To the editor:

The Matlacha Mariners are pleased to announce that this year’s 10th annual Southwest Florida Blues Festival was a successful event. People coming from various regions of the country and throughout the state were very impressed with this year’s exceptional lineup and how smoothly everything went.

The Mariners wish to express their gratitude to the many volunteers that it took to make this event a success and one that people want to come back to year after year. Without the overwhelming support of visitors, area residents, local businesses and other organizations this amazing day of music probably wouldn’t have been possible. Now that another event is behind us we would like to acknowledge the many supporters who helped to make this event even more popular than ever. In no particular order we would like to thank all of these wonderful people; Gwendolyn Garrison (Pine Island Elementary music teacher) and the Pine Island Elementary School Choir for opening the show along with the fine representation from the Mariner High School Jr. ROTC color guard. Artist Cliff Schultheis, The Matlacha Hookers, First Note Music, The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce, The Pine Island Eagle, Honc Demolition Septic and Grading, Classic Rock 94.5 FM, Fox 92.5 FM, The News-Press and Gulf Coasting Magazine, Tedd Lincoln and The Pine Island Real-estate Guide, Jim Griffith at the Nautical Mile Magazine, Happenings Magazine, Ft. Myers Magazine, Budweiser, Dan Cutting and North Trail RV, Mariner High School Girls Basketball team, Pine Island Community Church, Jason Szumlanski and Alternative Mobile Power Systems, Tom Czajkowski and Suntech Electrical Contractor’s Inc. of Cape Coral, Bert’s Bar and Grill, Miceli’s Restaurant, Leroy Selmans of Fort Myers for VIP catering, Doreen McCabe and Wink TV News, Fox 4 The Morning Blend along with our many food, art and craft vendors as well as all of you who attended this year’s blues festival. We would also like to give a special thanks to all the local businesses who supported this year’s annual Blues Guide Publication; without them this event would not have been as successful as it was. Please do us a favor and thank them whenever you get a chance or better yet we urge you to support their businesses. If by chance we failed to acknowledge your invaluable support during this year’s Blues Festival please accept our sincere apologies. For anyone wondering what we’re up to next just visit us at; www.MatlachaMariners.org. We hope to see everyone at our next two Mariner events, the Annual Mullet tossing championship Feb. 27, 2009 and the Annual Seafood Festival and car Show on March 27, 2010. www.MatlachaMariners.org

Jerry Tolliver

Matlacha Mariners