OUR OWN HOUSE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In September of this year it became evident that the funding necessary for one of our most vital programs — the Rental Assistance Program — was running out. This revelation came at the same time that the executive management of our organization was undergoing a change. As a result of these two events, we have examined our financial picture closely, scrutinized some unfortunate management decisions on our part and reviewed concerns about past business practices. There has been a resounding call for more transparency.

This letter is just one step we are taking to answer that call.

In the Gazette issue of Nov. 20 there was a front-page article that highlighted the decline in private donor contributions and the huge investment that the fund has made in the Bradley Square project — the combination having much to do with our current financial situation. There are a number of issues that we would like to take this opportunity to clarify:

• With regard to our former executive director taking a cut from fund-raising revenues: when Mr. Manning was hired we were unable to offer him a base salary that fulfilled his financial needs. In lieu of this, we offered a 5 per cent incentive for any funds he was able to raise over an annual $1 million. He was successful in accomplishing this and was compensated accordingly.

• With regard to purchasing and holding property, prior to the creation of our sister organization, the Island Housing Trust, the fund did purchase, develop and hold properties until they were completed and sold to each qualified buyer. Now the trust develops and manages the affordable housing that we create together. We do currently own the Bradley Square property and the market-rate house on East Jenney Way in Edgartown, which has been actively on the market for over a year. All other real estate is owned by the trust.

• With regard to reporting lobbying activity to the IRS, our form 990 is prepared by an independent CPA, whom we trust to prepare the return accurately.

• Last but hardly least, is the article’s insinuation that the fund and trust should not be awarding design or construction contracts to South Mountain Company and that South Mountain and John Abrams have been feathering their nests by building affordable housing.

During the many years when everyone in the construction trades was swamped with work, there were virtually no experienced architects and builders who were willing to commit to affordable housing work; but South Mountain was there and not only embraced the work — at Sepiessa, Twin Oaks, Metcalf Way, Jenney Way, etc. — but did it at deeply discounted, zero-profit rates and developed standards and practices that have now been adopted all over the country. In 2007, when the design contract was signed for South Mountain to do 250 State Road, the trust made repeated attempts to attract other capable architects and builders to the project with no success. In addition to giving a very low contract price for construction, John Abrams and South Mountain brought in grant funding and donations that have helped to make this project possible. Now, in 2009, the economic climate has changed dramatically and when the trust put out the RFP for Lambert’s Cove, there were a dozen builders who bid on the project. Still, when the bids were compared on a square foot basis, the winning bid for Lambert’s Cove Road (not awarded to South Mountain; they did not bid on the project) was still higher than South Mountain’s price for 250 State Road.

We do not minimize the concerns that have been raised over the past several weeks, but we do feel that we have reason to be proud of what we have accomplished over the past 10 years in funneling over $2.6 million of donor funds into the Rental Assistance Program of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority. We are equally proud of the $3.1 million we have provided to subsidize the difference between the cost of construction and the prices our affordable housing recipients are able to pay. Many families continue to live on the Island because we were there to support them . . . and we will continue to support them.

At this juncture, nothing is more important to us than to examine our own house, share that information with you and rebuild your confidence in us. In recognition of the questions and concerns you may have, we invite you to attend our open forum on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven Library. We welcome you to come meet the board and staff. We encourage you to ask questions, offer suggestions or just vent.

We fully believe that this process will make us a better steward of your investment of trust and financial support.

Candy DaRosa and Bob Wheeler

Chilmark and Vineyard Haven

The writers are copresidents of the Island Affordable Housing Fund.

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HELP FOR HOUSING

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The Housing Assistance Corporation ran the Rental Assistance Program for families on the Vineyard through the 1980s and 1990s with state and federal subsidies. At that time, the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority wasn’t interested in taking on the administration of the program, especially if there were government strings attached, which there always are.

HAC also got USDA funding and administered a self-help housing program with Island Elderly Housing, which allowed 15 Island families to build their own houses with sweat equity. HAC also renovated the Greenough House (the first time) with HUD Moderate Rehab funds and rented all of the apartments to low-income subsidized elders. And they found state and federal subsidies for the Love House tenants when it was being operated as congregate housing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. All this at no cost to Islanders. This is why we pay taxes.

Funny that HAC’s success is never mentioned. Once John Abrams and friends took over all responsibility for affordable housing on Martha’s Vineyard, HAC basically bowed out. That was probably a mistake.

I’m thinking that maybe we should bring them back to the Island. Obviously, they know what they are doing when it comes to providing housing for our low-income residents who rent. Anyone interesting in pursuing this route should contact Rick Presbrey who is executive director of HAC in Hyannis.

Carol Lashnits

Vineyard Haven

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Protection Essential

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

I am writing to urge you to strike the clearest possible balance between your duties as Secretary of Energy and your responsibilities as Secretary of Environmental Affairs, particularly as you consider the impact of the Ocean Management Plan on Martha’s Vineyard.

I am doing so both as a member of the board of the Vineyard Conservation Society and as one of the first members of Vineyard Power, the local cooperative launched to generate large-scale, offshore wind energy, while keeping the benefit and control within our community.

The coastal environment of Martha’s Vineyard has been ranked by The Nature Conservancy as ”one of the most beautiful and threatened natural systems in the world.” Its protection is essential.

Vineyarders, therefore, welcome your assurance that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will have complete authority to approve, disapprove and condition projects within its jurisdiction that are under 100 megawatts. It is not clear, however, how this authority will impact larger wind energy projects. It is also unclear whether you will support a corresponding amendment to the Massachusetts Oceans Act.

It is fully within your authority to call for both in the final version of the Ocean Management Plan. I urge you to do so.

Tad Crawford

West Tisbury

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SENATE SEAT

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Recently the Martha’s Vineyard Democrats hosted a forum for the four candidates seeking election to the Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy. The forum offered a lively discussion of topics ranging from climate change and the Cape Wind project to health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The discussion proved both lively and informative.

Although the campaigns did not furnish the actual candidates, their individual views were shared. The four candidates are:

• Michael Capuano, member of the U.S. House of Representatives (www.mikecapuano.com).

• Martha Coakley, Massachusetts Attorney General (www.marthacoakley.com).

• Alan Khazei, community organizer and cofounder of City Year (www.alanforsenate.com).

• Steve Pagliuca, venture capitalist and Celtics co-owner (www.stevepagliuca.com).

As voters, it is our responsibility to make a sound choice on the candidate most likely to promote the vision we have for Massachusetts, as well as someone responsive to his/her constituents’ needs.

The primary is Dec. 8, with the special election Jan. 19, 2010. We urge your participation in this important decision.

Mas Kimball

Oak Bluffs

The writer is chairman of the Martha’s Vineyard Democratic Council.

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FOR THE GAME

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

It is a shame that the Island Cup was canceled this year. I know so many parents and students who missed all the various inter-Island high school sport competitions. In the hopes of reviving any part of the schedule I thought I would share this poem. My daughter wrote it last year after the tragic loss of a Nantucket teen. It would appear our kids got a lot more out of the relationship than a rival.

The Game

I remember the game

I remember the rain on the plane

I remember walking the halls of her school

I remember their true color that day was blue

I remembered her face

I remembered her strength

I remembered she took her own life

I remember the game

I remember we stood hand in hand

I remember her father’s goodbye

I remember the gentleness in her sister’s face

I remember the tears

I remember the game

I remember playing the game

I remembered we were the enemy

I remembered they were her team

I remember the kick, it was hard on the ground

I remember the ball bounced up as the goalie bounced down

I remember the goal

I remember the celebration when it went in

I remember the game

I remember running past her friend

I remember stopping and hugging

I remember I said “keep going”

I remember the score

I remember we won

I remembered what we all lost

I remember the game

— Erin Morris

Deirdre Morris

Edgartown

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WINTER MARKET

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

We would like to thank Holly Nadler and the Vineyard Gazette for the articles written about the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market Winter Market. The only correction is the soups that the writer raved about were actually made by Little Rock Farm. Morning Glory Farm provided hamburgers and sausage sandwiches made from their meat and various salads. After countless hours of planning and organizing we were nervous that no one would show up. The success of the market went beyond our expectations and we would like to thank your paper for helping get the word out. The market was exactly what we hoped it would be. A place to come spend some time, shop for local food, see friends, have lunch, hear some music and cozy up by the fire. Now that we know there is an interest we will be working on ideas to keep the market operating throughout the winter. This will hopefully give farmers and value-added vendors an opportunity to sell their goods year-round. The next market is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you for your support.

Deborah Koines and Linda Alley

Vineyard Haven

The writers are managers of the winter farmers’ market.

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MYSTERY SOLVED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Hats off to the wonderful young woman Tisbury police officer who came to my aid and solved the mystery of my missing vehicle on Friday night when I returned to the Island and found the car gone. (Somehow moved one street over by an industrious road crew — who knew?)

Linda Ziegler

Vineyard Haven

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AMERICAN HEROES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

This is to thank all those who helped me launch the first year of the Beach Plum Inn American Heroes Saltwater Challenge. My family and I were really excited that everyone was able to come together and donate their time and their talents to help make this dream of mine a reality. I especially loved sharing my favorite time of the year (derby time!) on the best Island ever — Martha’s Vineyard. Dale, Butch, Stanley, Terri, Tina and Peter all had a blast and have sent us really nice thank-you cards. We wanted to extend that thank-you to all of you, because we know that we couldn’t have done it without you.

I hope we can count on your support for next year’s Beach Plum Inn American Heroes Saltwater Challenge.

Jack Nixon and gang

(Sarah, Bob, Bobby and Maggie)

Chilmark

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QUICK RESPONSE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

A special thank you this Thanksgiving season to Edgartown’s emergency response team and the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for their quick response to my father’s 911 call on Oct. 16. During my parent’s visit from Texas, my mom fell and broke her neck and shoulder. Edgartown police and ambulance were there within a couple of minutes. After her critical condition was evaluated at the hospital, she was airlifted to a Boston hospital. We feel that had it not been for the quick response and care she received, she may have been paralyzed. After five weeks of hospitalization and rehabilitation, she will finally return to celebrate Thanksgiving in Edgartown. We are all so thankful this year for all the kind people on Martha’s Vineyard involved in this emergency.

Marcia Macres

Edgartown

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GRATEFUL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Vineyard House offers a safe, sober place to live for Islanders in early recovery from substance abuse. We thank Patrick Parker of Parker Carpets and the Permanent Endowment Fund for the installation of carpeting in our women’s house. We are grateful for the grant from Permanent Endowment Fund that partially funded the rug installation and to Parker Carpets who discounted the carpet and their labor. It takes the community for us to fulfill our mission and we are thankful for our Island community that supports Vineyard House.

Kathy Ferlund

Vineyard Haven

WE CAN DO BETTER

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Come on people! is a phrase recently used by the infamous and hysterically funny Bill Cosby to inspire a community to raise strong children and improve family values.

On a beautiful glorious fall day recently, I observed an Island woman recovering from a tragic fall (now wheelchair bound) trying very hard to enjoy “shopping” in Oak Bluffs on Circuit avenue. While I waited in our car for my husband to finish a haircut, I was impressed with her dignity, in spite of the fact that all eight of the stores she and her two friends stopped at she had to watch from the sidewalk. This was because each store had entry steps that made her wheelchair nonaccessible.

I viewed her still smiling as each of the two women she was with brought goods (cards and trinkets) outside to ask for her approval. At one point she was in the exhaust fumes from a car when someone ran into an apartment above one of the stores and left his car running for about five minutes. During this time, she had to pace the sidewalk in her wheelchair to avoid breathing these fumes in.

Come on people! We can and should do better than this.

Karen Walsh

Edgartown

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MINNESINGER GENEROSITY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Again this year, the Island community has rallied to support the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers at the annual auction which was held Saturday at the P.A. Club. Many thanks to all the generous donors for the amazing auction items and to everyone who attended, including former Minnesinger parents. Special appreciation goes out to Jude Tucker, Joanne Lambert, and Cindy Roberts and the other Minnesinger parents who worked so hard pulling the event together and providing the sumptuous finger foods. Also thanks to the P.A. Club staff for their assistance. The Minnesingers will be representing the high school, their Island and the USA performing in Prague in April thanks to the generosity of the parents and community.

Janis Wightman

Oak Bluffs

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TREASURE CHEST

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In a box of childhood treasures, I found a first premium blue ribbon from the Annual Cattle Show and Fair. My rabbit Fluffy won it; I had noted she was born in March 1949 and died in June 1953. I was curious to know: when did the fair change its name? Also there were clippings of Gazette columns, for which Henry Beetle Hough paid me 25 cents an inch. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the column covered all the Green Hollow News. After our summer home became the ketch Alised, Harbor News reported all the news in whatever harbor we were in between the Chesapeake Bay, New Harbor, Me., and Edgartown harbor. I learned that arriving in my dinghy at anchored or moored visiting yachts at cocktail time brought forth many interesting tales.

Maybe someone can do a harbor news column again?

Alison Kern Stitzer

Great Falls, Va.

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.