Personal Injury Attorney Near Me York, SC

YORK, S.C. (WBTV) - A York family is finding a new way to make their farm work for them by inviting people to stay overnight and experience farm life.

A new grant program could help them take that idea even further.

Mary Hassett and her husband moved to York County from up north with a dream of starting a homestead. They brought her parents along and opened Blue Bird Farm.

“We have a full vegetable garden, we have cows, pigs, sheep, chickens. So, we are slowly, but surely adding more and more to our farm,” Hassett said.

Hassett’s father, Ron Lavoie, showed WBTV around the farm -- from the gardens to the animals. But growing a farm takes money andnd Hassett says she wanted to find a way to bring in more income without sacrificing time with her family.

“Adding all these things we want to our farm does become very expensive. I also have three little ones, and I just wanted to spend more time with them, more time at the farm,” Hassett said.

Farming has become a way of life for this family and this summer they opened up their home through Airbnb so others in the community could experience life on the farm as well.

Guests have come from out of town for work, vacations, and family visits. Hassett says the response surprised them.

“We were surprised that we got bookings every single weekend over the summer and people really loved it. We met so many families, they all wanted to talk with us since they our farm and it’s been a great experience,” Hassett said.

Now, a new Airbnb and American Farmland Trust grant program could help farmers create or expand these kinds of stays.

The Farm to Stay program offers up to $10,000 through the ATF Brighter Future Fund. Hassett says preserving farms matters as more people move to York.

“I think it means a lot to the people and especially who grew up in this area. I think it’s very important for them to see that these farms are still able to thrive and we have had so many wonderful customers come to our farm stand,” Hassett said. “We’ve been able to meet so many neighbors, it’s just been a great experience. I think it’s just very important for the community.”

Airbnb will host webinars in October and November for anyone interested in this program. Applications will open in November.

YORK, S.C. (WBTV) - A new middle school is coming to York County next year and that means hundreds of students will soon be assigned to a new school.

York School District 1 is now working on new attendance boundaries and parents want to know where their kids will end up.

White Hill Middle School is set to open in 2027 giving York School District 1 a second middle school. This week, parents got their first look at how the district plans to divide students between the two schools.

“I am excited. I’m glad that York has stepped up and built this new school for our kids,” parent Amy Pendleton said.

Growth continues across York County and parents like Pendleton say they’re excited about the new school but want to know where their kids will go.

“I’ve talked to other friends and family, and they are all concerned about which school they’re gonna go to,” Pendleton said.

The district says 1,000 students will be able to attend White Hill. But before those students are assigned the district is looking at demographics and where families already live, trying to create boundaries that make sense without splitting neighborhoods.

“We’re moving toward these boundaries and the lines that will be implemented. Because the district is modifying those boundaries, we want to be a K-5, 6-8, 9-12 with a pre-K center,” said Janet Parker, the district’s public information officer.

Some parents also had questions about 5th graders. Next school year all of the district’s fifth graders will go to York Intermediate -- except students at Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary.

“That is like all of the kids going to one school for one year and then they all get split up again. So, I’m not too fond of that but I know that there’s a reason why they have to do that,” Pendleton said.

The district explains it’s so they can make room for their pre-K program.

“That will give us that one year to get our pre-K, stand alone pre-K ready,” Parker said.

This week’s meeting was the first of several the district says they’ll offer to families. Officials say they want this to be a transparent process and are encouraging people to get involved by visiting their project site here.

“Submit comments, your feedback, there will also be a survey just asking people what they think, what they wanna know, and their questions,” Parker said.

The school district will have its next meeting on Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at the York Comprehensive High School cafeteria.

Parker says the district will make a final decision on zoning lines in January.