City of North Charleston Donates 500 POPS! Tickets to Lowcountry Military Families

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

Riverdogs ticket sales to benefit North Charleston's Double Dutch Jump Squad

Charleston Riverdogs present City of North Charleston night on Saturday, April 27 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.  A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the North Charleston Recreation Department and the Double Dutch Jump Squad.

Purchase tickets for only $7 at http://tinyurl.com/nchas13, using Password: nchas

Charleston Marathon donates $80,000 to Youth Endowment of the Arts

The Charleston Marathon Board of Directors donated $80,000 to Youth Endowment of the Arts (YEA) at its annual ‘Thank You’ reception for sponsors and volunteers on Wednesday April 17, 2013 at 7:00pm. 

In 2012, YEA received $60,000 in proceeds from the race and $40,000 in 2011. This funding has helped support numerous fine arts projects throughout Charleston County Schools. 

The 3rd annual Charleston Marathon was held on January 19, 2013 and hosted nearly 5,000 participants in its full marathon, half marathon, 5K, youth marathon program and bike tour. 

CCSD programs are an integral part of the race with school groups and clubs obtaining points on their grant applications by volunteering and performing along the race route. Runners were handed water by student volunteers, entertained by student singers, dancers, drum lines and greeted by creative student sculptures at packet pick-up. The race organizers will also present 2013 Spirit Awards to three schools, as well as an award for the 2013 sculpture contest at Wednesday’s event. 

Plans for the 4th annual Charleston Marathon, presented by Harris Teeter, are underway and registration for the 2014 event will open by the end of April at www.CharlestonMarathon.com. Grant applications for interested school programs are available now at www.YEAendowment.org, the deadline to apply is May 29, 2013. 

Youth Endowment for the Arts’ mission is to provide equitable, quality cultural arts experiences to Charleston area children. Through grants and curriculum building, YEA strives to use the fine arts to help open additional avenues to learning. YEA was founded in 2000 by North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey and his wife, Judge Deborah Summey. Both will be present at Wednesday’s event.

Sponsored Fall decorations on East Montague to benefit needy families

The Olde North Charleston Merchants Association and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department are collaborating to decorate the Olde Village section of East Montague Avenue with decorative grapevine wreaths for Fall. Proceeds from wreath sponsorships will benefit the City of North Charleston’s Christmas Charity for needy families.

Schools, community groups, churches, businesses and individuals are invited to participate in this second annual beautification effort. Wreath sponsors may purchase a 24” grapevine wreath with two sided orange ribbon for $25 and personalize it with decorations of their choosing, or sponsors may choose to purchase a pre-decorated wreath for $50. Past participants have the option of redecorating last year’s wreath for $15.

Wreaths with sponsor name will be displayed on light poles lining the Olde Village section of East Montague Avenue throughout October and November. The deadline for wreath purchases is 5:00pm on Monday, September 24, 2012. Wreaths should be decorated and ready to hang by October 1. To sponsor a wreath or for more information contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854 or culturalarts@northcharleston.org.

Police make donation to victim service agencies

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey along with Police Chief Jon Zumalt presented monetary donations to three Victim Services Agencies. Checks were presented to People Against Rape ($15,000.00); The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center ($15,000.00); and The South Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network ($10,000.00).

Police Chief Jon Zumalt says, “We are pleased to support these very important victim service agencies that are vital to victims of crime in North Charleston.” Mayor Keith Summey calls the donations “vital” to the continuation of victim services from these agencies and goes on to say, "In these difficult financial times it is important that we do everything to maintain and provide these services to our citizens."

People Against Rape and Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center provides counseling, safe haven, personal support and other services to victim. The South Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network provides enhanced advocacy and other forms of service to victims.

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

Chat about it over on Facebook

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.

Firehouse Subs heats up North Charleston Police Department with over $3500 worth of life-saving tools

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded equipment to North Charleston Police Department during a ceremony on Monday, June 4, 2012 at the North Charleston Firehouse Subs location. The department benefits with a stealth stat system worth more than $3,500.

The donated device will allow the department to conduct traffic studies in areas where there are safety concerns. With the new system, officers will be able to record vehicle speeds at different times of the day to determine which areas are in need of enforcement.

Since 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated more than $525,000 to public safety entities in South Carolina.  Firehouse Subs is renowned for hearty, oversized portions and piping hot subs. The founders’ 200-year firefighting heritage inspired the formation of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides funding, resources and support to public safety entities.

“Our local heroes need to be prepared at a moment’s notice to protect and save lives,” said Kevin Hatton, franchisee of the North Charleston Firehouse Subs restaurant. “Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the support of our restaurants, is dedicated to equip, educate, and fund first responders.”

Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit’s mission and collect spare change, while the round up program allows guests to literally “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar.

In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the non-profit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the mission to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to aid first-responders. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given more than $3.9 million to hometown heroes, including fire and police departments and EMS organizations.

Firehouse Subs, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, is a 508-unit fast casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers oversized portions of premium hand-sliced meats, steamed to make the flavors burst, then piled high with fresh produce atop a toasted sub roll. The restaurants reflect the authentic firefighter heritage, as well as the founding family’s 200 years of firefighting service.

For more information on Firehouse Subs or this donation, please visit Firehousesubs.com, Facebook.com/firehousesubs or follow on Twitter at @firehousesubs.

Eagle Scout donates over $2300 to Fire Department missions

Eagel Scout Joshua Chambers made a donate of $2,340.80 to the North Charleston Fire Department as part of his Eagel Project.

In addition, Joshua hand crafted a fire hydrant and fire truck to be displayed at one of the City's fire stations.

Forest Hills Nursery donates statues honoring police officers and firefighters

Michael and Joy Segars of Forest Hills Nursery & Palm Trees donated The Fireman’s Prayer statue and The Policeman’s Prayer statue to the City of North Charleston for display in the City Hall traffic circle. Each statue pays tribute to our public safety servicemen and women for their ongoing daily work, as well as the family members who provide support at home.

Fire Museum receives generous donation from Case Family

On behalf of the Case Family and the Raymond Case Scholarship Fund, Ms. Linda Case presented a donation in the amount of $8,555.19 to the North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center. The gift will be used for the establishment of a ‘Make Your Own Patch’ exhibit to promote fire safety.

New and innovative exhibits and features are vital in sustaining the popularity and educational value of any museum. From a 32’ touch screen, the ‘Make Your Own Patch’ exhibit will allow museum visitors to build a patch based on eight to ten templates. After template selection, customization will include background and border colors, two editable text regions, and insertion of iconic firefighting images. Each patch prints onto a sticker with a fire safety message. When the exhibit is idle it will continue as a passive display showcasing fire safety messages and images. The exhibit should be fully operational by summer’s end.

This gift is one of many donated to the Fire Museum from the Case Family. Others include an antique fire hose nozzle and a charcoal rendering displayed in the Fire Museum lobby to honor a notable moment of Mr. Case’s fire service career. The caption accompanying the rendering describes his heroic actions at River Downs Race Track on the outskirts of Cincinnati on June 11, 1973. It was there that Mr. Case rescued a German Sheppard from certain death and was instrumental in the safety of an estimated 200 horses. For his actions, he received recognition from the Cincinnati Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Before moving to the Greater Charleston Area, Raymond Case retired from the Cincinnati Fire Department with thirteen years of service. He received numerous accolades during his tenure, including national recognitions.

The City of North Charleston and the Fire Museum are grateful for the overwhelming generosity of the Case Family.