north charleston 2012 fall magazine
DESCRIPTION
North Charleston 2012 Magazine Fall Edition. Visit http://www.northcharlestononline.com/ for more info.TRANSCRIPT
n o rt h c h ar le s to n o n li n e .co m
Run! Charleston Marathon First of its kind City Fireboat
AeronAutics. renewAble energy.
mAnufActuring. defense contrActing.
North Charleston’s high-tech workforce looks to the future.
Brain Power
fa l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2
Run! Charleston Marathon First of its kind City Fireboatn o rt h c h ar le s to n o n li n e .co m
R50-831616
Primary Care
Eagle Landing Adult Medicine
Goose Creek Family Practice
North Charleston Internal Medicine
St. James Family Medicine
emergenCy ServiCeS & diagnoStiCS
Roper Hospital Diagnostics & ER – Northwoods
Roper Hospital Diagnostics – Goose Creek
SPeCialitieS
Carolina OB/GYN
Charleston Neurosurgical Associates
Orthopaedic Specialists of Charleston
Palmetto Podiatry
Roper St. Francis MedShare-Goose Creek
• Audiology
• Dermatology
• Family Practice
• Gastroenterology
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Ophthalmology
Roper St. Francis has the North area’s
health covered with the care you trust
including family practice, emergency
medicine, lab and imaging services.
health covered!
North area’sWe have the
Call 402-CARE for an appointment.
www.rsfh.com
3 61 6 4 4
The coverPhotograph by Dan hale featur-ing clemson University res-toration center scientists Johan-na rivera (from left), nick rigas and nestor Gonzalez .
4 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
fa ll / w i n t er 2 0 12
Inside
Living1 1 c h A r le sto n m A r At h o n
After a few years of wrangling and event changes, the Charleston Mara-thon seems to be hitting its stride. A look at what it takes to plan an event that runs through two cities. Plus, a map of the full course.
14 A h A n d m A d e li fe Park Circle resident Gretchen Scronce lives a modern, yet often homespun, life in Park Circle.
1 6 A n i m A l s A n d A n t i q u e sMeet Una Ashcraft, founder of the Spay Not Slay League and the driving force behind The North Charleston Village Antiques & Collectibles Show.
Working3 4 c it y fi r e b oAt
North Charleston's new fireboat, the first of its kind in the Lowcountry, serves as an on-the-water firefight-ing resource, rescue boat and dive platform. The boat weighs in at about 19,500 pounds, yet it drafts only about two feet of water. It can hit 43 knots (about 50 mph), and since it’s steered by jet drives, can stop on a dime.
3 6 li fe by d e s i g nNorth Charleston resident and graphic artist Laurel Stender recently captured top prize in the national Runway to Win design challenge issued by Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign. Her sold-out design, featured beside the likes of Marc Jacobs and Beyoncé, showed off multihued lines that ulti-mately spelled “Obama.”
Playing3 8 At t r Ac t i 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 top-notch golf course and a wildly popular water park.
4 0 r e stAu r A n t p r o fi le sHungry? Then belly up to the bar or grab a table. North Charleston’s got everything you need, from fast food to trendy restaurants.
4 4 s A n tA st y leRichard Cleaver has been paying Santa Claus for the past 23 years, lately for the city of North Charleston's big holiday festivities.
4 5 e v e n t li st i n g s From concerts and sporting events at the coliseum to major holiday festivals and local theater and independent films, North Charleston has it all.
1 8 pAt i e n t s d o n ' t h Av e to wA it to s e e o b st e t r i c i A n
1 9 b r e A st c A r e c e n t e r fo c u s e s o n c o m fo rt
2 0 h ow to m A n Ag e d i A b e t e s
2 1 e x p lo r e r o b ot i c s u r g e ry
Health GuideSpecial section by Trident Health System
R50-831618
6 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
Now Open!Dialysis Clinic
The primary responsibility of DCI is to perceive, initiate andprovide comprehensive patient care. We serve society byproviding care for patients with end-stage renal disease.Our goal is complete patient rehabilitation. We recognizethe patient as an individual resulting from his/her genetics,life experience, habits, believes, emotions; as a member ofhis/her family, and the community.
Other DCI Clinic Locations:• West Ashley • Azalea Place• East Cooper • Magnolia Court• James Island • Port Royal• Goose CreekServices Offered:• In-Center Hemodialysis• Peritoneal Hemodialysis• Home Hemodialysis• Pediatric Dialysis
DialysisDialysisClinic, Inc.Clinic, Inc.
located at 5300 ArchdaleNorth Charleston
“Caring for Our Community since 1971”
Scan for job opportunitiesor text “Dci” to 424242
Administration OfficeAdministration Office1411 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403Phone 843-723-7227, Fax 843-723-7404
C33-835822
P. J. BrowningPu blisherThe Post and Courier843.937. [email protected]
Tom CliffordE xec utive News D irectorThe Post and Courier843.937. [email protected]
gayle J. SmiThD irector of AdvertisingThe Post and [email protected]
STeve wagenlanderD irector of Audience D evelopmentThe Post and Courier843.937. [email protected]
leSlie SommerdykeS ale s Manager, C u stom Pu blic ation s and [email protected]
maTT winTerE ditor, North Charle ston Magaz ineManager of Innovation and New Initiative s , The Post and [email protected]@postandcourier.com
Jay fleTCherContributing D e sig n E ditorjfletcherdesign.com
norTh CharleSTon magazinei s a s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e P o s t 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 s t . , c h a r l e s t o n , s . c . 2 9 4 0 3 . c o p y -r i g h t 2 0 1 2 b y t h e P o s t a n d c o u r i e r. n o p o r t i o n o f t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n m a y b e r e p r o d u c e d i n w h o l e o r i n p a r t w i t h o u t e x p r e s s w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n f r o m t h e P o s t a n d c o u r i e r.
fa ll / w i n t er 2 0 12
Katie Abbondanza Abbondanza, a local writer, profiled a mom/
do-it-yourselfer (p. 14), an antiques dealer and animal lover (p. 16), and a longtime Santa (p. 44).
Dan HaleHale, who with wife Amelia owns Dream-
land Images, shot portraits for our cover story on North Charleston's brainy workforce (p. 24 ).
Brendan KearneyKearney, a Post and Courier reporter who
covers Boeing, contributed information about the aeronautics giant for our cover story.
David QuickQuick, a marathoner and fitness writer for
The Post and Courier, took a look behind the scenes of the Charleston Marathon (p. 11).
Marie Rodriguez Rodriguez, a frequent photographer for
Charleston Scene, tackled number of shoots for this edition (ps. 14, 17, 44).
Rob YoungYoung, a Lowcountry freelance writer
who works in North Charleston, interviewed graphic designer Laurel Stender (p. 36).
Contributors
8 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
N2-836289
l e t t e r
few thinGs in life are as excitinGanD rare as witnessinG the start of somethinG trUly monumenTal .
It felt an awful lot like that while I was helping to put together this edition’s cover story, “Brain Power,” (p. 24) which takes a look at North Charleston’s brainy, high-tech and altogether impressive workforce.
I drove up to the old Navy base and wound my way through the rubble of redevelop-ment to the Cooper River, flowing largely unseen behind a wall of industrial buildings and shipyard cranes.
I parked in a gravel lot near a boxy white building, a giant construction site and a long, low-slung industrial building. The big white building contains the Warren Lasch Conserva-tion Center, the current home of the Confeder-ate submarine H.L. Hunley. That’s how most people, myself included, know the place: You can pay to see the sub on most weekends.
At the door, I hit the button and was buzzed upstairs by security. There, I met a former colleague of mine, Peter Hull, who now works as a writer for the Clemson Uni-versity Restoration Institute, or CURI.
Until a few years ago, CURI was best known for its work exploring and stabilizing the Hun-ley. That conservation work has enabled CURI scientists to develop new processes that help calm the belligerent relationship between old metal objects and saltwater.
After catching up a bit, Peter led me on a fascinating tour. We wandered through the laboratory downstairs, stopping to gawk at an electron microscope and checking out some of the old iron relics that have been preserved at CURI. “This process they’ve developed removes the corrosion but doesn’t compromise the artifact underneath,” Peter explained.
We stopped to talk to some of their resi-dent and visiting scientists (hailing from France, Uruguay, England, Finland and Chile). I was tickled to see that, just like in the movies, they wore white lab coasts and had written equations on glass window panes (you can see them in our cover shot).
We visited the Hunley, now sitting right-side-up and looking remarkably well-preserved in a giant pool of what Peter proudly described as
“plain North Charleston tap water.” We stopped to watch conservators work-
ing on an enormous, ancient art frame. The painting it held, a portrait of Harriet Aiken completed in 1825, was being restored nearby.
But CURI’s work on relics of the past, as fas-cinating as those projects may be, wasn’t the reason for the trip. CURI’s focus on the future — that’s where things really get interesting. How interesting? How about 20,000 possible new jobs? What about the possibility of North Charleston becoming a global player in green energy research, a key force in unlock-ing the potential of wind-generated power?
Right here in North Charleston, at the giant construction site next door to their lab and offices, CURI is building a $98 million facility that will be capable of testing wind turbine drivetrains up to 15 megawatts. Soon, wind turbine companies from all over the world will be sending their ever-bigger drive trains to North Charleston for testing. The rigs that pass muster eventually will be deployed in offshore wind farms around the globe.
And in place of the low-slung industrial building next door? In a few years CURI will open its new graduate education center, already named after the Zucker family. (You can learn more about the Zuckers, their phil-anthropic endeavors and their company, The InterTech Group, in our cover story).
“That could house as many as 20 Ph.D.s based here,” Peter said. “They’ll be working with industries, doing research on every-thing from composite and advanced materi-als and energy systems to coastal ecology.”
Ancillary businesses are already moving to the Lowcountry to be near CURI. Re-searchers are studying wind speeds off our coast.
Could North Charleston — and by exten-sion the Lowcountry and the state — soon be-come a nationally or even globally important player in wind energy?
In a few years, could wind generate power for our coastal communities?
That would, indeed, be monumental.
maTT winTerE d i t o r, N o r t h C h a r l e s t o n M a g a z i n ee d i t o r @ n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
R55-840401
In a split vote, North Charleston City
Council rejected an ordinance that would
have prohibited smoking inside public places
— much like bans that have been in place for
years in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Sum-
merville and other towns.
Mayor Keith Summey resisted such a step,
arguing that businesses should be free to
settle their own smoking policies. He was
joined by council members Ed Astle, Rhonda
Jerome, Bobby Jameson, Dorothy Williams
and Sam Hart.
Members Ron Brinson, Todd Olds, Bob
King, Dwight Stigler and Michael Brown
supported the ban, as did the bulk of the 13
people who spoke to council.
Though the smoking ban was narrowly
defeated, some North Charleston restau-
rants already did not allow smoking, and
many others were set to institute their own
bans.
Source: The Post and Courier
News on the wingmoving fAst At boeing, chArleston internAtionAl Airport
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 9Photograph by Brad Nettles
Boeing CEO Jim McNerney credits South
Carolina’s elected officials and education sys-
tem for his “ahead of schedule” local Dream-
liner complex and called hiccups at that plant
“growing pains” typical of a new airplane with
a new engine.
Speaking at a business forum in Charles-
ton, McNerney hinted in October that further
expansion of Boeing’s North Charleston opera-
tions is likely as long as that government sup-
port and the maturation of the 6,000-member
workforce here continue.
McNerney visited Charleston during a busy
time for Boeing. The airframer was in the midst
of increasing production of several of its com-
mercial jet programs, finalizing design of future
airplanes and strategizing for the looming
American military cuts.
McNerney said that progress would not be
hampered by the failures of General Electric-
made engines on a Boeing 787 in North
Charleston and a 747-8 freighter in Shangai.
The Federal Aviation Administration
had ordered all in-service GEnx engines be
checked every 90 days for drive-shaft cracks,
which had been found in two 787 engines.
Air India took its first two Everett, Wash.-
made 787s from the complex near the airport
in September.
c h A r le sto n A i r p o rtThe first phase of the $150 million makeover
of Charleston International Airport’s terminal
was set to start three months earlier than an-
nounced.
The airport terminal will undergo a major
overhaul over the next two or so years. The
work was expected to begin with a $15 million
expansion of the ramp leading to the terminal
and construction of a new rental car pavilion.
Charleston also is adding six new gates, a
third baggage carousel, consolidated security,
a dome over the atrium, new office space and
a redesign that will direct passengers through
security behind the airline kiosks instead of
through the lobby.
Source: The Post and Courier
Smoking bancity council split on meAsure
Photograph by Brad Nettles1 0 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
That’s just one of the ways this small
school is distinguishing itself from the
crowd. Palmetto Scholars Academy is the
state’s only charter school for gifted and
talented students, and its mission is to push
its students to achieve at the highest levels
possible.
“It’s awesome,” said seventh-grader
Chelsey Graham. “It just gives kids the
things they need, and it doesn’t make any-
one feel dumb.”
The school opened in the fall of 2010 on
the former Navy base, where it leases space
from Noisette.
It has worked quietly since then to create
an identity and build a high-quality reputa-
tion. Its test scores are proof that it’s on its
way.
The school was one of 10 in the tri-county
area to receive a perfect 100 “A” under the
new federal rating system, and it has been
rated “excellent” by the state and received a
Palmetto Gold Award.
A g o o d fitThe school’s curriculum is designed for
gifted and talented students, but students
don’t have to meet any admissions criteria.
Any South Carolina resident who applies
will be accepted, unless there are more ap-
plicants than seats. In that case, the school
holds a lottery. It has waiting lists for sixth
and seventh grades.
Only about 60 percent of its roughly
280 students are identified as gifted
and talented. Students are tested and
interviewed after they are admitted, and
school officials tell parents whether the
school will be a good fit for their child’s
abilities. Some withdraw their non-gifted
students, while others leave them there
and hope they rise to the rigorous expec-
tations.
All the school’s classes are advanced,
and the school’s on-grade-level English and
math classes are one grade above what
students traditionally would take.
Achieving schoolnorth chArleston AcAdemy
PalmeTTo SCholarS aCademy Can’T afford To hire ComPanieS To CuT iTS graSS, fix iTS PlumBing or PainT iTS wallS. the north charleston charter school receives less fUnDinG Per PUPil than most other schools in the state, so it has to make its tiGht bUDGet stretch as far as Possible. Parents, facUlty anD stUDents UnDerstanD the state-createD PreDica-ment anD steP UP to fill in the GaPs, whether that’s DonatinG toilet PaPer or rePlacinG classroom liGht bUlbs.
Achievement Palmetto Scholars Academy
ninth graders Spenser Dolley and Jojo Bastian use computers to do research for a biology assignment.
B Y D i e t t e C o u r r é g é C a s e y
Teachers are encouraged to use research-
based lessons, hands-on activities and
original source documents. They use the
Socratic method during classroom discus-
sions to promote critical thinking.
Kelly Voigt enrolled her son in the
school’s inaugural sixth-grade class.
She loved the way the school taught to the
top kids, and her son “responded beauti-
fully.”
She decided to leave her teaching job at
a high-achieving suburban Dorchester 2
school for a spot at the North Charleston
school, and she now teaches science and
research.
lo o k i n g A h e A dPalmetto Scholars Academy has its
charter to operate through the state Public
Charter School District, and that’s why it’s
funding is lower than most other schools.
Schools that receive permission to operate
from the state district receive only state
and federal money; they don’t get any local
dollars.
A charter with the state district also has
implications for its attendance zone — any
student who lives in South Carolina can
attend. That’s different than the other
charter schools in Charleston County, which
received their charters from the county
school board and accept county residents
only.
Palmetto Scholars Academy students
come from across the Lowcountry, from
Edisto Island to Summerville and Moncks
Corner. The school doesn’t offer bus service,
so many carpool.
A hunt for a spot to build a new school
also is under way. The school is outgrow-
ing its campus — nine of its classrooms
are in the building while eight others are
in mobile units — but it will have to figure
out a way to pay for a new building. The
school is preparing to kick off a fundrais-
ing campaign.
In the meantime, the school will continue
to define itself. Some say it’s a place where
freethinkers are valued and where what
students wear is less important than who
they are. Students say it’s a place where they
can be themselves.
“You can’t be bullied for being smart
because everyone here is,” said Graham, the
seventh-grader.
Source: The Post and Courier
Photograph by Brad Nettles n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 1
PuTTing on a maraThon iS no walk in The Park. JUst ask the orGanizers of the charleston marathon, an event that featUres a marathon anD half-marathon that starts in charleston anD fin-ishes in north charleston, as well as 5k, bike riDe, yoUth marathon anD exPo on the weekenD of the martin lUther kinG Jr. holiDay.
Over the last five years, organizers had to
haggle with officials over permits, determine
routes over roads crisscrossed with active
railroads, and deal with complaints both by
runners over the route and by residents and
business owners in North Charleston upset
about closed streets.
But many of those issues for the third annual
event – to be held the weekend of Jan. 18-20,
2013 – appear to be ironed out and 2013 may be
a year where the event finally hits its stride.
s c h o o l-to - s c h o o lWhile the Lowcountry’s weather is gener-
ally mild to hot, mid-January can be cold and
downright raw, particular for runners trying to
stay warm at the start and end of a marathon.
In a coup of sorts, especially for a mara-
thon event, the 2013 Charleston Marathon
and Half-Marathon will start at Burke Middle
High School in Charleston and finish at North
Charleston High School. Runners will be able
wait for the start inside Burke and even have
Charleston Marathon
26.2
l i v i n g
B Y D av i D Q u i C k
r u n , r u n , r u nDebbie cropper of anchorage, alaska marked her 50th marathon in 50 states last year during the charleston marathon.
1 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
8761 Dorchester Road, Suite 210North Charleston, SC 29420
843-760-0707
North Charleston's Own
R50-838115
www.veryimportantplacement.com
VIP Marketing & Advertising is a full service advertising agency based in North Charleston, with ahigh energy team of marketing professionals who are experienced in all forms of media. VIP’s motto is,“Clients are #1.” Their team members have worked in the marketing mediums that they advise clients in,which means they bring a wealth of knowledge to the table when creating marketing and advertisingcampaigns.
Choosing a team that cares about your business and is willing to go the extra mile for you should be apriority when choosing an advertising agency. Eric Elliott of VIP Marketing says "there may be companieslarger than ours, but they will never out heart us."
The team at VIP Marketing & Advertising is very committed to their community.Having just worked as North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey’s Media Plannerin the last election, they know the value of establishing quality businessrelationships. They are no stranger to political campaigns with an endorsementand letter of recommendation from Dorchester County Council Chairman LarryHargett - whom VIP Marketing assisted with his landslide victory in DorchesterDistrict 4. If your business is in search of an experienced advertising agencyVIP Marketing & Advertising could be the perfect fit for your business.
VIP Marketing & Advertising will be expanding. They are slated to open a newbranch in Savannah, Georgia in January of 2013 - headed by Charleston nativeand Citadel graduate, Drew Silver.
“In everything thatwe do, we put our
hearts into it. Yourclients can alwaystell if you are therefor partnership or
profit. We willchoose partnership
every time.”-Eric Elliott
Former Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum and Eric Elliottof VIP Marketing
Congressman Tim Scott and Eric Elliott
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 3
the ability to shower af-
ter the races at North
Charleston High.
Using the schools
is fitting because the
event is so closely
tied to the public
schools. From the
start, the Charleston
Marathon has raised
money for the Youth
Endowment for the
Arts (YEA), which
provides grants for arts
programs in public schools.
In the past two years, the event has funded
more than $50,000 in 20 different grants, as well
as a new initiative and pilot project called “Engag-
ing Creative Minds,” according the Charleston
Marathon board member Kyle Lahm.
Lahm added that the Burke-to-North
Charleston High route not only provides relief
to participants from bad weather but saves
the organization money spent on tents and
many portable toilets. Ample parking also
exists at both sites.
Organizers also are using Burke for the
event’s health expo and packet pick-up, to be
held 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2013, thereby
avoiding the elements that marred 2012’s
event under a large tent. Winds kicked up
dust and made for several unhappy vendors,
volunteers and participants.
Other route changes include an additional
stretch in downtown Charleston. In the past,
only the first six miles of the marathon were
in Charleston. The route change adds two
more miles in Charleston, including gorgeous
vistas of the Ashley River and Charleston
Harbor along Lockwood Boulevard and the
Battery and all of King Street.
“We’ve mapped this course hundreds of
times over the years and I don’t know how
many variations we’ve had, but I think this one
is really interesting,” said Howie Schomer, one
of the event’s co-founders and the point man
on route design.
Marathoners and half marathoners split
from each other just before the Mile 10 mark,
on Viaduct Road in North Charleston. Run-
ners in the half then proceed toward North
Charleston Highway while the marathoners
head to the Cooper River Marina and a short
jaunt on a pier between miles 12 and 13.
Schomer hopes the changes help the event
reach numbers that are “decent but manage-
able,” 1,000 for the marathon and up to 5,000
Graphic by Gill Guerry
JA n . 1 8 , 2 0 1 311 a.m.-8 p.m. - health and fitness
expo, Burke middle high school.
3:30 p.m. – charleston Youth
marathon, final 1.2 mile run, Burke.
JA n . 1 9, 2 0 1 38 a.m. – start of marathon and
half marathon, Burke.
8:15 a.m. – start of the shrimp and
grits 5K, near north charleston
high school.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. – celebration at
north charleston high school.
JA n . 2 0 , 2 0 1 38:30 a.m . – start of the charles-
ton marathon Bike ride (40- and
60-mile rides), mount Pleasant
memorial waterfront Park.
m A p o f m A r At h o n ' s f u ll c o u r s e
for the half.
Total participa-
tion – including the youth
marathon, bike ride and 5K – in 2012
was 4,700, up 500 from the previous year.
b e t t e r fo r b u s i n e s sAs runners in the half and marathon finish
at North Charleston High School – instead of
the previous Navy Yard at Noisette - they also
will be within a comfortable stroll of North
Charleston’s downtown business district.
Scott Cloud, past president of the Olde
North Charleston Merchants Association
and owner of The Barbecue Joint, said that
the marathon in the past two years “killed
business” because it not only closed streets
but deposited runners and spectators at the
finish line at the Navy Yard.
The route change, Cloud said, should be
better for those businesses, particularly res-
taurants and bars, such as the popular Madra
Rua Irish Pub.
“Everyone I’ve talked to thinks it's great,”
said Cloud. “Anything we can do to drum up
business after the holidays and before spring
I’m all for.”
r e c i p r o c A l b e n e fit sThe event’s close ties to the Youth Endow-
ment for the Arts and area public school arts
programs have reciprocal benefits.
Dr. Jim Braunreuther, fine arts director for
Charleston County School District and YEA
board member, said besides grant money
to fund arts programs – including Shake-
spearean plays, bands and a steel drum
program – it also gives schools another
opportunity: to showcase talents.
Schools, not specifically ones receiv-
ing grants, are encouraged to “Adopt-a-
Mile” and provide volunteers to pass
out water and sports drink, cheer and
provide entertainment – namely music.
“It’s their mile,” said Charleston Mara-
thon Director Liz Alford Miello. “They
have a lot of room to showcase their talent
– choirs, bands, art murals, cheerleaders.
Regardless, Miello said the marathon is in
need of volunteers - a total of at least 500
volunteers and ideally 30 people per mile.
o n e m o r e le s s o nBesides the arts, the Charleston Marathon
reaches out to local children in another way,
by promoting physical fitness.
The Charleston Youth Marathon, which is
open to all children ages 7-17 who are in good
health, is a “modified marathon.” Participants
can run or walk 25 miles prior to Jan. 18, 2013,
and then run the final 1.2 miles with every-
one else to complete a marathon at an event
at Burke Middle High School the day before
the adult marathon. ncharlestonmarathon.com
1 4 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
in College, greTChen SCronCe learned how To kniT and BeCame inTereSTed in The world of SuSTainaBle food. a DecaDe later, those threaDs are inteGral to the fabric of her moDern, yet often homesPUn, life. she anD her hUsbanD, haley hall, raise their own hens (“they’re hilarioUs to watch… i UseD to call it chicken tv,” she says), swaDDle their baby son in cloth DiaPers anD bUy their veGetables throUGh a local csa, or commUnity-sUPPorteD aGricUltUre.
Handmade life, in Park Circlegretchen scronce
Park Circle, the neighborhood they’ve
called home since 2009, has helped them
meet other liked-minded people. There are
other neighbors within walking distance
who keep chickens and a Facebook group
for “rookie moms,” a collection of nearly 100
new mothers who meet for playgroups and
trade off childcare.
“We love Park Circle,” Gretchen explains,
adding that she and Hall bought a house
there about a year ago. “We realized we really
liked the mix of people there. It’s a close-knit
community. My husband is black and I’m
white, and … the neighborhood is diverse.”
It’s also where she met Allison Nadeau,
Christine Tiller and Lauren Pavao, the
women who later banded together to form
the Charleston Craft Bee. Initially, the Bee
was going to be a single meet-up inspired
by Etsy, the online mega-destination to
buy and sell all things handmade. They
have since hosted three Bees, have a well-
designed website and are active on social
media.
“It kind of exploded on Facebook,” Scronce
says, noting that all three events sold out.
Crafting can be really fun, but it can also be
really expensive and daunting.”
B Y k at i e a b b o n D a n z a
Pa r k C i r C l e d i yGretchen scronce, here holding her son, emory, works at a library and lives in Park circle. scronce and some Park circle friends launched the charleston craft bee.
To ease these artistic and financial anxiet-
ies, the Bee charged only a small fee and
provided materials for specific projects to be
completed that evening. Each of the coordi-
nators led a craft based on a central theme
for the evening, like homemade cleaning and
beauty products or holiday gifts.
Explaining potentially complicated tasks
isn’t new to Scronce; by day, she works in the
technology learning center at Charleston’s
main library. There, she teaches computer
classes and assists patrons who want to
brush up on Microsoft Excel or sign up for an
email account.
“People are surprised that I don’t do
anything with books,” Scronce says, given
her background as a librarian. She and her
husband Hall met while they were both
pursuing master’s degrees in library science
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. He is currently the library technician at
Trident Technical College.
In Hall, Scronce has found a true partner.
He’s the one who often gets up early to feed
the chickens and watches their son Emory
when she has to work weekends at the
library.
“I have to give my husband props,” she
says. “He is an equal parent. That’s one of the
things that makes working full-time and hav-
ing a family easier.”
Scronce also brings a healthy dose of prag-
matism to her life, whether she’s dealing with
crafting, cooking or child-rearing. The Bee is
currently on hiatus, two of the coordinators
have new babies and two recently launched
businesses, but she believes it will be revived
at some point, in some fashion. And when
she decides to, say, make her own cleaning
products, it’s because she wants the solution
to be “free of toxic ingredients, and safe for
me and my family.”
“I’ve only made a handful of things for
Emory,” she explains in an easy tone. “I did it
because it was fun or because I could make it
quickly or cheaply.” Now that she’s a mother,
she spends more time prepping on the week-
ends “to make the week go more smoothly”
and admits that sometimes her family might
order dinner in.
But on most weeknights, Scronce and Hall
spend their evenings with Emory, and then
cook dinner together after their son goes to
bed. Like crafting or raising chickens, it’s the
kind of ritual that spans the gap between
old-fashioned romance and a modern mar-
riage. n
Photograph by Marie Rodriguez
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 5
R62-831570
more than two dozen north charleston elementary school students got to work out like nfl players dur-ing the Play 60 program, put on by the carolina Pan-thers and a brighter future foundation. the Play 60 program is designed to help fight childhood obesity by encouraging kids to be active for an hour a day.by wade spees
City ScenesplAy like A pAnther
1 6 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
una aShCrafT loveS animalS So dearly, she can’t bear to have Pets anymore—she finDs it too heartbreakinG when one Passes away. when ashcraft moveD to north charleston from her native britain with her american hUsbanD in 1972, she was horrifieD to Discover tens of millions of animals a year were eUthanizeD in the UniteD states.
Two loves, animals & antiquesunA AshcrAft
“The only possible way to stop it would be
to spay and neuter,” she explained recently
over a glass of iced tea. Not one to sit around,
Ashcraft started the Spay Not Slay League in
1974, and did “just about everything” to col-
lect money for the animals, including garage
sales and auctions. The group raised about
$30,000 before she passed the management
of the fund over the Coastal Community
Foundation, which provides administrative
oversight of the endowment.
Her organization has stayed true to its
original mission for nearly 40 years, and Ash-
craft still designates which efforts Spay Not
Slay will support. And in 2010, she realized
she could combine two things she loves—an-
tiques and animals—by bringing an antique
show to North Charleston.
“Well, I’ve always liked antiques,” she said.
“And bit by bit, if you sell one thing and re-
place another thing, you become a dealer.”
Ashcraft knew of another North Charles-
ton resident who liked antiques and animals:
Mayor Summey (he’s “just tops” in her view).
She approached him, and the mayor not only
supported the idea, but suggested she talk with
Lisa Reynolds in his office to get the project
started. The North Charleston Village Antiques
& Collectibles Show began soon after.
Reynolds, who collects china and vintage
glassware, became the organizer of the
event, and says there are between 15 and 30
B Y k at i e a b b o n D a n z a
S h o P f o r a C a u S eUna ashcraft founded spay not slay league in 1974 and raised thousands of dollars for the cause through garage sales and auc-tions. in 2012 she helped start the north charleston village antiques & collectibles show, which also helps raise money to help prevent euthanasia of unwanted pets.
vendors at each show. Folks who want to sell
pay $65 to set up a booth, and those looking
to buy donate $2 at the door for the privilege
to peruse the wares, which are set up in the
Felix C. Davis Community Center.
Dealers come from across the Southeast to
sell vintage jewelry and clothing, rare dolls,
silver, antique books and more, and there’s
a small food court set up as well. Reynolds
says the show offers a smart alternative to
the mall, noting antiques are a way to “re-
cycle what we already have.”
The shows are held every other month,
and they’ve donated anywhere from $500 to
$1,400 to Spay Not Slay after each expo. With
the new influx of money, Spay Not Slay teamed
up with the SPCA in 2010 to spay and neuter
500 animals over the course of three days.
Ashcraft, who used to sell her collectibles
at Rainbow Market and at a downtown exhi-
bition, has a booth at the North Charleston
show she helped start, and is happy to report
they’ve had two successful years.
“It just took off. It’s a solid show now,”
she says. “Lisa does all the work, so I just
enjoy it.” n
u p c o m i n g s h ow sThe North Charleston Village Antiques &
Collectibles Show will be held Oct. 27-28 and Dec. 8-9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle.
Photographs by Matt Winter (top left) and City of North Charleston
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 7
R28-833067
north charleston's holy city brewing hosted an all-american shindig by paying homage to a much-loved combo: burgers and beer. the event featured live music and patties from sesame, big billy’s burger Joint and others. brew flowed from holy city, naturally, along with coast brewing company a few other local brewers. by marie rodriguez.
City Scenesburgers And beer
1 8 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 71 8 FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M Special Section by Trident Health
EVERYONE KNOWS WAITING IS A PART OF PREGNANCY. BUT WHEN A PREGNANT
WOMAN IS READY TO DELIVER OR OTHERWISE NEEDS URGENT CARE, IT’S BEST
FOR HER TO SEE AN OBSTETRICIAN/GYNECOLOGIST RIGHT AWAY.Hospital PatientsDon't Have toWait to SeeObstetrician
The new Ob/Gyn Hospitalist Program
at Trident and Summerville Medical
Centers will ensure she does. Introduced in
July, the program provides obstetrics and
gynecology coverage at both hospitals
around the clock. This ensures that an
Ob/Gyn is immediately available to care for
a patient who does not have a physician, or
until a woman’s personal physician can see
her at the hospital.
Summerville Medical Center (SMC)
was the first hospital in the state to provide
a dedicated Ob/Gyn hospitalist team
with doctors devoted exclusively to that
endeavor, without private practices of their
own. Trident Medical Center (TMC) in North
Charleston began the program in August.
Both are campuses of Trident Health, which
is partnering with Ob Hospitalist Group
(OBHG) to offer the dedicated program at
the two hospitals.
Dr. Susan Kady Wilson leads the team
at SMC, while Dr. Larry Wilson spearheads
the TMC group. All the physicians are
board certified in their specialty and have
received additional training in advanced
fetal monitoring, risk management and
operative delivery.
“We provide an Ob/Gyn in the hospital
24/7, 365 days a year,” says Dr. Wilson.
“One of the most recognizable advantages
is having someone in house when an
emergency presents.”
At the same time, patients appreciate
having an on-site Ob/Gyn who can quickly
discern when a woman does not need
emergency care or hospitalization so she
can return to the comfort of home.
Dr. Christine Case, an Ob-Gyn with
CoastalWomen’s Care, sees the new program
as an added layer of safety for patients.
“If they come in with an obstetrical
emergency, there will be a doctor at the
hospital ready to take care of them.”
Dr. Susie Wilson withone day old Merritt Beckaham.
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 1 9
N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 1 9Special Section by Trident Health
Renovated Breast Care CenterFocuses on Patient Comfort
Extensive renovations of the Trident Breast Care
were completed in June, and patients are offering plenty
of compliments.
“They are just amazed at how good it looks,” says
Medical Imaging Director Jodi Barteet, who envisioned
and oversaw the expansion project. “It’s very private
and has a serene atmosphere. It’s very calming.”
The center is located on the Trident Medical Center
campus at 9313 Medical Plaza Drive in North Charleston.
The Trident Breast Care Center has grown by 75 percent,
from 5,000 to 8,800 square feet, and now has a second
waiting area that is for patients only.
Given the stress that many women feel when going for
a mammogram or a biopsy, the staff wants them to feel
as comfortable as possible. Barteet toured breast care
programs in other cities to gather ideas during the
planning process and also drew inspiration from the
modern day spa.
In addition to a color scheme of cream, light tan and
soft blue, the center soothes the senses through music,
aromatherapy and lighting. The private waiting area
includes a station with coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Barteet had a chance to experience the impact of
those improvements from a patient’s perspective when
she underwent a biopsy at the newly renovated center.
“The atmosphere really did help calm me down while I
was there,” says Barteet, who received good news from
her results.
The Trident Breast Care Center has a dedicated staff
with board-certified mammography radiologists and
a breast navigator who helps guide a patient through
the next steps following a cancer diagnosis. “Our team is
extremely passionate about what they do,” Barteet says.
Plus, patients have the added assurance of being
treated at a center that specializes in breast health.
“We are very experienced, and that’s at every level of
the team,” says Dr. John McGue, the center’s lead
interpreting physician.
The Trident Breast Care Center is accredited by the
American College of Radiology (ACR). The center uses
only digital mammography, which provides more
clarity than analog mammography. In most cases,
patients receive same-day mammogram results.
To schedule an appointment, please call 843-847-4883.
In most cases, patients receivesame-day mammogram results.
The center offers the following
procedures:
3screening mammography
3diagnostic mammography
3breast and general ultrasound
3stereotactic biopsies
3ultrasound biopsies
3bone density testing
In addition to a color scheme...
the center soothes the senses
through music, aromatherapy
and lighting. The private waiting
area includes a station with
coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
2 0 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m2 0 FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M Special Section by Trident Health
DIABETES, HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
OFTEN INTERRELATED, THEY POSE A HUGE THREAT TO THE
HEALTHOF AMERICANS TODAY. DR. JERRY BACK KNOWS THIS
FAR TOO WELL, GIVEN HIS SPECIAL TRAINING TO TREAT ALL
THREE CHRONIC DISEASES.
SpecialistHelps PatientsManage Diabetes
As the only board certified lipidologist and full time
hypertension specialist in the Charleston region, Dr. Back
brings a unique level of expertise, understanding and
specialty care to his patients.
His practice in Ladson – the Advanced Centers for Internal
Medicine – focuses on strategies for adult patients who are
grappling with a diagnosis in one or more of these areas.
“About 50 percent of the people that I see are referrals from
other doctors. That’s really an honor.”
A recognized expert in diabetes management, Dr. Back is a
leader in the Charleston area for the number of insulin pumps
he installs each year, and he is known for simplifying treatment
plans through their use. Because of the quick success his patients
typically enjoy in meeting blood sugar goals, his practice has
been held up at conferences as a national model to follow.
Dr. Back also works toward prevention, for example, offering
the PreDx Diabetes Risk Score, which measures biomarkers
in blood and scores the likelihood of someone developing
diabetes within five years. This helps patients reduce their risks
through lifestyle changes and possibly medication.
Likewise, Dr. Back believes that dying prematurely from
stroke and heart disease is entirely preventable. He is at
the forefront of those efforts as the only internist in the
Charleston area who is a board-certified specialist in
cholesterol management.
Dr. Back consistently receives top patient satisfaction
scores when compared with HCA Healthcare providers from
across the country. In the month of June, he was ranked No. 1.
That’s likely due to his successful results – and his emphasis on
personal care. “Not only do I enjoy the intellectual challenges
that go along with practicing medicine. I also find it to be a very
spiritual force on my life.”
Dr. Jerry Back is the only boardcertified lipidologist and full timehypertension specialist in theCharleston region.
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 2 1N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 2 1Special Section by Trident Health
SHE CALLED IT HER “WEEKEND HYSTERECTOMY.” IT’S SOMETHINGBRIDGETTE MANNING LAUGHS ABOUT NOW, BUT LAUGHTERWAS THE LAST THING ON HERMINDWHEN SHEWAS SUFFERINGFROM ENDOMETRIOSIS. WITH THREE BUSY YOUNG CHILDREN,BRIDGETTE COULDN’T CONSIDER TAKING AMONTH AND A HALFOFF FROM LIFE FOR A TRADITIONAL HYSTERECTOMY.
Robotic Surgery GivesPatients A New Option
In 2010, she was glad to learn from her gynecologist about a new
alternative available through Trident Health’s South Carolina Institute
for Robotic Surgery: minimally invasive hysterectomy.
“It was easier for me than having my wisdom teeth removed for
my braces,” says Bridgette. “I came out of surgery with just band aids,
and I was at home the next morning. With absolutely no pain, my
recovery was amazing.”
Likewise, Nancy Drago didn’t realize howmuch pain and discomfort
her gallbladder caused her until she had it removed. She didn’t realize
how simple her recovery would be until after the operation.
Nancy returned home within a few hours of her surgery at Trident
Medical Center, and within two days, she returned to her work as an
accounting manager for the Town of Mount Pleasant.
Her surgeon, Dr. Jeff Lafond, provided the expertise of 17 years
of operating experience and skilled support staff. He and Nancy
benefitted from the latest generation of robotics – the da Vinci
Single-Site (Si) HD Surgical System. With it, he removed her gallbladder
through a single incision, hidden at her belly button. “Now that it’s
healed up, you would never be able to tell I had surgery,” she reports.
“Not at all.”
In the four years since Trident Health launched its robotics
initiative, the Institute has performed over 2,100 procedures, more
than twice as many as any other hospital or health system in
the Lowcountry.
Trident is now an observation site for training surgeons from
throughout the US. Local surgeons have emerged as superstars in
their respective fields and the surgical team as a whole has earned
recognition for efficiency and superior outcomes.
Trident’s program started in 2008 with prostate surgery, and it
soon became clear how robotics would boost quality outcomes for
patients and redefine expectations for recovery. In the early years,
Trident Health incorporated robotics in kidney procedures and
gynecologic surgeries. Now, it also uses the technology for general
surgeries such as gallbladder removal, thoracic procedures and
esophageal repairs as well.
“We’ve taken full advantage of the new possibilities that da Vinci
surgery provides, and our program at the South Carolina Institute for
Robotic Surgery continues to grow,” says Trident Surgical Services
Director Donna Daws.
Bridgette Manning wasback at home just a dayafter her hysterectomy.
The da Vinci Surgical System combines superior 3D high definition
vision, patented EndoWrist instruments and Intuitive motion to allow
for unparalleled precision, visualization, dexterity and control.
The end result: a breakthrough in surgical capabilities that is changing
the experience of surgery. For the patient, that can mean less blood
loss, less pain and less scarring thanmore conventional methods.
Moreover, Trident Health continues to integrate new capabilities
offered through da Vinci. They were the first in the Lowcountry to
use Intuitive Firefly Technology, recently used by Dr. Ted Brisson
while removing part of a patient’s kidney. Luminescent dye helps
distinguish cancer from healthy tissue, which shows up neon green.
Through it all, Trident Health has shown its commitment to robotic
surgery by investing in training and equipment. The robotics team is
made up of 18 surgeons and now is on two campuses – TMC in North
Charleston and Summerville Medical Center (SMC), which acquired a
da Vinci Si HD Surgical System in September.
SMC Surgical Services Director Bill Jones says the new robotics team
in Summerville has benefited greatly from training at TMC. “We have
the resources of one of the best surgical robotics programs in the
country immediately available to us,” he says. “The future is here.”
2 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m2 2 FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M Special Section by Trident Health
Trident Health has three EmergencyDepartments conveniently locatedthroughout the Tricounty.
IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A STREAMLINED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, TALK WITH WILLIAM
PASSMORE, WHO COLLAPSED ONE MORNING THIS SPRING WITH THE CLASSIC SIGNS OF A STROKE.
Thanks to insightful communication
with first responders from the field, the
staff in the Emergency Department at
Trident Medical Center (TMC) got a
head start in preparing for a CT scan of
Passmore’s brain. That test confirmed that
he needed a clot-busting drug within three
hours of his stroke’s onset to be effective.
“That medicine and the quick response
of the people at the hospital and in the
ambulance saved me,” says Passmore.
“They are the reason I’m walking
and talking.”
It’s true that Trident’s Emergency
Department is constantly refining its
response to stroke to ensure that patients
receive the right treatment as quickly as
possible. The staff also prepares for cardiac
arrest, trauma cases, critically ill children
and countless other possibilities. “You have
to be prepared for anything,” says Preston
Wendell, MD, who led the response in
Passmore’s case and now serves as director
of the Summerville Medical Center (SMC)
Emergency Department.
In making sure they can best serve each
individual patient, the emergency staffs
also look at the bigger picture. Three years
ago, the emergency departments at TMC
and SMC introduced a fast-track system
to assess and treat less critical conditions.
Overall, patients are seen and receive
treatment faster. “We streamlined, and
we cut our wait times drastically,” says
David Mizzell, RN, director of the TMC
Emergency Department.
In fact, Trident Health updates digital
billboards with the real-time waits for their
emergency departments at TMC, SMC and
Moncks Corner Medical Center. “We’re not
afraid to put our times out there,” says
Mizzell, “and it shows we are always
challenging ourselves to do better.”
Trident Health has other statistics worth
talking about, too, for example, door-to-
balloon (D2B), time, which tells how long
it takes to unclog a heart attack patient’s
artery after the patient’s arrival at the
hospital. The average door-to-balloon
(D2B) time for Trident Health is 54 minutes
compared to the national standard of
90 minutes.
To that end, Trident Health has worked
with local EMS so that an EKG for a
suspected heart attack patient can be
transmitted from the field to the hospital
before the patient’s arrival. This helps with
early diagnosis and allows the cardiac
catheterization lab to be fully prepared.
For larger scale emergencies, Trident
Health helped bring e-Net Messenger to
the Lowcountry. This new communication
platform allows text and voice messages to
be sent simultaneously to multiple users in
the local emergency medical community,
which can save valuable time in crisis and
mass casualty situations.
“Every day, we look at areas we can
improve,” Mizzell says.
Seconds that Save Lives
N O R T H C H A R L E S TO N O N L I N E . C O M FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 2 3Special Section by Trident Health
MEDICAL HOME MAY BE A HEALTH CARE BUZZWORD, BUT THE STAFF AT TRIDENT FAMILY HEALTH HAS SOUGHT TO PROVIDE
SUCH A PLACE FOR ITS PATIENTS FOR MANY YEARS.
New Family Practice Focuses on Coordination of Care
Previously known as University Family Medicine, the practice sits
to the left of Trident Medical Center (TMC). It’s just a short walk from
the Emergency Department entrance, allowing convenient access to
all services on the hospital campus.
“Being on the Trident Medical Center campus and serving primary
care needs for people from newborn age to elderly – it’s a perfect
setup for the most comprehensive care you can think of,” says Dr.
Maria Gibson, Trident Family Health Medical Director.
Before Trident Health acquired it this spring, the National
Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognized the practice as
a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home – the highest level possible.
As a result of the change in ownership, the practice must re-apply for
the recognition. Yet, Dr. Gibson says the shift provides patients with
better coordination of care and communication between primary
care physicians and specialists than before.
Trident Family Health’s history is rooted in an earlier partnership
between TMC and MUSC’s Family Medicine Residency Program,
and much of the setup remains the same. Each patient benefits
from medical care provided by a clinical team of nurses, family
medicine resident-physicians and MUSC faculty. Physicians see
patients in the practice’s family medicine center and follow
them to the hospital setting. Pregnant patients, for example, will
benefit from their primary care doctor being on hand for labor
and delivery.
Trident Family Health is also distinguished by the following:
3 A philosophy of partnership between the patient and
physicians with an evidence-based approach to care.
3 Walk-ins and scheduled weekday appointments as well as
24/7 telephone access to Trident Family Health doctors.
Appointments are often available within one hour of a
patient’s phone call.
3 Multiple physicians recognized as Best Doctors in America
and by the NCQA for care of patients with diabetes, stroke
and cardiovascular diseases.
3 A wide variety of other services that also includes women’s
health, cancer prevention and sports medicine.
3 Effective use of information technology to support the patient
and promote seamless communication among all providers.
3 Cultural and linguistically appropriate efforts, including
teams that can provide health care in Spanish as part of the
Salud Project.
3 The ability to serve patients of any age, which allows multiple
family members to see the same doctor. “We are honored to
serve as many as three generations from one family.”
-Dr. Gibson, Medical Director
Call 843-572-8277 to learn more or schedule an appointment
with Trident Family Health.
From left to right first row:Ashleigh Igbokwe-Hamliton, MD; MarcelinoYera-Paez, MD; SecondRowMaria Gibson,MD;Maribeth Porter, MD;Alex DeCastro, MD; ThirdRow John Freedy, MD, PhD;
Photograph by Dan Hale2 4 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m2 4 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
C l e m S o n u n i v e r S i T y r e S T o r aT i o n i n S T i T u T emeet some of the resident and visiting scien-tists at cUri (from left): Paul mardikian, ryan schkoda, Johanna rivera, nestor Gonzalez (back, white shirt), nick rigas (front, in blue shirt), curtiss fox, Jim tuten and Dr. tom salem (far right).
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 2 5
What makes North Charleston such an economic dynamo? Why does all the
really big business news seem to emanate from here? Its network of deep-water
ports, rail, airports and highways? Its longtime role as a manufacturing center of the
Charleston region? These are all factors, but they’re not the real story. It’s the people.
The workforce. The big brains churning on complex processes. The ideas sparking
across the city, nearly every hour of every day.
Consider the aeronautics and manufacturing expertise at Boeing and its myriad
suppliers. The global business savvy of an outfit like The InterTech Group. The
secretive intelligence of the city’s growing cluster of defense contractors. Medicine,
education, science, manufacturing, innovation and leadership. We’ve got it all.
Here’s a look at some of the smarts behind the success.
b r a i n
2 6 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Image by Renk Test Systems
i n n ovAt i o n & le A d e r s h i pNorth Charleston’s official motto is “A
great place to live, work or play.” Its unoffi-
cial motto might well be: “A great place to do
business.” Threads of independent think-
ing, risk-taking and quick decision-making
are woven into the fabric of the place. City
officials are known to move quickly and tap
into deep political and business connections
to solve problems and open up new opportu-
nities for businesses, to forge public-private
partnerships that foster creative thinking
and nurture innovation.
Organic results bubble up, creating clus-
ters of innovation in everything from renew-
able energy to neo-traditional development
efforts, defense software and cutting-edge
manufacturing. The city’s even home to the
Lowcountry Innovation Center, a workplace
that caters to “knowledge-based workers.”
Leadership comes not just from forward-
thinking municipal officials. The Charleston
Metro Chamber of Commerce is headquar-
tered in North Charleston, as is the Charles-
ton Regional Development Alliance. Such or-
ganizations not only help lure new business
and support start-ups but also regularly host
conferences, idea exchanges and high-level
meetings that focus on innovation.
Every year since 1974, dozens of the Low-
country’s movers and shakers have enrolled
in the Chamber’s 10-month Leadership
Charleston program. The course features
robust exploration and discussion of politi-
cal, social, and economic affairs, touching on
everything from schools and hospitals to the
port and military facilities.
The Chamber also recently hosted its
first Emerging Technology Exchange, which
focused on data mining. Fittingly, the event
was held on the campus of the Clemson Uni-
versity Restoration Institute, known as CURI.
Perhaps no operation in North Charleston,
or perhaps even the Lowcountry, embodies
the spirit of innovation quite like CURI. At
the growing campus on the old Navy base,
Clemson’s internationally flavored collection
of resident and visiting scientists simulta-
neously preserve the past while laying a
foundation for the region’s future.
This dovetailing of past and future is best
seen in the groundbreaking work being
done on two of CURI’s marquee projects:
the conservation of the Civil War submarine
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 2 7
H.L. Hunley and the installation of a nearly
$100 million wind-turbine testing facility.
The Warren Lasch Conversation Center
(located in the same building as CURI’s staff
offices) still houses the sub as it is prepared
for display at a planned museum in North
Charleston. The lessons learned through
the preservation of the centuries-old iron
hull led CURI conservators to develop new
processes that remove corrosion without
compromising artifacts underneath. Further
refined and scaled up, these advanced
engineering techniques may one day protect
cargo ships, steel bridges and, of course,
offshore wind turbines.
CURI’s main focus when it comes to wind
power doesn’t lie in the notoriously un-
friendly interaction of metal and saltwater.
Its scientists are also concerned with helping
green energy innovators around the world
figure out how to test and improve the ever-
bigger drivetrains needed to make this form
of renewable energy economically viable.
In 2009, Clemson was awarded a $45
million grant by the U.S. Department of
Energy to develop a unique testing facility
that would do just that. That start-up fund
was augmented by more than $50 million in
public and private funds.
Crews already have laid the concrete foun-
dation for CURI’s 7.5-megawatt test rig, which
is expected to be installed early in 2013. A
colossal, four-story, 15-megawatt rig will
follow soon after. Both testing rigs will live
in a massive, white building near the Lasch
Center. CURI’s property includes deep-water
access needed to receive giant turbine drive
trains from manufacturers around the globe.
Nick Rigas, senior scientist and director of
the wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility,
says the project represents the kind of in-
novation the state needs to attract and retain
world-class designers and engineers.
“Innovation boosts the economy and
drives work force development,” Rigas says.
“The drivetrain testing facility is designed
to meet industry’s future needs, and job cre-
ation requires a similar long-term view.”
Work also has begun on the Zucker Fam-
ily Graduate Education Center, which will
be used by cutting-edge industries to form
the public-private partnerships needed to
commercialize their innovations. The center,
which will be built next to the Lasch Center,
T u r B i n e T e S T r i gthis rendering shows the size of the 15-megawatt rig planned for clemson's test facility in north charleston.
r e S T o r aT i o nconservators at clemson restoration institute work on an 19-century frame and the civil war submarine h.l. hunley.
Photographs by Matt Winter (top) and Grace Beahm
2 8 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
got a kick-start in 2012 when the Zucker fam-
ily (see more on p. 30 ) gave $5 million to help
pay for the facility.
Clemson President James Barker said it
will become “the go-to place for innovation
in advanced materials, the environment and
sectors related to energy, power systems,
logistics and transportation.”
m A n u fAc t u r i n gUntil a few years ago, if you asked the aver-
age Lowcountry resident what kind of work
goes on in and around North Charleston,
they’d most likely mumble something vague
about manufacturing.
Of course, if you ask that question now,
you’ll most likely get an answer involving
just one company: Boeing.
North Charleston’s reputation as a manu-
facturing mecca is well-deserved, and it pre-
dates the arrival of the aeronautics giant. For
decades, North Charleston (incorporated and
otherwise) has served as the Lowcountry’s
industrial base. The city and its unincorpo-
rated edges are home to an array of manu-
facturing operations, along with the army of
managers, engineers and machinists needed
to keep such processes humming.
Consider Cummins Inc., which is expand-
ing its turbocharger manufacturing opera-
tion at the Palmetto Commercial Park on
Leeds Avenue. The company expects to add
dozens of positions to its stable of engineers
and mechanical and electrical technicians
over the next few years.
Look, also, to the Robert Bosch plant over
on Dorchester Road, with more than 1,500
workers churning out the latest in passenger
car diesel and gasoline fuel injectors, anti-lock
brakes and electronic stability controls.
These are just the well-known companies,
North Charleston’s manufacturing sector ex-
tends to petroleum products, specialty chemi-
cals, shipbuilding, metal fabrication, even
custom liquor manufacturing. Every one of
these companies requires not only skilled line
workers but also teams of highly educated
engineers and production managers.
Of course, you won't find processes any
more complex than at North Charleston's
new big boy on the manufacturing block.
“We don’t build toasters at Boeing,” says Jack
Jones, Boeing South Carolina vice president
and general manager, prompting laughs from
Photographs by Wade Spees
a recent trade conference audience. “It’s highly
sophisticated, technologically advanced.”
Lowcountry residents know generally
what the Boeing South Carolina vice presi-
dent and general manager was talking about,
but for the uninitiated, the 787 Dreamliner
is widely acknowledged to be the latest and
greatest in commercial aviation. And North
Charleston is one of two places where they
undergo final assembly and delivery.
Made of composite materials instead of
aluminum, the Dreamliner boasts 20 percent
better fuel efficiency, cabin comforts like big-
ger windows and higher humidity, and other
tech marvels like dramatically swept wings
and a flight deck dominated by screens and
software rather than switches.
So, as you might expect, there’s a lot of
brainpower and know-how among the
6,000-member jet-making tribe that is Boe-
ing South Carolina.
There are the fabricators who make parts
to tiny tolerances. There are the people who
operate the mandrels that spin the fuselage
mold around as the composite tape is pasted
on and the autoclaves that heat those huge
composite tubes to hardness. There are the
engineers who ensure the two- and three-
dimensional plans are being followed. There
are test-flight pilots who put each new jet
through its paces. There are the back-room
analysts who track the supply chain and bud-
gets, and lawyers who draw up contracts and
defend the company in court. And there’s
Jones and his senior management team
(which until recently included a multilingual
Ph.D. named Marco Cavazzoni) whose focus
is on upping the production rate and put-
ting finished planes in the hands of airline
customers.
They came to North Charleston from
Boeing’s nerve center in the Puget Sound
region of Washington state or from the space
program in Florida; from other aerospace
companies and from military backgrounds;
and, in many cases, from within 100 miles of
here and through a special training program
at Trident Technical College.
Asked during a recent trade conference if
he had any advice for students, Jones said
education is the ticket to joining the high-
tech bustle at Boeing South Carolina.
“Finish,” he said. “Get your degree and
pursue it.”
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 2 9
e n g i n e e r i n g a f u T u r eflight test engineers and other boeing employees look over a 787 Dreamliner at the north charleston plant.
3 0 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
b i g b u s i n e s sImagine you’re sitting in an airplane, ab-
sentmindedly staring at the pieces and parts
encapsulating you as you zip along at 550
mph, 32,000 feet off the ground. Ever wonder
how someone could possibly make that
oddly curved piece of cabin wall? Or what
kind of strange material they used to make
that hatch or floor panel?
Some of the answers can be found inside a
nondescript building not far from the cluster
of trendy restaurants along Park Circle’s East
Montague Avenue. In those offices resides
a global powerhouse of a company that, in
all likelihood, owns another company that
made that piece of the plane.
“We make parts on essentially every air-
craft made in North America,” says Jay Tie-
demann, executive vice president and chief
operating officer of The InterTech Group.
“Everything from doors and hatches to floor
panels to cabin wall installations to avionics
racks, exhaust systems.”
But that’s not all The InterTech Group
does. Not even close. While many companies
pay lip service to the term “diversified,” the
folks at InterTech live it every day.
“It’s not just products. It’s products and ser-
vices,” Tiedemann says. “We are a diverse hold-
ing company. We do everything from specialty
chemicals to sporting goods to clean room
products to location-based entertainment.”
What’s location-based entertainment?
How about local restaurants, the South Caro-
lina Stingrays hockey team and a local ice
skating arena?
“We own a number of ice arenas, not just
Carolina Ice Palace,” says Anita Zucker, Inter-
Tech CEO and one of the wealthiest people
in South Carolina. “We’re going to have 17
sheets of ice in Canada. So we’re really into
the ice business.”
Naturally, InterTech’s interests extend to
fire as well as ice. Their companies make
polymers and fibers highly resistant to heat
and fire. These materials are used in firefight-
ers' turnout gear and unspecified military
applications.
InterTech has employees all over the
world, and its local workforce includes the
high-tech crew at one of its local subsidiar-
ies, including TWL Precision Inc., a supplier
of turbocharger components for engine
giant Cummins. TWL recently acquired a
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 3 1Photographs by Dan Hale
g l o B a l C o n g l o m e r aT eanita zucker, ceo of the intertech Group,
at the company's offices off east montague avenue in north charleston.
w e w i l l b e m A k i n g c o m p o s it e p i e c e s t h e r e , u t i li z-i n g m u lt i -Ac c e s s r o u t e r s to fo r m s h A p e s . w e ' ll b e u s i n g l A s e r i n s p e c t i o n stAt i o n s , Au to c l Av e s . t h i s i s n ot yo u r n o r m A l w r e n c h -t u r n i n g A s s e m -b ly k i n d o f o p e r At i o n .— Jay tiedemann, executive vice president and chief operating
officer of the intertech Group
75,000-square-foot building in a develop-
ment near Palmetto Commerce Parkway and
plans to increase its workforce to about 90
positions.
TigHitco, an InterTech aerospace subsid-
iary, recently announced plans to develop a
major manufacturing plant on a 25-acre site
within Palmetto Commerce Park and create
up to 350 jobs. The first of three phases of the
$30 million to $40 million factory is expect-
ed to open in 2013.
These expansions require highly skilled
workers and engineers, Tiedemann says.
“It’s not like making paper or screws, or
widgets. They’re very technical, very high-
performance products. They have to be
made to very tight tolerance level. We will
be making composite pieces there, utilizing
multi-access routers to form shapes. We’ll be
using laser inspection stations, autoclaves.
This is not your normal wrench-turning as-
sembly kind of operation.”
The brainpower of InterTech’s North
Charleston workforce doesn’t stop with
engineers. Managing a global conglomerate
is no simple task. It’s all done by the execu-
tives and managers in that building off East
Montague Avenue.
“We do a lot of work internationally,” Zuck-
er says. “We have to have complex financial
abilities within our company, and we have to
have an understanding of practices around
the world.”
Tiedemann says they focus not only on
serving their existing companies but also on
potential acquisitions.
“We provide legal services, tax services,
risk management, technical guidance. Fi-
nance. We are the bank for all of our compa-
nies. They don’t have to worry about where
they’ll get money to expand.
“This office is also responsible for all of our
acquisition due diligence. When we go to buy
another new business, the team comes out
of this building to assess that target entity,
ascertain whether it’s a business we want to
own, and what’s the maximum price we’d pay
for that business. What are the risks, what are
the rewards.”
Heart, as much as brains, defines The
InterTech Group’s role in North Charleston.
Anita Zucker and her late husband Jerry
Zucker, who founded the company, are
known for their philanthropy.
Millions of dollars have flowed to local
schools, nonprofits and fledgling enterprises
(including Clemson’s new research campus,
named in the Zucker family’s honor).
“We do a lot of manufacturing, but at the
same time we’re also very big supporters of
the community and very much believe in
sharing and giving back,” Anita Zucker says.
Education, in particular, is an area of par-
ticular interest for Zucker. North Charleston’s
K-12 schools must sharpen their focus on
science, technology, engineering and math
(areas known in education jargon as STEM),
she says.
“STEM is something we have to really get
kids excited about when they’re little, and
expand that process and develop teachers
who can teach it effectively, and get our kids
to want to go into more of the high-tech jobs.
“… Are we satisfied with the workforce
we’re getting? I’d say yes we are right now.
But for the future, there’s work to be done.”
m i litA ry m i g h tEverybody loves the C-17s. The giant,
globe-trotting aircraft have become Low-
country icons and symbols of North Charles-
ton’s proud military history.
Keeping Charleston Air Force Base’s 437th
Airlift Wing in fighting shape requires mas-
sive intellectual firepower, honed by endless
training.
But North Charleston’s military might
extends beyond the Air Force base’s gates.
The city supports a low-profile cluster of high-
tech, high-dollar military contractors populat-
ed by a brainy mix of ex-military types, savvy
businesspeople and software engineers.
3 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Photographs by Grace Beahm (top) and Wade Spees
Many companies are connected in some
way to the production or outfitting of the
MRAPs — mine-resistant, ambush-protected
vehicles — that are flown oversees in the
belly of the locally based C-17s.
In fact, two of the region’s largest defense
businesses will share an estimated $698 mil-
lion contract to engineer, install and support
vehicle communications electronics in North
Charleston over the next few years.
The locally based Space and Naval War-
fare Systems Center Atlantic, or SPAWAR,
recently picked BAE Systems and Scientific
Applications International Corp. for the
work.
t h e fe d sNorth Charleston is home to a number
of federal operations, some of which may
seem obscure but actually serve vital func-
tions.
One such outfit is the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, which operates out of a
quiet office suite off Goer Drive.
Scientists there work with U.S. Customs
and Border Protection officers in Charles-
ton to hunt down the bad bugs of the world
and stop them from entering the United
States. The interception of insects is serious
business, and it takes place daily in Charles-
ton, mostly because of ships from across
the globe that call on the port. They check
out shipping containers, inspect military
aircraft, airport baggage, cruise ships and
other pathways for the unwanted travelers.
The objectives are both economical and
environmental: The yearly impact of inva-
sive species and weeds in the U.S., including
control and prevention, is $134 billion.
The South Atlantic Fisheries Management
Council also calls North Charleston home.
This small but regionally important agency,
one of eight such councils across the nation,
operates out of offices near Leeds Avenue.
SAFMC scientists labor to keep tabs on fish
populations and fishing efforts off North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east-
ern Florida.
SAFMC staffers have, in recent years,
found themselves embroiled in heated con-
troversy over strict federal fisheries laws.
Meetings held in North Charleston have been
known to draw angry snapper fishermen up
from Florida and feisty environmental lobby-
ists down from Washington, D.C.
m r a Pa worker installs electronic equipment on a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle on the former navy base.
g u a r d i n g a g a i n S T i n va d e r SJohn weaver, a UsDa entomologist, uses a high-powered microscope to identify an insect at the north charleston facility.
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m 3 3
R62-831588
g e t t i n g s m A rt e rOne of South Carolina’s biggest colleges
resides in North Charleston. With about 17,000
students, Trident Technical College dwarfs
the College of Charleston and the Medical
University of South Carolina and lags Clemson
University by only a few thousand students.
With a staff of more than 300 (including 57
PhD.s), the college offers university transfer
associate degrees and applied technical asso-
ciate degrees, diplomas and certificates. The
curriculum includes programs in agriculture,
business, computer technology, engineering
technology, health sciences and more.
The school has adapted with the chang-
ing needs of students and dynamics of the
Charleston region. The college’s culinary
program, for example, filled the void when a
celebrated culinary college left Charleston.
When Boeing decided to build its plant in
North Charleston, the college developed an
aeronautics studies program.
The college isn’t just making its students
smarter. The institution plays an important
role in workforce and economic develop-
ment, regularly hosting trade and technology
conferences, academic and robotics contests,
and sustainability symposiums.
North Charleston also boasts the distinc-
tion of being one of the few cities in the
state to include more than one institution of
higher learning. Charleston Southern Univer-
sity ranks as one of South Carolina’s largest
accredited, independent universities, enroll-
ing 3,300 students. Affiliated with the South
Carolina Baptist Convention, the university
awards bachelor’s degrees in 61 majors and
master’s degrees in business, criminal jus-
tice, education and nursing.
Over the years, these colleges have helped
countless young people launch careers and
given hard-working adults the opportunity to
become smarter, better employees. n
Matt Winter, Brendan Kearney and Teresa
Taylor contributed to this report.
S T u d e n T B o d ywith a student body of more than 17,000, trident technical college ranks as one of the largest colleges in the state.
Photograph by Wade Spees
3 4 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Photographs by Matt Winter
north charleston’s new fireboat is harD to miss. biG, beefy anD fire-enGine reD, this 32-footer bristles with water cannons (also calleD monitors), raDar, infrareD cameras anD all the latest maritime rescUe eqUiPment.
The fireboat, named after retired Fire
Chief W. Frank New, serves as an on-the-
water firefighting resource, rescue boat and
dive platform. When the fireboat began ser-
vice in July, it was the first of its kind for the
Lowcountry, though by late summer similar
boats were on the way for the Charleston,
Mount Pleasant and St. John’s fire depart-
ments. The Lowcountry’s new fleet of
fireboats comes courtesy of a federal port
security grant and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The city's 12-person fireboat crew is made
up of firefighters and police officers (six and
six) who continue to undergo almost daily
training on how to operate the boat and its
many pieces of rescue, firefighting and navi-
gation equipment.
Metal Craft Marine in Kingston, Ontario,
built the fireboat. The vessel's jet drive
configuration is powered by dual Cum-
mins diesel engines, each rated at 480
horsepower, which were manufactured
at Cummins Turbo Technologies in North
Charleston. The boat weighs in at about
19,500 pounds, yet it drafts only about two
feet of water. It can hit 43 knots (about 50
mph), and since it’s steered by jet drives,
can stop on a dime.
w o r K i n g
Big & bad fireboatnew boAtAtA A first for lowcountry
B Y M at t W i n t e r
“They call it a crash stop,” says Assistant
Chief of Fleet Maintenance Leon Coker.
“We’ve done it. It’s one of the training evolu-
tions. You go from 43 knots down to essen-
tially nothing, then the boat starts moving
backwards.
“The way this thing maneuvers is unbe-
lievable. The pivot point’s the center of the
boat. You can literally walk this boat off the
pier, sideways, without touching anything,
turn the boat on axis, and back it right back
on the pier without ever leaving that point.”
The fireboat can pump more than 2,000
gallons of water per minute through four
water monitors mounted on the roof, bow
and two on the aft deck. It can fight boat fires
in open water or be positioned near land to
run lines to waterfront building fires or feed
water to a nearby fire engine. When the wa-
S m o k e o n T h e w aT e rthe city's new fireboat, named after retired fire chief w. frank new, employs a jet drive configuration powered by dual cummins diesel engines, each rated at 480 horsepower. when fighting a fire, the crew engages one engine to power water pumps feeding four water cannons (monitors), leaving the other to power the jet drive.
ter cannons are engaged, one diesel engine
powers water pumps while the other engine
continues to power the boat's jet drives.
The boat is equipped with superbright
lights, a 500-pound electronic davit and an
infrared camera.
“We can see people in the water, we can
see the hot spots on a boat that’s on fire,
things like that,” Coker says. The cabin is
equipped with VHF, radar integrated with
GPS and displays for the infrared camera.
Though the boat began service July 4, by
late summer it had already begun earning
its stripes, including responding to numer-
ous on-the-water injuries, boats run aground
and people in the water. “They’re averaging
at least a call per day if not two or three calls
per day,” Coker says.
The fireboat even fought a towboat fire on
the Stono River, on both water and land.
The fireboat crew “knocked it down with
the two front nozzles, then they ended up
stretching an inch-and-three-quarter line
off back nozzle and let James Island finish
mopping up and putting out the hot spots,”
Coker said. “They stretched hose from this
boat, tied up at the pier, up onto land to finish
putting the fire out.” N
s e e t h e fi r e b oAt i n Ac t i o nFor video of a fireboat demonstration, go
to youtube.com/northcharlestonsc.
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 3 5
mUch love to laUrel stenDer. the north charleston resiDent anD GraPhic artist recently caPtUreD toP Prize in the national rUnway to win DesiGn challenGe issUeD by barack obama’s 2012 PresiDential camPaiGn. her solD-oUt DesiGn, featUreD besiDe the likes of marc Jacobs, sean John anD beyonce, showeD off mUltihUeD lines that Ultimately sPelleD “obama.”
here, the savannah colleGe of art anD DesiGn (scaD) stUDent reveals her creative Process to north charleston maGazine, as well as her style anD lifestyle.
To whaT do you aTTriBuTe your moST reCenT SuCCeSSeS?
I have to give a lot of credit to SCAD. Going
back to school has lit a fire under me. It’s like
when you start an exercise regime and you
start running, and you hit that point where you
get your stride, and you realize you’re capable
Laurel StendergrAphic Artist
Q+AB Y r o b y o u n g
of accomplishing a lot more than you thought
you could.
Can you give uS a window inTo your winning deSign?
I found a really great typeface at Lost Type
Co-op, which is a donation-based typography
site. I was immediately struck by how cool it
was, and I was thinking how to layer it with
colors and show the process of building.
how would you deSCriBe your deSign STyle?
I like it clean and simple. But not everyone
wants clean and simple. Sometimes it’s grungy
or something different that the client needs.
3 6 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Photograph by Dan Hale
did you See you anyone wearing your T-ShirT during TeleviSion Coverage of The demoCraTiC naTional ConvenTion?
I watched the president’s speech, and I was
watching to see someone in it. But I see people
in my T-shirts regularly because I’ve been
working here so long. Usually, if I walk the (Coo-
per River) bridge on Saturday, I see at least one
of my T-shirts. It’s still kind of fun, because you
can say, "I did that."
you’re alSo a guiTariST. doeS Playing helP CreaTiviTy?
All art is really problem-solving. It’s com-
municating effectively to other people, to
provide a mood, a feeling, a tone. Music is just
a different expression of that. I used to write
and have my own band and stuff. It was the
Laurel Stender Band, but please don’t Google
that (laughs).
iS There a ProBlem you’re Trying To Solve every day? iS iT ThemaTiC?
Some of it is conceptual. You’re trying to con-
vey something to a customer about a product.
Some of it is official. You’re trying to make sure
this piece is balanced or that this is the right
font. It’s a lot more left brain than people think.
how muCh diSCiPline iS involved in deSigning?
I think it’s a lot like writing. People think that
a lightning bolt comes out of the sky and you’re
hit with inspiration. But it requires practicing
and fighting through those moments when
you don’t have a good idea. It’s sitting up at
night and making yourself sketch. I try to push
through the obvious ideas, and discover what’s
unique. You have deadlines, and you have
to get used to pushing through and working
through that process.
whaT’S your day JoB?I design T-shirts (for the Hanahan-based
company, Image Branding Group). I mainly
work with churches and nonprofits. It’s for a
new brand that a coworker and I launched
called Our Shirts Don’t Suck. That’s probably 95
percent of what I do at work. About four or five
times a year we travel to a pastor’s convention
and network and talk to people. I love getting
away from my desk for a little while.
Being from CharleSTon, how have you Seen norTh CharleSTon Change, PerhaPS from an arT-
iST'S PerSPeCTive?I like to say that I live in the Park Circle area,
but I really live parallel to Remount Road.
There are railroad tracks between my house
and Park Circle, and I would definitely be
considered on the wrong side of those railroad
tracks (laughs). But I hang out a lot in Park
Circle and I’ve definitely noticed that the art-
ists’ community in that area has really grown.
They have Maker’s Market at Mixson and arts
walks down on East Montague, and I’ve been to
a number of those.
favoriTe PlaCeS around norTh CharleSTon?
I love Madra Rua. It’s my favorite place ever.
I spend a lot of time working at the Starbucks
on Rivers. I’ve been to DIG to watch games. I
love EVO. I walk around Park Circle a lot for
exercise. I just love the area.
how muCh of your own BeliefS Play inTo your work, your de-Sign? for inSTanCe, Could you have done The Same work for anoTher CandidaTe wiTh oPPoS-ing PoliTiCal viewS?
Everybody has their political beliefs, and I
volunteered for his campaign in ’08. When it
comes to politics, I don’t think I would have
designed something for someone else.
how elSe are you involved So-Cially?
I’m involved with an organization called
Talenthouse, and I just did a design for a water
charity, an organization that brings wells to
impoverished places. Clean water is something
that is near and dear to my heart. I want to do
some pro bono projects for people like that if
I can.
regarding The ConTeST and Cam-Paign, you Said The following: "ThiS kind of uniTy iS The only way we Can reBuild whaT iS loST and exPerienCe The fuTure we all dream of." whaT fuTure do you dream of?
A place where we’re all working for
common good instead of concentrating on
hostility and what divides us. A place where
we can work on building things instead of
tearing them down or criticizing. I hope that’s
the dawn of things to come in our country. I
think we’re tired of the name calling and being
held back by the past. N
WhereCharleston
getsengaged
Barry’sJewelers
“Diamonds are what we know best”
7650 Northwoods Blvd.(843) 569-3400 R61-840348
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 3 7
C51-841155
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.
Attractionsin north chArleston
norTh CharleSTon ColiSeum and Performing arTS CenTer
5001 coliseUm DriveNorth Charleston’s premier event destina-
tion 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 daz-
zled crowds with awesome displays of skating
and stick-handling prowess ever since.
The 3,000-seat North Charleston Per-
B i g g e r an d B eTTe rsouth carolina stingrays' Pierre-luc o'brien fights for position amid Greenville road warriors in a 2012 game at the north charleston coliseum.
R55-833426
P l a Y i n g
3 8 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 3 9
forming Arts Center was added to the
coliseum-convention center complex in
1999. The city recently completed a massive
renovation of the coliseum, which included
new luxury suites, high-tech scoreboard
and 7,400-square foot addition called the
Montague Terrace. For show times and more
information, go to coliseumpac.com.
wannamaker CounTy Park8888 University blvD.
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 off-leash dog park, a park
center with snack bar and restrooms, a sand
volleyball court and horseshoe pits. Wan-
namaker also is home to Whirlin’ Waters
Adventure Waterpark, a seasonal attraction
that features slides, kiddie pools and wave
pools. For park fees and hours, which vary by
season, visit ccprc.com.
Civil war SuBmarine hunley1250 sUPPly st.
The wreck of the Civil War submarine Hun-
ley 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 his-
tory 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 onsite
or by calling 877-448-6539 or at etix.com.
Children under 5 are admitted free. For more
information, go to hunley.org.
fire muSeum4975 centre Pointe Drive
The North Charleston and American
LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Cen-
ter 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 one-
of-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. Monday
through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For
more information, go to legacyofheroes.org.
riverfronT ParkolD navy base mcmillan avenUe to hobson avenUe
The rejuvenation of the former Navy
base and nearby Olde Village and Park
Circle neighborhoods represents one of the
most sweeping changes to the city of North
Charleston in recent years. The development
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, char-
coal grills, a covered pavilion and dozens of
picnic tables next to a modern playground.
Public park hours are daylight to dark un-
less otherwise scheduled. For more informa-
tion, go to northcharleston.org.
The golf CluB aT weSCoTT PlanTaTion
5000 wescott clUb DriveNorth 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 earth-
works, classic bunkering and native vegeta-
tion. 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. to
6 p.m. during winter months and 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. during summer months. Greens
fees start at $31. For more information, go to
wescottgolf.com.
CiTy arT gallery5001 coliseUm Drive
The North Charleston City Gallery features
two-dimensional works by international, na-
tional and local artists in a variety of subjects
and media. Exhibits are rotated on a monthly
basis and may feature two or more artists
each month. Visitors can purchase prints,
note cards, jewelry and gift items made by
local artists. The gallery is in the common
areas of the Charleston Area Convention
Center and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
diSC golfPark circle
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,
offering a true 18-hole experience. Golfers
can 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 to Sunday, daylight-dark. If interested
in playing doubles, meet at the No. 1 tee, Tues-
days at 5 p.m., for play beginning at 6 p.m. n
r i v e r f r o n T v i S i T o r Sa group of otters swim down the cooper river near north charleston's riverfront Park.
4 0 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
hungry? Then Belly uP To The Bar or graB a TaBle. north charles-ton’s Got everythinG yoU neeD, from fast fooD to trenDy restaU-rants. Got another listinG yoU’D like to see in oUr next eDition? senD an e-mail to [email protected].
Diningin north chArleston
anna Bell’S10 storehoUse row, 843-554-5333Situated 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 home-
made meatloaf, fried fish, buttermilk fried
chicken and oven-roasted pork loin dressed
in red-eye gravy.
The BarBeCue JoinT1083-a east montaGUe ave., 843-747-4567The Barbeque Joint keeps it simple over at
Park Circle, from its six wooden picnic tables
decked out with checkerboard tablecloths
to a chalkboard menu and one wall made of
corrugated steel sheet metal. The menu sticks
to the same, unfussy as can be, with barbecue,
chicken or a combo platter. The pulled pork
tastes dense and meaty, benefiting from the
three sauces available, vinegar, red and gold.
Mac and cheese, baked beans, red rice and
potato salad help spike the platters, along
with cool, crisp coleslaw and collard greens
touched up with smoky pieces of sausage.
Specials change up daily, and don’t forget
breakfast. The Joint serves up Southern-style
breakfasts to a cadre of loyal locals.
Big Billy’S Burger JoinT5070 international blvD., 843-747-4949 At first blush, it’s an odd perch. But there it
is: a Bahamian-influenced burger joint in a
retail center with Quizno’s, La Hacienda and
o uTr ag eo u S ly g o o dPulled pork, slow-cooked ribs, southern fixin's … if you have a hankering for some true comfort food, check out Jim ’n nick’s bar-b-q on centre Point Drive, by tanger outlets. a staff favorite!
Starbucks. At Big Billy’s, burgers made from
hormone- and antibiotic-free beef are topped
with lettuce, tomatoes and onions that were
raised in the state and cushioned by pillowy
buns from the Normandy Farm Artisan Bak-
ery. Plus, the mustard, ketchup, garlic mayo
and chipotle mayo are made in-house.
Cork neighBorhood BiSTro1067 east montaGUe ave., 843-225-2675Cork comes courtesy of proprietor Tradd
Ashley Gibbs, a third-generation North
Charlestonian. He chose the bistro’s name to
recognize the sustainability of cork materi-
als, appropriate considering the restaurant’s
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 lo-
cal 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 gruyére cheese, black forest ham
and smooth béchamel sauce; and the roast-
ed pork loin sandwich, smeared with double
cream brie, a sweet onion marmalade and
grain mustard.
dig in The Park1049 e. montaGUe ave., 843-225-5201The name for this new restaurant in the Olde
Village indicates it’s one of the sister restau-
Photograph by Matt Winter
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 4 1Photograph by Matt Winter
rants of the successful Daniel Island Grille.
The menu mirrors that of its namesake, with
appetizers, sandwiches, salads and wraps
named for athletes, stadiums, coaches and
clubs. Clever descriptions, including the
prophetic “Tom Brady no ring this year” onion
rings, make for entertaining reading. The
sports bar ethos is expressed in wings, dips,
chips, nachos and poppers. Daily specials
allow the kitchen staff to express its creativity
and trick out basics such as meatloaf, grilled
chicken and pasta.
doe’S PiTa5134 n. rhett ave., 843-745-0026Doe’s Pita is an enigma stuffed into a single-
family house on North Rhett Avenue. Two ladies
use a variety of slowcookers and other house-
hold 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.
evo1075 e. montaGUe ave., 843-225-1796If you had an “Extra Virgin Oven” (“EVO”) pizza
in the 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
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. The EVO
crew just opened an adjoining bakery, too,
which serves up hand-crafted pastries, sand-
wiches and, of course, plenty of bread.
gennaro’S iTalian riSToranTe8500 Dorchester roaD, 843-760-9875This is old-school American Italian at its best.
The decor hasn’t changed much in the 28
years Gennaro’s has been open, and the menu
hasn’t either. Think red sauce and meatballs,
veal and eggplant Parmesan, iceberg lettuce
salads and spumoni, and you’ve got a timeless
recipe for an Italian restaurant. A few newer
items are miniature “gourmet pizzas,” steak
and fish dishes and New York style pizza, but
the piccatas and marsalas and Bolognese are
all there, too. Prices are relatively gentle, and
C51-840259
C51-840210
Stay 2 Nights, Save 20%*Must mention this ad to receive discount.
g r i d d le g r e aTJohnny’s old village Grill on Park circle's east montague avenue has been sizzling up flat-top burgers for decades. scrumptious, classic and simple, cheeseburgers don't get much better than this.
4 2 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Photograph by Matt Winter
the traditional dishes satisfy thoroughly. Get
a glass of the house red, a bowl of red sauce
spaghetti, and let the evening unfold.
gringo’S freSh SouThweST3032 w. montaGUe ave., 843-718-2225 Gringo’s, a self-styled “Kinda sorta Mexican-
ish” place, dishes up a familiar bill of tacos,
overstuffed burritos, quesadillas, fajitas,
nachos and taco salads inside crispy tortilla
shells. The restaurant fills up tortillas with
your choice of chicken, steak, ground beef
and tofu, along with rice and beans. These are
generously sized portions, straight up Ameri-
canized or “Gringo-ized” tacos and burritos.
Jim ’n niCk’S Bar-B-Q4964 centre Point Drive, 843-747-3800Jim ’N Nick’s bills itself as a Southern kitchen,
blessing diners with such down-home
provisions as pulled pork barbecue, hickory-
smoked beef brisket, spare ribs and those
teeny-weeny, oh-so-cute and oh-so-addictive
cheese muffins. The restaurant has managed
to pull off a rare double feat, inspiring loyal
devotees and critical praise. The restaurant
cleaves to the ole grilling mantra of “low
’n’ slow,” cooking its pork shoulders for 20
hours. The result: fine, tender, smoky bites,
served as a sandwich or as a meal with a pair
of sides.
Johnny’S old village grill1042 e. montaGUe ave., 843-747-1841It's been said by more than a few burger aficio-
nados that Johnny’s has got the best the best
patties in the Lowcountry. Only lunch, only
weekdays, Johnny churns out sloppy, drippy,
crunchy masterpieces from a well-used
flattop. It’s all booths for seating, and you
are sure to see someone you know from the
neighborhood every time. They serve vari-
ous other sandwiches, wedge-cut fries and
even beer and liquor. Be sure to ask for extra
napkins early — it’s too hard to ask with your
mouth stuffed with bite after bite of a massive
“Johnny Burger."
madra rua1034 east montaGUe ave., 843-554-2522Much 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 al-
coves and, naturally, Guinness on tap. Patrons
take seats at the bar or settle into snug booths
to look over a menu containing selections of
Irish extract. The pub serves such traditional
Gaelic fare as shepherd’s pie, corned beef and
cabbage, and fisherman’s pie, a dish of white
fish and shrimp set with mashed potatoes,
cheese and a creamy sauce.
manny’S mediTerranean Cafe 3032 w. montaGUe ave. 843-789-4350Manny’s Mediterranean Cafe focuses on pita
sandwiches, hand-tossed pizzas, authentic
Greek specialties and platters and, of course,
gyros. Long the restaurant’s top seller, Man-
ny’s roasts its gyro meat in a tall, vertical spit,
carving out the strips for inclusion on pita
bread, along with lettuce, tomatoes, onions
and tzatziki sauce.
marie’S diner5646 rivers ave., 843-554-1250At first glance it may seem like most other
hole-in-the-wall “meat-n-three” restaurants,
but, trust me, this is a good thing. Order your
meat and sides, and the wait staff will pile
up your plate from the buffet line. Can’t
decide on one meat? Too many sides to
choose from? No problem. Marie’s is all you
can eat! Finished with your fried chicken?
Order up some pork chops! Polish off your
mac-n-cheese before the green beans? Just
hop up and get some more! Wash it all down
with sweet tea, loosen your belt a notch, and
consider a nap instead of heading back to
work.
markeT STreeT Saloon7690 northwooDs blvD., 843-576-4116How 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 show-
manship. 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.
mikaSa room aT TridenT TeCh 7000 rivers ave., 843-820-5097If 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 opera-
tion on campus in a sophisticated new facility,
and the public can dine most weekdays of the
fall school semester. The two teaching kitch-
ens are visible from the dining room, and the
menus reflect students’ willingness to please.
Mikasa opens and closes with the ebb and
flow of college semesters, so call ahead before
making the trip.
The noiSy oySTer7842 rivers ave., 843-824-1000One of several Lowcountry locations, The
Noisy Oyster is a place that has the look and
feel of a beachy seafood shack, no matter
how far it is from saltwater. Thatched roofs
and surfboards adorn the ceilings, tropical
ceiling fans spin lazily, and fishing imagery is
everywhere. The menu is, of course, mostly
about seafood and is served up in myriad
ways. Coconut shrimp, calamari, grilled tuna,
whole fried flounder, shrimp and grits, and
d i g i TDiG in the Park
serves up great sports bar fare, in-
cluding wings, dips, chips, nachos and poppers. but look
out for specials such as meatloaf, grilled chicken and pasta.
Photograph by Bruce Smith/AP (top) and Gareth Fuller/AP n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 4 3
the favorite steam pot are but a few options.
Family-friendly, The Noisy Oyster offers food
and fun for everyone.
Park Pizza Co.1028 e. montaGUe ave., 843-225-7275Evo gets a lot of press for pizza in Park Circle,
but Park Pizza has made it to its first anniver-
sary in the neighborhood making mighty fine
pizza, too, plus calzones, sandwiches and sal-
ads. The shop is tiny, and in summer heats up
with the red-hot ovens running full-blast. But
there is sidewalk seating, a take-out option …
and Park Pizza delivers, too.
Pho #1 h&l aSian markeT 5300-1 rivers ave., 843-745-9623A 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
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.
SeSame BurgerS and BeerS4726 sPrUill ave., 843-554-4903For burger devotees, Sesame holds uncom-
mon appeal. The restaurant builds everything
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 ba-
sil 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 char-grilled corn on
the cob. Ditto for the beer, a strong collection
of 60-plus varieties.
TePPanyaki grill 5900 rivers ave., 843-746-9882Teppanyaki describes a Japanese style of
cooking that uses a steel-top grill to prepare
food. But in North Charleston, they aren’t just
grilling. They’re frying and fricasseeing, stew-
ing and steaming, smothering and covering,
simmering and searing. The Teppanyaki Grill
and Supreme Buffet lives up to its promise,
cranking out a mountain of cuisine: sushi and
deviled eggs, macaroni and cheese and egg
drop soup, stuffed crabs and lo mein, Peking-
style spare ribs and pizza. The sheer expanse
is remarkable, counting upward of 200 items,
including the cook-to-order hibachi service.
weSCoTT Bar & grill5000 wescott clUb Drive, 843-871-2135The 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. No worries, either. It’s a public
course, so everyone’s welcome. n
You’ve got a friend in the car business!8199 Rivers Avenue • North CharlestonYou’ve got a friend in the car business!8199 Rivers Avenue • North Charleston
Locally owned and operated by Robert and Kelley Crews.
We are Committed to the community...from youth sports and recreation to locally based charities, we are involved!
Great customer Service. No hassle, no pressure.
Crews AutomotiveCrews Automotive
crewschevrolet.com
crewssubaru.comCollision CenterFixed right, on time, the first time.
C01-840340
4 4 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m Photographs by Marie Rodriguez (top left) and City of North Charleston
riChard Cleaver doeSn’T need hiS SignaTure SuiT To reveal hiS alTer ego. his bearD is fUll anD snowy, his blUe eyes have a tell-tale sParkle, anD he wears GolD wire-rim Glasses for effect.
"It’s not a fly-by-night type of thing,” he
explains. “I’ve been doing Santa Claus for the
past 23 years.”
Remarkable physical likeness aside,
there’s an air about Cleaver that makes it
obvious that he’s devoted to this holiday
pastime. During his two plus decades as the
jolly guy from the North Pole, Cleaver begins
Spirit of Santa
B Y k at i e a b b o n D a n z a
l o o k fa m i l i a r ?richard cleaver has been serving the city as santa for years.
visiting with kids in mid-November and, in
the past, finished up at three or four in the
morning on Christmas Day, often cramming
multiple gigs into one day. During the North
Charleston Christmas Festival alone, Cleaver
listens to wishes and takes pictures with
1,200 kids over the course of 48 hours. The
sessions with Santa were so popular, they
added another day this year.
“If you have love in your heart, it’s
not hard,” says Cleaver, whose Southern
residence is in Goose Creek, although he’s
worked as the North Charleston St. Nick for
“many years.” What he does find difficult,
however, are the parents who foist their
scared or bawling children on him for the
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 4 5
R72-836240
sake of a snapshot.
“You get a few criers, but I try not to make
them cry,” he explains. “And I try not to force
them up to get pictures. There’s no sense
in putting them through that. Just to get a
picture?”
Instead, Santa Cleaver might get down on
the child’s level to try to calm her down. At
day care centers, for instance, he’ll play with
the kids who are excited about his visit and,
sure enough, the criers will calm down and
join in on the fun.
“The only training I’ve had is I’ve got 17
grandchildren,” Cleaver says. When his
grandchildren were small, they’d “work”
alongside him, dressed as elves. But they
didn’t necessarily grasp how seriously their
Santa took his job. Cleaver tells of a Christ-
mas Eve when he and the grandkids were out
delivering gifts, and some children up the
street tried to flag him down.
“One of my elves looked at me and asked,
‘Are we scheduled to go up there, Grandpa?’ I
said, ‘That’s Santa to you.’”
And off they went for a quick visit. The
kids anticipating his arrival had just driven
in from Baltimore, and had spent the car ride
fretting that Santa might not know how to
find them, given that they weren’t spending
the night tucked in their own beds.
“The impromptu things are sometimes the
best,” Cleaver says, although he also enjoys
the mainstay events, like riding atop the fire
truck during the parade and eating breakfast
with the kids.
“The first time we did breakfast with
Santa, we had 15 families,” he explains of the
North Charleston tradition where he dines
with tots, occasionally stealing some of
their eggs for fun. “Now, we’re chockablock
for two hours.”
In the past, when his whiskers were still
“black, red and yellow,” the folks at Olde Vil-
lage Barber Shop on East Montague Avenue
would powder his beard throughout the sea-
son. Now, the maintenance is less about color
and more about shaping and fluffing. Cleaver
has also pared down his seasonal assign-
ments, sticking with the North Charleston
festival and a few others, which ensures he
can spend Christmas Eve with his family and
neighbors “as a civilian.”
On Christmas Day, Cleaver and his wife
hitch up the old sleigh and head to the beach
to relax. After the hustle and bustle of the
holidays, this Lowcountry Santa enjoys some
quiet time. n
SPeCial evenTS
Village Antiques and Collectibles: Oct.
27-28, Dec. 8-9 at the Felix Davis Community
Center in Park Circle. For updates on addi-
tion show dates, go to northcharleston.org.
Mosaics: Oct. 30 at The Meeting Place,
1077 East Montague Ave. Learn the process of
designing and creating a mosaic on an 8” x 8”
square. northcharleston.org
Tribute to Veterans: Nov. 10 at the North
Charleston Performing Arts Center, with the
North Charleston Pops! northcharleston
coliseumpac.com.
Hand Printing on Fabric: Nov. 27 at The
Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Ave.,
with Ink Meets Paper’s Allison Nadeau.
northcharleston.org
Winter Wonderland: Nov. 28-30, 10
a.m.-noon, Armory Park, 5000 Lackawanna
Blvd. Free, kids can meet Santa and enjoy
holiday activities, including arts and crafts.
northcharleston.org
Breakfast with Santa: Dec. 1, 8 a.m.-10
a.m., Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800
Park Circle. A big meal with the big guy is $4.
Tickets must be purchased in advance by
calling 745-1028 or stopping by the commu-
nity center. northcharleston.org
Christmas Festival & Parade: Dec. 1, 4
p.m.-9 p.m. in Park Circle. Carriage rides, kids
activities, parade and Christmas tree lighting
at 6 p.m. northcharleston.org
Charleston Boat Show: Jan. 25-27. at
the Charleston Area Convention Center.
coliseumpac.com or thecharleston
boatshow.com
Aesthetic Elements of Art: Jan. 29 at The
Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Ave., with
norTh CharleSTon haS iT all. visitors anD resiDents can choose from concerts anD sPortinG events at the coliseUm, holiDay festivals, leaGUe sPorts anD even local theater anD inDePenDent film viewinG. to sUbmit an event for the next eDition, email [email protected].
Eventsin north chArleston
4 6 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m
Karole Turner Campbell. northcharleston.org
Charcoal art: Feb. 26 at The Meeting Place,
1077 East Montague Ave., with Lori Starnes
Isom. northcharleston.org
eduCTion, arTS & CulTureTeen Art Workshops: Weekly throughout
the fall at the Meeting Place, 1077 E. Montague
Ave. Teens ages 13-18 will receive help from lo-
cal artist Latasha Hollins on the development
of their artistic skills. northcharleston.org
Ghost walk: Oct. 27 at the The Meeting
Place, 1077 East Montague Ave. Spooky tales
and creepy legends appropriate for all ages.
northcharleston.org
Open Studio Workshop: Oct. 30 at The
Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Ave.
Workshop featuring Mosaics with Steve
Lepre. 843-740-5854
Disney on Ice presents Worlds of
Fantasy: Nov. 8-11 at the North Charleston
Coliseum. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
Comedian Brian Regan: Nov. 18 at the
North Charleston Performing Arts Center.
northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
WEZL’s Evening with the Stars: Nov. 27 at
the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.
A night of music featuring singer, songwrit-
ers Rodney Atkins, Darius Rucker and Josh
Turner. northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
Mannheim Steamroller: Dec. 1 at the
North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Fa-
vorite Christmas music of Mannheim Steam-
roller along with state-of-the-art multimedia
effects in an intimate setting. northcharles-
toncoliseumpac.com
A Lowcountry Christmas: Dec. 8 at the
North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Fea-
turing Larnelle Harris and the North Charles-
ton Pops! northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
Jim Brickman: Dec. 9 at the North
Charleston Performing Arts Center. Ameri-
can songwriter and pianist. northcharleston
coliseumpac.com
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Dec. 12 at the
North Charleston Performing Arts Center.
Daryl Hall and John Oates touring at the 40th
anniversary of their first album, "Whole Oats."
northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nut-
cracker: Dec. 23 at the North Charleston
Performing Arts Center. northcharleston
coliseumpac.com
Blue Man Group: Jan. 11 at the North
Charleston Performing Arts Center. Theatri-
cal show and concert combining comedy,
music, and technology to produce a totally
unique form of entertainment. north
charlestoncoliseumpac.com
Music of Stage and Screen: Jan. 19
at the North Charleston Performing Arts
Center, with the North Charleston Pops!
northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
SPorTS and fiTneSSCSU football home games: Sept. 8 v.
Jacksonville, Oct. 13 v. VMI, Oct. 20 v. Pres-
byterian Oct. 27 v. Edward Waters; Nov. 10 v.
Gardner-Webb. charlestonsouthern.edu
S.C. Stingrays hockey home games: Oct.
13 v. Gladiators; Oct. 20-21 v. Reign; Oct. 30 v.
Solar Bears, Nov. 2 v. Jackals, Nov. 3 v. Solar
Bears, Nov. 16-17 v. Everblades, Nov. 18 v.
Gladiators, Nov. 30 v. Royals, Dec. 1 v. Gladi-
ators, Dec. 7-8 v. Titans, Dec. 11 v. Road War-
riors, Dec. 15 v. Gladiators, Dec. 29 v. Nailers,
Jan. 6 v. Everblades, Jan. 15 v. Gladiators, Jan.
18 v. Road Warriors, Jan. 19-20 v. Everblades,
Jan. 25 v. Steelheads, Jan. 26-27 v. Solar Bears,
Feb. 8 v. IceMen, Feb. 9 v. Walleye, Feb. 13 v.
Everblades, Feb. 22-23 v. Road Warriors, Feb.
26 v. Gladiators, March 1-2 v. Komets, March
8-10 v. Road Warriors, March 22 v. Gladiators.
stingrayshockey.com n
n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 4 7n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n o n l i n e . c o m f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 2 4 7
Photographs by Alan Hawes (top) and Tyrone Walker 4 8 s P r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 0 n o r t h c h a r l e s t o n m a g . c o m
R50-831613