Boeing conducts inaugural flight of 1st 787 built in North Charleston

Boeing marked another 787 milestone as the first Dreamliner built in North Charleston completed its first flight. Piloted by Tim Berg and Randy Neville, the airplane successfully conducted a five-hour test flight. More than 5,000 Boeing South Carolina employees watched a live broadcast of the airplane as it took off from Charleston International Airport.

"This is a proud moment for our Boeing South Carolina team and for Boeing," said Jack Jones, vice president/general manager, Boeing South Carolina. "In April, we gathered on the flightline to watch this airplane roll out of final assembly. Today, we watched as this airplane successfully completed its first production flight - one step closer to delivering our first South Carolina-built 787 Dreamliner to our customer."

Today's production flight test profile tested the airplane's controls and systems in a series of scenarios designed to verify the airplane operates as designed. The tests occurred in all stages of flight beginning prior to taxi, through final landing and taxi.


View Flight path of the maiden voyage of the 1st North Charleston-made Boeing 787 in a larger map

During the flight, the crew checked the functionality of onboard systems at high and medium altitudes. They also checked backup and critical safety elements including cabin pressurization, avionics, and navigation and communications systems. In addition, they shut down and re-started each engine during flight.

"First flight of this South Carolina-built airplane is a significant achievement and our teammates did a great job working together to make this happen," said Berg. "The airplane performed exactly as we expected."

The airplane will be flown to Ft. Worth, Texas to be painted with Air India's livery before returning to Boeing South Carolina for a mid-2012 delivery.

Watch the May 24, 2012 City Council Meeting

National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition Winners Announced

Transcendence (fabricated & recycled metal) by Corrina Mensoff

Sculpture artists from across the nation applied to the 7th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, a component of the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival. Presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique, eleven month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures, as well as compete for up to $14,750 in honorariums and awards.

Twelve sculptures out of 43 submissions were pre-juried into the exhibition by the juror, Steven Matijcio, curator of Contemporary Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA). Once installed at the exhibition site, the juror then selected pieces to receive awards for Best in Show, Outstanding Merit, and Honorable Mentions.

After making his selections, Mr. Matijcio stated, “My overall notes for the show begin with sincere congratulations to the artists involved. They have managed to animate heavy, monumental materials with an intriguing air of animation, fluidity and the in-between. There are hard-line geometries; anthropomorphic curves; haunting memento mori; and playful industrial follies.” He continued, “I was impressed with the variety, as well as the consistency - public art can so quickly fade into the surroundings if it fails to resonate, and change. The work in this show hums with a sense of life that reveals more, every time the work is re-engaged.”

The twelve sculptures selected for exhibition are by twelve artists from seven states.  Division I includes ten sculptures that are anchored to a concrete pad or in the grass.  Division II includes two sculptures that are secured to a concrete pedestal.



Division I
Spring Azure (stone & steel) by Philip Hathcock – Cary, NC (Best in Show)
Transcendence (fabricated & recycled metal) by Corrina Mensoff – Atlanta, GA (Outstanding Merit)
Flutter Gate II (galvanized steel) by Jim Gallucci – Greensboro, NC (Hon. Mention)
Black & White #5 (steel & enamel) by Matthew Harding – Greenville, NC (Hon. Mention)
Scheme 6 (concrete parking bumpers) by Tom Scicluna – Miami, FL (Hon. Mention)
Pileated Woodpecker Totem (welded steel & natural wood) by Bob Turan – Earlton, NY
Rings (steel) by Adam Walls – Lauvinburg, NC
Mixed Emotions (corten steel) by Davis Whitfield IV – Mountain City, TN
Memento Mori (carved limestone) by Paris Alexander – Raleigh, NC
Dream of Africa (oiled steel) by Carl Billingsley – Ayden, NC

Division II
Coming Home (bronze) by Leo Osborne – Anacortes, WA (Hon. Mention)
Ambit (stone) by Carl Wright – Martinsburg, WV

Sculpture sites are located throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue on the former Charleston Naval Base.  The park is set on the banks of the beautiful Cooper River.  Visitors may enjoy ten acres of walking paths, a performance pavilion, picnic shelter, a fishing pier and boardwalk, an oversized sandbox, and children’s play fountain.  The historic site is centered in the Noisette District, the largest urban redevelopment project ever undertaken in the US.

The 2012/13 National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition will be on display through March, 2013. For more information or to be added to the application mailing list for the 2013/14 Competition, please call 843-740-5854 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org.  Visit the Cultural Arts Department section of the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org to view photographs, artist statements, and directions to North Charleston Riverfront Park.

Building Officials Association Elects 1st Female President, declares Building Safety Month

Michelle Hawkins, 1st female President of the BOASC

After 61 years of incorporation, the Building Officials Association of South Carolina (BOASC) has elected Michelle Hawkins as its 1st female President.  Ms. Hawkins, employed by the City of North Charleston Building Department, was sworn in at the association’s 61st Annual Educational Conference on May 8, 2012.

Governor Nikki Haley proclaimed the month of May as “Building Safety Month,” and the BOASC celebrates the month by recognizing key objectives, including the promotion of maximum safety of life, health, and property at a minimum cost and creates a better public understanding and appreciation of the building regulations and their importance to the safety, health and prosperity of communities.

Also during the annual conference, the BOASC elected a new board of directors: Mike Smith of Richland County as Vice President; Buddy Skinner of Laurens County as Secretary; Chris Lee of Myrtle Beach as Treasurer; John W. Wasson, Jr. of the City of Greenville as Immediate Past President; Chris Stover as Upper State Representative; Rick Hallman Central State Representative; Patrick Brown Coastal Code Representative; Tommy Holcombe Tri-County Representative; Melissa Hopkins At-Large Representative; Charlie Coker Plumbing, Gas & Mechanical Representative; and Tara Stimpson of the Permit Tech Association.

About BOASC
The BOASC is a Chapter of the International Code Council (ICC) and a member of the ICC Region 8 Chapter, consisting of building officials of SC, NC, TN, and GA.  BOASC brings together individuals engaged in the administration and enforcement of building and other related codes, to share information, exchange ideas and discuss mutual problems.  BOASC encourages and assists in efficient administration and enforcement of building and related codes, and to uphold the prestige of Municipal and County Building Officials and the Inspection profession.

Village Street Sale this Saturday on East Montague

The 4th Annual Village Street Sale will take place on Saturday, May 21st from 8:00am to noon on East Montague Avenue in the Olde Village of North Charleston. East Montague Avenue will be closed between Jenkins Avenue and O’hear Avenue for the event.

The Olde North Charleston Village Street Sale will feature families and residents selling furniture, kitchen items, house wares, CDs, books, clothing, baby items, toys and much more. Your favorite East Montague Avenue restaurants will be open and selling an assortment of food and beverages.

Admission and parking are FREE.

Sellers interested in securing space for the event should visit www.VillageStreetSale.com for an online seller registration form or call (843) 270-2075. Spaces are available for only $15. Table rentals (if needed) are only $5. All proceeds from space and table rentals will benefit the North Charleston High School Band Booster Club and Olde North Charleston Neighborhood Council.

The Olde North Charleston Village Street Sale is sponsored by the Olde North Charleston Neighborhood Council.

www.VillageStreetSale.com

FY12-13 Proposed Budget Information & Public Hearing

Pursuant to Section 6-1-80 of the S.C. Code of Laws, public notice is hereby given that the North Charleston City Council will hold a public hearing on the municipal budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year:

Date: Thursday, May 24, 2012

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC

Current Fiscal Year Budget Revenues: $117,158,617 Projected 6/30/2013 Budget Revenues: $126,379,533 Percentage Change in Revenues 7.9%	Current Fiscal Year Budget Expenditures: $117,158,617 Projected 6/30/2013 Budget Expenditures: $126,379,533 Percentage Change in Expenditures 7.9%
Current Fiscal Year Millage: 90.0 mills Projected Millage for 2012-2013: 94.0 mills*
*Estimated millage equals $94 per $1,000 of assessed property value

The above draft proposed budget was presented to the City's Finance Committee on Monday, April 30. The Finance Committee made two amendments, which are not noted in the file. 1. Addition of funding for tablets for City Council. 2. Addition of Community Promotion funding to support ITNCharlestonTrident.

Map of  Proposed Capital Improvement Projects

View Proposed Capital Improvement Projects in a larger map

Firefighter Combat Challenge comes to North Charleston this weekend

The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge will be coming to North Charleston this weekend. The event is being offered to promote the physical fitness of firefighters, and will be part of the 20-plus Challenge tour to be held throughout the United States in 2012.

While you must be a firefighter to take part in the competition, the public is encouraged to come and watch as the participants navigate the Challenge course or “The toughest two minutes in sports,” as it’s frequently known.

The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge will be held at Tanger Outlet, located at 4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418. The individual competition starts at Friday, May 18 at 4:00pm. The tandem and team relays begin on Saturday, May 19 at 11:00 am.

Firefighters competing in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge will be competing in a five-evolution event, which includes a 5-story tower climb with high-rise pack, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance, and victim rescue. Competitions shall include individual, team, tandem, and relay. Firefighters will vie for times, points, and placement qualifying them for the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge World Challenge, to be held in November 2012.

 “The Firefighter Combat Challenge is set to showcase the hard work of our local fire departments that keep us safe during our times of need. The intricacy of their equipment and tasks are most often overlooked by the public, but the complexity of the profession is definitely real. This spectacular event, featuring the firefighter’s brain and brawn, will offer us the rare, yet exciting peak into the actions of the brave men and women that put their lives on the line for us every day,” stated Mayor Keith Summey.


This year’s Combat Challenge is being held in conjunction with the Annual Safe Kids Bike Rodeo and Safety Day at the Fire Museum. The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, May 19, 2012, with a full day of family fun activities to entertain while raising awareness to prevent accidental childhood injury.

The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge was founded 20 years ago, by Dr. Paul Davis, as a physical fitness research project at the University of Maryland. The Challenge is based out of Burtonsville, Maryland, and maintains a goal of promoting fitness within the first responder community.

For more information about the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, please visit http://www.firefighterchallenge.com, or call 301.421.4433.