You don’t have to own a boat to get out on the water No boat, no problem
Blooms
and buzz
Five Blossoms Farm comes alive in springtime
The beat goes on
The Classics, entertaining local music lovers for 35 years and counting
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By Susan Bromfield, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Welcome springtime
Here it is spring 2025 and another half a decade has flown by. Lake Wylie has been identified as one of the fastest growing communities in the nation with among the highest income in South Carolina. Quality of life and prosperity, mild weather, natural beauty, good schools and opportunity are key to what the attraction is to our community. The spring issue of Lake Wylie Today promotes the area and highlights a variety of things that make our area so attractive.
This issue features a variety of stories that give you a taste of why the area is so popular to many. The Shoreline feature talks about boat clubs and how you can enjoy boating on the lake without owning a boat. The section will also list where to rent a boat or get a fishing license for those who are interested in enjoying a nice spring day on the lake.
Food for Thought features a local restaurant that offers farm-to-table selections. With the growth in the area and the people wanting to dine locally, it is always a good thing to highlight area options in this section both at Lake Wylie and in our neighboring community of Clover. An updated Lake Wylie Dining Guide is included. Also included is a short feature about tequila with a few recipes written by guest writer Matthew Mugavero and a healthy salad option at a local restaurant.
The Garden Party feature stayed with the healthy theme of this issue and highlights Five Blossom Farm. The recent popularity in rural events, venue and places to gather led us to Five Blossom in rural Clover where we learned that not only flowers are grown there and events are held and photos are taken, but they also produce an assortment of local honey. Five Blossom was born during the pandemic and is evolving into a muti-faceted business that provides a gathering location, flowers, floral arranging classes, local honey, events and a mobile hat flower market that can be seen in area events, farmers markets and occasions in the area.
The spring issue promotes healthy living and features some local guest writers who contribute articles on wellness subjects. One of the subjects is Vale, the new wellness-driven community combining apartments, shops and offices that focus on a healthy lifestyle. Another writer tells of the benefits of kindness and how it can contribute to less stress and better health. There is also an article on the benefits of the ritual of tea time and how it can contribute to lower stress.
The Faces feature highlights a person or persons in the community that usually has an interesting hobby, makes a difference in the community or to others or shines a light on a
topic. This issue tells a story about the individ-
topic. This issue tells a story about the individuals in a local band, The Classics. These musicians have a love for music, which is the thread that has kept this group active for decades.
The development update gives the review and status of real estate sales and trends at Lake Wylie. As usual, there is a strong demand to buy homes and prices continue to rise. Details are always interesting whether you plan to buy or sell or just want to know what is going on in the area.
Mailbag highlights the activities, honors and interesting tidbits from civic groups and the general community.
And of course, the Chamber Spotlight will feature photos of the chamber’s recent events and the activities of the chamber. While the chamber means business and has a whole lot going on behind the scenes that does not make for good photo opps, it also offers a lot of premier networking opportunities for its members, promotions, events and activities that do afford the opportunity for some great photos. Dana Sipper of Sipper Photography did a fabulous job of capturing the annual holiday gala.
It is with pride and pleasure that we present the 2025 spring issue of the award-winning Lake Wylie Today magazine entering its 16th year of promoting Lake Wylie, its businesses and stories and the surrounding area. Enjoy!
Cover photo by Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography Table of contents photo by Jan Todd
Drew Choate
305 Cape August Place | Belmont
5452 Baker Lane | Lake Wylie
4555 River Oaks Road | Lake Wylie
1452 Museum Road | Rock Hill
2139 Peninsula | Lake Wylie
10016 Bora Bora Drive | Tega Cay
4116 Spring Cove Way | Belmont
Wylie
Wylie
News from America’s Boating Club of the Catawba Children’s holiday party
Free boat safety checks
Boat captains can bring their boat for a free vessel safety check conducted by certified Vessel Safety Examiners on April 12 and May 24 at Pier 88 in the River Hills Marina. Have your current boat's registration and registration decals affixed. The safety checks take about 15 minutes.
For more information about America’s Boating Club of the Catawba (aka US Power Squadron), please contact Mary Williams at maryswilliams58@yahoo.com or call 562-477-0932.
America’s Boating Club of the Catawba held their Annual Change of Watch Awards Banquet on Feb. 7 at the Fish Market in Fort Mill. Several members were honored with awards and the new 2025 Bridge Officers were sworn in by the District Commander.
America’s Boating Club of the Catawba (aka US Power Squadron) hosted its first Children’s Holiday Party at Camp Thunderbird on Dec. 7.
The squadron served hot holiday lunches with all the fixings to underserved children and families in our community. Santa and Mrs. Claus handed out gifts. Every child turned in a gift wish list. Thanks to the generosity of Family Promise, every child went home with a bicycle or a scooter, and a couple of children received a battery-powered jeep. A bicycle helmet was provided to each child by Crissy at Echo Boutique.
Above, new 2025 Bridge Officers are sworn in by District Commander Bo Ibach. Below and bottom right, Squadron elves and Santa greet the families and help distribute gifts to the children.
York County District 2 leaders at economic forum
The Lake Wylie and Greater Clover Chambers of Commerce, along with other chambers in the area, were co-sponsors of the Catawba Regional Council of Governments annual forum held in January. Community leaders and legislators from all over the region came together to hear the annual economic development update for our region.
Serving the Clover School District area, CAAC provides essential support for those in need. Our services include a FullChoice Food Pantry, financial assistance, financial literacy classes, and connections to local social service agencies. Together, we’re building a stronger, more supportive community.
1130 Hwy 55 E, Clover, SC 29710
Hours Monday & Wednesday- 9-4 Thursday- 9-3 Services are by appointment only or find out how to get help, call or visit:
Clover School District board members (from left) Matt Burris and Kenda Cook; Mary Sieck of Lake Wylie Rotary; Sheila Quinn, CSD Superintendent; Clover Mayor Bo Legg; Susan Bromfield, president of Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce; Andy Litten, District 2 York County Councilman; Greg Holmes, of the Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce; and CSD board member Jessica Cody. (Photo/Provided)
Lake Wylie Rotary Club happenings
It has been a busy year for the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie. During Halloween we participated in the Clover Student Council Trunk or Treat and the Field Day Park Trick or Treat events. The ghouls and goblins of Lake Wylie enjoyed hundreds of pieces of candy handed out.
Partnering with the Clover School District and Clover Area Assistance Center, the club helped provide Thanksgiving meals to about 50 families this past year. Food drives we hosted for CAAC provided hundreds of pounds of needed food staples for the community.
This year’s grant project involved the purchase of approximately $5,000 worth of musical instruments for the children at Crowders Creek Elementary school. The Rotary club was invited to enjoy the sight and sounds of the new instruments at a concert Dec. 17.
We celebrated the holidays with a beautiful meal at Zo.ra’s. The evening was highlighted with music by Dr. Carla Ketchum on the harp, accompanied by her son, Matthew, on vocals. A trivia contest was played with a theme of Lake Wylie Rotary Club history and little-known facts about our members.
As spring rolls around, the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie is gearing up for the third annual Paddle for the Cure – the Race to Beat Alzheimer’s on April 12 at Camp Thunderbird. New for this year is a 10K race for more advanced paddlers. Three adult 5K races for sit-in, sit-on and paddleboards and a youth 2K race will be featured. While the paddlers race, our huge silent auction will be held along with food, music and vendor booths.
Past sponsors include: Gold - Kaia & Cayden; Silver - AK Media, Papa Doc’s Shore Club, and Express Sunrooms; and Bronze - Mary Sieck of Rinehart Realty, United Bank, Freedom Boat Club, TLC Your Way Home Care, Buckeye Fire Equipment, Express Sunrooms of York County and Sandy and Paul Moran in memory of Ann Garavente. We couldn’t have made donations totaling over $43,000 to Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust without our sponsors, vendors, silent auction contributors and our supportive community.
If you’d like to participate this year as a paddler, please visit our website at www.paddleforthecurelw.com and register. To learn more about the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie, SC please visit lakewylierotary.org
Annual casino night fundraiser April 5 in Tega Cay
Acasino night fundraiser to create scholarships for deserving Clover High School seniors will be held April 5 at the Glennon Center in Tega Cay.
Games, music, silent/live auctions with a cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres are included in the $100 ticket price. Make checks made payable to Fay Bergman Charitable Corp. and mail to Kris Frazier, P.O. Box 5275, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. For more information or to purchase tickets email Clemson32@aol.com.
The Rotary Club of Lake Wylie provided musical instruments for students at Crowder Creek Elementary School (above) and received thank you cards from students (below). Club members handed out candy for trick or treaters at Field Day Park for Halloween (below left). (Photos/Lake Wylie Rotary Club)
Donate to Lake Wylie Fireworks fund
We all enjoy the fireworks each year. Since Lake Wylie Community Fireworks Display is funded solely through donations, your support is really needed for the event to continue.
In order to ensure the 2025 Lake Wylie Fireworks show scheduled for Friday, July 4, can go on, please send your contribution in any amount now to: Camp Thunderbird Fireworks Fund, 1 Thunderbird Lane, Lake Wylie, SC, 29710; or use Venmo and send to @Camp Thunderbird Fireworks.
Thanks to all who have supported the fireworks show in the past and for your support in 2025.
River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club holds annual pancake breakfast
The River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club hosted their annual pancake breakfast with Santa on Dec. 14 at Camp Thunderbird.
A breakfast of pancakes and sausage was served along with plenty of activities for the kids, including free eye vision tests, games, a balloon maker and cookie decorating. Bethel Fire & Rescue Department was also on site handing out information.
Gloria Blusius and her grandson, Hudson Sipper, sit and take a photo with Santa. (Photo| Dana Sipper/Sipper Photography)
Lake Wylie Assisted Living Valentine’s Day dance
Lake Wylie Assisted Living residents celebrated Valentine’s Day with a dance. Bobby Curtis was crowned King and Carolyn Knox was crowned Queen.
Students from Clover School District who visit and volunteer weekly joined in
the celebration. Residents, staff, volunteers and guests celebrated and enjoyed the music, dancing and hospitality.
Lake Wylie Assisted Living has been part of the Lake Wylie Community for more than 25 years, serving seniors and neighbors needing assistance with daily living.
The staff, volunteers and residents of Lake Wylie Assisted Living celebrated Valentine’s Day with a dance and refreshments.
The group enjoys music from the 1960s.
• New Patients Welcome
• Complete General and Cosmetic Dentistry
• Emergency Patient Same Day Pain Relief
• Invisalign
• Restorative/Preventative
• Periodontics
• We Treat Children
• Implants
• Whitening
Bobby Curtis and Carolyn Knox were crowned King and Queen at the Valentine’s Day dance.
Punch and hors d’oeuvres were served as part of the Valentine’s Day celebration.
Dr. Chad Vanourny Dr. Britany Baker
Lake Wylie Pizza and Italian opens new restaurant in York
Lake Wylie Pizza and Italian restaurant opened a new location in York, at 1075 Filbert Highway.
The new restaurant, in the Food Lion shopping center, opened Feb. 10 with a full menu of pizzas, pasta favorites, salads and sandwiches similar to the menu at the original location.
Scouts Troop 333 collects for local food bank
Scouts BSA Troop 333 handed out flyers during February for a food collection in the River Hills Community in Lake Wylie. The collection totaled 383 pounds of food that was delivered to our local food bank at the Clover Area Assistance Center.
Candace Gibson, Mary Lewis, “Yem,” Susan Bromfield and Matt Wilson at the preview party at the new Lake Wylie Pizza and Italian in York.
Newcomers Guide available now LakeWylie
The 2025 Lake Wylie Newcomers Guide is available now at local businesses and other locations in York County.
The free guide, published in partnership with SC Biz News, features in-depth looks at all the communities that border Lake Wylie and information on local real estate, health care, education, public utilities, recreation and more.
Copies of the guide are available at local banks, real estate offices, the S.C. Welcome Center on Interstate 77, the Clover Chamber of Commerce, Visit York – The York County Convention and Visitors Bureau and at the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce office at 264 Latitude Lane.
A digital version is available on the Lake Wylie Chamber website, www.lakewyliechambersc.com.
If you or someone you know is considering the Lake Wylie area as their new home, the guide is an invaluable resource to help make that decision.
The 2025 edition of the Lake Wylile Newcomers Guide is available for free at area businesses and many other locations.
Boat Clubs, Rentals and Captains
You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy the lake!
Having fun on the lake could not be easier for non-boat owners. Lake Wylie boasts multiple options for boat clubs, rentals and even charter captains, giving residents and visitors the luxury to pick their boating pleasure without the commitment and expense of owning a private watercraft.
Freedom Boat Club
Housed in the beautifully renovated Joyner’s Marina across the Buster Boyd Bridge, Freedom Boat Club offers the feeling of owning your own boat, without the expense and hassle of actually owning a boat.
“Freedom Boat Club is not a boat timeshare or rental program,” explains Jeff Weir, Owner of Freedom Boat Club explains. “Our Lake Wylie location has a fleet of boats, purchased,
by the club, specifically chosen for this location. The club maintains, cleans, stores and insures these boats so all of our members have to do is enjoy the boats!”
As Jeff mentions, Freedom Boat Club is a club, where members pay a monthly fee to have unlimited access to the fleet of club owned boats, not just in Lake Wylie, but also in over 400 locations around the world. Feel like boating up in Lake Norman, no problem. Florida? Sure! Cap d’Agde, France? Mai oui!
specifically the flexibility to move inventory
bers have the ultimate
the flexibility to move inventory around or even add vessels as needed to ensure our members have the ultimate boating experience.”
“Our club typically operates at a 9:1 member to boat ratio during the spring/summer season,” says Weir. “More importantly, however, with our multiple locations, we have
On the Belmont side of Lake Wylie in Morningstar McLean Marina, Carefree Boat Club offers a similar no hassle boat club experience. Owners Marc and Oana Graveline fell in love with the boating lifestyle, but not boat ownership. After researching boat clubs, they liked the idea so much that they started Carefree Boat Club in the Lake Wylie area.
Membership based, Carefree has three membership levels to fit its members’ boating lifestyle. Members can choose for a weekday, weekday plus, or premier membership levels customized to their boating preferences.
The staff at Carefree Boat Club enjoys an afternoon off the lake for team building and camaraderie. Photo credit: Carefree Boat Club
“I would say that 75% of our members are previous boat owners,” membership mirector Ryan Blythe states. “When you own a boat; you own one boat. However, with our boat club, our members have the flexibility to choose the boat the best fits how they want to experience the lake that day. We’re a concierge for boating.”
As with most boat memberships, Carefree Boat Club will train you to use their boats, but Carefree takes it one step further by offering lessons in active watersports. Skiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, and even sailing lessons are included in the membership dues.
“We provide a private instructor who will go on the boat with our members who want to learn whichever water sport,” Blythe explains. “The instructor is training the person performing the water sport, but more importantly, he or she is training the watercraft driver on how to drive the boat to support a skier or wakeboarder.”
Carefree Boat Club maintains a 10:1 member per boat ratio and has about 150 reciprocal locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Additional locations can be found in the Caribbean, Panama and the Philippines.
Located in the Lake Wylie Marina in conjunction with MarineMax Lake Wylie, Destination Boat Clubs of the Carolinas is a boat club with a more local feel.
Currently the club offers reciprocity with locations in seven different states, mostly in the Southeast, however it is growing rapidly as the demand for boating clubs rises. Many of the marinas in which the club is located offer upscale amenities such as pools, restaurants and fitness centers, all available to the club’s members whether a boat is reserved for the day or not.
Following similar boat club formats, Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas has two membership levels for members who prefer weekday or unlimited boating options. They offer a reservation system, but also honor last-minute requests.
Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas is honored to provide special pricing to first re-
Dog-friendly boats are available at the Carefree Boat Club in Lake Wylie. Photo credit: Carefree Boat Club
Ski equipment and professional lessons accompany the boats at Carefree Boat Club.
Photo credit: Carefree Boat Club
Sports fanatics and avid fishermen. There’s a boat for everyone at carefree boat club. Photo credit: Carefree Boat Club
Boats are not the only watercraft members enjoy with Destination Boat Club. Photo credit: Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas
April - Labor Day
Pier 88
River Hills Marina Gas Dock
803-831-0088
www.pier88yachtclub.com
Tega Cay Marina
803-548-3715
www.tegacaymarina.com
CareFree Boat Club
704-557-0848
www.carefreeboats.com
Lake Wylie Boat Rental
704-516-2674 www.lakewylieboatrental.com
HOW TO CHECK LAKE LEVELS www.duke-energy.com
NEED A TOW?
Sea Tow www.seatow.com
704-895-8699
Tow Boat U.S.-Lake Wylie www.towboatLKW.com 803-681-0911
sponders and members of the military, inarguably those who need some lake recreation the most.
Further, Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas has an accessibility commitment stating on its website that it “is proud to offer people with disabilities the ability to enjoy all the pleasures and excitement of boating without the problems usually associated with boating.”
Membership has its perks and with Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas that holds true. The club offers its members free; first come, first served tickets to some of the hottest sporting events in town including the Knights, Checkers, and Panthers. Even more, the club has a beach house in the Outer Banks and a tiny home on Lake James available exclusively for its members to rent.
Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas— MarineMax Lake Wylie Marina, 239-745-0110
Wylie Pelican Houseboat — Captain Peter Pecorella
Captain Peter Pecorella’s Wylie Pelican offers a one-of-a-kind experience by combining scenic boat cruises, versatile venue space and over night stays on Lake Wylie. A resident of Joyner’s Marina, Wylie Pelican is a completely renovated houseboat able to host everything from weddings, reunions, anniversaries, corporate events and more. If a day trip isn’t enough,
KEEPING LAKE WYLIE CONNECTED.
At Comporium, we take great pride in supplying our neighbors in Lake Wylie with the technology they need to make life easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s Gig Internet, Stream TV or Comporium Security, you don’t have to look far to find the cutting-edge technologies you want in your home or business.
A member enjoys a boat fully equipped with wakeboard toys. Photo Credit: Freedom Boat Club
Destination Boat Club offers deck boats to suit a crowd. Photo credit: Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas
A member enjoys a day boarding on the lake. Photo credit: Destination Boat Club of the Carolinas
it is also an Airbnb with Captain Peter listed as a super host.
“After a long career in the medical field, I decided to pursue what I loved,” Captain Peter professed. “I earned my US Coast Guard Captain’s license, became an ordained minister, and bought a fixer upper houseboat to make into a beauty that I could share with others.”
A fixer upper no more, Captain Peter, true to his dream, completely rehabbed his houseboat and installed state of the art, highend finishes including a chef-inspired kitchen, 55-inch smart TV and elegant furnishing inside and outside on the deck and lounge areas.
“Already I have so many great memories being a part of other’s celebrations,” Captain Peter gushes. “I was able to host a 40th high school reunion for a group consisting of multiple high schools in Mississippi. It was special to me to see people who have known each other for many years come together here.
More so, I hosted my parents’ 62nd wedding anniversary on the Wylie Pelican. We had relatives come in from all over the country and had a grand affair to celebrate them.”
A fishing license is required for anyone age 16 or older when fishing in any public water, including coastal waters, in both Carolinas. Purchase NC licenses by calling 888-2486834 or at www.ncwildlife.org. SC licenses are available at www.dnr.sc.gov or by calling 803-734-3833. A 7 day license can be purchased for out of state visitors. Must have a valid state ID.
Pendleton’s Sporting Goods 5930 Charlotte Highway Clover, SC 29710 (Highway 49 near “Five Points”) 803-631-5410
River Stop Food Mart
3900 Mt. Gallant Road Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-329-0002
Wal-Mart - Lake Wylie 175 SC-274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-2115
Wal-Mart - Newport 4875 Old York Rd Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-323-2080
Wal-Mart-Tega Cay 1151 Stonecrest Blvd Tega Cay, SC 29708 803-578-4140
Grab N Go 13920 S Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28278 704-587-0045
Revelers on the upper deck of a slide potion from Freedom Boat Club. Photo Credit: Freedom Boat Club
Captain Peter pours champagne for his guests on the Wylie Pelican. Photo credit: Wylie Pelican
The inside of the Wylie Pelican has been totally remodeled with the latest features for ultimate comfort. Photo credit: Wylie Pelican
Members have fun on the lake with one of Freedom Boat Clubs ski boats. Photo Credit: Freedom Boat Club
A couple gets married on the Wylie Pelican. Photo credit: Wylie Pelican
Sun chairs line the upper deck of the Wylie Pelican for sunbathing. Photo credit: Wylie Pelican
A vegetable forward field to plate community experience Clover Harvest Restaurant
By: Wendy Dimitri
Just off Main Street, on Old Main Street, in fact, is a stand alone building housing one of Clover and South Carolina’s best specialty restaurant gems. You will not walk past it while strolling main street, nor will you stumble upon it while going about your other daily business, but you will seek it out, because it is amazing.
When entering Clover Harvest, the warmth of the kitchen greets you like you have come home from a long trip. The quaintness of the dining room feels like you have just wrapped yourself in your coziest blanket. The patio is a breath of fresh air, literally, and the beautifully laid brick pathway to the fire pit area seems to say “come on down, sit, stay for a while.”
Clover Harvest is the creative brain child of husband and wife team John Paoloca and Alison Kim, who agreed that a community focused establishment with a pledge to work with local farms and producers would be the priority when establishing their concept.
“When John and I were hatching the idea for Clover Harvest,” Alison begins. “we knew we wanted to support our community; inhouse at our restaurant, our guests, and the farms surrounding us. It is a uncompromisable value to us to ensure that Clover Harvest creates community within the walls of the establishment, meaning our team and guests, as well as nurture the greater local communities of Clover and York.”
Alison is articulate when she explains Clover Harvest’s mission to build and honor farmto-table partnerships, dishes crafted with love and served in a place where everyone feels like family.
When researching food providers, Alison was exceptionally particular. Having learned the importance of organic, pesticide free farming, she knew that would be one of the main criteria Clover Harvest would require when choosing its partner providers.
“Pesticide free products were extremely important to us, yes,” Alison continues. “However, we were also searching for providers who shared our mission and values of building community.”
Veggies First
“I had an incredible awakening on what healthy food and portion sizes meant after working with my father’s doctors and his dietician after he had a stroke,” Alison explains.
“One of my favorite take aways from the dietician was that vegetables were ‘free food’, meaning that vegetables do not cost the body
any points as far as fat content or calories. She would tell us to ‘fill him [Alison’s father] with veggies because they are free food.”
With this in mind, Alison and John began building a “vegetable first” menu; a menu that highlights the vegetables while offering proper portion sizes of proteins and other accompaniments.
Beautiful mural on the side of Clover Harvest Restaurant in Clover. Photo credit: Clover Harvest
Food for Thought
Farms and artisans supplying the flavor to Clover Harvest
Fields of Revery
Lake Wylie, SC Microgreens
Thomas Family Farms Clover, SC Cheese
Windy Hill Orchard and Cidery York, SC
Artisanal ciders and apple products
Moses Farmstead Clover, SC
Organic and pesticide-free produce and eggs
Smith Farm & Table Clover, SC
Eggs and sourdough bread
Bush-n-Vine York, SC
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Indigo Iris Farm Clover, SC
Fresh cut flowers and events
Carolina Chocolate Company Clover, SC
Chocolates and confections
Saltwater Markets Clover, SC
Fresh responsibly sourced shrimp
“Of course we still have our community favorites like chicken and waffles,” Alison smiles. “But we also offer amazing salads and freshly made vegetables as side options for our entrees. Whatever our guests choose, the vegetable is always going to be on the plate in a bold and prominent way.”
What’s on the Menu
“Probably our most popular dish is the salmon.” Alison says. “Currently, we’re serving it with a soy maple glaze with cajun candied almonds. It’s accompanied by whatever fresh vegetables are available and a potato mash.”
Other favorites one will find are the southern classics such as shrimp and grits, the shrimp being supplied by Saltwater Markets in Clover; roast chicken; and an out-of-this-world Maine Lobster Roll—all starring vegetables.
“Our menu rotates quarterly,” Alison explains. “We take into account seasonal options, but we also have the flexibility to run specials according to what our producers and suppliers might have on hand. For example, when Bush-nVine has their spinach and winter strawberries, we will have a spinach and strawberry salad on special.”
Clover Harvest is dabbling into the specialty nights as well. After a successful Italian dinner in February with several courses expertly paired with Italian wines, Clover Harvest is traveling onto Asia for a similar experience highlighting Asian flavors. They will return from Asia in time to welcome the Easter Bun-
collaborative kitchen,” says Alison. “We do our best to allow each other’s talents and experiences shine through when testing different menu ideas.”
To find the perfect dish, Alison becomes the establishment’s head research specialist. Taking into account personal experiences plus several mentors in her own life, Alison embarks on a research and development journey for the next great menu addition.
“First and foremost, I’m looking for something that I think sounds delicious,” Alison begins. “Second, I ensure these concepts have vegetables either front and forward or melded within the dish. Finally, I want the dish to be able to be easily modified for those who may have dietary restrictions.”
The kitchen team is not a secret, just shy, however Alison is very proud to gush about the students who come from the Clover High School culinary arts program within the Applied Technology Center.
“We love partnering with the Clover School District,” Alison exclaims. “Several of our kitchen members came from the culinary arts program there. We also have several students for other Clover High School programs help us prep in the mornings. Further, we’re honored to back to the teachers and school staff by hosting Terrific Tuesdays, a friendly happy hour, here.”
ny in April.
When to Go
Who’s Cooking
Now! Clover Harvest is located at 1007 Old N Main St in Clover. Visit mycloverharvest.com for hours, directions and a sneak peak at the menu.
Clover Harvest burger showcasing a heaping portion of vegetables. Photo credit: Clover Harvest
Saturday, April 19 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Brunch with the Easter Bunny (10a-4p)
Sunday, April 20
11:00 am-5:00 pm Easter Brunch
Reservations required
Thursday, May 1 All day
Special Olympics Fundraiser
Saturday, May 3 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
Mother's Day Tea
Tickets required
Clover Harvest is proud of their salads using fresh greens and other vegetables from local farms.
Photo credit: Clover Harvest
Healthy Dining in Lake Wylie
Looking for healthy fare here in Lake Wylie? No problem! Zo.ra Food & Wine o ers several delicious salads on their menu for lunch and dinner. These are well-crafted, chef-inspired salads with a variety of flavor profiles and options to add your choice of protein and/or a cup of house-made soup. Zo.ra Food & Wine is located at 1201 Village Harbor Drive in Lake Wylie - one door down from Starbucks.
The Sandia Margarita
If you are bored of the same old “classic” margarita and you are looking for something spectacular, try the Sandia Margarita recipe from Don Julio. It’s sweet with a touch of spice and easy to make. Cheers!
1.5oz Don Julio Blanco
1.0oz Fresh Lime Juice
.5oz Agave Nector
1.5oz Watermelon Juice
Garnish – Chili Powder & Watermelon Slice
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake passionately for 3-4 seconds. Strain the liquid over some fresh ice in a rocks glass. Sprinkle some chili powder on the watermelon slice and garnish.
The Anejo Old Fashioned
The whiskey scene is all the rage and has been now for half a decade or so. A standard drink in the whiskey world is the Old Fashioned. However, summer is right around the corner, and it can get a little warm here in the south.
One of the most popular dishes: salmon with grilled fresh and in-season vegetables. Photo credit: Clover Harvest
And when it’s warm, your palate is looking for something more refreshing. So, why not try a tequila based Old Fashioned?
1.5oz Don Julio Anejo
.25oz Agave Syrup
2 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters
Grapefruit Twist
Combine all the ingredients in a rocks glass, add one large ice cube and stir for 10 seconds. Express the oils of the grapefruit twist over the top of the cocktail and then place the twist on top.
The Cilantro Paloma
If you are looking to take the classic paloma to new heights, then there is no better way than trying the Cilantro Paloma from Don Julio.
1.5oz Don Julio Reposado
1.5oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
.5oz Fresh Lime Juice
.25oz Simple Syrup
10 Cilantro Leaves
Sea Salt
Mix the Don Julio Reposado, fresh grape-
fruit juice, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and cilantro leaves in a shaker with ice. Shake the ingredients for a few seconds. Rim a chilled glass with sea salt. Pour the contents over crushed ice and garnish with cilantro.
The business of Tequila is booming
Just like the whiskey boom that we are in now, and the craft beer craze that came before, tequila is set to take off as the next “thing”. National brands like Don Julio, Patron and Jose Cuervo are all showing signs of big growth. Many other smaller brands like G4, Fortaleza and Ocho are starting to make headlines of their own. Even movie stars and influencers like Matthew McConaughey, The Rock and Kendal Jenner are all getting in on the action with their own brands of tequila. Here is what you need to know. Tequlia ranges in price from as low at $5.99 all
the way to $4599 and even higher. Some brands even package their tequila in hand make ceramic bottles laden in 24 caret gold leaf. Other brands might include a tasty alcohol-soaked worm at the bottom of the bottle. If you are not interested in tasting worm protein or paying for a fancy bottle, then you should (at the least) be looking for brands that prominently display the ingredients as 100% Blue Agave on the label. By Mexican law, for tequila to be considered pure tequila, it must have no other additives, sugars or colorations mixed into the product. The brands that do not have the 100% designation are considered “Mixto” tequila. These bottles will contain a minimum of 51% agave sugars and the rest of the ingredients can be made with cane sugar or fructose syrup. In other words, it’s not real tequila. The next time you are in a liquor store, be sure to ask the staff to point out the brands that are certified as using 100% Blue Agave as their ingredient.
Arby’s
LAKE WYLIE DINING GUIDE
511 Nautical Drive
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5555
Azteca Grill
604 Nautical Drive
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-8930
Bagel Boat
4090 Charlotte Hwy
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5995
Best China
5243 Hwy 557
Domino’s Pizza
125 E Evergreen Rd
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-7075
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5540
Big Papa’s Pizzeria
5800 Charlotte Highway
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4111
Bojangles
4927 Charlotte Hwy
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9346
Dunkin Donuts
335 Vesla Lane
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 675-6044
Famous Toastery of Lake Wylie
5217 Highway 557
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)675-6000
Jersey Mike’s
604 Nautical Drive, Suite 101
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0912
Cherry – Asian Cuisine
4034 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9594
Christopher’s Bar and Grille
1500 Village Harbor Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2461
McDonalds
5262 Highway 557
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0577
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Kochi Japanese Steakhouse
5360 Highway 557
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 610-0146
Lake Wylie Pins N’ Wins
4034 Charlotte Hwy
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2553
312 Bulkhead Way #105
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 398-1663
Panda Hut
144 Highway 274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 631-1988
Papa Doc’s Shore Club 3990 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-0043
Papa John’s
221 Latitude Lane Suite 101
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0101
Pier 88 at River Hills Marina
54 Marina Rd
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0088
Starbucks 1201 Village Harbor Drive, #101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (704) 591-5361
Subway 5245 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0143
Sweetwater Grille 4582 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-1788
Taco Bell at Lake Wylie 311 Vesla Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7068
ai Fusion
125 Evergreen Road Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 746-5047
e Caddyshack 4052 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7295
Wa e House 5013 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0315
Pizza Hut
Copper Premium Pub
4516 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7021
Lake Wylie Italian and Pizza
4074 Charlotte Hwy
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0855
Lee’s Hoagie House
312 Bulkhead Way
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4046
Lily’s Bistro
4547 Charlotte Highway
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7788
5241 Hwy 557
Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-1188
Rey Azteca Mexican 4052 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9277
River Hills Country Club 1 Country Club Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2126
Wendy’s 5188 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710-8099 (803) 831-2687
Zaxby’s 143 SC-274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2634
Zo.ra Food and Wine 1201 Village Harbor Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4047
lossoms and Bees
Five Blossoms Farm has the blooms and the buzz
By: Wendy Dimitri
When you think of a flower farm, you think of flowers. Beautiful flowers of all shapes and hues dancing in a field with their distant colorful blooms presenting like a pointillism masterpiece. The majesty of the field of flowers resulting in beautiful bouquets for brides, centerpieces for special occasions, and yes, even arrangements for one’s personal living space.
At Five Blossoms Farm, a 15-acre boutique flower and beekeeping farm located in Clover, the flowers will draw you in, but it is the dreamy fairy tale setting that will keep you there and have you coming back over and over.
Husband and wife team John and Angelica Tupper started Five Blossoms Farm in the spring of 2021, with only the desire to grow beautiful flowers and nurture John’s bee keeping hobby. What the farm has blossomed into, so to speak, is beyond their wildest dreams.
“When we moved to the farm, it didn’t even occur to us to name it,” John quipped. “It was my dad who told us that now that we had
a farm, we had to name it. And we said, ‘O.K! I guess we’ll think of a name.”
True to the saying, “if you build it they will come”, the community took notice of this new and beautiful space and asked for more: more flowers, more events, more public space. And, to the benefit of all who visit, John and Angelica listened. As a result, the farm has gone from boutique pick-your-owns to a full service destination venue for the whole community.
“We would be approached with an ask or an idea and we just never said ‘no’,” Angelica added. “Photographers, chefs, community partner businesses, folks looking for a small wedding or special occasion venue; we always welcomed them here. In fact many of our regularly scheduled event themes and workshops came from someone asking us if we could make it happen.”
Pick your owns, sip and strolls, private chef dinners, photography sessions, musical guests, flower arranging workshops; the event schedule on Five Blossoms Farm’s website is extensive and sure to please foodies, nature
lovers and flower enthusiasts alike.
continued to keep their
From that day forward, John and Angelica continued to keep their ears pointed towards the community. That attention has built one of the most beautiful nature and event spaces in Clover.
attention has built one na-
The Blooms
Five Blossoms Farm has all the flowers one imagines it would. Larkspur, bachelor buttons, dianthus, zinnias and over 300 peony varieties take over the farm beginning in early spring and blooming until frost. However, what sets this farm apart are the tulips.
Garden Party
“Our first full season, after moving to the farm, we planted 5000 tulips,” Angelica explains. “Each year we doubled that amount. As a result, this year, with the help of community volunteers, we planted 50,000 tulip bulbs of about 25-30 different varieties.”
Five Blossoms Farm proudly stands as one of the largest tulip gardens in the Charlotte metro and surrounding areas. All the planting was manual labor with the tulips set in organic soil and arranged in a uniquely stunning rainbow-shaped design.
“A carpet of color is what you’ll see,” John says smiling.
While the farm’s tulips have bloomed into the hearts of the community, John and Angelica were knocked off their feet when, out of nowhere, a tulip scout from the Netherlands showed unannounced.
“It’s completely amazing to be on the international radar for our tulips,” Angelica commented. “We could have never anticipated it.”
For spring 2025, Five Blossoms Farm planted 50,000 tulips.
Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
Little garden boots on the the tulip path.
Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
Tulip varieties available at Five Blossoms Farms in the spring. Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
A field of tulips at Five Blossoms Farms. Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
The Buzz
A childhood love of bees began what has nearly become a full-time business in itself. John began bee keeping in his backyard in Lake Wylie with just a few hives flying under the radar of the neighborhood HOA.
“I started bee keeping in 2013,” John explains.
“As a child I had a deep fascination and appreciation for bees and how they socialize, run their communities and how essential they are to our environment.”
Five Blossoms Farm now hosts 22 hives on the farm, which at the height of the summer, when the hive population is at its max, equates to over a million bees.
“The way bees are self sustaining, by heating, cooling and feeding the hive through summer and winter is remarkable,” John gushes. “They are environmentalists, inventors, and naturalists a couple million years before we even started walking the planet.”
With such a bee population, one can only imagine the rich honey that flows through the farm. This delicious liquid gold is not only sale at the farm, but is also supplied to other community partners as product ingredients.
A pour of YOCO Buzz, a Belgian-style beer using honey from Five Blossoms Farm’s bee hives. Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
- Fresh, all-natural pet food made every 30-45 days.
- We have a full line of all-natural treats, chews and supplements
- One-on-one pet nutrition consultation to address your specific pet’s needs
- We offer delivery to work or home!
- Locally owned and operated
Join our Weekly Text Club to hear about weekly specials, new products and events in a text!
4110-103 Charlotte Highway – Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-610-1228 | www.petwants.com/lakewylie
We warmly invite you to join our church community. Our friendly and caring congregation is dedicated to the teachings of Christ and to serving others with kindness and compassion.
Currently meeting for services on Saturday at 4 pm at Redeeming Grace PCA Church at 4800 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie SC 29710. Visit our website and our Facebook page to learn more about us! www.stjamesLW.com | 661.303.8101 | frjohnplus@yahoo.com
“Slow Play Brewery uses our honey for their YOCO Buzz German wheat beer,” John mentioned. “Not only does it taste great, it tastes extremely great. And for us, tastes even better knowing that it’s our honey that’s in the beer. It’s all very flattering to have it come full circle to us in that way.
If anyone ever told me before we moved here that I would taste my own product in a sip of beer, I’d never have believed it.”
“We are so proud of what our farm has become in such a short time,” Angelica says whole heartedly. “We love this community and we’re proud to have such a beautiful place to share.”
To schedule a visit to this local gem, experience its ever evolving events, purchase honey, take pictures, immerse yourself in nature and yes, maybe even pick some flowers, visit their webpage at fiveblossomsfarm.com.
Bees gathering pollen and nectar from the flowers at Five Blossoms Farm. Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
The Tuppers, Angelica and John, with a bouquet of their prized tulips. Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
Variety baskets of tulips and honey as well as dried flowers and candles can be purchased at Five Blossoms Farm.
Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
The tulip fields at Five Blossom Farms are positioned in a unique arc design.
Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
A huge arrangement of cut flowers available at Five Blossoms Farms.
Photo credit: Five Blossoms Farms
e Classics Band at e River Hills Country Club featuring Sid Wood, the bass guitarist (Back Le ), Jim Pettus, lead guitarist (Back Right), Jerry Robinson, vocals (Front Le ), Tom Robinson, vocals, trumpet and guitar player (Center), and Dan Lenard, drummer (Front Right). Not pictured was Jack Murray who plays the sax/ ute. Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
By Dana Sipper
For 35 years, the sounds of The Classics have been enjoyed by many as they dance the night away. The story of The Classics began around 1990, when Jerry Robinson, joined his brother-in-law, Mike Surratt, and a group of friends who wanted to start a band. They needed a singer so Jerry became the lead singer. Little did they know, this casual collaboration of guys would evolve into a decades-long musical journey. The band made its start playing local gigs in Fort Mill, honing their sound and building a local following.
Over the years the band members have changed except for Sid Wood and Jerry Robinson but the core of The Classics has remained strong. Mike Surratt, the original keyboard player, retired several years ago, passing the musical torch to other talented musicians. Jerry's brother, Tom Robinson, joined the band, bringing his multi-instrumental talents on guitar, trumpet, and vocals. Tom now serves as the band’s musical director, lending his expertise and shaping their sound. The current lineup also features the exceptional talents of Jim Pettus on lead guitar, Dan Lenard on drums, and Jack Murray on saxophone and flute, adding layers of richness and versatility to their performances.
Today, The Classics are a six-piece powerhouse. The current band includes the following members.
Jack Murray is the bands woodwind player. He is a versatile musician who is trained in a wide variety musical styles. During his career he has been on several Broadway national tours and has played with some of the biggest artists including Aretha Franklin, Wayne Newton, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Rosemary Clooney, and Kenny Rogers. On the road, he has toured with The Four Tops, The Temptations and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
Tom Robinson, plays guitar and on vocals during the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Sid Wood, bass player for e Classics Band
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Jerry Robinson is the lead vocalist of the Classics. Jerry has played in bands since his high school years. In college he started playing with bands around the South Carolina area, particularly in the Charlotte , Spartanburg, Columbia as well as Myrtle Beach areas. After starting an accounting career and family, he took a break from music until The Classics formed in 1990. Jerry is very active in his church music and volunteers to sing gospel music at local area assisted living centers.
Tom Robinson started playing nightclubs in the eighth grade. He has a degree in accounting and a degree in music from Winthrop. Tom is the music director and arranger for the band. Tom sings, plays trumpet and guitar. He is also involved in his church music program.
Sid Wood is the bass guitar player who also plays tuba. Sid still works a career in sales. Playing in a band has been his whole life passion especially for military bands. Sid remains active in his church music as well.
Dan Lenard is the drummer for e Classics Band.
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Dan Lenard, drummer plays plays at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala 2024.
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Jack Murray, sax/ ute player for e Classics Band
Photo Provided by: Jack Murray
e Classics band plays at e River Hills Country Club for the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Holiday Gala on December 5, 2024.
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Jerry Robinson, e Classics band leader and lead vocalist.
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Danny Lenard is the bands drummer and plays different percussion instruments. Dan spent his career teaching percussion and drum line at Clover High School. He has also played with bands regionally across the Southeast and is a seasoned performer. Recently, he has retired and still remains active in his church music program.
Jim Pettus is the lead guitarist for the band. He started playing in high school bands where his love of music began and has remained throughout his life. He graduated with a degree from Clemson in engineering. Now Jim is recently retired and still enjoys his passion for playing music.
One of the biggest events The Classics play annually is the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Gala event. It’s one of the highlights of the holiday season celebrated by many business professionals in and around the Lake Wylie area. This seasonal tradition named The Classics as the Lake Wylie Chamber Gala's house band which they still refer to them as to this day.
"Wow," Jerry reflects, "35 years! The Lake Wylie Chamber Gala is an event of the season. These days, there's so much going on at Christmas, but the Gala is always an impres-
Jim Pettus, lead guitarist for e Classics Band.
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
sive occasion and The Classics' contribution to it, remains.”
From what was just a simple group of friends wanting to make music the band has become a beloved tradition, a testament to the power of good music and community spirit.
Jerry Robinson now serves as the band leader and booking agent, juggling the responsibilities with his band mates to keep the music alive and the band playing gigs. The Classics can be described as a dance band. Their set list consists of hits, encompassing everything from beach music and Motown to rock and roll and country. "Many of the songs we play," Jerry says, "I've sung my whole life – The Righteous Brothers, The Drifters, The Tams, Four Tops." Jerry's passion for the music is palpable, and he even sports a "red tam" while he performs in honor of his love for The Tams.
The band's focus is to put on a show and get people on the dance floor. They've never ventured into original material, but their expertly curated covers keep the energy high and the dance floor packed. Their dedication to recreating classic hits with skill and enthusiasm has made them a favorite for generations.
Jack Murray playing the sax during the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Jerry Robinson sings at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala. Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Jim Pettus, lead guitarist plays during the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
The Classics are more than just a band; they’re a time machine, transporting audiences back to cherished musical moments while creating new memories. Their longevity is a testament to their musical talent, their dedication to their craft, and their understanding of what makes a great party. They know how to connect with an audience, how to read the
room, and how to keep the good times rolling. While their website is currently under construction, The Classics are available for corporate events, festivals, weddings, and private parties within a 100-mile radius of the Charlotte area. If you're looking for a band that can get your guests dancing and singing along to the soundtrack of their lives, The
Classics are the perfect choice. To book The Classics for your next event, contact Jerry at 704-678-9726 or reach out through the Lake Wylie Chamber. They’re ready to bring their signature blend of musical magic and dance floor energy to your celebration. After 35 years, they’ve proven they know how to make the party last.
Mike Enoch and his wife are dancing the night away with e Classics Band at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Charles and Susan Brom eld (President of the Lake Wylie Chamber) dance to e Classics Band music at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Tom Robinson, plays guitar and sings during the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Sid Wood, bass player performing at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Dr. Robert Latham and his wife Tracy of Rejuvenate Lake Wylie dancing at the 2024 Lake Wylie Chamber Holiday Gala to the sounds of e Classics Band
Photo by: Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography
Teaching careers, not just curriculum Clover High School Applied Technology Center
By: Wendy Dimitri
What was once the best kept secret of Clover High School is secret no longer as more and more students choose to gain real life, workplace skills. Clover’s Applied Technology Center (ATC) focuses on Career Technical Education (CTE) and provides students with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.
“The secret is out,” Carrie Bolin, Principal of the Clover High School Applied Technology Center (ATC) exclaimed. “As our students and the community realize the importance of hands on workplace-based education, the enrollment of our program this year is maxed out!”
The ATC program began in 2001 when then school Superintendent, the late Betty Riddle, saw the need for, and appreciated the importance of, career and technology training in our community. By that spring, the ground breaking had begun and ten years later a second ATC building would join the first.
“I have had the privilege of devoting my entire career to our career and technology education program,” Martha Jean Starnes, Work Based Learning Coordinator says. “Plain and simple, this program changes students’ lives. It gives them a purpose and goal in life.”
Students enroll in areas of study such as fire science, media technology, cyber security and many other educational path offerings. Further, Clover CTE provides students with opportunities to earn dual enrollment credit via York Technical College in several over-lapping programs like automotive technology, early childhood, computer programming, health science.
“We see so many of our students earn their dual credits and certifications and keep climbing that education ladder," Bolin gushes. “Many continue on to becoming RNs or major in biology to become doctors. We have one student right now who is going to work for the number one trauma center on the east coast.
CTE students learn real life skills that o en allow them to compete for apprenticeships directly out of high school. Photo credit: Clover High School
Areas of Study
Accounting
Animal Science
Auto Mechanics
Building Construction
Computer Programming
Culinary Arts
Cybersecurity
Diesel Technology
Early Childhood
Environmental & Nature
Sciences
Fire Science
Health Science
Marketing
Media Technology
Preengineering
Sports Medicine
Utility Line Worker
Welding
One additional perk of this program is not only that students learn hands on skills in areas they love,” Bolin adds. “But they also learn whether or not they would enjoy or do well in a specific career. Our students get to try new interest areas without the financial commitment of post graduate education.”
Further, students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to earn industry certifications in areas such as veterinary medical applications and Autodesk inventor certified user. Health science students can even leave the program as a certified nursing aid and students in the fire science program earn their SCFA Firefighter I & II certifications.
Having these certificates enable graduates to go straight into the workforce if they choose or, at the very least, have impressive additions to their resumes before moving on to their post-graduate choice.
According to Starnes, as the years have progressed, she is experiencing a continuous growth in the number of companies that are hiring Clover High School ATC students straight out of high school. In addition, these companies are paying for their training and education while the students work within an apprenticeship-like arrangement.
“Clover High School and Clover CTE have partnered with several manufacturing companies in Charlotte to place students in their apprenticeship programs,” Starnes explains. “For the students who earn spots in these programs, they embark on a four year journey that ends with guaranteed employment and full benefits upon successful completion. This is the equivalent to receiving a $250,000 scholarship!”
A student receives hands on experience through Clover High School’s Media Technology CTE program. Photo credit: Clover High School
Clover High School students participating in the Health Sciences program leave with their Certi ed Nursing Aid certi cate. Photo credit: Clover High School
Students working on electrical lines as a part of the ATC program with Clover High School. Photo credit: Clover High School
Clover High School Fire Science students competing in the Rapid Dress event earning 2nd place overall. Photo credit: Clover High School
e challenge for teams in the Fashion Design ATC program was to make a dress out of co ee lters. Photo credit: Clover High School
Students graduating from the Fire Science program in the Clover High School ATC program earn their SCFA Fire ghter I & II certi cates. Photo credit: Clover High School
Industry Certifications Earned
Fundamentals of Animal Science
Veterinary Medical Applications
Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Mgmt
OSHA 10
Microburst Employment Skills
CDL Permit
Certified Nursing Aid
Healthcare Providers Basic Life Saving & AED
ServSafe Food Handler
ServSafe Manager
National Incident Management System
Basic Auto Extrication
Hazardous Materials Awareness
Hazardous Materials Operations
SCFA Firefighter I & II
SC 15 HR Health & Safety Preservice
ASE Auto Maintenance & Light Repair
ASE Brakes
S/P2 Automotive Technology
S/P2 Ethics & You in Auto Industry
ASE Medium/Heavy Truck
Autodesk Inventor Certified User
Google Analytics
Precision Exams-Computer Programming II w/JAVA
Students learn culinary skills with Clover High School’s ATC culinary program. Photo credit: Clover High School
The numbers show the success rate of the program. In 2024 alone, the Clover ATC center boasted 886 students who: earned dual [York Tech] enrollment credits; participated in internships and apprenticeships; earned 1,956 industry credentials (92% pass rate); and had 252 CTE completers in its graduating class.
“CTE is simply where the rubber meets the road,” Starnes adds. “We felt that the public perception of CTE separated CTE from traditional academia. The reality is, however, CTE is a unique blend of both worlds. The skills and knowledge our students learn in both the academic and CTE classes are melted together to form pathways to students’ careers.”
As the Clover School District grows, with a new high school on the way, we are excited to see how this program expands. Until then, our community can be proud to have such an advanced educational program available to our young academics.
To learn more about this program, visit https://www.clover.k12.sc.us/o/atc, or find them on Facebook @CloverCTE.
Auto mechanics in the Clover High School ATC program is another valuable life skill program with post high school graduate placement. Photo credit: Clover High School
The health benefits of pet ownership Who Rescued Who
By: Wendy Dimitri
If you are a pet owner you know. You know how it feels when you come home to an excited furry companion jumping for joy as you walk in the door. Maybe your peace comes from your dear kitty purring on your lap as you pet her silky fur after a long day. It could also be that your heart sings along with your feathered friend as he tweets his favorite tune. Guinea pigs, snakes, lizards and turtles; we love our animal companions. The joy we feel is no mistake. The connection
between human and pet and the health benefits associated with that connection has been the focus of many scientific studies dating back decades. As a result of these studies, it is widely believed and accepted by health institutions that there are multiple both physical and mental health benefits associated with owning a pet, including increased heart-healthy activities, lowering blood pressure, and lessening loneliness and depression.
In York County, multiple organizations from the Humane Society to breed specific private rescue organizations do their part to match pets to
humans in the hopes to create a forever bond between the two new companions.
One such organization, Richardson Rescue in York, has been making these matches since 2003 when Janet Richardson starting accepting dogs of all kinds from her front porch. Now a thriving nonprofit, it places approximately 400 dogs in forever homes each year or 8607 matches since its inception.
“What is unique and most important about Richardson Rescue is that we do not give up on the dogs,” Laura Boseman, Office and Shelter Manager
A happy adoptee enjoying the snow in the mountains. Photo credit: Richardson Rescue
A NEW ERA OF WELLNESS LIVING
V
ale Lake Wylie, is more than just a place to live—it’s a lifestyle where wellness is woven into the environment itself. VALE is the first mixed-used, rental-friendly, wellness campus, to not only Lake Wylie, but also on the east coast. This 25-acre campus will also include much desired retail, casual & high-end dining and shopping experiences to the Lake Wylie and surrounding communities.
VALE leverages WELLIFIZE, a patent-pending wellness platform that seamlessly integrates in-home and in-app technologies to promote and incentivize holistic well-being within residential spaces, allowing residents to make wellness a part of their daily life earning exclusive rewards, services and leasing promotions. Enjoy industry leading content coaching and training at your fingertips and front door.
With a range of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, VALE provides luxurious living spaces that cater to diverse lifestyles and prioritize wellness. Residents of all ages, can enjoy a wealth of amenities, from tranquil outdoor spaces to wet and dry saunas, cold plunges, multiple game rooms, resort-style salt-water pool & hot tub, and more-all designed to promote your well-being.
Strategically located near Rock Hill, SC, and Charlotte, NC, VALE offers the perfect blend of peaceful living and urban convenience. Visit us today and start living your best life at VALE Lake Wylie!
Friends of York County Animal Shelter is a nonprofit organization that works directly with the York County Animal shelter to help save, foster and place pets with families.
The Humane Society of York County (HSYC) is an independent local nonprofit organization with the mission to find loving forever homes for dogs and cats.
Project Safe Pet projectsafepet.com
Project Safe Pet is volunteer based, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and cats in the Carolinas while reducing the volume of animals in need.
The Tucker McGirt Foundation is a nonprofit organization that rescues and rehomes animals from high intake, low adoption shelters.
Services
York County Animal Services is the government managed animal shelter. It is open for adoptions by appointment only.
A woman gets kisses from her newly adopted fur baby. Photo credit: Richardson Rescue
Two companions meeting for the rst time at Richardson Rescue. Photo credit: Richardson Rescue
Harper gets adopted as a part of Richardson Rescues Seniors for Seniors program. Photo credit: Richardson Rescue
asserted. “We want all of our babies [dogs] to go to good forever families who will love them like we do.”
Richardson Rescue can comfortably house about 50 dogs in their shelter although in extreme situations and large rescue missions, it can host much more. While the shelter may be full, not all dogs get listed right away for adoption. At times the website may show only a fraction of the current shelter population available for adoption as the rescue provides incoming dogs with much needed assistance to ensure a proper and prosperous family placement.
“We rehabilitate them by offering training and socialization,” Boseman explains. “We receive a lot of dogs that are not only terrified, but have very little basic training like house, leash, or crate training. As a result, a dog may be with us for several months before we feel we can put it up for adoption. We have to get their minds right as the surrendered dog(s) have just had a traumatic experience being surrendered.“
From the little four pound chihuahua who went to a home with a family who already had great dane and became its best friend, to the dog who “wasn’t much to look at” that a little girl could not live without, Richardson Rescue has stories upon stories of seeing that beautiful spark happen
when one of their dogs is matched up with the right person.
“We’ve had people come in to meet a specific dog and end up leaving with a different one,” Boseman reflects. “Sometimes that’s just the way it is; the dog chooses the person, not the other way around.”
One offering of which Richardson Rescue is extremely proud is its Seniors for Seniors program. This program specifically matches senior dogs over six years of age to senior humans over 65 years of age.
“I love our Seniors for Seniors program,” Boseman gushes. “Our senior dogs are so cool. They are already trained, they know what you want from them, and they know how to love. The bond these dogs create with their older senior human companions is impenetrable.”
According to the National Institute on Aging, as people age into the senior levels, the more vulnerable they become to loneliness and social isolation. This can lead to other health issues such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. This is where having a pet companion can make a huge impact.
“We recently had a senior dog here who was completely blind, but feisty,” Boseman says. “She went about her business like nothing was wrong. An older woman whose husband had passed came
to see her. Now Harper has a mama who loves her to pieces and they are like two peas in a pod.”
The health benefits are not just for the humans. Boseman reflected on how much of a change she sees in the dogs as well.
“We do everything we can to keep them comfortable here,” Boseman explains. “They have heaters in the winter and cooling mists in the summer, plus plenty of space to roam and play, but it’s not the same as being home. Through the updates we get from our families, I’ve seen our dogs’ personalities open up, appetites increase and even moreso, the glimmer comes back to their eyes. It’s beautiful.”
To set up an appointment to visit a dog, one must complete an application, available on Richardson Rescue’s website. Once the application is approved, a staff member or volunteer will contact you to set up an appointment to visit the dog of your choice. Visits are at the shelter’s headquarters in York.
Richardson Rescue relies heavily on monetary donations, in-kind donations and their volunteers. Monetary donations are tax deductible and volunteers help walk and run the dogs as well as help clean up the shelter grounds.
For more information, to make a donation, volunteer, or especially, search available dogs for adoption, visit richardsonrescue.org.
Living Well: How wellness trends are shaping real estate
Whether online, watching television or listening to the radio, it feels like you are seeing an ever-growing number of ads, stories and messaging promoting the benefits of wellness. Do some research into the trend, and all these news features and ads should be of no surprise. It turns out wellness is one of the fastest growing economic sectors both nationally and globally, growing at a rate of 7.3% annually. Wellness as an industry now exceeds $6.32 trillion annually dwarfing established sectors like pharmaceuticals, sports and tourism. The wellness market now totals roughly 60% of all global health expenditures,” according to the Global Wellness Institute.
Understanding Wellness
What is wellness, and what all does it encompass? The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” GWI adds that wellness is multi-dimensional and holistic, encompassing our physical, mental,
emotional, spiritual, social and environmental wellbeing. Authorities on wellness share the view that wellness is a lifestyle and journey. In addition to being holistic, it is personal and different for most of us. Wellness products and services range from tools designed to help you eat, sleep, exercise, and handle stress better to personal care and beauty items. There are also numerous tools providing tips on how to be healthier, happier, and more focused.
Benefits of Wellness
Wellness provides numerous benefits, such as improved immunity, longevity, mental health, stress resilience, better sleep, focus, productivity, and enhanced strength, fitness and appearance. Wellness is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for disease prevention, with growing attention from medical experts, businesses, and individuals alike. Rising rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia, alongside increasing mental health awareness, obesity concerns, and an aging population, are fueling this
focus. Embracing wellness could be the key to reducing spiraling healthcare costs while improving overall quality of life.
Archetype Investments at Vale
Wellness Real Estate is a focus for a growing number of communities and developers, such as Archetype Investments. A notable example of Archetype’s commitment to integrate wellness into its portfolio is Vale Lake Wylie. Vale is a wellness-driven mixed-use community in the Lake Wylie-Clover area. Partnering with best-inclass brands, such as Apple, Sonos, Calm, FitOn and Technogym enables residents to easily access an array of tools and features that supports healthy living. Living at Vale will be like living at a wellness resort. Amenities include hot and cold saunas, a cold plunge, and yoga-meditation spaces in addition to a saltwater pool, clubrooms, and expansive fitness center. A second phase will add wellness focused shops, cafes and offices as well as a wellness club. For more information, please visit valecampus.com.
A holistic approach to health at Dragonfly Wellness Center
By Jan Todd
Back pain or migraines often bring new patients into Dragonfly Wellness Center in Lake Wylie. While a chiropractic adjustment, a massage or an acupuncture treatment might bring some quick relief, the patient generally leaves the office with much more — including a better understanding of how their body works, what dietary and lifestyle changes might bring long term relief, and what some of contributing factors are at the root of their condition.
“People want to know how to fix their bodies without taking so many medications,” said Marcia Nilbert, owner of Dragonfly Wellness. “Our goal is to teach people to listen to their bodies and ultimately make better lifestyle choices to alleviate or prevent painful ailments.”
As a Doctor of Chiropractor, Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Functional Medicine Professional and Registered Nurse, Doc Marcia — as she is known to her patients — understands the benefits of a multidisciplinary method to holistic health care. During an acupuncture or chiropractic session, Marcia is learning about her clients’ eating habits, sleep schedules, work and exercise routines, and helping them determine
the best path to wellness.
Autoimmune diseases — including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, psoriasis, Crohn’s Disease and others — are on the rise. “I see more of these disorders now than I ever have in 30-plus years of health care,” said Marcia. “Stress, diet, lack of sleep, our use of electronics, all of these things are contributing factors.”
Depending on the condition, Marcia may refer patients to other practitioners within Dragonfly: massage therapist Jennifer Bothast or applied functional medicine practitioner Karin Mullooly.
“We work with one another on a patient’s care,” Marcia explained. “A therapeutic massage helps relax the connective tissues and muscles, enabling the chiropractic adjustment to hold better. For other symptoms, dietary adjustments or therapy from Karin might contribute to healing.”
Jennifer, who holds a degree in Occupational Therapy and in Health Sciences, is trained in John Barnes Myofascial Release, targeting trigger points that restrict muscle and joint movement. She also practices Upledger’s CranioSacral Therapy to release tensions deep in the body, helping people with migraines, chronic fatigue, learning
differences (ADHD, ADD), Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Karin treats patients who struggle with digestive issues, who want to better manage their autoimmune conditions, or who are constantly tired or run down. She also offers pulsed red light therapy, deep-penetrating infrared light to enhance blood flow and reduce inflammation.
“We can target tissues or even organs with the red light therapy, working at the cell level to help the body heal and regenerate,” Marcia said.
Doc Marcia introduced some self-care services to Dragonfly that she herself has benefited from in her own health journey: an IonCleanse Detox footbath, which cleanses and purifies the body to promote better sleep, relaxation and improved overall wellness; and a Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna, which helps heal muscle damage, improves skin cell health, reduces inflammation and joint pain, stimulates weight loss and helps the body detox through natural sweat glands.
Patient education is key in all services offered at Dragonfly Wellness. Those interested may visit the center’s Facebook page or sign up to receive monthly newsletters by visiting the contact page on Dragonfly’s website, docmarciaacupunture. com.
Finding Wellness in a Cup of Tea
ood is Medicine” is a common mantra these days. For some time now, we have seen a focus on foods and beverages with functional benefits and naturally healthy offerings. More than ever before folks understand the functional health benefits of tea and reach for tea as a better-for-you alternative to sugar-laden beverages. In fact, green tea continues to be on many lists of top 10 superfoods!
Healthy and less processed are food labels of the near future. Registered Dietitians (RD’s) predict that a “healthy” label will begin to surpass cost and taste when it comes to consumer choices. Tea is on trend as the perfect beverage as it is from a plant and has a clean label. Consumers across all demographics are seeking “less processed” food and drink. They don’t want artificial ingredients. Tea is a natural, simple and whole food.
And there is a lot of tea out there! With wellness tea options it is time to look beyond green tea! Many herbal teas are being blended to address specific issues of daily life -
• Calming and anti-anxiety
• Boosting the immune system
• Healthy weight management
• Afternoon pick-me-up without jitters
• Women’s Support
• Detox & Cleanse
Tea has a long history in the USthough mostly black tea served cold (especially in the South)! Would you be surprised to learn that the Native Americans used herbal tea blends as remedies for centuries? This is exactly the current trend we are seeing now in tea drinking across the country.
Maybe it is time to add a daily cup of tea to your wellness and self-care routine! Look for organic teas and be careful to notice the caffeine information. Enjoy!
Jane DuBois VibeTeas.com
The Indispensable Connection Between Health and Wellness
At Rejuvenate at Lake Wylie, we believe that true beauty radiates from within. While we offer a range of esthetic treatments to enhance your natural features, we understand that these are just one piece of the puzzle. A holistic approach to health and wellness is paramount for achieving lasting vitality inside and out.
Health typically refers to the absence of disease and the overall physical state of the body. It also encompasses factors like proper nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Wellness, on the other hand, broadly encompasses the overall quality of life. This includes emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
These two concepts are deeply intertwined. For example, regular exercise not only improves physical health but also boosts mood and reduces stress.
Incorporating health and wellness practices into your daily routine can seem daunting. We all struggle with making lasting positive changes. However, small, consistent steps over time can make a sizeable difference. Prioritize move-
ment by finding activities you enjoy, whether it’s brisk walking, dancing, yoga, cycling or team sports. Nourish your body with a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Prioritize sleep by aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
Manage stress through techniques like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or spending time outdoors. For some people, time alone on a lush nature trail in good weather can be just as healing as a therapy session! Cultivate social connections by making time for loved ones, joining social clubs, or volunteering in the community. Prioritize self-care by engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as reading, listening to music, or working in the garden.
For some people, stress management and mental wellness constitute a “Treat Yourself” mentality. Pampering yourself with an esthetic treatment to enhance your natural, beautiful appearance is one way to attend to your mental well-being. After all, we tend to feel our best when we look our best. A facial provided by a
knowledgeable esthetician can amplify your innate glow for all to see. A Physician Weight Loss plan can aid you in achieving your personal weight loss goals, providing you with a true sense of accomplishment. Dermal Fillers and other injectables can boost your confidence by restoring a more youthful appearance to areas that you may avoid when looking in the mirror.
While esthetic treatments can enhance your appearance and boost confidence, they should be considered within the broader context of your overall health and wellness journey. At Rejuvenate at Lake Wylie, we believe in a holistic approach to beauty. We strive to provide treatments that complement your overall wellness goals and help you love the skin you’re in!
By prioritizing both your physical and mental well-being, you can cultivate a life of vitality, happiness, and inner radiance. Remember, true beauty shines from within.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for any health concerns.
try a little kindness – it’s free and easy
Kindness is more than behavior. The art of kindness involves harboring a spirit of helpfulness, being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return.
Rather than viewing it exclusively as an action, think of kindness as a quality of being you can cultivate. Giving kindness often is simple, free and health-enhancing.
Good for the body
others to join in with their own generous deeds.
Looking for ways to show kindness can give you something to focus on, especially if you are anxious or stressed in certain social situations.
iors and intentions to yourself. I believe you can be kinder in your own self-talk and practice gratitude.
Take action – It doesn’t cost a penny!
crease
Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone directly correlated with stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.
Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, decrease loneliness, combat low mood and improve relationships. It also can be contagious, encouraging
Good for the mind
Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain by boosting levels of serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters produce feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure and reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, your body's natural painkiller, also may be released when you show kindness.
Start your day with this question: "How am I going to practice kindness today?" For a homework assignment, invite some friends, family or co-workers to join you to pay attention and periodically document their evidence of kindness to others and especially to themselves during the day. This positive focus is like planting positive seeds in your mind garden. Where focus goes, energy flows.
body's natural painkiller, also may
Be kind to yourself
When sharing kindness, it's not just how you treat other people — it's also about how you extend those same behav-
"Acts of random kindness." The Mayo Clinic Health System's Kickstart Kindness program is a program that offers ideas on how to extend kindness. The program offers many ideas on how to extend kindness to yourself, your community, environment, home, family, co-workers and others. Join me in starting the kindness journey this spring.
Susan Bromfield, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
This vintage “river cabin” on Lake Wylie sold for $1,675,000 in the fall of 2024. Its appeal? It sits on a 2.25 acre waterfront lot with long-range main channel views, has a nice covered dock with boat lift, and over 700 feet of shoreline. It is located in the popular Clover School District and sold within a week of listing. Photo supplied by The Lake Wylie Man team
Hot market in Lake Wylie
By Drew Choate
Charlotte is No. 7 on the list of the 2025 U.S. hottest housing markets, according to Zillow — the top online real estate search tool used by home buyers. This impressive ranking is based on forecasted home value growth, how quickly homes sell, home construction activity and forecasted labor market changes.
Lake Wylie trends can be expected to follow those in the greater Charlotte area in the coming year, with a solid marketplace anticipated in 2025.
We’ve experienced an inventory shortage since the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer and fewer homes listed for sale. In 2024
however, inventory eased up a bit, with about 15% more new listings than in 2023.
The average price for a non-waterfront home in 2024 was about $515,000 in the Lake Wylie area, up 2% from the previous year (compared to an increase of 59% compared to five years ago). The average time to sell has lengthened from five weeks to almost eight weeks, signaling that the frenzied pace of the market is settling down.
Sales of waterfront property on Lake Wylie is outpacing the general market, with a whopping 37% increase in the number of homes sold in 2024, compared to the prior year. To be fair, 2023 sales were fairly sluggish due to the shortage of inventory, which eased up a bit in 2024.
The average price for a waterfront home is now $1.4 million — almost double the sales ticket prior to the pandemic. Lakefront homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million are typically about 30 years old, three or four bedrooms, and 3,400 square feet in size. Larger, newer, homes, particularly those with amenities such as pools, outdoor kitchens or living areas, and outstanding views, are generally priced over $1.5 million.
Five years ago, a sale over $2 million on Lake Wylie was a true rarity. In 2024, 16% of waterfront home sales exceeded the $2 million price tag, and 30% of current listings are in that price segment.
Waterfront lot prices have skyrocketed, with the average undeveloped waterfront
homesite now selling for about $650,000, compared to just under $300,000 five years ago. Available lots for sale are at the lowest level in decades, and the inventory shortage is driving prices up. Premium-priced new developments are also impacting the price structure.
Some buyers shop “river cabins” with the idea of replacing the older structure with a primary home, either immediately or in the future. Others purchase these vintage properties to enjoy as a weekend retreat. In 2024, sales of this type of property were very
strong, with an average price approaching $800,000 for a typical 50-year-old cabin on the water.
One of the first sales in 2025 was a twobedroom waterfront cabin in the Clover School District, closing for $1 million — a price once unimaginable but now commonplace. With the right location and property features (such as view, topography, size and buildability), sellers can profit nicely on their secondary properties.
Lake Wylie’s proximity to Charlotte, excellent school system and beautiful lifestyle
offerings continue to attract new residents and new businesses. If you are buying or selling real estate in this vibrant market, you’ll find a Realtor’s familiarity with the area and considerations unique to lake property will ensure the best value.
Drew Choate and The Lake Wylie Man team are affiliated with Keller Williams Fort Mill. The Lake Wylie Man team has been the leader in Lake Wylie waterfront sales each year for over a decade. For more information on the market and recent sales, visit TheLakeWylieMan.com.
This 4-bedroom waterfront home, featuring main channel sunrise and sunset views, sold for $2,150,000 in 2024. A spa-like bath in the primary suite, covered patio with outdoor kitchen and lakeside hot tub, a built-in elevator and huge recreation room with a bar were some of the luxury features in this home. Photo supplied by The Lake Wylie Man team
Spotlight light
News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
2025 is already becoming an exciting year for our area. New businesses have and are opening. Sunflower Springs Assisted Living located on Latitude Lane next to Lake Wylie Business Center and the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is open and a welcome part of our community.
Vale – Lake Wylie, the new apartment community located on Highway 274, is more than just a place to live – it’s a lifestyle where wellness is woven into the environment itself. Slated to open in 2025, Vale is the first mixed-use, rental-friendly wellness campus not only in Lake Wylie, but also on the East Coast. The 25-acre campus will also include retail, casual and high-end dining and shopping experiences. There will be a wealth of amenities from tranquil outdoor spaces to a saltwater pool and hot tub, all designed to promote well-being.
Spring 2025
From the President Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
The new Lake Wylie High School and Liberty Hill Elementary School are taking shape and being built on the former Daimler Road, now named Cannonball Run, off Highway 274. In recent years, new health care facilities have been built and opened at Lake Wylie to provide for a growing community.
Lake Wylie is poised to grow more. The vision and foresight for planning the future is currently with York County since Lake Wylie is a census-designated area and not an incorporated area or town. Visioning and guiding the growth for a balance of residential and business is essential to help with economic development, jobs, traffic flow and interconnectivity as more areas are developed and to help the Clover School District plan and prepare for the future.
A vibrant community needs a balance of business and residential and good paying jobs. The Lake Wylie Small Area Plan will help to guide the future growth. We can have input; however York County is the authority for the unincorporated areas.
The Lake Wylie Chamber has convened the Highway 274/Five Points area group, comprised of property owners, developers and county leaders, to work together to strive to have a cohesive plan, with interconnectivity, limited curb cuts, attractive landscaping, buffers and planning for traffic flow to have a commercial corridor that will serve the needs of the growing community.
Attention will be paid to helping to attract businesses that will help alleviate traffic on Highway 49 by having a selection of businesses located in this corridor to
have other complementing businesses in
Westport located off Highway 49 near Five
serve the residents. Harris Teeter will be the new grocer located at Five Points and will have other complementing businesses in its development. Vale will have several new businesses that promote a healthy lifestyle. New restaurants are expected to be in well-planned developments conveniently located near newer neighborhoods and future growth areas. Westport located off Highway 49 near Five Points and Lakeside Glenn developments are approved and construction is well on its way to create new home communities in the area.
Lake Wylie with its beauty, recreational opportunities, excellent schools and location near a major city and airport and two major interstate highways attracts folks from all over the country to make it their home. The growth presents many challenges, yet many benefits that we all enjoy.
Whether it is a person, a business or community, “growth” is essential to move forward and prosper. The opposite is to decline and to die and to see businesses close, homes go unsold, taxes go up with fewer taxpayers paying for services. Growth must be visioned, managed and requires investment for roads, infrastructure, parks and public places to maintain quality of life. Leadership at the county level is essential for all of York County to guide, plan and manage the growth that has and is coming to our area.
The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, celebrating its 46th year of promoting Lake Wylie, and its Visitor Center make a positive impression and many times is the first point of contact for a business or future resident to come into South Carolina, York County and Lake Wylie area. The chamber is able to encourage and influence businesses to invest in our area and to do quality projects and elevate plans. Tens of millions of dollars are invested in our local economy each year. Jobs are created, homes are bought and sold, and new businesses open.
The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce is known as a trusted, respected and knowledgeable source for information in our area and an advocate for business. The chamber works with area service groups and had also led charitable efforts in the area. In the absence of a city government, the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce has stepped up to work for many community improvements and safety for all. The chamber is a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers to get things done and is a champion for a thriving community.
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Jeff Ledford - Chairman
River Hills Country Club
Charles Wood – Past Chairman
Susan Brom eld - President
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Matthew Mugavero – Vice Chairman
Lake Wylie Liquors
Jane DuBois - Secretary
Lake Wylie Today
Michaelyn Sherrill - Treasurer
Home Companions
Fred Caldwell
Fred Caldwell Chevrolet
Lori Dickerson
United Bank
Kim Conroy
YMCA Camp underbird
Allan Gregory
K.A. Gregory Wealth Management
Dr. Robert Latham
Rejuvenate at Lake Wylie
Ed Lindsey
Rotary Club of Lake Wylie
Angel Neelands
South State Bank
Stephan Nishimuta
Carolina Family Dentistry
Sheila Quinn
Clover School District
Tom Smith
May Green Properties
P.O. Box 5233
264 Latitude Lane, Suite 101
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
(803) 831-2827
Fax: (803) 831-2460
lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com
www.lakewyliesc.com
Annual Meeting Holiday Gala
Dec. 5, 2024
Held at River Hills Country Club
Photos by Dana Sipper - Sipper Photography
Carrie Bolin (center) at the gala where she was presented with the Lake Wylie Chamber’s Citizen of the Year award.
Tommy Scoggins, Melissa Scoggins, Terri Versen, Alice Smith, Tom Smith, Sophie Karsh, Jim Bradford and Libby Bradford.
Tyler Copeland, Lisa Howland, Jamie Cooper, Indria Eskieva.
e Classics entertained the guests at the gala. Jason Napoletano, Jessica Perez, Lucy Tufano and Salvatore Tufano with American Green Lawns.
Tracy and Dr. Robert Latham dance at the gala. Je Sipper, Mike and Cindy Enoch, Jennylyn Roberts, Kayla Horton and Charlie Hunsucker.
Cindy and Mike Enoch dance to music from e Classics.
Violinist Christine Robinson entertained guests with holiday music.
Quanisha Savage and Lake Wylie Chamber president Susan Brom eld.
Libby and Jim Bradford.
Alice and Tom Smith.
Collins Galyon Group, Rick and Polly Kiger, Ty and Bobbie Valkanas, Pete and Laura Harlick.
Holiday Business After Hours
At United Bank - Clover
Dec. 12, 2025
Rebecca receives a door prize from Greg Holmes.
Nancy Snyder, Lori Dickerson, Angel Neelands and Tom Pas.
Lynn Sherrill with Greg Holmes.
Ed Lindsey, Fred Caldwell and Jane DuBois.
Robert Willis receives a door prize from Greg Holmes.
United Bank sta at the Business A er Hours event.
Some of the delicious food at the Business A er Hours event.
Steve Tripi, Don Hyatt, Allison Harvey and Mayor Bo Legg.
Carrie Bolin honored as Lake Wylie Citizen of the Year
This year’s Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Carrie Bolin, works with students to prepare them for the workforce. She makes a difference with her work every day. Many say they support workforce development, but few have dedicated years to preparing students to be able to have a career path.
At Clover High School’s Applied Technology Center there are 18 pathways for students to prepare for a job and career as they graduate from high school. Carrie leads this effort as the director of the center for the past seven years.
Carrie is a graduate of Clemson University in Agriculture Education. She married Walt Bolin and together they raised four children while also actively working their local farm in the Clover area. Carrie started her teaching career in 2003 as the Fort Mill High School agriculture teacher.
During her tenure at the Applied Technology Center, Carrie has completely transformed the programs and outcomes for the Clover School District students and for workforce development in York County.
Students have the opportunity to become certified in many fields, including public utility lineman, nursing or other health care professions, certified fireman, culinary and hospitality industry, computer programming and many other paths.
Some examples of the center’s accomplishments in Carrie’s tenure, just to name a few:
• Career and Technical Education increased to 22 programs
• 326 total student completers last year with 224 of those in the senior class
• Over 2,000 industry certifications earned by students
Carrie gets workforce development, and she always keeps student opportunities for leadership and growth as her primary mission. We are all so proud of all that she has accomplished, and the best news is that she is not done yet!
Je Ledford, Chairman of Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, with CItizen of the Year Carrie Bolin and Clover School District Superintendent Shelia Quinn. Photos | Dana Sipper / Sipper Photography
Je Ledford presents Carrie Bolin with her Citizen of the Year plaque.
Carrie Bolin with her husband, Walt Bolin.
Sheila Quinn, Carrie Bolin, Walt Bolin, Susan Brom eld and Je Ledford.
Scenes from “Lights on the Lake”
Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade | Photos by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
MarineMax took second place.
MarineMax Lake Wylie won second place for A Tropical Christmas.
35th Annual “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade
First Place: Morningstar Marinas –“A Christmas Story”
Second Place: MarineMax Lake Wylie –“Tropical Christmas”
Third Place: Kristen Hanram –“Homemade & Bare Minimum-Retro”
Most Creative: Jim Schaefer –“Ran Out of Time”
Holiday Spirit: Mark Dorsey –“Merry Grinchmas”
THANK YOU PAPA DOC’S for hosting another exciting and fun Holiday Boat Parade on Lake Wylie
THANK YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT, US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY and TOW BOATS for providing safety to all involved THANK YOU to ALL WHO PARTICIPATED to make this year’s Holiday Boat Parade a great success!
A group of parade watchers at Papa Doc’s.
Holiday Spirit Award goes to Mark Dorsey for Merry Grinchmas.
Festive parade goers pose with Je Ledford, Chairman of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, at the Holiday Boat Parade.
Freedom Boat Club created a Blue Christmas-themed boat.
Welcome New Members
November 7, 2024 to February 1, 2025
Wylie Pelican
Peter Pecorella, Captain 16310 York Road
Charlotte, NC 28278
803-367-8146
jemjrlp@gmail.com
wyliepelican.com
Event venue, Airbnb, Excursions
Investing - Renewing Members
November 6, 2024 to February 1, 2025
Allison Creek Presbyterian Church
Bank of York
Camelot Meadows Event Venue
Clover Area Assistance Center
Edward Jones
Elite Eco Clean
Fred Caldwell Chevrolet
H2O’Brien
Habitat for Humanity
Insure Insurance
JHP Real Estate
Lake Wylie Athletic Association
Lake Wylie Business Centre
Lake Wylie Public Library
Lake Wylie Today
Lake Wylie Travel MarineMax
Mullooly Wealth Planning LLC
River Hills Country Club
River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club
The Goddard School of Lake Wylie
The Wet Vet – Robert Willis
Totalbond Veterinary Hospital
VFW 6732 American Legion
Post 38
Individuals Andy Kane Jack Dagenhart
2025 Chamber Champion
Je Ledford, Lake Wylie Chamber chairman, presents Cameron Burris of CAAC a donation from funds raised at the Chamber golf event.
Lake Wylie Chamber president Susan Brom eld with Tracy Latham of Rejuvenate Lake Wylie at the celebration of Rejuvenate’s recent expansion.
Congratulations to Lake Wylie Pizza and Italian on its new location in York. From le , restaurant owner Yem, Susan Brom eld, LW Chamber and Matt Wilson, manager.
January 15, 2025
4341 Charlotte Highway, Suite 202, in Heritage Park
Dr. David Redding with Claudia Moulden at NeXtGen Medical’s ribbon cutting.
NeXtGen Medical sta and others at the clinic’s ribbon cutting.
Tyler Johnson with Amanda Yancey at NeXtGen Medical’s ribbon cutting.
Thank you
Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Annual Holiday Gala
SPONSORS FOR THE EVENING
PREMIER SPONSOR
Comporium
SILVER SPONSORS
Atrium Health
Bank of York
Collins Galyon Construction
Comfort Systems
Fred Caldwell Chevrolet
Lake Wylie Liquors
Lake Wylie Today
May Green Properties
York County Natural Gas
YMCA Camp underbird
HOSPITALITY SPONSOR
Papa Doc’s Shore Club
Photography – Dana Sipper
Christine Robinson – Violinist
Music by “The Classics”
Upcoming Activities
Business After Hours
ursday, March 20, 2025
5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by
United Bank and Lake Wylie Liquors Held at United Bank – Lake Wylie
Business After Hours
ursday, April 24, 2025
MarineMax of Lake Wylie
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Business After Hours
ursday, May 8, 2025
Freedom Boat Club
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Held at Joyner Marina
Lake Wylie Community Fireworks
Friday, July 4, 2025
Launched from Camp Thunderbird –Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie Community Fireworks Fund!
It takes a village to pull off the annual fireworks show at Lake Wylie each year. This year's Fireworks show will be on Friday, the 4th of July 2025!
We all enjoy the fireworks each year. Since Lake Wylie Community Fireworks Display is funded solely through donations, your support of this wonderful event is really needed for the event to continue.
In order to ensure the 2025 Lake Wylie Fireworks show can be scheduled, please send your contribution in any amount now to:
Camp Thunderbird Fireworks Fund One Thunderbird Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Or Venmo @Camp Thunderbird Fireworks
Thanks very much for your support!
THE RIGHT PARTNER MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
For more than 185 years, we’ve forged personal relationships with our customers and communities, funding economic development and rallying around the causes that are important to our neighbors. With local bankers you know and trust, businesses and individuals throughout the Carolinas continue to choose United Bank.
