Not just for its longevity is Franke at Seaside the Lowcountry’s most trusted assisted-living facility, nor that its community recently took the top spot in three related Best Of categories. What sets Franke at Seaside apart is the way it makes people feel, and since 1892, when first founded, that element has made believers out of nearly six generations.

“We celebrated our 25th anniversary in Mount Pleasant in 2021,” said Allison Macfie, Franke’s community outreach director. “And everyone who has been part of growing Franke at Seaside has helped us establish a reputation of providing excellent, quality care in this community.”

That reputation was evident in the early years when Franke was serving only its original 18 guests. Now the faith-based nonprofit community serves 350 residents across 42 acres, next to an inland lagoon only 2.5 miles from the Isle of Palms. The facility offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care for seniors of all ages.

In addition to being near water, Macfie pointed out that Franke’s dog park, Bocce court, croquet lawn and putting green reflects the intention to be a retirement community where “older adults can live an active lifestyle and have access to care as their medical and physical needs change.”

She added, “My favorite part of my job is building relationships with our residents and their extended family members. And for me, personally, I only wish we had more space to expand and serve more people in this community.”

Such expansion was not even a thought for the first several generations after Franke’s founding. It didn’t even begin as a senior facility, but rather as a local charity — when area businessman C.D. Franke established the Evangelical Lutheran Charities Society of Charleston in 1892 (now known as Lutheran Homes of South Carolina). The first building to support the charity wasn’t purchased until 1908. And for the next 80 plus years, that single place was known only as Franke Home. By 1991, Franke’s initial endeavor had grown to almost four times its original size. As assisted living services were growing across the U.S., further demand was on the horizon.

Once the community moved to Mount Pleasant in 1996, Franke Home needed a name that reflected not only its move to the nearby barrier islands and coast, but also the fact that it was now no longer a single home. “It also represents the Lutheran Homes commitment to the growing demographic of active, 21st-century retirees,” Macfie said.

Further expansion is likely to happen in some form due to the popularity of the community. Beyond the setting, the relationships, the levels of care and the original purpose envisioned by C.D. Franke is what makes Franke at Seaside the best. It comes down to its most vital element: it’s homey. “There is a cozy environment here that you feel when you visit,” Macfie said. “Our residents and staff laugh and have fun together, and we really are like a family.”

For more information, visit FrankeAtSeaside.org, or call 843-856-4700.

By L.C. Leach III

J.D. Zubia Headmaster at Palmetto Christian Academy Members Matter Most at Reader-chosen South Carolina Federal Credit Union 2021 Tides Condominums Top 10 Most Expensive Condos Sold Flying High: Meet the Mount Pleasant Family in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Walk through the doors of Palmetto Christian Academy and you will quickly discover why families are grateful to be a part of this vibrant learning community that is also deeply rooted in faith. It’s a feeling — one facilitated by staff, parents, students and community.

PCA is not only growing as a premium choice for parents, but it was also recently recognized as the area’s best private school — a recurring distinction that PCA has held since 2015.

“We are not just a school, but a place to grow — both spiritually and academically — in a nurturing Christian environment,” said PCA Headmaster J.D. Zubia. “We are celebrating our 30-year milestone throughout the current school year and have come a long way since our small beginnings.”

Those humble beginnings first took shape in the autumn of 1992 as a ministry of East Cooper Baptist Church. They opened with an enormous vision, but only a small staff of three teachers. The dream began with a group of 25 students, Kindergarten through fourth grade.

Over the next 10 years, enrollment grew to surpass 200, and grade levels were expanded through high school. In 2009, PCA’s first graduating class crossed the stage. All the while, PCA was offering more opportunities for Lowcountry families to become a part.

Though fostered in faith, PCA also provides opportunities for advanced placement and dual credit courses throughout core subjects. Graduates are poised to pursue diverse fields such as medicine, law, education, engineering, missions, ministry, computer science, accounting and business.

“Part of our vision is to create lifelong learners who do all things with excellence,” said Darla Rourk, PCA’s director of marketing and communication. “Exceptional academics, athletics, arts, small classes and talented faculty help our students become critical thinkers and responsible members of a global community.”

That community is growing across the U.S. Based on a 2022 study by Raleigh nonprofit executive search firm DickersonBakker, interest in Christian schools is surging in every region. That’s true in this area as well. If you walk the PCA campus today, you will see a new student life center featuring a state-of-the-art technology lab, fully-equipped science labs, classrooms for math and Bible and a gymnasium that seats more than 1,000 fans.

You will also observe students excited about bright futures and current goals. You might even get to meet school nurses Ashli Rushing and Tricia Turner, who finished first and second respectively in a near dead-even heat for Best School Nurse in Mount Pleasant Magazine’s Best Of reader voting. Above all, you will begin to understand why PCA is regarded by many as one of the Lowcountry’s best schools — public or private.

“I am thrilled that we were able to celebrate 30 years of Christian education, and I really believe that God is going to bless this ministry as we continue to be good stewards and faithful to his calling,” Zubia said. “Putting God first is what is distinctive about a PCA education. And I think we are going to be here as long as He needs us to impact the culture.”

Shannon Gallo Owner, Oyster Candle Company & Coastal Gifts J.D. Zubia Headmaster at Palmetto Christian Academy Flying High: Meet the Mount Pleasant Family in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Lauren Joseph: All of the Things You May Not Know About Brookgreen Gardens

An Ohio-based taco chain plans to open two restaurants in South Carolina this year in Charleston and Greenville.

They’re among a dozen U.S. locations that Condado Tacos said it’s planning to launch in 2023, with eight in new markets.

The Charleston-area eatery will be at 1712 Towne Centre Way next to Lenscrafters in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, according to Condado Tacos spokesman Roger Drake. A late fall opening is planned.

“The lease is in landlord’s hand, and we expect to sign soon,” Drake said.

The corner site, which is under renovation, previously housed Atlanta Bread Co. for nearly two decades before it closed in 2018.

The Upstate restaurant will be at 1025 Woodruff Road in Magnolia Park and is set to open in late February, Drake said.

The company also plans to open in St. Louis, Buffalo, Birmingham and Huntsville in Alabama, as well as in Knoxville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky., along with four new restaurants in existing markets.

The company partners with local artists in each community to create unique murals inside each restaurant.

The build-your-own taco concept first opened in Ohio’s state capital in 2014. It now has 40 locations in 15 markets, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Lexington, Ky. Condado Tacos plans to have more than 100 restaurants by 2026.

The brand’s planned expansion is backed by private equity firm The Beekman Group.

Coming soon

A new pub soon will be serving guests in downtown Charleston.

Sean Muldoon and Jillian Vose, the duo behind New York City’s Dead Rabbit venue, plan to open Hazel and Apple in the spring at 549 King St. next to watering hole Prohibition. They have partnered with Prohibition owner James Walsh on the project that was first announced last summer.

The name, according to the website, is derived from hazel being “traditionally associated with wisdom and the poetic power of dreams in rural Ireland, while apple celebrates energy, vitality and abundance.”

The enterprise will include two separate bars. The front part will be called Hazel while the back bar will be Apple, which includes an outdoor patio.

Hazel will offer the ambiance of an Irish pub along with traditional pub grub while Apple will additionally offer a bit of elegance with upscale cocktails and serve as an event and private party space.

The design, of course, includes hazelwood, the green and red colors of the apple, and four apple trees in the patio area.

New arrivals

A Charleston shopping center recently welcomed two tenants.

Camino Coffee Roasters offers specialty coffees with self-roasted beans and can be found in the food court at Citadel Mall.

ARC Take 2, an actor’s resource center, is next to Dillard’s department store.

Most of Citadel Mall recently changed hands and is now owned by Singerman Real Estate, a Chicago-based investment firm. Since 2017, the retail site was owned by a group of investors led by Richard Davis of Trademark Properties of Charleston.

Dillard’s, Belk and Target own their footprints outright and were not part of the recent transaction.

Showroom showing

A bathroom remodeling vendor is showing off its new showroom in the Charleston area.

Re-Bath will host a grand opening 2-5 p.m. Jan. 27 at 9581 Industrial Center Drive in Ladson. The event will offer food, music, prizes and coupons to attendees.

The new shop is owned and operated by Megan Farnsworth, a former employee of the Phoenix-based company.

On the way

A new restaurant and café plans to open soon on the Charleston peninsula.

Costa plans to welcome customers on the first floor of The Jasper at 320 Broad St. by the spring or summer, according to spokeswoman Hannah Fleming. It will offer dining as well as grab-and-go foods. The new venue recently applied for a state license to sell beer and wine.

Giving back

A North Charleston-based retail chain with more than three dozen locations across the Southeast recently donated $10,000 to nonprofits as part of a year-end campaign during the holidays.

Southern lifestyle retailer Palmetto Moon awarded $1,000 each to 10 charities as part of its “Together, Let’s Do Good” giving campaign in several communities where the merchant has stores.

The campaign was launched with upscale cooler maker Yeti on Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29 and asked customers across the retailer’s 37 locations to nominate their favorite philanthropy to receive the monetary award.

The retailer selected 10 nonprofit winners from hundreds of entries submitted by shoppers across six states. It also awarded 10 customers with Yeti gift bundles valued at $300 each. In South Carolina, the recipients were Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston and Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia.

If you visit Mount Pleasant Gardens Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, you might notice that many residents don’t seem to resemble the conventional perception of Alzheimer’s patients. That’s because the MPG residents, and the staff who cares for them, are fighting the disease tooth-and-nail, with the intention of keeping their minds and spirits fresh and vibrant.

“I think what makes us stand out, in a word, is joy,” said Denise Kish, executive director and administrator at MPG since its opening in 2018. “Many who work with us tell me that there is so much joy here — that they are enveloped by it. We don’t see this joy in many places that do what we do. But here, it’s evident as soon as you arrive.”

This joy was actually in place before the arrival of MPG’s first resident. In 2017, Florida-based company Sinceri Senior Living — dedicated to Alzheimer’s care — built in South Carolina. Specializing in memory care, its philosophy has always been to keep the minds and bodies of Alzheimer’s patients connected as a whole through specifically tailored physical and social activities. This unique approach is what led to the facility’s popularity and wonderful reputation.

MPG can care for up to 68 Alzheimer’s residents at a time, in many different stages of the disease. “Our Alzheimer’s residents have a mixture of long-term memory and some short-term issues,” Kish said. “We try to keep both going with consistent events each day, such as Bible study, current events and history, crafts or cooking and all kinds of brain exercises — all of which adds to their confidence and keeps daily life familiar.”

Kish’s approach has not only led to more vibrant residents but has earned MPG the distinction of Best Memory Care Facility in Mount Pleasant, and possibly the entire Lowcountry. It also doesn’t hurt that MPG is set among palmettos, laurel oaks and willows near Highway 17, or that Kish personally promotes a holistic approach to patient care in a homelike environment. “Our community knows we’re an honest, trusted resource for them,” she said. “And everyone on our team not only shows kindness and caring but looks at each person who comes to us for help as our mission.”

By L.C. Leach III

It’s Not Hearsay: Holy City Hearing is Voted Best Zip’s Kar Kare Takes the Lead in Mount Pleasant Viva Tacos Touts Some of the Best Food in Town: Chow down with Yesenia Leon Members Matter Most at Reader-chosen South Carolina Federal Credit Union

Re-Watch the Game. HOOVER, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team got three hits from reigning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo), but it was not enough to lead the Eagles past Northern Kentucky University in the 2023 season debut for both teams. After EMU took a 1-0 lead after the first, the Norse came back to secure a 9-2 victory.

Graduate student Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) got the ball to start for Eastern Michigan (0-1, 0-0 MAC) and took the loss. Senior Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) was a bright spot for the Eagles, coming out of the bullpen and throwing three shutout innings, allowing three hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.

Kirk's three-hit day led the Eagles offensively. Graduate student Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) furnished a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and an RBI.

How it Happened The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom of the first inning with the game still scoreless. Eastern Michigan plated a run on a bases-loaded walk by Hopkins.

The Norse then rallied to score nine runs and take a 9-1 lead before the Eagles got back on the board in the seventh. Eastern Michigan scored once on a run-scoring single off the bat of Kirk, which brought the score to 9-2 in favor of the NKU. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

Game Notes » Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) got the season started right as he knocked a single in the first at-bat of the season for Eastern Michigan. Miller is the first Eastern Michigan hitter to notch a hit in the first at-bat of the season since the 2020 campaign, when former Eagle Jeff Timko registered a base hit to open the season against Austin Peay University, Feb. 15. » Eastern Michigan was able to plate a run in the bottom half of the first inning. It marked the first opening-frame run in an EMU season-opener since it scored the same total in a game at Alabama State, Feb. 27, 2021. » Eastern Michigan newcomer Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif.-University Prep-Crown) fielded a hopper to left field to throw an NKU runner out at third for an out and his first assist as an Eagle. The putout also marked the first of the 2023 regular season for the Eagles. » Junior Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, S.C.-Oceanside Collegiate Academy) made his first career start for Eastern Michigan today, playing first base in his ninth career appearance for the Green and White. Kraft also nabbed the first stolen base of his collegiate career during the second inning. The Mount Pleasant, S.C. native's stolen bag also marks the first of the year for the Eagles as a team. » Kirk earned his first multi-hit game of the 2023 season Friday afternoon versus NKU, making him the first Eagle to achieve the feat in the new 2023 regular-season. The reigning MAC Player of the Year led the Eagles with 24 multi-hit games last season. Additionally, nine of those games (38%), including today, have seen Kirk record three or more hits. » Eagles got on the board first via a bases-loaded RBI-walk from Hopkins. It goes down as the 86th RBI for Hopkins. » The Eagles were perfect defensively today, committing zero errors during the contest versus NKU. Last season, EMU played 22 games where they did not accrue an error. Their record in those games was 10-12.

Historical Notes » With today's setback, NKU claimed its first-ever win against Eastern Michigan. Prior to today's contest, EMU and NKU had not met on the diamond since the 2014 season, when the Green and White swept a doubleheader, March. 15. The series dates back to the 2013 campaign when the two institutions played a pair of contests. » With today's loss, Eastern Michigan's opening day record falls to 36-39 in its 75th year of baseball. The Eagles have now lost two consecutive opening day matchups. » Eastern Michigan baseball has only made four prior trips to Alabama since 1998, making this go-around the fifth. The Green and White have a record of 4-6-1 in those visits to Alabama and, with today's defeat against Northern Kentucky, they fall to 4-7-1 and look to bounce back in the final two games of the series.

Up Next Eastern Michigan and Northern Kentucky return to the diamond Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET). Fans can watch the game on Eagle All-Access or the EMU Athletics mobile app with Greg Steiner and Alex Jewell on the call.