To the Editor:

As a longtime citizen of Boykins, I would like to express appreciation to Mike McManus. who brought to this town his enthusiasm and a desire to improve much of this town.

He first did a magnificent job of restoring for his family a fire-gutted Victorian home to its original beauty.

Singlehandedly, with his boundless talent, skill and energy, he has completely restored one of the abandoned and decaying grocery stores into a first-class ice cream, coffee and sandwich shop. In this, he has established a reading area with books and magazines, as well as free Internet connection for interested customers.

Mike was one of the original initiators of The Boykins Initiative group that meets monthly to discuss and find ways to improve the community. Much progress has been made and is in the planning stage. He is a tremendous asset to our community.

Shirley Bryant

Boykins