WIND FORUM

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I am looking forward with great interest to attending the wind energy forum sponsored by POINT on August 8. Specifically, I welcome the opportunity to ask the representative of Governor Patrick to speak to the as yet unresponded to comments of the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service on his then draft Ocean Plan.

Fish and Wildlife specifically noted the incompatibility with federal law by the plan’s failure adequately to study the impact on birds or to consider alternative locations. No such study had been done, nor have they been undertaken subsequently. Consequently no one yet knows how these wind factories will affect the various species of migratory and nesting birds that live and thrive in and around the Sound, including on the unique small islands off the Vineyard’s southwest coast, Noman’s Land and Penikese off Cuttyhunk. Because no study was done, we also don’t know how the 596 turbines in a 24-square-mile area between Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk and Noman’s Land will affect the recently sited pod of migrating right whales (currently listed as a “species threatened with extinction”).

In both Germany and Scotland, studies are being conducted to determine how offshore wind projects will influence the local aquaculture, as well as birds and mammals. Spiegel Online International notes that, “Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has completed its first study of the impact of the wind farm — and found that the racket made by the construction of the site had scared off porpoises living in the area.” Scottish biologists at Aberdeen University are currently conducting research on the distress caused by offshore turbines and turbine construction to dolphin, whale, and porpoise populations by disrupting their echo-location (communication). The Scottish government also received the recently completed Offshore Valuation Study which states any development will “have the potential for significant effects” on marine wildlife, including bottle-nose dolphins, porpoise, grey seals, wildfowl and waders.”

They may build the wind factories yet, but at least they are making an honest effort to understand the consequences and mitigate the negative impact on marine and avian wildlife.

I hope many Vineyarders will join me at 7 p.m. on August 8 at the Chilmark Community Center to ask questions of and voice our opinions about the upcoming proposed changes to Noman’s, Cuttyhunk and the surrounding waters. Meanwhile, please take a moment to learn more about these issues and others linked to wind development in our waters by visiting POINT Web site (pointmass.org).

Joseph Miron Burkett

Chilmark

NOT REFORM

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Why do we want the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act? This act I believe was given part of its name, reform act, to confuse the voters of Massachusetts. This act does the opposite; it takes your towns’ zoning away.

This act sites commercial wind turbines as tall as 40-story buildings in your backyard. An individual resident can’t afford a state supreme court appeal under the so-called reform act.

The country has evidently arrived at a point in its legal culture where no negative consequences seem to exist for making false or misleading claims to sell wind energy and take your property rights. Should the people who value intellectual honesty be fleeced by such mendacity, even from their government?

Terry Murray, the Plymouth area’s state senator and president of the Massachusetts senate, recently started a reelection bid to continue her work representing parts of Plymouth County and the entire Plymouth and Barnstable district in the Massachusetts senate.

Do the voters of the Barnstable senate district want the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act? Have the voters of Massachusetts been educated about the negative impacts of this act?

Frank Haggerty

Mattapoisett

EMERGENCY EXCELLENCE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On two occasions in recent weeks I have found myself in need of the Island hospital’s emergency services, the second trip requiring transport by a Tri-Town ambulance. My husband and I would like to express publicly our sincere appreciation to the Chilmark officer for his prompt response and to the ambulance crew for their professionalism, their quality care, genuine concern, and the respect shown to both of us at this stressful time. What a blessing they are to the residents of this end of the Island!

The attention received at the hospital on both occasions was immediate, thorough, caring, and in all ways professional, as well. The doctors, nurses, aides, technicians, and cafeteria and housekeeping folks deserve boundless credit for their efforts to bring healing and comfort to their patients. Even the view of the harbor from my room in the new hospital was spectacular! My husband and I are, indeed, very grateful to all concerned.

Marjorie Phillips

Menemsha

•

BEAUTIFUL, UNDERSTAFFED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My husband was recently admitted to the new Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on two separate occasions. He occupied a beautiful private room overlooking the Vineyard Haven Harbor both times. It appears that the administration spent the money on lovely patient rooms which the patients do not require, and now there isn’t any money to pay for the much-needed nursing care.

The poor overworked nurses will burn out fast with a ratio of two nurses and one assistant in good times and an assistant split between two units at other times. These gracious angels of mercy are doing the best they can, but both patients and nurses would benefit more from less frills and more nursing staff.

Although still not adequate, Massachusetts General Hospital with whom the Vineyard hospital is affiliated has one nurse and a full-time assistant for every five patients.

In conclusion, it is quite obvious that the more difficult patients with Alzheimer’s and other medical problems requiring more care will be shipped off-Island if they do not have a caregiver who will stay at the hospital with them.

Marie Osborn Thompson

Edgartown

•

BOOK SALE SUCCESS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The West Tisbury Free Public Library would like to thank all the friends who made our annual book sale such a success. Thank you Lee and Diana and all of the people who worked so hard in the heat and humidity to pull off this year’s book sale. Thank you as well to the people of the Dukes County Corrections Community Service who helped us to move our thousands of books over to the West Tisbury School. Thank you for everyone who shopped at the sale for supporting the West Tisbury Free Public Library.

Beth Kramer

West Tisbury

The writer is director of the West Tisbury Library.

•

SAVOR THE MOMENT

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Once upon a time on a magical Island off the New England coast, an artist, educator and writer made her home, loved its people and was beloved in return. Last week’s successful Della Hardman Day was aptly described by the editors in the July 30 edition as an event that “is not about Della, but about celebrating the things she loved.” Thanks to all for your support. Everyone is invited to the seventh annual celebration to be held on July 30, 2011, sponsored by the town of Oak Bluffs. And in the spirit of my mother, Della Hardman, don’t forget to savor the moment!

Andrea L. Taylor

Oak Bluffs

•

ANNIVERSARIES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

16 July, 1945, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Detonation (prototype) of Fat Man I, plutonium bomb. Dawn of the nuclear age.

6 August, 1945, Hiroshima, Japan.

Detonation of Little Boy I, uranium bomb. Successful battlefield test.

9 August, 1945, Nagasaki, Japan. Detonation of Fat Man II, plutonium bomb. Successful battlefield test.

14 August, 1945, Unconditional Surrender of Japan. VJ Day. Fat Man III never left Los Alamos.

God bless the Anglo-American atom bomb which saved hundreds of thousands of allied and Japanese lives.

Peter Colt Josephs

Chilmark