Why Grand Strand "at the beach"

(Published in the magazine "Living Here".)  We'll probably never know exactly why Claude Dunnagan decided to use the term "Grand Strand" in the title of his regular column in the Myrtle Beach News back in late 1949.  It's just likely that it was just an opportune rhyme for an area already promoted by local boosters as "America's Finest Strand."  But whatever the reason, the name stuck.  A week after it first appeared in print, it was already being used in other headlines to refer to our local area.
     A decade later, the General Assembly made it official in a legislative resolution:  "The Name "The Grand Strand," the resolution said, "vividly blends fun and ideal living with this excellent seashore resort area."  In 2012, 63 years after the term was coined, it's still true.  The beaches are as attractive as ever, the climate lends itself to sandals and t-shirts 11.5 months of the year and it's one of the few places where you can get some finger-lickin' chicken bog for lunch and then indulge in some classic French cuisine for dinner. It's a place where you can hop in your golf cart on a brisk fall day, take your dog to the beach and throw a line in the water, all before you go to work.
     With a varied populace of locals and transplants, we're a melting pot in the middle of the South and our friendly shores (and relatively inexpensive cost of living) continue to bring in new residents, not to mention the millions of visitors who enter our lives each year.

     There seems to be a festival on every cornor this weekend: The 21st annual St. John's Greek Festival, The 22nd annual Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art, The Market Common's fifth annual Oktoberfest, The 37th annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival, The Ninth annual Irish Italian International Festival and several more.  My lovely bride wants to attend all of the above but she forgot one thing, The Ryder Cup and football.
     Kasey Kahne, NASCAR driver was in town to meet the public and sign autographs at the Grand Opening of Ollie's Bargin Outlet in Carolina Forest this past week. 
     In real estate news, sales of single-family homes along the Grand Strand are up over last year, but prices have dropped $63,000 since they spiked in 2007 because of foreclosures and short sales.  The median price of a SF home peaked in 2007 at $223,650 and it has declined each year since with todays price estimated at near 2007 levels at $161,000.  The mediam price of a SF home along the Grand Strand rose 3% in August from the same month last year. That's 4 straight months the housing market has shown an increase.  Local inventories of SF homes have dropped from 5,718 to 5,489 and condo inventories have dropped from 5,039 to 4,487.  The median price of a condo dropped 2% in August from the same period last year.  Sales of SF homes rose 16% in August and condo sales jumped 25% from the same month last year.
     In book news, my book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE got a very good review in the local paper, The Sun News.  I knew it was going to be reviewed and one always wonders if the reviewer will give it a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down".  Thank goodness, the book recieved a "thumbs up".
     My lovely bride spent a week in Washington DC visiting Thomas Alan, Melissa and Aunt Susie.  I have enclosed pictures.

 

Great Falls National Park

 

Bev, Thomas & Susie on office balcony of Speaker of the House

 

Bev, Thomas & Melissa at Cape Henlopen

 

The Inn of Cape May

Susie, Melissa, Thomas & Bev at Cape May Winery & Vineyard

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Fall Weather "at the beach"

The weather here "at the beach" is perfect.  Lows in the low 60's and highs in the low 80's.  Perfect beach and golf weather.  New owners are opening a new restaurant at the old Barefoot Bar & Grill at the golf resorts driving range.  Jim Finley and his wife Donna, who own and operate Harry The Hats Restaurant on Lake Arrowhead Road are the new owners.  They hope to have Putters Pub open this month.  The restaurant will serve steaks, pizza, wings, burgers and other bar food.  Hours will be 11:00 am to Midnight.
     Two Grand Strand restaurants have landed on Southern Living's list of the 10 Best Seafood Spots in South Carolina.  Lee's Inlet Kitchen in Murrells Inlet and The Original Mr. Fish Restaurant and Seafood Market in Myrtle Beach both made the list.
     In real estate news, prices jumped in August.  The median price for homes and condos increased 8.3% compared to the same period last year.  The number of homes and condos sold in August rose 12.1% compared to the same month last year.  But there are still quite a few deals here so y'all come on down, we're dealin!

                                                  Cherry Grove Point, low tide

 As far as my book Murder on the Front Nine is concerned, I am looking for new marketing ideas since all of the tourists have left town.  If any of you can think of some places down here for me to do book signings or other places to market my book on line, please let me know.  The only good thing about the slow down in sales is that it gives me time to work on the second one, Cougars at the Beach.  See ya, Steve & Bev
 

Island across from Cherry Grove Point

 

 

Friends at Brookgreen Gardens

 

More friends at Brookgreen Gardens

 

Waiting for a handout at Crab Catchers

 

Deck at Crab Catchers, scene from book

 

Crab Catchers deck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Stores & Libraries "at the beach"

Bev and I took a couple of days to promote my book Murder on the Front Nine to local book stores and local libraries.  We started off in Georgetown which is the southern end of The Grand Strand.  The book store is Harborwalk Books and the lady there, Ann Carlson, was kind enough to stock some books for me.  Bev also got to have lunch in Georgetown which she and I both enjoyed.  She ordered green-fried tomatos while I had the beef stew over rice with butter beans, potato salad and pickled beets.  Our next stop was My Sister's Books in Pawleys Island.  Bess Long was very hospitable and she also took books for the store.  She also invited me to the stores 10 year anniversary in October.  I am looking forward to it.  I also donated a book to the Chapin Library in Myrtle Beach, the North Myrtle Beach Library and the Little River Library. We also stopped at Pelican Book Store in Sunset Beach NC., where Anne Harris took some books for her store.   I have included pictures.
     Here's some more info pretaining to The World Amateur Tournament.  There were thirty-five disqualifications out of 3100 golfers, which ranged from rules violations to handicap violations.  During the tourney, an average of two to three players in each of the sixty-eight flights had their handicaps adjusted and narrowly avoided a DQ.  There may have been a record set for the worst score ever in the tourney.  A guy from Texas, with a 32 handicap, shot 125, 130, 169 and 163!! An 11 year old girl with a 14 handicap won her flight with rounds of 82, 92, 84 and 83 for a net 281.  She stumbled in the championship round with a 98.  Get yourself a handicap and come on down next year.  Join in on the fun.
     My real estate company has just changed the name from S & Z Properties & Realty to Beach & Country Realty.  I like the new name.  Prices are still on the low end down here so y'all come on down and pick up a bargain, we're dealin.  See ya, Steve & Bev

 

Harborwalk Books in Georgetown

 

My Sister's Books in Pawleys Island

Pelican Bookstore in Sunset Beach, NC

 

Chapin Memorial Library in Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach Library

Little River Library

 

 

 

 

 

    

World Am "at the beach"

     Bev and I spent four evenings at the 19th hole at the Convention Center in Myrtle Beach as part of the 2012 Would Amateur Golf Tournament.  It was a lot of fun but very exhausting for we "seasoned" mature, older citizens.  We met a lot of really nice people from all over the world and we had a lot of great help in the booth.  Some were neighbors and some of the help was actually from Lancaster, Ohio, our home town. They are in the photo's as "the Lancaster connection".  We sold more than enough books to cover our booth fee, we got a free dinner, pizza, ice cream and drinks every night and I was interviewed on the stage by Charlie Rymer of the Golf Channel and PGA playing pro.  It doesn't get any better than that.  The winner of the tournament was Robert Mieczkowski from New Jersey.  Roger Clemmons who particapated along with his wife, finished tied for 9th place.
     In real estate news, the median price for a single family home increased by 1% in July compared to the same month last year. Condo prices were down 14% compared to the same month last year. Sales for SF homes rose 25% in July and condo sales increased 10% from the the same period last year. Foreclosure sales in the county dropped during the 2nd quarter from the same period last year, April thru June. 162 foreclosure homes were sold during that period which is down 61% from the 1st quarter and down 53% from the same period last year.  About 30% of SF homes and 34% of condo sales still are either forclosures or short sales.  Prices are still low so come on down, we're dealin!
     My book Murder on the Front Nine is still doing well.  My website is www.stevenmcmillen.com.  Anyone wishing a signed copy of the book can contact me at smcmillen@sc.rr.com or 843.399.9745.  The price is $14.95 plus $3.05 S&H.  In Lancaster, go to the Ohio Glass Museum for signed copies.
     See ya, Steve & Bev

 

Bev & me in the booth

 

Bev & our neighbors, Carol Ann & Dee

The Lancaster connection, Stephine, me, Kathy & Dawn

Charlie & yours truly on stage

 

Me & Charlie (he's a tall dude)

Part of the crowd

Stephine & Bev at River City Cafe