POSITIVE SIGNS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

As the nation weathers its horrific, self-inflicted, environmental Pearl Harbor in the Gulf of Mexico, we also continue to endure the ongoing, widespread, business as usual devastation caused by coal use and the invisible harm emanating from our fleet of nuclear power plants (tritium leaking into drinking water aquifers, for example).

Posed against the stark realities of the country’s present energy portfolio, it is most heartening to see positive signs of the times, like the new Morning Glory Farm wind turbine.

There are, indeed, viable alternatives to our traditional, inherently dangerous power sources.

Thomas Sullivan

Vineyard Haven

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WRONG MESSAGE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Let’s see. We have a group of illegal immigrants who have overstayed their visas and illegally make their home here in the United States. They have their children born here so that they can attain their U.S. citizenship. These immigrants usually do not carry health insurance which our local hospital can attest to. The rest of us can also attest to this fact, as we have to pay $700 just to walk into the emergency room. The immigrants work jobs here, but send most of their spare funds back to their homeland. The diversion of these funds does nothing to bolster our local economy.

We have rules here, but immigrants simply bypass them by entering and staying here illegally in the United States. Here on the Vineyard, we have a rule that you cannot wear special colors at a graduation ceremony. These young students here in our local high school state they do not care what the rule is, as they planned to wear their color scarves in any event.

To school board members Roxanne Ackerman, Leslie Baynes, Robert Tankard, Susan Parker and Lisa Regan, you have sent the wrong message by overruling our school authorities. You can be assured that many of us will vote against all of you in the next school board election.

To those students that want to show they are proud, I would suggest that certain activities such as to excel in school, obtain a job after school so that you can pay for your own college education, performing community volunteer work would be more effective than wearing a colorful scarf. It is more of a challenge, but it shows a true American experience.

James Kennedy Jr.

Oak Bluffs

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SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Please remember, it’s that time again to support our troops. When you donate we send packages and mail to our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, or wherever needed.

The packages contain foodstuffs and personal items — our way of saying thank you for keeping our freedom. We only wish we could do more.

A big thank you to JoAnn Murphy, veterans administrator, and Robert Pachico of Reliable Market for all their assistance.

Please send the donations to: Estelle T. Burnham, RFD 140, 22 Mercier Way, Edgartown, MA 02539.

God bless our soldiers and God bless America.

Estelle Burnham

Edgartown

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TRUTH TOLD

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On behalf of the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP we would like to thank all who came out and contributed to the Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth, or June 19, marks the date in 1865 when the last slaves in America, located in Texas, were freed. The event came more than two years after Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in states not under Union control during the Civil War.

Special thanks to Ardell Otten for organizing the event, Carol Simpson for her moving rendition of the events leading up to Juneteenth complete with costume change and Grant Meachem for his portrayal of a speech by Frederick Douglass.

Much appreciation goes to Deon’s restaurant who hosted the event and provided food and to Cousin Rose, L’Elegance, C’est La Vie, who graciously donated a portion of their day’s sales to the Bradley Square project. Please continue to support these generous vendors.

As we celebrate our second century of existence, we do so humbly and with gratitude, thankful to the hundreds of thousands of members, who over the past 100 years committed themselves to social justice as members of the NAACP. We are keeping our eye on the great deeds and sacrifices of our predecessors, and another on the future development of young civil and human rights advocates. American history — the good, the bad and the ugly — the truth must be told.

Laurie Perry-Henry

Oak Bluffs

The writer is president of the Vineyard chapter of the NAACP.

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CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I wanted to thank everyone who made our Vineyard campaign kickoff a success this past Friday. The setting and weather couldn’t have been better. A big thank you to Carlene Gatting and Fred Condon for hosting the event, as well as Sandy and Paul Pimentel for their sponsorship. No party would be successful without good food. Gina Stanley from the ArtCliff and Kimberly Cartwright were overly gracious with their time and efforts to make sure the event was enjoyed by all. And of course, my supporters, thank you, thank you! Remember to tell your five people, to tell five people. Now, it is on to Sept. 14!

Tom Hallahan

Oak Bluffs

The writer is a candidate for the Governor’s Council.