Letters to the Editor
Published: February 4, 2010
Calamity will ensue
To the Editor:
It was good to read the consecutive Letters to the Editor from Bob Skydell and Chris Fried in the January 28 MV Times, as each made well grounded points on behalf of more wind power. I also read the somewhat histrionic letter from Ms. Israel in the paper a week prior and just shrugged off another typical rant against the Cape Wind project.
The problem is that many here actually believe even the most unfounded, exaggerated claims made to deter local wind turbine development, and so fail to see the big picture of what is at stake if we do nothing to develop this readily available, locally plentiful energy source. Aside from the unsustainable economics of continuing to rely on fossil fuels as the major source of electricity, that method also leaves us totally vulnerable to any number of what is called "exogenous events." Geopolitical conflict comes to mind, along with growing demand for oil and natural gas coming from the burgeoning nations of the developing world, both of which will lead to unforeseen price shocks and shortages. Not maybe, count on it.
All that coupled with an aging electric distribution grid, which could be subject to any number of disruptions and widespread blackouts, and suddenly you realize, we don't have energy security here at all. And electricity rates just keep on going up, in case you hadn't noticed. But people take all this for granted, and life goes on with rose colored glasses.
For my money, the only sane course is to get out in front of this issue and plan on the worst by constructing the best bulwark, locally generated wind energy. The dislocations and change of view, from carefully planned wind farms, pales by comparison to what might happen if people sit on their hands and let inertia triumph over innovation. No project should ever get shot down without everyone knowing exactly what is at stake, if little or nothing is done to develop this endless energy resource we are lucky to have in such abundance all around this Island.
Geoff Allan
Edgartown
Worth saving from turbines
To the Editor:
You may call it a wind farm but it's really a factory, an industrial compound. Maybe it's a farm in the sense of corporate pig farms in the North Carolina lowlands - farms so putrid with compressed hogdom as to foul the entire landscape when the inevitable floods come along. Let's call it a 25-square-mile footprint factory. And the proposal is akin to putting this in the middle of Yosemite national park, Yellowstone, John Muir National Redwood forest? Because make no mistake, Nantucket Sound is as rare and precious as they.
For 75 of my 82 years, I sailed, swam, boated and plain absorbed the singing beauty of the southwest wind coming up the sound from Martha's Vineyard, rippling the waves into sparkles of light. Or the gray nor'easter, blowing damp wisps across Gammon, whistling over Pollack Rip headed hell-bent for Nantucket on a November afternoon. Or the clear northwester, the air like good wine scented with salt and a million Maine pines, the sun shining golden on a dancing blue sea. Even in the southeasterly, insistently sending fog and rain dripping down inside fishermen's boots, assailing the land with slants of showers, Nantucket Sound kicks up her heels in a tumble of white froth that speaks to the deepest feelings of man and beast, of soaring herring gulls and little hermit crabs scuttling up the sand to safety.
It's unique, with a beauty only nature can create, in a setting not replicated on the East Coast, the West Coast or the Gulf - ringed by magical isles, washed by tides boiling over sandbars and shallows: Hedge Fence, Middle Ground, the legendary Horseshoe Shoal, L'Hommidieu, Bishop and Clerks - it would take a John Muir to describe these swirling, somehow peaceful, implacable waters. To mar this with a factory, sorry, farm containing 130 44-story-tall towers and a large oil-filled transformer plant, utilizing technology rife with oil leaks and maintenance breakdowns that send fractured parts flying from immense blades is not necessary here, because an environmentally valid, economically viable site in the shallows offshore, south of Nantucket Island can serve its vital purpose better.
That will cost James Gordon's company a bit more, as well as the taxpayers who generously subsidize his for-private-profit endeavor in freely given public waters. The electricity produced costs double current rates, whichever site is chosen.
The last redwoods stand. The Tetons soar unblemished. Yosemite and Yellowstone Falls fall white and clean. Let Nantucket Sound live.
Deke Ulian
Cotuit
For families of the mentally ill
To the Editor:
Mental illness affects not only the person who is ill, but their families and loved ones as well. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Massachusetts is sponsoring a free Family-to-Family educational course for family members of individuals with a serious mental illness. The NAMI Family-to-Family course has been given nationwide to over 100,000 family members since its inception. It is taught by two trained family member volunteers and is intended to help family caregivers cope with a close relative's mental illness.
We are pleased to again help increase awareness of this valuable, important program, which was given on the Island for the first time last winter.
Twenty-three individuals, representing 22 Island families, benefited from the classes last year. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the course consists of 12 weekly two and one half hour sessions. The classes will cover information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and borderline personality disorder. The program also cover topics such as coping skills, crisis and relapse, listening and communication techniques, problem solving and limit setting techniques and the family caregiver's need for self-care.
The course is open to close relatives and significant others of persons with a serious mental illness. However, it is not open to individuals who themselves suffer from a serious mental illness, unless their condition is stable and they wish to attend as caregivers for close relatives who have a mental illness.
We are so fortunate to have this program on the Island. Please take advantage of the support it offers. Thank you.
Julia Burgess
Executive Director
Martha's Vineyard Community Services
Such generosity
To the Editor:
My family and I have been overwhelmed by your support and generosity on behalf of the Massoud Kohistani College Fund. This has been an enormous undertaking for me, and your response to my letter has been the catalyst to fuel my continued energy and resolve to keep Massoud from Afghanistan in the United States, being educated and thriving. God bless you.
Dyan Espindle
Vineyard Haven
Thanks to the Mansion House
To the Editor:
This letter was written to Sherm, Susie, Josh, and Nilli of the Mansion House.
Congratulations for your 25 years on Main Street. On behalf of the Tisbury Business Association, we recognize the impact and the importance of the Mansion House, Zephrus and the Health Club to all of our fellow businesses. The Town of Tisbury and the Island has benefited from your investment all those years ago.
Pat Gregory
President, TBA
So generous
To the Editor:
First I would like to thank the MV Times for the Calendar coverage of the activities important to our community. And what a caring and giving community we live in. Last week's Haitian Relief Dinner was a huge success; raising more than $2,000. This, combined with the fundraising during the high school's lunch periods, brought our total amount raised to more than $3,000. These greatly needed funds, solicited and earned by our own students, are a testament to what they can accomplish in a short period of time to help our Haitian brothers and sisters. The Young Brothers to Men thanks everyone who helped to support this worthy cause.
I must take time to point out those who went above and beyond the normal call of duty. A special thank you has to go out to Jack O'Malley, who supported enthusiastically the community and humanitarian efforts of our students. His expert teaching has helped to raise to a higher level the practical art of cooking; so much so, that one of his students, Max Moreis, saw an opportunity to use his learning to help others. At Max's suggestion, the Haitian Dinner was born. He prepared the menu and, with Mr. O'Malley's help, almost singlehandedly prepared and cooked the meal for more than 125 people. Many other staff members contributed to the success. Scott Campbell, Chris and Janice Baer, Janice Frame, and Paul Brissette of the Art Department encouraged students to donate works of art and ceramics to the Haitian Relief Dinner, which were sold to add to our funds; John Wojtkielo for making the Culinary Arts Dining Room glow with beautiful plants and flowers.
Most importantly, a big thanks to the students who gave their time to help others - especially Delmont Araujo, Michael Araujo, Trenton Brown, Anthony Piland, and Randall Jette were indispensable in serving more than 100 dinners. Rebecca Barbosa was equally helpful in serving as a gracious hostess as well as server.
And finally a special thanks to our loving and caring community members who generously supported this event, and every group on the Island was represented. Lastly, a special recognition goes out to Steve Bernier of Cronig's Market for his gigantic heart and spirit of community and his generous donation of all of the food for the dinner. What a great Island. Thanks again.
W. Leo Frame
Oak Bluffs
What's admirable
To the Editor:
It is common practice (or so I've been told) that the MV Times readers peruse Letters to the Editor and the online comments, avoiding specific postings which are filled with personal rants and hate.
Grouch, gossip, nosey and bully are not titles of endearment. We should eschew the acts which engender them.
Furthermore, it is important to be pro-active in a non-threatening, non-combative and non-violent communicative way. When we look at the people we admire in our lives, they are the friends and other people that make us feel good about the world and ourselves.
Fred Thornbrugh
Vineyard Haven
In memory of Corrine
To the Editor:
Corrine Hatt was my cousin and friend; she was a friend to everyone. There was always laughter with Corrine. Years back, we would play jokes on people, and sometimes we got in trouble. Some things that happened I really can't repeat here.
During her high school years, she was a telephone operator. While working the switchboard, she would connect four or five friends so we could all talk to each other.
While bringing up her children, she also worked at home as a seamstress and upholstered furniture.
She worked at the Edgartown Post Office, didn't always remember the customer's name, but she knew their box number.
Stoney and Corrine loved to dance, travel, attend parties and entertain at home. We went on cruises together, as well as trips to Foxwoods, Las Vegas, and Cancun. Every time a place is mentioned where we were together will always bring a chuckle and fond memory.
Corrine loved her children, Greg, Richard and his wife Erin, her two granddaughters Sara and Emma, whom she cherished and said they were her vitamins.
Corrine also loved and was very close to her father Preston, and his wife Gerry, brother Preston Jr. wife Dianne and family and sister Lorraine and family.
She had a strong will to carry on to be with family and friends. So optimistic, never complaining.
Corrine's service was very nice. She would be so proud of her husband Stoney for reading the beautiful letter she had written; her son Richard for his lovely tribute to his mom and her son Greg for his strength and his appreciation by thanking everyone for being there. Corrine's letter spoke of how proud she was of her two sons growing into two distinctly different strong men.
I could go on and on about my friend and relative, but just one more story. Soon after Corrine was diagnosed, she was at my house. She said, I want to be at my own funeral. I said I think you will be, but why? She said, I want to hear what everyone says about me. I said, what do you want to hear? "Oh, just that Corrine was 6 feet tall with blonde hair, blue eyes and weighed 120 pounds." We laughed, and I told her you're more important than that; everyone sees you and loves you for who and what you are, but I promised her I would say it.
The opportune time did not arise for me to keep my promise to say what I wanted at Corrine's service, so now I write: To my cousin and dear friend Corrine --six feet tall with blonde hair, blue eyes and weighed 120 pounds - I miss you.
Kathy Wray
Edgartown
