4 FROM THE CREW IslandVibesIOP.com Publisher’s Note Editor’s Note Never stop believing Much to be merry about Island Vibes Vol. 2, Issue 12, December 2024 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 DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR BRITTANY GEORGE BRITTANY@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL BASYE CONTRIBUTORS ISABEL ALVAREZ ARATA • RYAN BUCKHANNON • KATIE FINCH LAURA FOGARTY • MAURICE FRAZIER GRACE KNEUPER • L. C. LEACH III • COLIN MCCANDLESS • PHILLIP POUNDS JOHANNA ROGERS • SARAH ROSE • ROD TURNAGE SALES REPRESENTATIVES STACEY MCLOUGHLIN STACEY@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM SARAH ROSE SARAH@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM PAUL SMITH PAUL@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM ADMINISTRATION & BOOKKEEPING GINGER SOTTILE BOSS DOG REGGIE DISTRIBUTION ISLE OF PALMS • WILD DUNES • GOAT ISLAND • DEWEES ISLAND • U.S. POST OFFICE • HARRIS TEETER • PUBLIX ASHEVILLE/HENDERSON AIRPORT ALL SC WELCOME CENTERS 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 Every December since I was a little boy, I’ve sat around the Christmas tree pondering the ageold question: Is Santa Claus real? As I grow older and wiser, I can confidently say the answer is undoubtedly yes. Here is how I know that the jolly man in the red suit does exist and why you should never stop believing. Preserves childhood innocence Santa represents the innocence of childhood and the belief that anything is possible. His visit creates joyful family memories that one cherishes for a lifetime. As adults, he allows us to embrace the inner child inside all of us that brings us pure bliss and happiness. Teaches generosity Santa teaches us many life lessons that shape the person we become. He embodies the spirit of giving and shows us the value of generosity and kindness. Gift giving teaches us to be thoughtful and selfless. Creates traditions Santa brings us all together and unites family and friends who haven’t seen each other in a while. He is a symbol of love and togetherness and reminds us that the greatest gift of all is community. Adults pass on their childhood traditions to their kids and the cycle repeats itself. Encourages imagination Santa sparks our imagination and encourages us to think outside the box. He reminds us to never stop wishing and chase after our dreams. Gives us the power to believe Santa gives us the power to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Belief is something that you know is real but can’t see. This gives us hope and faith, especially during challenging times. After all, keeping the holiday spirit alive in your heart is what has kept Santa Claus alive all these years. Be sure to be nice because he will be checking his list twice. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Positively yours, Zach Giroux, Managing Editor Every morning when I wake up, I always give thanks for what I have. I believe being thankful for what we have is one of the pillars you need to live a positive life. This is a great time of year for many reasons. We gather with family and friends and think about what we have. The fact that these thoughts prevail to some extent in most people’s minds throughout the holidays helps to make it such a special season. Personally, I believe that when Isle of Palms residents use the phrase “enjoying a day in paradise,” or any combination of those words, they are expressing their appreciation and gratitude for living on the island. As with any community, the Isle of Palms has its day-to-day challenges and of course navigating the right roads to follow for future endeavors is always a priority. But living on the Isle of Palms is definitely something for which to be thankful. Speaking of paradise, one Isle of Palms’ vacationer was asked about the best part of visiting Isle of Palms. She replied, “it’s the friendliness of the locals.” This is a true story. We’ve started a new section in each edition titled “Vacation Vibes.” We ask the Isle of Palms vacation rental companies that work with Island Vibes to contact their guests and gauge their interest in being interviewed for a story to appear in our publication. The folks at IOP Escapes contacted the Coopers from Spartanburg, who have been vacationing on the island for many years. When I interviewed Alice Cooper, I asked her what she liked most about vacationing on the island. That’s when she paid a huge compliment to the island residents. I believe the heart of what Alice felt is the fact that Isle of Palms residents are thankful to live in paradise and when you’re truly appreciative of your surroundings, your life is more positive. Read our interviews with Isle of Palms vacationers at VacationVibesIOP.com. Merry Christmas from everyone here at Island Vibes and thank you for helping make our lives more positive. Positively yours, Bill Macchio, Publisher
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