Did I read correctly? After years of hard work and effort, Pamela and Peter Ovens have decided to close the Farmers Market at Honey Horn because they cannot get the Town of Hilton Head Island to allow them off-site signs to promote this wonderful once-a-week market. Who can blame them?

They have given our community and visitors alike a gathering place on Friday mornings to purchase fresh produce, flowers, bakery items and local seafood, as well as services, such as knife sharpening. But because the market is a for-profit venture, they can't have off-site signs and so lose out to the nonprofit Island Recreation Association. The association will now create a farmers market at the "new" Shelter Cove Mall location.

The Island Recreation Association provides wonderful opportunities in our community, but a farmers market? Really? Interesting that the town is involved in the rehab of Shelter Cove and provides 36 percent of the association's funding. What a shame.

Ruthe F. Ritterbeck

Hilton Head Island