Special to The Eagle Pictured are Jeff Mahl with Pine Island residents Bud and Dawn Welsh at a recent Habitat for Humanity fund raiser.

To the editor:

Based in fact, and richly illustrated with over 70 original photographs Jeff Mahl, a Pine Island resident, brought to life the events of 1908 and the New York to Paris Great Automobile Race. Pine Island residents experienced the Race, just as Jeff heard of the recollections of his great grandfather, George N. Schuster, driver and chief mechanic of the winning American Thomas Flyer. It was an epic International event, matching the best in automotive technology of the world super powers, Germany, France, Italy, and the United States. All at a time when there were few roads and most of the world’s population had never seen a motor car, or even an American.

The entire audience was captivated by the transformation of Jeff into his great-grandfather’s character with the exciting and wonderful show everyone was thrilled and had a wonderful Pre-Thanksgiving show. The food was wonderful and a huge thank you to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre who provided a wonderful facility.

Ron and Pink Wesorick did a wonderful job selling tickets for the event to help raise money for the Pine Island Habitat Home. At the end of the show Jeff sold his books and gave 50 percent of the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity and it was a huge success. A big thank you to the Pine Island Committee for your years of service for Habitat for Humanity of Lee County. They will still be raising money raising a brick wall at Woody’s Waterside to purchase a brick in the wall go to Woody’s for more details.

If you would like to know more about Habitat for Humanity if you would like to know more about the Great Auto Race to to www.thegreatautorace.com

Jennifer Welsh

Habitat for Humanity