72 years ago, the SS United States, the largest ocean liner ever built entirely in the U.S. was launched. The United States was no ordinary ocean liner, it was the fastest and immediately set the world record by traveling over 38 knots or 44 miles per hour. The ship won the Blue Riband which is a designation given to the ship that crosses the Atlantic Ocean with the highest average speed. She still officially holds the Blue Riband nearly three-quarters of a century later. Back then ocean liners were designed a lot differently than the massive cruise ships of today. Long-distance air travel was still in its infancy, and it was important for speedy passenger travel between North America and Europe. There was also a military component, should the need arise, to quickly transport troops around the globe.
Today the SS United States sits in a Philadelphia shipyard, gutted of her world-class engines and decadent interior quarters, she is a hulking, imposing figure docked at Pier 82. Last week a judge evicted the SS United States, effective this September, she must find a new home or else be sold for scrap.
Happy Independence Day to you! I encourage you to Google and read more on the SS United States. I find her history fascinating and having seen her in person she is truly an impressive vessel. Will she be saved, repurposed into a floating museum or hotel, or sold for scrap like all the other ocean liners of the past?
Congratulations to all companies that are nominated for the Best of Irmo Chapin 2025. You can vote for your favorites at our website: irmochapinlife.com. Small businesses are the core of our local economy and need and appreciate your support. Enjoy your summer and stay hydrated.
Jan Johnson Editor & Director of Digital Media lexlifeeditor@gmail.com
Anne Reynolds Sales Director annerabonreynolds5@gmail.com
Bailey Noles Vice President of Sales baileyrnoles@gmail.com
Kim Curlee Production Manager kimcurlee214@gmail.com
Jane Carter Editorial Designer jcarterdesign@comcast.net
CALENDAR OFevents
JULY•AUGUST
Saturday, July 13
Julyfest Gospel Concert
Chapin Town Hall | 157 Columbia Ave. | Chapin | 5 pm – 10 pm
This talented lineup of performers will fill the air with soul-stirring melodies and inspiring lyrics. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the power of music and faith. For tickets visit eventbrite.com.
Saturday, July 20
Irmo High School Class of 1984 40th reunion
The Meech House | 2121 Lake Murray Blvd. | Columbia 6 pm -10 pm
Tickets are $60 until June 30th and increase to $70 on July 1st. Food, DJ, and photo booth included. For ticket information contact Enright.Ann@gmail.com.
Discover SC State Parks like an Ultimate Outsider. Get tips about hiking, fishing, camping, and other recreational activities to explore throughout the state. Presented by Sesquicentennial State Park Interpretive Ranger, Stacey Jensen. For more information visit lexcolibrary.com.
Saturday, July 27
Game On: Escape the Ancient Tomb
Irmo Branch Library | 6251 St. Andrews Rd. | Columbia 10 am – 4:45 pm
It’s up to you and your team’s wits to find your way out of this ancient tomb’s secret room. Groups of three to six as well as individuals. For more information visit lexcolibrary.com.
Saturday, August 3
Indoor Yard Sale
Crooked Creek Park | 1098 Old Lexington Hwy | Chapin 7 am – 11 am
Clean out your garage, attic, kid’s rooms, and closets, and participate as a vendor or drop by for some great bargains and treasures. Visit icrc.net for vendor information.
Saturday, August 10
Irmo Community Shred Day
Irmo Community Park | 7507 Eastview Dr. | Irmo 9 am - 12 pm
This community-wide event is sponsored by the Town of Irmo and is open to the public. Visit townofirmosc.com for more information.
Sunday, August 25
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert by the SC Philharmonic Koger Center | 1051 Greene St. | Columbia | 2 pm and 7 pm
Fans will be able to experience screenings of the complete film with Oscar®-winning composer John Williams’ musical score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by SCP Music Director, Morihiko Nakahara. For tickets visit kogercenterforthearts.com.
faithMATTERS
FAYE JONES
Associate Pastor
Union United Methodist Church
The fast pace of life can sometimes “cloud” our vision to recognize a need for change. As people and the world evolve, we should too. There can be multiple factors that influence our reason to resist it, but just like our actual vision changes over time, we must accept that life happens the same way and we should not become complacent in our growth. The hardest part about change is not change in itself, but it is how we respond to it.
I have worn glasses my whole life. As a child, my mother used to fuss at me because the lenses of my glasses were always smudged. As a carefree kid, I didn’t have time to clean my glasses. As long as I could see without my eyes crossing up, I was fine. Similarly, we keep going, not sure about anything but we are just “riding the wave.” The danger though is that we are not always prepared when major things interrupt our lives because it does not seem to be important, and we refuse to see them.
One day, my uncle looked at me and said, “Juanita, can you see out of your glasses because they are really dirty?” I looked up at him and said “yes”- yes, my glasses were dirty and yes, I could still see. I will admit that sometimes even when I acknowledge that things are not right in my life, I still tend to say, “It’s ok, it will be fine.” The truth is we all need a reminder that we will eventually have to deal with our shortcomings. Honestly, many of us do not see the need or feel we have time to work on ourselves. People of faith need to address things like negative attitudes, behaviors, and habits because it draws us to transform into the people God calls us to be. The good news is we are not alone, and we have help.
My uncle then says to me, “Let me see your glasses so I can clean them.” So I gave him my glasses to clean. When he finished, he gave them back to me and when I put my glasses back on, lo and behold, everything was clear!
What if the approach to the changes that need to happen in our lives starts with God doing “cleaning” in us? What if we strive to avoid life’s distractions and have faith that God will help us to see our need for growth? n
Union United Methodist Church
7582 Woodrow Street, Irmo, SC • unionirmo.org Sunday Worship times: 9 am Traditional; 11 am Contemporary
by Mary Ann Hutcheson
Mayor Bill Danielson
Irmo’s Mayor Bill Danielson does not describe himself as a politician, nor did he ever plan to be one. He earned a Business Administration and Finance degree from USC in Aiken and has been a businessman for over 35 years. During that time, he has given his life to public service, including chairing the Department of Special Needs and working directly for the governor. Danielson is passionate about his job, and sometimes impatient to get things done right away. He says, “My frustration is that I can’t get it all,” something he says he’s learned to work on. His dad taught him, “Don’t complain unless you’re willing to fix it. Bring a solution when you have it, not just the problem.”
Among his most pressing concerns as mayor are expanding Irmo’s police force, address ing the issue of town security, and creating a comprehensive strategic plan. Teamwork is critical for this mayor. What he and his four council members have achieved in just 120 days into his term demonstrates teamwork in its finest representation.
Expanding the police force was first on the list. Irmo’s geographical area is twice the size it was ten years ago, far exceeding its population growth, resulting in a more expansive area for officers to patrol. The team devised a resourceful and cost-effective solution to in crease police presence. When the fiscal year starts in July, two code enforcement police will transfer out of the department and be assigned as patrol officers. The town will hire a new employee civilian code enforcement officer with the authority to write code violations. The police follow up only if a resident chooses not to comply with a property code warning. Mayor Danielson feels strongly that a citizen’s first interaction with an Irmo policeman should not be for a code violation. The new setup helps keep that from occurring.
The next improvement was addressing traffic, specifically speeding. They have approved multiple facial recognition cameras with the first “pilot” camera installment underway. In addition, they have six Flock (li cense plate readers) cameras in play, already paying huge dividends, and solar-powered digital speed limit signs in place. The signs automatically slow drivers down, and the collected data helps police identify a hot spot where they can position police.
Creating a comprehensive strategic plan came next. Danielson says, “Without a strategic plan, you’re floating in the wind. It is a living, breathing document for the Council to follow. The plan should constantly be updated so that the constituents know what they’re trying to do with the town.” There is a comprehensive land and zoning plan, strategies for annexation, how they’re going to grow intelligently, and the best way to do it. Danielson is admittedly proud of the plan they’ve devised so far. Residents and visitors alike can learn more about their town and its plan for their future by visiting the Town of Irmo website to follow the plan as it grows.
Mayor Danielson and his wife, Peggy, will be married for 40 years in August. They have two children, one grandchild, and one grandchild on the way. They attend Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin. n
by Marilyn Thomas
Christopher Cooper, MD, MPH, draws from his personal and academic experiences in the healthcare field to develop a big-picture perspective of high-quality and compassionate patient care. This understanding coupled with a sincere concern for the individual’s whole-person well-being and his desire to build genuine and respectful relationships with patients are the reasons he established South Carolina My Care, a concierge internal medical practice, in the heart of Lexington.
Dr. Christopher Cooper with SC My Care: Customized, Comprehensive, and Compassionate Healthcare
With more than two decades of experience in the healthcare field – as a registered nurse, a medical school and public health student, and an accredited physician – Dr. Christopher Cooper opened South Carolina (SC) My Care, a concierge healthcare practice, to better meet the patient needs of the local community. A South Carolina native, Dr. Cooper says, “I chose here; I live here. I was born at Lexington Medical Center and grew up in West Columbia and Orangeburg and moved back here after residency, so this was my community and my home.”
After working as a hospitalist at Lexington Medical Center, “I was looking to take care of friends, family, and people in my community and didn’t want to do the assembly-line medicine of 20-30 patients
a day,” says Dr. Cooper, “so I was looking around at different business models and felt like the concierge model was perfect.”
“It stemmed from me just wanting to help people,” he adds, “and I needed to figure out a way to do what I was already naturally doing in a way that made sense in a more organized way.”
Established in October 2021, SC My Care has a patient-centric focus that intentionally and attentively revolves around the needs of Dr. Cooper’s clientele. With a kindly bedside manner, this internal medicine physician endeavors to build a close and confidential doctor-patient relationship with those in his care. To illustrate the concierge approach, he explains, “Instead of an hour in the waiting room and five minutes
photos by Lola Dee Photography
with the doctor, we flip it around, and no more than five minutes in the waiting room and [then] spend an hour with the doctor.”
Furthermore, when specific issues arise, instead of applying the common approach of completely shifting the case to a specialist, Dr. Cooper prefers to “oversee and manage everything and then rely on the subspecialists more for recommendations. If we are consulting other physicians, it is because we want an added perspective or another opinion, or they are doing a procedure or something that I cannot personally do (like a colonoscopy or heart catheterization).”
In addition to conventional internal medicine, which involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating illnesses in adults, SC My Care also partners with South Carolina Elite Physicians at the same location to offer “aesthetics like Botox and fillers,” explains Dr. Cooper. “We have a medical weight loss program with Ozempic and Mounjaro medicines, a hormone optimization program, a ketamine infusion program, and we also provide intravenous [IV] fluids, hydration, vitamins, minerals.”
“We’re always growing, evolving, always making sure we are honing in on quality and efficiency, clinically and administratively,” he says. One of the practice’s most recent developments has been the opening of a new office at 201 Caughman Farm Lane in Lexington, and the opening of a second satellite “medical spa” facility in North Myrtle Beach is underway.
Dr. Cooper describes his comprehensive approach as “whole person” healthcare, and to model his method, he has thoughtfully developed a unique diagram that illustrates the “biological, psychological, and spiritual” and “functional, social, and emo-
tional wellbeing” components that make up a human being.
He explains, “I teach my patients to look at their lives and analyze each of those individual areas of wellbeing and to help me find, as a team with them, areas that they can improve. It’s very much a partnership with my patients,” he continues. “We work together – whatever’s going on in their life, is my job to help them find help where they need it.”
When explaining the motivation behind his humanity-centered perspective, Dr. Cooper recalls life-altering moments that occurred while he was working as a nurse and later studying in medical school. “I’ve had a couple of people that our paths just have seemed to randomly cross, and I was able to help guide them into deeper spiritual walks and help them in ways that were life-changing,” he says.
“I truly believe for me,” he concludes, “the meaning of life is just love and relationships. All we have is the moment, and life is so precious, to know that people are willing to trust me and want to share their lives with me, being able to know the families, to be a part of people’s lives – that is such an honor, and I am always amazed at that.”
Dr. Cooper invites potential patients to
consider his services, “if someone is looking for relationship, family, love – not just being a number, but being treated like a person. I want people to feel at home when they are here and take care of whatever we need to take care of, and I think that is the way it should be. We meet a lot of people who say, ‘Oh, I’ve never really heard of this before, but this is awesome.’”
More information about SC My Care and their customizable concierge services are detailed on their website at scmycare. com or the practice can be contacted directly at (803)771-1993 or admin@scmycare.com. n
Celebrating aCentury of
by Jennifer Wilson
The Beginning
His name was William S. Murray, a chief engineer from New York hired by Congress to establish electric power grids in the United States. On a work visit to South Carolina in 1923, Murray explored the Saluda River Valley and concluded that its topography made it ideal for developing a dam and a 50,000-acre reservoir for electrical power.
time. And the lake was the world’s largest man-made reservoir.
The workers began to fill the lake with water from the Saluda River in 1929. The dam generated its first power in 1930.
It’s hard to believe the fascinating story of Lake Murray began almost a century ago. As modern technology emerged in the 1920s, there was a need to provide electricity to South Carolina. The lake and its dam were the answer.
From its start as an engineering marvel of its time to the touching stories of the historic communities once there and its current status as a star of South Carolina’s recreational landscape, Lake Murray is celebrated. As its centennial approaches in 2027, plans are already underway to honor this treasured resource.
Understandably, it wasn’t easy. The team needed to purchase 1,100 land parcels –the homes of 5,000 people. What’s more, the land that would become the reservoir con tained churches, bridges, schools, and graveyards with the graves of thousands of people whose families had lived in the valley for generations. The work included removing three churches, six schools, and more than 2,300 graves.
Nearly 2,000 men moved to the area for jobs clearing trees using hand saws and axes, earning just pennies a day. Dozens of sawmills opened. Cut timber provided lumber needed for the dam construction and railroad tracks to haul supplies.
The dam Mr. Murray helped build was the largest earthen dam in the world at the
So thankful for the work of Mr. Murray, the lake was named in his honor. In addition to the 41-mile-long and 14-mile-wide reservoir, Lake Murray also contained ghosts of its past. Some families chose not to move their ancestors’ graves from now underwater hamlets like Derrick, Cantsville, Savilla, and Lorena, to name a few. There’s a bridge and homes underwater. And during World War II, a B-25C bomber that crashed during a training mission over the lake fell to the murky bottom below, remaining there for decades.
But as time marched on, people began to see the lake as more than a power generator – it became a popular recreational destination.
Economic Development and Entertainment Destination
In the second half of the 20th century, visitors began coming to Lake Murray to boat, fish, swim, and build homes. Mari-
Lake Murray of
The Lake Murray Dam By the Numbers
1927
Construction Begins 1930 First Power Generated
Original Cost: $20.1 million
Length: 1.5 miles
Width: 375 feet
Height: 208 feet
Acres: 99
2005
“Backup” Dam Construction
Cost $275 million
KAMINER AND DAIKIN TOGETHER ARE A WINNING COMBINATION.
The Lake Murray By the Numbers Source:
Counties: 4—Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Sauda
nas and restaurants went up. Real estate became lucrative. The lake earned a reputation for being one of the best fishing locales in the country with a variety of wellstocked fish.
Lake Murray has hosted more than a dozen fishing tournaments in the last two years with participants attending from 20 countries, including a bass tournament broadcast on national television, with commentators comment ing on the assets of the lake.
Recently, USA Today voted Lake Murray the second-best lake in the United States for water sports – ranking right behind Lake Erie.
Lake events bring in at least $75 million each year, according to Capital City/Lake Murray Country.
Due to these attributes, a handful of new businesses are opening around the shoreline.
Lake Murray native Brandon Crutchfield recently bought and revitalized the old Putnam’s Landing in the center of the lake and is a new co-owner of the new Putnam’s Harbor that opened this spring. It’s now a technologically impressive marina with 340 boat slips, links to a phone app to get your vessel in the water, and a store to stock up as
you’re on your way. Also, free popsicles for kids and food trucks with electronic ordering options on weekends from the water. His love for the lake and its history is clear. That’s why he bought Putnam’s.
“When I was a child, I could drive a jet ski there before I could drive a car,” he said. “They were famous for their cheeseburgers. But when the lake went through a drawdown in the early 2000s, the marina eventually closed.”
Mr. Crutchfield calls Lake Murray an incredible natural resource he wants to be the best for families.
“I worked in private yachting and was all over the world for years. I was always envious of my friends who were running around Lake Mur ray. It’s beautiful and it’s home.”
Celebrating 100 Years
Plans are already in the works to celebrate Lake Murray’s centennial in the summer of 2027, spearheaded by Capital City/Lake
Murray Country President & CEO Miriam Atria.
A week of celebratory events will include an air show with vintage and military airplanes, fireworks, a commemorative book with Domin ion Energy about the history of building the dam and backup dam, and a speakers’ series about the history of the lake and dams at locations around the Midlands.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country is looking for people who have great stories about Lake Murray through the years.
“Maybe your grandfather told you a story, or you have some commemorative artifacts,” Mrs. Atria said.
They look forward to honoring the fascinating and rich history of this South Carolina Jewel with a splash of goodwill and excitement for a bright future. n
If you have an interesting story about Lake Murray, artifacts, or photos, please call Capital City/Lake Murray Country at 803-781-5940.
Kenneth
Melissa Kednocker,
Britany Thompson,
Waterproof
Rechargeable
Distinguish
Detects
Edge
Best Accounting Firm
Carter CPA
Gierhart CPA
Robert Keisler CPA
Best Aesthetic Practice
About Face Aesthetics & Wellness
Blue Lavender Spa
Glõ Skin Bar & Medical Spa
Best Allergist
Carolina Allergy & Asthma
Carolina Pines ENT
Palmetto Allergy & Asthma
Best Apartment Complex
Palisades at Ballentine
The Residence at Marina Bay
York Woods at Lake Murray
Best Art Gallery
Artcan Studio & Gallery
High Noon
Palmetto Fine Arts
Best Assisted Living Facility
Generations of Chapin
Harbison Shores
The Heritage at Lowman
Best Attorney – Elder Law
Harrell, Martin & Peace
Lawyer Lisa
Millender Elder Law
Best Attorney - Family Law
Bowen Law Firm
Harrell, Martin & Peace
McCutchen McLean
Best Attorney – Litigation
Aun & McKay Law Offices
McCutchen McLean
Studemeyer Law Firm
Best Attorney - Real Estate
Amy Cofield
Dial, Grimm & Rupert
Harrell, Martin & Peace
Best Audiologist
Affordable Hearing
Lake Murray Hearing
Midland Hearing Associates
Best Auto Repair Shop
Christian Brothers Automotive, Irmo
Lake Murray Tire Center
Royson’s Chapin Automotive
Best Bank
Ameris Bank
First Community Bank
Truist Bank
Best BBQ
Farm Boy Barbeque
Maurice’s Barbeque
Roy’s Grille
Best Boat Repair
Doss Marine
M&W Marine
Marine 360
Best Breakfast
Bakon Southern Eatery
Eggs Up Grill
Luzianna Purchase
Best Burger
British Bulldog Pub
Higher Ground
Mathias Sandwich Shop
Best Butcher Shop
Caughman’s Meat Plant
Ole Timey Meat Market
Teagues Meat Market
Best Cell Phone Repair
CPR
Mr. PC
uBreakiFix
Best Charter School
Green Charter School
Grey Collegiate
SC Whitmore School
Best Children’s Boutique
Enchanted Closet
Poshture Boutique
Sweet Tea Boutique & Gifts
Best Chiropractor
Carolina West Chiropractic
Family Practice of Chiropractic
Progressive Chiropractor
Best Coin Dealer
Gilbert Coin
Golden Eagle
West Point Coins
Best Commercial Real Estate Firm
Douglas & Cannon Real Estate
NAI Columbia
ROI Commercial
Best Cosmetic Dentist
Chapin Dental Associates
Irmo Smiles
Peak Dental
Best Cosmetic Surgery
Columbia Plastic Surgery
Lefkowitz Plastic Surgery
Palmetto Cosmetic Surgery
Best Cosmetology School
Kenneth Shuler
Paul Mitchell
Southeastern Esthetics Institute
Best CPA
Carter CPA
Robert Keisler CPA
Leonard Lesslie CPA
Best Credit Union
Palmetto Citizens Federal
Credit Union
Safe Federal Credit Union
SC State Credit Union
Best Custom Home Builder
Conquest Homes
Cornerstone Custom Builders
Nextar Homes
Best Dance Company
Dance Department
Dance World
The Southern Strutt
Best Day Spa
Aquarius Wellness
Blue Lavender Spa
Carolina Esthetics Medical Spa
Best Décor & Rug Gallery
Lux Home
Rug Gallery of Lexington
Whit-Ash Furnishing
Best Dentist – Adults
Chapin Dental Associates
Dr. Eddie Taylor, Great White Smiles
Dr. Fulton Family Dentistry
Best Dentist – Kids
Collins Children’s Dentistry
Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry
Tiny Teeth
Best Dermatologist
Carolinas Dermatology
Columbia Dermatology
Columbia Skin Clinic
Best Doggie Daycare
Pet Vacations
Wescott Acres Pet Luxury Resort
The Woods Canine Resort
Best Exterminator
Baine Pest Control
Cramer Pest Control
Modern Exterminating
Best Facial
Art of Aesthetics Med Spa
Blue Lavender Spa
Glō Skin Bar & Medical Spa
Best Family Entertainment
Emeralds Party Entertainment
Flight Adventure
Stars and Strikes
Best Family Practice
Chapin Family Practice
Lexington Family Practice, Ballentine
Three Rivers Medical
Best Fast Food Cash’s Chicken
Chick-Fil-A Hardees
Best Fine Dining
Bistro on the Blvd
Chophouse of Chapin
Tavern on 6
Best Fitness Center
Kingfisher Strength
The Pilates Sculpt Studio
Sozo Family Fitness
Best Flower Shop
American Floral
B&B Florist
Lake Murray Flower Shoppe
Best Funeral Home
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home
Dunbar Funeral Home – Dutch
Fork Chapel
Whitaker Funeral Home
Best Furniture Store
Haverty’s Furniture
Poore House Furnishings
Sugar Creek Amish Furniture
Best Garden Center
B.B Barnes of Irmo
Botanica Nursery & Landscape
Wingard’s Market
Best General Contractor
Complete Solutions Contracting
Dutch Fork Renovations
Master Construction Company
Best Glass Store
Bigger Glass Company
Sheppard’s Glass Shop
Century Glass
Best Hair Salon
Bedazzled Salon
The Color Bar
Hyde Salon
Best Hairstylist
Chelsea Calvert, The Upper Cut
Lexi Ivanko, Hyde Salon
Amy Renee, Infinity Studio
Best Hardware Store
Boland’s Ace Hardware
Home Depot
Lowes Homes Improvement, Harbison
Best Heart Doctor
Dr. Dan Bouknight, CCVA
Dr. Amy Epps, LMC
Dr. Garrison Morgan, MUSC
Best Heating & Air
Kaminer Heating & Cooling
Mid State Heating & Air
Richardson’s Heating & Air
Best Home Builder
Great Southern Homes
McGuinn Hybrid Homes
Mungo Homes
Best Hospice
Agape Care SC
Lighthouse Hospice
Medical Services of America
Best Insurance – Auto
Irmo Insurance Agency
Russell-Massey & Company
Theresa Miley, State Farm
Best Insurance – Health Farm Bureau
Jeff Howle, Health Markets
Murdock Insurance
Best Insurance - Home Owner’s
Hutson Insurance
Irmo Insurance Agency
Lance Gore, Allstate
Best Insurance – Life
Farm Bureau
Irmo Insurance Agency
Shannon Rikard State Farm
Best Insurance Agent
Steven Price, Allstate
Scott Hanners, State Farm
Christa Wilks, CHW Insurance Group
Best Interior Design Firm
Haven & Harbor Interiors
The Houston House
Vie Elan Interiors
Best Investment Firm
Blackbridge Financial
Edward Jones Investments
Northbridge Investments
Best Irrigation Company
Busy Bee Lawn Care
Heads Up Irrigation
The Lawn Smith
Best Japanese Restaurant
Tsunami, Harbison
Inakaya Watanabe
Miyabi Japanese Steakhouse
Best Jewelry Store
Jared Jewelry
Kay’s Jewelers
Moseley’s Diamond Showcase
Best Landscaping Company
First Priority Landscaping
The Lawn Smith
Trifecta Landscaping
Best Landscaping Supply
Barthelemy Landscape Supply
Miner’s Landscape Supply Center
Willingham & Sons
Best Manicure/Pedicure
Diva Nails
Ivy Nails
Lovely Nails, Chapin
Best Marina
Big Mans Marina
Lighthouse Marina
Southshore Marina
Best Massage
Balance Medical & Day Spa
Glō Skin Bar & Medical Spa
Hand & Stone Massage
Best Medical Spa
Aquarius Wellness
Glō Skin Bar & Medical Spa
Vivid Aesthetics
Best Mexican Restaurant
El Charro
Que Bueno
Taqueria Jalisco
Best Mortgage Company
Atlantic Bay
Metro Mortgage Corporation
Total Mortgage of Chapin
Best Mosquito Control Company
Baine Pest Control
Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray
Mosquito Squad
Best Music School
Freeway Music
Irmo Music Academy
Lake Murray Music
Best OB/GYN Practice
Carolina Woman’s Physicians
Elite Gynecology
Prisma Health OB/GYN, Parkridge
Best Oncology Practice
Lexington Oncology at LMC
SC Oncology Associates
Best Optometrist
Eyecare Center Chapin
Eyes on the Lake
Doctors Eye Care
Best Orthodontist
Davis Orthodontics
O’Leary Orthodontics
Pitner and Carroll Orthodontics
Best Orthopedic Practice
Carolina Bone & Joint
Midlands Orthopedic
Palmetto Bone & Joint
Best Outdoor Equipment Co.
A-Z Lawnmower
Irmo Outdoor Equipment
Wilson Equipment & Outdoor
Best Outdoor Lighting
Lightscapes of Columbia
Outdoor Lighting Perspective
Premier Lighting
Best Pain Management
Carolina Bone & Joint
Palmetto Bone & Joint
Physician’s Pain & Spine
Best Pediatrician
Ballentine Pediatrics
Chapin Pediatrics
Sandhills Pediatrics, Irmo
Best Personal Training
Elite Personal Training Studio
FitBody Bootcamp
Kingfisher Strength
Best Pet Groomer
Robin’s Pet Grooming
Sutton’s Southern Pet Retreat
Wolfgang Barkery Bistro
Best Pet Hospital
Banks Animal Hospital
Lake Town Animal Hospital
Well Pets Veterinary Clinic
Best Pet Kennel/Boarder
A Paws Paradise
Chapin Pet Lodge
Sutton’s Southern Pet Retreat
Best Pharmacy
Chapin Pharmacy
Irmo Drug
Publix Pharmacy
Best Photographer
Lola Dee Photography
Salter Media
Samantha Kilgore Photography
Best Physical Therapy Practice
Carolina Physical Therapy
Columbia Rehabilitation Clinic
Drayer Physical Therapy Institute
Best Pizza
Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders
Stoners Pizza Joint
Zorba’s Greek Restaurant
Best Place to Buy a Camper/RV
Blue Compass RV Columbia
Camping World
Lester’s RV
Best Place to Buy a Boat
Captain’s Choice
CIC Marine
Dynamic Marine & Motorsport
Best Place to Buy a Car – NEW
Love Chevrolet
Steve Padgett’s Honda of Lake
Murray
Stokes Trainor
Best Place to Buy a Car – USED
Golden Motors
Jim Hudson Toyota, Irmo
Love Chevrolet
Best Place to Buy a Pool
Aquarian Pools
Contemporary Pool Works
Cromer Pools
Best Place to Buy Bath and Kitchen
Bath & Bronze
Capital Kitchen & Bath
Gateway Supply
Best Place to Buy Carpet/Flooring
Floor & Decor
Floor Boys
Lake Murray Floor Covering
Best Place to Buy Tires
Juan’s Tires
Lake Murray Tire & Automotive
Royson’s Chapin Automotive
Best Place to Work
Brook Health Care
Hands & Hearts Home Care
Palmetto Bone & Joint
Best Plumber
Cassell Brothers, Irmo
Homans Clearwater Company
Murphy Plumbing
Best Podiatry Practice
Columbia Podiatry
Lexington Podiatry
Physicians Foot Care
Best Pressure Washing
Mathias Pressure Washing
Pro Finish
Squeegee Clean
Best Private School
Ben Lippen School
Hammond School
Northside Christian Academy
Best Real Estate Agent
Danielle Burke, ReMax Purpose
Driven
Amy McGrady, J King Real Estate
Randy O’Dell, ReMax at the Lake
Best Real Estate Company
The Downing Group at
Keller Williams Realty
J King Real Estate
ReMax at the Lake
Best Roofing Company
Modern Roofing
Premiere Roofing
Vista Roofing
Best Salad
J Peters Grill & Bar
J.R. Cash’s Grill & Bar, Chapin
Tropical Smoothie
Best Sandwich Shop
Groucho’s Deli
Luzianna Purchase
Mathias Sandwich Shop
Best Seafood Restaurant
Catch 22, Chapin
Charlie’s Fisherman’s Wharf
George Roberts Wine & Raw Bar
Best Self-Storage Facility
Lake Murray Boat & RV
Storage Rentals of America
Storage Sense, Irmo
Best Senior Home Care
Assisting Hands Home Care
Brook Health Care
Hands & Hearts Home Care
Best Senior Living Community
The Heritage at Lowman
Lakeview Retirement Community
Southwoode Independent Living
Best Sushi Restaurant
Inakaya Watanabe
Koi Asian Fusion Cuisine
Red Sake Japanese
Best Tanning Salon
Carolina Tan
Palm Beach Tan, Chapin
Without Limits Boutique, Gifts & Tanning
Best Towing Company
Best Unique Gift Shop
Miss Cocky, Chapin
The Nifty Gifty
Sweet Tea Boutique & Gifts
Best Urgent Care
Doctors Care, Seven Oaks
LMC Urgent Care
Veritas Urgent Care
Best Urology Practice
Carolina Urology Partners
Lexington Urology
Prisma Health Urology, Parkridge
Best Veterinarian
Chapin Veterinary Hospital
Friarsgate-Ballentine
Animal Hospital
Laketown Animal Hospital
Schroeder’s Towing
St. Andrews Express Towing
Wingard Towing Service
Best Weight Loss
Medical Program
Cardinal Age Management
Glō Skin Bar & Medical Spa
Physicians Weight Loss Center
Best Wigs/Hair Pieces
Becky’s Place at LMC
Carolina Beauty
Merle Norman, Chapin
Best Wings
Carolina Wings & Ribhouse, Irmo
Tipsy Toad Tavern Wings & Ale, Irmo
Best Women’s Clothing Boutique
Joni’s Merle Norman Boutique
Miss Cocky, Chapin Westmore Land of Gifts
Best Write In
Clean Eatz
Life Is Short Travels
Wild Birds, Irmo
Bryan Bros Tee Off
Adecade ago, golfers Wesley and George Bryan IV went viral on social media with their trick shot videos.
Now, the brothers are teeing off on a brand-new project –and they’re bringing Pops.
by Bob Gillespie
photos courtesy of Bryan Bros Golf
Wesley and George Bryan IV — the Bryan Bros, as they’re known on social media — have come a long way since their days as standouts on the Gamecock golf team, but their careers have taken some unexpected turns.
Both played golf at Dutch Fork High School. Both played golf at USC. And both know what it means to go viral, thanks to the YouTube channel they initially launched in 2014 to show off Wesley’s uncanny knack for trick shots.
Both brothers also turned professional, with Wesley enjoying the most success at that level, winning three Web.com (now Korn Ferry) Tour titles in 2016 and the 2017 RBC Heritage.
Now, they are embarking on a brand-new venture — and they’re doing it their own way, capitalizing on the social media following they first built through their banter-filled trick shot videos. They even announced the project with a banter-filled YouTube video titled, wait for it. . . “We bought a golf course??”
When the Bryan brothers purchased West Columbia’s dilapidated Indian River Golf Course last year, they went all in. They are turning the long-vacant property into a private course and state-of-the-art golf academy run by their father and longtime local golf instructor, George Bryan III.
Golf Channel commentator Steve Burkowski would love to say he saw it all coming. But the success of the YouTube golf channel now known as Bryan Bros surprised him as much as — well, anyone who knows Wesley and George Bryan IV.
Burkowski was just breaking into sports radio in 1997 when he met the brothers, then ages 9 and 7, at the Columbia station
where he hosted a Sunday morning golf show. George Bryan III was Burkowski’s co-host and would bring the boys along to listen and learn.
“George III would bring his little guys into the studio and tell them, ‘Sit still and don’t say a thing,’” Burkowski says, laughing. “After the show, we’d go play nine holes at Hickory Ridge and then get pancakes.”
He might have guessed the brothers could become serious golfers: “One day, Wesley’s ball was on a sandy path, and I told him, ‘You can get relief from there.’ He just looks at me, pinches a shot off the path and onto the green, eight feet from the flag — like, ‘I don’t need relief.’ George III and I looked at each other and laughed. I guess those days were their introduction to golf and to the media.”
George IV (who goes by the nickname G4) was a three-time All-American at USC, and Wesley has that Heritage title under his belt, but it was via social media — specifically, YouTube — that the pair earned fame. Starting in 2014, they created a series of trick shot and instructional videos that garnered more than 200,000 subscribers to their “Bryan Bros Golf” YouTube channel.
“That died down some when Wesley got to the PGA Tour, but three years ago, we gave it another go, and it’s turned into a powerful model,” says G4.
That model also shifted, in large part due to the pandemic, which gave the brothers time to revisit their business plan.
“During COVID, the world shut down and we were bored,” says Wesley. “We still want it to be entertaining, but with instructional we’ve added a more sustainable layer of helping people get better.”
The former Indian River course is at the center of their new endeavor. Renamed Solina Golf Club — “Solina” is a contraction of “South Carolina” — the course will also host future golf videos produced by the Bryan brothers and others.
“When Lake Murray Golf Center went up for sale, we thought about building our academy there,” says Wesley, referring to the nine-hole par-3 course he and his brother played growing up. “Then Pops brought to our attention that Indian River could be acquired.”
The site felt right for a host of reasons — George III was even the club pro there at one time. They just needed some additional backing. Enter Columbia restaurant/brewery owner Greg Middleton, who once took golf lessons from George III. With his help, the brothers began giving virtual tours of the property via YouTube and explaining their vision. Their aim? To create one of the best layouts in the Midlands.
“We could’ve bought it ourselves, but we wouldn’t have had the money to do much to it. In Greg, we found a partner who had the same vision as us. He said, ‘I can do all this stuff’” — handling the business end — “and y’all use the Bryan Bros platform to grow the brand.’”
The brothers, as usual, complement one another on the project. As a PGA Tour veteran, Wesley has seen some of the best golf courses in the world — “And I’ve always had more of the architectural side than my brother,” he says. “My idea is to make it a championship golf course but also playable for average players.”
That means adding yardage and reconfiguring holes. That means adding bunkers and other features. George III will relocate from the Chapin teaching facility he has operated since 2006 to head up instruction, from range to on-course. “The academy is
going to be cool to do with the instructional side,” says G4. “Our dad is one of the best in South Carolina, and it’ll be awesome for him to have a facility like this.”
Meanwhile, G4 will spearhead social media, though he admits it’s an ironic twist since he was “the shy one” growing up. “Wesley was more outspoken, loud . . . annoying,”
he says with a laugh. Now, G4 is more the entertainer, Wesley the technical wonk. “In high school, I figured I’d be the one on YouTube, and George would be on the Tour,” says Wesley.
“Our personalities thrive off each other. You can tell we’re brothers, on-and off-camera. It really is fun, doing all this with him.”
Longtime Bryan followers are bemused but not surprised by the brothers’ latest act. Chris Miller, director of golf at the Country Club of Lexington, coached both in high school “I kind of knew G4 would morph into an instructor rather than a player,” he says. “He has an innate ability to communicate and be a good instructor. Now, Wesley will tell you, ‘I’ll never be a good teacher,’ but they both want to give back to Columbia and the game.”
Former USC golf coach Bill McDonald, who also coached both and recruited Wesley, agrees. “They and their dad have such energy for golf in the area,” he says. “They’ve been through ups and downs, but their passion for the game never wavers.”
The project could be well-timed for Wesley, who has suffered several nagging injuries since his 2016-17 success, though he’s not yet ready for a total career change. “I’m still able to compete on the Tour, that’s my lifelong dream,” he says. “Maybe 20 years from now I’d rather design courses than play.”
Whatever the future holds, the brothers’ styles and personalities mesh, according to G4. “I enjoy putting videos together, telling the story — and Wesley gets all the benefits of being the pretty face.” He pauses, then laughs. “Our personalities thrive off each other. You can tell we’re brothers, on- and off-camera. It really is fun, doing all this with him.” n
Originally published in Carolinian SPORT, a University of South Carolina publication.
Summer Safety Tips for Your Dog
by Judith Hayes
Summer has arrived, and with it comes a variety of challenges for dogs and their owners. People love including their dogs in outdoor activities such as hiking, visits to the park, picnics, Frisbee games, and swimming adventures. Summer’s hot and humid weather along with an abundance of insects can cause health issues for your dog during outdoor activities. You need to know the danger signs as well as what preventative measures to take to ensure your pet is healthy while enjoying summer adventures. Watch your pet for the following warning signs of potentially dangerous health issues.
Dehydration
Cool, fresh water should always be available for your dog, especially when they are active. Lack of sufficient hydration can lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke for your dog. When your dog is outside at home, have a sprinkler running in the yard to help your pet keep cool and comfortable. When hiking or participating in other activities away from home, keep plenty of water and a drinking dish with you. Give your dog only a few ounces of water at a time, because if your dog drinks too rapidly it may cause them to get sick.
Health
Your dog’s health can be affected by several factors. During summer months, people spend time with their pets at parks, beaches, and other public places where contact with multiple dogs could occur, and keeping vaccinations up to date is important. Preventative medications for fleas, ticks, and heartworms will help keep your pet healthy. Ask your veterinarian what brand is best for your dog.
Supervision
During the spring, summer, and fall
months, dogs can be outside almost daily. If you don’t have a fenced yard, don’t let your dog out alone. It’s never safe to let your dog run loose no matter how friendly it is. Dogs need supervision. A man’s best friend can cause damage in a neighbor’s yard, chase cats, and get into growling matches with other dogs. Most cities and towns have leash laws, and your favorite mutt will be picked up and taken to the dog pound if found wandering the streets.
Leash
Dogs are easily excited by the sight of a cat, bird, squirrel, small child, or other animal and will often pull on the leash in an attempt to get to what they have spotted. Always use a leash with a harness when walking your dog as a collar can cause serious throat injuries when it is pulled on.
In addition to promoting healthy habits for your pet in the hot summer months, following these safety tips will help keep your dog safer in other months as well. Enjoy warm weather activities with your dog knowing you have taken the necessary precautions to lessen the risks associated with hot weather, fleas, ticks, and other potential health issues. n
Aquascaping
Water gardening is a way to grow plants under or on top of water. It can also include housing fish such as goldfish and koi. Referred to as aquascaping, it’s a popular hobby that seems to be growing. Technique, creativity, the right supplies, and a little guidance are all it takes to make it happen.
by Kimberly Becknell Williams
The best part is that you can do it inside or out. The inside creation usually involves indoor aquarium tanks that range in many sizes, ideal for those who don’t have the outside space. And the outside water garden involves an underwater or floating garden pond perhaps with colorful fish. Either way, there’s a tranquil view.
Specific plants that thrive in this environment blend with decorative touch-
es, which might include moss, driftwood, stones, and underwater formations. Compatible fish might be added, as well as a water fountain. Of course, good water quality and ongoing maintenance are part of the requirements to keep the aquascape in top form allowing the plants and fish to thrive in their environment.
Becky and Terry Keyes started a pond in their backyard about 23 years ago. It has
water-loving plants and some fish making their home in the pond. “We’ve added numerous fish as they met various demises: herons and cranes and not getting the chemicals right,” Becky said. “Last fall we didn’t cover the pond with a net and most of them were eaten.” They have added goldfish to replace what was lost.
Other outdoor predators might include owls and raccoons, but netted pond covers
and the depth of the pond can help. Sometimes it’s a learning process to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Like many types of gardening, there’s trial and error.
Although there is work involved in maintaining their backyard oasis, the Keyes find that it’s worth it. “We love to sit outside and watch them, and listen to the frogs,” she said. “The frogs added themselves.” Water plants include a lizard tail and a white ginger lily. The ginger lily was planted last year, so it hasn’t bloomed yet. Lily pads “multiply like crazy,” she said; perhaps that’s what draws the frogs, numerous tadpoles, and pollywogs. Layered landscaping slate surrounds the perimeter of their pond.
Interested in giving aquascaping a try?
YouTube videos and online self-help guides are a start. Or try talking to professionals like the folks at Fishy Business in Columbia.
Chuck Maier and Guy Griffin are owners of the large store that has been around since 1986. Fishy Business offers the nec-
essary supplies and plenty of expertise for the beginner or seasoned aquascaper. “It’s the number one hobby for a reason,” Chuck Maier said about aquascaping. “If you’re looking for a family-friendly hobby, aquarium-keeping whether outdoor or indoor is very rewarding. It brings the whole family together.”
Freshwater and saltwater are options. “Saltwater is a little more expensive on the front side,” Maier explained, but it isn’t harder. “It’s more involved. We can teach you how to do it.” As far as their customer base, the percentage of those using fresh or saltwater is about 50/50.
The store services offer installation, consultation, and supplies, including
aquarium plants, corals, invertebrates, and ornamental features. “We supply all ornamental fish for the home or garden,” Maier said. “We have a 10,000-squarefoot store.” Aquarium tanks on the floor have ranged from 1 gallon to the biggest in the store at 310 gallons, but he said they’ve done bigger than that.
Although indoor and outdoor aquascaping are vastly different, Maier offered a few tips that are helpful for both.
1. Get a good source for information –“Get someone more knowledgeable than you,” he said. “The internet can be confusing.”
2. Test the water weekly. Water quality is important for captivated fish – “It’s the number one problem,” he said. “It’s not fish disease.”
3. Research to determine the best location and design for the aquarium or pond. This is the environment where the plants and fish will live. – “The bigger the better,” he said. “The larger the body of water the fewer problems you’ll have in most cases.”
Follow Fishy Business on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or their website fishybusinesssc.com for store information and photos of the endless possibilities.
Whether you embrace your inner or outer gardener, there’s a place for you in aquascaping. n
spice OF LIFE Summer’sCoolest Cakes
Berry Icebox Cake
19 oz graham crackers
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 (3.4 oz) packages Vanilla instant pudding
2½ cups cold milk
12 oz Cool Whip
3 cups strawberries, sliced
1½ cups blueberries
2 oz white chocolate chips
Beat together cream cheese and dry pudding mixes, then gradually beat in milk. Gently stir in Cool Whip, reserving ½ cup. Spread a thin layer of Cool Whip in a 13x9 pan just to coat the bottom. Layer graham crackers across the pan, spread a layer of the pudding mixture, then top with a layer of blueberries and strawberries. Repeat the graham-pudding-berries layers 2 more times. Refrigerate for 4
Hot Fudge Magic Shell
Whipped cream, chopped nuts, maraschino cherries
Add ⅓ of the peanuts evenly over the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. Drizzle with ¼ cup hot fudge and ¼ cup caramel sauce. Spread half the softened ice cream over the top. Repeat with an additional layer of peanuts, hot fudge, and caramel. Add the remaining ice cream and spread over the top. Sprinkle the remaining peanuts and drizzle hot fudge and caramel sauce over the top. Cover with alumi num foil and place in the freezer for several hours or until firm. Drizzle with Magic Shell before cutting and serve with whipped cream, additional chopped peanuts, and cherries.
Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
1 box white cake mix
3 oz orange gelatin
1 cup boiling water
3.4 oz French Vanilla instant pudding
1 ½ cup milk
30 oz mandarin oranges, drained
8 oz whipped topping, thawed
Bake the cake in a 13x9 pan, according to package instructions, and cool. Using a fork, poke holes in the top of the cake. Mix the gelatin with 1 cup of boiling water until dissolved. Pour the gelatin over the cake, making sure to pour it over and into the holes. Mix the French Vanilla pudding and 1 ½ cups of milk, allow to set for 3 minutes, and then spread it over the top of the cake. Add a layer of half of the mandarin oranges over the pudding. Top with whipped topping and the remaining mandarin oranges. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.
Key Lime Eclair Cake
8 oz cream cheese, softened
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
8 oz whipped topping
1 pound bag of key limes, juiced about ¾ cup
3 sleeves graham crackers
1 can vanilla frosting
Whip the cream cheese with a hand mixer until creamy, then mix in the condensed milk until combined. Slowly add the key lime juice and fold in the whipped topping. Place a layer of graham crackers
Focused on Pearl
Cousin Stella just sent this photograph of Daddy found in a box of Aunt Betty’s stuff.
Daddy’s penciled handwriting on the back was short: “On bivouac, April 1-7, 1945.”
I’d never seen the picture. What was on his mind?
I’m sure the photo was taken at Robins Field, Georgia.
Daddy was born in 1917 and grew up in Colby, Kansas. He wanted to get off those wheat fields, so he went to a Denver business school to learn typing and shorthand. He planned to become a secretary. He and a girl were watching a movie on Sunday, December 7th, 1941. The movie stopped and a man came out: “The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor -- everybody get to the Induction Center.”
Daddy joined the Army Air Corps, went to Texas, then to Camp Wheel er in Macon, Georgia, and then to Cochran Field in Macon. He was in the first group that went to “an old cow pasture and cotton patch down the road” that became Warner Robins Air Force Base.
One day Daddy’s group was called to the Parade Ground. A com manding officer said: “Boys, you’re going back to the barracks and write your mother a letter. We’ll have men there to help you make a will. You’re leaving for Europe in the morning, and you’re all gonna die.”
A messenger was passed forward. The commanding officer read the message: “Ok, boys, the General needs eight men who can type and take shorthand. The first eight men who step forward stay here.”
Daddy said it was the quickest step he ever took.
All the other men in the group did indeed get killed invading Europe.
Only five men stepped forward, so Daddy was busy with paperwork. He called one building numerous times a day and told his buddy: “That girl Pearl over in Building 37 sure sounds good. I wish I could meet her.”
His buddy said: “Well, dummy, she doesn’t know what you look like. Go over and lean against the wall in her building and listen for her voice. If she’s ugly, come on back.”
Well, Pearl was gorgeous. Daddy introduced himself, and by April 1-7, 1945, Pearl was his wife. Mama got pregnant later that month.
Iwo Jima had been settled at the end of March. We landed in Okinawa on April 1. President Roosevelt died the week after this picture was taken. Mussolini was executed the week after that. Germany surrendered on May 8. Daddy sailed from Oregon in July for Guam. The atomic bombs were dropped in August. The Japanese surrendered on September 2. Daddy spent the rest of his tour on Guam fighting the mud and doing paperwork, including reading their declassified orders to invade the Japanese mainland with an expected casualty rate of 100%. My sister Jean was born the following January, and Daddy came home sometime soon thereafter.
There was a lot going on the week of April 1-7, 1945. But my guess is that Daddy’s mind was focused on Pearl. n
David Clark writes and works in Cochran, GA. Connect with him at
