Fort Mill Magazine SUMMER 2013

Summer 2013

Inspiration Charleston Fashion Week

creativity

Plus Get the on summer’s most fashionable beach wear

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 Magazine’s official travel agent, Ellen Rauchhaus, owner and operator of Trip Design, at 248-982-4547.

Visit tripdesign4u.com for more information.

On The Cover Photographer Stefanie M. Morris captured our cover again with this brilliant photoshoot featuring Hayley Schnakenberg.

A few months ago, Stefanie ventured to Charleston to shoot Charleston Fashion Week. She came back full of inspiration.

Here’s what she had to say...

Charleston Fashion Week this Spring was everything I could have hoped for. I found designer Kathryn Barron to be very inspirational. I decided to create a photo shoot based on some of the inspiration I gathered from her. Her collection was white on white with black details. I just loved how clean it was. It was definitely wearable, and I would like to translate the white on white to something more romantic for the spring, versus what she used it for, which was fall.

Her pieces were designed for Fall. Right now we are working on Spring and Summer. Her clothes were heavier and bulkier. I wanted to do something lighter and more feminine for Spring. I felt like that would be a better fit. Not that her line would be a bad fit for Spring, I just preferred something a littler softer for Spring and Summer since this is when the photo shoot would take place. But I loved the idea of white on white with some pops of color in the shoes and accessories.

I was also inspired by Charleston Magazine’s Spring 2013 White on White photo shoot. The textures of downtown Charleston is always something I draw inspiration from and its always something that I try to draw my own ideas from.

We chose a parking garage because of the contrast of the white and the coolness of the white on white with the grays of the parking garage. Once you see these pictures I wanted people to think that these pictures could have taken place where ever.

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Citizens For Historic Preservation Preserving and revitalizing York County’s diverse historic resources and advocating their appreciation, protection, and use.

Please help us achieve our membership drive goal of 50 new individual members and 25 business members.

Get Involved! Find out how you can become a member of Citizens For Historic Preservation. citizensforhistoricpreservation.org

departments around town

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local folks

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nibbles & bits

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fine living

36

wealth

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travel

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to your health

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good eats

56

indulge

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southern style

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inspired thought

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Take a trip to Blackpool with Fort Mill’s favorite ballroom dancers. Get inspired by Charleston Fashion Week.

Calculate the true meaning of wealth with Fort Mill High School Math teacher, Anne Ledford.

Bring the family dog on your summer trip this season. Learn how much work it takes to prepare for a horse show.

Take in the view from a beautiful house tucked in a quiet cove on Lake Wylie.

Get to know the Sullins family and the struggle they face everyday with hospital bills as their 2-year-old son Harlan battles cancer.

Start packing for Fort Mill Magazine’s Travel Club trip to Savannah this September. Take the week off from work and enjoy a staycation right in your own home this summer.

Stay hydrated in the summer heat with our health expert’s advice. Get a more beautiful smile with India Hook Dental’s dental implants. See what the experts say about Dementia.

Try some of the best authentic Cuban food in the Carolinas at Carlos Cafe. Try adding Jamaica to your summer vegetables.

Layout at the lake or on the beach in style. Check out the latest water sports, like paddle boarding and wake boarding.

Revel in the amazing fashion from Passport for Fashion.

Tune into the story of one jazz singer’s journey to Charlotte.

Peek at one of the biggest movies this year, The Great Gatsby.

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Join in on the popsicle revelation.

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photographers Published by

Publishers

Market Style Media

Louis Roman | Tracey Roman

Assistant Editor

Jr Editor

Emily Wyatt

Jessica Yarab-Watt

Contributors

Darlene Wyatt | Michelle Black | Ellen Rauchhaus | Carol Howell | Bree Ziegler Lori MacLeod | Ginenne Rife | Valerie McGann | Derick Wilder | Kelly Coulter Jane Ann Maxwell | Laura Fenton Pidge

Photographers

Stefanie Morris | Glenn Roberson | Jamie Carney

Design Intern

Jamie Carney Oasis Photography oasis-photography.com 704-408-7729

Anderson Breeland

Copy Editor Intern Amanda Jennings

Vice President of Marketing

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

Marketing Director

Angela Dykes | 865-382-1691 | angela.marketstyle@gmail.com

Advertising Executive

Rachel La Barrie | 843-647-9339 | rachel.marketstyle@gmail.com

Please send all editorial items to

Tracey Roman | Editor in Chief | troman@fortmillmagazine.com ©2013 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. Summer 2013 ISSUE.

Fort Mill Magazine would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their assistance in the development of this issue: Gabriela Sevillano | Dmitrey Solonakha | USA Dance Center | Hayley Schnakenberg | Britt Dion Mandy Wallace | Jennifer Cortez | Anne Ledford | Dana Berger | Anne Springs Close | Jacki, Johathan, and Harlan Sullins | Alzheimer’s Memory Center | Dr. M. Reza Bolouri | Carlos’ Cafe Sarah McDonald | WallerBears Surf Shop, Pineville, NC | Charleston Fashion Week | Charlotte Seen LunahZon Photography | Brooks Brothers | Lauren Bernstein | Christy McKinney | Rick Santeiu Christie Winn | Nikki Curran | Amiee Barker | Maria Rivera | Bob and Ginny Myers

stefanie Morris

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

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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 Summer 2013 issue.

GLENN ROBERSON

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

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Photo by Jessica Yarab-Watt

From the Publishers

The long, warm days of a Fort Mill summer are upon us, so take advantage by turning off the television and doing some hometown exploration!

With this summer edition of Fort Mill Magazine, we hope to provide you with some inspiration to break the mold of the average warm-weather vacation. Travel to historic Savannah, and pick up a few tips on how to make vacationing with your furry family members a little easier—or forget the hassle and take a “staycation” right here in Fort Mill. We’ll take you to the horseshows, like the one hosted at Anne Springs Close Greenway, or show you where to check into a local ballroom dancing class to stay fit throughout bathing suit season. As you know, summer is the best time for blockbusters, so escape the day and go see one of the many highly anticipated films of the season.

You will find a few suggestions on how to stay happy and healthy, and we’re bringing you tips on how to achieve that enviable healthy summer glow.

Explore the good eats on the town or spend a night in grilling your favorite proteins, and let us provide you with a summer side dish recipe that could make your life a little easier.

Finally, get inspired by our hometown heroes—as you will see in this issue, they come in all ages. And be sure to check out our articles on the folks at the Goddard School here in Fort Mill who are adapting an innovative new education system for the wee ones in your life; fall and back-to-school will be here before we know it! As always, we look to you for suggestions, ideas, and comments. Please share your thoughts with us on our social media pages or at fortmillmagazine.com.

Creating good,

Louis

&Tracey

Louis & Tracey Roman, Publishers Fort Mill Magazine

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From the Mayor Dear Readers, I bring you greetings on behalf of the Honorable Town Council of the Town of Fort Mill and all of our citizens.

Let me begin by acknowledging all of those who aided in the success of this year’s SC Strawberry Festival at Fort Mill. Even though it was unseasonably cool, we still enjoyed a fantastic turnout. Every year, we strive to better last year’s festival and we believe, yet again, we’ve exceeded the expectations of all those who attended. For two consecutive years our “little party” has been recognized as the top festival event in the state.

We couldn’t do it without the contributions of all our great staff, volunteers, and sponsors.

With that now behind us, we’re refocusing on our strategic planning. Our goal, as always, is to manage our town’s growth as intelligently as possible. As the local housing market begins to percolate, several prime indicators, building permits and business licenses, are trending upward. And this year, we’re looking forward to the possibility of working with what appears to be a recovering economy. As you may recall, Family Circle and BusinessWeek magazines recently named the Town of Fort Mill one of the top places in the country to raise a family.

We can expect to see a lot of national attention focused on us because of it. One of our big challenges will be to use this exposure to drive growth in our commercial tax base and we feel our Council and staff are up to the task.

Regarding capital projects, we’ve officially completed the second phase of downtown’s Millstone Park. The first phase emphasized the old grist mill, one of the two historic icons from which we derive our town’s name. To channel Photo by Jamie Carney in the other icon, the second phase focuses on the pre-Revolutionary War berm fort built by the English to protect the Catawba Indians from hostile tribes. The finished scope includes the addition of creative brickwork, low elevation berm hills, benches and a children’s playground. We’re pleased to say that this amenity now offers something for everybody. We’ll continue to tweak it with additional interactive features over the next few years.

We’re also happy to announce that we’re nearing the end of our renovation and expansion of Doby’s Bridge Park. This work will add several new ball fields along with bathrooms, parking, and other improvements to the complex. We expect to be scheduling activity in the park by the end of June.

We’re excited to see what the rest of the year brings for our wonderful town. Please stay in touch with us by visiting our website and Facebook pages. We welcome your questions and your feedback.

Kindest Regards,

Danny Funderburk, Mayor Town of Fort Mill

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

im • pact |’impakt| noun influence, change, guidance, and/or connection.

<the Chamber connects businesses to customers and information important to their success.> Text by Rob Youngblood, Chamber President

Most everyone will agree that the past few months have provided us residents another glorious spring in York County. In addition to the beauty of the blooms and blossoms (and aside from the pollen), local citizens likely connected with one of the outstanding events that help define our quality of life in this region. Much fun and fellowship was had at the Come-See-Me Festival, the SC Strawberry Festival and the first monthly concert in Runde Park on the peninsula.

There were also several exciting spring events conducted by the Chamber, including the Tega Cay Beach Party, Main Street Live! in Rock Hill, and a countywide reception in Fort Mill’s Baxter community (called Business After Hours). The above were also excellent opportunities to connect with business-related sponsors and participants, and these kinds of activities are highly valued by members of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Such meet-and-mingle activity is often referred to as networking; and as referenced above, these truly are opportunities to do “business after hours”. Of course all of us work hard during the day and spare time is scarce, but these events provide low-hanging fruit that is ripe for expanding our circle of business (and, at times, political) contacts.

Actually, prospects for additional business are available at most any Chamber event, and every employee of each member business is invited to (and can connect at) all 40 of the networking events in the area during the year. In fact, we recently offered a seminar on the most effective ways to network and make connections.

Chamber members receive direct access to the county’s largest pool of business contacts (over 700 members), who also want to grow, prosper and get connected. In addition to the many testimonials about successful business deals and ventures initiated at Chamber networking events, there are also stories of Chamber members who have met long-time associates, friends and even a future spouse (though we’re not discussing that different kind of connection here).

its simplest form, describes how the Chamber links its members to people and things vital to the success of those businesses…or any business.

Other ways the Chamber helps connect members is through exposure, promotion and reasonably-priced sponsorships and advertising. Each member averages 900 annual online views from the membership listing on yorkcountychamber.com and receives referrals from our office when visitors and callers request pertinent business information.

Also, ribbon-cutting events are provided when a business joins or expands. Members receive and provide information and news, via our electronic weekly program updates and monthly newsletter.

Discounts on office supplies, long-distance telephone service, health insurance options, and other services, are included in membership. Plus, the Chamber facilities are available, day or night, for members to conduct meetings.

Assistance with and access to business contacts and connections are just a few of the many advantages of Chamber membership. Businesses and other organizations also benefit by the Chamber’s work in advocating government decisions that positively shape the business community and our quality-oflife, in changing consumer perceptions about local businesses and economic development, and in leading businesspeople and other partners to addressing important issues affecting business and the region. These efforts are represented (as noted in the column title) by the other definitions of impact as influence, change, and guidance.

We conclude, as we began, with a seasonal reference. As the outdoor temperatures rise and schools adjourn for the summer, some folks’ thoughts now focus on “connecting” flights to a favorite spot for a needed vacation. As the airline is necessary to ensure smooth and successful connections, this community and its businesses need the chamber of commerce to properly connect.

If you or your company is not a member of the York County Regional Chamber, please immediately contact us at 803-324-7500 or visit our website to get connected.

Connecting is one of the definitions of impact, a reference to the work and outcome of the Chamber of Commerce. Connecting, in

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

Around Town

The Journey to 12

Blackpool

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Photo by Glenn Roberson

Text by Lori MacLeod

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Blackpool Dance Festival in Blackpool, England is the world’s most prestigious ballroom dance competition.

Thousands of high-level dancers from all over the world take to the dance floor in this historic competition that began in the 1920s, making it the biggest, most important competition of its kind.

Partners Gabriela Sevillano and Dmitrey Solomakha of the Fort Mill ballroom dance studio, Dance Center USA, have trained their entire lives for this level of competition. The results from Blackpool become the dance partners’ world ranking, so the pressure is on to waltz away with top marks.

They both feel their dance level is high enough to perform well at this type of competition, but this is not an overnight success story.

Dmitrey began dancing at age 6, first learning Ukrainian folk dances and classical ballet. By age 9, a friend asked him to be her ballroom dance partner and he hasn’t left the dance floor since. He danced in a show on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line before connecting with Gabriela through an online ballroom dance site that pairs partners from all over the world.

Watching the partners float around the dance floor is a beautiful sight. Fort Mill should be thankful both Gabriela and Dmitrey chose to pursue ballroom dance as their sport of choice. They make it look effortless; almost as if they are gliding on the dance floor.

On any given day, the partners can be seen at Dance Center USA. They train daily for several hours. Practice includes stretching in the gym, taking ballet, and practicing their dances. They compete in both Standard and Latin programs, with a total of ten dances— Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive. Every two to three months, they fly to Miami or New York where their coaches are based for intensive training. They share the knowledge they learn from their coaches with their own students. Sunday is their only day of rest and only if they do not have an upcoming competition.

Gabriela and Dmitrey would like to see more young dancers in the Fort Mill area and the South in general become involved.

As they travel extensively to competitions both nationally and internationally, they take note that the northeast and western United States have more young ballroom dance competitors than the southern states.

Photo by Stefanie Morris

Gabriela began taking ballet at 3 years old. She said that even at a young age she loved ballroom dance and would watch competitions on PBS for hours. She knew all the couples’ names and joked that the ballroom dance show was like her “babysitter.” By age 10, her parents took her to a ballroom studio and she became Charlotte’s first Junior Ballroom Dancer. Gabriela danced ballroom and ballet simultaneously for years. She was a member of the North Carolina Dance Theater’s Performing Ensemble until age 18, when she then had to decide what form of dance she would pursue as a career.

Dmitrey once worked with a 3-year-old dancer in Ukraine.

Having a partner is not a requirement to join, but it is highly recommended. The partners say it is easier to start with a friend and grow together. They believe the future of ballroom dance is becoming more incredible generation by generation with young competitors acquiring amazing skills.

The bottom line is ballroom dance brings many mental and physical health benefits to dancers of any age or ability, with or without a previous dance background.

For more information on how you and your family can join this beautiful sport go to www.DanceCenterUSA.com.

Gabriela Sevillano and Dmitrey Solomakha prove that hard work pays off on the dance floor.

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.

They encourage dancers to begin lessons as early as they can.

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INSPIRATION

Dolce Lusso | Official Hair and M akeup for Fort Mill Magazine Hair Stylists: Britt Dion & Mandy Wallace Makeup A rtist: Jennifer Cortez Model: Hayley Schnakenberg

charleston

Text by Emily Wyatt | Photos by Stefanie Morris

Designer:

Charleston Fashion Week

Kathryn Barron Stefanie Morris Photographer “I found designer Kathryn Barron to be very inspirational. I decided to create a photo shoot based on some of the inspiration I gathered from her. Her collection was white on white with black details.”

Magazine photographer, Stefanie Morris traveled to Charleston, SC to explore the the ins and outs of Charleston Fashion Week. She was so inspired by the beautiful designs that she decided to organize a photoshoot that exemplified everything that she loved about Charleston Fashion Week, while maintaining her own personal flair. She chose the conduct the shoot inside of a parking garage in Ballantyne because of the contrast of the white and the coolness of the white on white with the grays of the parking garage. Once you see these pictures I wanted people to think that these pictures could have taken place where evere.

Stefanie Morris Photographer “I wanted to do something lighter and more feminine for Spring. I felt like that would be a better fit.

I loved the idea of white on white with some pops of color in the shoes and accessories.”

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A Glimpse Into the Future of Education

Text by Derick Wilder

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Photos courtesy of The Goddard School

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Education is one of the most important indicators of the success of the next generation...â&#x20AC;?

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A

Ask a dozen people what they think of our education system and you’re likely to get 12 different answers. Perhaps the only point they will agree on is that education is one of the most important indicators of the success of the next generation. And while several folks readily toss in their two cents on the perceived ills of our current system, not many are willing to step off the sidelines.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.p21.org). P21 is a national organization dedicated to modernizing our education system to prepare students for their future in a global economy. Even P21’s title as a “partnership” is indicative of the team effort required to create this evolution in education, recognizing that no single organization will be able to pull it off alone. To emphasize this point, P21 has assembled an impressive list of over 25 members, including several corporate giants and educational stalwarts.

One conversation with Dr. Steven Paine, president of P21, and you’ll find that he embodies the knowledge, passion, and energy required to head such a large initiative. With over three decades of experience in education, Dr. Paine gained his reputation as a visionary during his service as West Virginia’s Superintendent of Schools from 2005 to 2011, making that state a national leader in 21st century learning with the use of technology in the classroom.

As a fellow educator, Dr. Paine understands that we have a large number of amazing teachers and administrators in the US, along with wide swaths of our education system that make it the envy of many countries around the world. At the same time, P21 as an organization acknowledges the need to enhance and expand our arsenal in order to meet the realities of a planet that is getting smaller by leaps and bounds. Dr. Paine summarized their collaborative approach by emphasizing that P21’s core philosophies are to be imbedded into—not in lieu of—current curriculum, and that P21 components can be effectively used to complement the Common Core Standards.

So just what makes up P21’s Framework for 21st Century Learning? In general, it is an integrated series of 21st century student outcomes and a corresponding set of support systems. The outcomes are comprised of the skills, knowledge, and expertise students will need to succeed in work and life, as they become global citizens. And while learning necessary skills is an important educational component, the P21 Framework also gives students ample opportunity to apply those skills in a variety of independent and team-oriented environments

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that simulate what they will experience as they step into the corporate world.

One vital cornerstone of student outcomes is incorporating the 4Cs—Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and innovation—into the traditional 3Rs. In addition, interweaving a set of 21st century themes, like global awareness and entrepreneurial literacy, will augment core subjects. Adding the final components of information, Media and Technology Skills and Life and Career Skills, provides a holistic recipe for a new approach to educating our youth.

P21 also realizes that a strong set of support systems is needed to fully achieve the desired outcomes. These include a set of 21st Century Standards that emphasize the vital area of Assessments, which stresses accountability and focuses on a balanced system of multiple assessment tools that evaluate both student progress and teacher effectiveness. The support systems also include the 21st

components of P21—including the development of computer competency and a holistic approach with a focus on social skills— but wanted to completely embrace all of the components. So he took the process improvement experience from his corporate background and worked to develop a P21 implementation blueprint. After reviewing and modifying their developmental goals to integrate the 4Cs, the next step was to update the teachers’ lesson plans to reflect those new goals, followed by the creation of a new set of metrics to measure and report students’ progress.

The Stricklands have been pleased with the improvements they’ve seen since their P21 undertaking. Furthermore, they view this as just another step in the ongoing development of their school’s offerings, which includes plans to be the first preschool to roll out a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program.

And given the Goddard School’s steadfast mission of kindergartenreadiness for all of their students, they have continued to work closely with Fort Mill Schools to ensure their curriculum remains

“So while we often hear a lot of talk regarding improvement of our education system, it’s encouraging to know we have dedicated organizations...who are actually taking definitive strides to turn those words into actions.”

Century Curriculum, Professional Development, to ensure teachers can leverage all aspects of P21, and Learning Environments, a bestpractices approach that helps students learn in relevant, real-world contexts such as project-based work.

P21 is engineered for students of all ages. Having been in early childhood education for a decade now, I was delighted to discover that the Goddard School was the first preschool to become a member of the movement. Local owners Bill and Amy Strickland decided to take a proactive approach to P21 in their Fort Mill facility. They contacted Columbia to learn about South Carolina’s rollout plans and, beginning in June of 2012, decided to turn their strong belief in the P21 philosophies into a reality.

Mr. Strickland noted that Goddard was already employing some

in sync with that of the district.

So while we often hear a lot of talk regarding improvement of our education system, it’s encouraging to know we have dedicated organizations like the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Goddard School who are actually taking definitive strides to turn those words into actions.

Derick Wilder As a regular contributor, Derick focuses on children and families. He’s a director for Playball, a child development organization, and heads Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative.

Reach him at coachderick@yahoo.com or 803-487-4687.

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Special Advertiser’s Section

It’s where you start the journey that can make all the difference. At The Goddard Schools located in Fort Mill and Rock Hill, Goddard’s proven educational approach, developed by experts and based on the latest research, provides the best environment for your child’s cognitive, emotional, physical and social development. The Goddard School uses the most current, proven methods to ensure that children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

“Our classrooms are safe, nurturing environments for children six weeks to six years and we offer age-appropriate opportunities for the children to explore and discover. From infant to toddler to preschool, our talented and highly educated teachers lead each child to reach developmental milestones— preparing them for social and academic success,” adds Amy Strickland, owner of The Goddard Schools located in Fort Mill and Rock Hill. “Our individualized approach is very important. Each child develops skills at a different rate and our teachers are able to adjust and make changes based upon the learning levels of the children in their care.

These higher standards and expectations of our faculty lead to better learning outcomes.”

The Goddard School is known for it’s proprietary F.L.EX.SM Learning Program which stands for Fun, Learning EXperience. Like all Goddard

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Schools, the teachers at the Fort Mill and Rock Hill Schools write their own lesson plans based on the F.L.EX.SM Curriculum to promote and develop communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.

They utilize child-centered teachable moments to ensure children have fun while learning.

The Goddard Schools located in Fort Mill and Rock Hill, South Carolina are owned and operated by Bill and Amy Strickland.

Bill and Amy would like to extend an invitation to your family to visit them at their beautiful Schools, introduce you to their incredible faculties and Educational Directors, and tell you all about Goddard’s F.L.EX.SM Learning Program.

For more information and to arrange a personal appointment call The Goddard School located in Fort Mill at 803-802-2112 and The Goddard School located in Rock Hill at 803-328-0101 or visit online at www.goddardschool.com.

Come experience why The Goddard School is the best childhood preparation for social and academic success.

The Goddard School®: Celebrating 25 Years of Learning through Play.

Champion Taekwondo ChampionTKDbaxter.com

Now enrolling for Summer Camp 2013

PHOTOGRAPHER JAMIE CARNEY

OASIS-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM

wealth with Anne Ledford Text by Ginenne Rife Photo by Stefanie Morris

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How do you define true wealth? Webster’s Dictionary characterizes wealth as “the abundance of valuable material possessions or resources.” Some may say it is having enough money to freely pursue what one enjoys. As my children are readying themselves for the future, we discuss it often. Over the Christmas holidays, we talked about what the true definition of wealth is and we came to the stunning conclusion that wealth must not be defined by money.

After discussing Webster’s definition, we decided that the people we deem to be wealthy all fall into the same category. Our wealth must be defined by our relationships with others…isn’t that also a lofty community goal? We see it in the faces of the communities that are ravaged by storms or wrapped up in tragedy. Once we all agreed that true wealth is defined by relationships, I asked my children whom they know in our community that is wealthy.

This person must be someone who has shown commitment to family and friends, and displays relational wealth in all aspects of life. Who has been a great example of what you want out of life?

Both of my children, now in college and graduates of Fort Mill High School, voted unanimously for their former Pre-Calculus Honors teacher, Anne Ledford. Was she an inspiring teacher? Sure.

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Does she have the knowledge to teach this rigorous curriculum?

Yes. However, I once read that a good teacher also inspires hope, ignites the imagination, and instills a love of learning. Anne Ledford is guilty on all counts, although those attributes are just a few examples of what my children remember most about Anne Ledford. My daughter Megan retold the story of the first day of school in her class. She gave the students her cell phone number in case any student needed help with homework or just someone to talk to; Megan still has Ms. Ledford’s number programmed into her cell phone. My son Tom remembers hanging out in her room at lunchtime. Despite being a senior with the coveted privileges to sit in the senior section at lunch, he rarely ever sat there. Why? He preferred to go talk to Ms. Ledford and hang out—because she listened. This intrigued me; what was the big deal about listening?

He said, “No, Mom—she’s legit; a lot of people say they care, but she really does.” My kids went on to tell me of several occasions when Ms. Ledford showed them the meaning of being a mentor.

She displayed the appropriate relationship of student to teacher— she was not their friend, but a great mentor.

After hearing all about Ms. Ledford, I was excited to get to know her better myself. We sat down to lunch at Savannah’s Tea Room

one Saturday afternoon and I asked her the standard questions for any teacher. How long have you been teaching? Do you come from a long line of teachers? Her answers: 33 years and yes, her mother was a teacher. What I noticed immediately was how open and honest she is about her life and her students. She is a selfdescribed open book. One of the most memorable things Anne told me was, “Teenagers are the most important people in the world.” I immediately wondered why. “Teenagers listen to people, are strong, smart, caring, and more compassionate than you could ever imagine,” she said. Maybe what they say is true—even if your kids don’t seem like they’re listening, they actually are.

As we talked about her 30+ years of teaching I was astounded by her amazing memory. She remembers the names of most of her students and says this is “Because we shared life with each other.”

Back in the early 90s she was to be married to her long-time boyfriend but the wedding was cancelled by her fiancé less than 24 hours before the ceremony. I asked the obvious question: “What did you tell the kids when you got back to school?” Her answer:

on her lunch break every day for a month. When the radiologist suggested she go home to take a nap, she said, “I have 29 angels sent from God waiting for me, I have got to get back to school!”

During our chat, she recalled preparing lesson plans in advance and even videotaping her lectures for the times she needed to be away from her class.

Over the years Ms. Ledford has taught Pre-Calculus Honors, Teacher Cadet, Algebra I, HSAP (formerly BSAP), and cheerleading. She had no previous experience with cheerleading, but has taught it now for eight years. “The girls needed a leader, so they taught me!” (She led them to attend Eastern Regional’s more than once.) Every Christmas, former Teacher Cadet students pick a date and organize a Christmas Party at Ms. Ledford’s home, and yes, both of my kids look forward to attending each year.

Today Ms. Ledford’s life is filled with being a teacher, a mother, and a caregiver to her 91-year-old ailing mother. She enjoys singing in her church choir and is preparing for a trip to Arkansas

“The truth – life isn’t easy, why pretend it is?”

“The truth—life isn’t easy, why pretend it is?” The students had been excited to hear about her honeymoon at Disney and wanted all the details. Personally, I would not have been so forthcoming with my difficulties, but in this experience she was teaching her students one of life’s hardest lessons: how to survive a broken heart.

Ms. Ledford adopted her daughter, Amanda, in 2001. Once she found out she had only a few short hours to prepare for the trip to retrieve her little girl, three students came to help her pack, clean her house, and prepare for the baby. (Due to several delays in the adoption process, the day to pick up Amanda was delayed again and again—those same students would eat dinner with her every Thursday until the final day came, so she would not be upset during her wait.) “Those students will hold a place in my heart forever,” she said. Of course she remembers their names—Michelle, Jodie, and Ashley. The trip was shortly after 9/11, so she was even more surprised when several of her students talked their way past airport security and met her when she deplaned with her new baby. “I shouldn’t have been surprised by their thoughtfulness; the kids were so excited for me,” Ledford said.

More recently in 2009 when my son was a student of hers, he came home and said, “Mom, Ms. Ledford has cancer and she is halfway through her radiation treatments—can you help me make a halfway cake?” He went on to tell me that she had been diagnosed with mouth cancer and had shared the details of her treatment with her students. They shared her worries, triumphs, fears, and celebrations. My initial thought was that maybe a teacher should not share such details of her personal life, but when I mentioned this to Anne she simply said, “I could never lie to my students.” She had surgery over that Christmas break to remove a large portion of her tongue, returned to work immediately, and had radiation

this summer where she will train teachers for the Teacher Cadet Program, which began in South Carolina but is now going nationwide due to its success. I think those teachers could learn a thing or two from Ms. Ledford.

She is successful because she spreads her “wealth” by teaching the children to always be prepared, tell the truth, persevere through life’s challenges, and to look on the bright side when life presents those challenges. Her secret to teaching: “Teach by action.” Her students have learned so much more than course curriculum from Ms. Ledford, I am sure. In just seven short hours a day, her students witness her succeed in life. After meeting with Ms. Ledford, she gets my vote, too. Isn’t Fort Mill fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful schools and educators like Anne Ledford?

I challenge you to redefine wealth and success in your own life.

After meeting with Ms. Ledford I am challenged to redefine my relationships with everyone I encounter. Everyone has a story; what will yours reflect? Hopefully Ms. Ledford’s story will inspire you to disregard the dictionary definition of wealth—“the need to pursue the abundance of valuable material possessions or resources.”

“No matter what I do, I will do it with authenticity—that is what I learned from Ms. Ledford.”—Tom Rife, Fort Mill High School class of 2010.

Ginenne Rife Ginenne Rife has worked in all facets of mortgage financing. She is a licensed loan officer with American Equity Mortgage. She is licensed in both NC & SC. Contact her at 803-403-2336 (office), 803-517-4441 (cell), or email her at grife@americanequity.com.

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Nibbles&Bits

s l i a r T y p Hap l e v a r t d l u o h s t e p r o How t Decide if you

n io t a c a v r e m m u s is h t d in h along or stay be Text by Dalene Wyatt

A

Photo by Emily Wyatt

Are you trying to decide if you should take your furry companion on vacation? Here are some things to think about, whether you take him or leave him behind.

Does your dog have social graces? Does he know basic commands? (On vacation, the “go potty” command is a huge time saver). If not, then you might want to work on these before the big trip.

These two things can make or break smooth travel.

What is the occasion for the trip? If it is a planned function like a reunion, wedding, or a milestone birthday, then you may want to leave him at home.

These events (like it or not) are usually planned out for us and there isn’t a lot of time for free-play, so your pet could be spending most of the visit in a confined area by himself. However, bringing your pet on vacation can add to the experience if you have planned ahead. You’ll need to know what to expect on your travel and once you get to your destination.

Crating Your Dog For Travel

This bothers you more than it does your pet, and it is the safest, most secure way for him to travel.

Before putting the dog in the crate, you should make sure the crate is ready. Remove loose collars and leashes, as they may become potential choking hazards.

Allow your dog the opportunity to enter on his own. Make sure your dog is well exercised before kennel time.

You should acquaint your dog with the crate if he is not familiar with it prior to travel. First, lead him in. Leave for 15 minutes and then return; this helps with separation anxiety. Repeat this often to improve his comfort level. Try and refrain from verbal comforting like “Mommy will be back soon,” etc. Simply say “good

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boy” and walk away with a positive attitude. Remember, if you’re comfortable with the situation he will most likely be comfortable as well. Always give a treat when he enters his kennel, even if you had to persuade him to go in. Soon he will associate good things with his kennel. Start your verbal command, “kennel,” from the first try.

Driving With Your Dog

If traveling alone, kennel or harness your dog. You’ll be less distracted and won’t make him a potential projectile in the event of a collision.

You might want to take a few short runs around town before traveling, as this gives your dog a positive car experience and you an idea of what to expect from him. It’s a good idea for your pet to travel on an empty stomach. A dog should be abstained from food for a good 6 hours before travel. Take exercise breaks often; your dog needs them and it will make the trip a lot more pleasant for you both. If you give treats during the break, make sure they are only small pieces, and hydrate your dog during this time. Don’t allow him to over-indulge on water and definitely don’t leave your dog in a parked car, especially on a warm day. Even with the windows cracked, 75 degrees in a car can turn into a 120-degree oven in less than 30 minutes.

Taking Your Dog On An Airplane

Check with your airline regarding pet travel. Many require a health certificate (to check for shot records) and may have other regulations you have not thought of. This will save on unwanted surprises at the airport. There is a good chance your dog will be crated so, again, give your pet plenty of exercise before you travel. No full stomach or bladder for plane rides either, but make sure your pet has had plenty of water for the day and adequate potty breaks.

Crate your dog before you enter the airport, as it will be full of fast-paced, excited people and will not help your pet’s comfort level entering his kennel. Instead of talking to your pet through the crate, which will make him miss you and want out, quietly place a finger in one of the holes to let him know you’re there.

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

If you feel it is necessary and your pet would truly benefit from it, ask your vet for medication suggestions. Remember, if you’re calm and relaxed, your dog will be calm and relaxed.

Hotels and Dogs

Check with your hotel to make sure it is “dog friendly.” This is an absolute must before travel. A vacation could quickly be ruined if you have not inquired about this ahead of time. Pet-friendly hotels will be able to recommend hikes, trails, parks, and other activities that might interest you and your pet.

Once at the hotel, go on a long walk with your pet before entering the building. Not only does this give him a chance to potty, but will help give him the exercise he needs in order to be more relaxed. Exercise helps with anxiety, which may cause unwanted barking. Now you can bring your dog into the new space of the hotel room. It would be a good idea to leave him stationary while you go about and make your calls, unpack, etc. Then you can allow him to walk around the room after you. This helps him understand that it is not his space but yours and you have it under control.

Entering New Spaces

There are many new places that your dog will come in contact with while on your trip. It is very important to know what is around your dog. You don’t want him to find something new to eat (like an old food wrapper) that may harm him. Also, look around to check the area he will be walking in as broken glass and other harmful articles may be littering the path.

Not A Good Time Or Can’t Bring Your Pet?

Find the best solution for you. You have three choices: a kennel, inhome dog care service, or asking your neighbors, family, or friends to take the dog while you’re gone.

Kennels:

Ask potential kennels these questions: 1. What type of activities will your dog participate in while there?

2. Do they separate small dogs and large dogs?

3. Is there a staff member supervising play at all times?

4. Is there discipline and structure implemented throughout the day?

5. Ask the staff what the emergency plan is if your dog were to become injured while in their care.

Make an unannounced visit to the facility and ask for a tour. Consider it a big red flag if you are denied. During the tour, pay attention to overall cleanliness, see that there is ample shade, and make sure clean water is placed all around. Take note of playtime supervision. It is always a good idea to ask your vet for daycare recommendations.

In-home Dog Care Service:

There are independent dog care handlers that can come to your home or even board your pet at their home. A lot of the same questions apply, so feel free to ask the caregiver. Benefits can include reduced stress on your pet, less chance of unwanted illnesses or parasites, and no kennels or confinement. They will have the same rules and routine as if you were there. You can also receive updates and pictures daily via text or computer.

Make sure of the following: 1. The service should have ample customer references you can call.

2. They should be insured/bonded.

3. Set up a free-of-charge “meet and greet” to make sure you and your pet are comfortable with the pet care provider.

4. Ask if the same person will be coming every time to care for your pet.

These are some things to think about as you plan out your summer vacations with your four-legged family member. Implementing some of these tips can help to make a great travel experience for both you and your pet. Happy trails!

Darlene Wyatt Darlene Wyatt is sole proprietor and operator of the pet care service, Loosening Your Leash. Loosening Your Leash is designed to ensure your pets get the care and attention they deserve, while you get peace of mind. For more information, go to Looseningyourleash.com or call 803-310-DOGS (3647).

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“

Bringing your pet on vacation can add to the experience if you have planned

”

ahead.

Some items to help make it a su ccessful vac ation

: Baby wipes, towel (for wet paws), a clip water bowl, on kennel an an camping or on chor tie out (a must if yo u’re a cup for rest st beach), small treats, colla psible water ops, natural raw hides (in shapes), your all sizes and pet bags, medicat ’s favorite toy, bone, or ba ll, potty ions, food, tw eezers (for ob stuck in paw jects that get s), brush (if you have a lo scissors to cu ng coat dog) t ou , your pet is up t mats or gum from fur, make sure on this heart and flea med retractable le ication, a ash, and mos t important, on your pet a name tag with your ce ll number (m pet supply st ost m ores have a ta g making mac ajor nominal fee) hine for a .

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“Your Pet is the Heart of Our Practice”

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.

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In many ways, Rusty is like most 10-year-olds—he loves being hugged and is loyal to his friends. His adventurous side sometimes leads him down a path of uncharted territory. He is energetic, loves to play, and is distracted by the occasional butterfly. He loves being around kids and, if given the chance, can be a bit of a showoff.

When he was younger, Rusty’s best friend was a miniature pony, but these days his favorite companion is Twinkie the stuffed giraffe.

Oh, did I mention Rusty is a horse? A proud, strong, and sometimes silly Tennessee walking horse, to be precise. The breed’s smooth gaits, sure-footedness, and unique four-beat “running walk” make them a popular choice as both a show and riding horse. I was fortunate enough to meet Rusty and his Fort Mill resident owner, Dana Berger (although it soon became evident that Rusty simply humors Dana by letting her think she’s his owner). I witnessed firsthand Rusty’s grace and patience with children as he took my 5-year-old daughter, Taylor, on an afternoon ride.

appear commonplace. It starts weeks in advance, when instructors begin teaching their students how the classes work so they can determine which riders are appropriate for each class. Then, for riders who don’t have their own, horses are assigned that best fit their classes and personalities.

Over the next few lessons, students learn about the show’s details, including how the various classes are defined, what the judges will be looking for, and how the announcer will broadcast the multitude of riding requests. These lessons are vital, as things move quickly with up to 15 riders in a class.

With about a week to go, attention turns to tack, as it should be in perfect working order to help ensure the safety of both horse and rider; this includes cleaning bridles and brushing off saddles.

During the last days, the horses are bathed, brushed, and trimmed to look their finest. This all leads to the day of the show, when final preparation starts before the crack of dawn. Dana, who is also one

I also got to see Rusty strut his stuff in the ring during the 2nd annual Springs Horse Show at the Anne Springs Close Greenway riding area. The show prides itself on being a fun event that offers judged performances called “classes” for adults and children alike. For example, the day kicks off with a Lead Line Rider class for ages 7 and under. True to its inclusive nature, you quickly notice the range of riders’ apparel, from spotless formal riding attire and equestrian helmets to dusty jeans, t-shirts, and cowboy hats.

“We really want to make this a family event,” says Anne Springs Close, who still participates in the show with her namesake. As if on cue, I run into 8-yearold Sophie Johnson, who looks like an old pro as she earns a 2nd place ribbon aboard her thoroughbred Gracie in the “Beginner Riding Lesson Student— Walk/Jog/Trot” class. Later, her mother Eleanor wins her own ribbon on Gracie, making it a clean sweep for the Johnsons as proud father, Rick, photographs the proceedings.

But what the casual observer doesn’t see at show time is the amount of preparation that makes the difficult

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of the instructors on the ASC Greenway, begins her morning before the sun comes up to feed the horses.

They are then bridled and saddled before being loaded onto a trailer, about an hour and a half before the show.

When show time rolls around, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already been a full day. All thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left is for horses like Rusty and Gracie to do their thing! So if you want a fun day for the senses that combines the beauty, grace, and athleticism of two- and four-legged competitors working together in harmony, head out and see a horse show.

Derick Wilder As a regular contributor, Derick focuses on children and families.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a director for Playball, a child development organization, and heads Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative. Reach him at coachderick@yahoo.com or 803-487-4687.

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Meet one of our newest insurance professionals Introducing

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Consider Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group, Inc and State Auto for all your insurance needs.

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Fine Living

36

The QuietCove Text by Jane Ann Maxwell

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Photos by Jamie Carney

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W

The home sits on a gracefully sloping lot and welcomes you upon entry with lovely columns and soaring 24 foot ceilings. Like all good lake homes this plan is oriented toward the spectacular view with windows across the entire back of the home.

Where there is a will, there is a way—this is the moral of the story of the lovely lakefront home at 13936 Point Lookout Drive on Lake Wylie. When Fort Mill Realtor, Bob Myers, and his wife Ginny, owner of Fort Mill’s Village Pizza, saw their dream lot on Lake Wylie, they were met with some unexpected challenges. For a lot to be considered waterfront with the ability to build a dock, it must have 50 feet of water line. This lot, however, did not. So doing what realtors do, Bob looked into who owned the land around him and worked a deal to purchase a 10-foot wide piece of land to the right of the building site. With that purchase, he now had a waterfront lot and the option to add a dock.

space is surrounded by windows and is yet another perfect spot to observe the view. The master bathroom and closet are also quite lovely and large.

The home sits on a gracefully sloping lot and welcomes you upon entry with strong columns and soaring 24-foot ceilings. Like all good lake homes, the plan is oriented toward the spectacular lake view with windows across the entire back of the home. Just to the left of the front door is a room with a fireplace and French doors that Bob uses as an office. The formal dining room, just to the right of the foyer, has a multiple tray ceiling and columns that mark the boundaries of the room. The soaring great room also has a fireplace, but the view out on the deck and beyond to the quiet cove is the showstopper. One can almost miss the detailed moldings, hardwood floors, and extra custom mantle because of that view—it is gorgeous. The backyard slopes into the lake and the Myers have created a boardwalk-style set of stairs with long landings that terrace down the side of the yard.

The home is currently on the market. When asked why, Bob said, “It’s just Ginny and me now, and we don’t need 4400 square feet.”

When asked what he would miss the most, he replied, “For me, it’s about the quiet cove view first and last things of the day. I love our sunset house with a boat, waiting to whisk us away to lake adventures.”

A custom kitchen with warm pecan cabinets and rich granite counters opens onto a generous screened-in porch where the couple drinks coffee every morning. The home boasts a sunset view and the homeowners enjoy both the start and end of the day on the porch.

The gorgeous master bedroom is a generous room graced with a sitting area that is delineated with columns. This pleasant little

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The lower level is the “fun-zone.” A large open family room holds a sectional sofa, billiard table, and dart game. The lower patio runs across the entire back, and windows and sliding glass doors provide an easy in-and-out. There are three additional bedrooms, two baths, and loads of storage. The Myers have a bedroom with an extra-large walk-in closet that currently serves as the grandchildren’s Barbie doll room.

Jane Ann Maxwell Jane Ann Maxwell is a Fort Mill resident and interior designer for Bassett Furniture. Jane Ann can be found at the Bassett Furniture store in Pineville across from the Carolina Place Mall. Her number is 704 540-6353 and you may reach her with questions at jmaxwell@bassettfurniture.com.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love our sunset house with a boat, waiting to whisk us away to lake adventures.â&#x20AC;? fortmillmagazine.com

39

Wealth

Harlan the Medical Bills Strike Again!

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Text by Michelle Black Photos by Stefanie Morris

J

Jacki Sullins spends approximately six hours a week on the phone with her medical insurance company dealing with medical bills.

Jacki’s situation is more extreme than most, but it is not all that unusual. In fact, recent studies show that 1 in 3 Americans is burdened with medical debt. Nothing wreaks havoc on your credit report faster than unplanned medical bills. Even if you are fortunate and do not have to miss work due to illness or injury, the medical bills themselves can pile up quickly, making it impossible to pay.

Unfortunately, medical collections damage your FICO credit scores just like any other unpaid bill. FICO has no special treatment for medical bill delinquencies. There are steps that you can take to help protect your credit and finances in case unforeseen medical issues arise, i.e. medical insurance, emergency savings accounts, and otherwise. However, if a serious illness or accident occurs, all of these precautions may not be enough to protect your credit.

The good news is that if your credit has already been damaged by medical collections, it is possible to begin rebuilding healthy credit.

This process may not take place overnight and, frankly, rebuilding healthy credit isn’t much fun—but it can absolutely be done. You don’t have to feel paralyzed by crushing medical debt forever; your credit can recover.

For Fort Mill High School graduates Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, recent medical woes have landed them in the midst of every parent’s nightmare. After six years of dating, Jonathan and Jacki were married in 2005. They faced difficulties in starting a family, struggling through a miscarriage and many failed attempts to become pregnant. However, in December of 2010, they were

blessed with a beautiful, blue-eyed baby boy named Harlan.

Harlan was a typical, rambunctious 2-year-old until this past January when he suddenly started vomiting at his babysitter’s house. Everyone assumed it was a stomach bug, and Harlan’s pediatrician prescribed a stomach medication. Several days with no improvement led them to the gastroenterologist, but still Harlan’s doctors were not overly concerned. Another week passed and Harlan’s condition continued to worsen—he began vomiting every hour and refusing all food and drink. Concerned, Jonathan and Jacki drove Harlan to the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC, where after only three hours, he was discharged with instructions to follow up with the gastroenterologist.

Naturally, Harlan’s parents were upset at being dismissed so quickly; they knew their child, and they were sure something was not right.

The following day, Harlan was inconsolable. Jacki recalls, “He just was not playful or being his typical 2-year-old self. He was, for lack of a better word, pitiful.” Harlan’s pediatrician was able to get his appointment with the gastroenterologist moved up to an earlier

“We had been prepared for an eight-hour procedure,” remembers Jacki, “but after only three hours it was confirmed that the tumor had been completely removed!”

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As Jacki aptly explains, “Life still goes one even if ‘your’ world stops.”

Co-pays, deductibles, prescriptions, and travel expenses still require money even after the savings account runs out.

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date, and a Barium Swallowing test was ordered for the next day at Piedmont Hospital in Rock Hill, SC. However, on the morning of the test, Harlan began to throw up bile and the decision was made to admit him to Hemby Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

For more than a week doctors believed that Harlan was having digestive problems. Extensive and invasive tests were conducted, Harlan’s diet was changed, and medications were prescribed. But in spite of these efforts, Harlan’s condition continued to worsen.

Jacki was distraught and recalls how Harlan had “lost almost 3.5 pounds and had stopped walking.” On February 7th, while Jacki was lying in the hospital bed beside her baby boy, she noticed his right eye ticking abnormally from side to side. Jonathan saw the eye movement and immediately called a nurse. Just thirty minutes later, a CT scan had been conducted and Harlan’s parents had to hear these four gut-wrenching words: “There is a mass.”

An MRI confirmed a plum-sized tumor in the fourth ventricle of little Harlan’s brain. Stomach ulcers and irritation of Harlan’s esophagus were being caused by fluid leaking from the brain.

Doctors placed a shunt in Harlan’s head immediately after the MRI and brain surgery was scheduled for five days later to attempt removal of the tumor, aptly nicknamed “the Beast.” Risks of the surgery included loss of certain motor skills and even paralysis.

Fortunately for Harlan and his surgical team, the tumor was not wrapped around Harlan’s spinal cord—but it did have many roots that complicated the surgery.

On February 13th, Jacki and Jonathan, along with friends and family, held their collective breath and prayed as they settled into the wait of the procedure as the surgical team removed the Beast.

“We had been prepared for an eight-hour procedure,” remembers Jacki, “but after only three hours it was confirmed that the tumor had been completely removed!” In fact, Harlan’s surgeon said that he “could not have asked for a better situation.”

The tumor was tested after removal so that doctors could plan the next steps of Harlan’s treatment. Pathology was rushed and it was determined that the Beast had been a grade 2 Ependymoma— brain cancer. Because the tumor was cancerous, doctors decided that Harlan should undergo 33 treatments of Proton Beam Radiation Therapy, to be performed in Bloomington, Indiana.

Afterwards he will endure a four-month round of chemotherapy.

As you might imagine, there is no way to adequately plan for a catastrophic medical occurrence such as what the Sullins family is enduring. Jacki, Jonathan, and Harlan are currently living in Indiana for the two months it will take for Harlan to undergo radiation treatments. The family has reported that so far, the treatments are going well. Jacki has had to take a leave of absence—without pay—from her job at Biehl Dentistry in Fort Mill. Jonathan, a North Carolina Air National Guardsman, has nearly used up all of the overtime pay he had previously saved and is close to facing a furlough. All the while, the Sullins’ income has been reduced and their expenses have increased drastically.

While medical bills can damage your credit, there are options available so that you do not have to bear the crushing load of

medical debt forever. The following tips may help.

1. Be aware. Your medical provider is not responsible for making sure that your insurance company sends payment. The medical provider will submit the bill, but if the claim is denied for any reason, it is you—the patient or guardian—who needs to follow up with the insurance company. Find out why the claim was denied and facilitate communication between both parties until the issue is resolved and you have written confirmation that the medical expenses were paid.

2. Be proactive. If you have an outstanding bill that was not fully covered by insurance, call your medical provider. Often, medical debt can be negotiated into smaller, more affordable monthly payments. Keep these payments on time and you should not have to worry about the debt being turned over to a collection agency and damaging your credit score.

3. Be realistic. If you find yourself uninsured or underinsured while facing catastrophic medical debt, bankruptcy is an option.

Bankruptcy is not recommended lightly due to the severe damage it will cause to your credit, but if medical debt exceeds a repayment plan of 5-7 years then it may be the type of situation that bankruptcy exists to resolve. Existing credit will absolutely be damaged, but you can begin to rebuild healthy credit immediately after the bankruptcy, and with professional assistance you may be able to rebuild faster.

The Sullins family still has a long journey ahead. Harlan’s parents are incredibly proud of the strength their 2-year-old hero has displayed during his fight against cancer. Jacki and Jonathan have had their world turned upside down over the past few months, but thankfully both their employers have been, in Jacki’s words, “amazing” during their nightmare situation. However, the Sullins family has still experienced a drastic decrease of income due to missed work during Harlan’s hospitalization. As Jacki aptly explains, “Life still goes one even if ‘your’ world stops.” Co-pays, deductibles, prescriptions, and travel expenses still require money even after the savings account runs out.

Harlan has received support from family and friends through several fundraising efforts but there is still a great need for funds to cover Harlan’s medical and everyday expenses during his battle with cancer. You can donate, be involved with future fundraising events, and buy “Harlan the Hero” bracelets and t-shirts, available at Birds of a Feather Boutique and Biehl Dentistry in Fort Mill.

Stay in touch with Harlan’s brave story at www.Facebook.com/ HarlanTheHero. Get involved and help make the Sullins family’s fight a little easier by donating to relieve some of their financial pressure. Together we can make a huge impact.

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.

Donations may be sent to Harlan’s charitable trust at Arthur State Bank: Attn: Harlan the Hero 201 S. Herlong Ave Rock Hill, SC 29732 fortmillmagazine.com

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travel

Photos Courtesy of Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce

Text by Ellen Rauchhaus

We awoke to the clattering sound of horse-drawn carriages, imagining the year 1733, when British General James Oglethorpe first set foot on the land that is now Savannah, Georgia. His mission: to found the first English settlement in the British colony of Georgia—named after King George II—which also became the last of the 13 original colonies that made up the United States of America.

Our mission: to explore and discover what makes this Southern gem, Savannah, a fabulous weekend get-away in 2013.

The morning began with a complimentary breakfast at our riverfront hotel, the River Street Inn, a historic landmark included in the Historic Hotels of America. The River Street Inn is a former warehouse built in 1817 out of recycled ballast stone; currently it hosts 86 rooms. Adjacent to the hotel is the Savannah Cotton Exchange, which was the first building in the United States to attain air rights and is one of the city’s most notable sights.

Our personal guide was waiting for us in the lobby and took us on a wonderful tour back in time. We toured through numerous historical squares, some of the most famous sites of Savannah; over 20 of the 24 original squares still exist today. Each one is characterized by a monument, statue, fountain, or bench, and is named after a person or event with significance to the city’s history.

The bench where Forrest of the film, Forrest Gump, recounted his life story was located at the north end of Chippewa Square, but the bench can now be found in the Savannah History Museum. We adored the Owens-Thomas House, an English Regency style home originally built for cotton broker Richard Richardson in 1819, and designed by architect William Jay.

of Savannah society arriving at the house for one of its owner’s famous Christmas parties. We searched for the Bird Girl statue as we passed by Bonaventura Cemetery, but were told by our guide that locals worried for the once-obscure statue’s safety. It now We were encouraged to walk off the fabulous dinner by a guided tour of the Inn, which hosts at least three identified ghosts!

A must-see, especially for fans of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is the Mercer-Williams House where the historical alleged killing took place. The home was built by an ancestor of Savannah native and famed songwriter Johnny Mercer, and was purchased in 1969 by Jim Williams, a Savannah preservationist.

The alleged murder of Danny Hansford occurred in the study of joins the bench from Chippewa Square in the Savannah History Museum.

They filmed Forest Gump in Chippewa Square The bench where he told his life story was located to the north end of this square. this home, but after four murder trials Jim Williams was ultimately found not guilty. As we sat in the square we imagined the denizens

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Taking a carriage ride through town, we noticed Savannah’s abundance of majestic live oaks covered in Spanish moss, hanging like a natural sunshade. Elaborate, budding azaleas line the city’s streets and frame the squares. So beautiful and romantic, it is no wonder that this city is considered “The Jewel of the Grand Old South.” In the year 1864, lovely Savannah was presented to President Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift, after General William Tecumseh Sherman captured the city during his legendary March to the Sea at the end of the Civil War. The tour concluded at the rooftop bar of the Bohemian Hotel, facing the Talmadge Memorial Bridge that arches over the river.

The view was even more breathtaking as we sipped on a signature martini from the bar. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed wine and

champagne during a complimentary hors d’oeuvre reception.

17 Hundred 90 is a beautiful inn and restaurant located on East President Street. Would you guess that this house was built in 1790? It is one of Savannah’s oldest restaurants and inns offering fine dining and comfortable lodging, which piqued our curiosity.

The service and food were phenomenal, and the staff encouraged us to walk off the fabulous dinner with a guided tour of the Inn, which hosts at least three indentified ghosts. The most famous entity, Anna, of room 204 was the bride of an arranged marriage who fell in love with a sailor in the early 1800s. She is said to have thrown herself to her death from a third floor window onto the brick courtyard as the sails of her love’s ship disappeared from sight down the Savannah River to the sea. Patrons report strange cool breezes on the back of the neck, sensations of being physically nudged, and personal items mysteriously disappearing and reappearing elsewhere. Only the bravest of tourists opt to share a few nights in room 204 with Anna.

The night was still young, so we headed to Six Pence Pub where we attended the Creepy Bar Crawl. The same owner of our local Six Pence Pub in Baxter Village operates this location as well.

Even more ghost stories awaited at each bar we entered as the bar crawl progressed; I feared the nightmares that awaited as I went to bed that night, but thankfully slept comfortably in our beautiful accommodations.

Heading home to wonderful Fort Mill the next morning left us

overflowing with lasting memories of this beautiful jewel of the Grand Old South with its cobblestone streets, blooming squares, European colonial architecture, and the ghosts that will (hopefully) stay behind.

The Fort Mill Magazine Travel Club will head to Savannah for a weekend in September! What’s included: transportation from and back to Fort Mill, hotel accommodations in the historic district, welcome dinner, breakfast, treasure hunt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Tour, Creepy Bar Crawl, and lasting memories with your friends of the Fort Mill Magazine Travel Club.

Becoming a member of the Travel Club is easy and affordable. Sign up at fortmillmagazine.com/travel_club.

Individual membership is $25 per year or $35 per household. To learn more about our tour contact Ellen at tripdesign4u@gmail.com.

Ellen Rauchhaus Ellen Rauchhaus is a Fort Mill Magazine Travel Club expert and the owner of TripDesign. A native European and a travel consultant of nearly twenty years, Ellen is a river cruise specialist and enjoys helping others plan the trip of their dreams. Let Ellen design your next trip by calling (248) 982 4547 or email tripdesign4u@gmail.com.

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This summer, spend a perfect vacation at home.

Instead of planning an extravagant trip to a tropical location, spend a week “staycationing” in beautiful Fort Mill. With these tips and activities, you’ll want to make every vacation a staycation.

Get Ready.

•Pick Your Dates. Select start and end dates of your vacation. This way, you’ll know when to plan your activities.

• Ditch the Technology. The whole point of a vacation is to take a break from reality. Limit phone and internet time. Only check emails once a day.

• Clean the House. Make sure that the house is clean and the laundry is done so you have nothing to worry about during your vacation.

Get Set.

• Set the Scene. Stash your rugs, bring out the palm trees, and make a vacation playlist. All of these will give you that beachy, vacation vibe.

• Plan Your Meals. One of the great things about a vacation is not worrying about cooking. Decide what days you plan to go out to eat and order take-out for the rest!

Staycation!

• Spend a Day at the Greenway. The Greenway is perfect for a day outside. Plan a picnic, hike the trails, and relax by the lake.

• Get Your Adventure On. Carowinds is the thrill capital of the Southeast. With rides, live entertainment, and Boomerang Bay Water Park, there’s enough to keep the fun going all day long.

• Play Ball. Or just watch as the Charlotte Knights play their last season in the Knights Stadium. What better way to spend a summer day than with a hotdog, cold drink, and a baseball game?

• Get Lost in Uptown Charlotte. There is so much to do in Charlotte, so why not spend the day wandering the city? You may stumble across some unique little places, like Amelie’s French Bakery & Café.

• Have a Shopping Spree. Spend a day at the mall and splurge a little.

• Indulge in a Reading Binge. Take a virtual vacation and get lost in a great book.

• Have a Movie Marathon. Pick your favorite flicks and spend the day in your pajamas, watching movies and snacking on junk food.

• Camp in Your Backyard. Set up a tent, have a bonfire, and spend a night sleeping under the stars.

• Keep Cool. During these hot summer days, find ways to cool off. Go to the pool, have a water-game day, make some homemade ice cream, or indulge in a Fort Mill Famous J&M Slushie.

• Day Trip It. There are so many exciting things to see outside of the Fort Mill and Charlotte area. Take a day trip to Columbia, Greenville, or the mountains, and see the sights.

• Spend Time With Your Family. Don’t forget that amongst all these activities, the important thing is to spend quality time with your family.

• Relax. With all of these exciting things to do, you may forget the whole point of a vacation—to relax! Nap, spend a night in, or get an in-home massage. Whatever you do, just be sure to have some down time.

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Take The Challenge

Text and Photo by Jessica Yarab-Watt

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To Your Health Dr. M. Reza Bolouri Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Memory Center Charlotte, North Carolina Text by Carol Howell Photo by Jamie Carney

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An Interview With The Expert

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Dementia and the diseases that cause it are hard to think about, especially if a loved one is suffering from them. Dr. M. Reza Bolouri of Alzheimer’s Memory Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, understands these diseases more than most. In fact, he has made it his life’s work to study these diseases and the dementia that results.

Dementia can occur for over 90 different reasons. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Lewy Body are just a few of those reasons. Understanding dementia, what is happening in the brain, how day-to-day life is being affected, and

“

team are experiencing great success and are feeling hopeful for the future.

During a recent interview in his Charlotte office, Dr. Bolouri discussed two things he feels are important to a good outcome for his patients. The first component is knowledge of dementia, as well as the disease causing it.

The second item important to a good outcome for Dr. Bolouri’s patients is mental and physical stimulation. “Mental and physical stimulation, including music therapy, are better than

Mental and physical stimulation, including music therapy, are better than any drugs I can give. I can assure of that. It is a proven fact.

”

understanding what the future may hold are all important for an effective caregiving experience.

any drugs I can give. I can assure of that. It is a proven fact,” said Dr. Bolouri.

Understanding the “do’s and don’ts” of dementia allows family members to live happier, more effective lives. This results in better outcomes for everyone. Receiving care from a physician who will take the time to educate family members is a key component to good care for the loved one with dementia.

In addition to treating his clients with dignity and educating their family members, Dr. Bolouri is actively involved in the subject most of us are very interested in—preventing Alzheimer’s. If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s, the future may be a little scary. Because of this, Dr. Bolouri is actively involved in research that is geared toward developing new drugs to prevent Alzheimer’s. Working with pharmaceutical companies, they have been chosen as a research site in Charlotte. This research is geared towards individuals who have mild cognitive impairment—a diagnosis that is not yet dementia. They are working to find a way to stop this impairment before it becomes dementia. Dr. Bolouri and his

This mental and physical stimulation is available through music therapy, touch therapy, pet therapy, and group living arrangements. Living with individuals who are similar to one another helps bring about peace and a sense of belonging that is often unattainable otherwise. Group living brings about the opportunity to interact with individuals and results in both mental and physical stimulation that may help slow the course of dementia.

Carol Howell

Carol L. Howell is a Certified Dementia Specialist and Placement Specialist, Endorsed Life Coach with an emphasis on Music Therapy, public speaker, and published author. Her book LET’S TALK DEMENTIA — A Caregiver’s Guide is available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and at her website www.seniorlifejourneys.com.

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Special Advertiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Section

Gold Hill

family & cosmetic dentistry

At Gold Hill Dentistry, we are committed to providing the Fort Mill area with the highest standard of dental care. We strive to optimize the patient experience, not only by offering state-ofthe-art equipment and a friendly, highly trained staff, but also by creating a calming, upscale environment. From our plush waiting area to our patient-room entertainment, we deliver a relaxing and comfortable experience from the moment you step through our doors. In doing so, we aim to promote the wellbeing of not just your mouth, but the mind and body as well.

Led by Dr. Kavi Sagunarthy, DDS, the entire team at Gold Hill Dentistry is involved in guiding patients through their treatment, advising them on a personalized plan that is most appropriate for their dental needs. Dr. Sagunarthy places a strong emphasis on continuing education for all staff members.

Himself a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. as well as the University of Buffaloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Dental Medicine in Buffalo, NY, Dr. Sagunarthy is currently pursuing a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry.

In addition to his education in general dentistry, he also is highly trained in implant dentistry, receiving the International Congress of Oral Implantologists Award in 2007.

Gold Hill Dentistry is proud to offer a range of dental services,

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from family dentistry to implants and cosmetic dentistry. We understand that each patient presents a unique set of dental needs, so we focus on comprehensive care for each member of your family. We offer, asides from routine preventative dentistry, teeth straightening, teeth whitening, and our highquality dental implants improve both appearance and function, whether allowing a better fit for dentures or simply enhancing your smile. And with a variety of cosmetic options available, we can provide minimally invasive care with maximum cosmetic results. Whatever your needs, we at Gold Hill are committed to finding the best and most comfortable dental solution for you and your family.

Situated in Fort Mill, Gold Hill Dentistry serves the entire south Charlotte area and is convenient to Rock Hill, Indian Land, and Ballantyne. We are located at 2848 Pleasant Road Suite104, just off 77 at the Gold Hill Road exit.

To find out more about our offices, staff, and services, please visit us at www.goldhilldentistry.com or call us at (803) 5474466 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to your visit.

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When it comes to healthy, younger-looking skin, how you choose you nourish your body is just as important as what you put on your skin. According to Dr. Georgiana Donadio, founder of the National Institute of Whole Health, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside your body, and all skin issues are the manifestations of your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal needs, including its nutritional needs.â&#x20AC;? Providing your body with adequate nutrients and hydration will create clear, vibrant skin and also help to promote a healthier tan.

A diet rich in vitamins and nutrients and low in sugar will keep you looking younger much longer. Sugar speeds up the aging process, while vitamins such as A, C, and E slow it down. Vitamin A can be found in chili peppers, dark leafy green vegetables, and cantaloupe.

Broccoli, bell pepper, and citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. Vitamin E can be found in almonds, peaches, and asparagus. To keep it simple, aim to add in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. It will not only keep your body strong and healthy, but will help you to look fabulous later in life.

The most important key to healthy, wrinkle-free skin is proper hydration. It has been estimated that up to 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Not only can this lead to fatigue and illness, but also significantly affects the appearance of the skin.

The Institute of Medicine now suggests consuming ninety ounces of water per day to stay well hydrated. Sodas, coffee, and alcohol actually promote dehydration so clean, filtered water is best. If you do enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the summer sun, remember to drink plenty of water between alcoholic beverages.

Although sunscreen has long been promoted as the best way to protect your skin, there are chemicals present in some sunscreens that have actually been reported as potentially dangerous.

According to the Environmental Working Group, oxybenzone and/ or retinyl palmitate are in approximately 50% of sunscreens on the market and are potentially linked to hormone imbalances and skin damage. Consider using a natural sunblock, wearing light clothing, and avoiding long periods of time directly in the sunlight to lower the risk of sunburn.

Foods high in healthy omega fatty acids can help to promote cleaner skin with less frequent breakouts and also help to improve your ability to tan well. These items have long been promoted for heart health, but more recent research also links healthy fats to anti-aging benefits. Healthy choices that are high in healthy fats include avocados, coconut, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

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.

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Special Advertiser’s Section: India Hook Dental Care

Dental Implants: Text by Michelle Starnes and Dr. Heather Johnson

Your Solution to Missing Teeth

Have you ever wondered if there was a way to restore you natural smile by replacing those missing teeth? How about restoring your chewing ability to what it used to be? There may be a solution to revitalize your smile, function, and overall oral health. While you may have encountered appliances that come in and out of your mouth, dental implants can offer a more permanent solution.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are for those who are looking to restore or maintain their smile. There are many benefits that go beyond just replacing teeth. For instance, dental implants counteract further bone loss, prevent your remaining teeth from moving, and even promote gingival health. The dental implant is made of titanium, the same type of metal used for hip replacements, which is very compatible with your body. Your bone will integrate around the implant so it will be like a part of your body. A crown, multiple crowns, or a denture is then secured onto the implant. Whether you are replacing a single tooth with a crown or multiple teeth with a bridge or denture, dental implants can improve your overall sense of well-being.

The Treatment Process To determine if you are a candidate for dental implants, visit your dentist and let the process begin. On your first visit, the dentist and dental team will make models of the teeth that are present in your

mouth and take x-rays to reveal if you are a good candidate for this treatment. These models and x-rays will ascertain if there is enough bone to support the implant and ultimately establish the specific location of implant placement. If there is not adequate bone in the area of concern, a bone graft may be necessary.

The next step will be implant placement. During this appointment the titanium implant is placed, and the healing stage begins.

This stage lasts for 4-6 months, depending upon the location of placement. For the duration of this period your bone is given time to integrate to the implant and stabilize before restoring with a porcelain crown. Once this phase is complete, it’s finally time to deliver the porcelain crown or denture. You’re now on your way to enjoying improved function and health with a beautiful smile.

Dental implants are at the forefront of medical and dental technology. They are the new standard of care in dentistry of replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are now more predictable than traditional restorations and appliances. Patients’ overall happiness with treatment results and restoration longevity are higher than ever. Are you ready to get the old you back? At India Hook Dental Care your overall health and happiness are our greatest concerns. We have a caring staff here to meet your needs. Call and make an appointment with us today to begin your journey. We look forward to seeing you!

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

Modern Family Dinner

Good Eats

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Grilled Chicken with Jicama Slaw

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Text by Valerie McGann Photo by Stefanie Morris Summer has arrived, and with it the heat and humidity. When these two elements combine, it’s easy to lose creativity and motivation when it comes to cooking. Thank goodness that no matter where you live, summer is also synonymous with grilling. As network television has reinvigorated the popularity of grilling, we have seen the advent of all sorts of grilling gadgets that assist the home cook not only with preparing protein, but side dishes as well.

But what if you’re not much of a talent with grilling? Maybe you get by with grilling a chicken breast or hamburger, but you are not interested in the hassle of grilling your vegetables and side dishes.

What if you have children or a partner who is wildly adverse to the grill marks on their vegetables that could lead to a war of wills at the dinner table? Are you permanently relegated to a side dish of a green salad or a mayonnaise-based salad? After engaging in a number of discussions with folks who are looking for an alternative to their summer side dishes, I have a solution: jicama (pronounced HIH-KAMA).

Jicama is a tuber or “root vegetable” which resembles an oversized turnip. It is dense with an apple-like texture surrounded by a thick light brown skin, which needs to be peeled prior to eating.

A traditional ingredient in Mexican and Latin American cuisine, jicama is best consumed raw, but can be substituted for a potato in soups and stews. It is also a great source of Vitamin C and fiber, but perhaps the best thing about jicama is that it doesn’t have a distinct or discernible flavor, which can overpower a dip or vinaigrette dressing. After some experimenting in my kitchen I have found that match-stick sized slices of jicama can make a delicious “slaw” side dish that can be paired up with a number of different raw vegetables and fruits, but still remain interesting. I hope you and your family will enjoy my jicama slaw with a mojito inspired dressing.

Jicama “Slaw” Dressing: ¼ cup lime juice ¼ cup orange juice 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ½ Tbsp. dried cilantro

½ tsp. cumin ½ tsp. kosher salt Cracked black pepper

Slaw: 2 cups jicama, sliced into the size of matchsticks (1 medium jicama root about the size of your fist) 1 cup matchstick sliced carrots (can be purchased pre-sliced) ½ cup yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 cup pineapple chunks Combine the dressing ingredients. Allow the dressing to set overnight, covered in the refrigerator. Combine the slaw ingredients.

Pour the dressing over the slaw and, using tongs or very clean hands, toss the slaw and dressing until the slaw ingredients are completely coated. Cover the slaw with plastic wrap and allow the slaw to marinate at room temperature for at least 4 hours prior to serving.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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

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Text by Valerie McGann and Bree Zeigler Photos by Jamie Carney Text by Valerie McGann and Bree Ziegler Photo by Jamie Carney

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Always looking for an opportunity to savor the local flavors, our foodie reviewers followed the tines of their forks to a restaurant serving authentic Cuban cuisine. Carlos Café is located at 1135 Stonecrest Boulevard, in Tega Cay. The restaurant is family owned and their menu brings family recipes to life for the enjoyment of their patrons.

Upon entering the restaurant I noticed the large, open dining area with Cuban-inspired décor and memorabilia. Generous seating arrangements comfortably accommodate large groups without making smaller parties feel lost. The atmosphere is complimented by soft background music, which is occasionally replaced by a live solo guitarist playing rich Latin American instrumentals. Our server greets us warmly and begins by asking whether we have ever had the opportunity to sample Cuban cuisine. Since our response is no, she takes a few minutes to share the origins of Cuban cooking and the types of traditional spices with us. This is of great help when we peruse the menu and make our selections.

The appetizer we chose was the Fried Yuca (yuca frita) with salsa de la casa. The fried yuca is served in strips and looks similar to a steak-cut French fry, but the texture is not as dense as a potato.

This appetizer is simply divine when dipped in the salsa de la casa (mayonnaise, lemon juice, cilantro, and salt).

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Our main entrée was Fried Shredded Beef (vaca frita), which is shredded beef brisket pan fried with onions and tropical spices. It is served with white rice, black beans, and fried sweet plantains.

Don’t fret over the number of menu choices with the word “fried” in them. For this dish, “fried” just refers to pan frying the beef in a skillet after the onions have been cooked to a soft, supple texture.

I was impressed by the subtle flavors. In contrast with other styles of Latin or Caribbean cuisine, the dish didn’t display even a hint of spicy heat, but rather blended mellow flavors from the beef and onion. When combined in a bite with the sweet plantains, I was immediately struck by how simple and delicious this entrée is. The servings were generous, leaving plenty for leftovers.

We ended our meal with a traditional flan. The texture of the custard was smooth and creamy with a caramel sauce that can only be described in one word: delectable.

Overall this was a wonderful experience, from the server to the food to the atmosphere. I give Carlos Café 5 out of 5 forks!

At first glance, the atmosphere at Carlos Café appears clean and attractive—with simple tables and décor, there wasn’t anything about the atmosphere that initially struck me as unique or unusual. However, this initial impression was quite misleading as the service, entertainment, and flavorful food provided a dining experience infused with unique and authentic Cuban culture.

As the appetizer, we chose Yuca Frita, or fried yuca, with mojo dipping sauce. The strips of yuca were lightly battered and fried to perfection. The taste was similar to that of a potato, yet the texture was slightly different. The mojo dipping sauce was the perfect complement to the light yuca strips, providing an exciting flavor of cilantro and lemon.

and tropical spices. The beef was shredded thin, pan fried until slightly crisp, and served with white rice, flavorful black beans, and plantains. I was very concerned about the spicy and tropical seasoning when we chose this dish, but was surprised that the beef tasted subtle and simple rather than hot and spicy.

The authentic side dishes paired well with the beef, which provided a variety of unique flavors.

With so many desserts to try, it was difficult to decide on just one. We finally chose flan, made from a secret Cuban caramel custard recipe. Although I have never enjoyed custard before, I wanted to try flan for the first time; I was certainly not disappointed. The flan was absolutely delicious—perfectly creamy and served in a delicious caramel sauce.

With a rating of 4 forks, I highly recommend Carlos Café. The service is excellent, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the cuisine is unique, delicious, and reasonably priced.

For the main dish, we followed the server’s recommendations on the most popular and authentic Cuban dish and chose Vaca Frita, a shredded beef brisket fried crisp with onions

“The mojo dipping sauce was the perfect complement to the light yuca strips, providing an exciting flavor of cilantro and lemon.”

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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

Randazzosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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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Craving more great content & mind-blowing photography? If you enjoy Fort Mill Mag in print, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love our digital Summer 2013 Issue with additional local experts, expanded content, & more fabulous images.

Go to fortmillmagazine.com to get it NOW !

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Indulge

Taking it to

Beach Photos by Stefanie Morris

Dolce Lusso | Official Hair and M akeup for Fort M ill Magazine Hair Stylists: Britt Dion M akeup A rtist: Jennifer Cortez M odel: Sarah McDonald, Senior at FMHS C lothes and A ccessories provided by WallerBears Surf Shop, Pineville, NC

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Witness Grind 132â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13 Wakeboard | $429 + Polka Dot Bathing Suit | Volcom | $90 + White Cover Up | Roxy | $48 Fiji Longboard | Sector 9 | $189 + Yellow Bag | Roxy | $32 + Teal Yoga Mat Sandals | Sanuk | $24

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Fiji Longboard | Sector 9 | $189 Yellow Bag | Roxy | $32 Teal Yoga Mat Sandals | Sanuk | $24

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Black & Pink Rash Guard | Volcom | $90 Teal & Pink Bottom | Billabong | $36 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6 NSP SUP Paddle Board | $999

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Butterfly Style & Oversized Frames

Rectangular Styles Marc Jacobs, Oversized Square Sunglasses with Crystals Accents, $395

work well on a heart shaped face and add width to the lower part of your face.

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” style hitney

A perfect fit if you have a round shaped face is

Beauty Expert Kelly Coulter

ord “W Tom F

will add angles and soften curves on an oval shaped face. If your face is long, choose a frame that has tall lenses and thick frames which create a shorter face.

Sunglasses

for your face shape 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.

Cat Eye, Angular & Oversized Geometric Styles

Round & Aviator Styles soften angular features on a square shaped face.

These styles will sculpt, lift and sharpen facial features on a round face.

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Tory Burch Cat’s Eye Sunglasses, $149.00

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Special Advertiser’s Section

Dolce Lusso Salon and Spa works runways from Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week to Charlotte Seen’s Passport for Fashion. Our team is trained to do anything from everyday hair to the most advanced Avant Garde looks. We have had the privilege to design looks for some of the worlds most well known designers.

Take a look at some of our past years work. Shows we have done this year at New York Fashion Week (by invitational only): Betsey Johnson Giulietta Porsche Nautica Mastronianni Leeann Marshall Marlon Gobel Althea Harper Sheri Hill Christian Siriano Park & Ronen The training and practice we get for the runways translates to inspiration behind the chair.

Dolce Lusso was the back of the house sponsor for Charlotte Seen’s Passport for Fashion 2013. We won the award for 2013 Best Makeup Artist Award and 2013 Best Hairstylist.

Designers we styled: Robert Craig Alice Andrews Four Magazine Edelweiss de Guzman Hans Drost Taylor Says (2) dresses and styling for Recyclable pieces we constructed in house- One from Charlotte and Fort Mill sites and one from Myrtle Beach site

Fort Mill in Baxter: 985 Market St., Suite 102 Fort Mill, SC 29708 (803) 802-5877

Stonecrest Shopping Center: 7808 Rea Rd, Suite A Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 542-6550

Myrtle Beach Market Common: 3050 Howard Ave., Bldg R2, Suite 300 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (843) 839-2655

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Southern Style

Photos by Glenn Roberson

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Music News

Carrie Marshall Text by Laura Fenton Pidge

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Photos courtesy of LunahZon Photography

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Does an evening listening to a mix of Norah Jones meets Adele sound like a nice way to unwind for the weekend? How about adding in an intimate setting with wine and dinner? If the answer is yes, you won’t have to drive far or pay for a pricey ticket, not yet, that is.

Carrie Marshall came to Charlotte’s growing music scene in 2009.

The jazz singing, piano player delivers a classic and romantic style that’s gaining popularity locally. She put roots down with her husband and three children in Huntersville. Marshall came to Charlotte after spending 4 ½ years in Nashville when her husband was transferred. Carrie’s father, a pastor, put her in front of the congregation to sing when she was eight. Her talent began to blossom in high school and she began writing her own songs in college.

While Carrie was in Nashville she was asked several times to go tour but couldn’t leave her young family. Carrie decided to learn everything she could from Nashville. “In Nashville everyone is talented,” says Marshall. “You can sing seven nights a week there if you want to,” she says. “I had several people in Nashville tell me I needed to choose to be a songwriter or an artist. I felt I was both,” says Carrie. Many times she was asked to do songs that didn’t fit her image or age group. “It’s important to stay true to yourself and your talent in the music business,” says Carrie. “Living in Nashville and getting multiple rejections grew me as a person. Nashville makes your prove yourself and there’s freedom in that,” she says.

Carrie wrote several songs and met Tom Douglas, well-known and respected artist of songs like “Little Rock” by Collin Raye and “Love’s the Only House” by Martina McBride. Douglas offered advice and encouragement. “There were so many premier writers in Nashville,” says Carrie, “I had so many people tell me, ‘You’re not crazy! Don’t give up!’”

“Jazz is easy for me to sing,” says Carrie. Carrie plays piano as well but stops before calling herself a “jazz piano player” inferring that jazz musicians are highly skilled. “I’m more of a jazz singer that plays the piano,” says Carrie.

“Everyone in Charlotte is so willing to collaborate and work together. There is great camaraderie here.” Carrie says, “Charlotte feels like home to me.” Charlotte inspired Carrie so much that she wrote a song called “Queen City”. Her inspiration paid off.

The song won first place in the North Carolina Songwriters Competition based in Raleigh in 2010. Since then the Carolina Entertainment Network voted Carrie as one of the top four vocalists in the Charlotte area.

Carrie says that once the ball started rolling, it was hard to stop. Brandon Crumpton, a booking agent for Key Signature Entertainment, heard her sing at an event in Matthews. “Brandon helped me get great exposure at events in Charlotte,” says Carrie.

Success continues to roll for Carrie. Hush Puppy Media, a high caliber production company in Raleigh put together her first video, “I’ll Be Alright”. Carrie’s Christian album, Redemption, is doing well on iTunes and a new album, produced by Jim Brock, will be released at the end of September.

Carrie is branching out and broadening her reach also playing Casey Davis, a psychologist, a part in an independent movie called “Changeover”. She is also writing a song for the movie coming out in September.

If you would like to see Carrie Marshall perform live find a full calendar of her schedule at carriemarshall.net.

Laura Fenton Pidge As a freelance feature writer, Laura covers a wide array of interesting people, places and events. She also owns Blue Beetle Photography specializing in children and family portraits. Contact her at laura@bluebeetlephotography. com or 704-421-0707.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone in Charlotte is so willing to collaborate and work together.

There is great camaraderie here.â&#x20AC;? fortmillmagazine.com

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Text by Anderson Breeland Photos by Jamie Carney

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Hair

and

Makeup

by

Dolce Lusso

Hair Stylists: Britt Dion Lauren Bernstein Christy McKinney Makeup Artists: Nikki Curran Amiee Barker Maria Rivera

Model Rick Santeiu is wearing:

Brooks Brothers Formalwear Collection | Tuxedo Jacket | Brooks Brothers | $848 Brooks Brothers Formalwear Collection | Tux Trouser | Brooks Brothers | $250 Brooks Brothers Great Gatsby Collection | Backless Silk Vest | Brooks Brothers | $175 Brooks Brothers Great Gatsby Collection| Batwing Silk Bow Tie | Brooks Brothers | $60 Brooks Brothers Formalwear Collection | Pique Bib-front Tuxedo Shirt | Brooks Brothers | $135 Brooks Brothers | Stud Set-Full Set | Brooks Brothers | $395 Park Ave | Black Dress Shoe | Allen Edmond | $345

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Model Christie Winn is wearing: Brooks Brothers Women’s Collection | Wool/Linen/Silk Dress Woven in Italy | Brooks Brothers | $398 Brooks Brothers Women’s Collection| Black Knit Sweater | Brooks Brothers | $98 Brooks Brothers Shoe Collection | Black Strap Heel | Brooks Brothers | $228

O

On May 10, 2013, Baz Luhrmann’s reimagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, premiered and was met with love, hate, and some confusion. The plot follows a band of wealthy and not-so-wealthy characters that live in a fictional area of New York called West Egg. The primary character in the story is the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, who has fought his way from poverty to catch the eye of the beautiful, well-to-do Daisy Buchanan. This tale is narrated from a first-person perspective by protagonist Nick Carraway—a slightly naïve, optimistic, and occasionally sarcastic Yale graduate and bond salesman. Nick rents a small house on Long Island, next door to the rich and mysterious Jay Gatsby, and soon gets caught up in the rush of alcohol, extravagant parties, and deadly jealousy. The story snowballs out of control with a love quadrangle for the ages: Gatsby is in love with Daisy, who is married to the well-off athlete and supremacist Tom Buchanan, who is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson from the Valley of Ashes. Needless to say, the story takes a nosedive that leads to the death of a certain love-struck millionaire. But how does Fitzgerald’s grand tale translate to the silver screen?

Director Baz Luhrmann has a history of mixing classic with contemporary. The cult classic Moulin Rouge is a prime example of his genre-crossing skills, and his abilities have aged like a fine wine. The Great Gatsby is a visual and auditory feast, bringing

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the summer of 1922 to blazing life in a storm of music, drinks, and murder. The set design and special effects are top-notch for this film, drawing in the audience with the result of remarkable staying power. Luhrmann and his crew have recreated 1920s New York in great detail, contrasting glitz and glamour with coal and hunger. The soundtrack is just as extraordinary, juxtaposing the timeless and contemporary with a cast of musical artists from Jay-Z to Florence + the Machine, including jazz samples and a Bach remix. The decision to bring current music into the 1920s may seem strange, but for this film it really conveys the feeling of the era to a modern audience. Luhrmann remains incredibly faithful to the book, with a few strange dialogue alterations used to extend the film without sacrificing pace and rhythm. These changes are minor and will most likely distress only the most loyal fans of the novel. However, the acting is right on the money with Leo DiCaprio leading as Gatsby, a role he fits into like a tailored glove. Toby Maguire plays Nick, Carey Mulligan is Daisy, and Joel Edgerton brings Tom Buchanan to seething reality. The film invests audiences in its characters, and its conclusion still makes the heart fall, despite previous plot knowledge. Overall, Luhrmann has created an incredible film that evokes the spirit of the original piece. This film is highly recommended to anyone wishing to get swept away into a time long past, but not nearly forgotten.

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REVERE CITIZENS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

SPRING 2013

Coming Soon!

Inspired Thought

Text by Tracey Roman

Summer is best with... the fresh clean smell of rain in the air, a scenic drive down a long country road, the fireflyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nightly glow, and the fruity taste of an ice cold popsicle.

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Charitable

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Citizens For Historic Preservation

5K, 8K, & 10K Twilight Series

Challenge?

Are you ready to accept the

August 31, 2013 September 28, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013

Dates are subject to change. Go to cfhpcarolina.org for more information. Call 803.820.0048 for sponsorship information.