Author: Laura Von Harten

Spring is here, so the farmers markets of the Lowcountry are back in business. And with the recent surge in enthusiasm for fresh, local foods, business is better than ever.

One of the joys of living in the Lowcountry is soft-shell crab season. And it is deliciously imminent. As a matter of fact, by the time you have this newspaper in your hand, the season may be already be upon us.

John Morris Butler, Jr., was on top of the world. Handsome and healthy at age 45, he had a high-paying job with the electric company in New York City. He and his wife, Isabel, had three young sons, a comfortable home and a country club membership.

First, an update on We Island Gumbo N Tings. They got a lot more tings now! And they have a semi-permanent home at Sgt. White’s, at the corner of Ribaut Road and Boundary Street. At 3 pm each Friday, Sgt. White’s shuts down, and at 4 pm We Island starts serving up shrimp gumbo as well as deep-fried shrimp, oysters, whiting, hushpuppies, okra and other side dishes. We Island is there on Saturdays, too.

There’s a new generation of seafood industry entrepreneurs in the Lowcountry, and one of the most successful is Craig Reaves.

Back in 2004, a federal earmark to spend $1,000,000 on the branding of Wild American Shrimp caught the eye of Sen. John McCain.

When the State Ports Authority tried to close down the shrimp docks at Port Royal a few months ago, people around here got pretty alarmed. They wanted the place to stay open – not so much because they bought a lot of shrimp there, but because the shrimp boats are such an iconic presence in this peaceful little town.

Tons of people in Beaufort County will be getting tons of new stuff for Christmas.

I have something terrible to confess: I sell fake sweetgrass baskets.