Archive for July, 2007
New Book: Salt Water in My Blood
July 29th, 2007 Uncategorized Comments
Last night was the book signing for Salt Water in My Blood: The Life Story of Legendary Seaman Capn Sonny Morrison at the town hall. The event was hosted by The Village Museum and Bud Hill gave the introductory speech to standing-room-only crowd. Sonnys wife, Jackie Morrison then spoke about her challenges trying to get Sonny to tell his life story. Finally, the man of the hour, Captain Sonny Morrison rose from his seat to recount a few of his favorite stories of growing up in McClellanville.
Sonny is a life-long resident of McClellanville and has spent that entire life on the water. The book tells many of his stories and adventures ranging from growing up on Jeremy Creek, serving his country in the Navy in World War II, and his very successful shrimping career.
The book is available at The Village Museum where all proceeds have been graciously donated. Please stop by, tour the museum, and pick up a copy of this great example of life in McClellanville.
6 Reasons McClellanville Won’t Change
July 18th, 2007 Uncategorized Comments
One of the hardest things to explain to people about McClellanville is that we are not going to be “discovered†one day and change over night. I cant blame their cynicism, because weve all known a sleepy little town that we loved to visit or pass through and then one day the town has become a city and its lost all its charm. The people that came to enjoy the “quaintness†ruined it in the process, because they didnt see what harm a few Starbucks and a Super Wal-mart could do.
First of all, to claim that we are undiscovered is simply a myth. McClellanville is frequently featured in local and national magazines and Hurricane Hugo certainly put us in the nations spotlight. McClellanville doesnt want to be famous though. The people here are warm and friendly, but that doesnt mean they are welcome to change. I certainly dont blame the people that visit here and tell everyone they know how wonderful McClellanville is. This article is to enlighten all the nay-sayers that respond “Its going to be sad when it all changes†or “what will it be like in 10 yearsâ€. I cant promise that McClellanville will never change, Ive witnessed gradual change over the years, but here are a few reasons why McClellanville is better off than most towns.
6) To start with, McClellanville is ideally located between two massive federally 
protected wildlife area. These protected lands act as a buffer between the town and other growing areas and their urban sprawl. The Francis Marion National Forests 26,000 acres of land wrap around McClellanville to the North, South and West. There are literally miles and miles of protected forest between McClellanville and all of its nearest neighbors. The Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge contains over 66,000 acres of protected creeks, marshes, and islands to 
the East of McClellanville. Our beaches are pristine and only accessible by boat. You wont find any beach houses, causeways, or parking lots popping up on these small islands as long as this area remains a Federally protected sanctuary. Both areas are home to many endangered species and are breeding grounds for hundreds of species.
5) Privately granted land trusts, like the nearby Santee Coastal Reserve which contains 24,000 acres of protected land, are growing in number each year through the hard work of organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Lowcountry Open Land Trust. Some donations may be only a few acres here and there, but once granted they can never be developed. Private organizations such as the Coastal Conservation League also contribute greatly toward protecting our natural resources and preserving our rural way of life.
4) At the core of McClellanville is its community. Town members, many of which are lifetime residents, appreciate the simple life we have here and dont want to change it. We react strongly and oppose any possibilities of change and raise our children to appreciate these same things while hoping that new town members will feel the same way.
3) The Town of McClellanville is an incorporated town in Charleston County. This gives us a communal voice in the political arena. Incorporation also gives McClellanville the power to annex new lands into the city limits and prevents other cities from annexing us. Incorporation allows McClellanville to elect a mayor and town council members to govern. We elect members who share the common concerns of the community and will fight to preserve it.
2) The mayor and town council members are granted the power to pass ordinances and other regulations to provide structure for the town. We have many important ordinances which maintain the look and feel of McClellanville and ensure that growth is regulated. There are ordinances which prohibit mobile homes, timeshares, and multi-family residences. As a part of Tree City USA, McClellanville also has a Tree Ordinance which limits the amount of tree clearing that can be done and maintains that “grand trees†such as the live oaks will be protected. There are building codes limiting the maximum size of homes to 3500 sq. ft. and 2 1/2 stories. There are zoning restrictions limiting the minimum size of new lots to 3/4 acre inside the Historic District and 1 acre for the rest of McClellanville. There is an Architectural Review Board (ARB) that governs changes within the Historic Districts.
1) Perhaps the greatest barrier against growth that McClellanville has is actually something that it lacks – public water and sewage. McClellanville is still completely on well and septic systems and is strongly opposed to changing from this. Septic tanks are regulated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and greatly limit the type and size of homes and businesses that are allowed in McClellanville. This reduces the appeal for developers to move into the area and reinforces the ordinances that we have also set in place that regulate the use of the land.
So the next time someone says “Itll be a shame when this is all gone†to you, let them know why it wont be gone any time soon.
What to do with McClellanville’s share of the Greenbelt Funds
July 17th, 2007 Uncategorized Comments
Last night was the planning commission meeting at town hall to discuss possible ways to spend the towns share of the proceeds resulting Charleston County Greenbelt Program . This is the money raised by the 1/2 cent sales tax increase that has to go to preserving greenspace within Charleston County. McClellanville has been told that we will get a share of this fund, but not how much that share will be. I went and was a little surprised that I was the only one that came out to present my ideas, but I think several people have already presented their ideas at other meetings.
My idea (see map above) was to turn the area in the fork in the road between Old Cemetery Road and S. Pinckney Street into a natural park while also creating some sort of boardwalk / bridge across some of the marsh grass at this little finger of Jeremy Creek near the small bridge. The park would add beauty to the main entrance into town and could have a nice “welcome†sign. The boardwalk would serve as a great place to take a stroll and observe nature (it seems like there is always an egret hanging out on the old dead tree in the marsh there). The boardwalk would also allow safe traffic around a rather treacherous turn that has no sidewalk and connect two existing sidewalks together. The property is owned by Rutledge and hopefully he would be willing to donate the land (for a nice tax break). Silver Hill needs a nice park to call their own and ARA may get some benefit as well. The planning commission will review all presented ideas and make their recommendation to town council. If you have any good idea, please go to the town hall and speak with Kathryn Basha as soon as possible.
I also received an email from the Coastal Conservation League asking everyone to urge Charleston County Council members to approve the Greenbelt Bank Board projects before their July 24th meeting. One of the purposed projects involves adding more land to the Francis Marion National Forest which benefits us all.
Fourth Tuesday Book Group
July 14th, 2007 McClellanville Events Comments Off
Meet at Parish House of St. James Santee Episcople Church to discuss Walker Percy’s “The Moviegoer”
Town Council Meeting
July 14th, 2007 McClellanville Events Comments Off
Town Hall @ 405 Pinckney Street
A Paddle Down Otter Creek and Memory Lane
July 2nd, 2007 Uncategorized Comments
In McClellanville just across Jeremy Creek from the town boat landing is a small tidal creek named Otter Creek. On a recent kayak trip, I didn’t encounter any otter, but I did see nature at its best while paddling through this area now known as Mouzon’s Bluff.
I start my trek as I entered Otter Creek, only 10 feet wide at its mouth. Snails work their way up blades of marsh grass slowly cleaning them as they slide. Small minnows and shrimp jump and splash as I quietly wisp through the water. In the marsh grass near the shore, I catch a glimpse of a tail, of what I am sure is a good sized spot-tail bass, swoosh off into the cloudy depth below. I continue my journey as the creek widens to about 30 to 40 feet and bends to the right and then the left.
I curiously wonder if I might encounter an alligator, which prefer brackish water but will travel in the creeks on rare occasions. Bounded by marsh grass on both sides; palmettos, cedars, oaks, poplars and gums extend upward from the mainland and often jut out over the quiet waters of the creek.
The last of the honeysuckle blooms speckle the hilly eastern shore. As a child I once slid down this hill only to find myself face-to-face with a green snake, his head as big as my tightly clenched fist. Knowing that the snake wasn’t poisonous did little to ease my mind at the time, but as it was just as frightened by the experience as I, we both left each other as quick as we could react.
Paddling along further, I see a rope tied to a cedar tree marking where childhood friends and I used to try to cross (before the area had begun to be developed and there was a bridge) on homemade floating rafts. Tiny fiddler crabs burrow holes in the steep mud bank reminding me of the cliff-dwelling Anasazi Indians. The crabs retreat to their caves and then run back out raising their one over-sized claw in a threatening manner as I safely pass by.
The marsh grass thickens on both sides leaving only a path as wide as my kayak where I breeze through and continue. Under large overhanging trees and over craggy underwater branches of fallen ones, I pass in the shady filtered light of the creek.
This is life undisturbed; an area that rarely sees a human being and is untouched by civilization except for a few pieces of trash that have floated up the creek. A chuck will’s widow proudly sings out it’s own name while a bobwhite calls back “toot-sweet-bob-white”. A kingfisher flutters back and forth over the creek as I disturb his evening hunt, and a green heron flaps up to a perch a safe distance away to wait for my departure.
My journey ends as the marsh grass claims the entire pass of the creek and I am forced to turn around. I slowly paddle back home, quietly observing nature at it’s best and reminiscing a childhood full of experiences with my best friend along this tranquil creek.
A Tribute to Robert Bruce Baldwin - Rest in Peace