Not since Gerry Bruckart has someone cared as much about progress in Port Orchard as Delilah Rene.

Gerry’s goals were to fill the vacant storefronts, many of which were owned by her and her brother, Gordon Howe.

She spent much of her own money to transform Port Orchard into an Antique store destination.

Delilah, according to reports, has gone a step further by making the town attractive to visitors.

Efforts by both women make Port Orchard a better place for business owners and tourists alike.

As for the Marina, Margaret Morgan Atkinson, former Port of Bremerton commissioner, pushed to make this boat harbor a reality, one that draws people from all over the Puget Sound area and beyond.

Then along came Mary Ann Huntington, a more recent port commissioner, who successfully established a more-pleasing approach to Port Orchard by boat with her drive to establish a landscaped green belt.

Then our own local best-selling author, Debbie Macomber, wrote about our town in her latest novels, calling it Cedar Cove.

And most of you know that it was a committee, composed mostly of women, who did even more to put our town on the map last year creating an annual festival called Cedar Cove Days.

Of course, there were also a few guys who went along with ideas the women had, much like husbands agree with their wives bent on making changes, just to keep the peace.

So thanks also to Lary Coppola and the city council and downtown merchants for their support.

However it happens, women like Delilah should be praised for their efforts.

ROSIE ATKINSON

Port Orchard