Neighbors

Guidance Counselor, Ocean Enthusiast

Chef, Entrepreneur, Lover of the Beach Lifestyle by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. My parents are 78 years old, and doing well. They live in Massachusetts along with my two brothers and a sister. I’m the eldest and the only one who moved away. Everyone can cook like a champ, I’m just the only one who does it for a living. Locally, my family is my fiancé, Kim Bodkin. She’s a native Myrtle Beachian. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I moved to Providence, Rhode Island to attend culinary school at Johnson & Wales, then lived in Orlando, Florida to complete an apprenticeship in a French restaurant at the Hyatt Grand Cyprus Resorts. I also trained overseas, living in Switzerland for almost five years, and traveled around Europe, learning about culture and cuisine. Because of this, I speak German somewhat fluently. Now I live in Myrtle Beach, where I’ve been for the past 28 years. Why did you move here? After Europe, I sent my resume out to a head hunter, and decided to move here to take an executive chef position at The Sea Captain’s House Restaurant. I was their executive chef for seven years, and still remain close with the owners and their family— I cook for them several times a year through my catering business. Tell me about your business. What I love about food is that it brings people together. I also love that I’m in a never-ending-learning profession. I’ve been in the culinary arts field for thirty-eight years and there’s nothing I can’t cook, but I still see new techniques, ideas, and recipes all the time. I got my first executive chef job when I was twenty-six, and was in the restaurant scene for nineteen years. It’s hard, and can wear you out a bit. At thirty-eight, I stopped and started my own catering company, Strand Catering, www.strand-catering.com. I’ve also been an instructor at the Culinary Institute in Myrtle Beach for the past twenty-three years, teaching an array of classes, like Kitchen Fundamentals, and Asian Cuisine. What is your favorite place in this area? I’m a beach bum, so any of the Grand Strand beaches. I would rather sweat than freeze. I also love all the beautiful golf courses here. What are your favorite things to do here?  Besides cooking, my hobbies include beach time, golfing, and (even though I have no tattoos or piercings), riding my Harley Davidson around town. I like the outdoor activities because I’m always cooped up inside cooking. I love putting around my yard, landscaping. My yard looks like a golf course, and I always decorate seasonally. I also love deep sea fishing. The biggest fish I ever caught was a 145lb sailfish in Costa Rica; it was catch and release. Locally, I caught a 50lb wahoo; I ate that one. Gotta eat sometime. What do you like the most about living here? I love the Southern hospitality and laid-back atmosphere. People here are nice and gracious, and there’s so much to do. I haven’t been bored yet. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? I had never golfed till I moved here. I also met Kim here, at a culinary event. Food brought us together. I proposed to her in Charleston at a French restaurant, before dessert. I had to do it with a culinary flare, of course. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? I’m very artistic, and like to do oil paintings and charcoal sketches. It helps me with food and plate presentations I think: like creating art on a plate. Any advice for aspiring chefs? Never forget your culinary roots. And no bland food allowed.

Retirees Loving the Weather and Sociability of Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s my wife, Ruth, and I. We have two grown sons, Christopher and David, and three grandchildren: AJ (13), Alex (10), and Dylan (18 months). Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? Jim: I was born in Brooklyn, NY, and went to Stonehill College in Northeastern Massachusetts; that’s where Ruth and I met. Ruth: I’m originally from Maine. Jim and I lived in Massachusetts for 40 years, but had a vacation home in Myrtle Beach. We came down here every chance we got; we loved it here, and explored the entire area before we retired and moved here in 2014. Now we live in the Reserve in the Market Common. Why did you move here? We love the weather, the cost of living, the quality of life, the ocean. The people are so friendly; and the restaurants and entertainment are both great. Up north, if you wanted to go to a show, there was always so much traffic. Jim’s father lived in Pompano Beach, Florida, and we used that as a comparison. But we liked it down here so much better. What is your favorite place in this area? The downtown Market Common area because of the big lake, the stores, and the walkability of it all. What are your favorite things to do here?  We walk to stay in shape. We enjoy being able to walk most places we want to go, and the social aspects of seeing people we know, and stopping to say hello. We also ride our bikes every Sunday morning— through the neighborhoods and along Farrow Parkway. We like going to the beach in the early evening; it’s still warm, people are still there; and it’s only two miles away. What do you like the most about living here? Ruth: It’s hard to say just one thing. We love being outdoors so much, and we love the weather. Jim has worn shorts 360 days a year since we’ve been here. We love all the happy hours we attend with our friends. The area has a positive feel to it that makes it really enjoyable. We love our neighbors and have made a lot of good friends here. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? Ruth: I volunteer at Brookgreen Gardens a few days per week, and I go to the gym regularly. I’ve barely done the dishes since I moved here, because Jim does them most of the time. He loves to cook as well, and now we share that role. Jim: I like to cook when Ruth isn’t home because she has suggestions for me and I don’t want to listen. I also like to take care of the lawn and do work around the house. I just enjoy being retired. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  Jim: I’ve jogged 3-4 times per week for the past 50 years. I began doing it when I got out of college. I’m not a great runner, but I like to do 4-5 miles a go. Every time we went on vacation, to Rome, Bermuda— no matter where it was— I jogged. I never missed a week for 50 years. I’ve had head colds, but never bad enough to stop me. The cold air would clear my breathing, and then I’d have a Scotch and soda afterwards. People would ask me if I wanted to do marathons, but I said no because I never saw any sense in that. But since moving here, I’ve come to enjoy walking more; so now I do that. I decided that when I turn 80 years old, I’m going to start smoking. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? Bar pizza, the really greasy kind, with the mixture of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. And good Portuguese food.

Radio Show Host, Retired News Director, Music Buff, Baby Boomer by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my wife, Debra, and our son, Jeff. We have two grandchildren: Vera Grace, she’s 15; and Tucker Wayne, he’s 13. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? I grew up in Darlington, SC. We moved to Surfside Beach in 2000. Why did you move here? I was working as news director for WBTW TV 13. When they moved the station from Florence to Myrtle Beach, they asked me to relocate to be news manager. Later, I went to work with WPDE TV 15 for ten years.  I’ve been in broadcasting for fifty-four years. It’s been a blast. I’ve interviewed Ronald Regan; George W. Bush; Bill Clinton; Gerald Ford; Jackie Gleason, an entertainer; John Elroy Sanford, an entertainer better known as Redd Foxx; and John Conway, who was in the front seat of the car with John F. Kennedy when the latter was shot.  Also Bob Hope— he was the nicest guy; and Ernest T. Bass, a character from The Andy Griffith Show. I still watch that show at least 3-4 times per week. I also had the opportunity to interview my hero— Dick Clark, and I have a picture of the two of us together. Now I’m semi-retired. I host an oldies radio show on Friday nights from 7pm-midnight with Carolina Gold 93.9. It’s like a sock hop; I play songs from the boomer generation. When I was in news, I received the state’s highest honor a governor can give from Gov. David Beasley: the Order of the Palmetto. What is your favorite place in this area? Anywhere I’m riding my golf cart. What are your favorite things to do here?  Listening to the collection of 170,000 songs I have on my computer, dating from 1950 to 2013. My wife will holler at me sometimes to turn it down because it’s so loud. What do you like the most about living here? That there’s so much to do here. Coming from a small town like Darlington, with 8,000 people in the city limits, there’s not a lot to do. Here you can do something different every day. I’ve been here 22 years and there’s still a lot of things I still haven’t done. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you take up since moving here? It’s our tradition to eat dinner at Russell’s Raw Bar every Friday night in Murrells Inlet. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  My neighbors know everything about me because we’ve been friends for a long time. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? I’d like to see more car shows. I’m very involved in the Myrtle Beach Car club— we’re the largest club for this area. Last year, we raised $22k for charities.

A Boating Family, Owners of Beach House Boat Rentals by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my husband Tommy. We have three boys: Brandon, 15; Brody, 13; and Braxton, 9. They all work at our family business, Beach House Boat Rentals, and have been since they could walk. Braxton started by opening the gate for our customers. Brandon and Brody got their boating license when they were ten years old, and love to help customers dock the boats. We also have a dog, River, so named because we spend so much time on the water. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? We moved here from New Jersey thirteen years ago, and we live in Murrells Inlet now. Why did you move here? So many reasons. Everything in New Jersey is expensive for what you receive. And we wanted to move to a place that felt smaller and less congested. We vacationed here all the time; we always rented a beach house, and we were familiar with the area. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? In New Jersey, we didn’t live near the water. When we moved here, the first thing we did was buy a golf cart and a boat; it was completely new to us. We opened a boat rental business the first year we moved here, and are proud that we have grown our fleet from one boat to sixteen. When we vacationed here, we always wanted to rent a boat, but found it difficult. So we started our business to fill in the niche (www.beachhouseboatrentals.com), and today have two locations: at the Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. A big chunk of our business serves people who rent homes with an attached dock; they can keep the boat at their dock for their entire vacation and take it out when they choose. We also offer half-day and full-day rentals, as well as captained charters on our Catamaran. If we had stayed in New Jersey I don’t think we would have even owned a boat. What is your favorite place in this area? It’s a toss up between the Inlet and the Waccamaw River. Even though we work at the marina, we spend most of our free time on a boat because that’s what we enjoy the most. My kids will do anything water related— fishing, boating, surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, tubing. What do you like the most about living here? When we first moved here, it was a bit of a culture shock that people we didn’t know would wave and smile at us. I really like that. People take the time to say hello to you. In New Jersey, everyone is so busy that nobody does this. When I first had a baby, people would stop me in the supermarket to say hello to my baby; they are friendly. And nobody honks around here either. It’s just a different way of life. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? I used to be a teacher, and have a master’s degree in early childhood education. I taught in New Jersey for ten years. I am also a photographer, and I take all the pictures and videos of our boats for our company. Every picture on our website shows our own boats and family. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? Bagels and Italian delis. In New Jersey they are on every block, and it’s been really hard to find some good ones here.

House Church Planters and Beach Lovers by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my husband Lee. We have two sons: Noah is 22, and Ethan is 20— both are college students; and a dog, Chewy, short for Chewbacca. He looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars when we got him, and the boys were big fans of the movie, so that’s how he got his name. He’s 14 years old now, and not as fuzzy as he used to be, but he’s a good little dog— a tiny toy poodle. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? Christy: I was born in Sumter; we both lived there most of our lives. We lived in Columbia for four years when Lee earned his master’s of Divinity at Columbia International University Seminary. Today, we live in the Meridian in the Market Common area. Lee: I was born in Elgin, Illinois, and moved to South Carolina at age 2 when my birth parents divorced. I was adopted when I was six years old, and grew up in Sumter. Why did you move here?  Lee: I was invited to Myrtle Beach to help start a house church, where we open our home to smaller groups of people for church service. It’s modeled after the early Christian church. The goal is to establish a greater sense of community, intimacy, and friendship amongst people— to make more personal connections. Often in a larger setting, those qualities can get lost. It’s also an opportunity for people to partake in church who may not feel comfortable going to a bigger church for whatever reason. What is your favorite place in this area? Christy: I love Huntington Beach State Park because of all the wildlife. It feels like every time you go you’re seeing something different. Lee: The Marsh Walk in Murrells Inlet. I get excited every time I see the beach, and we’ve been coming here for vacation our entire lives. What are your favorite things to do here? Lee: I like hunting for shark’s teeth, and playing trivia. We love all the activities available in Myrtle Beach— there’s always something going on here. What do you like the most about living here? Lee: The beach itself. I love sitting on the beach, the salt air, and the waves crashing. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? Christy: I’ve been working as a personal shopper. That’s not something I could have done in Sumter because it’s too small. Whether it’s food, clothing or decor, I get what people need and deliver it to them. It has been a great way to learn the area better and help people. I’ve met a lot of sweet people that way. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  We have been to seventeen Major League ballparks, and our goal is to hit them all. We’re a little over half way. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? We miss seeing our friends back home, and would love to see a Trader Joe’s come to the area.

Passionate Supporter of All Things Local, Small Business Owner, and TV Star by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  I have two children: Hunter, who is thirteen years old, and a daughter, Allie Greer, who is eleven. Where are all the places you came from? Myrtle Beach has been my home since the second grade, I love it here and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Why did you elect to stay here? For me, it’s my sanctuary. We can walk to the beach anytime, it’s sunny, and I love the sense of community here. What are you passionate about? About ten years ago, I brought Guild Mortgage to the beach and opened my office here. I help people achieve home ownership. It’s extra special for me because I make beach living in my beloved hometown a reality for so many. We specialize in residential home loans and offer a variety of products. Since then, I’ve been able to spread my wings into different states. I’ve always had a passion for marketing as well; it’s kind of my decompression time. I started an Instagram account, @TheSytlishLender, as well as a blog. I cover a broad range of content— from the local hot spots of Myrtle Beach, to the lending world, and even fashion. It’s been really fun for me to showcase my hometown in this way, market and educate others on home ownership, and make Myrtle Beach a reality destination for so many people, whether they’re moving here or just vacationing. Most recently I’ve been part of the CNBC TV show, Financing the American Dream, which highlights top real estate markets around the country. It’s aired monthly, and I auditioned and was selected for the Myrtle Beach segment. I’ve done three seasons now, and got to experience a lot of tourist attractions in Myrtle Beach— things outside of what I typically do. We went to Myrtle Waves, the Grand Prix, and even got to ride Banana Boats. It’s been a blast. What is your favorite place in this area? Definitely the beach— it truly never gets old. My favorite restaurant is Fire & Smoke, I’m probably there twice a week. What are your favorite things to do here?   I am a big fan of supporting local. That includes everything from restaurants and coffee shops to boutique specialty stores. I love fashion, and it’s all about getting things as local as I can get. What do you like the most about living here? The atmosphere. It’s so laid back, and people genuinely like to have a good time. This is a place where you can come to relax, meet new friends, and have fun. Is there anything that you would like to see in Myrtle Beach?  I would love to see some healthier food options, I know it’s coming soon, I can feel the change!

Principal, Relationship Builder, and Avid Traveler by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  My mom is eighty-eight years old, and my dad is eighty-nine, and both live here in Myrtle Beach in a retirement community. I have a sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews that live in Columbia, SC. I love spending time with them.  Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home?  I grew up in Wallace, SC. I lived in Johnson City, TN before moving back to SC in 1990. Today I live in the Burning Ridge Community.  Tell me about your background. What do you do in Myrtle Beach for a career?  I’ve been in the education field for over thirty-two years. I went to Lander University and played basketball and softball on scholarship, and received my graduate degree at East Tennessee State University. I got my master’s degree in administration from the University of South Carolina. I taught at Conway High from 1990 to 1997. In 2007, I became assistant principal, then principal in 2011, and I’ve been working in that capacity ever since.  Tell me about your students, the community culture, and how Covid has affected your school.  We have about 2600 students. And I always get compliments on them and their behavior. I’m genuinely proud of them as a whole in how they present themselves. Our parents and our community are supportive of the programs we offer; we have a great performing arts program, and stellar academics and athletics.  I have around 280 staff, and over 150 teachers. There are five elementary schools and three middle schools. We plan events together such as the homecoming parade. We continue to try and build a strong culture within our attendance area schools. I love working with the feeder schools and their principals.  The teachers have done a phenomenal job of not only providing instruction in the classroom to make sure students didn’t fall behind during Covid, but also found innovative ways to make sure our students could stay active in extracurricular activities. I feel there’s been a lot of flexibility and innovative thinking to provide students with the best environment possible given what we’ve been going through with Covid.  We’ve received several awards in the midst of all this. It’s because of how well the students have worked through adversity, and the teachers not lowering expectations just because we’re going through a pandemic. We all expected a lot of ourselves, and I couldn’t do the things I do without the staff I have around me. What we do at CFHS is a team effort. I am very proud of our teachers, staff, and administrators; I wouldn’t want to do this job with anyone else.  What is your favorite place in this area?  I love boating and playing golf. I really enjoy the simplicity of being outdoors and at the beach, spending time with my family and friends. Covid has reminded me that the things that are the most important to me are those relationships that you build with others, and what you can build when you work together. And outside of work, the relationships that I build with my family and friends, and how that pushes me to grow as a person.   What do you like the most about living here?  It’s such a diverse county. You can go to the western part and be in the countryside, or head east and be at the beach. The Grand Strand and surrounding areas have a lot to offer.  I appreciate the diversity of the student body in Carolina Forest. Being able to see them learn and grow everyday— developing into the best versions of themselves— that’s what’s most exciting for me.

M.D. PhD, Flower Photographer by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.   I have a son, Boris, and two grandchildren: Daniel is twelve years old and Ken is fifteen. Then there’s Sugarglitter, my small, Australian opossum. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home?  I moved to Michigan from Siberia more than twenty years ago. Twelve years ago I moved to Murrells Inlet. I recently purchased a live-work space in the Market Common from which I run my boutique medicine business, MD4 Vitality, and now I split my time between both locations. Why did you move here?  For the ocean, it is a huge healing body. What is your favorite place in this area?  The entire Market Common and what it has to offer. It’s very health and wellness oriented which I appreciate. I walk around the lake every morning. I love the small coffee shops and restaurants; and my hairdresser, nail salon and massage therapist are here. I only opened my office here last year, but I was already firmly entrenched in the area. What are your favorite things to do here?  Dog watch from my window. I see people in my office all the time, so I prefer to watch dogs. I have a deep connection with flowers, and in my free time I photograph them. Some of my work is in the Seacoast Artist Gallery, and last year it was featured on the front cover of Market Common Neighborhood magazine. What do you like the most about living here?  I like how clean it is and that everything is within walking distance. The population here is looking to be healthy. And the people and animals are so friendly and always smiling. My neighbors feel like a family. What business do you own in the Market Common?  I am board certified in lifestyle medicine. I do personalized protocols for every patient, and train and teach people how to be healthy and strong. I do healthy gut protocols; post Covid recovery treatment; family practice; and skin wellness. I also conduct lymphatic drainage massage. People love it— it improves the immune system. What’s one thing your neighbors don’t know about you?  I’m a retired major in the U.S. Army where I served as a medical doctor. I was a family physician in Murrells Inlet and won the Readers Choice award in 2018 for Best Family Physician in Myrtle Beach. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? I walk more, and make my own schedule. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach?  Grocery stores that sell healthy foods.

Mystery Novelist and Stay-At-Home Dad by Melissa LaScaleia Caleb Wygal moved to the Carolinas when he was twenty-one, and has been living in the South ever since. The West Virginia native met his wife, Tasha, in Charlotte, and the two relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2019, when she was offered a job at Dolce Lusso in the Market Common. “I’m a stay-at-home dad, and we had family that lived nearby,” Caleb says. “We had a lot more support to help with my son, and that coupled with Tasha’s job— inspired us to move to Surfside.” Caleb has a track record as a prolific published author; he previously wrote four books in an adventure series. His new series, set in Myrtle Beach, began thanks to the foibles of his young son. “He was at an age where he was taking a daily nap but didn’t want to take one in his crib any longer,” Caleb says. “So I would put him in the car and drive up and down Ocean Blvd to lull him to sleep. Every day, driving past the same scenery, I began to reflect that this area has a really small town feel to it— the perfect backdrop for a story. “I did some research about books set in Myrtle Beach and saw that there weren’t that many. So I decided to write a mystery novel— a fast, fun, clean, easy, beach read. Something that people would be able to read in a couple of days and then be able to move on and enjoy the rest of their vacation. “The idea spawned the creation of a mystery series I could base in Myrtle Beach, with a main character who is relatable and who inspires empathy and interest,” Caleb says. “He’s dealing with the recent loss of his wife, and he learns that there may have been more to her death than he realized.” The first book of the Myrtle Beach Mystery Series, Death on the Boardwalk, won the Pinnacle Achievement Award for Best Mystery, while a review in Grand Strand Magazine in August 2021, lauded the book as “a must-read for Myrtle Beach locals and mystery lovers alike.” The second book in the series, Death Washes Ashore, was just released this past December. Caleb recently completed the first draft of the third book in the series, Death on the Golden Mile. It’s his favorite so far, and one that he deems very fun. He is hoping it will be out in time for summer vacation-goers. All of Caleb’s books are published by Franklin/Kerr Press, and available on Amazon, as well as locally at Barnes & Nobels, and other boutique bookstore and gift shops along the Grand Strand. “Since my family and I have moved here, this is the happiest we’ve ever been in our lives,” he says. “We love meeting our neighbors. Since the books have come out, I’ve met hundreds of people who love the books. It’s a wonderful feeling to have people come up to me and say something like, ‘Hey! I love your books! Thanks for giving me a few hours of joy in my life.’”

Spend Time on the Intracoastal Waterway and Their Shop, Larry’s Auto Clinic by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s my husband Larry and I. We’ve been married for twenty-eight years. Our son, Johnny, is an engineer and lives in Baltimore. Our daughter, Erin, is in grad school at Webster University for child counseling and lives in Myrtle Beach. We have two rescue dogs: Simba, a golden Labrador, and Amber, a golden cocker spaniel. They are both eleven years old, and have been together for ten of those. They are so attached to each other, I don’t know what they’d do without one another. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? I grew up in Connecticut, and lived in Virginia and Maryland. Larry grew up in Howard County, Maryland. We live in the Arrowhead Grand subdivision, in Myrtle Beach.  Why did you move here?  Larry has never lived anywhere besides Maryland and he wanted to try something different. Larry is a skilled mechanic, and we owned an autoshop in Maryland. We were looking at buying a business, and when we saw a local auto clinic for sale down here, we decided to buy it. Larry’s Auto Clinic, as it was called, was a staple in the community for many years. And my husband happened to have the same name as the original owner. It felt like it was a great fit for us, and we decided to buy it. What is your favorite place in this area? The Intracoastal Waterway.  What are your favorite things to do here? Larry loves the golfing, and we both like the restaurants and live entertainment. We enjoy going to Murrells Inlet too. The music scene here is great— we enjoy visiting the Garden City Pier and the Boathouse for live music. The Market Common restaurants and bars are really wonderful. And we like taking our dogs to Tidewater Creek there, where they have a little beer garden with a dog park.  What do you like the most about living here? The weather and the people. We also appreciate being able to do things year-round.  How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here?  People here are very easy-going and so wonderfully sweet and friendly; we’ve become a lot more laid-back as well. It’s different down here— people go out of their way to be nice. I joined the Solid Rock Church in the Market Common. The people welcomed us with open arms, and some have become loyal customers of the shop. Larry’s Auto Clinic has been great, and the people who come in here are so friendly and nice. Our customers are just the best. Our lifestyle has changed a lot because now we own a business. And we traded in our snow skis for jet skiing on the waterway— one of our new favorite pastimes.  What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? Larry and I met in Aspen, Colorado skiing.

Have Lived in Eight States, and Are World Travelers and Outdoor Enthusiasts by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  We are Glenn and Paula Hero. We have two fur babies: one indoor cat, Buddy; and one semi-feral cat, Lucy, who found us when she was a baby kitten. We had just moved to Myrtle Beach, and she came crawling out of the woods and was ravenous. We fed her and she stuck with us. She roams around outside, but has been coming back to us every day now for the past six years.  Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home?  We lived in eight different states— New Jersey, California, Texas, Wyoming, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Connecticut. Each state has such wonderful things to see. This country is so spectacular. In our retirement years, we’ve been to 25 countries around the world including, China, England, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Greece, Poland, Estonia, and Croatia. It broadened our perspective about people. We decided to retire to Pawleys Island and today live in Heritage Plantation.  Why did you move here?  Before we moved here, we lived in Charlotte for twenty years. We had a realtor who helped us buy our house, and we became good friends with her over the years. She came to visit Pawleys Island and eventually moved here, and encouraged us to come explore it too. When we came to Pawleys, it reminded my husband of Groton Long Point, Connecticut, an idyllic little coastal New England town where he grew up. We decided to retire here too.  What is your favorite place along the Grand Strand?  Either Brookgreen Gardens or Huntington Beach State Park. They’re both so beautiful.  What are your favorite things to do here?  Fishing, both surf and beach fishing. We love to walk on the beach too. Bicycle riding, and anything else outdoors.  What do you like the most about living here? There’s less hustle and bustle, it’s peaceful and quiet. The people where we live are extremely friendly, kind, and very generous with their time.  How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you adopted since moving here?  I’ve been writing poetry for my own edification for years, and now I have more time to do so. My husband is more active in the American Legion and the United Sates Submarine Veterans Incorporated, Myrtle Beach chapter.  What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?   My husband used to audit tax returns; he once audited the Playboy Club in Atlantic City and in New Jersey. I’m an identical twin.  Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach?  More theatre and Broadway shows. 

An Entrepreneur Who Delights in the SC Friends She’s Known Since Childhood by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my son, Dylan McConnell. He is twenty-seven years old and lives in Georgetown too.  Where are all the places that you have lived? Where do you live now?   I have always lived in Georgetown County, in Andrews. It’s a little bit inland, about 18 miles away from Georgetown, right off the beautiful Black River.  Why have you always lived here? I love that I know everyone where I live and the feeling of camaraderie that results. There’s perks to living in a small town: when my son was growing up, it was important to me that I knew his teachers, their backgrounds, morals, and values, as well as those of his friends. And there’s a mentality in which everyone helps each other out. I also love the Lowcountry lifestyle: fishing, being on the water, and the beaches.  What’s your favorite place in the area? Front Street in Georgetown. The scenery is great, and you can shop, dine, and hang out with friends right along the waterfront at the junction of five rivers and the Intracoastal Waterway.  Where do you work? Anderson Brother’s Bank in Georgetown. I also own a clothing boutique called Raja’s Closet. It’s a mobile boutique with a brick and mortar location on Highmarket Street in Georgetown.  What are your favorite things to do here in the area? Spending time with my son who also loves to fish; meeting friends on Front Street to catch up and have a nice meal; sitting on my back porch with a cup of coffee and enjoying the peace and quiet and the birds.  What do you like most about living here? First and foremost, the weather. Also my friends that I’ve known since childhood. I like being so local to where I work. The people that we serve in the community at the bank are the same that we shop with in the grocery store and have dinner with and see walking down the street. I like that here, everyone is my neighbor. I like knowing who I’m going to run into. As my son was growing up— I pushed him to go live somewhere else, to go do something else, see something else and he said to me, “Mom why would I? Everything I love is right here.” And that’s true for me too. Everything I love is right here, and that’s what I enjoy about living here.  Is there anything that you would like to see in the Myrtle Beach area that isn’t here? I’d like to see more available health care services for our rural communities.  

The So-Cal Surf Doc and Water Safety Guru by Melissa LaScaleia Peter Chambers grew up at the beach in Southern California. He was a medical doctor in the U.S. Air Force, and later, traveled the country as a travel doctor, working in states like Alaska, Florida, Washington, Montana, California, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and North Carolina. He first arrived in Myrtle Beach in 2014, and despite his extensive explorations of the rest of the U.S., kept returning to the Grand Strand, drawn by North Myrtle Beach’s beautiful shoreline and the friendly people. “I grew up in Southern California with the Beach Boys and surfing— back when the beaches were clean and wonderful. The day I came to North Myrtle Beach and drove down Main Street, it was like I was a teenager again, driving down Main Street at Seal Beach.” “I’ve traveled all over the world,” he adds, “and the beaches in North Myrtle Beach are the best in my opinion. I decided to stay here because I love how friendly the people here are as well. Everybody just wants to have fun and be at the beach.” Today, Peter is an emergency medicine and family doctor working in Columbus County hospital, North Carolina. His family medicine practice is in Leeland, NC. Outside of healthcare, anything medical to do with water or beach safety is a focus and passion in his life. He has worked as an ocean lifeguard since his youth, and still enjoys doing so in his off hours— occasionally prioritizing it more often. “I took a full summer off as a doctor and worked as an ocean lifeguard for North Myrtle Beach life and rescue,” he says. “I established the North Myrtle Beach Lifeguard Foundation as a nonprofit, which brings awareness about ocean safety to the community, and raises funds for the North Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue department.” Peter himself has purchased and donated medical supplies as well as lifeguard towers for the department. The author of several books, he donates all proceeds from sales to the foundation. His first book was called, Lifeguard: Beach First Responder.  “I wanted people to recognize that there are many first responders, but the ones who get overlooked the most often are lifeguards; they save lives and prevent mishaps just as other first responders,” he says. “But over the years, they have gotten bad press with unjust stereotypes like being pretty boys on the beach, looking for girls. “But that’s not what this job is about. They are trained professionals who are putting their lives on the line to prevent drowning and promote water and beach safety. They provide programs for youth, they give talks in schools— they are a great group of people who don’t get the recognition that they should.” Peter’s latest book, Beach Safety, published by Warren Publishing, is designed for 2nd to 5th graders to read alone or with their parents. His purpose in writing it was to give children and adults things to think about so they can have a safer day at the beach. Tips include such reminders as wearing sunblock; hydrate frequently; swim in front of the lifeguard stand; know the safety flags that lifeguards fly; and know your own swimming limitations— but presented in a colorful, fun, and engaging way. Purchase a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever books are sold. You can also email him at peterchambers64@yahoo.com to request a copy.

New to Myrtle Beach, and With a Message of Hope for Parents of Children with Autism by Melissa LaScaleia Rebecca Jeffreys has lived in many locales across the U.S., including Pepperell, Massachusetts where she and her husband raised their son. “We could always tell that he was different,” she says, “but as he was an only child, we really didn’t have any benchmark for comparison. Over the years, we treated a number of symptoms like anxiety, inability to thrive, awkward social skills, and an unusual perception of the world.” It wasn’t until her son went to public school in junior high that the special education team noticed something was amiss and stepped up to help. “They were really supportive and able to help him with his struggles and it was great,” Rebecca says. “Then he went to a different school in 9th grade, where the special ed team wasn’t great, and everything went downhill rapidly. He was emotionally a wreck, and he was very depressed and his grades were terrible. This moment was the hardest parenting moment of my life in terms of dealing with other adults, protecting my child, and getting his needs met. It was an emotional rollercoaster and we felt powerless, and I didn’t have tools to help me through it. I could lean on friends, but I needed so much more. And that time was the inspiration for me wanting to write a book to help other moms get through these tough times as well.” Once her son was placed in therapeutic school, everything turned around for the better once more, but after he graduated from high school, it was again difficult for Rebecca and her husband to guide him, as there was no more structure. Their son wasn’t officially diagnosed with autism until he was 20 years old. Two years later, in April 2021, Rebecca and her husband took early retirement and moved to Myrtle Beach. “We had come previously on a vacation, and had been looking for years for a beach home. We landed in such an autism friendly town and we didn’t even know it until after we moved. We simply felt that it was peaceful here, and people were accepting and laid-back, and it would be a wonderful place for us to continue to support our son in the next chapter of his life.” Rebecca wrote the book, You Were Made For This: Finding Courage and Intuition for Raising a Child with Autism during Covid. “I wrote it as a tool for mothers in a similar position to me to quickly reference and feel supported on their journey— to feel that they’re not alone,” she says. “It has self care tips, and a glossary of words they’ll encounter with the specialists they’re working with. Additionally there’s a guide on how to select a therapeutic school.” Their son now lives with them indefinitely. “Now that we’re settled, we’re getting him a job coach,” Rebecca says. “Little by little, he’s easing into the community. But there’s no rush. We keep the stress down but make the process feel successful.” Visit her website for more info and to get your copy of the book: www.sproutinghealthyfamilies.com. 

Read all about Jessica and Jake Lowery’s family and the Power of Elderberries.

Myrtle Beach Air Force Veteran, and Innovative Bass Guitar Soloist by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my wife, Diane. We have one son named after me, Mikey; he’s thirty years old. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I’m from Pittsburg, but I was stationed at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1985. That’s what got me down here. And my wife of thirty-three years, that’s what kept me here. She’s an actual local from Myrtle Beach, from the Burgess Community. Today, that’s where we live. We built a new house on the spot of the homesite where she grew up, twenty-three years ago, and we’ve been here ever since. Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? I met Diane at the NCO Club, the Non-Commissioned Officers Club at the Air Force Base, shortly after I got here. It was a place where we had dances. I looked across the room and I saw her and I told my roommate, “That’s the woman I’m going to marry.” After I got out of the Air Force, I decided to stay because she didn’t want to be uprooted from her home and family. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? The Market Common, because it’s the site of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. It all comes back full circle. Also because I moonlight as a professional musician at Crepe Creations Cafe, which I’ve been doing for the past five years. I play bass guitar like it’s a lead guitar because that’s how I have it strung. There aren’t many people in the country and even in the world doing what I’m doing with music like this. I play different styles of music, but mostly classic rock, jazz, R&B and country. Every Friday from 6-9pm. What do you like the most about living here? The weather. It’s not nearly as harsh as Pittsburg. What’s your impression of people there versus here? If I was single, I’d be in Pittsburgh. There’s a camaraderie that people have around the Pittsburg Steelers, and have bonded because of them. Even if you don’t know anybody, if you’re wearing Steeler gear, people will come up and talk to you. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? Well, I got married and we raised our son. I’d like to think I’m a good dad and a great husband. It also gave me the opportunity to hone in on my music career. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? Playing professionally as a solo artist once I came to Myrtle Beach. That’s been within the last five years. Previously I played professionally in bands. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? I’m in the process of producing my first solo CD. What are your favorite things to do here? Spending time with my family— that’s always a plus. And… playing music. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? This is going to sound crazy, but I miss snow. I do love four distinct seasons.

by Melissa LaScaleia John Rhodes, the former Mayor of Myrtle Beach, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021 from complications due to Covid-19.  John was an incredible visionary with a heart and mind deeply committed to serving our community. We recognize all of his many contributions to our city with the deepest gratitude, and offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. It was an honor for the Insider to speak to John for an interview in the summer of 2019, relaying the story of how he envisioned the concept of an inclusive play park for children with physical disabilities in the Market Common.  John worked to raise money for the construction of what would become Savannah’s Playground, even taking out a personal loan for $1 million to buy equipment for the park. “On December 27, 2013, I was stricken with a bleeding brain aneurism,” John said in the interview. “I was at the Beach Ball Classic when it happened. At the time, I was with some people on the committee who were able to get me an ambulance and to the hospital and operated on, and they saved my life. My brother-in-law had died of the same thing, and I had other friends who had died of the same thing. I felt like I was kept alive for a reason, to do something different from what I had been doing previously.”  The construction of Savannah’s Playground became that reason. John’s passion and positive determination to bring the project to fruition touched the hearts of many others in our community, who generously gave their money, time and resources, to help make the cause that John championed a reality. Without his leadership, we as a community would not be graced with the blessing and gift that it is for so many. Savannah’s Playground is the largest park of its kind on the East Coast. It was named after Savannah Thompson, a young woman in our community with William’s Syndrome. Complications from a surgery she had as a child resulted in brain trauma, leaving her with physical limitations. The mayor and Savannah met at a Country Music Festival in Myrtle Beach some years back. John knew her as, “One of the sweetest kids you’d ever meet.” Her outlook on life was the inspiration for his building the eponymous park, as he wanted her to have a place where she could play with her friends. It is engineered in such a way that parents and children can and do play together, fostering a greater sense of community and connection. “I look at all of this as doing something positive for our children, and helping them to understand the realities of the world that we live in and some practical ways that we can address that with compassion,” he said in the interview. John hoped that sooner rather than later, other cities like Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston, and Savannah would take a cue from Myrtle Beach, build their own inclusive playgrounds too.    “Without a doubt,” he said at the time, “of all the accomplishments that I’ve been involved in in this city, Savannah’s Playground means the most to me. It’s what I’m most thankful for.”  As we are thankful for him.

Holds an Appreciation of Europe’s Old Cities Where He was Raised, and Myrtle Beach’s Easy-Going Culture

Read all about Emily Smith a freelance writer for the Sun News, Zipline enthusiast, and passionate book collector!

Journalist, Public Servant and owner of mobile skincare business, Charismatic Beauty

City of Myrtle Beach Landscaper and Part Time Astrologer by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  I live with my son, Zachary Paul, he’s 24; and my husband, Dennis Collins. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I lived in Buffalo, NY, and then moved down here. I live in Loris now. Why did you move to this area? My aunt and uncle lived in Myrtle Beach and invited me to visit them for a vacation. I hated the cold, and I said, “No thanks, I’m coming down to live here.” I’ve been here now more than 20 years. I met my husband down here. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? The ocean. What do you like the most about living here? The weather and the people. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? I got married, I had my son. Then I got a job working for the City of Myrtle Beach. I maintain all the grounds around the Market Common, from the front gate to the back gate, the mowing, pruning, planting, etc. I had no prior landscaping experience when I began. I’ve been doing this for the past twenty-one years. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? We began raising chickens. We’ve been doing it for about seven years and now we have thirty. We have fresh eggs every day. I share the eggs with people at work, my neighbors, and my husband’s mom. We also enjoy walking around the neighborhood for exercise. Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? Yes, they are a lot friendlier. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  I like to watch the sky at night. I have a telescope that I set up on my back porch. It’s a hobby of mine learning about the stars and the planets. Google is my friend for this. I also read books and watch documentaries. What are your favorite things to do here? I like having bonfires with my family. I built a fire pit in my backyard, and we like to sit around it and simply enjoy the fire. It’s something that we like to do in the fall, it’s much too hot in the summer. I also like to try new things, especially new restaurants. I love seafood. I haven’t found anything that I don’t like in terms of new things that I’ve tried. I like to cook too. I make soups and stews in the winter, dishes to keep you warm. I would say my style is a down-home kind of cooking. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? No. It fits my ideal of everything I want.

Harley Davidson Biker Chic and Math Geek by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. I live with my boyfriend, Bob Yockey. I have two boys: Ryan who is 27, and Tyler, who is 22. My mom and dad live in Murrells Inlet. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I’m from the Detroit, Michigan area. We live in the Socastee area now— about .3 miles from where I work. Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? Because of the lack of snow. I came here in February 2009 for a visit. It was 68 degrees and I was hooked. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? My two favorite restaurants are Villa Romana for Italian, and Angelos for steak. My favorite place is my pool. I’m a pool person, I have one in my backyard and love to swim. What do you like the most about living here? The weather. I like to get outdoors and be active. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? It’s a completely different life. Before, I was an executive director for American House Senior Living Residence. I had always been interested in styling hair as a hobby. When I moved here, I began to do it professionally and realized I had a passion for it. Today, I’m the manager of Infinity Hair Salon.  Now, instead of taking care of people and staff within a corporate setting, I’m in an interpersonal relationship with coworkers and the community in the realm of education. My clients are my extended family.  I also went back into the dating world when I was 40. Now I rediscovered myself, and am doing work that I enjoy.  Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? It’s a different mentality here— everything and everyone is on beach time. Once you get that rush, rush Northern mentality calmed down, then you can calm down and relax too, and ease into that chill lifestyle. It can be a shock for many in the beginning— beach time.  What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? I’m a math geek. I went to school to be a math teacher, but converted my bachelors into a business degree. I had gastric bypass surgery in 2004 that inspired me to change. What are your favorite things to do here?  My boyfriend and I both have Harley Davidson motorcycles and we love to ride together and with our friends. You need nice weather to ride, and we love that we can do it here so often. I like to bowl, and also play darts. I love to make a fire at night and hang out with friends. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? I would love to have a venue that hosts big name rock band concerts. 

A Community-Lovin’ Mother, Wife and Doctor by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my husband Derin; he works for Tidelands Health as the operations manager for their oncology department. We have a three-year-old son, Porter; a nine-month-old daughter, Salem; and an English Bulldog, Rhett. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I grew up in York, Pennsylvania. We moved to the Market Common area two years ago from Baltimore, Maryland where we lived for six years. Before that, we were in Philadelphia while I was attending medical school. Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? I was offered a job at Grand Strand Medical Center to be their emergency ultrasound director as well as ultrasound fellowship director for their new Emergency Medicine Residency Training program. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? The Market Common. Usually we spend several days a week going to Savannah’s Playground, Barnes & Noble, Edventure, and Kosta Bowls (the acai bowl and smoothie shop). What do you like the most about living here? The community. We don’t have any family here, and our neighbors have been incredible about stepping in if we ever need a hand, or help with babysitting. We quickly felt at home here with how inclusive and friendly our neighbors are. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? It’s definitely slowed down. We previously lived in a very busy urban environment. Now, we are able to really appreciate the small things since having small children, and spend every possible moment outdoors that we can— riding bikes, going to parks, and going to the beach. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? Golf cart cruising and visiting construction sites for our 3-year-old who is obsessed with construction machinery. We are also hopeful pickleball aficionados. My husband played tennis in college, and we are trying to learn pickleball now so we can keep up with our very active neighbors in the sport. Do you find people here friendlier or more at ease? Yes, I think that the people here are less stressed and very much at ease in their daily lives. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  I love to channel my inner creativity by making clothes and crafts for my kids. What are your favorite things to do here? Attending festivals and charity events for the local nonprofit 100 Women Who Care; going to the farmers markets and the student-run dinners at the International Culinary School; and spending time outside with our neighbors. I also enjoy attending FemInEM events here. FemInEM is a national group for women in emergency medicine to come together socially to talk about some of the unique issues we face as women in our profession. They are purely fun, social events, and a time for us to connect and decompress with others who can relate to what we’re experiencing. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? A large outdoor brewery or winery would be amazing.

World Traveler and Amateur Archeologist by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. I had no children, but I did raise two husbands. But now instead of children, I have what I call my South Carolina family. One of the members is Joyce Moore, she’s like a sister to me. We’ve known each other for over 30 years and we both live here. Her children’s babies call me Aunty Jo. Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I lived for fifty-five years in the Baltimore, Maryland area. But I’ve traveled to six continents and 66 countries over my adult life. And I’ve traveled to every state in the United States except North Dakota. Now I live in Indigo Creek in the Garden City area. Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? I used to vacation in Myrtle Beach. Back then, you could camp right on the beach. In 1995, my husband and I were both retired and tired of shoveling snow. I moved here and built a house in a golf community because we liked to play golf. It was an easy transition, we knew the people and where to go. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? My own home. I like having people come in, I love to entertain. The best day is when friends come in for a visit and have food and wine and good conversations. What do you like the most about living here? It’s an easy place to be single and I’m single again. It’s less formal here; you can go places as a single woman and not have people looking at you. How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? It’s way more casual. What new activities have you taken up since moving here?  I volunteer for the Long Bay Symphony Orchestra. I started as a season subscriber, then I joined the Symphony Guild and then served four terms over the past 20 years as president. I just chaired the War and Peace concert. What’s one thing people may not know about you? For twenty years I worked with a local archaeology group that was started at Brookgreen Gardens. I was a digger, and when I couldn’t do the digging anymore, I worked as a screener, sifting out the dirt to find the artifacts. We were trained how to do this; it’s a very formal, measured way of excavating. We excavated five different plantations in this area. Brookgreen has a display of one of our major projects. Now, when I go to a foreign country and see antiquities, I understand more of what I’m seeing.

A New York Native Turned Devoted Volunteer by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  I have two children. Lalenya, my daughter, is an attorney with two children: Berkeley is twelve years old and an avid gymnast; and Hudson, is very cerebral, he’s a scholar. My other daughter, Fawn, is a teacher. She also has two children: RJ, who studies pre-engineering; and Remy, who studies martial arts, and just got his purple belt.  Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I’ve lived in New York my entire life. I lived in a 200 year-old house in the woods. Then we sold the house, and decided to move to South Carolina because we had a friend who moved here and encouraged us to come. I had never been to South Carolina until that point. I’ve been here four years now. We live in the Market Common area because we like the town aspect, where there are activities and we can walk to things.     What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? I like Pawley’s Island and the downtown in the Market Common. I shop locally and love the small stores.  What do you like the most about living here? I love the temperatures in the spring and fall. And I love that the people here in the South are so nice and so polite, and very friendly.  How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? I retired very young, and I’ve been volunteering for awhile. So now I’m doing even more volunteer work. It’s very important to me to help people.  What new activities have you taken up since moving here? I’m volunteering in the ER at the Grand Strand and I also tutor two children. I belong to an organization called Recovery International. It’s a peer-to-peer, self-help, mental health wellness group. I run the only group in the state, and they gave me permission to advertise it to the public as well. I’m ever thankful to them that they granted it to me, and now I’m trying to expand the group. We have a veteran initiative as well— I don’t lead that meeting, but I’m spreading the word about it.  What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  1) I’m not into beach-house decor; I have a lot of antiques. 2) I belly dance to raise funds for children in orphanages. 3) I go to Mexico in the Sierra Madres every winter— I’ve worked there feeding families in a very impoverished area.  What are your favorite things to do here?  I like walking a lot. And I like meeting new people.  Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? Yes, mountains. And some Jewish delis and good delicatessens. And a real supermarket here in the Market Common.

Massage Therapist and Yogini, Faith Helps Clients Unwind With Her Business, Sage Wellness by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  I live with my brother, Noah, and my two new puppies, Jack and Billy. My parents bred them. They are eight months old and a lot of work.       Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? I was born and raised on Long Island, NY. Then I lived in Virginia for fourteen years. Now I live in Myrtle Beach, in Socastee.  Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? It was the right combination of affordability and beach, and I thought I would do well professionally here, as I’m a massage therapist. This is a big retiree and vacation community, and retirees want to take care of themselves well, while the vacationers like to pamper themselves. What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? I like to visit Grand Park at the Market Common. I walk by myself or with my dogs, and watch teams playing sports, or spend time near the big lake.  What do you like the most about living here? I like that the dynamic of Myrtle Beach is always changing. There’s a big influx of people who move here in the summer, and a lot of activity, then in the winter, there’s a lot more quiet. No matter the season, it’s never the same.     How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? I spend a lot more time outside in nature, at the beach and the state parks. I have more freedom and inspiration and motivation since I’ve moved here. And I love the weather. I also started my own business, Sage Wellness, which offers yoga and massage therapy. I teach weekly group yoga classes at my studio. Classes are a custom blend of my own style based on traditional hatha sequencing. For massage, I specialize in traditional Thai massage, which helps people attain a wider range of motion with assisted stretching. I also offer deep tissue and hot stone massages.  What new activities have you taken up since moving here? Walking. The pups love it and the weather is great.  Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? I do. People are either retired or on vacation. Both things make them happy. I always get a friendly hello from strangers.  What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?  If they don’t know, it’s because I don’t want them too… What are your favorite things to do here?  My favorite things to do are go to the beach, take baths, and read.

Meet Larry Kave, A Laid-Back Santa Who Added Photography and Cycling to His Hobbies by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family.  It’s myself and my wife, Dianna. I have two daughters. The eldest, Shannon, lives in West Virginia. Our youngest, Kristen, lives in Colorado. I have a grandson in West Virginia too.  Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now? We started out in Northern Virginia. Then my wife got transferred to Parkersburg, West Virginia for work, where we lived for twenty years. We’ve been here now seven years. We live in the Highlands in the Market Common.  Why did you move to Myrtle Beach? We used to come here several times a year. My wife was up for retirement, and then I was too, so we decided to move down.  What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach? The Pelican’s ball field. That is where I work as the team photographer. What do you like the most about living here? The weather, and the fact that there is no snow. We love the beach.  How has your lifestyle changed since moving here? I’m busier. I go through the season with the Pelicans, shooting for them, which lasts from April through September. Then I volunteer to be a Santa— I do events for the Market Common and Toys for Tots, all their breakfast, lunch and dinner events. Thirty-one years ago, I was asked to be a Santa for my daughter’s pre-school, and I’ve done it ever since. I also do some photography work for the Market Common. What new activities have you taken up since moving here? Bike riding. I used to ride a bit in West Virginia but I was limited because of the weather. Now I ride twenty miles every day at dawn, and take photographs of the sunrise. I love taking pictures; I see a lot of things that I think are interesting and take photos of those things.  Do you find people friendlier or more at ease? Yes, I do. Things get so hectic in the summers though. I’m just a laid-back kind of guy.  What are your favorite things to do here?  My favorite things are watching baseball and the work I do for the Pelicans. My next favorite is having dinner on the beach. My wife and I grab a couple of subs and stay until it gets dark. I also love my Santa Claus gig. I have so much fun doing that.  Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? We have everything; there is always something to do here. I’d like to see more patient drivers.