Fort Mill Magazine SPRING 2013 by Steelecroft Media Group

Fashion

Garden&Golf

Europe

FORT MILL Spring 2013

magazine

2013 South Carolina

Strawberry Festival event of the year

Cruise the Enchanting Rhine on the AmaCello with the Fort Mill Magazine Travel Club departing the U.S. on June 4, 2014. Prices start at $3299 per person for the cruise. Other dates and itineraries available upon request.

Contact Fort Mill Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official travel agent, Ellen Rauchhaus, owner and operator of Trip Design, at 248-982-4547. Visit tripdesign4u.com for more information.

Capturing

Cover the

Photographer Stefanie M. Morris created an image for our Spring cover that truly represents the appeal of fresh, local berries. We asked her to explain the inspiration and the technique behind the photo. Here’s what Stefanie had to say... “The thought of fresh, local fruits sparked memories of my grandmother canning jams, jellies, and baking fresh desserts, so I decided to setup a cooking scene. I wanted a warm, lifelike setup. Using my grandmother’s sifter, a family pie pan (I’ve never actually baked a pie in my life), a vintage apron, and of course, strawberries, my setup was almost complete. The next challenge I faced for the cover shoot was how to make the environment feel like my grandmother’s kitchen. I wanted layers of ingredients, baking supplies, and strawberries to cover my set and bring the idea to life. I started by laying out my baking supplies and chopping strawberries. With that complete, I simply walked away mid task. To light my trip down memory lane, I used one tungsten light for rim light, a reflector for fill light, and a window behind the table. Shooting the cover for Fort Mill Magazine is always an honor. Thank you for allowing my vision to represent Fort Mill Magazine’s experience with the Strawberry Festival.” Stefanie M. Morris’ work has graced the cover of Fort Mill Magazine three times. Vivid family memories and a strong sense of heritage shape her life, therefore it is easy to understand why she perfectly captures the essence and emotions of her subjects. Stefanie specializes in lifestyle family portraits, high school seniors, and weddings. Learn more about Stefanie M. Morris by visiting her website, smmphotography.com.

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departments around town

local folks

nibbles & bits

fine living

wealth

travel

to your health

good eats

indulge

southern style

inspired thought

108

Travel from the farm to the festival with Fort Mill’s Strawberries. Revel in the beauty of Erica Arcilesi’s body art.

Take a trip back in time with Rudy Sanders, a key player in the making of the Fort Mill History Museum.

Adopt from the local Humane Society, then spoil your new best friend with the season’s hottest pet fashion trends.

Discover how house plants help light up your room and your life. Learn how to keep your garage organized and clean with our organization expert.

Let one Fort Mill family tell you their meaning of wealth and the hardships they’ve endured, while never giving up hope.

Fort Mill Magazine’s two travel experts tell you the best ways to travel Europe by train and by rivier cruise. You’ll have a trip booked before you know it. Drop the dumbbells and try an unconventional gym that is dedicated to getting you into shape. Read the stories of working mothers as they are expecting baby number two.

Try out Main Street’s newest restaurant, Local Dish. Let our in-house foodie tell you all about eating fresh from the farm.

Tee off with some of Fort Mill’s pros and hear a few tales about Fort Mill’s golf club.

Get ready for Carolina Cup this Spring with some amazing looks from Ralph Lauren. Learn a little about the history of Charlotte’s best cover band, Charity Case.

Get a little Spring in your step.

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photographers Published by

Publishers

Market Style Media

Assistant Editor

Louis Roman | Tracey Roman

Emily Wyatt

Contributors

Photographers

Clayton Brannon | Stefanie Morris | Glenn Roberson | Dave Tally

GLENN ROBERSON

glennroberson.com facebook.com/glennrobersonphotography glenn@glennroberson.com 704-307-9543

Interns

Editorial Intern Jessica Yarab-Watt Photography Intern Chelsea Walker

Vice President of Marketing

Louis Roman | 803-207-0851 | louis@fortmillmagazine.com

Marketing Director

Angela Dykes | 865-382-1691 | angela@fortmillmagazine.com

Please send all editorial items to

Tracey Roman | Editor in Chief | troman@fortmillmagazine.com

stefanie Morris

photographybysmm.com | 803-994-9590 stefanie@photographybysmm.com

ÂŠ2013 Fort Mill Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the expess written consent of the copyright owner. Fort Mill Magazine does not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers. Fort Mill Magazine is published by Market Style Media located at 118 Main St. Fort Mill, SC 29715. Spring 2013 ISSUE.

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Clayton Brannon claytonbphotography.com facebook.com/claytonbphotog

Fort Mill Magazine is distributed in fine retailers, hotels, real estate offices, Town Hall, the Fort Mill Public Library, and many local restaurants. For home delivery go to fortmillmagazine.com/subscribe.

For even more great stories and photographs not showcased in PRINT go to fortmillmagazine.com to view the extended digital Spring 2013 issue.

Dave Tally

704-249-3456 davetallyphotography.com

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from the publishers Spring is the best time of year and Fort Mill is alive with all things berry. As we count down the last few days of winter's chill, excitement builds for the award winning SC Strawberry Festival. Folks from near and far will enjoy this year's event, which will surely top the events past. We'll share with you how the spring cover was captured, and you'll find glimpses of these berries throughout this edition. From gardens to golf, we'll explore the beauty of living in the South. Whether you're expecting baby bliss or personal rejuvenation, you'll find it here. We'll take you along as we discover local alternatives to the gym and the fashion savvy found at Carolina Cup. The time is near for clearing out the clutter, so learn how to tackle that garage. Take a train or cruise the Rhine! Our travel experts give you the goods on vacationing in Europe. Get a taste of Local Dish and dine on handpicked produce from the farm. As always, we strive for the best community-rich content to tempt your senses. We look to you for suggestions, ideas, and comments. Please share your thoughts with us. Creating good,

Louis & Tracey Louis & Tracey Roman Publishers Fort Mill Magazine

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Dear Readers, On behalf of the Honorable Town Council of the Town of Fort Mill and all of our citizens, I bring you greetings. First, I’d like to congratulate all of those involved in the planning and implementation of the South Carolina Strawberry Festival at Fort Mill. The festival was recognized as the number one festival event in South Carolina (regardless of municipality size) for the second year in a row. We’re looking forward to what the 2013 SC Strawberry Festival has in store for us. The dates for the festival are April 26th through May 4th. Please visit us on the web at scstrawberryfestival. com for more details. I’d also like to welcome our new Town Manager, Dennis Peeper. We’re all very pleased with his performance, and excited to see what his fresh perspective will contribute to our town’s future. Of course, we’re continuing our strategic planning process as we do everything possible to ensure our usual high quality of basic service to our citizens. It’s encouraging to see signs of a possible improvement in the economy. Based on housing permits, business licenses, and zoning requests, Fort Mill appears to be close to where we were prior to the economic downturn in 2008. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Another part of our planning focus is the expansion of various parks in our community. We’re hoping to have Millstone Park, at the bottom of Main Street, completed in May. It’s well known that the name for our town originated from the two early, iconic structures within the town’s borders--a berm fort and a grist mill. Millstone Park is designed to symbolically portray these icons. The “mill,” with the help of the millstone centerpiece, was rendered in the first phase. We plan for the “fort” representation to manifest in this second phase. The concept will involve earthen walls (or berms), interactive features, and other playground activities for all to enjoy.

from the

Mayor

We’re also expanding our Doby’s Bridge Park. The project involves renovation of the existing ball field and the construction of additional ball fields and amenities giving Fort Mill a truly topshelf baseball and softball facility. We’re pleased with our progress on a number of fronts and eager to see what 2013 brings for us all. Kindest Regards, Danny Funderburk Mayor Town of Fort Mill

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from the

FarM text by Zander Galloway

to the

photo by Stefanie Morris

festival

Around Town 8

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For the second year in a row, Fort Mill’s Strawberry Festival was crowned South Carolina Event of the Year by the South Carolina Festival and Events Association. This is a major accomplishment in itself, but when you consider that last year was only its third year in existence, the achievement becomes even more remarkable. Think about what it takes to pull off any major festival in which the attendance far exceeds the total population of the host town. Think about the preparation that goes into lining up the events, food, music, vendors, and public space in a way that appeals to everyone in a diverse crowd. Then, think about what it takes to be the best in the entire state.

This is not just a generic street festival in which someone makes animal balloons, several hundred people run a race, a few bands play on a stage in a park, then everyone goes home. This festival is based entirely upon the strawberry, a fruit that takes just as much time and effort to produce as does the festival itself. Around Springs Farm, Ron Edwards is a busy man. He is working feverishly to prepare this year’s strawberry crop for the festival. Manager of both Springs Farm and the Peach Stand, Edwards oversees the production of strawberries (among many other crops) at Springs Farm. The planning for strawberry season begins months in advance; he plants the seeds in October, laying the groundwork for a crop that will start coming to fruition in mid-April. Throughout the winter, Edwards and his team must constantly tend to the strawberries to ensure that they come out just right in April and May. “The ground has to be prepared with black plastic, and the water has to be filtered before it goes through the drip tape because if any trash gets through there, the line will get stopped up,” he said. “We have to nurture and baby them by covering and uncovering them, and fertilizing them all through the winter.” Growing strawberries on such a massive scale is difficult due to their short shelf life. Once the ripe fruits are picked, they are packaged and shipped to a local grocer and are on the shelves typically within twentyfour hours. When you buy a pack of strawberries from the Peach Stand this spring, it is likely that they were picked that same day. While the quick turnover ensures maximum freshness, this process makes expanding a strawberry field quite difficult. “There is something about a strawberry; you cannot grow them until they are sold,” Edwards explained. “Now with apples and peaches, you can grow an extra orchard of those without having them immediately sold. With a strawberry, the shelf life is shorter, so you have to know where you are going with them when you pick them.” As we have seen in the past three years, the popularity of the Strawberry Festival is increasing, and the demand is growing; there were over 55,000 total attendees at all events last year. As the demand rises, Edwards must keep up his supply. “Between [the Peach Stand] and the Strawberry Festival, we picked over 1,000 gallons just on that one Saturday [during the festival],” he said, “and that’s the most we have ever picked in one day and the most we have ever sold in one day.” As a result, he has planted three more acres of strawberries this year, giving the farm a total of twenty-five acres of that fruit. For all the meticulous planning that goes into bringing the strawberries and the festival together at just the perfect time in the spring, not everything goes according to plan, and some things are just out of anyone’s control. Last year’s case and point was the weather; we had an unseasonably warm winter. While that may have been appealing

for those of us who dislike seeing the thermometer in the twenties and thirties, those conditions quietly wreak havoc on farmers. Warm winter temperatures often cause the fruits to bloom early, and having one freeze before spring’s permanent arrival could destroy the year’s crops. For Edwards, last year’s warm winter meant that his strawberries arrived earlier than usual. “Last year we started picking March 23, and normally we do not pick until April 15 to 18,” he said, “so they were a few weeks early.” Why the strawberry? Why is that the focus of the entire festival? Fort Mill previously hosted Fest-i-Fun and SpringFest, but one day several years ago, Mayor Danny Funderburk approached Edwards about rebranding to something more central to the Fort Mill community. Since strawberries were a staple on Springs Farm and no other town in South Carolina had laid claim to a Strawberry Festival, Mayor Funderburk asked Edwards if he would be willing to contribute the strawberries for the event. “It was a no-brainer,” recalled Edwards. The partnership has been extremely successful in just a short amount of time, and the popularity of the festival, branded as the “premier event in South Carolina,” is increasing. Kimberly Starnes, Events and Media Coordinator for the Town of Fort Mill noted that while the marketing efforts spread across both traditional and digital media, the best method has been word of mouth. “When people know it is a good event, they come,” she said. The people have certainly come in numbers. Fort Mill citizen Timothy Marini has lived here for two years and really enjoys that the festival supports local vendors. “As a father of two, the proximity of the festival is very important to my wife and me,” he explained. “Also, eating local food and supporting local craft vendors is important to my family. There is something special about a locally made item.” The strawberries from Springs Farm are as local as it gets, and it is quickly becoming the symbol for Fort Mill. Edwards is not satisfied with an unofficial moniker. With the impending departure of the Charlotte Knights from Fort Mill, he sees a golden opportunity. “I want a strawberry on that water tower instead of a baseball,” he said emphatically. “James Cooley has the peach in Gaffney, and [we] want the strawberry on our tower. I do not know what it would take to get it up there, but that is my goal.” Whether or not that happens in the near future, Edwards’s message is clear: Fort Mill and Springs Farm have taken great strides to make the strawberry synonymous with the town, so we need to relish it. When you are at the Strawberry Festival this year, and you are about to enjoy that first beautiful, ripe strawberry, stop for a minute and look around. Think about all the work that went on behind the scenes to line up the activities, music, and vendors. Think about the journey that strawberry has taken. Think about countless hours Ron Edwards and the Springs Farm workers spent planting the seeds in the fall, nurturing the plants in the winter, and picking the fruit in the spring, all just to get it into your hands for you to enjoy in that one moment. Then take a bite. The strawberry will taste even sweeter.

Zander Galloway Zander Galloway is creating a project called Lifetime CEO, aimed at helping others execute their goals. Contact him at algalloway13@gmail.com.

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Special Advertiser’s Section: 2013 SC Strawberry Festival

2013 SC Strawberry Festival The South Carolina Strawberry Festival began the first weekend of May in 2010. Now in its fourth year, the event continues to grow and flourish into a regional event. In 2012, 50,000 attended the week-long celebration. The festival includes a golf tournament, “Cause Over Crown” pageant and the Pick-N-Flick in the days leading up to the two days in the park. The event culminates the first weekend of May with two days in Walter Elisha Park featuring a car show, three stages of music, eating contests, food, craft vendors, rides, fireworks and more. This year’s event has expanded to include the South Carolina Strawberry Festival Princess pageant. Designed for girls aged 5 through 13, the pageant has three levels of equally judged competition- formal wear, interview and strawberry wear. The car show will focus more on classic cars. The Pick-NFlick has been expanded to include wagon rides and a cow train in addition to discounted strawberries and a movie under the stars. In both 2012 and 2013, the South Carolina Strawberry Festival was named Event of the Year by the South Carolina Festival and Event Association. The event has also been recognized nationally by Businessweek and Family Circle magazines.

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Where summer smiles come alive. Summer Camps on the Greenway With arts, sports, outdoor adventures and more, Greenway camps are a breath of fresh air for kids. Reserve early so your child won’t miss the fun! l For boys and girls age 3-14 n More than 50 different age-appropriate camps l Half-day, full-day, partial-week & full-week options n June, July & August l Discounts available for Greenway and Recreation Complex members

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Special Advertiser’s Section: York County Regional Chamber of Commerce

im • pact |’impakt| verb to influence, effect, drive, or connect.

<influence government decisions shaping our businesses and lives.> Text by Rob Youngblood, Chamber President

Immediately following one of the Chamber’s legislative events, a longtime member asked with a sheepish grin, “Instead of three words, shouldn’t the phrase ‘government in action’ be two words, as in ‘government inaction’?” Although posed lightheartedly, the inquiry does beg another more serious question. When making decisions, can we count on our elected officials to best represent local companies and the needs of our business owners, managers, and employees? Decisions made by our elected officials can help or hurt business. Of course, our area is fortunate to be well-represented and wellserved by our current Congressional members and by many other lawmakers at all levels of government. Most of our elected officials understand the importance of economic development and quality of life. Even so, all elected officials need to know that we’re interested in how busy they are working for us (in action). They also need to be reminded that we’d rather they not waste time (inaction) on things not supported by or important to businesses. “Government relations” describes the Chamber’s efforts to use our collective influence as the voice of the business community. Our goal is to positively impact Chamber members and the environment in which they operate, by promoting business-friendly legislation on all levels (local, state, and federal) and by opposing government activity that doesn’t support economic development. We believe the advocacy of key business and community development issues creates a healthy business climate, which directly contributes to our local citizens’ quality of life. The Chamber has achieved just that by leading public campaigns promoting the passage of referenda on key business development issues. Over the last 15 years, such efforts include the approval of three rounds of the county’s “Pennies For Progress” road improvement program (with a combined total of over $545 million) and three successful ballot initiatives on the seven-day sale of alcoholic beverages in county restaurants and stores. During that time, the Chamber also successfully lobbied the County Council to expand retail operating hours giving businesses the opportunity to open prior to 1pm every day of the week.

a county council member, or simply running into a municipal official at community meetings, your Chamber staff and volunteer representatives are speaking on behalf of its firms and business people. The Chamber also provides members access to government officials through annual programs, including the April 10th “York County Day” event in Columbia, the Grassroots Luncheon in August, February’s Legislative Breakfast, three state-of-the-community events, issue forums, and various candidates activities. These are a few of the many opportunities for members to meet in-person with officials and hear their thoughts and positions on issues, and, of course, for officials to hear from members. The primary vehicle for keeping members informed of the Chamber’s work in the legislative arena is our legislative agenda. In developing this agenda, the volunteer members of the Chamber’s Government Relations Task Force give top priority to legislative issues that affect the largest number of members in the county. This group is made up of (and is open to all) Chamber members. Since advocacy is a two-way street, we encourage members to let us know which and how business issues should be addressed. The Chamber provides members numerous opportunities for involvement, and we also urge members to individually support and act on probusiness legislation. Finally, in order to maximize the impact of the Chamber’s government relations efforts, business people should personally stay in touch with their government officials. A list of these, with contact information, is available at the Chamber. The in/action muse offered early on also applies to individual citizens and to the collective business community. While the Chamber runs the risk of being blamed for attempting to influence the decisions of the government and elected officials, we don’t plan to be accused of “inaction.” We also hope our members don’t intend for that to happen.

The Chamber continues to represent its member businesses every week of the year, in various ways. Whether writing a letter to our Congressman, visiting our state legislators during trips to Columbia, making a presentation to transportation officials, making a phone call to

info@yorkcountychamber.com | Fort Mill Office: (803) 547-5900 | Rock Hill Office: (803) 324-7500 | Tega Cay Area Council Office: (803) 548-2444 | yorkcountychamber.com

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glenn roberson photography

believe in

magic gown by Anno Domini model samantha comer mua deme j fourtounis aerialist aubry mcmahon

fashion senior portraits modeling portfolios weddings

Salon e Arcilesi text by Anita Sayago photos by Glenn Roberson

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Erica Arcilesi is a far cry from where she was born and raised in Washington, DC, but there’s little distance between Erica’s dreams and the reality she’s living now. After seven years in the beauty industry and over a decade following family in the business, Erica has just become the proud owner and master stylist of Salon e Arcilesi. Erica has trained throughout North America under celebrity stylists and top educators, receiving several certifications. Her salon, located in the heart of Ballantyne, is where you’ll find her these days, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. I suppose you can say styling is in Erica’s blood, as her grandmother was a hair stylist for over thirty years, and her mom is an esthetician. As a young girl, Erica was competing either in cheer, dance, or pageants. “I was always very girly,” said Erica. All these activities had one thing in common, the need for hair and make-up. This is where you could say Erica’s fascination for all things beauty began to take shape. Erica is well known for her creative concepts and personally strives to revolutionize the beauty industry by bringing a cutting-edge approach. Her creative artistry includes airbrushing, FX, body painting, and elaborate, often non-conventional, headpieces. “I take something ordinary and turn it into art. I like creating things I’ve never seen before,” said Erica. Some of her clients to date include, HBO’s Banshee, Kraft Foods, Jupiter Entertainment, TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Fab’rik, Elevate Magazine, Continental Tire-FIFA Cup Commercial, Society

Magazine, Fox News Rising, the off Broadway play, The Queen of Bingo, and of course, Fort Mill Magazine. As if this rock star of the beauty industry didn’t have enough going on, she is this year’s Creative Director for Passport for Fashion. As such, she serves as the official hair and makeup provider for all their events. Her main objective is to bring fresh ideas and looks, while bringing together the beauty and hair industries in Charlotte. “I have to make sure everything looks polished, and ultimately that I put on a great show,” said Erica. When I asked Erica what inspires her, she went on to say, “I get inspired through transformation - seeing the before and after.” Erica is available upon request for consultations and bookings. She can’t wait to meet you.

Anita Sayago Anita is a mother of 4, devoted wife, graduate of Baruch College in NYC, Freelance Writer and Entertainment Promoter. Follow her blog: anitasayago.wordpress.com

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Q&A

Back In Time with Rufus “Rudy” Sanders text by Ken Caputo

photo by Stefanie Morris

localfolk fortmillmagazine.com

Rudy Sanders is a treasure trove of knowledge, information, and love for his hometown of Fort Mill; therefore, it’s only fitting that he’s a large part of the recently relocated Fort Mill History Museum. I toured the museum and had the pleasure of interviewing him and seeing firsthand the new depository of the long history of our town. Tell us about yourself Rudy, and your interest in preserving and presenting the history of Fort Mill. Proud to say I’m a true Fort Millian, born and raised here. I came back to my hometown about nine years ago after a career in the military and time in New York. When I did, I found a lot had changed. I also noted that the town lacked a certain cultural life. Many of the towns around us preserved and celebrated their historical past. We did not, so I met with Elizabeth Ford and joined the newly formed Fort Mill History Preservation Committee. Our goal was to find a way to research and document our town’s rich history. We wanted to capture and preserve our past. The way I personally took action was to explore the abandoned cemeteries that are found throughout Fort Mill. Most have fallen into disrepair and need to be restored. A good example is the India Hook Cemetery where I discovered Solomon Spratt, a free slave who died in 1894, is buried. How did the History Museum come to be? It can be traced back to Elizabeth Ford gathering a small group of people interested in history in 2008. I was part of the core group, specifically, responsible for researching and gathering the history of Fort Mill. We met at the red caboose, churches, chamber, school district office and other spots around town. The History Preservation Committee operated under the umbrella of Move Fort Mill Forward. Together, we shared stories and began collecting artifacts as well as old photographs. We wanted to find a way to really make the past come to life. Our history as a mill town goes back to at least 1887. The Springs and White families specifically had a huge impact on the vibrancy of Fort Mill. There are stories that need to be told. We also spotlight Main Street and its glory days. For me, it’s personal. I got my first job at what was then the small Belk-Brown Department Store on Main Street. I was hired at age fourteen and worked there throughout high school. Speaking of Main Street, do you believe it will ever come back to its earlier glory? I believe it will come back, but it will be different. It’s possible for it to have trendy restaurants, boutiques, and antique stores. We could even have living quarters above the stores again. We certainly want to remember and celebrate what it once was. The new Fort Mill Economic Council is working to revitalize Main Street as well as bring new businesses to town. What are the plans for the Museum and how do you plan to publicize it? The Museum is available and open to everyone interested in our town’s history. We plan to encourage students, members, and visitors to come in and research history. The past five centuries of Fort Mill’s history are depicted through paintings by local artists, from the arrival of the Spaniard explorers to the present day. We believe we have set up a place where the past comes to life. Our mission is to promote the collection, preservation, educational interpretation, and display those artifacts, documents, and events most representative of Fort Mill; its prehistory and history, its people and institutions, and its cultural and economic development. Three of the museum rooms are named in honor of some of Fort Mill’s finest. The JB Mills Museum Gift Shop - JB Mills was a merchant involved in many civic organizations throughout his life.

Mr. Mills lived in the home on Confederate Street that later became a popular coffee café, BacInTyme. William R. Bradford, Jr. Media Room - Mr. Bradford was the second editor and owner of the Fort Mill Times. We were privileged he could be with us when we opened the Museum earlier this winter. He recently celebrated his 97th birthday. The John and Mary Sanders Research Room - I have a personal interest in this room. The Sanders were my parents. For many years, my father and mother owned Sanders Grocery Store on Doby’s Bridge Road. Their interest in history, education, cultural arts, and genealogy prompted the creation of a place where students and residents alike can study and research their roots. Regarding Fort Mill in the twenty-first century, how has it changed in the course of your lifetime? The town has certainly grown tremendously. As a result, it’s not the same as it was when I grew up here. In those days, because it was such a small town, just about everyone knew everyone else. The word I use to describe it is harmonious. Even though Fort Mill was a segregated town like most in the South, people still helped each other and came together when needed. To me, I always felt like our town was a close knit village. It’s interesting how we’ve grown over the years. Looking at the old census records, I discovered that back in 1960 our population stood at 3,299 people. When I returned 9 years ago, I found it to still be harmonious, but now exceedingly exciting. We now have people from all over coming to live here. They bring their influences which makes Fort Mill a more vibrant place to be. I attribute much of the new excitement to our mayor, Danny Funderburk. Since being elected, he’s reached out to embrace responsible growth, is responsive to change and is very inclusive with all of our citizens. He’s very supportive and encouraging to work with. Shifting gears, what are your favorite spots in Fort Mill? Where do like to eat or just relax? Well, my sport of choice is golf when time permits. For relaxation, I love to do active research. It might sound strange, but that involves walking through abandoned cemeteries in town. I find reading the headstones and imagining what things were like many years ago fascinating. As for places to eat, my favorite restaurant is beyond the borders of our town. I love Ripperton’s in Waxhaw. The fare is Southern Mediterranean. Are you active on any of the social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn? It’s a great tool to reach a lot of people. Personally, I use Facebook and we have a page for the Fort Mill History Museum. We use it to promote the museum and keep its members and followers abreast with events, history tidbits, and volunteer opportunities. Also, our website is informative, so check us out at fortmillhistorymuseum.org.

Ken Caputo Ken Caputo is a regular ocntributor to Fort Mill Magazine. He is the ownder of KC Communications LLC. For more information, go to kccommteam.com. You can reach Ken at ken@kccommteam.com or by calling 803-389-6446.

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Nibbles Bits &

Providing a forever home for the animals at the Humane Society of York County 26

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text by Darlene Wyatt

photos by Dave Tally

Can I provide this animal a forever home? That’s what you need to ask yourself when thinking about pet adoption. Not unlike marriage, pet adoption should be for sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as the pet shall live. This is not to scare you away, but to get you to think about long term and not just the excitement of the moment. Our local Humane Society of York County has a 24-hour waiting period before bringing a pet home. The last thing that any shelter wants is the pet coming back because the new owner did not think before bringing a pet home. There are so many benefits of adoption. First, you’ll receive a healthy pet that has already been spayed or neutered. The cost of the animal will be much lower as well. The Humane Society of York County only charges veterinary costs for the adopted animal. When you purchase a pet from a breeder, you will undoubtedly pay more and the health of the pet isn’t always guaranteed. Also, getting a pet from the Humane Society guarantees that you won’t be supporting puppy mills. Lastly, and most importantly, you will be saving a life. I have heard people say, “I can’t adopt because we are looking for a certain breed.” Shelters and rescue organizations do have mostly mixed breeds. However, if you have your heart set on a purebred, people abandon or surrender purebreds as well. There are some things to consider in finding the right pet that best fits you and your lifestyle. For instance, do you have young children? If so, then you don’t want to bring a pup that is toy-size (under 10 pounds) into your home. Little breeds have fine, small bones that do not weather rough or clumsy handling well. You might want to think about breeds that are not big if you have elderly family members in your home. Big dogs are heavier and require a stronger hand. You might want to think about a pet that is older if you don’t want to go through the potty training and endless energy of a puppy. Do you have any existing animals at home and are they socialized? Do you have a fenced backyard or are you able to walk a dog several times a day? If not, then a cat may be the answer for your companion needs. They

require less of your time and are more independent. Some cats aren’t necessarily domestic or considered house cats. There are cats that are known to be “barn cats”. These types of cats are used to wandering and being by themselves and may not be well socialized. They need a barn type atmosphere where they can get shelter, food and water, longterm veterinary care, and a secure place for 2-3 weeks for them to be acclimated to their new surroundings. Fostering an animal can be a great way to support your local shelter. Fostering is necessary for puppies and kittens that may be nursing because they require special attention in their early months that a shelter cannot always provide. Puppies and kittens should not be handled constantly. They need to be left to sleep and a shelter environment doesn’t always lend itself for that. Fostering is also needed for animals that might be undergoing treatment for heart worms. York County Humane Society has foster class certification twice a month. This gives you the information you will need while they are in your care. York County Humane Society spays or neuters before adopting pets out. If the pet is not old enough, they may have you sign a form to insure you spay or neuter at the proper time. Humane Society of York County asks you to bring the pet back when it is old enough and they will arrange for the spay or neuter. The adoption fee pays for this, as well as any vaccines needed up to that point. Average prices for dogs at the York County Humane Society are as follows: $180.00 for dogs and $115.00 for a single cat (add $60.00 for a second cat). There are services out there that can bring down your pet care cost. If you research, you will find Charlotte Humane Society Spay Neuter Clinic, Committee for Responsible Pet Ownership (CRPO), and Free Community Spay/Neuter Services (CMPD). These are all organizations setup to make pet care a little more affordable and help keep down the animal population, so there are less unwanted cats and dogs to fill our shelters. Recently, I had a chance to visit our local Humane Society of York County, now located at 8177 Regent Parkway in Fort Mill. It’s tucked in a little corner of Regent Park, but what a great facility they have

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Fostering an animal can be a great way to support your local shelter.

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We are doing all we can to find good homes for our animals. Public support helps us to continue to save one animal at a time. 28

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there. I was so impressed with the wonderful care and amount of volunteers. Volunteers are truly needed, not for just donating goods and funds, but for actual playtime and cleanup which is never ending. “The washer and dryer never stop and the cleanup is constant,” said Laurie, the office manager. It was heartwarming to see the amount of focus that was put on the animals themselves. The facility has indoor kennels and an outside play area where they rotate the dogs’ playtime. They also have a puppy room that is warm and full of blankets. This gives the puppies some downtime from being around their kennel mates all day. The felines have a “cat room” that they get to take over on rotation. The amount of animals in kennels proved to be the only sad sight in the Humane Society. I spoke with Vickie Frain, the Director of the Humane Society of York County and she shared with me her concerns. “When our shelter is full, it is heartbreaking to have to turn an animal away. We don’t know if that person surrendering will use the list we give them of other organizations, or if they will just abandon it somewhere and walk away. Homeless, abandoned, neglected, maybe even abused animals are waiting and hoping to be rescued. If they make it through the cold, spring will arrive and the breeding will begin and if not spayed or neutered, their offspring will face the same fate.” Vickie herself has 2 dogs and 5 cats that she loves and cares for. She spoke of the long wait that some of the animals face. Being in the shelter is nice for survival, but it does not make a great home. These animals need the physical contact and love that a family can provide. “We give attention; it’s just not as much as they deserve,” said Vickie. I asked Vickie which animals seem to stay at the shelter the longest. She replied with ease, “a black cat.” Have you ever wondered why there are so many dark haired dogs and cats in the shelters? Believe it or not, it is just human nature to gravitate toward the lighter animals. Research supports that the darker the animal, the harder it is to make a personal connection, especially if your looking at a picture online. As I look around my own home, I see all light haired dogs. It makes me sad to think that even I may have discriminated. As you can see, it’s no simple or cheap task to help out these animals, but it is the right, humane thing to do. If you don’t have the means to give one a good home, you can help out by donating. If you are an animal lover and have recently lost your best friend and struggle with the thought of loving another one just to get your heart broken again, I encourage you to think beyond your sadness. Please consider adopting again. I have rescued for the last 23 years and as each one has lived out their life with me, I shed some hard tears, then look forward to helping make another set of paws run and play again.

Darlene Wyatt

Loosening Your Leash, owned and operated by Darlene Wyatt, is a pet care service. Loosening Your Leash is available to help make sure your pets get the exercise they deserve. For more information, go to looseningyourleash.com or call 803-310-DOGS(3647).

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Carolina Place Animal Hospital

Dr. Ashley Isbell, DVM Dr. Robert Chappell, DVM Human Society of York County Wish List . Any Purina Dog/Cat Chow . Goat Milk . Pine-Sol, Bleach, Lysol 4N1 . Newspapers . Old Towels, Blankets & Sheets . 55 Gallon Garbage Bags . Dog & Cat Toys & Treats

. Laundry & Dish Detergent . Paper Towels . Moist Towelettes or Wipes . Baby Blankets, Heating Pads . Toy Kongs of all sizes For a complete list of items visit humanesocietyofyorkcounty.org

Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-3pm

803-547-3547 carolinaplaceanimal.com

Heartworm Disease

& Your Pet text by Dr. James Doyle

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photos by Keith Smiley

Each year, thousands of dogs are diagnosed with heartworm disease. This is a life-threatening parasitic illness carried and transmitted by mosquitoes. The southeast region of the United States reports some of the highest incidences of heartworm disease due to the favorable climate for mosquito breeding. Despite the seriousness of this disease, it is completely preventable with simple medications that can be obtained through your veterinarian. It is also treatable, but treatment is expensive and there are potentially serious side effects that can occur from treatment. This article will provide some helpful information to all pet owners about the disease, clinical signs, detection, and prevention of heartworms.

Transmission

When a mosquito bites an infected dog, it ingests circulating microfilaria (baby worms) from the blood stream. Within the mosquito, the microfilaria mature into infective heartworm larvae. The mosquito then can bite another dog and transmit these infective larvae. The larvae enter the dog’s blood stream and migrate to the right side of the heart, where they mature for the next 6 months into adult heartworms that can grow up to 12 inches in length. They can live in the dog’s heart for up to 7 years. The female worms can then produce more microfilaria that serve as the source of infection and the cycle can continue.

Signs of Heartworm Disease

In the early stages of the disease, your pet may not exhibit any signs at all. This is why heartworm disease can be called a silent killer. As the disease progresses however, the worms cause significant changes in the pulmonary arteries leading to coughing, exercise intolerance, lethargy, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Eventually, the strain on the heart leads to heart failure and fluid build-up in the abdomen, causing a

swollen belly appearance. In some cases, dogs can have an allergic (anaphylactic) reaction to the worms and this can lead to sudden death.

Detection

Fortunately, diagnosing heartworm disease is relatively simple and inexpensive. Most veterinarians recommend yearly screening for heartworm disease as part of your pet’s annual visit. This is often done right in the clinic, or can be sent out with other lab tests. By screening healthy pets, we can detect the disease in its early stages with better outcomes after treatment. These tests are extremely accurate, however no test is perfect. These tests can only detect adult heartworms. If your dog has been exposed to the disease within the last 6 months, you may get a false negative test. This is why veterinarians may recommend retesting your pet in 6 months if they have not been on a preventative regularly. False positive results may occur, but are extremely uncommon.

Treatment and Prevention

If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, a thorough evaluation should be performed. This may include a physical exam, blood work, and chest x-rays. These tests help your veterinarian stage the disease. Treatment for dogs with advanced heartworm disease may have to be delayed until they are stable enough to receive the treatment. In some cases, the disease may be so severe that your pet may not survive treatment, and thus your veterinarian may elect to give medications to help only to ease the symptoms and discomfort. But rather than discussing the treatment at length, it is better to focus on the importance of prevention. Preventatives work by killing the infective larvae after mosquito exposure, thereby preventing development of the disease. There are a number of heartworm preventatives available today that are all highly effective when given on a regular schedule. In addition, many of these products will also provide intestinal parasite control and flea prevention. They are available as chewable pills or treats, topical applications, and even a six month injectable form. Because of possible reactions that can occur in heartworm positive dogs, your veterinarian will require that the pet be heartworm tested prior to dispensing or administering these medications. Prevention is always safer and more affordable than treating dogs with heartworm infections. Dr. Doyle is the co-owner of Baxter Veterinary Clinic located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. For more detailed information about heartworm disease, please check out the American Heartworm Society’s website at heartwormsociety.org.

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Puppy Couture spring fashion

for your best friend photos by Emily Wyatt

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Lucy the Chihuahua Wearing: Floral dress by Luv-A-Petâ&#x201E;˘. Retail Locations: Various Petsmart lcations.

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Lucy and Ace the Chihuahuas Wearing: Blue and pink surfing skins by Body Glove. Retail Locations: Various Petsmart lcations.

Dexter The Maltipoo Wearing: Sweater by Martha Stewart Petsâ&#x201E;˘. Retail Locations: Various Petsmart locations.

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Ace the Chihuahua Wearing: Bomber jacket by MM Wear Dog Clothes. Retail Locations: Various Petsmart lcations.

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Dexter the Matlipoo Wearing: Orange sweater by Pup Crewâ&#x201E;˘. Retail Locations: Various Petsmart lcations.

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fine

living

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Garden Living fortmillmagazine.com

Whether a seat for one...

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...or a bench for two, the GARDEN is the place for you. fortmillmagazine.com

The

Healthy

Benefits of

Houseplants text by Jan Wallace

Did you know that adding plants to your home or office will help you breath easier, stay more focused, moisturize your skin, or even help you relax? That’s right, adding one or two plants per room will do just that. Adding flora to your home or office will remove toxins from the air, increase oxygen levels, increase air moisture, and contribute to your overall sense of well-being. All plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Increasing the oxygen levels where you sleep can help you sleep deeper and longer. The snake plant converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night, so that’s a perfect choice for your bedroom. Palms do their conversion during the day, so they would be good in your office. Pair either of these with a Golden Pothos, which removes formaldehyde and other chemicals from the air, and you’ll be breathing easier, reducing headaches and having less eye irritations. Are you tired of itchy skin or a dry cough? Our heating systems sap the moisture from the air, adding plants to your home or office will increase the humidity in the surrounding air. Boston ferns, for example, restore moisture to the air by releasing water vapor in exchange for air pollutants which the plant uses as food. Maybe your cough is due to congestion. Eucalyptus plants will help to ease that. Their leaves are packed with a wonderful fragrance that will help to raise fluid levels in your respiratory tract loosening congestion. If you’d like more focus during the day, try placing an ivy on your desk.

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Ivy absorbs and chemically neutralizes benzine, a chemical released by some paper products or office equipment. Spider plants are another good choice. They absorb carbon monoxide and formaldehyde which is emitted from some carpets or furniture. Snake plants, flamingo flowers, corn plants, and peace lilies are also great choices. Any of these will help to decrease headaches and the higher oxygen levels will increase your focus. Caring for houseplants is easy. Just remember not to over-water them. That’s the number one problem people seem to have with houseplants. Simply touch the top of the soil, if it feels damp or moist, then your plant doesn’t need any water. Most plants like to be misted once or twice a week. Also, don’t forget to remove dying leaves or spent flowers to keep your plant healthy and fertilize them once in the spring, summer, and fall. Visit your local independent garden center and they will help you choose the right plant for your light conditions. They have many plants that will do well in a sunny window or in an office with no windows.

Jan Wallace Jan Wallace is a regular contributors for Fort Mill Magazine and one of the owners of Sugar Creek Garden Center. For more information, contact Jan at 803-802-2600 or go to sugarcreekgardencenter.com.

Check out our weekly workshop schedule on facebook for the Fort Mill, Rock Hill, and Historic York areas. Cabinets, Furniture, Walls, and Floors. We do custom paint on provided furniture, including vintage wedding decor. TM

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The only certified instructor and stockist of Chalk Paintâ&#x201E;˘ decorative paint by Annie Sloan in York County. 1 N. Roosevelt St. York, SC & Rivers Edge 951 Celriver Rd Rock Hill 29732 704.574.6276 | artbyjuliet@yahoo.com

garage Cleaning text by Jennifer Burnham

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The garage and attic are often the most disorganized rooms in the house because that is where we dump everything we don’t want in the living area. It is where we store our “sometime maybe” items. However, organizing your garage and attic can save time, reduce frustration, and make household tasks easier.

Step One

Pick a weekend to tackle the project. Start on a Friday and plan to wrap up on Sunday. If you have adult children that no longer live at home, give them a deadline to come pick up their stuff. Donate whatever is still there after the deadline.

Step Two

Call in back up. If your family is more harmful than helpful, ask friends and neighbors. Bribe them with a dinner out.

Step Eight

Create zones to organize the space. Swim and pool gear in one area, cold and winter gear in another, tools, and lightbulbs. Having the items sorted will make creating zones a lot easier. Buy shelving units to maximize space within the garage or attic. Label storage containers to keep the zones separated and organized. Store boxes and bins with labels facing out, so you can find what you’re looking for without having to move heavy boxes. Unless you have a heat and humidity controlled garage, don’t store anything directly on the floor. Place boxes on shelves or pallets. Turn your garage into a manageable storage area with a weekend, some friends, and an open mind. Make it fun, get it done, keep the best, and donate the rest! Once the “out of sight, out of mind” is organized, the rest of the house will be a breeze. Ready? Set? Go!

Step Three

Be prepared. Essentials for cleaning out the garage or attic are: heavy duty black trash bags, rubber gloves, dust masks, safety glasses, boxes (for donations), clear or white trash bags (for donations), and a timer. Work in one hour blocks of time to prevent burnout and fatigue. Take short breaks after each hour to grab some water and perspective. Turn on the radio. Get it done, but make it fun with some tunes.

Step Four

Roll up the doors and take everything out. Make sure the space is cleared. Go through everything. Open every box. Take everything off every shelf. Some items have been sitting in the garage for years, now is the time to make decisions.

Step Five

Sort like with like. Create piles of similar items. It is okay to be less than perfect during this stage.

Edit and purge. The hardest step in the process is deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Make two piles: Keep and Kill. Remember to keep the best and donate the rest. Be realistic as you will find things you forgot you had. Now is not the time to be ambitious about using the rice cooker and juicer you received as a wedding gift 5 years ago. Donate if, you are no longer using it, item is broken or moldy, you don’t love the item, or there are multiples.

Step Seven

Haul away what you decide to trash, donate, and repair.

photo by Chelsea Walker

Step Six

Jennifer Burnham Jennifer Burnham, owner of Pure & Simple Organizing, encourages families to live life a little easier by clearing out clutter that is accumulating in their home. For more information, call 704879-1526 or visit pureandsimpleorganizing.com.

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the perfect attitudeto reach your goals text by Michelle Black

Wealth

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photos by Jessica Yarab-Watt

In my line of work, we have a slogan, “Bad credit happens to good people all the time.” As a credit expert, I believe that statement to be 100% true, but it has never been more true than in the case of recent clients, Todd and Melissa Melton. Their story is one of selflessness, extreme generosity, and love. Over the past twelve years in my field, I have never been so happy to assist a family in overcoming credit issues, nor have I ever felt so personally inspired afterwards. Todd and Melissa, teenage sweethearts who married in 1994, always knew they wanted a family. A little over 5 years after being married, Melissa gave birth to Brandon, a blonde haired, blue-eyed, beautiful baby boy who stole mommy and daddy’s hearts at first sight. As Brandon grew older, Todd and Melissa wanted to grow their little family of three and they hoped to give Brandon, aka Bam Bam, a baby sister. However, the years passed and Melissa was unable to conceive again. In 2007, Melissa had to undergo a total hysterectomy due to a severe case of endometriosis which she had battled for six years. Still, Todd and Melissa knew that their family was not yet complete. They didn’t want Brandon growing up without a sibling. Since Melissa could no longer carry a biological child of her own, the Meltons began to consider adoption. Previous full-time missionaries with Ambassadors to the Nations, Todd and Melissa first began to research adoptions from China where so many baby girls are born unwanted due to China’s strict one-child policy. Shockingly, Todd and Melissa soon learned that the cost to adopt a baby from China was close to $30,000 – a price that was, unfortunately, out of reach. Still desiring to adopt, Todd and Melissa looked into adoption through foster care in their county. Upon learning about the large number of local children in need of foster homes, they promptly applied and were approved to be foster parents. From 2008 to 2011, the Meltons were able to care for and love a total of seven precious foster children. In 2009, Todd and Melissa became foster parents to two children: an 8-month-old baby girl, Shyann, and her 3-year-old brother, Isaiah. Shyann and Isaiah’s other two siblings, Nathan and Elijah were being fostered by two separate families. Then in 2010, a baby girl, Summer, the biological sister of Shyann, Isaiah, Nathan, and Elijah was born and placed with the Meltons at the age of three months. In total, there were five siblings being cared for by three foster families. When the children were finally cleared for adoption in 2011, the Meltons were the only family out of the three foster families involved who were able to adopt all five children. Yes, their plan was originally to adopt one little girl, but Todd and Melissa had fallen in love with their foster children and couldn’t imagine them permanently separated from their siblings, or living with anyone else for that matter. Their little family of three had suddenly become a large family of eight. Shortly after the adoption was finalized, the Melton family was nominated to receive a home from Extreme Makeover Home Edition for their newly enlarged family. In fact, the Meltons were not merely nominated, but they later learned that they were one of the 5 finalists selected to receive a brand new home. Todd, Melissa, and all the children attended the pre-show rally for Extreme Makeover Home Edition at Belmont Abbey College. The fact that the rally was held at Belmont Abbey College seemed like a good sign since Todd was a student there. Todd ultimately graduated in May of 2012 with honors from the college receiving his BA in education – no small feat considering that he also worked full time, volunteered at his local church as the children’s church pastor, and was father to a family of eight all while keeping up with a full time college student’s coursework.

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On the night before Extreme Makeover Home Edition would go to the winners’ home, Todd and Melissa sat down with their children. “We explained to them there was a chance that we would be chosen to receive a new, bigger home that next morning,” said Melissa. “But, we also told them that even if we were not chosen, we knew that God still had a better plan in store for our family of eight.” Everyone woke up extra early the next morning, a Sunday, and got dressed for church as they did every week. “We knew when they weren’t at our house by a certain time that we weren’t the chosen family. So, we stopped and prayed together. “We thanked God for the family that was chosen, and we went to our church, Freedom Christian Center of Charlotte,” recalled Melissa. “A lot of our friends were very disappointed, but we were at peace. We really were very excited for the family that was chosen.” Since more space was still desperately needed, Todd and Melissa decided to try to buy a larger home. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that a home large enough for their family of 8 was way out of their price range. Especially since Todd was now the sole breadwinner with the task of caring for such a large family. This made it impossible for Melissa to continue working outside of the home. Instead of buying a new home, Todd and Melissa would build on to their existing home. By adding

Before Construction

a 2nd level to their one-story house, the Melton family could add an additional four bedrooms, two more bathrooms, and an extra laundry room – a great necessity if you have ever tried to do laundry for a family of eight. It was the perfect plan, a more affordable way to provide their family with the space they needed to thrive. Blueprints were purchased, and a contractor was found, but when Todd and Melissa went to apply for the construction loan, they hit yet another road block. They learned that their credit scores were not high enough to qualify. This was rather surprising because Todd and Melissa always worked hard to maintain good credit and took their financial responsibilities seriously. However, Melissa was uninsured during her six year battle with endometriosis and her hysterectomy, and we all know how astronomically expensive medical bills can quickly become. The other factor that negatively affected their credit scores was a simple mistake. Todd and Melissa had worked hard to pay off several of their credit card accounts. After paying off the debt, they closed the accounts believing that to be the right thing to do. What they didn’t realize was that closing those old, seasoned credit lines would drop their credit scores significantly. You have probably figured this out by now, but Todd and Melissa Melton are not quitters. When they learned that their credit scores were not high enough to qualify for the construction loan they needed, they decided to do something about it. Here is where I come into the story.

Melissa contacted HOPE for professional credit restoration assistance. The Meltons began working with our team immediately and, before long, their credit scores had increased tremendously. “We would encourage anyone whose credit doesn’t seem to have any hope to contact the HOPE Program. Don’t think it’s impossible to bring your dreams to pass because of low credit scores. They can help your dreams come true just like they helped our family. Because of the team at HOPE, our scores have increased, and construction begins on the 2nd level of our home next week,” said Melissa. Todd and Melissa are a shining example of why we should never give up on our dreams. No matter what setbacks they encountered along the way, the Meltons kept their faith and their belief that their dreams would come true. When a hysterectomy stopped them from having another biological child of their own, they decided to adopt. When adopting a baby girl from China proved to be out of reach, they opted for a local adoption through social services. When they were not able to adopt the first children they fostered, they continued to love other children in spite of their own heartache and vulnerability in doing so. When given the opportunity to keep five siblings together in one, loving home, they said, “Yes!” In the face of great disappointment at not being

During Construction

chosen by Extreme Makeover Home Edition, they kept positive attitudes and they taught all six of their children the grace to being truly happy for someone else’s miracle instead of being bitter or jealous. When purchasing a new, larger home proved to be unaffordable, the Melton family decided to build on to their existing home. When unforeseen credit issues made approval for their construction loan impossible, they found hope with a company who would help guide them through the process of rebuilding healthy credit again. Life isn’t always easy, and dreams often don’t come true without a fight. You may fall down a hundred times along your journey, but determine now that you will never stop getting back up again. Your dream is worth fighting for just like Todd and Melissa’s dream was worth overcoming every obstacle they encountered. The funny thing is I have a feeling that their dream is not quite through coming true just yet. A national television show may not have decided to build them a dream home, or to pay off their mortgage and debt, but who knows what the future may have in store.

Michelle Black As a HOPE4USA.com credit expert and seminar speaker with 10+ years of credit industry experience, Michelle’s articles discuss credit issues important to today’s consumer. Contact her at 803-548-5548 or at michelle@hope4usa.com.

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Financial

Flower

text by Matthew Griffin I often get heckled for using too many analogies when communicating with people, but I have found that the most effective way for me to make a complex topic simple is to find a story, paint a proverbial picture, and compare it to the difficult concept. Analogies tend to stick with us, and despite not being able to understand every detail of the underlying concept, a person can normally refer to the original analogy, prompting them to recall the pertinent details.

Here is yet another analogy to explain the process of investing: planting a daffodil. After all, spring is upon us, and daffodils represent one of the most underrated flowers of spring. Disclaimer - I haven’t a clue about how to grow a single thing, so I had to read extensively about this process. If you are Queen of the Garden and decide to write me to correct my details, please know that I will completely ignore you. I do not plant flowers for a living. I manage money. End of disclaimer. Successfully growing a daffodil is no easy task, as it requires preparation, planting, patience, and pruning. Investing is no different. Here’s how: PREPARATION After selecting a site with plenty of sunshine, one must thoroughly prepare the soil. Daffodils grow best in fertile, well-drained soil that is moist; although, daffodils tolerate other types of soil, as well. For an investor to “prepare the soil,” they must gather all of the data they have like investment statements, 401(k) allocations and options, bank account data, budgeting records, etc. Failing to do this will result in an unsatisfactory result – your flower will never grow. Get the data if you want your advisor to have the tools she needs to help you. PLANTING Daffodils are planted in the fall weeks before the ground freezes. They must be planted deep enough below the soil, so they do not freeze. Additionally, they need room to grow, so they are planted 3-6 inches apart. The financial equivalent to this is to start early (“weeks before the ground freezes”), find a financial advisor you trust, and let them construct a comprehensive financial plan designed specifically to

achieve your goals. Remember, we need room to grow, so enter the meeting with goals in mind, not specific actions you think we will recommend. Often, the path you must take to achieve your goals is not the path you wish to take, but instead the path that gives you the highest probability of success. Also, be very specific when communicating your goals. The more detail you provide, the more we can customize your plan, which stacks the odds in our favor. PATIENCE As mentioned above, daffodils are planted in the fall, but bloom in the spring. In other words, it takes a while for these to become visible. Nobody in their right mind would plant flowers, and proceed to check the flowers 3-4 times per day until they see a bulb. Doing that will only frustrate you, and will cause you to micro manage the watering process, which will likely kill the flower before it blooms. I believe this is the single most important aspect for people to maintain if they are serious about growing their investment portfolio. Investing money according to a long term financial plan and then checking your progress every single day is an exercise in futility. Just as looking at the daffodil hundreds of times doesn’t make it grow faster, over inspecting your portfolio won’t make your money grow. In fact, it usually makes the investor micro manage the plan. “Why haven’t I made any money?” “When will this plan work?” Too much water will kill the flower, and impatience will kill your portfolio. PRUNING It is recommended not to cut the foliage on a daffodil until the flower begins to turn yellow. Once that happens, it is time to dig the flower up, wash the bulbs off, and allow them to dry completely. Next, they should be stored in a bag that allows air circulation until they are ready to be planted again. This last step represents the ongoing management and review process that your advisor, not you, should be doing. There is no need to meet with your advisor more than one time per year. If there are changes that need to be made to your portfolio, your advisor should act proactively and recommend those changes before they become a necessity. However, it is important to realize that many times the best decision an investor can make is doing nothing. If your long term goals have not changed, do not change your portfolio just because the stock market gyrates or the media reports scare you. Doing so would be like digging up the daffodil just after it blooms. Nobody can enjoy the beautiful flower if you dig it up early, just as the investor’s heir cannot enjoy a legacy net worth that never materialized because it was “dug up” too early. Disclosure: Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. Not NCUA Insured

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Cruise the R 56

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travel

Rhine River text by Ellen Rauchhaus

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I am writing this article while sitting on the sun deck of the AMA Cello, our cruising home for this past week while exploring one of the most romantic rivers in Europe, the Rhine. Sipping on a café latte, I watch the breathtakingly beautiful scenery pass by. I am taken to my inner calmness by the mumbling of the water and the simple wave to a family of bikers along the riverbank. Ever since we stepped aboard this 4.5 star vessel, we cannot stop wondering why we had not ventured on this cruise until now. We arrived, unpacked, and set off to explore the ship already able to relax and enjoy discovering what this special journey would behold. No running in and out of a tour bus or cars. No checking in and out of hotels every day. Our floating home took all the hassle out of traveling. We embrace beautiful landscapes on the way to romantic towns and vibrant cities. We often wish we could hold onto these moments forever. With a maximum of 150 passengers and a crew ratio of 1 to 4 aboard most river cruise ships, it is the intimate personal atmosphere that discerns a river cruise from other cruises. Our 170 sq ft cabin features 5-star amenities of down bedding, bathrobes, slippers, and upscale toiletries in the luxurious bathroom and a flat panel television. The French balcony doors slide open to the romantic slate roofed villages, medieval castles, and vineyards which float by. “Doesn’t it feel like we’re in the middle of a fairy tale?” I asked my husband. Every morning felt like unwrapping a present. What scenic gift would await us today? Each and every time, we were amazed by the port cities and enriching experiences our Captain offered. Daily options included a day of land exploration or relaxing onboard with personally selected plans.

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photos courtesy of AMA Waterways

Our mornings began with the breakfast buffet, including a glass of champagne, made to order omelets, accented with freshly baked pumpkin seed bread or pastry. All AMA Waterways cruise ships in Europe include personal pastry chefs that begin baking at 2:30 AM, so the scent of freshly baked goods winding through the aisles of the ship serve as the only wake up call you need. While enjoying a gorgeous view and quenching our energy needs with breakfast, we planned our day selecting from an in-depth guided tour or a more leisurely walking tour. For either tour, the cruise staff provided every passenger with a state of the art headset. These allowed us to hear our experienced English-speaking tour guide even if we lingered at a site or shop after the group had moved on. We also took advantage of the complimentary bikes and explored the town by designing our own route. One of our favorite detours was the Culinary Delights: Bites and Sights tour in France where we visited a winery in the Alsace region learning to pair wine with dark chocolate. Yum! For lunch, we either stayed in town and ventured to try the local fare or returned to the ship where we chose a light lunch or mouthwatering delicacies of the onboard restaurant. Afternoons were spent aboard the ship or exploring the beauty of the town on our own by visiting breweries, attending wine tastings, shopping the wonderful boutiques, or simply sitting in a café enjoying the atmosphere of a quaint market square. When staying aboard, complimentary espresso drinks, sandwiches, and pastries awaited the

guests.

covered bridges and canals of the extended waterways.

The cruise offered an amazing multi-course dining experience uncovering regional specialties accompanied by free-flowing local wines and beers. The food was absolutely delicious with choices for any palate and remained truly a 4-star experience at each endeavor. AMA Waterways is the only river cruise line to be an official member of La Chaîne de Rôtisseurs; ranked one of the most prestigious culinary organizations since being founded in 1950 in Paris. Membership is considered an achievement of world-class culinary acumen, and we experienced this with each and every meal.

While some of our friends detoured to explore Colmar, a quaint town on the French side of the Rhine with picturesque half-timbered houses and a history that goes back over 1000 years, we preferred to visit our former hometown of Freiburg. Surrounded by the ravishing mountains of the Black Forest on one side and the Rhine Valley with the French Vosges on the other, Freiburg is known as Germany’s sunniest place. There is no better location to have an ice cream than at Lazzarin’s at the Rathausplatz. We strolled over beautiful Rhine stone mosaics reminiscing about the Kaiser Joseph Street main shopping mile and ended our tour by accidentally stepping into the famous Bächle. Stepping into the Bächle solidifies fate’s promise of a return to this beautiful land sometime in the near future.

After dinner, our cruise manager, Debbie would greet us joyfully: “Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to tonight’s featured show!” Whether traditional local folk dance, a classical quartet, or 70s music, our new friends joined us willingly. Kevin and Sara, newlyweds from California; John, a single traveler from Maine; and Bob and Anne, a retired couple from Florida, now joined us as we embraced the country we cherish. It is the diversity of people that makes mingling on board so much fun and creates the connections for future cruise trips together. Returning to our luxurious cabin for the night, we found room service had turned down our beds, adorned them with chocolates alongside a recipe card reflecting the night’s featured main course signed by executive chef, Primus Perchtold. What a wonderful idea! I will definitely surprise my dinner guests back home with these amazing recipes. Even after growing up in Germany, my husband and I always wanted to cruise this particular region of Europe. We started in Amsterdam and are now on our way to Basel, Switzerland. We completely agree that Amsterdam is “the Venice of the North” with its beautiful canals, bridges, and colorful houses. When you visit Amsterdam, make sure to stop by L’Amuse on Stadionweg; a cheese shop that offers over 400 varieties of Dutch cheeses. We passed through the Upper Rhine Valley, one of many UNESCO (United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage sites on this cruise, emphasized by medieval castles greeting us from the tops of nearby hills. From there, we traveled onward to Rüdesheim and Speyer, as well as the cosmopolitan city of Cologne. Approaching Cologne, we admired the two spires of the gorgeous Gothic cathedral long before we docked. After completing the guided walking tour of old town, we advanced to the Gaffel Haus at the Alter Markt, one of so many local microbreweries, to taste the world famous Kölsch.

For us, our wonderful time here on the AMA Cello had to come to a close. Looking up from this very paper, I visually captured the outlines of Basel with barges, boats, and cruise ships docking land side like a string of pearls. Basel is our last stop where we will bid farewell to the AMA Cello Rhine River cruise and begin our land program in Switzerland. My husband nudges me gently, reminding me of a final indulgence that awaits me at the onboard spa. When done with my massage and facial, we will certainly enjoy making plans for our next dream river cruise. Maybe the Danube from Budapest to Vienna, or the Douro in Portugal. How about a wine themed cruise on the Rhône and Seine in France, or even all the way to Vietnam and Cambodia? There are several river cruises conducted in Europe, Russia, Asia, and Africa. For now, I am going to enjoy the beautiful scenery while I finish my latte then meander to the spa, where I’ll relax and wonder where in the world our next journey will take us.

Ellen Rauchhaus Ellen Rauchhaus, a native European, is a travel consultant for almost twenty years, a river cruise specialist and the owner of European Delights by TripDesign. Ellen can be contacted at (248) 982 4547 or email tripdesign4u@gmail.com. More information can be found here: tripdesign4u.com and facebook.com/tripdesign4u.

The following day we cherished a view looking far beyond the castle walls. Admiring the rolling Neckar River swaying through the old town Heidelberg was like warm rain on a sunny day that truly warmed our romantic side. The world’s largest wine barrel is located in the cellar of the castle. Created from 170 oak trees, the magnificent barrel secures a massive 55,345 gallons of wine. Heidelberg also houses the oldest university on German soil properly named Heidelberg University. After visiting Heidelberg, I did say, “I lost my heart in Heidelberg” to borrow that special phrase from Fred Raymond‘s famous song. Strasbourg presented us with another cathedral, Nôtre Dame. The 59 foot tall astronomical clock is securely embraced by the architectural design of Nôtre Dame. We experienced additional historical influences while on a guided tour of Petite France Quarter gaining appreciation for

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Taking to

the Rails text by Linda Murfin

My husband loves trains. From the little scalemodel one that chugs around his Christmas In The City village, to the light-rail that speeds us Uptown for a night on the town, to the high-speed trains of Europe that efficiently transport folks from city to city. He just loves trains. Knowing that, it was clear to me that our first trip to Europe together would absolutely have to include train transportation. We were headed to Burgundy for a week on a luxury river barge and we needed to get to Dijon. I was delighted to learn that following a few days’ stay in Paris, we could head to the Gare du Nord station to board a high-speed TGV to Dijon getting us there in just a few hours. I have to say, I enjoyed sitting back and watching the French countryside whiz by just as much as my husband did. One thing we learned right away is that the trains in Europe are punctual. You could set your watch by them. This is an absolute necessity because a few minutes’ delay in one city can cause a domino effect making the train late in every other city along its route. There is very little boarding time unlike an airport where you must be there an hour or more ahead of time to sit and wait for departure. Give yourself five minutes before departure to be on the platform and you’re in good shape. At the end of our barge trip on the Burgundy canal, we headed off for Italy again on the train, but this time, on the Italian Frecce high-speed train. There were no direct trains from Dijon to Verona, so we opted to take one to Lausanne, Switzerland and spend the night. Then, continue on to Verona the next day. What a great decision that turned out to be. We were treated to a brilliantly sunny day in Lausanne and found that the hotel I booked

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(because it was only a few blocks from the train station) was also on the shore of Lake Geneva. The view was stunning. After a three day stop in Verona from which we commuted into Venice, we were headed to Siena in Tuscany. To get there, we needed to change from a modern, high-speed train to Florence to a vintage milk-route type train to get us to Siena. Knowing by this point that we needed to be on that second train by departure time or risk being left behind, we scurried through the station, found our train, boarded it and took our seats. We had brought along a couple of huge pizza slices leftover from dinner the night before and pulled them out for our lunch. As we were sitting there, a woman and two men, quite obviously American, came on board tentatively looking for their seats and seeming unsure if they were on the right train. Spotting us with pizza on our laps, casual clothing and no apparent luggage (we travel light), the woman approached us and said very slowly, “Do--you--speak--any--English?” to which we burst out laughing and nearly choked on our pizza. They too were headed to Siena to dine at a restaurant someone from their home in Seattle had recommended. We got to talking and by the time we reached Siena had made some new friends. We thought afterwards, if they were going all the way from Florence to Siena just to have dinner, maybe we should check this restaurant out. Thanks to some help from the local tourist office, we found Cane e Gatto the next evening and had a delightful five hour gourmet meal including wines appropriate to each course. Of course, our new friends’ names were there on the register. What a memory that chance encounter on the train provided.

All the trains were clean, fast, comfortable, and efficient. One new convenience on the Italian trains is that you can unencumber yourself during your journey by sending your luggage door-to-door for a nominal additional charge. Although trains in Europe are not the bargain they once were, primarily because of the super-low-cost air carriers operating there now, Americans still get a good deal with the various rail passes offered to non-European residents. One-country passes start at low as $51 for three days (Slovenia). Regional passes covering several neighboring countries start at $180 for four days and passes that will take you through most of Europe for 15 straight days are as low as $665 per person, if 2-5 people travel together throughout their entire journey. Families with children and youths (ages 12 to 25) also receive substantial discounts. If your destination is Britain, you will find assorted rail passes there too ranging from the BritRail Central Scotland pass covering a tiny portion of the country to the all-encompassing BritRail pass plus Ireland. Point-to-point rail tickets can be purchased anywhere in Britain and Europe, but the passes will save you as much as 35 to 50% off adult prices. If passengers are under 4, they travel for free. After all, one of the best ways a child can learn about the world is by seeing it.

Linda Murfin A regular contributor to Fort Mill Magazine, Linda loves to document her travels and is owner of Above the Crowds Travel. To book your next adventure, contact her at 803-835-0585 or linda@abovethecrowds.com.

4 Different Ways toYour Heatlh

to Get into

Shape text by Emily Wyatt

photos by Stefanie Morris

I hate to run. I hate it with every fiber of my being. I want to like it, but something about moving my legs in a repetitive motion while gasping for breath just doesn’t appeal to me. It works for some people. I’ve heard people call it therapeutic. That’s lovely for them. I used to go to the gym a lot, then I switched to P90X for a while. That’s really all the same though. Grab a weight. Lift. Release. Lift. Release. Up. Down. Up. Down. After a while, the motivation just seeped out of me. Some people love the gym. Lifting weights or listening to Tony Horton tell them to lift weights is exactly what they need. Many of my friends and family members are like this. I’ve found that while I can keep it up for a little bit, and let’s face it, it’s better than running, it gets monotonous. That’s when I started researching. I knew biking, running, and lifting weights were not for me. To be honest, I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for. I just knew that I needed something. That’s when I discovered four different ways to work out that blew running and Tony Horton right out of the water.

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Fort Mill Crossfit

The first form of exercise was crossfit. In need for more information, I contacted our local crossfit facility, Fort Mill Crossfit. Fort Mill Crossfit comes from humble beginnings. The box where you workout is 3,000 square feet and is located in the back of a warehouse; not an uncommon practice for crossfit facilities, I later learned. The owner, Bob Piotrowski, and one of the coaches, Linda Cook, sat down with me and explained what crossfit is and why it’s a great alternative to standard gyms. “Do you know what crossfit is?” Cook asked me. I had heard about it, but didn’t know the details. “It’s cross training. It’s getting ready for anything and everything,” she said. Cook and Piotrowski continued to explain that crossfit is high intensity and functional movements that are constantly varied. It’s not uncommon to see a crossfitter dragging extremely heavy weights from one side of the box to the other behind them, or doing massive amounts of dead lifts. You will even see people jumping on and off boxes, or doing all out sprints. It’s always different. “So, you may jump on a box. Then, you’re going to run half a mile. Then, you’ll come back and climb a rope. Then, you may do a pull up. You mix it up all the time,” Piotrowski explained. “I was really skinny, asthmatic, (and) sickly when I was younger. I didn’t really work out,” Piotrowski admitted. “You know the movie 300?” he asked. I nodded my head yes and enjoyed the mental image of Gerard Butler with perfectly sculpted abs. “Some of these people, these actors have to be like me, and they did it through crossfit,” Piotrowski told me, bringing me back to reality. “I wanted that,” he said. Moved to action, Piotrowski went to a crossfit facility near his workplace. Admittedly, he was timid at first, “but, everybody was so encouraging!” As Piotrowski continued working with crossfit, he saw himself getting better, faster, and stronger. He soon realized his nearly 50-year-old body could keep up with the 20 and 30-year-olds. “For the first time, I felt like I was apart of a community of athletes,” he said. Piotrowski then realized his true calling to help more people like himself. He quickly became a trainer, then a coach, and developed a christian-based crossfit community. “We have elite athletes. We have people who haven’t worked out in twenty years. We have people in their 60s. We have people in their 40s and we have people in the 20s,” Piotrowski told me. “There are people that are extremely overweight. Those people get in this habit

“ change the person you are. ” You can completely

of thinking no one cares about them. They think that it’s better to just sit,” Piotrowski explained. “Those are the people I want to be able to reach out to because we do care about them. There is a place where you can go and feel welcome and part of a community.” Elite athletes are welcome too, as long as their heart is in the right place. “Leave your ego at the door. In here, nobody has an ego,” Piotrowski said. Crossfit is not just about working out and a great community atmosphere. Like all workouts, crossfit requires a diet. Most crossfitters are proponents of the Paleo Diet. Think meats, fruits, and vegetables. No dairy, no gluten, and really, only lean meats such as turkey. This may be tough for some people. It was for me. “Really, if you stick to about 90% Paleo, then you’re doing good. Just as long as you are aware of what you’re eating.

You do get to know your body here. You’re fueling your body,” Cook explained. She gave me some Paleo chocolate bars to take back to the office, which were amazing. There’s an entire section on the Fort Mill Crossfit website dedicated to helping members of the community stick to their diet. There’s something to be said for the members of the crossfit community. They are strong, determined people and being apart of something like that may be exactly what you need. “Some of the clients in my age group step back and suddenly they’re young again. In crossfit, you can go from being that old person and you can turn it into a stronger body,” Piotrowski said. “You can completely change the person you are.” For more information about Fort Mill Crossfit, visit fortmillcrossfit.com or call 704-618-3592.

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“On average,

9Round

Fort Mill

The next unconventional gym I visited was 9Round. They just opened in the Tega Cay area. You walk in and see nine stations strategically placed around the workout area. “It’s a nine round, nine station, workout circuit,” owner Dave Frescatore explained. “We change the workouts everyday. This really keeps it fresh for the customers except round 8, which is always a speed bag,” Frescatore admitted. Here’s how it works: The total workout is 30 minutes. Each round is 3 minutes. Nine rounds at three minutes gives you 27 minutes total. The difference is you have an active rest exercise between rounds for 30 seconds a piece. “It could be pushups, it could be sit ups, whatever the trainer calls to you,” he continued. “The goal is to be a total body workout in 30 minutes.” This circuit style workout has one awesome perk, there’s no class times. “People can come when it’s convenient for them,” Frescatore explained. You can literally just jump in the rotation when you want and start your workout then. Because you do punch and kick

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you will burn about 500 calories per workout.

things, you have to wear gloves and/or wraps. Let’s face it, it just makes you feel that much cooler. “On average, you’ll burn about 500 calories per workout,” Frescatore said. That’s pretty impressive for a 30 minute workout. Another perk, there’s always a trainer on the floor. This means that you will get one-onone time with a personal trainer every time you visit 9Round. “If it’s busier, there will be two trainers on the floor. If we are really busy, there will be three trainers on the floor,” he said. 9Round has exploded. When I conducted this interview, they had not even been open for an entire day and already had seventeen members. While I was there, three more people signed up for a trial run. Three weeks later, they had 90 members. After working for GE for many years and owning his own business, Frescatore decided that owning a 9Round was the way to go. “I get a chance to help people everyday,” he admitted. “That’s the most important thing.” That was obvious to me as Frescatore would continually call out to the member working out to encourage her to keep pushing in between my questions. For more information on 9Round Fort Mill, go to facebook. com/9RoundFortMill or call 980-272-1704.

”

Champion Taekwondo

Hear me out. I know Taekwondo might sound intimidating. It’s not. Sure, martial arts were developed as a defensive measure centuries ago, but today’s Taekwondo, the sport of it, started developing in the 1950s. “It’s a relatively new form of martial art,” Master Jennifer Penny told me one day after a class. We both sat on the mat, bare footed, stretching. Master Jenn told me she tries to sit on the floor as much as possible. “We are a society of sitting in chairs, but our bodies are not built that way. They are meant to sit on the floor, or (for) squatting. (It’s) much better for your hips,” she told me. That’s part of what Taekwondo is; being extremely aware of your body and how it moves. “A lot of people believe that there’s this mystical or magical thing around martial arts. It’s not mystical. It’s just science. It’s physics,” she said. “Taekwondo teaches people how to use their body in a way that is functional for other areas in your life, so if I learn how to stand in a proper stance, then I’ll probably sit better at my desk,” she said. Practicing Taekwondo on a day-to-day basis will help your posture and it works your core muscles without even thinking about it.

Photo courtesy of Emily Wyatt

“It’s a lot different from running,” Master Jenn continued. “I can propel myself through space, but kicking something or someone is a much more calculated movement. I mean there’s over two dozen muscles that stretch across your hips alone. Genuine power generation using the hips is not a big gross motor skill kind of movement” she explained. This all carries over to every aspect of your life. If you know how your body is supposed to work, you can control it better. “I think it also helps that you don’t have a tool. You don’t have a ball or bat to help you make the power that you need,” Master Jenn explained. With Martial Arts, you have to break it down to the body function. In most sports, you’d have to be at a high level of expertise to get that kind of training, but that’s the most basic part of Taekwondo. “We teach that from day one,” Master Jenn said. “People come in here thinking that it’ll be something to do with their kid or that they’re going to do something different other than going to the gym or whatever and you end up having a lot more insight than I think you count on,” she added. For more information about Taekwondo, go to championtkdbaxter. com or call 803-396-KICK (5425). You can also stop in and watch a couple classes to learn more. “A physical visit is really the only way to get a real sense of the place,” Master Jenn said.

“

A lot of people believe that there’s this mystical or magical thing around martial arts. Its not mystical, it’s just science. It’s physics. fortmillmagazine.com

” 65

“

When you come to a yoga studio it’s like coming home: you kick off your shoes, put on something comfortable, and let the day go.

”

Om Yoga

The last non-gym that I visited was Om Yoga in Baxter. I have taken a few classes there in the past. I must say, yoga is no joke. It takes patience and an insane amount of focus. If you find that your mind is all over the place or you just need a good hour of peace and a little time to focus on yourself, yoga is the ticket for you. Maria Lages, the owner of Om Yoga, started practicing yoga as a way to stretch after running. “Right from the very start, I could feel my body getting stronger and my mind getting calmer, so I started spending more time on the mat and less time at the gym on the treadmill,” Lages admitted. Yoga quickly became apart of Lages’ world. She knew she had to share her wealth of knowledge. Coming from a modest background, Lages never saw herself growing up to be the owner of a successful business. “I wanted to be (a)part of something meaningful. Starting a business was definitely not easy, but seeing people get well and watching the studio’s growth makes it all worth it,” she admitted. This Brazilian born yogi says the proof is in the numbers. She told me that more and more people are turning to yoga as a break from their modern day life. “Today’s fast paced generation thrives on instant gratification, pressure to be productive, and drive for perfection. We looked to programs that got us looking good in the same amount of time it takes to drive through the car wash,” Lages told me. Yoga has been practiced for centuries, so why is it becoming so popular now? “Because when you come to a yoga studio, it’s like coming home. You kick off your shoes, put on something comfortable, and let the day go. This is a welcome change for those of us who used to drag ourselves to a gym where we would encounter fluorescent lighting, the sound of weights thumping into the floor, and the wait for our favorite machine,” Lages said. With Yoga, all you need is a mat and to breathe. You may be seeking physical fitness, better posture, or just time to focus on you. No matter your goals, you will find it all when you practice yoga. For more information about yoga, go to ombalayoga.com or call (803) 396-0493.

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A Smile You Can Be Proud of

Special Advertiser’s Section: India Hook Dental Care

India Hook now offers Clear Correct services

Have you ever wanted to straighten out those front teeth or close that gap that has bothered you for years? How about getting a smile you are proud of without anyone ever seeing those unsightly metal brackets that braces are so well known for? If so, clear aligner orthodontic therapy may be the choice for you. Clear Correct and Invisalign are some of the well-known companies that offer these products. At India Hook Dental Care, we are proud to start offering Clear Correct services. What is it? Clear Correct is that simple, effective way to straighten your teeth, so you can get a smile you’ll love. It’s a series of clear, custommade, removable aligners that gradually straighten your teeth as you wear them. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time. They’re practically invisible, so most people won’t even know you’re in treatment. They fit you perfectly, so they’re more comfortable than regular braces, and they’re removable, so you can eat whatever you like and clean your teeth normally. Why Clear Correct? Our clear aligners are comfortable, removable, and best of all, nearly invisible. Because you can easily remove the aligners to eat, you don’t have to change your diet like you might with braces. You can show off your smile with almost no impact on your

daily life. Some severe cases of misalignment do require metal braces, but most patients can be treated just as effectively with clear aligners. The cost and length of treatment are generally comparable. Why wouldn’t you choose Clear Correct?

How does it work? You and your doctor will evaluate your teeth and talk about any problems or goals you have for your smile. Your doctor will take impressions, x-rays, and photos of your teeth, then send them to us with instructions for the tooth movements you need to achieve your ideal smile. We’ll create a 3D model of your mouth and then a series of clear plastic aligners custom fitted to your teeth. Each aligner will apply targeted pressure to the teeth selected by your doctor, slowly moving them into alignment. Every six weeks or so, your doctor will check on your progress and give you the next two sets of aligners. Unlike other clear aligner companies, Clear Correct will manufacture your aligners in phases, so your doctor can request changes at any time. Treatment usually takes 6-18 months, but you’ll start to see results right away. What can it do? Clear Correct can treat a wide variety of issues that keep people from achieving their ideal smiles. Straighter teeth don’t just look better, they work better, too. Poorly aligned teeth can interfere with bite function, wear out quicker, and are more prone to cavities. Ask your doctor how Clear Correct can help you. At India Hook Dental Care, our mission is to provide the highest quality of dental care for our patients who have entrusted us with their oral health. Our highly trained staff is dedicated to treating each patient with loyalty, compassion, integrity, and respect. Before deciding to correct your misalignment, it is important to get a good cleaning and take care of any cavities you may have. Our goal is to provide you with the highest standard of oral health and to give you a smile you can be proud of. Whatever your dental needs may be, we would be honored to serve you, as we are always welcoming new patients. With our state of the art technology and highly trained staff, we can take care of any need you may have. Contact us today and give yourself a smile you can be proud of. Source: ClearCorrect Inc.*****

1144 India Hook Road, Suite E | Rock Hill, SC 29732 | 803-324-7640

From

Pain to Purpose My Journey to Health

text by Bree Ziegler

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photo by Emily Wyatt

The early morning sunlight begins to peak through the curtains. Outside, the birds are chirping and the colorful spring flowers are in bloom. It’s the beginning of another beautiful, sunny spring day. The neighbors are outside early, laughing and enjoying their morning coffee, but inside this room, it is solemn and dark. The thought of getting out of bed seems pointless. My only desire is to pull the covers back over my head and stay there until the darkness completely swallows me up. Just three years earlier, I had been a smart, talented, 19-yearold, straight-A student with big plans for a big future. Now here I am, struggling to accomplish even the simplest of everyday tasks. The morning ritual of getting out of bed, taking a shower, and putting on clothes feels as if it uses up every ounce of energy in my body. I muster up all of my strength to get through the workday and then head to my next appointment, with a small glimpse of hope that this doctor might offer a successful solution. This is the seventh specialist that I have seen within three years. The introduction rolls off my tongue with ease as I have said it many times before. “My name is Bree, I am 22 years old. For the past three years, there has been something wrong. I am exhausted all the time. I keep gaining weight. My mood quickly changes from completely numb, to anxious, outraged, or depressed, all with no apparent reason.” I run through the list of other symptoms; dizziness, digestive issues, frequent infections, palpitations, headaches, and a ridiculously annoying inability to concentrate. That small glimpse of hope fades away as he looks at me in the same fashion that all the others have before. I can’t tell if he is perplexed by my symptoms or if he is trying to decide if I am a hypochondriac, a pill-seeker, or just plain crazy. After yet another round of tests, my heart drops as he begins to deliver his solution. “Everything appears normal. It’s most likely just depression. Take these medications and come back in a few months.” Over a three year period, I had been given prescriptions for eight antidepressants, four anti-anxiety medications, four narcotic pain relievers, two narcotic sleep medications, and muscle relaxants. Each one providing no relief and many of them resulting in an onslaught of worsening symptoms. The next five years continued to be dark, clouded with depression, fatigue, and despair. My health had deteriorated even further. In the final year of my illness, I was diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune digestive disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder. As a result, my personal life had also taken a downward spiral resulting in a failed marriage, broken relationships, and the inability to handle my high stress job. Then, something happened that radically changed everything. As I was facing a serious surgery and a lifetime of medications, I was introduced to the world of holistic nutrition and natural health. At that moment, I knew I had found the answers I had been seeking. I thought I had a good understanding of nutrition, yet there was an entire world of information on holistic health and nutrition that was new to me. My illness was not caused by an unknown weakness, a genetic predisposition, or a flaw in my making. My symptoms were a result of the standard American diet, which I had been eating every single day of my life. Fast food, packaged foods, chemicals, additives, and even the foods we may think are healthy, such as whole wheat products and diet

foods, drive inflammation in the body resulting in abnormal symptoms. The body needs natural, whole foods to be well balanced. Every single food choice we make either supports health or fuels disease. By adopting a natural, holistic lifestyle and determining the foods that were right for my unique body, I completely regained my health. Within a few short weeks, I was free from depression. I was experiencing clarity and energy like I had never felt before. Over the next several months, I had dropped 35 pounds without ever feeling like I was restricted or unsatisfied with my diet. One by one, my symptoms vanished and I got my life back. Today, I feel alive and well-balanced. I am happy and grateful. I have met people and traveled to places that I never thought possible. My past fuels the desire to help others who are struggling with their own health. I am thankful that through the pain, I discovered my purpose and my passion.

Bree Ziegler Bree Ziegler RN, BCHC is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Weight Loss Specialist and Registered Nurse. To learn more about personalized coaching or group programs, visit vitalityhealthcoach.com or contact Bree at 803-727-7607.

Every child deserves preventive vision care. The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams at ages one, three, and five. Early vision care is just as important as early dental care. We offer FREE, computer assisted infant eye exams. We are the vision CONSULTANTS TO the Fort Mill Schools. Reading the Snellen eye chart is NOT an eye exam.

(803) 802-4733 Dr. Larry Jerge & Dr. Nicole Stefani

1151 Stonecrest Blvd @ Highway 160 The Membership Trading Community

800.277.9722 www.itex.com

{Tega Cay Walmart} Tega Cay, SC 29708 fortmillmagazine.com

Young Love text by Carol Howell photos by Stefanie Morris

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Many of us fear getting old. We see it as a time of decline, isolation, pain, forgetfulness, and eventual death. Unfortunately, this is true for many people; however, aging doesn’t have to be like this. Let me introduce you to Clint and Pat Andrews of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Clint is a young 94-year-old, and Pat is a beautiful 88-year-old. I first met Clint and Pat about eight years ago at our neighborhood pool. They had just returned from one of their many trips across the country, and they were enjoying the cool temperatures of the pool on a very hot South Carolina day. I was immediately struck by their presence. Clint, who was 86 at the time, and Pat, who was 80, were active, intelligent, happy, lively, and – well, I just have to say it – pretty people. It is not often you meet a couple of their age who is so busy enjoying everything life has to offer. I recently sat down with them for about an hour and a half. I learned about their life story, their good days, their bad days, their fears, and their hopes and dreams. I hope their story will inspire you as much as it has me. Clint and Pat met at the ages of 77 and 71, respectively, at church. Clint looked at Pat and thought she was very attractive, so he made the bold move of sitting behind her at church that day. Being a bit of a flirt, Clint made sure to comment on her beautiful voice. He even recommended she join the church choir. Clint had been a widower for two years at this point. He had cared for and buried his wife, of almost fifty years, after she was diagnosed with a rare disease. Pat was visiting the church for the very first time. She had only been in town for about two weeks, so everything in her life was new. While Clint was a fairly recent widower, Pat had been a widow for twenty years. Her husband, a minister, had died at the age of 51 from cancer.

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Now through God’s providence, Pat was beginning to entertain thoughts of sharing her life with someone. Loneliness had become a factor. When Pat and Clint’s paths crossed, the sparks of attraction were in sight. They have been married seventeen years now, and they are an example to all who are fortunate enough to meet them. Has life been easy? Far from it. Just one month after marrying, the Andrews decided to move from Connecticut to Florida. During that month, Clint was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While this would be upsetting news for anyone, it was particularly hard on Pat, the new bride, who had lost her first husband to cancer. Pat, herself a cancer survivor, knew all too well the journey ahead. Now she was facing this diagnosis yet again. Treatment, good doctors, and tons of faith brought them through this experience. They then had the challenge of learning the “quirks” of each other’s personalities. Adjusting to a spouse can be difficult when both people are young; however, adjusting to a spouse, when that individual has had seventy or more years to adopt patterns and habits, is quite a different animal. I asked them both what they would change about their years together. Clint, in his quiet voice said, “I would be more sensitive to her needs and her desires. I was not sensitive enough. Lots of things for me are okay, but they are not for her. Even now, I have to think about how I can be more sensitive to her.” In my opinion, it takes a sensitive man to make a statement such as that. Pat felt her request would be to change her need for perfection. She is learning that everything does not have to be “just so!” The world will not end and she might be able to relax through the experience. Her biggest desire, though, would be having this experience of “learning to

relax” result in more laughter. Ahh, laughter is good for the soul! The lessons Clint and Pat have taught their family, their friends, their neighbors, and this writer are numerous. They have made it these many years through the good and the bad, the healthy days and the surgeries, the smiles and the tears, with their arms around each other. They made healthy living and warm loving a part of their days. It has paid off. It is this writer’s desire to emulate these people. They smile. They laugh. They teach. They love. They glow with goodness. As I tell Pat often, “I want to be you one day.” Aging does not have to bring with it sorrow, gloom, despair, and loneliness. Aging can bring happiness, joy, beauty, wisdom, and people with whom to share those things. It happened for Clint and Pat Andrews, and I hope it happens for you.

Carol Howell

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Carol Howell is a Certified Dementia Specialist who offers Music Therapy and Public Speaking seminars. To learn more, go to seniorlifejouneys.com

They have been married seventeen years now, and they are an example to all who are fortunate enough to meet them . Has life been easy? Far from it.

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Super Mommy expecting baby number 2 in your 30s text by Lori MacLeod photos by Stefanie Morris

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Every pregnancy is different...I am two years older this time and yet it seems easier, so far.

You’re emotionally and financially stable. Check! You’ve had time for a career and the opportunity to travel. Check! You’ve had time for yourself; you’re secure in your relationship. Check! This isn’t the doctor’s pregnancy checklist, but a list of a few reasons why there is an increasing number of women postponing pregnancy until their 30s. There’s a growing trend of women accomplishing their professional goals before deciding to start a family. No one knows this better than CN2 News Director and Anchor, Laurabree Monday, who is 36 and pregnant with her second child. After moving to four different cities in nine years, she and husband, Channel 9 WSOC Chief Meteorologist, Keith Monday settled in the Indian Land area. Monday has only known pregnancy in her 30s, and while she says she may have had more energy in her 20s, she thinks she can appreciate the experience of pregnancy more in her 30s. She also feels more prepared with her second pregnancy. Her first child, Ethan Tate will be two in March. Monday’s doctor jokes that she doesn’t come in with nearly as many questions as she did with her first pregnancy. Monday, now well into her second trimester, seems to be experiencing less morning sickness during her second pregnancy and feels her energy level is higher. Monday will continue to work outside of the home after the baby arrives. She and her husband have found a way to balance their busy careers and family life. In fact with her first pregnancy, she anchored the six o’clock news, then delivered baby Ethan the next day. Monday thinks being pregnant in your 30s makes for a less stressful pregnancy because you are more comfortable with the rest of your life,

”

career, home, and family. When asked what advice she would give to someone considering pregnancy in their 30s, Monday said, “Every pregnancy is different. I am two years older this time and yet it seems easier so far. Just try to enjoy the experience, take a lot of pictures and write lots of memories down.”

Like Laurabree Monday, licensed teacher and coach, Vironica Dawson had quite the list of accomplishments under her belt before she started her family in her 30s. Dawson is 33 and also pregnant with her second child. Her first child, Marcelo will be two in July. Dawson, whose impressive list of achievements include earning a 4.0 while working on her Master Degree and graduating at the top of her class, chose to put her career on hold and become a stay-at-home mom. She says she went through an identity crisis after making that decision, something her doctor says is extremely common among women who delay starting a family until their 30s. Dawson counts her blessings daily knowing that she will blink and her children will be starting school, so she loves every minute of her time at home. Married to Marcel Dawson, a Regional Director for Principal Financial Group covering 22 states, Dawson says family time is extremely important because of her husband’s frequent travel schedule. Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dawson says she and her Brazilian born husband look forward to exposing their children to travel and says, “We are definitely looking forward to taking our children abroad, someday.” With a mom who is a retired AllAmerican and Top 10 NC Masters Swimmer and water polo player and a dad who speaks five languages, I trust their children will have great exposure to many things in life. At the top of both moms’ lists is staying fit before, during, and after

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Location

wardrobe provided by: The Bump Maternity Boutique 951 Market St., Baxter Hair and makeup provided by: Kelly Coulter kellycoulter@windstream.net

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“

I continue to remind myself still, that my purpose in life is to be a loving mother and wife first, everything else comes second, no matter the age!

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pregnancy and both are actively continuing their exercise routines. Dawson, who also models, acts, and dances in her spare time, was in rehearsal for a ballet performance up until two days before she delivered her first child and goes to the gym daily. Monday works with a personal trainer to help her stay fit during her second pregnancy. Healthy eating was also at the top of both moms’ lists of Must-Dos for being pregnant in your 30s, and both agree that having toddlers at home made choosing healthy menus easier. Dawson has even taken up cooking and laughs when her husband lovingly refers to her healthy recipe creations as “alien” food. Health and happiness during their pregnancy seems to be most important to both of these busy moms, as well as taking the advice of their doctors. Women who postpone pregnancy into their 30s face the reality that overall fertility declines after age 30 with a rapid decline after the age of 35. Most experts agree that 35 is the age of reckoning when it comes to starting a family, especially if the woman wants more than one child. In fact, thirty percent of women age 35 and older struggle with fertility issues. Pregnancy in your 30s comes with high risk factors such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, chromosomal defects, low birth weight and miscarriage, to name a few. Physicians tend to keep a closer eye on women who are pregnant in their 30s. From the age of 35 to 39, the odds of having multiples are greater due to an increase in the FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) level. With the surge in the FSH level, there are greater odds of releasing more than one egg per cycle putting women at greater risk for a multiple birth. More women age

35 to 39 have twins without the help of fertility treatments than at any other age. Both moms are also in agreement that being pregnant in your 30s, in addition to having a toddler at home, can add to your fatigue. Dawson was put on bed rest due to exhaustion. “With becoming a mom, a stayat-home mom, I have learned to appreciate the little things in life and to live in the moment,” Dawson said. Nothing exemplifies “living in the moment” more than the unique and creative way the Mondays found out and announced the gender of their baby. They asked their nurse to leave the message on their voicemail, then while Skyping with their entire extended family, they had their little boy Ethan enter the room in either a pink or a blue shirt. Much to the squealing delight of all, Ethan entered the room in a pink shirt with a sign created by his cousin that read,”I love my baby sister!” The Dawsons are also excited to welcome a baby girl to their family. Both moms are announcing the names upon the arrival of their pink bundles of joy. Dawson said, “I continue to remind myself still that my purpose in life is to be a loving mother and wife first, everything else comes second, no matter the age.”

Lori MacLeod Lori MacLeod is a freelance television producer. She is a proud mother of Carly, 16 and Twins Ryan and Sarah,11. Lori can be reached at LoriLSU@gmail.com.

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g n i k a M our Y t u o k r Wo Work y b a B r fo

r Hagle atalie N y b t tex

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Joint and back pain, muscle tenderness, mood swings, nausea, and weight gain – it’s not the flu, it’s that baby living off of you! During pregnancy, we should embrace the growth and change in our bellies and our bodies, but we don’t have to sacrifice our fitness routines and give in to outrageous food cravings that pack on unhealthy pounds. In fact, exercise and proper nutrition during and after pregnancy can improve delivery and recovery. Today, there are many ways to exercise that are safe for Mom and Baby, and though food cravings can be fun to indulge, they may be an indication that the body is lacking certain nutrients. Fort Mill fitness instructors offer several classes for new moms and moms-to-be that can help you through various stages of pregnancy and recovery. Whether you are already an experienced Yogi, or a fan of Tabata, with the proper modifications and a pre/postnatal trainer, you can get your sweat on.

Safety Keep in mind that your body is undergoing a number of rapid changes and there are safety precautions to consider when exercising with a baby on board. As a general rule, women who are twelve weeks or more should avoid aggressive abdominal exercises until at least six weeks after a vaginal delivery without complications. Increased tension on the abdominal wall may lead to diastasis recti, a separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle, which covers the front surface of the belly area. In addition, avoid exercises that require lying flat on your back after the first trimester and do not overheat. Consult your doctor or midwife for more specific guidelines before beginning any fitness routine. Remember, your body is a wonderful source of information. Respect the messages it sends you and stop exercising immediately if you feel dizzy, overheated, pain, or numbness.

Yoga Yoga is one of the top ten pregnancy exercises recommended by the American Pregnancy Association. They describe yoga as having “a long standing reputation for relieving stress and pressure on your body. Most forms of yoga will be safe for you and your baby, as long as they are not excessively rigorous.” Charlotte Prenatal Yoga currently offers local yoga classes at the Carolina Community Maternity Center in Fort Mill. “The basis for yoga is connecting mind, body, and spirit. When you’re pregnant, there’s another spirit inside you that you can connect with. You are completely physically connected in that the baby is totally reliant on you, but you can connect with him or her more on an emotional level by taking the time in yoga class with breath and meditation,” said prenatal yoga instructor Joan Wolfe. In addition to strength training in the lower back, yoga students work on developing endurance and flexibility in the hips that help prepare the body for delivery. Prenatal yoga can also improve sleep, reduce stress, and decrease the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

strength, helps prevent inflammation and swelling around the joints, and strengthens the transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles, which means decreased lower back and shoulder pain as moms develop strength and endurance in their stabilizing muscles. Pre/Postnatal Mat Pilates classes are offered locally through Playa Fitness. For moms interested in private instruction, consider Pilates sessions with a trainer who has continuing education in pre/postnatal exercise. Carolina Pilates and Coco Pilates in Fort Mill offer reformer and mat sessions with certified instructors.

Tabata, Dance, and Cardio No need to shy away from cardio and strength training. If you were already exercising before your pregnancy, there are plenty of options for you to continue to get your heart rate up and build your biceps. For strength training, keep your weight low and increase repetitions. Exercises that use body weight and resistance are perfect for the pregnant body because modifications can be made. Zumba? Booty Beat? SURE! Have some fun and get your heart and lungs strong for delivery in a dance class. Avoid dance moves that require spinning, leaping, or jumping.

Can’t make it to class? No worries! For most women, running, walking, and swimming can be a regular part of your daily exercise routine. If you were a runner before becoming pregnant, chances are you can continue running during your pregnancy. Remember to keep you and Baby cool and hydrated. Consult your doctor to discuss possible complications specific to you and your baby’s needs. Invest in a pair of good shoes and head out for a walk. Remember that your body produces more relaxin during pregnancy which aids in delivery, but can also loosen joints and make you a little unsteady on your feet. Swimming (watch the depth) is considered by some health professionals as one of the safest pre/post pregnancy exercises because it puts the least amount of pressure on the joints. It is great cardio. Pregnancy demands that our bodies be in good physical condition. Delivery and recovery are easier when we are fit, flexible, and mentally prepared to carry the load for ourselves and someone we love. Remember, you should always consult with your doctor before beginning a new fitness routine and get the okay to continue exercising as your pregnancy progresses through different stages.

Pilates The pelvic floor is a combination of interconnected muscles, tendons, and ligaments at the base of the pelvic bowl that provide a protective nest for a fetus. When the pelvic floor is weakened as a result of childbirth, moms might experience a number of problems ranging from incontinence to structural imbalances that may result in back pain or lower abdominal pain. For decades, women have turned to Kegel exercise in an effort to strengthen the pelvic floor. Pilates offers the specificity of Kegels with so much more. Pilates increases overall body

Natalie Hagler, M.Ed Natalie Hagler is an NASM Certified Trainer with multiple group fitness certificates and additional trainings in pre/postnatal exercise. Natalie is a member of the American Pregnancy Association and holds a Masters in Education from the University of Florida. Learn more at PlayaFitness.com or email nataliehagler@live.com.

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goodeats

Modern Family Dinner

Fresh from the Farm text by Valerie McGann

photo by Emily Wyatt

There are so many buzz words we hear when it comes to food and feeding your family. “Farm to table” or “eating local” are not only popular catch phrases, but describe a movement to add local produce to your dinner table and why it’s beneficial to you and your family. I have to admit that prior to actively researching the topic, I knew little about eating local. I have always enjoyed the farmer’s market and patronizing local farm stands, but never thought too much about how instrumental this was to serving my family the freshest available foods. I knew that it was often economical as the farm stand price per pound tends to be considerably cheaper than the local grocery store. At the stand, you aren’t paying the additional cost that a grocery store passes on to customers to transport, display, and market the produce in fancy, misting coolers that keep the produce looking fresh. Determined to research why eating local is so important, I brought my notebook and pen to the Farmer’s Market. Upon arriving, I realized that I was missing the mark, buying local isn’t just about produce. It’s about everything we serve our family: meat, dairy products, vegetables, and grains. I was fortunate to connect with Mr. Dennis Martin from Martins’ Charolais Farm, of Shelby, NC. Mr. Martin is a retired agricultural studies teacher who now dedicates himself full-time to his family farm. The number one takeaway from Mr. Martin is this: buying local means knowing where your food is coming from and how it is grown. It’s a simple concept, yet so very important. Mr. Martin

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explained that his beef cattle are grain and grass fed. He feels that the meat from animals raised in this manner tastes better and is more tender. None of Martin’s animals are injected with growth hormones and are antibiotic free. When the animal isn’t transported hundreds of miles to a large cattle ranch for commercial growth, they are not subject to diseases that would require antibiotics. The same premise holds true for growing fruits and vegetables. Knowing which farm produced your sweet potatoes, tomatoes, or strawberries can tell you everything right down to the amount of nitrogen or other organic fertilizers they mix into their soil. Spring is now in full swing, and homegrown vegetables are becoming abundant. Explore what your local farms have to offer, ask questions, and develop a relationship with the farmers. The experience will enhance what you take back to the dinner table. Usher in the flavors of Spring with Valerie’s dinner selection spinach salad with fresh goat cheese, seasonal berries, grilled chicken, walnuts, and a seasonal berry vinaigrette.

Valerie McGann To learn more about Valerie McGann go to modernfortmillfamily.blogspot.com.

Fratelli Ristorante & Pizzeria 975 Market Street Fort Mill, SC 29708 803-802-4449 fratellibaxter.com Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm

The Vault 157 East Main Street Rock Hill, SC 29730 803-980-1150 Full Service Bar Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4pm-7pm Saturday 3pm

Randazzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Grid Iron Restaurant 13105 S. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28278 704-588-1130 Breakfast 8am-12pm | Lunch 11am-4pm Dinner 4pm-10pm | Late Night 10pm-2am

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Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family Restaurant

2002 Westinghouse Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273 704-588-6613 johnsfamilyrestaurant.com Monday - Saturday 11am- 9pm

Craving more great content & mind-blowing photography? If you enjoy Fort Mill Mag in print, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love our digital Spring 2013 Issue with additional local experts, expanded content, & more fabulous images. Go to fortmillmagazine.com to get it NOW ! fortmillmagazine.com

Local Dish Foodie Review:

text by Valerie McGann and Bree Ziegler photo by Dave Tally Fort Mill Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foodies are at it again, dueling forks over dinner at Local Dish. Tucked among the store fronts of Main Street in downtown Fort Mill is a cozy country kitchen serving classic Southern foods with a modern twist. Our contributors, Valerie McGann and Bree Ziegler ordered identical menu items and gave us their opinions.

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Valerie

This is my first experience at a restaurant in downtown Fort Mill and I was pleased to find the large public parking area behind Main Street with a wellmarked rear entrance to Local Dish. Inside, the atmosphere felt like I was in my grandmother’s kitchen, including the bead-board on the walls and the scrubbed hardwood floor. The clothes line photos decorating the walls were a homey touch. The menu is simple and easy to read. Right away, I’m impressed by the selection of classic southern foods with descriptions that distinguish a modern flair. For an appetizer we chose fried green beans with homemade tartar sauce. The tempura batter on the beans is light and airy; despite being fried, the beans are still succulent and fresh. The tartar sauce has a smooth texture with married flavors that complement the beans perfectly. Our main course is shrimp and grits. The shrimp were ample in size and quantity and the andouille sausage had a light hint of smoke. I was perplexed by the tangy flavor in the sauce, and the chef graciously shared his secret of white wine and lemon juice to deglaze the pan. For those who do not eat shrimp and grits due to the traditional Cajun seasonings, this recipe is a great option. Since I am slightly fanatical about spice, my taste buds prefer spicy to tangy. For dessert, we were happy to devour a piece of chocolate chess pie. The filling was a decadent gooey brownie texture, slightly sweet, with a hint of what we suspected was cinnamon. A great finish to our meal.

score

The service was far beyond superb with a server who was friendly and attentive. My glass of sweet tea never went empty. I’m looking forward to coming back to explore the menu further.

Bree

As I walked through the front door of Local Dish, I immediately fell in love with its warm, welcoming southern charm. The colorful tables, hand towel napkins, and the clothes line pictures of fresh produce all create a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. As a true Southerner with a passion for healthy eating, I found the menu very refreshing with its unique blend of southern cuisine and fresh, local ingredients. As an appetizer, we chose fried green beans. The beans were very fresh and lightly battered to perfection. The house tartar sauce is delicious, with a flavorful taste of dill. I must admit that I have always been skeptical of fried vegetables, but the green beans and homemade tartar sauce were a very pleasant surprise.

photo courtesy of Jessica Yarab-Watt

For our main course, we choose a southern favorite, shrimp and grits. Large shrimp, andouille sausage, peppers, and tomatoes in a pan sauce over South Carolina cheddar grits. The grits were smooth and creamy with a light taste of cheddar. The smoky andouille sausage complimented the shrimp and grits very well. The sauce had a distinct flavor that I found to be pleasant in moderation, however at times, its tanginess was a little overwhelming for my taste. Overall, this dish was an excellent choice. For dessert, we agreed on chocolate chess pie. The pie had a cool, creamy chocolate filling, topped with cinnamon whipped cream. The dessert was simply delicious. With its friendly service, cozy atmosphere, and flavorful food, Local Dish was a very enjoyable dining experience.

score

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Icecream homemade strawberry

text by Valerie McGann photo by Dave Tally 1 pint strawberries, hulled and quartered 1 tsp lemon juice 1/4 c granulated sugar (for local in-season berries, decrease to 1-2 Tbsp depending on taste) 3 egg yolks 2 c heavy cream 1/2 c granulated sugar 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp vanilla

Begin by preparing your ice cream maker bowl according to manufacturers directions (most models require a bowl to be pre-frozen for at least 8 hours to overnight). Combine strawberries, lemon juice and sugar. Stir to thoroughly coat berries. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to prepare ice cream in the ice cream maker. In a 2 qt. saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream, salt and sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to heat until the cream mixture begins to come to a boil. Remove from heat. Whisk 1/2 cup of the heated cream mixture slowly into the egg yolks until completely combined. Place the saucepan back onto heat, and gradually whisk the egg mixture into the cream. Continue to whisk over medium heat until the mixture begins to thicken. Test using a wooden spoon. If the cream mixture begins to stick to the wooden spoon, remove from heat. Cool the thickened custard to room temperature, then place into the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or over night. Place 1 cup of the custard mixture into the prepared ice cream maker bowl. Add 1 cup of the straw berries to the custard mixture. Process in your ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions. Serve immediately.

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Fairway to Explore

History text by Derick Wilder

photos by Dave Tally

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Indulge

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My wife would say it’s the most important thing in my life, but that’s not exactly the case.

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Having grown up a 7-iron away from a public golf course, driving up Country Club Drive in Fort Mill is also a trip down memory lane for me. I am reminded that golf is truly a game for the senses, from the unmistakable Thwack! of the ball to the seasonal flora and fauna that let you know this is a sport played on its own ecosystem. Far removed from the raucous roars of a Sunday afternoon at a PGA tour stop, traversing the rolling green fairways, sparkling blue ponds, and sandy white bunkers at the Fort Mill Golf Club is a much more tranquil affair, with the quiet most likely punctured by the screeching of a resident hawk or groaning over a missed 3-footer. Established in 1948, this course featuring a 9-hole layout created by world-renowned designer Donald Ross has become an institution in our town. Initially commissioned by Colonel Springs for the employees of Springs Industries and the community, it helped transform golf from a sport reserved for the wealthy to one that could be enjoyed by almost anyone. Juxtapose a serene stroll through the woods with an almost fervent desire to somehow get that little white ball into the cup and it’s evident how golf can transcend sport, becoming an 18-hole quest of almost mythical proportions to some. Its draw can be magnetic and long-lasting, as attested to by the stalwarts that make the golf course a second home. Lloyd Riley was only ten-years-old when construction commenced at the FMGC, and he had absolutely no interest in the sport. What fascinated him and his twin brother Louis were those mechanized dinosaurs charged with contouring huge piles of dirt into a natural work of art. With his father an employee of Springs Industries, the family was the beneficiary of a free membership. So began Mr. Riley’s love affair with the links. A lifelong resident of Fort Mill, broken only by his Air Force service that included a stint as a remote radar operator inside the Arctic Circle, he still plays three or four times a week some 65 years later. When asked how he’d describe golf, his reply was both telling and a reflection of the game’s allure. “My wife would say it’s the most important thing in my life, but that’s not exactly the case.”

than the greens, the most pampered appendage of this well-manicured beast. Longtime member Jon Blankenship recalls the days of pulling a swatch of canvas across sand greens to smooth them out for the next group. Fast forward 50 years and technology has transformed the game, refining the course’s manners. Beginning in 2008, the greens are now comprised of a heat-resistant strain of grass known as MiniVerde® Ultra Dwarf Bermuda. So rather than bumping along an uncertain sandy path, putts now roll smoothly across a veritable emerald carpet of high-tech blades. They even have their own blankets and are tucked in should Old Man Winter not allow temperatures to rise above 35 degrees for a few days. The FMGC continues to be a vibrant part of our community, with some 300 members and another 150 that have a joint membership with its sister, Springfield Country Club. According to Gene Roper, Director of Golf Operations for Leroy Springs & Company, Inc., a warm winter day can produce almost 200 rounds. On this crisp, clear Wednesday morning in February, the first tee was bustling with groups booked for every eight-minute slot from 7:32am until 11:30am. The best part is this historical sport that has included first-name stars like Arnold, Jack, and Tiger can be enjoyed by members and daily greens fee players alike. To experience a living part of Fort Mill’s history, visit www.playfortmill.com or call 803-547-2044. Because even playing hooky from the world for a few hours requires a little planning, especially if you want that prime tee time. Golf has been a big part of my life since my parents first took me out in a stroller while they played a few holes. It was hard to admit, when asked by Mr. Riley, that I no longer find the time to dust off my sticks. His reply was quick, to the point, and full of wisdom, “Well, you got your priorities mixed up then.” After a morning walking the grounds of the Fort Mill Golf Club, he just might be right.

Over those decades, Mr. Riley has come to appreciate the beauty of the sport. “You can enjoy nature and have an outlet for stress and it is great for young people, as golf is a lifelong game with little risk of injury.” He added what many of us have come to find out; golf is a battle between you and the course, and one where you can often come out on the short end of the stick. Throw in the fact that it can be played year-round and you have a wonderful option for both adults and kids. Doing their part to foster the game, the FMGC is home to the boys’ and girls’ high school teams and has hosted the last two regional tournaments. The longevity of Fort Mill’s first course has allowed it to be woven into the fabric of generations. Like many who love the sport, native Fort Mill resident Steve Whitman was introduced to golf by his parents, Bill Sr. and Barbara. An avid golfer, he became a cart boy in the late 1970s and still vividly recalls the Saturday night in 1979 when a fire tore through the clubhouse, burning it to the ground. The next morning, they simply parked the golf carts on the wooden floors of the bowling alley that was on site at that time. His brother Bill Jr. has also been an assistant pro at the club and, to keep the family tradition alive, his son Shane worked as both a cart boy and member of the maintenance crew for five years starting in 2006. To see how golf has changed over the life of our course, look no further

Derick Wilder As a regular contributor, Derick focuses on children and families. He’s a director for Playball, a child developtment organization, and heads Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative. Reach him at coachderick@yahoo.com or 803-487-4687.

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Take

these wing at local

Regent Park Golf Club: 5055 Regent Pkwy Fort Mill, SC 29715 (803) 547-1300

Springfield Golf Club: 639 Hambley House Land Fort Mill, SC 29715 (803) 548-3318

courses

Lancaster Golf Club: 1821 Spring Club Road Lancaster, SC 29720 (803) 416-4500 Chester Golf Club: 770 Old Richburg Road Chester, SC 29706 (803) 581-5733

Waterford Golf Club: 1900 Clubhouse Rd Rock Hill, SC 29730 (803) 324-0300

Carolina Lakes Golf Club: 23012 Kingfisher Dr Indian Land, SC 29707 (803) 547-9688

Edgewater Golf Club: 2380 Catawaba Ridge Blvd Lancaster, SC 29720 (803) 283-9800

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Charlotte Golf Links: 11500 Providence Rd Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 846-7990

Utilizing the most advanced technologies and systems to deliver specific, scientific chiropractic care for you and your loved ones. 803-835-0444 • 3071 Hwy 21, Fort Mill • Next to the Regent Park Café • providence-chiropractic.com

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Special Advertiser’s Section: Dolce Lusso

Makeup Artistry It is time to express yourself. Dolce Lusso’s ambition is to enhance the inner “you”. Our trained professionals strive to accentuate your natural beauty. Begin your day with a facial and a massage. While in a relaxing mood, enjoy one of our many nail services. Complete your day with the finishing touches of make-up artistry and hair. Our team of professionals will design the “special look” for you. You will be taught the newest tips and innovative techniques from make-up application to styling your hair for everyday, prom or your wedding. Dolce Lusso also offers lash and brow tinting. This combination service creates the illusion of brow pencil and mascara without the mess. It is a great carefree treat for the “ready to go” look without the hassle. Dazzle those beautiful eyes with a tint. Pamper yourself with “Sweet Luxury” today. Schedule an appointment with one of our talented artists at your nearest location or email us at info@dolcelusso.com. Baxter in Fort Mill, SC: (803) 802-5877 Stonecrest Shopping Center in Charlotte, NC: (704) 542-6550 Market Common in Myrtle Beach, SC: (843) 839-2655

For more information on makeup artistry, hours of operation, and locations visit dolcelusso.com

At Criswell & Criswell, we help you change not just your body image, but the image in your mind of the “true” you. Through a shared artistic vision and advanced surgical training, we listen to you and envision your results. With our state of the art surgery center, we are able to offer you everything you need in one convenient and familiar location. We believe our patient experience is the best anywhere. Don’t take our word for it, ask some of the dozens of physicians who refer us to their own friends and family. Because every patient we see, every story we hear, every life we change- is special. Sincerely, Dr. Bryan Criswell and Dr. Kara Criswell Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

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Noninvasive Cosmetic Procedure text by Anita Sayago

f you want an appearance that’s youthful and fresh, but aren’t interested in a surgical procedure with more down time, then a noninvasive procedure may be for you. With state-of-the-art procedures, board certified plastic surgeons can produce fabulous results with little or no down time. There are so many procedures to choose from, all you need to do is decide what you want improved and go from there. For the most part, people go to a plastic surgeon looking for something to make them feel better, healthier, rejuvenated, and younger. “If I can meet most or all of my patients needs and objectives non-surgically, than I believe that’s the route I need to go with,” said Dr. Crawford of Carolina Plastic Surgery and Laser in Rock Hill. “Noninvasive procedures have less down time, are cost effective, and always leave room for more radical procedures down the line,” said Crawford. His office is bustling with patients looking for that je ne sais pas that will give them that added glow and youthful look. Dr. Crawford and his pleasant staff are eager to start you on the road to your ultimate indulgence. When it comes to noninvasive procedures, there truly is something for everyone. As a new patient, it would be necessary to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Then, he can go over the problem areas you are most concerned about. After the initial consultation, he or she can make a decision as to what they would like to proceed with. The simplest, and often times perfect choice for some, would be skincare. Most skincare includes products with the following acids: Alpha Hydroxy, Glycolic, Citric, and Lactic. “All these acids can typically be found in brands such as, Estee Lauder, Lancôme, and Clinique, but they are not as concentrated, therefore less aggressive,” said Crawford. The products prescribed by a physician’s office are of a higher concentration of these active ingredients which makes all the difference. These skincare products can be used to tighten fine lines around eyes and cheeks and even out pigmentation of skin that is altered after sun damage or having children. These products will restore your skin’s glow, leaving you with shiny healthy skin. Monthly maintenance is usually encouraged. Essentially, the pros of opting for skincare would be: it’s cost effectiveness, the lack of downtime required, the quick turnaround time, and you just need to be compliant. If you are looking to indulge a bit more, you may want to try Microdermabrasion which actually allows the skincare product to work quicker and deeper. This procedure should be repeated every 4 to 6 weeks. The trick to this procedure is finding someone with the knowledge that can be as aggressive as they can without causing your skin to turn red or become inflamed. A bit more advanced procedure would be a chemical peel. “The most indulgent experience that our patients enjoy, would have to be a facial followed by a chemical peel as it gives them an immediate glow,” said Dr. Thomas G. Liszka of Ballantyne Plastic Surgery in Charlotte. Usually, if

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lines or pigmentation problems are too great, a more aggressive strategy is taken by way of these peels. In essence, the doctor is removing the outside layer of skin leaving it pink temporarily. This is easily concealed with makeup. Chemical peels are ideal for evening out skin tones, exfoliating the skin, and for making skin a smoother, brighter color. It is preferable to do these in the fall, winter, or early spring as minimal sun exposure is necessary. Facials and chemical peels are an inexpensive way to pamper yourself. There really is no reason to put it off anymore. Let’s indulge! Dermal fillers would be suggested for those deeper, thicker lines or that fullness so many of us long for in our lips. These fillers are broken down into two categories: liquid cartilage and hydroxyl appetite. One is placed very superficially on the skin or injected into the lips. The latter has to be placed a little deeper for those deeper, thicker lines mentioned. “There is no downtime with fillers,” said Crawford. “You can have it done in the afternoon and go on a date that evening.” Botox seems to be the word on everyone’s lips these days and more than ever men and women are excited to learn they can revitalize their reflection with this simple noninvasive treatment. Botox may be the answer for you as Botox injections relax those worry lines and crow’s feet. It also allows you to indulge in a natural and refreshed look. Botox is used to soften the lines due to muscle activity from the eyes to the forehead or upper face. Its function is to paralyze the muscles responsible for the wrinkles. Once the muscles are no longer working, lines will primarily fade. Botox is typically used for the eyebrows, on the forehead, and the lateral to the eyes. It last about 3 to 4 months. Something to keep in mind while you are indulging in any of these refreshing treatments is that the doctors performing the procedures are being inspired on a daily basis. “It’s the immediate impact these procedures have on the client, and it can be life-changing for them,” said Dr. Liszka. “It can be very rewarding to see.” Yes, ladies it’s time to indulge yourself in these noninvasive procedures to get flawlessly beautiful skin. Progressive technology has made these procedures quick, painless, and quite affordable. To get a full list of services offered by Dr. Crawford and Dr. Liszka, please visit their websites respectively: crcplasticsurgery.com and ballantyneplasticsurgery.com.

Anita Sayago Anita is a mother of 4, devoted wife, graduate of Baruch College in NYC, Freelance Writer and Entertainment Promoter. Follow her blog: anitasayago.wordpress.com

The

Beauty Insider Primers are a very important step in make-up application. They set your makeup and provide a canvas for a smooth, flawless, radiant, look.

Love • • •

it!

One Step Primers •

Foundation Primers:

•

Smooths, brightens, balances and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Apply, before foundation for longer make-up wear. A lot of Primer’s contain skin nourishing ingredients and SPF’s.

Love it

Concealers Concealers instantly brighten and freshen your appearance. They lift, brighten, perfect, and cover dark circles, shadows, and imperfections.

Concealer Tips: • • •

Corrects skin tone, brightens, balances, and primes all in one step. Contains color correcting serums. Green: minimizes redness (from acne and rosacea), Lavender/Mauve: counteracts yellow, sallow undertones, Peach/Pink: brightens and illuminates.

Kelly Coulter Beauty Expert

Kelly has been a professional freelance Makeup Artist for over 15 years. Twelve of those years have been in the Charlotte region. She has extensive experience in print, editorial, TV, and commercials. She loves everything about makeup from application to demonstration to utilizing and researching beauty products. Sharing her expertise and creativity with others and making people feel good about themselves in one of her strongest passions.

How to Apply Concealer: • • •

Use a shade or two lighter than your foundation. Work in sheer layers and build up gradually. Apply concealer under eyes, around nose, corners of mouth, on imperfections, and broken blood vessels. Blend for a flawless look.

Yellow toned concealers are best for under eye circles. Use orange based tones for dark or black skin. Use a corrector first under concealer if you have a lot of under eye discoloration. Correctors contain a pink/peach base which neutralizes blue/gray tones. Set concealer with a sheer pressed powder.

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Art Scene:

Marcee Musgrove’s

White Lotus Art I ”I came to the decision to follow my heart and be an artist rather than wish to be one when I was rounding the corner of my 50th Birthday. I went to France with a group led by Terry Roueche and Seymour Simmons; both of Rock Hill. Terry ignited my passion for photography while Seymour reminded me that being an artist was going to mean serious work. I went through a program called Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) given by the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte since the business of an artist is entirely different from corporate business. This program gave me the tools I needed to get started. I drove to silk painting classes with Joanna White and after the first one, I was hooked. I’m now selling my creations in five area retail locations. I am a student with Diana Arvanites at Women Centered Art on printmaking and collage work. I love all mediums coming together telling the story that is uniquely me. My fashion work was developed through the Passport for Fashion Show in 2012. Flavia Lovatelli and myself are managing the ecoFAB Trash Couture show coming on May 4, 2013, hosted by the Gallery at Packard Place.” - Marcee

Gaston Art Guild whitelotusarts.com Landscapes Exhibit whitelotusarts@comporium.net 3 Photographs on Canvas facebook.com/whitelotusarts 178 Zimmerman Drive Matthews Art Guild Fort Mill, SC 29708 Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews Exhibit 803-448-7987 Upcoming Fashion Show 3 Photographs on Canvas facebook.com/ ArtEcologieFashion Where to buy Silk Scarves art.ecologie@yahoo.com Ruby’s Gift, NoDa Feeling Groovy, Statesville Recent Exhibits The Sanctuary, Davidson Charlotte Art League: SASI, Kings Mountain Point of Departure Exhibit BeYoga, East Blvd Location, Charlotte 3 Monotypes

Southern 98

Style

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Vera Bradley

Brighton

Lilly

Scout

803-548-0808

102 Academy Fort Mill, SC

Tree of Life Massage and Facial Studio Massages • Facials • Body Treatments Advanced Body Treatments* *Featuring the Steamy Wonder Spa™

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Carolina Cup fashion

with

Ralph Lauren photos by Clayton Brannon

Hair and Makeup provided by: Erica Arcilesi & Dustin Knoblauch Location provided by: Carolina Cup Racing Association Springdale Race Course Custom Care Equine LLC Wardrobe provided by: Ralph Lauren at South Park

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Left to Right:

Jay Byars is wearing Snuff Suede Newsbay Jacket $1395 Club Collar Chambray Shirt $125 Cricket Sweater $265 Silk Clubs Tie $125 Light Green G.I. Slim Fit Shorts $98 Leather Heritage Duffle $495 Newet Burnished Brogue Shoe $125

Hayley Schnakenberg is wearing Slim Fit Grass Green Cable Cashmere Crew Sweater $475 Short Sleeve Bow Neck Olivive Shirt in White $165 Vachetta O-Ring Buckle Belt $395 Palermo Hudson Jodphur $298 Isareen Dark Brown Equestrian Boot $1100 Â

Lindsay Worsham is wearing Silk Organza Rosetta Top in Cruise Navy $398 Cruise Navy Peacoat $595 Calf covered Buckle Belt in Saddle Tan $395 Navy Crochet Skirt $598

Kaitlyn Johnston is wearing Sequin Stripped Silk Tank $398 Vachetta Black O-Ring Buckle Belt $395 Josephine White Trouser $245 Gabrielle Striped Silk Scarf $350

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Lindsay Worsham is wearing Silk Organza Rosetta Top in Cruise Navy $398 Cruise Navy Peacoat $595 Calf Covered Buckle Belt in Saddle Tan $395 Navy Crochet Skirt $598 Kaitlyn Johnston is wearing Crinkle Silk Chiffon Wrap Dress in Sailor Red $498 Rivoli Striped Cotton Scarf $150 Black Vachetta O-Ring Belt $395

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Jay Byars is wearing Cashmere and Cotton Hand Knit Shawl Cardigan in Maize Yellow $495 Herringbone Wool and Silk Waist Coat Vest $295 Custom-Fit Bengal Stripe Oxford Shirt $98 Repp-Stripe Magenta/Lime Bowtie $115 Saddle Brown Braided Belt $125 Classic-Fit Distressed 867 Jean $98

Camden On Location

As the camera crew prepped and set-up, the horses would stick their heads out of their stables to see what was going on. Eager for attention from these strange newcomers, they would whiney and playfully nibble on whatever they could. Model, Jay Byars, discovered this first hand right before photographer Clayton Brannon snapped this photo.

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Clayton Brannon is wearing Unstructured Knit Herringbone Blazer $495 Fair-Isle V-Neck Sweater Vest Cashmere $398 Coral Distressed Five Pocket Slim Fit Corduroy Jean $98 Bold Stripe Custom Fit Oxford in Royal Cruise Blue $98 St. James Yellow and Navy Pin Dot Tie $125

carolina cup Springdale Race Course | March 30, 2013 | carolina-cup.org

Lindsay Worsham is wearing Silk Organza Rosetta Top in Cruise Navy $398 Cruise Navy Peacoat $595 Calf Covered Buckle Belt in Saddle Tan $395 Navy Crochet Skirt $598

Heritage Duffle $498

class Jay Byars is wearing Snuff Suede Newsbay Jacket $1395 Club Collar Chambray Shirt $125 Cricket Sweater $265 Silk Clubs Tie $125

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photo courtesy of Charity Case

Music News

text by Jessica Yarab-Watt

It’s so rewarding knowing that by doing something we love, we can put smiles on children’s faces.

You’re on stage. You’re getting ready to perform. You can feel the crowd’s excitement. You look around and see your band members - four of your closest friends. What can be better than this feeling? Knowing that this performance brings you one step closer to raising enough money to send chronically ill children on the trip of a lifetime to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. That is the mission behind Charity Case. Charity Case started on radio hosts’ Ace and TJ’s morning show as a radio bit. Ace was fascinated by a popular television show, Making the Band, and decided to do his own spin off. He had listeners submit videos auditioning for the band. There were two rules: no girls and no keyboards. Even though he had never touched a drum set in his life, Ace wanted to play drums. Shortly after the band’s creation, a third rule was set in place: Ace can NOT play the drums. After weeks of receiving audition videos, Ace had a band. Originally they were meant to perform one time, at 2nd Chance Prom, one of the many

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events Ace and TJ host to raise money for their charity, Grin Kids. The event was so successful and they had so much fun performing, they decided to continue with it. Eddie Z, the lead guitarist, became the music director. Together he and Ace worked towards making the band and its members the best they can be. Charity Case is made up of: Ace, the lead singer; Eddie Z, the music director and lead guitarist; Eric, the bassist; Clifton, the guitarist; and Shane, the drummer. Each year, Charity Case performs a number of shows. They perform all across the Charlotte and Fort Mill area at a variety of different venues and sell out almost all of them. What is it that makes them known as “The Hottest Cover Band in the Land?” Their style! Each show is a high energy performance mixing rock from the 80’s, 90’s, and today with hiphop and country music. “We add more energy to a song. When we perform you can hear and feel the energy,” Eric explained. “Our opening song, Thunderstruck, always gets me excited. There’s a black curtain in front of the stage and everyone waits for it to drop as the music

”

begins to pick up. It’s very intense and for the rest of the concert the energy just builds,” Ace added. The band continued to explain that for each concert, “the experience is over the top and not comparable to any other.” In the past twelve years since their start, Charity Case has performed at hundreds of venues, played for thousands of people, and raised almost $940,000 for chronically ill children. When asked, what’s your favorite part of doing this? They all agreed, “Helping the kids!” “The whole purpose of the band is to raise money for the kids, so that they can have the experience of a lifetime. It’s so rewarding knowing that by doing something we love, we can put smiles on children’s faces,” explained the band. For more information on Charity Case visit their website: charitycaseband.com.

Inspired Thought

Perfumed Palate Text by Tracey Roman

Bowls and baskets filled with natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts send fragrant notes through the air. Relish these ethereal moments so sweet on the palate. Give them freely as the simplest gestures are often the most meaningful.

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TheSaucy

Soiree

A Black Tie event to remember FRIDAY EVENING APRIL 19TH 7 O’CLOCK Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Single Member

ARMSTRONG-MAULDIN HOUSE 607 AIKEN AVENUE ROCK HILL, SC 29730 $1500 $1000 $500 $250 $50 $45

10 tickets 8 tickets 4 tickets 2 tickets 1 ticket 1 ticket

ALL PROCEEDS benefIT CITIZENS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT VISIT CFHPCAROLINA.ORG OR CALL 803-820-0048.