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Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
April 21 - April 27, 2005 Edition
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April 21, 2005 Visiting vet ignites chimp interests Facts straightened To the Editor: I would like to comment on the Visiting Vet article, regarding the chimps attacking that man. The chimp that lived with him and his wife did not attack him. It was two other males. And the females ran off. I just wish people would get their facts correct before they print a story. Allison Brown Hayward, California Leave the monkeys alone To the Editor: Thank you for educating readers about the deleterious effects of attempting to keep monkeys as “pets” (“Pet monkey! Think twice,” Martha’s Vineyard Times, April 14, 2005). Dr. Jasny is correct. Monkeys do not make good “pets.” They require special care, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. Regardless of how well intended, there are very few people who have the knowledge and/or resources to provide captive monkeys/apes with adequate care for a lifetime. I too was relieved that Dr. Jasny’s friend was not serious about attempting to acquire howler monkeys from Costa Rica; however, it wouldn’t have been possible (legally) to bring a monkey to the U.S. to be kept as a “pet.” Importation of nonhuman primates is regulated by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine under the Department of Health and Human Services. In the Public Health section [Title 42] of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Quarantine Regulations (42CFR71.53) restrict the importation of nonhuman primates. It has been illegal to import nonhuman primates as “pets” since 1975. Monkeys should be living in their natural habitats, not in situations where humans attempt to force domestication on them. Linda J. Howard San Antonio, Texas Great article, but … To the Editor: This letter was addressed to Michelle Gerhard Jasny: I’m on an e-mail primate clipping service and just read your article “Pet Monkey! Think twice.” Great article, but I wanted to correct a couple of mistakes. The man that was attacked by the two chimpanzees in California was not attacked by the chimpanzee Moe, that he had raised and was visiting at the sanctuary. Moe was still locked in his cage during the attack. Also, please tell Sharon that orangutans are in Indonesia and not Africa. All the African great apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos — are facing extinction in the wild due to the bushmeat crisis which is the commercial slaughter of them for human consumption. Check out www.bushmeat.org for more info. Please check out my webpage (www.apemuseum.com) to see what I’m doing to bring attention to the great apes, especially the “Hall of Shame and Exploitation.” Also visit www.janegoodall.org and www.chimpcollaboratory.org to learn more about why primates don’t make good pets. If people are interested in adopting an ape in a sanctuary (adopting in name only — people can’t actually take the apes home with them), they can contact groups like the Orangutan Foundation, the Jane Goodall Institute or IDA-Africa for more information. Thanks again for the great article. Bob Cooper San Rafael, California Orangutan origins To the Editor: Just thought that whoever wrote the visiting vet article, “Pet monkey! Think Twice,” should know that orangutans don’t live in Africa; they live in Borneo and Sumatra (Southeast Asia). It seems an unfortunate mistake as they are supposed to be educating the public on primates. Anna Wilkinson York, England Editor’s Note Some responses to last week’s Visiting Vet column referred to a news report of a horrifying chimp attack incident in California. The details of the assault appear convincing on the question of whether one should consider keeping a monkey for a pet, the subject of Michelle Gerhard Jasny’s column. And that’s just one of the lessons to learn from the March 4 report from Caliente, Cal. For another, chimpanzees appear to exhibit an entirely human jealousy when they are denied a piece of birthday cake. According to a CBC news report, two chimpanzees broke free from their cage at a California animal sanctuary chewing off most of a 62-year-old man’s face and biting his wife. The couple, St. James and LaDonna Davis, visited their former pet chimp Moe, a resident at the Animal Haven Ranch, on the occasion of his birthday. Some time earlier, Moe had behaved badly at the Davis home and ended up in the confines of Animal Haven. The Davises brought a birthday cake, and they were standing outside Moe’s cage delighting at the celebration when Buddy and Ollie, two chimp neighbors of Moe, took umbrage at being left out of the festivities and attacked. Mr. Davis suffered massive injuries to his face, arm and leg and groin. The son-in-law of the sanctuary owner shot and killed Buddy and Ollie. Moe’s enjoyment of his birthday fete was apparently undiminished. N.S. Bluebird wishes I had never seen a bluebird. So, when I moved after 32 years from Edgartown to a wooded area of West Tisbury, I hoped one might show up in my very open back yard. Jack Burton built a birdhouse for me and, miracle of miracles, the day after he put it up, one arrived. He even had his lady check it out. I was overjoyed. But for the next two springs that pair, or maybe it was many pairs – let’s admit, all bluebirds do look alike – never moved in. One day the bluebirds seem to be occupying the house, the next day it would be a chickadee couple. This would go on for weeks and no one ever moved in. I would have thought they went on to another yard, except that one of them liked to poop on the side view mirror of my car. This winter I went shopping in Florida for a Toyota, later year, same model. I wandered around the lot, undecided on color, until I passed one with bird poop in the side view mirror. It’s a sign, I said to my birdhouse builder, Jack. I’m taking this one. Now, the bird poop on the car has tripled, and yesterday I had the privilege of viewing him in action. Perched on top of the mirror, he leans forward and sees his threatening reflection. Remember, “objects in this mirror are closer than they appear.” Right now, he has perched on my windowsill and is tapping. How many people get to see a bluebird up close, full frontal view? Maybe this is a sign. He is getting more territorially possessive. This is the price, I guess, of having a bluebird. Be careful of what you wish for. Carol Carrick West Tisbury Miracle of good will – Vietnam, March 2005 To the Editor:
During the past year, I was in contact with my family to arrange for me to visit another orphanage to help on your behalf when I made my yearly trip to Vietnam. Originally, they located an orphanage in Bien Hoa, a short distance from Saigon that has approximately 100 children. I decided to concentrate on one place only this year in order to better provide for the children instead of spreading out to too many places. Upon my arrival, my family informed me of another orphanage located in a remote area far from Saigon called Kontum, which has approximately 250 children. It is so far away from Saigon that very little aid of any sort is ever received. After hearing of the many needs of this orphanage, I decided to travel to Kontum instead. After my arrival in Vietnam, I spent the first week shopping for the children and buying just about everything for their basic needs, such as clothing, shoes, mosquito nets, blankets, notebooks, pens, medicine, laundry soap, bath soap, toothpaste, etc. and not to forget RICE! Before departing for Kontum, I telephoned the nun in charge of the orphanage and asked her exactly what they needed in order to see if I purchased the right items. She went on to tell me that the children had been praying and asking God to send help to them. Upon hearing this story, it sent chills up my spine because originally I did not know about this place. I do believe that their prayers were answered and that it was a miracle. Anyway, this year’s trip was a great success. I was very pleased with what I have seen and have decided that I shall return to the same orphanage next year. With your donations of returnable cans and bottles, along with cash, we were capable of providing well for all of the 250 children. Though they are extremely poor, the children look very healthy and they raise their own vegetables. Sometimes they will get small donations from others, but what they receive is not anything like what I brought to them. They do have visits at such times as just before Christmas, the Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year) and before Easter. Most of these times, the visitors would give them old clothes and shoes, noodles (sort of like oodles of noodles) and cookies or candies. Visits by these others usually will only last about one half hour, and they depart. The nuns and children were surprised that I stayed with them a few days and spent time with them. And yet, there was one most important thing that I was not able to give to a lot of them and that was a hug. We were so busy distributing the material things that we would forget that they really needed someone to hug them because they have no one. That is my only regret: I guess there will be next year. I have prepared a more detailed note to give to each of you who will come by the Oak Bluffs transfer station because I would like to thank each and everyone personally. The children at the orphanage have their own language. “Bo ne lo” means “Thank You Very Much.” Once again, on behalf of the orphans, Thank you to all our friends from Martha’s Vineyard. Lucie Smith BFI Transfer Station Progress in prison To the Editor: I feel compelled to respond to the letter to the editor from Kirk Briggs in your March 3 issue, titled Rehab or Punishment. I too am passionate about prison reform. It is disheartening that Mr. Briggs’s letter leaves the impression that nothing is being done and rehabilitation is not a priority with our sheriff. Nothing could be further from the truth. I currently work as the treatment manager for the Dukes County Community Corrections Center, located in a portable classroom, i.e. trailer, at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. We offer GED, life skills, and substance abuse classes and community referrals to inmates and people on probation. We currently have ten participants who are mandated to attend. In other words, they are with us instead of in jail. Community Corrections Centers are funded by the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections (www.mass.gov/courts/admin/occ) and the County Sheriff’s Department. They were created in order to address overcrowding in prisons and to provide rehabilitation instead of punishment. Counties are not required to have Community Correction Centers. We have one because Sheriff McCormack pushed for it. As for rehabilitation classes in the Dukes County Jail and House of Corrections itself, they already exist and are taught by trained staff as a well as volunteers. These are attended on a voluntary basis, not a mandated one. Try to imagine, if you can, the amount of patience needed to work with a population who do not, as a whole, want to change. There are many opportunities available that are simply not taken. It’s often easier to abstain and complain that to step up to the plate. The meeting and visitation rooms that double as “classrooms” at our present jail are approximately 6 by 12 feet, most of which is taken up by a table and some chairs. If the Sheriff could find more willing souls to take on the task, where would he put us? It’s not hard to imagine that more could be done with better space. I recently toured the new facility in Barnstable where they have an elaborate rehabilitation program. They also have large, well-equipped classrooms. If you want to know more about what is being done toward prison reform in our little corner of the world, attend our open house when our new building is complete. Until then, allow me to take this opportunity to publicly thank the following volunteers who have given, or who have been scheduled to give, presentations to our students since November, 2004: MV Mediation Program, Katherine Yerdon, Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Support Services, Hospice, Narcotics Anonymous, MVTV, Aids Alliance, John Washbrook, Sara Shipway, Trip Barnes, Vineyard Tax Matters, SCORE, American Red Cross, Jeff Agnoli, Brian Carmo, and Shawn Ramoutar. Also, there are many public service organizations that we are grateful to call upon for support: MV Health Care Access Committee, Vineyard House, Family Planning, DSS, Island Counseling Center, Church Street Collaborative, Food Pantry, Surplus Food Distribution, Alcoholics Anonymous and Mass Rehab. There are many, many people behind the scenes employing, training, and mentoring our participants. There is a reason why it’s called a Community Corrections Center. If you can contribute, please call me at 508-696-0808. There is much work to be done in the prison reform movement. While we wait for change at the policy level, we do what we can with what we have. A lot of people are working very hard. To quote Ginger Rogers when Fred Astaire asked her to speed up, “I’m dancing backwards in high heels as fast as I can!” Carolyn Kildegaard, M.A., R.Y.T., P.R.Y.T. Treatment Manager Dukes County Community Corrections Center Bizarre and repellent To the Editor: Members of the U.S. Congress, in my lifetime, have done a number of things, which would make the angels weep. But the circus on the weekend of March 18–20 is the most bizarre, and perhaps the most repellent, behavior I have yet observed. Consider those right-wing Representatives and Senators. They are unconcerned about the fact that 45 million Americans are without health insurance. They have no interests in providing medical care to people who can actually benefit from it. Yet they will go to any length, and presumably any costs, in the senseless endeavor to maintain a sliver of “life” within the body of an unfortunate creature who is [in a persistent vegetative state], a virtual breathing corpse. What an appallingly ironic spectacle! R.E.L. Knight West Tisbury Staff work To the Editor: March is American Red Cross month, and annually, chapters across the United States take the time to spotlight the Red Cross mission to the local communities. This year, one of the activities we undertook to spotlight the Martha’s Vineyard Chapter was soliciting sponsors to support a display ad in the Island newspapers. Part of the success of this activity was achieved through the efforts by your staff, particularly Carrie Blair. We know the time Ms. Blair and others dedicated to prepare the layout was time taken away from other deadline tasks. So, on behalf of the Martha’s Vineyard Chapter, we want to thank you and the staff of The Martha’s Vineyard Times. The Martha’s Vineyard Chapter has existed since World War I, and as one of the smallest chapters in our country, we recognize that carrying out the Red Cross mission is accomplished only through collaboration with others on the Island. Thank you so much for the support. Deborah Medders Executive Director American Red Cross Martha’s Vineyard Chapter Rites of spring To the Editor: Sunday, April 10, was a glorious day. After such a long winter it appears that spring is here. Some friends and I traveled via mountain bikes over hill and dale along trails and ancient ways through West Tisbury, Tisbury, and Oak Bluffs. Mid-ride we stopped at Duarte’s Pond in Oak Bluffs, and there we saw the incredible sight of an osprey slowly flying over the pond and at times hovering and diving in its effort to catch fish. It was amazing to see a bird that big hovering. Absolutely beautiful. It would appear that there are others who celebrate the coming of spring in another manner. Just about every single trail we passed along had been very recently trashed by motorcycles, and the banks of Duarte’s Pond had been shredded by motorcycles going around and around and around in very tight circles with freshly smashed beer cans scattered about. I once read in National Geographic that a motorcycle can displace one and a half tons of soil for every mile that they are ridden in such a manner. Sadly, such are the rites of spring every year on Martha’s Vineyard. David Whitmon Oak Bluffs Happy tenant To the Editor: I think it’s about time some positive things should be said about Island Elderly Housing and Carol Lashnits and all the employees. In the past 30 years, millions of dollars have been raised for elderly housing and also for the disabled. People come and go, tenants and employees. I feel that it is no one’s business what salaries are, or why people leave. When Jay and Kevin left, it was between the office and them. It is a personal policy and no one’s business. We are at an age where we should get along with each other. Carol has done a lot for tenants. They know who they are. I.E.H. employees are paid to deal with the tenants. Have the tenants stopped to think that they might be the reason for people to resign? Not every tenant is negative. I am thankful to Island Elderly Housing for allowing my grandson to reside here with me. I feel that the few tenants who are unhappy with the way things are run, maybe they should leave. Marge Chesnard Woodside Village 2 Fortunate To the Editor: The staff and parents of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Child Care and Learning Center would like to thank Robin, Mike, and the staff of the Atlantic Connection for hosting our annual dance held Friday, April 1, to benefit the center. Also, thank you to Paul Donelly who was the DJ for the evening, to the parents, and to anyone who donated money to help support the center. We are extremely fortunate to have our local businesses and parent supporting our preschool and realize the importance of early childhood education. Sue Burgoyne Director Remarkable recovery To the Editor: The family of Kirsten Claussen Hodges thanks Vineyarders for the tremendous support and encouragement shown to us this past month. The cards, phone calls, and prayers sustained all of us during a very difficult time. We are happy to report that Kirsten is making a remarkable recovery and she looks forward to an Island visit soon with her husband and son. Diane, Paul and Rick Claussen Oak Bluffs Generous Islanders To the Editor: A wonderful quality of this special Island is the generosity of its citizens and especially of so many of its merchants. The Edgartown United Methodist Church sponsors Monday night community suppers during the winter season and depends on help from many volunteers and especially on food donations from Stop & Shop and Island Food Products. In addition, the Martha’s Vineyard Rotary Club and the Federated Church Youth Group made it possible for our small church to continue the suppers. Volunteers from other churches helped out as well every week. Anyone who wished to get together once a week for a warm meal could come to visit neighbors and make new friends. We want to publicly thank all who took part in this effort. Pastor Nancy Collins and members of the Edgartown United Methodist Church (Whaling Church) Death to all, and steps to take To the Editor: I am responding to the many questions that have been brought to our attention surrounding the Terri Schiavo case, brought on by the death denial way of life we live here in this culture. I need to let everyone know that we must first accept the notion that we are impermanent and that there is nothing we can do to prevent our body’s return to the state of particles and water. This attachment to the physical body brings about extreme suffering, which is being clearly enacted on our television sets every day. The cause of this extreme suffering could have been so significantly avoided had the families involved been aware that we all should be prepared for the event of our deaths regardless of our age (as not only the old die) by the simple act of making sure that we have filled out our advance directives documents such as: Health care proxy, so that we have someone we love talk for us when we cannot do this any more. General durable power of attorney, so that someone we trust has legal authority to talk for us. Medical directives, to allow us to go into greater detail about our wishes. Living will, which helps those caring for us to know our wishes (although not recognized by itself in Massachusetts). Vital information documentation, burial options and decisions, for the care of our bodies after death, such as cremation, earth burial, body donation to a medical school or organ donations to a waiting recipient. These documents need to be filled out, signed by a notary (at our banks, no need for a lawyer) and by our health care proxies (someone we love, know and trust to act on behalf of the wishes that we express when we are still of sound mind and body). I am so wishing that each of you fill all of these documents out as soon as possible. Luckily, our Island is going to have this opportunity soon. Due to my personal childhood (age seven) near-death experience at the hands of another child playing with a .32 caliber handgun, I was shot point blank through my collar bone and chest, just missing the great aorta and spine by a hair, I am now able to report to you very loudly and clearly (and experientially), we are all impermanent. We are all vulnerable to being in the state of the Terri Schiavos and the Red Lake victims of the world at any moment in time. The Rev. Dr. Art Kimber of the Funeral Consumer’s Alliance of Cape Cod and the Islands (previously the Memorial Society of the Cape and Islands) and others on this Island are working hard to create the presentation of two free advance directives workshops (only cost is $5 for the copying of the docs), both on May 2. The first will be at the UU Chapel at 238 Main Street in Vineyard Haven from 9:30 am until 12:30 pm; the second will be at the Hebrew Center on Center Street from 4 to 7 pm. Dr. Kimber will bring the entire set of documents to teach us how to fill them out. I’ve had mine done since I was a young woman. Copies are now in the hands of my doctor, son, minister, and lawyer. There is also a file of life notice on my refrigerator door which contains the location of these docs should I be unable to speak for myself. Thanks, and may all near-death survivors (children who have lived to grow up) always remember that we survived to help others know that this is one precious life and that we are now so lucky to be here to see, feel, smell, touch, breathe and above all to love, serve and remember all beings everywhere regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender or political persuasion. Jo-Anne Scotford Rice West Tisbury and Oak Bluffs Staff work To the Editor: March is American Red Cross month, and annually, chapters across the United States take the time to spotlight the Red Cross mission to the local communities. This year, one of the activities we undertook to spotlight the Martha’s Vineyard Chapter was soliciting sponsors to support a display ad in the Island newspapers. Part of the success of this activity was achieved through the efforts by your staff, particularly Carrie Blair. We know the time Ms. Blair and others dedicated to prepare the layout was time taken away from other deadline tasks. So, on behalf of the Martha’s Vineyard Chapter, we want to thank you and the staff of The Martha’s Vineyard Times. The Martha’s Vineyard Chapter has existed since World War I, and as one of the smallest chapters in our country, we recognize that carrying out the Red Cross mission is accomplished only through collaboration with others on the Island. Thank you so much for the support. Deborah Medders Executive Director American Red Cross Martha’s Vineyard Chapter Bike missing To the Editor: If you have seen a blue boy’s bike, taken from Oak Lane, West Tisbury on Tuesday, April 12, please return it or call us at 693-6078. Thank you. Cynthia Aguilar West Tisbury Richard Combra’s record To the Editor: This is a copy of a letter to the Vineyard Gazette: To read your editorial in last week’s paper, you would think that Richard Combra was defeated in an election. Let me point out that he retired from a long and distinguished tenure as an Oak Bluffs selectman. Just because you disagree with him on a few issues doesn’t give you the right to lie about this fine public servant’s outstanding record. In his time as an elected official in Oak Bluffs, Richard has overseen and been an integral part in the construction of the Oak Bluffs Elementary School, the Oak Bluffs Library, wastewater plant and the improvements of the Oak Bluffs Harbor. He worked well with so many of the dedicated, hardworking Oak Bluffs board members and employees. Richard has been the father of a general renaissance of our town. While other towns complain of dying business districts, Oak Bluffs is thriving. This did not happen by accident. The string of balanced budgets and greatly improved fiscal management didn’t happen by accident either. It was, in part, through the dedicated leadership of Richard Combra and the other associates you forgot to give credit to. Now that the Gazette has a board of selectmen more to its liking, it will be curious to see how our town fares. Maybe you should consider rehiring the editor who once wrote that Oak Bluffs was the gem of the Island (you know — the one you fired the next week). The leadership at the Gazette should grow up and realize that reasonable people can disagree on issues, and we don’t need to vilify those that we don’t agree with. This nasty, mean-spirited reporting is what is wrong with our Island and our country. Dawn Keeling-Combra Oak Bluffs Mailbox politics To the Editor: This is for the person who recently harvested firewood along the edge of Middle Road. The dead locust tree next to my mother’s mailbox wasn’t just a dead locust tree. It was guarding the mailbox. You see, a couple of years ago I got tired of replacing that mailbox for my mother, so I set a big locust post on the traffic side of it. A baseball bat would have to get past the post to hit the mailbox. Worked pretty good, until someone came along, pulled up the post, and carted it off. So I put in another, only this one had a root system spreading out four or five feet. Someone tried to push it over, I guess with their bumper. They got it to lean a bit, but it stayed. Last week, that valiant post got sawed off at the ground. And a friend tells me some other wood got harvested at the same time, up and down the margins of Middle Road. I suppose we should be grateful they didn’t take the mailbox post too. I wish you’d let me know you needed firewood. I could point you to lots of it that you could take for free, no harm to anyone. Heck, I’d give you some of mine. Or maybe it wasn’t for firewood. Maybe it’s just the mailbox bashers, back to get that post out of their way. I’ve been trying to figure that one out for a while. What’s the big reward in bashing somebody’s mailbox? The thrill of the chase? The feeling of connecting with something? The proof that you exist? I got another clue not long ago. Well, maybe it’s not that much of a clue. It’s about something else that’s even more puzzling to me. How did it came to be that practices that don’t conserve anything get to be called conservative? Tucker Carlson, of CNN’s “Crossfire,” confessed that, “A basic tenet of conservatism is that it’s much easier to destroy things than to create them — much easier, and more fun, too.” And conservatives, or neocons anyway, say they don’t like anything to do with the government. (Except the military. And subsidized corporations.) Is that it? Does each new generation of conservatives cut their teeth bashing mailboxes? I’ll have to get up-Island soon and plant a new post. Maybe put a reflector on it so it can’t be mistaken for firewood. But that might not stop a really determined conser — umm, mailbox basher. The price of rural mail delivery is eternal vigilance. Bruce Nevin Edgartown Best for the best To the Editor: It was wonderful that, at last night’s [April 12] Edgartown town meeting, the community voted to approve the renovation and expansion designs of the new library contingent on receipt of a state grant. And it was equally grand that our town authorized the library board to apply for state and federal funds that might be available to defray expenses incurred as the building gets underway. With Ann Tyra’s retirement, it is now up to the trustees to hire a new library director to lead us into the future. The qualifications for the position are many, the most important being a master’s degree in library science from an accredited library school and at least five years’ experience working in a public library. In order to give themselves more time to do a thorough, dedicated search for the new director, the board may choose to hire an interim, or acting, director. It would behoove them, however, to choose an equally qualified person – a certified librarian with real, current experience in librarianship. We, the town, who gave this board our votes of confidence last night and at an earlier town meeting, deserve no less from a candidate, whether interim or permanent. By voting for the best building money can buy, we also expect the finest director to help us realize our dreams. Or, the best for the best. May the Edgartown Free Public Library trustees see fit to honor this town accordingly. Claudia L. Rogers Edgartown Our own emergency To the Editor: My husband and I wish to thank the West Tisbury firefighters, Tri-Town Ambulance and West Tisbury police personnel. Our stove caught on fire this past weekend, and if it were not for the fast response our house would not be standing now. They even rescued our guinea pig Magoo. Since we are paramedics, we are usually responding to other people’s homes and have never had the experience of our own emergency. It is very different being on the other side of the coin. So, on behalf of our family, an excellent thank you to all. Christopher and Deborah Cini Rosie (the dog) and Magoo West Tisbury Pride of accomplishment To the Editor: This letter was sent to Dr. G. Paul Dulac, superintendent of Vineyard schools: It is with a sense of pride and accomplishment that I submit to you my letter of retirement as the principal of the Edgartown School, effective Nov. 30, 2005. For nearly three decades I have enjoyed leading this school from its challenges in 1979 to a national acclaimed Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1999. I have been blessed with an outstanding faculty and staff, and a community that values education. It was my pleasure to work with so many school committee members and parents that were supportive and committed to excellence. However, it was the wonderful children of Edgartown that really brought the joy to my job. As I reflect on the current status of our school today, I believe it is in an excellent position to meet the challenges in the next decade. Many exceptional programs are in place and others are near completion. The faculty and I will finalize goals for future improvement and the new state of the art facility is well maintained for generations to come. Financially, one of the lowest budgets in school history is in place that will easily maintain the high quality of education and programs being offered to our students. In closing, I am very grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this fine community, and I will always be extremely proud to say that I was the principal of the Edgartown School. Edward J. Jerome Edgartown |
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