Endless Summer Festival with Hit-Maker Musicians!

What a wonderful time we all had on October 25th at the Endless Summer Festival and Concert. This free event was presented to the community by Avista Resort, Prince Resort, Seaside Resort, Towers on the Grove, and the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce as a tribute to summer fun in 2008! Headlining the event was world renown The New Rascals band, plus lots of interesting attractions!

No shortage of music here! Entertainment not only featured The New Rascals as the lead band, but also The Coco Local Party Band and Sea Cruz that preceded them. From 10 am to 4 pm, North Myrtle Beach rocked and rolled, right there in the middle of Main Street at the "horseshoe."

Masters of "good-time" music and "blue-eyed soul" in the 1960's and 1970, the sounds of The Rascals (once known as "Young Rascals") attracted fans from all age groups to our event. What a party! With a warm, beachy feel and the sounds of Atlantic Ocean in the background, the band played such favorites as "Good Lovin," "People Got to Be Free," and "Groovin (in the Afternoon)," inspiring audience participation by singing and dancing to the tempo. With an R-and-B to pop to mellow jazz-rock sound, the Rascals "wowed" the Endless Summer audience members who raved about this extraordinary opportunity to hear a "legend" live and in concert!

Certainly, the beautiful autumn weather gave the concert's North Myrtle Beach audience an added boost of summer's rays one last time before winter's chill set in. How lucky we were to celebrate sunshine and music at the same time! In addition to the music, the crowd enjoyed strolling among a display of unique arts and crafts, tasty items from the many food vendors along Main Street, a huge children's area with carnival rides, and a fabulous display of vintage automobiles from The Chicora Car Club.

So, if you missed this event, we invite you to join us next time. Stay in touch with all the fabulous things going on here at Avista Resort! Check online or call us to plan your next occasion here at the beach. Something fun is always going on, such as the Thanksgiving feast in November and the December 31st New Year's party with a fabulous dinner, live music, and a fun-filled celebration to ring in 2009! Whatever your reason for having a great time at Avista, whether a special occasion or any occasion, we hope to see you here soon!

Your Friends at Avista Resort!

Some golfer groups staying at Avista book their golf packages so that they can play more than 18 rounds per day. They want to squeeze in as much of the game in a 24-hour period as possible because they know that once back at home, the 12 inches of snow on the ground will be more in tune with snowmobiling than chipping or putting. Other golfers with more Southern origins come here on their circuit through the South, playing some of the greatest courses as they meander along the Gulf Coast, then the Atlantic Coast, then across to Pinehurst and beyond.

To be sure, the Myrtle Beach area encourages golfers to stop over here to play some of the best golf of their lives. Our premier courses are not to be missed, whether a guest is from a snow state or a palm state.

We hope that you will check out some of the creative golf packages available now on premier courses that challenge your skills but are fair to your game. Check here for more golf information.

Skills development in the workforce holds an important place in the success of any business, and certainly Avista Resort recognizes that its employees are its most important resource in order to achieve the ultimate goal of guest satisfaction.

This fall Avista held leadership development training for its management staff, conducted by Freyaz Shroff, CEO of the international training company KurNiv Success Solutions. Her technique included teaching skills in communication, team-building, and performance development. Lasting all day for several days, the training required plenty of hard work in acquiring new skills to enhance job performance and ultimately thaw out old behaviors to replace them with results-producing concepts.

Though participants enjoyed many aspects of this training, they also came away with a strong appreciation of how their new knowledge can make a difference to their work environment and to Avista's guests.

Young Matthew Gore, age 8, recognized voting booth technology as soon as he saw it on Election Day with his mother. "Touch-screen like what?" said his mother. "My [Nintendo] DS," said the young man.

Matthew was one of the voters-in-training there with his mom and about 400 other registered voters in Precinct Number 2. Prior to Election Day, voters had opportunities to hear candidates' views at events such as "Meet the Candidates" and "Candidates Night Forum." Then, on November 4th, voters such as Matthew's mom turned out in droves to decide the political fate of officials and issues.

Even afterward, election events can be exciting. In Horry County, voting results showed three of the incumbents in a Council race safely restored to their jobs. One named Marion Foxworth held only a slim lead at the close of polls, with a re-count expected. Other candidates in the Grand Strand area and beyond were more or less fortunate, depending on what the will of the people determined. For more election summary results, see www.myrtlebeachonline.com/1030/story/656882.html.

Make a note to plan your New Year's around a stay at the Avista Resort! It's going to be a FUN night!

We are planning a fabulous evening of great food, wonderful atmosphere right here at the edge of the ocean, and an entire evening of celebrating good times and making resolutions for even better times in 2009! The itinerary begins around 7 pm with delicious appetizers served in the Mezzanine! Listen to great live music by the Hip Pocket Band, revel at the festive atmosphere, enjoy friends, and meet new ones. From 8 pm to 10 pm dive into the delicious meal served with your taste in mind - prime rib, lobster, a variety of salads, tasty side dishes, and an amazing assortment of desserts! Then, at midnight, bid farewell to the old 2008 and embrace the brand new and improved 2009 as it rolls on in!

With beautiful accommodations right here overlooking the water, Avista for New Year's is the place where you can relax, enjoy a great evening, and then next day take pleasure in everything from football games on TV to events around town!

Click here to book your place at this wonderful event.

Myrtle Beach bubbles with activities, sights, sounds, and activities at the end of a year. With the Christmas merriment and the New Year's festivities, both locals and visitors find no shortage of things to see and do, from the lighted parade of boats to musical extravaganzas to a shoppers' paradise.

Spectators stand wide-eyed at the colorful decorations of finery and glitz at any of the area's shopping malls. Whether shopping or just looking, amblers wander through the new Myrtle Common (near Farrow Parkway), Coastal Grande Mall (Highways 17 and 501), Myrtle Beach Mall with its huge Bass Outdoor World (Highways 17 and 22), Tanger Outlet Malls (Highways 501 and also 22)!

Mid-winter weather here is like living under a blanket of sunshine. Count on temperatures in the shirt-sleeve range by day and light-jacket range in the evening. Enjoy out-of-doors activities, whether playing 18 holes at a premier golf course, a simple walk on the beach, horseback riding along the surf, or bicycle riding along a trail, or jogging in a back road. Sun or clouds, you will find our air fresh, our sky pure, and our breezes gentle. Afterward, extend your range of activities to include a spa treatment, a dip in the hot tub, or a delightful musical event at a local theater for added joy.

Holiday spirits soar with live Myrtle Beach shows, featuring some of the most colorful and exciting performances from here to Branson, MO. These "must-see" shows launch even the grinchi-est grinch into a special holiday mood:

• Carolina Opry - An award-winner of every major tourism award year after year, the Carolina Opry features songs, dances, and lots of "bling." This year's spectacular called "The Carolina Opry Christmas Special" blends beloved classics and traditional nostalgia with new favorites, mingling fresh comedy, plenty of music, and astounding costumes. For more details, see www.thecarolinaopry.com.

• Alabama Theatre - Calling all children of any age for "The South's Grandest Christmas Show," which runs through the end of the year with a finale on New Year's Eve. The show has plenty of holiday spirit with songs, dance, funny characters, special effects, and traditional touches that warm the heart of audiences no matter their ages. For further details, see www.alabama-theatre.com.

• Dixie Stampede - Christmas at the Dixie Stampede is always a very big deal! This dinner show is fun-filled, action-packed, and mouth-watering, with plenty of traditional songs, dance, music, and comedy to go around. The holiday season comes to life with falling "snow," a live nativity scene, holiday costumes and decorations and a visit from the North Pole - animals, surprises, and even Santa! For further details, see www.DixieStampede.com/Christmas.php.

• Medieval Times - Nothing quite symbolizes the holidays like a royal calling to a medieval Christmas with such symbols as the burning of the Yule log, an emblem celebrating the year and the promise of better things next year. For further information, see www.MedievalTimes.com

• Legends in Concert - The likes of Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, The Blues Brothers, and., of course, Elvis Presley will croon the tunes that made their name-sakes famous. The Christmas show runs through December 20th and resumes on December 26th through the end of the year with a New Year's Eve performance beginning at 10 pm. For further information, see www.LegendsinConcert.com.

So many more holiday events and attractions await you! Book early and enjoy an affordable and exciting holiday season!

Gingerbread Cookies

Generating 60 cookies (5 dozen), this wonderful and easy recipe comes from colonial Williamsburg. You can have it ready for consumption in approximately 1 hour from the start (preparation time is 30 minutes, baking time ranges from 8-12 minutes).

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup margarine, melted
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup unsulfured molasses
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon lemon extract
• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
3. Mix in the melted margarine, evaporated milk, molasses, vanilla, and lemon extracts.
4. Stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The dough should be stiff enough to handle without sticking to fingers. If necessary, increase flour by up to 1/2 cup to prevent sticking. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth.
5. Chill the dough for ½ hour.
6. Roll the dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Sprinkle extra flour on the rolling pin, as needed, to prevent sticking. Cut into cookies.
7. Place cookies on the prepared cookie sheets.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven (note: for softer, chewier cookies bake at 325 for 8 minutes). When the top springs back when touched, the cookies are done. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
9. Decorate as desired or just eat as is. Delicious!

Just take one look at the lived-in, yet orderly appearance of Gina Long's desk. It is not hard to see that, as Corporate Director of Housekeeping, she is a busy person, scheduling, coordinating, posting, reminding, emailing, invoicing, meeting, and calling, with the beat on-going for hard-working Gina who loves what she does.

Efficient in her many roles as Director, she works well with the many reports, assessments, lists, and information that are part of this position, but there is no doubt that her primary skill is working with people. Eight years with the corporation and 3 ½ years with Avista Resort, Gina works closely with her Housekeeping staff, homeowners, and all aspects of the Resort to keep the work of housekeeping in a balanced and smooth-flowing pattern of accomplishment. With a summer staff of 125 employees ranging to an off-season staff of 80 employees, Gina's daily efforts have ensured that Avista receives high marks from guests and owners as to the cleanliness and tidy appearance of its interior living spaces.

Most recently, her efforts have been to coordinate the general cleaning for homeowners. Also, in Avista Resort's continuing effort to recycle and conserve energy, Gina's Housekeeping Department is ready to delivery tent cards to each of the condominium units. The cards contain a statement about options that guests can use to help us to be as energy-efficient as possible at Avista.

A North Carolina girl from Winston-Salem, Gina enjoys anything related to Harleys in her occasional down time.