Letters to the Editor
Above and beyond
To the Editor:
Recently, my husband was airlifted from the Martha's Vineyard Hospital to the Boston Medical Center for emergency treatment, and there are many people we would like to thank.
Dr. Beland, Mike Spero, Cyndie Taylor, and Lisa Tilton offered immediate attention and swift results with their gentle and compassionate care.
The Medivac unit and the Oak Bluffs ambulance team thankfully kept us well informed and successfully diminished the accompanying stress and anxiety that both of us were experiencing at that time.
When I neglected to request an excursion fare at the Steamship Authority office and needed an immediate reservation, Kathleen Parsons and Kathy Cimeno remained patient and helpful, allowing me to make the necessary changes in a timely fashion.
All these people went above and beyond to offer the assurances we so desperately needed, and we are very grateful to these dedicated professionals who make this Island a very special place.
Diane and Bob Edwards
Edgartown
A matter of scale - perhaps
To the Editor:
In concluding your essay [At Large, "The non-renewables", July 9, 2009], you ask, "Is the fractional contribution of [national] electrical power from renewables worth the predation in our coastal waters?" But you are asking us to equate community cost with national benefit. I suggest you ask instead, "Is getting half your own electrical power at a significantly lower and more stable cost from renewables worth the predation in our coastal waters?"
Your readers may still answer no, but at least we are talking apples to apples . . . in scale terms.
Paul F. Pimentel
Edgartown
Paul F. Pimentel is chairman of the Vineyard Energy Project.
Superb acting job
To the Editor:
You gave "Fly" a fine review. Your reviewer, however, neglected to mention the superb job done by the actor who played the part of the bad guy - the villain of the play - the captain assigned to train the Tuskegee airmen. I believe it is Joe Forbrich.
Barbara Lipke
Chilmark
The way to go
To the Editor:
The Oak Bluffs selectmen thank M.V. Pedicabs from Oak Bluffs for giving us such a pleasant ride in the parade on the Fourth of July. I can't think of a better way to participate in the parade, and I hope many people get to experience the quiet comfort of a ride with them. Not only do they promote green travel (free), but they donate a substantial amount of their tips to fund cancer research. Our two providers of locomotion, John and Kevin, must make their mothers quite proud.
Greg Coogan
Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Oak Bluffs
Such a success
To the Editor:
To the Pet Owners and Friends of Pets on Martha's Vineyard:
On behalf of the directors and staff of the Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard, we would like to thank the many people who made our Saturday, June 27, Celebration of Pets such a success. From horses, cats, rabbits, parrots, and many, many dogs, Island pets were well represented.
Many people stopped by to visit with their pets as well as give their time and encouragement. We would like to thank the town of Oak Bluffs for the use of Sunset Lake Park, Plum TV for filming the event, Father Nagle of the Good Shepherd Parish for his Blessing of the Animals, Karen Ogden for her Rally Obedience demonstration, Sue Davis Shaw for her AKC Canine Good Citizen certifications (nine dogs got their certificates), Kerry Scott and Good Dog Goods for the donation of a gift basket and organic dog biscuits, Edgartown Pizza and Treat Yourself for gift certificates, Edgartown Cinemas for movie passes, Stop and Shop for their donation of food, the anonymous ladies who donated the plant for the pet supplies, Above Ground records for the T-shirt. We also thank Chilmark Spring Water, all of the volunteers who gave their time and effort, Lisa Hayes, the Animal Shelter Manager, and Martina Thorton and Russell Smith of the Dukes County Commissioners office, our partners in the Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard.
Thank you everyone for your help in making our official opening day celebrations a success.
We look forward to seeing you all again at our next event!
Greg Orcutt
For the Directors
Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown
Community dedication
To the Editor,
A thanks from the Daybreak Clubhouse to Paul Bangs, the Ralph M. Packer Co., and Charlie Blair, Edgartown harbormaster, for their generous hosting of clubhouse members and staff on July 4. Paul Bangs captained the tug, Sirius, with Daybreak folks on board for front row seats to the Edgartown fireworks. The tug is owned by the Ralph M. Packer Co. And Charlie Blair made the Edgartown wharf available for pick up and drop off. The community dedication by these folks is exemplary and appreciated. Thank you.
Jonathan Burke
Daybreak Clubhouse Members and Staff
Tisbury
Let us hope
To the Editor:
A large majority of Vineyarders voted for Barack Obama in November. They hope, as do I, that this Democratic administration will pursue well-conceived, sensible policies that prove beneficial to our society.
But what does the state of the nation look like, when seen through the eyes of roughly 25 percent of voters who make up the hard-core right wing of the Republican Party?
Tune your dial to Fox Radio, AM 680, to find out.
Since I am interested in the political scene, and since there has been virtually no popular music on the radio since the 1940s that I care to listen to, I often listen to AM 680 when driving. It gives you a full day's menu of right wing talk: Laura Ingraham from 9 to noon, Rush Limbaugh from noon to 3, Howie Carr from 3 to 7.
The 800-pound gorilla of this trio is, of course, Limbaugh. In recent weeks, Limbaugh has surprised me. I had assumed his feeling of hostility and revulsion toward Obama would be about the same as his feelings toward Bill Clinton, during his presidency. But I cannot recall his attacking Clinton with such emotional intensity, or with such extreme, apocalyptic language, as he displays in his vilification of Obama. As portrayed by Limbaugh, Obama is a power-lusting egomaniac who is hell bent upon destroying our economy, our health care system, and indeed America as we know it.
Listening to Limbaugh, I understand why many people are uneasy over the possible impact the unending stream of right wing high decibel invective might have on the borderline psychos among us. With millions of Ditto-heads fawning on Rush's every word, let us hope that no one of them becomes so unhinged that he concludes Obama is a menace so monstrous that he must be stopped at any cost.
R.E.L. Knight
West Tisbury
Recognition deserved
To the Editor:
I am writing to confess a sin of omission. Last week we distributed our summer newsletter in your paper. The newsletter described the effects of the recession on the Vineyard and highlighted non-profits that have gone the extra mile to help the community get through this crisis.
One effect of the recession was the Oak Bluffs school closing for the summer due to budget cuts, and this meant the YMCA camp lost its venue and had to close for this summer. Many working Vineyard families count on low cost camps like the Y and the Boys & Girls Club as affordable childcare while working long summer hours. Many of the 90 affected families turned to more expensive camps looking for scholarship money, which there wasn't enough of, so the newsletter appealed for donations for camp scholarships.
Due to space limitations I did not salute the Boys and Girls Club for the great things they did to compensate for the closing of the Y camp and by this omission, I now realize, gave the impression they did nothing. The Boys & Girls Club added space for 10 more campers and, being sensitive to the needs of working families, expanded the length of the camp day by 45 minutes (to 9.75 hours if parents opt for both the early bird drop-off and late pick-up). Finally, realizing that many families have less his year, they are providing more than $20,000 of financial aid, a significant increase, and 60 of the 139 kids enrolled are receiving aid. Qualifying families can pay as little as $96 a week.
They deserve recognition for their efforts and we're glad to give it!
Peter Temple
Executive Director
Martha's Vineyard Donors Collaborative
For two-wheel enthusiasts
To the Editor:
To Vineyarders and Vineyard visitors:
With the onset of summer comes the release of bicycling enthusiasm. As this coincides with the increase in motor vehicles on the roadways, it is all the more important for cyclists and motorists to understand the rules of the road, be patient and to travel safely.
A starting point concerns the shared use paths, a.k.a. bike paths. These paths extend along several main roads, and present an alternative to cyclists who would rather not ride in roadways. But even where these paths exist, bicyclists retain the legal right to ride in the roadway. Pedestrians, slow-moving cyclists and debris on the paths may make staying on the road preferable, especially for speedier cyclists.
When in the roadway, cyclists have the right to be in the travel lane used by cars. Some cyclists may choose to keep to the shoulder, but debris and variable shoulder width often make it safer to stay consistently in the travel lane.
Here are a few additional reminders for safe bicycling and driving on Martha's Vineyard.
For cyclists: Always ride with traffic. It is against the law to ride the wrong way on a one-way street. By law, cyclists must ride on the right side of the travel lane, or in the shoulder, unless positioning to turn left. Ride single file to allow motorists (and faster cyclists) to safely pass.
When using the shared use paths, use caution and be alert for vehicles crossing the path from side roads and driveways. Stay to the right. Remember that pedestrians have the right of way, and give them an audible warning when passing. (Say "Bike passing," or "On your left"). Also, pull off of the path when pausing, so as not to obstruct the path.
Riding on sidewalks IS permissible, except in downtown areas. Again, yield to pedestrians and do not block others from using the sidewalk.
Protect yourself. Although Massachusetts law requires riders 16 and under to wear a helmet, all riders should. It's also the law that you have proper lights and reflectors when riding after dark. Bicycling with headphones or "ear buds" is strongly discouraged.
For motorists: When crossing a shared use path - whether exiting a driveway or turning off a main road - remember that cyclists and pedestrians always have the right of way. (The stop signs for bikes at some path intersections are cautionary and will be phased out by the towns.)
When passing cyclists on the roadway, please do so cautiously and courteously. Allow plenty of room, and pass only when you are sure there are no oncoming vehicles. Never frighten cyclists by honking your car horn. They can hear you coming without it.
Remember that bicycling is beneficial. For every adult who is biking, there is one less car on the road, and/or one less car hunting for a parking space. Bicycling is also healthier, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly than driving.
For more information on bike safety, biking to work or school, or bicycle laws, visit www.massbike.org. Vineyard bike shops can also provide you with information, as well as helmets, lights, and other gear.
For information on how to get involved with bicycle and pedestrian issues on the Vineyard, or for other cycling-related information, call or e-mail Senior Planner Bill Veno at 693-3453, ext. 15 (veno@mvcommission.org).
Safety first.
Bill Veno
For the Martha's Vineyard Commission's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Advisory Committee
