City of Myrtle Beach Landscaper and Part Time Astrologer
by Melissa LaScaleia
Introduce me to your family.
I live with my son, Zachary Paul, he’s 24; and my husband, Dennis Collins.
Where are all the places you came from? Where do you live now?
I lived in Buffalo, NY, and then moved down here. I live in Loris now.
Why did you move to this area?
My aunt and uncle lived in Myrtle Beach and invited me to visit them for a vacation. I hated the cold, and I said, “No thanks, I’m coming down to live here.” I’ve been here now more than 20 years. I met my husband down here.
What is your favorite place in Myrtle Beach?
The ocean.
What do you like the most about living here?
The weather and the people.
How has your lifestyle changed since moving here?
I got married, I had my son. Then I got a job working for the City of Myrtle Beach. I maintain all the grounds around the Market Common, from the front gate to the back gate, the mowing, pruning, planting, etc. I had no prior landscaping experience when I began. I’ve been doing this for the past twenty-one years.
What new activities have you taken up since moving here?
We began raising chickens. We’ve been doing it for about seven years and now we have thirty. We have fresh eggs every day. I share the eggs with people at work, my neighbors, and my husband’s mom. We also enjoy walking around the neighborhood for exercise.
Do you find people friendlier or more at ease?
Yes, they are a lot friendlier.
What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you?
I like to watch the sky at night. I have a telescope that I set up on my back porch. It’s a hobby of mine learning about the stars and the planets. Google is my friend for this. I also read books and watch documentaries.
What are your favorite things to do here?
I like having bonfires with my family. I built a fire pit in my backyard, and we like to sit around it and simply enjoy the fire. It’s something that we like to do in the fall, it’s much too hot in the summer.
I also like to try new things, especially new restaurants. I love seafood. I haven’t found anything that I don’t like in terms of new things that I’ve tried. I like to cook too. I make soups and stews in the winter, dishes to keep you warm. I would say my style is a down-home kind of cooking.
Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach?
No. It fits my ideal of everything I want.
