[00:00:11] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to First Friday with Georgetown County. I'm Public Information Officer Jackie Broach and I'd like to introduce you to Jim Taylor, our airport manager. He is the most enthusiastic person you will ever meet about airports and airplanes. And it's impossible to talk to him and go over to the airport and, and not just be overcome with that enthusiasm myself when, when I talk to you about it. Your passion is so clear, Jim.
[00:00:35] Speaker B: Well, it's impossible to even ride in a car with me because if I hear an airplane, I'm telling my wife what it is before I see it.
[00:00:44] Speaker A: Well, you've, speaking of aircraft, you've got some pretty exciting ones over at the airport right now. Tell us about it.
[00:00:50] Speaker B: Yes, Doc is here and Gunfighter is.
Both are here.
Doc is on the apron right now and Gunfighter will be put in the hangar each night. But yeah, they're, they're gorgeous, gorgeous aircraft.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: So I can go out and I can just look at them for free. I can go in for $10 and look at them. And then if I want to spend some real money for a once in a lifetime experience, I can fly on these things.
[00:01:20] Speaker B: Once in a lifetime is right. And you know, I've seen a little bit of chatter on the Internet last couple days.
It's not inexpensive for a flight experience in that. But let's, let's quantify that a little bit at. Doc has four radio engines.
All four engines are burning about 250 gallon of fuel an hour. At 7 bucks a gallon, it's not inexpensive to keep these things in the air.
[00:01:51] Speaker A: It is expensive to fly them. So that's one of the reasons that they have to charge for, for the experience.
[00:01:57] Speaker B: But it's a once in a lifetime thing. I mean, two left B29s flying in the world.
It's here if you can squeeze it. Take, take the experience.
[00:02:11] Speaker A: Well, I may just stick to paying my $10 and going to walk around, but maybe another time because this is the second visit y' all have had in a couple years. They were here, what, last April of 2024?
[00:02:23] Speaker B: 24.
They did extremely, exceptionally well at Georgetown. They didn't have a clue the turn.
There's a lot of people that may not be an aviation geek like I am, but they're into history and coming out to see something that the greatest generation put together. You know, your great grandmother Rosie the Riveter helped make the airplane and, and guys lied about their age in World War II and, and dropped out of high school or dropped out of college just to serve Their country, It's, it truly is the greatest generation. And that's, that's what history is all about.
And to see, you know, inside the airplane, the skin on the airplane is just a little bit thicker than a soda can.
And These guys are at 29, 000ft traveling 3,000 miles to, to drop bombs on the enemy. My Lord, my hat's off to them.
[00:03:32] Speaker A: It's pretty incredible to think about and to look at them. I mean, you don't have to be an airplane junkie to, to see how cool it is.
I, I'm not an airplane junkie and I really enjoyed looking at them. And Doc especially. I mean it's, it's hard to imagine the skill of, of that aircraft unless you, you're standing there in front of it.
[00:03:51] Speaker B: Put that in perspective. It's sitting in front of the terminal right now. When I was doing my morning airport check, I glanced over to the terminal and the wingspan completely shuts down my apron. Wow. And it's, it's, it's a big, big beautiful airplane. I mean the polished aluminum is incredible. They get out of the airplane yesterday and a crew of about six people with rags just started wiping her all down.
They take very good care of this aircraft.
[00:04:21] Speaker A: Well, after all this time, she's, she's, she deserves a little TLC, right?
[00:04:25] Speaker B: Oh, come on. 80 years old and, and maintained like a modern airplane, you know. Yes, she deserves some tlc.
[00:04:35] Speaker A: So we would definitely encourage anybody who has not already made it out to see this P51 Mustang and Doc, the super fortress come out. Check it out. Talk to Jim. He will talk your ear off about airplanes and you'll enjoy it, I promise. But it's free to go. Look, $10 to tour or $20 per family.
Can't get a better family deal than that, I'd say.
Jim, anything else happening at the airport? I mean, one of the things that you mentioned to me was that you were hoping that this could kind of be a gateway event.
Tell, tell us what you're hoping this might lead to.
[00:05:13] Speaker B: For eight years I've been trying or nine years been looking to create a mechanism to have a full blown air show at Georgetown.
Now I'm not talking a, a regional type event. I'm talking scaled down to fit Georgetown air show.
We've had a number of warbirds in it on the airfield over the years and the turnout's been incredible.
Anytime there's a strange aircraft flying, I get a thousand phone calls. Hey, what is that? And what are they doing?
So people were paying Attention. And I believe we can capitalize on that interest to host a real air show at Georgetown. And that's the best way to.
I like seeing the kids out at the airport.
Instead of playing the video games and glued to their phones, they can come out, look at airplanes, get excited like I did when I was a kid.
Could lead to a great career path.
Aviation is a good, solid career, whether it be aircraft mechanics, pilots, ground support people, airport management.
It's a good opportunity and an air show will showcase all of that.
[00:06:42] Speaker A: I hope that we can make it happen. Everybody, come on out to the airport. Show them what kind of a crowd Georgetown can generate for aviation events. And Jim, thank you so much. We'll. We'll see you out there this weekend.
[00:06:54] Speaker B: Sounds good. Thank you both.
[00:06:58] Speaker A: Our next guest is a first timer. Her name is Vanessa Funny and she is with our Bureau of Aging Services. They do so many fun programs for our senior citizens throughout Georgetown County. And y' all are. Although we're getting ready for Halloween, y' all are doing a special collection for Christmas right now, right?
[00:07:16] Speaker C: Yes, we are. First, thank you for having me.
At this time. Every year, we try to do give back to our seniors that's 60 and above in the community.
We try to. We try to get donations of. Getting all sorts of types of gifts for them. Okay.
I, I also do a flyer, have a flyer out recommending some stuff, but people give as a, as a. As they want.
[00:07:43] Speaker A: So what kind of gifts do you. Are y' all looking for?
[00:07:46] Speaker C: Basically some like socks, coco emergency kits, puzzle books, notepads, you know, stocking stuff for kind. Yeah, basically things of that nature. But people also give other things as well, too. Puzzles and things like that, too, just to keep them active and doing something while they at home.
[00:08:07] Speaker A: Okay, so just like little fun games and activities, toiletries, anything that they can enjoy. You know, it doesn't have to be anything big.
[00:08:15] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:16] Speaker A: And why do you guys do this? Does it just kind of brighten everybody's day up?
[00:08:19] Speaker C: Just bringing some cheers to the seniors in the communities. You know, some of them at home not doing anything and might be alone. So we just want to show. Give some, you know, have some spirit and just give them some holiday stuff. Something that they can do. Something, some something so they can know that we still care for them, you know, and they're not alone.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Okay, so how many seniors do y' all have that you're collecting for?
[00:08:41] Speaker C: Well, last year we did a total of. Gave out 500 bags on last year.
So this year I'm trying To top that each year, I want to keep going higher and higher to reach everybody.
[00:08:53] Speaker A: Oh, wonderful.
[00:08:53] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:08:54] Speaker A: So it's not necessarily just the seniors who come to your senior centers?
[00:08:57] Speaker C: No, anyone in the. Any person that's 60 and above in the community can come get a bag.
[00:09:02] Speaker A: Well, that's wonderful. So they just. When, once they're ready, you'll advertise that and they can just run by their closest senior center and. And pick one up.
[00:09:09] Speaker C: Yes. We're. We're asking for all donations to come into our centers by December 4 and on December 11, from 10 to 12, whilst we have supplies that's, you know, limited supplies, we really.
Anyone out there that would like to be a Santa helper can come to our center. We just ask that you please have the senior a copy of their id.
It's going to be given back to you. So we, we want to make sure that each person in the community get one and not the same. Multiple people getting at the same.
Okay.
[00:09:41] Speaker A: But I can sign up to be a Santa's helper and I can actually go help, like, hand them out.
[00:09:46] Speaker C: Yes, you can. Oh, that sounds like yes, yes, you can. Because some seniors out there don't have transportation and they might can't get to. Some are bed bound, some can't get out to come to the center. So we ask them for Santa helpers as well. So if anybody out there who want to be a Santa helper, please feel free to come to our center from 10 to 12 on December 11, and you can help distribute some of the.
The goodies that we have for them.
[00:10:09] Speaker A: Oh, that sounds like so much fun. That's wonderful. Well, I'm so glad that y' all are doing this for the seniors. I know they must look forward to it every year, but y' all do so much. Tell us about the. The senior centers and some of the programs that are available. I know a lot of people, they think about people sitting there and they're, I don't know, staring over the table at each other over coffee. But y' all have a good time?
[00:10:31] Speaker C: Yeah, these seniors.
These seniors, they are, they are energetic. They do a lot of different things.
We have the congregate dining, which they will come to the center. They play puzzle game, pool. We take them on trips and they do a lot of activities. They will dance.
[00:10:49] Speaker A: They like to dance.
[00:10:50] Speaker C: Yeah, they dance, they exercise. They like to like. We get ready to do showtime at bos. Bureau of Asia for. At Howard for them. They will come.
[00:11:00] Speaker A: Girl, I need to hear more about this.
[00:11:01] Speaker C: Yeah, they will Sing, they would perform and they love it. They love coming together and doing things with each other. So that's what I love to see.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: So, so fun. I, I love to go out and watch them dance. And they're having better, a better time than people my age.
[00:11:17] Speaker C: And our agents are up to. We have some. That's up to almost 100.
[00:11:21] Speaker A: That's.
[00:11:21] Speaker C: And they're still coming actively to the centers.
[00:11:23] Speaker A: And I think the centers are probably part of what keeps them active. You know, you get out, you have somewhere to go every day, something to do every day.
[00:11:30] Speaker C: They're not, they just don't sit there. They are doing stuff in each of the six locations that we have in Georgetown, they are doing things there each day, exercising and everything, walking, like, like I said, playing pool.
Even the conversations that they're doing with each other, taking them back, back, back in the days and things like that. They, they do enjoy it and I love seeing that. We also have a home delivery
[00:11:57] Speaker A: program
[00:11:58] Speaker C: meal that we actually will go to, eat their house once a week and give them meals for the week.
So like I said, if they cannot come to one of the centers, we do offer that we would take them a meal, frozen meals that they will have for them.
[00:12:13] Speaker A: Yeah, that's great. You guys just do so much wonderful work. So our senior centers are located throughout the county and every community, I believe.
And you just have to be 60 and up and you go in and everything is free. It's a really great resource. So if you are interested in learning more about that, you think there's a senior in your life who could benefit or you are a senior who could benefit, reach out and contact Vanessa. She's at our Bureau of Aging Services. Your office is over at Howard in Georgetown and she would love to talk with you about that and get you signed up and having a good time with the rest of our seniors.
[00:12:46] Speaker C: Yes, we'll. Thank you so much. Look forward to seeing y'. All. Thank you.
[00:12:52] Speaker A: That's all for this month's first Friday with Georgetown County. Thanks so much for joining us as always. I'd like to bring you a list of important events to note coming up this month.
First, early voting for the November 3rd General Election begins on Monday, October 19th and runs through Saturday, October 31st.
Find more information as well as locations for early voting by visiting gtcountysc.govvote as usual, there are several public meetings scheduled this month. The Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee will meet twice this month on Thursday, October 8th and Thursday, October 22nd.
Both meetings will begin at 9:30am in County Council Chambers.
You may not be familiar with this committee since it only holds meetings during the months of October. If you are interested in learning more about this committee, visit gtcountysc.gov Atax County Council will meet three times this month on Tuesday, October 13, Wednesday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 27.
All meetings will be held in County Council Chambers and are scheduled to begin at 5:30pm the planning commission will meet on Thursday, October 15th at 5:30pm also in County Council Chambers.
As a reminder, if you can't make it to County Council or Planning Commission meetings, be sure to watch our live
[email protected] gtcountysc the Board of Elections and Voter Registration will meet on Wednesday, October 14th at 5:30pm at the office of Elections and Voter Registration on Hazard Street.
As Jim just mentioned, don't forget to come out to the Georgetown County Airport today and tomorrow to check out B29 dock and P51 gunfighter.
The aircraft will be on display from 10am to 4pm and tomorrow from 12pm until 5pm Want to have your voice heard on the future of the Georgetown port?
Join us at the Howard center on Thursday, October 22nd at 6pm for the Georgetown Port Redevelopment Master Plan Community Kickoff Meeting.
This interactive meeting will begin with an update on the planning process followed by breakout groups where attendees can dig into topics of interest.
Residents of County Council District 7 will have an opportunity to meet their Council Representative, Lewis Morant at 5:30pm on Thursday, October 1st at the Chopee Auditorium. Come meet with fellow community members and Council Member Morant to discuss issues and concerns in the community, ask questions and share feedback on community needs.
There are still two opportunities to learn more about the local option Sales tax, which will appear on this year's General election ballot. Join Assistant County Administrator and Director of Emergency Services Brandon ellis on Thursday, October 8th from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Georgetown Library and on Saturday, October 17th from 9 to 11am at the Waccamaw Library. If you can't make these sessions, you can find more
[email protected] lot calling all Trekkies, Whovians, Pokemon Trainers and more. Celebrate your fandom at the Southern Georgetown Library's Fandom Fest on Saturday, October 10th from 11:00am to 5:00pm Attendees can enjoy cosplay contests, trivia fandom exhibits, karaoke selfie stations and more in a fun, inclusive atmosphere. And as always, your local library branch has several exciting programs to choose from this month. Check out the library's calendar on our website for a full list of events.
Lastly, Georgetown County Parks and Recreation has two exciting events happening tomorrow and at 10am Join the goatherd for Ride the Rock, a five mile bike ride along the trails at Rocky Point Community forest. Then at 2pm Parks and rec will hold its inaugural Tackle Football Jamboree. For more information, contact the Recreation Department at 843-545-3320. For more events, please visit our website, gtcountysc.gov Join us next month another First Friday with Georgetown County.
