Connor brings tremendous credentials to our team!
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Building Sciences with a concentration in Construction Management from Appalachian State University
- Seven years of leadership development in aviation for the United States Navy
- Licensed Real Estate broker
- Pursuing General Contractor’s license
- Graduating in June 2023 with MBA from UNC-C
By Susan Bromfield, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Spring 2023 is now upon us, reminding us of the renewal only possible with warmer, more inviting and beautiful weather. Some even liken the season to a renaissance, which in French means rebirth. Spring is all about rebirth, the budding of nature and the possibility of transformation. This is a future-focused season, and brings with it the possibilities of better and more meaningful times ahead. It is a time to plant and to plan what is to come as the days ahead get warmer and longer.
Here in Lake Wylie, we are blessed to enjoy natural beauty and recreational opportunities all around. The secret has been out for many years as more and more newcomers move to the area to invest in their futures by buying homes and opening businesses locally.
Growth is healthy and drives the economy. More residents mean more customers and more opportunity for business. Growth also brings challenges, especially if not guided thoughtfully with needed infrastructure, traffic planning, school resources and appropriate zoning for business areas.
York County has adopted the Lake Wylie Small Area plan with zoning and requirements to help guide future growth. Many investors and developers have identified and purchased available land and many new commercial and residential projects are in progress.
I recall a time when people complained that they had to take time off work to get a car repaired in a neighboring community or the need to make an appointment weeks in advance for things as simple as an oil change or tires. Those days are long gone as locals can now get most vehicle repair work and parts just about any time they want. Daytime, evening and weekends!
There was a time that we had no local medical practice, so a trip to the doctor was literally a trip to a neighboring town. Now we have an urgent care and a new Lake Wylie Medical Center being built to expand the offerings so locals can easily access local health care.
We have physical therapy options at Lake Wylie rather than needing to drive to Pineville or Gastonia, like was the case about 20 years ago. There was just one dental practice for many years and no vision care at all. And who can remember when most businesses were closed on Sundays and no way could you buy a bottle of wine or six-pack of beer at the grocery store.
Things have changed and are continuing to change — and quickly. Some things are good and some growth presents challenges and problem-solving. Like all things, we embrace the good and deal with the not so good to work to make things better as a community.
Look in every direction of Lake Wylie and
there are new commercial projects, business expansion and neighborhoods being planned and built. It’s springtime and the economy continues to blossom and grow. We can complain about the traffic and other challenges or we can continue to appreciate the beauty and opportunity that is all around us and work to make our community nice for all.
The new Lake Wylie Field Day Park has blossomed into a wonderful gathering place for the community and its youth. Land is being preserved for the community to enjoy for hiking and gathering spots. Clover School District, with support of the area voters, is addressing the needs of growth and future by building a new high school and adapting existing schools to accommodate the ever-growing number of students moving into the district. And recently York County purchased Blue Granite, the local water company.
The new businesses, a medical center and new assisted living community being built by the chamber will create and add new jobs locally. Money will be spent and reinvested back into the community. Jobs, businesses and economic prosperity are vital for a healthy community to prosper and grow. Lake Wylie continues to blossom and springtime brings a time of renewal as the community grows.
Build your forever dream home on this 11+ acre wooded homesite and enjoy peacefull, quiet, country setting but minutes from Drift restaurant on Lake Wylie, public boat ramps and Morning Star Marina.
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Mary Williams, Administrative Officer, received the Gold Brick Award and Ray Williams, Executive Officer, the Melvin L. Roberts Memorial Award for outstanding service to the Catawba Boating Club in 2022.
They also received the prestigious Ambassador Award along with other Lake Wylie residents, Michelle Gurevitch, Jim Samland and Amory and Lee Clementi. This award is earned by attending monthly meetings and educational classes and providing service to the community.
Ray Williams, Executive Officer for the Catawba Boating Club, listens on with other members to Tom Dissington’s presentation of the soon to open Catawba Bend Preserve on York County on Lake Wylie. Members enjoy BBQ from Famous Dave’s!
Donna Fletcher, of America’s Boating Club of the Catawba, presents holiday donation to Children’s Attention Home of York County.
You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised.
You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see much you can save. You might be surprised.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
Local resident Cameron Hurst has transitioned to the executive director role at the Clover Area Assistance Center after long-time director Karen van Vierssen retired recently. Hurst joined CAAC in October
as assistant director and previously served on the board of directors, holding several positions including vice president and president.
Cameron previously worked at Charleston-based Blackbaud, where she worked with
hundreds of nonprofits managing software implementations and working with the organizations to understand business processes and assist with how to improve operational efficiency.
“I am thrilled to take on the role as executive director for Clover Area Assistance Center. I’ve had the opportunity to witness first-hand the impact CAAC has on our community. I look forward to expanding upon our services and growing CAAC to meet the needs of our community,” she said.
Hurst earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Business Administration from The Citadel. She currently resides in Lake Wylie with her husband, Michael, and two sons, Bennett and Campbell.
Carowinds is celebrating 50 years of providing family fun in 2023. Throughout the year, guests will discover enchanting décor, special merchandise, delectable treats and new entertainment experiences throughout the park.
Carowinds is also expanding the lineup of special events taking place throughout the year to include something for everyone in the family.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Carowinds announces the all-new Aeronautica Landing. Inspired by the spirit of aeronautic adventure and innovation that made world history in the Carolinas, it features new and reimagined amusement park rides that invite thrill seekers and families alike to strap in, buckle up and test their mettle.
Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, is open weekends only through mid-March, with expanded hours starting in late March. The park is home to top-rated roller coasters, attractions and live stage shows. Carolina Harbor, a 26-acre waterpark, features a variety of water slides, wave pools, large play structures and a three-acre children’s play area. Carowinds Camp Wilderness and SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Carowinds are guest accommodations located on-site. For more information visit www.carowinds.com or call 704588-2600.
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 1-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.
McSpadden Homes is excited to announce that Connor McSpadden has joined the McSpadden team. Connor has a bachelor of
science degree from Appalachian State University, is a licensed real estate broker and will graduate in June with an MBA from UNC-Charlotte.
Connor and his wife, Haley, and their two dogs, Murphy and Maggie, have just purchased a home a few miles from McSpadden corporate headquarters and look forward to growing their family in Clover. McSpadden Homes is located at 548 Nautical Drive in Lake Wylie and has been in business since 1987.
Car accidents can be a very difficult time. With 3 6 years of experience, we will help you get through this process. From start to end. Call us today!
The 2023 Lake Wylie Newcomers Guide is now available at businesses and other locations around the area.
The guide, published in partnership with SC Biz News, features in-depth looks at all the communities that border Lake Wylie, information on area schools, recreation and health care, as well as contacts for local utilities.
The guide can be found at locations such as banks, real estate offices and a variety of local businesses, plus the S.C. Welcome Center on I-77, the Clover Chamber, Visit York - The York County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center located at 264 Latitude Lane, Lake Wylie.
A digital version is on the LW Chamber website, www.lakewyliechambersc.com.
If you or someone you know is considering Lake Wylie as their new home, the Newcomers Guide is an invaluable resource to help in making that decision.
River Hills C.C. representatives present a check for $20,000 raised in the charity golf tournament to the Veterans Bridge Homes. Left to right: Steven Cole (VBH), Shirley Morgan (RHCC Co-Chair), John Sheedy (RHCC General Manager), Jen Webber (RHCC Co-Chair), Blake Bourne (VBH) and Tommy Norman (VBH Founder).
Veterans and River Hills Country Club members enjoyed a day of golf and camaraderie at the annual charity golf tournament. The club raised $20,000 to benefit operations at Veterans Bridge Home.
River Hills Country Club again hosted its Veterans Appreciation Golf Tournament in November 2022. Through the generosity of club members and tournament sponsors, veterans are treated to a free day of golf, food, fun and fellowship. Proceeds from the tournament went to Veterans Bridge Home, an honorable local organization specializing in the needs of veterans.
Although Hurricane Nicole showed up and postponed the tournament for a couple of days, 97 golfers participated including 67 veterans. The Clover High School ROTC presented the colors and a bugler marked the start of the day with a moving version of the national anthem. Breakfast and golf followed, along with a lot of laughter. Complimentary dinner and drinks awaited the golfers post play, followed by the presentation of a $20,000 “check”. This incredible
amount of money raised is a testament to the generosity of our community.
Clubhouse manager Justin Zissel did a fantastic job coordinating all the pieces necessary to pull off such a big event so flawlessly. Co-chairs Shirley Morgan (golf chair and board member) and Jen Webber (club president) had a strong tournament team committed to both making this a memorable event for the
Veterans and raising money for such a worthy cause.
The club also announced the addition of chef Matt Wood, who has almost 40 years of experience in the kitchen.
Raised in New Orleans, he had a love for food and was groomed to be a chef from an early age. He has worked in some of the most famous restaurants in New Orleans, including Antoine’s and Restaurant Jonathan, where he developed his creative flair and flavor building cuisine.
He continued to work in different areas of the country and even owned his own restaurant for over 10 years. The last 15 years have been spent in country club kitchens where he feels right at home.
Wood is a music buff and in his free time enjoys hiking and spending quality time with his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Josephine and Natalie.
Andy Kane has announced his retirement as a very special team member after 12 years of working for the Catawba Land Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail.
Many folks who had the pleasure of interacting with Andy during his time at CLC, whether as staff, volunteers, landowners, program attendees or in countless other ways, will miss him.
To all those folks, we say … don’t worry. Andy promises he’ll still be around. Please join us in wishing Andy all the best in his retirement!
Catawba Land Conservancy started in 1991 by a group of volunteers and activists to protect Mountain Island Lake in Mecklenburg County from overdevelopment.
It has expanded its role over time to create numerous conservation areas in the greater Charlotte area, including the Carolina Thread Trail that comprises a 15-county area in North Carolina and South Carolina. Currently, over 360 miles of Thread Trail are open to the public with 14 active corridors under development.
If you’re new to Lake Wylie, you may easily miss the camp sign along Charlotte Highway just outside of River Hills. And you may not know what lies beyond the split rail fence and wooded border tucked away on the southwest corner of Lake Wylie’s Buster Boyd Bridge. It’s the YMCA’s Camp Thunderbird.
Visitors have descended upon the outdoor playground and refuge since 1936 – at first, solely during the summertime. Charlotte Observer owner Curtis B. Johnson obtained the property and created a camp for underprivileged local boys, allowing them to escape from the city and experience outdoor activities. Over the years, the camp’s facilities and programming grew.
Today, Camp Thunderbird hosts more than 30,000 guests year-round to its 100 acres along two miles of pristine shoreline. Summer programming includes both day camp and residential camp. During the academic year, school groups travel an hour or more for environmental learning field trips hosted by Camp Thunderbird. Civic organizations, churches, and corporations from all over the region reserve the camp’s facilities for team building activities, getaways, private events, and retreats.
All told, 80% of the residential visitors to the facility come from outside the immediate area. Point in fact: summer campers hail from all fifty United States, Europe, South America – even
China, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. Used to be you had to be one of them to enjoy the camp’s sailboats, water skiing, wakeboarding, swimming pools, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, archery, arts and crafts, basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, nature trails, meeting pavilions, and amphitheater.
But now – even if you don’t attend an event or camp or retreat at Camp Thunderbird – you can have access to all of its outdoor goodness as part of its new Community Days program.
The seed idea for Community Days grew from Family Camp, held annually on Labor Day
weekend. It is a time when entire families can reserve one of the camp’s 36 cabins for a getaway, which come with access to Thunderbird’s facilities, activities, and land and water sports. The event operates at capacity every year.
“Families repeatedly ask, ‘When can we come back’?” says Camp Thunderbird’s Executive Director Kim Conroy. “And regrettably, I have to say, ‘Next year.’”
Kim saw family campers’ enthusiasm as a missed opportunity to build local pride and engage neighbors as Thunderbird’s biggest fans. “We want the Lake Wylie community to know what’s available here,” she says. “But even more than that, we want our neighbors to be able to take advantage of these resources and be proud of the camp that’s right in their backyard.”
That thinking led to the Community Days Initiative, set to launch in spring 2023.
The idea is to make Camp Thunderbird’s unique amenities available to local residents on a special time schedule. Kim and her team are setting aside specific days for the community to come to camp to kayak, canoe, paddleboard, wake surf, water ski, sail, use water inflatables, go boating – or try their hand at archery, adventure tree climbing, or horseback riding.
“We won’t duplicate other programming from other community organizations,” says Kim, citing the Lake Wylie Athletic Association’s Movie Nights and soccer clubs at Field Day Park, for instance, which Camp T has no intent to replicate. Nor are Community Days intended to be a money maker. Rather, they’ll be offered at no cost or low cost. When residents want a more intensive experience or additional training, the camp will provide specially certified instructors to offer lessons and classes for a fee.
In making activities accessible to the public, the camp is not starting from scratch. Its equestrian program serves as a model for the upcoming Community Days programming.
Prior to 2020, Camp Thunderbird offered
horseback riding during its summer session only. But the demand for horseback riding lessons exceeds supply in the Charlotte metro area and horseback riding, an outdoor activity, grew in popularity during the pandemic. The camp’s central location and its facilities -- horse barns, trails, and pasture – positioned it perfectly for expanding its summer equestrian offerings into a year-round program for the community.
In 2020, the camp acquired its own horses and hired equine specialist, Liz Dulski, as equestrian director. Since then, Thunderbird’s equestrian program has grown into a year-round operation that provides team building activities, weekly lessons for about 30 private equestrian students, and a popular Tots and Trots program that gives preschoolers a hands-on equestrian experience.
The first Community Days activities are planned in accordance with the public’s top interests: water sports, adventure tree climbing, and archery.
With limited public access to the lake and the expense of buying or renting equipment, it’s easy to see why locals are eager to sail on one of Camp T’s 20 Sunfish boats or grab paddles to try out canoes and kayaks. But tree climbing?
Yes – as part of Camp Thunderbird’s new Treetop Adventure Course. Like other adventure sports, tree climbing is growing in popularity and is safe enough for the most skittish mama bear to sign off on. And the camp has trees that are big enough to accommodate ropes and obstacles. Climbers are strapped into a full-body safety harness connected to a safety line and then use ziplines to swing through Thunderbird’s treetop course created by arborist Guy Mott of Albany NY, a pioneer in adventure learning. Thunderbird staff have been trained and certified to lead adventure tree experiences.
“Anyone can enjoy it – from young children to workout enthusiasts to those with disabilities,” says Kim. “That’s one reason tree adventure climbing is becoming so popular.” The camp will also throw
YMCA Camp Thunderbird
1 Thunderbird Lane
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
Phone: 704-716-4100
Web: www.ymcacharlotte.org/ camps/camp-thunderbird
Email: campthunderbird@ ymcacharlotte.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ YMCACampThunderbird/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ ycampthunderbird/
open its archery range to community members and provide bows, arrows, targets, shooting gloves, finger tabs, along with plenty of safety instruction.
As the Community Days program grows, Kim envisions scheduling nature hikes, guided walks, pottery classes, children’s fishing classes, horse therapy – even a theatre program.
“We will work activities into the schedule to be sensitive to the people who are using the facility for retreats and events,” says Kim. “But we want to be good neighbors, too. Our goal with Community Days is to provide access to the community to use this wonderful space.”
If you haven’t seen the adventures that await inside Camp Thunderbird, you can get an idea of the possibilities by peeking at its shoreline while driving across the Buster Boyd Bridge into Lake Wylie. And you can be among the first to hear about the 2023 Community Days schedule when you opt into the Greater Charlotte YMCA emails, follow the camp on Facebook and Instagram, or watch for a sign on Charlotte Highway announcing the first public event.
“A small number of Lake Wylie residents have sent their children to Camp Thunderbird or even went themselves decades ago – and they know the wonderful outdoor experiences that the camp offers,” says Kim. “But newcomers may not know all the amazing opportunities they can experience beyond this gate.”
Come this spring, they can.
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 888-248-6834 or at www.ncwildlife.org. SC licenses are available at www.dnr.sc.gov or by calling 803734-3833. A seven-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 S.C. 274
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
803-831-2115
Wal-Mart - Newport 4875 Old York Road 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
Holley Watersports
Located by Papa Doc’s 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
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Sea Tow
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Tow Boat U.S.-Lake Wylie
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“Let’s cook.” With those words from Chef Scott Michaw, students move to the sinks in Clover High School’s expansive culinary arts classroom suite to scrub their hands. Then they head to spotless stainless-steel workstations to prepare that evening’s pregame meal for members varsity basketball team.
Dinner for 25 hungry athletes? It’s a task that strikes fear into the hearts of many adults.
Not these young people. A good number never cooked before they stepped foot into their first culinary class at Clover High School. But now, cooking for a couple of dozen people doesn’t faze them.
“Not a big deal,” one student shrugs. “We do it all the time.”
“During our first class, we start by learning to crack an egg,” adds Chef Michaw, with a grin. And they learn much more in the process.
Clover is at the front of the rise of high school career and technology education (CTE) in South Carolina. Its Applied Technology Center, led by principal Carrie Bolin, offers 16 specialized work-based programs in high-demand industry occupations ranging from fire science to sports medicine, engineering, early childhood development, auto mechanics, agricultural science, computer programming, business, multimedia, and family & consumer science. Students who complete CTE courses are poised to enter the workplace or are in line for apprenticeships, internships, and post-secondary training programs in their chosen field. In many instances, students complete industry certifications while still enrolled at Clover.
Such is the case for the culinary arts program, which is among the most popular of the Clover CTE career clusters.
The program is led by Chef Scott Michaw, who completed his culinary education at hospitality giant Johnson & Wales University and worked in the River Hills Country Club kitchen before a six-year stint as Food & Beverage Director at Rock Hill’s Hilton Garden Inn.
He became the Clover’s culinary arts instructor in fall 2019 after four years running a similar program at Lancaster High School (Lancaster, SC). In coming to Clover, one of his main goals has been to grow the program
and make it accessible to more students.
“It was full steam ahead during my first semester here,” says Chef Michaw. “Then COVID hit.” Virtual education was a special challenge since cooking is a hands-on activity. Chef and students adapted.
And since returning to the classroom, Chef Michaw’s classes have been completely full. He has even given up a planning period so that he can teach an extra class each day and accommodate as many students as possible.
In addition to expanding culinary arts at Clover, Chef Michaw is focused on teaching the best kitchen practices and preparing interested students for the hospitality industry.
The program offers three classes: Introduction to Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts 1, and Culinary Arts 2. It follows ProStart, a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students produced by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
Students who successfully complete all three culinary arts courses at Clover can receive the industry-recognized ProStart National Certificate of Achievement, which demonstrates mastery in more than 50 culinary skills and certifies 400 work-mentored hours.
That’s good news for South Carolina,
where the hospitality and tourism industry pulled in $24.4 billion in 2019. The pandemic dampened those numbers, but the sector has roared back since 2021, offering plenty of opportunity for students like Clover senior Bella Mock.
Her experience as a Clover culinary student has inspired Bella to pursue a career in hospitality. She will attend Johnson & Wales University in the fall to study Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship with the dream of opening her own bakery.
“I love that every day in the kitchen is different,” says Bella. “I never know what to expect.”
And while Chef Michaw works hard to ensure that students learn the correct kitchen procedures, lessons extend beyond cooking and into life. One of Bella’s most memorable classroom experiences was learning to cut apart a whole chicken. “My hands were cold. I had trouble making the cuts the right way,” says Bella. “But I learned an important lesson. You can make mistakes and fail but you can try again and improve.”
That can-do sentiment permeates these Clover culinary arts students, demonstrated in the program’s remarkable enrollment numbers – growth that Chef Michaw attributes to creating a fun environment and operating a quality program. “When you’re doing something well and it is a positive experience, other students hear about it,” says Michaw. “I want this to be a fun class.”
That happened to senior Malai Allison. She enrolled after hearing about the program from her brother. Now, after three years, “I know how to make homemade pasta and yeast bread,” says Malai. “But one thing I learned in the kitchen is that you have to work well together with other people” – a skill she will use after graduation as a criminal justice major in college.
Teamwork earned the Clover students fourth place in its first competitive appearance at the statewide 2022 South Carolina ProStart Invitational competition. That, along with good training and plenty of practice.
“I look for as many ways as possible to give students a real-world experience in cooking for others,” says Chef Michaw. He models that sentiment personally. When he was hired, Chef Michaw made dinner and served it to the Clover School Board of Education.
In his classroom, students put their skills into practice by preparing meals for groups in the school and across the community. Whether it’s planning lunch for a teacher’s book club
or conducting Cake Wars – where teams design and make cakes judged by school administrators – each week, students don their kitchen gear to cook for others.
In January, for instance, the students planned, prepared, and served brunch for the United Men’s Club Martin Luther King event. One hundred guests were treated to chicken and waffles, grits, cinnamon rolls, mini quiches, blueberry and banana muffins, and fresh fruit from Clover’s culinary arts students’ kitchens. They dressed in traditional white chef’s uniforms embroidered with their names while serving guests.
Those events breed success as community members hear about the Clover program and request services. The arrangement is winwin. Students get experience. Patrons enjoy a mouth-watering meal prepared at a minimal price, paying only for food at cost with a “small extra fee that’s funneled back into the program,” says Chef Michaw.
Enthusiastic word of mouth opened the door for Clover’s culinary students to present last year’s Taste of the Town event to
benefit Clover LEAF, a local nonprofit organization that provides mini grants to Clover teachers for special activities.
“We’d been looking for a way to showcase this program,” says Chef Michaw. “And this did so.” Students prepared and served a low country menu of pork sliders, shrimp and grits, Hoppin’ John with Carolina gold rice, traditional macaroni and cheese, two types of cornbread, and four desserts.
The evening’s success meant culinary arts students have been invited back to present the 2023 Taste of the Town event on April 27, this time featuring a Mediterranean menu with Italian, Greek, and even Turkish dishes.
But for now, hungry high school basketball players need a pregame meal. Chef Michaw’s students work seamlessly to bone cooked chicken for barbecue, chop potatoes into wedges for French fries, and cross slice carrots before steaming and glazing them.
The meal will disappear in a flash. But not the lessons about planning, poise, and teamwork.
For Clover’s culinary arts students, those lessons will last a lifetime.
Arby’s 511 Nautical Drive Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-5555
Azteca Grill 604 Nautical Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-8930
Bagel Boat – Bagels 4090 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-5995
Best China 5243 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-5540
Bojangles 4927 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-9346
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
Copper Premium Pub 4516 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-701-7021
Domino’s Pizza 125 E Evergreen Rd Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-7075
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
Fast Frog Bakery 54 Highway 55E Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-209-2065
Jersey Mike’s 604 Nautical Drive, Suite 101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-0912
Kochi Japanese Steakhouse 5360 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-610-0146
Lake Wylie Bowl N Bounce 4034 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-2553
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
McDonald’s 5262 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-0577
Moe’s Southwest Grill 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 Johns 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
Pizza Hut 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
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
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
Sample Mediterranean goodness at this year’s Taste of the Town event, Thursday, April 27, 5:30 p.m, Clover High School.
Tickets available at the Clover School District administration building, 604 Bethel Street, Clover Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Learn more about Clover High School’s Culinary Arts program: Chef Scott Michaw, culinary arts instructor
Phone: 803-810-8200, ext. 8261 Email: scott.michaw@clover.k12. sc.us
Instagram:www.instagram.com/ cloverhigh_culinaryarts/
By Kathy Widenhouse
The best things in life are still free. That’s the philosophy that drives the Clover, SC Plant Lovers Exchange, a group of local gardeners who meet twice a year to share their plants and garden gear with each other and anyone who wants them.
“Most everyone supports organizations that help feed, clothe, and give to the poor but would never suggest that those in need pay for those services,” says group founder Darlene Troxler. “The premise is the same for this group. This is a place where nice folks gather to exchange plants, plant-related items, and gardening information for free. Period.”
That spirit of generosity has helped grow dozens of gardens and gardeners in and around Clover and Lake Wylie for more than a decade.
In 2008, Clover resident Darlene Troxler and a close gardening friend were prompted to help elderly and disabled neighbors pull weeds, plant an occasional tree, and transplant flowers.
Along the way, as Darlene cleaned out her own garden, she divided perennials and bulbs and shared them with those she was helping.
Gardens grew and so did the thrill of finding free plants. “My friend and I began searching high and low for free plants,” says Darlene. “We loved the excitement of filling our gardens with plants we found on Charlotte Craigslist or otherwise through social media.”
Those discoveries meant loading the car trunk with shovels and extra containers for a trip to another gardener’s oasis. “Most times when folks are giving away free plants,
you have to dig them up,” says Darlene. “We didn't mind one bit. It is a great way for folks to clear their garden spaces from overgrowth and save the landfills from debris.”
Other Clover-area residents got wind of Darlene’s antics and soon, a small group was exchanging plants informally.
In 2012, one of the gardening friends set up a Facebook page to help the loosely organized group communicate more easily with each other. “If someone had extra garden related items or was cleaning out their garden and wanted to share, they wrote a post,” says Darlene. “Whoever was interested in that item drove to the giver’s home to get it.”
As the online group grew, a member suggested swapping plants on a designated day. The first official plant exchange was
held on May 19, 2013. Seven gardeners gathered at a small park in Clover to share their plants, ask each other questions, and share gardening information.
It was so successful that the members repeated the exchange that fall.
Since then, those gatherings have continued twice a year – in May and October. Members schedule the dates by planning around other events in and around Clover to allow the largest number of people to attend.
Participants meet behind Darlene’s business, Southern Cottage Antiques and Gifts on Main Street in Clover, where there is plenty of room for parking and for plants. Plants are given and taken freely, but no money exchanges hands.
Now 10 years later, the simple back-and-forth trading event has morphed into a rich time of fellowship that lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Sometimes we have a guest speaker. Other times we get right into the exchange,” says Darlene. “Those who like to stay after
the exchange bring a covered dish. We sit. We talk. We eat. We enjoy.”
Members who cannot attend can still clean out their gardens and garages and sheds, delivering their gifts to Darlene or other member prior to the exchange. Items are set out for others to take as they wish. The exchange accepts donated plants, clean garden art, clean pots, garden tools (rakes, pruners, shovels, others), garden benches and tables, magazines and books, flags, seeds – anything garden-related, as long as it is clean and re-usable.
What began as a plant group has now become an exchange not only of plants, but an ongoing virtual exchange of helpful gardening information among the group’s 500+ members. Hop on the page on any day of the year and you’ll see posts like …
• “Should I divide these elephant ear tubers (Colocasia) when I plant?”
• “Pampas grass free for pickup in Cramerton! It was dug up yesterday with lots of roots. Message me for details.”
• “Here’s link to a free virtual work-
shop on basic vegetable production.”
“We've had quite a growth spurt in the plant exchange over the last few years. Many of our newer members go above and beyond,” says Darlene. “Some are Master Gardeners. Members share their knowledge with each other unconditionally.”
So much so that over the years, out-ofstate gardeners have asked group admins for advice for starting their own local plant exchanges. As a result, similar groups have sprung up in Georgia and in North Carolina.
Growth in numbers has meant growth in activity, too. In 2021 the group organized its
Find the Clover Plant Lovers Exchange on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ groups/287269891339794/
Exchanges are held in May and October at Southern Cottage Antiques and Gifts
520 S. Main St., Clover
Free parking
first garden tour and visited three members’ gardens. Last year, members toured Maple Walk, a 2.25-acre private garden in South Park.
And this past September, a small group of exchange members launched the Clover Community Seed Bank. As is the best practice for community seed banks, they’ve applied for nonprofit status. In the meantime, seed savers meet monthly to share best practices for saving, storing, and using seeds for community residents to use in their gardens.
For free, of course.
Free but rich
Darlene dreams of starting a community garden in Clover to help those in need. But for now, the Clover, SC Plant Lovers Exchange has helped neighbors grow more than just plants.
"As I walk through my garden I am reminded of the beauty and blessing of friendship,” says member Leslie Schroeder, who moved to Clover in July 2021 and found the Clover, SC Plant Lovers Exchange group on Facebook.
Leslie attended her first exchange in May 2022 with the hope of finding one or two plants for her new home. “I was blown away. I returned home with boxes of plants. This group of plant lovers is very generous and knowledgeable. My garden is where I renew my spirit. I treasure the reminders I have there of friends and generosity of fellow plant enthusiasts.”
Anyone can join the Clover, SC Plant Lovers Exchange Facebook group, explains Darlene –with one stipulation. The page and the exchange must remain advertisement- and sales-free.
“This is a safe place to share our love for gardening and for gifting people with plants and plant related items,” says Darlene. “We come together here because we love to share and bless others with what we have. It is a fruitful thing.”
Laura Self couldn’t understand what was wrong with her daughter.
In the span of just a few weeks, the normally exuberant, healthy eight-yearold Hannah was tired all the time. She lost weight but was always thirsty. And where Hannah’s easygoing nature made her a pleasure to parent, now her mood swings were a struggle.
It was a blood test that showed Hannah’s blood sugar reading to be 740, which
is more than 7 times the normal 100. The doctor sent the Lake Wylie family straight from his office to Levine Children’s Hospital, where Hannah was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
“We were told our child has an incurable disease she will have the rest of her life – one that will take a lot of management,” said Laura. “It was overwhelming and scary.”
But over the last twelve years, the Self family – Laura, husband Chris, Hannah, and her brother Nate – have used their ex-
Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kindle
Web: www.sweetiebook.com
Instagram: @SweetietheBook
Resources and support for Type 1 Diabetes patients and their families:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Web: www.jdrf.org
Local support, T1 basics, information for the newly diagnosed, daily management, local events, latest research
perience for Hannah’s good. And for the good of so many others.
Diabetes is a set of disorders that affect how the body turns food into energy. Our bodies use insulin, a hormone, to release blood sugar into cells. In diabetics, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or it doesn’t use it well. Cells cannot get fuel from food.
In Hannah’s case (as with others who have Type 1), insulin-producing cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system. T1D patients must rely on insulin injections to survive. Those with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) produce insulin, but their bodies cannot use it effectively.
Type 1 is much less common than Type 2, affecting just 5-10% of diabetics. While challenging, it is manageable: 8-10 finger pricks a day to monitor blood sugar … a shot before every meal … the
right choices of carbohydrates and proteins for snacks. Yet unless you see a pump or monitor or patch, you may not know a patient has diabetes.
“That’s why it’s called the ‘invisible disease,’” says Laura.
Laura took on the role of helping Hannah to manage her daily care, armed with plenty of information from the hospital and medical team.
Meanwhile Chris, a technology executive, wanted to find a cure. His search led the Selfs to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where they found a support system within the local Charlotte-area chapter. JDRF connects newly diagnosed families for mentoring with others who are further along the Type 1 diabetes journey. JDRF connections also lead to meet ups for T1D
patients and resources to help families live adopt healthy routines.
With support, the Self family was able to begin to navigate their new lives and ultimately mentor other newly diagnosed Type 1 families.
Yet despite an abundance of information for parents and families, Laura noticed a lack of resources for the young T1D patients themselves. “As a mom, I wanted to help Hannah understand what was going on with her body,” says Laura. “I wanted her to understand she could be active and healthy.”
Plus, as a teacher, Laura knew the importance of making abstract concepts more understandable for young children. She spent several years as a public-school elementary educator before having Hannah, now a junior at Clemson University, and her younger brother Nate, a senior at York Preparatory Academy. Today, Laura is a preschool teacher. She became a certified Montessori educator and opened Journey Montessori Academy in Steele Creek in 2008.
Which is one big reason why soon after Hannah’s diagnosis, Laura sought out books to help explain diabetes to her daughter’s young brain. She found only a couple. Those were either too technical or too outdated or not relatable.
She packed away that observation until it resurfaced a few years later while attending a conference for parents of Type 1 children. During a particularly technical presentation, Laura found herself tuning out the jargon and jotting down explanations in simple, concrete terms.
“I realized I was tackling abstract concepts and making them concrete,” says Laura. Why not tell Hannah’s story in a book, using the
same approach?
“Characters in a book can help children understand what is happening,” says Laura, “whether it’s a situation with new sibling, a new home, a first trip to the dentist, or a disease.”
The ideas scribbled in the margins of Laura’s conference notes took on a new life. They helped her create the foundation for her new children’s book, Sweetie.
Sweetie, released in 2022, tells the story of a girl diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It is written for children.
“I wrote it for children, like my own Hannah, who have been diagnosed with T1D,” says Laura. “But I also wrote it for other children so they can understand what a friend might experience if she just found out she has Type 1.”
Laura has shared the book with preschool classes, schools, and at camps to help young listeners to understand diabetes. In the process, she gathers their ideas for Sweetie sequels like Sweetie Goes to School and Sweetie Goes to a Sleepover. The book has also been promoted at JDRF events, on podcasts, and locally at the Curtin Farm Fest in October.
Among Sweetie’s biggest fans are Type 1 parents and families, who are looking for materials to explain diabetes to their children. “They love the last page of the story, which shows Sweetie eating a cupcake,” says Laura. “People are under the misconception that diabetics cannot have sugar and can only eat salad, but the truth is that Type 1s can live normal, healthy lives.” It’s that education component, says Laura, that she hopes will raise awareness among readers and dispel commonly held myths about the diabetes. She’s especially proud of the page at the back of the book that lists Type 1’s most prevalent symptoms, which can help parents and
The Selfs continue to be active in JDRF events by participating Charlotte chapter’s annual JDRF One Walk, raising an accumulated $70,000 as a family to date. “It’s something we can do together to help find a cure for this disease,” says Laura. “And in the process, we help family and friends understand diabetes.”
Hannah has carried on that family tradition further by founding a walk team at Clemson, aptly named “Type One Tigers.” The team participates in JDRF’s Greenville walk to raise funds for Type 1 research.
And just like Sweetie, Hannah has learned how to manage the disease while continuing to live a full life. She plans to use her communications degree and minor in nonprofit leadership to work in the diabetes research and education space once she graduates in spring 2024. In the meantime, she is spending a semester studying overseas.
As was Laura’s intent, the lessons of Sweetie extend beyond understanding diabetes. The book brings a unique perspective for children and families as they deal with life’s challenges.
“Life won’t end when a challenge seems difficult to handle,” says Laura. “Sweetie shows how one little girl is able to see the good in everything and doesn’t hold herself back from enjoying the best things that life has to offer her. The same is true for all of us.”
This is what life is supposed to feel like. When you aren’t held back. When you have a health partner that doesn’t just treat part of you – they care for all of you. That’s why more people prefer Atrium Health, with the most complete care that lets you get back to the moments that matter. That’s what it’s like to live fully live fully
By Kathy Widenhouse
At 5:15 a.m. on a Monday morning, a group of women gather under the lights at Oakridge Elementary School and begin to stretch.
Soon, they are walking, jogging, running, or rucking – carrying a weighted backpack – around the track. Some increase their speed. Others stop to catch their breath. All call out words of encouragement to each other.
Forty-five minutes passes quickly. The women finish promptly, gather in a circle, share their names, ages, and nicknames –Cha Cha (because she used to do Zumba), Sparty (because she went to Michigan State), Mint Chip (because that’s her favorite ice cream flavor), OTG (because
she’s Off The Grid – off social media, that is.) Since it’s your first workout, you’re placed in the middle of the Circle of Trust, introduced as the FNG (“Friendly New Girl”), and invited to share a bit about yourself. The group gives you a nickname. Then each lady jumps in her car and heads off to start her day.
You’ve just completed your first FiA workout. The acronym stands for Females in Action, and it’s a community of women who are dedicated to making each other stronger in body, mind, and heart. FiA is growing fast and strong in Lake Wylie. But, as its members like to say, it’s more than a workout.
A group of Charlotte women launched
FiA nation in 2013, modeling themselves after F3, the men’s international workout community. Now, a decade later, FiA has spread to 23 states with chapters scattered across the country from Arizona to Massachusetts to Indiana.
The free, peer-led workouts are held outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold. Sessions are open to women of all ages and fitness levels.
The Lake Wylie FiA community was organized in 2019 by an enthusiastic FiA member nicknamed Flyer, who relocated to Lake Wylie from Fort Mill. She missed having ladies who lived nearby with whom she could work out. Lake Wylie F3 helped get the new FiA group started, kicking off with just a single workout on Saturday mornings.
“During that time, my husband is very active in F3 and urged me to try FiA,” says Jenn Santiago, now FiA regional leader for Lake Wylie. “But I didn’t want to give up my Saturday workouts at the Y with my friends.” If the group scheduled a weekday workout, Jenn promised, she’d try it.
The following week, FiA added Monday workouts to the mix. Jenn kept good on her promise to attend –and became hooked.
The group quickly took off and now offers ten workouts spread across six days a week. Lake Wylie FiA has further cultivated its own identity as a lake community chapter by nicknaming its workout locations using water-based themes, like “The Lighthouse” for Field Day Park, after its iconic score tower, and “Starbird” for the session that meets in the parking lot of Starbucks.
“10 PAX post at AO for BD at the hands of new Q.” Read that caption on the group’s Facebook page and you might be confused.
In FiA-speak, that translates as, “10 people (PAX) show up (post) at meeting location (area of operation) for beat down (BD) at hands of new Q (leader, derived from ‘qrusader in charge’).”
Attend enough workouts and you’ll learn that lingo along with exercises like bear crawl, Carolina dry dock, imperial squat walker, Jell-O shooters, and pretzel crunches – all described in FiA’s online lexicon and modeled at workouts.
The common language is just one way to build community. But central to FiA is the group’s commitment to acceptance and inclusivity. “Some women may be intimidated at first and may even hesitate to try FiA because they think they have to be in shape or they think they need to know how to do all the routines,” says Jenn. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Workouts across Lake Wylie range from walking to running to yoga to low impact work to weights – even a couple of bootcamp-style sessions. But regardless of the mode of exercise, the women are invested in encouraging each other. “No FiA is left behind,” is not just a maxim. Members always watch each other’s backs so no one feels lost, alone, or is discouraged.
“When I find myself leading a workout, I focus on being a motivator. I like to encourage the other girls,” says Jenn. “But they encourage me right back. They don’t know how much they impact others.”
Case in point: a new FiA member couldn’t run more than 10 feet during her first workout. The other ladies persistently
affirmed her and cheered her on to do her best.
She did. Since then, she has run a marathon.
Jenn’s role as coordinator, she explains, is to keep the Lake Wylie unit organized. Each month different members sign up to lead a workout at one of the local workout sites. Jenn checks in with each leader – “the Q” – to see if she needs any help.
And keeping with the motto, “We’re better together and we’re more than just a workout,” the Lake Wylie chapter builds community beyond their times together in yoga pants and running shoes. A social committee organizes monthly get togethers, including an annual river tubing outing, a summer pool party to celebrate the group’s FiA-versary, and a Christmas event with brother organi-
zation Lake Wylie F3. On Friday mornings post-workout, FiA members meet at Lake Wylie’s Bagel Boat for a Bible study.
And together they serve the community. FiA members have gathered several times to volunteer at Tender Hearts, a local women’s shelter, where they help to sort donations. They pick up trash at a local park … put together Operation Christmas Child boxes … collect nonperishables for Clover Area Assistance Center. “We serve locally,” says Jenn, “in whatever situations the women see help is needed most.”
And of course, they run together in local 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and marathons – always cheering each other on.
It’s next to impossible to know how many women are part of the local FiA
Web: www.fialakewylie.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fia.lakewylie
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fialakewylie/ Weekly schedule
Monday
5:15 a.m., Oakridge Elementary School
Tuesday
5 a.m., Starbucks, Lake Wylie
5:15 a.m., Crowders Creek Elementary School
7 p.m., Field Day Park
Wednesday
5:15 a.m., Crowders Creek Elementary School
Thursday
5:15 a.m., River Hills Church
5:45 a.m., Oakridge Elementary School
7 p.m., Field Day Park
Friday
5:15 a.m., New River Church
Saturday
7:45 a.m., Oakridge Middle School
nation. There are no attendance requirements and no fees. But the members keep track internally with each other to check in when a fellow member hasn’t been workout out in a while or has been sick.
“Initially I joined FiA because I wanted a group of women to work out with,” says Tracy Yost. “I wanted to build relationships and be held accountable. Thankfully, all those things have been true at FiA. I have found real friends and supportive, kind, inclusive hearts.”
It’s those bonds of community that lead 90-100 women each week to roll out of bed before sunrise to get to an early morning workout or rush through dinner to meet in the evening to lift weights and kettlebells.
“We want to grow to be better daughters, sisters, employees, spouses, friends, bosses and mothers,” says Jenn. “We do that better together.”
“Mayday! Mayday!” The internationally recognized distress call signals a life-threatening emergency on the water.
Now, that cry has been adopted by the Lake Wylie/Clover Mayday Project for the local charities to use when they have an urgent or unexpected need.
“Most charities don’t have reserve funds,” says Mayday board vice president Roseann Stichnoth. “But from time to time, they face critical needs. We’re right here in the community and we’ve had time to get to know them. So we can step in and help right away.”
A mayday call from partners
The Mayday Project can do so because it fosters personalized, one-on-one relationships with a handful of local charities, particularly those who serve needy children and homeless families. Each board member acts as a liaison to a local community organization, making it their mission to understand their assigned charities by visiting them on site and staying in touch quarterly to be aware of their out-of-ordinary needs.
“Do you know where we can get a golf cart?” That was the mayday phone call to board
member Steve Gave from partner organization RideAbility. Steve knew the local horse therapeutic riding center had moved to a larger facility, which allowed them to serve more veterans and children with special needs. But those same riders struggled to navigate the longer distance from the new parking lot to the horses. A golf cart could bridge that gap.
Steve’s contacts with River Hills Country Club allowed Mayday to procure a golf cart for RideAbility at a reduced cost and have it delivered for free.
In another situation, a partner organization’s van was destroyed in a storm. The vehicle was essential to transporting children to after-school activities, yet the nonprofit didn’t have resources on hand to replace the van. But its existing relationship with The Mayday Project allowed the board to voted quickly to provide funds to replace the van so this critical service for children could continue.
The Mayday Project maintains strong relationships with both Clover and York school districts, ensuring that staff have a steady supply of gift cards that homeless children can use for food, clothing, personal hygiene products, and school supplies.
The emergency support can be lifechanging. One Clover High School student excelled academically – while homeless. She had earned a scholarship to Lander University but lacked a final $1,546 to pay her semester bill. Mayday was able to make up the difference. The student has continued to excel in her studies and has maintained contact with The Mayday board.
“Mayday has met emergency needs like food, furniture, and cottage maintenance,” says a spokesman for the Children’s Attention Home. “It’s important for our children to know that our community is invested in their wellbeing and success. Mayday has always done that.”
A mayday answered by the community
The Mayday Project is funded by an annual benefit golf tournament at the River Hills Country Club. Gifts raised by tournament sponsors, participants, and a silent auction help to meet extraordinary needs for five local nonprofits and two school systems all year long.
“Mayday is a giver of last resort,” says board member Pam Horack. “When organizations and individuals have gone all other places and still need help, we can answer the call, answer quickly, and help keep our community afloat.”
By Vanessa N. Vargas, DMD
Maintaining your gorgeous smile is important for more than just being attractive and showing how friendly we are in the beautiful Lake Wylie area. Good oral health plays a critical role in your overall health.
Multiple studies have shown a link between dental issues such as cavities and gum disease to serious health conditions including diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and immune system disorders. In fact, a 2022 Tufts University study showed a direct link between periodontal gum disease and Alzheimer’s and dementia. Additionally, a trained dentist can detect potential health risks such as osteoporosis and oral cancer at an early stage, which allows treatment to be provided before the issue becomes serious or even potentially life threatening.
A visit to your dentist is strongly encouraged for women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. Periodontal disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Babies born too early often have health issues such as heart conditions, respiratory issues and learning disorders. A dentist can check to see if you are at risk for periodontitis and recommend actions to prevent potential inflammation and infections which could interfere with your fetus’ development.
An important part of each patient’s regular check-up at Carolina Family Dentistry at Lake Wylie and other highly regarded dental offices is a screening for oral cancer. Early detection may be the difference between a relatively easy procedure and a life-threatening condition. According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancer affects approximately 54,500 Americans annually. Unfortunately, oral cancer has a higher death rate than many other cancers due to the fact that it is often diagnosed too late. A simple screening during regular check-ups can lead to early treatment.
To protect your smile and body, follow your dentist’s advice. Brush at least twice daily with a soft bristle brush and floss daily. Eat a healthy diet and avoid sugary snacks and sodas – especially the Big Gulps! Visit your dentist on a regular basis (generally at least every six months) and call your dentist immediately if you notice any signs of oral disease such as sensitive or bleeding gums. During your dental check-ups, make sure your dentist is aware of your full medical history and let them know of any recent health issues.
If you are a parent, it is important to ensure your children are following these guidelines and are brushing their teeth effectively. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the most common chronic conditions among children in the United States is tooth decay (cavities). CDC studies show that about
20% of children ages 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth and 13% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
If left untreated, cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Fortunately, cavities in children is easily prevented by monitoring what your children eat and drink, ensuring they properly brush and floss daily, and taking them to visit the dentist office on a regular basis. If the dentist finds a cavity, the decay is easily treated preventing it from escalating into a more serious health issue.
Modern dental offices offer a relaxing atmosphere and use dental techniques that make the experience as comfortable and pain-free as possible. All too often, people with relatively minor tooth decay or gum disease avoid the dentist due to fear. Unfortunately, this delay leads to more serious and costly health issues that ultimately cause unnecessary discomfort and costs had they been treated earlier.
The health of your mouth and of your body is intimately linked – after all, your mouth is a very important part of your body! Caring for your teeth and gums is vital to maintaining a healthy body and beautiful smile.
Dr. Vanessa Vargas opened Carolina Family Dentistry in Lake Wylie in 2008. Visit the website at www.carolinafamilydentistry.com
Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner! If you are one of the millions of people who experience seasonal allergies, this does not have to be a frustrating time of year for you. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a happy and healthy spring.
The most important thing we can do to reduce seasonal allergies is to reduce allergy triggers. On high pollen days or when yard work is a must, consider wearing a disposable surgical mask. After spending time outdoors, take a shower or wash your face. Place a few drops of baby shampoo in a cup of water, and
use a washcloth with this solution to clean your face and eyes of allergens.
Hang-drying clothing outside is a good way to save on the energy bill, but if you suffer from allergy symptoms, you may be setting yourself up for a miserable time. Fabrics collect allergens that can be released as you wear an item of clothing.
As tempting as the refreshing spring air can be, avoid opening your windows. Open windows in your house or car allow pollen, dust and other allergens to settle into these areas, triggering sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, congestion and itchy eyes.
Unfortunately, you will never be lucky enough to avoid all allergens. Seek over-thecounter medications to help reduce or prevent
symptoms. Antihistamines such as Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin 24-hour, and Zyrtec can prevent or quickly relieve allergy symptoms when taken before or during exposure to an allergen. Steroid nasal sprays like Flonase, Nasacort and Rhinocort are helpful in reducing sneezing, inflammation, runny nose and congestion.
Nasal irrigation with a Neti pot, squeeze bottle or bulb syringe helps to rinse your sinuses by flushing out allergens with a salt water (saline) solution. This not only flushes allergens, but also helps to relieve a stuffy nose by clearing out mucus.
If you are experiencing eye discomfort due to allergies, over-the-counter eye drops such as Pataday, Patanol, Pazeo and Naphcon A
can help relieve itchiness, watery eyes, redness, swollen eyelids and the feeling of dirt or grit in your eyes.
Taking vitamins A through E this spring is a natural way to help protect skin from sun damage, prevent allergy symptoms, and boost both energy levels and our immune system. Vitamin A keeps skin healthy after sun damage by helping with repair and growth. Vitamin B-complex can boost energy levels and mood. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine that helps reduce and prevent allergy symptoms. We absorb vitamin D naturally from the sun. Taking extra vitamin D can help prevent the release of chemicals that make allergy symptoms worse. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant that helps protect your cells and fight sun damage.
Make a commitment this spring to take care of your body by enjoying more movement and activities, filling your plate with colorful fruit and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and getting at least seven hours of sleep per night. Take charge and do not let allergies run your life!
Larry Meeks is pharmacist at Lake Wylie Pharmacy, 221 Latitude Lane, #109, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. Call him at 803-831-2044. Website is LakeWylieRx.com
Chiropractic is a natural form of health care that has been around for many years.
Chiropractic treatment is based on treating neuro-musculoskeletal conditions such as neck, back, whiplash and shoulder pain as well as headaches, sciatica and nerve related conditions. Our spines consist of 24 vertebrae, including 7 neck (cervical) vertebrae, 12 mid-back (thoracic) vertebrae and 5 low-back (lumbar) vertebrae.
Spinal misalignments due to falls, sports injuries, work related injuries, poor ergonomic posture and motor vehicle accidents can cause an imbalance to your spine resulting in pain, spasms, nerve impingement causing tingling, numbness and burning sensations.
Chiropractors are trained to diagnose these conditions through physical examination, spinal range of motions and muscle palpation. Diagnostics such as X-rays, MRI and
CT scans will aid in the proper diagnosis of the condition. Once the diagnosis is found, chiropractors will use specific adjustments to help realign these vertebral misalignments.
There are many techniques the chiropractor can use to correct these misalignments. Depending on the age of the person, previous health conditions and many other factors, the chiropractor will decide on what technique will help resolve the spinal malalignment.
Besides manual chiropractic adjustments, there are several instruments chiropractors can use as well. Occasional spinal decompression is necessary if spinal discs are degenerative and compressing spinal nerves causing radiculopathies such as pain, numbness or weakness into the arms and legs.
Chiropractic for overall health is very important and vital to the individual. Our nervous system comprises the brain, spinal column and spinal nerves. Our skull protects our brain and our spine protects our spinal cord and nerve roots. When you have spinal
misalignments, the nerves can get pinched resulting in pain and poor health.
Removing nerve impingement allows the body to function at its fullest resulting in good health. Exercising, good nutrition, proper sleep along with regular chiropractic care will keep you in good health. Chiropractic care will help you recover from an injury quicker as well.
Using modalities such as muscle stimulation, ultrasound, cryotherapy, therapeutic exercise along with spinal adjustments will speed up the healing process and get you back to normal functioning. Recognizing all the benefits of chiropractic care, it should be a vital part of your health care.
Dr. Glaza owns Glaza Chiropractic Center, 548 Nautical Drive, #204, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. Call the center at 803-831-2354. Website is DrGlaza.com.
By Steve MulloolyToday’s headlines: Stocks give up gains, close lower again; Fed releases 2023 stress test scenarios for banks, including an extra new shock for big firms; Lithium Batteries Are the New Oil.
Two weeks before: Morgan Stanley Says Don’t Buy the Rally as Fed Looms; US Economy Cools Like the Fed Wants; Blackstone Sees Inflation Accelerating
Crazy isn’t it? What’s an investor to believe if we get whiplash just reading the headlines each day? I could go back years and find the same dramatic headlines in almost any paper, written only to grab your attention and focus. But don’t give in – It’s simpler than the “experts” make it out to be and you don’t need a doctorate in finance or run your own hedge fund to do well in the market.
Just before the world shut down three years ago, the S&P closed at an all-time high of 3,380 on Feb. 10, 2020. On the third anniversary of the index hitting that mark, the index closed at 4,082 – a total return of almost 21%, or an average annualized return of approximately 6.5%. Granted, the 12-month periods
ending Feb. 10 in 2021 and 2022 saw annual returns in excess of 15% each, those returns were all given back in the last 12 months.
To put this in perspective, since 1971, the stock market has delivered an annualized return of 7.6%. So while a 6.5% return isn’t something to get excited about, if we invested $10,000 in 1971 and ONLY had an annualized return of 6.5%, that one-time investment would be worth over $291,000 today. A lot of craziness has happened in the three years since that market peak in 2020, but the stock market has kept on chugging along, doing what it always has done.
So let’s figure out what you can do to flatten out the volatility in your own portfolio and get that steady return. First things first, let’s assume you already have an emergency fund with ready cash in liquid investments. By way of definition liquid means an investment that will not lose value and has little to no risk.
Once you have your ready cash squared away, it’s time to take a look at the rest of your portfolio. If the historical returns of the stock market prove one thing, it’s that if you invest over the long term and with discipline you will be successful.
Choose a discipline that works for you, one that you can understand and that can be easily implemented. Buy and hold is boring and stodgy, but it works if you choose your investments wisely. If you like to speculate, do that with money that you won’t need for retirement, buying a home or a college education. I typically recommend that investors use less than 5% of their investable assets to speculate. The rest needs to be working for you.
Lastly, ignore everything else. That’s right, ignore the guys at the club, ignore your hairdresser who always has a “surefire” investment idea she just heard about and ignore all the Chicken Littles who are claiming the sky is falling. Investing requires intelligence and self-discipline. Make good choices and leave your emotions out of your portfolio.
Steve Mullooly owns Mullooly Wealth Planning, 4341 Charlotte Highway, Suite 207 in Lake Wylie, a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm. Call us at 803-272-1003 to set up a no-obligation review of your situation. www.mulloolywealthplanning.com
Pysical therapy can have numerous benefits when considering the circumstance of the individual at hand. In the most traditional sense, it is rehabilitative care that entails skilled diagnosis and treatment of injury or dysfunction, chronic or acute.
However, as a physical therapist, I find it encapsulates so much more. Physical therapy is an individualized program to control pain, improve mobility, strength, flexibility and overall ability to perform movements and activities that contribute to the lifestyle and activities we desire.
Physical therapy becomes more important as we age. Research suggests that after age 55 muscles atrophy (become smaller and weaker) 1% point faster with every year. As we age, our tissues become less resilient, harder to train and lose elasticity, and it becomes more difficult to recover from illness and injury.
People often stop higher-level activities, such as hiking or playing tennis, and this snowballs into having difficulties walking through the parking lot or even in their house without a fear of falling due to limiting their activities over time. This may be because of pain, imbalance, and/or other physical and psychological discomforts with movement.
Physical therapy allows for management of pain and enhanced recovery with control of specific factors. However, most importantly, it allows for re-education on how to move properly, use and flex our muscles with purpose, and develop strength that one has typically lost due to lack of utilization or inability from injury.
Once efficient, comfortable movement is restored, we can double down on building strength to maintain these changes and further progress the ability to performing more demanding tasks, while also reducing the risk of injury in the future.
Often, I educate patients that every movement we make is a specific skill, much like a
pitcher in baseball throwing or basketball player jumping, and when we move differently or avoid these activities altogether, we lose the ability to perform them well.
This is where physical therapists thrive, identifying poor movements and teaching patients how to move properly again, much like a child learning to walk. Within these treatments we can incorporate other aspects such as balance, vestibular health, cardiovascular health, sports medicine, neuromuscular control, cognition, musculoskeletal strength and endurance.
Physical therapy can help patients live the life they envision. This principle applies to all ages and activities in relation to quality of life. In short, physical therapy is important to optimize the skills and empower patients to live the active, healthy, pain-free lifestyle one desires.
As of the close of 2022, the real estate market has made a dynamic shift, with much higher interest rates than we have been accustomed to since the pandemic began in 2020.
The average interest rate is now hovering between 6.15% and 6.75%, with rates going as high as 7.08% in October. Interest rates are projected to level off to around 5-6% as inflation lowers.
Average home prices for the Lake Wylie area continue to stay strong with an average selling price of $588,788 for 2022. Days on the market increased to an average of 32, up 4.5% from 2021. Inventory is still low, keeping the demand for housing high. Mortgage loan activity has also seen gains in January 2023.
Lake Wylie is home to many neighborhoods that continue to grow. Paddlers Cove - DRB Homes has a number of basement plans, making them unique. Handsmill on Lake Wylie is a diverse lakefront community that caters to everyone. In Handsmill, Kolter Homes is currently developing a 55+ neighborhood called The Gentry. True Homes offers single-family residential homes and townhomes. Greybrook Homes builds semi-custom homes, with some plans including a basement. Aside from the established neighborhoods, there are custom builders that contribute to the growth of the Lake Wylie area.
The waterfront market on Lake Wylie has continued to see a rise in value. The average closed price for waterfront homes on Lake
Wylie is $1.2 million, including homes on the North Carolina side of the lake. There has been an increase in days on the market for all listings, not just waterfront homes.
While homes in the higher price ranges tend to accumulate more days on the market, the average time for waterfront homes is still only 37 days. This is up slightly from 27 days toward the beginning of 2022. Last year also saw record prices for waterfront homes. Not only did waterfront home sales break the $3 million mark for the first time, they broke $5 million.
Inventory in Lake Wylie is still low. While the greater Charlotte region has 2.7 months of inventory, the Lake Wylie market has 1.6 months of inventory. Typically, a low monthly supply of inventory would cause prices to
rise more rapidly. At the beginning of 2019, the greater Charlotte region had almost a sixmonth supply of inventory. At that same time, the Lake Wylie market had 4 1/2 months of inventory. In that same time the median sale price in Lake Wylie has risen from $337,480 to $523,000.
While the inventory remains low in Lake Wylie, we are seeing a more balanced market. This is due mainly to rising interest rates. Lenders have been getting creative and offering unique solutions to these rising interest rates. One of the more common tactics was referred to as a 2-1 buydown. Essentially the seller could “buy down” the buyer’s rate. It would drop 2% in the first year and 1% in the second year of the loan. Most lenders would allow you to refinance in that time period with no penalty.
Matt and Katie Pendleton have a combined 11 years of experience in real estate. They are consistent multimillion dollar producers. Working with Allen Tate Realtors in Lake Wylie, they are more local than ever. Check out www.lakelivingwithmattandkatie.com for more information on them and to see what’s available.
The annual Lake Wylie “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade was held in December and was again one of the highlights of the holiday season for the community.
The crowd was treated to creative, fun holiday-themed decorations as the floating parade departed and returned to the dock at Papa Doc’s Shore Club after a short cruise on the lake. Congratulations to the Hurst family, whose “Boatin’ in a Winter Wonderland” took first place. All the honorees were as follows:
First Place: “Boatin’ in A Winter Wonderland” – The Hurst Family
Second Place: “Candy Cane Express II” – Michael Levans
Third Place: “The Grinch” – Ben Wylie
Most Creative: “Buffalo Bills Christmas” – Rob Grad
Most Holiday Spirit: “Holiday Cheer” – Calvin Whiteside
THANK YOU TO SPONSORS OF THE HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE
Atrium Health
Comporium
Papa Doc’s Shore Club
ProLift Garage Doors of Rock Hill
News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
SPONSORS FOR THE EVENING
PREMIER
Atrium Health Comporium
GOLD
River Hills Country Club
York County Natural Gas
SILVER Bank of York
Carolina Family Dentistry
Comfort Systems
Fred Caldwell Chevrolet
Lake Wylie Liquors
Lake Wylie Today
SPECIAL AWARD
Duke Energy
HOSPITALITY
Papa Doc’s Shore Club
PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrew Ketchum, AK Media
The 2022 Business Person of the Year is well known in Lake Wylie.
Dr. Vanessa Vargas started her practice 14 years ago and has made a significant and positive impact on the local community. She regularly donates to local charities such as CAAC, Lions Club, and All Saints Knights of Columbus to name a few.
She provides free dental care to underprivileged and disabled members of the community through SCDA Donated Dental Services and has spent time with local elementary schools and scouting groups to provide dental care education.
She is a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia and completed her residence at the University of Virginia. She has continued her education by earning her Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry which is one of the most prestigious awards in dentistry, and is now in the process of earning her AGD Master which less than 2 percent of dentists attain. Over the years, she has passed on her dedication to career development onto her staff. She has trained, coached, and mentored dozens of young women in their own dental careers.
In addition to the many front desk employees, dental assistants and hygienists she has developed over the years, she has mentored multiple young dentists who have gone on to start their own private practices in the surrounding community.
Throughout the years, she and her practice have pumped millions of dollars into the local economy through payroll and purchasing products and services from other local businesses. The impact she has made by helping other dentists launch their own careers and the impact she has made on giving other women significant career boosts is immeasurable.
She is married for 20 years to Stephan Nishimuta and they have 2 children. Nathan who is 20 and a Junior at Clemson and Catherine who is 17 and is a Senior at Clover High School. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and watching all kinds of movies.
It is with great pleasure that the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce presented the 2022 Business Person of the Year Award to Doctor Vanessa Vargas, owner of Carolina Family Dentistry.
Aspecial thanks goes to the husband of this year’s Citizen of the Year, whose job with Bank of America brought him here from New England 12 years ago, along with his wife, Karen van Vierssen. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has a degree in Sociology/Psychology. Soon after her move she became the Executive Director of the Clover Area Assistance Center.
She led the agency and worked to establish strong community partnerships and developed services founded on respect and compassion. She introduced the Full Choice Pantry concept, established the “Keep It Local Feed the Need in Our Community” campaign, and increased local food donations by over 300%. She expanded grant funding for agency services and will leave CAAC in solid financial standing.
CAAC has come a long way since her involvement and it has accomplished some pretty amazing things, not all of which were without challenge. She states that what CAAC is and does is the result of the efforts of a wonderful community and an incredible group of volunteers that never lose sight of the importance of those we serve.
She is married to her husband of 41 years, Alex, and they have two children, Nick and Dani; three grandchildren, Harper, Addison and Graceson, with one on the way. Upon her retirement, she is looking forward to spending time with family, traveling and reconnecting with long-ignored hobbies which include reading and baking.
It is with great pleasure that the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce presented the 2022
Nov. 8, 2022 – Feb. 9, 2023
Julia Hoak
Lake Wylie, SC 803-831-8321
adagioschoolofdance@yahoo.com
www.adagioschoolofdance.com
Dance Studio
Allison Creek Presbyterian Church
Rev. Sam McGregor York, SC
803-366-1302
officemanager@allisoncreekchurch.com
www.allisoncreekchurch.com
Church
Scott George
Southwest Charlotte, NC 864-590-1951
sgeorge@blingle.com
blingle.com/southwest-charlotte-north-carolina
Holiday, Landscape, Event and Commercial Lighting Design
Cut of Standard
Ulysses Easter
Clover, SC 803-810-3462
cutofstandard@gmail.com
Facebook.com/cutofstandard
Lawn Service and Landscaping
DRB Homes at Paddlers Cove
Suzanne Roth Lake Wylie, SC 803-985-3746
sroth@drbgroup.com
DRBHomes.com
New Home Sales
Gavin Harris Ministries
Gavin Harris York, SC 803-610-3879
gavinlovesgod@icloud.com
www.gavinharrisministries.com
Ministry
Hippo Turf Care
Will Hall York, SC 803-810-1145
hippoturfcare@gmail.com
Lawn Care, Fertilization and Weed Control
KA Gregory Properties, LLC
Allan Gregory Lake Wylie, SC 803-627-2242
allan@kagwm.com
Commercial Real Estate
Metrolina Woodworks, LLC
Steve Purpur Clover, SC 704-616-5650
Spurpur39@gmail.com
www.metrolinawoodworks.com
Woodworking
Thrive4Life, LLC
Rachel Sinnott Lake Wylie, SC 704-336-9339
Thrive4lifellc@gmail.com
Naturopathic Doctor, ND and Shiatsu massage
Trustworthy Home Cleaning Services
Yekta Erarslan York, SC 803-526-0642
trustworthy8789@gmail.com
www.trustworthyhomecleaning.com
Residential cleaning
Residential and Commercial Cleaning
Nov.17, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023
November 17, 2022 – January 31, 2023
Businesses:
AAA Carolinas
American National Insurance
Calculated Moves
Clover Area Assistance Center
D&D Sanitation Co.
Dragonfly Wellness Center
Edward Jones
Elite Eco Clean
Famous Toastery of Lake Wylie
Fred Caldwell Chevrolet
Habitat For Humanity of York County
Lake Wylie Athletic Association
Lake Wylie Business Centre
Lake Wylie Marine Commission
Lake Wylie Pediatric Dentistry
Lake Wylie Today
Lake Wylie Travel
MarineMax Lake Wylie
McSpadden Homes
Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC
River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club
Revel Salon and Color Studio
The Blake at Baxter Village
The Goddard School
The Wet Vet
TLC Your Way Home Care
TotalBond Veterinary Hospital
Truliant Federal Credit Union
VFW Post 6732 American Legion Post 38
YMCA Camp Thunderbird
Individuals: Andy Kane
St. Paddy’s Day
Business After Hours
ursday, March 16, 2023
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sponsored by United Bank and Lake Wylie Liquors
Held at United Bank of Lake Wylie
Business After Hours
ursday, April 20, 2023 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sponsored by and held at Marine Max/Lake Wylie Marina Grand opening of new showroom Blucher Circle, Lake Wylie
Business After Hours
Date and place TBA, May 2023 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Lake Wylie Community Fireworks
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Launched from Camp underbird Begins around 9:30 p.m.
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Golf Tournament at River Hills Country Club ursday, Oct. 12
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
2023-2024 Board of Directors
Jeff Ledford - Chairman
Charles WoodPast Chairman
Susan Brom eldPresident
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Matthew MugaveroVice Chairman
Lake Wylie Liquors
Donna BordeauxSecretary
Calculated Moves, PC
Michaelyn SherrillTreasurer
Home Companions
Fred Caldwell
Fred Caldwell’s Chevrolet
Jane DuBois
Little Woods Marketing
Kim Conroy
YMCA Camp underbird
Allan Gregory
K. A. Gregory Wealth Management
Ed Lindsey
Rotary Club of Lake Wylie
Angel Neelands United Bank
Stephen Nishimuta
Carolina Family Dentistry
Dr. Sheila Quinn Clover School District
Quinn Smith
May
What: Fantastic Fireworks Display
When: Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Time: Dusk – approximately 9:30 pm
Where: Lake Wylie by the Buster Boyd Bridge
S.C. Hwy. 49 at Lake Wylie
Best Viewing
Buster Boyd Bridge Boat Landing
Papa Doc’s Shore Club on outside deck
Rey Azteca deck at Lake Wylie Plaza
Lake Wylie Italian and Pizza on patio at Lake Wylie Plaza
Bagel Boat
Long Cove Resort
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 in order for the event to continue.
Please send your contribution in any amount now to: Camp underbird Fireworks Fund One underbird Lane
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
Thanks very much for your support!
