Letters to the Editor

Published: September 17, 2009

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Surprise

To the Editor:

My husband and I are most sincerely grateful for your wonderful coverage of our recent "Evening of Music on the Lagoon" with John Alaimo and Michael Tinus, proceeds from which will directly benefit the restoration of the 1895 Hook and Hastings organ at the Federated Church. The evening was extremely successful.

We had anticipated that our date would simply be mentioned in your save the date section, and when we saw the three large pictures and publicity we were very surprised and grateful.

Pamela Butterick
Oak Bluffs

Taxi overcharge

To the Editor:

I've written the Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Tisbury selectmen to say that recently one of my guests was grossly overcharged for a taxi ride from the SSA in Vineyard Haven to the Edgartown Inn. I did speak with the owner of the company, and the matter was resolved.

This has happened a few times during my years with the inn, and I wonder how often it happens and is not brought to my attention.

My question is, why aren't our taxi companies required to post their rates inside the taxis?

Sandi Hakala
Manager
Edgartown Inn

Air fare to Edgartown

To the Editor:

A couple of good friends arrived in Menemsha in their boat for a short visit. They decided to take a cab to Edgartown for dinner. The cab driver named Envion charged $89 for a one-way trip. Cab company's name was A Big Cab Co. (SW airlines was charging $79 for a flight to Ft. Lauderdale.) They used a different cab for the return trip, which cost $49.

The next day they were charged $42. Anyway, passengers beware. If you use a cab, be careful of rip-offs. Negotiate first. By the way, Envion, the Turkish driver, also wanted a tip. I believe A-Big Cab Co. is part of Marlene's Taxi. Just a warning, to use cabs at your own risk.

Wayne Iacono
Chilmark

Agony and punishment

To the Editor:

I am writing with some thoughts on the recent article regarding a fatal teen crash (September 3, "Island teen to be arraigned for fatal crash"). What really struck me from the article was the severe penalty for vehicular manslaughter. In addition to living the rest of her life with survivor's guilt, the teenage driver who decided to pass in a "no passing zone" after consuming alcohol could go to jail for a very long time.

Teen crash stories are not new, and the same thing happened many years ago in my hometown when four young boys in their first break from freshman year at college ended up partying and hitting a telephone pole that left two of the four teenagers in the car dead. A few weeks after this horrific incident, the surviving driver of this crash came around a corner in broad daylight near my house and ran into my dad's car.

I thought at that moment that this kid should be in jail or at the very least shouldn't have his license for a while. Back then in the early 1980s, I'm not sure what the rules were for vehicular manslaughter, but they weren't anything like today, and this kid was back to his normal life of not driving very well.

According to this Martha's Vineyard Times article, vehicular manslaughter penalties without alcohol are currently 30 days to 2.5 years in jail, and with alcohol impairment, a minimum jail time of 2.5 years up to 15 years behind bars. If alcohol is involved, you will also lose your license for 15 years.

How much is too much? Too much grief, too much penalty? Would the victims of these terrible accidents want these severe penalties for their surviving friends? Do all the parents that are left with a life of anguish over the loss of a child want these increasingly severe and life-altering judgments handed down? Only God can answer here, but if grief and guilt somehow become more important than living life with youthful exuberance because our young people are all paralyzed with the fear of failing, then where does that leave us?

The kid that ran into my dad's car many years ago a few weeks after drunkenly swerving into a telephone pole at a high speed and killing two of his good friends made me very mad that day. Not so much for banging up my dad's car and giving us both a jolt, but because he was free, and the two passengers that died because of his irresponsible impulse to hit the throttle a little too hard were gone for good.

I'm not writing to argue what is fair in these instances. I'm just writing because destruction can happen at both ends of the spectrum in life - via fateful mistakes and via fateful judgments. Hopefully, we can all do our best to keep them both in check.

Joe Melanson
Edgartown and Hawthorne, N.J.

Republicrat manifesto

To the Editor:

Us republicrats want equal time to answer President Obama's patently political speech to a captive audience of innocent school children, plugging his red-leaning socialist program to destroy our free enterprise all-American way of life, guaranteed by the founding fathers and enshrined in the constitution.

Our reply will of course unmask Obama's advice to get with it, stay in school, and study hard.

Our red dog dogma will be: watch more TV, quit reading, play truant, drop out of school early and join the workless, worthless ranks of those who can't afford health insurance.

What about health care insurance, and all the clamor over the so-called reform? Even Rush Limbaugh agrees that the insurance companies have a God-given right to charge what they like, to whom they like, for what kind of coverage they like or do not like to write. A God-given right. Right.

And what about another form of mandated reform? We speak of cell phone reform. Some people are complaining about no cell phone service in the famous up-Island dead spot.

Don't these people realize that cell phone service for all would abolish freedom of choice for those who would rather opt out of another public option, government-sponsored so-called cell phone care? Another step on the slippery road to socialism.

Next thing you know, they'll want affordable housing.

Peter Ochs
Gay Head

Put it back

To the Editor:

To the person or persons who stole the stone dragon from our driveway on Chase Road: The first person that stole the dragon was a skydiver. It may have been coincidence but on the next jump his chute failed to open. Really sad. The next thief was run over by a rogue elephant, in New Hampshire of all places. Wow, who would have thought? The third thief went swimming off Lucy Vincent Beach and a significant body part was mistaken for bait by a school of bluefish. Ouch. He returned the dragon and the next day won the lottery. You can put it back, no questions asked. It would be appreciated.

Michael and Lynn Ditchfield
Edgartown

Call it Derby karma

To the Editor:

This is not about a fish but a fishing rod. Many years ago I was given a 10-foot, custom made surf rod. It was inscribed with my initials, the date finished, and some other special wrappings.

Over time, as things go the wrappings faded and the finish left and the butt cracked. The reel was even older than the rod and had its many quirks. Thus describes my beach rod. For 11 years, I stashed it on a remote section of an Aquinnah beach, well hidden, so I thought, and away from any possible tide such that I sometimes forgot exactly where it was.

This past July it disappeared. I caught a lot of bass with that rod and now that it was gone, I realized how valuable it truly was - almost an old trusted friend. But life goes on, and I had my inner memorial service, confident that it was alive and well and presumably still fishing somewhere.

On the first day of the derby, I had hoped to fish at West Basin but got there too late to find any parking. Apparently, lots of parking spaces were taken up by bike ferry passengers and not necessarily with bikes. So I made my way down to Red Beach where there were no cars and took the long hike down to West Basin to go fishing.

Late that afternoon on my return I found an SUV with N.H. license plates. In fact, it looked almost identical to my old clunker. Resting next to the rear view mirror was my fishing rod. I was stunned to see it there, all decked out with a new reel. Shortly the owner of the car returned and

seeing my license plates cheerfully said, "Hey, where you from in N.H.?" I said that I had a more pressing question for him.

As it turns out, he had found the rod just two weeks ago at Philbin, the reel apparently trashed from being immersed in salt water leaning up against the dune. He said he thought it was abandoned due to the condition of the reel, but still wondered if there was a way to trace the owner. We surmised that whoever initially removed the rod from its hiding place had used it and perhaps abandoned it, and maybe over time it got caught in the storms that hit recently.

Anyway, I am reunited with both the rod and reel, and I think I am going to retire it in honor of whatever passes for karma these days.

Mike Seeger
Chilmark

Excellent care

To the Editor:

I know you've read this letter before, but it bears repeating.

Recently, I was admitted to the Martha's Vineyard Hospital for several days. The staff of nurses, CNAs and doctors provided excellent medical care. They were outstanding. I consider myself very fortunate.

In this time of discourse over our national health care system, we should appreciate the excellence of local health care. Every American should be entitled to such quality care, and I trust the president and Congress will enact such a program.

Thomas Dresser
Oak Bluffs

Patient first

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Noli Taylor's recent experience at our hospital. I am certain it must have been extremely frightening and frustrating - especially traumatic when it involves your baby.

As a recent graduate of a practical nurse school, I can assure you we do the best that we can. I found my clinical experience at the hospital very rewarding and challenging. All the nurses were well educated, compassionate, hardworking, and always put the patient first.

I am not defending the response to your request but can tell you nurses love nursing. We most certainly don't do it for the money.

I do wish you and your family well and hope you have a better experience, if the need to utilize our hospital arises.

Maureen Tripp
Edgartown

Deep gratitude

To the Editor:

We would like to publicly address our deep gratitude to the firemen and officers of the Oak Bluffs fire and police departments. The fact that the September 10 fire at our house turned out to be inconsequential was due entirely to your promptness and professionalism. You saved us from untold grief. Thanks, too, to the many friends and neighbors who offered and provided help. You all make us to proud and grateful to live in this community.

Tom and Cathy Chase
Oak Bluffs

Health care reform questions

To the Editor:

This letter was written to President Barack Obama.

As you did at the Democrat Convention of 2008, you won us over - almost.

We need a few more details.

Edgartown National Bank, Martha's Vineyard Karen Overtoom, Martha's Vineyard Kappys 3, Martha's Vineyard MV Insurance, Martha's Vineyard South Mountain - Energy White, Martha's Vineyard Cronig's Real Estate, Martha's Vineyard