by Emma Ware, D.H.N, C.N, C.H.H of the Market Common The cost of convenience teaches people to make choices in a hurry. Being in a hurry causes you to compromise in your decision making with your health habits.  Convenience more often than not, is a result of lack of organization, planning, having structure and rules.  These are details that one has to have, either in a job, school or even at home.  Why not apply these good habits to your health?  Why not slow down and smell the peace? Develop some structure for living a healthier, happier life. Begin your day with a plan and weigh your choices:  do I cook a couple of eggs or grab a donut and coffee at the drive through on my way to work?  Should I enjoy breakfast at my table at home with the family or in the car after waiting behind five cars ahead of me, which will make me late anyway? We need some structure to help us put into perspective the “important” before what we view as “urgent”.  Life becomes unbalanced when all we do is hurry.  But, there is hope!  Take a break from the rush, formulate a plan, be organized, and make your own rules for your needs– whether it is cooking, exercising, or taking vitamins.  Take baby steps, and you will see how much better, easier and more comfortable it will be.  My suggestion, start today. To read more health tips from Emma Ware click here.

Change Your Water, Change Your Life By Melissa LaScaleia “I see Enagic Kangen Water as a true health principle: you improve your physical health, you improve your financial health, and the two together create peace of mind,” Alsuna Roland tells me with a smile. Alsuna lives in Emmens Preserve in the Market Common, which she has called home since 2014. “I love Market Common,” she tells me. “I chose it because of the vibrancy. This place is for people who want to be young again, who want to begin to be kids again after their kids are grown.” Alsuna is originally from the islands of Tobago and Trinidad in the Caribbean. She immigrated to Staten Island in 1975, and received undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of microbiology. She worked for the NY State Institute for Basic Research as a research scientist/microbiologist studying mental retardation. She was in charge of the clinical laboratory in microbiology, which encompassed bacteriology, parasitology and mycology, for ten years. “I like to work for myself. I come from a family of independent people,” she tells me. “So several years into my job, I opened the first Caribbean restaurant and bakery on Staten Island, called Alsuna’s Caribbean Cafe. My food was all about a healthy lifestyle. I baked, broiled, and steamed, but never fried. I’m a roots person; those were my roots, and I needed that balance.” When Alsuna’s father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, she changed course to focus on his care. “The diagnosis shocked me, because in the Caribbean, my father was a druggist/pharmacist. He compounded drugs from scratch; he watched what he ate,” she says. In search of answers to get him the best care, Alsuna learned why disease can’t live in an alkaline environment— and specifically how to balance the alkalinity of the body with each unique blood type. Every Kangen Water machine is made by hand in Japan, constructed of high quality platinum and titanium plates. e plates ionize the water, and accelerates bodily hydration. “So with that start, I closed my business, packed up, and went to India,” she says. “Because I had the background working in the lab, I was introduced to microscopy, live blood analysis—looking at the blood in its true form. I also learned Ayurveda and gem therapy, and a lot of the modalities that are used in the East for healing.” From her studies, she was able to put to rest the question that plagued her: why two people with the same disease could have such different outcomes— one getting better and the other not. “There’s a mental cause attached to a physical illness, and they’ve proven it,” she says. “And once we can address that, we find that the organ that is imbalanced will provide the physical healing process; also addressing the mental healing process gives a lot of positive results.” When she returned from India, Alsuna started her own wellness business incorporating this knowledge; she focused her program on four main areas— hydration, detoxification, nourishment, and exercise. “And in my 21 years of practice as a wellness coach, the key factor, I’ve found, is hydration,” she tells me. “Because the human body is 70% water; the brain is 85% water. However, not all water is the same. And that’s what the big missing link is. When I discovered Enagic Kangen Water, which is alkaline and ionized, that’s when my business in terms of wellness, became a lot easier. Simply by hydrating with it, a lot of other symptoms and imbalances got results. That was the feedback from my clients and continues to be the feedback. And so I feel very passionate about spreading the word about this device.” When Alsuna’s mother was 80 years old, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given a life expectancy of several months of life. Alsuna implemented her four-step program to bring her mother’s body back into balance. For the hydration aspect she used Enagic Kangen Water. And she used alkalizing and beneficial foods and supplements based on her mother’s blood type. Today, her mother is 93 and thriving, and lives alone in her home; repeated cat scans of her brain show no trace of the tumor. “I’m not saying that this ionizing machine is the one and only thing,” says Alsuna. “But because dehydration is such a big issue, when we hydrate with the right type of water, things begin to get better. For me, the boon is not just the alkalinity. It’s about the antioxidant properties and ionization.” The Enagic Kangen machine removes the lead, chlorine, and impurities in tap water through a carbon filtration process, and then sends the water through an electrolysis chamber that consists of seven or eight titanium plates. The plates create the negative charge that makes the water ionized, which allows the water to get absorbed into the tissues and cells very quickly. Charlie likes Kangen Water too. Alsuna has found that dogs consistently self-select Kangen Water at 9.0, as does Charlie. Alsuna cautions that there are other devices on the market that are using the trademarked term Kangen Water illegally, and they are cheaper, but people should be educated as to why, and what the differences are, so they can make an informed choice. “The plates that the water passes over in the Kangen Machine are made of platinum and titanium,” she says. And that is very expensive. With knockoffs, there is a risk of heavy metal toxicity, because they are using cheaper materials.” “Our device is priced to accommodate the best quality materials,” she tells me. “This is a Japanese based company and it’s been around for over 43 years. Our products come directly from the factory in Japan, are individually assembled by hand, and have no moving parts. If something goes wrong, they can trace it back to the individual who made it.” The Kangen machine dispenses five different types of water. There is strong Kangen which can be used to clean fruits and … Read more

Market Common’s Newest Workout by Kim Donahue 9Round opened in November. As the owner and operator, I, Kim Donahue decided to take my passion for fitness and make it my career. I have been in the fitness industry for over thirty years. There is nothing more rewarding than the look in someone’s eyes when they realize, “I can do this!” I am dedicated to making you the best version of yourself. 9Round is the ultimate thirty-minute, full body, kickboxing circuit. We don’t waste a minute of your time. It’s an end to boring cardio and the first workout is always free. 9Round is dedicated to providing a unique, fun, and proven workout that guarantees results. Kim Donahue of 9Round getting work in. What makes 9Round unique and accessible? Firstly, it is only 30 minutes. Secondly, a new round starts every three minutes so there is never a wait to workout. You’ll burn up to 500 calories; the workout changes daily; and a trainer is included. You’ll leave 9Round sweating, smiling, and looking forward to coming back for more. The best part? We provide everyone with instructions, motivation and any necessary modifications so all ages and fitness levels can do the 9Round workout. You get the personal attention with no extra charge. Kim has participants from ages 11 to 75 years young. It’s all inclusive! Sounds like the Market Common. There are 1440 minutes in a day, give 9Round thirty of them! 9Round MyrtleBeach-WaltonDrive. Open M-Th 8am-1pm, 3:30-8pm. Fr 8am-1pm, 3:30-7pm. Sa 8am-noon. To view some more of our local business articles, click here! Envelope Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

For All Your Damage Repair Needs in the Market Common and Beyond by Melissa LaScaleia Patrick Hermann lives life passionately with no regrets. As the son of an army man, he grew up in Virginia, Hawaii, and Tennessee. He graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a BS in marine science, and has lived in both the Bimini Islands and Jamaica conducting shark research. He worked as a marine biologist at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, and when his boss left to pursue a career in sales, Patrick followed suite, to try something new. Then inspiration struck to start his own business. “I had a Siberian husky and two room-mates, and I paid to have the carpets cleaned frequently,” he tells me. “It was so expensive, that one day I sat down and calculated how much I could make doing it, and thought, this is a great idea.” The interior of Patrick’s truck is lined with the latest equipment to address damages and restoration projects of every type. – Photo by Meganpixels Parker Patrick would go to his sales job, and then come home and clean one apartment at night and on the weekends with portable carpet cleaning equipment his father helped him procure. About six months later, he went to a Christmas party where he was introduced to all the property managers in Myrtle Beach, and suddenly found himself in charge of cleaning most of Myrtle Beach’s apartments. After the initial burst that propelled him into business full time, he built Roto-Pat slowly and steadily, expanding his repertoire of skills by attending technical classes to learn more about home restoration. That was 18 years ago. Today he runs a full service home restoration and carpet cleaning company, specializing in water damage emergency response, fire damage restoration, and mold removal (he works with insurance companies). He also sells and installs all types of flooring and cabinetry. Patrick at work with his carpet cleaner. – Photo by Meganpixels Parker Patrick handles life’s challenges with competency, a necessary trait for a restoration contractor. “Once when I had just started my flooring business, I got a really big contract to put flooring in seventy apartment buildings. I had $5,000 in credit, and the company I was purchasing the flooring from would not give me any more. I knew the product was manufactured by a company that Warren Buffet owned, so I wrote him a letter asking for help, and mailed it to his house. And a few days later, Warren Buffett called the bank and told them to give me the line of credit so I could do the job.” Roto-Pat Between Carolina Forest and Market Common Open 24-7. New special beginning in January — $125 to clean unlimited areas of carpeting for residences. To see some more of our local businesses, click here! Envelope Facebook

Working for People, Not For Profits in the Market Common Santee Cooper Credit Union is a financial institution that is entirely owned and operated by its members. Credit unions are different from banks in that they are not-for-profits, meaning that they are not trying to make a profit, and if they do, it gets cycled back into the credit union itself in the form of returns for their members via lower interest loans and other positive money matters. Santee Cooper Credit Union was established in 1953 in Moncks Corner, SC, by and for the Santee Cooper Power company employees exclusively; but they are a separate entity from the power company. Over the years, they changed their charter to be a community charter, so that they could expand into the Horry County area and serve a greater population. They opened a second branch location on 21st Avenue in Myrtle Beach, in 2008. In March 2013, Santee Cooper Credit Union moved their Myrtle Beach office to the Market Common; they’re right next door to us at the Insider. Because Santee Cooper is a not-for-profit, they’re able to recycle whatever profits they make into better returns for their customers. Here’s what the Santee Cooper Credit Union provides members: savings and checking accounts; CDs; IRAs; credit cards with a re- wards program; new and used vehicle, boat, camper, and motorcycle loans; as well as personal signature loans and home equity loans. They work strictly with consumer accounts, and don’t issue business accounts or business loans. “When this space in the Market Common became available,” Kathy Hane, the Myrtle Beach branch manager tells me, “it was the perfect t for our needs. We were able to triple the size of the office and increase our employees; we’ve greatly increased our membership too. Our surroundings are beautiful, those who upkeep the Market Common and ensure its safety have been wonderful, and we love our neighbors here.” Aww, thanks. We at the Insider love you, our neighbor, too. Kathy (right) of Santee Cooper, shows the Insider’s Casey York (left), some attractive loan offers that bring a smile to her face. – Photo by Meganpixels Parker/Casey York Kathy’s role with Santee Cooper Credit Union is to orchestrate loans and establish new members. Over the five and a half years since she began working for the credit union, she’s developed some impressions: “I like that we are here to help and educate our members, teaching them how they save money not only with a savings account, but by securing a much lower rate on a loan,” she tells me. “Our focus is on serving our members and getting to know them. It’s very personal and personable. There’s added value in the level of involvement from those who represent the credit union and those who are the members. Being a member of a credit union is totally different from being a member of a bank.” Santee Cooper Credit Union currently has 8,000 members. Those eligible for enrollment include anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Horry or Berkeley County; and family of those current members. The Insider’s Megan gets the help she needs from Santee Cooper’s accommodating staff. “When you join Santee Cooper Credit Union,” Kathy explains to me, “you’re not only a member, you’re also an owner. Unlike a bank, we do not have stock in our company. And our board of directors, who are making the executive decisions, are volunteers who are voted in by our members.” Anyone who joins Santee Cooper Credit Union deposits $5, which opens their savings account, called a share account, so named because when you deposit that $5, that’s your share of ownership in the credit union. “When Santee Cooper Credit Union first began,” Kathy tells me, “everyone put in their $5, and that started the pool of funds for people being able to borrow money with low interest rates.” Today, any extra profits that the credit union makes, means greater benefits for members. So the more people who join, the greater the rewards for all. The Insider’s very own Casey speaks with a Santee Cooper employee. Santee Cooper Credit Union’s focus on and involvement with their members has a small-time community feel reminiscent of a by-gone era. They issue a quarterly newsletter keeping members abreast of all in-house decisions and happenings at the credit union. They also give back to the community through donations to various organizations such as the Special Olympics, American Heart Assocation, Carolina’s Credit Union Foundation, Help 4 Kids; as well as donating annual scholarship funds to local high school students. They hold lunch and learn seminars on various financial topics, to educate the community on how to achieve and maintain greater financial health. “Basically, our members are our top priority,” Kathy says. “We know who you are, and we want to develop a relationship with you. Our motto is, ‘we work for people, not for profits,’ and it’s true.” Santee Cooper Credit Union To read more about other local businesses, visit our local business section! Envelope Facebook Phone Internet-explorer

In The Form Of A Shop By AC Bethea The woman behind the store is Emma Ware, owner and proprietor of Emma’s School of Healthy Eating and Specialty Store in Market Common. Her double degrees in Clinical Homeopathy and Holistic Nutrition, along with added studies in herbology, kinesiology and face reading, have led her to be one of the most talented and desired health consultants in Myrtle Beach. Due to her expertise, she is often invited to be the keynote speaker at major events such as the American Heart Association’s, Women’s Legacy Luncheon, Coastal Carolina engagements, and more. But as popular as Emma’s consulting appointments are today, Emma’s cozy space on Howard Avenue is serving two purposes. At its most basic, it’s a health product-based specialty store with a private space for her consultations in the back. The front entrance leads directly to the store where you’ll find an array of all natural handcrafted soaps, honeys, salts, herbal supplements, shampoos, lotions, teas and cod liver oil… yes! Cod liver oil from Iceland! “I learned about this brand a few months ago and was blown away! There are countless health benefits from using this oil,” says Emma. Sifting through the hype and hucksterism from huge corporations marketing the “green” lifestyle versus finding authentic products from smaller manufacturers, is a challenge Emma welcomes. She sources many of her products locally but also learns a lot from her customer base. “If something is genuinely healthy for you, has more nutrients, isn’t overly processed and has integrity, it will last and it has a place here,” says Emma. “But I’m not interested in fads, like miracle cures or diets claiming to help you lose 50 pounds a month, even if they’re popular.” And while the national trend toward “big boxism” sometimes worries Emma, she argues that supporting local brings an intimacy that bigger stores can’t deliver, and pays other dividends to the community as well. Walking into Emma’s Specialty Shop during all times of the year is a blast of warmth to the soul. The shelves and furniture is modern sleek, the music is often soft instrumental, and the space is full of love. If you’ve ever waxed nostalgic for the old days when the local mercantile was the hub of the community, entering Emma’s Speciality Shop on a quiet morning is just that, and can be healing. “I know my base and I’m a part of this community,” says Emma. Emma is as experienced with the items she carries in her shop, as she is with breathing. She believes in the power of self-healing through eating, using natural products on the body, and living a curious life — “always be willing to learn more”. You can find her in the shop Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. And look out for a once a month seminar to come. One of her goals is to introduce the community to likeminded thinkers and experienced practitioners of herbal care and natural healing.  Call her shop today at 843-997-7037 to reserve a spot for the next one. Emma Ware Phone

Addressing Health Care in the Market Common Press release: by Tidelands Health Tidelands Health, the region’s largest health care provider, is planning to build a new, $44 million medical park in the Market Common as part of its efforts to provide access to high-quality medical care for the region’s growing population. In August, the health system broke ground on the new, 65,000 square-foot Tidelands Health Medical Park at the Market Common, to be located at the corner of Crow Lane and Farrow Parkway. The building will offer primary care and specialty care offices, physical therapy, radiology, pain management and other services. Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of Tidelands Health, said the new medical park is part of a concentrated effort by the health system to provide care for the growing Horry County community. The county’s population has grown by more than 700 people per month since 2010, making it the second- fastest-growing area in the nation, according to U.S. Census figures. From 2010-2016, the number of people living in Horry County has increased by more than 53,000. The architectural drawing showing the new $44 million Tidelands Health building which is being erected at the corner of Farrow Parkway “When people think about population growth, they tend to focus mostly on the need for more roads and other types of transportation infrastructure,” Bailey said. “But health care is also an extremely important part of the mix. It has to grow lock-step with the community to help ensure people have access to care in a timely fashion.” In response to the region’s population growth, Tidelands Health has expanded rapidly over the last several years. The health system, which started in 1950 as a single hospital in Georgetown County, now features three hospitals and nearly 50 care locations that stretch from Andrews in Georgetown County to North Myrtle Beach in Horry County. In addition to constructing the new medical park at the Market Common, the health system is partnering with HealthSouth Corp. to build a new, 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Little River. Construction is expected to begin later this year. A new medical park on Holmestown Road in Horry County is also under construction and will house physician offices and serve as the headquarters of a new family medicine residency program. The Tidelands Health groundbreaking ceremony in the Market Common, on Thursday, August 17, 2017. Front row left to right: Dr. William Richmond, Dr. Marthena Grate Morant, Dr. Philip Dulberger, Pam Maxwell, Josh Kay, H. McRoy Skipper Jr., CPA, Bruce Bailey, Dr. William Greer, Robby Jones, Willie “Booty” Shelley, Edward Norris III, Francis “Jeepy” Ford Jr. The residency program, which provides post-graduate training for doctors who have completed their medical degrees, is a way to bring in new physicians to serve the region. The first class of eight doctors began their residency in July. “Buildings alone mean little without the right people to provide care,” Bailey said. “That’s why we’ve focused heavily on our recruitment efforts. “We want our patients to have access to physicians who are not only experts in their field but also engaged partners in their patients’ health and well-being.” All of the growth within the health system has led to major benefits within the region, not just in health care but also to the overall economy. A study by Coastal Carolina University found that Tidelands Health generated $504.5 million of regional economic impact and supported 5,373 jobs in Horry and Georgetown counties in 2016. Construction activity alone accounted for 471 jobs and $35.3 million in regional economic impact. Tidelands Health Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

A Portrait Memory for Proud Pet Parents Mollie Fout lives in Conway with her husband, Jeff. She has always been an artist. As a child, her favorite thing to draw was animals. She got a bachelor’s degree in studio art, followed by a master’s degree in counseling, and planned to pursue a career in art therapy. But along the way, she moved to South Carolina, where jobs in art therapy were scarce. When she retired in 2012, she began painting more and more for friends— small architectural paintings and drawings, portraits of pets, seascapes and landscapes. “Of all the things I paint, I get the most emotional satisfaction from painting animals because I just love them,” Mollie tells me. Recently, she decided to open her own small business— Prized Pet, to extend her portrait services for the benefit of all pet parents in the Market Common and beyond. Mollie offers custom acrylic paintings of your beloved animal companion in two sizes— 11×14 and 16×20. She also offers less formal pen and ink drawings in sizes 5×7 and 8×10. The finished portrait comes either gallery wrapped, or in a simple wooden frame which gives a casual finish to the portrait, but she also sources, upcycles and refurbishes unique, more elaborate frames by request. “I feel strongly people like what I provide,” she says. “And I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.” Mollie will work from several photographs of an animal to ensure she portrays the facial features accurately. Current turn-around time is several weeks. In her queue she has a pot bellied pig, a cat, several dogs, and potentially, a horse. “I’ll do anything but snakes,” she says. Find out more about Mollie and place an order for your pet’s custom portrait. To see more featured businesses in the Market Common articles, click here! Facebook At

A Market Common Specialty Shop by Melissa LaScaleia Emma Ware is the face behind Emma’s School of Healthy Eating and Specialty Store in the Market Common. Her double degrees in Clinical Homeopathy and Holistic Nutrition, along with added studies in herbology, kinesiology and face reading, have led her to be one of the most talented and desired health consultants in Myrtle Beach. Due to her expertise, she is often invited to be the keynote speaker at major events such as the American Heart Association’s Women’s Legacy Luncheon, Coastal Carolina engagements, and more. At her cozy space on Howard Avenue, Emma runs a health-products based specialty store with a private space for consultations in the back. Inside you’ll find an array of all natural handcrafted soaps, honeys, salts, herbal supplements, shampoos, lotions, teas and even cod liver oil from Iceland.  “I learned about this oil brand a few months ago and was blown away,” Emma says enthusiastically. “There are countless health benefits from using this oil.”  Sifting through the hype and hucksterism from huge corporations marketing the organic lifestyle versus finding authentic products from smaller manufacturers, is a challenge Emma welcomes. She sources many of her products locally, but also learns a lot from her customer base. “If something is genuinely healthy for you, has more nutrients, isn’t overly processed and has integrity, it will last and it has a place here,” says Emma. “I’m not interested in fads— like miracle cures or diets claiming to help you lose 50 pounds a month— even if they’re popular.” The current trend that places emphasis and preference on national conglomerate brands sometimes worries Emma. She argues that supporting smaller, local companies brings an intimacy that bigger stores can’t deliver, and pays other dividends to the community as well.  Walking into Emma’s Specialty Shop during all times of the year is a blast of warmth to the soul. The shelves and furniture are modern and sleek, the music is instrumental, and the space is full of love.  If you’ve ever waxed nostalgic for the days of yore when the local mercantile was the hub of the community, entering Emma’s Specialty Shop on a quiet morning is like a re-creation of that past. “I know my base and I’m a part of this community,” she says. “I’m as experienced with the items I carry in my shop as I am with breathing. I believe in the power of self-healing through eating, using natural products on the body, and living a curious life. I’m always willing to learn more.” Emma’s School of Healthy Eating Store hours: M-Sa, 10am-4pm Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

Real Estate and Community-Building Pioneers: Jim Parker and John Jobson by Melissa LaScaleia For business partners Jim Parker and John Jobson, it takes intelligence, experience, skill, resources, willpower, and passion to craft and deliver a successful product or service. Such is their belief, and such is the driving force and foundation for their business— Properties at the Market Common. These two men have brought their unique life and professional accomplishments together to build what they believe will become a great service in real estate for the Market Common community. At the corner of Phillis Boulevard and Farrow Parkway, the building which houses the Properties at the Market Common and the Insider publication offers a community presence in the Market Common unique to both the real estate and newspaper world. The recent opening of the new office location is the culmination of their long-term vision. This is their story— the story of how they came to be pioneers in the area of real estate and community building. Both men are South Carolina natives: Jim grew up in Camden, and John, North Augusta. Jim joined the Air Force in 1978, and was stationed at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. “My desk now is about 100 yards from my original barracks— where the lake is situated outside my office window,” Jim says. “I know this place; this is where my adult life started.” Jim was 22 when he got into real estate and joined the Myrtle Beach Board of Realtors and the MLS. “Every company I have ever opened and participated in has always been a member in good standing within the Realtor community,” he says. Having finished his service with the Air Force, Jim, at the age of 23, bought an existing real estate company, the Paul Dorman Realty Company, which had been in operation in Surfside Beach since 1957. He changed the name to Paul Dorman Realty Company, a Division of Parker Realty Inc., and within five years had grown the property management division of the company so that he was managing over 250 annual rental units and acted as broker for fifteen real estate agents. “We were a general brokerage firm but we also excelled at project sales for oceanfront and subdivision project sales in the Surfside and Socastee area,” Jim says. “After operating that company for several years, I made a business decision to focus purely on selling commercial real estate.” Jim sold his general brokerage agency and opened Commercial Landtec Corporation in 1990, as a sole agent. “I traveled across North and South Carolina helping regional and national companies with their expanding new store site selection and acquisition,” he says. John Jobson graduated in architectural engineering in 1974 and initially worked in the architectural field. One day in 1977, he asked one of his mentors for advice about how to advance his professional career, and his mentor recommended that John join him in the development, construction and real estate business. “Consequently, I left architecture and began building homes and developing projects,” he says. “I became a project manager for home construction and later on subdivision development. Eventually, I put away my pickup truck and starting selling real estate, managing real estate sales, and developing communities in and around the market of Augusta, Georgia.” He participated in the management of one of Augusta’s larger brokerage firms of over 100 agents, training and leading some of its new agents into successful real estate careers. After years of working with brokerage and new development, a friend of John’s who lived in Myrtle Beach sought out his expertise and recruited him. “It was 1988, and the market was hot here, much more vibrant than where I was,” John says. “I helped plan, design and build golf course communities during the era of golf course expansion along the Grand Strand. But I was interested in getting into commercial brokerage, and I had met Jim to talk about my plan to move into commercial sales.” The two quickly realized they had much to offer the other, and formed a solid partnership built on mutual respect for their differing and complementing skill sets.  The duo is adept at incorporating their strong and similar values into their business practices. Their business alignment, which began twenty-three years ago, has endured the test of time and the fluctuations of real estate trends within the Grand Strand market area. Their staff comprises key members who have worked along with them for the past 10 to 20 plus years. In 2002 Jim and John expanded Commercial Landtec into the area of real estate information to map land and commercial tracts for sale using a very new internet-based GIS technology. It ultimately evolved into a company called SiteTech Systems, which employed thirty people and led the real estate industry in innovative techniques to display real estate information via the internet in ways no other private real estate information service had ever done. Business partners John Jobson (left) and Jim Parker (right) have worked together as friends and business partners for over 20 years. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) SiteTech now serves the real estate and market analysis businesses associated with banking and real estate for twelve counties from Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Shallotte, NC, to Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, SC. They sold the information business in 2008 to one of their business partners; it’s still in operation today. “Jim and I are innovators,” John says. “We always want to stay a step ahead in delivering services to the market that add value and quality that exceeds the norm of professional practice. We’ve kept that same business philosophy from when we first met, and apply it to all our ventures.” Jim moved to the Market Common when it opened in 2008. “I have watched this community grow and develop first-hand through the years,” he says. “And as a resident, I experienced every stage of its growth. John and I knew three to five years ago that this was a special place … Read more

The International Myrtle Beach Culinary School Opens by Melissa LaScaleia The International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, part of Horry Georgetown Technical College, is opening its state-of-the-art $15 million facility here in the Market Common. The building was designed by Mozingo and Wallace, a local architectural firm. What’s inside the building, including the school’s curriculum, has been designed by Joseph Bonaparte, the executive director of the culinary school, and a revolutionary force in the culinary education world. Joe’s interest in food and cooking began at a young age. “I grew up in a New Jersey Italian family that cooked,” Joe tells me at our meeting at the culinary school. “My mother, grandmother, and dad were all excellent cooks, but we all had to help too. “My father died when I was 7 years old, and I ended up spending a lot of time with my mom and aunts; they were in the kitchen, so I was too. Then we moved to Texas. “My mom, who is very adaptable, began cooking Southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisine and dishes like chicken fried steak. So I gained a wide appreciation for diverse cuisines at a young age.” Joe attended the California Culinary Academy in his youth and since that time, has logged an impressive amount of foreign travel studying world cuisines, as well as earning accolades for his skill in the kitchen. He spent eighteen years with the Art Institute Culinary Schools, working in culinary education as the national culinary director of curriculum and quality assurance for their many locations across the U.S. Joe was instrumental in the school’s growth and branding; when he began, there were four culinary programs under the tutelage of the Art Institute, and by the time he left, there were thirty-eight. In 2013, the board of the Horry Georgetown Technical College sought out Joe for his expertise in the culinary teaching world, as they were in the process of revamping their school and offerings. They told him of their plans to build a culinary school in the Market Common, and Joe offered to help. “I had no interest in coming down here,” he says. “But I wasn’t excited about what I was doing, traveling so much with the Art Institute, and I liked the opportunity to get involved in a community project and be a part of something that was more affordable to students than the average program. This was something really good for the community, and what the community here really needed.” “This sustainable state of the art facility provides a functional and dynamic social environment. This is our third project for HGTC and likely one of the most advanced projects we have done in our firm’s 30 plus year history. We are very proud of it.” – Derrick Mozingo (Photo Meganpixels Parker) The main entrance was designed to look like a wave and harmonize with the school’s ocean backdrop. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) “Even though we have such a high tourist population,” he continues, “Myrtle Beach isn’t a culinary destination. We thought the school would have a really big impact on helping to develop the food and culture in a positive way. “So we looked at Charleston: why is it known for its food? It never used to be a hub, it was a historic town by the water. Then Johnson and Wales arrived. That’s when the dynamics of the food scene began to develop there, and it began attracting and producing chefs. Once you get a trained workforce in the area, it allows for greater execution of that skill set.” Additionally, Joe envisioned how the new culinary program would expand the breadth and depth of community interdependence. “My job,” he says, “is not only to be an educator of culinary students, but people in general. To not only connect students with chefs, but chefs with local producers of raw produce or purveyors of food items that are done healthily and properly, and the consumer. It becomes a cyclical and self-sustaining relationship between all of them. “If the consumer only wants to buy McDonalds, and doesn’t understand the value of spaces for pigs and collards, then we don’t have jobs for our culinary students or our farmers; we have a less healthy community, and a divided one.  “So a long time ago, I decided buying commodities products and many products that are raised, or grown overseas wasn’t the best thing to do for our bodies or our communities. I like that the college understands and supports this. We live in a global world, but it’s important to look around us and to see how the things we do work in the big picture of the world and the planet.” I took a look around the new culinary school facility, set to open this month. “The architecture establishes a marketable identity for HGTC and the advancement of the culinary program,” says Derrick Mozingo, project architect and designer with Mozingo and Wallace. There are four teaching kitchens; a demonstration kitchen; the restaurant production kitchen, with a gorgeous drool-inducing range; outdoor BBQ cooking center, replete with a $10,000 Argentinian grill; indoor and outdoor restaurant seating areas for patrons; marble-topped counters for pastry making; maplewood-topped counters for bread making; various offices with adjacent lounge spaces for the students; a sunny, glass-walled conference area in the shape of a chef’s hat; and a greenhouse for growing their own food. The amount of refrigerators, freezers, and meat-curing chambers we passed seemed never-ending. And there are kitchens pretty much everywhere— even adjoining the conference room by the teachers’ offices. The restaurant demonstration kitchen where second year student chefs wow patrons with their culinary skills. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) There’s a climate-controlled area for chocolate making, and a designated retail section where they will sell pastries, cakes, and chocolate confections. Joe is excited about this section. “We have Geo Blount, who is a world certified master pastry chef and master chocolatier,” he says. “I secured him to come and build the best baking and pastry program … Read more

Where Shopping is Pure Epicurean Pleasure by Melissa LaScaleia Right in the heart of the Soho district of the Market Common is a lovely store featuring epicurean delights from the Mediterranean and beyond— The Olive Shoppe… Tasters Welcome. Darya Suddreth, who grew up in Surfside Beach, began the business with her husband, John, five years ago. “When my daughter was two,” she tells me, “she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. In order to get her to eat healthier, we started using a lot of olive oil and balsamic vinegar on her foods. And it was amazing the types of foods she began to eat.” It sparked a love and fascination with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the Suddreth family, which gradually evolved into a total life makeover. “My husband and I wanted to be entrepreneurs— we were looking for opportunities,” says Darya. “He wanted to leave Charlotte, where we were living at the time, and move back to the beach. This is where we met; he wanted to raise our children here. “John had been to an olive oil shop in California and thought it was a great thing to do in Myrtle Beach. When the opportunity arose for us to move back, we did. And it’s probably the best move we ever made.” The pair opened their first store at Barefoot Landing, July 1, 2011. They opened a second location at the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington, N.C. in 2012. And in May 2015, they opened their location in the Market Common. The bar at The Olive Shoppe may be the healthiest one you’ll ever visit. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) Lucky for us who visit or live here. Stepping into The Olive Shoppe, I’m transported to a different place, where olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world sit side by side, emanating their unique multicultural self-expression in the form of heavenly taste. The shop sells traditional extra virgin olive oils from Argentina, Chile, Greece, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey. Darya and John are currently looking into adding oils from Jordan and Mexico. They also carry hand-stuffed olives, olive spreads, and olives and brine to make special martinis. “At The Olive Shoppe, we want our customers to have a tasting experience that will wow the senses,” Darya says.  I try the jalapeño infused olive oil which she pairs with peach white balsamic vinegar, and assure her she’s on track with her mission. “We have a full service tasting bar, where our customers have the opportunity to sit down, and we are like bartenders with olive oil and balsamic vinegars,” she says. “I always say,” she adds with a laugh, ‘It’s the healthiest bar you’ll ever belly up to!’” Before the two began their venture, they researched a lot of olive oil growers and companies— something they continue to do to this day. “We are constantly looking for new growers and suppliers, and we hand pick every one we work with, not just for their taste, but also for their company principles and growing practices,” Darya says. “Every one that we select is very high quality.” For their flavor-infused olive oils, they selected oils exclusively from Spain, with strongly infused flavors— Darya’s preference. Olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world line the walls at The Olive Shoppe. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) “I found that the majority of flavored olive oils I tried were not very prominent with that flavor, or hard to discern from the strong flavor of the oil,” Darya explains. “I like that Spanish olive oil is lighter in taste, and therefore the flavors don’t compete with one another.” All of their balsamic vinegars are imported from Modena, Italy. They are rich and thick, like a glaze, the way Italians have been making them for centuries. The flavors of these balsamics can’t begin to compare to what you can find in the grocery store. As I bite into a garlic and herb cheese-stuffed olive (pure heaven) handmade by a small California farmer, Darya continues to tell me about the many uses of flavored olive oils and balsamics beyond salad dressing. Put strawberry balsamic over vanilla ice cream; cracked black pepper olive oil to marinate and tenderize meat; Meyer lemon olive oil can be added to brownie mixes; the pineapple white balsamic also goes divinely with the jalapeño oil over fish. The options and potential seem endless, and with approximately 50-60 varieties of flavored oils and balsamics, and a little creative genius thrown in the mix, they just might be. Dawn Yarborough, a longtime friend and customer who now works at the shop says, “Once you start cooking with olive oils and balsamics, you have no idea how creative you are. You just amaze yourself. You lose all fear in the kitchen. And,” she adds with a sly smile, “your friends think you’re a chef. So come on in and taste with us!” The Olive Shoppe Open M-Sa 10am-6pm  Envelope Phone Internet-explorer

This Local Coffee-Roaster Family is Having a Blast by Melissa LaScaleia Several years ago, Mike Weeden received a care package of roasted coffee beans in the mail from Vermont. His daughter had sent him something new to try. He enjoyed the resulting coffee so much that he felt inspired to roast beans at home. He and his wife, TJ, quickly fell in love with the taste of fresh roasted coffee; so much so, that they wanted people in Myrtle Beach to experience it as well. And the only way to do that, they reasoned, was to open a café. They found the ideal spot for their new venture in the Market Common. And in March 2014, they became The Roasted Bean. The husband and wife duo have been having a blast with their family-owned operation ever since, which employs many of their eight children. “It was a joint effort to start the café,” TJ says. “My husband was really good at roasting, and I was the wind under his wings. As soon as he knew that we were on the same page, he knew that we had to do this. It happened very quickly, and with great success.” So what goes into making a cup of their beloved brew? The fun, hip and homey interior of The Roasted Bean. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) “All beans begin green, raw, and hard,” TJ says. “Then you roast it to your preference— either medium or a dark roast. “Our coffee is very pure; we source high-quality beans from many different countries, so you’re not going to get withdrawal symptoms and headaches that you can from a lesser-quality bean. When you have a good cup, it can change the way you look at coffee.” Because they love what they do, the two have evolved into self-taught coffee connoisseurs. “We are constantly learning and growing,” says TJ. “My husband does a lot of research. We ask a lot of questions. We’re in touch with a lot of roasters across the United States. It really is an art and a science. He does the science and we do the art. You have to have the right temperature of milk, and the right espresso shot to get the best taste. Coffee is like wine; there are different kinds and different colors. Some coffee is better with dessert, others with sandwiches, and some on its own. But the best kind of coffee is the kind you roast fresh on your own. And that’s what we do.” Soon word got out on Google and Yelp that there were coffee roasters in the Market Common. And throngs of tourists in addition to locals poured into their café en masse. The Roasted Bean sources high-quality beans from around the world from which they concoct their coffee drinks. The result? Exceptional coffee every time. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) “We get people from all over discovering the Market Common because of us,” TJ says. “They come into our café and share that they’ve never been here before, and begin asking questions about the shops and what’s in the area.” Originally, the pair were planning to sell coffee exclusively, but they soon began to receive requests from hungry patrons for options to accompany their cuppa. They added breakfast and lunch sandwiches to their menu, and in the last couple of years, expanded it further to include green smoothies and a variety of other drinks. “We’re very personal here,” TJ adds. “It’s important to me that I know everybody’s name when they walk in the door. We care about the people who come in, and I’ve made some really great lifelong friends as a result. We’re serving great products, we have great music playing— it’s just a really happy place to be. Envelope Facebook Phone At Internet-explorer

A Veteran Brings the Joys of Pedego Electric Bikes to the Community by Melissa LaScaleia One Saturday morning, I arrive on DeVille Street and am greeted by Aaron Maynard, owner of Pedego Electric Bikes. A small group of people are milling about the storefront, trying out vibrantly-colored bikes before a tour. Electric bikes aren’t hard to ride. I initially thought there might be many buttons, but there’s not. Just like a speed bike, they have handle brakes and a gear shifter. The only difference is that the right handgrip turns, giving the bike a lot or a little power from its lithium-ion battery, depending on how fast you’d like to go. I’ve signed up to join a group electric bike tour. Before we set off, Aaron walks us through the slight nuances of an electric bike, ensuring those of our group who haven’t ridden a bicycle in some time feel comfortable and confident. Aaron is a retired colonel in the Air Force, a career which no doubt helps him lead and direct efficiently. His last assignment on active duty was as the Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in London. “When I moved to London,” he tells me on a previous visit to his shop, “I had to find a way to get to work sans automobile. So I Googled “city commuter bikes” and discovered Pedego Electric Bikes. After a bit of research, I took a leap of faith, ordered one, and was immediately blown away by the experience. “Riding this bike became the highlight of my day. I could smell the perfume in front of Harrods, the scent of curries wafting from restaurants I passed. I was completely connected to the life and the vibrancy of London. It was exhilarating. By the time I got to work, I was ready to go. And on the way home, it was the perfect way to decompress. “On the weekends, I found myself exploring parts of the city I never would have seen otherwise. I bought my wife one for our 25th wedding anniversary, and we started doing things together that we hadn’t done since we were newlyweds.” A Saturday morning Pedego bike tour pauses the fun for a group photo. (Photo by Meganpixels Parker) Aaron’s life was so enriched by biking, that when he retired from the military in 2014, he contacted the CEO of Pedego and talked about opening up a store. “I wasn’t a cyclist, I wasn’t into bikes,” he says. “And it was this that made me think, if my wife and I could be so taken with them, perhaps others would be too. We decided to come to Myrtle Beach, because that’s where people come to have fun. And that’s part of our motto: fun. It’s turned out to be a fantastic location.” I’m excited to try out anything described as fun. So I hop aboard the hot pink cruiser I’ve selected and our small group heads out. I zip along, sometimes peddling, sometimes relying on the electric motor, sometimes both. Aaron leads us through quiet neighborhoods and onto a pretty bike path into Myrtle Beach State Park. We disembark for a visit to the beach and to enjoy the waves. At the end of the ride, I feel lighter, elated, and very alive. It’s a satisfying and truly great experience, and one that stays with me long after the ride is over. It’s hard to pinpoint what it is about the Pedego bike riding experience that sets it apart and several notches above other bike riding excursions. I too feel connected to my surroundings in a way that I previously haven’t. Aaron really is a fun guide— perhaps his joy is infectious. But perhaps it’s that Pedego bikes… really are magic. Pedego Electric Bikes Group electric bike rides Wed & Sat at 10am; Pub Rides on Sun at 6pm Rent on your own single or tandem electric bike $20 per hour; $50 for a half day; and $75 for a full day. Envelope Facebook Phone At Internet-explorer