, along with plans to build a new Propulsion facility in South Carolina. In November, Boeing broke ground on the new 220,000 square-foot (2,0439 m2) facility located in Palmetto Commerce Park in North Charleston (Ladson area) that will house its new 737-MAX propulsion assembly work, scheduled to begin in mid-2015.
Boeing today announced it will establish technology research centers in Alabama, California, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington as it continues to lay the foundation for increased competitiveness and future growth.
The company will restructure its Boeing Research & Technology organization, the company's central research-and-development unit, through the establishment of research centers in Huntsville, Ala.; Southern California; St. Louis; North Charleston, S.C.; and Seattle.
The new centers will operate independently but cooperatively with one another and with Boeing technology centers in Australia,Brazil, China, India, Spain and Russia. The international centers conduct research to benefit the environment, aviation safety, air traffic management and other areas.
"We are reorganizing and realigning our research-and-technology operations to better meet the needs of our Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security business units, as well as our government R&D customers," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Research & Technology. "Our customers have a common need for new technology that can be integrated quickly and efficiently into current products and production lines, as well as enable new market-leading products and services. With these changes, we are enhancing our ability to provide effective, efficient and innovative technology solutions."
Earlier this year, Boeing announced the geographic diversification of its Information Technology organization, as well as engineering design centers within Boeing Commercial Airplanes. BR&T's realignment continues the company's strategy of pursuing future growth and competitiveness while consistently delivering on the company's promises to its customers.
The new research centers will consolidate technology development of strategic importance to Boeing over the long-term – up to 30 years into the future. They will be chartered to accelerate technical capability in specific fields and enhance and build networks of collaboration with university, industry and government research centers around the world.
The new locations and centers: Huntsville, Ala.: Simulation and Decision Analytics; Metals and Chemical Technology Southern California: Flight Sciences; Electronics and Networked Systems; Structures St. Louis: Systems Technology; Digital Aviation and Support Technology; Metallics and Fabrication Development North Charleston, S.C.: Manufacturing Technology Seattle: Manufacturing Technology Integration.
As the centers are established, BR&T employee totals are expected to grow between 300-400 each in Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina. BR&T jobs in Washington are expected to decrease by 800-1,200, and BR&T jobs in California are expected to decrease by 200-300.
The unit will continue to provide manufacturing technology integration support at Boeing business unit production sites inWashington state, as well as Arizona, California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing Research & Technology collaborates with customers, suppliers, universities and R&D agencies throughout the world to provide a broad base of innovative and affordable technologies for Boeing's business units.
To celebrate the upcoming holiday season, the City of North Charleston will feature the following public Christmas events.
Christmas Festival and Parade
Saturday, December 7, from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm around Park Circle with the Christmas Parade beginning at 5:00 pm. The Christmas Festival includes a Holiday Market with children’s activities, craft and food vendors, and live musical performances on two stages. The Christmas Parade begins at the corner of Montague and Mixson Avenues, proceeds down Montague, around Park Circle, and concludes at Armory Park.
Immediately following the Christmas Parade, Mayor R. Keith Summey and Santa Claus will light the City’s Christmas tree located outside the front entrance of the Felix C. Davis Community Center.
Christmas Festival Schedule 3:00 pm - Police will close the Park Circle traffic circle, Montague Avenue from Mixson
to the traffic circle, and Mixson and Lackawanna to West Enterprise to vehicular
traffic 3:00 - 4:45 pm - Children’s activities (jump castles, petting zoo, carriage rides) 5:00 - 6:30 pm - Parade, immediately followed by the Christmas tree
lighting 6:30 - 9:00 pm - Musical performances on all stages, children’s activities continue, food and
craft vendors 9:00 pm - Roads opens to traffic
Winter Wonderland
Tuesday, December 3, from noon to 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 4 - Friday, December 6, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at Armory Park. This free pre-school event provides young children an opportunity to visit Santa, participate in hands-on activities, including holiday arts & crafts, and take part in live performances and music.
For required pre-registration, contact the North Charleston Parks & Recreation Department at (843) 740-5807.
Children’s Theatre
Friday, December 6, at 10:00 am at Sterett Hall Auditorium. Atlantic Coast Theatre presents Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus. Francis P. Church’s famous newspaper reply to an inquisitive little girl is imaginatively brought to the stage in this fast paced show that pays homage to the classic holiday films of the 1940s. A reporter must follow leads to find proof about the existence of Santa Claus, realizing in the end that believing is proof enough. For grades K-8.
To purchase tickets, call (843) 740-5854. Children $2, accompanying adults free.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 7, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at Felix C. Davis Community Center. Breakfast with Santa gives area children the opportunity to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. A hearty meal is provided.
To purchase tickets, call (843) 745-1028 or visit the Felix C. Davis Community Center for $4 per person.
Film Screening - It’s A Wonderful Life
Saturday, December 7, at 7:00pm at the Olde Village Community Building. The Park Circle Film Society will feature the classic holiday film It’s A Wonderful Life, as part of the quarterly Silver Screen Series. Frank Capra's inverted take on A Christmas Carol stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a good man who's spent a lifetime giving up on his dreams in order to keep life in his small town humming. When a guardian angel named Clarence finds a despondent George poised to jump off a bridge, he shows George what life would've been like had he never been born.
All tickets sold at the door. General Admission - $5, Film Society Members - $2.
North Charleston POPS!
Saturday, December 7, at 7:30pm at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. The POPS! presents A Rockin’ Christmas, a rockin' good time featuring the greatest pops music of the season. Classics like Santa Baby, White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Merry Christmas Darling, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and The Christmas Song are just a few of the treats awaiting you in this high-energy holiday concert.
Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 8, at 7:00 pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra's wind and strings ensembles will perform familiar holiday classics to kick off the holiday season. Bring family and friends to share in the good cheer of the holiday!
Admission is free.
Village Antiques & Collectibles Holiday Market
Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day at Felix C. Davis Community Center. The Show will feature home decor, fine antiques, furniture, collectibles, antique guns, art, jewelry, rugs, crafts, vintage toys & games, silver, pottery, china, silver, salvage items, outdoor decor, vintage instruments, and more.
Admission is $2.00, all of which will be benefits The Spay Not Slay Endowment.
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Christmas lights and displays will shine at Park Circle and on the eight exterior islands nightly from December 7 until New Year’s Day.
FEV, Inc., (FEV) a subsidiary of Germany-based, FEV GmbH, a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle system technologies, is one of the first companies to establish operations within the Energy Systems Innovation Center at theClemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) in North Charleston. The undisclosed investment is expected to generate at least seven new jobs, which will support FEV’s traditional capabilities, including design, analysis, prototyping, and system development. FEV also plans to leverage its expertise in the development and testing of in-vehicle systems and vehicle connectivity technologies, including infotainment and telematics systems.
“The North Charleston facility will provide a great deal of exposure to a wide variety of industries,” said FEV, Inc.’s acting CEO Dr. Patrick Hupperich. “We believe this is a strategic location that creates an FEV engineering center of excellence in the Southeast to serve our customers in the region. It will also provide a launch point for business development and relationship building activities with both current and potential customers, including those beyond our traditional service areas, such as aerospace, manufacturing, and advanced materials.”
“FEV, Inc.’s decision to locate its operations in North Charleston proves once again that South Carolinians know how to make quality and advanced products that are used around the globe,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “This research and development center not only provides a boost to the region’s innovation sector, but also solidifies South Carolina’s place in the nation’s manufacturing renaissance.”
“FEV’s state-of-the-art technology is being used by automotive leaders throughout the world. The company’s presence at Clemson University’s new innovation center is a great step toward growing South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy with high tech and high-paying jobs,” said Secretary Bobby Hitt.
FEV’s presence in the Charleston region will allow it to be in proximity to customers in South Carolina specifically, and in the Southeast generally, which is a rapidly expanding hub of automotive, energy, and defense-related companies that FEV has supported for many years. It also creates opportunities to explore partnerships with other technology companies that have located in the area. Operations are expected to commence in late November, following the dedication of the world’s most advanced wind turbine drivetrain testing facility and smart grid simulator at the Restoration Institute on November 21.
John Kelly, Clemson University vice president for economic development, said “FEV’s partnership with Clemson and the Energy Systems Innovation Center underscores the value of public-private partnerships, particularly those between higher education institutions and innovative technology firms. We both believe strongly in research and collaboration. This partnership has the potential to grow far beyond this initial commitment. It isn’t just about companies coming here, it’s also about ideas coming here. FEV will bring talented engineers to the Charleston region, and we hope this initial step is just the beginning.”
“I am honored to welcome FEV to the City of North Charleston,” said Mayor Keith Summey. “It is our pledge to maintain an environment that is business friendly to foster creativity and growth in the marketplace. FEV continues to push the envelope of technology and innovation in automotive and drivetrain research and fit perfectly within CURI’s Energy Systems Innovation Center. We look forward to FEV’s future developments and extension of their capabilities and applications into additional industry fields in the Charleston region.”
“Congratulations to FEV as they establish their new office in North Charleston,” said Teddie Pryor, chairman of Charleston County Council. “Our hats are also off to Clemson University for their hard work to bring their research partner FEV to the Energy Systems Innovation Center. The discoveries they make together in the coming years at this state-of-the-art facility will pave the way for energy systems advancements that will benefit a host of industries and other power users. Charleston County feels very privileged to host FEV, and will do everything possible to partner with them and with Clemson throughout the years to come.”
“This is an historic and exciting time for our region,” said Bob Whitten, Charleston Regional Development Alliance board chairman. “We’ve been talking with FEV for some time about the competitive advantages the Charleston region offers. The presence of the world’s most advanced drivetrain testing facility in our market, coupled with our educational assets, customized training programs, and our supply of highly-skilled workers were critical factors in FEV’s decision to be one of the first companies to locate on Clemson’s Energy Systems Campus. The company will be a tremendous asset to our community for many years to come.”
About FEV
The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. The FEV Group employs a staff of over 2,600 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents. FEV, Inc. employs over 450 personnel in its North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.
The City of North Charleston will host its annual Veterans Day tribute on Monday, November 11, 2013 from 10:30 am – 1:00 pm at Park Circle. We ask veterans and the public to join Mayor R. Keith Summey and City Council in this special ceremony. Last year, over 500 veterans in attendance were honored.
The Department of Defense and the Veterans Day National Committee once again selected North Charleston as a Regional Site for Veterans Day 2013. North Charleston is one of two regional sites in the State of South Carolina and has received this designation for 4 consecutive years.
All veterans in attendance will be recognized and will receive a specially designed commemorative coin. To receive a coin, Veterans are urged to RSVP no later than November 4 to (843) 740-5801, (843) 745-1028 or via email at cdambaugh@northcharleston.org.
Prior to the ceremony, from 9:30 am – 10:30 am, a story swap will be held in the Felix Davis Community Center. Veterans will have an open opportunity to share memories and stories about their service with fellow veterans. The story swap is open to the public. Veterans wishing to speak should RSVP to (843) 740-5850.
Once again, lunch for all of the event attendees will be provided immediately following the ceremony.
Colonel Myron C. Harrington, Jr. USMC (Retired) will be the event’s keynote speaker. Col. Harrington, a native of Augusta, Georgia, graduated from The Citadel in 1960 and was commissioned in the USMC in 1961. He would go on to serve his country in the Vietnam War.
The Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism was awarded to Col. Harrington for his actions during the Vietnam War on February 23, 1968 at the Battle of Huế. During the battle, he commanded a USMC force attacking a well-fortified North Vietnamese position along a portion of the wall surrounding the Huế Citadel. Under heavy fire and with disregard of his own safety, Col. Harrington maneuvered the Marines under his leadership to rout the North Vietnamese soldiers from the encampment.
Col. Harrington’s decorations include the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and Gold Star in lieu of second award, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, and the Vietnamese Staff Honor Medal 1st Class.
Col. Harrington earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College in Pennsylvania in 1980. After retiring from the USMC in 1991, he joined the staff of Trident Academy in Mount Pleasant as the Headmaster, retiring in 1997. He now is the Secretary of The Citadel Board of Visitors.
City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey announced today that 500 tickets are being donated to local active and retired military members and their families for the North Charleston POPS! “Military Salute” concert on Saturday, November 2 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Representatives from the Charleston County Veterans Affairs Office were on hand to accept the donation from Mayor Summey and North Charleston POPS! Manager, Tacy Edwards.
The North Charleston POPS! “Military Salute” concert features Las Vegas artist Steve Lippia who will join forces with the POPS! to honor our enlisted troops, past and present, in an evening of foot-stomping, tear-jerking music sure to ramp up your patriotic fever. The concert will also include Sousa marches, a moving pictorial military tribute sure to bring a tug to your heart, a surprise guest narrator and a hall full of buglers attempting to break a Guinness world record. In addition, Lippia will sing the biggest hits of Frank Sinatra such as The Lady Is a Tramp, My Way, All of Me and Send in the Clowns. The show is sponsored by the Bank of South Carolina.
“It’s our hope that these tickets for Saturday night’s North Charleston POPS! “Military Salute” will provide our local military and their families with a wonderful evening of music, but also a reminder of how much we appreciate their sacrifices for our community and our country”, said Mayor Summey.
North Charleston POPS! Manager Tacy Edwards added, “Saturday night’s performance is truly a labor of love for all of the North Charleston POPS! musicians as it allows us to show our deep appreciation to the Lowcountry’s military, veterans and their families.”
Tickets for North Charleston POPS! “Military Salute” featuring Steve Lippia are on sale now at the Coliseum Advance Ticket Office, Ticketmaster outlets (including select Publix stores), charge by phone 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $15 - $35 (plus applicable fees). Season tickets and group discounts are available by calling (843) 202-ARTS (2787). Military personnel (active and retired) can save $5 per ticket by showing the military ID at the Coliseum Advance Ticket Window.
The 2013-2014 North Charleston POPS! season consists of four themed performances at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. In addition to the November 2 performance, the other shows are “A Rockin’ Christmas” on December 7, “Endless Love” on February 15, and “Philly Soul” on March 29. Season tickets start at just $58 and are available by calling the North Charleston POPS! hotline (843) 202-ARTS (2787) or online at www.NorthCharlestonColiseumPAC.com
City of North Charleston officials broke ground today on a new $42 million Public Works complex off of Vector Avenue. The new complex features a state of the art design on a 38 acre multi-building campus to streamline Public Works functions and places the facility centrally within the City.
When the Charleston Naval Base closed, the City acquired off-base property at the intersection of Remount Road and I-26, where for years, a municipal court annex and several city departments operated. Additional property was later transferred to the City by the US Air Force. After the completion of the new city hall in the fall of 2009, all city departments were consolidated, except for public works. The consolidation allowed for the demolition of the former annex, freeing a large tract of land for a new public works facility.
On June 14, 2012, City Council approved the bond issuance to fund the construction of the new public works facility. With design, planning, and site preparation completed, building construction is set to begin.
The Public Works complex will consist of a multi-building campus, plus sheds for equipment and storage, spread across 38 acres. Its centralized location allows access to major thoroughfares and I-26. Construction is scheduled to be completed in April 2015.
Public Works is currently located at 1023 Aragon Street in a facility built in late 1975. At the time of construction, it was located very near the center of the City with room for expansion. After nearly forty years of growth, both in population and geographic area, the City has outgrown the now small, crowded facility.
“With our population now over 100,000, the replacement of our public works facility is long overdue,” said Mayor Keith Summey. “The new complex positions North Charleston for the next fifty years of growth, and ensures that citizens of North Charleston receive efficient and cost effective services.”
“North Charleston’s Public Works Department has come a long way since its formation in the early 1970s,” said Public Works Director Jim Hutto. “Starting with a used dump truck and a two man crew to fill pot holes, Public Works now employs nearly 200 and oversees a wide variety of services for the citizens and businesses of North Charleston. The new facility is ideally positioned to provide our employees the appropriate space to serve the people of our city.”
North Charleston’s Public Works Department is responsible for engineering, street and sidewalk maintenance, stormwater maintenance and utility, solid waste disposal, traffic signs and signals, landscaping, city facilities maintenance and repair, fleet maintenance, and construction contract administration.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, located in North Charleston, South Carolina accepted a 2013 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation on behalf of the Charleston Regional Competitiveness Center (CRCC).
The CRCC’s free online data resource is available through the collaboration of four local organizations: the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, and the Trident Workforce Investment Board. The portal (CharlestonRegionalData.com) is designed to provide up-to-date economic and workforce information on the Charleston region, which consists of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina.
“The Charleston Regional Competitiveness Center is a collaborative effort that we are proud to be part of,” said Ron Mitchum, BCDCOG Executive Director. “The website provides citizens with the tools and information on business and community demographic information and is innovative and creative. We are honored to have received such an award.”
NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association’s Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. Award winners were showcased during NADO’s 2013 Annual Training Conference, held August 24 - 27 in San Francisco, California.
“For nearly 30 years, NADO’s Innovation Award has provided regional development organizations the opportunity to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to promoting economic development in rural and small metropolitan communities across the country. Building on the unique strengths and challenges of each region and community, award recipients continue to promote sustainable economic growth not only now, but for many years to come. And I am pleased to announce that this year over 100 regional development organizations were selected to receive NADO’s 2013 Innovation Award,” said NADO President John Leonard, Executive Director of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission in Valdosta, GA.
About NADO
Founded in 1967, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.
The North Charleston Citizen Advisory Council is seeking nominations for the 2013 “Citizen of the Year.” Each year, North Charleston citizens are nominated to identify, honor, and reinforce the activities of exceptional citizens whose service or performance positively contributes to the quality of life in North Charleston.
Nominees must possess and demonstrate a generous community spirit, prove their commitment, and display a consistent effort of positively impacting the community, thereby raising the standards of social responsibility.
All applications are welcome and should include a detailed explanation for the nomination along with the nominee’s name, address, and phone number. Also, the individual(s) submitting the application should include their name, address, and phone number. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by Friday, November 1, 2013 for consideration.
Or mail nominations to:
City of North Charleston
Citizens Advisory Council
c/o Executive Department
P.O. Box 190016
North Charleston, SC 29419-9016
We can now proudly declare that the North Charleston Fire Department is an internationally accredited fire department. Does this matter? For our city today and throughout its future, it does, indeed.
Modern day firefighters fight fires and help save lives, from senior citizens who need our help to new-born babies that we've just delivered. In our department, we are becoming better and more successful in all types of calls, in many types of environments, at land and even at sea. Last week, for example, our fireboat crew assisted a Coast Guard helicopter rescuing three people from their wrecked sailboat, and the fireboat also assisted in Georgetown. We’re in a continuous training cycle and always striving for improvements, from preventing fires to fighting fires, and providing first responder emergency services.
International accreditation documents the determination of our department to serve our citizens with responses measured by the highest standards in the world. Accreditation is an achievement to be celebrated proudly, but it is a process, also. We are accredited, and now we have to work even harder to remain accredited.
Accreditation is not an easy project. It involves the gut-wrenching work of challenging the status-quo, putting all issues on the table, changing ways of thinking and how we do business. That’s why only 187 of the 38,000 fire departments in the United States are accredited.
Accreditation isn’t only about another power-point presentation, or thicker binders full of policies and procedures, or bulletin boards with bar-graphs and pie-charts, or spreadsheets with rows of numbers, or GIS maps with colored dots or posters with high-minded words.
Accreditation requires measuring performance in 248 different areas, including physical resources, human resources, financial resources, training, external relationships, goals, planning, governance and administration. Improvements in these areas mean processing calls quicker and getting out the door faster. It means putting Squad trucks in the right place, at the right time so they consistently handle a third of our total medical call volume. It means better training commitments, replacing trucks and building new stations where they are needed most, and many other direct and important improvements.
Accreditation means doing everything possible to make sure that things work out for firefighters, too, more often, more consistently, more effectively and more safely than ever before. Life-loss tragedies happen about 100 times a year in America’s fire services. When we study the circumstances, we don’t find many surprises. Too often, fire service members repeat the same mistakes over and over again, with deadly results. The common denominator in too many of these line-of-duty-deaths is complacency. We skip a step, we cut a corner and we get away with it. So we do it again because we’re in a hurry and so we skip another step, cut another corner and we get away with it again. Someone sees it happening but they say nothing, and before we know it, sloppy, reckless behavior is ignored and even accepted. The fancy words for this are “normalization of deviation,” -- deviating from practices that will keep us safe becomes normal. A better word is “complacency.”
Accreditation is about fighting complacency in all its forms. Accreditation is about providing the best possible operational environment for firefighters. It holds all of us accountable to do everything we can to promote safety, provide necessary resources and execute best-practice procedures.
Our fire department functions with the support and leadership of Mayor Keith Summey and members of City Council. Yes, accreditation is a major achievement for our city, but we understand we still have work to do. No member of the North Charleston Fire Department should be satisfied with status quo. The determination to get better and better and more and more professional is the standing mandate of an accredited department.
So we can celebrate accreditation and accept that it now defines our department; it is a message that we are not afraid of hard work and being accountable. It is a snapshot of our success today and a road map for constant improvements throughout our city’s future. And yes, accreditation matters.
Gregory A. Bulanow began his firefighting career with the North Charleston Fire Department in 1996. He worked his way through the ranks and was named Chief in 2009.
The City of North Charleston began facility improvements at the Murray Hill Community Center with a groundbreaking on Friday, October 4, 2013.
The improvements include a new press box and concession stand with restrooms to accompany the existing multipurpose baseball/softball/football field at the location. The project will enhance the ongoing Recreation Department athletic programs at the Murray Hill Community Center.
The $375,000 project is expected to be completed in March 2014.
The City of North Charleston is hosting an Open House for Wescott Park on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm for all area residents to visit and tour the new, state of the art athletic complex and community facility.
Wescott Park is the Lowcountry’s premier baseball and softball facility, featuring a Ripken Training Facility, meticulously designed and built for the best experience for players and spectators.
The City's goal was to create a park capable of holding high level baseball tournaments, while still providing a park setting for the community as a whole. The result is a split park with two distinct areas (sports fields and park) connected by a series of educational nature trails that highlight the wetlands, native trees, and wildlife.
Each of the three ball fields at Wescott Park are designed to scale of Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park, Atlanta Braves’ Turner Field, and San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park. Each field is equipped for baseball and softball for athletes 12 years old and under.
A Ripken Training Circle, patented by Cal and Bill Ripken, is incorporated into the facility for instruction and practice of our rising ball players. The design of the Circle allows for bases and home plates to be substituted for teaching of fundamentals and drills, maximizing the efficiency of instruction. To complete the park as a Ripken Training Facility, batting cages and pitching mounds are incorporated.
Apart from being a sports complex, Wescott Park features passive areas for visitors to enjoy, including an amphitheater for outdoor performances, greenspaces and multi-purpose fields, walking trails through the park’s wetlands, a dog park, and a number of enclosed and open air shelters for a variety of community and family events.
