Lake Wylie Today - Winter 2023 by SC Biz News

LakeWylie LakeWylie TODAY Winter 2023 | Issue 4

Growing the 30 years of Garden’s appeal making music Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden flourishes with new displays

Clover Choraliers celebrate musical milestone

Winter angling Lake Wylie fishing heats up as temps fall

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Our View

Make lasting memories

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

By Susan Bromﬁeld,

AROUND LAKE WYLIE

President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

a festival and even a theme park decorated for part of town is lighted and decorated with festive Christmas. Each year, most of the area commu- displays and lights. When you go, you may want

oliday time is here and there are many nities have a Christmas parade with bands, floats options in our area to enjoy history, and local elected leaders joining in the festivities. Christmas lights, parades and a full Let’s not forget that Santa Claus really gets around range of festivities within a few miles of Lake Wythis time of year! lie. If you enjoy history, you are in for a lot of treats It is a time of celebrating the season with in the area beginning with the Lowry Christmas friends and family and making holiday memories parade on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 1-3 p.m., just that last a lifetime. This issue of Lake Wylie Tosouth of York on Highway 321. This parade feaday is chock full of interesting features and info tures horses and carriages and a glimpse of trathat will give you many options and ideas to make ditional parades of years gone by. Also nearby in new memories by taking in the events, activities McConnells on Brattonsville Highway, a Southand ways to celebrate the season in the area. ern-style Backcountry Christmas comes to life Your family may want to include an outing to during Historic Brattonsville’s annual Christmas a Christmas tree farm to cut the family tree, or a Candlelight Tours. Through candlelit vignettes, visit to the River Hills Lions Club Charity Christcostumed interpreters will recreate the Christmas mas tree lot at the Community Church of Lake Wylie, or the gathering of family and friends to of the backcountry settlers as it was in the 18th

to take your addressed Christmas cards to mail there at the downtown post office where they will be postmarked “Christmastown USA.” Also on the Gaston County side of Lake Wylie, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is sure not to disappoint with its beautiful light show and festive décor and carriage rides to add to the holiday traditions. A few miles away in Charlotte is the Billy Graham Library and its “Christmas at the Library” celebrations that include horse-drawn carriage rides, story time and live nativity. Go online to www.billygraham.org for detailed information. In Rock Hill, Christmasville kicks oﬀ the season with a parade, gingerbread house contest, and a full week of events and activities to celebrate the season. This award-winning festival grows its fes-

tivities each year. share a festive meal and time together. There are and 19th centuries. If parades are your thing, you are in luck beMeanwhile in York, the Yorkville Historical many options to choose from.

A trip through the country to Windy Hill Ap- Society Historical Christmas Home tour features cause each community in the area has a Christple Orchard and farm is always a great part of any homes rich in history and decorated with tradi- mas parade so you will have many parades and holiday experience. Windy Hill, located on High- tional décor of days gone by. This year’s Clover dates to choose from. This year is the 34th annual way 5 outside York, makes and sells hard cider, Home Tour presented by the Clover Women’s Holiday Boat Parade at Lake Wylie on Dec. 16, Wassail, apple pies and apple cider doughnuts and Club will feature new and older homes with a located by Papa Doc’s Shore Club and the Buster apple butter, as well as fresh greenery, wreaths and variety of traditional and contemporary holiday Boyd boat landing.

If you enjoy holiday music, the Clover High Christmas trees. Many evenings Windy Hill has a décor. If you are not into history or want something School Choraliers present their annual holiday bonfire and music and sample flights of hard ciders. Your holiday traditions may include a day at new to add to your holiday traditions, Carowinds show at the Clover High School Auditorium home baking gingerbread boys or holiday cookies Winterfest has added more entertainment, deco- which is like a Broadway performance each year. However you choose to enjoy and celebrate the and breads, hosting parties or caroling. Whatever rations and enhancements to this fun theme park your traditions are, they surely make memories experience. This year, Carowinds will also have holiday season, there is an abundance of holiday for a lifetime.

a family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration that events and activities in the area to help you create

Lake Wylie and the surrounding area are rich in concludes with fireworks at midnight. history and oﬀer many opportunities to celebrate

some new memories with your family and friends

If you enjoy festive lights, you will not want to this holiday season. We hope you enjoy this issue

the season with historical home tours, musical miss the short trip to “Christmastown USA,” also of Lake Wylie Today that is full of holiday info experiences, entertainment, community parades, known as McAdenville, N.C., where the main and ideas. LW 2

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

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Contents Winter 2023

Mailbag

16 Shoreline

Grab a fishing guide and find the best spots on the lake to reel in catch

20 Food for Thought

Meat Mafia brings top-quality cuts to Lake Wylie

26 Garden Party

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is born anew post-pandemic

32 Faces

The Clover Choraliers celebrate 30 years of distinction in music education

40 Party Bus

From a quick trip to a road trip, 5 Star Luxury Transportation lets your neighbors do the driving

46 Seasonal Shorts

LakeWylie TODAY

www.LakeWylieToday.com Published by SC Biz News Lake Wylie Today Editor Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Advertising Sales Jane DuBois • 704.287.8668 jane@littlewoodsmarketing.com Designer Manu Mohan M Contributing Editor Susan Bromfield President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce susan@lakewyliesc.com • 803.831.2827 Contributing Writers Susan Bromfield Jane DuBois Kathy Widenhouse Contributing Photographers Susan Bromfield Jane DuBois Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Jan Todd Kathy Widenhouse

Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited.

Children’s Attention Home helps foster youth build independent lives

54 Spotlight

Boat parade Holiday gala promo Chamber Golf event Golf thank you River Hills Marina CaroMont Lake Wylie Halloween Business After Hours at Long Cove Zo.ra Food and Wine Ribbon Cutting Year in review Chamber lists 3265 North Carolina Ave., Suite 101 North Charleston, S.C. 29405 843.849.3100 • Fax: 843.849.3122 www.scbiznews.com

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2022 2023

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Mailbag

Clover Area Assistance Center needs food donations

our local food pantry urgently needs your support! As the economic fallout from the pandemic continues, the Clover Area Assistance Center has seen a 60% increase in those coming to us for food assistance. Your food donations can make a significant impact. Just a few nonperishable items can provide nourishment and hope to those in need. Whether it's canned goods, pasta, rice or hygiene products, every contribution matters. Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes to bed hungry. Your generosity can make a real difference. Please consider donating to CAAC today.

CAAC Marketing food pantry needs

Lions Club volunteer shares reading with young students

iver Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club member Linda Brantley served as a classroom reader to young students in the Clover School District. Looks like Pete The Cat was a hit! The River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club provides classroom readers for over 20 classrooms within the Clover School District.

9.29 Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2022

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Mailbag

Riversweep volunteers collect 700 pounds of trash from Lake Wylie

River Hills women sharpen croquet skills

n Oct. 7, 16 volunteers boarded two boats to help clean up Lake Wylie with the Annual Riversweep event organized by the Catawba Riverkeepers Foundation. Our volunteers came from America’s Boating Club of the Catawba, the River Hills/ Lake Wylie Lions Club and, of course, Riversweep. Many thanks to our two boat captains and the other 14 volunteers who collected 700 pounds of trash in just over two hours. Boats are important to reach shorelines which cannot be reached by foot.

n Oct. 16 on the River Hills HOA athletic field, Linda Eiler and Carol Sheets, members of the River Hills Women’s Women’s Club Croquet Group, received personalized lessons from Tega Cay Croquet Club Instructors. (Linda Eiler has the yellow mallet).

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Mailbag

Children’s Outing at Camp Thunderbird he second edition of the Children’s Outing at Camp Thunderbird on Sept. 23 attracted twice as many kids as the first event in 2022. One of the many “firsts” oﬀered at the Outing is archery. It was very popular!

Volunteers helped feed the kids at the Children’s Outing at Camp Thunderbird.

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Archery was a popular activity at the outing.

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Mailbag

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he second annual Children’s Outing at Camp Thunderbird on Sept. 23 drew a large turnout. Kids enjoyed archery, boat rides, a visit from local firefighters, a cookout and more.

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Lake Wylie Chamber and United Bank - Lake Wylie continue charity drive

he Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce and United Bank – Lake Wylie continue the holiday “Neighbors helping Neighbors” Charity Drive. This year, unwrapped new toys, canned goods and checks for Clover Area Assistance Center can be dropped oﬀ at United Bank on the corner of Hwy. 49 and 274 at Lake Wylie weekdays between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Dec. 15. We ask for our neighbors to give generously and do what you can to help our neighbors in need of a little extra help. If you are unable to shop for the needed items, checks are always welcome too. Make checks to Clover Area Assistance Center and mail to PO Box 521, Clover, SC, 29710 or donate easily online at www.cloverareaassitancecenter.org. Toys will be donated to the Clover Jaycees Santa’s Closet. Count your blessings this holiday season and give to our neighbors that may need a helping hand.

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Mailbag

Enjoy the many holiday events in and around Lake Wylie The Lake Wylie area is full of holiday events that are inexpensive and family friendly. From Christmas tree lightings to parades to holiday flotillas, the area has a variety of fun, festive events for everyone throughout the holiday season.

2023 Lake Wylie Area Holiday Calendar Rock Hill Fort Mill Clover York

Friday, Dec. 1 Saturday, Dec. 2 Sunday, Dec. 3 Friday, Dec. 8

6:30 p.m. 11 a.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.

Santa makes an appearance at Christmasville in Rock Hill.

Holiday Events • • • • • • • • •

Carowinds Winterfest, Nov. 17-Jan. 1 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Holidays at the Gardens, 5-9 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 23 Christmasville – Rock Hill, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Clover High School Choraliers – Dec. 7, 9 & 10 Clover Christmas Home Tour – Dec. 7-8 Tega Cay Christmas tree lighting – 5:30 p.m., Dec. 7 York Historic Holiday Home Tour – Dec. 9-10 Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16 Narroway Productions – see website at narroway. net for plays and live nativity dates McAdenville’s holiday decorations attract large crowds every year.

The Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade is an annual highlight of the season.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

The Clover High School band participates in the Clover Christmas Parade.

Mailbag

Local pro Gary Troyan to retire from RHCC after inspiring golfers for 45 years By Kathy Widenhouse

ocal golfers are saying goodbye to River Hills Golf Club’s head pro Gary Troyan, who is retiring after more than four decades of teaching, mentoring, and inspiring others to enjoy the game. Gary grew up playing golf in Pottstown, Pa., After earning a degree in business administration from the University of Delaware, he was able to combine his education with a love for golf by joining the River Hills staﬀ in 1978 – first in outdoor operations, and later moving inside to help organize everything from training to gear to schedules to tournaments. Gary certified as a PGA Class A professional in 1983 and became the River Hill head golf pro in 1985. Ten years later, in 2005, he was one of three from a field of 119 who qualified for the USGA Senior Open Championship – “the experience of a lifetime,” says Gary. Over the decades, local gofers have relied on Gary’s acumen for advice about the golf business, equipment and techniques to help them hit the little white ball. “A golf ball is just a white ball sitting on the ground, but it’s such a thrill to hit it well,” says Gary. “If you don’t love the game, you’ve simply never played it.” Which is why, even in retirement, you’ll continue to see him on the golf course.

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Shoreline Captain Chris Nichols and his Catch of the Week image. (Image courtesy of The Carolina Angler)

WET A HOOK IN WINTER Grab a ﬁshing guide and ﬁnd the best spots on the lake to reel in a catch By Kathy Widenhouse

ep, say the locals. Some of the best Lake Wylie catches hit the rods between January and March. That’s when crappie and white perch follow baitfish up the creeks that feed into the lake. Even catfish – which slow down, become less aggressive, and go deeper when temperatures get cold – still need to eat when temperatures dip. Maybe you’ve never held a rod and reel. Or you don’t know how to find piles of buried brush in Big Allison Creek that provide the best hiding spot for crappie. You may be uncertain what speed is best for your trolling motor or clueless about tight lining with a half-dozen rods. If that’s you, don’t discount the good times you can have with a day on the lake with a rod in your hand. Because local Lake Wylie fishing guides know where to look and what to do. And they love to share their fishing expertise with guests who want to nab a slab. These avid anglers invite you onto their boats. They teach you about fishing, create a plan for your time on the water, and show you angling techniques that help you land a big one. One or two of them may even clean your catch. 16

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

If you partner with a passionate Lake Wylie fishing guide who knows how to bait crappie and cats, you can haul in a good catch all year round. Yes, winter can be fun on the lake when you wet a hook. Here are a few local fishing guides who can show you how.

The Carolina Angler: Multi-species, multi-lake fishing

“Crappie/White Perch: bite is excellent right now. We’re consistently catching 40-50 crappie keepers and a bunch of large white perch on a full day trip. The crappie bite will pick up considerably starting in January and February.” So reads the fishing report posted on The Carolina Angler, the online home for Captain Chris Nichols. His reports reek with know-how. Tournament winner Captain Chris has spent more than 40 years fishing Lake Wylie, Lake Wateree, and Lake Norman. Plus, he’s a licensed USCG captain and state licensed fishing guide that’s equally at home pulling in diﬀerent species – from bass, crappie, and perch to catfish and bream. Captain Chris fishes out of a 22-foot Sea Pro center console bay boat with a 150 HP Yamaha motor and, of course, the latest technology (Minn Kota iPilot

Shoreline Trolling Motor and Lowrance Down scan/GPS Fish Finder). If you give him advance notice, the Carolina Angler can accommodate large groups up to 12 people with advanced notice. Want a pick-up? Captain Chris meets Lake Wylie guests at Buster Boyd Landing (next to Papa Doc’s Restaurant) or at Ebenezer Park Boat Landing for a half day or full day on the lake.

Catfish On: Fish with a state record holder

Find a Fishing Guide

Rodger Taylor has been leading fishing trips on Lake Wylie since 2006. “It’s my home lake and lake of choice for all species,” he says, although he helps anglers to fish the waters of Lake Wateree and Mountain Island Lake as well. If you’re looking for catfish, you can join the ranks of Captain Rodger’s guests who regularly pull in the 8- to 18-pound blue ones – occasionally trophy-sized in the 40- to 60-pound range. And since he’s the state record holder for white perch (caught on Lake Wylie, no less), Rodger can point out nooks and crannies and tips for that species as well as crappie, particularly January through May when fish are largest and easiest to catch. You and three guests can join Captain Rodger on his 21-foot Voyager pontoon boat that’s specially outfitted for catfishing both shallow and deep, thanks to a Yamaha 90 HP outboard motor and, like Captain Chris, a Minn-Kota trolling motor and Lowrance Down GPS fish finder. He’ll even let you try your hand a night fishing. “We target flatheads with live bait,” says Captain Rodger. “But also catch blue cats and channel cats at night, fishing from an anchored position with up to 10 rods.”

The Carolina Angler

Wylie Guide: Home on the lake

Wylie Guide

Captain Trent Thomasson lives on Lake Wylie. And although he’s fairly new to the guide business, a lifetime of angling has taught him how to look for all the nooks and crannies where catfish like to hide.

Captain Chris Nichols Web: thecarolinaangler.com/ Phone: (704) 860-7951 Instagram: www.instagram.com/thecarolinaangler/ Catfish On!

Captain Rodger Taylor Web: www.catfishon.com Phone: (803) 517-7828 Email: rodon@comporium.net

Captain Trent Thomasson Web: wylieguide.com/ Phone: (704) 214-5553 Instagram: www.instagram.com/trent. thomasson/ Whiteside’s Whiskers

Captain Justin Whitesides Email: justinwhiteside@hotmail.com Phone: (803) 417-0070 Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitesideswhiskers

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline That means both still fishing and trolling/drifting, depending on season and the weather. And while Captain Trent strictly adheres to CPR (Catch, Photograph, Release) policies for fish over 10 pounds, his guests have the thrill of landing a big one. “My first catfishing experience was unforgettable!” said Ryan Hopper. “I highly recommend Captain Trent to anyone that wants the experience of reeling in a 30+ pound catfish. He knows where to find them.” The USCG-licensed captain takes up to three guests on his 22-foot 220 Scout Bay boat powered by a 200 HBP Yamaha outboard that’s backed up by a Minn Kota Terrova remote controlled electric motor – and electric anchors. He provides all equipment, bait, and tackle. Captain Trent arranges pickup at Harbortowne Marina, South Point Boat Ramp, Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park Boat Dock (all in Belmont) or at the Buster Boyd ramp in Lake Wylie. And if you are already on the lake? “I can pick you up at your location,” he says. .

Whitesides Whiskers: Kids fish for free

When he’s not at work with the family construction business, Justin Whitesides operates Whiteside Whiskers Guide Service. The name references a catfish’s droopy mustache, but Captain Justin helps fishermen pull in striped bass and white perch, too. Got kids? They fish for free with Whitesides Whiskers. The licensed USCG captain runs fishing trips year-round on Lake

Wylie, Lake Wateree, Lake Monticello, and the Catawba River. Captain Justin also partners with United Special Sportman Alliance (USSA), a nonprofit dream-wish granting charity, to provide fishing trips for disabled and special needs children in South Carolina. He helped to recruit 25 of the top fishing guides and tournament fishermen from North and South Carolina to volunteer their services for the USSA’s Lake Wateree Catfishing event, which each year provides a day of fishing for 35 children with special needs and their parents. “Fishing and outdoors opportunities have meant so much to me and so many of the people I know,” Whiteside said. “It has had a profound impact on my life in a very positive way.”

Be prepared

How should you plan for an outing with a Lake Wylie fishing guide? Since Lake Wylie spans two states, make sure you have both North Carolina and South Carolina fishing licenses – or specify to your guide that you have just one or the other. Wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Light reflects oﬀ the water, even in winter. Find out if your guide allows food and beverages on the boat (most do.) And get ready to see spectacular local wildlife. Bare trees mean more open spaces and better viewing. And one last piece of advice: “Bring a smile,” says Captain Trent. You’ll have one soon after you set out on the lake, anyway.

Guests of Whitesides Whiskers. (Image courtesy of Whitesides Whiskers)

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

One of Captain Trent’s happy guests. (Image courtesy of Wylie Guide)

Guests of Whitesides Whiskers. (Image courtesy of Whitesides Whiskers)

Lake Wylie

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Food for Thought

STEAK, ANYONE?

Meat Maﬁa brings top-quality cuts to Lake Wylie

Meat Mafia logo (Image courtesy of Meat Mafia)

By Kathy Widenhouse Standing rib roast … trimmed tenderloin … prime rib you’ve got plenty of options as you plan a festive holiday table. You may even be considering something different this year, like jumbo South African lobster tails or Wagyu striploin. Perhaps an exotic or two, like champagne pate or frog legs, as a starter. You can get all that and more right here in Lake Wylie. Meat Mafia, which opened in November 2022, provides top restaurant-quality cuts to local residents at its shop on Charlotte Highway. They’ll sell you a steak you can’t refuse. And more. 20

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

“How do I get a good steak these days?”

Mark and Ellen Bishop didn’t set out to build a business. Like the rest of their Palisades neighbors, the couple felt isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversations with friends – socially distanced, of course – centered on finding basic life necessities that were in short supply, like paper towels, eggs, and toilet paper. As time wore on, those discussions turned to how to source a few of life’s luxuries. “What do I have to do to get a good steak these days?” That question from fellow Palisades Country Club member got Ellen thinking. “Let me speak to my husband,” she said. Mark, a retired executive chef, has

Food for Thought plenty of food industry know-how and connections to local food distributors. He found a source for the steaks and delivered them to his neighbor’s porch. Later that day, Mark and Ellen received this message: “That was the most amazing steak I’ve ever eaten. Thank you.” Their friend couldn’t help but share his gourmet culinary experience with a circle of acquaintances. Soon, Mark was getting calls from golf buddies and friends of friends. Could he find more tenderloins and ribs and chops? Grilling was a safe dining option during the lock down and a restaurant-quality meal provided a release from indoor monotony. Mark and Ellen set about offering this service for their community by partnering with high-end providers – the same kinds of distributors that service Charlotte’s top dining establishments, like Epic Chophouse (Mooresville, NC). And since so many of their neighbors were unable to leave their homes, porch deliveries became routine. The demand grew quickly. “The next thing I knew, Mark was running off to Lowe’s to buy an oversized freezer chest,” says Ellen. Soon, their garage was full. Mark had always wanted to operate a small business. So Ellen wasn’t really surprised when her husband turned to her one day and said, “I think we need to get a storefront.”

“A steak you can’t refuse”

With Mark working logistics, Ellen created an initial marketing plan, drawing upon her life experience as a golf pro, former professional golfer, past business owner – and her sheer creativity.

Boneless pork chops. (Image courtesy of Meat Mafia)

Their seed branding concept came by chance. One evening, while scrolling through Paramount+ to find a movie, the Bishops clicked on The Offer, a biographical drama that follows the making of The Godfather movies. An iconic line from the franchise narrative jumped out to Ellen when gangster Don Vito Corleone declared, “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” “I turned to Mark and said, ‘That’s our tagline. We’ll sell you a steak you can’t refuse,’” says Ellen. With the “Meat Mafia” business concepting in hand, Ellen discovered the ideal font type online – ironically, named “Corleone” – and a designer to help craft their logo. It took some searching for the Bishops to find the right storefront location that was both near their Palisades home and close to the North Carolina/South Carolina border. They found it on Route 49 sandwiched in between the Circle K gas station and Lake Wylie Pizza and Italian Restaurant, just a few hundred yards west of the Buster Boyd Bridge. The couple invested plenty of sweat equity to renovate the leased facility, with plans to open in October 2022. But Mark had a medical issue that pushed the ribbon cutting to early November. Then late-season Hurricane Nicole dumped residual rain over the Charlotte region, flooding the store’s back rooms, leading to more clean-up. Finally, on November 13, 2022, Meat Mafia was in business. Fresh Australian Wagyu Ribeye. (Image courtesy of Meat Mafia)

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought

Grab Dinner or Plan a Party Meat Mafia Mark and Ellen Bishop, owners 4070 Charlotte Highway, Suite 101 Lake Wylie Phone: (803) 701-7053 Email: MeatMafiaSteaks@gmail.com Web: www.meatmafiasteaks.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MeatMafiaSteaks Instagram: www.instagram.com/ MeatMafiaSteaks

Storefront hours Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Online orders for storefront pickup: www. meatmafiasteaks.com/shop/ Filet mignon Image courtesy of Meat Mafia

Special orders, please allow one week’s advance notice.

“Once we opened the doors, it was amazing,” says Ellen. And since then, the gourmet meats-andmore provider has grown largely by word of mouth and a strong social media presence.

Steak – and much more

The storefront allows the Bishops to stock much more product than they could pack into their garage. They’ve expanded their line to include over 20 types of beef cuts as well as pork, lamb, and poultry. And now customers can also choose from a range of seafood from sea bass to blue and black mussels, jumbo lump crab meat, grouper, flounder, shrimp, and scallops. Want to try exotics? You can buy elk, alligator, duck, bison, or ostrich. Meat Mafia also offers a selection of rubs, pie and knife sets, spices – anything that can help you prepare a high-end restaurant meal at home. But the store’s distinctive, say the Bishops, is quality. Meat Mafia sells only prime and first grade choice cuts, which are so designated by the USDA for their tenderness, juiciness, and flavor.

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Coolers at Meat Mafia’s storefront Photo by Kathy Widenhouse

Regulars, partiers and online shoppers

That standard has helped to build a loyal customer base after just a year in business. Regulars stop by Meat Mafia weekly, says the Bishops’ assistant Brittany. One customer comes by twice – once for steaks and once for seafood, whether it’s snow crab cluster, oysters on the half shell, mahi-mahi, or Pacific salmon. Plenty more customers visit the store for the first time because a friend told them to. Or they’ve seen the Meat Mafia sign on the street for months and finally decide to check it out. Others come in to choose the main course for a party or special event. Meat Mafia also takes special orders, with the proviso that customers allow a week’s notice to ensure timely delivery. The store has recently started taking online orders for pick up. Those who taste the steaks even become long-distance fans. One Lake Wylie couple hosted family members from Pennsylvania with Meat Mafia steaks on the grill. Before they returned home, the visitors ordered five cases of steaks and the collected them at the Charlotte Highway store to cart back north. It was then that their local hosts realized that they wanted more of the same, too. The husband turned to his wife. “You did get some extra steaks for us, didn’t you?” he asked. She quickly picked up the phone and ordered two cases for pick up. With quality ensured and easy access to Lake Wylie residents, plenty of customers walk into Meat

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Food for Thought Mafia with one simple goal: they’re looking for something to cook for dinner. The display case oﬀers individual Wagyu steaks and pork tenderloin and bratwurst links and a rack of lamb and ribeye – all ready to throw on the grill. That means you needn’t wait for Christmas dinner to enjoy the best. Regardless of why customers stop by, Meat Mafia oﬀers a guarantee: they’ll sell you a steak you can’t refuse. And you’ll be back for more.

Display cases at Meat Mafia Photo by Kathy Widenhouse

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Brittany showing off some of Meat Mafia’s spices and rubs Photo by Kathy Widenhouse

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WINTER – and BEYOND – IN THE GARDEN Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is born anew post-pandemic

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The Orchid Tree

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Garden Party By Kathy Widenhouse

“N

ot long after I had accumulated Seven Oaks Farm, developers began to approach me with oﬀers to build resorts or golf courses there,” said Daniel J. Stowe (1913-2006). “After some consideration, I decided that I wanted to keep the land the way it was, for people to explore and enjoy.” Those words from the retired textile executive and Belmont resident paved the way for Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to open in 1999. Since then, the lovingly curated acreage along Lake Wylie has become a cherished local landmark and even touted by HGTV as one of the nation’s “20 Great Gardens.” And there’s no question – botanic lovers from all over the nation and the world make a point to visit the Garden’s 380 acres of manicured lawns, curated ornamentals, natural surrounding areas, woodland trails, sparkling fountains, and orchid conservatory. But new executive director John Searby and his 25-member team have set their post-pandemic sights on making this beautiful haven accessible to more visitors and families in 2024 through unfor-

Archway in red, white, blue. (Images courtesy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

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Garden Party gettable outdoor experiences. Starting now.

Holidays at the Garden

Each year in August, exhibits manager Lori Galster begins installing Christmas lights around the Garden. Volunteers join her in climbing ladders to drape strings on trees, weave them through bushes, and set out illuminated reindeer. In October, the horticultural staﬀ helps to complete the job. It takes that many man hours to prepare for the annual Holidays at the Garden, which has become the venue’s most popular event of the year – one accessible to guests of all ages. The Garden’s paths are a mix of paved roads, pressed gravel, and brick hardscape, making them easy to maneuver through the spectacular display and wide enough to accommodate strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs. And since its inception in 2004, Holidays at the Garden has become more than a walking tour of a million-plus lights. You can make an evening of it by purchasing a meal from food trucks parked at the Pavilion. Or step inside the Pavilion, the Prairie Shed, or Beer Garden to grab a hot drink, beer, or glass of wine. Families gather at fire pits to roast s’mores and sip hot chocolate … and then congregate on the Four Seasons lawn for a special light show (new this year) … view the special lighted Christmas train winding its way around a track … enjoy vintage art crafted by students at Highland School of Technology in Gastonia, specially created for this year’s event with the help of grant funds.

Or tour the Christmas Village set up in the Pavilion. Local community organizations, schools, and member families Adopt a Tree, decorate it, and combine with others in a display on the Pavilion’s back veranda.

Celebrate Winter at the Garden

Special events throughout the holidays

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

The Holidays at the Garden fun starts with a special Members-Only preview on November 17 and continues daily 5-10 PM (excluding Mondays) from November 23 through December 23. Plan your visit to coincide with special events. The schedule is packed with Sip & Paint Nights (November 29 and December 7), Krampus Night (December 5), adults-only Date Nights (December 6 and 19), and a Wreath Making Workshop (December 7). Even St. Nick makes a point of visiting Holidays at the Garden on special Mornings with Santa (November 25, December 9, and 23). He will also be on hand for Santa Paws Night (November 28), when you’re invited to bring four-legged guests dressed for the occasion. Entry to Holiday at the Garden is timed to limit the crowds and tickets at the door are limited. To ensure your spot, reserve your tickets online.

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Other ways to see the Garden this winter

November 22

Bright Lights 5k

November 25

Mornings with Santa, 11 a.m–

If you’d rather run your way through the lights than walk, you can do that too. New to the Holidays at the Garden in 2023 is its first Bright Lights 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Wednesday, November 22. The race a way for guests to see the Garden’s most popular exhibit before the display opens to the public, says Eric

Belmont, NC 28012 Phone: (704) 825-4490 Web: dsbg.org Email: info@dsbg.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DanielStoweBotanicalGarden Instagram: www.instagram.com/ danielstowebotanicalgarden/ Holidays at the Garden Nov. 23 – Dec. 23, 5 – 10 p.m. nightly (excluding Mondays) Special events

1 p.m. November 28

Santa Paws - Bring your dog to the Garden

November 29

Sip and Paint, 6-8 p.m.

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December 6

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December 12

Evergreen Society Member Sparkle Soiree, 6-8:30 p.m.

December 19

Date Night at the Garden – adults only, arts & crafts vendors, live music

December 23 Santa at the Garden. (Images courtesy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

The garden in blue. (Images courtesy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Mornings with Santa, 11 a.m.1 p.m.

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Garden Party Smallwood, outdoor program director. The event is also an opportunity for more members of the public to experience the garden, both those who may not have visited it before as well as families that would like to compete together. And it’s the chance for avid runners to get on board for the four-race series scheduled for 2024, each to coincide with the Garden’s four annual exhibits. Beyond the holidays, there’s plenty to experience at the Garden this winter. Monthly birding walks continue all year long. They are completely volunteer led and 100% free to the public. “We want to eliminate as many barriers as possible to allow as many people as possible to experience this beautiful oasis,” says Eric Smallwood. Birders have spotted dozens of species from coastal birds to blue herons to bald eagles on the treks that typically take one to one-and-a-half hours. Birding walks make good use of five miles of trail on the property as well as the newest mile currently under construction – one that connects the Trailhead Store. Under Eric’s direction, the Garden plans to add 1-3 new miles of trail each year to its system for the next five years. Ultimately, fifteen miles of trails on the property will supplement the adjacent three-

The Visitor’s Pavilion. (Images courtesy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

Clover Area Assistance Center

“Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller Serving Our Neighbors In Need

Thank You for Keeping It Local! Clover Area Assistance Center has roots in the community that date back to the early 1980’s. Continuously throughout this time, CAAC has been able to meet the needs of local residents who struggle with food insecurity and financial security. CAAC is 100% dependent on our local community for the donation of food, toiletry items and paper products. Canned meats, vegetables, tomato products, soups, cereals, ketchup, peanut butter, rice and toiletry items are always needed for our full choice food pantry! Donations are accepted Monday & Wednesday 9-4, Thursday 9-3, or by appointment. To make a donation, volunteer, or find out about how to get help, call or visit: To make803.222.4837 a donation, volunteer, or find out about how to get help, call or visit: 803.222.4837 | 1130 Highway East Box (P.O. 521) Box 521) | Clover, 29710 1130 Highway 55 East55(P.O. | Clover, SCSC 29710 www.CloverAreaAssistance.org

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www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Garden Party SC LMT 1462

mile Seven Oaks Trail along Lake Wylie that’s part of the Carolina Thread System.

Experience more of the outdoors in 2024

Summer running camp, mountain bike camp, paddling camp, and adventure camp – they’re all part of the Garden’s plans for 2024. On tap, too, is daily programming that includes run clubs, hike clubs, bike rides, homebrew clinics, campfire cooking lessons, and guided hikes of the property with botany and entomology professionals – all while expanding the current outdoor experiences like Vegan Vibe Fest, Jazz in the Garden, and Farm to Fork that have been so successful in 2023. “If we can instill a love of nature through unforgettable outdoor experiences, then we’ve done our job,” says Eric Smallwood. “Whether that’s a special activity in a stunning garden or in the peaceful woods on a trail.” Apart from all the special events, says creative director Steph Newman, there’s another way for residents to enjoy the Garden’s spectacular beauty: become a member. Members are the visitors she sees every day sitting on a bench cross-stitching or reading. “They walk in with purpose and head to their favorite nook or corner,” says Steph. It costs just 16 cents a day for membership that provides an individual with free daily entry, 20% oﬀ ticket to special events, and discounts in the garden store. Members enjoy an additional benefit: they carry on the legacy left by Daniel Stowe by helping to conserve this exquisite space for generations to come. “There is no more beautiful place in the Carolinas,” says Executive Director John Searby. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to help re-imagine what the Garden can mean to the community.”

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Inside the Orchid Conservatory. (Images courtesy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

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VOICES OF EXCELLENCE

The Clover Choraliers celebrate 30 years of distinction in music education By Kathy Widenhouse

A program modeled on excellence

Clover Choral Arts Director Jay Forrest trained as a pianist. During his college years at Winthrop University, he served as accompanist for choral groups at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill under the direction of Victor Varner. What he experienced there became the model for the Choraliers program. The key was vigorous musical training. Whereas many vocalists learn music by rote, Varner’s students were able to absorb repertoire quickly thanks to their schooling in solfège, a system that allows singers to read music without needing a piano. It was an approach Forrest wanted to replicate. After earning a master of arts in education from Winthrop and four years of teaching at Lancaster Junior High School, he joined the Clover High School staﬀ in 1994 with a mandate to build the choral program.

ocal harmony drifts from the classrooms just adjacent to the Clover School District Auditorium. The a cappella voices are so tight that you think it’s a recording. It’s not. You’re listening to the Clover High School Choraliers, a 120-member auditioned championship choir under the direction of Jay Forrest, rehearsing for its annual holiday show. In December, the Choraliers will be joined onstage by three additional ensembles in a sellout extravaganza that’s part formal concert, part Broadway revue. It’s just one in a series of appearances that make up Clover’s comprehensive, award-winning vocal music curriculum, now celebrating its 30th year.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

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The annual holiday show is a highlight of the Clover Choraliers’ season. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

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Faces Just twenty students initially enrolled in chorus, so his first step was to recruit. “I wandered the halls and listened to students talking to each other,” says Forrest. “Then I’d point to a young man and say, ‘You sound like a bass.’” It took a few years to build numbers and to acclimate students to sightread music using solfège. Today, the method is taught in Clover’s middle school choruses, which then feed into the high school program comprised of the flagship Choraliers, Men’s and Women’s Ensembles, and the auditioned Chamber Ensemble – four choirs in total. Students are selected for the Choraliers in a 6-stage audition process that includes voice range screening, a solo song with piano accompaniment, rhythm testing, movement, personal interview – and solfège sight reading, of course. But through the years, the Clover choral program has developed more than musicians. It built a unique culture.

A culture of excellence

At Clover High School, Choraliers is a full-year elective, meaning that students are in class every day for 90 minutes. They also attend a 2-hour weekly Monday night rehearsal and two annual

Dr. Robert & Tracy Latham

The Choraliers have been a springboard to a career in professional music for some members of the group. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

retreat work weekends. All that rehearsing is in preparation for three stage performances in December, three in the spring, a formal classical candlelight concert in May, regular appearances in the community throughout the year, and an annual concert tour. Each Choralier invests an estimated 500 hours a year in the program. That’s lot of time for students to spend on fine

arts, particularly if music doesn’t pan out into a career. Or is it? A handful of former Choraliers have made music their lifelong pursuit, including Jordan Boyd (Assistant Director of Choral Activities, University of Texas-San Antonio), Colin Ruﬀer (Director of Musical Theatre, Christopher Newport Uni-

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versity), Jazmin Black Grollemund (opera singer, France), and Hannah Hustad (musical theatre performer, Norwegian Cruise Line.) But Choralier alumni also include medical doctors, attorneys, MBAs, dentists, teachers, pharmacists, physical therapists, CPAs, RNs, military personnel, engineers, and a host of other professionals. They point back to their Choraliers experience as a benchmark standard for developing lifelong habits of excellence, teamwork, passion, and a strong work ethic. “You’ve got a corporate culture here,” said one parent. “Each member MUST pull their weight.” It’s a student-led movement, says Forrest, that works top-down. He conducts leadership sessions with rising seniors, who in turn coach and cheer on younger classmates throughout the year. “The seniors don’t want to be the group that lets down the program,” says Forrest. “It’s unpopular among Choralier students to not to give their all.” “It’s like a sport,” says junior Henry Gregory, now in his second year as a Choralier. “We have to get everybody on board and work together.”

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Candlelight concert at First Presbyterian Church, Gastonia. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

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Faces The eﬀort shows. Over the years, the Choraliers gathered 14 first place championship trophies at the South Carolina Choral Concert Festival before the event became noncompetitive and ratings-only. Meanwhile, the choir has been featured at the SC State Administrators Conference, SC School Board Conference, the National Education Association SC Conference, and for the governor of South Carolina. This past spring, the group performed at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas as part of the celebrations that commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas from the United Kingdom. Additional Choralier appearances include choral festivals in Atlanta, GA, Orlando, FL, Williamsburg, VA, New York City, on The Bahamas/Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and as a guest with The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. How does the staﬀ manage to accomplish all of that with 120 teenagers?

A booster club par excellence

“They’re the driving force behind the program’s success.” That’s how Forrest describes the Choral Booster Club, which launched during his second

Choraliers at their annual Spaghetti Supper, with Jay Forrest at the piano. (Images courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

year at Clover. The booster club has grown to a 1,000-member network of music enthusiasts, parents, and community partners who support the choral arts. Each year, a group of 25-30 parents are elected to serve on its volunteer Board of Directors, which chaperone students on trips. Board members also manage ticketing for shows and lead fundraising campaigns to subsidize travel expenses, costumes,

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stage sets, and tuxedo cleaning bills. For those parents, “It’s an invaluable opportunity to be a fly on the wall in your child’s life,” says current board president Jennifer Hinton. “You get to see your child interact with others and witness how students from all diﬀerent backgrounds come together to make each other successful.” If that wasn’t enough, the Booster Club also provides private voice lessons for Choraliers. “You

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A Choralier invests about 500 hours a year in the program. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

can’t individualize instruction for 120 students,” says Forrest. But professional vocal trainers can. They help students learn appropriate vocal technique, improve their vocal range, and master breath control. Dr. Ryan Colosi

A program that nurtures souls

Forrest estimates that over the last three decades, more than 3,700 students have been a part of Clover choral arts program. He works hand in hand with Clover’s athletic department, ROTC, and academic staﬀ to ensure that any student can participate in vocal education and simultaneously succeed in other educational opportunities. At least a third of Choraliers are student athletes. Unwavering support from the district’s Board of Education and the high school administration, says Milliken Educator Award winner Forrest, have helped make it possible for the program to flourish. And while Clover routinely produces National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) winners, Forrest is clear that the program’s goal is not to create career artists, but to nurture souls. “When else in their lives will these students have the time to put into an activity for the pure pleasure of it?” he asks. Yet students say the program builds more than memories. “The Choraliers helped me figure out who I am,” says senior Courtney Hill. “It’s taught me lots of life lessons, particularly in leadership.” Junior Ava Dentico agrees. “The Choraliers have helped give me a passion for music, but it’s also taught me the meaning of hard work and discipline.” It’s a sentiment that’s repeated often in the Choraliers’ rehearsal hall. “This doesn’t need to be your life,” Forrest tells students. “But it needs to be your life while you’re here.”

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Faces

The Choraliers formal portrait. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

Choraliers in rehearsal. (Image courtesy of The Clover Choraliers)

Hear The Clover Choraliers During Their 30th Anniversary Year The Clover High School Choraliers Web: www.cloverchoraliers.com Email: choraliers@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CloverChoraliers 2023 Tis the Season Christmas Spectacular Dec. 7, 9 (8 p.m.) and Dec. 10 (3 p.m.) Clover School District Auditorium 2024 Spring Musical April 25, 27 (8 p.m.) and April 28 (3 p.m.) Clover School District Auditorium 2024 Candlelight Concert May 10, 2024 (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) First Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, NC Choralier alumni are invited to join the alumni group by emailing chschoralieralumni@gmail.com.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

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NEED A RIDE?

From a quick trip to a road trip, 5 Star Luxury Transportation lets your neighbors do the driving

Stephen and Lisa Allred.

Get a Ride Lake Wylie Party Bus servicing a group of guests on their way to a birthday party. (Images courtesy of 5 Star Luxury Transportation/Lake Wylie Party Bus)

By Kathy Widenhouse ne in three Americans have a side hustle – a second form of income outside of their regular full-time jobs. Lake Wylie residents Lisa and Stephen Allred started a side hustle in 2021 after they moved to River Hills. With cars and traffic among the hottest topics in our community, you’d never think a ride service business could flourish in Lake Wylie. Yet now, two years later, Lisa and Stephen’s one-time side gig has become 5 Star Luxury Transportation, a thriving small business that keeps its drivers behind the wheel 7 days a week.

Riders are stuck on an island

The Allreds met online during the COVID-19 pandemic a year after Lisa left her native Long Island and her two jobs

to move to Lake Norman. They quickly found a home in River Hills. Once they settled in and remodeled, Lisa got bored. Stephen was at work all day. To pass the time, she drove for Lyft fares while building a new musical group now known as MarvelUS. “But I wasn’t making the better money picking up regular fares with my Jeep Grand Cherokee,” says Lisa. Stephen suggested that a luxury vehicle would make her more competitive. Lisa purchased a Genesis G80 sedan and on a whim, she placed an ad on NextDoor explaining she was offering private rides to her River Hills neighbors. She got four hits on the first day. “That’s when we realized that our neighbors in Lake Wylie struggle to get an Uber or Lyft ride,” says Lisa. When it comes to attracting drivers who cross the Buster Boyd Bridge, South Carolinians

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

5 Star Luxury Transportation / Lake Wylie Party Bus Stephen and Lisa Allred Email: fivestarlt444@yahoo.com Telephone: (704) 947-0361 Web: www.lakewyliepartybus.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ lakewyliepartybus Ways to use 5 Star Flat Rates: Book a 5 Star airport transfer using set rates based on location, not day or time of day. Custom Bookings: Designate a pickup address and destination for a quote. Same day booking surcharges may also apply. Hourly Rates: Charter the Lake Wylie Party Bus by the hour with a two-hour minimum. Join 5 Star as a driver Are you semi-retired, retired, or have extra time on your hands? 5 Star is looking for drivers who own a late model luxury vehicle, clean drivers license, and enjoy meeting neighbors. Contact Stephen Allred at (704) 947-0361 for more information.

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Party Bus

The Lake Wylie Party Bus.

are low on the priority totem pole. “It’s as if Lake Wylie residents are on an island,” says Stephen. “They just can’t get rides from the more popular providers.” But a private ride service? Yes. That meets a need that locals know only too well.

More options for Lake Wylie riders

Those first rides turned into regular work for both Lisa and Stephen. They quickly became busy, largely by word of mouth. Requests poured in for date night rides … transportation to and from concerts … drop-offs for medical appointments … business travelers who need rides to and from the airport. Stephen helped behind the wheel when he wasn’t at work in his online operations role with Duncan-Parnell construction services in Charlotte. In fact, Stephen was so busy helping Lisa that the layoff announcement at his company almost didn’t bother him. “I feel blessed that I didn’t experience one moment of panic,” says Stephen. He took early retirement in 2022 – and took the opportunity to move 5 Star to the next level. The Allreds registered 5 Star Luxury Transportation as an LLC, upgraded their GMC Acadia Denali to a GMC Yukon XL, and hired two drivers who also own luxury late model vehicles. But when they started receiving regular calls for 8-12 people to travel together, they knew it was time to invest in something bigger.

Book a ride on the Lake Wylie Party Bus

The couple found a party bus for sale in California and Stephen flew out to look at it. While he was there, Lisa called to report that the Lake Wylie Party Bus already had a booking. The bus was shipped to Lake Wylie on a semi-truck and arrived in early July. It seats up to 20 passengers and is fully equipped with a television and music systems. Passengers can blue tooth in to enjoy karaoke or upload their own playlists. While Allreds envisioned one or two party bus bookings a month to start, they’ve been surprised – again. Just a couple of months in operation, the Lake Wylie Party Bus was booked at least two or three times a week. One party of 14 friends reserved a trip to a restaurant and club in Charlotte. They wanted to enjoy a worry-free trip both going and coming. A group of seniors chartered the bus for a day trip to Boone, which included stops at Blowing Rock and the outlet stores. Allreds get regular calls from other private ride services that can’t accommodate large groups. Meanwhile, Stephen and Lisa have created their own party bus adventures and private charter trips. The first was a trip to the Carolina Panthers season opener in Atlanta, soon followed by a tailgate event own at the first Panthers home game. Guests who purchased a $99 ticket enjoyed roundtrip transportation along with a pregame tailgate party with unlimited beer, wine, barbecue, and cornhole

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

A group of friends use the party bus on a trip to Veronet Vineyards.

games under a canopy. That success led to regular party bus tailgate excursions to home games at Bank of America Stadium, concert trips to PNC Pavilion, and outings to Two Kings Casino where guests can enjoy 3 hours on the slot machines without worries of getting there and back.

Never get stuck for a ride again

Stephen distinctly recalls the time he realized 5 Star Luxury Transportation had woven its way into the Lake Wylie community. He’d dropped a rider at the airport and was driving back to Lake Wylie when truck mishap dumped tens of thousands of pieces paper, blocking the intersection of Route 49 and Shopton Road. “I couldn’t stand it,” says Stephen “The main road into Lake Wylie was cluttered and looked awful.” Stephen pulled over in the 5 Star vehicle, secured it, and cleared debris from the road. Later, he posted a photo on 5 Star’s social media accounts with a simple caption: 5 Star cares. Hundreds of comments affirmed what Stephen and Lisa had just learned: in a short time, they had come to care a great deal about their adopted community. And the sentiment is reciprocated. Lisa describes her own “Ah ha” moment: a rider called in a panic from The Lodges apartment complex. The customer’s car had broken down and she couldn’t get to work. “Every Uber she called was cancelled,” says Lisa. “She felt stranded –

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Party Bus as if she had no options.” Lisa got the rider to work. “She was so grateful to know she would never get stuck again.” Although they’ve expanded their fleet, the Allreds have remained focused on their service area: the community that has welcomed them. Stephen recently joined the River Hills Lake Wylie Lions Club as one more way to serve neighbors. “What do we do when we pick up one of our regular business travelers for a ride to the airport?” says Lisa. “Well, what you do with any other neighbor. We catch up with what’s going on in their lives.”

Lake Wylie Party Bus in action at an event in downtown Charlotte.

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Party Bus It's that sense of close-knit community that the Allreds find so nourishing. “We live thirty minutes away from the seventh busiest airport in the world, so there’s plenty of need for a private ride service,” Stephen adds. “Lake Wylie is more than a gold mine. It’s a diamond mine because of its diversity and interesting kinds of people that live here. We feel like we belong.”

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We have a full line of all-natural treats, chews & supplements We offer delivery to work or home! Locally owned and operated

WE HAVE DOG TOYS! We’ve got you covered for all your holiday pet gift giving with a full selection of dog and cat toys as well as all natural treats and chews! Join our Weekly Text Club to hear about weekly specials, new products and events in a text!

Party bus event guests enjoying a good time.

4110-103 Charlotte Highway – Lake Wylie, SC 29710 | 803-610-1228 | www.petwants.com/lakewylie Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

No-cost Christmas

WELCOME HOME

Children’s Attention Home helps foster youth build independent lives

The Children’s Attention Home decorated for the holidays. (Images courtesy of the Children’s Attention Home)

By Kathy Widenhouse

“T

his is a happy place. I didn’t expect that.” It’s a guest’s typical reaction when first visiting the Children’s Attention Home (CAH). The residential community for foster care children, tucked onto a quiet 4-acre campus behind Winthrop University’s golf course, is home to thirty young peo-

ple (ages 13-21) at any given time. They arrive with plenty of challenges. But thanks to a loving staff and community support, each youth leaves with skills to live independently.

Success looks diﬀerent for everyone

More than 8,500 children from toddlers to teenagers have passed through the Children’s Attention Home doors

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

since it opened in 1970. Today, CAH primarily care for teens and young adults. Some come by way of social services, referred because of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Other residents, ages 17-21, are homeless or at risk for homelessness, and enroll in CAH’s Crossroads Program to acquire the skills they need to be self-sufficient. CAH’s trauma-informed care mod-

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Seasonal shorts el allows the staﬀ work one-on-one with each youth at intake to understand their circumstances, physical and mental health, and their goals. Care coordinators help that young person to create and carry out a personalized plan that sets them up for success and independent living. Most residents live on campus for 3-6 months. Others call CAH home for years. Each youth stays until their living situations stabilize or until they transition to independence. “Success looks different for everyone,” says Director of Development and Mar-

CAH resident in an art activity.

CAH houses most residents for three to six months, but some stay for years.

keting, Katy Motsinger. “We work with each resident to recognize their own success and achieve their personal goals.” Bethany*, for instance, battled severe anxiety. CAH’s partnership with Rock Hill Schools’ Flexible Learning Center meant she could enroll in virtual classes while she received counseling to manage her anxiety triggers. Then, Bethany’s care team connected her to Better Bound Bookstore, where she learned work skills in a low-stress environment. In just a few months, Bethany made academic prog-

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Seasonal shorts ress, began dealing with her health issues, and made friends. Meanwhile, Pablo lived at the home during his high school years, left briefly, and returned at age 18. His goal? Build financial stability so he can obtain custody of his two younger brothers, ages 10 and 11. “The CAH staff helped me finish school and get a job,” says Pablo, whose first language is Spanish. “A few years ago, I thought ‘I’m not going to make it,’ but I don’t think that now.”

A typical day for youth

Three living cottages dot the CAH campus. They’re staffed by a team of 65 who work in 24/7 shifts to oversee dayto-day resident care, including trans-

The home’s front desk during the holidays.

Residents on an outing.

Resident group hug. (Images courtesy of the Children’s Attention Home)

Seasonal shorts porting youth to medical appointments, supervise family meetings, and serve as case coordinators. On a typical day, CAH residents eat breakfast and get ready for school or work – much like any other teenagers. Some take virtual classes. Others have after school jobs or activities, ranging from band to volleyball to drama club. They eat dinner, do their homework, and go to bed.

Help Foster Youth Move Into Independence Children’s Attention Home Holiday Open House Friday, Dec. 8 9 a.m.– 1 p.m. 1149 Edgemont Ave., Rock Hill Phone: (803) 328-8871 Email: info@attentionhome.org Web: attentionhome.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChildrensAttentionHome Instagram: www.instagram.com/childrensattentionhome The Children’s Attention Home welcomes gifts and support all year long, especially: • One-time and monthly financial gifts. • Campus needs. CAH maintains an ongoing Amazon Wish List on its website that includes snacks, house supplies, room furnishing, craft materials, recreational equipment. • Holiday wish list. Supporters are invited to sponsor children’s holiday gifts, provide meals, and offer holiday opportunities for residents.

Residents enjoy a game of basketball.

CAH is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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Donated holiday treats at the home.

Seasonal shorts Along the way, the staff weaves in plenty of extra activities and fun for residents – game nights, movies, birthday parties, field trips. That’s why community support is so vital. Donors help provide everything from birthday cakes to new clothes to Christmas gifts to financial support. It’s those extras and the loving, supportive staff that help make CAH a welcoming refuge where these youth can heal and thrive. Members of the public can see CAH firsthand by scheduling a tour, says Katy. But on December 8, the home will welcome guests to its annual Open House, where volunteers, board members, and staff will be on hand to show visitors around and answer questions.

A place to heal and thrive

“Before I came here, life was unsafe and unstable. I never knew where my next meal is coming from,” says Valerie, who excels academically and is a student-athlete. “Now, I have a goal to finish high school and go to college to study law. I’m ready to start my future.” Because of a place that helped her envision those dreams.

The Carolina Panthers mascot, Sir Purr, visits residents at the home.

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Development Update

Lake Wylie

Development Update

This three-bedroom waterfront home on Montgomery Lane in Lake Wylie features an outdoor living room, lakeside firepit and volleyball court, and oversized dock. It was listed for $1,675,000 and was under contract within three days. (Photo submitted)

By Drew Choate

s the winter season approaches in Lake Wylie, buyers are actively looking for homes to purchase. Usually summer is the busiest time for real estate activity, but 2023 has been anything but “usual.” Rising interest rates and record low inventory has slowed sales — in spite of high buyer demand. In the general market, the number of homes sold through the end of third quarter was down 40% in comparison to the previous year. The average home price of $550,000 was up 12% from last year, with many homes selling at or above asking price. In the Clover School District, some of the neighborhoods with the highest number of homes sold this year include: 52

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Neighborhood

Average price

Paddlers Cove

$590,000

River Hills

$675,000

Sanders Landing

$600,000

Boshamer Farms

$360,000

Handsmill on Lake Wylie

$690,000

Mill Creek Farms

$450,000

Development Update The average price per square foot for non-waterfront homes in the school district has topped $200 — up from about $150 just two years ago. Some buyers, particularly first-time home buyers, are being priced out of the market.

Waterfront market

Lakefront property trends are similar to those in the general market, but with even higher price tags. The average waterfront home sale this year to date is almost $1.4 million — a record high. Waterfront home prices were on the rise after the recession,

averaging about $750,000 in 2019, but the turbo-charged market in recent years has kicked costs up considerably. On a price-per-square-foot basis, lakefront homes are selling for an average of $375 per square foot. Of course, location, views, home style, size and age of the house — as well as waterfront amenities and outdoor living spaces — impact the prices of waterfront property. With the market and economic conditions, many homeowners — both on and off the lake — are choosing to stay put rather than upsizing or downsizing. This

has impacted the inventory, limiting the number of homes available for sale in our area. With low supply and high demand, prices continue to trend upwards. The Lake Wylie area continues to grow and prosper, and we look forward to seeing what the coming new year brings. 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 four-bedroom custom home in Lake Wylie’s Heron Cove sold for $944,000. Residents of the neighborhood enjoy a pool and playground, walking trails and lake access for kayaks and canoes. This home is located across the street from the lake. (Photo submitted)

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight light News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Winter 2023

34th Annual “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade Set for Dec. 16, 2023 Early registration due Dec. 14

he lake will light up with one of Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s most popular events, the 34th annual “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 16. Each year the event grows in number of participants and popularity, and this year many more boats are expected to join in. Homeowners are encouraged to participate too by decorating their docks as a way of adding to the festivities. Boats will meet at Papa Doc’s Shore Club , SC Hwy. 49 by the Buster Boyd Bridge, at 6 p.m. for lineup. A meeting of the boat captains will be held on the shore next to Papa Doc’s at the same time. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and the parade route spans both sides of the Buster Boyd Bridge. The best viewing is from the deck at Papa Doc’s and the Buster Boyd Public Boating Landing and access area. Awards will be presented to participants with the most creative lighting display. Early registration is $25 and must be received by Thursday, Dec. 14. Late and same-day registration is $30. Mark your calendars and plan for a fun night on the lake. Please mail your check and registration form to BOAT PARADE, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 5233, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. For additional information and a registration form, contact the Chamber at 803-831-2827, e-mail lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com or go online to www.lakewyliesc.com.

Boats light up the lake at the holiday boat parade.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce 34th Annual “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade PRESENTED BY COMPORIUM AND PAPA DOC’S SHORE CLUB

Registration – ENTRY FORM WHEN: PARADE BEGINS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 AT 6:30 P.M. WHERE: BUSTER BOYD BRIDGE AT PAPA DOC’S – LAKE WYLIE CAPTAINS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 6:00 P.M. This form and a check for $25.00 should be sent to: Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 5233 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 by Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 (late and same-day registration is $30) Name:______________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________ Cell Phone:__________________________E-Mail:__________________________ Type of Boat__________________________________________________________ Describe your holiday decorating theme:__________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Questions: Call –803-831-2827 or e-mail:lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________________________

Decorated boats at the dock of Papa Doc’s Shore Club.

Spotlight Holiday Gala kicks off the season

he Lake Wylie Chamber’s annual meeting is held as a holiday gala celebration where the annual Business and Citizen of the Year are recognized. This year’s event will be Dec. 7 at River Hills Country Club. Reservations can be made by calling the chamber at 803-831-2827. Sponsorships are also available.

The Classics perform at the gala.

Chamber board member Dr. Sheila Quinn presented Dr. Vanessa Vargas the 2022 Lake Wylie Business Person of the Year award at last year’s gala.

Clover School District oﬃcials at last year’s holiday gala.

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce 26th Annual Golf Classic Oct. 12, 2023, Held at River Hills Country Club Photos by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Atrium Health team

Thanks to United Bank for being the tournament’s Gold Sponsor.

Helacious sponsored the AR-15 hole at the tournament.

MarineMax team

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Spotlight

Morningstar Storage team

Thanks to Carolina Storks and More for the perfect sign: May The Course Be With You

Thanks to our Hole No. 1 Sponsors, zo.ra Food & Wine, Rejuvenate at Lake Wylie, and United Bank.

Thanks to DRB Homes for being a Silver Sponsor.

Gold Sponsors

United Bank and Comporium Held at

River Hills Country Club Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

Thank you

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

2023 Golf Classic Sponsors! Gold Sponsors Comporium United Bank

Silver Sponsors

Atrium Health Bank of York DRB Homes Lake Wylie Liquors Lake Wylie Today River Hills Country Club State Farm – Seth Neely

Bronze Sponsors

Duke Energy TLC Your Way Home Care Watson Insurance

Lunch Sponsor Christopher’s Grill and Bar

Pizzas Lake Wylie Italian

Hole-in-One Sponsors Fred Caldwell Chevrolet Long Consulting

AR-15 Hole Helacious

Beverage Cart Sponsor Pet Wants Lake Wylie Elrod Pope / Pope for House

Hospitality Sponsor Papa Doc’s Shore Club

Longest Drive Sponsor Lake Wylie Bowl N’ Bounce

Hole Sponsors

Allstate Insurance Lindsay Yelton Carolina Storks and More Clover Area Assistance Center COBX Contracting Comfort Systems Finishline Demo and Masonry Glaza Chiropractic J Alden Fine Jewelry and Precious Metals Kasby’s By The Lake Lakeside Insurance Long Cove Resort and Marina MarineMax Lake Wylie May Green Properties Morningstar Storage Mr. Crawl Space Peoples First Insurance Rejuvenate at Lake Wylie Retail Systems Inc Senator Harvey Peeler Southern Custom Printing The Lake Wylie Man YMCA Camp Thunderbird York County Natural Gas Zo.ra Food & Wine

Please support our sponsors!

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Winter 2023

Spotlight

Business by the Lake Sept. 28, 2023, Held at River Hills Picnic Pavilion Photos by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Ashley Scott (right) of Southern Edge Beverage.

RoseCatherine James, Michelle Dixon and Ben Leader (left to right) of Elrod Pope Law Firm were ready with their give-a-ways.

Clover Harvest catered a delicious dinner with dessert.

Erica and Todd Andres of Anytime Fitness had their booth ready with goodies.

New member Jenifer Dellinger of Open Road RV Rentals won a $150 gift card door prize from KiwkMaid.

Daniel Sykes with Waste Connections presented Kyle R. Kilpatrick II, DMD of Lake Wylie Family Dentistry, with a Yeti cooler door prize.

Matthew Sy (right) of Comfort Systems York County.

New member Kathy Lanham of Forever Photo Legacies won a door prize.

Winter 2023 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

Business After Hours Oct. 19, 2023, Sponsored by and held at CaroMont Health at Lake Wylie Photos by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Beni Mfitidi and Betty de Bree presented Debbie Jackson of Carolina Family Dentistry a lovely door prize.

Michelle Lee with Lake Wylie Pharmacy won a beautiful gift basket door prize.

New member Christine Hogan of Serenity Therapy Services won a door prize from Lake Wylie Pharmacy.

Lori Dickerson of United Bank won a door prize presented by Betty de Bree and Dr. Lawson Held of CaroMont Health.