The Publisher | Jimmy Dean

Dear Readers:

In the five years of this magazine’s existence, the Charlotte Harbor area has vividly grown younger. We’ve watched it, chronicled it and participated in it. This magazine was actually started right after Charley as a way to help the community pull together again. It was started by a group of young people who knew we would rebuild. Mark, Bree, Maike and that initial gang of under-30’s at HARBOR STYLE’s beginning all sensed that something special was happening here, and that the area finally deserved a magazine. “We’ll rebuild,” everyone said.

And rebuild we have. If you’ll just look around you wherever you are right now, you’ll probably see that youthful influence in everything that’s taking place these days. Change is in the air. It’s almost as if we’ve turned the corner and everything is in a youthful renewal mode, being led by youthful energy.

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?
–Confucius

We’re not only attracting more young people — entrepreneurs and professionals of all walks — but we’re keeping more of our home-grown youth here. Although they may go away for an education, many of them eventually return to settle here and raise their families because of the great sense of community, relative safety, first-rate education system and overall high quality of life. Some are taking over family businesses; others are striking out on their own in the place they grew up. In this issue, we profile some of these young people, all representatives of thousands more who have put down roots here in Charlotte County.

We are also happy to repeat one of the most popular features from those early days of HARBOR STYLE: our Bachelors and Bachelorettes of the Year! Of all the aspects of life in Charlotte Harbor we’ve covered in these five years, I think this is one of the most asked about. “When are you doing that again?” every “single” person I’ve met has asked. “I soooooo want to be there!” Editor Liz Rubini introduces us to these singularly sensational singles and tells us how this feature will continue into the future with reader input on which guy and gal should be crowned “The Most Eligible Bachelor and Bachelorette of the Year.”

This issue offers up many great stories about the young people who are inheriting the future of our community. It looks like a very bright future. Please enjoy.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Dean, Publisher