Letters to the Editor
Published: March 4, 2010
To all the fans
To the Editor:
Thank You Vineyarders.
The boys varsity basketball team and I would like to thank all the fans who have come out to support us this year. Especially those who packed the MVRHS gym during school vacation to watch us beat Rockland in the first round of the state tournament and those that traveled to Wareham to cheer us on in a valiant but losing effort.
I haven't seen that type of passion and community pride in many years, and I know the effect it had on my team was profound. I want to give a special thanks to Max, Nick, and Pete who did an amazing job rallying the student body and crowd at each game. Having grown up on the Island watching and playing basketball, it was great to see that kind of fanaticism again. Thank you all, and we look forward to seeing you next year.
Coach Mike Joyce.
MVRHS Boy's Varsity Basketball Team
A coach's coach
To the Editor:
Just a short note to acknowledge Mike Joyce, his team, and coaching staff, for providing our Island basketball fans such a memorable season.
As his former coach, I am especially proud of the values he instilled in our athletes. Coaching is the art of communicating ideas, which he did well. An example of what he passed on can be judged after a game's outcome. I watched his players' post-game behavior. Each player seemed to win with a degree of modesty and after losing only four games, they did it with dignity. In life, they will have to struggle against disappointment, and one of their biggest challenges will be to hold on to their personal dignity. That is good coaching, it's not automatic behavior. It is taught by a coach, then caught by the players.
I know how hard a good coach like Coach Joyce works in the off-season studying the game, traveling to clinics, and encouraging players. His team was prepared, and it showed.
For the above, I wish to publicly laud his efforts and say that our Island, our school, and our athletes should be thankful that he is their basketball coach. Parents of future ballplayers on the Vineyard, know that your son will be taught with a measured blend of fairness, and firmness, when in the capable hands of Coach Joyce.
Oh, yes, congratulations to all on a league championship.
Jay Schofield
(Former MVRHS basketball coach.)
Vineyard Haven
Driving the fishermen out
To the Editor:
Transparency begins locally. Why didn't the Chilmark selectmen notify the fishermen of the issue before the meeting? Why do they always vote on things like this when no one who's affected is even present or aware? Why is a fishing vessel this huge potential liability, while a yacht tied up in the same harbor isn't? Will the yachts that tie up all summer be required to carry a million dollar policy as well?
This whole thing sounds more like another way to try to drive the fishermen out of Menemsha and less like protecting the town. I stated a decade ago in a Letter to the Editor that they were people trying to remove the quaint fishermen from the quaint fishing village. Looks like I was right.
Steve Jenkinson
Oak Bluffs
Extreme kindness
To the Editor:
I am writing to say thank you for the kindness shown by Vineyard residents when I became ill while visiting my family during Presidents' Day weekend.
In particular, I would like to thank the EMTs for their calm and friendly demeanor when they responded to my mother's call, as well as the extremely helpful staff of the emergency room at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. Thanks to their assistance, I am home and feeling much better.
Megan Harrington
Watertown
Gratitude
To the Editor:
The family of Samuel Jackson would like to its sincere gratitude for all the support over the last five months. We deeply appreciate and will hold in grateful remembrance your kind expressions of sympathy in our recent sad loss. The beautiful cards and flowers received were a tremendous comfort to all the family. We are very grateful for the love that was shown at Sam's celebration of his life. As our community came together that day of celebration for one of our own, we could see how many people that Sam had touched. The abundance of food that was made could not have been more perfect. The cards with touching thoughts and treasures inside were appreciated more than anyone can know. Thank you all for everything.
Diane Jackson and Family
North Falmouth
So many to thank
To the Editor:
No one person will ever know the full story (ies) behind the struggle to provide adequate, affordable housing on the Vineyard. I am fortunate to know many who have and do work tirelessly and without acclaim or pay to help make all that has happened, happen.
What has saddened me almost more than our incredible difficulty in achieving a thriving, successful, fully committed to, Island-wide program is what appears to be the absence of even a token thanks and support to the good Island Affordable Housing Fund has done over the years. I just have to believe that there are many beneficiaries of this good who for some reason during all the brouhaha seem to have kept quiet.
As a society, we've become good at beating up on those who are in the game, trying to solve our problems. Criticism, debate, disagreement, etc. are all key, as is being part of solving our issues and thanking those who try, and try very hard.
I thank you, because there are many of you who are trying, and I thank those who have tried.
Gerald Jones
Edgartown
For all the things you did
To the Editor:
Dear Jill, Casey, Annie, Tim, Greta, Gina, Rob (& tribe), Stevie, Emily, Deb, Susan, Anne, Dylan, Betsy 1, Betsy 2, Barbara, Kym, Dennis, Tamara, Rae, Marcy, Karen, Casey, Pat, Mary, Beldan, Oceana, Polly, MJ, Early Birds, Jim, Amanda, Shelley, Jocelyn, Amanda, Edith, Laurie, Donna, Peter, Dawn, Anne Marie, Nancy, and those whose names escape me in this moment (forgive me; I love you):
You picked me up and got me to the hospital, walked Susie, took her home with you, took me home with you, monitored my medication, cleaned up my puke, unplugged the sink, did my shopping, did my laundry, changed my sheets, washed my dishes, took me to and from doctors' appointments, on and off the island, to and from the ferry and the grocery store, called to check up on me and offer help, cooked for me, fed me, brought me treats, movies and books, picked up my mail, took me to the library, mailed my bills, gave me your super duper bone building supplements, sent or delivered cards and flowers, buttoned, tied, zippered and tucked, answered the phone at work with warmth, concern, support and no pressure, covered my butt (esp. Barb, Jacquie, Janet, Pat, ELL coordinators ) and more.
All of these concrete gifts you gave and most of all you made me feel loved and safe. How do I thank so many for so much? No idea.
Thank you, thank you, thank you all.
With love and so much appreciation,
Deborah Hart
Vineyard Haven
Is fiber optic a health threat?
To the Editor:
This is a copy of a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers.
I read in the MV Times that you are considering a proposal by GPCS fiber (GPCS=Get Past Community Scrutiny?) to run a fiber optic cable system through my town of Tisbury. I also read I only have till March 4 to be heard. Since we may not be able to stop them on this end, I would ask that please you carefully consider the technology involved in fiber optic cable systems.
Consider the chemicals used in the manufacture process of the fiber optic conductors and shields, the plastic/rubber coatings used on the protective jacket and whether any of that leaches out and consider the fact that as friendly as the word "light" sounds this is light magnified and speeded up through mirrors. Light itself is a name for a range of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. So, they are sending electromagnetic radiation through cables, and that must have some effect. Are there any emissions? Will I hear a noise on a quiet country night from a cable only 100 feet from my house and only four feet under the ground?
Please care about the health and safety of this project. This optical fiber system runs through neighborhoods and past wells. Also, we moved to the Vineyard because we wanted to go slow. We already have high speed Internet and don't need this. This is a private investment group who will make out like bandits while the public gets what, exactly?
Ellen O'Brien
Vineyard Haven
Thanks
To the Editor:
Thank you to everyone that attended the service for Robert J. Silva. Also to Audrey Harding and the staff at the Henrietta Brewer House and to all his friends who visited him there. Thanks for the cards, flowers and donations.
Elmer and Beverly Silva
Vineyard Haven
