LakeWylie Spring at the Lake Spring Home Tour: See some beautiful homes, help a great cause.

Wedding barns These venues give a unique setting for your next event.

Chamber Spotlight Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce news and information

TODAY Spring 2020 | Issue 1

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Spring growth By Susan Bromfield, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

ere it is, Spring 2020, and the beginning of a new decade is upon us. Lake Wylie has been identified as one of the fastest growing communities in the nation with among the highest income levels in South Carolina. Quality of life, prosperity, mild weather, natural beauty, good schools and opportunity are key to our community’s attraction. This issue of Lake Wylie Today features a variety of stories that give you a taste of why the area is so popular to many. The Shoreline feature tells about the rowing clubs that gather at Lake Wylie from all over the area to bring youth together for team competition in rowing. Food for Thought features a hometown couple who launched a business that is truly thriving. Saltwater Markets is a jewel for the whole area, as people want to eat healthy and get the freshest fish, flown in daily, with a variety of selections. Saltwater Markets provides that opportunity, along with cooking classes, catering and daily lunch specials, as well as deluxe cuts of meat and seasonal items. The recent popularity in rural event venues and barn weddings led us to do a feature that highlights a sampling of what is available in our area. Also included is a wedding and event guide, with listings of local musicians, photographers, florists and others who can help make it easy to plan an event or wedding. The Garden Party feature will help gardeners across the area plan out their planting schedules to enjoy fresh produce through

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

spring, summer and fall. The spring issue is also the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise issue and features some local guest writers who contribute articles on wellness subjects. This issue includes information on managing stress, benefits of massage, decluttering for living better, and finances. We also highlight the Clover/Lake Wylie Republican Woman’s spring home tour, noting that this event is philanthropical rather than political, having raised over $50,000 in scholarships for students attending area schools. It is not only a beautiful spring event, but also a chance to get a glimpse of some local homes and gardens while supporting a good cause. The development update gives the review and status of real estate sales and trends at Lake Wylie. As usual, there is strong demand for homes and prices continue to rise. Details are always interesting whether you plan to buy, sell, or just want to know what is going on in the area. The Chamber Spotlight features lots of photos of recent events and activities of the Lake Wylie Chamber, including the annual gala and the holiday boat parade. Dana Sipper Photography did a fabulous job of capturing scenes from those two popular events. We have quite an array of interesting information, such as where to rent a boat or get a fishing license. It is with pride and pleasure we present the 2020 spring issue of the award-winning Lake Wylie Today magazine, now entering its 11th year. Enjoy! LW

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Contents Spring 2020

2 Our View

Lake Wylie continues rapid growth

8 Mailbag 14 Spring Calendar

Rowing teams work out on Lake Wylie

22 Food for Thought

Enjoy garden-fresh veggies almost all year long

34 Feature

Unique event venues: wedding barns

40 Feature

www.LakeWylieToday.com Published by SC Biz News Lake Wylie Today Editor - Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269 Creative Director - Ryan Wilcox production1@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3117 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

Saltwater Market is the place for fresh seafood

28 Garden Party

TODAY

Spring festivals and events abound

18 Shoreline

LakeWylie

Annual spring tour of Lake Wylie homes

Contributing Writers Susan Bromfield Jan Todd Kathy Widenhouse Contributing Photographers Susan Bromfield Jane DuBois Samantha Elliott/Daisy Photography Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Dana Sipper/Sipper Photography Jan Todd Kathy Widenhouse

44 Feature

Health and Wellness: De-stress and enjoy life

50 Development Update 54 Spotlight

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

The magazine of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

64 Southern Twang

A look at the Southern side by Jan Todd

Cover and Table of Contents photos by Jan Todd 4

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

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Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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 whatâ€™s happening in the community through stories and photos. We want to celebrate with you, laugh with you and build memories with you. Please email photos and stories to smcdaniel@scbiznews.com .

Lee Kehler Melvin Jones Fellowship recipient

River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Annual Charity Golf Tournament is May 4

he annual River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Charity Golf Tournament is Monday, May 4, at River Hills Country Club. Meet celebrity Scott Rohrer, Special Olympics twotime World Gold Medalist. Gain an advantage on the 10th hole by letting Scott hit your drive off the tee box. Proceeds from the 10th hole will be donated to Special Olympics. This Captainâ€™s Choice event includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning teams - 1st place $1,000, 2nd place $500,

3rd place $250. Registration starts at 10 a.m. with shotgun start at noon. Individual golfer, $150, foursome $600. Entry fees include free contests on every hole (except 10), Hole-In-One contests, green fees, cart, driving range, lunch, beer, soft drinks, water, contest prizes, door prizes, awards dinner. All tournament proceeds benefit, local, state, and national charities. For more information or to register as a sponsor, golfer, or team, visit rhlwlions.org. Rain date is Monday, May 11.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

ions Clubs world-wide recognize outstanding individuals through an award named for its founder, Melvin Jones. This award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideals consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism. The recipient of this award becomes known as a Melvin Jones Fellow and is a model of exemplary service to his/her club and the community which it serves. A committee of past Melvin Jones Fellowship recipients recommended Lee, and the Board unanimously approved. In his 11 years as a member of our Lions Club, Lee has not only participated in every fundraising project, but he has also explored and introduced innovative concepts and ideas to enhance these projects. Lee has unselfishly given his time and financial support to our Lions Club. Additionally, during his tenure, Lee has sponsored several new members. Congratulations to our 26th Melvin Jones Fellowship recipient, Lee Kehler--very well deserved!

Mailbag The Clover Choraliers recently performed for Gov. Henry McMaster during a ceremony honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Auschwitz Liberation. The Choraiiers will hold their spring concert and show April 30, May 2 and May 3.

Come-See-Me Festival named ‘Event of the Year’

he South Carolina Festival and Events Association named the Come-See-Me Festival as the 2019 SCFEA Event of the Year award winner at the Annual Festival & Event Planner’s Conference. The SCFEA Excellence Awards program provides industry recognition for event professionals throughout the state, and the Event of the Year award specifically recognizes the most outstanding festival or event of the year. The 2020 Come-See-Me Festival will be held this year from April 16-25. “This award is a much-appreciated recognition of the dedication and commitment of the Come-See-Me Festival’s Board of Governors, Team Leaders, sponsors, and volunteers. Everyone involved in the festival takes great pride in their role and the impact Come-SeeMe has on the Rock Hill community,” 2019 Festival Chair Chad Echols said. “The ComeSee-Me Festival is the epitome of teamwork. Thank you to the SCEFA for recognizing this festival we all love as the Event of the Year for 2019.” Offering nearly 80 events and activities throughout Rock Hill, Come-See-Me is considered the largest, all-volunteer festival in South Carolina and attracting nearly than 125,000 participants in 2019. The Festival has been ranked in the South’s Top 20 Spring Festivals multiple years. For more information visit comeseeme.org Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

Lindsey named Citizen of the Year

d Lindsey was recently honored as the 2019 Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Lindsey was born in Brooklyn, earned a BBA and MBA at Pace University, and enjoyed a career as a Data Quality and Sales Engineer. His career included positions at Univac, Harris Data Communications, A T & T Bell Labs, NCR, Evoke Software, IBM and Informatica. Now re-

tired, he volunteers his time and talents for the greater good of the Lake Wylie community. Lindsey is past president of the Lake Wylie Rotary Club and was Rotarian of the Year in 2017. In his nine years of Rotary, he has made many contributions. He continues to organize efforts such as Adopt a Stream and the Thanksgiving turkey delivery for the less fortunate. He introduced, spearheaded and

maintains Little Libraries on behalf of the Lake Wylie Rotary Club. He has organized and led efforts to raise funds to build a covered shelter and picnic areas at the Clover Central School District YMCA and Aquatic Center. He also volunteers for Rotary activities organized by his fellow Rotarians. In addition, he has served on the Bethel Fire District Advisory Board and serves of the Lake Wylie Park Advisory Board, working with York County to create, plan and build a community sports park, slated to open in spring 2020 with facilities for ball games, walking trails, pickle ball, community gatherings and recreational opportunities. In his spare time, he works with AARP to prepare taxes for seniors at no cost. He also serves on the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where he volunteers for many events and activities. In addition to his other accomplish-

21 Clover High JROTC cadets named winners of scholarship

wenty-one Clover High School Air Force JROTC cadets received full scholarships to attend the Air Force Chief of Staff Private Pilot Flight Academy over the summer at one of the 14 partnering universities. For the third year in a row, Clover High School led the nation in selections, earning 11% of the national quota. Primary selects are Sam Bangert, Taylor Lewis, Isabelle Beaulieu, Thomas “Beau” McGarity, Abigail Camilleri, Abigail Neeley, Jonah Capousis, Al-

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Mailbag Ed Lindsey

ments, Lindsey wrote a book on Data Profiling entitled “Three-Dimensional Analysis – Data Profiling Techniques.” Lindsey and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, one son and seven grandchildren. Always the community-minded person, he encourages his family to assist with projects to help the Lake Wylie Rotary Club and the community.

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exa Smith, Ashley Davis, Joshua Sommer, Daniel Forrest, Alina Tomko, James Higgins, Jacob Van Wie, Aryana Johansen, Chanler Whittle, Nick Johnson, Cole Williams, Quinn Johnson, Cecila Wooten and Kamyrn Lail. Two alternates selected are Alexis Bono and Deshaun Pooler. In addition, five 16-year-old cadets achieved the required score to be selected, but the FAA failed to approve an age waiver (17) as requested by the Air Force. Clover AFJROTC cadets make up 21 out of only 200 AFJROTC cadets from around the world to receive the flight scholarship from Headquarters AFJROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala. More than 2,575 cadets applied for one of the 150 scholarships. Additionally, there are more than 125,000 high school students enrolled in AFJROTC at over 880 high schools in the U.S and overseas. Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

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Lake Wylie Fireworks fund needs ‘Cash for the Flash’

f you support continuing the July 4th Fireworks, send your check today to Lake Wylie Fireworks, C/O Camp Thunderbird, One Thunderbird Lane, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. It’s up to you. The fund is so depleted there’s not even enough to commit to contract for 2020 Fireworks. It is simple. You want fireworks, send a check. The fireworks show basically cost $1,000 per minute (including necessary insurance). Send your check today.

Photo/Fort Mill History Museum

Mailbag

Run for Life 5K, Saturday, May 2, Sponsored by River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club

njoy this challenging 5K race through the rolling hills of the pristine, lakefront, gated community of River Hills. The course will take you through winding streets lined with thousands of bird-filled mature trees, beautiful homes, a golf course with green fairways, and a pond with spraying fountains. Preregistration of $25 ends Monday, April 12. Registration between April 13 and May 1 is $30. Race day, May 2, registration is $35. The 5K is a timed, chipped event. Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/LakeWylie/RunForLife5KLakeWylie to register. In conjunction with the 5K, we will also host a run/walk for all interested at a fee of $15. T-shirts included for all.

George Fish School site awarded S.C. Historical Marker

he South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) has recognized George Fish School with an official South Carolina Historical Marker. The designation honors George Fish School, a Rosenwald School, as an important and educational part of local history. A dedication program will be held on Monday, March 30, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Fort Mill School District Building, 2233 Deerfield Drive, Fort Mill, followed by the official unveiling at noon at the site of the George Fish School Historical Marker, 401 Steele Street, Fort Mill. Speakers for the 10 a.m. program include Professor M. Washington-Cabiness Abuwiv Sr., MA., M.Ed., great-grandson of Booker T. Washington and author, Booker T. Washington For A New America: Are We There Yet?; Mr. Scott Bell, great-great nephew of George Fish; and Ms. Stephanie Deutsch, author, You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald, and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South. â€œThe George Fish School Historical Marker proudly stands on the site, where our school once stood during the era of segregation,â€? John L. Sanders III, President of the George Fish School Alumni Monument Committee, 2006-2007 said. For more information, contact the Fort Mill History Museum at 803-802-3646 or email: info@fmhm.org. Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Calendar

Festival season in bloom!

hen the temperatures begin to climb, flowers and festivals start popping up all over Lake Wylie and the surrounding area. St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and a host of other events mark the spring calendar. Check out these fun, family-friendly options, and be sure to check ahead as dates and times are subject to change.

March 14 Old Town Rock Hill will celebrate all things Irish at its annual St. Patrick’s Day festival on Main Street from 2-10 p.m. There will be live entertainment, vendors, a large kid’s zone and plenty of food and beverages for purchase. Free admission.

March 14 Clover St. Patrick’s Day Festival Clover celebrates the luck of the Irish with its St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Main Street. The event will feature family friendly entertainment, food vendors, rides and more. This year, the Tim Clark Band will perform live at

the Catawba Street stage. More information is available online at www.cloversc.org.

March 21

time to visit the 800-acre living history plantation; there will be newborn lambs and heritage breed animals. Visitors can help plow the fields with a team of draft horses. Pony and wagon rides will be available for a small additional fee. Food concessions will be available for purchase to enjoy in the on-site picnic area and picnic baskets are welcome. Adults $8; Seniors $6; Youth 4-17 $3; 3 and under free; CHM members free. 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells.

Carowinds opening day Kickstart the spring season with worldclass thrill rides, fun-filled family attractions, live entertainment, authentic Carolina cuisine and everything in between. Carowinds will be open for the season from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. with something for all ages to enjoy. Be among April 16-25 the world’s first guests to experience twice the Come-See-Me festival bite on Copperhead Strike, the Carolinas’ first Since its beginning in 1962, the Comedouble launch coaster. See-Me Festival is Rock Hill’s annual salute to spring. With nearly 80 events and activities, there’s something for everyone. Experience March 28 the beautiful Glencairn Gardens, live music, children’s activities, a parade, art show, road Children’s Day on the Farm Historic Brattonsville’s annual family event race, fireworks extravaganza and much more. focuses on farm life in the 18th and 19th With 10 days full of fun, you’re sure to find centuries. This historic learning opportunity something you’ll enjoy! Many activities take offers a wide variety of hands-on activities. place at Glencairn Gardens at 725 Crest St., From 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., children of all ages Rock Hill, but other venues are included. Go can help with candle-dipping, blacksmith- online to www.comeseeme.org for a compreing, cooking and more. Spring is a wonderful hensive list of activities and schedule.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

April 4-5 Peter Rabbit’s Garden Adventure at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Celebrate spring along with Peter and his friends. Enjoy family activities, including crafts, lunch or snacks, beverages, and more. No tickets or reservations needed, general admission is available for Peter Cottontail’s Garden Adventure only at the door. Garden members are admitted free and general admission applies for nonmembers: $14.95 adult, $12.95 senior 60+, and $7.95 children 2-12. 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont, N.C., 28012.

April 6-19 Easter Eggstravaganza and Spring Break at Carowinds Spend your spring break at Carowinds and enjoy all the park has to offer along with special events. Snag a photo op with Eggward the Easter Bunny and Snoopy the Easter Beagle. Get a jump on the new experiences in 2019, including the return of The Marvelous Mutts live show for their limited Spring Break run. 14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, NC.

April 18

April 30, May 2-3

Earth Day Event The Anne Springs Close Greenway will host its annual Earth Day event near the Dairy Barn. Enjoy a wide variety of educational, fun, family-friendly events and activities, all the while celebrating and learning about the earth and our environment. ASC Greenway is located at 288 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill. For more information call 843-547-1019 or visit www.ascgreenway.org.

April 25 Lake Wylie Home and Garden Tour Get a peek inside homes and gardens in Lake Wylie during the annual Lake Wylie Home and Garden Tour. Presented by the Lake Wylie/Clover Republican Women’s Club, this self-guided tour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. features homes in River Hills and surrounding neighborhoods. Hostesses and volunteers will be stationed throughout each home, available to share stories about the home and displays. Tickets go on sale March 1 and will be available for $20 each at Bagel Boat, Kasby’s, Lake Wylie Pharmacy, and on Eventbrite.com. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour at the main gate at River Hills.

Clover Choraliers spring concert and show The award-winning Clover Choraliers will hold their annual spring concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30 and Saturday, May 2 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the Clover District Auditorium. Go online to www. Clover Choraliers.com for box office hours and information.

May 2 S.C. Strawberry Festival The award-winning festival, held in Fort Mill, includes arts, crafts, amusements, a car show, live music and a fireworks display. Please note, due to upcoming construction scheduled for a portion of Walter Y. Elisha Park, as well as the temporary closure of Old Nation Road, the town of Fort Mill decided to move the annual event to a one-day festival because of space and parking concerns. Despite the change, there are still plans for an exciting array of strawberry-related events from April 25 to May 2, including the annual Strawberry Queen pageant, golf tournament and Downtown Strawberry Jam! For more info go to www.scstrawberryfestival.com. LW

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline

Photos/Charlotte Youth Rowing 18

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Shoreline

Crew Chiefs Charlotte Youth Rowing celebrates 20 years on Lake Wylie

t 4:30 p.m., eight boats pull away from the Catawba Yacht Club pier. The watercraft are not fueled by motors or sails, but oars. And the rowers are all in high school or middle school. It’s just another afternoon on the lake for the teenagers, but they’re not there to soak up the sun or laze away the days. They’re members, some 50-strong, of Charlotte Youth Rowing (CYR), Charlotte’s first and largest youth rowing team, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The athletes travel as much as an hour and a quarter each way – six days a week during rowing season – to drop an oar and get a fullbody workout on Lake Wylie. “Most people don’t have any idea that

Story and photos by Kathy Widenhouse there’s a youth rowing team based in Charlotte,” says CYR co-founder and head coach Byron “Doc” Walthall, a semiretired family practice physician. “But rowing is a powerful draw for students who want to participate in athletics beyond traditional ball sports.” Rowing, or crew, has been operating as a youth club sport on Lake Wylie for two decades. It all started when one parent looked for a way to cultivate an opportunity for his family.

20 Years of Youth Rowing Rowing is a great sport for many reasons, says Doc, one being that participants can start at any age. He is a case in point. Doc learned to row in the late 1990s right

alongside his two daughters, Julia (then 16) and Mary Cait (then 12). Wife Nancy rowed crew for Smith College during her undergraduate years and convinced the rest of the family to try the sport one summer vacation. Mary Cait won a family race, besting her older sister, experienced mom, and even her dad, who ran triathlons. When the family returned home, Byron and Nancy found just one place had equipment and expertise the family could use to row: Catawba Yacht Club, headquartered at the end of Youngblood Road on Lake Wylie. By 2000, Doc had recruited a team of about a dozen youth rowers, largely from his daughters’ friends at Charlotte Country

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline Day School. He took up the sport himself so he could coach what became the Charlotte Youth Rowing club.

Rowing under the radar Since then, the team has become co-ed and grown largely by word of mouth, which is one reason it has remained under the radar. It attracts young athletes for a variety of reasons. Some with backgrounds in soccer, volleyball, gymnastics – even football and lacrosse – are burnt out on those sports and ready to try something new. Other team members participate in winter athletics like rugby, basketball, or wrestling, and choose rowing as a complement in the off-season. Rowing is also a way for newcomers to participate in organized sports when they have not yet found a niche in traditional athletics. “A friend invited me to try it when I was in ninth grade,” says Tinsley Stewart, high school senior and current girls’ captain. “Before that, I was active in Girls on the Run but had not played soccer like lots of my friends” Twenty local communities are represented on this year’s team, drawing students from Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Myers Park, and even as far away as Ballantyne and Matthews. “I like that it is not a school sport,” says rower Elizabeth Kreshon, 17. “We go to different schools, but some of my closest friends are on the rowing team.” The club welcomes all male and female rowers of any experience level from middle school through twelfth grade to “test drive” rowing at its Learn To Row camps – a fullday event in the spring and the Learn To Row overnight experience at Camp Thunderbird each summer. To participate, a youth simply must pass a basic swim test. Beyond that, rowers must stand at least five feet three inches tall and weigh at least one hundred pounds in order to manage the oars. Youth on the small side of the requirements often find their rowing niche as a coxswain, the team member who steers the boat.

Rowing’s crazy logistics The club is split into two squads: a developmental squad for middle schoolers, which gives them an introduction to the sport during twice-weekly practices, and a competitive squad for high schoolers emphasizing technique, fitness, and character development. All CYR athletes train in sweep-oar rowing (each rower uses one oar) and sculling (each rower uses two oars), working and competing in teams of eight, four, and two to a boat. Both 20

squads practice on Lake Wylie. They’re coached by 12 adult volunteers drawn largely from Master Rowers, most of whom are members of Catawba Yacht Club. During practice, coaches follow the team’s sweeping and sculling training boats in a motorized launch on the lake to help break wakes from other watercraft. The competitive team participates in regattas – races – across the Southeast, traveling this year to Oak Ridge, Tenn., Gainesville, Ga., High Point, N.C., and Sarasota, Fla. “It’s logistically crazy,” says Rhonda Stewart, co-president of the CYR parents’ association that coordinates uniforms, hotels, transportation, meals and snacks and “everything else that you need when you travel with 50 kids.” Parent volunteers also organize and carry out two annual fundraising events for the club. They hold a spring Run Row on Lake Wylie that operates like a “walk-a-thon in boats” for which participants recruit sponsors, and a fall social event at a restaurant or brewery with a raffle and silent auction. Proceeds are used to purchase the team’s equipment, most which are obtained from college teams. The club’s 16 boats, dozens of oars, and rigging are maintained by the young rowers and stored at Catawba Yacht Club. The boats are dubbed with affectionate names

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from the team members, like “Duke” for a boat purchased from the Duke University rowing team and “King,” named for its brand when the boat was acquired from the Boston College rowing department. Each athlete pays annual club fees which cover costs of training, competing, and travel. Yet, the club’s inclusiveness means participants can get support if they need it. Families are directed to CYR partner, the Brace Family YMCA (Matthews, N.C.), which provides scholarship opportunities and financial support. The Y also helps manage club logistics like registration, fees, and insurance.

Rowing Beyond High School That rowing is one of the fastest-growing intercollegiate sports in the U.S. is not lost on team members and parents. In a typical year, 20% of the club’s participating seniors are awarded collegiate athletic scholarships. In contrast, the NCAA reports that just 2% high schoolers across all sports receive scholarships to participate in collegiate athletics. Most CYR scholarships go to young ladies, thanks to Title IX funding for women’s collegiate sports. To date, both male and female CYR alumni have rowed for UNC Chapel Hill, Clemson University, LaSalle University,

Shoreline Photo/Charlotte Youth Rowing

University of Wisconsin at Madison, University of California at San Diego, and Washington State University. Yet beyond fitness and scholarships, it is other intangible, lifelong benefits that continue to attract rowers and their families to the sport. “The nature of rowing breeds leadership and responsibility,” says Rhonda, citing six-day-aweek practices and teamwork needed to remove rigging and load boats onto a 64-foot trailer. “We’ve built a team culture where no drama is allowed,” agrees Doc. “Rowers support each other, work hard, and take care of each other.” And they do it every afternoon on the lake. LW

Want to Row? Charlotte Youth Rowing www.charlotteyouthrowing.com

Clockwise from far top left: Athletes prepare their boats for practice; Byron “Doc” Walthall, co-founder and head coach of Charlotte Youth Rowing; team members together during a practice session; rowers carry boats to the water for a session on the lake; a team of girls practices their sweep stroke; Doc prepares to follow the rowers in a power boat.

Spring Learn To Row Catawba Yacht Club, 19789 Youngblood Road West, Charlotte, NC

Summer Learn to Row overnight experience Camp Thunderbird, Lake Wylie, SC

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5217 Highway 557 | Lake Wylie, South Carolina 29710 (in front of Food Lion) 803-675-6000 | famoustoastery.com | . Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought Saltwater Markets owner Clint Boyd shows off a fresh triggerfish. Photo/ Saltwater Markets

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Food for Thought

Catch of the Day Clover couple shares the best in seafood and meats at Saltwater Markets Story and photos by Kathy Widenhouse

s you drive down Clover’s Bethel Street on Saturday morning, you’ll see a packed parking lot outside of Saltwater Markets. Ferraris are parked alongside rusted pickup trucks as customers queue up for fresh seafood and beef, traveling not just from Lake Wylie and Gastonia but as far away as Columbia, Lincolnton, and Winston-Salem. They’re there for Florida stone crab claws, New Zealand orange roughy, Maine mussels, south Antarctic salmon, Idaho grass-fed prime rib and more – all brought to shore just hours before and placed in the grocery case at Saltwater Markets. “All of us like good food,” say Clint Boyd and his wife Elizabeth, Saltwater Markets co-owners. “So why shouldn’t everyone have access to the quality stuff?” The two lifelong Clover residents and high school sweethearts have brought the best and freshest seafood and cuts of beef to the Clover specialty grocery, which has become the fast-

est-growing dock-to-table provider within a five-state radius. Yet Clint and Elizabeth continue to greet customers by name in this community gathering place reminiscent of a local general store. They operate Saltwater Markets with a simple philosophy: share the best.

Fifty suppliers on all coasts

ness. Its short shelf life means whatever cannot be cooked and eaten within four or five days is best frozen. Clint worked with FedEx to develop gel packs and insulation so that his suppliers could ship their fresh catch from the dock to his customers – chefs and restaurants – overnight. And in the process, he developed lasting friendships with more than fifty anglers across the country and the globe. After ten years, Clint’s responsibilities morphed into managing spreadsheets. Frustrated, he considered other options apart from sitting in front of a computer. He wanted to share fresh seafood with customers and spend more time with his wife and children. “I believe in you,” said Elizabeth. “Just quit and start your own company.” He did.

At age 20, Clint “was just looking for a way to make a living and support my beautiful bride.” So when a family friend offered him a job at a wholesale startup, Clint signed on. The company provided restaurants and chefs with fresh seafood, offering the same quality in remote towns as is found in the swankiest establishments in New York City, Los Angeles, and foodie centers like Charleston. Clint recruited suppliers by traveling up No business plan, but plenty of coolers and down the entire U.S. coastline, meeting While Clint launched a new company, his “every commercial fisherman at every port.” network of fishermen continued to supply him But seafood, Clint learned, is tricky busi- with fresh catch, which he sold to friends. Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought “It was just for fun,” says Elizabeth. “We started a Facebook page and let the community know when fresh seafood was on its way to Clover.” Each Saturday morning at 4 a.m., the couple set up Yeti coolers filled with fresh seafood in the parking lot across from the Clover School District offices. They sold out by 6 a.m. Soon customers began asking, “When are you going to open a store?” The couple cut the ribbon on Saltwater Markets in August 2015 in space fronting the same parking lot where they had started selling shrimp, perch, and lobster tail. Two years later, Saltwater Markets opened a second location on South New Hope Road in Gastonia. The business continues to grow about 50% annually.

What’s the catch of the day? How does Clint keep the market’s coolers filled with fresh seafood? Just like he did when working as a wholesale supplier for chefs. “I do it on my phone,” Clint grins. “Lots of times, I’m sitting on my front porch when I place an order.” Clint’s personal contacts with nearly six dozen suppliers means they text him as they pull up to the dock. This day, he gets a text from his buddy Jeff in Massachusetts who has just come ashore with a boat full of Nantucket Bay scallops. “They’re still twitching in the nets,” says Clint. He orders 60 pounds from Jeff, who overnights the scallops to Clover. Meanwhile, Elizabeth posts the availability on Saltwater’s Facebook page. The next day, the scallops are in the cooling case in the Bethel Street store and then sold within 24 hours. And while the market’s biggest sellers are always shrimp, salmon, and scallops, Clint has mustered up the boldness to bring in more exotic fare – like bison, alligator, dove, and frog legs – offered in the world’s glitziest five-star restaurants. “Everyone has a budget for food,” says Clint. “And people always want to buy ‘the best,’ whether you’re a truck driver or a Fortune 500 CEO.” His suppliers are located all across the globe – even as far away as New Zealand. That approach means Saltwater customers can try Geoduck clams from Seattle … blue lobsters from Scotland … sea cucumbers and sea urchins from San Diego … and even Wagyu Japanese beef (sold by the ounce, not the pound) – depending on what’s available and what’s freshest. 24

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Food for Thought

“Our customers get to take a walk around the world each week,” says Clint.

Cook up the catch of the day Since the first day Saltwater Markets opened, Clint and Elizabeth have offered cooking classes. It’s one way to teach people how to prepare fresh foods, Elizabeth explains. When customers learn they can purchase and serve seared garlic-butter scallops for about the same price as a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, they’re hooked. Class fees range from $25 to $75 per person, depending upon the menu that guests select. Favorites are shrimp and grits and grilled seafood or beef. Saltwater’s cooking classes are held in private homes or in the market’s on-site Test Kitchen. That’s where staff from the Clover School District gather for cooking classes that serve as team building events and where companies can host holiday parties. Saltwater offers gift certificates to customers who want to give the gift of a cooking class or cater a meal, allowing their recipient to choose the menu, time, and place. Meanwhile, the Test Kitchen is open from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. daily. Part-time employee Rhonda creates and serves a lunch menu for up to 50 patrons each day.

Share the best What started less than five years ago has now grown to a business employing five fulltime and three part-time workers, in addition to both Clint and Elizabeth. Their plan is to expand to a third location in the next year and add local and nationwide delivery options to “share the best” with customers. Ultimately, they’d like to leave the business to their kids – Caleb (13), Gracie (10), and Maddie (9) – who work alongside their parents packing fish and stocking meats. Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought

Where & When To Go: www.saltwatermarkets.com Check out Saltwater Markets’ latest Facebook and Instagram postings of fresh seafood and prime meats available at their two locations.

Store Hours & Locations Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sunday & Monday

Yet Clint and Elizabeth consider Saltwater Markets to be a vehicle for what is really important: people. “Our customers are our friends. Our suppliers are our friends,” says Clint. “The most

important thing you can do in life is treat people well.” Which explains why the parking lot at Saltwater Markets remains full and its customers clamoring for the catch of the day. LW

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

713 Bethel Street Clover, SC 29710 803-222-6057 3414 South New Hope Road Gastonia, NC 28056 704-824-6010

Food for Thought

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Garden Party

Garden for

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Seasons Plan now and pick veggies until November

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Garden Party

hen it comes to growing fresh produce in and around Lake Wylie, your most important step doesn’t involve a shovel, a tiller, or even a speck of dirt. It’s all about the timing. Here in the South Carolina upstate you can benefit from a growing season that extends from March to October – even into November, if frost stays away. It’s all thanks to our temperate climate that allows for a three-season growing cycle. You can take advantage of our area’s moderate thermometer swings and have fresh vegetables grace your table for eight months of the year. Start now.

215 days or more of growing fun The Farmer’s Almanac pinpoints the area’s

Story and photos by Kathy Widenhouse last spring frost date as April 1. Typically, frost is not projected to return until November 1. That’s 215 days of growing fun in and around Lake Wylie, give or take. Add on the weeks in late February and March that are set aside for planting the earliest spring crops and you’ve got plenty of garden production time at your disposal. How does it work? When you grow crops that produce best in cooler temperatures – spring and fall – and in between, rotate to heat-loving crops that prefer to soak in the summer sun. The principle of crop rotation has long been an accepted best practice for largescale farmers, who routinely plant different crops successively in the same plot to control weeds, diseases, and pests and to avoid depleting the soil.

“Crop rotation is one of the oldest crop management techniques,” says Clemson University Cooperative Extension’s Zach Snipes. “And it is still a valuable tool that gardeners can use.” York County’s long growing season means home gardeners can rotate crops to save time and maximize space, whether they’re tending a large backyard plot or a just few containers on the patio. The key is to choose, plant, and harvest two or even three crops of vegetables during the season in successive waves. By using the same space for different crops throughout the season you can save time, money, and work.

Three-season access A few thoughtful decisions early in the season can yield vegetables from now until fall.

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Garden Party First among them is where you put your garden and how big it will be. Gardeners agree, it’s better to start too small rather than too large. For an 8-foot by 8-foot plot, plan to spend about two or three hours a week in upkeep. Be sure to add on a few hours early in the season when you prepare the plot, add compost to the soil, and plant crops. Allot additional time accordingly as your garden size increases. As you choose your garden patch, pick one that’s convenient spot and easy to access.

If your vegetable garden isn’t handy, you will be less likely to check on your crops, monitor plants for diseases and pests, and pick produce. Consider unlikely areas, too. Residents have been known to convert a strip of grass between a patio and the shrub line into a raised bed. Keep in mind the Carolina dog days of summer and identify a spot with access to water. You’ll be grateful for that decision when temperatures top ninety degrees for several days straight. Vegetables are notorious sun lovers, so

avoid placing your garden in the shade. Watch the movement of light during the day and select a sunny spot so veggies get their requisite 6-8 hours of daily direct sunlight. Special tip: if you can’t give your vegetables as much heat or sun as you’d like, place them near a west- or south-facing side of your house. The wall will soak up heat during the day and pass it along to your plants at night.

Three seasons of variety What should you plant? Cool weather crops that grow well in the Carolinas include beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and potatoes. They can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Many of these early crops are ready to harvest in just six weeks. Once they’re spent you can replace them with summer vegetables: beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melon, okra, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes, tomato, zucchini – but not until the soil temperature clocks in about 60 degrees and stays that way overnight. Fall planting can be a bit trickier. Come early to mid-August, pull out the hot weather plants that are not producing or underproducing and replace them with cool weather seeds or seedlings, with an eye to Mother Nature. You’ll need to allow enough days in the ground to pick produce before frost is scheduled to in. 30

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Garden Party

Thanks to our mild climate, you can fill a basket with fresh garden produce almost all year long.

Three seasons on paper or online Even if you’re just getting started or are new to gardening in the area, there’s no need to be intimidated by all the planting and picking dates for multiple crops. “Plan the garden on paper first. Draw a map showing arrangement and spacing of crops,” says Clemson University Extension Consumer Horticulturist Bob Polomski, Ph.D. “If you wish to keep the garden growing all season, you may need a spring, summer and fall garden plan.” Here’s where graph paper or an online garden planner are useful. A simple sketch lets you account for three seasonal layouts and plan when to rotate crops according to their days to maturation. Record your garden’s measurements and then pencil in the plot’s dimensions on paper or on screen using 1-by-1-foot grids. Large crops such as broccoli, peppers and cabbage require a whole square per plant, whereas small root vegetables such as carrots and radishes can be planted 16 to a square. Include space for the plants themselves and in between the plants and the rows. Online software – or a penciled notation – makes it easy to plan both vertically and horizontally. Some vegetables grow best upright, like snap peas and pole beans. Others need low space, like lettuce and bell peppers. Plan for both. For instance, you can trellis a vining crop like pole beans interspersed with Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Onions are some of the great veggies that can be grown here during the spring.

Garden Party

a ground-hugging vine like pumpkins beneath it to maximize space. Plan to plant fast-maturing crops like radishes in succession with heat-loving beans so space isn’t wasted. Allow time on your calendar for cut-and-pick-again crops that produce for up to weeks - like kale in the spring and indeterminate tomatoes in the summer – and let them have a full season run before replacing them.

Three-sSeason gardening secret: It’s all about the timing Even with a three-season plan, some veggies produce longer than expected and others peter out quickly, so count on making adjustments during the growing season. Make notes about what works and what doesn’t so next year’s planning is easier. So before you dig your fingers in the South Carolina dirt, spend some time with a pencil in your hand. When you plan now, you can pick veggies until November. It’s all about the timing. LW

Get Started Online These online garden planners offer free planting design capability and even allow you to schedule multiple harvests per year. Mother Earth News Interactive Garden Planner: www.motherearthnews.com Gardener’s Supply Kitchen Garden Planner: www.gardeners.com Smart Gardener Online Planner: www.smartgardener.com Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature The Four Leaf Photo/Daisy Photography

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A R u s Tou tic ch

Feature

Wedding barn venues growing in popularity around Lake Wylie By Kathy Widenhouse

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

The Four Leaf. Photo/Daisy Photography

The Four Leaf. Photo/Daisy Photogprahy

The Lodge at Cherokee Farms

Just a handful of friends used it for weddings and special occasions. Two weddings were already on the schedule when Kathy Spencer’s father purchased the property in 2016 as an investment. Kathy managed both events as part of the purchase agreement. “We had no intention of becoming a wedding venue,” says Kathy, whose professional background is in the healthcare industry. But when both events turned out beautifully and Iron Gate kept getting calls for more, Kathy saw the opportunity to offer Iron Gate’s services to local residents. She now serves fulltime as Iron Gate’s venue manager. Kathy led the Iron Gate team in making some improvements to the property, including adding a bride’s room, expanding the outdoor patio and firepit, and building sliding double doors to “bring the outside in.” The 5,000 square foot barn is spacious enough to accommodate 175 guests indoors with more room spilling into its outdoor space. Barn venues are rising in popularity, says Iron Gate Farm: Kathy, because of their rustic elegance. Iron A former equestrian center Gate is surrounded by pastureland, ponds, Situated on twelve acres attached to a gated community, Iron Gate Farm (Clover, SC) was and a lakeside gazebo. The venue hosted 40-50 built in 2007 as a working equestrian center. events in 2019 which included not just wed-

f you’ve attended at wedding in a barn recently, you’re in good company. The number of couples who choose farms, barns, and ranches as wedding venues has soared, according to popular online wedding planning platform The Knot. Today, one in six couples in the U.S. gets hitched in a barn setting. Newlyweds-to-be in and around Lake Wylie are no exception. York County is home to twenty-three wedding barn venues, including those converted from original working barns and others constructed expressly for events. Part of the appeal, say couples, is a single location and plenty of space for both the ceremony and reception. Yet there are other reasons brides and grooms are choosing a barn for their big day. The romantic setting, idyllic views for photos, and a relaxed atmosphere combine to make weddings a personal, memorable event at three barns near Lake Wylie.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

The grounds set up at The Lodge at Cherokee Farms dings, but also graduation parties, birthday parties, class reunions, and holiday events. To manage it all, Kathy teamed up with Erin Hobbs of Event Revelry Design, who brings 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry as Iron Gate expands. “My goal is for guests to feel like they are part of the Iron Gate family,” says Erin. “We want to give them a sense of home when they are here, so they do not have any worries but just wonderful memories and personal touches woven into their event.” Erin found a way to make that happen for one bride who wanted her include her dog in the wedding ceremony. The canine served as ring bearer and was escorted down the aisle with the wedding rings attached to his collar. What is the most unusual event hosted at Iron Gate? A quinceañera, says Kathy, describing a young girl’s traditional Hispanic fifteenth birthday party – in this case, one that included a seven-piece band complete with light towers, a flashing strobe, and fixtures. “What was so moving was how the young lady’s mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, and uncle served all the guests.” Which was completely fitting for Iron Gate’s focus on the personal touch.

Feature The Lodge at Cherokee Farms: A converted dairy barn The Lodge at Cherokee Farms (Clover, SC) operated as a working dairy farm in the 1940s. Jon and Terri Wright saw its “For Sale” sign in 2017 when they visited its 17-stall horse barn and the horse ring, home to RideAbility, a therapeutic riding center for adults and children with special needs. Their daughter volunteers with RideAbility. The property’s dairy barn had been previously converted to a venue facility. “I tell prospective brides that their wedding guests will be sitting where the cows used to get milked,” jokes Terri. The Wrights made improvements to the property – extra lighting, free Wi-Fi, and a bridal suite – and upgraded the heating and air conditioning units so the 125-seat venue can operate comfortably year-round. Local vendors such as Jackson’s Kitchen and Creative Solutions provide additional event services. The previous owners hosted eight or ten events a year, but in 2019 the Wrights have overseen more than thirty, including weddings, Sweet Sixteens, birthday parties, family reunions, and even a prom for homeschoolers. The York Class of 1962 holds its reunion every year at The Lodge. Repeat guests mean the Wrights are doing something right, in spite of the fact that neither has experience in event planning. Most couples choose to conduct their wedding ceremonies outdoors, says Terri. One bride asked permission to follow a southern tradition to ensure good weather for her wedding day: could she and her fiancé bury a bottle of bourbon upside-down on the property exactly one month before the ceremony? They did. “And the wedding day was picture-perfect, without a cloud in the sky,” says Terri. “The couple dug up the bottle of bourbon and drank it at the reception.”

A wedding at The Four Leaf. Photo/Daisy Photography

The Four Leaf: An Amish barn built just for events As lifelong Clover resident Amy Jeffries and her friend Brittany Wallace brainstormed about their futures, the conversation turned to wedding venues. “Brittany’s parents own two barn venues in Pennsylvania’s Amish country,” says Amy. “That gave us the idea of building an Amish barn venue on the land that’s been in my family for a while.” Their idea gave birth to The Four Leaf (York, SC). The two friends toured barns in rural Pennsylvania to choose an A-frame, high Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature Iron Gate Farm. Photo/Provided

Lake Wylie-Area Wedding and Event Barn Venues roof design, then recruited Amish-born Andrew Kauffman at Barn Country USA (Lincolnton, NC) to build it. Amy served as general contractor. An Amish sawmill operator in Pennsylvania hand cut hemlock logs for the barn beams and frames, which were transported to the Four Leaf site in three semi-tractor trailer trucks. The building process took a year. The Four Leaf opened in January 2019 and since then, Amy and Brittany have hosted weddings, graduation celebrations, and birthday parties at the venue, accommodating up to 300 guests in its 10,000 square feet overlooking a 1-acre pond. One of its first events, says Amy, was a father-daughter dance sponsored by a local

Christian school. “Pre-schoolers and high school seniors alike gussied up and brought their dads,” says Amy. “Oh, it was great fun.” She and her husband recently purchased the house next door to the barn and moved in with their two young children, so she is conveniently nearby. Plans for the Four Leaf property in 2020 include additional paving, grading, and architectural upgrades. Barn venues are gaining popularity across the country, but that’s not why Amy and Brittany chose their design. “We just like Amish barns,” says Amy. “And we got lucky.” Her sentiment explains the name of the area’s newest wedding barn venue. “We’re in Clover,” says Amy with a grin. “And four-leaf clovers are lucky.” LW

Iron Gate Farm 649 Bellegray Road Clover, SC 29710 Phone: 803.818.0533 www.irongatefarmevents.com

The Lodge at Cherokee Farms 937 Stallion Spirit Trail Clover, SC 29710 Phone: 803.818.7880 cherokeefarmssc.com

The Four Leaf 5800 Campbell Road York, SC 29745 Phone: 803.818.7468 thefourleaf.com

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Feature

On Tour! Lake Wylie Homes and Gardens Story and photos by Jan Todd

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Feature The spring tour date is the perfect time to view gorgeous gardens and landscaping, such as this River Hills yard next to the golf course, featured on the 2017 tour.

The annual home tour is a favorite time for friends to gather and spend a Saturday together. Many have made attending the home tour a tradition.

ach spring, some of Lake Wylie’s most beautiful homes are open to the public during an annual tour hosted by the Clover/Lake Wylie Republican Women’s Club. With all proceeds benefitting a scholarship fund, politics are set aside for the day as community comes together to support a common goal — providing a life-changing opportunity for several students residing in the Clover School District. Last year, a total of $12,000 was awarded, three $4,000 scholarships presented to high school seniors at Clover High School. The Faye Berman Scholarship is named after the club’s first president, under whose leadership the first home tour was held in 1985. Since its inception, the tour has generated approximately $50,000 towards the education of young women in the community. The scholarship is now open to both boys and girls residing in the school district, and is awarded based on their community service, academic performance, and financial need. Applicants, who may attend private

schools outside the district or any schools within the district, write essays about how they will use their college degrees in the future to serve their communities. Rozalynn Federline, current president of the club, said the scholarship is one reason people attend the tour, year after year. “It is important to support our young people, and the knowledge that all the money raised goes toward the scholarship provides incentive for people to attend the tour,” she said. “Plus, it’s a fun thing to do on a Saturday!” she added. “Everyone loves to see the unique homes, maybe get some decorating ideas, and just imagine what it is like to live there.” Sandee Wilkerson, a long-time club member, is in charge of securing homes for the tour this year. Her own River Hills homes have been featured on past tours over the years, as she has moved a few times within the community. The tour, which usually includes five or six homes, is still being finalized for this spring.

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

Outdoor living areas, such as this porch space at a home in Lake Wylie, provide ideas and inspiration for tour guests.

Tour guest can look forward to seeing innovative designs for pools, outdoor kitchens and fire pits. This lakeside home is located in Cooks Cove and was featured on the 2017 tour.

In early years, all of the homes on tour were within River Hills, but as the area grew, other locations were included — River Pointe, The Landing, The Palisades, and other neighborhoods around Lake Wylie. A variety of styles are showcased with some new construction and some renovations, with locations on the water, golf course, and interior homes. Beyond the beautiful gardens and stylish decorating, guests can also expect to see unique collections belonging to the homeowners. “This year, we’ll have a home filled with interesting items from around the world, collected during the owner’s travel. Another home will have art displays,” said Federline. One home will feature a silent auction, raising more funds for the scholarship. The auction will include a signed canvas print of the tour program, designed by internationally renowned artist and sculptor Jim Shore, who is a resident of Lake Wylie and has been a sponsor of the home tour for the past few years. Shore, whose iconic figurines include designs for Walt Disney, Looney Toons, and Peanuts, will have several items included in the silent auction. Tour patrons will also be treated to music by NaTasha McNeil, an opera singer who toured the world prior to moving to Rock Hill a few years ago. McNeil is a native of York, and trained as a classical vocalist in New York City. This year’s tour is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $20 each at Bagel Boat, Kasby’s, Lake Wylie Pharmacy, and on Eventbrite.com. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour at the main gate at River Hills. LW

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264 Latitude Lane, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 www.eliteecoclean.com | Psalms 91 | Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Member 42

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Feature 2019 winners of the Fay Berman Scholarship: Mackenzie Campbell, daughter of Brande and Randall Campbell; attends Western Carolina University, majoring in chemistry. Abby Renner, daughter of Joe and Teresa Renner; attends Furman University, majoring in Public Health. Lydia Sutton, daughter of Lanette and Brian Sutton; attends Anderson University, majoring in Graphic Design. Scholarship applications are available in the counselor’s office at Clover High School. Applications are also sent to counselors in area private schools. All applicants must live in the Clover School District attendance area. Some guests like to gather decorating ideas from the homes on tour, such as this one in Cooks Cove.

Natasha McNeil sings for tour guests at a River Hills home on the 2018 tour.

Lynn Viets, who chairs the scholarship committee for the club, opened her home for the 2019 tour, and displayed several of her hand-made quilts.

Clover Area Assistance Center

YOUR LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER Roots in our community that date back to 1983. CAAC is the central service agency that those with needs turn to and those with resources trust! Clover Area Assistance Center Provides: A Full Choice Food Pantry, financial assistance for utilities and other basic needs, several levels of budgeting and financial management classes, free dental care for uninsured adults, and office space for outside service providers so that those in need can access those services locally.

Together, we can all help our neighbors in need to keep food on the table, the lights on, and a roof under which to live! To make a donation, volunteer, or find out about how to get help, call or visit:

803.222.4837

1130 Highway 55 East | Clover, SC 29710 www.CloverAreaAssistance.org Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Building Your Health and Wellness A

s the days start lasting longer and the temperatures rise, most of us will probably be looking forward to activities that will help remove stress from our lives. After all, life at Lake Wylie is supposed to be leisurely, idyllic and largely stress-free. To that end, you most likely have a million things you would rather be doing than, say, cleaning out the attic or giving your finances a check-up. Nonetheless, getting your house in order, both physically and fiscally, are just two of many steps you can take in reducing and removing unnecessary stress from your life.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

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Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

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Getting stress under control

id you know that WebMD says that between 75% to 90% of medical issues are caused by stress? It is definitely time to put stress relieving self-care activities in our lives. It is important to understand stress. We all think about negative stress, but itâ€™s not the only stress that a body can be under. What frequently happens is the body goes into stress mode - which is not always a negative response. One can go into stress mode because they are getting married, bought a new house, having a grandchild or a baby, looking for a new car, getting a promotion at work, etc. And you must realize that children get these types of stress issues as well. Some people might not even realize they are stressed because their mind handles it well, but their body does not know what is going on. Many of us have a disconnected brain/body reaction. We might think everything is fine, but our bodies do not agree. Often, when a body is under any type of stress, the person controlling that body tries to do a normal routine. Then the

body, or one muscle group, locks up on them. (This is probably the main reason people come in for a last-minute massage.) Meditation is proven to lower stress. Hopefully, you already practice meditation. If not - and if sitting cross-legged on the floor and chanting is something you just do not see yourself doing - you can try guided mediation or yoga nidra. Look up either of these on YouTube and you will find tons of free videos to work with. And, feel free to sit in a chair or lie on your sofa - just 20 minutes daily will work wonders. Need something a little more active? Hobbies such as gardening, playing a musical instrument or needlework like crochet are great

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for relieving stress. Finally, another remedy for stress is massage. One of the ways the body responds to stress is through tight muscles. A massage relaxes not just the muscles but also directly affects cortisol levels, serotonin levels, and dopamine. So, releasing stress through massage not only just affect muscles but also the brain and the organs throughout the body. LW Jeani Rogers, NCTMB SCL#3488 ACE: A Caring Environment Massage Therapy 9-107 Executive Ct., Lake Wylie, SC (980) 522-2877

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You and your financial adviser

eople want to work with a trusted adviser when it comes to managing their wealth. Sharing all of your information, reviewing your goals and risk tolerance and financial planning, you rely on expert guidance for the future. How can you be sure you are getting the best advice? The first question to ask is if your advisor is working under the fiduciary standard or the suitability standard.

with actual or de facto control over a customer’s account to have a reasonable basis for believing that a series of recommended transactions, even if suitable when viewed in isolation, is not excessive/unsuitable for the customer when taken together in light of the customer’s investment profile. The SEC has created Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), effective June 2020, although some lawsuits are seeking to have this stopped. The purpose of Reg BI is to substantially enhance a broker’s obligations beyond the current suit-

ability requirements. Reg BI requires brokers to act in the best interest of their customers and not place their own interests ahead of the customer’s interests. There are four components to Reg BI: • The Disclosure Obligation requires full and fair disclosure of all material facts, including material facts relating to conflicts of interest associated with its recommendations. • The Care Obligation requires reasonable diligence, care and skill to understand po-

Fiduciary Standard: (Advisory) This standard was created in 1940 by the Investment Advisors Act and is regulated by the SEC and state regulators. It requires the adviser: • to put the client’s best interest above their own. • prohibits the adviser from buying securities in their account before buying them for the client. • do their best to make sure the investment advice is made using the most complete, accurate an thorough information and analysis. • seek to avoid conflicts of interest. If a conflict of interest arises, the adviser must disclose that conflict or potential conflict and ensure that the client understands. • disclose all fees and ensure that a minimum of annual reviews are completed with the client to keep up-to-date with the client’s situation and goals. Typically, a fiduciary adviser is paid on a fee basis, which is usually an annual percentage of the value of the assets being managed. This addresses the issue of getting paid for transactions in the account and helps the adviser focus on what is best for the client.

Suitability / Reg BI Standard: (Brokerage) FINRA Rule 2111 lists three main suitability obligations for brokers and associated persons: • Reasonable-basis suitability requires a broker to have a reasonable basis to believe, based on reasonable diligence, that the recommendation is suitable for at least some investors. • Customer-specific suitability requires a broker, based on a customer’s investment profile, to have a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation is suitable for that customer. • Quantitative suitability requires a broker Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature tential risks, rewards and costs associated with the recommendation that is in the best interest of the customer. • The Conflict of Interest Obligation requires firms to implement policies and procedures to mitigate certain identified conflicts of interest that create incentives to make recommendations that are not in a customer’s best interest. • The Compliance Obligation requires firms to ensure policy and procedures are created. An investor should always understand the costs associated with their investments and advice. Always ask the adviser how they get paid, what the costs are, and if any conflicts of interest exist. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through K.A. Gregory Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. LW K.A. Gregory Wealth Management Allan Gregory, CFP® Wealth Advisor 244 Latitude Lane, Suite 105 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-5062 www.gregorywealthmanagement.com

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

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Declutter your home… and your mind!

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that you can accomplish by scheduling one ime for Spring cleaning!” That room or zone at a time. can be a loaded statement for many people, especially se- 2. Have your supplies ready. You will need cardboard boxes, packing paper and tape, trash niors who may have lived in their homes bags, color-coded stickers and sticky notes. for many years. Where do you begin? While it’s sure to raise a person’s blood pressure, 3. Create sorting stations. Designate areas to place items you wish to sell, donate, give there are many benefits to Spring cleaning to family/friends, throw away. Choose a and downsizing! wall and label each area. Then you can place the items in boxes or trash bags. Benefits: Example: Black trash bags for trash; white • Clear mind. Sometimes the more stuff you for charity, etc. have, the more stress it causes. • Improve Memory. The less stuff you have, 4. Sort. It’s best to sort all items that are alike together. For example, when you see how the less stuff you have to remember. many shoes you have next to each other, it • Less burden for your children. It’s not fair to can help with the decision-making process. have them go through your stuff and decide Then, label accordingly. Green stickers for what to keep, toss or donate. You decide. those you wish to sell; pink for charities, How to get started: blue to give to someone, etc. 1. Set a date and time to get started. It’s best to work in two to three hour blocks during 5. Final decision time. Take all items you have sorted to your designated sorting stations. a time you have the most energy. Set goals

Remove accordingly.

What to keep and toss? • Keep items you love. • Keep things you have used/worn in the last six months or plan on using/wearing in the next six months. • Keep items that fit your decor. • Get rid of any china you don’t use. • Toss/donate any holiday decor you no longer use. • Toss/give away any presents given to you that you no longer use. For sentimental people, take a picture of it before getting rid of it. Own your stuff - don’t let it own you! LW Melanie Evans Westminster Towers 1330 India Hook Rd Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-328-5231 www.westminstertowers.org

Spring Cleaning!

Clean out your closets and donate to a great cause – did you know that by donating to Tender Hearts Thrift Stores you are helping 21 other non-profits though the program “Corners of Your Field?"

We have a wide variety of active programs right now! Please visit our website to learn more about us.

Tender Hearts Ministries and Thrift Stores Located in Clover, Rock Hill, and York

Tender Hearts is a 501c3 not-for-profit so all donations are tax-deducible.

803-684-3131 | www.tenderheartsinyork.org Check us out on Facebook.

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Development Update

SOLD at the Lake A s we kick off a new decade on Lake Wylie, our area is continuing to grow. New neighborhoods are continuing to develop and the real estate market is booming, new businesses and restaurants are opening to serve the growing number of residents, and it is almost game time for the first phase of Lake Wylie’s long awaited athletic complex. It is an exciting time in York County, with the new Carolina Panthers team headquarters and sports complex close to breaking ground, businesses moving to the county, and renovations and improvements coming to Ebenezer Park on Lake Wylie, opening up recreation on the lake for more people. Home sales in York County were up 10% in 2019 over the previous year, and an astounding 53% over five years ago. The Clover/Lake 50

Wylie area led the growth, with home sales up 31% over the previous year, and 89% compared to five years ago. Other highlights: • The average home in York County sells in under 2 months after listing. • Price per square foot has risen to $130, up 34% from five years ago. • About 22% of home sales were new construction in 2019, a percentage which has held steady for the past five years. • In the 29710 zip code, 32% of home sales were new construction in 2019. • The average price per square foot for a new home in York County is about 11% higher than that of a resale home. In recent years, buyer preferences have shifted to expect higher finish levels on homes,

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

with even the entry-level offerings including features such as granite countertops, wood floors, and stylish architectural touches. The popularity of remodeling and real estate television shows have likely influenced buyer demands, which coupled with tightened inventory of available homes has driven purchases into higher priced segments. What this means? Sellers of older homes should ensure their properties are as “movein ready” as possible, with updates in kitchens, baths and flooring to appeal to a more demanding buyer. Buyers should expect to pay a little more for these features.

Waterfront real estate On the water, the market is strong — with home sales up 6% in 2019 over the previous

This four-bedroom waterfront home overlooking a wide channel on Little Allison Creek at Lake Wylie sold for $764,000. It was on the market for less than a week before going under contract.

By Drew Choate year — but the growth hasn’t kept pace with the general market, primarily to a shortage in available listings. The average waterfront home price of $754,000 has increased steadily over recent years, with more sales shifting to the higher priced, “luxury” segments. In 2019, there were 25 homes that exceeded a $1 million sales price on the lake, a record for Lake Wylie. Inventory for sale has been tight, particularly in the lower priced segments on Lake Wylie. Just a few years ago, buyers had many choices for under $500,000 — including a selection of older homes in Tega Cay, cabins, and modest designs around the lake. Recently, however, the bulk of the lower priced homes available have been cabins or Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Development Update

This Tega Cay home, with a main channel view of Lake Wylie, was on the market just 10 days before selling for $644,000. Built in 1975, this home included many updates, ready for buyers to move in and enjoy. smaller homes in the more remote locations. Demand is high for cabins, and buyers are paying more for these properties, especially when the property has been updated or the location on the lake is particularly strong. Mid-priced waterfront homes are also in high demand. For homes priced $500,000 $700,000, buyers have a variety of choices, but must decide what is most important to them. A big view with a flat yard might be paired with a more modest home in need of a few updates, whereas a more modern home might be found on a cove lot in this price range.

Outlook We expect 2020 to have a strong start. Sellers are still in the driverâ€™s seat for the most part, with new listings receiving a lot of attention from buyers waiting in the wings. The economy is strong, and mortgage interest rates are low. As our area population and corporate development continues to grow, the impact on real estate sales will be very positive. Drew Choate heads The Lake Wylie Man team at Keller Williams in Fort Mill. His team has led waterfront real estate sales on Lake Wylie each year for more than a decade. LW 52

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Development Update

Spring 2020 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight Spotlight

News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Spring 2020

May 6, 2020 - River Hills Country Club

Annual Spring Appreciation Luncheon and Fashion Show

elebrate spring with your guests at Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Appreciation Day Luncheon and Fashion Show! This year’s event, sponsored by Bank of York, Comporium and Watson Insurance, will be held on Wednesday, May 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at River Hills Country Club. The luncheon features a fashion show of styles by Alta of Rock Hill with our member models. There will be live music and lots of attractive door prizes. The Spring Appreciation Day Luncheon is an ideal way for businesses to entertain or thank clients, customers, staff and/or vendors. A corporate table for eight is $350 and includes a table sign with the company’s name, priority seating at the luncheon and acknowledgement in pre- and post-event publicity. Individual table seats are also available,

Charles Wood retires as Chamber Chairman

Chamber of Commerce is fortunate to get board members who are dedicated, reliable leaders willing to serve and help where needed. In that respect, the Lake Wylie Chamber has hit the jackpot many times. One such board member is Charles Wood, who has served as a board member, vice chairman and chairman, chairman of the Splash Dash (for 20plus years), inaugural chairman of Riversweep, judge at the boat parade and supporter of all things chamber during his 25-plus years of service. After serving as board chairman for several years, Charles is retiring as chairman, but not without a lot of thanks and appreciation from

Lake Wylie Chamber models did a great job at our Spring Fashion Show.

at $28 per person. Since the luncheon is a very popular event in the Lake Wylie community, guests are encouraged to reserve a spot without delay. To

make reservations now or for more information, call Susan Bromfield at the Chamber at 803-831-2827 or email lakewyliechamber@ yahoo.com.

the chamber and its board. At its November board meeting, the board thanked and surprised Charles with a champagne toast at the end of the meeting. At the annual meeting held as a gala, Charles was thanked with a personalized gift and a little fun by “honoring and roasting” him. Incoming chairman Jeff Ledford thanked and appreciated Charles for his years of service and then, with a little humor, presented him with a pirate’s eye patch, flag for his boat and a little pirate garb, along with many fun and appreciative words for his service to the chamber. Stability in leadership along with many servant leaders and great volunteers have served the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce well. Charles had been a constant supporter and reliable and capable leader. He is always willing to help, to say words of welcome and support at

ribbon cuttings and at new businesses, help at the Business After Hours, organize the 5K and 10K race each year, be a captain at Riversweep or just help with a little needed “manpower” at the chamber. He has served as an ambassador of the chamber for over a quarter of a century. How do we appreciate and thank Charles Wood for his service? With a lot of love, appreciation and respect. Thank you Charles Wood. There are no adequate words or gifts of appreciation.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2020

Spotlight Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

2020 Board of Directors

Spring Appreciation Day Luncheon

Jeff Ledford -Chairman Charles Wood – Past Chairman Susan Bromfield - President Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Lake Wylie Today, 2020 Spring

Lake Wylie Today, a quarterly magazine, highlights the leisure and excitement of lakeside living, our comfortable, small-town atmosphere and...

Lake Wylie Today, 2020 Spring

Published on Mar 12, 2020

Lake Wylie Today, a quarterly magazine, highlights the leisure and excitement of lakeside living, our comfortable, small-town atmosphere and...

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