Welcome to the sixteenth edition of The Alys Journal. We’ve launched full steam into 2022 with continued growth and development in our cozy town. Alys Beach Town Center is enjoying movement and activation as our restaurants return from a brief winter break, NEAT continues to wine and dine, Raw & Juicy invites us to gather for healthier treats, Charlie’s keeps serving up morning treats, George's and The Citizen welcome guests in for exceptional lunch and dinner experiences, Reli Title assists with real estate closings, and Alys Shoppe meets our needs for gifts and wardrobe. The Whitby ground level will be the new location of an expanded MAST concept, with its signature interior furnishings and design service offerings, alongside the new Holiday Café for light bites and festive beverages, and Parasol, an upscale women’s apparel boutique. We are delighted to welcome Barefoot Princess into the fold, adding a bold splash of Lilly Pulitzer color and pattern to our landscape, and eagerly await the opening of Merit, a new concept from the talent that brought the Willow collection of shops to the area. Mary Clark, who brings us MAST, Holiday Cafe, and Parasol, will also be sharing a new children's boutique in the space currently occupied by MAST. Movement around the new location and reimagined concepts for Fonville Press Market & Café can be seen, and construction on the new multi-use condominium, The Della, has begun. We celebrate the 10th Annual 30A Wine Festival before gearing up for a busy, bustling spring. We are ever grateful for the calm around town in these early winter months, a time to catch our breath and prepare for the year ahead. As 2022 gathers momentum, we take a moment to appreciate what’s behind us and around us, to take in the beauty and the joy that envelop us here in Alys, to anticipate the celebrations ahead, the coming opportunities to finally gather together again; we embrace and relish Life Defined.