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NewslettersSigning off from Biz Pulse
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
- bpillow's blog
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Oh no! Your column made me read monday's paper as soon as it came out! Will somebody be taking over the column or is it leaving with you? It definately has been great reading your stories. Thanks for the good stuff! And I hope that you will happy!
But what we really need here in the press is someone who will comment about the danger of the current unrestrained "growth" proposals...i.e., that darn abomination of a parking garage proposal for West and Port Republic in the Historic District, the Wal-Mart nonsense, and the continuing blockage of lines of sight of our shorelines through high-rise building construction as in Sunset-Parkway nabe on Lady's Island.
:)
I hope the BG will take note of the excellent job you did and the way you covered local business and try to continue your good work. You really did an outstanding job of staying on top of who and what were coming and going. It was refreshing, and I will miss your fine work. I know Baltimore well, great neighborhood restaurants, bars, etc. Fells Point is a great area, too. Best of Luck to you!
sblust - thats cold man!
;-)
Good luck in Baltimore - where is Baltimore anyway? somewhere up north?
Ben did a tremendous job in his short stay here, and I would have loved for him to stick around much longer. He'll do very well in Baltimore.
I didn't read anything about being fired in Pillow's post. It sounds like he missed the big city life and wanted to return.
At least he wasn't hypocritical like some people who move here and immediately want the rest of us to change our small town and scenic county into a big city. Like all of us, we have different desires in lifestyles and he did the right thing by choosing to go where he would feel comfortable. A good example for all of us.
egret57 - Ben grew up here, so that probably has a lot to do with his non-hypocritical attitude.
Ben - You did a wonderful job here, and your column and blog posts will be missed. I wish you well up north, and I hope your folks and brothers are doing well. Hopefully, the BG will continue to have someone cover your 'beat'!
At least he wasn't hypocritical like some people who move here and immediately want the rest of us to change our small town and scenic county into a big city. Like all of us, we have different desires in lifestyles and he did the right thing by choosing to go where he would feel comfortable. A good example for all of us.
I didn't know Ben, but I knew his dad. Nice guy and some of his values probably rubbed off on Ben.
I would agree on that point - both parents!
see the smiley face!
Its unusual for this to be announced on a Sunday - thats the time when the CEO gets the axe and its announced on Monday that after years of ignoring his family and working 80 hour weeks he is leaving to pursue other interests spending more time with his family!
As for Ben, I'm SURE he's done a great job and as nice as the Low Country is, it simply cannot compete with Baltimore.
Now take that any way you want!
I knew that, Joe. I just wanted to make it clear to everyone else that Ben's decision to leave the Gazette was his own and that we were very happy with his work.
Now that you pointed out the smiley face, everything is ok. Some of us are not used to such subtleties. Make it bigger next time. LOL
Ben did a tremendous job in his short stay here, and I would have loved for him to stick around much longer.
maybe if you had paid him...
Ben did a tremendous job in his short stay here, and I would have loved for him to stick around much longer.
maybe if you had paid him...
lol
Well, good luck in Baltimore, the city of the white steps!
I worked long ago for a year in Baltimore, my company sent me there to work in the Marriotsville Spiritual Center, and in Continental Can Co. where I watched the ships travel up the river, and in a Jewish nursing home right across the street from Johns Hopkins. Lived in Ellicott City, Howard Co. - pretty good schools there, with a plantarium in the elementary school. Lots of fast traffic.
It's really a pleasure to live in a big city, with lots of things to see and do, and lots of wonderful people - very diverse, typical of a city.
Not as much snow in Baltimore as Philadelphia!
Take care.
pretty good schools there, with a plantarium in the elementary school.
Please explain "plantarium" to us poor, third-world-educated natives.
Or maybe some people spell it with an "e".
Or maybe some people spell it with an "e".
Why doesn't Medicare pay for eyeglasses for us older ones?
well, as I noted previously in another post, if you are using a modern browser such as ANY edition of Firefox or IE - there is a default feature which includes an as you go spell checker which underlines in red words it thinks are being misspelled.
A handy little gadget - plus - it learns. Perhaps if more folks red underlining - which is kinda hard to miss . . . .
Download it for free from:
http://mozilla.com
This is also a selfish pitch - the more people that use Firefox vs. Internet Exploiter, the easier my job becomes.
--
Chris Yates
Director, Interactive Media
The Beaufort Gazette
I used to use Firefox daily, but their newer versions have a tendency to "freeze-up" my old computer requiring a 15 minute wait before restarting, so I only use it now for sending some types of email.
Opera version 9.25 works better for me. Much faster. But it doesn't work with Outlook Express. Avant works well for browsing and email too.
IE is the worst of the bunch except for interactive flash player sites.
People who know how to spell spell it with an "e". Planetarium...from planet. Which one do you live on?
People who know how to spell spell it with an "e". Planetarium...from planet. Which one do you live on?
Is there a glass planet? LOL
These know-it-all comeyas are a riot, aren't they?
The British often spell it with an "i". Some Americans do also.
Oh. Well, I guess Cambridge is wrong then.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=planitarium&x=0&y=0
Don't you just hate "google"?
The British often spell it with an "i". Some Americans do also.
I suspect only ONE American does.
With due respect to scnative, it was not a pay issue. The Baltimore gig is not a salary bump -- other issues are at play. In an age of do more with less, Steve and the rest of The Gazette staff work tirelessly to deliver the "daily miracle" in print and online professionally. Thanks for all your comments.
I hope you know I was joking, too. Baltimore is a beautiful city.
I moved back here from TX about 15 years ago. I loved everything about TX...people, climate, etc. And I had a good job with great bennies. But my parents were aging and I felt the need to be closer than 18 hours of hard driving. Also I have brine in my veins and lived 11 hours from the Gulf coast. So here I am and I don't regret it at all. After all, I've wanted to live in Beaufort since I can remember.
Baltimore is a beautiful city.
They have a wonderful mayor also. She'll end up making Detroit's Kwame K. look tame.
a nice touch.
?
We shall miss you Ben! Best of luck to you in your new adventures.