Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

When I heard that WBUR’s programming, including my little show Here and Now, would be carried on the Vineyard, I was over the moon and flooded with memories.

Of interviewing the late Henry Beetle Hough and drinking in his every exquisite word. Marveling at Alison Shaw’s photography, Allen Whiting’s paintings and the land they capture. Marching, not always in a straight line, with Jabberwocky campers, in the Fourth of July parade, to name just a few.

A long time ago,  I did a story for the Today Show about the “changing” Martha’s Vineyard and how the still somewhat sleepy refuge of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and generations of fisherman was being invaded by trampling tourists. I stood hanging onto the chain link fence at the airport with my camera crew, waiting to get a shot of the invading Lear jets. Two inches to my left a woman materialized. White capri pants, black turtleneck, wide round sunglasses. “Oh Mrs. Kennedy, do you mind if we take your picture for our story?” “Oh please don’t,” she whispered, horrified. “Okay” I chirped, and turned to my right to face my equally horrified cameraman who was mouthing the words: “You ASKED her?!?”

Yes I did. I respect institutions. Which is why I was horrified to learn that another one would be exiting the Vineyard’s airwaves, and that there might be a mistaken impression that WBUR pushed it!

Nothing could be further from the truth. There was no question that the WMVY signal was being sold by owners who by all accounts made a noble effort to fight off the effects of the recession. It was only a matter of who bought it. It could have been one of those soul-less automated top 40 stations. But it was WBUR.

And WMVY is not gone, thank goodness, it’s online, thanks to legions of devoted listeners. I just sent in my check.

Because WMVY was my sound track as well. In fact, many of us at WBUR mourn its loss. So please know we feel especially responsible for providing you the best in radio programming to replace it! We know we have the very big shoes of a little station that could to fill.

Robin Young, Boston

The writer is host of Here and Now for WBUR Boston.