County Commissioners declare Feb. 19 as Phil Buchanan Day
During a special ceremony, island resident watchdog Phil Buchanan received several forms of recognition. During the Thursday morning meeting of the Pine Island Garden Club, Buchanan was granted an honorary membership to the club.
“Phil has given so much of his time and talent to protect and preserve this island and is so deserving of this honor,” said Garden Club member Margie Vanderkuik. “This recognition is long overdue as if it were not for his efforts, I can only imagine what Pine Island would look like today.”
Present at the meeting was County Commissioner Bob Janes, who read a proclamation declaring Feb. 19 Phil Buchanan Day.
“The real credit goes to the people of Pine Island who strongly supported the visions and goals of the Calusa Land Trust and the Greater Pine Island Civic Association,” Buchanan said. “If you have the backing of the people, you can get anything done.”
During his address to the Garden Club membership and guests, Buchanan shared his vision of the future of the island.
“The future, as I see it 50 years from now, the island will be smaller, but I feel it will look much the same as it does today thanks to the Pine Island Plan,” he said. “The Pine Island Plan doesn’t mean no growth, but rather smart growth and I feel sure that it will maintain the same look and feel thanks to the people of Pine Island.”
During the ceremony, Buchanan also was presented a special letter from the governor’s office. It reads:
“Dear Dr. Buchanan,
“It is a pleasure to recognize you for your dedication to protecting the natural beauty and integrity of Greater Pine Island, Florida. I understand that you are only the fifth person to be named honorary Pine Island Garden Club member in the 34 years of the Garden Club’s existence.
“The importance of conserving our resources and looking for ways to preserve and protect our natural environment cannot be overemphasized. Protecting Florida’s unique ecosystem is key to making Florida a beautiful place to live and to visit. Your contributions to this effort are greatly appreciated.
“Best wishes for success in your future endeavors.”
Sincerely,
Charlie Crist