In addition to our other ways to raise money for the Children’s Attention Home, the MOMS Club® of Tega Cay will also be raffling off baskets filled with wonderful prizes at the dinner following the golf tournament Saturday May 31st.

Raffle tickets may be purchased by anyone even if you don’t attend the dinner. Raffle tickets are $1/ticket and may be purchased by phoning Dianna at 803-627-3934 or emailing tcmomsclubgolfclassic@gmail.com.

The deadline for buying tickets if you are not attending the golf tournament, children’s activities, or dinner is Friday, May 30th at 5 pm. Here are descriptions of the baskets full of wonderful prizes donated by our sponsors:

Couples Night Out Basket #1: a J. Lohr bottle of red wine with wine glasses, a $45 gift certificate to the Outback Steakhouse, a Silpada necklace, a free car wash, a night out on the Childers’ family boat, and men’s shower gel, bath gel, and talcum powder.

Couples Night Out Basket #2: a J. Lohr bottle of red wine, a $30 gift certificate to City Tavern, a free session to Time Out for Parents, a free manicure, a free car wash, a free haircut at Sports Clips, a scented candle, and Pierre Cardin men’s cologne.

Creative Memories Basket: A variety of Creative Memories scrapbooking and craft prizes valued at over $100.

Dad’s Basket: $30 gift certificate to Longhorn Steakhouse, 2 free golf lessons with a TGA pro, a free large bucket of balls at Victory Custom Golf’s Driving Range in Clover, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, 10 free haircuts at Sports Clips, a free car wash, a gift certificate to Thunder Athletics, and men’s shampoo, conditioner, and cologne.

Golf & Dining Out Basket: 2 rounds of golf at Waterford Golf Club in Rock Hill, a $40 gift card to the Waterford Golf Club driving range and gift certificates to popular local restaurants including: Towne Tavern, Steve and Kelly’s, and McHale’s.

Dolce Lusso Aveda Products Basket: Aveda Caribbean Therapy Face & Body Spray, Caribbean Therapy Bath Soak, Travel Toiletries Bag with Aveda Travel Size Hair Spray, Hand Relief, Foot Relief, Body Cleanser, Body Polish, & Body Lotion, an organic cotton washcloth and gauze sponge, and a scented candle.

Family Fun Day Basket: family admission to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, Charlotte Knights tickets, a $15 gift certificate to Beef O’Brady’s, 2 “Family of 4″ passes to Kate’s Skating Rink in Rock Hill, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, gift certificates for free buffet at Village Pizza and a gift card to Chirp n’ Chatter.

Family Night In Basket: a $25 gift card to Supper Sensations, 2 free Blockbuster movie rentals, 3 free 1-topping pizzas from Papa John’s, popcorn and candy, a free 5×7 from Traci Champion Photography, Weight Watchers 5 Ingredient 15 Minutes cookbook, a Four Ingredient cookbook, and a gift card to Chirp n’ Chatter.

Get Healthy Basket: a 3 month membership to the YMCA, a free personal trainer session with Kristi Kruft, a gym bag, a 3 month family membership to Ray’s Splash Planet, 2 “Family of 4″ passes to Kate’s Skating Rink in Rock Hill, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, Wiffle Balls, 2 Jump Ropes, Mini Kickball, 5 cans of tennis balls and 3 bars of pure and natural soap.

Golf Basket: a putter from Custom Victory Golf, 2 free golf lessons with a TGA pro, a free large bucket of balls at Victory Custom Golf’s Driving Range in Clover, a $50 gift certificate to Thunder Athletics, a “breathable” golf hat from Carolina First, golf balls, golf tees, and a golf towel.

Home Improvement Basket: a $50 gift card to Lowe’s Home Improvement store, a $40 gift certificate to Hooper’s, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, a free car wash, as well as a bucket, hammer, tape measure, level, paint brush, screwdrivers, and a coffee mug.

Kids’ Art Basket: one child admission to Summer Arts Play camp, $15 gift certificate to Clay Escape, sidewalk chalk, coloring book, 2 “Family of 4″ passes to Kate’s Skating Rink in Rock Hill, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, 2 free Papa John’s 1-topping pizzas, Sweettreats gift certificate and free sundae.

Kids’ Basket: Charlotte At Play “family fun day” pass, $25 gift card to TGI Friday’s, free haircuts at Pigtails and Crewcuts, 2 “Family of 4″ passes to Kate’s Skating Rink in Rock Hill, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, and an Anything Joe’s personalize backpack.

Learning Basket: a family membership to the York County museum in Brattonsville, a horse ride for 2 at Anne Springs Close Greenway on a Saturday, a $20 gift card to Moe’s, 2 Striker’s Bowling Passes for a free game for up to six people per pass, travel chess, Educational Games: Square by Square – Creative Pattern Puzzle Game, Discovery Toys Wild Woods Game, Oppenheimer Award I Never Forget a Face matching game, and a 3 Pack of Educational Card Games, Multiplication Flashcards, & Grade 1 Workbook.

Mom’s Basket #1: a Silpada necklace, a 1 hour massage at Massage Envy, a manicure, pedicure, cut and style at Tega Cay Salon, Bath & Bodyworks soap and hand lotion, and a discount coupon for Belle Vive.

Mom’s Basket #2: purse from LA East, $100 gift certificate to LA East, free manicure at Pretty Girls, $10 gift certificate to Olive Garden, Bath & Bodyworks soap and lotion, and a Home Interiors scented candle.

Monkey Joe’s Birthday Party: a birthday party for up to X kids at Monkey Joe’s and a sheet cake from Bruster’s.

Dog Basket: free petsitting from Love Petsitting, a free bag of organic dog food and dog treats from Cherry Lane Cottage, a ceramic pet bowl, a $5 gift certificate and pet treats from Wags Pet Bakery, pet toys from Petsmart, and a $25 gift certificate to Fishbone Grille.

PlayBall Birthday Party: a free birthday party from PlayBall for up to X kids, and a gift certificate to Polka Dots Stationery for invitations.

Pool Party: a 2 hour rental at the Tega Cay Beach and Swim Center, three free 1-topping Papa John’s pizzas, and a $20 gift certificate to Harris Teeter for a cake or other party necessities.

Pictures of the baskets will be available on the MOMS Club® of Tega Cay Website at http://momsclubtegacay.com/raffle-2008/

The Tega Cay city council is working on transferring $320,000 from the Parks and Recreation budget to finish the Glennon Center. Residents passed a $3.1 million bond in 2006 for the new center. But because of rising construction costs the bond amount fell short of the actual construction costs and the city needs more cash to complete the center.

The city council considered building a smaller center but opted to keep the center at it’s planned size and not finish the basement interior. The additional cash will allow half of the basement to be finished for use.

The transfer of money from one depart to another is not without controversy. The concern is whether the left over money in the Parks and Recreation budget will fund park projects slated for the new Glendale development. The city hopes the increased tax revenue from retailers like the Tega Cay Wal-Mart and the Stonecrest development will help fund other future projects.

To read more about the Tega Cay money transfer, see Fort Mill Times Jonathan Allen February 6th story.

I am still laughing about Charlotte ranked 9th most miserable city to live by Forbes magazine. As you may know if you read my earlier post, I disagreed with Charlotte’s ranking. Of course my opinion has a lot to do with where I came from and I actually live south of Charlotte in small town called Tega Cay, SC.

I thought about the conversations Carmen and I have had with friends in the neighborhood over the last year and why they moved to our area. All of our neighborhood friends decided to relocate to the area. So I decided to put together a list of the top ten reasons on why our neighbors and of course Carmen and I live in the Fort Mill or more specifically Tega Cay, South Carolina.

The Top Ten Reasons We Live in Fort Mill/Tega Cay, SC (not ranked in any order):

1. Moderate weather year round.
2. You’ll find miles of walking trails.
3. Centrally located – the Appalachian mountains are approx a 3 hour drive to the west and the Atlantic beaches are approx 3 to 4 hour drive to the east
4. There are several quality golfing communities.
5. There are many city parks and sports complexes including baseball, soccer, tennis, fields, YMCA facilities and Leon Springs facilities.
6. Fort Mill schools rank very high in the state and have received many national education awards.
7. The area has a small town atmosphere but located just a few miles south of a much larger city Charlotte, NC.
8. Located near or on a recreation Lake Wylie with fishing, boating, swimming, etc.
9. Friendly people.
10. A bonus last year – Property taxes were lowered for most home owners in 2007.

I could come up with many more. How about you? If you wnat more information click on the city for a link Fort Mill or Tega Cay or contact Carmen Miller.