Lake Wylie Today, Fall 2014

LakeWylie TODAY

The

Fall 2014 | Issue 3

Fall Issue Time To Tailgate

It’s that time of year again!

Chamber Spotlight Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce news and information

Our View

Fall…

a time to soak in the beauty at Lake Wylie

By Susan Bromfield, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

A

hhh, fall is in the air and the many treasures of the season are just around the corner. As the leaves change colors and the temperatures cool off after summer’s extreme heat, there is a sense of peace at the lake as the sounds and sights of nature become more noticeable. I can’t wait to see the pumpkins on porches and pots with pansies and mums as the days get cooler.

Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons on Lake Wylie. As Labor Day passes, the lake itself becomes calm and the boats move slower and it becomes quieter and more serene with the passing of each day. A walk becomes an experience to soak up the beauty that surrounds us each day. Suddenly the sounds of the squirrels and birds moving about are more noticeable. The hummingbirds and butterflies are hovering by the many blossoms and flowers that are abundant. Occasionally, the deer appear out of nowhere and then streak by. I feel fortunate to live in a neighborhood that is a bird sanctuary and filled with trees and nature. It is a quiet sanctuary and a great place to live and walk.

As kayaking has become more popular at the lake, it is a frequent sight to see groups of kayakers in the coves and quieter areas of the lake. Seeing the fisherman quietly in the coves and at the marina makes me realize how very fortunate we are to live at Lake Wylie where there is a richness of na2

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ture, beauty and recreational opportunities for all.

Visitors frequently ask, “do you need to have a boat to enjoy living at the lake?” Clearly the answer is no. Nature is all around us and recreational opportunities change with each season.

We are fortunate to have McDowell Park with its beautiful nature trails and fishing piers along with picnic shelters and areas to enjoy nature. Pier 88 at River Hills Marina has kayaks and boats for rent for those who do not have their own. Hunt Fish Paddle on Highway 49 and Walmart have a full assortment of fishing gear if fishing is your cup of tea.

Walking is one of the most popular recreational activities and there is no end to the opportunities to walk around and near Lake Wylie. Walking at a slower pace allows everyone to savor the beauty we live with each day at the lake. There is a satisfaction and peace that calms the soul when you walk in the midst of all the natural beauty and sights and sounds of nature. Many times we take this for granted as part of our everyday life. We are reminded by some of our visitors who move here from cities and more urban areas of the country that walking surrounded by nature is not the norm and it is part of the appeal for moving to Lake Wylie. The simple pleasures in life can be gratifying and free when we take the time to soak in the beauty that surrounds us. LW

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Contents Fall 2014

2 Our View The hidden jewels of Lake Wylie 6 Mailbag Fall fishing tricks and tips from a Lake Wylie expert

18 Roving Palate

Cozy up to fine dining this fall

24 Feature

It’s time for football! How Lake Wylie families are gearing up for the season

29 Garden Party

A River Hills home renovation that brings the outside view in

34 Feature

Goats line up at Thomas Family Farms in Clover

38 Feature

Check out our list of must-see fall activities around Lake Wylie

34 Feature

Aquaponics: Fresh new way to grow vegetables

46 Faces

TODAY

www.LakeWylieToday.com Published by SC Biz News

Lake Wylie Today Editor - Jenny Peterson JPeterson@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145 Special Projects Editor - Licia Jackson ljackson@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546 Creative Director - Ryan Wilcox production1@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3117

14 Shoreline

LakeWylie

How sweet it is: Hey Sugar Shop brings uniquely decorated treats to the area

50 Development Update

Senior Graphic Designer - Jane Mattingly production2@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3118 Graphic Designer - Andrew Sprague asprague@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3128 Advertising Sales - Jane DuBois jane@lakewylietoday.com • 704.287.8668 Contributing Editors Susan Bromfield President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce susan@lakewyliesc.com • 803.831.2827 Jane DuBois jane@lakewylietoday.com • 704.287.8668 Contributing Writers Susan Bromfield Jane DuBois Jan Todd Contributing Photographers Susan Bromfield Jane DuBois Diana Grubenhoff Ed Stewart Jan Todd Barbara Nichols Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce The entire contents of this publication are copyright by SC Biz News with all rights reserved.

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

53 Spotlight

The magazine of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s marketing and promotional efforts are supported by York County’s Hospitality Tax.

Cover and Table of Contents photos by Jan Todd 4

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1439 Stuart Engals Blvd., Suite 200 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.849.3100 • Fax: 843.849.3122 www.scbiznews.com

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Mailbag Did you just catch a fish? Celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary? Are you participating in a charity event or community fundraiser? Where did you go on your last family outing? Whether you just celebrated a major milestone or are gearing up to give back, part of our goal with Lake Wylie Today is to provide a platform for our community to share what’s happening in the community through stories and photos. We want to celebrate with you, laugh with you and build memories with you. See page 12 for information on how to submit photos and stories.

Troop 333 goes west

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ight Boy Scouts in Troop 333 in Lake Wylie went on a backcountry hiking adventure at Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming from July 25-Aug. 2. They did three different backpacking hikes: climbing Bighorn Pass in the Montana section of Yellowstone, a hike to Heart Lake and a backpacking trip through the Grand Tetons. Some groups scaled three 10,500 peaks in one day.

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the A sky dotted with clouds during Golf n’s Me b’s Clu River Hills Country 23. ust Aug Association outing on

Pam Horack, president of Pathfinder Planning in Lake Wylie, and Lynn Viets, a long-time intstructor at the Clover Area Assistance Center (CAAC) worked together to develop new budgeting and finance classes for CAAC clients.

Clover Area Assistance Center offering new budgeting classes

T

he Clover Area Assistance Center (CAAC) staff surveyed clients about what classes they’d like the center to offer and results showed that the top four areas of interest were budgeting and finance, couponing, nutrition and food preparation and job readiness. Pam Horack, president of Pathfinder Planning in Lake Wylie, who had experience developing curriculum, volunteered to write new curriculum for the classes with input from CAAC’s Living Basics Class instructors Lynn Viets and Bruce Roberts. After months of test piloting, Horack presented Karen van Vierssen, executive director of CAAC, with the final curriculum for four new classes: Budgeting Basics, Needs vs. Wants, Setting Goals, and Credit and Preventing Fraud. Clients have enjoyed the new financial classes and have even requested more classes to help with budgeting. The CAAC offers assistance to residents in need with food, financial assistance, health services and education.

To get more information, or to volunteer with CAAC, contact Ann at annherbertcaac@gmail. com or 803-222-4837.

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Mailbag

BMX Supercross Track opens in Rock Hill

The Novant Health BMX Supercross track will be available for all skill levels.

T

he Novant Health BMX Supercross Track is officially open and ready for thrill-seekers. Located at the Rock Hill Outdoor Center at Riverwalk, it is the only Olympic-caliber training facility on the East Coast, and one of only a handful in the United States. The facility has both an amateur and an elite supercross ramp. The site will host local, state, regional, national and UCI caliber events while providing instruction, events, races and programs for all ages and skill levels from beginner to the elite athlete. Two lighted multi-purpose ball fields are also located at the track site for programming and tournament use.

The Novant Health BMX Supercross Track is located at 1303 Riverwalk Parkway, Rock Hill. For more information, call 803-325-2630 or visit www.novanthealthbmx.com.

Another new opening is the Rock Hill Outdoor Center Greens, adjacent to the track. This large open green space at the Rock Hill Outdoor Center is perfect for passive recreation and free play activities. Bring a Frisbee or picnic blanket and enjoy the grounds.

Baker Financial Group open house

J

ason and Dawn Baker hosted an Open House in June for the newly expanded offices of Baker Financial Group. Jason Baker poses with two special guests.

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Mailbag

Carowinds announces construction of Fury 325

Fury 325 swarms up a hill and on a high banked curve after taking riders under a bridge at the main entrance.

C

arowinds officials have announced that they’re building one of the biggest and fastest roller coasters in the world. Fury 325, so named because it will reach 325 feet into the air, will have a hornet-based theme and is expected to reach speeds of 95 miles per hour. It is slated to be open in Spring 2015. Riders will begin their ascent to the top of a 325-foot hill, followed by an exhilarating 81-degree first drop. It will then race through a series of hills, curves and quick transitions while reaching speeds of up to 95 miles per hour in the nearly 3 and 1/2 minute ride that will span over 8.2 acres. The new coaster will

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be the biggest “giga coaster” in the world and will be visible from uptown Charlotte. Park officials also announced they will debut a new

main entrance plaza in the spring with ten tollbooth lanes to improve traffic flow. For more information, visit www.carowinds.com.

Mailbag

All-Sports Camp July 15-18 River Hills children received an introduction to several different sports this summer as they rotated through tennis, golf and swimming each day of camp.

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Mailbag

Sunrise Yoga

Thursday morning yoga classes with River Hills Country Club Fitness Director Karen Human overlooks a calm and peaceful Lake Wylie.

Clover School District Auditorium Performing Arts Series gears up for 2014-15 season

T

he 13th season of the Clover School District Auditorium Performing Arts Series promises a magical and musical phenomenon starring artists of regional, national and international acclaim.

From world class banjo playing to ancient stories, jazz singers to a theatre of illusion, the CSDA seres continues to educate, enlighten, enrich and entertain audiences of all ages. A unique trait runs through this season as three of the events feature husband and wife performing together.

The season begins on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. with Alison Brown, a banjo virtuoso, bringing her jazz hued acoustic music back to the CSDA stage. Her husband, record company co-founder and bassist Gary West, joins her onstage.

The “beautifully authentic voice” of Jaimee Paul

French cooking classes come to Lavender Farm A

French cooking class was held at “La Bastide des Lavandes” private lavender homestead and garden in York last month. The focus was easy French dishes using fresh, local ingredients and herbs from the garden. Chef Laurent Presceiti, owner of Crepes

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Mailbag Doug Berky in the program “Foibles, Fables and Other Imaskinations”

will transport the audience to a 1940’s Jazz club on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. She she will channel the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Rosemary Clooney with her husband, trumpeter Leif Shires, by her side.

The sixteenth annual CSDA family night will be held on Monday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. featuring Doug Berky in the program Foibles, Fables and Other Imaskinations. Berky intricately weaves old, even ancient stories with Commedia Del Arte, physical comedy, mime, mask, theatre, clowning, circus arts and storytelling into a rich tapestry that transcends age, race, and culture.

The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.

& Croissants in Columbia, SC, joined Chris Pinard, owner of La Bastide des Lavandes, to demonstrate and prepare tasty dishes such as Savory Apples Provencale, Barque Nicoise (crepes with tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella), and Carrot Salad du Midi. The class

For more than a decade, Kevin and Cindy Spencer have dazzled the world with their engaging personalities, entertaining stage magic, and breathtaking illusions. The Spencers have redefined the art of illusion and are shattering the stereotype of the traditional magician and assistant.

Season tickets are available for $50 per person. Individual tickets are also on sale for each event. For more information, call the auditorium at 803-222-8018 or visit www.clover.k12. sc.us/csda.

The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion, featuing Kevin Spencer

was held outside in a shady courtyard. Tours, workshops, and additional cooking classes are planned. It is best to join the farm’s email alert list, as spots fill up quickly! Visit www. labastidedeslavandes.com to sign up or get more information.

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Shoreline Tournament Day on Lake Wylie.

On the move

In the fall, fish—and fishermen—in Lake Wylie move toward the shore Story by Jenny Peterson Photo by Jan Todd

F

ishing in Lake Wylie is popular all year long, but it’s especially inviting with the cooler fall weather and the fish moving to shallower areas in the lake.

The fall season is when fish in Lake Wylie migrate from the cooler deep center of the lake to shallow pockets along the shore, near boat docks and in the back of sandy coves.

These shallow areas are the preferred hangouts for bait fish, but it gets too hot in the summer for them to stay in those pockets so they migrate to the center of the lake, according to Adam Fillmore, owner of the Hunt Fish Paddle fishing and supply store in Lake Wylie.

Wherever the small bait fish go, he said, desirable largemouth bass and crappie are right on their tails—literally!

Fillmore said there is also a healthy supply of brim and white perch in Lake Wylie during the fall.

Because of the migration, shallow areas back in the creek channels are prime fishing spots for fish from fall through winter. But when the weather flip-flops from warmer to cooler weeks, the fish move back and forth.

“The weather dictates everything,” he said.

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“When the water gets too hot, they’ll move out deep.”

Lake Wylie is a good location for the shallow-loving fish because of the many rocks and docks, Fillmore said. He’s been fishing in the area for the past 10 years.

“When they start moving up shallow, it’s nothing to catch 40-50 fish a day,” Fillmore said.

Bass are by far the most popular—and trickiest—fish to catch in the lake, Fillmore said.

Bass fishing is an exciting challenge, because the fish are drawn to strike by the movement of the bait.

“Bass are reaction feeders—they eat bait not because they’re hungry, but because they’re angry,” Fillmore said.

That means constantly moving the bait on the line, generally using artificial bait. Use bait that’s shiny with spinners and other tactics to get their attention. The bait should imitate the bait fish, Fillmore explained.

Another option for fishermen is an Alabama rig; it is artificial bait that mimics a ball of bait fish, with five hooks on it attached to soft, plastic minnows.

“It flashes a lot,” Fillmore said. “To bait bass, you drop the bait, and when you’re casting and reeling, always keep the bait moving,” he said. Bass strikes depend on the lure, on a jerkbait or a spinner bait. The way you work a jerkbait is you rip it, stop it, and bass will eat it as it falls. For spinner bait, keep it moving, either fast or slow.

Another option for bass fishermen is using bait fish as bait. Fishermen generally use shad fish, about two-inches long, to hook in the bass.

“Live bait usually catches more fish, but in tournaments, you have to use artificial bait,” Fillmore said.

“It also depends how deep you’re going – it would be hard to fish with a minnow and drop it in 30 feet of water. With artificial, you can catch in a larger area,” said Fillmore.

Live bait is recommended for fishing crappie, the popular freshwater game fish. They are usually found underneath nearby docks and brushes.

Minnows are a great option for crappie fish, which is why Fillmore keeps a healthy supply of them at Hunt Paddle Fish. Shad bait fish also work for this popular species.

“Crappie can be tough to catch; they are really light biters,” Fillmore said. “One of the ways I fish crappie is with a really light line and skip it under the dock.”

He said to use lighter tackle to hook the crappie fish, which are great for cooking and eating.

For the unusually large blue catfish found at the bottom of Lake Wylie – some can reach

Shoreline 60 pounds – Fillmore said that live bait is key.

Mussels, shrimp and chopped up white perch work well.

The bottom feeders generally hang out on a ledge on the bank of the lake, according to Fillmore.

“These are tough fish,” he said. “If you go out to catch tough fish and do well, it makes you feel very accomplished.”

More than 350 fishing tournaments are held in Lake Wylie each year, including catfish and bass tournaments.

Hunt Fish Paddle organizes kayak bass fishing tournaments each year. Upcoming kayak bass tournaments include the “Kayaks N’ Greenbacks Fall Frenzy” on Nov. 1 and “Rumble on the River” kayak bass tournament on Nov. 22. Both leave from the Buster Boyd Bridge in Lake Wylie. Call the shop for more information.

“There’s a lot more kayak fishing coming to the area,” Fillmore said. “It’s a cost-effective way to fish; you don’t have to put gas in a kayak, and paddling is a good workout,” he said.

No matter what you fish for, Fillmore said Lake Wylie offers a plethora of game fish options during the fall.

“It’s just nice to be on the water,” Fillmore said.

Hunt Fish Paddle offers guide trips, tips on fishing techniques, a full line of children and adult fishing poles as well as six types of live bait.

The shop can fix up old poles to make them new again, and it happily offers fishing advice to its customers. Visit www.Huntfishpaddle.com or call 803-831-0251 for more information. LW

Showing off a largemouth bass catch are Adam Fillmore, left, and Mike Smith, both from Lake Wylie. Photo provided.

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Shoreline

RiverSweep success depends on volunteers Story by Susan Bromfield

I

t’s time to clean up Lake Wylie and its shoreline at this year’s Riversweep on Oct. 4. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and end by 1 p.m. Gloves and bags will be available at key locations. The Buster Boyd Bridge Public boat landing will serve as the base location for the event.

Lake Wylie is “our Main Street” and is referred to as the “lifeblood” of the region. The Catawba River has been called the “workhorse” in the region for providing drinking water for approximately 2 million people in

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the region and is used to produce the region’s power. It is also utilized for the region’s sewage treatment plants as well as for recreation.

The Catawba River water is used over and over again for a variety of uses.

We are asking neighborhood and community leaders in three counties and two states to come together and organize their areas and arrange for volunteers to collectively make a difference by cleaning up the lake shoreline at this year’s Riversweep.

There will be dumpsters at the Buster Boyd

Boat Landing, McDowell Park, Ebenezer Park, Allison Creek and other locations. It is an opportunity for lakeside neighbors to join forces and clean up coves and areas where debris has collected and dispose of large objects and junk in the provided dumpsters.

Please visit www.lakewylieriversweep.com to register to help at one of the 14 volunteer site locations around Lake Wylie. The first 1,000 volunteers will receive a Riversweep T-shirt. For more information, call CD Collins at (704) 825-3588 or the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. LW

Shoreline

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Indulge in fine dining for the Roving Palate

Fall Story by Jenny Peterson

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Photos by Jan Todd

Roving Palate Concord Cove’s charming exterior. (Below) Grilled Salmon is a local favorite.

W

ith the weather getting cooler, fall is a great time to cozy up for a special night out at Lake Wylie restaurants.

A memorable dining experience, accompanied by gorgeous plates of food, makes it easy to transition into a new season.

A bountiful harvest awaits diners at Concord Cove, a fine dining restaurant in Lake Wylie. Diners can expect to see an emphasis on crisp, tasty, full-flavored ingredients and preparations.

The kitchen has freshened up offerings at the longtime establishment with a focus on farm-fresh ingredients and dishes made inhouse each day.

Homemade gravies and sauces, including a Cajun and a Hollandaise sauce, accompany the pasta and meat dishes. Homemade biscuits are baked every day. The staff grows their own herbs, including basil and thyme, right at the restaurant.

“Everything we do here is fresh and homemade,” she said.

New pasta dishes have been added, including a salmon pasta and seafood pasta, which combines salmon and shrimp tossed in a homemade Cajun cream sauce.

“We use only fresh garlic and fresh basil,” said manager Kristen Funderburk.

An exciting addition to the restaurant is a fresh beehive from which is harvested local honey. Funderburk said Concord Cove honey goes especially well as an accompaniment to the restaurant’s Saturday brunch. The restaurant has also added two new desserts—a strawberry delight and blueberry burst dessert, both of which use fresh berries.

Speaking of desserts, diners who eat at Concord Cove on Wednesdays during their birthday month will get half off an entrée plus a free dessert.

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Roving Palate

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Escargot from Concord Cove.

month!” Funderburk said.

Weekly specials showcase the restaurants’ finest ingredients.

Recent specials were a “filet Rockefeller,” which is a filet mignon made like an Oyster Rockefeller, with creamed spinach and blackened oysters on top of the steak. Almond-encrusted Chilean sea bass, whole fried flounder and a scallop special have been on the menu. Concord Cove still offers a fried seafood platter every Friday.

“We really take pride in what we do. We slow-cook the food, we don’t try to rush anything. We take time on every dish that we make,” she said. “Each morning we make everything fresh—homemade. We start off each morning with fresh products.”

Funderburk said she’s making subtle changes to enhance the food, while keeping in the tradition of the long-standing Lake Wylie restaurant.

She always makes sure to consult her father, long-time owner Johnny Funderburk, before deciding on specials.

“I still confer with him,” Funderburk said.

“He’ll say, “What are you doing this week?

Next week? Oh, that sounds great.’”

“We decide what’s fresh, what’s in season, but we also determine what customers would like to see,” Funderburk said. “We ask customers what they’d like as a special, and we get a lot of feedback. We want to offer things people can’t just go down the road and get.”

Diners have already asked about gluten-free dishes, which are now being offered at the fine dining establishment.

Gluten-free dishes on the menu include grilled salmon, grilled ribeye, duck and more.

“We take allergies very seriously,” Funderburk said. “We use different pans to make sure nothing is cross-contaminated.”

There are also vegeterian options, and Funderburk said she is looking to add a vegan option to cater to a variety of palates.

“We’ll take any opportunity to make dishes that please every dietary need,” she said. “We’re Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Roving Palate

Shia sushi open roll

family-owned and we take pride in that.”

No matter what dish is ordered at Concord Cove, diners can expect to see a passion for fresh produce and homemade accompaniments on every plate.

“We’re going back to the way daddy had it when he first opened for fresh, made-to-order food,” Funderburk said. “We are still using local farm products as much as possible and honoring the tradition of the restaurant.”

Colorful dishes

Shia Asian Bistro in Lake Wylie has been serving Lake Wylie diners for one year, fusing the old traditions of Eastern Asia with modern aspects of the new America cuisine.

Owners, Jean and Shia Teng, relocated their restaurant from Gastonia, bringing their unique and varied dishes to Lake Wylie and changing what diners think of typical Asian restaurants.

The restaurant serves fresh hand-rolled sushi, garnished with gorgeous delicate flowers, Mandarian-style Asian dishes and Teppanyaki, a hibachi-style cuisine. Also on the menu are unique appetizer items like Asian crab cakes.

Teppanyaki-style cooking uses a flat, solid, griddle-style cooking surface rather than an open-grate grill like Hibachi. The taste is similar, and lends itself to fine and subtle nuances of taste.

“It’s a good deal for a lot of really good, high-quality food,” Jean said.

She said the Teppanyaki is one of the more popular menu categories, offered in steak, shrimp, chicken, seafood, vegetable, even duck and grouper. It is all served immediately

Shia Crusted Grouper with Broccoli and chili sauce.

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Roving Palate when taken off the grill.

High-quality seafood is the star of Shia’s fresh, hand-rolled sushi menu, with a mix of certified fresh fish from Japan and vegetables and fruit, including mango.

The sushi chef is Vietnamese and very experienced with the cuisine.

The sushi is hand-rolled to order and decorated with a touch of artistry, with delicate flowers you can eat.

“They are surprised, because of how we decorate it so beautifully,” she said.

Shia offers an “open roll,” which is a create-your-own option, where the customer chooses the fish, fruit, and veggies, and then the chef creates a custom roll incorporating the customer’s choices.

Jean said her favorite dish is the snow crab roll.

“The top is soft-shell crab with a spicy sauce and the bottom is a salmon roll,” she said.

Seafood is also featured at Shia Asian Bistro’s special seasonal menu. For the fall special, the restaurant is planning to offer a twopound whole red snapper.

The surroundings are inviting as well. The dining room is warm and welcoming, open for lunch and dinner with a full bar and draft beer on tap.

The restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m.—2 p.m. and has a boxed lunch option where diners can choose a sushi roll, fresh fruit, rice and entrée from traditional Asian dishes.

“People enjoy the mix of Asian dishes and sushi, and how we honor the Asian tradition,” she said. “It’s a family place and also great for date night.” LW

Enjoying the sushi bar at Shia.

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Feature

Time for

Football! er. Short for fanatic.

low Fan (noun): an enthusiastic devotee, supporter, fol

the parking lot in lly ca pi ty , ic cn pi or tdoor party ion wagons or trucks Tailgate (noun): An ou at st of es at ilg ta e th d served on of a sports stadium, an

Story and photos by Jan Todd

S

outherners are renowned for being passionate about college football. It’s a passion that causes normally sane people to wear the same pair of socks to every game, paint their bodies in team colors, decorate homes and yards with outlandish mascot motifs, dress pets in team jerseys and count down to opening game day like a six-year-old counts down to Christmas. We love our football!

Seventeen years ago, Joy and Tom Simril considered it serendipity when they found a Lake Wylie waterfront lot for sale on Tiger Paw Lane. Both Clemson graduates and avid Tiger football fans, they could think of no better place to build their home. It was there that they raised their two children, fed them plenty of orange Jell-O and taught them the Clem24

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son cadence count. Following in the family tradition, their son, Trey, graduated from Clemson this past spring, and their daughter Adair is a Clemson sophomore.

“We have season tickets and go to most home games,” said Joy. “Especially with the kids in school there, we try not to miss. The kids have grown up tailgating and going to games. Watching Tiger football is something we’ve always done as a family.”

When doing laundry, Joy separates her family’s clothes into whites, darks, and orange.

“We have a lot of orange clothes,” she said. A few years ago, when the Simrils bought a new Malibu ski boat, Tom placed a special order to get the boat designed in—you guessed it—the color Clemson orange. Friends and neigh-

bors on the lake can easily identify the Simrils’ boat out on the water.

Normally very rational people, Tom and Joy, both engineers by profession, get a little crazy when it comes to Tiger football. One time, Tom was mowing the lawn while listening to the radio broadcast of an away game.

The Tigers were behind, and then scored to gain the lead. As long as the Tigers were ahead, Tom refused to stop mowing, even when he had finished his own yard. If the team is winning, he reasoned, why tempt fate by changing his current routine?

Down the street, Brian and Angie Potts watch their football games on a different channel. Both graduates of the University of South Carolina, they fly Gamecock black and

Feature garnet colors on their team flag. “We had serious misgivings about moving to Tiger Paw Lane,” Brian confessed. “I was struggling with the decision all the way up to the closing date.

The beauty of the lake lot prevailed, but it still felt like treachery.”

As season ticket holders for Gamecock football, Potts said, “The worst part about moving to Tiger Paw Lane was calling the Gamecock Club to let them know about our change of address. When I had to tell them the name of the street, it was downright embarrassing.”

The Potts family goes to most home games in the Gamecock stadium, arriving at their parking spot the moment the lot opens in order to maximize tailgate time. Brian has a couple of game rituals. “I buy a new Spurrier sideline shirt each year and wear it to every game that season,” he said, speaking of the endorsed apparel line by Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier. “And if we go to an away game and beat a big rival on their own home field, I never go to another game in that stadium. I saw the Gamecocks upset University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and I saw them roll over ‘The Crimson Tide’ in Alabama. I’ll never go back to either of those stadiums, because it just can’t get any better.”

In The Landing on Lake Wylie, Grant and Maria Derderian are good friends with their next-door neighbors, Harv and Michelle Byrd.

“But on game days, we go our separate ways,” said Michelle. The Byrds’ son, Dillon, attends Clemson, and the Derderians’ sons are Gamecocks. Both families love to entertain, and their homes fill up on game days to watch the action on big screen televisions. Michelle’s jalapeño poppers are a favorite football snack.

“I take them to about every Clemson home game and Dillon brings all of his friends by to eat before kickoff,” she said.

In Lake Wylie, team spirit is not limited to the South Carolina colleges. Attend a service at Bethel Presbyterian any given Sunday in the fall, and you’ll likely hear reference to Pastor John Gess’ beloved Virginia Tech Hokies.

Gess is well-versed in Virginia Tech trivia and can tell you that the team was originally called the “Gobblers,” sporting a turkey as a mascot.

When a student won a cheer writing contest in the late 1800’s with the now famous “Old Hokie Cheer,” the team eventually became known as the Hokies.

There is another barnyard bird mascot that appears regularly in Lake Wylie. Though a long way from home geographically, a flock of Oregon Ducks have migrated into The Land-

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125 Forest Oaks Dr. • Lake Wylie Dr. Jodi Werfal Dr. Cory Ellis Bring this ad in for $10.00 off an annual wellness exam Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Feature ing. Jake and Kristi Elston, and Vic and Tracy Ziemer, think that Lake Wylie is the perfect environment for their Ducks. The Elstons moved to Lake Wylie from Oregon about ten years ago and Kristi’s sister, Tracy, followed a few years later with her husband and two children.

“Jake attended the University of Oregon for his Master’s program, and we lived about five miles from the Autzen Stadium in Eugene,” explained Kristi. “We attended as many games as possible when we lived there, and now at our home in South Carolina, we love supporting our Ducks from afar!”

Each game day, the Elstons display a huge yellow “O” for Oregon, surrounded by a flock of artificial ducks in their front yard to show their team allegiance. The Ziemers join them, all clad in bright green and yellow, to watch the game on a huge projection screen in the backyard. Even the family pets get in on the action, wearing team costumes specially made

by Kristi.

Win or lose, playful rivalries and team spirit competitions are lots of fun and prevail among neighbors on Lake Wylie. But winning is better. Oh, so much better. LW

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Q2U BBQ welcomes college football fans

B

arbeque is one of the most popular tailgating foods, and Q2U BBQ restaurant in Lake Wylie has everything fans need for a well-fed game day.

Whether looking for crowd-pleasing takeout items or dining in and watching the game on any of the restaurant’s seven 55-inch televisions, Q2U BBQ is a one-stop shop for fans of both football and BBQ. Fans at QU2 BBQ cheer on their team while surrounded by the sweet aroma of barbeque.

“Barbeque is perfect for football, it’s true Southern food,” said Brian Rich, owner. And with the restaurant’s award-winning fare – state champions from 2007– there’s plenty of finger-licking items to choose from.

Q2U BBQ’s barbeque meat is smoked for 12 hours over hickory with a variety of BBQ sauces: the original vinegar-based sauce and a hot version, a thick and sweet sauce and a mustard sauce.

The multiple big-screen TV’s allow college football fans of all teams to enjoy the game of their choice.

Q2U is closed on Sundays, so the dinein restaurant is catering to the Saturday college football crowd, but Rich said their takeout can be picked up Saturday, refrigerated and easily reheated for Sunday’s professional football games at home.

Takeout is prepared and packaged in an aluminum container that can be placed right in the oven. All the fixins,’ including BBQ sauce and buns are available, even plates and cups if needed. Q2U regularly prepares takeout for hungry fans, for parties of any number.

Q2U BBQ is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and located at 4052 Charlotte Hwy. Thursday night football games will be shown on the big screens.

Visit www.q-2-u.com for a full menu and catering options. LW

Garden Party

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Garden Party Before

Custom cabinets, granite counter tops and a stylish tile backsplash brought new life to the kitchen. The Davises chose a black and white motif, reminiscent of the style of the first home they lived in forty years ago.

Before

Additional windows were installed to take advantage of the views, and the ceiling was elevated to provide a more feel to the room.

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Garden Party

Fit to a Tee Story and Photos by Jan Todd

A

fter moving 18 times during their 40 years of marriage, Janie and Rick Davis have a pretty good idea of what they want in a home. So in 2013, when they returned to the Lake Wylie area to find a place to settle down after a temporary relocation, they headed straight for River Hills. “We had lived in River Hills before, and knew that’s where we wanted to be,” said Janie.

The couple had a strong network of friends in River Hills, and enjoyed the social and recreational amenities of the community. Janie is involved in the River Hills Newcomers Club, the Clover/Lake Wylie Republican Women’s

club and other activities. The Davises’ also have children and grandchildren in River Hills, so they wanted a home that was set up for entertaining and sharing family time.

“Rick and I both love golf,” Janie added, “so we really wanted to live by the golf course.”

They found a home in the perfect location on Honeysuckle Woods, but it didn’t have many of the styles and features that the couple desired. “We knew we wanted an open floor plan,” Janie explained, “because when I have family over, I want us to be all together when I’m cooking and working in the kitchen.” The home, built about 30 years ago, predated the

open architecture that is prevalent in more modern homes.

Also, even though the house was next to the golf course, it really didn’t have many windows to take advantage of the view. “The outdoor living space was very limited as well,” Janie continued.

Luckily, the Davises’ were able to see beyond what was there, to “what could be.”

Janie is a fan of “Property Brothers,” a show on Home and Garden TV (HGTV) cable channel. She regularly watches the hosts of the show help couples find and remodel homes, transforming major “fixer uppers” into dream

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Garden Party

Before

homes. Watching the show helped the Davises’ realize what could be done to a home.

They consulted with Eastridge Builders in Lake Wylie, and plans began to unfold for a major renovation.

“We chose Eastridge Builders because they were located in Lake Wylie, and were so easy to work with. We couldn’t have chosen a better general contractor for the project,” said Janie.

“Rick and I knew what we wanted, but it was really the contractors who brought it all together.”

Outside, the Davises’ transformed a small entry porch on the side of the house into a large deck overlooking the golf course. Perfect for grilling and eating outside, the couple enjoys watching the golfers go by as they dine “al fresco.”

The wall between the living area and the kitchen was removed to open up the space.

The 8-foot flat ceiling was raised into a cathedral design, and several windows were added to take advantage of the view. In the dining area, a tray ceiling was installed, providing more height and stylish definition to the room.

The kitchen was completely overhauled.

New cabinets and appliances, granite countertops and and a chic backsplash updated the look. An oddly-placed half bath was removed entirely to make room for more cabinet space.

An expansive counter with seating was installed, ideal for eating casual meals or to use as a prep and service area.

“I worked with the folks at Kitchen Source in Lake Wylie,” said Janie. “They were amaz30

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Fall 2014

Garden Party A raised ceiling and fresh paint provided a facelift for the master bedroom (left). The Davises’ added a deck on the side of their home to take advantage of the golf course view. They enjoy “dinner and a show!” when they grill and eat outdoors.

ing. I told them what I liked, and they came back with a design that was better than I could ever imagine.” The advisors at Kitchen Source weighed in on everything from choice of cabinet design to paint colors. “They asked me colors that appealed to me, then suggested shades that worked for the rooms.”

The Davises’ incorporated many of their “favorite things” about homes they had lived in over the years. For instance, “The black, white and red motif in my kitchen reminds me of our very first home. The layout of the kitchen was inspired by designs that worked well for us in other places.”

Some ideas were brand new, though. The Davises’ flipped the entry to their laundry room, so that it is accessed through the master bedroom now instead of the kitchen, where it was originally designed.

“Rick thought I was crazy at first, wanting to have the laundry room as part of the master suite. But it makes a lot of sense! I don’t have to haul clothes from one side of the house to the other. It is so convenient now.”

As the Davises’ live in the house, they begin to have ideas for future improvements. “The thought of renovating doesn’t scare me,” concluded Janie. “Particularly with the great experience I had with our local contractors, I know I’ll be happy with the outcome!”

Kitchen Source has a showroom located at 4371 Charlotte Highway in Lake Wylie, 803831-9851. Eastridge Builders offers free consultations, 704-215-8818. LW Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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goat milk?

Feature

and other wonders of the Thomas family goat farm

G

ot milk? Around the Thomas Family Farm, the answer is usually “yes,” although the type of milk isn’t the same as most commonly found in a grocer’s cooler. Lynda and Michael Thomas, and their grown children Jeron, 23, and Lindsey, 28, raise about 45 goats that each produce up to a gallon of milk per day.

“This is our retirement project,” said Lynda, who was an accountant for the 34

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Story and photos by Jan Todd town of Cramerton for many years. “Michael still works at Duke Power, but still does a lot of work around the farm.”

Dairy goats weren’t the Thomases’ first venture into farming. “I grew up on a small family farm,” said Lynda. “We raised pigs and chickens, that sort of thing. Michael and I have always talked about running a small farm operation during our retirement years.” The Thomases’ live in a farmhouse on eight acres on Kingsbury

Road in Clover, so have the perfect location for a family farm.

“We did a lot of research, and discussed different ideas. We thought about raising alpacas or chickens.” Then, several years ago while in high school, son Jeron raised a small herd of goats as a science project.

“He raised them for meat, though, not dairy,” recalled Lynda. “It was a completely different thing.”

Ultimately, Jeron didn’t enjoy raising

Thomas Goat Farm offers a line of skin care products, made from goat milk and other natural ingredients.

The herd gathers in a pen, waiting to be milked.

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Bent Prikker (left) and Jeron

Feature Thomas (right) handle most of

the milking chores at the farm. animals to be butchered. “He tried to stay detached, and refused to give them names,” Lynda continued. “We decided that raising goats for their meat really wasn’t for us, but we did learn a lot about goats.”

The atmosphere is very different on the goat farm today. Every goat has a name, and the Thomases are familiar with the personality quirks, favorite petting spots and relationships between the goats. “We name them in family groups,” Lynda explained. “For example, we have one goat named ‘Meadow,’ and her kid is ‘Brook.’ There’s another family group named after country music stars: Wynonna, Dolly, and Loretta.”

The day on the farm is a long one. Each morning, the goats must be milked. Lynda, Jeron, and neighbor Bent Prikker, 16, share the milking chores. The goats line up for milking, four at a time. That is, they literally line up.

“The goats know the routine. They know their order, and their groups. When they see us come out in the morning, the first group of four comes up to the gate. As soon as those four move into the milking barn, the next four come up and wait for their turn,” Lynda said.

As they enter the dairy barn, each goat jumps up on the milking stand and takes her assigned place. The milker cleans each goat’s udders, hand-milks an ounce or two to check that all is normal, then hooks the goat up to the milking machine. Meanwhile, the goats enjoy their breakfast of grain, vitamins and minerals and a natural herb blend that enhances milk production.

“Everything is natural,” Lynda explained.

“We are very careful to feed our goats a healthy diet without any hormones or unnatural additives.”

Goat milk tastes very similar to cow milk, but the properties are a bit different, Lynda said, “Goat’s milk is much easier to digest by the human body. It is very similar to human breast milk in its properties, and a glass of goat’s milk is digested by humans in about 20 minutes. The same amount of cow milk takes 24 hours for a human to digest. Goat’s milk is virtually allergen free, so a lot of people who can’t drink cow’s milk are able to drink it.”

After milking the goats each morning, the Thomases get busy with their other chores.

There are the traditional farm chores of caring for the health of the animals and managing the inventory of feed and supplies. Also, the Thomases work on the production of their products.

In addition to milk, the farm produces goat cheese, fudge, cheesecakes and a line of skin care products. “Cherve (pronounced

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Feature “shev”) and Feta cheeses are our big sellers,” said Lynda. Using the goat milk, the family farm also makes Pimento cheese, White Cheddar, Garlic Chive Cheese Spread and specialty items such as Sundried Tomato Pesto Garlic Cheese. They try new cheese recipes frequently, and rely on customer feedback to determine the winners.

The skin care line emerged as another use for goat products. Lotions, soaps, and moisturizing creams are made with goat’s milk and other natural ingredients such as coconut and olive oils, herbal extracts and vitamins. “Goat milk has tiny fat molecules,” said Lynda, “much smaller than those in cow milk. The fat acts as a moisturizer for skin, able to reach the cellular level of your hair and skin like nothing you’ve tried before.”

Lynda and her daughter Lindsey have cosmetic licenses, and have studied and taken classes to learn how to make these skin care products. With all natural ingredients, people who are sensitive or allergic to other products are able to use the skin care items produced by the Thomases. All of the products are made and packaged on the farm.

The Thomases sell their products at various farmer’s markets, including the Olde Town Market in Rock Hill, the Clover Farmer’s Market, and Mount Holly Farmer’s Market. The farmers’ markets gives them an excellent opportunity to let customers try their food and skin care products before buying.

Thomas Family Farms products are also available at South Forty Farm in Lake Wylie, the Garden Cafe Gift Shop and Provisions Local Market in Belmont. Arrangements can also be made to purchase directly at the farm, located at 2981 Kingsburry Road, near the Highway 55 intersection. Customers are asked to call ahead (803) 831-7752, to make sure someone is home and able to help customers with their purchases. For farm hours and a complete list of product descriptions, please visit ThomasFamilyFarmSC.com. LW

Thomas Family Farms sells products at several area farmers’ markets during the summer season. Their dairy line includes milk, gourmet cheeses, cheesecake and fudge.

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Feature

Fall Activities

David Xiong, the winner from Hunt Fish Paddle’s spring kayaks n’ greenbacks on Lake Wylie, with his catch.

Whether on the lake or on the shore, there’s no better time to enjoy Lake Wylie. Here are some events to get you excited for the season.

September

Ladybug Ball

September 13- October 30, 2014 The apple harvest has arrived at Windy Hill Apple Orchard in York. Sweet, succulent apples await visitors, as well as hot apple doughnuts and hard apple cider. Pick-your-own on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Live music on Saturdays. www.windyhillorchard.com.

September 26, 2014 The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will hold its Ladybug Ball fundraiser from 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the garden’s school programs. Children and adults are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite bug. Butterfly dancers, silent auction, food and more. Ticket prices vary. Advance registration is required.

Call 704-829-1252. www.dsbg.org.

‘SCarowinds’ Halloween at Carowinds

OCTOBER

Pick your own apples

September 19- November 1, 2014 “SCarowinds” at Carowinds Amusement Park offers mazes, “scarezones,” haunted houses, unlimited rides and live entertainment every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Halloween starting at 7 p.m. An additional ticket is required. A $55 all-access pass for unlimited visits is available.

Rated PG-13. www.carowinds.com.

Fiddle ‘n Pig Shindig annual BBQ and Bluegrass Festival

Fall Frolic Festival

October 4- October 26, 2014 A family-friendly day festival will be held every Saturday and Sunday in October at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay maze, farm animals, pony rides and more. $10 for Greenway members, $12 non-member. Seniors $6.

Kids under 4 free. www.ascgreenway.org.

Tega Cay Halloween Costume Parade

October 26, 2014 The event will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Tega Cay Glennon Center. www.tegacaysc.org.

September 19-20, 2014 A bluegrass showcase will be held at the Dairy Barn lawn with music starting at 6:30 p.m.

288 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill. $5 admission.

On Sat., Sept. 20, a BBQ competition will be held starting at 11 a.m. Tastes of pulled pork and ribs will be available along with bluegrass music. $10 for ages 10 and over, $6 for kids under 10. www.ascgreenway.org.

Belmont Fall Festival

Halloween Bash at Stowe Park

Pumpkin festival and corn maze

Apple Harvest Festival

October 18, 2014 Pick-your-own-apple season culminates with this annual event at Windy Hill Orchard in York . www.windyhillorchard.com.

NOVEMBER

September 27, 2014 Bush’N Vine Farm on Filbert Highway hosts, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with pick-your-own pumpkins, corn mazes, hay rides, pony rides, music and more. Admission is $6. ww.bushnvinefarm.com. South Forty Farm on Highway 274 in Clover offers an assortment of pumpkins and a 7-acre corn maze. The maze will run through Halloween afternoon.

Lake Wylie Children’s Charity Concert Event

September 28, 2014 T-Bones on the Lake will host six bands, a Kids Zone, concessions, silent auction, bake sale and much more. Noon-until dark. Bring a chair and enjoy a day overlooking the lake for a great cause. www.lkwchildrenscharity.org.

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October 12, 2014 The city of Belmont’s Fall Festival at Stowe Park will be held 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with arts and crafts, vendors, food, inflatables, games and entertainment. A Belle of Belmont pageant will be held at 11:30 a.m. To register, call Penny Kipper at 704-232-5587.

Catawba Catfish Club Tournament

October 18, 2014 Tournament will be held from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Buster Boyd Access. www.catawbacatfishclub.com

Zombie Fest at Lake Wylie Library

October 21, 2014 The teens of York County have turned into zombies! Join The Lake Wylie Public Library for a spooky event from 5-6:30 p.m. with food, games and other activities. Ages 11-17.

Registration required. Call 831-7774 to register starting Oct. 7.

October 26, 2014 Belmont’s Halloween Bash will include arts and crafts, food and entertainment and zombie run. 5-9 p.m. Free. www.cityofbelmont. org. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will host “Bootantical” events for children on Oct. 26 and 27.

River Hills Community Church Autumn Bazaar

November 1, 2014 The Autumn Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m.

- 2 p.m. at the RHCC Life Center Gym. Thrift and resale items, home accessories and furniture will be available for purchase. For information or to donate call 803-831-1615.

Hunt Fish Paddle Presents: Kayaks N’ Greenbacks Fall Frenzy (Bass)

November 1, 2014 Buster Boyd Bridge. $100 per person (100 percent payback for the winner.) Kayak-only bass fishing tournament open to all ages and skill levels. Five best catches, catch-photo-release format. Visit www. huntfishpaddle.com. LW

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Feature

A Never Ending Harvest Story and Photos by Jan Todd

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Sherrie Cockram

Feature

W

hen most gardeners around Lake Wylie are harvesting the last of their summer vegetable crops, Sherrie Cockram’s garden is still producing homegrown strawberries, tender baby lettuce, and red ripe tomatoes. These delicious delicacies of summer are available to Cockram and her family year round through a rather sophisticated Aquaponics food production system, set up right in her basement.

Many are familiar with “hydroponics,” a method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water, without soil. Hydroponics offers the advantages of much faster growth rates than soil gardening, considerably less watering required and fewer problems with harmful insects. Plants produced by Hydroponic methods are typically healthier and more fruitful and are typically grown without the use of herbicides and pesticides. Grocery stores usually carry a limited selection of Hydroponic produce, and shoppers will pay a premium.

Hydroponic gardening can be very expensive, as costly nutrients are needed to feed the plants, and periodic flushing of the systems is required.

A system referred to as “Aquaponics,” however, provides the solution to these issues by combining Hydroponics with Aquaculture, the raising of aquatic species such as fish, prawns or snails. In an Aquaponics system, the waste from the fish is used to fertilize the plants. In turn, the water that is “cleaned” by the plants is circulated back into the tank with the fish.

Cockram first became interested in Aquaponics after a bout with cancer a few years ago. “I mainly wanted to grow leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and kale without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers,” she explained. “I’ve always been a gardener. I am one of six children, and our parents taught us how to grow and preserve our own fruits and vegetables. I’ve always enjoyed gardening.”

However, Cockram lives in a wooded part of Lake Wylie in the Allison Creek area, where deer and other wildlife thrive.

“It has been increasingly difficult to work and harvest a traditional outdoor garden,” she said. “I’d go out to pick some fresh tomatoes only to find that the deer and coyotes had eaten every last one.”

Cockram then learned about Aquaponics and discovered that an indoor growing system would eliminate the problem of the “four legged pests,” as she describes. Cock-

ram found that Aquaponics is a much more efficient method of growing food than traditional soil gardening. “The plants grow about twice as fast, plus you can plant much closer together,” she explained. “In a soil garden, the concentration of nutrients in the dirt requires more spacing. But with Aquaponics, the nutrients come from the water.”

Cockram adds, “I also like the fact that there is very little bending and stooping with this type of gardening, because the system

is set up on platforms that are easy to reach while standing up. It eliminates some of the strain on my body.”

Aquaponics systems come in a variety of sizes and styles. Basic designs include a fish tank, a grow bed and a plumbing system that circulates the water. The grow beds are filled with clay pebbles or other gravel, which filter the solid in the water. To further break down the solids, earthworms can be added to the pebble beds.

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Feature

(Left) Lettuce and herbs in clay pebble bed.

(Right) Tilapia in the tank will grow large enough to harvest.

Cockram’s setup includes a 300-gallon fish tank that is about 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall. She has a couple of beds with clay pebbles, and a “raft bed” which has a floating Styrofoam panel. The raft bed is used for growing lettuce, spinach, and other leafy

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greens which do not require a root structure for support. Larger plants, such as tomatoes and beans, are grown in the clay beds and supported by trellises.

Most vegetables can be grown in an Aquaponics system, with the exception of potatoes

and carrots, which typically don’t do well because of the root depth needed for these plants to thrive. Other root crops, including onions, beets, and radishes, are able to grow in the system. Cockram raises a variety of lettuces, culinary herbs, tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers. “I plan to experiment with okra and other crops soon,” she said.

Cockram’s vast gardening experience has been helpful in her choice and care of her

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Feature (Left) Sherrie lifts raft bed and reveals plant roots that are nourished from the water.

(Right) Pollinating the plants by hand.

plants. “Because my garden is indoors, I actually have to hand-pollinate some of the blooming plants. I use an artist’s paint brush to collect pollen from one bloom and transfer to other blooms,” she said. “I also use fans to produce air movement around the plants and help create pollination.”

While some are able to maintain an outdoor Aquaponics gardening system, greenhouses are most commonly used for larger systems to produce a growing climate year round. Heaters are sometimes required to keep the fish tanks at the minimum required temperature of about 55 degrees.

Cockram chose to raise Tilapia in her fish tanks. “They are easily raised, and I like the way they taste,” she said. Cockram and her family are all avid fishermen, and have no qualms about harvesting live fish and preparing them for the dinner table. By feeding the fish organic food, Cockram is also assured that the fish are free of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and other harmful byproducts that can be present in fish caught in the wild or purchased.

Cockram has done extensive research on environmental concerns, food safety and nutrition. “I am a big believer in Aquaponics.

Systems are now being used commercially all over the world to supply food for people with poor growing conditions.”

Cockram interacts with a network of Aquaponic gardeners who share tips and help one another with the various challenges of these systems.

If you’d like to learn more or even try your own hand at Aquaponics, you may contact her at cockram@comporium.net. LW 44

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Faces

Hey Sugar Shop finds sweet

success I

By Jenny Peterson Photos by Jan Todd

t’s safe to say Mary-Kate McManus is a fan of a good sugar cookie.

Five years ago, the Clover resident had a vision of a perfect sugar cookie: a soft, buttery frosted treat – a melt-in-your-mouth experience.

The problem was she couldn’t find it anywhere. She said some versions were too hard, others were too soft, and none had the necessary signature frosted top.

Her quest finally led her to try baking the perfect cookie herself.

McManus wasn’t a baker, but she was determined.

After tweaking cookie recipes, as well as adding decadent homemade icing on top, McManus finally came up with what she felt was a worthy sugar cookie – exactly what she envisioned. She was also careful to make it with only the highest quality ingredients.

“I found I was good at tweaking recipes,” the 34-year-old says.

She then came up with the idea to bake cookies in unique, fun shapes.

“I wanted to do cool, crazy cookies; I didn’t want to do ‘traditional,’” she said. “I did anything crazy—whatever I could come up with – anything that would look cool on a cookie.”

In a leap of faith, after tweaking and perfecting her recipe, McManus quit her job as a healthcare marketing director and started Hey Sugar Shop, her own full-time cookie business in 2012.

McManus found a niche making not only delicious, high-quality cookies, but molding the cookie dough into unique shapes – in a shape of an ice cream cone, the state of South Carolina, various animals, even shaping and decorating cookies to look like chocolate-covered strawberries.

Among her cookie shapes are surfboards and bikinis, a sugar cookie that’s decorated to look like a frothy beer mug, even a logo of Winthrop University, her alma mater, located in nearby Rock Hill.

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She uses her marketing background to promote her business in the Clover and Lake Wylie community. Hey Sugar Shop has a Facebook page, an Instagram page, a Twitter account and an interactive website. Fellow Winthrop University graduate, Jay Flood, who owns Native Design Company, designed her logo and website.

“I came up with the name Hey Sugar Shop, because I thought it was really cute, like, saying, ‘Hey, sugar,’ and thought wouldn’t that be cute to say ‘Hey, sugar’ to everyone who walked in the door?” McManus said.

What began with small batches for family and friends has now turned into an in-demand business, so much so that McManus is often spending 20-hour days hand-making and personally delivering orders to customers. Each batch is arranged in a brown donut box with a see-through window.

She is always coming up with new ideas for the cookies and has a variety of seasonal sports-related cookies, including a Clemson University tiger paw, a “Spurrier visor” cookie (a nod to Steve Spurrier, the University of South Carolina’s football coach) and even cookies in the shape of a number two pencil – perfect for back to school.

McManus puts particular attention into detailing the colored frosting, often using a paintbrush-like tool to draw the designs. She creates delicate leaves on a palmetto tree-shaped cookie, adds stitches to a football-shaped treat, and even inserts colorful lines on cookies to make it look like a stained glass window.

She has brought her baked goods to catered events, including the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce and Monday After The Masters at North Myrtle Beach, one of the largest charity events in the state. In addition to her sweets, McManus brings along a large display table to showcase her unique treats.

Almost all of her cookies are custom-ordered for a special event. McManus says there’s no limit to what she can design and bake, and the more unique the request the better.

She’s sent dozens of sugar cookies in the shape of kilts to a college friend’s wedding in Scotland. She’s done cookies in the shape of cowboy boots, a Magnolia flower, even a cookie modeled after the likeness of her friend’s cat…wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

“My customers push me to the limit,” McManus said. “I’ll say yes to everything. For the customers that give me creative freedom, I go all out when it comes to decorating. People want to see what they’ve never seen before.”

McManus said she never looks at ideas for decorating cookies on the Internet or in cookbooks, rather, she prefers using her imagination for the custom cookies.

While the unique shapes get customers excited, McManus said it’s the quality of ingredients she uses in every batch that keep them coming back for more orders.

“I use quality organic dairy products, ex-

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Faces pensive butter and hand-blend the icing – it’s rich and buttery like a frosted shortbread.

They almost melt in your mouth,” she says.

“Free samples is what gets me customers.”

McManus also uses only 100 percent copper cookie cutters to make the unique shapes; they are custom-made for her by a family in North Carolina.

“I don’t cut corners on anything I do from start to finish,” she said.

Hey Sugar Shop has now expanded to offer cake truffles, or, “cake pops without the stick,”

she describes. There is also a gluten-free sugar cookie variety.

McManus said she feels honored that the same customers and families order her cookies for many events and gatherings.

“I am so grateful for the loyalty of my customers. Every customer hires me for 75 percent of their family events or special events,” she said. She added that Hey Sugar Shop offers a discount for bulk orders.

While McManus said she wants to keep her offerings specialized to her signature two

varieties – sugar cookies and cake truffles – her newest venture is liquor-infused cake truffles that she calls Tipsy Truffles.

Using the same recipe, she infuses the truffles with premium liquor, including a Ketel One Lemon Drop, Apple Pie Moonshine and Ketel One Creamsicles. They are a 21-andover treat.

McManus has plans to get more of her products out to the public, especially the Lake Wylie community.

“I’ve been working in the Lake Wylie community for several years, and it’s a wonderful market and community,” McManus said. She’s lived in Clover since 1998. “I became close with members of the community and have always felt at home in Lake Wylie.”

She said she is keeping her eyes open either for a permanent space in the area or for working with local vendors to carry her Hey Sugar Shop varieties.

“Lake Wylie is just seven miles away from my house; it’s a no-brainer,” she said.

For now, Hey Sugar Shop offers shipping by mail in the Lake Wylie, Charlotte and Rock Hill area as well as local delivery.

McManus said she feels humbled by the response she’s received and her success in the local community.

“It’s just great to do something you love to do,” she said. “I always say, ‘One bite and you’ll be smitten.’”

Follow Hey Sugar shop on Twitter at @heysugarshop, Instagram at www.instagram.com/ heysugarshop and on Facebook. Visit www. heysugarshop.com to contact McManus or place an order. LW 48

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Fall 2014

Faces

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

49

Development Update

Lake Wylie home construction on a roll

By Brad Harvey, Lake Wylie Realty

I

t doesn’t take much more than a few minutes of travel through the Lake Wylie area to see that the real estate market is finally starting to roll. Agents’ signs are abundant in the yards of existing homes and, if you’ll just roll down the car’s windows, your nose can catch a whiff of something not experienced in quite a while.

Yep. That’s the smell of fresh sawn lumber that you’re catching as it drifts from one of

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the many new homes that are currently under construction around the lake.

The majority of the action seems to be taking place on the South Carolina side of the water and there’s good reason for it. Low property taxes on primary residences, a lack of Social Security tax in SC and the much appreciated difference in gasoline prices are the first things that most buyers crossing the border from North Carolina will mention, while

others feel a stronger sense of community and small town charm that isn’t as recognizable amongst the lake area homes with Charlotte addresses.

Things are really starting to happen here and others are beginning to notice, too. In fact, Lake Wylie was just listed as the number one “City on the Rise” in the state by a study published via the “NerdWallet Financial Blog.”

Development Update Neighboring Tega Cay, which does hold the recognized status of a city, joined Lake Wylie by backing up the area’s strength with the number two spot.

In the study, “NerdWallet” analyzed 91 communities within “The Palmetto State” with populations of 5,000 people or more.

They measured population growth amongst those of working age, percentage of those residents gainfully employed along with growth of median income for workers during the years from 2009 to 2012.

Recognized trends that were discovered by the study proved some things that are already known to folks here. These included the fact that residents are willing to make the daily trip across state lines as they commute to and from work, many major companies are moving in to set up shop and that the overall population here is getting both younger and wealthier.

Still, the hard numbers in regard to where we currently stand with our local real estate market are best seen through the eyes of the Multiple Listing Service. Those statistics also point towards an overall strengthening of Lake Wylie real estate.

Although we’re definitely still in a “buy-

er’s market,” the average price per square foot for single family homes within the Lake Wylie area has risen by $14 since last fall, indicating that a good demand exists while

ist can no longer be looked at as a deal.

Over the summer, values on bank-owned properties have returned to 100 percent of their original sales price which means those

“Things are really starting to happen here and others are beginning to notice, too. In fact, Lake Wylie was just listed as the number one ‘City on the Rise’ in the state by a study published via the ‘NerdWallet Financial Blog.’”

Brad Harvey

Lake Wylie Realty

the overall number of available listings has held steady all year at around a fairly low 10 months supply.

The last bit of proof that a healthy local market is upon us can be seen in what is happening with foreclosures in and around Lake Wylie. Where many were once available, few remain and even those that do ex-

lending institutions that are still holding them will be less willing to take a hit on the sale.

Brad Harvey, of Lake Wylie Realty, is a regular contributor to numerous publications across the country. You can find more local information on available homes, listing opportunities and stats by visiting www.lkwrealty.com or call (803) 818-8994. LW

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Development Update

Mark Wuerthele of Arthur Rutenberg and Helen St. Anthony of Rinehart Realty opened a new model home in Lake Wylie in July.

Lake Wylie’s

Expansion

Zaxby’s opened in the spring in Lake Wylie

by Walmart on Hwy 274.

Publix grocery store still plans on moving into Lake Wylie in late 2015 at the former BiLo shopping center, 158 Highway 274.

Lakeside West shopping center added a new ABC store in this spring. Anchor tenant Lake Wylie Bowl’N Bounce is adding a 4,000 square foot laser tag expansion to its facility.

Rinehart Realty hired new broker Helen St. Anthony for Lake Wylie sales.

Ohio-based Gross Builders will put highend apartments on 30 acres at the Golf Masters site at 5241 Charlotte Highway. The space is currently a commercial golf driving range.

The first apartments should be ready by mid2015, according to reports in The Lake Wylie Pilot. Anyone interested in updates should check grossbuilders.com.

New Crescent Communities got approval to develop 650 residential units located between Sutton Road and the Catawba River, which will include riverfront recreational uses and amenities.

Land development company May Green Properties purchased nearly 120 acres on Highway 274 in May. The company ownes 23 sites in York County and creates environmentally-friendly residential communities.

AnyTime Fitness is moving to a new, larger space in the new extension of Anchor Shops Place. Several locations in the center are available.

Lake Wylie was rated No. 1 and Tega Cay was rated No. 2 as “Cities on the rise” from finance blog NerdWallet. The site factored in the working age population increase and median income growth. Visit www.nerdwallet. com for more information. LW

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www.LakeWylieToday.com | Fall 2014

Spotlight The magazine of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

e Assortment Carolina Football Cooki p

by Hey Sugar Sho

x

CMC-Steele Creek Uncompromising Excellence. Commitment to Care.

Spotlight Marc Lubiato and the Bank of York Foursome ready to tee off.

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

Thursday, October 2 , 2014 River Hills Country Club 1:00 PM Shotgun Start Captain’s Choice

$145/Golfer $560/Foursome

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce to Hold Golf Tournament

O

ne of the best networking opportunities of the year is at the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Golf Classic. It will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at River Hills Country Club, Lake Wylie. Each year, this golf event is one of the best of the year in the region.

The tournament begins at 1:00 PM with a Shotgun Start and Captain’s Choice. There will be prizes and/or hospitality on nearly every hole, including the “Hula” hole and “Margarita” hole. The day promises to be one of good golf and great fun.

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Box Lunch, Hospitality and Prizes at many holes including our special “Hula Hole”

BUSINESS AFTER GOLF

Elrod Pope Team at the Chamber Golf event last year.

Registration is $145 per player or $560 per foursome and includes a full day of hospitality, including a Business After Golf event from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Space is limited so make reservations early.

Hole sponsorships are available and offer a great opportunity for businesses to promote themselves at this premier event.

Registration forms are available on the Chamber’s web site at www.lakewyliesc.com or contact Susan at the Chamber office (803831-2827 or lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com) for forms or additional information.

Hospitality and Libations 5:30-8:00 p.m. sponsored by Carolinas Healthcare System, Haselden, Owen & Boloyan, Q2U BBQ and Catering, Wells Fargo, River Hills Country Club Held at River Hills Country Club Terrace

For reservations, contact

Lake Wylie Chamber: (803) 831-2827 lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com www.lakewyliesc.com

Spotlight

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC - REGISTRATION FORM Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 1 p.m. Shotgun Start– Captain’s Choice River Hills Country Club

Contact Name:____________________________________________________________ Company:________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________ City:____________________________________ State:___________ Zip:_____________ Daytime Telephone: (

)______________________ Fax: (

)_________________

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Wood - Chairman KODIAK MINI STORAGE Ed Stewart – Past Chairman M.L. FORD & SONS Susan Bromfield, President LAKE WYLIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Donna Bordeaux BORDEAUX & BORDEAUX, CPAs, PA Myron Boloyan, Esq. HASELDEN, OWEN & BOLOYAN, LLC

E-mail:__________________________________________________________________

Fred Caldwell FRED CALDWELL CHEVROLET

Golf - Includes box lunch, driving range privileges, golf, cart, hospitality and great networking! All player spots are reserved upon receipt of payment and registration form.

Allan Gregory K. A. WEALTH MANAGEMENT

________ Individual Golfer(s) @ $145 per person

Diana Grubenhoff

Total $_______

________ Golf Team(s) – Four players @ $560 per team Total $_______ Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfers Name:________________________Handicap:___E-mail:__________________

Optional…

_____Mulligan (s) – Limit 2 per player $5 each Total $_______

_____Mulligan (s) – For the team $40

Total $_______

Golfer Gift Bag Donation (for 120 golfers, i.e. pens, tees, hats, balls, etc.) Don’t miss this

Leonard Jackson LAKE WYLIE BUSINESS CENTRE Don Long Haven Presley T-BONES ON THE LAKE Paige McCarter CLOVER COMMUNITY BANK Doug McSpadden MCSPADDEN CUSTOM HOMES Michaelyn Sherrill PLANTATION HOME REALTY

great opportunity to showcase your business to participants.

Marc Sosne CLOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Please return this registration form with your check to:

P.O. Box 5233 264 Latitude Lane, Suite 101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803.831.2827 Fax: 803.831.2460 lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com www.lakewyliesc.com

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 5233, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Phone: 803-831-2827 Fax: 803-831-2460 Email: lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com Web: www.lakewyliesc.com

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s marketing and promotional efforts are supported by York County’s Hospitality Tax.

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

55

Spotlight

Business After Hours May 8, 2014 Sponsored by Allen Tate Realtors Photos by Diana Grubenhoff

Shelley and Debbie of Carolina Family Dentistry of Lake Wylie with Larry Marracini and Bobbie Otto.

Allen Tate Realtors welcome the Chamber to the May 8th Business After Hours.

Allan Gregory of K.A. Gregory Wealth Management and Susan Lukowski of Lake Wylie Travel.

Katherine of KL Creative, Kitty of Lake Wylie Pilot and Diane of Allen Tate Realtors.

Don and Kay Westmoreland - Allen Tate Realtors.

Joe Versen, of Joe L. Versen Appraisals and Diana Joe and Katie Taylor of Taylor Made Grubenhoff, Chamber board member and photographer. Home Care.

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Doug McSpadden of McSpadden Custom Homes, Tony Marder of Action Coach and Dave Mayo of Whiteside Cleaners.

Spotlight

Business After Hours May 1, 2014 Sponsored by Bordeaux and Bordeaux, CPA’s, Focus Physical Therapy and Fitness, Glaza Chiropractic, Lake Wylie Eye, McSpadden Custom Homes, Miller and Dixon Orthodontics Photos by Diana Grubenhoff

Deb and Tom Dagilus with Nancy Snyder.

Stan and Judy Over.

Chad and Donna Bordeaux of Bordeaux and Bordeaux, CPAs

Chad Bordeaux, of Bordeaux and Bordeaux CPA’s with Linda Eggers and Helen St. Anthony of Rinehart Realty.

Mary Sieck and Helen St. Anthony of Rinehart Realty with Jon Neigenfind of Pioneer Servives -Pest Control.

Brian Rich and Jerry Bullard of Q2U BBQ and Catering with Jane DuBois of Lake Wylie Today.

Lori and Rich Biggers of Focus Physical Therapy and Fitness.

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

57

Spotlight

Business After Hours May 22, 2014 Sponsored by Kodiak Mini Storage Photos by Diana Grubenhoff

Jeff and Lee Ellen Turnbull and Charles Wood and Kodiak Mini Storage Team welcome the Chamber to Business After Hours.

Fred Caldwell of Fred Caldwell Chevrolet and Lee Ellen Turnbull of Kodiak Mini Storage.

Darrin Skinner of Lake Wylie Bowl and Bounce and Jane DuBois of Lake Wylie Today.

Jeff Turnbull of Kodiak Mini Storage with Watt Roberson and Nancy Snyder.

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Debbie and Shelley of Carolina Family Dentistry of Lake Wylie with Fred and Brandon of I Pest.

Tommy of Tommy D’s Hotdog Cart provided gourmet hotdogs at this Business After Hours.

Spotlight

Business After Hours June 19, 2014 Sponsored by River Hills Marina Club, T-Bones on the Lake, SeaTow, Lake Wylie Business Centre, The Mosquito Authority and Q2U BBQ and Catering Photos by Diana Grubenhoff

Buddy Thomas and the T-Bones on the Lake team welcome the Chamber members to the June Business After Hours.

Sea Tow was one of the BAH sponsors.

Linda Eiler of Rinehart Realty and Tom Wirth of Frugal Window Fashions.

Brian Rich and the Q2U BBQ and Catering Team served BBQ and the fixings.

Clover Community Bank was well represented by Gwen and Jim Thompson.

Ann Rother, Dwayne McClure, chamber volunteers and Dianne Kehler of Remedics Restoration.

Ron Kraft, John Wilkerson, with Lois and Bruce Jamieson.

The beautiful view from the River Hills Picnic Pavilion at the June event.

Fred and Lindy Wetherell of Sterling Source.

Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

59

Spotlight

Scenes from The Lake Wylie Splash Dash Held at Camp Thunderbird and River Hills Plantation June 14, 2014 Photos by Jan Todd and Diana Grubenhoff

Runners at the Finish line.

Entrance of YMCA Camp Thunderbird near the finish line at the Splash Dash.

The pace car provided by Fred Caldwell Chevrolet leads the way for runners at the Splash Dash.

Team Anytime Fitness

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A Track team came all the way from Florida to complete at the Lake Wylie Splash Dash.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Fall 2014

Carolina Healthcare System was one of our sponsors at the event.

Hannon Orthondontics Team by the finish line at the Splash Dash.

Spotlight

Thank you

2014 Splash Dash Sponsors Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Carolinas Healthcare System Lowe’s Anchor Self Storage Baker Financial Group Bank of York Bethel Commons Burger King Fred Caldwell Chevrolet Clover Community Bank Comporium Contagious Graphics Diamond Springs Duke Energy Focus Physical Therapy and Fitness Frito Lay Glaza Chiropractic Center Hannon Orthodontics Harris Teeter Kodiak Mini Storage Lake Wylie Business Centre Lake Wylie Pilot Lake Wylie Plaza Lightning PC Solutions Long Cove Marina M.L. Ford & Sons Piedmont Medical center Queen City Timing River Hills Community Association Sportscenter Walmart Watson Insurance YMCA Camp Thunderbird York County York County Natural Gas

~ PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS! ~ Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Spotlight

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors Nominations The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its Board of Directors for three year terms and is requesting input from all members. The criteria for nominees are as follows:

QUALIFICATIONS FOR BOARD CANDIDATES

• Current membership in LWCC (see business directory online at LWCC website: www.lakewyliesc.com) • Member in good standing with dues current • Willingness to serve and make commitment • Willingness to chair a committee, task force, project or event for multiple years while serving on the board.

• Consider prior involvement (recent) • Should consider those that have come forward to volunteer to serve on the Board • Demonstrated/Proven Leadership

• • • • • • •

Good communication skills Ability to work as a team Actively works to promote the chamber and community Positive Attitude Supports Chamber efforts and its mission Consideration to how one will and can contribute to chamber Nominees will be contacted in advance as to their willingness to serve on the board.

• Board Meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Nominees shall be submitted to the Nominating Committee for its consideration in selecting five (5) candidates for membership to the Board of Directors.

Email the chamber by September 14, 2014 at 5 p.m.

Email: lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com

Thank You to our Renewing Members - May 1 -June 30, 2014 • • • • • • •

Bank of York Boat Sales of Lake Wylie Budget Roofing CaroMont Health City Tavern Clover School District Custom Property Management • Dana Anthony Homes • Duke Energy

• • • • • • •

Eason Roofing Elrod Pope Law firm Forms and Supply Fort Mill Ford Gala Affairs Gaston Day School K.A. Gregory Wealth Management • Kodiak Mini Storage • Lake Wylie Assisted Living

Welcome New Members

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• • • • • • • • • •

Lake Wylie Eye Lake Wylie Family Dentistry Lake Wylie Pilot Lake Wylie Realty Lake Wylie Today Lake Wylie Web Design M.L. Ford and Sons Pioneer Pest Control Plantation Home Realty Remedics Restoration

• • • • • • • • • •

River Hills Marina Rotary Club of Lake Wylie South Forty Farm The Village at Lake Wylie WalMart – Lake Wylie Waterside Partners LLC Wells Fargo Bank Wylie Boat Rental York County Natural Gas York Electric Co-op

- May 1 - July 31, 2014

Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Inc. Mark Wuerthele 600 Town Centre Blvd Ste. 201 Pineville, NC 28134 704-889-0218 jwittmer@arhomes.com www.arthurrutenberghomes.com Home Builder

Clover Touchdown Club Inc. James L. McMackin III PO Box 1001 Clover ,SC 29710 803-230-1337 clovertouchdownclub@gmail.com www.clovertouchdownclub.com Club

Liquor at the Lake Michael Hoang 4034 Charlotte Hwy Suite104 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-1303 liquoratthelake@att.net liquoratthelake.com Liquor

Catawba Valley Dental Care Dr. Chad Vanourny DDS 13557 Steelecroft Parkway Charlotte, NC 28278 704-594-8496 office@catawbavalleydentalcare.com Dentist

Kings Mountain Farm LLC Wendy Creel 1399 Whitewolf Rd. Blacksburg, SC 29702 803-222-7543 wendycreelndmb@hotmail.com kingsmountainfarm.org Natural Health and Farm

New River Church Bryan Bradshaw, Executive Pastor 133 Carroll Cove Rd Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-8800 www.nrcc.net Church

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Fall 2014

Spotlight

Nominations are now being accepted for

2014 Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Business Person and Citizen of the Year

Candidates should have the following:

• A history of long-time involvement in the community.

• A positive impact on the Lake Wylie Community.

• Business person must be a chamber member with a history of being supportive of community and chamber activities.

• Citizen should be a person who makes a positive difference to the community as a whole.

Nominee for Business Person: ________________________________________ Nominee for Citizen: _______________________________________________ Please tell us about your nominee and his/or her contributions to the community: __________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deadline for nominees Oct. 15, 2014 by 5 p.m. Email: lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com

Past Recipients include:

Business Person

Citizen

2013 Leonard Jackson Lisa McCarthy 2012 Q2U BBQ Chad Bordeaux

Business of the Year 2011 Doug McSpadden Rep. Ralph Norman 2010 Fred Caldwell Tom Smith 2009 Rob Watson and Elizabeth Hartley

Fred Nason - Watson Insurance

Business of the Year 2008 Al Powell Vince Mugavero 2007 Ed Stewart Susan Bromfield

(Milestone Award) 2006 Diana Grubenhoff Dr. Steve Miszkiewicz 2005 Mark DeChant Stacy Waddell-Blackmon

2004 Andy Kane 2003 Rod Hall 2002 Leslie Hall 2001 Paige McCarter 2000 David Mathein 1999 Myron Boloyan 1998 Tally Roberts 1997 Jong and Po Liu 1996 Jack Allen 1995 MaMa “C” 1994 Mark Erwin 1993 John Wilkerson 1992

River Hills Community Church Sue Dobrzeniecki 104 Hamilton’s Ferry Rd Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-1615 sue@rhcconline.org www.rhcconline.org Church

Ryland Homes @ Mill Creek Falls Larry Barker 2229 Iron Works Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Office # 803-675-6060 Mobile# 704-315-4982 lbarker@ryland.com Home Builder

Riordan Orthodontics Dr. Michael Riordan 1300 Village Harbor Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-802-2580 mrortho.com Dental / Orthodontics

Simply Southern Chad Saunders 4371 Charlotte Hwy Unit #2 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 704-965-0920 csaunders@simplysoutherndc.com www.simplysoutherndc.com Construction, Remodeling

Fred Wetherell Roberta Spampinato Don Long Charles Wood S.C. Rep. Becky Meacham S.C. Rep. Herb Kirsh Ruth Sheets Diane Roberts Senator Harvey Peeler Nick and Joanne Jones Peggy Upchurch “Duck” Alexander Firechief Bill Johnston

The Schiele Museum 1500 E. Garrison Blvd Gastonia, NC 28054 704-866-6900 www.schielemuseum.org Museum Steele Creek Animal Hospital and Companion Animal Rehabilitation Services Dr Patricia Young 9729 S Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28273 704-588-4400 Fax 704-588-2751 dryoung@keepingpetshealthy.com keepingpetshealthy.com Veterinarian/ Animal Services Fall 2014 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Spotlight

Lake Wylie Chamber partners with York County to help clean our waterways

I

t is time to get involved and make a difference in our area. The Lake Wylie Chamber proudly continues its partnership with York County in support of its Adopt a Stream and Storm Drain Marking programs as part of its Green Initiative. The Chamber asks businesses, neighborhoods and individuals to support these programs to make our lake and our community a beautiful place. Kodiak Mini Storage was among the very first to clean and mark more than twenty drains at their facility in Lake Wylie. Get Involved. Adopt a Stream or Cove and/ or Mark Storm Drains in your area.

Here is how you can help: Adopt a Stream Benefits • Keeps waterways litter-free • Brings awareness of your watershed • Training on how to monitor the health of your stream • Recognition of your group on an Adopt-

A-Stream sign • Certificate of appreciation • Community pride in our streams and coves

Storm Drain Marking Information • What is a storm drain? Storm drains are the drains that you see at street corners or low points in the street or parking lot.

• What are they FOR? They are for transporting stormwater.

• What is stormwater? Stormwater is water from rain, snow, sleet or hail that flows across the ground or pavement when it rains. Stormwater either seeps into the ground or it flows into storm drains. These drains are connected to an underground series of pipes that discharge directly into streams, and creeks.

• What is the concern with stormwater?

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Upcoming Activities

Business After Hours

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 5:30- 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Fred Caldwell Chevrolet - Clover

Business After Hours

Thursday, September 25, 2014 5:30- 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by and Held at Suntrust Bank in Rivergate Shopping Center

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament Thursday, October 2, 2014 1 p.m. Shotgun Start, Captain’s Choice Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie, SC

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Business After Golf

Thursday, October 2, 2014 5:30-8 p.m.

Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie, SC

Annual Holiday Gala

Thursday, December 4, 2014 6:30 p.m. to Midnight Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres Dinner and Music Seating Limited, Festive Attire Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie, SC

Holiday Boat Parade

Saturday, December 13, 2014 6:30 p.m.

Held by T-Bones on the Lake

As stormwater travels across the ground it can pick up pollutants and carries them directly to the nearest creek or stream.

• Myth: Stormwater is treated.

Truth: Stormwater is not treated.

Whatever goes into a storm drain is discharged directly into our creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.

More Information: If you would like more information regarding York County Storm Drain Marking Program please contact Caci Nance, York County Engineering by phone at (803) 8185145 or by email at caci.nance@yorkcountygov.com or call Lake Wylie Chamber office at (803) -831-2827.

Visit the Environmental Compliance website at www.yorkcountygov.com/tyler Thanks for Your Support to Help Keep Lake Wylie Beautiful!

Norma and Charles Wood at last year ’s Holiday Gala.