I wrote in my first business column for The Gazette a short five months ago that, since my return to Beaufort, more than one person had remarked to me that Bluffton had "blown up" with new development. At the time, I figured I would document similar growth in my hometown for the foreseeable future.

Moving away again so quickly is not something I anticipated, but over the past few months, it's a decision I've been moved to make. Most of it is a yearning to return to another city I love — Baltimore. The opportunities and life of a larger city are simply more appealing to me at the moment. Maybe it took me coming back here to realize that, and at another stage of my life, I might view things differently. Beaufort will always be home.

Thanks for all the information and feedback over the past few months — I don't feel great about the fact that my stint was so brief, but it was fun and fulfilling on my end. I’ll see you at a few Water Festivals down the road, and I can't wait to return and see what new businesses have arrived (and which have closed).

-Ben

The Lowcountry Regional Education Center serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties has hired Bill Cox as coordinator.

The initiative is one of 12 centers statewide being set up as part of Personal Pathways to Success, a program created by the Education and Economic Development Act of 2005 to help students define and achieve post-graduation goals.

Cox said he and the center’s advisory board will work to build partnerships that foster career development in the region, “a serious approach to work-force development … vital for South Carolina’s economic future.”

Cox previously worked in the social services departments for Williamsburg and Clarendon counties as a work-force consultant.

Five months after expanding, Alberto’s Tex-Mex Grill has apparently closed.

Restaurant co-owners Alberto and Pedro Tapia doubled the eatery’s size when they took over both sides of the building at 1422 Boundary St. in October, but the business is shut and its phone service is disconnected.

The owner of the property, John Trask Jr., said he thinks the Tapias are trying to sell the restaurant.

“I think it’s still kind of up in the air right now, what’s happening,” Trask said.

The Tapias could not be reached for comment today.

The owners of Barefoot Bubba’s at 2135 Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena Island have opened another beachwear business of the same name in downtown Beaufort, and they plan to open two high-end surf shops in the near future.

Brothers Tony and Eddie Yahav this week opened a new Barefoot Bubba’s at 722 Bay St., formerly the site of Picket Fence, a women’s apparel and cottage furnishings store. The Barefoot Bubba’s businesses are officially licensed to carry the “Life is good” brand.

The Yahavs also plan to open two Islands Surf shops, which will carry, among others, Quiksilver and Billabong products. The first store, at 2137 Sea Island Parkway, is expected to open in about three weeks. Another Islands Surf is expected to open in mid-May at 808 Sea Island Parkway.

In other biz news…

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has unanimously voted to support two multi-county industrial park projects, a change in the state’s situs guidelines on boat taxes and improvements to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The board backs a Greenlawn Drive project by Beaufort developer 303 Associates to create 112 mixed-use units at Beaufort Town Center. It also supports the Buckwalter Place project in Bluffton, a planned 94-acre development off Buckwalter Parkway that would include businesses, government offices and housing.

The chamber’s directors also favor modifying state law for levying property taxes on boats not used exclusively in interstate commerce. Under current rules, such vessels are taxable in South Carolina if present in the state for 90 total days or 60 consecutive days in a year. The board is supporting proposed legislation that would extend the 90-day period to 180 days and the 60-day period to 120 days.

Tom Wilson, owner of Port Royal Landing Marina, said the legislation will increase boating tourism in Beaufort County.

“We are losing visitors to other states because of this law,” he said.

At its Feb. 28 meeting, the chamber’s board also took a position urging federal and state government officials to fund dredging and maintenance of the Intracoastal Waterway, a “long-term” issue, said Carlotta Ungaro, president and CEO of the chamber.

What is it with Beaufort Plaza and recent restaurant failure?

Just more than three months after Checkers closed, its next-door neighbor has also apparently shut without notice. The locked doors at Lotus Chinese Restaurant at 3 Robert Smalls Parkway left several potential lunchtime patrons wondering where to go next when I stopped by today.

A spokeswoman for Checkers said the hamburger franchise suffered from a decline in business and unfavorable lease terms. I don’t know what the rent rates are at the shopping complex, but would think the location is prime real estate for any restaurant.

What else is going on?

Chamber sets dates for recurring events
The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s next “Business After Hours” event is planned for 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 13 at the Comfort Suites at 131 Big John Road at S.C. 170 and New Hanover Park.

Admission costs $7 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. RSVP by March 11 to Blakely Williams at 843-986-5400, extension 27.

The chamber is also holding a seminar on interviewing techniques as part of its “Breakfast and Brainfood” series from 8:30 to 10 a.m. March 25 in Building 12 of Technical College of the Lowcountry’s Beaufort campus.

Mike Ryan of Human Resource Professionals is the presenter. The seminar is free for chamber members and costs $15 for nonmembers. RSVP by March 24 to Williams.

Employee-credentialing workshop planned
The Lowcountry Workforce Investment Board plans to hold a workshop on a new employee-credentialing program at 1 p.m. March 19 at the Beaufort One Stop Center at 164 Castle Rock Road.

Based on the WorkKeys system that measures job skills, the WorkReady SC program seeks to give employers a way to identify workers with the most potential and offer job seekers guidance on their ability to succeed in a certain position.

For more information on the workshop, contact Jannie Allen at 843-524-3351.

Port Royal Stone Works at 1675 Ribaut Road is moving today to 212 Sea Island Parkway on Lady’s Island.

Kenn and Jodie Woods, the co-owners of Palm & Moon Bagel Co. at 221 Scott St. in downtown Beaufort, are talking with the Port Royal property owner about opening a new store at 1675 Ribaut Road.

“We’re looking at it right now,” Kenn Woods said. “We’re not sure exactly when. … We’ve got so darn much going on right now — we’ve got a store opening in Bluffton as well.”

The Bluffton bagel store will open in about a month in the shopping complex near Sea Turtle Cinemas on Buckwalter Parkway.

Organic farm, St. Peter’s among grant winners
Three Beaufort County entities are among five recipients of $2,500 grants from civil engineering and surveying firm Ward Edwards for their proposals to promote or improve environmental sustainability in coastal South Carolina.

Marshview Organic Community Farm on St. Helena Island was awarded for its plan to train local youth on environmentally safe organic products and practices in the operation of an organic farm.

St. Peter’s Catholic School in Beaufort will use the grant to have its students conduct a water quality study in a high-salinity estuary that is experiencing rapid growth.

The town of Bluffton was awarded for its plan to construct a demonstration rain garden at Town Hall.

The checks and awards will be presented at a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Cha Bella Grill & Patio at 102 E. Broad St. in downtown Savannah.

Overlook at Battery Creek wins award
Overlook at Battery Creek in Beaufort this week was selected as 2007’s best new home community with fewer than 150 units by Professional Builder magazine and the National Association of Home Builders Design Committee.

Overlook at Battery Creek was developed by PEC Development Group in Atlanta with assistance from Edward Pinckney/Associates, Ltd., Allison Ramsey Architects Inc. and Dominic Tringali Architects.

The 2007 Best in American Living winners were announced Tuesday at the 24th annual Best in American Living celebration at Sea World in Orlando, Fla.

Piggly Wiggly fund supports refinery victims
Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. has established a “Sugar Refinery Family Support Fund” in response to the explosion Feb. 7 at the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery in Port Wentworth, Ga.

The fund, which allows customers to make a donation at check-out registers, will raise money to support the families of those plant workers killed or injured in the explosion. Piggly Wiggly opened the fund with a $10,000 donation.

The bodies of six victims have been positively identified, and two others are presumed dead, according to Savannah Morning News. Another 17 workers are hospitalized in critical or serious condition, the newspaper reported.

Registers in all Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. stores in Georgia and North and South Carolina are set up to process donations through March 17. All donations will be distributed to affected families by the United Way of the Coastal Empire.

Business incubator session planned in Columbia
New Carolina, South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness, plans to hold its first “conversation” on business incubators March 5 at Columbia Marriott Hotel.

Participants include those working with or contemplating starting a business incubator, accelerator, enterprise or resource center. Dinah Atkins, president and CEO of the National Business Incubation Association, is scheduled to give the keynote address.

The 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. session and lunch costs $75. Attendees also have the option of buying the National Business Incubation Association Best Practices Manual for $60. To register, call Lindsey Spires of New Carolina at 803-760-1400.

Ramsey appointed to valuation group’s board
Larry A. Ramsey of the public accounting firm Robinson Grant & Co. has been selected to the board of directors for the South Carolina chapter of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

The chapter provides educational sessions and opportunities for certified valuation analysts to discuss developments in business valuation, matrimonial and financial litigation, and exit planning.

Ramsey lives on Hilton Head Island. Robinson Grant & Co. has branches on Hilton Head and in Beaufort and Bluffton.