Letters to the Editor
SSA service
To the Editor:
The SSA decisions on media and other customer service options are totally off-the-wall, as Tom Hodgson suggests in his letter in the June 11 edition. We recently had to travel to Boston by bus, but since we wanted to leave our car at Park and Ride in V.H., and since the SSA, in its wisdom, has decreed that the boats meeting the bus go out of Oak Bluffs, we had to take a boat that was almost two hours too early.
We were able to watch the Red Sox game on the boat, so thought that would be a good way to pass the time in Woods Hole too, but there, one of the only available TV stations was showing a half hour infomercial on colon cleansing. The staff there refused to change it - anything else would have been better - since they said they "never watch it anyway." No other business would survive with this kind of "customer service."
Margaret Chirgwin
Edgartown.
A great vet for Hooch
To the Editor:
At the end of April, in a state of extreme sadness, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Dr. Dave Tuminaro. As he approached my beloved boxer, Hooch, I as well as Hooch knew that we had found a great man/vet.
I had inherited Hooch after my mother passed away in 2005. He had been her sidekick, and she trained him with such devotion. Hooch won second place out of all the dogs at the Ag Fair, and I placed his ribbon in with mom's ashes, as it was her achievement, not my own. My boy Hooch, who everyone was amazed by with his loyalty, strength and extreme obedience, had come to the end of his life. Dr. Dave was gentle with understanding that Hooch was the last link to my mom in a sense. Dr. Dave went above and beyond what was asked of him, checking on Hooch and eventually ending his suffering, and he made sure that Hooch got home safely (his ashes) which are now with mom - his master. For all of this we will be forever grateful and blessed to have such an intelligent and caring vet here on M.V.
Lisa BenDavid
Oak Bluffs
Tribe details its accomplishments
To the Editor:
On June 10, the Natural Resources Department of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) was honored at the State House as a "Champion of Toxics Use Reduction" for our Lead-Free Vineyard Fishing project, which encouraged fishermen to adopt non-lead tackle. The tribe was proud to be honored, and the tribal council and I would like to thank our Island partners in the project.
The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, as well as all the participating tackle shops - Coop's, Dick's, Larry's, Captain Porky's, Shark's Landing, and Menemsha Texaco were integral to the success of this project.
The Wampanoag Tribe has been fishing the waters of Martha's Vineyard for thousands of years, and the lives and livelihoods of tribe members have long depended on the fish, shellfish, birds and animals the Island and the seas have provided. Recognizing the importance of the ocean environment, the tribe partnered with the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby to encourage fishermen to use lead-alternative products while fishing.
Lead is a potent toxin that can have health effects in children and adults, even in small doses. Wildlife, particularly waterfowl such as loons, but also marine mammals and fish, are frequently poisoned by the lead anglers lose while fishing. Experienced Island fishermen often report finding lead weights in the stomachs of the fish they catch. Anglers who mold their own weights are exposed to particularly high levels of lead.
The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby is one of the premier fishing contests on the East Coast, and last September, each of the roughly 2,500 Derby participants received a packet with information about the dangers of lead to human health and the environment. The packet also contained two lead-free weights for fishermen to use: a one-ounce steel weight, and a 2-3-ounce weight made from natural stone similar to the ones Wampanoag fishermen have been using for thousands of years. The tribe hopes to work with the Derby again this year on this issue, but it's everyone's responsibility to get the lead out of fishing. We encourage each person who wets a line to use easily available non-lead alternatives, especially when fishing with children.
The Derby project generated much positive discussion and interest among commercial and recreational fishermen and women, but this is not the only program the natural resources department administers to reduce lead exposure. The department works with tackle shops and charter captains to spread the word about lead in fishing tackle and also promotes lead-free fishing with tribe members and at events like the Kid's Trout Derby in May. In addition, the Wampanoag Environmental Laboratory maintains state and national certifications to analyze lead in water, soil, and paint. These resources are used to assist our membership and the community with health risks associated with lead exposure and hazards.
The Lead-Free Vineyard Fishing project is also just one of the tribe's many natural resources programs that improve the environment and environmental health of the tribe's membership and the Island as a whole. These programs have provided millions of dollars of environmental benefits to the Island. In recent years, the tribe has helped develop, print, and distribute 45,000 copies of the water-protection handbook, The Island Blue Pages, and had it translated into Portuguese for our Brazilian community; the tribe's bay scallop restoration project resulted in a tremendous increase in the Menemsha Pond scallop harvest for the last three years; the tribe has donated two ambulances with annual financial support to the town of Aquinnah; and the tribe maintains air and water quality monitoring programs which safeguard our watersheds and aquifer. Tribe conservation programs remove invasive weeds, improve water quality, and reduce waste.
The tribe and its natural resources department will continue to do our best to live lightly on the land and water, and we hope everyone who calls this Island home will join us.
Cheryl Andrews-Maltais
Chairman
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
A model for slowing down
To the Editor:
I did not know Chester Vincent, but I do know he gave me a great gift, one I try to use every day - to slow down and savor the world around me. How many of us, racing from pointless A to pointless B found ourselves stuck in a line of traffic, only to realize it was Chester leading the parade, and there was nothing we could do about it but slow down, relax, and enjoy the view. I don't know why he drove so slowly or why he had his name on the back of his car, yet his gift is one I believe we need to share.
Soon summer will be upon us. By August, a manic pace will consume our roads and fog our souls. To this, I propose the Chester C. Vincent Memorial Holiday on August 15. On that day, we can each lead our own parade at a few miles per hour below the speed limit, ignore the honking horns behind us, and share the gift. This year I dedicate the holiday to our younger drivers.
Mitch Gordon
West Tisbury
Off to a good start
To the Editor:
The Supportive Day Program thanks Ann and Frank Pellegrino and the staff at the Seafood Shanty.
We at the Supportive Day Program consider our annual luncheon at the Shanty the official start of our summer season. We are so appreciative of the generosity and hospitality of the Pellegrinos.
It was even more fun this year because the Windemere residents were guests on the same day, which gave us a chance to socialize with old friends.
The food was terrific, the staff was so kind and attentive, the view was spectacular, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you so much.
Wendy Bendetto
Supportive Day Program
Please return
To the Editor:
The Eastville Point Beach sign has recently disappeared; removed by the sign fairies no doubt. The beach committee would like to get it back, so we can place it on the new information kiosk that will be installed at the beach as soon as the weather clears. The sign can be returned, with no questions asked, to the county offices at the airport.
David Nash
Eastville Point Beach Committee
Edgartown
Speak from the heart
To the Editor:
I want you to know how grateful I am that you bring to the Vineyard editorial honesty. I noted that someone wrote that I should move back to the Island and get involved in politics. Thus, I am writing to you to thank you for your paper and for allowing me to write occasionally.
The Island shall always hold a special place in my heart. Phyllis is buried
there, but perhaps "observer " [a Comment poster on mvtimes.com] is right, and I shall no longer write to the paper. I always spoke from my heart when I lived there, and I have continued to do so. And I always put my name on what I wrote. I shall refrain from writing, but shall continue to read your paper online. I am in the last stages of my life on earth. I want you to know how much I appreciate you, your paper, and the Vineyard. Thank you.
Peter Sanborn
Melbourne, Florida
Three days in touch
To the Editor:
Thanks to the Camp Ground Association in Oak Bluffs for allowing the In Touch ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley to use the historic Tabernacle for Inspiration Weekend. More than 2,500 people participated in this three-day event. I hope the Tabernacle and this Island can host other events that have the quality and depth as Inspiration Weekend. Dr. Charles Stanley was compelling and articulate as he shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Fifth Dimension (Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo) took us back to the 1960s. The Annie Moses Band from Nashville inspired us with their classical jazz. Squire Rushnell and Louise Duarte made us laugh as Squire shared his God Winks stories, and Louise did a masterful job imitating Cher. I trust the quality of this weekend can be repeated in the future.
Jeff Winter
Oak Bluffs
A birthday celebration
To the Editor:
A celebration recently held in the Camp Grounds in Oak Bluffs celebrated the 75th birthday of Earle Engley. It was an evening party, held in the candlelit garden of the Engley cottage, "As Time Goes By," with many surprises for Mr. Engley.
Twenty-five guests gathered, and the rest arrived by land, sea, and air.
Mr. Engley's entire family - children, and great-grandchildren - came marching into the party singing "Happy Birthday."
They came from: Atlanta, Orlando, Deltona, Florida, Phoenix, Boston and Rhode Island.
This family has not been together in 20 years.
Isabel Caldwell, John Crowley and Glen Caldwell planned the event, and Mr. Caldwell, manager of the Offshore Ale Company in Oak Bluffs, catered the party.
Everyone had a very happy time.
Isabel Engley
Oak Bluffs
All in discrimination
To the Editor:
Since the Obama administration and the federal government continue to support and uphold the discriminatory federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws and provides that states need not recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex, then perhaps it is time that all states refuse to honor any marriages performed outside of their own jurisdictions.
That is, why should Massachusetts honor all marriages performed in Florida, when Florida refuses to honor all marriages performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? Perhaps married couples, who choose to relocate to another state, should simply apply for and purchase another marriage license.
Reciprocity is not a one-way street even though many people in our nation would like it to be. Indeed, let every state in the union participate equally in discrimination.
Bryan Freehling
Edgartown
