When Joni drove through I’On in the spring of 2015, finding her forever home was the furthest

thing from her mind. What was meant to be a simple weekend getaway was quickly taken over

by Eddie’s friend Blake, who insisted on giving them a true local tour. His exact words were,

“I’m going to show you a neighborhood.” They couldn’t have imagined that ten years later,

they’d look back with such gratitude — that one drive through I’On would change the course of

their family’s life.

Joni and Eddie had spent 13 years living in Manhattan, where Joni completed medical school at Cornell and her dermatology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, while Eddie built a career in

advertising and became an executive at CBS Sports. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Joni and Eddie had two young daughters at the time — Anna (3) and Rowan (8 months) — and a plan in motion to move from their hometown of Queens to a quiet suburb on Long Island. It was the path they’d envisioned for years.

But on the plane ride home, the conversation was nonstop questions: “What if? Why not? Are we crazy?” Joni says that when she drove down Shelmore Road, it felt like the scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy’s world goes from black and white to Technicolor. She had to live there.

As Eddie will tell you, “Anyone who knows Joni knows that when she sets her mind to

something, it’s going to happen.” Within three months of stepping off that plane, Joni had

accepted a position in the Dermatology Department at MUSC. The plan was to give it a try for

one year — and see what happened. That was in 2015.

Ten years after that spontaneous weekend trip, the McCranns can’t imagine living anywhere

else. Now a family of five, their days are full and joyful.

Their oldest, Anna, is a freshman at Academic Magnet. She’s often spotted running the scenic

trails of I’On, soaking in the sunsets, and earning spending money for her King Street shopping

adventures by babysitting around the neighborhood.

Rowan, now in fifth grade at Sullivan’s Island Elementary, shines as both a devoted little sister

and a caring big sister. Her love for dance has blossomed into an unexpected and wonderful

journey at Peace Love & Hip Hop, where she’s part of two competitive teams.

And then there’s Michael (“Z”), age seven, a first grader at SIES and the family’s energetic

youngest. Most neighbors know him from Maybank Green, East Lake Park, or the I’On Club —

always with a soccer ball at his feet. While the McCranns don’t have a pet, Joni has been known to affectionately refer to Z as her goldendoodle.

As if finding the dream neighborhood weren’t fortuitous enough, they also landed on what they

consider to be “the best block in I’On.” The McCranns quickly discovered that Frogmore Road

wasn’t just a street — it was a community. From the very first day, neighbors welcomed them

with open arms. “They took us in instantly,” Joni recalls. “Frogmore really feels like family.”

Most summer days, you’ll find the family at the I’On Club — swimming, playing pickleball, or

chasing Z around with a soccer ball. The best afternoons end with a jump off the dock and dinner with friends. They love soaking up everything Charleston has to offer — from beach days and great restaurants to catching rides on their neighbor Jack’s boat.

Their favorite tradition is their annual Christmas Eve party, a neighborhood gathering that’s the

highlight of their year. “It’s our way of bringing friends together,” Eddie explains. “We get to

celebrate the friendships and community that have made Charleston feel like home.” And be

forewarned: if you stop by, there’s a good chance you’ll be part of the annual reading of ’Twas

the Night Before Christmas.

Since settling in, both Eddie and Joni have built thriving local careers that reflect their passions

and values. Joni recently opened her own dermatology practice, Mara Dermatology, alongside

her partner, Dr. Fiona Rabar. Their mission is to bring back a personal touch to medicine —

“old-school doctor-patient relationships where people feel truly cared for.”

“Being a small-town doctor was a lifelong dream of mine,” Joni says. “I wanted to create a space where patients feel listened to and valued, not rushed. Mount Pleasant felt like the perfect place to do that.”

Meanwhile, Eddie has channeled his love of sports and community into Crew Pickleball Club, a

venture he co-founded with friends to help grow the game across the Lowcountry through after-school enrichment programs. His mission is simple: to give kids the same sense of teamwork, confidence, and fun that sports gave him. “Pickleball brings people together,” he says. “It’s social, active, and something families can enjoy together — just like life in I’On.”

For the McCranns, the spirit of I’On is found in the everyday moments — the spontaneous

Friday nights, the laughter of kids on the block, and the shared meals and traditions that bring

everyone together. “This neighborhood reminds us what matters most,” Joni says. “Connection, kindness, and being present with the people around you.”

Whether it’s a summer evening at the I’On Club, a walk along the trails, or their joyful

Christmas Eve gathering, the McCranns embody the best of what makes this community so

special.

Ten years, three kids, two dream careers, and countless friendships later, Eddie and Joni still

look around and say the same thing they did after that first Charleston weekend: