What's Happening in McCormick County,

South Carolina

Summer Lake Information:  Lake Thurmond, the largest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project east of the Mississippi River, was built between 1946 and 1954 as part of a comprehensive plan of development for the Savannah River Basin. Lake Thurmond is one of the 10 most visited Corps lakes in the nation, serving about seven million visitors annually. The lake offers camping, day use areas, boating, fishing, hunting, and trails. Baker Creek State Park, Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area, and Hickory Knob State Resort Park are located on the shores of the lake. Check for information about the Corp of Engineers Campgrounds and Day spots around the entire lake including Hawe Creek, Leroys’ Ferry, Modoc and Mount Carmel.   Or for further information, call 800.533.3474 and the Corps rangers will be happy to help you.

May 23, 2009:  Attention local Fishermen!! SC Burned Children’s Fund Open Bass Tournament is being held on Lake Thurmond May 23 from safe light to 3pm.  Register on site at the Dorn Landing/Hawe Creek or call 864.923.0042. Entry fee is $100 with a 70% payback.  Rules/registration forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce.

May 23, 2009:  “Breeze Fest on Thurmond Lake” will be held Saturday May 23, 2009 8pm till 12 PM featuring the band, Mark Roberts and Breeze at the Plum Branch Yacht Club, 864.443.3000.

May 23, 2009:  “The Town of McCormick Family Fun and Youth Day” will be held Saturday May 23, 2009 from 2pm to 6pm at the McCormick Fire Department. Demonstrations will be held by the Police and Fire Departments with give-aways, fun, food and prizes.  Come join in the fun.

May 23, 2009:  The Laurel Grove Baptist Church will celebrate their Women’s Conference this Saturday at 8pm (May 23rd). Women’s Day will be Sunday May 24 at 2pm with Rev. Shirley Edwards as the guest for the day.

May 28, 2009:  Workforce Development Forum:  Soft skills training continue to be an important part of workforce development in South Carolina yet continues to be difficult to define.  In order to gain consensus toward a definition, develop an appropriate assessment tool, supply information for instructional programs, and meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, the South Carolina Department of Commerce will sponsor forums in each of the forty-six counties to gather input from the South Carolina business community.  Technical skill needs of the businesses will also be addressed.

The Department of Commerce has engaged a consultant to facilitate one forum in each county.  The forums will last a maximum of two hours and the facilitator for the McCormick County forum will be Rich Nagle.  The forum will be Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM at the McCormick County Chamber of Commerce meeting room, 100 South Main Street, McCormick, SC 29835, 864-852-2835.

May 29, 2009:  On May 29^th, Savannah Lakes Resort is having a “Freshwater Coast Battle of the Bands Event” at 8pm.  Brass Tyme will be performing with other bands.  For more information call 864.391.2152 or 864.544.8912.  Tickets are $15 per person.

June 5, 2009:  On June 5, 2009 from 7pm to 10pm Willington African American Culture Cnter will host a ‘Battle of Guitars and Street Dance’ to celebrate the “Juneteenth Day” which remembers the emancipation proclamation.  Everyone is invited to Willington for the occasion. No admission fee.

June 6, 2009:  Don’t forget the PeachTree 23 Yard Sale beginning at dawn on June 6.  This event starts in Modoc and goes through to Batesburg-Leesville on SC Highway 23.  Hundreds of vendors will have crafts and other local items for sale in this event!  If you need more details give Shaaron Kohl a call at 864.378.7035 or e-mail her at skohl@wctel.net .

June 26 - 28, 2009:  Festival of flowers is June 26 through June 28. www.scfestivalofflowers.org  This event was included on the Southeastern Tourism Society’s “Top Twenty Events”.  This is when Park Seed Company opens their doors to the public of tours and you get to see the gardens.

July 11, 2009:  “Thunder Over Thurmond” is scheduled for July 11th (Saturday after July 4^th) and will be sponsored by both the McCormick and Lincoln County Councils.  Plans have been made for this great event to light up McCormick and Lincoln counties for the thousands of boaters who visit our counties to celebrate the 4^th of July.  Plan to celebrate our lake and enjoy the fireworks from your boat!  Bands will be performing on the beach at Savannah Lakes Resort & Marina.

July 25, 2009:  Willington Academy Celebration will feature Governor Patrick Noble on July 25th, 2009.  Willington on the Way will sponsor the third in its biannual lecture series featuring graduates of the Willington Academy.  This year Phil Noble, Jr. will speak on his ancestor, Patrick Noble, who was governor of South Carolina from 1838-1848.  Noble was an early law partner of John C. Calhoun and was Speaker of the SC House of Representatives from 1818-1824 and from 1833-38. He also served as Commissioner for the railroad from Charleston to Cincinnati and was a Trustee of South Carolina College (University of South Carolina).  Tickets for the day’s program are $15.

10am registration at Willington History Center

11 am Lecture on Governor Patrick Noble at the Willington Presbyterian Church. 

2:30 pm Drama: ‘Log Cabin Learning’

In the afternoon, talented actor, Richard Smith of Columbia, SC, will once again produce his one man dramatization of Dr. Moses Waddel.

3:30 Guided Tour to Academy site and Noble Cemetery.

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Bruce & Mary Smith "What's Happening in McCormick County, South Carolina"

What Will We Do?

A pet is a delight!  For those who have pets, it's easy to understand how these animals are true treasures and how they can become 'family members' very quickly!  There's something about a faithful pet and how they help make bad situations better.  For many, the family pet provides so much love and companionship.  We wonder how we ever got along without our pets. 

Some of you may remember Clementine, the white/yellow lab mix puppy we adopted in early January.  What a sweetheart!  She is truly one of those treasures!  Clementine has a delightful disposition and loves to play.  She has been so easy to train and has been following verbal commands since soon after she became a member of our family! We are blessed with her!

In these hard economic times, it is important to help people in need.  We must also remember that when families are cutting budgets and living on a shoestring, they have animals - family pets that need help too.  People are making difficult decisions about providing for their pets.  Our animal shelters and humane societies take those pets that families are unable to care for.  How terrible it must be for someone to lose not only their home but also their pet because of job loss, foreclosure, and generally difficult economic times!

Do something today to help!  Find a way to help a person in need - volunteer, donate, do whatever it takes!  And while you're at it, look in your phone book for the local animal shelter or humane society.  Do something to help a homeless animal, too.  You might foster a pet that needs a home or volunteer your time.  If you can't do that, offer to make a contribution for food or other needs.  Not just those folks in economic needs but also their pets need our help! Find a way to help today!

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Bruce & Mary Smith "What Will We Do?"

South Carolina, like any other state, faces challenges and needs that affect both personal life and growth within our state.  The Jim Self Center on the Future at Clemson University conducted a survey of South Carolinians to get information on quality of life issues.
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Which issues (from the list below) do you think are the most important to South Carolinians?  

Tell me your top three and I'll post what the study revealed later!  Also, I added an issue.  Which one of the issues below was not surveyed?

• Education
• Economy 
• Housing
• Health Care
• Environment
• Growth & Development
• Population
• Government Service
• Civil Liberties
• Crime
• War
• Other issues (name your own)
• Don't know

Top three issues in South Carolina:  

1.
2.
3.

Issue in list above that was not surveyed in the study:

_______________________________________   

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina

Bruce & Mary Smith "What Do South Carolinians Think?"

Decline Reported in Foreclosures in South Carolina

Planning for college for our children is one of the most important decisions we make as a family.  The Strom Thurmond Institute of Government & Public Affairs at Clemson University has prepared a guide, a roadmap to success designed for South Carolina children and families planning for college.  Planning for College - A Comprehensive Guide for Families provides information to help a family make educational decisions from middle and high school, but focuses on higher education in our in-state public and private schools with 2-year and 4-year programs.  Information on financial aid is included.  According to the guide, 'the future of South Carolina rests entirely on the education of its citizens - health, economic development, and overall well being - all derived from an education population!'.

Planning for College - A Comprehensive Guide for Families  represents the efforts of leaders from throughout South Carolina's technical colleges, four-year universities, research universities, and public and private institutions.  It is, according to its editor, Dr.  Catherine E. Watt, a book designed specifically designed for South Carolinians.  

For the pdf version of the guide, click here or to look at individual chapters, refer to the Table of Contents below.

Table of Contents

Foreword:   The Investment of a Lifetime, Dr. Luther F. Carter, President, Francis Marion University
Introduction:   Investment Planning: The SC Portfolio of Higher Education
Chapter 1:   Preparing for Success in College
Chapter 2:   Navigating the College Admissions Process
Chapter 3:   How Can I Afford College? Solving the Financial Aid Puzzle
Chapter 4:   Understanding College Savings and Investment Choices
Chapter 5:   Working through College: Is a Job Part of Your Investment Plan?
Chapter 6:   Maximizing Your Investment Return: Planning for Career Success
Chapter 7:   Investment Costs: How Tuition and Fees are used at Institutions
Chapter 8:   The Public Investment: The SC Funding Process for Higher Education
Appendix A:   About the Authors
Appendix B:   Web sites and other contacts

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina

Bruce & Mary Smith "Planning for College in South Carolina"

Hit the Road with Road Warriors in McCormick, South Carolina

South Carolina is a beautiful state.  And it takes the cooperation of all residents and visitors to keep it that way.  Springtime is clean-up time and May is the month when South Carolinians get together to make improvements throughout our state.  Keep South Carolina Beautiful is a state affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful campaign and a division of PalmettoPride.  The mission of Keep South Carolina Beautiful is to encourage all individuals to take responsibility for enhancing their local communities. 

In McCormick County, the Road Warriors are a part of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Adopt-a-Highway program.  Originally formed by community members from Savannah Lakes Village, residents periodically check county and local roads for litter with bags, vests and trash bags provided by the SCDOT.   This Road Warriors program has received PalmettoPride and SCDOT recognition for excellence!

The Great Amercan Clean-up in South Carolina also takes place every March - May.  It's a time when thousands of communities from throughout our nation work on projects with the goal of improving quality of life.  As part of the largest clean-up campaign in the country, volunteers in South Carolina clean up neighborhoods, parks, roads and waterways.  They plant thousands of flowers, shrubs, and trees; they recycle thousands of pounds of plastic, cans, paper, batteries, and used tires; and, they educate thousands of citizens on the effects of litter on our environment.

Road Warriors . .  . Adopt-a-Highway . . . Keep South Carolina Beautiful . . . PalmettoPride . . . Department of Transportation . . . The Great American Clean-up, South Carolina . . . all working together to keep South Carolina beautiful!

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina.

No, it's not an original title but it brings a Mother's Day wish in words much better than mine.  The words are the title of a book by the wonderfully funny Georgia American, the late Southern writer, Lewis Grizzard.  During his life time, Grizzard entertained readers everywhere - from his University of Georgia days to his days writing for the Atlanta Journal.  He was also the author of more than 20 books including an autobiography.  I was fortunate enough to see him entertain several times as he made personal appearances with his humor which kept audiences laughing for hours.

So Happy Mother's Day and remember the words of Lewis Grizzard!  Don't Forget to Call Your Momma.  I Wish I Could Call Mine!

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Bruce & Mary Smith  "Don't Forget to Call Your Momma.  I Wish I Could Call Mine!"

Living Where the Action Is!

In this day and age, many families want to live where the action is.  They look for a home in an area convenient to grocery stores, to shopping malls, to schools, perhaps to work and/or to recreational areas.  They want pedestrian friendly neighborhoods where they can walk to many locations easily and safely!  Recent studies on walkable residential areas conducted in Seattle, Washington and reported in the Seattle Times  have shown that walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to health, to the environment, and to the individuals who live in the communities.

According to Walk Score, benefits include:

• Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.  In addition those residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.
• Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of environmental problems. Your feet cause zero-pollution.
• More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car according to Sightline Institute!
• Increased social capital: Walking promotes face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Sightline also reports that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, the time spent in community personal interaction falls by 10%.
• Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.

If you  like to walk and are looking for a home, check out the  best neighborhoods for walking and their walk scores in neighborhoods in 40 United States cities.

Bruce and Mary are South Carolina REALTORS® specializing in Savannah Lakes Village, a planned retirement and second home golf and lake front community in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Bruce & Mary Smith  "Living Where the Action Is"