Largest Mango Title Safe for Another Year

. The World’s largest Mango is one of the titles the Islands many growers tried to achieve. But no one
was able to equal Pine Islander Mr. John Painter, however. (Shown here with his sons and with Agent Steven Brown of the Lee County Horticulture Service holding this year's winning mango of 3 lbs 8oz) He is a world famous mango man. Painter’s feat is growing a 4lb 4oz mango which holds the Guinness Book of World records as the largest Mango ever grown. He’s held the record for three years .

--Age 68, better known to his many his friends as Al who passed away suddenly June 18, 2002, at his home in St James City. President of The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce 1997-1999; acting Vice President in 2000; MangoMania chairman for 1997 & 1999; MangoMania co-chairman for 2000 and 2001; and hard working committee member for this year's MangoMania 2002.
--He was born October 3, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, one of six sons of Archie               
  (Continued on page 3)

Pine Island Looses One of its Best!

John (Jack) Finnearty, 78, born May 24, 1924, died May 15, 2002.
He will be missed by many. Jack (pictured here at a chamber function) was born in Indiana and raised in Gary, Indiana. Until retiring in 1980 he had worked for US Steel for 34 years. After he and wife, Dottie, retired to Pine Island, he found he needed something to do with the extra time. In 1990 he and Dottie volunteered as ambassadors for the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce. They were co-chairmen of the ambassadors program and worked very close with Chamber officers and other volunteers.

Pine Island Little League Requests More Fields
(Continued from page 2)

need to do all we can to protect it." The county is looking for other properties close to the existing baseball fields. They found a few parcels located by the Pine Island Elementary School and road front to Pine Island Road, another being behind Pork Bellies Restaurant just south of the center on Stringfellow Road. Both properties would be suitable for the park but cost may be the problem. In the year 2003 there will be a total of $400.000 in the 20/20 account that could be used to purchase the property but if this is apent there will not be monies to improve the lands. Funding can come from Impact fees, outside sources like grants and other private money. The community may have to have fundraiser to help collect funds to improve the property. The County proposed to add not one park but a total of three. The orginal baseball fields located at Philips Park would become a beautiful "Village Green". The second park would be by Pine Island Elementary School and this would be where four new up-to-date baseball fields would be with lighted basketball courts, hocky field and possibly in the distant future, a band stand. Speaking to Commissioner Bob Janes, Andre Mule said, "I'm not sure why you are moving the existing ball fields. They seem to do what they were intented to do. The reason the park issue came up was because I met with the county to discuss putting in a ampitheater for things like music on Pine Island and the Blues Fest." It was stated that the additional ball fields were suppose to be built 12 years ago and that the fields are the first thing that will be placed on the new property where ever it ends up. County representatives admit Pine Island has always had substandard fields as compared with others in the county and with the growth planned over the next few years now is the time to plan for the future. At least purchase the property before the property price goes up any more. The "third" park, as the county calls it which is actually the first consideration, would be on the 40 acres already owned by the county. This is the protected wet lands next to the Nestings at the center. This area would be used as nature trails since no heavy construction would be needed keeping the property in its natural condition. This pleased everyone who attended the meeting. The county is still looking at other parcels of property on Pine Island they are trying to keep the locations of land in the center of the island to create a walk way from one park to the other. Another meeting will be scheduled for the near future to discuess nagoations with property owners.