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www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 1

Lexington Life Magazine March 2014

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Lexington Life Magazine, a premiere publication serving the residents of Lexington, SC. Published since August 2004, Lexington Life Magazine is a direct-mail advertising outlet mailed monthly to 20,000 homes and businesses in 29072. An additional 1,500 are distributed each month to local businesses and paid subscribers. Based on at least two readers per magazine, estimated reach is 40,000 potential customers each month. Enhanced with local editorial content like Lexington Leaders, Locally Owned & Operated, Good Eats, Events and relevant feature articles, Lexington Life seeks to foster patronage of paid advertisers through placement in a quality publication that residents look forward to receiving in their mailboxes each month. For advertising rates and deadlines or to submit feedback or story ideas, please contact us at : [email protected] or (803) 356-6500

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www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 1

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COVER STORY18 2014 Baseball Preview

FEATURES10 Local Summer Camps: Lego Robotics Tech-Know Time22 High School Baseball Schedules23 Crowning Glory28 Spring Cleaning Tips: Maintenance is Key33 Vacation 101: Tips for Truly Authentic Experiences 35 Planting Seeds of Gratitude David Clark

COLUMNS9 Financial Strategies Stratos Wealth Partners14 Car Talk Baker Collision16 Faith Matters Pastor Ken Jumper

DEPARTMENTS3 From the Publisher5 Events7 Lexington Leaders Roy Cromer32 Spice of Life38 Faith in Action Willow Ridge Church

March is here. Hopefully, it’s now safe to plant for spring now that all the snow has passed us by. I sure am ready for spring. The crack of the bats is in the air — baseball is back! From t-ball to the major leagues, baseball players are gear-ing up for the upcoming season. The old adage that hope springs eternal definitely applies not only to baseball, but our com-munity as a whole.

Warmer weather and increased sun-light promotes an atmosphere of activ-ity and fitness. Joggers and walkers flock to the dam to enjoy the beautiful views and burn calories as they exercise with friends. Bikers enjoy the cool breezes of spring and definitely appreciate drivers giving them a little extra room when they pass. Tennis players enjoy longer rallies, especially when hitting their tennis ball

no longer feels like a brick. Diners enjoy sitting outside at lo-cal restaurants while relaxing and eating delicious meals.

Birds are chirp-ing and the pollen has not quite hit us yet. Life is grand. It’s hard to believe that in three short months school will be out and sum-mer will begin. Now is a great time to plan your summer camp schedules for the kids and, of course, the annual family vacation.

There’s a lot going on in the month of March. Our events calendar is stuffed full of neat events worth checking out. Thank

you for reading Lexington Life Magazine. Think Spring!

contents

CONTACT US: 225-B Columbia Avenue, Lexington, SC 29072 • 803.356.6500 • [email protected]

Publisher & editor-in-ChiefTodd Shevchik

[email protected]

sales ManagerAnne Reynolds

[email protected]

aCCount exeCutivesDonna [email protected]

Brandi [email protected]

assistant editor/ProduCtion Manager

Kristi [email protected]

editorial ConsultantAllison Caldwell

[email protected]

editorial assistantTiffanie Wise

[email protected]

graPhiC designJane Carter

Website designerPaul Tomlinson

Contributing WritersDavid Clark, Paige Haggard, Kevin Oliver, Jackie Perrone, Charissa Sylvia, Tiffanie Love,

Kristen Carter

Contributing PhotograPhersLawrence R. James, Jackie Perrone

Theresa Adams, Charles Assey, Nikki Bauer, Karen Folsom,

Nancy Pilat-Renner, Anne Reynolds

L-R Anne Reynolds, Kristi Antley, Allison Caldwell, Brandi Rabon, Tiffanie Wise

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Our American Board of Ophthalmology certified physicians have been providing the most comprehensive eye care in the Midlands for over 40 years.

columbiaeyeclinic.com

We will look you in the eye.

Downtown • 1920 Pickens at Calhoun • Columbia, SC • 803.779.3070 Northeast • 100 Summit Centre Drive • Columbia, SC • 803.252.8566Highway 378 at Palmetto Park Boulevard • Lexington, SC • 803.806.0080

Derek L. Barker, M.D.William Cain, Jr., M.D.Hal H. Crosswell, Jr., M.D.H. Holland Crosswell, III, M.D.William F. Crosswell, M.D.Charles D. Finley, M.D.Lynn Hicks Snoddy, M.D.William A. Johnson, M.D.William A. Johnson, Jr., M.D.Edward G. Mintz, M.D.R. Mitchell Newman, Jr., M.D.D. Reynell Harder Smith, D.O.Garner J. Wild, M.D.

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Saturday, March 815th Annual Mardi Gras Gala Double Tree by Hilton, 6:30-11 p.m.Support the Dickerson Center for Children. $100 per person with music by the Coastal Breeze Band, live and silent auctions, food, drink and more! 791-1511 or [email protected]. Monday, March 102014 Heritage Christian Classic Golf TournamentLexington Country ClubHole-in-one prizes include round trip air-line tickets, golf clubs, a flat-screen tv and more. Putting contest, goody bags for all golfers and a box lunch. Registration 10 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m., start 12:30 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. 403-9448 or [email protected]. Thursday-Sunday, March 14- 1648th Annual Carolina Classic Home & Garden ShowSC State FairgroundsEnjoy free seminars, door prizes, giveaways and more than 250 exhibitor booths. Visit 24/7 Total Protect in the Cantey Building (booth 222) for a chance to win a security system and free monitoring. Columbia-Builders.com. Saturday, March 1512th Annual St. Pat’s Get to the GreenMaxcy Gregg Park10k (7:30 a.m.), 5k (8 a.m.) and 1-Mile Walk/Fun Run (8:15 a.m.) participants re-ceive free entry to the St. Pat’s in Five Points Festival, a $15 value. GetToTheGreen.com. Thursday, March 2010th Annual Taste of Lake Murray Double Tree by Hilton, 6-11 p.m.

Enjoy food from 14 local restaurants, live music and dancing while raising money for the 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray. Music by The American Flyers Show Band from Atlanta! 781-5940 or LakeMurray-Country.com. Saturday, March 22Pam Blackwell’s Kidney Transplant FundraiserApplebee’s in Lexington, 8-10 a.m.Enjoy a pancake breakfast and raise money for Pam Blackwell’s kidney trans-plant. Advance tickets are $7 per person at 606-2022. Saturday, March 22Edible WorkshopWingard’s Nursery, 9 a.m.A Square Foot Gardening System or an Earthbox Garden System? Learn about these products and how easy it is to grow your own food. 359-9091. Saturday, March 29 2nd Annual Red, White & Blues Irmo Town Park 6-9 p.m.Enjoy wine tasting, appetizers, and live mu-sic while supporting local businesses and our community. Advance tickets are $25. For more information on tickets and booth rentals contact the Greater Irmo Chamber at 749-9355. Thursday, April 39th Annual Junior Woman’s Club Fashion Show & Silent AuctionCountry Club of Lexington, 6 p.m.Doors open at 6, fashion show starts at 7. Cash bar, appetizers, silent auction, $25 per person. All proceeds benefit various women’s and children’s charities in Lex-ington County. 429-4859.

Thursday, April 3701 CCA Presents: Columbia Open Studios Preview PartyOlympia Room at 701 Whaley, 7-10 p.m.Meet the artists of Columbia Open Studios at a relaxed reception with cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeurves. $5 mem-bers, $10 non-members. ColumbiaOpen-Studios.org. Saturday, April 53rd Annual It’s All About Herbs FestivalLexington County Museum, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Free admission includes a plant sale, bake sale, free herb mini-demonstrations, semi-nars, silent auction and raffle. Facebook.com/TheHerbBunch or [email protected]. Thursday, April 243rd Annual Emma Longstreet Memorial Golf TournamentGolden Hills Country Club, 11:15 a.m.Celebrate the life of Emma Longstreet! All proceeds benefit the Emma Longstreet Memorial Fund and Midway Elementary’s French Immersion program. 730-3442.

March

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Roy Cromer goes by the nickname of “Old Dad” and everyone in the local baseball world knows why. The Cromer clan proudly proclaims that this is probably the only American family ever with four sons who all played pro baseball at the same time. Old Dad is actually Roy Cromer Jr., and his dad, Roy Sr., organized the first Little League Baseball program in Lake City, SC. Something in the hereditary bloodstream?

“I can’t remember when I wasn’t throwing a ball,” says Lex-ington’s grand old man of sports. “I was 12 when my father or-ganized the Little League in our home town of Lake City. By the time I finished high school, I was recruited by The Citadel and also Clemson. But at that time (1960), there was no draft of play-ers; everyone was a free agent, so to speak. I negotiated my way into the St. Louis Cardinals for what was big money at that time.”

Pro ball was a big adventure for the South Carolina boy who was by-passing college, but four years of homesickness and cheap hotel rooms helped him decide on another path to baseball suc-cess. The University of South Carolina offered him a post as coach of the freshman team, where his talent and experience could be of value to other, younger players.

After a stint at USC, Cromer and his wife Donna returned to their home town of Lake City, where he coached baseball and bas-

ketball for 21 years before retiring in 1987. They lived in Murrells Inlet for a while, then moved to Lexington where their family was clustered. Along the way, Old Dad did get his college education as well as a Master’s degree. Retired? Old Dad’s days and seasons are spent helping today’s youngsters develop skills in hitting, pitch-ing, and fielding. At 71, he feels fortunate to be involved in the sports he has always loved, and hopes to be at it for a long time to come.

About the four sons: By 1992 the Cromer family roster sported these listings:

Roy III ( “Tripp”) with the St. Louis Cardinals. Burke, Atlanta Braves.David Thomas (known as D.T.), Oakland Athletics.Brandon, Toronto Blue Jays.Sports may be in their blood, and so is South Carolina. Those

four athletes now all live here in the Lexington area with their families. “Old Dad’s” 11 grandchildren include four boys who are, guess what, heavily involved in sports.

The real trooper in all this may very well be patient Donna Cromer. She sums it up succinctly: “Before I married Roy, I wasn’t a real big sports fan, but I learned to be real quick.” No question, it’s been a Cromer family affair all the way. n

by Jackie Perrone

Roy “Old Dad” Cromer

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Answer:Your gross estate for federal estate tax purposes includes:

• Allpropertythatyouownatdeath(e.g.,realestate,in-vestments, business interests, personal property, mort-gages held by you).

• Propertyyouhavegivenawaywhileretainingalifetimeinterest in the income from the property, the use and en-joyment of the property, or the right to determine who ultimately receives the property.

• Giftsthatdon’ttakeeffectuntilyoudie.

• Propertythatyouownjointlywithanotherperson,ex-cept to the extent the other party contributed to the pur-chase price of the property.

• Propertyoverwhichyoupossessageneralpowertoap-point the property to yourself or others.

• Lifeinsurancepoliciesownedbyyou,orinwhichyouretained the right to change the beneficiary, cancel the policy, or make policy loans.

• Yourone-halfinterestincommunityproperty.

• Annuities,pensions,andprofit-sharingplans.

From your total gross estate, your estate may take deduc-tionsforfuneralexpenses,administrationexpenses(e.g.,exec-utor’s fees, court costs, attorney’s fees, appraiser’s fees), certain debts and income taxes, state death taxes paid, and property left to your U.S. citizen spouse or to qualified charities.

The net amount may be subject to estate taxes. However, the amount of taxes payable on your taxable estate may be reduced by the unified credit and a credit for foreign death taxes.

Jim david, greg david,Chris Petty & stephen sturkie5080 sunset boulevard, suite a

Lexington, SC 29072 • (803) 386-0307

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax

advisor. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC.Investment advice offered through Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., a registered invest-

ment advisor and a separate entity from LPL Financial.

greg davidFounding Partner & Wealth Advisor

What makes up my taxable estate?

By the Lake Murray dam, local photographer Nikki Bauer captured this beautiful

Lake Murray sunset with the Love Locks silhouetted against the auburn sky.

When the LEGO® Group was founded in 1936, it’s doubtful that Kirk Kristiansen could have envisioned the success his com-pany would enjoy in the 21st century. Not only did The LEGO® Movie have the best opening of a movie so far this year, but the company itself has become an innovator in child development by using technology and robotics. This innovation has led to great strides in engaging South Carolina’s youth in more technology related fields, as well as teaching them cooperation and strategy.

LEGO® gets its name from the Dutch words “leg godt”, which mean “play well.” As it turns out, “lego” in Latin means “I put together.” From the beginning, their motto was “Only the best is good enough.” The company coupled this high standard with the goals of developing opportunities for cre-ativity and learning for children by building

high quality toys. In 1986, LEGO® took this commitment to a new level when it released its first computer-controlled toys. Two years later, the company teamed up with MIT to make creations “come to life” through com-puter programming. In 1998, LEGO® intro-duced what would become their best-selling product: LEGO®MINDSTORMS® robotics.

Later that year, Dean Kamen — founder of For Inspiration and Recognition of Sci-ence and Technology (FIRST®), an organi-zation committed to inspiring an interest for science and technology in kids — part-nered with LEGO® Group owner Kjeld Kirk

“Tech-Know Time”

LegoRobotics Summer

Camp

By Paige Haggard

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Kristiansen to cre-ate FIRST LEGO® League (FLL), a ro-botics competition for middle school students designed to spark in-terest and proficiency in the STEM (science, technology, electronics, and mathematics) fields. These leagues spread throughout the nation. South Carolina’s own FLL was to hold its state cham-pionship on February 15, but the inclem-ent weather of that weekend forced the competition to be held at a later date (to be announced).

LEGO® robotic programs aren’t exclu-sive to FIRST LEGO® Leagues. Here in Lexington, there’s a program that utilizes LEGO® robotics to help kids develop bet-ter problem solving and collaboration skills through creative fun: Tech-Know Time.

How It All BeganTwo local teachers, Susan Shepherd and

Sherry Clapp, started Tech-Know Time in 2012. Susan has taught for 17 years at Midway Elementary, was chosen in 2006 as Midway’s Teacher of the Year, and currently teaches fourth and fifth grade gifted classes. She received her undergraduate and mas-ter’s degree in elementary education as well as her gifted certification from the Univer-sity of South Carolina. Susan believes that it is essential to foster very early in children a deep love of learning.

Sherry Clapp received a bachelor’s of sci-ence in Electrical Engineering Technology. Her commitment to sharing her technical

expertise with children began in North Caro-lina when her son en-tered kindergarten. There were no com-puters in the class-room, and only the fourth and fifth graders used the computer lab at school. When she moved to

South Carolina, Sherry be-gan substituting at Midway. After a few years, she was offered a chance to work in the computer lab, where she taught students the basic technology skills of creating spreadsheets, presentations, and documents in order to improve their aca-demic life and acquire skills they’ll use throughout their lives and careers. She was selected as Midway’s Staff Person of the Year for 2012-2013, and now shares her enthu-siasm for engineering by teaching STEM classes at Midway.

In 2011, Sherry and Susan won a $10,000 technology grant for Midway’s EAGLE program (Educational Activities Geared for Learning Excellence). It begins at third grade and is intended to develop a depth of study that will cultivate talent and further critical thinking skills. After this wonderful success, they started Tech-Know Time in order to provide high quality fun and unique learning experiences for chil-dren in the Lexington area through after-school classes and summer camps.

Dynamic projects teach strategic think-ing and teamwork, which in turns pro-motes a more involved approach to edu-cation and an overall higher self-esteem

within each student. The programs offered by Tech-Know Time begin with teacher-led instructions, followed by interactive learning focused on construct-ing and programming LEGO® models. These programs illustrate that “each piece of STEM is important to the future.”

Summer Camps Rising fourth through

sixth graders work in teams using LEGO® Mindstorms® kits. Par-

ents are welcome to come at the end of the camp to see their child in “action mode.” At the end of the week campers engage in a friendly but challenging com-petition, which helps seal the learning process of the camp.

Rising second and third graders use LEGO® WeDo® kits. These kits were developed by Erik Hansen, head of LEGO®Electronics Research and Develop-ment Department and Mitch Resnick, head of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Labs, to provide a lower-cost robotic kits appropriate for a younger audience. Like the popular Mindstorms® kits, these kits also teach teamwork, creative thinking, problem solving and other STEM skills. Parent participation is encouraged at the WeDo® camps.

Last summer’s themes included Amuse-ment Park Camp and Deep Space Camp. Younger campers built carousels, cars and carnival games, while the Mindstorms® campers set about creating the tools to ex-plore and build an existence on new plan-ets. Once they created and programmed their robots, students had to complete such challenges as pulverizing rocks, plugging a volcano, aligning solar panels and extract-ing lake water.

Tech-Know Time is proud to present another challenging program this year to kids in the Lexington area: Awesome Ad-ventures for younger students, and Na-ture’s Fury for older campers. This sum-mer, consider giving your kids a fun and exciting learning experience that they’ll remember for years to come. Learn more at TechKnowTime.com — summer camp registration opens soon! n

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3rd Annual Spring FlingSaturday, March 15•8:30 am

(803) 359-9091 • 1403 N. Lake Drive • (Hwy. 6) Lexingtonwww.wingardsnursery.com

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14 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

Lets get personaLI figured I would give everybody a break from the car talk and get per-

sonal for this month’s article. I’d like to tell you a little about myself, and my experience so far in the car repair business.

I started off at age 13, when Dad would take me into work in the sum-mertime so I could help wash cars and make a little money for my efforts. The money wasn’t much, but it was a good building block for learning some life lessons. Helping wash cars was my summer job every year after that. As I got older, I thought I knew that working in the shop was not what I wanted to do. I finished high school and spent my first year at USC studying criminal justice, and realized that didn’t suit me either. I spent the next year of my life at Harding University in a small town in Arkansas. After spending two years in the university, I determined that it was time to go to work.

I came back to South Carolina and tried a few different jobs until I found a job working for an automotive clips and fasteners company. This was a traveling job. I would go into body shops all over the country and set up the clips and fasteners system along with an invoicing software pro-gram, and then train the staff on their new system. At this point in my life, I’m blessed to say I’ve been to 42 states, and I hope to see the rest in the next few years. Once the traveling job came to an end, I started back with the family business, working in the body shop.

I began working as the parts manager, eventually started running a software program to help run production, and then became an estimator. A few years in, I had an opportunity to become the store leader at a shop in Spartanburg, an Ohio-based body shop company called DCR Systems. I took the opportunity and moved to Spartanburg, and I learned a lot about management, discipline, structure, following process, and being a good employee. This opportunity lasted for a year. Then in August 2009, I re-turned again to the family business, but this time as the leader.

I’ve been in this position since then, and have learned so much about business, leadership, integrity, taking risks, and about myself. There have been many challenges, especially as we underwent a name change and opened our Lexington location. We are all very lucky to have a great Dad to help teach us, who allows us to make our mistakes so that we can learn from them. We also have the legacy laid out for us by our grandparents, who began the body shop business that we continue to build upon.

This is just a snapshot of my body shop history. There are some excit-ing times coming as our industry continues to evolve and change at an extreme pace. I look forward to the future as I take a look at the past.

larry, steve, Matt, and abby baker7433 Broad River Road Irmo SC • 407-52885215 Sunset Blvd Lexington SC • 957-4900

steve bakerOwner

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(803) 957-2555959 E Main St • Lexington, SC [email protected]

www.cedarcrest-apts.com

• Gated Entrance• Refreshing Pool• Cyber Cafe• Movie Theater• Fitness Studio• Pet Park• Resident Social Events • Exceptional Service

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I can be notorious for having to check with my assistant concerning my schedule. She is wonderful and very professional in putting up with my unnecessary questions. Such as: “Did we move Joe to Friday?” Or: “Have we scheduled the so-and-so meeting?” And: “Tell me again, where I am meeting with Bob?”

It’s unnecessary because her answer is invariably the same: “It is written on your calendar.” Oh yeah, look on my calendar! My calendar and I get along quite well, and it’s certainly a valuable tool in helping me prioritize and schedule my time to make sure I can be as effective and efficient as possible. I just have to remember: “It is written, it is written, and it is written.”

Yes,that’sright,itiswritten!YoumayknowwhereI’mgoingwiththis. Jesus used this statement while in the wilderness during a time of extreme testing and questioning about His priorities and call in life — questions designed to create doubt about His purpose and potential.

When challenged by these nagging propositions, He responded with “Itiswritten.”Ofcourse,HewasreferringtotheHolyScriptures(orasyou and I know it, the Bible). Often times in life when I struggle with my confidence, my call, or a specific decision pressing me, I need to re-member the wise counsel of Jesus and my faithful assistant: It is written!

God has already written down for me everything from my life’s plan to daily counsel. Rather than just wondering and often getting all frus-trated, I just need to take a few moments, open my Bible, and look at what is already written. God truly knows what my tomorrow will bring, so why don’t I take the time to consult with Him more often — every morning actually — and see what wonderful things He has planned for me? I should do that! In fact, I’m going to get my Bible right now. Why don’t you find yours?

Follow Pastor Ken on Twitter at @pkharvest www.twitter.com/pkharvest

The Harvest • 4865 Sunset Blvd.Lexington, SC 29072 • 808-6373 • www.the-harvest.org

Saturdays: 6 p.m. (378 campus)Sundays: 378 campus 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and Noon

Whiteford and Northeast campuses, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Ken JumperThe Harvest

www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 17

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A WildcAt Winning StreAk

“This is a baseball crazy community,” says Lexington Wildcats head baseball coach Bri-an Hucks. “Our guys love to play in front of big crowds.” The Wildcats played in front of their biggest crowd of the year last season when they faced Blythewood and won the South Carolina state championship, a feat they’d love to repeat in 2014. Their record speaks for itself, with wins in 24 straight home games showing that the support they

receive from the Wildcat fans is a big part of the team’s success. They were ranked sixth nationally in the final season polls for 2013 from Collegiate Baseball, sev-enth by Baseball America, eighth by

USA Today and ninth by Max Preps.

“We’re going to put our focus on this year’s team and figure out how to win with them,” Coach Hucks says about whether the Wildcats are still reveling in the champion-ship win. “We enjoyed it that night; now we

have moved on to the next year.” Hucks is confident in at least two of the major areas of concern that will ensure a good season.

“We’ll be good on the mound. We have a pretty deep group of eight or nine arms who can give us a chance to compete,” he says. “We have several sophomores starting in the outfield and at shortstop who are talented players. As long as we can pitch and defend on the field, that will keep us in games.”

For Coach Hucks, what happens off the field is just as important as the win-loss column.

“Being a high school coach, I get the chance to impact lives on a daily basis and teach these players how to be not just good baseball players, but good men,” He says. “They learn the value of commitment, the importance of being part of a group, things that lend themselves to being successful in adulthood.”

With the promise of spring

thaw comes local high school

baseball. Playing the national

pastime at this level is as much

about community as it is about

the sport itself. this season

lexington is fortunate to have

four programs running in

close proximity: lexington,

White knoll, gilbert, and the

new river Bluff High School.

Batter Up!2014 HigH ScHool BASeBAll PrevieW

“We’ll be good on the mound. We have a pretty

deep group of eight or nine arms who can give us a chance to compete.”

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Batter Up!2014 HigH ScHool BASeBAll PrevieW

A neW coAcH for tHe timBerWolveS

Across I-20 at White Knoll High School, the Timberwolves welcome a new head coach this year in Charles As-sey. A graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School, Assey coached there last season after spending much of his 10 years as a coach at the small college level in Texas and South Carolina. He inherits a program built by former coach Johnny Thompson, one that has gone through a couple of coaching changes since Thompson left to focus on classroom teaching.

“Coach Thompson did a fantastic job winning a state champion-ship here when the school

was still fairly new,” Assey says.

“There is great baseball in

this area, and he got it rolling.” Assey says he wants to

bring White Knoll back to promi-nence in South

Carolina high school baseball

circles.“I’m a big

discipline guy, and I want to bring a sense

of pride back into

the program,” Assey says. “Let’s win some ball games and everything else will take care of itself.”

On the field, Assey’s strategy is simple.“I am big on pitching and defense —

you have to get outs,” he says. “Some days you’ll hit well, some days you won’t. We’ll need to be aggressive and steal, bunt, and try some different things to win games.”

Though he’s new to White Knoll, Coach Assey knows that baseball is supported in the school and surrounding Red Bank community.

“I grew up around here and played in this area, and I couldn’t ask for a bet-ter team to work with than the teachers and faculty at White Knoll,” He says. “I’m looking forward to good crowds. We’ll have to go out there and win some games for them.”

“i’m a big discipline guy, and i want to bring a sense of pride back

into the program. let’s win some ball games

and everything else will take care of itself.”

by Kevin Oliver

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Before Lexington’s state title last season, it was Gilbert High School’s turn — the In-dians took home the trophy in 2012. Over the last six or seven years, the 3A school has had a very successful run with a pair of state titles and winning seasons. Head baseball coach Ashley Burnett says that it’s mostly their own expectations that they try to meet as a team.

“You put that pressure on yourself to have high expectations,” Burnett says. “The kids and parents have them, and the com-munity has come to expect it.” Even more so than the in-town teams, Gilbert is a com-munity that goes nuts over baseball.

“I feel fortunate to be in Gilbert where it’s still a small town atmosphere,” Burnett says. “Baseball is still a focal point for the community to gather around. We have had some good teams, so the stands are packed at any home game. That’s reassuring to our

players, and it lets them know their efforts are appreciated.” For the 2014 season, Burnett is confident he has a team that can be competitive in its region.

“I feel really good about the group of guys we have. They worked ex-tremely hard finding a niche where they can contribute this year,” he says. “We do have some expe-rience, but our pitching has to step up.”

As a coach and mentor to his student athletes, Burnett has a basic message he tries to convey.

“It’s the same message my Dad instilled in me,” he says. “Whatever you do, it de-serves your best effort. More than any other sport, baseball comes down to the basic tasks — the fundamentals of the game. If you perform those to a high level, you have a chance to succeed.”

gilBert’S HometoWn AdvAntAge

“Baseball is still a focal point for the commu-nity to gather around.

We have had some good teams, so the

stands are packed at any home game.”

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river Bluff: lexington’S neW kidS on tHe Block“the community has been very

supportive. they have just opened up and

accepted river Bluff.”

It’s hard enough being a new coach, but River Bluff High School head baseball coach Mark Bonnette has also had to work through the process of being at a brand new school without a tradition or even the basic equip-ment to play the game.

“It’s fun to start from the ground up, try-ing to get our foundations set, our expecta-tions, how to practice, and getting every-thing ready from equipment to supplies,” Coach Bonnette says. “I can’t wait until I’m able to just coach baseball.”

He’ll get that wish this month with the start of the new season. River Bluff opened with 1,400 students, placing them in the 3A level,

but next year’s realignment and the added student population means they’ll move up immediately to 4A and become di-

rect competitors with Lexington and White Knoll.

Coach Bonnette comes from a 10-year run as an assistant

at White Knoll, so he knows the area and community well and appreciates how

they have stepped up to support the new school and its sports programs.

“There’s no question that the biggest ob-stacle is that we have no alumni base, but the community has been very supportive. They have just opened up and accepted River Bluff,” Bonnette says. “We have a great group of parents on board, and our kids know they are lucky not only to be in this district and at this school, but they also know the importance athletics plays in the overall school experience.”

The team River Bluff is fielding this sea-son will be competitive, he promises. “We’ll be extremely young; we only have two seniors, and just three overall with varsity experience.” For Bonnette, it is enough for now to be in a baseball-crazy community like Lexington.

“We are in a great baseball area. The feeder programs and the recreational leagues are excellent, and they allow us to be successful,” he says. “We’re going to play hard, and teach them to play with class and integrity.” n

22 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

2014 Lexington Varsity Baseball3/11 Lexington @ North Augusta 7p3/14 Lexington vs. South Aiken 7p3/15 Lexington @ Dorman 1p3/18 Lexington vs. Aiken 7p3/21 Lexington @ Dutch Fork 7p3/22 Lexington vs. Northeast 2p3/28 Lexington vs. North Augusta 7p3/29 Lexington @ A.C. Flora 1p4/1 Lexington @ South Aiken 7p4/4 Lexington @ Aiken 7p4/5 Lexington vs. A.C. Flora 1p4/7 Lexington vs. T.C. Roberson 7p4/11 Lexington @ White Knoll 7p4/14 Forest Acres Classic: Lexington vs. Sumter 5p4/15 Forest Acers Classic: Lexington vs. Airport 5p4/16 Forest Acers Classic: Lexington vs. A.C. Flora 8p4/17 Forest Acers Classic: Lexington vs. TBD TBA4/22 Lexington vs. Dutch Fork 7p4/25 Lexington vs. White Knoll 7p4/26 Lexington vs. Dorman 1p

2014 White Knoll Varsity Baseball3/11 White Knoll vs. Aiken 7p3/14 White Knoll vs. North Augusta 7p3/14 White Knoll @ Dutch Fork 7p3/21 White Knoll @ South Aiken 7p3/22 White Knoll @A.C. Flora 12p3/24 White Knoll vs. Summerville 6:30p3/26 White Knoll @ Blythewood 6:30p3/28 White Knoll @ Aiken 7p4/1 White Knoll @ North Augusta 7p4/2 White Knoll vs. Blythewood 6:30p4/4 White Knoll vs. Dutch Fork 7p4/8 White Knoll vs. Barnwell 6:30p4/11 White Knoll vs. Lexington 7p4/14 Sandlapper Classic: White Knoll vs. Swansea 2:45p4/14 Sandlapper Classic: White Knoll vs. Mid. Valley 7:15p4/15 Sandlapper Classic: White Knoll vs. Gilbert 9:30a4/16 Sandlapper classic: White Knoll vs. TBA TBA4/22 White Knoll vs. South Aiken TBA4/25 White Knoll @ Lexington 7p4/26 White Knoll vs. Berkeley 2p

River Bluff Varsity Baseball3/12 River Bluff vs. Irmo 6:30p3/14 River Bluff @ Camden 6p3/18 River Bluff vs. A.C. Flora 6:30p3/20 River Bluff vs. Aiken 6:30p3/21 River Bluff @ Dreher 6p3/25 River Bluff vs. Chapin 6:30p3/28 River Bluff @ Lower Richland 6p4/1 River Bluff vs. Westwood 6:30p4/2 River Bluff @ Irmo 6p4/3 River Bluff @ Aiken 6p 4/7 River Bluff vs. Camden 6:30p4/9 River Bluff @ A.C. Flora 6:30p4/11 River Bluff vs. Dreher 6:30p4/17-20 South Carolina Diamond Invitational4/22 River Bluff @ Chapin 6p4/25 River Bluff vs. Lower Richland 6:30p4/28 River Bluff @ Westwood 6p

2014 Gilbert Varsity Baseball3/12 Gilbert @ Pelion 6p3/13 Gilbert vs. Clinton 11a3/18 Gilbert vs. Midland Valley 6:30p3/21 Gilbert @ Brookland – Cayce 6:30p3/25 Gilbert vs. Airport 7p3/28 Gilbert @ Strom Thurmond 7p3/31 Gilbert @ South Aiken 6:30p4/1 Gilbert vs. Swansea 6:30p4/4 Gilbert @ Midland Valley 7p4/8 Gilbert vs. Brookland-Cayce 6:30p4/11 Gilbert @ Airport 7p4/12 Sandlapper Classic: Gilbert vs. North Augusta 9a4/14 Sandlapper Classic: Gilbert vs. Batesburg-Leesville 8a 4/15 Sandlapper Classic Gilbert vs. White Knoll 9:30a4/16 Gilbert vs. TBA TBA4/21 Gilbert vs. Strom Thurmond 6:30p4/23 Gilbert vs. South Aiken 6:30p4/24 Gilbert @ Swansea 7p4/28 Gilbert vs. Pelion 6:30p

Varsity BASEBALL Schedules

www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 23

(L to R) Miss Sophomore Runner-Up Samantha Dorward, Miss Sophomore Morgan Taylor, Miss Junior Runner-Up Ayanna Wigfall, Miss Junior Haley Burchette, Miss GHS Vicky Wills, Miss Senior Marissa Smiley, Miss Senior Runner-Up Ivy Butts, Miss Fresh-man Kaylyn Warren, Miss Freshman Runner-Up Taylor Davis, People’s Choice Award recipient Jade Harris and Miss Congeniality Julissa Martinez.

(L to R) Miss Freshman Kara Murphy, Miss Sophomore Mariah Brakefield, Miss Timberwolf Jeana Murphy, Miss Junior Hanna Shelley and Miss Senior Demaris Collier.

Miss Sophomore- Madison Shealy, Miss Junior- Madison Oswald, Miss Senior- Cat Corey, Miss Wildcat -Meera Bhonsle, Miss Freshman- Summer Rogers

Crowning GloryMiss River Bluff L-R: Miss Greater Gator-Chambree Neese, Miss Senior-Breah Rid-dle, Miss River Bluff-Kaylee Cuthbertson, Miss Junior-Marley Stokes, Miss Sopho-more-Graci Conner, Miss Freshman-Delaney Cranshaw

Miss River Bluff Miss Lexington

Miss Gilbert

Miss White Knoll

Lexington’s Race Against Hunger February 22, 2014

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The Best of 2014Oops — we goofed! Here are the omitted and corrected listings from our Best of 2014 winners published in last month’s issue. We congratulate these recipients again, and sincerely apologize for our mistake. Thanks as always for reading Lexington Life!

Best Place to Buy Hardwoods Floor Boys

Best Insurance Agent Jeff Burgey Farm Bureau

Best Oncology Lexington Oncology

Best Skilled Nursing & Rehab Lexington Medical Center Extended Care

Best OB/GYN Lexington Women’s Care

28 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

GETTiNG STARTED House cleaning is not a pleasant task for

most of us, so pump yourself up by creating a cleaning playlist to make chores more en-tertaining. If you lack motivation, a rockin’ soundtrack will get you off the couch and on your feet! You may be amazed at how many calories you can burn while cleaning. It can also be fun to time yourself during tasks; as you’ll be surprised that most of the chores listed below can be completed in 10 minutes or less.

KiTChEN CLEANiNGDishwasher duty

Once a week, shake baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe around the ma-chine’s edges to remove hardened food or stains. To clean the inside, run an empty cycle with a powerful cleaning agent to kill bacteria like E-coli. During cold and flu season, add a quarter-cup of bleach to the regular dish cycle to kill bacteria. The dishes will be safe and sanitized after the rinse cycle is finished.

Zap the spongeWe all know that sponges are a breed-

ing ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing excess water out and microwaving it on high for a minute. When it’s shredded or smelly, replace it.

Disinfect the kitchen sinkA sparkling sink becomes your kitch-

en’s benchmark for hygiene and tidiness. For stainless steel or porcelain sinks: rinse with warm water, then scrub with a soft sponge and baking soda. Use an old toothbrush to clean the drain, caulk seal and faucet. Rinse well, then spray entire sink with white vinegar and leave for 15-20 minutes. Immediately rinse sink with dish detergent and warm water. For cop-per or stone sinks, use mild dish detergent and warm water unless manufacturer di-rects otherwise.

Refrigerator refreshIt’s important to make sure your refrig-

erator is always clean and odorless, espe-cially if you are expecting guests. One trick

Are you preparing for “spring cleaning”? Fresh air and the brightness of warmer weather somehow never fails to lift our

spirits. Unfortunately, household chores are a never-ending reality of life. In fact, on average women spend more than two

hours a day on household activities, which include housework and cooking, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Time Use Survey. Yet, keeping up with kids, pets and a hectic schedule

make it seem like there’s still always something to clean. Tackle your home with these quick tips to make chores easier

and more effective so you can maintain a tidy, sparkling home, ready for that unexpected guest or event at any time.

Spring CleaningMaintenance is Key

www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 29

to get rid of smells is to open a canister of oatmeal and place it in the fridge for a few days to absorb any unappealing odors. Be sure to dispose of wilting vegetables and fruits as well as expired items.

MAiNTAiN BEAUTY iN ThE BAThTackle the toilet

The toilet requires frequent cleaning, there are no exceptions to this rule. For a thorough wipe down, spray a disinfecting bathroom cleaner or chlorine bleach into the bowl and allow it to sit for 10 minutes to fully annihilate germs, bacteria and viruses. To maintain the cleanliness, pour one cup of baking soda into the bowl each week to keep it fresh.

Scour the shower or tubShowers and tubs are also a breeding

ground for bacteria and mildew - feasting on body oils and soap scum. Make show-er doors shine by rubbing a teaspoon of lemon oil on them twice a month, causing water to bead up and roll off. Or, try an

automobile windshield car-care product twice a year. For easy maintenance, after each use, clean the stall or tub and tiles with a squeegee.

Spotless sinksThis area requires constant monitoring.

After your family finishes brushing their teeth or shaving, use a dry terrycloth hand towel on the mirror and bathroom faucets to wipe away spots of lather so they won’t build up.

LiViNG ROOMTake care of toys

Gather stuffed toys, where dust mites, mold and pet dander can accumulate, and wash them in hot water and dry before us-ing again. Place stuffed toys that can’t be washed in the freezer for 24 hours, then rinse in cold water to remove dead mites, and dry completely.

Eliminating-pet hairOther than daily vacuuming, put on a

wet rubber dishwashing glove and wipe

your hand over surfaces.

Perfectly polishedTurn on your favorite music, dampen a

pair of old socks with furniture cleanser or polish and dust to the beat. You also can put those socks on your feet and “dance” over dirty floors.

Stop clutter at the front doorMount a plastic or cloth shoe rack in-

side your front entry closet door and use it to stash all kinds of living and family room items. You can even designate one of the pockets for mail you’re not sure whether to save or toss.

Spring cleaning should really occur monthly - by creating a checklist of key items to tackle routinely, you’ll keep on top of your home’s dirtiest rooms and be prepared for any type of visit or event.

Spring CleaningTipsBy Tiffanie LoveMaintenance is Key

essexhomes.net

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30 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

Q & A On TheSpirit of Lake Murray Inspection

Q: Why is The Spirit of Lake Murray being put in dry dock at this time?

A: Every passenger vessel that is operated on navigable waters within the United States has to comply with United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations. Lake Murray has two vessels that fall into this category--The South-ern Patriot (operated by another company) and The Spirit of Lake Murray. The USCG re-quires that the vessel be brought out of the wa-ter once every five years so its hull, or bottom of the vessel, can be inspected. Even though our vessel is inspected annually by the USCG, they do not inspect the bottom when it does an annual inspection. The process of taking a vessel out of the water is called “dry dock”.

Q: Why did you decide to do your dry dock at Big Man’s Marina at the north-west end of the lake?

A: As many of your readers recall, The Spirit of Lake Murray came to Lake Murray in March, 2009. At that time, we used the servic-es of a local crane company to put the boat in the water at Lake Murray Marina in Ballentine. Since then Lake Murray Marina has changed its appearance with a new 200+ apartment complex called Marina Bay Apartments as well as a new and bigger restaurant, Liberty on the Lake. These have been good additions to Lake

Murray shoreline; however, there in no room to set up a crane on the property to take a boat out of the water. When the apartments were built, we moved our operation across the cove to Shealy’s Landing off of Shadowood Drive, but with the recent dredging done at the land-ing, the ground was too soft for a crane to get close enough to the shoreline to operate safely. After looking at other places, Big Man’s Marina on Route 391 at the north end of the lake was the best place we could find.

Q: How long do you think your vessel will be in dry dock?

A: It all depends on the USCG. If they find places on the bottom of the boat which has thin metal, than we do what is called “crop and renew”. That means we cut out question-able metal and have a welder replace it with new metal. If necessary, we will bring in a company to do ultrasonic testing of the bot-tom to determine the metal thickness. Our particular vessel is allowed a 20% waste fac-tor. We have operated solely on fresh water since our last dry dock so we are not affected by salt water which eats away at any boat. The amount of time that we are in dry dock, will be determined by the USCG when they do the inspection and tell us the repairs we need to make to the hull of the boat.

Q: It has been five years since you brought your ship to Lake Murray, how has business been?

A: We do an average of 180 cruises a year. Most of our cruises are private charters when people hire the boat for private events like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, business meetings, college parties, school educational cruises, etc. Every month, we offer public cruises where people can go on line and make reservations themselves. Of course in July and August of each year, thousands of Purple Martins make their annual trip from Brazil to Bomb Island giving the Midlands a special treat. We have had groups come from North Carolina and Georgia to see the birds.

Q: Has there been in increase in the number of historical cruises?

A: Yes, not only school children come for educational trips, but older folks too. On our History Cruises we talk about what life was like before the Lake Murray dam was built in 1930 and covered up communities of about 5,000 people under the water. When you add that bit of history to the Doolittle Raiders ini-tial training at Lake Murray in 1942 and the Army Post on Shull Island, there is a lot of his-tory to be told about Lake Murray and its 650 miles of shoreline. n

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Q & A On TheSpirit of Lake Murray Inspection

32 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

Cheese Ravioli with Pesto1 package (9-oz.) fresh 3-cheese ravioli1 1/3 cups fresh baby spinach2/3 cup fresh basil leaves1/2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper2 garlic cloves2 Tbsp. chicken broth2 Tbsp. olive oil1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 large tomato, diced1/2 cup (2-oz.) shaved fresh Parmesan

cheese1/3 cup pine nuts toastedFresh basil leavesCook ravioli according to package directions and drain. Combine spinach, basil, salt, red pepper and garlic in a food processor. Add broth, olive oil and lemon juice. Combine ravi-oli, pesto and tomato in medium saucepan over medium high heat. Cook minute until warm. Spoon into bowls, sprinkle with cheese and nuts and garnish with basil leaves.

—Charlotte Compton

Sour Cream Lavender Pound Cake1 box yellow cake mix1/2 cup sugar4 eggs1 Tbsp. lavender buds3/4 cup vegetable oilPowdered sugar1 (8-oz.) carton sour creamCombine ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer at medium speed for 4 minutes. Pour batter into a greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean and the edges of the

cake begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

— Honey Comer

Aioli-horseradish1 (10 or 12-oz.) tofu 1/2 tsp. salt1 clove garlic, chopped fine2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 tsp. Horseradish1 Tbsp. olive oilBlend all ingredients and refrigerate. Makes 2 cups. Delicious on salad greens or as a cracker spread.

— Louise Watkins

Recipes provided by members of The Herb Bunch, hosting the 3rd Annual It’s All About Herbs festival on Saturday, April 5. Follow them on Facebook.

www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com March 2014 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 33

Check-in to Travinia on YELP and Receive a

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LEXINGTON: 803.957.2422 • 5074 Sunset BoulevardCOLUMBIA: 803.419.9313 • 101 Sparkleberry Crossing Road

www.traviniaitaliankitchen.com

This time of year, many families are making plans for April’s notorious spring break vacation. Americans are on the move, logging two bil-

lion business and leisure trips of 50 miles for at least one night last year alone, accord-ing to the U.S. Travel Association.

Today, more families are searching for unique travel activities — ones that are outside the traditional museum or monu-ment visit. To get more out of your next vacation, consider some expert advice on how to break out of the tourist rut and have a truly authentic local experience.

“The single biggest thing you can do to trigger these experiences is to talk to the locals,” says Reena Ganga, Gadling blogger and Wanderplex Founder. Here are several ways to create opportunities for interactions that are sure to create lasting memories.

Trek like the locals. Don’t limit your-self to sightseeing buses or taxis. If the locals travel in communal mini-vans or via bike, so should you. Don’t be afraid to approach local residents for details; you’ll find that many are eager to share their background and experiences.

Go off the beaten path. Make time to head to the smaller, secondary cities when you travel. These are often the places that feel the most culturally distinct. If you’re in a big city, head outside the tourist zones and into interesting neighborhoods and parks where the locals spend their time.

Choose a place that feels like home. Instead of staying in a traditional hotel,

think about staying in a serviced apart-ment, condo or an extended stay hotel where you have a living room and kitchen. Head out to the local market and talk to the vendors. You’ll discover the produce and products that are special to that area, and you never know where the conversa-tions will lead.

Eat with the locals. Don’t just eat at chain restaurants that you’re familiar with or that only have English menus. Go where the locals congregate. Whether it’s a mom-and-pop restaurant or a street ki-osk, local eateries are likely to have more authentic food, and the area residents are often eager to tell you about the food and how to eat it.

Put away technology. If you find your-self lost while traveling, don’t immediately refer to maps on your phone; stop and ask a shopkeeper for directions. If you need a restaurant recommendation, don’t just search online. Ask locals for their tips. It’s a great excuse to strike up a conversation.

Keep in mind, trave-ling with a local mind-set means taking a new approach to packing, too. Try these smart packing tips:

Distribute weight even-ly. Pack the heaviest items, such as shoes and

toiletry bags, at the bottom. Pack socks in-side shoes to prevent footwear from getting squished.

Skip checked baggage. A canvas bag with a sturdy strap is great for packing for any length of trip. If you forget something, hotels can often help. Some hotels even have a borrowing program, which sup-plies everything from a phone charger to yoga mats.

Carry-on with care. Because you never know when weather or unforeseen events will cause travel delays, pack a car-ry-on bag containing necessities such as medications and toiletries.

Stay clean on the run. Travel-size packaged antibacterial wipes are great for keeping your hands and face clean.

Regulate wrinkles. Use large dry clean-er bags to pack bulky sweaters or cardi-

gans. The plastic helps prevent wrinkling.Secure belongings. If you’re traveling

a long distance, use a lock and key or combination lock to protect your belongings.

These simple tips make it easy to travel like a lo-

cal and get the most out of your next vacation. You’ll be delighted by

the unique memories and wonderful

stories you will bring home to

share with your friends. n

Vacation 101tips for truly authentic Experiences

by Kristen Carter

34 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

Something I’ve noticed about the older generation is their sense of gratitude. I get lots of mail from older folks. A typical letter is from a person in their late 70s. They

have lost a spouse. Their parents died years ago. Quite a few have lost children. I can’t recall receiving a single letter from this age group describing their life as bad. Almost every letter from this age group contains a sentence describing how God has blessed their life.

On the face of it, one has to ask: “How can they possibly say that God has blessed them?” And I reckon some older folks think their life is horrible. But claims of horrible lives seem to be usually made from folks in their 40s. A friend of mine commented that she had never heard her Dad complain about food. I have the same memory of my Daddy. The reason is very simple. Those men grew up knowing that an empty belly believes any meal is a good meal. Doing without teaches gratitude.

How many times have we all heard stories of folks sharing food with strangers during the Depression era? What would be the modern reaction to a hungry stran-ger knocking on our door and asking for a meal? What would be the modern reaction to the news that grocery stores would not be stocking their shelves one week from now? What would be the modern reaction to the news that large numbers of fami-lies, including yours and mine, wouldn’t be able to afford the food that was avail-able? What would be the modern reaction to standing all day in a line waiting for a cup of soup? Can you imagine the uproar? “That’s not fair!”

Nowadays we order our salad dressing “on the side.” And that, in and of itself, is

not a bad thing. But I won-der: how often we would do that if we went a year without salad? In theory, we live in the most comfortable society the world has ever known. There is plenty of food. Houses are air-conditioned. There are no cracks in the carpeted floors. The chil-dren are wearing shoes. By rights, we should all be as happy as pigs in cool mud on a hot day. But I’d bet that today’s most comfortable society is also the complainingest.

Every person living today should spend time studying pho-tographs documenting the Depres-sion era. The library will have a book of those photos. Look at the men and women — my Grandpar-ents — look in their eyes. Notice how many children wore shoes. Look at the cracks in the floors. Look at the families load-ed into cars trying to es-cape the Dust Bowl. Look at the hunger.

Older folks who write me and claim the Lord’s blessings on their long, rich lives remember those pho-tographs. They lived those photographs. They were the barefooted children standing on cold, dusty floors. Would today’s most comfortable so-ciety survive that experience? How can we plant the seeds of gratitude?

David Clark is a nationally known writer, musician, carpenter and organic vegetable farmer in Cochran, GA. For permission to reuse, please contact the author at

[email protected].

Planting SeedSGratitudeof

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Willow Ridge Church is an energetic, people-centered congregation that thrives on serving their community. The senior pastor, Beau Bradberry, took the time to describe some of the outreaches the con-gregation is most passionate about; in-cluding ministries to the homeless of Co-lumbia, outreaches to those with special needs and a new partnership with a local elementary school.

Willow Ridge has two ministries that work to help feed and care for the home-less in their community. Once a month they go to the Christ Central Winter Shel-ter to serve the people there. They cur-rently have different church small groups who volunteer to cook, serve, and minis-ter to the individuals staying at the shelter. Another group of church members go to

Finlay Park every Wednesday night to care for the homeless. The church provides prayer support, food, jackets, blankets, and any other support the homeless may need throughout the year.

The congregation’s outreach to those with special needs is centered around an organi-zation called Camp T.A.L.K. This sum-mer camp is run by the church and is an inclusive social skills day camp for children ages 10 and up. Their focus is on students who have a diagnosis of Aspergers, Autism or PDD-NOS. They work

on practicing social skills and building friendships in a highly supervised, safe set-ting that includes field trips, team building games, guest speakers, music and move-ment. Another special needs ministry at the church is called Faith Night. This min-istry meets every Tuesday night to minister to adults who have special needs (as well as to their caregivers!). Pastor Bradberry says the goal of Faith Night is to “provide special needs adults the opportunity to simply get out of the house and have some fun”. The church provides various activi-ties that include line dancing, ice cream socials and art lessons.

Within the last 3 months Willow Ridge has also begun a partnership with White Knoll Elementary School. This new out-reach allows them to assist the school in a variety of ways. Once a quarter the church sponsors a teacher appreciation event. These events provide a catered lunch for the teachers during their in-service train-ing days. Another service offered through the church is the Snack Pack Program (of-fered in partnership with Emmanuel Bap-tist Church). Every Friday this ministry provides additional food for students who need it over the weekend. Finally, Willow Ridge has begun partnering with students at White Knoll for a mentoring program. They are working to pair students and adults for one-hour a week of mentoring that includes activities such as tutoring, eating a meal together, conversation and the chance for new friendships to begin.

If you’re interested in one of these min-istries, or would like more information about Willow Ridge, please contact the church office! n

by Charissa Sylvia

104 Sycamore Tree Road, LexingtonWillowRidgeChurch.org

(803) 808-7771

Sundays 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

WillowRidge

Church

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Try the new Bacon Clubhouse Burger or Bacon Clubhouse Chicken sandwich. They’re made with creamy, smooth white cheddar*, crispy thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sweet caramelized grilled onions, and the timeless flavor of McDonald’s special sauce on a soft, warm artisan roll.

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March 10th! Savory not stuffy

40 | LEXINGTON LIFE | March 2014 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

JOIN LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER FOR THE ANNUAL

COLON CANCER CHALLENGE

Please visit LMCColonCancerChallenge.com for more information.

All proceeds will go to fund colon cancer screenings for under insured

and uninsured patients.

Saturday, March 29, 2014DUTCH FORK MIDDLE SCHOOL

1528 Old Tamah Road, Irmo

• 5-mile Ride • 15-mile Ride

• 50-mile Ride • 65-mile Ride