[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12614-12615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING MRS. ANN OLESKY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2004

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on June 13, 2004, the 
town of Immokalee, Florida lost one of its most admired and revered 
members of the community. At the age of 61, Mrs. Ann Olesky passed away 
nearly one week after undergoing major heart surgery. An avid 
environmentalist, Mrs. Olesky has been credited by many as the catalyst 
for the conception of the Lake Trafford restoration project.
  As part owner of the Lake Trafford Marina and Campground, Mrs. Olesky 
recognized the importance of maintaining and preserving South Florida's 
natural environmental habitat. Eight years ago, Mrs. Olesky realized 
that both the environment and the community would be best served if a 
large scale dredging and cleanup project were to be implemented at Lake 
Trafford. It was Mrs. Olesky's strong drive and commitment to Immokalee 
which ultimately drove her to embark on a grass roots campaign which 
culminated with the securing of funds for the project.
  In addition, Mrs. Olesky was well known through the community for her 
active role in civic and community life. During many Christmas 
celebrations, Mrs. Olesky could be seen taking part in Christmas Around 
the World, a

[[Page 12615]]

yearly educational program that seeks to educate young children about 
the environment. Through these programs, Mrs. Olesky played an active 
role in raising community wide awareness of the environmental 
challenges facing South Florida.
  Mrs. Ann Olesky will be forever remembered by the people of Immokalee 
for her great devotion and love for the people and community of 
Immokalee. While sadly, Mrs. Olesky will be unable to see the completed 
fruit of her eight years of labor, it is without question that her 
efforts will be remembered for many generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in expressing my deepest sense of 
condolence to the family of Mrs. Ann Olesky, as well as to the people 
of Immokalee. Mrs. Ann Olesky will be greatly missed.

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