Archive for May, 2007
McClellanville Real Estate
May 19th, 2007 All Articles, McClellanville Real Estate Daniel Bates 1 Comment
MyMcClellanville.net is your one-stop source for McClellanville Real Estate.
Search MLS for homes or land for sale in McClellanville
Residential - View homes for sale in McClellanville
or visit www.McClellanvilleHomes.com in the future
Vacant Land – View building lots for sale in McClellanville
or visit www.McClellanvilleLand.com in the future
Waterfront Properties (includes property on deep water and shallow water as well as tidal creeks and marshfront, but does not include ponds and lakes)
View waterfront homes for sale in McClellanville
View waterfront land for sale in McClellanville
Acreage – View large vacant land tracts in McClellanville
Neighborhoods
Historic District homes for sale
Skipper’s Point homes for sale
Mouzon’s Bluff lots for sale (in Skipper’s Point)
Broadmarsh lots for sale (in Skipper’s Point)
Adjusting to McClellanville Life
May 13th, 2007 All Articles, McClellanville Living Daniel Bates No Comments
Bob Bestler wrote a great short article in the Myrtle Beach Sun News on how he’s adjusting to life in McClellanville that everyone should read. The article really reverberates what I have heard from so many McClellanville transplants. It’s a different sort of life in McClellanville and it’s an adjustment getting used to it. You will miss certain parts of your “old life”, but overall you wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Even though I was born and raised here, I still shared these same feelings when I returned after eight years of absence. I, of course, knew exactly what I was getting into. I’ve experienced it first hand watching my wife, who has always lived in larger towns, adjust to small town life. In the beginning we both experienced fast-food and shopping mall withdrawals, but they were quickly replaced with an abundance of nature and true community.
It’s sad that there are so many people who have never looked up from their own backyard and seen the thousands of stars that light the night’s sky. Or had dozens of strangers wave to you just to be friendly and then welcome you into their conversation at the lunch time. McClellanville is calling to you, will you answer it?
Thank You ARA for Another Great Shrimp Festival
May 11th, 2007 All Articles, McClellanville Events Daniel Bates 1 Comment
Congratulation to Archibald Rutledge Academy for another great Shrimp Festival. There were lots of great vendors, tons of games for the kids, and really good food too. No wonder families come back year after year to take a break from their hectic lives for the day and relax in this amazing town. 
Preliminary reports are that this will be a record breaking year for the school. I’d like to offer my thanks to all the hundreds of volunteers that pitched in and did their part. The community, sponsors, faculty, parents, and kids should all be proud of their hard work.
Most people probably hear “private school” and think wealthy parents and spoiled kids, but Archibald Rutledge Academy shows that there is another side of the spectrum. The school operates on a budget that probably wouldn’t even pay for the electric bill of some public schools, but it perseveres. When there is a problem, no one asks for a handout, they think of a way that they can help themselves.
The shrimp festival is just one example of how the school pays its own way without the help of any state assistance or the use of school vouchers. The school also organizes a hugely successful fishing tournament in the fall. Parents of children attending the school promise to work at these events and understand that these activities are what allow the school to operate on a tuition well below most of the private schools in the area.
I do have to note my personal bias here. I attended Archibald Rutledge Academy from kindergarten to graduation. My experiences there were some of the best of my life. I was well prepared for college and placed out of many of my prerequisite classes. But more than that, I knew things that most people my age hadn’t learned: about being responsible, handling myself in proper manner, treating people with respect, and an appreciation for the environment. I know that these fundamental building blocks are one of the things that lead me to become a police officer.
For more information on ARA please contact Michelle at (843) 887–3323
Your One-Stop Source for Local McClellanville Information
May 9th, 2007 All Articles Daniel Bates No Comments
When creating this site, I wanted to create the “one-stop source for local information” in McClellanville. The way I saw it, in order to do this, you must present actual information pertaining to the local area covering a wide range of topics and it must be freely accessible and easy to read. I’m a still posting new information every day (truth be told, I’ll never be finished), but these are the reasons that I believe I am on my way to achieving my goal.
No Advertising
A lot of the local and national real estate companies are blanketed in advertisements and reciprocal links. In short, they sold out. I respect my viewers more than to sell them out to the highest bidder. Here you will find useful links to community services or businesses that are of value, but I have not received any type of payment for this and do it as a benefit to the public.
Free Means Free
Not only is the site free of advertising but you don’t have to pay or even provide any personal information to use all of the features, including the MLS search. For those of you that aren’t familiar, Multiple Listings Services, is where all participating real estate agents post their listings and agree to allow it to be displayed by other agents. On this site you will find Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester County listings. Many of your national sites do not use MLS data and are very incomplete. If you wish you can even register and receive new listings by email.
Real Local Information
There are hundreds of national companies with McClellanville pages featuring compiled data from the 2000 census and wikipedia and possibly a map. Dig a little deeper and that’s all there is though. These sites are designed to farm your information and sell it. In most cases the webmaster has never been to McClellanville in his life and certainly wasn’t raised here like I was. I write articles about the place I live, the people I know, and the experiences I’ve had in the town of McClellanville, in hopes that people who are considering moving here or are new to the area will have a deeper appreciation for this special area.
News and Events
McClellanville is a sleepy little town and as a result the media doesn’t pay us a lot of attention. We don’t get a lot of news coverage and that fine by us. But how do you find out what’s going on McClellanville if you do want to know? Well MyMcClellanville.net features relevant news stories that affect the citizens of McClellanville and always keeps you posted on upcoming events with it’s calendar of events.
RSS Feed
Not only are we the only website providing all this information (did I mention it’s free of charge?) but you can also simply enter your email address and subscribe to the site and each time a new article is posted it will be sent to your email account automatically, saving you from having to check the site on a regular basis. Just like the automatic listing emails, this is an added convenience, not a requirement for you to provide me your information in order for me to give you further information. I will never send unsolicited spam or sell or give out any personal information provided.
Community
Just like McClellanville, this website is a true community. You won’t find a welcome invitation to have your comments posted on other websites, like you see here. The comments allow you to agree, disagree, or add your thoughts to any of my articles. I have recently added The Village Community forum to the site to offer more community interaction and opportunity for people to post their own information on a variety of local topics. You can learn more about the forum here.
Note: If there is not a comments sections below, click the headline of the article and it will appear at the bottom of the page.
Where to Eat in McClellanville
May 5th, 2007 All Articles Daniel Bates 3 Comments
Downtown
Pinckney Street Kitchen - I probably eat more lunches here than I do at my own house because of the great food, chance to catch up with the friends, and ideal location across from our real estate office. Owner and chef, Sarah Scott serves up light and healthy sandwiches and wraps. Great soups and seafood dishes are always a good choice and there’s usually a creative and new special available to get you out of your slump. The Crab and Shrimp Cake is a must-have dish for seafood lovers. Did I mention white garlic pizza or ice cream for those warm summer days? With dining inside and out, Pinckney Street Kitchen has a friendly and casual atmosphere. They also do a fantastic job catering events if you are in need of their services.
T.W.Graham’s - If it’s time to celebrate or take out-of-town guests out to eat, I’m heading to Graham’s or “Pete and Claudia’s”, as it’s more commonly known. Graham’s is McClellanville’s oldest business, but offers a new taste on the classics. I go there for cheeseburgers and steaks, but the seafood is to die for. The kitchen stays hot serving up the best fried food in town. Decorated with the local artwork (including the amazing sculptures and paintings of local artist, Lee Arthur), Graham’s has a unique and comforting atmosphere. If you happen to show up on Thursday’s “Taco Night”, just go with the flow and enjoy a Mexican dish you’ll never forget.
On the Highway
McClellanville Diner - Serving up traditional American dishes, like burgers and fries, the McClellanville Diner is quick and easy on the wallet. They’re also open in the morning to help you meet your daily grits quota.
Buckshot’s - What started as a delivery service has expanded into it’s own restaurant. Buckshot’s serves up good old fashion Southern home-cooked classics.
The Crab Pot - With a name like “The Crab Pot”, you know that seafood is going be on the menu. It’s the only place you can order a bucket of fresh steamed oysters still in the shells. The Crab Pot has a full bar and live bands.
Mayor Rutledge Leland Runs Victim to Identity Theft
May 4th, 2007 All Articles, McClellanville Events Daniel Bates No Comments
According to a recent report by live 5 news, Mayor Rutledge Leland was the victim of identity theft. The report states that our beloved “Rut” received a shipment of computers at the seafood market that he did not order and a cell phone showed up on his bill that was not his. Both incidents were taken care of by the companies before any negative impact could be felt by the mayor.
In my experience in law enforcement, if this is all that happens then Rutledge can consider himself a very lucky man. Most people aren’t tipped off by recieving notice from banks or anyone else. It’s usually only when they attempt to buy a car or get financing for a house that they find they have a major mark on their credit from identity theft that has been going on for months or years.
I urge everyone to get a credit report every one or two years and follow up on any unknown charges (however, be aware that checking your credit numerous times, whether it’s you, car dealers, or mortgage brokers, can lower your overall credit score). If identity theft is caught early enough than you may be able to trace the paper trail back to the crook and catch them.
Top 10 Things to Do in McClellanville
May 3rd, 2007 All Articles, McClellanville Living, Things to See and Do Daniel Bates 4 Comments
Thinking about moving to McClellanville, but worried that there’s just nothing to do? Well we may not be the entertainment capitol of the world, but we make up for that with our natural and historic beauty. Spending time with friends and family is what McClellanville is all about, but here are the top ten things that you can do by yourself or with a group in or near McClellanville.
10. Take a Day Trip– There’s plenty of places to visit close to McClellanville: Hampton and Hopsawee Plantation, Buck Hall Recreation Area, and Seewee Visitors Center, for starters.
9. Join the Festivities – McClellanville’s Annual Blockbuster is the Lowcountry Shrimp Festival (held the 1st Saturday in May), but there lots of other community events if you want to make some new friends.
8. Hunting – If it’s hunting season and you’re looking to bag a trophy buck, turkey, boar, or duck than McClellanville is the place for you.
7. Enjoy Nature – Whether it’s a hike through the National Forest, A bike ride on the Palmetto Trail, or a stroll on Skipper’s Point, nature is all around us and is always a nice, relaxing way to spend your time.
6. Go Fishing – Is there anything more relaxing than an afternoon on the boat reeling in spot-tail bass or waist-deep in the surf with a trout on your hook?
5. Shop – Check out our businesses for arts and crafts, books by local authors, fresh seafood, strawberries, and last minute gifts.
4. Eat – It’s America’s favorite pastime and we’ve got the best restaurants around serving up lots of local seafood in Southern dishes. Don’t forget oyster roasts when it gets colder too.
3. The Village Museum – There’s something for everyone at the Village Museum. Displays and exhibits provide the history of McClellanville dating back to the Indians.
2. Tour the Village – In a car, on a bike, or on your own two feet, the Historic District of McClellanville offers great views of homes, flowering plants, live oaks, and the water.
1. Go to the Beach – You’ll need a boat if you plan to go to the pristine beaches of Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge because there are no roads. Take a picnic lunch to the beach, cruise the Intracoastal Waterway, or take a sunset cruise up Jeremy Creek.
Disagree with my choices? Think I forgot one? Add your thoughts to the comments section below
Francis Marion National Forest
May 1st, 2007 All Articles, Community Info, Things to See and Do Daniel Bates 2 Comments
The 250,000 acre Francis Marion National Forest was established in 1936 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The forest is named after Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion, South Carolina’s Revolutionary War hero, who thwarted the English troops by the use of his guerilla tactics in the swamps of the Lowcountry (The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, was loosely based on the Swamp Fox).
This federally protected forest surrounds McClellanville to the north, south and west and acts as a natural buffer from encroaching development.
Pine, oak, and cypress trees call this land home, as well as numerous protected animal including the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, and American alligator. The US Forest Service manages the forest which is open to the public for camping, hunting, hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking.
There are more than 120 miles of trails to explore, including the start of the Palmetto Trail which continues all the way to the mountains of South Carolina. For more information on the forest visit the U.S Forestry site or The Sewee Visitor Center, 5821 Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC 29429.
