Letters to the Editor
GB Optimist Club prepares for annual fundraiser

As the time for the Optimist Club's Annual Ball arrives, I want to share their invitation with you, to celebrate with the Optimist Club the annual Beach Ball fundraiser, and help to support our children. The Optimist Club works all year long defining and building the programs for the children of our area, not to mention how much they do for our community. Please take time to attend the Ball--at the Beautiful Hilton Hotel on the Beach--and enjoy an event that will do so much!

We'd also like to invite you to share this event with all your friends and associates who love to have a great time, and believe that we can make a difference in the lives of our children, and in their future. The Optimist Club focuses on the children of our community, their members support many other charitable organizations, and needs our support for their big event! Please help if you can, and come to the Ball.

Thanks for all you do for our community!

Pandora de Balthazar

Pensacola Beach

Make room for locals

The Pensacola area is officially overrun. There's not enough room for the locals whenever the weather warms up and all the tourists come to town. Just this past weekend I wanted to go to the beach to relax and do some fishing. Fat chance! The roads were clogged and the parking lots were full. Everywhere I turned I saw cars speeding, people littering and what looked like some underage drinking. As the people who live here, how far do we let it go? How lax should we be with law enforcement and how encouraging should we be to outsiders?

I tried to go fishing off the Bob Sikes fishing pier, but there were no parking spots in the large parking lot nearest the bridge. The pier was cramped with visitors and trash was lying all about. I had to walk three quarters of a mile to get to the bridge from where I parked. What a shame!

Billy Parker

Gulf Breeze Summer cures the blues

I sure am glad to see the warm weather finally coming around! The sun is shining, the tourists are out and it's almost like a preview of summer. I want nothing more than to spend my spare time laying in the sugar white sands, soaking up some sun. Enjoy it while it's nice Gulf Breeze!

This is the kind of weather that reminds me while I live here. One time I heard someone describe this area as a place where thousands live like millions wish they could. This is so true! When I lived in Chicago, I spent big money every year to come to a place that is as nice as what we have here in our very own backyards!

Sarah Greene Pensacola Beach