Issuu

LakeWylie Lake TODAY

Fall 2026 | Issue 3

NEW HALLS, NEW HISTORY New Lake Wylie schools open

Windy Hill Orchard &

Cider Mill: A fall tradition

The river outside our windows and more inside our fall green issue Cover Photo by Rock Hill Drone Guy courtesy of Visit York County

McSpadden Homes Delivers... A professional, predictable, detailed, and systematic design/build experience • • • • •

Seamless experience for your custom Design/Build Exclusive floorplans with customization for a streamlined build Certified Interior Designer and state of the art Design Center Dedicated Project Development Team Real-time Project updates with Buildertrend

Give us a call or visit our website to find out about our newest enclave - Central Park South in Belmont!

548 Nautical Drive, Ste. 201 • Lake Wylie, SC 29710 • 704.825.7324 • McSpaddenHomes.com

Your community bank since 1935 For over 90 years, Bank of York has been more than a bank, we have been your neighbor. While times have changed, our commitment hasn’t, from the early days on Main Street to today’s modern banking. We are proud to support the families, businesses, and dreams that make York County home.

Personal Banking | Business Banking | Mobile Banking | Loans

803.684.BANK | bankofyork.com | 803.831.8343 Lake Wylie | Newport | York

Our View By Susan Bromfield

t last, fall is in the air and the many treasures of the season are just around the corner. As the leaves change colors, the temperatures cool off after summer’s hot days, there is a sense of peace at the lake as the sounds and sights of nature become more noticeable. Soon we will see the pumpkins on porches and pots with pansies and mums as the days get cooler. Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons on Lake Wylie. When Labor Day passes, the lake itself becomes calm and the boats move slower and it becomes quieter and more serene with the passing of each day. A walk becomes an experience to soak up the beauty that surrounds us each day. Suddenly the sounds of the squirrels and birds moving about are more noticeable. The hummingbirds and butterflies are hovering by the many blossoms and flowers that are abundant. Frequently these days, it is not unusual to see deer appear out of nowhere and graze nearby. As kayaking and paddle boarding have become more popular at the lake, it is a frequent sight to see groups of kayakers and paddleboarders in the coves and quieter areas of the lake. Seeing the anglers quietly in the coves and at the marina makes me realize how truly fortunate we are to live at Lake Wylie where there is a richness of nature, beauty and recreational opportunities for all. Visitors frequently ask, “do you need to have a boat to enjoy living at the lake?” Clearly the answer is no. Nature is all around us and recreational opportunities change with each season. We are fortunate to have McDowell Park with its beautiful nature trails and fishing piers along with picnic shelters and areas to enjoy nature. Allison Creek Park has been a welcome addition to lake recreation and access areas. Several marinas offer kayaks and boats for rent for those who do not have their own. You can enjoy a boat rental when you want without the expense of docking and maintaining your own boat. Fall is a time of year when we can enjoy the countryside and the many farm stands and venues that offer festivities throughout the season. Field Day Park has many activities planned for fall. If you enjoy golf, River Hills Country Club golf is a beautiful, scenic and challenging course located by the lake. Several tournaments will be held in the fall enabling visitors and newcomers to sample the course and club. And of course, walking is one of the most popular recreational activities and there is no end to the opportunities to walk around and near Lake Wylie. 2

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Walking and the slower pace allow everyone to savor the beauty we live with each day at the lake. There is a satisfaction and peace that calms the soul when you walk amid all the natural beauty and sights and sounds of nature. Many times, we take this for granted as part of our everyday life. We are reminded by some of our visitors that move here from cities and more urban areas of the country that walking surrounded by nature is not the norm and it is part of the appeal for moving to Lake Wylie. The simple pleasures in life can be gratifying and free when we take the time to soak in the beauty that surrounds us. The fall issue of Lake Wylie TODAY is the “green issue” with a fall theme that runs throughout the content and stories. Windy Hill Apple Orchard farm stand is featured with its bonfire nights, hard cider and music that is always popular in the fall. Also the new Lake Wylie High School has opened and is already full of students and activities. (See story on page 48). The QTS Data Center is a new

local topic. On page 59, this issue includes a special feature from QTS and its local data center under construction. Woodend Park has recently opened to the public so no surprise that we have a feature about it. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy this issue of Lake Wylie TODAY.

Fall …….

A TIME TO ENJOY TREASURES OF THE SEASON

FALL 2026

Protecting What’s Important Property Liability Workers Comp Boat Home Health Medicare Auto Special Risks Cyber Fidelity & Surety Bonds Surplus Lines

803-831-2058 Call us to discuss a customized insurance program for all your personal and business needs. Insurance

Proudly serving Lake Wylie since 1985 www.watsoninsurance.com

Contents Fall 2026

MailBag

America’s Boating Clubs of the Catawba and Charlotte Fun Days Children’s Outing

Food For Thought

The River Outside Our Windows

EDITOR Robin Gibson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Susan Bromfield, President Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Bromfield, Wendy Dimitri Dr. Steven Hicks, Pamela Hawthorne Mary Williams, Stephanie Knott, M.Ed., Jan Todd, Drew Choate, Wesley Rowland CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Wendy Dimitri, Jan Todd Jen Webber, Rock Hill Drone Guy courtesy of Visit York County, Pamela Hawthorne Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Dana Sipper – Sipper Photography, Clover School Distric, Wesley Rowland, Steven Hicks

Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill: Growing a York County Tradition

TODAY

ADVERTISING SALES Kim Conroy

Shoreline

LakeWylie

Garden Party

Why I Think Woodend Park May Become One of Lake Wylie's Favorite Places

LakeWylie TODAY Fall 2026 | Issue 3

Faces

A Lifetime in the Driver’s Seat

NEW HALLS, NEW HISTOR Y

New Lake Wylie

schools open

Windy Hill Orchard &

Cider Mill: A fall

Features

LEADING THE CHARGE

tradition

The river outside our windows and mor e inside our fall green issu e Cover Photo by

Rock Hill Drone Guy courtesy of Visit York County

About the cover Photo by Rock Hill Drone Guy courtesy of Visit York County

Development Update Real estate market update

66 4

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Chamber Spotlight

LAKE WYLIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

1092 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Suite 114 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 scbiz.com Subscription Services support@bridgetowerhelp.com | (800) 437-0916

4872 Liberty Hill Road | York

18212 Tayport Drive | Charlotte

1751 Aragon Beach Road | Rock Hill

36 Water Thrush Road | Lake Wylie

1031 Woodlake Lane | Tega Cay

18532 Rosapenny Road | Charlotte

Drew Choate

263 Quiet Waters Road | Belmont

1113 Palmyra Drive | Tega Cay

204 Bayshore Drive | Belmont

Mailbag The May 2026 Children’s Outing at the Red Fez Shrine Club on Lake Wylie

America’s Boating Clubs of the Catawba and Charlotte Fun Days Children’s Outing By Mary Williams / Images by Jen Webber

or over 60 years America's Boating Club's of the Catawba and Charlotte have been providing Fun Days on Lake Wylie for underserved children and their families. They invite 15 local agencies in York, Lancaster, Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties. Guests are provided hot breakfast 6

www.LakeWylieToday.com

sandwiches from Lake Wylie Wendy's, a hot lunch, Pelican Sno Balls and of course Fishing, Swimming and BOATING!!! The second Outing for 2026 is scheduled for September 12th at the Red Fez Shriner Club. They are always looking for volunteers. If you're interested, contact Mary Williams, AmericasBoatingClubCatawba@gmail.com; 562-477-0932;

FALL 2026

U N R I V A L E D L U X U RY Experience the next level in luxury Real Estate when you partner with us. ALLEN TATE REAL ESTATE

# 1 F A M I L Y - O W N E D R E A L E S TAT E C O M P A N Y I N T H E U . S .

CHARLOTTE, | $4,980,000

CHARLOTTE | $2,750,000

4816 Kelly Woods Lane

9414 Heydon Hall Circle

Jean Benham | 704.363.2938

Shelley Spencer | 704.907.3800

CLOVER | $1,290,000

LAKE WYLIE | $830,000

Trisha Graves & Josh Boyd | 803.818.7067

Wendy Eaves | 704.674.9408

378 Squirrel Lane

489 Evergreen Road

IN LUXURY IN THE CAROLINAS A HOWARD HANNA PARTNER

SCAN TO VIEW MORE LUXURY LISTINGS

Mailbag

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

�48��10� ��9�10

803.831.9394 ��.��.��

�A�� IN �� I�H ��R

HAIR & SKIN at Lake Wylie's Premier Salon & Color Studio!

CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE MONTHLY SPECIALS & PROMOTIONS! WWW.REVELSALONANDCOLORSTUDIO.COM

Mailbag Captain Greg and Boatswain Ray instruct the passengers on boat safety

On Saturday, July 18th, volunteers of America’s Boating Club of the Catawba held a Landing Clean Up of Niven’s Creek in Tega Cay headed by Club Member, Dennis L’Hommedieu. Our Club has sponsored community service cleanups at this Boat Landing three times a year for over a decade! Upcoming is our last Clean Up for 2026. It coincides with the Annual Catawba RiverSweep on Saturday, October 3rd. ( See the Catawba River Keeper’s website for additional information.)

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Committed to the Lake Wylie Community QTS is proud to support the people in the places we call home Lake Wylie, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support. We are deeply grateful to be a part of your community, and it is an honor to give back to a town that has given us so much. We are excited to invest in our shared future, standing side-by-side with you to ensure our community’s tomorrow is even brighter than today.

Learn more about our commitments to the people of Lake Wylie:

Q.com/commitments

Mailbag

Call Dameon McCain at (803) 628-8110 or email Dameon.McCain@SunflowerofLakeWylie.com 267 Latitude Lane, Lake Wylie, SC 29710

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Mailbag By Stephanie Knott, M.Ed. / Images courtesy of Clover School District

lover School District (CSD) opened the doors on three new schools serving students who reside in the Lake Wylie area on Monday, August 3. The first day of school marked the culmination of four years of work, following the approval of a bond referendum in November 2022. The new schools are: • Liberty Hill Elementary School, located at 1428 Cannonball Run; • Roosevelt Middle School, located in the former Ninth Grade Campus at 1555 Highway 55 East; and • Lake Wylie High School, located at 1464 Cannonball Run. The schools opened with a variety of celebrations. Liberty Hill Elementary has the earliest start time and was the first to open. Red, white and blue balloons decorated the front entrance. Families bringing their students to school for the first day were greeted by the Lake Wylie High School cheerleaders and the Lake Wylie High School Marching Band. Students entered the building to spirit songs and high fives. The Lake Wylie High School Marching Band then paraded back to Lake Wylie High School, where they played again to welcome their classmates to the new school. The cheerleaders again joined the band in the festivities. The student entrance was also decorated with light blue and gold balloons to greet the Chargers as they arrived. At Roosevelt Middle School, members of the Pride of Clover Marching Band performed to welcome Tigers into the building. The front entrance was decorated with blue and gold balloons. The Roosevelt Middle School Cheerleaders were on hand to cheer their classmates on to a new year. All three schools will conduct Dedication ceremonies in the coming weeks. A highlight of these events will be the participation of the Roosevelt Alumni Association at the Roosevelt Middle School dedication. Roosevelt was named for the high school in the Clover community that served African American students prior to desegregation. A special history wall and timeline in the school tells the story of Roosevelt High School and features many photos from Roosevelt High yearbooks.

CSD welcomes students to three new schools

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

MULLOOLY

WEALTH PLANNING

Simplifying Complex Wealth, Tax and Legacy Decisions

Clarity and Confidence Knowing Every Part of Your Financial Life Is Aligned and Working for the Long Term

Steven M. Mullooly

Located in the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

(803) 272-1003

www.mulloolywealthplanning.com Member of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Lake Wylie Resident

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

n Let’s Plan Your Future Your Road To Financial Freedom Starts Here.

d Lake Wyliehas community forLake over years. loan Financial served the Clover and Wylie30 community for over 30 years. Sloan Financial has served we the Clover and able Lake and insurance, are to recommend With in over financial planning, taxes, and insurance, we are able to recommend Wylie expertise community for 30 years. ize yourservices, financial success. products, and strategies to maximize your financial su success.

With experience in financial planning, tax services, and insurance, we are we able to can recommend products and see doreview to help Call for awhat complimentary financial and see pave what we your can do to help pave your and services to help ensure your financial success.

nts

road to financial freedom.

 Financial Planning  Tax Planning Reduction Strategies  Debt Financial Planning Insurance Tax Services Insurance Services · Retirement · Home Insurance Planning · Individual · Income Strategies · Investments Small Business · Auto Insurance · Tax · Strategies Corporate · IRA·Distributions Estates · 401(k) Rollovers · Trusts · Estate Planning · Non-Profits · Securities and Investments · Clergy

Tax Services

· Individual · Small Business · Corporate · Estates · Life Insurance · Trusts · Long-Term Care Katie Spearman Angela Sloan · Non-Profits Angela Sloan President Founder · Medicare Supplements Founder · Clergy Angela Sloan

Angela Sloan

Call for a no cost, no obligation appointment 14741474 Highway 55 East | Suite 500 | | Clover, SC 29710 Highway 55 East | Suite 500cost, Clover, SCobligation 29710 Call for a no no appointment

www.sloanfinancial.net (803) 222-2892 803.222.2892 | www.sloanfinancial.net

(803) 222-2892

Securities Securities and and advisory advisory services services offered offered through through Madison Madison Avenue Avenue Securities, Securities, LLC LLC (MAS), (MAS), aa registered registered Investment Investment Advisor, Advisor, member member FINRA FINRA and and SIPC. SIPC. MAS MAS and and Sloan are companies. Sloan Financial Financial are not not affiliated affiliated companies. C (MAS), a registered Investment Advisor , member FINRA and SIPC. MAS and C (MAS), a registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA and SIPC. MAS and

Mailbag

EVERYDAY SMOOTHNESS. EFFORTLESSLY YOURS.

A full-service Med Spa

Experience advanced laser protocols that deliver smooth, precise results from head to toe. Enjoy elevated care designed for ultimate comfort & lasting ease. RESERVE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY ONE ON ONE ASSESSMENT TODAY!

1616 Village Harbor Drive, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 | 803.619.4061 www.rejuvenatelakewylie.com | contact@rejuvenatelakewylie.com 16

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Mailbag

Scan to see our showroom

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Mailbag

Here when it matters most compassionate hospice care

800-932-2738

AgapeCareGroup.com/SC

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Mailbag

Lake Wylie High School Cross Country Team Update By Wesley Rowland / Images provided

y name is Wesley Rowland, and I am one of this years’s Lake Wylie High School Cross Country team captains. I wanted to give Lake Wylie Today some information about our new and upcoming program. Before the school split, our Clover High School cross country team rose the state rankings quickly. With just four years under the coaching of Chris Young and Ben Clark, our team quickly became the most decorated Clover cross country team in history. In the 2025 season our girls brought home a state title, winning 1st place overall in 5A. Our boys secured a 7th place finish, jumping many ranking since the season before. Coach Chris Young is a phenomenal coach. With his extensive background in kinesiology and exercise science, he is able to produce engaging and successful workouts catered to the specific and complex aspects

www.LakeWylieToday.com

of cross country training. Along with his many high school and collegiate achievements, he has coached and built up multiple state and nationally recognized athletes, including 4 time SC state champion Ella Nighbor who has gone to compete on the national stage along with many teammates, and set to continue her career collegiately. Under the same direction of head coach Chris Young, our Lake Wylie team this year is set up for a very competitive season, competing in multi-state and national level invitationals. In addition to our head coach, we have an elite coaching staff lineup; Including World renowned marathon runner Robert McBee, recovery and mobility expert Leshea Perkins, team nutritionist Allison Bansen, Speed and agility specialist and All American runner Coach Chavis, along with more assistant coaches and specialists who are dedicated to our success and support. In addition to athletic success, Lake Wylie XC (cross country) is built around faith and family. From morning weight lifting

FALL 2026

and afternoon practices during the week, to our team get togethers, summer pool sessions and overnight meets, our relationships are strengthened both on and off the course. We support each other, uplift each other, and pray for each other. We are set to train at Allison Creek, where we will utilize Allison Creek Park, as well as Allison Creek Presbyterian Church trail systems. We will be hosting the Victory Bolt invitational race on Saturday, September 26th at Lake Wylie High School. All of these things are what make Lake Wylie Cross Country who we are. We would love to have the support of the Lake Wylie community, and want to give you all a better understanding of what it takes to build a successful cross country team from the ground up. We can’t wait for our season ahead, and the many challenges we will face together as one XC family.

Mailbag

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

The River Outside

Shoreline

Our Windows

New Catawba Riverkeeper Executive Director Dr. Mo Drinkard wants Lake Wylie residents to recognize the water that connects us all

A Catawba Riverkeeper team member pauses beside a kayak while working among the river’s rocky shoals and spider lilies. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Shoreline

Catawba Riverkeeper Executive Director Dr. Mo Drinkard displays debris collected during fieldwork on the river. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

Catawba Riverkeeper’s Floating Classroom gives students hands-on opportunities to study aquatic life and learn about the health of the river system. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

By Wendy Dimitri / Images provided

he Catawba River does not end where Lake Wylie begins. Its familiar coves and broad stretches of open water are part of a river system that begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains and continues through the Carolinas. That connection is important to Dr. Mo Drinkard, the new executive director of Catawba Riverkeeper. When the organization talks about protecting the Catawba, it is not referring only to a distant stretch of moving water. It is talking about Lake Wylie, its tributaries, its wildlife, its drinking water and the shoreline residents see every day.

work to protect, preserve and restore the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

Dr. Drinkard would like residents to begin with one simple action: Notice it. Notice the great blue heron standing at the edge of a cove. Watch for the bald eagle circling above the water. Pay attention to erosion along a shoreline or trash collecting near a bridge. Read the news story about a development proposal, water withdrawal or possible source of pollution. “That is the difference, I think, between people taking action to protect the river and not,” Dr. Drinkard said. “When they see it, they recognize it. They appreciate the beauty it offers, and they understand that it is a nonnegotiable, critical resource for our area.” FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline

Catawba Riverkeeper staff and volunteers remove a large piece of debris from a waterway during a cleanup effort. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper. Captain Ronnie, left, and educator Oggy help lead Catawba Riverkeeper’s on-the-water educational programming. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

Dr. Mo Drinkard, right, joins families aboard Catawba Riverkeeper’s Floating Classroom for an educational experience on the water. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

A Catawba Riverkeeper team member pauses beside a kayak while working among the river’s rocky shoals and spider lilies. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

A volunteer navigates fallen trees and other obstacles while collecting trash from a tributary during a waterway cleanup. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper. 24

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Dr. Drinkard became executive director of Catawba Riverkeeper on Dec. 1, 2025. She brings more than 20 years of experience in ecology, environmental science, education and nonprofit leadership to the organization. Dr. Drinkard holds a doctorate in ecology, with doctoral research focused on river systems. She spent much of her career as a professor, teaching ecology, environmental science, entomology and other subjects connected to rivers and streams. Her academic appointments included Brevard College, SUNY Cobleskill, Kent State University and Miami University. She later moved into academic leadership, but life brought her back to Cleveland, Ohio, where she grew up. There, her career shifted from higher education to scientific nonprofit work. The move also reconnected her with the river that helped shape her understanding of environmental science. Dr. Drinkard grew up near the Cuyahoga River, once infamous for industrial pollution and fires that became symbols of the nation’s environmental problems. When Dr. Drinkard and her family were able to return to the Carolinas, she began getting to know environmental organizations throughout the region. She connected with leaders at Catawba Riverkeeper, and when the executive director position became available, the opportunity felt like a natural fit. “To be able to take leadership of an organization as impactful as Catawba Riverkeeper has really been a tremendous honor,” Dr. Drinkard said. “The organization has a fantastic and strong name in environmental science in the area.” The scale of its responsibility is considerable. The Catawba Wateree River Basin covers 5,610 square miles and includes more than 8,900 miles of waterways across 26 counties in North and South Carolina. It provides drinking water for more than 2 million residents and generates electricity for more than 3 million people. Lake Wylie is one of several reservoirs created along the river system. It is part of the Central Catawba Basin, along with Lake Norman and Mountain Island Lake. This is the most heavily developed portion of the watershed, placing Lake Wylie at the center of many of the pressures Riverkeeper monitors.

Shoreline

Serving the Clover School District area, CAAC provides essential support for those in need. Our services include a Full-Choice Food Pantry, financial assistance, financial literacy classes, and connections to local social service agencies. Together, we’re building a stronger, more supportive community.

To make a donation, volunteer or find out how to get help, call or visit: www.cloverareaassistance.org 803.222.4837 1130 Hwy 55 E, Clover, SC 29710 Hours Monday & Wednesday- 9-4 Thursday- 9-3 Services are by appointment only

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Shoreline

Catawba Riverkeeper team members conduct fieldwork among the rocky shoals and aquatic vegetation of the river. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

A Catawba Riverkeeper team member wades through a tributary while investigating conditions within the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

Population growth brings more homes, roads, businesses and construction, as well as more recreational use of the lake. Stormwater carries sediment and pollutants from developed land into creeks, coves and the main channel of the Catawba. Boat wakes and other disturbances can contribute to shoreline erosion, while new industries and large developments raise additional questions about water use and wastewater discharge. Catawba Riverkeeper serves as the only nonprofit, on the water advocate for the entire watershed. Its scientists and advocates monitor water quality, investigate reported concerns, collect water and sediment samples, restore waterways and provide science based information to residents and public officials. “We have a voice and a seat at a lot of 26

www.LakeWylieToday.com

tables across the watershed that make important decisions for the future of this area,” Dr. Drinkard said. “Water is a critical part of that infrastructure.” Dr. Drinkard’s strategy is to focus resources on core programs that align closely with the organization’s mission, are grounded in science and can remain financially sustainable. “We have selected the core programs that are really sound,” Dr. Drinkard said. “We are leaning heavily into creating longer term financial stability for those programs and really deepening our partnerships around that work.” The organization must also remain flexible enough to respond to emerging threats, including stormwater runoff, shoreline erosion, inter-basin water transfers, permitted pollution and the demands of data centers

FALL 2026

and other large developments. Reliable, long term monitoring will be essential to understanding how those changes affect Lake Wylie and the larger river system. “We do not have enough data to make all of the right decisions,” Dr. Drinkard said. “We are working really hard to make sure that we have the right data to track impact and to report back with meaningful information about how the development of our region is affecting our greatest water resource.” Community involvement remains another priority. River Sweep, the organization’s annual cleanup, requires more than 1,000 volunteers working at approximately 50 to 60 locations across the basin. Riverkeeper relies on volunteer site captains and business sponsors to make the event possible.

Shoreline Where to Rent A Boat April - Labor Day

Pier 88 River Hills Marina Gas Dock 803-831-0088 www.pier88yachtclub.com CareFree Boat Club 704-557-0848 www.carefreeboats.com

Freedom Boat Club (704)-943-4485 www.freedomboatclub.com

Lake Wylie Boat Rental 704-516-2674 www.lakewylieboatrental.com

Rocky shoals and aquatic vegetation create a distinctive natural habitat within the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Photo courtesy of Catawba River Keeper.

Its Swim Guide program also has a direct Lake Wylie connection. Riverkeeper staff members and volunteers collect samples from popular recreational areas during the summer and test them for E. coli. Results help residents make informed decisions about swimming and spending time in the water. For Dr. Drinkard, education is about more than sharing test results or explaining environmental threats. It means helping people develop a personal relationship with the river. “You only protect the things you care about,” Dr. Drinkard said. “If all we accomplish at the end of the day is creating a spot in a child’s heart and mind where they feel connected to that resource and feel a

A fishing license is required for anyone age 16 or older when fishing in any public water, including coastal waters, in both Carolinas. Purchase NC licenses by calling 888-248-6834 or at www.ncwildlife.org. SC licenses are available at www.dnr.sc.gov or by calling 803-734-3833. A 7 day license can be purchased for out of state visitors. Must have a valid state ID.

responsibility for caring for it, those relationships make a world of difference long term.” For Lake Wylie residents, the river is not an abstract environmental cause. It is the water at the neighborhood boat ramp, the cove where children swim, the shoreline where turtles sun themselves and the open water where herons, ospreys and bald eagles hunt. “The river is ecologically critical, but it is also critical to our economy and to so many social aspects of our lives,” Dr. Drinkard said. “Just pay attention to it.” For information about Catawba Riverkeeper, water quality monitoring, volunteer opportunities and membership, visit catawbariverkeeper.org.

FISHING LICENSES River Stop Food Mart 3900 Mt. Gallant Road Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-329-0002

Wal-Mart - Lake Wylie 175 SC-274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 803-831-2115 Wal-Mart - Newport 4875 Old York Rd

Tega Cay Marina 803-548-3715 www.tegacaymarina.com

HOW TO CHECK LAKE LEVELS www.duke-energy.com

NEED A TOW? Sea Tow www.seatow.com 704-895-8699

Tow Boat U.S.-Lake Wylie www.towboatLKW.com 803-681-0911

Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-323-2080

Wal-Mart-Tega Cay 1151 Stonecrest Blvd Tega Cay, SC 29708 803-578-4140 Grab N Go 13920 S Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28278 704-587-0045

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought

indy Hill Orchard W& Cider Mill: Growing a York County Tradition

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Food for Thought

By Dr. Steven Hicks / Images by Steven Hicks

or generations of families in York County, the arrival of fall has meant cooler mornings, changing leaves, apple cider and a drive down a country road to Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill. Located at 1860 Black Highway (Highway 5) in York, South Caroli-

na, Windy Hill is just a short drive from Lake Wylie and has become one of the area’s most recognizable seasonal traditions. Today, visitors know Windy Hill for pick-your-own apples, its farm stand, Thanksgiving pies, Apple Butter Day, hard cider, live music, oyster roasts and special events. But long before it became a destination for weekend crowds and craft cider en-

thusiasts, Windy Hill was first and foremost a family orchard. The story begins with Catherine and Fritz Gusmer, the parents who started the orchard and created the foundation for what Windy Hill would eventually become. They built the business around apples, family and a connection to the community, turning the farm into a place people returned to year after year.

NOW OFFERING

Worksite Vaccine Clinics! Lake Wylie Pharmacy offers vaccination clinics! We’ll come to your organization, administer the vaccines, and bill insurance.

Scan to request your

vaccination clinic 221 Latitude Ln, Suite 109 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)-831-2044 LakeWylieRx.com

Jennifer Kohut Pharmacist

Larry Meek Pharmacist

LAKE WYLIE PHARMACY (803)-831-2044 FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought Their children grew up there, surrounded by rows of apple trees, farm work and the changing rhythms of the seasons. Like many children raised in a family business, they eventually left the farm for college and opportunities beyond York County. They went out into the world, built lives of their own and gained experiences outside the orchard. But Windy Hill remained home. In time, the next generation returned and began taking over the business, bringing new ideas while preserving the traditions Katherine and Fritz had established. Their son, Matthew, takes pride in continuing the family business that has been going strong since 1987. The transition became an important part of Windy Hill’s evolution. Instead of remaining frozen in time as a traditional orchard, the business adapted, expanded and found new ways to attract visitors while staying connected to its roots. For many longtime York County residents, some of the strongest memories of Windy Hill date back to the years when school buses arrived by the dozens during the fall. Weekdays in apple season were often filled with children coming to the orchard for school field trips. Thousands of students visited Windy Hill over the years, many paying around $5 each for an experience that combined agriculture, history, storytelling and a little bit of fun. And Fritz was often at the center of it all. Dressed as Johnny Appleseed, he would lead groups of children through the orchard, sharing stories about apples, farming and the legendary American figure associated with planting apple trees across the country. For the students, it was more than a tour. It was a chance to walk through a working orchard, see where apples came from and connect something they ate every day with the land and people who produced it. At the end of the visit, the children received a goodie bag filled with apple-themed items and treats, giving them something to take home from the experience. Those weekday school tours became a major part of Windy Hill’s fall season. Busloads of students filled the orchard during the week, while weekends brought families, locals and tourists looking for a traditional autumn outing. People came to pick apples, visit the farm stand, enjoy the scenery and take home the tastes of fall. That pick-your-own tradition remains one of the orchard’s best-known attractions. There is something timeless about walking through 30

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

rows of apple trees and choosing fruit directly from the branches. For families, it turns a simple trip for apples into an experience. For children, it can become one of those small seasonal memories that lasts well beyond the day itself. The farm stand has also remained a central part of Windy Hill. It gives visitors a place to bring a little of the orchard home with them, whether through apples, cider, baked goods or other seasonal favorites.

Food for Thought As the calendar turns toward November, another tradition takes center stage: Thanksgiving pies. For local families, picking up a pie from Windy Hill can be as much a part of the holiday season as setting the table or gathering with relatives. The connection between orchard-grown apples and a Thanksgiving dessert gives the experience a local authenticity that is difficult to replicate. Apple Butter Day is another event that reflects Windy Hill’s connection to old-fashioned agricultural traditions. Apple butter has long been associated with fall harvests, family gatherings and preserving the season’s fruit. At Windy Hill, Apple Butter Day celebrates that history while bringing people together around a tradition that reaches back well beyond modern farm markets and cider bars. But perhaps the biggest shift in the business came with the launch of hard cider. Hard cider gave Windy Hill an entirely new identity and opened the orchard to a broader audience. Apples that had once been associated primarily with school field trips, pies and fresh cider were now part of a growing craft beverage culture. That move added energy to the business and helped create a new reason for adults to make the drive to York. Hard cider led naturally to a wider range of events and gatherings. Live music, oyster roasts and social events became part of the Windy Hill experience, helping transform the orchard from a place people visited mainly for apples into a destination where people could spend an afternoon or evening with friends. In many ways, that evolution mirrors the community itself.

Some of the children who once arrived at Windy Hill on school buses are now adults. Some return with children or grandchildren of their own. Others come back for live music, a glass of hard cider or an oyster roast, revisiting a place they remember from childhood but experiencing it in an entirely new way. That connection between past and present is one of Windy Hill’s greatest strengths. The orchard has changed, but it has not lost the sense of family and community that Katherine and Fritz created. The Johnny Appleseed tours, the school buses and the $5 field trips belong to an earlier chapter, but they are still part of the story. Today’s hard cider, music and special events are simply the next chapter. Each generation has added something. Katherine and Fritz planted the roots of the business. Their children grew up there, ventured away and eventually returned to help guide Windy Hill

into a new era. New visitors continue to discover the orchard, while longtime customers return because Windy Hill feels connected to their own history in York County. The season begins with Windy Hill’s opening event on August 13, signaling the return of apples, cider and fall traditions. From there, the orchard moves into the busiest months of the year, welcoming visitors from York, Lake Wylie and communities throughout the region. For Lake Wylie residents, Windy Hill offers something especially appealing: a genuine country destination close to home. It does not require a long mountain drive or a weekend getaway. It is nearby, familiar and deeply connected to the character of York County. Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill is located at 1860 Black Highway, York, SC. For more information about orchard hours, events, pick-your-own availability, Thanksgiving pies, Apple Butter Day and other seasonal activities, call 803-684-0690. From Johnny Appleseed leading schoolchildren through the trees to hard cider, oyster roasts and live music, Windy Hill continues to grow without forgetting where it came from. What Katherine and Fritz began as a family orchard has become a tradition shared across generations — still rooted in apples, still rooted in family, and still rooted in York County.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Food for Thought

The Mustard Seed Takes Root

Sam Moses cuts the ribbon during the grand opening celebration for The Mustard Seed in Clover. Photo courtesy of The Mustard Seed.

One family's dream grows into a gathering place for local farms and the community they nourish. By: Wendy Dimitri

ast spring, when I visited Sam Moses at Moses Farmstead, she was already thinking beyond the farm gate. Customers loved buying directly from her family farm, but she knew the challenge. Supporting local often meant driving from one farm to another, stopping at a bakery for bread, another farm for eggs, another for beef, and perhaps one more for produce. People wanted to buy local, she explained, but it was difficult when everything was spread out. She had an idea. What if there were one place where families could find it all? Just a few months later, that idea has become The Mustard Seed, a farm market-style grocery in downtown Clover that feels less like a retail store and more like an extension of the farms and families that fill it. Walk through the front door and it quickly becomes clear this is not intended to compete with a supermarket. 32

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Fresh herbs spill from wooden crates near the front window, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of rosemary, thyme and basil. Rustic shelves hold loaves of fresh bread and baked goods delivered that morning. Refrigerators are stocked with local meats, dairy products and cheeses, while tables overflow with tomatoes in every color imaginable, baskets of cucumbers, peppers, squash and whatever happens to be at its seasonal peak. Even the checkout counter tells a story. Tiny bouquets of zinnias, each tucked into vintage glass bottles, greet customers alongside jars of local honey and a handwritten note from a young flower grower raising money for his church. Nothing feels manufactured. Nothing feels corporate. Instead, everything feels personal. That is by design. Readers may remember Sam from our spring issue, when she shared how Moses Farmstead grew from a backyard garden into a thriving family farm. What began as growing better food for her own family gradually expanded into

FALL 2026

raising poultry, producing thousands of vegetable seedlings and serving customers throughout the region. The Mustard Seed is not a departure from that story. It is simply the next chapter. Today, more than 30 local farms and small businesses contribute to the store. Fresh bread arrives from local bakers. Dairy products, cheeses, meats, flowers, elderberry products, handmade soaps, juices and seasonal produce arrive throughout the week, each representing another family business working behind the scenes. Spend a few minutes with Sam and one thing becomes immediately apparent. Sam rarely talks about "her" store. Instead, she talks about everyone else's work. She celebrates bakers who were up before sunrise. She marvels at farmers who spend countless hours planning crops, harvesting vegetables and carefully packaging produce before it ever reaches the shelves. "Real people. Real farmers. Real food," she says.

Food for Thought

What You'll Find at The Mustard Seed

Colorful bouquets of locally grown zinnias share the counter with baked goods and other products from area producers. Photo courtesy of The Mustard Seed.

The Mustard Seed brings farm fresh foods and locally made products together under one roof at its Clover storefront. Photo courtesy of The Mustard Seed.

Colorful bouquets of locally grown zinnias share the counter with baked goods and other products from area producers. Photo courtesy of The Mustard Seed.

Baskets of watermelons, cucumbers, peppers and other fresh vegetables fill the market’s produce tables during the height of the growing season. Photo courtesy of The Mustard Seed.

That simple phrase says more about the store than any marketing campaign ever could. "We have over 30 small local businesses represented in there now. That's a lot of families that y'all are helping with every trip through our doors.” Sam gushes. Thirty families. Not thirty vendors. That distinction speaks volumes. It also explains why The Mustard Seed feels different. This is not simply a place to purchase groceries. It is a place where shoppers can support neighbors they may never meet but whose work fills every shelf. On Mondays, when the store is closed, she returns to what she affectionately calls her "office." It is not behind a desk. It is back at Moses Farmstead. She spends the day pruning, weeding and harvesting while finding rest among the rows of vegetables. Only after sharing those reflections did she mention the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers that would soon arrive at the store. That may be the clearest picture of who she is. Even with a successful storefront, she still considers the farm her office.

The store simply creates another way for the farm—and dozens of others like it—to reach the community. Perhaps that is why every visit feels a little different. One week customers discover marmalade tomatoes that Sam enthusiastically describes as sweet with just the right amount of "zing." Another week brings fresh Ashe County cheeses, fragrant herbs, giant watermelons or fresh milled breads. Shopping here follows the rhythm of the seasons rather than the predictability of national supply chains. There is a sense of anticipation. What arrived today? What is finally in season? What will be gone next week? The answers change with every harvest. The store itself tells that story beautifully. The building retains much of its industrial character, with painted block walls, exposed beams and polished concrete floors serving as a backdrop for baskets of colorful produce and handcrafted displays. Nothing feels overly polished. Instead, it feels honest—much like the people whose names appear on the products throughout the store.

• Fresh seasonal produce • Local meats, dairy and eggs • Artisan breads and baked goods • Honey, jams and pantry staples • Fresh herbs and flowers • Handmade soaps and wellness products • Products from more than 30 local farms and makers

There is one more chapter to this story that customers may not realize. When The Mustard Seed celebrated its ribbon cutting this summer, Sam later realized the event fell exactly two years after her family publicly began the fight to preserve their ability to continue farming. Friends and neighbors attended meetings, wrote letters and stood beside the family as they worked through the rezoning process that would allow Moses Farmstead to continue operating. Looking back, Sam saw more than a coincidence. It is impossible to ignore the symbolism. A tiny seed. A small family farm. One table of seedlings. An idea to make local food easier to find. Today, that seed has grown into a gathering place that supports dozens of farms and countless customers who believe good food begins close to home. When I first visited Sam this spring, The Mustard Seed existed only as a vision. Today, it is filled with fresh bread, colorful produce, flowers, herbs and conversations between neighbors. More importantly, it is filled with heart. And every purchase helps another local family continue doing what they love. Perhaps that is what makes The Mustard Seed so much more than a grocery store. It is proof that communities, much like gardens, grow one seed at a time. The Mustard Seed 414 South Main Street Clover 803-630-9995 Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday 10a-4p Sunday & Monday closed

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Dining Guide

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

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

McDonalds 5262 Highway 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803)831-0577

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big Papa’s Pizzeria 5800 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4111

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lake Wylie Pins N’ Wins 4034 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2553

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

Chipotle Mexican Grill Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (839) 737-2034

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

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

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

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

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

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

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

Zo.ra Food and Wine 1201 Village Harbor Dr. Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 619-4047

Subway 5245 Hwy 557 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0143 Sweetwater Grille 4582 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-1788 Taco Bell at Lake Wylie 311 Vesla Lane Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7068 Taverna Italian-American Bistro 4547 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7788 Thai Fusion 125 Evergreen Road Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 746-5047 Waﬄe House 5013 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-0315 Wendy’s 5188 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, SC 29710-8099 (803) 831-2687 Wylie’s Eats and Drinks 4052 Charlotte Highway Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 701-7295 Zaxby’s 143 SC-274 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 (803) 831-2634

Now providing specialized dental services for infants, adolescents and those with special healthcare needs.

Dr. Ryan Colosi

(803) 619-5155 | www.LakeWyliePediatricDentistry.com FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party

Why I Think Woodend Park May Become One of Lake Wylie's Favorite Places By Wendy Dimitri / Images provided

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Garden Party

hen I first heard York County was opening another park, I assumed it would be another ballfield, another playground, or another recreation complex. There is certainly a need for those, but they are not exactly the kind of places that invite you to slow down. Then I looked at Woodend Park. Instead of soccer fields and concession stands, I saw something entirely different. Trails winding through hardwood forests. Open meadows. Gentle hills. Places where the destination is not a building or a playground, but simply whatever waits around the next bend. Maybe that is exactly what our growing community needs.

Make sure to come out to our Fall Naked Goat Markets on October 17th and November 21st , and the Naked Goat Christmas Market on December 19th! Live Music, Food, and plenty of Local Vendors! We can’t wait to see you there!

A summer sunset settles over the fields at Woodend County Park, a new public green space between Lake Wylie and Clover. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

October 17th

November 21st

December 19th

�:00 to 7:�0 pm

2:00 to 5:30 pm

10:00am to 2:00pm

3972 Hands Mill Hwy, York, SC 29745 BethelLakeWylieParkDistrict@yorkcountygov.com | 803-818-2960 FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party Woodend Park officially opened this summer off Glenn Brandon Road in the Bethel-Lake Wylie area. At 84 acres, it is not York County's largest park, but it may become one of its most peaceful. Approximately 2.5 miles of interconnected hiking trails weave through wooded forests and open meadows, creating a place designed less for organized recreation and more for simply being outside. As Lake Wylie continues to grow, I find myself appreciating places like this even more. It seems every month another neighborhood breaks ground, another shopping center opens, or another stretch of road gets a little busier. Growth brings wonderful opportunities, but it also reminds us how important it is to preserve the landscapes that first made so many of us fall in love with this corner of York County. Woodend Park feels like part of that promise. Looking over the trail maps, I was struck by how intentionally simple the park is. There are no elaborate attractions pulling your attention in one direction. Instead, the paths branch naturally through the property, allowing visitors to choose their own route. Some sections appear to meander beneath a canopy of mature hardwoods where sunlight filters through the leaves. Other portions emerge into open meadows that should be beautiful throughout the seasons, whether filled with spring wildflowers, summer grasses, or the rich colors of autumn. Those transitions are often what make hiking enjoyable. One moment you are surrounded by towering trees. The next, the landscape opens and reminds you just how much sky there is above us. As someone who spends plenty of time exploring parks around our region, I have learned that not every trail has to lead to a waterfall or mountain overlook. Sometimes the reward is much simpler. A quiet morning. Birdsong replacing traffic noise. Watching a child stop to examine an interesting leaf or follow a butterfly across a field. Finding a place where your phone stays in your pocket because there is 38

www.LakeWylieToday.com

finally something more interesting to look at. One detail about Woodend Park especially caught my attention. York County has designated it as a Leave No Trace park, asking visitors to carry out everything they bring in. At first glance that may seem like a small thing, but I actually appreciate the philosophy behind it. It sends the message that this is not simply another facility to use. It is a natural space we have all been entrusted to help preserve.

FALL 2026

Woodend Park was protected through the Bethel-Lake Wylie Preservation Park District, ensuring these woods and meadows remain open space rather than becoming another subdivision. There is something reassuring about knowing that years from now families will still be able to walk beneath these same trees. One of the things I love most about living in the Lake Wylie area is that we have an incredible variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Garden Party

GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ZIPSTREAM 1 GIG INTERNET. Duck Pond provides a peaceful destination along Woodend County Park’s trail system, surrounded by grasses, trees and open countryside. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

We can paddle from Allison Creek Park, spend an afternoon at Ebenezer Park, hike at Kings Mountain, or explore Anne Springs Close Greenway. Now Woodend Park adds another option, but one with a distinctly different personality. It is not trying to be the biggest. It is not trying to be the busiest. It simply offers a place to breathe. I suspect photographers will find themselves returning during fall color. Bird watchers will discover favorite

corners of the meadows. Families introducing young children to hiking will appreciate trails that feel approachable without requiring a full day's adventure. And perhaps many of us will simply stop by after work for a quiet walk before heading home. Sometimes the best parks are not the ones with the biggest attractions. They are the ones that quietly become part of your weekly routine. I have a feeling Woodend Park may become exactly that for many of us.

Zipstream 1 Gig is made for all the homework, research, online meetings, and study breaks that are coming your way. With Zipstream, everything moves at your student’s pace, not your internet’s. Improving your home WiFi is one of the best things you can do to start the school year. Enjoy great technology throughout the school year and beyond with Comporium Internet.

COMPORIUM.COM 888-403-2667

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party

EVENTS SEP 11 OCT 16

Concert & Food Truck Friday

Concert in the Park ft. 50 Year Rebellion

Movie Night in the Park

Outdoor Fall Movie Night at Field Day Park

OCT 31

Halloween Trick or Treat Event

NOV 17/18

Pickleball Tournament

DEC 05

Christmas Event at Field Day

7th Annual Trick or Treat in the Park

2-Night Charity Pickleball Tournament Community Parade & Movie with Santa

1101 Field Day Ln., Clover, SC 29710 More Information & Updates www.yorkcountygov.com/fdplw @fielddaypark

We warmly invite you to join our church community. Our friendly and caring congregation is dedicated to the teachings of Christ and to serving others with kindness and compassion.

Currently meeting for services on Sundays at 4 pm at Redeeming Grace PCA Church at 4800 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie SC 29710.

Visit our website and our Facebook page to learn more about us! www.stjamesLW.com | 661.303.8101 | frjohnplus@yahoo.com 40

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Garden Party

Color coded markers and trail maps help visitors navigate Woodend County Park’s network of interconnected paths as woodland opens into meadow. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

704-588-4400 Using Individualized Treatment We Offer Rehabilitation Plans For: Medical Conditions, Surgical Recovery, Weight Control And Canine Athlete Enhancement Color coded trail markers guide hikers through the wooded portions of Woodend County Park, where natural surface paths wind beneath a canopy of mature trees. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

Companion Animal Rehabilitation Center

Steele CreekANIMAL HOSPITAL

9729 South Tryon St. l Charlotte l KeepingPetsHealthy.com FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Garden Party

Woodend County Park’s trail system includes 10 interconnected routes through woods, meadows and around Duck Pond, allowing visitors to create walks of varying lengths. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

Woodend Park at a Glance Location: Glenn Brandon Road in the Bethel-Lake Wylie area Size: 84 acres Trails: Approximately 2.5 miles through wooded forests and open meadows Parking: 40 spaces Hours: Seasonal hours beginning at 7 a.m., with closing times ranging from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. depending on the season. Good to Know: Woodend Park is a Leave No Trace park. Visitors are asked to pack out everything they bring with them.

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Open meadow gives way to a small pond and mature trees at Woodend County Park, where the landscape retains much of the property’s rural character. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

Lake Wylie

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? CallCharlie Kathy at Call at803.831.2827 803.831.2827 www.lakewyliesc.com

Garden Party

Expansive meadows are part of the changing scenery at Woodend County Park, offering a contrast to the park’s shaded woodland trails and creekside areas. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator. 44

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Garden Party

A sign directs visitors toward the trailhead at Woodend County Park, which is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator.

A blue trail marker identifies the Box Turtle Loop Trail, a 0.3 mile route through one of Woodend County Park’s wooded sections. Photo courtesy of John Gossett, Digital Creator. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Faces

A Lifetime in the Driver’s Seat Fred Caldwell brings decades of business, service and community leadership to his new role as president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association By Wendy Dimitri / Images provided

or more than two decades, the name Fred Caldwell has been a familiar one in Clover and Lake Wylie. It is seen on the Chevrolet dealership along Bethel Street, announced each year when the Clover School District names its Teacher of the Year and associated with chambers, civic organizations and community projects throughout the area. Now that familiar local name will represent automobile dealers across South Carolina. H. Fred Caldwell Jr., owner of Fred Caldwell Chevrolet in Clover, has been elected president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association for the 2026–2027 term. Caldwell was inducted May 30 with the unanimous support of the association’s franchised dealer body. The position is the culmination of 15 years of service on the SCADA Board of Directors. Caldwell joined the board in 2011 and later moved through a series of leadership roles on its executive committee, serving as vice president, treasurer and first vice president before being elected president.

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Founded in 1937, SCADA represents franchised new car and truck dealers throughout South Carolina. The association advocates for dealers and automobile consumers on public policy, regulatory and economic development issues. It also provides educational programs, publications, insurance options, networking opportunities and business services to help its members navigate a rapidly changing industry. As president, Caldwell will lead an organization working at the intersection of business, transportation, public policy and consumer interests. It is a significant statewide responsibility, but one that follows a career built gradually through hard work, entrepreneurship and community involvement. Caldwell was born in Gastonia and raised in a small mill village, where he began working at age 12. He delivered newspapers and later worked at an A&P grocery store and a neighborhood garage. Those early jobs taught him lessons about reliability, effort and treating people well that would follow him throughout his career. After high school, Caldwell enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed specialized training in helicopter maintenance and jet turbine repair

FALL 2026

before deploying to Vietnam in 1968 as a maintenance crew chief. Caldwell was named Battalion Soldier of the Month and promoted to specialist fifth class after only 14 months of Army service. He returned home in 1969, received an honorable discharge in 1970 and enrolled at Gaston College. His first experience as a business owner did not involve automobiles. While attending college, Caldwell helped establish Home Furnishings Ltd., a retail furniture store that remained in business until 1975. The store was eventually sold as part of a downtown redevelopment initiative, opening the door to an entirely different career. Caldwell joined Earl Tindol Ford in Gastonia and spent the next decade learning the automobile business through a variety of positions. In 1985, he became a minority partner in a Ford dealership in Lenoir, North Carolina. Four years later, the Lenoir dealership was sold, and Caldwell and Earl Tindol acquired a Chevrolet dealership in Granite Falls, North Carolina. Caldwell became its sole owner in 1993. He added a Chevrolet dealership in Kings Mountain in 1997 before acquiring Clover

Faces

Fred Caldwell shares his lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles with his grandson beside a vintage race car.

Classic automobiles fill the lot during the annual Fred Caldwell Car Show, an event that also supports the Clover Rotary Club. Photo courtesy of the Fred Caldwell Chevrolet.

Chevrolet in March 2003. That dealership became Fred Caldwell Chevrolet and grew along with the Clover and Lake Wylie communities. The business expanded from 21 employees to 36 and from approximately 11,400 square feet to 24,000 square feet. Caldwell’s son in law, Martin McKinley, joined the dealership in 2005 and now serves as partner and general manager. Although the dealership has grown, it has continued to present itself as a locally rooted business where customer relationships extend beyond a single vehicle purchase. Its service area reaches from Clover and Lake Wylie to York, Rock Hill, Gastonia, Charlotte, Kings Mountain, Shelby and surrounding communities. Fred Caldwell Chevrolet has been named Business of the Year by both the Greater Clover and Lake Wylie chambers of commerce. Caldwell has also served in leadership roles with the two organizations. Perhaps the dealership’s most visible community partnership is with the Clover School District. Each year, Fred Caldwell Chevrolet provides the district’s Teacher of the Year with the use of a new vehicle for one year. The tradition has made the dealership part of one of the district’s most anticipated annual

celebrations. This year, Dr. Ingrid Coke of the Academies of Clover was named the 2026–2027 Clover School District Teacher of the Year and will receive a vehicle from the dealership. Caldwell’s community involvement extends well beyond the business. He has spent 40 years in Rotary, serves as an elder at First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Gastonia and has participated in seven mission trips to Honduras. Faith, family and community have remained consistent themes throughout a career that has taken Caldwell from a mill village and military service to business ownership and statewide leadership. Caldwell is married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki. They have two daughters, Kristi Hamm and April McKinley, and three grandchildren. The couple also shares a love of travel. In 2022, Fred and Vicki visited Antarctica, completing their goal of traveling to all seven continents. Automobiles, however, have remained part of nearly every chapter of Caldwell’s life. His collection of classic and sports cars includes the original 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint he purchased while in high school. It is the same car he drove when he and Vicki were dating. That car offers a fitting connection between where Caldwell began and where his career has taken him. What started with a teenager working in a local garage eventually grew into decades of dealership ownership, civic leadership and service to the automobile industry. His election as SCADA president places Caldwell at the head of a statewide organization, but the foundation of that leadership remains distinctly local. It was built through years of showing up, building relationships and investing in the community surrounding his Clover dealership.

Fred Caldwell addresses visitors during a classic car event at Fred Caldwell Chevrolet in Clover, where automobiles and community have long come together.

Fred Caldwell, owner of Fred Caldwell Chevrolet in Clover, has been elected president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association for the 2026–2027 term. Photo courtesy of SCADA.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

LEADING THE CHARGE Lake Wylie High School opens its doors and begins a new chapter in Clover School District history

An architectural rendering shows the thoughtfully designed entrance to Lake Wylie High School, which combines stone, glass and other complementary materials. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School. 48

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Feature By Wendy Dimitri / Images provided

ake Wylie residents have watched the new high school rise from an expansive piece of land along Cannonball Run. Steel frames became classrooms. Athletic fields took shape. Stone, brick, glass and other natural materials transformed the construction site into a campus designed to reflect the community around it. Now, with Crowders Mountain visible in the distance and the final boxes being unpacked inside, Lake Wylie High School is ready to welcome its first students. The opening marks a significant moment for the Clover School District and the greater Lake Wylie community. Lake Wylie High School becomes the district’s second high school, creating new opportunities for students while establishing traditions that may continue for generations. Leading that work is Calub Courtwright, the school’s first principal. “It is exciting. It is humbling, to be honest with you,” Courtwright said. “It has been a great career.” Courtwright was appointed to the position in April 2025, but this is not his first experience opening a school. After moving from Pittsburgh to Clover in 1999, he began his district career as a teacher at the newly opened Crowders Creek Elementary School. Years later, he helped open the new Clover Middle School as its principal. Lake Wylie High School gives him the rare opportunity to participate in the opening of a third school, this time as the administrator responsible for guiding it through its first year.

While construction continued throughout the summer, Courtwright and his team prepared from temporary spaces. Plans to enter the building in early July were delayed several times. Registration dates shifted, and staff members worked through backup plans while waiting for access. Courtwright said the delays presented challenges, but he never allowed them to become a cause for panic. “You better have a Plan B,” he said. “You do as much of the preparation work as you can when you are not in the building.” Office employees and custodians began moving into the school on a limited basis around July 20. Teachers followed shortly afterward. From that point forward, the halls filled with staff members assembling classrooms, organizing materials and preparing for opening day. The work required long days and a coordinated effort from people who had been planning for the school long before they could occupy it. Courtwright credited bookkeeper Brandy Bell with spending much of the past year ordering equipment, receiving materials and managing countless details. He also praised Athletic Director Steven Peeler for assembling the school’s coaching staff, along with assistant principals Andria Emerson, Elizabeth Gibson and Douglas Pearson. Custodians and operations employees, including Jimmy Bryant, also worked behind the scenes to prepare an enormous new facility for its first students.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature An aerial view highlights Lake Wylie High School’s expansive athletic facilities, including the football field, track, baseball field and tennis courts. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School.

Calub Courtwright serves as the first principal of Lake Wylie High School, leading the new school as it establishes its culture, traditions and place in the community. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School.

Students take to the court inside one of Lake Wylie High School’s new gymnasiums as Charger athletics get underway. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School. 50

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Lake Wylie High School’s dance program welcomes students with Charger colors, team information and plenty of school spirit. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School.

“I have a great team in place,” Courtwright said. “I have a great staff. I have a great culture.” That culture, he believes, will ultimately define Lake Wylie High School more than its impressive new surroundings. There is certainly plenty to admire in the building itself. State of the art technology has been incorporated throughout the school, with smart panels in classrooms and digital displays across the campus. The cafeteria and gymnasium are bright, polished spaces designed for the energy of a modern high school. Academic, arts and athletic facilities give students room to learn, perform, compete and grow. The exterior is equally thoughtful. River rock and layers of complementary building materials connect the campus visually to

FALL 2026

the Lake Wylie landscape. The mix gives the large school warmth and character, while the mountain views provide a distinctly Carolina backdrop. Even so, Courtwright repeatedly returns to the people inside. “The building is beautiful,” he said. “When you pull up to the campus, it is great. But the staff is what makes the difference.” Many members of the faculty worked with Courtwright at the district’s Ninth Grade Campus, giving the new school an experienced core of educators who already understand one another’s expectations and approach. Courtwright believes that established foundation, paired with the students arriving this fall, will create an environment where young people feel supported and challenged.

Feature Lake Wylie High School band students prepare to make school history during rehearsals inside the new music facilities. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School.

Lake Wylie High School employees show their Charger spirit as they prepare to welcome students to the new campus. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School.

“When you pair the staff at Lake Wylie High School with the students who will be here, it is going to be an outstanding culture and an outstanding place for students to succeed and grow,” he said. Students will find the full high school experience waiting for them. Lake Wylie High School will offer a broad athletic program comparable to those at other area high schools, along with marching band, ROTC, clubs and extracurricular activities. The marching band spent July in camp, rehearsing before the school had fully opened. Athletes also trained and conditioned throughout the summer. Much of the work of building Charger traditions began before students ever walked through the front doors for class. The district’s renowned Choraliers program will continue as a combined program serving students from Clover High School and Lake Wylie High School. Theater will also operate as a district program, preserving opportunities for students from both high schools to perform together. Lake Wylie High School has been admitted to the South Carolina High School League and is eligible for postseason competition during its first year. The Chargers will field teams across the range of high school sports, giving student athletes the opportunity to establish records, rivalries and traditions from the beginning. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature The Charger identity brings its own sense of movement and possibility. Light blue and yellow provide a bright, energetic color palette, while the mascot reflects the electricity and momentum the school hopes to bring to academics, arts and athletics. Every first will matter. There will be a first touchdown, a first concert, a first theatrical performance and a first graduation. Students will establish clubs, choose traditions and begin filling display cases that are now empty. Future classes will inherit the culture created by the students and staff members who enter The Lake Wylie High School gymnasium features a polished Charger court, expansive seating the building this fall. and the school’s light blue and yellow colors. The school expects to open with fewer Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School. than 1,200 students, although Courtwright anticipates rapid growth as the Lake Wylie area continues to develop. For families, the opening carries emotions beyond excitement about a new building. Some students are leaving familiar schools and established friendships. Others are arriving from private schools or moving into the district. All of them will be learning new routines while helping create a shared identity. Courtwright wants parents to know that his team is prepared to support them through that transition. “Please do not hesitate to reach out with any concerns, frustrations or questions,” he said. “We will take care of these students just like we have been in existence for 10 Lake Wylie High School’s light blue and yellow colors appear across Charger apparel and years.” athletic gear as the school begins building its identity. That assurance may best capture the Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School. balance Lake Wylie High School hopes to achieve. Everything about the campus is new, but the educators leading it are experienced. Traditions have not yet been written, but the values behind them are already in place. The river rock is set. The gym floor shines. Smart panels wait in classrooms, athletic fields await their first competitions, and the Charger colors are ready to fill the stands. What happens next belongs to the students, teachers, families and community members who will bring the campus to life. Lake Wylie High School is no longer a promise represented by construction fencing and architectural renderings. It is a Lake Wylie High School student athletes gather in the weight room as they prepare for the school, a community and a new piece of Chargers’ first season of competition. local history. Photo courtesy of Lake Wylie High School. The Chargers are ready to lead the way. 52

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Feature

The World, Collected Abroad

The first light of day stretches across the shoreline in Sanur on the Indonesian island of Bali. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

How I turned a life of travel into stories, friendships and a new way of seeing the world. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature By Pamela Hawthorne / Images provided

he desert is still as I arrive at Abu Simbel. Before the tour buses disturb the silence, before the Egyptian sun turns the sandstone brilliant gold, the great temples rise from the cliffs with quiet authority. The morning air is cool. Lake Nasser lies beyond, perfectly still, reflecting the first light across the monumental faces of Ramses II.

Most visitors reach for their cameras. I do not. Instead, I stand beneath the towering statues and simply look, taking in the scale, the craftsmanship and the astonishing reality that these temples have watched over the Nile for more than three millennia. I am not searching for the perfect photograph. I am trying to understand the civilization that imagined, built and preserved them. That instinct, to look beyond the landmark

Visitors gather beneath the monumental temples of Abu Simbel, built during the reign of Ramses II in southern Egypt. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

and toward the people, history and culture that shaped it, has carried me across six continents and transformed the way I see the world. For me, travel has never been about collecting passport stamps or curating images. Rather, it is a way of understanding people, craftsmanship, history and place. Each destination leads naturally to another, not out of urgency, but because every journey opens a door to something I want to explore more deeply.

An ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai gives visitors an opportunity to observe and help care for the animals. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

A sea turtle swims through the waters near the Outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, Australia. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Feature A suspension bridge provides a path through the dense Amazon jungle near Coca, Ecuador. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

A hot air balloon ride provides a sweeping view of Cappadocia’s distinctive landscape in the early morning light. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

A paraglider takes flight from Coronet Peak above the dramatic landscape surrounding Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

That perspective became ABroadTravelingAbroad.com, my travel journal with close to 200 posts. Instead of offering itineraries or rankings, I write essays that invite readers to slow down and experience a place through its people, using a narrative lens to help them see the world differently. My stories often begin where vacations end. One might open beneath the turquoise waters of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where sea turtles drift through ancient coral gardens. Another might begin with the quiet anticipation before stepping off a mountainside in New Zealand, trusting a paraglider to carry me over valleys and peaks. Elsewhere, my travels have led me into more demanding environments. Off Cape Town, I descended into waters inhabited by great white sharks, watching them glide with unexpected grace. Days later, on safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the pace shifted: elephants

crossing dusty roads, giraffes browsing among acacia trees and lions resting in the shade, indifferent to onlookers. Yet the experiences that linger most are often quieter. I have walked through Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, where remembrance meets renewal. I have stood on the beaches of Normandy, wandered Jerusalem’s ancient streets, floated in the Dead Sea and stepped into the Jordan River, places where centuries of faith and history continue to shape modern life. A winter Sunday morning walk through the streets of Belfast testified to a chilling, violent past and tenuous peace. In Cambodia, offering morning alms to Buddhist monks became a quiet participation in a ritual unchanged for generations. At an ethical elephant sanctuary outside Chiang Mai, I witnessed the patient work of rebuilding trust between rescued animals and their caretakers. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature The setting sun illuminates the Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic coast of County Clare, Ireland. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

A conversation with local women in Samarkand offers a personal connection to the people and culture of Uzbekistan. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

Pamela takes to the ice on Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne. Fatima welcomes Pamela for tea inside her desert tent near Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

New friends pose together in Nepal with Mount Everest and the Himalayas providing a spectacular backdrop. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

The same attentiveness shapes how I move through cities. I linger in museums with the patience of someone visiting old friends. My travels unfold in vivid fragments: dawn breaking over Sanur as Bali’s fishing boats slipped across the water; lanterns glowing along the river in Hoi An; the white crest of Everest ap56

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

pearing through an airplane window above the Himalayas. I sailed among the wildlife of the Galápagos, crossed the stark landscapes of Patagonia and followed the Amazon deep into a world of dense forest and shifting light. Each journey felt less like another place checked off a map than another astonishing glimpse of how vast and varied the world could be. Connections were made over a cup of mint tea in Morocco, inside a Croatian workshop, beside a loom in the Peruvian Andes where a “mamita” explained a pattern’s ancient Inca meaning, or during an unhurried afternoon in a silk atelier in Bukhara, watching centuries-old Uzbek techniques practiced with remarkable precision. But the places stayed with me most powerfully through the people I met there. Again and again, I encountered artists working far from the world’s attention, makers whose skills had been refined across generations, yet whose work was often seen only by trav-

Feature The Taj Mahal rises above its reflecting pool and gardens in Agra, India. Photo courtesy of Pamela Hawthorne.

elers passing briefly through. What began as admiration gradually became something more enduring: friendship, trust and a desire to help those traditions travel farther without losing the hands and histories behind them. I began asking a simple question: What if these makers could reach a wider audience without losing the authenticity that defines their work? That question became CollectedAbroad. com. Rather than functioning as a traditional online store, it reflects the same philosophy that shapes my travels. Every collection begins with a relationship. In Croatia, metal artist Ivan Midzic transforms aluminum, brass and copper into sculptural jewelry. In Bukhara, Uzbekistan, Umida Kabilova creates luminous silk ikat textiles rooted in Central Asian tradition. In Peru, I collaborate with Quechua weaving communities preserving techniques passed down through generations. Each piece carries the imprint of its maker and culture. New ideas continue to take shape. Among them is a collaboration with artisans in Rajasthan who practice the marble inlay traditions associated with the Taj Mahal, work that may lead to handcrafted luxury mahjong tiles unlike anything currently available. For me, these projects are less about products than about sustaining craftsmanship through connection. Back home in Lake Wylie, travel rarely feels finished. My essays for A Broad Traveling Abroad continue long after each journey ends, encouraging readers to slow down, pay attention and engage more deeply with the places they visit. Now in my 70s, I am already planning what comes next. China and Tibet await this fall. Bhutan and the Mediterranean coast are already on the horizon. New landscapes will inspire me, but I know the moments I will remember most will not be found in guidebooks. They will happen across a shared meal, inside an artisan’s workshop or during an unexpected conversation that turns a stranger into a friend. After six continents, I have learned that the world’s greatest treasures are rarely the ones we bring home in a suitcase. They are the people who change us, the stories that stay with us and the quiet realization that the farther we travel, the more deeply connected we become. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

Local Authors, S Distinctive Stories

By Wendy Dimitri / Images providedi

tories can begin almost anywhere. For one local author, inspiration emerged through motherhood and the questions children ask about babies. For another, it developed during summers along the Carolina coast. For a third, it began with family storytellers whose memories brought history to life. Although their subjects and audiences differ, these three Lake Wylie area authors find stories in the experiences, places and questions that have shaped their lives.

Making Family Conversations Easier

Three Lake Wylie area writers ﬁnd inspiration in motherhood, the Carolina coast and the mysteries of history 58

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

For Natalie Young Benjamin, motherhood inspired both a commitment to supporting breastfeeding families and the creation of her first children’s book, Is My Mommy a Cow? After breastfeeding her two children, Benjamin experienced the beauty, challenges and powerful bond that can accompany the experience. Her desire to learn more eventually led her to become a certified breastfeeding specialist, allowing her to support other parents through their infant feeding journeys. As her children grew, Benjamin noticed how naturally curious young children were about babies, particularly how they are fed. Their questions gave her the idea for a story that could make those conversations approachable and fun. Is My Mommy a Cow? follows a brother and sister who investigate whether their mommy might actually be a cow after discovering some surprising similarities. Through humor, colorful illustrations and playful storytelling, the book introduces breastfeeding, bottle feeding and other infant feeding methods in language children can understand. Benjamin did not want to suggest there is only one correct way to feed a baby. Instead, she created a lighthearted resource that encourages curiosity and respect for the many ways parents nourish their children. The book combines Benjamin’s interest in breastfeeding education with her love of children’s literature. She hopes children finish the story understanding that babies may be fed in different ways, but all are nourished by the same essential ingredient: love. While Benjamin’s story draws from motherhood, another local writer turns to the Carolina coast to explore love, loss and the relationships that shape people over time.

Feature

Benjamin

Love and Second Chances on Haven Island

York County resident Erin Cantrell Grandorff has built a life around two careers centered on helping and understanding people. By day, she works as a pharmacist in Lake Wylie. Whenever she can find the time, she writes novels. Grandorff has loved stories since childhood, when she rarely left the library without Nancy Drew mysteries, books from The Baby-Sitters Club series or historical fiction novels. Writing became a creative outlet during college as she pursued a career in health care. Although pharmacy and fiction appear different, Grandorff sees a connection between them. Both require empathy and an understanding of the experiences people carry beneath the surface. Published under her maiden name, Erin Cantrell, her Haven Island series is contemporary fiction set along the Carolina coast. The novels blend romance with family drama, friendship and the complications of growing up. The first novel, Between the Moon and the Tide, follows Emily Kennedy during an unforgettable summer on the fictional Haven Island. Inspired by summers spent on Carolina barrier islands, it explores timing, loss, grief, resilience and the enduring pull of an unforgettable love. When the Flood Tide Rises carries the story into the next generation of Haven Island residents, revealing that every family has a past and, like the tides, its consequences have a way of returning. Grandorff is drawn to emotionally layered stories because life rarely fits into neat categories. She explores relationships, second chances and the choices that shape who people become, using South Carolina’s landscapes and culture to give readers a strong sense of place. She hopes readers finish her books feeling they have spent time with real people whose lives remain with them beyond the final page. Where Grandorff ’s characters confront the emotional tides of the present, Marcus Cloer looks centuries into the past.

Erin Cantrell FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature for a story spanning centuries and reaching the creation of a new nation. Fictional seafaring characters lead readers through Revolutionary era South Carolina, using adventure and mystery as entry points into the state’s history. Cloer is working with South Carolina 250 as the state commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He hopes to capture the imaginations of readers who might not ordinarily choose a traditional history book. As readers become invested in his characters, Cloer hopes they also become curious about the history woven throughout the novels. That curiosity may inspire them to visit South Carolina battlefields, historic sites and anniversary events. For Cloer, historical fiction is an invitation to explore history. That invitation connects the work of all three authors. Whether explaining infant feeding to a child, carrying readers to a fictional Carolina island or leading them through Revolutionary South Carolina, each uses storytelling to make a subject personal. All books are available through Amazon.

Bringing History Aboard

Marcus Cloer grew up surrounded by storytellers. His great-great-grandfather lived to be 103, and weekend visits with him, Cloer’s grandaunts and their spouses often meant hours spent listening to family stories. Those conversations instilled a fascination with history that has never diminished. Years working on the ocean also fostered an enthusiasm for nautical history and life at sea. Cloer now combines those interests in historical fiction with a nautical flair. Even his office reflects his fictional world. Designed to resemble a 19th century ship’s cabin, it provides a place where he can immerse himself in stories filled with mystery, suspense, action and sacred rituals. Cloer’s series, The Order, draws upon legends surrounding the Knights Templar, the Portuguese Order of Christ and Freemasonry. Its premise follows an ancient mission said to have begun after the Templars discovered treasure beneath Solomon’s Temple. In Cloer’s fictional world, the Templars were charged with creating a new and more equal society. After the order was suppressed in the early 14th century, its mission continued through the Portuguese Order of Christ and later through Freemasonry. These connections form the foundation

www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Marcus Cloer

Feature

Designed with water, trees and views in mind How QTS is approaching water, tree replacement and site landscaping in York County

By QTS / Images by QTS

s QTS continues developing its York County data center campus, three topics are understandably top of mind for nearby residents and community members: water, trees and the way the finished campus will look from surrounding roads and properties. York County is known for its natural landscape, rural character and long-standing connection to the land. Developments have a responsibility to explain how it will operate, how it will limit impacts, and how it will fit into the community over time. For QTS, that starts with the way the campus is designed. The company’s approach to water use, tree replacement and landscaping is based on a simple goal: operate as a longterm neighbor while taking steps to protect local resources and reduce visual impacts wherever possible.

Using less water once operational QTS data centers are built with a closedloop cooling system that does not consume water for cooling once operational. In a closed-loop system, water is used inside a sealed cooling process rather than continuously withdrawn, consumed or discharged to cool the data halls. Once the system is filled and operating, it is designed to retain the same water in the loop, supported by routine maintenance and leak detection. The system is not intended to be drained or replaced under normal operations. That means once the cooling system is up and running, York County water will only be used for everyday building needs – like bathrooms, kitchens and cleaning – just like any other commercial building. For a typical building, QTS uses less than average water use by industrial standards, using about 50,000

gallons a month for bathrooms, kitchens and humidification. This is about what less than 5 households use a month. As industry leaders in water preservation, we are proud to save billions of gallons of water annually compared to evaporative cooling. Scan to watch this short animation video shows how we cool the air inside a data center using a closed-loop cooling process.

Replacing more trees than are cleared Trees are another major part of the community conversation. Construction on any site can change the landscape, and QTS recognizes that tree removal is one of the most visible signs of development. The company’s Tree Development Replacement Program is intended to reduce that impact by aiming to replant more trees than are cleared during construction of its data centers.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Feature

Because the switch station is located near the entrance to the QTS campus, we understand our appearance is part of the overall visual experience for nearby residents and visitors. The current plans include planting American Holly around the switch station, which is adjacent to Hands Mill Hwy with those plantings expected in spring 2027. The purpose of the program is not only to replace trees numerically, but to support the broader environment around the communities where QTS operates. Replanting efforts can help restore habitat, support biodiversity and contribute to long-term environmental health. In York County, QTS is still working to identify a tree partner that can support replacement efforts as buildings complete construction.

Designing the campus to reduce visual impact Landscaping and site design also play a significant role in how a data center campus fits into its surroundings. QTS incorporates design features intended to reduce visual impacts from nearby roads and properties. The campus design takes into account viewsheds 62

www.LakeWylieToday.com

by increasing buffers and setbacks. It also incorporates architectural screening to conceal equipment from view and uses landscaping techniques, such as berms, to soften the appearance of the site. These design choices are especially important near residential areas, rural roads and community gateways where residents interact with the project visually every day. Buffers, setbacks, berms, tree lines and screening can all work together to create a more thoughtful transition between the campus and the surrounding community. QTS has emphasized that our approach is not limited to the buildings themselves. The goal is to consider the full campus experience, including how equipment is screened, how landscaping is used and how the project is viewed from public-facing areas.

FALL 2026

A long-term neighbor The conversation around water, trees and landscaping reflects a larger point: communities want to understand not only what is being built, but how it will operate and how it will look and feel once construction is complete. QTS’s approach in York County is focused on providing clear information, using water-preserving cooling technology, replacing trees and incorporating site design features that reduce visual impacts. These questions matter to the community, and QTS understands the importance of answering them directly. By explaining the closedloop cooling system, using visuals to show how it works, committing to tree replacement and designing with buffers, setbacks, screening and berms, QTS is working to be a responsible longterm neighbor in York County.

Feature

Lake Wylie remembered By Jan Todd / Images by Jan Todd

ditor’s note: Change is on the horizon, and it isn’t just the arrival of fall. As we approach the 20th anniversary of Lake Wylie TODAY, we’re reflecting on the region as it was. This essay appeared in the summer issue of 2016 as a love letter to growing up here in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Change may be inevitable, but we can always look back fondly on the past. I spent many of my childhood days swimming in Lake Wylie, but back then we just called it “the rivah.” My grandparents had a river shack on the Big Allison Creek section. My grandparents leased their river lot from Duke Power for about $25 a year, beginning in the 1950’s. My grandfather hand-built the shack as a shelter from rain. The shack had three rooms and a path, with the path leading to an outhouse in the woods! Tere was a tiny living room, a kitchen with a stove, sink, and refrigerator, and a little bedroom where the young ones would nap. Shacks and trailers were common at “the rivah” because Duke Power owned most of the land, so permanent housing wasn’t a viable option. In the late 1970’s, many of the lots were offered for sale. Those leasing the lots were given the first opportunity to purchase, and my grandparents scraped together the $7,700 price tag for their 1-acre lake lot. Growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s, I remember visiting my grandparents and looking forward to days on the river. Summer on Lake Wylie, the best season of all! Nothing beat a cool dip in the lake on a hot July afternoon. We’d pack a big cooler filled with hamburgers to grill, ripe watermelon, iced tea (sweet, of course!), and plenty of homegrown tomatoes. Granddaddy would hitch up his red and white Glasspar four-seater boat to his old Ford pick-up, then select a

lucky grandchild or two to ride along with him to the boat landing. He’d stop along the way to buy a cup of worms for fishing, then head over to the Ebenezer boat landing to launch the boat and ride over to his place on the river. Meanwhile, grandmama would load the rest of us in her car, and we’d head to the river shack. At that time, Allison Creek Road was barely paved, and full of potholes big enough for a jacuzzi tub. It seemed to take an eternity before we’d turn off on a dirt road headed to their place. Once on the dirt road, there were no street signs. We’d fork to the left, then right, then left again, winding our way towards the water. Those who didn’t know the way followed handmade signs nailed to trees, with family names and arrows pointing directions. We’d spend our day fishing from the pier, basking in the sun, floating around in our orange life jackets, and playing along the sandy shoreline. If we were lucky enough to catch a lot of fish, Granddaddy would clean them and we’d fry them for supper. For dessert, we’d take turns hand-cranking an ice cream freezer filled with fresh peaches and cream. Back before my time, my uncle remembers learning to waterski behind his friend’s aluminum fishing boat with a 15-horsepower motor. The small motor would cause the boat to surge and dwindle, and it would take a good hundred yards or so before the skier emerged on top of the water. Still, my uncle felt lucky to have a pair of skis; many others on the lake were learning to ski on boat paddles or whatever else they could find. Skis weren’t the only thing being handmade. One of our neighbors (I’ll call him “B.K.” to protect his identity) made his own “party barge” out of some oil drums, rope, and plywood. He constructed this contraption in the backyard of his home in Rock

Hill, then transported it to the river to tie up at his river shack. Trouble was that the width of this so-called pontoon boat exceeded the width of the highway lane. So B.K. waited until the dead of night, when traffic would be unlikely, hitched the barge up to his truck, and he and a friend took it to the boat landing to drop it in the water. They underestimated the buoyancy of the oil drums, however, and the oil drums popped out to the sides of the plywood and the entire contraption sprung apart. Not to be deterred, B.K. and his friend retrieved the pieces, added more rope until the oil drums were secured underneath the plywood. They then attached a 15-horsepower motor to the back of it, and the party barge was ready to sail. B.K. said they once had ten people aboard, which was all fun and games until a breeze kicked up, and that little motor was no match for Mother Nature. The barge sailed backwards for a bit until it hit the shore, but the party went on. There aren’t too many river shacks left on Lake Wylie, but when you fnd them, you’ll see people outside under the trees, sitting in lawn chairs and watching the boats go by. You’ll smell charcoal and suntan lotion, hear laughter and squeals of children playing in the water. Folks staying in these cabins can tell you where the osprey are nesting, and how the fishing has been biting this year compared to last year

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

Development Update Properties with “river cabins” are sometimes marketed for land value only. Though there is a small structure on this lot within The Palisades, it is not livable in its current condition. The level 0.76 acre lot, with a wide cove view and excellent location surrounded by beautiful custom homes, makes this property a highly desirable homesite at a price of $775,000.

Real estate market update By Drew Choate / Images provided

s summer comes to a close, we’re looking back at real estate market trends thus far in 2026. Prices are holding steady, the amount of time a property spends on the market is stretching out, and sellers are negotiating more off their original asking prices. All in all, it is a more “balanced” marketplace between the buyers and sellers. National trends, including slower sales and flat prices, affect our local market as potential buyers coming from elsewhere may need to sell their homes prior to buying here. In the Clover School District (CSD), the average home price for non-waterfront is 64

www.LakeWylieToday.com

approximately $543,000, a modest increase of 2% over last year. Million+ dollar homes are becoming more commonplace in the district, even off the lake. Neighborhoods such as McLean-South Shore, Heron Cove and Handsmill include home sales exceeding the million dollar price tag this year.

Waterfront real estate

Lake real estate has experienced some unusual conditions in 2026 with very strong performance in first quarter (waterfront home sales up a whopping 61% compared to first quarter 2025). Then, the drought hit and spring sales slowed. As of the end of June, waterfront home sales were up 35% compared to last year. Compared to a typical year on the lake, a

FALL 2026

larger portion of 2026 sales are dedicated to “river cabins.” These properties were prevalent on Lake Wylie prior to the late 1970s, when much of the land was owned by Duke Energy and occupants merely leased the lots. Because they did not own the properties, people built low-cost structures to provide shelter and a place to stay over the weekend while enjoying the lake. Over time, when the land was sold, some owners replaced the cabins with primary homes, while others renovated, updated, and added on — or just continued to enjoy “as is.” The remaining cabins are often located on premium lots, with nice views and gentle topography. Prices for these properties have increased over the past few years, as premium lots have become more

Development Update

scarce on Lake Wylie. In 2021, the average cabin property sold for about a half a million dollars. This year, the average sale is just over $900,000. Closing prices for these properties have ranged from $400,000 - $1.7 million. The price varies according to: • View (open view, main channel, or cove?) • Location (distance to town, schools, other area desirability) • Topography (steepness of the lot) • Ability to build a larger home (depending on setback regulations, well/septic considerations if applicable, topography, etc.) • Condition of existing structures, shoreline improvements, etc.

Pricing is holding steady for other waterfront homes on Lake Wylie, with an average price at $1,575,000 (excluding “cabin” sales). Undeveloped lakefront lot prices continue to rise, now averaging $725,000 for a dockable homesite. This represents a 9% increase over last year.

Outlook for the rest of 2026

Lake Wylie area sales are expected to perform well through the end of 2026. Activity is strong in new developments along the Hands Mill Road corridor, including some homes with lower price points than the market average. With the opening of CSD’s new high school and elementary school, continued economic and housing growth is anticipated.

An experienced Realtor who knows the neighborhood and type of home can assist a buyer immensely, especially when the market is changing. The pricing and marketing of waterfront real estate includes consideration of factors unique to the lake — such as water depth fluctuations, shoreline restrictions, value of the view, shore stabilization and other features. A Realtor with knowledge of the lake can help ensure the best value for both buyer and seller. 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 for over 15 years. For more information on the market and recent sales, visit TheLakeWylieMan.com.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com

SpotLight Spot Light News of the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

Fall 2026

LAKE WYLIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC MONDAY, October 12, 2026 12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start Captain’s Choice Held at River Hills Country Club Come early Includes Driving Range and Practice Putting Fabulous day of golf, hospitality, networking and fun Prizes at almost every Hole Featuring our special Hospitality on Holes Prizes, box lunch and hospitality included Prizes will be awarded at the Business After Golf.

Carts lined up ready to start 66 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Morningstar Storage - Hole Sponsor on the course

Spotlight Spot Spotlight

First Place Team - Collins Galyon - Rick Kiger, Taylor Collins, Matt Ashbridge, and Lance Copeland

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC - REGISTRATION FORM Monday, October 12, 2026 12:00 pm Shotgun Start– Captain’s Choice River Hills Country Club Contact Name:___________________________________________________________ Company:_______________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ City:____________________________________State:___________Zip:_____________ Daytime Telephone: ( )_________________________ Fax: ( )___________________ E-mail:__________________________________________________________________ Golf---Includes box lunch, driving range privileges, golf, cart, hospitality and great networking! All player spots are reserved upon receipt of payment and registration form. ________

Individual Golfer(s) @ $170 per person

Total $_______

________

Golf Team(s) – Four players @ $650 per team

Total $_______

Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfer’s Name:_______________________Handicap:___E-mail:___________________ Golfers Name:________________________Handicap:___E-mail:__________________ Optional… _____Mulligan (s) – Limit 2 per player $10 each _____Mulligan (s) – For the team $80

Total $_______ Total $_______

_____Hole Sponsorship - $300 (Includes sign at tee box or green, and recognition in Lake Wylie Today Magazine!) _____ Flag Sponsor - $300 _____I’d like to donate a raffle prize! Please return this registration form with your check to: Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 5233, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Phone: 803-831-2827 Email: lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com Web: www.lakewyliesc.com

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com 67

Spotlight Spot

Holiday Business After Hours May 21, 2026 Sponsored by Freedom Boat Club and Charlotte Ski Boats Photos by Lake Wylie and Clover Chambers of Commerce

Dianne Kehler, Allan Sutherland, and Kevin Naumann

Deb and Tom Dagilus enjoy a refreshment at the Business After Hours.

Andy Litten, York County Council, and Melanie McClure, Carolina Storks & More

Eddie Lukowski and David Redding

It's time for door prizes!

Mike Walker with Charlotte Ski Boats and Bekka Myers with Freedom Boat Club

Mike Walker with Charlotte Ski Boats presents a door prize.

Tyquan Timmons, Chris Bowler and Lucas McConnell with Royal Pest Control

Bekka Myers, Liz Ero, Chelsea Maurizio, Tyler Lee and Erik Henriksen with Freedom Boat Club

68 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Spotlight Spot Spotlight

Business After Hours June 4, 2026 Sponsored by Infinite Athletics Photos by Lake Wylie and Clover Chambers of Commerce

Infinite Athletic owners, Cameron Lee and Jermaine Evans

Eddie Lukowski, Ed Lindsey, Ritchie Russell, and Jim Ryan

Melanie McClure, and Chad Williams

Peyton Hollenbacher with Ignite UBrand Foods, and Ally Sardilli and Tracy Latham with Rejuvenate Lake Wylie

Roger Schwartz with the American Legion, and Tim Gonyer with WTC Entertainment

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com 69

Spotlight Spot New Members May 1, 2026 to August 4, 2026 Edwards Grading Service, Inc. 5763 Morning Star Rd. Clover, SC 29710 Jonathan and Kelly Edwards www.edwardsgradingservice.com info@edwardsgradingservice.com (704) 607-5626 Shoreline management and marine construction grading, clearing, pile driving, dock building, dredging, shoreline stabilization. NASCAR Car Wash 6370 Lake Wylie Rd. Clover, SC 29710 Peter Howe https://info@nascarcarwash.com peter@nascarcarwash.com (704)677-7101 Express car washes, memberships, vacuums, compressed air, glass cleaner, towels, mat cleaners and windshield washer fluid.

RENEWING MEMBERS May 1, 2026 to August 2, 2026 Anchor Self Storage BBSI BNA CPA & Advisors Carolina Family Dentistry CaroMont Health Inc. Catawba River Capital Clover School District DAVIS Construction Eason Roofing, LLC Elrod Pope Law Firm P.A. Fort Mill Ford Freedom Boat Club Home Companions Karrus Homes Lake Wylie / Clover Mayday Lake Wylie Family Dentistry Lake Wylie Pharmacy Lake Wylie Wellness & Chiropractic Center M. L. Ford & Sons, Inc. New River Church Palisades Episcopal School Papa Doc’s Shore Club Parkway Concrete Products QTS Data Center

QuikTrip Rejuvenate Lake Wylie Saint James Anglican Church Scholarship Gold Consulting Sloan Financial Group, LLC Somerby Baxter Village – Baxter Senior Care LLC Stateline Chrysler Jeep Dodge Stellie J. Jackson Enrichment Center Sunflower Springs of Lake Wylie Tenet Health – Piedmont Medical Center United Bank York County Natural Gas York Electric Cooperative Inc. York Technical College Individuals: Kevin Brackett Debra Dagilus Linda Eiler Mark Erwin Dianne Kehler Andy Litten Nancy Snyder Melanie Wilson

re|form Pilates Studio 131 Evergreen Rd., Suite 107 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Austin and Ellen Norton www.reformpilateslakewylie.com info@reformpilateslakewylie.com (803)974-7010 Modern, high-quality reformer and mat Pilates alongside yoga & mobility classes. The Learning Experience – Lake Wylie 429 Blucher Circle Clover, SC 29710 Marie Springman www.thelearningexperience.com/centers/lakewylie-sc Email (803) 619-4086 The Learning Experience is a leading daycare in Lake Wylie providing infant care, toddler daycare, preschool, and pre-k programs for children ages six weeks to six years with a proprietary curriculum that supports kindergarten readiness through hands on learning, STEM activities, music, fitness, and social emotional development. Individuals: Allan Sutherland 70 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

2026 Chamber Champion Gold Member

Spotlight Spot Spotlight Ribbon Cutting held on July 25th at Auntie Anne’s located inside Wal-Mart at Lake Wylie

And the ribbon is cut!

Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon prepare for the Grand Opening.

Jeff Ledford, Chairman of the Board for Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce welcomes Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon to Lake Wylie. FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com 71

Spotlight Spot Jo’s Pilates located at Lake Wylie Plaza Ribbon Cutting held on June 8th.

Owner, Josephine Bernson cuts the ribbon at the ribbon cutting event for Jo's Pilates.

Owner, Josephine Bernson and social media assistant, Kylie Wilkerson.

Josephine Bernson demonstrates the reformer Pilates machine.

Owner, Josephine Bernson demonstrates the reformer at her Pilates studio. 72 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Josephine Bernson prepares to cut the ribbon as community businesses show their support.

Spotlight Spot Spotlight re|form Pilates Studio, located at 131 #107 Evergreen Rd. Ribbon Cutting held on July 30th

Preparing to cut the ribbon at re|form Pilates Grand Opening

re|form Grand Opening-Outside balloon

Owner of re|form Pilates Studio, Ellen Norton

re|form Grand Opening- Pilates Reformers

re|form Grand Opening-Lounge FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com 73

Spotlight Spot

Holiday Gala kicks oﬀ the Season The Lake Wylie Chamber’s annual meeting is held as a holiday gala celebration where the annual recognitions are done. This year’s event will be on December 3rd at River Hills Country Club. Reservations can be made by calling the chamber at 803-831-2827. Sponsorships are also available. The dining room was decorated in festive holiday colors, awaiting the arrival of the guests.

Tom Smith, Sheila Quinn, Jeff Ledford, Tracy and Dr. Robert Latham,Michaelynn Sherrill,Chamber President Susan Bromfield and Charlie Bromfield, and Kathy Donnelly.

The Classics provided a mix of oldies, classics, and requested favorites for the Holiday Gala.

The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Celebration Sponsorship Opportunities Thursday, December 3, 2026 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. at River Hills Country Club Libations, Dinner, Music by The Classics Premier Sponsor $2,000 Table of 8, Pre and Post Event Recognition Award Sponsor $1,000 4 Guests, Pre and Post Event Recognition Gold Sponsor $1,500 6 Guests, Pre and Post Event Recognition Silver Sponsor $1,000 4 Guests, Pre and Post Event Recognition Bronze Sponsor $600 2 Guests, Pre and Post Event Recognition Program Sponsor $600 Decoration Sponsor $300 74 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

Nominations are now being accepted for 2026 Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Business Person and Citizen of the Year Candidates should have the following: • A history of long-time involvement in the community. • A positive impact on the Lake Wylie Community. • Business person must be a chamber member with a history of being supportive of community and chamber activities. • Citizen should be a person who makes a positive difference to the community as a whole. Past Recipients include:

2018 Special Legacy Award Business Person

Don Long

Citizen 2024 Carrie Bolin

2025 Dr. Robert and Tracy Latham 2023 Huseyin Yem James Pugh 2022 Dr. Vanessa Vargas Karen van Viersen 2019 Matthew Mugavero Ed Lindsey 2017 Gwen Thompson Perry Johnston 2016 Tom Smith Melanie Wilson 2015 Kitty Muccigrosso Dick Mann 2014 Haven Presley Norma Wood 2013 Leonard Jackson Lisa McCarthy 2012 Q2U BBQ Chad Bordeaux 2011 Doug McSpadden Rep. Ralph Norman 2010 Fred Caldwell Tom Smith 2009 Rob Watson Elizabeth Hartley and Fred NasonBusiness of the Year Watson Insurance Business Person of the Year 2008 Al Powell Vince Mugavero 2007 Ed Stewart Susan Bromfield (Milestone Award) 2006 Diana Grubenhoff Dr. Steve Miszkiewicz 2005 Mark DeChant Stacy Waddell -Blackmon 2004 Andy Kane Fred Wetherell 2003 Rod Hall Roberta Spampinato 2002 Leslie Hall Don Long 2001 Paige McCarter Charles Wood 2000 David Mathein S.C. Rep. Becky Meacham 1999 Myron Boloyan S.C. Rep. Herb Kirsh 1998 Tally Roberts Ruth Sheets 1997 Jong and Po Liu Diane Roberts 1996 Jack Allen Senator Harvey Peeler 1995 MaMa “C” Nick and Joanne Jones 1994 Mark Erwin Peggy Upchurch 1993 John Wilkerson “Duck” Alexander 1992 Firechief Bill Johnston -

Nominee for Business Person:_________________________ Nominee for Citizen:__________________________________ Please tell us about your nominee and his/or her contributions to the community ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Deadline for nominees - 10/22/26 – 5:00 PM – email: lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com

Spotlight Spot Spotlight Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce 37th Annual “Lights on the Lake”

Holiday Boat Parade sponsored by

Comporium, QTS a nd Papa Doc’s Shore Club

REGISTRATION – ENTRY FORM When: Parade Begins Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Where: Buster Boyd Bridge at Papa Doc’s – Lake Wylie Captains Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. This form and a check for $25.00 should be sent to: Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 5233 Lake Wylie, SC 29710 by Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026 (late and same-day registration is $30) Name:______________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________ Cell Phone:__________________________E-Mail:__________________________ Type of Boat__________________________________________________________ Describe your holiday decorating theme:__________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

Mark your calendar for the December 12th for the annual holiday boat parade at Lake Wylie. The fun starts here. The Pirate boat ready for the Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade.

Questions: Call –803-831-2827 or e-mail:lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com

Save The Date! Lights on the Lake Lake Wylie Annual Holiday Boat Parade Presented by Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Saturday, December 12, 2026 – 6:30 p.m. Held at Papa Doc’s Shore Club – Lake Wylie

Boaters arrive at Papa Doc's for the annual Lake Wylie Boat Parade.

FALL 2026

www.LakeWylieToday.com 75

Spotlight Spot Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce is getting the Message out

nother exciting addition: the Lake Wylie Chamber has added Text Messaging to our communications strategy with our members! Beginning earlier this summer, members have begun signing up for this service. "It is already going well," said Susan Bromfield, "and it is easy to sign up, and you only have to do it once." Little Woods Marketing, a Lake Wylie Chamber Member, is coordinating this for the Chamber. "Texting is an excellent way to inform our membership of upcoming events," remarked Jane DuBois of Little Woods Marketing, "Fast and inexpensive - and unlike email, everyone sees their texts." (FYI - the Chamber will continue to utilize email for the foreseeable future) Signing up is easy. Text the word "business" (no quotations) to 844.442.0100

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Activities

Chamber Annual Golf Classic Monday, October 12, 2026 Noon – shotgun start Captains Choice Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie

Business After Golf

Monday, October 12, 2026 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. Sponsored and hosted by River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie

Business After Hours

2October 22, 2026 5:30- 7:30 p.m.. Sponsored by and held at Lake Wylie Assisted Living, Hwy 49

Annual Holiday Gala The Annual Meeting

Thursday, December 3, 2026 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Cocktails Dinner and Music Seating Limited, Festive Attire Held at River Hills Country Club Lake Wylie

Holiday Business After Hours

Business Suite Now Available For Rent

December 10, 2026 5:30- 7:30 p.m.. Sponsored by and held at Sunflower Springs Assisted Living, Latitude Ln, Lake Wylie

“Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade

Saturday, December 12, 2026 6:30 p.m. Boat Parade Hosted by and Held at Papa Doc’s Shore Club

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

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.

76 www.LakeWylieToday.com

FALL 2026

THE RIGHT PARTNER MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE For more than 185 years, we’ve forged personal relationships with our customers and communities, funding economic development and rallying around the causes that are important to our neighbors. With local bankers you know and trust, businesses and individuals throughout the Carolinas continue to choose United Bank.

A Value-Driven Private Wealth Management Firm Where your financial well-being is our priority.

“I started Catawba River Capital 26 years ago to create a ﬁrm that prioritizes the client’s interests above all else. Unlike wealth management at many banks and brokerage ﬁrms, where too often they aim to serve the institution’s goals, we’re accountable only to the client’s goals. Our primary objective is to ensure our interests are aligned with those of our clients by offering objective, transparent, and expert advice.”

– Paul Boggs Founder, CFP®

Experience the difference of working with dedicated, transparent fiduciaries. Let’s build your ﬁnancial future—together. Contact us today. catawbarivercapital.com

803-831-0911

info@catawbarivercapital.com