CONSERVE TOWN BYWAYS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church, Edgartown will hold a special town meeting to add five ancient paths to the protective status of special ways.

The town byways committee and the planning board have been working to protect these ways for nearly 20 years and now hope to add the five ancient ways: Ben Toms, Middle Line, Pennywise Path, Tar Kiln and Watcha Path to one already protected by a DCPC, the Dr. Fisher Road.

These ways are analogous to the emerald necklace, a concept over 100 years old, proposed by Frederick Olmstead for the Boston public park system. The necklace refers to the ancient paths; the emeralds are blocks of open space.

These ways give Islanders and visitors alike a healthy, safe alternative to the busy highways and provide a continuity of travel as paths on the Island for walkers and horseback riders.

The process has been long and difficult at times but gratifying in the sense that people and boards have worked together. Trees have been cut down, police called, motivations questioned. But in the end the town will discuss, debate and vote.

It’s time to conserve and preserve. Please come to town meeting on March 6.

Robert Green and Linda DeWitt

Edgartown

PINOCCHIO’S GARAGE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to Richard Toole, chairman of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission land use planning committee:

I am writing to you as an abutter of the Moujabber garage in Oak Bluffs, which the land use planning committee of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will be discussing on March 3.

I live in West Tisbury so of course I’m not an actual abutter of this McMishmash, but that’s my point. Everyone who lives on or comes to Martha’s Vineyard has a stake in the future of this building and the politics which for years has allowed it to jab our eyes and spirits like Pinocchio’s nose. There’s been a widespread loss of faith in our leaders and in our systems that reaches beyond Mr. Moujabber’s lot lines, even beyond the borders of Oak Bluffs. The real abutters, Mr. Moujabber’s neighbors, have borne the heaviest burdens by far, both financially and emotionally, but the rest of us who wish we could do more to help them haven’t escaped entirely.

As a community we can do better than we have done so far with respect to Mr. Moujabber’s garage. I look hopefully to the land use planning committee’s meeting as a step in this direction. Don’t forget the one simple thing Pinocchio did to cut his nose back down to size.

Jonathan Revere

West Tisbury

FOR DOROTHY ROBERTS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

When my son David Lambert entered Dororthy Larkosh Roberts’s room, it was pure heaven. We found what we had been looking for: a very caring, hardworking teacher.

Dorothy worked hard to get David into the high school in special classes. We were really happy then for Dave, but sad to leave Dorothy and that wonderful secure classroom.

Dave moved on to graduate and became gainfully employed for 23 years at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. A lot of Dorothy was still with him.

Then an opportunity arose for Dave to live one on one with an adult. Guess who? Dorothy. She took on the pilot program for one year; well, it lasted for five and a half years.

Dorothy was so happy when Dave became a homeowner; we cried together. Dorothy was superior in many ways, especially with “our kids” as we still call them, no matter what their age.

Rest in peace.

David Lambert and Dorothy Fisher

Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury

LOVE THE GARDEN COLUMN

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I want to thank you for printing Lynn Irons’s column every week. For those of you who do not enjoy gardening, check it out anyway. I find it to be the most informative and thought-provoking part of my paper. I always enjoy reading it because I always learn something about life and something about gardening. Thank you, Lynn, for sharing your wisdom, knowledge, common sense and goodness with the public.

Alissa Keenan

Edgartown

EGG CITED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Thanks to The Island Grown Initiative for providing the poultry workshop. It was a day full of good information about the basics and beyond. Keep up the good work of perpetuating the movement toward self sustainability and fostering the idea of families producing their own food while supporting local growers.

I found this in one of my cookbooks today, by Marie Simmons and titled The Good Egg. Thought other Island poultry folk might enjoy it. Happy clucking!

Alas! My child, where is the Pen,

That can do justice to the Hen?

...Laying foundations every day,

Though not for public buildings, yet

For Custards, Cakes and Omelete.

...No wonder, Child, we prize the Hen,

Whose egg is mightier than the Pen.

— Oliver Herford

Dyan Rednick

West Tisbury

TO A THIEF

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On Wednesday, Feb. 20 I cashed in two lottery tickets that my husband had given me for Valentine’s Day — $35 — which I intended to use to take our great granddaughter out to breakfast. I stopped at the grocery store for all of 15 minutes and returned to my car which someone had locked and taken the money from under a book.

Whoever did this has taught me a lesson — lock your car and take better care of your money. I hope they needed it more than I did; maybe they took their grandchild out to breakfast. Happy New Year.

Judith A. Nichols

Vineyard Haven

HARBOR RULES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Concerning the letter titled Bad Precedent by Max McCreery. One of the nice things about living in Chimark is the compassion we can show and to bend the rules a bit. A couple of years ago the deadline to pay mooring fees changed from July 1 to Jan. 15 at noon — or else! The latter date can be tough on some of us due to Christmas bills, as well as all the New Year bills that come along. At any rate to say the selectmen are controlled by a few folks that spend a lot of time in Menemsha is absurd. Everyone I’ve spoken to believes the selectmen made the correct decision. This seems like the classic mentality of moving here because things are so nice, then wanting to change us to the way things were back on the mainland. Hey we like to keep things simple. While serving as harbor master awhile back myself, a wise old Capt. Roy Campbell said to me “Son, the harbor was here long before you and will be here long after you’re gone.” So yes, life is short.

Wayne Iacono

Chilmark

BRAVO

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I recently had the extreme pleasure of sitting in the performing arts center at the high school and witnessing a truly energizing show. A Chorus Line, a venerable and exciting musical, was performed by the talented and ambitious cast of high school students. They were all stars that night.

We need to listen and join in the effort to keep these young people excited about something happy in their lives. Please support the ongoing fight to keep the arts in our schools for all our enjoyment. Just think about how many students are worth the effort now and in the future. Thanks to the cast, crew and their directors, producers, musicians, etc., for a thoroughly stimulating evening.

Debbie Magnuson

West Tisbury

The Vineyard Gazette welcomes letters to the editor on any subject concerning Martha’s Vineyard. The newspaper strives to publish all letters as space allows, although the editor reserves the right to reject letters that in her judgment are inappropriate. Letters must be signed, and should include a place of residence and contact telephone number. The Gazette does not publish anonymous letters.