Spring is in the Air

Publisher & editor review: Spring 2010 Issue

by Lisa Burwell

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” —Victor Hugo

I

t was particularly hard to welcome 2010 this year. Partly because we knew it was going to require more hard work to continue to achieve a modicum of success and that it would demand unmitigated inventiveness and creativity from us all—again.

Spring is a powerful season filled with new beginnings, fresh perspectives and hope. The new Panama City Beaches International Airport slated to open in May with Southwest Airlines bringing folks to our beaches from Nashville, Baltimore, Orlando and Dallas is a new beginning. The ease of travel to and from these feeder destinations will make a positive impact on our lives and position the area for continued growth.

For a fresh perspective on life and a message of love and forgiveness, please read how inspiring it was to hear Immaculée Ilibagiza, author of the New York Times best-selling book Left to Tell, speak this past fall at the Starfish Gala to benefit Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa.

Marvel at the fresh creativity of local photographer Romona Robbins in her stunning and provocative photo exposé, The Many Sides of Ophelia. With her muse and model Meredith Snow, this artistic portraiture is an eye-opener and inspires you to continue to think outside the box and explore the wonder of what it means to have a creative soul. We thank Romona for sharing her exciting new work in VIE.

Love is in the Air

VIE’s Legendary Wedding Giveaway was an amazing testament to our business community working hand-in-hand to think outside the box. It truly does take a village.  We partnered with the Emerald Grande to brainstorm on a way we could give a wedding away to a lucky bride and groom. We enlisted the support of friends, colleagues and business associates: Salon Twist, Destin Jewelers, Celebrations by the Sea – DJ-Zoran, Simply Elegant Bridal, Pure 7 Studios, Confections on the Coast, Spa 98, Interval International, Florals by the Sea, and of course, last but not least—Emerald Grande overlooking the Destin Harbor, where the dream will come true.

This past Valentine’s Day, VIE and Emerald Grande announced that Jocelyn Langton and William Cope of Navarre, Florida won a Legendary Wedding Giveaway valued at over $30,000; they were randomly chosen from 1600 entries on VIEZINE.com. Congratulations! VIE is going to follow their wedding plans with the area’s first Web reality TV show called Love is in the Air, which will be aired on VIEZINE.com on VIEtv and also broadcast in the rooms at the Emerald Grande. The couple will also grace the cover of VIE as we feature their wedding, which will take place sometime in the next year.

To Life!

—Lisa & Gerald Burwell

Life is a gift…celebrate to the finish line.