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LakeWylie Wylie TODAY Spring 2022 | Issue 1

Night Stalking Local anglers reel in catches on Lake Wylie after dark

For the love of the game Golf pro has shared his passion for over four decades

Chamber Spotlight Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce news and information

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Our View

Get ready for

SPRINGTIME

By Susan Bromﬁeld, President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

pringtime is just around the corner, and aren’t we all ready for some sunny days, blossoms on the trees and the awakening of nature around us after a long, cold winter? I think everyone is eager for some fresh air, maybe a hike, golf on a beautiful day, fishing or just enjoying the beauty of springtime all around us. It is my pleasure to present the newest issue of Lake Wylie Today with its local features and photos. Sit back in your favorite chair and enjoy! The spring issue is the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise issue of LWT each year. During the past two years, pandemic circumstances have given folks time to reflect on life, what is important in our lives, and the kinds of communities we want to live in. Most of us have spent a lot of time close to home. The features in this issue of Lake Wylie

Today highlight a few things close to home. Wellness, volunteering, opportunities to learn about photography, the expression of dance for children and golf lessons are practically in our backyards. The Healthy, Wealthy and Wise feature highlights the Dragonfly Wellness Center, located next to the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce. It opened when the pandemic shutdown first occurred and has blossomed and grown to offer many services, including chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage and digital imaging. The Faces story in this issue is about a wellknown local golf pro. Gary Troyan has been our go-to golf pro for our chamber golf events for more than two decades. Gary loves his job and the game of golf and we are fortunate to have him in our community. No matter what skill level, anyone who wants to learn more

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

about the game of golf can sign up for lessons right here in their backyard. The Food for Thought story highlights the Community Café, which is a blessing to many in our area. The Community Café provides free meals to those in need and accepts donations from those who just enjoy having a homemade meal with neighbors. This all-volunteer effort has grown to serve more than one million meals. The Development Update always gives insight into the current local market and conditions. The Chamber spotlight includes the chamber news, photos and information. Mailbag is always full of community news and highlights. Enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, longer days and nature; savor the days and moments; and enjoy Lake Wylie Today. LW

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Contents Spring 2022

2 Our View

Get ready for springtime

6 Mailbag 16 Shoreline

Night stalkers hit the lake for fishing fun after the sun goes down

22 Food for Thought

Community Cafe serves heaping helpings of good food and lots of love

28 Faces

Long-time golf pro has been sharing love of the game for over 40 years

32 Feature

Lake Wylie Camera Club provides expertise to photographers of all skill levels

38 Feature

Dance studios keep kids on their toes

42 Garden Party

Three new parcels set aside for Lake Wylie area parks

LakeWylie TODAY

www.LakeWylieToday.com Published by SC Biz News Lake Wylie Today Editor Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269 Advertising Sales Mark Wright • 843.849.3143 Dana Sipper • 714.348.0630 Designer Elizabeth Greff Contributing Editor Susan Bromfield President, Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce susan@lakewyliesc.com • 803.831.2827 Contributing Writers Susan Bromfield Jan Todd Kathy Widenhouse Contributing Photographers Zack Bordeaux Susan Bromfield Lake Wylie Camera Club Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography Jan Todd Kathy Widenhouse

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

46 Healthy Wealthy and Wise Dragonfly Wellness Center offers array of holistic health services

54 Development Update 56 Spotlight

The magazine of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Cover and Table of Contents photos by Jan Todd 4

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

3265 North Carolina Ave., Suite 101 North Charleston, S.C. 29405 843.849.3100 • Fax: 843.849.3122 www.scbiznews.com

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UNDER CONTRACT 369 Carroll Cove | Lake Wylie

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Spring 2022 | 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 what’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 LakeWylieChamber@yahoo.com

River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club

Jerry Epping recognized as Melvin Jones Fellow

Secretary Thomas thanked for outstanding service

Epping has served the community with RHLW Lions for 15 years

iver Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club President Richard Ellington presented Susan Thomas, secretary, a bouquet of roses during the club’s holiday dinner on Dec. 7. “The roses came from me as an appreciation for her help to me these last 18 months,” Ellington said. (A president’s term in the RHLW Lions runs for one year, but because of pandemic-related circumstances, the club voted for officers to remain in place for an additional year.) “I thought she was due some recognition for the outstanding service she renders while carrying such an incredible load.”

RHLW Lions President Richard Ellington presents a donation to Sam Hook, SCSDB executive director. Due to COVID-related restrictions, the children’s choir was unable to attend the holiday dinner to deliver their muchanticipated choral performance.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

he River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club recognized Jerry Epping as its newest Melvin Jones Fellow during a recent holiday dinner. Named for the Lions Club International founder, the award goes to an outstanding Lion who “embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism,” according to the LCI website. “I feel very honored to have received the award,” Epping said. “I have a great deal of respect for all of our Lions who have previously received this award.” Sponsored by Dave Brown, Epping has been a member of

the RHLW Lions Club for 15 years. He has just ended an 11year stretch as a member of the Lions Community Foundation, for which he served as president for four years. He also served as the RHLW Lions club president (2010-2011) and worked on the directory team, Christmas tree sales and Clover Area Assistance Center food distribution team. A certified public accountant, he owned Epping and Associates CPAs P.A. He is married to Joan Mazzaro-Epping. Together they have five children and 12 grandchildren and have lived in River Hills for more than 30 years.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

Charity golf tournament set for May 16

he All Saints Knights of Columbus Council in Lake Wylie is sponsoring its second annual Charity Golf Outing on May 16 at the River Hills Country Club. All proceeds go to support local charities, including, but not limited to Special Olympics, Victory Farms Rideability Therapy for disabled youth and military veterans, community helping hands projects, and youth college scholarships. In addition to team prizes, there will

be prizes for hole-in-one, longest drive, and closest to the pin. Everyone is invited to register and play, sign up as a sponsor or just donate to the charity. To register yourself or a team, contact Frank Bender at fbender215@aol.com. To sponsor the outing, contact Jay Kelley at kelley.jerome@gmail.com. More tournament information can be found by visiting the website at charitygolftoday.com/allsaints.

LW Rotary Club partners with Chair the Love

he Lake Wylie Rotary Club recently coordinated with Chair the Love to provide wheelchairs to folks with mobility challenges. Chair the Love is a 501(c)3, founded by an Air Force veteran and Florida Rotarian Glen Mather. For more information, please visit chairthelove.org. The newest Lake Wylie Rotarian, John Haney, is also an Air Force veteran and friend of Glen's. John coordinated the project and placed the wheelchairs where they were most needed. Lake Wylie Rotarians delivered wheelchairs to Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlotte and Hospice and Community Care in Rock Hill. Pictured above, back row: President Mark Wilson, Ed Lindsey, Eddie Lukowski and Project Coordinator John Haney; front row: Mary Sieck, Paul Moran.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

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Mailbag

River Hills CC Veterans Day golf event raises $12,500

n Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2021, River Hills Country Club sponsored its inaugural Veterans Appreciation Golf Tournament. The goal of this event was to provide a free day of golf, food, fun and fellowship to veterans. The generosity of

the club, its members and sponsors and the many member volunteers not only put on a hugely successful (and really fun) tournament for almost 100 local veterans, but also raised $12,500 for a Charlotte area charitable organization, Veterans Bridge Home, which

specializes in connecting veterans with the connections and services they need after they complete their military careers. River Hills Country Club is already planning the event for Veterans Day, 2022.

KEEPING LAKE WYLIE CONNECTED. At Comporium, we take great pride in supplying our neighbors in Lake Wylie with the technology they need to make life easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s 1-Gig Internet, Stream TV or Comporium Security, you don’t have to look far to find the cutting-edge technologies you want in your home or business.

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www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Mailbag

Scouting for Food

he Scouting for Food event was held on Feb. 5. The Lake Wylie Cub Scouts from Pack 333 ﬁlled up a truck full of food that was donated to the Clover Area Assisatance Center. This donation was part of the 5,000-plus pounds of food donated to CAAC that day. These boys did a great job. So proud of all of them in helping to serve the Clover and Lake Wylie communities. (Photo/Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography)

... �KEWYLI ._______, ,__,

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Bookkeeping

Charles and Norma Wood celebrate 60th anniversary

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Friends gathered at River Hills Marina Club to celebrate Charles and Norma Wood and their 60th wedding anniversary. Their children, Melanie and Sid, hosted the gathering.

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www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Charles and Norma Wood recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. The Woods have resided In River Hills for more than 40 years.

Mailbag

River Hills Country Club welcomes new GM

Welcoming New Patients

New Patients Receive

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iver Hills Country Club recently welcomed a new general manager, John Sheedy. Sheedy has managed private country clubs for more than 30 years in such places as Frankfort, Ky., Pittsburgh, Pa., Albany, N.Y., and most recently, Hilton Head Island. He enjoys golfing, snow and water skiing, boating, fishing and food. He is a widower and has three children. “I would like to thank the members of RHCC for the very warm welcome I received when I arrived here in Lake Wylie,” Sheedy said. “After a great deal of research, I found that River Hills Country Club has a wonderful reputation for being an outstanding family-oriented, private club with exceptional recreational facilities and a social atmosphere which is second to none. The club has a very talented and dedicated staff that has worked diligently to bring quality service and amenities to the members. I am truly thankful to have this opportunity to work with such a strong, committed board of directors that has the vision and acumen to lead RHCC successfully into the future. This club, this team and this community are why I am here. I can’t wait to get to know everyone here at the club. In fact, I hope that you will make it a point to come by and introduce yourself. I would like to know what you love about RHCC and what I can do to make your club an even better place for you to call ‘home.’”

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Mailbag

Thank You to our Sponsors! We couldn’t do it without you! Our Mission The Lake Wylie/Clover Mayday Project exists and operates to enhance the quality of life of homeless and needy children, and their families, in the Clover and York School Districts, and to assist others in need in our communities.

Title Sponsor R.P. Boggs & Co. Wealth Management Special Sponsors

Life Boat Sponsors

Allen & Lynne Turk Tom & Carolyn McAnallen Tom & Elizabeth Carlisle - Spectle Foundation River Hills CC Tennis Group

Life Line Sponsors AIM Mail Center All Saints Catholic Men’s Club Bruce & Nancy Roberts Corporate Travel Management, Inc. Daniel Schmidt Epping & Associates CPA’s Goshen Glenn Farms Jerry & Carol Bohannon

John & Lorena Hess Lake Wylie Pizza & Italian Restaurant Lee’s Hoagie House Liquor at the Lake Marilyn & Lowell Lueking Okuma America Corp River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Silver Rock Wealth Partners

Golf Hole Sponsors Scott Clinton Photography

Allstate Insurance

Lake Wylie Pharmacy

B&B Distributors

M.L. Ford & Sons, Inc.

Bank of York

McGee Enterprises

Bob & Lois Carrol

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Carrie & Giovanni Cespedes

Palmetto Tire & Service, Inc.

In Memory of Barry Bright

Papa Doc’s Shore Club

Karen & Ron Otteni

Pier 88

Walmart

Kochi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi

RHCC Women’s Golf Association

Western Benefit Card Services

Lake Wylie Bookies

Riverside Health & Chiropractic

Will & Wilberta Wildermuth

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Sign Innovations Sound Advice Hearing State Farm (Jay Killian) Tim & Melissa Heeg Tommy McLean Automotive

Allan & Sheri Sutherland Ann & Fritz Rehkopf Bob Elliot Dave & Andi Brown Don & Joan Nowak John & Roseann Stichnoth Kasby’s Little Woods Marketing Mayday Board Members Park Pointe Village

Patty & Jim King Publix Supermarkets, Inc. RHCC Circle of Friends & Don’t Golf Groups Sloan Financial Group Steve & Mamie Gaver Sweet Repeat The Journey at Lake Wylie Thrivent Financial (Charles Beatty) Wayne & Nina Lynch

Life Preserver Sponsors Derek Lewis

Lake Wylie Senior Health

Drew & Deborah Naber

Lee & Amory Clementi

Edward Jones (Lee Youngblood)

Lowes of Lake Wylie

Prize Donors

River Hills Golf Academy Lake Wylie Bowl ‘n ACE: A Caring Bounce Environment River Hills Tennis Group Lake Wylie Discount AutoBell Car Wash Roseann Stichnoth Liquors B&B Distributors Saltwater Markets Lake Wylie Pizza & Bagel Boat Sign Innovations Italian Restaurant Bob Powers Sportsman Inc. Lily’s Bistro Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails Studio 9 Mac’s Speed Shop Carol Bohannon Suzanne Hawthorne Magnolia House Florist Studio Art Copper Premium Pub Marilyn Lueking Tally Ho Clothier David Brown Market on Wylie TGI Fridays - Rivergate Express Oil Change Nail Gallery United Bank Fred Caldwell Chevrolet Nothing Bundt Cakes Victory Custom Golf Gary Troyan Palmetto Tire & Service, Inc. Waffle House #1957 ImaJENation Rey Azteca Photography Wayne & Nina Lynch River Hills Country Club Jim & Patty King Wesley Stanton

Mayday Project | 4100 Charlotte Hwy, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 | MaydayProject.us

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Mailbag

Carowinds 2022 season underway

Dr. Chad Vanourny

Dr. Britany Baker

arowinds is now open for the 2022 season. Throughout this year’s “Seasons of Fun,” guests will discover enchanting décor, special merchandise, delectable treats, and new entertainment experiences throughout the park. Carowinds is also expanding the lineup of special events taking place throughout the year to include something for everyone in the family. Among the new events planned for 2022 is the State Line Celebration April 9-May 8, a one-of-a-kind, limited-time event will showcase authentic cuisine, local brews and musicians that can only be experienced in the Tar Heel and Palmetto states. Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, is home to top-rated roller coasters, including Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster, as well as more than 60 rides, attractions and live stage shows. Carolina Harbor, a 26-acre waterpark, features a variety of water slides, wave pools, large play structures and a three-acre children’s play area. Carowinds Camp Wilderness and SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Carowinds are guest accommodations located on-site. For more information visit www. carowinds.com or call 704-588-2600.

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Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline

Night

Stalking Local angLers reel in Lake Wylie catch after hours BY KATHY WIDENHOUSE

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Shoreline

s you cross the Buster Boyd Bridge past twilight and into the midnight hours, you may notice clusters of lights dotting Lake Wylie. They’re not buoys dancing on the water surface, nor even imaginary UFOs playing tricks on your eyes. Chances are, you’re seeing Lake Wylie’s night stalkers. They’re anglers who fish on Lake Wylie at night. They reel in bass and perch and catfish. But most of all, they stalk for crappie.

Night stalking on Wylie

The Carolinas are among the top ten states to fish for crappie, and Lake Wylie has become a fisherman’s favorite for pulling in the catch, according to Game & Fish magazine. Robert "Rango" Plemmons was one of them. He fished Lake Wylie for more than half a century. “When I first became interested in crappie fishing, I was a day fisher,” Rango said. “I hunted the brush piles and docks during the daylight hours, braving the hot sun, fast boats, and a

ton of watercraft that seemed to be everywhere interfering with all our fishing plans.” To escape the crowds, Rango started fishing at night. And with the simple desire to avoid throngs and vessels, he helped spark a local angler’s movement. As the name states, night stalking is fishing after the sun goes down. It’s not unusual for anglers the world over to wet a hook in the early morning or at dusk hours, because fishermen are always on a quest to outwit their prey. But “stalking” involves surveillance. These local anglers prepare for a night stalk much like an investigator prepares for a stakeout. That means understanding your prey — in Lake Wylie’s case, crappie. The best time to catch crappie? At their feeding time. During the day, they tend to remain in deeper areas of the lake, which can make them harder to catch. But crappie move up to shallower water when shadows lengthen and they feel safer. At dawn, dusk, and between midnight and 2 a.m., a fish is less likely to see an angler leaning out of his boat casting a jig.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline

Go Fish Lake Wylie traverses North and South Carolina. Daytime and nighttime anglers need appropriate fishing licenses.

North Carolina

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/Hunting-FishingTrapping-Licenses

North Carolina Residents

Annual Inland Basic Fishing License: $25 10-Day Inland Basic Fishing License: $9

North Carolina Nonresidents

Night stalkers on Lake Wylie. (Photo /Crappie.com South Carolina forum)

As the sun goes down on Lake Wylie, night stalkers prepare to fish at night. (Photo/John Doster)

That’s when fish are most likely to slither up to the surface to look for minnows, insects, and an angler’s bait. By meeting them there, at the time of their choosing, Wylie’s night stalkers have a better chance of catching them. And over the decades, Rango and his ilk have developed specific ways to prepare to nab the slabs.

Lights inside and out

Before a night stalker drops his boat in at the Allison Creek or South Point or Buster Boyd ramps for a night stalk, they need to be properly outfitted. Set up correctly, they will reel in more catch than during the day. Fishing at night involves variables that

Annual Inland Basic Fishing License: $45 10-Day Inland Basic Fishing License: $23 Youth under age 16 are exempt from the requirements of a basic inland fishing license.

South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.sc.gov

are not present during the daylight when you South Carolina Residents can see where you’re going and logs or brush 1-Year Freshwater Fishing License: $10 that may be in your way. “Successful fishing 14-Day Freshwater Fishing License: $5 for crappie after dark is an art form,” Rango said. “It is never based on random, haphazard South Carolina Nonresidents fishing techniques. You need to rig your boat 1-Year Freshwater Fishing License: $35 appropriately.” 14-Day Freshwater Fishing License: $11 Chief among your gear are lights, both inYouth under the age of 16 are not required to side and out. purchase a fishing license unless they are Submersible lights attract minnows to the engaged in commercial activity. boat, which in turn attract the crappie. Rango and his fishing buddy O. T. Phonephet preferred bright, underwater LED lights to attract crappie from a long distance and to minimize battery drain, dropping them just about a foot below the surface. Some night stalkers use floating lights or clamp on lights or green fluorescents – even car headlights attached to a battery. Inside the boat, interior lighting helps an angler see what he’s doing. And it offers illumination to alert other watercraft to his presence on the lake, helping keep everyone safe on the water. The simplest way to light the inside of your boat, say night stalkers, is to set out a couple of Coleman lanterns. More experienced night stalkers clamp on lights to poles mounted on the center console, one pointed to front and one to back. Elevated lights keep insects further away from exposed arms and John Doster showing oﬀ his night catch. legs, too. (Photo/John Doster)

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Tiny House Vacations! Long Cove Resort & Marina 14629 Rainbarrel Rd. Charlotte, NC 28278 Ph. (704) 588-1467 www.longcoveresort.com

This lakefront retreat provides the comforts of home with the amenities of an outdoor resort. Choose from 33 lakeshore tiny houses. Various options include rooms with a private deck and kitchenette, to rooms with two queen bedrooms and a full kitchen. Pick the style that suits you best! Long Cove Resort & Country Club is a private resort and Marina where guests can enjoy an amazing weekend, family reunion, corporate retreat and more, on the quiet shores of Lake Wylie in North Carolina. Arrive any day of the week and settle into one of the cozy cabins, decorated with a cheerful southern warmth and charm. Multiple room options are available for two to seven guests. Some cabins offer patios with a view and kitchens, so you can enjoy a breakfast or coffee with friends and family. Choose between the Beach, the Terrace Hilltop Patio, the Luna Patio and the Pool to gather to enjoy the sweeping view of the lake. NOTE: ACCESS TO OUR GROUNDS AND GATHERING SPACES IS FOR LONG COVE MEMBERS & REGISTERED TINY HOME GUESTS ONLY. (There is unfortunately no outside guest access at this time.)

We offer private club memberships that include access to the amenities on the property; Including Kayak’s, snack shack, discounts on concerts, free events with live entertainment, Christmas wonderland, Easter egg roll, Chili cook off, Oktoberfest pumpkin patch, haunted house & more. Spring discounts available now. House boat slips available. Call now: 704.588.1467

Shoreline Get anchored

ening on L are for an ev ep pr rs ke al Night st /John Doster) Wylie. (Photo

ake

During the day, an angler parks his boat over a brush pile to nab fish where they may be hiding. But a night stalker avoids shallow water. With the help of sonar or a topographical map, night stalkers find steep drop offs, points, or ledges that are close to deep water – twenty feet or more. Then it’s two anchors down to secure the boat to the lake bottom so that it doesn’t shift with the breeze. Why get so locked into place? A bouncing boat makes it hard to see a crappie’s subtle nibble. Calm waters are best for night stalkers. Only when the boat is secure and the lights are on do night stalkers wet a hook. They set up to dozen or more rod holders along the sides of the boat and insert ultralight rods with soft tips. Some paint rod tips with white flat spray paint to see movement more easily in the dark. Then it’s minnows on the hook, rods set at different depths, and a quiet wait for the tap on the rod.

Night stalking year-round

Rango and O.T. (Photo/Robert Plem mons estate)

Where to Rent A Boat April - Labor Day

Holley Watersports Located by Papa Doc’s

Pier 88

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Night fishing is nothing new, but Wylie’s stalkers have perfected their methods to catch plenty of crappie. Rango stalked all over the Carolinas and taught many others his techniques, particularly diligence in planning and execution. Most stalkers find that night fishing is productive if their gear and lighting are properly prepared and set up. Plus, Lake Wylie’s temperate climate allows night stalkers to fish all year. John Doster organizes year-round monthly night stalks with 10-15 boats, including a kids’ tournament in the spring. “We have a prize box and everyone throws in $1,” says John. “Everyone who fishes gets a prize. When the kids fish, we have trophies and a cookout with hamburgers and hotdogs, too.”

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CareFree Boat Club

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www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

A night stalker shows oﬀ his catch. (Photo/John Doster)

And they don’t just reel in crappie. The lights, say anglers, attract other species. A bass can pull on an ultra-lite rig and give the night angler an exciting ride to land. That gives anglers plenty of tangled fishing line to contend with, too. But the peace of the lake in the evening — and the abundant catch — more than make up for the trouble. That, and the camaraderie. Night stalkers are willing to share their hot spots and tips and ideas aplenty, particularly the Lake Wylie thread on Crappie.com’s South Carolina board. That’s where fellow anglers heard of Rango’s passing last summer. But thanks to his passion and the community among anglers, now others can easily learn how to rig their boat properly for nocturnal fishing, how to position their lights, and the best places to try to put down anchor. So, if you want to sharpen your hook, load a minnow, and reel in a crappie, you no longer need to fight the traffic at Lake Wylie’s boat ramps during the day. Just go at night … for a stalk. LW

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Food for Thought

The Comm u

BO By Kathy Widenhouse 22

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

More Than Ju st 1,4 00 Me a

eek er W ls P

y nit

s Up e v r e éS f a C

D N A S Y O D

Food for Thought

ima lives alone. But on Tuesdays, she stops by the Community Café at Lake Wylie Christian Assembly for companionship – and a home-cooked meal. It’s the highlight of her week. “It’s hard to cook just for myself,” says Sima. “The Café gives me somewhere to go in the community where I can be around people. This ministry has been a true blessing and pick-me-up.” Sima is one of 1,400 of local residents who are Community Café weekly guests, which includes those who stop by one of the café’s three locations, visit its food truck, or receive a shut-in meal. Simple menus of spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken cacciatore mean physical sustenance for some patrons. Others go for fellowship. For some, it’s both. But no matter what brings people to the café, each one is offered second helpings and extra meals to take home. And each person is treated with dignity, respect, and lots of love. It all pours out of a retiree who decided to put his extra time to good use. And he is the first to tell you that the Community Café has brought deep meaning to his life.

Bored retiree turned full-time volunteer

The economic downturn in 2008 prompted Don Murfin to retire from his 30-year venture capital career in Akron, Ohio and move to South Carolina. He and his wife settled in Fort Mill near friends. But soon, he got bored. “I didn’t have anything to do,” says Don. A life coach noticed that Don got excited when he recounted his past community service experiences. She recommended that he open a kitchen to help people – a rising need in those tough times. That same week, Don received an email from his then-pas-

Want to Eat? The Community Café at Lake Wylie Christian Assembly 5766 Charlotte Highway, Lake Wylie Serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays

The Community Café of Sisk Memorial Baptist Church

tor asking the congregation to consider providing meals for people in the community. The recession meant there were plenty of hungry, hurting residents. “I think the Lord was leading me,” Don said. After discussions with the pastor and church board, Don used his professional skills to put together a business plan. He estimated that he could prepare a hot lunch for no more than $1 per person. The board doubted the numbers but finally gave the go-ahead. Outdoor signage and word of mouth spread the news and the ministry served 1,300 meals during that first year alone. The cost per meal? $1.01. The group incorporated as Community Café in 2011 with a board of directors. Since then, the program’s model has remained largely unchanged.

The Community Café @ Lake Wylie Lutheran Church 2906 Highway 160 West (at Gold Hill Road), Fort Mill Serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays

His Daily Spread Food Truck

Serving Thursdays in Rock Hill at Blackmon Road, Catawba Terrace and Celriver Road Trailer Park

His Daily Spread Food Truck. (Photos/The Community Café)

Two core principles

The Community Café operates on two core principles. First, it provides a free, tasty, nutritious meal to anyone who wants one. No questions asked. Guests are given as much food as they request. And food can be delivered, too. “Bigger relief organizations require people to fill out a form to substantiate they are poor and in need before they can have a meal,” says Don. “It doesn’t seem right that

Want To Help? The Community Café

Don Murfin: 330-289-1243 Commissary: The Journey Fellowship 5415 Highway 557, Lake Wylie Email: communitycafecares@gmail.com Web: www.communitycafeusa.com

115 Massey St., Fort Mill Serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought

Volunteers preparing meals at the commissary. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

people who are hurting have to plead to get something to eat.” The Community Café’s other key ingredient is its staffing — 100% volunteers. “We are not in it to make money,” says Don. “Our sole purpose is to help people.” Food is purchased entirely through donations, collected in an old black pot that Don found in his garage. “Some people come for fellowship and throw $20 into the pot,” says Don. “Some can’t afford 10 cents. And that’s okay.”

Take the food where it’s needed

As guests experienced the Café’s impact, the ministry grew from one church location to three. And over time, Don learned about pockets of poverty across York County, home to residents who need meals but are unable to visit one of the Community Cafe’s The Community locations because they lack transportation. Café welcomes Then two friends pointed out an unused guests to its Lake food truck for sale. Don approached the Wylie Christian owner and asked if he would hold it until Assembly location. the Café could raise the $40,000 needed to (Photo/Kathy purchase it. The owner agreed, even when Widenhouse) another party offered $62,000 for the vehicle.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Within a few months, the Café bought the truck and named it His Daily Spread. They targeted Rock Hill’s Blackmon Road, Catawba Terrace, and Celriver Road Trailer Park communities for food truck deliveries. Each Thursday, His Daily Spread arrived at the same time, distributing as much food as was needed. At first it took a little while to buid trust. Residents dribbled in and out for meals, having seen other providers come and go quickly. Then came Week 6. As the truck rounded the corner to the first community, volunteers saw a line that had already formed. That was in 2018. His Daily Spread has been serving weekly meals since.

An army of volunteers

As chief cook, organizer, and full-time volunteer, Don soon found himself hauling equipment across the county to prepare food at three locations each week all while managing the ministry’s operations and finances in his “down time.” “We needed a center of operations,” he

Food for Thought said. His pastor at Journey Fellowship in Lake Wylie offered the ministry the complete use of its kitchen, housed in an extra building on the church campus. That meant a renovation to bring the kitchen to DHEC standards. The commissary came just in time. When the pandemic forced churches to shut down indoor operations, the Community Café continued to prepare and offer takeout meals at outdoor tables. “We never could have done that without the commissary,” Don said. These days, if you stop by the commissary on Mondays or Tuesdays at 7 a.m., you’ll find banter and laughter as volunteers chop fresh vegetables and put together 30-32 full-sized entrée serving pans. They’re part of a volunteer army totaling 200 who hail from all over the region. They’ve become a second family for Don, who admits that the ministry “is my life.” Volunteers do food prep, welcome guests, serve meals, operate the food truck, and deliver to shut-ins throughout the week. A volunteer bookkeeper manages financial records. At the height of COVID-19, the café

served double its normal number of meals by offering curbside pickup, provided by – who else? – volunteers.

Stickers of love

Since inception, the Community Café has served more than 500,000 meals. And it’s only growing. But apart from the delicious casseroles prepared by volunteers and desserts donated by local bakeries, the ministry’s key ingredient is a precious intangible. The Community Café, say its patrons, lives up to its name. It builds a sense of community among volunteers and guests alike with an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and fellowship that’s desperately needed – no matter what an individual’s circumstances. “We treat people the best we can so they can feel good about themselves,” says Don. At indoor locations, each guest is greeted by name, receives a nametag and an “I am loved” sticker, and is served at tables arranged with tablecloths and centerpieces. One guest takes home each sticker and carefully places them around her bathroom

Old black pot that Don brought from Ohio that’s now used for donations. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

mirror as a daily reminder that she has a community. “These people feed me physically, but it’s more than that,” says Sima, who has been stopping by the Community Café every week for five years. “They know me. They’re my friends. I belong.” LW

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DINING GUIDE Arby’s 511 Nautical Drive Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5555

Dunkin Donuts 335 Vesla Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 675-6044

McDonald’s 5262 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)831-0577

Starbucks 1201 Village Harbor Drive, #101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (704) 591-5361

Azteca Grill 604 Nautical Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-8930

Famous Toastery of Lake Wylie 5217 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)675-6000

Moe’s Southwest Grill 312 Bulkhead Way #105 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 398-1663

Subway 5245 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0143

Bagel Boat – Bagels 4090 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5995

Fast Frog Bakery 54 Highway 55E Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)209-2065

Panda Hut 144 Highway 274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 631-1988

Sweetwater Grille 4582 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-1788

Best China 5243 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-5540

Jersey Mike’s 604 Nautical Drive, Suite 101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0912

Papa Doc’s Shore Club 3990 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-0043

Taco Bell at Lake Wylie 311 Vesla Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7068

Bojangles 4927 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9346

Kochi Japanese Steakhouse 5360 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 610-0146

Papa Johns 221 Latitude Lane Suite 101 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0101

Thai Fusion 125 Evergreen Road Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 746-5047

Cherry – Asian Cuisine 4034 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9594

Lake Wylie Bowl N Bounce 4034 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2553

Pier 88 at River Hills Marina 54 Marina Rd Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0088

The Caddyshack 4052 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7295

Christopher’s Bar and Grille 1500 Village Harbor Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2461

Lake Wylie Italian and Pizza 4074 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0855

Pizza Hut 5241 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-1188

Waffle House 5013 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0315

Copper Premium Pub 4516 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7021

Lee’s Hoagie House 312 Bulkhead Way Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4046

Rey Azteca Mexican 4052 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-9277

Wendy’s 5188 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710-8099 (803) 831-2687

Domino’s Pizza 125 E Evergreen Rd Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-7075

Lily’s Bistro 4547 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7788

River Hills Country Club 1 Country Club Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2126

Zaxby’s 143 SC-274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2634

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2021 2022

Lake Wylie

Food for Thought

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Working Together Supporting Each Other

Working Together Staying Connected Supporting Each Other WConnected e Succeed Staying We Succeed THE BUSINESS OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY

Interested in joining this winning team? Call Charlie at 803.831.2827 www.lakewyliesc.com

The Business of a Thriving Community Interested in joining this winning team? Call Charlie at 803.831.2827 www.lakewyliesc.comSpring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Faces

L ng Drive

Local pro inspires four decades of golfers with a love for the game BY KATHY WIDENHOUSE

River Hills Golf Course. (Photo/River Hills Country Club)

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Faces

f you’ve never played golf, you may not understand the exhilaration that radiates from the little white ball. Gary Troyan does. He loves the game. Gary has been hitting golf balls his entire life and he wants others to get the same thrill from the sport, too. Now, he’s closing in on four decades as River Hills Golf Club’s head pro where he teaches golf, mentors players, and organizes tournaments. Along the way he has instilled a love for the game in thousands of golfers.

First swings

Gary grew up in Pottstown, Penn., a manufacturing hub outside of Philadelphia. His father, Cyril, was a project manager at a die casting plant and played golf in a work league. Gary and his older brother, Cork, caddied for him. After a round, the senior Troyan would take his two boys onto the golf course to hit a few holes. So in high school, when the brothers had to choose a spring sport – baseball or golf – the decision was easy. Golf was familiar, plus it meant leaving school early to fit in 18 holes before dark. Gary’s love affair with golf continued during his college years at the University of Delaware. He played on the football team, but Gary and his friends regularly sneaked onto one of the Dupont golf courses to play a few holes during off hours. He graduated with a degree in business administration but had no idea what to do with it. Yet starting young in golf has advantages, says Gary – one being friendships. A high school golf team buddy, Rick Miller, worked as an assistant at a new golf club in South Carolina called River Hills. Rick suggested that Gary apply for a job. “I love the game,” Gary said. “So, I thought, ‘Why not’?” In 1978, Gary joined the River Hills golf club outdoor operations staff. Over time he worked his way through various positions and wound up inside, helping to run to the place. Meanwhile, Rick Miller went on to become a pro at Spring Lake Country Club in York. And Gary became a pro, too.

derstanding of the golf business. Some golf pros also compete in state, local, and regional tournaments. To achieve the pro Class A designation, Gary enrolled in the PGA’s Apprenticeship Program (now the PGA Professional Golf Management Program), which requires a minimum of three years of working in the golf industry under a PGA pro’s guidance. Gary had to complete seminars and business training sessions so he could understand the ins and outs of the golf business, equipment, tournaments, and other details associated with helping people hit the little white ball. And of course, he had to pass the PGA’s Player Ability Test (PAT) – a round of 36 – with a certain score. Fewer than 20% of those who attempt the PAT pass it, according to the PGA. Gary did so while playing at a tournament on Pinehurst No. 7 and was certified as PGA Class A professional in 1983. When the River Hills board offered him the newly vacated head pro position in 1985, he accepted. In that role, Gary manages the 18-hole championship course’s operations, newly renovated practice facilities, and full-service pro shop. And he oversees a staff of 15, which includes fellow golf pro Bobby Stroup, sales staff, and outside staff who load bags, deliver carts, and collect the thousands of golf balls that litter the driving range. A big part of his job, says Gary, is organizing tournaments for the club’s men’s and women’s golf associations, and for River Hills groups that participate in Carolina Golf As-

Gary Troyan, head golf pro at River Hills Country Club. (Photo/River Hills Country Club)

sociation Charlotte interclub teams. And of course, he teaches lessons and operates clinics. And he continues to work on his own game. Over the years, Gary has competed and succeeded in placing in sectional tournaments, including the Old North State Senior Open, the Firethorne Senior Two-Man, and the McGladrey Team Championship. And in 2005, he was one of three from a field of 119 who qualified for the USGA Senior Open Championship. “That was the experience of a lifetime,” Gary said.

The long drive

Through the ebb and flow of the golf ’s popularity, Gary has kept the club active and

The pro shot

The 27,000 golf pros in the U.S. keep the golf industry humming by supervising instruction and managing local courses. A golf pro, says the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), offers club members expertise and knowledge about the game as well as an un-

River Hills Country Club and golf club entrance. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Faces

Gary and assistant pro Bobby Stroup in Gary’s office, surrounded by golf gear. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

Gary with River Hills golf course in the background. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

its membership growing. The River Hills course was semi-private when it opened in 1969. A year later, it was purchased by the Sea Pines group, with pri-

vate membership open to both residents and nonresidents in the new 1,100-home community. Most of those first River Hills golfers were retirees who played four or five

times a week. Gary scheduled tee times by hand onto packed tee sheets before computers took over. The economic crunch of the 1990s — and fewer golfers — subsequently gave way to a surge in golf popularity in the early 2000s when Tiger Woods dominated the sport. The young superstar represented the “fit golfer,” says Gary. Athletes on the greens also worked out in the weight room and on the treadmill. Fitness combined with better technology and golf equipment attracted the public to the game once again. Since Tiger’s heyday, River Hills demographics have changed. What was once a retiree haven has given way to larger numbers of young families moving into the community, who had less time for golf … until the pandemic. Cancelled vacations and work-fromhome arrangements meant people had extra time and a hunger to get outdoors. River Hills golf club memberships, like so many across the country, have surged in the last two years. “Golf is one activity that people felt they could do safely during COVID,” Gary said. “The pandemic was hard for

THANKS FOR A GREAT 10 YEARS!

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Faces ipants track their progress on a mobile app and with each successful nine-hole game under 36, move farther from the green. River Hills assistant pro Bobby Stroup manages the program, which is exploding in popularity across the nation, and here. In just two years, more than 60 youth and 100 ladies have completed at least one cycle of Operation 36 at River Hills.

A little white ball on the ground Gary’s collage of memories from the 2005 USGA Senior Open Championship. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

many, but it was good for golf.” With that, Gary is building a new generation of golfers once again. In 2020 he and his team became certified as an Operation 36 facility, and began offering the nationwide eight-week beginner program. Operation 36 teaches newcomers and those who want to improve their game how to succeed on the golf course by learning to chip and putt on the green, rather than by learning to golf on the driving range. Partic-

“Humble.” “Self-effacing.” “A good guy.” That’s how River Hills golf club members describe their head pro. But Gary credits the River Hills membership — “it’s a casual and relaxed atmosphere. We’re like a family” — with the club’s longevity. He sees himself simply as a facilitator. “A golf ball is just a white ball sitting on the ground, but it’s such a thrill to hit it well,” Gary said. “If you don’t love the game, you’ve simply never played it.” Or maybe you’ve played it and become frustrated. In that case, you’ve never played it with Gary at your elbow. Maybe you should. LW

Up Your Game Learn more about the River Hills Golf Club. River Hills Golf Club One Country Club Drive Lake Wylie SC, 29710 Telephone: 803-831-2126 Golf Pro Shop: 803-831-2249 Membership: 803-621-3115 Web: www.riverhillscc.org/membership Call for a membership tour appointment.

Membership Levels for Golfers

Full Membership and Junior Full Membership: Unlimited dining, golf, tennis, pickleball, swimming, social events and fitness Sports Membership and Junior Sports Membership: 72 holes of golf per month plus unlimited dining, tennis, pickleball, swimming, social events and fitness Social Membership and Junior Social Membership: 36 holes of golf per month plus unlimited dining, swimming, social events and fitness

Thank You for Keeping It Local!

To make a donation, volunteer, or find out about how to get help, call or visit: 803.222.4837 | 1130 Highway 55 East (P.O. Box 521) | Clover, SC 29710 www.CloverAreaAssistance.org

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

ary Sauer, set. (Photo/M n su at ie yl Lake W amera Club) Lake Wylie C

k c i l c & t n i o p Beyond Camera Lake Wylie

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

graphers lcomes photo

Club we

BY KATHY

USE WIDENHO

of all kinds

ou want to learn to use that new camera – even the one on your cell phone – and you don’t know where to begin. But what if you had a professional photographer and a handful of semi-professionals teach you the ropes? You can. At no cost. Here in Lake Wylie. The Lake Wylie Camera Club meets once a month to learn about camera settings, shooting techniques, lighting, editing photos, and more. They gather for local outings to photograph together. And twice a year, they put their photography on public display. There’s no cost to be a member and there are no age limits – in fact, the group has included retirees, middle schoolers and plenty in between. There’s just one requirement: that you love photography.

No club? Start one

Joe Ciarlante loves photography so much that he’s made it his life’s work. For three decades he has been blending technology and art as a commercial photographer while teaching photography classes at the former Art Institute of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, Winthrop University and most recently, Catawba Valley Community College. For years, Joe met monthly with a group of Charlotte photographers who shared their work and tips with each other. When that group folded, he sought out another, but couldn’t find one. In the pursuit to gather together others who share his passion, Joe approached the Lake Wylie Public Library staff and offered to provide a couple of free workshops, one on “How to Take Better Pictures With Your Cell Phone” and another about “How To Use Your Digital Camera.” Those successes indicated that there was a group of local residents who loved taking photographs. They wanted to learn more about the process and learn from other aficionados. So, when Joe posted flyers for an inaugural club meeting, interested shutterbugs gathered to make it official. They formed the Lake Wylie Camera Club. That was back in 2018. The group continues meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the library to address all kinds of topics related to photography, share tips, and get instruc-

tion. They have the opportunity to share their photos with each other for feedback. And, they show their photos to the public.

More than point and shoot

The club is a mixture of serious hobbyists, semi-pros, photography buffs, and those who simply want to learn to take photos with a camera or cell phone. That was the case for Mary Sauer. She’d had a Canon Rebel for a couple of years A shore bir but used it to d in flight. (Photo/Jay Club) just point and son Ripke, Lake Wyli e Camera shoot in automatic mode, “letting the camera do all the work for me.” Mary heard about the club through Facebook. She attended a meeting to better understand the buttons on her camera and how to use them and has been attending ever since. The group’s tutorials introduced her to shutter speed and aperture and ISO settings so she can photograph her favorite subject: sunsets. “I take photos of the sunset over Lake Wylie almost every night,” says Mary. “It’s the same sky, but the light and colors are different evie Camera , Lake Wyl ery time. I let Mother Nature en re G en hoto/Maure show me different views of the a perch. (P Bluebird on lake and adjust my settings acClub) cordingly.” Mary has accumulated hundreds of sunset photos which she regularly posts not just on the club’s Facebook page but also on Instagram.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

Kayaks on the shore. (Photo/Flo Sie

msen, Lak e Wylie C

Charles, (Photo/Pat . ve co t ie u in a q A paddler b) Camera Clu ie yl Lake W

Wildlife, portraits and more

While the club has dubbed Mary “the queen of sunsets,” each member has a favorite subject they like to shoot – from birds to wildlife to landscapes to architectural photography to professional head shots for real estate agents. For Pat Charles, it’s children and pets. Pat inherited a love for photography from her father and has owned several cameras throughout her life. She heard about the camera club when she noticed the flyers on a visit to the library. “I was interested in learning more about the technical aspects of using the camera,” says Pat. “That’s what drew me to the group.” A self-described avid hobbyist, Pat recently converted a room in her home to a photography studio where she conducts photo sessions for her nieces, nephews, family, and pets – and even for a few commissions.

Ask her about what’s most meaningful to her about the club, she mentions “the support and interaction with club members who have given me confidence to try new things.” And the field trips. There was one to the Whitewater Center at Christmastime, when the group practiced night photography. Another led the group to a local horse farm to capture photos in the late afternoon and early evening. “The camaraderie and sharing is wonderful,” says Pat.

“Let’s have a show!”

During the group’s first gathering four years ago, members discussed how the club would operate and what activities they should pursue together. Joe piped up. “I think we should have a show,” he said. The general consensus was shock. None of those present had ever seen their

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

amera Clu b)

work hanging on a wall. “There’s a big difference between looking at your photo on a computer screen – and printing it, framing it, and showing it where others can see it,” says Joe. But at his prodding, the group reluctantly agreed to try. A few months later, the Lake Wylie Camera Club hosted its first photography show at a meeting room in the library. Each participant displayed three or four prints, framed, and featured with proper lighting. On opening night, the room was packed with guests. “At one point, I looked across the room and saw a group of club members huddled together,” says Joe. “I mouthed, ‘What do you think?’ and they beamed.” The event marked a turning point for several of them. “The show was a big step for me,” says Mary Sauer. “It gave me more confidence.” Pat Charles agrees. “The opportunity to have your pictures in a show is pretty huge,” she says.

Feature

ke Wylie Librar on display at La y ph ra og ot ph ’ Members idenhouse) (Photo/Kathy W

Since then – barring the pandemic break – the club has sponsored photography shows at the library twice a year, with next one opening on March 14. The art stays on the walls for a month.

Members’ phot ography on disp lay at Lake Wyl (Photo/Kathy W ie Library. idenhouse)

A group to cheer you on

Joe is quick to call himself simply a facilitator who got the club rolling. Yet, he loves to teach, particularly alongside other experienced club members who add additional bits and pieces of instruction

“At one point, I looked across the room and saw a group of club members huddled together. I mouthed, ‘What do you think?’ And they beamed.” — Joe Ciarlante, President, Lake Wylie Camera Club

– like Andrew Ketchum. As owner of AK Media in Lake Wylie, Andrew offers tips about taking professional headshots, real estate photography, and drone imaging. Participants leave group meetings inspired to shoot great pictures, says Mary Sauer. “Joe gave me a clear understanding of basic camera settings, which results in better photography.” says Mary. “He’s part ringleader, part mentor, part instructor, and part cheerleader.” Which means you can learn what the numbers mean on your camera and you can get some hands-on help editing those pictures on your cell phone. There’s a friendly group who can show you what and how. Their tips are first-class. They’ll cheer you on as you go beyond a simple point and click. And your photo just might be featured in the club’s next public photography show, too. LW

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

Grab Your Camera or Phone

Lake Wylie Camera Club

Join fellow photography enthusiasts to learn about picture-taking strategies during the Lake Wylie Camera Club’s monthly meetings and periodic off-site field trips.

Meets the second Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. Lake Wylie Public Library 185 Blucher Circle, Lake Wylie Facebook: www.facebook.com/ groups/561272694309637 More information: Joe Ciarlante 704-756-1481 Email: joe@ciarlante.com

A cotton boll ready for har vest. (Photo/Deborah Lockhart Rettig, Lake Wylie Camera Club)

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U.S. National Whitewater Center at the holidays. (Photo/Joe Ciarlante, Lake Wylie Camera Club)

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Feature

Dance Family

Local dance studios build bonds on their toes BY KATHY WIDENHOUSE

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Feature

hen public schools closed during the pandemic and Shannon Acuna began homeschooling, she looked for extracurricular activities that would provide a social outlet for her 8-year-old daughter, Lina. Shannon knew that too much isolation for her child was not healthy. “At first we didn’t have much luck finding anything Lina was interested in,” Shannon said. “We’d tried soccer and cheerleading, but none of those were a good fit.” One day in downtown Charlotte, they happened on a dance studio and stepped inside. “Lina was entranced,” Shannon said. “Yet, I knew making trips to South Charlotte a couple of days a week for classes was not practical.” Then, the staff mentioned that the studio had a Belmont location, just a short drive for Shannon from her Autumn Cove home in Lake Wylie. That was nearly two years ago. Now, Lina dances twice a week at the Belmont School of Ballet. “Lina has fallen head-overheels in love with dance,” Shannon said. “She has found something to work towards and grow with.” While Lina found a passion, Shannon found support and creative ideas among other homeschool moms at the studio. As it has happened with so many others, the Acuna family discovered an extended family in their dance family.

Dance across the generations

For two years, as Bridget Porter Young drove through Belmont, she noticed a South Main Street building. The location would be ideal for a dance studio, given the town’s artistic flavor and proximity to Charlotte. Bridget knew what was involved in such an undertaking. Her family has danced across the generations. Bridget’s mother, Gay Porter, was a ballet dancer and instructor who had moved from London to the United States as a young adult. In 1968, Gay

Awards displayed at Adagio School of Dance. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

founded the Charlotte School of Ballet, which has prepared dancers for careers in elite ballet and contemporary dance companies across the world. Bridget herself danced with the New York City Ballet, the Louisville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and touring companies across the U.S. And Bridget’s own daughter, Remy Young, dances with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. A bit of research showed Bridget that there was no dedicated classical ballet studio in the immediate Lake Wylie/Belmont area. With an eye to instilling a love for dance in the next generation, Bridget opened the Belmont School of Ballet in 2006 as an extension of the Charlotte School of Ballet. She serves as

Students at the Belmont School of Ballet. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

its artistic director. The school’s emphasis is on classical ballet training, although tap, jazz, and modern dance are offered, too. The Belmont School of Ballet uses two internationally recognized approaches to ballet training: both the Royal Academy of Dance’ s graded and vocational syllabi as well as the Cecchetti Council of America

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Feature method, one of six internationally-recognized ballet instruction methods. That combination helps the school’s 5060 students to develop essential skills of balance, poise, strength, elevation, flexibility, and artistry, which transfer as life skills, whether they dance recreationally or stick with it to become professional. About half of the Belmont School’s students continue classes through advanced levels. And all students perform in the studio’s annual spring recital, slated this year for May 21 at Central Piedmont Community College. In addition, students are invited to audition for and participate in the Charlotte Youth Ballet’s two annual full-length professional performances – The Nutcracker in December and a spring performance in March.

Dance Family Business

Adagio School of Dance Competition Team practice, (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

Students at the Belmont School of Ballet. (Photo/Kathy Widenhouse)

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

South of the state line in Lake Wylie, another dance studio also builds families. Julia Hoak grew up performing and traveling up and down the west coast. She always dreamed of opening a dance studio. But dance classes are conducted when students are available – on evenings and weekends in between regular school and work hours. Julia and her husband, Bob, a project manager with Foundry Commercial, were concerned about the impact of the dancing life on their two children and their family. Plus, there are all the additional hours associated with running a small business – scheduling teachers, designing choreography, choosing music, and enrolling students – that make a dance studio more than a full-time job. “I knew that it could make or break my family,” Julia said. But in the case of the Hoaks, the dance studio turned into a family project and brought them closer together. Adagio School of Dance, situated on Charlotte Highway in the heart of Lake Wylie, opened in 2010. The studio offers classes of all kinds, from jazz and tap to hip hop, contemporary, modern, ballet, and pointe. Julia’s daughter Addison, a senior in high school, helps run the computer and manage the studio’s business accounts. Son Hunter, who is finishing up a bach-

Feature elor’s degree in digital arts and design, serves as webmaster. And through the years, the Hoak family has become family to hundreds of local residents. “We’ve gotten to take part in raising so many children,” Julia said. “Bob was skeptical at first and I was scared. But we don’t regret it – in fact, we’ve grown as a family as the studio has grown.” And grown it has. Today, 47 classes rotate in and out of the school’s three studios, led by eight teachers. Students can choose from classes of all kinds, the most popular being combination classes, such as ballet-tap-jazz. The school’s competition team, comprised of 35 dancers, travels to Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, and Tennessee during the spring to compete with other teams from across the country. And dance is not just for young girls, says Julia, referring to boys who are a part of recreational classes. All of the studio’s students participate in Adagio’s two annual recitals – in winter and spring – on a specially-rented stage in the pavilion at Camp Thunderbird. While typical dance studios enroll up to twenty students per class, Adagio’s average class size is 8-10 students. “This way, we get more one-on-one time with students,” Julia said. “And they can get a more personalized experience.” And feel more a part of the family.

Dance benefits

Both schools offer opportunities for adults as well as private lessons for students who want further instruction. And both the Belmont and Adagio schools continued offering classes during the pandemic by moving to a virtual platform. Now that in-person activities are resuming, their students are back in both studios, following standard social distancing practices while building their skills. The benefits of dance, say participating families, go beyond the ability to pirouette in ballet slippers or generate a shuffle-ball-change in tap shoes – and even beyond the support offered in a close-knit dance community. Carrie Flynn’s daughter Anna, 13, is dyslexic. She has been dancing for seven years. “The experience has built her confidence,” Carrie said. “Dancing has given

Lina Acuna outside the dance studio. (Photo/Shannon Acuna)

Want to Dance?

Anna structure and helps her know she is capable.” And for the Acuna family, dance has offered more than an outlet to round out Lina’s education. The transition to homeschooling was a struggle, Shannon said. Lina had a hard time focusing on classwork and completing assignments while at home. It has been the discipline of dance that helped her daughter make the transition, Shannon said. “If I don’t do my schoolwork I can’t do my ballet,” Lina added. “Dance offers plenty of life lessons,” Julia Hoak said. “There’s nothing better than teaching a child to express emotion through movement. Students learn to fail and win … how to get back on their feet. Dance is a vehicle for learning about life.” LW

Adagio School of Dance 4555 Charlotte Highway, #20 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-8321 Web: www.adagioschoolofdance.com Email: adagioschoolofdance@yahoo.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ adagioschoolofdancelakewylie

Belmont School of Ballet 116 South Main St. Belmont, NC 28012 704-829-7929 Email: businessoffice@belmontballet.com Web: www.belmontballet.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/The-Belmont-Schoolof-Ballet-349766638527/

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GREEN SPACE GROWING Three parcels – and counting – set aside for Lake Wylie parks BY KATHY WIDENHOUSE

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

oat Farm For Sale. When that sign went up, Bethel and Lake Wylie area residents

grieved. The open area along Route 49 in front of the Kings Grove and Bethel Fields communities had become a local favorite – as had the long-haired billys and kids and nannies that called the space “home.” A resident posted on county council member Allison Love’s Facebook page, asking for intervention. “Can’t we all go in together and buy the goat farm?” At that point, the county lacked a way to purchase the 6.5 acres that were home to Lake Wylie’s adopted long-haired goats, Allison explained. But she got to thinking. What would it take for residents to bind together and preserve open areas like the goat farm for fun and recreational use? The goat farm sign planted a seed. And now that seed has sprouted into a movement to safeguard green space in and around Bethel and Lake Wylie.

Allison Love at the goat farm. (Photos/Bethel Lake Wylie Park District)

Residents tax themselves

“Open spaces, small-town feel.” Many locals say that’s what drew them to this area. But concern for the impact of growth in Lake Wylie is a big reason that 30-year resident Allison Love ran for county council in 2016. In that role, she has spearheaded the effort to create a special tax district – a certain area on the map – to purchase vacant land in Lake Wylie and Bethel and set it aside for recreation and aesthetics. Voters had already passed a 2016 referendum, qualifying Lake Wylie for county hospitality revenue that helped to fund Field Day Park. The 32-acre complex in the Paddler’s Cove subdivision opened in fall 2020 and provides a venue for organized athletics. But voters didn’t stop there. In the spring of 2020, volunteers gathered the required 22,000 signatures to place the special tax district initiative on the November 2020 ballot. The referendum was passed

Goat farm property as seen from Hands Mill Highway.

Goat farm with Park District logo layered.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party

Allison Love (left), assistant county manager Mike Moore and the Park District board.

The special district is administered by a 5-member volunteer board vetted by the York County Finance Committee and approved by the York County Council. Their responsibility? Invest the bond’s $10 million in tax dollars to preserve green space. Every penny is to be used to identify and purchase properties in Lake Wylie and Bethel that can create fun spaces for residents to enjoy the outdoors. And they’ve already begun.

Landmark estate to be transformed with trails, art gallery

Nations Ford Land Trust Conservation Easement signage.

by more than two-thirds of the voters in Bethel and Lake Wylie. Meaning that local homeowners were so passionate about preserving green space that they were willing to tax themselves. The result is the Bethel Lake Wylie Land Acquisition & Preservation Park District, funded by a bond issued at a rate of $20 per $100,000 per owner-occupied home in Bethel and Lake Wylie. 44

Months before the formation of the Park District, Allison Love had been hard at work to identify parcels that could be set aside as green space. She reached out to the Van Every family asking them to hold off on selling their 87-acre property. They graciously waited. At one time the family operated a nursery on their farm, centrally situated on Route 557 across from Oakridge Middle School. Helen Van Every was known for her hanging baskets. Now her love for nature will be preserved. In November 2021, the Van Every property – called Woodend Farm – became the Park District’s first purchase. The District was awarded a $1 million grant from the South Carolina Conservation Bank to help seal the deal.

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As a result, Woodend Farm was placed in a conservation easement held by Nation Ford Land Trust. That means it is forever protected from any future development. But once Woodend Farm and other preserved green spaces become part of the new Park District, what happens to them? Surveys of local residents reported what they longed to see in Lake Wylie: walking trails, an art gallery, a dog park, farmer’s market, community garden, disc golf, and fishing ponds. Woodend Farm will meet at least two of those goals. The property’s iconic home on the hill overlooking Route 557 is slated to be transformed into an event venue and art gallery. And in preparation for the trails that will wind through the property, local residents gathered at Woodend Farm in December 2021 for a community hike and again in January 2021 for a community bonfire. The park district board is fast tracking Woodend Farm’s readiness for the public in the hopes of hosting a holiday open house in December 2022.

Private property to become a dog park

Prior to the establishment the Bethel-Lake Wylie Preservation Park District, Lake Wylie resident Dorsey Patrick placed a conservation easement on a privately held 24-acre parcel. She then committed five acres of the property to develop a dog park – if the tax district was approved. Dorsey, an animal lover, is founder and president of Jesse’s Place Rescue and an advocate for homeless Labrador retrievers. The Bethel-Lake Wylie Park District passage in late 2020 solidified those plans. Local canines will soon have a place to play off leash under the supervision of their humans. The tract, located on Route 49 just north of Nanny’s Mountain, is now set aside to develop a stateof-the-art community dog park, scheduled to begin construction this spring.

Goat farm to become a market

What about the goat farm on Hands Mill Highway that started the entire initiative? The Park District purchased the property from the Currence family

Garden Party

Community bonfire at Woodend Farm.

Dorsey Patrick Dog Park logo.

in December 2021 and will unveil the farm’s new name in early 2022. Meanwhile, the farm is slated to become a market and community gardens. The goats will move away to their new home with the Currences. But their original farm will remain green and protected from residential development – forever. And with the new protected spaces comes a promise to preserve their beauty. The original referendum included a $500,000 maintenance fee allowing the new spaces to be well-cared for. Meanwhile, the parks themselves will provide additional streams of income, garnering event venue fees at Woodend Farm and from a potential farm-to-table eatery at the former Currence home on the goat

farm.

More parks are in the works

The Park District’s resources are limited by the $10 million cap. Once those dollars are spent, will all remaining green space be gobbled up in development rather than preserved for residents to enjoy? No. “We’ve obtained three properties that are critical, but we’ve only just begun,” says Allison. “More are in the works.” She is referring to additional parcels that have been identified as future parks that are to be donated to the green space initiative. And to underwrite future projects, the board is reaching out to corporations for funding and applying for grants to pur-

chase additional acreage and create more green space in Bethel and Lake Wylie. But now that the first steps have been taken, people from other parts of South Carolina and across the country have been contacting Allison and asking about the grassroots campaign to save open spaces in Lake Wylie. “I tell them I’m speechless,” says Allison, explaining that the credit goes to Lake Wylie and Bethel residents who wanted so badly to create green spaces and fun places to enjoy for generations. “Who does that?” says Allison. “No one. Except these residents. People saw the need. And they came together to meet it.” LW

WATCH OUR GREEN SPACES GROW Stay informed about Lake Wylie and Bethel parks.

Bethel-Lake Wylie Land Acquisition The Goat Farm & Preservation Parks District 3972 Hands Mill Highway, Lake Wylie Board chairman: John Segura Web: https://bethellakewylieparkdistrict.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100072447186521

Woodend Farm

5649 Highway 557, Lake Wylie

Dorsey Patrick Dog Park

Highway 49 just south of 5 Points (beside Eason Roofing) Web: https://dorseypatrickdogpark.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DPDogParkLW

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Healthy Wealthly and Wise

Dragonﬂy Wellness Center: The full package BY JAN TODD

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Healthy Wealthly and Wise

Dragonfly Wellness Center oﬀers comprehensive wellness care for the whole family, with independent yet complementary practitioners operating within the space. From left: Erin Wallace Blake, Angella Dabbondanza, Amy Davis, Dr. Marcia Nibert, Lisa Smith, Stacy Thompson, Kelly Jones, Yun (Ann) Teng. (Photos/Emma Anne Photography)

n March 2020 — when most of the world was closing up shop due to the coronavirus pandemic — Dragonfly Wellness Center in Lake Wylie opened its doors for the first time. Dr. Marcia Nibert, known as “Doc Marcia” to her patients, is an acupuncturist, chiropractor and the owner of the practice. She said she didn’t know what to expect, launching a new endeavor in such uncertain times. Almost two years later, it appears the timing was just right. “We’ve been busy since we opened,”

Doc Marcia said. The pandemic increased the wellness care needs in the community, beyond the effects from the virus itself. “People are more stressed, they’re hurting, and many are in a different work environment. When working from home, people are sitting on the couch or at kitchen table with their computers, and there are different ergonomics in play,” she explained. Doc Marcia said in addition to her regular clientele, she has

been treating more patients with lower back pain, plus patients with emotional and stress issues related to the pandemic. Doc Marcia operated her practice for nine years at Lake Wylie Family Chiropractic. As her clientele grew, she found she needed more space. Her business partner, Mike Cockram, purchased a 3500 square foot suite in the Lake Wylie Business Center, next door to the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce. At first, Doc Marcia couldn’t imagine

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Healthy Wealthly and Wise how they could use so much space. She said, “Mike told me not to worry; we’d grow.” It didn’t take long. With the goal of offering comprehensive wellness care for the whole family, the two partners began looking for complimentary practitioners to operate within the wellness center. They now lease space to two massage therapists, an additional acupuncturist, and a certified clinical ther-

mographer — all who operate as independent businesses yet work together to provide patients multi-disciplinary care. Services offered include: • Acupuncture: a traditional Chinese medicine to promote general wellness and healing. Tiny needles are placed in specific points of the body to stimulate natural healing mechanisms.

Because... There are Squirrels

Water Treadmill Acupuncture Laser Therapy Manual Therapy Therapeutic Exercise Shockwave Therapy Assistive Devices Therapeutic Ultrasound

704-588-4400 704-588 704588-4400 588-4400

Rehabilitation: The art of using physical manipulations and therapies to relieve pain, enhance healing, and improve movement.

Companion Animal Rehabilitation Center

Steele CreekANIMAL HOSPITAL

9729 South Tryon St. l Charlotte l KeepingPetsHealthy.com 48

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

ION DETOX Dragonfly Wellness Center offers IonCleanse® by AMD – a footbath detox system that cleanses and purifies the body. Biocompatible electrical frequencies are sent into the water, creating an ionic field that pulls toxins out through the bottom of the patient’s feet. The patient may feel a little tingling or may feel nothing at all. Most report feeling very relaxed during the procedure. After a 10–30-minute session, the patients feel focused and calm. Exposure to toxins is at an alltime high — from jet and automobile fumes in the air; pollution; chemicals in household cleaning products, cosmetics and personal care products; pesticides; plastics in bottled water and beverages; and products most people use every day. Toxins affect immune systems, fertility, circulatory systems, blood vessels and the skeletal system. While the body has measures in place to address toxins — including the liver, kidneys, lungs, colon and lymphatic system — evidence from many scientific studies indicates human health is impacted by the toxins in the modern world. Chronic swelling and inflammation, headaches, difficulty thinking, depression, aggression and hyperactivity are some of the results. Doc Marcia incorporated the footbath detox treatment into the offerings at Dragonfly Wellness after she experienced positive results treating her own migraine headaches with regular detox sessions. Lisa Purvis, a relatively new patient at Dragonfly Wellness, came in initially for the foot detox, then added acupuncture to address arthritis and inflammation in her knee. “My problems started with a change in my cholesterol medication. My joints were so sore, I could hardly get out of bed,” she said. “Since I’ve been coming to Dragonfly, the swelling in my knee is gone and I can walk without pain. I am doing much better.”

Healthy Wealthly and Wise

MASSAGE AND TALK FOR BODY AND SOUL Stacy Thompson, a long-time Lake Wylie resident, is a licensed massage therapist at Dragonfly Wellness Center. She offers Swedish and deep tissue massage, plus several specialty massages including neuromuscular, pre-natal, oncology, lymphatic drainage, breast cupping/massage, and talk/touch sessions. Stacy trained for and added breast massage to treat patients from fellow Dragonfly Wellness practitioner Angella Dabbondanza, owner of Advanced Thermal Imaging. Some of her patients have trapped toxins and inflammation in their breast tissue, and targeted massage therapy is an effective treatment, Angella said. Stacy believes in the therapeutic and healing power of massage that transcends physical relief — addressing deep emotional issues. “Sometimes when I’ve seen a client for awhile, they start opening up and talking — and that makes them feel better. We hold a lot of trauma and emotions in our body, and sometimes that is where our pain comes from,” she said. For the past two years, Stacy has been training as a Christian spiritual director, someone who helps others better understand Biblical basics and counsels them along their spiritual journey. She offers spiritual direction sessions independently or in combination with massage.

Good news! Sports & Full

Sacy Thompson is a licensed massage therapist at Dragonfly Wellness Center and a trained spiritual director. In addition to therapeutic massage, she performs specialized massage and oﬀers talk/touch sessions. (Photo/Emma Anne Photography)

Memberships are still available at regular and junior levels! To schedule a tour, please contact the Membership & Marketing Director at membership@riverhillscc.org or at (803) 621-3115. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MEMBERSHIPS, PRIVILEGES, AND PRICING

www.riverhillscc.org

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Healthy Wealthly and Wise

FREE THERMAL SCANS FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING The United Breast Cancer Foundation provides grants for patients to receive free or discounted thermal scans for breast cancer. The program is open to women and men, regardless of age, income, or medical insurance coverage. Patients must apply for the grant online and have the screening completed within 60 days of award notification. Patients pay their provider and submit the invoice and receipt for reimbursement. Details are available at https://www.ubcf.org/programs-services/breast-screening

• Chiropractic: a natural treatment using spinal manipulation to relieve pain in joints and muscles — and maintain balance between the body’s muscular, skeletal and neurological systems. • Massage: therapeutic and specialized massage to ease pain, promote relaxation, moderate inflammation, improve blood flow and address various health conditions. • Thermal imaging: images taken of the body with a special infrared camera (the same heat-seeking technology used by the military and firefighters) to identify areas with inflammation, low blood flow, infections, arthritis or other conditions. • IonCleanse® by AMD: a footbath detox system that cleanses and purifies the body, leaving the patient calm, focused and relaxed. • Intersegmental traction table: an automated massage table used in combination with chiropractic adjustments, or independently to promote relaxation.

THERMAL IMAGING Angella Dabbondanza, owner of Advanced Thermal Imaging, began her practice after a personal health crisis. “I was feeling awful. I was so tired all of the time, and I couldn’t even fold a load of laundry. I couldn’t sleep and my vision was blurring,” she said. Dabbondanza was always interested in health and technology, and is an avid reader and researcher. She had seen some articles about thermal imaging, and thought she’d give it a try to see if she could figure out what was wrong with her. Thermography — a non-invasive scan producing infrared images of the human body — shows patterns of heat and blood flow near the surface of the body and can indicate a variety of diseases and disorders. It has been approved by the FDA to be used in conjunction with other screening and diagnostic tests. Dabbondanza’s scan showed her lymphatic system was congested, and her breast implants were the culprit. She made some changes — including having the implants removed — and her symptoms disappeared. She was so impressed with her own results that she invested in a high-quality thermal imaging camera and equipment, 50

trained and became certified as a clinical thermographer, then opened her practice at Dragonfly Wellness Center. Using a sensitive infrared camera similar to those used by the military and firefighters, Dabbondanza takes images and sends to a licensed physician for analysis. Dabbondanza is passionate about educating her patients and helping them with practical recommendations. Laura Schaeffer, who is a patient of Doc Marcia’s, had a full body thermography scan done to confirm the source of problem areas. “I rolled my ankle maybe ten years ago, and the scan showed the inflammation is still there, confirming we were targeting my acupuncture treatment at the right spot,” she said. Another patient had a breast scan, and results alerted her to a fast-growing cancer that had been previously undetected. “We were able to encourage her to see her medical doctor and have her condition diagnosed and treated — much earlier that she might have discovered the problem otherwise,” Dabbondanza said. Dabbondanza said some of her clients come in when Xrays, CT-scans and MRI’s don’t provide answers for their issues. Others come in for sec-

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

ond opinions prior to surgery, or to gain early awareness of problem spots for preventative care.

Angella Dabbondanza, certified clinical thermographer and owner of Advanced Thermal Imaging located within Dragonfly Wellness Center, holds a thermal scan of a patient’s breasts, showing hot spots which may become problematic, even cancerous, if left untreated. The images are evaluated by a licensed physician, and Dabbondanza reviews with her patients and recommends treatments such as specialized massage, dry brushing, dietary changes or further medical evaluation. (Photo/Jan Todd)

Healthy Wealthly and Wise • Multi-dimensional, personalized treatment plans including dietary consultations, injury and pain management and recovery, stress management and more.

A holistic approach

Doc Marcia provides a holistic approach to the health of her patients, integrating treatments that lead to a strong structural system, nutrient-rich dietary habits and a balanced emotional state. She educates her patients on the cause and prevention of their ailments, recommending lifestyle modifications and dietary changes to improve overall health and wellness. To treat the whole body, Doc Marcia appreciates the need for interdisciplinary methods — including traditional Western medicine as well as Chinese medicine, natural alternatives, spiritual and emotional therapies. She has evolved her own interdisciplinary skills, beginning with a degree from the Sherman College of Chiropractic in 1993, then a Fellowship in Acupuncture Dr. Marcia Nibert (called “Doc from New York Chi- Marcia” by her patients) has ropractic College a practiced acupuncture and chirofew years later, then practic in Lake Wylie for 10 years. a Registered Nurse She holds a registered nurse de(RN) degree from gree and is pursuing certification the Mercy School in functional medicine. (Photo/ of Nursing in Char- Emma Anne Photography) lotte in 2009. Doc Marcia is now pursuing a certification in functional medicine, what she describes as a hybrid between western medicine and natural health. “Western medicine doctors are so overwhelmed right now, treating really sick patients. Then there are patients who aren’t so sick they need Western medicine — but they’re not healthy, either. That’s where functional medicine comes in. We provide the patients with information, detoxing, supplements or emotional support to improve their health,” said Doc Marcia.

ACUPUNCTURIST YUN TENG (ANN) Yun Teng — whose first name means “clouds” in Chinese — was born in Bejing and lived there until her late 30s. In China, Yun said acupuncture is “very popular,” with a practitioner in “almost every neighborhood.” Yet Yun never experienced acupuncture for herself until she was in her 30s. “I was under a lot of stress at work and my neck really bothered me. I went to the hospital, went to Chinese bone correction, tried mas- Yun Teng (Ann), who joined Dragonfly sage, but those didn’t really Wellness Center in 2021, is a licensed acuhelp. I finally tried acupunc- puncturist and earned her certification ture. Afterwards, I felt like I from the Beijing University of Chinese Medhad a new neck,” Yun said. icine and holds a Master in Acupuncture Yun was so impressed, she degree from the Jung Tao School of Classical enrolled in the Beijing Uni- Chinese Medicine in North Carolina. (Phoversity of Chinese Medicine to/Emma Anne Photography) to study acupuncture. There, she learned about meridians — “highways” for energy flow in the body — and about anatomy, herbal remedies and the Chinese style of massage and acupuncture. In 2015, Yun and her family moved to the U.S. Her husband, who is American, had family ties to York County. They settled in Clover to take advantage of a cleaner environment, the strong school system, and much lower population and stress levels than they’d experienced in Beijing. Yun obtained her license to perform acupuncture in the U.S. while working with a practitioner in Charlotte who specialized in pregnancy and infertility. She obtained her Masters Diploma in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, then joined Dragonfly Wellness Center in 2021. At Dragonfly, Yun and Doc Marcia use acupuncture to treat many disorders, including: respiratory (asthma, allergies, emphysema); gastrointestinal (ulcers, colitis, acid reflux); circulatory (hypertension, high cholesterol); gynecological (infertility, menopausal symptoms, PMS, endometriosis); musculoskeletal (arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and pain); and psychoemotional/neurological (depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, addictions).

Doc Marcia’s journey

Marcia grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, one of four children. For wellness care, the whole family regularly received chiropractic adjustments Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Healthy Wealthly and Wise in addition to their traditional medical care. Her primary physician was a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) — an accredited doctor who has hands on training on the musculoskeletal system in addition to conventional medicine. “Because he was a DO, our family doctor worked on our spinal health and took a holistic approach. So I grew up with that mindset,” Doc Marcia shared. When she was a teenager, Marcia and her sister visited a friend who was in chiropractic college in Spartanburg. “That was it. I was hooked,” she said. After graduating from high school, she pursued her chiropractic degree and began practicing in Rock Hill. One of the chiropractors in the office was also an acupuncturist, and Doc Marcia became interested in learning more. “After practicing chiropractic for a few years, I noticed we were seeing some of the same people over and over again, with the same problems — and I realized there must be a piece missing,” she said. Acupuncture addresses energy imbalances in the body, incorporating the emotional side of health and organ function. “It makes sense that acupuncture and chiropractic work together,” said Doc Marcia, who then studied and began practicing acupuncture. After having two children, Doc Marcia took some time off to stay at home with her kids, then obtained her nursing degree to further her career. She worked as a critical care nurse at Caromont Regional Medical Center for two years. Remembering her passion for educating patients and caring for them at the preventative stage, Doc Marcia returned to her work as a chiropractor and acupuncturist in 2011 by joining the team at Lake Wylie Family Chiropractic. Moving her practice to the new location in 2020 enabled Doc Marcia to add other practitioners to expand care to existing and new patients. Joni Harrison has been a patient of Doc Marcia for almost ten years. “With acupuncture, I have seen tremendous improvement in my anxiety, depression and nightmares. And chiropractic clears up my sinuses,” she shared. Seasonal changes affect Harrison, she said, so she schedules appointments with Doc Marcia once a quarter. 52

“I lean on Doc Marcia for just about everything,” Harrison continued. “She does a good job of seeing the big picture. Each time I walk in, we talk through what has been going on with me and she helps identify patterns and correlations to find the root of the problem.” Harrison said her relationship with Doc Marcia is “like having a holistic physician in my pocket. If something doesn’t feel right, Doc Marcia is my first call.” “I’m a believer.” Wanda Wood, a relatively new patient of Doc Marcia’s, was reluctant to try acupuncture and chiropractic. “I just didn’t believe in it,” she admitted. Wood suffered from kidney stones, fibromy- Erin Wallace Blake is a massage therapist and licensed esthetician at Dragonfly algia and chronic pain. “I Wellness Center. She oﬀers Swedish, deep tissue, AromaTouch and other had trouble walking up specialized massage, plus full body waxing, lash lifting, eyelash extensions, the stairs to my house,” she customizable facials and face and body sculpting. She said her passion for shared. massage stems from her desire to help others. “My motto is: be proactive instead A friend at church con- of reactive,” she said. (Photo/Emma Anne Photography) vinced Wood to visit Doc Marcia. “My friend was supposed to have shoulder surgery, but after seeing Doc Marcia, her shoulder healed to the point she didn’t need surgery. So I decided to give her a try,” Wood said. Now, Wood said because of her chiropractic care, she can “traipse down the stairs” without fear of falling, and acupuncture has helped her pass kidney stones without surgery. Her husband, who is asthmatic, has experienced improvement in his condition after treatment as treating him with acupuncture, he is able to walk around much better and is able well. “The most amazing case is my father- to read books again, which he loves.” “I’m a believer now, and I’m encourin-law, who is 96 years old,” Wood said. “He had neuropathy in his hands and aging everyone in our family to come to feet, and couldn’t even turn the pages of Dragonfly Wellness,” Wood said. “It has a book. Now, after Doc Marcia has been been a real blessing to us.” LW

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

“IF SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT, DOC MARCIA IS MY FIRST CALL. I’M A BELIEVER.”

— JONI HARRISON, PATIENT

Development Update

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Development Update

This four-bedroom home in Paddlers Cove, with approximately 3,300 square feet of living space, sold in the fall for $549,000.

On the move in 2022 By Drew Choate

s we settle into 2022, the wild ride in Lake Wylie real estate continues — with high demand from buyers, low inventory of homes for sale, and escalating prices on both homes and land. In 2021, the number of homes sold in York County was up 3% in comparison to 2020 sales, and the average price-per-square foot climbed a whopping 19%. Average prices were up almost 30% to pre-pandemic levels. For waterfront property, 2021 sales on Lake Wylie were level with 2020, and average prices were up about 20%. There was a record number of sales in the $1 million+ price range, representing over a third of all home sales on the lake. For perspective, five years ago, only 10% of sales exceeded the $1 million price tag. The reasons behind the supply/demand imbalance are twofold: we have an influx 54

of population in our area, and a shortage of housing starts. The pandemic normalized and expanded work-from-home options, and suburban areas like Lake Wylie — rich in natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities — have become attractive and feasible for a work force that with the flexibility to telecommute. Meanwhile, rising costs and shortages in raw materials put the squeeze on new construction. In York County, new construction sales in 2021 were down 25% from the year before. We expect the robust real estate market to continue through 2022, in spite of interest rates ticking up a bit. The “pent-up demand” for housing in our area is evidenced by the quick rate of offers on new listings. In the past 6 weeks, over 400 homes in York County have gone under contract — and half

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

of those were on the market for less than a week. The average price for a non-waterfront home in York County is $385,000, with a price-per-square-foot of $165. Some of the most popular neighborhoods in the Clover School District, in terms of recent sales include: • Cypress Point – average price in the high $400’s, 3300 square feet, new construction • Mill Creek Falls – average price in the low $400’s, 3000 square feet, up to 10 years old • Paddlers Cove – average price in the low $400’s, 3200 square feet, up to 4 years old • River Hills – average in the mid $500’s, 2800 square feet, average age almost 40 years

Development Update

This three-bedroom waterfront home on Catawba Cove, built in 1993, sold for $960,000. Its large, level 1.2-acre lot and big open views contributed to its appeal.

The average price for a waterfront home on Lake Wylie is just over $925,000. Waterfront cabins — older properties built primarily as “weekend retreats” — have topped half a million dollars in average price, with renovated properties with prime locations commanding the highest sales price. Primary homes in the $500’s - $700’s are still available, but they are in high demand and sell very quickly. Waterfront homes vary greatly in style, size, view, accessibility by land and by water, surrounding properties and scenery. On the average, by price point, buyers can expect: • Under $500,000 - Average age of home is 47 years, 1,475 square feet. Includes “cabins” and some smaller primary homes. • $500k - $699k - Average age of home is 37 years, 2,225 square feet. Most are

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not in traditional neighborhoods, but may be adjacent to The Palisades, older areas of Tega Cay, Allison Creek and Concord Road peninsulas, Armstrong Road area in Belmont. “Big view” cabin properties often fall into this price range. $700k - $999k - Average age of home is 28 years, 3,175 square feet. Newer homes in this price range may be in neighborhoods such as Harpers Point, McLean Overtake in Belmont, Somerset at Autumn Cove in Lake Wylie. Most of the recently built homes in this price range generally do not have big views. Some of the older, smaller homes in this price range do have wide open views and are in excellent locations, such as River Hills, Tega Cay and the community of Lake Wylie.

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$1 million plus - Average age of home is 19 years, 4,680 square feet. Most homes in this price range have long range water views, outdoor living areas, gourmet kitchens. As the price goes up, the luxury factors and location desirability increase as well. In this fast-moving market, the assistance of an experienced Realtor® is more important than ever. A professional’s familiarity with the area and type of home saves the buyer valuable time and ensures the best value. LW Drew Choate and The Lake Wylie Man team are affiliated with Keller Williams Fort Mill. The Lake Wylie Man team has been the leader in Lake Wylie waterfront sales each year for over a decade. For more information on the market and recent sales, visit TheLakeWylieMan.com.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight light News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce 2021 - 2022 Board of Directors Jeff Ledford -Chairman Charles Wood – Past Chairman Susan Bromfield - President Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Matthew Mugavero – Vice Chairman Lake Wylie Liquors Donna Bordeaux - Secretary Calculated Moves, PA Michaelyn Sherrill - Treasurer Home Companions Fred Caldwell, Fred Caldwell's Chevrolet Jane DuBois, Little Woods Marketing Kim Conroy, YMCA Camp Thunderbird Allan Gregory, K. A. Gregory Wealth Management Ed Lindsey, Rotary Club of Lake Wylie Angel Neelands, United Bank Stephen Nishimuta, Carolina Family Dentistry Sheila Quinn, Clover School District Quinn Smith, May Green Properties Ed Stewart

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

2022 Chamber Champion Gold Member

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Spring 2022

Board Member Spotlight

uinn Smith has joined the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Quinn grew up locally and participated in many community and Clover School District activities before graduating from Clemson University. Quinn has worked in Charlotte and Raleigh in sales before returning to Lake Wylie and Clover to join the Quinn Smith of May Green Properties Smith family business, joins Lake Wylie Chamber of May Green Properties, Commerce Board. a neighborhood development company. May Green Property developments are low-impact on the environment, offering green space corridors, walking trails, and parks areas. The developments have property owner associations to maintain the entrance, lighting and recreational areas. The dues are low, in accordance to the type of recreation offered. In York County, the Smith family has developed over 15 communities that reflect the consistent theme of leaving as much nature as possible intact, while offering families a place to build a home. May Green Properties’ ability to stay the course and keep that same type of development style reflects in the value realized by all of their property owners. Quinn plans to continue to participate and serve his community as has been the Smith family tradition. The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce welcomed Quinn to the board in December.

Spotlight

Lake Wylie “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade Winners

Photos by Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography

1st

First Place: “The Ginger Boat Float” – The Michael Hurst Family

Most Creative: “Mickey Santa” – Jim Schaefer

2nd

Second Place: “Candy Cane Express” – Michael Levans

3rd

Most Holiday Spirit: “Scoobie Doo” – The Russell Partin Family

THANK YOU TO SPONSORS OF THE HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE Atrium Health Comporium and Papa Doc’s Shore Club Photos by Dana Sipper | Sipper Photography

Third Place: “Pirate Boat” – The Ron Domurat Family

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

Welcome New Members

August 20, 2021 – February 10, 2022 Photography AK Media Andrew Ketcum 1532 Village Harbor Drive Lake Wylie, SC 29710 980-428-9229 andrew@ak.media.com www.ak.media.com

Real Estate Sales Lake Homes Realty – Lake Wylie Steve Fuentes Fort Mill, SC 29710 704-940-9954 steve@lakehomes.com www.lakehomes.com Support for Homeless and Needy Children in York County

Fitness Center Anytime Fitness Lake Wylie Erica Andres 125 Evergreen Road, #109 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-1234 lakewyliesc@anytinefitness.com www.anytimefitness.com

Lake Wylie / Clover Mayday Project Wayne Lynch 4100 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 704-905-2554 wclynch1946@gmail.com www.maydayproject.org

Commercial Construction Batson-Cook Construction Rick Kiger 1900 South Blvd., Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28203 704-790-4040 rkiger@batson-cook.com

Welding/Fabrication Specialty Welding Services LLC Tim Hurd 4996 Willow Pond Road Clover, SC 29710 803-879-0611 specialityweldingservicesllc@gmail.com www.specialtyweldingservices.com

Financial Adviser Free Market Financial INC Peter Kitzerow 16416 Doves Canyon Lane Charlotte, NC 28278 336-685-8622 peter@freemarketfinancial.net www.freemarketfinancial.net

Commercial Lease Space The Meld Greg Forrest 2057 Lantana Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-610-1246 greg@the-meld.com

Supplemental Insurance Globe Life Family Heritage Alan Wiley Lake Wylie, SC 723-309-5870 awiley@protect1family.com www.familyheritagelife.com

Gym / Sports Facility The Office Gym Joshua Harris 4076 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-8331 gmlkw@theogexp.com www.theogexp.com

Real Estate Jason Klugh Carolina Properties, Keller Williams Jason Klugh 2299 Paddlers Cove Drive Clover, SC 29710 704-560-9742 jklugh@kw.com www.lakewyliecarolinahomes.com

Pressure Washing The Wet Vet Robert Willis 1319 Dunmore Court Clover, SC 29710 860-655-5910 tennismate713@gmail.com www.thewetvetpowerwash.com

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Renewing Members investing in the chamber August 21, 2021- February 10, 2022 Businesses AAA of the Carolinas American National Insurance Atrium Health Bank of York Blue Granite Water Service Calculated Moves Carolina Family Dentistry Carolina Homes Connection Casselman Custom Canvas CK Enterprises Inc Clover Area Assistance Center D&D Sanitation Dock Masters Marine Construction Dragonfly Wellness Center LLC Edwards Jones Famous Toastry Foresight Property Solutions LLC Fred Caldwell Chevrolet Good Samaritan Church Habitat for Humanity of York County Helacious Kasbys Furniture & Design Lake Living with Matt and Katie Lake Wylie Athletic Association Lake Wylie Business Center Lake Wylie Marine Commission Lake Wylie Renovations Lake Wylie Tax Lake Wylie Travel Lifestyle Physical Therapy MarineMax Lake Wylie Midgard Self Storage Lake Wylie Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC Quality Interiors of the Carolinas Revel Salon and Color Studio River Hills Community Association River Hills / Lake Wylie Lions Club Steelecreek Dermatology, PLLC The Goddard School The Lodges at Lake Wylie Total Bond Veterinary Hospital Truliant Credit Union United Bank VFW6732-American Legion Post YMCA Camp Thunderbird York County Library – Lake Wylie Individuals Andy Kane Bobbie Otto Representative Bruce Bryant

Spotlight

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce 2022 Upcoming Activities

St. Paddy’s Day Business After Hours Thursday, March 17, 2022 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Carolina Trust Bank and Lake Wylie Liquors Held at Carolina Trust Bank Lake Wylie, SC

Business After Hours Cinco de Mayo Thursday, May 5, 2022 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Redwood Apartment Neighborhood Held at Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center Lake Wylie, SC

Business After Hours Thursday, June 9, 2022 TBD

LOOKING FORWARD Lake Wylie Fourth of July Community Fireworks Monday, July 4, 2022 Approximately 9:30 p.m. Best Viewing Lake Wylie Plaza, Lake Wylie Italian and Pizza, Rey Azteca- Patio, Bagel Boat, Papa Docs and Long Cove Resort and Marina

Business After Hours Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022 5:30-7:30 p.m. sponsored by TBD

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Classic Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 1 p.m. Shotgun Start, Captain’s Choice Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie, SC

Business After Hours Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 5:30-7:30 p.m. sponsored by TBD

Annual Holiday Gala Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 6:30 p.m. Cocktails Dinner and Music Seating Limited, Festive Attire Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie, SC

Holiday Boat Parade Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 6:30 p.m. Held by Papa Doc’s Shore Club

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

New website for LWCC Member directory, chamber links and more The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website. Yesim Bozoklu, owner of YB Design, created and maintains the new website for the chamber. Information available includes member directory, visitor information, the link to the chamber and SC Biz award-winning magazine Lake Wylie Today, the Lake Wylie Newcomer guide, event info, calendar and other timely info. When it comes to website design, “design follows content structure,” Bozoklu said, “The design is just a way to facilitate consumption and interaction with the content; www.lakewyliesc.com is our window to the world. The content is there to meet the members’ and visitors’ needs and, most of all, promote our whole community and its businesses.” In addition, the Chamber has launched a blog, also located on the website. Chamber volunteer Zack Bordeaux, a student at Clover High School, is assisting with digital and media, photography and the blog. For the Chamber, the website may be the first impression for visitors, new businesses or new residents, Lake Wylie Chamber President Susan Bromfield noted. The Chamber also is on Instagram and Facebook. “Please follow and like Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce on these platforms,” Bromfield said.

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

Susan Bromfield and Yesim Bozoklu announcing new website.

Spotlight

AK Media Ribbon Cutting and Reception Photos by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

AK Media ribbon cutting. Chamber chariman welcomes Andrew Ketchum and AK Media to the community. AK Media is located at Village Harbor by Christopher’s.

Beautiful flowers and food were highlights of the AK Media ribbon cutting and reception.

AK Media ribbon cutting and reception homemade cookie treats.

A tasty, beautiful arrary of food was served at the AK Media ribbon cutting and reception.

Yesim Bozoklu, Andrew Ketchum, Jeﬀ Ledford and Emily Ketchum at the ribbon cutting and reception at AK Media.

Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight Business Suite Now Available For Rent

Business After Hours events returning in 2022

lans are underway to resume a full schedule of Business After Hours events for 2022. United Bank and Lake Wylie Liquors are sponsoring the first one of the year on St. Patrick’s Day, and dates are available throughout the year to host and sponsor a BAH. If you wish to sponsor or host a BAH, but think your location may not work for such an event, the Chamber can help facilitate an alternative location such as River Hills Marina Picnic Pavilion on the lake. For more information, call 831-2827 or visit the website at www.lakewyliechambersc.com.

Board cutting

Tool rental service now available at Lake Wylie Lowe’s Everything A Small Business Needs At Reasonable Rates! Fully and Beautifully Furnished Rental Office New Professional Business Center Includes High Speed Internet and WiFi Includes All Utilities Except Telephone Includes Reception Area & Mail Service Large Office Ample Parking Prime Lake Wylie Business Location Convenient Location Easy Access Save Fuel and Work Close to Home Includes Hospitality Area

Located at Lake Wylie Business Center 264 Latitude Lane Lake Wylie, SC

For information or tour, call Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce (803) 831-2827. 62

www.LakeWylieToday.com | Spring 2022

The Lake Wylie Lowe’s store recently held a “board cutting” ceremony to officially launch its new equipment and tool rental addition to its list of services it offers the community. Lake Wylie Chamber Chair Jeff Ledford cut the board at the official opening of Lowe’s new tool and equipment rental addition. Chamber board members Ed Lindsey, Angel Neelands, chairman Jeff Ledford and Susan Bromfield, along with York County Councilwoman Allison Love, joined Lowe’s manager Preston Ashe and his team to celebrate the new additions.

Spotlight

Above, Lake Wylie Chamber Presdent Susan Bromfield with Chamber past chairmen and some board members at the award presentation. Right, State Sen. Harvey Peeler congratulates Bromfield on her award.

Bromfield honored as CACCE Chamber Executive of the Year

he bi-state Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives recently named Susan Bromfield, president of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, as its 2021 South Carolina Chamber Executive of the Year. The association covers chambers large and small, from big budgets and extensive staffs to Bromfield’s setup of otherwise volunteer help. York County Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Dean Faile, along with Chamber of Catawba County president and CEO Lindsay Keisler, presented Bromfield with the award, thanking her not only for her hard work and numerous accomplishments but for the example she sets for others. Bromfield, who came on board in 1991, said she took the job because she thought it would be a way to help the community. As president of the Lake Wylie Chamber, she has taken on many challenges and projects, from events such as Fourth of July fireworks and the Christmas Boat Parade to collaborations with government officials, business leaders and developers to promote a thriving business community while trying to nurture and preserve a community with a an exceptional quality of life, Bromfield has given much and accomplished much for Lake Wylie. Spring 2022 | www.LakeWylieToday.com

Spotlight

Summer Celebration! Lake Wylie Community Fireworks Monday, the 4th of July

What: Fantastic Fireworks Display When: Monday, July 4, 2021 Time: Dusk – approximately 9:30 pm Where: Lake Wylie by the Buster Boyd Bridge S.C. Hwy 49 at Lake Wylie Best Viewing: The Buster Boyd Bridge Boat Landing Papa Doc’s Shore Club on outside deck Rey Azteca deck at Lake Wylie Plaza Lake Wylie Italian and Pizza on patio at Lake Wylie Plaza Bagel Boat Long Cove Resort

We all enjoy the fireworks each year. Since Lake Wylie Community Fireworks Display is funded solely through donations, your support of this wonderful event is really needed in order for the event to continue. Please send your contribution in any amount now to: Camp Thunderbird Fireworks Fund One Thunderbird Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710

Thanks very much for your support! 64