Letters to the Editor
Posted July 5, 2007
A way to help
To the Editor:
For all of those who feel overwhelmed about the state of our world, here's one way to make a difference. The Mindful Knitters from the Anchors in Edgartown are helping others around the world without leaving the Island.
Since last September they have created over 100 caps for premature babies overseas preventing heat loss through their tiny heads and possibly saving their lives. The group made more than 20 scarves from a WW II pattern for Vietnam veterans and service people currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our hope is that the veterans will feel our appreciation for their sacrifices. Over 90 Duduza - or comfort dolls - were knit and sent to the children of Darfur. And last but not least dozens of blankets, hats, and shawlshave been made for the women, babies, and children served by Muriel Laverty's clinic in Nicaragua.
So this group of women, sitting and knitting every Tuesday night at the Council on Aging, is making yarn into garments which send tangible love out into the world where itis needed.
Susan Desmarais,
Outreach Coordinator
Edgartown Council on Aging
Heartbreaking
To the Editor:
It was heartbreaking to see how many residents of Oak Bluffs voted to go through with the plan to add a second baseball diamond to Veira Park. All 89 people who voted for that side of the argument voted against the trees, whether they meant to or not. Large oak trees will be cut down. The fact that more trees will be planted is better than nothing, but not good enough. Few things in this world are as beautiful as a large tree. Large trees give shade much better than smaller ones. Here is a simple science lesson: Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into oxygen for us to breath. We breathe in the oxygen, and it turns into carbon dioxide, a neat little cycle being repeated over and over again. When we cut down healthy trees we are injuring the cycle that has been going on since Earth was born. The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more the temperatures begin to rise. Obviously, a large oak tree, 70 feet tall and 85 inches around, is going to remove more carbon dioxide and create more oxygen than a smaller tree.
For not voting to save the trees, residents are displaying disrespect for the environment. Perhaps those of you reading this will not have to deal with environmental issues much longer, but your children will. I find it deplorable that people in this community care so little about the future of this Island, and the futures of their children and grandchildren.
I have also written a letter to the Vineyard Gazette, to make known my disappointment about the blatantly biased way Jim Hickey reported on the Veira Park issue. Is it not the job of a reporter to report the facts truthfully and in an unbiased manner? Mr. Hickey's articles were written in such a way as to leave little doubt of the side of the issue he supported. In addition, some of his statements were misleading. In the June 22 article, Mr. Hickey identified most of the critics of the project as abutters to the park. There are many people who do not live next to the park that agree that Veira Park is far too small to contain two baseball diamonds. This is evident to anyone who attended the town meeting last night. The vote was 80-89. That is 47 percent to 53 percent, which is very close. Undoubtedly 47 percent of those who voted during town meeting were not all neighbors.
In short, I am disappointed in the quality of reporting done by the Gazette. This just goes to show that the Martha's Vineyard Times is a better quality newspaper.
Sara Baird
Oak Bluffs
A great show
To the Editor:
On June 16, the Polly Hill Arboretum rushed the Summer Solstice a bit by having a party to welcome its imminent arrival. More than 400 visitors came on that spectacular afternoon to listen to music, attend a puppet show, make crowns and wreaths, eat grilled hot dogs, cookies and lemonade and to enjoy the great show mother nature puts on at the Arboretum with the advent of warm weather. As the "food captain", I send a special thank-you to Sam Kouhy at Stop & Shop for the generous donation of all the hot dogs, drinks, potato chips, cookies. and the myriad other things I ask of him and his fine company each year. We could not do it without you. For those of you who missed this glorious event, we invite you to visit the Arboretum any time. Mama nature is still doing her thing.
Cynthia Walsh
West Tisbury
Rescued again
To the Editor:
The Edgartown Council on Aging would like to express our gratitude to Brian Kennedy, community service liaison for Dukes County and the community service crews who have given their time helping us with our building needs. Over the years, Brian has come to our spring cleaning rescue in many forms; cleaning and painting the basement, sanding and painting the handicapped ramp handrails, installing airconditioners, lifting heavy items and helping with our various trash removal projects.
Thank you, Brian, for all that you do. We would also like to thank the Martha's Vineyard Refuse District for their help with our disposal needs. Many thanks to all those involved within these two groups whom we have not named individually.
Laurie Schreiber, Director
Cathy Mancuso, Assistant Director
Edgartown Council on Aging
Many thanks
To the Editor:
I would like to take a moment to give many thanks to the people who helped make the Center for Creative Expression's year such a success. We had great shows at Mocha Mott's, Featherstone and The Farm Institute, due to their generosity and support.
Thanks to all of the student photographers from the high school who participated and produced such great work! More than that, thanks for helping me shape the programs and teaching me new ways to look at things. Great job Amelia, Hayely, Stuart, Arno, Seth, Ray and the four graduating seniors, Hilary, Sophia, Andy, and Katey.
Thanks to all of their parents. Thank you for supporting these projects and your children. We could not have done it without you.
Thanks Meredith at Mocha Mott's for giving us the space in February for our first show of the season.
A special, heartfelt thanks to Francine at Featherstone for putting us up for the second year in a row and for a well-attended show in March. Your continued generosity is very appreciated.
And thanks to Nora, Rob, Matt, Melinda, Dave, Wes, Chrissy and Baloo for welcoming us with opened arms to The Farm Institute and allowing us to become part of the fabric there for the year and hosting our Cinco de Maio photo show. Looking forward to another great year next year.
Janice Baer
Director
Center for Creative Expression
A shining diamond
To the Editor:
Our family has been living next to Hartford Park since 1938. The park has never looked so beautiful with its green grass. Everyone who walks by comments on the rich, splendid color. It is the topic of many conversations.
Many thanks to Richard Combra Jr., Oak Bluffs Park Department, and Crossland Landscape of Oak Bluffs for all the work that they have done to make such improvements to our Hartford Park. We are no longer "a diamond in the rough." We shine for everyone to enjoy.
Anne and John Cummings
Oak Bluffs
Helmets for cyclists
To the Editor:
I'm dismayed at the probability that persons on bikes will not wear helmets, or not secure their helmet straps. One random day, I took a count of how many people were on bikes in Edgartown, from the Triangle to Right Fork in Katama. I counted 35 bikers in all, and 23 of those had no helmets. I'm 10 years old, I bike, and I recommend that every person should wear a helmet in any circumstance.
Ellie Reagan
Oak Bluffs
Signs not the Five Corners answer
To the Editor:
Just a thought. I think it's great that the signs are back at Five Corners to direct visitors after they leave the SSA area. Perhaps visitors would be able to read and follow the directions if they weren't instead trying to figure out how to get into the intersection.
I remember hearing before last summer season that the town of Tisbury had finally agreed to use the 50-cent embarkation fee from each passenger ticket that the SSA collects and gives to Oak Bluffs and Tisbury to offset costs incurred for traffic control when a ferry is in port. I can't figure out how Tisbury believes they have used that money wisely by stationing an officer at the exit from the SSA parking lot. I'm pretty sure that there is way more traffic and therefore way more need for that officer to be at Five Corners than on Water Street.
I know how the intersection works, and I still feel bewildered at times getting through there. The traffic control officers need to be stationed there as they have been in the past, not on Water Street.
Kathryn Wolf
Oak Bluffs and Dublin, N.H.
