Our last issue for 2019. The end of the year. The end of the decade.
There is so much going on during the holidays in this area, that I felt it wouldn’t be fair to single out one particular town for the cover. I contacted Rory Brennan and asked him if he had a photo that would express the holiday message for the entire area. Boy, did he deliver! Our cover shot was exactly what I was looking for and I can’t thank him enough for sending it over. He does great work and you can find some of his photos online through the Cedar Key Chamber and the Cedar Key Lions Club.
Speaking of Cedar Key, the Historical Museum has a schedule of events through the first of the year in the edition. Our special two pages promoting Cedar Key businesses is in again as well. We enjoyed ourselves again at the Seafood Festival in October. So glad the weather passed quickly and they were able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this great event. Total sales of “The Last of Old Florida” apparel showed that we had sold over $300 worth of hats and shirts! Thanks to all who stopped by our tent to say hello.
We have two new customers in this issue, Twice the Ice | Cedar Key and Yellow Jacket RV Resort in Old Town. Denise McMeekin and her husband have the perfect site for Twice the ice in Cedar Key and Bibi oversees the beautiful Yellow Jacket RV Resort on the banks of the Suwannee River. Welcome and thank you being part of our magazine!
Two festivals are getting the word out early in the edition. The Lower Suwannee Art & Nature Festival and the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts both will be taking place in early 2020. See dates and information for both in this month’s issue. UF | IFAS nature Coast Biological Station also has an ad with us for this round. An amazing facility in Cedar Key. They are open every Friday 1-4pm and house a number of local species.
We have our usual article submissions in the edition highlighting rich history and loads of outdoor entertainment to keep you busy. This includes A Victorian Christmas in Thomasville, Georgia and The Kayak Experience in Horseshoe Beach. Jeff Cary also details another great adventure in his article, Day Tripping the Hidden Coast.
As the holidays approach don’t forget some of the great shopping available in the area. You will find the perfect gifts in your hunt throughout the region! Some of our advertisers are promoting holiday deals and gift ideas, and I am sure you will have success finding something for that “hard to buy” person on your list.
We celebrate our fourth anniversary this month. Amazing that it’s been that long already. We have produced over 20 magazines in that timeframe and learned much along the way. Tips and tricks that I brought with me in my years of publishing, but most I had to learn by “on the job training.” Design comes easy to me – Sales not so much. At least in the beginning. I now feel more relaxed in the role and proud to go and sell the product we have created. Many thanks to ALL our advertisers over the years. Many have been with us since the beginning and we are very grateful. We appreciate their trust and support in our magazine and look forward to serving them for a long time to come. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year (and new decade). See you in January…