Overhaul advantage

Very much like campaign rules or laws being re-written, when zoning or historic district guidelines are authorized to be overhauled, it can only be for the purpose of giving someone an advantage. We can also be certain that those assigned to the task will leave their objectivity at home, and more than likely not an historic home within this city.

I strongly urge officials, administrators, and especially our mayor to re-read the 4/27 letter submitted by 'Connie' Bull, and reflect on Wednesday’s 5/2 piece by Mr. Price.

Hers is well thought out, calmly written, ever so slightly sarcastic, and above all objective. His is an historic perspective that  highlights changes as a natural course of passing time, and nothing to really worry about. Both authors are eminently qualified.

Sadly, the perceived need to overhaul historic district guidelines is motivated by personal agenda and a will to prevail in a lawsuit that current rules might make impossible. It is an unrealistic goal generated by a very small group of people, and takes advantage of an outside expert of dubious qualifications and immature political savvy. A lasting overhaul would be more wisely accomplished at the ballot box.

Tom Hill

Georgetown

The rights of the individual

For years now I have been paying close attention to the encounter between opposing forces concerning the degree to which the city bureaucracy has meddled into the individual rights of the home owners of the city of Georgetown.

I use the term bureaucracy because the definition of the word is " administration of a government chiefly through bureaus, boards and departments staffed with non elected officials".

The intrusion in this case is mostly by people who for what ever reason, have an untutored idea of what should and should not be the right of a home owner.

In "The HardiePlank Case" the majority of those making the decisions to deny the Rothrock's right to cover their house with a product that will not decay, not support combustion or termites and look exactly like wood, have no special skill, expertness or knowledge having to do with either historic values or architectural attributes.

Some time ago I wrote to The Georgetown Times:

"The earliest written work on the subject of architecture is (De Architectura) published in the early 1st century by the Roman architect Vitruvis. He wrote that a building should satisfy three principles Durability -- Utility -- and Beauty".

What prompted me to write this letter is that on Friday, April 27th I read in the GTT the best yet written letter about this subject. The title of the letter is "Establishing historic district guidelines." If you have not read it find it on the GTT web site or go by the GTT office and get a copy.

The time has come for those, who for whatever reason, have put obstacles in the path of the Rothrock's finishing their beautiful little home on Cannon Street, to allow them to go forward.

Ted Bowden

Georgetown

Georgetown's finest in action

Oh my … Sunday [April 29] I go to Food Lion for a few items, come back to my residence on St. James Street and as I turn in the drive right on my tail is a Georgetown City Police car. I know I wasn't speeding because I never do, not even on Interstates. I start to exit from my car, a female patrolwoman tells me in a rather rough voice to wait and sit down in the car. At this point I'm thinking that maybe I've been mistaken for a mass murderer or rapist or some other crime you would think a 74-year-old, gray-headed guy would be guilty of. A male patrolman walks up to the car and says we observed you a couple blocks away not wearing your seat belt. I didn't argue with him nor did I involve in much conversation. They were going to write a ticket so why bother? After 20 minutes of sitting in my car they brought the ticket over, I took it, and left them talking to me or each other.

I'm the same Wes Dunson that has written numerous letters to the editor in the past about speeding in the historical district. I'm the same fellow who has pleaded with the DOT to put either a traffic signal or 4-way stop at the corner of St. James and Prince. I also from time to time just sit out front with one of those Bushnell radar guns and clock the speed of cars going 30 to 50+ miles per hour on St. James Street. I haven't had a ticket of any kind, including parking, since the late 80s or early 90s.

Well, Sunday I guess these two young police members needed to write a ticket. Maybe it had been a long day. I remember waving at them while riding my bike Sunday morning around 9 or so.

So drivers, speed all you want down St. James, Prince, Highmarket, Front, etc., etc. but make sure you have your seat belt on.

Wes Dunson

Georgetown

Fundraiser thanks

The men and women Marines from Grand Strand Detachment #873 of the Marine Corps League extend a thank you to the local citizens who supported the Detachment’s recent fundraiser dinner held at Applewood House of Pancakes. We also want to thank Amy Vlahos, owner-manager, for her advice and experience in helping a bunch of helpless Marines in conducting the fundraiser.

The project never would have got off the ground if it weren’t for her sage advice.

The funds collected are dedicated to the charities we support, that is, Toys-for-Tots, Wounded Warriors, Marine Families in Distress, and locally, High School Jr. ROTC programs.

In addition, the Detachment wishes to thank two groups of Pawleys Island teen-agers for their assistance in helping us with our successful fundraiser. The two groups come from a mission trip group of 11 students from All Saints Church (Sarah Ball, Murielle Miller, Hayley Strong, Hannah Strong, Jackson Stacey, Chloe Grabeman, Catherine Lindsay, Mary Filchak, Kelsey Morgan, Walker Clarke, and Bronte Rapps) led by Mrs. Sayward Elliott and a group of juniors and seniors from Low Country Preparatory School.

These two groups sold tickets and waited on tables to fulfill their Service Project responsibilities. Of course, the hours worked on Service Projects will look great on their college applications and résumés. A more eloquent term than “Service Project” is “Compassion.” Compassion is one of the most important personal traits a young person may develop for their development into adulthood. Teen-agers aren’t required to complete a specified number of hours of compassion as compared to the hours required for a Service Project. In reality, the act of compassion is an acquired trait that from infancy to young adulthood comes from the UPBRINGING of their parents and teachers from nursery school, church, elementary, middle and high school and deserves a round of applause for raising such a fine and dedicated group of teenagers.

Art Blenk

Pawleys Island