Joe Nester

I recently toured a relatively new Lexington neighborhood with which I was familiar but had not had a chance to check out. Ted Johnson, director of sales and marketing, and Bridget Downing sales consultant for Saluda River Club, had invited the brokers and agents of the local Exit offices to tour their neighborhood.

As I stood on the expansive back deck of the Chickawa Outdoor Center in The River District, I could easily see how well the developers had created a resort-like setting for their residents. I could imagine sitting with friends, sharing a bottle of wine around the elevated fire pit on a cool fall night, or lounging by the riverside infinity pool on a lazy summer afternoon. The green space and walking trails along the river would allow a resident to escape quickly from the stress of the work week and find a peaceful environment among the trees lining the banks of the meandering Saluda River.

The Village District Clubhouse with its lounge, fitness center, outdoor heated pool, and meeting space was equally impressive. A resident could meet a client, have a workout or enjoy a cup of coffee before work in the morning. The large amount of green space that runs throughout the Village District contributes to its park-like setting. The whole community feels like it is in harmony with the existing natural beauty of the location.

The homes, many with large porches and upstairs balconies, seem to come from a different era when times were simpler and slower paced. The close proximity of the front porches to the sidewalk would definitely encourage neighbors to socialize. Quality materials and quality construction was my impression as I went through several homes. It is very apparent that lifestyle was considered in every aspect of the design and development of this community.

The drive down Corley Mill Road is a good precursor to arriving at Saluda River Club. The winding, two lane road that parallels the river through mostly wooded land is a pleasant transition from the hustle and bustle of Hwy. 378. The neighborhood is incredibly convenient to downtown Columbia, Lexington and Interstate 20. The convenience, combined with the natural beauty of the location, and the quality constructed homes, makes the Saluda River Club a winner.

West Columbia SC Real Estate, Columbia SC - Joe Nester Realtor. EXIT Agape Real Estate Services is ready to serve your real estate needs in Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, Forest Acres, and Columbia South Carolina. Our experienced agents have all the right tools to properly market your listing or to search for your perfect new home. We strive to exceed your expectations on every transaction. (803) 730-7269 or (803) 454-3504.

West Columbia SC Real Estate for Sale - Properties for Sale in West Columbia South Carolina. We also provide you with Advanced Market Segments such as West Columbia Startup Homes, West Columbia Median Homes, West Columbia Upscale Homes, West Columbia Luxury Homes, and West Columbia Homesites and Land for Sale in West Columbia SC. Surrounding Towns included are West Columbia, Irmo, Columbia, Lexington, Lexington County, Cayce, Gaston, Swansea as well as niche communities: Agape Village, Charwood, Churchill Heights, Edenwood, Forest Acres, Moss Creek, Quail Hollow, Saluda Gardens, Saluda River Club, Saluda Terrace, Shadblow, The Avenues, and Westover Acres. Exit Agapé Real Estate Services is your West Columbia SC and South Carolina Senior Real Estate Specialists. (803) 454-3504

October 25th, 2009 6:26 PM

Precision marching, swirling flags, crisp, colorful uniforms, the flash of brass instruments under the bright stadium lights, shouts of encouragement from the grand stands, the intricate salute of the drum major: These are all part of the excitement and pageantry of a high school marching band competition.

With a loud welcome from parents and friends, the Brookland Cayce High School Band proudly marched onto the field at Kellytown Stadium in Hartsville, SC, on Saturday October 24^th, at 8:00 P.M. The band was there to compete with ten other schools for a chance to go to the state championships. Brookland Cayce was the last band to perform in the competition.

For the next ten minutes the stadium and audience belonged to Brookland Cayce. The sweat and exhaustion of summer band camp's 100 degree heat, the hours of practice after school each week, and all of the previous performances had led up to tonight.

The band was very impressive as it marched onto the field toward the audience in two arrow straight columns with the drum major in the lead, perfectly balanced between the two lines. The lines suddenly broke apart and a new formation was quickly created. The musicians were now standing perfectly still awaiting the drum major to direct the start of the performance.

Once the performance begins there is almost too much to see. The band is in constant motion as it continuously changes formations while playing the musical selections. The flag line weaves in and out of the formations, adding texture and visual interest as the colorful fabric swirls and waves in time to the music.

It was an impressive performance. The selections were in sync with smooth transitions. The crowd showed its appreciation several times throughout the performance with enthusiastic applause.

When it was over and the final judging was complete, Brookland Cayce missed placement by a very narrow margin. It is a natural reaction to be disappointed at not being selected to advance. But you would have been hard pressed to find anyone that had witnessed the performance to say that this band is not a winner.

If you had been there you would have witnessed band members who put everything they had into the performance, who displayed discipline and self control on and off the field, who expressed their personalities, and of whom Brookland Cayce can be proud. I know the parents, associates and friends of the band who were in attendance were extremely pleased with the performance.

It takes an extraordinary effort, starting with Mr. Dale Hair, the band director, to get the students prepared to compete at this level. The parents that help weekly with setting up and breaking down the equipment and the parents and businesses that support the band by providing meals during the competitions are invaluable. In the end it is all worth it when you see the pride and poise of the members of the Brookland Cayce High School Band. They deserve our congratulations.

West Columbia SC Real Estate, Columbia SC - Joe Nester Realtor. EXIT Agape Real Estate Services is ready to serve your real estate needs in Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, Forest Acres, and Columbia South Carolina. Our experienced agents have all the right tools to properly market your listing or to search for your perfect new home. We strive to exceed your expectations on every transaction. (803) 730-7269 or (803) 454-3504.

Immaculate home, move-in ready and a spacious Wesley open floor plan by McCar Homes. 21x13 Screened back porch, wood privacy fence, tastefully landscaped, tiled bathrooms, granite kitchen counters, all stainless kitchen appliances, gas fireplace, giant bedrooms, high ceilings, wide hallways, blinds throughout, upgraded light fixtures, irrigation, neutral colors & excellent location make this home highly desirable. It's been very well cared for by owners!

I recently attended a Dedication Ceremony at Brookland-Cayce High School. The overcast skies and cool temperatures on the morning of the event were a welcome relief from the 90 degree heat just a day earlier. The quick, sharp cadence from the Brookland-Cayce High School Band's drum line signaled that the ceremony was about to begin.

The location of the event was the brand new outdoor courtyard that lies between the two new facilities: the subjects of the dedication. The cafeteria on the left side of the courtyard features a gleaming stainless steel kitchen, large student dining area, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The interior of the cafeteria is bright and inviting with plenty of natural light. The fine arts building sits directly opposite the cafeteria and forms the right hand border of the courtyard. The fine arts building features state-of-the-art rooms that are home to the BC High School Band, Chorus, and Strings.

The Brookland-Cayce High School Band under the direction of Mr. Dale Hair played several selections immediately preceding the official opening of the ceremony by the student body president, Mallie Baker. The quality and precision of the selections sounded as if the band had been performing them all year rather than just the last couple of months.

The Presentation of Colors for the national anthem was by the JROTC under the direction of Maj. Mark Cannady (U.S. Ret). Mr. Scott Newman, BC's principal, Dr. Venus Holland, District Superintendent, and Mr. Rick Shull, Board Chairman all gave short speeches during the ceremony. The Brookland-Cayce Chorus, Band, and Strings performed between the speeches.

The Chorus, under the direction of Ms. Wendy Humphries, and the Strings, under the direction of Mr. Andrew Preston, gave equally impressive performances. To see so many talented students involved in the diverse musical programs offered was an encouraging sign. Study after study show the direct correlation between academic performance and the arts.

It is evident that the schools commitment to the arts is going to be a good investment for many years to come. Brookland-Cayce has a 78-year history of changing and adapting to the times and needs of her students. This is the next chapter in that long, successful story.

West Columbia SC Real Estate, Columbia SC - Joe Nester Realtor. EXIT Agape Real Estate Services is ready to serve your real estate needs in Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, Forest Acres, and Columbia South Carolina. Our experienced agents have all the right tools to properly market your listing or to search for your perfect new home. We strive to exceed your expectations on every transaction. (803) 730-7269 or (803) 454-3504.

West Columbia SC Real Estate for Sale - Properties for Sale in West Columbia South Carolina. We also provide you with Advanced Market Segments such as West Columbia Startup Homes, West Columbia Median Homes, West Columbia Upscale Homes, West Columbia Luxury Homes, and West Columbia Homesites and Land for Sale in West Columbia SC. Surrounding Towns included are West Columbia, Irmo, Columbia, Lexington, Lexington County, Cayce, Gaston, Swansea as well as niche communities: Agape Village, Charwood, Churchill Heights, Edenwood, Forest Acres, Moss Creek, Quail Hollow, Saluda Gardens, Saluda River Club, Saluda Terrace, Shadblow, The Avenues, and Westover Acres. Exit Agapé Real Estate Services is your West Columbia SC and South Carolina Senior Real Estate Specialists. (803) 454-3504

All of the elements that attracted the original purchaser to 4622 Meadowood in Forest Acres are still in place: the quiet streets that wind through the neighborhood, the variety of retail stores and restaurants within minutes of the home, the easy access to downtown Columbia where a person can catch a play at the Koger Center, the many art galleries and museums.

The home, a brick ranch, is typical for the neighborhood. Large front and back yards, plenty of shade trees, and mature plantings are the norm. As with most established neighborhoods, the older residents are looking to downsize into something more manageable. The former resident of this home purchased a home in our carefree, age-qualified Agape Village Community. The sprawling yard that was once a playground paradise for young children had become a difficult burden as the resident aged.

Typically the residents of these homes were too busy raising their families and creating great home-associated memories to worry about changing attitudes of a new generation of home buyers. Many of the neighborhood homes have been updated only once in the last 50 years. For reasons that are largely unknown, the 1970's seems to have been the decade of choice for updating.

The good news is that usually the construction (or the "bones") of the homes is very good. The bad news is that today's typical buyer has trouble seeing the potential behind the yellow shag carpet, the "harvest gold" range, and the loud paisley wallpaper in the master bedroom. Consequently the home will usually suffer when put on the market. It is not the fault of the sellers. The home has served their needs perfectly for the last fifty years. It is not unreasonable to believe that the seller would deem these features as adequate (or even quite suitable) for potential purchasers.

Restoring these homes to their former glory and emphasizing the many positive attributes of existing homes has become the specialty of Ellyn Nester. Ellyn works as an agent for Exit Agape Real Estate Services, and also as a project manager for Agape Senior. Ellyn has personally supervised over a dozen complete home renovations and is always looking for ways to reinvent listings for today's savvy home buyer. Ellyn loves the challenge of taking an out-of-date home, and bringing it into the 21^st century with new finishes, changes to floor plans, and updates that make sense for modern families.

4622 Meadowood is the latest example of this renovation process. This lovely home has tons of living space, both indoor and out. The home features a large, well-constructed sunroom with vaulted ceilings and sweeping views of the back yard. The sunroom was combined with a wooden screened-in deck by the former owner to create a great entertaining space for backyard barbeques and family fun. The home features a split bedroom plan, and the master suite boasts its own adjoining sitting room. The 20' by 40' Hoover outbuilding can be used for storage, workshop, garage, or man cave.

This is absolutely a must-see for anyone that is looking for a home in which to build a lifetime of good memories. You can view interior and exterior pictures of this property at 4622 Meadowood. Call Ellyn Nester at 348-4602 to schedule a personal viewing.

Exit Agape Real Estate Services provides our customers and clients with very specific and current data for many neighborhoods in the West Columbia/Cayce market. With just a couple of clicks you will be able to see every current listing in The Avenues and the location on the map for each property. Go to www.exitagape.com and scroll down left hand side to find The Avenues. By clicking on the locator pin you will be able to view a picture of each property with price and brief description. This is a great tool that will allow buyers to quickly see and compare all properties in the neighborhood. Exit Agape Real Estate Services understands that the home buyers today are on the internet. Our company is committed to providing the best most relevant internet searches that allow the buyers to find our sellers. We strive to provide the widest possible exposure for our seller clients.

West Columbia SC Real Estate for Sale - Properties for Sale in West Columbia South Carolina. We also provide you with Advanced Market Segments such as West Columbia Startup Homes, West Columbia Median Homes, West Columbia Upscale Homes, West Columbia Luxury Homes, and West Columbia Homesites and Land for Sale in West Columbia SC. Surrounding Towns included are West Columbia, Irmo, Columbia, Lexington, Lexington County, Cayce, Gaston, Swansea as well as niche communities: Agape Village, Charwood, Churchill Heights, Edenwood, Forest Acres, Moss Creek, Quail Hollow, Saluda Gardens, Saluda River Club, Saluda Terrace, Shadblow, The Avenues, and Westover Acres. Exit Agapé Real Estate Services is your West Columbia SC and South Carolina Senior Real Estate Specialists. (803) 454-3504

West Columbia SC Real Estate for SaleWest Columbia SC Real Estate for Sale - Properties for Sale in West Columbia South Carolina. We also provide you with Advanced Market Segments such as West Columbia Startup Homes, West Columbia Median Homes, West Columbia Upscale Homes, West Columbia Luxury Homes, and West Columbia Homesites and Land for Sale in West Columbia SC. Surrounding Towns included are West Columbia, Irmo, Columbia, Lexington, Lexington County, Cayce, Gaston, Swansea as well as niche communities: Agape Village, Charwood, Churchill Heights, Edenwood, Forest Acres, Moss Creek, Quail Hollow, Saluda Gardens, Saluda River Club, Saluda Terrace, Shadblow, The Avenues, and Westover Acres. Exit Agapé Real Estate Services is your West Columbia SC and South Carolina Senior Real Estate Specialists. (803) 454-3504

West Columbia SC Real Estate, Columbia SC - Joe Nester Realtor. EXIT Agape Real Estate Services is ready to serve your real estate needs in Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, Forest Acres, and Columbia South Carolina. Our experienced agents have all the right tools to properly market your listing or to search for your perfect new home. We strive to exceed your expectations on every transaction. (803) 730-7269 or (803) 454-3504.