Letters to the Editor
Posted May 25, 2006
Extend the
deer season
To the Editor:
The following letter was sent to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board of Mass Wildlife in support of extending the deer shotgun season to reduce the deer herds on Martha's Vineyard.
I have lived in Chilmark for 19 years. Every year the tick problem becomes worse. It's not the ticks I mind, it's the diseases they carry. It's not the deer I mind -even if I do have to share my garden with them. It's the ticks they carry.
I have gotten Lyme disease once. Luckily I was treated in the early stages and do not seem to have any recurring symptoms. My husband has gotten Lyme twice. He was not so lucky. His titer was so high that the doctor said he was surprised he was able to walk into his office. He has recurring arthritis-like symptoms and heart problems that may be linked to this disease.
I have heard of a town in Connecticut where they hired a sharpshooter who came in one night and with 50 shots took down 50 deer. I wish we could do that here. But the problem of "no hunting" on so many properties does present a problem that should be addressed by the individual towns and their boards of health.
Since you are considering extending the deer shotgun season on Martha's Vineyard, I would like to add my voice to those who encourage you to do so. It could only have a positive effect. Even if I do have to stay out of our beautiful woods for one more week.
The Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be accepting written comment until Tuesday, June 6 on the proposal to extend the deer shotgun season. Board members have promised to "base their decision on Island sentiment." Address your written comments to: Wayne MacCallum, Chairman, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, Mass Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.
Kathy Cerick
Chilmark
Attention
undeserved
To the Editor:
I'd like to express my dismay to Don Lyons who felt it was necessary to mention that Alex Avakian and Edison Parzanese were not playing lacrosse because of a four-game suspension. I know that both students are extremely embarrassed and ashamed of themselves for getting into trouble and causing their team hardship. They have never been in trouble once in their high school career, and to see that the newspaper had to print their names in their story only added to the problem.
I have read the sports pages faithfully for many years, and I think this is the first and only time I have seen any student's name mentioned for a disciplinary problem.
I'm sure in any given season you could be printing the names of many students for a variety of infractions. I'd like to thank you for specifically calling attention to my son and his teammate in such a tasteful way.
Gail Avakian
Edgartown
No hidden agenda
To the Editor:
I write as a member of the Chilmark housing committee who does not believe that selectmen Frank Fenner and Riggs Parker are "hiding their true agenda from the public" as our chairman, Steve Schwab alleges. Neither was I "appalled and saddened" as was my colleague on the committee, Bill Randol. And neither was I "stunned by the very tragic decision of the Chilmark selectmen", as was my wonderful cousin and fellow committee member, Jim Feiner.
Instead, I felt we were finally following the course we had been directed to follow by the town meeting. Because of the reputation of the respondents and their expressed willingness to cap the town's exposure at $872,000, I urged the selectmen to accept the proposal. Their failure to do so reflected their concern that all costs in the response were pro formas, there being no specific schematic or working drawings. Of course, if there were to be a shortfall, even if the town were not liable, from where would the remaining funds required to complete the project come? IHT is a not for profit. The town would surely be exposed if not liable as a matter of law.
Instead of taking the big leap of faith being urged, the selectmen unanimously rejected the IHT proposal in favor of fulfilling the town's clear instruction to quantify the costs prior to returning to the town for specific authorizations.
The selectmen also determined to ascertain the remaining town requirements as expressed by the myriad boards and commissions involved prior to issuing the new request for proposals for architecture and engineering.
Ultimately, the proof will be in the performance. Much of my professional career was in affordable housing. I am going to work very hard on behalf of the housing committee, with my fellow selectmen, subcommittee members, Warren Doty and Lennie Jason. I will be appalled, saddened and stunned if we can't prepare this important project for an informed town decision in a timely manner. I am confident of the support of all three selectmen.
Andy Goldman
Chilmark
Editor's Note: Andy Goldman is a member of Chilmark housing committee and the selectmen's subcommittee on the Middle Line Road project.
The right decision
To the Editor:
I am writing to express my strong support for the unanimous vote of the Chilmark selectmen to seek new requests for proposals for the Middle Line affordable housing project. I know this was a difficult decision, but I feel that all three selectmen asked the hard questions and were looking out for the taxpayers of Chilmark, as well as the recipients of affordable housing.
I believe in our selectmen's commitment to this project and hope that new proposals will result in lower rents for the rental units and lower prices for the houses that are for sale. I would also like to particularly commend Warren Doty for making the vote unanimous.
As an assessor and taxpayer in Chilmark, and a supporter of affordable housing, I believe both that the right decision was made and that this affordable housing project will happen. We all have an obligation to make sure that it does.
Clarissa Allen
Chilmark
Part of the
Community
To the Editor:
This is a response to the letter about immigrants written in the May 11 Martha's Vineyard Times by Bart Jarek.
First of all, Brazilians do not peddle hard drugs, weapons, and tender-aged sex slaves. I understand that some immigrants are here illegally, but they don't buy fake IDs, drivers' licenses, or car inspection stickers. What they do is, they translate their Brazilian licenses into English. Maybe you don't know, but if you research it you will find that the USA participates in the convention between some countries about driving around the world.
What happens is Brazilians come here, work very, very hard, which does not apply to some Americans, start their own businesses, make a lot of money, buy one house, two and in some cases three. Some Americans just get very jealous and don't accept that. I just want to let you know that there are a lot of Americans building houses and turning basements into places to live to rent to Brazilian families. If an immigrant buys a house and rents it to somebody else, that proves they are smart.
The other thing is, if some Americans worked hard like Brazilians, drank less liquor, used less drugs, they would be able to succeed like immigrants do. I don't know about your parents or grandparents, but as you all know most American families living on the Island have Portuguese parents or grandparents. So, they have immigrant blood. Stop worrying about immigrants, because all they want is to work and live in peace with everybody.
The President will sign a document that will become law, and most Brazilians will become legal to work and live in the USA for as long as they want. We want to be friends, and we are part of the community already.
Astrogildo Camargo
Edgartown
Setting the
record straight
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the letter in last week's paper written by Janice Rose. My name is Cathy Goudy, and I was Christine Todd's campaign manager.
According to Ms. Rose, Ms. Todd's campaign committee consisted of Duncan Ross, Richard Combra, Todd Rebello, Peter Martel, and Alan Schweikert. Ms. Rose should check her facts before making such an erroneous declarative statement. Christine Todd's election committee consisted of Christine, Chip Mitchell and me. At no time were any of the other aforementioned individuals ever on her election committee.
When I found out Ms. Todd was running for selectman, I supported her candidacy for a number of reasons. First, I have dealt with Christine in business and have always found her to conduct herself with a great deal of integrity and intelligence.
Second, she is very much a part of the Oak Bluffs community; she has lived in town for years; both her children are in the Oak Bluff's public school system; and she has been very active in many civic endeavors, including serving on the ZBA.
Third, and most importantly, I felt it was time for the town of Oak bluffs to elect a selectman that was not part of an old boys' network or for that matter, an old girls' network, but an individual who was vested in the fair representation of all the town's constituency. That candidate, in my opinion, was Christine Todd.
It was obvious from the letters in last week's paper that there is a blatant attempt to discredit Ms. Todd's candidacy by trying to connect her with some supposed political machine. This concept is at best fallacious and at worst slanderous.
It's time for all Oak Bluffs voters to send a message to the powers that be that it is no longer acceptable to play politics as usual at the expense of the well being of the town, its citizens, and its future.
Cathy Goudy
Oak Bluffs.
It's that season
To the Editor:
Well, here we go again. It is May, a time to be happy and excited about the season to come. For some of us, though, it brings a feeling of being overwhelmed.
I am half a century old and am now on my 55th move. I am getting so good at packing. I label each box with every single thing that is inside (since some things go in storage, depending on the size of the next residence) so that I can find anything in one minute. My motto, "When in doubt, throw it out," has served me so well over the years. It has made me become a minimalist. My pack rat mother (don't tell) visited me quite a while ago and said, "What a Spartan existence!" Ahhhh, that was a compliment.
My favorite packing technique is to put clothes, cupboard items, refrigerator goods, and almost everything else that isn't going to storage, in my large supply of Cronig's bags. Oh, those handles. This is not for everyone I realize, and I don't want to cause a run on Cronig's for their bags, but it is so simple to arrive at the next dwelling. Kitchen bags are plopped in the kitchen, bedroom bags in the bedroom etc., and wallah. It is even good for the kind souls who have helped me move over and over again, ad nauseam.
Think of all of the people who have to move at the end of this month while you have your barbeques and family festivities. And when you come home from Cronig's, remember, some time you may need that bag to help you move.
Melanie Lee Dunn
Chilmark
Bloody spectacle
To the Editor:
As a resident of Oak Bluffs, I abhor the shark tournament. It is barbaric and primitive to award prizes for killing this magnificent animal. Those who lust after such blood sports have progressed no further than our ancestors who delighted in displaying the heads of their vanquished foes as a warning for all to see.
Martha's Vineyard is such a progressive society in terms of ecological conservation, health care, and energy. This invitation to engage in killing other inhabitants of this fragile planet is a total anomaly driven by the lust for money of a few to the detriment of the quality of life for the rest of us who must walk past the harbor and avert our eyes to avoid the bloody spectacle.
Susan Kimball
Oak Bluffs
Lives changed
To the Editor:
I am responding to the article regarding the split within Camp Jabberwocky. I came out of high school in 1969 with little idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Then I met Hellcat and John Lamb in the beginning of a 20-year working and 35-year personal relationship. As a result of both encounters, my life was changed forever in a way that is still resonating with me today.
From Hellcat, I learned that life is made up of countless absurdities that we can either learn to laugh about or have overwhelm us. She also taught me that everything that is good is possible, since everything that is bad has also found a way to be achieved. She related this through her powerful testimonial to the horror of the bombing of London and the struggle of the British people to achieve some sense of normalcy and humanity through it all. When she came to this country with her three children and then started camp, it quickly became something more than she or any other single individual.
Hellcat set a standard for inclusion before it was the law of the land and demonstrated through example that every situation had the seeds of humor sown into it, we simply had to find a way to let it grow into laughter.
John Lamb has been a personal friend of mine since the first day that I met him. He has taught me over the years that passion is the key to life, for without that life has little meaning. I continuously marvel at his curiosity and questioning about what is assumed to be fact and held as morally right. I watched him on countless occasions take a position at camp that was not popular but was ultimately the right one for the campers. John has a sense of humor and a laugh that seems to have been part of the gene pool of the Lamb family and had a way of infecting the rest of us along the way. He has set a standard for decency that is truly his legacy and one that inspires me when I find myself drifting away from my true north setting.
Ultimately, what I have found inspiring in my life is not the big events and individuals who are seen as heroic, but rather, the campers and counselors who I had the opportunity to work with and for, over the years. This was made possible for me by the tenacity, humor, honor, and friendship of Hellcat and John. What is truly important in the saga of Camp is the vast number of lives that were changed for the better and the fact that camp was a constant of wonderful craziness in a world that at times seemed to have lost its bearings. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to learn my craft as a teacher and counselor in such an inspiring setting from two such gifted individuals.
Whatever the temporary problems that face camp, they will be overcome as the result of the commitment of generations of families, Island supporters, counselors, and campers who have been inspired through Hellcat and John's leadership.
Patrick Liddle
Guilford, Conn.
Welcoming
To the Editor:
The following is a copy of a letter addressed to Lauren Thomas of the Vineyard Transit Authority:
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for allowing our Advanced Placement tests to take place in the VTA testing room. The location has proven to be ideal for our students and proctor. The space is always bright, clean and welcoming. The students are very appreciative of your generosity and we hope this has not been an inconvenience to you or your staff. Thank you again for your help and support.
Peg Regan
Principal, MVRHS
Old Island
tradition rekindled
To the Editor:
Many thanks to Cynthia Riggs, a multi-talented woman with a generous heart. This past weekend, Cynthia, the author of numerous mystery novels, innkeeper and avid gardener, offered her gardens and expertise to the benefit of many an Island gardener, and Hospice of Martha's Vineyard as well.
In the time-honored tradition of exchanging plants and cuttings between gardeners and friends, many Islanders, transplants, and wash-ashores joined together for a wet and memorable time of laughter, and sharing bits and pieces of horticultural knowledge. What does physostegia look like when it is in bloom; does anyone remember it's common name? Is globe thistle invasive; does it attract the birds? Could it have rained harder? Time for a cookie?
Many plants, as is the country way, were donated from individual gardens - clumps of coreopsis from Caroline, phlox from Nelia, rare, pink lily of the valley from Judy. Melinda Loberg brought us the mysterious physostegia, Peggy Schweir sent buckets of Lady's Mantle, Debby shared her lettuce seedlings, the Garden Club was kind to send geraniums and herbs, and many thanks to Polly Hill for the Stewartia saplings - what a treat. A discussion followed each - How tall do the coreopsis get? What color are the phlox? Full sun? Partial shade? - the usual jargon that goes on every spring between gardeners.
Thanks to a great number of people for making this Mother's Day sale a most memorable one. Each and every nursery on the Island joined in, and we thank you. Huge thanks to our private staff of bakers; nothing warms cold hands like a cookie hot out of the oven.
Events like this are never huge money-makers, but they are always a huge success. They are the backbone of every organization because for a brief period of time, they make us all one family.
Nancy B. Whipple
Edgartown
Hospice Fundraising Chairman
Health-care challenge
To the Editor:
May is "Cover the Uninsured Month" - one of those peculiarly American ways of celebrating an achievement or noting a challenge. In this case, it's definitely a challenge. There are 46 million Americans who do not have health insurance, and the number is growing. As health care costs rise, employers drop plans or initiate higher co-pays and deductibles, and working families feel they simply can't afford coverage. A recent Robert Wood Johnson Foundation described a 42 percent jump in the costs of health-care premiums over the last three years. And, as we know on this Island, many employers are unable to offer health insurance, so many of us simply go without - hoping that we won't get sick, our kids won't need their teeth fixed, or we won't need a visit to the emergency room for a broken arm.
Health-care insurance is an extremely complex issue, and also one of enormous importance to all our lives. Efforts are being made by the County and other concerned organizations to keep people informed and to get people involved in discussions about what is happening and how to have a voice in decisions being made.
Dukes County has a new web site devoted to public health and community health education. Through this site, the County has begun a series of articles on the issues of health-care insurance, access, and quality - starting this month with a national perspective, and describing various approaches to health-care coverage being considered at the national level (current article - see below).
Future articles will examine the new Massachusetts Health Care Reform legislation - what it says, how Island residents and organizations may be affected, and how Islanders and our various health-care providers can benefit. Others may address new health-care technology, and new approaches to quality improvement and cost containment.
A Forum is also being planned for the end of September to inform Islanders about how the Massachusetts legislation is to be implemented, and about how, when, and where Island residents can become insured. We hope for strong attendance and involvement.
Please check out the County web site (www.DukesCounty.org). Look under "Of Interest to All"; there is a link called "Health Tips and Information," which will take you to the page of the Associate Commissioner/health care access, and then to the current article.
Please also consider writing your state legislators to thank them for making Massachusetts a leader in health-care reform, and urging our national representatives to move Congress in the same direction!
Paddy Worlock Moore
President, Foundation
for Island Health
West Tisbury
Many thanks
To the Editor:
On behalf of Vineyard House Inc., the Island's only resident facility for people in early recovery from the disease of addiction, I am writing to express our profound thanks to Connie McHugh and her staff at the Vineyard Tennis Center Workout and Spa for their sponsorship of a splendid fundraising evening of tennis.
In particular, we are grateful to Kara Nelligan and her expertise in coordinating the mysteries of round-robin matchmaking. Her colleagues Dave Larson, Katrin Yerdon, Leigh French, and Brad Berryhill kept the evening running smoothly.
Lorraine Parish, along with Leslie Weibel, Laura Wafts, Tracy Eide, Suzanne Metell, and Robert Cropper provided gourmet treats of elegant proportions. And we appreciate the generosity of Steve Bernier of Cronig's Market, Elvin Vasquez of Stop & Shop, Art Honig and Glen Searle of Your Market, and the Black Dog Bakery for all their contributions.
Finally, on behalf of the board of Vineyard House, I am grateful to all the players whose donations, good humor, and participation in this benefit evening gave special meaning to the word "community." They have helped move forward our dream of a new facility to give hope to those who have made the courageous decision to turn their lives around.
Dana K. Anderson
President Vineyard House Inc.
Other studies on Lyme
To the Editor:
Dr. Fisher says that there is no antibiotic resistance documented in Lyme disease. Actually, there has been recent research showing that this is not true. It would have been nice to find bacteria that didn't know how to avoid antibiotics, but since many other bacteria can do this, seems like it was only a matter of time before we discovered borrelia can too. Here are some titles of recent articles, for Dr. Fisher and others, in case they wish to look them up on the National Library of Medicine database:
"Evidence of a conjugal erythromycin resistance element in the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi." "Mutations conferring aminoglycoside and spectinomycin resistance in Borrelia burgdorferi." "parC mutations in fluoroquinolone-resistant Borrelia burgdorferi."
My other comment is that "97 percent of the people bitten by a deer tick will not get Lyme disease" raises the question of who did such a study. How could anyone have documented this? It does not seem likely, given that Lyme, like syphilis, can have a latent stage. As for one dose of doxycycline curing early cases, that has been disproved in a study and published medical journal article. One dose of doxycycline does not treat bartonella or babesia, if the tick transmitted those diseases also.
The people on the Island have a right to be frightened about tick season if this represents the level of knowledge among Island medical personnel after so much firsthand experience with cases. This is an emerging infectious disease (complex), and it would be wise not to accept conventional wisdom in such a fluid situation. We are still learning about tick-borne diseases.
Lou Overman
Frederick, Maryland
Reconsider
shark tourney
To the Editor:
This is a copy of a letter to the Oak Bluffs selectmen.
We're writing to ask you to reconsider your decision to allow the Monster Shark Tournament to continue this summer. We do understand that you must weigh both sides of the argument, and that your determination of the issue was a result of much consideration for all those involved. However, we believe that the foundation on which you based your decision to grant the Monster Shark Tournament to continue is flawed.
Firstly, it appears that you have based all your faith in the data supporting the continuation of the tournament on Greg Skomal's opinions. We don't question Mr. Skomal's passion or his knowledge, but we do question whether this very passion is clouding his objectiveness. By nature, researchers are biased toward whatever means aid in their gathering of data. Consequently, one does not generally seek the opinion of the individual who benefits from the issue at hand, and certainly one doesn't rely solely on this opinion to make policy. Perhaps then it would make sense to seek the opinion of biologists outside of the confines of the MST. We would be interested to see what light they could shine on the controversy, (and find it telling that, thus far, not one of Mr. Skomal's colleagues has spoken up in support of his findings). In fairness however, we will grant that the culling of sharks from our waters does offer Mr. Skomal a unique opportunity to collect valuable data, but we'd remind him that one does not need to be an historian to understand that the end rarely, if ever, justifies the means.
Secondly, even if one were to depend entirely on Greg Skomal's opinion, there would remain the problem of perception. For while you seem to portray public perception of the tournament as a secondary concern, we'd suggest that your actions betray your real priorities. Your attempts to convince ESPN to alter its coverage of the tournament belie your worries that Oak Bluffs will be portrayed in a negative light. However, it is not the coverage, but the event itself, that paints the damaging picture (in fact, ESPN's coverage of the tournament is the only issue on which we disagree with the HSUS - not only do we not want the coverage suppressed, but we encourage its broadcast, as the airing of the tournament does more harm to the credibility of the event than 100 letters ever could). Ultimately, we believe that you realize that the MST will indelibly mar the rich character of Oak Bluffs for years to come, but are unable to reconcile "giving in" to outside influence. This obstinacy in the face of pressure is at once a defining and admirable characteristic of our Island, and a conceit that shades good judgment. We think that you are confusing to whom you are giving in to. The local business people and the Boston Big Game folk are the real special interest groups here. These two groups represent a far smaller interest than do those who feel that the MST is an abomination. So while it may be admirable to be strong in the face of opposition, you may want to reconsider with whom you've aligned yourselves. You do have an obligation to serve the interests of your own town, but you also have an obligation to Martha's Vineyard (and its people) not to allow your narrow focus to adversely affect the character of our home.
Finally, we can only conclude that your decision is a result of misplaced pride. Consequently, we ask you to please examine more thoroughly who it is who is telling whom what to do. Nineteen years barely qualifies as "tradition" in the storied and eclectic history of your town. We urge you to pick your battles carefully, being mindful that history rarely rewards greed or hubris.
Brad Woodger
Kim Bennett
Edgartown
Shark warning
To the Editor:
This letter was sent to the Oak Bluffs selectmen.
I am writing with regard to your recent decision to distribute shark meat donated by organizers of the Monster Shark Tournament to local nursing homes and other Island elderly facilities and citizens.
Although your intentions are certainly commendable, please be advised that it is against Massachusetts law for nursing homes and other facilities for the elderly to receive shark meat from unlicensed distributors. According to the Department of Massachusetts Public Health officials, recreational shark fishermen are not licensed by the Commonwealth to distribute shark meat. In addition, the FDA has recently released an advisory concerning the potential health risks associated with eating shark meat by pregnant and nursing mothers. According to Massachusetts Public Health Department Officials, the state's elderly population is highly susceptible and vulnerable to the high concentrations of mercury found in shark meat. For further information, you can contact the Massachusetts Food and Drug State Laboratory at 617-983-6700.
You may also wish to consider inquiring with the Oak Bluffs town attorney regarding the extent of the town's liability associated with town-sponsored distribution of shark meat to potential off-Island and out-of-state destinations. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience if I can be of further assistance to you on this important matter.
Steve Maxner
West Tisbury
Close-mindedness
on immigration
To the Editor:
For a country whose very existence and history was literally built on the back of immigrants, I find the argument against these same people lacking understanding, but not lacking closed-mindedness.
Remember the movie "A Few Good Men," where Tom Cruise's character confronts Jack Nicholson's character on the stand? Remember that movie? Well, I took creative license to change the words around a bit to make a point:
"You can't handle the truth. Son, we live in a world that has many restaurants, bathrooms and rich people's houses, and those places have to be cleaned by someone. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Mr. WhereshouldIparkmyMercedes? We have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for clean restrooms, and you curse the immigrants. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That immigrants on the Island, while tragically inconvenient to you, probably saved lives. And their existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, cleans your dishes, serves your food, and washes you cars. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want them in that kitchen, you need them washing that floor. They use words like family, pride, survival. They use these words as the backbone of a life spent trying to become something better. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain immigration to a closed-minded crowd who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very comfort that they provide, and then questions the manner in which they provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a broom or a toilet brush, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to."
We can hide behind the word "Illegal" to justify our ignorance, but they are still people. They come from countries that don't allow or have the freedoms that they can absorb here. They come with dreams of an America that we Americans have lost or are letting slip away. They don't hurt this nation, if anything they are saving it from capitalism. Taking jobs away, please. When's the last time they took away a stock broker, real estate, or paralegal position from you or me? We all know good and well that we don't want our kids to be chambermaids or dish washers if we can help it. Do you think for one minute that some well-to-do person is going to let their daughters or sons clean toilets? Not on your sweet life. So, who is going to do it?
We can't keep putting up walls. We can't keep closing our eyes. We are losing the battle, not against immigration, but against education, poverty, and health care. We have dropped to the 22nd stupidest country in the world, behind three third-world nations. The middle class is shrinking while the upper class and poverty levels grow. Over one-half of our country is uninsured or under-insured.
And, believe it or not, immigration isn't the reason. It's the people that are legal in this country that are making this happen. That's an unarguable fact. Look it up. We should feel so lucky that people want to do whatever it takes to realize the American dream. Seems to me that some of the people here legally take it for granted. And that's really a shame.
Shaun McCarron
Carlsbad, Calif.
Fine community event
To the Editor:
Congratulations to Kate Warner for organizing such a fine community event as Energy Day. The exhibitors and volunteers all demonstrate a level of grasping the renewable energy concept that few places in the country share. And the children get it too. Many Vineyard school children learned how to calculate energy savings and return on investment and can build a car powered by the sun. The solar car race was one of the most exciting events I have witnessed lately.
Concerning the Vineyard's efficient building and energy code future; the model Aspen offers is about ready for prime time for all of you. The details of such an effort, although important, are not nearly as valuable and vital as the network, expertise and leadership shown by the Vineyard Energy Project. Kate is the organizational glue that is missing in most areas. Aspen has Randy Udall and the Community Office of Resource Efficiency and Martha's Vineyard has Kate Warner and the Vineyard Energy Project. Both organizations are led by practical people with a vision, attainable goals and the will to make their communities leaders in efficient building and progressive energy codes.
Many thanks to who that took the time on a Saturday morning to attend the fair and listen to my talk. It is an honor to be with a roomful of attentive and respectful people. Your appreciation for our work out here is inspiring and will carry through to Aspen's next project. My wife, CP, and I love the Island and are both ready for Chilmark Chocolates, the ArtCliff and The Mansion House again real soon. What a wonderful place.
So please, please continue your 200-year tradition of excellence and innovation and quickly find ways to permanently fund the Vineyard Energy Project. That action is certainly a clear path for those working today to leave a legacy of affordability, sustainability, and energy independence for all Vineyard children to inherit.
Stephen Kanipe
Aspen, Colo.
Celebrate recovery
To the Editor:
The first full weekend in May brings the NA Convention to Oak Bluffs. This year was our 19th annual celebration of recovery on Martha's Vineyard.
We would like to thank the businesses that welcomed us - the hotels, inns and B&Bs, the restaurants, the cab companies, and Cash and Carry. We would like to thank the community at large for putting up with noisy motorcycles, people taking up parking spaces, restaurant seats and rocking chairs on the porch at the Wesley.
We would especially like to thank the Oak Bluffs School for letting us use their wonderful facility for our meeting space. We thank Mr. Binney and the children for sharing their space, especially with the car wash and the lacrosse games. Our hearts are forever grateful to the one at the school who is an honorary member of our group without having to go through the horrors of addiction.
Thank you Oak Bluffs for giving us a safe place to celebrate time in recovery.
Nancy MacMullen
Martha's Vineyard Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous
Oak Bluffs
Waste is our lot
To the Editor:
The thought of spending close to $550,000 to remedy the roundabout issue is absurd.
Well, I guess it is better than spending $800,000 of our money to defend the county commissioners, and then we re-elect them, as though nothing ever happened?
How about this, and I know it sounds too simple. A typical traffic light with a motion sensor pointing to the less traveled roads. The light stays green on the more traveled road, until the motion sensor picks up a vehicle on the less traveled ways. Cost - about $30K.
Too simple?
I am sure we will spend the $550K for something not as good, and then we will also re-elect those that approved this. Nothing ever changes on the Vineyard.
Paul D. Adler
West Tisbury
On to the next stage
To the Editor:
Many thanks to the staffs at the Chilmark Library, Tisbury Senior Center, Oak Bluffs Library, and Howes House for hosting our focus group sessions, exploring the interest of Islanders in having a continuing care retirement community on the Vineyard.
We spoke with about 125 people, most of whom liked the concept. The next stage of the exploration is to find about 20-30 acres of land on which we might put independent living apartments and common social areas, and possibly some assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, if needed to supplement the existing Island facilities, plus housing for employees. A financial feasibility study needs to be done, and we need to talk with current health-care providers to see whether they would like to be affiliated in some way with such a community and with the various permitting authorities about a development plan - much needs to be done before we decide to go forward with this project.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the study. We'll keep you informed.
Polly Brown
Vineyard Haven
One terrific town
To the Editor:
It was 25 years ago, Memorial Day 1981, to be exact, when I opened my doors for the first time, dressed in all of my entrepreneurial innocence. There I was, wearing red, white and blue with a tear in my eye, standing on the sidewalk in front of my store watching the short but meaningful parade pass by. (It alternated between Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs and came down Circuit Avenue in those days).
Circuit Avenue was a very different place 25 years ago, and all but the most solid business have come and gone. The ones I remember and miss from those days are Hilliard's Candy, the Cobbler shop, the Pet store, Papa's Pizza, Coriander, the Orient Express, Nick's Lighthouse, Irene's Restaurant, Jim Rego Insurance, the Boston House, Ben Merrill's Paint and Wallpaper store, Cozy's Ice Cream, Afternoon Delight, Manny Francis's 5 & 10, and Maura McGroarty's shop of beautiful Asian rosewood furniture. In other cases, the business names today are the same, but the people have changed. It's not that long ago when there really was a David at the Island House.
You can almost count on one hand the businesses that have made up the backbone of our town from then until now. Who could think of Oak Bluffs without thinking of Linda Jean's, or the Phillips family, the Pacheco family, the DaRosa family, the Giordano family and the Tuccelli family? Good and honorable people all, with whom it has been my privilege to be associated.
Knowing how difficult it is to be in business for the long haul, I tip my hat to those who get up every morning and go to work to serve their neighbors and friends. Change is part of life and the old are not necessarily better than the new. We have many wonderful, new businesses on Circuit Avenue (I'm so happy that Holly Nadler's bookstore has blossomed after last year's relocation nightmare), and each new business contributes to the revitalization of our town.
I just love Oak Bluffs, and I am just as happy to be here now as I was 25 years ago. To celebrate our anniversary, we have book signings and giveaways scheduled for this weekend, so come by and say hello. I'll be the one who still gets teary-eyed.
Sharon Kelly
The Secret Garden
Oak Bluffs
