Letters to the Editor
Published: July 8, 2010
Wonderful celebration
To the Editor:
The Memorial Day Picnic Committee would like to thank the nearly 400 people who joined us at the Tisbury Waterworks for another wonderful Memorial Day celebration this year. Thanks to the Water Works Department and DPW staff for their work in getting the site ready for the picnic.
Thanks to Deb at Celebrations for the tent to shade our volunteer grillers, ice-cream scoopers, and watermelon slicers. Thanks to Jim Pringle and David Ferraguzzi, who scooped out and served 15 gallons of ice cream cones, and to Marilyn Wortman, our resident "Chef Supervisor." Thanks to the students from the Tisbury School who helped wherever needed as part of their civics program of community service. Thanks to Sara at Cronig's for hot dogs and rolls, to Sam at Stop & Shop for watermelons.
Thanks to the Toy Box for game prizes, to the individuals who provided us with boats for boat riding on the pond, to Ollie for giving lots of little kids great pony rides. Thanks to the Vineyard Playhouse for providing a "facility," to Island Cove Mini Golf for ice cream cones, and to the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help with the games, and boats and rides and music and food.
And finally, thanks to Hannah Marlin who sang the Star Spangled Banner with great feeling and pride, to remind us all why we celebrate this day. What a terrific way to start another summer on Martha's Vineyard.
Lorraine Wells
Chairman
Town Picnic
Tisbury
Pilots can help hold the noise down
To the Editor:
As we sat outside enjoying the cooling night breezes, conversation was continually brought to a halt by the steady procession of private planes and jets overhead. The pilots could do a lot to avoid annoying thousands of Islanders, if they simply flew out over the water and avoided flying over the Island. This simple step would improve the quality of life for us all at very little cost.
On the safety side, a crash on the land could potentially be far more harmful to innocent islanders than one over water. I am not suggesting a law to address this, because pilots appear to be courteous and considerate in the main. Maybe if we just spread the word, we can count on their decency.
Pilots — it really can be annoying, please help us enjoy the peace of this beautiful Island.
Todd Follansbee
West Tisbury
Democracy as corporations see it
To the Editor:
Many saw it coming, mostly political philosophers and writers that saw the intrinsic values of democracy slowly being dismantled by the corporations. The American citizen voter embraces the idea that all change was a form of progress; little did they notice that democracy would change it's character.
According to Sheldon S. Wolin, who wrote "Democracy Incorporated," imperialism and democracy are incompatible and despite his warnings about the subversion and undermining of democratic institutions and the emergence of a corporate state, "To question the ideology of the free market became, even among the liberal elite, a form of heresy."
The extreme movements have the front stage, as to the real problem President Obama has to contend with. Not only has he inherited many years of bad business from the imperial G.W. Bush, he inherited a system of constraints that make it difficult to take on these major power configurations. The tip of the iceberg will be the catch phrase for those who know better of the situation, but I doubt anyone will blame the right group that put the ostrich with it's head in the sand.
Fred Thornbrugh
Vineyard Haven
Town counsel gives thanks
To the Editor:
This letter was sent to District Attorney Michael D. O'Keefe.
As you are well aware, the legislature has chosen to shift responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law (G.L.C. 38, § 23B) from the District Attorney's Offices to the Attorney General's Office, effective July 1, 2010. I am town counsel to five towns on Martha's Vineyard and the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission and, over the years, have had numerous occasions to consult with your office on a multitude of questions about the Open Meeting Law.
I wish to express my special thanks to Michael A. Trudeau and Thomas 0. Shack 3rd, who have invariably provided me with prompt, concise, and invaluable guidance. In particular, both have helped me, whenever I called, with formulating advice that balanced the public's right to know with the need for local boards to discuss matters in executive session.
On behalf of myself and the governmental entities which I represent, I wish to express my gratitude for the assistance I have received from your office over the years.
Ronald H. Rappaport
Edgartown
A hospital 'layoff' disputes decision
To the Editor:
My name is Christopher Knowles. I am one of Tim Walsh's "one or two layoffs." I was hired on July 7, 2005. My employment was terminated at 4 pm, on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, with no notice or cause even though they, as a nonprofit organization, had made a profit in the most recent fiscal year. At the time I was hired, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had rejected the hospital's application to build a new hospital because their community benefits plan did not address the needs of the community but, rather, had the hospital paying itself $2 million for doing what it was already required to do. After the approval of the application I wrote, the hospital paid itself $1 million of the $2 million it was required to spend on local community health initiatives. After I rewrote it, the hospital was granted permission to build the new hospital by the state.
Over the past five years the value of the grants I wrote were worth more than my salary and benefits combined.
The federal law requires federal contractors (Medicare, the Department of Energy, etc.) to hire, promote and retain Vietnam era veterans. I served in the Vietnam War from 1970 until 1974. The feds have been put on notice, so the hospital will be answering to the federal government, as will their owner, Massachusetts General Hospital. The denial of federal grants will attach not only to Martha's Vineyard Hospital but to both Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Health Care.
If the hospital wants to make this right, I am willing to listen.
Christopher Knowles
Vineyard Haven
Help reduce speed on Franklin Street
To the Editor:
This is an open letter to all those concerned with traffic safety on Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven.
I would like to begin a fundraising effort in the mount of $4,000 to buy a mobile radar device that would be dedicated to Franklin Street on a seasonal basis.
This proposal is in response to my inability to get the speed limit reduced on Franklin Street.
I am interested to hear from interested persons, persons with fundraising skills, grant writers, and all other helpful parties or organizations. The Tisbury selectmen and the police chief are aware of my effort and express interest in my proposal.
Ed Schulman
Vineyard Haven
Unforgettable
To the Editor:
Thank you to our Vineyard friends for joining us in the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary, which we celebrated on June 6, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, Vineyard Haven. Many of you attended both the reaffirmation of our vow ceremony and the reception that followed. This really made our day.
We did request no gifts, but we thank you for your many cards, good wishes, and for the lovely flowers. We are especially grateful to you for your donations to the First Baptist Church building fund, the NAACP Scholarship Fund, and other charitable donations in our honor. It was so nice too that many of our friends from all over the Island took the time to share this day with us. We are humbled by your generosity and thoughtfulness and we shall always remember this day.
Melvin D. and Neva D. Thornhill
Vineyard Haven
Disaster to follow
To the Editor:
Congratulations to James Kennedy Jr., regarding his Letter to the Editor, June 24 ("True American Spirit"). I doubt if I could expressed his sentiment more eloquently, though I could add a few more disturbing facts.
We have been following an economic path that can only lead to an eventual disastrous conclusion.
I believe I can hear a distant rumbling, not too far away. As Glenn Beck would say, from time to time: "I hope I'm wrong."
Norman Reed
Oak Bluffs
Bad treatment
To the Editor:
This is a copy of a letter to the Oak Bluffs selectmen.
As a taxpayer in Oak Bluffs, I write concerning another episode in the rude behavior history of health agent Shirley Fauteux and an encounter with her at the first morning of children's camp at the Featherstone. While certainly not the first unpleasant encounter I've had with Ms. Fauteux over the years, it is the first time her nasty attitude, curt tone, and thoroughly unfriendly behavior reached my three-year-old son.
Upon entering the camper's room, she greeted parents with the attitude that our children were about to be processed into a state prison, rather than a day camp on the Island. After ripping the sign-in sheet out from under me, she first demanded to know who he (my son) was and where were his shot records. After a review of the records that afforded him entry into pre-school in Vineyard Haven last winter, as well as summer programs and a day camp in Edgartown last week, I was told a particular shot record on physician's stationery was not acceptable. She then proclaimed that my son could not stay. I told her how unfriendly she was acting and left.
In the parking lot, I was approached by another couple from Connecticut who had tried to enroll their child in the same program and received the same treatment from Ms. Fauteux. They were almost speechless and equally appalled at Ms. Fauteux's behavior.
It's almost unbelievable the selectmen of Oak Bluffs continue to allow an employee and a representative of their town to rack up so many complaints over the years without repercussions. I'm quite sure this too will end up in what can only be imagined as a very big pile of complaint letters under her desk.
I have zero problems with Shirley Fauteux doing her job, even when that means my kid doesn't get into camp without the proper records. However, it's about time selectman put some weight on how she does her job in a destination that prides itself and depends upon a reputation as a friendly and special place for children and families. In this case, she failed as a health agent, she failed as a representative of Oak Bluffs, and she failed miserably to even try to be a decent person.
Jonathan Laird
Edgartown
Thanks to Camp Jabberwocky for what it does
To the Editor:
I received this email from my sister, Sharon O'Connor, recounting her trip to pick up a friend at the ferry boat dock. My family has been vacationing on the Island for many years, and have a summer cottage. Every time I go to the Island, I see and hear about special people and events/activities that keep me coming back.
Today, Sharon's note took me to a new level of being proud to call Martha's Vineyard my family vacation spot. You people rock. You'll be hearing from me this summer.
Here is her email:
Bob, When Lily and I arrive at the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority to pick up Tracy off the 10:45 am ferry, we notice there is an unusual crowd gathering at the base of the dock. College-age kids are dressed in pirate, southern belle, and superman costumes carrying parasols, stuffed parrots, and drums. As the ferry pulls into the dock, this group bursts into song, welcoming in the ferry.
"Hooray, you are finally here! We have missed you so much!"
Then, to our surprise, there is a group leaning over the railing at the front of the boat that sings back to them "We have waited all year and now we are here!"
The ferry lands, and there is a great loud cheer from both groups "We love you! Hurray! Summer is here!" It is at this point, I notice the wheelchairs. At the front railing of the boat, there are about 20 wheelchairs with retarded, severely disabled adults and their caretakers. The singers on the boat were the Camp Jabberwocky campers and their caretakers. The crazy kids on the dock were the camp counselors, singing them in. They were singing songs from last year's musical. The campers and counselors put on a self-styled, hilarious, amazing musical for the Island that is sold out each year.
I burst into tears.
Tracy's uncle Dick has cerebral palsy and was one of those in a wheelchair on the boat (with her) coming for his two weeks at Camp Jabberwocky. He was on a 20-year waiting list, and at age 45 finally made it. There is also a waiting list to be a counselor, because this camp is actually a slice of heaven on earth, and counselors come year after year, after college when they have their first jobs, second jobs, even when they are married and have kids of their own.
The Island loves this camp. Businesses donate food and services, private citizens donate their homes and hold huge cookouts for them. The town of Oak Bluffs sets aside a huge section of beach just for the campers. It is the most breathtaking display of kindness and goodwill.
I love this Island
Bob O'Connor
Cambridge
Trees gone, but the view remains impaired
To the Editor:
Now that the Tisbury town fathers have opened up the view at Lake Tashmoo from the State Road overlook, perhaps now they can concentrate on removing the tall weeds by the roadside that obstruct that lovely view they worked so hard to get for us.
Olga Hirshhorn
Vineyard Haven
