March 29, 2018 — The Coastal Insider

Achieving More with Real Living Home Realty Group

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

It’s More Than a Name Change For Us by John Jobson We are happy to announce that we, Properties At The Market Common, have established higher goals and expectations in 2018 than we envisioned just eighteen months ago when we opened our new office on Farrow Parkway. That was an exciting time for us, and our Insider readers and clients have witnessed our rapid growth over the months. “As of January 19, 2018, we were approved to become the newest member of the rapidly expanding Real Living Network of Real Estate Professionals,” states Jim Parker, president of one the newest Real Living Real Estate franchises in the country. Real Living is a network brand of HSF Affiliates LLC, which is majority owned by HomeServices of America, Inc.™, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. “As a company, we wanted to achieve more for our clients,” says John Jobson, vice-president and co-owner. In November 2017, the owners attended the National Association of Realtors Conference in Chicago to evaluate the possibility of partnering with a national franchise as an option for business expansion. “We went through an investigative process,” John says. “And we found Real Living to be the real estate franchise we believed could help us achieve more.” At the conference, our team was attracted to Real Living’s client-centric approach to real estate which coincides with our own. Real Living trains their brokers and agents to prioritize their clients’ needs– a value which is central to their beliefs about the way real estate should be provided. Left to right (top): Johnny Edge, Robert Palmer, Johnny Bryant, Lynne Jessup, Latoya Grayson, Charlie Miller, Kevin Gunn, Tom O’Leary, Patrick Winum. Left to right (bottom): John Jobson, Dawn Swann, Candace Habib, Lisa Newman, Britni Gaddy, Kate Rushton, Colleen Hord, Ashley West, Bryanna Wooley, Megan Parker, Jim Parker. Two weeks after the conference, our Properties team hosted the Real Living leadership at our office. Real Living recognized the potential of our team, market, and location to deliver high quality service to the Myrtle Beach market area. And they made it a priority for us to join their business network. “The purpose of our affiliation with the Real Living brand of real estate services is multi-faceted,” declares Kevin Gunn, director of real estate brokerage. “At the core of our mutual identity with the Real Living leadership is our common belief that business is driven by long-term relationships that are established through mutual trust and service provided to our clients. The other motivating factor is our sincere desire to offer our clients, brokers and agents the highest standards of service possible in our industry. “Real estate is a rapidly evolving profession, and we want to stay on the cutting edge of the latest trends and technologies. We want to know that everything we are offering through our office and our agents to our customers and clients is the most professional and up-to-date. We can always improve and get better, and this affiliation is helping us do just that.” Additionally, as of this month, we have changed our company name. “We know that nationally, 87% of real estate sales are being generated through companies with a strong national franchise brand affiliation,” says John. “Moreover, our name, Properties At The Market Common, was a geographical identity marker illustrating where we began and the location of our regional sales center, but it limited our business identity and scope of our greater purpose. “We understand that life brings with it changes— marriage, family expansion, divorce, relocation, retirement, downsizing. We have specific programs to address these real-life scenarios, solutions to optimize each circumstance that our clients may face. Within these life changes, our new name reflects our awareness that people are seeking a certain quality of life; our focus is on helping them to achieve the home buying, selling, or leasing objectives that coincide with their vision.” Kevin Gunn (left), Jim Parker (center), and John Jobson (right), signing the papers that make the transition official. The Real Living leadership team was instrumental in helping us to come up with a new company name that reflects our approach to real estate and the personalized service that we offer—Real Living Home Realty Group. “We believe the world-class leadership within the Real Living network is second to none,” says Jim. “Our focus is on becoming the best Real Estate company our clients will ever work with, and e believe our decision to become a franchisee of Real Living will help us achieve that objective through their best practices, systems and strategies.” John, Kevin, and Jim attended the National Real Living Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, this past February, where the franchise leadership unveiled several strategic plans to reinforce their commitment to providing us with cutting edge tools, training and communication to serve our clients at the highest level. “We know that this new chapter of our company’s development will allow us to grow more effectively with every member of our staff benefiting from this new strategy,” says Jim. As of March 20, after several weeks of intensive franchise integration and training, we officially began operating our company as Real Living Home Realty Group. “Last year we made significant strides to establish ourselves within the Market Common District as a quality real estate agency,” says Jim. “By quarter four of 2017, we had become the predominant marketing agency within the Market Common community. That success is propelling us to work towards becoming real estate leaders within our broader market service area.” Soon we will be announcing a grand opening and we hope everyone will come by our office to help us celebrate this important milestone in our company’s history. We look forward to achieving more with you!

Jerry Dalton And The Myrtle Beach International Film Festival

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

The Man Making Strides in the Realm of Entertainment by Melissa LaScaleia For Jerry Dalton, founder and organizer of the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, there isn’t a better location in the world for a film festival than the Market Common. He prefers it even to Sundance’s location in Park City, Utah. Here the weather is balmy; the flowers are blooming; the Grand 14 cinema, where the films are played, is a new state of the art theater; there are a multitude of restaurants and shopping venues adjacent to the theater making it an ideal location to hang out all day; there’s plenty of parking; and never a shortage of hotel rooms. “Last year’s film festival was phenomenal,” Jerry says speaking to the Insider. “It sold out and people had a great time.” This year marks the second time the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival has been nominated by the prestigious Movie Maker Magazine as one of the top 50 film festivals to submit to in the world. “And once you see our film festival,” he says, “you’ll understand why. The films we have this year are unbelievably entertaining and will transport you out of your life. We have a super lineup, about sixty-seven films from sixteen countries, including the U.S., Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Australia, Iran, Russia, Italy and France. You get to see things that are affecting people in a different part of the world that you might not think about.” “The beauty of independent film is it’s a story told from the heart, created as art, with no restrictions,” he continues. “Many people don’t know that Hollywood scripts movies for demographics. They don’t make a movie that has a limited or restricted following, or a following they’re uncertain about, because that means their profits will be limited or uncertain. It’s their business model.” Movie-goers at last year’s festival. On the big screen: My Sweet Misery, starring Anna Chlumsky of My Girl, written by Matthew Jordan, and filmed in Myrtle Beach. But independent film is not shaped or constricted by these same rules, and doesn’t adhere to any standards to ensure it makes millions in the box office. There’s a misconception that independent film is poorly made with a handy-cam and bad acting, a misconception Jerry wants to correct. The only thing that makes it independent is that it’s not produced by the top eight film studios in Hollywood. In the world of independent film, the story told may be devoid of the economic influences that shape Hollywood films, but it’s not absent from the selection process of the films that are ultimately brought to the public; repping is par for the course. The term, as it applies to the film industry, refers to the behind-the-scenes selling of a film based on influences other than the film’s own merits. “It’s just part of the process, that you have to go out there and wine and dine people and spend money to get your film in a film festival and viewed by the public,” Jerry explains. “There are films that are in there on their own merits, but they are just a percentage, and not the norm. Repping is strictly forbidden at the MBIFF. Selection is purely based on the art of motion picture alone. If you are in this festival, it’s because we judged your film and it earned its position.” Jerry hopes to one day change the face of the independent film world so that more artists have an opportunity for their art to be seen based on its value alone. “We’re trying to create new distribution channels and a new way of handling films,” he shares. Last year’s red carpet at the Grand 14. Joel Allen (left), former local ABC anchor, interviews Romina Schwedler (right) from Buenos Aires. She wrote, produced, and directed a movie in the festival, The Visit Jerry wants art to be financially accessible to all people— both in its creation and viewing. In alignment with this vision, last year he created the Myrtle Beach Film Institute as part of the film festival. Throughout the course of a year, students meet weekly and conclude the program by filming their own production. The film institute is free to attend, in keeping with Jerry’s belief that nobody should be barred access to art due to financial constraints. Also for this reason, an all-access pass to the MBIFF is an astonishingly low $50. He refuses to sell tickets at the average film festival rates, despite continued pressure from his board. Five of the Myrtle Beach Film Institute’s films will be showcased on Monday, April 16, as a precursor to the film festival. They are all made by locals and filmed locally. Open casting for the films was last October, and was hugely successful. “It’s really made a big difference in a lot of peoples’ lives having something like this available,” Jerry says. “I think art opens a pathway in peoples’ brains that leads to beautiful things and makes life better because it allows them to see things from different perspectives, and creates space to allow them to operate in a positive manner. “Art opens up the right side of your brain, which gives you imagination and your thought processes into a more whimsical world. If someone has that side working well, but no outlet for it, it becomes frustrating. Part of the reason for creating the school is to give people an outlet for the creative process, to tell stories through the art of motion picture, which in its formation and execution, is similar to the synergy needed for an orchestra to successfully play a symphony.” erry Dalton (left), founder and overseer of the MBIFF with his fiance, Heather Mayes (right) Creating films locally also helps support the local economy. Jerry explains: “If you have a great movie that highlights a location or a certain iconic spot, people want to go there and see where it took place. It’s called the film effect. And it’s a … Read more

Neighboring Charleston in the 1600s: The Danger, Intrigue and Potential

May 6, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

by Melissa LaScaleia To understand our Myrtle Beach history, of how it was birthed into being and took shape, it’s important to look at the history of what surrounds it. Thus our history section for this month continues where we left off— with the settlement and expansion of Charleston, one-and-a-half-hours south of Myrtle Beach. As we saw last month, in the 1600s, Charles Town as it was then called, today modern day Charleston, was established by the Lord Proprietors who were given dominion over the Carolinas by King Charles II of England. They had a vision of making Charles Town a great port city. This is one of the most fascinating places and times in all of history— vividly colorful, rife with potential and danger, and for many— it held unlimited opportunity to shape your life. It was a new world, and they simply made it up as they went along, although much was modeled after Europe. But this way of thinking and living was unprecedented in the class-structure that was so entrenched in Europe during this age. There was less emphasis on class distinctions because the culture was shaped by the day-to-day tasks of building and creating to establish, rather than adhering to what already existed, since little did exist. In other words, social norms weren’t able to be enforced, and weren’t even as important, when everyone was simply trying to become established and survive. The French and Spanish didn’t recognize England’s claim to the land, and wanted it for themselves. Several times they targeted the coastline and attacked the new colony, attempting to uproot them. The Charles Town colonists built a wall around their settlement fortifying themselves against the raiders and were successful in keeping them at bay. Then too, there was a constant influx of new settlers– from the Virginia colony, emigrants from England, and slaves from Barbados– and everyone was forced to rub shoulders. Even though slaves were treated as property and had no social status, this intermingling still created a different culture, with a flavor and feel that was uniquely its own. In the late 1600s, infrastructure and governing was better, and the governor created a city-scape plan for Charles Town, laying it out in a grid pattern to establish better cohesion. Settlers who successfully curried favor with the nobility in Europe or the New World for one reason or another were granted large tracts of land and began to operate large-scale plantations powered by slaves, establishing the area’s plantation culture. Then there were the periodic raids by the Native Americans from inland, as well as by pirates from the coast. But still Charles Town survived and grew larger. And within ten years from when it was first founded in some small tents, it was moved further south to its current location on the peninsular. By the 1700s, Charles Town was thriving in industry and trade. By the early 1700s, the colonists were finally successful in cultivating indigo, a plant which was much coveted by the nobility of Europe who prized clothes dyed with the purple-blue color produced by the plant. While rice grew in the swampy areas, indigo did well in areas that were dryer, where rice was unable to be produced. Previously unused portions of land now generated income for property owners. And the labor-intensive cultivation of indigo boosted the slave trade and population of the colony. By the late 1700s, half of the area’s population were slaves. Click here to read more of our history features.

Go Beyond

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

The Upcoming 10th Annual Dragon Boat Festival Is Poised to Make A Splash April 28 by Melissa LaScaleia It’s a year of tens. Not only is it the tenth year anniversary of the Market Common, but also of the Dragon Boat Races—the annual festival that is held by Ground Zero Ministries in the Market Common on the Big Lake, as a fundraiser for their programs. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Christian non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It was founded by Scott Payseur to offer middle school students and teens support in a complicated world. They are an entertainment driven ministry and focus on sharing fun, wholesome and rewarding experiences with students— both as means to help uplift them as well as to expose them to new ways of having a good time. They have many opportunities for student leadership within the organization— everything from helping out with stage productions and sound, to working in their coffee shop and office. “Everything we do has an entertainment component to it,” Scott tells the Insider in an interview. “We host events and bring in speakers on topics that are relevant to students’ lives. Ultimately, we want to be able to support students no matter their beliefs. You don’t have to be a Christian to be a part of our organization. But here, we let teens know they are not alone. “We establish authentic relationships with them and teach them how to do the same by sharing Christ through life-changing events. And we empower them by giving them tools to impact their world. There are students who feel like they don’t fit in anywhere. And we want to be present in their lives. The participants take to the waters at the annual Dragon Boat Festival. Each team is allotted a one hour practice session in the week leading up to the race, to prepare for the family-friendly, feel-good event. “The Dragon Boat Races are significant because the type of ministry that we do, the programs we offer, the bands, and the speakers we bring in, are not cheap, and the races help support our programs. We knew to have a successful fundraising event, something that was unique and memorable all on its own as well as different from other fundraising events, that we would have to do something very different from what was typically done.” This year, there are about fifty teams racing. Lavishly painted, ornate boats are brought in for the event, along with professionals who know how to steer them properly to avoid any crashes on the lake. But the boats themselves are propelled entirely by the man-and-woman power of their rowing teams. Each team gets a one hour practice session the week leading up to the races. Each team also provides their own drummer, an individual who beats steadily on a drum in the boat to hopefully, keep everybody rowing in unison. There’s a DJ going all day long, as well as a family fun zone, food, and other festivities. There’s also the very popular drummer costume contest– a family friendly event all teams can participate in. Legends is contributing a celebrity panel of judges. They will themselves be in costume, to judge the most creative drummer costume. This year, weatherman Ed Petrowski from WPDE will be the MC. “One year we had a team dress up like they were from the ‘80s,” Scott says. “They did their hair and all wore headbands, and the drummer dressed up like the aerobics instructor, Richard Simmons; he nailed it, he was hysterical, and everyone knew who he was. We have some people who really go all out with this.” This year’s top three supporters of the event are: Beach Automotive Group, Tidelands Health, and Monarch Roofing. Gold sponsors include: Angelo’s Steak and Pasta, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Best Golf Cars, Blue Green Vacations, Carolina Energy Conservation, Carolina Regional Cancer Center, Dependable Plumbing, Grand Strand Health and Wellness, Crispy Creme, Mellow Mushroom, Ocean Water Sports, and Waccamaw Heating and Cooling. “In any fundraising event, you always want to go above and beyond with your goals,”Scott says. “But this year is huge for us because our theme is, “go beyond.” Go beyond anything we’ve ever done before in our past for our ministry. We’ve really reset a lot of things, including this festival, and we’re excited about what this theme can do to offer more things for the community moving forward.” The Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival will be held at the Big Lake in the Market Common, Saturday, April 28, 9am-4 pm. For more information see details down below. Click here to read more about the festival. Phone Internet-explorer

Spring Bunny Cake

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

Spring Bunny Cake This is a totally adorable dessert from Melissa’s recipe box that will delight all audiences young and old. Making it is half the fun, so plan to do it with those you love most, and it will soon become a yearly tradition. It’s impressive and surprisingly easy, and you can use a box mix cake to save on time, or make the layers in advance and freeze them for later. Materials Large tray or serving platter 13’’ x 18’’ Two 9 inch round layer cakes 3 packages flaked coconut Food coloring For decorating: gumdrops, M&M’s, nuts, edible flowers like violets, roses, nasturtiums, lilacs, or pansies Frosting Ingredients 1 box of confectionary sugar 1 T butter 1-4 T milk 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions Using a sharp knife, cut the cake layers according to the diagram. To make the frosting: heat the milk until hot but not boiling. Combine sugar, butter, 1 tablespoon of the milk, and vanilla extract in the large bowl of a beater, and beat on high until well combined. The frosting should be thick and spreadable but not stiff. Add more hot milk, a little bit at a time, until the frosting is a little softer than smooth peanut butter. If it is too runny, add more confectionery sugar. Liberally frost the cake, and lavishly decorate with coconut all over. Then arrange the bunny cake on the platter. You can give your bunny a spring look by mixing 1-2 drops of the food color of your choice in a little water along with some of the coconut in a glass jar. Cap tightly and shake the jar to coat the coconut. Decorate your bunny cake using gumdrops or chocolate chips for eyes and nose, and thin Twizzler strips for whiskers. You can also pipe colored frosting. To view some of our old recipes, click here!

Happy 10th Birthday Market Common

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

Join The Celebration With the Taste of the Market Common and More on April 21 by Melissa LaScaleia This April marks the tenth anniversary of the Market Common, and to celebrate, the Market Common office is hosting a big bash with fun for the whole family. The 10th Year Anniversary Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 21, in the Market Common commercial district. “A milestone like a ten year anniversary gives one time to reflect on how far the Market Common has come, what a great plan it was, and how wonderful it has turned out. We will continue to evolve as we strive to meet our residents’ and visitors’ needs,” says Heather Gray, the general manager of the Market Common in an interview with the Insider. “We’re incorporating the Taste of the Market Common event into the celebration,” says Katherine Taylor, one of the organizers of the party. “It was so popular last year, we thought it would be a great idea to celebrate with it.” Katherine recently relocated to North Carolina with her family, but previously worked in the marketing department at the Market Common office. The 10th Anniversary celebration was one of the last, and she felt, best projects she worked on. She, Heather Gray, and Halé Richardson, the corporate director of marketing, all collaborated jointly to plan for this commemorative celebration. There will be a huge birthday cake in front of the Grand 14, compliments of the Market Common, and they will be giving away promotional items throughout the day. Farmers market vendors will be on Howard Avenue selling produce and other edible sundries as a prelude of what is to come during the summer months. There will be complimentary carriage rides, musical acts throughout the downtown area, and sidewalk sales hosted by the area’s stores. There will also be bouncy houses, balloon art, and face painting. Since the event will take place at the finale of the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, there will be photo ops with a production slate and an oversized director’s chair in front of the movie theater. And then there’s the star of the show, the Taste of the Market Common. The Taste is much what it sounds like– the chance for participants to taste culinary delights from many of the area’s downtown restaurants including: Co Sushi, Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, The Brass Tap, Cold Stone Creamery, Tupelo Honey Cafe, Gordon Biersch, King Street Grill, Nacho Hippo, and Peace, Love and Little Donuts, all at one go. Each restaurant is enticed to create the best of what they can offer in one of three categories— appetizer, entree, and dessert. There will be menus available at two ticket booths the day of the event so you can plan the scale of your tasting. Each ticket costs $1, and each menu item costs a select number of tickets. Each restaurant that you taste at will sign off on your restaurant card, and when you’re finished, submit your card back at the ticket booth for your chance to be entered in a grand prize drawing. Taste at one, get entered once; taste at five or more, and you’re entered twice. All of the revenue from the Taste goes back to the restaurants, so the event is designed to be fun for participants while supporting the local economy. There’s also an opportunity for people to vote for their favorite. The restaurant that has the most votes in each category will win bragging rights as well as free marketing courtesy of the Market Common office— incentives for all to be preparing their finest dishes for the event. “We’re bringing back a fan favorite from last year for the 10th Anniversary celebration because it was so well attended,” Katherine says. “Our plan is to have the Taste of the Market Common be an annual event. We and our restaurants felt that it was successful, and the attendees were happy that they got to come out and sample a little bit from so many restaurants without it costing a fortune.” Four thousand people attended last year’s Taste. And this year’s double event means that the Market Common office is anticipating quite a crowd. “All of this works harmoniously to bring an atmosphere of festivity,” Katherine says. “It will be a day to remember at the Market Common. It’s incredibly exciting it see how far we’ve come, and to capstone these ten years with such a nice event. I”m honored to work on it.” Bouncy houses and more planned for the big bash. – Photo courtesy of the Market Common offices. “All the staff are very proud of the Market Common,” Heather says. “We’re passionate about what our center can offer the public. And we all want our customers to have the best customer service when they walk on the property. There’s a lot of gratification in everything that we do, and this anniversary celebration is also a celebration of that— a recognition of our intentions and achievements.” “I’m very proud of all the behind-the-scenes people who work here at the Market Common,” she continues. “They show up each day with a positive outlook and want to do the best job they can. And I feel that’s because they share a common feeling of pride in the Market Common, of what it is, and what it looks like, that we present to the public. “A lot of our staff have been here since the opening of the Market Common and that’s something to be proud of and celebrate. Without them, this place would not look and be as well maintained as it is. I think they do a superb job.” The Market Common hopes this celebration brings people who have always been loyal customers as well as those who have never been here before to explore the beautiful setting, shops and restaurants. The event celebrates ten wonderful years and brings the customers along for that ride, with a thank you for journeying with … Read more

Q&A with Mark & Jill Robbins

June 4, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

These Bird-Watching Manhattanites Are Loving Their 5-Bedroom House and the Happy People Around Them by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. I live with my wife, Jill Robbins, and my two little Havanese dogs, Jack and Kelly. They are brother and sister, a Cuban breed that would run behind elephants at the circus; they are adorable. Why did you move to the Market Common? My wife’s been coming to Myrtle Beach since she was little. We liked the area for the restaurants and stores, and my wife suggested we move here. We moved to the Market Common because we were told this is an up-and-coming area; and it is. Three years ago, there were half the buildings here that there are now. It’s exploded. Where are all the places you came from? From the Westport/Fairfield Connecticut area; Manhattan for 30 years; Yonkers, the Bronx, Westchester, NY; and LA. Do you have a favorite place in the Market Common? The sitting areas in front of Barnes & Noble where you can observe the beauty of the area and the birds and children. I’m a bird watcher. What’s your favorite thing about living in the Market Common? The multicultural flavor of both the people and the stores. Restaurants that are Italian, Mexican, and French, and a variety of young people who have moved here. You have young and old; it’s a mixed area. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? It’s become a lot quieter and a lot less expensive. I’ve become quieter and more at peace. I spent 30 years living on the 27th floor, now I live in a five bedroom house with a lot of space. And I don’t have to take the elevator. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? My wife started her own company called Jenny Paige Jewelry, www.jennypaige.com. She makes and sells meaning bracelets out of silver and natural gemstones. Now she sells to over forty hotels and stores along the Grand Strand. Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? After traveling much of the world, I’m incredibly enthralled with the fact that I have such kind, wonderful, loving neighbors and some of the best friends I’ve ever encountered here. What are your favorite things to do here? Annoying Latoya at the Insider. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in the Market Common? A supermarket. And more stores displaying a greater diversity of cultures. A few more mom-and-pop shops with interesting things. A good delicatessen. A candy store.

Whether It’s a Gate Or A Fence It’s Gator Fence

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

They’ll Gator Done By Jonathan Townsend The hottest topic in the Myrtle Beach fencing and construction market is the formation of a new company out of some old faces. Two of the largest fence companies in the area have merged and joined up with a fence distribution company to form one of the largest fence companies in the Myrtle Beach area, with the new name of Gator Fence, LLC. The company was formed by three partners with the same common goals of serving the community with the best possible service and products. Behind this merger was Danny Vulin, James Leone, and Jonathan Townsend. Each has brought their own skills and talents into a rapidly growing business. Metro Fence LLC and Carolina Gator Fence have been established companies in the fencing industry for more than ten years. Danny, the owner of Metro Fence, served the Wilmington and Myrtle Beach areas, building a strong commercial and residential business, while creating relationships with some of the Carolinas’ largest builders along the coast. The owners of Gator Fence outside of their new warehouse off of Hwy. 707. From left to right: Jonathan Townsend, Jim Leone, and Danny Vullin Jim, the owner of Fence Source, has been selling fencing materials for his own company since 2011. Jim has built a national customer base and sold to many companies including Metro Fence, and Creative Fence. Jim has had a business relationship with both companies for many years. Jon, the owner of Creative Fence Concepts, has been in the fencing industry for twenty-three years and of those, has owned Creative Fence for fourteen years. During those years of ownership, the company was voted “Best Of The Beach” five years in a row. He brings to the business a large commercial fencing background and a company that is a household name. Jim inspects a recent installation at the Farm at Timberlake subdivision. When it comes to commercial or residential chain link or other fencing, their specifications or yours, they Gator done The three owners and their companies came together in a story all their own. Danny was making his transition from Metro Fence to Carolina Gator Fence, working hard to build his company. With his dedicated team, he was able to secure the contacts necessary to make Carolina Gator Fence a viable fence company. Jim had joined Danny’s team as a sales manager. Jim and Danny were heading down the right path when they decided to become partners. Jon had an opportunity offered to him and approached Jim and Danny with an offer from Creative Fence. They were able to get Jon to continue down their path and merge Creative Fence with Carolina Gator Fence and move forward under the name Gator Fence, LLC. Gator Fence now has the ability to take on any size project. They consistently run five installation crews and trucks daily. Gator Fence covers an area from Wilmington to Charleston for installation of projects. They have a full product line for everything fence-related. In their 5,000 square foot warehouse accompanied by the 30,000 square foot outdoor storage yard on Highway 707, they are stocked with many fence components. Danny checks the fence along the entrance to the subdivision. The trio have recently begun manufacturing vinyl and aluminum fence products right here in Myrtle Beach with their new company, Fence Source Distributors, LLC Gator Fence fabricates and installs all types of vinyl fencing and railing. They have a strong lineup in the aluminum fence category that will fit your project and budget with many color and texture options. When it comes to commercial or residential chain link fencing, their specifications or yours, they have you covered. They also carry all styles and types of wood fencing, or you can custom design your own. Another component that Gator Fence and its owners have launched is Fence Source Distributors, LLC. Fence Source is a full service supply company to the public and the trade. Jonathan gives the Insider team a tour of their quality fencing at one of their recent installations at the Farm at Timberlake Subdivision Fence Source is going to be manufacturing vinyl and aluminum fence products right here in Myrtle Beach. They have special equipment that includes a computerized CNC router machine that is designed to precision cut the openings in the rails, posts, and handrails. The fabrication crews build customer jobs and package them for pickup or delivery daily. There is a small showroom and outdoor displays attached to the main manufacturing facility. Across Highway 707 from that facility is a large sales center that is full of displays and information with a full sales staff eager to help; whether it’s a gate or a fence, they have you covered. Gator Fence Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

Island Furniture Porch Patio and Pool

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

Where Quality, Price, and Great Service Co-exist by Melissa LaScaleia “My wife Nell and I moved here in 1977,” John Boyd, the owner of Island Furniture Porch Patio and Pool tells the Insider in an interview. “And we’ve had a retail footprint in this area ever since that time.” The duo began in the wholesale lamp industry, selling lamps made out of seashells to furniture stores, boutiques, and lighting centers up and down the East and Gulf Coasts. Eventually they opened several retail locations along the Grand Strand. Over the years, to meet the evolving tastes and demands of their clients, they began to sell furniture. Today their primary focus is on offering high quality outdoor furniture, including Amish pergolas, gazebos, and free-standing structures. “We’ve been in this business in the South Strand since 1982; we’ve been at this current location since 1990; and it’s been my wife and I the entire time,” John says. “And during that time, we’ve reinvented ourselves and what we offer every ten years or so.” John and Nell inside their outdoor furniture store. The couple stays abreast of current products, trends and prices, to bring the highest quality products with great discounts to their Myrtle Beach clientele. Photo by Megan Parker/Latoya Grayson The driving force pushing John and Nell to transition into carrying exclusively outdoor furniture is the recent explosion of the poly lumber industry. Poly lumber is an environmentally friendly plastic product made out of recycled milk cartons. Contrary to what the uninitiated may think, this is not a cheap product, either in terms of quality or price. “Recycled plastic costs more than the original because it costs more to recycle it than manufacture it,” John says. The company who makes the furniture John stocks is Amish, and they also make pergolas and gazebos. Most items in their catalog come in forty-two different colors as well as a myriad of color combinations. The Amish made poly lumber furniture, made from recycled plastic. Photo by Megan Parker “We probably have one of the largest displays of this outdoor furniture on all of the East Coast,” John says. Poly lumber furniture produces less waste from manufacturing than other materials, doesn’t wear as poorly, and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance to stay looking good. And it’s primarily made in the United States. Outdoor recycled furniture appeared on the market about ten years ago, but it took a while before people caught on to its virtues. For those looking for more traditional styles and materials, John and Nell also carry wicker, aluminum, and teak. “We have a variety of product lines to choose from,” he says. “I’ve done the shopping for you. I’ve traveled, I know the products, the quality, and the prices. Everything I’m selling here is as good as you can buy on the market offered at heavily discounted prices.” The interior of their colorful shop will satisfy a variety of tastes in outdoor furnishings and art. Photo by Megan Parker “Retail today is nothing like it was in 2006 and before,” he continues. “People then would come into the store, see a lamp they liked, and buy it. Today, they take a picture and look online to see if they can get it for $5 cheaper.” To compete with the new shopping trends, John and Nell do their own internet research and can match or offer better prices than are found online. “We also offer the full service that a large company does,” John says. “There is a saying in this business: there’s price, quality, and service, but you can’t have all three, only two. But for us, we strive to give you all three— high quality products, at low prices, delivered with quality service.” Island Furniture Porch Patio and Pool Open M-Sa 10am-5pm. Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

Helping Mr. James Lee

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

Latoya Goes Viral by Melissa LaScaleia Latoya Grayson became acquainted with the homeless 74-year-old Mr. James Lee when they had an encounter at a restaurant where she offered to buy him chicken wings. “He was so friendly and appreciative and I was so happy to help him,” she says of the meeting. The next day, by chance, Latoya saw a video about him on Facebook; seeing him again, she felt compassion. Soon thereafter, Mr. James Lee popped into the Insider office where Latoya works in the capacity of public relations and marketing director; he was waiting for a ride and exploring his surroundings. Latoya and Mr. James Lee Mr. Lee was as surprised to see Latoya there as she was him. He told her that he had shared the basket of chicken wings with a few other homeless people, and how much they appreciated them. Moved by the series of synchronicities, and desirous of showing her son the man she had spoken about, Latoya asked to get a photo with him. To her astonishment, that Facebook post along with her caption, “to treat others as you want to be treated,” went viral. And people started contacting her by the droves asking how they could help Mr. James Lee too. She created a GoFundMe page for him, and in one week raised $10,000. From left to right: Pastor Chuck, Kr. James Lee, Kathy Canup (wife of Pastor Chuck) and Latoya Grayson at the Myrtle Beach Speedway where Mr. Owens is employed. “I felt that this task was just brought to me,” she says. “And I just had to help. I appreciate all the love and support that people have been giving, and I apologize that I can’t respond to every single comment. I want everyone to know though, that I’m in close contact with Pastor Chuck of Rushing Winds Ministries in Myrtle Beach. “He is a humble, caring and kind man, and he’s offering Mr. James Lee shelter and so much more. I’m going to ask Mr. James Lee, how do you define help? And then put together a master plan for his care and his money long term. I’ll keep everyone posted via Facebook.”

Getting Artistic with a Springtime Ritual

May 12, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

Charlie’s Corner is the domain of Charlie, the furry four-legged lady’s man of Market Common. Each month, he’ll share information to help all new, visiting, and existing doggie community members get the most out of life along side their human companions. Here, we’ll feature his reflections on what it’s like to be a dashing downtown doggie, as he reminds all of us how to play well together. This month, Charlie digs into spring, proverbially, of course. He respects the hard work of the Market Common’s landscapers. He would never mess up their flower plots by physically digging. “Spring is here again. And what better way to welcome it than with a ritual. or centuries rituals have been an important part of cultures across the globe, marking the passage of time and the cycles of the seasons in ways that are meaningful and joyful. These are cycles that we’re all a part of simply by being alive. How neat! That means that anyone can partake of them. In ancient times, because groups were localized largely in one place, rituals became imbued with meaning that was characteristic of the landscape, climate, customs, and beliefs of the people (and I hope animals) of that place. But with today’s modern global world, we have access and exposure to all cultures and beliefs. Which means that not only can anyone partake of them, but we can even partake of ones that aren’t indigenous to our culture or geographical area. How’s that for wonderful and beautiful? The one that most speaks to me this year is egg coloring. Here’s why: it’s an art project that involves food and I, for one, really appreciate food as well as bright colors, even though I’m not entirely sure that I eat eggs. But still, it’s the idea that counts, and that’s the key to ritual anyhow– it’s powerful because of the meaning that you ascribe to it; it’s the beauty that it represents, and what you are celebrating. Coloring eggs around Easter time isn’t just a Christian tradition, although many people think it is. Eggs have been a symbol of rebirth and new life since the dawn of time it seems, (if we are to believe archaeology at any rate). So rituals incorporating them at spring, the season of rebirth and new life, are to be expected. In ancient times, rather than dying eggs, people used to paint them. Archaeologists have unearthed remains of painted ostrich eggs from Mesopotamia, and reaching as far back as pre-history, when there were Neanderthals, and people didn’t have fire or indoor plumbing. Painting eggs was a common way for the people of what is today modern Russia and other Slavic countries to celebrate spring, centuries before Jesus’ birth. The custom still continues to this day. Christians adopted it too because for them it became associated with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And so, just like the internet connects us all, these symbols of the seasons, of what’s happening on our planet, connect us all, no matter our beliefs. Until next time, P.S. Follow me on Facebook to keep up with all my latest news, www.facebook.com/InsiderCharliesCorner and on Instagram @charlieparkerscorner. Read more of Charlie’s sage advice, reflections on life, and ruminations here.

Ask Your Expert – Gasque Insurance

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

A friend of the community, Ronnie Gasque, owner of the Gasque Insurance Agency, is here to answer questions about insurance. “Gasque Insurance Agency has been protect- ing our area residents for almost 50 years now. And we’ll continue to do so.” – Ronnie Gasque Would I be covered if my boat were on the river and hit by another boat that has no insurance? If another boat were to hit you and they were uninsured or under-insured your boat policy would extend coverage as long you have proper coverage on your policy. I recently had my boat towed and it was very expensive. Can I get towing included on my boat policy? With the proper endorsement on your boat owner’s policy, towing can be included in your premium. If a hurricane/tornado does damage to my boat, am I covered? If your boat is damaged in a hurricane, tornado or even in a severe storm, your boat would be covered as long as you have “property coverage” on your boat owner’s policy. This coverage is similar to comprehensive and collision coverage on a personal automobile policy. If I hit another vehicle while towing my boat, is it covered? The damage to your boat is covered as long as you have appropriate “property coverage”. Damage to what you hit is covered by your automobile policy. Ronnie Gasque Read more from Ask Your Expert here. At Phone-alt Phone Internet-explorer

Did You Know?

December 14, 2021March 29, 2018 by The Coastal Insider

by Emma Ware, D.H.N, C.N, C.C.H The definition of GMO is quite literally, ‘genetically modified food’. In layman’s terms, that means altering pure and natural foods with chemicals and preservatives to change their DNA. I encourage you to learn how to read labels and apply it to your weekly purchases. Understanding what the preservatives and chemicals are to stay away from are essential in maintaining a happy gut! When you stop to read the packages at your local grocery store you will see that chemicals and preservatives are in next to every product on the center aisles. After all, think about it, those preservatives are what allows the products/boxed foods to sit on our shelves for as long as they do without losing shape, spoiling or ‘going bad’. Photo courtesy of Emma Ware. Each person who comes to me for food guidance is taught the key chemicals to steer clear of when reading boxed foods. When they’re faced with words they’ve never seen before, my clients too, know that they can text me for confirmation before they purchase. And although it can be a challenge, given the size of our grocery stores now a days, I invite everyone I meet to ‘only shop from the perimeter of the grocery store’. It’s more fun (and colorful, I might add) that way anyway. Make shopping fun! Prepare a menu for the week and therefore write a list of fresh produce that you’ll need each week. By going to the store prepared, we lessen the temptation to mindlessly buy unhealthy and chemically infused foods. My favorite way to avoid the challenge of seeking out non-GMO foods is to buy from the local farmers markets. Here, you can count on fresh raised produce. Remember, eating fresh, unaltered whole foods offers health benefits that aren’t available in processed or packaged foods. Are you up for the challenge? Go out on your next trip and count how many NON-GMO food items you can find. It will be eye opening and gut approved. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate in stopping by my shop. We are located at 2798 Howard Ave, Myrtle Beach, in the Market Common. Or give me a call at 843.997.7037. I’ll be available, ready to help you.

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Go Beyond

Spring Bunny Cake

Happy 10th Birthday Market Common

Q&A with Mark & Jill Robbins

Whether It’s a Gate Or A Fence It’s Gator Fence

Island Furniture Porch Patio and Pool

Helping Mr. James Lee

Getting Artistic with a Springtime Ritual

Ask Your Expert – Gasque Insurance

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