The 22nd annual Town of Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival will be 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 at Alhambra Hall. As always, it celebrates the historic Mount Pleasant shrimping industry with the traditional Blessing of the Fleet ceremony and shrimp boat parade, and other activities. For the first time, several activities will be held the week leading up to Sunday’s main Blessing of the Fleet event.

2009 “Blessing of the Fleet” Schedule of Events

April 21 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Create a Masterpiece – The Week of the Fleet

Go to Bottles ‘N Brushes to paint a themed painting for the Week of the Fleet.
424 Broadway St. in Orchard Plaza, Mount Pleasant.
Reservations suggested: 345-7365. Fee: $35.
Refreshments available. Adults only.

April 22 – 6 p.m.

Whole Foods Cooking Presentation

Enjoy a free cooking presentation with Mount Pleasant’s Whole Foods @ 923 Houston Northcutt Blvd.

April 22 – 10 a.m.

Shem Creek – A History of the Creek and Shrimping

Presentations by Tressy Mellichamp, of the local Magwood shrimping family, committee member of the Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival and co-author of “East Cooper: A Maritime History,” and David Whitaker, deputy director of DNR.
The free event will be at the Mount Pleasant Senior Services Center @ 840 Von Kolnitz Road.

April 23 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Create a Masterpiece – The Week of the Fleet

Go to Bottles ‘N Brushes to paint a themed painting for the Week of the Fleet.
424 Broadway St. in Orchard Plaza, Mount Pleasant.
Reservations suggested: 345-7365. Fee: $35.
Refreshments available. Adults only.

April 25

Taste of Shem Creek

Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek will have items prepared by local shrimp boat captains.
Food tickets available for purchase. Call 388-0003.

April 25 – 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Blessing of the Fleet Sunset and Shagging Cruise

The Blessing of the Fleet committee will leave Patriots Point for an evening cruise on the “Spirit of the Lowcountry.”
Make prepaid reservations with Spiritline Cruises at 843-722-2628 or 800-789-3678.
Tickets are $18. Adults only.

If Ron Motley still had his 156-foot mega-yacht Themis, Charleston harbor would certainly be a place to flaunt it, although, I don’t think it would have much room here in Shem Creek – with or without shrimp boats.

Two lawyers from his office though, Frederick “Fritz” Jekel and Paul Doolittle, are announcing the formation and opening of Jekel-Doolittle, LLC. Together, Mr. Jekel and Mr. Doolittle offer a combined 30 years of legal experience to represent residents of South Carolina communities in complex legal matters.

Mr. Jekel and Mr. Doolittle worked together at Motley Rice and other firms for 12 years and credit their experiences for equipping them with the foundation to handle complex litigation. “There is a real advantage in knowing how to help your clients and what needs to be done to get a great result at the end of a hard fought battle,” echoed Doolittle.

Jekel-Doolittle, LLC focuses on serious personal injury actions and trial work in:

“I have reviewed and managed complicated, advanced and unconventional legal issues that a lot of attorneys have not handled,” said Jekel.

• * Nursing home litigation
• * Toxic exposure litigation
• * Catastrophic injury litigation
• * Trucking accident litigation
• * Consumer fraud litigation
• * Criminal defense litigation
• * DUI defense litigation
• * Product liability litigation

The two attorneys seek to parlay their experience from their previous national practices to focus on the legal needs of South Carolina citizens as well as residents of nearby Savannah, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Jekel-Doolittle, LLC operates from the main office located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Mr. Jekel and Mr. Doolittle welcome opportunities to assist attorneys in the region with serious legal matters where they can utilize their courtroom experience. “Fritz and Paul are loyal, hardworking and committed to their clients. We certainly wish them the best,” said Motley Rice LLC co-founding member, Joe Rice.

Internationally known trial lawyer Ron Motley noted, “The two have proven they can get it done in the courtroom. I am sure this will continue to be the case as they work to focus on helping South Carolinians.”

Partners Fritz Jekel and Paul Doolittle may be reached at (843) 654-7700, www.J-DLaw.com, 210 Wingo Way, Suite 201 Mt. Pleasant SC 29464