Every spring, our beautiful barrier island falls under attack by an unwanted visitor. No, I’m not talking about our lovely tourists. I’m talking about the gross, green-yellowish gunk derived from flowers that covers everything and everyone. It’s a sneezy state of affairs on the Isle of Pollen. As of late, this powdery nuisance has raised havoc on our nasal allergies. Achoo! Spring cleaning is one thing, but I’ve had enough of spring sneezing. Achoo! Excuse me. It’s time to fight back. For everybody in the struggle, including myself, here’s a brief guide from pollen.com for beachgoers to help best avoid pollen and alleviate your allergies. It’s not foolproof, but neither is sunscreen or bug spray. • Plan ahead Pollen is typically higher in the early morning (5-10 a.m.) and late afternoon (3-7 p.m.). Head to the beach later in the morning or early evening for a more comfortable experience. • Pack the goods Bring antihistamines, nasal spray, eye drops and tissues to manage symptoms quickly. • Stay hydrated Drinking plenty of water helps keep your respiratory system in top shape and prevents dryness from saltwater and pollen. • Shade yourself A tent or umbrella The Isle of Palms Community Yard Sale hosted by the IOP Recreation Center on March 22 was a family and pet-friendly event and a lot of fun for sure. Although I love these photos, what they don’t illustrate is how engaging everyone was on this special day. Our fantastic sales rep Sheri Rose (pictured right) and myself attended the yard sale and set up an Island Vibes booth. The booth was great, but instead of waiting for people to come to us, we would stroll up and down Hartnett Boulevard between 27th and 29th avenues, handing out copies of Island Vibes and Mount Pleasant Magazine. We talked to residents, to folks thinking about moving to the island, to those who have island investment properties and live in Mount Pleasant and others who just wanted to see what the Isle of Palms yard sale was all about. When you’re on island time everyone is friendly and the conversations are pleasant. Like the one we had with Trish and Pete who moved here from Pennsylvania. When Sheri handed Trish the March issue of Island Vibes, she told us they always put a copy in the Sea Cabins where they have a short-term rental so their guests can Community is priceless 4 FROM THE CREW IslandVibesIOP.com The pride of Isle of Palms, SC today, tomorrow and always. Publisher’s Note From the Editor Isle of Pollen Island Vibes Vol. 3, Issue 4, April 2025 PUBLISHER BILL MACCHIO PUBLISHER@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM MANAGING EDITOR ZACH GIROUX EDITOR@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM ART DIRECTOR BETHANY LONG COPY EDITOR COLIN MCCANDLESS BRAND AMBASSADOR SONYA BUCKHANNON SONYA@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL BASYE COOPERRIVERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM DIGITAL DIRECTOR ALLYAH HARRAR ALLYAH@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ALYSSA FRANCO THEDIGITALTOUCHCHS@GMAIL.COM WEB CONTENT INTEGRATOR ANTHONY MACCHIO CONTRIBUTORS RYAN BUCKHANNON • KATIE FINCH LAURA FOGARTY • MAURICE FRAZIER ALLYAH HARRAR • L. C. LEACH III • COLIN MCCANDLESS • MEL MILES • KIMBERLYN NAYLOR • JULIE NESTLER • PHILLIP POUNDS SARAH ROSE • ALEX STONE SALES REPRESENTATIVES STACEY MCLOUGHLIN STACEY@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM SHERI ROSE SHERI@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM COLLEEN KASSNER COLLEEN@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM PAUL SMITH PAUL@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM ADMINISTRATION & BOOKKEEPING GINGER SOTTILE BOSS DOG REGGIE DISTRIBUTION ISLE OF PALMS • WILD DUNES • GOAT ISLAND • DEWEES ISLAND • ISLE OF PALMS VACATION RENTALS • HARRIS TEETER ASHEVILLE/HENDERSON AIRPORT ALL SC WELCOME CENTERS DIRECT MAIL VIA US POST OFFICE Homes on Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island Affluent neighborhoods rotated monthly Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Asheville NC Buckhead, Druid Hills, Decatur, Atlanta George Island Vibes is published locally by a team of independent contractors. Island Vibes is published 12 times per year by Islands Publishing LLC. 1013 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Copyright © Islands Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction electronically or in print format without the expressed written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited and a violation of U.S. copyright laws. Content, including editorial, advertising or comments, that threatens, harasses or degrades others may be revoked or refused from print and online publication at the sole discretion of Island Vibes. Inquiries to: Island Vibes P.O. Box 22617, Charleston, SC 29413 learn about the Isle of Palms. Now that she knows we also publish Mount Pleasant Magazine and Charleston Women, she is going to include all three of our publications. Pete told us about their first trip to Isle of Palms in 2014 while vacationing in Wild Dunes. He said it was love at first sight. Before they left Pete and Trish said this would be their new home someday and she was just as excited as him about the idea. Anyone who knows me knows I love publishing. One of the main reasons why I’m so passionate about our publications is getting the opportunity to share the stories of the community we serve. When the conversation presents itself, I always ask how people found our slice of coastal Carolina paradise and what inspired them to move here. Since I’ve been publishing community publications for decades, I’ve asked that question hundreds of times. Over the years the answers I’ve received have helped me navigate various methods to reach prospects who are interested in vacationing, secondary-home ownership or purchasing permanent homes along the Carolina coast. These methods include mailing Island Vibes to towns whose residents are known to vacation on the Isle of Palms. Every edition of Island Vibes has been distributed to such areas. The March issue was mailed to affluent Atlanta zip codes in and around Buckhead and the February edition was mailed to affluent Charlotte zip codes. Every issue is shipped to all South Carolina Welcome Centers as well as the Asheville Regional Airport. The April issue of Island Vibes and the March/April issue of Mount Pleasant Magazine will be distributed in Augusta during The Masters golf tournament, which inspired our spectacular cover (Read more on Page 5). Thanks for helping us spread positive vibes on Isle of Palms this spring and all year round! Stay vibrant, Bill Macchio Publisher will shield you from both the sun and pollen. Look for one with mesh sides to keep the allergens at bay while you enjoy the breeze. • Protect your peepers Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat can protect your eyes and hair from pollen. Opt for lightweight, long-sleeved clothing if you’re highly sensitive. • Stick to the sand Coastal grasses release high amounts of pollen, especially on windy days. Stick to sandy areas or main beach paths for minimal exposure. • Rinse and repeat After swimming or lounging, rinse off at beach showers to wash away any pollen clinging to your skin, hair or clothing. Before we know it, the mean green pestilence will be gone for another year. Until then, stay prepared and breathe easy! Positively yours, Zach Giroux Editor
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1