In 2024, we told your stories. In the pages of this special issue, we present a collection of the year. Join us as we revisit the highlights, starting with the monthly covers' "Behind the Scene!"

Edee Dalke

Al and Mary Balloqui and the heart shaped pool. This pool is something I had seen and always envisioned on a cover. When this oceanfront owning couple purchased the River Lily Inn it was a chance to feature it and them. Since then, Al and Mary have been my resident heroes stepping up to host a Sunset Social, TWO large workdays for the VOGs, and a special Women of Waterfront Halloween luncheon. Big thank you! Photo by Xavier Walton.

 

Cindy and Randy Keen. Thanks to Naneen Dahlen for encouraging the “folks that bought her house” to come to Sunset Socials and get involved. This great couple who moved from Georgia has been a wonderful addition to our community.  They were big volunteers for the Oyster Garden Work Days and even went door to door to ask their neighbors. Cindy is now on the Contributor Team and is bringing great ideas to the magazine. Photo by Xavier Walton.

 

Connections Cover. This was a very special issue for me but a very impromptu photo for those on the cover! At a Sunset Social, I asked who would be willing to be on the cover and those who gathered around the sofa were given poses. Man, it turned out fun! But the input about who has met whom and what friendships have been formed due to the magazine were surprising, humbling, and empowering to me…because connecting people is exactly my purpose. Photo by Edee Dalke.

 

Hollan Pugh and daughter Natalie. I love featuring a Mother/Daughter for the month of May and I was so thankful that Hollan was excited to do it. Even more, being oceanfront they were agreeable to a sunrise photo which meant 7am! We have had beach photos before but never a sunrise cover.  Due to a bit of miscommunication and me being out of town, two photographers showed up that morning but Don was first!  Photo by Don Howard.

 

I had always wanted a graduate on the cover. The Waterfront community is so diverse in age it's hard to find. Luckily, I shared this with our Resident Editor Mia James and she showed me a beautiful photo of Alison Popham, the daughter of her good friends who live on the ocean.  Alison graduated with her master’s degree from FSU. Little did I know, later in the year her father, Jim would become a new magazine writer!  Photo provided by the Popham family.

 

Shawn and Lindsey Brooks. I was so thrilled to feature this young and growing family on our cover. Scheduling a photoshoot around someone very pregnant, running a household with a 4-year-old and busy husband was a challenge for us, but it was a wonderful photo capture with their daughter Addison. The photo was taken in May and on June 25 Lindsey gave birth to a baby girl, Winslow Blair Brooks. Congrats! Story by Terry Pennington. Photo by Xavior Walton.

 

Marcia and Denny Bayer. A heartfelt story was written about the Bayers in this issue focusing on the work they have done with at-risk orphans in Africa. 200 children are being sponsored by Volusia residents through their team’s effort. They have taken 13 trips to Africa on trips with a mission to make a change. This is already being seen in one child they sponsored who got a college degree and returned to help his community as a teacher. Go back to the August issue to see how you can help. Story by Tyler Corson. Photo by Xavier Walton.

 

Bob and Rita Epsom.  Bob has over 1000 scuba dives; many are technical dives on sunken ships, a dangerous yet fascinating hobby. Rita had a nursing career. After spending 34 years in the Chicago suburbs they found Ormond and now split their time between here and the Keys where they have a second home. With two grown sons and grandchildren they have a full life with a “do it now” attitude. Story by Terry Pennington. Photo by Xavier Walton.

 

Lorelei and Larry Baldauf. Thanks to Elle Gilbert for nominating her neighbors to be on the cover.  When I contacted Lorelei her response was enthusiastically, “Why not?” When I got their information, it was so much that I decided not to assign it but write it myself and put QR codes for both of them for more information! Bottom line. They have lived big lives that deserve a movie and they are fun, friendly and wonderful. Photo by Ariel Faith Photography. 

 

Jane and Pete Vasiliades. I had known Pete since my 20's. He was a friend of a friend. We would stop by his house to hear what he was up to. He was infamous as the daring guy who flew down the beach on a sail-powered skateboard and soon advanced to flying high above the ocean in his motorized paraglider. I put 2 and 2 together when I spoke with Jane. A great addition to our community. Story by Tyler Corson. Photo by Ariel Faith Photography.

 

 

The Contributor's Issue: an 8-year tradition! We decided to soften up a hard year and that meant CHRISTMAS JAMMIES! Only 5 days after the storm, we rallied. The photographer was stuck in Georgia so Don Howard pulled it off. HUGE thank you to Laurie and Mark Stafford for their home and gorgeous outdoor fireplace. We had fun. But then Don's computer crashed. Miraculously the next day he recovered them. Special thanks to Mark Stafford as Santa! Photo by Don Howard Photography.