McClellanville News
“The New Daughter” Finally Released
May 25th, 2010 McClellanville News Daniel Bates Comments
Lights, Camera, Action!
More than two years after the filming of The New Daughter in McClellanville it has finally been released on DVD after witnessing brief and very limited theater screenings. I got a copy over the weekend and while I’m not going to become a movie critic here, I will tell you that I enjoyed it. Having met the two child actors that play Costner’s children, I have to say what a great job they both did. Ivana Baquero, who speaks with no noticeable accent despite English being her second language, should definitely be admired for her title role. Kevin Costner never disappoints (I even liked Waterworld) but I don’t think that the script gave any of the characters much depth. The Wedge and it’s surroundings, where most of the movie was filmed, are quite scenic but and also creepy at night. In case you’re not aware, let me just warn everyone that this isn’t Dances with Wolves, it’s a horror movie. Here’s the official trailer. Note that Costner says “Real-a-tor”, a pet peeve of all Realtors®, since it’s not a real word.
If scary movie’s aren’t your cup of tea, then you won’t enjoy this movie despite your love of seeing McClellanville on the big screen TV. So if it’s not something for you, I thought I’d share a few shots of McClellanville from the film with you so that you don’t feel like you missed out. Like most movies a lot of shots wound up on the cutting room floor. I didn’t spot anyone from McClellanville although I’m told that one of the dead bodies is Emmy Bronson (but correct me if I’m wrong) I also didn’t see any shots of the Arts Council which was supposed to have been transformed into the police station (see photo above), but here is what I did noticed:
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McClellanville Transformed into a Winter Wonderland…for a Brief Moment
February 13th, 2010 McClellanville News Daniel Bates Comments
As we walked out of T.W. Graham’s restaurant Friday night the snow had just began to fall in McClellanville. By 9pm the power had gone out and the snow had started to accumulate. We passed the time reading books by candlelight and awoke to a cold house (still no power) and a blanket of snow covering everything. This was the first real snow since the Christmas after Hugo in 1989, so this was quite a rarity.
We built a quick snowman and went to explore the village. A few children and adults were venturing out. Snowmen spotted the land but by the afternoon they were nearly all that remained; a brief reminder of the snow that was. We spent the day with my parents playing Scrabble and talking around the fire and were actually a little dissappointed when the power finally returned in the late afternoon and our excuse to hangout melted away.
Here are just a few of the pictures that I took around McClellanville. The parade of snowmen is at the end. Which is your favorite? If I missed yours and you want to have it included you can email it to daniel (at) mymcclellanville.net
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McClellanville Rallies Behind Idea of New Environmental Charter School for the Area
February 12th, 2010 McClellanville News Daniel Bates Comments
Last night, an impromptu group of more than 50 people crowded into McClellanville’s Town Hall to hear more details on what it would take to create a new charter school in the area. McClellanville and Awendaw, at the northern tip of Charleston County, make up public school district 1, being a rural area with lower student numbers they are served by only a public elementary and high school (McClellanville Middle School closed last year) both with traditionally low test scores that Charleston County school district has failed to improve. Attendance at the local private and public school has diminished in recent years as many parents have transfered their children across district lines to Mount Pleasant schools in an effort to save money and provide the best education possible.
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November means Oysters in McClellanville
November 4th, 2009 McClellanville Events, McClellanville News Daniel Bates Comments
I’ll go ahead and say it. I don’t like seafood. Yes, I grew up in McClellanville, “the seafood capital of the world”, but the taste of crabs, clams, shrimp, fish, and oysters has never really been that appealing to me. I try not to open with this point, because most seafood lovers write me off as crazy, but I can’t help my taste buds.
All that aside, I’ve got to say that I love a good oyster roast. It’s such a great excuse to get bundled up, go out and see friends you haven’t seen in a while. There are also, of course, OYSTERS and if you enjoy those slimy boogers (yes, I said it) then you’ve got a lot to look forward to this weekend.
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The Election that Never Was and an Important One You Can’t Control
November 2nd, 2009 McClellanville News Daniel Bates Comments
This is a reminder NOT to go out and vote this November 3rd if you live in McClellanville. No I’m not encourage you to avoid your civil duties, just trying to save you some time. You see no one is opposing our current mayor or four council member and there are no referendums to be voted on so after checking with the appropriate governmental agencies, the Town has decided to skip a costly election process that wouldn’t have resulted in anything anyway.
While I’m happy that McClellanville’s politics are politics as usual. I’m hoping for a great turnout and a turnover of the incumbent mayor in the Awendaw election. Even though McClellanville residents can’t vote, we all have something at stake in the results. With the Charleston Metro area sprawling wildly and a new stop light emerging on the Northern outskirts of Mount Pleasant on a weekly basis, Awendaw has emerged as a barrier between McClellanville and this growth. It’s also a natural connection between the wildlife that calls the Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge home.
With these important features, Awendaw’s take on growth is crucial, and the voting record of the mayor and the two more seasoned council members have indicated that not only do they support the rampant growth and over development of the area but they seek to silence any opposition and shape the racial composition of the town through selective annexation. So I’ll still be watching the polling results next Tuesday and I hope that if elected the new council members and mayor will serve their constituents and those effected by decisions well.