IslandVibesIOP.com 4 As we put the September issue to bed, I can’t help but think of the passionate team that surrounds me. I know you’ve heard this from me before, but it is so true. We should always give thanks for the blessings we have, and this publishing family that loves what they do and understands me is truly a blessing. All of us here think of ourselves as Picasso or Rembrandt in front of a blank canvas before we start creating each issue of Island Vibes. We build each piece of art with graphics, design elements and words. Speaking of words, I think it’s amazing to have Thomas White, who served 30 years with the New York Police Department, living on Isle of Palms and sharing his thoughts about what it was like working at Ground Zero during 9/11 and its immediate aftermath. His family’s story appears on Page 12, as recounted by writer Laura Fogarty. When White said the July Fourth weekend at Front Beach Isle of Palms feels like Times Square, who would have known? Of course, this issue we created a piece of art that commemorates 9/11. As White said in his interview, he doesn’t need a T-shirt or a plaque to remember that tragic day. He will always remember because of the men and women who we lost and continue to lose. Speaking of first responders, Mary Coy wrote an article about the hiring of Isle of Palms’ first police chief, which you can find on Page 23. On February 1953, IOP resident A.W. Anderson was appointed by the mayor and approved by city council. With only a few hundred residents living on the island, you would think it would be an easy job, but when Anderson attempted to charge local businesses for a business license, it wasn’t easy. Everyone here feels that each issue of any of our publications, Island Vibes, Mount Pleasant Magazine and Charleston Women, is a piece of art. After all, when an artist has a blank canvas, they can craft an image that reflects what is in their mind or in front of them. For our staff that image is the community of Isle of Palms. We strive to create positive, engaging, inspiring and colorful images that reflect the best IOP has to offer. The unique thing about Island Vibes’ creativity, like all our publications, is that there are multiple hands holding the publishing paint brush. Our team of artists collaborates to create the publication, making the blank canvas come alive so that Island Vibes becomes a Picasso or Rembrandt. Thanks for reading our finished artwork and looking at your creation known as Island Vibes. If you have a friend or family member who you think would enjoy reading Island Vibes, please send them the digital version readIslandVibes. com. Positively yours, Bill Macchio Publisher Island Vibes Vol. 4, Issue 9, September 2026 PUBLISHER BILL MACCHIO PUBLISHER@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM ART DIRECTOR BETHANY LONG COPY EDITOR COLIN MCCANDLESS BRAND AMBASSADOR SONYA BUCKHANNON SONYA@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL BASYE COOPERRIVERPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM DIGITAL MANAGER ALLYAH HARRAR ALLYAH@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ELLEN KERR ELLEN@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM WEB EDITOR GEORGE CONKLIN WRITERS RYAN BUCKHANNON • ELLA DUANE LAURA FOGARTY • ALLYAH HARRAR BELLA HARRAR • CARI LAWSON L.C. LEACH III • COLIN MCCANDLESS PHILLIP POUNDS • SARAH ROSE SALES REPRESENTATIVES STACEY MCLOUGHLIN STACEY@ISLANDVIBESIOP.COM MARNIE BONN MARNIE@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 • CVS • FOOD LION ASHEVILLE/HENDERSON AIRPORT ALL SC WELCOME CENTERS DIRECT MAIL VIA US POST OFFICE Homes on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island Affluent neighborhoods rotated monthly Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Asheville, NC Buckhead, Druid Hills, Decatur, Atlanta, Georgia 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 Proud Member of the IOP Chamber of Commerce and A South Carolina Press Association Award-Winning Publication. About the Cover By Laura Fogarty From the Publisher FROM THE TEAM On a beautiful yet scorching hot day, a few of our first responders gathered at Isle of Palms Fire Department Station 2 for a 9/11 25th anniversary remembrance cover photo shoot. Photographer Rachel Basye arranged and re-arranged our diligent but overheated participants in multiple configurations until everyone was satisfied that we had captured the spirit of both the solemnity of the day to be remembered and the respect owed to our current and past first responders. What began early in the day before the heat became too unbearable, ended several poses and shots later. We eventually landed on the perfect cover photo that encapsulated not only the essence of the valor and fortitude of our local law enforcement, EMTs and firefighters, but also every first responder that has sacrificed for the greater good, not only on Sept. 11, 2001, but before and long after that tragic, life-altering day. Our photo shoot was a poignant reminder that on that horrific day, local emergency services shifted into high-alert status, with an overwhelming uncertainty if secondary targets might exist. Twenty-five years later, we continue to honor our fallen heroes while pledging to remember and support the first responders of yesterday, today and beyond. The promise to never forget remains – today, tomorrow and always. Sgts. Thomas and Mindy White From left to right: Tom Castonguay (FireFighter/Paramedic), Gage Greenfield (FireFighter/ Paramedic), Timur Dmitriyev (FireFighter/EMT), Rory O'Toole (Code Enforcement Officer), Sean Michael Kittrell (Animal Control Officer), Kraig Thompson (Deputy Chief), Amanda Bostell (Corporal) and Keven M. Barattini (Sergeant).
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