Lexington Life Magazine May 13

www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com May 2013 | LEXINGTON LIFE | 1

2 | LEXINGTON LIFE | May 2013 www.lexingtonlifemagazine.com

COVER STORY8 Marina Bay. Eat. Boat. Live.

FEATURES18 A Mother’s Love24 Caring Homes for Furry Friends29 Spring Home Improvement Projects34 Junior Women’s Club Fashion Show38 LHS Wrestling Team41 Swim4Nathaniel44 Tips for First-Time Gardeners50 Just Right David Clark

COLUMNS6 Financial Strategies Stratos Wealth Partners15 Speaking of Health Lexington Medical Center16 Faith Matters Pastor Ken Jumper

DEPARTMENTS3 From the Publisher5 Events7 Lexington Leaders J.R. Fennell46 Car Talk Larry Baker48 Spice of Life Mother’s Day Brunch52 Faith in Action Lexington Church of Christ

Publisher & editor -in-ChiefTodd Shevchik

[email protected]

sales ManagerAnne Reynolds

[email protected]

aCCount exeCutivesMisty Floyd

[email protected]

Donna [email protected]

Teresa [email protected]

editorAllison Caldwell

[email protected]

editorial assistantTiffanie Wise

ProduCtion Manager Cory Bowen

[email protected]

graPhiC designJane Carter

Website designerPaul Tomlinson

Contributing WritersAllison Caldwell, Kristen Carter, David Clark, Kevin Oliver, Jackie

Perrone, Marilyn Thomas, Charissa Sylvia

Contributing PhotograPhers

Larry James, Anne McQuary, N Squared Photography,

Jackie Perrone

It’s hard to believe that summer will be here in a month and the kids will be out of school already. Time sure flies, especially when you get older. I’d like to congratulate Lisa Herndon and Kim Williams, who were winners at Lexington School District One’s Dancing with the Stars event last month. It was a fabulous event, and I was extremely proud of Donna and the routine she per-formed at the Koger Center. I know the district and the Educational Foundation ap-preciate all the support they receive from the Lexington community.

Don’t forget Mom this month! She sure hasn’t forgotten about you. I miss my mom very much, and I’m glad that Donna is such a terrific mom to our children. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! We hope you’ll enjoy our special profile on three local moms and what being a mother means to them.

On a sad note, my sincerest sympathies and condolences go out to the friends and family of Chris Max-well, who unexpect-edly passed away last month at the age of 28. We featured Chris in February’s issue as a bachelor for our Valentine’s Day feature; he was the head technician at John’s RV in Lex-ington. Our whole family knew Chris. As a father, you notice that your children look up to and admire certain people. Our old-est son Joey looked up to Chris Maxwell. He thought Chris was a cool dude. I had already made plans for Joey to volunteer at John’s RV this summer and work under Chris’ tu-telage in a mentor/apprentice-type relation-

ship. Now sadly, that will never happen. Chris will be missed by many in the Lexington community, including those of his extended family at John’s RV and Lex-ington Life. Chris was not only a cool dude, he was a good one.

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

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The Shevchiks celebrate Donna’s performance at Dancing with the Stars: Lexington.

L-R: Teresa, Misty, Tiffanie, Anne and Allison



MayMay 10Night of the ArtsNorthside Baptist Church, 5:30-8:30 p.m.Enjoy a silent auction and dinner theater featuring students of Northside Christian Academy. Proceeds benefit the school’s tech-nology, library and arts programs. $15 per person. 520-5656. Friday-Saturday, May 10-11Aiken Bluegrass FestivalWorld-class bluegrass comes to nearby Ai-ken with artists including Keller Williams, The Travelin’ McCourys, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Della Mae, The Hackensaw Boys, and Doug & the Henrys. Proceeds benefit Star Riding, offering therapeutic and recreational equestrian programs for people with disabilities. AikenBluegrass-Festival.org. Saturday, May 11Mamapalooza 2013Wingard’s Nursery & Garden Center, 8:30 a.m.Balloons, hot dogs by Chef Ronnie Long, roses for Mom, great gift ideas, and much more! Bring Mom and don’t miss this spe-cial day! WingardsNursery.com/Events. Monday, May 13LHS Band Percussion Ensemble ConcertLexington One Performing Arts Center, 2463 Augusta HighwayEnjoy a free night of exceptional music per-formed by the award winning Lexington High School Percussion Ensemble, who recently performed at the Music For All Na-tional Festival. 821-3525.

Saturday, May 18A Pet Pawty FundraiserRed Bank Horse Arena, 1159 Nazareth RoadThis pet-friendly fundraising event and pet food drive will benefit seniors and their pets. Hosted by Lexington County Recre-ation and Aging Commission. Register for a pet walk from 8:30-9 a.m., and enjoy pet contests, entertainment, kids’ activities, food vendors and more from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 356-5111. Sunday, May 19Fairy Garden Tea PartyWingard’s Nursery & Garden Center, 2 p.m.Young girls will enjoy this event held in the Secluded Gardens, which adjoins Win-gard’s. Come spend time with your daugh-ter or granddaughter experiencing the delight of fairy gardens, led by our own Garden Fairy, Andrea Bickley. Refresh-ments, cake and fairy wings included, but space is limited. $20 per child. Register at WingardsNursery.com or call 359-9091.

May 25Yard Sale for Veteran David Hockemeier, Jr. American Legion Post 7 Hut, 8 a.m. - NoonDavid Hockemeier, Jr. is a 33-year-old sin-gle father and veteran who suffered a stroke in December 2012; his medical insurance runs out in May. Proceeds will help cover his ongoing medical and rehabilitation costs. Community members are invited to donate items including large and small household items, furniture, clothing and outdoor items. Tax-deductible monetary donations are also welcome. 359-1278.

Saturday, May 257th Annual Jailbreak 5K Run & WalkLexington County Sheriff’s Department, 521 Gibson RoadSign up for a morning of fun and compe-tition to support the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation! Packet pick-up and late registration begin at 6:15 a.m.; 5K run/walk starts at 8 a.m. $25 pre-registra-tion at StrictlyRunning.com; $30 day of race. 785-8230.

Thursday, May 30 and Saturday, June 112th Annual Garden TourEnjoy a two-day escape in six lush, private gardens located in Lexington County (9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day). Each garden ex-emplifies southern gardening pride. Mar-vel at the handiwork of our homeowners and relax among the natural beauty of these select gardens. Hosted by Lexington County Master Gardener Volunteers. Pro-ceeds benefit the Sam Cheatham Scholar-ship for Lexington County horticulture students. For tickets or more information, contact Patricia Dukes at 796-0884 or [email protected].


Isn’t estate planning only for the rich?

In a word, no. Estate planning allows you or anyone to implement certain tools now to ensure that your con-cerns and goals are fulfilled after you die. Your objective may be to simply make sure that your loved ones are pro-vided for. Or you may have more complex goals, such as avoiding probate or reducing estate taxes.

Estate planning can be as simple as implementing a will (the cornerstone of any estate plan) and purchas-ing life insurance, or as complicated as executing trusts and exploring other sophisticated tax and estate plan-ning techniques. Therefore, estate planning is important whether you are wealthy or whether you have only a small estate. In fact, estate planning may be more impor-tant if you have a smaller estate because final expenses will have a greater impact on your estate. Wasting even a single asset may cause your loved ones to suffer from lack of financial resources.

You may also want to plan your estate if you have spe-cial circumstances such as any of the following:n You have minor children or children with special

needsn Your spouse is uncomfortable with or incapable of

handling financial mattersn You have property in more than one staten You have special property, such as artwork or collectibles

Working with a trusted, local wealth advisor as well as your CPA and attorney are important for all of your estate planning needs. We are your team to protect you and your beneficiaries.

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

lexington, sC 29072 (803) 386-0307

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

separate entity from LPL Financial.

greg davidFounding Partner & Wealth Advisor


The director of the Lexington County Museum wonders if it was built just for him. Of course, J.R. Fennell had not yet been born 43 years ago when it came into being, but maybe the founding fathers were looking ahead.

“I feel that this museum and I are a perfect fit,” he says.” It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted, and it’s exciting to be here and plan for the future.”

This enthusiastic young historian got off to a good start by being born in Charleston, South Carolina’s outstanding monument to history. He later lived in Walterboro, another town of interesting heritage, and soaked up his surroundings. The next step was a B.A. degree, followed by a Masters in history from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

“I wasn’t especially interested in teach-ing,” he says, “and I wanted to find some-thing that would allow me to focus on history.” An internship at Columbia’s Con-federate Relic Room and Military Museum was a good start, then work with the Co-lumbia Planning Commission, followed by some restoration work in Charleston.

When long-time Lexington Museum Di-rector Horace Harmon retired in 2007, Fennell’s dream job became available. He’s been at the helm for just over five years now, and looks forward to a bright future for this facility.

“Horace Harmon did a wonderful job here,” he says. “We now have an impres-sive collection of buildings on site, and some really great objects from the past. We are offering more tours and special programs than ever before. We want every resident and out of town guests to visit and tell their friends about us. Most people are surprised at how much is available here.”

Local residents often refer to their Museum as a hidden treasure. It occu-pies a valuable piece of land in the heart of downtown Lexington, but is tucked in behind several commercial buildings on Columbia Avenue. After years of effort, the Museum finally cajoled the S.C. De-partment of Transportation to put up an entrance sign on the busy road, but more signs are needed. If a large financial wind-fall fell into Fennell’s lap, he knows exactly what he would do.

“We would be open to the world if we could buy and get rid of the large build-ings hiding us from the street. A lot of peo-ple think that the John Fox House is the only thing here. They need to see the other 35 buildings, on seven acres of developed ground.” Bringing the collection into the 21st century is Fennell’s focus these days.

“We are working on getting everything digitized, so that things can be found eas-ily. The website is being improved and expanded with better information. We have some great public programs such as Christmas Open House, Halloween and Spring festivals, and a lot of hands-on events for children and everyone else.”

If he had anything left over from the windfall, an additional staff employee would be high on the director’s list. Vol-unteers are always welcome and provide outstanding service, but more professional help would add to future possibilities.

The Museum is always interested in au-thentic items from the past: silver, weap-ons, furniture, journals, or items from everyday life. To learn more, search “mu-seum” at Lex-Co.SC.gov. n

by Jackie Perrone

J.R. Fennell


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Eat, Boat, Live!

Marina Bay is the brainchild of Ben Ar-nold, president of the Arnold Companies and the developer responsible for Mid-lands-area landmarks such as The Vista Lofts, Renaissance Plaza, and The Palms on Main. Site partners at Marina Bay in-clude The Residence at Marina Bay, Liberty on the Lake, Lake Murray Marina, Lake Murray Boat Club, and Better Boat Rental. When asked about his latest project, Ar-nold says Marina Bay has exceeded his ex-pectations.

Lexington Life: What was your inspira-tion for developing Marina Bay?

Ben Arnold: I wanted to spring some-thing truly exceptional to Columbia and Lake Murray. Twelve acres adjacent to a marina on beautiful Lake Murray was the perfect site. The plan was, and is, to

bring a lifestyle to Columbia that it does not already have. By this I mean luxury residences with a first class marina, ship/convenience store, boat rental, and a large reputable restaurant/bar on site. I strive to do projects that are unique and interesting as well as beneficial to the community.

LL: How closely does the final product match your original plans?

Arnold: The final project is exceeding my expectations. The vision was to bring resort-style living with fun tropical colors while blending in with the inherent beauty of Lake Murray. I like to say that Marina Bay is where Columbia and Miami come together to offer people an inland resort that you can live at without purchasing.

LL: When will the final phase of construc-tion be complete?

Open for Business (and Pleasure)

Eat, Boat, Live!The lakeside restaurant is now serving.

Boat slips are now available. Brand new,

luxury-casual rental apartments are move-in ready.

Lake Murray’s stylish new waterfront lifestyle

destination is finally open for business,

and already living up to its motto as an ideal place

to eat, boat and live.

Marina Bay:

by Allison Caldwell | Photos by Anne McQuary



Arnold: As of this interview [April 2013], we have all but 24 units online as well as all of the amenities. The last build-ing will be completed [by the end of the month.] As a matter of fact, leasing has been really strong and we already have people living in all of the buildings except the last one.

LL: What else would you like to see de-velop on, in, or around Lake Murray?

Arnold: I believe Lake Murray could use a boutique hotel at a small marina with an onsite restaurant. Finding the right lo-cation with the appropriate zoning would be tough.

LL: What have you enjoyed most about this project so far?

Arnold: The opportunity to turn a run-down marina with mostly vacant water-

front land into a development like nothing else in the Southeast. Think about it: how many multi-family properties are on the water with these kinds of amenities and have meal service at the pool? No public marinas in Columbia have the ability for slip holders to have a pool membership.

What I enjoy most about putting this deal together is the range of people that I get to interact with. A developer interacts with property owners, tenants, govern-ment officials, bankers, lawyers, architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, property managers, leasing con-sultants, marketing firms and the media, to name a few.

LL: What were your greatest challenges? Arnold: Financing and constructing

this project while continuously operating

a marina. Getting through all of the gov-ernment approvals, permits and inspec-tions and delivering the project timely was a challenge as well. Marina Bay required the cooperation of federal, state, Richland County and City of Columbia submissions and approvals. Our society in general has government involvement in almost all as-pects of our lives these days.

LL: What might our readers be surprised to know about how things progressed in the development process?

Arnold: That while you make the best of plans, things can and do go wrong. We originally intended to have the restaurant open last April. For that, we apologize to our slip holders and are appreciative of their patience and understanding. We are confident it will be worth it in the end.

LL: What’s your next big project in the Lexington area?

Arnold: At present I do not have one. I will say that we just signed two large ten-ants at South Lake Center on Highway 6, which brings us to 100 percent leased! n

I like to say that Marina Bay is where

Columbia and Miami come together to

offer people an inland resort that you can

live at without purchasing.


(Still) Open for Business

lake Murray Marina at Marina bay

Boaters on Lake Murray can now enjoy dockside access to the new Liberty on the Lake restaurant (a sister location to Liberty Taproom in The Vista), a new, expanded con-venience store and renovated fuel dock at Lake Murray Marina. Although memberships are available, access is open to the public—and always has been, according to General Manager Tammy Wright.

“There seems to have been a misconcep-tion that Lake Murray Marina was private, or even closing because of the construction at Marina Bay,” says Wright. “The truth is, we’re open to everyone on the lake and still maintain lease slips for boats from 16 to 100 feet long, with completely separate public and member docks. There are certainly ben-efits to membership, of course.”

Those benefits include power, water, cable TV, a free SeaTow package, attentive dock service, member parties and special events—including a private grand opening party later this month. In all, Wright says 205 slips are available with plenty of parking.

“We’re excited about all of the changes here. This is something Lake Murray has needed for a long time,” says Wright. “We encourage folks to come us by boat instead of car, and discover why we’re known as the friendliest marina on the lake. You’re not just a slip number here—you’re like family.”


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by Jennifer WilsonPublic Relations Manager, Lexington Medical Center

Lexington Medical Center’s Honor Flight

Lexington Medical Center will sponsor an Honor Flight on Wednes-day, May 22. This one-day trip to Washington, D.C. is designed to rec-ognize war veterans for their heroic service. Lexington Medical Center ’s Honor Flight is open to any veteran who served in World War II or the Korean War.

Veterans will fly from Columbia to Washington, D.C. on a US Air-ways charter flight. Patriotic fanfare will greet them upon arrival. In the nation’s capital, the veterans will tour the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial. They will also take a driving tour of the city. In the afternoon, the veterans will be special guests at Arlington Na-tional Cemetery as they observe the Changing of The Guard ceremony at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

The veterans will fly back to Columbia and land at approximately 8:00 p.m., greeted by a hero’s welcome featuring patriotic music, family and friends.

Dr. Hank Powell of Lexington Women’s Care, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice, has served as a physician on twelve Honor Flights. He will also be traveling on May 22. His participation is a per-sonal tribute to his father, a World War II veteran.

“Honor Flight is a great way for South Carolina to honor our veter-ans with a tremendous public display,” Dr. Powell said. “I am so proud to be a part of the event and proud that Lexington Medical Center is helping to honor these deserving men and women.”

If you or someone you know may be interested in participating in the Honor Flight, please call (803) 791-2445 or visit www.honor-flightsc.com for an application. Members of the public are also encour-aged to come welcome the veterans home at 8:00 p.m. on May 22 in the airport terminal.

In April’s issue, we mistakenly identified the writer of Lexington Medical Cen-ter’s column. The information about electrophysiology should have been attributed to the hospital’s cardiovascular care team. We apologize for the error.


Ouch, that hurts! Have you ever bumped your knee, or your little toe, trying to find your way across a dark room? I’m sure you have. That just happened to me the other evening. I had been taking some potent cough syrup to help me sleep, so I was a little groggy anyway.

Man, don’t you feel pretty stupid when you walk into a wall and hit your little toe? I limped around for the next day or two — so much for walking in the dark. I wondered why I didn’t just turn on the light? Hmmm, now that is a novel idea!

You know, we can treat life that way as well. We just keep stum-bling through the darkness and never reach up and turn on the light. Some of us may remember those times long ago, when there was a light bulb in the middle of the room and you had to reach up in the dark, find the string, give it a gentle tug, and, viola! “There was light.”

Over the years I’ve found a couple of ways to light the dark path-ways of my life. First of all, asking Jesus Christ to be the Light of my life has been a key. In the Bible, Jesus states: “I am the Light of the world, and whoever comes to me will not stumble in darkness.” As someone who stumbled quite a bit early in life, one evening I reached upward and discovered the string dangling from heaven. I gave it a tug, and the light came on for me! Jesus is the Light of my life who guides and guards my path each day.

Reading my Bible on a daily basis also helps me keep it simple in a complicated and rapidly changing world. God’s truth is absolute and unchanging. It brings clarity and understanding every time I take time to read it. The Bible truly is a “light to my path and a lamp unto my feet.” I don’t stumble as much anymore. My path is filled with more light and clarity than ever before. Yours can be, too.

Now, where is my flashlight? I need to go potty!

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


Tiffany BoyceAs a single woman in her early thir-

ties, Tiffany Boyce describes parenting as “the best thing, and the most chal-lenging thing I’ve ever done.” She ac-cepted the role of guardianship for her two young nieces, Abby (7) and Emma (6), in May of 2012. Since then, she says, “I don’t miss any of the things I had being single. I feel like I have more than I ever had before.” Her greatest fulfillment so far has been the instantaneous and mutual unconditional love she and the girls have discov-ered for each other.

Boyce’s career as president and CEO of the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce is still an important facet of her life, but now quality time with the children is one her main priorities.

“Friday nights are family fun nights,” she explains. On those evenings, the girls choose different activities — playing in the park, renting a movie, eating at a favor-ite restaurant, or riding bikes — to enjoy with “Aunt Tiff.” Along with being active in their church, the girls are also enrolled in soccer and tennis lessons after school. At other times, when Boyce must work, she openly communicates with Abby and Emma about the necessity of her responsi-bilities in providing for them.

Because of these two extra blessings, Boyce is adapting to a different lifestyle and adopting a new perspective on life. Having children in her care has taught her to be more patient, to become even more organized than she was before, and learning to make choices that might involve saying “no.” Although she is usually a self-reliant woman, she now seeks the support of ex-

Lovea MoTher’sby Marilyn Thomas

Someone once said, “Being a mother is not about what you gave up to have a child, but what you’ve gained from having one.” Regardless of the situation that ushers a woman into a parenting role, any good mother would agree that the benefits of having children far outweigh the challenges all moms face as they struggle to provide a fulfilling and healthy life for their families. To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re delighted to share the stories of three local ladies who have discovered the joys of motherhood within unique circumstances.


tended family in caring for the two girls. With the help of others, “We are finally finding our groove as a family,” Boyce says.

“Through this experience, I want the girls to understand that you always put God first, then family, and then work or career. Things aren’t always easy and won’t always go your way, but you have to keep going, keep fighting, keep persevering.”

nikki haleyAlthough her civic role as South Caro-

lina’s first female governor is exception-ally demanding, Nikki Haley ranks her family’s wellbeing as her main priority. Because they are constantly in the pub-lic spotlight, she tries to shield them from media negativity and provide a bal-anced, safe, and happy home life. After her husband Michael’s deployment to Af-ghanistan earlier this year, safeguarding her family “is more important than ever,” Gov. Haley explains.

In many ways, her maternal activi-ties are similar to those of any working mom; she considers herself to be a nor-mal mother who just “happens to be the governor.” With 14-year-old daughter Rena enrolled in Lexington High School and 11-year old son Nalin attending Providence Elementary, Haley helps them each morning to prepare for the day

ahead. In the evenings, they have fam-ily dinners at least three nights a week, and, when needed, she assists with their homework. Weekends might find Haley cheering from the stands while watching Nalin’s basketball games or attending a dance performance by Rena. Other favor-ite activities with the kids include playing trivia games and catching the latest flick at the theater.

Communication is the key to normal-cy, claims Haley, who ensures her family is consistently aware of her scheduled ac-tivities. Beyond the details of her rigorous legislative position, however, she deeply values the quiet time shared with her children as they sit on the edge of her bed each night and discuss topics that interest them and issues that concern her. “When

they no longer come and sit on my bed,” she adds, “I will go and sit on theirs.”

Perhaps because of her role as gover-nor, she is intensely aware of the impact a single individual can affect on others. Thus, she hopes her children understand that “Whatever they do, they need to be great at it and make sure people remember them for it.”

“If I’m a good wife and mother, I’ll be a good governor,” she says of the compli-

mentary relationship between her public and private roles. Her motivation for being a conscientious mother and a successful governor stems from her singular desire to improve the present and future quality of life for her children as well as for all citizens in South Carolina.

shannon WessingerAlthough adding a new baby to a

household always requires adjustments, Shannon Wessinger and her husband, Eric, looked forward to the arrival of their second child with great anticipation. As expected, their new son Shaun was wel-comed by both parents and two-year-old sister, Jaime, in May of 2012.

Following his birth, Wessinger elected

to have a standard tubal ligation as many women do. Unforeseen medical compli-cations resulting from that procedure de-toured her onto a parenting path that feels overwhelming and seems almost impossi-ble. After battling a life-threatening blood infection for several weeks after Shaun’s birth, Wessinger eventually emerged from the fight alive, but in order for her vital or-gans to survive, “amputations of my hands and feet were necessary as a part of my re-

Love


“Things aren’T alWays easy and Won’T alWays go your Way, BuT you have To keep going,

keep fighTing, keep persevering”— Tiffany Boyce


covery,” Wessinger explains. Suddenly, ordinary chores became

inordinately challenging. Feeding, dress-ing, and changing diapers are complicated tasks, and assistance is needed with other basic household responsibilities like cook-ing and cleaning. Even so, Wessinger is still as much of a mother as any other. She talks and plays with her children, holds them when they need a hug, and tucks them into bed every night. During the day,

she also continues to teach world history and coach the girls’ softball team at White Knoll High School, just as she did before her son’s birth.

“The school, the district, and friends have been wonderful. My family and my husband’s family have been huge helps,” Wessinger says. “Of course, I don’t know how I would make it day to day without my husband’s encouragement and help.” Big sister Jaime, with her outgoing person-ality, is also very willing to lend a hand. “She knows that mommy is different with how she does things, but she knows that it’s still me.” As young as Jaime is, she

already understands that “just because someone is a little different, doesn’t mean you treat them that way.”

Whether the task is as daunting as commanding the attention of a room full of high schoolers or as mundane as fasten-

ing the buttons on her jeans, “Persever-ance is the key,” Wessinger insists. “You must try to keep going, no matter what!”

When it comes to motherhood, parent-ing, and life in general, that just about sums it up. Happy Mother’s Day to all! n

“jusT Because soMeone is a

liTTle differenT, doesn’T Mean you

TreaT TheM ThaT Way.” —Shannon Wessinger





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According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 62

percent of American households are pet owners. If you’re not one of them, or if you are considering

adding another pet to your family, adopting a pet from one of the many local organizations who rescue and

find homes for stray and unwanted cats and dogs is a great option, and a great way to save a life.

Of the five to seven million animals who enter shelters nationwide every year, the ASPCA says three to four million are euthanized. Local rescue operations are

working to minimize that number in Lexington County and find homes for all of the

animals that pass through their care.

PawmettoLifeline.org(803) 465-9150

The largest and most visible pet adoption operation in the Midlands is Pawmetto Lifeline, which moved to their new Har-bison-area facility on Bower Parkway just over a year now.

“It has definitely given us so much more ability to help,” says Leah Hyatt of Pawmetto Lifeline. “We have so much more space to save more cats and dogs. Between the adop-

tions area to the clinic and in-take sections of the building, we can house up to 200 ani-mals; the adoption row alone can hold up to 72.”

Pawmetto Lifeline is a no-kill shelter, which means that no healthy, adoptable animal is euthanized just because it is homeless. They get most of their animals from local shel-ters that don’t have room to keep them indefinitely.

“The more we adopt out, the more room we have to pull from the municipal shel-ters,” Hyatt says. “We go into the shelters and pull dogs and cats from there to bring to our facility.”

Once an animal arrives at Pawmetto Lifeline, they receive any needed shots or medical attention. Potential families work with adoption counselors on site, Hyatt says.

“The counselors find out what kind of animal potential owners are looking for, what their home situation is, so they

The Joys of Pet AdoptionCAring Homes for Furry Friends

by Kevin Oliver


Air loss in atypical new

code-builthome

Air lossin a new Essex eBuilthome

How much are you losing?The typical new home loses a lot more air than you might think. Improperly installed

insulation, out-dated framing techniques, and even the smallest gaps that probably aren’t even visible are costing you hundreds, if not more, every year.

Visit any Essex Homes neighborhood, or go online, to see just how many ways Essex Homes is working harder and smarter to make your life better, healthier, and more a�ordable.

Don’t throw your money out the window.essexhomes.net/ebuilt

Take a look...

can be matched with the best possible fit for their family,” she says. “Adopting a pet is a big re-sponsibility, and some get over-taken by the ‘cute’ factor. All pets take time, love and affection.”

PetsInc.org(803) 739-9333

Pets, Inc. in West Colum-bia is the other main rescue op-eration in the county, placing nearly 3,000 animals yearly. Their adoption center houses around 200 animals, and they are supported by a discount pet food and supply store.

The Neuter Scooter Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic offers discounted vaccines, heart-worm tests and other basic vet-erinary services through their Cheap Shots program, and the facility has a small dog park open to the public.

Love dogs and cats and want

to get involved? Pets, Inc. is al-ways in need of volunteers to do basic administrative and pet care functions as well as skilled work and care of the facility and the animals. For adoption inquiries or volunteer opportu-nities, visit their website.

lexington County Animal Servicesat Lex-Co.sc.gov(803) 785-8149

Lexington County Animal Services’ shelter is the first stop, and sometimes the last, for stray pets. Animals adopt out directly from the shelter, with fees of $70 for dogs and $60 for cats, which includes any neces-sary veterinarian care.

With the limited space at the shelter, the selection varies widely and changes frequently. Check the website or visit the shelter at 321 Ball Park Road from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

FIDO Dog RescueFido.Petfinder.com

There are so many adoptable pets out there that many are not housed in local shelters, but in foster homes un-til they can be adopted. FIDO Dog Rescue is one organization that uses the foster care sys-tem to keep dogs until adoption, and they have been rescuing abandoned or injured dogs since 1974.

“We’ve rescued dogs whose owners passed away and no-body wants the dog,” says FIDO founder Charlotte Ramsey. “Re-cently we took in a puppy who was found sitting on a side-walk, crying her eyes out; she had a damaged eye that had to be removed.” Ramsey says they take care of any needed veteri-nary care prior to adopting the dogs out. “No matter what the cost, we get the dog into top condition before it is put up for adoption.”

The Joys of Pet AdoptionCAring Homes for Furry Friends


If you would like to see what

a n i m a l s FIDO currently has to offer,

just visit their website,part of the PetFinder group of adop-tion sites. They also host Adopt A Pet events every Sun-day from 2-5 p.m. at PetSmart on Harbison Boulevard, where you can check out several available dogs in person. FIDO also advertises available dogs in The State newspaper. Any

prospective owner must first fill out an application, avail-able on the FIDO website. If you want to serve as a foster home for a dog, email Ramsey at [email protected].

“We want to make sure that a prospect will be happy with the dog, but we also want each dog to be happy at the prospective home,” Ramsey says. “We look at the future of the dog, do a home visit, and call the prospect’s veterinarian.”

Carolina greyhound adoptionsGPA-SC.com

Sometimes people want a specific breed of dog, and there are many pure breeds to choose from even in adoptable pets. One particular breed that has its own network of rescue groups — including one here in Lexington — is the grey-hound: racing dogs that are re-tired and need a home.

“Greyhounds are very adaptable and not very ener-getic, so they don’t need all the exercise people might think,” says Christi Gazella of Caro-lina Greyhound Adoptions.

“However, they can’t be out-side dogs due to their physical limitations and needs.” The dogs that the group places come directly from the tracks in Florida.

“We work with Greyhound Pets in central Florida through the Melbourne Greyhound Park to bring the dogs to us,” she says. “Every two or three months they’ll notify groups all the way up the East coast and bring up to 44 dogs at a time; we usually get two to four of those.”

Even thought they are ‘re-tired’ from racing for sport, many of the greyhounds are still fairly young, she says.

“If they’ve gone to racing school but not made it to the track, we may get them as young as a year and a half, on up to five years old. They can live 10 to 15 years. They’re a pretty hardy breed.” n



‘Tis the Season


Add or replace a skylightAbundant natural light and fresh air are

among the joys of spring, and replacing an old, energy-inefficient skylight— or add-ing one where none existed before— is a great way to welcome sunlight and spring breezes into your home. Sunlight’s posi-tive effect on mood is well documented, and adding a fresh-air skylight (which comes with a screen) offers other health benefits as well. Opt for an energy saving solar powered fresh-air skylight, and you can enjoy the benefits of passive ventila-tion to reduce humidity and stale air in your home along with more natural light.

Increased value, curb appeal and livability are the benchmarks for any smart home improvement, but some

upgrades you do for the sheer joy of it. The best home improvements

deliver all of those smart qualities and speak to your heart at the same time.

Spring and early summer are prime times for tackling various

home improvement projects, and here are some of the most

popular to consider.

‘Tis the Seasonfor Renovations

Home Improvement Projects for Spring and Summerby Kristen Carter


From a practical standpoint, installing an Energy Star-qualified skylight can help you control heating, cooling and lighting costs in your home. You can also choose solar powered blinds for even more energy efficiency, and both are eligible for a 30 percent fed-eral tax credit.

Install a kitchen backsplash

Spring brings a bright, colorful feel to the world and you can easily incorporate that sentiment

into your kitchen by adding a backsplash. A project easily within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers, backsplashes are

both functional and decorative. Granite, ceramic or glass tile protects the wall behind

the range or cook top from splatters of food or grease while brightening valuable workspace and

serving as a visual focal point for the room. Great kitchens sell homes, and the room is one of the most-

used in any home. Upgrading your kitchen is almost always a good investment, one that improves resale value

and enjoyment of your home. When the job calls for a profes-sional touch, Blue Heron Enterprises is one local option.

“Blue Heron Enterprises are kitchen and bath remodeling pro-fessionals that attentively listen to your needs and desires, trans-form those into a functional kitchen and bath plan and bring those plans to life,” says owner Merle Blackwell. “We can meet your needs and offer alternative solutions to fulfill your desires, while meeting budget constraints.”

Upgrade to hardwood floors

Whether you’re looking to sell or stay, installing or refinish-ing hardwood floors is one of the smartest investments you can


make. Hardwood flooring is easy to install, never goes out of style, and is extremely desirable to potential homebuyers.

“There’s no doubt that hardwood increases the value of a home,” says Brian Peed of Floor Boys in Lexington. “If your fin-ish is starting to wear through, you need to protect your in-vestment and refinish your hardwoods again. Also, be sure to


replace carpets before putting your house on the market this summer. As the seller, it will keep you from having to lower your asking price.”

Add a fresh (top) coat

“Springtime is a great time to have the house painted, either before or after the pollen season,” says Jason Britton of Endless Possibilities. “Today’s high quality paints can be applied in hot

weather or cold, and the humid-ity does not affect durability.” Britton says washing the house is essential for a quality, long-lasting paint job.

“Any foreign material that is on the surface of the house, especially mildew, cannot be removed once it’s painted over. Those things will always bleed through and damage the quality of the paint job. We strongly en-courage our customers to allow us to clean before painting. It’s one sure way to ensure proper paint adhesion and durabil-ity.”

Considering vinyl sid-ing, or maybe a roofing project instead? Bill Payne from Crescent Moon Con-struction has a few sug-

gestions. “Vinyl siding makes the outside of your home maintenance-free—all you need to do is power-wash your house,” says Payne. “Also, when your neighbors grow tired of picking your shingles up out of their lawn, or when you start to notice the corners of the shingles turning up or leaking, it’s time for a new roof. Crescent Moon can help.”

Replace an old HVAC system

In the typical American home, up to half of total energy consumption goes to heat and cool the house, according to EnergyStar. Replacing old, inefficient heating, ventilation and cool-

ing systems (HVAC) with newer, more efficient models can dra-matically reduce a home’s heating and cool-ing costs.

“When it starts to get warmer at night and people turn on their air conditioning for the first time since winter, many might real-ize that their unit isn’t functioning properly,” says Burt Keeney of Starr Mechanical. “Spring is the best time to get a new one, because the price is lower.”

No matter which project you take on, make the most of the season—and local re-sources—to give your home the facelift it de-serves. n


Junior Woman’s Club of Lexington’s 9th

Annual Fashion ShowLexington Country Club

March 23, 2013

Photos by Josh Raiborde and N

Squared Photography



1781 A SOUTH LAKE DR. • LEXINGTON, SC • 803.996.5100


Lexington High School Wrestling Team

2013 AAAA State Champions

Congratulations,

Wildcats!

Photos by Larry James



Here’s some good news that should make you breathe and sleep easier.

We are proud to announce that Francis Javier M. Dayrit, MD, FCCP, is joining the staff at Carolina Pulmonary and Lexington Sleep Solutions. For a decade, Dr. Dayrit has been providing

pulmonary, internal medicine and critical care to patients in Lancaster and Hartsville, SC. And now, we are fortunate to have him right here in Lexington. Please join us in welcoming him.

(803) 256-0464 | CarolinaPulmonaryLMC.com(803) 791-2683 | LexingtonSleepSolutions.com

Sleep Lab locations in Irmo & West Columbia


Swim4NathanielCommunity Fundraiser

n Swimming, racing, diving and more with members of the USC Swim Team!

n Live DJ, silent auction, games for the kids, and plenty of food!

n Follow Nathaniel’s progress at CaringBridge.org/visit/nathanielfournel

www.Swim4Nathaniel.com

Saturday, May 18Country Club of Lexington

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Bring the whole family for a full day of fun to support the Fournel family and 13-year-old Nathaniel, who was diagnosed with a cancer-ous brain tumor on November 29, 2012. He’s been undergoing chemo-therapy since December, and has volunteered to participate in a cancer study to improve treatment for other children in the future. Nathaniel is an eighth grader at Pleasant Hill Middle School, an avid swimmer and member of Palmetto Aquatics, big brother to Braden, and a member of First Baptist of Lexington. Whether you jump in the pool or not, come Swim4Nathaniel on May 18!



Fresh New Finds at McDonald’s®

The New Egg White Delight® breakfast sandwich takes wholesome to a whole new level – made with an egg white, Canadian bacon, white cheddar cheese on a whole grain English muffin, it’s a feel-good way to start your day. Substitute egg white on any item that has egg!

©2013 McDonald’s


Each year, thousands of first-timers will join the millions of seasoned gardeners who already know the satisfaction of picking a perfect to-mato at its peak, serving up salads from greens grown right outside the

back door, or harvesting homegrown peppers and

specialty herbs never even seen at the grocery store.

Most of us want that homegrown, healthy good-ness that veggie and herb gar-dens provide, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out just where to start. With diligent effort and smart investments of time, research and TLC, starting your own produce plot and reaping its rewards is not out of reach.

Even a small garden can fill your table with fresh, nu-tritious food and help save

money, too. In addition to the satisfaction you’ll get from growing your own food, gardening deliv-

ers a host of other health benefits, from low-impact exercise to boosting vitamin D levels with the hours you’ll spend in the sunshine.

Whether you start with a few contain-ers on your patio, create a raised bed in a side yard or go big and plant a grand vic-tory garden, gardening can be easy if you start with these six simple steps. Step 1: Pick transplants

While every plant starts from a seed, transplants make establishing your gar-den easier and help ensure better success. Transplants like Bonnie Plants, which are grown regionally across the country and available at most garden retailers, can trim six to eight weeks off growing time and al-low you to skip over the hard part of the growing process when plants are most vul-nerable, so they’re more likely to survive and thrive. Step 2: Location, location, location

Be sure the spot you choose for your plants gets six to eight hours of sun a day. You don’t need a lot of space to begin a vegetable garden. If you choose to grow in containers, you don’t even need a yard: a deck, patio or balcony will provide plenty of space. The amount of space you require will depend on what you’re planting and

how many plants you intend to cultivate. Sun-deprived plants won’t bear as much fruit, and are more vulnerable to insects and stress. Step 3: Suitable soil

Success starts with the soil. Most veg-etables do well in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter like compost or peat moss. Adding organic material loosens stiff soil, helps retain moisture and nourishes important soil organisms. Ask garden center experts for special soil mixes or amendments for your soil type.Step 4: Feed your food

All edible plants remove some nu-trients from the soil, and can quickly exhaust soil without the help of a fertilizer. Since one of the reasons for growing your own vegetables is to control exactly what your family consumes, be sure to use all-natural, safe prod-ucts. Research shows plants are healthier and more vigor-ous using or-ganically based foods rather than chemically based options.

Plant. Grow. Eat. Repeat.Sure-grow tips for first-time gardeners

by Kristen Carter


LexingtonThe Harvest

4865 Sunset Boulevard

South LexingtonLife Springs Worship Center

5630 Platt Springs Road

Step 5: Water wellMost vegetables aren’t drought toler-

ant—especially in South Carolina’s sum-mer heat—so you’ll need to water them regularly. The closer your garden is to a water source, the easier it will be to keep plants hydrated. One inch of water weekly is adequate for most vegetables. Step 6: Pest patrol

Let natural predators fight your battles, handpick pests or dislodge them with a jet of water. If you spray, do it late in the day when beneficial insects are less active.

If you’re a newbie to the world of vegeta-ble gardening, there are plenty of resources to help guide you through the process, from

websites like BonniePlants.com to local garden center experts or Extension agents. Read up, watch videos, take a class, get

your hands dirty, and eventually fill your plate with fresh, healthy produce from your own garden. Happy Gardening! n

Plant. Grow. Eat. Repeat.


As if having a mechanical problem or auto accident isn’t bad enough, the process of getting a vehicle repaired often makes it seem even worse. Not understanding the process, or feelings of paying too much are not uncommon. Most people look for value. As you consider any car repairs there are a few things to keep in mind.

Trust is the most important consideration of all. Do you re-ally trust your technician? Do you have the assurance that the services being recommended to you are needed at this time? Does the repair facility have a good reputation or offer refer-ences from previous customers?

There are several factors to consider regarding parts. These include comparing prices of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, aftermarket parts, and whether or not the parts are actually needed. OEM parts are made by the original manu-facturer of the vehicle specifi cally for the vehicle. You can check for the manufacturer’s list price at any dealership that sells your car’s brand to ensure you’re not being overcharged. Aftermar-ket parts are generally less expensive to purchase. Short of be-ing a mechanic, it can be diffi cult to know whether or not a part is needed. Finding a trusted mechanic or body shop is crucial. A trustworthy shop values integrity and lifelong relationships with customers, working hard to protect the customer’s inter-ests, as well as conducting honest business practices to earn a fair profi t.

A truly informed customer might want to ask a couple of very important questions before having any repairs done to his vehicle. Do you have references available, and what criteria are being used in the selection of parts for my car? While there are many repair facilities to choose from, satisfactory answers to these questions may help you to select a trustworthy shop that will give you satisfactory results for years to come.

Larry, Steve, Matt, and Abby Baker7433 Broad River Road Irmo SC • 407-52885215 Sunset Blvd Lexington SC • 957-4900

larry bakerPrincipal and Executive Facilitator


As if having a mechanical problem or auto accident isn’t bad enough, the process of getting a vehicle repaired often makes it seem even worse. Not understanding the process, or feelings of paying too much are not uncommon. Most people look for value. As you consider any car repairs there are a few things to keep in mind.

Trust is the most important consideration of all. Do you re-ally trust your technician? Do you have the assurance that the services being recommended to you are needed at this time? Does the repair facility have a good reputation or offer refer-ences from previous customers?

There are several factors to consider regarding parts. These include comparing prices of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, aftermarket parts, and whether or not the parts are actually needed. OEM parts are made by the original manu-facturer of the vehicle specifi cally for the vehicle. You can check for the manufacturer’s list price at any dealership that sells your car’s brand to ensure you’re not being overcharged. Aftermar-ket parts are generally less expensive to purchase. Short of be-ing a mechanic, it can be diffi cult to know whether or not a part is needed. Finding a trusted mechanic or body shop is crucial. A trustworthy shop values integrity and lifelong relationships with customers, working hard to protect the customer’s inter-ests, as well as conducting honest business practices to earn a fair profi t.

A truly informed customer might want to ask a couple of very important questions before having any repairs done to his vehicle. Do you have references available, and what criteria are being used in the selection of parts for my car? While there are many repair facilities to choose from, satisfactory answers to these questions may help you to select a trustworthy shop that will give you satisfactory results for years to come.

Larry, Steve, Matt, and Abby Baker7433 Broad River Road Irmo SC • 407-52885215 Sunset Blvd Lexington SC • 957-4900

larry bakerPrincipal and Executive Facilitator


Strawberry Bruschetta1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced1 Tbsp. sugar1 French baguette, sliced on a slant4 oz. goat cheese1 Tbsp. olive oil2 tsp. balsamic vinegar¼ cup minced basil leavesFreshly ground black pepper

Combine the strawberries and sugar in a small bowl and toss gently to mix. Let the berries macerate for about 30 minutes so that they begin to release their juices.

Spread a thin layer of goat cheese on top of each baguette slice. Top each slice with spoonfuls of the strawberry mixture. Driz-zle lightly with olive oil and balsamic vin-egar. Top each slice with the basil leaves and cracked pepper, to taste.

Bacon, Egg & Toast Cups3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted8 slices white or wheat sandwich bread6 slices bacon6 large eggsCoarse salt and ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly butter six standard muffin cups. With a rolling pin, flatten bread slices slightly and, with a 4-1/4-inch cookie cutter, cut into 8 rounds. Cut each round in half, then press two halves into each muffin cup, overlapping slightly and making sure bread comes up to edge of cup. Use extra bread to patch any gaps. Brush bread with remaining butter.

In a large skillet, cook bacon over me-dium, until almost crisp, about 4 minutes, flipping once (it will continue to cook in the oven). Lay one bacon slice in each bread cup and crack an egg over each. Sea-son with salt and pepper. Bake until egg

whites are just set, 20-25 minutes. Run a small knife around cups to loosen toasts. Serve immediately.

Pineapple Rosemary Water 4 sprigs fresh rosemary2 cups fresh pineapple chunksSparkling waterIce cubes

In a saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil with 3 sprigs rosemary. Remove from, heat and add pineapple and sparkling water. Refriger-ate for several hours for the flavors to meld. Discard the rosemary sprigs, and transfer the drink to a pitcher filled with ice. Garnish with the remaining fresh rosemary sprig.

Mother’s Day Brunch



AgapeSenior.com

Chosen by readers of Lexington Life as

Best Skilled Nursing and RehabAgapé Rehab - West Columbia300 Agapé DriveWest Columbia, SC 29169

Get Better... FASTER!(803) 939-3000

I broke out the old Fannie Farmer cookbook Mama gave me a long time ago. I needed information. I figured if Ma can’t answer me directly, then ol’ Fannie had to do.

I’ve been cooking my own concoc-tions for a good while now. An old guy who eats my cooking regularly says I do a pretty good job with my odd way of mixing this and that into a cast-iron wok. My friend Harvey says he’s never sure what I’m putting in or what it will look like when I’m done, but he’s pretty sure he’ll like it.

After banging around in the kitch-en and getting the hang of a few trusty tools, I decided it was time to reach back into time and bring a few good things forward.

First on the list was biscuits. The old folks down in my part of the world call these delightful treats by their singular name, no matter how many little round pieces of bread one has. But I was raised to believe that one was a biscuit, and more than one had an “s” on the end.

While some people would say my grammar was correct, the fact remained that any of the old-timers could make theirs and I could not. The fact also remained that I’ve yet to meet a grand-ma-type who could provide a written description of her perfectly baked deli-cacies, instead offering descriptions con-taining the ever-present “smidgen” and “dash” and “just right.”

Mama was the same way. She made

the planet’s best biscuits, of course, but back when I asked her— which was years ago— she could no more tell me how to make biscuits than I can fly to Jupiter. I asked her several times, and she always ended up by saying: “Just come over and I’ll make you some.”

Well, that was a good answer in its day. But Mama’s gone now. It seems like everyone I know advises canned biscuits or frozen biscuits. Everyone tells me these modern inventions are “almost as good” as the real thing. And I will allow that canned or frozen biscuits aren’t bad. But these conveniences do not connect to any roots of mine.

The canned and frozen biscuits that are “almost as good” are perfect repre-sentatives of a whole class of thing we call achievements. All of them are easy, convenient, and “almost as good” as what they replace.

Here’s the problem: This replacing the best with the easy has been followed up by replacing what was easy with something that’s easier. We’ve gone sev-eral layers deep into “almost as good” in our so-called advanced era, and now we’re saying that one type of junk is “al-most as good” as the junk it replaced.

My heart and soul yearns for things that aren’t self-rising, instant or canned or frozen. I’m learning about smidgens and dashes and pinches. It feels good to say “they’re made from scratch.” That’s the only way to ever find out what’s “just right.” n

David Clark is a nationally known writer, musician, car-penter and organic vegetable

farmer in Cochran, GA. For permission to reuse, please

contact the author at [email protected].

My heart and soul yearns for things that

aren’t self-rising, instant or canned

or frozen.

Just Right



Lexington Church of Christ (LCOC) has been pastored by Allen Close for almost 15 years. During his time there he has seen changes in the churches location, members of his congrega-tion and different ministries they of-fer. Through it all though, their heart to bless the surrounding community in unique, significant ways has re-mained the same.

LCOC’s congregation is involved in a mentoring program at Pleas-ant Hill Elementary School in Lex-

ington. The school submits names of students who would benefit from extra assistance, and students are then paired with a church mentor who already has an approved background check and clearance from the district office.

Students and mentors meet once a week, with students being given far more than just academic assistance. “This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had,” says Fran O’Dell, who leads the program. “I believe there are bonds being formed here that will last a lifetime.”

Another need met by the LCOC con-gregation is the nutritional plight of cer-tain students at Lexington High School. Due to a variety of reasons, many students were not receiving adequate meals over the weekends. LCOC member Kathy Up-ton decided to get involved in a program called Food Improving Thinking (FIT), which was brought to her attention by Clyde Saunders, a Career Specialist at Lex-ington High School and a member of the

School Improvement Council (SIC). Students in the FIT program are dis-

creetly provided a backpack containing nutritious food for over the weekends or holiday breaks. Items are collected throughout the month and delivered to the school the day before distribution. LCOC members regularly supply at least four meals and various snacks, juice, and fresh fruit for as many as 70 students. “This program is very important to our mem-bership, not only because God instructs us to feed the poor, but because we love our children and realize the importance of being a part of the Lexington community,” says Pastor Close.

A third outreach ministry at the church is called EmmanuWheel. Led by church member Jeff Kerby, this program part-ners with many area churches to provide wheelchair ramps and home modifications (widening of doors, lowering of sinks, door knobs, cabinets, etc.) to wheelchair-bound individuals who cannot afford the cost of such modifications.

EmmanuWheel clients are people who have impaired mobility due to any number of reasons: illnesses, accidents, birth de-fects, or degenerative conditions. They are referred to the church from a number of different sources including hospital social services, physician offices, outpatient clin-ics, rehabilitation facilities or other chari-table organizations within the community.

Last year alone, the program raised $34,700 and built 44 ramps. LCOC par-tially funds EmmanuWheel through its an-nual budget, and hosts an EmmanuWheel fundraising banquet every summer. If you’re interested in donating, volunteering or finding a crew, call 730-8042 or visit the ministry’s website at EmmanuWheel.org. n

by Charissa Sylvia

Lexington Church of Christ101 Ballpark Road

(803) 359-2002LexingtonChurch.com

Sunday Bible Study 9:00 a.m., Morning Assembly 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.


Dr. Brabham, the top graduate of his class at the

Medical University of South Carolina, earned board

certification in internal medicine at Duke University

Medical Center in Durham, NC, and returned to MUSC

to complete fellowships in cardiovascular disease

and cardiac electrophysiology. A member of the

American College of Cardiology and American Medical

Association, Dr. Brabham proudly joins the physicians

of the Lexington Medical Center Network of Care.

1 The Commons • Lugoff, SC 29078 • (803) 729-4610

131 Sunset Court • West Columbia, SC 29169 • (803) 744-4940

2601 Laurel St., Suite 260 • Columbia, SC 29204 • (803) 744-4900

lmcLexingtonCardiology.com

A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice

A C C E P T I N G N E W P A T I E N T S

Lexington Cardiology welcomes

Electrophysiologist William Brabham, MD, to its growing team of

heart specialists.

New heart specialist brings even more expertise to Lexington Medical Center.




When Dr. Jeffrey Travis scrubbed in for the first open heart surgery on March 28, 2012,

a new era began at Lexington Medical Center. Since then, we’ve performed more than

200 open heart surgeries, including bypasses, valve repairs and replacements. We also

added another cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Steven Marra, to our heart team. It’s the

level of care you’d expect from the region’s only Duke Medicine-affiliated heart center.

Best of all? We’ve just begun.

LexMed.com/heart

The Beat Goes On

Y E A R

LEXINGTON MEDICAL HEART CEN

TEROPEN

HEART SURGERY

Documents

Lexington Life Magazine May 13