Pine Avenue has become a warm and inviting town center

I've been coming to AMI since 1969 when my pals, who grew up here, and I would drive over from Cocoa Beach. I've been around the world ... twice. But when it was time to retire, of all the places I'd been, I chose this area because Anna Maria was, is and will always be the greatest beach town in the world. I do not agree with the people who think that "big money" is ruining the town. I think that Pine Avenue is the best Main Street a town can have, flags and all. They have taken buildings worth saving and used them to create a warm and inviting town center. Look at the faces of people walking on a warm day up and down Pine Avenue. A wonderful place to visit and better place to live. I think the planners are doing an excellent job of keeping the spirit and character of Anna Maria alive. Other than a few too many snow birds the town is perfect and if some don't agree, I defy them to find a better, more tranquil, beach town. Anywhere.

Frank Grasso
Bradenton

Concert in the Park provided great music, food, exposure

Many thanks to the Concert in the Park Series and organizer Cindy Thompson for the start of what should be a great series. Our little booth attracted a lot of attention, and allowed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to become more public. The music was great, the food was great, and the folks were there to have fun in spite of the cool weather. By getting more attention, we are hoping to be able to entice more of our Island (and nearby) folk to join us in preparing to help our neighbors. We are ready for the next one. Thanks for having us.

Ed Ice
Communications Support
Anna Maria Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Anna Maria

Birdie Tebbetts Field still good for baseball and dogs

Birdie Tebbetts Field will actually be used for an organized game on Saturday, Feb. 18. We are holding our first ever Pros vs. Girls Charity Softball Game that day on the field in Holmes Beach. (Story on Page 1 of today's Sun)This event will feature a mix up game of current and former major and minor league players, State College of Florida softball players and Manatee County's very own Twisters 8 and under girls. Some of the pros in the line up are Jose Bautista, the American League two- time home run leader (2010 and 2011) from the Toronto Blue Jays and Marco Scutaro from the Colorado Rockies.

All proceeds will go to two wonderful women's charities; The Women's Resource Center of Manatee and the Manatee Twister 8 and under traveling team. Both organizations strive to promote women and young girls to be positive, strong and independent. The Jan. 25 article in The Sun was very interesting to me since I am new to the Island and I have used the field to practice softball with my daughter. It is a beautifully maintained field and I thought it was also a nice place for the dogs. There has to be a compromise.

Karen Abel
Holmes Beach

Got something you need to get off your chest? Want to speak your mind about the latest shenanigans going on down at city hall? If so, we want to hear from you. Drop us a line via regular mail at The Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Or you can post it on our comments page or just email us at news@amisun.com. Letters should be 300 words or less and signed with your name and city of residence. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. Letters may be edited for length and content.