Large C-17 formation to take off from Joint Base Charleston on Wednesday

A multi-ship C-17 formation is scheduled to take off Wednesday morning, April 10, to conduct a variety of training missions.

Up to 21 C-17s will take off in the morning and will depart on a training route that will include airdrops, aerial refueling and low level tactical training.

The exercise has been coordinated with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and will not delay regularly scheduled flights at Charleston International Airport.

This large formation exercise (LFE) is a total-force effort with aircrews consisting of active-duty Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing and Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing. The last LFE was conducted in 2010. This exercise is not in response to real-world events.

Wednesday’s event will complete over 600 training requirements and will maintain mission readiness. LFEs are an efficient method of training C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, maintenance and support Airmen on a wide variety of requirements in a short period of time.

These skills are needed at all times to ensure the Joint Base Charleston team can move large amounts of forces, cargo or passengers when called upon or when ordered to evacuate due to an incoming hurricane.

"The skills we test today are the same skills we would use to provide our country’s response to a crisis or a conflict anywhere in the world," said Col. Trevor Nitz, 437th Operations Group commander. "Despite current challenges, Airmen are obligated to maintain mission readiness and stand ready to deliver our country’s resolve."

Officers Receive Top Honors for DUI Enforcement

On Wednesday, April 3rd, seven members of the North Charleston Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit received top honors for DUI arrests during the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s annual Law Enforcement DUI Challenge Ceremonies held in Columbia. The officers were recognized under the DUI Hero category for excelling in the area of DUI arrests in 2012.

Award recipients:

DUI Gold Heroes (50 or more DUI Arrests)

Officer Jonathan Lawrence

Officer Anthony King

DUI Silver Heroes (25 – 49 DUI Arrests)

Officer Thomas E. Bennett, Jr.

DUI Bronze Heroes (10 – 24 DUI Arrests)

Officer Theodore J. Gorman

Officer Bradford P. Molina

Officer Bryan Sadler

Officer Bryan M. Young

Charleston County Hosts 2013 Earth Day Festival on April 20 at Riverfront Park

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department invites citizens to join in celebrating Earth Day during the 2013 Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 20. The free event will be held from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park on the former Naval Base in North Charleston.

The 14th Annual Earth Day Festival is a celebration of Charleston County’s environmental community. The festival provides hands-on educational opportunities for all ages, and highlights the County’s environmental programs.

“Our annual Earth Day Festival provides an ideal opportunity for Lowcountry residents to learn how they can make a difference in our community at home, work and play,” said Carolyn Carusos, Charleston County Environmental Management Department’s Recycling Programs Manager. “Riverfront Park offers a beautiful waterfront setting to enjoy the diverse, fun and family-oriented activities.”

Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival attracts as many as 8,000 people each year. All participants are asked to commit to reducing waste at the event. Resource Recovery Centers will be strategically located throughout the park to collect recyclable materials and organic waste generated during the festival.

Charleston County’s Annual Earth Day Art Contest was held again this year, and students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade submitted drawings for the theme: “One Earth, One Future.” The winning artwork will be featured at the event and will be printed on the back of all festival T-shirts.

April 20 Earth Day Festival Schedule of Events:
11 a.m.: Event kickoff with Military Magnet Academy’s Marching Band
11:15 a.m.:
     Opening remarks by attending Charleston County Council members
     Awards and recognition of the Annual Earth Day Art Contest winners
     Recognition of festival volunteers

11:30 a.m.: Live performance by local step team Gentlemen of Duty & Distinction Service Brotherhood
11:45 p.m.: Live musical performance by members of the Blue Dogs, a band from Charleston
12:45 p.m.: Birds of prey demonstration by Stephen Schabel with The Avian Conservation Center
1:15 p.m.: Mad Science demonstration
1:30 p.m.: Live musical performance by Professor Bottleneck & Harmonica Frank, a German acoustic duo specializing in blues, jazz and swing with an environmental twist
2:00 p.m.: Goodwill Fashion Show
2:15 p.m.: Zumba with Prisca Denton
2:30 p.m.: Live musical performance by The Bluestone Ramblers, a South Carolina bluegrass band
3:00 p.m.: Live reptile demonstration by Kiawah Island Nature Center
3:30 p.m.: Storytelling by Hawk Hurst

Other Highlights of the 2013 Earth Day Festival: 

Over 60 environmental activities and educational displays on alternative energy, conservation, local and organic agriculture, animals and habitat preservation, litter, water and air quality, seedlings, recycling and composting
FREE shredding services (located in the parking lot)
Collection of electronic waste, such as old TVs and computers, for recycling (located in the parking lot). Bring old/unwanted electronic items to be recycled and avoid these items being disposed of in the landfill.
Goodwill donation center (located in the parking lot)
Composting Awareness Center, a focal point tent emphasizing “Are you in the Loop?” where attendees can learn about the composting cycle. Guests will receive home composting information, commercial food waste information and free compost samples.
Hands-on fun with Mad Science play stations
Water buffalo by Charleston Water Systems
Nature walks with a local naturalist
Pet Helpers will be on site providing information on animal rescue and adoptable animals
Local food vendors and food trucks offering classic festival fare plus some vegetarian options
Returning Trash-to-Treasure guest, The Yo Art Project, to assist with craft-making using recycled materials
Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department staff will:
     Provide reusable bag giveaways for the first 500 attendees
     Feature demonstrations showing the new single stream recycling truck
     Host a recycling tent with information, giveaways and prizes

Plus a whole day of fun activities, prize drawings, contests and interactive live performances

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department thanks their contributors:

City of North Charleston
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control

For more information on recycling or the 2013 Earth Day Festival, visit recycle.charlestoncounty.org or call (843) 720-7111.

North Charleston expands and renovates Pepperhill Park

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey and City Council Members will hold a rededication for the completed expansion and renovations at Pepperhill Park, located at 7695 Brandywine Road, on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 1:00pm.

Pepperhill Park hosts an array of youth athletic programs throughout the year and serves thousands of residents in the Ashley Phosphate corridor. The expansion encompasses the addition of a new football and soccer field to complement the existing three baseball/softball fields. In addition, the recently completed renovations included a new core building, with a new press box, concession stand, restrooms, and a meeting room. The parking lot was also expanded to meet the facility’s needs.

The first major event at the park will be the Opening Day Jamboree for the 2013 Youth Baseball/Softball season on Saturday, April 6, 2013, beginning at 9:00am.

Annual North Charleston Arts Festival Set for May 3-11

 Nine-day celebration of the arts offers something for everyone

The annual North Charleston Arts Festival is just one month away, set to kick off on May 3 and conclude on May 11. Now in its 31st year, the nine day event has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festival in the state, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to experience the talents of national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature. Nearly 100 festival offerings are scheduled to take place in a variety of venues throughout North Charleston and the surrounding area, including libraries, community centers, schools, civic auditoriums, and parks.

Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival offers something for everyone. The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department organizes and presents the event each year, striving to maintain the spirit of a public celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performances, exhibitions, and activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced.

“The variety of Arts Festival offerings and the inclusiveness of the event have really become a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “The event provides both our residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast a myriad of opportunities to experience high quality programming in every arts discipline in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings.”

The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over forty performances on four themed stages: General Audience, Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, and Bands.  Other features include judged fine art and photography exhibits; the 12th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; youth art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Society show and sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; art & craft vendors, a food court, and much more. 

Individual events take place throughout the nine days of the festival at various locations.  An exciting array of free and ticketed offerings include concerts, street dances, theatre presentations, film screenings, art workshops and demonstrations, an art walk, children’s programs, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful
North Charleston Riverfront Park. Examples of visual art exhibitions on view during the festival include a group display of contemporary works by artists from Pinar del Rio, Cuba; the 8th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition; an Art & Fine Craft CoOp Gallery & Sale; the 7th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition; a Wearable Art Exhibit and Pop Up Shop; and The PODS Project, featuring interactive installations created within portable storage units. This year’s Grand Finale on May 11 features a Tri-County school showcase, music and dance performances, a slam poetry show, children’s activities, food trucks, and an evening concert by Rivers & Company. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display over the Cooper River.
 
Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Art Walk and Opening Processional. Entry instructions for the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, as well as Volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Applications can be found at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply.

For more 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including event details and venue information, visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.

North Charleston girls bring home State Basketball Championship

The North Charleston 11-12 year old girls all-star basketball team won the 2013 SCAP Basketball State Championship, going undefeated through district play to advance to the State Championship tournament in Liberty, SC.

After a convincing semi-final win, the team, led by Coach Mike Balcer, won the championship game to take home the crown.

The team is made up of girls from all over the city of North Charleston.

Half-Moon Outfitters and City partner in mural competition - seeking submissions

Half-Moon Outfitters is partnering with the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department to host a public mural competition. Lowcountry visual artists age 18 and up are invited to submit proposals for a public art piece to be installed on the exterior of Half-Moon Outfitters’ new building addition, the Half-Moon Annex, located on the corner of East Montague and Jenkins Avenues in the Olde Village area of North Charleston. Up to three artists will be selected. Selected artists will be given a materials stipend to create an 8’x8’ mural and have an opportunity to compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. Deadline for proposals is 5:00pm on Friday, April 19.

To apply, artists must provide sketches of the proposed mural, a written description of the piece including information on medium, inspiration, and execution methods, a resume, and contact information. Application materials should be submitted by the deadline to City of North Charleston Arts Coordinator, AnneTrabue W. Nelson, via email, post, or hand-delivery to: 

Email:

anelson@northcharleston.org 

Post: 

City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department 

PO Box 190016
North Charleston, SC 29419-9016

Hand-delivery: 

Cultural Arts Dept. Office
North Charleston City Hall, 2nd Floor
2500 City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406 

There is no theme for the mural competition; however, mural concepts must be family-friendly and appropriate for public display. Half-Moon Outfitters will furnish an 8’x8’ wooden panel and a $100 materials stipend for each selected artist. Any additional materials expenses must be covered by the artist. Artists will be notified of selections by Friday, April 26. Murals must be complete and ready for installation by Tuesday, May 7. A free public reception will be held in honor of the mural artists during the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival Art Walk on Wednesday, May 8, from 5:00-8:00pm. During the event, the public will be invited to vote on their favorite mural. Results of the vote will determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, which are Half-Moon Outfitters gift cards in the amounts of $300, $200, and $100, respectively. 

For more information about the Half-Moon Outfitters public mural competition, contact AnneTrabue W. Nelson at 843-740-5852 or anelson@northcharleston.org. For more information about Half-Moon Outfitters, visit www.halfmoonoutfitters.com. To learn more about other programs and artist opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts. 

About Half-Moon Outfitters 

Half-Moon Outfitters, founded in 1993 and based in Charleston, SC, features clothing and gear for adventure and travel. Offering lines that include Patagonia, The North Face, Chaco, Black Diamond and Mountain Hardwear, experienced staff members guide customers through equipment selection with safety, comfort and fun in mind. Half-Moon employees share a love of the outdoors with a commitment to the environment. Half-Moon Outfitters has eight stores in South Carolina and Georgia and also a Web-based store. For more information, visit www.halfmoonoutfitters.com.