Survey choices provide differing views in cell tower discussion

Thanks for adding two of the serious adverse side effects and the hint to less deteriorating technical alternatives to last week's cell tower survey choices. Though these additional entries did not find many friends, just mentioning different points of view to look at the problems on hand, might help one or the other citizen out there to think twice about the issue. Meanwhile, it turned out that almost everybody would like to have a tower on his/her roof no matter what the consequences will be. It seems like even a distant view on imaginary future money is blinding.

Heimo Keller
Anna Maria

Rotary Casino Night lots of fun, supports many great causes

Every Tuesday about 40 of us gather for lunch at the BeachHouse restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The room is always filled with friendly smiles and positive vibes. I always feel better after these meetings. It is not just the fellowship, it is what happens between meetings that is amazing. "Service Above Self" is the motto for about 1,200,000 Rotarians worldwide and our little club on Anna Maria Island is recognized far and wide for how our actions live up to that motto. Our partnership with Anna Maria Elementary School, with cool programs for every grade, has won awards and was even featured in the international magazine, The Rotarian. Our club funds a wide variety of programs and projects that include several clean water systems in Haiti, Peru and Mexico. We buy computers for remote schools in Guatemala. We contribute thousands to a disaster relief program called ShelterBox. We package meals for the hungry in Manatee County and we support Manatee County-based "Feeding Empty Little Tummies." We do more than our part to fund the worldwide initiative to completely eradicate polio from the planet, which has raised nearly a billion dollars since 1985. We fund local scholarships for academic and musical achievement. Many local arts organizations depend on our grants every year. This is only a part of what we do but most may wonder where we get all the money to all this. Our primary fund raiser is Rotary Casino Night that is being held this Saturday night. It is a fun-filled evening with great music, great food, free booze, and of course, professional casino gaming tables. There will be a live auction of a Harley Davidson Sportster and oodles of silent auction items, which include sensational local art pieces. One attendee will win the door prize of a 50-inch flat screen TV. We are selling only 48 chances, 50 bucks each, for the exclusive use of a luxurious three-bedroom vacation home near the strip in Las Vegas for a week. As you read this, think about what you might be doing Saturday night. Here is a way to not only have great fun but to help us help so many in need. Admittance is only $50. Please come. If you can't, at please buy a chance for the Las Vegas vacation. Visit www.annamariarotary.org for online ordering or call me at 941-448-5500. I can also talk to you about what is required to become a Rotarian.

Barry Gould
Rotarian from Holmes Beach

Renters, weddings, bring the sound of life

I live in Holmes Beach and directly to the North, South and West of our home are rental properties. One is under construction. In this economy I'm glad to see people working. One is owned by a couple from Chicago who hope to retire here and live as our neighbors in paradise. Until then the home is rented, for a few days to a few months at a time, in order to maintain mortgages, property taxes and home owners insurance.

A few are rented by large groups who are vacationing and enjoying a good time with family and friends. Is there noise? Yes. It is the sound of LIFE! It is the sound of weddings, birthdays, reunions, and celebrations of life. It is the sound of people living life. There will always be the few that spoil the bunch. Let's regulate the few and allow the rest of us to enjoy this island as paradise found. I've lived on AMI for 30-plus years so I've seen a lot of changes. And I still long for my old island ... the days of shell streets, the wildness of Bean Point before the McMansions. Turtles. And the Allman Brothers jammin' at The Oar House. But ... change is inevitable. Life evolves. Let's work together to address the issues yet still allow life to be enjoyed by all.

Nancy Moore
Holmes Beach

Great turnout helped make Relay prelude a success

We at Feeling Swell wish to thank the attendees at our recent Relay for Life fund raiser and the participating merchants from Anna Maria Island that donated items for the silent auction that helped make the event such an overwhelming success. We had a fantastic turnout of more than 60 people at the wine tasting and silent auction event that generously contributed their time and dollars to help battle all forms of cancer as a prelude to the actual walk coming up in the near future at Coquina Beach. This event alone helped contribute more than $1,200 towards the Anna Maria Island Relay for Life goal. We want to thank all who participated and hope that we see you at the actual Relay walk, currently scheduled for March 31 from 1 p.m. to April 1 at 7 a.m. Thank you again for helping all those affected by this disease in all it's forms.

John Ganfield
Feeling Swell
Vicki Adema
Sponsorship chair
Anna Maria Relay for Life

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.