Letters to the Editor
Published: September 10, 2009
So much help
To the Editor:
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all Martha's Vineyard sub-contractors, vendors, and neighbors of The Blue Heron Farm, who, without a second thought, made themselves available 24/7, graciously endured all the security demands and, without being asked, quietly put forward an extra effort to make The Obamas' vacation a great success. You made our job easy, and we thank you.
Kathy Holliday and Jeff Carlson
Property Managers
Blue Heron Farm
Of summer
To the Editor:
Some random thoughts after the summer:
If cyclists want me to share the road, I expect them to stop at the stop signs.
Who put the two bottles of Corona beer on the cross on West Tisbury-Edgartown Road? That was a horribly tasteless act.
If you enjoy your so-called rural lifestyle, you will experience Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter flyovers, just like every rural place in America. Your view may be that marijuana is harmless, but it is illegal. How many crack and meth addicts do you think started their drug experimentation by smoking pot?
Heather Klinck
West Tisbury and Union Springs, Ala.
History-making visit; make one yourself.
To the Editor:
In the 153-year-old history of the building, Barack Obama is the first president to visit the Gay Head Light in Aquinnah. But the light has attracted presidential interest before. Keeper Joan LeLacheur was able to show President Obama a letter in the Martha's Vineyard Museum's brochure from President John Adams. He wrote about technical concerns regarding the first Gay Head Light, 210 years ago, in 1799.
The cliff-top, westernmost campus of the Museum is certainly a dramatic setting befitting a presidential visit - something the Obama children enjoyed as well. Malia's comment in the guest book reads, "This lighthouse is amazing!!" Joan was able to explain some of the history of the light, going back to the 18th century request by Nantucket whalemen for a light to warn of the rocks off the Gay Head cliffs.
Usually only open for sunset tours on the weekends, the Obamas and their friends had a pristine clear sunny midday visit after their Lobsterville bike ride, and were, "very relaxed," according to Joan. In the guest book, just before leaving the building, like many before him, President Obama wrote, "Thanks for the wonderful view!"
If you'd like to see that view as well, we're open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, one and one-half hours before sunset until a half-hour following sunset-- currently 5:45-7:45 pm - until Sunday, September 20th. It's $5 for adults. Children, under 12, are free. The money raised from tours and other functions, such as weddings, goes right back into preserving the light.
The Obamas, of course, didn't pay to visit, but then, it is federal property, maintained by Joan and me for the Martha's Vineyard Museum, so that the historic light and the fabulous view can be shared by all. If you visit, you may meet Ellie Ketcham, Genie and Paul O'Donnell, or David and Clare Kane who, along with us, are sunset tour guides.
Richard C. Skidmore
Joan LeLacheur
Keepers Gay Head Light in Aquinnah
For the Martha's Vineyard Museum
Let the voters decide
To the Editor:
No, no, no, to changing the "Kennedy" law.
What do we tell our children and grandchildren?
"Well, that's politics."
And then you wonder why the voting percentage in the U.S. is among the lowest in the world.
"We the people" of Massachusetts will pick who represents us.
Carpetbaggers, especially Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, need not apply.
Jozef and Sheila Sliwkowski
Chappaquiddick
Kayaks okay at Little Bridge?
To the Editor:
Residents of Oak Bluffs, please take a ride to the Little Bridge, especially on the weekend, and observe firsthand the chaos and disruption of our fragile pond area.
Who issued a license to the kayak rental business, if there was one issued? And why? Do we really need that business in that small area?
It would appear that the personable owner just decided to set up shop one day. She didn't ask questions, and neither did anyone else. On the plus side, the kayak business might bring in some money to the Friends of Sengekontacket, with the annual kayak races. But, at what cost to the pond area? There are dozens of people climbing up and down the pond side area at one time, kayaks in tow. While it is a perfect spot for family kayaking, boating, etc., why was a business just allowed to completely take over the area with no regard of the impact on this fragile area, during the very same time that there is an issue with bacteria conditions at the site? What happened to cleaning the pond so that we can all enjoy clamming again? When all is said and done, it's sad to think that it's back-door politics as usual in Oak Bluffs.
Maureen Wright
Oak Bluffs
No-stop cycling
To the Editor:
To all you bicyclists: I'm a walker and have yet to see one stop for a stop sign or for me in a crosswalk. Are you wrong, or are you just above the law?
Shannon Allen
Oak Bluffs
Sea gull predators
To the Editor:
Thank you, David Nash, who responded to my letter on Eastville Beach, and the plovers, the fences, and garbage. I am most grateful for your comprehensive and thoughtful explanation done soberly and without invective. My only thought is that I have been told by various on-site sources that the plover hatchlings are consistently snatched and eaten by sea gulls, and I wonder if this nesting zone is done for. I would support a ''carry in and carry out'' sign and would be happy to pay for one. Thanks again.
Andrew Engelman
Vineyard Haven
Love, not fear on page one
To the Editor:
I am getting a little frustrated with The Martha's Vineyard Times this year, as it seems to have taken a turn similar to that of the major mainstream media outlets by printing a lot of fear-based news. For example, a picture of our own "swat" team on the cover one week. I realize that this is not the actual name of the group, but I would not read the article even though a family member was in the photo. I think it is in poor taste and damaging to put these types of fear-based articles on the front page. If we want to drown in fear and propaganda, all we have to do is turn on the radio, TV, or look at any mainstream news media. People make very poor decisions when in fear, because they are unable to access the frontal cortex of their brain where logic resides. At the same time their limbic system is being triggered. In these times we are living in, I feel it is very important for us all to be as present as possible and able to utilize our wisdom.
This week, under a picture of the Fair was a headline about the first H1N1 virus death on Martha's Vineyard. I want to quell some fears. Diseases do not jump species. This applies to the West Nile Virus, Swine flu etc. The only way someone can "contract" the H1N1 virus is if they are injected with it through vaccination. This also applies to the so-called AIDS virus. It was spread all over Africa through the mass vaccination program there in the name of aid, paid for by our tax money.
You do not need to believe me, go to www.virusmyth.com and make up your own mind. I am not speaking about this to spread more fear or so-called conspiracy theories. The facts are out there if you want to find them. It is much easier than it used to be. I am saying this because I want people to be empowered that they have many choices that affect their health.
Taking the Tamiflu or swine flu vaccine or any other for that matter may be one choice that you want to research before blindly following the suggestions of the World Health Organization and our health care system. Allopathic medicine plays an important role in trauma, however a pharmaceutical-based approach to wellness is an oxymoron and just plain not possible. However, the pharmaceutical cartel is very powerful, and our Food and Drug Administration unfortunately only protects their interests (financial), not ours (health and safety).
I do not want to tell people what to believe. I want to put this information that I believe out there to get people to start asking their own questions and answering them for themselves with their own research and intuition. I have chosen not to subject myself to most mainstream media for years in order to avoid the toxic fear onslaught. I generally enjoy reading The Martha's Vineyard Times to stay in touch with my community. Please refrain from so much one-sided, fear-based journalism on the front page. If you feel the need to publish this information, fine. However, I suggest that you also print the other side's opinion as well, so that people can make up their own minds. It would also not hurt to print some more optimistic, simply wonderful stories about what is going on both on our Island and the world at large.
We are living in very intense times, and everyone, including your publication, must now decide whether they are going to come from fear or love. Fear begets more fear, and love begets more love. I know which one I choose. Most people are what they think and read. Help our community and choose love, not fear, to be placed on the front page. Love sells, too....
Lisa Vunk
West Tisbury
Better care needed
To the Editor:
I was shocked to read in your article about the recent health care panel that our hospital is "incredibly fiscally strong" given the standard of care my family received in a recent hospital visit.
One evening a few weeks ago, our nine-week-old son spiked a high fever. When we called the pediatrician, he encouraged us to get to the emergency room without delay. We rushed into the hospital, and saw an ER waiting room filled to overflowing. The receptionist told us to take a number, that there was only one doctor on duty and that it would be a while before our son could be seen. There were no seats available in the waiting room, so we sat in chairs in the hallway near the vending machines, holding our sick child and watching a swarm of ants devouring the bits of potato chips and other food that were ground into the carpet. It took three hours for us to be seen by a doctor.
When we were finally seen, our son was misdiagnosed, given antibiotics for a condition he didn't have, and we were sent home. An hour later, he woke up with a higher fever than ever, shaking, purple, and struggling to breathe. We live in Aquinnah and that was a very long drive back to the ER. We then spent two more days in the hospital as more tests were done and he was monitored. In acute care, we noticed that the nurses were not always washing or disinfecting their hands when they came in to handle our boy. When we asked one nurse if she would do this every time she came into our room she raised her eyebrows and said, "Every time?" They never found out what caused our son's fever.
While we had some wonderful experiences with kind care providers during this experience, the hospital was filthy, the care inadequate, and there was not enough staff available. In August, our population grows so much that we cease to be a tiny community, and having one ER doctor available on August nights seems to be far from enough.
After sharing this story with friends and family, we have heard dozens of similar tales of rushing to the emergency room, being misdiagnosed, given antibiotics for the wrong thing and being sent home only for worse complications to develop.
There is no doubt that we need a new hospital facility, and I'm very grateful for that. I hope now that the hospital managers will take the steps needed to use its fiscal strength to ensure that the facility is maintained and that the care provided inside will keep our Island families safe and healthy into the future.
Noli Taylor
Aquinnah
A reunion
To the Editor:
I am the daughter of Catherine Amaral and the granddaughter of William Amaral. I'm looking for the descendants of my grandfather William Amaral and his siblings - Clemen (Doc), Joseph, Augustus, Benjamin, and Annie Amaral - to join me and other family members at the PA Club Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 from noon to 6 pm. I'm hoping to have a long overdue Amaral Family Reunion with as many of you as I can get together in one place.
Please bring stories, memories, pictures, a family tree if you've got one or the time to make one, and food to share. I hope this will be a fun-filled family event for their children, their grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren to experience. Our family has a long history on Martha's Vineyard and this is the time to pass this history down to the younger generations so they too will know and be able to pass it down too, as well as be proud of their heritage.
This may seem impersonal, but because there are so many of us spread near and far, this was my best bet to reach so many at once. If you have any questions, please email me at tammydeese@hotmail.com.
Tammy Deese
Oak Bluffs
Kind people
To the Editor:
On behalf of the anniversary of the death of my husband, David Brand, I want to express my gratitude to the kind people on this Island. The support and genuine care bestowed upon us by the high school, the administration, and the general public has been truly significant.
I wish to extend thanks to all, especially Mr. Nixon and Kate Murray for their fantastic benefit concert, Jack O'Malley, Jeff Rothwell, IGI, Noli Taylor, students, and contributors for their delicious local benefit dinner, and to everyone who offered a hand or contributed, thank you very much.
We are fortunate to be included in this community.
With deep appreciation.
Julie and Camille Brand
Vineyard Haven
Inspiration
To the Editor:
I received the following letter from Charles Bartlett of the Friends of Chatham Waterways, regarding the printing and distribution of the Chatham Blue Pages. I am sure all those who served on The Island Blue Pages booklet committee will be thrilled and proud to know that their work and efforts to protect Martha's Vineyard's water quality continues to inspire others to do the same beyond Martha's Vineyard's shores.
I am enclosing three copies of the Chatham Blue Pages for the Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group. We have acknowledged The Island Blue Pages on page 62 of the Chatham Blue Pages..
The Friends of Chatham Waterways has printed 10,000 copies of the Chatham Blue Pages and mailed them free of charge to all residents (6,700 homes) in Chatham. While our plans for distributing the remainder are still being finalized, copies will be made available to students and teachers throughout the Chatham school system and to the public at large at several locations around town, including town hall and the library. We also plan to post the Chatham Blue Pages on our website at www.chathamwaterways.org in the new future.
We are very appreciative that you have made your text and artwork available to us. As you will see, we have added some original text and "Chathamized" the book. At the same time, we have done our best to preserve the look and feel of the Island Blue Pages that you originated, which is remarkably reader friendly and authoritative.
Rick Karney, Director
Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group
Construction
To the Editor:
Words cannot express the gratitude we feel to all the people that helped make the Bradley Square groundbreaking a success. The NAACP of Martha's Vineyard, its president, Laurie Perry-Henry and Larry Watson, Gov. Deval Patrick, state Rep. Tim Madden, Professor Charles Ogletree, the Martha's Vineyard Museum and Linsey Lee, the arts district and Alison Shaw, the town of Oak Bluffs, Greg Coogan, Ron DiOrio, the Island Housing Trust and Richard Leonard, Vera Shorter and the Shorter Family, the Henry family, the Rev. Dean Denniston and the Denniston family, Pamela Purdy, John G. Early Builder & Contractor, Crossland Landscape, Deon's Restaurant, and all of our friends and supporters who joined us for the historic occasion.
After two years of refining the project, the groundbreaking was the perfect event to reignite the excitement surrounding Bradley Square. The property has such a rich Island history that will be preserved and celebrated as we move forward. A place that was once an invaluable resource for the Martha's Vineyard community will once again be just that. Through collaboration and dedication, together we can raise the money to make Bradley Square a reality.
Guinevere Cramer
Island Affordable Housing Fund
