North Charleston Online

SPRING / SUMMER 2011

Jet Set

The

A FLEET OF C-17S. A GROWING AIRPORT. NEW SERVICE FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. THE GARGANTUAN BOEING FACILITY. NORTH CHARLESTON IS BOOMING AS AN AERONAUTICS HUB.

N O RT H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M

Celebration of the Arts

Animal advocate, Kay Hyman

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The Census numbers are in, and over the last decade, North Charleston has grown, big time.

We could attribute growth to our expanding industries or our bustling retail sector, but we believe it’s the quality of life that has attracted new residents to North Charleston. Our business community helps greatly in attracting residents to our city, but it is essential to couple great work with great living. A decade ago, folks had their work lives in the City of North Charleston, but many traveled home at night to their bedroom communities only to return the next morning. We’ve always known that North Charleston was top notch, but now others have figured it out. North Charleston is the place to be. Today, we remain South Carolina’s economic boomtown, but our traditional neighborhoods are bustling with young families and professionals, our strong retail sector has become more vibrant, our citizen and visitor amenities abound, and crime has drastically declined. New life has swept through our community, and along with it, wonderful new residents to join our seasoned ones.

You bet North Charleston is a great place to work, but our living can’t be beat.

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Living

Working

Playing

TI M E FO R TH E ART S

4 0 B U I LD I N G A B U S I N E S S

Heralded around the region and country, the North Charleston Arts Festival has grown to attract more than 30,000 locals and visitors.

Snyder Event Rentals, now a threearmed monster with separate divisions for lounge and bar, is a name synonymous with party in the Lowcountry. It all began as an annoyed Keith Snyder loaded 3,000 pieces of glassware into a truck and thought, I could do this better.

2 4 A PA S S I O N FO R AN I MAL S One of the Lowcountry's most recognized advocates for animals, Kay Hyman is the award-winning director of marketing and public relations for the Charleston Animal Society on Remount Road.

Grab your goggles and check out the Lowcountry's most popular water park.

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Engineers at Scientific Research Corporation are working on cutting-edge resources for United States intelligence and private corporations, providing “innovative solutions to the U.S. government, private industry, and international markets,” according to its mission statement. The company, a partner with SPAWAR, focuses on such technologybased needs as information technology, communications, intelligence, and electronic warfare.

As a leader in the Southern street-wear movement, North Charleston native K.J. Kearney fills a creative niche in the Lowcountry. Kearney is the stylish author of a blog, and, this year, was the force behind The Big Mix, a Southern street-wear gathering and panel discussion.

Health Guide

Special section by Trident Health System 14

RO B OTI C A S S I STE D S U RG E RY H E LP S S PE E D R ECOVE RY

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BAR IATR I C M E D I C I N E H E LP S WO MAN LO S E 2 0 0 P O U N D S

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HEAL WITH EVERY BREATH: HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

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AT TR AC TI O N S Visitors to North Charleston won’t ever run out of things to see and places to go. The city’s attractions run the gamut from a Civil War submarine to a topnotch golf course and a wildly popular water park.

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R E STAU R ANT PRO FI LE S Hungry? Then belly up to the bar or grab a table. North Charleston’s got everything you need, from fast food to trendy restaurants.

5 9 E VE NT LI STI N G S From concerts and sporting events at the coliseum to major holiday festivals, local theater and independent films, North Charleston has it all.

The cover

Cover design and illustration by Jason Fletcher, based on photograph

by Dan Hale featuring Col. Paul Sykes, one of the Lowcountry's earliest C-17 pilots.

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Park South Recreation Facility

Gethsemani Community Center

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Bill Hawkins Publisher The Post and Courier 843.937.5534 bhawkins@postandcourier.com

Tom Clifford Executive News Director The Post and Courier 843.937.5515 tclifford@postandcourier.com

sTeve wagenlander Director of Audience Development The Post and Courier 843.937.5746 swagenlander@postandcourier.com

maTT winTer Editor, North Charleston Magazine 843.937.5568 editor@northcharlestononline.com mwinter@postandcourier.com

ron Brinson Contributing Editor

Jay fleTCHer Contributing Design Editor jfletcherdesign.com

gayle J. smiTH Director of Advertising The Post and Courier 843.937.5405 gjsmith@postandcourier.com

doug kifer Niche Advertising Sales Manager 843.958.7394 sales@northcharlestononline.com dkifer@postandcourier.com

norTH CHarlesTon magazine

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is a special publication of The Post a n d C o u r i e r n e w s p a p e r, 1 3 4 C o l u m b u s St., Charleston, S.C . 29403. Copyr i g h t 2 0 1 1 b y T h e P o s t a n d C o u r i e r.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission from The P o s t a n d C o u r i e r.

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www.northcharleston.org

SCAN with your PHONE use a QR app to check out some of the goods being sold

Contributors

spring / summer 2011

Allyson Bird

A Park Circle resident, Allyson covers business for The Post and Courier newspaper. When she's not out chasing a story, she's jamming for the Lowcountry Highrollers roller derby team under her skate name, Green-Eyed Sniper. Allyson tackled this edition's cover story (p. 28), peeling back the layers to see how and why North Charleston has gained such national prominence as an aeronautics hub. From its fleet of C-17s to Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner plant, North Charleston is booming as a jet city.

Dan Hale

Dan lives and works in Park Circle. Dan and his wife Amelia have both been recognized for their work as photojournalists. They own Dreamland Images and specialize in wedding and portrait photography. For this edition, Dan tackled a number of portraits and shot scenes on the Charleston Airforce Base.

Jack McCray

Jack is a Lowcountry writer and researcher who has worked in print and broadcast for 30 years. Jack has written numerous features and reviews for The Post and Courier covering books, arts and entertainment, and currently writes a Jazz column for Charleston Scene. He also produces films, concerts and CDs.

Copy editing: Melanie Balog, Angie Blackburn, Laura Bradshaw, Tony Brown, Jennifer Berry Hawes and Sandy Schopfer. Additional images: Grace Beahm, Leroy Burnell, Sebastian Doucet/BRPH, Alan Hawes, Paige Hinson, Brad Nettles, Mic Smith, Wade Spees, Tyrone Walker and Warren Wise.

Elizabeth Bowers

With writing skills shaped at the School of the Arts in North Charleston, Elizabeth is now back in the Lowcountry freelancing.

She likes to write about the arts and good people trying to make a difference. Check out Elizabeth's Q&As in our Living department (p. 24 and p. 26).

Liz Rennie

Liz lives in Park Circle, and her office is located inside 10 Storehouse Row on the Navy Yard. She writes for several online publications and produces Charleston-centric apps.

For this edition, Liz scored a tour of the secretive Scientific Research Corporation (P. 44) and took a look behind the scenes at the Whirlin' Waters attraction (p. 48).

Rob Young

Rob, a Lowcountry freelance writer who works in North Charleston, updated this edition's restaurant listings (p. 55). Rob also writes the weekly Lunch Counter review in Charleston Scene.

C00-497894 8 spring / summer 2011

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SPRING / SUMMER 2011

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First, to all of you who helped us develop and launch this publication last fall: Thank you so very much.

I've been involved in the formation of a number of publications, and I can honestly say that I've rarely seen a project so enthusiastically welcomed by readers, businesses and community leaders.

I especially want to thank the many advertisers who continue to support us. Without you, we could not pursue our editorial mission, which is to find and tell the good stories about North Charleston, to trumpet what's best about the community.

This mission seems to resonate with everyone I meet, from editorial sources, writers and photographers to officials down in city hall and business owners across the city. I've learned that the people of North Charleston are hungry for the chance to tell their story. It continues to be a great privilege to experience such civic pride.

With this edition, we take a closer look at one of the most potent sources of North Charleston's civic pride. Our cover story, The Jet Set (p. 28), examines the city's growing status as a vital aeronautics hub.

North Charleston has long nurtured a close relationship with aeronautics. The Airforce Base, after all, predates the city.

From B-17s in the 1940s to the C-17s of today, world-class planes seem old hat to North Charleston.

These days, of course, the arrival of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner plant remains the talk of the town. One need only drive by the construction site to realize that North Charleston will be a major driver of the region's economy for decades to come.

If that's not enough, consider the recent arrival of Southwest Airlines and plans for major upgrades at the Charleston International Airport.

Indeed, North Charleston continues to boom. Thank goodness for The Jet Set.

MATT WINTER E d i t o r, N o r t h C h a rl e s t o n M a g a z i n e e d ito r @ n o r th c h arle s to n o nline .c o m

Photograph by Wade Spees

LIVING

BY JAC K M C C R AY

Time for the Arts

NORTH CHARLESTON ARTS FESTIVAL

C H I C AG O M I G HT B E TH E C IT Y O F B I G S H O U LD E R S , B UT N O RTH C HAR LE STO N HA S TH O S E W I D E , O PE N AR M S .

Those loving limbs were ready to embrace people from near and far April 29 through May 7 during the North Charleston Arts Festival, an annual panorama of visual and performance art. Heralded around the region and country, the festival has grown to attract more than 30,000 locals and visitors.

The festival was named in 2008 as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events.”

It’s all presented under the auspices of the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, a hard-working, respected city agency led by Marty Besancon.

Besancon, with help from Cultural Affairs Coordinator Ann Simmons and many other staffers and citizens, has guided the festival since it began. By all accounts, it’s been a huge hit.

The main event will be April 30 and May 1 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. It offers free admission and parking, and more than 40 performances on four stages featuring professional acts and ethnic, cultural and community groups.

“Performances include a concert featuring the nationally known Nashville songwriter, Billy Montana, and our (April 21) pre-festival

THE 30TH ANNUAL NORTH CHARLESTON ARTS FESTIVAL RUNS APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 7. THE FESTIVAL FEATURES PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS, INCLUDING AN INSTALLATION FROM TIMOTHY PAKRON, A LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE PAINTING "FROM CHAOS" IS SHOWN ABOVE. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF EVENTS, CALL 843-740-5854, EMAIL CULTURALARTS@NORTHCHARLESTON.ORG OR VISIT NORTHCHARLESTON.ORG.

Gala incorporation of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra performance,” Besancon says.

Other new events include a fashion show by world-renowned African-American designer and quilt artist, Rachel D. K. Clark, along with an antique show and portrait speed-painting demonstrations by artist Tim Decker. Other activities include judged art, photography, youth art, fine craft exhibitions, a gem and mineral show, children’s activities, arts and crafts booths, and an outdoor food court.

The festival also features more than 50 free or moderately priced events throughout the week at various other sites in the city.

The festivities conclude May 7, with a grand finale at North Charleston Riverfront Park featuring a variety of performances and

a fireworks display over the Cooper River.

Does someone as involved as Besancon have a favorite artist or event?

“I love the variety of festival programs," Besancon says, "and if I had to pick one, it would be the main event because it is such a concentration of diverse performances, visual arts, fine crafts and children’s activities — all within a short walking distance — and it is accessible because it is free. These are a few among many wonderful quality arts opportunities.”

Overall festival support comes from the city of North Charleston, with additional funding from corporate support, the accommodations tax, an S.C. Arts Commission Grant and earned income, Besancon says.

Mayor Keith Summey applauds Besancon’s

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office for bringing the arts to residents: “The department provides broad-based programs held in city facilities, parks, schools, libraries, churches, shops, businesses and malls, ensuring accessibility for all of our citizens.”

For Summey, the festival's benefits extend to the city's residents but also to his own family.

“My wife, Debbie, and I are dedicated supporters of the arts. We love it all: music, dance, theater, art, photography and the fine crafts. If I had to pick my personal favorite, it would probably be music. I love to sing!”

Another major festival player is Bob King, who at age 75 has served on City Council since 1998. King lives, works and plays in North Charleston and was raised in Park Circle, one of the city’s treasured neighborhoods. Park Circle, which now hums with new activity, was the site of the original festival, a one-day event in 1982.

For King, the festival is a point of pride.

He credits the city’s evolution from being known, often condescendingly, as the "North Area" to the vibrant, growing place it now is.

"During World War II, we were just a community,” he explains. “Now, we’ve sprung up from there.”

Not only has King supported the festival as a government official, but he’s also personally involved and participates as a consumer.

“I always buy tickets,” he says. “I buy a table for 10 people.”

Passing by King’s table might very well be Julia Brown, a Columbia resident who has attended the past few festivals. Brown's been involved in the arts for several decades in South Carolina and is currently executive director of Very Special Arts South Carolina, the local branch of an international organization focused on arts and disability.

“I’m really impressed with the quality of the festival,” Brown tells North Charleston Magazine. It utilizes local and outside artists, and it’s multidisciplined, including all the arts, visual and performing.”

Brown recalls that during her last visit to the festival, she was surprised how many people turned out from Columbia and beyond.

“It has a good draw from outside the region. I really do look at the festival as being one of the top draws for people to come to the state. It takes place when the weather is changing and people have always liked to come to Charleston. But North Charleston is a big draw.”

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a r t s i n n o r t h c h a r l e s to n Olga Bixby of the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department sets up a display of photographs for last year's Arts Festival.

“I have been considering relocating VSA,” Brown adds, "and I would come to North Charleston.”

If Brown moves down I-26 to North Charleston, arts lover that she is, she’s likely to encounter Ann Caldwell, a former North Charleston resident and one of the state’s most versatile performers who will grace one of the festival’s stages on April 30. The vocalist’s group, the Magnolia Singers, will perform a number of spirituals a capella.

Caldwell, who performs regularly at city venues such as South of Broadway Theatre, describes the upcoming festival performance as three-dimensional. “We like to make our listeners a part of the performance.”

Such rich variety of artwork and the

NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

organizers' commitment to creating a fun, unpretentious atmosphere help set apart North Charleston's event from so many other arts festivals.

“I think the arts community in North Charleston has really flourished over the past few years,” says Cultural Affairs Coordinator Simmons. “More and more artists and arts organizations are relocating here, and there’s been a noticeable increase in community acceptance and involvement."

Simmons adds that both support and venues are expanding, too.

“The festival’s future looks bigger and brighter. I think it has great potential for growth as a tourism draw and will begin to receive more regional and national recognition.” N

Photograph by Brad Nettles

Bigger, Better

upscale upgrades at colIseum

BY JAC K M C C R AY I n th e h e art o f th e faI r c It y o f n o rth c har le sto n r I s e s a d I stI n c tIve g ro u p o f stru c tu r e s that co m pr I s e an art s , e nte rtaI n m e nt an d co n fe r e n c e vI ll ag e q u Ite u n lI ke an y oth e r I n th e state o f s o uth c aro lI na .

This vibrant hub serves the Lowcountry and the entire Southeast in its own way, one that shows off the vision, grandeur and pride of a diverse, growing city bustling with activity and promise.

The heart and soul of the complex is the 12,500-seat North Charleston Coliseum, a unique facility that opened Jan. 29, 1993, and launched the city’s evolution as a regional entertainment destination. Its earth-toned, seemingly woven exterior hints at one of the most famous Lowcountry symbols, the sweetgrass basket.

This “basket” has held a wide range of events including concerts, sports, circuses, exhibitions, rodeos, graduations, monster truck competitions, religious events and rallies. The venerable venue has even held an American Idol audition and a huge memorial service for the firefighters lost in the Sofa Superstore fire in 2007.

Now, at 18 years old, the coliseum is about to complete the first phase of an $18 million, 15,000-square-foot expansion called Montague Terrace (on the south side of 5001 Coliseum Dr., just off Montague Avenue and

Photograph by Leroy Burnell

I-526). Work on Montague Terrace should be finished in June. Another addition, yet to be named, to the north side should be done about a year later.

Montague Terrace will extend from the existing concourse to the curb. Like its twin, it will include a 10,000-square-foot open space that can be closed off from the coliseum’s concourse to accommodate wedding receptions, fundraisers and performances too small for the adjacent North Charleston Performing Arts Center or the coliseum itself. A balcony will protrude from the additions as well.

All of this is being overseen by General Manager Dave Holscher, who runs the coliseum for SMG, a private company that manages public facilities.

The coliseum is trying to create upscale space that can be used for several activities, Holscher says. The expansion should triple the amount of food service, and concession stands on each side of the concourse will be dismantled and moved to each side of the new wings. A larger variety of menu items will be offered in expanded kitchens. Con-

cession booths at the coliseum’s east end will remain in place.

In the second phase, box suites on either side of the coliseum’s arena will overtake the former concession booths. A small kitchen, serving area and a private bathroom will be added to each suite.

Holscher happily rattles off the benefits: “Catering capability with beautiful new space, a remodeled kitchen and a new chef and additional concerts, theater and comedy shows.”

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey says the expansion will make it easier for residents to attend events and for artists and entertainers to perform there.

“In order to continue to attract worldrenowned artists and entertainers to the coliseum, the rigging and sound systems will be updated. Streamlined set up and better quality audio are much desired features of any host venue,” Summey says.

And what's good for the coliseum is good for North Charleston and its residents.

“The importance of the coliseum to our local economy and tourist draw cannot be understated, and it is essential that we keep the facility modern,” Summey says. “The coliseum not only offers great entertainment to residents and visitors, it is also an economic engine for North Charleston.”

Last year, he says, the coliseum and Convention Center Complex had a $51.2 million impact to the Charleston area, of which $17.1 million was in locally earned wages. The coliseum and Convention Center also are driving forces in attracting the hotels, retail stores and restaurants around it. n

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Dr. Ward Katsanis Robotic Surgeon

Operating Above the Standards

“ROBOTICALLY ASSISTED SURGERY IS A TRUE STRENGTH FOR TRIDENT HEALTH SYSTEM,” SAYS THS PRESIDENT AND CEO TODD GALLATI. “UROLOGISTS, GYNECOLOGISTS AND OUR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS USE THIS TECHNOLOGY TO PERFORM PROCEDURES EVEN MORE PRECISELY THAN BEFORE.” Whether it’s a life-saving neurosurgery, a promising approach to a hysterectomy or one of the many other surgeries offered by Trident Health System, residents of North Charleston and neighboring communities know they can stay close to home for the best medical care. Trident Health System is serving a growing number of patients as it continues to expand services and take the lead in advanced technologies and techniques.

Consider the story of Kelly Hodges, a Goose Creek mother of two who loves her work as a

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manager at a Hanahan supermarket. Hodges was one of the first cervical cancer patients in the Lowcountry to have a radical hysterectomy done with the da Vinci Surgical System when Dr. Ward Katsanis operated on her at Trident Medical Center last year.

At the controls of the system’s robotic platform, a da Vinci-trained surgeon such as Dr. Katsanis can perform procedures through small incisions, yet still maintain a high degree of precision. Patients typically have less blood loss, significantly less pain and

Special Section by Trident Health System

James Vansant Moncks Corner, SC Neurosurgery Patient

less scarring than when traditional surgery is done, not to mention a shorter recovery time. In Hodges’ case, she spent one night at the hospital after her surgery and returned to her job within three weeks.

“I was worried about how long I was going to be out of work,” says Hodges. “If I had it done the other way, I was going to be out six to eight weeks.”

Dr. Katsanis credits Trident Health System for rapidly distinguishing its robotics program through its commitment to training, education and equipment. “All of that has allowed us to do the latest in procedures,” says Katsanis, who specializes in gynecologic oncology and has become a leader in performing robotic procedures.

Trident Medical Center added a second da Vinci system last year and was able to do more than 500 procedures in 2010, the most of any hospital system in the Lowcountry.

Moreover, Trident is the only local hospital to use the new da Vinci Si system, which offers advanced 3D, high-definition visualization.

“Robotically assisted surgery is a true strength for Trident Health System,” says THS President and CEO Todd Gallati. “Urologists, gynecologists and our cardiovascular surgeons use this technology to perform procedures even more precisely than before.”

Yet, robotics is just one part of the larger story. In 2010, THS performed more than 14,400 surgeries at four different facilities: Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center, Trident Eye Center and the freestanding Trident Surgery Center, which provides

Special Section by Trident Health System

short-stay and outpatient procedures.

“We have more than 100 surgeons and anesthesiologists we work with in addition to our experienced nurses and OR technicians who ensure our patients have the best and safest surgical experience,” Gallati says. “As you would expect, we have surgeons who received their training at MUSC. Others were trained at other medical schools across the country such as Emory, Medical College of Virginia, Duke, Yale and Johns Hopkins.”

“I was supposed to be dead or paralyzed...but I came out OK.” -JAMES VANSANT Summerville Medical Center has the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval in hip and knee total joint replacement surgery. They recently teamed up with Coastal Carolina Bariatric Center to offer weight-loss surgeries such as gastric bypass to help obese patients lose hundreds of pounds.

Meanwhile, Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, performs many criticalcare procedures such as open-heart, neurological and spinal surgery.

The hospital has 12 surgical suites plus a room for cystoscopy procedures. And, as a result of a unique partnership with the

Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., specialists travel to Trident each Wednesday for a daylong clinic in which they see burn patients from throughout the area. The team typically performs 5-15 surgeries a visit, saving patients a trip to the Augusta center, which serves burn survivors from throughout the Southeast.

Last year, Trident Medical Center invested more than $2 million in updating equipment for its OR suites. That not only included the addition of the second da Vinci system but also a high-def upgrade for laparoscopy, which continues to be a popular tool in a wider array of minimally-invasive surgeries.

At the same time, Trident’s surgical nurses and support staff focus intensely on patients from their arrival to the time they receive crucial instructions for home care. “We do great work here,” says Trident Surgical Services Director Donna Daws, “and the patients attest to that.”

That’s especially comforting to know when a neighbor needs complex emergency brain surgery, as happened with James Vansant.

Vansant was rushed to Trident with a cerebral hemmorrhage that developed after a tree limb hit his head in his Goose Creek backyard.

Dr. Jason Highsmith, a neurosurgeon on staff at Trident, performed the challenging operation, which was further complicated by the fact that Vansant had lymphoma and was at high risk for bleeding. Trident’s OR team worked fast, getting James quickly into surgery and ultimately saving his life.

“I was supposed to be dead or paralyzed,” says Vansant, “but I came out OK.” Dr. Highsmith also is a member of Trident’s spinal team, and it’s not unusual for him to perform as many as 10 brain and spine surgeries a week at the hospital. Last year, he was the first surgeon in the Charleston area to perform a new procedure called annular disc repair, which promises to cut down on recurrence after herniated disc surgery.

“We’ve got a lot of technology the hospital has invested in,” says Highsmith. “A lot of it is doctor-driven.”

If you talk with the president and CEO of Trident Health System, you’ll find there’s a reason for that. “The operating room environment is a complex and sophisticated area,” Gallati says, “and it’s one where experience matters.”

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Bariatric Support Group Kayak Trip Dr. Neil McDevitt, Bariatric Surgeon (below left)

200 Pounds Lighter DOLORES SURPRENANT’S WAKE-UP CALL CAME IN 2008 WHEN SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE. SHE WAS 425 POUNDS, AND WHILE THE EXCESS WEIGHT WAS CLEARLY AFFECTING HER HEALTH, SHE FOUND SHE COULDN’T LOSE IT ON HER OWN. THROUGH RESEARCH, SHE FOUND DR. NEIL MCDEVITT, MD, A BOARD CERTIFIED GENERAL SURGEON WHO SPECIALIZES IN BARIATRIC MEDICINE, OR WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENTS, AND WHO RECENTLY JOINED TRIDENT HEALTH SYSTEM. Dr. McDevitt’s program was a good fit, says Surprenant, and her weight dropped to 300 pounds, but she wanted “to do better.” After further consultation with Dr. McDevitt, she decided to have LAP-BAND surgery as an increasing number of obese individuals have done in recent years, not merely for aesthetic reasons but often to resolve cardiovascular issues or target other health problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea.

After the surgery, she eventually reached 220 pounds – nearly half the weight she once was – and she is quick to credit Dr. McDevitt for his role in the transformation.

“I have never met a doctor who puts so much of himself into what he does,” she says, adding that her doctor even answers questions via Facebook. “He has given me so much confidence.” Known for the supportive nature of his weight-loss program, Dr.

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NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

McDevitt has teamed up with Trident Health System in establishing Coastal Carolina Bariatric Center in Summerville.

Dr. McDevitt adds that the community is a main reason he chose to open his practice with Trident Health System. “Summerville Medical Center has an intimate atmosphere, a history of quality care, and a personal feel that personifies our program.” What sets this program apart is that it is rooted in the community it serves. He recalls how he and his staff once celebrated a patient’s loss of 200 pounds by going kayaking with the program’s bariatric support group. “We took a bunch of people who would have never dreamed of getting in a kayak and spent a day on the water,” he recalls. “Making sure patients realize they are not alone is a key part of our success.”

When patients are referred to the Cen-

Special Section by Trident Health System

ter they must first attend an information seminar before undergoing a comprehensive educational program utilizing a dietician, exercise physiologist, and an independent psychologist before obtaining their procedure. As far as surgery, the center currently focuses on two options.

The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which Dr. McDevitt performs laparoscopically, reduces the stomach’s size and also prevents the absorption of calories in the small intestine. It is the most common weight loss surgery in the U.S. LAP-BAND surgery also is a laparoscopic procedure, but in this case, the surgeon places a band around the upper part of the stomach, causing an hourglass effect that makes the patient feel full more quickly, while also affecting hormone levels.

Xyla Rose McBride Summerville, SC Life Saved at Summerville ER

“I have never met a doctor who puts so much of himself into what he does...

[Dr. McDevitt] has given me so much confidence.”

-DOLORES SURPRENANT

Bariatric surgery gained greater recognition on South Carolina’s health stage last year when lawmakers approved a pilot program that would cover the surgery’s costs for 100 state employees. Moreover, new research from the Medical College of Georgia suggests that severely obese patients who have gastric bypass surgery can expect stabilization or possible reversal of heart abnormalities. The findings, published in the Feb. 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also indicate a potential long-term payoff in cardiovascular health. That should be good news to Surprenant – but not necessarily a surprise after her success with bariatric surgery. “It has changed my life,” she says.

“I live so much better.”

Special Section by Trident Health System

Seconds Saved Her Life Tyrrita McBride went to kiss her daughter one morning and discovered that Xyla Rose had stopped breathing in the midst of a violent seizure.

For two-month old Xyla, whose temperature hit 108 degrees, every second and every step in the emergency response would be critical.

Xyla was rushed to Summerville Medical Center where the medical staff used the Artemis System, which is now available through a web-based application, to instantly calculate the correct dose of medicine to stop the seizure. Her mother credits Artemis for its role in saving her daughter’s life. "They told me, ‘If it would have been a couple of moments later, your story would be completely different.’ ” Summerville and Trident Medical Centers are the only hospitals in the area currently using Artemis, which also offers child-specific guidance on pediatric medical equipment, for example the right-sized tube to use when a child’s airway needs to be opened.

The simple visual system is intended to improve speed and accuracy when time matters most and is just one of many efforts by Trident Health System to elevate its emergency services for its youngest to oldest patients.

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Terrence Mabry Summerville Wound Care Center Program Director Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (below left)

Healing With Every Breath STUDIES ON WOUND CARE HAVE SHOWN THAT ADVANCED WOUND TREATMENTS HAVE REDUCED AMPUTATION RATES SIGNIFICANTLY AND SHORTENED HOSPITAL STAYS. ONE OF THE MAIN REASON IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY, WHICH DELIVERS CONCENTRATIONS OF 100 PERCENT OXYGEN INTO THE BLOODSTREAM, NOT ONLY ASSISTING IN THE HEALING PROCESS BUT ALSO FIGHTING OFF SOME INFECTIONS AND STIMULATING THE GROWTH OF NEW BLOOD VESSELS TO IMPROVE CIRCULATION. Trident Health System has announced the addition of the Advanced Wound Center at Trident and Summerville Medical Centers.

They see patients with varied wounds that may require physician-directed care along with advanced wound healing modalities.

Through advanced treatment options, their team can develop a plan of care specific to a patient’s needs and lifestyle.

They treat wounds that result from a number of conditions including diabetes, pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, vascular ulcers and non-healing surgical wounds. The Center offers state-of-the-art skin substitution, which is artificial skin found in natural human tissue. This practice jump-starts the healing pro-

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NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

cess in patients whose wounds are stalling.

When an individual is referred to the Advanced Wound Center, the first appointment begins with a physical, a medical background check and a physician consultation. The doctor’s assessment, along with input from a certified wound care nurse, will determine the plan of care. They will see the patient weekly, if needed, and re-evaluate the wound every month to ensure the progression of wound healing. “Typically, our patients’ wounds heal 50 percent every four weeks. The reevaluation period gives us the opportunity to reassess treatment for wounds when the healing process stalls,” said Terrence Mabry, Advanced Wound Care Director.

Special Section by Trident Health System

Summerville Medical Center

Trident Health System

COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY

Providing health care to the residents of North Charleston and the surrounding communities is no small task. Comprised of Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center and Moncks Corner Medical Center; Trident Health System has provided quality, patient-centered care with a focus on offering the most advanced services and improved patient outcomes for over 36 years.

BENCHMARKS IN 2010:

• Delivered more babies than any other health system in the Lowcountry • Knee and Hip Total Joint Certification • First health system in Charleston to offer annular disc repair • First in Lowcountry to use a new type of implantable cardioverter defibrillator • Trident Cancer Center offers the Elekta Synergy S linear accelerator • Performed more robotically-assisted surgeries than any other hospital in the Lowcountry

MAKING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY

Each year Trident Health System hosts a multitude of health screenings, lectures and educational opportunities to help create a healthier community. Flu clinics continue to increase in popularity and the monthly Lunch with the Doctor lecture series provides an opportunity at no cost for residents to attend health–related seminars and ask questions to medical professionals.

Partnerships with organizations such as the South Carolina Hospital Association, Well Workplace, local chambers of commerce and area health care providers ensure youth and adults have access to the latest health care information.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Trident Health System is one of the area’s largest employers with over 2,000 employees. Organizations supported

by Trident Health System include county schools, colleges, civic and social organizations, and non-profit groups. As an integral part of the community, Trident has helped shape the Lowcountry’s way of life.

You will see from the 2010 Benefit Data Summary, Trident’s commitment to improving the quality of life for North Charleston and the surrounding areas remains a top priority.

Special Section by Trident Health System

COMMITMENT TO PATIENT SAFETY

As a part of an on-going commitment to patient safety, Trident Health System has placed a high priority on achieving accreditations for disease-specific care. Accreditations are achieved by meeting stringent guidelines for patient care and safety, and require an interdisciplinary approach to improving processes in order to deliver the best outcomes possible.

Specific areas in which Trident Health System has attained accreditation include: Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Accredited Program: ✓ Hospitals Advanced Certification: ✓ Primary Stroke Center Certification: ✓ Joint Replacement – Hip ✓ Joint Replacement – Knee ✓ Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Society of Chest Pain Centers ✓ Accredited Chest Pain Center American College of Surgeons ✓ Accredited Comprehensive Cancer Center

Excellent patient safety does not stop with certifications; it continues with technology advancements that ensures patient safety. An example of this is the Electronic Medication Administration Record (EMAR), which helps prevent medication errors, reduces infection rates, and creates above average response times for cardiac emergency patients; it’s clear the first priority is the well-being of our community.

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City Scenes

people, places and events To SuGGeST AN eveNT or SuBMiT iMAGery, SeND AN eMAil To eDiTor@NorTHCHArleSToNoNliNe.CoM. For oNliNe pHoTo GAllerieS, viSiT northcharlestononline.com

P r ov i d i n g P e P Daycia Green (second from right) and Zack Musallam play with the Morningside Middle School band during a Stingrays game at the North Charleston Coliseum.

By Alan Hawes

the good fight (Below) participants gathered in North Charleston's riverfront park this March for a 3-mile walk to show support and raise funds for the treatment and cure of AlS.

By Grace Beahm

maki n g th e g r a d e Danielle Simmons, 19, (center) talks with a friend in the student center lounge at the Trident Technical College campus in North Charleston. Simmons is working on a nursing degree.

By Grace Beahm

crafty beer About 1,800 craft beer lovers soaked up suds and sun at this year's Charleston Brewvival. Sponsored by Coast Brewing and the Charleston Beer Exchange, the event featured 38 breweries from across the nation.

By Paige Hinson and Warren Wise (bottom right)

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Entire yard is beautifully landscaped with room for play area.

s t. Pa d dy ' s day The folks at Madra Rua Irish Pub and other Old Village restaurants proved once again this year that they know how to do St. Paddy's Day right, throwing a massive Block Party on Montague Avenue.

By Alan Hawes (right) and Paige Hinson

Good Service & Great Selection, We’re Worth the Drive!

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LIVING

Q+A

BY E L I Z A B E T H B OW E R S

Kay Hyman

CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY SEE THAT SMILING LADY BESIDE THE DROOPY-EARED PUPPIES ON TV? YEP, THAT'S KAY HYMAN. AND, YES, THAT'S ALSO HER ON THE EARLY MORNING NEWS WITH HER ADORABLE ANIMALS LOOKING FOR HOMES. OH, AND THAT'S HER IN MOST NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE OVERPOPULATION OF UNWANTED DOGS AND CATS. HYMAN IS THE AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY ON REMOUNT ROAD. NORTH CHARLESTON CAN COUNT HYMAN AS A TRUE HOME-GROWN SUCCESS. SHE'S A LIFELONG RESIDENT, RAISED IN PARK CIRCLE, AND SHE’S MARRIED TO ANOTHER LIFELONG CITY RESIDENT, LOCAL ARTIST PHILIP HYMAN. THEY HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ZOE, WHO THEY BOTH CONSIDER THEIR “BEST WORK.”

Photograph by Dan Hale

All my life. I lived in West Ashley for the first year of marriage, but I moved quickly back a block from where I grew up into my grandmother’s house. I love North Charleston.

What are the biggeSt ChangeS in Park CirCle from then to noW? Well, they are some good ones and some that aren’t so great. The good ones, I think, are that I don’t have to drive downtown to go to a good restaurant. We eat at Sesame a lot. I ate there last night! My husband has his art at EVO. He has his art at The Mill. We have a little art community, and I enjoy that. I enjoy being able to find good food that uses local produce. I like that people know me.

But I’d like to see more of the community come together. I grew up walking to Park Circle to go to classes at the community center. I spent a lot of time there as a child. Walked to the pool. I miss that. It’s not so much that Park Circle has changed, though. It’s, maybe, that as a society we have.

What are the biggeSt ChangeS in north CharleSton aS a Whole, good and bad?

I’m a tree hugger, so I can’t stand to see trees cut down. Development is important for growth, yes, but I would love to see stronger tree ordinances.

Even with the animal shelter when we built it three years ago, I was an advocate to keep this one oak right by the building. But a lot had to be moved. It’s a trade off. It’s a 31,000-square-foot new, great facility — or the trees.

Mayor Summey has been a great friend to the animal shelter. He gave us our land. That was 5 acres of prime real estate. That was not a popular thing for him to do.

So Why do you think he did it?

He loves animals. He really loves animals. He is a true friend to our shelter.

and was the visual merchandiser on the Naval Base. I worked there for 13 years, then the base closure came out. I started thinking, “Oh my gosh! I may have to change my career after 13 years in the same job.”

At the time I was doing some inner child work, where you look at what you wanted to be as a child, what you were dreaming about, and what was important. So, what you do is you get photos of yourself before you stopped dreaming and look at the photos and interview people about yourself, asking them things like “What did you think about me?” And every single person told me stories about how I was constantly bringing stray dogs home and how if there was an injured bird, they brought it to Kay. And in just about every photo I had an animal.

So, I really realized that my passion was for animals. I started volunteering at the shelter, then I made that life-changing decision to go work at a nonprofit. It’s the best decision I ever made. I feel so fulfilled.

In April, I will be celebrating my 20th year with the Charleston Animal Society. I’ve known my whole life that I loved animals. I wanted to be a veterinarian, just couldn’t make the grade and didn’t really like the sight of blood, so I changed my path.

When I graduated, I went into marketing

Well Worth The Trip Downtown

ComPared to other CitieS, Where doeS north CharleSton rate on itS number of StrayS? We’re about average for a large city. We take in 12,000 animals a year, but we are above average when it comes to live release rate.

That’s pretty exciting. That’s because of our relationship with the ASPCA and the Charleston community.

by “live releaSe,” do you mean adoPtion?

Adoption, or transfers to other shelters, or going back home. That’s a big deal. It used to be if you lost your dog, you lost your dog. But now with technology, mainly microchipping, that’s not the case.

Our Animal Control Offices are top notch.

The programs we’re doing in the city of North Charleston are being looked at by cities across the country. We’re doing really innovative things.

like What? hoW did you Start Working for the CharleSton animal SoCiety?

Morris Sokol Furniture

We’re doing TNR, which stands for trapneuter-return. We succeeded in releasing over 1,000 feral or wild cats last year and we hope to help over 2,000 this year. That’s from working with trappers who feed them and bring them into our community.

North Charleston Animal Control does this clean sweep and goes into a certain community to help and empower them to fix it

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So, you’ve been a lifelong reSident of north CharleSton?

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Q+A

up. Animal Control and we, as the Charleston Animal Society, have been going into communities to give dog houses and to take animals to spay and neuter them. Then we even return them home.

Those are innovative programs that we could not do without the city and its officers.

Having an officer there helps to encourage a person that it’s the right thing to do.

what do you do to get the word out about the charleston anImal socIety and the aspca?

Social media is top on my list. My daughter, Zoe, says I’m addicted to Facebook. I also appear weekly on three live television spots and seven live radio spots.

BY E L I Z A B E T H B OW E R S

K.J. Kearney

H1GHER LEARNING SOUTHERN STREET WEAR BLOG

the charleston amerIcan marketIng socIety named you marketer of the year. why do you thInk you won?

I think I won because we have a phenomenal team at the Charleston Animal Society.

That’s what did it. The ASPCA and its support of our programs have helped me to be able to shine. I am so, so grateful for it.

When someone nominated me, I felt like I was in high school running for class president, and I felt funny about it. But my friend said, “Kay, if you can’t market yourself, how can you market the animals?” And then I was all over it. I couldn’t do what I do without the machine behind me that’s constantly helping with everything.

so, you’re marrIed to local artIst phIlIp hyman, whose nIckname Is “the machIne.” why Is that hIs nIckname?

Because he never stops. I don’t think he sleeps. He’s constantly working. He makes giant things, like a 23-foot Tyrannosaurus rex for the IMAX Theatre. He’s built props for the plays at School of the Arts. That’s what the art community calls him. Every breath he takes and every motion he makes is for the bettering of the art community.

he was born and raIsed In north charleston, too. have you ever thought about movIng? You know, we’ve been talking about it, but I’ve made columns of “what’s good about staying” and “what’s good about moving.” The “what’s good about staying” column is always longer. n

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SPRING / SUMMER 2011

In salvaged denIm and a charleston rIverdogs baseball hat, north charleston natIve k.j. kearney fIlls a creatIve nIche In the lowcountry. A leAder in the southern street-WeAr movement, keArney is the stylish Author of A blog, And, this yeAr, WAs the force behind the big miX, A southern street-WeAr gAthering And pAnel discussion At eye level Art thAt brought together designers from All over the southeAst. I lIke your scarf. tell me about It, k.j.

This was a gift, and I cherish it.

My scarf is seersucker. It’s made by a company in New York called Recession Rags.

what do you do to get people’s attentIon so that they want to send you stuff?

these street-wear people just send you stuff?

I have a blog. It’s called H1gher Learning. It’s dedicated to the intelligent documentation of Southern street wear, and sometimes people are

Sometimes. Not as much as I would like.

NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

Photograph by Dan Hale

so moved by my writing that they feel compelled to send me product … which I always appreciate.

So the last thing I got was a big box of t-shirts from a company called The Speakeasy, based in Chattanooga and L.A.

Is your busIness In street wear just the blog rIght now?

Oh, that’s a good question. Well, right now it’s just the writing. … To be specific, I interview other street-wear brands and boutique owners, and give my opinion on street wear, if you will.

what’s your take on street wear?

There’s a lot of work to be done, as far as the South is concerned. It’s established everywhere, just not down here. The infrastructure, in my humble opinion, is not as set up as it is in Europe or New York City.

or japan?

Exactly. They’re monsters in this, dude.

There are maybe 20 stores in the entire South, and there are 20 in New York alone. It’s a lot of people who are toiling in anonymity. They don’t know that an hour away there’s a dude doing what they’re doing, or trying to do what they’re doing. So that’s what my website does.

I’m trying to bring awareness to what everyone’s doing, so they don’t feel like they’re by themselves. Until someone knows there’s someone else doing what they’re doing, then we’re all just spinning our wheels.

you’ve saId street wear Is all about “pomp and cIrcumstance.” do you thInk that keeps people from breakIng Into It? Not at all. Oh, no: I think people get into it for the pomp and circumstance. It looks like a party.

The brands that are successful do a really good job of marketing themselves. The one way they do that is parties. Then Nike sends them stuff, and they get to go to exclusive art shows, and I think that’s what people like. They want to get invited by Nike to the Nike Basketball Summit, but they don’t realize how much work it is. Then things don’t go their way, so they quit.

But to answer your question, I don’t think the pomp and circumstance keeps people from it. I think it draws them to it.

your blog Is h1gher learnIng, 'hIgher' wIth a one. why the one?

I’m a real big fan of package design, and in another life I would be a package designer. I am such a nerd. I subscribe to three or four packag-

ing websites and blogs. I love packaging, so I’m really keen on subtle marketing hints.

I want my website to be the Southern reference for street wear, and since I’m the only person writing about it, I kind of win by default.

I’m No. 1, because no one else is doing it, so the one is just a play on where I would like to be and where I see myself.

what’s your day job?

I am a mild-mannered admissions officer at Strayer University in North Charleston.

where do you shop In north charleston?

To be honest with you, if I’m not shopping at a boutique or something, I’m extra regular. Speaking of design and aesthetic, I love the Gap. And Old Navy. They are as regular as regular comes.

My style is very clean and minimal. I like wearing khakis. I love Target. Factor Five is awesome, on Rivers Avenue. It’s like a fancy Goodwill.

The Army Navy Surplus Store — you cannot go wrong with the Army Navy Surplus Store.

what are your favorIte pIeces of street wear?

Salvaged denim. Fitted hats are my go-to thing. I have a big head, so I can’t really do the snap back. They don’t seem to quite snap in the back. I’m always usually seen in a fitted hat.

Nine times out of 10, it’s a Charleston RiverDogs fitted hat. It is my mission in life to make the Charleston RiverDogs fitted hat cool. People have already told me they bought it because they saw me wearing it so much. Hopefully, this will continue.

so you grew up In north charleston. how was that?

I love it. I don’t like the stigma that people from North Charleston are given. I hate the way people that don’t frequent North Charleston talk about it. I have friends who live Downtown and in Mount Pleasant, and when they find out I live in North Charleston, it’s like I have two heads or something. Like cool people can’t live in North Charleston. People just think it’s the ghetto. It’s so far from that.

I would like to give Mayor (Keith) Summey a handshake, for real, for real, because growing up in North Charleston from when I was the little kid to what it’s like now… Park Circle’s cool now? When did that happen? It’s just happened recently. It wasn’t cool when I was in middle school. Not at all. I wish people would give people North Charleston a chance. n N2-490573 NH O AR R T LHECSHTAORNLOE N S TL O I N ES. C NORTHC I NNEO. CNOL M PO R IMN GS /P RS IUNMGM/E SRU2M0M 1 1E R2 72 0 1 1

27

COVER STORY

A VERY BIG DEAL Boeing will start assembling 787 Dreamliners at this plant near Charleston International Airport. Construction workers gathered inside the plant in March to mark 3 million safe labor hours.

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SPRING / SUMMER 2011

NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

The

Jet Set A FLEET OF C-17S. A GROWING AIRPORT. NEW SERVICE FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. THE GARGANTUAN BOEING PROJECT. NORTH CHARLESTON IS BOOMING AS AN AERONAUTICS HUB. Photograph by Sebastian Doucet/BRPH

oUr fleet The 60 C-17s assigned to the Charleston Air Force Base carry supplies around the world and have become a potent symbol of American might.

BY A l ly s o n B i r d

c-17 G l o B e m A st e r : t h e e A r ly dAy s i n c h A r l e st o n

N o rT H C H A r L e S T o N B oA S T S A L o N g H i S T o ry A S T H e L oWC oU N T ry ’ S Av i AT io N C A p i TA L .

BU T T H e S e dAy S , T H e C i T y i S S oA r i N g T o NAT io NA L — e v e N g L oB A L — p ro m i N e NC e T H A N k S T o N e W i N dU S T r i e S A N d i d e A S TA k i N g F L ig H T.

Here, the Air Force’s first squadron of C-17s roared overhead nearly 20 years ago. The hulking gray cargo planes proved so successful to the U.S. military that 60 of them, the largest collection in the nation, now roost in North Charleston ready to fly global humanitarian and military missions.

Here, the country’s most profitable airline decided to launch nonstop direct flights to four destinations last month. Southwest Airlines is promising to drop local ticket prices and to attract as many as 200,000 more visitors every year.

And here, an aerospace giant with a rich

For a fleeting time in 1993, when Col. Paul Sykes’ family looked up to the sky and saw a C-17 flying overhead, they knew he was up there working. Back then, there simply weren't other people who might be up in one of the massive cargo planes.

“For a very short period of time, we were the only C-17 air crew in the world,” Sykes remembers.

He and two other pilots flew the first cargo plane home to Charleston Air Force Base from the Long Beach, Calif., factory where it was made and then used it to train its future crews. For a while, the now-retired reservist could only fly the C-17 within 25 miles of the base — and then, only in ideal conditions — before gradually moving to cloud flights, night missions and, finally, long-distance flights.

Both Sykes and his wife grew up in West Ashley and kept a home there while his career unfolded. He began flying C-141 cargo planes and volunteered for the first class of C-17 pilots, earning a spot among a group consisting of just three active-duty pilots and him.

From there, he traveled to Norman, Okla., for training, then back to North Charleston for computer classes. He and an active reservist learned how to fly this new machine for five months on a simulator in Tulsa, Okla., before traveling on to Long Beach to see the manufacturing process.

“At the end of training, we were pretty well prepared to fly this airplane that we’d never seen before,” Sykes recalls.

Finally, in April 1993, they traveled to Edwards Air Force Base in California to fly the thing. For Sykes, it all fell into place: “It was exactly everything that we’d been trained to do.”

A third pilot joined them for the delivery mission to North Charleston in June, which included two stopovers with ceremonies at other Air Force bases along the way.

“All the generals were speaking,” Sykes remembers. “We were just the guys that stood off to the side and took pictures.”

The 59-year-old West Ashley resident closed his career three years ago as wing commander at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in New Hope, N.C. However, he remains prominent in the history of the C-17 fleet that has made North Charleston aviation unique.

history on the West Coast chose to build its second commercial jet assembly line. Boeing plans to open its factory in July and to make deliveries next year.

North Charleston's more recent string of aviation achievements harks back to that first victory, becoming home to a fleet of massive, steel-colored warplanes.

G r ay G iant s o f th e s ki e s Ask anyone about aviation in the Lowcountry, and expect a story about the hulking, gray workhorses that train and fly from here, their gigantic size and lumbering style

Photographs by Mic Smith (left) and Dan Hale

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K e e p i n g t h e m f ly i n g Maj. Michael deSantis began adulthood studying architecture in college. But it took a sortie with his Navy pilot father to figure out he'd never be a desk-job kind of man.

Technically, the 43-year-old, full-time Air Force reservist does work a desk job, as a pilot scheduler. But his career also takes him to Middle East war zones and on humanitarian missions to some of the poorest places in the world. Now, deSantis likes to joke about his pedigree: “I went to an expensive private school and went into the military.”

As a pilot scheduler, he works with 75 pilots who make up the 317th Squadron of the 315th Airlift Wing. “My mother still doesn’t understand it,” he says of his title. But it means, in short, that in addition to scheduling, he flies C-17s into the wake of natural disasters to deliver water and medical supplies and into desert terrain to drop off cargo for soldiers.

“We put on the flight suits, just like active duty, and risk our lives,” deSantis says. “But we have a jet that really mitigates the risks.”

He flew one of the first missions into Haiti following last year’s devastating earthquake and has delivered cargo to Iraq and Afghanistan. Those war flights include a stopover, usually in Germany, then on to deliver cargo the next day. Sometimes, deSantis says, the C-17 becomes a flying hospital to bring home a wounded soldier. With a team of two or three pilots, the crew can fly for 24 hours at a time.

so distinct that they've become fodder for tales of the young and old.

C-17 Globemasters are such familiar sights here because North Charleston holds title to

because of infrequent demand: The Air Force base handles upwards of 9,000 arrivals and departures a year, according to Col. Tony Clavenna, commander of the 437th Mainte-

stationed at the Charleston Air Force base today is worth more than $10 billion and prides itself on a 95 percent reliability rate for on-time departures.

the nation’s oldest and largest fleet of these thunderous gray giants of the skies.

The 60 C-17s assigned to the Charleston Air Force Base carry supplies around the world, from Middle East war zones to humanitarian missions. For instance, the North Charleston-based C-17s delivered some of the first relief missions after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti and then flew hundreds of missions to the Caribbean nation, often bringing desperately needed pallets of water.

Nearly each of the enormous cargo planes takes off and arrives on time — and not

nance Group.

Clavenna is sitting in his office one afternoon when he points outside. “Up and down the flight line, in the rain right now as we speak, we have a team of about 400 who load and unload planes with food and cargo.”

The workers include everyone from munitions experts to planners and analysts, all with specific expertise to keep the C-17s flying again and again because, as Clavenna points out, “I can’t go downtown and hire a C-17 mechanic.”

Some of these specialists arrived with North Charleston’s first C-17 in 1993. The fleet

“We’ve had airplanes so well-maintained, we had one that was gone for 105 days,” Clavenna says.

Measuring 174 feet long with a wingspan of 169 feet, a C-17 can carry 102 troops or nearly 171,000 pounds of supplies. In 2010, the North Charleston-based fleet delivered more than 3,500 mine-resistant vehicles to global battlefields.

As Clavenna explains it, the crew working under his leadership “helps keep the fleet of 60 C-17s doing the nation’s business — wherever that is.”

And since this nation's business stretches

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Photograph by Dan Hale

the dream maker Boeing is poised to open its new 787 Dreamliner factory in North Charleston. The company should begin building planes this year and make its first deliveries in 2012.

around the world, the work of each C-17 and its crew begins and ends at their home in North Charleston.

ring to its existing businesses as “Buck’s Farm Supply and Propane, Tony’s Truck Toys and the Hooters in North Charleston.” Just as discussions reached their peak, then-Gov. Mark

PROJ EC T O LY M P U S

Sanford’s bizarre affair with an Argentinean woman came to light and shook Boeing officials’ confidence.

None of which helped those trying to strike a massive coup for North Charleston.

Local business and political leaders upped their game. And something else fell into place: Machinists at an existing Boeing supplier in North Charleston voted to sever ties with the union that had held up Boeing’s production in Washington for eight weeks the year before.

A deal was struck. Now, after swift construction on the huge site, Boeing is poised

The economic development experts who massaged the deal that brought Boeing Co.’s second 787 Dreamliner factory to North Charleston called their work “Project Olympus.”

It was a code name fitting for a covert business operation that seemed far-fetched at best.

The aerospace giant already had developed a highly skilled workforce in Everett, Wash. And when word got out that Boeing was looking at the Lowcountry, Seattle newspapers openly bashed the area, refer-

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Photograph by Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

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Photograph by Leroy Burnell

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A E R O N AU T I C S H U B This aerial image, taken in October 2010, shows the Boeing plant (upper left) being built next to the Charleston International Airport. A major overhaul of the 25-year-old terminal is in the works.

to open its new $750 million manufacturing plant in North Charleston. The company should begin building planes this year and make its first deliveries in early 2012.

With that, South Carolina joins Washington state and France as the only places in the world where wide-body commercial airliners are assembled.

Boeing's 240-acre campus includes four buildings: aft body, mid-body, final assembly and delivery, plus support buildings and a cafeteria for the thousands of workers. Spokeswoman Candy Eslinger expects the factory to turn out 10 airplanes per month, with seven of those heading to Everett for delivery.

Inside the aft body assembly line, employees cluster around separate work areas that Boeing calls “cells,� and the sweet smell of sealant fills the air. The workers fabricate sections of the planes, building them from composite material, baking them in an autoclave and then assembling them.

Walking the U-shaped assembly line shows how raw materials take shape into a shining eggshell-colored portion of the Dreamliner.

Some 3,500 workers cycle through the Boeing campus in three shifts on a given day.

tHe biG builD Boeing took full ownership of an existing plant in North Charleston where workers build parts of the Dreamliner's fuselage.

Photograph by Brad Nettles

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Set on the banks of the beautiful Cooper River, North Charleston Riverfront Park is adjacent to the historic homes once occupied by the Charleston Naval Base officers, surrounded by graceful grand oak trees and peaceful river vistas. The park is open year-round with free admission and ample parking. It boasts a magnificent contemporary Performance Pavilion, expansive lawn, and a covered picnic shelter that all provide a wonderful outdoor setting for small and large scale events. The park hosts the City of North Charleston’s 4th of July Celebration and the North Charleston Arts Festival Grand Finale.

In addition, the park is home to the Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial, erected in honor of the countless military personnel and civilians that served the United States and the Greater Charleston region while the Charleston Naval Base was operational. The Memorial includes history displays, water features, and is the only location in the United States that displays both the Lone Sailor and the Homecoming statues.

Riverfront Park is also the location of North Charleston’s annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. A component of the North Charleston Arts Festival, the Exhibition features large-scale sculptures on display throughout the year.

Other Park Attractions Include: Ten Acres of Walking Paths Playground Fishing Pier Boardwalk Fenced-In Dog Park Oversized Sandbox Children’s Play Fountain North Charleston Riverfront Park is located on the former Charleston Naval Base, easily accessible from I-526 and I-26.

Enter the former Charleston Naval Base by the McMillan Avenue gate or the Virginia Avenue gate and turn onto Hobson Avenue. Riverfront Park signs are visible for easy to follow directions.

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Photograph by Wade Spees Stepping into the parking lot as one shift ends, Eslinger can't help but note: “The hustle and bustle — it’s always that way.”

tH e s o UtH W e st e FFec t Flashes of purple and red that streaked across the skies around Charleston International Airport last month signaled a new era in local travel.

Before Southwest Airlines touched down March 13, it seemed this community couldn’t keep a discount airline in business. And without those low prices in the market, Charleston International became one of the priciest airports in the country to use.

Flying came cheap on Independence Air until the company financially collapsed in 2006.

AirTran Airways arrived next, once again dropping local airfares. However, it discontinued service in late 2009 because it didn’t capture enough of the business travelers who pay more per ticket to fly at peak times.

As AirTran pulled away, fares surged to some of the highest in the nation. A roundtrip ticket to New York, for example, went from a little more than $200 without a required overnight stay to nearly $800.

Could the third time be the charm? One of

b e t t e r fa r e S ?

Southwest Airlines could help Charleston shed its reputation as one of the most expensive flight destinations.

Dallas-based Southwest’s bragging rights is that it has never left a market where it began service.

Southwest began its slow courtship with the Holy City more than a decade ago. It wasn't until 2010 when Southwest’s planners were convinced the airline could thrive here, says Bob Montgomery, its vice president of properties.

He and his colleagues came to North Charleston in October to announce that Southwest would offer seven direct flights daily to four cities: three to Baltimore/Washington, two to Chicago, one to Nashville and one to Houston. Within minutes, airfares plummeted to $59 each way to those destinations for dates after March 13.

People within the industry call that “the Southwest effect.” Experts predict that the airline could save travelers to and from Charleston $180 million a year, while also bringing an extra 200,000 passengers through the airport annually.

The nation’s most profitable airline, Southwest comes with a personality that can be described as anything but corporate. Not only do “bags fly free,” but Southwest flight attendants also might share special talents with their

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passengers, often singing or rapping their way through the flight safety briefing.

Ai r p o rt B u i ld s o n pl An s

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On the wings of all of this news, Charleston International Airport is getting a makeover that should leave it looking significantly more modern by this time next year.

The two-concourse building went up 25 years ago, long before Boeing or Southwest came to town, even before the Lowcountry earned an international reputation as a chic vacation destination and a culinary capital.

The airport also predates the extensive postSept. 11 security screenings and the extra time travelers spend at airports because of them.

Yet, since that initial design in the mid1980s, little has changed about the layout at Charleston International.

Airport officials announced earlier this year that they intend to expand both concourses and all passenger amenities, from concessions to seating and restrooms. Now, the plan needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration — and the money that comes along with it.

Airports Director Sue Stevens says cost estimates remain in the works, but the rest of the money will come from rent paid by companies that operate at the airport and the passenger facility fee, a $4.50 charge that airlines tack onto their fares and then forward to Charleston International. Stevens expects to move into the design phase of the plan this year, with construction set to begin in 2012.

The project, as proposed, would more than double the size of Concourse A and increase Concourse B by about half of its current space. The plan also would expand the baggage claim area by adding a third carousel.

The expansions would include additional seating, shops, restaurants and rest rooms, plus a parking deck and an expanded rental car lot.

Stevens notes that the redesign simply will add on to the existing building and take into account what planners contemplated 30 years ago as the future of the airport.

“In true Charleston (preservation) fashion, the original building is being used,” Stevens says.

“It’s a true compliment to the designers in the early 1980s. With all the changes in aviation and security, travel habits and patterns, the reality is we’re sticking with the original plan.”

Now, residents here can anticipate just what all of these changes will mean for the community and for their own lives, not to mention the skies over North Charleston. n

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WORKING

BY A L LY S O N B I R D

Keith Snyder SNYDER RENTALS

TH E OVE R S I Z E D G R E E N WALL S CO N C E S AN D DAR K LE ATH E R CO U C H E S I N S I D E S N Y D E R E VE NT R E NTAL S ’ WAR E H O U S E AR E TH E R E TO I M PR E S S B R I D E S -TO - B E .

TH E T WO G AM E S O F CO R N H O LE S E T U P I N TH E SAM E LO B BY AR E TH E R E TO H E LP E M PLOY E E S D E- STR E S S AF TE R TH O S E B R I D E S TO - B E LE AVE .

From customers to employees, Keith Snyder knows his industry.

That’s why he keeps a discrete mini-bar stocked with beer and wine for the prospective grooms who don’t want to be there. And why his 53,000-square-foot warehouse on Meeting Street road runs 24 hours a day, every day.

It’s also why his company, Snyder Event Rentals, pulled in nearly $7 million in revenue last year and why he handles as many as 300 events every week.

Snyder Event Rentals, now a three-armed monster with separate divisions for lounge and bar, is a name synonymous with party in the Lowcountry. And it all began as an annoyed Keith Snyder loaded 3,000 pieces of glassware into a truck and thought, I could do this better.

“People think we’re a family business,” Snyder says with a chuckle. In reality, while running a bartending service 15 years ago, he found himself on the other end of an ugly

Photograph by Dan Hale

conversation: Another rental outfit couldn’t deliver what it promised to a wedding at the exclusive South Carolina Society Hall.

“The bride was going to freak,” Snyder remembers.

The person on the phone at the rental company told him the office would close in 15 minutes, and nobody helped him pack up the glassware when he arrived moments later.

He launched Snyder Rental from a 2,000-square-foot warehouse in West Ashley in 1995 and, even with three employees back then, it was never a 9-to-5 operation. The skeleton staff instead came in Friday and caught catnaps on couches without going home until the next week.

They were like the firemen of the special occasion industry, except that for every 24-hour shift, they didn’t get the obligatory two days off.

Back then, Snyder remembers, he’d sometimes want to cry for being so physically exhausted and still financially in the red with tons of inventory to pay off.

“It’s a difficult business,” he says. “You’re dealing with product that does go out and come back, and everyone wants things pristine.”

By 2006, the business had outgrown several locations and expansions, and a real estate agent brought Snyder out to a gutted distribution center near the railroad tracks on Meeting Street Road. The place needed work, and Snyder worried about how his often-affluent clientele would feel about the location.

But given the size of the building and the potential to expand, he realized, “I’m not going to find this anywhere.”

He spent a little over $1 million on the purchase and double that making it sparkle.

Snyder’s warehouse includes a giant machine designed specifically to wash tents and another contraption that feeds in a used folding chair and spits it out sparkling, much like a car wash. A ceiling-high conveyor belt rotates 10,000 different colors of linens, each numbered and carefully packaged in plastic, and a massive press sits waiting to iron out every wrinkle.

With couples hoping to match their ceremony colors perfectly, “a lot of times linens are the most important part,” Snyder explains.

That’s why the linens room looks more like a movie set than a warehouse, with more of that telltale leather furniture and warm lighting where customers can make their selections comfortably.

Snyder’s clients stretch from New York to

N1-494388

Olde Village Barber Shop MONDAY 10-5 TUESDAY 10-5 WEDNESDAY CLOSED THURSDAY 10-5 FRIDAY 10-5 SATURDAY 9-12 SUNDAY CLOSED 1054 E. MONTAGUE AVE. NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29405

843-747-4260

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S N Y D E R ’ S C LI E NT S STR E TC H FRO M N E W YO R K TO FLO R I DA , A G EO G R APH I C AL FE AT AC H I E VE D W ITH A 5 0 -TRU C K FLE E T. TH E CO M PAN Y CO N S I ST S O F AB O UT 6 0 STAFF M E M B E R S B UT I N FL ATE S TO A S MAN Y A S 2 0 0 PEO PLE W ITH TE M P WO R KE R S D U R I N G PARTI CU L AR LY B U SY TI M E S .

Snyder reached its high point in 2008, before the economic recession’s toll, when sales peaked at $7.5 million, according to Jason Robbins, general manager of the rentals and bar divisions and part-owner in the furniture business. He expects a $7 million year in 2011.

The company throws a Grand Ball every New Year’s Eve at the South Carolina Aquarium, attracting a black-tie crowd while supporting local charities. It also provides its employees with health benefits and a 100 percent match on their retirement accounts.

And these days Keith Snyder can sleep at home and leave the glassware loading to someone else. N

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Florida, a geographical feat achieved with a 50-truck fleet. The company consists of about 60 staff members but inflates to as many as 200 people with temp workers during particularly busy times.

Everything in the warehouse runs through a small outpost at the back of the warehouse that Snyder calls the “expediter station,” a phrase ripped from restaurant kitchens, where he spent most of his professional life before this adventure.

While most rental companies speak in logistics lingo, Snyder talks food. He also hires people from the dining industry, the type of worker used to both customer service and a high-pressure environment.

Randi Weinstein, events and logistics manager for the Charleston BB&T Wine + Food Festival, says Snyder’s flexibility makes the company a crucial partner for the annual culinary festival.

Two years ago, Snyder bought some 30,000 square feet of flooring especially for the event, “obviously a huge purchase and not really knowing what the rentability would be,” Weinstein remembered. “They’ve invested in our festival.”

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i n fo r m at i o n a n d Wa r fa r e James Ward, senior vice president of the scientific research corporation, speaks to employees at the north charleston business. src focuses on information technology, communications, intelligence and electronic warfare.

BY L I Z R E N N I E

Top Secret

scIentIFIc ReseaRcH coRpoRatIon

visitors to scientific research corPoration do not droP in UnannoUnced. keeping tAbs on those Who enter And eXit src is criticAl, And the compAny keeps close WAtch. security is importAnt becAuse this north chArleston compAny Works primArily on top-secret proJects.

Engineers here are working on cuttingedge resources for United States intelligence and private corporations, and plenty of competitors would like to learn about SRC's business model and project status.

However, SRC opened its doors to North Charleston Magazine for a glimpse at its world-changing operations. Those who get buzzed in step into a welcoming lobby with lots of natural light, glass walls, a bistro lunch area and a friendly — yet stern — receptionist.

While there were no talking watches, laser

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drones or other nifty spy gear, Senior Vice President James Ward explained SRC’s role on the international stage — and its role as a responsible citizen of North Charleston’s business community.

SRC provides “innovative solutions to the U.S. government, private industry and international markets,” according to its mission statement. The company, a partner with SPAWAR, focuses on such technology-based needs as information technology, communications, intelligence, and electronic warfare.

Photographs by Dan Hale

SCAN with your PHONE use a QR app to view our complete event listing

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A lot of (informAtion technology) solutions hAve A hype curve. they Are hot for the moment, but the technology isn’t mAture enough to perform reliAbly or cost effectively. We’re looking for technologies thAt Are beyond the hype curve And Are reliAble And AffordAble. but most importAntly, they keep the WAr fighters more enAbled And sAfe. James Ward, SRC senior vice president

Employees typically deal with complex electronic systems, and its teams work to analyze and install their solutions. Then, they provide support for that solution for the duration of the project. For instance, SRC's engineers work through a variety of scenarios that might play out on a battlefield or in the new war zone of information control. By thinking several steps ahead of what’s coming, they work to develop software that enhances the computer hardware that they’ve designed for use on the ground in rough terrain.

Ward sums it up this way: “A lot of (information technology) solutions have a hype curve.

They are hot for the moment, but the technology isn’t mature enough to perform reliably or cost effectively. We’re looking for technologies that are beyond the hype curve and are reliable and affordable. But most importantly, they keep the war fighters more enabled and safe.”

To do this, SRC’s North Charleston branch employs more than 1,000 people, including scientists, engineers and support staff. For a booming company that started small in Atlanta (where it remains headquartered), it would be easy for SRC to think of itself as a giant.

Yet, it's hard for giants to remain agile, and agility remains one of SRC's most valuable as-

Stay ahead of local headlines Don’t miss a local breaking story, sports score or weather alert no matter where you are.

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spring / summer 2011

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sets in a world ablaze in asymmetric threats delivered with guerrilla war techniques, Ward says.

The company's ability to connect information-technology solutions at the heart of a problem relies on analyzing problems and solutions within moments. That's why one point of company pride is being able to assemble its top decision-makers in less than two hours to solve pressing problems for clients.

Doing so isn't just for bragging rights. In severe cases, speed can mean the difference between life and death.

While a heavy emphasis rests on problemsolving for the United States military and intelligence sectors, SRC also works to provide solutions for local governments and the private sector.

Cyber-challenges have fueled much of SRC’s recent growth. In fact, a recent installation of information-sharing software throughout Lowcountry law enforcement agencies is yielding results for the men and women fighting crime in the region, Ward says.

SRC choreographed a software upgrade and refit to make it easier for police forces on the street to track potentially violent crimi-

nals in real time. The software also helps to identify suspect vehicles in Amber Alerts, which are issued in possible child-abduction cases.

All of this is all happening in North Charleston at a company that's grown from humble beginnings. SRC began in Atlanta more than two decades ago. It was founded in 1988 by Dr. Charles Watt and has since spread to 17 locations throughout the United States. Watt’s sons, Michael and Steven, now oversee SRC operations from San Diego to Tampa and locations in between.

The North Charleston branch spans 120,000 square feet of industrial office space on Remount Road across the street from SPAWAR. Just imagine: The ideas generated inside this building impact the lives of countless world citizens.

“It’s amazing when you sit down and think about it,” Ward says. “There are all of these brilliant folks rubbing shoulders and sharing ideas right here. I hesitate to use the term Silicon Valley. But if you look at the talent that convenes here, a comparison can certainly be drawn.”

In fact, so many start-up companies are migrating toward North Charleston that SRC finds itself in a position to mentor and help these

potential partners grow. With a second-tier designation, SRC is large enough to offer advice to newer companies. Yet, it's not as large as many first-tier corporations, from whom they learn but with whom they also compete.

Even when SRC’s employees aren’t busy coming up with terror-fighting solutions, they remain part of the North Charleston fabric. Employees make regular stops at Sesame and Madra Rua for lunch. (Regulars might notice the identification badges while dining on South Carolina burgers and Irish stew.)

They also work to support the community.

Many are involved with American Red Cross blood drives, the Lowcountry Orphan Relief and the Charleston Animal Society. They even maintain the roadways and shoulders near their offices by picking up trash once a month.

Several employees also donate time to local schools to help students apply science knowledge to hands-on applications such as robot building. For tomorrow's potential employees, it's a way to demonstrate the importance of science education. Of SRC's workforce, 74 percent hold degrees, including 25 percent of those with advanced degrees.

“Everything we do translates into being able to give back more here at home,” Ward says. n

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PL AYING

Whirlin' Waters

AT WANNAMAKER COUNTY PARK

BY L I Z R E N N I E it's WArming up And heAding Quickly toWArd hot. soon, the kids Will be out of school for the summer, And the smell of sunscreen And chlorine Will fill the Air. if you hAve children, or if you're Just A big kid At heArt, We'll knoW Where to find you. it's off to Whirlin' WAters, north chArleston’s renoWned WAter pArk. Of Charleston County's three water parks, Whirlin' Waters is the largest and, since its opening in 2001, the newest. Tucked inside Wannamaker County Park’s expansive property, this adventure-themed wonderland of wet is a sure bet every summer for several reasons, all of which involve monstrous amounts of cool water on hot days.

The names you'll find inside sum up the story: Tubular Twister: This is a multislide com-

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plex with three different sections of spills and thrills, each about 300 feet long. Just follow the screaming.

Riptide Run: Grab a slick blue mat and race your friends at astonishing speeds down 347 feet over six lanes of slides.

Big Kahuna: This 27,000-square-foot pool is always jammed with people eager to ride some waves (minus all that beach sand).

Big Splash Tree House: This watery house of fun offers 66 interactive play elements

Photographs by Alan Hawes (top) and Tyrone Walker

Photograph by Tyrone Walker --gadgets like pinwheels, troughs, body slides, jets and waterwheels. However, most people know it as the huge play land where, if you time it just right, a giant bucket will dump 1,000 gallons of water onto your head.

If that doesn't cool you off, what will?

Once you're all worn out, head for the Rollin' Lazy River and hop onto a giant tube.

It's time to savor a meandering 870 feet of relaxation. Then, if you have younger kids, hit Otter Bay, a kiddie pool area with six-lane slides and various interactive water features.

Or, stop by the Lily Pad Lagoon, a toddler area with a shallow pool and smaller spray geysers.

TH E 'AW E S O M E ST ' There are three water parks under the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission umbrella. The other two are Splash Island in Mount Pleasant and Splash Zone on James Island.

While they're all great for the entire family, Whirlin’ Waters is the largest and is consistently listed as the fastest, the tallest and, in the words of kids who gather there every May through September, “the awesomest.” In fact, Whirlin’ Waters was named one of the

top five publicly managed parks in the United States by "Waterparks + Resorts Today."

It costs $1 per person to get inside Wannamaker itself. General admission for adults to play at Whirlin’ Waters is just under $20 for the whole day (it's $13.99 for children under 48 inches tall). Visitors can take advantage of Whirlin’ Waters’ weekly specials, which vary from buy-one-get-one-free Tuesdays and double Greenbax deals to special prices for seniors and for military personnel.

Foul-weather policies guarantee that visitors will get their money’s worth — so unless there's lightning or thunder, don't sweat the inevitable storm clouds that bubble up in the horizon as the summer heats up. The fun is still on.

The water park follows the school calendar and opens for weekends beginning May 7. Weekday admission starts May 30 and goes through mid-August. Once Charleston County schools are back in session, the fountains flow only on weekends until Labor Day, when the water is drained for the winter.

That means the time is coming to recruit lots of friends and pile in. During peak hours and days, the water park can hold 4,000

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guests. Certified lifeguards are always on duty, and lounge chairs, locker rentals, changing areas and showers are available.

Get hungry? You can't bring your own food inside Whirlin' Waters, so check out the food court. Forget your towel? Last year's swimsuit too tight? All out of sunscreen? Check out the gift shop.

“People are surprised by how competitive our gift shop prices are. We’re here to make sure they have a good time and have everything they need for a great day at the park,” Park Manager Edmonds Brown says.

B E YO N D TH E WATE R Whirlin' Waters is a huge draw, no doubt.

Yet, those who run Wannamaker County Park must balance the excitement of one of largest waterslides in the state with the quiet sanctum of its naturalized setting.

This balance is fundamental to Whirlin’ Waters’ success, and it’s why Wannamaker County Park is one of North Charleston’s most beloved attractions. To understand how this popular park has grown into a regional favorite, here’s a little context: The land was once part of the historic Elms Plantation, owned by the Izard family since

1690. Izard family members maintained possession until 1994, when the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission purchased a broad swath of land.

Four years later, Wannamaker County Park opened to the public. The moniker was chosen to honor the devotion to the state’s park system shown by late Dr. Charles Wannamaker and the late Betty Wannamaker.

Both North Charleston residents, she served on the state park commission in the late 1960s, and he was a longtime supporter of conservation efforts across the region.

Today, Wannamaker spans 1,015 acres. The land is remarkable for its variety of hardwoods, cypress trees and pines, which cover acreage that backs up to the Goose Creek Reservoir. Few areas exude the essence of the Lowcountry like the enchanting swamps and bogs smattered with bald cypress knobs under canopies of leaves and moss. Of this, 350 acres are for public use, including 15 acres for Whirlin' Waters. Secluded picnic sites and public grills dot the forest and meadows beyond the water park.

An operation as large as this one employs dozens of full-time and seasonal workers.

The park also relies heavily on its volunteers.

Positioned as a refuge for native wildlife in the midst of one of the fastest-growing regions in the Southeast, the park also serves as a calm, quiet escape for visitors. Visitors can rent kayaks, paddleboats and bikes. But all you really need to explore the miles of cypress swamp, pine forests and open meadow is a comfortable pair of shoes.

Finding the delicate balance between nature and culture, Wannamaker County Park hosts special events throughout the year. For instance, Wannamaker has become synonymous with late summer reggae thanks to the popular concerts in July and August. In the heat of summer, perhaps after a day at Whirlin' Waters, visitors can spend evenings enjoying the cool rhythms of Caribbean soul.

However, the largest annual event held here is in October when Lowcountry residents gather to celebrate Latin America by eating, dancing and immersing themselves in the region’s culture. The Latin American Festival is home to one of the larger salsa dance competitions in the South.

Wannamaker is projected to serve 270,000 visitors this year, a 20,000-person increase over last year. n

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Attractions IN NORTH CHARLESTON

VISITORS TO NORTH CHARLESTON WON’T EVER RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SEE AND PLACES TO GO. THE CITY’S ATTRACTIONS RUN THE GAMUT FROM A CIVIL WAR SUBMARINE TO A TOP-NOTCH GOLF COURSE AND A WILDLY POPULAR WATER PARK. NOT ENOUGH? HEAD OVER TO THE COLISEUM FOR WORLD-CLASS CONCERTS — NORTH CHARLESTON IS WHERE THE BIG NAMES COME TO PLAY. NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

FIRE ENGINE RED Check out the life-saving collection at the American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center in North Charleston.

North Charleston’s premier event destination opened more than 18 years ago. This state-of-the art facility attracts top-name concerts, sporting extravaganzas, skating events and hockey games.

The coliseum is home to the South Carolina Stingrays, three-time defending Kelly Cup Champions. As part of the ECHL, the Stingrays were founded in 1994 and have dazzled crowds with awesome displays of skating and stick-handling prowess ever since.

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and hours, which vary by season, visit ccprc. com. Admission to Whirlin’ Waters runs from $10.99 to $19.99, depending on visitors' ages and time of day. For details on admission and park hours, visit ccprc.com.

The 3,000-seat North Charleston Performing Arts Center was added to the coliseumconvention center complex in 1999, and a new expansion project is ongoing (see story, Page 13). These additions promise to cement the coliseum’s role as the region’s premier venue for arts and entertainment.

For show times and more information, visit coliseumpac.com.

8888 university BlvD. north Charleston, s.C. 29406 Civil War Submarine Hunley

5001 Coliseum Drive north Charleston, s.C. 29418 Wannamaker County Park Wannamaker Park offers visitors the chance to explore more than 1,000 acres of beautiful woodlands and wetlands and, in the summer months, enjoy a wildly popular water park.

Amenities include miles of paved trails, picnic sites with grills, two playgrounds, an offleash dog park, a park center with snack bar and rest rooms, a sand volleyball court, and horseshoe pits. Wannamaker also is home to Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark (see story, Page 48), a seasonal attraction that features slides, kiddie pools and wave pools.

Gate fees are $1 per person, free for children 2 years old and younger. For park fees

The wreck of the Civil War submarine Hunley was lifted from the Atlantic Ocean floor in 2000. The storied vessel had rested there since 1863, when it sank with its crew of eight men soon after participating in what is widely referred to as the first sinking of a naval vessel by a submarine. Now, this unique piece of history is preserved in North Charleston at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

Hunley tours are available every Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The last tour begins at 4:40 p.m.

Tours are not available on weekdays — that’s when scientists continue their preservation work on the Hunley.

Tickets are $12 and can be bought on site or by calling 877-448-6539 or at etix.com.

Children under 5 are admitted free. For more information, visit hunley.org.

Specializing in Pediatric Dentistry

Come visit Summerville’s newest Pediatric Dental Office!

Dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and people with disabilities or special needs.

1250 supply st. north Charleston, s.C. 29405 Fire muSeum The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center is next to the Tanger Outlet Mall, about 2 miles from Charleston International Airport.

This museum houses the largest collection of professionally restored American LaFrance firefighting equipment in the country. The 26,000-square-foot museum opened in 2007 and houses 18 fire trucks and priceless oneof-a-kind firefighting artifacts.

Admission is $6; children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaySaturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit legacyofheroes.org.

4975 Centre pointe Drive north Charleston, s.C. 29418 riverFront Park The rejuvenation of the former navy base and nearby Olde Village and Park Circle neighborhoods represent one of the most sweeping changes to the city of North Charleston in recent years. The development

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former Charleston naval Base mCmillan avenue to hoBson avenue tHe GolF Club at WeSCott Plantation North Charleston’s premier golf facility was developed with the richest traditions of Lowcountry golf in mind. The 27-hole course, designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, captures traditional flavor through low-flowing earthworks, classic bunkering and native vegetation. The course also offers five tees per hole for all levels of golfers.

Wescott’s antebellum-style clubhouse can accommodate up to 300 guests and ranks as one of the Lowcountry’s top event venues.

The golf course is open daily 7 a.m.-6 p.m. during winter months and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. during summer months. Greens fees start at $31.

For more information, visit wescottgolf.com.

5000 WesCott CluB Drive north Charleston, s.C. 29485 City art Gallery The North Charleston City Gallery features two-dimensional works by international, national and local artists in a variety of subjects and media. Exhibits are rotated on a monthly basis and may feature two or more artists in the gallery space each month. Visitors can purchase prints, note cards, jewelry and gift items made by local artists.

The gallery is located in the common areas of the Charleston Area Convention Center, and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

5001 Coliseum Drive north Charleston, s.C. 29418 DiSC GolF The Park Circle Disc Golf course is located on the outer eight islands of the historic site and runs around the entire perimeter of “The Circle.” While technically nine holes, the course can be played in two directions, offer-

ing a true “18-hole” experience.

Natural beauty combines with proximity to the revitalized Olde Village district on East Montague Avenue, allowing golfers to play a round or two and then retire to the “19th hole” at any of East Montague Avenue’s many restaurants and bars.

Open play is Monday-Sunday, daylightdark. If interested in playing doubles, meet at the No. 1 tee, Tuesdays at 5 p.m., for play beginning at 6 p.m.

park CirCle olDe nortH CHarleSton PiCture HouSe Managed by the Greater Park Circle Film Society, the Olde North Charleston Picture House presents films and shorts not generally shown in local commercial theaters.

With the mission to screen high-quality films, educate the public and engage in community development, the film society continues to be an anchor for film and community in the Lowcountry.

For show times and ticket information, visit parkcirclefilms.org.

4820 Jenkins ave. north Charleston, s.C. 29405

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of Riverfront Park has been a key aspect of this revitalization.

The park is open to the public year-round and has become a favorite destination for residents and visitors. Set on the banks of the Cooper River, the park features a large boardwalk, fishing sites, charcoal grills, a covered pavilion and dozens of picnic tables next to a modern playground.

Public park hours are daylight to dark unless otherwise scheduled. For more information, visit northcharleston.org.

DINING

a thIng of beauty Behold the South Carolina Burger with sweet potato fries. Taste this and you'll know why Sesame in Park Circle is one of North Charleston Magazine's favorite places to hold editorial meetings.

anna bell’s 10 STOREHOUSE ROW, 554-5333 MONDAY-FRIDAY, 7 A.M.-2 P.M. Situated in the Navy Yard at Noisette, Anna Bell’s is cut from familiar cloth. The same folks behind the Locklear’s restaurants in Folly Beach and Mount Pleasant own the breakfast and lunch bistro. Anna Bell’s accordingly sticks to the tried-and-true, serving comfort food in cozy environs. One could make a pretty good meal just from the appetizers. For your consideration: fried green tomatoes with dill shallot mayo, tasty corn fritters and baskets of hush puppies and corn bread with honey butter. Other options include homemade meatloaf, fried fish, buttermilk fried chicken and oven-roasted pork loin dressed in red-eye gravy.

aunt bea’s restaurant 1050 EAST MONTAGUE AVE., 554-3007 MONDAY-FRIDAY, 11 A.M.-2 P.M. Aunt Bea’s delivers an array of homespun meals from its homey quarters in the Olde Village of North Charleston. Southern favorites such as fried chicken, hamburger steak, fried pork chops, meat loaf, chicken bog and chicken and dumplings distinguish

Photograph by Alan Hawes

Dining

IN NORTH CHARLESTON hungry? then belly up to the bar or grab a table. NORTH CHARLESTON’S GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, FROM FAST FOOD TO TRENDY RESTAURANTS. GOT ANOTHER LISTING YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN OUR NEXT EDITION? SEND AN E-MAIL TO EDITOR@ NORTHCHARLESTONONLINE.COM.

the menu. Specials rotate daily, along with an assortment of sides, including green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni salad, apple sauce and Aunt Bea’s exceedingly

Ashley Gibbs, a third-generation North Charlestonian. He chose the bistro’s name to recognize the sustainability of cork materials, appropriate considering the restaurant’s

popular deviled eggs. Opened in 1998, the restaurant also dishes up salads and sandwiches such as tuna salad, chicken salad and egg salad. Besides, other than City Hall, Aunt Bea’s is probably the best place to catch North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. His wife, Debbie, runs the restaurant.

usage of refurbished or repurposed fixtures.

On whole, the exposed beams, raised ceiling and chandeliers create a stylish backdrop.

A seasonal menu occasionally fixes on local items, such as oyster mushrooms from Mepkin Abbey, but also stretches to include PEI mussels, North Atlantic wild salmon and beef from the Painted Hills Ranch in Wheeler County, Ore. An additional pair of winners: the Croque Monsieur sandwich, rich with gruyere cheese, black forest ham and smooth béchamel sauce; and the roasted pork loin sandwich, smeared with double cream brie, a sweet onion marmalade and grain mustard.

cork neIghborhood bIstro 1067 EAST MONTAGUE AVE., 225-2675 LUNCH: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 11 A.M.-2:30 P.M.; DINNER: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 5 P.M.-10 P.M., SATURDAY, 6 P.M.-10 P.M. Cork comes courtesy of proprietor Tradd

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doe’s Pita 5134 N. RHETT AVE., 843-745-0026 MON.– FRI. 9 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. Doe’s Pita is an enigma, stuffed into a singlefamily house on North Rhett Avenue. Two ladies use a variety of slowcookers and other household kitchen gear to produce very tasty salads, soups and sandwiches perfect for a picnic or lunch at the office. Grab a quick bite at a tiny table indoors or picnic at the tables in the front yard. The baba ganoush alone is worth a stop.

evo 1075 E. MONTAGUE AVE., 843-225-1796, LUNCH TUE.–FRI. 11 A.M.–2:30 P.M., DINNER TUE.–SAT. 5 P.M.–10 P.M. If you had an “Extra Virgin Oven” (“EVO”) pizza in their early days, it was from the only place you could get it: the trailer-based wood oven that owners Ricky Hacker and Matt McIntosh set up at farmers’ markets and street corners. Now they have a slick, bright restaurant (above) producing the same crisp, well-dressed pies. Ingredients are obsessively sourced locally, and fresh and bright flavors are the results, whether pizza, salad, soup or panini.

la nortena taQUeria grill 6275 RIVERS AVE., 843-225-7055 10 A.M.- 10 P.M. EVERY DAY By now, La Nortena might as well be considered el abuelo of Charleston-area Mexican restaurants. La Nortena provides traditional dishes such as al pastor, lengua (beef tongue) and bistec (grilled beef steak) burritos, tacos and platters. A quartet of free sauces served table-side guarantee a strong first impression.

One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, carnitas La Nortena (seasoned chunks of pork set with rice and refried beans) provides confirmation. Be sure to check out the restaurant’s carniceria, including these considerations: chorizo, carnitas, carne seca (dried beef), palomila (top sirloin) and arrachera (skirt steak).

madra rUa 1034 EAST MONTAGUE AVE., 843-554-2522 MONDAY-SATURDAY, 11 A.M.-2 A.M., SUNDAY 10 A.M. TO 2 A.M. Much respect is given to Madra Rua, a pub faithful to its Irish pedigree. The carefully designed bar and restaurant features dark wooden furniture, low ceilings, several alcoves and -- naturally -- Guinness on tap. Patrons take seats at the bar or settle into snug

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Park circle fUn From organizing a St. Paddy's Day block party to hosting a Big Lebowski fan night, the folks at Madra Rua in Park Circle know how to have a good time.

booths to look over a menu containing selections of Irish extract. The pub serves such traditional Gaelic fare as shepherd’s pie, corn beef and cabbage, and fisherman’s pie, a dish of white fish and shrimp set with mashed potatoes, cheese and a creamy sauce.

market street saloon 7690 NORTHWOODS BLVD., 843-576-4116, MONDAY-SUNDAY, 11 A.M.-2 A.M. How do you prefer your barbecue? Smoked over hickory? Splashed with vinegar sauce?

The Market Street Saloon Smokehouse and Grill serves up its ‘cue with a side of showmanship. The restaurant’s staff performs a number of choreographed, boot-stompin’ dances each evening to complement the joint’s blue-ribbon barbecue, beef brisket, burgers and wings. The Saloon draws from all reaches of the barbecue landscape, concocting sauces provincial to Orangeburg, eastern North Carolina, Memphis and Kansas City. No matter your taste, Market Street makes for an ideal honky-tonk headquarters.

are a mere $8, and the more complex a mere $12. You won’t get to see a detailed menu in advance, so a spirit of adventure is helpful, but you can choose dates that feature a type of cuisine you enjoy.

Park PiZZa co.

1028 E. MONTAGUE AVE., 843-225-7275 MON.–SAT. 11 A.M.–10 P.M., SUN. NOON–10 P.M. Evo gets a lot of press for pizza in Park Circle, but Park Pizza has made it to its first anniversary in the neighborhood making mighty fine pizza, too, plus calzones, sandwiches and salads. The shop is tiny, and in summer heats up with the red-hot ovens running fullblast. But there is sidewalk seating, a take-out option … and Park Pizza delivers, too. Locals (and the employees, surely) look forward to cooler weather, when Park Pizza might lose their self-awarded title, “Hottest Restaurant in Town!” Regardless, the casual yet professional attitude and fine pies make this a “hot spot” no matter the season.

mikasa room at trident tech 7000 RIVERS AVE., 843-820-5097 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Pho #1 H&L ASIAN MARKET, 5300-1 RIVERS AVE., 843-745-9365 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 9 A.M.-8:30 P.M.

If you’re feeling a little down in the wallet but crave a fine-dining experience, Trident Technical College culinary students can help. These students run a full food-service operation on campus in a sophisticated new facility, and the public can dine most weekdays of the fall school year. The two teaching kitchens are visible from the dining room, and the menus reflect students’ willingness to please. Less sophisticated menus

A restaurant inside a grocery store, Pho #1 serves pho: Big bowls of tasty broth packed with noodles, meats and veggies. They only take cash, so be sure to have some on hand, and order as you begin your shopping. While the noodles heat, peruse the wide array of Asian produce, seafood and staple items. By the time you’re done, your noodles will be waiting for you. Eat in the dining area or have it packed up to go; either way, by the time

NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

Photograph by Wade Spees

you’ve squeezed your limes and topped the bowl with Thai basil and chilis, you’ll know why you see so many Asian folks eating here.

Pollo troPicAl cHArcoAl Grill 5335 DORCHESTER ROAD, 843-552-0015 MONDAY-SUNDAY, 11 A.M.-1O P.M. The smoke makes an undeniable first impression, drifting from the kitchen of Pollo Tropical Charcoal Grill, a small restaurant situated in an old Dorchester Road strip mall.

The restaurant serves a terrific spread: full slabs of pork and beef ribs, skirt steak, and half and whole chickens. The key description is al carbon, which relates to the choice technique of cooking meat over coal. They’ve mastered the method at Pollo Tropical, allowing the smoke to provide real flavor.

Beyond the staples, the oversize platters also contain yellow rice, slaw, pinto beans, tortillas, bread, or for an extra fee, fried yuca, plantains and fries.

sEsAME BurGErs And BEErs 4726 SPRUILL AVE., 554-4903 MONDAY-SATURDAY, 11 A.M.-10 P.M. For burger devotees, Sesame holds uncommon appeal. The restaurant builds every-

thing from scratch, including its half-pound, house-ground burgers along with salad dressings, pickles and, yup, the condiments, too. Choose from the Italian burger, capped with fresh basil and bleu cheese; the Park Circle with sharp cheddar cheese, coleslaw, barbecue sauce and tomato; the South Carolina, slathered in homemade pimiento cheese; or even the Memphis, an Elvis-aided creation made with homemade peanut butter, bacon and banana slices. Of course, other selections deserve mentioning, such as the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and chargrilled corn on the cob. Ditto for the beer, a strong collection of 60-plus varieties.

silVA sPoon cAFE 5080 RIVERS AVE., 843-544-5333 MONDAY-FRIDAY, 11 A.M.-6:30 P.M. For the soul food establishment, talk often turns to the “sides”: fried okra, baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, hushpuppies and the like. They’re as indispensable as salt and pepper, and best served beside deep-fried ribs, fried chicken, pork chops or even oxtail.

But one of the most unappreciated extras?

Lima beans, particularly when rendered soft, salty and smoky. The Silva Spoon Cafe serves

some of the best around, spooning the beans onto a heaping bed of white rice. Nearly as good? The restaurant’s alternating, daily specials: turkey wings, jumbo butterfly shrimp, meatloaf, barbecue chicken, beef lasagna, jerk chicken and chitterlings.

WEscott BAr & Grill 5000 WESCOTT CLUB DRIVE, 843-871-2135 LUNCH: MONDAY-SUNDAY, 11 A.M.-3 P.M.; DINNER: THURSDAY-FRIDAY 5 P.M.-9:30 P.M. The 27-hole Golf Club at Wescott Plantation provides an easy introduction to the Wescott Bar and Grill, a well-appointed gathering spot on the course grounds. A spacious clubhouse houses the bar/restaurant, along with meeting spaces and a pro shop. The menu is limited but chocked with favorites: burgers, wings, chicken fingers, quesadillas, pizza and grilled flatbread sandwiches.

Order the “Eagle,” an appropriately titled half-pound Angus burger, which is cooked to temperature, outfitted with your choice of toppings and served on a ciabatta bun. Or try the Shankapotamus sandwich containing turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese and tomatoes.

No worries, either. It’s a public course, so everyone’s welcome. n

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fa r m e r ' s m a r k e t Genevieve Jones, 13, uses a drop spindle to spin yarn while she sits with her mother Jessica Jones during the opening day of the North Charleston Farmers Market last year.

Events

IN NORTH CHARLESTON north charleston has it all. VISITORS AND RESIDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM CONCERTS AND SPORTING EVENTS AT THE COLISEUM, MAJOR HOLIDAY FESTIVALS, LEAGUE SPORTS AND EVEN LOCAL THEATER AND INDEPENDENT FILM VIEWING. TO SUBMIT AN EVENT FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF NORTH CHARLESTON MAGAZINE, EMAIL EDITOR@NORTHCHARLESTONONLINE.COM.

sPecial events

fo U r t h o f J U ly North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey (left) got last year's Fourth of July festivities going at Riverfront Park by singing with Chris Kennedy of the CoastRunner band.

Farmers Market: Open Thursdays midApril through mid-October, from noon until 7 p.m. at Park Circle's Felix C. Davis Community Center. The market features fresh, locally grown produce and herbs, as well as cooking demonstrations, nutrition classes and free health screenings. The Farmers Market also offers a playground and special activities and events for children.

North Charleston Arts Festival: April 29 through May 7. This nine-day celebration of the arts, centered at the Charleston Area Convention Center, is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing more than 30,000 residents and visitors with an array of performances, exhibitions, and activities (please see story, Page

Photographs by Grace Beahm (top) and Brad Nettles

12). For more information, visit northcharleston.org.

Gospel Fest: Easter Sunday, April 24, 3-7 p.m. at Riverfront Park in North Charleston.

This free music celebration started 17 years ago as a way to unite families. This year’s festival will feature two award winning national recording artists, Earnest Pugh and William McDowell. There also will be a great mixture of regional talent, with musical styles including Christian, contemporary, Latin, southern gospel, rap and traditional.

Fourth of July Festival: The City of North Charleston will host a July 4th celebration 3-9 p.m. at Riverfront Park. Entertainment includes a fireworks display at dark, plus music from Quiana Parler from American Idol, The Blue Dogs and CoastRunner.

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NCRD

North Charleston Recreation Department

Summer Camps • Farmers Market • Aquatics • Parks • Community Centers

We have everything to make your summer a BLAST!

SCAN with your PHONE use a QR app to view everything we have to offer

www.northcharleston.org

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Attendance is free, and guests can bring lawn chairs and blankets. No alcohol is permissible within the park, but a variety of food vendors will be available. Free children's activities include inflatable jump castles, games, play area, giant sandbox and the water fountain.

Eduction, Arts & culturE

Photograph by Alan Hawes

Established in 1978 Charleston’s Oldest Full Service Stained Glass Company 1st Class Customer Service

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For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Amos Lee: April 28 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

McDonald's Choir Showcase: April 30 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Steve Harvey & Kirk Franklin: April 30 at the North Charleston Coliseum. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Summey-Barkley-Rucker Medallion award gala: May 9. The South of Broadway

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SRO Summer Camp: Registration began March 7 at Park Circle (4800 Park Circle) and North Charleston City Hall (2500 City Hall Lane). Registration fee is $275. Camps will be held June 7 through Aug. 6 at selected North Charleston area schools. Available for girls and boys, 10-13 years old as of June 1.

Curriculum includes classroom instruction, fitness, sports, crafts, special guests, field trips and other planned activities.

For requirements and more information contact Trish Perrine at 740-5807 or email tperrine@northcharleston.org.

Step team: The city Recreation Department offers an after-school Step Team program for ages 5–8 and 9–12. Each community center has the opportunity to compete against other centers. For more information, visit northcharleston.org.

Home and Outdoor Living Show: April 15-17 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Tickets are $5 for adults, children 12 and under free. For more information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Steve Miller Band and Gregg Allman: April 19 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and more information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: April 21 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Beauty and the Beast: April 27 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

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M-Thur 8:30-5:00 Fri 8:30-3:30 / Sat 10:00-2:00 www.charlestownestainedglass.com NORTHCHARLE STONONLINE .COM

Theatre Company will present a new award to Anita Zucker, Charleston philanthropist and InterTech CEO. For more information, visit southofbroadway.com.

Jagermeister Country Tour Featuring Dierks Bentley: May 12 at the North Charleston Coliseum. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Guy Fieri: May 17 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Acoustic Porch: South of Broadway Theatre Company. For more information, visit southofbroadway.com.

NPC Junior USA Bodybuilding Championships: May 21 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: May 26 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Primus: June 9 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

Summer Reading Kickoff Party: June 21, 1-2 p.m. at Wannamaker Park. Book display and packets will be available until 6 p.m.

Pizza and cool summer treats available while supplies last. For more information visit usbornesummerreading.com.

D I S C G O LF Eric Etheridge launches a disc from behind a tree during a game of disc golf in Park Circle.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

2011 Summer Children’s Theatre Series: June 24, 10 a.m. at the Sterett Hall Auditorium, 1530 7th Street on the former Charleston Naval Base. Adande Dance Company presents African dance and drumming. Tickets are $2 per child; accompanying adults are admitted free. Reserve by calling the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843-7405854.

The Big Lebowski Party: Late June at Madra Rua Irish Pub. For date and time up-

Adult Basketball: Games played on Saturdays at the Danny Jones Gymnasium beginning at 2 p.m. The league is comprised on nine company teams. For more information contact Mike Gillison at 843-745-1033.

CSU Athletics Golf Tournament: May 6, non at Wescott Golf Club. For more information, visit csusports.com.

CSU baseball home games: May 13-15 v.

Presbyterian, May 17 v. Georgia Southern. For more information, visit csusports.com.

Disc Golf: Disc golf is played on the outer eight islands around Park Circle Monday-Sunday from dusk to dawn, continuously. Tuesday night doubles are played beginning at 6 p.m.

Registration takes place at the #1 tee box at 5 p.m. For more information call 843-740-5801 or email Jonas Card at CDGC@bellsouth.net.

Flag Football: The North Charleston Recreation Department along with the S.C. Flag Football Association sponsor Men's Flag Football. The league is played at

dates, visit madraruapub.com.

2011 Summer Children’s Theatre Series: July 15, 10 a.m. at the Sterett Hall Auditorium, 1530 7th Street on the former Charleston Naval Base. Flow Circus presents Paul Miller's one-man juggling and magic show. Tickets are $2 per child; accompanying adults are admitted free. Reserve by calling the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843-740-5854.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters: July 18 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. For ticket prices and other information, visit coliseumpac.com.

MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park. The league runs spring-summer and fall seasons. For more information on the league, contact Cindy Dambaugh at 843-740-5801 or email scflag@aim.com.

Force Protection Red Shirt Fridays at the RiverDogs Games: Every Friday home game, sponsored by North-Charleston-based Force Protection. Wear a red shirt and get a dollar off a walk-up ticket price. Also featuring Piggly Wiggly Post-Game Fireworks. For more information, visit web.minorleaguebaseball.com Tennis Leagues: Teams represent the North Charleston Recreation Department

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and participate on several different playing levels. Teams play home matches and travel to other local tennis facilities to compete. For more information, call Mark Manuel at 843552-9446 (after 5 p.m.) or 843-767-0638.

Youth sports: The athletic programs offered by the North Charleston Recreation Department include football, baseball, softball, basketball and soccer. For registration, schedules and cost, visit northcharleston.org Zumba Dance Fitness: Two classes every Thursday starting May 5, 12:30-1:30 p.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Felix C. Davis Community Center on Park Circle. $5 per class. For more information, contact Kelly Gaskins at 843-729-3451

MUNICIPAL MEETINGS Most municipal meetings are held at North Charleston City Hall, Buist Conference Room, 2500 City Hall Lane. For more information, additional committee meetings and to check on updated schedules, visit northcharleston.org.

Arts Advisory Committee: May 10, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 Citizens Advisory Council: .May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4 City Council: May 12, May 26, June 9, June 23, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11, Aug. 25 Planning Commission: May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8 Finance, Grant and public safety committees: May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 Recreation Advisory Board: May 25, July 27, Aug. 24 Zoning Board of Appeals: May 2, June 6, July 4, Aug. 1 N

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