Letters to the Editor
Posted March 2, 2006
A little paper goes
a long way
To the Editor:
On Presidents' Day I was watching the Today Show with Katie, Matt, and Al broadcast from Torino, Italy, home of the 2006 Winter Olympics. As the camera crew panned the audience among the American flags, waving hands, homemade signs, and just plain enthusiastic fans, there was a quick glimpse of someone holding up a Martha's Vineyard Times at 8:30 am EST, with Lidia and Joe cooking up a T-bone Florentine steak on a hibachi at the Piazza del Carlo. Along with fashion, art, food, and where the passion lives, our own M.V. Times was there. We have gotten some great awards lately for our Island newspaper. Congratulations, M.V. Times, and it still is a small world.
Melanie Godek
Oak Bluffs
Up-Island patties
To the Editor:
Your diligence in tracking the price of gasoline across the Vineyard is well known.
You have failed to maintain watch on the price of peppermint patties. Miniature peppermint patties by York are a standard throughout the country. They are available in most supermarkets and convenience stores.
One would expect that buying them by the bag in supermarkets would be the most economical.
However, a recent survey found this expectation to be false, as witness the list below:
Cronig's: bag of 29, $4.29 or 14.79 cents each.
Stop & Shop: bag of 29, $3.69 or 12.72 cents each.
Conroy's: singles, 10 cents each.
Menemsha Texaco: singles, 10 cents each.
As can be readily seen, it pays to shop up-Island.
Everett H. Poole
Chilmark
A team and more
To the Editor:
I never would have thought that living on Martha's Vineyard, I could go though 10 years of public school and still have no idea who some kids at my own school were. Sophomore year at MVRHS, a friend and I decided to give "managing" the boys basketball teams a try. Who would've guessed that three years later, we'd still travel with the teams for the sole purpose of bookkeeping. In the first season, while we were figuring out how to record the JV plays (shot #25, rebound #10, shot #10, score) the boys (now varsity juniors/seniors) were busy weaving in and out of plays, cautiously passing, timidly making shots, but more importantly they were coming together to form one team.
Now, there isn't a pass, shot, pick, or rebound that doesn't have the backing of the other four guys on the court. No more looking at the coach, for confirmation - just sheer confidence. This confidence is what gives the audience such a strong, exciting game to watch.
Have you ever heard the saying, "It doesn't matter if you win or loose, it's how you play the game?" I never noticed the reality of this parent proverb until two games ago, when a little boy sitting behind me told his father, "Some day I'm gonna get them rebounds just like Matt (Rivers)." That's when it became clear that the boys on the court weren't simply numbers three through 25: they were community role models, they were fellow students, they were our own Island trademarks.
In the stands, every game, there are a dozen little boys who want to lead a team like John Swan, box out like Bubba Brown, or hit threes like Tim Scott. The next day, those little fans don't care if they added a number to their wins; they care about how the game was played.
It's amazing to see that in just three years' time how much practice, effort, and work can be put into a sport, and the incredible response, support and enthusiasm of the community which brings it out. These teams (Varsity, JV, and Freshmen), and their coaches (Mike Joyce, Jason O'Donnell and Adam Rebello) have influenced more than just the players, and more than just the game. So, to all you fans out there, young and old, cheer these guys on, they're more than just some high school basketball team.
Emily Anne C. Lindsey
Oak Bluffs
Seatbelts save lives
To the Editor:
We are so happy you are alive, Stephen Barbee!
Recovering in a halo so your broken neck will heal (for the next three months) will be difficult, but you are alive. Your family can hold you and love you still. Your life will go on.
We are grateful that you wore your seat belt that day, and lived to write about it. Maybe you will save lives, too.
We are honored that K.J. and Deebo (Kevin Johnson and David Furino) had an impact. We hoped to save at least one life and we have. We cried as we read your letter.
Anyone reading this - Please buckle up every time you get in your car.
Do it for David Furino, Kevin Johnson, Eric Bergeron MacLean, Ryan Mone, Ken Belain, Ben Ratliff, Robert Luce, Scott Ewing, the list goes on.
Come on, Martha's Vineyard, let's save our kids (and adults, too). Seat belts save lives.
Barbara, Tom and
Michael Furino
Edgartown
In his name
To the Editor:
I am making a contribution to the new hospital in honor of Russell Hoxsie, doctor, author, and friend.
At the risk of embarrassing Russ, I write about this in the hope that it will encourage others to follow suit. Contributions to the hospital in Dr. Hoxsie's honor would be a tribute to him as well as a much-needed gift to our community.
Margaret Logue
West Tisbury
Question of ethics
To the Editor:
I'd like to acknowledge Tom Hale for his compassionate letter in last week's Times. Tom's letter was such a clear and compelling idea, I can add but little.
Just that each one of us ask ourselves, from that quiet deep place that distinguishes us as human beings, if we really need to have this tournament? One thing we share with all other sentient creatures is the overwhelming desire to preserve our lives. Is depriving a lesser creature of their precious life appropriate recreation?
Catch and release? Would we think it benign to be treated so? This is not a question of science. It's a question of ethics.
All of the pain, trauma, blood and death can be avoided. It's worth our deepest consideration.
No doubt there will be financial loss should the tournament be denied, but what will be the true cost should it continue?
It is not my intention to offend anyone involved in this project, but rather to defend the voiceless.
Ted Box
Tisbury
A primary
responsibility
To the Editor:
Many people do not consider or do not realize the importance of voting in primary elections. On Sept. 19, voters in Massachusetts will go to the polls to vote in a primary election to determine which candidates will be on the ballot in November. If you are a registered voter, you may and should vote in your party's primary. It's your chance to have your voice heard. If you are not registered in a particular party, you may sign the primary ballot of whichever party you choose. You may vote for as many candidates as you wish on the ballot you take. It does not obligate you to vote for any particular candidate on Election Day.
In order to get on the ballot for the primary, candidates need to collect signatures from registered voters who are enrolled in the same political party or are not enrolled in any political party. These nomination papers are submitted to the local registrars of voters or election commissioners for certification in early May.
The number of signatures required varies: 10,000 for U.S. Senate; 2,000 for U.S. Representative; 10,000 for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General; 5,000 for other Constitutional offices; 300 for State Senator; and 150 for State Representative. In order to be certified, signatures must be legible and must be signed in person, with the name substantially as registered, with the address at which they are registered. If a person cannot sign because of disability, someone may sign for that person in his/her in presence.
Political parties will meet in convention to endorse candidates to appear on the primary ballot. The Massachusetts Democratic Party's nominating convention will meet June 2 and 3 in Worcester. The Massachusetts Republican Party will meet in Lowell on April 29.
Barbara Peckham,
President,
League of Women Voters of Martha's Vineyard
Setting out to save the sharks
To the Editor:
Tom Hale is to be commended for his well-reasoned and visionary observations on the recent decision to continue the annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament. While most of us are mesmerized and oddly fascinated by the sight of disemboweled sharks on public display, a little life raft has set sail into the Vineyard wind. A small group of Islanders has embarked on a journey of faith and hope.
With the brutal death of each shark killed for self-glorification and prize money, we Vineyarders inflict a wound on ourselves, on our way of life, on our legacy to our children. Islanders who embrace Tom Hale's vision and who are willing to work toward the day when the senseless killing of sharks for fun and profit is abandoned on Martha's Vineyard, are encouraged to jump on the life raft with us. A meeting of "Save Our Sharks" (SOS) will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 7 pm at the home of Joyce and Steve Maxner. Please call for directions: 508-696-7248.
Steve Maxner
West Tisbury
Goat people offer
reassurance
To the Editor:
We are the goat people. At least, we are the ones whose house two goats invaded and partially destroyed last month. We'd like to reassure our friends that we're all right and that the house will be put back together again. Thanks to everyone in the Vineyard community who reached out to us and gave us their support during this bizarre episode.
By the way, readers might like to know that the main reason we were in Paris is that Steve was studying voice and theatre at Pantheatre - and Pan is the goat god. Strange and wondrous indeed.
Ellen and Steve Levine
Chilmark
Heat with algae
To the Editor:
An interesting item came over the wire the other day. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection just issued a grant to a renewable energy company: "to produce biodiesel from oil extracted from algae that is also part of the effluent treatment process at the Erie Wastewater Treatment Plant."
Hmm. Clean up the environment, and in the process create an exceedingly clean burning fuel. Perhaps we could do that here. Wouldn't that be nice?
Thomas Sullivan
Vineyard Haven
